Faced with the sudden arrival of the Shining Sarcophagus and its radiant light, even the Evil God was visibly shaken.
"This light... this power—what is it?" The Evil God was suspicious and uneasy.
It was clearly just a normal Spell Card. Why did it carry a faint aura reminiscent of the Divine Beasts?
"This is the new power created by the 'vessel' you mocked," Kira declared.
Two souls, crossing three thousand years of time, met and parted thanks to the Shining Sarcophagus. It bore Yugi's memories of old friends, his longing for the past, and his determination to carry all those memories forward.
Because of their promise, Yugi would protect the title of "Duel King" for both of them, even if he had to walk alone from now on.
Marik and Ishizu looked at the sacred Shining Sarcophagus as if Yugi himself stood before them.
The Evil God quickly regained his composure. "It's just a box. What can it do?"
Kira smiled. Just a box, huh? Wasn't it a box that sent the Pharaoh away in the end?
"Effect of Shining Sarcophagus: Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can add one card from my deck that mentions 'Shining Sarcophagus' in its text, except another 'Shining Sarcophagus', to my hand."
Did he have any such cards in his deck before? Of course not. But now he did.
Kira could sense it—this was the power Yugi had granted him. Now, besides this card, there were two more new cards related to the Shining Sarcophagus in his deck.
If this were a real Yu-Gi-Oh! duel, it'd be like Yugi gave him a "Skill" that, when you draw 'Shining Sarcophagus', two related cards are auto-added to your deck.
"So I activate the effect and add this card to my hand—"
His deck glowed gold again. A card seemed to fly out on its own, as if drawn by magic.
"Silent Magician Zero!"
An evolution of Silent Magician, naturally born from the power of the Shining Sarcophagus—a brand new form!
"Normal Summon—Silent Magician Zero!"
Her robe was still snowy white, her magic circle holy and radiant, but her form was very different. Previous Silent Magicians were always tall and curvy, with a cold elegance that even her flowing robe couldn't hide.
But this time, the summoned Silent Magician was much shorter, her once-towering chest now flat, her white robe covering short little legs. The silver hair and beautiful face remained, but she'd gone from cold beauty to an adorable, dazed-looking loli.
[Silent Magician Zero, ATK 1000]
Ishizu said, "So even the Silent Spirit has evolved under the Sarcophagus' influence?"
But as soon as she said it, looking at the cute little figure, she wasn't sure if it was evolution or regression.
Marik said, "Silent Magician was always Yugi's ace. It's not strange that the powers would resonate."
But what power did this new Silent Magician possess?
Kira declared, "Battle! Silent Magician Zero, attack 'Darklord—Tezcatlipoca'!"
This shocked the Evil God and the Ishtar siblings. Silent Magician only had 1000 attack!
"Are you mad?" the Evil God frowned. "Darklord, counterattack!"
At that instant, Kira played another card.
"Quick-Play Spell—'Future Silence'!"
The illustration showed Silent Magician in the same outfit, but now as a tall, mature woman—an obvious transformation.
"This card lets me add a monster that mentions 'Shining Sarcophagus' in its text from my deck to my hand. And if I have both Shining Sarcophagus and such a monster on the field, and activate this in the Battle Phase, both players draw until they have six cards in hand!"
The Evil God drew, sneering, "So what?"
"You had only one card, so you just drew five. Silent Magician Zero's effect: For every card the opponent draws, her Level increases by 1 star. You just drew five, so her Level becomes 9!"
"And, her ATK increases by 500 for each Level above the base!"
This effect, which raised ATK by opponent's draws and levels, was even truer to the original than all previous printings.
"Silent Magician's ATK increases by 2500!"
[Silent Magician Zero, ATK 1000 → 3500]
Evil God: "ATK 3500...?"
Now she surpassed the Darklord.
And not just her ATK—her form visibly changed. In seconds, the once-loli Silent Magician grew taller, her curves filled out, her cute face maturing into her signature cool beauty.
Silent Magician Zero's appearance grows with her Level—a size-shifting magician.
But—
"If you forgot about my trap in the grave, you'll regret it," the Evil God barked. "Darklord—Tezcatlipoca's effect! Pay 1000 LP, copy 'Darklord Rebellion' from the grave!"
[Evil God, LP 1500 → 500]
"'Darklord Rebellion' normally requires sending a Darklord to the grave as cost, but copying with a monster effect means no cost required! Destroy a card on the field!"
He pointed at Silent Magician.
"Disappear, Silent Magician Zero!"
But Kira just snapped his fingers.
"Quick-Play Spell—'Turn Silence'!"
Another Quick-Play appeared behind him. The artwork showed energy pouring into Silent Magician, her staff spinning with a white, transparent magic circle shining with blinding light.
"'Turn Silence' raises the Level of any monster I control by 3. And if both the Sarcophagus and Silent Magician Zero are on the field, when you chain a monster effect, it is negated!"
Evil God: "!"
NANI?!
Tezcatlipoca's effect is negated!
"Using the Darklord to copy a trap is clever. But in the end, it's still a monster effect," Kira said.
"So the effect is negated! And Silent Magician Zero's Level increases by another 3!"
[Silent Magician Zero, LV 12]
A twelve-star Silent Magician!
Evil God: "Her ATK increases with Level..."
"Exactly! Her ATK increases by another 1500!"
[Silent Magician Zero, ATK 3500 → 5000]
Five thousand attack! This is the evolved Silent Magician Zero, empowered by the Shining Sarcophagus!
White light spun at her staff, spiraling into a blast that pierced the Darklord and sent the Evil God's puppet flying like a broken kite.
[Evil God, LP 500 → 0]
…