...We won.
Marik's LP hit zero, and the words "Winner: Youyu" appeared on the Duel Disc. The thick darkness that enveloped the area gradually dissipated, revealing the blue sky once more.
The Dark Duel lasted so long that Youyu almost forgot it was still broad daylight when everything around was pitch black.
At this moment, the referee, Mr. Isono, who remained calm in the face of the pressure from two Egyptian Gods and the strange event of players' disappearing bodies, spoke with composure: "Winner, Duelist Youyu! Marik is eliminated!"
His tone was as calm as water, his expression as serene as a deep well, as if it were perfectly normal for people to vanish while playing cards, nothing to be alarmed about.
As for the Egyptian Gods, Mr. Referee thought, working under President Haima, what storms haven't I weathered? It's just a dragon and a bird, albeit a bit bigger, what's so special about that...
Indeed, as the Dark Duel ended, the parts of Youyu's body that had vanished were fully restored after his victory.
Youyu clenched his fist, jumped a bit, feeling like there was nothing unusual with his limbs... most importantly, nothing seemed wrong with his little brother, which was quite a relief.
If playing a game made his little brother vanish into another dimension, that would have been like an avalanche...
But surprisingly, on the opposite side, Marik, who should have been swallowed by darkness after losing in the Darkness Game, also had his body restored.
Youyu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Could this guy be cheating with hacks? Like secretly giving himself an infinite health bar in the Darkness Game?
No, that shouldn't be possible. The key to the Darkness Game lies in its fairness; the rules are equal for both the initiator and the passive participant of the game.
When you lose, you must accept the punishment according to the rules you chose; that's the fundamental of the Darkness Game, as well as the foundation of the Yu-Gi-Oh World where cards reign supreme.
"Marik!"
His sister, Ishizu, hurried up to the stage and helped her brother, who lay on the ground like a dead fish.
Marik groaned a couple of times, his eyelids twitching, and uttered vaguely from his throat, "Sis...Sister..."
Youyu instantly understood.
Marik had two personalities in his body, two completely different souls. The one who just fought Youyu and was defeated in the Darkness Game was that dark and evil inner personality.
Now that the inner personality has been completely wiped out, only the outer personality remains.
What? You're asking how Youyu can tell these two Mariks apart when they share the same body and appearance?
Isn't it obvious? Because this Marik has clearly turned into a person who can't play cards, just look at his hairstyle!
And look at that face, could Dark Marik ever wear such a normal expression?
However, although it wasn't the outer Marik who participated in the Darkness Game and his soul wasn't affected, the two personalities share one body, so the physical trauma and stamina drain from the Darkness Game are very real.
That's why Marik looks completely wilted now, lying on his sister's lap like he's in a sage mode after a phase shift burst, looking thoroughly played out.
This duel not only destroyed his dark personality but also the internal darkness subtly fostered within him under the influence of the dark personality.
... In other words, it's about time for the redemption arc according to the trope.
".....I have committed irreparable sins." Marik gently closed his eyes. "During the time when my inner personality awakened, all memories I lost, father's death... I remembered them all."
Ishizu bit her lips, gently stroking her brother's forehead with some heartache, remaining silent.
"I always thought that the nameless Pharaoh was responsible for my father's death. So I hated him, hated the fate of our Gravekeeper Race, and resolved to personally take revenge, ending our clan's destiny.
For that reason, I formed the Ghouls and stole the Egyptian God Cards that should have been protected with our lives by the Gravekeeper Race, intending to take revenge on the Pharaoh... But I only found out recently that I was wrong.
With the awakening of my inner personality, it also unleashed memories buried deep in my subconscious. It turned out the Pharaoh had nothing to do with my father's death. It turned out it was I, myself, who committed this treacherous act and killed my father."
Marik struggled to lift his head.
"...You always knew, didn't you, Sister?"
Ishizu turned her head to look elsewhere, saying nothing.
She did know, and even Marik's most trusted subordinate, whom he saw as his brother, Rishid, also knew.
It happened the first time Marik's dark personality took over his body. Marik had no memory of what happened when the inner personality controlled him, but both Ishizu and Rishid were present at the scene. They witnessed Dark Marik kill their father with brutal methods, thus setting off a series of vendettas.
After that, Ishizu and Rishid tacitly chose to hide the truth about their father's death from Marik, not telling him what really happened. Until now, with the dark personality's awakening, did the memory resurface.
By now, the audience had gathered around the stage.
Marik struggled to crawl out of his sister's arms, stood up gasping for breath.
He turned to Yugi: "Yugi... No, honorable Pharaoh, first I must apologize to you. I have made unforgivable mistakes, causing great trouble to you and your friends."
"Marik knew nothing," Sister Ishizu came forward, "If someone has committed a crime, it should be me—who knew the truth but never had the courage to tell him."
Marik was surprised, "Sister!"
"Additionally, I also broke the most important rule of the Gravekeeper Race," Ishizu said firmly, "I arbitrarily handed over the 'Obelisk the Tormentor' to someone else and even used the power of the Millennium Necklace in duels, breaking a major taboo..."
Seeing Marik quickly absolve himself of guilt, with the devoted Gravekeeper siblings competing to shoulder the blame, Dark Yugi, the Pharaoh, couldn't help but frown.
The Ghouls have committed a lot of mischief, and even if it's claimed that they didn't know the truth, Marik has still done many bad things. Principle dictates that it can't just be easily overlooked...
"My other self, I feel sorry for Marik and his sister," Yugi's voice chimed in, pleading for the siblings, "And come to think of it, they haven't really done anything too bad to us, the Ghouls that attacked us have already gotten what they deserved. How about we forgive them?"
"...Alright, since you say so." The King nodded without hesitation, turning to the siblings, "It's okay, I forgive you."
"..."
After all, nothing is more important than pleasing AIBO.
The King indicates that as long as AIBO is happy, these minor matters are of no concern.