Kuriboh!
Known as the loyal Chestnut Ball, it leapt onto the field in the nick of time. Its tiny body rapidly expanded, gigantifying into an indestructible shield, blocking all of Yubel's shooting vines.
"Great!" Keihei couldn't help but cheer, "Even blocking Yubel's attacks completely! Yugen's duel is indeed flawless, no wonder even my brother..."
He bit back his words upon realizing his mistake. He quickly turned to look at Kaiba, noting his smile of approval vanish in an instant, replaced by a stern expression.
"Even Yubel's attacks have been blocked, huh." Judge said coldly, "So the battle phase ends... but if you think you've survived this just like that, that would be too optimistic."
He revealed another card from his hand.
"Activate Magic Card - Thunder Strike!"
Keihei was shocked: "Thunder Strike... that's a tournament forbidden card!"
Thunder Strike is one of those few cards, like Chaos Emperor Dragon, explicitly stated as forbidden in the anime's tournaments. However, it was mentioned during the DM era, which also forbidden "cards that can deal effect damage to a duelist without cost", showing that while not completely without forbidden cards, the anime's standards differed at the same time compared to reality.
Nowadays, though, cards "that deal damage" have been proved to have generally average practical effects, and were unbanned during the GX era. Naturally, a card like Thunder Strike, which violently sweeps everything off the table, was never released.
Technically, using a forbidden card should disqualify one from the tournament, yet in this Duel City, Judge should have been deemed the loser already.
But everyone knew by now that this was more than a matter of win or lose, this duel was already wagering the world's future. A Life Bet Card naturally would not abide by any prohibitions or restrictions.
The heavy lead-gray clouds resembled a thunderous prelude to a god's anger, with rolling dark clouds and flashes of lightning, like thousands of thunder snakes dancing madly in the clouds, creating an impenetrable electric web.
Celestial Thunder tore through the sky like the angry whip of a deity, descending upon the earth with destructive power. The dazzling brilliance illuminated the world as the thunder rained down one after another, slicing through the air like a sword.
Thunder Strike, obliterating all monsters on the opponent's field. Simple and violent, yet it contained ultimate power, sweeping across the field in an instant. Both Chaos Warrior and Dragon Warrior faded away in the electric light.
"Hey, using a forbidden card is just too despicable!" Keihei couldn't help but shout, "You've lost your qualification!"
Judge remained unchanged, his expression indifferent. Clearly, he hadn't cared about the tournament at all from the start, since for a Demon God aiming to destroy the world, mere fame held no significance. In a Dark Duel, only the duel's rules need following, nothing else.
"No harm." Yugen was calm, "This duel wagers the world's future, it's only natural for both sides to use everything they have."
"Oh? You're so calm about it... Does that mean you still have the composure to win despite this?"
Yugen was non-committal.
Judge pondered for two seconds.
"...You do understand that we don't necessarily have to fight." He squinted at Yugen again, "Though I haven't figured out your background, I imagine the current human world doesn't have much to do with you, does it?"
Yugen: "..."
Cheating Snake likely felt that given his insidious nature, he was unlikely to be a genuine duelist. He was probably some evil creature or dark presence residing within this boy. They might not necessarily be enemies, perhaps there's an opportunity for alliance.
But Yugen remained silent for a moment.
Really, with just a few words, he's revoking my humanity?
Utter slander. There's no one in this world as righteous a duelist as myself.
"From the moment humanity gained wisdom, darkness began to spread." Judge said indifferently, "I have existed for endless ages, witnessing far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.
That's why I was able to see this for myself.
The once powerful Atlantis Empire's demise, followed by the birth of new civilizations, evolving to today...
Endless ages have passed, with people coming and going, in different regions, different tribes, different cultures, different origins. But all humans, without exception, endlessly repeat cycles of war, hatred, and plunder, constantly harming each other.
The very darkness I bring is what they themselves have created, it is destiny. Even if you stop me, new manifestations of darkness will emerge, this chain constructed by hatred will endlessly continue."
"Just like the hatred of those Doma Swordsmen?" Yugen said indifferently.
Judge slightly frowned.
Yugen didn't elaborate, but his message was clear enough.
Whether past or present, the Doma Swordsmen viewed loyalty to the organization as their ultimate purpose, driven by never-ending hatred.
Ironically, the hatred was sown by the very organization they served. Their tragic experiences and internal darkness were all manipulated by Orichalcos behind the scenes.
If the swordsmen's lives were thus, who can tell how much other hatred and darkness in history were created by this person?
"Indeed, sometimes in human history, I wasn't just a bystander." Judge admitted bluntly, "Occasionally I would get involved, but my influence was merely a slight nudge behind the scenes.
If there weren't already darkness and evil thoughts in humanity's hearts, it wouldn't have evolved to this stage."
"If you say so, then let it be." Yugen chuckled.
Per the Doma Three Musketeers' tragic lives, you call that "a slight nudge," huh?
Fine, you're invincible, everything you say is right.
"Alright then, it's unfortunate we can't agree." Judge said solemnly, "At least, as a duelist, you clearly have remarkable ability. Maybe we wouldn't need to stand opposed.
But since you insist on this choice, don't assume I'm afraid of you."
He waved his hand.
"Then I'll place a card facedown in the back."
As he spoke, a gold light blossomed at the back field, a shadowy mass rose from the depths, resembling a lotus flower blossoming from the abyss.
"When 'Continuous Magic' is activated, I discarded 'Sacrificial Lotus' from my hand." Judge said icily, "If Sacrificial Lotus is in the graveyard at the end of my turn, it can be special summoned in attack position to the field." (Original effect)
In the animation, this card was Yubel's golden partner. But once it was made into a physical card, it was restricted to "the effect can only be activated if there are no magic traps in your backfield," which made it less useful than its original version.
At that time, no one could have imagined that even though the card was nerfed when turned into a physical card, twenty years later, K Society would surprisingly release a new version of this flower, still an exclusive support card for Yubel, with strength far surpassing its original form by several dimensions...
"Then there's 'Yubel's' effect. If Yubel doesn't sacrifice a monster at the end of the turn, it must destroy itself.
Therefore, sacrificing 'Sacrificial Lotus' ensures Yubel stays on the field."
Sacrificial Lotus dissolved under the surrounding golden light, its energy flowing into Yubel to maintain its presence on the field.
"Turn ends."