Chapter 929: Absolute King

Seeing it was Jack’s turn, the former king remained motionless. You Xuan smiled: “What? Lost your title as king, and now you’ve lost the courage to keep dueling?”

Jack glared at him, then finally spoke in a low voice.

“Two years ago, I accepted your invitation and came here—to this New Domino City, Godwin. I abandoned everything: my battle companions, even my past self.”

“I came here for one reason only: to reach the summit, to walk the path toward the supreme king.”

He closed his eyes lightly, let out a scoff—no one could tell if he was laughing at his opponent or himself.

“Supreme king? How laughable now. I was nothing but a clown who thought he’d been crowned. I abandoned my past, abandoned my companions—what path to kingship could I possibly have?”

You Xing: “Jack.”

You Xuan watched him with a smile, saying nothing.

But then Jack raised his head and roared: “But now I’m no longer lost. I’ve found a new path—not as a king, but as Jack Atlas himself!”

“And the one who made me realize this? A woman’s love!”

You Xuan: “Oh?”

That’s not something a Yu Ji King would say.

Does that sound like something the card-obsessed Jack, the archetype who declares ‘Women are just annoying obstacles—I’m becoming world champion!’ would say?

“But now she’s dead. Because of the Earthbound Immortals, because of the Dark Signers, because of this so-called five-thousand-year cycle of fate, because of some people’s boring ambitions!”

Jack roared.

“Godwin, maybe you’re stronger than me now—but even so, I’ll never let you go!”

“The sacrifices of those innocent souls, the ambitions of men like you—I’ll crush them all, even if I stake my soul, my everything!”

Though the Earthbound Immortals had been defeated, the souls of the Dark Signers who died had not yet returned. Thus, for the current protagonists, Guiliu, Kari, and the other Dark Signers were truly dead.

“So you’re dumping all your anger and resentment onto me?”

You Xuan muttered to himself, then smiled.

“Well, if this accelerates my evolution, then fine.”

Jack continued: “And this—this is my all-or-nothing, final move!”

“Activate the spell card ‘Despair’s Draw’!!!” (Original card)

Even among the legendary ‘Draw’ series in the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! canon, this card stands as one of the most devastating—truly deserving of the name ‘Despair.’

“‘Despair’s Draw’ lets me draw three cards from my deck, but as a cost—”

Jack roared.

“After drawing, I must send every remaining card in my deck straight to the graveyard!”

It’s a last resort, a true gamble—fail and you’re done. The brutal three-card draw forces an immediate win this turn; if you don’t finish your opponent now, you likely won’t get another.

Cro’s face turned pale: “Jack’s just… dumping his whole deck.”

At the moment this card activated, dark clouds gathered in the night sky. Simultaneously, all the Dragon Emblems on the Dragon Emblems bearers began glowing red!

Yes—all Dragon Emblems, including the one on the arm You Xuan had brought, the one bearing the Dragon Head Emblem.

Five Dragon Emblems converged here, all glowing. Half a second later, they began vanishing from their original bearers’ bodies!

You Xing, Qiu, Long Ke, and the Dragon Head Emblem—all four vanished from their owners and reappeared on Jack’s back, forming a complete Red Dragon Totem.

You Xuan narrowed his eyes: “So it’s finally here.”

At the same time, the top card of Jack’s deck began radiating golden light.

The Red Dragon Emblem Machine was activating!

“Activate the effect of ‘Despair’s Draw’—draw!”

Jack roared, yanking three cards, then three more.

Then every remaining card in his deck cascaded into the graveyard like a river.

“Activate the spell card ‘Soul Return’!”

As the spell activated, an ancient Soul Return mark appeared above Jack’s head. The mark ignited, flames surging, forming a dark, jagged body with dragon claws. Jack’s soul—his proud, crimson dragon king—roared back into existence!

“The effect of ‘Soul Return’ allows me to special summon a monster from the graveyard.”

“Revive ‘Crimson Lotus Dragon’!”

【Crimson Lotus Dragon, ATK 3000】

“Special summon ‘Candy Clown’!”

Another monster card was played—a circus ball-juggling clown appeared on Jack’s field.

【Candy Clown, ATK 0】

“And finally—this card!”

“Salvation Dragon!!!”

【Salvation Dragon, ATK 0】

Just a normal Level 1 Tuner, with no flashy special effects and zero ATK—it seemed utterly ordinary.

Yet the moment it appeared, everyone felt their breath catch—as if an uncanny presence radiated from it.

Especially the Dragon Emblems bearers—they faintly saw the shadow of a red dragon writhing within this dreamlike little dragon.

This card was produced by the Red Dragon Emblem Machine, used by Jack on the spot, infused with the Red Dragon’s power!

“Level 1 Tuner monster—‘Salvation Dragon’!”

“Level 1—‘Candy Clown’!”

“Level 8—‘Crimson Lotus Dragon’!”

“Tuning!”

【1+1+8=10】

“The ultimate solitary light, refined to perfection—become the true sovereign, illuminating the earth! Radiate your glory! Synchro Summon! Grand Soul—Salvation Dragon!”

The air froze. Crimson light erupted from Jack’s dueling disk. Even his allies’ cries were trapped in their throats; violent energy rippled through a still dimension.

Salvation Dragon’s tiny body swelled several times, engulfing the Crimson Lotus Dragon entirely. The Tuning halo burned like fire, crimson energy cascading like a starry river breaking its dam.

First came the claws—long, hooked toes tearing through space, each scratch leaving behind spatial fissures. The moment the dragon’s eyes opened, the night sky’s stars exploded into thousands of burning meteors as the colossal crimson dragon descended through the air.

Salvation Dragon, summoned!!!

【Salvation Dragon, ATK 4000】

You Xuan tilted his head to gaze at the terrifying dragon—his own power let him faintly perceive the red dragon’s phantom within this king of dragons.

He understood: this was the Red Dragon’s power, distributed to the Dragon Emblems bearers, manifesting as their own dragons’ transformations.

“Good, good. You’ve even used the Emblem card’s technique.”

You Xuan smiled.

“Now this duel has meaning.”

“Godwin!” Jack roared. “With this absolute king’s power—end that phantom demon this turn!”

(End of Chapter)