The Protagonist of the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Might Be the Same Person

"Because you activated a Spell Card, one Magic Counter is added to Skilled Dark Magician."

The Magic Counter on Skilled Dark Magician's chest lit up.

[Skilled Dark Magician: Magic Counters 2 → 3]

"Alright! With three Magic Counters, Skilled Dark Magician can use its effect to summon a high-level monster!"

Jonouchi said excitedly.

"Hmph! A commoner is just a commoner! Skilled Dark Magician is currently equipped with Robe of the Dark Magician, raising its ATK to 3400. Yugi probably won't use its ability so easily."

However, President Kaiba had a premonition that Yugi would use this effect soon.

At the same time, Bakura took out his Deck.

"According to the effect of Demon Dog Hachikukken."

When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, activate it. Add 1 Level 8 Fiend monster from your Deck to your hand.

After searching through his cards, he took one out.

"I add Dark Doll Nicolefia to my hand."

[Bakura's Hand: 1 → 2]

"Be careful, Other Me! I have a bad feeling about that card..."

Since Yugi wasn't sure if the effect was the same as the OCG effect, he only warned him to be careful, as speaking carelessly could lead the King to misjudge.

"Yeah, I know..."

The King also knew something was off about that card.

At this moment, Bakura directly slammed the card onto his Duel Disk.

"I want to Special Summon this card. The condition for summoning this monster is to Tribute three monsters and send them to the Graveyard as sacrifices for it (banish). Now, awaken, ruler of the death world, Dark Doll Nicolefia!"

A creepy bald demon holding a tattered doll was then projected.

[Dark Doll Nicolefia: ATK 2200]

[Bakura's Hand: 2 → 1]

"Battle! I attack Skilled Dark Magician with Dark Doll Nicolefia, Psychic Blast!!"

Dark Doll's eyes widened and it unleashed a red beam towards Skilled Dark Magician.

"Attacking a monster with higher ATK!? There's definitely something fishy going on, so I won't let you succeed! I activate my Set card, Hexagram Curse! This card targets Dark Doll Nicolefia. The targeted monster's ATK is reduced by 700, it cannot attack, nor can its battle position be changed!"

A six-pointed star magic circle then appeared and locked Dark Doll in place.

[Dark Doll Nicolefia: ATK 2200 → 1500]

"Tch! Always resorting to cheap tricks!"

Bakura couldn't help but click his tongue.

"Then I'll change White Robe Phantom Thief to Defense Position."

White Robe Phantom Thief crouched down into a defensive stance.

[White Robe Phantom Thief: DEF 700]

"I'll set one card and end my turn."

Bakura covered his last card and ended his turn.

[Bakura's Hand: 1 → 0]

"My turn, draw!"

[Yugi Muto's Hand: 1 → 2]

"Didn't draw it..."

Seeing that the card he drew was a monster card that had no effect in this situation.

"This Set card isn't meant to be used yet. I have to wait until the very last moment..."

Looking at the card he set last turn, the King muttered softly.

"For now, it's better to test Bakura's Set card."

After thinking for a moment, the King immediately made his decision.

"Battle! I attack White Robe Phantom Thief with Skilled Dark Magician!"

Skilled Dark Magician unleashed a black orb towards White Robe Phantom Thief.

"Hmph! Yugi, you won't escape! I activate my Set card, Roadblock! Your attack target is Dark Doll Nicolefia!"

Dark Doll took the attack from Skilled Dark Magician, and the monster instantly shattered.

[Bakura: LP 2600 → 700]

[Skilled Dark Magician: ATK 3400 → 2900]

"No good!!"

King felt a sense of foreboding.

Bakura was willing to sacrifice his own Life Points to destroy the Dark Doll, which showed just how troublesome its effect must be.

"My combo is finally complete, Yugi! Because [Dark Doll Nicolefia] was sent to the Graveyard, I activate the Field Spell [Dark Sanctuary]!"

As the Field Spell was activated, the surrounding dark crimson, gloomy space covered the area. The silhouette of a castle appeared within the space. Simultaneously, a large number of eyes and mouths opened all around, making the space incredibly eerie.

"This card is the reason you were willing to reduce your Life Points!?"

King realized the situation had become dire.

"That's right, Yugi! Let me tell you, the ability of [Dark Sanctuary] is to place Spell and Trap Cards in the Monster Zones on the Duel Disk. In other words, the problem of insufficient Spell and Trap Zones has been solved. Under the power of [Spirit Medium's Board], your life has truly entered a countdown! Hahahahaha..."

Bakura couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"AIBO, you guessed right. Bakura really prepared a card to work with [Spirit Medium's Board]."

"So, all we need to do is thin the Deck and draw that key card, Other Me!"

"Yeah! I understand!"

After King and Yugi discussed it, he took out Skilled Dark Magician.

"I activate the effect of [Skilled Dark Magician]."

"By Tributing this card with 3 Magic Counters, you can activate it. Special Summon 1 [Dark Magician] from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard."

"Appear! My strongest servant, [Dark Magician]!"

As Skilled Dark Magician disappeared, a magician wearing a purple robe appeared.

[Dark Magician: ATK 2500]

"You gave up the higher ATK [Skilled Dark Magician], what are you trying to do!?"

Bakura questioned King.

However, the latter did not reply.

"Not answering!? Fine, end your turn quickly, Yugi!"

Bakura shrugged and said indifferently, as if victory was already in his grasp.

"My turn ends."

King ended his turn without setting any cards.

"Then, during your End Phase, the effect of [Spirit Medium's Board] activates once again, placing the Continuous Spell [Death Message "A"]."

Another "A" letter appeared on Bakura's field, and then it was his turn.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Dark · Ma · Gi · Ci · An

"My turn, draw!"

[Bakura Hand: 0 → 1]

"I Summon [Vengeful Spirit Collective] in Defense Position."

A collection of ghosts appeared on Bakura's field.

[Vengeful Spirit Collective: ATK 900]

[Bakura Hand: 1 → 0]

"My turn ends, and to maintain the existence of the Field Spell [Dark Sanctuary], I must Tribute 1 monster on my field. [Vengeful Spirit Collective] is Tributed."

Thus, the Vengeful Spirit Collective on his field dissipated.

"He gave up his shield? Did he set some terrifying card?"

King thought with a frown, then drew a card.

"My turn, draw!"

[Yugi Muto Hand: 2 → 3]

King still hadn't drawn the card he wanted.

"Battle! I attack [White Robe Phantom Thief] with [Dark Magician], Dark Magic..."

Just as Dark Magician was about to launch its attack, a ghost suddenly flew out from behind it and charged at King.

"Vengeful Spirit Break!!"

As Bakura's voice fell, the ghost struck King.

[Yugi Muto: LP 4000 → 2750]

"What was [Dark Magician] or... what attacked me... Zero..."

King said in surprise.

"Hahahaha! It seems you were startled. That's because it's a vengeful spirit born from the effect of the Field Spell [Dark Sanctuary]. That vengeful spirit attaches itself to an opponent's monster as an Equip Card. When a monster equipped with a vengeful spirit attacks, that attack is negated, and you take damage equal to half of that monster's ATK, while recovering Life Points equal to half of that monster's ATK."

[Bakura: LP 700 → 1950]

"As an Equip Spell? Then shouldn't the equipped monster be [Skilled Dark Magician]? Why is it equipped to [Dark Magician]... Could it be!?"

King paused, then immediately realized something.

"Hehehe! You've figured it out, Yugi! The monster I equipped at first was [Magician Knight Defender], and the vengeful spirit can change its equipped target each turn. This turn, it's equipped to [Dark Magician]. Furthermore, due to the Continuous Spell [Dark Door], you can only attack with one monster each turn. In other words, if you choose the wrong monster to attack, your own body will be torn to shreds."

Bakura explained smugly.

"End of turn..."

King could only end his turn.

"Then, during your End Phase, according to the effect of the Continuous Trap [Spirit Medium's Board], place the Continuous Spell [Death Message "T"] from your Deck."

A fourth letter, "T," appeared on Bakura's field.

"Other Me, be careful, there's only one turn left..."

"Yeah, I can only wait a little longer."

Yugi couldn't offer any help now, so he could only urge King to be more cautious.

"My turn, draw!"

[Bakura Hand: 0 → 1]

Bakura immediately played the card onto his Duel Disk.

"I summon [Headless Knight] in Defense Position."

A headless knight appeared on Bakura's field.

[Headless Knight: DEF 1700]

[Bakura Hand: 1 → 0]

"End of turn. And by tributing [White Robe Phantom Thief], I maintain [Dark Sanctuary]."