Disclaimer: No, I do not own Yugioh.
A single form sat in front of a campfire, watching the flames as if it was trying to get some kind of message out of it. "The spirits speak…but what do they say?" An old hand gathered up a small handful of dirt and threw it onto the fire. For a few seconds the flame twisted and died down…and then the flames exploded in size. "They see something coming…but what is that thing?"
Someone stepped near the fire and sighed. "Are you done staring at the fire yet? We need to get going."
"It is a force of dark energy….but what does that mean? Darkness can mean many different things…"
The standing person threw up its hands and stomped off. "Fine! Just sit there and rot for all I care!"
The old man kicked a hunk of dirt over the fire and extinguished it. "It is evil. But beyond that…I am unsure of what it means. Perhaps I shall see more as we travel to our destination."
06/27/2025
I've never really fit in anywhere.
Yeah, I suppose I'm your cliché loner. Ever since I was born I've never really felt right living the life I've had. My mother left the day after I was born, and my father would beat me for it. Yeah, like it was my fault.
Anyway though, there's always been loneliness in my heart that never seems capable of being filled. I ran away from home two years ago…and ever since then I've felt a little less lonely. Yeah, I might be a bit of a drifter but it's better than being the target for beatings from a drunken asshole of a father.
There is one thing that has kept me sane and fed well enough though. And that is Duel Monsters. It's pretty funny how much the world loves this game. And the more I think about it, the more reasons I see why. Still though, it's funny how some people treat this game like a matter of life and death.
Cheveyo Qua
Lost as always
A convention center.
It had been rented out by the Shadow Corporation for their annual tournament. Ever since the problems that had come from Giovan Garlin's Shadow Tournament they had decided to move the tournament to a more civil location. Also, duelists wouldn't need to run around an island dueling for points. They'd just collect them from people in the convention hall.
And inside the building wild cheering echoed out across the huge center.
"Ladies and gentleman, the moment you have all been waiting for! The final duel of the Shadow Tournament!" The announcer ran a hand through his beard. "So let's get this show started!"
Everyone started cheering again.
"As you all most likely know, there is not one…not two…but three whole packs of Supreme Duelist Series packs of cards available to the winner of this tournament!" He waved his hand out across the thousands of people gathered around the arena. "So now let's introduce our duelists!"
The first duelist walked up the steps of his side of the arena. He wore nearly all black clothing, with a pair of black sunglasses over his eyes. Waving back his slicked-back blond hair, the boy (who couldn't have been older than 15) smirked enough to reveal a pair of elongated canines.
The announcer pointed at him. "He's made it this far with his combination of horrific monsters and powerful magic cards! Nosferatu!" A mix of cries rose up. Some were good, some were bad.
At the other end of the arena was a red-skinned Native American boy of similar age. He wore a denim jacket and a pair of faded denim pants. His long black hair was tied into a ponytail that hung down to the small of his back. And around his neck was a piece of strangely shaped silver.
The announcer pointed at the other boy. "And I'm sure some of the duelists in the crowd remember some of the moves made by this young man! Cheveyo Qua!" People were strangely silent in their responses to that. It was almost as if they were afraid of the boy.
Nosferatu smiled slightly. "So tell me, do you fear the dark?" He lifted his arm to reveal one of the latest Duel Disks that were created by Kaiba Corp. "Because by the time I am done you will understand what it means to fight a demon!"
Cheveyo smirked slightly. "A true demon huh? Maybe you should grow up before taking me on. Demons don't exist." He lifted his arm to reveal a first edition Duel Disk.
The announcer chopped his hand down. "Duel!" Spinning around, he nearly threw himself out of the arena area.
Nosferatu- 4000
Cheveyo- 4000
Cheveyo drew. "I'll go first, if that's alright with you." His disk clicked into playing position.
"That's fine." Nosferatu glanced over each of his cards and sneered. ("Good…I'll be able to apply the pressure after the first turn.")
Cheveyo looked at his hand and grimaced. "I set a monster face-down on the field and end my turn." A horizontal brown-backed card appeared on the field in front of him. ("For now that's all I can do.")
Nosferatu drew. "I summon Archfiend Soldier!" (1900/1500) A horned purple monster appeared on the field and rumbled menacingly. "Attack the set monster now!" It launched forwards and drove its claw through the set monster, blowing it apart.
Cheveyo pointed at his opponent. "You attacked my Des Koala!" (1100/1800) "It's special flip effect deals you 400 life points of damage per card in your hand."
Nosferatu- 2000
Cheveyo- 4000
Nosferatu growled as chuckles emerged from the crowd. "You think you're such a hot player, hmm? Just you wait. I set one card face-down and end my turn." A face-down card shimmered into existence behind the Archfiend Soldier.
Cheveyo drew. "All I can do is set one monster face-down. End turn."
Nosferatu drew. "How did you make it this far?" He placed a card down onto his disk. "I summon Theban Nightmare (1500/500) in attack mode." A blue demon made up of souls appeared on the field and started to float across the field towards the set monster. It swallowed up the set monster easily.
Cheveyo caught a card that was spat out of his deck. "Giant Rat's (1400/1450) special ability activates when it is destroyed as a result of battle I can special summon one earth monster from my deck to the field in attack mode!" He slapped a card down. "I special summon Dark Gray!" (800/900) A little grey goat appeared on the field.
"Attack now Archfiend Soldier! Annihilate that little thing!" The monster launched forwards and slashed its claw across the body of the little goat and blew it apart. "Other than that, I end my turn."
Nosferatu- 2000
Cheveyo- 2900
Cheveyo drew calmly. ("He is powerful…but not invincible.") "I set one monster face-down and end my turn."
Nosferatu rolled his eyes and drew. "That's it…I'm done playing with you. Go Giant Orc!" (2200/0) A huge grey-skinned monster holding a bone club appeared on the field. "Now I attack with Archfiend Soldier!" The purple demon leapt across the field and snapped its claw down, only to be deflected.
A blue-armored green-skinned monster appeared on the field where the set card had been. "Igzarion Universe (1800/1900) has enough defense power to withstand the attack."
Nosferatu clenched his fist and pointed at the monster. "Giant Orc attack!" The monster leapt forwards and slammed its club into the beast, blowing it apart. "Theban Nightmare, attack him directly!" The mist-like demon floated across the field and through the red-skinned boy slowly.
Nosferatu- 2000
Cheveyo- 1400
Nosferatu snickered as Giant Orc fell to one knee. "During the end of my battle phase Giant Orc switches into defense mode." He held up a card from his hand and slid it into his disk. "And now the final blow starts to come! Go Ectoplasmer! This continuous magic card's special ability forces us to sacrifice a monster during our end phase. Our opponent takes half of the sacrificed monster's attack points in damage!" He slid a card into his disk. "I set one card face-down and end my turn!" Giant Orc turned ghostly and flew across the field to pass through Cheveyo.
Nosferatu- 2000
Cheveyo- 300
Cheveyo seemed unaffected by the attacks against him. Brushing off his shoulder he smiled slightly. "You're good. But I'm not out of tricks yet." He drew, inserted the card into his hand, and then took a different card and slid it into his disk. "I activate Heavy Storm. This magic card destroys all magic and trap cards in play!" A storm of wind swept across the field and shattered Nosferatu's three cards.
The blond-haired boy held up one of the cards. "In response I activate Remains of Yata-Garasu! This trap card lets me draw one card." He slid his three cards into his graveyard and drew once.
Cheveyo took a different card from his hand and slid it into his disk. "Next I'll activate Monster Reincarnation. This magic card requires I discard a card from my hand into my graveyard and pick up a monster card." He held up his Giant Rat card from before. "Now I summon Giant Rat in defense mode." A grey-furred rat appeared on the field in a crouching position. "Also, I set two cards face-down and play Mirage of Nightmare. End turn."
Nosferatu drew. "It's…"
"Mirage of Nightmare lets me draw until I have four cards in my hand." Cheveyo drew four cards and then pointed at one of his set cards. "I activate Emergency Provisions. This quickplay magic card lets me sacrifice magic and trap cards in play to gain 1000 life points per card." Mirage of Nightmare and his other set card disappeared.
Nosferatu- 2000
Cheveyo- 2300
Nosferatu pointed at the Giant Rat. "Attack now Theban Nightmare!" The mist monster flowed over the set monster and blew it apart.
Cheveyo took a card out of deck and slapped it down. "I special summon Giant Rat!" Another grey-furred rat appeared on the field.
Nosferatu pointed at the monster. "Attack now Archfiend Soldier!" The purple demon slashed its claws through the beast and blew it apart.
Nosferatu- 2000
Cheveyo- 1800
Cheveyo grabbed a card from his deck and slapped it down. "I special summon Silver Fang!" (1200/800) A silver-furred wolf appeared on the field and howled.
Nosferatu looked at his hand. "I end my turn for now."
Cheveyo drew and glanced out at the audience. ("What was that?") He started to turn, but then brought his attention back to the duel. ("I don't know what that was…but I thought I felt something.") He shook his head out and pointed at Silver Fang. "I sacrifice Silver Fang to summon Berfomet (1400/1800) in attack mode!" The wolf disappeared within a tornado of wind and was replaced by a four-armed demon that snarled at the other demons that were in play. "Berfomet's special ability is that when it is normal summoned I can add one Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts (1500/1200) from my deck into my hand." He removed a card from his deck and then another from his hand. "And now I use the power of Polymerization to fuse these two monsters together."
Berfomet disappeared in a flash of light and was replaced by a two-headed lion-like beast with wings and a tail that was a snake. "Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast in attack mode!" (2100/1800) It roared and lowered its horned heads down to aim at the Archfiend Soldier. "Impact Dash!" It charged across the field and tackled the purple demon, blowing it apart.
Nosferatu- 1800
Cheveyo- 1800
Cheveyo smirked and slid two cards into his disk. "I set two cards face-down on the field. End turn." He knew that all of his patience was paying off now. With Chimera in play he could now overpower Nosferatu.
The blond-haired boy drew. "All I'll do is set one monster face-down on the field and switch Theban Nightmare into defense mode." The misty creature folded its ethereal arms in front of itself and was now standing on a horizontal copy of its card. "End turn."
Cheveyo drew. "I summon Gyaku-Gire Panda!" (800/1600) A red-eyed panda holding a piece of bamboo appeared on the field. It growled and started hopping around angrily. "Gyaku-Gire Panda's special ability increases its attack points by 500 for every monster you have in play." (1800/1600) "Gyaku-Gire Panda, attack Theban Nightmare now!" The panda tackled through the misty monster and it disappeared.
Nosferatu- 500
Cheveyo- 1800
"Chimera, attack the set monster now!" The two-headed beast slammed its horns through the set monster and blew it apart. "I set a card face-down and end my turn."
Nosferatu drew. ("I have five cards in my hand now…but with that Panda in play I can't keep my life points safe yet.") He looked at his hand and smirked coldly. "I have just the right play to deal with you now. From my hand…I play the magic card Sight Scrying! This card's special ability lets me name one kind of effect. All cards in play with that effect are destroyed. I call any and all cards that can destroy magic or trap cards."
Cheveyo gasped as his Dust Tornado trap card flipped up and shattered.
"Now the stage is set!" Nosferatu slapped a card onto his disk. "I summon Goblin King (0/0) in defense mode!" A little green-skinned demon appeared on the field, its regal robes hanging off of its childish figure. "Also, I set two cards face-down. End turn."
Cheveyo drew. "Gyaku-Gire Panda, attack Goblin King now!" (1300/1600) The panda roared and charged.
"Reverse cards open!" Nosferatu sneered coldly. "Spirit Barrier's special ability is that as long as it is in play all battle damage to me is zero if I control a monster. In combination, I play Astral Barrier. With its effect I can make any attack by my opponent into a direct attack against my life points!" A spectral version of himself appeared and blocked the Panda's attack. "That means that your attacks are now useless."
Cheveyo slid his hand card into his disk. "I set one card face-down on the field and end my turn."
Nosferatu drew. "Since my Barrier combo is in play, I'll set this monster face-down knowing that you can't touch me. End turn." A new face-down monster appeared on the field and Gyaku-Gire Panda's attack strength went up. (1800/1600)
Cheveyo drew. ("He's got me locked out…but that doesn't mean I'm totally out of options.") "For now though, I end my turn."
Nosferatu drew. "It's time to shine! Flip up now, Night Assailant!" His face-down monster revealed itself to be a black-clothed assassin-like monster. "When flipped up one monster in play is destroyed!" Chimera exploded into dust.
Cheveyo caught a card that was spat out of his graveyard. "The effect of Chimera allows me to special summon either Gazelle or Berfomet from my graveyard when it is destroyed! Return to me now Berfomet in defense mode!" The demon reappeared on the field in a crouching position.
Nosferatu pointed at his two monsters. "I sacrifice these monsters to summon the mighty and unstoppable Invader of Darkness!" (2900/2500) A black and brown-cloaked monster appeared on the field and flexed its claws. "Annihilate that annoying panda!" It started to charge….
Cheveyo pointed at one of his set cards. "Go Shrink!" The card flipped up…but then exploded. "What?"
"Invader of Darkness has a special ability. As long as it is in play all quickplay magic cards you play will be destroyed." Nosferatu pointed at the red-skinned boy. "So prepare for the end! Attack now and finish him off!" It launched across the field towards the panda. "And before you think that you are safe, take a look at this equipment magic card in my hand. It's called Nitro Unit. When equipped to a monster in play and that monster are destroyed as a result of battle then you'll take the destroyed monster's attack in damage." A ring of plastic explosives appeared around the neck of the panda. "So it truly is over!" The Invader of Darkness cleaved the monster in half with its claws.
Nosferatu- 500
Cheveyo- 200
"Reveal Trap of Board Eraser!" One of Cheveyo's remaining cards flipped up. "This counter trap negates effect damage to me and forces you to discard a card from your hand."
Nosferatu held up his two empty hands. "I have no cards, so that's pointless. End turn."
Cheveyo drew. ("There's only one option left.") He looked at the drawn card. "End turn."
Nosferatu drew. "Invader of Darkness, run over his remaining monster!" The demon slashed through Berfomet with no problem. "End turn!"
Cheveyo glanced down at his deck and then at the Invader of Darkness. "I hope this works." He drew. One look at the card told him everything he needed to know. "This is the end for you."
"What?" The blond-haired boy pointed at him. "Take a look at the field!"
"I have. And I see the one flaw in your so-called invincible shield strategy." He threw a monster onto his disk. "Come out now, Chiron the Mage!" (1800/1000) A centaur holding a red staff appeared on the field. "I activate the effect of Chiron! By discarding one magic card from my hand I can destroy one magic or trap card in play!" He slid a card from his hand into his graveyard slot. "I sacrifice Nobleman of Crossout to destroy Spirit Barrier!" The spellcaster lifted its staff and released a blast of red energy that hit the trap. It shuddered and exploded into dust.
Nosferatu paled. "I still have…"
"My final card from my hand is called Lightning Return. This card lets me activate one quickplay magic card from my graveyard!" The Invader of Darkness shrank down to the size of a child. (1450/2500) "I use Shrink from my graveyard, so its effect cannot be negated by your monster's effect." He pointed at it. "Go Chiron! Magic Strike!" The mage leapt forward and slammed its staff onto the demon's head, blowing it apart.
Nosferatu- 150
Cheveyo- 200
Nosferatu snarled. "I'll make you pay for that in the next turn."
"What next turn? Reverse card open." Cheveyo pointed at his set card and it flipped up. "By activating the power of Soul Circle, I can return one monster on my field back to my deck and special summon a monster of the same level from my deck to the field." A huge red-furred gorilla appeared on the field. "Berserk Gorilla, direct attack!" (2000/1000) The ape charged and punched Nosferatu right in the chest.
Nosferatu- 0
Cheveyo- 200
The entire audience started to cheer wildly.
"And we have a winner!" The announcer leapt up onto the arena floor and grabbed Cheveyo's arm, pulling it up into the air. "Cheveyo Qua has won the Shadow Tournament!"
Cheveyo pulled his arm away and shuffled his deck. "So, how much prize money is there?"
"Prize money?" The announcer looked at him. "What prize money?"
"You mean there's no prize money for this tournament?" Cheveyo leaned in close to glare at the man. "Then what's the prize?"
The man held up three gold-foiled packs. "The Supreme Duelist Series packs are all yours."
Cheveyo frowned…and then he heard it again. It was speaking to him like a voice on the winds. "Don't you have another prize available besides the packs?"
The announcer paled. ("Oh no…but I was told to try and keep those cards.") "Well err…yes….but they're not any good! You wouldn't want them anyway! Trust me, the cards in these packs are much more useful."
"No, I want the other cards." Cheveyo spoke almost as if he was in a trance.
Sighing, the man reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a deck box. "Here then…"
Cheveyo took the deck box and held it in front of him. ("Not a single cent…just these cards…") He sighed and walked off with the cheers of the crowd following him.
In the audience a black trench-coated man watched Cheveyo leave. Silently, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
To be continued…