HBWnovel Chapter 78: Bitter Taste of Defeat
Chapter 78: Bitter Taste of Defeat
Chapter 78: Bitter Taste of Defeat
[Yuna's POV] *BOOOOOM*
The explosion rocked the room, hurling me through the air with force. I felt the brutal impact as I skidded across the floor, every nerve screaming in protest. Clutching my stomach, I fought back the lunch rising in my throat. As I groaned in pain, I glanced up to see the Seal of Orichalcos ominously advancing toward me, its sinister presence creeping like a hungry predator stalking its prey.
"Looks like it's my victory," Dartz smirked and watched as the Seal surrounded me: "Don't feel too displeased. Your sacrifice will fuel the awakening of the Great God."
"You..." I growled through clenched teeth, defiance burning in my eyes. "You won't... get away with this..."
"Who will stop me?" he asked with chilling nonchalance. "The Pharaoh? It's already too late. Once I've delved into your memories, there'll be no stopping me!"
"Tsk..." I clicked my teeth in frustration, attempting to rise, but my legs betrayed me, buckling beneath the weight of exhaustion as the Seal of Orichalcos swiftly enveloped me. Agony surged through every fibre of my being, a searing torment that threatened to consume me whole. Clenching my fists, I dug my nails into my palms, a feeble attempt to ground myself amidst the overwhelming pain. I bit down hard on my lip, stifling the urge to scream as I endured the relentless onslaught.
"Interesting..." Dartz observed curiously: "Typically, it's much less painful than this..."
"That's because I don't even have a complete soul, you b*stard..." I spat out the words, my glare seething with anger.
"Damn... it! Not... yet!"
Despite my fervent defiance, every ounce of resistance seemed futile as I felt my strength ebbing away.
Helpless and immobilized, I could only watch as Dartz closed in on me. Refusing to meet his gaze, I fixed my eyes on the ground beneath his feet, the sound of his sneer echoing ominously in my ears.
With a chilling whisper, he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "Don't worry. I'll ensure that boy joins you soon enough."
I froze as Dartz's words seared into my consciousness, igniting a fiery rage within me. Despite the agony coursing through my veins, I summoned every ounce of strength to rise, my eyes ablaze with fury.
With trembling hands, I reached out and seized his collar, my grip fueled by sheer determination. "If you... hurt him!"
My voice quivered with exhaustion yet laced with an unmistakable warning. With a swift motion, I was knocked back to the ground as Dartz forcefully swiped my hand away, his eyes ablaze with contempt.
"Keep your hands off of me..." His voice dripped with disdain.
My limbs were heavy and unresponsive; I could only gaze helplessly at the ground, frustration boiling within me.
"Dammit..." I muttered through gritted teeth, my fists clenched in futile resistance as the darkness threatened to consume me.
But then, a glimmer of hope flickered as I turned my head slightly, catching sight of the Winged Dragon of Ra lying nearby. It was as if the card was calling for my name, and my instincts were telling me to grab it as soon as possible. With nothing left to lose, I stretched out my hand for the desperate lifeline offered to me.
Noticing my subtle movements, Dartz's sneer twisted into a cruel grin as he deliberately stepped on my wrist, sending a shockwave of pain through my bones. With my body screaming in protest, I pressed my hand firmly onto the card, and my vision dimmed.
Damn... I could barely move my body now, and the pain seemed to lessen as every nerve felt numb. I wasn't expecting much anyway since it's only possible to defeat Dartz through the power of the Pharaoh. So, an extra like me could only stall for as long as possible.
"Kaiba... Yugi..." I managed a wry smile. "If you guys throw now, you won't hear the end from me..." With that final, half-hearted jest, my consciousness began to slip away, and I sensed my soul gradually detaching from my battered body...
[3rd POV]
As the Seal of Orichalcos completed its ritual, Dartz raised his hand. From within Yuna's weakened form, a small white orb emerged, hovering delicately in the air before gently settling onto his outstretched palm. Frowning, he scrutinized the soul contained within the orb.
Typically, the size of a person's soul is similar to a baseball. In contrast, an elderly person's soul will be more minor due to already spending quite some time being alive, and a child's soul would be comparatively larger. However, gazing at Yuna's soul's diminutive size, Dartz couldn't conceal his confusion.
"Why is it so small?"
It barely surpassed the size of a ping-pong ball, a third of the average soul's magnitude. "Tsk, how disappointing... Barely enough for me to wield..."
Just as Dartz was ready to offer her soul to the Great Leviathan, an overwhelming pressure surged throughout the chamber, catching him off guard. His body tensed instinctively, but before he could comprehend the situation, a powerful force sent him hurtling through the air with startling force.
As Dartz regained his footing, he quickly realized that Yuna's soul was no longer in his grasp. With a scowl etched deep on his features, he cast a venomous glare towards the divine golden dragon materializing before him.
The Winged Dragon of Ra let out a deafening screech, its powerful voice causing the very foundations of the building to tremble. Glaring back at Dartz with unbridled contempt, the Egyptian God made its presence known.
Bowing its majestic head, the Winged Dragon of Ra emitted a soft whimper as it tenderly nudged Yuna's soul. Bathed in a radiant golden light, the divine creature enveloped her essence with its expansive wings, shielding it from harm.
Then, with a graceful flourish, the magnificent beast vanished into the ether, carrying Yuna's soul with it, leaving behind a lingering sense of awe and reverence.
Staring at the space, Dartz opened and closed his mouth dumbfoundedly, confused about what had just happened. Closing his eyes, he tried to locate Yuna's soul with Orichalcos's Power, but he was surprised when her soul disappeared without a trace-it was as if it had been erased from this world.
"How..." Dartz muttered, his voice barely a whisper, as his bewildered gaze drifted towards the Winged Dragon of Ra now nestled within Yuna's hand.
*BOOOOOM*
As the doors to the room exploded open, Dartz's gaze settled calmly on the two figures emerging from the distance. His eyes sparked with intrigue as his eyes landed on the
Millennium Puzzle adorning one of their necks.
Slowly, a knowing smile spread across his lips, and he made a deliberate choice to push thoughts of Yuna's soul aside for now. With fresh prey entering his domain, his focus shifted entirely to the new arrivals, his mission clear: to prepare them for sacrifices to his Great God...
[Earlier]
Seto's frustration erupted into a display of raw emotion as he lashed out at the room. With a forceful punch, he struck the wall, his stoic facade cracking momentarily. Gripped by a rare surge of anger, he hurled a chair at the monitor, shattering the screen in a burst of fury. "F*ck!!!" he cursed, his voice filled with raw emotion as he vented his rage.
"Kaiba, calm down!" Yami Yugi's firm voice cut through the chaos. "We must act reasonably!
The longer we delay, the greater the danger to Sano!"
"You think I don't know that?!" Seto's retort was sharp, his glare piercing through the tension
in the room. Without hesitation, he snatched up his phone.
"Noah, track Sano's last known cellphone signal now!!" After a tense few seconds, a map materialized on his screen, revealing Yuna's whereabouts.
"What is it?" Yami Yugi inquired, noticing Seto's furrowed brow as he examined the picture on his phone. It displayed a map of a remote island, uninhabited by people, nestled in the
Atlantic Ocean near the Bermuda Triangle.
"You better not be messing with me," Seto threatened, his tone sharp with suspicion, as Noah hurriedly explained he was telling the truth. Reluctantly, Seto decided to follow the boy's instructions, realizing they had no other viable options. However, as they moved towards the entrance, their path was abruptly blocked by three individuals.
"I'm sorry, but your charades end here," Rafael declared, his arms folded across his chest as he fixed a stern gaze on the two duelists.
"Rafael..." Yami Yugi growled, his eyes flicking towards the two figures standing behind him. "You must be Valon and..." His voice trailed off as he turned his attention to the woman standing awkwardly beside them. "Mai..."
Mai opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, a loud voice shattered the
moment.
"MAI!!!"
All heads turned to see Joey sprinting down the street, his friends in hot pursuit. Gathering his breath, Joey fixed Mai with a piercing glare, his eyes brimming with questions.
"I finally found you," he panted, frustration evident in his voice. "I don't understand, Mai. Why would you even team up with people like them!?"
"There's only one way to find out," the Pharaoh declared, his tone resolute as he strode
towards the building, Seto shadowing his every step.
Traversing through the dark hallways, the group suddenly found themselves startled as the entire building shook violently, sending tremors rippling through the corridors.
"Woah, what was that?!" Téa 's voice quivered in fright.
ROAARRRRR
A deafening roar pierced the air, causing everyone to freeze in place, their bodies tense with
apprehension. Then, as if in response, a second explosion rocked the structure, knocking them off their feet.
As the echoes of the chaos faded away, the building returned to an eerie silence, leaving nothing but the sound of their anxious breaths filling the air.
"What was that..." Téa trembled with uncertainty while Seto and Yami Yugi's expressions darkened with concern.
"That's the sound of a duel..." Yami Yugi's grimace deepened. "We have to hurry!" Ignoring the looming danger, everyone sprinted with all their might. As the silence enveloped
them once more, Seto's heart churned with anxiety, praying fervently that they weren't too
late...
Five Minutes Later...
*BANG*
The door leading to the last room burst open as Seto and Yami Yugi arrived, their chests
heaving as they struggled to catch their breath. The building was far larger than they had anticipated, stretching several floors underground.
"Dartz!" the Pharaoh's voice thundered across the room as he spotted the man standing in the
distance, his features illuminated by the braziers placed along the room. "Your schemes end
here!"
"Welcome, Pharaoh..." Dartz's smile was chilling as his gaze locked onto Yami Yugi's face with unmistakable interest. "I have been expecting you..."
"Where's Sano!?" Seto's demand was punctuated by the clenching of his fists. "Where is she?!"
Dartz chuckled dismissively at Seto's remark as if he were facing a whining child. "Sano... Of course, she's right there."
Following his finger, everyone turned their attention to the side of the room. Their bodies
froze at the frightening sight: Yuna's motionless form lay sprawled on the cold floor, her Duel Monster cards scattered around her.
"Sano, no..." Téa gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth in shock. Staring at Yuna's dishevelled appearance, Seto's mind went blank, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't tear his gaze away from her motionless form. Moving instinctively, he rushed to her side and grasped her shoulders, his voice trembling with anxiety. "Sano! Answer
me! Wake up!"
*Drip Drip..*
Seto's pupils quivered as he stared at Yuna's face, his breath catching in his throat as he noticed a trail of blood leaking from her lips. Slowly lifting her head, Seto's eyes widened in
shock as he took in the blood splatters around them. "Why is there blood... This has to be a joke, right?"
But despite his desperate questioning, there was no response. Trembling, Seto reached for Yuna's wrist, his shoulders sagging with relief when he felt a faint pulse beneath his touch.
"Kaiba," Yami Yugi called out, his gaze flickering between Seto and Yuna anxiously. "Is she alright?"
"She's alive," Seto responded grimly, his voice tinged with worry. "But she won't wake up..." "Then her soul..." Yami Yugi's fists clenched, unable to finish. "To think Sano will lose as well..." "Tsk..." Seto clicked his teeth in frustration, his chest heaving with suppressed rage. Slowly turning his head, he fixed a piercing glare on the man behind all this. "Dartz..." Watching from a distance, Dartz finally chuckled and descended from the tall stairs. "I assume you have finished the act?"
"What did you do to her?" Seto snarled, his anger palpable as he confronted Dartz.
"I merely followed the will of my God and defeated her," Dartz explained, his tone
indifferent. "It was merely her incompetence that led to these results." "HOW DARE YOU!!!" Seto roared furiously, but Yami Yugi quickly halted his outburst before
he could act on his anger.
"Kaiba! You must calm down! We can't beat him if you don't get yourself together this
instant!"
"Shut up!" Seto snapped back with venom, his eyes blazing with fury. "I WILL KILL HIM!!"
*Thud*
Suddenly, Yami Yugi's fist connected with Seto's face, causing him to stumble back in disbelief. Rubbing his sore hand, Yami Yugi spoke with a hint of regret in his voice. "I'm
sorry, but this is the only way to get your act together. The only way to save Sano and Joey was to defeat that man right there, but we can't do it alone."
"Tsk..." Seto clicked his teeth in frustration, his glare waning as he looked at Yami Yugi. He
sighed and nodded in understanding. Turning back to Yuna, he quietly knelt beside her and
took her deck from her Duel Disk. "Let me borrow this... I promise I will save you..."
To the surprise of Yami Yugi and his friends, Seto's usually stoic expression softened as he gently stroked Yuna's head. His perpetual scowl transformed into a small smile as he carefully held her in his arms. If Joey were awake right now, he would be questioning whether his eyes
were working correctly.
Gathering the rest of the cards scattered on the floor, Seto began to merge them with his own. After a few minutes, he finally stood up; his expression determined as he approached Yami
Yugi with a cold demeanour. "Don't get in my way... I will defeat Dartz, with or without
you..." "Hmph," Yami Yugi smiled confidently. "That makes two of us. Kaiba, get ready!"
"Yes!" Seto nodded firmly, and the two shouted in unison.
"Duel!!"
[Seto Kaiba: 4000 LP]
[Yami Yugi: 4000 LP]
[Dartz: 4000 LP]
[1] Bakura, Odion, Marik and Ishizu
I hope you enjoy it!