"Hmph... My turn."
Yubel drew and after a single glance, placed it in the Spell/Trap Zone. "Spell Card: Akashic Record. I draw two cards from my Deck. If those cards have been used before, they're banished. If not, they stay in my hand."
"Of course, they're unused cards."
She drew two, then thought for a moment.
Normally, even with Nightmare Pain banished, she could use Mature Chronicle's effect to add it from the banished zone to her hand. And even with Mature Chronicle destroyed, she could use Opening of the Spirit Gates to recover it.
But now, with Spirit Gates destroyed and Nightmare Pain banished, recovering her Spells was difficult.
Still, that didn't mean she couldn't handle this situation.
In terms of "sustain," she still had many simple options.
But anyway...
"I return Yubel and one Terror Incarnate with 0 ATK and DEF from my Graveyard to the Deck. Special Summon: a second Phantom of Yubel."
Yubel stuffed two Yubels back into the Deck, then summoned a golden-glowing monster.
Phantom of Yubel. Level 9, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
"Now you can't use weird monster effects to stop me."
Before figuring out how to win immediately, summoning a Phantom was always the right call.
"I activate the Spell Card: Merciless Erasure."
"I select one monster on my field and send it to the Graveyard. My opponent randomly sends one card to the Graveyard."
Terror Incarnate's body began to glow, then with a thunderous explosion, the resentment-filled knight detonated and vanished. One of Jaden's cards shattered and fell to the Graveyard.
"She Tributed her own monster?"
"No... be careful, Jaden! There's probably a third form!"
Correct!
"When Yubel - Terror Incarnate leaves this dimension, my ultimate form can descend."
"Das Extreme Traurig Drache." Yubel slowly intoned.
Then an eye even more enormous than before appeared on the field, growing massive and terrifying. A three-headed demon materialized. On this demon's chest, Yubel's face slowly surfaced, darkly watching Jaden.
Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare. Level 12, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
"A third form?"
"It can... evolve even further?"
Jaden frowned slightly.
Before this duel, Hikaru had told him everything he knew about Yubel.
Although Yubel's battle damage was redirected to the opponent, without Nightmare Pain, the ATK was low. He could even stall with Defense Position lower-level monsters.
Air Hummingbird's slow LP recovery was also an option.
But he hadn't done that. He felt he should be more proactive in this duel.
So conversely, Yubel not using Ring of Destruction to proactively destroy Terror Incarnate and summon Ultimate Nightmare last turn was probably for more aggressive opportunities too.
Or perhaps...
Yubel didn't have a spare Ultimate Nightmare.
If so, Yubel's Deck likely ran three Yubels, two Terror Incarnates, and one Ultimate Nightmare.
"Allure of Darkness. I draw two cards and banish one DARK monster." Yubel drew two and casually banished a DARK monster. "Next, Spell Card: Pot of Greed. Draw two."
Yubel looked at her hand, already giggling. "What a shame, Jaden."
?
"The card you worked so hard to eliminate has returned to my hand.
Continuous Spell: Nightmare Pain."
"Oh no!"
Nearly every spectator cried out.
How troublesome this card was, Jaden's earlier struggles made perfectly clear!
To deal with it permanently, Jaden had used every Spell/Trap removal he had!
Yet Yubel had a second copy.
"Yubel..."
Jaden spoke with sadness. "Why must you bind yourself with suffering?"
"That's not love!"
"If it's not love, then what was everything I experienced?" Yubel couldn't accept this either. "The pain in other dimensions, my body torn apart by the light... Was all of that hatred?"
Jaden clenched his fists.
His voice still couldn't reach her.
"Then, Nightmare Pain's effect: I destroy Yubel from my hand and add Torture Golem from my Deck."
"Because Yubel was destroyed, I Special Summon Yubel - Terror Incarnate."
"Finally, I activate Torture Golem's hand effect. I reveal this card and one Yubel monster from my hand to my opponent."
"I Special Summon this card to my opponent's field. Then, I Special Summon the revealed monster to my field.
I Special Summon Torture Golem to your field, then Special Summon Yubel from my hand!"
CRACKLE...
An enormous mechanical golem appeared on Jaden's field, crackling with terrifying electricity that stung Jaden painfully.
Torture Golem. Level 8, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 3000.
Simultaneously, Yubel gently walked onto her own field, facing Jaden directly.
"..."
Everyone fell silent.
At this moment, Yubel's field held Yubel, Yubel - Terror Incarnate, Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare, and Phantom of Yubel. All four forms present simultaneously!
And now, clearly, Yubel would use her actions to demonstrate that "torment" and "pain" were her way of fighting, making Jaden understand her love.
"Battle! Yubel attacks Torture Golem!"
Despite Jaden having two higher-ATK Neo-Spacians, Yubel didn't target them. Uncertain whether Jaden's Set cards might be Hero Barrier or Dimension Tunnel - Mirror Gate, she chose the safe option of attacking Torture Golem.
"Oh no! Yubel's battle damage is redirected to the opponent. Jaden would lose!"
"Words seem completely useless. Yubel, no matter what I say, you won't listen."
Yubel looked at Jaden, unsure of his point.
Of course, Jaden continued shortly.
"If this goes on, I'll have no choice but to destroy you completely, Yubel. But that's not something I want to see. Yubel, I don't understand what love is. But I know love is absolutely not one-sided exploitation and torment.
If that's how it is... let's try to understand each other."
?
"Flip Set card!"
Yubel tensed.
What Trap?
"Trap Card: Hero Exchange!"
???
"When both players control the same number of monsters: exchange control of all those monsters!"
"Huh?!"
"What?!"
"Mamma mia!"
The Trap slowly flipped. Yubel was involuntarily pulled by the Trap's power. Soon, all monsters on Jaden's field dissolved into light and vanished, while Yubel, Terror Incarnate, Ultimate Nightmare, and Phantom were dragged to Jaden's side!
"Yubel..."
Yubel now stood before Jaden. Her back was to him, and for the first time, genuine fury and anger crossed her face.
The spectators exchanged bewildered glances.
"Was this your idea?"
"N-no?"
"Is this kid a genius or something?"
Chazz quipped.
"Bro, that was incredible." Syrus's jaw dropped.
Making Yubel use HEROes while he used Yubel?!
Pure genius!
Only Jesse was still seriously analyzing: "Hmm, Jaden's field doesn't have Nightmare Pain, so Yubel can choose not to enter the Battle Phase.
Although the Neo-Spacians appeared on Yubel's field, Neo Space still exists, so Yubel can choose to keep the Contact Fusions. Even if Yubel doesn't want to use them, since the Neo-Spacians returning to the Deck would banish or bounce field cards, Yubel has to keep them.
This means next turn, Jaden can attack a Neo-Spacian with Yubel and win outright!
An incredible strategy, Jaden."
The others' expressions grew even more awkward.
Forcing Yubel to keep the Neo-Spacians?!
What a terrifying person, Jaden!
"How about it, Yubel!" Jaden shouted at the Yubel beside him.
"Stop doing pointless things! I end the Battle Phase!" Yubel couldn't bear it. She shouted, ending the Battle Phase, then opened her Graveyard, pulling out two monsters that transformed into golden phantoms.
"I return Yubel and Samsara D Lotus from my Graveyard to the Deck. Special Summon: Phantom of Yubel!"
A third... Phantom of Yubel.
Simultaneously, Yubel's consciousness transferred from her current body back to her own field.
Jaden looked disappointed.
"I will never use the HEROes' power." Yubel's face showed indescribable resentment. Then the light and darkness on her body began surging violently.
At that moment, red light slowly seeped from her body. This light had apparently always been mixed within her, driving her increasingly mad, increasingly obsessive.
With her motion, a pillar of red light descended from the sky.
Jaden startled and shouted: "Everyone get back! Stand clear!!!"
His warning jolted the spectators. Without hesitation, they scrambled away.
Sweat appeared on Jaden's forehead.
Fortunately, his worry was unnecessary. Although the red light descended, it didn't engulf the world. It fell solely upon Yubel.
"Yubel..." Jaden understood.
During her interdimensional travels, she hadn't just suffered various injuries. She had even been exposed to that light.
"These things took my place..." Yubel glared venomously at the two Neo-Spacians on the field. "And now they occupy my Monster Zones. Unforgivable..."
As she spoke, the fury on her face seemed to become tangible. "It seems I can never have your love. In that case, there's no need to keep these twelve dimensions.
I'll just destroy every dimension and let everything vanish in my suffering."
"Yubel?"
"I overlay the two Level 9 Neo-Spacian Fusion Monsters on my field!"
What?
Jaden hadn't expected this.
Both Neo-Spacians were torn apart by light and darkness, exploding amid screams, becoming pitch-black spheres tinged with red light.
An enormous vortex appeared before Yubel. The red light emanating from it radiated ominousness.
"My resentment, my hatred, my lost love!
Bind everything together and become the ultimate power that destroys all things!
Use you to annihilate this world!"
"Xyz Summon!!"
On her body, her very life force burned.
"Rank 9!"
"True King of All Calamities!"
BOOM!
RUMBLE RUMBLE!
A black dragon slowly crawled from the darkness. Blue electricity coursed through it. Crimson light emanated from its body. Angel-white feathers that radiated madness.
True King of All Calamities. Rank 9, DARK Attribute, Wyrm-Type. ATK 3000.
"What... what is this monster?!" Chazz braced himself as howling winds battered him, completely unable to resist the terrifying pressure. His body was thrown backward.
"So... so terrifying!" At that moment, Rainbow Dragon's figure appeared beside Jesse, roaring skyward, erupting rainbow-colored shockwaves to protect everyone, yet still slowly being overwhelmed.
Moments later, the dragon's descent completed. Two black spheres floated beside it as everything finally settled.
"What... what is this monster?" Jaden stared, dumbfounded.
What was this True King?
"Turn end." Confidence returned to Yubel's face. She looked at the True King, looked at the glowing, shimmering cards in her hand, and showed unparalleled confidence.
Jaden didn't understand. He drew a card and glanced down.
At that moment.
"I activate True King of All Calamities's effect!" Yubel suddenly raised her hand. "Once per turn: I detach one material and declare one Attribute. This turn, these effects apply: all face-up monsters on the field become the declared Attribute. Opponent's monsters of that Attribute cannot attack or activate effects.
I declare: DARK."
"Final Judgment!"
The True King chuckled softly. It raised its hand. In an instant, from the crimson source in the sky, a massive X stamped onto the "DARK" sphere, sealing the entire field.
What?
Many classmates' jaws dropped in shock.
"Mamma mia..." Professor Crowler's eyes went wide.
What was this thing?!
Far too terrifying, far too powerful!
Jaden stared blankly at his hand.
Can't attack. That wasn't a huge deal.
But can't activate effects? That was devastating.
Moreover, this effect likely persisted even if the monster was destroyed. That was the real problem.
But there was a silver lining.
At least now, even if he summoned monsters, he didn't need to attack Yubel.
Jaden glanced at his Set card.
One of them was Mirror Gate, a card he had prepared so that when the opponent's monster attacked, he could swap both battling monsters, helping Yubel understand his intentions.
Now, it was useless.
After all, his field had no HEROes. Only Yubels.
This situation made him reflect on the preparations before the duel.
Jesse and Chazz had worked hard giving him advice. Only Hikaru, busy building devices to resist mental influence, hadn't had time for strategy. He had simply listed all of Yubel's card effects in a chart.
Back then, during a break, Jaden had asked Hikaru: if he had to duel, how could he make Yubel understand him?
Hikaru thought for a long time but never found an answer.
"Maybe... sincerity? I don't know."
Watching Hikaru and Tierra work in perfect sync, experimenting together without even exchanging words, Jaden had half-understood.
Jaden looked at his hand.
"Why not use Phantom of Yubel's effect?" someone asked. "Jaden's field has Yubel anyway. Use the Phantom's effect to change the True King's effect into destroying his Yubel."
"Hmm... but then Yubel's Phantom on her field could also activate and change that effect, right?" Syrus said hesitantly.
"But then Yubel probably wouldn't have a third Phantom."
None of them understood why Jaden was doing this.
But Jaden knew.
He looked at his hand, thought long, then spoke. "I activate EN Shuffle's Graveyard effect. I banish this card: I return one Elemental HERO and one Neo-Spacian, or one Neos, from my Graveyard to the Deck. Then draw one card.
I return Glow Moss and Shadow Mist to the Deck. Draw one."
Jaden placed his hand atop his Deck. In his eyes, the golden light had fully solidified.
Supreme King...
You are me, and I am you. So I finally understand.
"Draw!"
Jaden drew from the top. He looked down.
Quick-Play Spell: Super Polymerization!
Looking at this Fusion, different from Hikaru's, Jaden said nothing.
Across from him, Yubel seemed to sense something and looked at his hand.
Has it come?
The ultimate darkness!
He took one card from his hand and gently Set it. "I Set one card. Turn end."
Then he continued: "Yubel, because of True King of All Calamities's effect, I can't activate DARK monster effects. And all Yubels on my field are DARK. Meaning I can't activate their effects.
They won't be destroyed by their own effects!"
Yubel blinked.
"Yubel, this is a situation we created together. A situation with no more pain."
"What nonsense. My turn. Draw!"
"It's over. This turn, Yubel can use Nightmare Pain to search another Torture Golem." Syrus went pale. "Bro!!"
"Bonds, friends, heroes. These people are meaningless. One day, they'll betray you and plunge you into suffering."
"Then, Yubel, will you betray me right now?" Jaden looked into Yubel's eyes.
"I activate True King of All Calamities's effect!"
Yubel couldn't take it anymore.
"Once per turn, I detach one material and declare one Attribute. This turn, you cannot activate effects of that Attribute..."
"I flip my Set card: Divine Wrath!"
"What? It's not Super Polymerization?!" Yubel was utterly blindsided.
She had clearly sensed Super Polymerization's presence.
She had prioritized activating True King's effect as a precaution, in case Jaden fused something powerful. After all, once True King's effect resolved, nothing Jaden summoned would matter.
But she never imagined Jaden's Set card wasn't Super Polymerization but Divine Wrath!
"I discard one card to activate. An Effect Monster's effect activation is negated and that monster is destroyed.
I discard Elemental HERO Burstinatrix from my hand! True King of All Calamities's effect is negated and it's destroyed!"
True King raised its hand. But from the sky, a bolt of divine lightning struck before it could react, reducing it to nothing, dissolving into the red ring.
"Tch... but it doesn't matter." Yubel looked at her Continuous Spell. Last turn, Jaden's cards hadn't stopped her attack, only swapped the field. So if she just searched a second Torture Golem and attacked...
"Flip Set card!"
But Jaden activated another Trap at that very moment.
A card slowly turned face-up.
On it, Yubel folded her wings, gently embracing someone.
"Huh?"
"Oh!"
"Wow..."
Gasps arose one after another.
Yubel's hand froze mid-motion.
"Continuous Trap: Eternal Favorite, activate!"
"Eternal... Favorite?"
Jaden clenched his fist, face-to-face with Yubel, eyes locked. "Once per turn, I can activate one of its effects."
"While I control a Yubel: I discard one card and send this card from the Spell/Trap Zone to the Graveyard. Using Yubel monsters and other monsters from both players' fields as Fusion Materials, I Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster!"
"Could it be..." Yubel's eyes widened.
"Exactly what you think, Yubel!" Jaden revealed a card from his hand. "I discard Super Polymerization from my hand to activate this effect!"
The Super Polymerization card slipped from Jaden's hand, drifting in the wind. Jaden seemed utterly unconcerned. But seeing this, Yubel hurriedly reached out, catching the card before it fell into the abyss.
This was the Supreme King's, Jaden's, their power. Their symbol. Their heart.
"So Yubel still protects Jaden's power even now?" Jesse noticed the detail.
"Yubel, the past me only knew blind domination. But now I see a new possibility. Beyond domination: acceptance. Creation!"
More of that Hikaru's words?!
Yubel raised her head in fury, but seeing Eternal Favorite, half her anger dissolved.
"I will free you from the Light of Destruction and Darkness's power. With my own strength, I will dispel the Red Light's grip on you."
"Jaden..."
"But I won't use myself, my own existence, to wear away this suffering. I want to embrace a greater love, embrace the real you!
Eternal Favorite's effect: I fuse the three Yubels on my field with Mariner and Torture Golem on your field!"
Golden light enveloped everything. All the distortions born of resentment, suffering, death, and sorrow ultimately converged upon a hero, taking the shape of a very familiar figure.
Flame Wingman?
No.
"Fusion conditions: Yubel monsters plus one or more Effect Monsters on the field."
Such lenient Fusion conditions.
"The valiant dragon that guards love!"
"The righteous darkness that repels evil!"
"Past or future, the eternal guardian of love. My eternal protector, eternal beloved!"
Light poured across the entire world.
The entire cavern was filled with golden radiance. Endless lightning converged on the field. Super Polymerization's power was taking effect!! A brand-new Fusion Monster was being born under its influence!! At this moment, the Light of Destruction and Darkness's power were gradually expelled from Yubel's body under this warm light. Yubel's gaze finally shifted from madness to calm. The figure of Jaden before her slowly merged with the prince from long ago.
Yubel seemed to see the Supreme King of the past, smiling gently, reaching out to take her right hand.
Yubel's mouth opened slightly.
"The battle we must face is against the Light of Destruction that guides destruction. We must dispel the forces that twisted your soul. And my soul, the soul of Supreme King Jaden, will forever belong to you."
Tears suddenly streamed from her eyes.
The Supreme King and Jaden were one person, yet with different lives. Though their souls were identical, they carried different meanings.
"Fusion Summon!" Jaden hadn't forgotten Hikaru's key instruction: purge the powers that didn't belong to Yubel. That was why he discarded Super Polymerization, to unleash its absolute ultimate dark power.
"Yubel - The Loving Defender Forever!"
A rare, smiling Yubel appeared on the field.
Everything about her was completely different from the Yubel everyone knew.
The demon dragon's power that had swirled around her was now fully mastered, transformed into a blade on her right hand.
Yubel - The Loving Defender Forever. Level 12, DARK Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 0.
"When this card is Fusion Summoned: I inflict damage to my opponent equal to 500 times the number of Fusion Materials used." Jaden spoke slowly.
"Five Fusion Materials?"
"2500 points."
Yubel took a deep breath.
"Yubel, are you still going to... destroy yourself?"
This was a choice.
If Yubel activated Phantom of Yubel's effect, changing this to "destroy one Yubel on your field," it would mean that until the very end, Yubel had refused to understand Jaden.
In that case, Jaden would have no more reason for mercy.
He would activate his own Phantom of Yubel's effect, destroying Yubel - The Loving Defender Forever on his own field!
The effect would still resolve. The damage would still land. But...
Yubel would cease to exist in this world forever!
"Yubel, you've made too many mistakes. I can't forgive your wrongs on behalf of others. But I can become an eternal guardian, staying by your side forever and ever. If I forget you again, could you please forever guard me, letting me, letting love, awaken once more?"
Yubel's mouth opened and closed, trembling, unable to speak.
She made no choice. She let the other Yubel approach, aim the demon dragon blade of its right hand at herself, and ignite flames.
But those flames were no longer pain and torment. They were warm, golden flames.
Seeing this, Chazz jolted, immediately turned around, and started pushing classmates and professors toward the exit. "Let's go, let's go!"
"Wait, Chazz, the duel isn't over!" Jesse called after him.
"Idiot, move it!" Somehow, Amethyst Cat had appeared beside Jesse. With a swipe of her paw across his face, she sent him stumbling.
The flames burned closer. Yubel finally stood before Jaden. Jaden opened his arms wide, and Yubel, tears streaming, knelt before him. They embraced, weeping together.