Chương 78: Bitter Taste of Defeat

[Yuna's POV]

*BOOOOOM*

The explosion rocked the room, hurling me through the air with force. I felt the brutal impact as I skidded across the floor, every nerve screaming in protest. Clutching my stomach, I fought back the lunch rising in my throat. As I groaned in pain, I glanced up to see the Seal of Orichalcos ominously advancing toward me, its sinister presence creeping like a hungry predator stalking its prey.

"Looks like it's my victory," Dartz smirked and watched as the Seal surrounded me: "Don't feel too displeased. Your sacrifice will fuel the awakening of the Great God."

"You..." I growled through clenched teeth, defiance burning in my eyes. "You won't... get away with this..."

"Who will stop me?" he asked with chilling nonchalance. "The Pharaoh? It's already too late. Once I've delved into your memories, there'll be no stopping me!"

"Tsk..." I clicked my teeth in frustration, attempting to rise, but my legs betrayed me, buckling beneath the weight of exhaustion as the Seal of Orichalcos swiftly enveloped me. Agony surged through every fibre of my being, a searing torment that threatened to consume me whole. Clenching my fists, I dug my nails into my palms, a feeble attempt to ground myself amidst the overwhelming pain. I bit down hard on my lip, stifling the urge to scream as I endured the relentless onslaught.

"Interesting..." Dartz observed curiously: "Typically, it's much less painful than this..."

"That's because I don't even have a complete soul, you b*stard..." I spat out the words, my glare seething with anger.

"Damn... it! Not... yet!"

Despite my fervent defiance, every ounce of resistance seemed futile as I felt my strength ebbing away.

Helpless and immobilized, I could only watch as Dartz closed in on me. Refusing to meet his gaze, I fixed my eyes on the ground beneath his feet, the sound of his sneer echoing ominously in my ears.

With a chilling whisper, he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "Don't worry. I'll ensure that boy joins you soon enough."

I froze as Dartz's words seared into my consciousness, igniting a fiery rage within me. Despite the agony coursing through my veins, I summoned every ounce of strength to rise, my eyes ablaze with fury.

With trembling hands, I reached out and seized his collar, my grip fueled by sheer determination. "If you... hurt him!"

My voice quivered with exhaustion yet laced with an unmistakable warning. With a swift motion, I was knocked back to the ground as Dartz forcefully swiped my hand away, his eyes ablaze with contempt.

"Keep your hands off of me..." His voice dripped with disdain.

My limbs were heavy and unresponsive; I could only gaze helplessly at the ground, frustration boiling within me.

"Dammit..." I muttered through gritted teeth, my fists clenched in futile resistance as the darkness threatened to consume me.

But then, a glimmer of hope flickered as I turned my head slightly, catching sight of the Winged Dragon of Ra lying nearby. It was as if the card was calling for my name, and my instincts were telling me to grab it as soon as possible. With nothing left to lose, I stretched out my hand for the desperate lifeline offered to me.

Noticing my subtle movements, Dartz's sneer twisted into a cruel grin as he deliberately stepped on my wrist, sending a shockwave of pain through my bones. With my body screaming in protest, I pressed my hand firmly onto the card, and my vision dimmed.

Damn... I could barely move my body now, and the pain seemed to lessen as every nerve felt numb. I wasn't expecting much anyway since it's only possible to defeat Dartz through the power of the Pharaoh. So, an extra like me could only stall for as long as possible.

"Kaiba... Yugi..." I managed a wry smile. "If you guys throw now, you won't hear the end from me..." With that final, half-hearted jest, my consciousness began to slip away, and I sensed my soul gradually detaching from my battered body...

[3rd POV]

As the Seal of Orichalcos completed its ritual, Dartz raised his hand. From within Yuna's weakened form, a small white orb emerged, hovering delicately in the air before gently settling onto his outstretched palm. Frowning, he scrutinized the soul contained within the orb.

Typically, the size of a person's soul is similar to a baseball. In contrast, an elderly person's soul will be more minor due to already spending quite some time being alive, and a child's soul would be comparatively larger. However, gazing at Yuna's soul's diminutive size, Dartz couldn't conceal his confusion.

"Why is it so small?"

It barely surpassed the size of a ping-pong ball, a third of the average soul's magnitude. "Tsk, how disappointing... Barely enough for me to wield..."

Just as Dartz was ready to offer her soul to the Great Leviathan, an overwhelming pressure surged throughout the chamber, catching him off guard. His body tensed instinctively, but before he could comprehend the situation, a powerful force sent him hurtling through the air with startling force.

As Dartz regained his footing, he quickly realized that Yuna's soul was no longer in his grasp. With a scowl etched deep on his features, he cast a venomous glare towards the divine golden dragon materializing before him.

The Winged Dragon of Ra let out a deafening screech, its powerful voice causing the very foundations of the building to tremble. Glaring back at Dartz with unbridled contempt, the Egyptian God made its presence known.

Bowing its majestic head, the Winged Dragon of Ra emitted a soft whimper as it tenderly nudged Yuna's soul. Bathed in a radiant golden light, the divine creature enveloped her essence with its expansive wings, shielding it from harm.

Then, with a graceful flourish, the magnificent beast vanished into the ether, carrying Yuna's soul with it, leaving behind a lingering sense of awe and reverence.

Staring at the space, Dartz opened and closed his mouth dumbfoundedly, confused about what had just happened. Closing his eyes, he tried to locate Yuna's soul with Orichalcos's Power, but he was surprised when her soul disappeared without a trace—it was as if it had been erased from this world.

"How..." Dartz muttered, his voice barely a whisper, as his bewildered gaze drifted towards the Winged Dragon of Ra now nestled within Yuna's hand.

*BOOOOOM*

As the doors to the room exploded open, Dartz's gaze settled calmly on the two figures emerging from the distance. His eyes sparked with intrigue as his eyes landed on the Millennium Puzzle adorning one of their necks.

Slowly, a knowing smile spread across his lips, and he made a deliberate choice to push thoughts of Yuna's soul aside for now. With fresh prey entering his domain, his focus shifted entirely to the new arrivals, his mission clear: to prepare them for sacrifices to his Great God...

[Earlier]

Seto's frustration erupted into a display of raw emotion as he lashed out at the room. With a forceful punch, he struck the wall, his stoic facade cracking momentarily. Gripped by a rare surge of anger, he hurled a chair at the monitor, shattering the screen in a burst of fury.

"F*ck!!!" he cursed, his voice filled with raw emotion as he vented his rage.

"Kaiba, calm down!" Yami Yugi's firm voice cut through the chaos. "We must act reasonably! The longer we delay, the greater the danger to Sano!"

"You think I don't know that?!" Seto's retort was sharp, his glare piercing through the tension in the room. Without hesitation, he snatched up his phone.

"Noah, track Sano's last known cellphone signal now!!" After a tense few seconds, a map materialized on his screen, revealing Yuna's whereabouts.

"What is it?" Yami Yugi inquired, noticing Seto's furrowed brow as he examined the picture on his phone. It displayed a map of a remote island, uninhabited by people, nestled in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bermuda Triangle.

"You better not be messing with me," Seto threatened, his tone sharp with suspicion, as Noah hurriedly explained he was telling the truth. Reluctantly, Seto decided to follow the boy's instructions, realizing they had no other viable options. However, as they moved towards the entrance, their path was abruptly blocked by three individuals.

"I'm sorry, but your charades end here," Rafael declared, his arms folded across his chest as he fixed a stern gaze on the two duelists.

"Rafael..." Yami Yugi growled, his eyes flicking towards the two figures standing behind him. "You must be Valon and..." His voice trailed off as he turned his attention to the woman standing awkwardly beside them. "Mai..."

Mai opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, a loud voice shattered the moment.

"MAI!!!"

All heads turned to see Joey sprinting down the street, his friends in hot pursuit.

Gathering his breath, Joey fixed Mai with a piercing glare, his eyes brimming with questions. "I finally found you," he panted, frustration evident in his voice. "I don't understand, Mai. Why would you even team up with people like them!?"

Hearing Joey's question, Mai cast a fleeting glance at Valon and Rafael before letting out a soft chuckle. "Because I've realized that I was merely a frog in a well," she mused, a hint of wistfulness in her voice. "It was only until recently that I came face to face with the real world."

Joey shook his head in confusion. "I don't understand..."

"All this time!" Mai exclaimed, her voice tinged with self-realization. "I always thought that I was a powerful duelist, someone with above-average skills."

"You are, Mai," Joey interjected firmly. "You're not just some random duelist!"

"Oh yeah?" Mai's smile turned wry. "That isn't what other people think. At first, I was known as the person who reached third place in Pegasus's Duelist Kingdom, but do you know what people call me afterwards?"

"Someone who wasn't eliminated in the Battle City Qualifiers, but a duelist who was kicked out just because there were too many people..." Mai's tone turned cold. "I, who have put in so much effort, was easily surpassed by four random people that were never heard of." [1]

"It was when I won a minor tournament that I overheard others say how embarrassing it was to lose to someone like me. I finally snapped... That's why I joined Doma; with their help, I can gain strength like never before and prove to everyone that I'm not some weakling they think I am!"

"Mai..." Yami Yugi and Joey muttered with guilt, uncertain of how to respond.

However, their expressions shifted from uncertainty to shock as Seto's sneer filled the air with contempt. "Pathetic," he uttered, his tone dripping with venom. "I was expecting something more dramatic, but it turns out to be this bland."

"Kaiba!" Joey hissed angrily. "You're out of line!"

"Hmph..." Seto scoffed, his glare piercing as he directed his gaze towards Mai. "If you're going to join people like them for such a reason, then it's natural for you to be this weak."

"What the hell do you know about it, huh?!" she snapped back, her voice laced with rage.

"What don't I know?" Seto shrugged dismissively. "Do you think it's just you who felt this way? I was the World Champion seven months ago. Where am I now?"

"But, unlike you, who have to grovel beneath someone else's feet, I actually used everything in my power to get back what's rightfully mine," Seto uttered coldly. "So don't give me that bullsh*t."

"I have wasted enough time; I'm leaving," Seto declared, his tone final as he turned to walk away. Rafael moved to follow, but Seto halted abruptly, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"If anyone's going to stop me," he continued, his voice cutting through the tense silence, "I won't settle this with a card game anymore."

"Then wait for us; you can't go fight Dartz alone," Yami Yugi reasoned, understanding that trying to hold Seto back might only provoke him further, driving him to charge headlong into danger.

"Tsk... Fine," Seto spat out begrudgingly. "Make it quick."

"Geez, that one," Joey muttered, frustration evident in his voice as he ruffled his hair. Listen up, Yug. You deal with Rafael, and I'll take on Mai and that other guy."

"Good luck," Yami Yugi nodded, his gaze sharpening with determination. "The last time we met, I was foolish and arrogant. But this time, I won't mess up; let's duel!!"

[Rafael: 4000 LP]

[Yami Yugi: 4000 LP]

30 Minutes later...

Seto impatiently tapped the floor with his foot, his annoyance growing with each passing second. Yami Yugi and his friends still hadn't shown up. The urge to leave on his own intensified, but Seto resisted, knowing deep down that the Pharaoh's words held truth.

It would be pointless if he blindly rushed towards Dartz only to get defeated himself, and he wanted to trust in Yuna's promise that she would be safe.

"Kaiba!" Seto lifted his head as Yami Yugi ran towards him from a distance. Behind him were his friends, and Seto noticed Tristan carrying the unconscious Joey on his back.

Without saying anything, Seto guessed what had happened by observing the pharaoh's grimace. "Looks like you're here," he spoke calmly, then opened the door of the helicopter. "Let's go."

As the helicopter soared through the sky, Seto glanced out of the window to see a fierce storm raging ahead of them. Entering the storm, the vehicle shook wildly, and everyone clung tightly to the railings to avoid falling over.

In the silent and tense atmosphere, Seto's eyes subconsciously wandered to Joey, who was surrounded by all of his friends. Gritting his teeth, he tightly clenched the phone in his hands and stared at the message he had sent earlier. But to his worries, he had not received a single reply...

"Sir, we are almost there," the pilot's voice snapped Seto out of his stupor, prompting him to move to the cockpit. In the distance, the structure of an island could be seen being struck by a massive cyclone.

"Get us as close as possible, even if we crash," Seto ordered firmly. "We have to get onto that island."

"Understood," the pilot nodded, his expression grim. "Hang on tight; it's going to be a bumpy ride."

*BANG*

Seto groaned as the turbulence caused the helicopter to veer off course, and he could hear Téa shrieking in surprise as they were thrown to the ground.

"Damn it, move!" Seto shouted, grabbing the pilot and pulling him out of his seat. With a determined grip on the cyclic stick, he used all of his strength to wrestle the aircraft back under control. The helicopter reverberated with the blaring of alarms and people's screams.

Cursing under his breath, Seto felt like his arms were about to be torn off as the storm's power intensified.

"Sir, we're getting too low!" The pilot yelled in the commotion.

"I know!!" Seto hissed: "Brace... for impact!"

Seto emerged from the wreckage, his body aching from the rough landing. He silently thanked his lucky stars that they hadn't met a fiery end.

"Anyone hurt?" Seto's voice sliced through the tense air as he surveyed the group. The pilot shook his head. "Good. You stay put and call for help. The rest of you, stick with me."

Pushing through the dense foliage, they stumbled upon a looming structure, its entrance gaping wide like the mouth of a beast. The allure of what lay inside was undeniable.

"Is this it?" Yami Yugi's voice echoed in the cavernous space, and Seto nodded, his eyes fixed on the massive Paradius logo adorning the wall.

"It's a wonder no one stumbled upon this until now," Tristan remarked, eyeing the open doors warily. "Do you think it's a trap?"

"There's only one way to find out," the Pharaoh declared, his tone resolute as he strode towards the building, Seto shadowing his every step.

Traversing through the dark hallways, the group suddenly found themselves startled as the entire building shook violently, sending tremors rippling through the corridors.

"Woah, what was that?!" Téa 's voice quivered in fright.

ROAARRRRR

A deafening roar pierced the air, causing everyone to freeze in place, their bodies tense with apprehension. Then, as if in response, a second explosion rocked the structure, knocking them off their feet.

As the echoes of the chaos faded away, the building returned to an eerie silence, leaving nothing but the sound of their anxious breaths filling the air.

"What was that..." Téa trembled with uncertainty while Seto and Yami Yugi's expressions darkened with concern.

"That's the sound of a duel..." Yami Yugi's grimace deepened. "We have to hurry!"

Ignoring the looming danger, everyone sprinted with all their might. As the silence enveloped them once more, Seto's heart churned with anxiety, praying fervently that they weren't too late...

Five Minutes Later...

*BANG*

The door leading to the last room burst open as Seto and Yami Yugi arrived, their chests heaving as they struggled to catch their breath. The building was far larger than they had anticipated, stretching several floors underground.

"Dartz!" the Pharaoh's voice thundered across the room as he spotted the man standing in the distance, his features illuminated by the braziers placed along the room. "Your schemes end here!"

"Welcome, Pharaoh..." Dartz's smile was chilling as his gaze locked onto Yami Yugi's face with unmistakable interest. "I have been expecting you..."

"Where's Sano!?" Seto's demand was punctuated by the clenching of his fists. "Where is she?!"

Dartz chuckled dismissively at Seto's remark as if he were facing a whining child. "Sano... Of course, she's right there."

Following his finger, everyone turned their attention to the side of the room. Their bodies froze at the frightening sight: Yuna's motionless form lay sprawled on the cold floor, her Duel Monster cards scattered around her.

"Sano, no..." Téa gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth in shock.

Staring at Yuna's dishevelled appearance, Seto's mind went blank, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't tear his gaze away from her motionless form. Moving instinctively, he rushed to her side and grasped her shoulders, his voice trembling with anxiety. "Sano! Answer me! Wake up!"

*Drip Drip..*

Seto's pupils quivered as he stared at Yuna's face, his breath catching in his throat as he noticed a trail of blood leaking from her lips. Slowly lifting her head, Seto's eyes widened in shock as he took in the blood splatters around them. "Why is there blood... This has to be a joke, right?"

But despite his desperate questioning, there was no response. Trembling, Seto reached for Yuna's wrist, his shoulders sagging with relief when he felt a faint pulse beneath his touch.

"Kaiba," Yami Yugi called out, his gaze flickering between Seto and Yuna anxiously. "Is she alright?"

"She's alive," Seto responded grimly, his voice tinged with worry. "But she won't wake up..."

"Then her soul..." Yami Yugi's fists clenched, unable to finish. "To think Sano will lose as well..."

"Tsk..." Seto clicked his teeth in frustration, his chest heaving with suppressed rage. Slowly turning his head, he fixed a piercing glare on the man behind all this. "Dartz..."

Watching from a distance, Dartz finally chuckled and descended from the tall stairs. "I assume you have finished the act?"

"What did you do to her?" Seto snarled, his anger palpable as he confronted Dartz.

"I merely followed the will of my God and defeated her," Dartz explained, his tone indifferent. "It was merely her incompetence that led to these results."

"HOW DARE YOU!!!" Seto roared furiously, but Yami Yugi quickly halted his outburst before he could act on his anger.

"Kaiba! You must calm down! We can't beat him if you don't get yourself together this instant!"

"Shut up!" Seto snapped back with venom, his eyes blazing with fury. "I WILL KILL HIM!!"

*Thud*

Suddenly, Yami Yugi's fist connected with Seto's face, causing him to stumble back in disbelief. Rubbing his sore hand, Yami Yugi spoke with a hint of regret in his voice. "I'm sorry, but this is the only way to get your act together. The only way to save Sano and Joey was to defeat that man right there, but we can't do it alone."

"Tsk..." Seto clicked his teeth in frustration, his glare waning as he looked at Yami Yugi. He sighed and nodded in understanding. Turning back to Yuna, he quietly knelt beside her and took her deck from her Duel Disk.

"Let me borrow this... I promise I will save you..."

To the surprise of Yami Yugi and his friends, Seto's usually stoic expression softened as he gently stroked Yuna's head. His perpetual scowl transformed into a small smile as he carefully held her in his arms. If Joey were awake right now, he would be questioning whether his eyes were working correctly.

Gathering the rest of the cards scattered on the floor, Seto began to merge them with his own. After a few minutes, he finally stood up; his expression determined as he approached Yami Yugi with a cold demeanour. "Don't get in my way... I will defeat Dartz, with or without you..."

"Hmph," Yami Yugi smiled confidently. "That makes two of us. Kaiba, get ready!"

"Yes!" Seto nodded firmly, and the two shouted in unison.

"Duel!!"

[Seto Kaiba: 4000 LP]

[Yami Yugi: 4000 LP]

[Dartz: 4000 LP]

--------------------------------

[1] Bakura, Odion, Marik and Ishizu

I hope you enjoy it!