Chapter 655: Altar

New Tongshiye.

The airport in New Tongshiye appeared busy and solemn under the afterglow of dusk. At the end of the runway, a touch of silver-white on the skyline gradually drew near from afar, passing through the cloud layer and descending onto the airport's long runway.

"."

". Just a few minutes ago, the Egyptian Archaeological Bureau's plane had already landed at New Tongshiye's airport."

A female reporter reported to the camera lens.

"This time, the Archaeological Bureau is led by Director Ishizu Ishtar herself."

"Director Ishizu is also a duelist well-known to the audience from the first Duel City tournament, having achieved a Top 8 finish in that first Duel City where gods gathered."

"Her younger brother, Marik Ishtar, is even more famous as the runner-up of the first Duel City and the former holder of the Phantom God card, 'The Winged Dragon of Ra'..."

"."

". There is news claiming that the Egyptian Archaeological Bureau has come specifically for a collaboration on an important project with the Kaiba Corporation; the outside world speculates there has been a major discovery in the field of duel archaeology."

The image of Ishizu Ishtar appeared on the television screen.

At this moment, Ishizu was over thirty years old. She had chocolate-colored skin and was well-maintained, looking no different from back then, only adding a few more notes of mature charm.

Facing the reporter's lens and the microphone extended toward her, she swept her gaze across the circle expressionlessly, then said calmly.

"Egypt is considered by many to be the birthplace of Duel Monsters, and our Egyptian Archaeological Bureau has always taken the excavation of precious ruins and the vigorous promotion of the development of the Duel Monster world as our own responsibility."

"We will continue to maintain close cooperation with the Kaiba Corporation to jointly advance the progress of duel civilization."

"."

In the hotel's presidential suite, Marik Ishtar leaned back into the soft sofa, watching his sister's response on the television, and joked with a smile: "Sister is really photogenic; she's becoming more and more skilled at handling these reporter interviews and such."

Marik flipped through the schedule.

"There are quite a lot of arrangements these days. Let me see... banquet, banquet, opening ceremony, banquet... oh, and golf."

Ishizu Ishtar said faintly: "We are not here to play, Marik."

"I know."

Marik put away his smile, looked out the window, and was lost in thought for a moment.

At this time, it was already late; outside the window, the stars filled the sky, and the roads were bustling with traffic—even at night, the city remained in a busy state.

"The three Phantom Gods have all left this world." Marik said, "With the Phantom Gods gone, the Pharaoh's soul has also returned to the Underworld. I originally thought this was the end of the curse that our Tombkeeper clan had carried for three thousand years; I really thought everything would end here."

He looked at Ishizu, whose expression remained cold and without ripples.

"But everything actually never truly ends, right, Sister?" He said, "Whenever you think you have escaped the past, the past will find you again. Our Tombkeeper clan... can never truly wait for a destiny where we can stop fighting, right?"

Ishizu closed her eyes gently, and after a moment, she smiled slightly.

"It is not destiny, Marik." She said softly, "We fight because we choose to fight. Because we are warriors, and no matter which era it is, the world will always need warriors."

"Alright, I vaguely guessed you would say that." Marik said helplessly, "But Sister, I think you also know that darkness is about to descend again. And this time, there is no Pharaoh standing in front of that darkness."

"Yes. The Pharaoh is no longer here."

Ishizu smiled slightly.

"But don't worry, this world will always have a new King."

In the mountains, in the dense forest.

Thick black clouds shrouded the area, just like a deep night curtain swallowing the last ray of sunlight. The black clouds churned like boiling ink, and black lightning gathered within the cloud layer; every flash was accompanied by a deafening roar, as if hiding the wrath of a god.

This was the gathering place of the Jianglin Sect. High in the sky, a jet was approaching this area.

"There is strong interference ahead, as well as abnormal storms and lightning."

The pilot said apologetically to Fujiki You Xuan.

"I am very sorry, but I am afraid we cannot continue forward."

"It's fine."

Fujiki You Xuan had already put on his jet glider. He tapped the button to open the cabin door and smiled at the pilot.

"Thank you for your hard work; leave the rest to me."

After speaking, he leaped, and his figure had already disappeared into the sea of clouds.

Countless Jianglin Sect members gathered in the forest, surrounding the altar.

The Archbishop stood in the center of the altar, presiding over this sacred ritual. The sect members each had solemn expressions and pious gazes, chanting ancient incantations in unison.

(No content lost!)

Then, following the Archbishop's order, they all raised their hands in unison.

In an instant, everyone felt as if a part of their soul had been extracted. Their bodies felt as exhausted as if they had been squeezed dry in just a few seconds, like having dueled at high intensity for an entire night. Those with slightly weaker physical constitutions felt their legs go soft, and they tilted and fell directly to the ground.

This was the ritual of sacrifice. Sometimes the offering was a living soul, sometimes the offering was a fairy, and sometimes it required their own energy.

Of course, the Evil God was still polite; at least when draining the life of his own believers, he would leave them a breath. They might feel collapsed, but they wouldn't die.

After all, if the believers all died, the Evil God would have to find a new way to recruit people to work, which would be quite troublesome. The Evil God still possessed the basic consciousness of sustainable development.

And as feedback, the Evil God would also show them some miracles from time to time.

Common ones included striking thunder or dropping a few bolts of lightning. Sometimes he would split a tree, and other times he would possess the Archbishop or some other high-level members to deliver an oracle.

Hmm, "oracle" was a nicer way of putting it; to put it bluntly, it was just assigning them new work.

But today, things had exceeded expectations.

It was an exceptionally striking bolt of heavenly thunder, falling like the wrath of a deity, striking directly onto the altar. The moment it touched the altar, there was no expected explosion; instead, it seemed to turn into clusters of lightning lingering on the altar, forming a rotating vortex.

All the believers widened their eyes, stunned to see that within that electric light, a human figure was faintly emerging?

They were stunned for a few seconds.

Then, not knowing who took the lead, someone shouted: "The Evil God? The Evil God has manifested!"

Everyone felt a jolt through their bodies instantly and soon became excited.

Yes, the Evil God, it must be the Evil God manifesting! Or at least an incarnation of his venerable self.

This was the first time. Previously, the Evil God had at most passed messages through the Archbishop or other high-level members; there had never been a precedent for an incarnation to descend in person.

Thus, the whole field knelt down.

And Fujiki You Xuan, who had landed in the center of the altar and just stood up, patted the dust off his body, his gaze sweeping over the pious kneeling believers below the stage.

Then he let out a snicker.

He raised his hand with a serious expression.

"Rise."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 656 =====