Atem already left. Late last night he just walked out. It's now morning and I find myself pacing. I realize it takes a while to get to Kul Elna, but I'm still worried. I look up as I hear Layla start to cry. I head over to the crib and pick her up. I start to change her and once I'm finished, I hold her in my arms. I smile down at her causing her to attempt a smile of her own. Atem you better come back unharmed. Our daughter needs a father.

The Pendant from around my neck now begins to glimmer. But, I feel an uneasy presence coming from another Millennium Item. Atem must be in danger. I immediately set Layla down in her crib and run out of the room. I head down the hallways and enter the throne room where all the remaining Priests stand. "What is it, my Queen?" Isis asks.

"The Pharaoh is in danger." I say, "I'm going to Kul Elna to find him."

"Then let us accompany you." Seto says, "It is our job to protect our King and his Queen."

I sigh, "Alright."

The Priests and I run down to the stables and each grab a horse. A group of soldiers also accompany us. From there, we begin our journey to Kul Elna. Once we arrive, I'm not even sure that this is a city. The entire thing is completely sabotaged. What is actually left of the village is just various walls of once buildings. There's an ominous cloud of dust around the area and as we head through the village, there are skeletons lying around the area. "I was informed that this village was once filled with tomb robbers, but one day, they just vanished." Shada informs.

I can feel an evil presence lingering around the village. It's almost lust-filled. But the real question is; where are Bakura and Atem at? "AAAHH!"

I turn around to see a soldier fall from his horse and hit the ground. He opens his eyes and a pair of skeleton arms rise from the ground and tries to break his neck. The soldier luckily gets away at the last second. Tons of skeletons wielding weapons begin to rise from the earth and the undead army slowly approaches us. The soldiers jump down from their horses and begin to fight them off, but more skeletons keep appearing. Shada then jumps off of his horse and brings out his DiaDhank, "Two-Headed Jackal Warrior!" he says as its summoned, "Attack!"

"My Queen, we will fight." Seto says, "You go find the Pharaoh!"

I nod and ride off farther into the village. I look around and then jump off of my horse. The Pendant flashes now and seems to be leading me in another direction. I head to my left and see an opened bunker leading to a stairwell going underground. I can hear voices coming from down there, so I cautiously begin to head down the steps.

As I make my way down the stairs, an explosion happens from down the steps. I almost stumble over, but I manage to clutch onto the wall. Once I regain myself, I head down the stairs and reach a dark underground chamber that's dimly lit by a few torches. I can now see them. Atem sits weakly on the ground while Bakura stands in front of some kind of tablet that's on an altar. I notice Diabound hovers above Bakura, but it looks different, mutated even. Then I see a magician-like creature next to Atem. It wears a purple cloak and I recognize it as the creature carved on the tablet Mahad was sealed within. Diabound begins to charge an attack in its palms, so I take the offensive. I raise my DiaDhank into the air, "Ounouti, defend the Dark Magician!" I say.

She immediately appears and blocks the attack from hitting Mahad. This causes Atem and Bakura glance over to me while I run up to Atem an hug him. "What are you doing here?" he asks.

"I sensed you were in danger." I say, "The Priests and I came to help."

"How touching." Bakura interrupts, "I think I might vomit."

I ignore him and look back toward Atem. My eyes go down to his chest, "Where's the Millennium Puzzle?"

I watch as the muscles on Atem's face tighten, "Bakura has it."

I glare toward Bakura as he smirks back at me. I stand up again and continue to glare at him, "Bakura, I have revenge to take on you. Not only for taking the Puzzle and the Ring, but also for trying to kidnap me. So, let's finish our fight."

Bakura chuckles, "Heheheh…. Very well. If you insist. Diabound, destroy her monster!"

Diabound charges its attack in its arms and Ounouti goes to counter with a blast of her own. The two blasts hit each other, but Diabound's attack quickly overpowers Ounouti's , but luckily she dodged it in time. Diabound goes to fire another attack, but once it goes to hit Ounouti, a sword comes into view and blocks it. I turn around to see Seto's monster Duos hovering there and then the rest of the Priests, except for Shada and Aknadin, come into the room. "Your Majesties!" Seto says, "Are you alright?"

"Yes." Atem says.

"Mystical Elf, come forth!" Isis calls.

An elf creature appears and begins to chant a spell. Specks of shiny particles begin to rain from the ceiling and Atem gets back up onto his feet. "Fantastic." Bakura says, "The other Millennium Items have arrived."

"Be silenced Bakura!" Seto says, "We shall defeat you, and you know it."

"If that's what you think."

"Come out, Curse of Dragon!" Karim says.

Now we have five monsters to go against Diabound. "Diabound, destroy their monsters!" Bakura commands.

Our monsters dodge the attack, but Mystical Elf gets caught in the blast, causing its destruction. Isis flinches, but doesn't look too harmed. "Duos, attack!" Seto demands.

"Diabound, counterattack!"

Diabound fires multiple attacks at our monsters, which hit, but luckily they're not destroyed. My chest constricts in pain from the attack, but I try to numb it. Diabound fires another attack and this time, and destroys all of our monsters, except for Mahad. I cough as the air in my lungs leaves me and I notice a few drops of blood fall to the floor from my mouth. As Karim lies there weakly, two spirit-like creatures fly up to him and take the Millennium Scale out of his hand and give it to Bakura. "Ah, yes, another Item claimed." Bakura smirks.

"Urg… Damn him…" I hear Seto mutter.

A dark cackle is heard from behind us. We turn around to see Aknadin slowly walking down the steps of the chamber. The hood from his robes covers most of his face, but from what I can see, he has a twisted look in his eye and a few strands of his white hair dangles over his face. I watch as he stumbles toward us and his expression is staring to creep me out. I look to his hand to see the Millennium Key in his grasp, "That Item belongs to Shada!" Seto says, "What have you done with him?"

"That is not your concern." Aknadin says walking past us, "But these Items will soon come together on the place they belong; the Tablet of the Realm of the Dead!"

The Tablet of the Realm of the Dead? I've heard of that before. Mahad told me it was a tablet that opens the Realm of the Dead. But, in order for that, all eight Items must be placed within it. That must be the tablet that lies next to Bakura. I turn around when I hear a grunt coming from the staircase, "Shada?" I say.

He looks inured and has to clutch the wall for support, "C-careful, Aknadin is a traitor." He says weakly, "He attacked me. Now, give me back my Key!"

He lunges toward Aknadin, "Release me!" Aknadin shouts shoving him to the ground.

"Master Aknadin, what is the meaning of this?" Seto asks, "Truly you could not be a traitor, you are a Priest of the great Pharaoh!"

"Hmph… not anymore. A new Pharaoh shall take the throne, and only then, will I be a Priest by his side."

A new Pharaoh? What does he mean? "Do not speak such mockery in front of our beloved King!"

"Silence!"

Aknadin raises his hand in the air and suddenly none of us can move. I can't even blink! Bakura smirks as Aknadin walks up to us and stands in front of me first. The look in his eye is just terrifying and twisted. Corrupt, even. He reaches toward me and yanks the Pendant from around my neck and then grabs the remaining Items from the other Priests. Aknadin backs away from us, but still faces us and reaches for the Millennium Eye within his socket. Without hesitation, he rips it from the socket and I see blood run down his cheek.

Aknadin now walks toward the Tablet of the Realm of the Dead. I watch as he begins to place the remaining Items within the tablet and Bakura turns to face us. "Yes, yes!" Bakura says, "The Great Evil God will soon rise forth once again! Zorc, please, I lend you my power!"

The tablet begins to glow and a beam of light covers Bakura. Bakura's body begins to turn to dust as the very life is sucked out of him and all that's left is his cloak. Diabound shatters to dust as well. Wait, the Great Evil God? Oh no, it can't be Zorc. He can't be revived. Now a giant purple cloud of smoke emerges from the tablet and forms into the shape of a demon. That must be Zorc Necrophades. "Aknadin!" he says, "I know you have come here to gain my contract of the Dark. Why would you, creator of the Millennium Items? To repay you for offering your soul to be ruled by me, I shall grant you one wish."

"Yes, my lord!" Aknadin says, "I have but one wish! And that is for my only son, Seto, to become the new Pharaoh!"

Aknadin is Seto's father?! "I have listened to it. Receive my power! Prepare to become the Great Dark Priest!"

Zorc moves his hand over Aknadin and shoots a bright purple light at him. Aknadin is transformed into a demon-like creature with long blood-colored hair, dark robes, a white mask with no facial features, and his hands are clawed. Zorc disappears and the Great Dark Priest/Aknadin now turns around to face us. "This is what I've waited for my entire life, Seto!" he says, "After abandoning you and your mother, the Millennium Items were created by my own hands! I had never imagined in my years that you'd become this powerful! Also, King Aknamkanon and I were twin brothers! So by birth, you are next in line for the throne after the Pharaoh and his descendants!"

A purple lightning charges up in Aknadin's hands and aims the attack toward us. The attack fires toward us, but we cannot move. A golden light appears in front of us and a man blocks the attack. Suddenly, all of us can move again. The man wears a long white cape, white robes that reveal his torso, and a golden mask over his face. "Who dares stand in my way?" Aknadin shouts.

"I am Hassan." The man says, "I am the eternal protector of the Pharaoh. For centuries, Egypt's King's fate has rested in my hands."

"Aknadin…" Seto starts, "Is it true? Am I really your son?"

"It is the truth, my son." Aknadin says, "Soon the Great Evil God will be resurrected, so come to me side, defeat that man, and the title of Pharaoh will belong to you!"

Hassan tilts his head toward Seto, "Do not be deceived by someone who surrendered their soul to an Evil God. Seto! Your duty is to protect the Pharaoh along with his country!"

"Seto, do not be deluded." Atem says, "For peace to return to our land, we must defeat Zorc together, not join him!"

"Silence!" Aknadin says, "Seto, if you join me, we can shape the world to our advantage and rule the Darkness! With the power of the White Dragon, everything will be yours! You shall become the Dark King!"

"The White Dragon?" I repeat.

"Kisara…" Seto says.

"Yes! The White Dragon is a beast beyond compare! The earth shutters by its very roar!" Aknadin shouts.

"Seto!" Atem says, "You can't let your heart be so much as touched by the Darkness! Wake up! Siding with Zorc will only lead to poisoning yourself and the world in darkness!"

Seto stares up confidently at Aknadin, "My King is right!" he says, "This world you speak of shall never become a peaceful place! Father… your transformation is only bringing shame to our family!"

"Enough! I shall take matters into my own hands!" Aknadin says.

He disappears and the room grows quiet. I glance around the room until I spot his entry point, "Seto! Behind you!" I shout.

Seto whips around as Aknadin appears behind me and then opens up a worm hole. Seto is thrown into the portal and Aknadin slowly begins to walk into it himself. Before my actions are known to even myself, I start running. I lunge straight into the portal behind them.