Re: Yu Gi Oh! Dark Messiah
Continued from last post:
“Doriado, you attack too…” she said. “Nature’s fury!”
Doriado clasped her hands in prayer, and the clouds overhead rumbled…
A bolt of lightning crashed down and smote Espa!
He panted for breath…
[B](K: 6,100) (E: 3,800)
“You’re losing…” said Karen, with a sweet smile.
Espa drew…
“Not for long…” he said.
He played a Spell Card.
“I play… Fiend’s Sanctuary,” he said.
An ominous glow descended on the arena, and a glowing pentagram appeared in the center. A fiendish stone gargoyle appeared in front of Espa…
And then a small figure that looked like a stickman made of metal beads appeared. (0/0)
“Now I get one Metal Fiend Token,” he continued. “And now I’ll sacrifice it…”
It vanished…
“To summon… heh, heh, heh…
“Jinzo!”
A frightening form arose. The dreaded android with the enlarged cranium, dark goggles, and ominous grill for a mouth, dressed in a dark robe appeared. (2,400/1,500)
“Oo-kay…” muttered Karen. “That might be a problem…”
“You bet it is!” shouted Espa. “Jinzo, attack Doriado! Cyber energy shock!”
A ball of back energy appeared in Jinzo’s hands. He threw it forward, and Doriado screamed as she was hit in the stomach.
[B](K: 4,900) (E: 3,800)
[B]* * * * * * * * * *
“Eh, I don’t get it, boss,” said Cassius. “I thought Wheeler won that card from Roba.”
“He did,” replied Fortunado. “However, that card never truly became Wheeler’s card on a spiritual level. It was too close to Espa. To the day Espa Roba stopped dueling, it was connected to him by a sort of silver cord.
“So when he died, it was kept in his spiritual vault. And when the specter was created, so was his favorite card.”
“I… see…” muttered Cassius.
He really didn’t understand what was just said at all, but it sounded convincing.
[B]* * * * * * * * * *
Karen slowly drew a card.
It was another Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan.
Jinzo… she thought. Who’d have guessed?
It’s trouble… Not only is its Attack Power greater than almost everything I have in my deck, but my Trap Cards are worthless…
“I move Element Doom and Doriado into Defense Mode…” she said.
Element Doom curled up in Defense, and Doriado lifted up her dress and sat down.
“That’s my turn…” she said.
Espa drew his next card.
“I summon Helping Robo For Combat in Attack Mode,” he exclaimed.
He played a card, and a rickety Machine appeared. It moved on tank treads, had a hammer for one hand, and a round, flat tool for the other. (1,600/0)
“Robo, destroy Element Doom!” he shouted. “Hammer smash!”
Helping Robo For Combat rolled forward, and clobbered Element Doom, shattering it.
“And now its effect activates,” said Espa. “Since it destroyed a Monster, I get to draw one card…”
He drew.
“…and put one that I don’t need at the bottom of my deck.”
He placed a card under his deck.
“It’s your move.”
Karen drew.
Have to get rid of that Robo… she thought.
“I summon Element Valkyrie in Attack Mode,” she said, playing a card.
A beautiful woman in a skimpy one-piece, gloves, boots, a blue cape, and a winged helmet, carrying a flaming spear appeared. (1,500/1,200)
“And due to Doriado’s Fire nature, she gains 500 Attack Points!”
Valkyrie grew up to 2,000 Attack.
“Attack Helping Robo For Combat! Scalding steam blast!”
Element Valkyrie shot forth a blast of burning steam from her spear, blowing the Robo to shards.
[B](K: 4,900) (E: 3,400)
“Humph,” said Espa. “Is that the best you could do?”
He drew.
“Jinzo, attack the Valkyrie!”
Jinzo blasted its cyber energy shock. Element Valkyrie screamed and was vaporized.
[B](K: 4,500) (E: 3,400)
“Now then,” said Espa, choosing another card, “I’ll Equip Jinzo with this… Amplifier!”
He played a card, and a dome-like machine soldered to Jinzo’s cranium.
“Since I’ve done that,” he explained, “I’m no longer affected by Jinzo’s special ability, and I can play all the Trap Cards I want…”
He fit a card into his Disk and it appeared behind Jinzo.
“…so you can probably just guess what kind of card this is!” he laughed.
“I end my turn.”
I’ve got to do something… thought Karen. Now I’m behind on Monsters and Trap Cards…
She drew.
“I activate Dust Tornado!” shouted Espa.
His Trap Card lifted, and Doriado’s Heart of Clear Water shattered.
Karen looked the Monster on the card she had just drawn. Not exactly the best for this situation, but she couldn’t risk losing it.
“I pass for this turn,” she said.
“Fine,” said Espa. “My draw…”
He drew a card.
“I play Monster Reborn!” he exclaimed. “And I’ll bring back The Fiend Megacyber.”
He played the card, and the Dark Warrior arose again. (2,200/1,200)
“Megacyber, attack Doriado!” shouted Espa.
The Fiend Megacyber lashed forward, and Elemental Mistress Doriado shattered.
“Well then…” said Espa, closing his eyes. “Now that I’ve gotten rid of her, I see no reason not to…”
He paused.
“…just kill you! Go, Jinzo! Attack directly!”
Jinzo fired its lethal cyber energy shock and Karen screamed bloody murder. She fell backwards.
Ooh… that really hurt! she thought.
[B](K: 2,100) (E: 3,400)
She thought back to that joke she had made before the duel had started.
”So you’re either an imposter or… some restless ghost who’s going to trap me in some deadly Shadow Game!”
She realized at this point that he had made no effort to deny it… And the pain from that attack seemed so real…
She slowly got up.
“I won’t lose, Roba…” she said.
She drew a card.
It was her Kuriboh.
Well, hello there, she thought. Now where you just a minute ago when I needed you?
“I may not be able to beat Jinzo’s Attack yet,” she said, adding it to her hand, “but thanks to that last move, I can equal it…”
“You have a Monster powerful enough to match Jinzo’s Attack?” asked Espa. “How will you summon it? You have no Monsters to sacrifice.”
“I have a very special Monster in my hand,” said Karen. “One that can only be summoned when Doriado is in my Graveyard.
“I summon Doriado’s lesser known sister… Dark Mistress Yamiado.”
She placed a card down, and the clouds above churned. A dark shape arose. She resembled Doriado in general outline, but wore a fancy black dress and headdress, and had jet black hair. She wore a necklace set with a large ruby. In general, she was Doriado’s evil twin. (2,400/1,400)
“Yamiado represents the dark side of the elements,” said Karen. “The part of Earth that causes landslides, the part of Fire that ruins forests, the part of Wind that can uproot trees, and the part of Water that floods coastlines after disastrous rains.
“Yamiado, attack The Fiend Megacyber with tempest fury!”
Yamiado concentrated, and the wind started to pick up…
A blast of elemental energy shot forward, and The Fiend Megacyber exploded!
[B](K: 2,100) (E: 3,200)
“And I’m not done…” said Karen. “Since she was a Special Summon, I can also summon Element Magician in Defense Mode.”
She placed a card down, and in a swirl of sea spray, a young girl in a fancy costume and hairstyle appeared. She shielded herself in Defense. (1,500/1,200)
“It’s your move…”
Espa drew a card.
“You think I can’t take down your Dark Mistress?” he said with a laugh. “Well, I can! I Equip Jinzo with Machine Conversion Factory.”
He played a card.
“This gives Jinzo and extra 300 points for both attacking and defending, not that I’m going to defend with it.”
Jinzo rose to (2,700/1,800)
“Jinzo, attack Dark Mistress Yamiado!” he shouted.
Jinzo powered up its attack…
“Not so fast, Espa,” said Karen. “Yamiado has a special ability. When she’s attacked, I can redirect the attack towards any other Monster on my side of the field who has the word ‘Element’ or ‘Elemental’ in its name…”
Jinzo fired its blast. Yamiado started to glow with dark energy.
“So now, Element Magician will be the one taking that hit.”
The blast plowed into Element Magician, and she was blown to pieces.
“Even better,” continued Karen, “if that ability is used to redirect the attack to a Monster who isn’t a Dark Monster, and Element Magician certainly wasn’t one, I get to Special Summon Doriado back from my Graveyard.”
Doriado reappeared, crouching in Defense Mode. (1,200/1,400)
“Fine,” said Espa. “It’s your move…”
You think I don’t know your strategy? he thought. It’s incredibly clear…
Karen drew a card.
Scroll of Bewitchment… she thought, looking at it.
She added it to her hand, and chose another card.
“I’ll place a Monster in Defense Mode, and that will be my turn,” she said.
A facedown Monster appeared.
“Well…” said Espa, drawing a card. “I know what you think I’m going to do… You think I’m going to try to attack Yamiado again…
“But I’m smart, Karen, and I see what would happen. If I did that, you would have her redirect the attack to Doriado, and since Doriado is clearly no Dark Monster, that would result in her coming right back…
“So… I’ll just get rid of Doriado first! Jinzo, attack Elemental Mistress Doriado!”
Jinzo fired his cyber energy shock, and Doriado was blown to pieces again.
“I’m ending my turn,” said Espa. “And I’ll just get Yamiado on my next turn.”
Karen smiled as she drew a card.
“I’m afraid you won’t be getting a next turn, Espa,” she said. “I have a combo that will win me the duel right now…
“And it starts with this Spell Card… Scroll of Bewitchment!”
“And what does that do?” asked Espa.
“It’s an Equip,” said Karen, “that lets me change the Attribute of the Equipped Monster to any one I want.”
“Heh, heh,” chuckled Espa. “What good would it do you to change the Attribute of Yamiado? It won’t raise her Attack Points…”
“You misunderstand,” said Karen. “I’m not Equipping this to Yamiado…”
She played the card.
“I’m Equipping it to your Jinzo, changing its Attribute from Dark… to Fire.”
Jinzo raised its arms, and became surrounded by flames!
“What?” said Espa, surprised. “Big deal! So it’s a Fire Monster now! It’s still powerful enough to destroy you!”
“Or destroy you…” added Karen. “I flip my facedown Monster into Attack Mode… Go, Hiita the Fire Charmer!”
The facedown Monster flipped, revealing another young girl. She had red hair, and was dressed in a brief girdle and green cape. She carried a long staff with a flaming ruby. A small fox sat by her feet. (500/1,500)
“Hiita is the uncontested master of all things Fire,” said Karen. “And all Fire creatures obey her without question. In game terms, when she’s flip-summoned, I can brainwash one Fire Monster…
“And since I changed your Monster’s Attribute to Fire…”
Hiita chanted and cast a spell, and her staff blazed. Jinzo looked confused, and then floated over to Karen’s side…
Espa Roba gulped…
“Dark Mistress Yamiado…” ordered Karen, “attack directly with tempest fury!”
Yamiado cast her dark spell, and raw elemental energy blasted forth, stabbing into Espa.
“And now, Jinzo, attack with fire energy shock!”
Jinzo formed a ball of flame in its hands, and hurled it forward! Flames covered Espa and he fell to his knees…
He groaned…
[B](K: 2,100) (E: 0)
Espa Roba looked up. He paused, as if he was listening for something.
“I…” he muttered. “I… I hear my brothers calling me… I have to go…”
And then he simply vanished into mist…
Karen rubbed her eyes, and stared at the spot where he had been.
“Creepy…” she muttered.
She looked at her hands.
“But at least I didn’t break a nail…”
[B]* * * * * * * * * *
Fortunado watched as the duel between Silver and Bandit Keith ended.
“Hmmm…” he said.
He finished the last of his martini.
He turned towards the Three Swordsmen.
“Folks,” he said, “sometimes, if you want something to happen, you have to make it happen…”
“What do you mean?” asked Cassius.
“I was considering something…” said Fortunado. “Russell was the first student from the school to survive an Orichalcos duel, but then, he went up against a poor duelist…”
He paused.
“Is Ouka still willing to accept the challenge?”
“Are you kidding?” asked Sebastian. “She’s wanted to for weeks.”
“Then tell her that tomorrow, her victim will be waiting,” said Fortunado. “It’s time we made something happen.”
“What do you mean?” asked Cassius again.
“If it happens,” said Fortunado, “you’ll see when it happens.”
[B]* * * * * * * * * *
That night, rain clouds blew into the city, and rain fell upon New York.
Working late, Dr. Artemis watched from her office as the rain fell.
Trouble is coming, she thought. But I can sense that something good is about to come too…
I sense it in my bones… Tomorrow will be a day of reckoning for the last one…
I wish I could stop it…
But it has to be done, or the nightmare might never end…
Monday, September 20th, 2106, 8:37 PM
DARK MISTRESS YAMIADO (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 7
ATK: 2,400
DEF: 1,400
Card Description: The dark twin of Elemental Mistress Doriado, this sorceress represents the dark side of the elements. This Monster cannot be Normal Summoned. This Monster can be Special Summoned from your hand if at least one “Elemental Mistress Doriado” has been sent from the field to your Graveyard. If this Monster is targeted by an attack, you can redirect the attack to a face-up Monster on your side of the field who has the word “Element” or “Elemental” in its name. If the new target of the attack is not a Dark-Attribute Monster, that Monster is automatically destroyed (ignore damage calculation) and you may Special Summon one “Elemental Mistress Doriado” from your Graveyard.
Note: “Dark Mistress Yamiado” was created by Blademaster, who submitted Karen as a user character.
CARD OF LAST WILL (Trap Card)
Card Specs
Type: Trap
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –
Image: A hand holding a hand of cards reaching out of the ground in front of a cross-shaped tombstone in a cemetery.
Card Description: You can activate this card when your opponent declares an attack when you have no cards in your hand. Draw five cards from your deck.
Note: “Card of Last Will” was used by Marik in the multi-part anime episode “The Darkness Returns”. All creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
FIEND’S SANCTUARY (Spell Card)
Card Specs
Type: Spell
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –
Image: A demonic gargoyle on a colorful pentagram.
Card Description: Special Summon one “Metal Fiend Token” (Fiend/Dark/1 star/0 ATK/0 DEF) in Attack Position. A “Metal Fiend Token” cannot attack. A “Metal Fiend Token” cannot be destroyed as a result of battle. Battle Damage done from a battle involving a “Metal Fiend Token” is taken by your opponent rather than you. Pay 1,000 Life Points during each of your Standby Phases that you have a “Metal Fiend Token”. If you do not pay, the “Metal Fiend Token” is destroyed.
Note: “Fiend’s Sanctuary” is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States. It was used first in the anime by Yugi in “The Final Face-Off” (where he used it as a Quickplay, which was technically incorrect).
Karen’s Elemental Deck
Karen has researched the stranger parts of Duel Monsters history; one of her reasons for wanting to attend the school was to research the mysterious Shadow Games that have achieved mythic reputation. She has studied Egyptian history, and the darker parts of the careers of many historical duelists.
Karen thus possesses a great deal of smarts, and her dueling strategy is more complicated than beatdown or control, or any other simple strategy. All her Monsters are special, and all of them work together in an Elemental Deck.
The deck has numerous strategies. One is to use the various effects of Doriado’s six servants. These Monsters require Monsters of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water to use their effects, so Karen has three copies of Homunculus (who can change to any) and three copies of Doriado (who is all). Homunculus is also useful in triggering her Spiritual Art Trap Cards, and she has a copy of each one except the Earth version. (That one is used to Special Summon an Earth Monster from the Graveyard, and she doesn’t have many to use it on.)
Karen also carries the four Elemental Charmers in her deck, who can be used to take control of a powerful Monster if she uses them at the right time. Scroll of Bewitchment can be used in a combo with any of the Charmers to brainwash nearly anything.
Dark Mistress Yamiado is a card that isn’t exactly common. She’s a powerful Monster who’s easy to summon if Doriado is first summoned and then destroyed, and can be used to get Doriado back if Yamiado is attacked. Of course, the main problem at that point is trying to defeat whatever attacked Yamiado.
Finally, Karen carries three copies of Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan. She usually can only activate this powerful Trap if Doriado is on the field, but it’s worth it, because it can have four different effects, all of them incredibly useful. She uses whatever effect best suits the situation.
[B][I]Coming up next:
Another Orichalcos duel begins, and the victim unfortunately must face it alone, without support from any allies.
Or will he?
In the cursed darkness, a single candle bears the light of hope. Be here soon, because it will be one to remember…
Originally Posted by Zorak
Uh...did I just say that out loud? I'd better scram. I'll be waiting for #18! 
).XD
I liked how he ended the duel in a draw and forced the information out of Beowulf about their condition, and how everyone who used that awful card had been cursed and how Mai was saved by Joey. Aw... 
