Chapter 51: Hesitation leads to defeat, decisiveness leads to death

“To be able to see through a part of the truth of my abilities—Game Boy, you have passed. It is time for me to get serious!”

After saying this, under Yugi's tense gaze, Bakura drew a card and immediately wore an expression of astonishment: “Oh~ unbelievable! Game Boy, I’ve drawn an incredible card~”

What appeared before Yugi's eyes was [Faceless Illusionist]. Neither its 1200 Attack points nor its 2200 Defense points could withstand Yugi's [Dark Magician]. Yet, after the reveal, Bakura summoned it directly to the field.

“[Faceless Illusionist] is summoned to my field, and now, I add the Spell Card in my hand, [Eye of Illusion].” Playing a card from his hand, Bakura pointed a finger at the silent [Dark Magician]. “Now, I will use it to launch an attack on your [Dark Magician] on the field, Game Boy.”

Yugi stared at the strange monster appearing on Bakura's field; its hollow face was chilling to behold. “A rare card I haven't seen before... but if it's a Spellcaster-type, [Dark Magician] won't lose to any monster!”

The dark magic energy surging from the emerald wand collided with the eye-shaped attack released by [Faceless Illusionist]. However, to Yugi's surprise, neither monster was destroyed, and there was no fluctuation in either Bakura's or his own Life Points.

“What's going on? If the Attack points are the same, both monsters should have been destroyed simultaneously!” Yugi was utterly perplexed by the situation.

“Oh dear, what a blunder. I accidentally forgot that Yugi's time is almost up.” Bakura's feigned voice drew Yugi's attention away from the field to the countdown in the upper right corner of the video tape; there were less than five minutes remaining until the end. According to the rules agreed upon at the start, the player with the higher Life Points when the timer hits zero would be the winner.

[Yugi: 1500 LP] [Bakura: 1200 LP]

If Yugi were willing to swallow his pride and simply stall for time, Bakura would automatically lose the moment the timer hit zero, making Yugi the victor. But it was obvious that Yugi was not the type of person who could accept such a victory.

“Only cowards stop moving! I will keep fighting! I summon [Elemental Knight] and attack [Faceless Illusionist]!” Playing a card, a smirk played on Yugi's lips, as if he could already see the future where [Faceless Illusionist] was defeated. “I don't know what just happened, but undoubtedly, [Faceless Illusionist]'s Attack remains 1200, and it will be defeated by the 1400 Attack of [Elemental Knight].”

“Wow, you took the bait, Game Boy~” The annoying smile remained on Bakura's face.

Just as [Elemental Knight] was summoned and before it could launch its attack, a powerful surge of dark magic suddenly erupted from its side. As it shattered the monster, Yugi's Life Points plummeted by a full 1100 points in one go.

“1100 points of damage! Why... why would [Dark Magician] do this?!” Yugi looked on in disbelief at [Dark Magician] as it launched an attack against [Elemental Knight].

Bakura spread his hands in explanation: “[Eye of Illusion]'s effect isn't just about increasing Attack power. Your [Dark Magician] has been bewitched by [Faceless Illusionist] and has become my puppet~ Game Boy~”

[Yugi: 1500 LP → 400 LP]

“Yo-ho! At this rate, by the time my turn ends, the time should be almost up, right?” After drawing a card without making a move, Bakura glanced at the countdown, which had only ten seconds left, and ended his turn. “As I said before, boring obsessions will only lead you to a losing end, Game Boy~”

The gap in Life Points had reversed once again; what was once Yugi's advantage had shifted to Bakura having higher Life Points, and there were only ten seconds left. Once those ten seconds passed, Bakura would naturally claim victory in the duel.

But Yugi rejected this with a stubborn glare: “No, the duel isn't over yet, Bakura! My final monster is this—[Summon of the Demon]!”

The skeletal demon that had once defeated Hayato, [Dark Knight Gaia], reappeared. As soon as its arm emerged from the card art, it impatiently began to gather lightning in its palm, launching an attack toward [Faceless Illusionist].

However, even with the desperate rush, just a moment before the lightning attack could touch [Faceless Illusionist], the countdown on the video tape officially hit zero. The game ended with Bakura's victory.

“Oh my, that was close. You were just a tiny bit away from turning the tables, Game Boy~” Bakura's image did not vanish with the end of the tape; instead, he gestured a "tiny" distance toward Yugi from the television screen. “I have a feeling that in the 'Duel Kingdom' tournament, I will definitely face you again.”

Yugi, having lost the match, was in a foul mood and snapped, “And what if I say no?”

“No, no, no, Game Boy, you will definitely come.” As he spoke, Bakura once again brushed back his long hair on the left side, revealing the golden "prosthetic eye" that Yugi had noticed earlier. “This eye is called the [Millennium Eye]. Just like the [Millennium Puzzle] on your chest, it is a super~ rare Millennium Item.”

“Millennium Item?” For some reason, hearing that term from Bakura caused a tremor in the heart of the Dark Yugi, as if the word held a profound connection to him.

“The dark power of the Millennium Eye can see through the human heart. That is why I said earlier that you had only seen through a part of the truth of my abilities.” A powerful energy surged from the hollow Millennium Eye, as if it intended to suck everything in its surroundings into its void. “Let us meet again at Duel Kingdom, Game Boy~”

“If you still wish to reclaim your precious treasure—”

*DING—!!!*

Bakura's figure was completely swallowed by the golden light released by the Millennium Eye. The light even pierced through the television, flying out of the screen, passing straight through the blinded Yugi, and heading toward the direction where Joey and the others had just left the living room.

At that moment, Hayato, who had been leaning against the sofa, suddenly raised his right hand. A translucent spear flew from his palm, colliding with the golden light: “Don't think you'll get your wish, Bakura!”

“GAIA—!!!”

The reason Hayato had urged Grandpa Muto and the others to leave the living room as quickly as possible, only to have a spirit assist him in returning, was all for this single, triggered strike. This attack concentrated the full power of the five card spirits he carried—[Rainbow Chestnut], the [Disturb] brothers, and [Dark Knight Gaia]—all for the purpose of stopping Bakura from stealing souls.

In Hayato's estimation, although the dark power of the Millennium Items was quite formidable, Bakura was not physically present. Since he had to maintain the Dark Games, peer into hearts, and *then* seize souls, the power would be divided among multiple tasks, and Hayato believed he might be able to hold his own. Furthermore, his successful recovery of movement during the Dark Games with the help of several spirits had proven he possessed some capacity for resistance.

However, Hayato had underestimated Bakura's determination to "invite" Yugi, and he had underestimated the dark power Bakura had expended on "soul snatching."

Under his shocked gaze, the convergence of the five card spirits' power—the phantom image of [Dark Knight Gaia]'s lance—collided with the light released by the [Millennium Eye]. After a stalemate lasting less than a second, it shattered violently. Hayato felt only a massive impact in his mind; before he could even cry out in pain, he lost consciousness.