Passing through the mist of illusions, the path ahead became increasingly open. Yet the air remained dense as if solidified, and the frail light barely seeped through the cracks in the cave's roof, casting dappled light and shadow.
From time to time, a chilling wind would blow from all directions, stirring the droplets on the walls and the vines, producing a subtle rustling sound.
More eerie, however, was the fact that as one advanced, ghostly shadows seemed to flicker in the cave.
Now bright, now dim, wavering like white, transparent spirit bodies, their outlines were hard to discern, as though formed from mist, emanating a faint, cool light.
Yet most of them merely floated nearby, standing silently, watching Yugen pass through this narrow passage without any intention of stopping him.
Occasionally, a few would suddenly rush forward, unexpectedly confronting him. But Yugen continued forward calmly, without dodging or any reaction. Those spirit bodies would often come to an abrupt halt in front of him, stare momentarily, and then retreat to the side.
As he passed through this passage, those spirits behind would often dissipate like smoke, quickly leaving no trace.
Yugen was somewhat curious. Was it that he alone could pass without obstruction, or would it be the same for others?
Or did these ghosts see some characteristic in him that they recognized, deciding to allow him passage?
It couldn't be that his subtle Netherworld aura made the Netherworld ghosts consider him one of their own...
But overall, he encountered little resistance as he passed through.
Continuing deeper, the ghosts vanished at some unknown point. Darkness and silence intertwined at the deepest part of the cave, as if at the end of time.
And in this deepest darkness, there was suddenly light.
Like a spotlight on stage, it gathered on the core part of this Sealed Land, where an ancient altar stood silently.
The altar, built from massive stones, was surrounded by complex totems and symbols, emanating a mysterious ancient aura. At the center of the altar was a golden upside-down triangular pendant, seemingly made of pure gold, gleaming brilliantly in the gathered light. The emblem of the Eye of Horus looked like a living eye, as if the pendant was coldly scrutinizing the visitors.
Really, could it be the Millennium Puzzle?
Yugen approached, closely examining it, finding that although it looked similar, it wasn't quite the same.
Firstly, as an entry-level Dark Duelist, he had a sensitivity to powerful Dark Artifacts, but this artifact, which resembled the Millennium Puzzle, did not exude the divine power of a doomsday artifact.
Secondly, it was too small.
Though its shape was similar, its size was smaller than the authentic Millennium Puzzle, like a meticulously crafted miniature replica.
Yugen ascended the altar, gently touching the Eye of Horus on the small puzzle.
In that instant, an immense golden light erupted from the eye.
The light nearly engulfed him whole, boundlessly expanding. What followed were a series of images as if his consciousness was drawn into them, experiencing a movie firsthand.
He saw a doomsday.
The sky was shrouded in a thick haze, the sunlight consumed by dense clouds, with faint gray light struggling between them. Wind howled through the ruins, raising clouds of dust. Lightning pierced the sky, lava erupted violently, and tidal waves roared toward the land, with the entire world teetering on the brink.
With the fierce lightning, the sky was torn asunder. A massive shadow emerged from the clouds, becoming increasingly distinct.
It was a colossal Snake God.
Its body undulating like mountains, scales gleaming with a metallic luster, and eyes glowing with a sinister red light. It descended slowly from the sky, its body twisting and coiling, causing the ground to quake with each movement.
Is this... the future?
Does it mean the descent of the Orichalcos' Snake God, heralding an impending apocalypse?
But Yugen quickly realized that it wasn't the future; it was the past.
This was something that had already happened.
For he soon saw, in the direction of the Snake God's roar, a temple appeared as if floating. At the temple's end, a regal seat stood, and a king with a vague face, whose majesty was daunting, sat on the throne, slowly raising his arm in this direction.
His five fingers spread open, gesturing.
As if saying, sit down.
In an instant, endless golden light erupted from the pendant on the king's chest. The Snake God let out a reluctant roar, but its body quickly twisted as if blending with the surrounding space, like a piece of fabric caught in a washing machine.
After a prolonged cry of unwillingness, the once sky-covering Snake God shrank to a tadpole's size until it became a black dot, disappearing into a cup-like container.
The sky returned to its clear blue, the land ceased its angry wails, and the ocean calmed. Everything returned to its rightful course.
Yugen seemed to begin to understand.
Eight years ago, the God of Orichalcos was sealed by the Pharaoh's "Heart Container." But Atom already knew its true form and foresaw the return of the God of Orichalcos.
Even if the old God of Orichalcos couldn't break the seal, as long as the darkness within human hearts persisted, it could always generate a new form and shape. And if someone like Dazi of old, with power and malintent, were to guide and utilize it, this process could accelerate without limit.
And by then, Atom, having returned to the Netherworld, might not be able to stop it again.
So he left behind a contingency.
The key to the "Heart Container" that sealed the Evil God was an extension of the power of the Millennium Puzzle, akin to a "Millennium Puzzle Derivative."
He believed that though he was gone, there would surely be reliable duelists in later generations. By using this "Puzzle Derivative," future generations could tap into the power of the Millennium Puzzle to some extent, acquiring the strength to match the Snake God.
In the end, the apocalyptic scenes, the Snake God, all vanished. Within a pitch-black void, the residual golden light burned like flames, and within those flames, a shadowy figure emerged.
By the impression in his memory, Yugen vaguely recognized that it might be the now-departed Pharaoh, Atom.
He seemed to smile slightly and nodded in Yugen's direction.
But soon, his figure dissipated with the fluttering flames.
Yugen: "..."
The Pharaoh in the image seemed to convey, "I leave the rest to you, my successors," and although his turning back was quite impressive, Yugen could only think to himself, "No way, Ousama."
Honestly, even with a Divine Artifact in my hands, I'm not sure I can handle the Snake God. It's more reassuring if you handle it personally...
Just as he thought this, he suddenly felt a violent tremor beneath his feet, as if the entire valley were about to collapse.
He could feel an intangible pressure, suffocating, as if an unseen divine majesty was descending upon this entire dimension.
Something was coming.
The Silent Magician and Chaos Warrior appeared simultaneously, their expressions tense as if ready for battle.
"What's happening?" Yugen asked gravely.
"It might be that the 'Sealing Artifact' was activated and sensed," Chaos Warrior replied solemnly. "'It' has personally descended upon this dimension and is already on its way."
"'It'?" Yugen frowned.
Chaos Warrior nodded, his expression grave.
"...The source of our enemy."