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Chapter 338: Dark Marik, Wither
Drawing the two cards automatically ejected from his Deck by the Duel Disk, Hayato added **Ojama Blue** to his Hand, then placed the other card, **Armed Dragon LV3**, onto the Duel Disk.
**Armed Dragon LV3**, which hadn't appeared in a long time, flapped its small wings and landed on Hayato's Field. It excitedly raised its hands, and because it was still Hayato's Standby Phase, a light of evolution began to bloom around **Armed Dragon LV3**.
"**Armed Dragon LV3's** own Effect! During my Standby Phase, I Send it from my Field to the Graveyard to Special Summon one **Armed Dragon LV5** from my Hand or Deck!"
Enveloped by the light of evolution, **Armed Dragon LV3's** armor and blades thickened and extended. The cute **Armed Dragon LV3** evolved into the imposing and majestic **Armed Dragon LV5**.
[**Armed Dragon LV5**] [Level 5/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Effect]
[2400/1700]
Watching Hayato Special Summon **Armed Dragon LV5** onto the Field without even using his Normal Summon opportunity, Dark Marik remained calm, his arms crossed over his chest.
Let alone **Armed Dragon LV5**, even **Armed Dragon LV7** or **Armed Dragon LV10**, the final evolution of **Armed Dragon**, only had an ATK of 3000. **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, on the other hand, had an ATK and DEF of 4000, completely surpassing **Armed Dragon**.
**Armed Dragon's** Effect was also useless against **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, because it wasn't meant to challenge strong opponents, but rather to suppress weaker ones. It was good for bullying novices, but useless against **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**.
"Heh, are you planning to challenge **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder** with that monster, Kobayashi Hayato?" Dark Marik chuckled disdainfully, lowering his head to glance at the cards on his Duel Disk.
Aside from **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, the only other monster on his Field was **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight** with 2100 ATK. However, the Set Card in his Backrow was **Absorption Shield**.
If Hayato planned to Summon a high-ATK monster and Attack **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight** to zero out Dark Marik's Life Points, then his **Absorption Shield** would activate.
Hayato glanced at Dark Marik and smiled, "Are you that eager to be crushed by me? In that case, I'll grant your wish."
"Activate Spell Card, **Spiral Fusion**!"
The vortex that appears when a Fusion Card is activated appeared on Hayato's Field, but this time the vortex wasn't the usual blue, but a vibrant green.
From Hayato's Hand, the two monsters, **Gaia the Fierce Knight** and **Curse of Dragon**, were Sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material.
"**Spiral Fusion** is a Fusion Spell Card specifically for Dragon-Type Fusion Monsters. I can Send the Fusion Material Monsters determined by a Dragon-Type Fusion Monster Card from my Hand or Field to the Graveyard, and then Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster."
Within the vibrant green vortex, **Gaia the Fierce Knight**, riding a **Curse of Dragonfire**, appeared on the Field. It was **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**!
As soon as **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** appeared, the green vortex behind him, which hadn't dissipated yet, transformed into a torrent of Magic Power that flowed back into Gaia. The Hellfire on **Curse of Dragonfire** and the swirling storm gathered on the Lance in Gaia's hand. Instantly, Dark Marik, who had been composed moments before, became flustered.
Because **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's** ATK began to strangely soar, as if the Duel System had a BUG?
[**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**] [Level 7/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2600/2100 → 5200/2100]
"The reason it's limited to Dragon-Type Fusion Monsters is, of course, because **Spiral Fusion** has a second Effect. When the Fusion Summoned Dragon-Type monster is **Gaia the Dragon Champion**, **Spiral Fusion** increases that monster's ATK by 2600, and it can Attack twice during a single Battle Phase."
As he spoke, Hayato pointed to **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** on his Field. "**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's** Card Name can be treated as **Gaia the Dragon Champion**, and when he is successfully Special Summoned, I activate his Effect."
"From my Deck or Graveyard, I add one **Spiral Spear Strike** to my Hand. I activate it directly."
Placing the **Spiral Spear Strike** he had just added to his Hand into the Spell & Trap Zone, Hayato sneered at Dark Marik: "Here I come, Dark Marik. Do you have enough monsters left on your Field?"
"**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**, Attack **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**! Cyclone! Heat! Maximum Drive!"
Following Hayato's command, **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** raised the Lance entwined with wind and flames in his hand and Attacked **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight** on Dark Marik's Field.
As Hayato Declared the Attack, **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** used the fierce wind to change **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight's** Battle Position.
"When **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** Declares an Attack on an opponent's monster, I can activate its Effect to change the Battle Position of the Attack Target monster. In front of **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**, the one who decides your monster's Battle Position is me!"
"Feel the pain!"
[**Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**] [ATK 2100 → DEF 500]
Seeing **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**, with its high ATK of 5200, Attack **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**, which had been forcibly switched to Defense Position on his Field, Dark Marik, who knew that **Spiral Spear Strike** granted **Gaia the Dragon Champion** Piercing Damage, no longer waited and flipped his Set Card in the Backrow.
"Stop right there! Activate Trap Card, **Absorption Shield**!"
An energy shield appeared in front of **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**, which was crouching in Defense Position, just barely blocking Gaia's Lance, which was only a step away from Destroying it. The swirling wind and flames on the Lance surged forward, but they were completely absorbed by **Absorption Shield** and converted into Dark Marik's Life Points.
[Marik: 4000 → 9200 LP]
Seeing his **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's** finishing blow blocked by Marik, Hayato smiled: "Originally, I was thinking I'd need to follow up with **Armed Dragon LV5**, but I didn't expect you to use **Absorption Shield**."
"Didn't anyone tell you not to casually use 'Attack Negation' cards when facing me?"
Hayato revealed the card he had drawn from his Deck at the start of the Turn.
Quick-Play Spell Card, **Double Chance**!
"Nani?! That card is...!"
"Ah, although it's a Quick-Play Spell Card, it's a card that can only be used after its Conditions are met."
"**Double Chance's** activation Condition is 'when a monster's Attack is negated'."
As he spoke, Hayato inserted **Double Chance** into his Duel Disk's Spell & Trap Zone: "Activate **Double Chance's** Effect!"
"When a monster's Attack is negated, you can activate this card by targeting that monster!"
"During this Battle Phase, that monster can Attack one more time. During the Damage Step of that Attack, that monster's ATK becomes double its current ATK."
Looking at **Absorption Shield**, which had blocked his Attack, **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** withdrew the Lance he had thrust out, concentrating all his Full Power onto the other Lance he hadn't used yet.
The speed of the wind and flames, which had just been coiling around the Lance like a snake, accelerated, and the wind and fire merged into one, enveloping the entire Lance. From a distance, it looked as if **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** was directly holding a bundle of fiery tornadoes in his hand.
[**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**] [ATK 5200 → 10400]
"ATK... broke through ten thousand?!"
"**Spiral Spear Strike** will grant **Gaia the Dragon Champion** the ability to pierce through Defense Position monsters. With its ATK increased to 10400, and **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight's** DEF being 500, the Damage you will take is 9900. It's almost a shame it's not more."
Hayato sighed dramatically, looking at the somewhat flustered Dark Marik: "So, are you ready to accept this Damage, Dark Marik?"
"No, wait a minute, Kobayashi Hayato!" Although Dark Marik had always acted like a fearless idiot, upon realizing that he would inevitably lose this Dark Game and have his Soul stripped away by Kobayashi Hayato, he couldn't help but panic, fearing he would never be able to cause trouble again.
"Look at me, I'm Marik, Ishizu Ishtar's brother. You have a good relationship with Ishizu, right?"
"Even though Ishizu treats me coldly, if you kill me, it will definitely create a rift in her heart. You don't want to become distant from her because of this, do you?"
"Let me go, I'm willing to give up Control of the Body. You can put my Surface Personality back into this Body!"
Looking at Dark Marik's pathetic state, Hayato merely gave a cold smile: "I, Kobayashi Hayato, will refuse to pay if I'm served overpriced food, will mercilessly beat up thugs and hooligans if I encounter them, and will take all of a duelist's Cards after defeating them if they behave maliciously. However, even someone like me knows what true Sin is."
"Ask yourself, Marik. Do your past actions deserve to be forgiven and let go?"
"Accept this Punishment called Soul Annihilation! The one who delivers this Punishment is I, Kobayashi Hayato, and my **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**!"
"Explosive Kill!!!"
As **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** thrust out the Lance in his hand, the suppressed violent wind and fire instantly engulfed **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**. Under the gaze of **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, who was sweating profusely and trembling, Dark Marik's Life Points were instantly Depleted.
"No! I... I can't accept this!" Even though he had taken a massive 9900 points of Damage in the Dark Game, Dark Marik, who was sent flying and hit the room wall, didn't immediately fall Unconscious. Instead, like a dying ember flaring up, he glared furiously at Hayato.
The Millennium Rod tucked into his waist glowed.
"Kobayashi Hayato, you Bastard!"
"I'll be waiting for you on the road to Hell! Just you rememb—"
Before Dark Marik could finish his harsh words, the Punishment of the Dark Game descended. Even under the protection of the Millennium Rod, which possessed a certain degree of ability to modify the Rules of the Dark Game, Dark Marik's Soul was instantly shattered. His body went limp and fell to the ground, stopping Breathing as if dead.
After Marik's Body fell to the ground, Hayato lowered his head to look at the Millennium Ring on his chest, tapping the Eye of Udjat in the center of the golden disk, calling out to Marik, who was residing within it.
"Hey, Three-Year-Old, are you ready?"
"Huh? Ready for what?" Marik hadn't recovered from the strange mix of vengeful satisfaction and the feeling of seeing "himself" utterly defeated by Hayato in one Turn. Hearing Hayato's words, he didn't immediately understand.
"Honestly, just listening to these Card Spirits chirping is annoying enough. You being next to me is really in the way." Hayato glanced at **Ojama Yellow** and **Ojama Blue**, who were dancing excitedly because Rainbow Kuriboh hadn't appeared in this Duel but they had, and rubbed his forehead helplessly.
Patting the noisy two Ojama monsters back into their respective Cards, Hayato walked towards Marik's "corpse" lying on the ground as he spoke.
"For a noisy Tenant who hasn't paid rent, I, the Landlord, have every reason to kick him out, don't I?" Turning Marik's Body face up, Hayato said to Marik inside the Millennium Ring.
Although Hayato had always called him "Three-Year-Old," Marik wasn't actually three years old. He understood what Hayato meant.
He had been begging Hayato to let him out in the Virtual World before, but now that Hayato was actually going to put him back into his own Body, Marik hesitated.
"Brother-in-law, I..."
"First of all, I'm not your Brother-in-law." Hayato interrupted Marik, explaining the current situation to him, "Let me explain beforehand. Your Soul was already damaged due to Personality Split and was usurped by your Dark Personality. After that, it was even roughly extracted from your Body by him. It's quite lucky you didn't suffer Soul Annihilation at that time."
"And your Body, because your Dark Personality preferred Dark Games, who knows how many he went through or what kind of abuse he suffered during this time?"
"Anyway, your Soul is shattered now, and your Body has been ravaged. Even if your Soul returns to your Body, whether they will be compatible is unknown. Be prepared to become a Vegetative State or even Brain Death."
What Hayato said was very realistic, but hearing such realistic words, Marik in the Millennium Ring was only silent for a moment before laughing: "Wouldn't that be good too?"
"I remember there's a saying, 'What goes around comes around, Heaven's justice is inescapable'?" My Dark Personality and I, our past actions have caused countless people to fall into Suffering. I will bear this Sin and won't make excuses for myself."
Marik's voice was low, but beneath the low tone, there was a hint of relaxation and relief:
"If I'm lucky enough to survive, I plan to spend the rest of my life atoning for my past Sins. And if I die directly, being able to repay my crimes with just death would actually be a bargain for me."
His straightforward and open-minded words made Hayato look at Marik seriously for the first time. The Marik who had been childish and foolish in the past seemed to have grown up a lot in this moment.
"Cut it out, trying to escape responsibility by dying? You Three-Year-Old, no, Six-Year-Old." Hayato rarely doubled Marik's age. "Don't drag down others who care about you. I don't want to see Ishizu crying and mourning for you. Just thinking about that scene makes me Annoyed."
"Thank you for taking me in during this time, Brother-in-law," Marik said with a smile. "Even though you never admit it, I acknowledge you. Take good care of Sister, she's a very gentle person."
Hayato waved his hand without saying anything, but with a thought, he Released the Millennium Ring's restraint on the Soul. From the Millennium Ring, Marik's Soul was protected by Dark Magic and sent into Marik's Body, which was lacking a Soul.
Before entering the Body, Marik looked at Hayato not with his usual Face Acting, but with a bright smile that truly suited his age: "Goodbye, Brother-in-law. No matter what, I can reunite with the people I care about, right? Whether it's Sister, who is still alive, or Brother Rishid, whom I killed."
Hayato, however, looked strangely at Marik, who was about to merge into the Body: "Who told you Rishid is dead?"
"Eh?"
"You didn't think the other you killed Rishid, did you? You're thinking too much, you Six-Year-Old, no, Three-Year-Old." Hayato said smugly, "That Bakura guy thought he could kill someone in front of me? Don't even think about it. Rishid just fell Unconscious from the Attack at the time, he's not dead at all."
"By the time we get back to Domino City, he's probably already recovered." As he spoke, Hayato raised his hand and flicked Marik's Soul Body. "So live, go back to Domino City and see Rishid, and then spend your life atoning, you eternal Three-Year-Old."
Marik's Soul entered his Body. Hayato wore a look of disgust, but his hands didn't hesitate for a moment, and he began manually pressing on Marik's chest to restore his Breathing.
At the same time, Hayato used the Millennium Ring to Control the Dark Magic circulating within Marik's Body, helping him clear and recover from the internal injuries left by the Dark Game.
It was only then that the room Door was pushed open. Kaiba and Yugi walked in first. As soon as they entered the room, they felt the lingering heat.
Seeing Marik being "rescued" by Hayato in a corner of the room, Mokuba, who was following behind Kaiba, was quite surprised: "Isn't that Marik Ishtar? He's been missing for so long, how did he suddenly appear in Hayato's room?"
"Marik..." And Ishizu, seeing Marik lying on the ground as if dead, although she had always maintained an attitude of righteous condemnation, seeing her own brother lying there like he was dead, couldn't help but feel Sorrow.
Handing Marik over to the Medical Personnel who had arrived with them, and conveniently taking his Deck, Hayato saw the sorrowful expression on Ishizu's face and comforted her: "The Marik now is the original him."
"Hayato-kun..."
"Dark Marik snuck in here to ambush me, and then because he lost the Dark Game, I expelled him from the Body. Then, I put the Soul of the Surface Personality Marik back into the Body." Watching Marik being carried away on a Stretcher, Hayato continued, "The dark Soul has been shattered by me. The rest depends on Marik's own fate."
"After all, not everyone has studied Souls. I don't know what his outcome will be."
"However, before being sent into the Body, he repented."
Hayato's words were indeed helpful. Hearing that Marik had repented, Ishizu felt some comfort amidst her worry and sadness.
The Unconscious Marik was taken away by the Medical Personnel. As Marik's Family Member, Ishizu also left with them. Kaiba, along with the KaibaCorp Security Force led by Isono, confirmed there were no further dangers in the room before walking up to Hayato.
"Hmph, you certainly have a lot going on, Kobayashi Hayato."
"It's not like I want it this way. I wanted to organize my Deck properly too," Hayato said with a helpless shrug. "But Seto, you're so slow. If I had to rely on you, I'd be cold by the time you arrived."
"Hmph, cut the act. I don't think you'd be taken down that easily." Kaiba spoke as if afflicted with a terminal illness that prevented him from speaking without a "Hmph" in every sentence. "Since there's nothing else, prepare properly for the upcoming Duel. And don't think I'll forget what happened in the Grouping Match!"
With that, Kaiba turned and walked towards the Door.
Looking at Yugi beside him, Hayato shrugged: "It's all your fault, Yugi. Because of your **Switch Position**, Seto is completely fixated on me now."
"But I didn't want to face Joey Wheeler either," the Original Yugi, who was currently present, said. Hearing Hayato's words, he scratched the back of his head shyly. His words earned him a "Strong Man Lock" from Joey Wheeler, who had come with them.
"Hey, were you guys all trying not to be in the same Grouping as me?" Joey Wheeler said, holding Yugi's starfish hair with one hand, somewhat dissatisfied. "Is it embarrassing to be in a Grouping with me?"
"Just think about it, it's definitely because Joey Wheeler is too Weak and not a Challenge," Tristan, who was nearby, retorted, successfully diverting Joey Wheeler's attention. The "Strong Man Lock" shifted from Yugi to Tristan.
While roughhousing with Tristan, Joey Wheeler looked at Hayato and Yugi and said confidently: "That Duel with Mai wasn't my Full Power at all. When I Duel Kaiba, I'll definitely show you guys how amazing I am!"
Drawing the two cards automatically ejected from his Deck by the Duel Disk, Hayato added **Ojama Blue** to his Hand, then placed the other card, **Armed Dragon LV3**, onto the Duel Disk.
**Armed Dragon LV3**, which hadn't appeared in a long time, flapped its small wings and landed on Hayato's Field. It excitedly raised its hands, and because it was still Hayato's Standby Phase, a light of evolution began to bloom around **Armed Dragon LV3**.
"**Armed Dragon LV3's** own Effect! During my Standby Phase, I Send it from my Field to the Graveyard to Special Summon one **Armed Dragon LV5** from my Hand or Deck!"
Enveloped by the light of evolution, **Armed Dragon LV3's** armor and blades thickened and extended. The cute **Armed Dragon LV3** evolved into the imposing and majestic **Armed Dragon LV5**.
[**Armed Dragon LV5**] [Level 5/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Effect]
[2400/1700]
Watching Hayato Special Summon **Armed Dragon LV5** onto the Field without even using his Normal Summon opportunity, Dark Marik remained calm, his arms crossed over his chest.
Let alone **Armed Dragon LV5**, even **Armed Dragon LV7** or **Armed Dragon LV10**, the final evolution of **Armed Dragon**, only had an ATK of 3000. **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, on the other hand, had an ATK and DEF of 4000, completely surpassing **Armed Dragon**.
**Armed Dragon's** Effect was also useless against **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, because it wasn't meant to challenge strong opponents, but rather to suppress weaker ones. It was good for bullying novices, but useless against **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**.
"Heh, are you planning to challenge **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder** with that monster, Kobayashi Hayato?" Dark Marik chuckled disdainfully, lowering his head to glance at the cards on his Duel Disk.
Aside from **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, the only other monster on his Field was **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight** with 2100 ATK. However, the Set Card in his Backrow was **Absorption Shield**.
If Hayato planned to Summon a high-ATK monster and Attack **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight** to zero out Dark Marik's Life Points, then his **Absorption Shield** would activate.
Hayato glanced at Dark Marik and smiled, "Are you that eager to be crushed by me? In that case, I'll grant your wish."
"Activate Spell Card, **Spiral Fusion**!"
The vortex that appears when a Fusion Card is activated appeared on Hayato's Field, but this time the vortex wasn't the usual blue, but a vibrant green.
From Hayato's Hand, the two monsters, **Gaia the Fierce Knight** and **Curse of Dragon**, were Sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material.
"**Spiral Fusion** is a Fusion Spell Card specifically for Dragon-Type Fusion Monsters. I can Send the Fusion Material Monsters determined by a Dragon-Type Fusion Monster Card from my Hand or Field to the Graveyard, and then Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster."
Within the vibrant green vortex, **Gaia the Fierce Knight**, riding a **Curse of Dragonfire**, appeared on the Field. It was **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**!
As soon as **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** appeared, the green vortex behind him, which hadn't dissipated yet, transformed into a torrent of Magic Power that flowed back into Gaia. The Hellfire on **Curse of Dragonfire** and the swirling storm gathered on the Lance in Gaia's hand. Instantly, Dark Marik, who had been composed moments before, became flustered.
Because **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's** ATK began to strangely soar, as if the Duel System had a BUG?
[**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**] [Level 7/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2600/2100 → 5200/2100]
"The reason it's limited to Dragon-Type Fusion Monsters is, of course, because **Spiral Fusion** has a second Effect. When the Fusion Summoned Dragon-Type monster is **Gaia the Dragon Champion**, **Spiral Fusion** increases that monster's ATK by 2600, and it can Attack twice during a single Battle Phase."
As he spoke, Hayato pointed to **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** on his Field. "**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's** Card Name can be treated as **Gaia the Dragon Champion**, and when he is successfully Special Summoned, I activate his Effect."
"From my Deck or Graveyard, I add one **Spiral Spear Strike** to my Hand. I activate it directly."
Placing the **Spiral Spear Strike** he had just added to his Hand into the Spell & Trap Zone, Hayato sneered at Dark Marik: "Here I come, Dark Marik. Do you have enough monsters left on your Field?"
"**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**, Attack **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**! Cyclone! Heat! Maximum Drive!"
Following Hayato's command, **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** raised the Lance entwined with wind and flames in his hand and Attacked **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight** on Dark Marik's Field.
As Hayato Declared the Attack, **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** used the fierce wind to change **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight's** Battle Position.
"When **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** Declares an Attack on an opponent's monster, I can activate its Effect to change the Battle Position of the Attack Target monster. In front of **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**, the one who decides your monster's Battle Position is me!"
"Feel the pain!"
[**Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**] [ATK 2100 → DEF 500]
Seeing **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**, with its high ATK of 5200, Attack **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**, which had been forcibly switched to Defense Position on his Field, Dark Marik, who knew that **Spiral Spear Strike** granted **Gaia the Dragon Champion** Piercing Damage, no longer waited and flipped his Set Card in the Backrow.
"Stop right there! Activate Trap Card, **Absorption Shield**!"
An energy shield appeared in front of **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**, which was crouching in Defense Position, just barely blocking Gaia's Lance, which was only a step away from Destroying it. The swirling wind and flames on the Lance surged forward, but they were completely absorbed by **Absorption Shield** and converted into Dark Marik's Life Points.
[Marik: 4000 → 9200 LP]
Seeing his **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's** finishing blow blocked by Marik, Hayato smiled: "Originally, I was thinking I'd need to follow up with **Armed Dragon LV5**, but I didn't expect you to use **Absorption Shield**."
"Didn't anyone tell you not to casually use 'Attack Negation' cards when facing me?"
Hayato revealed the card he had drawn from his Deck at the start of the Turn.
Quick-Play Spell Card, **Double Chance**!
"Nani?! That card is...!"
"Ah, although it's a Quick-Play Spell Card, it's a card that can only be used after its Conditions are met."
"**Double Chance's** activation Condition is 'when a monster's Attack is negated'."
As he spoke, Hayato inserted **Double Chance** into his Duel Disk's Spell & Trap Zone: "Activate **Double Chance's** Effect!"
"When a monster's Attack is negated, you can activate this card by targeting that monster!"
"During this Battle Phase, that monster can Attack one more time. During the Damage Step of that Attack, that monster's ATK becomes double its current ATK."
Looking at **Absorption Shield**, which had blocked his Attack, **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** withdrew the Lance he had thrust out, concentrating all his Full Power onto the other Lance he hadn't used yet.
The speed of the wind and flames, which had just been coiling around the Lance like a snake, accelerated, and the wind and fire merged into one, enveloping the entire Lance. From a distance, it looked as if **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** was directly holding a bundle of fiery tornadoes in his hand.
[**Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**] [ATK 5200 → 10400]
"ATK... broke through ten thousand?!"
"**Spiral Spear Strike** will grant **Gaia the Dragon Champion** the ability to pierce through Defense Position monsters. With its ATK increased to 10400, and **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight's** DEF being 500, the Damage you will take is 9900. It's almost a shame it's not more."
Hayato sighed dramatically, looking at the somewhat flustered Dark Marik: "So, are you ready to accept this Damage, Dark Marik?"
"No, wait a minute, Kobayashi Hayato!" Although Dark Marik had always acted like a fearless idiot, upon realizing that he would inevitably lose this Dark Game and have his Soul stripped away by Kobayashi Hayato, he couldn't help but panic, fearing he would never be able to cause trouble again.
"Look at me, I'm Marik, Ishizu Ishtar's brother. You have a good relationship with Ishizu, right?"
"Even though Ishizu treats me coldly, if you kill me, it will definitely create a rift in her heart. You don't want to become distant from her because of this, do you?"
"Let me go, I'm willing to give up Control of the Body. You can put my Surface Personality back into this Body!"
Looking at Dark Marik's pathetic state, Hayato merely gave a cold smile: "I, Kobayashi Hayato, will refuse to pay if I'm served overpriced food, will mercilessly beat up thugs and hooligans if I encounter them, and will take all of a duelist's Cards after defeating them if they behave maliciously. However, even someone like me knows what true Sin is."
"Ask yourself, Marik. Do your past actions deserve to be forgiven and let go?"
"Accept this Punishment called Soul Annihilation! The one who delivers this Punishment is I, Kobayashi Hayato, and my **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion**!"
"Explosive Kill!!!"
As **Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion** thrust out the Lance in his hand, the suppressed violent wind and fire instantly engulfed **Dark Hero - Corpse Demon Knight**. Under the gaze of **Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder**, who was sweating profusely and trembling, Dark Marik's Life Points were instantly Depleted.
"No! I... I can't accept this!" Even though he had taken a massive 9900 points of Damage in the Dark Game, Dark Marik, who was sent flying and hit the room wall, didn't immediately fall Unconscious. Instead, like a dying ember flaring up, he glared furiously at Hayato.
The Millennium Rod tucked into his waist glowed.
"Kobayashi Hayato, you Bastard!"
"I'll be waiting for you on the road to Hell! Just you rememb—"
Before Dark Marik could finish his harsh words, the Punishment of the Dark Game descended. Even under the protection of the Millennium Rod, which possessed a certain degree of ability to modify the Rules of the Dark Game, Dark Marik's Soul was instantly shattered. His body went limp and fell to the ground, stopping Breathing as if dead.
After Marik's Body fell to the ground, Hayato lowered his head to look at the Millennium Ring on his chest, tapping the Eye of Udjat in the center of the golden disk, calling out to Marik, who was residing within it.
"Hey, Three-Year-Old, are you ready?"
"Huh? Ready for what?" Marik hadn't recovered from the strange mix of vengeful satisfaction and the feeling of seeing "himself" utterly defeated by Hayato in one Turn. Hearing Hayato's words, he didn't immediately understand.
"Honestly, just listening to these Card Spirits chirping is annoying enough. You being next to me is really in the way." Hayato glanced at **Ojama Yellow** and **Ojama Blue**, who were dancing excitedly because Rainbow Kuriboh hadn't appeared in this Duel but they had, and rubbed his forehead helplessly.
Patting the noisy two Ojama monsters back into their respective Cards, Hayato walked towards Marik's "corpse" lying on the ground as he spoke.
"For a noisy Tenant who hasn't paid rent, I, the Landlord, have every reason to kick him out, don't I?" Turning Marik's Body face up, Hayato said to Marik inside the Millennium Ring.
Although Hayato had always called him "Three-Year-Old," Marik wasn't actually three years old. He understood what Hayato meant.
He had been begging Hayato to let him out in the Virtual World before, but now that Hayato was actually going to put him back into his own Body, Marik hesitated.
"Brother-in-law, I..."
"First of all, I'm not your Brother-in-law." Hayato interrupted Marik, explaining the current situation to him, "Let me explain beforehand. Your Soul was already damaged due to Personality Split and was usurped by your Dark Personality. After that, it was even roughly extracted from your Body by him. It's quite lucky you didn't suffer Soul Annihilation at that time."
"And your Body, because your Dark Personality preferred Dark Games, who knows how many he went through or what kind of abuse he suffered during this time?"
"Anyway, your Soul is shattered now, and your Body has been ravaged. Even if your Soul returns to your Body, whether they will be compatible is unknown. Be prepared to become a Vegetative State or even Brain Death."
What Hayato said was very realistic, but hearing such realistic words, Marik in the Millennium Ring was only silent for a moment before laughing: "Wouldn't that be good too?"
"I remember there's a saying, 'What goes around comes around, Heaven's justice is inescapable'?" My Dark Personality and I, our past actions have caused countless people to fall into Suffering. I will bear this Sin and won't make excuses for myself."
Marik's voice was low, but beneath the low tone, there was a hint of relaxation and relief:
"If I'm lucky enough to survive, I plan to spend the rest of my life atoning for my past Sins. And if I die directly, being able to repay my crimes with just death would actually be a bargain for me."
His straightforward and open-minded words made Hayato look at Marik seriously for the first time. The Marik who had been childish and foolish in the past seemed to have grown up a lot in this moment.
"Cut it out, trying to escape responsibility by dying? You Three-Year-Old, no, Six-Year-Old." Hayato rarely doubled Marik's age. "Don't drag down others who care about you. I don't want to see Ishizu crying and mourning for you. Just thinking about that scene makes me Annoyed."
"Thank you for taking me in during this time, Brother-in-law," Marik said with a smile. "Even though you never admit it, I acknowledge you. Take good care of Sister, she's a very gentle person."
Hayato waved his hand without saying anything, but with a thought, he Released the Millennium Ring's restraint on the Soul. From the Millennium Ring, Marik's Soul was protected by Dark Magic and sent into Marik's Body, which was lacking a Soul.
Before entering the Body, Marik looked at Hayato not with his usual Face Acting, but with a bright smile that truly suited his age: "Goodbye, Brother-in-law. No matter what, I can reunite with the people I care about, right? Whether it's Sister, who is still alive, or Brother Rishid, whom I killed."
Hayato, however, looked strangely at Marik, who was about to merge into the Body: "Who told you Rishid is dead?"
"Eh?"
"You didn't think the other you killed Rishid, did you? You're thinking too much, you Six-Year-Old, no, Three-Year-Old." Hayato said smugly, "That Bakura guy thought he could kill someone in front of me? Don't even think about it. Rishid just fell Unconscious from the Attack at the time, he's not dead at all."
"By the time we get back to Domino City, he's probably already recovered." As he spoke, Hayato raised his hand and flicked Marik's Soul Body. "So live, go back to Domino City and see Rishid, and then spend your life atoning, you eternal Three-Year-Old."
Marik's Soul entered his Body. Hayato wore a look of disgust, but his hands didn't hesitate for a moment, and he began manually pressing on Marik's chest to restore his Breathing.
At the same time, Hayato used the Millennium Ring to Control the Dark Magic circulating within Marik's Body, helping him clear and recover from the internal injuries left by the Dark Game.
It was only then that the room Door was pushed open. Kaiba and Yugi walked in first. As soon as they entered the room, they felt the lingering heat.
Seeing Marik being "rescued" by Hayato in a corner of the room, Mokuba, who was following behind Kaiba, was quite surprised: "Isn't that Marik Ishtar? He's been missing for so long, how did he suddenly appear in Hayato's room?"
"Marik..." And Ishizu, seeing Marik lying on the ground as if dead, although she had always maintained an attitude of righteous condemnation, seeing her own brother lying there like he was dead, couldn't help but feel Sorrow.
Handing Marik over to the Medical Personnel who had arrived with them, and conveniently taking his Deck, Hayato saw the sorrowful expression on Ishizu's face and comforted her: "The Marik now is the original him."
"Hayato-kun..."
"Dark Marik snuck in here to ambush me, and then because he lost the Dark Game, I expelled him from the Body. Then, I put the Soul of the Surface Personality Marik back into the Body." Watching Marik being carried away on a Stretcher, Hayato continued, "The dark Soul has been shattered by me. The rest depends on Marik's own fate."
"After all, not everyone has studied Souls. I don't know what his outcome will be."
"However, before being sent into the Body, he repented."
Hayato's words were indeed helpful. Hearing that Marik had repented, Ishizu felt some comfort amidst her worry and sadness.
The Unconscious Marik was taken away by the Medical Personnel. As Marik's Family Member, Ishizu also left with them. Kaiba, along with the KaibaCorp Security Force led by Isono, confirmed there were no further dangers in the room before walking up to Hayato.
"Hmph, you certainly have a lot going on, Kobayashi Hayato."
"It's not like I want it this way. I wanted to organize my Deck properly too," Hayato said with a helpless shrug. "But Seto, you're so slow. If I had to rely on you, I'd be cold by the time you arrived."
"Hmph, cut the act. I don't think you'd be taken down that easily." Kaiba spoke as if afflicted with a terminal illness that prevented him from speaking without a "Hmph" in every sentence. "Since there's nothing else, prepare properly for the upcoming Duel. And don't think I'll forget what happened in the Grouping Match!"
With that, Kaiba turned and walked towards the Door.
Looking at Yugi beside him, Hayato shrugged: "It's all your fault, Yugi. Because of your **Switch Position**, Seto is completely fixated on me now."
"But I didn't want to face Joey Wheeler either," the Original Yugi, who was currently present, said. Hearing Hayato's words, he scratched the back of his head shyly. His words earned him a "Strong Man Lock" from Joey Wheeler, who had come with them.
"Hey, were you guys all trying not to be in the same Grouping as me?" Joey Wheeler said, holding Yugi's starfish hair with one hand, somewhat dissatisfied. "Is it embarrassing to be in a Grouping with me?"
"Just think about it, it's definitely because Joey Wheeler is too Weak and not a Challenge," Tristan, who was nearby, retorted, successfully diverting Joey Wheeler's attention. The "Strong Man Lock" shifted from Yugi to Tristan.
While roughhousing with Tristan, Joey Wheeler looked at Hayato and Yugi and said confidently: "That Duel with Mai wasn't my Full Power at all. When I Duel Kaiba, I'll definitely show you guys how amazing I am!"
