Chapter 7: Hell Hath No Fury of Thine Lord
Yami marveled in horror at the destruction, thoughts of the vision before his incarnation to be just that, an illusion, a dream. But the pharaoh knew better, there was no mistaking the bodies, the blood and the carnage. He knew this desecration, the destruction that could be caused with the abuse of Duel Monsters — he had the power to, after all. Wine eyes flickered to his crying aibou, who was now clutching his grandfather's bandanna like a dying man clung to life as he lidded them, silently apologizing to his oldest advisor for not protecting his new form.
However, this was no time to be mourning. An individual had to be behind this, to be able to summon Duel Monsters in real form, supplying the magic to do so to inflict real damage instead of virtual. He glanced skyward. The dragons were circling… waiting... then, they had orders to standby. An isolated attack? It was possible. Explained why they did not create more damage — if it were a full out attack, it would have lasted longer than just one blast from every dragon, it would have been continuous and ongoing. Yami pushed aside the dark voice questioning why he knew this that well.
Before he continue in his deductions, the sound of laughter took both his incarnation and himself from their respective attentions to a masked figure, leering over the carnage. He was dressed in an air of splendor — a purple and yellow mane down his back as a red and black skeletal top covered his torso, golden shoulder guards with black-silver lines as fingerless gloves extended to his upper arms, with spiked wristlets; the outfit was finished with a white cape tied to his golden belt at the waist, ebony pants ending their view of the perpetrator. His face was hidden in a white and black mask, as they could hear the grin in his voice. "My grand experiment has been accomplished! The history of the world shall be changed."
History of the world? The pharaoh narrowed his already narrow wine-red eyes. How would this individual know of the changes of history if it was present day? Unless… this wasn't present day, at least to this enemy.
But before the pharaoh could conjecture further, a red beam to reveal a glowing dragon, headed straight for Yugi. But for some reason, he did not go to his incarnation's defense, but instead narrowed his already slitted eyes. …Why did he not attack? What was this dragon?
Bracing himself and telling his aibou to calm down, the two of them found themselves literally taken into the red beast before anticlimactically, spat out onto a rooftop of a tall building. Someone better have an explanation. A good one.
A pair of teenagers, that looked relatively around Yugi's age on a red motorcycle appeared to be the source of this as they quickly dismounted and asked if Yugi was alright. Although the pharaoh's attention was away from the living three as his wide wine-red eyes were fixed on two others, who were just as transparent as him. And similar to his likeness to Yugi, the two were near duplicates of their respective modern editions — only they did not dress like modern day, instead they bore resemblance to men who lived centuries ago. The monarchs — because no man carried himself such unless they too ruled over a land — surprisingly bowed their heads in full acknowledgement of him, sapphire blue and chocolate eyes sparked with a familiar glint. They knew him.
Wine-red eyes narrowed. Many of whom that did know of him in that way, were often a threat — a threat that was eventually removed.
But in the same instance of the dragon, the pharaoh did not feel… guarded.
"Who are you?" The Nameless Pharaoh addressed, ignoring the pointed look from Yugi and the other two humans, eyes on the spirits. "Identify yourselves."
The older one sighed inaudibly as he stepped forward, bowing in a full complimentary angled fold as customary of Japan, the country their reincarnations had decided to spawn. "I am known as Yaotl, deceased Emperor of the Aztec Empire or the People of the Stars; vessel of the Crimson Dragon, he is the god who taken you and your incarnated Ba here. I am the past life of this young man — the ancient emperor gestured to the young man of his likeness — he is Fudou Yusei, Riding Duelist King of Neo Domino City. Feel free to address us by our given names."
Yugi blinked at the long introduction as Juudai whistled, while Yusei sighed at the dramatics of his past life. Smirking, Jovian cleared his throat, before bowing as well, to the first king, slightly bewildered at the respect from the other kings. If anything, they stood on equal grounds, why such respect?
"I suppose it is my turn. I am Haou, the Supreme King of the Spirit World, deceased Imperator Caesar Divi filius Jovaius of Senatus Populusque Romanus, or the Roman Empire, and wielder of the Gentle Darkness. My reincarnation is Yuki Juudai, Duelist King of Duel Academia. You all may call me by Jovian or Haou, and him — a pointed thumb at Juudai, who saluted with a grin and a lazy wave — as Juudai."
The pharaoh pursed his lips, slightly troubled. But to his surprise, the other two kings cut in when he was to introduce himself. "And you are the Nameless Pharaoh, deceased Ruler of Egypt, Master of the Millennium Puzzle, the most powerful of the Millennium Items." Yatol began sapphire eyes glowing with warmth and… understanding as Jovian finished with a bittersweet smirk. "And you have no memory outside of that. Including of us."
The sentence made all but the Second and Third King blink in surprise.
"You… both knew me from before…?" Yami asked quietly. As they nodded, Yami felt numerous questions blossom at his tongue until his wine-red eyes met sapphire blue ones, their owner shaking his head.
"You must have many questions, Pharaoh. But for the sake of the repercussions of the timelines, we cannot tell you the answers to your questions. The fact that we had crossed through three streams of present — yours, mine and his — is a risk that has consequences that we will deal with later." Yatol closed his eyes, as if it was physically hard for him to say his words. "We have a more dire situation in our hands. Jovian-san and I, along with our incarnations, are from a future time; the future of our timelines have been disturbed from actions from each of our times; the dragons that you had seen earlier in that event is your disturbance. The death of Pegasus J. Crawford, the creator of Duel Monsters."
"W-What?" Yugi breathed, as Yusei and Juudai nodded grimly as they explained what happened in their respective cities; the stolen Stardust and Rainbow Dragon, the newsletter of the events of today, and subsequent destruction of the timelines.
"You saw the destruction, Yugi-san." Jovian nodded, taking over. "The repercussions have begun destroying Neo Domino City in Yusei-kun's time and even Venice in Juudai's, indicating that this is no isolated threat. With that, I doubt any of us would exist as time would allow. At the moment, Yaotl prayed for the Crimson Dragon to take us an hour earlier than the designated time that our enemy has attacked."
"The masked man?" Yami questioned, narrowed in anger as he felt gratification to see the same anger in the other two ancient kings as they nodded. "He referred to his actions to be of an experiment to change the history of the world."
A small silence enveloped before the wine-red eyes met his fellow monarchs in cold fury. "The arrogance of this insect's place take precedence over my memories — if he believes that I will allow him to move my plans to his bidding, he shall reap the consequences." He clasped his golden puzzle, lips decadent with dark mirth. "In full."
The three living boys felt a shiver crawl up their spines at the kings' line of sight to their respective Duel Disks. Blood was to be spilled.
Having modern counterparts that had experience in cleaning up ancient and futuristic messes was convenient — not that any of the reunited kings would voice it aloud. Besides, they had grown fond of their counterparts for all of their flaws and eccentric quirks, not that they did not have some of their own. As they formulated a plan to distract the creator of their beloved game with Yubel dismissed as their guard, the ancient kings gathered for their own conversation, transparent. Yami, to the amusement of his younger company, was dressed in his Battle City attire — jacket unfurled behind him like a cape as the rest clung to his skin, necklace rested over his abdomen, a modern-day echo of his former self. Yatol and Jovian bore their more casual attires as well; the former forsaking his usual headdress for a simple golden diadem and ringed fingers gleaming over a navy tunic split by a golden belt, trailed by a ruby cape, etched with his birthright while the latter dressed in a white toga with golden armor under with a crown of golden laurels and a purple cape as medals glowed over his chest. Clasped to each of their right arms was a Duel Disk of their respective modern counterparts'.
"A duel." Jovian began curtly, twisting one of his many ringed fingers.
Yatol and Yami nodded, their silence speaking louder than words as the Second King continued, their gazes on their modern selves. "One that we cannot leave to them entirely."
"I do not have a choice." Yami voiced matter-of-factly, not conveying anything else. But the other kings knew better. Even if the First King did not. "Yugi does not duel, my friends, often taking a backseat to our conflicts. My earthly Ba differs from myself greatly."
"But he has a kind heart." Jovian observed with pursed lips. "He will eventually grow into his name as the King of Games with you by his side, Yami." I expect nothing less from Atemu's reincarnation.
"Perhaps." Yatol conceded but words firm. "But that is not our concern as of now — whether or not, our counterparts differ or are similar, they will not be dueling against this entity singlehandedly."
At the youngest king's address, the other monarchs nodded, going back to the matter at hand. "What is at the moment, however, is how we will rid of this intruder. Even though he is most likely an enemy that comes from a time after even my own and Yusei's, he has bypassed to both of your times as well — making him no longer just my jurisdiction to apprehend. My original sentence for thievery of this magnitude is death, to ensure no… reoccurrences. This, we are in agreement?"
Nodding with Yami, the Second King brought a hand to his chin, seated on the edge of a building, displaying his fatally-scarred wrist. "But his goal and so-called experiment is intriguing."
"Indeed." Yami hummed, pleased that he was not the only one who thought the same. "Why destroy Duel Monsters, when clearly it has advanced to Juudai-kun and Yusei-kun's timelines? Why not just destroy the first appearance of the concept altogether if that were the case? Why travel to their timelines and make up such an elaborate ploy?"
"Insufficient forces?" Jovian suggested, not fully convinced. The kings knew it was only part in answer — seeing how the thievery of Stardust and Rainbow Dragon were enough evidence of that, the masked man left Yusei and Juudai to their fates after taking said dragons, deeming them inconsequential to his end goal as they would cease to exist. A reasonable assumption if one did not consider that the boys did not have a method of time travel. Traveling to Yugi's timeline was easily answered enough, needing the death of Pegasus to ensure that Duel Monsters would not come to be — but the future was unpredictable, another could have just as easily discovered the cards and brought the monsters printed on them to life. It could have even argued to kill Seto Kaiba for his advancements in his company with Duel Disks and Solid Vision — so, why didn't this masked entity simply go back to the first instance of Duel Monsters in ancient history? When the kings were reigning — then, it wouldn't have mattered that Pegasus lived or not.
He clearly had the ability and technology — not to mention the knowledge to take on the ancient kingdoms due to history, that alone was indispensable. It was clearly an easier endeavor than the mess before them. Fortunately, the Third King had the answer.
"Yes in part, Jovian. But I suspect the true answer is that he cannot win against ourselves in the past when we were alive." Yatol revealed as he turned to the First King. "Yami, what tactic is employed when faced with an enemy that is clearly more powerful than yourself, at the peak of their power with an army of Duel Monsters at their disposal? Under your possession, you have your own army of monsters, but are lacking while you are constrained by rules, your opponent has none?"
Golden and wine eyes widened a fraction in realization.
The answer was obvious. Await until the enemy slipped or was weakened, for every empire that rose must fall. The three kings and their empires, no different.
In the past, the rules of the Duels differed then what was considered standard of the modern day — each of the monarchs made notes of it. Unlike in the present, the summoning of their beasts did not require tributes or sacrifices, only the will of their strength, spells and magic of their own creation to their advantage and traps were the stuff of trickery and predetermined moves of the shrewd. It was a free for all, that was a bloody storm of guts and instinct, rules had no place here. Hence why the three kings were so feared — they made their rules, bent and broke them to their will; the consequence always their own lives, not the numbers of Life Points. But now, in the modern day, they were constrained by the same rules as their reincarnations and enemy, who could have had more experience than they — having studied enough even they could have patterns. And that was exactly what the enemy had done, he had not gone to the far past of Egypt, Rome or Aztec empires not because he would not win, but because he could not — not against the ancient, living kings that held the games in their palms.
Instead, he waited. Abided his time to the moment when the ancient kings were nothing more but ghosts that haunted their much weakened reincarnations that lacked the powers of their predecessors — and struck.
A small, cold laugh broke out as sapphire and chocolate met his wine eyes, looming over the edge of the building, jacket swaying majestically behind. "If it were not a ploy against myself, I would have awarded the shrewdness of this move."
"Hmph." The bearer of Gentle Darkness huffed, as if begrudgingly complimenting a subpar being. "We are more involved than initially believed. An insect that possessed the patience to await for all three of us to reincarnate and gather to take down — I will award it for its annoying persistence."
"There is a bright side." Yatol deadpanned, sapphire eyes fixed on their counterparts below as he laid outstretched dangerously at the edge. "There are three of us — differing battle tactics they may be, but with the initial team of Yami, Yusei and Juudai-kun could be enough."
"And if they aren't?" Jovian quirked an eyebrow, sending a nod to the pharaoh to suggest no offense as the First King waved it aside. It was a legitimate concern. "What then?"
The sapphire eyes glowed, unmoved from his modern counterpart. "Why, that was always your forte, Haou. We simply take over. And destroy him ourselves." Do not tell me that you think that our counterparts are so foolish as to stand in our way for bloodshed.
The moment Yusei-kun had resurrected all of the previously destroyed monsters after being reassured by his companions by Stardust Mirage — Yatol was unmoved, though Haou did catch his lip twitching at the waver in confidence of his counterpart; hm, the Third King was always so easy to annoy — the ancient kings intervened. Taking over Juudai's tense form, Jovian settled himself into the flesh as he opened golden eyes to meet confused transparent brown and orange-green heterochromic ones — Haou? What are you doing? Pegasus-kaichou will be here any minute! Peace, Juudai. Myself and the other kings merely just want to confirm something. Feeling the boy concede, Jovian glanced beside him to see Yugi-kun and Yusei-kun in the same positions, transparent.
Cocking his head in a tilt of amusement, he took a moment to take in their reflections in the Malefic World that was their Field Spell Card. The First King was unruffled, clearly comfortable in the mortal constraints of a physical form, which was expected since he was the one who had more experience than the two of them, regal and with an air of dignity even though he bore grime and damage from the previously near fatal blow — he doubted Yugi-kun, for all his kindness and strength within, could ever replicate the same air. In his reflection, he was stand-offish and the image of arrogant nonchalance unlike Juudai's playful and whimsical aura; near sneer as he stood over his set cards with his knight by his side. Yatol had the least experience out of the three of them and hid his adjusting mind and soul with his stoic mask — mirrored by Yusei who bore a widened gaze at the sight of his own body, with no obvious difference when either controlled the flesh puppet — but with experienced eyes, the Second King saw the change in demeanor. The Third King did not carry the burden his counterpart had, that slight hunch, the emperor was cold — red sapphire eyes unfeeling and without mercy, as his back and arm seared with red markings.
"What?!" Paradox cried in surprise at the resurrected Monsters that revived in a burst of mirror shards. "All of your Monsters—!"
"Silence, you insect. It is my turn." Yatol's icy voice deepened, red eyes staring down the Malefic Truth Dragon and his master as he drew his card. "In light of your insolence and crimes allowed us to regather, know your place and be honored that I would allow my Xiuhcoatl to consume you."
"Not if I get Neos there first." Haou growled, fingers twitching over his hand. "Just because you're the youngest, you think you can get first dibs?"
"Now, now." Yami smiled softly, clearly amused over the two's dramatics like an older sibling. "I am sure that all three of us will have a fair chance to tear at the entrails when we are done. It has been a while since I had allowed my servant some… freedom."
Yugi, Yusei and Juudai merely stared at their predecessors with a shiver. Madness.
"Who are you?" Paradox demanded, unblessed eyes seeing the difference in demeanor in Fudou Yusei and Yuki Juudai — the Nameless Pharaoh remained. So, who were…? Eyes widening in realization, the Fourth Star of Destruction of Iliaster immediately knew who exactly he was dueling. "The Cold Emperor and the Supreme King… with the Nameless Pharaoh… Y-You all are supposed to be dead…!"
A flare of savage satisfaction flamed in Haou's chest at the sight of a shaking Paradox, having heard the whisper of their titles. "We exist to disappoint. Introductions are unneeded, then." Waving a hand, the Supreme King grinned maliciously as he announced his Neos Spiral Force Trap Card — doubling the attack of Stardust Dragon as Yami did the same, doubling it once more with Black Spiral Force.
"A-Attack Points of 10,000?!"
"By my order." The three monarchs commanded in unison, their respective Monsters needing nothing more. Releasing a roar, the white and blue dragon flew up in a glittering white glow after a glance from his master, his loyal knight Neos in his own orange power with the Dark Magician in his purple aura — all heeding the masters' commands to attack. Together, the attacks morphed into one, the difference in power clear as the Duel was dissolved with the destruction of the time traveler's D-Wheel and the clearing of the effects of Malefic World. But the kings were far from done with their fun. Snapping brown-gloved fingers, time stopped by the command of the kings.
What is this? Yusei asked as he floated behind Yatol, sapphire eyes wide at the frozen state before restoration of the timelines. Did we clear all of the disturbances to restore the timelines?
Mostly. The emperor nodded. Once time is restored, it will be.
Then, what is all of this for? Yugi voiced as Juudai floated in a lazy, outstretched drift. Isn't Paradox defeated already with our battle plan?
Not quite, aibou. Yami soothed as the ancient kings defied gravity to float over the dying Paradox to reveal the man made of machinery, a copy of futuristic modifications. One that was only possible in the far future.
A robot? Juudai blinked, his hands folded behind his head. Haou nodded with a grunt.
We did not sense a living soul within Paradox. Yatol wanted to confirm it.
Yusei's breath hitched as all eyes turned to him. Ghost?
Yatol nodded mildly. The person we defeated is nothing more than an imitation, a rendition of the original — the soul was implanted along with personality and demeanor. Better and more… original than the Ghost we are familiar with, Yusei.
In other words, a higher ranked underling than this Ghost, you are speaking of? Yami guessed, as he drifted closer. Under the presumption that he has allies, it is not too much of a stretch to think that our copy here had diverted from the plan.
Haou nodded, explaining to the confused Juudai, Yugi and Yusei — of their conversation earlier before the duel. Based on the reaction from Paradox, they do not know that we are with you, our reincarnations, but presumed that you all merely bore blessings of our powers. And if Paradox wished to remove Duel Monsters, he was forced to kill Pegasus in public to rid of the influence as well as the three of you, though, he originally believed without the intervention of us to prevent the doomed future he spoke of.
But do you three think that the future is really as Paradox says? Yusei narrowed his eyes, demanding the truth. That humanity would kill ourselves in a genocide of ruin? What if I am to go back to Neo Domino City to lead the rest of humanity to the future he claims? What if what we did—
I don't know. Haou cut in bluntly with a swagger, shrugging Juudai's shoulders before golden eyes glowed with a deadly air. But in my time, as well with my cohorts, Yusei-kun; life is not so easily swayed. The wishes of one can change the future we believe in, whether for good or bad, it is by choice. My kingdom lost a leader with my fatal decision — the Supreme King waved a patch of white film over his body's flesh, prompting flinches from the reincarnations — but in the end, allowed for the best case scenario of not abandoning the one by my side. Are there things that could have been done better? Of course, but we are only mortal.
Precisely. Yami smiled softly, hands over his puzzle. Doubts and thoughts of darkness will always be present, Yusei-kun, even in a being free of memories such as I. You are no different as are we all. The future is unpredictable and a mystery — none can change the flow of change or as the gods deem it, the only thing you can change is how you feel and consider it to strive for the best in your future. If humanity is doomed, then at the very least, it was under our volition and we must try to survive it to the best of our ability.
And have I not told you as have Juudai-kun and Yami? Yatol growled, smacking his incarnation by the cheek, ignoring the protests of Yugi and Juudai. You decide your own future, the words of our god guide, nothing more.You, alone, determine your fate.
Loud and clear. Yusei grunted as Juudai and Yugi helped him up.
Now, then; if that's all the questions… Haou snapped his fingers, making the three boys instantaneously go unconscious. To bed, for this is not for the eyes of children.
Throwing a lazy turn to the near-incinerated Paradox, Jovian met golden eyes over to their newest toy to red sapphires of Yatol, frowning at the complex machinery over him as if trying to find the best way to inflict pain with a Yami beside him, who looked ready to stab the body to change the screaming expression to another anguished look, like he was bored of the current one already. A shiver ran through his spine as he took off Juudai's red jacket — it has been too long.
It was later that each of the kings bore a new accessory, a golden ring that each wore on the same finger — the right index — with a striking resemblance to the gold of Paradox with red veins pulsing through it. Almost as if something… or someone… was sealed within the metal— Juudai stopped the thought as he caught the golden eyed king's glance and decided to not think on it anymore. It was none of his business of the fate of Paradox — not anymore.
Not when he had a world to sightsee. (And wanted to live).
Besides… when Haou had taken control, he was off-guard and slow to react. He could only float and ask during that duel — hoping that the Supreme King was in a sharing mood or in one that acknowledged his existence. Yusei and Yugi said that Yatol and Yami had sentenced them to the same experience — leaving them to watch their bodies move without their consent.
He was lying if he said it didn't scare him.
But like the other kings of Dueling, he was not so foolish to think it in range of his past life — he knew his place and Haou knew his. For his sake, he hoped it so.
