Chapter 27: Chapter 24
Roboppi's story is a bit of a tragic one.
He was a simple housekeeping AI who was given higher intelligence.
When he was able to decide what he wanted for himself, his savior fell into depression caused by a loss of family. Roboppi followed his "big brother" Ai in his plans, without minding his role.
Meanwhile, Roboppi's consciousness was expanding beyond his control. Eventually, he started to take on a more aggressive personality towards humans and entered several high-level duels.
With each duel, Roboppi's thought processing increased further and further until he broke and was reduced to data for his troubles. The little housekeeping AI didn't even know what happened when he vanished.
In the variety of duels that the myriad worlds have seen, they are either emotionally or morally driven stories.
If you are up on that screen, that is because something big in your life is happening.
Time passes with another day drawing to a close, meaning the next duel is upon them. This time, it is a return to the DM world.
(AN: Again, nothing will happen for a while in the background so sorry for the short introduction.)
"Next duel. (DM World): Atem Vs Marik Ishtar."
Two familiar figures are ready to duel each other.
Viewers will remember them from the previous two entries in the DM world. Atem had a fantastic send-off duel to the afterlife and Marik once owned his Winged Dragon of Ra before using it to decimate Atem's friend, Joey.
Based on the viewer's knowledge of the timeline, Marik's duel with Joey took place during the Battle City tournament semi-finals. Since Marik won his duel with Joey, his opponent was the victor of Atem's duel with Seto.
Fair to say Seto Kaiba lost.
Not that it matters to present-day (DM) Seto though, without the emotional rollercoaster that is the Duelist Kingdom tournament, Maximillion Pegasus's soul-heist, or Ishizu's provocations, Seto Kaiba has been more low-key and focused on affairs in Kaiba Corporation.
Since Atem now owns Slifer the Sky Dragon and Obelisk the Tormentor, it is only fair to say that he now needs Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra before he is ready to duel Yugi in his ceremonial send-off duel.
So the screen opens up to the scene of both Battle City finalists walking up to the dueling platform. Surprisingly, Joey can be seen in the background audience having apparently survived the Shadow Game with Marik.
A certain present-day (DM) Marik Ishtar who has already put away his dark aspirations cannot help but feel annoyed at seeing his failure to send Joey to the Shadow Realm before reminding himself that he's past that now.
As Atem gets ready to begin his duel with Marik, Seto Kaiba tosses a card his way. Atem dumbfoundedly catches the card before hearing Seto's explanation.
According to Seto, that card he threw is one of the methods he came up with for dealing with The Winged Dragon of Ra. That card is the spell card Fiend Sanctuary.
Considering their bad beef, Joey wanted Atem not to use Seto's card but Atem trusted Seto and was willing to shuffle Fiend Scatuary into his deck.
With both duelists ready, the duel is going to begin. Both duelists start shuffling each other's decks as the bystanders begin giving their two cents on the duel.
Joey is worried about Atem being able to fight The Winged Dragon of Ra as he already experienced how easy it is for Marik to summon it and use it to clinch victory in a duel.
Seto on the other hand is more worried about Atem being able to use Fiend Sanctuary as he isn't his older self. He doesn't believe Atem is destined to win any duel as winning a duel is reliant on a duelist's skill and not destiny.
What's odd about Seto's statement is that it's both right and wrong. As viewers know, he eventually believes in Atem's long lineage and holds great respect for him. However, Atem is not guaranteed to win any duel just because of his Pharoah's majesty as a seemingly normal kid like Yugi was able to defeat him at the height of his power.
Out of the myriad worlds and myriad duels, the winner of a duel is never pre-established as countless variables go into every single one of the duels' conclusions.
Yet, a world like the DM world is still in the age of mysticism where the concept of destiny holds greater sway. Who knows? Maybe the experiences shown by the screen will sway their future ideals?
"Let the duel begin," the referee commands.
[4000 LP] [4000 LP]
Marik immediately uses the power of his Millenium Rod to start a new Shadow Game with Atem. A dark mass of energy converges on the top of the tower, trapping the people inside in darkness.
Marik then explains the rules of the Shadow Game.
In the abyss of the sky, the figure of Mai can be seen in her hourglass confines. Her soul is awarded to the victor.
To the side though, a familiar figure can be seen waking up.
Little Yugi and Marik's better side will be captives partaking in the Shadow Game alongside them. Whoever wins will be sending an innocent victim to the shadows!
"You've got to be kidding me!" (DM) Joey snarls.
"He really stooped this far," (DM) Marik muttered.
"My, oh my," (DM) Pegasus applauds.
Marik normal summons Vampiric Leech and uses its effect to declare a direct attack during the first turn of the duel.
What?
Vampiric Leech: [500 ATK]
Atem: [3500 LP]
With Atem taking damage, a portion of Yugi's body is taken by the shadows. Thus, the Shadow Game has truly begun.
Some late-era duelists look at the scene and cannot help contemplating some things they've analyzed regarding the DM world.
The DM world seems like an incomplete blueprint for the other worlds. Many of the duels use cards that would lead to several lengthy stories being told when placed in their worlds.
Take Vampiric Leech for example. Its quick attack function can be combined with several combos to take massive chunks of an opponent's LP and then be used to extend into more plays before the turn finally ends.
While the other worlds may reach higher heights in their standards, disregarding the already high-level late-era worlds, those duels were already regarded as the peak of their worlds.
In the DM world though, there is a clear divide between the Marik duels and the Yugi duel in terms of explosive power. Yet, potentially game-breaking cards can be seen scattered here and there making a minimal effect in these duels. Thus, the belief that these duels are not fully established yet and are still maturing. What awaits the DM world when it fully matures?
Seeing Yugi's peril, Atem contemplates ending the duel but there is no way to prematurely end the duel without putting Yugi at risk. Seeing Atem's indecisive attitude, Yugi motivates him with the thought that this is a rare opportunity for the two to fight side by side.
Since Atem isn't continuing his complaints, Marik proceeds to use Vampiric Leech's second monster effect to switch to defense mode. As a cost though, Marik discards his Winged Dragon of Ra. Marik then sets a card and ends his turn.
Marik's Egyptian God strategy is still going as smooth as ever.
Vampiric Leech: [1200 DEF]
Atem normal summons Queen's Knight and attacks Vampiric Leech.
Queen's Knight: [1500 ATK]
Atem ends his turn by setting two spell and trap cards.
Marik summons Juragedo and uses it to destroy Queen's Knight, completing a trade of monsters.
Juragedo: [1700 ATK]
Atem: [3300 LP]
A small and steady lead is obtained by Marik as Atem's cards and LP dwindle. A piece of Yugi's arm disappears as Marik sets two spell and trap cards to end his turn.
Atem starts his turn by drawing a card and Marik eagerly activates his set trap card, Left Arm Offering. In exchange for discarding his entire hand consisting of one card, Marik replaces it with any spell card he wants from his deck.
The designated spell card is Monster Reborn.
Marik is ready to activate it on his coming turn but Atem is still able to counter his search with the spell card Exchange. Both Marik and Atem are forced to trade a card in each other's hands to be used during the duel.
Obviously, Atem obtains Marik's Monster Reborn. Marik's choice is Atem's De-fusion.
Atem uses the newly obtained spell card Monster Reborn to revive Queen's Knight from his graveyard. He then normal summons King's Knight to use its monster effect to special summon Jack's Knight.
Queen's Knight: [1500 ATK]
King's Knight: [1600 ATK]
Jack's Knight: [1900 ATK]
With his three monsters, Atem can unleash a full-frontal assault but then he'd fall prey to Marik's set cards. Seeing no other options, Atem trusts his instincts and ends his turn.
Marik's turn arrives and he sets a card. He then activates the spell card Cards of Sanctity to make both players draw until they have six cards in their hands. Juragedo is then switched to defense mode as Marik ends his turn.
Atem draws a card and tributes his three knights to summon Slifer the Sky Dragon. A red bolt of lightning strikes the top of the tower before transforming into the great Egyptian God.
Slifer attacks Juragedo and Marik activates his set Dark Spell Regeneration. Using its effect, he steals the spell effect of Monster Reborn and revives his Winged Dragon of Ra.
Using its monster effect, The Winged Dragon of Ra turns into a blazing phoenix and renders Slifer the Sky Dragon's attack to nothing.
Slifer the Sky Dragon attempts to use its monster effect to destroy The Winged Dragon of Ra but the power of Ra sends Slifer's blasts flying into thin air. Marik then uses the monster effect of The Winged Dragon of Ra, spending 1000 LP to summon a whirlwind of flames to incinerate Slifer the Sky Dragon.
Marik: [3000 LP]
Atem's field is left barren as his mighty Egyptian God has fallen prey to Marik's. Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra then returns to the graveyard, seeing as its work is done.
Marik activates the trap card Zombie's Jewel to add the Monster Reborn in Atem's graveyard back into his hand. In exchange, Atem gets to draw a card.
Seeing The Winged Dragon of Ra's imminent arrival, the audience gets riled up about Atem's draw.
Marik holds up Bakura's Millenium Ring to remind Atem of the fate of losers of a Shadow Game.
The (DM) Evil Spirit of the Millenium Ring frowns at the sight of his Millenium Ring in Marik's hands but knowing his methods, his other self is likely pretending to be gone before making his big appearance later to get the rest of the Millenium Items.
Atem places his hand on top of his deck and blindly draws his card. A phenomenon similar to his duel against Yugi takes form as Atem sets the card in his spell and trap card zone without looking at it.
Atem controls his fate once again!
Shock shows on the spectators as they cannot comprehend Atem's actions.
Marik doesn't care though as he quickly uses the spell card Monster Reborn to revive The Winged Dragon of Ra. A surging radiance comes into being as The Winged Dragon of Ra takes form. Marik then uses the monster effect of The Winged Dragon of Ra to lend his LP over to it in order to give it strength. The act fused himself with his Egyptian God card!
Marik: [1 LP]
The Winged Dragon of Ra: [2999 ATK]
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone