Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Bandit Village of Kul Elna Is Sacrificed to Forge the Millennium Items

With the kingdom of Egypt threatened by a neighboring army, priest Akhenaden secretly performs a forbidden rite — offering the inhabitants of the bandit village Kul Elna, along with gold, to the underworld — to forge the seven Millennium Items, unbeknownst even to King Aknamkanon. This massacre becomes the root of a curse that echoes through later generations.

— Revealed in flashback during the Pharaoh's Memory arc (vols. 31–38). The dating follows the story's own relative expression of 'thousands of years ago.'

Prince Atem Ascends the Throne, Guarded by Six Priests Bearing the Millennium Items

After King Aknamkanon's death, Prince Atem ascends the throne of Pharaoh at a young age. Six priests — including his cousin Seto — each entrusted with a Millennium Item, support Atem and uphold order within the kingdom.

— Depicted in flashback during the Pharaoh's Memory arc.

Kul Elna Survivor Bakura Becomes the Thief King, Vowing to Reclaim the Millennium Items and Exact Revenge

The sole child survivor of the massacre grows up to become the Thief King Bakura, swearing vengeance against the royal family and vowing to reclaim the Millennium Items built upon his village's sacrifice. He repeatedly infiltrates the palace, targeting its treasures and the Items themselves.

After a Final Battle to Defend the Palace, the Pharaoh's Soul Is Sealed Away at the Cost of His Name and Memory

After a kingdom-shaking battle against the Thief King and dark forces, the Pharaoh performs a great ritual sealing his own soul within the Millennium Puzzle, at the cost of his name and memories. This event becomes the origin of the 'other personality' that will awaken in the far future.

— Revealed toward the end of the Pharaoh's Memory arc as the close of the ancient-Egypt storyline. The detailed outcome of the later Ceremonial Duel is intentionally omitted here.

Yugi Mutou Completes the 'Millennium Puzzle' After Eight Years

Yugi, a student at Domino High School, finally completes the shattered 'Millennium Puzzle' his grandfather Sugoroku brought back from Egypt, after eight years of effort. This awakens within him a second personality with no memory of ancient Egypt — 'Dark Yugi' — who metes out 'Penalty Games' to wrongdoers.

— Vol. 1, Ch. 1.

Seto Kaiba's Vengeful Game Park, 'Death-T'

Bitter over his defeat to Yugi and the perceived insult to his grandfather's card, Seto Kaiba traps Yugi and his friends inside his company's game facility for a series of life-or-death games as revenge. Dark Yugi's Penalty Game leaves Kaiba unconscious.

Pegasus's Challenge Seals Sugoroku's Soul; Duelists Gather for the 'Duelist Kingdom' Tournament

The wealthy creator of the 'Magic & Wizards' card game, Maximillion Pegasus, seals Sugoroku's soul via a videotaped duel. To save his grandfather, Yugi resolves to enter the prize tournament 'Duelist Kingdom.' Duelists with their own stakes — including Jonouchi Katsuya, seeking money for his sister's surgery — gather on the remote island.

After Fierce Battles, Sugoroku and Kaiba's Brother Mokuba Are Freed

After grueling battles against assassins like Player Killer, a former American champion, and Pegasus himself, Yugi's group advances through the tournament. Having regained consciousness, Kaiba also storms the island to rescue his brother Mokuba, who was abducted by Pegasus. In the end, both Sugoroku and Mokuba are freed.

The Personality Dwelling in Transfer Student Bakura's Millennium Ring Draws Everyone into a Tabletop RPG World

Another personality dwelling within the Millennium Ring — one of the seven Millennium Items — possessed by transfer student Ryo Bakura, uses an elaborately crafted tabletop RPG called 'Monster World' to trap Yugi and his friends in a Shadow Game that puts their souls in real danger.

Kaiba Launches the New Tournament 'Battle City' Over the Egyptian God Cards

After Egyptian antiquities official Ishizu Ishtar tells him of the legend of the three 'Egyptian God' cards — two of which have been stolen by the mysterious organization known as the Ghouls — Kaiba declares a new ante-rule tournament, 'Battle City,' to reclaim them. Around the same time, Dark Yugi encounters ancient stone tablets bearing his own likeness at the Domino Museum, and suspects the God cards hold the key to his lost memories.

— It is revealed within the story that the Ghouls are led by Ishizu's younger brother, Marik Ishtar.

Dark Yugi, Kaiba, and Jonouchi Clash in the Finals as the Power of the God Cards Is Unleashed

The Battle City finals are held aboard Kaiba's private blimp. Dark Yugi, Kaiba, Jonouchi, and Marik advance through the bracket, and the overwhelming power of the three God Cards — Slifer the Sky Dragon, Obelisk the Tormentor, and The Winged Dragon of Ra — is unleashed one after another over the course of the duels.

Clues to Dark Yugi's Lost Memories Are Found in the Domino Museum Tablets

In the aftermath of the Battle City incident, it is discovered that the inscriptions and imagery on the ancient Egyptian tablets displayed at the Domino Museum hold the key to Dark Yugi's own forgotten past. When the three God Cards are held up to the tablets, his soul is drawn into a world of memory reaching back to ancient Egypt.

Dark Yugi's Soul Relives the Memories of Ancient Egypt, Learning of His Life as King and the Truth of Kul Elna

Transported to ancient Egypt through the power of the tablets, Dark Yugi's soul relives, one by one, the sealed memories of his own past — that he was once a Pharaoh, the tragedy of Kul Elna, and the bonds he shared with the six priests.

— This present-day framing device revisits the ancient-Egypt storyline from Dark Yugi's perspective; its content corresponds to yugioh-001–004.

Having Regained All His Memories, Dark Yugi Faces a Final Duel Staking His Bonds with Former Companions

Having recovered all of his lost memories, Dark Yugi faces a special Ceremonial Duel to settle his own past, alongside friends who are the reincarnations of the ancient priests. The original manga's main story concludes with this climactic battle.

— Vol. 38. The specific outcome of the duel is intentionally omitted here.