Chapter 766: Target, Necrovalley
After issuing a threat, Bakura seemed to lose interest in continuing his conversation with Hayato. Without waiting for Hayato to retort about his classic "flickering candle in the wind" Death Flag, Bakura's entire form vanished into the darkness.
It appeared he had once again begun to move his Chess Pieces.
This left Hayato somewhat confused. If he remembered correctly, Bakura's goals were to destroy the dynasty and awaken his true form from the Stone Tablet. These two conditions could actually be simplified to one: once the entity sealed within the Stone Tablet was awakened, the destruction of the dynasty would become inevitable.
However, Hayato recalled that awakening the entity in the Stone Tablet required two conditions. The first was for all seven Millennium Items to be re-embedded into the Underworld Stone Tablet from which they originated. But currently, all seven Millennium Items were still...
Hayato froze, suddenly remembering that just a few days ago, Ishizu and Karim had been dispatched to Necrovalley to inter the Mummy of Pharaoh Aknamkanon, the Previous Pharaoh!
Pharaoh Aknamkanon's original decision to move the capital had shifted the location of the Royal Family's burial grounds, and so Aknamkanon's Tomb had been constructed at a new site. However, Bakura's previous grave-robbing incident had made Aknamkanon's Tomb somewhat awkward.
Knowing that the Tomb would be plundered if the Mummy were placed there felt insane, yet leaving such a Tomb empty was too wasteful. After much deliberation, the final decision for Pharaoh Aknamkanon's Mummy was to return it to the former Royal Tombs—Necrovalley—where the Tomb Keepers would find a suitable resting place for it.
As Yami Yugi's father and the former Pharaoh, even as a Mummy, he had to be treated with great solemnity, as Egyptians held the deceased's remains in high regard. Of course, it was also incidentally to separate Karim and Seto, who had almost fallen into infighting earlier. That was why Yami Yugi had Karim and Ishizu accompany the escort.
Hayato couldn't help but wonder if Bakura had learned this information and was heading there to retrieve the lost Millennium Items from them.
Realizing this, Hayato knew he had to act quickly. Before moving, however, Hayato glanced at his side.
On the edge of the Game Board, three small Items were laid out. Hayato surmised that since he could appear here, it meant he was a Player, just like Bakura and Yami Yugi.
And in this Shadow Game, both Yami Yugi and Bakura, as Players, had their own consumable Cheat Items called "GM Items." So he should be no exception; these Items before him were his own "GM Items."
"GM" stood for Game Master. Hayato immediately perked up, carefully examining the three Items before him, hoping to find some powerful, unique ones.
The first Item Hayato picked up was a transparent doll with the words "Phantom Blood" written on it. However, two cracks had already appeared on the doll, indicating it was damaged and unusable, with no way to even discern its specific instructions.
However, Hayato's intuition told him that this Item might be the source of how Meriamon and Nefertari, who rightfully belonged to a future relative to the Memory World three thousand years ago, were brought to the past, and how he himself ended up possessing Meriamon.
Just thinking about it, he'd lost out greatly. To have a body and move freely in the Memory World like Bakura and Yami Yugi, he was inherently down one GM Item. It was a terrible loss.
Nevertheless, as Hayato picked up the remaining two Items, his mood brightened again. His second GM Item wasn't immediately useful, but the third one could be put to use right away.
Inside a transparent glass bottle was a golden swirl of energy, with the words "Golden Wind" imprinted on the bottle's mouth. The moment he picked up this Item, Hayato realized it was a powerful Item that could conjure a strong wind on the map, allowing him to teleport people over extremely long distances. Now was the time to use it to travel to Necrovalley!
Without further hesitation, Hayato immediately focused his mind on the Chess Piece on the Game Board that corresponded to him. As his concentration deepened, he returned to the Memory World.
The first thing Hayato did upon opening his eyes and sitting up from the bed was to Summon the (Spiritual Exoskeleton) before him. Unfortunately, perhaps because the Memory World was different from the Spirit World within the Millennium Ring, Meriamon couldn't freely move using the (Spiritual Exoskeleton) this time as he had before; the Phantom, identical in appearance to Hayato, merely stood motionless in place.
Right, if Meriamon could freely occupy the (Spiritual Exoskeleton) here, he would have appeared before Nefertari much earlier, especially given how anxious that guy got if Hayato put Nefertari in even the slightest bit of danger.
Hayato's actions caught the attention of a physician in the room. "Oh? You're awake, Lord Hayato? How are you feeling?"
Hayato twisted his neck, looking at the high, hard pillow that had been beneath his head, as stiff as an ancient stone. He quipped, "Everything else is pretty good, but my neck is a bit sore. By the way, where is this place?"
Besides Hayato, there was only the man before him, dressed in what resembled modern medical attire. Hayato guessed he was a court physician, but he still needed to confirm it.
"This is the Royal Palace's infirmary. The Pharaoh had fallen into a coma, and the situation was urgent, so I brought you, Priest Shada, and the Pharaoh here, Hayato." The one who answered Hayato wasn't the physician, but Seto, who had just walked through the door, cradling a white-haired girl in his arms.
After a quick reply to Hayato, Seto had no time to spare. He immediately called over the physician, "Come here, see what's wrong with her. Make sure she's well taken care of."
Hearing this, the physician's heart immediately filled with gossip. In all his years working in the Royal Palace, this was the first time he'd seen Priest Seto care so much about a woman. But despite his inner gossip, the physician swiftly moved to the white-haired girl, whom Seto had gently placed on an empty bed, and began to examine her condition.
Hayato wasn't in a hurry to press Seto for other matters; from Seto's anxious expression, he knew that even if he asked, Seto probably wouldn't be in the mood to give a proper answer. Moreover, the woman Seto had carried in with a bridal embrace looked very familiar. If he wasn't mistaken, aside from Bakura, Kisara was the only one in this Memory World with white hair.
He had truly arrived at an opportune moment. If he remembered correctly, this was the scene where Kisara first revealed her White Dragon's power in front of Seto. Hayato was quite interested in how the physician would handle a case like Kisara's, where Spirit Power was overused. After all, not long ago, Hayato himself had nearly collapsed from overusing the power of The Winged Dragon of Ra.
Hayato waited in anticipation for a long time, but didn't see the physician pull out any medical tools. He simply approached Kisara, who lay on the bed, with empty hands.
"Is this... traditional diagnosis?" Hayato couldn't help but ask, a little curious.
Although Hayato was an important person whom Priest Seto had explicitly instructed to treat with care, and Priest Seto himself was right there, perhaps because of his youth, when asked about his proud professional knowledge, the physician looked at Hayato with innocent eyes and confidently said, "What era do you think this is? Still using traditional medical arts?"
The physician extended his hands, golden bracelets on his wrists emitting a brilliant, sun-like golden light that enveloped Kisara, who lay there, eyes closed, looking fatigued and weak. The discomfort on Kisara's face visibly eased, and within a few breaths, she relaxed and drifted into a deep sleep.
"Although the Kingdom's medical technology wasn't very advanced in earlier times, due to the Previous Pharaoh's vigorous promotion of Alchemy and magic during his reign, medical techniques based on Alchemy and magic were also popularized among the court physicians, in addition to the court mages." Seto, seeing that Kisara's condition seemed much improved, found the presence of mind to explain to Hayato.
Hayato nodded and glanced at Seto, noticing that the other man's attention was entirely focused on Kisara. Even when answering his questions, Seto's gaze never wavered. Hayato decided not to disturb the man, whose gaze was like that of an infatuated stalker, and instead asked where the others were.
Seto was unaware of Yugi and the others' presence, assuming Hayato was merely asking about Priest Shada and the Pharaoh's condition. He didn't mind, and after telling Hayato where Yami Yugi was, he continued to gaze at the sleeping Kisara.
After Kisara had displayed her power in the Dungeon earlier, Seto had noticed High Priest Aknadin's terrifyingly intense gaze upon her. If not for Seto's firm stance in fiercely protecting Kisara, he might not have been able to get her out of the Dungeon.
Even now that Kisara had been brought out, Seto still worried that if he wasn't careful, High Priest Aknadin would find a way to take her away again. Therefore, Seto decided that for the time being, he would protect Kisara by remaining inseparable from her.
Hayato followed the direction Seto indicated and soon arrived at the room where Yami Yugi was. Unlike Hayato's previous location, Yami Yugi was, after all, the Pharaoh, so several soldiers stood guard at his door to prevent any unidentified individuals from trespassing.
Of course, Hayato wasn't an unidentified person. Not only had he saved the Pharaoh this time, but he had also made an appearance during Bakura's night raid, and Priest Seto had given instructions beforehand. So, the guards readily allowed Hayato to enter.
"Rest assured, my lord, our watch is like an impregnable fortress! No suspicious individual shall get even half a step closer to the Pharaoh!"
The guards' voices from the doorway had not yet faded when Hayato, walking into the room, saw a suspicious blond-haired guy enthusiastically calling out to him, "Hayato, you're alright?!"
"Yeah, sorry to worry you, suspicious blond."
"Who are you calling suspicious blond?!" Joey retorted. "My hair color is natural; I can't choose it myself!"
"Can't you tell Hayato's just kidding, Joey…" Tristan sighed, patting Joey's shoulder, then looked at Hayato. "Speaking of which, it seems pretty inconvenient that people in this World can't see us, but it's not without its advantages. At least a suspicious individual like Joey can still get in here smoothly."
"Hey, Tristan!"
Hayato smiled, watching the boisterous pair, then looked to the other side. Téa and Yugi, who had been obscured by Joey and Tristan, were now standing by the bed. Yami Yugi remained unconscious, lying on the bed.
"The Pharaoh, he still hasn't woken up, has he…?" Since there were two "Yugis" present, to avoid confusion, Hayato referred to the "Yami Yugi" on the bed as "the Pharaoh."
"Yes," Yugi replied, smiling at Hayato, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at Yami Yugi on the bed. "The physicians said that my Other Self overexerted himself while using a Duel Disk, similar to those used in Duel Monsters. Even with emergency medical aid, he'll likely need a long period of rest to recover."
Hearing Yugi's words, Hayato couldn't help but frown. Despite his assistance, which prevented Yami Yugi from being knocked off a cliff and disappearing under Bakura's schemes, it seemed the Memory World's fate had converged, causing Yami Yugi to fall into a coma. This further reduced their already limited number of high-level combatants by one.
What was more, Hayato had originally planned to use Yami Yugi's influence to make things easier for himself.
"Necrovalley?" Hearing the place name Hayato mentioned, Joey was startled. "Isn't that a Field Spell Card? I remember someone's Deck used it…"
"It was Ms. Ishizu," Téa corrected, her memory much better than Joey's. "Ms. Ishizu used that Card during her Duel with Hayato in Battle City." She then added, a little puzzled, "Why would there be Field Spell Cards in this era?"
"No, you've got your premise wrong, Téa, Joey," Yugi interjected, having caught on. "Pegasus got the inspiration for Duel Monsters Cards from Ancient Egypt's artifacts and relics. So it's not that the Field Spell Card, Necrovalley, appeared in this World. It's more likely that the once-existing Necrovalley was made into a Duel Monsters Card by Pegasus, right?"
"But Hayato, you said that Bakura—the guy whose name sounds like Bakura and looks similar—is going to attack the Priests transporting the Mummy to Necrovalley," Tristan said, looking at Hayato. "You've only just woken up. Going there alone would be too dangerous, wouldn't it?"
Just then, someone pushed open the door and walked in—
(end of chapter)
Chapter 767: I Am in Love with You
The person who entered the room paused upon seeing Hayato, then calmly nodded at him in greeting: "Hayato, you're awake."
"Heh, that's all thanks to Priest Seto's care for me, High Priest Aknadin." Seeing the other party walk directly past Joey and Tristan as if they weren't there, passing right through their bodies, Hayato casually replied, his attention simultaneously fixed on Aknadin's single eye. "High Priest Aknadin, are you also here to visit the Pharaoh?"
"After all, the Pharaoh is the most important person in our kingdom. As a High Priest under the Pharaoh, even though I was unconscious due to the bandits' attack, my first priority upon waking was, of course, to confirm the Pharaoh's safety."
Although Aknadin's eyes were clear, showing no hint of other thoughts, Hayato couldn't shake the feeling that his visit to "check on" Yami Yugi was not well-intentioned.
It wasn't yet time to rely on something like "Duelist's intuition." Knowing the plot's trajectory, Hayato possessed an information advantage others lacked. Although Bakura had previously claimed he stole the Stone Tablet Monsters from Aknadin, Hayato had just encountered Seto, who was bringing Kisara to a physician. Hayato was 90% sure that the Aknadin before him was already a chess piece of Bakura.
The remaining 10% was that Bakura genuinely hadn't lied and hadn't tampered with Aknadin, but the probability of that happening was about as high as winning 2 billion dollars in the lottery tomorrow – almost impossible.
Aknadin was, in truth, quite a complex person. Having orchestrated a massacre to create the Millennium Items, he was undeniably not a good person. Yet, his original intention in creating the Millennium Items contained no selfish desires whatsoever; it was solely for the homeland he loved.
To Hayato's knowledge, if others were to turn dark, even if not for grand goals like conquering or destroying the world, they would at least indulge their selfish desires and do whatever they pleased. Yet, even after Aknadin turned dark, his ultimate goal for everything he did was surprisingly still not for himself, but to fulfill his son's wish and help him reach a higher position.
It was almost like a certain friendly neighborhood New Yorker who turned dark and started dancing in the street.
Nevertheless, it was an undeniable fact that Aknadin would be his adversary after turning dark. Therefore, Hayato was highly wary of Aknadin, though outwardly he remained unmoved. "Then, High Priest Aknadin, would you like to thoroughly examine the Pharaoh's physical condition?"
Hayato wasn't concerned that Aknadin might seize the opportunity to kill the defenseless Yami Yugi. Even on the surface, although only Hayato, Aknadin, and Yami Yugi were present, it was absolutely not a good place for murder, as too many people knew Aknadin was here.
If Aknadin killed Yami Yugi here, even if he framed Hayato for it, the death of a Pharaoh was not something that could be easily dismissed. As a High Priest, Aknadin's failure to protect the Pharaoh would still make him largely to blame.
Although Hayato didn't know much about Ancient Egypt's history, he did know one thing: where there were people, there was factional strife. Ever since Pharaoh Aknamkanon, who initiated religious reform, the High Priests in the Royal Palace held a position second only to the Pharaoh, above everyone else. However, the nobles who once held high positions were constantly waiting for them to make a mistake, eager to topple them.
Aknadin himself might not care about his current status, but his ultimate goal was for Seto to become Pharaoh. In that case, there would inevitably be a process to prove Seto's qualifications to be Pharaoh. This process would not only need to demonstrate Seto's sufficient abilities but also his lineage.
Aknadin's true identity was Pharaoh Aknamkanon's younger brother, a bona fide member of the royal family. As his son, Seto naturally had the qualification to succeed the current Pharaoh upon his passing. However, if Aknadin were to be implicated with "suspicions of involvement in Pharaoh Aknamkanon's death," it would undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on Seto's ascension to the Pharaoh's throne.
Therefore, even if Aknadin had the intention, he would absolutely not choose to act here. Especially since, in reality, besides Hayato, Joey, Tristan, Téa, and Yugi—four people who could not be observed by the people of this era—were all watching Aknadin's movements.
Aknadin indeed had no intention of killing Yami Yugi. His purpose in coming here was more to confirm whether the Pharaoh had truly fallen into a comatose state and was unable to wake up. Looking at Yami Yugi lying on the bed, Aknadin shook his head, as if unaware of Hayato's subtle wariness towards him.
"No need. Although the Pharaoh has not yet awakened, I believe that as a divine representative on Earth, he will certainly awaken safely. I shall not disturb him further."
A smile hung on Aknadin's face; this expression was his usual demeanor. Regardless of the person—from pharaohs to commoners, even slaves and criminals—he could treat them with a benevolent heart. It was precisely for this reason, combined with his years of service, that Aknadin enjoyed a good reputation both inside and outside the Royal City.
As he spoke, Aknadin glanced at the sleeping Yami Yugi, then retreated from the room. After peacefully greeting the soldiers at the door, Aknadin's figure disappeared around the corner.
And after he was out of everyone's sight, walking down the corridor, Aknadin's smile slowly grew cold, his upturned lips gradually flattening. The rising sun cast its light onto the ground, shining through the pillars alongside the corridor. Yet, due to the corridor's ceiling, only half of Aknadin's body was bathed in light, while the other half was shrouded in shadow.
"Aha, good news, isn't it? The Pharaoh is still unconscious." A voice echoed in Aknadin's ear, playfully teasing about the Pharaoh's current state. "A kingdom can't be without a leader, hmm, it seems we need to quickly find someone qualified to ascend the throne. So, who will it be? Who will it be?"
Aknadin irritably covered his mouth, and the voice came to an abrupt halt. The voice he had just heard had emanated from Aknadin's own mouth. After the voice quieted for a moment, Aknadin continued, "Be quiet."
"Alright, alright, my dear Aknadin, but before that, I must give you one last compliment: your acting just now was simply superb." The half of Aknadin's face illuminated by the light showed an expressionless calm, but the other half, hidden in shadow, revealed a smile.
Unlike the benevolent smile he had shown to Hayato and the Royal Guards just now, the smile on Aknadin's face now was full of fierceness and cunning. "Even though your heart was brimming with killing intent towards the Pharaoh just moments ago, you actually refused Hayato and didn't approach him. I'm very curious, what were you feeling then?"
"You don't need to ask me; you should know yourself," Aknadin calmly replied to "his own" question.
"Of course, of course, after all, I am you."
After a pause, he continued, "So, now that the Pharaoh's condition has been confirmed, it means we can proceed with our plan without any worries, right?"
Hearing this, Aknadin stopped. A visible hesitation appeared on the half of his face illuminated by the light. "But, to cooperate with someone like Bakura..."
"Heh heh, Aknadin, what are you thinking? Are you hesitating?"
"Surely you haven't forgotten what Seto needs, have you? Isn't it good to just cooperate with someone you can kill once they've served their purpose, and then fulfill Seto's wish by helping him achieve a higher position? Seriously, if you have any moral qualms, then just hand your body over to me; I'll do this for you—"
"Hmph, I won't hand my body over to you." Hearing this, Aknadin impatiently interrupted "himself." After much hesitation, he finally sighed, seemingly having weighed the pros and cons and reaching a compromise. "This is a necessary sacrifice for Seto."
Turning his head, Aknadin's right eye, which didn't wear the Millennium Eye, glanced at the clear sky outside. He found the sunlight too dazzling, so he moved two steps into the shadow, placing more of himself in darkness. The other voice finally fell silent after Aknadin made his decision, and Aknadin walked silently down the corridor alone.
And after Aknadin left, a head poked out from the corner behind him. "Huh? Only High Priest Aknadin? But I distinctly heard two people talking just now?"
"Hmm, maybe I heard wrong." The maiden who appeared in the corridor playfully patted her head, then tiptoed towards Yami Yugi's room. As she walked, she muttered something, waving a short staff in her hand, casting one spell after another upon herself.
As the spells were cast, the maiden's steps became much swifter, and at the same time, the sound of her feet on the ground vanished. Concurrently, a faint purple glow appeared around her eyes, and she could even see the guards stationed throughout Yami Yugi's room, despite the wall between them.
Besides the two obvious Royal Guards standing at the door, she immediately spotted the two Royal Guards hidden outside what appeared to be merely ventilated windows. After confirming her targets, the maiden swung her staff again, and a ritual was instantly completed. In an instant, the several guards stationed around the room all lost consciousness simultaneously.
"Heh heh, Mana's big victory! Compared to the last time I cast this spell, I've improved a lot!" Triumphantly waving her small fist, the maiden who used the spell—Court Magician Mana—was quite pleased. However, remembering that the last time she used this spell was to sneak into the Royal Palace, she couldn't help but feel a little sad. "It's just, Master can't see my progress anymore..."
"No, that's not right. Master hasn't returned to the Underworld. Prince said that Master Mahad's soul merged with the Dark Magician! Mana, you must work harder to hone your spellcraft. You must see Master soon and let him know you've become stronger, mm!"
Cheering herself on, Mana openly and confidently walked past the two Royal Guards at the door, entering Yami Yugi's room right in front of their distracted faces. Once inside, she swung her staff, and unlike the previous time she snuck into the Royal Palace and struggled for a long time to undo the spell, she successfully released her control over the Royal Guards this time.
The Royal Guards, regaining their will, came to with a dazed start. They blinked, unaware that they had been distracted moments ago, nor that another person had just entered the Pharaoh's room. They continued to stand by the door, striving to "prevent any suspicious individuals from entering the room."
Having done another mischievous thing, Mana walked into the room, her head down. She assumed Yami Yugi was the only one there and didn't look up.
As the current Pharaoh's childhood companion, the late High Priest Mahad's disciple, and a member of the Court Magicians, Mana's status wasn't humble, but it wasn't particularly high either. Strictly speaking, Mana wasn't supposed to know the news of the Pharaoh's danger and unconsciousness.
However, if the Pharaoh were ever to take a royal consort, Mana would undoubtedly be the first choice. The relationship between Yami Yugi and Mana was so obvious that anyone who wasn't blind—even an Orichalcos-dense man like Seto—could see it. Furthermore, Seto's long-standing rivalrous yet friendly competition with Mahad led him to look after Mana after Mahad's passing. When bringing Yami Yugi back from outside the city, Seto revealed the news of Yami Yugi's unconsciousness to Mana.
Mana, filled with worry for the Prince, knew what she was doing was wrong but resolutely came here anyway. As she gathered her courage, Mana looked up, intending to check on Yami Yugi's condition. While Yami Yugi was unconscious, Mana also wanted to take advantage of the fact that no one knew what was happening here to speak her heartfelt words to Yami Yugi alone.
She also knew that Yami Yugi, having just taken office, was forced to confront Bakura's challenge to the kingdom. He bore immense pressure on his shoulders, and the Prince, now the Pharaoh, currently had no time for romance. While Mana was mischievous, she wasn't willful; being understanding, she wouldn't confess her feelings to Yami Yugi at such a time.
So, while Yami Yugi's unconsciousness caused Mana great worry, it truly was the best opportunity.
"Even if I'm all alone, saying it out loud is really embarrassing for me." Looking up, the somewhat bashful Mana said, "Prince, all this time, I have been in love with you. I—"
"Hm?"
Mana's gaze met Téa's, who was sitting by the unconscious Yami Yugi's bedside, wiping his face with a towel.
"B-Dark Magician Girl!?" "Where did you come from, woman!?"
The two women, uncannily synchronized, pointed at each other and exclaimed in surprise.
(end of chapter)
Crouching in a corner of the room, Mana, who had blurted out her thoughts without checking if anyone else was there, covered her face with both hands: "Waaah, I can't show my face anymore!"
For Mana, saying something like that was already incredibly embarrassing, but to say it in front of five people besides the Prince made her inner shame so intense she wished she could just disappear on the spot.
Beside Mana, Joey complained with a helpless expression, "So, you can only blame yourself, can't you? You should have checked the room before speaking—"
"I don't care! It's your fault for embarrassing me!"
It took Téa and Yugi comforting her together for the agitated Mana to lower the staff she was waving and calm down a little.
After calming down somewhat, only then did Mana belatedly realize something: "Huh? Speaking of which, who are all of you? I've never seen any of you in the Royal Palace before, and why are you in the Prince's room?"
"We're a little confused too. Why can't anyone else see us, but this girl, who looks so much like "Dark Magician Girl", can?" Tristan said, casting a pleading look at Hayato, who had arrived in the Memory World even earlier than they had.
Hayato pointed to Mana's eyes, which still had the Spell she had cast earlier affixed to them, and said, "It's probably due to that Spell. Also, I should explain that Mana's teacher was High Priest Mahad. However, Mahad sacrificed himself in a struggle with Bakura and has now transformed into the Stone Tablet Duel Monster Spirit "Dark Magician"."
"Huh?! "Dark Magician"! So, besides methods like Diabolo's, humans really can turn into Duel Spirits?!" Joey said, somewhat surprised. However, his ability to accept things was quite good, and he even realized something. "So, is she "Dark Magician Girl"?"
"Hmph, I have my own name, you suspicious blondie. My name is Mana," Mana huffed lightly, looking at Joey with displeasure.
Joey just laughed carelessly and said to Mana, "My name is Joey Wheeler, and that idiotic-looking guy over there is Tristan Taylor, and—"
"Just introduce yourself, and don't put your adjectives in front of my name, you idiotic-looking, suspicious blondie Joey!"
Tristan immediately reached out and clamped Joey's head in his arm, trying to crush his friend's head with his bicep.
Téa, who had been ignoring their bickering, smiled gently at Mana: "Hello, Mana, my name is Téa Gardner. Although Joey and Tristan might seem strange, we are actually all friends of Yu— all friends of the Pharaoh."
"Hmm? Is that really true? I don't quite believe it."
Mana was a bit distant towards Joey and Tristan, as it was their first meeting. However, towards Téa, Mana was full of hostility. "Mana has been by the Prince's side since childhood! Your lies, woman, you who just secretly touched the Prince's face, won't fool me at all!"
'No, your reaction clearly isn't disbelief in Téa's words; you're just jealous, aren't you?' Tristan and Joey both thought to themselves, their unspoken remarks unusually in sync.
Mana continued, "Not only that, there's also this person!"
As she spoke, Mana's finger swept past Hayato and pointed directly at the small, pitiful, and helpless Yugi: "This guy actually has the same face as the Prince! It's too strange! He even copied the Prince's hairstyle!"
Unlike the original plot, where Yami Yugi had disappeared and Mana had mistakenly thought Yugi was the Pharaoh at first glance, Yami Yugi was now safely lying in bed. Even if Mana couldn't distinguish the difference in appearance between Yugi and Yami Yugi, she wouldn't mistake Yugi for the Pharaoh again.
Seeing Mana's stubbornness, Hayato leaned close to Yugi's ear and whispered something. Yugi was startled to hear it and looked at Hayato, saying, "Huh? If I say that, will Mana really believe it?"
Seeing Hayato nod, Yugi glanced at Mana with some uncertainty. Mana, who had been constantly watching Yugi's movements, naturally noticed the recent exchange between Hayato and Yugi. She puffed out her chest tsundere-like and huffed, "Hmph, Mana is very smart! Even counting within ten won't stump me. Don't think you can deceive me with just a few words."
Yugi sighed and said helplessly, "Mana, in your "Spellbook", you wrote—"
"St-stop!" Yugi had barely opened his mouth to say a few words when he heard Mana suddenly flush red and quickly interrupt him. "I-there's absolutely nothing in my "Spellbook"! Don't say another word!"
"I-I believe you're friends of the Prince!"
Yugi looked back at Hayato, who was giving him a thumbs-up, and let out a speechless sigh. Due to the spectating angle during Duels, and the fact that Yugi was the only one who had collected the "Dark Magician Girl" card before entering the Memory World, he was arguably the only one who knew what was written in the open book when "Dark Magician Girl" was equipped with "Magic Formula".
Considering that "Dark Magician" was High Priest Mahad, the Pharaoh's High Priest from three thousand years ago, and "Dark Magician Girl" was "Dark Magician"'s apprentice, this perfectly aligned with Mana, who was High Priest Mahad's apprentice. Yugi felt that some of the events related to "Dark Magician Girl" that appeared in Duels might genuinely be Mana's actual experiences from three thousand years ago, and the contents of "Magic Formula" might also be true.
Hayato had just been telling Yugi to reveal something about "Dark Magician Girl" that only he knew. With the idea of trying it out, Yugi was about to mention the contents of "Magic Formula" that made "Dark Magician Girl" blush for half a day every time she looked at it. But before he could even activate the Skill, Mana prematurely surrendered.
And Mana had no choice but to believe Yugi. After all, though her "Spellbook" was a copy of Master Mahad's "Spellbook", containing the same Spells, Mana had secretly used its unused blank pages for her diary. In her opinion, a "Spellbook" that could only be opened with her own Magical Energy was simply the most suitable item for writing a diary.
To this day, only three people had ever seen her "Spellbook": Master Mahad, the Prince, and Mana herself.
Because she would show her diary to the Prince, Mana hadn't actually written much of her true feelings in it. After all, what's written down isn't truly "inner thoughts," and besides, proper people don't write diaries. However, the diary did still contain many passages that made Mana incredibly embarrassed.
It wasn't anything inappropriate for children. In reality, Mana's diary was filled with chuunibyou quotes, written when Mana, at her middle school age, let her imagination run wild. Things like, "Death is like the wind, always by my side," or "I bloom in slaughter, like a flower in the dawn."
When the Prince and Master Mahad saw these words, Mana didn't feel anything, but if others found out, Mana felt that just thinking about the possibility made her so embarrassed she could practically dig a pyramid into the ground with her toes.
"Damn it, the Prince actually told others something he swore he'd never reveal! How hateful! I'm definitely not talking to him for at least a day!"
Lying unconscious in bed, Yami Yugi was completely unaware that he had innocently taken the blame for something he hadn't done. However, if he knew he was taking the blame for Yugi, he probably wouldn't mind.
Mana's arrival was a minor interlude. But after confirming that Mana could still see Yugi and the others, just as in the plot he knew, Hayato breathed a sigh of relief. He said to them, "Since Mana can see you, Yugi, I can somewhat rest assured about the Pharaoh's safety. We can now depart for Necrovalley."
Yugi was a little puzzled. "Why do you say that? Hayato, are you worried that Bakura might infiltrate the Royal Palace again to attack Yami Yugi?"
Because Hayato had previously explained what had happened before Yugi and his companions arrived in the Memory World, Yugi was aware of the series of events that had recently occurred.
"As for Bakura, he probably won't be causing trouble at the Royal Palace again anytime soon. Repeatedly scheming without getting any payoff, his patience must be almost completely worn out. No matter how foolish he is, he should change his approach and pursue other plans with higher success rates and greater returns."
Hayato shook his head, paused, and then said, "Yugi, what's your impression of that Priest who came to visit the Pharaoh with Mana earlier?"
"A Priest? The one named Aknadin?" Hearing Hayato's words, Yugi pondered for a moment, though he didn't understand why Hayato suddenly brought him up, and replied, "My impression of him is that while he seemed like a good person at first glance, I always felt like he was hiding something deep in his heart. He's a very cunning person."
"Me too, me too! For some reason, I just can't stand that guy," Joey chimed in, only to be rebutted by Tristan, "I think you just can't stand him because he has a "Millennium Eye" like Pegasus."
"Even if that's the case."
Unable to use his "Memory" as evidence, Hayato could only guide Yugi and the others to be wary of Aknadin. He nodded and said, "To be honest, I have the same feeling. Although all the information I've gathered in this era describes High Priest Aknadin as a kind and benevolent Priest, many people inside and outside the Royal Palace trust and admire him greatly."
"However, a certain 'hair gel' once said that admiration is the furthest emotion from understanding. Aknadin has never revealed his true desires to anyone. The more perfect his outward image, the more dangerous I feel he is."
Glancing at Yami Yugi on the bed, Hayato solemnly stated, "Although there's no evidence, I suspect Aknadin might be secretly harboring an unknown conspiracy, and it could even be detrimental to the Pharaoh. As a precaution, you few, Yugi, who cannot be seen by anyone, will become the final barrier to protect him."
"While others cannot see you, and you cannot interact with others, with Mana's presence, the situation becomes different."
Hayato said, walking out of the room, "After I confirm the safety of the two Priests who went out, I will return as soon as possible. I'll leave things to you, Yugi, for now."
Yugi nodded upon hearing this. "Mm, if anyone wants to harm Yami Yugi, they'll have to go through me first."
"As long as Joey the Great is here, no one can harm Yami Yugi," Joey said, pointing confidently at himself.
As duelists, even though they couldn't bring their Duel Disks into the Memory World, and even if they had, they couldn't use them at full power due to the different world's rules, they both still possessed the ability to wield spirit power within the Memory World. However, just like Hayato, they had certain restrictions and couldn't overuse it.
With the protection of the two, Mana's presence, and Seto's restraint, Aknadin would not be able to succeed even if he wanted to act against the unconscious Yami Yugi.
The core of this Memory World's existence was Yami Yugi himself. If the Pharaoh were to be killed, everything would end. Without further worries, Hayato said goodbye to Yugi and the others and went to the open ground outside the medical ward.
As he left the medical ward, Hayato also passed by the room where Seto, Kisara, and High Priest Shada were. Also due to overuse of spirit power, Shada appeared quite pathetic, still deep in slumber even as Hayato left; there was no relying on him to do anything.
As for Seto, Hayato had initially thought of informing him of his departure, but upon seeing Seto, that creep, stealthily fondling Kisara's cheek while she slept, Hayato decisively chose not to disturb them.
If he were to suddenly appear and let Seto know that his behavior had been exposed, Hayato, inferring from Kaiba's personality, guessed that Seto might scream "Crush! Shatter! Great Cheers!" and chase after him.
With his consciousness withdrawn, Hayato felt two perspectives simultaneously appear before his eyes: one of the open ground in front of the medical ward, and the other a "player" perspective overlooking the Game Board. Both versions of Hayato performed synchronized actions, each holding a transparent bottle in their hand.
The stopper on the bottle, emblazoned with the words "Golden Wind," was pulled out. Immediately, an updraft abruptly rose around Hayato, and with Hayato's will, it swiftly locked onto a direction, changing its course forward.
Having locked onto the direction of Necrovalley, which he had previously confirmed on the map, Hayato, riding the golden current, transformed into a beam of light and vanished from the spot. But just as the light advanced, an irritated figure walked out from the medical ward's entrance.
"Hmph, a mere ancient building is so convoluted, making me waste so much time finding my way. That guy who looked just like me should have come this way, right?" Seto Kaiba strolled leisurely around the corner, only to see a golden beam of light hurtling straight towards his face.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, Kaiba was knocked unconscious by the seemingly solid beam of light, disappearing from the spot along with the swift current surrounding it.
The next moment, a thousand miles away, two figures abruptly appeared in mid-air.
Nothing was bought. It felt like, after digital "stomach upset," symptoms of online shopping "stomach upset" were gradually appearing.
(end of chapter)
One second earlier, Hayato had been within the Royal City. Using the power of the GM Item "Golden Wind," he arrived near his destination, Necrovalley, in what felt like an instant. From afar, Hayato could already glimpse the cluster of buildings hidden within the valley.
So strong, incredibly strong. But why am I in mid-air?!
And this guy next to me is Kaiba, right? Even his clothes are the modern ones; I definitely wouldn't mistake them. Why is this guy here too?!
The power of the "Golden Wind" dissipated as soon as it brought Hayato and Kaiba near the target location. Gravity seized the two figures suspended in mid-air, and the next moment, Hayato and Kaiba plummeted together!
"Hayato, you're here too!"
"That's what I wanted to say to you! But now doesn't seem like the time to talk about it!" Hayato looked at the surprised Kaiba, raised the Duel Disk on his wrist, and called out, "I choose you, Pidgeot—I mean, (The Winged Dragon of Ra)!"
Accompanying Hayato's call, (The Winged Dragon of Ra), fearing it would be forgotten by Hayato like some common family bird that never gets screen time, instantly emerged. With its vast wings, it timely caught Kaiba and Hayato, who were falling from the sky, and slowly descended onto the sand.
After Hayato and Kaiba slid down (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s claws, which were resting on the sand dune, and landed, (The Winged Dragon of Ra) vanished.
Watching the symbol of (The Winged Dragon of Ra) disappear from his Duel Disk, Hayato, now safely on the ground, finally had a moment to look at a surprised Seto Kaiba: "First time?"
"What kind of Power is this? You just Solid Visioned that (The Winged Dragon of Ra) to catch us?" Kaiba asked, astonished.
Hayato retorted helplessly, "It's not your first time experiencing Duel Monster Solid Vision, so why are you acting like it is? What's with all the excitement?"
As he spoke, the extended Duel Disk on Hayato's wrist retracted back into its folded, stored state. Coming to Necrovalley this time, with Yami Yugi asleep and unable to use his Duel Disk anyway, and since a Duel Disk lying idle would be a waste, Hayato naturally "borrowed" it—I mean, took it—when he left Yami Yugi's hospital room.
With the Duel Disk, Hayato could use its power to shoulder a considerable portion of the pressure and burden generated when using Spirit Power, and also unleash the Spirit's power to a greater extent, ensuring the safety of this journey to Necrovalley.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Kaiba seemed to have found an answer, muttering to himself, "I see. Since I'm in a state of quantum entanglement, it means my existence is no longer limited by matter but stabilized by thought, or 'I think, therefore I am.' Therefore, with a sufficiently strong Will, one can interfere with a portion of the quantum Domain through thought, allowing the Duel Monster most deeply imprinted in one's mind to become a power that can be borrowed."
"Hm, I see. I completely understand."
'You don't understand a damn thing,' Hayato thought, too lazy to even retort to Seto. He turned around, surveying the surrounding desert.
"You must have also accidentally fallen into a quantum entanglement state and arrived in this era, Hayato." After forcibly understanding everything with his inexplicable thought process, Seto Kaiba regained his confidence, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at Hayato. "Hmph, I originally intended to train more in this era, so that when I returned to the Real World, I could defeat you and Yugi in one fell swoop and reclaim the title of Duel King. It seems it won't be that easy after all."
"It doesn't matter. Things that can be done easily hold no interest for me. In fact, if you and Yugi were that easy to defeat, *that* would disappoint me, Hayato."
As Kaiba spoke, a vein throbbed on his forehead, forming a "#" shape. "You bastard, look me in the eyes when I'm talking! Don't look around!"
"Huh? Don't bother me, Seto, I don't have time to Duel Bot with you right now." Hayato, standing atop the sand dune, raised a hand as if to peer into the distance, looking at something far away. Without turning his head, he waved a hand dismissively, which infuriated Kaiba even more, making him feel that Hayato completely disregarded him.
"While I'm curious how you ended up in this era too, let's talk about it later."
Kaiba frowned, glanced at Hayato, who was seriously looking at something in the distance, and didn't say much. Instead, he took a couple of steps toward the top of the sand dune, just like Hayato, and cast his gaze in the direction Hayato was looking.
From their vantage point, a sand-covered valley not far away was faintly visible, with many buildings erected within it. However, the most striking feature was a tall Tomb in the center, almost level with the valley and nearly breaking the surface, yet ultimately remaining hidden within the desert.
"Are you going there?" Kaiba asked.
Hayato nodded, "Yeah, I looked at the map and it felt like roughly the same distance. I estimated the location from the Royal City and set off, but I didn't expect it to be a tiny bit different from my estimate. It looks like there's at least a few more kilometers to go, so I'll have to rely on these log-like legs of mine for the rest of the journey."
"Heh, log-like legs? I didn't even notice until you mentioned it. I feel like you're much younger now compared to your appearance in the Real World." Hearing Hayato's words, Kaiba turned his head for a look. Even though they were both standing at the same height on the sand dune in the same posture, Hayato's height was only at Kaiba's chest. This secretly delighted Kaiba, who had always been shorter than Hayato before, and he immediately spoke.
Hayato pouted, "Don't even mention it. It's all mistakes from my youth. I'm probably an eight-year-old kid now."
"This is eight years old!?" Kaiba raised an eyebrow, completely disbelieving. "Wait a minute, I just remembered something. I was clearly at the entrance of the medical facility, and then I was suddenly hit by a golden light, and then I ended up here. You said you departed from the Royal City, so was that golden light that hit me *you*!?"
"You're not trying to scam me, are you, Seto?" Hayato pouted. "I haven't even accused you of causing such a huge deviation in my arrival destination. Don't play the victim. But speaking of which, were you in the Royal City before?"
Kaiba nodded, "After entering this quantum entanglement state due to an experiment, I found myself in the desert. I chose the nearest city I could see to start from, and then I arrived at what appeared to be the capital of the Kingdom, which I assume is the Royal City you mentioned."
"It's strange, though. This is thousands of years in the past from the modern era, yet I can see people who look identical to me in this time. Is it because my intervention, not belonging to this era, caused the appearance of people in this era to be replaced by mine? Even I can't quite grasp the knowledge of the quantum Domain in such a short time."
Hayato offered a helpless smile, "Let's just say it's as you said." As he spoke, Hayato looked at Necrovalley in the distance, descended the sand dune, and proceeded toward his target. He didn't even have to call out to Kaiba; Kaiba was already walking alongside him with a tacit understanding.
It was approaching noon, and the scorching desert sun was frighteningly fierce. However, Hayato didn't feel much discomfort from the sun. He thought it might be due to his Ancient Egypt attire, and also because Meryamun, having grown up in Egypt, was already accustomed to the desert. Kaiba, while initially prioritizing style over comfort, eventually took off his trench coat to use as a makeshift cloak against the sun and wind after about a kilometer of walking.
As they advanced, Hayato and Kaiba exchanged information they knew.
From Kaiba, Hayato learned that he had actually completed the analysis of the D-Wheel previously confiscated from Paradox, and had even produced experimental models. D-Wheels themselves, decades into the future, mostly served as intermediaries for Perpetual Motion Machines and "Yusei Particles," with their energy conversion method being the Turbo Dueling that delighted every Duelist.
While the technological level on them was high, it wasn't *that* high. However, Paradox's D-Wheel was different. That D-Wheel, named "Ark Cradle," incorporated numerous future technologies from the apocalyptic era, including Advanced Tech like anti-gravity suspension. But its most Core function was the "Time-Space Jump" feature used to implement the individual plans of the Four Harbingers of the Apocalypse.
Hayato had originally given the D-Wheel to Kaiba merely as an experiment, expecting Kaiba to perhaps develop an anti-gravity suspension system early, or at most, conceive of a Perpetual Motion Machine ahead of time. He hadn't expected Kaiba to truly possess the ability to understand future technology, or even the technology of the distant future, to the point of recreating the Time-Space Jump function.
However, the fact that Kaiba didn't appear at some point in the past or future, but rather in this Memory World within the Stone Tablet, indicated that his understanding of the D-Wheel had a slight deviation, preventing him from fully restoring all its functions.
What also surprised Hayato was that as he changed the storyline, Bobasa, who was supposed to meet Yugi and his companions, instead met Kaiba. Hayato had originally intended to look for Bobasa after resolving the matters at Necrovalley and returning to the Royal City, but now there was no longer any need.
Hayato's expression, which suggested he knew who Bobasa was, piqued Kaiba's curiosity. But when Kaiba asked, Hayato merely smiled, telling Kaiba that Bobasa was a trustworthy ally, and could even be considered one of their hidden Ace Cards.
Kaiba, likewise, learned many things from Hayato: from Hayato's arrival in the Memory World and witnessing Yami Yugi's Ascension as Pharaoh, Bakura's attack on the Royal Palace, and Mahad's sacrifice to become (Dark Magician), all the way to Bakura's recent ambush that left Yami Yugi unconscious.
Of course, to Kaiba, all these fantastical events were given a "scientific" and logical explanation for easier understanding, and Hayato simply let him be, too lazy to correct the stubborn man.
"Hmph, Yugi and that Mediocre Duelist actually made it to this World too. How lucky. If conditions allowed, I believe we could even recreate the Battle City Top 4 tournament here." Kaiba said, his brow furrowing slightly in frustration. "It's a shame my Deck didn't come with me to this World."
"Also, why is it that despite trying so many times, I still can't Summon Duel Monster Power like you?"
Kaiba watched Hayato put the Duel Disk back on his wrist, asking with confusion.
When he noticed the Duel Disk on Hayato's hand, he had wondered if Hayato was able to Summon (The Winged Dragon of Ra) by using the power of that device, which he suspected *he* had invented. However, after Hayato lent the Duel Disk to Kaiba, and Kaiba still couldn't Summon his beloved (Blue-Eyes White Dragon), Kaiba could only confirm that his initial guess was correct.
Hayato, knowing that Kaiba had already met Priest Seto and Kisara, who was brought out by Priest Seto from Aknadin, didn't try to force the point that "your beloved wife hasn't become a Card in this era." Instead, he misled him: "It must be because your Bonds with (Blue-Eyes) aren't strong enough."
"Your Mind isn't pure enough; your Bonds with (Blue-Eyes) must be tainted with other things, like Dueling, Duel Bots, trench coats, and so on. Those things must be affecting your... 'interference with the quantum entanglement state through thought.' Yes, that's exactly it."
Kaiba glanced at Hayato, who was trying to suppress a laugh while looking serious. "Is that so? I have a feeling you're trying to fool me again."
Although he said that, Kaiba still believed Hayato's words. As he walked, he continuously tried to discard the distracting thoughts in his Mind, focusing only on (Blue-Eyes White Dragon), but naturally, he still couldn't Summon anything.
If Kaiba hadn't fallen for Hayato's trickery and instead tried to Summon other Duel Monsters with Spirit Power residing in them, like (Legendary Dragon Critias), he wouldn't be unable to Summon anything at all as he was now.
Although a few kilometers wasn't a short distance, and the terrain was desert rather than flat ground, it wasn't too far for Hayato and Kaiba, whose physical capabilities far surpassed ordinary people. After walking for about half an hour, the two finally approached Hayato's destination, Necrovalley.
From afar, Hayato could already feel the special, quiet atmosphere within Necrovalley. As a collective burial ground for numerous Pharaohs, the aura here was exceptionally solemn; merely approaching it instilled an unconscious desire for silence.
However, after they approached a certain distance, and just as Hayato expected, the guardians of Necrovalley indeed noticed Hayato and Kaiba approaching. Barring any surprises, they should be the Tomb Keepers that Priestess Ishizu had mentioned to Hayato before.
Hayato, curious about what the Tomb Keepers of three thousand years ago would be like, suddenly fell silent upon seeing the three Royal Guards who were "greeting" them.
"Who are you two?"
"Don't even think about approaching this sacred Necrovalley!"
"We, the three Tomb Keeper brothers, are invincible~"
(end of chapter)
"Do you dare defy me, who possesses the (Millennium Ring)?"
Looking at the three individuals blocking his path, dressed in yellow, green, and black robes respectively, and wielding weapons, Hayato fell silent. He didn't seem to know these three, yet at the same time, he felt like he did; their goofy demeanor was far too familiar.
"Are you members of the Tomb Keepers who guard Necrovalley? I've come from the Royal City, and I'd like to confirm if Priest Karim and Priestess Isis, who previously escorted Pharaoh Aknamkanon's mummy, have passed through here?"
The oldest-looking man among the three, dressed in black, heard Hayato's words and casually picked his nose. "Huh? Who do you think you are? You expect me to believe you just because you say you're from the Royal City?"
"Exactly! At least show us something to prove your identity," the green-robed man chimed in. "And you look like the type who'd kill us, so any proof you have better be substantial."
As he spoke, the youngest-looking man in yellow clothes raised one hand, rubbing his fingers together like an Italian, while his other hand, not even bothering to pretend, simply opened, palm up.
Was this asking for proof? This was clearly asking for a bribe!
Seeing this, Kaiba merely stood by, coldly sneering, arms crossed over his chest, watching Hayato, eager to see how he would deal with these three who were clearly shaking him down for money. Unlike Hayato, Seto Kaiba was in a state where he couldn't be seen by the people of this world, so the current farce clearly had nothing to do with him.
Hayato was also amused to hear the 'Tomb Keepers Three Brothers'' words. Not only did Hayato not have any money to offer as a bribe, but even if he did, it was always *his* habit to relieve others of *their* money, never the other way around...
Ahem, no, that's not it. The main point is that Hayato is a man filled with righteousness, unable to tolerate even a speck of dust in his eye. He absolutely couldn't stand the idea of bribing others for his own convenience and felt he must firmly resist it.
Hayato then casually lifted the (Millennium Ring) hanging around his neck and, glaring at the three men with a scowl he'd learned from Kaiba, declared, "Hmph, you third-rate armed, fourth-rate grunts, look closely at what this is! Only Pharaohs and High Priests possess one of the (Millennium Items), the (Millennium Ring). Do you dare defy me, who possesses the (Millennium Ring)?"
As he spoke, Hayato's lips curled into a smirk, looking every bit like a reborn Wry-Mouthed Dragon King.
Seeing the (Millennium Ring) Hayato presented, the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers all froze for a moment. After exchanging glances, Tomb Keeper Yellow exclaimed with a shocked expression, "What?! It's actually the (Millennium Ring)!?"
"When the two esteemed High Priests came to Necrovalley a few days ago, I also caught a glimpse of their (Millennium Items). This is indeed the real deal!"
"He's actually an esteemed High Priest!?"
Their previous demeanor vanished instantly. After seeing Hayato pull out the (Millennium Ring), the Tomb Keepers Trio's attitude completely changed. Shamelessly, they clustered around Hayato and began to butter him up.
"Esteemed High Priest, this humble one did not know your honorable identity just now. Please, give us a chance to abandon the darkness and embrace the light!"
"Esteemed High Priest, please come this way. The other two esteemed High Priests you are looking for are inside. We'll take you to them right now."
"Esteemed High Priest, watch out for the stairs, 'kay~"
Hayato was ushered into the entrance of Necrovalley, surrounded by the three. As he walked, Hayato specifically looked back at Kaiba, shaking the (Millennium Ring) he held. Seeing that the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers' trouble was so easily resolved after Hayato pulled out the (Millennium Ring), Kaiba, who hadn't gotten to see a good show, scoffed disdainfully and followed Hayato.
"Don't call me 'Esteemed High Priest'," Hayato said casually, unaccustomed to the title. "Just call me Big Bro."
"Alright, Big Bro~" x3
Necrovalley. Although Hayato had previously seen a Field Spell Card with the same name in Ishizu's Deck, he never expected that when he actually arrived at Necrovalley, the terrain would look almost identical to the landscape on the card. After entering the valley through the narrow, empty, and perfectly defensible pass, the first thing that struck him was a building standing before him.
The building's appearance was identical to that of the Temple of Necrovalley. Hayato recalled Ishizu mentioning that this Temple served as a transit point before the Pharaoh's mummy was placed in its Burial Site, and various rituals were also performed here, making it a rather important structure.
However, no matter how important it was, the Temple couldn't compare to the many Pharaohs' Graveyards hidden behind it. Therefore, another purpose of this place was to serve as a second barrier against invading thieves.
As for the first barrier? That would be the soldiers guarding the valley entrance. However, in Hayato's opinion, whether the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers beside him could actually serve as guards was debatable.
As he was thinking, the group arrived before the Temple. As Hayato delved deeper into Necrovalley, he also saw other members of the Tomb Keepers besides the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers: `Tomb Keeper's Watchman` holding long spears, `Tomb Keeper's Cannonholder` on watchtowers within the valley, and even `Tomb Keeper's Servant` dressed as slaves, transporting objects.
This wasn't to say that all the members of the Tomb Keepers were the `Tomb Keeper` Monster Cards Hayato had seen before. Rather, Hayato noticed that their attire was extremely similar to the `Tomb Keeper` Monsters that later corresponded to their respective duties. In that regard, the `Tomb Keeper` Deck's accuracy was remarkably high.
The unsuspecting Hayato, led by the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers, drew closer to the Temple. But just as they reached an open area in front of the Temple's stairs, the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers, who had been buttering Hayato up moments before, suddenly scattered in all directions. Before Hayato could react to what was happening, a green, semi-circular barrier suddenly rose from the ground, engulfing both Hayato and Kaiba!
The next moment, the guards of the Tomb Keepers rushed over and surrounded Hayato, their gleaming spear tips pointed directly at Hayato, who was enveloped by the barrier. It was as if any move from Hayato would prompt them to collectively eliminate him.
"Hehehehaha, so you've been locked up, Hayato."
As if seeing Hayato in a tough spot was a joyous occasion, even the perpetually stony-faced Kaiba couldn't help but laugh heartily beside him when he saw Hayato trapped, openly mocking him. "You're pathetic. Looks like you didn't really solve your previous problem, did you?"
"Hmph, hearing you say that, you must be pretty brave, huh?" Hayato rolled his eyes at Kaiba's taunt, then looked at the energy barrier around him. Still not understanding what was happening, he turned to the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers, who had run back nearby, and demanded, "Hey, what is this all about!"
"What's all about? Idiot, did you really think your lies could deceive my brilliant mind!" Tomb Keeper Green said, proudly patting his gleaming bald head. "Don't think that just because you have the (Millennium Ring) you can fool us into believing you're a Pharaoh's High Priest?"
"Priest Karim and Priestess Isis arrived here last night. They told us that High Priest Mahad's (Millennium Ring) is currently missing. If anyone has the (Millennium Ring), they're definitely a fraud!" the black-robed Tomb Keeper, whose nose was noticeably larger than the others, said smugly.
And Tomb Keeper Yellow finally concluded, "So, you two guys are undoubtedly fakes, 'kay~"
"We three brothers saw through your lies long ago and deliberately led you here, and you fell for it, didn't you, 'kay~"
Kaiba heard Tomb Keeper Yellow's words, but he noticed a detail in his phrasing.
"...We?"
His eyebrow suddenly twitched. Sensing something amiss, he reached out to touch the green barrier in front of him, only to find that he, who should have been intangible, actually made contact with the barrier. He had originally intended to watch Hayato's predicament unfold, but he never expected to be trapped himself, causing Kaiba's face to suddenly darken.
"Hehe, although I don't know what's going on with you, don't think such petty tricks can work inside this barrier. This is a barrier that High Priest Mahad personally set up here. No one can fool our eyes and sneak in, 'kay~"
Looking at the Tomb Keepers Three Brothers' taunts and the Tomb Keepers outside the barrier, who were eyeing him menacingly, Hayato sighed. The Duel Disk on his arm was about to activate, ready to summon the power of a spirit to break through this barrier.
Even before coming here, Hayato had been mentally prepared because Ishizu had warned him that Necrovalley, guarded by the Tomb Keepers, was difficult to enter even for a High Priest without the Pharaoh's command. However, he hadn't expected the trouble to escalate to this degree.
He had originally thought that since they were technically allies, he shouldn't resort to force. *Oh well, it's not like I wanted to use force; you guys made the first move. In that case, I don't need to pretend to be a gentleman anymore.*
The symbol of (The Winged Dragon of Ra) quietly appeared in the first slot of his activating Duel Disk. The air around Hayato also began to warm slightly, but before Hayato could summon (The Winged Dragon of Ra), the Tomb Keepers surrounding him suddenly parted, clearing a path.
The guards all turned and formed ranks, and even the recently arrogant Tomb Keepers Three Brothers quieted down, bowing respectfully towards the cleared path. From the Temple before Hayato emerged a single person, who calmly accepted the reverent greetings and worship of the Tomb Keepers. That rare golden hair and defiantly arrogant expression made Hayato exclaim right then and there:
"Marik?"
"Hmm? Who is Marik? My name is Marik, Marik Ishtar, clan head of the Tomb Keepers and Grand Priest." Marik, whose name was identical to Marik's, said with a frown. "Who allowed you to raise your head and look directly at me, you insolent fool!"
"A mongrel like you, who dares to steal the missing (Millennium Ring), should be grateful that the Pharaoh's radiance still protects your insignificant self, merely for touching a (Millennium Item) and not dying! Yet you still dare to impersonate a Pharaoh's High Priest and intrude into Necrovalley, guarded by our Tomb Keepers? You are truly courting death!"
"And that strange-looking fellow beside you, who hasn't uttered a single word – do you think remaining silent will allow you to escape my judgment? Ridiculous! Simply associating with that suspicious-looking criminal is enough reason for me to condemn you to an equal punishment!"
Marik's arrogant tone utterly displeased Kaiba, who clenched his fists tightly and couldn't help but glance at Hayato. "Speaking of which, is Ishizu Ishtar's younger brother, Marik Ishtar, also as irritating and punchable as this guy?"
"A couple of times, when Ishizu and I were scheduled for foreign language tutoring, Joey and Marik went to Duel. Those times, Grandpa Muto's Card Shop was filled with roars of laughter. So, Marik is probably a cheerful young man, just like me, who believes in 'bringing smiles through Duels.'"
Hayato said, glancing at Marik Ishtar, who seemed to have picked up Gilgamesh's script from another set, constantly calling people "mongrels." "Even Marik's Dark Personality isn't as punchable as this guy."
"Hmph, are you discussing an escape plan, or contemplating begging for mercy? Muda, muda, muda! I have a belly full of rage because of *that woman* bringing me back here. You two insignificant individuals, whose deaths wouldn't matter, will be perfect for me to vent upon."
Marik sneered as he looked at Hayato and Kaiba, failing to notice their utterly dismissive expressions. He threatened, "First, I'll bind you with chains and fasten you to a wheel. This is my favorite method of torture; I've named it '(Nightmare Wheel)'. If you don't want to be crushed to death by the wheel, you'll have to push your chest out with all your might until you're exhausted, and then the wheel will slowly grind away your flesh."
"No, I suddenly have a better idea. Didn't that woman, Ishizu, say that the Pharaoh's majesty has recently been threatened by repeated provocations from a tomb robber? In that case, I'll help the Pharaoh regain his majesty by casting curses upon you two criminals."
"Take them behind the Temple!"
Several attendants, dressed as `Tomb Keeper Sorcerers`, who were accompanying Marik, came to the barrier enclosing Hayato and Kaiba. Waving their hooked Heqa Scepters, they chanted a spell, and the barrier lifted from the ground, becoming freely movable. Hayato wasn't in a hurry to escape; instead, he wanted to see what Marik of the Tomb Keepers intended to do with them. He and Kaiba were led forward by Marik's people.
Passing through the Temple, Hayato didn't see Pharaoh Aknamkanon's mummy, nor did he see Karim and Ishizu. They had probably gone to the burial area behind the Temple to inter Pharaoh Aknamkanon.
As they passed through the Temple, Marik, who was walking ahead, seemed somewhat displeased and muttered to himself, "Hmph, has that woman Ishizu already gone to the back? She doesn't put me, the Grand Priest of the Tomb Keepers, in her eyes at all. What's so great about becoming a Pharaoh's High Priest? She's just relying on being born before me."
"If there's a next time I get involved with that woman, I'll definitely be born before her, then, hehehehe..."
*'No, next time, you'll be even unluckier. Not only will you still be her younger brother, but you'll also be tormented daily with 'Tomb Keepers' and 'Graveyard Control Strategy' decks,'* Hayato thought, internally scoffing at Marik's sinister chuckle.
(end of chapter)