After briefly instructing his two trusted subordinates on the subsequent affairs, the encounter that Dartz sought was just about concluded.
"By the way, there's one more thing."
Dartz turned around, eyeing the wall behind him, filled with dense, intricately carved murals. Each mural represented eras gone by.
Every piece depicted a soul bound in sealing.
And in the most prominent position, there prominently hung Muto Yugi, with the Millennium Pendant around his neck.
After a moment of pondering, Dartz said, "The nameless Pharaoh will soon reclaim it."
Rafael was taken aback.
"Impossible," he said, "He should have been defeated by me..."
"His vessel became his Stand. The power of Orichalcos sealed the Pharaoh's vessel in the present world."
"I understand now," Rafael nodded knowingly, "It doesn't matter, he is merely a Duelist of that level. Even if he manages to survive by luck, he's currently struggling in his own inner darkness, which poses little threat."
"Perhaps," Dartz remarked, "Amelda's destiny has ended here. From now, it's up to you two."
Rafael sensed the responsibility and anticipation, and immediately bowed slightly: "Understood."
As for Valon... Valon was pretty much spaced out the entire time, not hearing a word the boss said. He was entirely focused on Jonouchi...
Yes, that's right. Originally, Valon and Jonouchi, enemies over Kujaku Mai, reached a revolutionary friendship after a heated showdown not long ago, where both revealed their trump cards and fought evenly matched...
However, at that time, Valon hadn't realized Jonouchi was the holder of the Legendary Dragon, Hermos, so they merely dueled for a girl, without using "The Seal of Orichalcos."
The result was thus unsurprising; he lost.
Yet after that duel, both Valon and Jonouchi seemed to forget why they started fighting in the first place. The two ended up in a mutual admiration cycle, struck out such a bond from card dueling that were evolving into good camaraderie.
Especially upon knowing Jonouchi had gained Hermos' recognition and became the master of the Legendary Dragon, Valon's fighting spirit was even more stirred.
Now, he couldn't think about anything else, just desperately wanting to challenge Jonouchi again. This time, no holds barred, utilizing The Seal of Orichalcos, and Jonouchi must wield Hermos' claws.
Both will give it their all, battling fiercely once more!
Ah~ Jon↘ou↗chi↓!
Can't wait to card (fist) duel with you again!
...
After several days of persistent searching, with the collaboration between Kaiba Company and Industrial Illusions Society, Youyu finally managed to pinpoint the enemy's stronghold's location.
Palladium Company, currently one of the world's top enterprises. Outwardly it's a group acclaimed globally for human development, but it's secretly Doma's command center.
Given Doma's influence across various world domains, capable of manipulating finance and even commanding national armies, coupled with Dartz's immortality and extraordinary powers, conventional means to topple them are basically impossible.
Thus, here to completely overthrow Dartz, to defeat the colossal entity of Doma, the quintessential solution has to be card dueling.
Soon, Youyu gathered the top card players from his squad.
Tenma Yako and his Card Professor, Muto Yugi, Jonouchi Katsuya, and President Kaiba Seto, himself Youyu... as well as a bunch of players poised to participate, eager and ready to serve as recyclable cannon fodder.
These were picked from the leadership board of contribution among the players in recent days, essentially representing the elite within the player base.
Previously, Dark Yugi had been in a withdrawn state, face full of "Without AIBO (Yugi), nothing feels right" vibes.
But now he had pulled himself together.
As a companion, Youyu had shown some concern for his mental wellness, also to confirm if the King was ready for the ultimate showdown.
Dark Yugi appreciated his concern, nodding: "Yes, I'm fine now. I'm no longer confused.
I've always been too selfish. Obsessed with victory, repeatedly sacrificing things far more important. Every time my quest for victory led me to make such choices, always it's AIBO who bore everything behind.
Yet, both AIBO and I, we must part ways someday. If entangled indefinitely in that bond, I'd never face the darkness within me nor step forward anew."
Youyu was somewhat surprised.
Surprising, has the King's dependency on AIBO been cured?
Then Dark Yugi self-mockingly laughed: "But AIBO taught me this. Without that guy... I guess I couldn't find my way on my own."
Reality was, after losing AIBO, Dark Yugi was despondent, lost in confusion. But soon through their Bond link, following the Millennium Pendant's guidance, he found a place called "Stone Wilderness" where he located AIBO's soul.
It's said the site is a relic of an ancient war from a millennium ago, confronting anyone coming to Stone Wilderness with their inner darkness.
Dark Yugi, as wished, found AIBO's soul's illusion there.
AIBO was astutely perceptive (mistakenly), immediately noticing the King's inner confusion. Therefore, he proposed dueling the King, using card dueling to break his inner demons and revive him.
Before his soul vanished finally, AIBO reassured the King, saying they'll forever be partners, even separated, their hearts will always remain united...
Through AIBO's encouragement, Dark Yugi was reinvigorated once again.
...Well, from this, seems like the King, though revitalized, his dependency on AIBO doesn't appear to have healed.
In effect, his previous state might be akin to, oh I fell down, only AIBO can console me to rise again...
Yugi has adjusted well, appears ready. Over on Jonouchi's side, his battle spirit for the endeavor is likewise fervent.
Upon learning Valon from last confrontation also is among Doma, Jonouchi couldn't suppress his man's instinctive urge, eager to roll up his sleeves and duel Valon physically.
Seeing these main characters so energetic, Youyu couldn't help but sigh, truly the legendary Yu Gi King indeed. In other anime or movies, should they not be going through fire for girls at climactic moments? Yet these two, all their hearts were toward their buddies...
Youyu exhaled deeply.
Look, aren't we just quite ordinary, straight as aviation alloy titanium, even Superman can't bend us...
Just then, President Kaiba appeared, arms crossed: "Hmm, worry about others while you're at it. Be careful, don't die. Before I defeat you, you cannot lose to anyone else."
Youyu: "..."
Youyu thought this cannot continue. He definitely needs to find an opportunity to lower the president's favorability score, otherwise, being pestered to duel frequently will be maddening...
Assembly complete, everyone present, before departing, Youyu felt someone tugging at his sleeve.
He turned around and saw it was Anna, a little trinket appearing around him recently.
With caution, Anna reached out with her petite hand, tugging his sleeve, softly saying: "Bro... brother, be careful..."
Though she understood nothing, didn't grasp everyone armed to the teeth was preparing for what, her little mind vaguely sensed brother and colleagues were going to battle bad people, to rescue good people including her dad.
Youyu laughed, patting her head.
"Thanks~"