Martin Empire

The Martin Empire serves as the main antagonists of first half of the series' third season, though the group's creator went on to be the season's chief antagonist following the empire's downfall. This name is only used in the original version; the English dub does not give the group a name.

History

Following a personal tragedy, Professor Thelonius Viper was sent on a mission to another country to research an unspecified target, but the plane he and his companions were traveling aboard crashed, with Viper emerging the only survivor. Nonetheless, he carried out his objective and was successful in locating his target–the severed hand of the Duel Monster Yubel–which entered into a pact with him to resurrect his son from the dead.

From the onset of the third year, Viper calls for an exhibition match between Jaden Yuki and Jesse Andersen at Duel Academy. Unbeknowst to the two combatants, they are fitted with special wristwatches known as Bio-Bands (Dis-Belts), designed to measure emotions, intensity, concentration, and decision making during Duels. Their true function, however, is to sap Duel Energy from those that wear them following the end of a Duel, regardless of whether one defeats his opponent or not. This gathered energy is then transferred to a chamber within Viper's hideout, the lab where Wheeler (SAL) was trained, to fuel Rick's revival.

To jumpstart his project, Viper declares that students of all dormitories must participate in Survival Duels (Dis-Duels), competitions wherein duelists are to carry Bio-Bands as means of assessing their fighting spirit. If a Bio-Band judges that a certain duelist lacks said fighting spirit, he or she will be demoted, and furthermore expelled if motivation does not improve. As a result of the Survival, a large number of students are injured and hospitalized after having their Duel Energy absorbed.

Eventually, Viper's intentions begin drawing concern from Academy staff, and Jaden and co. set out to stop him. Tracking him to the lab in the jungle, the group is exposed to various sorts of traps and defenses installed to prevent its advance. Jaden would go on to face and defeat Viper, though Yubel ultimately amassed enough strength to hurl Duel Academy into an alternate dimension—a desert plane with three suns and resident Duel Monster spirits. Preying on the loneliness of Marcel, Yubel takes control of the boy's body and begins targeting the school's students and faculty, transforming many into zombie slaves to recruit more partners, and obtains the Sacred Beast Cards.

Members

• Yubel - A psychopathic Duel Spirit, Yubel serves as the unquestioned leader and mastermind of the whole organization.

• Martin Kanou / Marcel - As the puppet leader of the official Martin Empire, Yubel uses him as a medium for the others to do its will.

• Professor Cobra / Professor Thelonius Viper - A grieving father bent on saving his son, Viper is Yubel's top subordinate before the formation of the official Martin Empire.

• Three Masked Knights - Three students seduced by power and forcibly bonded to three Duel Spirits, the Three Masked Knights are Yubel's unwilling pawns.

• Duel Zombies - Several Duel Academy students controlled by Yubel's power, they serve as Yubel's mindless drones.