The abrupt stop of the millennium puzzle's rattling caught Yami Yugi and his climbing companions by surprise. They had just reached another ledge, ready for any sudden change in direction. But this time, there wasn't one.
"I'm not sure whether to be thankful or worried, Yami…" Yugi broke the silence first.
"Me neither, aibou." Yami Yugi replied.
Suddenly, the Dark Magician looked to the side, as if something had suddenly changed.
"My pharaoh… do you feel that?" he whispered, careful not to move or disturb the sudden change in the puzzle's activity.
Yami Yugi looked up, and so did Yugi.
"I feel something." the pharaoh answered. "But I'm not certain what it is."
"I feel it too." Yugi answered.
"The millennium items are creating a kind of resonance." Dark Magician answered.
"Is it Isis?" Yami Yugi asked.
"No… it feels like the millennium ring!" the duel monster gasped. "I'd know that feeling anywhere."
"The millennium ring?" Yugi repeated, mystified. "But if Bakura's yami is trapped in here somewhere…"
"Ryou must be trying to activate it." Yami Yugi finished his hikari's sentence.
"He's trying to draw the soul from the puzzle."
"That's great." Yami Yugi smiled.
"No. It's not." Dark Magician quickly countered.
"I thought you said that if the spirit wasn't subdued, that the puzzle would break, and destroy us all! How can this…"
"The priest you call Ryou hasn't invoked the sacred spells of the ritual." The Dark Magician answered quickly. "He doesn't know what he's doing…"
Yugi sighed. He doubted Ryou even knew the first thing about his millennium item.
"He at least knows it can seal a soul into anything." Yami Yugi announced. "He's watched his yami do it on many occasions. That has to be what he's trying to do!"
"But what can he seal it into?"
"The tomb robber's new mortal body!" Yami Yugi shouted. "Of course!"
"He wouldn't survive that… not given how you described his condition…" The Dark Magician muttered under his breath. From the tone of his voice, it appeared to Yugi that the guardian was actually concerned.
"No… he wouldn't."
"But Ryou probably doesn't see any other choice." Yugi added.
"Then time is of the essence." Dark Magician continued, and turned sharply around. He started climbing along the side of the stone wall instead of towards the top.
"Wait! Mahado! Where are you going?" Yami Yugi shouted.
"The spirit of the millennium ring is nearby! I can feel him! He's stopped moving!" he answered without stopping.
"But I thought we…"
"This is of more importance." Dark Magician interrupted him.
"Why?" Yugi eventually asked.
"Because young pharaoh…" the spirit stopped for a brief moment. A warm glow fell over Yugi's heart. "There has already been enough death today. I do not wish to endure more."
They nodded, and continued up the rocks.
"Yami?"
"Yes, aibou?" the pharaoh replied.
"He must have been a good priest."
"And a good friend." Yami Yugi smiled.