Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of the Elements
Chapter Three: Welcome to the Jungle
The next day, around three PM, the ship pulled into harbor on a small island. The duelists on board crowded around the gangplank as it was lowered. A very frazzled-looking Ella was trying to maintain order.
"Now, please disembark in an orderly manner." She said. "Once you are off the ship, go to the town square." As soon as she finished talking, duelists pushed, shoved, crowded, and proceeded to otherwise disembark in a completely disorderly manner. Ella groaned. "I give up."
The crowd gathered in the square, at the center of which was a large platform. On the platform was an incredibly beautiful woman with long brown hair, dark skin, and dark eyes.
"Hello, duelists, and welcome to the Duelist's Eden tournament!" She said. "I am Karina Deveraux, the head of the Duelist's Eden council, and we are just thrilled to have you all!" She sounded genuinely enthusiastic. "Now, I'd like to introduce some of the rules of the island. First, I really do hope that you all have your Crystal Cards. Hold onto them! HHThey are your life in this tournament! Of course, you will wager them on your duels, and if you lose all of them, you're out." She explained. "Once you collect eight, you will be eligible to compete for a GemCard. The first eight duelists who win these will be able to proceed to the finals in the Fortress of Oblivion." She gestured behind her, and the duelists turned to see a hill, topped with a structure that certainly could be a fortress. The hill was neither particularly steep nor particularly high, but since the rest of the island was rather flat, it was raised above everything else. Some couldn't help but notice that it provided a clear tactical advantage.
Karina coughed to return attention to herself. "One last thing before we let you all go. There will be no dueling here in Slateport. I would hate for all of you to turn on each other as soon as I finished talking!" She laughed, in a way that invited everyone else to laugh with her. "Any food and lodgings are free to contestants!" She clapped her hands, and gestured to dismiss the crowd. They broke, and the duelists split off widely.
Gwen had been paying close attention to what Karina was saying, but also to the others in the crowd. She had observed a number of anxious duelists. A little sigh passed her lips, and she lightly toyed with the charm she wore around her neck. She wore it all the time, especially when she was dueling. It was a triangle, with an odd red gem at the bottom-left point. The triangle itself was colored strangely, with the top halves of each arm painted yellow and the bottom half of the right was blue. It was old, passed down through the female line on her mother's side of the family for, so her mother said, a thousand years. She wasn't sure she believed that. Could an odd little trinket survive that long? However, it always seemed to give her good luck in tournaments, so she wore it whenever she competed.
The blonde shook her head, deciding to worry about it later, and glanced around again. Duelists had started to spread out, and she decided to do the same. 'No dueling in town, huh?' She thought. 'Well, I'll just have to get out of town then.' With that decided, she pulled out the map every contestant had been issued. There were three routes out of Slateport. A slight grin crossed her face as she read the town names, but she didn't say anything out loud. In the end, she decided to go east to Pallet Town rather than west to Blackthorn City. The Welsh girl set out, wondering how soon her first challenge would be.
The road to Pallet Town was well-maintained, and curved away from the coastline and into the interior of the island. She could always see the Fortress of Oblivion, looming on the heights in the distance. Gwen paused for a moment, and felt a shiver run through her body. Then, she shook her head. For a moment, the fortress had seemed not just menacing, but plain evil. That wasn't possible, though. It was only a building. Structures weren't "good" or "evil."
"Excuse me," a polite voice from behind her made Gwen turn around. She was only vaguely surprised to see a young man with slightly curly brown hair and green eyes. The Duel Disk on his arm was even less shocking. "I couldn't help but notice that you're a duelist." He said. A little smirk appeared on Gwen's face.
"Yeah..." She urged.
"Well, I'm Sam Conrad, and I'd like to challenge you." He said.
"I'm Gwen Martins, and I accept." Gwen said, activating her Duel Disk. Sam did the same.
(Gwen: 8000 Sam: 8000)
Little did either duelist realize, they were doubly observed. Watching from not too far up the road was Oliver, who recognized Gwen as the girl from the boat. The other observer, in the Scrying Room of the Fortress of Oblivion, was the icily beautiful Queen herself.
"So the Beastmistress is dueling already," the Queen observed. "Let us see how this plays out."
Back at the duel, both had drawn their first hands.
"Ladies first," Sam gestured. Gwen nodded, and drew a sixth card.
"One card facedown, and a monster in Defense." Gwen said. "That'll be all."
"I'll also summon a monster in defense," Sam said. "And back to you."
"Well, this'll be real boring if we jut defend all day, so I'll summon Gladiator Beast Andal in Attack Mode!" Gwen declared. She played the card, and an armored bear appeared (1900/1500). "And I'll flip-summon Gladiator Beast Bestiari!" The creature that appeared was an Aztec-style bird in silver armor (1500/800). "Bestiari, attack that facedown monster!" The Winged Beast leapt forward...and his weapon struck a giant stone statue (800/2000)!
"Bad luck." Sam grinned. "That's my Stone Statue of the Aztecs, and you take double the damage you normally would for attacking it." Gwen winced.
"Alright. Well, even though he didn't win that battle, I can activate Bestiari's effect! When he battles and survives, I can send him or almost any other Gladiator Beast back to my deck to special summon another one! So, I'll choose Gladiator Beast Laquari!" A muscular tiger wearing bright red armor appeared (2100/400). "Normally, his Attack is only 1800, but when he's summoned from the deck by the effect of another Gladiator Beast, his Attack becomes 2100!"
"Ah." Sam tried to sound calm, but he looked a little nervous. "Well, is that your turn?"
"Yeah," Gwen said, and shrugged. Sam drew, and the barest hint of a smile appeared on his face.
(G: 7000 S: 8000)
"So, that sending-back-to-the-deck thing only works if your monsters survive, right?" He asked.
"Uh, yeah..." Gwen replied.
"Then I'll just have to destroy them! I sacrifice my Stone Statue for the mighty Hieracosphinx!" The creature that rose up was a beast with an eagle's head and an over-muscled lion's body (2400/1200). It roared at Laquari, but the tiger stood firm. "Heiracosphinx, attack Andal!" The great beast leapt forward, and Gwen briefly considered using her facedown, but she decided not to. The giant eagle-headed lion tore Andal apart. "So, your facedown was a bluff!" Sam declared. Gwen smiled slighlty.
"Maybe...or maybe I felt no need to protect the only Gladiator Beast without an effect." She said.
"Oh." Sam looked a little surprised. "Well, I'll end my turn there."
(G: 6500 S: 8000)
"Alright, I'll switch Laquari to Defense Mode and set a monster facedown. That's all." Gwen gestured. Sam drew, and smirked.
"Your monsters have pretty high attack scores, but their defense scores are nearly nonexistent!" He said. Gwen didn't dispute that. "I'll remove my Stone Statue from play to Special Summon Gigantes!" A hulking ogre appeared (1900/1300). "Gigantes, attack Laquari!"
"Activate Defensive Tactics!" Gwen declared, and a barrier flashed up in front of Laquari. "Now, my monsters can't be destroyed by battle this turn, and if I were to take any Battle Damage, it would be reduced to zero. Also, it goes back to the bottom of my deck... And by the way, Laquari's effect will still activate."
"Fine...rather than attack again, I'll just end my turn there." Sam said.
"Alright. I'll use Laquari's effect to Special Summon Gladiator Beast Murmillo in Defense Mode!" Gwen declared. A small, fishlike creature appeared (800/400). "When he's Special Summoned by the effect of a Gladiator Beast, he destroys one monster...like your Heiracosphinx!" Murmillo pointed his trident, and the Heiracosphinx let out a howl as it shattered! Sam let out a soft curse. "Then, I'll equip Murmillo with the Gladiator Beast's Battle Manica." A gauntlet appeared on Murmillo's arm.
"What does that do?" Sam asked.
"You'll see." Gwen half-smiled. "And, to finish things off, I'll play my favorite Field spell..." She played a card, and suddenly, the area around them was transformed into a Roman coliseum. Around the top were hundreds of torches. Oliver found himself in one of the spectator seats. He whistled softly. "Welcome to Colosseum-Cage of the Gladiator Beasts!" Gwen declared. "This place is where my Gladiator Beasts feel most at home..."
"And what does this place do for them?" Sam asked.
"Nothing, yet." Gwen shrugged. "I'll end my turn there."
"Okay..." Sam debated with himself. 'I don't know what that weird equip or her Field Spell do! But I have to take out her monsters-I can't let her bring out something even stronger!' "I'll summon Giant Rat in Attack mode!" An ugly rat appeared (1400/1450). "And it'll attack Murmillo!" The Rat leapt forward and chomped down, but Murmillo fended it off.
"Eh, sorry... the Battle Manica makes sure Murmillo can't be destroyed by battle." Gewn shrugged.
"Fine. Gigantes, attack that facedown monster!" Sam declared. Gigantes charged forward...and slammed his fist into an armored rhino's shield (700/2100).
"Hoplomus's defense was a bit too strong for your Gigantes!" Gwen said.
"Argh!" Sam groaned. "I'll set a card and end my turn there..."
(G: 6500 S: 7800)
"Alright. I'll switch Hoplomus out for Gladiator Beast Spartacus, and Murmillo out for Gladiator Beast Darius!" Both Murmillo and Hoplomus vanished, as two torches lit up around the ring of the Colosseum. Spartacus, a gray dinosaur (2200/1600 - 2400/1600), and Darius, an armored horse (1700/300 - 1900/300) appeared. "The Manica comes back to my hand, since the Gladiator Beast who was equipped with it returned to my Deck...and because two of my Gladiator Beasts were summoned from the deck, both of my monsters gain 200 Attack thanks to the effect of my Colosseum! Also, Spartacus's effect lets me take a Gladiator Beast equip from my Deck, and I'll choose the Battle Gladius. Then, Darius lets me bring Andal back from my Graveyard. Normally, his effect would be negated, but he doesn't have one, so it doesn't matter! He'll go back to my Deck when Darius does, though." The armored bear appeared and bellowed (1900/1500 - 2100/1500). "Now, Andal, Spartacus, Contact Fusion!" The two high-fived, and vanished. "Go, Gladiator Beast Gaiodaz!" A new armored dinosaur appeared (2600/1500 - 2800/1500)! "And, I'll equip him with the Gladius, to raise his Attack further!" Gaiodaz drew a sword, and his Attack shot up to 3100!
"Ack!" Sam squeaked.
"Ack indeed," Gwen grinned fiercely. "Gaiodaz, destroy Gigantes! Darius, get that Rat!" Both of her mighty creatures charged, and Sam's monsters shattered!
"At least Giant Rat's effect lets me summon another one..." Sam said, sweating nervously. He played the Rat (1400/1450).
"And now, the grand finale...Gaiodaz lets me Special Summon not one, but TWO Gladiator Beasts!" Gaiodaz vanished, and Gwen added the Gladius back to her hand. "I'll replace him with Gladiator Beast Octavius and Gladiator Beast Dimacari!" Two more torches lit as Octavius (2500/1200 - 2900/1200) and Dimacari, a purple ox (1600/1200 - 2000/1200), appeared on the field. "Finally, I'll replace Darius with Gladiator Beast Samnite!" Her final creature was an armored sabertoothed tiger (1600/1200 - 2100/1200). With the lighting of another torch, Octavius's attack rose to 3000 and Dimacari's to 2100. "That's all."
(G: 6500 S: 6400)
Somehow, even facing three very strong monsters, Sam didn't appear nervous. "First, I'll sacrifice my Giant Rat for Guardian Sphinx!" He declared. "Then, I'll activate Ultimate Offering! For the price of only 500 Life Points per summon, I can have as many extra as I want per turn...but I'll only need a few! First, I'll set a monster, then, I'll sacrifice it for Criosphinx, and finally, I'll sacrifice both my Sphinxes for a monster I'll summon facedown!" Sam declared. "Then, I'll set two cards facedown and end my turn."
(G: 6500 S: 4900)
Gwen was suddenly rather nervous. How many two-Tribute monsters had a high enough Defense to be worth playing facedown? And why did he spend the extra Life Points to summon that Criosphinx when he could have just Tributed whatever he had set facedown?
"I'll just set a card facedown and end my turn." She decided.
"You made a mistake," Sam said casually. "I'll start off by Flip-Summoning Exxod, Master of the Guard!" A hulking statue reminiscent of the legendary Exodia appeared (0/4000)!
"I made a mistake?" Gwen snorted. "That monster has ZERO attack points!"
"Activate Shield and Sword and Swords of Revealing Light." Sam revealed both his facedowns. Exxod's stats changed to (4000/0), Octavius's to (2100/2500), Dimacari's to (2100/1600), and Samnite's to (2100/1600). "Exxod, obliterate Octavius!" Sam shouted. Exxod reached out a fist, and smashed the eagle into pixels! Gwen nearly shrieked. "That'll be all," Sam said, as all the monster's stats flipped back.
(G: 4600 S: 4900)
Gwen looked almost impressed. There was little in her Deck that could beat Exxod. "I'll put Dimacari and Samnite in Defense Mode and that'll be all." She said, and waved.
"I'll just set a monster and end my turn." Sam said.
"As will I," Gwen shrugged.
"Alright...I'll use Monster Reborn to bring back my Heiracosphinx!" Sam declared. The creature rose from the arena floor (2400/1200). "Then, I'll flip-summon Great Spirit!" A strange monster appeared (500/1500). "That activates Exxod's effect, blasting you for a thousand points of damage!" Gwen flinched. "Also, Great Spirit's effect lets me switch the Attack and Defense of one Earth monster, that being Exxod, of course!" The statue's stats switched. "Exxod, obliterate Dimacari! Heiracosphinx, destroy Samnite!" Sam's monsters pounced, tearing Gwen's apart. "Now, Great Spirit, attack directly!" The strange creature chanted a spell, and a glowing ball struck Gwen in the stomach! "Then, Great Spirit flips back facedown, and I'll end my turn."
(G: 3100 S: 4900)
"I'll set a monster in Defense Mode and two cards facedown." Gwen said. "That'll be all."
"Hah, you're bluffing!" Sam declared. "I flip my Great Spirit again, which activates Exxod's effect!"
"And that activates my Trap! Go, Gladiator Beast's War Chariot!" She declared. A chariot appeared. "I simply put one Gladiator Beast in my Deck, and your Master of the Guard's effect is negated and he gets destroyed!" The chariot shot forward, slamming into Exxod, who groaned and shattered!
"Fine. I'll use Great Spirit's effect on itself, and attack your facedown monster!" Sam snapped.
"I activate Mirror Force!" Gwen declared. The Great Spirit's blast reflected back, slamming into it and the Heiracosphinx. Both of them shattered.
"Er, I'll end my turn..." Sam said.
"Heh, I'll activate Mystical Space Typhoon, to destroy your Swords of Revealing Light!" Gwen declared. The Swords were blown away! "Now, I'll flip Gladiator Beast Equeste face-up!" A centaur in armor appeared (1600/1200 - 2100/1200). "Then, I'll Normal Summon Gladiator Beast Darius!" The mighty Beast-Warrior appeared (1700/300 - 2200/300) "Finally, I'll Special Summon Test Tiger!" A cute little armored tiger appeared on the field (600/300). "Its effect lets me Special Summon it when I control a Gladiator Beast...and then, I can tribute it and send Equeste back to my deck to bring another Gladiator Beast out." The Test Tiger and Equeste both vanished. "So, I'll choose Dimacari!" The familiar purple ox appeared (1600/1200 - 2200/1200). Darius's attack rose to 2300. "Also, Dimacari gets his effect...so he can attack twice! Dimacari, Darius, end this!" The two Gladiator Beasts charged. Dimacari punched Sam twice, and Darius lashed his whip! Sam's Life Points tumbled to zero, and the holograms faded away.
"So," the Queen observed from her seat, "she's won. Excellent use of a difficult set of Monsters... I commend her."
"Do not give her too much credit." The voice of the King of Oblivion came from the doorway. "Getting that War Chariot when she did was sheer luck."
"Luck is important, is it not?" The Queen replied. "But we will keep watch. That meddling woman or her brats will interfere soon enough...and then not only will we have these heroes, but we will have her in our grasp as well..."