With a shout from Judge Izono, the battle grouping process came to an end. The elevators beneath all participants simultaneously activated, shooting them up towards the top of the tower.
In no time, the four arrived successively at the very top of the Dueling Tower.
Here, the arrangement matches that in the anime. There isn't much time to rest from the group preliminaries to the first semifinal; the contestants have only about ten minutes to adjust.
Competitors can use these ten minutes to make final adjustments to their card deck tactics based on the opponent they drew, or they can choose to interact "amicably" with their opponents, perhaps greeting each other's family, to warm up for the upcoming duel.
As for the deck, Youyu had long prepared it; all it needed was a final check. Due to knowledge of the anime plot, Youyu was already aware that Kaiba would decide opponents via a battle royale format, so it was easy to anticipate Marik being the first opponent, prompting early deck adjustments.
As they say, high risk brings high reward. Though losing to Marik could result in a GG in the Darkness Game, from the perspective of advancing, he's somewhat more confident about moving forward after facing him among the final four.
In the anime, Marik was so arrogant due to underhanded tricks, The Winged Dragon of Ra's powerful effects, and the fact that only he knew the exact effects.
However, Youyu has no such issue; he knows Ra's effects inside out.
Excluding underhanded tricks, strictly speaking from duel skills, in the anime, Marik's wins against Mai and Jonouchi weren't convincing. Youyu feels his chances are quite good.
By now, spectators also arrived at the top of the tower via elevators. Jonouchi and friends began shouting: "Youyu, go for it!"
A flushed Shizuka said: "Youyu-san, give it your all~"
But neither were as enthusiastic as Xue Lang and Yue Hua: "Youyu-san! Use your unbeatable Elemental Hero to crush that creep!"
For some reason, suddenly everyone seemed to become Youyu's fan and cheerleader, contrasting starkly with the loner standing with folded arms across from them.
Even Marik's own sister was siding against him.
At this moment, Ishizu also reached the top of the tower, solemnly bending before Youyu: "My brother Marik... Please, rid him of the evil thoughts in his heart."
Youyu nodded: "Hmm, I'll do my best."
President Haima, with his arrogance, naturally wouldn't take a clear stance like others. Yet, he stood casually aside, reminding: "'The Winged Dragon of Ra', its powers exceed your imagination.
Don't underestimate it. After defeating Yugi, my next target is you. I'll be waiting in the finals, don't let me down."
The President had a reason to remind Youyu. After all, he deciphered the Winged Dragon of Ra cards on Marik's Duel Disc via satellite imagery...
What? You say he cheats by spying?
As the tournament organizer... Is that really cheating?
Why don't you ask the judge on stage, see if he thinks this counts as cheating?
Then Judge Izono will likely say: This tournament adopts Kaiba Company's special duel rules! Spying via satellite... isn't cheating! (if you can afford a satellite)
The loner stood facing everyone, holding the Millennium Rod with folded arms, chuckling.
Honestly, he didn't consider Youyu a concern at all.
Though six-year-old's card skills were lacking, his addiction was high, and inexplicably confident in himself.
He thought Ghouls constantly suffered under Youyu purely because his other personality was inferior. His attitude resembled a viewer's, convinced "I would've finished them long ago."
From his perspective, Youyu has no Divine Artifact, no background, and isn't any reincarnated bigshot, merely a mortal.
So, he should be easy for Marik, right?
"First match of the semifinals," Judge Izono, accustomed to grand occasions, waved, "Player Youyu against player Marik, begin!"
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Marik, LP 4000]
"I go first, draw." The duel began from Marik's side.
Player Marik started with a display of expressive artistry, followed by an eerie laugh, then without ado, pulled out the Millennium Rod from a four-dimensional pocket.
"Come forth! The Darkness Game, with stakes on both lives, begins now! Hahahaha!"
Darkness erupted, enveloping the arena, encompassing the field within a dense sphere, as numerous spirits seemed to flit through the surrounding darkness.
"Master!"
The Dark Magician Girl appeared in time, alleviating Youyu's pressure.
Simultaneously, Youyu sensed a force from his hand's card deck—a force even stronger than the Dark Magician Girl—as if forming an invisible field to protect him within.
Without a doubt, it's from Slifer the Sky Dragon providing protection.
This was one of Youyu's confidents in accepting Marik's Darkness Game challenge.
As long as there's a means to counter the opponent's underhanded tricks, everyone can play fair.
"Heh, soon you'll know its worth."
Marik drew a card, licking its seemingly poison-coated back, and said: "This turn, I summons this—Vampiric Leech in Speed Attack!"
A grotesque, writhing maggot appeared on Marik's field, its red tentacles flailing wildly.
[Vampiric Leech in Speed Attack, ATK 500]
"Heh, Vampiric Leech can attack during the first turn." Marik's eyes bulged, waving an arm, "Go, Vampiric Leech! Direct attack on Youyu!" (Anime effect)
The leech flew forward, biting deeply into Youyu's arm.
Though only 500 damage, the intense pain surged violently. A numbing impact, momentarily paralyzing the arm. Youyu staggered, his breath catching momentarily.
[Youyu, LP 4000→ LP 3500]
It indeed seemed worthy of the Millennium Item's power. While Dark Marik's dueling lacked skill, his dark powers were undoubtedly strong, surpassing ordinary Dark Duelists significantly.
"Hahaha! Watch your right hand!"
Youyu turned, and part of his arm... vanished into thin air!
Though unaffected physically, it looked truly as if his arm had broken off, quite eerie.
"Heh, this Darkness Game's rule is, any LP damage in this game causes a part of the body to be enveloped in darkness." Marik sneered, "LP reaching zero means the body is fully consumed by darkness, not even bones will remain."
Youyu had prepared and wasn't frightened; instead, his spirit was worried.
"Mas... Master..." The Dark Magician Girl was full of concern.
"Don't worry." Youyu waved her off, then to Marik, "Finish up, are you done?"
"Hmph."
Annoyed his intimidation failed, Marik had hoped Youyu would be scared witless upon seeing this.
Yet, he had plenty of chances ahead.
"I set a card. Then, in the end phase, activate Vampiric Leech's continuing effect. This card can convert to defense mode by discarding a hand card."
Marik tossed a card, causing the grotesque leech to crouch, converting from attack to defense.
[Vampiric Leech, DEF 1200]
Youyu eyed the card Marik disposed to the graveyard, narrowing his gaze.
From the anime, Dark Marik's tactics differ greatly from regular Marik. In the anime, Dark Marik never intended to gather three sacrifices to summon Ra, instead opting to send Ra to the graveyard and revive it with Monster Reborn for a one-turn kill.
Hence, there's a decent likelihood the card currently deposited in the graveyard is The Winged Dragon of Ra.
"Alright, my turn ends now." Marik folded his arms, "Your move. Let me enjoy myself, hehehe..."
Saying this, he pulled out the Millennium Rod again, licking it with his tongue.
Youyu couldn't help but wonder, with all this tongue-licking, doesn't he fear licking something he shouldn't one day...