Chapter 35: Please Defeat Me Within One Turn!

"Hey, you've trapped us here—what if we get drawn in the first Duel?" You Tian said helplessly.

Isis smiled.

"Don't worry, Mr. You Tian. The first Duel is between the Pharaoh… between Mutou Yugi and Mo Liang—it has nothing to do with us."

"Besides, the first Duel has already begun."

As she spoke, Isis gazed out the window.

You Tian frowned.

Isis turned her head back toward You Tian.

"Of course, I can also tell you that the second Duel is between Jonouchi and Rishid—that is, the man who calls himself 'Malik'."

"I saw these future scenes through the Millennium Pendant around my neck."

"Though, I suppose, even if I didn't say anything, you'd know anyway?"

You Tian gave no answer.

"The cage of fate is so unyielding—even the arrival of an Otherworld Traveler cannot shake it in the slightest."

Here, Isis seemed somewhat sorrowful.

"Ah, sorry—I've gone too far off track."

"Let's return to my earlier proposal."

She turned her gaze once more toward You Tian.

"I beg you to Duel me one…"

"Duel me for one turn."

A question mark appeared above You Tian's head.

"One turn?"

Isis nodded.

"Yes, I only need to confirm one thing. One turn shouldn't take up too much of your time, right?"

Though he didn't know what Isis intended, since he couldn't leave, he might as well accept the Duel.

"Fine," You Tian said helplessly.

Then…

"Duel!" ×2

"I'll go first!" Isis announced first.

"Mr. You Tian!"

"Hm?" You Tian looked at her in confusion.

"Before the Duel begins, I must explain one thing to you."

You Tian: "What is it?"

Isis slowly closed her eyes, tilting her face upward.

"I come from the Tomb Wardens of Egypt—the Ishtar Clan, a lineage that has guarded the Pharaoh's secrets for three thousand years in underground caverns."

"Over these three thousand years, countless tragedies have arisen."

"And my brother, Malik Ishtar, became the one who brought this tragedy to its end."

At these words, tears seemed to stream down the young woman's face.

"When I received the Millennium Pendant, I immediately understood fate's cruelty."

You Tian understood Isis's words.

In the Original Plot Lines of DM, the Ishtar Clan was a tragic family.

For three thousand years, their lineage had guarded the Millennium Artifact tablet of Atem.

The males of their clan were burdened with heavy responsibilities.

The eldest son of each generation of Ishtar became the heir of the Tomb Wardens, forced to carve the secret of the Millennium Tablet into their backs, destined to one day present that secret to the resurrected Pharaoh.

The process of engraving the secret could only be described as cruel and bloody.

Moreover, before the heir came of age, they were forbidden to step outside the underground caverns even once.

Such a crushing burden had tormented the Ishtar Clan for three thousand years.

Now, at last, the Pharaoh had awakened.

This should have been a joyous moment for the Ishtar Clan—they could finally be freed from their endless curse.

Yet, as the last heir of the Tomb Wardens, Malik Ishtar was chosen by the Millennium Rod.

Perhaps it was fate's cruel joke, or perhaps fate's design—the Dark Malik born from the Millennium Rod slew their father, ushering in the second act of the Ishtar Clan's misfortune.

"My brother will become the Tribute to the Pharaoh's awakening!"

Isis said.

"Fate has arranged it thus!"

She opened her eyes again, staring directly at You Tian.

"But now, I have seen a glimmer of hope to break fate!"

"Mr. You Tian, your Deck must contain the card 【Amazon】, correct?"

You Tian blinked slightly.

"Yes."

Isis's face lit up with joy.

"Then it's settled!"

"In this second Duel, Rishid will be defeated by the wrath of Slifer the Sky Dragon, and my brother Malik's dark persona will seize control of fate and offer my brother as the Tribute."

"The third Duel is between the Controller of Amazon and his dark persona."

"And this person..." Isis pointed at You Tian.

"It's you!"

You Tian's eyelid twitched.

In the Original Plot, the third Duel was Kongque Wu against Dark Malik. The one who controlled Amazon in fate should be Sister Wu, right?

"Mr. You Tian, you're not from this world, are you?"

You Tian's gaze sharpened.

"Don't be nervous, Mr. You Tian. I told you—I have no ill intent."

Isis exhaled slowly.

"According to ancient legend, travelers from the Other World often possess the power to break fate."

"If this legend is true, perhaps... your power is the key to my brother's survival!"

You Tian's eyelid twitched again.

Hah! Where did you hear this legend? What does it have to do with me? In the Original Plot, it was Game who defeated Dark Malik and saved your brother!

Wait—hold on. Game is also the Pharaoh of the Underworld. He's also a traveler from the Other World. Could it be...?

Isis's gaze was resolute, her eyes filled with determination.

"Therefore, I must confirm whether you possess the power to shatter fate and forge a new future!"

Then, Isis waved her hand.

"For this, I shall invoke the power of the Millennium Pendant to summon the heaviest cage of the future!"

A question mark appeared above You Tian's head.

"What does that mean?"

Isis gave no answer.

She activated the Millennium Pendant's power once more.

Whoosh! Golden light flooded the room—until every speck converged upon her Duel Disk's Deck.

You Tian quickly shielded his eyes with his arm.

"Mr. You Tian, listen!"

"Defeat me within one turn!"

"My turn, Draw Phase!"

"I send Foreseer Zolga from my hand to the Graveyard, and Special Summon Celtic Guardian Keldo in Attack Position!"

【Celtic Guardian Keldo】【Attack Power: 1200】

Wait!! What did you just discard!! What did you just Summon!!???

"When Celtic Guardian Keldo is Special Summoned by its own effect, I may add one card from my Deck that states 'Reversal of the Living and the Underworld' to my hand!"

"I add Sword Priest Mudora from my Deck to my hand!"

Hold on!! What did you just draw!!?

"I now send Ancient Guard Akido from my hand to the Graveyard, and Special Summon Sword Priest Mudora!"

【Sword Priest Mudora】【Attack Power: 1500】

You Tian:!!!

"When Ancient Guard Akido is sent from hand to Graveyard, both players must send the top five cards of their Decks to the Graveyard."

You Tian: spaced out. jpg

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! ×2

Isis's eyes fixed on the cards sent to her Graveyard.

"Among the cards I sent to the Graveyard is 'Reversal of the Living and the Underworld.' According to Ancient Guard Akido's effect, when my Graveyard contains 'Reversal of the Living and the Underworld,' I may send five more cards to the Graveyard!"

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

【Isis Graveyard Cards: 12】【You Tian Graveyard Cards: 5】

You Tian: spaced out. jpg

"When Sword Priest Mudora is Special Summoned by its own effect, I may activate one 'Gravekeeper's Trap' from my Deck on the field!"

【Gravekeeper's Trap】【Effect: Each of this card's #2 and #3 effects can be used once per turn. ①: As long as my Graveyard contains 'Reversal of the Living and the Underworld,' the opponent cannot activate effects of cards in their Graveyard or Special Summon monsters from their Graveyard. ②: During either player's Main Phase, you can discard 1 card from hand to add 1 'Gravekeeper's' monster or a Terra-type Angel monster from your Deck to your hand. ③: When this card is face-up on the field, before your opponent's Draw Phase, you must declare a card name. If the card drawn is the declared card, send it to the Graveyard.】

"I activate another effect of Gravekeeper's Trap—I discard Ancient Spear Kelbek from my hand, and add Gravekeeper's Descendant from my Deck to my hand!"

You Tian: spaced out. jpg

"When Ancient Spear Kelbek is sent from hand to Graveyard, both players must send five more cards from the top of their Decks to the Graveyard."

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! ×2

【Isis Graveyard Cards: 18】【You Tian Graveyard Cards: 10】

"After this, since my Graveyard contains 'Reversal of the Living and the Underworld,' I may choose one Trap Card from my Graveyard and Set it on my field."

"At the same time, I activate the effects of Celtic Guardian Keldo and Sword Priest Mudora—since my Graveyard contains 'Reversal of the Living and the Underworld,' I can banish these two cards to return up to ten cards from your Graveyard to your Deck!"

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

【Isis Graveyard Cards: 18】【You Tian Graveyard Cards: 0】

"Ancient Spear Kelbek's effect continues!"

Isis immediately picked up 'Reversal of the Living and the Underworld' from her Graveyard.

【Effect (Unpatched Version): If each player's Graveyard contains more than 15 cards, you may pay 1000 LP to activate. Both players exchange all cards in their Deck and Graveyard, then shuffle their Decks.】

"I Set this card on the field!"

You Tian:...

For this, I shall wield the power of the Millennium Pendant to Summon the heaviest cage of the future!

Isis's words echoed like a ghost beside You Tian's ear. His lips twitched, his gaze vacant as he stared at the scene before him.

Haha, fuck you!