Original Yu-Gi-Oh Series
Parallel
Chapter 058
Originally Written: Thursday, April 28, 2022 1000PM to 1045PM
. . . . .
Joey swerved on his motorcycle, dodging a claw that swiped at him. He nearly crashed from being forced to angle the bike so low to the ground. He righted himself, and pressed a hand to his chest. His heart raced. "That nearly took off ma head!"
His other hand held out Tristan's gun, which had just a few remaining bullets in it. He was a good shot, but Duel Monsters had extremely tough hides. He got a good look around, but didn't see anything except wisps of purple smoke. The sky surrounding Domino City, which had been covered up in dark clouds for days, started to clear. The moon and stars shined back at him.
His stomach growled in hunger. He fell off the bike. He looked up at the stars, breathing heavily, and his heart started to calm. "...Yugi," He closed his eyes, laying in the street of the empty road, "has it been a week yet?"
Few dared to go out since the clouds and fog covered Domino City. Many surrounding towns and cities went into full lock down with a curfew since the duel monsters showed up. A loud whine came from the bag hanging on his front. It was hard to drive with a bookbag on his stomach, but it protected him better than having it on his back. The Duel Monster's frequently showed up out of nowhere right in front of him.
He pushed himself to his feet. He shuffled through the bag, and pulled out his duel disk. "Blue Eyes." He spoke with heavy breaths.
"One Message from Maximillion Pegasus." His duel disk alerted him.
"One." Joey leaned his head against the bike's handles.
" 'Congratulations Mr. Wheeler. You've survived yet another Shadow Game. Head back to Domino City at your earliest convenience. When you arrive, Arkana will escort you.' End Message. No new messages."
"...Thank you, Jesus." The message slowly sunk in. Joey collapsed against Tristan's bike and sobbed in relief. Messy tears that blinded his vision poured down his face. "Holy fucking shit."
He lost count of how many Duel Monsters swiped at him. Occasionally one or two tried to help him, but they never lasted long against the monsters stronger than them.
. . . . .
In the basement of the Kaiba Mansion, Seto Kaiba looked at Yami Marik. Yami Marik stood in front of his cell holding a key.
"It's been a week." Yami Marik studied the key in his hands. "Your brother is in another cell on the other side of this level. You are lucky you neither of you tried to escape without the other. You would have reactivated the security system. It would have turned you both into Swiss Cheese."
"I see. She had Operation Last Resort reconfigured." Seto tried to straighten himself to rest his sore arms. Standing up straight worked better than trying to lean forward. He had to thank Gozaburo for that tip.
"Yes. Roland is with Mokuba. I'll take control of him with the Millennium Rod, and he will open Mokuba's cell. When you are free, you are to take the stairs up to the elevator and go to the floor above that. You're below the parking garage." Yami Marik fell silent, looking at the key.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Can you feel the shift in this mansion?" Yami Marik looked up.
"Yes." Even this deep, the mansion was full of a chill that shook him to his core.
"Amane lost the Shadow Game, but it was Thief King Bakura's soul that was taken. Do you know the story of Amane? When she accidentally stripped him of his strength, she did so under the control of the second entity locked in the ring. Previously, it used Bakura as a host. Bakura wanted the ring to return to Ryou, because if anything happened to him, Amane would immediately be killed by it." Yami Marik frowned.
"Zorc Necrophades. He was sealed into the Puzzle though?" Seto frowned in confusion.
"Before he was defeated, Zorc left a portion of himself within the Thief King, controlling him, driving him for revenge against the Pharaohs in the name of his brethren from Kul Elna. When he lost his memories during his time sealed in the Millennium Ring, he forgot that the beast was a part of him. He remembered when Amane wanted to travel the darkness within the ring, to help him regain his memories. He tried to steer her away, back to her own soul room, but she wouldn't be persuaded or deterred. Zorc descended upon her, and you know the rest. That chill you feel is Zorc. The Great Thief King Bakura is trapped in the Shadows, and Amane Bakura is no more. There's….There's no bringing either back."
Seto lowered his head, and closed his eyes in respect. "He was your friend."
"Bakura understood my anger. My need and want for revenge. And now there is no need for either. There's nothing I can do against this force. There's nothing anyone can do." Yami Marik looked up again. "The world has gone dark. Soon, it'll go cold." He fiddled with the key in his hands. "All there is to do is wait to die."
Seto leaned his head back against the cold stone. 'Yugi Moto is dead. There's only a Pharaoh locked in a puzzle no one can actually use. Ryou's dead as well, and the creature Noah warned me about is preparing to destroy the world. No pressure, Farm Boy.' Seto sighed. He lifted his head, and opened his eyes. They glowed white lightning blue. "Where is Joey Wheeler now?"
"I don't know, but if there is anyone who could find a needle in a haystack, it'd be you, Seto Kaiba." The eye on Yami Marik's head glowed.
The shackles holding Seto's neck, wrists and ankles clicked open and fell to the ground. Seto rubbed his wrists and stretched his neck. "I will find him."
Yami Marik put the key in the lock. Sirens and alarms started blaring. Seto looked to the right. Yami Marik didn't flinch as bullets and shots of energy smacked into the barrier Seto summoned.
"And I'll come back for you." Seto Kaiba stepped out of his cage.
On the other side of the Kaiba Mansion, Mokuba Kaiba ran out of his cage on sore legs.
"It was an honor to serve you, Master Mokuba." Roland spoke as blood flowed from his mouth. "Please…stay safe." More bullets pierced him, as he shielded Mokuba's body.
Mokuba sprinted towards the door. He nearly floated as he jumped up the stairs in a fast sprint. Black monsters of shadow that resembled duel monsters crawled out from the walls, grabbing at him. A claw grazed his right shoulder, which was closest to the wall, and a bullet hit him in his side. He stumbled, but made it to the elevator as shadows closed in on him. He backed up to the back of the elevator. The doors closed just as the shadows arrived. He slid to the floor, shaking in pain. A voice spoke to him in his head, and rage boiled in his heart.