Aria stared at Edwin and then back at the burger he had gotten for them. Or rather the burgers. She had sheepishly admitted that hellhounds had big appetites but Edwin had just shrugged and put in a DamnDash order for a dozen burgers each (as well as a dozen for Jackie), arguing that they could always just throw any extra in the fridge.

She'd then stated that still wasn't enough and Edwin had gotten 4 large fries for them each.

And a 60 pack of Chicken Nuggets each.

The roof they were sitting on would have been covered in wrappers save for the fact that Edwin, despite having only two hours earlier enslaved a woman, didn't believe in littering.

"So… you must have a shit ton of questions," he said as he leaned against the barrier that separated them from a long fall down.

"Is it safe to even ask?" she said softly. "Seems like some of those are secrets you wouldn't want to get out."

Edwin waved his hand and Jackie suddenly leapt about them, blanketing them in a dome of glittering dark blue. "So far no one has been able to hear me when Jackie does that so… ask away."

"What happened, Edwin? How did you end up like…" she gestured at him. He was no longer in his full demon form, having reverted back once Stella was gone. "Not that I don't mind, exactly." She shifted. "Its… uh…"

"Are we going to have an awkward conversation?" he asked nervously. "Because even if she isn't here Selene-"

"Who?"

"…ok, add that to the list. Mai is-"

"No. No. No no no." Aria shook her head before popping several fries into her mouth. "Not that. Its… okay, its dumb and it's a hellhound thing."

"Lay it on me."

"We're pack oriented. That's why so many hellhounds end up sticking with Beelzebub. She is the most powerful being in Gluttony and her having hellhound traits really helps. Its also why the orphanages suck ass and not in a good way. We don't have an alpha."

"…ah," Edwin said slowly. "So me going all… demony?"

"I didn't even say a peep because my first instinct was to begin yipping in excitement because not only did I get a home but now I have an alpha."

"Well, at least me becoming a furry has another bonus on top of intimidating people." He paused. "I kinda look like Master Cerberus, right? That's why I chose that as my new last name."

"I was going to ask about that. Wonder how many other people die and end up looking like their Duel Monster cards."

"Who knows?"

~MC~MC~MC~

"You fucking cheat!" the incubus snarled as the Sinner Demon across from him gathered up his winnings.

"What was that?" the demon asked, slowly lowering his head so that the gun barrel that was the top of his head was pointed right at the incubus. The secondary set of arms he had, the ones that were ALSO guns, aimed at his opponent as well.

"…fuck it, ain't worth it."

"Damn it, Keith!" the man running the poker game out of the bar snarled as the man in question adjusted his American flag bandana. "Don't you fucking blow holes in my walls again!"

~MC~MC~MC~

"So… the million dollar question is: what the fuck, Edwin? How are you this powerful this quickly?"

Edwin shrugged and began to unbutton his shirt. "Alright, so considering this is Hell I should warn you that this is purely a demonstration."

"I swear if you take out your dick and reveal its now called 'My Power'…" Aria groused. But her humor turned to shocked surprise when Edwin pulled open his shift to reveal the Millennium Key. "That's… wow."

"Yeah," Edwin said, gesturing towards the metal. It barely stuck out of his chest now, having sunken in further and, in fact, begun to contour with his chest so that it followed the natural curves of his muscles. "The Millennium Key. Has all sorts of powers… and also came with a bunch of ghosts." Blue skulls suddenly pushed out of his body and formed into the Thieves of Kul Elna… who began to raid the bags of burgers for snacks. "We are Legion… for we are many," they all said at once but it lost a touch of its terror when several of them had their mouths full of fries. Edwin, for his part, shook his head and spoke normally. "They are a big help. The rest just comes naturally."

"That… doesn't really answer my question," Aria admitted. "I mean… the hand things you did?"

He frowned at that. "I'm not quite sure how that came about. I needed to make a deal with someone, take their soul, and the hands just appeared. I can manipulate them, sense what someone who I own is feeling and doing but…" He gave a helpless shrug. "What's the big deal though?"

"Edwin," Aria said slowly, "I know that for you all of this Hell stuff is new but… Overlords don't suddenly pop up overnight. Sure, a demon might be insanely powerful but they don't gain their standing right away. The last one was the Radio Demon and no one is sure what his deal is."

"Okay, so not an overlord," Edwin said.

But Aria shook her head. "No… you are an Overlord. Or at least are as powerful as one. Perhaps… perhaps more. I'm not sure any of them would have the strength to take down an Ars Goetia, even one as weak as Stella. And you…"

"To be fair I did just trick her into signing a contract. Anyone could have done that."

"No… not anyone."

The two lapsed into silence.

"I… supposed," Edwin finally said after several minutes, "that I can't just ask you to take me back to Earth?" He had attempted to use the Key but it didn't work; much like traveling to other realities the Key just couldn't breach the barrier between Hell and Earth. Worse, it meant he couldn't access his safe, meaning his morpher was out of reach for him. Which was probably good because he wasn't for sure he wanted to see what happened if Hell corrupted a Ranger Outfit.

Aria shook her head, confirming his theory. "I only got there the first time because my friend Bianca was able to get a crystal from Beelzebub that let me head up there. And I only got back thanks to my friend Loona. We could ask her but her boss…"

~MC~MC~MC~

"Spare change?" a hobo asked, rattling his cup at Blitzo.

"Of course!" the imp said, stealing the coins for the hobo's cup. "See Moxie, there are people that appreciate me!"

~MC~MC~MC~

"…isn't into charity. So we'd have to give him something."

"I suppose I could give him some Millennium Eyes," Edwin wagered. "But then again he would probably sense we were desperate."

Aria nodded, snacking on more of her fries. "And then there is the fact that the book belongs to Prince Stolas. Yes, you just helped him out but he still might demand a high price. So unless you have a few dozen souls available…"

Edwin sighed after a moment. "Just need to let it go. Considering how I look there would be little chance I could hide what had happened to me. I mean… they had to have done something with my body, right?" Aria opened her mouth to explain that his body had been engulfed in flames after a blimp crash but he continued on before she could finish. "So I'm stuck down here. And best not to let Stolas know I could afford to pay him off. Might lead to more questions." He glanced out of the corner of his eye at her. "That's why I made sure that Andrealphus couldn't say anything about what happened down there. I needed things to remain… quiet."

"Quiet?" Aria asked.

"Get too big… too noisy? Well, that's how you attract the sharks. No. No, its better to remain quiet and invisible. That's why I'm not coming out declaring I am an Overlord. What would I gain out of that? Fame? I have no need for that. It's a bothersome thing… my Millennium Eyes are the talk of the Pride Ring and that resulted in Stella trying to get me to be her pawn. Wealth is out too… I am going to be make quite a bit of good money. Power?" He chuckled. "I control a battalion of souls already and I'll be gaining more as time goes on. So… declaring that I am the newest Overlord would only be an ego trip. One I have no need for. Instead I will sit in my web and allow others to do my work for me as I silently sit, the grand manipulator that goes unnoticed."

Aria though had cottoned onto something else. "Edwin… how many souls do you currently control?"

At once the thieves all returned to Edwin's body.

"… I don't want to answer that."

"Edwin."

"Man, I could go for a shake."

"Edwin!"

"I think I'm being called to Heaven!" He began to move towards the door, Jackie shifting to remove the barrier.

"HOW POWERFUL ARE YOU!?"

"LALALALALA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

"SIT YOUR FURRY ASS DOWN AND TALK TO ME OR I SWEAR I WILL PIN YOU DOWN AND-"

"HEY!" Sir Pentious shouted. "Some of us are trying to sleep! Please keep your sex games to yourself! I thank you!"

"We don't mind!" one of the Egg Bois called up.

"Quiet Benjamin!"

Aria shot Edwin a dark look. "How many souls… do you control?"

Jackie shielded them again. "17."

That made the hellhound swallow, leaning against the edge of the roof. "That… that is pretty impressive for only being here for a month or so-"

"Million."

"…what?"

Edwin looked down, jaw working. "I currently own, either directly or through proxy, 17,413,981 souls. Not counting Stella and what she might be providing me."

Aria only managed to avoid falling off the building due to Edwin grabbing her.

~MC~MC~MC~

Marik growled as he tugged on the chains that were forcing him to remain close to the cold metal table.

"You aren't going to break those," a man in a suit said as he entered the room, a folder in his hand. "We know of your many powers, Marik Ishtar, and super strength isn't one of them. Then again… you really don't have powers at all, do you? That all comes from the Millennium Rod."

"If you know that you should know the terrors I will be inflicting on you soon enough!" Marik snarled as he tried to stand, only for the chains on his ankles to cause him to lurch forward and smack his stomach against the edge of the table.

The new arrival merely shook his head, taking a seat. "Except you haven't be able to call for it, have you?" He gestured at himself. "Abrax Fayek."

"That was a mistake, Abrax. Letting me know your name." Marik settled back in his chair, a cruel smirk forming on his lips. "I will enjoy finding your family. Do you have a wife? Children? I will force them to kill one another while you watch, unable to do anything to stop me!"

Fayek merely sighed. "And here I thought you'd have some original material." He shook his head. "A pity. They made you out to be so clever. Of course you still haven't figured out why you can't call forth your Millennium Rod. By the way, I hope you don't mind the orange jumpsuit. You won't be wearing purple robes for a very long time."

Marik growled at that. Rather than his preferred garb he was wearing an orange jumpsuit, bare feet shoved into some slip on shoes. It was utterly degrading and he was looking forward to burning the damn clothes the first chance he got!

"Well, since you won't ask… the Millennium Rod is currently held in a Tantalus Box. An invention of the Greeks, ironically enough-" Though Marik had no idea WHY that was ironic and frankly didn't care, "-that can lock away even the most blessed of items when put there. We'll hold onto that relic until the Pharaoh needs it." Fayek paused. "And if it wasn't clear… the moment the Pharaoh DOES ask for the Millennium Rod is the moment the guards will put a bullet in your head. We have assurances that Lord Horus has provided us with the way to ensure that your soul doesn't have a chance to call forth the Rod. He is… most displeased with you."

"You want me to believe that you are in communication with Horus?" Marik asked with a sneer. He could believe the man was a pathetic follower of the Pharaoh but to talk with gods? No… no, Marik didn't believe that at all. It was just another case of a mindless sycophant for the Pharaoh believing they were grander than they truly were.

As if sensing his thoughts Fayek said, "Believe whatever you want. I frankly don't care. I'm just informing you of how things will be. Tomorrow we are shipping you to Alqafas, where you will be waiting until, again, the Pharaoh asks for the Millennium Rod. At that point your miserable life will end."

"Come here to gloat about that?" Marik taunted.

"Yes," Fayek stated. "You and sister have caused us quite a few problems. The entire nation is now in danger because of her actions and quite frankly we were already facing questions because of your actions. Theft. Kidnapping. Assault. Terrorist Acts. Murder. The list goes on and on."

"I will do far more when I'm free," Marik informed him, rattling the chains.

"I doubt that," Fayek stated. "But… how comfortable you are going to be, at least until I am finally given the okay to end your existence, depends on what you do now." He took out the folder and began to lay out the pictures. Different areas of the desert. Canyon walls. Dried up riverbeds. And a map of Egypt itself. "I want to know where your family home is."

Marik… began to laugh.

"You are hunting my sister, aren't you?" he chortled. "All of this gloating and dramatics and all you wanted was that? You should have just come here and told me that!" He pointed to a spot on the map. "There. The tombs are there."

"Wonderful."

"I will draw you a map if you promise to record her shocked face when you arrest her."

Fayek considered that before nodding and soon Marik was working on his map, laying out just how to get into the tombs that were his former home and what they would need to do in order to deactivate any traps that might have been set.

"Thank you," Fayek stated as he took the map. The doors opened and two men entered.

"Time for me to return to my cell?" Marik asked.

"Not quite," the official said… just before one of the new arrivals slammed Marik's head into the table. "We still need to make sure that you don't cause us problems but for your help you've earned at least a sedative."

Marik though had eyes on the case the second man had brought with him. Fayek opened it and produced a VERY familiar ritual knife.

He began to thrash.

"NO!" he screamed even as Fayek began to heat the blade up. "NO!"

"Come now… your brother Odion surely didn't scream when he did this."

"NO!" Marik roared even as the sedative was injected into him, the last sight he saw being the knife heading towards his face…

~MC~MC~MC~

"Okay… so why don't we just sell the cards individually?" Greta asked as she watched the card randomizer insert the newly printed Duel Monster cards into their foil packs. It had cost more money to get a rather clever Sinner Demon, Lyle Lipton, to make the device but it ran like a dream… and only need three homeless demons tossed in it a year in order to run it. Honestly a bargain.

The first pack, Hellfire Trials, which featured the leering face of Cecelia's new monster The Terrible Tarantula Tyrant- Tobax upon it, was being assembled as the two watched.

Cecelia had debating just copying what her husband had done. She'd talked to many of the newer arrivals in Hell and they had been able to provide her a lot of information about Duel Monsters. All for free too as they were just excited that their favorite game was going to arrive in Pentagram City. They had spoken of the decks they'd run, the decks they'd faced. The famous duels they remembered seeing. And what Cecelia had found most amusing and intrigued was… none of them lied to her. She checked over card effects and strengths and levels and not a single person had tried to trick her into make a card more powerful or giving it a better effect.

They just wanted to play their favorite card game again.

And that was why she had decided to create a bunch of new cards as well. To give them not merely their game back… but to make it fresh and new. Something exciting. Bold. Daring. Make it so that rather than just keep reliving what they had done while still alive they could move forward. New archtypes. New improvements on old ones. Spells, traps, fusions and rituals and the like. Some themed after Hell, of course… but just as many that were different and so out of place it would make demons gasp and demand to know what she was thinking.

Which would, of course, make more people want to play the game.

"Oh, there would be no fun in that!" Cecelia said with a smile at Greta's question. "Do you know what half the fun of this game is?" She picked up a freshly sealed pack of cards. "The thrill of the gamble."

"What do you mean?" Greta asked even as she took the pack.

"You have no idea what's in that pack. No idea what cards might be in there. Could be the very last one you need to complete your deck. Great! You've done it! But there are 8 other cards in there as well. Maybe you get a duplicate you don't need… but is worth a lot to someone else. And that desire to make back your money by finding what is rare for others? It drives you to buy more packs.

"Or maybe it's a card you've never encountered before. One you had never considered building a deck around but now that you have it… you want to try it out. And that means buying more cards, either from other people who have bought packs… or taking that gamble and getting a few more packs, just to find out what is inside and if it will work for you."

"And if its junk?" Greta asked.

Cecelia grinned. "Who plays the lotto and only gets a single ticket and never tries again? Who loses a hand of blackjack and walks away from the table? This is gambling. Wonderful addictive gambling. One even a child can become hooked on because its just silly paper with drawings on it. Who cares? Let your son or daughter buy a few more packs… until they are pawning mommy's jewelry to pay me for a few more to open up. It's a bump, no different than any drug. And the more you get the more you need. One or two packs is fine to start, and maybe you hit it big with that. But then you'll be forever chasing that next release… and come to me for another hit."

Greta rubbed the pack between her thumb and forefinger. "Huh… is that why you made some cards harder to get?"

"Of course!" Cecelia said happily. "Max never did that but… why not? Rarer cards, with something that makes them stick out. A bit of silver ink to make the lettering pop out, a touch of magic so the pictures sparkle. Sure, a bunch are going to be worth it because they ARE powerful… but others won't be that great. But people won't care because… its rare. And the thrill of seeing that rare card will drive them delightfully mad." She smirked. "And then there will be the reprints."

"Reprints?" Greta asked. She found her head, spinning barely able to keep up with all that Cecelia was telling her.

"Of course. You build a deck. Manage to spend a ton of money on super rare cards, buy a ton of packs to get just what you need. But you've finally done it… you've made your perfect deck. There is not a single card you need anymore. And it stays like that… for about 6 months. Maybe a year. Then I release a reprint sent that has all the cards you worked so hard for now at a lower rarity and easier to get. Suddenly everyone can play the deck that you mastered so you have a choice: be like everyone else… or go for something new."

"But… won't people just wait for the reprints?"

Cecelia shook her head. "Oh no… its all about being first. That's what matters the most. More than anything else. Everyone wants to be first."

Greta found herself opening the pack and looking through the cards. While she had helped Cecelia design the cards she still didn't quite grasp the game it full.

And yet she found herself smiling when she saw there was an Ultra Rare card in the pack she'd gotten.

"…mmmm," Greta purred, her rattles trembling.

"Now you're catching on," Cecelia purred into her ear, watching the packs.

~MC~MC~MC~

Ishizu smiled as she set about getting ready for bed. While many others would have worried about trying to find a place to sleep, fearing that being on the run would mean that they wouldn't be able to close their eyes without the terror that they might be awoken to their captors hovering over them, she didn't suffer from that problem. So long as a god wasn't involved (what with the only other thing that had been shown to block her, the Millennium Key, no longer an issue) then she would have a clear vision of the future and know what houses would be unoccupied. Figuring out the keypad code to let her in had been easy as well.

Thus Ishizu had been able to, for the first time in well over a month, have a warm meal, a long shower, and would now be able to get a good night's sleep. She had been able to make some Ful Medames and planned to bring the leftovers with her, as she had enough to tide her over for several days. She had sat on a couch and scrolled with the news, seeing that the world had basically moved on since the Battle City Tournament, which was pleasing. The shower had been nice and hot, relieving her stiff joints and allowing her to get her hair back to its natural shine. And after she'd taken the time to lay out her clothes for the morning she had finally settled into bed.

She shut her eyes and began to drift into peaceful sleep.

"Ishizu Ishtar."

Her eyes snapped open and she snapped up, staring across the room… at a ghost.

"We need to discuss some matters."

"Shadi," Ishizu murmured, staring at the man that had been meant to be her betrothed. They had rarely interacted, such was the way with the tombkeepers. Duty came first, after all. But it had been understood that they would be together. She would move to the tombs that Shadi watched over and help him rebuild his family while Marik became head of theirs. But his death had put that duty aside and then her brother's madness…

"Ishizu."

"How… how are you here?"

"My task is not yet complete. And as such I remain tethered to this world."

"…good," she stated. "Very good. You remain loyal to the Pharaoh and your duty. That pleases me."

"I wish I could say it was pleasant to see you. But your actions have removed all joy I might have felt from this conversation."

That made the Egyptian woman huff. "I suppose this is where you, like so many others, claim that it is wrong for me to do all I do in the name of helping the Pharaoh? I had thought that perhaps you, of all people, would understand. You remained loyal to our Pharaoh, even after death. You do your duty. I am doing mine."

"You believe you have," Shadi informed her. "But your actions say otherwise. In fact you have quite possibly doomed him."

Now Ishizu was truly enraged. "You dare!?" She leapt from the bed, grabbing a robe and slipping it on. "You dare question me? Claim that I have hurt our Pharaoh? Get out… clearly you are not Shadi."

"I am him," he said in his dry and infuriating tone. "And I do not claim you hurt the Pharaoh. You have not wounded him."

"But you just claimed-"

"I said you have doomed him. There is a difference. Your actions against another who you DID harm though… that is what has brought me here."

"Endymion," Ishizu growled. She shouldn't have been surprised that it all came back to him.

"Edwin Chaos. The wielder of the Millennium Key."

"The thief of it," she snapped. "How he got that item I-"

"I gave it to him."

"…what?"

"I journeyed into his mind. I saw the man he is, what he was possible of… and determined that he was the best choice when it came to selecting a new bearer for the Millennium Key."

"How… how could you ever think a man such as THAT would be worthy of the Millennium Key!" Ishizu exclaimed. "He is Endymion's reincarnation! You know what he did! The lives he took! He is a monster!"

"Endymion was a monster," Shadi stated. "A vile, greedy thing that harmed many."

"Many is putting it lightly!" Ishizu snapped. "His actions led to the Thief Bakura's assault upon the Pharaoh! He brought the walls of Thebes crashing down! He sent his wolf against Alfǫðr and laughed at it all!"

"Yes."

"And you gave him… HIM… the key?"

Shadi stared at Ishizu sadly. "I gave Edwin Chaos… I gave Kevin… the key. A man who just wanted to do good. Who wanted to protect his friends. Who lost his mother after being given hope she would recover and though the wound forever remains open he has never allowed it to darken his soul. A man who loves life, the complex and the simple. A man who has stood by the Pharaoh when he could have simply let fate go on and tried to make things BETTER.

"You allow what Endymion did to color your judgment, Ishizu, but you fail to see that what he once was does not reflect what he could be… what he should have been. Before you decided to rob that from him."

"He was a monster."

"The Millennium Rod, Eye, and Ring were all held by Zorc and his deluded disciples. Are they forever tainted? You have killed… does that mean that you are beyond redemption?" He shook his head when she moved to open her mouth. "No… it doesn't matter, I suppose. You have already decided upon the answer. And with it you have doomed us all."

Ishizu shook her head. "You worry for my soul, Shadi? There is no reason to do so. I know that I was in the right. I slayed a great evil… the Millennium Necklace will not be tainted by my act."

But the ghost shook his head. "It isn't your item I worry about."

And with that he pulled out the Millennium Scales.

"I told you I do not fear for myself. Weigh my heart against a feather… it will be lighter."

"And still you do not understand," Shadi murmured.

"I have-"

"I hold the Scale," Shadi stated. "Even in death I hold the scale."

Ishizu nodded. "And why not… you remain loyal to the Pharaoh."

"The Pharaoh has nothing to do with my Millennium Item remaining with me. The Millennium Items do not care about the Pharaoh. They were made for him and his priests but his will does not guide them. Their bearers' will does. In life… and death."

"Of course-"

Ishizu froze.

In death.

She fell to her knees.

"No…"

"And now you see," Shadi whispered softly.

Ishizu stared at him, horror filling her with every moment. "It… it can't be... it simply can't."

"It is," Shadi said. "The Millennium Items can not be stolen. They must be given or won. And the Millennium Key… remains loyal and true to its bearer."

"No," Ishizu said in a tiny voice.

"The Key has followed Edwin Chaos into the afterlife. It remains with him. And now… it is out of our grasp."

"I… it can't…" Ishizu shookher head, squeezing her eyes shut, fingers digging into her scalp as she tried to claw the knowledge Shadi was forcing her to accept from her brain.

"The ritual can not be completed. The Pharaoh must place all Seven Items into the tablet. With the death of Edwin Chaos the Pharaoh can now never hope to regain his memories. Zorc can not be banished from this world. He will remain within the puzzle… but so too will the Spirit of the Millennium Ring remain, able to torment the world and seek his own ways to break free the Dark God."

Ishizu was falling. She was kneeling on the ground but she was falling.

"We have failed. You have doomed us all."

And with that Shadi disappeared.

A few moments later Ishizu began to wail.