"Evil HERO Malicious Bane—direct attack!"
At the Supreme King's command, the Evil HERO Malicious Bane seemed to burst into mad laughter. A boundless darkness surged out of its body like a raging ocean storm, stripping the new space of light and color until only pure, suffocating black remained.
In the instant Jaden was swallowed by that darkness, what reached his ears felt like the twisting and shattering of space itself, as if time and space trembled under that razor edge.
Even the strongest will would be dissolved by such a terrifying force; even the sturdiest walls would fall to pieces. That erupting darkness felt to him like a train charging at full speed, smashing through his defenses, shaking his skin, his muscles, even his bones.
It was as if his very life force was being washed away by that dark current, ebbing rapidly; the unprecedented pain nearly made him faint.
But it wasn't just physical pain—it was also a shock to the mind. In that moment, Jaden felt as if he saw countless familiar yet unfamiliar scenes: faces of spirits he'd encountered on his countless journeys across dimensions, those who had suffered misfortune; all the people ravaged by the Supreme King's wars.
And even more scenes—farther away, seemingly no longer belonging to him, yet somehow like memories.
He saw a battlefield choked with smoke.
He saw partings of life and death, saw his best comrades die before his eyes, and even crueller—doubt, even betrayal, from his closest friends.
"What… what's going on!?"
Jaden fell to his knees, clutching his head.
Fragments of memory, as if from countless reincarnations and many different lives. He saw unfamiliar faces in those scenes, yet the feelings that welled up were like those he'd have for friends with whom he had faced life and death countless times.
Even the bone-deep agony of losing those friends on various battlefields—or being betrayed by them—felt so real.
But the feeling came quickly and passed just as fast. Soon Jaden felt the world spinning; as if he were churned countless times in the dark void and then hurled out, crashing to the ground.
Jaden gulped the cold air, stood up, and looked at the Supreme King in disbelief.
Just now… could that have been
this guy's memories?
No—maybe they were his own…
He suddenly remembered what Kira had told him about that whole "past and present lives" setup. However absurd it sounded, he'd always been half-skeptical.
Could those truly be his—or rather, his and the Supreme King's—past lives?
Kira said the Supreme King was his inner darkness, so just how many lives of pain and betrayal had they endured to gestate such a persona?
Jaden stood, panting.
"The Continuous Spell 'Damage Off Zone.' While this card is on the field, all battle damage both players take is halved."
The Supreme King said, "Evil HERO Malicious Bane's ATK is 3200 now. Even halved, you'll still take 1600 battle damage."
[Jaden, LP 2300 → LP 700]
Jaden barely kept his footing.
This much he could endure.
"Do you understand now? The weak have no right to speak of justice."
The Supreme King's icy voice rang out again.
"Without power, no matter how pretty your words are, they're hollow. In the end, you're nothing but an unnecessary shadow of me."
Jaden looked up, his expression complicated as he glanced at his counterpart again. For some reason, looking at this mirror image of himself now, he didn't find him as detestable as before.
"Evil HERO Malicious Bane cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects—it's a fiend with absolute destruction resistance." The Supreme King paused. "Even so, you've still got a card in your hand that can threaten it."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
Neo-Spacian Grand Mole—that insidious little rat had already left a deep impression on the Supreme King with its brief appearance last turn. He couldn't be careless.
But it was fine—he already had a countermeasure.
"Spell Card 'Card Destruction.'" The Supreme King played the spell. "Both players discard their entire hands, then draw the same number!"
"Discard my hand…"
Jaden glanced at his hand. The Mole's spirit drifted out, sighed in annoyance: "Damn, the guy called it. Then I'll have to leave the rest to you. I'm out for now, Jaden."
"Mm-hm."
Jaden nodded, discarded Mr. Mole along with the rest, then redrew.
"I set two cards and end my turn," the Supreme King said.
"…My turn. Draw."
Jaden drew, then played from his hand.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Monster Reborn'!"
The classic spell's ancient green resurrection sigil appeared in the air above Jaden's field, like a bridge linking the living world and the underworld.
"I can revive a monster from the Graveyard to the field. The one I'm reviving is, of course—"
Golden light surged from his Graveyard; before the card even emerged, the spirit leapt out brimming with energy.
"Neo-Spacian Grand Mole!"
Mr. Mole returned to the field, hands on hips, laughing loudly.
Didn't see that coming, did you? The Mole is back!
Even the arrogant Malicious Bane's expression faltered at the Mole's return, sneaking a glance at the Supreme King.
Do something, boss. I can't handle this mole…
The Supreme King snorted heavily.
Can't keep quiet even after I tossed your hand… but this much was within expectations.
"Ridiculous. Such trifles have no place before a king's power," the Supreme King said coolly. "I activate my set card, the Trap Card 'Call of the Grave.'
"This card can only be activated when the opponent activates 'Monster Reborn.' Negate 'Monster Reborn's' effect."
Jaden: "?"
Huh? That targeted?
Printed on the spot?
For a moment he felt like walking over to check whether the ink on that card was still wet… (LOL)
But the resurrection sigil on his field was indeed erased immediately, and Monster Reborn's magic was swallowed by darkness and vanished.
All he could say was, on-the-fly printing gods are terrifying. Having always relied on destiny hacks to bully opponents, Jaden was finally getting the victim's perspective today…
But it was still fine.
"Then I Normal Summon 'Neo Space Connector'!"
A tiny Neo Space Connector appeared, with markings similar to Neos and a prominent crystal like an Ultraman color timer—like a chibi, mini Ultraman.
"Neo Space Connector's effect: when this card is Summoned, I can Special Summon 'Elemental HERO Neos' from my hand or Deck."
Jaden raised his fist high; the background seemed to transform into the cosmos and starry rivers.
"Come forth! From the distant Neo Space, the miraculous Elemental HERO—
—Elemental HERO Neos, Summon!"