"Aknadin!" Mahad stepped forward, "What do you intend to do?"
"Mahad, you ridiculously ignorant fool." Aknadin sneered, "You're also one of the biggest obstacles in my plan. Just as well, you can die here with your failed master!"
He raised his hand, and the Giant Red Seasnake temporarily left the frantic sand wizards, twisting around like crimson lightning stabbing toward Mahad!
"Magician of Dark Illusion!"
Mahad shouted, and the mage in a black robe behind him swiftly moved forward, wielding his magic staff as he flew toward the fierce snake. In mid-air, the mage deftly avoided the snake's strike. The snake quickly changed direction, baring its fangs as it chased, but the magician sent a magic power projectile backhandedly, exploding on the snake's forehead.
The Giant Red Seasnake let out a wail, its red-scaled armor dragging black smoke as its body clumsily crashed to the ground.
The spirit "Dios," controlled by Set—bearing a black warrior with a sword—circled from the flank, attempting to slash at the Magician of Dark Illusion, but was blasted away by a fireball from the side.
That fireball came from the "Cursed Dragon," a spirit summoned by Priest Kareem.
"Have you gone mad, Priest Aknadin?" Priest Shada shouted, "Do you intend to betray the Pharaoh?"
"Pharaoh? Soon, not anymore!"
Aknadin roared. His voice was distorted, sounding like a wounded beast.
Darkness erupted, a powerful force seemingly being drawn from the depths of his body. A contract was taking effect, a power he gained by selling his soul to the Evil God, a truly formidable force from the depths of the Netherworld.
Yet to sustain this powerful force, he must burn his own soul!
Aknadin's physical form began to change. Black cyclones whirled like blades, shredding his white robe into nothingness, and his face was covered by a white mask, only revealing the cold, mechanical Millennium Eyes.
His body was enveloped in a wide, dark cloak, with purple-black armor with the golden eye of the Millennium Item on its chest, resembling the eyes of a demon from Hell, coldly observing the mortal realm through his body.
Aknadin no longer existed.
He was now named "Black Grand Priest"!
"Hah!!!"
The Black Grand Priest roared deeply, his cloak billowing as a tremendous dark force surged forth like an unending river. The atmosphere in the entire chamber shifted unexpectedly, with solid floors turning to soft soil, making each step feel as though monsters might emerge from beneath at any moment.
The air grew damp and cold, with vines and shrubs rising from the ground. Ghosts traveled through the forest on a chilling wind, and the air felt heavy as if laden with lead.
This was... the Zombie World!
The ground in front of the Black Grand Priest ruptured, and a towering figure rose! White bones like armor covered its form, its demonic skull ferocious, and the blood-red gemstone in its magic staff scanning malignly, like the ruler of this Undead Domain.
Doomking Balerdroch!
The transformation into the Black Grand Priest instantly set Aknadin's battle power apart from the other priests by more than just a notch, and the combination of the Zombie World and Doomking Balerdroch was even more fearsome.
The priests worked in unison, each summoning spirits to fly up from all directions. But only the spin of the Evil Eye's body and a sweep of its magic staff sent a wave of red energy bursting through a row of spirits, blowing them away.
The priests were blown apart in disarray, only Mahad staggered back half a step but managed to steady himself. The Magician of Dark Illusion barely unfolded a translucent array, the Magic Shield standing firm like a stone splitting the torrent, resisting the assault of the Evil Eye.
A whirlwind of transparency exploded behind the Magician of Dark Illusion, his body shooting out like an arrow piercing the undead mist. He skillfully spun around the Evil Eye, magic power projectiles repeatedly exploding on the undead ruler, with streams of magic slamming the bone armor of Doomking Balerdroch with black electric serpents.
Mahad's strength was extraordinary, able to fight openly, with only Set among the other priests being a considerable opponent.
But it still wasn't enough.
"Tch, just a mere magician in the end!" The Black Grand Priest extended his right palm, fingers clenching fiercely, forming a fist.
"Die!"
The power of Doomking Balerdroch erupted, an absolute command falling in the deep darkness, abruptly binding the magician's movements. The Magician of Dark Illusion, who was darting around, was suddenly gripped, unable to move.
The ruby in the magic staff of Doomking Balerdroch started to glow, its scarlet light like an excited demon. The light condensed, forming a long spear that penetrated the body of the Magician of Dark Illusion. The magician flew uncontrollably backward, snapping a supporting pillar in half and bouncing off the floor like a ball before crashing into the back wall and embedding in it.
Mahad's eyes froze, and he spat a mouthful of fresh blood, his legs giving way as he half-kneeled on the ground.
"Mahad!" Yugi jumped up to support him.
Yugi felt anxious and a bit vexed—so many people were fighting desperately for him, yet in his current state, he couldn't even summon a single spirit to battle.
"Pharaoh... it's okay." Mahad weakly stood up.
His breath was unstable, and both his actions and voice made one feel that it wouldn't be strange if he collapsed at any moment. Yet his gaze remained resolute, pressing forward without fear or confusion.
Only those with the strongest will can remain so steadfast.
Yugi couldn't help but be moved.
He had told himself more than once that this was merely a game—just a Darkness Game, but still just a virtual game.
The people here were all just NPCs, figures that existed only in his memories. Whether good or bad, ally or enemy, they were all part of the past.
Three thousand years would erode and weather away anything; the people here were already long gone.
But no matter how many times he told himself this in his heart, Yugi couldn't stop himself from feeling real emotions.
Because some things truly never fade.
Three hundred years, three thousand years, even thirty thousand years don't matter; some things just don't change.
Mahad stood up, once again using his body to shield Yugi.
"Pharaoh, please... leave it to me."
Yugi noticed that his breathing seemed less labored.
"Mahad, you..."
Mahad let out a long sigh. Though faced with an unprecedented strong enemy and trapped in a perilous situation, he felt his mind had never been clearer.
This was a decision he had considered long ago.
He had combed through many magic tomes, consulted forbidden texts that required blood and soul as the price, all for a day like this.
He held his head high, his strides tinged with no hesitation, as if stepping into a new, hopeful future.
Years ago, when Yugi was still a prince, his honest and enthusiastic voice once again rang in Mahad's ears.
"We have the same red blood flowing, Mahad, we are no different."
"I will create a new world, where everyone has equal status and can laugh together."
"..."
"...I believe in you, Pharaoh," Mahad muttered to himself.
He hoped he could become the cornerstone of that new world, become the strength of the Pharaoh. Even if it were a trivial contribution, this effort would be filled with glory.
"Foolish." The Grand Priest curled his lips and sneered, "Doomking Balerdroch, finish him for me."
"Mahad!" Yugi and the priests exclaimed simultaneously.
Scarlet light vanished in an instant, swallowing Mahad's form. The roaring demon shredded the priest's body, snapping the strap of the Millennium Ring, and the golden circle danced in the air.
Yugi stared blankly at the faithful priest vanishing before him, while clearly feeling the stabbing pain in his head intensify to a new peak.
It felt like his brain was thrown into a blender at full speed.
More memories awakened from their slumber, countless images flashed before his eyes. He finally remembered growing up with Mahad and fighting side by side, recalled his promise and also understood how much Mahad had sacrificed for his childish dream.
That's right, everything before his eyes was just illusory. The experience he was having was merely a Darkness Game; everyone around him was an NPC—a shadow projected from his memories of people three thousand years ago.
But it's also not merely illusion.
Because all these events were replicas of the history that transpired three thousand years ago.
"...What?"
The wave of magic power and the smoke cleared. When the Grand Priest saw the standing figure behind the smoke, he couldn't help but cry out.
Wearing the same robe as the recently departed spirit "Magician of Dark Illusion," with an emerald staff, the shadowy magician stood like a steel spear.
And beneath this robe... was Priest Mahad!
"You... have you merged with a spirit!?" The Grand Priest was stunned.
A human soul fused with a spirit?
Such a thing was unheard of even to him!
Yugi had completely recalled.
This was the moment when, three thousand years ago, his most loyal servant "Dark Magician" was born.