Reading settings
Chapter 560: Duel Monster Materialization
"In the civilization from ten thousand years ago, Duel Monsters already existed."
"And that civilization was actually gradually destroyed by Duel Monsters."
Listening to Professor Hopkins recount his discoveries in the Underwater Ruins one by one, everyone was quite shocked and filled with disbelief, feeling their worldview had been greatly impacted.
Especially since Professor Hopkins wasn't just speaking without proof; he substantiated his claims by successively producing several photos he had taken in the Underwater Ruins.
Seeing the giant eye that opened in the sky in the photos destroying the world, and the Three Egyptian Gods with different forms appearing from the opened Gate to Another World and destroying each other with the giant eye, even Tristan, who wanted to say "How could Duel Monsters possibly exist?", couldn't raise any further questions.
"Duel Monsters are real. Various forms of magical beasts can be found in countless ancient ruins and murals, and Summoning Techniques, Magic, and Sorcery are considered proof that humans summoned the power of monsters from another world and sought to utilize it."
"Although we cannot see the existence of Duel Monsters, perhaps they actually exist in another Dimension, similar to us."
"The civilization ten thousand years ago was destroyed by Duel Monsters. Ancient Egypt, which also had Duel Monsters three thousand years ago, might have encountered the same thing but wasn't destroyed. And now, you, the Nameless Pharaoh from three thousand years ago, have appeared in this era." Professor Hopkins paused, looking at Yugi with a serious gaze.
"Why you appeared in this era, I believe there must be some important significance to it."
Listening to Professor Hopkins' words, Dark Yugi turned his head and glanced at the **Kuriboh** that had appeared on his shoulder.
'Kuriboh?' The brown furball tilted its head, looking at Yugi with a confused expression.
Compared to Téa and Tristan, who were not duelists, Yugi believed that most duelists, upon hearing Professor Hopkins' statements about Duel Monsters, might initially react with disbelief, but if they recalled the countless times their deck had responded to them in past battles, they could understand Professor Hopkins' words.
Even Kaiba, that guy who believes in science, Professor Hopkins had already spoken about "parallel worlds" and "crossing Dimensions." That guy could probably reluctantly accept it, right? Probably.
And as one of the rare few duelists who could see the existence of Card Spirits, Yugi understood even more clearly that Professor Hopkins was correct. Duel Monsters themselves were cards created by Pegasus based on the Egyptian Slab Monsters, but the spirits within the cards were beings with vibrant life, capable of thought, and able to respond to a duelist's hopes.
Since Duel Monsters are real, then the murals Professor Hopkins photographed are worth paying attention to.
'A civilization where Duel Monsters appeared was destroyed by Duel Monsters? Did the fate of that civilization ten thousand years ago also occur in Ancient Egypt three thousand years ago? And what about me at that time...'
Yugi thought of many things in his heart, and just then, Professor Hopkins continued, "I'm just an ordinary old man. Although I have some research in archaeology, when it comes to Duel Monsters and such, I still have to rely on you young people."
"Also, Nameless Pharaoh, I'm not the only one who wanted to see you today. Ms. Ishizu Ishtar also has something to discuss with you."
"Huh? Ms. Ishizu?" Joey Wheeler, who had also been recalling everything he had experienced with Duel Monsters in the past and was gradually accepting the concept that "Duel Monsters are real," realized upon hearing Professor Hopkins' words, "No wonder you asked us to come to the Egyptian Artifact Exhibition Hall."
After all, to Solomon Muto, Professor Arthur Hawkins was no stranger. If others had something important to convey, showing up directly might be a bit awkward, but the relationship between these old friends didn't necessitate specifically inviting Yugi to the Egyptian Artifact Traveling Exhibition Hall.
However, if Ms. Ishizu, who works at the Egyptian Artifact Traveling Exhibition Hall, also needed to see Yugi for something besides Professor Hopkins, then it made sense.
Because Professor Hopkins had finished speaking, Dark Yugi, wanting to think things through, very cleverly performed an exchange back into the Millennium Puzzle, releasing Yugi Mutou again. Seeing his "Darling" return to his original demeanor, Rebecca immediately clung back to Yugi's side, sticking close to him, which once again angered Téa.
Not wanting to get caught in the dispute between the two girls again, Yugi quickly followed Professor Hopkins, who was leading the way, and soon found Ishizu standing in front of a tablet.
Yugi recognized that tablet. It was the precious artifact known as the "Slab of Prophecy" that Ishizu had shown Hayato, Kaiba, and Yugi himself before Battle City. It not only had the cards of the Three Egyptian Gods carved on it, but also two ancient Egyptian figures who looked almost identical to Kaiba and Yugi, and even Yugi and Kaiba's respective ace monsters, **Dark Magician** and **Blue-Eyes White Dragon**.
At that time, Ishizu had said that this tablet was inscribed with an important prophecy for the Nameless Pharaoh to regain his memories, and that by gathering the cards of the Three Egyptian Gods, Yugi could use this tablet to begin his journey to find his memories.
However, this tablet was different from what Yugi had seen back then, because the entire tablet was actually sealed in a giant square block of ice, and even the markings on it were somewhat blurred.
Moreover, despite there being no refrigeration device, the ice showed no sign of melting at all. Even when Yugi got this close, he didn't feel any cold air.
Furthermore, around this tablet, Yugi was surprised to find that Ishizu was not the only one present; several other people were gathered there.
Rishid, whom Yugi didn't know because he hadn't participated in the Top 8 of Battle City.
Marik, who was rarely not wearing his character shirt but was instead dressed properly in a leather jacket and jeans.
Mokuba Kaiba, who looked like a mature little adult dressed in a small suit.
Ishizu, who was standing with her back to Yugi, looking at the tablet, and Kaiba Seto, who was looking at Yugi with an impatient expression!
"You're too slow, Yugi. You really kept me waiting." Kaiba looked at Yugi's timid appearance before him and frowned. "Hmph, it's because of the way you are that the card of **Osiris, the Sky Dragon** was also taken by the Organization Doma."
"Kaiba, you know..."
Hearing Kaiba's words, Yugi's gaze was filled with loss and sadness. Yugi was actually very bothered by the fact that the card of **Osiris, the Sky Dragon** had been taken. Dark Yugi, unable to stand seeing his Aibo suppressed by Kaiba's aura, also appeared in time to take over from Yugi.
"Kaiba, you just said 'also,' didn't you?" Dark Yugi, who had just performed an exchange, looked at Kaiba with a serious expression. "Could it be—"
"Hmph."
Kaiba didn't answer, but gave a cold snort and turned his head away, looking at Ishizu. And Yugi, relying on his understanding of Kaiba, saw the answer Kaiba hadn't given.
He, Kaiba, was also taken the card of **Obelisk the Tormentor** by the "Doma" organization?!
And judging by the situation, it seems like both he and Kaiba had their god cards taken last night. By extension, could it be that Ms. Ishizu's **Ra, the Winged Dragon** was also—
"As you might guess, Nameless Pharaoh." As if she had foreseen Yugi's question, Ishizu gave Yugi the answer he wanted in advance. "The organization called 'Doma' launched actions in three directions simultaneously last night, taking the god cards stored in three different locations."
"Even Ms. Ishizu's **Ra, the Winged Dragon**!" Joey Wheeler, who was following behind Yugi, was very surprised, and then his face showed considerable anger. "Damn it, what exactly does that organization called 'Doma' want? Are they coveting the power of the god cards? They even took the card Hayato left behind—"
"Hey, Joey Wheeler." Tristan interrupted Joey Wheeler's words, but didn't say anything, just glanced at Ishizu. Seeing that Ishizu didn't have an overly strong reaction to Joey Wheeler's words, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Kaiba stood with his arms crossed over his chest, saying coldly, "I started investigating that Doma organization last night, but it's very strange. Even using all of KaibaCorp's satellites to intrude into the confidential files of various governments, I couldn't find the slightest clue about the Doma organization's existence. It's as if the people from yesterday were fabricated just to attract attention."
"However, just when I was about to look for clues in other directions, this woman found me and said she had information about the Doma organization. But when I was willing to spend time to come here in person to hear her, this woman insisted on waiting until you, Yugi, also arrived."
Kaiba's face showed an impatient expression: "So now you can finally speak, Ishizu Ishtar."
Under the gaze of Kaiba, Joey Wheeler, Yugi, and the others, Ishizu nodded and said, "The so-called Doma organization is actually an existence that was established long before the current social order was established. It has existed for nearly ten thousand years, and throughout these ten thousand years, this organization has been guiding human history. The Industrial Revolution in England, the Renaissance in Italy, Napoleon's unification of Europe in France, and other events all have their figures behind them."
"After countless years of development, their tentacles have penetrated into various fields throughout the World, and even government departments have their lackeys working to maintain their secrecy."
"But now, it seems like they have completed the step of accumulating power and have begun to act for a single goal. The first thing they did was take the god cards and also seal this 'Slab of Prophecy'." Ishizu said, looking at Yugi. "And their goal is to revive their 'God' and recreate the event that was prevented ten thousand years ago."
"Ten thousand years ago?" Hearing Ishizu's words, Yugi subconsciously lowered his head and glanced at the photo of Professor Hopkins still clutched in his hand, his pupil shrinking. "Masaka!"
Both are ten thousand years; the time is too coincidental. Yugi naturally connected the destruction of that civilization ten thousand years ago with the "God" that the Doma organization wanted to revive at the first moment.
And just then—
"Roar!"
Accompanied by a roar of a magical beast from an unknown source, a wall not far from Yugi and the others, where no artifacts were placed, was suddenly pierced and penetrated by a beam of flames, creating a hole that revealed the view outside.
Startled, Yugi and the others looked out through an opening Ishizu had foreseen and deliberately moved the artifacts away from, and their faces all showed terrified expressions—
The outside World at this moment seemed to have turned into a Different Dimension. Giant Duel Monsters were rampant everywhere, on buildings, in the sky, and on the streets. And from their movements, it was clear that they were not projections at all; they all had physical substance!
"In the civilization from ten thousand years ago, Duel Monsters already existed."
"And that civilization was actually gradually destroyed by Duel Monsters."
Listening to Professor Hopkins recount his discoveries in the Underwater Ruins one by one, everyone was quite shocked and filled with disbelief, feeling their worldview had been greatly impacted.
Especially since Professor Hopkins wasn't just speaking without proof; he substantiated his claims by successively producing several photos he had taken in the Underwater Ruins.
Seeing the giant eye that opened in the sky in the photos destroying the world, and the Three Egyptian Gods with different forms appearing from the opened Gate to Another World and destroying each other with the giant eye, even Tristan, who wanted to say "How could Duel Monsters possibly exist?", couldn't raise any further questions.
"Duel Monsters are real. Various forms of magical beasts can be found in countless ancient ruins and murals, and Summoning Techniques, Magic, and Sorcery are considered proof that humans summoned the power of monsters from another world and sought to utilize it."
"Although we cannot see the existence of Duel Monsters, perhaps they actually exist in another Dimension, similar to us."
"The civilization ten thousand years ago was destroyed by Duel Monsters. Ancient Egypt, which also had Duel Monsters three thousand years ago, might have encountered the same thing but wasn't destroyed. And now, you, the Nameless Pharaoh from three thousand years ago, have appeared in this era." Professor Hopkins paused, looking at Yugi with a serious gaze.
"Why you appeared in this era, I believe there must be some important significance to it."
Listening to Professor Hopkins' words, Dark Yugi turned his head and glanced at the **Kuriboh** that had appeared on his shoulder.
'Kuriboh?' The brown furball tilted its head, looking at Yugi with a confused expression.
Compared to Téa and Tristan, who were not duelists, Yugi believed that most duelists, upon hearing Professor Hopkins' statements about Duel Monsters, might initially react with disbelief, but if they recalled the countless times their deck had responded to them in past battles, they could understand Professor Hopkins' words.
Even Kaiba, that guy who believes in science, Professor Hopkins had already spoken about "parallel worlds" and "crossing Dimensions." That guy could probably reluctantly accept it, right? Probably.
And as one of the rare few duelists who could see the existence of Card Spirits, Yugi understood even more clearly that Professor Hopkins was correct. Duel Monsters themselves were cards created by Pegasus based on the Egyptian Slab Monsters, but the spirits within the cards were beings with vibrant life, capable of thought, and able to respond to a duelist's hopes.
Since Duel Monsters are real, then the murals Professor Hopkins photographed are worth paying attention to.
'A civilization where Duel Monsters appeared was destroyed by Duel Monsters? Did the fate of that civilization ten thousand years ago also occur in Ancient Egypt three thousand years ago? And what about me at that time...'
Yugi thought of many things in his heart, and just then, Professor Hopkins continued, "I'm just an ordinary old man. Although I have some research in archaeology, when it comes to Duel Monsters and such, I still have to rely on you young people."
"Also, Nameless Pharaoh, I'm not the only one who wanted to see you today. Ms. Ishizu Ishtar also has something to discuss with you."
"Huh? Ms. Ishizu?" Joey Wheeler, who had also been recalling everything he had experienced with Duel Monsters in the past and was gradually accepting the concept that "Duel Monsters are real," realized upon hearing Professor Hopkins' words, "No wonder you asked us to come to the Egyptian Artifact Exhibition Hall."
After all, to Solomon Muto, Professor Arthur Hawkins was no stranger. If others had something important to convey, showing up directly might be a bit awkward, but the relationship between these old friends didn't necessitate specifically inviting Yugi to the Egyptian Artifact Traveling Exhibition Hall.
However, if Ms. Ishizu, who works at the Egyptian Artifact Traveling Exhibition Hall, also needed to see Yugi for something besides Professor Hopkins, then it made sense.
Because Professor Hopkins had finished speaking, Dark Yugi, wanting to think things through, very cleverly performed an exchange back into the Millennium Puzzle, releasing Yugi Mutou again. Seeing his "Darling" return to his original demeanor, Rebecca immediately clung back to Yugi's side, sticking close to him, which once again angered Téa.
Not wanting to get caught in the dispute between the two girls again, Yugi quickly followed Professor Hopkins, who was leading the way, and soon found Ishizu standing in front of a tablet.
Yugi recognized that tablet. It was the precious artifact known as the "Slab of Prophecy" that Ishizu had shown Hayato, Kaiba, and Yugi himself before Battle City. It not only had the cards of the Three Egyptian Gods carved on it, but also two ancient Egyptian figures who looked almost identical to Kaiba and Yugi, and even Yugi and Kaiba's respective ace monsters, **Dark Magician** and **Blue-Eyes White Dragon**.
At that time, Ishizu had said that this tablet was inscribed with an important prophecy for the Nameless Pharaoh to regain his memories, and that by gathering the cards of the Three Egyptian Gods, Yugi could use this tablet to begin his journey to find his memories.
However, this tablet was different from what Yugi had seen back then, because the entire tablet was actually sealed in a giant square block of ice, and even the markings on it were somewhat blurred.
Moreover, despite there being no refrigeration device, the ice showed no sign of melting at all. Even when Yugi got this close, he didn't feel any cold air.
Furthermore, around this tablet, Yugi was surprised to find that Ishizu was not the only one present; several other people were gathered there.
Rishid, whom Yugi didn't know because he hadn't participated in the Top 8 of Battle City.
Marik, who was rarely not wearing his character shirt but was instead dressed properly in a leather jacket and jeans.
Mokuba Kaiba, who looked like a mature little adult dressed in a small suit.
Ishizu, who was standing with her back to Yugi, looking at the tablet, and Kaiba Seto, who was looking at Yugi with an impatient expression!
"You're too slow, Yugi. You really kept me waiting." Kaiba looked at Yugi's timid appearance before him and frowned. "Hmph, it's because of the way you are that the card of **Osiris, the Sky Dragon** was also taken by the Organization Doma."
"Kaiba, you know..."
Hearing Kaiba's words, Yugi's gaze was filled with loss and sadness. Yugi was actually very bothered by the fact that the card of **Osiris, the Sky Dragon** had been taken. Dark Yugi, unable to stand seeing his Aibo suppressed by Kaiba's aura, also appeared in time to take over from Yugi.
"Kaiba, you just said 'also,' didn't you?" Dark Yugi, who had just performed an exchange, looked at Kaiba with a serious expression. "Could it be—"
"Hmph."
Kaiba didn't answer, but gave a cold snort and turned his head away, looking at Ishizu. And Yugi, relying on his understanding of Kaiba, saw the answer Kaiba hadn't given.
He, Kaiba, was also taken the card of **Obelisk the Tormentor** by the "Doma" organization?!
And judging by the situation, it seems like both he and Kaiba had their god cards taken last night. By extension, could it be that Ms. Ishizu's **Ra, the Winged Dragon** was also—
"As you might guess, Nameless Pharaoh." As if she had foreseen Yugi's question, Ishizu gave Yugi the answer he wanted in advance. "The organization called 'Doma' launched actions in three directions simultaneously last night, taking the god cards stored in three different locations."
"Even Ms. Ishizu's **Ra, the Winged Dragon**!" Joey Wheeler, who was following behind Yugi, was very surprised, and then his face showed considerable anger. "Damn it, what exactly does that organization called 'Doma' want? Are they coveting the power of the god cards? They even took the card Hayato left behind—"
"Hey, Joey Wheeler." Tristan interrupted Joey Wheeler's words, but didn't say anything, just glanced at Ishizu. Seeing that Ishizu didn't have an overly strong reaction to Joey Wheeler's words, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Kaiba stood with his arms crossed over his chest, saying coldly, "I started investigating that Doma organization last night, but it's very strange. Even using all of KaibaCorp's satellites to intrude into the confidential files of various governments, I couldn't find the slightest clue about the Doma organization's existence. It's as if the people from yesterday were fabricated just to attract attention."
"However, just when I was about to look for clues in other directions, this woman found me and said she had information about the Doma organization. But when I was willing to spend time to come here in person to hear her, this woman insisted on waiting until you, Yugi, also arrived."
Kaiba's face showed an impatient expression: "So now you can finally speak, Ishizu Ishtar."
Under the gaze of Kaiba, Joey Wheeler, Yugi, and the others, Ishizu nodded and said, "The so-called Doma organization is actually an existence that was established long before the current social order was established. It has existed for nearly ten thousand years, and throughout these ten thousand years, this organization has been guiding human history. The Industrial Revolution in England, the Renaissance in Italy, Napoleon's unification of Europe in France, and other events all have their figures behind them."
"After countless years of development, their tentacles have penetrated into various fields throughout the World, and even government departments have their lackeys working to maintain their secrecy."
"But now, it seems like they have completed the step of accumulating power and have begun to act for a single goal. The first thing they did was take the god cards and also seal this 'Slab of Prophecy'." Ishizu said, looking at Yugi. "And their goal is to revive their 'God' and recreate the event that was prevented ten thousand years ago."
"Ten thousand years ago?" Hearing Ishizu's words, Yugi subconsciously lowered his head and glanced at the photo of Professor Hopkins still clutched in his hand, his pupil shrinking. "Masaka!"
Both are ten thousand years; the time is too coincidental. Yugi naturally connected the destruction of that civilization ten thousand years ago with the "God" that the Doma organization wanted to revive at the first moment.
And just then—
"Roar!"
Accompanied by a roar of a magical beast from an unknown source, a wall not far from Yugi and the others, where no artifacts were placed, was suddenly pierced and penetrated by a beam of flames, creating a hole that revealed the view outside.
Startled, Yugi and the others looked out through an opening Ishizu had foreseen and deliberately moved the artifacts away from, and their faces all showed terrified expressions—
The outside World at this moment seemed to have turned into a Different Dimension. Giant Duel Monsters were rampant everywhere, on buildings, in the sky, and on the streets. And from their movements, it was clear that they were not projections at all; they all had physical substance!
