"Arghhh!!!"
[Mr. Phoenix, LP 0]
Even though the field was filled with Destiny Heroes, creating a seemingly impenetrable wall, Mr. Phoenix was still defeated by the overwhelmingly powerful force of his opponent.
All of his Destiny Heroes were wiped out, and every strategy was nullified. As his LP hit zero, he felt as if something from within his body was being drawn out.
It felt like an invisible force was gradually erasing his soul.
A card surrounded by white light floated out from Phoenix's clothes, flying into the hands of the man opposite him.
Destiny Hero Plasma, the hero that brings the end to all things, and also the vessel for the evil consciousness from deep within the cosmos, the "Light of Destruction."
The world of Duel King involves various elements, and aliens are naturally among them.
Yuki Judai's ace monster, "Elemental Hero Neos," is affectionately nicknamed "Elemental Hero Ultraman" by fans. It's said to be a card spirit born under the influence of mysterious cosmic waves from the distant Nebula M78 (mistakenly).
The "Light of Destruction" is Neos's nemesis, an evil cosmic consciousness bent on invading Earth and destroying everything.
Now, this evil consciousness resides in the card of "Plasma," searching for a suitable and malevolent host with a dark heart.
The man that appeared before Mr. Phoenix and his son was swayed by the Light of Destruction, a person with a malevolent heart.
The man took the Plasma card in hand, and the crimson light in his eyes became all the more pronounced.
"...Is it you calling me?" he asked in a hoarse, tremulous voice.
"Yes, that's right." The imposing voice of the Light of Destruction resounded in his mind, "I've been looking for a long time, someone with darkness in their heart, capable of unleashing my power to the fullest.
Come, don't hesitate, give me your body and soul in their entirety! That way, you'll gain everything you've ever dreamt of! The skill in dueling, money, wealth, women... anything you desire!"
"I..."
The man gritted his teeth, raising the card in his hand and closing his eyes, as if crying out with his soul.
Mr. Phoenix mustered his last ounce of strength to get up: "Sto... stop..."
But it was too late.
The card of Destiny Hero Plasma released an inexplicably powerful force that enveloped the man, seemingly expelling his soul and forcibly occupying the body.
Then the man looked up and began to laugh maniacally, his voice even twisted.
"Destroy, destroy everything!"
Mr. Phoenix watched as the demon he unintentionally created broke free from its cage, feeling both resentful and powerless.
He had already lost the duel. The power of the Light of Destruction was eroding his body, erasing his soul, and soon, his consciousness would likely be wiped out too.
This was the end; he was powerless.
Until he painfully turned his head to see his son beside him, helpless and tear-streaked...
...Then the resolve to survive reignited within him.
That's right, he couldn't die yet... no, he dared not die.
If he were to die so simply, what would happen to Ed?
He couldn't imagine what path his son's life would take if he witnessed his father die before his eyes.
If it was for his son, no matter how much it forces him, he must stand up with everything he has!
The man—or should it now be said "Light of Destruction"—looked surprised as Mr. Phoenix trembled and stood up, "Oh? Still has the strength to resist?"
Muscles screamed in agony, his brain like an overheated computer on the brink of failure, and his legs refused to obey. But even so, Mr. Phoenix managed to stand, like a resilient bamboo stalk.
"I still... can't fall." He breathed heavily, "I have unfinished business and unrealized responsibilities. Until then... I mustn't die."
"Foolishness," the Light of Destruction sneered, manipulating the puppet body it had just possessed, raising its right hand, "Your spirit and soul are commendable. In that case, I'll grant you this special opportunity, to let your soul nurture the card design I have in mind!"
As he spoke, his palm glowed with a blinding white light, so dazzling it was impossible to open one's eyes, as if to erase all things into the void.
Mr. Phoenix raised his arm to shield himself, gritting his teeth: "Ed..."
In just half a second more, perhaps his soul would have been drawn away, eternally trapped within the Plasma card, never to see the light of day.
But this didn't happen.
A clear, crisp voice of a girl pierced through the night: "Black Magic Burst!!!"
The Light of Destruction was taken by surprise, hastily retracting its move, preparing to defend, but was a step too slow. The tangible magic energy blast struck the body it controlled, and with a loud bang, sent it flying far away.
"Mr. Phoenix! Ed!"
Youyu jumped down from a high place, while the Magician Girl floated by his side, holding a small staff like a guardian.
"Big Brother Youyu!" Little Ed wiped his eyes joyfully, as if seeing a savior.
"You... Youyu..."
Seeing Youyu's appearance seemed to reassure Mr. Phoenix that his son was temporarily safe. His tight nerves finally relaxed, and he collapsed.
Youyu crouched beside him: "Are you okay?"
"It's... it's nothing, just a bit tired." Mr. Phoenix weakly smiled, "Although I know it's a selfish and unreasonable request, if something happens to me, Ed... I entrust Ed to you..."
Little Ed was scared and at a loss: "Dad..."
"Ah~ah." The Light of Destruction controlled the body it had been blown away from by the Dark Magician Girl to stand back up, "My, my, isn't this the famed Duel King? I'm surprised, Duel King has such a powerful spirit with him?"
He quirkily smiled again, once more activating the duel disc in his hand.
The eerie white light emanated from him, encircling the group.
It felt rather like a "Darkness Game."
"Perfect timing. The soul of the Duel King should make an exceptional nourisher." The Light of Destruction sneered, "Then let me settle all of you here."
Youyu said nothing, but stood and activated his duel disc, accepting the duel with his actions.
"Master, be careful," the Dark Magician Girl whispered, "this person... is very strong! I can feel it."
"Ah, I know." Youyu nodded.
In the animation, a down-and-out third-rate duelist becomes the world champion for ten consecutive years, merely by obtaining a "Plasma" card.
From their performance, it seems they jumped from around level two or three to level eight strength in one go, thanks to Plasma's card.
Simply relying on a card spirit's "power," like Youyu, climbing so many levels with one card is impossible.
But the Light of Destruction doesn't lend its "power" to the duelist. What it does is snuff out the host's soul, replacing it with its own.
In other words, it possesses them.
So now, the body Youyu faces is likely just an empty shell, with the original owner's consciousness long gone. What he faces is the Light of Destruction's true form, possessing that body.
Given its prowess in the animation, where it held the world champion title for ten consecutive years, even conservatively estimating, its duelist level should be at least eight-star, a formidable opponent not to be underestimated.
"Duel!" x2
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Light of Destruction, LP 4000]