The Cave
Chapter Two
Burnshoot had just landed in Uruguay, after all the travails the doctor had predicted had come to pass. His glorious Beth had sprung him free. But he had also taken the advice given to him, and refrained, albeit reluctantly, to go see her.
With his spelunking gear in hand, he asked a native to direct him to the caves he was seeking, for he had forgotten one of the most useful contraptions of a traveler, i.e., a map.
The person queried pointed the way, but said in a tone of ghastly fear, "No one ever returns."
"Well, I'll be the first," said Burnshoot, sure of his ability.
The three special caves he sought were wedged between craggy peaks of monstrous size, and as he approached the first he had an eerie feeling run down his spine. As much as he had anticipated this particular spelunking adventure, he was now feeling frightened. But this could not be natural. He could see Chancellor Sheppard before him now, admonishing him for his ill choice in becoming a cave-explorer. "I told you it was not right," the image seemed to say.
Nevertheless, Burnshoot staggered forward. He knew grand mysteries awaited him, and he was eager to discover them. The very thought that this place was a Bermuda Triangle of sorts intrigued him beyond his natural fancy.
Upon entering the first cave, Burnshoot lit his match, and searched avidly in the darkened spaces for something of interest. But all he could find was a blue suit of armor, complete with cuisse, gauntlet, and solleret.
In the next cave, he saw an intricately designed Persian rug, and a broken lamp, the latter of which he found very strange. Could this have belonged to one of the travelers who came here? If so, what horrors would he find in the third cave? A sense of foreboding entered him. He still had time to turn around, and avoid this imminent danger.
However, Burnshoot's spelunker lean overpowered this weakness, and he trudged on to explore the entrails of the remaining cavern.
The place he entered now resembled a wealthy man's sitting room, rather than a remote cave in South America. There were couches and divan chairs and love seats, what appeared to be a checkered floor, and portraits covering the walls. Indeed, the walls were so inundated with faces that it was unbelievable. One showed a green haired boy with horn-rimmed glasses which made him resemble a beetle. Then there was a brawny man with navy blue hair holding up a fish. A woman with light blonde hair, who appeared to be very prissy. Another woman also with blonde hair, with a bundle of books under her arms; she was learned. There was also a purple-headed guy who had the demeanor of a psychic. But, gazing at them collectively, it was apparent that all these people were struck with melancholy, a feeling which is highly contagious, and thus Burnshoot himself could not escape the aura they gave off.
Another thing that struck him was that there was room for two more portraits. After that, the walls would be entirely full of them, without a nook or cranny in sight.
Burnshoot had thought he had thoroughly explored the cavern, when he reached a spot that his match would not light up. "What's going on?" he wondered.
"Take two steps backward," commanded a raspy voice from the darkness.
"Who are you?"
"That is of no consequence at the moment. Do as I say!"
This command was given so forcefully and peremptorily that Burnshoot had no choice but to comply.
"There now. I will show myself." The darkness slowly slipped away, first revealing a coffee table, than the arms of a chair, and then a broad man with a long, black beard extending down to the floor. His eyes were lucid, his brow firm. "Welcome to my humble little home."
"You live here?"
"As the beast lives in the fields, the fish in the sea, so I inhabit this cave."
"Well, I'm a spelunker."
"I see that," nodding at Burnshoot's equipment.
"Well, I didn't mean to intrude…"
"The more the merrier, I always say."
"I think I'll be going now."
The cave-dweller fell into uproarious laughter, as if that was the most hilarious utterance he'd ever had the opportunity to hear. "Going, Mr. Killslew? What's the hurry? Don't I serve as blissful company?"
"How do you know my name?"
"It's written on your forehead," the cave-dweller said. When Burnshoot touched his pate, the man elaborated, "No, I don't mean literally. I have been gifted with the remarkable power to read people's names and histories just by looking at them. I know you are in love with a girl named Beth Henley Crowler, whose marriage you tried to halt. I also know that your father shot you at the wedding, with the intention of murdering you."
Burnshoot was speechless. He could not believe that someone could read so much about him, without foreknowledge.
"But enough about you. Everyone who enters my cave must pay a price."
"What kind of price?" Burnshoot asked, finding his voice again.
"You must duel me, and I happen to be aware that you were taught at the most prestigious dueling institution in the world."
Both pulled out their Duel Disks. "Oh, and there's a catch," said the cave-dweller. "If you lose, you will become a permanent fixture of my cave. Did you notice all those portraits on the wall? They are duelists I have defeated in the past. They are still alive," he claimed, when Burnshoot's face became aghast. "But they inhabit a plane with only themselves for company. Not that they care for each other."
"What happens if I win?"
"You go free, but only this time. Actually, you will have an unlimited number of times to challenge me. However, if you lose now, you become a prisoner. You may swap cards with the others, and then we can have another go. But if you do manage to defeat me, it is I who will go free, and you will take my place."
"How is that fair?"
"It is such that I am a prisoner as much as the people I have triumphed over, and only when I lose do I become free."
"Would you not try to lose if you want to escape?"
"It's impossible. There is a curse on this chair, which I cannot leave. As soon as a duel commences, I must play to my best ability, being as ruthless as I can."
"How did you get into such a predicament?"
"Someday, Burnshoot, if you defeat me I will give you my history. But for now, let's duel!"
[4000/4000
"As you are the challenger, it is advised that you make the first move."
"Right," said Burnshoot. "I summon Cave Dragon in attack mode, and end my turn!"
"Good. Now, I summon Trap Monkey, and then set two face-down cards."
Trap Monkey was purple, with a prehensile tail and large, round eyes.
"My monster has a base ATK of 300, but thanks to the two cards I just set, it takes it up to 2300! And now he launches his Spring Tail Twister on your dragon!"
The monkey spun in a vertiginous circle, calling up a mini-storm that blew the sturdy Cave Dragon off the field and into the Graveyard.
[3700/4000
"He's a little feisty. But now, I set yet another face-down, raising his attack power by another thousand! However, there is a catch. As long as Trap Monkey's ATK exceeds 3000, he cannot target his attack."
"I set one monster in defense mode and end my turn!" Burnshoot said.
"Well, I activate Emergency Provisions, destroying one of my set cards. Now, Trap Monkey, attack the face-down!"
Man-Eater Bug was flipped up. "Say adieu to your friend!"
When the smoke cleared, Burnshoot was startled to see that Trap Monkey was still standing.
"I see you are surprised. Allow me to explain. Thank to my monster's effect, when I discard a trap, I can negate one Flip Effect. Well, I dished 'Rope of Life' in order to escape Man-Eater Bug."
"Well, it's my move now, and I summon Gene-Warped Werewolf and equip it with Black Pendant! Then I attack your monkey with Extreme Data Removal!"
The cave-dweller had never before seen this monster, and his face exhibited his surprise. Certain that at last Trap Monkey was done for, Burnshoot smiled wickedly.
Swirls of data that resembled DNA emerged from the Werewolf's chest, aiming to hit the cave-dweller's monster full throttle. But at the last possible second for impact, a trap was activated, and an ape of a pink hue stood in the pathway of the attack.
"Like my Trap, Puppet Monkey? It protects one Trap Monkey for one turn, sort of like Negate Attack except only for a specific monster."
"I set one face-down, and end my turn," said Burnshoot, feeling exasperated by this little primate.
"I switch Trap Monkey to defense mode, and it's your go."
[3700/5000
"Now I summon Archfiend Soldier, and I have my Werewolf attack your monkey!"
This time, the primate went down. "Thank you."
"What? You're happy that I destroyed that monster?"
"Oh yes, of course. For now I can activate yet another of Trap Monkey's effects! By paying 1000 of my Life Points, you must send half your deck to the Graveyard!"
As Burnshoot proceeded to discard fifteen cards from his deck, watching as some of his favorite monsters descended into oblivion, a thought struck him. "Hey, how does your Trap Monkey have so many effects?"
"It is true that he has a great number. Indeed, counting all of them, he has more effects than you have fingers! And, better yet, he has a ton of support. And hidden within the confines of my deck are cards that take care of his weaknesses, which I am sorry to say, he possesses. This is why I am invincible. This is why almost one-hundred and fifty duelists have failed to defeat me. One little 300 ATK monster wiped them all to smithereens!"
"If you only have one Trap Monkey, I should say your done for. Now, Archfiend Soldier, attack him directly!"
[3700/2100
"I conclude my turn," Burnshoot said.
"Good, it's my draw, and I summon yet another Trap Monkey! Yes, I have a full set of three. If I didn't, do you think I would be here? And now I activate a Spell, Card of Sanctity!"
They both drew cards till they had six in their hands.
"Now I set one face-down, and equip the spell card, Broadsword to my friend. This lets Trap Monkey attack twice in a single turn. First he destroys your Archfiend Soldier!"
[3300/2100
"Then I have him attack Gene-Warped Werewolf!"
"That's a foolish move. My monster has 2500 ATK, and yours only has 2300."
"Do you think I care?"
Could it be possible that the cave-dweller was trying to lose? The attack went through, and not a monster was left standing.
"What happened?"
"Oh, another of Trap Monkey's abilities. Whenever it attacks a monster, both are destroyed, regardless of the difference in their offensive points. Of course, I lose Life, but that is of no moment."
"Well, I pay 500 Life Points to place Black Pendant on top of my Deck."
"You can afford to do that."
[2700/1900
"It's my turn now," said Burnshoot, "and I summon Alien Shocktrooper!"
"Hmmm…a monster from out of this world. And with just enough strength to take out my Life Points on its own."
"Yes, well, I'm one to be chary, and so I equip Black Pendant to this friend of mine, and then attack you directly!"
"Activate Trap, Primate Bulwark! This allows me to Special Summon Trap Monkey from my deck in Defense Mode!"
"Then my alien targets your unfortunate monkey."
"And the same deal as last time occurs. I pay 1000 Life Points, and you must discard half your deck."
[2700/0900
Six more wonderful cards followed the others into the Graveyard.
"That ends my turn."
"Am I'd be happy to send you to join the other prisoners, faut de mieux. Now, in my Standby Phase, one of my Trap Monkeys is revived, thanks to yet another of its effects. The magical ability I'm referring to states that when there are three Trap Monkeys in the Graveyard, I can revive one at the right time. Isn't that beautiful? They keep on coming back. Now, let's see here. I have two face-downs, and you have a 2400 ATK monster. How do I protect myself? By setting more traps, and I have three. Now, you go."
Burnshoot was now facing a 5300 ATK monster, and he drew his trump card, Copycat. "During my Standby Phase, I activate the Spell Card, Curse of Fiend! This switches your Trap Monkey to defense mode, as well as my Alien Shocktrooper. And then I summon Copycat, and use it to mimic your Trap Monkey!"
For a second, there was a monster with a mirror for a face on the field, but it was abruptly replaced by a purple primate. "I then set two face-down cards, and attack your Trap Monkey!"
This battle complete, Burnshoot ended his turn. A Trap Monkey returned to the cave-dweller's side of the field due to having three in the Graveyard.
"What a foolish move that was. Shows how ignorant you are. Mr. Killslew, you had the opportunity to defeat me just now, and you blew it."
"How?"
"Allow me to explain. Whenever both players have a Trap Monkey on the field, a chain reaction occurs. The player whose turn it is have an advantage over the other, for, by giving up 500 Life Points each, you can destroy one face-down card on your opponent's side of the field. If you had removed three of mine, you would've gained a bonus Trample effect. However, your lack of knowledge failed to come through for you. Ignorance is not bliss, it seems. Well, permit me to finish you off. First, I use the chain effect of the Trap Monkey and pay 500 Life Points to remove one of your monsters from the field for the duration of the turn. Say aloha to your Alien Shocktrooper!"
[1700/0400
"Now," said the cave-dweller, "I activate the trap card, Approaching Airwaves! This allows me to Special Summon one WIND attribute monster from my deck, and I choose Majestic Peacock!"
Of all the things that occurred so far in this duel, the appearance of this bird with iridescent plumage astonished Burnshoot the most. "I was certain you said that Trap Monkey was the only monster in your deck, sir," the last addition in the hope to placate the cave-dweller against perceived impudence.
"Well, that was in the past. Since my last duel, I've added this little nicker to my star deck."
"How did you obtain it, if you are confined to that chair?"
"That's my secret, and no one will know unless I am defeated. Now, continuing with this duel. I activate Light of Intervention!"
"What's the point of that?"
"My incentive is to free my Trap Monkey from its bounds. Being unable to attack is a shame. Oh yes, my other face-down is brought to the surface. A Continuous Spell Card called The Martian Bird's Gift. This card only works when I have a face-up Majestic Peacock on the field. I receive 500 Life Points for each monster destroyed in battle. And now, Trap Monkey attacks your Copycat!"
[0700/0400
"With only a few Life Points remaining, you're toast. And Majestic Peacock attacks you directly, sending you off for a spin!"
"Activate Trap, Magic Cylinder! Now you will take the damage of your precious monster!"
"Nice try, Burnshoot. You were so close to defeating me. However, I am forced to activate Trap Jammer, negating your effect. Thus, Majestic Peacock's attack is carried out."
The raging bird ate the remainder of Burnshoot's Life Points.
[0000/0400
"Well," the cave-dweller said, panting, "I have to admit that you are one of the bravest fellows I've ever dueled. But you still lost, and you know your punishment. Join the others!"
A wooden door appeared in front of Burnshoot. It had a green glow around its edges. There was nothing behind it from all observances, but he was ordered to open it. When he had done so, he saw a dark hallway, which did not exist in the cave. "Until you can defeat me, this is your home. Remember, you can swap cards with the others, but idle chatter is inadvisable. Nobody would listen to it, anyhow. Just keep your chin up, and do your best to triumph in our next encounter. Farewell, for now."
As much as he wished to refrain from doing so, Burnshoot could not prevent his feet from crossing the threshold of the door. Then it slammed behind him and subsequently vanished from the cave-dweller's sight.
Immediately upon the disappearance of his most recent challenger, the cave-dweller raised his eyes to the wall of portraits, and saw young Killslew staring back at him. Then he shifted his gaze to the only empty spot on the wall. "One remaining, but who? After this last challenger, this cave will close forever, trapping me and all the prisoners indefinitely. Then there will be no freedom."
An ivory door came out of thin air, and a boy dressed in corduroy jeans and with a raccoon skin for a cap, steeped out.
"Oh, hello, Ignatius. Here to try your luck again? This must be the third time this week! I'll have to start setting limits on how often you people can challenge me in a given time interval."