By the way, the panels ensembles images from Battle City to Memory World are working fine.
Plot Summary:
When Dark Yugi fell into the abyss without knowing if he survived (of course, he did) and suddenly darkness fell into the world of memory...then follows priest Akhenaden remembering about events while unconscious...
These memories starts 15 years ago, Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen (for a change I got his name right without go read it, but then I did go check if I spelled right...) receiving reports from his guards informing foreign armies have crossed their land....with this dire news, he is wondering what he could do...then philosopher Akhenanden (there weren't priests back then) warns their enemies have 7 days until they reach the palace and that this invasion, there is ulterior motives behind it, they know they have the Millenium Tome and how powerful it is...the pharaoh states that even if they got it, even their country have been trying to translate it for a 100 years and philosopher Akhenaden reveals that the translation is completed, the form of magic described inside the tome is called shadow alchemy by changing worthless objects into precious metals and giving powers to their wielders... divided as "seven treasures".
Philosopher Akhenaden tells the pharaoh that himself and his three magicians are ready to make the shadow alchemy, he is more or less asking permission to make these seven treasures and the pharaoh asks how long will it take, philosopher Akhenaden says it would take 7 days, the pharaoh is considering the options and sensing it being such powerful magic could bring serious danger in the future...his vizier Siamun hurries him to make a decision, seeing his kingdom in this condition and options to protect it is greatly reduced, leaving only by die trying to protect the kingdom or to permit philosopher Akhenaden and his magicians to perform the shadow alchemy...so he chooses what will most likely it will protect the kingdom successfully at this time of need of quick decision...having faith in his brother, Akhenaden...
When philosopher Akhenaden is readying himself to leave the palace, he goes to say farewell to his son, Seto who was at this time still a child...when he leaves, the pharaoh Akhenamkhanen watching his brother leaving the city from the balcony with his wife holding his newborn son...
While philosopher Akhenaden is leaving the city, he is in his own thoughts thinking what is needed in order to perform and omitted a very important detail that if the pharaoh knew, he wouldn't have given permission, it was necessary 99 sacrifices to perform the shadow alchemy, the chosen sacrifices are the villagers of the village of thieves, Village of Kul Elna..., while the villagers were being killed and used as sacrifices, one villager child was watching all of this in hiding, thief Bakura when he was a child...It's also revealed that who creates and performs the shadow alchemy, and whoever gets to be the holder of the millenium eye and would grant one wish...
Seven days later, the invaders arrive and seeing the city empty and when they reach the palace, they see the pharaoh and 6 other people by his side, the royal court and they defeated the invaders.
When the memory end, priest Akhenaden recovers and is discussing about searching for the pharaoh and thief Bakura over the tablet putting the millenium puzzle in it's place while talking to himself...one of the guards informs secretly that the women with white dragon ka has awoken...
Key Points:
The narrative in this scene is very interesting...
"When the pharaoh disappeared, the world of memory fell into shadow...meanwhile, another's memory...evil was awakening..."
1st underline: At first it would imply he died at that moment, probably when this chapter was first published in Japan, I can imagine the readers have felt a little nervous about where the story was going, however before this moment there was the many mentions of the final battle, which implies the pharaoh for this moment lost consciousness and since this world of memory is made of his subconscious, he lost it as well...it's possible Dark Yugi in this moment went through NDE (Near Death Experience) for longer hours than Jounouchi...when he was "alive" in this moment.
2nd underline: It's referring to the recent memory merged with Dark Yugi's memories, Dark Akhenaden, it's more or less from this point on, priest Akhenaden thinking of his son while getting introduced to his memories from long ago...
This is when we were first introduced about how the millenium items were created, it was 15 years ago, but can't be sure about the age of the former king at this time, from the way it looked in the prelude, it was very recent that Dark Yugi when he was alive became the pharaoh and from the state of his father corpse, his mummification might have been done recently, his death might be few months old, the former king's death must have been recent, priest Akhenaden said he ruled over 40 years, so at this time he ruled for 25 years, as for his age I wonder.
The time when the millenium items were created was at a very crucial time as we see here, Egypt were being invaded because they were after the millenium tome not just the country for conquer...here what is told about this curious millenium tome explained by philosopher Akhenaden:
"They want the millenium tome passed down by the high priests since ancient times...Even foreigners have heard the legends...of spells which can summon gods and demons...of Heka, magical power, which can bring even armies to their knees!"
It's funny isn't stated where the millennium tome comes from and is said since ancient times...that can give the power to summon gods and demons, if this happens in Ancient Egypt, imagine what would be ancient times for them at this timeline o.O, they might be referring since the first civilisation and dynasty, this time of Egypt is still around the "New Kingdom" period (18th dynasty reffered by Ishizu, this period is B.C.), this tome must have been brought to the first or second dynasty, what I found strange is at this time the form of books were still using papyrus in scrolls, we have seen Dark Yugi reading them in form of scrolls and papyrus was invented around the first dynasty, the millenium tome is form of a codex manuscript (close to the modern form of book) and it was invented around A.D., it was relatively advanced for the time period and strange too (the time period this kind of codex manuscript was invented doesn't coincide with this time period, the time codex manuscripts were invented, the dysnasty of ancient Egypt had fallen by then) and...
"But after 100 years of trying, we haven't deciphered the spells..."
It means it was unusually long period to translate a language and lots of struggle, it could mean it was in a foreign language or even in a strange language, specially being a tome in book structure that was invented way after the last dynasty and period of ancient Egypt...
"The tome describes a form of magic called shadow alchemy. It changes...worthless objects...into precious metals, the books tell how to make seven treasures. Each of which grants mysterious powers."
Now we know in part being artifacts of black magic came from...shadow alchemy, so shady even it's cover is as shady...you can tell by the frequent reticencies, he is holding a crucial detail back from the pharaoh...
Philosopher Akhenaden asks permission to perform the shadow alchemy (he has already the preparations), for a few reasons. to protect the kingdom and prevent their enemies in getting the millenium tome to further their goals and the time it takes, would be exactly the time it would take the invaders to reach the palace, even though is clear in pharaoh's thoughts about this millenium tome...
"But...to unleash such a great power could bring disaster..."
He had a pretty bad feeling, but the current situation required a quick decision and to act fast...
By the way, if we look at the magician on the left, doesn't he look familiar...? I would think he looks similar to Pandora's Black Magician...
In the scene on the left panels ensemble, he came to the decision to go with the bad feeling, but either way were dire, so he chosen the one that would give the better chances in protecting the kingdom at this time of need...and also reveals philosopher/priest Akhenaden is the younger brother of the pharaoh and Dark Yugi's uncle, he has royal blood, he was prince before and now philosopher, a very high ranked official but not as high as the vizier above, Siamun...
I do like the interesting detail about the village of Kul Elna being a village of thieves, they are mostly grave robbers and descend from Royal Tomb Builders that became grave robbbers, when one of them ask the captain guard what are they going to do there...the captain just answers...
"I heard we were going to perform a magic ritual..."
You can tell by his expressions, he finds it creepy, we all know magic ritual does have creepy and shady sound to it... and the other guard response is that they're not wizards but soldiers (a very amusing response).
"I must bloody my hands to save this country..."
By your own suggestion while omitting the detail you're implying and has been by thief Bakura to Dark Yugi..., he had already preparations ready even before asking permission to the pharaoh, he makes it sound as if he was ordered to "bloody his hands"...ugh, the nerve...
"From the day my older brother took the throne...I was fated to walk in his shadow...Neither I nor you will ever become king...Farewell, my son..."
As can be read in his thought, he was always jealous of his older brother in becoming pharaoh, he wanted to be, if look at the part he is thinking in the underline - it seems he thought he had chance in becoming a pharaoh before the day his older brother took it, since he is younger, it was since he was born "fated to walk in his shadow" because is usually the eldest son, he is in self-pity that he won't ever become king (I'm sorry, I just hate him) as if he is or was neglected, from the sound of how his older brother treated him, he seemed he wasn't neglected, he is bit bitter for didn't ever became king, I wonder why yet he follows his brother that may mean to some extent he likes his brother or maybe it was tradition to serve the pharaoh, after all high ranked officials had royal blood, so there, deep down his jealousy and bitterness might have been stronger (to me it doesn't excuse anything he did just now to in the future...)
The only time we actually see Dark Yugi's mother...honestly, holding her new born, Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen's son, when Dark Yugi was a baby prince, since it was the day philosopher Akhenaden went to make the millenium items, the irony is impressive, Dark Yugi was a newborn with few months old and this happens 15 years ago, so we can confirm Dark Yugi died when he was 15 years old, so young, :(.
About Dark Yugi's mother we see in the panel above, this is the only time we see her, she doesn't appear in the anime or anything or not even knowing if she was still alive or dead, but I think is most likely she is dead, it's true is known that mothers and their sons would have incestuous relationships or she had to leave in order to "keep royal blood pure", so you could assume she left but I don't think is the case, I think she died when Dark Yugi was few years old and the cause being from an illness or something similar because if we remember the small glance when Dark Yugi started to remember about his father, his mother didn't appeared when he was by his father side, in that moment he must have been 10 or 13 years old, so it must have been before that time she died...
Priest Seto, now that we have seen him when he was a child, we know he is older than Dark Yugi (probably 5 years older).
But to me besides this atrocity has been done, but possibly wouldn't be done if Akhenaden hadn't omitted to the pharaoh that there were needed sacrifices to create the millenium items, but yet he did in order to "manipulate" his brother to give him permission, from the way he had the preparations for the ceremony ready and was always jealous and bitter about his brother becoming a pharaoh, I wouldn't be surprised if the pharaoh hadn't given the permission, he would have done it either way behind the pharaoh back, he did omitted the important detail that uses human sacrifices because he knew the pharaoh wouldn't authorise it if he knew, what irritates me more is that he thought he didn't need to know the truth, keep the pharaoh ignorant of such detail to "manipulate" and be free of some of the guilt "I must blood this hands to save this country", he used shadow politics, did he really had good intentions? yes and no, he did indeed wanted to protect the country but at the same time to have preparations ready and manipulating his brother omit the cost means he was also drawn to the power it could offer...
What that guard said while killing these people:
"As punishment for robbing graves...you scum will turn into gold..."
Hey, it's true robbing graves is very rude and disrespectful, inappropriately inconsiderate, but no need to kill them, they're mostly harmless, to make it worse, this is a village where live families, women and children even villagers who may be trying to live a honest life, this guard must be trying to excuse his remorse and guilt from his expression, you can tell he is going insane and feeling some joy, but the others are quite serious, there we see thief Bakura when he was child, he is also older than Dark Yugi and probably the same age as priest Seto, this must have been a very traumatic experience for thief Bakura because it was a massive murder, he saw Akhenaden performing the ritual to create the millenium items, as we see Akhenaden's expression was steeling himself, he didn't liked what he was seeing himself do it, the magician on his left seemed indifferent, it's important to keep notice of him in here...he shows almost no remorse, even Akhenaden for trying to steel himself, he did felt remorse...
Priest Seto, now that we have seen him when he was a child, we know he is older than Dark Yugi (probably 5 years older).
In this scene we have the confirmation that there was indeed sacrifices to create the millenium items...
"Shadow Alchemy has a cost. In order to change base substances into gold, a massive human sacrifice must be made...Seven treasures, 99 lives...the pharaoh always frowned on cruelty...he doesn't need to know the truth..."
What that guard said while killing these people:
"As punishment for robbing graves...you scum will turn into gold..."
Hey, it's true robbing graves is very rude and disrespectful, inappropriately inconsiderate, but no need to kill them, they're mostly harmless, to make it worse, this is a village where live families, women and children even villagers who may be trying to live a honest life, this guard must be trying to excuse his remorse and guilt from his expression, you can tell he is going insane and feeling some joy, but the others are quite serious, there we see thief Bakura when he was child, he is also older than Dark Yugi and probably the same age as priest Seto, this must have been a very traumatic experience for thief Bakura because it was a massive murder, he saw Akhenaden performing the ritual to create the millenium items, as we see Akhenaden's expression was steeling himself, he didn't liked what he was seeing himself do it, the magician on his left seemed indifferent, it's important to keep notice of him in here...he shows almost no remorse, even Akhenaden for trying to steel himself, he did felt remorse...
The narrative square isn't Akhenaden narrating, it's just the author narrating like it was in the beginning, when Dark Yugi fell and starting to focus on priest Akhenaden, to me the most interesting part of this narrative...
"When the conspirators returned to the palace, they chose who would wield the millenium items. Six priests took the items, leaving the seventh for the pharaoh, their leader."
I find really amusing straightly mentioning Akhenaden and the magicians as the conspirators, well it's the truth, but still pretty amusing, even the author isn't excusing, because what he did isn't only conspiracy but also betrayal, when thief Bakura suggested what if there is traitor among the priests, he knew there was one and who was it, priest Akhenaden...thief Bakura more or less knows the truth, even the fact the pharaoh was ignorant of the cost in creating the millenium items...
Now diving into Akhenaden's thoughts...
"I became the holder of the millenium eye. the pain I paid was incredible...but it was written in the tome that the millenium eye would grant one wish to who wears it...how absurd! a wish!? heh...but why not...this is my wish...make my son the pharaoh!"
This guy is unbelievable, even I find Pegasus's wish much more reasonable, he does feels remorse and guilt in killing the villagers (I give credit to that, there is some goodness in him but is more related in feeling uncomfortable having heavy conscience) but betraying his brother, none, nada, he wishes for his son to be the pharaoh, that's cute about parenting love for your son, without considering what his son wishes, he is projecting his ambition and desire to be a pharaoh on his son, he may not even want it, also it's the same as take away the throne of the future pharaoh, his nephew and son of his brother, honestly, I can't hold back how much I hate this character (by the way, many fans hate him too).
Akhenaden is a very grey character, but he is the kind of grey character I really despise (and grey characters are usually the ones that fascinate me most).
The priests who wielded the millenium items are pretty interesting, we see the one who uses the scales that looks like an older Kalim, we can presume is the father of Kalim, Millenium Key is the vizier Siamun, the one of the rod looks like one of the three magicians besides the one I constantly mention, millenium tauk, I can't be sure but doesn't look like is neither mother of Isis or Dark Yugi's mother and she looks like a very stern and strict person, the ring one, the precessor of Mahado, he is definitively one of the magicians that performed the ritual with Akhenaden, the one who was always on the left (but from Akhenaden perspective, on his right side), remember that millenium ring absorbed the evil from this man, it seems to have been of great amount for even Mahado had to use most of his heka to keep at bay, I also headcanon he was Mahado's master and also Pandora's black magician is similar to him too, this time the double-spread panel narrative is from Akhenaden perspective because describes, even it saved the throne but also set them on the "path of destruction", Akhenaden does seem to like his brother but his negative feelings were stronger.
If we look at this scene, after Akhenaden got his recovery, his hair is a bit over the place, he is the only one thinking and looking about "a throne without a king", he thinks Dark Yugi is already dead and is not based on lack faith but his own darkness, he is drowning himself further down there, however I find impressive and cool priest Seto not losing faith and he is with a strong intuition that the pharaoh is alive (well priest Seto and Kaiba both have amazing intuition and usually on point), he shows far more stronger loyalty to the pharaoh than Akhenaden...despite Akhenaden being loyal in protecting the country and the throne, but is starting to weaken...
I agree and disagree with him, faith and dreams alone won't do much, but power and sell yourself to the darkness won't get you anywhere in the end, hard work, teamwork and a good functional government will but sadly is bound to become corrupt depending who works and ambitions, mr. Akhenaden is a fine example, priest Seto is a little but has time to not get there any further...
Isis prediction is interesting:
"I see a ripple in dark waters...I see the reflection of the shadows...if only one, it will soon fade...but if two...or three...ripples overlap, they will become a great swell that will drown us in tragedy."
To what I can interpret, the ripples, specially being three, we can have a guess who is referring which, (if you read already the manga) the one who will fade soon is likely thief Bakura (if he is the cog, he will soon eventually die and as Dark Akhenaden implied that would be later) but the second and third ripple is easy to guess, the release of zorc and Akhenaden becoming Dark Akhenaden...
What Akhenaden says here...
"The divine order of Ma'at upheld by the seven millenium items has already begun to unravel...and all by the hand of one thief..."
The nerve in his hypocrisy and conceitedness when he was the one who begin it in the first place from his preparation before even asking permission, omitting a vital detail from the pharaoh, so he could get the permission from him...just don't say anything.
But the next part of the prediction becomes very interesting...and another event...
"We need a vessel. A vessel to hold that swell..."
Each seem to have different interpretations, Akhenaden being about two possibilities, one he likes and the other he doesn't, priest Seto thinks might be the Lady of the White Dragon, priest Kalim and vizier Siamun might have understood better...
I will tell my interpretations, if is a vessel to hold back the swell, it would mean a method to be hold for a very long time. the way to do so would be sealing the swell but the one applying it should be sealed as well to hold it back for longer time and who right now isn't wearing a millenium item from the royal court between the priests and pharaoh right now, it would be the pharaoh, he isn't currently wearing it (she can only predict those who isn't wearing a millenium item), since Dark Yugi sealed in the puzzle himself, the vessel that's holding back the mentioned swell is Dark Yugi... (even when he was in his tomb in pieces of the puzzle for 3000 years)
A guard whispers reporting to priest Seto that the woman of the white dragon is awake and order him to take her to the underground because the current situation requires to act fast...
See Ya Next Post!
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