Chapter 463: Legacy

"Why."

Dd fell to his knees on the ground in a standard Conan-style pose. The deck in his Duel Disk scattered across the floor with a clatter following his defeat—as if losing a match and having one's deck scatter were some kind of curse.

"I even summoned Destiny HERO - Plasma," he muttered to himself. "I've already sold my soul, so why... why is it that I still can't win!?"

"Could it be that even like this, I'm still not the strongest?"

"Could it be that I—Ughhh!"

His expression twisted abruptly, and he let out a painful cry.

The card for Destiny HERO - Plasma lay on the ground, but a massive white light leaked from the bottom of the card. That white light danced ferociously in the air, morphing into a monstrous form, waving sharp claws, with dragon-head-like weapon parts on its hands, and bone wings slowly forming behind it—it looked exactly like the form of Destiny HERO - Plasma.

It bared its fangs and brandished its claws, roaring madly, reckless and wild, as if carrying a hatred for the world and a hunger to devour all things.

Edo watched the Destiny HERO - Plasma he had pursued his entire life, watched that terrifying monster, that form that seemed cursed, and fear—along with a sense of sorrow—rose in his heart for no reason.

"This is my father's life's work, the last card he left behind," Edo murmured. "Is it really a monster like this..."

"No, Edo."

Fujiki You Xuan's voice rang out. Edo cast a questioning glance toward him.

He saw Fujiki You Xuan walk to his side and pat him lightly on the shoulder.

"That isn't the card your father left behind; it's just a monster that usurped the nest and stole his power. But don't worry, it's just a paper tiger, strong on the outside but weak on the inside."

The Destiny HERO - Plasma manifested by the Light of Ruin roared in fury, raising the dragon head on its hand. A mass of blood-colored mist transformed into a dancing dragon head, snarling as it lunged toward Fujiki You Xuan.

But Fujiki You Xuan didn't react at all, watching calmly without even blinking.

A flash of sword light arrived.

Black Luster Soldier's sword had been unsheathed. The Black Luster sword Qi seemed to carry a roar, slicing the surging blood-colored dragon head into smithereens. Furthermore, it continued forward with undiminished momentum, cutting all the way to where Destiny HERO - Plasma stood.

Destiny HERO - Plasma roared, but it couldn't stop its body from being sliced in two by the sword light. The ruptured body quickly disintegrated, returning to the form of white light. Following that, the light briefly condensed into a ferocious giant face, roaring like an unreconciled demon before completely vanishing into thin air.

After the white light dissipated, Dd's eyes also lost their luster, staring blankly as if his soul had been extracted, before he slumped to the ground, motionless.

"Is... is it over?"

Edo was still somewhat dazed.

But he had truly felt the power of that sword strike just now. He had never seen such powerful Spirit power... no, it wasn't just the extraordinary power of a Spirit. Even during the duel, Black Luster Soldier had displayed extraordinary power.

Just like the first Duel King's ace, "Dark Magician," although it appeared to be an ordinary Normal Monster, the related Spells, Traps, and the endless stream of new forms and guises all represented the monster's potential.

And Black Luster Soldier, at least from Edo's perspective, had only shown a fraction of its capabilities in this duel, yet it was already at the pinnacle of the current Duel Monster Realm.

Is this the power of the Duel King's ace?

Edo was distracted for only a moment, but he quickly pulled his thoughts back. He didn't have time to think about these things for now.

At this moment, Fujiki You Xuan stepped forward and picked up the Destiny HERO - Plasma card that had fallen to the ground.

Edo's heart tightened.

During the duel just now, he had clearly seen his father's soul sealed within Destiny HERO - Plasma.

Was it a hallucination?

But his father had clearly spoken to him and even revealed information about the Light of Ruin. If it were a hallucination, it looked far too real.

So now that the evil power had been cut down by Black Luster Soldier, what happened to his father?

Was he dead?

Edo actually knew in his heart that his father had died many years ago. What remained in Destiny HERO - Plasma was only a soul that could not find release, but even so...

At this moment, he saw Fujiki You Xuan walking toward him.

Fujiki You Xuan reached out and actually handed the card over. Edo was stunned.

"I think this belongs to you," Fujiki You Xuan said. "The most important card your father left behind, and your father's... soul? I think that's what it counts as."

Edo blinked twice.

For a long while, his pupils slowly contracted, and his eyes widened involuntarily.

"You... you mean he is still...?"

Fujiki You Xuan asked curiously, "Didn't you see him and speak to him just now? Of course, his soul is still in this card. Although it is in a state of being bound, I have the world's top laboratories here, and I have the full support of both Kaiba Corporation and Industrial Illusions. I have support in both science and extraordinary power."

"I think it is not impossible to release Mr. Phoenix from the curse of this card."

Edo's eyes widened.

Ten years ago, from the moment his father died, his time had stopped, frozen in a piece of darkness. Finding the truth and seeking revenge had been his greatest goals all these years, but even these ultimate goals were shrouded in darkness.

This might be the first time in ten years that he had seen hope.

Please... collect... 6... 9... books...!

But this hope was too beautiful, too dreamlike, that he almost dared not believe it. It was like a dream bubble; he was afraid that if he got close and touched it lightly, it would shatter.

Could he really believe it?

Could he really see his father again outside of a dream?

"Of course, I'm not sure of the difficulty of doing this, I just feel that there is a possibility, and it's worth trying hard."

Fujiki You Xuan paused as he spoke, glancing at Dd, who was lying on the ground, life or death unknown.

"Besides, I also feel that this guy only used the tip of the iceberg of Destiny HERO - Plasma's power. There is a greater secret and greater potential hidden in this card. There is much worth developing and exploring; this is the most precious legacy your father left to this world, and it is worth us cherishing and developing."

Hearing this, Edo's expression dimmed slightly.

"Father's most precious... legacy?"

"What's wrong?"

"No, nothing. It's just..."

Edo hesitated for a moment and said.

"It's just that the birth of this card not only took my father's life, but since then, it has only brought curses and disasters. I don't know how many people have been harmed because of it..."

"That is the Light of Ruin."

Fujiki You Xuan interrupted him.

"The card's Spirit is innocent, or rather, it is also a victim. Do you really want to attribute all the actions of a crazy force from the universe to your father's legacy and his final life's work?"

"Or, from now on, use this card to do the right thing and prove that it is not the card that is wrong, but the evil people who harbor ulterior motives?"

Edo's eyes flickered, and a stormy sea rose in his heart.

"Now, my laboratory has such an opportunity, and it is missing a key person. So the question now is—"

Fujiki You Xuan handed the Destiny HERO - Plasma card to Edo once again.

"Are you coming?"

Edo took a deep breath.

He knew he had already made his decision.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 464 =====