In the blink of an eye, Mr. Ma's heart experienced a series of ups and downs.
When Youyu's "Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight" was struck by Divine Wrath and obliterated into ashes, he naively thought the outcome had been sealed, that his sister had won the duel.
But the moment Youyu unleashed "Silent Magical Blast" and pushed the Silent Magician's attack power to 4000, his heart jumped to his throat, thinking this ultimate magic strike by the Silent Mage would secure Youyu's victory.
Then, Ishizu, on the brink of defeat, suddenly flipped a "Malevolent Catastrophe" card, pulling off a one-card comeback that swept the field as if overturning a table, and he thought his sister had won once more.
It wasn't until the very end, when he saw Silent Magician LV 8 appear, that he was speechless even in his innermost thoughts.
At this moment, as Youyu launched the final offensive, with the Silent Mage receiving the command to fly out, her stunning figure radiating divine light in mid-air, Marik realized something.
He finally understood what Ishizu wanted him to notice through this duel, the hurdle that had been holding him back since Duel City, preventing him from moving forward.
That was his fear of dueling since Duel City, the fear of this game that he once used as a tool of revenge.
But that won't do. Continuing to avoid it, not only could he not face himself as a Duelist, but life couldn't move forward either.
Through this duel, his sister helped him realize that there was nothing wrong with the duel itself, or as a Duelist, many answers could only be found through dueling.
...Not playing cards means no way to move forward.
Thanks to Youyu and Ishizu, their full-force battle and fierce clash finally allowed Marik to face himself again.
...And unexpectedly, he had a little extra gain from this duel.
In Duel City, Marik kept suffering defeats at Youyu's hands—all the subordinates he sent returned without results, all his planning disrupted, every competent subordinate returned defeated, without Duel Discs or Card Decks in hand. Even when he charged in himself with great momentum, he met the same fate...
After this series of blows, he discovered that deep down, he had always been impressed by Youyu, though unwilling to admit it.
After all, he once possessed the strongest Ghouls Group in the Inner World, with countless counterfeit and rare cards, ample manpower and resources, backed by Millennium Items and Egyptian Gods.
Yet Youyu, a lone figure without background or outside help (as Marik thought), repeatedly thwarted his plans, and in the end, even his massive Ghouls Group became Youyu's.
Frankly, he genuinely admired Youyu, to the point of complete and utter submission.
Brother Yu is ingenious; I cannot match him!
Even after losing so many Duel Discs and Card Decks, and now about to part with Youyu, he still felt reluctant.
"Are you okay?" The duel ended as Youyu approached, "Did I overdo it?"
Ishizu stood up, fingers interlaced, and politely bowed.
"Not at all. Thank you very much, Mr. Youyu, for spending your precious time..."
"Don't say that, it was indeed a great duel." Youyu waved his hand, "I must say, after the Duel City match, you've grown a lot stronger too."
Ishizu smiled gently, "Because one must always progress. But to be honest, I should say Mr. Youyu has grown even stronger. I suspect you never even used your full power, did you?"
Youyu was noncommittal.
There was a time when he thought, how could someone hold back in card play?
It's not like a physical spar where you can use seventy percent of your strength and save thirty. Card players naturally play whatever they have in their hand, right?
Until now, with the growing number of spirits, higher Duelist levels, and card deck structures increasingly aligning with Youyu's technique, he realized...
...Maybe it's really possible!
Gradually turning into a draw god's figure.JPG.
This time, Youyu was genuinely ready to leave.
Before departing, Ishizu bid farewell to him once again. Marik, however, with his hands stuck in his pockets, stared absently elsewhere, saying nothing.
Youyu gave him one last look before leaving, just smiling, without saying much.
Youths truly know no etiquette; they can't even say goodbye.
Yet, even Youyu couldn't have imagined that Marik, who appeared distracted, had solemnly shouted in his heart by then—
—Farewell, Mr. Youyu!
He would pull himself together, return to the Duel World, and once again leave his legendary mark in this card-revering world.
Only from now on, on the road to Marik's comeback, there would always be the shadow of a certain Duel Disc Hunter lingering in his heart.
...
Soon, Youyu was on Kaiba Group's private jet, flying back on his way home.
The chatterbox entourage was still there, a group of players more excited than when they came.
After all, they all gained quite a bit from this trip.
(Anubis: I have something to say...)
News of Youyu's departure had already spread across the forum. The players from this region were generally sighing with regret—especially those who had their eyes on certain items in the Youyu Store and were saving up money to shop.
Unfortunately, before they could splurge, the person was already gone.
Comparatively, players from other regions reacted more enthusiastically on the forum.
At least you guys got to enjoy it, aren't you satisfied yet!
Kuuso! When will Youyu-san finally grace us with his visit?
The wallet can't hold it any longer!
Players from all over were anxiously clamoring.
To this, Youyu just smiled.
Nowadays, the crops are really impatient. They're eager to be harvested even before they're ripe.
Unlike the trip coming over, on the return journey, there were two new members aboard the plane.
Naturally, they were the "Heart Flying with the Wind" and "No Return on an Eighty-Punch," who Youyu picked up from the Egypt Zone.
It seemed they still had to get familiar with the players here. Heart Flying with the Wind was curiously watching the local odd pair, Nora Tatsu and the in-Jet Nudger, going about their bizarre routine, amazed at how unrestrained players were now...
"Don't mind it."
The experienced Cola Sprite, who had gradually developed immunity to such sights, sat next to this newcomer, patting his shoulder.
"You'll get used to it."
On the way to Egypt, Cola Sprite had found this kind of performance art incredibly weird and unacceptable, but after spending some time with them, it no longer surprised her.
Cola Sprite was amazed to find that she might even get used to seeing big guys swaggering around in green Hulk shorts as if it were nothing unusual.
She felt that without realizing it, she might already be on the verge of breaking down...
...