In the foyer, all was silent while the duel was in progress. The other monsters gathered around the door, but left ample space for the pair of magicians.

Despite Mystic Elf's orders and pleas, Dark Magician could not be swayed. The Lord's most loyal servant, he insisted upon being brought to the gates. If he were truly going to die, he would do so as he did before – in service to his lord and pharaoh.

Dark Magician Girl held his broken body in her lap, letting his head rest in her left arm. His eyes remained closed, as if he were meditating. But the young spellcaster knew his concentration was focused on the mere act of breathing. Each breath was forced, and painfully so.

She laid her hand gently over his heart. It fluttered.

"… You're bleeding, Master…" she finally whispered, staring down at his scarred face. With each labored breath, his wounds bled, dying the front of his purple tunic a dark shade of red.

"It… doesn't bother me…" he weakly lied, opening his eyes. His apprentice's face was blurred, but beautiful. Dark Magician gasped painfully. His entire body shook in her arms, though he managed to hold on to his wand.

"Master, please… Yugi is going to stop the duel… And then you can rest… and… and be better… and Mystic Elf will heal you…"

"It… won't stop." He coughed through his words, blood dribbling from his mouth. Dark Magician Girl carefully wiped his chin with her glove. "This… is… important duel for… the Lord…"

"I… I don't want you to die…"

"I… don't want to… to leave you… a..app…rentice. But you will make… a fine… m..master…"he coughed again, trying to say all that he felt needed to be said. "But my soul… was… a..and always will be… his eternal ser… servant…"

And with that, the magician smiled.

"I… am not afraid… I've done this once before… You do not remember… but I do…" His body suddenly went limp in her arms.

"Master!" she shook him gently, not knowing what else to do. "Master!!"

He gasped with what strength he had left. A light engulfed him, and despite Dark Magician Girl's scream, Dark Magician disappeared.

He had been summoned.