Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Two magic cylinders, one for absorbing energy and the other for releasing energy.

The Eternal Evolution Flame, which had been sucked into the magic cylinder, was now being ejected from another magic cylinder.

The torrent of light and flame, which was originally meant to crush the [Armored Robot - Armored Electric Combination], decisively changed direction under the influence of the magic cylinder and rushed straight towards the location of Marufuji Ryo.

Sensing the impending danger, the [Electronic Terminator Dragon] instinctively stepped in front of Ryo Marufuji to block it.

However, its efforts were ultimately in vain.

With a damage output of up to 8000 points, even the [Electronic Terminator Dragon] cannot withstand it.

Is this a case of me hitting myself, or a double blow...?

The electronic end dragon, which was meant to end everything, finally fell victim to its own final blow.

The scene looked rather comical no matter how you looked at it.

Having set down the Duel Disk, Ryo Marufuji, his face calm, was engulfed by the inverted torrent of light along with [Cyber ​​End Dragon]...

(Ryo Marufuji's LP: 1050→0)

As Ryo Marufuji's life points reached zero, the virtual image generated by the Duel Disk slowly disappeared from the field.

Having won the duel, Yusei, mimicking Jaden Yuki's posture, tilted his head slightly, closed one eye, and smiled as he extended his index and middle fingers at Ryo Marufuji, who was kneeling on the ground.

"We won! What a fantastic duel!"

For some reason, this classic line spoken by Jaden Yuki, when uttered by Yusei at this moment, just sounds incredibly irritating...

162 Aftermath

"As expected of Yusei!"

Jaden Yuki, excitedly throwing his right fist at the void, paid no attention to Yusei's cosplay.

Compared to such trivial matters, Yusei's duel with Caesar and his victory were more likely to attract his attention.

As expected of the man who defeated him multiple times, even Marufuji Ryo, the strongest student in the academy, was no match for him!

Speaking of...

Wouldn't that make Yusei the new No. 1?

"Fuck!!!"

"No way...really...is this for real..."

Watching Yusei defeat the invincible Caesar using the [Machine] deck, Marufuji Sho and Hayato's eyes widened like saucers, and their jaws slammed hard against the concrete floor.

"Ryo Marufuji... lost..."

Faced with this unbelievable fact, Asuka's pupils began to dilate involuntarily.

Having fought Yusei before, he was well aware of Yusei's formidable strength.

But when she actually saw him defeat the man known as "Caesar," she couldn't help but feel surprised.

"..."

The favorable situation was instantly reversed, and the attack that was launched ultimately bounced back onto itself...

With mixed feelings, Ryo Marufuji stood up and looked in the direction of Yusei.

From his defeat in this duel, he seemed to have come to understand something.

Having stood at the top for too long, blindly pursuing power while subconsciously ignoring the opponent's tactics...

And this, ironically, became the reason for his defeat.

"Caesar, you are very strong!"

"This is the toughest duel I've experienced since I enrolled!"

Facing Ryo Marufuji, who was looking at him, Yusei, having ended his "taunting" mode, continued, "If I hadn't been fully prepared, I might be the one who lost now."

That's true; Yusei's victory in this duel did have an element of luck involved.

Marufuji Sho's "Machine" deck is no match for Yusei's "Heavy Trap Hero" deck in any aspect.

If he hadn't prepared two countermeasures and preemptively used the versatile [Red Robot Call], then after the [Magic Cylinder] was sealed by [Red Reboot], he would have faced the eternal evolution flame of the [Cyber ​​Terminator Dragon] with an attack power of up to 8000 points, thus losing the duel.

"A loss is a loss, there's no point in making excuses."

After hearing Yusei's words of comfort, Marufuji Ryo simply shook his head with a calm expression, then turned his gaze to Marufuji Sho.

Ultimately, the reason he chose to accept the duel between the two was...

On one hand, he was genuinely interested in Jaden Yuki and Yusei, and on the other hand, he wanted his good-for-nothing younger brother to gain motivation from this duel.

Perhaps because Yusei defeated Ryo Marufuji with his own deck, this time when Ryo Marufuji was looking at Sho Marufuji, he didn't act evasively like before, but instead returned his brother's gaze with a resolute look.

Now, it seems that Marufuji Sho has finally developed a bit of the backbone of a duelist.

Marufuji Ryo, satisfied with Marufuji Sho's condition, smiled with satisfaction.

Now that the duel was over and his goal had been achieved, he had no reason to stay here any longer.

After waving in the direction of Yusei and his group, Marufuji Ryo turned and left with a flourish.

Marufuji Ryo appeared quite magnanimous about his defeat.

Today's duel is actually an opportunity for him to grow.

After recognizing his shortcomings, he will grow again.

Watching Ryo Marufuji's departing figure, Yusei couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Having tasted defeat before graduation, Ryo Marufuji might embark on a completely different path.

In the future, Ryo Marufuji may become "Hell Caesar," but the path he takes at that time will inevitably be different from his original timeline self.

In this timeline, Caesar will become a professional duelist, just as he envisioned, active in duels around the world, instead of leaving the dueling arena in despair due to a heart attack caused by the pressure of underground duels...

Today's duel might just change the course of a man's life.

"How did you feel about today's duel?"

Asuka, who was following Marufuji Ryo and planning to return to the Obelisk Blue dormitory with him, asked Marufuji Ryo, whose lips were unconsciously curling up.

After seeing the expression on Marufuji Ryo's face, the intelligent Asuka roughly understood what the man was thinking.

"...Xiang met a group of good friends."

After thinking for a moment, Marufuji Ryo shared his thoughts with Asuka beside him.

The younger brother who had always been afraid of him and had a timid personality now dared to show his rebellious fangs.

Although he saw it as a trivial act of resistance, he had grown up a lot compared to the timid and submissive Marufuji Sho of the past.

The passionate and candid Jaden Yuki, the powerful and thoughtful Yusei, and the self-revealing Hayato Maeda, a disciple of Hachiman...

Marufuji Sho's tremendous transformation stemmed from the influence of those around him.

After today's events, the man named Marufuji Ryo seems to have a new idea in his mind.

……

"Sho, your brother is really amazing!" After being lectured by Marufuji Ryo, Yuki Judai watched Marufuji Ryo's figure gradually disappear into the darkness, his face showing an excited expression full of fighting spirit.

Jaden Yuki, whose defenses were pierced by the "Cyber ​​Terminator Dragon," learned a lesson, but not a complete one.

Judging from the silly grin on his face, he clearly still planned to find an opportunity to duel with Marufuji Ryo.

"Hmm... Big brother, Yusei isn't bad either!"

Whether it's Jaden Yuki, who could go toe-to-toe with Ryo Marufuji, or Yusei, who defeated Ryo Marufuji with his eccentric tactics, Sho Marufuji sees them as beings he can never surpass.

They were all freshmen who enrolled at the same time, yet there was such a huge gap between them.

Comparing yourself to others is truly infuriating!

"Next time! I must use [Power Combination]!"

After exchanging pleasantries with Jaden Yuki, Sho Marufuji recalled the scene when Yusei used his own deck to duel.

His eyes were now blazing with fierce fighting spirit.

Yusei proved one thing to him with facts: it wasn't that his [Machine] deck wasn't strong enough, it was simply because his current skill level was too low, and he couldn't use his deck flexibly at all.

163 Terrifying!

Instead of choosing impotent rage and self-destruction, it's better to spend time honing your dueling skills; that's the right thing to do.

From today's duel, Marufuji Sho finally realized this important truth.

"Stop talking... I'm starving!"

Hayato, relaxed after the duel ended, clutched his rumbling stomach and complained.

In fact, he missed dinner at the cafeteria because he was looking for the missing Marufuji Sho.

Now that the event is over, hunger, along with fatigue, surges up from within me.

Upon hearing him say that, everyone couldn't help but clutch their stomachs.

Jaden Yuki, who intended to return to his dorm and build his deck, also cast a suggestive glance at Yusei beside him.

"?!"

"...It's my treat today, let's go out for a nice meal."

Yusei returned the Duel Disk to Jaden Yuki and the Deck to Sho Marufuji. Seeing the others clutching their stomachs, he couldn't help but scratch his head.

Excited by his victory in the duel, he almost forgot that he had promised to treat everyone...

When I went to the clothes, I learned the name and the name.

Just like the Kamen Rider who passed by, Yusei didn't mention the fact that he had defeated Kaiser and become the new No. 1 of Duel Academy. Instead, he looked up at the dark sky.

Moonlight peeked through the gaps in the dark clouds.

At this time of day, the cafeteria in Osiris Red should have been dark long ago.