The endgame is upon us.
Chapter 47: Promises Fulfilled

Kuro landed on an aircraft carrier after the group had been intercepted by the Air Force. Once Joey and Mai, who had been taken with them by Tristan, had been situated in the infirmary and Rafael was taken to get the coordinates to Dartz's lair, two commanding officers greeted the rest of the group.
"Just so we're clear, you're the good guys, right?" Tristan asked.
The taller man nodded. "No need to fret. We're all on the same side."
Both men held up their hands, revealing their Wayfarer sigils, immediately putting everyone at ease.
"Gramps wasn't kidding when he said calvary." Rain noted as the shorter officer nodded to her.
"It's an honor to finally meet you, Rain (L/N). If you're anything like Carter, we're in good hands. Every person on this fleet and in the air is a Wayfarer. We all know the risks."
Yami nodded. "That's good to hear."
"In truth, the military has been keeping an eye on Dartz these past few months, but he never leaves evidence, and thus we can't do anything to him. Not to mention I'm starting to suspect he has more than a few powerful individuals in his pocket." The taller man explained. "When Carter put out the call that the beast was returning, I new in my gut that Dartz had to be involved, so I gathered as many Wayfarers as I could for this mission. If all hell breaks loose, we're ready to fight. At the end of the day, though, the finishing blow falls to you kids."
Rain nodded. "Thank you. This was what our ancestors prepared us for. We won't fall here."
The two men gave their agreement as the fleet headed towards a stormy island, Rafael confirming it was the secret lair of their enemy.
"This is as far as we're permitted to go." The commander said. "The rest is up to you. Good luck out there. The promise of our people rests on you."
"I'm doing this to save my company." Seto clarified as Rain elbowed him.
"And the world, genius."
Seto ignored her before stepping into the KaibaCorp helicopter which had been there waiting for them. 
"We don't get paid enough for this." Roland muttered as they flew into a lightning storm and waterspouts.
The ride was understandably rough as Tristan was tossed about and Rafael and Tea had to keep Mai and Joey's bodies from being flung. Rain was starting to believe Yami was part cat considering how easily he kept his balance, keeping the Wayfarer girl on her feet by keeping a firm grip on the collar of her shirt.
"It won't be long now." Rafael announced, clearly looking uneasy. "However this storm..."
"It's Dartz's doing, isn't it?" Rain asked.
He nodded. "The seas will rise before paradise is reached."
"We just need to remain calm." Yami stated as they all walked up to the cockpit to look outside. "I'm sure Dartz wants us to reach him."
"Hey, look!" Mokuba called, seeing something appear on the horizon. "That must be the place."
Rain got a good look of the spiraling island and the temple a top it. "Certain screams 'final boss'."
The pharaoh nodded. "There's no turning back now."
"Let's go." Seto said.
The helicopter managed to land safely and everyone stepped out, looking up at the sinister temple before them.
"We've arrived at the heart of evil." Yami stated as Seto rolled his eyes.
"Do you always have to be so dramatic?"
Rain gave him a look. "Considering it's always the fate of the world hanging in the balance, I say he has a right to be."
As they took a step forward, both Yami and Rain fell to their knees gripping their heads as (Y/N)'s screams filled their ears.
"Hey, are you two all right!?" Tea asked as she and Tristan raced to their sides.
Yami was breathing heavily, looking very pale. "It's (Y/N). Her strength is waning. She won't last much longer!"
"It's the Leviathan." Rain spoke, looking up at the sky. "It's scared. It knows all the pieces are in place and we know the key to overcoming the seal. It's desperate to try and stop us."
The pharaoh picked himself up. "I need to get to her!"
"Yami, no." The Wayfarer girl cut off his path. "I'll go find (Y/N). You and Seto need to find Dartz and take him down, or at the very least stall him."
"But-,"
"Yami, if Dartz revives the Leviathan unopposed, it won't matter if we reach her in time."
The male spirit gritted his teeth, but knowing Rain was right, he nodded weakly. "All right. I trust you. Just hurry."
Rain turned her head to their new companion. "You're up, Rafael. Do you know where Dartz is keeping the Millennium Bracelet?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"Lead me there." She turned back to her friends. "Be careful, everyone."
"You too, Rain." Tristan said.
"We don't know what kind of traps Dartz has set up to you." Tea added as Rain pulled out the willow staff.
"I can handle whatever he throws at me. Seto: gods, for all of our sakes, work with him! I'll be back soon. Hang in there."
As she and Rafael began to head off, Yami called out again.
"Rain, please, save her."
"I plan to."
Now separated from the group, Rafael led Rain to a hidden staircase off the side of the temple. Running as fast as they could, they descended into the creepy bowels of the island. The skeletal remains of snakes decorated the walls, casting creepy shadows from the sparse torches lighting the path.
"Charming." Rain said as Rafael picked up a torch. "No offense, Rafael, but how did this not tip you off that Dartz was a villain? No hero has a dungeon this sketchy."
He sighed. "When I lost my family, I clung to anything I could find to ground myself. Dartz was that light that numbed the pain, and he blinded me to everything else around me."
Rain rubbed her arm. "I kinda know how that feels. When I lost my parents, I just wanted the pain to stop, to be numb. At least I had the fortune of having a grandfather who refused to give up on me. If I didn't have my gramps...well, maybe I'd have been in your shoes."
"I doubt that." Rafael said. "Your spirit is far stronger than mine, Rain (L/N). Something tells me you would've seen through Dartz's honeyed words."
She smirked at him. "Well, the big guy's a softie. Who knew?"
The blonde sighed. "Please do not repeat anything I have told you to Valon or Alister. I would never hear the end of it."
"Oh don't worry. Manipulated or not, I'm still punching Valon's face the minute he wakes up for giving me a concussion."
That made Rafael chuckle. "You're a strange one, Rain, but a good spirit."
"Better than being boring."
After what seemed like an eternity, the two ended up in front of a door which was outlined in familiar runes. Rafael placed his hand under his chin.
"I'm afraid I have no idea how to continue forward or what lies beyond. Dartz opened the door previously and took the bracelet in alone."
Rain looked at her arm, seeing the runes reacting. "I guess it's my turn then. Maybe take a couple steps back."
Rafael took her advice as Rain held out her arm. Immediately, the seal glowed menacingly on the obstacle and Rain began to sweat, feeling it fight against her. Nothing was going to stop her though, and thinking of how (Y/N) had endured the beast's torture this whole time, Rain steadied herself and took a deep breath. The seal cracked and shattered as the slab of a door was pulled upward, revealing a pitch black chamber beyond. Rafael led the way, not wanting Rain to run into a trap herself. All seemed fine, and he motioned Rain to enter. As she stepped inside, torches along the walls lit up with eerie blue flames, revealing the chamber to be a hall leading towards another room. Along the walls were murals depicting the history Eden had shown Rain before with certain parts clearly telling how unstable Dartz truly was, such as any depiction of Timaeus clearly being damaged by weapons rather than age, and Iona's monster form showing up more than once. However, over the door leading to the back chamber was an image of Eden, Dartz, and Iona as children, playing with Ori and smiling. There were slashes and scratches all around the picture, but none of their images were damaged. If anything, they were more pristine than any other part of the murals. Perhaps, like Marik, some part of Dartz, his true self, was still inside his own mind, fighting the deception of the Leviathan. Unfortunately,  before Rain could ponder this, a cold wind surged, nearly knocking her and Rafael off their feet, and ice began to form all around them, creeping towards them like a hungry beast.
"What is this!?" Rafael called as Rain felt herself go numb.
The man realized something was wrong as the Wayfarer collapsed to her knees, shaking and hyperventilating. He tried to run to her, but a wall of ice encircled the girl, trapping her in as it began to seal off. Rain could barely hear Rafael shout for her, her visible breath the only part of the world not shaking as things began to spin as they always did. The sounds of her parents screaming, the numbness, the aching feeling of being alone all set in, only this time, (Y/N) was not there to ground her, to repeat her mantra, and her remaining friends were either imprisoned or upstairs fighting Dartz. Despite it though, a small part of her mind kept fighting, knowing this time, she had to claw herself out.
Now was not the time to spiral.
As Rain gripped her head with tears in her eyes, she chanted the mantra (Y/N) always said.
"Anchor yourself! Anchor yourself!"
The words were hollow, as besides Rafael, she was well and truly alone, just like that awful night. She didn't even have the Millennium Bracelet to comfort her.
"All of our friends are here for you, so if you sink back into those memories, we'll be there to make sure you get out of them."
The shaking ceased as Yugi's words filled her mind. The memory of him comforting her in the Virtual World was so strong, she could almost feel his jacket around her, feel him hugging her.
"I won't let you drown."
She felt a surge of strength as she pulled out the willow staff, shattering through the ice and jamming it into the floor to push herself to her feet.
"I don't care...what you throw at me...nothing's gonna stop me...FROM GETTING THEM BACK!"
Poor Rafael got sent flying as an explosion of electricity shattered every inch of the ice, leaving Rain breathing heavily in the epicenter. She waited a few moments for her nerves to calm before she took a breath and kept going.
"Rafael!" She shouted, running to help him back to his feet. "Sorry. I didn't mean for it to be that strong."
He groaned, but shook it off. "Let's just call it karma and move on. Are you all right?"
She nodded weakly. "The cold is...a touchy subject for me. That trap was specifically set up for me. I don't like that Dartz knew where to hit me."
Rafael looked weary as well, but led the way to the next room. "Whatever the case, getting the bracelet back as soon as possible should be our priority."
Rain nodded in agreement and followed after him. The next room was built like an arena, sand pit and all, with a circle of torches lighting it. At the center was an altar composed of Orichalcos stones and atop it, surrounded by a dark aura, was the Millennium Bracelet.
"(Y/N)!" Rain yelled, sensing the queen's fading spirit even from the entrance of the chamber.
Without thinking, she ran into the arena, only to bounce off some invisible force surrounding the altar, (Y/N)'s screams once more filling her ears.
"Hang on, I'll get you out!"
As Rain held up the staff, she heard a low, menacing growl from above her. Before she could question what the heck that was, Rafael was already screaming.
"RAIN, MOVE!"
Without a second to spare, the Wayfarer rolled away as a hideous, hulking monster crashed down the spot she had been previously. The creature had a humanoid building with a gaping maw and long purple claws. What terrified Rain more was that she recognized this monster.
"It's Queen Iona!"
"Who?!" Rafael asked, running in to help her as the transformed queen stalked around the ring.
"Dartz's wife! The Leviathan manipulated her against Eden like it did him and transformed her into a monster!"
"He had a wife!?"
"He had a lot of things!"
Iona roared, her piercing red gaze locked solely on the Wayfarer.
"Why is she looking at you like that?"
"The Leviathan, I think, amplified her insecurities about how close Dartz and Eden were...she thinks I'm Eden, doesn't she?"
As if to answer her, the monster let out a piercing wail and charged. Rafael wasted no time tossing Rain away by the scruff of her shirt and swinging the torch in his hands like a sword. Iona screeched, backing away from embers as the blonde kept up the pressure. As Rain got back to her feet, she felt Eden's presence in her mind once more.
"Iona, please forgive me."
"Eden, focus! How do we get past her?"
"...you have no choice. Strike her down and put her out of her misery."
"No! Dartz already killed her physical form, meaning this is her spirit manifested! If I strike down her spirit, what will happen!?"
"Rain, there's too much at risk. I love Iona as my own sister, but you cannot risk yours and Rafael's lives!"
"You promised to save everyone cursed by Leviathan, that includes her! And I swore to uphold your promises! There has to be a way to help her." Rain looked back, seeing Rafael hold his own against the transformed queen. "Wait, Rafael broke free of the seal by confronting his darkness. If we make Iona remember the truth, would she return to normal?"
"...it's possible..."
"Good enough for me! Just tell me what to do!"
Eden sighed. "I've never attempted a spell like this, but perhaps a strike to her heart with the staff could give us the opening into her mind."
"All right, here goes nothing!" Rain whistled, getting the monster's attention. "Iona! I'm right here! Come and get me!"
The queen roared, flinging away Rafael as she charged the smaller female. With nerves of steel, Rain lunged, using the staff like a rapier as she struck Iona's chest. The world went white before the monster and the girl found themselves in a fog. Iona seemed to prepare to pounce once more, only for a voice to call out to her.
"Iona!" The monster turned, seeing Eden standing behind her with a look of determination. "My friend, you've been lost in the dark for too long. It's time to return to your senses."
The monster roared and charged at the sage, only to harmless phase through her as Eden reappeared by Rain's side.
"Queen Iona, the Leviathan is using you!" Rain called out. "You have to remember!"
"Iona, please. Your heart knows the truth." Eden begged. "Look inside yourself and remember!"

The monster seethed, but the world around them shifted, transforming into the throne room from their previous lives.
A very young Iona stood in front of an equally young Dartz, Ironheart standing between them.
"Dartz, this is Princess Iona, your betrothed. Princess Iona, this is my only child, Prince Dartz."
Child Iona curtsied with a smile. "It's an honor to meet you, my prince."
Child Dartz smiled back charmingly, taking her hand. "Please, just call me Dartz."

The memory quickly shifted to the two in the courtyard, chatting and getting along.
"Is the palace to your liking?" The prince asked, making her nod.
"Oh yes, it's beautiful. Atlantis is such a wonderful city."
"I'd hold off on that, you still need to see the most interesting parts of the palace."
She smiled, before something caught her eye, making her gasp. "Oh no!"
"What's wrong?"
She walked up to what appeared to be several potted plants, all severely wilting in the sunlight.
"These plants were meant to be my gift for the palace gardens! I should've known they wouldn't have survived the journey."
The young prince rubbed his chin before smiling.
"I know someone who can fix this! Wait here!" Dartz left Iona to mourn the flowers before quickly returning with a young Eden who was adorned in white robes. "Iona, this is Eden. She's training to be the sage of Atlantis, and she's my best friend. Eden, this is Princess Iona. She'll be my queen one day."
Young Eden curtsied. "It's an honor, princess."
Iona reciprocated. "Likewise, Eden. Pri-, err, Dartz says you can restore the flowers?"
The young magic user studied the plants, pursing her lips for a moment, before nodding.
"I just might be able to. Just a moment."
"No one does magic better than Eden." Dartz boasted as Eden arranged the plants as though they were a spell circle. "I guarantee that by the time you and I are ruling Atlantis, she'll have already discovered the secrets to life itself!"
"I already told you, I'm not going to try and find a means to immortality!" Eden shouted, making Iona laugh. "Okay, this should work. Now, stand back."
The two royals did so as young Eden concentrated. Soon enough, the plants began to glow and slowly mend until they were in a more presentable state, at which point Eden fell back exhausted.
Iona ran up to her. "That was amazing, Eden! Thank you, I'm truly grateful!"
She smiled tiredly. "Oh, it wasn't much. Sage Asclepius could have done that far more easily."
"As if that grumpy old man would!" Dartz said. "Thank you, my friend. Princess, would like to continue the tour?"
She nodded. "Indeed. Eden, care to join us? If you are to serve as our sage, I think it would only be right for us to become friends."
The future sage nodded. "I would like that very much."   

The monster Iona warbled, gripping her head as if the mere contrast of the memories and the lies the Leviathan had whispered caused her pain.
"Iona, I treasured our friendship!" Eden called out. "You know where my heart always laid, Dartz's heart as well! Do not let the beast's lies poison you any longer!"
There were quick flashes of several memories: one of Dartz presenting Iona with a crown of peonies (with Ironheart and Eden gleaming from beyond a corner); the princess and Eden studying together in the library; then of the three of them racing to save Ori; and then Dartz and Iona's wedding, where the then prince only looked at his new wife in adoration while Eden and Timaeus were off in their own world. The monster roared in defiance, but whether it was against the truth or the lies was unknown to the Wayfarers.

Finally, the memories landed on Iona resting in a bed, Dartz at her side with a look of adoration.
"You were brilliant, my dear Iona! I'm so proud of you!"
He kissed her head as the two looked down at a bundle in her arms, baby Chris. The queen then smiled as she caught sight of someone in the doorway.
"Eden, come in here at once. I will not have you sulking around like some stranger!"
The sage stepped in, looking bashful.
"My apologies, my queen, I was simply preparing the gift from Timaeus and the other legendary knights." She whistled as a young wolf pup came tumbling. "A Silver Fang pup. Brave, intelligent, and loyal. She'll be a fine companion for the princess."
Dartz nodded. "A generous gift. Please send our thanks to the knights, Eden."
The sage nodded and began to make her leave before the queen called out again.
"Eden, come here."
The sage did so. "Yes, my queen?"
Iona immediately put the baby in Eden's arms as her husband tried to hide the fact that he was laughing as the sage struggled with handling the newborn.
"There." Iona said. "Chris will need to know who her aunt is early."
Eden blinked in shock, blinking at the infant. "Are...you certain?"
"Who else could we trust?" Dartz asked. "You're as close to a sister as either of us have."
The sage smiled, getting teary eyed. "Thank you. Both of you."

Monster Iona froze, letting out sorrowful noises as she reached out to the memories.
"Our friendship was never a lie." Eden declared. "Never doubt that, Iona."
"E...den..." The monster finally managed to say. "My...friend..."
At once, the memory world shattered, and when Rain opened her eyes, she didn't see the monster, but instead the spirit form of the now restored queen.
"Queen Iona." Rain said with a smile.
The queen blinked at her in shock. "...Eden?"
The Wayfarer shook her head. "I'm afraid not. A part of her, but someone else entirely."
Iona glanced around, looking confused. "I...I don't understand. Where are we? Where is my husband? My daughter? My friend?"
"It's a lot to explain right now your highness. Let's just say you've been trapped in the darkness for 10,000 years."
"10,000!?"
Before Rain could say anything else, she saw the barrier encasing the Millennium Bracelet shatter. However, a fog of malice encompassed the bracelet as the Leviathan seemed to be making one last attempt to shatter it
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" She yelled, running straight into the miasma.
Straining against the toxic cloud, Rain saw the bracelet's glow slowly starting to fade. However, as she reached out her hand, the runes on her arms slowly faded away and the light of the bracelet returned in force. At once, she heard the Leviathan shriek in pain as she grabbed onto the bracelet.
"(Y/N)!"
With a final pull, Rain yanked the bracelet off the dark altar, causing it to shatter. The shadow of the Leviathan slunk off as Rain cradled the bracelet to her chest.
"You managed to free it!" Rafael said as he approached. "Is Queen (Y/N) all right?"
"I don't know, but I'm gonna check on her. Rafael, try to explain as much as you can to Iona and watch my body."
Rain felt an overwhelming sense of peace as the Millennium Bracelet was restored to its rightful place on her wrist. Wasting no time, she got into a meditative stance and jumped into her own mind. In the corridor, (Y/N)'s room had been restored, though it was clear the battle between her and the beast had been a hard one. Racing inside, Rain saw her friend curled up on the floor, weak, exhausted, but still there.
She raced to her friend's side. "(Y/N)!"
"R-Rain?" She asked weakly as the younger Wayfarer threw her arms around her, crying.
"You're okay! I wasn't too late! I can't believe I wasn't too late!"
The queen smiled weakly, hugging her partner back. "I knew you would reach me."
"I'm so sorry! I should've listened to you back in the desert! It was all my fault!"
"No, Rain, no more of that." (Y/N) said, forcing Rain to look at her. "You saved me, that's apology enough. You've done so well without me."
Rain sniffled, smiling. "I had some help."
(Y/N) smiled faded as she glanced upward. "I can sense Yami. He's in trouble. You need to go to him."
"Right. First, we should get you fixed up."
Rain pulled out the staff, using it to bring them to Eden's realm. The Great Sage was waiting for them, quickly taking the queen and pouring healing magic into her.
"I will try to mend Queen (Y/N)'s wounds, Rain." Eden assured her. "Return to the Pharaoh and help him finish this! Put an end to this nightmare!"
"I will." Rain gave (Y/N) one last hug. "Get some rest. You've earned it."
"Be careful." (Y/N) requested as Rain returned to her body, probably at the worst possible moment.
"HE'S DONE WHAT!?" Iona screamed as Rafael backed away a little uncomfortably.
"Rain, I think I made it worse."
She sighed before standing in front of Iona. "Queen Iona, I know this is very confusing, frustrating, and an all around horrible situation to be in, but please remember that your husband is also being played by the Leviathan like you were. The beast is the real threat. Right now, we need to get upstairs and help my friends take down your husband."
"V-very well. I certainly have things to say to him. Gods, I always said he was going to poke someone's eye out with his swordplay, but I didn't think he'd do it to Timaeus!"
Iona kinda just...floated away, leaving the living pair to look at each other nervously.
"Are you sure bringing her is a good idea?" Rafael asked.
"Honestly, I'm 50-50, but since Eden is busy healing (Y/N), she might be the only other person who can talk Dartz down."
"Do you think she can get through to him?"
"Eden got through to her, and judging by those memories, without the influence of the Leviathan, Dartz truly loves her. All we can do is try."
Rafael then fidgeted. "We're riding the owl up, aren't we?"
"Yep."

(Timeskip)

Suffice to say, Yami was have a very, very bad time. Tag dueling with Kaiba was always an open invitation for the brunette to ridicule his every move, but Dartz was a particular brand of obnoxious, what with his blasé attitude about betray literally everyone who ever loved and trusted him for a world devouring monster, the ever evolving Seal of Orichalcos because of course there were more versions of that thing, Orichalcos Kyutora which was preventing him and Kaiba from making any sort of progress in the duel, and the cherry on top: the Mirror Knight tokens. The Mirror Knight tokens were a kick in the gut since Dartz, in all of his sadistic glee, had the faces of their stolen friends as well as (Y/N) (sorry Pegasus, but you cannot tell Dartz wouldn't use (Y/N)'s face to mess with Yami specifically). Staring down a soulless, puppetted version of his wife was a new type of terror Yami would likely have to deal with at night.
The kicker? Neither he nor Kaiba could be certain if these tokens were in fact housing the souls whose forms they took, and if they did, what would happen if they were destroyed?
Not that Kaiba cared. The brunette was insistent this was nothing more than a dirty tactic by Dartz and berating the pharaoh for falling for it. Yami had to bite back a scathing remark about how Kaiba wouldn't be so gung-ho about destroying the tokens if one of them was Mokuba, reminding himself to focus on Dartz and to let Rain deal with Kaiba later.
If there was a later.
"It's quite apparent that there is nothing either of you can do to stop me." Dartz taunted. "So let's put you out of your misery, shall we?"
A loud screech was heard echoing from a connecting passageway. Knowing who was coming, Seto and Yami took cover as Kuro burst in in vicious fashion as Rafael and Rain clung to her back.
"I still don't understand how you're used to this." The blonde said as the shorter girl slid off.
"I try not to think of the terror. Yami! Seto!"
"Rain, you're all right!" Mokuba shouted as both dueling males breathed a sigh of relief.
"And right on time, it seems." She turned to the mastermind's favorite puppet. "Dartz."
"Eden." He greeted haughtily. "How nice of you to join us."
"It's Rain." She then saw the Mirror Knight tokens and scowled. "But I'm glad she's too busy to notice this. You're a creep and a coward, hiding behind a cheap ploy!"
Dartz merely  smirked, having the Mirror Knight Yugi and (Y/N) look at her. "Are you so sure this is merely a trick, 'Rain'?"
She smirked right back, holding up her bracelet. "Yeah, pretty sure (Y/N) is back with me."
The bracelet gleamed and suddenly, all of the Mirror Knights had their helmets back on, breaking the illusion.
"Well played. You're a better mage than I thought." Dartz said, his expression not changing, but the subtle gripping of his fingers made it clear he was angered that his trick had been found out.
"So they were fakes!" Tea yelled angrily.
"Dirty cheat!" Mokuba yelled.
Yami felt slightly better in contrast. "Rain, how is (Y/N)?"
"She's safe, Yami. She's hurt pretty badly, but Eden's healing her. More importantly," She pointed at the tokens. "They aren't the real souls. Take them out!"
"And you were so concerned about-,"
"Seto Kaiba, if one of them looked like Mokuba, would we be having this conversation!?"
Seto shut up immediately as Rafael took a step forward.
"Dartz, you've told enough lies. The pharaoh and Rain have shown me the truth."
"Really?" He asked, amused.
"We know what happened." Rain yelled. "Eden showed me everything. Dartz, you're being played. The Leviathan is using you!"
"Oh, spare me. The Leviathan will bring about-,"
"Cut the bs!" Rain cut him off. "The heart will always remember the truth. Some part of you knows the truth, Dartz. The real you, the one who was Eden's best friend, Iona's loving husband, Chris's father! Eden still thinks you're in there!"
He laughed. "Is that what she told you? It warms my heart that my dear Eden cares still for me, but I'm afraid it's you who is confused in this matter."
Rain shook her head. "In one ear, out the other."
"Dartz." Iona said, appearing in front of Rain.
Now that finally got the king to react as he stiffened in shock. "I-Iona!?"
"Stop this madness, I beg you!"
"H-how!? I saw you transform into your true form! What trick is this!?"
"It's not a trick, Dartz!" Rain shouted. "Eden and I saved Iona by reminding her of your true relationship and dispelling Leviathan's lies. Don't you see it now? The creature's blinded you!"
Iona held out her arm.
"Thank you, Rain, but in truth, I am still responsible for my own transformation." Iona looked at her husband guiltily. "I always knew that neither you nor Eden would ever betray me. Your feelings were always clear, but I still allowed those poisoned words to fester in my heart. I'm sorry, my love, I should have trusted you, and our dear friend."
The former king of Atlantis seemed to grapple with this, and for a brief moment, Rain thought she saw the Leviathan's grasp on his mind loosen. However, it was only for a moment as she saw Dartz double down.
"IONA, GET BACK!"
Iona's spirit self jumped back as lightning struck where she had been standing.
"I will not be swayed with these parlor tricks!" Dartz declared.
Iona frowned sadly, though she didn't look surprised. Rain stepped forward.
"It's not a trick! If you're so sure about the Leviathan, then let's put it to the test! Let me access your memories like I did Iona's and let's see if you're still willing to listen to it!"
He glared at her. "Silence!"
"You know I'm right. Some piece of you knows the truth, just like you know you can't win this fight! After all, if you were so sure about your victory, why bother with the Mirror Knight illusions?"
He gritted his teeth at her, before regaining his composure. "The Orichalcos simply exposes what you truly are on the inside. Humans are corrupt human beings full of anger, each one of you!"
"Like you're any better." Rain spat. "Humans are capable of some truly evil things, but we're also capable of good! It's our flaws that make it so we're capable of becoming better, doing better, and that makes this world worth protecting! Even you're capable of changing, Dartz. You can still choose to do the right thing."
Dartz shook his head. "I am merely a pioneer chosen by the Orichalcos to carve out a new world, and my task is nearly done. Soon I'll have enough power to awaken the Leviathan and rebuild civilization."
"I won't allow it!" Rafael shouted. "Rain and the pharaoh saved me and freed me of the influence of the seal. I see now that for the sake of those I've lost, I have to be willing to protect the world they didn't get to experience!"
Dartz began laughing maniacally. "Oh, it seems the seal has taken a few brain cells of yours as well! This is for the sake of your lost family? Have neither of you truly put it together?"
"What are you talking about?" Rafael demanded.
"For 10,000 years, I've attempted to amass enough souls to regenerate the Leviathan, but I also was searching for my beloved Eden. She told me herself she would return to oppose me, and sure enough, 5000 years ago, I found her again in Egypt."

(Flashback)

Dartz weaved through the crowd like a snake, his form completely hidden beneath the long, hooded robe he wore. The streets of the capital were filled with celebration for the crown prince's birthday, but that did not matter to him. As the procession of royals passed, his eyes were locked on a group of mages walking behind them. He recognized the style of robes from the good old days, remembering how his dear Eden had said her students would carry out her mission, and she was correct it seemed. He never expected those brats of hers to survive, let alone multiple.
Leading the sages was a man atop a chestnut horse, dignified and composed as any leader should be, and at his right was a teenager, who appeared to be mimicking his posture. Dartz felt something stir in him as he tried to get a better look at the girl, but the angle made it difficult to make out her features.
"(Y/N)!"
The girl at the front turned her head as two figures, a man and another girl, joined her. It was like seeing a ghost. True, she didn't have Eden's lovely purple eyes, but those features were no doubt hers. As the trio of supposed friends rode ahead to join the nobles, the former king of Atlantis smirked.
"I found you, Eden."

(Flashback End)

"I knew I had to act, so when the Wayfarers were alone, I struck, taking Eden."
"Did you even consider Aasim? The man you murdered!" Yami shouted, being brushed off.
"What is one life in the grand scheme of things? However, I was too eager. I was so focused on Eden, that I did not notice who was with her." Dartz clenched his fist as he glared daggers at Yami. "You, I did not expect you to follow her, Timaeus."
The Pharaoh glared back as Dartz remembered that day. He had been so close, only for a familiar face to jump in his way. In truth, his eyes had played tricks on him, making him see the armored form of Timaeus, sword at the ready to strike him down, only to fade back into the teenaged prince of Egypt, who still had that ferocious look in his eyes.
"I would follow her to the ends of the Earth and time." Yami spat back.
"A stubborn beast you are. However, that failure in Egypt made me realize something: though I had longevity, I could not accomplish my mission alone. I needed others."
"So you found us?" Rafael asked, sweat starting to form as he felt something eerie.
"I required 3 subordinates to carry out my plan. They needed to be filled with enough anger to tap into the full power of the Orichalcos. They also needed a reason to hate the unfairness of this world as much as I do. As soon as I encountered Valon, Alister, and yourself, I knew that I'd found exactly what I had been searching for. Of course, it was necessary to influence certain events in your lives."
"What do you mean by 'influence?" Rafael asked as Rain's pupils shrunk.
"You didn't."
"Oh, but I did. Let's start with Alister. His family was killed by Gozaburo Kaiba's tanks during his efforts to take over their township."
"Your point?" Kaiba asked, the mere mention of his adopted father making him seethe.
"What Alister didn't know was that Kaiba's father didn't do a thing, that honor belongs to me."
Everyone's eyes went wide with horror as they realized what this tangent was about. "And then there's poor Valon, who practically grew up in a juvenile detention center, thanks once again to yours truly. I framed him for his first crime at the age of 9. And of course, we can't forget about you, Rafael."
"You can cause storms..." Rain realized. "It was you. It was all you!"
"Yes, it was I who led the ship astray!"
Iona covered her mouth, horrified of the monster her husband had become. "How could you be so cruel!?"
"Why?" Rafael shuddered out, shaking.
"I saw your skills from a young age, but I needed to unlock your inner fury. It was the only way to make sure that you were strong enough, especially since I knew Eden and Timaeus would be reborn again to stop me. And quite frankly, your life was a bit too perfect, so I made some adjustments."
"You low life!" Rain spat. "How could you go on about people being evil when you're just a murderous scumbag playing with people's lives?!"
Iona gave him a hard look. "Maybe Eden was wrong about you. Perhaps you are beyond saving."
Dartz ignored them both. "As I said, I merely am the tool to bring about a better world."
"A better world doesn't have people like you in it!" Rafael yelled, his expression flared with anger. "Everything is your fault! You took my family from me!"
"I needed your anger, your thirst for revenge."
"You ruined my life, you monster!" He screamed, activating his chaos duel disk.
As Rafael seemed to be attempting to summon Eatos to attack, Rain saw the mark of Orichalcos starting to glow on his forehead again.
"Rafael, don't! It's what he wants!"
It was too late, however. The seal appeared beneath the male and was once again driving him crazy.
"Rafael, control your anger!" Yami pleaded, only for Dartz to laugh.
"Don't bother, Pharaoh. The Orichalcos lives within him and can never be extinguished. Its glow burns in his heart, and I'm afraid there's no turning back now. His soul belongs to me."
Rafael collapsed to the floor, his vacant expression proof of what had happened.
"Rafael!" Yami called again as Mokuba, Tea, and Tristan all ran to him.
"His soul was captured." Mokuba realized as Rafael's image appeared in one of the soul tablets aligning the room.
"Another soul, another step closer to awakening the great beast." Dartz mocked as Rain seethed at him.
"You'll never get away with this! You will fail, Dartz, and for Alister, Valon, and Rafael, I will see your master fall once and for all!"
The blue haired male turned his attention to her, a sinister grin on his face. "Just those three? My, you really haven't put it together, have you? Or perhaps, you simply don't remember."
"What are you talking about?"
The former king of Atlantis turned to Yami with a smirk. "I suppose I should admit to you, Pharaoh, that I did in fact attempt to take your wife just one other time. She was quite vulnerable after birthing your child. What did you name him again? Kathan?"
Yami's fist clenched, nearly drawing blood as Dartz recounted the second attempt.

(Flashback)

The palace guards were posted dutifully outside the chamber of the Pharaoh and the queen. As the queen slept and recovered from labor, the advisors had finally managed to persuade the Pharaoh to return to his duties and not watch over his small family like a poised hawk. Unbeknownst to them, the Pharaoh's borderline paranoia about the safety of his wife and son was not unfounded as a familiar foreigner slipped into the chambers completely undetected, what with his magical capabilities. Dartz leered at the unconscious queen. It had been a long birth from what he had gathered, meaning she likely would not have the strength to oppose him this time. A hiss caught his ear as he saw a reddish colored cat, back arched, perched atop a reed cradle that was beautifully decorated in gold and jewels as it was the bed of the Pharaoh's only child. As Dartz sadistically smirked, toying with the idea of taking the infant hostage to further detain this new form of Eden, he did not notice a shadowy figure lurking above him until there was a soft thud and a knife at his throat.
"Make one sound, and your life is forfeit." The stranger threatened.
From the corner of his eye, Dartz saw a young man adorned in robes worn by the desert and white hair. He recognized him as a companion of the new Eden, having spotted them arguing about some frivolous thing or another mere days before his first attempt.
"If the guards catch either of us, you'll be put to death as well." Dartz tried to threaten in a whisper.
"Oh don't worry on my account. (Y/N) would gladly take my side if I stated I pursued an assassin. Meanwhile, you would be seen as a scoundrel who broke into the bedroom of the Pharaoh as his queen and son slept."
Dartz clicked his tongue, knowing the assailant was correct. "I'm not an assassin."
"No, but you are a murderer. I know you're the one who killed Aasim, the father of the woman lying in that bed and the man who gave me shelter. If I didn't have my own issues with him, you'd already be bleeding out on the floor."
Suddenly, the infant in the cradle let out a wail. The cat, Ife, had leapt onto the young prince in order to get the attention of the queen and, more importantly, the guards. In the blink of an eye, Dartz felt himself yanked out of the window, his assailant immediately pinning his head down with his foot as they heard the commotion in the bedroom above.
"Kathan, what's wrong, nedjeb?" The queen could be heard along with the shuffling of sheets and a door opening.
"My Queen, is something amiss?" A guard was heard.
"The prince seems to have had a nightmare and woken up."
"Should we inform the Pharaoh?"
"No, it is nothing to be concerned about. Ife, were you trying to console him as well?"
Dartz silently cursed, knowing the queen would be wide awake now, meaning any attempt was meaningless now. He then felt the dagger's point at the back of his neck.
"That woman is mine. Approach her again, and I'll cut your throat long before you reach her."
The former king of Atlantis almost laughed, only to feel a pit in his stomach as he saw the swirling aura of darkness surrounding the young man, and immediately, he knew he would not win a fight against him. So he did what he did best: bide his time.

(Flashback End)

"Damnit, Bakura!" Rain growled. "The one time you stabbing someone would've benefited the world!"
Yami felt positively sick that not only had Dartz had been so close to (Y/N) and their newborn, Bakura had as well, and no one had been the wiser. The former king of Atlantis continued to monologue.
"After that, I left Egypt, but I had learned all I needed to. I knew it was only a matter of time before the two of you would reincarnate again. All I needed to do was wait, and after thousands of years, it bore fruit. All I had to do was keep an eye on the Wayfarers, especially those who the bracelet was passed down to. At first, I suspected your mother, Jeanne, was the next in line, but she lacked Eden's presence." Rain felt a cold sweat as Dartz casually mentioned her mother's name, feeling concerned just how much he knew about their family. "Then you were born, and I knew right away your true identity."
"You creep!" Tristan shouted. "You've been stalking her family for that long!?"
"Of course. Given my previous experience with Eden's reincarnation and knowing Timaeus would meddle, I knew I had to intervene before this new life inherited her power and before she crossed paths with Timaeus."
Seto suddenly went stiff, his eyes hinting at a horrible thought that had crossed his mind. "What do you mean by 'intervene'?"
He gave a sickening smirk. "Rain, how do you think I knew to use ice against you?"
"What are you-!" Rain's words died in her throat, shaking her head and backing away as she saw flashes of the accident, this time remembering how the figure in the road had stood still, as if waiting for this to happen. "N-no, no, no, no, no! I-it was you!? Th-the man standing in the road was you!?"
"Yes, it was. I caused the crash that killed your parents, Rain."
Everyone else looked at the man in complete shock, his confession so causal it was as if he had admitted to something mundane, like taking the last cookie. Rain, meanwhile, began shaking, her legs giving out beneath her as the staff clattered to the floor and she began to cry.
"You killed them, both of them...just to get to me?"
"Yes, such a shame they had the misfortune of having you for a daughter. You marked them for death."
Yami and Seto by that point snapped out of it, both males becoming infuriated.
"Shut up!" The brunette demanded, looking more furious than anyone had ever seen of him.
Rain just covered her mouth. "Mom...dad..."
"Despite my success, Eden proved too willful. I convinced a pair of bandits to break into your grandfather's home, knowing those buffoons would stumble and kill him in the panic, but you inherited the bracelet that night, and the Wayfarer Queen awoke in a half feral state and defended you. I couldn't approach you after that, but I knew it was only a matter of time. So how does it feel, 'Rain', knowing your parents died because of you?"
The Wayfarer girl completely dissociated, the shouts of her friends deaf to her ears as her heart went numb. Kaiba and Yami flew into a righteous fury, vowing to bring Dartz to justice for his crimes as the others huddled around Rain and tried to get her to snap out of it. With the knowledge that the Mirror Knights were nothing more than a trick, Seto immediately used the Fang of Critias to fuse Different Dimension Dragon and Yami's set Mirror Force to create Mirror Force Dragon and nuke the field. Unfortunately, that was all part of Dartz's game, as Kyutora revealed its final trick, transforming into Orichalcos Shunoros, Orichalcos Dexia, and Orichalcos Aristeros, with an attack of 20,000, all the damage accumulated during the duel. Seto didn't last long after, only getting in a final jab at Dartz by revealing Wish of Final Effort, transferring Mirror Force Dragon's attack point into lifepoints for Yami. As the Pharaoh raced to help his partner as his soul was taken, Seto grabbed him by the collar, looking defiant to the end.
"Listen to me: you don't let him get away with it. No matter what it takes, you make him pay for what he did to them!"
With those final words, Seto slipped away as everyone else fell unconscious (or in Iona's case, was driven back) due to the growing strength of the Leviathan, all the while, Rain remained catatonic. Yami was now alone, facing a nigh unbeatable threat as Dartz mocked him, calling him cursed, a harbinger of destruction, just as he had brought ruin onto his own wife.
"You've returned to Earth to pay for the wrongs you once committed!" Dartz declared, all but shattering Yami. "You know it's true. You nearly destroyed the world, like you destroyed your own family, so in order to compensate for the misdeeds of your past, you must join me in ushering in the age of the future! Surrender your spirit so that I may rebuild paradise! Just give up."
The seal pulled Yami towards surrender, whispering its deadly words as it had done to so many others as it closed in around him. However, at the last second, something sailed past him, embedding itself into the seal and stopping it in its tracks. Dartz looked on furiously as the Pharaoh broke from the trance, whirling around to see who had done it.
It had not been Rain who threw the willow staff, it had been (Y/N).
Despite all of the torture she had been forced to endure from Dartz and the Leviathan, somehow, the queen had found the strength to take command again, huffing and shaking on her feet.
"(Y/N)!" Yami yelled, running to her as she began to tumble over, catching her at the last possible second. "Are all right?! Kianga, you're badly hurt, you need to-,"
(Y/N) threw her arms around him, cutting off his words. "I don't care what he says, what any of them say. I know you, Shagngu, I know what's in your heart. You are a good man, the man I love. Even without my memories, my heart never forgot who I was meant to be with. An evil king isn't capable of that kind of love." She held his face then, smiling weakly. "Even if the world should lose faith in you, even if you lose faith in yourself, our friends will never lose faith in you, and I will never lose faith in you. I love you, Yami, and nothing will ever change that."
She kissed him, and Yami heard the whispers from before died out as he held her close and kissed back. His strength, his courage, and his resolve, all restored by the reassurance of this wonderful woman he once vowed his every lifetime to, a vow he would make a hundred times over. Even after breaking off the kiss, Yami held on to her like a lifeline, placing his forehead against hers.
"I won't lose heart again. Thank you, Kianga."
"Let's finish this. Together."
The two turned back to Dartz, who looked furious that his plans had once again been foiled by this pair.
"It's not possible! No one can match the power of the Orichalcos!"
"Your only 'power' was to keep us apart and strike at the weaknesses in our hearts, Dartz." (Y/N) corrected. "And now, you don't have that power anymore. The love that triumphed over the Leviathan before never left this world, it merely took on a new form in us! And now, you'll be defeated by it once more, along with the light of all of our friends, past and present!"
Both royals took their place back on the dueling field, Yami holding up (Y/N) from behind as she steadied herself with the staff. Together, the two drew from his deck, both immediately knowing it was the blank card given to them by Pegasus without even looking.
(Y/N) smirked, speaking to her husband in her mind. "I know what it is."
"You do?" He asked.
"She said when the time was right, she'd help us. So this is what she meant."
"Well?" Dartz shouted, frustrated and impatient. "Get on with it!"
"Do you know what's in our hands?" Yami asked as they brought the card close as it transformed into a familiar face. "You should be excited, Dartz, it's an old friend you're very familiar with. The friend you turned your back on, but who has never stop fighting."
Dartz stepped back in shock, not believing for a moment they were about to summon who he thought they were. "What!?"
"You heard him." (Y/N) said. "Now, by tributing Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, we can free this hero from her self imposed prison! Now is the time!"
Yami placed the card down on the duel disk as the willow staff flew up into the air and the two shouted in unison.
"Come forth, Eden, Great Sage of Wayfarers!"
Obnoxious Celtic Guardian dissolved into a portal from which the dark robed mage stepped out, grasping her staff and twirling it as the energy in the room bent to her will. As she stood, her hood fell as her gaze locked with her old friend, her staff pointed at him.

Eden, Great Sage of Wayfarers
2600 ATK/2000 DEF

Eden turned her head to her reincarnation, smiling fondly as Yami readjusted his grip to help her stand. "You're as reckless as the storm, Wayfarer Queen (Y/N)."
(Y/N) glanced at her husband. "We do anything for love, Great Sage Eden. Don't act as if you wouldn't have done the same for Timaeus."
"I would've. Without hesitation." The great sage then turned to her old friend with eyes narrowed. "Dartz..."
He blinked, the beast's grip once again loosened. "Y-you came back...?"
"I came to finish what I started."
Dartz shook his head, slipping back into his old persona as he smirked. "My dear Eden, how cruel of you. You would have spared your next lives so much pain by simply returning to my side."
"Bold of you to assume I could have before now. Believe me, if I had had my way, I would've stopped you the day you crossed Queen (Y/N)'s path. I won't let you hurt anyone else. This will be the end!"
"I would suggest you reconsider. Even your magic cannot save them from Shunoros!"
She smirked. "You're correct. Not alone anyways."
Dartz's pupils shrank. "Wait, you don't mean-!"
"Pharaoh, (Y/N)! Do it now!"
Yami nodded. "Very well. Since all three legendary dragon cards are in the grave, by paying 1000 lifepoints, Eden can summon them to the field! But that's not the end of it, Dartz! She has the power to summon them in their true forms!"
"NO!" He shouted as the price was paid.
"Eden! The time has come to fulfill your promise!" (Y/N) called as the great sage lifted the staff.
"Timaeus! Critias! Hermos! Lend us your strength once more!"
A ring of fire surrounded the field as Eden summoned a biblical storm. The three dragons emerged from the ground, flying into the clouds. A moment later, three columns of lightning struck the field, the knights taking their positions. Critias and Hermos flanked the sides as Timaeus took his rightful place by Eden's side, the two spouses smiling at each other from the corner of their eyes.
"Sorry it took me so long." She said, her voice barely cracking beneath her breath.
Timaeus shook his head. "For you, my love, I would've waited eternity."
"So, you've crawled back after all these centuries!" Dartz snarled, before smirking sadistically at his old rival. "Timaeus, how's the eye?"
The teal knight growled, moving to draw his sword, only for Eden to hold out her staff and hold off his anger.
"Dartz, our strength has been born anew, and I will not allow you to seal them away again." She then tapped her staff on the ground. "Gentlemen, I believe it's time for a change in the field!"
Hermos smirked. "Right as always, Eden!"
"Let us be rid of this already!" Critias said sharply as Timaeus drew his sword to the sky.
"Together!"
Combining their strengths, the knights and the sage blasted the Seal of Orichalcos to bits. Dartz looked in horror as Eden twirled her staff.
"Don't look so shocked. Don't forget who taught you to draw runes."
"Your ring of darkness is useless in our presence!" Critias added, Hermos jumping in.
"And all of us have a score to settle with you!"
The former king of Atlantis gnashed his teeth. "As if I would be felled by some...some...insignificant, incomplete wretches as yourselves!"
"Wretches!?" Timaeus yelled. "Says the man who tried to steal my wife!"
"I will not be-," Dartz then shook his head. "Wait, wife!? When did you two get married!?"
"The night before the battle." Eden answered nonchalantly.
"Where did you even-?"
Timaeus smirked in a taunting manner. "Your own father oversaw the ceremony and performed our rites, and your daughter was one of our witnesses."
The blue haired man likely would've been smoking at the ears as Eden side eyed her husband.
"You've been waiting 10,000 years to rub that in his face, haven't you?"
"And counting every moment until then, my love."
(Y/N) snorted, almost hearing Yami's voice saying this.
"Something amusing, Kianga?" Yami asked, indescribably happy to see her smile again.
"Oh, nothing, Shagngu. Now then, I think it's time we thinned his defenses."
"Agreed." Yami held out his hand. "Timaeus, attack his Orichalcos Aristeros!"
Timaeus leapt, slicing at Shunoros's arms, losing them lifepoints as it gained 300 more attack points than the teal knight. Still, the attack did begin to deplete Shunoro's monstrous attack, Critias and Hermos jumping in.
"And with that, I shall end my turn." Yami declared as his lifepoints fell.

Yami 250LP/ Dartz 20000LP

"My turn." Dartz declared, drawing. "Orichalcos Shunoros, attack Critias with Photon Ring Blast!"
"Hold on!" (Y/N) interjected as the attack came. "Your attack will be the death of you Dartz. Thanks to his own ability, Critias can bring back one trap card from the grave, and I think you know which one we chose."
Yami nodded. "Go, Mirror Force!"
The trap card appeared on the field before it was absorbed into the blue knight's blade. As the ring hit, Critias held his ground and parried it back, the shards of the attack tearing through all three of Dartz's monsters, nearly striking the king himself as his lifepoints depleted. When he was done, Critias sheathed his sword with a bit more flair than usual.
"That felt good."
Hermos huffed. "I'd hope so after all the trouble he's put us through."
"You're just mad you couldn't do it."
"Gentleman." Timaeus interceded before they could start flinging insults. "You can trade blows later."
Both grumbled as Eden smiled nervously.
"Ah, memories. It's good to hear you two bickering like an old married couple again."
"Eden!" They both shouted as Timaeus let out a laugh.
All four stopped as the dust on Dartz's side of the field cleared, showing the former king was smirking.
"Excellent move, Pharaoh. Bravo. Oh, by the way, did I mention Shunoros has a special ability as well?"
"Oh dear." Eden said, putting up a barrier around them as Shunoros detonated.
"What's happening?" (Y/N) asked as a dark haze fell on the field.
A dark portal emerged from above as a black serpent with gleaming yellow eyes leered at them. The knights formed a defensive position as readied herself.

Divine Serpent Geh
???ATK ???DEF

"The moment Shunoros was vanquished, my divine serpent was born! Of course, there's a price to pay. First, I must send every card in my hand to the graveyard.  After that, I'm required to give up every one of my lifepoints. Oh well."
They all watched as the man paid the price. However, even after his lifepoints dropped to zero, the duel still wasn't over.
"How is this possible?" (Y/N) asked. "He should lose!"
"Under normal circumstances, yes. However, as long as my Divine Serpent is on the field, I remain in the game."
"Its strength is infinite!" Yami realized as Eden clenched her teeth.
"You will regret this, Dartz. The beast will never be satisfied no matter how much you sacrifice to it. It will be your undoing!"
Dartz clicked his tongue. "Then by all means, old friend, challenge the Divine Serpent at your own peril. Once it attacks one of the knights, the two royals' souls are mine."

Yami 250LP/ Dartz 0LP

Yami stared at his duel disk, trying to figure out how the hell they were going to get out of this. He looked at (Y/N), nodding and reassuring that they would face whatever came together. Together, they drew, this time, pulling Dark Magician Girl, their loyal guide through this journey.
"This is our only chance." (Y/N) said to him, seeing their only out in his hand.
Yami nodded. "I place one card facedown. Now it's your move!"

Yami 250LP/ Dartz 0LP

"Very well." Dartz said while drawing. "First, I discard 10 cards from my deck so my new monster can attack!"
Eden's eyes gleamed as she heard this, her mind already racing with an idea as Dartz held out his hand.
"Go, Divine Serpent! Strike down Timaeus!"
The serpent let out a blast of fire as Timaeus shoved Eden to safety. Hermos pulled her back as she was forced to watch Timaeus be destroyed, looking as if she would have a panic attack.
"Timaeus!"
"And then, there were two, but more importantly, you just lost the rest of your lifepoints, so the duel is over, as are your very existences. So fare thee well!"
"Guess again, Dartz." Yami called as the smoke cleared, revealing not only the newly summoned Dark Magician Girl in defense mode, but that they were still in the game.
Dartz's eyes went wide. "What!? How did you survive!?"
"Simple: Relay Soul." (Y/N) explained. "When Yami's lifepoints dropped to 0, it kept us in the game by summoning Dark Magician Girl. Like you, we're putting our faith in our monster, only ours won't betray us."
The spellcaster glanced at the two, smiling and nodding.
"All right, let the final phase begin!" Yami called as Dartz regained his composure.
"Yes, but understand this: you may have altered the rules of our battle, but your chances of victory are just as slim!"
"We have the spirits of our friends to support us, Dartz!" The pharaoh spat back. "Meanwhile, you've turned your back on everyone who cared for you. You gave into the dark promise of a primordial evil, and now you're all alone!"
"I possess more power than you, your queen, or your friends!"
"Not quite!" Eden shouted, breaking free from Hermos to glare at him. "You'll pay for what you did!"
"Your efforts are futile, Eden! And I'll prove it by playing this: Impact Revive! It brings back a monster that was destroyed this turn and gives it an extra 500 attack points."
Timaeus returned to the field breathing heavily as Eden supported him.
"Are you all right?" She asked as he nodded.
"I'm fine. I'm going to kill him though."
"Why do this?" Yami asked.
"I thought it would be fun to show how truly powerless you all are, for now, Impact Revive also allows my monster to attack again! I send 10 cards from my deck to my graveyard. Now, Divine Serpent, end this duel!"
The serpent once again fired, taking aim at Dark Magician Girl. However, Yami was way ahead of his opponent.
"Legendary Knight Hermos, activate your Sword of Renewal! Absorb the power of a monster from my graveyard!"
Hermos raised his blade high, absorbing the ability of Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, thereby preventing the serpent from destroying Dark Magician Girl, who didn't even flinch as the attack parted around her.
"Your attack has failed yet again, Dartz." Eden mocked as he was forced to end his turn. "You only have so many more chances before you run out of offerings."

Yami 0/Dartz 0

Again, the royal drew, and with this new card, they had an, albeit, odd plan in place.
"So much for infinite strength." Yami taunted. "Lesson one: attack points don't mean everything."
"You dodge one blast, and you think you're King of the World?"
"King of Games, actually." (Y/N) corrected. "Critias! Hermos! Take aim! Strike down the Divine Serpent!"
"With pleasure!" The two shouted, diving into the dark portal, sinking their swords into the beast's head, looking very satisfied in doing so.
"They're too weak." Dartz declared.
"Are you sure?" Yami asked. "If I were you, I'd take a closer look."
Sure enough, the two were holding on for dear life as the serpent flailed about in agony (Timaeus feeling especially vindicated after having to endure a sword in his head for centuries).
"What?! Your knights should have been destroyed the moment they collided with my Divine Serpent."
"Not quite." (Y/N) clarified. "You see, each knight has a unique ability, abilities which can be applied in rather...unique ways. Observe. Shagngu?"
Yami nodded, holding up the trap card he drew. "Critias, absorb the ability of my Attack Guidance Barrier. This allows Critias to transfer his attack to any other monster on the field, so his new target will be Hermos!"
"What?" Dartz said, losing the plot for a moment as Yami kept going.
"It's time for Hermos to activate his special ability: by sacrificing my three Magnet Warriors, this allows Hermos to triple the strength of Critias's attack and send that attack right back!"
"An infinite attack increase loop." Eden said with a smile as Hermos and Critias's power kept bouncing off without stop. "Very clever. I suppose they are our reincarnations after all."
(Yes, yes I know it's stupid, but sometimes you need to embrace the stupid.)
"Now then." (Y/N) continued. "We can't do much with a loop, but we do have one legendary knight remaining. Timaeus, merge together with Hermos and Critias!"
Timeaus raised his sword and merged with his fellow knights, his armor becoming a blinding gold and his eye being restored.
"Your Divine Serpent's strength may be infinite, but that's still not enough, for now there's a force beyond infinity: Knight of Destiny!"
Dartz shook as he saw the might of this new monster matched his own, meaning the pharaoh and queen had one thing in mind.
"Knight of Destiny, destroy the beast with Sword of Justice!" The royals ordered.
With a mighty swing, the golden knight cleaved through the beast, unknowingly giving the souls trapped within a means to escape.
"It's over, Dartz!" Eden declared, seeing the creature fall. "This 10,000 year nightmare is at its end!"
He stared in horror as Geh was slain. "It can't be...I've come too close. All I need is one more powerful soul, and the Great Leviathan will arise."
"Too little, too late." (Y/N) yelled as Knight of Destiny separated into the three legendary knights once more. "This duel is at its end. You've no more tricks to play. Now, release the souls of those you've captured!"
Dartz growled, only for the temple to begin shaking. Yami immediately grabbed (Y/N) tighter as she struggled to maintain balance. Meanwhile, Eden watched as a portal opened behind Dartz and a shadowy figure bolted at him.
She reached out her hand. "DARTZ!"
There was nothing to be done as the former king was suddenly swallowed by the beast that immediately disappeared once more. The earthquake intensified for a moment before finally calming down. However, several orbs escaped the slash created by Knight of Destiny, one of which immediately flew back to Yami and into the Millennium Puzzle.
"Yugi." He said, sensing his friend's presence.
(Y/N) sighed in relief as Seto's soul was also released, waking him up almost immediately as he reached for his unconscious brother,
"Mokuba, are you all right? Wake up!"
The young boy groaned, but immediately flung himself at his brother crying as soon as he realized who was speaking to him. "Seto, you're here!"
Tristan was up a moment later, still dazed. "Oh, great. You're back. Tea? You okay?"
He shook their female friend, who recovered shortly after, clutching her head.
"Wha-?" She asked. "Where are we?"
"Still in the temple, I'm afraid." (Y/N) reported, making Tea beamed with joy as she ran up to them.
"(Y/N)! You're okay!"
"Relatively speaking." The queen said as she still leaning on Yami for support as Tristan joined them.
"Should you really be walking around? And how's Rain? She was pretty shaken up after...you know."
"Rain will recover." (Y/N) assured. "She just needs time."
"I'm afraid we don't have too much to spare." Eden said, stepping towards them. "Dartz and the Leviathan aren't finished just yet."
"Still?" Yami asked.
The sage nodded. "It seems in the absence of your own soul, pharaoh, he offered his own to complete the Leviathan's revival. I always said he was stubborn."
"Eden."
The sage froze mid rant, hearing Timaeus call her name. In truth, with the duel going on, the two hadn't been afforded a proper reunion. Slowly, she turned to face Timaeus smiling slowly. He opened his arms as tears fell from Eden's eyes, casting aside her staff to run into them. Timaeus embraced her as she clung to him, the years of being apart finally breaking her down.
"I...I was starting to think I would never see you again!"
Timaeus cupped her face, making her look at him. "I never doubted for a moment you'd find a way to save us, my brilliant, powerful, clever wife."
She smiled as he brushed away her tears, the two sharing a passionate kiss. Yami and (Y/N) watched fondly, knowing what it meant to be reunited with the one you love most. The queen sighed, leaning her head against her husband's shoulder as he kissed her head.
"Tired?"
"Exhausted."
Hearing this, Eden remembered where they were and scurried to break the kiss (Timaeus regretted nothing). She ran to (Y/N)'s side, scooping up her staff and beginning to cast another healing spell.
"I'm afraid you may have undone any progress you made beforehand, (Y/N). You need to rest now. Do you think Rain can take over?"
The queen brought the bracelet to her heart, concentrating. "Rain?"
The Wayfarer girl appeared in spirit form, still clearly in shock, but no longer catatonic as she looked at the ground guiltily.
"I'm...I'm-,"
(Y/N) stopped her. "You have nothing to apologize for. Believe me, I know what you're going through."
She nodded weakly. "Thanks, (Y/N)."
With that, Rain took back control, still looking dejected. Yami offered her a consoling hug, which Rain accepted as Tea and Tristan joined in, promising to be there for their friend.
"You should rest too, Yami. You've been going nonstop too. Take a break." The pharaoh nodded, handing back control to Yugi, whom Rain immediately tackled into a hug. "YUGI!"
He laughed, hugging tightly. "Hey, Rain, I'm back."
"I'm so happy to see you again!"
"I'm happy to see you too." Yugi said, sitting them both up as he looked at her. "Rain, about your parents..."
"It's in the past." She said as he took her hand.
"It doesn't matter. Are you okay?"
She sighed. "Not really...but we've got a job to finish."
Knowing this was about as much as he could do, Yugi simply nodded in agreement as Tea joined in their hug.
"All right, out of my way, people!" A familiar voice yelled. "Where's my little buddy!"
They all looked up to see Joey running at them at top speed. Tea immediately pulled Rain to safety as the blonde tackled Yugi again. Yugi did not find it nearly as pleasant as when Rain did to him, but still beamed as he was reunited with his best friend.
"Hey, Joey."
"The gang is back!" Tea declared.
"Don't forget about me!" Tristan yelled, joining in.
Yugi and Rain then found themselves floating in a void with Yami, (Y/N) (who was still leaning against the pharaoh to conserve energy, Timaeus, and Eden.
"Ready yourselves, my friends." Eden warned gravely. "I'm afraid the final battle begins now."

Next time is the final showdown. So yeah, Dartz murdered Rain's parents and was responsible for those two thieves in the prologue. It's also why Rain awoke to the power of the bracelet so early: Eden had to basically force it because she sensed Dartz's presence and knew she had to act, so she woke up (Y/N) and guided Rain to her. In truth, (Y/N) should have woken up simultaneously with Yami once Yugi solved the puzzle, which is why Rain didn't notice her presence until then because, fun fact: Rain first noticed (Y/N) in the reflection at the exact time Yugi completed the puzzle and Yami woke up. Just some fun lore stuff. Also, I wonder what Bakura was doing in (Y/N)'s bedroom that day, or what that argument was between them before the kidnapping attempt.
I'm sure it's nothing. ;)