Chapter 40

Inside Duelist Suite No. 3, all was solemn.

Jonouchi lay on the bed, a white cloth covering his head, surrounded by a circle of flowers.

Everyone struggled to control their expressions, desperately holding back their emotions.

This, was Jonouchi's funeral.

As Jonouchi's close friend, Honda stepped forward first, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Jonouchi! You died so tragically!! Waaahhhhh!" Tiantian read novels to keep you company, 𝓉𝓉𝓀𝓈. 𝓉𝓌 ultra thoughtful

Then came Anzu.

"Jonouchi, rest in peace!"

Then came Shizuka.

Her expression was the most dramatic.

"Big brother! You died so gloriously~ Hahaha!"

Anzu: "Hey, Shizuka, stop laughing! You Tian said to cry more sorrowfully!"

"I know, Sister Anzu, but hahaha, I just can't help it!"

Otogi now stepped forward too.

"Jonouchi, since you're already dead, can I start dating Shizuka?"

"What the hell!"

Lying on the bed, Jonouchi could no longer endure it—he yanked the white cloth off his head.

Seeing his new hairstyle, everyone finally burst out laughing, howling with mirth.

Jonouchi now looked perfectly alive, with not a trace of death—but his face was completely blackened, his hair standing straight up like he'd been struck by lightning.

Though, he really had just been struck by lightning…

Time rewound ten minutes earlier.

Following the Bingo Machine's ball-draw order, Jonouchi faced off against Rishid, disguised as Malik.

At the climax of the Duel, Rishid, following the real Malik's advice, used a copy card of Slifer the Sky Dragon to make everyone believe he was truly Malik.

As in the original storyline, this Duel immediately provoked Slifer the Sky Dragon's wrath.

A burning Phoenix stained the sky red; torrents of lightning, like Heavenly Judgment, rained down upon Rishid and Jonouchi.

But unlike the original, this time Slifer the Sky Dragon seemed to be on his period—his lightning was far more intense and numerous.

Just as the lightning was about to strike Jonouchi, You Tian—who had vanished for the entire match—suddenly burst out from the side. Without hesitation, he flung a card at Jonouchi.

Crack!

In the end, although Jonouchi was still struck by lightning, the card You Tian threw seemed to absorb some of the energy—he suffered only minor external injuries.

Rishid, on the other hand, was in complete opposite condition—he now looked like an African.

Thanks to Seto's top-tier medical staff aboard the Airship, Rishid barely held onto his life. But judging by his condition, he'd be heading straight to the ICU after landing.

Watching Jonouchi's state, Game stifled his laughter and stepped forward.

"Jonouchi, You Tian says you've been tainted by unclean forces—you must fake your death to ensure no lingering aftereffects."

Veins bulged on Jonouchi's forehead.

"I'm perfectly fine right now! What aftereffects?!"

At that moment, You Tian quietly entered, carrying a bag from outside.

"Oh? Why are you sitting up? Lie back down!"

"Listen, this is a custom in our place—when someone survives a great calamity, they fake death to go through the ritual, for peace of mind."

"Also, take this."

Saying this, You Tian handed over two bottles.

Everyone stared: "Toilet bowl cleaner?"

Game: "You Tian, what's the meaning of this?"

You Tian only smiled faintly.

"Legend says, in the Elven Realm, this keeps evil spirits at bay."

Though Jonouchi was confused by You Tian's bizarre actions, compared to the near-dead Rishid, You Tian might have truly saved his life.

"By the way, You Tian—what card did you throw at me back then?"

You Tian pulled out the card, its surface charred black.

【Lightning Rod】

Time rewound twenty minutes earlier.

You Tian, spotting a suspicious figure on the ship, chased after him with his Duel Spirit.

But what was Shadi? If he didn't want to be found, even Dark Mo Liang, wearing the Millennium Compass, couldn't track him.

After failing to find him, You Tian reluctantly prepared to return and watch Jonouchi and Rishid's Duel.

But just then, he suddenly spotted Dark Mo Liang waking up on the ship—you Tian froze and immediately hid.

Shit, did he wake up this early??

Dark Mo Liang seemed to sense someone's presence. He activated the Gossip Wheel's surveillance mode and walked step by step toward You Tian's location.

Shit! This time, Mo Liang has definitely targeted me!

Should I just walk out boldly and pretend I don't know he's Dark Mo Liang?

No way! He's got that huge Gossip Wheel on his neck—I'd be dead even if I pretended to be blind!

N祭魔 and Death Guardian were also extremely anxious.

Just as You Tian prepared to fight to the death, Shadi suddenly appeared, grabbed You Tian, and vanished with him from the spot.

……

You Tian: "You're Shadi??"

……

Shadi frowned slightly as he gazed at the Heavenly Judgment spectacle outside, where Slifer the Sky Dragon loomed.

"You Tian, your arrival has drawn too much Darkness to this Airship."

"The power of evil individuals has been amplified, and even the collisions from Duels have grown stronger."

"I fear Slifer the Sky Dragon's wrath will directly kill your friend."

You Tian: "What do we do! Jonouchi is about to be struck by lightning!"

Shadi sighed helplessly and handed You Tian a Lightning Rod.

……

"Hmm."

At that moment, You Tian sighed, thinking of this.

It seemed his arrival had indeed altered the story's trajectory.

Yugi frowned as he watched You Tian's distracted expression.

"You Tian."

You Tian lifted his head.

"I know you're troubled by the new Dark Malik."

At this, You Tian's eyelid twitched.

Just ten minutes ago, after Rishid logged off, Dark Malik successfully logged on.

And Dark Malik logged on swiftly, without the struggle shown in the original story.

Instantly, his hair stood on end, and thick waves of Darkness radiated from Malik's body.

Malik: "Kimoji~ Finally, I can vent my resentment however I please!"

"Yugi, I will bury you in the Dark Game!"

"Oh, by the way—also You Tian!"

"Neither of you will escape!"

A series of question marks floated above You Tian's head. Wait, why do you hate me so much?

Having been exposed to Darkness for some time, You Tian naturally understood: Dark Malik's Darkness was absurdly powerful.

When he saw this Darkness with his own eyes, You Tian realized he had seriously underestimated the Dark Game.

This level of power could never be resisted by Necroface or Death Prophet!

Moreover, he had just witnessed the lightning of Slifer the Sky Dragon's wrath.

That thing, as the leader of the ThreePhantomGods, truly had a more terrifying aura than Obelisk the Tormentor and Slifer the Sky Dragon.

……

Yugi: "Those who possess Millennium Items may activate the Dark Game during a Duel. The loser will be dragged into the Abyss."

"Moreover, Malik possesses Ra's Slifer the Sky Dragon."

You Tian sighed helplessly.

He of course knew that.

Anzu: "After only two Duels, Mo Liang, the tattooed man, and Jonouchi are all injured..."

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

Ding!

At that moment, the room's intercom sounded again.

"All Duelists, please gather in the Lottery Room. The opponents for the third Duel will be drawn shortly!"

You Tian's heart sank.

What had to come, came. Let's go.