Beneath the dark throne, Jaden's friends and allies watched the duel tensely.
Besides the successfully awakened Syrus and Hassleberry, close friends like Jesse and Chazz were all present. And not just them. Professor Crowler was also watching nervously.
If it were anything else, he could comfort himself and trust Hikaru to handle it.
But Jaden's matter was different. He couldn't help but want to witness it personally.
If Hikaru was the student he worried about least, then Jaden was the student he could never stop worrying about.
Though treated differently, positioned differently in his heart, and interacted with differently day-to-day, in Professor Crowler's eyes, they were both the most important students of his teaching career.
Especially Jaden, who had completely awakened Crowler to the truth that grades alone didn't determine a student's worth. And Jaden's various messy habits had kept Crowler perpetually concerned.
Now, hearing that a duel concerning Jaden's past, future, and potentially his life's turning point was about to unfold, how could he not worry?
The instant he saw Yubel, the eerie, terrifying darkness emanating from her pierced him like needles, making his legs tremble. Yet even so, he didn't retreat a single step. He took two deep breaths and awaited the duel's start.
"Heh heh heh heh... My turn."
Yubel's left hand had, without anyone noticing, formed a Duel Disk composed of flesh and blood. She drew a card and glanced down.
"Normal Summon: Dark Beckoning Beast."
Dark Beckoning Beast. Level 2, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
A small demon flew from the darkness.
This was a Sacred Beast servant. Although the school's strict protection had prevented Yubel from awakening the three Sacred Beasts, and their "souls" had inexplicably left the academy without reporting to her, not having the Sacred Beasts wasn't a major issue for Yubel.
These "support" cards would suffice.
"When this card is Summoned: I add one card other than Dark Beckoning Beast that mentions any of the Sacred Beasts from my Deck to my hand."
"Sacred Beasts?!"
"She can use the Sacred Beasts' power?" Students and professors who had experienced the Seven Stars incident, like Syrus, knew about the Sacred Beasts. But the students from other schools didn't, so they asked curiously.
Upon learning that the Sacred Beasts were powerful, evil demons capable of absorbing all other life upon manifesting, they understood how dangerous "Yubel" truly was.
Not just her personal abilities. As a demon, she likely possessed many other powers.
Yes.
Yubel was this world's genuine "strongest spirit"!
As a demon, she was the absolute highest-tier, most elite demon. Genuinely "peerless." She could even control the three Sacred Beasts, fellow top-tier demons, and even fuse them.
"I add Opening of the Spirit Gates from my Deck to my hand."
"Then... activate."
Yubel giggled. With her action, golden light erupted from several towers around Duel Academy, illuminating this location.
"As this card's activation effect: I add one monster that mentions any Sacred Beast or its name from my Deck to my hand. I add a second Dark Beckoning Beast."
Jaden watched her plays without reacting.
"While Dark Beckoning Beast is in the Monster Zone, once per turn beyond my Normal Summon, during my Main Phase, I can Summon one Fiend monster with 0 ATK and DEF.
Come, lotus of love. Normal Summon: Samsara D Lotus."
A lotus rose from the ground. Then a demon revealed itself beneath the flower, its left hand nearly identical to Yubel's, grotesque beyond measure.
Samsara D Lotus. Level 1, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
"0 ATK again?" Chazz frowned deeply.
Repeatedly summoning 0 ATK monsters meant Yubel's Deck likely didn't care about ATK at all.
"Samsara D Lotus's effect: once per turn, I Tribute this card to activate. From my Deck, I Special Summon one... me!"
Everyone was startled.
Dueling a spirit and having the opponent "summon itself"? Everyone understood what that meant. It meant Yubel was going all-out with maximum "spirit power" and "duel damage"!
"Special Summon: Yubel!"
In the void, an eye slowly opened. It hovered overhead, staring at everyone present. Its gaze alone made people feel chills and cold. As the eye widened and glowed, a figure emerged, transforming into a terrifying half-human, half-demon, half-dragon, half-male, half-female abomination.
Yubel. Level 10, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
"Level 10!"
"And the ATK is still 0..."
The constant parade of 0 ATK monsters unsettled everyone. They were all skilled duelists who knew nobody wasted summons. These 0 ATK monsters had their reasons.
"I activate the Spell Card: Nightmare Pain."
"This card's first effect can only be used once per turn. During my Main Phase: I destroy one DARK monster in my hand or face-up on my field, and add one Yubel card or a card mentioning Yubel, other than Nightmare Pain, from my Deck to my hand.
I destroy Yubel on my field and add Mature Chronicle from my Deck."
A thorny vine whip lashed out, striking Yubel. Amid screams, Yubel shattered. An ancient parchment scroll materialized in Yubel's hand.
"She destroyed the Yubel she worked so hard to Special Summon?"
"This is..."
"Heh heh heh... Eternal, continuous, endless torment. That is love! My effect: when I am destroyed by an effect other than my own. I Special Summon one Yubel - Terror Incarnate from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard!"
"Das Abscheulich Ritter!"
Crimson eyes reappeared, this time even more enormous. The massive red eye slowly rotated as two dragon heads emerged from its body.
Yubel - Terror Incarnate. Level 11, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
"Continuous Spell: Mature Chronicle."
A pair of demonic wings carrying a parchment scroll flew out.
"Each time I Special Summon a Yubel monster or a monster mentioning Yubel: I place one Chronicle Counter on this card."
"Jaden, it's almost time for you to witness my love."
"What do you mean?" Jaden responded.
"Your friend loves talking about the ultimate Fusion, the absolute Fusion. But for the Supreme King, such Fusion was nothing special. And for me, my love for you transcends even that kind of armchair theory."
Jaden frowned.
"I return Yubel - Terror Incarnate and Dark Beckoning Beast on my field to the Deck."
Everyone was baffled by this strange action.
Even more baffling...
With Yubel's motion, a monster with color only in its left hand and the rest a golden phantom slowly materialized where Yubel had vanished.
"Special Summon: Phantom of Yubel."
Phantom of Yubel. Level 9, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
"This card can return Yubel monsters and Fiend monsters with 0 ATK and DEF from my hand, field, or Graveyard to the Deck, then Special Summon itself directly from the Extra Deck.
Look, Jaden. This phantom form was born after I was sent to other dimensions, baptized by many powers."
Yubel spoke softly. "No Fusion Spell needed. No Fusion process. No chain. Summoned directly from the Fusion Deck. Far more noble than your so-called friend's Fusion."
The spectators exchanged glances in silence, not knowing what to say.
From this description, it seemed Phantom of Yubel could be brought out directly from the hand?
Meaning it could be Special Summoned on the very first move without any setup?
Although its ATK and DEF were both 0, given Yubel's confidence, it clearly wasn't effectless.
On the Fusion point alone, it did seem more convenient than Hikaru's methods.
Meanwhile, Mature Chronicle on Yubel's field lit up with another symbol.
"I activate Mature Chronicle's effect: I Special Summon one Yubel from my Graveyard."
The Yubel that had been destroyed by self-inflicted torment reappeared on the field.
"Then, I activate Opening of the Spirit Gates's effect. Once per turn, I discard one card: I Special Summon one Fiend monster with 0 ATK and DEF from my Graveyard. I Special Summon Samsara D Lotus."
"I Set one card. Turn end."
"At this moment, Yubel's effect activates. During each of my End Phases, I must Tribute one monster on my field, or it's destroyed. I Tribute Samsara D Lotus to maintain my own existence.
Then, the Tributed Samsara D Lotus's effect. While this card is in the Graveyard and I control a Yubel: during my End Phase, I can add this card to my hand or Special Summon it. I Special Summon it in Defense Position."
Mature Chronicle: 3 counters.
"Huh?"
"I see. Using this method to repeatedly recycle monsters."
"Not only solving her own Tribute requirement, but even getting an extra Special Summon."
"Even as a duelist, this Yubel shouldn't be underestimated."
The spectators watched Yubel's plays, finding both novelty and strategic depth. Not to be taken lightly.
Meanwhile, Jaden didn't rush to draw. He looked at Phantom of Yubel and spoke. "Yubel, is this the form you took after being corrupted by the Light of Destruction and Darkness's power in the spirit world?"
Yubel smiled and slightly nodded.
"I'm sorry for making you suffer in other dimensions. That was my fault."
"No, it wasn't your fault. Precisely because of that, I understood. This is true love." Hearing Jaden's words, Yubel's smile grew even brighter.
"Pain and torment are never love." Jaden spoke firmly. "Yubel, the previous me told you he would give you all his love. But this me didn't remember that. That's my fault.
But tormenting each other, inflicting pain on each other, is never true love. True love should be protection and acceptance."
"What are you saying?"
"...Yubel, you're underestimating my best friend."
Yubel's face twisted with absolute disgust.
The moment Jaden said "best friend," she instantly knew he meant that man named Hikaru.
"My turn. Draw."
Jaden drew. Teachers, classmates, and friends watched anxiously. But after looking at his card, Jaden spoke directly. "Yubel, honestly, whether past or present, I've never understood what 'love' truly means. So I apologize. I didn't understand love, and perhaps hurt you because of it.
But if you'll accept it, I can start learning to love you from now on. However, this love will never be exclusive or possessive.
I love this world. I love heroes. I love my friends..."
"Damn bonds, heroes..." Yubel's expression darkened further.
"Phantom of Yubel... I don't know how much pain and torment you endured. But none of that justifies or excuses hurting other lives." Jaden's expression was resolute. "If you won't repent, Yubel, I'll beat you until you do!"
"Ha ha ha ha! Now that's my Jaden! Come, let's fight to our hearts' content! Let me feel the pain! Let me feel the love!" Yubel laughed, grinning widely.
She wasn't worried at all.
Because her power was strong enough that even cards with "unaffected by other card effects" couldn't escape her influence!
But unexpectedly, Jaden held up a card and said: "You're underestimating Hikaru. He pursues the ultimate of Fusion... there's no Fusion he doesn't understand.
Phantom of Yubel, this monster that can be Special Summoned directly from the Extra Deck. Did you think Hikaru didn't know about it?"
Yubel froze, confused.
"Phantom of Yubel... can't be used as Fusion Material, right!"
Impossible...
Yubel's face showed shock.
That was supposed to be a secret only she knew!