A terrifying, muscle-bound mage appeared in this dimension, emanating a dreadful sinister aura, with endless grievances sweeping across the entire dimension.
Countless conscious or unconscious spirits began instinctively running in panic, even those who had started transforming into "Mementotlan" spirits were at a loss when faced with this scene.
The chieftain of the Mementomictlan clan, once a lion witch spirit, took a deep breath.
"Lord Hikari!" it solemnly addressed Tenjo Hikari, "The grievances of the Great Mage will soon be completely liberated. When it's fully liberated, this world will likely vanish into thin air...
I greatly appreciate your help to these forgotten, pitiable spirits, but it seems... it's time to say goodbye.
Please... leave here quickly."
It clearly no longer held hope for this duel.
Although, this was not a "Darkness Duel" in the regular sense.
However, when Exodia is fully unsealed, the moment its grievances towards humanity are unleashed, this dimension will be directly obliterated by its wrath, and by then, no one will be able to survive in this dimension.
Tierra, for once, did not refute the ordinary spirit's words.
She gazed at the enormous mage towering to the sky, her heart filled with murmurs.
With her experience and understanding, and her encounters with Tenjo Hikari in the Mage Domain, there was probably no ordinary spirit in the Mage Domain that could compare to this mage, right?
Tierra glanced sideways at Tenjo Hikari.
"Thank you for your suggestion, but there's no need—I will not leave."
"But, Lord Hikari..."
"I believe in Ed." Tenjo Hikari slowly responded, "He will surely bring me, bring everyone, bring friends, the true answer."
Amon's face was expressionless, listening to his beloved's screams, seeing his beloved's unconscious state, his heart ached deeply, yet for the sake of humanity, for the academy, he must make this decision.
He spoke, "I've already sent the left hand and right hand from my hand card to the graveyard. Based on Aikozodios's effect, for every type of [Sealed] monster in the graveyard, its ATK increases by 1000 points."
Aikozodios, ATK: 0→2000.
One thousand per card?
Ed looked toward Amon's graveyard.
So, must he first retrieve the sealed cards from the graveyard, and thus start anew by sending five cards from beginning to end to the graveyard, performing the "ritual"?
"Battle, Aikozodios attacks Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude!"
"When Aikozodios attacks, it can be activated. Send a [Sealed] card from hand card or deck to the graveyard, I'll send [Sealed Exodia] from the deck to the graveyard!"
Dark Great Mage's body grew even more gigantic, its grievances swept around, causing Ed to feel suffocated.
Aikozodios, ATK: 2000→3000.
Aikozodios slapped its hand down on Diamond Dude with a thud, and the monster on Ed's field was instantly destroyed.
At the same time, Ed lost corresponding life—
Ed, LP: 4000→2400.
"Gah—"
Ed clutched his chest, at that moment, the power of the Dark Great Mage pierced through his chest, as if thousands of spirits' curses, cries, and wails burst out simultaneously in his ears, even though he had faced the Light of Destruction before, at this moment, Ed was nearly knocked to the ground.
It wasn't just the power of the Dark Great Mage, or rather, the reason this Dark Great Mage appeared so "evil" is because it bore the endless grievances of the forgotten one's dimension.
Not only their world, even the curses and suffering of spirits from other worlds were conveyed to this "world's original forgotten one," this heart-piercing pain was undoubtedly the most excruciating torment for a duelist.
"Send Exodia from the deck to the graveyard..."
He struggled to stand.
"Ed, be careful of those five cards!" Tenjo Hikari cheered for Ed beside him.
Ed, in his daze, realized...
Can't gather all five!
Indeed...
"That's right." On the other side, Amon also did not hide his intentions, in fact, even if Tenjo Hikari hadn't reminded him, he would have said it here.
Because, with Aikozodios beside him, he already understood, the unsealing of the Dark Great Mage cannot be done thoughtlessly; one cannot just initially gather all five cards directly but must inform the opponent, letting the opponent also realize he is striving to gather these five cards.
Once he's able to completely unseal Exodia, only then will he be entitled to duel exactly as he intends: "When five types of [Sealed] Monster Cards are gathered in the graveyard, the holder of Aikozodios will directly win the duel!"
"Heh heh heh... This power is truly formidable..."
"With it, no matter what enemy, it can be easily defeated, right?"
Amon displayed a terrifying smile on his face.
"Is it really okay?" Ed asked him after standing up straight.
"Haha, what's wrong with obtaining the strongest power in the world?" Amon clasped his hands, a ferocious, excited smile appeared on his face, "With this power, I can save everyone! Regardless of what the backstage mastermind exists, it cannot defeat the power of this Dark Great Mage!"
"..." Ed was silent for a long time, "To 'save' everyone—yet before that, hadn't you already 'sacrificed' one person?"
The excitement and facade on Amon's face slowly faded, inwardly, he struggled; he personally did not want to sacrifice his most beloved person, yet if by this means he could save everyone...