Original Yu-Gi-Oh Series
Parallel
Chapter 049
Originally Written: Friday, April 22, 2022 700AM to 749AM
. . . . .
Pharaoh thought it was a trick of his mind, the first time Seto looked at his puzzle. He stood across from him in the dueling arena. But no, this was the fifth time he looked at it. Ishizu stood next to Marik and Mokuba on Seto's side of the field. Interestingly enough, Odion stood behind him and Yugi. Pharaoh didn't know what was going on, but even Yugi didn't like it. The eye on Seto's head barely stood out, hidden behind locks of chestnut brown hair.
"I apologize for this demand, Yugi Moto." Seto readied his duel disk. "But it is imperative I have your puzzle."
Pharaoh did not prepare his duel disk. "Why would I wager my puzzle against you? You have nothing to give me."
Seto tapped the Millennium Rod strapped to his waist. "Not even this?"
Pharaoh shook his head, "Not if it requires such a duel. I will forfeit the tournament right now. Honor or fate be damned." The crazed, frayed, frenzied look in Seto's gaze put him on edge. Never before had he seen his friend and classmate so unkept.
Seto clenched his fists and relaxed them repeatedly as he thought. Roland looked ready to declare the forfeit as valid then and there.
Pharaoh looked off to the side. Yugi told him something in his head. Pharaoh raised an eyebrow, 'Are you certain…?' He looked at Yugi's spirit. 'We have been training with Ryou, and Odion said regardless, that the outcome of this duel doesn't matter.'
Yugi's spirit stood next to him, nodding.
'And we agree with that. Mostly. Hm… Yes, that could work.' He nodded again, and lifted his head.
"What?" Seto asked, "What is it?"
"I believe I have come up with something you can give me, should you lose." Pharaoh readied his duel disk and deck.
"And what would that be?"
Pharaoh smirked, "Your mind!"
"No! Seto, no!" Mokuba screamed. Marik held him back as Seto accepted the duel without a beat.
"I will win your puzzle!" Seto laughed a crazed laugh, spreading his arms wide. "I am the number one duelist in the world! This is my game! You have no chance!"
Pharaoh ignored Mokuba shivering with his arms wrapped around himself. He had a duel to win. Seto pushed him to his absolute limit. Unlike Seto, Pharaoh had to look at his cards to duel. Seto's turns lasted thirty seconds, max. And each turn took Pharaoh at least half of his own time limit to determine a counter. Before he knew it, he was staring at Obelisk the Tormentor. That took a good minute to take down using Slifer. Then it was Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon. It was like Seto expected Obelisk to lose, and had his trusted Blue Eyes on the back burner as his guaranteed de facto ace.
'We can do this, Pharaoh.' Yugi hovered behind him. 'We need to. Everyone is fighting our fight for us, and that's not fair to them.'
'Yes…it's our turn now.' Pharaoh nodded. He closed his eyes. Drew a card. He debated on playing the combo he had planned as he looked at Seto. He looked back at the card. Something caught his eye. He looked to the right. Tea stood on his side of the field, away from Odion, but in line so he could see her out his peripheral vision. She looked solemn, and her hands were clasped in worry. She nodded to him, silently cheering.
Yet, this was the plan, wasn't it? He nodded back to her. He looked back at the card in his hand. He played the card, creating a fusion of Dark Magician and Buster Blader: Dark Paladin. "You need more than just allies, Seto. You focus far too much on taking on every burden by yourself."
Seto's cards fell from his hands as he watched his life points hit zero. He looked back at Mokuba, as though debating on something. Ishizu frowned at him. Mokuba started crying, tears streaming down his face. Marik walked forward, whether to stop Seto or help him wasn't known. Seto turned around and stalked towards Pharaoh. "I need your puzzle."
"I know." Pharaoh whispered.
The eye on Seto's forehead glowed. Clouds of purple swirled around his feet. "I'm the farm boy. The farm boy never loses."
Pharaoh clenched a fist, looking down at his hand. He looked up at Seto, who continued taking small steps towards him. "Let it be known!" Pharaoh shouted. "You are single-handedly the strongest and bravest man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing! Let it be known! I will free you from this madness, Seto Mitsura-Kaiba!" Pharaoh raised his hand, and thrust it forward. "Mind crush!"
Seto froze, as his mind and soul shattered. He dropped to his knees. Pharaoh ran to him. Seto fell face forward, and Pharaoh caught him.
"Seto!" Mokuba screamed, terrified.
Marik skidded to a stop before him, fully ready to hit him. Debating.
"Seto!" Mokuba dropped to the floor, screaming. "What did you do!? What have you done!?"
Ishizu and Tea stared in shock, one more certain that they made the right choice than the other.
"I implore you to hear me before you strike." Pharaoh spoke, stopping Marik. "This is the only boon I can think of to give him. In his previous state, should he have won my puzzle, he would have immediately lost it to Amane." Pharaoh grabbed the Millennium rod, and loosed the knife hidden away. He moved to stab Seto, but was stopped by an invisible barrier surrounding Seto. The point of the blade seemed to clink and clang as it came into contact with the barrier. "Now he can rebuild, and strengthen."
"What is that?" Marik looked at the barrier in wonder. "How is he doing that?"
"I don't know how strong Seto is, but I know he is always holding himself back, so he won't hurt anyone. I know he would rather read and play games than fight. He is much like Yugi." Pharaoh looked up at Marik as he put the blade back. "Amane will be expecting him, and she will be no match for him then. He will be too focused on fixing himself to give even half a shit about not killing whoever's attacking him." He held the Millennium Rod out to Marik, blade pointed towards Pharaoh's own chest.
"And what are you going to do in the meantime?"
"Plan." Pharaoh locked eyes with Marik. "I need to process all I've learned here."
Marik studied him for some time. He took the Millennium Rod. He shuffled through Seto's card graveyard, and handed him Obelisk. Then he handed him Ra, which Joey hadn't taken from him. "You'll need these then, Pharaoh."