"This sight must be horrifying to you, but it activates the special ability of [Guardian Sphinx]. By devouring an opponent's monster, it can transfer half that monster's ATK to its own."
The Guardian Sphinx suddenly transformed into a humanoid form.
[Katsuya Jonouchi: LP 1800 → 400]
[Guardian Sphinx: ATK 2500 → 3050]
"It now has 3050 ATK, and it transformed too. Is this the evolution you mentioned earlier!? But..."
Jonouchi suddenly calmed down.
"The effect of [Amazoness Fighter], sent to the Graveyard, activates."
This card could only be activated when it was destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard. Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower EARTH Warrior-type monster from the Deck in Attack Position.
"Come, [Earthbound Swordsman]."
A small swordsman materialized before him.
[Earthbound Swordsman: ATK 500]
"I see. Was that panicked display all an act? You left behind a tribute and deliberately put it in Attack Position to lure me into attacking. Well done..."
"Marik" immediately realized it.
"Tch, you saw through it..."
Jonouchi couldn't help clicking his tongue.
"But your Life Points are down to just 400, like a candle flickering in the wind. And [Guardian Sphinx] will continue evolving from here on. Your Deck cannot defeat it. I advise you to give up on the thought of beating me already."
"Marik" began urging him to surrender.
"Hmph, keep dreaming. I'm not giving up!"
Jonouchi snorted.
"You still want to keep fighting after being pushed this far?"
"Marik" asked in confusion.
"Shut up. Maybe I'm struggling for nothing right now, but I have responsibilities I must bear. So I'll fight until my Life Points hit zero!"
Hearing that, "Marik" suddenly fell silent for a moment.
"Admirable fighting spirit..."
The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them.
"Huh!?"
Jonouchi froze, then stared into "Marik's" eyes for quite a while.
"Hey, you're not Marik, are you?"
He asked, fairly certain.
Other than Yugi and the King, everyone was startled by the question.
"Jonouchi-kun noticed it too, after all."
Yugi relaxed.
"Yeah. From the beginning, we never sensed that man using Dark Power. He couldn't possibly be Marik."
The King beside him nodded.
"Don't talk nonsense. Of course I'm the real Marik. The Millennium Rod in my hand is the best proof!"
"Marik" hurriedly pulled out the Millennium Stick and tried to cover it up.
"You don't need to keep pretending. I've already seen through you. From the start, you never used any despicable tricks like that bastard who controlled my will. You dueled me openly and fairly, so I'm certain you're not that person. You're a true duelist."
Jonouchi no longer believed his lies at all.
"Stop talking nonsense and continue the duel. I end my turn."
"Marik" still didn't dare admit it, so he could only change the subject to cover it up.
"Even if I don't know what troubles you have, I still won't hand over victory in this duel."
As he spoke, Jonouchi placed two fingers on top of his Deck and closed his eyes.
"Though Jonouchi is at a disadvantage now, as long as his Life Points haven't reached zero, he still has a chance."
Seeing Jonouchi concentrate, the King nodded.
"That's right, Other Me. Besides, Jonouchi-kun still has three monsters on the field. As long as he draws the key card, he can finish this in one blow."
While Yugi and the King spoke, Jonouchi finally opened his eyes and drew a card.
"Please, my Deck... My turn, draw!"
[Katsuya Jonouchi's hand: 2 → 3]
"Yes! I'll settle this with this card!"
The moment he saw the card he had drawn, Jonouchi became excited.
"I tribute [Harpie's Brother], [Iron Knight Gearfried], and [Earthbound Swordsman] to summon [Lightning Warrior Gilford]!"
The monsters on his field instantly vanished. Then lightning descended onto his field, and a burly figure carrying a greatsword appeared.
[Lightning Warrior Gilford: ATK 2800]
There was an illustration here. It can be viewed after updating to the latest version.
"A monster summoned by tributing three monsters!?"
"Marik" was shocked.
"Although [Guardian Sphinx] can be used to Special Summon a God Card, this duel will be decided before that happens. I activate the special ability of [Lightning Warrior Gilford]!"
When this card was Tribute Summoned by tributing 3 monsters, activate: Destroy all monsters on your opponent's field.
"What!? It destroys them all!?"
At that moment, Lightning Warrior Gilford drew the greatsword from his back and unleashed lightning at the Guardian Sphinx. The Guardian Sphinx was instantly disintegrated by the lightning, leaving "Marik" with no monsters to face Jonouchi's attack.
"It's over! [Lightning Warrior Gilford], attack directly! Lightning Sword!"
At Jonouchi's command, Lightning Warrior Gilford slashed a bolt of lightning toward "Marik."
"Urgh—!"
The lightning quickly struck "Marik."
"So I lost just like that..."
["Marik Ishtar": LP 2200 → 0]
Butterfly Effect
"The winner of this duel is Katsuya Jonouchi!"
After "Marik's" Life Points reached zero, Isono hurriedly announced the result.
The duel platform descended as well.
"Hmph! For a third-rate duelist to win—what a boring result!"
Although Jonouchi had won the match, President Kaiba still didn't forget to belittle him.
"Hey! Kaiba, you bastard! I knew you wouldn't have anything nice to say!"
Jonouchi, still immersed in the joy of victory, had cold water poured over him and immediately became annoyed.
The two started bickering again.
"Tch, how useless, Rishid!"
At that moment, the man calling himself "Nam" suddenly spoke, finally revealing his identity.
Everyone immediately realized that the man onstage claiming to be "Marik" was actually named Rishid, while the real "Marik" was someone else.
"Marik! You bastard!"
Jonouchi had already guessed that he was Marik.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Marik."
Rishid on the stage no longer kept up the act.
"Hmph! So you're the real Marik. You certainly got one over on us."
The President turned his gaze toward Marik as well.
"Marik! What exactly are you trying to do?"
At that moment, the King had already taken control of Yugi's body.
"Fine. Since I've been exposed, I have no intention of continuing the act. That's right, I'm the real Marik."
As he spoke, Marik raised the real Millennium Rod.
"Then who is 'Nam'?"
The companions beside them had already realized the issue.
"Yugi, that was a disguise to get close to you. I imagine you figured it out long ago, didn't you?"
Marik asked the King.
"Yes. Aside from Rishid, you were the only one left who seemed suspicious. And Rishid's demeanor was far too different from yours. Your voice was also the closest to that person we knew, so we suspected your identity from the very beginning."
By "we," the King naturally meant himself and Yugi.
"My voice!? I see... Fine, we would have had to fight sooner or later anyway. Then I'll wait for you in the later matches, Yugi! I'll torture you to death with the real God Cards, hahahahaha!"
Marik laughed wildly, looking somewhat insane.
"The real God Cards!? Could it be..."
Jonouchi on the stage suddenly realized something and immediately looked at Rishid.
"That's right. It was a counterfeit card of [The Winged Dragon of Ra]. If I had truly summoned that card, perhaps I would have suffered divine punishment."
Rishid admitted it directly and explained the severe consequences of using the card.
"Divine punishment!? Seriously? For a bastard like Marik, you were willing to go that far?"
Jonouchi asked, unable to understand.
"As a member of the Gravekeeper Clan, I am Lord Marik's body double. Lord Marik is my everything."
Rishid answered with unwavering eyes.
"Hmph! What a blindly loyal fool!"
The President looked disdainful.
"That's enough. Let's go, Rishid."
Marik no longer wanted to continue talking. He turned and prepared to leave.
Rishid silently followed after him.
"Rishid!"
Jonouchi hurriedly called out to Rishid as he passed by.
Rishid merely shook his head at the call and left without responding.
"..."
Jonouchi didn't know how to persuade him either.
"What's wrong, AIBO?"
At that moment, the King's attention was not on Marik and Rishid. Instead, he asked Yugi, who had remained silent in his mind.
"Other Me... How should I put it? It feels like something has changed. Jonouchi seems to have prevented a tragedy from being born."
Yugi said hesitantly.
"A tragedy? You mean Rishid might have died under divine punishment?"
Before you continue