The earth was torn open, as if a force from the very core of the planet erupted, shaking every inch of space.
The air twisted, the temperature surged, as if the soul of a dormant volcano had been awakened. Huge cracks split the ground like ferocious wounds, spewing endless torrents of lava—like thick blood under the setting sun, or the eternal flames of hell.
And from within that searing chaos, a massive hand reached out, slamming down onto Kaiba's field.
The rolling lava consumed the Grinder Golem, and even the invincible Ultimate White Dragon. Not even the noble ultimate resistance could stand against the unstoppable Lava Golem.
In an instant, the president's Ultimate Dragon was devoured. Then the burning fool poked its head out from the lava onto this field, glanced at the president now locked in an iron cage, and somehow, its abstract face seemed to crack a simple, honest smile.
There was even a hint of "pleased to meet you" in its demeanor.
Kaiba: "..."
[Lava Golem, ATK 3000]
The audience was speechless.
How to put it—
The way Kira played this card, it really was intense. Like a classic duelist, trusting his deck, drawing the key card at the crucial moment, changing the world with a miraculous draw.
But usually, miracle draws are about summoning a flashy monster to turn the tables. Especially in a situation like this, shouldn't it be "since all effects are negated, just break through head-on," then summon a monster with 5000 or 6000 attack to cut down the Ultimate Dragon?
But just as the tension peaked, this guy brings out a Lava Golem.
How do you even judge this move? Most people wouldn't know what to say.
"Tch, Marik's monster, huh."
Kaiba snorted, but his mood was still stable.
As expected of the president—any other duelist in this world, if their Ultimate Dragon with full resistance got devoured like that, would probably be rolling up their sleeves to fight already...
But it wasn't over yet.
"I activate the spell card 'Take Over Five', sending the top five cards of my deck to the graveyard." (Anime card)
Kira drew five cards and sent them to the grave.
"One of the cards sent is the monster 'Learning Elf'," Kira said. "When this card is sent to the graveyard, I draw one card." (Manga card)
He drew another card.
"Next, I activate the spell card 'Owner's Seal'," Kira said. "All monsters on the field return to their original owners' control.
Come back, Lava Golem!"
Full and satisfied, Lava Golem patted its butt and leapt straight to Kira's side of the field.
Kaiba: "..."
"Lava Golem, direct attack." Kira declared. "Infernal Volcano Impact!"
Lava Golem's palm crashed down, bringing a wave of scorching fire. With Kaiba's field wiped out, he took the full brunt of Lava Golem's attack, his coat billowing in the flames.
[Kaiba, LP 4000 → LP 1000]
"I set one card face-down and end my turn," Kira said.
"It hit!" Jaden cheered first. "As expected of Kira's soul card, Lava Golem! So strong!"
Zane looked conflicted.
Well, how to say it...
You can't say he's not impressive.
It's just... complicated.
Facing Kira and his blazing Lava Golem, Kaiba was silent for a moment, but didn't draw right away.
A few seconds later, he spoke.
"I haven't participated in any tournaments for many years, chasing after honors and all those things I once craved."
He looked up at Kira and said calmly,
"But now I'm back, back on this stage, just like the starting point years ago. Still in Duelist Kingdom, still on this stage. Do you know why?"
Kira shook his head.
He really didn't know.
Back then, the title of "King of Games" was something Kaiba dreamed of. He challenged again and again, failing each time, but growing stronger with each setback, determined to win at any cost—as if that honor was the ultimate goal of his life.
But after Atem left, and Yugi Mutou sealed his cards away, the title became all but his for the taking—yet he abandoned it.
From Kira's perspective, he could only guess Kaiba felt that if he hadn't beaten the true strongest, the title was meaningless—a recognition from the world, but not from himself.
But why did Kaiba now decide to make a comeback? That, Kira didn't understand.
"That infuriating guy once told me, 'Those without a past will never have a future.'"
Kaiba closed his eyes, a faint smile as he recalled the memory.
"Ironically, for the old me, all light existed only in the future, and the past was just a trail I'd left behind—meaningless to me.
Who would have thought that one day, even I would become stuck in the past, unable to move forward?"
From the audience, Mokuba was dazed. "Big brother..."
As Kaiba's younger brother and the person who knew him best, Mokuba vaguely sensed when this change began.
It seemed to start when Kaiba insisted on going to the Underworld to face Atem.
After returning, Kaiba never spoke of what happened there, not even to Mokuba. No one knew what happened, whether he met Atem, or who won that duel.
Or perhaps, something happened in that duel—a message or something said by Atem—that pushed Kaiba to change.
Yes, ever since Atem left, Kaiba too was stuck in the past, unable to move forward.
He couldn't let go of Atem, nor the unresolved rivalry. Once, his ambitions were all in the future, so the past was meaningless. But after Atem's departure, the future suddenly lost its brilliance, and the future he pursued so desperately became pointless.
It was only after returning from the Underworld that he seemed to find direction again.
"I made a promise with that guy—a true duelist never stops, no matter where the road leads," Kaiba said solemnly. "If gods block the way, then defeat the gods and keep going.
Now, I have surpassed even the gods! For the chance to face that annoying guy again. Next time...
I will stand before him as King of Games!"
His finger touched his deck.
"—Draw!"
The moment he drew, it was as if endless azure light burst from the deck, as if just drawing the card released terrifying energy!
Kira frowned slightly.
That feeling... It seemed Kaiba had drawn something incredible.
It was here.
Kaiba's face clearly showed it, a confident smile on his lips.
As if this draw had secured victory once again in his grasp.
He slowly looked up.
"Next, you'll see the ultimate evolution beyond Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon—the strongest Blue-Eyes in history!"