[Raiza the Storm Monarch] charged forward and struck down a [Dragon Token]!
The swirling hurricane shredded the token instantly—its fragments scattered in the wind!
But the storm didn't stop there. The leftover winds whipped forward and crashed violently into Ryo Marufuji!
-2500 LP!
Ryo gritted his teeth as the impact hit him hard.
Remaining Life Points: 4300.
Next, [Ehther the Heavenly Monarch] raised her scepter and unleashed another devastating strike.
Another [Dragon Token], only 300 ATK, was crushed to pieces in an instant.
-2500 LP!
Ryo's Life Points plummeted again—only 1800 LP remained!
"Kaiser!"
"Face the judgment of destiny!"
You Feng extended his hand as another [Ehther the Heavenly Monarch] descended in a blaze of light!
Ryo clenched his fists, his voice trembling yet defiant.
"Even if I lose here… I'll make sure to leave something behind!"
"Sho! Inherit my will! You still have far to go!"
In that moment, he snapped a card from his hand and held it high.
Sho froze. Tears welled in his eyes as his brother's shout echoed through the arena.
"Onii-san!!"
Sho couldn't accept that Ryo might truly lose.
"I discard [Kiteroid] from my hand!" Ryo declared.
"If this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can make the damage from one of your direct attacks become 0!"
"Kiteroid… that card belongs to your brother?" You Feng muttered with interest. "Fascinating. But it changes nothing!"
"Continue! [Caius the Shadow Monarch], attack!"
"Activate [Kiteroid]'s effect from the Graveyard!" Ryo cried.
"By banishing it, I can negate your next direct attack as well!"
He blocked the power of two Monarchs in succession. But a third still remained.
There was no escape.
[Ehther the Heavenly Monarch] soared into the sky, light blazing behind her, and then descended with crushing force!
"Sho!" Ryo called out in his final moments. "Take back the Cyber Dragon Deck one day! It holds all of my memories—treat it with care!"
"And remember… it isn't as simple to master as you think!"
His last words echoed in light as his Life Points dropped to zero.
0 LP!
Silence spread across the arena.
At that moment, they had witnessed the rise of a true duelist.
The one who stood victorious was You Feng.
His image was broadcast worldwide—cape fluttering without wind, hair streaming wildly, his five Monarchs assembled behind him like gods.
It was a breathtaking sight—like a living painting.
"Too strong! Is this really You Feng?!"
"He's defeated two Gold List duelists in a row!"
"This time Kaiser lasted longer, even summoning [Cyber End Dragon]… yet still, he fell."
"Incredible!"
"Even with Kaiser's hand locked, he fought hard… but he still lost."
The students of Duel Academy were completely convinced. Their gazes at You Feng had changed forever.
"You Feng… he's unstoppable."
"Even Caesar couldn't resist him," Manjoume muttered, clicking his tongue.
"Mamma Mia… to think even Kaiser lost… It seems this You Feng must be destined for the Gold List," Chronos groaned, chewing his sleeve regretfully.
"Hmph. You Feng… interesting," Seto Kaiba's cold voice cut in.
Another figure stood—Kaiba himself, eyes sharp as steel.
"Kaiba!" Yugi Muto whispered as he noticed him nearby.
"Hmph. Yugi… my duel with you will happen again. And this time—you will taste defeat!"
Kaiba turned with his coat swirling and walked away without another word.
Yugi frowned. "That Kaiba… still as arrogant as ever!"
"Brother! Don't worry!" Sho cried out, his tears overflowing. "I'll grow stronger and reclaim the Cyber Dragons!"
"Uhh… Sho…" Judai scratched his head, not knowing how to comfort him.
"This You Feng is terrifying…" Junpei Manjoume admitted with disbelief.
"It may take Ryo a long time to recover from this shadow," Asuka murmured, noticing the despair etched into Kaiser's face.
You Feng stepped forward calmly and collected the Cyber Dragon Deck.
"In a wager duel, the victor takes everything. The Cyber Dragon Deck is mine now."
He paused, turning to Ryo.
"To be honest, Caesar… you were never a true Cyber Dragon duelist. The deck suffered in your hands."
The words struck like knives.
"What?!"
Ryo's composure shattered. His pride, his title of "Perfect Duelist," all mocked in an instant.
His graduation duel, once meant to be flawless, had become a nightmare.
And worse—his Cyber Dragon Deck was gone.
Now You Feng himself had declared him unworthy of it.
Ryo's pupils shrank, his expression twisted, resentment burning deep in his chest.
But no one else heard this exchange.
Only You Feng and Ryo knew the weight of those words.
And You Feng, without hesitation, turned and left the arena.
---
Night fell.
Ryo sat alone on the back hill, motionless, like a hollow shell. His eyes were blank, his spirit broken, malice slowly festering within.
"Oi oi… so it's a Duel Academy student?"
From the shadows, the Black Scorpion Thieves emerged—Thief Mina cracking her whip, Thief Cliff sneering, and Thief Zeke laughing sharply.
"Heh… Kaiser Ryo Marufuji, the so-called Perfect Duelist?" Cliff mocked.
"Betting everything in a Deck Duel and losing completely! What a joke!" Zeke jeered.
"Who are you?" Ryo spat, rising shakily, eyes filled with hatred.
"Don't be so tense. We're not good people," one sneered.
"We're the Seven Stars' assassination squad—the Black Scorpion Thief Gang!" growled Don Zaloog, their leader.
"The Seven Stars…" Ryo muttered weakly.
"If you're looking for a duel, forget it. I don't even have a deck anymore…"
He slumped, voice hollow, fighting spirit gone.
"Kaiser! Where's your ambition now? One loss, and you fall apart like this? How laughable for a 'Perfect Duelist!'" Zaloog sneered.
"And don't think You Feng beat you on his own strength," he added slyly.
That line pierced Ryo's heart. His body trembled.
"What do you mean? Are you saying You Feng didn't win by his own ability?"
"Of course not. He hasn't even appeared on the Duel King Gold List. How could someone like that truly defeat the 37th-ranked duelist?"
"You had strength entrusted by the Golden Ranking itself."
Those words lit a dark spark in Ryo's chest. His despair twisted into something else—resentment, and the promise of vengeance.
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