Mahado and Bakura ' s ka battle ( manga ) Priest Mahado and Bakura , King of Thieves faced each other in a ka battle , in the " Yu - Gi - Oh ! " manga . A similar version of this battle takes place in the anime . The battle took place at the former tomb of Akhenamkhanen . During the battle , Mahado gave his life and merged with his ka , Magus of Illusion to become the Dark Magician . Despite Mahado winning , Bakura managed to survive and steal the Millennium Ring . Events . Prior . When Mahado first acquired the Millennium Ring , it possessed a dark power , which he believed it had gotten by absorbing the evil of the last priest who wore it . He used his own power to suppress the evil powers of the ring , for the safety of everyone else . Due to the magic , he invested in this , his powers otherwise appeared significantly weaker , including the strength of his spirit ka , the Magus of Illusion . Seto had been critical of Mahado ' s ka in the battle with Bakura , at the pharaoh ' s palace . and during the mock ka battles . At its level , he considered it unfit to protect the pharaoh ' s tomb . Security was tightened at Akhenamkhanen ' s tomb , in caution of another raid from Bakura . As captain of the royal guard , Mahado commanded the soldiers at the tomb . Siamun Muran stressed the importance of setting new traps , rather than repairing the old ones and Mahado affirmed that there was a new trap sure to stop any thief . Seto was not totally convinced suggested that Mahado not be given another chance and be stripped of his priesthood the next time the tomb got robbed . Siamun reminded Seto that was the pharaoh ' s decision to make . Pharaoh Atem then advised Mahado to not be blinded by his guilt and to focus on fulfilling his duties . When Mahado was departing to the tomb , Siamun stopped him to remind him that his duty was solely to inspect and reinforce the guard at the Valley of the Kings . He knew Mahado was considering using his own spirit to defeat Bakura , but told him it was not strong enough and they would need the combined power of the pharaoh and priests to defeat Bakura . Mahado asked Siamun about ka ' s strength growing with the hatred of their host . Siamun replied that it was not just hatred but the strength of their heart . In place of hatred , Mahado believed himself to have enough devotion to the pharaoh to strengthen his ka . Because the pharaoh forgave him for his failure , he was willing to stake his life for his duty . Mahado guarded the inside of the tomb , while his troops were stationed outside and tasked with letting no creature near the holy place . Before entering the tomb , he sensed Bakura ' s presence with the Millennium Ring . Bakura watched Mahado going inside and seeing only five guards at the entrance thought it would be easy to go after him . Bakura quickly dispatched the soldiers at the entrance and walked inside . At a bridge , he was faced by Mahado , who said he had been waiting for him . Outside the tomb , the soldiers , following Mahado ' s orders , blocked the entrance with a boulder and erected a stone slab . If Mahado was to die fighting Bakura , his soul would take form on the tablet . If that happened before the third sunrise , they were to leave the tomb sealed forever . Bakura suspected Akhenamkhanen was not buried in the tomb . Mahado confirmed that they buried him elsewhere and were to use this tomb for Bakura . Bakura told him not be getting ahead of himself , since he had not fallen for the trap . He had no interest in taking Akhenamkhanen ' s mummy again and claimed to have come for the Millennium Ring . Battle . Bakura summoned Diabound , who having fed on his hatred , had grown stronger since their last battle . With no fear of innocent bystanders being hurt , while he was in the tomb , Mahado was able to refocus his powers from suppressing the evil of the Millennium Ring to strengthening his ka . Consequently , when he summoned the Magus of Illusion it was also significantly more powerful than their last battle . Diabound used its " Venom Blast " attack , but the Magus of Illusion moved quicker than Bakura expected it could . It dodged the attack and while Mahado chanted a spell , struck Diabound with its " Magic Blast " attack . Mahado then transferred his heka to the magus , allowing it to attack again with its " Magic Bullets " . The attack had some impact on Diabound , who then disappeared with its wall - phasing ability . Bakura commended Mahado on being able to use his heka to double his ka ' s power and deduced that he must be a spirit sorcerer . Just like a wizard has ways of fighting , Bakura said that a thief also has ways of fighting , as he deliberately triggered a trap , causing giant axes to swing like pendulums over the bridge . While Mahado took care to dodge the axes , Bakura climbed up on one and laughed at the irony in him being able to use the traps set for thieves to his advantage . Unable to move without being cut by an axe , Mahado knew he was vulnerable to an attack from Diabound . He ordered the Magus of Illusion to attack before then , but was too late as Diabound appeared above him . Diabound used its " Spiral Surge " attack to strike Mahado and the magus . Bakura laughed and said that Mahado could regret his foolishness in hell and that he would kill the priests one by one and take their Millennium Items . However Mahado remained standing and cast a single - use spell , in which a spirit sorcerer can give their life to fuse their ka with their ba . He was then sliced by one of the axes . In death , his soul exited his body and fused with the Magus of Illusion , forming the Dark Magician . As Dark Magician , Mahado hit Bakura with his " Black Magic " attack , damaging both Bakura and Diabound and causing Bakura to fall from the bridge . Aftermath . Outside the tomb , the Dark Magician took form the slab the soldiers had erected . The slab was taken to the pharaoh ' s palace and the soldiers explained to Atem what had happened . Seto demanded to know if Bakura had been killed and if the Millennium Ring had been stolen . The soldiers did not know for definite , but reported that they had not seen anyone escape the tomb . While the pharaoh and priests discussed locating Bakura , Siamun asked Isis if the Millennium Tauk ' s future showed any signs of Bakura . She checked , but could find no sign of him . Seto blamed Mahado for putting them in this state and asked why Isis did not predict his rashness ahead of time . She explained that she cannot see the future of a Millennium Item holder . From that , Siamun inferred that since she could not see Bakura , he must be dead or have acquired the Millennium Ring . Isis sent her spirit , Spiria to search the city and telepathically show her what she sees . Seto asked the pharaoh ' s permission to take men to the city in search for Bakura , secretly intending to perform the ka hunt . Mahado ' s apprentice , Mana , burst into the palace , where she wept in front of her master ' s tablet . She begged Atem to call his spirit from the tablet , but Isis insisted Mahado be given time to rest after his battle and reminded her that her heka was not yet strong enough to see spirits . Out of respect to Mahado , Mana vowed to become an amazing magician . Seto suggested they " cast [ their ] tears into the Nile " and focus on finding Bakura . He reminded Atem of his request to search the city and Atem consented , but instructed Seto to not harm anyone other than Bakura . Bakura survived the battle and managed to take the Millennium Ring . He made his way to an inn , where he traded a piece of stolen gold for food . Some opportunistic criminals saw the treasure Bakura had and attempted to attack him , only to be massacred by Diabound .