"My turn, draw a card."
The Overlord drew a card and immediately revealed it.
"Magic Card 'Celestial Treasure Scroll'. Both players draw cards from their Card Deck until they have six cards in hand."
Judai drew cards alongside him.
"Then activate Magic Card 'Stupid Burial'!" said the Overlord, "Send a Monster from the Card Deck to the graveyard.
I send 'Evil Heart Hero: Fierce Spirit Corpse Demon' from the Card Deck to the graveyard."
The Overlord displayed the searched card and sent it to the graveyard.
"Fierce Spirit Corpse Demon..." Judai quickly realized upon seeing the fleeting image, "An evil version of the Dark Hero of the Undead?"
"A stronger and superior version!" exclaimed the Overlord, "Just as I am stronger than you!
Evil Heart Hero: Fierce Spirit Corpse Demon's effect. Banish this card from the game in the graveyard, and Special Summon an Evil Heart Hero other than Evil Heart Hero: Fierce Spirit Corpse Demon from the hand or Card Deck!
I Special Summon 'Evil Heart Hero: Hell Rider'!"
[Evil Heart Hero: Hell Rider, Attack Power 2100]
"Hell Rider's effect: When this card is successfully summoned or Special Summoned, add one 'Dark Fusion' from your Card Deck or graveyard to your hand."
The Overlord drew out the Magic Card returned from the graveyard.
"Return the Magic Card 'Dark Fusion' from the graveyard to my hand."
"Next, activate the Magic Card 'Dark Fusion' again!" the Overlord shouted, "Send 'Evil Heart Hero: Hell Rider' from the field and 'Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Demon' from the hand to the graveyard, for a Dark Fusion!
Descend once more—
—Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Death Demon!!!"
Once again fused, Hell Rider and Evil Blade Demon were ground into the vortex, and the overwhelming darkness took form again, becoming the strongest Demon Hero once more!
[Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Death Demon, Attack Power 3000]
"Back again." Judai murmured.
"Indeed, just like the darkness inside you." said the Overlord, "Not only powerful but will always return no matter how many times. It can never be eradicated!"
This time, Judai did not refute him but simply looked at him.
His gaze no longer had the sharpness it had initially but instead showed a hint of... sympathy.
"For such a long time... it must have been difficult for you too, right?" he said softly.
"What?" the Overlord was taken aback.
"At the moment of enduring your Evil Blade Death Demon's attack, I seemed to recall something." Judai said, "Our past lives, so much pain and betrayal, so much torment...
...But before, I didn't remember any of it. All of this burden, you carried it, right?
I can't imagine how much you've carried to become like this now."
The Overlord pondered.
Then quickly regained himself: "I don't understand what you're saying, but I never show mercy in my Duel!
Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Death Demon's effect!
Destroy all opposing Monsters with lower Attack Power than itself!"
Evil Blade Death Demon's dark wave surged again, and even Grand Neos couldn't resist and vanished into the darkness.
"But the effect of Equipment Magic 'Simple New Cosmos'!" said Judai, "When Grand Neos leaves the field, Special Summon 'Elemental HERO Neos' from the hand, Card Deck, or graveyard!"
A beam of light descended from the other side of the starry sky, once again transforming into the form of Neos Hero!
[Elemental HERO Neos, Defense Power 2000]
"A futile struggle." the Overlord coldly shouted, "Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Death Demon, attack 'Elemental HERO Neos'!"
As Evil Blade Death Demon flew out, the Overlord played another card.
"Speed Attack Magic 'Trap Propulsion'!" (Original Card)
He sent one card from his hand to the graveyard and revealed another card.
"Trap Propulsion allows the direct activation of a Trap Card by discarding a card from the hand.
I activate Trap Card 'Meteor Shower'! This turn, when my Monster attacks a Defense position Monster, deal piercing damage exceeding the Defense Power!"
[Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Death Demon, Attack Power 3200]
[Elemental HERO Neos, Defense Power 2000]
"Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Heroic Guard'!" said Judai, "It can be activated when the opposing Monster attacks. One Monster with 'Hero' in its name on my field won't be destroyed by this battle!" (Original Card)
"But the battle damage still needs to be calculated," said the Overlord.
"Yes, but I also have the Continuous Magic 'Damage Closure Interval'." said Judai, "While this card is on the field, battle damages we receive are halved!
And, 'Heroic Guard' has another effect. During this battle's damage calculation step, banish one 'Hero' Monster from the graveyard, the battle damage to myself will be halved again, and I can draw one card from the Card Deck!"
Judai revealed a card from the graveyard.
"I banish 'Elemental Hero: Thunder Giant' from the graveyard, halve the battle damage again, and draw a card!"
The defense formed by Continuous Magic and Trap created a layered shield before Judai. Halved and then halved again, the impact was much less intense by the time it reached him.
[Judai, Life Points 700 → 400]
"A persistent guy." commented the Overlord, "So I cover a card and end the turn."
"Whew~ how dangerous, how dangerous."
Judai sighed in relief, patting his chest.
"Almost got knocked out."
"But even so, your Life Points are just like a candle in the wind." said the Overlord coldly, "While my Life Points are 5400, and I have the strongest Evil Heart, 'Evil Blade Death Demon' that cannot be defeated.
Even if you survive one more turn, what can it achieve?"
Judai pondered for a moment.
Then he looked up at the Overlord.
"Actually, when I came here, before facing you... my heart was fearful. I was afraid to face you, and I was also angry at what you've done.
But now, those feelings aren't as strong anymore.
Now I feel... fortunate."
"What?" The Overlord frowned in confusion.
"Fortunate that I've met such reliable companions in this life," Judai said softly, "I've encountered significant troubles and tricky enemies more than once. Each time, he was there in time, ready to step up.
And he's the most reliable person I've ever seen. He can solve any situation, and no matter how tricky, he can turn danger into safety.
Sometimes I even feel I'm a bit redundant, haha..."
Judai awkwardly scratched his head.
The Overlord remained silent with a dark expression.
So you're being humble with grandeur, aren't you?
Does such a teammate truly exist?
Impossible, sci-fi, definitely sci-fi.
The Overlord refuses to believe it.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I was thinking, maybe you just didn't have my kind of luck... or perhaps you're carrying all the darkness for me." Judai continued.
"It could be that because of you, I was able to grow into who I am today."
The Overlord's golden eyes, which are usually emotionless, seemed to falter slightly.
But just for a moment.
"Whatever you say doesn't matter now." The Overlord spoke coldly, "Soon your existence will disappear, and I will become incomparably stronger, truly complete!"
Judai shook his head with a smile.
"No, I won't fall. Because I said, your power is just a Void, unnecessary power." He said, "I've found something I want to protect, reasons to fight. And more importantly, comrades waiting for me to return.
However, I promise you. Even if today I might not succeed, someday, sooner or later... I'll show you that bright future, worthy of our fight."