章 101: Took You Long Enough

[3rd POV]

Paralyzed by genuine fear, the Sacred Guardians found themselves unable to move. The evil god loomed over them, its emotionless snarl conveying their insignificance as if they were mere ants beneath its feet.

When Zorc Necrophades stirred, the sky rained debris, jolting the Pharaoh and the Sacred Guardians into action. They barely scrambled to safety before rubble crashed down where they had stood moments before.

The Guardians exchanged a quick glance, all arriving at the same conclusion: they needed to retreat, or they would meet their end here. Before they could act, the rubble shifted, and Aknadin emerged from the debris. Rage filled the Guardians' eyes, particularly Seto's, who had personally witnessed his betrayal.

"Lord Seto!" Shada called, but Seto was already sprinting toward the Millennium Stone.

He seized the Millennium Rod, channelling its power, and fired a projectile at Aknadin. But, to Seto's shock, a shimmering barrier appeared, deflecting the attack.

Looking up, Seto found Zorc Necrophades staring at him, freezing him in place. The god then turned his gaze to Aknadin, who was still struggling to recover, his wounds bleeding onto the floor. Sensing the god's attention, Aknadin straightened and bowed deeply, his voice rasping as he spoke.

"My lord… please grant your loyal servant an order…"

"Aknadin, you traitor!" Seto shouted, clenching his fists as he felt Zorc Necrophades' oppressive presence weigh down on him.

Zorc Necrophades narrowed its eyes and sneered, its mouth revealing rows of jagged teeth. The god raised a finger, and a beam of dark energy shot forth, striking Aknadin. The man gasped as unspeakable agony coursed through him, his body warping and transforming. His nails grew into claws, his skin darkened, and his form stretched taller, towering over Seto.

Aknadin's single remaining eye glowed blood red as the Millennium Eye returned to his other socket. His tattered robes morphed into dark purple armour, a flowing cape draping from his shoulders. His face, now half-concealed by a black-and-white mask, bore a single line down the centre, with the Millennium Eye gleaming ominously through it. From behind the mask, a wild red mane spilled out, framing his withering face in a twisted ferocity.

As the pain finally subsided, Aknadin took in his new form. Whatever was left of his uncorrupted soul had vanished, leaving behind only a demon in his skin.

He flexed his transformed body, a dark chuckle escaping his lips as he revelled in his newfound power. He felt invincible, as if even the Pharaoh himself would stand no chance against him.

Seto clenched his teeth as Aknadin's gaze settled on him, brimming with a twisted satisfaction.

"Lord Seto…" Aknadin spoke, his voice now a deep, resonant growl. "Join me."

"What?" Seto's eyes widened in disbelief at the absurdity of the offer. He stared at Aknadin's outstretched hand, a surge of anger rising within him. "Don't make me laugh. Why would I ever side with a traitor like you?!"

Aknadin's mouth twisted into a smirk. "A traitor… yes," he murmured, his laughter echoing with a sinister edge. "But in time, you'll understand the truth."

With a simple gesture, Aknadin raised his hand, summoning a portal beneath Seto's feet. Before Seto could react, the ground vanished, and he plunged into the darkness, Aknadin following close behind.

[Yuna's POV]

"This is bad, really bad!" I clutched the sides of my head, pacing anxiously around the room.

"Yuna, please, calm down," Kisara urged, her voice steady but concerned.

"Calm?! How can I be calm?" I shouted, letting out a deep sigh as I dropped into a seat, staring at the message before me.

{Task: 17}

{1. Assist ????? in passing the Trial of Memories}

{2. Defeat Zorc Necrophades}

{Reward: #!)%*^( }

The mission had changed, which could only mean one thing: Yami Bakura had succeeded in summoning the evil god. Although this was inevitable, a part of me had hoped they would prevent it...

"Here, have some tea…" Kisara murmured, gently sliding a teacup toward me.

I accepted, taking a long sip before sighing again. Worry furrowed my brow as I grasped Kisara's hand, muttering, "This has to go right… it just has to." I bit the tip of my thumb, trying to stifle the rising sense of dread. My instincts were screaming, but I couldn't understand why.

Soon, though, I'd have my answer...

"Yuna… what's that?" Kisara asked, pointing to something outside the window.

I squinted, seeing something dark floating in the distance. "Are those… people?" I murmured, realizing there were two figures in the sky. One of them raised an arm, conjuring a sphere that began hurtling toward us.

My eyes widened. "Watch out!" I yelled, diving toward Kisara and pushing her to the floor.

*BOOOOOOOOOM*

[3rd POV]

A massive explosion rocked the palace, obliterating an entire side of the building.

"NOOOOOOO!" Seto screamed, struggling violently against his bindings. As he watched the dark energy slam into the room where Kisara was, despair and rage surged through him. He felt as though his very soul had been torn from his body.

"You… I will kill you!!" Seto howled, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Aknadin with seething hatred.

Aknadin met his glare with a calm smirk. "With your current strength, you couldn't even scratch me." He glanced at the flames spreading from the explosion. "And if you keep struggling, she won't be the only one to suffer from your actions."

As they descended to the ground, Aknadin summoned Zorc's dark power to dispatch the remaining soldiers. Seto could only watch, helpless, as they fell one by one. When silence settled over the area, broken only by the crackling flames, Aknadin turned back to Seto, releasing the magic that held him captive. Seto crumpled to the floor, slowly rising, his eyes hollow and lifeless.

"Seems you're finally in the mood to talk," Aknadin observed. "The girl you care about, she's not entirely gone. Not yet, at least."

At the mention of Kisara, Seto's expression hardened. Aknadin's smile was hidden beneath his mask as he knelt by a fallen soldier, infusing the corpse with dark magic. Instantly, the soldier's eyes snapped open, and he sat up, blank and lifeless.

"This is the power of the great god," Aknadin said proudly. "Even death bends to its will."

Seto stared at the reanimated soldier, his voice filled with disgust. "You call that living?"

Aknadin chuckled. "I only provided him a fraction of my power. With enough, I could restore his memories and heal his injuries in an instant." With a snap of his fingers, the soldier collapsed, lifeless once more.

"Why…" Seto muttered, a mix of confusion and horror clouding his face. "Why would you do this?"

"Because the current Pharaoh is unfit to rule," Aknadin replied, his eyes gleaming. "Someone stronger, someone more worthy, must take his place. That person is you."

Seto scoffed, clenching his fists. "Do you really think it's that simple? I'm a commoner. I don't come from a noble family."

"Oh, but you do," Aknadin said, his voice filled with twisted delight. "After all, you are my son."

"What?" Seto's eyes widened, disbelief flooding his expression.

"It may sound absurd, but it's all true," Aknadin began, his tone unexpectedly solemn. "I left you and your mother long ago, knowing that my sins in creating the Millennium Items could one day endanger your lives. I worried, but I took comfort in seeing you grow into something far beyond my expectations…"

He paused, letting the words sink in. "As the brother of Aknamkanon, the previous Pharaoh, you are more than qualified to claim the throne."

Aknadin extended his hand, his voice thick with a promise that seemed almost enticing. "So take my hand. Join me. You can bring her back, and you'll wield powers beyond your wildest dreams."

Seto stared at the outstretched hand, his mind clouded with grief and confusion. The agony of Kisara's loss weighed heavily on him, and in his haze, he could see only the sweetness of Aknadin's offer, missing the poison lurking beneath.

Meanwhile...

[Yuna's POV]

"Are you okay?" I asked Kisara, gently holding her shoulders as we steadied ourselves. A golden barrier shimmered around us, cast by the Herald of Creation just in time to shield us from the explosion.

"Yuna, you're bleeding…" Kisara's voice was shaky as she noticed the blood trickling from a cut on my head. I reached up, fingers brushing the wound.

"It's just a scratch," I assured her. "Probably some shrapnel."

After confirming we were both unharmed, I instructed the Herald to expand the barrier, pushing aside the debris trapping us. As the dust settled, I took in the wreckage around us. Kisara's belongings lay in ruins, but we had more significant concerns.

"What was that… just now?" Her voice trembled, fear mingling with shock.

"Don't worry," I said. "I'll go check it out. Just stay here, alright?" But as I turned to leave, Kisara grabbed my hand, her grip surprisingly firm.

"I'm coming with you," she insisted. "I know I may not be much help, but I want to try."

Her resolve was unwavering, and I found myself nodding. Leaving her here alone didn't sit right with me either, so together, we ventured through the devastated halls. Along the way, we encountered several servants and guards trapped beneath rubble. With the Herald's aid, we quickly freed them, the barrier protecting us as we worked.

"I hope Teacher is alright…" Kisara murmured, glancing at the injured we passed.

"He will be," I replied, trying to reassure her. "Shimon was a Sacred Guardian once—he knows how to handle himself." She nodded, and we continued toward the place where we'd last seen the dark figures looming in the sky.

The palace, once so peaceful, now lay under a heavy, ominous silence. We walked cautiously, finally arriving at the central courtyard just outside the palace's main entrance, where the tension hung thick in the air.

There, we stumbled upon two figures facing each other in the distance, and we quickly hid ourselves behind the debris. Squinting her eyes, Kisara quietly gasped and covered her mouth.

"Seto…" Kisara murmured, her voice trembling. I frowned, my gaze fixed on the figure beside him.

"That's Aknadin…" I spat, the memory of his new appearance from the show flashing in my mind. In reality, he looked even more menacing.

Kisara's desperate eyes met mine, and I sighed quietly to myself. "Here goes nothing…" I whispered, summoning the Herald of Creation to conjure a ball of fire, launching it toward Aknadin.

But before the attack could hit its mark, Aknadin raised a barrier, and my fireball collided harmlessly against the dark shield.

"Tsk…" I stepped forward, positioning myself protectively in front of Kisara, who quickly huddled behind me.

"Who dares…?" Aknadin muttered, his gaze fixing on us. "Ah… so you survived…" He sneered, noticing Kisara behind me. "And you… you must be the one who attempted to assassinate me earlier."

"Well, it's nothing personal," I said with a nervous smile. "So don't hold a grudge."

"Likewise…" Aknadin replied, raising both arms. "Let's finish what we started!"

Just as I took a step forward, a dark beam shot toward me. I dodged just in time, looking up to see it hadn't come from Aknadin but from the man standing behind him.

"S... Seto?" Kisara yelped in disbelief. "What are you doing?!" Seto stood there, pointing the Millennium Rod at me, his expression vacant. His pupils were cloudy and unfocused as if he were nothing more than a puppet.

"He can't hear you," Aknadin chuckled, relishing the moment. "His mind is trapped within his own body, completely under my control."

I glared at Aknadin, my resolve hardening as I ordered the Herald of Creation to fire another shot. This time, Aknadin deftly sidestepped, and the fireball erupted behind him in a shower of sparks.

"Yuna, please handle Lord Aknadin. I'll deal with Seto," Kisara proposed, her expression serious. I stared at her, concern flooding my thoughts.

"I promise I'll be careful!" she insisted, determination gleaming in her eyes.

"Just don't get hurt…" I sighed, knowing I had to trust her. Turning my focus back to Aknadin, I reminded myself that the faster I defeated him, the sooner Kisara would be safe.

Summoning the Dragon Knight of Creation, I felt a surge of power course through me as we faced the evil mage, who began to ascend slowly into the air.

"Then let's begin…" he sneered, a dark energy crackling around him, and under my command, my two spirits charged fearlessly into battle...

[3rd POV]

The Dragon Knight of Creation leapt into the air, swinging his sword in a powerful downward slash. Aknadin countered with a shield of dark magic, effortlessly blocking the attack and knocking the Dragon Knight back.

Laughing cruelly, Aknadin pursued him, but the Herald of Creation swiftly intercepted him with a barrage of magic. Seizing the moment of hesitation, the Dragon Knight counterattacked, reappearing behind Aknadin with his blade.

"Such a rudimentary strategy!" Aknadin scoffed, and without warning, a black spike shot out of the shadows. The Dragon Knight was forced to defend, but the sheer force of the spike sent him crashing into the wall.

As Aknadin closed in on the vulnerable knight, the Herald of Creation fired magic desperately to cover him.

"Dragon Knight of Creation, return!" Yuna shouted, quickly unsummoning her spirit. Aknadin, sensing the change, immediately shifted his focus toward her and dashed forward.

In a panic, Yuna resummoned the Dragon Knight of Creation just in time. He stood firm in front of her, ready to protect his master.

*BOOOOM!*

Aknadin unleashed a black, pulsating laser that struck the Dragon Knight in the stomach. The knight crumpled under the force, bursting into shards. Yuna gasped, the backlash from losing her spirit leaving her breathless.

Though she could sense the Dragon Knight of Creation's essence lingering, he needed time to recover, leaving her with only the Herald of Creation at her side.

Struggling against the pain, Yuna commanded the Herald to attack once more. The magic struck Aknadin's blind spot, landing a hit, but it was hardly enough. She watched in horror as Aknadin's injuries healed almost instantly.

"It's useless," he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "You can barely keep up with two spirits. What's the point when you have only one?"

With a chilling smile, Aknadin brought his hands together, summoning dark spikes that had previously assailed the Dragon Knight, and the attack rushed towards her.

The Herald of Creation responded with a magical shield, but it was too late. Aknadin summoned blades of darkness, launching them toward her with deadly precision. Yuna braced herself, knowing that she had to find a way to endure or risk losing everything.

[Yuna's POV]

Yuna coughed a mouthful of blood as the Herald of Creation was defeated. Collapsing from exhaustion, she glared at Aknadin, who was slowly descending from the sky.

"Like I said, it's useless," Aknadin stated condescendingly. "No matter how much you try."

Gritting her teeth in frustration, Yuna attempted to stand, but her legs buckled beneath her, and she groaned in exasperation.

"Seems like you still don't understand. I will show you that everything is truly hopeless..." Aknadin raised his hand, aiming not at her but at Kisara, who was desperately trying to stop Seto in the distance.

Dark energy gathered at Aknadin's fingertip, spinning and condensing ominously. "No!" Yuna yelled. In a moment of desperation, she grabbed a broken sword from a fallen soldier nearby and hurled herself at the evil mage.

Caught off guard by her sudden burst of energy, Aknadin was momentarily stunned as the blade plunged into his arm. The dark energy dissipated, and the spell was interrupted. Aknadin instinctively bent over, anger flashing across his face as he turned to Yuna.

Seizing her neck, Aknadin lifted her effortlessly off the ground. With a single swing, he hurled her toward a wall.

"D... Dragon Knight of Creation!" Yuna screamed. A half-summoned knight appeared behind her, still not fully recovered. He wrapped his only arm around her just before they crashed into the palace wall.

Upon impact, the Dragon Knight of Creation exploded, and Yuna wasn't able to shield herself from the collision. A sharp pain shot up her back, and she coughed out even more blood.

Struggling to remain conscious, she watched Aknadin approach, his hand gathering dark magic. "Congratulations, you have volunteered to die first..."

"Screw you..." she cursed hatefully.

"Is that really your last words?" Aknadin scoffed. "Very well... Die..."

In that moment, Yuna's gaze met Kisara's in the distance. Her friend's eyes widened in horror as she dropped everything and sprinted toward her.

No... go away...

Yuna's lips moved, but no sound escaped. She desperately tried to crawl away from the path of the projectile, yet it was clear that her body would not obey.

'Damn...' she thought, staring at Aknadin's face and wishing she could punch him just once before she died.

Her vision began to fade to darkness as the magic in Aknadin's hand expanded, the anticipation of her death weighing heavily on her mind. Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from a distance.

"Blue Eyes White Dragon! Attack, Burst Stream of Destruction!" A deafening roar shook the sky, and a brilliant beam collided with Aknadin, sending the mage flying backward.

"K... Kisara..." Yuna uttered in a daze, expecting to see her friend protecting her. "The Blue Eyes White Dragon... Did you...?" But when her vision cleared, she gasped in disbelief.

A figure stood before her, dressed in a long white sleeveless coat, black shirt, and pants. His brown hair framed a broad back that shielded her as he faced Aknadin, fists clenched, and a distinctive Duel Disk on his arms shining with various lights.

"N... No way..." Yuna mumbled, her voice barely a whisper.

"Who... are you?" Kisara asked warily, glancing back at Yuna.

"Which insolent?!" Aknadin hissed, his injuries beginning to regenerate rapidly.

"Take that historical brain of yours and listen closely," the man spoke coldly with his arms crossed. "My name is Seto Kaiba! I will make sure that you genuinely regret that you're still alive..."

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