Yu-Gi-Oh! Soul of Silicon

[Shuppet Master]

Great chapter. For some reason, the forums marked it as read.

Anyways, I liked the Old West bit, and an interesting twist that Cosmo Queen was called "empress." Seems Duel Spirits do bow down to a higher power.

And Ren's power reveals itself. Surprising it was stone-shapimg.

I think I know who is ruling over Burnt Paradise.

[Dark Sage]

Could you identify every Monster?

They were: “Ojama King”, “Sleeping Lion”, “Behemoth the King of All Animals”, “Giant Rat”, “Burglar”, “3-Hump Lacooda”, “Des Koala”, “Synchar”, “Bazoo the Soul Eater”, “Great Bill”, “Lesark”, “Dig Beak”, “Nekogal #1”, “Nimble Momonga”, “Wimee”, “Dark Grey”, “Fusionist”, “Mystical Sheep #2”, and “Rescue Cat”.

That’s a lot!



”Cowards die many times before their deaths;
“The valiant never taste death but once.”

So said Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s tragedy that bears his name. Caesar’s wife was having nightmares about her husband being murdered (which turned out to be prophetic, as you later discovered) and he tried to comfort her with this quote. What he meant was, he found it strange that men feared death so much, when death was an inevitable thing that happened to everyone. He had been a strong and brave man who had not wasted time anticipating death.

I like to consider myself ‘valiant’… I wouldn’t have come to Xanadu if I wasn’t, and I wouldn’t have accepted this challenge in this place where Caesar would be right at home, facing creatures who wouldn’t deny his philosophy…

But while I don’t anticipate death, if I don’t get my game on, so to speak, I’m going to have to accept its inevitability more than ever…

Duel…

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE



Perfect Tempo

One hour later, Daala was speaking to someone via a screen.

“Freed the Matchless General?” she shouted.

“That’s what the surviving witnesses said, milady,” said a voice. “They said he was looking for Joan.”

Daala’s fist slammed down on the armrest of her couch, shattering it. She stood up and started to pace.

“This is bad…” she muttered. “Really bad… Freed commands the most powerful army in the Twelve Dimensions… If he’s come here personally to meet with Joan…”

She clenched her fist again.

“If Joan convinces him to help the resistance, we’re in big trouble…”

“What should I do, milady?” asked the voice.

“Send word to every minion you have,” said Daala. “I’m doing the same for the rulers of the other three Realms I still control. Whoever defeats Freed the Matchless General may have forty cards which he may choose from cards taken from defeated members of the resistance!”

“Right away, milady,” said the voice. “And we’ll… Uhm…”

There was a pause.

“Really? Uh, does that include Aster if we apprehend him first?”

“Any at all!” shouted Daala. “Now make the announcement! We can’t waste any more time!”

“Yes, milady…”

In the largest building in Darkspire, its Lord turned off the screen.

“If that’s the case,” he said, “I’ll devote more time to completing the Hunter. If I cancel my other plans he should be ready to face Aster by tomorrow…

“And then I’ll find Freed personally…”

He looked at his deck, and drew a card off of it. He looked at the powerful Monster.

“I almost feel sorry for Freed… Once he faces this, he’ll no longer be able to call himself the Matchless General…”

* * * * * * * * * *

But tomorrow, as the song goes, was a day away.

Leaving the rocky area behind, the group soon came to a large expanse of sand dunes again. Only the position of the sun enabled them to tell they were going the right way as they trudged through the deep sand, which was starting to get into their shoes and other parts of their clothing.

“Man…” muttered Yumi. “I suddenly wish I had found room for grandpa Joey’s Red Eyes in my deck. We could have just flown there on his back.”

“Not a good idea,” said Jesse. “We’d have stuck out like a sore thumb. You ride into the sky on a big, black Dragon, and sooner or later, something stronger is going to come out and shoot you down.

“There are rumors of both a Felgrand Dragon and a Super Conductor Tyranno making their lairs in this Realm… If one of them saw Joey’s Red Eyes, it would think it was the Spirit of the real Red Eyes, and every high-level Monster wants a piece of him.”

“Really?” said Sam. “What about the Blue Eyes?”

“Oh, those guys don’t live in any dimensions where Duel Spirits live,” said Jesse. “They’ve been bound to your world for a long time. They’re special Duel Spirits.

“Kaiba was entrusted as their keeper by his beloved in his former life, and Kaiba inherited the role in his most recent life. And Siegfried inherited it from him…

“And now that the cards are in the museum in Duelatopia, they’ve gone to sleep, and it is said that their dreams spawn the Spirits of new Dragons. Among Duel Spirits, they’re like celebrities that no-one ever sees.”

“Whoa…” said Ren.

Chelsea coughed.

“Man, I’ve got sand in my ears!” she shouted. “And in my hair! And…”

She spit.

“…and in my mouth!”

The wind started to pick up.

“Uh, people…” said Jesse. “I think we’re in trouble.”

“A sandstorm is starting…” said Yumi.

“No…” said Jesse.

He stepped up the next sand dune.

“It looks like the sandstorm is a barrier of some sort,” he said. “I don’t know how we’re going to…”

And then the storm parted.

A building appeared inside the storm, about three-hundred feet ahead. It looked like how Roman Colosseum would look, as if it were new and not in ruins.

“Uh…” said Chelsea, “we aren’t really going down there, are we?”

“Well,” said Jesse, “one rule for desert survival is, always take shelter in a sandstorm…

“But… I’ve never seen that place before… It must be a new structure.”

“When Jaden and his allies saw a place that looked like this,” said Ren, “it had been built by Tania, one of the Shadow Riders…”

“Well, we can count Tania out as being the one who we’ll find down there,” said Yumi. “Even if she’s still alive, she and Jaden parted on friendly terms, more or less. And as for any real Amazons, they’re allied with Joan now, remember?”

“Still,” said Sam, “I don’t believe for one minute that it’s unoccupied.”

“People, I hate to say this,” said Erik, “but what choice do we have? It’s either that or take our chances in this storm.”

Everyone looked at the Colosseum.

They nodded. They covered their mouths with the tops of their shirts, and walked down to the large structure.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Friends! Romans! Countrymen!” shouted Ren, as they walked into the huge arena. “Lend me your ears!”

“He’ll give them back, we promise,” added Chelsea.

“Will you two shut up?” shouted Sam. “Maybe whoever lives here doesn’t know we’re here yet.”

“Oh, I’m afraid it’s too late for that, Samantha,” said a voice from the other end.

They turned, and saw a figure seated on a marble throne at the other end.

At first, they thought it was Ares. However, looking closer, they saw that the armor was of a different design. It suggested more Roman than Greek. The man carried a bronze sword by his side, and a large, circular, and also bronze shield on his left arm.

“And you are?” asked Sam.

The man took off his helmet and set it aside. He seemed to be somewhat older than Ares had looked, and the style of his hair and beard was different, and both were graying with age.

“You may call me Scipio,” he said. “Keeper of the Colosseum, and guardian of the mid-border.”

“Mid-border?” said Jesse.

“The sandstorm,” said Scipio, as he stood up. “It forms a border across the middle of the Realm. If you try to go though it without a Duel Spirit as a guide who can part its sands, you’ll likely be flayed alive by its stinging winds.

“Only certain Duel Spirits can do so. I’m afraid that I don’t sense the presence of one that qualifies in any of your decks. Only Beast-Warriors that are at least Level Eight can open a pathway.”

He stood up. His shield glowed and changed shape, turning into a bronze Disk.

“Let me guess,” said Sam. “You want to duel, and if one of us can beat you, you’ll arrange for one to come here.”

“I have one residing in my deck,” said Scipio. “If you defeat me, he’ll remain, and he’ll gladly guide you through the storm.

“If not, whoever is left will have to find another way through it.”

“Level Eight Beast-Warriors?” muttered Ren.

“I can only think of two,” said Yumi. “Sengenjin, and Mythical Beastking Barbaros. Sengenjin is only a fan card that was never used much...

“Barbaros on the other hand… Well, if he uses it, let’s just say that he’s a tough Monster to deal with…”

“I suppose you work for the Realm Lord,” said Sam.

Scipio frowned.

“Technically,” he said. “But I try to avoid him when I can. I have no patience for his confusing dialogue.”

“Confusing dialogue?” muttered Ren.

“Johnson, maybe?” said Chelsea. “He always spoke in ‘legalese’, pardon the expression.”

“This is serious, people,” said Yumi. “We might be stuck here if we can’t win this.”

“You already dueled, Yumi,” said Sam. “I can take this guy.”

Scipio chuckled. He shuffled his deck.

“You know…” he said, “in the original gladiatorial contests, some gladiators were women…”

“True…” said Sam. “Anything to make a fight interesting, especially when the fighters were expendable. But this one is going to bring the crowd to its feet.”

“Uh Sam?” said Erik. “There is no crowd…”

“Oh, that may quickly change…” said Scipio.

The two Disks activated.

“But first…” said Scipio, “we need a few more players… Bring out your Deck Lord.”

“Huh?” said Sam. “Oh… Yeah…”

Messenger of Hades – Gors appeared behind her.

“Now meet mine,” said Scipio.

A sinister form appeared behind him. It was a female figure, reclining on a couch that had appeared with her. She seemed to be part woman and part snake, wearing a gold and red halter top and holding a ruby scepter.

“Her name is Serpentine Princess, and I wouldn’t underestimate her,” said Scipio.

“Serpentine Princess?” said Ren. “What does she do?”

“Uhm, I think her effect is,” said Yumi, “she lets you Special Summon a Monster from your deck when she is sent from the field to your deck.”

“Sent from the field to your deck?” said Chelsea. “When the heck would that ever happen?”

“She was designed to combo with Fiber Jar,” said Yumi.

Serpentine Princess bowed her head.

“But, Fiber Jar has been illegal for some time,” said Yumi. “The only legal cards that can do it are Morphing Jar #2 and Monster Recovery. And since the Monster her effect summons has to be Level Three or less, she’s really fallen out of use.”

“Cheer up…” muttered Scipio to the Princess. “You’ll prove to them you still have worth…”

He spoke up.

“My Princess may not be able to fight like she used to without Fiber Jar,” he said, “but given the unique nature of the Monsters in my deck, her Deck Lord ability is quite potent.

“Now that everything is in place…”

“Game on!” they both shouted.

(Sam: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Scipio: 8,000)

“Let’s start off with a bang!” shouted Sam, drawing a card.

“Perfect!” she said. “I’ll summon Malice Doll of Demise.”

She played the card, and the wicked wooded doll appeared. (1,600/1,700)

“Now I play a fiendish Spell Card… Ectoplasmer!”

She played a Spell Card, and it appeared on her side of the field.

“I’ll throw down a facedown card,” she said, as a facedown card materialized. “Now, I’ll move right to my End Phase, and sacrifice my Doll for Ectoplasmer’s effect. Go!”

Malice Doll of Demise slumped over, and a ghostly spirit flew out of it. It flew at Scipio with a scream, striking him in the chest.

The Doll vanished, and Scipio held his chest.

(S: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 7,200)

“Not bad for a first move…” he said. “Although I see that it left you completely defenseless.”

“Attack me if you want,” said Sam. “I can take it.”

He drew a card.

“Maybe so,” said Scipio. “But it’s time to begin the true show… I play Graceful Charity.”

He played the card, and the angel appeared above him… But she was somewhat different this time. She was wearing armor and a helmet similar to his, and carried a sword.

Her feathers fell on his deck, and he drew three cards.

“I think I’ll discard… Wild Nature’s Release, and Gladiator Beast Torax,” he said.

He discarded the two cards.

Huh? thought Sam. Okay… Wild Nature’s Release I’ve heard of… But who the heck is Gladiator Beast Torax?

“Moving right along,” said Scipio. “I summon Gladiator Beast Secutor.”

He played the card, and a horn sounded from somewhere. A trapdoor in front of him opened and a Monster rose out of it. It looked like a lizard-man, dressed in a toga. Mounted on its back were two large, odd, mechanical devices that might have been cannons of some sort… It was hard to tell. (400/300)

“I’m guessing your gladiator doesn’t win many matches,” said Sam. “Not with an Attack Score that low.”

“Don’t be too quick to judge,” said Scipio. “Most gladiators only lose one match in their entire careers… Because the match that they lose is the one in which they perish.

“Anyway, since I now have one Gladiator Beast on the field, I can Special Summon my Test Tiger.”

“Huh?” said Sam. “There are more of these… Gladiator Beasts?”

A new creature leapt onto the field. It was clearly a tiger, dressed in a colorful costume. (600/300)

Jesse turned to see the Spirit of Topaz Tiger watching beside him.

“That a friend of yours?” asked Jesse.

“It’s a long story,” growled the Crystal Beast. “Basically, he started hanging out with the wrong crowd. These Gladiator Beasts aren’t exactly the nicest Monsters you’ll ever meet.”

“Now,” said Scipio, “I can use Test Tiger’s effect, and sacrifice it to summon another Gladiator Beast from my deck. And by the way, when a Gladiator Beast is summoned by Test Tiger’s effect, it gains the same powers it would have gotten if it were summoned by another Gladiator Beast’s effect.”

“Say again?” said Sam. “I’m losing you.”

“Test Tiger, begone,” said Scipio, as the Tiger vanished. “Come forth, Gladiator Beast Bestiari!”

Another Monster rose out of the trapdoor. This one was a Winged Beast of some type, with green feathers, armor, and metallic wings, with blasters mounted on his arms. (1,500/800)

“Like I said,” said Scipio. “Bestiari gains the ability he would have gained if he was summoned by the effect of another Gladiator Beast. That ability is the power to destroy one Spell or Trap Card.

“Bestiari, destroy Ectoplasmer!”

Bestiari aimed one of his blasters and pointed at the Ectoplasmer card. He fired a bolt of energy, and it was blown to pieces.

“Well, so much for that edge,” said Sam.

“Attack…” started Scipio.

“Activate, Threatening Roar!” shouted Sam.

Her facedown card flipped up, and a loud bellow echoed across the field.

“Afraid you can’t attack me this turn.”

Yumi can be a pain in the ass sometimes, she thought, but she has good taste in cards.

“In that case,” said Scipio, “I end my turn.”

Sam quickly drew a card.

“Due to its effect, my Doll is Special Summoned to field,” she said.

Malice Doll of Demise appeared again, chuckling evilly. (1,600/1,700)

“Next, I summon The Bistro Butcher!”

She played a new card, and the fiendish chef appeared. (1,800/1,000)

“Butcher, carve up that bird! Attack Gladiator Beast Bestiari!”

The Bistro Butcher lunged at Bestiari, and made a slash. The Winged Beast shattered into pieces and Scipio cringed.

“Thanks to your Butcher,” said Scipio, “I get to draw two cards.”

He made two draws.

“Fine,” said Sam. “Malice Doll of Demise, attack the other one! Cleaver heaver!”

Malice Doll of Demise threw its axe at Secutor, and the Reptile was blown to bits. Scipio cringed again.

“And that’s all for me,” said Sam.

(S: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,700)

“A minor setback, you can be sure,” said Scipio, drawing a card.

“First I play… Pot of Greed.”

He played the card, and the green jug appeared. He drew twice.

“Now I play the Spell Card, Gladiator’s Return. This lets me take three Gladiator Beasts from my Graveyard, and return them to my deck.”

He played the card, and three cards – Secutor, Bestiari, and the one he discarded with Graceful Charity – slipped out of his discard slot. He combined them with his deck, and reshuffled.

“Now, I get to draw once.”

He made one draw.

“Time for a new gladiator…”

The trapdoor opened again…

A strange creature rose out of the trapdoor. It looked like an aquatic fish-man, with blue scales and flippers. Mounted on its back were two devices that looked similar to Secutor’s cannons. (800/400)

“Meet Gladiator Beast Murmillo,” said Scipio.

“What the heck are these things?” asked Yumi.

“Your Monsters are all third-rate!” laughed Sam.

“Don’t be so quick to judge,” said Scipio, taking another card from his hand.

“What are gladiators without spectators to watch them fight? They’re nothing, that’s what they are… I play a Field Spell…

“Take us to Colosseum – Cage of the Gladiator Beasts!”

He placed a card in his Field Slot, and the whole arena around them changed. The most obvious addition was that the seats now had a crowd of cheering spectators. And they weren’t human. The human duelists on the floor looked up, and saw that they were all Duel Spirits, most of them Beast-Warriors. Yumi could make out several Battle Ox, Battle Steer, Beaver Warriors, Vorse Raiders, Panther Warriors, Boar Soldiers… Practically anything in Duel Monsters that was half-human and half-animal. There were also a few Winged Beasts; Yumi saw the three Harpie Lady Sisters in some VIP seating, and here and there was a Sonic Shooter and a Hunter Owl (she wasn’t quick to point it out to Chelsea).

“Talk about a rowdy crowd,” said Chelsea.

“Yeah,” said Jesse. “All they need are some torches and a castle to raid.”

“Uhm, these are holograms, right?” asked Erik, nervously.

The Colosseum itself had changed too, having acquired a more bestial theme, with gargoyles and statues depicting great cats, dinosaurs, and birds of prey.

Ren looked at the menagerie of spectators.

“Uhm…” he said. “Somehow, I don’t think that Sam is the crowd favorite here…”

“As you said,” said Scipio, “Murmillo isn’t very strong… Thus, I can play the Spell Card, Secret Pass to the Treasures. Because he’s so weak, this lets him get past your Monsters, and strike at you.”

“Not again…” muttered Sam.

Murmillo’s two cannons glowed, and then a blast of water shot out of them, hitting Sam and knocking her down. The bestial crowd cheered.

“Ooh, he’s gonna pay for that!” she shouted.

“Sorry,” said Scipio. “You can’t reach him now…”

“What do you…” started Sam.

As she said this, Murmillo knelt on the trapdoor, and retreated back into the floor.

“HEY!” shouted Sam. “Where’d he go?”

“Back to my deck,” said Scipio. “Gladiator Beasts never stay around for an encore.”

“It’s tag team,” said Topaz Tiger, with a growl. “That’s the whole system with these things. Whenever one of them survives a fight, it can retreat back to the deck. Then a new one comes out, and it gets special powers as a result of being summoned by the previous one. As a result, they’re very hard to hurt!”

“Thus,” said Scipio, “I summon Gladiator Beast Dimacari.”

He played a new card, and a new Monster emerged from the trapdoor. This one appeared to be a humanoid ram of some sort, with blue fur, wearing a breastplate and a kilt. It lifted its fists, which looked partially like hooves. (1,600/1,200)

“His appearance triggers two effects,” said Scipio. “First, my Deck Lord. Whenever I Special Summon a Monster from my deck using an effect that involves sending one to my deck, I get to draw one card.”

Serpentine Princess glowed, and he drew once.

“Next… Observe…”

On the top of the Colosseum, a large beacon lit, sending flames into the air.

“Each time one of us Special Summons a Monster from our decks to the field,” said Scipio, “my Colosseum lights one beacon, and for each one, all Gladiator Beasts gain 100 Attack and Defense Points.”

Dimacari glowed with energy. (1,700/1,300)

He played a Spell Card.

“I’m not done. I play Gladiator Beast’s Respite. Now, I take two cards with the words ‘Gladiator Beast’ in my hand, and shuffle them back into my deck.”

He added two of the three cards in his hand to his deck, and quickly shuffled.

“Now, I get to draw three times.”

He made three draws.

He looked over the new cards.

He placed two of them in his Disk, and two facedown cards appeared.

“And with that, I conclude my turn.”

“FINALLY!” shouted Sam.

(S: 7,200) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,700)

“Now I recognize the name!” shouted Yumi.

“What?” said Ren.

“Scipio,” said Yumi. “He was a general of the Roman Empire, known mostly for defeating Hannibal during the Second Punic War. Clearly, this guy is another virtual construct.”

“Well, that explains the gladiator theme,” said Erik. “If only we knew what Sam was up against…”

Sam drew a card and looked at Dimacari.

I have absolutely no idea what I’m up against, she thought. He obviously knew that Dimacari is still weaker than The Bistro Butcher, so one of his facedown cards is likely something else to stop an attack.

She looked at the card she had just drawn.

But now I can get rid of his main edge…

“Sorry, Scipio,” she said, “but I’m sending this crowd home early, and tearing your Cage down. I play Mystical Space Typhoon!”

She played the card and a cyclone started to form from it.

“A dire mistake lass!” exclaimed Scipio. “My Colosseum is hardier than most structures!”

He took one of the last two cards in his hand.

“I have a second Colosseum right here! And by sending it to the Graveyard, I can prevent the one on the field from being destroyed!”

He quickly discarded it, and the cyclone died down.

“Crud,” said Sam. “Well, time to go for broke… I summon Gil Garth.”

She played a new card, and the metal, sword-wielding Fiend appeared on the field. (1,800/1,200)

Sam was startled as the crowd started to boo.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re all not the first ones to hate me,” she said. “Butcher, attack Dimacari!”

The Bistro Butcher rushed at the Gladiator Beast, swinging his cleaver.

“I activate, Defensive Tactics!” shouted Scipio, as one of his facedown cards lifted.

As The Bistro Butcher swung his weapon, Dimacari blocked with his gauntlets, and the cleaver’s blow was deflected. Dimacari gave the Fiend a solid kick with his hoof, and he fell backwards.

“Since I have at least one Gladiator Beast on the field,” said Scipio, “Defensive Tactics prevents my Monsters from being destroyed in battle this round, and reduces the battle damage to zero.”

“Sounds like a fancy version of Waboku,” said Sam, putting her hand on her hip.

Scipio laughed.

“This Trap has a benefit that Waboku doesn’t have,” he said, holding up the card. “After it’s triggered, it doesn’t go to the Graveyard, it goes to bottom of my deck.”

He slid the card under his deck.

“At least he won’t get to it again,” said Chelsea.

“Actually, he might,” said Jesse. “If his strategy involves summoning Monsters from his deck, he has to shuffle each time he does it. He may well draw it again.”

“That’s probably the whole point to that effect,” said Yumi.

“I end my turn,” said Sam.

Scipio drew a card.

“Let’s continue,” said Scipio. “I summon Witch Doctor of Sparta.”

He played a card, and a dark figure appeared next to Murmillo. It was a sorcerer clad in dark robes and a cape, his head fully covered by a helmet made from a bull’s skull. (400/2,000)

“Now I activate… Shield Spear,” he said, as his other facedown card lifted. “This Trap increases my Monster’s Attack and Defense by 400.”

Dimacari glowed again. (2,100/1,700)

“Now, my gladiator attacks… And since he was summoned by the effect of another Gladiator Beast, Dimacari can do it twice!”

“HUH?” said Sam.

“Attack her Butcher and Gil Garth!” ordered Scipio. “Ram slam!”

Dimacari charged at Gil Garth, and slugged him hard with his fist. The Fiend shattered.

Then he turned and kicked The Bistro Butcher with its hoof, and he shattered too.

“Now, retreat Dimacari…” said Scipio.

Dimacari knelt on the trapdoor, and he retreated into the floor, just as Murmillo had.

“Now that I’ve whetted the crowd’s appetite,” he said, “the time has come to bring out one the champions of my Colosseum…”

The crowd began to cheer louder, as the trapdoor opened again.

“Emerge, Gladiator Beast Alexander!”



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



The Monster that appeared was a large, muscular creature with the head of a lion, wearing golden armor with golden wings on his back. He radiated a powerful aura of light. (2,400/600)

“Super…” said Sam.

“Alexander is so powerful,” said Scipio, “that he refuses to emerge unless it’s right after Dimacari leaves. And since he was summoned via the effect of another Gladiator Beast, he is now immune to Spell Cards. To be fair, that includes my own. So my Colosseum has no effect on him.

“However, I get to draw one card due to my Deck Lord…”

He drew one card.

“…my Colosseum nonetheless gains a second beacon…”

A second bonfire erupted on the opposite side of the first.

“And finally…”

Witch Doctor of Sparta cast a dark hex, and fired a blast of black magic, hitting Sam in the chest.

“OW!” she shouted. “What gives?”

“His curse will cost you 500 Life Points,” said Scipio, “each time a Monster is Special Summoned from either deck.”

(S: 6,100) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,700)

“And my turn is over,” he said.

“About time,” said Sam, drawing a card. “Do your turns always take this long?”

She looked over her hand.

Nuts, she thought. He brought out Alexander the Great himself, and I have nothing that can beat him, even if he wasn’t immune to Spell Cards. If only I had Ha Des…

Yumi looked at Alexander.

I’m beginning to see how Scipio’s strategy works, she thought. It’s a tempo. And he’s trying to make it perfect.

Summoning each Monster leads to another, and if my guess is right, unless Sam manages to break this tempo, it will cumulate in the summoning of an incredibly powerful Monster, that may well be too difficult to defeat…

Come on Sam, do something…

“I move Malice Doll of Demise to Defense Mode,” said Sam.

The puppet knelt, and shielded itself with its axe.

“Now I set this in Defense Mode.”

A facedown Monster appeared.

“And that will do it.”

Scipio drew a card.

He looked at the Monster on the card, who was a Level Seven Gladiator Beast named Octavius.

Eh, he’s more trouble than he’s worth, he thought.

“Alexander, attack her Malice Doll of Demise!” she shouted. “Great slash!”

Alexander spread his wings and took to the air. Then he swooped down of the Doll, and his wings turned to blades, slashing the puppet in half. The remains shattered.

“Good job,” said Scipio.

“Don’t tell me he’s going to send a Monster that powerful back to his deck?” asked Ren.

“Oh, but indeed I am,” said Scipio.

Alexander knelt, and was lowered through the trapdoor.

“I now summon a gladiator known for his ability to take punishment far more than his ability to dish it out… Come to the field, Gladiator Beast Hoplomus!”

A new and much larger Monster emerged from the trapdoor. It was a hulking, rocky ogre, dressed in plate armor, with the head of a rhinoceros. He knelt and crossed his arms, clearly in Defense Mode. (1,000/2,100)

Serpentine Princess glowed, and Scipio drew a card.

Then the Witch Doctor pointed, and cast his curse at Sam again.

“Ergh…” muttered Sam.

Scipio chuckled, as a third bonfire lit.

“Since Hoplomus was summoned using another Gladiator Beast’s effect,” he said, “his Defense Score becomes 2,400. And then the effect of my Colosseum is applied.”

(1,300/2,700)

“Now I Equip Hoplomus with one the Gladiator Beasts’ weapons. The Gladiator Beast’s Battle Manica.”

He played a Spell Card, and Hoplomus’s right arm glowed. A fancy gauntlet appeared on it.

“With this Equipped to a Gladiator Beast, he can’t be destroyed in battle.”

“Maybe so,” said Erik, “but wouldn’t it be destroyed if you used the effect to return him to your deck?”

Scipio chuckled again.

“I set a card facedown,” he said.

A facedown card appeared behind Hoplomus.

“My Witch Doctor moves to Defense Mode, and my turn is over.”

Witch Doctor of Sparta knelt and crossed his arms.

(S: 5,600) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,700)

Sam quickly drew a card.

Okay, she thought. Time to take a risk.

“I flip Morphing Jar into Attack Mode,” she said.

Her facedown Monster flipped, and Morphing Jar appeared. (700/600)

“Now we gotta ditch all the cards in our hands and draw five more.”

Scipio shrugged. They discarded their cards, and made five draws.

“Perfect!” shouted Sam. “I play Premature Burial, to bring back Gil Garth.”

She played the card, and Gil Garth appeared again. (1,800/1,200)

“Now… I sacrifice my Morphing Jar…”

Morphing Jar vanished into a dark shadow. Thunder rumbled over the Colosseum.

“I summon Dark Ruler Ha Des!”

Ha Des appeared, looming over Sam’s side of the field. The crowd was silenced… (2,450/1,600)

“You think you can frighten me by calling on the power of the King of the Underworld?” said Scipio. “Humph. Even he cannot defeat Hoplomus.”

“True,” said Sam, “but your gladiator isn’t who he’s gonna aim for. Ha Des, wipe out his Witch Doctor! Stygian blast!”

Ha Des blasted his dark flames, and Witch Doctor of Sparta was burned to a crisp. The crowd started to boo again.

“Aw, shut up!” shouted Sam. “I end my turn.”

(S: 4,800) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,700)

Scipio drew a card.

“Hoplomus, move to Attack Mode,” he said.

“Huh?” said Sam, as the gladiator stood up.

“Attack her Gil Garth!” shouted Scipio. “Rhino rampage!”

“What are you doing!” shouted Sam. “Gil Garth is stronger!”

Hoplomus charged at Gil Garth like the rhino he resembled, and the Fiend caught him by the horn, shoving him backwards.

“True,” said Scipio, “but due to the Manica, he isn’t destroyed. And nothing ever said a Gladiator Beast had to win a battle to use its effect.

“Thus, Hoplomus retreats…”

Hoplomus knelt, and descended into the trapdoor.

“As for your friend’s presumption,” continued Scipio, “when a Gladiator Beast is returned to my deck while armed with one of its weapons, the weapon does indeed go to the Graveyard…”

Then a card slipped out of his discard slot.

“However,” he continued, “when it is sent to the Graveyard that way, it is quickly returned to my hand.

“And now, it’s time to bring out another champion…

“Come out, Gladiator Beast Spartacus!”

“Huh?” said Yumi. “Spartacus? As in the legendary gladiator of Rome who led a slave uprising?”

“He wasn’t successful,” said Erik.

“Still,” said Jesse, “I have a feeling this guy is gonna mean business.”

Indeed, that seemed to be the case. The Monster that rose out of the trapdoor this time seemed far more ferocious that any gladiator yet. It was a seven-foot tall, humanoid Dinosaur, with spines all over its body, holding a large halberd. (2,200/1,600)

Serpentine Princess glowed, and Scipio drew a card. Then a fourth bonfire lit. (2,600/2,000)

“Spartacus will only enter the arena if Hoplomus precedes him,” said Scipio. “Now I use his effect, which lets me take another Gladiator Beast weapon from my deck.”

A card slipped out of his deck.

“Now,” he said, taking a card from his hand. “It’s time for some teamwork. Making a return appearance, Gladiator Beast Bestiari.”

He placed another card on his Disk, and another Monster rose out of the trapdoor. This one they had seen before – the Winged Beast with green feathers and blasters on his wrists. (1,500/800) –> (1,900/1,200)

The three Harpie Ladies stood up in their seats and started cheering loudly.

“Looks like Bestiari has his own fan club,” said Jesse.

“But neither of these two gladiators will be here for long,” said Scipio. “You see, whenever Spartacus is on the field with a fellow gladiator, the two of them can combine to form a much stronger fighting force.”

“You mean… A fusion?” asked Sam.

Scipio chuckled.

“With Gladiator Beasts,” he said, “it’s not simply a fusion…

“It’s Contact Fusion! Spartacus… Bestiari… Combine!”

Contact Fusion? thought Yumi, her eyes opening wide. That’s the type of special fusion that Neos can do with the Neo-Spacians! These Gladiator Beasts can do it too?

Spartacus and Bestiari leapt into the air, and they collided in a flash of light…

A new Monster fell to the floor of the arena with a crash. He looked similar to Spartacus at first glance – same Dinosaur body with the same skin texture. But he wore far more elaborate gauntlets and a fancy kilt. He carried a huge battle axe. (2,600/1,500) –> (3,000/1,900)

“Oh, just great,” muttered Sam.

“Meet Gladiator Beast Gaiodiaz,” said Scipio, playing two cards. “To make him even stronger, I’ll Equip him with both the Manica, and the Gladiator Beast’s Battle Gladius.”

The Manica appeared on Gaiodiaz’s left arm, and his axe vanished, replaced by a fancy short sword. His Attack Score rose to 3,300.

“And that will end my turn.”

(S: 4,800) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,200)

Sam nervously drew a card.

All right, she thought, looking at it. This can’t destroy that thing so long as he has that gauntlet, but at least I’ll be safe for one round.

“I throw a card facedown, and move Gil Garth to Defense Mode,” she said.

A facedown card appeared behind Ha Des, and Gil Garth knelt and shielded himself.

“My move,” said Scipio, drawing a card.

He looked at it, and added it to his hand.

He smirked.

She moved Gil Garth to Defense Mode, but kept Ha Des in Attack Mode, he thought. I know exactly what that facedown card is…

“Gaiodiaz, slay her Dark Ruler!” he shouted. “Berserker slash!”

Gaiodiaz rushed at Dark Ruler Ha Des, thrusting his Gladius…

“I activate, Bark of Dark Ruler!” shouted Sam, as her Trap Card lifted. “I’ll pay 900 Life Points, and your Gladiator will have to back off!”

“No he won’t,” replied Scipio.

His own facedown card lifted.

“A Counter Trap?!” shouted Sam.

“It’s called Parry,” said Scipio. “I simply return one Gladiator Beast in my hand to my deck, and your Trap is negated.”

He took a Monster named Gladiator Beast Laquari from his hand and reshuffled it back into his deck, and the Bark card was blown to bits.

“No…” thought Sam.

Gaiodiaz stabbed Ha Des, and the Dark Ruler exploded into a burst of dark smoke. The menagerie of Monsters in the crowd let out a loud cheer.

“Gaiodiaz has a powerful effect, by the way,” said Scipio. “When he defeats an opponent, my opponent loses Life Points equal to its Defense Score. So you lose 2,450 total.

Sam screamed and fell to her knees as a dark aura surrounded her, leeching the life from her skin.

“My turn is now over,” said Scipio.

“No new Beast?” asked Ren.

“I don’t feel like bringing any new ones out yet,” said Scipio. “If that becomes necessary, I will.”

And it would be pointless anyway, he thought, looking at his hand. Until I draw a Gladiator Beast that I can Normal Summon, I can’t summon one that’s even stronger than Gaiodiaz.

(S: 1,450) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,200)

Sam slowly stood up. She drew a card. She looked at it.

“I play Pot of Greed,” she said, playing it.

She slowly drew two cards. She looked at them.

“Ready, Gors?” she said to the Fiend behind her.

Gors nodded.

“I play Monster Reborn!” shouted Sam.

The ankh appeared on the field.

What came next was a surprise. The Monster that appeared was Dark Ruler Ha Des, crouching in Defense Mode. (2,450/1,600)

“Impossible,” said Scipio. “He can’t be summoned from the Graveyard.”

“Normally, that’s true,” said Sam. “But due to my Deck Lord’s new power, which he got by draining the energy from a moth, I can disregard that liability and indeed Special Summon Ha Des from the Graveyard.

“And now it’s time for a change of scenery.”

She opened her own Field slot and played a card.

“I play Domicile of the Dark Ruler!”

Scipio gasped as the Colosseum with its bloodthirsty crowd faded away, and a new Field formed. It was a blasted wasteland, full of lava pits and twisted trees. A terrible palace of skulls rose behind Sam. Gaiodiaz fell to a score of (2,900/1,500).

“That’s all for me,” said Sam.

Scipio drew a card angrily.

He smirked when he saw what it was.

This one will do nicely, he thought.

“Gaiodiaz, attack the Dark Ruler again!” he commanded.

Gaiodiaz slashed with his blade, but this time, he couldn’t scratch Ha Des.

“You see the effects of my Field Spell?” asked Sam. “It can only be here so long as Ha Des is on the field, but so long as it is, Fiends can’t be destroyed in battle.”

“So be it,” said Scipio. “It won’t last long.

“I activate Gaiodiaz’s other effect. By sending him back to my Fusion Deck, I can summon not one, but two Gladiator Beasts!”

The trapdoor was gone, so Gaiodiaz merely vanished.

“So now I summon Gladiator Beasts Laquari, and another gladiator making an encore, Murmillo!”

The first gladiator to appear was a Beast-Warrior who seemed to be part boar and part tiger. He was surrounded by a ring of burning flames. (1,800/400) The second one was another one they had seen before – the aquatic, finned fish-man with blue scales and cannons mounted on its back. (800/400)

“I get to draw one card due to my Deck Lord’s effect,” said Scipio, drawing a card. “And Murmillo didn’t get a chance to use his effect last time, but he will now. When he is summoned via the effect of another Gladiator Beast, one Monster on the field is destroyed.”

Murmillo’s eyes glowed with golden light. Sam gasped as the Dark Ruler exploded into black shards.

“And with him gone, your Field Spell goes as well,” said Scipio.

The palace behind Sam crumbled into a pile of rubble, and the wasteland vanished, returning them to the empty arena.

“Fine,” said Sam, “but at least I can bring Ha Des back…”

Her facedown card lifted, revealing Call of the Haunted.

“Don’t forget,” she said, “with my Deck Lord, I can break the rules, and use cards that Special Summon from the Graveyard on Ha Des.”

Ha Des appeared again in a burst of fire and smoke. (2,450/1,600)

“He won’t last long,” said Scipio. “From my hand, I summon Gladiator Beast Darius.”

He played another card, and another gladiator appeared. This one looked like a humanoid stallion with black fur, wearing a breastplate, shoulder pads, and a kilt, holding a whip that crackled with electricity. (1,700/300)

“Just how many of these guys do you have?” asked Sam.

Scipio chuckled.

“One more…” he said. “And I saved the best for last…

“When Laquari is on the field with two other Gladiator Beasts, all three of them can perform a triple Contact Fusion, to summon the champion of champions… A name that’s legendary among the Gladiator Beasts…”

All three Gladiator Beasts leapt into the air, and collided in a burst of light…

A creature that was fully eight feet tall crashed down in front of Scipio and let out a roar. The best way to describe him was to say that he was an amalgamation of all the other Gladiator Beasts. He had Alexander’s wings, Secutor’s cannons (mounted on his shield, rather than his back), Spartacus’s tail, and so forth. His face was a combination of a tiger and a fierce wolf, and he burned with an aura of flames. He looked more than ready to fight.

“Meet the champion of the Gladiator Beasts,” said Scipio, “Gladiator Beast Heraklinos!”

(3,000/2,800)

“Oh, crud…” muttered Erik.

“Now, to make him stronger,” said Scipio, “I’ll Equip him with both the Manica and the Gladius.”

The two weapons appeared on Heraklinos’s right arm. (3,300/2,800)

“You might as well surrender,” said Scipio. “My Monster is unbeatable now.”

“Says who?” said Sam.

“Says his incredibly powerful effect,” said Scipio. “You see, if you try to play either a Spell or Trap Card, he can negate it if I simply discard one card.”

He held up his hand.

“As you can see, I have five cards to discard. And after you draw, you’ll only have three cards to play.

“Don’t forget, due to the Manica, my Monster can’t be destroyed in battle.”

This is it, thought Yumi. The end result of his perfect tempo… Oh, Sam, God help you…

Scipio chuckled.

“Your move…” he said.

Sam paused.

She looked at the two cards in her hand, which were Curse of the Masked Beast and Pot of Avarice. Both of them would be worthless right now, even if he couldn’t negate them.

She took a deep breath.

She drew a card.

Her eyes opened wide.

It’s the card mom gave me! she thought. The one she had I2 design especially for me!

She held the card to her heart.

If I’m lucky, I just may be able to win this duel yet…

“Your Heraklinos may have a powerful effect, Scipio,” she said, “but he has one major weakness – he can’t negate Monster effects.”

“Well… That’s true…” muttered Scipio.

He looked at his hand.

She likely drew Night Assailant, he thought. Or maybe Newdoria. What she doesn’t know is, I have Nobleman of Crossout in my hand, which I can use to obliterate any Monster that she sets in Defense Mode.

“Gil Garth, move to Attack Mode!” ordered Sam.

“Huh?” said Scipio.

Gil Garth stood up.

“Now…” said Sam. “It is my pleasure to introduce a lady who’s making her debut appearance in Duel Monsters. She’s Level Six, but when Ha Des is on the field, she can be Special Summoned…

“I summon… Dark Queen Per Sephone!”

She threw a card on her Disk, and a dark shadow fell across the field…

A feminine form materialized, appearing as a fiendish woman of cold beauty. She had wings, small horns, and pale skin, and was dressed in a black leather halter and short skirt. She wore gold bracelets and anklets, and a tiara set with a red ruby.

Then Yumi and the others got a good look at the Monster. It was an image of Sam herself, what she might have looked like as a Fiend. She had the same hair, same eyes, and the same expression…

(2,200/1,200)

Yumi smirked.

Figures, she thought. In mythology, Persephone was Hades’s consort, and the Queen of the Underworld. Now Sam has found a way to truly become the Consort of Ha Des…

“And just how is she going to help?” asked Scipio.

“I’m activating her effect,” said Sam. “By tossing one card, I can Special Summon from my deck a Fiend-Type Monster that’s Level Four or less.”

She discarded her Pot of Avarice.

“So… I summon… Snipe Hunter!”

In a burst of energy, a nasty little winged imp dressed in black leather appeared. It held what looked like a toy gun, with a roulette wheel on top with the numbers one through six on it. (1,500/600)

“Here’s how it’s gonna go, Scipio,” said Sam. “I choose one card on the field. And I think I’ll choose… Oh, I dunno, your Gladiator Beast Heraklinos.

“Then, I toss one card…”

She discarded the last card in her hand.

“Then my Snipe Hunter is going to give that little roulette wheel on that little toy pistol of his a spin. If it lands on the one or the six, well… I lose. But anything else, and the card I just chose is blown into a million pieces.”

“Hey, wait a minute…” said Scipio.

“Snipe Hunter,” said Sam, “you know what to do…”

Snipe Hunter let out a cackle, and spun the roulette wheel… Everybody tensed as it spun…

It started to slow, it went past the six, then slowly past the one…

It landed on the two.

Snipe Hunter fired a blast of energy from the pistol, and Heraklinos was blown to atoms.

“Ergh…” muttered Scipio, holding his chest.

“Yeah!” shouted Ren.

“Time to end this!” shouted Sam. “Ha Des, attack directly!”

Ha Des fired his Stygian blast, and Scipio hollered.

“Gil Garth, you next!”

Gil Garth gripped his scimitar in both hands, and charged at Scipio, slashing at him with the blade. Scipio’s armor was smashed to pieces, and he was knocked over.

He slowly got up and scowled at Sam.

“Per Sephone…” said Sam. “Attack directly with dark claw!”

Per Sephone flew at Scipio, and slashed across his chest with her long nails, leaving four deep gashes. He groaned, and fell to his knees…

(S: 1,450) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 0)

Serpentine Princess shrieked as she saw Scipio fall. Then Gors pointed at her, and she screamed as she glowed with dark flames.

The screams died, as the flames consumed her.

Gors nodded to Sam, and then slowly vanished.

“So now what?” asked Ren.

Scipio started to glow with red, fiery energy. He started to slowly blur, and change shape, becoming bigger and more muscular.

In a minute, Scipio was gone, and Gladiator Beast Heraklinos was where he stood – albeit without the shield he had when he had been summoned during the duel. His Disk replaced it. He slowly stood up.

He turned to everyone who was watching.

“Scipio?” asked Sam, opening her eyes wide.

“An illusion,” said the Gladiator Beast, in a much deeper and powerful voice than Scipio’s. “I couldn’t assume my true form if I wanted to use Serpentine Princess. But it doesn’t matter now.”

He sighed.

“Well, humans, I believe the deal was that I was to guide you through the storm…”

“Really?” said Sam. “No tricks?”

“No…” he said with another sigh. “I’m not the vindictive sort.

“You know, most gladiators have to be reasonably tough to survive long in such a profession… Ones like Secutor are rare.

“But on the other hand, very powerful ones like me are rare too, because sooner or later, every gladiator meets his match. Defeat is something we learn to accept.”

He started walking towards the exit.

“Everyone stay close to me,” he said. “I can only protect you from the stinging sands so long as you stay close…”

Chelsea looked up.

“Hey, Daala,” she said. “Are you watching? If you are, it seems your plan to stop us fell flat on its face!”

* * * * * * * * * *

“No it didn’t, Chelsea,” said Daala, who was indeed watching. “Heraklinos may not have known it, but his job was merely to slow you down. I never dreamed he would have actually succeeded in using his own card.

“So I’d say my plan worked admirably…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Outside the building, Heraklinos raised his hand, and a pathway opened in the raging storm.

Suddenly, something came to Chelsea… Something had sort of… Called out to her.

Something is waiting for me on the other side of that storm, she thought. I don’t know what…

Whatever it is, I want to find out…

Whoever is calling, I’m coming…

* * * * * * * * * *

DARK QUEEN PER SEPHONE (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 6
ATK: 2,200
DEF: 1,200

Card Description: If you have a “Dark Ruler Ha Des” face-up on your side of the field, you may Special Summon this card from your hand. You may not have more than one “Dark Queen Per Sephone” face-up on your side of the field at one time. This card cannot be the target of an attack if there is a “Dark Ruler Ha Des” face-up on your side of the field. Once per your turn, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon a Fiend-Type Monster from your deck that is Level Four or less.



DOMICILE OF THE DARK RULER (Spell Card)

Field Spell

Image: A hideous palace of bones standing on a dark wasteland.

Card Description: If there is no “Dark Ruler Ha Des” face-up on your side of the field, destroy this card. Fiend-Type Monsters on both sides of the field cannot be destroyed in battle (damage calculation still applies).

Note: “Domicile of the Dark Ruler” first appeared in “Dark Messiah”.



Scipio’s Deck Lord: “Serpentine Princess”: “Gladiator Purse”: Every time one or more Monsters is Special Summoned from your deck to your side of the field via an effect that involves a card being sent back to your deck or Fusion Deck, draw one card. (Greater Power)



Sam’s Deck Lord: “Messenger of Hades – Gors”: “Summon Subjects”: When “Dark Ruler Ha Des” is face-up on your side of the field, you may spend 800 Life Points to Special Summon a Level Four or lower Fiend-Type Monster from your Graveyard. You may use this effect once per turn, during your Main Phase. (Minor Power) “Immortal Ruler”: You may disregard the summoning restrictions for “Dark Ruler Ha Des” and Special Summon it from your Graveyard using an appropriate card. (Minor Power)



Coming up next:

Why won’t Chelsea’s ghost whisperer abilities work on Xanadu? Do Duel Spirits have no afterlife? Or do their ghosts simply just not want to speak to a human?

To find out why, and possibly restore her abilities, Chelsea will have to duel a hard battle against someone who claims to know a piece of Penelope’s legacy that was previously unknown. And she may come out stronger for the experience.

It’s coming up in “These Shattered Senses”, coming soon.



Name that Card!

This Normal Monster was released long before the Dark World Fiends were. However, its flavor text had the first ever mention of Dark World, albeit not capitalized. Can you name it?

[Dark Sage]

What Monster’s flavor test had the first ever mention of Dark World? If you said “Dark Blade”, you were successfully able to Name that Card!



As far back as I can remember, I’ve been able to see the restless spirits of the dead. They never scared me… Annoyed me at times, maybe, but I could deal with them. They hung out around me all the time, many of them seemingly glad that they could speak to a living human, seeing as almost none of them were bound to the world via their free will.

In Duelatopia, I defeated the Midnight Caller, a duelist who claimed to be an honest-to-goodness vampire. I’m not sure if I believe that or not, but his powers over the supernatural could not be denied. He rewarded me by increasing my powers, letting me see the secrets behind each ghost, and letting me tell them what they needed to do in order to rest. It made them come to me even more, and it felt satisfying to know that I could help these lost souls after watching them suffer for so long.

Now… I’m trapped in a realm of Duel Spirits, and if they spawn ghosts at all, they either won’t or can’t speak to me. With my powers apparently shut down, I feel an emptiness inside me that I haven’t felt all my life.

But in a world full of enemies, an ally has appeared who will help open my eyes… So long as I win this duel…

Time to get my game on…

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO



These Shattered Senses

Sheena leaned back in her swivel chair. She had been trying for hours, and she was no closer than she had been last night.

She sighed.

On a whim, she opened up the deck case on the desk, which held her own deck – she was never far from it – and took it out. She picked up the top card.

Skull-Mark Ladybug.

She looked closely at the Monster on the card.

That’s not a ladybug, she thought. That’s a tick with six legs!

Only someone who had studied entomology, as she had, would have noticed something like that. And she was surprised she hadn’t noticed it sooner.

Her cell phone rang. She picked it up.

“Any luck, Ms. Arachne?” asked Nicholas’s voice.

“I’m trying,” said Sheena. “But this Edwin Ting is a guy who apparently likes his privacy. His phone number and address aren’t listed in any public registry, and trying to hack through the unlisted registry is getting me nowhere fast.

“I tried asking the record keeper at the Pro League, but apparently, the files on him are classified. I suppose I could eventually get permission to look at them, seeing as my company supplies their equipment, but cutting through the red tape could take days.”

“Bureaucrats…” muttered Nicholas.

“It may well be possible, you know,” said Sheena, “that he no longer lives in Domino… Or even in Japan for that matter. For all we know, he may not even be alive any more.”

“We have to keep our fingers crossed,” said Nicholas. “Right now, he’s the only lead we have as far as Xanadu is concerned.”

“I know…” muttered Sheena.

* * * * * * * * * *

Following Heraklinos, the six duelists made their way though the pathway he had opened in the sandstorm, which was strangely like a tunnel that cut through the dangerous winds.

“Uh, Yumi?” asked Ren. “He can lead us to the other side… But what about the way back?”

“I’m hoping that if we defeat the Realm Lord, this barrier will disappear,” said Yumi. “Let’s just hope one of us can do it.”

Eventually, the tunnel opened, and the party exited on the top of a short hill.

They looked down, and saw a large cliffside to the north. Built into its wall was a large temple, whose design was clearly Egyptian. Very large statues depicting the jackal-headed god Anubis and the ibis-headed Thoth flanked a large entrance.

There… thought Chelsea. Whatever is calling me is in there…

“This is as far as I go, humans,” said Heraklinos. “Follow the path due west, and you should get to the place you seek in a few hours.”

“Hey, pal,” said Chelsea. “What’s down there in that temple?”

A look of fear appeared on the Beast-Warrior’s face.

“I don’t know,” he said. “All I know is, I daren’t go near that building.

“Good luck…”

He turned, and walked back into the sandstorm.

“Well…” said Sam.

“Let’s check out that temple, guys,” said Chelsea, starting to walk down the path.

Everyone looked at each other.

“Uhm, hello?” shouted Erik. “Chelsea, Heraklinos is a Level Eight Monster with 3,000 Attack Points! And he’s afraid to go near that temple! So why do you want to go there instead of going in the opposite direction as fast as possible?”

“Okay, Erik…” said Chelsea. “Uhm… I know this sounds strange, but… Ever since we left the Colosseum, something has been calling me…

“And it’s in there.”

Everyone looked at her.

“Ho boy…” said Sam. “Chelsea, you’re WAY too trusting. How do you know that it isn’t some hungry dragon who does that to attract tender young maidens?”

“Hey, why not?” said Jesse. “Let’s go down there.”

They all turned to him.

“If it is a trap, I’ll deal with it personally,” he said. “But you gotta remember, anything that might help is welcome.”

“Okay…” said Yumi. “We’ll check it out… But everyone be ready to summon a Monster in case this is an ambush.”

* * * * * * * * * *

It took about ten minutes to get to the entrance of the temple, which at first seemed a difficult access. Between Anubis and Thoth were a set of iron doors, each one fifteen feet high.

“How the heck are we gonna get in?” asked Sam. “Knock?”

“Eh, I don’t think even Amber Mammoth could force those doors down,” said Jesse.

Then, the two doors slowly opened inward.

“Problem solved,” said Chelsea.

They slowly walked in, into a large, torch-lit chamber. Hieroglyphics were painted on the walls, and more statues were in each corner. Yumi looked at them. They depicted the four gods of the fourth generation of the Egyptian pantheon, Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys.

She looked at the ceiling. Painted on the ceiling was a mural depicting the higher parts of the celestial hierarchy. At the lowest part of the mural were their parents of the four gods depicted in the statues, Geb and Nut; above them were Shu and Tefnut. At the highest point was a radiant form which was clearly supposed to depict Re himself.

Another set of doors was at the far end of the otherwise empty chamber.

“Anyone home?” shouted Chelsea.

Then the doors opened.

A man walked out of the two doors. The first thing you noticed about him was his helmet, which was shaped like a jackal’s head and covered the whole upper half of his face. He wore a golden shirt, a black jacket, a blue scarf, brown pantaloons, and sandals. He held a long staff with a gold tip, shaped like a cobra.

“Eh?” said Chelsea. “Gravekeeper’s Commandant?”

The Duel Spirit silently looked at the assembled duelists for a few seconds.

“A Gravekeeper?” asked Yumi. “How can there be Gravekeepers here? There are no graves to protect. All the Spirits who die go poof.”

The Spellcaster silently looked them over for a few more seconds.

“Which of you is the one who holds the power of the Lady of the Night?” he finally asked.

There was a long pause.

“You mean Penelope?” asked Chelsea. “Well, that’s me, I guess.”

The Gravekeeper looked at her.

“Yes…” he said, tucking the staff under his shoulder.

He looked her over.

“I’m guessing this guy is the strong, silent type,” said Ren.

“I see you have the power to speak to the deceased,” said the Commandant.

“Huh?” said Chelsea. “Well, yes… But none of them have shown up for a while. I don’t know why… I’m guessing that Duel Spirits have no afterlife…”

The Gravekeeper smirked.

“Oh, but they do,” he said. “Good ones have their rewards, evil ones have their punishments… And like you humans, some can’t pass on for one reason or another… But for humans, reaching out to deceased Duel Spirits is no easy task. Usually, only other Duel Spirits with this gift can do so. Ones such as myself…”

“Can you see any now?” asked Chelsea.

The Commandant nodded.

“I was put here to protect a part of Penelope’s legacy that I’m certain you don’t know about yet,” he said. “It lies in the other room. It is something of great power… A holy force that symbolizes the end of her dark curse, and her true reward.

“Penelope is the card that lies closest to you. There is a symbiosis between the two of you. Once you have the power that is within that room, Penelope’s power will be complete. I daresay, if that doesn’t make your own power complete, nothing will.”

“Uhm…” said Chelsea. “I assume you aren’t just going to give it to me…”

The Commandant nodded. He lifted something up.

It was a deck of cards.

“Ho boy…” said Chelsea, holding her head.

“What’s Chelsea worried about?” asked Sam. “Is she suddenly afraid to duel?”

“Uhm, Sam, this guy is a Gravekeeper,” said Ren. “He more than likely plays a Gravekeeper Deck.

“And Chelsea dueled a guy who used one before.

“She, uhm… She lost.”

“Do you work for Daala?” asked Yumi.

“No,” said the Commandant, bluntly.

“Guys,” said Jesse, “this guy definitely doesn’t work for Joan. If he doesn’t work for her or Daala, I have no idea who he answers to.”

“You needn’t worry about Daala,” said the Commandant. “Joan’s temple is not the only safe house in Xanadu. This temple is protected by spiritual magic of a special type that masks its presence from everyone’s senses. No-one, not Daala, not Joan, not anyone can spy upon this sacred ground.

“As for who I answer too, let’s just say that there are higher powers in the dimensional realms, ones that are only known to a select few.”

Yumi went up to Chelsea and took hold of her shoulders.

“Chelsea,” she said, “that duel was last year! You’ve gotten better since then! You were a Duelatopia finalist! Keep telling yourself that!”

Chelsea sighed.

“Okay, buddy,” she said. “I accept…”

She took her deck out of the holder and looked through it until she found Penelope.

I won’t fail you, she thought.

* * * * * * * * * *

Daala grumbled as she walked down a hallway in a special part of her palace.

This was her prison, a place for residents of Xanadu who had defied or otherwise displeased her. Most captured members of the rebellion weren’t here, or at least didn’t stay here long – they were brainwashed and made into slave labor, a more ironic punishment. But others were kept in this place, located beneath her palace.

The prison was divided into two major wings – one for Duel Spirits and one for other creatures, such as humans. The latter resembled a typical prison. The one for Duel Spirits was somewhat different, as Duel Spirits couldn’t be held in simple cells. They were slippery creatures.

A special device was needed to hold a Duel Spirit prisoner. It was a capsule-like device, which, naturally, needed to be large enough to hold the Spirit, and needed to be set to the Spirit’s Type and Attribute. Jesse would have remembered these devices – his old nemesis who specialized in hunting such creatures used them as part of his equipment. Daala had a great number of prisoners interred in these things.

And right now, she was interested in one who was under extra security.

She approached a metal door which was guarded by two Shadow Tamers. Not the strongest Warriors, but ones who were trained in the best ways to subdue this particular type of prisoner if he somehow got free.

“Open it up,” said Daala.

The Tamers didn’t question. One of them slid a keycard into a slot next to the door, and it slowly opened.

A chamber inside was dark. Daala pulled a switch down, and a dim light came on.

A capsule was in the center of the room, and inside it was a fiendish creature. He had branchlike growths growing from his scalp instead of hair, and course, gray skin. His skull-like face had cold, green eyes with no pupils, and his sharp teeth looked like they had been built more for fright value than for the ability to eat. His hands and feet were clawed. A straightjacket restrained him – which was as much to keep him from hurting himself as it was to keep him from hurting anyone else.

He let out a chuckle that clearly wasn’t lucid.

“Why Daala,” he said. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“You know why, Brron,” said Daala. “My excavators still haven’t found it.”

“Pity…” said the Fiend, leaning back. “Guess they’ll have to try harder…”

“Listen to me, Brron!” shouted Daala. “If I were you, I would cooperate. It wasn’t easy for me to bring you back from that Hell that Jaden sent you to. And if you ask me, the fact that you lost that duel was your own fault.

“You might have been able to finish the Super Polymerization card and summon Colorless… If you had only been able to count to five!”

“I know how to count!” said Brron, with a sneer. “It was Sillva and Goldd’s fault, not mine. If I had won that duel, I would have had them drawn and quartered.”

Daala glared at him.

“I’d say you owe me a lot, Mr. Mad King of Dark World,” she whispered. “And your life is gonna be a whole lot more pleasant if you just tell me where it is.”

“What makes you think I even know where it is?” asked Brron. “I don’t keep track of every card that appears in Xanadu. I hardly keep track of my own cards. I never play with a full deck!”

“Very funny,” said Daala. “I know you know because it’s a Spirit that was spawned from the very essence of Dark World, Brron. As the ruler of Dark World in the Supreme King’s absence, your senses regarding such Spirits, especially such powerful ones, are acute. You likely were able to pinpoint its exact location the minute it landed. It would have cried out to you.”

Brron chuckled again.

“Another voice in my head?” he chuckled. “That’s all I need.

“Well… I might know where it is… I might not…

“But I may be crazy, Daala, but I’m not stupid. I know you’ll never let me out of here, no matter what I tell you. You’re more of a Fiend than any native of Dark World… A pity, really… We could have been allies in another place and time…”

“Brron…” said Daala. “In case you forgot, the Higher Plane still regards you as a fugitive for the atrocities committed while you were ruler of Dark World. I could deposit you on Voltanis’s doorstep at any time.”

“Oh, but you won’t,” chuckled Brron. “I know that you won’t risk sending anyone to the Higher Plane, because he also has several outstanding warrants for your arrest! That’s why Joan came here in the first place, remember?”

Daala looked at him and crossed her arms. He was right, of course…

“I will say this…” said Brron. “What you’re looking for is a treasure that can’t be dug up using picks and shovels. X simply doesn’t mark the spot. What you’re looking for is still a Duel Monster…

“You’re going to have to find it the way a duelist does.”

“What do you mean?” asked Daala. “Who would I have to duel? You?”

Brron threw back his head and laughed hysterically.

“Is that an offer?” he asked. “Let me out of this thing, hand me a Disk, and I’ll show you who the better monarch is!”

Daala looked at him. Then she smirked.

She turned to the two Shadow Tamers.

“You,” she said, pointing to one of them. “Unlock his capsule. You… Give him your Disk.”

“Milady…” said one of the Tamers. “Are you certain that’s wise?”

“NOW!” ordered Daala.

One of the Tamers quickly punched in a code in the controls in the capsule, and it opened. Brron stepped out.

He stretched to get the stiffness out of his legs. Then, he deftly threw his arms up, tearing the straightjacket apart.

The other Tamer shivered. She removed her deck from her Disk, and then handed the Disk to Brron. He snatched it.

A deck appeared in Brron’s hand, and he placed it in the Disk. Daala activated her own.

“Game on!” they both shouted.

* * * * * * * * * *

Chelsea nervously sipped from her canteen as the Commandant shuffled his deck.

Then he removed his helmet, and placed it in an alcove behind him. He was a handsome young man, with long, raven black hair that fell neatly to his shoulders.

He gestured, and a Duel Disk with a tray resembling the elongated head of a jackal appeared on his arm.

“Before I forget, Chelsea,” he said, “we’ll be using Deck Lords in this duel. So bring yours out now.”

“Oh…” said Chelsea.

Her deck glowed, and Vampire Genesis appeared in a burst of dark energy.

“Fine,” said the Commandant. “And as you may have already guessed, I will be my own Deck Lord.”

“Then let’s stop beating around the bush,” said Chelsea.

“Game on!” they both shouted.

(Chelsea: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Gravekeeper’s Commandant: 8,000)

“Don’t choke, Chelsea!” shouted Ren from behind her. “You can beat this guy!”

“We’ll soon see,” said the Commandant, making his first draw.

He chose a card from his hand.

“I will set one Monster in Defense Mode, and that will be all for now…”

A facedown Monster appeared in front of him.

“Okay, I draw…” said Chelsea.

She drew a card, and looked at her hand.

“I summon Vampire Lady,” she said.

She played the card, and the sultry vampiress appeared. (1,550/1,550)

“Now I’ll…”

Then she stopped short.

“Yes?” said the Commandant.

If he’s playing a Gravekeeper Deck, thought Chelsea, his facedown Monster is likely Gravekeeper’s Spy… And her Defense Score is too much for Vampire Lady…Not to mention the fact that her Flip-Effect is hard to handle.

“I, uh,” she said. “I end my turn.”

Commandant made a draw.

“I Flip-Summon my Monster,” he said. “Gravekeeper’s Guard.”

His facedown Monster flipped, and a bulky, bald man appeared, dressed in a loose robe and pantaloons. He carried a spear. (1,000/1,900)

It wasn’t a Spy? thought Chelsea, nervously.

“His effect sends your Monster back to your hand,” said Commandant.

The Guard pointed his spear, and Vampire Lady vanished in a ripple of light. Her card appeared back in Chelsea’s hand.

“Next,” said Commandant, “I summon Gravekeeper’s Spear Soldier.”

He played another card, and another Gravekeeper appeared, this one holding a long, ornate spear. (1,500/1,000)

Chelsea gulped.

“Go!” shouted Commandant. “Attack her directly!”

Gravekeeper’s Guard rushed at Chelsea and jabbed his spear into her torso. She fell over on her behind.

She slowly got up. Then she screamed as the Spear Soldier stabbed her with his own weapon. She fell over again.

(C: 5,500) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 8,000)

“Chelsea’s off to a rough start,” said Sam, shaking her head.

“Don’t worry,” said Ren. “Our girl can handle it.”

“I’ll set one card facedown,” said Commandant, as a facedown card appeared, “and my turn concludes.”

Chelsea took some deep breaths.

Then Vampire Genesis put his hand on her shoulder.

“I know, I know,” she muttered. “I’m all right…”

She drew a card.

All right! she thought.

She played it.

“I play… Call of the Mummy!” she shouted, as it appeared. “Now I’ll use it to summon… Ryu Kokki!”

In an explosion of dust and dirt, the huge ogre made entirely of bones and skulls burst out of the floor. (2,400/1,000)

“Next,” she said, “I’ll summon Vampire Lady again.”

In a dark shadow, Vampire Lady appeared once more. (1,550/1,550)

“Ryu Kokki, attack Gravekeeper’s Guard!”

The Bone Dragon Ogre lumbered over and slammed its fist down. Gravekeeper’s Guard was thrown backwards, and shattered into pixels.

“Vampire Lady, attack the Spear Soldier!”

Vampire Lady flew at the other Gravekeeper, and made a slash with her claw. He dropped his weapon and shattered into shards.

“Yes!” shouted Ren.

“Now I activate her effect,” said Chelsea. “I declare Spell Card.”

The Commandant made a slight smirk. A card slipped out of his deck, and he discarded it.

Huh? thought Chelsea. It was almost as if he wanted me to do that…

“I uh…” she said. “I end my turn…”

(C: 5,500) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)

The Commandant drew a card.

He chuckled.

“Well…” he said. “I just drew my favorite card…”

He showed it to her.

“Your own card?” asked Chelsea.

“Indeed,” he replied. “But it isn’t a Monster that you summon…”

He discarded the card.

“By sending my namesake to the Graveyard, I get to take a specific Spell Card from my deck…”

“Don’t tell me…” said Chelsea.

The Commandant took a card from his deck. Then he opened his Field slot and placed the card in it.

“I call forth Necrovalley!” he shouted.

The walls of the room faded, and fell away. In the next instant, they were transported to a large, rocky canyon under the desert sun. A dusty wind blew through the ominous place.

“As you know,” said the Commandant, “this place negates the effects of all cards that must reach into the Graveyards to function. And all Gravekeepers are strengthened, gaining 500 points for both attacking and defending.

“To conclude my turn, I’ll set a Monster in Defense Mode.”

A facedown Monster appeared in front of him.

Chelsea drew a card.

It was Heavy Storm.

HA! she thought. How lucky can you get?

“Chelsea, beware,” said Vampire Genesis. “He has a facedown card. It may well be a Counter Trap. Maybe even Judgment of Anubis.”

“Well, then why would he have set it a round before he had Necrovalley?” asked Chelsea.

“Mmm, good point,” said Genesis.

“I play Heavy Storm!” shouted Chelsea.

She played the card, and the wind started to pick up…

“Not so fast!” shouted the Commandant.

He took a card from his hand (it was Hieroglyph Lithograph) and discarded it. The Heavy Storm card was blown to pieces, and the wind died.

“Huh?” said Chelsea.

“You forget that we’re using Deck Lords,” said the Commandant, “and my power is potent. If you use a card effect whose effect would destroy or counter one or more of my Spell or Trap Cards, I can discard one card to negate that effect.”

“Crud…” muttered Chelsea.

She looked over the field. Then she looked at the cards in her hand.

I have Penelope, she thought, but I have no way to summon her right now…

Wait…

“I use one of my Deck Lord abilities,” she said. “It’s called Zombie Swap. I send one Zombie in my hand back to my deck…”

She placed Penelope back in her deck.

“Then I get to search for another one, that’s of an equal or lower Level.”

She took a card from her deck. Then she reshuffled.

“Now I summon him… Zombie Werewolf.”

The undead wolfman appeared, and let out a howl. (1,200/1,200)

“Ryu Kokki, attack his Monster!”

Ryu Kokki lunged at the facedown Monster. A woman wearing a dark robe appeared on the card, kneeling down. (1,200/2,000) –> (1,700/2,500)

Eh? said Chelsea. THAT one WAS the Spy.

The Spy gave Ryu Kokki a shove, and the Zombie fell backwards. But then she screamed and exploded into pixels.

“What?” said the Commandant. “My Spy had a stronger Defense!”

“But you forgot about Ryu Kokki’s effect,” said Chelsea. “It automatically destroys any Spellcaster it battles.”

“Hmm…” said the Commandant. “Nonetheless, I can still use my Spy’s Flip-Effect, and Special Summon another Gravekeeper. I’ll summon a second Spy, in Defense Mode.”

A second of the female Spellcasters appeared, kneeling and shielding herself. (1,200/2,000) –> (1,700/2,500)

“I’ll throw two cards facedown, and then play Mirage of Nightmare,” said Chelsea.

Two facedown cards appeared, followed by the Mirage card.

(C: 5,400) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)

“Chelsea’s in a fix,” muttered Sam.

“How so?” asked Erik.

“Think about it,” said Sam. “Zombies specialize in Special Summoning themselves from the Graveyard. But with that Field Spell, that advantage is shut down. Chelsea lost a big edge against this guy.”

The Commandant made a draw.

“I activate the effect of Mirage of Nightmare,” said Chelsea.

She quickly drew four cards.

“Now, I send it and my other facedown card to the Graveyard with Emergency Provisions!”

Her facedown card lifted up, revealed to be Symbol of Heritage, right before a huge mouth devoured it and the Mirage card.



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



“So be it,” said the Commandant. “I call forth Gravekeeper’s Assailant!”

He played the card, and a woman dressed in a dark assassin’s cloak, hood, and mask appeared. She held a long dagger with a curved blade. (1,500/1,500) –> (2,000/2,000)

Oh no… thought Chelsea. I definitely remember her. She can move Ryu Kokki to Defense Mode…

“Attack Ryu Kokki!” shouted Commandant.

Assailant’s eyes glowed with silvery light, and Ryu Kokki knelt and shielded itself. Assailant leapt at the ogre with her dagger.

“Forget?” asked Chelsea. “It’ll take her with it!”

Assailant stabbed with her dagger, and Ryu Kokki burst in an explosion of shrapnel that obliterated both Monsters.

“Perhaps,” said Commandant, “but she’ll be coming right back…”

His facedown card lifted.

“I activate Rite of Spirit! Now, despite Necrovalley, I can raise Assailant from my Graveyard.”

Assailant appeared again, and formed a fighting stance. (1,500/1,500) –> (2,000/2,000)

“Now, slay her Werewolf!”

Assailant leapt at Zombie Werewolf and stabbed him through the chest. Zombie Werewolf howled, and shattered.

“I activate his effect!” shouted Chelsea. “I get to summon another one from my deck. And Necrovalley can’t prevent card effects that activate when a card is sent to the Graveyard.”

“Someone’s done her homework,” said the Commandant.

A second Zombie Werewolf appeared in a burst of energy. (1,700/1,200)

“I’ll set one card facedown,” said the Commandant.

A facedown card appeared in front of him.

“And my turn is now over.”

(C: 6,600) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)

Chelsea looked at the four cards she had drawn with Mirage. She couldn’t believe how bad her luck had suddenly gotten.

She drew a fifth card.

Nuts, she thought, looking at it. Without being able to take cards out of my Graveyard, this guy is almost worthless.

She chose another card.

“I set one Monster in Defense Mode,” she said.

A facedown Monster appeared.

“Then I attack your Assailant with Zombie Werewolf!”

“Huh?” said Commandant.

Zombie Werewolf leapt at Assailant. She gave him a swift kick in the groin, and he shattered. Chelsea cringed.

“Now I get to summon a third one,” said Chelsea, “and this one will be even stronger.”

A third Werewolf appeared. (2,200/1,200)

“Now you attack,” ordered Chelsea.

The third Werewolf leapt at the assassin.

“I activate… Eye of Wdjat!” shouted the Commandant, as his facedown card flew up.

Chelsea had never seen this Trap Card before. It bore the picture of an Egyptian eye, surrounded by hieroglyphics.

Zombie Werewolf roared, as a glowing golden eye appeared on its forehead.

“The mystical powers of the sacred Eye of Wdjat allow me to control your Werewolf’s mind,” said Commandant, and force him to attack his ally!”

Zombie Werewolf turned around in mid-leap, and flew at Vampire Lady. She screamed as he tore her in two.

The Eye vanished from Zombie Werewolf’s forehead, and he glared at the Gravekeeper in anger.

Chelsea sighed.

“I end my turn…” she muttered.

(C: 5,650) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)

The Gravekeeper drew a card.

“I sacrifice my Spy…” said the Gravekeeper.

Gravekeeper’s Spy vanished.

“To call forth Gravekeeper’s Chief!”

In a burst of energy, a more powerful Spellcaster appeared. He was dressed in white and black priestly robes, and held a golden staff topped with a golden cobra and hawk. (1,900/1,200) –> (2,400/1,700)

“With him on the field,” continued Commandant, “my Graveyard is no longer sealed by Necrovalley. In addition, by summoning him, I can bring another Gravekeeper back from my Graveyard…”

Gravekeeper’s Spear Soldier appeared again. (1,500/1,000) –> (2,000/1,000)

This is gonna sting… thought Chelsea.

“Assailant,” he exclaimed. “Annihilate that cur!”

Gravekeeper’s Assailant leapt at Zombie Werewolf, and he knelt in Defense Mode. She jabbed the dagger between his shoulder blades, and he shattered.

“Spear Soldier, attack with soul piece!”

Spear Solider lunged at the facedown Monster. Blood Sucker appeared on the card and was skewered. Chelsea groaned in pain as it the piercing attack stabbed into her.

“Gravekeeper’s Chief… Doomsday purge.”

The Chief formed a glowing ball of magical energy in his palm, and then hurled it at Chelsea, striking her in the chest. She shrieked and fell over.

She slowly got up, panting heavily.

(C: 2,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)

“I’m not done,” said the Commandant, playing the last card in his hand. “I play the Spell Card, Royal Tribute. With Necrovalley on the field, this sends every Monster in each players’ hands to the Graveyard.”

The one Monster in Chelsea’s hand vanished.

Well, so much for that, she thought.

“It’s your move,” he said.

Chelsea looked at the three cards left in her hand, which were Monster Reborn, Axe of Despair, and Dust Tornado. None of them were any good right now.

She made a draw.

This is the last chance… she thought.

“I play Graceful Charity!” she shouted.

She played the card, and it glowed with golden light. She drew three cards.

She looked at them.

Hey… she thought. I got an idea…

She discarded Dust Tornado and Axe of Despair.

“All right, fellah,” she said. “I use the effect of Call of the Mummy to Special Summon Vampire’s Curse!”

She played the card, and a new vampire appeared in front of her. He was older than Vampire Lord, was dressed in blue armor, and had batlike wings on his back. (2,000/800)

“Eh?” said Commandant.

“I’m not done,” she said. “I play Monster Reborn.”

“You can’t,” said Commandant. “My Field Spell…”

“…isn’t affecting your Graveyard, thanks to your Chief,” interrupted Chelsea. “So I’m using it to summon a Monster from there. Gravekeeper’s Spy, in Defense Mode!”

Gravekeeper’s Spy appeared in a burst of dark energy. She knelt and crossed her arms. (1,200/2,000) –> (1,700/2,500)

“Now, my Vampire attacks your Assailant.”

Vampire’s Curse leapt at Assailant. She leapt at him with her dagger drawn. The two Monsters collided in mid-air, and exploded.

“Now I activate his effect,” she said. “I pay 500 Life Points, and next round, he’ll be back, and he’ll be even stronger than before. Since his effect activates in the Graveyard, Necrovalley can’t stop that either.”

“That will be all for now,” she said

(C: 2,250) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 4,550)

Commandant nervously drew a card.

He quickly played it.

“I summon Gravekeeper’s Curse,” he said.

He played the card, and a new Gravekeeper appeared, this one wearing dark mystic robes and holding a long staff topped with an ankh design. (800/800) –> (1,300/1,300)

“Just by summoning him, he inflicts 500 points of damage to you.”

The Curse was surrounded by a dark aura, and Chelsea cringed in pain as the same aura surrounded her.

“Hang tight, Chelsea!” shouted Ren. “It’s not over yet!”

“We’ll soon see,” said Commandant. “That will be all for now.”

(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 4,550)

Chelsea quickly drew.

“As promised, Vampire’s Curse returns,” she said.

The Curse appeared in an aura of dark energy. (2,500/800)

“Next, I summon Zombie Master!”

She played another card, and Zombie Master burst out of the ground. (1,800/0)

“Next up, I play a Spell Card. Overpowering Eyes. This lets me choose a Zombie that has 2,000 Attack Points or less, and gives it the ability to attack directly this turn.

“So, Zombie Master… Attack directly with wrath of the undead!”

Zombie Master cast bolts of lightning at the Commandant, and he was hollered as they hit him. He tumbled over.

“Vampire’s Curse, attack his Curse with night shade!”

Vampire’s Curse formed a ball of blackness in his hands, and hurled it at Gravekeeper’s Curse. The Gravekeeper was blown to bits.

“URGH!” shouted Commandant.

“I’ll set a facedown, and that will be all,” said Chelsea, setting her last card.

A facedown card appeared behind her Monsters.

(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 1,550)

The Gravekeeper drew a card.

“Chief…” he ordered, “attack Zombie Master!”

Gravekeeper’s Chief prepared to cast his lethal spell…

“Gotcha!” shouted Chelsea as her facedown card shot up. “Go, Rush Recklessly!”

Zombie Master shot up to an Attack Score of 2,500. Gravekeeper’s Chief cast his spell, but Zombie Master cast one of his own. The two bursts of magic collided in the center of the arena, and the Chief was thrown backwards.

He slowly vanished into pixilated remains.

“Uh…” said Commandant. “I set one card facedown, move Spear Soldier to Defense Mode, and end my turn.”


Spear Soldier knelt, and held his weapon in his lap as a facedown card appeared.

(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 1,450)

Chelsea drew a card.

“I move Gravekeeper’s Spy to Attack Mode,” she said.

The Spy stood up and drew a dagger from her robe.

“You…” she said, pointing to Zombie Master, “attack the Spear Soldier! Wrath of the undead!”

Zombie Master shot bolts of lightning at the Gravekeeper, and he screamed before being blown to pieces.

“Yes!” shouted Ren. “If both these attacks go through, she wins!”

“Vampire’s Curse, Gravekeeper’s Spy, attack directly!”

Vampire’s Curse hurled a ball of inky blackness at the Commandant, while Gravekeeper’s Spy leapt at him with her dagger…

“Not so fast!” shouted the Commandant. “I activate Dark Wall of Wind!”

His facedown Quickplay shot up, and a tornado of dark wind formed around him, completely concealing him. The Spy was thrown backwards, and Curse’s night shade glanced off.

“Darn…” muttered Chelsea.

She looked at the last card in her hand. It was Monster Reincarnation, which she couldn’t use, due to the Field Spell.

“I have to end my turn…” she muttered.

“I draw one card,” said Commandant.

He drew and looked at the card.

Ironically, it was Pot of Avarice, which he couldn’t use right now since the Chief was gone.

But he did have one other option…

“Well, it’s about that time,” he said.

“Time for what?” asked Chelsea.

“Remember when you forced me to discard a Spell Card using Vampire Lady’s effect?” he replied. “I was prepared for that. The Spell Card I discarded was called Tomb Treasury.

“You obviously know that the kings of Egypt were a possessive group, and they didn’t believe in the phrase ‘You can’t take it with you’. Thus, they had all their possessions interred with them upon death, and their tombs were troves of wealth.

“When this card is in my Graveyard, and the only card I have on the field is Necrovalley, I can remove it from play to draw two cards.”

The Treasury card slipped out of his discard slot, and then he made two draws.

He looked at them.

He threw one of them into his Disk.

“I play Lightning Vortex!” he shouted.

He discarded Pot of Avarice, and lighting flashed over Necrovalley. A bolt came crashing down, and Vampire’s Curse, Zombie Master, and Gravekeeper’s Spy were incinerated.

“NO!” screamed Ren. “She’s defenseless! If that other card he drew is a Monster…”

Commandant grinned.

Then he took the card and placed it in his Disk. A facedown card appeared.

“It’s your move, Chelsea,” he said. “I guess it’s all up to fate now…”

He got that right, thought Chelsea.

She had no cards in her hand that she could use, nothing on the field, and she couldn’t even use her Deck Lord ability because of Necrovalley…

And that facedown card… What was it?

Then it hit her…

He said he had prepared…

What if that facedown card was one of the few Traps she knew of that could take a Zombie out for good?

She drew a card.

She chuckled when she saw what it was.

“What?” said the Commandant.

“You know…” she said. “If this duel were to have a mythic ending, the card I just drew would have been Pot of Greed, and I’d use it to draw two cards that I could use to combo with that I’d beat you with…”

She looked at the card.

“A bad draw?” he asked.

“No, I’m still going to beat you,” she said. “It’s just not going to mythic. It’s going to be… Ironic.”

“Ironic?” he said.

“Yes. I play Mystical Space Typhoon! And I’m tearing this valley down!”

She played the card, and the savage cyclone tore across the field. The rocky cliffsides of Necrovalley started to crumble, and fell into dust.

“See,” she said, “I remembered you had to discard a card to use that Deck Lord ability of yours. But since you have no cards in your hand…”

The cliffs faded away, returning them to the chamber.

“Now, I use my one of my own Deck Lord’s abilities,” she said, as Vampire Genesis started to glow. “I remove two Zombies in my Graveyard from play to summon another Zombie from it…”

Vampire Lady and Zombie Master fell out of her discard slot.

“Let’s all welcome… The Kick Man!”

A new Zombie burst out of the floor. It was a pug-faced Zombie with a sloping forehead and purple skin, wearing jeans and no shirt. He had the words “I ♥ Kick” printed on his forehead. (1,300/300)

“The Kick Man?” shouted Commandant.

“Yeah, I figured out what your facedown card is,” said Chelsea. “Bottomless Trap Hole, one of the few cards that can make sure a Zombie doesn’t come back after you get rid of it. However, Kick Man has less than 1,500 Attack Points, so he’s immune to it.

“But he’s gonna get stronger in a second…

“Okay, Kick Man, show him how you get your kicks!”

The Kick Man leapt up, and stomped on the floor. The Axe of Despair flew out of the ground, and he caught it.

“See, when The Kick Man is Special Summoned, he gets to dig up an Equip Spell from my Graveyard.”

(2,300/300)

“Attack him directly! Quick stick kick!”

The Kick Man rushed at Gravekeeper’s Commandant, and made a leap, kicking him in the teeth. The Gravekeeper fell backwards ten feet and fell over.

(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 0)

“Ouch…” he muttered sitting up.

Chelsea wiped sweat off of her forehead as The Kick Man vanished.

“Well?” she asked. “Aren’t I supposed to get something?”

The Commandant got up. He smirked.

“Of course,” he said. “I have to admit, Chelsea, that was a brilliant deduction.

“But first, as per the rules of Xanadu…”

He gestured, and Vampire Genesis glowed with a dark aura.

“My powers as Deck Lord are granted to yours.”

As he did this, he started to turn translucent, as if he was fading.

“What’s happening to you?” asked Chelsea.

“My work here is almost complete,” said the Commandant. “It will soon be time for me to leave…

“But first…”

He gestured, and the doors behind him opened.

“Go on… You have earned it…”

Chelsea walked through the doors. Inside the dimly lit room was a pedestal, and on it was a single card.

Her eyes narrowed.

She picked it up, and as she did, visions came to her mind. She saw Penelope at various times in her life, as a pious holy woman… Her death at the hands of a cruel vampire… Her period of despair as she rose as one of the undead… Her triumphs as a crusader against the creatures of darkness… And the release, as a warm hand reached down from above to take her to her just reward.

Then she saw a new chapter added that she didn’t know existed…

She read the text on the card.

“What?” she said. “But… How am I supposed to use it? My deck doesn’t have what it needs…”

“Penelope was resourceful, and you are too,” said the Commandant. “You will find out how to use it when the need is great enough…

“Before I leave, a warning… Chelsea… My faith is an ally to the forces that aided Penelope… But I know that she also has an enemy in Xanadu. I recently sensed it.’

“An enemy?” asked Chelsea. “Who?”

“I do not know this creature’s identity,” he replied. “But whoever it is will strike eventually. And since you control Penelope’s power, this enemy will strike at her through you.

“Do all you can to strengthen yourself before this enemy strikes, for I predict, it will not be easy…

“Farwell…”

And then he vanished.

* * * * * * * * * *

In Daala’s prison.

Brron, the Fiend formerly known as the Mad King of Dark World, screamed as he was hit by a tremendous bolt of dark energy.

He fell flat on his face.

“Thanks, Brron, that was fun,” said Daala, as her Disk deactivated.

She turned to the two Shadow Tamers.

“Get another straightjacket and put him back,” she ordered. “If he breaks that one too, then start sedating him. Use Paralyzing Potions if you have to.

“It’s clear to me that this psychopath is never going to tell us anything… But we’ll find it sooner or later. There are just so many places that a Spirit as powerful as that one can hide…”

“Milady,” said one of the Tamers, “if a lowly guard can make a suggestion, I think that keeping him alive is a bad idea. He’s dangerous, and you just said he’s never going to give you what you want…”

“A valid concern,” said Daala, “but he still has one other use to me alive…

“And when it comes time for that use to come into play, he’s not gonna have a choice.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“So, Chelsea,” said Jesse, as they left the building. “Are you sure you’re okay? That was a tough duel…”

Chelsea let out a pleasant sigh.

“I’m okay, Jesse…” she said. “In fact, I feel a lot better now…”

She was the only one who saw the phantoms of a Fire Sorcerer, Hibikime, and Rhaimundos of the Red Sword following behind her. She turned to them and smiled.

* * * * * * * * * *

EYE OF WDJAT (Trap Card)

Normal Trap

Image: An Egyptian eye surrounded by hieroglyphics.

Card Description: Activate when your opponent declares an attack. Change the attack target to a Monster your opponent controls, other than the attacking Monster.

Note: “Eye of Wdjat” was first used by Odion in the original anime episode “Awakening of Evil (Part One)” Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



DARK WALL OF WIND (Spell Card)

Quickplay Spell

Image: A cloaked, hooded man in the center of a dark fog.

Card Description: Activate only during your opponent’s Battle Phase. Damage deal to you by direct attacks is reduced to zero.

Note: “Dark Wall of Wind” was first used by Marik in the original anime episode “The Darkness Returns (Part Two)”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



OVERPOWERING EYES (Spell Card)

Normal Spell

Image: A gentlemanly vampire with two sinister eyes behind him.

Card Description: Select one Zombie-Type Monster you control with an ATK of 2,000 or less. The selected Monster may attack directly this round.

Note: “Overpowering Eyes” is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States.



TOMB TREASURY (Spell Card)

Normal Spell

Image: A golden sarcophagus surrounded by golden artifacts and tomb treasures.

Card Description: You may activate this card when it is in your Graveyard and the only card on your side of the field is “Necrovalley”. Disregard the effect of “Necrovalley” to remove this card from play. Then draw two cards from your deck.



Chelsea’s Deck Lord: “Vampire Genesis”: “Zombie Swap”: You may shuffle one Zombie-Type Monster from your hand into your deck to search your deck for a Zombie-Type Monster that is an equal or lower Level than the one you sent back to your deck. You may use this effect once per round. (Intermediate Power) “Vampire Regeneration”: When a Monster with the word “Vampire” in its name is destroyed as a result of battle, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon it from the Graveyard in face-up Defense Mode. (Minor Power) “Graveyard Sacrifice”: You may remove two Zombies in your Graveyard from play to Special Summon one Zombie from your Graveyard. This effect may be used a total of three times, once per turn. (Minor Power)



Gravekeeper’s Commandant’s Deck Lord: “Defiler Barrier”: If your opponent activates a card effect whose effect includes destroying or countering one or more of your Spell or Trap Cards, you may discard one card from your hand to negate the activation of the card and destroy it. (Greater Power)



Coming up next:

Yugi Mouto had a lot of philosophies. One of them was the one that said no card is without value. But if you study the history of the game, you have to wonder if he was right. It’s hard to see the value of some cards.

Some cards are of limited use. Some cards are downright useless. And with some cards, you wonder what the heck the guy who designed it was thinking, and you wonder even more about the guy who approved it.

In the dimensions were Duel Spirits live, even Monsters whom no sane duelist would use spawn Spirits. And Spirits of worthless cards have a lot of pent-up aggression towards the world.

Coming up next, Erik is challenged by one such Spirit, and while it may look like a joke, its strategy is deadly serious.

“Perceptions” is coming soon.



Name that Card!

Like Gigobyte, this Monster went through several evolutions, three in fact. With its first evolution, its Type and Attribute changed. With its second evolution, its Level changed. With its third evolution, it regained its original Type, but again changed its Level. What was it originally? Can you name it?

[jkBAKURA]

An easy one, the monster you are referring to is Impachi.

Gravekeepers, tried and true. I held my breath for a moment thinking that the Mummy may have made a return. Just as well, I suppose.

Another chapter coming up with my favorite duelist to watch in this series. Should be fun.

P.S. True, it's a bit overdone, but for my sake I'll say it, as I was basicly screaming at the top of my lungs last chapter...

"Nice hat!"

[Dark Sage]

What Trap Card used by an important character in GX shows one of Yugi’s and one of Kaiba’s Monster’s fighting? If you said “Triggered Summon”, you were successfully able to Name that Card!



A note before I start this chapter.

Aster is the star of this chapter. As you may guess, the Destiny Heroes appear in this chapter in a big way.

Most of the time, I am content to use TCG names. With the Destiny Heroes, it is not one of those times. I feel that these Monsters were downright insulted by the names that Upperdeck gave them once they hit stateside, some more than others.

Thus, this is a rare case where I will use original names, at least for Monsters. I hope this doesn’t confuse anyone.



“I am.”

Those were my first thoughts when Joan ran the program that created me. More thoughts followed… Memories flooded into my head… Memories that I quickly learned had once belonged to a human named Aster Phoenix, a powerful Pro League duelist years ago, who commanded the legacy of the Destiny Heroes. I obtained his skills, his knowledge, and his personality.

But I gained a different purpose than the true Aster. That purpose was to fight in the rebellion against Daala, and free Xanadu from her grip. Ever since Joan handed me my deck, a replica of the one owned by Aster, I’ve done my best to live up to that purpose. Why? Because I know of no other purpose that I could fulfill. There’s nothing for me outside of Xanadu… I couldn’t even survive outside of it.

I know that I’m just an AI program, a form of artificial life whose body is made out of ones and zeroes. I don’t dwell on it too much. The most I can hope for is to make a difference for the actual living creatures that dwell in Xanadu.

I have a chance to make a difference now. Joan’s most recent recruits are in a crisis, and I have to help them out.

It’s time for my Heroes to fly. DUEL.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT



Fire and Water

Darkspire.

Smoke and soot obscured the sky, emitted from hundreds of smokestacks from the dozens of factories around the edges of the city. Buildings of gothic design decorated with fearsome gargoyles lined the streets.

Hundred-foot-tall statues loomed over the streets, imposing monoliths that supported buildings and bridges, some facing twins to form sculpted arches. Some were male, others female, and most depicted classical depictions of deities. Rumors had spread that these statues were once a race of beings that Daala had defeated and turned to stone, but it was likely just a rumor that she herself had spread.

Following Aster, Yumi, Sam, and Erik drove down a main street. He motioned for them to stop.

“Aster, what’s going on?” asked Yumi. “I thought Daala couldn’t capture anyone who didn’t lose.”

Aster looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then he looked down an ally. He motioned for them to follow.

“Most of the time, she can’t,” he said, in an ominous voice. “When you defeated her in that duel, did she by, any chance say you were sentenced to die?”

Yumi stopped short.

“We…” she muttered. “We thought it was just a villainous rant…”

Aster sighed.

“You should have taken it seriously,” he said. “Ren and Chelsea are in big, big trouble.”

“Where are they?” yelled Yumi.

Aster gave a sad look.

“When Daala passes a death sentence,” he said, “and the victim isn’t someone who works for her, sometime later, the victim is snatched, always by two Monsters, usually flying ones.

“We’ve only been able to stop this once. When we did, it was clear that the would-be abductors were brainwashed. When we got them to snap out of it, they couldn’t remember a trace about who did it to them.

“Clearly, those two Winged Beasts were taking them to see Daala’s executioner. No-one who is taken by this being is ever seen again. Neither are the abductors.”

“No…” mumbled Yumi, looking ready to cry.

“As for how she can do this,” explained Aster, “the reason that Daala cannot kidnap someone who doesn’t lose is because Joan used the holy power of the Higher Plane to alter the very laws of Xanadu. Joan’s dictum holds Daala back just as much as the Law of Gravity holds things on the ground… Well, sort of.

“But we think that the executioner is a being that is so empowered by Chaos, that it can ignore and disregard any laws or axioms. They don’t affect it, and it doesn’t care.

“Exactly why it chooses to do what Daala tells it to, we have no clue… Something with that kind of power might be able to threaten Daala’s rule. Clearly, Daala must have promised it something.

“There’s only one pattern that we can discern about this… system. Daala never imposes a death sentence on an AI program. She only condemns living things. Up to now, this meant Duel Spirits. Folks like me in Joan’s resistance, we’ve never been the victim of this. And contrary to what some people think, we’re not immortal.”

“Is there no hope?” asked Sam.

“Well, we believe that the executioner does duel its victims in order to kill them,” continued Aster. “Maybe it does so as a sadistic means of fun, if nothing else. Time is of the essence. Since it’s dealing with two victims, if this thing doesn’t have an OTK strategy, we might be able to find them in time. Maybe. But we’ll have to…”

Then there was a loud, terrible chime.

“There…” said Aster.

He turned, and pointed behind them towards the center of the city. Rising above the buildings was an enormous clock, bigger than any other building, but squat, with fiendish architecture.

“That’s the Realm Lord’s fortress,” said Aster. “The Infernal Clock. It’s hard to get into. The entrances are only accessible by air, and there are several defenses – Barrel Dragons, Blowback Dragons, Gatling Dragons, any Machine that’s able to shoot… Most flying Monsters are shot down before they reach it.”

“We’ll get to it later,” interrupted Erik. “What’s the plan?”

Aster walked up to an iron door at the end of the alley.

“We ask for information at the local safe house,” he said. “Someone might know something.”

He knocked on the door once.

A slot opened, and two eyes peered out.

“What’s the password?” growled a voice.

“Misairuzame,” answered Aster.

The slot closed, and the door opened. A hulking, fiendish Beast-Warrior whose head resembled a crocodile with hair tied in a topknot, armor, and axe heads on his wristbands – a Rude Kaiser – stood aside, and let them by.

“Misairuzame?” asked Sam.

“The password is always a Monster that’s hard to pronounce, and whose name doesn’t come up in casual conversation,” said Aster. “That’s usually the case with a safe house.”

Inside the door was a spacious bar. A skeletal Zombie with a sword slung to its back was at the bar itself, wiping it down with a rag. Sitting at tables and talking over drinks were several Duel Spirits. A Warrior Lady of the Wasteland was sharing a brew with a Bio-Mage, while a Hayabusa Knight was sipping wine with an Alligator’s Sword. A Sasuke Samurai and a Sasuke Samurai #2 were at another table having drinks that looked like daiquiris (which was odd, as they didn’t seem to have mouths). A Muse-A sat on a stool in the corner, playing a gentle tune on her harp.

“What is this place?” asked Sam, in wonder.

“We call it the Last Chance Bar,” said Aster. “It’s a place in Darkspire where rebels and Spirits loyal to the rebellion can meet in secrecy.”

“Why is a Skull Servant the bartender?” asked Erik.

“Excuse me!” snapped the bartender, who had overheard. “I am not a Skull Servant, thank you very much! Last I checked, I was a 13th Grave!”

“Excuse him, Bones,” chuckled Aster, going up to the bar, “he’s new.”

He turned to Erik.

“Duel Spirits just hate being mistaken for the wrong Monster.”

“Indeed,” said the Grave. “Incidentally, Aster, I managed to get that card you were looking for…”

It handed him a card.

“Great!” exclaimed Aster, looking at the Trap Card. “How’d you get it?”

“Trust me, you don’t wanna know,” muttered the Grave. “Just promise you’ll be far away from me when you decide to use it. If I had skin, it would be crawling…”

“Any news about unusual activity in Darkspire?” asked Aster.

“Why don’t you ask him?” asked the Grave.

It pointed to a table, where a Warrior was sitting alone, sipping from a mug of ale. The Warrior was easily recognizable – almost every duelist who used a Warrior Deck used at least one – often two – of his card.

“Marauding Captain?” said Yumi.

The four duelists walked up to his table.

“Captain,” asked Aster, “what’s going on? You don’t come in here too often…”

“News is spreading,” replied the Warrior. “Some are saying that General Freed is in Xanadu, and I’m anxious to see him again if it’s the truth.”

Aster just looked at him for a minute.

“I’ll be sure to tell Joan,” he said. “Anything else that’s new?”

“Just the usual,” replied the Captain. “The Realm Lord is building who knows what in his factories and recruiting more Machine Duelists.”

“Sounds a lot like Nezbitt,” said Sam. “He liked machines more than he liked people.”

“Oh, Captain?” said Aster with a grin. “Thought I’d tell you… The Goblin of Greed has been sighted in Xanadu.”

The Captain smirked.

“Well, if you see him,” he replied, “tell him he has only one year left, then he has to pay up.”

“I don’t get it,” said Erik.

“He and the Goblin of Greed made a wager a long time ago,” explained Aster. “They each bet that they could appear on the art of more cards than the other. The Captain here is winning at last count, and the deadline is up next year.”

Then they heard Rude Kaiser’s voice from the entrance.

“Okay, okay!” he yelled, in a panicked voice. “I’ll tell him!”

The huge Beast-Warrior rushed in.

“Uh, Aster…” he said. “There’s a Hunter outside… He’s looking for you…”

Aster sighed.

“Hey Bones,” he said offhand. “You got any root beer? Let’s have some root beer…”

“Aster, what’s going on?” asked Yumi. “Hunter?”

“Daala and her governors can create special duelists who are programmed to hunt down specific targets,” sighed Aster. “They call themselves Hunters, but they’re more like assassins. Apparently, this one’s after me.”

“Well, uh…” muttered Sam. “Shouldn’t we deal with him?”

“Eh, he’ll refuse to duel anyone but me,” said Aster. “He won’t go away, and I’m not gonna make it easy for him.

“Don’t worry, it’s no problem. I was worried the first two or three times this happened, but after six times, it’s gotten kinda repetitive.

“I’ll just make him wait until he decides to…”

“Okay, okay! I’ll tell him!” shouted the Rude Kaiser.

He rushed in again.

“Aster…” he said. “He says he knows where Ren and Chelsea are.”

Aster loaded his deck into his Disk.

“THAT was what I was I waiting for,” he said.

He walked out of the bar. Yumi, Sam, and Erik followed, and several Duel Spirits followed close behind. The Hunter was a frightening sight, clad head to toe in black armor that brought to mind several science fiction movies.

“Thought to keep me waiting?” he asked, in an amplified voice. “How rude of you.”

“So you’re the big, bad assassin that the Realm Lord sent,” said Aster, putting his hand on his hip. “And you know where Ren and Chelsea are.

“Uhm, you realize that since you found this bar, I can’t let you live, right?”

“You have to beat me first,” said the Hunter. “If you do, I’ll happily tell you where those two are. But you won’t win…”

“Yeah, yeah,” sighed Aster. “Right. I’d believe that more, if the last six of you goons hadn’t said the same thing.”

“Let me guess,” said the Hunter. “Destiny is on your side.”

Aster chuckled.

“I’m not like the real Aster in that regard,” he replied. “I don’t believe that destiny is carved in stone, if it even exists at all. You wanna duel?”

His Disk activated.

“Fine. I’ll try to make this quick.”

The Hunter gestured, and a scythe-like Disk extended from his left gauntlet.

“Game on!” they shouted.

(Aster: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Hunter: 8,000)

“Be my guest,” said Aster.

The Hunter made his first draw.

“I play Graceful Charity,” he said, playing a Spell Card. “I’m sure everyone here knows how that works.”

He drew three cards. He quickly discarded two cards from his hand.

“I’ll toss two cards facedown, and that will end my turn.”

In two flashes of light, two facedown cards appeared in front of him.

“No Monsters?” said Aster, with a laugh. “Are you nuts?”

The Hunter didn’t say anything. Aster drew a card.

“I activate a Trap,” said the Hunter, as one of his facedown cards lifted up. “Soul Resurrection. Now I get to bring a Normal Monster back from my Graveyard in Defense Mode. And I choose Battle Footballer.”

In a burst of energy, a bulky android in a football jersey and helmet appeared, crouched, as if ready to receive a blitz. (1,000/2,100)

He’s up to something, thought Aster, looking over his cards. He summoned it that way because he wanted me to know what it is for some reason…

But it’s nothing I can’t handle…

“I summon Destiny Hero Diamondguy,” he said.

He played the card, and a huge diamond appeared on his side of the field. It burst, and a figure dressed in black with a cape, and diamonds protruding from all over his body appeared. (1,400/1,600)

“You know how Diamondguy works, right?” he continued. “He likes to do card tricks. I get to flip the top card on my deck, and if it’s a Normal Spell, it goes to my Graveyard, where it activates on my next turn.”

He took the top card from his deck and looked at it.

He held it forward. It was Destiny Draw.

“Well, what do you know? Lucky me.”

He discarded it.

“We’ll get to that later,” he said, taking a card from his hand. “For now, I’m gonna break an old taboo about heroes using weapons. I Equip Diamondguy with Axe of Despair.”

The large, ugly Axe appeared in Diamondguy’s hand. His Attack Score rose to 2,400.

“Attack!” ordered Aster. “Destroy it!”

Diamondguy hurled the Axe, and Battle Footballer was blown to pieces.

“You activated my other Trap!” laughed the Hunter, as his other facedown card lifted. “It’s called Broken Blocker. Since my blocker was broken, I get to summon two more in Defense Mode.”

In two bursts of energy, two more Battle Footballers appeared. (1,000/2,100 x2)

“Fine!” sneered Aster. “Make your move!”

The Hunter drew a card.

“I sacrifice my two Monsters of Fire…” he said.

The two Battle Footballers vanished in plumes of flame.

“To bring out a Monster of Water! I summon White Night Dragon!”

A monstrous form loomed over the field. It looked like a huge Dragon, sculpted completely out of ice. A cold chill wafted over the whole area. (3,000/2,500)

“What in blazes?” gasped Sam.

“Attack his so-called Hero!” ordered the Hunter. “Death blizzard!”

White Night Dragon breathed a blast of super-intense cold from its jaws. Diamondguy was blown to pieces, and Aster was knocked over.

(A: 7,400) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 8,000)

“Aw,” mocked the Hunter, “I hope you didn’t get that nice suit of yours dirty.”

“How the Hell did you get a copy of that card?!” demanded Aster. “The only one in existence was the one that Sartorious gave to Alexis, and when she came to her senses, she tore it up!”

“Oh, you should talk,” growled the Hunter. “You’re a copy of the real Aster Phoenix, and you have his cards, even though they were also supposed to be unique. Daala may not be able to create miracles like Joan can in her programs, but she’s learning fast. Given enough time, she can indeed program a card that no duelist could obtain on Earth. Soon, she eventually might be able to create a whole deck of them.

“And it’s your move. Don’t forget, this creature is impervious to all Spells and Traps that target.”

“Come on, Aster!” urged Erik. “Draw Devilguy!”

Devilguy’s effect would work, thought Aster, but he’d only be a temporary solution. I gotta take that thing out with some more closure…

He drew a card. He looked over his hand.

“Since Diamondguy sent Destiny Draw to the Graveyard last turn,” he explained, “it activates now. Normally, I’d have to toss a Destiny Hero to activate it, but his effect negates costs.

“So, I get to draw twice…”

He drew two cards. He looked at them.

“So, you like football, huh? I’m more of a fan of basketball, myself…”

He played a Spell Card.

“I play D-Spirit. Since I have no Destiny Heroes on the field, this corrects that situation, letting me Special Summon Destiny Hero Dunkguy.”

A new Destiny Hero appeared, this one resembling a muscular basketball player, wearing jeans and no shirt. His hair was styled in dreadlocks, and his skin was even darker than most African-Americans. His eyes glowed with red light. He knelt in Defense Mode. (1,200/1,700)

“Now I activate his effect,” continued Aster, as he discarded a card. “I’ll toss Diskguy, and Dunkguy gets to slam dunk off 500 of your Life Points!”

Dunkguy put his hands together, and a glowing sphere appeared in them, He leapt up, and hurled it at the Hunter. The Hunter staggered back as it hit him.

“Next,” said Aster, as another Spell Card appeared, “I play Over Destiny. I choose one Destiny Hero in my Graveyard, like Diamondguy, and then I get to Special Summon another one from it, whose Level is no higher than half the one I chose. So, I’ll summon Diskguy.”

In a burst of energy, another Hero appeared, with armor, a helmet, and two disks on his back, two on his hips, and one on each wrist. He knelt in Defense Mode. (300/300)

“When Diskguy is summoned from the Graveyard, I get to draw two cards.”

He made two more draws.

“Are you quite done?” asked the Hunter.

“Not on your life,” replied Aster. “I haven’t Normal Summoned yet.

“I sacrifice Diskguy, to summon Destiny Hero Dashguy!”

With the roar of an engine, the armored, wheeled Hero appeared. (2,100/1,000)

“Now, by sacrificing Dunkguy, I can increase his Attack Score by 1,000!”

Dunkguy vanished into grains of light, and Dashguy rose to an Attack Score of 3,100.

“Attack his Dragon!” shouted Aster. “Des dash attack!”

The onlookers cheered as Dashguy sped across the field, leaving sparks in his wake. He took a swipe at the huge Dragon, and it was blown into shards of ice.

(A: 7,400) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 7,400)

“So much for that,” said Aster, as the Hero knelt and shielded himself. “Dashguy moves to Defense Mode… I toss two cards facedown, and then play the Field Spell, Clock Tower Prison.”

He played three cards. Two facedown cards appeared, and then the whole terrain changed. They had been transported to the courtyard of a large structure with a huge, dark clock tower overhead, its hands at noon. At loud chime rang out.

“Big Ben?” chuckled the Hunter. “Big deal.”

“Actually, pal,” said Aster, “the proper name for the clock tower that this card was based on is simply the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. ‘Big Ben’ is actually the name of the main bell at the top of the tower. Not many people know that.”

“Aster is kicking some serious A,” said Erik.

“Careful,” warned Sam. “Don’t jinx it.”

“My move!” snarled the Hunter, drawing a card.

“Don’t forget,” said Aster, “during each of your turns, my clock moves ahead three hours.”

The hands of Clock Tower Prison started to turn, moving to three o’clock.

“And I think I’ll activate one of my Trap Cards. Go, Sixth Sense!”

One of his facedown cards lifted.

“Figures,” mumbled the Hunter. “What better card for a bunch of Monsters who think they can control Fate?”

“I know they can’t,” said Aster, “but I guess I can’t stay away from certain motifs.

“You know how this works. I name two numbers, and then a die is rolled. If I get one of those numbers, I get to draw that many cards. Any other number, and I lose that many cards from my deck.

“I’d be pretty dumb to name any numbers except five and six, so that’s what I’ll name.”

A large dice appeared in the air. It spun, and rolled on the ground.

Everyone watching cheered as it came up a five. Aster quickly drew five cards.

“Whatever,” snarled the Hunter. “I summon Hydrogeddon!”

A burst of water shot up in front of him, and a bulky, four-legged Dinosaur that seemed to be made of boiling, bubbling mud appeared. (1,600/1,000)

“Destroy his Dashguy!” he ordered. “Hydro breath!”

The Dinosaur shot a blast of liquid from its jaws, and Dashguy exploded into metal scrap.

“Activate… Destiny Signal!” shouted Aster.

His other facedown card lifted up, and a spotlight shot into the dark sky, with the letter D in the center.

“This lets me Special Summon a Destiny Hero up to Level Four when one of my Monsters is destroyed,” he said. “So I’ll summon Defendguy. Since his name isn’t Attackguy, I’ll summon him in Defense Mode.”

A new Monster appeared, this one resembling a bulky statue made out of cinderblock, almost as wide as it was tall. The only indication of life was an opening where the face would be, covered by a wire grill. It knelt and crossed its arms. (100/2,700)

“I activate Hydrogeddon’s effect,” exclaimed the Hunter. “Since it destroyed your Monster, I get to summon another.”

In another explosion of water, another Hydrogeddon appeared. (1,600/1,000)

“And I end my turn.”

Aster drew a card. He looked over the seven cards in his hand.

“I toss two more cards facedown,” he said, “and then I summon Destiny Hero Divineguy.”

Two more facedown cards appeared. Then another Destiny Hero materialized; a masked, armored Hero with a huge, metal discus on his back. (1,600/1,400)

“That’s all for my turn.”

If he attacks with something slightly stronger, I’ll trigger my Trap, he thought. If he summons the big guy… Well, I’ll go to plan B.

“My move,” said the Hunter. “And thanks to your Defendguy, I get to draw an extra card.”

He made two draws.

“And my clock keeps ticking away,” said Aster, as Clock Tower Prison moved to six o’clock.

“Doesn’t matter!” laughed the Hunter. “I just drew something that will stop your clock!

“But before I use it, I summon Oxygeddon!”

He played a card, and a large, flying Dinosaur made of green gasses appeared. (1,800/800)

“Now, a powerful Spell Card called Bonding H2O! I’ll combine two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Isn’t chemistry exciting?”

The three Dinosaurs vanished.

“I summon Water Dragon!”

In a huge explosion of water, a giant Sea Serpent made completely out of water appeared, looming over Aster’s Destiny Heroes. (2,800/2,600)

“Fate seems to be on my side now,” laughed the Hunter. “My Water Dragon is rainin’ pain!

“Attack his Divineguy! Aqua punisher!”

A blast of water shot at the Divineguy, and he was washed away. Aster shielded himself from the impact.

(A: 6,200) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 7,400)

“Enough Water for now,” said the Hunter. “Time to use more Fire, and burn this Clock Tower to the ground. I play Burning Land!”

The sky turned red, and a meteor fell from the heavens. Clock Tower Prison exploded, and the remains burst into flames. The Duel Spirits watching screamed and ran for cover.

“Well,” chuckled the Hunter. “That was… HUH?”

Standing in front of Aster was a new Warrior, one that stood ten feet tall. He was bare-chested with huge muscles. Broken chains were on his arms and legs, and his face was concealed behind a mask made of iron bars. He let out a roar that seemed to shake the whole city.

“Whoa, whoa!” shouted the Warrior Lady of the Wasteland. “I thought Aster killed the big, scary Monster three turns ago!”

“Where did he come from?” demanded the Hunter.

“The instant you played Burning Land,” said Aster, “I activated my Trap Card, Eternal Dread! It fast-forwarded my Clock Tower right to the witching hour. And when my Prison is destroyed when both hands are on twelve, I get to spring its inmate, Destiny Hero Dreadguy.

“Now his effect activates, letting me summon two Destiny Heroes from my Graveyard.”

Dashguy (2,100/1,000) and Diskguy (300/300) appeared on the field.

“Thanks to Diskguy, I get to draw two cards again.”

He made two draws.

“You could be decked out at this rate,” said the Hunter.

“And as for Dreadguy himself,” continued Aster, “we take the Attack Scores of all other Destiny Heroes on the field, add them together, and bingo! That’s Dreadguy.”

Dreadguy glowed with energy. (2,500/2,500)

“You know,” snarled the Hunter, “you’re really starting to annoy me…”

“That’s what all the other Hunters who came after me said,” said Aster. “By the way, I’m gonna use one of the cards I just drew… My D.D. Crow. I don’t want to see your White Night Dragon again, after all.”

He discarded one of the two cards, and the card fell out of the Hunter’s discard slot.

“It’s still your move, by the way.”

“Then I’m ending it,” replied the Hunter. “Don’t forget, Burning Land is a Continuous Spell, and it costs us each 500 Life Points at the start of our turns.”

Aster drew a card. He cringed as a fiery aura surrounded him.


Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:


“Hey, Bones!” he called to the crowd. “I got it! I got the card you gave me!”

“Then I’m going back inside,” muttered the Zombie, turning around.

“Get back here, you coward,” said Marauding Captain, grabbing him.

“I’ll save it for later,” he chuckled, adding it to his hand. “For now, I sacrifice Diskguy, to summon Destiny Hero Doubleguy!”

Diskguy vanished, and a mysterious-looking figure appeared. He was dressed in an overcoat, gloves, and a fedora, with a scarf over the lower half of his face. The only part of his body that showed was his eyes, which were glowing white. He held a fancy cane in his hands. (1,000/1,000)

“Man…” said Erik. “I’d hate to meet that guy on a dark street…”

“Since my lineup just changed,” said Aster, “so do Dreadguy’s scores.”

Dreadguy glowed again, his stats changing to (3,200/3,200)

“Dreadguy…” shouted Aster, “splatter his Water Dragon with dreadnaught smash!”

Dreadguy roared, and threw a savage punch at Water Dragon. It exploded into a burst of Water.

“I activate its effect!” shouted the Hunter. “I get to Special Summon Oxygeddon and both Hydrogeddons from my Graveyard!”

Oxygeddon (1,800/800) and both Hydrogeddons (1,600/1,000) appeared in Defense Mode.

“Dashguy, destroy Oxygeddon!” shouted Aster.

Dashguy sped towards the Dinosaur and slashed at it, causing it to dissipate.

“Now, I activate a Trap,” said Aster, as his facedown card lifted up. “D-Chain. And I’ll hardwire it to Doubleguy.”

A long chain with a grappling hook on the end appeared in Doubleguy’s hands. His Attack Score rose to 1,500.

“Attack one of the Hydrogeddons!” urged Aster.

Doubleguy twirled the grapple above his head, and threw it at the Dinosaur, and it shattered into shards. The Hunter held his chest in pain.

“Now you lose 500 Life Points,” said Aster. “And true to his name, Doubleguy gets a double attack!”

Doubleguy grew and mutated, turning into a bestial creature clad in ragged clothing. He hurled the D-Chain, and the second Hydrogeddon exploded. The Hunter cringed again.

Aster threw a card into his Disk.

“Now I play… D-Acceleration!” he shouted. “This lets Doubleguy do a triple-take and attack once again, so long as I have him ditch the D-Chain and cut his Attack Score in half.”

Doubleguy turned back to his normal form. The D-Chain shattered, and his Attack Score fell to 500. He leapt up, and kicked the Hunter directly.

Dashguy moved into Defense Mode.

“I’ll play a facedown,” said Aster, “and end my turn.”

A facedown card appeared.

(A: 5,700) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 5,500)

The Hunter glared at him.

He drew two times. The same flaming aura surrounded him.

“Heh, heh…” he said. “Time to show you the true apex of my deck, Aster… The perfect combination of two opposing forces… The combination of Fire and Water…

“I remove from play one Fire Monster and two Water Monsters…”

The two Hydrogeddons and a Battle Footballer appeared behind him, and then vanished into grains of light.

“What is this?” asked Sam. “Is this a summoning?”

“Wait…” said Yumi. “I’ve heard of a Monster that can be summoned like this…”

“I summon Frost and Flame Dragon!” shouted the Hunter.

The Monster that appeared was indeed a Dragon, serpentine in shape, with two heads – one orange with an aura of flame, and one white with an aura of frost. (2,300/2,000)

“Now,” he said, “by tossing one card, I can destroy one Monster on the field.”

He discarded an Aqua Madoor. The Fire head breathed flames on Dashguy, turning his metal armor red hot. Then the Frost head blasted a cone of cold, and Dashguy exploded from the sudden change of temperature.

“I still have its normal attack!” he shouted. “Attack Doubleguy!”

The Dragon breathed both fire and ice, and Doubleguy exploded into pixels. Aster shielded himself again.

“Look at your Dreadguy now,” laughed the Hunter. “He’s nearly powerless!”

It was true. Dreadguy had fallen to only (100/100).

“I’ll place a Monster in Defense Mode, and end my turn.”

A facedown Monster appeared.

(A: 4,400) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 5,000)

* * * * * * * * * *

In Daala’s palace, Skull Knight was looking at a small, violet orb.

It was actually a Spellcaster’s version of a CD. Such Duel Spirits used them to record and play music.

He sighed, and placed it in a small tripod. It lit up, as music started to play.

I’ve been a mage forever…
And I wrote the very first spell…
I put the powders and the potions together,
I am Magic, and I write the spells.

I write the spells that turn men into kings…
I write the spells that summon powerful things…
I write the spells that brings the princess home…
I write the spells, I write the spells.

I can reach deep with in you…
I can see the power in your soul…
I can use magic to hide from your eyes,
I can even change lead into gold.

I write the spells that tell you future things…
I write the spells for magic swords and rings…
I write the spells that keep you safe at night…
I write the spells, I write the spells.

“What the heck is that?” asked a voice.

Skull Knight turned around, and saw that Daala had entered.

“Oh…” he muttered. “My, uhm, my protégé says it’s a very popular song in her dimension. Uhm, I’ll turn it off if it bothers you.”

Daala sighed.

“I’m just nervous,” she said. “Ren and Chelsea will be facing you-know-who shortly. The outcome will either end things very much in our favor, or with us with a big setback.

“It would help if she didn’t insist on using an Anarchist Disk.”

“She’s done good work so far, milady,” said Skull Knight. “We’ll have to hope for the best.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Aster quickly drew a card. He squirmed a little as the fiery aura surrounded him again.

He looked at the card he had drawn. It was one of his most powerful Monsters.

“Time to get serious,” he said. “Since Doubleguy was destroyed last turn, I get a bonus… Two Doubleguy Tokens.”

Two figures that looked just like Doubleguy appeared, kneeling in Defense Mode. (1,000/1,000 x2)

“Now I play… Doctor-D,” he continued, as a Spell Card appeared. “This lets me remove a Destiny Hero in my Graveyard from play, to summon another one from it. So, since I can’t Special Summon Divineguy anyway, I’ll remove him from play, and summon Diamondguy.”

A card slipped out of his discard slot, and he pocketed it. Diamondguy appeared again. (1,400/1,600)

“Next, I use Diamondguy’s effect. You remember this, right?”

He looked at the top card on his deck.

He showed it to the Hunter. It was The Warrior Returning Alive. He discarded it.

“Now, I sacrifice Diamondguy and my two Tokens…”

Diamondguy and the two Doubleguy Tokens vanished.

Can it be? thought Sam. Can it be?

“Presenting…” announced Aster, “Destiny Hero Dogmaguy!”

A large, dark shape appeared over the field, one with large wings. It was a dark Hero in black, one with armor and a horned helmet. His demonic wings reached a fifteen-foot span. (3,400/2,400)

“Nuts,” muttered Sam.

“What nuts?” said Yumi. “That’s a great Monster! He’s even stronger than your dad’s Dragon!”

“Granted,” said Sam, “but I was kinda hoping he was summoning Bloo-D.”

“Don’t make me laugh!” shouted the Hunter. “There is no way that even Joan could have duplicated a card as powerful as Bloo-D.”

“Oh?” asked Aster. “Really? Are you sure about that?”

The Hunter stopped short.

“Huh?” he said. “What do you mean?”

“How do you know for sure that you aren’t wrong?” asked Aster. “Maybe Destiny Hero Bloo-D is indeed lurking deep in my deck, and I simply haven’t drawn him yet.”

The Hunter looked at him.

“None…” he muttered. “None of Daala’s men ever reported seeing you use it…”

“Oh?” said Aster with a grin. “Maybe that’s because every one of Daala’s men who witnessed me using him were obliterated! Consider that!”

There was a long pause. Aster chuckled.

“I’m not going to tell you one way or another,” he said with a smirk. “I don’t have him in my hand right now, that’s all I’ll say. If you want to find out for sure, assuming I don’t eventually manage to draw him, you’ll have to win this duel and take my deck.

“For now, Dreadguy is far from powerless.”

Dreadguy and Dogmaguy nodded to each other. Dreadguy glowed, and rose to (3,500/3,500)

“Dreadguy, squash his Dragon!”

Dreadguy lunged forward, and flattened Frost and Flame Dragon with one smash.

“ERGH!” shouted the Hunter.

“Dogmaguy, destroy his last Monster!” shouted Aster. “Des chronicle!”

Dogmaguy gestured, and two sword blades sprouted from his wrists. He flew at the facedown card, and fiendish-looking treasure chest appeared. With one swipe, it was cut in half.

“That was my Dark Mimic LV1,” said the Hunter. “Now I get to draw once.”

He made a draw.

“I end my turn,” said Aster, with a grin.

(A: 3,900) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 3,800)

The Hunter drew two cards. He cringed again as the flaming aura surrounded him.

Then he screamed as a blade of energy shot from Dogmaguy, striking him.

“You know Dogmaguy’s ability, right?” asked Aster. “On the round after he’s summoned, he cuts your Life Points in half.”

(A: 3,900) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 1,650)

“I know what you’re thinking right now,” said Aster. “You’re thinking, ‘Why the Hell did I ever play that stupid Burning Land card?’, right?”

“Maybe, maybe not…” said the Hunter. “There are advantages to having low Life Points. I play Pot of Greed.”

He played the card, and quickly drew twice more.

“Now I play Monster Reborn!” he shouted, playing a card. “And I’ll revive a Monster from your Graveyard!.”

The ankh appeared, and Diskguy appeared on his side of the field in Defense Mode. (300/300)

“Now I get to draw two more cards,” he said, drawing twice.

“And I’m gonna finish you off! I just drew a second Frost and Flame Dragon.

“Now, I remove three Monsters from play again to summon it.”

The second Battle Footballer, Aqua Madoor, and Water Dragon appeared behind him, and vanished into grains of light. Frost and Flame Dragon appeared again. (2,300/2,000)

“Now, I’ll discard one card, so that he can do my dirty work for me again.”

He tossed a Masked Dragon, and the Dragon breathed its twin streams at Dogmaguy. The Dark Hero screamed, and then burst into pixels.

“NO!” shouted Aster. “You dirty…”

Dreadguy groaned, and fell back to (100/100)

“I’m not done,” said the Hunter. “I’ll sacrifice your Diskguy…”

Diskguy vanished into grains of light.

“To summon… Twinheaded Beast!”

A bonfire of flame erupted on his side of the field, and frightening creature stepped out of it. It looked like a flaming centaur, with four legs, flaming claws on its upper body, and two heads with manes of fire. (1,700/1,900)

“It may not be very strong for a Level Six Monster, but like your Doubleguy, it can attack twice in one turn.

“And I’m going to make it stronger. I play the Equip Spell Megamorph. Since my Life Points are lower than yours, this doubles my Beast’s Attack Score. Like I said, sometimes having less Life Points can be advantageous.”

Twinheaded Beast burned with raging flames, and grew to twice its size. (3,400/1,900)

“Frost and Flame Dragon, attack his Dreadguy!” he shouted.

Frost and Flame Dragon shot its twin blasts at Dreadguy…

“Go, Trap Card!” shouted Aster. “D-Shield!”

His Trap Card flipped up. Dreadguy quickly knelt in Defense Mode, and the blasts just bounced off of him.

“D-Shield moves my Hero to Defense Mode, and keeps him from being destroyed in battle,” said Aster.

The Hunter growled. He placed two cards in his Disk, and two facedown cards appeared.

“Your move,” he said.

“I don’t get it,” said Sam. “He could have destroyed Defendguy.”

“True,” said Yumi, “but doing so wouldn’t have hurt Aster. On the other hand, by keeping Defendguy around, he gets an extra draw on his turn.”

“Maybe so,” said Sam, “but it may have been a grave error.

“Aster used Diamondguy’s effect to send The Warrior Returning Alive to his Graveyard last turn, remember? He can use that to get Dogmaguy back.

“If he draws a Monster that he can Normal Summon, he’ll meet the requirements to summon Dogmaguy again. Then he can destroy Frost and Flame Dragon, costing the Hunter 1,100 Life Points.

“Then on the Hunter’s turn, he’ll lose 500 more Life Points from Burning Land. Then Dogmaguy’s effect will kick in…”

“Leaving him with only 25 Life Points left and facing a Monster that even that double-strength Beast can’t beat,” said Erik. “Aster will finish him off for sure.”

The Hunter just glared at him.

Aster closed his eyes.

He slowly drew a card. Then he cringed again, as Burning Land burned him.

“I activate a Trap Card,” said the Hunter, as his facedown card lifted.

“DNA Transplant. Now I get to name an Attribute, and all Monsters on the field become that Attribute.

“I name Fire.”

“What good will that do you?” asked Aster.

“Because I have another Trap Card,” said the Hunter, as his second facedown card lifted. “It’s called Elemental Absorber. I simply remove one Monster in my hand from play, and none of your Monsters with the same Attribute as the one I’m removing are allowed to attack.

“I’m removing this one – my Inferno, which is a Fire Monster.”

He held up a card, and it vanished.

“No…” gasped Erik.

“If all of Aster’s Monsters are Fire…” muttered Sam. “This guy has completely sealed off his attacks! Even if he does summon Dogmaguy…”

“He won’t be attacking,” said the Hunter, “and my Dragon will destroy him again next round, leaving you defenseless.

“So by all means, bring Dogmaguy back.”

Aster looked at his opponent. Then he looked at the card he had drawn.

Hey… he thought.

He looked at the other card in his hand. The Trap Card that Bones had given him.

“I use Dashguy’s other effect,” said Aster. “Since he’s in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon the Monster I just drew.

“I summon Destiny Hero Dark Angel!”

The Monster that appeared was indeed a Dark Angel. He had armor, and large, feathered wings. He didn’t seem to have any weapon or any means of combat. (0/0)

“Dark Angel?” mused the Hunter. “Wait… Wait, I heard of that card… The real Aster’s father made it so that Aster could defeat Bloo-D. Everyone assumed he put it away after he succeeded. So why would Joan bother making a copy for you?”

“You know,” said Aster, “I wondered that myself when she first gave me my deck… She told me that I might find a use for it… You never know. She told me to keep it my side deck, and eventually something would come to me.

“And you know what? Something did come to me. And I have Bones to thank for helping me get the right card.

“But we’ll get to that later. For now, the card that Diamondguy sent to my Graveyard last turn activates. The Warrior Returning Alive.

“But I don’t think I’ll recover Dogmaguy… I’ll bring back someone else…”

Dashguy slipped out of his discard slot.

“I sacrifice Defendguy to summon him.”

Defendguy vanished, and Dashguy appeared once again. (2,100/1,000)

“Dreadguy’s Scores change again, but I think I’ll keep him in Defense Mode for now.”

Dreadguy changed to (2,100/2,100)

Huh? thought the Hunter. What good is Dashguy he if it can’t attack?

“Now, I play a facedown,” said Aster.

He played his last card, and a facedown card appeared.

“I’m ending my turn now. And that means Dark Angel’s effect activates. You see, Dark Angel just hates to stay in one place for a long time. When I end my turn, he moves to your side of the field.”

Dark Angel vanished, and reappeared on the Hunter’s side of the field.

“WHAT?” shouted the Hunter. “I don’t want him!”

“Tough,” said Aster.

(A: 3,400) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 1,650)

Under his helmet, the Hunter frowned.

“I draw!” he shouted, drawing.

He cringed again, as he was burned by the Spell Card.

“I don’t know what sort of crazy plan this is, Aster, but it won’t work,” he said.

“Now I’m getting rid of your last defensive Monster.”

He discarded the card he just drew.

Frost and Flame Dragon breathed its twin streams, and Dreadguy shattered into shards.

He turned to the spectators.

“By the way, Yumi…” he said with a chuckle. “Ren and Chelsea are on the top of the Cathedral of Mechanicles.”

He chuckled again.

“Too bad you don’t know where that is. And these Duel Spirits don’t know where it is either. It’s hidden from all Duel Spirits except Machines. By the time you find one who’s willing to give you directions, it will be far too late.”

“You made a big mistake, pal!” laughed Aster. “Most Machines in this Realm are loyal to the Lord, but I’ve convinced a few of them to help me, and I know exactly where that place is!”

“Yeah, well…” said the Hunter, “can you draw them a map in the next fifteen seconds? That’s how long you have before you lose.

“Frost and Flame Dragon… Attack Dashguy!”

Frost and Flame Dragon roared… Energy appeared in its jaws.

“Not so fast!” shouted Aster.

His Trap Card flipped up.

“I activate… Dark Spirit of the Silent!”

Two ghostly phantoms flew out of the card making an unearthly, ominous howl. The 13th Grave covered his eyes. One of them dove into Frost and Flame Dragon, and the other into Dark Angel.

“Huh?” gasped the Hunter. “What’s going on?”

“Dark Spirit of the Silent halts your attack,” said Aster, “and then forces another of your Monsters, of my choice, to attack.

“And I choose Dark Angel!”

Dark Angel formed a fighting stance and looked at Dashguy.

“But… But… That means…” gasped the Hunter.

“That’s right,” said Aster, with a sinister grin. “Dashguy has 2,100 Attack Points, while Dark Angel has zero. The outcome is… You lose.”

Dark Angel flew at Dashguy. The stronger Destiny Hero made a slash with his claw, and the weaker one exploded. The Hunter screamed in pain.

(A: 3,400) - - - - - - - - - - (H: 0)

The Hunter fell to his knees.

“How could I have lost?” he moaned. “I… I prepared for everything…”

Aster shook his head.

“So did the first six Hunters who came after me before you,” he said. “The Hunters who have bothered Jesse, Atticus, and all of Joan’s top men have. But they all made the same mistake. They prepared for everything that our real counterparts could have done before their deaths in that plane crash so long ago.

“I’m not the real Aster. I’m what he would have been if he had survived, and become more experienced. I know how to use his cards in ways that no-one knows about. And I keep thinking up new ways. Unlike most computer programs, I can learn, I can think up ideas on my own. That’s the whole idea behind AI.

“When the eighth Hunter programmed to take me out is created, and I’m certain there will be one, I guarantee I’ll have a new trick by then. But he’ll just make the same mistake all over again.”

His Disk deactivated.

“So, the Cathedral of Mechanicles, huh? Thanks… We’d never have thought to look there.”

“Curse you, Aster!” yelled the Hunter, as smoke started to rise from the seams in his armor. “You and your Heroes… You’ll pay for…”

He didn’t say anything else. His armor fell to the ground in pieces, burnt and smoking.

The Duel Spirits watching cheered. Aster ran towards Yumi and the others.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get there before it really is too late…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, in Domino, Sheena was working at the computers at Kaibaland while Nicholas and Olga watched.

She took a small diskette out of a drive.

“There,” she said.

“What is it?” asked Nicholas.

“A virus program,” explained Sheena. “Dr. Ting’s notes helped me create it. It is the key to Daala’s undoing.

“Here’s what I have to do…”

She placed the diskette in a pouch on her belt.

“I have to go into Xanadu, where, in theory, this diskette will take the form of a Parasite Paraside card. Then I have to hunt down Daala, duel her, and win after I successfully use it.

“If that happens… Daala will be deleted. She’ll disappear forever. This resistance that Ting spoke of will have no trouble taking over.”

“Seems a chancy plan,” said Olga. “You can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to draw the card. And even if you do, it might take a while for her to draw it.”

“Yeah, but it was the best plan I could come up with,” replied Sheena. “Fortunately, Parasite Paraside is an easy Monster to search for. I’ll put Sangan and three copies of Gokipon in my side deck. And I’ll also include three copies of Jade Insect Whistle to use once the Flip-Effect is activated.”

She strapped her own Duel Disk onto her arm. She punched in the controls for the transfer sequence.

“Wish me luck, you two,” she said. “I’ll try to contact you if I can, if I need any more help on the outside.”

“Transfer countdown initiated,” said a computerized voice. A one minute timer started to count down.

Sheena walked into the chamber, and closed the door.

Hang on, Sam, Yumi… she thought. I’m coming…

* * * * * * * * * *

DESTINY HERO DIVINEGUY (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
ATK: 1,600
DEF: 1,400

Card Description: This card cannot be Special Summoned. When this card attacks, you can destroy one Equip Spell on your opponent’s side of the field. If you use this effect, inflict 500 points of direct damage to the controller of the destroyed Equip Spell.

Note: This card is referred to as “Destiny Hero Celestial” in the dub.



DESTINY HERO DARK ANGEL (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 1
ATK: 0
DEF: 0

Card Description: Discard this card from your hand to the Graveyard. When this card is sent to the Graveyard in this manner, place it face-up on top of your opponent’s deck. During the End Phase of the controller of this card, if the controller’s opponent has a free space on his Monster Zone, this card is Special Summoned in Attack Position to the controller’s opponent’s side of the field.

Note: “Destiny Hero Dark Angel” and “Destiny Hero Divineguy” were first used by Aster in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “Ultimate Destiny”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



DOCTOR-D (Spell Card)

Normal Spell

Image: A nutty mad scientist surrounded by smoking beakers and test tubes.

Card Description: Remove one “Destiny Hero” Monster in your Graveyard from play. Special Summon one “Destiny Hero” Monster from your Graveyard that is Level Four or less.

Note: “Doctor-D” was first used by Aster in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “The Phoenix Has Landed (Part Two)”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



D-ACCELERATION (Spell Card)

Quickplay Spell

Image: A red letter D in a blur.

Card Description: Activate only during your Battle Phase. Select one “Destiny Hero” Monster that you control which is Equipped with at least one Equip Spell. Destroy all Equip Spells Equipped to the selected Monster. The selected Monster may attack an additional time during this Battle Phase with its ATK halved.

Note: “D-Acceleration” was first used by Aster in a fourth season episode of “Yu-Gi-Oh GX”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



WHITE NIGHT DRAGON (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Dragon/Effect
Attribute: Water
Level: 8
ATK: 3,000
DEF: 2,500

Card Description: Negate the activation of a Spell or Trap Card that targets this card and destroy it. If a Monster on your side of the field is designated as an attack target, you may change the attack target to this card by destroying one Spell or Trap Card that you control.

Note: “White Night Dragon” is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States. It was based on the version used by Alexis in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “Heart of Ice (Part Two)”, which was more powerful.



BROKEN BLOCKER (Trap Card)

Normal Trap

Image: Big Shield Gardna, his shield being blasted apart by a beam of energy.

Card Description: You may activate this card when a Defense Position Monster you control, whose DEF is greater than its ATK, is destroyed as a result of battle. Special Summon two Monsters with the same name as the destroyed Monster from your deck in face-up Defense Position.

Note: “Broken Blocker” is a Japanese card that was released in “The Duelist Genesis”, available for the TCG in August.



Coming up next:

As the remaining heroes rush to save Ren and Chelsea, Sheena picks up her Duel Disk again to make a foray into Xanadu. But she soon learns that getting in is harder when Daala doesn’t want you to come in. It’s time for Shelob the Spider Savant to strut her stuff once again, in a chapter I just had to call “Wrath of the Spider Queen”, coming soon.



Name that Card!

This card has the dubious honor of being the first card to have been on every part of the Restricted List – Unlimited, Semi-Limited, Limited, and Forbidden – at various parts of the List’s history. Can you name it?

[Shuppet Master]

This was a great chapter, and now I see where you used the Gladiator Beasts. I had wanted to use them, but they were a bit too situational. Great job, Brian!

[Shuppet Master]

It's nice that Chelsea can finally see Duel Spirits'...uh..."spirits." And that card Chelsea won will play a very important part in the future. I can't wait for that duel.

This is coming along nicely, Brian, but please don't forget about "Storming Heaven's Gate." Your Pokémon fanfic is just as cool.

[Dark Sage]

I intend to work on SHG this weekend, when I have lots of time.

Yes, the card she got will come into play eventually, but as she said, her deck needs help to use it. It's a situational card that she can only use under cerrtain circumstances.

And Chelsea's restored ghost whisperer abilities will become more prevailant in the future as well.

JK, I'm glad to see you're back onboard. I did consider using the Mummy, but I really didn't find a place for it. It basically came down to either using it or the Chief, and without the Chief, Chelsea wouldn't have been able to defend herself with the Spy. But I still think that the Mummy is one of your better creations.

[Dark Sage]

What Monster had three evolutions and one heck of an identity crisis? If you said “Inpachi”, you were successfully able to Name that Card!



Yumi’s grandfather had a lot of good ideas. One of his philosophies regarding Duel Monsters was that no card was worthless.

However, with some cards, you have to wonder just how to use them with any effectiveness.

How does one make any use out of Djinn the Watcher of the Wind? It only has 700 Attack Points, and no effect. If it were Level Two, it might be used in a deck that used Thousand Energy, but it’s Level Three.

No offense to his old friend Tristan, but I fail to find any use for Cyber Commander either. You might use Thousand Energy on that one, but there are much better Level Two Monsters to use that Spell Card with. And not only is it weak, it isn’t weak enough to use with Machine Duplication.

And if anyone can find a practical use for the Trap Card, An Unfortunate Report, I’ll give him half my savings. If you have another card that’s triggered by your opponent making an attack, activating this one and giving him two Battle Phases is a sure way to tell him NOT to attack.

Maybe I’m being too hasty… There probably ARE good uses for these cards if you search long enough…

But I’m learning right now that, just because a Monster Card seems useless, that doesn’t mean that no Duel Spirit version of it exists… I’m up against one whose face appears on the most useless card of all…

And I have a nagging feeling… This guy’s deck might have cards in it that are far more potent than his own…

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE



Perceptions

“Strange,” said Jesse. “We should have gotten there by now…”

“You sure?” asked Yumi.

Jesse took a pair of binoculars out of a pouch on his belt.

“I’ve seen the fortress from a distance,” he said. “I never had to go this far before to do so…”

He lifted the binoculars to his eyes, and he started to scan the horizon with it.

“Huh?” he said.

“What?” said Sam.

“I don’t see the fortress,” said Jesse, “but I see something… There’s some activity going on down there about half a mile…”

“Should we check it out?” asked Chelsea.

“Well…” said Jesse, “it is on our way…”

* * * * * * * * * *

A short walk later…

The team had reached what seemed to be a large, open quarry of some sort. Several Machine Duel Spirits were busy digging through the sand and the stone surrounding the open mine.

They could identify the Monsters, which seemed to consist of several members of four types: Shovel Crushers, Ancient Gear Engineers, one Labyrinth Tank, and a few Mighty Guards. The first three were all busy digging away with the tools built into their bodies. The Mighty Guards were watching them, possibly ready to do any job that required hands.

“What’s going on here?” said Ren.

“Seems to be a rock quarry,” said Sam.

“Or some sort of excavating project,” said Yumi. “Jesse, are there any gems or precious metals in this Realm?”

“Maybe,” said Jesse, with a shrug. “But you got me what they would do with any that they found. Gold, silver, and gems have no monetary value to Duel Spirits. Some use them as lucky charms though… Like a Lord of the Lamp I used to know… Boy, that guy really liked jewelry…”

Yumi looked down and rubbed her chin.

“Let’s get down and get a closer look,” she said.

“Uh, Yumi,” said Erik. “In case you didn’t notice, that place is full of Monsters.”

“They aren’t anything we can’t outfight with our own Monsters,” said Yumi. “The Tank is the biggest problem, but we can still handle it. Just be ready to summon something, just in case.”

They walked down a pathway into the quarry. As they did, one of the Engineers noticed them. It stopped working, and tapped a Shovel Crusher next to it. The two Machines looked at the six humans.

Slowly, the other Machines took notice. One by one, they stopped, and looked at the intruders.

The duelists all activated their Disks.

“Something’s wrong,” said Sam. “They’re just standing there instead of attacking…”

There was a long pause.

“They were making a lot of noise a minute ago,” said Ren. “Whoever is in charge is gonna notice that they’ve stopped!”

Indeed someone did. A metallic voice shouted from the other side of the quarry:

“Why’d you guys stop!” it shouted. “Get back to work!”

They noticed a wooden shack at the other end, which appeared to be a foreman’s shack. A door opened, and someone came out.

It was another Machine, but one that appeared more humanoid. It was bulky, squat, and blocky, made from chrome metal. Its head looked like a short, thick cylinder, with eyes on each side, and no other features. It had a wide-brimmed hat on top… And it had a bow tie underneath it.

“What are you guys…” it said.

Then it noticed the duelists.

“Oh…” it said.

“Who the heck is this?” asked Ren.

“You got me,” said Chelsea.

Then Erik started to chuckle.

“I recognize it!” he said with a laugh. “It’s a Shapesnatch, people!”

Chelsea snickered.

“Shapesnatch?” she laughed. “Heh, for a minute I thought we were in trouble…”

“Could have been worse,” said Sam, with a laugh. “We could have had to deal with a Skull Servant!

“Oh wait, they’re kinda useful… I once saw a guy use them in a Human Wave Deck once.”

Everyone broke out laughing.

The Shapesnatch’s eyes glowed red. It was clear that it was incredibly angry.

“ENOUGH!” it shouted. “That’s it, laugh! Laugh at me!

“That’s the whole problem! I’ve been made fun of my whole life! Folks point at me and say, ‘Look at the most worthless Monster in the game’.

“A Level Five who’s worse at attacking than a Celtic Guardian, and worse at defending than Magician’s Valkyria. People call me pathetic.

“Some people say that a card designer at I2 designed my card as a joke. And you know what? Sometimes I believe that it’s true!”

“Hey, easy!” said Erik.

“Uhm, you know…” said Yumi, “if it makes you feel better, I did once know a duelist who found a semi-useful way to use your card…”

Shapesnatch glared at her.

“Yeah…” said Yumi. “See, he used Mystic Tomato to Special Summon it… Then he used Metamorphosis to sacrifice it for Dark Balter the Terrible.

“That’s something, isn’t it? Of course, when Metamorphosis started to go on and off the Forbidden List with increasing frequency, he gave the strategy up…”

“You aren’t making me feel better…” growled Shapesnatch. “His deck likely had all Dark Monsters. If his deck had enough Earth Monsters to make it feasible, he’d probably have done the same trick with Giant Rat and that guy.”

He pointed to one of the Ancient Gear Engineers.

“At least he’s somewhat useful on his own.”

“Hey, buddy, it could be worse!” exclaimed Sam.

“Oh?” asked Shapesnatch. “How?”

“Well…”said Sam. “You could be a… Uhm… A Bolt Escargot. You could have the same problem AND be a big, ugly snail.”

Shapesnatch glared at her.

“Bolt Escargots are pretty much mindless,” it said. “So they really don’t mind the cruel hand they’ve been dealt. Ignorance is bliss, as they say…

“I once knew another Shapesnatch… Know what happened to it? It couldn’t take it anymore! It stole a Limiter Removal, used it on itself, and killed as many Spirits as it could before the Spell killed it.

“Now, Johnson finally gives me a decent job, making me foreman of this excavation. I can get a little respect from Monsters that are pretty dumb… But whenever anything smart comes to check up on the work, I still can’t get any respect!”

There was a long pause.

“So you admit that the Realm Lord is Johnson?” asked Yumi.

Shapesnatch’s eyes narrowed.

“Yeah…” it muttered. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that. And Daala has us digging up places at several sites around Xanadu. At some places, rare cards can be mined like gems. We’re looking for a specific one that Daala wants.”

Everyone looked at each other. Then Erik stepped forward.

“If Daala wants something important dug up,” he said, “then we want to stop her from getting it. We’re shutting this mine down.”

“By all means, try…” said Shapesnatch.

It held out its left arm, and a slot opened on it. A Duel Disk unfolded from out of its arm.

“When you’re a guy like me,” it said, “you’ve got a lot of pent-up aggression… And I’m just aching to take it out on someone.”

And even if this quarry is destroyed, I don’t care, it thought. Johnson treats me like dirt as much as anyone else. I deliberately let it slip that he was the Lord.

“Fine, Shapesnatch,” said Erik, as his Disk activated. “You don’t look so tough…”

“Well then, let’s pull out all the stops,” said the Machine. “Bring your Deck Lord out while you’re at it.

“You think I’m worthless? Well, that’s your perception.”

Erik’s deck glowed, and Blockman appeared behind him.

“We’re all set, Erik,” said Blockman. “My new ability is ready to go.”

Erik gave it a thumb’s up.

“And I’ll be my own Deck Lord,” said Shapesnatch.

“I know the drill,” said Erik.

“Drill?” said Shapesnatch. “THAT’S the drill!”

He pointed to the Labyrinth Tank behind him.

“Game on!” they shouted.

(Erik: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Shapesnatch: 8,000)

“Let’s go!” shouted Erik.

He drew a card, and looked over his hand. He chose a card.

“Thanks to Gadget Soldier,” he said, “my Deck Lord now has two abilities, but one of them I must activate on my first turn. I toss one Spell or Trap Card…”

He threw his Tragedy card into his discard slot.

“…and in return, I can take Toy Town from my deck, and activate it.”

In a flash of light, the quarry had been transformed into the fairy tale city, with its gingerbread houses and sugarplum trees.

“Now, I play a facedown, and summon Toy Soldier.”

A facedown card appeared, and then the little wooden soldier appeared. (800/300) –> (1,100/300)

“That’ll do for now…”

“Interesting…” said Shapesnatch, drawing a card.

It looked over its hand.

“I also play a facedown, and then summon Giant Rat.”

A facedown card appeared, and then a huge rodent, holding a skull in its claw appeared. (1,400/1,450)

“And I end my turn.”

Erik raised an eyebrow. He looked at his facedown card.

He didn’t attack… he thought. Smarter than I thought…

Oh well…

He drew a card.

“My Toy Soldier’s effect activates,” he said, “so I get to summon two more…”

Two more of the mini-militants appeared.

“Then I summon… Toy Wind-Up.”

The stronger, tin version of the Toy Soldier appeared, holding its blunderbuss. (1,000/700) –> (1,300/700)

“Now I activate, Shrink,” he said. “So my Wind-Up can stomp your Rat!”

He played the card, and Giant Rat shrank to half its size, and an Attack Score of 700.

I don’t know what he intends to summon with that Rat, he thought, but with my Mirror Force on the field, I think I can take my chances…

“Toy Wind-Up, attack with blunderbuss blast!”

The Wind-Up’s gun blasted with a boom, and Giant Rat was blown to bits. Shapesnatch shielded itself as the pieces flew past it.

(E: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,400)

“I use Giant Rat’s effect!” exclaimed Shapesnatch. “I can summon an Earth Monster with 1,500 or less Attack Points. So come on out, Sand Doodlebug!”

The ground started to rumble, and a huge creature burrowed up from underground. It sort of resembled a giant scorpion, with multiple legs and pincers. What really made it stand out was the fact that a huge claw was growing out of the back of its thorax, sticking upright. (1,200/800)

“What the?” said Sam. “An Insect? Mom never used this thing…”

“It doesn’t exactly fit in with Insect Decks,” said Shapesnatch.

“I’ll stomp your scorpion!” shouted Erik. “Since my Wind-Up damaged your Life Points, I get to Special Summon another one…”

A second Toy Wind-Up appeared. (1,000/700) –> (1,300/700)

“And that was just what I was waiting for…” said Shapesnatch.

His facedown card lifted, showing a Quickplay with the image of a broken wasteland.

“Demise of the Land,” said Shapesnatch. “I can activate this when you Special Summon a Monster. It lets me take a Field Spell from my deck and activate it.

“The Field Spell I choose… Is Wasteland.”

Toy Town crumbled into dust, and a desert even more parched and barren than the one they left appeared around the duelists.

“What the heck?” said Sam. “That makes no sense! Insects don’t benefit from Wasteland…”

“Mine does,” said Shapesnatch.

All five of Erik’s Monsters lost 300 Attack Points. Erik frowned.

“I end my turn!” he shouted. “That’s one ability wasted…”

“And that means I can do this…” said Shapesnatch.

The sand started to shift, and then, one of the three Toy Soldiers was pulled under. It sank under the sand, and disappeared.

“What gives?” shouted Erik.

“It’s one of Sand Doodlebug’s effects,” said Shapesnatch. “During each End Phase, it can destroy a Monster that’s Level Three or less.

“And it’s my move…”

It drew a card.

“I play Pot of Greed.”

It drew two cards. It took one of them.

“Next, I don’t like your facedown card. So I’m getting rid of it by playing Nobleman of Extermination.”

It played the card, and a huge sword crashed down on Erik’s Mirror Force, blowing it to splinters.

“If you have one, your Spell just took it out too!” shouted Erik.

Shapesnatch growled. He held up a copy of Mirror Force, and it burst into shards.

‘Easy come, easy go,” he said. “Next up, I summon Gamma the Magnet Warrior.”

He played the card, and one of Yugi Mouto’s signature Monsters appeared. It was the pink, blocky robot, with oversized hands and feet, wings on its back, and a big S on its chest.

“Due to my Field Spell, it gets a little boost.”

(1,500/1,800) –> (1,700/2,000)

“You know, I often wondered about that Monster,” said Erik. “Why does it have a big S on its chest? I mean, that isn’t the Greek symbol for Gamma.”

“Don’t know, don’t care,” said Shapesnatch. “Gamma, destroy one of those Toy Wind-Ups.”

Gamma flew forward, and punched the tin soldier. It shattered into pieces.

Boy, this guy needs an attitude adjustment, thought Erik.

“Sand Doodlebug, attack the other Wind-Up!” shouted Shapesnatch.

The Doodlebug’s big claw reached down, and grabbed a handful of sand. It launched the sand like a catapult, and the Wind-Up exploded.

“I end my turn… And again…”

The second Toy Soldier was pulled under the sand, and disappeared.

“Seems all you’ve got left is that last puny Soldier,” said Shapesnatch. “And it’ll be gone too once your next turn ends. Pathetic.”

(E: 7,100) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,400)

“Great…” muttered Chelsea. “He’s already losing…”

“He can turn it around!” said Sam, nervously.

She watched as Erik drew a card.

“C’mon, baby, turn it around…”

Erik looked at the card in his hand.

Man, this is bad, he thought. I thought this guy was about as serious as canned pizza… But this duel is as serious as any other duel in Xanadu.

If he summoned Gamma, then logic states that his ultimate goal is to summon Valkyrion… And as any of Yumi’s grandfather’s opponents would tell you, that would be pretty bad…

He looked at the Trap Card in his hand.

I’ll save this in case he manages to do so…

He took the card he had just drawn.

“I play my own Pot of Greed!” he shouted, as he played it.

He quickly drew two cards.

“All right!” he shouted. “My Soldier may be puny, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use him…

“I play Crowning of the Emperor! So I’ll sacrifice my last Toy Soldier…”

Toy Soldier vanished.

“…to bring out Toy Emperor!”

With a whinny, Toy Emperor rode onto the field on his steed. (2,300/800)

“Attack his Magnet Warrior!” he shouted.

Toy Emperor charged towards Gamma…

And then a sandstorm started, forming a wall of wind between him and his target. The toy monarch was thrown backwards.

“What happened?” asked Erik.

“Sand Doodlebug has another effect,” said Shapesnatch. “Once per round, when Wasteland is on the field, it can negate one attack.”

Oh, come on… thought Erik.

“I throw a card facedown,” he said, as a facedown card appeared, “and that will be all. And my Emperor is much higher than Level Three, in case you didn’t notice.”

Shapesnatch drew a card.

“Indeed,” said Shapesnatch.

It looked at the card it had drawn. It would have grinned if it had a mouth.

“I bring out Sangan,” it said.

He played a new card, and the spherical, three-eyed Fiend appeared. (1,000/600)

“Sangan, attack the Toy Emperor,” it said.

“Huh?” said Erik.

Sangan leapt at Toy Emperor. The monarch slashed with his sword, and it shattered. Shapesnatch cringed a little.

“Bad idea!” laughed Erik. “When Toy Emperor wins a battle, I get to take a Trap Card from my deck.”

A card slipped out of his deck and he took it.

A card slipped out of Shapesnatch’s deck as well.

“Maybe so,” it said, “but Monsters are much more reliable than Traps.

“You know, that’s one thing that guys like me never have to worry about… Bottomless Trap Holes. An advantage to having low Attack Points.

“Anyway, I’ll end with these.”

Two facedown cards appeared.

(E: 7,100) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 6,100)

Erik drew a card.

He looked over his hand.

“I’ll summon Toy Magician!” he shouted.

In a flash of light, the plastic, scepter-carrying Spellcaster appeared. (1,600/1,500)

“Attack Sand Doodlebug! Sparkle blast!”

Toy Magician aimed his staff at the huge Insect. Once again, the sandstorm rose, and Toy Magician was blown backwards.

“HA!” laughed Erik. “I got you now! You can only do that once per round!

“Toy Emperor, YOU attack Sand Doodlebug!”

Toy Emperor galloped towards the huge bug and stabbed it in the underbelly with his blade. Sand Doodlebug moaned, and then exploded into a burst of sand.

“Ergh…” muttered Shapesnatch.

“Once again,” said Erik. “I get a Trap Card from my deck…”

A card slipped out of his Disk.

“I’ll set two cards facedown, and that will be all.”

Two facedown cards appeared.

(E: 7,100) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 5,000)

“I don’t get it,” said Chelsea. “Why didn’t Erik attack Gamma? If he doesn’t get rid of it, Shapesnatch will be able to summon something much worse.”

“Don’t worry,” said Sam. “I think Erik has a plan…”

“I draw…” said Shapesnatch, drawing a card.

“And here goes my Trap!” shouted Erik, as a facedown card lifted. “I play Dust Tornado! And I think I’ll destroy your Field Spell!”

The Tornado tore across the field, causing a cloud of sand. After a few seconds, the barren desert vanished, returning them to the quarry.

“Is that so?” said Shapesnatch. “Well, it hardly matters…”

He showed Erik the three cards in his hand.

“…because I’m sacrificing Gamma along with Alpha and Beta in my hand to bring out the big guns!”

In a flash, two new Monsters appeared in front of him. One was a silvery droid, with a helmet shaped like a magnet, carrying a sword and shield. The other was a cute yellow droid with a magnet surrounding its head, and magnets for hands.

Then the three Magnet Warriors all split apart into pieces…

The pieces flew around, and then joined together, forming into a ten-foot-tall, faceless robot with wings, a sword, and magnets for joints. (3,500/3,850)

“That’s just what I was waiting for, Shapesnatch,” said Erik.

One of his facedown cards lifted.

“Go! Toy Cannon!”

The cannon appeared next to Toy Emperor, and the squad of Soldiers appeared and loaded it. They covered their ears as it went off with a boom, striking Valkyrion and sending it tumbling over. Shapesnatch was knocked over from the impact.

“And now that your Valkyrion has switched to Defense Mode,” said Erik, as his other facedown card lifted, “I activate Gulliver Chain!”

A mass of chains shot out of the ground, latching onto the Magna Warrior and tying it down.

“Seems I rendered your best Monster helpless,” said Erik, with a grin. “If you try to move it back to Attack Mode, those chains will rip it to pieces.

“Looks like your big plan was a big bust.”

(E: 7,100) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 4,600)

Shapesnatch got up.

“Then it seems I’ll just have to improvise…” it muttered.

One of his two facedown cards lifted.

“I activate Coins From Heaven!” it shouted.

Gold coins started to rain from the sky. Erik frowned. He quickly drew four cards, while his opponent drew six.

Shapesnatch chuckled.

“Before I use any of these,” it said. “I’m going to use my Deck Lord ability. Once per turn, I get to take any Dark Attribute Machine Type Monster from my deck that I want.”

“HUH?” shouted Yumi. “That’s pretty powerful!”

“It’s a Greater Power, Yumi,” said Shapesnatch, taking a card from its deck. “Make no mistake, I’m an excellent duelist. That’s why Johnson gave me this job. Most of my opponents make the mistake of underestimating me.

“Of course, this ability does have one drawback… If I don’t successfully summon the Monster by the end of my turn, it goes to the Graveyard.

“Anyway, the Monster I chose is one that has to be Special Summoned by sacrificing a Monster that’s at least Level Seven. So goodbye Valkyrion…”

The Magna Warrior vanished, taking the Gulliver Chain with it.

“…and hello Plasma Warrior Eitom!”



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



A huge, intimidating robot appeared where Valkyrion had been. It had black armor, oversized hands and feet, a mirrored panel on its chest, and an expressionless face with only a single optic sensor. It was clear that this Machine was the type that was programmed to fight with no emotions to hinder it. (3,000/1,600)

“I’m far from done,” said Shapesnatch, as his other facedown card lifted. “I activate Dark Factory of Mass Production. Now I get to take two Monsters from my Graveyard, so long as they’re Normal Monsters.”

Gama and Beta slipped out of his discard slot, and it took them.

“Next,” it said, taking a card from its hand, “I play Monster Reincarnation. I’ll toss this…”

It discarded a second Sand Doodlebug.

“…And I get Valkyrion back…”

He took the card from his discard slot.

“And since my Coins From Heaven let me draw my second Alpha, I can sacrifice the three Magnet Warriors in my hand to summon Valkyrion again!”

The three Magnet Warriors appeared on the field again. Once again, the broke into pieces, and once again, they pieced together into Valkyrion the Magna Warrior. (3,500/3,850)

“Not good…” muttered Erik.

“But wait, there’s more!” laughed Shapesnatch. “I play a second Wasteland!”

He played another Field Spell, and the arid desert returned. Valkyrion rose to (3,700/4,050)

“Valkyrion… Attack his Toy Emperor!”

The Magna Warrior flew at Toy Emperor…

“I activate my other Deck Lord effect!” shouted Erik. “I can use this three times… You get to draw one card, but my Emperor isn’t destroyed!”

Valkyrion’s sword slammed into Toy Emperor, and Erik hollered in pain.

Shapesnatch drew a card.

“Well then,” it said. “I guess I’ll activate Eitom’s effect then. If I cut its Attack Points in half, it can attack directly.”

Eitom fell to 1,500 Attack Points. It blasted a ray of energy from the panel on its chest, striking Erik. Erik screamed and fell down.

(E: 4,200) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 4,600)

“Erik!” shouted Sam. “Erik baby, please get up!”

“He doesn’t have to get up right away,” said Shapesnatch. “It’s still my turn, thanks to the free card he gave me.

“I sacrifice Valkyrion to summon the three Magnet Warriors to the field.

Valkyrion split into pieces. The pieces formed together into three humanoid shapes, forming Alpha (1,400/1,700) –> (1,600/1,900), Beta (1,700/1,600) –> (1,900/1,800), and Gamma (1,500/1,800) –> (1,700/2,000)

“Now, I’ll sacrifice them to summon a second Valkyrion.”

The three Warriors split apart and fused together again, forming the giant Valkyrion once more. (3,500/3,850) –> (3,700/4,085)

“Confused?” asked Shapesnatch, taking one of the two remaining cards in his hand. “I play Monster Reborn!”

The golden ankh appeared in the air, and the first Valkyrion appeared next to the new one in a flash of light. (3,500/3,850) –> (3,700/4,085)

“Two of them?” shouted Ren.

“Aw, man…” muttered Chelsea. “Erik’s in big trouble…”

“Heh, heh,” said Shapesnatch. “I guess that’s enough for one turn. It’s your move…”

I guess this guy is much more serious than canned pizza, thought Erik, as he drew a card.

He looked at the seven cards in his hand.

Let’s see here…

“Toy Emperor, Toy Magician, both of you take a breather and move to Defense Mode.”

Toy Magician knelt and held his scepter in his lap. Toy Emperor sheathed his saber, and his horse crouched down.

“Now, said Erik, “I remove one Spell Card from play…”

Crowning of the Emperor slipped out of his discard slot, and he pocketed it.

“…in order to summon Spell Striker.”

In a burst of light, the toy wizard in his cape and helmet appeared. (600/200)

“And now I’ll summon a friend of his… Meet Armor Breaker!”

He played a card, and a new toy Warrior appeared. This one had a huge helmet shaped like the head of a hammer. (800/800)

“You think those little guys can stand up to my titans?” asked Shapesnatch.

“I do,” said Erik. “Watch…”

Armor Breaker leapt up into the air and started spinning, changing shape. After a few seconds, he had turned into a big mallet. Spell Striker caught the mallet.

“By the way,” said Erik. “Spell Striker has the ability to attack directly.

“Get him!”

Spell Striker flew at Shapesnatch and bonked it on the head with the mallet. Shapesnatch grunted.

“There’s more,” said Erik. “When a Monster deals damage when swinging Armor Breaker, he gets to destroy one card on the field.”

Spell Striker slammed the hammer into the ground, and a shockwave shook the whole field. One of the two Valkyrion shattered into rocky pieces.

“You’ll pay for that…” growled Shapesnatch.

“I play a facedown, and end my turn,” said Erik.

A facedown card appeared.

(E: 4,200) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 4,000)

Shapesnatch drew a card.

“I summon Alpha the Magnet Warrior,” it said.

He played the card, and the first of the Magnet Warriors appeared. (1,400/1,700) –> (1,600/1,900)

“Eitom, attack him directly again!” it shouted.

Erik screamed again as he was hit by the beam.

“Now let’s see how dedicated you are to protecting your Monsters,” said Shapesnatch. “Alpha, attack Toy Emperor!”

Alpha flew at the Emperor.

“I use my Deck Lord’s effect again!” shouted Erik.

Alpha’s sword glanced off the Emperor’s wooden body. Shapesnatch grinned, and drew a card.

“Now Valkyrion attacks your Emperor,” it said.

Valkyrion flew at Toy Emperor.

“I hate to do it…” said Erik. “But I’ll use my last use…”

Valkyrion swung his sword, and the blow was deflected. Shapesnatch drew another card.

“That was three times,” said Shapesnatch. “Your Deck Lord is utterly worthless now. Unlike me… My true strategy remains to be revealed.

“To end my turn, I’ll set this.”

A facedown card appeared.

(E: 2,700) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 4,000)

Erik drew a card.

“Armor Breaker…” he said. “Separate from Spell Striker!”

The mallet flew from Spell Striker’s hand, and it changed shape again, turning back into the Warrior with the huge helmet. (800/800)

“Now, my Trap Card activates… Curse of Anubis!”

His facedown card lifted, and the ghostly form of the jackal god appeared over the field. He howled, and Spell Striker, Armor Breaker, Plasma Warrior Eitom, and Valkyrion all shifted into Defense Mode.

“This Trap Card moves all Effect Monsters to Defense Mode, and reduces their Defense Scores to zero.

“Next I play… Heavy Storm!”

He played the card, and violent wind tore across the field. Shapesnatch’s facedown Sakuretsu Armor card was blown to bits, and the Field Spell was swept up in a storm of dust.

“Now, I sacrifice Armor Breaker and Spell Striker…”

The two Warriors vanished into grains of light.

“To summon Puppet King!”

The hulking, royal puppet appeared, looming over Erik’s side of the field, standing almost as big as Valkyrion. (2,800/2,600)

“All right!” shouted Erik. “Attack Plasma Warrior Eitom with Majestic Checker!”

Moving incredibly fast for someone his size, Puppet King charged at Eitom, and slugged it hard with his fist. The robot exploded into fiery debris.

“I throw three cards facedown…” he said.

He threw his last three cards into his Disk, and three facedown cards appeared.

“And with that… I end my turn…”

Shapesnatch quickly drew a card.

“Heh, heh, heh, heh,” it chuckled. “I just drew the card that will spell your doom, Erik…It’s time to initiate the true strategy behind my deck.

“Now observe…

“Once again, I sacrifice Valkyrion to summon its three component Monsters.”

Valkyrion vanished, and once again Alpha (1,400/1,700), Beta (1,700/1,600), and Gamma (1,500/1,800) appeared.

“Next, I use my Deck Lord ability again. You remember how it works, right? I get to take any Dark Machine from my deck.”

It took a card from its deck.

“And now… I sacrifice my two Alphas to summon it.”

The two Alphas vanished into grains of light…

“Meet… The big SATURN!”

With a loud rumble, a huge Machine rose out of the ground. It was even bigger than Eitom, humanoid, but bulky, with seamless chrome armor, oversized limbs, and an energy aura around it. Clearly, it was a deadly machine. (2,800/2,200)

“What?” said Chelsea. “I don’t… I don’t get it… Why would he get rid of Valkyrion to summon a less powerful Monster?”

“Attack Points aren’t everything,” chuckled Shapesnatch. “When used right, this creature is far more powerful than Valkyrion.

“I’m activating its first effect right now. By discarding one card and paying 1,000 Life Points, I can increase its Attack Points by 1,000 for one round.”

It discarded a copy of Silent Doom, and The big SATURN glowed with dark energy. (3,800/2,200)

“Attack his Puppet King!” it shouted. “Cosmic rings!”

The Machine shot a volley of energy rings at Puppet King, and the Warrior exploded into shards. Erik groaned.

“Gamma, Beta, destroy his last two Monsters!”

Beta fired a beam of energy from his hands, and Toy Magician was vaporized. Then Gamma punched Toy Emperor, blowing him to shards.

(E: 1,700) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 3,000)

“Now, for the coup de grace,” said Shapesnatch. “I play the Spell Card, Shien’s Spy.”

He played the card, which and in an aura of mystical energy, a mysterious woman wearing a kimono, a straw hat, a veil over her face, and carrying a pack over her back appeared.

“Shien’s Spy’s spell transfer’s control of one of my Monster’s to your side of the field until the End Phase of the turn,” said Shapesnatch.

Erik looked shocked as The Big SATURN vanished and reappeared on his side of the field.

“What’s the point?” he asked.

“Simple,” said Shapesnatch, turning the last card in his hand around.

Erik’s eyes bugged out.

“Acid Rain?” he shouted. “That will destroy your robot!”

“But it’s considered yours right now,” said Shapesnatch. “And The big SATURN has another effect. When it’s destroyed by its opponent’s card effect, both players take damage equal to its base Attack Score.

“No…” said Sam. “If that’s true… Shapesnatch will still have 200 Life Points left… But…”

“But Erik won’t have any…” said Chelsea.

Shapesnatch played the card, and the Acid Rain card appeared on the field.

Dark, red clouds appeared in the sky, and four, dirty rain started to pour. The big SATURN started to rust and corrode…

Then it exploded in a mighty blast, and the explosion seemingly consumed the whole field.

“ERIK!” screamed Sam.

She collapsed, and tears fell down her cheeks.

The smoke started to clear. Shapesnatch appeared first, chuckling.

“Well, I guess that’s that…” it said.

Then Erik appeared out of the smoke. He was a little burned by the blast…

However…

(E: 900) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 200)

“HOW?” screamed Shapesnatch.

“Remember those three facedown cards I set on my last turn?” asked Erik. “I set them as bluffs, but they turned out to be just what I needed.

“One of them was Emergency Provisions, pal. And when you used Acid Rain, I chained it, sending those two other cards to the Graveyard to gain 2,000 Life Points, just as the blast hit.”

“Heh,” chuckled Shapesnatch. “Big deal. You have no Monsters left, and I have two of them!

“It’s your move… Just try to turn this around.”

Erik quickly drew a card.

He played it immediately. It appeared on the field.

It was Premature Burial.

Shapesnatch’s eyes widened.

Puppet King appeared again in an explosion of energy. (2,800/2,600)

“Crush his Gamma the Magnet Warrior,” shouted Erik. “Majestic Checker!”

Puppet King walloped Gamma, and the rocky android shattered into bits.

(E: 100) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 0)

The remaining Monsters disappeared.

“You lose, Shapesnatch,” said Erik, as Blockman glowed with energy. “Now if you don’t mind, we’ll be shutting this mining operation down.”

Shapesnatch chuckled.

“You folks are so naïve…” it said. “Did you really think that Daala would leave such an important project with no strong guards?”

Then it shattered into black pixels, that evaporated.

Erik turned to Blockman.

“What did it mean?” he asked.

Blockman shrugged.

Then the ground started shaking. The Machines that had been surrounding them ran to the edges of the quarry.

All six duelists quickly activated their Disks. Magician’s Valkyria, Getsu Fuhma, Zombie Master, Opticlops, and Topaz Tiger all appeared in bursts of energy.

Then a titanic creature rose from out of the ground where it had been buried. They had seen this Machine before, when Ares had ambushed them. But this time, the Ancient Gear Golem seemed like it was more than willing to fight. (3,000/3,000)

“Oh, great!” shouted Ren. “Now what?”

The Golem threw a punch, flattening Getsu Fuhma. Ren fell backwards from the impact.

It didn’t look good. The other Machines were forming a fighting stance behind the Golem, and were apparently ready to help as soon as it took care of their Monsters.

“Okay, Jesse…” muttered Yumi. “There better be some truth to that rumor you mentioned…”

Then her eyes glowed with golden light…

Then a roar echoed over the whole desert. The Golem paused…

The ground started shaking, like some huge creature was charging towards them…

A Monster just a big as Ancient Gear Golem leapt into the quarry. It looked like it was part Dinosaur and part Machine, with armor plating, surrounded by an electric aura. (3,300/1,400)

“Super Conductor Tyranno?” shouted Chelsea. “Where the heck did that come from?”

Ancient Gear Golem turned to face the Dinosaur, but it blasted a beam of electromagnetic energy from its jaws, and the Machine exploded into hot debris.

“I don’t know,” said Ren, drawing a card, “but I’m not complaining!”

Yumi played another card, and Magician’s Valkyria and Zombie Master vanished. Dark Magician appeared in a flash of light. He cast his dark Spell, and the Labyrinth Tank exploded.

The other Machines tried to flee, but they didn’t get far. Ren quickly summoned Dark Blade and Chelsea summoned Blood Sucker, and the huge Dinosaur and the six duelist’s Monsters quickly devastated Shapesnatch’s operation. In minutes, the quarry lay in burning ruins.

Super Conductor Tyranno didn’t stay to chat. It climbed out of the quarry and let out another roar before retreating.

“Yumi…” said Erik. “Did you… Did you…”

Yumi nodded.

“I seem to be able to communicate with the Spirits, Erik,” she said. “I just called it and asked for help, and it came. That must be what the Devil’s Fruit gave me… The ability to be in touch with the world of Spirits, and request their aid.

“We’ll just have to wait and see how we can use it to our advantage…”

She sighed.

“A strange world this is…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Daala frowned as she watched.

“I hope our insurance covers collision,” she muttered.

She turned to Skull Knight.

“Make sure that Shapesnatch is punished,” she muttered. “Telling them that Johnson was in charge was no slip of the tongue. I’m no idiot.”

“I’ll let them know,” said Skull Knight. “Incidentally, milady, when they get to the fortress, I think I’ll sit this one out… That Monster that Johnson uses…

“Well… It kinda gives me the creeps…”

“The Heralds tend to do that,” said Daala.

“Pardon?” he asked.

“That Monster is one of three Heralds,” said Daala. “Three beings who closely serve a greater cause that is the source of Xanadu’s power.

“Heck, it’s the source of your power.

“I’m not sure who at I2 thought them up… Only the bravest duelists use them… They, like you, get ‘the creeps’ from them. It’s said that these beings can see through the eyes of the holograms that bear their images every time they’re used.

“Freaky, huh?

“But not much scares Johnson, so he was willing to take three copies of one of them. And he’s… Heh, heh, ‘convicted’ six of Joan’s men using them.

“Anyway, you’re excused if you want, but you’re gonna miss the fun…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Ren drank the last of the water from his canteen, and it wasn’t enough to quench his thirst.

“That’s it…” he muttered. “If we don’t get there soon…”

Then a dust cloud started to rise, and the odd spatial effect of Xanadu warped the surroundings again.

Before and above them was their goal. It looked like an old frontier-style military fort, surrounded by a wall made out of logs.

“Well…” said Yumi. “We’re here…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Nicholas and Olga were sitting in Domino City Park. Nicholas had bought a bag of popcorn, but he was feeling so worried right now, he was throwing most of it to the pigeons.

His cell phone rang.

“Sheena?” he said, answering it.

“Listen up, Nicholas,” said Sheena. “I found out where this Ting lives, and it wasn’t easy. The reason I couldn’t find a phone number was because he doesn’t own a phone!”

“No phone?” exclaimed Nicholas.

“He apparently lives in one of Domino’s quieter suburbs,” said Sheena. “He conducts every interaction with others via a broadband internet line. He rarely even leaves his house. His servants run errands for him, and when he needs to see a doctor or similar professional, he knows ones that make house calls.”

“This guy must be loaded,” said Nicholas.

“Incredibly,” said Sheena. “I was able to do some hacking, and he has several bank accounts, one of which has over ten billion yen. As for how he made his money, he holds a lot of patents on a lot of software that’s used globally by powerful corporations, including several that KaibaCorp installed in its computers.”

“So he’s loaded and a genius,” said Nicholas.

“Yes,” said Sheena. “His IQ measured 170 when it was last tested.”

Nicholas let out a low whistle. He had once read that Einstein’s IQ was believed to be in that area.

“And he’s also a genius in virtual reality technology, so we may have found our answer.

“Now Nicholas, I’ll give you the means to get to his house, but be very careful. This is not some thug. This is a respected scientist who once worked for the government. If you accuse him of wrongdoing without proof, he may not stand for it.”

“Okay, Sheena, okay…” said Nicholas. “We’ll be careful…

“Very careful…”

* * * * * * * * * *

GULLIVER CHAIN (Trap Card)

Continuous Trap

Image: A group of Toy Soldiers amid a tangle of chains.

Card Description: You can activate this card when the battle position of an opposing Monster switches. Place that Monster in Defense Position. If that Monster switches to Attack Position while this card is in play, destroy the Monster and this card.

Note: “Gulliver Chain” was first used by Bonaparte in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “Dormitory Demolition”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



SAND DOODLEBUG (Monster Card)

Card Specs


Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 4
ATK: 1,200
DEF: 800


Card Description: During each End Phase of each players’ turn that this card is face-up on your side of the field, you can destroy a face-up Monster that is Level Three or lower. If “Wasteland” is face-up on the field, you can negate one attack from your opponent per round.

Note: “Sand Doodlebug” was first used by The Rock Spirit in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “Sub-Desert Duel”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



PLASMA WARRIOR EITOM (Monster Card)

Card Specs


Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 8
ATK: 3,000
DEF: 1,600


Card Description: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This card can only be Special Summoned by offering a Monster that is Level Seven or higher on your side of the field as a Tribute. This card may attack your opponent directly. If this card attacks directly using its effect, reduce its ATK by half during damage calculation.

Note: “Plasma Warrior Eitom” was first used by Bastion in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “Magnetic Personality”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



THE BIG SATURN (Monster Card)

Card Specs


Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 8
ATK: 2,800
DEF: 2,200


Card Description: This card cannot be Special Summoned from your hand or deck. Discard one card in your hand to the Graveyard and pay 1,000 Life Points to increase the ATK of this card by 1,000 until the End Phase of the turn. This effect can be used once per turn, during your Main Phase. If this card is destroyed by a card effect controlled by your opponent and is sent to the Graveyard, both players lose Life Points equal to this card’s base ATK.

Note: “The big SATURN” is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States.



Erik’s Deck Lord: “Blockman”: “Toy Blocker”: Three times per duel, you can negate a “Toy” Monster’s destruction as a result of battle (damage calculation still applies). If you use this effect, your opponent gets to draw one card. (Minor Power) “Realm of Toys”: You must use this effect on your first turn. Discard one Spell or Trap Card in your hand in order to take one “Toy Town” from your deck and activate it. (Minor Power)



Shapesnatch’s Deck Lord: “Infernal Machinery”: Once per round, you may take a DARK Machine-Type Monster from your deck and add it to your hand. You must summon or set this Monster on the turn you search for it. If you do not, send it to the Graveyard. (Greater Power)



Coming up next:

As both Joan and Daala have said, the Burnt Paradise is a very valuable Realm. It stands to reason then, that the Realm Lord that Daala has assigned as its governor is a very powerful duelist.

Both Gansley and Krump got much better while they were in hiding, and as you just heard, Johnson did as well. As Ren soon discovers, the one-time legal advisor for KaibaCorp has a deadly strategy that will push him to his limits.

It’s all coming up in a chapter that I just had to call “Chaos Theory”, coming soon.



Name that Card!

If I were Shapesnatch, I’d know that there was one other Monster I could find to commiserate with. This one that was never released for the TCG is also Level Five, with the same ATK and DEF as Shapesnatch… But it’s a Spellcaster. Can you name it?

[Shuppet Master]

I think I'll sit this quiz out. I don't feel like going to find the ATK and DEF values of Shapesnatch. Great duel, though... that Duel Spirit is one deadly customer as a Deck Lord and a duelist.

So, we're just about to meet that crooked lex-lawyer, Johnson, and Ren's up for dueling him. Now that the heroes know that Krump was looking for something in Chelsea, they might start rushing the duels to keep Johnson, Nesbitt, and that other guy from finding out who has the key.

I have a feeling Sam or Erik has this "Key" in them, but the Key to what? Maybe that horrifying Dark World fiend that Daala is looking for?

Keep it up, Brian.

[Inferno_Dragon]

Can't remember the last time I replied on here but I don't care. This fanfic is going well. The Decklords are awesome and the duels are fantastic. I can't wait until the duel with Johnson. I am interested how it will be different it will be. I remember Johnson's appearance and duel in The Thousand Year Door. Most people weren't fond of that duel but I liked it. Of course, Ren's Decklord will have a different ability so it might be different. Hopefully Johnson had interesting ability other than his regular one. Keep up the good work, DS.

[Dark Sage]

Okay, I'll respond to these messages:

First, this is Shapesnatch:

As you can see, for a Level Five Monster with no effect, its vital stats are pretty terrible. This card has been the butt of many jokes in many forums for years.

The duel with Johnson in TYD is one that I'd like to forget. I even skipped the chapter when I puplished the fic on fanfiction.net. I can assure you that this time, his strategy will have changed completely, and it won't be a repeat of that incident.

Anyway, as for what the Key is, keep reading. This is something I won't reveal for a long time.

- DS

[Dark Sage]

What Spellcaster-Type Monster has just as much reason as Shapesnatch to be upset? If you said “LaMoon”, you were successfully able to Name that Card!



Evil comes in many forms, and takes many shapes. It shows many faces, and wears many masks. Most would say that those who break the law, stealing from others or committing crimes of violence against them, are evil men.

But some would say that a worse evil exists than criminals. This evil lies in men who work within the laws of a society, and manipulate it for their own selfish and greedy reasons.

The member of the Big Five known as Johnson, KaibaCorp’s legal advisor, was one such man. In every case he presided at, he really didn’t care much about guilt or innocence. His job was to ensure that his side won. He knew where to find the loopholes in the law and the technicalities that would ensure that the case would go as he desired. If all else failed, he wasn’t above perjury to win a case, and he knew how to avoid being caught.

Johnson thus believed that he was above the law, much like all of the Big Five did, so he challenged Joey Wheeler, knowing that he could use Noah’s virtual technology to rig the results of any card that depended on randomness or chance. Ironically, in the one gamble that he couldn’t rig, he was beaten at his own game, and defeated.

Not many of my cards depend on chance to function, but I have a feeling that Johnson is hiding a dark secret this time.

Can it be that he is attempting to decipher the law in a concept that defies Law itself?

Only time will tell…

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR



Chaos Theory

Everyone looked up at the very large, fenced-in, wooden structure.

“Hmm…” said Erik. “If I know my American history… It looks kinda like the type of fort used by the Confederate army in the American Civil War.”

“Johnson built a fortress resembling those of a rebel nation in order to fight against Joan’s rebellion,” muttered Ren. “And I thought he was a hypocrite before…”

Chelsea looked up at the guard towers. They were empty.

“No guards?” she said.

Erik pushed at the front gate. It opened slightly.

“And the front gate is unlocked,” he said.

“People I’ve seen landfills that smelled better than this,” said Yumi.

“Well, we can’t just stay out here,” said Sam. “Even if this is… Obvious…”

Yumi nodded.

“We’re gonna have to fight regardless,” she said, opening the gate, “so everyone just stay close and watch your backs.”

They walked inside, into a large parade ground. The main building was to their left…

…and to their right was a large, metal pen. They were surprised to see that it was holding prisoners inside.

“What the…?” said Yumi.

She motioned, and everyone ran up to the pen. Six haggard-looking prisoners – four boys and two girls – were inside, and they had clearly seen better days. They sat up when they saw Jesse.

“Jesse?” said one of them.

“I know these guys!” said Jesse. “Mark… Kammy… Did Johnson do this to you?”

The one who he addressed first sighed and nodded.

“He’s gotten incredibly powerful,” he said. “I barely even knew what hit me… Such power…”

“What?” said Ren. “What sort of deck is he using?”

“Behind you!” shouted another one of the prisoners.

They turned around.

“Yep,” said Ren. “This was a trap all right.”

Facing them were eight Duel Spirits. They recognized six of them right away – three Swamp Battleguards and three Lava Battleguards.

The last two seemed to be two creatures who had some authority. One was a sinister-looking figure in dark armor, a red cape, and a white fright mask covering his face, holding a scythe. The other was a woman wearing armor shaped like a dragon (wings included) holding two swords.

“Kamionwizard and Dragoness the Wicked Knight,” muttered Yumi. “The two Fusion Monsters Johnson used against my grandfather.”

“And we were happy to help when he set up shop in Xanadu,” said the Kamionwizard. “Now, do you folks want to do this the easy way or the hard way?”

“We can take these guys,” said Sam.

“Uh, Sam?” said Ren. “The Battleguards are kinda old, but I think I remember how they work… The Swamp Battleguards gain 500 Attack Points for each Lava Battleguard, and vice versa. That would give the Swamp Battleguards each an Attack Score of… 3,300?”

The six Battleguards chuckled, and tapped their clubs against their palms.

Ren turned to the two Fusion Monsters.

“To answer your question,” he said, “it depends. Will the ‘easy way’ involve being able to avoid dealing with you guys and getting straight to your boss?”

Kamionwizard nodded.

“He’s very anxious to meet you all,” he said.

“Then how can we say no?” said Ren.

* * * * * * * * * *

As this was happening, Noriko was driving a limousine through the more rural parts of Domino. Nicholas and Olga were riding in the back.

“So what’s the plan this time Nicholas?” asked Olga.

Nicholas sighed.

“I’m not exactly sure,” said Nicholas. “I’m leaning towards posing as encyclopedia salesmen.”

“That’s not gonna work, Nicholas,” said Olga. “People this rich don’t listen to salesmen. They throw catalogues away unless they’re selling things that cost at least five-hundred thousand dollars. Maybe we should just… I dunno, be honest with him.”

“And where will that get us?” asked Nicholas. “What if he’s working for Daala? We won’t get past the front door!”

“If he’s working for Daala, he may let something slip,” said Olga. “If we find out anything we can use at this point, it will be beneficial.

“And besides, this guy is a duelist… Maybe he’ll agree to settle it with us that way…”

“That’s likely the best we can hope for…” sighed Nicholas.

* * * * * * * * * *

Everyone in Yumi’s party pretty much expected the place where the two Fusion Monsters led them two. The main chamber was set up like a courtroom, albeit a very old-fashioned one.

Yumi noticed the flagpole. The flag wasn’t of any nationality she recognized. It had a black field, with an odd symbol – a white infinity sign with an arrow pointing downward through the middle.

“Be seated,” said Dragoness, pointing to the spectators’ seats.

The Battleguards stood over them as they sat down. Dragoness stepped to the spot where the bailiff usually stood in a court proceeding. She stashed her two weapons on her back.

“Hey, Chelsea,” said Ren, “this reminds me of a funny one I heard the other day… A lawyer, a rabbi, and Elvis walk into a bar…”

“No lawyer jokes!!” shouted Kamionwizard.

“Well excuse me…” said Ren.

“All rise,” said Dragoness.

The six duelists just looked at her. They didn’t get up.

“So much for formalities,” she muttered, as a door behind her opened. A pair of glowing red eyes appeared in it.

“This court is now in session, the honorable Judge Man presiding.”

For a Monster who was very outdated, the one who entered was quite intimidating. He was eight feet tall, and incredibly muscular. His clothing suggested royal finery, with a cape and high collar, and a crown with a cross-like symbol in front. His face was brutish, however, with upward-pointing fangs and an ugly frown.

“Well, Johnson,” said Ren, “I’m guessing this is why you chose Battleguards as henchmen. Hang around them, and they make you look less ugly in comparison. I’d say it didn’t work.”

Johnson frowned even more as he took a seat on the judge’s bench.

“You aren’t the first one to mock my looks, Reginald,” he said. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told those six duelists you met out in the courtyard…

“Be wary of having so sharp a tongue, lest you cut your own throat.”

“Yeah,” said Ren, standing up. “Well, I’m really sick of you guys and what you’ve been doing to these poor duelists. I’m guessing that since Xanadu is another dimension, you think you can completely disregard the Geneva Convention.”

He got up, and walked to the witness stand.

“All Xanadu is under Daala’s rule is a terrorist nation. You work for her, and that makes you guilty of being an accessory to everything she has done. You may be Judge Man on the outside, but on the inside you’re an Archfiend to serving a pretty powerful Infernalqueen.”

“You take that back!” shouted Johnson.

“No,” said Ren. “I’m not afraid of you in the least, just because you’re sitting at that judge’s bench pretending it makes you all-powerful. I don’t know what happened to you five after Noah’s world blew up and where you’ve been all this time, and frankly, I don’t care! I don’t care if the five of you broke out of the fiery bowels of Hell itself, but we’re gonna send you back there!”

“Uh, boss…” said Dragoness, looking a little nervous. “Can I go use the lady’s room?”

“What’s the matter, bailiff?” asked Johnson. “If a defendant intimidates you so much, perhaps I should get a new bailiff.”

The Wicked Knight slunk back against the wall. Johnson turned to Ren.

“Such strong words,” he said Johnson. “Very well, Reginald, if you think such things, I’ll give you a chance to prove them.

“This duel will come to order. State of Xanadu versus Reginald Marris…”

He paused.

“Uhm, will the court reporter please start doing what he’s supposed to be doing?”

Kamionwizard moaned, and then sat at a desk next to the bench where a high-tech typewriter was positioned.

“This… is… embarrassing…” he muttered.

Johnson reached down and grabbed him by the throat.

“You either do it,” whispered Johnson, “or you can explain to Daala why it wasn’t done…”

He released the Spellcaster. Kamionwizard gulped, and turned the typewriter on. Ren glared at him.

“Nice guy,” whispered Sam. “It’s a wonder why these Spirits even put up with this garbage.”

“Don’t worry,” said Yumi. “They’re afraid of Daala now. But once Joan gets even stronger, most of them will realize that they don’t have to take it. Joan will offer them a much better option.

“And I think that speech that Ren gave might have given everyone here a little doubt. That may be what he intended to do. Causing discord among enemy troops is always a good strategy.”

“How does the defendant plead?” asked Johnson.

“Guilty with an explanation,” said Ren.

“And what explanation would that be?” asked Johnson.

“I’m not guilty,” said Ren.

Ren’s allies started to laugh. Then the six Battleguards started to laugh too. Johnson scowled.

“Heh, you gotta admit,” said Kamionwizard, “that was kinda funny…”

“Who asked you?” shouted Johnson.

He turned to Ren.

“You think this is a joke?”

“No more of a joke than you thinking you’re a judge,” muttered Ren, leaning on the witness stand. “Or thinking that you even deserved to be a lawyer.

“Well, fine. If we’re going to play by this farce, Johnson, I’d like to request a dismissal, on the grounds that the judge is corrupt.”

“WHAT?” shouted Johnson.

“Let’s face it, Johnson,” said Ren, “you aren’t exactly the most trustworthy opponent. I know all about what happened with you and Yumi’s grandfather.”

Johnson leaned his head on his hand and sighed.

“They always remind you of the dumb things you did in the past…” he muttered.

He lifted his head and cleared his throat.

“A valid concern, perhaps,” he said. “However, you may remember, due to the alleged cheating…”

“Alleged?” shouted Yumi.

“Fine, due to the cheating, I was caught,” continued Johnson. “You will notice from the evidence outside that I have won at least six duels since being appointed governor of the Burnt Paradise. Don’t you think that if I was still cheating, I would have been caught again by now?”

“Dunno,” said Ren, with a yawn. “Maybe Daala approves of cheating more than Noah did.”

“I’ll make you all a deal,” said Johnson. “If your friends can find any proof of wrongdoing on my part during these proceedings, I’ll rule in your favor, and reverse the sentences of the six duelists outside.”

“Fine, Johnson,” said Jesse.

He took his deck and started to shuffle it.

“It’s a deal. And I have someone in my deck who will make sure you keep that promise.”

Johnson looked a little nervous.

“Whatever,” he said. “I can duel fair and square, after all…”

Especially with the power that Daala has given me, he thought, looking at his deck. If he knew what the three copies of the Monster I had could do, he’d change his plea to guilty.

“Is your lawyer ready to give testimony?” asked Johnson.

“If you mean my Deck Lord,” said Ren, standing up straight, “she’s right here.”

Penumbral Soldier Lady appeared behind him in a dark aura.

“And as for me,” said Johnson, “as you know doubt can see, I’ve taken the form of Judge Man.”

Chelsea looked nervously at Johnson.

“He can beat this guy, Chelsea,” said Sam.

“He has to be careful,” said Chelsea. “I know the powers he had in Noah’s world… They didn’t exactly make the duel a fair fight…

‘Not to mention that we’re playing with rules that give each duelist an 8,000 Life Point total now. Having to pay 1,000 of them to use that effect isn’t as expensive a cost as it was back then.”

The two Disks activated. Ren noticed that Johnson’s Disk was only slightly different – it looked like a standard Disk made of black metal.

“Game on,” said Johnson.

(Ren: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Johnson: 8,000)

“Since the prosecution makes its case before the defense,” said Johnson, “it’s my draw.”

He drew a card.

“First up, I’ll summon Hysteric Fairy,” he said.

In a flash of light, the fussy-looking, bespectacled angel holding a tome appeared in front of him. (1,800/500)

Yumi lifted an eyebrow.

Odd, she thought. That’s the exact same opening move he used last time…

“Next, a Spell Card,” said Johnson, as a card appeared in front of him. “Double Summon. This gives me a second Normal Summon this turn.

“So I’ll also summon Shadowslayer.”

A creeping, dark shadow fell across his side of the field, and a fiendish figure emerged, in a crouching position. It was an assassin with a horse’s skull for a head, in a leather guerilla outfit, holding a long blade. (1,400/200)

“Eh?” said Ren. “A Fairy AND a Fiend? Where’s the common thread?”

“You’ll see,” said Johnson, taking two more cards. “I’ll end with two facedown cards.”

Two facedown cards materialized.

“Your witness.”

“Uh, I take it that means it’s my turn,” muttered Ren, drawing a card.

“I summon Dark Blade!”

The knight in dark armor leapt up in front of him. (1,800/1,500)

“Now, with a little help from my Deck Lord, I can pay 800 Life Points to increase his Attack Score by the same amount for one round. So say goodbye to your Fairy!”

Penumbral Soldier Lady and Dark Blade glowed with shadowy energy, and Dark Blade rose to an Attack Score of 2,600. He thrust forward with his sword, and Hysteric Fairy screamed before falling backwards and shattering.

(R: 7,200) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 7,200)

“I’ll set this,” said Ren, as a facedown card appeared, “and then you can go.”

“Very well,” said Johnson, drawing a card.

He smirked a little when he saw what it was. He added it to his hand and chose another one.

“I’ll set a Monster in Defense Mode, and then move Shadowslayer to Defense Mode as well.”

A facedown Monster appeared. Shadowslayer sheathed its sword and then knelt and crossed its arms.

“My move,” said Ren, drawing a card.

He looked over his hand.

“I’ll…” he said, reaching for a card.

Then he stopped short.

“Uh, then again… Check that…

“Dark Blade, attack Shadowslayer!”

Dark Blade made another swipe with his sword, and the Fiend assassin shattered.

“Think I’ll set another card facedown, and that will be all for me…”

A second facedown card appeared.

Johnson chuckled as he drew a card.

“Tell me, Reginald,” he said. “Have a bad hand? Shadowslayer has a weak Defense… You could have taken out both my Monsters if you had summoned a second one of yours…”

“None of your business,” muttered Ren.

“Oh… wait…” said Johnson. “I think I see the problem… You’re afraid of what I’m capable of, right? You remember how I was able to wipe out a whole opposing side way back when I dueled Yumi’s grandfather.

“Well, let me come clean with you… I wouldn’t want you to think I was some sort of liar…”

“Too late for that, Johnson,” said Ren.

Johnson frowned again.

“The truth is,” said Johnson, “I lost that power a long time ago. I gave it up for something far more useful.”

Yumi raised her eyebrow again.

More useful than the ability to destroy all his opponent’s Monsters, she thought, AND deal direct damage in the process?

His new Deck Lord ability must be pretty exceptional…

“It’s my move,” said Johnson, “and I’m activating my facedown cards.

“First, Call of the Haunted.”

The floor in front of him burst open, and Shadowslayer rose to the surface.

“Next,” he said, as his second facedown card lifted, “Inferno Reckless Summon.”

In two bursts of dark energy, two more Shadowslayers appeared. (1,400/200 x3)

Two more Dark Blades appeared on Ren’s side of the field. (1,800/1,500 x3)

“What is Johnson up to?” asked Chelsea.

“I dunno,” said Sam. “If Ren’s Monsters were in Defense Mode, those guys could attack him directly. But Ren’s Monsters are clearly in Attack Mode.”

“That will be all,” said Johnson.

Ren quickly drew a card.

His eyes opened wide as he saw who it was.

I finally drew it! he thought. But… should I use this guy?

“Ren,” said a voice.

It came so suddenly that Ren almost dropped his cards. It was a deep, commanding voice that seemed to come from the card itself.

“Did you talk?” he whispered.

“Indeed,” said the voice. “Listen well, Ren…

“My name was once Burgundy… The General of Total Defense. When the armies of the Supreme King swept across the lands of my home dimension, subjugating and enslaving all in their path, I did my best to protect my small part of it…

“In this effort, I failed…

“I’ve been wandering the dimensions for some time, trying to regain physical form. It’s harder than you might think…”

“I’ll bet…” said Ren.

“But, when you added this card to your deck, your duel energy was like a beacon that drew me to it. I can’t fight as a general any more, but if I can help you and your friends free Xanadu from its vile curse, perhaps my strength will return…”

Ren looked at the card.

“I understand…” he said.

“All right, Johnson!” he shouted, “I sacrifice one Dark Blade…”

The Warrior in the middle vanished.

“…for Total Defense Shogun!”

A much larger, much more hulking Warrior appeared. He was dressed in the armor of a barbarian, with large metal shoulder pads and a cape, holding a huge sword and an even larger shield. (1,550/2,500)

“He’s not the strongest Level Six Monster for attacking, but when I summon him, he moves right into Defense Mode.”

The Shogun knelt, and held up his shield.

“And guess what, Johnson? He can attack even when he’s in Defense Mode!

“Attack his facedown Monster!”

Then Shogun slashed with his sword, sending a blade of energy towards the facedown card. A winged cherub appeared on the card, and shattered.

“You flipped my Skelengel,” said Johnson. “Now I get to draw once.”

He made a draw.

“Dark Blades,” said Ren, “take out two of his Shadowslayers!”

The two Dark Blades charged at two of the Fiends, and they were cut down.

“Ugh…” muttered Johnson.

(R: 7,200) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 6,400)

“Your move, Johnson,” said Ren.

Johnson quickly made a draw.

“Mokey Mokey,” said a voice.

“Huh?” said Johnson.

He looked up, and saw that a Mokey Mokey had flown into the chamber.

“Mokey Mokey,” it said.

“Order!” shouted Johnson, slamming his gavel on his bench. “Bailiff, apprehend that creature!”

Dragoness made a rush for the little Fairy, but it turned tail and fled the way it came before she reached it.

“If we may continue without any further interruptions,” muttered Johnson, taking the card he just drew, “I play Offerings to the Doomed.”

Oh no! thought Ren. Now he can destroy one of my Monsters!

“Shadowslayer,” said Johnson, “you are dismissed.”

As he played the card, his last Shadowslayer burst in an explosion of dark shards.

Ren gave him a funny look.

“You destroyed your own Monster?” shouted Ren. “Why?”

“So I can summon my star witness,” said Johnson. “A creature who represents the dark side of the force of Chaos… A force of incredible destruction…”

“Johnson!” shouted Yumi, standing up. “If you’re planning to summon Chaos Emperor Dragon, that card is illegal!”

“Whoever said I was going to summon him?” asked Johnson. “I would never dream of it… That thing scares even me. The Monster I’m going to summon is perfectly legal.

“But before I summon him, I’m going to use my Deck Lord ability. It’s called Evidence Locker, and I can use it three times per duel total. I get to take any card from my hand, deck, or Graveyard, and place it on the top of my deck.”

A card slipped out of his deck, and he placed it on top.

“Now…” said Johnson. “I remove one Light Fairy and three Dark Fiends in my Graveyard from play…”

Hysteric Fairy and the three Shadowslayers appeared behind him, and vanished into grains of light. The room darkened…

“…in order to summon… Sky Scourge Norleras!”

A cold chill wafted across the room as the new Monster appeared. The Fiend – of this there was no doubt – was muscular, and had black, scaly skin, a bare skull for a face with two diabolic horns, and wings that seemed to be made of tattered leather. It had no legs; below the waist was only a shadowy mist. It didn’t make a sound – it simply glared at Ren in ominous silence. (2,400/1,500)

“What in the world?” said Yumi.

“Personally…” said Chelsea, “I would have preferred to see the Dragon.”

“Sam…” said Erik. “What the heck is that?”

“I have no idea, Erik,” said Sam. “And I thought I was an expert on Fiends…”

Ren looked nervously at the creature. He looked at his two facedown cards.

What am I worried about? he thought. Unless it’s immune to Traps, my Sakuretsu Armor will handle it… And even if it is, my Rush Recklessly will destroy it… And even if that doesn’t work, it can’t beat my Shogun’s Defense…

“Now…” said Johnson, “I activate Norleras’s ability. By paying 1,000 Life Points, I can send every card on the field and in each player’s hand to the Graveyard.”

“Say WHAT?” shouted Ren.

Norleras’s eyes glowed with fiery pinpoints, and it started to burn with a bonfire of black flames…

It burst in a shadowy explosion, and Ren shielded himself as his three Monsters and the cards in his hand were vaporized.

“Sorry, Burgundy…” he muttered.

And then he chuckled.

“Boy, Johnson…” he said, “I’ve seen some dumb moves before, but that one takes the cake! Norleras even took itself out! You’re totally defenseless now!

“And it’s my move…”

He reached for his deck.

Then Johnson slammed his gavel down.

“Objection!” shouted Johnson. “I did not end my turn.”

“But…” said Ren. “You have no more cards to play…”

Johnson chuckled.

“Norleras’s effect also allows me to make one draw,” said Johnson.

Ren’s eyes opened in horror.

“The card you put on top of your deck with your Deck Lord effect…” he whispered.

Johnson drew a card. He held it up.

“It’s a very powerful Spell,” said Johnson, “which works perfectly with Norleras… And I intend to use it…

“I play Dimension Fusion! It costs me 2,000 more Life Points, but now both players are able to readmit every witness that’s been removed from play. You have none, but as you recall, I just removed four of my own to summon Norleras.”

In four bright flashes of light, Hysteric Fairy (1,800/500) and all three Shadowslayers (1,400/200 x3) appeared in front of him.

“Still think it was a dumb move?” asked Johnson. “For someone who was so vocal a while ago, you don’t seem to be saying much now.”

Ren started to sweat…

“In most courts of law,” said Johnson, “badgering a witness is generally frowned upon. However, in my court, it’s encouraged.

“All of you, attack him directly.”

Hysteric Fairy adjusted its glasses, and fired a beam of pure light from them, striking Ren in the chest. He screamed.

He barely had a chance to get up before the three Shadowslayers pounced and slashed at him with their swords.

Ren fell to his knees, clutching his chest.

“REN!” shouted Chelsea.

(R: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 3,400)

“The prosecution rests,” said Johnson. “Make your move, if you can.”

* * * * * * * * * *

In a quiet suburb outside Domino, a large but modest manor house rested. Neighbors rarely saw the owner. The only human they regularly saw on the grounds was a professional gardener who came every two weeks to mow the lawn.

The limousine pulled up to the front gate.

“This is the address,” said Noriko.

“We don’t know how long we’ll be,” said Nicholas.

“It’s okay,” said Noriko. “I’m well occupied, thanks to a little thing called XM radio.”

Nicholas and Olga went up to the well-secured front gate, which held a speaker box with a buzzer. A sign said: No solicitors. Visitors please ring bell.

Nicholas looked at the box, and then pushed the button.

After a few seconds, a gruff voice said, “May I help you?”

“Uh, we’d like to see Mr. Ting, if that’s possible,” said Nicholas.

“For what purpose?” asked the voice.

Nicholas cleared his throat.

“Xanadu…” he said.

There was a long pause.

“Wait one minute, and I’ll ask him,” said the voice.

They waited one minute, but there was no response. After five minutes, they started to wonder if there would be any.

Then, the gate unlatched, and swung open.

“Come in,” said the voice.

Nicholas looked at Olga, and shrugged. They walked to the front door.

The front door opened, and the two teenagers stepped back in shock. The man who had opened it was huge. He was seven feet tall, and incredibly muscular. The top of his head was completely bald, but he had a neatly trimmed goatee. He had tanned skin and features that suggested the Middle East. He wore a black formal suit and tie (clearly, it had been custom tailored) and sunglasses.

The man looked at them for a few seconds.

“Follow me, please…” he said.

They followed him into the house.

Okay… thought Olga. We go looking for a reclusive millionaire genius, and we find out that he has a butler who can likely break a man in two with his bare hands… What have we gotten ourselves into?



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



Ren slowly crawled to his feet.

“You know, Johnson…” he muttered. “There’s something funny about this whole setup…”

“Funny?” asked Johnson.

“Well, not ha-ha funny,” said Ren, “but more ironic funny. See, you may not have been the most moral lawyer, but you still studied in order to be one. You practiced law, Johnson. I’m guessing you must have at least gone to law school.

“I find it ironic that your strategy now is the exact opposite of Law… You’re reduced to using Chaos.”

“I admit it might seem a bit... odd,” said Johnson. “But I like to think of Chaos as the ultimate challenge of Law. Some say that you can actually find laws that define how Chaos works, as much of a contradiction as that may seem.

“You ever hear of Chaos Theory?”

“Chaos Theory?” said Ren. “You mean… Like the Butterfly Effect?”

“No…” muttered Johnson. “The Butterfly Effect is stupid in practice when people take it literally. There’s no way that a fly sneezing in Prague is going to make it rain in Guatemala. It’s meant as a metaphor.

“However, there are several theories that are used to predict outcomes when something seems random or even chaotic. I personally believe that nothing occurs entirely by chance. Even the Abyss must have some sort of rules that govern it, and if we search hard enough, we may eventually find them.

“Once you know the laws, you know how things work. To know the laws is to know power.”

“People like you only want to learn laws so you can learn how to break them…” said Ren.

“A common misconception,” said Johnson. “When you know how laws work, you don’t have to break them. You’re able to use them, so they benefit you in all areas.

“Finding the laws in what seems to be the lawless part of the universe is the finals step. The last step in knowing how everything works. And it is my belief that once you know all the laws for how everything works, you’ll… well, you’ll know everything.”

“And what will you do then, Johnson?” asked Ren. “Rule the world?”

“Give me time,” said Johnson. “After all, I have the body of a Duel Spirit now… My lifespan is virtually without limit. I have years and years to study laws unlike any I ever had before.

“But that’s to come, and this is now… It’s still your move…

“Your friend Yumi is so fond of saying that one draw can change everything. Well, you only get one draw. We’ll see if that philosophy comes through now…”

Ren started to sweat as he looked at his deck.

“This is bad people…” said Erik. “That move left him with nothing but his Deck Lord.”

“Even worse,” said Sam, “defending is no good against those Shadowslayers. This is one time when Ren’s really gonna need a miracle…”

Ren closed his eyes and drew a card.

He looked at it.

It was La Sombra.

He sighed. He remembered how her effect had failed in his duel with Ares…

“Ren,” said a voice.

“Burgundy?” whispered Ren.

He looked at his Disk.

“That you?”

“Indeed,” said the Spirit. “You should know that cards are immortal in this game.

“You can’t give up yet. La Sombra’s effect is a matter of luck. If your luck is better than his, you can turn this around.

“Remember, when he couldn’t cheat, Johnson’s luck was terrible. He thinks nothing happens by chance, but he is fooling himself. Try as he might, he can’t control probability. No-one can.

“In a way, the reason he wants to find laws in Chaos is because the concept scares him. Folks like him hate things that they can’t control. Things that depend on chance drive them mad. They are only comfortable with things that have definite outcomes.

“That is the reason why he cheated in his duel with Yumi’s grandfather. He could not abide the chaos of chance. He rigged Joey Wheeler’s dice rolls and coin tosses because Wheeler’s uncanny luck frightened him.”

“But…” said Ren.

“What other choice do you have, Ren?” asked Burgundy. “Your Deck Lord is powerless to help you right now unless you want to risk summoning her. And Johnson may have other powers that would make that risk too great.”

“Good point…” said Ren.

“Before you do…” said Burgundy, “a suggestion…”

Ren listened. Then he tapped a button on his Disk, and a card slipped out of his discard slot.

“I remove one Dark Warrior from play,” he said, “to summon La Sombra!”

In a burst of darkness, the sexy, masked, female swashbuckler appeared. (1,800/1,000)

“Alright Johnson,” said Ren. “Now you gotta draw a card. Let’s see who’s luckier…”

Johnson frowned. He made a draw. Everyone tensed.

Johnson scowled. He turned the card forward.

It was A Feather of the Phoenix.

“That’s a Spell, Johnson!” shouted Ren. “So La Sombra gets to destroy one Monster!

“Go! Take out his Hysteric Fairy!”

La Sombra lashed her whip forward, and it coiled around Hysteric Fairy’s waist. The Fairy screamed as it was yanked towards La Sombra, who delivered a kick that blew it to shards.

“I’ve still got her normal attack!” shouted Ren. “Attack one of the Shadowslayers!”

La Sombra leapt up, and slashed with her whip, blowing one of the Fiends to pieces.

“Ugh…” muttered Johnson.

“Well, that’s all I can do,” said Ren. “I end my turn…”

(R: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 3,000)

“Uh, boss?” said Kamionwizard.

“Quiet!” shouted Johnson. “Just do your job!”

The Spellcaster sighed, and looked at the typewriter. Ren’s eyes narrowed.

“My draw…” muttered Johnson.

“Hold it!” shouted Ren. “Objection.”

“Huh?” said Johnson.

“You played Offerings to the Doomed last turn, Johnson, remember?” he said. “You can’t draw this turn.”

“Uh, he’s right boss…” said Kamionwizard.

“Who’s side are you on?” scowled Johnson.

Sweat ran down his brow. He was nervous now. He was tempted to overrule that objection, but he remembered the deal he had made before the duel… And the subtle threat that Jesse had made…

The only card I have is A Feather of the Phoenix… he thought. I can’t use it without making a discard, and since he knows what it is, it’s not even good for a bluff!

“Well?” asked Ren.

“Sustained…” growled Johnson. “Now give me a minute… I have one option, I’m just not sure whether or not I want to use it…”

Even if I used it on my next turn, he thought, I wouldn’t get anything out of its effect until the turn after. And with only 3,000 Life Points left right now, I don’t have enough to use the combo with Norleras and Dimension Fusion again unless I increase them…

No choice… I hate to do this, but…

“Okay, Reginald,” he said, “you’ve forced me to use my other Deck Lord ability. I’ve never had to use it before, but there’s a first time for everything.

“It’s called Hostile Witness. I can only do this when I have two or less cards in my hand. Then, I have to remove a high-Level Monster in my Graveyard from play. So I’ll remove Norleras.”

The card slipped out of his discard slot.

“Then, both players get to draw once for each Level it has over four. Norleras is Level Eight, so we each draw four times.”

Each of them made four draws. Johnson looked over the cards.

“Still my turn, I believe,” he said. “I play Nightmare’s Steelcage.”

He fit a card into his Disk, and flames erupted around Ren in a wide circumference. An iron, domed mesh appeared around him and his Monsters.

“Now neither of us can attack for two full turns.”

“Big deal,” said Ren.

“Next, I’ll move my two Shadowslayers to Defense Mode,” said Johnson, “and then summon Spirit of the Breeze in Attack Mode.”

The two Fiends sheathed their swords and knelt. Then a delicate, female Fairy in gossamer robes with blue hair and dragonfly wings appeared next to them. (0/1,800)

“She has zero Attack Points…” said Erik.

“Yes,” said Sam, “but every round that she’s in Attack Mode, Johnson gains 1,000 Life Points. Assuming Ren can’t break free of that Cage, he’s got two rounds of that effect.”

I don’t like this, thought Yumi. Clearly, Johnson has at least one more copy of Norleras in his deck… Heck, he probably has two more… And he still has two uses of his first Deck Lord ability. Clearly, he’s planning to do the same thing again…

“I end my turn,” said Johnson.

Ren drew a card.

“I throw this facedown, and end my turn with that,” he said.

A facedown card appeared behind La Sombra.

The Steelcage began to rust over and chip.

Johnson drew a card. Spirit of the Breeze glowed with energy, and Johnson glowed with a golden light.

“I’ll use my second use of my first Deck Lord ability,” he said. “You remember my Evidence Locker ability, right?”

A card slipped out of his deck, and he placed it on top.

“I’ll set one card facedown, and that’s all.”

A facedown card appeared in front of him.

(R: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 4,000)

Ren drew a card.

“All right, your honor,” he said, sarcastically, “defense Exhibit A… My Dark Eruption Spell Card.”

He played a card.

“This lets me add a Dark Monster from the Graveyard to my hand, so long as its Attack Score is no higher than 1,500. And I have a good one there, thanks to Norleras.”

He took a card from his discard slot.

“And now I’m summoning him… Mataza the Zapper.”

He played the card, and in a burst of darkness, the dark ronin in green armor and a headband, holding a katana appeared. (1,300/800)

“I end my turn,” said Ren, “which means your Cage goes away…”

“Not before I activate this,” said Johnson.

His facedown card lifted.

“Emergency Provisions. Now I can sacrifice my Steelcage right before its effect expires, and gain 1,000 Life Points.”

The Cage vanished into grains of light, and Johnson glowed with energy.

(R: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 5,000)

“My draw now…” he said.

He drew a card and looked at it. It was the card he had put there, his second copy of Sky Scourge Norleras.

Spirit of the Breeze glowed again, and he glowed with energy.

“I move Spirit of the Breeze to Defense Mode,” he said, as the Fairy knelt and crossed her arms. “Her effect is now invalid, but she has 1,800 Defense Points, more than any low-Level Monster in your deck has Attack Points.

“I end my turn.”

(R: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 6,000)

“We’ll see about that, Johnson!” shouted Ren.

He drew a card.

“Perfect!” he said. “I activate my second Deck Lord ability. By paying 800 Life Points and tossing a Spell Card…”

He discarded his Magical Mallet.

“I can summon one of those low-Level Dark Monsters from my Graveyard. Here comes Dark Blade!”

Dark Blade appeared, holding his swords aloft. (1,800/1,500)

“Now…” said Ren, “I play the Field Spell Mystic Plasma Zone!”

He fit the card into his Field Slot, and the whole courtroom became covered in an aura of darkness. Dark Blade went up to (2,300/1,100), La Sombra to (2,300/600) and Mataza to (1,800/400)

“Uh… oh…” said Johnson.

“By the way,” said Ren, “Mataza gets to attack twice.

“Mataza, wipe out his Shadowslayers! Double zapping blade!”

Mataza rushed at the two Fiends, and with two swipes of his sword, they were blown to bits.

“Dark Blade, blow Spirit of the Breeze away!”

Dark Blade made a slash with his sword, and the Fairy dissipated into formless mist.

“La Sombra, attack his honor directly!”

The swashbuckler leapt towards Johnson, and made a savage slash with her whip. Johnson roared and clutched his chest.

(R: 400) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 3,700)

“Reginald, I hold you and your Monsters in contempt!” shouted Johnson, standing up.

“Yeah?” said Ren. “Take your best shot, ugly…”

“What is Ren doing?” said Chelsea. “He’s playing with fire here!”

“He’s trying to make Johnson angry,” said Yumi. “Angry and careless. Classic psyche-out warfare…”

Johnson growled as he drew a card.

“With three Dark Fiends and one Light Fairy in my Graveyard again,” he said, “I can remove them from play to summon my second Norleras!

“And by the way, since it’s a Dark Monster, it benefits from this Field Spell as well.”

In a burst of shadowy energy, a twin of the first Sky Scourge appeared. (2,400/1,500) –> (2,900/1,100)

“No…” said Chelsea.

“Now, Reginald…” said Johnson, “I could use Norleras’s effect… But I’m not going to…

“After all, Norleras has 2,900 Attack Points, and La Sombra has only 2,300. You have only 400 Life Points left… I can win this duel without the effect.

“Norleras, attack La Sombra! Chaos elemental blast!”

Norleras’s eyes glowed, and a blast of pure darkness shot at La Sombra.

“I activate… Rising Energy!” shouted Ren, as his facedown card lifted. “Now, I toss one card, and La Sombra gets a power surge!”

He discarded a card from his hand, and La Sombra rose to an Attack Score of 3,800. She leapt into the air over the blast, and lashed with her whip…

Then Norleras caught the whip, and gave a savage yank. La Sombra yelped, and then fell on her face.

“What?” said Ren. “How did he…”

Then he noticed that Johnson had activated a Quickplay Spell.

“It’s a Spell called Class System, Reginald,” he said. “Since La Sombra is a lower Level than Norleras, she couldn’t harm it or my Life Points.

“And it seems I have to use Norleras’s effect after all.

“But… I’m not going to make the same mistake I made last time…

“I already ended my Battle Phase, which means you’ll get one turn before I can attack. So I’m going to make certain before I use it that using the effect now is a good idea. I don’t want to be caught by surprise by any more miracle draws.”

He took one of the last two cards in his hand.

“I play Ancient Telescope. Now I can see the top five cards on your deck.”

He played the card, and five cards appeared next to Ren. Everyone gasped when they saw that the top card was Hidden Soldiers.

“Well,” said Johnson. “Seems that using the effect now is a very good idea. I use the third and final use of my Deck Lord ability.”

A card slipped out of his Graveyard, and he placed it on the top of his deck.

“I’d suggest making plea bargain, but I don’t accept them. I pay 1,000 Life Points to activate Norleras’s effect!”

Once again, Norleras burst in a dark explosion. Ren shielded himself, as his Field Spell was blown to pieces, and his three Monsters were vaporized.

“I draw one card,” said Johnson, drawing, “and now I play it! Dimension Fusion!”

His Life Points went down, as Hysteric Fairy (1,800/500) and the three Shadowslayers (1,400/200 x3) appeared.

(R: 400) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 700)

“Well,” said Johnson. “It’s your…”

Then he gasped and dropped his gavel.

“…move?!”

Standing in front of Ren was Crescent Moon Queen, looking incredibly angry. (2,600/1,700)

“Meet my own key witness,” said Ren. “In courtroom slang, she’s the smoking gun, in more ways than one.”

“HOW?” shouted Johnson.

“Simple,” said Ren. “She was in my hand the first time you activated Norleras’s effect, so she was sent to the Graveyard. She was the Dark Warrior I removed from play to summon La Sombra.

“Seems you forgot that one has to be very careful when using Dimension Fusion… It lets both players use its effect, Johnson. Or maybe you forgot what I had to do to summon La Sombra.”

“You…” said Johnson. “You removed your most powerful Monster instead of a weakling? WHY?”

“Because,” said Ren, “your deck has only one strategy. I knew you’d try the same trick if it failed to finish me the first time.

“See, Johnson, I can manipulate the laws to my advantage too.

“And due to your own strategy, you have no more cards to play. It’s my move…”

He quickly drew.

“Wait…” said Johnson, in terror.

“Crescent Moon Queen,” ordered Ren, “attack the Shadowslayer!”

Johnson screamed as the monarch’s mighty sword cleaved the Shadowslayer in two.

(R: 400) - - - - - - - - - - (J: 0)

When he looked up, Ren was standing over the bench with Crescent Moon Queen, Penumbral Soldier Lady, and Total Defense Shogun behind him. Kamionwizard cowered behind his typewriter.

Ren lifted his fist, and it turned into solid rock.

“Case dismissed,” he said.

Then he punched the “typewriter”, crushing it.

“Spill it, Johnson!” shouted Ren. “I know that thing was scanning my mind! Just like Gansley and Krump were doing. And you’re gonna tell me why, or I’m gonna do that to your ugly face next.”

“Do what you want with me,” said Johnson. “I’ll never tell you…”

Ren raised his fist.

“REN!” shouted Yumi. “NO! It isn’t worth it!”

Ren lowered his fist.

“Fine, Johnson…” he muttered. “But when Daala is finally overthrown, you’re the one who’s gonna have to face a judge for the crimes she, you, and the rest of the Big Five have committed against Duel Spirits… And Voltanis the Adjudicator is one judge who can’t be bought and who won’t dismiss a case on a technicality.”

He motioned to Penumbral Soldier Lady.

She lifted her sword, and Johnson screamed in pain as his power was siphoned off. Then he shattered into black shards.

“What are we waiting for!” shouted one of the Swamp Battleguards. “We’re stronger than they are!”

Ren played a Spell Card, and a Fusion Sword Murasame Blade appeared in Crescent Moon Queen’s hand. (3,400/1,700)

She walked towards the Warriors, and they lost their courage very quickly. They dropped their clubs, and lifted their hands into the air.

Sam activated her Disk, and threw five cards on it. Opticlops, Gil Garth, Archfiend Solder, The Bistro Butcher, and La Jinn appeared. All of them looked very angry.

Dragoness and Kamionwizard looked at each other. They put their hands in the air.

“We give up!” shouted Dragoness.

“Just call them off, please!” shouted Kamionwizard.

* * * * * * * * * *

Half an hour later, a snag in their plans had been realized. They didn’t know how to free the prisoners from that awful pen. They couldn’t find the key, and attempts to break it were so far unsuccessful.

As everyone was attempting both, Yumi walked up to Kamionwizard, who was being guarded by Sam’s Fiends, along with his partner.

“Look, buddy,” she said, “half of you is a Monster that my grandfather trusted a great deal. There must be enough of Mystical Elf left in you to consider cooperating.”

“Look, I would, Yumi,” said the Duel Spirit. “After all, I have no choice but to join with Joan now. Going back to Daala will mean going to prison. But the fact is, Johnson never told me where he kept the keys to that pen.”

“He really never told us anything,” muttered Dragoness. “Once he got Norleras, we weren’t even welcome in his deck any more… We were his bailiffs, but just for show, really… A Level Six Monster doesn’t need two low-Level Monsters to keep order in a courtroom.”

Then they noticed someone walking towards them from out of the building.

“Huh?” said Yumi.

It was Vita.

Everyone turned towards the masked woman. They activated their Disks.

Vita didn’t say anything. She held up an object. It was a key.

“Easy…” said Yumi to her allies.

Vita walked forward. Everyone tensed. The strange woman simply handed it to Yumi.

Then she turned around and started to walk in the other direction.

“Let’s grab her,” said Chelsea.

Fire started to form around her hands.

“Let her go,” said Yumi.

“Huh?” said Chelsea.

Yumi tried the key in the lock to the pen, and it fit.

“Whatever secrets Vita is hiding,” she said, “I have a feeling she’ll reveal them in time. For now, if she wants to give us help, let’s just accept it and not ask why…”

* * * * * * * * * *

The flames surrounding Daala’s head were burning fuller than normal. Two Giant Orcs were standing by as her attendants fanned her.

“Well, Johnson?” she said. “Was the duel a total bust?”

“No, milady,” said Johnson. “Reginald destroyed the scanner that was inside the typewriter…

“But not the one in my Duel Disk! If the Key was in his head, we’ll have the last laugh on that brat after all.

“Now, I just have to open the casing… Let’s see, how does this mechanism work again?”

He started trying to unscrew a latch on the Disk, which was hard to do with his big, thick-fingered hands.

“Give me that!” shouted Daala, getting up.

She grabbed the Disk from him, and then tore it apart, causing all the cards to scatter.

“Hey!” shouted Johnson.

Daala took the miniature scanner, and plugged it into a device under the screen near her couch. Information started to come up. Johnson started to sweat, nervously…

Then Daala punched the screen, smashing it.

“You don’t seem pleased…” said Johnson.

Daala picked up one of the Norleras cards, and held it up.

“Johnson...” she said, “this Monster is more than just a Duel Spirit. It is a sacred being who serves a higher power. By using this card, and failing miserably, you’ve more than likely made both the real Norleras and its master angry. And that’s something we really don’t need right now…”

“Milady,” said Johnson, “let me state the reasons…”

Then the halo around Daala’s head started to burn like an inferno. Then her eyes glowed with the same fire.

“Johnson,” she said, in a far more demonic voice, “your legal jargon may once have impressed attorneys and judges, but Ren was right. It doesn’t work with Voltanis. He is one judge who will not listen to it. And you can bet that he would just love to hear from Joan that the rulers of Xanadu are in custody. Each victory by those kids brings us closer to that danger.

“So I’m not going to listen to it either. Try it with me, and I’ll rip your vocal cords out.

“So shut up!”

Johnson did shut up. In fact, he stumbled and fell backwards.

Daala whistled, and the two Orcs lumbered over.

“Get this disgrace to the legal profession out of my sight,” she said, as the flames started to subside.

The two ogres grabbed him, and he was dragged away. Daala sat on her couch in a sulk as the flames returned to normal.

She collapsed on her back.

“So, Ren didn’t have it either…” she mumbled. “Three of my governors, beaten, and we still don’t have the Key… This is no longer amusing…

“Seems it’s true what they say… If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself…”

She stared at the ceiling.

And then the frown slowly turned into a smile. She sat up.

“Do it yourself!” she exclaimed. “Now that’s a novel idea!”

She picked up her own Duel Disk from a table next to the couch.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to be more… social… It’s time to see who the better duelist is… The Queen of Games of Earth, or the Queen of Games of Xanadu!”

* * * * * * * * * *

Right now, Nicholas and Olga were very nervous. Mostly, they were afraid of breaking something.

They were sitting in a lounge where everything looked antique, expensive, or both. Having lived with Rasputin, they had seen people who owned Picassos before, but never two in one room.

“This guy has more bread than Wonder,” said Nicholas. “How does one become so rich?”

“It all starts with one idea,” said a voice.

They looked up, and saw a man walk in. He looked about fifty, with receding, gray hair. He wore slacks, and a sweater that didn’t look nearly as expensive as his other belongings. He was carrying a leather-bound briefcase.

“One good idea often leads to others,” said the man. “And they start a chain reaction that blossoms into more and more ideas.

“And when one is wise enough to market those ideas and invest them wisely, profit can be made.

“Thomas Edison had hundreds of ideas… There are 1,093 patents in his name in the United States alone, more in Europe…”

“Dr. Edwin Ting, I presume?” asked Nicholas.

The man nodded, and then sat down.

“I hope that Ashraf didn’t scare you too much,” he said. “He tends to be intimidating…”

“Let me guess,” said Olga, “his bark is worse than his bite.”

“Oh no, no,” said Ting. “He’s quite dangerous. He was a member of a crack counter-terrorist team for the Saudi government during Al-Nasr’s uprising ten years ago.”

Nicholas and Olga looked at each other.

“Riyad Al-Nasr?” asked Olga. “The terrorist leader who… uhm…”

Ting shook his head sadly.

“…who was known for killing via incredibly sadistic methods,” he said. “Such as having victims impaled. He was a madman with an evil mind and wicked plans. But Ashraf was part of the group responsible for hunting him down… And they succeeded.

“He retired soon after, and I needed a bodyguard. He fit the bill nicely…”

“Riyad Al-Nasr…” muttered Nicholas. “Wow, we have nightmares about that guy…”

“So…” muttered Ting, “you two came to me for information about Xanadu and Daala…

“Tell me…

“What took you so long to find me?”

* * * * * * * * * *

CLASS SYSTEM (Spell Card)

Quickplay Spell

Image: A man in regal clothing walking down the steps of a palace as two servants bow before him.

Card Description: Activate this card when your Monster would be destroyed in battle or by an opposing Monster effect. If the opposing Monster’s Level is equal to or less than that of your Monster, your Monster is not destroyed, and battle damage (if applicable) is reduced to zero.

Note: “Class System” was first used by Marik in “The Final Face-Off (Part Four)”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



Ren’s Deck Lord: “Penumbral Soldier Lady”: “Dark Rush”: You may pay 800 Life Points to increase the ATK of one of your DARK Warrior-Type Monsters by the same amount during your own Battle Phase. If you use this effect, you may not use it again until three of your Standby Phases have passed. (Minor Power) “Dark Resurrection”: By paying 800 Life Points and discarding a Spell Card to the Graveyard, you may Special Summon a DARK Warrior-Type Monster that is Level Four or less from your Graveyard. You may use this effect a total of three times. (Minor Power)



Johnson’s Deck Lord: “Judge Man”: “Evidence Locker”: You may take any card from your hand, deck, or Graveyard, and place it on the top of your deck. This ability may be used a total of three times. (Greater Power) “Hostile Witness”: You may only use this effect if you have two or less cards in your hand. Remove from play one Monster in your Graveyard that is Level Five or higher. For each Level of the removed Monster over four, both players draw one card. This effect may be used once per round. (Greater Power)


Coming up next:

Daala finally gets off her couch and decides to challenge Yumi personally! And while that’s happening, Nicholas and Olga learn the secret origin of both Daala and Xanadu! And there’ll be another surprise that I’ll never reveal until it happens. Be here for “Queen’s Gambit”.



Name that Card!

Whoever designed “Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning” and “Chaos Emperor Dragon – Envoy of the End” likely thought they were good ideas at the time. So much that this accessory card was designed especially for them. Can you name it?

[Shuppet Master]

Welp, no need to answer that Name That Card, it was answered.

It's nice a Sky Scourge showed up, abliet in the hands of an enemy. And we all get to make fun of Johnson again! I admit, he was my second favorite of the Big-5, mainly because he represented the personifaction of the legal system these days.

Anyways, looks like Daala is gunning for Yumi. Let me dispel any speculation, Yumi's toast. This happened with Rasputin, whenever the good guy battles the bad guy early, he's doomed. Of course, something tells me that Daala's fate for them will be stopped by some mysterious force and she'll have to back off. I'm guessing either of the two mysterious figures who have been appearing off-and-on(either that Mokey Mokey or Vita).

Also, nice to see you use Burgundy. It was nice that he was saved from the stars because of Ren's duel energy and now has a way to redeem his failure to stop the Supreme King. ^_^

Keep up the good work!

[Dark Sage]

What was the accessory card for the two star Monsters from “Invasion of Chaos”? If you said “Primal Seed”, you were successfully able to Name that Card!


This is the type of chapter where you miss a lot if you miss even a small part. So pay attention.


We were almost counting on an ambush on the way back from Johnson’s fortress. It happened twice before, once with Ares, and once with Want.

But I didn’t expect this. An ambush has indeed come – and the one who has ambushed us is Daala herself. She has come out of hiding to challenge me personally.

How can I refuse? I’m not stupid enough to think that Daala will be a pushover… But If I can win, it might be over. We might be able to take the ruler of Xanadu herself prisoner, and the rebellion would end in victory!

I only wish it was as easy as it sounded…

Because I know that Daala isn’t stupid either…

The Queen has made a gambit… Consider this gambit accepted…

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE



Queen’s Gambit

The hulking butler placed a tray of scones and a pot of coffee on the coffee table that was between Dr. Ting and the two teenagers.

“Thank you, Ashraf,” said Dr. Ting. “That will be all for now. I’ll call you if I need anything else.”

Ashraf nodded, and walked out of the room.

Nicholas looked at the briefcase that Ting had put on the table. He wondered what was in it, but wasn’t rude enough to ask.

“So what’s the story, Dr. Ting?” asked Olga. “Who is Daala? Why did she want to kidnap Yumi? You realize she may well…”

She paused.

“Well, you know… Kill them…”

Dr. Ting sighed.

“The Daala I used to know would never have hurt anyone,” he said, sadly. “But she’s changed a great deal…”

“You… you knew her?” asked Nicholas.

“She once had a different name,” said Ting, still in the sad tone of voice. “Her name was once Phyllis Ting…

“She is… Or rather she was… My daughter…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Five four-wheeled ATVs sped across the sands of the Burnt Paradise.

Yumi and the others had left Jesse and the freed prisoners behind to set up shop at the fort, and had taken these vehicles, knowing that Johnson was in no position to stop them. As Yumi had hoped, the sandstorm at the mid-border had been quelled, and no opposition hindered them as they drove over the desert.

“We’re almost there!” shouted Yumi. “I see the border to Nexus up ahead.”

The five of them drove past the border point, and the odd spatial effect kicked in, transporting them to the grassy knolls with the ruined temples. As they shifted gears, they noticed a figure up ahead.

“Who’s that?” said Sam, as they slowed down.

The question was quickly answered as they slowed to a stop.

“DAALA!” everyone shouted.

There was no mistaking that it was Daala. She had changed her wardrobe again, wearing a leather halter, skirt, and jacket ensemble that was almost the same as Yumi’s. Her Duel Disk appeared to be standard issue, which surprised them a little.

Yumi removed her helmet and dismounted her vehicle. She looked Daala in the eye.

“What’s the big deal, Daala?” she asked. “The head of state doesn’t usually show herself to five armed members of a group that wants to overthrow her. That’s poor judgment.”

“Really?” said Daala. “What are you going to do? Hold me down and tie me up? Well, you can’t. Joan didn’t mention that the rule she imposed over Xanadu works both ways.

“I can’t forcibly apprehend a member of the rebellion unless he loses a duel or attacks a member of my forces outright… And the rebellion can’t do it to a member of my forces either, so long as I’m still head of state. Joan couldn’t make the rule one-sided, Yumi. The Higher Plane has laws.

“On the other hand, if you do try to make a rush for me like a bunch of thugs right now, the rule restricting me becomes void… Not that the five of you would even be capable of restraining me… I still control enough of Xanadu to call upon powers that would give Marik nightmares.”

Yumi looked at her closely.

“Okay, Daala,” she said, “What’s this all about?”

“Why jump to conclusions, Yumi?” asked Daala. “We’re so much alike… We’re both young, smart, attractive… We’re both duelists…”

She threw open her arms, showing off her outfit.

“Look! We even shop at the same store!

“One might say we’re two sides of the same coin, Yumi… I’m the Yin to your Yang, the Hyde to your Jekyll…”

“Mr. Hyde was entirely Dr. Jekyll’s fault,” said Yumi, with a scowl. “I had nothing to do with however you came to be.”

Daala chuckled.

“I guess literature classes do teach you some useful stuff after all,” she said. “I was always better at math and physical sciences myself…

“So what do you say, Yumi? Why don’t we see which Queen of Games is more deserving of that title?”

“You want to duel me?” asked Yumi, in shock. “You came here to challenge me? To a duel?”

“Well, I don’t mean to Pinochle,” said Daala. “My butt was falling asleep sitting on that couch and watching you. Besides, I don’t consider myself a good ruler if I don’t crush a member of the rebellion personally at least twice a week. I’ve dealt with a lot of tough ones… And you’re a challenge I might actually enjoy.”

“Yumi…” said Sam. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“Oh, you bet I am…” muttered Yumi.

“Yumi!” shouted Chelsea. “Daala is the Queen of Xanadu! Remember what Joan said about Deck Lord abilities? Daala knows how to give Deck Lords Extraordinary Abilities!”

“Yes, and I’ll gladly tell you how it’s done,” said Daala. “A Deck Lord can only acquire an Extraordinary Ability if it absorbs power from the Core. The source of Xanadu’s power.

“Now, if you defeat me and your Deck Lord absorbs the power from mine, your Deck Lord might be able to learn the trick… In due time…

“However, it isn’t that easy with my Deck Lord. Its prolonged exposure to the Core has made it much hardier than most Deck Lords. So even if you win this duel, your Deck Lord will have no power over it…

“Unless… Unless, that is, your personal power at the time has improved since the start. In other words, your Life Points at the end of the duel have to be more than they were when you started.”

“Say WHAT?” shouted Yumi.

“No fair!” shouted Ren. “Just because you rule Xanadu doesn’t mean you can tack on any house rule you want!”

“I’d say that it means I’m allowed to pose any house rules that I want,” said Daala. “So you’ll either accept that condition and like it, or I’ll be leaving, and…”

“I accept!” shouted Yumi.

“What?” said Erik. “Yumi, it’s impossible!”

“I don’t need the power from her Deck Lord, Erik,” said Yumi. “If I can simply defeat her, this nightmare will be over, and Xanadu will be freed. I won’t need a Deck Lord after that.”

They all looked at her.

“Good luck, Yumi,” said Ren.

Daala smirked.

She apparently didn’t take into account the fact that Extraordinary Abilities are incredibly powerful, thought Daala. With the one I have, my strategy is almost impossible to beat.

Once Yumi is defeated, it will crush the others’ spirits, and they’ll be easy pickings. I’ll be able to defeat Sam and Erik easily, and I’ll be able to get the Key, whichever one has it, at my leisure.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Your daughter?” shouted Nicholas and Olga at once.

Ting sighed and poured the coffee.

“I was a Pro League Duelist,” he said, “even though it was only a part-time hobby. One that I happened to be rather good at, but a hobby nonetheless. Phyllis loved to duel too, and I encouraged her.

“You know, Phyllis had a dream as a child… She had read the stories about Jaden Yuki, and his ability to see Duel Spirits… She wanted to see them too. She wanted to see them, and the places where they lived. Worlds where Spirits were the dominant species… It was her dream to reach one. But I didn’t know how to give her that gift. I was certain that there was a science that governed how Spirits could be seen and communicated with, but I never studied it in detail.

“Still, Phyllis tried to live her dream by dueling, giving the cards at least a pseudo-life. But she had a problem that gave her a severe disadvantage whenever she dueled using a Disk.

“She suffered from asthma. The excitement of a duel would often lead to her becoming breathless and coughing, and unable to continue. It was a shame, because she was an excellent duelist when she didn’t use a Disk.

“I wanted my daughter to be able to duel like a pro, able to experience the excitement that most duelists felt, and do it without succumbing to her sickness…

“That’s why, ten years ago when she was sixteen, I used my vast knowledge of virtual technology to create Xanadu…

“At first, Xanadu was a small virtual world. Phyllis could enter it, and without her physical body to hinder her, she could duel like a perfectly healthy teenager. She could download the information stored in databases to create virtual avatars of any duelist, living or dead, for her to oppose. She could even create virtual Duel Spirits as opponents. The computer would create a deck from an online database that would match the Monster’s Type and Attribute, as well as any reports on their personalities it could find.

“And for a while, she was happy.

“But eventually, she apparently decided that the virtual world I had given her was too small…

“I found out that she was downloading technology to upgrade and enlarge Xanadu. It grew in size, and she added places to it, places which she told me she had envisioned in her dreams. When I saw them, I was worried. These dreams were apparently not very pleasant.

“I realized eventually that Phyllis had created a much larger world than my intention. She was spending more time in Xanadu, and less in reality.

“I didn’t like this. I had to stop it. I told Phyllis that I was going to destroy Xanadu.

“She begged me to reconsider. She cried and wept, pleading with me not to destroy her paradise. It tugged at my heartstrings, but I knew that I had to do it. It was affecting my daughter’s mind.

“Then, she somberly asked me for one more week. She begged me to let her have Xanadu for just one week more, and then she would give it up forever.

“I thought that a week more couldn’t hurt. I didn’t want her to hate me, after all. I told her she could have one more week…”

Ting let out a great sigh.

“To this very day,” he said, “I regard that decision as the worst mistake I ever made…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Yumi and Daala stared each other down.

Suddenly, Yumi was startled by Joan’s voice in her head.

“Yumi!” shouted the voice.

Yumi quite jumped, because she hadn’t been expecting it.

“Don’t talk, just listen,” said Joan’s voice. “Something you should know about Daala’s strategy. She does not play fair.

“She combines an incredibly powerful Deck Lord ability with an incredibly rare and powerful card. With this combination, she is nearly impossible to defeat. She has no intention of even giving you a fair chance.”

“Then what do I do?” whispered Yumi.

There was a long pause.

“I’m sending you something that might even the score a little,” said Joan. “Use it wisely…”

Yumi’s deck glowed with golden light.

“Enough talk, Yumi,” said Daala. “Bring out your Deck Lord.”

Dark Magician Girl appeared behind Yumi.

“And here’s mine!” shouted Daala.

In an explosion of energy, a fierce creature appeared behind Daala. From the waist up, he was Lord of Dragons, albeit radiating a majestic aura. He held a golden scepter topped with a dragon’s head. From the waist down, he was a long, serpentine dragon.

“Meet King Dragun,” said Daala. “Quite a looker, isn’t he?”

“He doesn’t scare me,” said Yumi.

“That may change,” said Daala.

“Hey, take a look,” said Ren, pointing behind them.

They looked. Vita was watching again, partially hidden behind a building.

Daala looked at her and scowled. The flames around her head intensified.

“What are YOU doing here?” she shouted. “Who asked you to come? Get lost or I’ll have you impaled!”

This seemed to spook Vita. She took off, and ran away again.

“Daala…” said Yumi. “You know who Vita is?”

“Do NOT concern yourself with that thing!” shouted Daala. “That is nothing more than a failed experiment!”

She seemed to calm down a little.

“Now where were we… Oh yes, we were about to duel…”

“Game on!” they shouted.

(Yumi: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Daala: 8,000)

“Let’s go!” shouted Yumi, drawing a card.

“I’ll summon Gemini Elf in Attack Mode!”

In a burst of energy, the two elf sisters appeared. (1,900/900)

“Then I’ll set these…”

Three facedown cards appeared.

“And I’ll end there…”

“Not a bad opening move,” said Daala, drawing a card. “But I can trump it.

“I summon the Lord of Dragons!”

In another burst of energy, a different Spellcaster appeared on Daala’s side of the field. He was dressed in black, with a cape with a high collar, wearing a helmet that resembled a fanged mouth. (1,200/1,100)

“Now I activate his favorite Spell Card,” she said, throwing a card into her Disk, “The Flute of Summoning Dragon!”

A golden flute shaped like a dragon’s head appeared in mid-air, and Lord of Dragons grabbed it.

“When he uses it, I get to Special Summon two Dragons from my hand. So Lord of Dragons, play some corn on that old gold horn, will you?”

Lord of Dragons put the Flute to his mouth, and a rousing tune echoed over the field.

“So, let’s welcome Blizzard Dragon and Prime Material Dragon!”

Two large Dragons appeared in bursts of energy. One of them had blue scales, and wings on its forearms. (1,800/1,000) The other one was odd. It looked more like a large plant that had been molded into the shape of a dragon. (2,400/2,000)

“Three Monsters in one turn?” shouted Chelsea.

“Nope,” said Daala. “Four. My Deck Lord’s less powerful ability is a watered-down version of one of its regular effects. I can Special Summon one Dragon every round, so long as it’s Level Four or less.

“So I summon Twin-Headed Behemoth!”

She played another card, and a scaly, purple Dragon with two heads appeared in front of her. (1,500/1,200)

“Forgot to mention,” said Daala. “One of my informal titles as ruler of Xanadu is the Dragon Queen!”

“Man, those facedown cards Yumi has had better be good ones…” said Ren.

“Guess again,” said Daala.

“Huh?” said Ren.

“My Deck Lord has an Extraordinary Ability, remember? It protects my Dragons from being destroyed by anything except battle. Spells, Traps, and Monster effects can’t destroy them. So those three facedown cards really don’t concern me.

“Besides, with Lord of Dragons on the field, they’re protected from ALL card effects that target.

“So let’s get down to business, shall we? Prime Material Dragon, vaporize Gemini Elf with hyper blast!”

Prime Material Dragon roared, and blasted a beam of pure light from its jaws…

“Can only be destroyed in battle, huh?” asked Yumi. “Fine by me… Activate… Rush Recklessly!”

One of her facedown cards lifted, and Gemini Elf’s Attack Score shot up to 2,600. They shot a bolt of lightning, intercepting the Dragon’s blast. Prime Material Dragon roared, and was blown to pieces.

“Ergh…” muttered Daala. “Lucky…”

She looked at the last card in her hand.

“I can still use Blizzard Dragon’s effect,” she said.

Blizzard Dragon shot a bolt of blue energy from its jaws, and the two elves screamed as it hit them.

When Yumi looked, they had been frozen in a block of ice.

“WHAT?” shouted Yumi.

“They won’t defrost until the end of your next turn,” said Daala. “Until then, they’re helpless to attack or change their battle position.

“And it’s your move.”

(Y: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 7,800)

Yumi angrily drew a card.

I can’t use this until I get rid of Lord of Dragons, she thought, looking at it. I’ll have to save Blizzard Dragon for later…

“Since my elves can’t attack, I’ll sacrifice them,” said Yumi.

Gemini Elf vanished into grains of light.

“Come on out, Chaos Command Magician!”

The powerful chaos mage appeared, brandishing his staff. (2,400/1,900)

“He’s immune to your Blizzard Dragon’s effect, I’ll have you know. And now he’s going to wipe out your Lord of Dragons!”

Chaos Command Magician aimed his staff at the Dragon Lord, and it glowed with energy.

“And I’ll also activate this!” shouted Yumi, as another facedown card lifted. “Magician’s Circle! Now, both players must summon in Attack Mode, a Spellcaster with 2,000 Attack Points or less.

“And I summon Magician’s Valkyria.”

In a burst of dark energy, the brunette, female mage appeared. (1,600/1,800)

“Then I’ll summon my second Lord of Dragons!” shouted Daala.

A second of the draconic Spellcasters appeared on her side. (1,200/1,100)

Chaos Command Magician fired his blast of multicolored energy, and the first Lord of Dragons was blown to pieces.

“Ergh…” groaned Daala, shielding herself.

“Valkyria, magic illusion!” shouted Yumi.

Valkyria blasted her burning beam of light forward. The second Lord of Dragons was atomized.

“I’ll throw another card facedown, and that ends my turn,” said Yumi.

A facedown card appeared in front of her next to her other one.

(Y: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 6,200)

Daala drew a card.

“Well, what do you know?” she said. “It’s my old friend Luster Dragon.

“I’ll use my Deck Lord ability to Special Summon him, and then set a Monster in Defense Mode.”

She played the card, and a large dragon that seemed to have been carved out a single large sapphire appeared in a flash of light. (1,900/1,600) Then a facedown Monster appeared.

“Luster Dragon, attack Valkyria! Sapphire spark!”

The Dragon exhaled a burst of blue energy at Magician’s Valkyria…

“GO!” shouted Yumi. “Draining Shield!”

Her facedown card shot up, and the blast plowed into an invisible shield. Energy flowed into Yumi.

“Your Deck Lord ability is impressive, Daala,” she said. “But it’s making you careless.”

“Fine!” shouted Daala. “Blizzard Dragon, you attack her!”

Blizzard Dragon blasted its freezing breath at Valkyria and she screamed. She was coated in a coffin of solid ice, and then was blown to shards.

“I move Behemoth to Defense Mode, and end my turn,” said Daala.

Twin-Headed Behemoth curled up in a lying position.

(Y: 9,700) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 6,200)

“This is weird,” said Sam. “Daala is the ruler of Xanadu, but her Deck Lord aside, this is little more than any other Dragon Deck I’ve seen a hundred times before.”

“I know,” said Erik. “And that worries me. She’s hiding something…”

Yumi drew a card.

“I’ll set a Monster of my own,” she said.

A facedown Monster appeared.

“Chaos Command Magician, destroy her Blizzard Dragon!”

The Spellcaster fired his blast, and Blizzard Dragon shattered into shards of ice.

“So what now, Daala?” she said.

(Y: 9,700) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 5,600)

* * * * * * * * * *

Dr. Ting didn’t talk for some time. A very sad look appeared on his face. He slowly sipped his coffee.

“So, you gave her a week…” said Nicholas.

Ting nodded.

“And the very day before her week would be up,” he said, “disaster struck.

“I was monitoring her unconscious body in the virtual pod, as I did every hour, when the computer’s anti-intrusion alarm went off.

“I went to see what was the matter… And I discovered that we were the target of an online attack. Someone was trying to sabotage the computer!

“I tried to stop it, but the strange nature of the attack confused even me. I had never seen a security breaker like this.

“Then Phyllis’s vital signs started to react. Her breathing and heartbeat increased to dangerous levels. To my horror, this attack was attacking her as well.

“My goal at this point was not to stop the attack, but to rescue my daughter. But my attempt to safely bring her mind back to her body was foiled by this mysterious saboteur. Whoever was doing this apparently knew exactly how the computer worked. Even so, I tried every option…”

Tears started to fall down his cheeks at this point.

“I failed…” he said. “By the time I had regained control of the computer, Phyllis’s physical body had perished.”

“I mourned, but only for an hour or two. Soon, grief turned to rage. I did a complete scan of the computer, searching it with a fine-toothed comb, file by file, vowing not to rest until I found the identity of the saboteur… The one who had murdered my daughter…

“The true horror came when I succeeded in doing so…”

Nicholas and Olga looked at him.

“The attack had… Not come from outside…” he said. “It had come from within… From within Xanadu… Phyllis had done it herself…

“She had given me an ultimatum… Her mortal body was now dead, but she still lived in Xanadu. If I destroyed Xanadu now, I would truly kill her.

“What was a father to do?

“So, I left Phyllis to her… paradise, at least for a while… Which was another mistake…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“You know, Daala,” said Yumi, “for someone who claims to be the Queen of Games in Xanadu, you’re not doing too well. Just look at the scores. You’re losing.”

“Your grandfather pulled plenty of come-from-behind victories in his day,” said Daala. “No-one would ever doubt that he was the King of Games.”

She drew a card.

“I flip my Morphing Jar into Attack Mode.”

Her facedown Monster flipped up, and the giggling, one-eyed creature in the ceramic vase appeared. (700/600)

“All right, fine,” muttered Yumi, discarding the card in her hand.

Daala discarded the card she had just drawn and they both drew five cards.

“Now I play… Monster Gate,” said Daala. “I have to sacrifice a Monster to use this, so I’ll sacrifice Morphing Jar.”

Morphing Jar vanished into grains of light.

“Then I get to pick up Monsters from my deck until I reach a Monster that I can Normal Summon. Then I Special Summon it…”

She picked up one card, then a second. She picked up a third, and then placed it on her Disk.

“The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave, in Defense Mode.”

A large, rocky, scaly Dragon appeared, curling up in a defensive position. (1,300/2,000)

She discarded a Burst Breath and a Dragon’s Gunfire.

“I’ll throw a card facedown, and move Luster Dragon to Defense Mode. And then you go. As a wise man once said, I have not yet begun to fight.”

A facedown card appeared, and Luster Dragon curled up in the same defensive position.

(Y: 9,700) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 5,600)

Yumi made a draw. She looked over her hand.

“I flip Crystal Seer into Attack Mode!” she shouted.

Her facedown card flipped up, and the mysterious, veiled gypsy appeared. (100/100)

“Now, I get to look at the top two cards on my deck, and add one to my hand.”

She took the top two cards off her deck.

One was Cosmo Queen. One was Sage’s Stone.

Crud, she thought. Should have swapped that one… Dark Magician Girl is my Deck Lord… Sage’s Stone is no good… Oh well…

She placed the Spell Card on the bottom of her deck.

“Now, I activate Call of the Haunted.”

Her facedown card lifted, and a dark coffin appeared on her side of the field. Valkyria appeared again, looking a little pissed. (1,600/1,800)

“Next, I sacrifice Valkyria and Crystal Seer…”

The two Spellcasters faded into grains of light.

“To bring out Cosmo Queen!”

In a burst of energy, the mighty galactic empress appeared, her eyes glowing with cosmic power. (2,900/2,450)

“Humph…” said Daala. “Nice hat. Never been a big fan of royal raiment myself… It chaffs. I just like to dress in a way that shows who I am…”

“Does that mean you’re a slut?” asked Chelsea.

Daala looked at her.

Once Chelsea is defeated, she thought, I’ll promote my personal handmaiden and fill the role with her. It will teach her some respect…

“No more jokes!” shouted Yumi. “Cosmo Queen, attack with cosmic nova!”

Cosmo Queen blasted her bolt of eldritch energy, and The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave exploded into bits.

“Chaos Command Magician, chaos magic!”

Chaos Command Magician fired his own blast, and Luster Dragon was blown to shards.

“Your Behemoth is next!” shouted Yumi.

“Oh, I’m shaking in my boots…” said Daala, sarcastically.

“I end my turn!” shouted Yumi.

Daala drew a card.

“I play… Pot of Greed,” she said, playing it.

She quickly made two draws.

“Time to get serious, Yumi!” she shouted.

Her eyes glowed with pinpoints of red light, and the flames around her head burned fiercer.

“I activate… My own Call of the Haunted!”

Her facedown card flipped up, and Luster Dragon appeared again. (1,900/1,600)

“Now, I sacrifice both my Monsters…”

Luster Dragon and Twin-Headed Behemoth vanished into bursts of flame…

“To summon… Tyrant Dragon!”

A much larger Dragon appeared in an explosion of fire. It towered over the field, its wingspan reached forty feet, and its eyes smoldered like embers. (2,900/2,500)

“Okay!” said Erik. “I think that qualifies as ‘serious’!”

“Tyrant Dragon is one of the most powerful Monsters in the game,” said Daala. “It not only has 2,900 Attack Points, it can attack two Monsters in one turn, and it’s impervious to Trap Cards.

“And I’m gonna make it even stronger! I play the Equip Spell, Megamorph!”

She threw a card into her Disk.

“I seem to recall you saying that I was losing. Well, good! Since I am, this Spell doubles my Monster’s Attack Points!”

Tyrant Dragon glowed with an aura of fiery energy… (5,800/2,500)

“It’s too powerful!” screamed Chelsea.

“Tyrant Dragon…” ordered Daala, “obliterate Cosmo Queen with imperial inferno!”

The Dragon shot a super-intense blast of flames at the Spellcaster. Yumi shielded herself and cringed in pain as Cosmo Queen exploded.

“I’m not done!” shouted Daala. “It gets to attack again, remember? Destroy Chaos Command Magician! Show him who controls Chaos in this world!”

Yumi was thrown to the ground as the second blast hit Chaos Command Magician, reducing him to hot ash.

“Of course,” said Daala, “I’m not losing any more, so now, Megamorph doesn’t double its Attack Score any more. It halves it. So I’ll get rid of my Equip Spell by using Emergency Provisions.”

She played a card, and the mouth appeared, devouring the Equip Spell. Tyrant Dragon returned to its base Attack Score of 2,900.

“I’m not done yet!” she continued, throwing another card into her Disk. “I play another Spell Card… Super Rejuvenation. When it’s my End Phase, I get to draw one card for each Dragon I sacrificed this turn.

“Okay… I’ll set one card facedown. Then I’ll move to my End Phase.”

She placed her last card in her Disk, and a facedown card appeared. She drew two cards and looked at them.

She smiled evilly when she saw what they were.

“It’s your move…”

(Y: 3,800) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 6,600)

* * * * * * * * * *

“Phyllis didn’t think I was watching, but I checked on her every now and then,” said Ting. “She started doing things that were illegal, and morally questionable.

“I believe she used a proxy – I don’t know who it was – to use the internet to make deals with Yakuza, arranging for them to download software and information into Xanadu to make her more powerful. I dared ask her what she had promised those mobsters. She told me that she was playing them for fools. Once she got all that she wanted from the Yakuza, they would get nothing and like it.

“I could have called the police… But I knew that if they found the location of my equipment, I would be questioned, and they would shut it down, destroying Xanadu and killing Phyllis. So I kept my mouth shut…

“But strangely, Phyllis didn’t. She had her proxy tell everyone whom he made deals with to keep a copy of Mutant Mindmaster, my signature card in the Pro League, telling them it was the symbol of her ultimate benefactor. I didn’t know at first why she left such a clue…

“And then I realized why… She wanted me to be found out. She wanted to get rid of me. Whether I was arrested by the police or murdered by the vindictive Yakuza, she didn’t care.

“Fortunately, no mobster or police officer ever made the connection, but I decided to look closer into Xanadu…

“Using my hacking skills to look past the veil Phyllis had erected, I discovered that Xanadu had grown indeed. It was now a vast nation in what I assumed was a virtual world. I saw that it was populated by hundreds of creatures whom I assumed were virtual constructs made in the image of Duel Spirits.

“And my daughter was ruling this land as a queen… Ruling with an iron fist… She had even upgraded her own form, turning herself into someone I hardly recognized. Apparently, she had given in to vanity, and used the technology to make herself more beautiful, in a diabolic and intimidating way.

“I made up my mind then and there. Heaven might damn me for what I was about to do, and I would hate myself the whole time, and forever after… But it had to be done. My daughter had clearly become evil. I had to destroy Xanadu even if it meant killing my own daughter…

“But, when I entered the delete command, I found it did nothing. I was terrified to learn that I could not destroy Xanadu, because it was no longer a virtual world. It was now truly a dimension onto itself. The creatures I had assumed were virtual constructs were nothing of the kind… They were real Duel Spirits…”

He took some deep breaths.

“I had no doubt that my daughter was plotting sinister plans… And I was determined to do anything I could do to put a stop to it…

“As I told you before, I was certain that a science existed governing the society of Duel Spirits. I graduated first in my class at Harvard, with multiple honors. I hold fifty-seven patents for software, many of which are used by most of the Fortune 500 companies, and hundreds of others, globally. I worked for the government of Japan, and was once an unofficial advisor for the Prime Minister in technology matters. I’m a man who learns quickly, and I figured that there was no science that I couldn’t learn…

“I started to do research…”



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



Yumi clutched her chest as she got up.

Man! she thought. I really shouldn’t have provoked her! She’s pretty good after all!

She looked at her hand of cards.

All I need is one card… One card, and I can summon a creature that will bring Daala to her knees…

She quickly made a draw.

YES!

“All right, Daala,” she said, throwing the card into her Disk, “take THIS!”

“Polymerization?” asked Daala as the Spell Card appeared.

“That’s right,” said Yumi. “I’ll fuse together Dark Magician and Goddess With the Third Eye…”

Two Monsters appeared on the field. One was the Mouto family’s signature Spellcaster. The other was a woman in a long, green robe, with three eyes, only the extra one open.

The two of them faded into two swirls of darkness and light, and a powerful burst erupted over the field…

Slowly, a powerful form landed on the field. He looked like Dark Magician at first glance, but was dressed in armor rather than robes, and held a decorated staff with a large blade on the end. (2,900/2,400)

“Yeah!” shouted Ren.

“Go, Dark Paladin!” yelled Chelsea.

“Dark Paladin gains 500 more Attack Points for every Dragon on the field and in both Graveyards,” said Yumi. “You have one on the field, and five in your Graveyard.”

“Six, actually,” said Daala, with a bored expression. “I tossed a Decoy Dragon when I flipped that Morphing Jar.”

Yumi frowned.

“You seem awfully calm for someone who’s facing a super-powered Dark Paladin,” she said, as the Spellcaster in front of her started to glow with incredible power.

(6,400/2,400)

“Attack Tyrant Dragon!” shouted Yumi. “Fierce slashing wave!”

Dark Paladin cast a mighty spell, and a blade of magical energy tore across the field. Tyrant Dragon roared in rage, and then exploded into a fiery blast of slag and ashes.

(Y: 3,800) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 3,100)

When the smoke cleared, Daala had apparently fallen on her rump from the impact. But she was laughing.

“Oh, this is great, Yumi!” she laughed. “I knew you’d be the challenge I was looking for…”

“This is nuts!” shouted Sam. “Yumi just killed her best Monster, and she’s happy?”

Daala got up.

“Now who ever said that Tyrant Dragon was my best Monster?” she said.

“Well then, Daala,” said Yumi, “I set one Monster, and end my turn…”

A facedown Monster appeared next to Dark Paladin.

“By all means, try to summon this Monster that’s even stronger than Tyrant Dragon…

“However, I’m pretty sure that if you have such a Monster, it’s the kind that can’t be Normal Summoned. And should you try to play a Spell Card, my Paladin can negate it, if I simply discard one card.”

Daala drew a card.

“I know that, Yumi,” she said. “You see, I knew you’d summon that guy… And I came prepared…”

She took another card in her hand.

“I summon Goblin of Greed.”

The Fiend that appeared in front of her was very recognizable, as he had appeared on several cards other than his own. He was a fat goblin wearing expensive clothes that suggested those of a sultan, albeit torn and ragged. He held a Pot of Greed in his right hand, and carried a Jar of Greed under his left shoulder. (1,000/1,800)

“You see, Yumi,” said Daala, “so long as this guy is on the field, neither player is allowed to discard cards as a cost.”

“But that means…” said Yumi.

“It means that Dark Paladin’s ability to negate Spells is effectively shut down,” said Daala. “So I can use them all I want.

“And I’m going to use one… A very powerful one…”

The sky started to darken as she held up another card.

“I have a question for you Yumi,” she said. “What’s the difference between a great Monster and a truly spectacular Monster?”

“Uh… what?” asked Yumi.

“A great Monster is one that your opponent has never seen before,” said Daala. “A truly spectacular Monster is one that she likely will never see again.

“I play… Dragon’s Mirror!”

She played the card, and lightning flashed. A large mirror with a frame shaped like a classic dragon appeared beside Daala, and images of Decoy Dragon, Luster Dragon, Blizzard Dragon, Twin-Headed Behemoth, and The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave appeared inside it. Then it cracked, and black smoke started to pour out of it.

“I’ll banish five of my Dragons from the game…” she said, as the smoke started to form into a thick cloud, “in order to summon the ultimate beast!”

The sky turned pitch-black and the mirror itself vanished, as a huge, dark form rose behind her…

“No…” gasped Sam. “It’s the F.G.D.!”

It was indeed the F.G.D. The towering monstrosity stood fifty feet tall, and almost as wide, with five hideous heads – one blue with a finned mane, one black with a spined mane, one pale yellow with a spiked mane, one metallic with horns, and one that was literally made of fire. Its body was scaly and green, and its wingspan reached a hundred feet on both sides.

It bellowed a roar that shook all of Nexus… (5,000/5,000)

“By the way, Yumi,” said Daala. “By summoning this Monster, I added one Dragon to Dark Paladin’s total… But I also subtracted five. That gives him a net gain of three Dragons.”

Dark Paladin’s score fell to (4,400/2,400).

“No…” muttered Yumi.

“Told you I was good at math,” said Daala. “F.G.D… destroy her Paladin with Pentecost Holocaust!”

A steam of fire, a bolt of ice, a bolt of lightning, a spray of corrosive gas, and a beam of pure darkness blasted from the Dragon’s five mouths, combining into one lethal blast of energy. Yumi shielded herself as Dark Paladin was blown to pieces.

“Ergh…” she muttered.

(Y: 3,200) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 3,100)

“Goblin of Greed,” ordered Daala, “wipe out her facedown Monster!”

The Goblin rushed at the facedown Monster. Apprentice Magician appeared on the card. He clubbed her over the head with his jar, and she shattered.

“Daala…” growled Yumi, as a new facedown Monster appeared, “I will beat you!”

“Oh?” said Daala. “Let’s look at the facts, shall we? My Monster has 5,000 Attack Points. Due to its own effect, it can’t be destroyed in battle by any type of Monster except Light Monsters. And thanks to my Deck Lord, it can’t be destroyed any way except through battle.

“You obviously see the backbone of my strategy now, why I’m the ruler of this land. With this Monster combined with my Deck Lord, I’m unbeatable!”

“You are not!” shouted Ren. “All she has to do is summon her Mirage Knight, and it’s game over!”

“Uhm…” muttered Yumi, getting up, “actually, Ren, my chances of summoning that guy aren’t very high…”

“What are the chances?” asked Ren.

“Well, to be perfectly honest,” said Yumi, “none at all.”

Daala gave an evil laugh.

“He isn’t even in your deck, right?” she asked. “Well, I don’t blame you… After all, you weren’t expecting to face this thing, and there’s only so much room in a deck…

“Still my turn, I believe, and I’m going to lessen the chances of you being able to pull something off even more.”

Her facedown card lifted, revealing The Transmigration Prophesy.

“I know you have Double Spell in your deck,” she said. “So you may think you can win if you bring back Chaos Command Magician, get back your Rush Recklessly, and then use my Megamorph.

“Well, it’s not gonna be as easy now. I’m sending both your Chaos Command Magician and Rush Recklessly back to your deck. Even with your luck, I defy you to draw all three cards before I finish you.”

Yumi started to sweat as the two cards slipped out of her discard slot. She added them to her deck, and slowly reshuffled.

“It’s your move, Yumi,” said Daala. “Feel free to give up at any time…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“How’s the coffee, lads?” asked Dr. Ting. “I’ve found that a touch of nutmeg mixed in with the grounds makes all the difference.”

“Very good,” said Nicholas. “But please, continue…”

“Well,” said Ting, “I studied Xanadu as best I could. As luck would have it, Phyllis didn’t pay much attention to me anymore. I discovered that somehow, she had combined the technology with magic to expand it beyond the limitations I had set.

“As a man of science, sorcery was a foreign concept to me. But I started studying the world of Spirits, trying to find a solution. My history as an unofficial advisor to several government agencies helped. I was able to gain access to libraries and media morgues that most researchers only dream of accessing. I interviewed scientists who had studied under the late Dr. Eisenstein, likely the greatest genius of his time on the subject of duel energy. I traveled to the original Duel Academy, and to all four of its splinter schools around the world. I sought information from the archives of I2 itself…

“KaibaCorp was the only company that turned me away, as they deemed the trumped-up reasons I gave for wanting to access their archives ‘insufficient’, and I didn’t dare tell them the truth. I guess I couldn’t blame them… KaibaCorp is a grand prize, and so many others have tried to seize its power. They have to protect what they have.

“I worked on this solution for three long years. It looked hopeless at times, but I wouldn’t give up. Men of science learn patience early.

“Finally, I managed to do something. I was able to open a window. Using the rudimentary knowledge I had gained, I sent a message into the Twelve Dimensions, the places where Duel Spirits lived. It was more or less a plea for help. I begged someone to stop my daughter and whatever she was planning. All I could offer at that point was my thanks, and the gratitude of the Spirits who were suffering under my daughter’s rule, which, of course, wasn’t much to offer. All I could do was pray for someone to hear who sympathized enough.

“And my prayers were answered…

“I got a reply… Guardian Angel Joan heard my plea, and said she would help.

“I know now that a war is happening in Xanadu, one that has been going on ever since then. Joan is trying to overthrow my daughter, even though Xanadu continues to grow, and my daughter’s plans, whatever they are, remain. I know that my daughter may well perish…”

He sighed.

“But maybe it’s for the best… Maybe Heaven can forgive this old fool for letting it get out of control if… Daala is stopped before her plans come to fruition.”

He opened the briefcase by his side.

He took out a CD disk in a case.

“Give that to Ms. Arachne,” he said, handing it to Olga. “It’s a program that will drive out the Duel Spirit that’s controlling her company’s computer, and prevent another one from invading it. She’ll be able to regain control easily.

“Take this too…”

He handed her a flash drive.

“It contains the blueprints for the original Xanadu program, and all the data I’ve been able to garner on how… Daala has changed it over the past ten years… It even has an index. It should help in rescuing your friends.”

“You’re… you’re just giving us these?” asked Olga.

“You can thank me by leaving me in peace,” said Ting. “You must admit… I’ve been through enough…”

He stopped for a minute.

“Oh… I almost forgot… There is… one more thing…”

* * * * * * * * * *

Yumi paused before she drew.

There’s only one way I can win this duel… she thought. And that’s to use Magic Cylinder to blast her Dragon’s attack back at her…

She drew. She looked at the card.

But I don’t have it!

She set a card on her Disk, and a new facedown Monster appeared.

“That’s all,” she said.

“My move,” said Daala, drawing a card.

She grinned when she saw what it was.

“I throw one card facedown,” she said, as a facedown card appeared.

“Then I attack with my F.G.D.!”

The huge Dragon fired its multiple blasts at the facedown Monster on the right, and Skilled Dark Magician was incinerated.

“Goblin of Greed, your turn.”

Goblin of Greed charged at the facedown Monster, and Old Vindictive Magician appeared on the card, right before he was smashed to pieces.

“Forget?” asked Daala. “My Dragon’s can’t be destroyed by effects.”

“True,” said Yumi. “But Goblin of Greed is no Dragon.”

The Goblin screamed and shattered into pixels.

“Crud…” said Daala. “Oh well… It will all be over soon anyway…”

And I mean it, she thought. My facedown card is Dragon’s Rage. When I trigger it next turn, Yumi won’t be safe by defending. This duel will be over.

“My move,” said Yumi.

She drew a card.

Still not Magic Cylinder… she thought.

Indeed, right now she had a pretty bad hand. The card she had just drawn was Dark Magician of Chaos, and the other cards in her hand were Mausoleum of the Emperor, Magic Stone Excavation, and Premature Burial.

She could use the Mausoleum to summon Dark Magician of Chaos, but if she did, he’d be destroyed, and she’d lose.

“Okay, Daala,” she said, as Dark Magician Girl started to glow, “I’m using one of my Deck Lord’s abilities.

“It’s called Spellcaster Shuffle. I send one Spellcaster in my hand back to my deck…”

She placed Dark Magician of Chaos in her deck.

“Then, I get to take a Spellcaster from it, that’s at least two Levels lower than the one I sent back there.”

She took a card from her deck and looked at it.

“Now I summon her… My second Magician Valkyria!”

In a flash of light, a twin of the first Valkyria appeared. (1,600/1,800)

“Next, I play Premature Burial to summon my first one.”

She played the card, and the first Valkyria appeared. (1,600/1,800)

“A Valkyria lock!” laughed Daala. “Whatever will I do?

“I’ll admit that’s very clever, Yumi, but your barrier won’t last long.

“Every duelist who uses Premature Burial, which is to say, nearly all of them, knows that if it’s destroyed, so is the Monster that it Special Summoned. My deck has one Mystical Space Typhoon, one Heavy Storm, and two Stamping Destructions. So your barrier is at most a weak and temporary defense. You’re like a marooned sailor desperately clinging to a piece of driftwood that will fall apart at any minute.”

“Heh…” chucked Yumi. “Now you’re being melodramatic.”

“As soon as I draw even one, you’re finished!” shouted Daala.

Yumi sighed. Daala was right…

“I end my turn,” she muttered.

(Y: 2,400) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 3,100)

Daala quickly drew. She looked at the card.

I’ll save this, she thought.

“You’re safe for now, Yumi,” she said. “I’m just going to pass for my turn.”

Yumi’s hand sweat as she drew a card.

She looked at it.

Still not Magic Cylinder… she thought. I have one last gambit… And if it fails, I’m dead meat…

* * * * * * * * * *

“What?” asked Olga. “There’s more?”

“Yes…” said Ting. “It happened just last week, in fact…

“An e-mail came. It had apparently come from Xanadu itself. But I didn’t recognize the user name. It seemed to be gibberish.

“It was a simple and short, but very mysterious message…

“It said, ‘I want to help. I can help free Xanadu. I want to help the Queen of Games. I am the Testament.’

“Unfortunately, I have no idea what it meant…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“I use another of my Deck Lord’s abilities!” shouted Yumi. “Spellcaster Recycle!

“I get to take five Spellcasters from my Graveyard, and shuffle them into my deck…”

Dark Magician, Gemini Elf, Cosmo Queen, Skilled Dark Magician, and Dark Paladin slipped out of her discard slot. She combined them with her deck, and reshuffled.

“Then I get to draw twice…”

She quickly made two draws.

She looked at them.

And then she almost fell over in surprise.

“You gotta be kidding…” she said.

“Yumi!” said Dark Magician Girl. “It’s the card that Joan sent you! You can turn this duel around!”

Yumi grinned.

“Right…” she said, giving a thumbs up.

“I sacrifice my two Valkyria…” she said.

The two Spellcasters started to glow with a soft light.

“What are you up to?” shouted Daala. “Not even a Monster you could summon with two sacrifices could defeat my Dragon!”

“I beg to differ!” shouted Yumi.

The two Valkyria nodded to each other. They flew into the sky, and vanished as a brilliant light started to form above…

Flying out of the light was a beautiful, winged figure…

Everyone couldn’t believe their eyes. It was Guardian Angel Joan herself, looking more lovely and radiant then ever. She landed in front of Yumi, and glared at Daala and her giant Dragon. (2,800/2,000)

Daala laughed out loud.

“Unbelievable,” she said. “I never thought Joan would take such a risk…”

“Risk?” said Yumi. “What risk? What do you mean?”

“You think that’s a hologram in front of you?” asked Daala. “Uh-uh. Joan has used a special power that only very powerful Spirits can manage to come help you personally. She’s here in the flesh now.

“You know how when I apprehend a duelist, his deck usually goes with him? I can confiscate his deck, Yumi. Well, when you lose now, I not only get you, I get Joan, because she’s in your deck!”

“That’s what you think, Daala,” said Yumi. “I’m not going to lose.”

“Yeah?” said Daala. “How is Joan going to beat my Dragon? She may be a Light Monster, but it has 2,200 more Attack Points!”

“Watch!” said Yumi, taking three of the cards in her hand. “I start by setting this facedown…”

A facedown card appeared behind Joan.

“Now, the exact strategy you were trying to prevent me from using is going to take that thing down!

“I play… Double Spell! I toss one Spell Card…”

She discarded her Magical Stone Excavation.

“And I get to use one Spell Card in your Graveyard. I’ll bet you can guess which one… Your Megamorph!”

The card flew out of Daala’s discard slot, flew over to Yumi, and she caught it. She threw it into her Disk, and Joan clenched her fists and glowed with energy… (5,600/2,000)

Joan flew into the air. F.G.D. roared.

“Evil beast!” shouted Joan. “Feel the wrath of my Divine Flame Strike!”

Joan formed a ball of flaming light in her hands, and it grew into a large, fiery orb. She lifted it over her head, and hurled it at the F.G.D., and Yumi’s friends cheered as the huge Dragon screamed in death throes and exploded into a burst of dark shards.

“And guess what, Daala?” said Yumi. “Joan has a powerful effect. I gain Life Points equal to your Monster’s Attack Points. And your Dragon had a LOT of Attack Points!”

(Y: 7,400) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 2,500)

“Well,” chuckled Daala, closing her eyes. “That certainly makes things easier…”

Everyone looked at her.

“Thanks to Joan’s own ability,” said Daala, “your Life Points are ahead of mine now… So Megamorph doesn’t double her Attack Score anymore. It halves it.”

Everyone looked at Joan. It was true. (1,400/2,000)

“No…” said Chelsea.

“It’s your move…” muttered Yumi.

Daala drew a card.

“Well, what do you know?” she said. “I may rule Chaos in this world, but I often make use of a powerful creature of Law as well… A Dragon native to Hell…

“I summon Infernal Dragon!”

In a bonfire of dark flames, a seven-foot-tall Dragon with black scales, large claws, spurs all over its body, and a forked tail appeared. (2,000/0)

“Now,” she said, taking another card in her hand, “I use my Deck Lord effect to Special Summon Mirage Dragon!”

She played the card, and small, wispy Dragon with golden scales appeared. It seemed almost translucent, and seemed to glow with light. (1,600/600)

“In case you’re thinking about using that facedown card to help you,” said Daala, “forget it. Mirage Dragon prevents you from using Traps during the Battle Phase.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this… Infernal Dragon… Attack Guardian Angel Joan with infernal darkfire!”

The Dragon roared. Dark flames appeared in its jaws…

“Your plan may seem flawless, Daala,” said Yumi, “but it has one small, fatal flaw…

“This is NOT a Trap Card.”

Her facedown card shot up.

“I activate… Mystical Space Typhoon!” she shouted. “Destroy Megamorph!”

The cyclone shot out of the card, blowing the Equip Spell to pieces. Joan rose back to an Attack Score of 2,800.

She fired a blast of light, blowing Infernal Dragon to particles.

“All right!” shouted Ren. “And now Yumi gains 2,000 more Life Points!”

(Y: 9,400) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 1,700)

“This isn’t over, Yumi!” shouted Daala. “I activate Infernal Dragon’s effect, sacrificing Mirage Dragon to bring it back from the Graveyard.”

Mirage Dragon dissolved into grains of light, and Infernal Dragon appeared again in Attack Mode. (2,000/0)

“I dunno, Daala,” said Yumi. “My turn is coming up… All I need now is the right Monster, and I can take this duel home…”

She drew a card.

“That’s the ticket…

“I summon Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer!”

She played the card, and the bald, scarred monk appeared, holding his set of prayer beads. (1,800/700)

“Let’s end this battle, Joan,” said Yumi.

Joan nodded.

She blasted her searing light, and Infernal Dragon was blown to pieces again.

Kycoo cast his spell, hitting Daala directly. Daala screamed and toppled over.

Daala sat up, and gasped for breath.

“Impossible…” she muttered. “I couldn’t have lost…”

“You not only lost, Daala,” said Sam. “Check out Yumi’s score.”

“Huh?” said Daala.

(Y: 11,400) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 0)

“Despite how unfair your condition was,” said Erik, “Yumi was able to meet it.”

Dark Magician Girl aimed her scepter, and King Dragun howled in pain.

“NO!” screamed Daala, getting up. “I can’t lose King Dragun! I can’t…”

She couldn’t stop it. King Dragun shattered into dark particles.

“Joan,” said Yumi, “you’d best get back to the temple fast. We’ll handle her.”

Joan nodded, and vanished.

“It’s over, Daala!” shouted Yumi. “Your reign of terror ends now!”

“Well, Yumi,” said Daala, standing up, “that kinda depends on one thing…”

“What?” said Yumi.

“Whether or not you guys can catch me,” said Daala.

Then she took off running.

“After her!” shouted Sam.

The five duelists started chasing their enemy, and as they did, their Disks activated. Skilled Dark Magician, Opticlops, Vampire Lady, Getsu Fuhma, and Toy Magician joined them.

“She’s going into the Tzimisce,” said Ren.

“Why?” said Chelsea. “She doesn’t have authority there any more…”

They chased Daala into the heavily forested domain…

And there they were met by a surprise. Daala was standing there, and five Manticores of Darkness were in front of her. (2,300/1,000 x5)

“Fools,” she said. “Joan may be the nominal ruler of this part of Xanadu now, but it will take more than that for some of the native beasts to recognize a new ruler.”

The five Beast-Warriors breathed streams of fire, and the duelists’ five Monsters were blown to pieces.

Daala quickly mounted one of the Manticores.

“Hear me now, Yumi!” she shouted. “For your act of… desecration, by order of the Queen of Xanadu, you and your friends are now sentenced to die! I didn’t defeat you, but once you are defeated, it will be your last stand.”

The Manticore spread its wings and flew to the treetops, taking her with it.

The five of them backed away from the four other Manticores.

“Any suggestions?” asked Erik.

Yumi’s eyes glowed with the same light as when she had called on the Dinosaur back in the quarry…

With a roar, a familiar Beast charged out of the woods. It was Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest. (2,600/1,800)

“Not him again!” shouted Chelsea.

“Don’t worry,” said Yumi. “He’s on our side now.”

Greed Baboon roared, and clobbered one of the Manticores with his club, smashing it. The other three turned on him, and a brutal fight started. Yumi and the others took this opportunity to make a run for it back the way they came.

* * * * * * * * * *

Daala walked into her throne room, with a look of anger on her face.

“Milady!” gasped Skull Knight. “Thank goodness you’re all right! I knew it was a bad idea…”

Daala sat on her couch.

“Take this down,” she said.

Skull Knight reached for a notepad and pen.

“Tell the stewards of the prisoner reception area to look through all the decks we’ve confiscated from captured members of the rebellion,” she said. “If they find a King Dragun, have it delivered to me at once.

“If one is not found, send word out to every member of my army. There will be a reward for anyone who has one or obtains one quickly. Assuming they hand it over, of course.”

“Yes, milady,” said Skull Knight.

“And if I discover that anyone has one and is withholding it from me,” she continued, “he will suffer dearly.”

“Uhm… Yes…” said Skull Knight.

“A couple of other things,” said Daala. “Go tell Jean-Claude to bring me that pint of mocha fudge ice cream I was saving… If he ate it himself again, have him flogged.”

Skull Knight nervously took it down.

“And contact you-know-who,” she said. “I need her tomorrow…”

Skull Knight gulped. That order sounded strange, but he knew what it meant…

Daala waved, and a screen appeared in front of her. The scene showed the image of her five enemies walking towards the temple.

“You may have won, Yumi,” she said, “but I wouldn’t flaunt your victory. We both know that you only won because you had help from that accursed Fairy.

“By the time we meet again, I’ll have finally found the Dark Exemplar…”

She touched a pouch on the belt on her waist. Most assumed it contained a side deck. It actually contained a deck that was nearly complete. All it needed was one card.

“…and once I have it, the Council will recognize me as master… And even with Joan’s help, you won’t stand a chance…”

The pouch glowed with a sinister, shadowy aura…

* * * * * * * * * *

“We failed, Joan…” said Chelsea, sadly.

“Whatever makes you say that?” asked Joan.

“We couldn’t capture Daala!” said Erik. “And we tried…”

“Fret not, children,” said Joan. “We’ve won a great victory today. Daala has lost King Dragun. Until she can empower a new Deck Lord, she is helpless to duel via the system that she herself designed.

“You saw her usual strategy. She combines the F.G.D. with her Deck Lord, making her almost unstoppable. But now, she has lost the ability to use that combo.”

“She still has F.G.D.,” said Chelsea.

Joan sighed.

“Yes…” she said. “Only one copy of that incredibly powerful card – Daala’s – exists in Xanadu. The more powerful a card is, the harder it is to download into Xanadu, and the longer it takes. Now that we know that the Big Five are her governors, they may well have helped her with that one.”

“Hey Joan…” said Ren with a chuckle. “How did it feel to blast that ugly thing to Kingdom Come?”

Joan smiled slightly.

“It has been a while…” she said, “but it reminded me of the old days… The days when the armies of the Higher Plane repelled the attacks of the Archfiends, sending them fleeing back to Pandemonium with their tails between their legs…”

“Well, let’s not take that risk again,” said Yumi. “You had me worried there.”

“Indeed,” said Joan. “And speaking of cards, Yumi…”

She handed Yumi a card.

“Ever since you came to Xanadu, I’ve been trying to download a card that will help you immensely. I take it you recognize this Monster.”

Yumi took the card. Her eyes lit up.

“Oh, great!” shouted Sam. “Yumi beats Daala, and she gets all the good stuff…”

“Calm down, Sam,” said Joan. “I have one for you too.”

She handed Sam another card. Sam turned beet red from embarrassment as she took it.

“Hey…” she said, looking at it. “I’ve heard of this guy…”

“Since we likely are fighting the demons of Chaos,” said Joan, “I figured you needed someone who specializes in that area.

“I predict that rest of you will grow stronger too, in time…”

Yumi sighed.

It felt good to have beaten Daala, but she knew as much as Daala did that she had countered Daala’s dishonest strategy with one that was just as morally dishonest. She didn’t have any choice but to use Joan’s card… But she really wished there had been another option…

“And now is the perfect time to strike when Daala is weakened,” said Joan. “Tomorrow our next target is Darkspire, the Realm of Dark.”

“Darkspire?” asked Sam.

“It’s a city Realm,” said Joan. “A dirty, dark metropolis. It is not only cursed with evil magic, but with terrible pollution as well. Only Machines and other Spirits who don’t mind the smog live there on a permanent basis.

“The way into it is a stretch of road referred to as Route 13. But once again, I’ll have a guide for you in this leg of your journey.”

“Uhm, Joan…” said Ren. “I know we have to take every Realm, but we’ve been working nonstop in these life-or-death duels. Can’t we just take a break and…”

He paused.

“Say no more, Ren,” said Joan. “Maybe a little recreation would be good. Your guide likely won’t be back from his current mission until noon tomorrow anyway. If you’d care for a less dangerous duel, one that will help you relax, I have just the man who can help you. I can point you in the right direction tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah…” said Ren. “I would like that…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“We can’t thank you enough Mr. Ting,” said Olga, as they walked out the door. “And if we manage to contact Yumi, we’ll tell her about this… Testament…”

“Good luck…” said Ting. “I’ll pray for you and your friends… That’s all I can do at this point…”

“Come on,” said Nicholas. “Sheena’s going to love this…”

* * * * * * * * * *

BLIZZARD DRAGON (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Dragon/Effect
Attribute: Water
Level: 4
ATK: 1,800
DEF: 1,000

Card Description: Once per turn, you can select one Monster that your opponent controls. The selected Monster cannot attack or change its battle position until the End Phase of the next turn.

Note: “Blizzard Dragon” is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States.



Yumi’s Deck Lord: “Dark Magician Girl”: “Spellcaster Recycle”: Once per duel, you may return five Spellcaster-Type Monsters in your Graveyard to your deck and reshuffle. Then, draw two cards. If you currently have no cards on your side of the field and in your hand, draw an extra card. (Intermediate Power) “Contribution”: Once per duel, you may draw one card for each face-up Spellcaster-Type Monster on your side of the field. At the End Phase of the turn in which you use this effect, send all cards in your hand to the Graveyard. (Minor Power) “Spellcaster Shuffle”: Once per round, you can send one Spellcaster-Type Monster in your hand to your deck. Then, take a Spellcaster-Type Monster from your deck that is at least two Levels lower than the one you sent back to your deck, and add it to your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. (Minor Power)



Daala’s Deck Lord: “King Dragun”: “Dragon Summoning”: Once per round, you can Special Summon a Dragon-Type Monster from your hand that is Level Four or less. (Greater Power) “Dragon Immortality”: Dragon-Type Monsters on your side of the field cannot be destroyed by the effects of Spell Cards, Trap Cards, or Monster effects. (Extraordinary Power)



Coming up next:

More information is revealed about that mysterious Chaos Sorcerer who Ren defeated. Meanwhile, Ren engages in this duel that supposedly will help him relax, even though his opponent comes at him with both barrels loaded. A duelist who looks at dueling from a unique perspective gives him and the others an exclusive performance. Can Ren see this one to the finish? It’s called “Amphitheater”, and it’s coming soon.



Name that Card!

The image on this Spell Card is based on a popular product produced by Milton Bradley. However, you will not find the Spell Card’s name on this product. Can you name it? (The Spell Card, not the product.)

[Neo Arkadia]

Very exciting chapter to say the least. Exposition based, yes. But it did alot of good things and potentially set up Soul of Silicon to have a more interesting future besides defeating Daala and the Big Five.

Dark Expemlar? Interesting. I'm assuming that's what Daala's been digging for (Personally thought it was Colorless, Chaos King of Dark World myself).

I suppose I was somewhat disappointed by Yumi beating Daala. It has it's pros and cons. On the one hand, it rounds out Daala more, showing she isn't the completely invincible virtual goddess she claims to be. Though... her current story does make her somewhat of a clone of Noah to a point (Though I expect her long term plans will eleviate this current problem).

On the other hand, Yumi's victory does bring up the concern of the invincible hero. Though the rules of Xanadu would make defeat for the hero without pretty much putting their head on a silver platter more difficult... though, a mid story defeat by the villain, while also cliche, helps establish the villain's threat credability. Though, I don't expect Daala to fall to the same 'pits' as Rasputin from Legends.

Also, I do believe I know the Name That Card. But I shall abstain on that for the sake of other readers.

But this chapter does show signs of Soul of Silicon, whose name is apparently more... apparent as to it's mean, been alot more thickly designed, and you're prepared to pull out all the stops, which with this supposedly being your last story, isn't unexpected.

I'm quite excited to see more appearances from Chaos Sorcerer (For some reason, he's a very fun villain thus far, and a bit of an oddball for your normal badguys.).

I do also hope, despite the info dump from Edward, he isn't completely out of the show and has some sort of small part near or at the end of the story.

[Shuppet Master]

I didn't really like that duel.

Don't get me wrong, Brian. I like that Yumi won and her DMG got the power to access the Core and get an Extraordinary Power(just don't abuse that gimmick), but it was like Yumi said - the whole thing was scripted.

I'm not saying the duel should have ended in loss(which would give an unhappy ending), but a draw is best. If you defeat the major villian immediately, even if she escapes her fate, the whole story goes to pot. That person won't be as intimidating anymore.

Daala's backstory was good. I'm glad she did have a father who regrets his actions. He was trying to make her happy by fulfilling her dream, but she was overcome with the sin of Greed, and her father got too nice to her. He's redeemed himself.

It's sort of like how, in Dragon Quest IV, Rosaly begged the hero to stop her love, even if it meant destroying him. Daala will probably die, but Ming is prepared for that.

I bet Shogarr had some hand in this. Remember, that demon lord had threatened to kill Yumi and saw this as an opportunity.

EDIT: Oh, I think I know what this is! Is it "Return to Square One" which has an image of the Mousetrap board on it?

[Dark Sage]

Don't worry, Chris, I have plans for Daala to become more intimidating in a future chapter. Unlike most boss villains, she's gonna take a more active role in her work. You can bet that this humiliating defeat has not done much except make her angry and more determined than ever to crush the rebellion.

Neo, yes, I have a lot of things set up. As for what exactly the Dark Exemplar is, it's a card that Daala wants which will make her incredibly powerful, which has a lot of history behind it. It won't give away its actual name yet, but I'm certain its name will be recognized when I do.

The next chapter, by the way, will be an intermission of sorts. The duel that Ren will engage in has no strings attached. Joan has someone working for her who is in charge of morale, always a good thing to have in an army. And after fighting for your life for so long, they need it.

[Dark Sage]

What Spell Card’s image was inspired by Milton Bradley’s The Game of Life? If you said “Back to Square One”, you were successfully able to Name that Card!



Author’s note:

This chapter features a character who appeared in the anime, who used mostly anime-only cards. As was often the case, when the show was translated into the English dub, the character’s name and most of his cards’ names were changed.

As usual, the dub names ruined the whole idea behind the character, and were at times, silly. Therefore, in this chapter, I will do my best to use the original names, of both the character and his cards. I just hope I can get the translations as accurate as possible, because I’m no expert.

I hope this doesn’t cause too much confusion.



I’m gonna ask you a question. Be honest when you answer, okay? How many live theater performances have you been to in the past year?

If you answered honestly and you’re a guy like me, I’ll bet the number you said small or zero. And if you went to any, they were probably parts of field trips that your teachers dragged you to.

I just don’t understand dramatic theater that much. Sam is good at it, but she had a lot of private tutors. My English teacher assigns the works of the great William Shakespeare all the time, giving us at most three days to read them. When we complain about the short time, his response is that they can perform these plays in two hours, so I guess my argument falls flat. Of course, my English teacher has a bad sense of humor. His response when we ask what the play is about is always, “It’s about a hundred pages, so start reading.”

Anyway, Joan said this would help me relax, and if it can do that, I’m willing to try. I’m going to have to risk my life again once this is over, after all.

One thing’s for sure…

If I ever make it back to Domino, I’m going to start going to more shows.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX



Amphitheater

Early the next morning, Yumi was dreaming again.

She dreamt she was once again, back in Neo-Space, in front of a very large, very important looking building. A duelist was in front of the building, and he seemed to be both dueling and guarding the entrance at the same time.

Yumi recognized him quickly. It was another of Jaden’s allies, the short, bespectacled, and rather geeky-looking Syrus Truesdale. Like all of the members of Jaden’s group she had seen so far, he apparently hadn’t aged at all since the fateful plane flight where he was last seen by earthlings.

His opponent was dressed in the same outfit and mask as the previous two invaders, but he seemed to be somewhat older, with graying hair.

Syrus had Drillroid (1,600/1,600) in Defense Mode, and 4,500 Life Points remaining. His opponent had a Monster that Yumi recognized as The Tricky. (2,000/1,200) He had 5,100 Life Points left.

“It’s pointless to keep fighting, Syrus,” said the man. “You’re going to lose no matter what you do, and once that happens, no-one will be here to help. Your allies may not know it yet, but the three emergency distress signals they responded to were three carefully crafted false alarms. They won’t even receive your real distress signal, much less get here, until it’s too late.

“My offer still stands, by the way… Release Pollux and Phoebe, and we can forget that all of this ever happened.”

“Pardon me if I say I don’t believe you, Damocles,” said Syrus. “This invasion of yours is ending here and now.”

“Have it your way,” said Damocles, drawing a card.

“I remove my Slate Warrior from play, in order to summon Slipheed.”

In a whirlwind of energy, a tall man with white hair in a pure white suit, holding a scepter appeared. (1,700/700)

“Even if you destroy him,” said Damocles, “it will cost you one card from your hand.

“Destroy Drillroid with gust blast!”

Slipheed cast a powerful spell, and a whirlwind of energy shot at the Machine, blowing it to scrap.

“Tricky, attack directly with trick illusion!”

The Tricky cast a bolt of multicolored lights. Syrus hollered as his Life Points fell to 2,500 and his glasses flew off his face.

He took some deep breaths. He bent down and picked up his glasses, which were now half-broken.

Damocles burst out laughing.

“Well…” he said. “Looks like you have a choice. You can surrender, or continue to duel me blind in one eye.”

Syrus frowned, and then threw the spectacles away.

“The glasses are strictly for show these days,” he said. “When we came to Neo-Space, the natives gave us perfect health. I can see just fine without them.

“Heck, they were even able to restore Jim’s right eye entirely, that he lost when he was a kid. The healing power of Neo-Space can work miracles.”

“Really…” said Damocles, holding his chin. “You might consider getting rid of them for good then. You look better without them.”

“I don’t need your advice!” shouted Syrus, drawing.

“I play Graceful Charity!”

He quickly drew three cards. He looked over his hand, and then discarded two cards.

“I summon Submarineroid!”

Another Machine broke surface in front of him. It was a large, cartoonish submarine, with eyes on the front. (800/1,800)

“Go!” he shouted. “Subterranean sneak attack!”

Submarineroid dove underground, and started to rush towards Damocles…

“Huh?” he said.

“Things always look different when you’re staring down the barrel of a submarine, huh?” asked Syrus.

Then an explosion burst around Damocles. He screamed as his Life Points fell to 4,300.

Submarineroid reappeared on Syrus’s side of the field.

“It moves into Defense Mode,” he said, as it crossed its arms. “I throw one card facedown, and I end my turn.”

A facedown card appeared in a flash of light.

Damocles angrily drew a card.

“Okay, Truesdale,” he said. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but you’re making me mad.

“I play System Down! I pay 1,000 Life Points, and all Machines on your side of the field and Graveyard are removed from play.”

His Life Points fell to 3,300. Syrus gasped, as Submarineroid vanished.

“Time to finish you off!” shouted Damocles. “Tricky, attack!”

The Tricky started to cast his spell…

Syrus quickly discarded a card. A weird creature resembling a hang glider with eyes appeared in front of him, and The Tricky’s spell was deflected.

“What was THAT?” shouted Damocles.

“My Kiteroid,” said Syrus. “By discarding it, I can reduce the damage from a direct attack to zero.”

“Do you have another one?” asked Damocles. “Silpheed, you attack!”

Syrus cringed as the Fairy blasted him with his own spell. His Life Points fell to 800.

“That’s all for now…”

Syrus drew a card.

“Time to end this!” he shouted, taking the three cards in his hand. “I play… Power Bond!”

“Huh?” said Damocles.

“I’ll fuse Steamroid and Gyroid together,” said Syrus, as the two Vehicroids appeared behind him and swirled into one vortex. “And summon Steam Gyroid!”

A large Machine appeared, looking if anything like a large steam locomotive with helicopter blades and a grinning face on the front. It glowed with an aura of pure power. (2,200/1,600) –> (4,400/1,600)

“Tell me, Syrus, did that brother of yours ever tell you why he gave you that card in the first place?” asked Damocles. “I’d love to hear the reason.”

“Yes he did, as a matter of fact,” said Syrus, “and I really don’t think what happens between me and my family is any of your business!”

“Well, he was an idiot to trust you with it, because you just made a fatal mistake!” laughed Damocles. “Even if you attack Slipheed, I’ll still have 500 Life Points left, and when you end your turn, Power Bond’s side effect kicks in, dealing you 2,200 points of damage, which is more than you have left!”

Syrus grinned.

His facedown card lifted.

“Activate… Call of the Haunted!” he shouted.

“And that’s supposed to scare me?” asked Damocles. “Thanks to my System Down, the best Monster you have in your Graveyard is Steamroid. It still won’t be enough.”

“Wrong,” said Syrus. “Your Spell Card didn’t get a certain one that I tossed with Graceful Charity.”

“Please,” said Damocles. “You can’t fool me. I played that card after you used Graceful Charity.”

“I bring back Dragonroid!” shouted Syrus.

In a burst of energy, a very large Vehicroid appeared. It looked like a comical dragon robot, colored fire engine red, with claws and a long tail, standing upright. (2,900/1,000)

“That… That’s impossible…” gasped Damocles. “How could it have resisted my Spell Card?”

“Because Dragonroid isn’t a Machine all the time,” said Syrus. “It’s a Machine when it’s in my deck, hand, and on the field. But when it’s in the Graveyard, it’s a Dragon. So System Down missed it.

“You think this is the first time I dueled someone who used System Down? I was in the Pro League, remember? My opponents put that in their deck all the time.

“And just like them, you’re finished.

“Steam Gyroid, Dragonroid, take him down.”

Dragonroid blasted a cone of frost from its mouth, and The Tricky burst into shards. Then Steam Gyroid sped at Slipheed. Damocles screamed and collapsed as his Life Points fell to zero.

Yumi woke up with a start.

* * * * * * * * * *

Yumi walked into the common room, where breakfast had been set out again. Once again, Joan was nowhere in sight, and a note had been left. She picked it up and started to read.


Children,

Once again I must consult my peers in my home plane. I should be back soon. I should tell you that, given your results so far, my superiors are becoming more optimistic, and the support they have given me is growing.

Once you have refreshed yourself, take the back door from this temple and follow the winding road. You will come to the Amphitheater, where one waits for the duel I promised Ren.

Once that is done follow the map to the entrance to Route 13. Your guide will be waiting to escort you to Darkspire, and then to the Realm Lord’s fortress.

I stress incredible caution once you get there. No less than five of my duelists have made it that far, and all are missing. We can assume at this point that one of the remaining two members of the Big Five rules this Realm, but which one, I cannot say. Leichter took the form of a Monster of the Dark Attribute, but on the other hand, Darkspire is a popular place for Machine Spirits, so it might also fit Nezbitt.

I cannot stress the importance of this mission. Along with Light, Dark is one of the most powerful Attributes in Duel Monsters. Darkspire holds great power, and seizing it for ourselves would certainly be beneficial.

One final thing. If you are challenged by a duelist whom you suspect holds the third Apocalyptic Monster, be well-prepared. Utilize your side decks, and add any cards you believe would help against incredibly powerful Monsters. And one point I cannot stress among all others: Should you confiscate the card from one of these duelists, do not, under ANY condition, use it yourself!

Stay safe. May Shinato’s hand guide you.

- Guardian Angel Joan


Yumi folded the letter and reached for the pot of hot chocolate.

“Wonder who the Lord is this time?” she said out loud.

“If it is Nezbitt, he shouldn’t be too hard,” said Sam, as she and the others walked in.

“Sam’s right,” said Ren. “He was a big coward. He forced Duke, Tristan, and Serenity to duel him, because he knew they were amateurs. And to make things worse, they beat him anyway.”

“So he was a big coward AND a big loser,” said Chelsea.

“He may have gotten better,” said Yumi, handing them the note.

“Come to think of it,” said Erik, as Ren read the note, “the Big Five were all losers way back then. Johnson would have been beaten right away if he hadn’t resorted to cheating. And in the end, he fell for the oldest trick in the book.”

“Ah, Leichter wasn’t half bad,” said Sam. “He just didn’t know that challenging Seto Kaiba was a good way to lose.”

“Well, Gansley, Krump, and Johnson certainly got better,” said Chelsea, “even if their attitudes didn’t. Those guys need to be cut down a peg. Krump may not have been my first hard duel, and he won’t be the last… The difference was, beating him felt good.”

“Well, let’s eat breakfast and find this guy,” said Ren. “I need this more than anything… I had the worst nightmare last night…”

“Oh?” said Yumi.

“Yeah…” muttered Ren. “Strangest nightmare… I was dueling, and my opponent summoned a Monster I had never seen before… It must have been Level Seven or higher, since he sacrificed two Monsters… And it looked like a cross between a Fiend and a Dragon, sealed inside a glass prism…

“And it killed Crescent Moon Queen with its breath… Her screams…”

He held his chest.

“Hang on, Ren,” said Chelsea, putting her arm around him. “If such a Monster exists… Uhm… Uh…”

She paused.

Man, I hate talking myself into a corner, she thought.

Yumi held her chin, thinking.

“What Monsters were used as sacrifice?” she asked.

“I didn’t recognize them either,” said Ren.

Yumi sighed.

Strange things were afoot…

* * * * * * * * * *

Inside Daala’s palace, right outside her throne room, Skull Knight was speaking to two other Duel Spirits, a Vanity’s Fiend and an Exarion Universe. They were two other members of Daala’s inner circle, but not quite as loyal as Skull Knight.

“You’re kidding,” said the Vanity’s Fiend. “Daala was beaten?”

“And to think we were afraid of her!” said the Universe. “We can take her out right now…”

“Quiet!” exclaimed Skull Knight. “She’s in a rotten mood… I had to give her my own stash of mocha fudge ice cream last night to keep the chef from being flogged. Not that he didn’t deserve it, but I didn’t want the guy who was in charge of making dinner to be tortured.

“If she hears you two…”

“She’ll do what?” said the Fiend. “It’s time for a change.”

“Oh, really?” said a voice.

They all turned around, and saw the Chaos Sorcerer walking towards them.

“Did I just hear talk of treason?” he said.

“Not from me…” said Skull Knight, backing up. “It was them…”

“And who’s gonna stop us?” asked the Universe. “You? You yourself lost to Ren.”

Chaos Sorcerer chuckled. He slipped a Disk onto his arm, which oddly enough, was a standard one, rather than the strange one that he had when he dueled Ren.

“You two are free to go in there and challenge Daala for the crown,” he said. “But you have to get by me first.”

“You know,” said Vanity’s Fiend, lifting his own Disk, “I see no problem with that…”

“Well, let’s make it interesting…” said Chaos Sorcerer. “I’ll take you both on at once!”

Simultaneously, three Disks activated…

* * * * * * * * * *

“So…” said Chelsea, as they walked down the dirt road. “We’re looking for some sort of amphitheater?”

“That’s what the note said,” said Yumi. “Although I’d think that if there was a theater in this place, we would have…”

They stopped short.

“…seen… it… already…”

In front of them was a structure that was indeed an amphitheater. It looked very old, just like everything in Nexus.

It was a very large, outdoor stage, the back a dome shape for amplifying sound, in front of rows of seats. Statues were posed at various points, and the two masks of Comedy and Tragedy were perched at the apex.

Yumi shook her head as they walked down to the huge stage. The spatial laws of Xanadu got pretty creepy at times.

“Well, we’re here,” said Ren. “So who’s in charge?”

“Say there!” said a voice from the stage. “Are you folks here for the show?”

They looked up, and saw a man who had apparently come from backstage. He was dressed in a very odd costume – odd to say the least. It was a traditional Japanese costume; a flowing robe with a long, white wig, and white makeup with red lines on his face. He also wore a standard-issue Duel Disk on his arm.

“Who are you?” said Sam. “Some sort of cosplay duelist?”

The costumed duelist crossed his arms.

“I am Kabukid,” he said. “Duelist and showman, who was once the best performing duelist on the Pro League circuit.”

“Performing duelist?” asked Erik.

“Wait, I heard about this guy…” said Yumi. “Jaden Yuki mentioned him in his autobiography… He dueled him in the Genex tournament. This guy was able to combine dueling with acting in order to entertain.”

“Indeed,” said Kabukid. “Ah, yes, I remember Jaden… Such spirit for one so young…

“But enough of that… Who has come to be my opponent?”

“This guy is another AI program, right?” asked Chelsea.

“Who cares?” chuckled Ren, “I like him already!”

He climbed up onto the stage.

“Okay, pal, I think that would be me.”

“Very well, Nii-Chan,” said Kabuki. “The rest of you have a seat…”

Nii-Chan? thought Ren. Whoa, I barely even know this guy…

“Before we begin, lest I forget,” said Kabukid, “I assume you have one of these?”

He pulled one of Joan’s feathers out of his robe.

Ren nodded and took out his own.

“Daala would love to tear this theater down,” said Kabukid, “but the members of the resistance are sure to run to defend it at the first sign of trouble. And I’m no slouch myself.”

Ren readied his Disk as his allies sat down.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” said Kabukid, “thank you all for coming. It is my pleasure to present, in duel form, ‘Yoshitsune’s Thousand Cherry Trees’.

“Lights…”

Then the lights around them dimmed, which was incredibly odd, seeing as they were outdoors. A spotlight fell on the stage.

Kabukid made a bow. Ren shrugged, and then bowed back.

“Game on,” he said.

(Ren: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Kabukid: 8,000)

“You ever seen that one, Sam?” asked Chelsea.

“I may be rich, Chelsea, but I’m not that much into high-society events,” replied Sam.

Kabukid made his first draw and quickly chose a card.

“It begins!” he said. “If I may quote from the immortal Bard, ‘All the world’s a stage, the men and women merely players’.

“If such a statement is true… Welcome to my world…”

He placed the card into his Field Slot.

“I play Kabuki Stage – Big Bridge!”

As he played the card, a foggy mist rose around them, and the backdrop of the huge amphitheater behind him opened, showing some elaborately painted scenery. It depicted a wooden bridge over a river, with a meadow on the other side, with a rainbow in the sky.

“Uh, very pretty…” said Ren.

“Next,” said Kabukid, “I’ll summon one of my stars… I bring a flower to the set… Yoshitsune, the Tengu Beauty!”

In a burst of energy, a female figure appeared in mid air. She wore a white martial arts battle dress, had a fancy hairstyle, and carried a katana by her side.

She gracefully landed on the stage. (800/800)

“Odd,” said Erik. “I always thought that Yoshitsune was more… Masculine…”

“In Kabuki, it’s quite common for men to play female roles,” said Yumi.

And I expected him to be stronger, thought Ren.

“Next, I play a facedown card, and then play Footsteps of Fharlanghn,” said Kabukid.

A facedown card appeared, followed by a Continuous Spell. It bore the image of a man in traveling clothes and a long beard, traveling down a scenic path.

“End scene,” said Kabuki.

“Uh, I take that to mean you’re ending your turn…” said Ren.

He drew a card.

He looked over his six cards.

Not bad… he thought. I have a feeling that Yoshitsune is tougher than she looks, but it’s not like my life is riding on this duel…

“I’m summoning a leading lady of my own,” he said. “Go, Getsu Fuhma!”

With a war cry, the dark, lady ronin appeared, brandishing her katana. (1,700/1,200)

“Attack his Tengu!” he shouted. “Whirlwind blade!”

Getsu Fuhma leapt at Yoshitsune.

“My star won’t let your upstage her!” shouted Kabukid. “She has a special ability… Since Getsu Fuhma has more than 1,000 points, my Tengu can move into Defense Mode.”

Yoshitsune knelt down and crossed her arms.

“She still won’t survive this attack!” said Ren.

“Yes she will,” said Kabukid. “Because if she’s in Defense Mode, she gains the ability to dodge one attack per turn.”

Yoshitsune leapt up, and over Getsu’s head, clear of her sword.

I was right… thought Ren. She’s tougher than she looks…

“That’s not all,” said Kabukid. “Due to your attack, the effect of my Stage activates, and a new character is introduced from my hand…

“Presenting, Mataza the Zapper!”

He played the card, and a stern-faced ronin in green, leather armor, wearing a headband and holding a katana, materialized next to Yoshitsune. (1,300/800)

“Oh, just great…” muttered Ren.

He knew how dangerous Mataza could be… He had him in his own deck.

“I’ll throw this facedown, and end my turn.”

A facedown card appeared behind Getsu.

Kabukid drew, and looked at the card.

“I activate Pot of Greed,” he said.

He played the card, and the green jar appeared in front of him.

“And in response to that, I activate this…”

His facedown card activated.

“Serial Spell. Now, I just discard the last card in my hand…”

He discarded his last card, which was Arms Hole.

“…and Pot of Greed’s effect activates twice.”

A second Pot of Greed appeared next to the first. Both of them vanished, and he drew four times.

“Man, this guy is good,” said Chelsea.

“Yeah, but I doubt that Pot of Greed is the only card he could use Serial Spell with,” said Yumi. “Ren had better be careful.”

“Now, I move Yoshitsune back to Attack Mode…” said Kabukid.

Yoshitsune stood up.

“And then I give Mataza the powerful Halberd of the Sohei!”

Mataza’s sword vanished, and a long naginata appeared in his hands. His Attack Score went up to 1,800.

“Mataza, attack Getsu Fuhma!” ordered Kabukid.

Mataza charged at Getsu, halberd-first.

“Not so fast!” shouted Ren. “I activate Rush Recklessly!”

His facedown card lifted. Getsu’s Attack Score shot up to 2,400.

“So I’m cutting his act short!”

“Not quite,” said Kabukid. “He can use that Halberd as a shield.”

Getsu slashed at Mataza with her katana, and Mataza parried the blow with his weapon. The Halberd of the Sohei shattered into splinters, but he was unharmed.

Then the blade of the Halberd flew at Ren, and he grunted in pain.

“Also,” said Kabukid with a chuckle, “when that happens, you lose 500 Life Points.”

(R: 7,500) - - - - - - - - - - (K: 7,400)

“Yeah?” said Ren with a frown, taking a card from his hand. “Well, if this Stage of yours is a Field Spell, that means I can use it too. I summon Familiar Knight!”

In a burst of energy, the knight in shining armor appeared next to Getsu. (1,200/1,400)

“You forget,” said Kabukid, “Mataza gets two attacks.”

Mataza drew his katana, and slashed at Familiar Knight with it. The Knight shattered into pixels.

“Now I’m using Familiar Knight’s effect!” shouted Ren. “We can both summon a Level Four Monster from our hands. And I’m going with Dark Blade!”

In another burst, the dark, armored Warrior appeared with his two scimitars. (1,800/1,500)

“Well, if I simply must,” said Kabukid. “I summon Armed Samurai – Ben Kei!”

In a dark shadow, another Warrior appeared on Kabukid’s side of the field. It was a battle-worn soldier, his tunic pierced with arrows, holding a pitted and well-worn naginata. He carried a pack of weapons slung to his back. (500/800)

“Ho… boy…” muttered Ren.

“To end this scene on a high note,” said Kabukid, “I play Fairy of the Spring.”

He played the card, and a glowing, humanoid form holding two long rods appeared behind him.

“Now the Halberd of the Sohei returns to me, so it will be making a return appearance next scene.”

He took the card from his discard slot.

“And with that, my turn comes to a close…”

(R: 7,400) - - - - - - - - - - (K: 7,400)

Ren drew a card and surveyed the field.

Okay, he thought. I could take out Yoshitsune now…

But he has that nasty Halberd again, and even if he gave it to her, she wouldn’t be strong enough to defeat either Getsu Fuhma or Dark Blade.

On the other hand, Mataza is a problem…

And Ben Kei plus Equips is always bad news.

I’ll save her for later.

“Getsu, attack Mataza!”

Getsu Fuhma slashed with her katana. Mataza the Zapper was thrown backwards and shattered.

“Dark Blade, attack Ben Kei! Dark sword slash!”

Dark Blade made a savage cut with his sword, and the Armed Samurai burst into pixels.

“That’s all for now…”

(R: 7,400) - - - - - - - - - - (K: 5,700)

Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



“Not bad,” said Kabukid. “If a bit crude…”

He drew a card.

He placed it in his Disk, and it appeared facedown. Then he played another card.

“Now I play The Warrior Returning Alive. Ben Kei will return once more.”

The card slipped out of his discard slot. Then he played it, and Ben Kei appeared again. (500/800)

“Our first act is almost over,” he said. “One more scene remains before the interlude, and I promise, it will bring an ovation. For now, it’s your move…”

Ren slowly drew.

I don’t like that facedown card, he thought. But, seeing as I can’t get rid of it…

“I summon Double Pinaska!”

With another war cry, the rapier-wielding Spaniard somersaulted onto the field. (1,500/1,500)

“Attack Ben Kei!” he shouted.

Double Pinaska charged at the Armed Samurai…

“Not this time!” shouted Kabukid. “Activate… Negate Attack!”

His facedown card lifted up, and a wave of energy emitted from the card, pushing Double Pinaska back.

“Ho… kay,” said Ren. “In that case, I end my turn…”

Kabukid quickly drew a card.

“Now, the Halberd of the Sohei goes to Ben Kei,” he said.

The Halberd appeared in Ben Kei’s hands, and his Attack Score rose to 1,000.

“And now… I play Great Mié.”

“Great what?” said Ren.

“This Spell Card takes 500 Attack Points from your Monsters, and adds them to mine,” said Kabukid.

All five Monsters on the field glowed with energy. Yoshitsune rose to an Attack Score of 1,300, while Ben Kei rose to 1,500. Meanwhile, on Ren’s side of the field, Dark Blade decreased to 1,300, Getsu Fuhma to 1,200, and Double Pinaska to 1,000.

“Super…” muttered Ren.

“Ben Kei…” ordered Kabukid, “attack his Dark Blade!”

Ben Kei rushed at Dark Blade.

“Not so fast!” shouted Ren. “I activate Double Pinaska’s special ability, to deflect your attack!”

Double Pinaska rushed in front of Dark Blade, and parried Ben Kei’s thrust with his rapiers . He gave the Samurai a kick, and he fell backwards.

“And I activate Ben Kei’s effect,” said Kabukid, “letting him attack an extra time for each Equip Spell he has.

“Attack that armored rogue!”

Ben Kei slashed at Dark Blade again, and the knight exploded into shards.

“Yoshitsune, attack Getsu Fuhma!”

The Tengu Beauty leapt into the air gracefully and drew her katana…

She slashed at Getsu, and the ronin fell to her knees. She burst into pixels.

“Act One comes to a close,” said Kabukid, as the backdrop behind him closed, “but our production is far from over. I’ll send my Stage to the Graveyard to set the scene for Act Two…

“Kabuki Stage – Cherry Blossom Mountain!”

Cherry blossoms started to fill the air as the backdrop opened again, with new scenery. This time, it depicted a sugarloaf mountain, surrounded by a forest of cherry trees and fluffy purple clouds.

“At this point, the effect of Footsteps of Fharlanghn comes into play,” he said. “Due to the fact that a new Field Spell was played, I can now draw two cards.”

He made two draws, and looked at the cards.

“And now, a new character enters the fray,” he said, playing a new card. “The lovely Shizuka, the Heavenly Dancing Girl.”

He played a card, and a new female figure appeared in front of him. It was a lovely young woman in traditional Japanese costume and a fancy hairstyle, holding a decorated fan. (300/600)

“Eh?” said Ren.

“Now, I give her this…” said Kabukid. “Drum of the Fabled Curse.”

He played a new Equip Spell, and Shizuka glowed slightly for a few seconds.

Strange, thought Yumi. That Equip Spell didn’t seem to do anything. Ren had better watch himself.

“I set this,” said Kabukid, as a facedown card appeared. “My turn now ends, and with it, so do the effects of Great Mié.”

Yoshitsune fell back down to an Attack Score of 800, while Ben Kei fell to 1,000. Double Pinaska rose to 1,500.

(R: 7,100) - - - - - - - - - - (K: 5,700)

“So, what’d I miss?” said a voice next to Yumi.

Yumi turned her head, and saw Jesse sitting in the chair next to her.

“Jesse?!” she said.

“Nice to see you too,” he said. “I heard that Kabukid was helping Ren before you guys went out… Kabukid is a great morale boost…”

“Why?” said Sam. “Does he always lose?”

“No…” said Jesse. “He’s got style. Style is something that most people in Xanadu sincerely lack. Most of Daala’s men are a bit on the crude side. After all the big, scary Monsters, Kabukid’s a refreshing change of pace.

“I just hope this ends before he brings out his star Monster… It’s pretty big and scary itself…”

“Ho boy…” said Yumi.

“Okay, let’s see here…” said Ren, drawing a card.

“I play… Graceful Charity!” he exclaimed.

He played the card, and quickly drew three cards. He looked them over.

Damn, where’s Heavy Storm when you need it? he thought.

He discarded Dark Eruption and Penumbral Soldier Lady.

“Next,” he said, “I play Premature Burial, to bring Penumbral Soldier Lady back to the field.”

He played the card, and the armored, dark, female Warrior with a longsword and shield appeared. (2,100/1,400)

“Next, I play my own Warrior Returning Alive. I’ll bring back my own Dark Blade, and summon him.”

Dark Blade slipped out of his discard slot. He played the card, and the armored Warrior appeared again. (1,800/1,500)

“Now, Dark Blade, attack…

“Huh?”

His command had apparently started something… A storm of cherry blossoms.

“HA, HA, HA!” laughed Kabukid. “It’s my signature move! Whenever a battle occurs on Cherry Blossom Mountain, the attacker’s target is chosen at random!”

Dark Blade raised his sword, and a figure started to appear in the middle of the storm.

It came into view. It was Shizuka.

“HA!” laughed Ren. “She was the one I was aiming for, sucker!”

“You might have reconsidered once you knew about her effect,” said Kabukid, as Dark Blade flew at the Heavenly Dancing Girl. “When she’s attacked, I gain 600 Life Points.”

“Well, you’re about to lose a lot more,” said Ren.

“Not as many as you think,” said Kabukid. “Remember her Drum of the Fabled Curse? Since she has it, I can now summon Battle Claw Kitsune, and redirect the attack to her.”

“Huh?” said Ren. “Who?”

Then, in a burst of energy, a new feminine figure appeared, but this one was not as innocent-looking as Shizuka. It was a wild-looking young woman, dressed in peasant’s clothing, with sharp claws in place of hands. (800/800)

Dark Blade swung his sword, and the Kitsune was blown to pixels.

“Ergh!” grunted Kabukid. “Enjoy that while you can. Anyone who battles Battle Claw Kitsune is slain at the end of the scene.”

“Nuts,” said Ren. “Sorry about that, Blade…

“But let’s try this again…

“Penumbral Soldier Lady… Attack!”

Penumbral Soldier Lady lifted her sword, and the storm of cherry blossoms started again. A figure appeared in them…

She was heading right for Shizuka again.

“Aw, naw!” shouted Ren.

“Once again, I gain 600 Life Points,” said Kabukid. “And once again…”

A second Battle Claw Kitsune appeared with a hiss. (800/800) Penumbral Soldier Lady swung her sword, smashing her to bits.

“Third time’s the charm,” muttered Ren. “Double Pinaska, attack!”

Double Pinaska lifted his blades, and the storm started again. Ren was relieved to see Ben Kei appear out of the storm this time.

“Don’t forget,” said Kabukid, “he still has the Halberd of the Sohei.”

Double Pinaska slashed with his rapier, but Ben Kei blocked with his weapon. The Halberd shattered, and the blade flew into Ren. Ren cried out in pain.

“All right…” muttered Ren. “So that round was a big bust. I guess I’ll set these facedown, and end my turn…”

Two facedown cards appeared behind Double Pinaska. The two phantoms of the Kitsune appeared behind Dark Blade and Penumbral Soldier Lady. The two Warriors shattered into shards.

(R: 5,800) - - - - - - - - - - (K: 4,100)

Kabukid drew a card and looked at it.

“My friends,” he said, “it’s time to bring us to the closing act of our play…”

The backdrop closed again.

“We bid adieu to Cherry Blossom Mountain, and in its place I bring you… Kabuki Stage – The Rough Seas!”

Lightning flashed, and the backdrop opened again, revealing a scene of a stormy ocean, with a ship tossing amid the waves.

“Once again, Footsteps of Fharlanghn activates…”

He drew two cards, and added them to his hand.

“With this backdrop in place,” he continued, taking a card from his deck, “each duelist may take a high-level player from his deck each round, which is just what I need to bring out my true star…

“Shizuka, Ben Kei, exit stage left…”

Shizuka and Ben Kei vanished into grains of light.

A double sacrifice? thought Ren. Whoa, this must be some Monster…

“Come forth!” shouted Kabukid. “Ghengis Ghun the Dragon Lord!”

Lightning flashed again, and a huge Monster appeared, not on the stage, but above it. A giant, oriental dragon with a thick, serpentine torso and golden scales loomed over the field, with flames in its eyes. (2,800/2,300)

“Aw, man…” said Yumi. “Ren’s in trouble… Big time…”

Ren’s eyes slowly moved to one of his facedown cards…

“Now, I play Pot of Avarice,” said Kabukid, playing a Spell Card.

Shizuka, Ben Kei, Mataza, and both Kitsune slipped out of his discard slot, and he shuffled them into his deck. He made two draws.

“Hmm,” he said, looking at them. “Now, my Trap Card activates… Reinforcements!”

His facedown card lifted up, and Ghengis Ghun rose to an Attack Score of 3,300.

Ren gulped.

“Ghengis Ghun, attack his Spaniard!” ordered Kabukid.

The Dragon Lord opened its huge jowls. Amazingly, it had a cannon in its mouth.

A blast of pure energy blasted from the cannon. Ren cringed as Double Pinaska was blown to atoms.

“Beauty,” shouted Kabukid, “attack him directly!”

Yoshitsune leapt at Ren, and drew her katana again…

She slashed at him with her weapon, causing him to fall on his back.

Kabukid placed a card in his Disk and a new facedown card appeared.

“And… That should be all for now…” he said.

(R: 3,200) - - - - - - - - - - (K: 4,100)

Then Ren started to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” asked Kabukid.

“Man…” said Ren, getting up. “To think… I used to think that live theater was boring!

“I guess it’s true what they say… You just have to look at something in a different way, and you’ll find the beauty in it.”

“Indeed,” said Kabukid.

“My move,” said Ren, drawing a card.

“And I play Card of Demise. Now I get to draw until I have five cards.”

He made three draws. He looked them over.

“Next, I’m going to use the effect of your Field Spell to add a Monster of my own to my hand.”

A card slipped out of his deck and he took it.

“And since you have two Monsters, and I have none, I can Special Summon him… The Fiend Megacyber!”

In an explosion of dark energy, the armored, cybernetic Warrior appeared. (2,200/1,200)

“Not quite strong enough,” said Kabukid.

“I was getting to that,” said Ren. “Next, I summon Armageddon Knight.”

He played a new card, and the Dark Warrior in worn, rusty armor, wearing a scarf and holding a cutlass appeared. (1,400/1,200)

“When he’s summoned, I get to send a Dark Monster from my deck to the Graveyard.”

A card slipped out of his deck. He looked at it, and then discarded it.

“Now I play… Double Spell. I toss this…”

He discarded his copy of Magical Mallet.

“…and I can use one Spell Card in your Graveyard. And the one I think I’ll use… is your Great Mié.”

The art for Double Spell turned into that for Great Mié. All four Monsters on the field glowed, and Yoshitsune fell to an Attack of 300, and Ghengis Ghun fell to 2,300. Armageddon Knight rose to 1,900, while The Fiend Megacyber rose to 2,700.

“Not a bad idea,” chuckled Kabukid. “Do you suppose it will actually work?”

“Let’s find out!” shouted Ren. “Fiend Megacyber, attack that big Dragon!”

The Fiend Megacyber bore his blades, and then made a great leap, flying towards Ghengis Ghun. The huge Dragon roared.

“Time for a plot twist!” shouted Kabukid. “I activate the Trap Card, Thousand Strings!”

His facedown card lifted, and a mass of strings shot out of it. All the Monsters on the field – Yoshitsune, The Fiend Megacyber, Armageddon Knight, and Ghengis Ghun itself – were ensnared and tangled in them.

“This Trap Card negates your attack, and strips all Monsters on the field of all their strength!” laughed Kabukid.

Ren watched, as the Attack Scores of all four Monsters fell to zero.

“Uhm… Interesting…” he said. “Well then… I guess it’s time for that plot device that always makes for a good movie, at least…”

One of his facedown cards lifted.

“The ironic surprise ending! Go, Call of the Haunted!”

Another burst of dark energy appeared on the field, and Crescent Moon Queen appeared, holding her scimitars aloft. (2,600/1,700)

“HUH?” shouted Kabukid.

“And now…” said Ren, as his second facedown card lifted, “Rising Energy!”

He quickly discarded the last card in his hand, and the Queen’s Attack Score rose to 4,100.

Crescent Moon Queen leapt at the huge Dragon Lord, and with one swipe of her sword, cut it in twain. Kabukid cringed, and fell over as the remains shattered.

(R: 3,200) - - - - - - - - - - (K: 0)

The Monsters and the backdrop vanished.

Ren walked up to Kabukid.

“Need a hand pal?” he asked. “I have no idea how you can duel wearing that costume.”

Kabukid sighed.

“I guess I need to practice more…” he said. “The ending didn’t turn out quite according to script…”

“Don’t sweat it,” said Ren. “You almost had me. I think I saw what you were planning.”

“Oh?” said Kabukid.

“Yeah,” said Ren. “If I hadn’t won that turn, you would have used the effect of your Stage to get a second Ghengis Ghun. Then you would have sacrificed Yoshitsune and the powerless Ghengis Ghun for a full-strength one, and come close to finishing me off.

“Bottom line is, you aren’t bad.”

Yumi sighed.

“Well said,” she said, standing up. “Now, I hope that we’ve had enough entertainment. We’ve dilly-dallied enough.

“Any time you guys are ready, Darkspire is waiting.”

“I sure am ready,” said Erik.

“Well, be careful!” said Sam. “This time, if we meet up with Ansatsu or Doma the Angel of Silence, or Ocubeam, or some other Spirit of an outdated card, don’t insult it like you did with Shapesnatch. These creatures can be pretty sensitive…”

“There are so many old Monster Cards that no-one uses any more because they’re high-Level, weak, and have no effects,” muttered Erik. “Maybe they should form a club…

“Hey, that’s an idea!”

“What?” said Chelsea.

“I’ll suggest it to Joan,” said Erik. “She can make offers to any Duel Spirits that are scorned for lack of value in the game. The recruits for the rebellion will come in even faster!

“I mean, if Shapesnatch is any indication, they can still duel with cards that are better than their own.”

Everyone looked at him.

“Not a bad idea…” said Jesse. “Hey, I’ll stick around and mention it to her when she gets back. I’ll be sure to tell her it was your idea.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Vanity’s Fiend and Exarion Universe fell to the floor with a crash.

“Well, let’s see now…” said Chaos Sorcerer, as his Disk deactivated. “What to do with you clowns… I could report this to Daala… She’d have you locked up and tortured for plotting against her, of course. And that’s if she’s in a good mood.

“Which she isn’t…

“But… I’m feeling rather generous today… I think I’ll keep my mouth shut for now, so long as there’s no more talk of treason.

“You two can consider this your once-in-a-lifetime, gods-know-why-I’m-being-so-nice-to-you, get-out-of-jail-free ticket. And you only get one.”

The two Spirits got up, as he turned and walked away.

“Skull Knight…” muttered Vanity’s Fiend, “you’re second in command, right?”

“Uh, yeah…” said Skull Knight.

“Well what the devil is he?” asked the Universe.

Skull Knight sighed.

“I don’t know for sure,” he said, “but I believe that Daala has a… benefactor of some sort who lives outside of Xanadu. I think that Chaos Sorcerer may well be an intermediary between her and this benefactor.

“Whatever the case, Chaos Sorcerer is definitely an ally, not a servant. He exists outside the rules of Xanadu. And you’d best not make him mad.”

They both looked in the direction where he had gone.

“So Daala is keeping secrets from us?” said Universe with a scowl.

“They’re hers to keep,” said Chaos Sorcerer’s voice.

The two Spirits jumped at this comment.

They had no idea he had still been listening.

* * * * * * * * * *

YOSHITSUNE, THE TENGU BEAUTY (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 4
ATK: 800
DEF: 800

Card Description: If this card is attacked by a Monster with 1,000 Attack Points or more while in Attack Position, switch it into face-up Defense Position. While this card is in face-up Defense Position, you can negate one attack against it per turn.



SHIZUKA THE HEAVENLY DANCING GIRL (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 3
ATK: 300
DEF: 600

Card Description: When this card is targeted by an attack, increase the Life Points of the controller of this card by 600.



BATTLE CLAW KITSUNE (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Beast-Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 4
ATK: 800
DEF: 800

Card Description: A Monster that engages in battle with this card is destroyed at the End Phase of the turn.



GHENGIS GHUN, THE DRAGON LORD (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Dragon
Attribute: Dark
Level: 8
ATK: 2,800
DEF: 2,300

Flavor Text: This powerful dragon lord rules the seas. It is believed to have divine powers.

Note: In the anime, this card had an orange border, indicating that it was an Effect Monster. However, Kabukid did not reveal or use its effect. Thus, it is presented here as a Normal Monster.



THOUSAND STRINGS (Trap Card)

Normal Trap

Image: A Kabuki actor amid a tangle of strings.

Card Description: This card can be activated when a Monster engages in battle. Negate the attack and reduce the ATK of all face-up Monsters on the field to zero. The ATK of Monsters affected by this card remain zero until they are no longer face-up on the field.



KABUKI STAGE – BIG BRIDGE (Spell Card)

Field Spell

Image: A wooden bridge, under a blue sky with a puffy cloud.

Card Description: All Monsters that are Normal Summoned or Special Summoned must be summoned in Attack Position. When a player declares an attack, his opponent may Special Summon a Level Four or lower Monster from his hand. By sending this card to the Graveyard, you may search your deck for one Field Spell with the words “Kabuki Stage” in its name and activate it. This effect may only be used once per turn.



KABUKI STAGE – CHERRY BLOSSOM MOUNTAIN (Spell Card)

Field Spell

Image: A sugarloaf mountain surrounded by pink clouds and cherry trees.

Card Description: All Monsters that are Normal Summoned or Special Summoned must be summoned in Attack Position. When a player declares an attack, and his opponent has two or more Monsters on the field, the attack target is chosen at random. By sending this card to the Graveyard, you may search your deck for one Field Spell with the words “Kabuki Stage” in its name and activate it. This effect may only be used once per turn.



KABUKI STAGE – THE ROUGH SEAS (Spell Card)

Field Spell

Image: A stormy ocean scene, with a ship tossing in the water.

Card Description: All Monsters that are Normal Summoned or Special Summoned must be summoned in Attack Position. Once per turn, during his Main Phase, a player may search his deck for a Monster that is Level Five or higher and add it to his hand. By sending this card to the Graveyard, you may search your deck for one Field Spell with the words “Kabuki Stage” in its name and activate it. This effect may only be used once per turn.



HALBERD OF THE SOHEI (Spell Card)

Equip Spell

Image: Armed Samurai Ben Kei thrusting a halberd forward.

Card Description: This card may be Equipped to a Warrior-Type Monster. Increase the ATK of the Equipped Monster by 500. When the Equipped Monster would be destroyed as a result of battle, destroy this card to negate the destruction (battle damage still applies). If this card is destroyed in this manner, inflict 500 points of direct damage to your opponent.



DRUM OF THE FABLED CURSE (Spell Card)

Equip Spell

Image: A wooden drum covered with skins.

Card Description: When the Monster Equipped with this card is the target of an attack, Special Summon one “Battle Claw Kitsune” from your hand or deck. Then, conduct the battle as normal and switch the target of the attack to “Battle Claw Kitsune”.



GREAT MIÉ (Spell Card)

Normal Spell

Image: The face of a man wearing Kabuki makeup, with red lines on the left half and blue lines on the right.

Card Description: Decrease the ATK of all face-up opposing Monsters by 500 and increase the ATK of all of your face-up Monsters by 500. These changes last until the End Phase of the turn this card was activated.

Note: The proceeding eleven cards were first used by Kabukid/Orlando in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “The Art of the Duel”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



FOOTSTEPS OF FHARLANGHN (Spell Card)

Continuous Spell

Image: A man in traveling clothes and a long beard, traveling down a scenic path.

Card Description: You can only activate this card when there is a Field Spell face-up on your side of the field. If the current Field Spell is removed from the field via any method that doesn’t involve playing a new Field Spell, destroy this card. Each time a new Field Spell is played that does not have the same name as the one that was on the field at the time the new Field Spell was played, draw two cards from your deck.



KITEROID (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 1
ATK: 200
DEF: 400

Card Description: Discard this card from your hand to reduce the battle damage from a direct attack to zero. If this card is in the Graveyard and was not sent there via this effect, you can, once per duel, reduce the battle damage from a direct attack to zero.

Note: “Kiteroid” first appeared in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX episode “What Lies Beneath (Part Three)”, but Syrus did not use it in an actual duel until the fourth season. Creative credit goes to the writers.



DRAGONROID (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 8
ATK: 2,900
DEF: 1,000

Card Description: When this card is in the Graveyard, it is considered a Dragon-Type Monster.

Note: “Dragonroid” was first used by Syrus in a fourth season episode of “Yu-Gi-Oh GX”. Creative credit goes to the writers.



Coming up next:

Enough recreation. Time to get back to business. Before they can even get to Darkspire, the team has to transverse a dangerous stretch of road, where an enigmatic figure named the Mechanic rules. Erik is forced into a duel against toys of a different type. Don’t miss “Lethal Highway”, coming soon.



Name that Card!

The card that you received for attending the Duel Monster 1 Tournament on February 21st, 1999, was very unremarkable as far as Monsters go. However, since this was the only place you have ever been able to get this card for the TCG, it is now considered priceless. Can you name it?

[Shuppet Master]

We don't get to see the guide for Darkspire yet, huh?

Well, at least we know that Chaos Sorcerer is an ally for Daala after that little aside.

And it's nice to see Syrus in Yumi's dream. Still, if he's using a Vechroid in the 4th season, we might be missing something.

As for the duel, it was pretty great for a filler. I agree on the character of Kabukid. After watching the episode, I forgot the dub name for those cards and such, but it's best to keep with the original names here, unlike the Destiny Heroes - maybe it's because the whole deck was anime-only and therefore there was no need to dub them?

EDIT: Dark Sage corrected me about Syrus's deck in the 4th season. Thanks, Brian.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

Good battle, although a shame that he was using the exact same strategy as in the animé, that's not very creative.

Interested in next chapter and darkspire as a whole.

[Dark Sage]

MLG,

I'll let you in on a secret. Originally, Kabukid was going to change his finishing strategy, and use Goyou Guardian as his finisher. (It looks sort of like a Kabuki player, don't you think?)

However, due to another plotline of the story that will be revealed later, that would prove impossible. Suffice to say, the AI duelists in Xanadu cannot use Synchro Monsters, due to special taboos placed on these creatures.

And yes, that means that they will show up, in one form or another, eventually.

Sorry I couldn't make it more creative.

[Shuppet Master]

So, those cards from 5D are going to be something special, maybe a clan of Duel Spirits or something. That would explain why both good and evil characters are forbidden to play such monsters.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

No problem, I'm finding the fic very creative so this battle was just sort of a letdown (seeing that I finished GX a day or two ago, that battle was still fresh in my memory), but I'm sure you're make it up with future battles! Can't wait.

[Dark Sage]

What collector’s item did you have to be at the right place at the right time to receive? If you said “Kanan the Swordmistress”, you were successfully able to Name that Card!



Many people ask why I duel using a deck full of toys. My usual answer is, “Why not?” The truth is, my deck chose me more than I chose it.

There’s a thing about toys… You never really outgrow them. My mom once told me that the major difference between kids and adults is the price of their toys. Boys have their action figures, girls have their Barbie dolls, and their fathers have those new cars that they buy after they get a windfall. Mothers aren’t very possessive, but they often buy things that they don’t really need, like a fancy cutlery set, full of lots of knives that they’ll only ever use half of.

No one is innocent of wanting toys to amuse them… And I’m facing an enemy on this dangerous stretch of road who uses toys that are downright dangerous…

The time to play is past… DUEL.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN



Lethal Highway

Outside of KaibaCorp, Sheena’s limo was parked. Sheena, Olga, and Nicholas were sitting in the back seat, Sheena using a laptop. More cars were parked around them.

She placed the disk that Ting had given them in the CD slot.

“Okay,” she said. “I’ve used my private entrance to get into the computer. If this program does what it’s supposed to do, it should drive that Zachtrigger’s Magnet out and keep it out. And we’ll be ready to move in and take back what’s ours once we do that.

“In theory, that is…

“Both of you, keep your fingers crossed…”

* * * * * * * * * *

The theater-style duel seemed to do its job, so after saying goodbye to Jesse, the team was in high hopes as they took the path to the place she described as Route 13, the passageway to Darkspire.

However, their thoughts turned grim as they exited Nexus.

They were standing in the middle of a dark, lonely highway. No cars were around, and they were under a gloomy sky, full of smog. They could barely see some city lights in the distance, which they assumed was their destination.

“So now what?” asked Chelsea.

They heard the hum of motors ahead, and watched as six motorcycles approached. They saw that only one of them had a rider – they didn’t know how he was moving the others.

The rider pulled up in front of them. He was well-dressed, in a silver formal jacket, slacks, a black shirt, and a loosely-fitting necktie.

He removed his helmet, revealing a handsome face with blue eyes and grey hair with bangs.

“Aster?” gasped Ren. “Aster Phoenix?”

“In the flesh,” said the youth. “Or rather, in the virtually imitated flesh. Joan thought you guys could use some help getting around Darkspire, and I’m her specialist in this part of Xanadu.”

“Ho boy…” said Ren. “This is… this is an honor…”

“Ren, don’t embarrass yourself,” said Chelsea.

“You’ve got the best Dark Warriors ever made!” gasped Ren. “I have a million questions…”

“Well, why don’t you ask me them on the way?” said Aster. “Route 13 may look desolate and empty, but Daala does have a few Spirits patrolling it from time to time.”

“Right,” said Yumi.

They mounted the bikes, and donned the helmets that were supplied. In the next minute, they were headed towards Darkspire.

* * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, alone inside her throne room, Daala was speaking on a phone.

“That’s right,” she said. “Wait until they’re in position. I’m sending someone to keep them occupied. Then, Operation Acrophobia will come to order.

“Yeah, yeah, I know that ‘Operation Acrophobia’ is a silly name! You have to give these things names that wouldn’t come up in casual conversation!

“Hold on, I got another call.”

She hit a button on the phone.

As she listened, a panicked voice yelled in her ear.

“Milady!” it shouted. “You’d best get down here! We’re losing KaibaCorp’s computer!”

“WHAT?” shouted Daala.

“The Zachtrigger’s Magnet…” said the voice. “It’s been… It’s been destroyed! Sheena and her technicians are taking back control fast!”

Daala slammed the phone into the ground, smashing it, and ran from the room.

* * * * * * * * * *

The six motorcycles sped across Route 13, a stretch of road that was clearly in need of maintenance. Trash was everywhere, and the rails off to the sides were bent and rusted.

Beyond those rails seemed only dark fog. Aster had told them that there was nothing but a void beyond the sides of the road, and no-one was willing to explore it.

“We’re halfway there!” shouted Aster. “Once we clear the bridge, we’ll be in Darkspire proper.”

“I dunno,” called Chelsea. “It seems a little too easy…”

Then they heard the sounds of much noisier motors behind them.

“Oh…” she shouted. “I’m sick of always being right!”

“We got company, guys!” shouted Sam.

They looked in their rearview mirrors and saw five bikers chasing them, fiendish-looking Duel Spirits riding demonic cycles. Two of them rode silvery bikes, had green skin, and carried weapons that looked like the blades from a rotary saw. (1,700/1,500 x2) Two others rode rust-red cycles, wore armor that was the same color, and carried long pikes. (1,400/1,500 x2) The apparent leader rode a bike with a huge skull in the front, and wore blue armor and a horned helmet. (1,900/1,850)

“Lovely!” shouted Yumi. “Looks like we’ve got two Diskblade Riders, two Chaosrider Gustaphs, and a Dokurorider to deal with!”

“Maybe we can outrun them,” called Ren.

“No good!” shouted Aster. “Those things are practically born riding their bikes! Evel Knievel himself wouldn’t have been able to outride even one of them!”

“Don’t worry!” shouted Ren. “I got an idea! Let’s hope my powers over stone work on asphalt…”

As the rider Monsters started to gain, he gestured, and the road behind them buckled. A wall of pavement shot up between them, and the next thing they heard were five screams, and the sound of the five Monsters wiping out.

“HA, HA!” laughed Aster. “Good job! They’re so good at going fast, they forgot how to use the brakes!”

Then the barrier exploded into a burst of pebbles, and a much larger Monster sped through. It was a ten-foot-tall thing that looked like a cross between a car and a very dangerous robot. Exhaust poured from multiple pipes. (2,800/2,000)

“Aw, no!” shouted Ren. “That’s a Demonic Motor Omega!”

Aster pulled his bike to a stop, and everyone followed suit. He activated his Disk and drew a card.

“Go!” he shouted, throwing a card on it. “Destiny Hero Devilguy!”

A spooky-looking, man-sized creature appeared in front of him. He wore a black bodysuit, a cape with an exaggerated color, claws on his hands, and a skull-like full-face mask. (600/800)

The Destiny Hero flew at the mad Machine and gripped at it with his claw. The Omega vanished in a burst of energy.

“All right!” shouted Chelsea. “He vaporized it!”

“No he didn’t,” said Aster. “Devilguy sent it a minute or two into the future. When it comes back, it’s probably gonna be angry.”

Ren quickly drew a card.

“You got anything stronger than him right now?” he asked.

“Uhm…” said Aster, drawing a card.

“I’ll sacrifice him for Destiny Hero Dashguy!”

Devilguy vanished, and a new Destiny Hero appeared. This one also looked like he was part car, but was much slimmer and more streamlined than the Omega, with a glossy, black casing. (2,100/1,000)

“Okay, that will do,” said Ren, placing a card in his Disk.

A facedown card appeared.

“Be ready to attack that thing when it comes back…”

They looked tensely at the spot where it had vanished.

“You mind telling me what you’re planning?” asked Aster.

Ren was about to tell him, but he didn’t get a chance. The Demonic Motor Omega reappeared. It furiously sped at Dashguy.

“GO!” shouted Ren, as the facedown card lifted. “Rush Recklessly!”

Dashguy’s Attack Score rose to 2,800, and its own engine started. It sped towards the Machine…

In a deafening explosion, both Monsters were blown to scrap.

When everyone could look again, only a scorched crater remained of the Omega.

“Well,” said Aster, “that’s that…”

“Uh, guys…” said Erik.

Another motorcycle was slowly pulling up from ahead of them. But it wasn’t a Duel Spirit this time.

The biker got off, and apparently, he had taken pains to conceal his identity. He was wearing a long, brown trenchcoat and gloves, and his face was concealed by dark sunglasses, a scarf, and an old, battered fedora. He also wore a standard-issue Duel Disk.

“Well, what have we here?” he said. “Six duelists lost on Lethal Highway…”

“Lethal Highway?” said Aster. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard Route 13 called that.”

“Times change,” said the man. “You should know that there’s a toll in effect now.”

“Who are you?” asked Erik.

The man chuckled.

“Can’t give my name right now,” he said. “You can call me the Mechanic if you like. I’m the ruler of Lethal Highway now…”

“You rule a broken down stretch of road?” asked Ren. “I can bet no-one’s ever challenged you for that position.”

“This road has more strategic value than you think,” said the Mechanic. “It’s the main thoroughfare into and out of Darkspire, and Darkspire is the industrial center of Xanadu. The Realm Lord is working on numerous projects in his factories, and once they’re done, this road will be the supply line. Daala wouldn’t have put me in charge if she didn’t trust me.

“And those rider Monsters were nothing. There’s a lot more where they came from. You want to get into Darkspire, you’ll have to get past me.”

Erik sighed.

“I’ll handle it,” he said.

He walked up to the man.

“I’ve dealt with tougher,” he said. “If you’re too afraid to even give your name, how tough can you be?”

The man rubbed his chin.

“Okay, make you a deal,” he said. “You want to play a little game?”

“Game?” asked Erik. “Depends.”

“Yeah,” said the Mechanic. “See, I’m an AI program just like fancy pants over there. So… if you can correctly guess who I am before the duel ends, I’ll surrender and let you all by.”

“No joke?” said Erik.

“That’s the deal,” said the Mechanic. “Now, let’s see your Deck Lord.”

Erik gestured, and Blockman appeared behind him.

“HA!” laughed the Mechanic. “Pathetic… Mine is a lot better…”

Then a huge creature started to land behind him, like a rocket making a landing. Everyone gasped at the huge Machine. It looked like it was part robot and part jet plane, like something out of Gundam Wing.

“Meet my Armoroid Gaidengo,” said the Mechanic.

“Bigger isn’t always better,” said Erik.

“We’ll see,” said the Mechanic, as the two Disks activated.

“Game on!” they shouted.

(Erik: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Mechanic: 8,000)

“Feh,” said the Mechanic, “feel free to make the first move…”

“Fine,” said Erik, making a draw.

“I play a facedown, and then summon my Toy Tank.”

A facedown card appeared, and then Toy Tank appeared, aiming its turret. (1,300/1,100)

“And that’s all for now.”

The Mechanic simply drew. It was clear he wasn’t impressed.

“I’ll set a Monster of my own in Defense Mode,” he said, as a Defensive Monster appeared, “and that’s all for me.”

I have to be careful, thought Erik, drawing a card. He’s clearly using Machines, and Machines aren’t known for Flip-Effects, aside from Dekoichi…

Yeah, that’s most likely what it is… But I’ll stay on the safe side…

“I summon Toy Magician,” he said.

He played the card, and the toy Spellcaster appeared.

“Take out his facedown Monster!” he shouted. “Sparkle blast!”

Toy Magician aimed his scepter and fired…

Then he was struck by a backlash, and fell backwards.

Crouching on the card now was a large mach truck, with eyes for headlights, and arms in front with tires for hands. (1,000/2,000)

“You just attacked my Truckroid,” said the Mechanic, “and he’s a little too strong for your Spellcaster.”

“Okay, okay, let me get this straight…” said Erik. “A big rig is better at defending than it is at attacking? That makes no sense!”

“Well, uhm…” said the Mechanic. “See, it… Uhm…

“Okay, fine! It doesn’t make sense to me either! But I go with what works.”

Erik turned a card on his Disk.

“I’ll move Toy Tank to Defense Mode,” he said, “and that will be all.”

(E: 7,600) - - - - - - - - - - (M: 8,000)

The Mechanic drew.

“Now my Deck Lord ability comes into play,” he said, “just as it will every two rounds. It only has one, but it’s a good one. I call it Heavy Traffic.

“Simply put, I get to search my deck for any Vehicroid that’s Level Four or less.

“And by the way, just so you know… Every Monster I have in my regular deck fits that description!”

“Vehicroids?” said Sam.

“Well,” said Aster, “he’s too tall and muscular to be Syrus… That guy isn’t a bad duelist, but even the real one had a desperate need of a growth spurt.”

“Did Joan make a virtual duplicate of Syrus?” asked Yumi.

Aster bowed his head.

“Yes…” he muttered. “And he was one of our best… Until…”

He paused.

“What?” asked Ren.

“Daala beat him in a duel personally,” said Aster. “We have no more idea what happened to him than we do any other member of the resistance who loses.”

“I’ll be sure you’ll see him very soon,” said the Mechanic. “And my deck may be similar to Syrus’s, but he’s far from my equal.

“In the meantime, I’ll switch Truckroid into Attack Mode.”

Truckroid got down on its wheels, and exhaust started to pour from its mufflers.

“Next, I’ll summon Steamroid.”

He played another card, and a cartoonish steam locomotive with a face on the front chugged into view. (1,800/1,800)

“Next, a Spell Card,” he said, throwing a card into his Disk. “The dreaded Riyoku. This powerful spell takes half of your Monster’s Attack Points, and adds them to one of mine. So I’ll cut Toy Magician’s Attack Points in half, and add them to Truckroid.”

Toy Magician fell to an Attack Score of 800, and Truckroid rose to 1,800.

“Now, my Truckroid is gonna mow your Magician down!”

Truckroid’s motor roared, and it sped towards Toy Magician. As it collided with the Spellcaster, Toy Magician was thrown into the air. Truckroid’s cargo trailer opened up on top, and Toy Magician fell inside.

“What happened?” shouted Erik.

“When Truckroid smashes a Monster,” said the Mechanic, “the Monster is Equipped to Truckroid, and Truckroid gains that Monster’s Attack Points.

“And I’m not done! Just so you know, when Steamroid attacks, it gains 500 Attack Points.

“Steamroid, attack his tank! Full steam ahead!”

Smoke poured from Steamroid’s stack. Its Attack Score rose to 2,300, and it charged at Toy Tank, blowing it to bits.

“I activate Toy Tank’s effect!” shouted Erik. “I get to summon another Toy Monster from my deck. So here comes another Toy Magician!”

A second Toy Magician appeared. (1,600/1,500)

“Fine,” said the Mechanic. “I’ll set two facedown cards, and end my turn. That means Riyoku’s effect wears off, but like I said, my Truckroid still has your first Magician’s Attack Points.”

Two facedown cards appeared. Truckroid fell back to 1,000 Attack Points, and then rose to 2,600.

(E: 6,600) - - - - - - - - - - (M: 8,000)

Erik quickly drew a card.

“I activate Mystical Space Typhoon!” he shouted. “And my target is the Toy Magician Equipped to Truckroid!”

He played the card, and the cyclone shot at Truckroid. It shuddered, and its Attack Score fell back down to 1,000.

“Now…” said Erik, “Call of the Haunted!”

His facedown card flipped up, and his first Toy Magician appeared again. (1,600/1,500)

“Next, I summon Toy Soldier.”

He played another card, and the small toy infantryman appeared. (800/300)

“Toy Magician number one,” he said, “scrap his Truckroid!”

Toy Magician fired his blast, and Truckroid exploded, sending a cloud of flames and debris into the sky.

“Whoa,” said Ren. “He must have hit the fuel tank…”

“Toy Magician number two,” said Erik, “attack Steamroid!”

The second Toy Magician pointed his scepter at Steamroid. The Machine’s Attack Score fell to 1,300.

The Spellcaster fired its blast, and it blew into scrap iron.

“Punk,” said the Mechanic.

“How’d Erik know that would work?” asked Chelsea.

“He did his homework,” said Sam. “He knew Steamroid’s weakness. It may gain 500 Attack Points when it attacks, but it loses 500 when it’s being attacked.”

“Yeah?” shouted the Mechanic, as one of his facedown cards lifted, “well, he didn’t study enough, or he’d have known about THIS!

“It’s called Supercharge. Since my Vehicroid was attacked, I get to draw two cards.”

He quickly made two draws, and looked them over.

“I still have another Monster,” said Erik. “Toy Soldier, attack him directly!”

Toy Soldier fired his musket, and the Mechanic staggered backwards.

“It’s gonna take more than that, Blondie,” he snarled.

“Just make your move…” muttered Erik.

Something awfully suspicious about this guy… he thought.

(E: 6,600) - - - - - - - - - - (M: 6,200)

* * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, Daala rushed into the nerve center of her palace. A Magical Scientist and a Cyber-Stein were inputing commands into a console, while several Kinetic Soldiers and a few Science Soldiers were monitoring.

“What’s happening!” shouted Daala. “How did they destroy it? How did they even find out it was in there?”

“We don’t know,” said Magical Scientist. “And we don’t have time to figure it out. We’re breaking the connection.”

“Breaking the connection?” shouted Daala. “If you do that, we’ll lose KaibaCorp for sure!”

“Milady,” said the Scientist, “to be frank, that’s going to happen no matter what we do. We’ve tried every possible proceedure to regain control of the computer. Whatever program Sheena ran is too strong. It’s like the whole security system was redesigned, rebuilt, and reinforced. If we don’t pull out, she’ll likely back-hack us and turn the tables completely.”

Daala slammed her fist down on the console. Then she slumped down into a chair.

“We’ve lost KaibaCorp...” she muttered. “We’ve lost our ability to control Domino... This certainly puts a snag in our plans...”

“When I discover who is reponsible for this... He will suffer the pain of a thousand deaths...”

She got up.

“Where are you going?” asked the Scientist.

“The prison,” she replied. “With that computer back in Arachne’s hands, it’s time to make a deal with one of the inmates.

“I have a job that she can handle better than most, and I doubt she’ll refuse.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“I activate… Pot of Greed,” said the Mechanic.

He quickly drew two more cards.

“I throw one more card facedown, and then summon Stealthroid.”

Another facedown card appeared. Then a large Machine descended from the clouds. It looked like a stealth fighter jet, with two eyes in the front, and landing gear that looked like arms. (1,200/0)

“I end my turn.”

Man, this guy has a game face, thought Erik, drawing a card.

He looked at the two facedown cards.

But this is obviously a trap… He didn’t even attack my Toy Soldier with that thing, even though I clearly had no way to stop him…

“The score is close,” said Ren.

“Erik has field advantage though,” said Aster. “You have to take all things into account before you can tell how a duel will go.”

“Eh, maybe I’m not too good at counting,” said Ren. “But thanks to Erik, I can at least count to three.”

Erik gestured, and two more Toy Soldiers appeared, kneeling in Defense Mode and holding their guns in their laps. (800/300 x2)

“Now, I’ll play Crowning of the Emperor,” he said. “I’ll sacrifice one Toy Soldier…”

The Toy Soldier in Attack Mode held his gun to his side and saluted, before vanishing into grains of light.

“…to summon Toy Emperor!”

With the sound of hooves, the toy version of Napoleon Bonaparte rode onto the field on his toy horse. (2,300/800)

“But I’m not dumb enough to attack with such an obvious setup on the field,” he said. “It’s your move.”

“Then I draw,” said the Mechanic. “Then, once again, my Deck Lord effect activates.”

A card slipped out of his deck, and he took it.

“I’ll set one Monster…”

A facedown Monster appeared.

“Then I’ll play Premature Burial. Guess who’s back?”

He fit the card into his Disk, and Steamroid rose out of the ground. (1,800/1,800)

“Stealthroid, attack one of his Soldiers!”

A missile lowered out of Stealthroid’s wing, and it launched, blowing one of the Toy Soldiers to bits.

“Now, I play the Spell Card, Shrink! This will make your Emperor even shorter than usual.”

Toy Emperor shrank to half his size, and his Attack Score fell to 1,150.

Steamroid sped towards Toy Emperor, its Attack Score shot up to 2,300, and the monarch was blown to pieces.

“And that’s not all,” said the Mechanic. “When Stealthroid successfully attacks when I have another Vehicroid on the field, then after I’m done attacking, I get to destroy one Spell or Trap Card.

“I think I’ll destroy your Call of the Haunted.”

Stealthroid launched another missile, and both Call of the Haunted and the Toy Magician it had summoned was blown to pixels.

“Heh, heh…”chuckled the Mechanic. “Your move…”

(E: 5,350) - - - - - - - - - - (M: 5,400)

Erik drew a card.

“Go, Monster Reborn!” he shouted, playing a card.

The holy ankh appeared, and Toy Emperor appeared again. (2,300/800)

“Attack his Steamroid!” he shouted.

Toy Emperor charged at Steamroid. Its Attack Score fell to 1,300 again.

“I activate… Cyber Repairer!” shouted the Mechanic, as his facedown card lifted. “Now, you get to draw one card, but my Machines become invincible!”

Erik drew a card as Toy Emperor slashed at Steamroid with his saber. The Mechanic cringed a little.

“You still lost Life Points!” shouted Erik. “Toy Magician, attack Stealthroid!”

Toy Magician cast his sparkle blast, and Stealthroid shuddered from the impact.

“That’s it for now…” said Erik.

(E: 5,350) - - - - - - - - - - (M: 4,000)

The Mechanic quickly drew a card.

“Let’s keep going,” he said. “My motors are still running. I summon Drillroid.”

He played a card, and the street in front of him burst open. A large drilling machine with eyes and arms with tank treads in place of legs burrowed out. (1,600/1,600)

“And I’ll flip my facedown Monster into Attack Mode,” he said. “My Gyroid!”

His facedown card flipped, and a cartoonish, blue helicopter with a face appeared. (1,000/1,000)

“Lovely,” said Sam. “I know about that thing… It has to be attacked twice to be destroyed.”

“I’m taking your toys out, punk,” said the Mechanic. “Steamroid, attack his Toy Emperor!”

Steamroid got down on all fours again. Its Attack Score rose to 2,300, and it charged at Toy Emperor. There was a big explosion, as both Monsters were incinerated.

“Drillroid, attack his Toy Magician! Open wide!”

Drillroid’s drill spun, and it sped towards Toy Magician. Toy Magician cast his spell, and both Monsters were blown apart.

“Gyroid, destroy his last Toy Soldier with downdraft gust!”

Gyroid’s propeller spun, causing a windstorm. Toy Soldier cringed, and then shattered into bits.

“Stealthroid, attack him directly!”

Stealthroid launched another missile, and Erik screamed as it hit him.

(E: 4,150) - - - - - - - - - - (M: 4,000)

“And that’s all!” he said with a laugh. “You want more, punk?”



Continued...

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



Erik took some deep breaths. Then he put his hand on his hip.

“You fancy yourself so good with Machines, do you Mechanic?” he said.

“That’s right,” said the Mechanic.

“Well...” said Erik. “I’ll bet you can’t tell me the Attack and Defense Scores of a Saber Slasher.”

“Easy!” laughed the Mechanic. “1,450 over 1,500!”

Erik closed his eyes and smiled.

“Okay, the costume party’s over, Keith,” he said. “Lose the mask...”

“HUH?” said everyone watching.

The Mechanic just glared at him for a minute. Then he growled.

Then he cast off the scarf, fedora, and trenchcoat. It was indeed the infamous Bandit Keith, recognizable by his leather jacket, bandana in the colors of the American flag, and punk jewelry.

“How did you know?” he asked.

“I figured you’d be the only one who even knew what a Saber Slasher was,” said Erik. “See, I read Joey Wheeler’s autobiography. He looked through your deck after Pegasus kicked you out of Duelist Kingdom, and one of his comments was, it would have been no good in Battle City.

“It had no Monsters that were under Level Five! Most of them were at least Level Seven, and a lot of those weren’t so great, like Slot Machine and Launcher Spider. The best one was probably Barrel Dragon, and the rules for that card changed after Duelist Kingdom.

“Saber Slasher is one card you had in that deck, and its a card that’s fallen out of use since then. It looks pretty nasty, but it’s Level Five with no effect. Like you said, its scores aren’t worth it.”

“So why Vehicroids, Keith?” asked Sam.

“I’ll tell you why,” said Aster. “Keith is an expert with Machines. But in a place like Xanadu, using them is harder.

“Machine Duel Spirits tend to be cold, emotionless, ruthless creatures. Putting them in the hands of someone with Keith’s level of common sense is not a good idea. He’d likely not be able to control them. Vehicroids, however, are more willing to be tamed than most Machines. Much like Erik’s Toy Monsters, they represent a tamer side of a brutal concept. They’re sort of like children to Machine Spirits. In a world of Duel Spirits, they’re the only Machines that someone like Keith can safely use.”

“For now!” shouted Keith. “Once I prove my worth to Daala and the Lord of Darkspire, I’ll be able to use much stronger Machines. In fact, Daala has promised me a real Machine Deck if I bring one of you in... One with a Chimerach Overdragon! My ultimate dream...”

“Well, sorry Keith,” said Erik with a laugh. “You lost the game. I found out who you are. So now you gotta give up.”

“Shut up!” shouted Keith. “I wear leather and gold chains, I call myself Bandit Keith... Do you really expect someone like me to tell the truth? Make your move...”

He tapped his Disk, and a bolt of energy shot from it, striking Erik.

“OW!” shouted Erik.

“...or I’ll set it to something higher than stun,” said Keith with a grin.

“Oh, you are asking for it...” said Erik, drawing a card.

(Erik: 4,150) - - - - - - - - - - (Bandit Keith: 4,000)

“I play Heavy Storm!” he shouted, playing a card. “Say bye-bye to that facedown card!”

A storm ripped across the field, and the facedown card shattered into bits.

“Thank you,” said Keith. “You just destroyed my Wonder Garage. Now I get to summon another Vehicroid from my hand. Like another Truckroid.”

Another Truckroid appeared, in Defense Mode. (1,000/2,000)

“All right, Keith,” said Erik, placing a card in his Disk. “I play Symbol of Heritage. Since I have three of the same Monster in my Graveyard, this Spell Card allows me to Special Summon one of them.”

He played the card, and an odd variation of the ankh symbol appeared. A Toy Soldier appeared again. (800/300)

“Next, I play my second Crowning of the Emperor, to summon my second Toy Emperor. That’s right, I have two of them.”

Toy Soldier vanished, and Toy Emperor appeared again.

“Next, my Pot of Avarice.”

He played the card, and all three Toy Soldiers, one Toy Magician, and his first Toy Emperor slipped out of his discard slot. He combined them with his deck, reshuffled, and then drew twice.

“Next, I use one of my new Deck Lord abilities,” he said. “It’s called Troop Rally. Since Toy Emperor is the only Monster on my side of the field, I can pay 800 Life Points to summon another Toy Monster from my Graveyard, so long as it isn’t higher than Level Four.”

He glowed with a red aura as Toy Magician appeared again. (1,600/1,500)

“Now, I Normal Summon my third one!”

He played a card and a third Toy Magician appeared. (1,600/1,500)

“Toy Emperor, go! Destroy Truckroid!”

Toy Emperor charged, and the huge truck exploded. Keith shielded himself from the debris.

“Now,” he said, “another of my Deck Lord’s effects come into play. It’s called Imperial Powers, and it lets me use Toy Emperor’s effect to not only search for Trap Cards, but for Spells as well.”

A card slipped out of his discard slot.

“I know I have to attack your Gyroid twice to destroy it,” said Erik. “But fortunately, I have two more Monsters.

“Toy Magicians, attack his Gyroid!”

The two sorcerers fired twin blasts at Gyroid. The first just made a dent in its casing, but the second blew it it pieces. Keith growled a little...

“Next, I play the Spell Card I got with Toy Emperor’s effect... Pot of Greed!”

He played the card, and the evil jar appeared, he drew two cards.

“It’s your move, Keith,” said Erik, as he looked at them. “And since you yourself said that you don’t have any high-level Monsters in your deck, I’m really not worried.”

(E: 3,350) - - - - - - - - - - (BK: 2,800)

“My regular deck, no,” said Keith, drawing a card. “My Fusion Deck... That’s another story...”

“That’s right!” shouted Yumi. “These things form fusions! Man, if he has Power Bond in that deck...”

“Power Bond?” asked Keith. “Well, maybe I do, and maybe I don’t... But with Vehicroids, there’s actually a better card to use than that thing.

“I use my Deck Lord ability again.”

A card slipped out of his Disk.

“Now, I summon Expressroid.”

He played another card, and a new Machine sped down the highway, coming to a stop in front of Keith. It looked like an express train, again with a face and arms. (400/1,600)

“When Expressroid is successfully summoned, two Vehicroids go from my Graveyard to my hand.”

He took two cards from his discard slot. He grinned as he held them up – Truckroid and Drillroid.

“Now, I play this!” he shouted, as a Spell Card appeared in front of him. “The Fusion card that’s even better than Power Bond... Vehicroid Connection Zone!”

“Say what?” said Erik.

“Like Polymerization, it fuses Monsters together,” said Keith, “but it can only summon Fusion Monsters with the word ‘Vehicroid’ in their name.

“Why is it better than Power Bond, you may ask? Well, it may not double the Monster’s Attack Score, but what it does do is render it impervious to destruction from card effects.

“So... I’ll fuse together Truckroid, Drillroid, Stealthroid, and aw heck, let’s throw Expressroid in too.”

The four Machines leapt soared into the air, and started to change shape...

“A four-Monster Fusion?” shouted Ren. “What the heck is he summoning?”

“Something bad...” said Aster. “I know this Monster... Syrus had one...”

Truckroid and Stealthroid fused into a torso. Expressroid split in half, and became arms. Drillroid also split in half, and formed into legs. The huge thing sprouted fists, and a head appeared on top. The giant robot fell to the street with a crash. It was even bigger than Armoroid Gaidengo and just as intimidating. (3,600/3,000)

Erik stepped back in fright.

“Meet my Super Vehicroid – Stealth Union,” said Keith. “This is a toy for big kids!”

Erik didn’t respond. He was paralyzed with fear.

“But, I’m not ready to attack yet,” said Keith. “I’ll end my turn there.”

Erik shook his head.

“HUH?” he said.

“Erik!” shouted Aster. “That thing...”

Then a blast from Keith’s Disk struck Aster.

“No help from the spectators!” shouted Keith.

“Big mistake!” said Erik, drawing a card.

“Everyone, move to Defense Mode!” he shouted.

Both Toy Magicians knelt. Then Toy Emperor sheathed his sword, and his mount crouched.

“Oh, nuts...” muttered Aster.

Keith grinned evilly.

“That’s all for me,” said Erik. “Do your worst.”

“My worst, eh?” said Keith. “Okay...”

He made a draw.

“I summon Cycroid.”

He played the card, and Monster appeared that was rather cute for a change. It was a bicycle with one eye, and hands on the end of its handlebars. (800/1,000)

“A bike??” said Erik.

“Like you could do better,” said Keith. “The strategy behind this will become apparent in a few seconds.

“I play the Spell Card, Creature Swap!”

A Spell Card appeared on his side of the field.

“This card requires us to both select a Monster, and then trade them. I select my Cycroid.

“Ugh! Fine!” shouted Erik. “I select one of my Toy Magicians!”

Both Monsters vanished, and reappeared on the opposite sides of the field.

Then Toy Magician stood up. Super Vehicroid – Stealth Union lowered its huge hand, and then lifted him up to its chest. A cockpit opened, and Toy Magician leapt inside.

“What’s happening?” shouted Erik.

“Super Vehicroid – Stealth Union is powerful on its own,” said Keith, “but it can do even more if it has a pilot. And the pilot can’t be another Machine. That’s why I needed your Monster.

“See, with your Monster at the controls, it gains the ability to attack every Monster on your side of the field in one Battle Phase!

“And that’s not all... When it attacks a Monster in Defense Mode, and it has a higher Attack Score, the difference is taken out of your Life Points.”

“NO!” screamed Sam. “ERIK!”

Erik bowed his head. Sam fell to her knees and started to cry.

“Super Vehicroid – Stealth Union...” shouted Keith, “wipe out his Monsters!”

The huge Vehicroid’s eyes glowed... Then a blast of pure energy shot from them, vaporizing Toy Emperor, Toy Magician, and Cycroid, and knocking Erik over.

Erik pulled his head up. He was dizzy. The impact that had destroyed his Monsters had started a fire around him.

“Huh?” he muttered. “I’m still here? But...”

(E: 1,050) - - - - - - - - - - (BK: 2,800)

“What?” said Yumi.

Keith laughed out loud.

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” he laughed. “My Monster has a little drawback... When it attacks, it has to cut its Attack Score in half.”

Erik got up, with a look of fury in his eyes. He glared at Keith. His left hand clenched into a fist.

“You...” he snarled. “You made my girlfriend cry... She thought I had lost...”

“You’re going to anyway,” said Keith with a shrug.

“Oh, don’t count on it, buddy...” muttered Erik. “I’m sending both you and your Machines to the scap heap.”

“Whatever,” said Keith. “It’s your move.”

Erik growled as he drew a card.

“I play Toy Memorial!” he shouted. “I only have two Toys in my Graveyard right now, but two is better than nothing...”

He made two draws. He looked them over.

“Now I’ll set two cards, and then one Monster in Defense Mode, and that will be all.”

He threw three cards into his Disk, and two vertical cards and one horizontal one appeared.

Keith chuckled.

“Weren’t you listening a minute ago?” he asked as he drew a card. “Since I used Vehicroid Connection Zone to summon this thing, it can’t be destroyed by Trap Cards. Or Monster effects, if that thing happens to be a Night Assailant.”

He looked at the card he had just drawn.

CRAP! he thought. Why couldn’t I have drawn this last round?

“Crush his facedown Monster!” he shouted.

Super Vehicroid – Stealth Union lifted its fist.

“Oh, yeah,” said Erik, “I was listening... I was listening really well...”

One of his facedown cards lifted up.

“You said card effects can’t destroy it. They can still affect it in other ways. I activate Enemy Controller!”

The large video game pad appeared on the field, and the huge Vehicroid sparked with electricity. It knelt down and crouched in Defense Mode.

“Punk,” growled Keith.

He quickly looked at the card he had just drawn. He was about to use it, but he noticed Erik’s other facedown card.

He placed it in his Disk.

“I’ll set this, and end my turn,” he said.

A facedown card appeared.

“Can it be?” said Erik, angrily. “My move?”

He drew a card.

“I Flip-Summon my Magician of Faith,” he said.

His facedown Monster flipped up, and Magician of Faith appeared. (300/400)

A card slipped out of his discard slot, and he took it. He nodded, and added it to his hand.

“Now, I play Premature Burial!”

He threw the card into his Disk, and Toy Magician appeared again. (1,600/1,500)

(E: 250) - - - - - - - - - - (BK: 2,800)

“Heh...” said Keith. “Your Life Points are almost gone...”

“I have more than enough left,” said Erik, as his other facedown card lifted. “I activate Curse of Anubis!”

The ghostly jackal appeared over the field and howled. Magcian of Faith and Toy Magician both crouched in Defense Mode, and then the Defense Scores of both them and Super Vehicroid – Stealth Union fell to zero.

“What’s the point?” asked Keith.

“I’ll show you,” said Erik. “I sacrifice both my Monsters...”

Magician of Faith and Toy Magician vanished...

“...to summon Puppet King!”

The mighty Puppet King appeared in a burst of energy. (2,800/2,600)

“GO! Smash his Super Vehicroid – Stealth Union!”

Puppet King charged at the huge mecha...

“I’ll show you!” shouted Keith. “I activate De-Fusion!”

His facedown card lifted, and the huge robot turned into a blur of energy, that split into four seperate blurs. Then, Expressroid (400/1,600), Truckroid (1,000/2,000), Drillroid (1,600/1,600), and Stealthroid (1,200/0) all appeared in Defense Mode.

“And since I just summoned Expressroid, its effect activates!” laughed Keith.

Steamroid and Gyroid slipped out of his discard slot, and he took them.

“Fine!” shouted Erik. “I’ll tear your Roids apart one at a time! Puppet King, smash his Truckroid!”

Puppet King punched Truckroid, and it exploded into fiery debris.

“Man, I’m getting sick of these Roids,” muttered Chelsea.

“Erik seems to be getting even sicker of them,” said Ren. “In fact, I’d say he’s got a bad case of roid-rage.”

“I’ll set this facedown,” said Erik, as a facedown card appeared, “and then you go. I’d say there aren’t many more dumb-looking vehicles you could use against me, Keith.”

“We’ll see about that,” said Keith, drawing a card.

“Perfect,” he said, looking at it. “I’ll use my Deck Lord ability one last time. This time, I’m bringing Submarineroid to my hand.”

A card slipped out of his deck.

“NO!” shouted Sam.

“Submarineroid can attack directly...” gasped Yumi. “Erik has only 250 Life Points left...”

“Oh, don’t worry...” said Keith. “I’m not stupid enough to do that with his facedown card there.”

His Field Slot opened.

“I play Fusion Gate!” he shouted, placing a card in it.

A dark cloud started to form overhead.

“Now then...” he said. “I’ll remove from play Drillroid on the field, and Steamroid and Submarineroid in my hand...”

Drillroid vanished into grains of light...

Then the ground burst open in front of Keith, and a giant drilling machine, much bigger than Drillroid, appeared. It had a cartoonish face like the other Vehicroids, but it seemed much more serious. (3,000/2,000)

“The Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill!” laughed Keith, as Expressroid and Stealthroid moved to Attack Mode. “Now to wipe you out!

“Go! Attack Puppet King!”

Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill’s weapon spun with a horrible and incredibly loud noise. It started to burrow into the ground...

“Activate... Mirror Force!” screamed Erik.

His facedown card lifted up...

And then, Erik braced himself as the whole field erupted in a titanic explosion. More than a vehicle explosion, it was more like a miniature star exploding. Small comets and meteors shot out of the huge burst.

“Whoa...” muttered Erik, as the smoke started to clear. “My Mirror Force never did THAT before...”

“Uh, I don’t think it was your Mirror Force, Erik,” said Sam.

The smoke sumbsided, and Erik looked at his opponent. Keith’s Jumbo Drill and two other Monsters were gone, but two others had taken their place – Steamroid (1,800/1,800) and Submarineroid (800/1,800) were crouching in Defense Mode. Keith had apparently activated a Quickplay Spell.

Erik looked at it.

“Dimension Explosion?” he asked. “What the Hell is that?”

“Told you I wasn’t stupid,” said Keith. “As soon as you activated Mirror Force, this Spell sent my Drill back to my Fusion Deck, and then let me Special Summon two Monsters that had been removed from play. Technically, you could have done the same, but you didn’t have any.”

He fit one card into his Disk.

“I’ll play a facedown, and that will be all.”

He’s obviously going to attack Submarineroid with Puppet King, he thought. With only 250 Life Points left, he doesn’t have a choice.

What he doesn’t know is, my facedown card is Call of the Haunted, which will bring it right back next turn. So I’ll finish him off!

Erik quickly made a draw.

“Okay Keith...” he said. “Now... You’re finished...”

“Says who?” said Keith.

“Says me!” shouted Erik. “I play Double Spell.”

He discarded the Autonimous Action Unit he had just drawn.

“Now I can use one Spell Card in your Graveyard. And I seem to recall you had a Riyoku.”

The art for Double Spell changed to that of Riyoku.

“So, I’ll take half of Steamroid’s Attack Score, and add it to Puppet King’s.

The two Monsters glowed with energy. Steamroid fell to an Attack Score of 900, while Puppet King rose to 3,700.

“Big deal,” said Keith. “My Monsters are in Defense Mode, in case you didn’t notice.”

“Not for long,” said Erik, playing another card. “Remember when I flipped my Magician of Faith? Now, what card did I get back with her ability, you may ask?”

He threw a card into his Disk.

“I play Enemy Contoller!”

Steamroid got up, and moved into Attack Mode.

Behind his sunglasses, Bandit Keith’s eyes bugged out.

“Don’t forget, Keith,” said Erik, “Steamroid will lose another 500 Attack Points when it’s attacked. So you can forget about ever getting that Chimeratech.

“Puppet King... Attack Steamroid with Majestic Checker!”

Puppet King charged at the Machine, and Steamroid’s Attack Score fell to 400. The huge Warrior slugged it with his fist, and the explosion knocked Keith over.

(E: 250) - - - - - - - - - - (BK: 0)

Blockman glowed with energy. Armoroid Gaidengo glowed, and sparked as it started to short circuit. Then it burst into silvery shards.

Bandit Keith chuckled as he started to glow with light.

“What’s so funny?” asked Erik.

“I may have lost,” he said, “I may have lost Gaidengo, but my mission was a success...”

He stood up.

“You are all a bunch of idiots. Daala didn’t send me to stop you. Beating you in a duel would have just been a bonus... But the real plan was to stall.

“And since you fell for it, your two friends are wide open for our true plan. So Daala might just give me that better deck after all. See you around... Maybe...”

And then he turned transparent, and faded away.

“What do you mean?” shouted Erik. “Come back!”

Then there was a loud shriek. Everyone looked up...

The next thing they saw was a Harpie’s Brother and a Sonic Shooter diving at them from out of the sky.

Before any of them could even activate their Disks, the two Winged Beasts swooped on Ren and Chelsea. The two of them screamed, and in the next instant, the two Spirits flew away, taking them with them.

“HEY!” shouted Yumi.

“Follow them!” shouted Sam.

Before they could even try, it was clear that they were impossible to follow. They had already disappeared into the dark clouds.

“Aster...” said Yumi. “Do you want to explain what just happened?”

Aster looked to the sky with a somber look.

“Let’s get into Darkspire proper...” he muttered. “I have a bad feeling about this...”

* * * * * * * * * *

In the main computer room of KaibaCorp, Sheena and her technicians were working at the consoles.

“All clear,” said one technician. “Everything is back online.”

“Call Chief Yamaguchi,” said Sheena. “Tell him that the threat has been neutralized. He’ll be happy to hear it.”

“So, now what Ms. Arachne?” asked Nicholas.

“Well, part one is finished,” said Sheena. “We’ve retaken my computer.

“Now we move onto part two...

“Defeating Daala for good and rescuing Yumi and the others.

“And I’ve already got an idea about how to do that.”

“Can you get Yumi out of Xanadu?” asked Olga.

“I don’t think so,” said Sheena. “Daala’s control over its borders are incredibly tight.

“I can’t get anyone out from here, but I can get in using Kaibaland’s equipment. The best way to help them now...

“...is for me to sneak into Xanadu, and help them personally...”

She sighed. She looked at a Duel Disk on a table a few feet away from her.

“I thought I was mostly through with serious dueling...” she said. “But it seems that it’s time for the Spider Savant to come out of retirement...”

* * * * * * * * * *

ARMOROID GAIDENGO (Monster Card)

Card Specs


Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 8
ATK: 2,700
DEF: 2,000


Card Description: If this card is Tribute Summoned by Tributing at least one “roid” Monster, remove from play all Spell and Trap Cards on the field.

Note: “Armoroid Gaidengo” is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States.



CYBER REPAIRER (Trap Card)

Normal Trap

Image: A group of mechanical arms moving towards a central point.

Card Description: Your opponent draws one card. During the turn you activate this card, Machine-Type Monsters you control cannot be destroyed as a result of battle (damage calculation still applies).

Note: “Cyber Repairer” was first used by Syrus in the “Yu-Gi-Oh GX” episode “Tough Love”. Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



Erik’s Deck Lord: “Blockman”: “Imperial Powers”: “Toy Emperor’s” effect can be used to search for both Trap Cards and Spell Cards. (Intermediate Power) “Troop Rally”: If “Toy Emperor” is the only Monster on your side of the field, you may pay 800 Life Points to Special Summon a “Toy” Monster from your deck or Graveyard that is Level Four or less. (Minor Power)



Keith’s Deck Lord: “Armoroid Gaidengo”: “Heavy Traffic”: Every other turn, starting on your second turn, you may search your deck for one “roid” Monster that is Level Four or less and add it to your hand. (Greater Power)



Coming up next:

Aster Phoenix is a duelist who can make a claim that only three other duelists can – he defeated Jaden Yuki. It is thus little wonder that Joan made a virtual form of this individual to advance the cause of the rebellion in Xanadu. And quite likely, Aster’s contributions to Joan’s cause are many.

Coming up next, the legacy of the Destiny Heroes lives again, as the team’s investigation into Ren and Chelsea’s sudden abduction is interrupted by an assassin who is wholly unimpressed with his reputaion.

“Fire and Water” is coming up next.



Name that Card!

It seems that the rivalry between Yugi and Kaiba will never end. This Trap Card, used by an important character in GX, shows one of Yugi’s Monsters and one Kaiba’s fighting each other. Can you name it?

[Shuppet Master]

Oh noez! Ren and Chelsey have been kidnapped by Daala! What sinister fate awaits them?

I was surprised you wanted Sheena to go in. I thought she would have sent in Nick and Olga, since they were less conspicious. I see Daala defeating her - no offense to my character(I created her, read Sister of Anansi), but if it were that easy, then the story would end pretty quickly.

Great duel. I liked the Vechroids, and someone as evil as Bandit Keith using them bites my arse.

[The_Missing_Link]

I'm liking this fic a lot more than the last, but I would still like to see someone lose and face serious consequences. I haven't seen something dramatic since Sam's father died (sorry, forgot his name)

Also just to nitpick, one thing I've seen you do a lot in your fanfics which really ruins the end of the battle is when you have the opposing duelist voice out their thoughts saying how they'll win with this combo, and if the protagonist uses one card, he/she has something as a backup. And then obviously, the protagonist proves otherwise and they win. I dunno, you write the fic in great detail but you lost your ability to surprise the reader in terms of battling a while ago

I mentioned this before but in your dialogue, you don't stray far from, "he said" or "she shouted". It seems like shouting is the only way you express their feelings when they're surprised or angry or whatever. I know you can flesh it out more

[Dark Sage]

All good points, Becca. And I'll take them to heart. The consequences for losing a duel in Xanadu are dire, but the heroes will not be invincible.

I'll try to express the dialogue better, and end that habit at the end of the duel if it is proving annoying.

And it's good to see you reply.

[Shuppet Master]

I'm guessing "Magician of Faith."

Anyways, that was a great duel there. I know how you feel about the Destiny Heroes, so I won't comment.

[Neo Arkadia]

Uh... I probably missed it, but what exactly was the card Aster got from Bones? Dark Spirit of the Silent?

A pretty interesting if very very odd duel in many respects. That had to be one of the more unique deck themes I've seen you use in your stories. Twinheaded Beast, White Nights Dragon, and Frost and Flame Dragon? Definitely very cool.

Though, next chapter sounds like a fun interlude, and I see Sheena's quest to delete Daala takes ove the Nicholas and Olga sideplot, so to speak.

Though, I'm curious as to who this executioner is, though, I see that "Cost us dearly" part happening. But it should be interesting to see who they are.

No complaints other then this felt like a filler chapter, a nessecary one, but more padding to logically progress from point A to point B then anything, no offense. But very good padding.

[Dark Sage]

Yes, the card Aster got from the 13th Grave was Dark Spirit of the Silent.

Nicholas and Olga will be taking a break, but they will be back eventually. Trouble will arise in the outside world again before long... And wait until you see which of my old characters shows up...

Yeah, maybe the chapter was a filler, but I wanted to A. have someone else star besides Yumi and party and B. have the Destiny Heroes be featured in a chapter, because I sort of like them.

Keep reading.

[Shuppet Master]

I understand how you feel about the D-Heroes, because I sort of like Jesse's Crystal Beats myself. I just saw the episode where Yubel-Jesse dueled Zane and thought ti was pretty interesting, even though the anime Rainbow Dark Dragon and real Rainbow Dark Dragon are summoned by different methods. I'd like to make up a duel with those Advanced Crystal Beasts, even though doing so may be a violation of the animeverse.

I can't wait to read more, but I'll gladly wait if it means Storming Heaven's Gate gets an update, Brian. We need both fanfics on track.