Yu-Gi-Oh GX: The American Duelists

Chapter 3 - The Sealed Forbidden One

Kenzan and Sho walk down the dirt trail to the Osiris Red hostel, with Misawa trailing silently behind them. At the bottom of the hill, they can see Ramirez and Judai talking in front of the hostel. Ramirez grins widely as Judai talks animatedly accompanied by varying degrees of hand signs and body language. "Ramirez seems to be back to his old self." Kenzan comments.

"Yeah." Sho agrees. He quickly scouts the area. "Manjyome-kun isn't here."

Kenzan checks around for himself. "You're right. But, it's probably for the best."

After they meet up with Judai and the two Americans, the six of them walk up the dirt path to the main building. Michael and Misawa trail the bunch. They are almost at the top of the needlessly long and steep hill, when the an explosive thunderclap sends Sho leaping into Kenzan's arms. The group is stopped dead in their tracks. Overhead, the sky grows steadily darker until there is a pitch black veil over the surrounding area. "What's going on?" Kenzan asks. They brace themselves as lightning streaks across the sky. Suddenly, a brilliant burst of light illuminates the darkness from over the hill, followed by a huge collective cry of voices. Without a word, wide eyed Judai sprints up the hill to find the source of the light and commotion.

"Big Brother, wait up!" Sho cries. Kenzan drops him to give chase. After hitting the ground, Sho is back on his feet and on Kenzan's heels.

Misawa and Michael jog after them. Michael pauses as he notices Ramirez not following. His face is blank and emotionless, as he gazes up at the black veil. "Are you coming?" Michael asks.

Ramirez shakes his head with a corse reply, "It's not necessary." Michael doesn't understand, but seeing Misawa and the others leave him behind, he chases after them. He wants to know what is happening beyond the ridge, as well.

Reaching the top of the hill, Judai is frozen in his paces.

"Big brother!" Sho and Kenzan cry as they catch up. Both slide to a halt beside their big brother. In the center of the campus grounds stands the enormous form of Exodia standing in the center of a huge crowd of observers. His massive limbs are no longer restrained, and he raises his arms out to his side as he bellows a mighty sorrowful cry into the darkened sky. Lightning crashes down all around him. "Incredible!" Judai mouths in awe. He can't contain his excitement, and cheers out. "Incredible! This is so incredible!" He turns sharply to Sho and Kenzan with wide sparkling eyes. "It's Exodia!" Overwhelmed by excitement, Judai begins pacing in his place, before taking off full speed for the crowd. "Hurry!" he shouts back to Sho and the others. Misawa catches up and is shocked by the massive form of Exodia standing before the main building. Sho and Kenzan take off after Judai, forcing Misawa to quickly give chase or be left behind as usual.

Judai runs around the outside wall of observers asking frantically what's happening. "The top two Americans are dueling!" A boy answers.

"And one of them stopped Exodia!" A second excited DA student responds.

Judai is in awe. He yells for the others to hurry, as he tries everything he can to get a better look amidst the crowd. Exodia bellows before falling to his knees lifelessly. His huge limp body erodes in a pillar of light, vanishing from the field. The crowd cheers in amazement. Several girls in the front rows shriek over, the guys' cheers of awed respect. Judai cries out as he frantically tries to push through the crowd to see the duel for himself. However, every time he tries to squeeze through, he is thrown back by the excited crowd. The front rows of the crowd suddenly roar with applause.

With a final forceful push, and a small opening between bodies, Judai is able to squeeze through to the front. He emerges crawling out between the legs of a boy who nearly falls over. In the middle of the ring of students stand the two honorary Obelisk Blue boys smiling widely and shaking hands. They exchange a few brief words, before parting ways, each followed by their own fandom of girls and male supporters eager for the chance to talk to them.

The crowd fans out, leaving Judai on his knees alone in the middle of the campus grounds. While they excitedly replay the duel events in their groups, Judai remains on his knees and cries. "It's not fair. I wanted to watch, too." He slumps over with his head and forearms falling to the ground.

"Oh, big brother..." Sho exclaims sympathetically. He and Kenzan pat Judai on the shoulders. "There, there. Everything will be alright." Sho assures him.

Ramirez walks over to the group wearing a sullen look. He follows the two other American duelists with his good eye. "Those two played each other in the tournament for the championship. Kyle lost then, too." Michael didn't realize. He watches Kyle wandering away with each arm wrapped around a different girl's waist, while other girls lean against his back. He laughs cooly despite his defeat.

Ramirez chimes in again; his voice is slow and grated. "Kyle knocked me out of the running midday. It was only my second turn, and I couldn't stop it or pull off my own one turn kill fast enough." He scoffs at Kyle's fan base of girls. "The novelty, will wear off soon enough." His uneven eyes narrow. "And then, true natures will be revealed."

"You really are bitter." Sho comments with an accusatory smirk.

Ramirez doesn't deny it or take offense. Without taking his good eye off of Kyle, he replies evenly, "Only when it comes to phonies... And people like Manjyome." Judai cries even louder that he wants to play them. Ramirez's eye drifts over him. In the same even temper and rough strained voice, Ramirez hushes Judai. "Enough dramatics. If you stop crying, and act your age, I'll introduce you to them later."

Judai leaps to his feet immediately. His eyes shimmer wide with hope and anticipation. Without warning, he snatches Ramirez's hand between his own and shakes it frantically. "Really? Do you really mean it?" Ramirez's composure falters as he tries to pull his hand out of Judai's grasp. He replies with an uncomfortable yes. Judai cheers, and he points to the school. "Alright! Let's get to class!" Sho and Kenzan share an embarrassed laugh, while Ramirez wipes his hand on his Osiris Red uniform he received after the introduction ceremony.

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With the school day behind them, and with no confrontations between him and Manjyome, Ramirez stays true to his word. He escorts them to the campus grounds in front of the main building to talk with the Americans. While it is common knowledge of where each American is at any given time, Ramirez's introduction allows Judai and his group the chance to actually talk with them.

They find the cool collected Ash, hanging out with a two familiar Obelisk Blue girls. The three American girls sit on a cement bench beside them, each wearing their Ra Yellow uniforms. A gaggle of fangirls and guys observe from different ranges of comfort for them. Some look like dogs trying to inch their ways in on their bellies for whatever leftover scraps of attention may fall their way, while others hide like wary animals, observing from the fringe of bushes and trees that skirt the massive campus grounds. "Hey, look!" Kenzan points out as they approach the Americans.

To everyone's surprise, Asuka is there as well, standing to a side of the group, alone. Judai and the others stop to asks what she's doing here. Kenzan states he never had her pegged for a fangirl. Asuka's cold glance sends Kenzan retreating behind Sho, who retreats behind Judai.

After a chilling glance, Asuka drops her guard with an exasperated sigh. "My friends made me come." She points out Junko and Momoe who each sit to a side of Ash. He talks passionately with the cocky American girl, Hannah, who sits on the higher raised cement bench a tier above his, and the two aggressive Obelisk Blue girls. Lilica sits behind the two of them on a raised tier above Hannah, wearing a girl's Obelisk Blue uniform and observing the others with a smile. She notices Michael and Ramirez and waves them over.

"Hey you guys!" She shouts happily. "Come over here, and introduce us to your friends!" The group looks to Asuka who shrugs with a final sigh, before joining the group. They join the other Americans, lead by Ramirez. He nods to Ash, who politely says hello.

Lilica titters cheerfully. "Now that we're all back together, why don't you introduce everyone?"

"Huh?" Michael retorts as he realizes she is talking to him. Lilica confirms with a nod and smile. "Uh... I... I don't really know, any of your names."

Ramirez chuckles slightly. "Your hopeless." He takes it upon himself to do the introductions. Starting with the spunky little American girl in the Obelisk Blue uniform, Lilica Ross, he works his way clockwise around the group.

After being introduced by name, Lilica cheerfully waves to the group and says her greetings. "Pleased to meet you all." Kenzan and Sho agree with smiles of their own, obviously stricken with her cheerfulness.

Ramirez then introduces the tiny, soft spoken, and serious girl, Annette Black. She is a vision to behold; like a living elegant doll, with a soul so cold she truly could be an animated doll. Kenzan goes nuts at the sight of her "Cute!" The girl glares at him coldly, causing him to pull away in fright. He admits softly to himself, "But she's no Alice-chan." Sho gazes at him apprehensively and wonders just what kinds of tastes he has.

Moving to a taller girl who is still shorter than him, Ramirez introduces the next Ra Yellow girl, Jessica Phish. She is shy, but says hello politely. The others say hello as well. Her timid mannerisms and kind demeanor give Kenzan something more to think about. He studies the girl as he rubs his chin. "What are you doing?" Sho asks him.

"She's rather cute too." He replies seriously as he continues to ponder. His eyes shift back over Annette, whose wide emotionless doll eyes continue to glare at him. He shivers wildly and drops out of sight behind the group. "Definitely no Alice-chan." Sho's face contorts as he looks down on Kenzan who continues to think seriously out of sight of the doll-like girl.

Having introduced and embarrassed Jessica, Ramirez looks harshly to the final Ra Yellow girl. Her eyes and smile are wide and wild, as she awaits her introduction like an anxious cat. Ramirez utters the words, "Pandora."

She giggles from her throat and smiles even more arrogantly. Then, she introduces herself as Hannah Daniels. As she extends her hand, her huge breasts press together and push out of her open jacket. The skin tight black undershirt only makes them look more massive as it tries to hold them back.

Sho blushes and watches her with a dopey look. His eyes are practically ready to leap from their sockets. She notices it, but doesn't say anything. Ramirez tells them in a sharp harsh tone, "Don't be fooled by her looks: She's a shark."

Hannah dismisses his claim with an effortless wave of her hand. "How could you say such cruel things about a girl during her introduction?" He ignores her. The two share a moment of silence. The air is tense, but she continues to smile as if he had been the perfect gentleman.

Without looking away from her, Ramirez points out the winner of the tournament they held in America to come here, Ash Campbell. Judai jumps forward to shake his hand. Ash accepts Judai's hand. Both Junko and Momoe are annoyed by Judai's intrusion, but behave themselves..

He declares himself as Yuki Judai. "I saw you dueling earlier. I can't wait to duel you!" With a wide smile, Judai scratches his nose. "How about a duel right now?"

Ash smiles. "Maybe another time. I have a few other promises I wish to keep first." He smiles cooly with an air of quiet dignity. Momoe and Junko cheer in ecstasy as do the other girls around them. The cocky American girl, Hannah, shoves her finger down her throat and mock gags herself.

Jessica laughs innocently at her, whispering, "Don't be like that."

Hannah brusquely states, "This is getting to be too much to handle." She hops to her feet causing her large chest to jiggle as her open jacket flutters at her sides.

Wide-eyed Sho and slack jawed Kenzan both mouth "Woah," but say nothing.

Hannah waves a hand in the air. "I'm out of here." Jessica quickly gets up to follow her.

"It was nice meeting you all." Jessica says politely. "Even if I didn't find out your names." Hannah drags her away before she can exchange proper introductions. The small doll like girl stands mechanically, yet so elegantly everyone watching around them lets out a slight breath of awed wonder. She walks after them. How she keeps up without losing her graceful composure is as mysterious as her looks and personality.

Kenzan and Sho watch them leave intently. They look to each other with fox like smiles, and they state together, "They're in our dorm!" They smile at each other with a drip of drool down their faces. Misawa smirks uncomfortably in the back. Asuka stamps her foot with her arms crossed, visibly annoyed with all of them, but Misawa is the only one to notice it. He cringes and hops away on one foot, with his other foot and arms raised in defense.

Lilica chats with Judai and the others briefly. She tells the group that Kyle is down near the beach with his fan club, stating to Judai's liking, "He hasn't refused a duel request yet, even dueling six Obelisk Blue students back to back." An impressed Judai asks if he won. To which, Lilica nods. "He won all of his duels except the one with Ash this morning." She titters. "Their fan clubs actually encouraged them to duel, and they were more than happy to have their rematch." Her eyes slide over to Ash. "It's the first duel this bum has had since he got here. He's been preoccupied with other things..." She holds a finger to her pursed lips and winks. "If you know what I mean."

"I can imagine." Ramirez responds in a distant tone.

Ash solemnly retorts, "You make it sound like I'm some kind of woman-objectifying, male-chauvinistic pig."

Lilica jokingly agrees. "At least your not as bad as Kyle." She pats his head as one would for a good dog. He smiles quietly, accepting his patting, and blushes ever so slightly. Momoe and Junko can't contain their delight at being the closest girls to him.

Judai stands erect. An intense fighting aura fills the area with electricity, seizing everyone's attention. "This is excellent! I'm going to duel Kyle!" Before anyone can respond or comment, he takes off down the path towards the beach. Sho and Kenzan are forced to follow at top speed. Misawa scratches his head as he looks to see what Asuka and the others plan to do.

"I'll be staying here for a bit longer." Ramirez declares.

Michael decides he'll go with Judai's group. He feels like he'll get lost if he wanders around on his own. Asuka irritably answers Misawa's expression. "I don't feel like staying here... But it's part of being a supportive friend." She gives off a very hostile vibe that hints at anything but supportiveness. Michael looks to Misawa. With a shrug of their shoulders, they begin walking down the path taken by Judai.

On the way to the beach, Michael states, more so than asks, "You're one of those quiet guys, aren't you? Always in the background?"

Misawa bashfully admits, "It seems so."

"I understand that feeling." Michael exclaims. "Honestly, I don't like all the attention I'm getting here. It feels... unnatural. I thought getting a fresh start somewhere else and having a new experience would be exciting, but... It feels awkward, and it's exhausting."

Misawa nods slightly. "Breaking routines is hard for me, as well. I've never had a moment to shine in the spot light, so I can't entirely relate." Misawa pictures himself in the Americans' shoes, with all the attention. He sees himself smiling and blushing at the attention. He is praised by male students and fawned over by the female students. But as he thinks about it more seriously, he puts himself in Michael's shoes of not fitting in but having everyone watch him. "Although, I imagine, if I was in your situation, I would probably feel the same way."

Misawa sighs a barely audible complaint, which gets Michael's attention. He realizes he did it out loud. He tries to wave it off as nothing, but, he doesn't have the strength of character to hide his feelings in the prying gaze of a more confident person than himself. He reluctantly reveals, "It's just that, sometimes... I think I bleed into the background too much. Much more so than I like, or mean to."

Michael is silent for a moment. Then he replies, "At times like that, you have to force your way to the front stage. Otherwise you'll end up as a running gag; the butt of everyone else's jokes."

Misawa is surprised by that answer. He didn't expect Michael, of all people, to say such a thing. Having had personal experience in that field, he bashfully agrees, "That's true."

Michael draws a deep breath as he gazes up at the huge blue sky above. "I may not like the spot light, and I may be more comfortable in the background, but I cannot be satisfied disappearing into the background entirely. At times, I feel like I don't exist anymore; like I'm not really living. I feel insignificant. It's at times like that, I force myself to go out and make my presence known." Michael turns his head down from the sky. His eyes seem to drift out of focus, as if looking at a dream replaying inside his head, or perhaps, from Misawa's perspective, he is reliving a memory. "I don't need to be a world champ, or a local tournament dominator. If only to show up once a month and leave enough of an impression so others inquire as to what has become of Michael Roman..." He pauses, before turning to face Misawa. "That's enough for me."

After a minute of hesitation, Misawa smiles slightly. He thinks to himself they're kind of the same, but at the same time, not at all. Misawa tells himself honestly, "No. I don't measure up."

They stop as they see Judai on the beach pestering Kyle. His fan club of girls stands between them, arguing with Judai, and they try to get him to leave. Kyle sits on the sand behind them, with each arm around a girl, and two girls supporting his back with theirs. All 4 girls look surly at Judai, but Kyle smiles wide as he watches Judai try to plea his case through the wall of girls.

Michael and Misawa join up with the others. Kenzan and Sho simply watch as Judai is bullied by the gaggle of girls. After what has apparently been a long hard fought battle or words and motivations, Kyle raises his arms, and each of the girls in his arms leans forward allowing him to stand. Once on his feet, he brushes himself off. "It's alright." He thanks the girls for their help, but Judai has convinced him. He and Judai shake hands. "My name is Kyle Jones."

Judai beams back at him. "Yuki Judai."

"Hmmm... Well, Yuki Judai... I've been dueling all day, and I had resolved to not duel anymore today, so to enjoy some time with these lovely ladies Duel Academia has been hiding from the world." He smiles at the girls who return the it ten fold. "But, you've convinced me to go at it once more tonight." He laughs as he adjusts his duel disk cooly. "I can give you a few turns worth of my time." With a wide smile, he throws his arm out. His disk unfolds as smoothly. He shouts out loud, "So, Yuki Judai, don't disappoint me!" A gust of wind sends his sleek bangs blowing out of his face, as his spiked hair sways only slightly. The highlights in his hair shine brilliantly in the bright sun. The girls cheer for his victory.

"Alright!" Judai arms his duel disk in a single dynamic motion. "Let's do it!"

They both shout, "Duel!" The lights of the disks flash alternatively, stopping on Judai. Judai celebrates and draws his opening hand.

Kyle draws his opening hand as well. He confidently states, "This will be over in less than 5 rounds, Mr. Judai Yuki." The girls cheer for him once more.

Judai plays Burst Lady in defense position, and he sets 2 s/t cards. He ends his turn. His life points flash up behind him at 4000.

Kyle shouts, "One!" while holding out his left hand showing one raised finger. He draws and plays the continuous spell, Overstock. He activates Reload from his hand, giving up his hand for 4 new cards. Overstock allows him to draw 1 additional card each time he shuffles cards into his deck and draws from a card effect. He sets 1 s/t card, and he plays a second Overstock. With a cool wave of his hand, he activates the spell card, Magical Mallet, giving up his entire hand into his deck once more. He redraws the lost 2 cards and draws 2 additional cards. He sets 1 more s/t card, as well as a face-down monster card. He ends his turn.

Judai draws. He summons Sparkman. Then, he shifts Burst Lady to attack position. He orders Sparkman to attack. The monster reveals itself. A ragged looking 17th century man appears bound in chains. His clothes are torn open, exposing his stomach. rises from the revealed card. He moans as he is destroyed by Sparkman's lightning strike. When he goes to the graveyard, the chains around his arms and body shoot out of the Graveyard and grab 2 cards in Kyle's deck. As Kyle removes 2 cards from his deck, the chains drag 2 other ragged looking men in chains to the Graveyard. Judai is shocked.

"It's the Persecuted Magician line." Kyle answers Judai's expression. "I can tell you've never seen them before, so allow me to give you the introduction." Kyle smiles. The girls all watch anxiously. Obviously, they have heard the story before, but they love it nonetheless. "The Persecuted Magician line is a set consisting of six different persecuted individuals of the 17th century. After being reversed and destroyed in battle, they'll mill my deck of up to 2 monsters with the same attribute as themselves."

His eyes narrow slyly. "Six Persecuted Magicians; each tried under bogus trial by an ignorant mob of their peers. The one you just destroyed is the dark attribute Persecuted Magician, Persecuted Magician - Trial by Evisceration. In the 17th century, he, and many men like him were stripped down in public, bound, and had their stomachs carved open. Their intestines were then pulled out of their bodies, and they were left to die before the crowd of their accusers. His execution was his trial." Kyle chuckles sadistically. "The tragic story told by these cards, is historically accurate to a fault, Yuki Judai." He raises his head slightly. "World history truly is fascinating. Once you dig deeper, beneath the lies and facade that mar the truth just beneath the surface, you see for yourself the shocking history of atrocities left in the footsteps of humanity. History wasn't nearly so pleasant as the school books would have children believe. Nor was it ever fair." Kyle chuckles with a look of fondness across his gaze.

Judai hesitates as he takes in the reason Kyle is laughing. He watches the 2 cards slide into Kyle's Graveyard. Judai strengthens his resolve, ordering Burst Lady to attack Kyle directly. Kyle takes the attack with a smile, not even flinching as Burst Lady's fireball strikes him dead center. His life points decrease to 2800. Judai ends his turn.

Kyle draws. He plays his newly drawn Reload to recycle his hand. He draws 2 cards plus an additional 2 cards by the effect of his 2 Overstocks. Afterwards, he sets 1 monster card, and activates a spell card from his hand, The Dark Door, to limit Judai's attacks to one per turn. He is about to play another card, but he stops himself. He shoots Judai a mischievous smile. "I think I'll let this drag on just a bit longer. I did promise you 3 rounds worth of my time, after all." He ends his turn chuckling. His life points remain at 2800.

Kenzan comments fearfully, "He certainly is confident in himself."

"More like arrogant." Sho replies sarcastically.

"No." Misawa contradicts, getting the others' attentions. "An Exodia deck is not easy to run, and it is not as easy as it seems to assemble all 5 pieces. This is part of the tactics used to intimidate the opponent into making hasty decisions and mistakes. All 5 pieces can be assembled at any time, but probability says it will not occur with so many cards in his deck still. Because the risk that Exodia may come at any given time is still real, he provokes his opponent and makes him believe he is capable of assembling all the pieces at his leisure. This psychological edge is necessary to play with such a slow deck type."

Both Kenzan and Sho nod. Kenzan states, "So, he's bluffing because he can't defeat Judai his turn?" Misawa nods, and he adds, "Most likely."

Judai cheers. "Yeah... This is intense! I'm totally psyched." His comments kill the tense atmosphere Kyle had built up over the past 2 rounds, to Kyle's amusement, and to the fan clubs annoyance.

Sho embarrassedly remarks "Psychological warfare is useless on big brother." They all shake their heads in agreement, and sigh in unison. Even Michael feels a little embarrassed by Judai's relative simplicity.

Judai draws and summons Featherman in attack position. He attacks with Sparkman. Destroying Persecuted Magician - Trial by Drowning. The pale woman breaks out of the surface of her card gasping for air. Water pours out of her mouth as she tries to cry for help, but hands emerge from her card and pull her back down. Before the card vanishes, Judai and the others see the card's art, with a mob surrounding a wooden trough. They hold the woman underwater in the shallow wooden container. Sho swallows hard at the grim subject matter. The hands extend from the Graveyard to gather 2 more water monsters from Kyle's deck. Two more Persecuted Magicians - Trial by Drowning, are pulled to their watery grave, as Kyle sends their actual cards to the graveyard as well. Unable to attack more than once per turn, Judai has no choice but to end his turn. His life points appear at 4000.

Kyle draws. He gives his newly drawn card a look over. Then, he activates his set Card Destruction. After discarding 3 cards, he draws 3 new cards. Judai discards his hand and draws the same number of cards he discarded. Then, Kyle plays Magical Mallet and chains with his set Reload. He shuffles 2 cards in his hand to his deck to draw 4 new cards, and he shuffles 2 of those cards from his hand to his deck to draw 4 cards. He fans out his hand, revealing that he is once again at 6 cards. After setting a monster and another s/t card, he calmly ends his turn. As his life points reveal at 2800, he runs his index finger over the edges of the cards left in his deck. "Not much longer now." He jokes.

Judai draws. He activates H - Heated Heart on Burst Lady. She clenches her fist as she receives the spells power. Then, she glints down on the set monster with a fiery battle aura. "Burst Lady, attack! Burst Fire!" She attacks the face down monster with a barrage of fireballs. The set card flips over, revealing a woman bound to a wooden steak. Kyle smirks as Burst Lady's attack sets his Persecuted Magician - Trial by Burning ablaze. His life points dwindle to 1100. The woman burns to a black smoldering brick of charcoal. Sho and the others cringe at the sight. Even most of the fan club girls avert their gazes. Kyle sends two cards from his deck to his graveyard as they catch fire as well. Judai watches two more of the burning women buried in a fiery grave.

Kyle chuckles with delight as he watches his cards slide into his graveyard. "How ironic that she is condemned to burn to death twice. History repeats itself, yet again, huh, Yuki Judai?" Judai ends his turn. He finds Kyle's comments strange, but is not intimidated by him.

Kyle draws and boldly declares "This is the end of round 4, Yuki Judai; my final turn. In your next turn, it will be over." He plays his newly drawn Pot of Greed, followed by his set Emergency Provisions. He sends Pot of Greed and The Dark Door to his graveyard to increase his life points by 2000 points, from 1100 to 3100. He then activates a final Magical Mallet. Kyle smiles at one of his newly drawn cards. He plays it from his hand. A light overhead shines down on him, and a robed angel opens her wings to him. Graceful Charity allows him to draw 3 cards and dumps 2 of his choosing afterwards. He plays a final Overstock, followed by Pot of Avarice. The huge bejeweled vase opens its mouth to let its tongue fall into Kyle's Graveyard. It cackles wildly as it licks through his graveyard. Kyle selects 5 monsters of his choosing from his graveyard, to feed the hideous bejewel vase. The Jar swallows them up happily, as Kyle shuffles them into his deck. The jar begins to spew jewels into the air like a geyser. Kyle draws 5 new cards thanks to his 3 Overstocks. With a grin, Kyle sets 1 monster card and 2 s/t cards. He ends his turn with his hand at 7. He discards 1 Persecuted Magician - Trial by Hanging. The wind Persecuted Magician's card art depicts a hung man swinging from a tree branch. He is surrounded by a mob of spectators. Kyle's life points hold at 3100 to Judai's 4000.

Judai draws. It's his last turn according to Kyle, and he intends to win. Judai holds out the Spell Card, Polymerization fusing Featherman on his field and Bubbleman in his hand, to form Elemental Hero Sailorman. Sailorman roars fiercely at Kyle. "Sailorman. When I have spell or trap cards on my side of the field, he can attack directly." Kyle shrugs dismissively with an amused smirk. Judai throws his hand up holding a single card. "Necrodarkman!" The translucent image of the dark hero rises from the grave. "While Necrodarkman is in my graveyard, I can summon 1 high level Elemental Hero without Tribute. Go, Edgeman!" Necrodarkman vanishes back to the grave, as the huge gold hero descends from the sky. He lands hard on the ground. "Elemental Hero Edgeman. When he attacks a defense position monster with a higher attack than its defense, he'll deal the difference as battle damage." Judai points determinedly to Kyle, who continues to smirk confidently. "Go, Sailorman! Direct attack!"

Sailorman lunges for Kyle and strikes him with an anchor shaped blade on a chain. Kyle's chest is pushed back, but he doesn't cease smiling. His life points drop from 3100 to 1700.

Judai points out his final target, the set monster card. "Elemental Hero - Edgeman. Direct attack!" He attacks the set monster with Edgeman, revealing a Persecuted Magician - Trial by Hanging. A ragged hung man rises from his card, hanging by a noose from a tree. Edgeman swings his mighty bladed arm to cut it down.

"Oh please. Get a clue." Kyle one of his set cards, a second Emergency Provisions. He activates it by sending all 3 Overstocks to the graveyard to gain 3000 life points. His life points climb to 4700. Edgeman's attack slices through the hung man and passes through Kyle. Kyle is pushed off balance, but catches himself. He chuckles as he holds his ribs, and his life points decrease to 2100. Edgeman leaps back to his side of the field. Kyle sends the hung man and a second copy of it from his deck to the graveyard. He laughs as he does.

Judai points at Kyle once more. "Burst Lady, burst fire!" Burst Lady leaps into the air to attack.

"Not today!" Kyle shouts out. "Trap card, open!" His final set card flips over, revealing a trap depicting an eagle eye view of a squirrel frantically gathering nuts from the highway. "Frantic Hoarder. This card can only be activated when I have 5 or fewer cards in my deck. I can continue drawing cards, as many I'd like, but for each card I draw, I'll take 500 points of damage. He draws losing life points for each draw. At his second to last card, he smiles. His life points decrease to 100, and then they vanish. The sky grows dark overhead, and lightning streaks across the sky. Exodia's face appears from the center of the black clouds. He bellows down on them. Sho and Kenzan are as shocked as Judai.

Sho cries "No, big brother lost!"

There is nothing Judai can do but grit his teeth as Exodia descends from the sky. The magic pentagram sealing him shatters, and he is able to use his immense strength to shatter his chains. He falls slowly on Judai. With one fierce punch, Judai's field is cleared, and his life points vanish. The girls cheer fanatically as Exodia vanishes. The clouds immediately clear up.

Judai takes a moment to recover. Sho and the others join him. They look worried, but Judai smirks wide and laughs. "That was awesome."

Kyle laughs. "What were the odds that my second to last card would be the final Exodia piece? Had it been the last card, this duel might have ended quite differently." He shakes Judai's hand before returning to his group of fangirls. But, he stops half way there. Glancing over his shoulder, he tells Judai one last thing. "Oh, and that deck you just lost to... That's just my fun build. You'll have to come back some time, if you want to experience the true horror of the sealed forbidden one." Once again, Kyle walks away from a duel with a girl on each arm and a swarm of girls at his sides.

Judai can't believe how awesome that was. "And this is only the runner up number 2 American playing around, Sho." Judai trembles uncontrollably. He beams widely, unable to say another word. Sho and Kenzan can't believe how well he is taking his loss, but Judai is pumped to play harder next time.

Michael watches, the boy walking along the beach surrounded by pretty girls. "This is the life of a pro duelist." He thinks. "To play games for a living, to be surrounded by beautiful women and admirers, and to have everyone in the dueling community envy and respect you for your skills." Hi eyes narrow. "Just so long as you can keep putting on an incredible show and keep winning, you can go on living like this, forever." Michael suddenly realizes his hand is twitching. This is the life he has claimed to not want, but now... He doesn't know what he wants anymore, or what he would sacrifice to obtain it.

Chapter 3 - End

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Chapter 3 Author Notes

This duel was a nightmare to manage. I do all my work in my head and on a piece of paper with a pen, and it is brutal trying to keep up with 2 characters, their LP, their deck sizes, the number of copies of each card they play, their hand sizes, etc. Hopefully, after numerous edits and rechecks, the math came out perfectly.

Burial From Another Dimension is a GX card used by several characters in the anime, and it is being released later this year in the TCG/OCG. While not sued in the duel, it is present in Kyle's deck.

Burial From Another Dimension

Quickplay Spell

Effect: Return up to 3 of your cards that have been removed from play to your Graveyard.

Another note. Only 1 Persecuted Magician was not based on factual executions of witches, possessed individuals, etc. The water one. Water torture was used in various forms, but not in the manner depicted on the card. More often, dunking and submersion were used to force confessions of guilt, or the individual drowned. Hypothermia also killed people tortured in this way.

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Chapter 3 Author Cards

This section is for all cards I created for this fanfic. Hopefully, I don't miss any.

Overstock

Continuous Spell

Effect: Each time your cards are shuffled into your deck, and you draw cards afterwards by the same card effect, draw 1 additional card.

(Art: Two ancient Roman soldiers looks baffled at a supply order form. A soldier on a wooden cart behind them is equally baffled as he holds an armful of spears.)

Frantic Hoarder

Trap

Effect: This card cannot be activated unless you 5 or fewer cards in your deck. You may continue to draw cards until you have no cards left in your deck. You take 500 points of damage for each card drawn by this effect.

(Art: A squirrel frantically tries to hoard nuts that have fallen into the street below. Picture from an eagle eye view looking down from a branch at the street.)

Persecuted Magician - Trial by Evisceration

Dark, LV 1, Magic User, 0/0

Effect/FLIP: When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, select up to 2 DARK monsters in your deck and send them to your graveyard.

(Art: 17th century. A beaten half-naked man bound with chains, has his stomach cut open and intestines strewn across the ground by a mob of outraged peasants.)

Persecuted Magician - Trial by Burning

Fire, LV 1, Magic User, 0/0

Effect/FLIP: When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, select up to 2 FIRE monsters in your deck and send them to your graveyard.

(Art: 17th century. A woman tied to a post, is burned alive by an angry mob.)

Persecuted Magician - Trial by Crushing

Earth, LV 1, Magic User, 0/0

Effect/FLIP: When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, select up to 2 EARTH monsters in your deck and send them to your graveyard.

(Art: 17th century. A bound man is crushed under a large wood board as peasants pile stones on the board.)

(Note: Not used in this chapter.)

Persecuted Magician - Trial by Drowning

Water, LV 1, Magic User, 0/0

Effect/FLIP: When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, select up to 2 WATER monsters in your deck and send them to your graveyard.

(Art: 17th century. A bound woman is held underwater in an animal's watering trough by a group of peasants.)

Persecuted Magician - Trial by Hanging

Wind, LV 1, Magic User, 0/0

Effect/FLIP: When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, select up to 2 WIND monsters in your deck and send them to your graveyard.

(Art: 17th century. A ragged man hangs from an old oak tree, as a mob cheers.)

Persecuted Magician - Trial by Ordeal

Light, LV 1, Magic User, 0/0

Effect/FLIP: When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, select up to 2 LIGHT monsters in your deck and send them to your graveyard.

(Art: 17th century. A woman in ripped robes endures torturous ordeals one after another as a mob heckles her.)

(Note: Not used in this chapter.)

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Chapter 3 Special Treat

Kyle's Deck List: Total Cards (40)

Monsters (17)

Exodia Pieces (5)

Persecuted Magician - Fire (3)

Persecuted Magician - Water (3)

Persecuted Magician - Wind (3)

Persecuted Magician - Dark (3)

Spells (22)

Overstock (3)

Reload (3)

Magical Mallet (3)

Pot of Greed (1)

Pot of Avarice (1)

Graceful Charity (1)

Card Destruction (1)

The Dark Door (3)

Emergency Provisions (2)

Upstart Goblin (2)

Dark Factory of Mass Production (1)

Burial From Another Dimension (1)

Traps (1)

Frantic Hoarder (1)