"Are you Duel Kings ever going to stop?" Paradox said angrily.
"That's you!" Judai replied, "Constantly traveling through time and space, stealing spirits and trying to destroy the history of Duel Monsters, what exactly is your aim?"
"I'm trying to save this world, you fools!"
Paradox, who had never explained his intentions until now, finally reached his limit.
"You people from the past don't know what you've done! Duel Monsters are things that should never have been revived in this era; they're Pandora's box! If left unchecked, the world will be led into the abyss of despair!"
He clenched his fist, recalling everything he had gone through in his life, the loss of family, friends, and even the entire human race.
It was a future that anyone who hasn't experienced it could hardly imagine, without hope, and lacking even the breath of life.
Even Purgatory might not compare.
To prevent that hopeless future, he returned to the past at all costs.
"Perhaps it's hard for you in this era to imagine or understand," Paradox said gravely, "but I come from a desperately bleak future beyond your imagination.
I am one of the last remnants of humanity in history. Redemption is my mission, a mission that must not fail."
Judai and Yusei looked at each other, indeed feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information.
Only Youyu, who already knew Paradox's origin and motives, wasn't surprised at all.
"I have no choice. Whether this path is right or wrong, I must wager everything on it." Paradox opened his Duel Disc, his gaze resolute and steadfast, "For the fate of the human race, even if standing before me are you Duel Kings who once gained the title of saviors, I have no choice but to fight.
Come! Duel Kings, if you want to stop me, defeat me using the method you're best at!"
Paradox stood there, a self-sacrificing figure ready to lay down his life for the greater good, facing three big players with the name "You". It truly gave off a "sometimes a man just has to fight" kind of vibe...
"No matter what reason you have, do you intend to achieve your goal by killing people?" Yusei questioned.
"Hm, these are sacrifices that can be accepted. Compared to the hell I've witnessed, if it can save the future, such small sacrifices are insignificant." Paradox said calmly, "Even Kaiba Seto or Pegasus, if they knew their deaths could correct humanity's doomed fate, might gladly accept."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Judai shouted, "No matter who it is, no one has the right to decide life and death for others!"
He turned to Youyu.
"Professor Youyu, let's accept this duel!" he said, "We've always gotten by like this. No matter what the problem, answers can be found in a duel!"
Finding answers through card games for all problems... definitely a Judai-style approach.
Yet Youyu felt comforted knowing that his top-level student from the future still respected his opinions so much. He nodded, "Alright. We'll accept this duel then."
Yusei said nothing, simply opening his Duel Disc silently.
Continuing to follow the arrangements of the big players. JPG
"Then all three of you, come at me, Duel Kings of the past and present," Paradox said seriously, "Wager on the future led by the foolish 'Duel Monsters'!"
"Duel!" x4
[Youyu x Judai x Yusei, LP 4000]
[Paradox, LP 12000]
The battle here takes place using team duel rules, with one turn per team, but on Youyu's side, they need to alternate players each turn.
Unlike in the anime, there the three Judai shared 4000 LP, while Paradox had 4000 LP alone. However, here Paradox does not act so self-assured; he uses triple their LP, which is 12000 points.
It seems Uncle Paradox suffered some beatings in the past and his swollen confidence has taken a hit, making him less arrogant.
However, considering Youyu and the others already have a massive advantage with triple the resources and field, they tacitly allowed the opponent this extra eight thousand life points.
The duel begins, and Malefic Rainbow Dragon and Neos hero battling in mid-air both vanish. The two spirits turn into golden light and fly back into their respective masters' card decks.
"Brother!" At this moment, Mokuba anxiously ran up to Kaiba.
Before he could speak, Kaiba pointed to where Paradox and Youyu were, and said blandly, "Mokuba, livestream the duel over there for me."
"Eh? But that's not what we planned..."
"It's alright, just do it." Kaiba said.
"...Yes, brother!"
Several drones standing by in various places in Kaiba Land immediately flew towards the duel under Mokuba's coordination, hovering around the duel site, setting up cameras to capture the scene live.
"..."
"It's me who goes first, drawing a card."
The savior from the future, Paradox, secured the first move.
He glanced at Youyu — in Youyu's perspective, he felt there was a hint of resentment in Paradox's eyes — then snorted and played a card.
"Activate Continuous Magic Card from my hand, Malefic Territory!" Paradox said, "When this card is activated, you can activate a Field Magic Card 'Malefic World' from your deck!
Activate it! Malefic World!"
The Duel Disc automatically searched, and a card swiftly popped out of the deck. As the card was placed in the field zone, the deep, dark world quickly dominated the area, dragging the field into a dark dimension.
Under the influence of that power, the nearby drones appeared to lose signal as they helplessly fell. Only a couple remained floating, barely maintaining the livestream transmission.
However, the footage captured only displayed visuals without sound.
"I suppose there's no need for me to over-explain the effect of Malefic World; as long as this field exists, I can summon powerful Malefic Monsters."
Paradox paused, pointing to the Continuous Magic Card beside him.
"Additionally, the effect of 'Malefic Territory.' As long as the 'Malefic World' activated by this card's effect exists in the field zone, both players cannot target the cards in the field zone as the target of effects."
"Oh?" Youyu raised an eyebrow.
It seemed that Paradox, after being frightened by all those Heavy Storms and Mystical Space Typhoons last time, had indeed put some effort into protecting the field magic in his deck.
Moreover, the effect of this 'Malefic Territory' is not that 'while this card is on the field, the field magic cannot be chosen as the target of effects,' but rather 'as long as 'Malefic World' activated by this card's effect exists in the field zone, neither player can select field magic as the target of effects.'
In other words, this is a continuous insurance. Even if Mystical Space Typhoon removes 'Malefic Territory,' its protection for the Malefic World's field still remains.
Thus, ordinary typhoons can no longer destroy Malefic World. Either use the invincible Krypton Hero Airman as before, or directly play a 'Heavy Storm,' indiscriminately destroying all magic and trap cards on the field...
"Next, activate Continuous Magic - Field Barrier from your hand!"
A milky white barrier propped up, encompassing the four duelists within.
Paradox smiled, "Now, both players cannot activate new field magic, nor can they destroy the field magic."
Youyu: "..."
Alright, with this, even the invincible Airman and Heavy Storm can't solve the problem.
Youyu couldn't help but wonder how much psychological shadow his multitude of typhoons last time had left on Paradox, driving Uncle Paradox to set up such an exaggerated fortification right away.
Unable to be selected as targets for effects, nor destroyed by card effects; this formidable resistance, rounded up, might even equal a low-tiered Red Daddy (Ultimate Magician Knight - Red-Eyes Knight) in resistance...