"I... I actually lost to an NPC, an insignificant mortal..."

As she threw the small knife in her hand—striking Bakura squarely in the forehead—Marlene, who had finally avenged her friend, spoke calmly:

"If it had just been me alone, I never would've stood a chance. The one who defeated you wasn't just me—it was the will of everyone who wanted to protect this country... It was the hope that connected us all across the battlefield that brought your end, Thief King Bakura!"

"...Then, if there's a next life... I'd like to be a good person..."

Bakura, eyes wide open, fell backward with a heavy crash into the pool of dark red and black blood, bringing an end to his wicked life. That final sentence might have been the only sincere words he'd ever spoken—free from Dark Marik's control.

(***)

Dark Game

"Checkmate. The resurrection and time-reversal GM items have already been used. The Thief King Bakura you controlled is now completely eliminated."

With the situation reversed, the once-composed look on Dark Bakura's face before the sandbox map had vanished. In contrast, a faint, confident smile tugged at the corners of Hoshino's soft pink lips.

"I didn't expect the spirits of Atlantis to interfere like that... and even the clone I had in the Memory World was slain. I admit, Hoshino, you really did turn this Game around."

After collecting more than half of the Millennium Items, Bakura had assumed victory was guaranteed. But the unexpected happened: not only did the infinitely replicating Diabound come into play, but also the undead spirits of Atlantis, who revived endlessly thanks to the planet's dark energy.

Even though a single Diabound unit was far stronger than any undead soldier, sheer numbers began to tilt the balance—especially with Orichalcos monsters still stationed across the map.

Back and forth, the endless multiplication of Diabound clashed with the undead legions of Atlantis, reaching an uneasy equilibrium. They could no longer expand unchecked.

This granted the Egyptian forces a much-needed reprieve. Under the Pharaoh's command, citizens from border towns began migrating to the capital to escape the flames of war.

At the same time, in the northern port, the battlefield stabilized under the leadership of the Lion King and the Three Knights Class. Seeing no further strategic value, the Atlantean undead army quietly retreated.

Which meant only one battlefield remained active: the southern Valley of the Kings, where the three-way war continued.

Despite it being a three-sided conflict, the Egyptians only had Waver and Seto, mounted on the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

As the strategist, Waver relied on the Iskandar's high mobility and destructive power to keep Diabound and the Atlantean army in check—whittling down both sides as long as possible.

"It's over. With the Thief King killed, you've lost your trump card in this Game. Now it's only a matter of time before Egypt secures victory."

"Heh... Hoshino, I'll admit you pulled off a comeback. But don't think that means I'm going to surrender."

Bakura's cold smile returned as he regained the godlike overhead view of the sandbox map—just as Hoshino had earlier.

"Good thing I saved one final trump card, just in case. Let's settle this once and for all with this move—Book of Life!"

Placing the drawn card on the palace section of the map, the coffin of the former Pharaoh—hidden by Aknadin—began to stir.

"I knew it. That treacherous Aknadin wouldn't have obediently returned the previous Pharaoh's coffin to the pyramid."

Hoshino muttered in annoyance. Even with her godlike view, she hadn't noticed the coffin hidden in the palace. Clearly, Aknadin had used some method to sever it from outside perception.

[Book of Life – Spell Card Effect: Target 1 Zombie monster in your GY and 1 monster in your opponent's GY; Special Summon your Zombie, and banish the opponent's monster.]

"—Dark power, flow into this decayed corpse. You who were once dead, arise as my new puppet!"

"You're seriously planning to resurrect the former Pharaoh?!"

Hoshino was shocked as the coffin began to creak open. The former Pharaoh was the current Pharaoh's father—reviving him as a puppet was despicable beyond reason, both ethically and morally.

But for the Great Evil God Zorc, despicable acts were a badge of honor.

"The Book of Life's effect not only revives my Zombie monster, it also banishes one monster from your graveyard."

Moving his finger from the coffin on the map to the palace dungeon, Bakura smirked wickedly:

"You're no longer useful, High Priest Aknadin."

In the dungeon, Aknadin—his mind on the verge of collapse—clung desperately to the cold bars, still shouting what he had cried when dragged down by guards:

"I served the former king! I'm his brother! Even if I have no merit, I deserve recognition! You can't do this to me!"

"As you wish, then—go join the former Pharaoh."

A cold, dark figure appeared behind Aknadin. A claw laced with sinister energy pierced the back of his head and tore out the Millennium Eye embedded in his left socket.

"Ah... this feeling... is it... Brother..."

As Aknadin collapsed, he muttered one final line that sent chills down Hoshino's spine—before his 'banished' body dissolved into nothing.

"Now the Millennium Eye is mine. With five Millennium Items in hand, my power has nearly returned... but it's still not enough to break the seal."

Still not satisfied, Bakura directed Aknamkanon's body deeper into the palace.

"The remaining two Millennium Items: the Millennium Rod held by Seto, and..."

Hoshino's expression shifted.

"No... Isis!"

"Too late!"

Even though Hoshino realized Marik was going after Isis and her Millennium Necklace, her chibi avatar—currently with Hoshino Alter—couldn't warn her in time.

After the Atlantean army retreated from the northern battlefield, Seto and Hoshino Alter rushed to the capital, but they weren't fast enough.

Bakura's hand had already wrapped around Isis's slender, graceful throat.

"Now the Millennium Necklace is mine too~"