The things in Sayer's secret room proved quite valuable. First, Kira took the evidence that Goodwin was a Satellite Zone resident—not that it mattered much to him, but since his current "identity" was Goodwin's, he figured it was best to confiscate anything that might harm him.
A minor comfort for the late Director Goodwin's soul.
Sayer's list of crimes would be useful as well. If exposed, the so-called Arcadia Movement would crumble overnight. Members would see Sayer's hypocritical face, realize he never cared for them, and that he'd only ever planned to use and discard them.
But now wasn't the time to reveal all this. Not yet.
At this moment, Kira sensed a faint tremor from a certain card case at his side.
The aura was somewhat familiar—with a strange sinister tinge. He focused, opened the case, and drew a card.
Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca.
A trophy from Goodwin, the card had been quiet ever since. Kira barely glanced at it when he first got it, then set it aside—its silence seemed normal.
After all, Earthbound Immortals, in canon, were unique spirits. Normally dormant—even summoning them required special circumstances. Not only did you have to sacrifice two monsters according to duel rules, but Earthbound Immortals also needed souls.
Just like when Goodwin dueled Kira, calling forth this card in the shape of a stone heart that relentlessly siphoned souls from the area.
All ordinary people within range lost their souls as offerings for the Earthbound Immortal's descent—except for the current duelists, who were protected by duel rules until their Life Points reached zero. Even gods couldn't just disconnect them.
Yet, aside from this terrifying power, Kira felt Earthbound Immortals ranked lower in evil than many Yu-Gi-Oh! gods.
For starters, the Dark Signers were all tragic figures—killed, resurrected, and given the Immortals' power for their grudges.
And after the end of the anime arc, all the Immortals were defeated—and all the souls they'd eaten returned unharmed, with no ill effects, nor any memory of their time inside the Immortal.
Even the Dark Signers, who should have died, just kept living on. In fact, if you had a terminal disease before, after the Immortal, you'd be completely healed—no side effects.
Due to this, Earthbound Immortals seemed almost endearingly silly among the many "evil gods" of Yu-Gi-Oh!—a rare 'good boss' in a world full of villains.
Still, after being silent so long, the card was now surging with energy.
Kira focused on the card, consciousness drifting inside.
Within a pitch-black space, fiery lines—like burning runes—crisscrossed and formed a massive geoglyph in the void, not unlike the Nazca lines.
Suddenly, the image took shape—a pair of gigantic wings unfolded before him, blotting out the sky. The condor-like Earthbound Immortal spread its vast form, shrouded in blue-black flames.
Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca!
It raised its head and unleashed a thunderous roar, echoing into the infinite darkness.
But Kira could hear the meaning behind the majesty:
Hungry.
Human, why have you not offered me tribute?
Kira: "..."
Just as he'd guessed. The reason the card awakened was because it feasted on Sayer's soul after the dark duel.
Before, in the battle against Goodwin, Wiraqocha Rasca had gotten all worked up for a feast, but its summoner was too weak—even after summoning it, he lost, letting all those souls slip away. So close, yet so far—all that food right in front of you, and none of it got eaten. Maddening.
Now, with a new summoner, Rasca decided to assert its dominance.
Do you want power, mortal? Embrace death, and offer me souls—then you may wield any strength you desire!
Yet, just as the Immortal eagerly developed its new follower, suddenly it sensed a chill at its back.
The giant condor stiffened and turned slowly.
And instantly froze.
On its left, the Three Sacred Beasts—Uria, Hamon, Raviel; on the right, the Wicked God Cards—Avatar, Dreadroot, Eraser.
Three Beasts: "No way, newcomers all act this cocky? Just arrived and already ordering us around?"
Three Gods: "To be fair, none of us even recognize this guy as master yet—so what are you, anyway? What gives you the right to talk here?"
Wiraqocha Rasca: "..."
Why does it feel like it's wound up in the wrong duelist's hand? How are there this many overpowered beings all together? And as an evil god, Rasca felt its own evil aura suppressed—the sheer force and abyssal darkness from those six was on a whole different level.
At once, it was terrified.
Who the hell is this duelist? Another disguised evil god? Maybe someone on the level of Zorc?...
Kira slotted the Earthbound Immortal back into his deck box.
Looks like the newcomer—uh, new god welcoming party had just begun. Hopefully, the spirits would get along.
He left the room, even remembering to slide the bookshelf back and re-seal the secret door, then retraced his steps.
But after just a few steps—BOOM!
A sudden explosion nearly leveled the entire building; a wild, domineering force shredded everything in its path.
Kira narrowed his eyes. Amid the ruins, Akiza Izinski stepped forward, her whole body seething with energy, eyes red, voice trembling.
"Did you... Did you kill Sayer?"
…