Chapter 781: Using It When You Shouldn't Makes It Meaningless
"I'm more curious, this guy actually admitted what he did so simply?" Malik looked at the Great Dark Priest with contempt, saying, "Too stupid. Doesn't this just give us another reason to finish him off?"
"If it were me, I'd definitely hide it a bit, and absolutely wouldn't tell the truth so easily."
"That's why you can only be a mid-story mini-boss, while he can be the final antagonist, Six-Year-Old (Nickname)." Hayato glanced at Malik, "Also, before you express your contempt for him, can you please come out from behind me?"
And while the few of them were talking, the Great Dark Priest walked down from the tablet he was standing on, standing at the same height as them, saying without a trace of emotion in his voice, "The reason I will answer your questions is, since you have already come before me, do you still think you can leave here?"
"If I were to kill you, using this tablet would be better." The Great Dark Priest said, as a tablet suddenly rose from the Ground in front of him, "Revive, Aggregate of Resentment!"
"Diabound!"
"What!?" Hearing the Great Dark Priest's words, the four people excluding Hayato were instantly startled. Only to see from the tablet that rose from the Underground, which was inlaid with a circle of human bones around its edge, a pair of strong arms extended, followed by a winged body and a snake-headed lower body. A monster that the few of them had seen many times crawled out from the tablet, it was **Diabound Kernel**!
Just as Hayato remembered, **Diabound Kernel** was the aggregate of the hatred and grudge spirit remaining after the villagers of Thief Village who died unjustly were refined into Millennium Items. As long as this malice was not dispelled and the tablet was not destroyed, even if **Diabound Kernel** was annihilated again and again, it could still regenerate infinitely.
However, that was all there was to it.
"The same move won't have any effect against **Diabound Kernel**, I can also use this classic Saint Seiya line." Hayato raised his Duel Arena and said, "Diabound, who has already been killed once, has degenerated to its most primitive state, right? In that case, no matter how many times it can revive, I'll kill it for you to see all the same!"
"Come forth, **The Winged Dragon of Ra**!"
Seeing Hayato call a god, Karim couldn't help but say to the Great Dark Priest somewhat proudly, "Heh heh, you're defeated. Mr. Hayato's **The Winged Dragon of Ra** is super powerful, and among the Egyptian God Cards protecting the Pharaoh, it is also a being at the very apex."
"To finish you off, not even a second is needed!"
Following Hayato's call, riding the firelight, came a cry. Karim was already ready to continue praising **The Winged Dragon of Ra** greatly after its appearance. However, after the firelight dispersed, the appearance of **The Winged Dragon of Ra** that appeared before the few of them was slightly off.
"Ying?"
**The Winged Dragon of Ra** also felt strange about the gaze the few people directed at it. It looked down and but saw that it had inexplicably shrunk, becoming not much larger than an average flying creature!
"Heh heh, I forgot to tell you, the tablet behind me is a tablet connected to the Underworld. Each Millennium Item embedded in it can release a portion of the power of the existence sealed within."
"The Millennium Key, which represents 'life', can correspondingly absorb life force. Those bones you saw on top were precisely defiled life force converted from this power." The Great Dark Priest said with composure, "And the Millennium Rod, which can call gods, has now granted me the ability to block your Egyptian God from projecting its power."
"The distance between here and the Royal City where the Egyptian God's true form tablet is placed is so vast that even the power of the strongest **The Winged Dragon of Ra** is reduced to less than one-tenth. This is your end!"
As soon as the Great Dark Priest finished speaking, **Diabound Kernel** took action, releasing its attack towards everyone.
Immediately, Isis summoned three Stone Tablet Monsters to try and resist **Diabound Kernel's** Spiral Wave. Although the current **Diabound Kernel** had degenerated to its initial state with much less power than before, at that time, **Diabound Kernel** in this state still soloed the former Priest Set. At this moment, Isis alone simply couldn't block **Diabound Kernel**. The three monsters were completely annihilated and destroyed as soon as they appeared.
Isis also stepped back a few steps because her Stone Tablet Monsters were defeated, and Malik quickly supported her: "Hey, are you okay, Isis? Hurry up and continue the battle, that monster is coming again!"
The second Spiral Wave was released. This time, the one who actively met it was the **Thunder Dragon** summoned by Karim. But after changing the target, the result was the same. The Spiral Wave broke through all three **Thunder Dragons**. Karim also followed in Isis's footsteps and fell, supported by Malik.
"Hey, Hayato Kobayashi, now is not the time to care about meaningless things like pride and honor." Looking at Kaiba beside him, who also didn't have the ability to summon monsters like himself, and seeing that Karim and Isis were not a match for **Diabound Kernel's** single attack, and Hayato's **The Winged Dragon of Ra's** power was also specifically restricted, Malik suggested, "We must escape immediately."
"To put it in a way you can accept, relocate to preserve our forces, and find a way to defeat this guy somewhere else!"
Hayato also didn't turn around, nodding his back to Malik: "That's right, we should indeed leave. So, Malik, Seto, you two take Karim and Isis and leave here."
"What are you saying? Without your god, how could you be a match for that monster!" Malik was also stunned by Hayato's words, and said anxiously, "I'm only warning you once. If you don't escape now, I won't wait for you. I value my life more than anyone!"
"Hey, you should also try persuading that fool!"
Malik turned his head to look at Kaiba, but saw Kaiba helping Karim up, and turned and said, "Fool, I know Hayato better than you. He wouldn't do something unless he was confident. Besides, if he only relied on the power of gods, he wouldn't be a True Duelist I could acknowledge."
"That's right, isn't it, Hayato?"
**Diabound Kernel** gathered energy to prepare for its third attack. The airflow generated by the gathered energy lifted Hayato's bangs. With his back to Kaiba, Hayato said with a smile, "Ah, yes. Although I was a bit reluctant to use it at first, a card has no meaning if it's not used when it should be used."
As he spoke, Hayato's palm clenched. On the Duel Arena, next to **The Winged Dragon of Ra's** slot, a new mark appeared.
Just as **Diabound Kernel's** attack was about to be unleashed, Hayato suddenly swung his fist upwards: "Now! Ogdoadic King Aron!"
The next moment, from below **Diabound Kernel**, a monster clad in gold armor gathered and formed out of thin air. Its clenched fist smashed **Diabound Kernel's** open mouth shut, and the energy of the Spiral Wave exploded inside **Diabound Kernel's** own mouth.
"Boom!"
I haven't played Scarlet/Violet for an hour because I've been typing. Nemona is crawling on me.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 782: Karim's Death (Part 1)
"Myutant!?" Watching Myutant King Aron send the unstable Diabound flying onto its back with a rising punch, the Great Dark Priest frowned, "Is this what you're relying on, Hayato Kobayashi?"
Hayato replied, "If you think sealing The Winged Dragon of Ra is enough to defeat me, then you're thinking too simply. Let me tell you beforehand, I'm very~ strong~!"
However, despite saying that, this was actually the first time Hayato had called upon Myutant King Aron to appear. After being sent to the "Chessboard World" by Meriamun in the World of the Millennium Ring last time, Hayato had actually vaguely sensed some existences calling out to him, waiting for a response. Although he hadn't attempted it, Hayato already knew they were the Myutant monsters that Meriamun had used.
At that time, Hayato still possessed Drytron, and with that in mind, considering they were Meriamun's monsters, he hadn't planned on summoning Myutant monsters. After all, Drytron and The Winged Dragon of Ra were already sufficient to handle most situations.
Unfortunately, back in Necrovalley, he had defeated Bakura at the cost of exhausting Drytron's power, and The Winged Dragon of Ra was now specifically weakened by the Great Dark Priest. Even though he was still somewhat reluctant, Hayato summoned **Myutant King Garura** here to assist.
However, even **Myutant King Garura's** ability to suppress Diabound was merely due to the advantage of a surprise attack. It was pure luck that the sudden attack caused Diabound to detonate its own attack to defeat itself; such luck would be difficult to replicate a second time.
Before the next attack arrived...
Hayato turned his head to look behind him and said, "Since you've seen the Hidden Card I didn't want to expose, hurry and leave with the others. Anyway, you'll only be a burden to me if you stay here."
"A burden? Hmph, you really dare say that, Hayato. If my Blue-Eyes were here..." Kaiba snorted indignantly, but still helped Karim up and turned towards the exit. "I'll let you show off for now. However, this time won't be like last time, right?"
Hayato knew the "last time" Kaiba referred to was the incident with Anubis and the Pyramid of Light, where he, who had promised everything would be fine, was dragged to a Different Dimension by Anubis using Phantasm Gate, and later, through a series of coincidences, ended up joining Doma.
Turning his head away without meeting Kaiba's gaze, Hayato's voice was still full of confidence: "Isn't that obvious? I have no intention of sacrificing myself. I'm very strong and have good luck."
"Is that so... I understand." Kaiba didn't know what he saw, but he turned and said, "Take that woman and go ahead, Marik Ishtar."
"You don't need to tell me that! Although I can't tell what you two are talking about, in short, Hayato Kobayashi will hold off that monster, right? I've wanted to run for a long time!" The impatient Malik didn't need Kaiba's command at all. Carrying Isis, he was already walking ahead.
"Don't die, Hayato Kobayashi!" Calling out one last time, Malik took Isis and climbed the Stairs towards the Ground without looking back, with Kaiba following closely behind. After all four of them stepped onto the Stairs, behind them, **Myutant King Garura**, struck by Diabound's attack, was sent flying back, and the falling rubble smashed the Stairs.
"Mr. Hayato, is he really alright?" Karim, supported by Kaiba, looked back at the blocked entrance and couldn't help but say, "Although that monster just now did suppress Diabound for a moment, the power it possesses compared to The Winged Dragon of Ra..."
"That gap is obvious to anyone."
Kaiba calmly interrupted Karim. His expressionless face made it impossible to tell what he was thinking. "Now is not the time for us to leisurely consider those unimportant things. We should walk faster."
Karim fell silent for a moment, and nodded. "You're right."
The four walked all the way up the Stairs and quickly returned to the Ground. However, they then had to face another problem.
"Crack!" Almost immediately after the few people returned to the Small House on the Ground, sensing the presence of approaching living people, a skeleton arm holding a ruined long knife suddenly cut a hole in the wooden door, and a skull peered in through the cracked door seam, its empty eye sockets staring directly at Malik, who was carrying Isis on his back.
If the long knife were an axe, and the skull then uttered "Here's Johnny!", the scene inside this small house would be an almost exact replica of the famous horror movie "The Shining". In fact, the startled Malik was already about to scream like the movie's heroine.
But before Malik could open his mouth and scream, something sharply grazed past his ear. The sound of something cutting through the air and the sound of shattering simultaneously entered Malik's ear.
Only to see Kaiba immediately swung a broken chair inside the house, smashing it towards the White Bones that had discovered them. The already decayed chair shattered instantly, and the White Bones's head was also knocked back away from the door.
However, if White Bones were that easy to defeat, the group wouldn't have been chased here before. Using one hand to put its head back, the White Bones opened its mouth again and roared silently at the people inside the house.
But the response it received was Kaiba's clenched fist. As if to vent some emotion, Kaiba swung a punch, hitting directly into the White Bones's open mouth and sent its head flying off. Even if that White Bones was still alive, it needed to find its head first before continuing to attack the group.
"Screw your burden!" Uncharacteristically, Kaiba actually cursed at the White Bones he had sent flying. Without looking at Malik, he shouted, "Hurry and keep up!"
Pushing open the door, which was practically just for show, the group rushed towards the direction they came from. Unfortunately, the commotion when they returned to the Ground was quite loud, and the White Bones group gathered towards them. Even though Kaiba initially used his extraordinary strength to defeat two or three stragglers, soon, the four were surrounded by White Bones from all sides.
Facing the White Bones from all directions, Isis knew this had exceeded the ability of both Kaiba and Malik, who couldn't summon tablet monsters. She raised her Duel Arena and summoned again: "Agido!"
"Thunder Dragon!"
As Isis's voice sounded, with the same idea, Karim also summoned his tablet monster. The two Priests, whose condition wasn't as good as before, once again faced the White Bones group.
Chapter 783: Karim's Death (Part 2)
"Roar of the Thunder Dragon!"
A light beam shot out, clearing away some of the obstructing Bones. Taking advantage of this gap, Kaiba and Malik, along with Karim and Isis, broke through and ran wildly.
However, compared to the attack of the **Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon** that Karim Fusion Summoned when he was in perfect condition earlier, the quantity of Bones that a single **Thunder Dragon** could repel was truly limited. Therefore, **Agido**, summoned by Isis, also needed to provide support, continuously repelling the approaching Bones to slow down the speed at which the path was narrowing.
Before, they had gone deep into the Village to reach the underground. Looking at it now, this path was truly too far. After running only a hundred meters, Karim had already made the **Thunder Dragon** attack three times, and it looks like he was about to do it a fourth time.
Yet, there were still at least two hundred meters to the Village exit.
However, there was hope after all. Theoretically, as long as Karim persisted six more times, the party would be able to leave the Village's range. But by then, they would still face the question of how to escape the Bones' pursuit.
Even now, they still didn't know how large the Bones' range of activity was or if they could leave the Village. If the Bones weren't subject to area restrictions, they would also have to face the problem of means of transportation after leaving the Village — the camel had already been killed earlier.
But before that, they still had to leave the Village first.
On the path forward, their feet intermittently trembled and exploded beneath them, and occasionally energy pillars would blast through the ground. Not only them on the ground, but Hayato underground also seemed to be continuously fighting **Diabound** and the Great Dark Priest.
"Hayato..." Isis was supported by Malik, looking worriedly at the energy pillar that had broken through the surface not far away. The power of that attack was enough to easily defeat her and Karim's combined power. It was hard to imagine what Hayato was currently facing underground, but it was certainly very difficult.
All she could do was control **Agido** to continuously circle around and repel the approaching Bones.
"Useless..." Kaiba muttered something, clenching his teeth and punched the head of a Bone that had slipped past **Agido**'s attack, his finger was soaked in blood.
"Mr. Hayato..." Karim's expression was also heavy, not only because he had to summon the **Thunder Dragon** again, squeezing out power before fully recovering, but also because he was worried about Hayato. Although there was a slight unpleasantness between them at first, and he held a trace of strange thoughts earlier in Necrovalley, Hayato, who had repeatedly saved him, had undoubtedly earned Karim's respect.
As a Noble, he couldn't help Hayato. All he could do at present was complete Hayato's final entrustment and ensure the party of four left this Village safely.
After returning to the Royal City... no, Necrovalley is closer. They must quickly find reinforcements to rescue Mr. Hayato!
"It's not far, we'll be there soon! As long as we get there!" Malik gave Karim, who hadn't stood firm after Kaiba punched a Bone, a push, helping him stand firm. His gaze was fixed on the area not far ahead, where the end of the Bone horde was already visible. "If we escape this time, I'm going to have a good meal of honeyed grasshopper!"
Just as they were about to escape the crisis, unfortunately, no one told Malik that flags shouldn't be set carelessly.
Among countless Bones that looked exactly the same, there was one Bone that had always hidden its aura and power, until the party saw the hope of imminent escape. Having already approached the group, it finally erupted.
**Agido**, which was clearing the approaching Bones, couldn't react in an instant. The gap between the "Bone" in front of them and the other Bones was immense. When **Agido** and Isis attacked with normal force, attempting to repel it, they finally discovered something was wrong.
"This is—ugh!"
In just an instant, the power that erupted from the special "Bone" instantly destroyed **Agido**, and Isis's expression turned pale. But it wasn't over yet. After killing **Agido**, which had approached it, a pale energy pillar spewed out from the "Bone's" mouth and attacked Isis.
Among the group, Isis had the sole Stone Tablet Monster that could recover others' injuries. This information should have only been known to those familiar with the Tablets held by the Priests, but the "Bone" seemed to know this well, targeting Isis directly. Although Isis was exhausted, to cut the grass by the roots, she had to be killed first!
Although he had always acted like he hated Isis and had even abandoned everyone and escaped without hesitation earlier, facing the energy pillar spat out by the "Bone," Malik gritted his teeth and threw the Isis he was carrying away, leaving himself to face the attack.
"I've always hated you, Isis, and that's because I know better than anyone that your ability is stronger than mine."
Despite the same training, he couldn't obtain the Millennium Item's recognition like Isis. Becoming the Gravekeeper's Family Leader was just based on his parent's qualifications. He could only remember less than half of the Clan's mechanism setup, and he wasn't even very good at horse riding.
Under Isis's outstanding performance, Malik appeared increasingly useless and incompetent. This inferiority complex manifested in his arrogance. Precisely because he had nothing, he could only rely on everything he already possessed and refused to let go.
"But Isis, there's one thing I'm stronger than you at. I saved your life. Remember today, because you'll never be able to surpass me!"
Knowing that he had no possibility of survival before the "Bone's" attack, Malik closed his eyes calmly, preparing to welcome death.
In the unseen, it seemed that some existence finally cast its watching gaze upon Malik at this moment, opening its existence to him.
However, he felt himself being pushed down.
"Boom!"
The pale energy pillar, seemingly a symbol of death, swept past Malik's eyes as he lay face up after being pushed down. Many Bones along the way, which hadn't been eliminated before, now died in their own kind's attack and were completely annihilated.
Turning his head, Malik saw Karim. It was he who had pushed him just now. But as a price, the arm he had extended was erased by the "Bone's" attack.
The pale-faced Karim spoke first before Malik could say anything: "Who told you to push me from behind just now, Marik Ishtar? Are you looking down on me, Karim, thinking I can't stand firm?"
"If that's the case, don't blame me for destroying your hope of surpassing Priest Isis."
End of Chapter
Chapter 784: Karim's Death (Bottom)
"Ka-Karim?"
"What are you doing, Karim!"
Seeing Karim, who had lost an arm, Malik said in a panic, "Your arm... to save someone like me..."
Before, he had merely helped Karim up when he almost fell; it was by no means a great achievement, and Karim had never owed him anything. But now, Karim had lost an arm just to save his life!
"What kind of expression is that, Marik Ishtar?" Karim forced a smile, "I am Priest Karim of the Millennium Scale under the Pharaoh. Protecting others is my mission. It's just an arm; I'm gambling it on the Future!"
"Idiot, stop acting tough!" Kaiba supported Karim, who was swaying from speaking too excitedly, but Karim stubbornly pushed him away. Helplessly, Kaiba stood beside Karim and looked around.
After its previous attack, that special Skull Servant stopped moving and remained still, gathering a large amount of visible dark power around it, seemingly charging. And as that special Skull Servant suddenly attacked, the other Skull Servants also stopped their human wave tactics, guarding around that "Skull Servant" as if to prevent Kaiba and the others from approaching and interrupting its charge.
It looks like that "Skull Servant" doesn't inherently possess such strength, but rather accumulates it slowly before being able to unleash such a powerful attack in one go. For now, the group doesn't need to worry about a second attack coming immediately. However, if they don't find a way to interrupt that "Skull Servant"'s charge, they still won't be able to escape this calamity, and they shouldn't even think about escaping from here.
"That monster isn't a Skull Servant; it's almost like the 'King' of the other Skull Servants." Kaiba confirmed that the surrounding Skull Servants were only surrounding them but not approaching further. He frowned and looked at that special "Skull Servant". "Let's call it 'King of the Skull Servants' for now."
"Before escaping the Village, it is the last obstacle we must face!"
As he spoke, Kaiba subconsciously clenched his fist. Just now, because his nerves were constantly tense, he had ignored the feeling in his hand. It wasn't until something happened to Karim and he relaxed slightly that he noticed the pain coming from his palm.
"Even if you say that." Getting up from the ground, Malik glanced at the situation of the others around him. Kaiba's hand was trembling, Isis's soul value on the Duel Arena was already near rock bottom because the Stone Tablet Monster Agido had been destroyed, not to mention Karim. "How can a few Small Fry like us fight against such a powerful monster?"
"The opponent doesn't look like someone who can be held back by leaving one person behind either."
"King of the Skull Servants, a very fitting name." Glancing at Kaiba, Karim hesitated slightly, then made up his mind and said firmly, "Life is unpredictable, but life and death have their order."
"Everyone, you go first; I'll hold them back."
Karim's calm tone made Malik freeze for a moment, then he said with difficulty, "What are you thinking, you idiot? Didn't you hear me just say that guy isn't someone you can hold back by leaving one person behind, let alone in your current state—"
"I know, that's why I'm staying." Karim raised his sole remaining left arm. Fortunately, he had used his right hand to push Malik away just now. Although the Millennium Scale he was holding in his right hand was blasted away during the King of the Skull Servants's attack just now, the Duel Arena was still on his left arm, and he could still summon Stone Tablet Monsters.
Sharp-eyed Karim saw that one of the Skull Servants had picked up his dropped Millennium Scale and brought it to the King of the Skull Servants.
Two more Thunder Dragon appeared in front of Karim. With each one that appeared, Karim's expression became paler. The only thing to be thankful for at this moment was that the King of the Skull Servants's previous attack was so thorough that Karim's wound immediately became necrotic, preventing him from fainting from excessive blood loss.
But in this state, how long could he persist? The damage caused by Diabound's previous attack had not yet fully healed, and after the King of the Skull Servants's attack, he had summoned three Thunder Dragons again. It was almost a miracle that Karim was still standing.
Malik wanted to persuade Karim a few more times, but Kaiba pressed his shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Do as he says, we don't have time."
Saying this, regardless of Malik's will, he helped up Isis and pulled Malik to leave. Karim's Thunder Dragons also exerted their full power, clearing a passage for them towards the exit.
Kaiba led Isis and Malik in their escape. The King of the Skull Servants seemed unwilling to let anyone leave and was about to command the Skull Servants to surround the group, but the Skull Servants sent out were swept back by a beam of lightning that struck halfway.
"Don't think you can pass; your opponent is me!" Commanding the three Thunder Dragons to circle around him, without the Millennium Scale, Karim was temporarily unable to use the power of Polymerization to synthesize his strongest Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon. But even so, there wasn't even a trace of fear in his gaze as he looked at the King of the Skull Servants.
"It's strange to say, before today, I never thought there would be a moment when I would sacrifice my life for others. All along, my life plan only involved standing in a higher position and holding greater authority, until I met Mr. Hayato."
"However, rather than saying Mr. Hayato changed my destiny, it's better to say that he was the first to let me see the direction of my own destiny, and for the first time, I decided the view at the end of my destiny myself."
"Perhaps the meeting between people is truly destiny."
Taking a deep breath, Karim looked at the King of the Skull Servants. His pale expression also showed a hint of redness due to his excited mood. He shouted, "Bring it on, King of the Skull Servants!"
The next instant, the King of the Skull Servants's long-charged attack arrived. The pale energy pillar that took Karim's right hand was fired again.
"If you're fully prepared, the Reaper won't come!" Karim waved his sole left arm, staggering forward two steps, and actually started to jog with difficulty. The Thunder Dragons also guarded their master's side and charged towards the Skull Servants surrounding the King of the Skull Servants.
"Thunder Dragons aren't just for show! Just one attack, watch me push it back!"
The Thunder Dragons actively met the King of the Skull Servants's attack. The attack, which was enough to instantly kill a single body, was successfully blocked for an instant by the combined strength of the Thunder Dragons. With a collective burst of power, they deflected this attack, which the King of the Skull Servants had also fired in a hurry, by a few degrees, causing it to blast into the wreckage of a building not far away.
The King of the Skull Servants did not move from its position and began charging again, while also commanding the Skull Servants to attack Karim, who had approached along with the Thunder Dragons. However, without needing to clear a path for a large group, and only needing to protect Karim alone, the Thunder Dragons' burden was much lighter. Within a few breaths, Karim had approached the King of the Skull Servants.
"I will use my life to pioneer a path for the future of the young!"
Losing an arm made it difficult for Karim's body to adapt to the changed balance. Although he couldn't swing his fist like Kaiba, he had a solution. That was to leap up with full power and then kick. The muscles in his legs could exert greater power than his fist, enough to scatter the King of the Skull Servants's body.
Then, the full power attack of the three Thunder Dragons would be enough to completely destroy the opponent's body. As for what result would befall him, falling into the Skull Servant swarm because the Thunder Dragons attacking with full power couldn't also protect him, Karim didn't think about it that much.
But as Karim leaped up and assumed a flying kick posture, looking at the King of the Skull Servants's face, which was just a skeleton, he felt as if the opponent was watching him with a taunting gaze. Immediately after, to Karim's surprise, the King of the Skull Servants, which he thought couldn't move during the charging process, actually moved!
While its skeletal body dodged Karim's attack, it actually completed its attack charge in an instant. A white energy ball gathered in its hand, seemingly ready to be fired at any moment to kill Karim?!
He had been completely fooled. The attack just now was fundamentally just a feint attack by the opponent to lure him closer. The inability to move was just an illusion it presented. Looking again at the positions of the King of the Skull Servants, Karim, and Malik and the others who hadn't escaped too far, it was clearly trying to adjust to the optimal position to wipe out Karim and Malik's group in one go!
If he was lucky enough to predict the firing angle, Karim might have a slight possibility of escaping the King of the Skull Servants's attack, but Malik and the others behind him fundamentally couldn't escape. Therefore, Karim, thinking rapidly, didn't escape at all, but still stood in place.
The Thunder Dragons, which had been charging to destroy the King of the Skull Servants in one go, swooped down and blocked the King of the Skull Servants. The strength of the energy pillar they faced proved that Karim's guess was correct. Compared to the feint attack just now, this was the King of the Skull Servants's truly charged attack.
The Skull Servants approached the unprotected Karim. Just as the King of the Skull Servants thought its scheme had succeeded, it saw through the gap between the Thunder Dragons, which were being pushed back continuously by its attack, that Karim, who had fallen to the ground, propped himself up with one hand and bit onto something with his mouth.
"O Divine-Beast, most sacred as the sun, who grants all wisdom, glory, and great power, please witness my heart, conviction, and authority. Bless me, this is Priest Karim's last battle in life, and the peak of glory."
"As long as I can still feel this instant of glory, I will never fall down into that Abyss of Darkness."
"Please watch, this is my last Polymerization!"
"Millennium Scale, Thunder Dragon, respond to me!"
Accompanied by Karim's shout, Malik, who was being pulled away by Kaiba, successfully escaped the Skull Servants' encirclement with Isis, thanks to Karim's strength. Turning his head, finally having the leisure to look at Karim's situation, he happened to see the image of the Thunder Dragons disappearing in radiance, and the King of the Skull Servants's attack almost engulfing Karim's body.
"Karim!!"
However, miracles are wondrous precisely because they manifest in times of despair. The next instant, just as Malik thought Karim was surely going to die, lightning descended from the sky from Karim's location.
"Boom!"
Unlike the yellow lightning used by Karim's Thunder Dragons and Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon before, the lightning descending from the sky at this moment, as if a divine miracle, was a solemn cyan color. Within the lightning, the Skull Servants approaching Karim were crushed into powder the instant they made contact. Even the King of the Skull Servants's attack vanished in an instant.
Kaiba also looked back due to the huge commotion, watching the green flying dragon that had descended lightning and was soaring above Karim's head. "That monster is—"
Opening his eyes, Karim, who had narrowly escaped death, also cast his gaze towards the monster above his head that was closely connected to his heart. He revealed a relieved smile. "My first gamble in life actually let me win. You responded to me, Thunder Dragon."
"No, Thunder Dragon Colossus."
"Well, I guessed pretty accurately, didn't I?"
This was not the immature two-in-one like the Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon before. This time, Karim performed a three-body Thunder Dragon Fusion Summon using the Millennium Scale he picked up from the King of the Skull Servants's original position, something he had never successfully done before.
Perhaps the heart of sacrifice allowed Karim to witness a miracle, perhaps the deity truly cast its watch and blessing, or perhaps it was the Thunder Dragons' response to Karim. The three-in-one Thunder Dragons gained the qualification to be granted the name of 'Divine-Beast'. Their power underwent a qualitative change, having already transformed into a completely new realm!
Looking at the authority/dignity-filled Thunder Dragon Colossus, the King of the Skull Servants, which should have had no pain or emotion like the Skull Servants, experienced fear and panic for the first time due to the intelligence granted to it by the Great Dark Priest when he created it, in order to fight better. It completely stopped restraining the Skull Servants' actions, only caring about escape, while continuously throwing attacks towards the Thunder Dragon Colossus behind it.
However, the Thunder Dragon Colossus didn't move at all. It merely soared in the air. The lightning it emitted as it flapped its wings effortlessly annihilated the attacks the King of the Skull Servants desperately threw out in its struggle.
The Skull Servants lost the King of the Skull Servants's restraint and no longer acted in an orderly manner. Lacking intellect and filled with malice towards living beings, they chaotically pursued Kaiba and the others. A group also tried to approach Karim, but with the existence of Thunder Dragon Colossus, they fundamentally couldn't succeed. Instead, Malik and the others were forced to keep moving.
But this time, Kaiba didn't need to pull him. Malik confidently carried Isis on his back and followed Kaiba in their escape, because in his opinion, Karim, who had summoned Thunder Dragon Colossus, had nothing to fear anymore.
And looking at the retreating backs of Malik and the others, Karim also felt relief. 'That's right, Malik, don't stop. As long as you keep moving forward, your future will continue to extend.'
'It's just a bit regrettable...'
His arm was unable to continue supporting his body. Karim fell to the ground when Malik and the others were no longer able to see him in the distance. On the other side, the Thunder Dragon Colossus's lightning descended a second time, completely destroying the King of the Skull Servants, while the split lightning strike also cleared out a group of Skull Servants pursuing Kaiba and the others.
'I, Karim, will make my exit gracefully.'
Lying on the scorched earth of the Thief Village, the exhausted Karim closed his eyes.
Chapter 785: I Gradually Understood Everything
In the vast Desert, Kaiba and Malik, who was carrying Isis, ran one after the other. Kaiba occasionally urged, "Don't slack off, run faster!"
"You try carrying someone!" Malik immediately rolled his eyes at Kaiba's sarcastic remark, but his pace did indeed quicken slightly. He couldn't afford to be slow; the Bones behind them were still in hot pursuit even after they had left the Thief Village for nearly a kilometer. Malik didn't want to be caught by them.
"Seriously, Karim was helping out a bit at first, but now he's not paying attention to us at all. I wonder what he's doing." Although he seemed to be complaining about Karim, Malik wasn't worried about his safety, though he didn't know Karim's current situation. "But being able to Summon such a powerful Stone Tablet Monster, that guy should be fine."
"Ugh... how much longer do we have to run? I'm almost out of strength!"
"Save your strength, Idiot."
"If you won't even let me complain, how can I keep going?" Malik, carrying Isis on his back, gritted his teeth and muttered incessantly, "Anyone, please, save me! I really can't hold on anymore~"
As he muttered this, Malik suddenly heard Kaiba's voice ring out: "Get down!"
As he spoke, Kaiba suddenly turned around, pressed down on Malik's shoulder, and jumped aside. Then, he held Malik's head down with one hand, controlling his struggle and preventing him from getting up.
The next moment, a purple magic sphere flew from the direction they were originally heading. It didn't touch the three of them but instead blasted directly into the group of Bones.
As the magic blast sent the pursuing group of Bones flying, a voice rang out:
"Direct hit on the target! Mana-chan's big victory, yay!"
Malik looked up and saw a scene where a young girl wearing a Court Mage robe was proudly showing off to someone riding a horse beside her. Malik, who had long presided over the Tomb Keepers remaining in Necrovalley, had never met the Pharaoh. But the moment he saw the youth riding the horse, he instinctively felt that was the Pharaoh.
"Mana the Magician, I just said there were people in front of the monster group. The magic attack you just used was too reckless; you almost hit them!"
Beside the youth whom Malik thought was the Pharaoh, a youth holding a golden scepter in his hand sternly reprimanded the mage girl. That face made Malik instinctively look at Kaiba, who was also lying beside him: "Is that your brother?"
"Hmph, I only have one younger brother."
Malik was given a glare by Kaiba and felt somewhat bewildered. "That's not right, how come he looks like he's older than you?"
"That is Priest Seto."
The one answering Malik wasn't Kaiba, whose attention was completely unfocused and whose eyes were fixed on the Starfish Head on the horse, whom he found unusually familiar. It was Isis, whom he had been carrying on his back and who had finally woken up because of the magic just now.
"Oh, you've finally woken up, Isis." Hearing Isis's voice, Malik also put her down and glanced at the man beside the suspected Pharaoh's Starfish Head who looked exactly like Kaiba. "So that's Priest Seto, huh? He really does look exactly like Kaiba."
"It sounds like you've been paying attention to That Person?" Hearing Malik's words, Kaiba finally turned his head to look at him.
Malik nodded and sighed. "I don't know if you've heard, but among the six Priests holding Millennium Items under the Current Pharaoh, including Priest Mahad who recently passed away, only Priest Seto is from a Commoner background."
"Actually, before Seto underwent the trial and selection for the Millennium Items, the Millennium Rod was allocated to the Tomb Keepers along with the Millennium Necklace. However, unlike Isis, I didn't obtain the recognition of the Millennium Rod at that time, so the one who ultimately became a Priest was Seto, who passed the trial."
Speaking of his past, Malik seemed somewhat relieved. "That's all there is to it. Because of some minor reason, I missed out on a certain position. If it were you, you would naturally pay attention to the person standing in that position, right?"
Kaiba thought for a moment, putting himself in the position of competing for the "Duel King" title in the final battle against Hayato during Battle City. He did somewhat understand why Malik would pay attention to Seto.
Looking at Malik's face, Kaiba remembered the "Sunshine Youth" of the future. He also, uncharacteristically, comforted someone: "If you had another chance, perhaps you might also obtain the recognition of the Millennium Rod."
"It's quite unexpected to hear something like that from someone like you." Malik glanced at Kaiba and smiled. "I'll take your good wishes."
The two who had been running for their lives earlier had little strength left. After lying down on the ground, they didn't even bother to sit up. While the two were talking, the people who had saved them from the Bones also approached. Only then did Malik realize that the few people he saw were merely walking at the very front; there were many more people following behind them.
The approaching individuals also saw the appearance of Malik, Isis, and Kaiba. The appearance of Priest Isis and Gravekeeper's Family Leader Malik was understandable, but upon seeing Kaiba's appearance, the three leading individuals were all stunned.
The mage girl Mana instinctively turned her head: "Hey, hey, Priest Seto, is that your younger brother?"
"Hmph, use your brain before speaking, Mana the Magician. I have no brothers."
Seto frowned and glared at Mana. If he hadn't considered that she was the disciple of his deceased old opponent Mahad, a woman favored by the Pharaoh, and that her magic assistance was needed for this trip, he would have already cursed her out.
Looking at Kaiba, whose face was identical to his own, Seto's expression turned cold. He said to Dark Yugi beside him: "Pharaoh, please be careful not to approach. Your Subordinate suspects that he is very likely a Subordinate of Thief Bakura, who disguised himself as your Subordinate and infiltrated the Royal Palace before."
"It's highly possible that the theft of the **Millennium Puzzle** and **Millennium Key** before, as well as the disappearance of Priest Aknadin, were all done by this Person."
"You have only just woken up and have not yet recovered. Your Subordinate suggests capturing him first and subjecting him to torture."
It wasn't that Seto was targeting Kaiba. Anyone who saw someone who looked exactly like themselves would probably find it equally difficult to trust the other person. This wasn't just Seto towards Kaiba; Kaiba felt a similar, subtle rejection towards Seto. In fact, even Hayato's attitude towards Meriamun was also the same.
However, Dark Yugi did not heed Seto's speculation. Instead, he smiled and shook his head: "No, Priest Seto, I know him. He is my friend, someone I can trust."
"Right, Kaiba?"
Hearing Dark Yugi's words, Kaiba was somewhat unexpected. "You, are you Yugi? I thought you were an ancient person who looked like Yugi. Did Hayato Kobayashi actually not lie to me?"
When Kaiba and Hayato met before, Hayato had actually told him many things, including how Dark Yugi and himself were dragged into a Dark Game by Bakura, and that Dark Yugi was originally the soul of the Nameless Pharaoh from three thousand years ago, and this World was the World of the Pharaoh's Memory.
But Hayato had told him those things very seriously, yet Kaiba hadn't believed him at all. He had always scoffed at things like soul and memory. But strangely, the existence who was being respected as the Pharaoh by a group of ancient people right now genuinely showed familiarity towards him. Kaiba realized that Hayato really hadn't made things up; Dark Yugi really was the Pharaoh from three thousand years ago?
However, soul and such...
Suddenly wearing an expression of sudden realization, Kaiba nodded: "I see, I gradually understood everything."
"In this Dark Game, you obtained the identity of the Pharaoh, right? Just like how those idiots, The Big Five, arranged for me to be a tribute to that ugly Dragon-Type monster, **Five-Headed Dragon**, in the Virtual Game before – it's just an identity within the game."
Kaiba had a confident, "Nobody can fool me" expression. "I, who was mistakenly brought into this Dark Game due to 'Quantum Entanglement State', am not a normal Game Player, so it's only natural that I wouldn't be seen by the characters in the game and wouldn't have a basic identity."
"I think I understand now."
No, just from the things you're saying, I can tell you haven't understood anything at all.
Looking at Kaiba, Dark Yugi muttered to himself in his heart.
And seeing the Pharaoh inexplicably gain a new friend, Seto also complained inwardly about how the Pharaoh had so many friends. However, even though Dark Yugi said Kaiba was his friend, Seto didn't give Kaiba a friendly look: "Kaiba? Sounds like a woman's name. So he's a man?"
Before Kaiba could get angry, he turned to look at the two people beside Kaiba: "And you two, Marik Ishtar, as the Gravekeeper's Family Leader, shouldn't you be stationed in Necrovalley? Why are you here with Priest Isis? And Priest Isis, the order the Pharaoh gave you before was just to bury the mummy of the Previous Pharaoh, King Aknamkanon, with Priest Karim, wasn't it? Why did you come here?"
"Before, I thought this guy Kaiba was annoying enough, but do you think you're the Pharaoh? Don't question me!" Malik, who had just narrowly escaped death, glared annoyed at Seto, who was self-righteously questioning them.
He had indeed become relieved about not obtaining the recognition of the Millennium Rod, but he had never said he didn't dislike Seto as a person. Seto's behavior at this moment made Malik even more annoyed.
However, the names Seto mentioned also reminded Malik of something: "Now is not the time to argue about these things with you."
Looking at Dark Yugi, Malik said seriously: "Pharaoh, this is the first time I have met you. Please forgive me for not being able to perform the full ceremony. In short, please send people to rescue the others in the direction we came from. Priest Karim and Hayato Kobayashi, they stayed behind to stall the enemy so we could escape."
Hearing this, Seto also became serious. "You came from Thief Village Creielna, right? As expected, the message Priest Aknadin left before his disappearance was correct; Thief Bakura's Lair is in that place. And to dare to kidnap Priest Aknadin and steal the Pharaoh's and Priest Shada's **Millennium Items**, truly unforgivable, Bakura!"
Seto felt a little strange. Whose name did he almost slip up and say just now?
But hearing Seto's words, Isis said: "No, although I don't know if Kul Elna is Thief Bakura's Lair, Priest Seto, I think the person who stole the **Millennium Scale** and **Millennium Puzzle** shouldn't be Thief Bakura."
"Before, after I was ordered to go to Necrovalley with Priest Karim to bury the mummy of the Previous Pharaoh, King Aknamkanon, I was attacked by Bakura. Fortunately, Hayato Kobayashi arrived in time and saved us. And right there in Necrovalley, we killed Thief Bakura."
"Yes, yes, I can prove it. And the Tomb Keepers there in Necrovalley, I told them to preserve Bakura's corpse before I left." Malik also quickly added, "And the one who made Priest Karim and Hayato Kobayashi stay behind to stall time for us wasn't that Bakura, but another guy who calls himself the 'Great Dark Priest'."
"That guy placed the **Millennium Puzzle** and **Millennium Key** on a tablet he said was connecting to the Underworld, right in front of us. That tablet has a total of seven slots, which just happen to correspond to the seven **Millennium Items**, and after he encountered us, he wanted to seize the **Millennium Items** we were carrying."
Malik paused for a moment and glanced at the **Millennium Rod** Priest Seto was holding in his hand. "Speaking of which, although I didn't see the kidnapped Priest Aknadin appear anywhere, that 'Great Dark Priest' is wearing the **Millennium Eye**. The Priest Aknadin you mentioned most likely also fell into his hands and has already had his eyes taken."
"Counting the **Millennium Rod** in your hand over there, Priest Seto, it seems all seven **Millennium Items** have been assembled here?"
Mana tilted her head and thought for a moment, saying: "The **Millennium Items** were probably made by the Previous Pharaoh using the highest alchemy, right? Is there some special use to assembling all seven? They were always kept in the Royal Palace in the past, and Master's notes also have research records. What is the use of That Person assembling the seven **Millennium Items**?"
Dark Yugi lowered his head, his confused feelings growing. But there wasn't much time left for him to think. Nodding, he said: "In short, without delay, let's set off quickly to rescue people. Not just Hayato and Priest Karim, we also need to find the missing Priest Aknadin and the Soldiers who disappeared with Priest Aknadin."