Yu-Gi-Oh! - Duel 338

"The Rite of the Duel!!"

Names
English	The Rite of the Duel!!
Japanese name Japanese 闘（たたか）いの儀（ぎ）!! Base 闘いの儀!! Furigana たたかいのぎ!! Rōmaji Tatakai no Gi!!
Serialization
Series	Yu-Gi-Oh!
Number	338
Subseries	Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium World
Subseries number	60
Japanese magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
English magazine	Shonen Jump 2007 #10
Tankōbon volume	38: "Through The Last Door"
Bunkoban volume	Volume 22
Chronology
Yu-Gi-Oh! chapters
Previous	"Over the Nile!!"
Next	"Yugi vs. Atem!!"

"The Rite of the Duel!!" (闘いの儀！！ Tatakai no Gi!!) is the 338th chapter of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. In its first English printing, it was numbered as the 60th chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium World. In the 3-in-1 edition, its number was changed to match the original Japanese printing.

Summary

Yugi sets his Deck down and proclaims that he's done, but then looks through it again, worried the balance isn't right due to perhaps having not enough Trap Cards or too many monsters. He makes a few adjustments and murmurs that this is it, reflecting that he's always built his Deck with his other self, but this Deck is Yugi's Deck to Duel his other self. In a few hours the ship they're on will arrive at the Valley of the Kings where the Shrine of the Underworld is located, the arena for their Duel. Finished working on his Deck, he puts it in the Millennium Puzzle box.

Atem asks his partner if he's finished building his Deck, and Yugi asks where he was, pointing out that everyone was worried about him. Atem apologizes, explaining that he had to sleep inside Yugi to avoid watching him building his Deck for their Duel. Yugi realizes that Atem knows about the Duel, and Atem confirms he heard Marik's explanation, musing on the Rite of the Duel and noting that Yugi has accepted the duty of giving him his final test. After a moment's silence between them, Yugi vows to use all his skills to Duel Atem, and Atem replies that he knows. Yugi tells him that it's his turn to build a Deck, reminding him he knows all the weaknesses of his current one and his own has ways to beat his strategies, so Atem had better not underestimate him. Atem doesn't respond, so Yugi tells him that it's his turn now and switches places with him. In his mind, Yugi admits he doesn't really want to fight Atem, but knows he'll be trapped in his heart, never to be set free if he doesn't. Yugi has to beat Atem because it's his duty, and though they don't have much time and he wanted to spend it talking to Atem, he's a Duelist who has made the decision to fight and he must keep silent.

Atem sorts through their cards, recalling Kaiba, Dark Marik and Pegasus as among the many enemies he's fought along the way while he holds "Dark Magician" in his hand. He notes that the Rite of the Duel will be his hardest fight ever and that Yugi willingly accepted his duty to fight to determine Atem's fate. Atem observes that the trial isn't for him alone and glances at the Millennium Puzzle box where Yugi's Deck, filled with his hopes and dreams, is sealed. He thinks that he has hopes and dreams too, and he'll put them all into building this Deck. The stone slabs from Ancient Egypt 3000 years ago have traveled across time to be reborn as the cards of modern times, and they hold his soul as a Duelist. Soon Atem's most powerful Deck is ready, and he reflects that this Del will determine where he spends eternity: if he wins, he'll stay in the modern world, and if he loses, he goes onto the next life. He declares his challenge to his partner.

The ship's horn sounds, and Atem notes that it looks like they've arrived. He gathers their cards and walks to the boatramp, surprised to see everyone - Honda, Bakura, Sugoroku, Jonouchi, Otogi, Anzu, Marik, Ishizu and Rishid - all waiting for him. Honda and Jonouchi greet Yugi, Jonouchi adding that he's late, and Atem silently whispers "All of you..." to himself. Jonouchi suggests they go, and Atem smiles, following his friends. The sun begins to rise as they make their way underground, and Atem soon comes face-to-face with the Shrine of the Underworld, where four Grave Keepers in black robes await them. Jonouchi notes that this is the Shrine of the Underworld, and the four Grave Keepers approach and kneel, one of them holding a tray covered in cloth and bearing the Millennium Ankh and Millennium Scales. They tell the Pharaoh they have been waiting for him and offer him the last two Millennium Items.

Atem glances at the Millennium Stone and Ishizu tells him to place the seven Millennium Items in. Anzu watches in concern, thinking Yugi's name to herself. Atem places all the Items in the appropriate slots on the Stone, saving the Millennium Puzzle for last. The Items in the Stone begin to glow, and so does the Wadjet Eye on the door as Jonouchi notes. Ishizu declares that the Wadjet Eye will judge the truth, and thus begins the Rite of the Duel. Atem straps on his Duel Disk, and Jonouchi tells everyone to look - Yugi's shadow has split in two. Even Ishizu is taken aback as Yugi's body splits out of Atem's, Jonouchi gasping that now Yugi has split in two, and Honda declaring the Duel is about to start.

Atem wonders if Yugi can surpass him, and Yugi vows not to lose to his other self. Everyone watches, Jonouchi thinking Yugi's name, and Anzu thinking Atem's, as Atem and Yugi face off before the glowing Wadjet Eye.

Featured cards

The following cards appeared in this chapter. No cards debuted here.

Yugi and Atem's owned cards
Monster Cards Normal Monsters Dark Magician