It's over.
Delta lay on the ground, feeling like his body was floating on invisible water, drifting with the current, slowly sinking among the waves.
It was not only the end of the duel but also of his mission, and more importantly, his fleeting life.
This was the last duel of his life, and certainly the most unforgettable one.
Four consecutive fatal blows, his Dark Storm Dragon was blown away three times in a row, and the Five Emperors Dragon was blown away once. The wind from the Underworld on the other side seemed to never cease, making him completely numb.
That was tolerable. The final, most lethal move that completely broke through his defense was not just the last blow; it followed with a "Recruitment Order".
Confirmed the top card of the opponent's card deck, and if it was a summonable monster, it was Special Summoned to the player's side.
Haha, the card that the Wind Emperor just blew back and was still hot, was it impossible to not reveal a monster?
Being NTR-ed from the card deck, can you believe it? What is this latest, most powerful Minotaur new form after evolution?
As everyone knows, the darkest one in the Emperor Series should be "Evil Emperor Gaius". Each Emperor corresponds to a different attribute, and Gaius corresponds to Dark Attribute. The name "Evil Emperor," at first glance, indicates it should be the darkest and most evil one, giving the impression of the ruler of the abyss.
However, after today, no matter what others think, as far as Delta is concerned when he looks at the Wind Emperor on Yugen's side, he feels that this name of the darkest Emperor should belong to you instead.
Evil Emperor, who does he think he is? His petty evildoings compared to your degree of Underworld are simply not fit to shine your shoes.
Now recalling this tortured card game, he suddenly feels that this brief prison journey is indeed the epitome of his life?
His life was similarly struggling in a fate that was predetermined, similarly brief, and similarly spent in torment.
Especially at the end, when the "Dark Storm Dragon" came to Yugen's field to deliver the final blow, he truly seemed to see his father in that explosive dragon breath.
As if showing expressions of disappointment, reproach, and even disgust.
At the moment when his vision was engulfed by darkness, he seemed in a daze as if time flowed backward, returning to the past.
His own birth, being created by his father, gaining intelligence and consciousness, training with his brothers using different card decks, and learning and awakening more intelligence during the duel.
Soon, he stood out from all his brothers, becoming the best one.
"You're indeed my son."
That's what his father said to him at the time.
"Soon, you will become my right-hand man." The man said to him then, reaching out to heavily pat his shoulder, "Don't let me down."
"I absolutely will not disappoint you." He solemnly promised.
Of course, this promise now seems to have fallen through.
He still remembers that, back then, when the other brothers looked at him, their eyes were mostly filled with envy, admiration, as if he carried not only his father's expectations but also the hopes of others. Everyone viewed him as a role model, as the best among them, meant to serve their father on behalf of them all.
Yet, it's ironic to say. Though designed based on Seto Kaiba as the prototype, Delta actually never, not even for a moment, had ambitions. No pursuit of power, of the so-called seizing Kaiba Company from Seto Kaiba to achieve revenge, to stand at the peak of the world held much attraction for him.
He felt the world as it is now is already good. The only thing in the world that truly piqued his interest happened to be Kaiba Park, personally established by Seto Kaiba.
"..."
"Seto Kaiba is a murderer, the most heinous criminal, robber, thief in history."
The man gathered all the children, standing on the stage, accusing Seto Kaiba of his countless crimes.
"Moreover, he is the most absurd one. Kaiba Group used to be a leading industry in the world, the most cutting-edge technology, the finest arms industry.
But what did this guy do after possessing them? Open White Dragon Amusement Park, produce roller coasters? Why doesn't he just sell baby pacifiers?"
All his brothers were filled with righteous indignation, eagerly following their father's words to denounce him. But only Delta whispered to himself, "Honestly, I think Kaiba Park looks pretty fun..."
However, Delta didn't know if this mumble was heard by his father. On the stage, his father raised his eyelids in displeasure, "Did you say something just now, Delta?"
"Ah, no, father." Delta lowered his head, "I said you're right, Seto Kaiba is an unforgivable villain."
Only then did the man nod and ask no more.
But Delta never told anyone that, indeed, a brief instant in his life did harbor a wish of his own. That was, in his lifetime, he wished to visit Kaiba Park once.
Delta is just such a peculiar AI. Clearly created with the purpose of revenge, clearly the most outstanding one, yet deep down only desiring to lie flat.
Even if he played nothing, only being a balloon seller in the park, watching kids climb up and down on the slides, watching young people and children scream in joy on the White Dragon coaster, he felt content.
Of course, that was certainly a pipedream.
After all, they are opposing factions. Father and his brothers are here shouting slogans like "Overthrow Tyranny," each filled with righteous indignation denouncing today's tyrant for being foolishly indulgent, while he, as the father's top Grand General, not only lacks battle intent but even wants to join the opponent in music and dance...
...What is that supposed to be?
"..."
"If you don't want to fight, then why gamble with your life?"
Yugen approached Delta, who was lying on the ground, his body beginning to dissolve into data, and said calmly.
"Even as AI, having an awareness of existing, you should understand the preciousness of the so-called 'living,' right?"
"Heh, if you're asking me whether I wish to seek death, then of course not."
Delta closed his eyes, smiling self-deprecatingly.
"That's why you humans will never understand. From birth, our fate is already decided. Whether or not this is what I want is irrelevant; this is my mission, my existence is to battle for Father, and that's enough."
Yugen pondered for a moment.
"I think it's you who doesn't understand humanity," he said softly. "Being able to comprehend such a concept, you're actually more akin to humans than you imagine."
"Oh?" Delta reluctantly opened his eyes, looking at him, puzzled.
"In this world, there are many humans who are actually like that," Yugen said, "striving for others' expectations, trying everything to become the person they're expected to be since birth, even though that might not be what they want."
"Is that so..."
Delta closed his eyes again, smiling wearily.
"Then maybe, I'm indeed more like humans than I thought..."
But it's okay; it all doesn't matter anymore.
He has already done his best.
No longer need to fight.
Delta's body completely dissolved, turning into scattered data, disappearing in the Virtual Space.