"Pharaoh?"
Yugen was momentarily stunned.
In the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, the first reaction to hearing this title is naturally to think of a spiky-haired Pharaoh who commands the Three Phantom Gods. But he quickly realized that today, they weren't talking about Atom.
"Yes, it's said he's a Pharaoh, and it certainly seems that way. But whether it's true or not is hard to say." Tania said, "Every time he appears, he's always surrounded by servants, looking at everyone as if they are his subjects.
But who knows, haha... That guy claims to be unbeaten in his life, seems really strong. It's a pity I never had the chance, I wanted to try challenging him at some point..."
Unbeaten in life.
Yugen naturally knew who that referred to. This Pharaoh wasn't an impersonator; he was indeed a Pharaoh dragged back from the Underworld. It's just that he wasn't the well-known Ousama Atom, but another Pharaoh from Ancient Egypt.
His name was Abidos III, recorded as a duel genius Pharaoh with a zero-loss record. To be honest, the rumors are not without basis; they are all facts.
Indeed, this person never lost. He became a Dark Duelist, accepted Kagemaru's conditions to awaken in the modern age, in some sense, because of his addiction to cards. All his life he sought a single defeat but couldn't find it, only hoping that today, 3,000 years later, he could meet a worthy opponent for a powerful duel.
However, this dream of his wasn't too difficult to realize. Because although as a Dark Duelist, this Pharaoh might be just okay, he never really reached the level of an Invincible War God.
The reason he never lost was simply because he was a Pharaoh. Everyone who dueled with him tried all sorts of ways to please him, using various tactics to pretend to lose, ensuring that they acted convincingly enough not to let the Pharaoh see through the act and become displeased.
So the record of a lifetime of zero defeats is indeed true, but not very valuable.
"Well, I've recently uncovered some information." Tania said, "It seems Lord King was directly awakened from the tomb by the Master of Seven-Star.
He now uses dark powers combined with alchemy for regeneration, requiring life energy to act. To conserve energy, he usually returns to his coffin to sleep. He prepared a special Divine Hall for himself, resting there until the Master of Seven-Star assigns him an opponent."
Yugen asked, "Where is this Divine Hall?"
Tania smiled.
"You're lucky. A few days ago, I happened to have someone scout out the location." she said, "Among the Seven-Star, besides the leader and the masked hooded guy always at the leader's side, probably only I know the place."
Just then, the white-haired tiger beside them let out a low growl.
Tania said she sent someone to scout the situation out, and it seemed it was this one.
Originally, I planned to visit the tomb in a few days to see if that Lord King is indeed as powerful as the legend says. But now I'll let it go...
She glanced at Yugen again.
Thanks to this guy, she wasn't as obsessed with finding strong opponents to play cards anymore.
"If you want to go, I'll share the address with you. But there's one condition."
"Condition?" Yugen squinted his eyes with a smile.
Tania quickly realized that she had just lost the card game. From her current position, she couldn't really set any conditions.
So Tania begrudgingly rephrased, "Uh, or rather... a request."
"No problem." Yugen smiled, rather agreeable, "Go ahead."
"Take me with you."
Tania said, showing a slightly schadenfreude smile.
No other meaning. She simply anticipated that when Yugen reached the tomb, he would likely clash with that legendary Pharaoh, and they would likely duel.
She wanted to watch.
She suddenly became very curious about how that legendary Pharaoh would react to the treatment she just received.
Or perhaps, how this reportedly unbeaten King would use his miraculous duel to defeat this reclusive fellow. Either way, it was worth watching, a rare opportunity.
"Alright."
Yugen agreed without much thought, casually saying.
"Lead the way then."
"Eh?"
Tania was stunned, pausing for a moment.
"Now... now?"
"Yeah."
Yugen said in confusion.
"Unless there are preparations needed?"
"No..."
Tania glanced at him oddly.
After all, that is the legendary Ancient Egypt's Invincible War God, and he decided so casually to set off...
This must be what they call courage from great skill?
But she didn't think much, just nodded and agreed quickly, "Okay."
As the saying goes, the more the merrier when watching a spectacle, and Tania didn't truly feel any comradeship with those so-called Seven-Star colleagues, so she decisively agreed.
...
...
The hazy moonlight, the hillside shrouded in almost transparent white mist. The golden sand and stones swayed gently in the wind, like a curtain covering that ancient golden hall.
The entrance to the hall, the massive stone door tightly shut.
Soldiers dressed in exquisite armor, golden armor, all robust in Ancient Egyptian style. They stood neatly on both sides of the hall, each holding a torch.
Those torches seemed almost alive, igniting sequentially from the entrance all the way to the deepest part of the hall in order. The flames danced until the hall was as bright as daylight.
In the center, the light converged, like a spotlight falling on the ancient, ornate coffin.
Inlaid with dazzling jewels and exquisite patterns, mysterious symbols, ancient totems, carved into a form as if a king were peacefully slumbering.
Then the lid of the coffin slowly moved aside.
All the ministers around hurriedly knelt, bowing their heads in utmost humility. The king in the golden mask slowly sat up from within the coffin, glancing around.
"Who is summoned from long slumber?"
Everyone knelt on the ground, no one dared to make a sound. In the sky appeared a golden light, as if starlight responded to his question.
"The one called the Duel God, the legendary Pharaoh."
The Pharaoh rose from the coffin, the Eye of Horus on the golden mask's forehead flashed with golden light. He casually took the Duel Disc from the coffin and wore it on his wrist.
"The time for battle has come." The Pharaoh's voice was authoritative, "So where is my opponent?"
"Here."
The voice came from outside the hall.
All the kneeling warriors were startled, instinctively raising their heads to follow the voice.
Then came a loud bang. The heavy golden door burst open, landing on the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.
A man in a dark visor and white coat stood at the door, the hem of his coat fluttering like a battle flag in the breeze.
Yugen gestured at the Duel Disc, smiling.
"Shall we have a thrilling duel, Your Majesty?"