The next evening, Yugen boarded a flight with the Egyptian Archaeological Bureau and arrived in Ancient Egypt with Isis.
After briefly exchanging words with her colleagues from the Archaeological Bureau, Isis parted ways with them and took Yugen along in a car. After about a thirty-minute drive from the airport, they left the city and soon arrived in a valley.
Initially, Yugen didn't recognize the place, but once they got out of the car and reached the entrance, he realized where they were.
This was the place where the first chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh! came to a close, where the Pharaoh who had fulfilled his mission dueled with his best friend in the mortal world, and where the soul that had wandered for three thousand years finally returned to its resting place.
The Tomb Guardian Race had protected this place for three thousand years, waiting for the Pharaoh's return. However, after the Pharaoh's Battle Ceremony ended, the purpose of this place disappeared. The stone slab embedded with the seven Millennium Artifacts shattered and vanished into endless darkness, and the site of the battle ceremony eventually collapsed.
The site had originally been buried in ruins, but until a few years ago, Seto Kaiba found this place, sent people to dig through the ruins, and spared no expense in resources and time, searching meticulously like finding a needle in a haystack to recover pieces of the Millennium Puzzle, all to find his once-acknowledged rival.
That's why this previously buried entrance is now accessible again. However, after the CEO fulfilled his wish, he went to the Netherworld to continue dueling with his rival, making this construction obsolete. The Kaiba Group long since evacuated, leaving an empty palace behind.
Malik Ishudal awaited at the entrance.
Yugen got out of the car and approached, meeting Malik through Isis's introduction. They shook hands.
Malik smiled and said, "It's been years, another generation of Duel Kings after Yugi, I've long wanted to meet you."
Yugen replied, "Mr. Malik, tamer of the Winged Divine Dragon in Duel City, I've admired you for a long time as well."
Though it was a mutual exchange of compliments, Yugen's words were sincere. He had indeed long wished to meet Malik, hoping for a chance to learn from him and perhaps pay respects to their Tomb Guardian family's card warehouse.
The three entered through the main gate, and inside, remnants of the past collapse could still be seen. In fact, two years after the Battle Ceremony, Seto Kaiba and the movie's boss Blue God had even dueled at the Pharaoh's tomb, creating a memorable scene where the CEO drew a Giant Divine Soldier's card from his rival's grave.
Now, years later, the place still lay in ruins.
"..."
"Evil God's stone tablet?" Yugen asked curiously.
Malik replied, "No, it's not an Evil God's stone tablet... at least not in the usual sense of the word. You know, the Duel Monster Cards initially created in modern times were mostly unearthed stone tablets, fundamentally Ancient people's ways of utilizing Duel Monsters, no different from the cards we use today.
But this time, what we unearthed isn't the authentic stone tablet recording the Three Evil Gods, but rather something like the 'King's Memory' tablet, which records some incidents related to the Evil Gods."
Yugen said, "Let me guess, does the tablet have any critical information recorded?"
Malik and Isis exchanged a glance.
Isis said, "The tablet foretold this day would come. The Evil Gods will be released; the seal is never a permanent solution. Even if temporarily repelled, they will always return.
One day, the Evil Gods will devour everything, turning the world to wasteland."
Malik continued, "There's only one way to prevent this."
Yugen stayed silent, waiting for them to continue speaking.
"The Evil Gods... need a master."
Yugen raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.
Isis said, "This isn't surprising. Just as the three Phantom Gods are rightfully tamed by the Pharaoh, even Phantom Gods need constraint, let alone the inherently evil-tending Evil Gods.
If not properly mastered, sealing them countless times would be a repetitive cycle. One day, the Evil Gods will be uncontrollable, inflicting irreparable damage on the world."
Yugen thought for a moment and said, "Pegasus Nightwalker?"
Nightwalker was the original holder of the Three Evil Gods. Although people like Thief Keith and Pegasus Moonwalker had used the Evil Gods, they were under Nightwalker's manipulation, and they could wield the Evil Gods only by his authorization.
But Malik shook his head, "Pegasus Nightwalker couldn't resist the Evil God's power. Were it not so, they would not have chosen to destroy the cards and re-seal the Evil Gods initially."
Yugen said, "Wait, you can't possibly be suggesting... me?"
The siblings remained silent, but their reaction seemed to confirm it.
Yugen frowned. He wasn't uninterested in the power of gods, but whether he could indeed be interested depended on his capability. His current strength was top-notch in today's world, but whether he had the ability to subdue the Evil Gods was uncertain.
"It's not we who chose you, but destiny," Isis said. "You've arrived at the crossroad of destiny confrontation with the Evil Gods, perhaps you are the right chosen one."
"However, if possible, I'd still like to confirm it myself."
As Malik spoke, he walked to a table where a Duel Disc was already placed.
But it was clear that Mr. Malik hadn't dueled anyone for many years as the Duel Disc was an outdated model from the Duel City era, now obsolete.
Yugen said, "Confirm with a duel?"
"Of course, if you're willing," Malik smiled, "I've always wanted a chance to duel with the modern king."
Yugen also smiled, "What a coincidence, I've always thought the same way..."
Saying this, he too unfolded his Duel Disc.
Isis silently stepped back, clearing the space.
The two stood on the battlefield where the Battle Ceremony took place. Only the old friends were gone, and the Millennium stone tablets no longer existed.
"Duel!" x2
[Yugen, LP4000]
[Malik, LP4000]
Malik said, "Then, I'll politely take the first move, draw a card!
First, here's the Magic Card 'Angel's Charity', draw three cards from my deck, then discard two cards from my hand."
Malik then revealed the card in his hand.
"I summon 'Speed Attack Bloodsucker'!" (Original Card)
A monster quite fitting the sunny boy style, a gigantic wriggling maggot with a terrifyingly large mouth that opens and closes, giving off a somewhat creepy vibe.
[Speed Attack Bloodsucker, Attack Power 500]
"Speed Attack Bloodsucker, direct attack!" Malik declared.
Yugen raised an eyebrow.
A direct attack on the first move?
"Speed Attack Bloodsucker possesses a unique ability in the entire Duel Monsters field," Malik said proudly. "Bloodsucking Maggot can attack on the first turn of going first!"
Yugen: "..."
As expected of Mr. Malik's card, even transcending the duel rules.