Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"Hahahaha!!! Here it comes! This is my brand new trump card after my evolution!"

Holding the card he had just drawn in his hand, Manjoume laughed maniacally as he slammed it onto his Duel Disk: "I banish the [Armed Dragon LV7] on the field and the [Armed Dragon LV5] in my Graveyard, both of which are Level 12 [Armed Dragon] monsters, to Special Summon [Armed Dragon LV10 - White] from my hand!!!"

"Come on! Bring me absolute victory!"

Enveloped in pure white light, the Ultimate Armed Dragon gained a new form, transforming from its original wind attribute to its current light attribute.

A terrifying pressure emanated from beneath its feet, spreading outwards and instantly engulfing the entire arena.

"...[Armed Dragon LV10 - White]?! This is Manjoume's new trump card???"

"That ominous appearance... he's definitely not a good person. It seems that Manjoume has become a loyal lackey of that Society of Light and has been brainwashed by Saiou!"

At this point, no words are needed.

After witnessing the transformed form of the [Armed Dragon LV10], Yusei and his friends' last shred of hope vanished.

The lightning bolt who rose from hell has vanished from the Duel Academy along with his brothers who caused chaos. Now, all that remains is the man who calls himself "White Lightning," disrupting the order of the students...

"Based on the effect of [Armed Dragon LV10 - White], when I Special Summon it, I can search my Deck for one Equip Spell Card - [White Robe]!"

"I'm equipping this card to [Armed Dragon LV10 - White]!"

As he spoke, Manjoume inserted the magic card in his hand into the back row of the Duel Disk, and with his movement, a transparent veil was also covered the body of [Armed Dragon LV10-White].

From a distance, it appears as if it is draped in the Milky Way, constantly radiating dazzling brilliance.

-

【White Robe】

(Equip Magic Card)

effect:

①: When you battle with an equipped monster, your opponent cannot activate Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step.

②: Activated when declaring an attack with an equipped monster. Negate the effects of face-up Spell/Trap Cards on your opponent's field until the end of the Damage Step.

③: This effect can be activated when the equipped monster destroys an opponent's monster by battle. Destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on your opponent's field.

④: When this face-up card in the Spell & Trap Zone leaves the field, you take 3000 damage.

-

"Hahahaha!!! Tenjouin, as expected... you who haven't been illuminated by the light can't possibly understand the true meaning of fate!"

Shaking his head as if he were a petty person who had achieved his goal, Manjoume spoke the above sarcastic words in an extremely flippant tone towards Asuka.

Even after gaining an absolute advantage, he did not forget to undermine his opponent's confidence.

"...Is that really the case? In my view, so-called destiny is the result chosen by human consciousness. As long as one has a strong and correct consciousness, one can forge one's own destiny no matter how harsh the circumstances..."

Clenching her fists and frowning, Asuka continued, "...I thought you understood that! If it were Manjoume Inazuma, who returned from Northern Academy and came back to Duel Academy..."

"Ah……"

Hearing Asuka's accusations, Manjoume's lips curled into a sneer: "...It is precisely because I have transcended the harshness of fate that I have been able to understand more deeply the truth of the so-called Wheel of Fortune, which is something that operates beyond human consciousness...It is because I have experienced my own powerlessness that I seek the existence of light!"

"The light that illuminates everything... Give me more, give me even more light!"

"Ten Thousand Eyes! White Lightning!!!"

"Light! Ahhhhh... The Society of Light, this is the truth we seek!!!"

With his arms outstretched, Manjōme, along with a group of fanatics in the audience, loudly proclaimed the name of the Light of Destruction.

Seeing his seemingly delusional reaction, Asuka, unable to understand it, immediately gave up on trying to persuade him further.

"Hahahaha!!! Tenjouin... I'll show you the beauty of this true light!"

Having used all his cards, Manjoume, now going all out, waved his arm after saying this and gave his monster the attack command: "...Battle begins! [Armed Dragon LV10 - White] (Attack: 3000) Attack [Yoneko's Shadow Robe] (Attack: 2300)...Armed Large White Shockwave!!!"

"...By the way, when the Armed Dragon LV10-White is equipped with the White Robe, the opponent will be unable to activate the effects of Spell & Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step!"

"...Gu!"

Upon receiving the command from Banjou, the gigantic Ultimate Armed Dragon immediately stretched out its limbs, facing Asuka's direction, and unleashed a torrent of energy carrying an aura of destruction from its mouth.

Under this immense and irresistible attack, the [Yoneko's Shadow Robe] was unsurprisingly annihilated into dust in the air...

After that, Asuka also suffered 700 points of combat damage from the difference in attack power between the two monsters!

(Asuka LP: 900→200)

Enduring the aftershocks of the attack from [Armed Dragon LV10-White], Asuka's health was just a hair's breadth away from being completely destroyed.

Fortunately, her health points haven't reached zero yet, which means she still has a chance to fight back... right?

Jaden Yuki: "Phew~ Only 200 HP left... The next round should be Asuka's last chance!"

Yusei: "No, it's over."

Jaden Yuki: "Huh? But Asuka still has some HP left..."

Tenjouin Fubuki: "While I understand your thoughts, Judai... have you forgotten about the Magic Card 'Hell's White'? In this state of Manjoume's open-card duel, Asuka will suffer 600 points of effect damage every time it's her turn to prepare... Although Asuka still has a little bit of HP left, soon, that HP will also reach zero..."

"...!!!" Hearing Fubuki's explanation, Jaden Yuki finally remembered the effect of the Continuous Spell Card: "Wait! If that's the case, then when Asuka draws a card next time, won't she...?!"

Yusei & Fubuki: "..."

"Yes, that's it."

After a long silence, Yusei and Fubuki exchanged a glance and then made a concluding statement: "Manjoume won this duel."

Outsiders cannot understand the influence that Saiou, whose body is inhabited by the light of destruction, has on Asuka.

Unaware that Asuka's body had been briefly controlled by Saiou, causing her to act irrationally, they saw it as nothing more than a perplexing act.

"But Asuka clearly..."

Unable to accept the current outcome, the hero, Jaden Yuki, bursting with a sense of justice, wore an expression of utter incomprehension.

In terms of the outcome, Manjoume won, but there was clearly something fishy going on...

This unfair duel is completely pointless!

I object!!!

"My turn is over, it's your turn, Tenjōin!"

With a wave of his hand, Manjoume ended his turn, handing the initiative over to Asuka. Just as Yusei and the others had said, as Asuka drew a new card, she would personally face her end and be forced to accept her fate of defeat...

Asuka: "..."

Remaining silent, Asuka extended her slightly trembling arm and placed her palm on top of the deck, drawing a card from it.

Ding--

Then, with a soft hum in the air, Asuka, swallowed by the light and with her life points reduced to zero, collapsed to the side, falling into a coma.

Her deck, just like Jaden Yuki's before, was scattered around her body, like fallen leaves drifting in the wind, scattered all over the ground.

(Asuka LP: 200→0)

(Winner: Manjoume White Lightning!!!)

"...Asuka!!!"

"Asuka-senpai!"

"...My dearest Imodo! You are my pride! It's all thanks to you for fighting all this way! It's alright, even if we lose this time, it doesn't matter! We'll win next time!"

Seeing Asuka collapse in the dueling arena, Yusei and his group in the audience immediately got up and rushed to her side.

Among them, Tenjōin Fubuki's performance was the most exaggerated.

Just like a kind old father, Tenjouin Fubuki showed special care for her younger sister.

"...Don't worry, it seems that Asuka is fine."

After helping Asuka up from the ground and feeling her breath closely with his fingers, Yusei made a concluding statement to the worried crowd.

Similar to the time when Jaden Yuki lost to Ed Phoenix, he lost to Asuka Manjoume this time, also due to the influence of the Light of Destruction, and entered a shallow coma.

In terms of mental health, there was no permanent damage.

"Is that so? That's good... I'm glad you're alright!"

After realizing that Asuka had only fainted and was not seriously injured, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as everyone is safe, that's all that matters. As for the outcome of the duel... those things can be put aside for now.

"Hmph! This moment was destined to happen before the duel even began~"

With a leisurely gait, Manjoume, the victor of the duel, stepped forward and stood before the crowd: "Humanity has realized its own powerlessness; this is what is called fate!"

Looking at Asuka lying unconscious in Yusei's arms, Manjoume frowned and continued, "Tenjōin, I believe you understand what I'm saying now, right?"

"...Well, that's right."

"...Asuka, are you awake?"

Just as they were talking, Asuka slowly opened her eyes.

In response to Wan Zhangmu's words, she twisted her body and broke free from Yusei's embrace.

As if her fainting spell had been faked, Asuka's tone had become much colder, and she cast a detached glance at the people around her.

"Asuka, it's alright. The destiny that Manjoume spoke of can definitely be broken with a strong will!" Clenching his right fist, Jaden Yuki offered words of encouragement to his partner, Asuka.

"Yes, it's okay to fail this time, don't worry about it too much! We can try again next time."

Noticing Asuka's unusual behavior, Yusei, who had just been thrown aside and felt somewhat embarrassed, scratched his head and spoke.

For some reason, he sensed a strange sense of alienation from Asuka now.

Before this, their relationship was only separated by a thin veil, but now, that feeling of intimacy has become extremely distant.

It was as if a huge mountain stood between the two of them, forcibly separating their hearts.

"Don't worry about me, everyone."

A cold voice came from her mouth as Asuka, now fully awake, glanced at the people around her out of the corner of her eye.