Chapter 410: The Road to the Decisive Battle

"Judai!"

The duel ended, and Xiang Lu was still the first to rush onto the stage. Judai was staggering, half-kneeling on the ground, his head hanging low, looking unconscious.

However, after being helped up by Xiang Lu, he turned his head and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, teacher, I'm fine. It's just... sorry, I still lost..."

Xiang Lu saw this and felt relieved, letting out a long breath. She touched Judai's head: "It's okay, you've done well enough. As long as you're okay..."

But she also felt a bit strange in her heart and couldn't help but look at the Arbiter opposite.

Xiang Lu now clearly understood what a terrible concept a dark duel was. In a dark duel, most of those who fall end up losing their souls and remaining unconscious.

Just now, her younger brother Xiang Hongye fell into a coma because he lost to this person.

But now Judai seems to be fine.

Thinking of this, she realized that during this whole duel, the opponent didn't use the "Seal of Orichalcos" that looked very bad at first glance. It seemed to have been said before that people who were defeated in that barrier would have their souls sucked away...

But why?

If she wanted to say that the opponent didn't activate it because he wasn't confident in this duel, she definitely wouldn't believe it. Although she didn't know the opponent's origin, even Xiang Lu could see that this Arbiter was a powerful duelist beyond conventional concepts.

Including the duel with Judai just now, he was in a calm state throughout the process. Although she was a bit reluctant to think so, she was more inclined to believe that from the beginning, this person was in a state of winning, whether it was Xiang Hongye or Judai.

So what reason did he have to deliberately let Judai go...

"Want his other soul?"

When the Arbiter walked off the stage, You Xuan, who was standing on the side, said.

The Arbiter paused and narrowed his eyes at You Xuan.

"Oh?" the Arbiter said. "Fujiki You Xuan, you are starting to make me more and more interested. How much do you know about this?"

A few seconds of staring at each other.

"You guessed right."

The Arbiter nodded and glanced at Judai on the stage.

"This teenager is at best in a half-baked state now. Even if I defeat him now, I will only get a decent duelist soul... But I'm not very short of such souls anymore."

The Arbiter said calmly.

"Rather, if I do this, I will lose the medium that can connect to that powerful soul, which would be a waste."

Sure enough, You Xuan realized that it was the same as his guess.

His goal is the Supreme King.

In the Seal of Orichalcos, the loser's soul will be sucked away, but it is only a soul. Just like when Atem was defeated back then, Yugi took the blame for him and had his soul sucked away instead.

The Arbiter might feel that even if he won here, he would only get Judai Yuki's soul, which is not worth it. In contrast, he is more interested in the Supreme King.

However...

"What does the medium to connect to a powerful soul mean?" You Xuan said.

By logic, the Supreme King should be in Judai's body. Although he is sleeping very deeply, he should be a presence similar to an inner personality. So if the Arbiter defeats Judai here, wouldn't it just promote the awakening of the inner personality?

That way, he could duel the Supreme King again and win, and then he could absorb the Supreme King's power as he wished.

But he didn't do that, instead saying that if he defeated Judai here, he would lose the medium to connect to the Supreme King.

So inferring from this sentence, does it mean that the Supreme King is actually not in Judai's body?

But the Arbiter didn't explain, just laughed strangely.

"This... who knows."

He continued to walk over, passing by You Xuan. However, he paused briefly when he walked behind him.

"However, if I were you, I wouldn't have the energy to worry about other people's problems now."

He turned half of his body, half of his body seemed to be shrouded in shadow, and said coldly.

"Soon, it will be your turn. You, and the Sealing Artifact you hold, once I gather these..."

He laughed gloomily and didn't speak again, turning to walk away.

You Xuan: "..."

But after the Arbiter walked away, a tall figure immediately blocked his way.

President Seto Kaiba.

"You don't have to worry about this part of the problem."

Kaiba said indifferently.

"Because the one who finally defeats him will be me."

You Xuan naturally understood the president's meaning.

The first match of the semi-finals, the duel between Judai and the Arbiter, has ended. Then, only the two of them are left.

Indeed. If he loses to Kaiba here, then the finals have nothing to do with him. He doesn't have to duel the Arbiter, and the mission of saving the world or something, leave it to the president to have a headache.

If it were in the past, he might really think this is a good option.

"... I understand," You Xuan looked at Kaiba and said. "But I won't go easy on you, President."

"Hmph."

Kaiba raised the corner of his mouth, with a hint of approval in his eyes.

"It wouldn't be interesting otherwise. Half an hour later, at this venue, I'll be waiting for you."

Saying that, he also walked towards the exit.

But he stopped quickly after walking a few steps and turned to look at Judai on the stage.

"Your friend... is also a proud duelist," he said. "One day, he will also stand on the world's top stage. Don't get left behind."

"I know," You Xuan nodded.

Kaiba didn't speak again and turned to walk out.

You Xuan then walked onto the duel field and came to Judai's side.

"How do you feel?"

"Still have a headache."

Judai lay on the ground and let out a long breath.

"Ah~ still so unwilling, lost."

"I warned you long ago," You Xuan shrugged.

"But... it was an interesting duel, right?"

Judai sat up, suddenly a bit distracted.

"More importantly, I think what that guy said seems to be true."

"What?"

"About me forgetting some important things," Judai pondered for a while. "I remember now. She was my first spirit, the monster I liked the most. But later... later, for unavoidable reasons, she was launched into space, and now I don't know where she is..."

You Xuan patted him on the shoulder: "No matter what, you remember it now, don't you? As long as there is a bond with the monster, you will see her again one day, right?"

"... Hmm, you're right. Good!"

Judai patted his cheeks and cheered up again.

"Then before that, I must grow into a more reliable duelist as soon as possible."

He jumped up from the ground with a carp jump.

"Alright, next is to cheer for You Xuan," Judai said. "The opponent is that Seto Kaiba! So envious of You Xuan, I didn't even have this opportunity..."

"..."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 411 =====

(End of chapter)