Without the White Bone King present, the remaining skeleton soldiers were immediately no longer a threat.
Yugen swiftly cleared the scene and took control.
The captured elves were also rescued. Having witnessed the White Bone King's journey from rage to demise, they were deeply impressed and kept calling him Hero.
"Why is there always this kind of hero legend in every dimension..." Yugen mumbled.
He wanted to say, no, I'm not a hero, at most just a derivative of a hero.
Moreover, perhaps influenced by certain hidden anime industries from the advanced Island Country, modern people immediately think of goblins rather than evil dragons when they hear the word hero, so mentioning this title now feels a bit inauspicious...
Yugen also roughly understood the background of this place from the locals.
The White Bone King emerged from countless average skeletons, uniting the undead forces in this area and establishing his army. However, being too rampant, he posed a threat to nearby towns, which led to conflicts with warriors from other nearby races.
In the end, the White Bone side lost, and the White Bone King vanished without a trace. No one saw him for a long time.
Peace lasted for a while until a dark vortex appeared in this dimension's sky. The power of the Evil God descended, coveting this elven dimension.
It chose two deputies within this dimension, granting them forces of conquest and vengeance. One of them was the King of White Bones, awakened from an unknown grave. The other was a knight of some insect race.
With the power of Orichalcos, the deputies were unstoppable on this land, unmatched until today.
However, upon hearing this, Yugen pondered, if Cheating Snake's choice of a vanguard in this dimension was just at this level, isn't that a bit lacking...
A dusty-faced Mage Elf said: "We've long heard that a Hero from the Otherworld wields the powerful force of cards! He hails from a dimension of warriors, destined to defeat the Evil God and bring light!"
Yugen contemplated for a moment, wondering if this meant that, in terms of "dueling," outsiders were generally stronger than the elves?
Even if many elves possessed extraordinary powers, they needed to rely on excellent duelists to exert even greater strength. Elves with extraordinary powers were like elite warriors, but even the best soldiers needed outstanding leadership to win a war.
Naturally, Yugen inquired about Judai. However, unfortunately, it seemed no one here had seen the jellyfish-head in a red jacket.
"If Hero doesn't mind, why not come to our town for a look?" an elf invited him, "It's also the only town nearby. If you're searching for someone, it must be over there."
With not much else in mind, Yugen decided to follow along for the time being.
Anyway, there was no need to worry about Judai's safety. The guy was a born card prodigy and the reincarnation of the strongest in the twelve dimensions. Although he's using a smaller version of himself, he's still not someone ordinary people can mess with.
As he emerged from the damp land, Yugen realized he had been in a damp underground cave filled with heaps of bones.
Following the rugged mountain path through the forest, Yugen suddenly noticed a huge sculpture at the foot of the mountain as he approached the descent.
A colossal statue, tens of meters high, stood alone in a desolate village. It was shaped like a Phoenix, delicately carved feathers filled with the rhythm of life but eroded by merciless time.
The ancient body was covered in cracks and mottled marks, and the nearby village had long been abandoned, with ancient stone houses and streets overrun by weeds and vines.
The statue looked familiar from afar, prompting Yugen to ask, "What's that...?"
"Oh, it's an ancient site,"
the Mage Elf, rather talkative, explained to him.
"Legend has it that many, many years ago, a tribe worshipping the Phoenix God lived there,"
Phoenix God...
Nephthys' Phoenix God?
Yugen immediately associated it with that famous early monster from the Yu-Gi-Oh! series.
In those early years, Nephthys' Phoenix God was a strong monster capable of regenerating when destroyed by effects and retaliating by clearing the field. It was once listed as a limited card. Later generations developed a card deck themed around "Nephthys."
"That was all a long time ago," the Mage Elf shook his head, saying, "I've only heard tales, but this place has been abandoned for who knows how many years.
Rumor has it they were a very powerful tribe, the devoted followers of the Phoenix God guarding treasures passed down for generations. They could communicate with the deity, enjoying the Phoenix God's protection, and could even summon the god's manifestation.
But no one knows what happened; it's said a catastrophic disaster struck. After that, the tribe vanished, leaving only the village ruins and this forgotten idol."
A nearby elf with an axe chimed in: "If the Phoenix tribe were still around, leveraging their guardian deity's power and joining forces with us to resist that Evil God, maybe we wouldn't be in this situation today."
"Well, that's hard to say. Who knows?" the Mage Elf sighed, "Perhaps the Evil God considered the Phoenix Power a threat, so maybe it preemptively wiped them out."
The elves shook their heads, saying no more.
As Yugen descended the mountain, he took one more look at the giant Phoenix statue. The monumental structure, weathered by time, appeared dull and bleak, exuding a sense of antiquity. Yet, even so, it still retained a charm of majesty and grace.
Especially the eyes of the Phoenix, carved with such vividness. Those eyes had witnessed countless sunrises and sunsets, the rise and fall of fortunes, now leaving one to wonder if they reminisced the past or anticipated the future.
Yugen decided to remember this place, considering visiting the ruins before heading back.
Who knows, maybe his handsome face and sunny disposition could deeply touch the Phoenix God, causing it to be revived on the spot?
Or, if that doesn't work, after finding Judai, he could bring him along to have a look.
Even if the Phoenix God doesn't give him any face, Judai, with his innate card prowess and overlord aura, surely deserves some respect, right?
"..."
They arrived at the elves' town. Upon hearing that the previously captured warriors had returned, the town's elves were overjoyed. Learning that the prophesied Hero had appeared and subdued the White Bone King, they all gazed at Yugen with awe and admiration.
Yugen didn't recognize ninety percent of the elves, probably just ordinary elves of the Elf Realm. Even if printed as cards, they would likely be low-star Mortal Bones.
But when a golden-haired captain in armor greeted him, Yugen immediately recognized him.
Isn't this cannon fodder...
...Ah, no, it's that renowned Captain Who Penetrates the Enemy Formation, isn't it?