Darkness Ball let out a shrill, venomous screech and curled up as though electrocuted, retreating miserably into the dark cracks in the surrounding rock, not daring to show himself again.
The violent wind pressure blew Heichuan Jin's tattered black robe wide open.
His oversized hood slipped off, revealing a somewhat youthful face, with several strange, dark red markings winding across one cheek.
Heichuan Jin had been burying his head against the ground in despair, screaming desperately for help into the empty air above him. "My lord, save me! I don't want to be eaten yet!"
But as the gale gradually died down and he tremblingly raised his head, he froze solid on the spot.
There was no deadly abyss.
There was no soul-rending agony.
Five Duel Spirits radiating astonishing pressure and sacred energy stood like an impenetrable wall, shielding him securely from above.
Heichuan Jin's mouth hung wide open, the corners of his eyes twitching violently as his mind completely failed to process what had happened.
This ruthless duelist, who had just used 5,200 attack points to pin him down and brutally beat him in their duel...
Had actually commanded five physically manifested spirits at the very last moment to save his life from the gaping maw of the darkness's backlash?!
The onlookers behind them wore equally remarkable expressions.
"F-five spirits?! And they're all fully physical manifestations that can affect reality?!"
Jaden's eyes practically shone with golden light. He was so excited he could barely keep still, pumping his fists repeatedly. "That's amazing, Yūki! You can actually partner with so many spirits at once! That little guy in the white battle suit is a HERO too, right? He's so cool!"
Asuka drew in a quiet, sharp breath, staring at Yūki's back as towering waves of shock surged through her heart.