Yugi heard the Dragon Tamer hiss the name, but it was unnecessary: the maniacal look in the man's eye before them was unmistakable. He'd spent the least time with the alchemist before he'd devolved into a Lich, but that desperate, power-mad expression was seared in his mind. There, at the altar in front of them, stood Aknaden, the fallen fifth Sorcerer now known as the Shadow Lich.

Before Yugi could stop him, Yami stepped forward protectively, joining Marik and Bakura in doing the same. Joey and Seto joined the group, and the Acolyte moved Serenity behind him.

The Lich chuckled darkly and raised a hand straight up in the air. With a flick of his wrist, dark tendrils shot out of the edge of the forest behind him toward the group. Yugi watched in horror as one of the tendrils coiled around Yami's neck and began dragging him away.

"No!" the King cried out, reaching for him. To either side of him, the other travelers, except Serenity, were being dragged away, too, by other tendrils. Out of the line of trees hopped shadowy figures that slightly resembled the Ghouls, but were more slender and hunched over. The tendrils lashed out from where mouths would be, and Yugi shuddered at the idea that these things were using their tongues to hold his new friends captive.

"Let them go!" Seto demanded, holding out his Rod threateningly. He glanced over to the new Shadow creatures, presumably to count them, before returning his attention the Lich.

The Lich chuckled darkly. "Your idle threats mean nothing to me," he said, his voice like stone, "not when my Whisperers can do this." He flexed a hand, and the Shadow creatures holding their friends hostage tightened their coils. Bakura's face began to flush, and the others gasped for air they couldn't grab.

Seto grit his teeth but let his arm down anyway. "What do you want?" he demanded.

"Do not ask such foolish questions, it speaks ill of your intelligence, Tamer." The Lich turned his hand – the same that virtually held their friends' lives – over so his palm was up.

The Sorcerers exchanged looks. "Have we a choice?" Lady Ishizu asked, already unfastening her Necklace. She spared its eye a final look before walking over to the Lich, though Malik's hand shot out to try and stop her. "We have your word?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes, yes, now hand it over." The Lich grabbed the item out of her hands, and his eye gleamed feverishly.

The White Mage was next. "The artifacts aren't as important as the lives of our subjects – our saviors." He tossed his Ring over to the Lich, who caught it deftly. "Besides, we still have our magics."

The Lich's chuckle was low and rumbling. "Believe what you like, Mage, but you are beaten."

Yugi had to think fast. He was less willing to take the Shadow Lich at his word that their friends would be safe simply – and especially – because they handed over their artifacts. He exchanged a look with Seto, who looked similarly conflicted.

"No," the Dragon Tamer spat, "I refuse to obey you!" And he charged at the Lich full throttle, lifting his Rod as he approached to attack.

The Lich cackled again and held up Ryou's Ring. It glowed ominously, and the Tamer came to a complete halt. He was frozen, mid-step, and glowing the same faint white of the Ring. "It is useless to resist me!" the Lich declared smugly. At the same time, Seto dropped the Rod, blade first so that it pitched itself in the ground.

Yugi swallowed; this was bad. The Lich had been dangerous with his one item way back when he had first gone mad, but now he had the power of three and was soon to claim a fourth. Again, he looked at his friends, wondering what he should do – what he could do. His eyes settled on Yami, whose face was tinted purple with the effort of breathing, and his chest tightened in sympathy (and something else – did that have to do with the Quickening?). And that train of thought inspired an idea: after the Quickening, he'd been able to banish the Shadow Ghouls. Could he do the same again? Could he do it to –?

"Girl!" the Lich commanded. "Bring me the Rod." He set Ishizu's necklace down on the altar and held out his free hand expectantly.

Yugi looked at Serenity with an apologetic smile, but she didn't look scared or even startled. No, she looked determined. Angry, even. Yugi was taken aback and watched her carefully. She slowly walked over to the Rod and yanked it out of the ground. Then, she turned to the Lich, her hands curled into fists, and the one clutching the Rod shook with how tight her grip was.

"You have to promise," she said, her voice low but even, "that my friends will be safe."

The Lich rolled his good eye. "Yes, yes, I've already promised as much." He shook his free hand emphatically. "Now, give me the artifact!"

Serenity nodded and took a half-step toward the Lich. "The thing is, I don't trust you to keep your promise," she said coolly, and before the Lich could process what she had said, she pivoted a little and chucked the Rod at Joey before backing away.

So surprised was the former alchemist that he turned in horror and rage and watched as Joey caught the Rod and sliced at the tongue holding him. The Whisperer holding him shrieked in pain, and Joey fell to his knees with a spluttering cough. He held out the Rod to Bakura next, who also made short work of his restraints.

"No!" the Lich shrieked. He swiveled around and looked ready to charge at Serenity. Yugi stepped in front of her and held up his Pendant.

"You're not going anywhere near her," he said. "In fact, you're not going to hurt anyone ever again, Aknaden." He inhaled deeply and readied his magic for what he was about to do. He raised a hand to seize at what he could of the Lich's darkness. It was slippery and viscous, but once he had it, it pooled in his hand like oil. Slowly, it materialized so that he could see it (though the others only saw Aknaden seize violently). Yugi began to extract if from its host, careful lest he either sever the connection or draw the darkness into himself.

Finally, Yugi had gathered it all, and the Lich crumpled into a pale and shaken heap on the ground. He slowly lifted his head to stare wide-eyed at Yugi. He tried to rasp something, but only air passed through his lips. The King clenched a fist, and the darkness evaporated. When the last of it had gone, the Shadow Lich went stiff and collapsed completely.

The Lich was dead.