Yu-Gi-Oh!: This is the real duel!

Just then, amidst the storm, the voice of the priest Karim, the guardian of the Millennium Scales, faintly drifted from not far away. At this moment, half of his body had been swallowed by the fierce yellow sand. He used his hands to raise the Millennium Scales and the Millennium Scepter that he had finally found, and shouted loudly.

Youche immediately ran over, grabbed Karim's arms, and tried his best to pull him out.

But Karim simply pushed the two ancient artifacts into Youche's arms, and endless yellow sand kept pouring into his mouth. In just a few seconds, his neck was already covered by the sand.

"The Spirit Master... carries the Millennium Treasure!!"

"Go!! Go now!!!"

"Please convey my message to the Pharaoh..."

"Karim has protected the Scales of Heaven for a thousand years..."

"Karim did not fail in his duty!!!"

Karim shouted his last words with all his might. The immense pressure of the sand forced him to cough up a mouthful of blood. After handing over the Millennium Artifact and the Divine Duel Disk to Yuche, he resolutely lay down in the quicksand!

His life was dedicated to protecting the ancient artifacts and the Pharaoh.

Karim has already achieved his goal and can no longer allow others to be put in danger for him!

"Karim!!!"

Youche's shouts were meaningless.

The swirling yellow sand on the ground was like a greedy beast, swallowing Karim whole without even spitting out the bones.

You Che wrapped the seven ancient artifacts in his clothes and ran step by step toward the edge of the village. The wind and sand were like invisible blades, constantly cutting and leaving wounds on his body.

His steps slowed, but grew more resolute!

"We can't lose..."

"Wang Xiang...we absolutely cannot lose!!"

Youche clutched the seven divine artifacts and used his last strength to take a step forward.

"I can't fall..."

"I will survive to the end!!"

"I'm going to the Elf Realm to resurrect Hemot!!"

"I...I want to go back to the world I used to live in!!!"

Suddenly, You Che recalled the day they parted at the airport. His cousin's gentle smile and the dashing figure as he turned away had turned into endless regret and self-reproach amidst the deafening explosion...

He couldn't let his cousin live with guilt forever...

Even if returning to his original world is extremely unlikely, he still has to try!

But before that, he must survive!

The terrifying sandstorm grew larger and larger, making every step Youche took extremely difficult. Just as he was about to collapse, the small warrior elf took the initiative to fly out, transforming into a stream of light and energy that gradually flowed into his body. The gentle energy was no different from when he first met the Sleeping Giant Gudu. With each powerful force injected, Youche regained the strength to continue moving forward.

"Gulp..." You Che gritted his teeth. He could no longer sense the little sprite's presence; it had completely transformed into energy to protect him. "So... this messenger is the... final gift you gave me..."

With his last bit of willpower, You Che took one step forward. Just then, a familiar figure appeared not far ahead. It was a tall and robust young man whose originally large trench coat was now clinging tightly to his body due to the violent sandstorm.

"Yūshō!!!" Seto Kaiba's roar echoed through the sandstorm, "I absolutely will not allow you to die!! I will not allow you to die because of me!!!"

"Smack!"

Seto Kaiba grabbed Yuzuru's arm, hoisted him onto his back as he was about to collapse to the ground, and strode out of the sandstorm.

Just now, after everyone finally escaped the demonic sandstorm, Seto Kaiba suddenly noticed that Yuzuru hadn't come out with them.

He was already filled with remorse for falling into Bakula's trap, and if Youche died here because of him, he had no idea how to face it.

Ignoring everyone's advice, Seto Kaiba charged headlong into the sandstorm. A few minutes later, to everyone's delight, he brought out Yuzuriha and the Millennium Item.

"Splash splash ...

The battered and bruised Yuzuru lay on the ground, while Seto Kaiba gasped for breath beside him. The surging yellow sand had nearly suffocated them. The seven ancient artifacts had been brought out intact; they had not been buried under the yellow sand along with the resentful village.

"These are...all the Millennium Artifacts?!" Attendant Simon's voice trembled slightly. He bent down with heartache and said to the exhausted Youche, "My Lord Elf Envoy...you have brought back the last hope for the royal city!"

Yuche breathed heavily: "Karim... sacrificed himself to protect the Millennium Scales and the Millennium Scepter..."

Tears welled in the eyes of the attendant Simon as he grasped Youche's hands and said, "Karim's death was glorious! Elf Master, you are fully qualified to become a priest; you shall carry on Karim's legacy!"

The terrifying sandstorm did not spread outwards, but the darkened world filled everyone with oppression and fear.

After a brief rest, the group hurriedly returned to the capital.

Wang Yu knows very well that now that the Great Evil God Zorc has awakened, the most important thing is to obtain the name of the King as soon as possible!

The most important thing is to get back to the royal city and reunite with Yugi Muto and the others as soon as possible!!

Wang Yang understood this, and so did Bakula.

The moment the third item—the Evil God Hourglass—was displayed, he, hiding in the shadows, focused his attention on Yugi Muto and his two companions who were returning to the royal city.

Time passed slowly, and before long, the evil god Zorc would descend!

Before Zorc can destroy the world, he must fight with all his might to kill Yugi Muto and his allies!

"boom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yugi Muto and his two companions, who were trekking through the desert, were stopped in their tracks by an explosion ahead—a terrifying monster, the Hellish Bard!

Bakula, his body radiating black energy, grinned maliciously as he blocked the way.

Hehehe~

"Container! I never thought you could actually defeat my clone!"

"But now, I don't have the time to play with you anymore!!"

"For the final victory, I, your lord, will kill you all right here!!!"

"Hellish bards!! Wipe them all out!!!"

Faced with Bakura blocking his way, Yugi Muto's face darkened. He immediately chanted a level six teleportation spell in an attempt to bypass the enemy and reach the royal city directly!

But the moment he began to chant, the bard of hell suddenly let out several piercing shrieks, the shrieks carrying a faint rhythm, they were practically the music of demons!

"Useless! Container!!" Bakula roared, "As a mage, all your spells require incantation!"

"And the Hellish Bard can interrupt any kind of chanting or spellcasting!!"

"You three are utterly incapable of fighting, just prepare to die!!!"

"The Joy of Death!!!!!"

The bard of hell picked up the lute made of bones from his arms, and with a sweep of his withered white fingers, several invisible energies swept towards them!

"BOOM!!!!!!!!!"

Yellow sand flew everywhere, and Bakula's rampant laughter echoed continuously.

But as the surging sand began to fall, he suddenly realized that Yugi Muto and the others were completely unharmed, and there were two more figures beside them.

"Honda!! Kyoko!!"

At the most critical moment, Honda and Kyoko arrived with two sacred duel disks, the Millennium Key, and the Millennium Scales. Since Priest Karim and Priest Shada had sacrificed themselves, and Yuzuru and Seto Kaiba were recovering, these items were temporarily unused and were taken by Honda and Kyoko who came to provide support.

The two were well aware of their own strength, so they immediately handed the Divine Duel Disk to Mai and Jonouchi, while giving the Millennium Item to Yugi Muto.

"Hmph~" Jonouchi exclaimed confidently as soon as he put on the Duel Disk. "I've been holding back for so long! I'll try this duel from three thousand years ago!! Summon—Red-Eyes Black Dragon!!!"

With a flourish, Peacock Dancer swung her arm, her long golden hair fluttering in the air: "Summon—Harpie Girl!!"

Bakula roared viciously, "It doesn't matter how many of these scum come!! Hellish Bard!! Attack!!!"

Facing the enemy's impending attack, Yugi Muto stepped forward and revealed the Millennium Scales:

"The power of the Millennium Scales can fuse monsters!!"

"Let's combine the power of the castle and the dance!!"

"Summon even stronger new monsters!!!"

Yugi Muto poured all his strength into the Millennium Scales, but after several twists and turns, his soul was no longer enough. Seeing that Yugi Muto could not hold on any longer, Honda, Kyoko, and Jonouchi put their hands on him.

This situation is just like when they first formed their bond!

That is precisely the power that is both visible and invisible!

The peacock dancer standing nearby was deeply moved. At that moment, she truly found her own team, and she contributed her strength as well.

A dazzling golden light shone the instant the enemy's attack was launched. The Millennium Scales fused with Mai Peacock and Jonouchi's ace, summoning a powerful monster that had never appeared in Duel Monsters before!

"Red-Eyes Dark Feathered Dragon!!!"

The flames from hell transformed into a raging fire tornado! Countless feathers turned into obsidian-like crystals in the erupting lava!

The fierce cyclone completely repelled the bard's offensive! A roar, like the cry of an eagle and the howl of a dragon, resounded throughout the heavens and earth!

A golden ray of light suddenly pierced through the dark clouds!

Amidst the ultimate splendor, a colossal dragon draped in black feathers soared proudly forth!

"What?!" Bakula was shocked; the power emanating from the dragon was simply too terrifying.

Mai and Jonouchi shouted in unison, commanding their monsters to attack Bakura.

Peacock Dance pointed sharply at the enemy: "Fierce Feathers—"

Jonouchi swung his arm and shouted, "—True Dragon Flame!!!"

"Bang!"

A burst of dark red dragon flame erupted, instantly reducing Bakula and his monsters to ashes.

"Hehehe..." In his dying moments, Bakula laughed maniacally amidst the flames, "Useless...useless!!"

"At this moment, my true self has already been resurrected in this world!!"

"That's right!! I'm not the King of Thieves at all!!"

"I am Zorc!!!"

"What you've destroyed is merely one of my pawns!!!"

"Now that the game has progressed this far, let my true form fight you properly!!!"

"Let's see if you'll bring the name of the king to the Pharaoh first, or if I'll destroy this world first!!!"