The result wasn't surprising; everyone knew Kaiba couldn't beat Yugi. It's as obvious as "President summoning Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
However, the final winning move by Yugi was still a classic that Youyu didn't expect. Even though the process was drastically different, in the end, Yugi printed a "Dark Paladin" live and instantly beat Kaiba, just like the famous scene in the anime.
This must be the convergence of the world line.
Dark Paladin, the fusion of Dark Magician and Buster Blader. It's a familiar monster to today's Yu-Gi-Oh players, but it first debuted in the Duel City semifinals during the decisive match between Yugi and Kaiba.
Before this, Dark Paladin had never appeared in the Yu-Gi-Oh anime. So maybe saying Yugi printed the card live isn't far off.
Actually, similar situations have happened before. In an original episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh anime, Yugi came up with a sudden idea to fuse his "Black Luster Soldier" with Kaiba's "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon," summoning the "Dragon Master Knight" with an attack power of 5000, instantly defeating the opponent.
Later, Kaiba expressed curiosity, asking Yugi if he somehow knew the "Dragon Master Knight" existed, even though it's not in our Kaiba Company database.
At that time, Yugi solemnly told Kaiba, "Kaiba, do you believe in your cards? If you firmly believe a card exists, then it surely does."
The implication of his words...
...Obviously, did you not realize I just printed it live? Do you still need to ask?
If I hadn't printed that card, could you have turned the game around?
Besides, Pharaoh's business... can it really be called printing a card?
So regarding such matters, it's enough if everyone understands internally; there's no need to make it too clear...
...
The semifinals concluded, and finally, it was time for the final battle.
Both competitors finished adjusting and walked onto the stage for the final showdown.
Youyu and Dark Yugi faced each other, exchanging card decks while shuffling and having their last pre-match conversation.
"I don't know what you think," Dark Yugi started speaking halfway through shuffling, smiling slightly, "but I feel really glad that you're my opponent in the final battle."
"...Me too." Youyu also smiled.
This wasn't just small talk; it was Youyu's genuine thought.
Among the top eight players, Youyu had always regarded Yugi as the true final boss from the start.
Youyu felt lucky to have fought his way through, collected two Egyptian God Cards, nearly reached level seven, and finally faced Yugi in the finals.
Honestly, the result of the finals didn't matter anymore. Youyu just needed to do his best. The benefits he'd gained from Duel City were already plenty, but truth be told, he wasn't too confident about facing the King in the finals.
Winning would be great, but even if he didn't win, he felt he had profited greatly from this ordeal.
It's the foolishness of President Haima as the competition's organizer.
President Haima invested so much money and resources, but lost the Egyptian God Cards, didn't claim the Duel King, and the final battle had nothing to do with him!
And the two on stage were "the only two men recognized by President Haima," who ended up leaving the President aside to duel alone.
Now the President feels complicated and doesn't want to speak; he wants to be left in peace...
After finishing the shuffle, both competitors stepped into their positions. Referee Izono's arm swung down: "Duel City's final battle, Youyu vs Yugi, begins!"
"Duel!" x2
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Yugi, LP4000]
"Go Yugi!" cheered Jonouchi and friends.
"Yu... Yugi-san, go..."
Shizuka whispered, secretly wanting to cheer for the opposing Youyu, but knew her brother would be upset...
"I'll go first, draw a card." Yugi took the first move.
Not confident in taking the first move, but Youyu felt quite confident in following up. He seldom got the first move, not knowing if it had anything to do with lucky 20...
"Magic Card, Graceful Charity activates!" Yugi took a forbidden card to calm nerves. "Draw three cards from the deck, then discard two from hand to the graveyard."
He then activated the effect of 'Watapon' in his hand! Since this card was added from the deck to the hand via a card effect, he could Special Summon it directly from his hand!"
From his hand, Yugi pulled out two cards, placing one directly on the Duel Disc. A cute, bubbly white Watapon appeared on the field, blinking with adorable blue eyes.
"Next, using 'Watapon' as a tribute," Yugi removed Watapon from the Duel Disc and placed another card from his hand in its place, "appear, the highest level Demon with superior attack power—
——Summoned Skull!"
Watapon disappeared, replaced by a white-boned demon descending with golden lightning. Arms crossed, emerging from a chaotic whirlpool, electricity crackling like a king of dominion.
[Summoned Skull, ATK 2500]
Though it's level 6 requiring only one tribute to summon, its attack power equals that of Dark Magician at 2500, considered quite powerful and practical among early DM monsters.
"Setting three cards, ending the turn." Yugi smiled, "Alright, it's your turn to play."
"Great, an attack power 2500 strength monster in the first turn!" Jonouchi clenched his fist, "Now it's not so easy to be defeated!"
"My turn, draw a card!"
Youyu revealed a card from his hand and showed the opponent the "Soul of the Magician" he held.
"Soul of the Magician, by sending Spellcaster-Type monsters level 6 or higher from the deck to the graveyard, effect activates!"
This card wasn't new to everyone here; they were already familiar with it.
Yugi also tensed up.
Is it coming? The Dark Magician?
But unexpectedly, Youyu's move was different this time: "I send the level 6 Spellcaster-Type, Dark Magician Girl, from the deck to the graveyard, activating 'Magicians' Souls' effect!"
Yugi was a bit surprised.
Not the Dark Magician?
"Send Magicians' Souls from the hand to the graveyard, then special summon from the graveyard..." Youyu inserted the card from his hand into the graveyard, and the Magician Girl card popped out, "Come forth! Dark Magician Girl, summon!"
With a dazzling display of special effects, the Magician Girl emerged from the vortex of the graveyard with youthful energy. Her small round boots lightly stepped on the transparent array in midair, her little staff sweeping through the air, leaving visible trails.
[Dark Magician Girl, ATK 2000]
Though not a Darkness Game with inherent danger, the girl was full of spirit today.
Because she knew that the opponent, Muto Yugi… was also a user of the teacher-student pair of Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl!
The girl took a deep breath, puffing out her proud chest.
Can't disgrace my master!
"No Dark Magician, but the Magician Girl?" Yugi remarked, "If it were Dark Magician, its attack could match 'Summoned Skull'..."
"I know," Youyu smiled slightly, "but if it were 'Dark Magician', I couldn't use this move. From my hand, I activate the Magic Card - Dark Burning Magic!
It can only be activated when 'Dark Magician Girl' is on your field, destroying all face-up monsters on the opponent's field!"
Youyu pointed towards the demon ahead: "Go, Dark Magician Girl! Use your magic to obliterate the demon!"
Here it comes, my turn on the field!
Feeling acknowledged, the girl held her breath, leaping up with a cute cheer, as her staff unleashed a burst of magic.
The magical impact hit the demon head-on, smashing the Skeleton Armor on him, piercing through his torso front to back. The demon let out a low roar, his body shattering into fragments under the rampant magic power.
"Summoned Skull…" Yugi raised his arm to block the impact of the overflowing magic, giving a chuckle, "Quite a feat."
Dark Magician Girl felt a bit proud.
Ha! Master, did you hear? The opponent praised me!
"Battle!" Youyu declared, "Direct attack with 'Dark Magician Girl'!"
Dark Magician Girl leapt high, standing on the transparent array, twirling her small staff to unleash surging magic aimed straight at Yugi.
"Hold on, Youyu." Dark Yugi smiled, "The duel has just begun. Open the set card! Trap Card - Mirror Force!"
The trap spun around, forming a hemispherical shield of light and shadow in Yugi's field, protecting his entire field in sacred light.
Youyu's pupils contracted.
Damn! Going straight for the exalted power? Skipping the foreplay?
"Mirror Force triggers at the opponent's attack declaration, destroying all attack position monsters!" Yugi declared, "Reflect Dark Magician Girl's attack back!"
The magical impact hit the unbreakable barrier, greatly increasing the glow of the spherical shield. The reflected magic turned like a tidal wave back towards Dark Magician Girl, scaring her into covering her head with her arms in defense.
"Not that easy!" Youyu quickly played the next card, "Quick-Play Magic - My Body as a Shield! Pay 1500 LP, negate the activation of a card with a 'destroy monsters on the field' effect and destroy it!"
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 2500]
With the LP reduction, the sacred shield in Yugi's field shattered like glass, scattering countless fragments.
It was as if the master had taken the blow for his monster by reducing his own LP.
Yugi was surprised: "Mirror Force was..."
"The battle continues, Dark Magician Girl!" Youyu commanded once more, "Keep attacking!"
The previously cowering Dark Magician Girl lifted her head.
Huh? Master called me? I'm not out?
Realizing this, the Magician Girl quickly sprang up, reversing her little staff with a flick, launching another wave of magical energy. This time, with no hindrance, it struck squarely at Yugi's body.
Kaiba Company's high-tech projection's real touch made Yugi slide back half a step, biting his lip lightly.
[Yugi, LP 4000→ LP 2000]
"Set a card, end turn." Youyu smiled, "You're right, Yugi-san. The duel has just begun."