Priest Seto

Seto (セト) was one of the six Sacred Guardians who served under Pharaoh Atem. The wielder of the Millennium Rod, he was the son of Priest Akhenaden and first cousin of Pharaoh Atem, later succeeding him as Pharaoh. Seto Kaiba is his modern reincarnation. Seto is named after the Egyptian God Set.

Names	Seto, セト
Gender	Male ♂
Race	Human
Occupation	Ancient Egyptian Priest, Pharaoh
Origin	Yu-Gi-Oh!
Alignment	Good
Age	Unknown
Created By	Kazuo Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋 一雅)
Personality Type	INTJ, 1w9 (Enneagram)

Appearance

• Clothing: Priest Seto wears a traditional Egyptian-style outfit, often depicted with a long, flowing robe that includes rich colors like gold and blue, representing his high rank. His attire is ornate with jewelry and accessories befitting his position as a priest and a member of the royal family.
• Hair: Priest Seto’s hair is a striking, slicked-back style, typically portrayed as dark and spiky, with a dramatic flair that emphasizes his authoritative personality.
• Eyes: His eyes are a prominent feature, usually intense, with a sharp gaze that conveys both his wisdom and determination. They are often depicted as a piercing blue, symbolizing his connection to the powerful White Dragon and his prestigious lineage.
• Facial Features: He has an angular face with a sharp jawline and strong cheekbones, giving him a regal and commanding appearance.

Personality

Seto is initially ruthless, but this is tempered by his open-mindedness and willingness to heed the guidance of his superiors. A notable example is when he initially demanded severe punishment for a person who tried to steal from King Akhenamkhanen's tomb, but Akhenaden opted for a more moderate solution.

Seto is deeply duty-bound, prioritizing his responsibilities above personal emotions. Upon learning of Mahado's death in battle against Bakura, Seto barely acknowledged the loss of his comrade, instead focusing solely on whether or not Bakura had been eliminated. He holds raw power in high regard, valuing strength over sentimentality. In a sparring match, Seto even sacrificed allies to secure victory. However, he softened after Atem defeated him using Kuriboh, illustrating that power alone is not enough to guarantee success.

Biography

Ancient Egypt

Childhood

Seto was the son of Priest Akhenaden, who was the brother of Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen. When Seto was young, Akhenaden orchestrated the Kul Elna massacre and forged the Millennium Items. Seto was frightened the first time he saw his father wield the Millennium Eye. To protect his family from the consequences of his actions, Akhenaden left them, and Seto grew up believing his father had been a soldier who died in battle. With the power of the Millennium Eye, Akhenaden wished for Seto to ascend to the throne as Pharaoh.

Seto joined the priesthood as a child, unknowingly meeting Akhenaden again there. Akhenaden, in turn, taught him about morality, philosophy, the law of Ma'at, and the concept of order.

Palace Battle with Bakura

Seto participated in the exorcism of the Dark Spirit of Chaos from a criminal. After Akhenaden exposed the monster Ka, Seto used the Millennium Rod to seal it within a stone tablet. Seto initially proposed that the criminal be executed to serve as a lesson for future thieves, but Akhenaden insisted that it was unnecessary, as the evil Ka had been removed and it was the duty of a priest to show mercy. Seto then chastised Mahado over the recent surge of trespassers in the royal tombs and asked that the Dark Spirit of Chaos tablet be taken to the Shrine of Wedju.

The King of Thieves, Bakura, later entered the palace, dragging the body of Akhenamkhanen and carrying off treasures from his tomb. Bakura demanded the priests hand over the Millennium Items. When Bakura unleashed his Ka, Diabound, Seto sealed it in a tablet using the Millennium Rod. However, Diabound's power proved too overwhelming, and the tablet shattered, releasing the monster. Seto, initially surprised, became determined to demonstrate the true power of the priests and the Millennium Items. Ignoring Akhenaden's counsel to combine their powers, he summoned Galestgoras to battle Diabound.

Seto initially thought that Galestgoras had destroyed Diabound, but the monster used its ability to phase through solid objects to escape into Galestgoras' tablet, shattering it and destroying Galestgoras.

After Bakura insulted both Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen and Pharaoh Atem, Seto and the other priests summoned more Ka to battle Diabound. Mahado was preparing to use his Ka to protect Atem, who was returning Akhenamkhanen's body from Bakura. However, Seto declared that Mahado’s Ka was too weak and used his own Battle Ox to distract Diabound. This diversion allowed Mahado's Ka, the Magus of Illusion, to cast the "Curse of Illusions" on Diabound, preventing it from using its phasing ability.

Together, the priests attacked Diabound in hopes of defeating it before their heka (magical power) was depleted. However, Diabound unleashed its "Spiral Surge" ability, deflecting the priests' attacks and dispelling the "Curse of Illusions." Atem intervened, summoning Obelisk the Tormentor to save the priests and force Bakura into retreat.

Seto met with Akhenaden at the Shrine of Wedju to discuss the threat posed by Bakura. Seto believed that killing Bakura was necessary for the kingdom's security, doubting that their current monsters—gathered from criminals—would be strong enough to stop him. Akhenaden acknowledged Bakura's power, theorizing that it stemmed from his hatred. He also revealed that the Millennium Items, as Bakura had claimed, possessed a dark, hidden side. These items were keys to the underworld and could forge a contract with a great evil god. Seto suggested capturing and torturing people with powerful Ka to amplify their hatred and strengthen their abilities. Akhenaden rejected the idea, arguing that the pharaoh would never allow such actions. Seto, however, believed that the priests must step in to protect the royal house, even if it meant using shadow politics. He proposed that he could create a Ka powerful enough to surpass a god and asked Akhenaden to trust him.

Mock Battles

To prepare for further attacks from Bakura, the priests engaged in mock battles to enhance their skills and strengthen their Ka. In one such battle, Seto was paired with Akhenaden and Shada to face Mahado, Isis, and Kalim. Seto attempted to attack using his personal Ka, Duos, but his opponents blocked his attacks with defensive abilities. Seto's teammates countered these defenses, but they became immobilized in traps. Seto then used Duos' ability to sacrifice his teammates' monsters, which doubled Duos' strength for each ally lost. With this power, Duos destroyed all three of the opponents' monsters at once.

After the battle, Seto chastised Mahado for having a weak Ka, insufficient for protecting the pharaoh's tomb. Kalim questioned the value of Seto's victory, pointing out that it came at the cost of sacrificing allies. Seto dismissed Kalim's concerns, stating that war isn't about numbers or words, and that Kalim's opinion would matter once he became a more formidable opponent. Atem then explained to Seto that a battle relying solely on strength could expose unforeseen weaknesses and that true power never meant hurting one's friends. Seto challenged Atem to a mock battle to demonstrate this. Eager to see the power of the gods, Seto was insulted when Atem summoned Kuriboh, believing it was a weak choice. He instructed Duos to shatter the tablet before Kuriboh could materialize. However, each fragment of the broken tablet revealed a Kuriboh, demonstrating the monster's special power. Atem explained that this power taught a valuable lesson—that attacking blindly leads to defeat.

Ka Hunt

While Mahado and Atem were discussing new security measures, Seto warned Mahado that he would not receive a second chance to clear his name if another pharaoh’s tomb was robbed. He even suggested that Mahado be stripped of his priesthood if such an incident occurred again. However, Mahado’s trap involved a desperate act—he merged with his Magus of Illusion through suicide to become the Dark Magician. When Seto learned of Mahado’s death, he believed his comrade had been too rash and considered his demise a “dog’s death.” Seto was more concerned about whether Bakura had survived and taken the Millennium Ring. He requested the pharaoh’s permission to search the city for Bakura, and Atem granted it, but with the instruction that no harm should come to the civilians, with Bakura being their only target.

Seto enlisted Shada for the hunt, explaining that the true aim of their mission was to locate people with powerful Ka. He instructed Shada to use the Millennium Key to examine the hearts of individuals for Ka, despite Shada’s protests about testing innocent people. Seto insisted that the mission was for security and ordered Shada to arrest anyone who refused to comply.

At the Winking Camel Bar, Seto’s men captured an exiled criminal who had returned to the city. Seto ordered Shada to use the Millennium Key to search his soul for Ka. The key revealed the presence of Saggi the Dark Clown, a low-level Ka, but Seto noted that it could become dangerous if allowed to grow. He sentenced the criminal to be sent to the underground prison. Seto informed his men that their search was limited to criminals, but they were to show no mercy. As Shada protested, the first criminal warned them that their authority was fleeting and that they would eventually be judged by the White Dragon.

During the Ka hunt, Seto and his men encountered a group of citizens attacking Kisara, believing her to be a witch. Seto intervened, reprimanding the crowd for assaulting a defenseless woman. As his men helped Kisara up, the Millennium Key reacted, and Shada reported that her Heka was too strong to measure. Her Ka had the form of a white dragon. Seto ordered his men to take Kisara to the palace and keep her presence a secret from the pharaoh.

Seto later reported to Akhenaden that the Ka hunt had gone better than expected, with twenty individuals possessing Ka now confined in the tower dungeon. However, Akhenaden, concerned about the path they were walking, urged Seto to release the prisoners. Seto dismissed his concerns, revealing that Kisara’s Ka, the White Dragon, had the power to rival the gods but was still in its infancy. He explained that he was allowing Kisara to regain her strength before finding a way to extract the greatest amount of power from her Ka. Seto intended to torture the prisoners to determine the best method for unlocking Kisara’s potential.

City Battle with Bakura

Soon after meeting with Akhenaden, Seto learned that Bakura had attacked him. Seto immediately ordered a search for Bakura, but Bakura managed to escape the palace, pursued by Atem. Seto, Kalim, Shada, and some soldiers caught up just in time to save Atem, with Seto commanding Duos to cut off Diabound's hand. Although Bakura and Diabound turned invisible, the attack weakened Diabound, limiting its range and allowing the priests to detect its position after it attacked. When Diabound destroyed Atem’s Slifer, Seto tried to use Duos' "Aura Sword" to impale Diabound and reveal its location, but Bakura summoned Illushu as a decoy to absorb the attack. The battle ended with Bakura stealing the Millennium Pendant from Atem, who fell into a chasm.

Prisoner Battles

Seto remained determined to find Atem and urged that they not lose faith in the pharaoh, who still dreamed of protecting the country. Akhenaden, however, doubted that faith alone would protect the country, believing Seto needed power. Using the Millennium Tauk, Isis predicted a looming disaster unless they found a "vessel" to contain it. When Seto learned Kisara had awoken, Akhenaden accompanied him to see her. Akhenaden reminded Seto that, with Atem gone, they had lost the protection of the three gods. Seto responded that they needed a Ka stronger than the gods. Akhenaden then suggested they needed a new pharaoh, someone with the power of new gods—someone like Seto, who he believed could be the "vessel" predicted by Isis.

Gebelk led Seto and Akhenaden to the underground prison, where two prisoners with powerful Ka were battling. He explained that Ka grew stronger with the wielder’s will to survive, and initially, ten prisoners with weak Ka were forced to fight to the death. Kisara was brought before Seto, thanking him for saving her life. She was unaware of her own Ka. Gebelk proposed that Kisara fight the two prisoners to test the strength of her Ka. Seto was uncertain, believing Kisara wouldn’t be able to control her Ka, but Gebelk insisted that if she possessed a god, she should have no trouble defeating two criminals. Akhenaden urged Seto to agree, emphasizing the need for a new god. Seto, surprised by Akhenaden’s sudden passion, consented to the plan.

Kisara in the Arena

When Kisara was placed in the arena, she showed no resistance, so Seto intervened with Duos. He ordered the prisoners to stop, but they decided to attack him instead. Initially planning to spare them, Seto used Duos to sever the chains of the suspended platform, causing one of the prisoners to fall. However, one prisoner, using his ka, Gudoul, spun a web to save himself and trap Duos. As Gudoul prepared to kill Seto, Kisara, still unconscious, was awakened by the emergence of The White Dragon. The White Dragon shielded Seto and Kisara, launching a light-based attack that killed both Gudoul and the prisoner, piercing the dungeon ceiling with a pillar of light.

Kisara’s Ka and Seto’s Role

After the battle, Gebelk explained that Kisara's ka and ba seemed to have merged, with The White Dragon possessing her as a vessel. Akhenaden believed that Seto must become the vessel of the dragon by freeing Kisara's soul. Seto, reluctant to kill Kisara, insisted they should focus on finding Atem first. Confused by Akhenaden's ruthless behavior, Seto questioned his merciful nature and his desire for Seto to become pharaoh. When Seto learned that Atem was still alive, he laughed and ordered Kisara to be moved to another room, insisting that only he be told her location.

Kul Elna Battle with Bakura

Seto, Siamun Muran, Isis, Kalim, and Mana traveled to Kul Elna to assist Atem and Shada in confronting Bakura. Kalim used the Millennium Scale to combine his Curse of Dragon with Seto's Duos, creating Duos Dragon. While Duos Dragon matched Diabound's "Spiral Wave," it could not withstand the combined attack of Diabound’s "Spiral Wave" and "Thunder Force." Seto allowed Duos Dragon’s arm to be blown off to create an opening for a counterattack. The Dark Magician helped by creating a hole in the shield formed by the ghosts of the Kul Elna villagers, allowing the final blow to defeat Diabound. Despite Bakura's defeat, Akhenaden managed to gather the seven Millennium Items and resurrect Zorc Necrophades, becoming the High Priest of Darkness.

Battle with Atem

As the battle with Zorc and the High Priest of Darkness progressed, Atem and his remaining allies struggled against the overwhelming force. With most of the priests dead, except for Isis, Seto, and Akhenaden, a confrontation between Seto and Akhenaden unfolded. Akhenaden revealed that he was Seto's father, a revelation that shocked Seto and triggered his attempt to attack. However, Akhenaden destroyed Duos and raised an army of the dead to fight against Atem’s side. Seto was taken to the palace, where Akhenaden informed him that Kisara would soon die, and her power would transfer to Seto. Akhenaden attempted to convince Seto to join him in ruling the world of darkness, but Seto refused, choosing to save Kisara instead.

After rescuing Kisara, Seto explained to her that the chaos was caused by humans, not a monster inside her. He advised her to flee to safety, but Akhenaden, angry at Seto's defiance, killed Kisara. Seto, devastated by her death, carried her body to a tablet, where he apologized and expressed his sorrow, stating that the world would never be the same for him. As Seto lamented, Kisara's spirit emerged, vowing to protect him with the light of her spirit.

Akhenaden, seeking to compel Seto to kill Atem, merged his soul into Seto’s. Seto, now possessed, challenged Atem to battle for the title of king. With Akhenaden’s influence, Seto summoned The White Dragon, which quickly destroyed Mahado’s tablet, leaving Atem vulnerable. However, Kisara’s spirit intervened, stopping The White Dragon and turning it on Akhenaden, killing him.

Atem ultimately defeated Zorc by sealing both their souls within the shattered Millennium Pendant, and a tablet was created to commemorate the last battle between Seto and Atem.

Post Mortem

Battle City

In the late twentieth century, Ishizu Ishtar displayed the tablet depicting Seto and Atem's battle at the Domino City Museum, believing it had the power to attract Duelists. She showed the tablet to Seto Kaiba to convince him to host the Battle City Duel Monsters tournament. Ishizu pointed out the similarities between Kaiba and Priest Seto’s use of the White Dragon, but Kaiba was initially skeptical of the tablet's authenticity. When Dark Yugi saw the tablet, he was immediately convinced that it depicted himself and Kaiba.

During Kaiba's quarterfinal Duel against Ishizu, Kaiba experienced a vision of Priest Seto holding Kisara before the White Dragon tablet, after her death. This vision prompted Kaiba to use the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" card to win the Duel, disrupting Ishizu's prediction that Kaiba would lose to "Obelisk the Tornmentor"

In Kaiba’s semifinal Duel against Yami Yugi, the destruction of their Egyptian God cards triggered another vision, in which they saw the battle between the rebelling Seto and Atem. The vision ended with the summoning of the White Dragon and Dark Magician. Kaiba and Yami Yugi then summoned their respective cards, the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" and "Dark Magician." Dark Yugi believed the battle was fated to continue, while Kaiba considered the vision to be an illusion caused by subliminal suggestion.

Ishizu, in her efforts to convince Kaiba to assist Yami Yugi in the final Duel against Yami Marik, mentioned that the tablet had been created by Seto as a gift to the deceased Atem.

Shadow RPG

In the Shadow RPG, Yami Yugi replayed his life as Pharaoh Atem while facing off against Yami Bakura. Both players had a deck of blank cards that filled in as they regained memories, with Yami Yugi's deck containing the priests, including Seto. These cards allowed players to control the actions of the characters, though when no commands were issued, the cards acted according to the original course of events. The events concerning Seto in the RPG largely mirrored the past.

Major differences in the RPG:

• After Diabound defeated Slifer the Sky Dragon, Yugi Mutou, as a non-player character, gave Atem the strength to summon The Winged Dragon of Ra. Ra used the light of the sun to expose Diabound, who had been hidden in darkness. Seto placed all of his ba into Duos' sword, allowing it to block an attack Diabound launched at Ra. Ra then killed Diabound, defeating Thief Bakura. However, Yami Bakura reversed time using an hourglass and distracted Yugi before he could help Atem again.
• When the priests defeated Thief Bakura, Yami Bakura used another hourglass to freeze time. This gave Akhenaden the opportunity to steal the Millennium Items from the priests, including Seto's Millennium Rod. Zorc then attacked Seto and his companions while time remained frozen, despite Akhenaden’s objections. However, the non-player character Hasan blocked the attack.
• Unlike in the past, Atem did not shatter the Millennium Pendant to defeat Zorc. With the Pendant intact, he gave it to Seto, asking him to take over as Pharaoh. Seto insisted that he must first defeat Atem in a battle. However, since Atem had no memories beyond that point, his body began to disappear as he exited the Memory World.
• The actual High Priest of Darkness outside of the RPG used his powers to stop time within the game, allowing Akhenaden to instantly summon Zorc and alter the course of events.
• In the RPG, Atem battled Seto, who was possessed by Akhenaden after Zorc was defeated by The Creator God of Light, Horakhty. In the original events, Atem fought Priest Seto, who acted on his own accord.