Joey and Marik walked behind Skullz without saying a word. They both knew they couldn't let Skullz kill Yugi, but they had no idea what to do. Skullz walked into a room and stopped. Joey and Marik rushed in behind him and gasped. A large tablet of Exodia flashed with lightning dangerously in front of them. Two people were cloaked in shadows standing next to it, and a boy in a black jumpsuit stood in front.

"I've been waiting for you." Joey stepped forward.

"Where's Yugi?"

"Right here." Dark Yami spoke from the shadows, a figure to the right. Joey's eyes flashed over to the other shadowed figure but he couldn't tell who it was. Ia stepped into their line of sight and started up his duel disk.

"Who's challenging me?"

"I a-" Joey started only to be cut off by Skullz hand to his chest.

"No, he's mine." Ia grinned.

"I almost beat the pharaoh, and you think you have a chance?" Skullz stared ahead with shadows over his eyes.

"Shut up and duel."

Ia: 4000 Skullz: 4000

"I'll begin Skullz," Ia drew a card, "I'll play Three-handed Swordsmen (1700/1200) and one card facedown. I'll end my turn."

"I don't think you'll make it past three turns."

"Bold statement Skullz." Skullz shrugged.

"My turn and I choose Maho Vailo (1550/1400)."

"Brighten up on your math. 1700 is greater than 1550."

"Maho Vailo isn't one of my favorite cards for nothing. For when I combine it with Horn of the Unicorn and Dark Pendent, you'll see a difference in strength! (3750/2600)"

"No way! How could you…?"

"Attack Maho Vailo!"

"Ha! You activated my trap Mirror force!"

"Not quite I'll sacrifice Little Black Demon from my hand. His special ability negates one trap card when activated."

Ia: 1950 Skullz: 4000

"No way. More then half my life points are gone." Ia sneered. "But it's not over."

"I'd hope it wasn't this quick. You have two turns by the way." Ia frowned and drew.

"All right, I'll play Monster Reborn! This allows me to bring back my Three-Handed Swordsmen. Then I'll sacrifice him in order to summon a facedown monster. Then I'll play, Beseech of the souls, which can raise any monsters defense by 1000 if I sacrifice 1500 life points. Then I'll play this card facedown. That's all."

Ia: 450 Skullz: 4000

"You have one turn. Now I play Eternal torment. If you end your next battle phase without hitting me with life point damage you lose 1000 life points automatically. If you do hit me, I lose 1000 extra life points. That's all."

"Da... Damn." Skullz smiled evilly.

"Your finished." Ia backed up.

"Not yet, I have one more card." Ia drew it and his face dropped. "I… can't… attack…" Flames rushed around Ia and he winced as his life points clicked down to 0.

"Not even a challenge." Ia was on one knee wincing and Dark Yami walked up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Your weak Ia."

"Forgive me!" Dark Yami smiled.

"Not likely." A wind rushed through Ia and Joey and Marik could almost feel Ia's soul being taken away. Ia hit the ground with a thud and his eyes staid white.

"You didn't need to do that Yami," said the man still covered in shadow. Joey's ears twitched at the voice. He recognized it… but couldn't place it.

"True, but with the Ex-Od-Ia fighters out of the way the path to power stays ever clearer." Marik moved forward to line up with Skullz.

"Have you collected its power yet?" Dark Yami looked at the electric Exodia tablet with interest.

"No, actually. It seems to not be charged up yet. According to what I've read in the scrip-" He was cut short by a fist flying into the side of his face. Dark Yami spun in midair and landed on his stomach on the ground. He stood up slowly and looked at his attacker.

"Eager Skullz?"

"We duel… Now. I've waited long enough."

"Seems fair." Dark Yami's disk glowed as it turned on. "But I warn you, you have no idea what your up against!"

Deep inside the innards of the puzzle, Light Yami and Yugi sat in frustration next to each other.

"But why do you think?" Yugi asked.

"Hmm?"

"Why would he join Dark Yami?"

"I'm not sure, perhaps he aches for power."

"He's always wanted power." Yugi sighed and watched through Dark Yami's eyes. "Can Skullz win?"

"I'm not sure I want him to." Yugi's eyes widened.

"But he's our friend." Yami shook his head.

"I don't trust him." Dark Yami's eyes traveled over to the shadowed figure for a moment and Yugi winced.

"I just can't believe that he'd side with him. Why would Dark Yami's best ally be…"