[Paradox, LP 0]
Paradox stood in place for a moment.
He lost... but he was still alive.
This duel, he entered with the resolve to die if necessary. The Field Magic "Malefic World" is a card containing immense power, allowing him to bind spirits with Malefic power while also bringing great risk.
A duel conducted within the Malefic World means that defeat would directly result in the duelist's life ending.
Yet, that didn't happen. He lost, forfeited a total of twelve thousand life points, but still survived.
This must be called a miracle.
A miracle summoned by the Duel Kings with the power to change the world.
Paradox sat on the ground, watching the three Duel Kings who had just finished packing up, walking toward him, his expression fluctuating.
"Can you truly make me believe... that you can change the future?"
"That's right," Yusei stepped forward, saying, "Though it still might be difficult, if we start trying from my era... from each and every one of our eras, the future can definitely be changed.
Thanks to you, we are able to realize this sooner. Hand history over to us, we guarantee not to disappoint you and your companions' expectations."
"..."
A brief silence, followed by Paradox's long sigh, as he closed his eyes.
"Alright, then for the last time... Let me believe once more in this thing called 'hope.'"
He seemed to finally give up.
Having experienced this scene personally, Youyu felt it was incredible—the future protagonist, indeed impressive in card playing and rhetorical skills.
They truly managed to straighten out this BOSS who even the original movie couldn't redeem...
Paradox sighed, turning his head to look at the people bustling with excitement under the endless blue sky of Kaiba Land—that was a sight no longer existing in his era.
Despite his mission's failure, he suddenly felt as though he had completed his task, experiencing an unprecedented sense of relief.
"Really... defeated by you Duel Kings," he chuckled.
Youyu, unusually serious, approached: "Yusei and Judai are right, the issues of history should be handled by people from each era themselves. Even if you avoid the future you mentioned by altering the past through shortcuts, humans who fail to realize their mistakes will eventually walk the same path.
So leave the upcoming matters to us without worry; we won't let the future repeat itself."
Paradox glanced at him, softly laughing.
"Duel King Youyu... From our first meeting, I found you hard to decipher," he chuckled, "But since you say so, I'll go ahead and believe you this time..."
Youyu nodded in satisfaction, seeing the harmonious atmosphere, and continued: "Then if that's the case, you probably won't need your Duel Disc anymore after this. How about..."
Paradox: "......"
Are you seriously... still thinking about my Duel Disc?!
Judai covered his mouth, as if wanting to laugh.
"As expected, it's the familiar Mr. Youyu indeed..."
Paradox, helpless: "Speaking of which, the mechanical stand I sent to distract you all earlier, didn't it also have a Duel Disc attached?"
"Aware, aware. I've already removed that too."
Youyu nodded, indicated not to worry, he removed it himself...
Yet the future youth didn't say a word, just silently removed the Duel Disc, handing it to Youyu.
Youyu examined it, finding that its buttons were quite numerous, differing significantly from the outdated models of this era.
The operation of this thing might be somewhat complex, something he couldn't figure out immediately.
Youyu pondered: "Do you have a manual for this thing?"
Paradox rolled his eyes: "How about I send you a warranty card?"
"Great idea!" Youyu eagerly nodded, "Do you have repair stations in this era?"
Paradox: "..."
Upon flipping over the Duel Disc, Youyu discovered that the slot was surprisingly empty with no Card Deck inside.
This guy, Paradox, had actually removed the Card Deck before handing over the Duel Disc.
Without speaking, Youyu raised his gaze to glance at Paradox, and instantly, he said: "All the spirits in my Card Deck are taken from various ages! I must return to those ages to return them to their rightful owners."
Meaning, don't be thinking about my Card Deck, those cards have owners.
Indeed, Paradox's Card Deck is packed with powerful spirits from various ages; leaving them all in this era would mess up the timeline.
Youyu indicated that they are of course reasonable people, what needs to be returned to the rightful owners will indeed be returned.
Yet he immediately added: "Then your 'Malefic Deck', you don't need to return these cards to anyone, right?"
Paradox's mouth twitched slightly.
"But if the original Spirit Cards are returned to their owners, all my 'Malefic' monsters will be useless," Paradox stated weakly.
Indeed. Take the Malefic Stardust Dragon as an example. To summon the Malefic Stardust Dragon, you need to have the original Stardust Dragon in Paradox's deck. Once Yusei takes back Stardust Dragon, Paradox can never summon Malefic Stardust Dragon again.
The same goes for other Malefic Monsters.
However, Paradox thought about it and realized that without the original Spirits, his "Malefic" deck was essentially worthless. He couldn't summon Spirits to fight as before, and he couldn't even use it in a duel. It was basically useless.
If there was any value left in this deck, it was as a collection piece for display, without much practical use.
After hesitating for a moment, Paradox pulled out his deck, took out the Spirit Cards he'd collected from various eras, and handed the rest over to Youyu.
Youyu nodded, pleased.
Malefic Deck Get!
Though it might be useless, expanding the deck collection is still a good thing.
He resolved to become an NPC who unlocks the full card archive in the game!
Accepting the Duel Disc and the deck, Youyu casually glanced over at the massive and cumbersome D-Wheel behind Paradox.
Speaking of which, the D-Wheel from the robot stand-in earlier seemed to be just a motorcycle that looked like a D-Wheel and didn't have a Moment installed...
However, before he could say anything, Paradox hurriedly spoke up: "Don't even think about that!"
If you hack my D-Wheel, how am I supposed to get back!?
Youyu shrugged.
I didn't say anything, who wants your D-Wheel? What do you take me for?
Youyu felt that if he really wanted to hack his D-Wheel, he could.
After all, Yusei's D-Wheel can travel through time and space now, right? Worst case, Paradox, Judai, and I squeeze together in that single seat and ask Yusei to give us a ride back.
There's always a solution to every problem, after all.
But thinking about how difficult it must've been for Paradox, Youyu decided not to make things difficult for him.
Not many Duel Kings are as considerate as me from now on.
Youyu gave himself a thumbs up.
Paradox finally mounted his giant D-Wheel, feeling a bit emotional.
He had returned to the past with the determination to die and the mission of being "the last human in history." Little did he expect that at the end of his time-traveling journey, he'd feel like a market lady haggling for vegetables, getting a raw deal in the process...
Yet, thinking about it, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
This feeling... wasn't so bad after all.
Before leaving, he couldn't help but take one last look at Youyu.
However, the latter was engrossly fiddling with the Future Duel Disc he'd just obtained, seemingly unaware of his gaze.
"Duel King Youyu... what an interesting guy." He smiled slightly.
As weird as it might sound, negotiating with him felt like haggling in a market, which unexpectedly made him feel closer.
...there was a peculiar sense of reassurance.
At this moment, the Duel King, busy tinkering with the Duel Disc, suddenly raised his head: "By the way..."
Paradox took a sharp breath and immediately activated his D-Wheel before he could finish, loudly declaring: "We'll meet again someday, Duel Kings of every era!"
With that, his D-Wheel revved loudly as the tunnel through time and space opened before him, and with a blaze of intense white light and turbulence, that massive D-Wheel vanished into thin air.
...it felt like an escape.
Youyu opened his mouth to speak, but Paradox had already disappeared without a trace.
"Hmph, what's the rush?" Youyu shrugged, "I just wanted to ask him what he meant about me having a unique Spirit before he dashed off faster than a rabbit..."
In fact, he'd already asked the same question to Yuki Judai, who also came from the future.
After all, Judai seemed to know his future self quite well, so he should know.
However, this mischievous student always gave vague responses, as if saying, "I know, but I just won't tell the teacher," citing concerns that revealing it prematurely might affect the Spirit's birth.
Yet, Youyu suspected this was a lie.
He boldly guessed that perhaps this kid just wanted to watch "the teacher wanting but unable to get it" and him feeling helpless.
So Youyu didn't press further, just quietly made another note of it in his small notebook about Yuki Judai.
Imagining Paradox's return to his own future timeline was rather amusing.
His future companions would likely be shocked to see him riding back on that big D-Wheel, with neither his deck nor Duel Disc left—
—Weren't you going back to change history and save the world?
Did Captain Jack's pirate ship rob you?
Then Paradox might look utterly dejected: "Don't even mention it. Damn it, I ran into a Duel King with no sense of card morality..."
"..."