Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Patting Yusei on the shoulder, Jaden Yuki beckoned everyone to enter the elevator together.

……

"So this is the legendary power of the spirit residing in the card?" Amon, whose body was frozen in place, tried to break free from his current state.

However, no matter how hard he tried, it was all in vain.

Just as Professor Cobra said, he alone was no match for Yubel, this abnormal spirit with its own will.

“Amon Garlem…”

"What? You can actually talk? There are life forms like you in this world? Capable of having such a huge impact on humanity..."

Yubel, a life form formed from golden energy coalescing into a seed-like organism, opened its enormous single eye in the petri dish and greeted Amon telepathically.

Yubel now uses a slightly immature child's voice.

"My power... cannot affect anyone. For now, I can only use my power on those with dark hearts."

As he calmly recounted his current situation, Yubel blinked his one eye and looked at Amon's body: "And you are the one with a dark heart."

"Darkness of the soul?"

Frowning, Amon began to ponder Yubel's words.

"That's right. The pus flowing from a heart that has never been hurt is also a kind of darkness in the heart. I can see another part of you, and the darkness in your heart."

“Amon Garlem…”

The voice of Yubel, who was just talking to Amon, was that of a young child.

But now, the voice has changed to a deep male voice.

He called out Amon's name once again.

"The darkness in my heart?"

“That’s right, the darkness of a heart that can’t find a place to rest.” After the male voice, it changed back to a child’s voice, and Yubel said patiently, “The reason you chose this job that requires risking your life is because…”

Male voice: "Just to find your final resting place."

A child's voice: "Am I right? This is the darkness in your heart, hidden deep within you, which I have already sensed."

The alien creature Yubel, formed in the petri dish, opened its enormous single eye, staring at Amon, whom it had trapped, peering into his shocked face, its innermost thoughts laid bare: "The mournful cry of the other heart created from your stagnant aura, I can both see and hear..."

"..."

At this moment, Amon's mind was affected by Yubel's words, and his consciousness was involuntarily drawn back to the world of his childhood.

"Alright, from today onwards, this is your home."

The president of the Gallam consortium rescued the dying Amon from the wilderness, took him in as his adopted son, and brought him back to his home.

He stood in front of the mansion with his wife and adopted son.

With his hand on Amon's shoulder, the adoptive father introduced Amon to his new life and the place where he would be living.

This was the happiest time of Amon's life.

"This is...my home?"

Looking at the mansion in front of him, and at the scenes he had only seen on TV, Amon couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

"Welcome back."

"Ok?"

Suddenly, upon hearing the voice, Amon turned his head to look to the side.

Then, he saw the figure of the black-haired girl who appeared before his eyes, captivating him completely.

"Her name is Eiko. From today onwards, she will be your playmate and take care of your life."

The girl brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled slightly at Amon.

At this moment, her adoptive father introduced her identity to Amon, who was standing there in a daze.

"Among and Yingzi, you must get along well from now on and do your best to become well-rounded individuals for the sake of the Gallam financial group."

"Ok!"

Holding the girl's outstretched hand, Amon followed her to his room.

Just before leaving, Amon seemed to remember something and bowed deeply to his adoptive parents, saying, "Thank you."

"We're all family, no need to say thank you."

The two men returned a friendly smile to Amon.

……

"Having left the orphanage, you should have withered and died in the wild, becoming a corpse that no one cared about..."

"However, you were adopted as the eldest son of one of the world's leading conglomerates—the Garham Conglomerate—and thus gained the opportunity to change your destiny."

"You worked incredibly hard to repay your parents for giving you this opportunity... To become someone worthy of ruling the Gallam family empire, you put in many times more effort than the average person..."

"However……"

In the world of memories, Yubel's big eyes stared at Amon, then she changed the subject and continued, "After your younger brother was born, your parents' hearts drifted away from you."

"Compared to you, their adopted son, they would undoubtedly show more care and love to their own biological children."

"You were adopted to inherit the Garham family fortune, and you worked hard to match that status... But now, that meaning is gone. You've begun to question the purpose of your birth, to question your existence and value. Therefore... you've decided to poison your brother..."

"You believe... that as long as you kill him, as long as this guy is gone, your parents will definitely love you again and put all their love and attention on you again."

Amon: "..."

As Yubel narrates, the scene shifts in an instant, taking place several years later on a rainy night.

Standing alone beside the baby's cradle, Amon faced a difficult choice.

“You planned to kill your own brother… However, your actions were discovered by Eiko, your childhood friend and playmate.”

"At that time, she was watching you through the crack in the door behind you, neither coming over to stop you nor saying anything, just silently observing your choice."

In the world of memories, things have changed once again.

As Yubel finished speaking, a black-haired girl appeared behind Amon.

Looking at Amon's resolute back, Eiko could only cast a sorrowful glance at him.

"Eiko, why didn't you stop me?"

Amon, having placed his palm near the baby's head and stopped, asked the girl behind him what she thought.

“Amon… I grew up with you and I understand your pain. I believe you couldn’t do that, because you’re not that kind of person at all.”

"...?!"

At that moment, noticing Amon's outstretched hand, the baby reached out his tiny palm and grasped Amon's fingers.

Feeling the life pulsating in his hand, Amon was deeply moved. After looking up at the ceiling, he abandoned his original plan and made a silent resolution.

His brother did nothing wrong; the one who was wrong was simply his jealous older brother.

“That’s right. I made up my mind at that time that I would give everything for the Gallam family, for my brother, even my life.

The world of memories is like shards of a mirror, cracking apart piece by piece.

With the help of Yubel's power, Amon vividly recalled the past and remembered his original intentions, leading him to this thought.

"But is that really the case? Do you really think that way?"

Yubel's voice changed from a child's voice to a male voice once again, and her phantom appeared in front of Amon at this moment, saying to him: "Amon Garlem... I can understand the darkness in your heart."

"...Gu!"

After that incredibly realistic experience, Amon now has a very clear understanding of Yubel's abilities.

Feeling the terrifying aura of the demonic eye so close at hand, and unable to resist it, Amon clenched his teeth tightly.

……

"We're here! It's right there!"

"Yes, I can see the finish line!"

Following Professor Cobra's footsteps as he rode the elevator, the group rushed up the stairs to the platform and arrived at his location.

Standing atop the circular platform, gazing at the culprit—Professor Cobra—who stood with his hands behind his back, waiting leisurely, Yusei, recalling O'Brien's instructions, silently clenched his fists.

Welcome, everyone!

Professor Cobra, fully armed, had been waiting here for quite some time, displaying an air of composure.

Seeing his opponent arrive as expected, Professor Cobra suddenly opened his eyes and spread his arms to the crowd.

"Professor Cobra, what exactly are you plotting?"

"Hmph... It doesn't matter if I tell you, my plan has already entered its final stage, and that person has already woken up. In any case, you can no longer stop me."

"No matter how much you struggle, this Duel Academy... has no future left!"

"what?"

As he uttered this declaration, Professor Cobra abruptly pressed the button in his hand.

As he moved, the circular platform beneath their feet, resembling a helipad, slowly rose upwards.

As the platform rose, the ceiling above everyone's heads also opened automatically, revealing a star-studded, unobstructed night sky.

"what happened?"

"The ceiling above my head... has cracked?"

"Hahahahaha...!!!"

As the platform rose higher and higher with everyone else, Professor Cobra let out a triumphant laugh.

-

I'm taking a day off on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and then I'll start playing cards~