[Tenma Yako, LP 0]
Yako stared at his Duel Disc with zero LP, standing there for a long time, unable to accept the reality.
Lost...lost.
Why did it turn out like this?
He had clearly given his all. He thought there were no flaws in his plans, every strategic step and arrangement was perfect, yet he still lost in the end.
In the end, Youyu exceeded his calculations, perfectly countering his final attack.
Tenma Yako carefully reflected on the duel process, recalling how Youyu used "Burial from a Different Dimension" to retrieve heroes that had been banished, providing reusable materials for Masked Hero Koga's special ability...
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Youyu's strategy in this duel was a step ahead of his...no, many steps ahead.
Now that he thought about it, maybe from the very start, Youyu had already seen the endpoint of this duel. He had lost from the starting line.
"Flawless, utterly flawless..." Tenma Yako murmured.
Is this...a Duel King's duel?
As expected, Mr. Pegasus was right, I'm still far from it...
As Youyu put away his Duel Disc, he wasn't sure whether Yako was crushed or something, but he sensed that Yako might have come away with some unreliable misconceptions.
"Actually...dueling doesn't need to pursue perfection like that." Youyu explained casually, afraid the other might overthink, "A duel isn't like a chess game. No one can predict the outcome of any duel.
Every duel is ever-changing, every card draw, every tactical choice made on the spot by both sides, it's the amalgamation of countless uncertainties that makes this game unique."
Yako seemed to be in thought.
"In fact, it's the same for duelists. There is no 'perfect' duelist. If there must be a 'perfect' duelist, I think it only means that as a duelist, their growth has ended, and there's no room left for improvement."
Tenma Yako's eyelids twitched in surprise: "Wait, you mean..."
"Well, this is just my personal opinion." Youyu nodded, "Tenma Yako, after dueling with both you and your brother—the one referred to as the 'Perfect Duelist'—Tenma Gekko, I feel that as a duelist, you have more potential than your brother."
This wasn't just a casual remark from Youyu.
In the side manga, Tenma Gekko explained just that. So-called "perfect" also means reaching one's limit, with no further room for growth.
Compared to his brother who had lost space for progress, it was actually the younger brother, Tenma Yako, who was Pegasus's most favored successor.
It was learning this that eventually dispelled the darkness in Yako's heart, freeing him from the mental burden imposed by the Evil God Card, returning him to normal.
Youyu guessed that by revealing these thoughts early, Tenma Yako should have no reason for a dark turn afterwards.
Hmm...and it would also be a way to increase this guy's favorability.
With Pegasus absent, Tenma Yako was essentially the Helmsman at Industrial Illusions Society's headquarters. If things went well here, future tasks should be easier to handle.
See, isn't the favorability level rising rapidly?
"Is that...how it is?" Yako murmured in a daze.
Unable to surpass his brother, always living in his shadow; this was the deepest darkness hidden in Tenma Yako's heart all along.
But now, for the first time, someone was telling him that the truth was exactly the opposite. Actually, he was the outstanding one among the brothers, he was the one his adoptive father Pegasus favored most.
Of course, this truth was somewhat hard to believe—after all, it contradicted all he had come to know over the years.
If anyone else had told him this, Yako might not have believed it. But considering it was Youyu, the Duel King, the one standing at the peak of the Duel Monster Realm, Yako felt he couldn't really doubt it.
Even if the explanation about the "perfect duelist" wasn't exactly so, he had received acknowledgment from the Duel King. For any duelist, what more could one ask for?
He then recalled his own childish actions earlier, stubbornly demanding a duel from Youyu, whom he had just met, and self-righteously treating him as an opponent, declaring to surpass him.
In comparison, Youyu didn't mind his obstinacy at all. Furthermore, he imparted these insights, unraveling a knot in his heart that he had never mentioned to anyone.
He truly was worthy of being called the Duel King. Not only having absolute strength in dueling, but also possessing extraordinary insight, instantly seeing through his little thoughts, with a magnanimity and openness that was admirable.
In comparison, Yako felt ashamed of his prior behavior.
He failed to display the grace expected of a duelist, nor the decorum as Mr. Pegasus's adopted son, truly embarrassing...
[Favorability +1+1+1...]
Youyu looked at him, puzzled.
Hold on, if you want to increase favorability, go ahead...but what's up with the blushing?
You're not a cute girl, why are you blushing? What's wrong with having three legs, huh?
Tenma Yako let out a long breath, feeling as if he had never before conceded so wholeheartedly.
"I lost." He said, "Mr. Youyu. I have to admit, you are stronger now."
"Pure luck." Youyu smiled, "Merely luck." (points to luck 20)
Hearing this, Jonouchi was the first to protest, stepping up to clap Youyu on the shoulder: "Don't say that. Luck is part of one's strength as well!"
"Exactly, like that one competitor who made it to the quarter-finals with just a dice roll, now that's truly relying on luck." Honda snickered from the side.
"What did you say!?"
Jonouchi flared up, immediately calling upon his fists to friction his good brother.
Tenma Yako stood by thoughtfully.
Through this duel, Youyu not only untangled his mental block but also demonstrated tactics completely beyond his calculations. This reminded Yako that dueling wasn't a chess match; obsessing over perfect calculations would only become a shackle.
This was an aspect he had never considered before, and it showed him entirely new possibilities in dueling.
Tenma Yako suddenly felt as if he had broken through a bottleneck, seeing a brand-new path ahead.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but turn around, earnestly addressing Youyu: "Mr. Youyu."
"Hmm?" Youyu tilted his head, puzzled by Yako's serious demeanor, as though they were about to discuss something important.
"Thank you very much for your guidance." Yako bowed solemnly, "Your goodwill has truly been conveyed."
Youyu: "?"
He understood? Understood what?
Could it be that from one duel he directly attained enlightenment?
But since the person was so sincerely grateful...
"You're welcome." Youyu waved his hand, "I look forward to a rematch with you when there's a chance."
Actually, at that moment, Youyu was contemplating, verbal thanks don't matter, after all, he's the Duel King, pointing out things to juniors is expected.
However, if this junior could be a bit more understanding, and offer something substantial in gratitude, that would be great.
This Duel King isn't particularly interested in anything else—just has a fascination with Rare Cards and Duel Discs (crossed out)...