Duels should be played with a smile.

The Formula Synchrons have disappeared, replaced by the Phantom Dragon Star, which was just devoured by a Kaimon.

The Star of Illusion once again suppressed the demonic dragon.

This time, Jack didn't have a second Kaiju in his hands—not to mention, the Kaiju already working for Leyou wouldn't allow a second Kaiju to steal his job.

"Come! Show me your potential as a king!"

"By the way~ this time, the Warmog's Fury won't be affected by control transfers or trap card effects~"

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Chapter 80: Words Are All Curses (5K)

"This kind of mentally manipulative dueling style... this ability to calculate every possible situation and make the duel unfold exactly as he expects... although it may not seem as imposing as it used to be, there's no doubt that only he could pull off something like this."

Inside the Fusion Academy, Jaden and Hubert were watching a competition held in the virtual world. When Jaden saw Leyou push Jack to the brink of defeat, he no longer had any doubts about Leyou's identity.

He already has countless secrets, so it's not surprising that someone who seems to have traveled directly from the past to the present suddenly appears here.

He's done even more outrageous things before—at Seto Kaiba's insistence, he's pulled the Pharaoh, who was preparing to retire to the Underworld, out of bed to play cards. This isn't the first or second time he's done this. Heaven knows how he managed to connect the gates of the mortal world and the Underworld.

That's right. The reason Atem was able to return to the real world after the Duel Ritual was not, as rumored, because President Kaiba developed some kind of black technology that ordinary people couldn't understand and personally went to retrieve the Pharaoh.

Those in the know understand that what Haima did was merely create a cool machine as a front, and then spend all his time going to play cards with Leyou, which annoyed Leyou to no end. That's why he dragged Pharaoh out to take the blame.

It is said that in order to persuade the Pharaoh to stay, Leyou used some underhanded methods to communicate with Yugi Muto, and Yugi Muto intervened to convince the Pharaoh.

Since then, Kaiba no longer has to duel with guys like Rakuyu, whoever has no idea what kind of counter cards or weird strategies he'll use, or Yugi Muto, whose five backrow cards are truly insidious, or Jonouchi, the gambling king whose next move is a gambling card.

"So, this is him, and yet not him? What are you planning to do? Have you figured out how to get along with him?"

“I don’t know.” Judai shook his head. “So after learning of his existence, I never went to see him… But I have a feeling that we will eventually meet… I wonder what the difference is between this him and the one who taught me before.”

When Hubert saw the Tenth Generation like this, he didn't know what to say for a moment. Since he had basically avoided Leyou in the past, he had no say in the way the master and disciple got along.

"Don't worry about him anymore. Let him do whatever he wants. Anyway, I've never understood his thoughts... Besides, I'm now the Fusion Dimension, the overlord of the Fusion Academy. I don't have that much time to get involved in those nonsensical things with him in the old way."

To be honest, Jaden still misses the old days. At least back then, he was just an ordinary card-playing boy who didn't have to worry about anything and could just happily enjoy the fun of dueling.

But things are different now. He is the Overlord, and the entire fusion dimension rests on his shoulders; this is his responsibility.

If he hadn't needed to give a speech after the match, he would probably be busy with other things right now, instead of taking a break from his busy schedule to watch the game with Huber.

"If you... I would like you to 'play' with him like before. Although he is unreliable most of the time, and I don't really like dealing with someone who uses a self-destruct switch as a soul card, at least during the time he was teaching you, you always had a smile on your face."

Yubel's words startled Judai for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. When he was with Yubel, he rarely wore the Overlord Armor. Without the mask covering his face, Yubel could easily see his expression.

Perhaps because he had become accustomed to presenting himself as a tyrant, Judai's face was always stern in this office where people still occasionally came. But just now, in that instant, Hubert saw a look of longing on Judai's face that he hadn't seen in a long time.

His words truly touched Judai, making him involuntarily recall his carefree past.

"It's better to just think about things like that."

When facing Bell, Jaden did not want to hide his true feelings and frankly expressed his thoughts.

His tone carried a nostalgia for the carefree past, but it was only nostalgia, not longing.

He knew very well that he was not entitled to enjoy such wonderful times. His greatest leisure time now was to occasionally put on his old school uniform and take a nap in Mr. Daidoji's class.

"I am the overlord now. In the entire fusion dimension, without me, no one can live up to everyone's expectations."

For the first time in a long time, Judai showed a faint smile. But when Hubert saw that smile, all he saw was heartache.

He wanted to say something, but he knew the Tenth Generation's character very well, so the words stuck in his throat and he couldn't bring himself to speak, finally letting out a sigh.

Judai is a very kind and gentle person.

Hubert already knew this from his previous life.

"You...get some rest. I still have some things to take care of. There's nothing for you to worry about until the match ends. Just enjoy the joy of the duel from the perspective of a spectator."

Fearing he might say something inappropriate if he stayed any longer, Hubert left after saying a few words.

After Judai became the overlord, He had considered asking Judai to relieve himself of this burden more than once, but He knew He could not persuade Judai.

After several fruitless attempts at communication, all He could do was silently shoulder the burden called "Overlord" together with Judai.

They bear the burden of this cage built by the expectations and words of countless people.

"Words are all curses... You always say some nonsensical things occasionally, but only after meeting someone do you realize the true meaning behind their words... Such a mysterious person, did you foresee this day coming?"

"If you truly foresaw all of this, then why did you still imprison Judai in this cage?"

"Is this the future you, as his teacher, have woven for him?"

Hubert wanted to question the teacher of the tenth generation, but he also knew that the fulfillment of this statement was mostly a coincidence.

"Words are all curses. The words of countless people, filled with expectation, have turned into a curse called the Overlord, imprisoning Judai in this cage."

He recalled that day, the day when, thanks to the tireless efforts of Judai and others, those who had been drawn into the other world finally returned to the real world after overcoming countless hardships.

On that day, countless people, filled with hope, returned to the real world from the other world.

Full of hope, they were instantly overwhelmed by despair upon seeing the dilapidated reality of the world.

If this despair is allowed to spread, these people, who are no different from those who are merely clinging to life, may soon disappear from this world.

At a critical moment, a boy who had experienced similar hardships and unprecedented setbacks was chosen.

No one knows why this group of adults would elect a teenager as their leader; perhaps they just wanted a tall person to hold up the sky if things went wrong.

Truly kind and gentle people are often unaware of, and unwilling to, refuse others' requests, especially when they know they have the ability to do so.

In short, Jaden, who awakened the power of the Overlord in another world, under the expectations, demands, and even threats of countless people, took on the heavy responsibility of leading this group of zombie-like people to rebuild this broken world.

After that day, the boy named Yuki Judai disappeared, and in his place came the overlord who ruled the broken dimension.

Ironically, the overlord who was given the title of king never enjoyed even a second of the rights of being a king, but was always burdened with the responsibilities of a king.

Hubert tried more than once to relieve Jaden of this burden, but was ultimately defeated by Jaden's heartbreaking smile.

"Hubert, I don't hate my current life. It is indeed tiring, but it is also fulfilling. After becoming the Overlord, I can finally understand many things that I couldn't understand before."

"My teacher once said that the word 'empathy' is the most deceptive word most of the time, because people who have never experienced the same situation can never truly empathize with those who have."

"I think that after I became a tyrant and saw 'scenery' that I had never seen before, I will be able to empathize with most people."

Hubert wanted to loudly refute Judai, but what he cared about was not empathy at all; what he cared about was that Judai was trapped in this cage with no hope of escape.

All He cared about was seeing the boy with the cheerful smile he used to have.

Although he was full of the naivety and immaturity unique to teenagers, the genuine smile that he enjoyed life from the bottom of his heart was the most precious treasure in the world to Bell.

Unfortunately, it is precisely because of this that whenever He tries to persuade Judai, He is always moved by Judai's tired yet satisfied smile, which is heartbreaking.

He ultimately could not refuse the tenth generation's request.

He had complained about Jaden's good teammates and partners more than once. He knew that Jaden had a good relationship with them and had fought side by side in the other world. But when He thought about Jaden taking on the responsibility of the overlord alone, and his partners being unable to help him, He would always feel resentful.

But in the end, He could only choose to forgive them.

Because they are the partners recognized by the tenth generation.

Even if He himself does not approve of it at all.

"So many years have passed, and I hope that those of you who were once deemed unreliable have grown into capable individuals who can stand on your own..."

Recalling a message that had recently reached him, Hubert quickened his pace.

He didn't want to see the Tenth Generation continue to bear the curse called Overlord.

"Words are all curses... I hope that after so many years, you will be able to break this cage that was woven by the people of that time."

"Such a vast fusion dimension, and it still needs him to support it all by himself... Is there really any need for such a world to exist?"

"Heroes... do indeed play an indispensable role, but if everything has to be done and borne by heroes, then what is the point of your existence? Are you just here to annoy heroes?"

……

"Oh my! After Jack used Kaiju to clear the field, Leyou used Accelerated Synchro to rebuild the double blockade and banished both of his crucial monsters! With two powerful monsters blocking the field, can Jack, who only has one card left in his hand, pull off a miraculous comeback? Let's wait and see!"

As the commentator said, Jack seems to be in a desperate situation now. After Supernova Dragon and Ursa were both taken out by Shadow, only a very small number of people believe that Jack still has a chance to turn the tide.

"Hmph! My Jack won't surrender so easily! He used my card before, and the divination results from my card didn't say he would fail here!"

In Jack's player lounge, which should have been empty, a female reporter wearing very unfashionable glasses and equally unfashionable clothes was feeling indignant about the professional commentator's words. In her hand, she was holding a card that read "[Fortune Teller Witch Xiaodi]".

The same style as the one Jack has—or rather, the same style as the one Jack has and hers.

The female reporter named Carly is actually very beautiful, but for some reason, she always dresses in a dowdy way and her personality is often impulsive, which is quite different from her delicate and gentle nature.

However, to this day, including the members of 5DS, no one has figured out whether Jack was moved by the impulsive Carly or won over by the gentle and delicate Carly.

Of course, some credit should definitely go to Jack's good teammates.

If they hadn't given Jack a good beating back then, he might still be muttering things like, "I want to be number one in the world, women are just a nuisance!" and ruthlessly rejecting Carly's feelings.

As it turns out, the all-powerful Yusei not only knows the Iron Fist, the Crab Rising Fist, but also the Friendship Face-Breaking Fist and the Straight Man Correction Fist.

"Jack's current situation is indeed not optimistic. It's really hard to say how strong his opponent is."

On the other end of the virtual communication is Aki Izayoi. Once known as the Black Rose Witch, she has completely changed after becoming a doctor and a wife, showing no trace of her "delinquent" days.

Everyone in 5DS gets along very well, and as the only two members of the "wives' group," Aki and Carly have a particularly good relationship.

Right now, the two of them are watching the game via live stream as part of a support group and family members, but the person they support is in a very bad situation.

"This person... I have a vague sense of déjà vu, I feel like I have some impression of him, but I'm sure I've never seen him before."

"Huh? Yusei, do you know Jack's rival?" Carly asked in surprise as she watched Yusei walk over and sit down next to Aki on the other end of the video.

"I'm not entirely sure... You know, I've been traveling through different timelines with Red Dragon for a while now, and after doing it so many times, I'm starting to feel like I'm experiencing a temporal distortion... Maybe I've seen someone similar in some timeline? I'm not sure for sure."

Yusei is a meticulous person, and he doesn't want to draw conclusions without being absolutely certain.

"Then Yusei...look at Jack's situation..." Qiu gently patted the hand off her waist and asked softly.

Her dueling skills are also very strong, but after becoming a wife, her dueling opponents are mostly Yusei, and their duels are usually just to decide who washes the dishes, who cooks, who does the housework, who sits on top, and other trivial matters. The intensity of the duels is not very high.

Having not fought Jack in a long time, she naturally didn't know Jack's strength as well as Yusei did.

Yusei glanced at the situation on the field, his gaze falling on Leyou's side. He pondered for a moment and said, "There's still a chance... provided that the player named Leyou's backcourt composition isn't too complicated."

Qiu and Carly were both taken aback when they heard this. Only then did they realize that they had been focusing on the front of the court and had forgotten that there were four face-down cards in the back of the opposing team.

In fact, after failing to break through and being pushed back, Jack was thinking about Leyou's backcourt.