Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice, and the fact that she added in little bits of text here and there.

Author's Note: A big important detail of Neith's past is revealed in this chapter, and it will latch onto certain things that were in the previous chapter. There is another Akunadin perspective in this chapter as well. Yummy background goodness… Re was a God accociated with light and the sun as well as Ra, I think. I looked up Obelisk for research and I've seen it said that he was a God of War and Destruction in the Yu-Gi-Oh universe so that's where I got it from.

This chapter is dedicated to my Atemu-loving friends Sailor Centauri and Flowering Wolfsbane, who always says that more Atemu isn't a bad thing.

Summary: Finally Atemu faces off against Set; the High Priest still confident from his victory over Karim is determined to defeat the Per A'a. The two battle and just when it seems that Set has the upper hand Atemu successfully summons Obelisk and the tide of the battle changes dramatically. Nieth and Akunadin can only watch as Set is faced with the fury of one of the three gods.

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Chapter 20: Obelisk The Great War God

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"So you've finally decided to face me? Congratulations. Everyone, it is my pleasure to announce that it appears as if Per A'a has finally discovered that he has a spine!"

Smirking across the duel stage, he hoisted aloft the prize he held in his left hand. The Sennen Scales dangled from his grip, its engraved eye facing his young opponent. They belonged to him now and he intended to use their power to its full potential, once they accepted him as their new master.

"Defeat me and I shall return the scales to you. But if you lose to me… well, the consequences shall be most dire."

He pulled back the scales as Atemu shook his head, addressing him.

"Why have you turned against me? Why have you used your power to force others into hating me? Haven't I shown you clemency? We used to be friends, Set!"

"Friends, us? We have and never could be friends." His eyes narrowed, the very last word venomous as it rolled off his tongue. "I, the indomitable Hem Ntjr Tepey of Naquda, had to bow and capitulate to the whims of a prepubescent boy not even of my age! Can you even begin to fathom my humiliation?"

He then clenched his left hand angrily around the Sennen Scales as Akunadin looked up at his son, feeling the unnaturally cool metal dig into his skin.

"Every piece of advice I've ever given you has been ignored, every suggestion laughed at and brushed aside. No, I can never be a friend with someone as pathetic as you. Why, I was being raised to run this country when you were still a child!"

"But I thought…"

"You thought wrong! Did you truly believe that I would forever be content to remain beneath your heel? I am not a servant!" He scoffed as tears began to emerge from Atemu's eyes. "Oh please… you're making me sick."

He watched coolly as Atemu wiped his eyes, a determined look appearing on the young boy's face. His lips curved upwards in delight and he came alive at the thought of battle.

"It's about time you found some backbone. Well done, boy."

"I'm not a boy!"

"But you are. Look at you, whining like some lost pup. Such weakness only proves how pathetic you really are."

"Be quiet!"

There was a thunderous crackle of blue energy around the Sennen Puzzle and he raised the Sennen Rod, pointing it at the young Per A'a. As soon as this boy was removed from power the country could get back on track, even if it was he who had to take the reins. Kemet did not deserve to suffer because of the frailties of one measly boy, even if he was descended from the royal bloodline.

A tablet rumbled behind him, rising from the floor.

"You shall duel me, Atemu." He then outstretched his arms, allowing the familiar energy of the shadows to fill his veins. "Go, Maha Valio!"

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Neith watched Set begin his challenge with great trepidation, and as the Ka she had gifted him emerged from the tablet she bit back the urge to cry. After she had given him this Ka, never in her wildest dreams would she have believed that it would be used against Atemu like this. Yet she desired to protect the man she loved, no matter the cost.

Even if it costs me my soul…

"I see that I shall have to bring you down myself." She looked up to her right at Atemu, who seemed to have come alive with a new determination to rise to Set's challenge. "Beware; I am not as weak as I appear."

She then looked at the tablet that had rose just to the right of the young Per A'a. Now that the tablets had been replaced with a fresh supply they could duel. Upon it was a carving of a ferocious demon covered in bone. It appeared on the stage amidst a haze of dark purple smoke, its breathing sounding as evil as it appeared. But she could see the victorious smirk on Set's face as a familiar book appeared in front of Maha Valio. Atemu had played the wrong Ka.

"He can't overpower Set's Ka with something like that," Akunadin muttered nearby. "It shall only absorb the attack."

She looked up at the stage as the summoned demon prepared to attack. Sure enough, her and Akunadin's thoughts came true. The demon channelled lightning through its body and launched it towards Set, only for the attack to be intercepted. With an outstretched hand, Maha Valio clutched the Book of Secret Arts close to its body and used its free hand to channel the lightning upwards. It disappeared overhead. She looked again at Set; he was breathing heavily, having sacrificed some of his Ba to activate a second ability.

Watching on, she saw him regain his composure and fold his arms smugly.

"This Ka, by the very nature of its attack, has the ability to deflect lightning-based attacks. Any decent Per A'a worth his salt would have known that." His tone was belittling, but then his voice turned dark. "And now it's my turn. Magical Sacrifice! Fry that demon until it's well and truly cooked!"

Set was using the same tactic he had used before against Karim. His Ka read from the Book of Secret Arts as two of Set's tablets cracked noisily, split right down the middle. The book then closed and the Ka attacked, lightning descended once again, electrocuting the Summoned Skull, which roared noisily until it disappeared from view.

"What? But my Ka should have absorbed the lightning!"

Atemu sounded shocked as Set laughed bitterly.

"Unlike your Ka, mine wields holy lightning; a sacred gift from Re himself. A demon cannot withstand it."

She nodded in agreement. The abilities of the Ka she had given him had a heavy cost, but once activated they made the Ka difficult to defeat. She looked up at him and smiled, Akunadin watching her carefully.

Come on Set! I know you can do this!

"Is that all you've got?" He sounded disappointed. "What happened to the Per A'a who used to be so determined? Are you ready to surrender?"

He put a foot forwards, but she saw him jump, as did she, when Atemu stamped his right foot angrily on the ground.

"Never! Justice is in the name of God and I shall defeat you!"

Seeing the resolve in the boy's eyes she stepped backwards, feeling something shift in the air. It was… She did not know how to describe it; save to say that it's sheer power frightened her.

The very air around them crackled, the Sennen Puzzle shining vividly.

Something's coming…

"Justice is in the name of God, my name, Atemu!"

She gazed wondrously at the stage, watching this new power as it appeared. Her heart was beating faster as the entire Duel Stage chamber was bathed in a gentle blue light, yet no tablet seemed to have arisen. It first appeared on Atemu's side of the stage, rising up headfirst through the floor; a huge giant carved from blue stone with baleful red eyes that radiated anger and strength.

She gasped in surprise, as did Akunadin, the other Priests, Set and even Atemu himself, no doubt surprised that he had finally managed to summon one of the Three Gods. A soldier had rushed inside and was whispering something excitedly to Akunadin about a pillar of blue light that had emerged from the Veju Temple.

And now she found herself thinking that Set was going to lose. All this work had gone to waste with the mere mention of a name.

Atemu now had his arm outstretched as the God of Obelisk hovered before him.

"I'm sorry that I have to do this, but you are way out of line Set and need to be put in your place." He then pulled his arm back, clenching his fist. "God Hand Crusher!"

She could honestly say that this was the first time she had ever seen fear written on the face of her lover. But he did not shy away as the God of Obelisk bore a fist in his direction. It went straight towards her treasured Ka and collided with it before carrying on straight towards Set. He screamed as the gigantic fist threw him back, colliding painfully with one of the tall, stone pillars. His body slumped to the floor as she raised her hands to her mouth, her Ka hitting the same spot on the pillar and exploding.

No… No, no, no, no, no!

Tears started to stream down her cheeks, her hands clasped in front of her as she screamed loudly. The Ka had been destroyed and Set lay comatose. All hope had been lost.

--

Once all of this had settled in and Obelisk had disappeared, Akunadin walked over to the crumpled body of his son and fell to his knees. He pressed two fingers of his right hand to the young man's neck and gave a silent prayer of thanks.

"Get a healer; he's still alive!"

He gently ran his fingers up and over the face of his unconscious son, brushing his brown hair out of his face as everyone else ran over. Set had been so close, yet somehow that blasted offspring of his brother had managed to call one of the Three Gods from the Veju Temple, the guarding of which was his responsibility. Why must his family always be tormented like this? He had made the necessary offerings, said the necessary prayers… Did the Netjer enjoy playing with his heart?

"Is he all right?" Isis asked; he was still crouched by his son's side. "Can he be safely moved?"

"Who cares? I say we leave him where he is; it's the least he deserves!"

Standing up, he glared at Mahaado, his left hand tightly clenching the Sennen Scales he had retrieved. What did he know? He had never even tried to understand his son… He threw the Sennen Scales at Karim, the injured man clutching them close to his chest.

"Who are you to judge? We cannot question him if he is dead."

Mahaado opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. His tone had indicated that he was in no mood to be trifled with. No one insulted his son without good reason. Set may have rebelled, but he had done so out of desperation. Even so, he had kept his silence, secretly hoping that his son would succeed and take Atemu's place.

Unable to offer his help because Set would have seen such an approach as suspicious, he had watched from the sidelines, quietly manoeuvring things so they would fall in his son's favour.

If he'd succeeded, I could have made him Per A'a. Neith could have given him an heir and secured his bloodline, but now…

He looked back at the entrance to the Duel Stage; Neith was standing there blankly, as though caught up in a much deeper thought. Just what was going on inside that mind of hers?

"Excuse me; I must check on another," he muttered, walking away from the group.

A cluster of palace healers ran past him as he walked up to Neith, who had not even acknowledged his presence. He had his suspicions, but he had to see for himself. He peered into her mind with the Sennen Eye…

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My Ka…

"Dad? Dad! Where are you?"

A younger Neith, fourteen years of age, ran past the lines of people who had gathered inside the temple and towards the entrance, statues of Bast lining the walkway. The foreign Nubians had dared to attack the city: her city. Her father had not been in the temple when her mother had brought her here and she worried for his safety.

Running outside, she quickly looked around. Bodies lay draped over the temple steps, poor souls who had crawled to the temple in hope of healing. Their blood ran into the two water channels that surrounded either side of the temple. The fighting seemed to have moved across the city, the temple entrance still guarded by a small group of soldiers.

Where is he?

She ran to the right, across the square, dodging the guards who called for her to get back in the temple. Her bare feet treaded over stone, dirt and then the watery mud of the delta. The nearby streets were too enclosed for her father to unleash his Ka; he was as likely to hit friend as well as foe.

The Veju Temple of Per-Bast stood out in the distance to her right and she immediately guessed where her father had gone. Though not as grand as the Veju Temple in Waset, where most of the Ka tablets were located, this held the small collection that belonged to her father and would later be passed onto her, seeing as she was an only child.

In disregards for her own safety she ran towards it, running through the thin river channel on the way. She encountered no enemy marauders on the way there, save for the numerous bodies that littered the floor, flames beginning to lick at the city behind her. Just where was Per A'a's army? They were supposed to be here by now!

The shallow water splashed beneath her feet as she left the shallow delta and came up to the temple. He was still nowhere to be seen…

"Father? Are you here?"

There was a murmur of recognition from a nearby body and she froze, hearing a voice. No, it could not be…

"I'm… over here."

What was this? He was supposed to be alive and well, and to chide her for leaving the safety of the temple, not to sound as weak as he did now.

She walked over to the lone body that lay across the steps of the temple and gently pushed it over.

"What… are you doing… outside of the temple? What did I tell you? Heh, heh… Anyway, I don't think I'll be… coming home today… sweetheart."

"Father! You're not funny!" she protested, sitting next to him, noticing that there was a gaping wound in his chest, which she could recognise from his bloodstained tunic. "What… who did this to you?"

Her father ignored her question, weakly tapping his blood-encrusted left hand on top of his chest. She then felt him take her hand with his remaining one, his fingers linking with her own. This was not supposed to be happening… her breath caught in her throat and she began to hiccup. Her eyes began to water and she found herself lost for words.

"A piece of… advice; don't remove an… arrow once it's pierced you… You'll only be in trouble."

She did not resist as his hand then rose to clasp the back of her head, his fingers weakly ruffling her hair. She felt him push her head to his chest, which weakly spluttered beneath her as his hand ran down to her back and held her close. It was strangely peaceful amongst all the chaos. If only it was not happening…

"You're still… my little girl, you know, and you… always… will be."

"You're not going anywhere. Don't be so foolish." Her eyes filled with tears again as she sobbed. "What about me? What about Mother?"

"I'd like to… come back… but I can't, at least… not like this. But I'll... always be here to… watch over you… my precious little… girl…"

She remained silent, feeling her father's body go limp beneath her. His hand was heavy on her back. His eyes were closed, but he was no longer alive. She remained there, quietly grieving for the one she had lost.

"Father, please don't go…Don't leave us…"

But I'm still here.

She looked up, swearing that she had heard her father's voice. It called out to her, beckoning her inside the temple. Enthralled, she left his body and placed his hands across his chest in a loving gesture before walking inside. Coming to a crossroads she turned to the left, facing the ceremonial stone tablet that flanked one side of the entrance hall. Upon it was the engraving of a seated mage. The very same mage she'd given to the man she loved.

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