Chapter 54: It

In the dim underground tomb, the boy was suddenly embraced by someone.

Rishid?

"Lord Malik, don't look behind!" Rishid cried out hoarsely.

Why is Rishid holding me? And why won't he let me look back?

Behind? What's behind?

Driven by curiosity, Malik ignored Rishid's warning and slowly turned his head.

But he did not know that the scene behind him would become his lifelong nightmare.

"Father!!"

His father, the head of the Ishtar Clan, lay helplessly in a pool of blood.

"Father!!!"

Suddenly, Malik opened his eyes on the hospital bed.

He recalled the events of his dream with lingering dread.

"Malik! You're awake!"

Seeing Malik awake, Isis, who had been waiting beside him, exclaimed joyfully.

"Sister?"

Isis, tears welling in her eyes, rushed forward and embraced Malik.

"My brother, you're finally safe!"

"It's over! Everything's over! Our clan's nightmare is finished!"

Light filtering through the window into the cabin flickered intermittently as clouds drifted across the sky.

Inside the cabin, Malik's thoughts mirrored the shifting light and shadow after hearing Isis recount everything.

"So… that's how it was. My dark persona has been defeated by You Tian."

Malik's emotions were deeply complicated.

He turned his head to look at Rishid, lying on the bed beside him.

Sigh, I let a false hatred lead me to hurt Rishid this badly.

Malik, who had always acted as he pleased, now felt guilt for the first time.

"Sister, I understand. Before we disembark, I'll tell the Game the secret guarded by the Tomb Wardens."

Watching her brother finally emerge from the darkness, Isis smiled and nodded.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

But at that moment, someone knocked on Room 7.

Malik and Isis turned their heads simultaneously, then heard a voice from outside.

"Ms. Isis! I'm here~ You haven't forgotten anything, have you?"

"Hm?" Malik frowned in confusion.

That voice—so obnoxious—could it be You Tian?

Upon hearing the voice, Isis's expression twisted in distress.

She glanced back at Malik, then at the door, her delicate hands clutching her dress, torn between whether to open it.

Malik:?

Finally, Isis let out a weary sigh.

She slowly rose to her feet and walked toward the door, opening it.

As the door opened, Malik had the strange feeling that something filthy had just entered.

"Hey! You're awake, little Malik? Looking energetic? Any discomfort?"

The visitor was indeed You Tian.

In fact, Malik's feelings toward You Tian were deeply conflicted.

In all the events before, You Tian had thoroughly disgusted Malik.

But then You Tian defeated his dark persona and rescued him from darkness—technically, he was Malik's savior.

"I'm fine. Except for some inexplicable chest pain, nothing else is wrong." Malik maintained his neutral stance toward a neutral entity.

You Tian nodded with a smile, his gaze pausing briefly on Malik's Duel Disk.

He licked his lips, then turned to look at Isis, whose expression was odd.

"What are you waiting for? You know why I'm here. Do I need to remind you?"

Malik:?

Isis was flustered and annoyed.

"Mr. You Tian, although I agreed to your request, this timing is inappropriate."

Malik:??

"Hmph~" You Tian stepped forward, studying Isis with a twisted grin.

"Are you trying to back out, Ms. Isis?"

Isis bit her lip, looking troubled.

"Malik's awake… and he's right here watching me…"

Malik:???

You Tian's expression grew even more perverse.

"Let him watch. It's better if he watches."

As he spoke, he advanced toward Isis near the doorway.

Malik:????

"You bastard, what are you doing to my sister!!"

Damn it! This guy came out of my sister's room this morning—could it be… that my sister made such a sacrifice to save me!?

Malik's eyes bulged with rage as he struggled to sit up from the bed.

"Oh my, your vital energy is truly excellent~" You Tian glanced at him sideways.

"Good, good—now your sister can rest easy."

You Tian turned back to Isis.

"Do I really have to do this myself?"

Isis's expression grew even more troubled.

Finally, she let out a helpless sigh and slowly brought her hands toward her shoulders…

"No! Sister, you can't… with this kind of person…"

Hum~

Before Malik could finish speaking, he felt his body suddenly frozen in place.

Then he looked closely—Isis's hands rested on either side of her collarbone. The force paralyzing him was the power of her Millennium Pendant.

Malik:????

Wait, what does this mean?

Then he saw You Tian open the door for Isis and let her walk out.

Malik:!!!!!!!!

Wait, so all this time… I'm the one who was sacrificed?

"Hehehe!" You Tian rubbed his hands together and moved toward Malik with malicious intent.

"Don't come near me!" Malik cried out in terror.

You Tian: "Oh my~ I saved you, and you're this rude to me?"

"Tsk tsk tsk—morals are declining."

"But don't worry—I won't hold back."

Malik:!!!

Malik was utterly defeated.

In that instant, he felt his inner dark personality stirring again.

"Malik… Master!"

At that moment, Rishid beside him, sensing Malik's peril, struggled to rise and shield him.

"Hmm~" You Tian shook his head at the sight.

"Such blind loyalty~ I can't stand this kind of thing."

Saying this, You Tian slowly closed his eyes.

"Jonouchi, carry that African out!"

No sooner had he spoken than Jonouchi shuffled in from behind the door with a pained expression.

He looked at You Tian, then at the two across from him.

Without a word, he walked straight to Rishid and slung him over his back, carrying him out of the room.

Malik:???

Huh? Someone's here to clean up?

Boom! The next instant, You Tian launched a flying kick—zero-frame start—straight at Malik's face!

Malik:!!!

"Aaaahhhhh!!!!!!"

Loud wails echoed from Room 8.

"Hmm~" Jonouchi, carrying Rishid on his back, sighed helplessly.

Five minutes earlier, You Tian had found Jonouchi.

……

You Tian: "Jonouchi, hurry! I can't hold back anymore!"

Jonouchi:????

You Tian: "Thinking about all the vile things Malik did makes me furious."

"My righteous iron fist is bursting to beat him up! Come help me beat him!"

Jonouchi: …

"Uh, You Tian, Malik's already down. Now we're going to beat up someone defenseless? That's… not quite right…"

Jonouchi spoke gently.

After all, in his heart, even if someone was utterly wicked, once they were down, there was no need to strike them further—it violated his sense of justice.

You Tian narrowed his eyes. "Huh, you're right. Fine then."

Jonouchi:????

You Tian actually listened?

But then You Tian spoke again.

"Come on, Malik didn't do anything too bad—just founded the Gurus, sold fake cards, controlled a bunch of poor souls, and killed a few Gurus members."

Jonouchi's eyelid twitched.

You Tian: "Oh, right—he also tried to kill Game, wanted to kidnap you and Anzu, and injured Mo Liang."

Jonouchi's eyelid twitched again.

You Tian's gaze slanted sideways. "Oh, and there's more — that Blue-Eyes White Dragon of yours was also snatched by them."

"Enough, enough!" Jonouchi raised his hand and cut You Tian off.

"I'll help you, alright?"

A wicked grin tugged at the corner of You Tian's mouth.

"But…" Jonouchi spoke up again, "I still won't lay a hand on him."

You Tian flashed a brilliant smile and let out a devilish whisper.

"No worries — just help me carry that African guy to another room!"

"The rest… I'll handle it!"

……

Hiss~

Recalling You Tian's evil expression from earlier, Jonouchi couldn't help but shudder.