Next Generation: Opening Tournament of Shadows
By Cere

Chapter 4: Duelist's Pride

Aura Wheeler walked onto the dueling field, trying to keep her breathing under control. The first opponent she would ever face in person, and it was her brother. On the one hand, she was happy to face someone who wouldn't mistreat her or talk down to her. But on the other hand, she knew how good he was.

"Aura," he said, drawing her attention to him, "like I said, give it your best. I'm going to give it mine."

She swallowed. "That's what I'm afraid of," she said with a feigned chuckle, "but I'll try."

He grinned and raised his duel gauntlet. "I'm really excited to see what you can do."

She nodded and drew her opening cards. The turn light flashed between them and rested on Michael.

"What do you think?" Kyra asked James.

He shrugged in reply. "We know Michael's good," he said, "but we have no idea how Aura is. Anything could happen."

In a motorcycle shop several miles away, Joey called to his wife. "Mai," he said, "it's happening."

"Finally," she said, walking out of the backroom. "What took so...oh my goodness."

"I know," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "It looks like a Wheeler's gonna be knocked out of the tournament already, but I bet they'll put on a great show."

"What's going on?" a customer asked, moving over from the Yamahas to look at the TV mounted in the corner.

Joey motioned at the screen proudly. "Those are our kids."

"Cool," the customer said. "My son tried out for the tournament and didn't make it. I hope yours do better. Now, about this model..."

"Sure," Joey said, "I'll help you." With a little glance at Mai, he walked over to help the man. She should get to see her deck rise again, he thought.

Michael picked a card from his hand and set it on his field. "I'll set a monster and end my turn."

Aura drew a card and looked at it. Everyone's opening so cautiously, she thought, because we have fewer Life Points than normal. She looked up at Michael's face. But I have a different strategy in mind, to exploit the situation by attacking as viciously as possible.

"I summon Cyber Harpie Lady," she said, "a powered-up version of the original." The red-haired harpie clothed in mechanical armor (1800/1300) laughed as it flew onto the field. "And then I'll play Elegant Egotist, which lets me summon another Harpie Lady from my deck." The cybernetic model was joined by an identical harpie without the armor (1300/1400). "But as you probably know, this new harpie, Harpie Lady 1, gives a bonus to all Wind monsters on the field." The harpies cackled identically at the surge of wind around them (Cyber Harpie: 2100/1300) (Harpie 1: 1600/1400).

"And next," Aura said, "I play Rising Air Current from my hand to give them even more attack!" The field burst into a raging storm (Cyber Harpie: 2600/900) (Harpie 1: 2100/1000), making Michael cover his eyes. "Harpie Lady 1, attack the face-down monster!"

She took to the air, flew in a couple swift circles, and then ripped through Michael's brown furball. "That was Sangan," Michael said, "so I get to move Spirit Reaper from my deck to my hand."

"But first," Aura said, "my Cyber Harpie will attack you directly." He cried out as the monster swooped right through him (M LP: 1400). "That ends my turn."

Aura stopped and considered what she had just done. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched Michael pick himself back up. "Did I really..."

"Yes," Michael said, "you really did that. I definitely can't underestimate you."

Though it's not like I'm trying, he thought. I got a terrible first draw. He drew another card and hid his frustration. "I'll set a monster and end my turn."

"I see," Aura said. "That must be the Spirit Reaper, then."

Michael smiled. "Don't assume that."

"I'm not," Aura said, drawing a card. "Though I suppose that it could be Pyramid Turtle. After all, since you didn't set a Trap, that monster has to be capable of protecting you from my attacks, or else you'd lose the game."

Michael nodded. "Very good," he said, "but now that you believe that, what will you do?"

"I'll play this Magic card," she said, "Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation. It destroys one monster on your side of the field for each of my Harpie Ladies, though you only have one monster to worry about. It also inflicts damage to your Life Points equal to the ATK of the destroyed monsters."

The two Harpie Ladies combined into a burning blue phoenix that engulfed Michael's face-down Spirit Reaper. The flames spread from the destroyed monster and licked at Michael's clothing (M LP: 1100). "Then I'll summon Whirlwind Prodigy and end my turn." A boy clothed in wind and tattered clothes (2300/1200) crouched on the field as Aura readied for Michael's turn.

Michael drew a card and gave an almost imperceptible nod. Now this is more like it. "I play Call of the Mummy," he said, "which allows me to Special Summon a Zombie if my field is empty. So, I use this effect to Special Summon Ryu Kokki." A coffin appeared on the field, and out of it came a monster composed of skulls (2400/2000).

"Ryu Kokki," he continued, "attack Harpie Lady 1." The creature lurched across the field and crushed the harpie under its weight (A LP: 3700). Aura's monsters lost a bit of their strength (Cyber Harpie: 2300/900) (Prodigy: 2000/1200). Aura frowned a little at the turn of events. "I'll also set one monster before ending my turn," Michael said.

Aura drew a card and, without missing a beat, placed another card from her hand onto the duel field. "I activate Whirlwind Prodigy's effect," she said, "which makes it count as two monsters when tributed to summon a Wind monster, to Tribute Summon Harpie's Pet Dragon." The boy transformed into a pale-red-skinned bat-winged dragon (2800/2400). Cyber Harpie grabbed the chain leash dangling from its neck.

"Power-ups from both the field and its own effect," Michael said. "I must say, I didn't expect you to be so aggressive."

Aura meekly shrugged. "I'm just trying to win," she said. "Harpie's Pet Dragon, attack Ryu Kokki." The composite of skulls were shattered by a fierce fireball (M LP: 700). "And then, my Cyber Harpie takes care of your face-down monster." The winged beast tore through the tower of bones with ease (400/1500).

Michael nodded again and drew a card. "I play Card of Safe Return and then Book of Life," he said. "Book of Life returns my Ryu Kokki from the Graveyard to the field and removes your defeated Harpie Lady 1 from the game." Michael placed his monster on his duel field, while Aura placed her monster in the removed-from-play slot. "And plus, Card of Safe Return lets me draw a card when I revive a monster." His eyebrows raised at the drawn card. That's a windfall.

"And then," he said, "I'll play Heavy Storm, destroying every Magic and Trap card on the field." Michael's two Continuous Magic cards shattered as the wind that tore around the arena settled (Cyber Harpie: 1800/1300) (Harpie's Dragon: 2300/2800). "Ryu Kokki," Michael continued, "attack Cyber Harpie Lady." Aura bit her lip as her monster was destroyed (A LP: 3100). "Then I set a monster and end my turn."

What will you do now, Michael wondered, now that the tide has turned against you?

Aura drew a card and sighed. "I move Harpie's Pet Dragon to defense position and set one monster." She motioned to Michael. "Your turn."

He drew a card and was surprised once again. I'm sorry, Aura, he thought, but I can't hold back.

His mind wandered to a speech his father had once given him. "Remember," he had said, "to never underestimate your opponent. A duelist's true strength is not always constant. Under great pressure, a duelist can suddenly find the ability to surpass their opponent." He rested his hand on his son's shoulder. "That's why you must always duel people with your full strength, to draw out that power in your opponent."

I will, Michael thought. "I summon Regenerating Mummy," he said, "and play Coercive Magic Eyes on it." Two eyes draped in shadow opened behind the rotting flesh wrapped in bandages (1800/1500). "This lets my Zombie attack you directly during this turn."

Aura's eyes widened as the Zombie leapt across and struck her directly (A LP: 1300). She shivered and tried to shake off the feel of the blow. It's okay, she told herself. You still have a plan.

Michael considered the situation for a moment, and then remembered some advice from Yugi. "A duelist almost always prefers that a Flip Effect activates during their own turn," he had said.

"Ryu Kokki," he ordered, "attack her face-down monster." The monster roared and struck at the card, revealing a humanoid bird dressed in ceremonial armor (1600/1600).

"Ha," Aura said. "When Birdface is destroyed, I can add a Harpie Lady from my deck to my hand." She searched through her cards and picked one. "I choose my second Harpie Lady 1."

Michael nodded. "Very good. My turn is done."

Aura drew a new card and barely looked at it as she put Harpie Lady 1 onto the field. "I summon my Harpie, and then equip it with Cyber Shield." The fresh harpie admired its spiked new armor (Harpie Lady: 2100/1400) (Harpie's Dragon: 2600/2800). "Then, Harpie's Pet Dragon attacks Ryu Kokki and Harpie Lady takes care of Regenerating Mummy." Both monsters leapt across the field and smashed their opponents (M LP: 200).

Michael recoiled from the blow and regained his composure. "My turn," he said, drawing a card. He smiled and picked his cards. "I play Hammer Shot, destroying the monster with the highest ATK." Harpie's Pet Dragon cried out as a giant hammer descended from the sky and crushed it. "Then I Flip Summon Pyramid Turtle." The holographic card turned over and revealed a turtle with a stone pyramid for a shell (1200/1400).

"Attack position," Aura wondered.

"And finally, I activate the Magic card Creature Swap. We both choose a monster to give control of to each other, but since we only have one choice, it's pretty simple." Pyramid Turtle sauntered over to Aura's side, while Cyber Harpie, after a look of consternation, flew over to stand before Michael. Aura watched the situation with a feeling of helplessness, but then sighed and accepted her fate.

"Cyber Harpie," Michael said, "attack Pyramid Turtle." The harpie growled and swung its claws at the turtle (A LP: 400).

"And then," Aura said, "your Turtle's effect activates."

Michael nodded. "When it's destroyed in battle, I get to Special Summon a Zombie with 2000 DEF or less from my deck. And since it activates in the Graveyard and was sent to my Graveyard, I'm the one who gets to activate the effect." He flipped through his deck and grabbed a card. "I Special Summon Vampire Lord, and then attack you directly." The elegant cloaked vampire (2000/1500) jumped across the field and punched Aura (A LP: 0).

The audience roared as the holographs faded away. Aura hung her face for a moment, but then looked up and smiled. "Thank you," she said to Michael. "That was a great duel."

Michael smiled and shook her hand. "You did very well," he said. "I think it was a fantastic first public dueling."

Aura chuckled. "I think it was, too." He patted her back and walked her back to the seats.

Mai wiped a tear from her eye. "They're both very good, aren't they," Joey said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm very proud," she said. "Partly because she's so good, but also because she found that strength on her own, without any help from us." Joey nodded and hugged her.

"Hey," Damon said while watching Aura walk out of the stadium field, "where will she go now?"

Yugi nodded. "That's a good question," he said. "I'll let her have my seat."

"Oh," Tea said, "you don't have to."

"No," Yugi said, standing up. "I can stand in the aisle. Do you have her number?"

"Yep," Damon said, his cell phone already out and dialed. He waited a moment, but then frowned and turned it off. "No answer..."

"They must have had to turn them off," Yugi said. "Can you make your way back to us?"

Damon smiled, slid his cell phone into his jacket pocket, and stood up. "I'll be right back," he said, and took off to find her. As he ran, he peeked back at the final two competitors taking the field.

Ellie stood on the field, trying to calm her nerves. Why did I have to be last? she thought. People always remember what they see last. Across from her, Adrian raised his duel gauntlet, his trenchcoat waving a little in the breeze. "Aren't you hot in that?" she asked.

He didn't answer, drawing his opening cards and looking down as the turn indicator rested on him. "I summon Armed Dragon LV3 and set a card," he said. The yellow and gray dragon (1200/900) raised its armored fists as Adrian rested his arm behind it. He looked back at her with an expression of mild bemusement, as though he was already assured of his victory.

"Wasn't expecting that," Ellie said to herself. She drew a card and then placed it onto her duel gauntlet. "I summon Thunder Nyan Nyan." A flash of lightning announced the leopard skin-wearing redhead seated behind a drum set (1900/800). "Nyan Nyan, attack Armed Dragon." She hit her drums, causing a streak of lightning to cross the field and hit the dragon in the chest, shattering it (A LP: 3300).

Without a change in expression, Adrian touched his face-down card. "I activate Time Machine," he said, "which summons back the monster you just destroyed." The dragon gave a happy yelp as it leapt out of the ground back onto the field.

Ellie nodded. Could have been worse. "I end my turn."

Adrian drew a card. "My Armed Dragon's effect activates," he said. "During my Standby Phase, I can send it to the Graveyard to summon the LV5 version." The monster's size increased, its skin turned red, and spikes grew in ridges on its body (2400/1700). "Armed Dragon LV5, attack Thunder Nyan Nyan." The dragon pulled back and then clobbered Nyan Nyan's face with a spiked punch (E LP: 3500).

"Then I'll set a card, end my turn," Adrian said, "and then upgrade my monster even further."

"What?" Ellie asked.

"At the end of a turn when it destroys a monster in battle," Adrian explained, "it upgrades to the LV7 form." The dragon grew in size yet again, while its body became covered in metallic armor and curved spikes and drills (2800/1000).

Well, Ellie thought, that was quick. "My turn," she said, "and I play Smashing Ground, destroying your monster with the highest DEF, which happens to be your only monster."

A gigantic fist raged down from the heavens and crushed the armed monster. "Only a minor setback," Adrian said. "I activate my Trap card LV Degradation. When a LV monster is destroyed, I can Special Summon a previous version of that monster from the Graveyard." The ground split, and LV5 dragged itself back onto the field (2400/1700).

Ellie frowned, but didn't let it faze her. "I'll set a monster and end my turn."

Adrian smiled, and Ellie wasn't sure that she liked it. "Seems you don't have much to bring to face my monster," he said. "I start by playing the Magic card The Graveyard in the Fourth Dimension, which lets me return Armed Dragon LV3 and LV7 from my Graveyard to my deck. Then, my LV5 will attack your monster."

Ellie smiled. "You'll regret that."

Adrian looked in surprise as the card flipped over to reveal a puffy little monster with an upside-down face (300/500). The force of the attack bounced off of the monster and rebounded to strike him across the chest.

"When Marshmallon is attacked while face-down," Ellie explained, "you receive 1000 points of damage. Plus, my monster can't be destroyed in battle."

Adrian gripped his chest (A LP: 2300), and then his eyes narrowed and he grimaced at her. "It's you who will regret that move," he said.

"We'll see," she said. "Anything else this turn?"

His grimace turned to a slick smile. "No," he said. "Your turn."

Ellie shook off his creepy expression and drew a card. "I play Luminous Spark," she said as the field became enveloped in light (Marshmallon: 800/100), "which gives all of my Light monsters a boost. I'll also summon Reflect Bounder." A robot composed of mirrors erected itself (2200/600). "Then I'll set a card and end my turn."

Adrian chuckled. "So, if I attack it, I take damage equal to my monster's ATK, eh?" He kept chuckling. "Do you have any idea what my monster's effect is? Well, first, I play the Magic card Level Up. This upgrades my LV monster without having to fulfill its requirements first."

Ellie felt uneasy as the large spiked dragon returned (2800/1000). It should mean that he would take more damage from Reflect Bounder's effect, but what he said was bothering her.

"Then I activate my Armed Dragon LV7's effect." He picked a card from his hand and slipped it into his Graveyard slot. "At the cost of a monster from my hand, I can destroy every one of your monsters with an ATK lower than that monster's, and the monster I just sent was Mystic Swordsman LV6."

Crud, Ellie thought. Jagged spikes launched from the dragon's back and sliced through both of her monsters.

"And now," Adrian said, "to attack you directly."

A bead of sweat ran down her neck. "That I can't let happen," she said. "I activate Waboku, reducing all battle damage I would take this turn to zero." A row of blue-robed priestesses blocked the path of the dragon's punch.

"Hmph," he said, still confident. "Whatever. Your turn."

Things aren't looking good, she thought. She drew a card and slid it into her duel gauntlet. "I play Graceful Charity," she said. She drew three more cards from her deck, and then placed one of them onto her field. "And my Watapon's effect activates. Because it was just added to my hand by a card effect, I get to Special Summon it." A pink ball of fluff with foofy antennae and big saucer eyes (700/0) plopped into defense position on her field. "But for the rest of Graceful Charity's effect, I send Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke and Beckoning Light to the Graveyard."

She slid those cards into her Graveyard slot and then removed two others. "Then I remove Sasuke and Thunder Nyan Nyan to Special Summon the Soul of Purity and Light." A beautiful translucent woman with outspread feathered wings (2500/1400) lightly stepped onto the field.

"Still weak," Adrian said.

"Actually," Ellie said, "do you know what my monster's effect is?"

Adrian paused. "What did you say?" he grumbled.

"My monster lowers the ATK of your monsters by 300 points during your Battle Phase," she said, "so it's actually the same strength as yours. But, if you insist, I'll make it even stronger by equipping it with Shine Castle." Even more radiant light shone from the soul of the angel (3200/1400).

"Soul of Light," she commanded, "attack Armed Dragon LV7." The angel opened her arms and sent a beam of light shining from her bosom, obliterating the armored dragon. Adrian (A LP: 1900) was not amused.

"Are you done?" he asked. "Finished using up all the cards in your hand?"

She shrugged his comment off. "It's your turn."

"Good." He drew his card, not breaking his gaze with her. His calm assurance had been shaken, but it had been replaced with cold determination. "I'll set one card and summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4." The regal metallic bird (1600/1000) clanked in front of the holographic card.

"What," Ellie taunted, "a robotic chicken?"

"Don't mock it," Adrian shot back. "Horus, destroy her Watapon." The bird screeched and lifted into the air with its wings. The Soul of Light shone her radiance to weaken Horus (1300/1000), but it wasn't enough to save the puff ball from the monster's claws.

"And at the end of a turn that Horus destroys a monster in battle," Adrian said, "he upgrades to LV6." The bird had been originally almost Ellie's height, but now it grew to stand several feet over her (2300/1600).

"Whatever," Ellie said, "it's still weaker than my monster. Soul of Light, attack it!"

"No," James said. "His face-down card."

Kyra cringed. "He wasn't even being subtle about it."

"I activate Sakuretsu Armor," Adrian said. Crystalline spikes grew from Horus's body, exploding when they came into contact with the Soul's light. The angel screamed and shattered from the shock wave. "All that effort," he said, "gone to waste so easily."

Ellie swallowed and looked at her remaining card. "I play Swords of Revealing Light," she said, "and end my turn."

Damon finally arrived back with the Motos, Aura in tow. They greeted her warmly. "Great job, Aura," Tea said.

"That was very well done," Yugi added. "I'm sure your parents are proud of you."

"Yeah," Aura said, shrugging off the compliments, "maybe next time. But how is Ellie doing?"

"Yeah," Damon added. "We caught a little from the TVs while we were walking, but I couldn't get a good feel for what was going on."

"Honestly," Yugi said, "it doesn't look good."

"Trying to protect yourself?" Adrian said. "It won't work. Horus LV6 is unaffected by Magic cards, so your measly swords can't stop him. Horus, attack directly!" The metal bird drifted through the radiant swords and bellowed out a burst of blue flame, swallowing Ellie inside it. She screamed in pain from the attack (E LP: 1200).

"Ellie!" Damon called.

Ellie recovered from the attack and drew a card. "I'll set one card," she coughed out, "and end my turn."

"But the question is," Adrian said, "is it enough to save you?"

She glowered at him. "I activate Player Sanctity," she said. Rings of light appeared around the feet of the two duelists. "Your monster may be immune to Magic cards, but I bet Trap cards will still work."

"You're correct," he replied.

"Good," she said with a small smile. "Now, nobody can declare any direct attacks."

"But you have to pay 300 Life Points per turn to keep it," he said. "That gives you only three turns." Just kidding, he thought. "I'll just set one card, then, and end my turn."

Ellie drew a card and gave a slight wince as she paid the cost for Player Sanctity (E LP: 900). "I'll just set one card," she said.

"My turn," Adrian said greedily. "I'll activate my face-down card, Ojama Trio." Three disgusting little creatures (500/600) leapt out of the card and onto Ellie's field.

"What are these?" she asked.

"They're gifts," he said with a grin. "Only, they can't be tributed to summon anything and they give you 300 points of damage when destroyed. Now, I'll summon Mystic Swordsman LV2 to back up my Horus Dragon, and then play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your pesky swords." A small purple-suited warrior capped in white (900/0) leapt onto the field amidst the shattered remains of the glowing swords. "Now, both of my monsters will destroy two of your tokens."

The Ojamas were no match for Adrian's monsters, and Ellie cringed from the effect damage when they died (E LP: 300). "Now," Adrian continued, "both of my monsters will level up from the experience of destroying your monsters." The swordsman grew to adult height (1900/1600) and grew a second blade on the end of his sword, while the bird dragon increased to a size comparable to the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon (3000/1800).

"Now," Adrian mocked, "just to make sure you know what my monster's effect is, with Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8," he paused for dramatic effect, "I can negate any Magic card that I choose."

Ellie's eyes dropped open. "So, of course," he continued, "I'm going to choose to negate all of your Magic cards and keep all of mine."

Her eyes lowered to her deck. There was a one-third chance- no, probably more like fifty-fifty chance that the next card she drew would be completely useless. Her friends watched her nervous expression with unease. "Come on," Damon muttered, "figure out a way out of this."

"Can she win?" Kyra asked.

"Definitely," Michael said, "if she has the courage to draw and use it."

James nodded. "It all depends on her next card. That Mystic Swordsman has an effect, too, to automatically destroy any face-down defense position monster it attacks."

"So Flip Effects won't work," Kyra said, "and Magic cards won't work." She turned back to look at her. "So it really all comes down to drawing the right Trap card, doesn't it."

"Maybe," James said.

Ellie swallowed hard before grabbing the top card of her deck. Her hand shook, and for a moment, she didn't want to draw it. The noise of the crowd jumbled around her, and she couldn't tell if they were rooting for or against her. Probably the latter.

Then she looked over and saw her friends, James, Kyra, and Michael. They noticed her gaze and gave a cheer, pumping their arms into the air. She smiled, closed her eyes, and drew her card. Nothing will happen if I don't move, she told herself.

She opened her eyes and looked at her drawn card in amazement. Even she hadn't known that it was the card she needed.

"First," she said, "I can no longer pay the Life Points for Player Sanctity." The protective circles around both duelists vanished. "Then, I summon Freed the Brave Wanderer." The noble warrior stood proud before her in his brilliant silver armor (2200/800).

"So?" Adrian asked.

"I will now activate his effect," she said. "By removing two Light monsters from my Graveyard," she took out Soul of Purity and Light and Watapon, "he can destroy any monster with a higher ATK than his."

"No," Adrian said in shock. "No!"

Freed swung his sword, and a beam of light cut through Horus. It chirped once in surprise and then exploded.

"Whatever," Adrian said, infuriated. "My army of monsters will still swarm over you."

"No chance," she said. "I pay half of my remaining Life Points to activate Return from the Different Dimension, summoning every monster that I removed from play!" Freed was joined by the Soul of Purity and Light (2500/1400), Thunder Nyan Nyan (2400/400), and Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke (2300/600) (E LP: 150).

"Now," she said with elation, "attack and wipe him out!"

Adrian yelled as his Mystic Swordsman was overrun by radiant light (A LP: 1300) and then Freed's brilliant blade sliced through him (A LP: 0). He gasped and bent over, the cards in his hand dropping to the ground.

Ellie stood there a moment, breathless, and then suddenly realized that she had won. She gave a yelp and thrust her arm into the air, joining the triumphant and shocked cries of the crowd.

"An amazing come from behind victory," Kenn said from the booth.

"Yes," Rebecca said, trying to stick to an impartial commentary. "The last match of the opening round has been won at the last second by Ellie."

Ellie ran back over to the duelists and received vigorous hugs from Kyra and Michael. "I can't believe it," Ellie said breathlessly. "I can't believe that I won."

"You just got lucky," Adrian said, coming up behind her.

Kyra turned and smiled at him. "Just keep walking," she said.

"There is no luck," Michael said. "She chose to put that card in her deck, and the deck chose to give it to her."

Adrian huffed and spat at his feet. A firm grip from James kept Michael from reaching across and punching him.

"Decks don't have a mind of their own," Adrian said. His burning gaze came back to Ellie. "I will get you back for that. Just you wait."

They watched him uneasily as he walked past and out of the stadium. "Damn, he's creepy," Kyra said.

"Watch your language," James said.

"What a jerk," Isaac commented.

"Definitely a sore loser," Cliff added. "Don't let him bother you."

"I won't," Ellie said, sitting down and trying not to let him ruin her mood.

The announcer's voice came back over the loudspeakers. "There will now be an hour break for lunch," he said. "The quarterfinals of the Industrial Illusions Summer Opening Duel Monsters Tournament sponsored by Kaiba Corporation will begin at twelve thirty."

"All right," Damon said. "Well, I'm hungry."

"Me too," Aura said. "All of a sudden, I'm famished."

"Here," Yugi said from the aisle, "I'll accompany you guys to the food court. My treat."

"You don't have to do that," Damon said.

"No, it's no problem," Yugi said. He turned to his wife. "Do you mind watching the seats, dear?"

"Not at all," Tea said. "Just remember to bring something back for me, too. I think a burger will be just fine."

"Well," Damon said, "I still want to ensure that my seat is saved." He took off his jacket and draped it over his chair.

"I can protect your seat," Tea said, smiling mischievously. "Are you sure you just aren't too hot?"

"No," Damon said, keeping his composure. "I just want to make the job easier."

"All right, all right," Yugi said. "Come on, before the lines get too long."

The winners, the duelists who were proceeding to the next round, talked excitedly amongst themselves. "Come with me," said a voice behind them. They turned to see Mr. Carpenter there with his clipboard. "Your lunch will be provided for you by Kaiba Corporation. I will update you on the rules for the finals on our way there."

They looked at each other and then stood up to follow him. James smiled as he walked along with his friends. There had been some surprises, but the first round of the tournament had turned out pretty well. He was very interested to see what the subsequent rounds would bring.

to be continued...


Here, for your reference, is the "official" text of my original cards in this chapter:

LV Degradation (Trap) Activate only when 1 "LV" monster is destroyed and sent to your Graveyard. Special Summon from your Graveyard 1 monster that has the destroyed monster's card name in its card text.

Player Sanctity (Continuous Trap) Monsters cannot declare a direct attack. Pay 300 Life Points during each of your Standby Phases. If you do not, this card is destroyed.