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Chapter 4: Backs to the Wall
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Uriel was burning, and he knew that Bonetail's King of the Skull Servants had another attack. He had to react to it now, or it was all over for him…
"Hold on!" Uriel yelled through the fire. "Since I lost both of my monsters this Battle Phase, I can special-summon THIS!" A bright light shot out of the ground, and a miraculous sight to behold emerged from it. It was a new, stronger Fairy, with silver armor and curved arms. Its armor was adorned with glowing yellow orbs. "Say hello to my little friend! I call her Tualatin!" (2800/2500)
"I don't care what you call that thing!" Bonetail growled. "My monster can still overpower it!"
"No, it can't," Uriel replied, "not when Tualatin's effect kicks in. Because I special-summoned her after Athena and Asura Priest were destroyed as a result of battle, she can now destroy all face-up monsters on the field of any one Attribute I choose." King of the Skull Servants' jaw dropped as it gasped, and the mandible fell to the ground. Zombie Master cringed in fear.
"It looks like they've got the picture. I choose DARK!" The orbs on Tualatin's armor glowed even brighter, and streams of energy shot out from them. The blasts impacted into Zombie Master and King of the Skull Servants as they let out unholy screeches of death. Moments later, both monsters were incinerated.
"NO!" Bonetail howled. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
"Serves you right," Uriel snapped, biting down the pain he was feeling. The duel was taking a heavy toll on both his body and mind. He wasn't sure how much more he could take. "And before I forget…as long as Tualatin remains in play, you are not allowed to bring out monsters of the Attribute I called. So unless you run anything besides Dark monsters, you're out of luck. And since you've used up the rest of your hand, I'll make my next move!"
Bonetail snarled. I won't let it end like this, he thought to himself. I will not be defeated by this worm!
"Draw!" Uriel drew, but didn't bother to look at the card. His focus was directed right at the monster before him. "Tualatin, attack him directly!"
Tualatin unleashed another volley of energy, and Bonetail roared in pain as it struck him in the face.
Uriel: (4500)..............................Bonetail: (2900)
"Not so tough now, are you?" Uriel began to brag. "Maybe you aren't as dangerous as that woman said you were, after all."
"Silence you worthless bag of meat!" Bonetail exclaimed, as small cracks began to form on his skeletal snout. "You will regret ever mocking me!"
"Whatever," the boy said, rolling his eyes. "If you weren't in that giant robot of yours, I'd probably be slapping you silly right about now."
The demon continued to growl. Keep talking, he thought to himself. Once I draw my trump card, it will be a pleasure to silence you for good… "Are you finished?"
Uriel smirked as he looked at the card had drawn for his turn. "Actually, no I'm not. I play Soul Absorption! As long as this remains in play, I gain 500 Life Points each time a card is removed from the game, starting now!"
"Now?" Bonetail asked. "Seems a little too soon, don't you think?"
"It's a little too soon for a sham like you, maybe. You liked removing Gellenduo from play? Well, I'll enjoy removing your monsters even more! I activate Soul Release!" The lights behind him became brighter, and another goddess appeared in the air.
"This lets me remove up to five cards from either Graveyard from the game. And I have plenty to choose from in yours!" Spectral images of Zombie Master, Goblin Zombie and all three King of the Skull Servants shot out of the ground. They screeched as the goddess hit them with a beam of energy from an open hand. The zombies were wiped out. "And remember, I gain 500 Life Points for each card removed thanks to Soul Absorption." He gave a content sigh as he felt the healing waves of his continuous Magic Card took effect. His Life Points skyrocketed.
Uriel: (7000)..............................Bonetail: (2900)
"Now I end my turn." Uriel proclaimed.
Bonetail made his draw, but immediately played the card. "I activate Card of Demise!" A large guillotine appeared next to him, a deck of cards positioned where the victim's head and neck would be. Five strands of rope held the blade in place. "This lets me draw until I'm holding five cards. During the standby phase of the fifth turn after this card has been played, I'll be forced to discard my hand." Five new cards of fire burned into life in front of him.
"Since I can't normal-summon anything thanks to that accursed fairy of yours, I'll set a monster. I also set this..." Two face-down cards appeared. "End turn."
"Then look out!" Uriel exclaimed, drawing a card. "Tualatin, attack his face-down monster!" Tualatin charged up another blast of energy and fired. A turtle-like creature with a golden pyramid in place of a shell emerged (1200/1400), and it was quickly struck down by the attack.
"Thank you," Bonetail said. "Not only can I activate the special ability of my Pyramid Turtle, I can also chain this!" His recently-set Trap card flipped up. "It's called Michizure. When one of my monsters is sent from the field to the graveyard, you lose one of your monsters, as well!" A pair of ghostly hands shot out of the ground and grabbed Tualatin, pulling her under.
"No!" Uriel exclaimed.
"So much for her," the demon replied. "Now, thanks to Pyramid Turtle's effect, I can now call upon a Zombie monster with 2000 defense points or less. Ryu Kokki, come forth!" Something else came out of the ground. It was an ogre-like creature, its outer body skeletal and dry. Its massive maw opened wide, acid-like saliva drooling out. (2400/2000)
"Ugh…these things keep getting uglier and uglier," Uriel said to no one in particular.
"Please…my monsters take those sorts of statements as compliments," Bonetail replied. "So what are you going to do, now?"
Uriel groaned, activating the only card in his hand. "Pot of Greed activates." After drawing two cards, he looked over what he had. His Field Spell slot of his disk opened as he placed one of the cards inside. "Next I activate The Sanctuary in the Sky!" A doorway seemed to appear behind Valhalla's throne, and outside there was a Parthenon-like building floating amongst a multitude of clouds. A bright light from the building seemed to filter into the dungeon as the card came into effect. "As long as this remains in play, any damage I take when a Fairy monster battles is reduced to zero."
"Then I'll just have to ensure you don't have any fairies out," Bontail mused.
"You do that. Now, since my monster zone is empty again, I'll use Valhalla's effect to special summon Nova Summoner in defense mode." A new Fairy monster resembling an orange wreath appeared. It had wings on its back, and a green ribbon wrapped around it. (1400/800) "End turn."
Bonetail laughed as he made his draw. One of the five ropes on the guillotine broke. "This is just what I want to see - my prey on the defensive, and one little monster ready for the gallows. But first thing's first…" He played another card. "I activate another Book of Life, and then chain Emergency Provisions from my hand to its activation." The Book of Life and Bonetail's face-down Tutan Mask vanished. "Thanks to Emergency Provisions, I gain 1000 Life Points for each Magic and Trap card sent to the graveyard by its effect."
Uriel: (7000)..............................Bonetail: (4900)
"And now, back to the effect of Book of Life. I'll use it to revive my Despair from the Dark!" A creature even larger than Ryu Kokki appeared, its features hidden by the black and red energy that made up its being. It cackled as it raised its arms in anticipation. (2800/3000) Bonetail drew due to Card of Safe Return as he looked over his options for the second effect. "Since I don't want you using that zombie-killer again, I'll remove your Tualatin from play!" Like the Gellenduo earlier, a spectral image of Tualatin was ripped out of the ground, its being quickly extinguished.
"You forgot about Soul Absorption," Uriel said as the card took effect again. "Tualatin may have been removed, but I gain 500 Life Points as a result."
Uriel: (7500)..............................Bonetail: (4900)
"I don't really care at this point," Bonetail mused. "I have places to be, a world to conquer. Ryu Kokki, attack his Nova Summoner!" The ogre zombie spit out a spray of acid, which immediately melted the Fairy from existence.
Uriel instinctively jumped back as some of the acid hit the ground in front of him. "I activate Nova Summoner's effect, which works kind of like your Pyramid Turtle's. I can now special-summon another Light-type Fairy monster from my deck, so long as its attack power is 1500 or less. And unfortunately for you, I have another copy of it." A second Nova Summoner emerged in defense mode.
"No matter," Bonetail proclaimed. "Despair from the Dark, attack his newest defender!" The red and black specter swung a mighty arm, swatting the Nova Summoner away. It hit the dungeon wall with a loud smack, shattering on impact.
"Nova Summoner has an alternate effect," Uriel explained. "If I have Sanctuary in the Sky in play, I can bring out a specific monster from my deck instead of the usual search. In this case, I special-summon Airknight Parshath!" Uriel's newest monster made its appearance. It was a centaur-like creature, with two pairs of wings, blue and gold armor, and a long sword. (1900/1400)
"A minor annoyance," Bonetail said. "I end my turn."
Uriel drew a card, smirking as he saw what it was.
"You've been cooped up so long," he commented, "I doubt you will be able to understand what I'm about to do."
"Oh really?" Bonetail said, clearly not buying it.
"Yes, really," Uriel replied. "I summon Herald of Orange Light!" In a flash, a peculiar fairy emerged. It looked like a giant piece of amber clad in white armor with gold lining. Two spindly arms stuck out of the bottom, while a pair of wings with orange feathers was on its back. (300/500)
"How would I not be able to understand you summoning a pathetic monster to the field?" Bonetail asked.
"What you may not get is that this little guy is a Tuner monster," Uriel said in reply.
"A Tuner?" Bonetail exclaimed. "I've heard about them, but I've never seen them in action. My past victims either didn't play them or didn't draw them during their defeats."
"Guess that makes me even more special for you," Uriel replied. "Now then, this little guy is about to give Airknight Parshath a tune-up!"
Herald of Orange Light flapped its wings, then seemed to vanish, replaced by two glowing white stars. They each formed a ring of light and zipped over to the remaining Fairy monster. Airknight Parshath became transparent as he vanished the same way as the previous monster, but this time becoming 5 glowing stars. A column of light erupted from the ground, absorbing the seven stars as a new creature made its presence known.
"Meet my ultimate beast," Uriel called, "Ancient Sacred Wyvern!" This new monster was a large white serpentine dragon of sorts, with a striped black pattern tattooed down its back and legs. It had a long flowing mane of yellow hair, while a pair of red horns was on its head. It gave a screech as it extended its large bat-like wings. (2100/2000)
"A unique entrance," Bonetail said, "but I'd hardly call it your ultimate monster. Its attack power doesn't hold a candle to either of mine." Ryu Kokki and Despair from the Dark seemed to cackle in anticipation.
"Not at the moment," Uriel replied, "but that's where its special ability kicks in. When my Life Points are greater than yours, my Synchro monster's attack is increased by the difference. Now do you see why I've been using Soul Absorption?" Bonetail gave a gasp as the Wyvern's attack shot up to 4700. "Ancient Sacred Wyvern, attack Ryu Kokki!" The dragon-like beast charged up energy in its mouth, then fired it in the form of a white ball crackling with electricity. The strength of the attack was so immense that the Zombie was vaporized before it even came into contact with it.
Uriel: (7500)..............................Bonetail: (2600)
"It won't be long now," Uriel said to himself, as his Wyvern's attack skyrocketed up to 7000. He could hardly wait to obtain his treasure. At the rate the duel was going, victory was all but assured. "I'll end my turn at that."
Bonetail was now in an awkward situation. He had not expected his final soul to have this much fight left in him. Just a turn ago he had the advantage, but now he was once again on the ropes. He had to do something to stop his enemy's charge, but he didn't have what he needed in his hand.
"I draw," Bonetail said, drawing for his turn. The second rope of the guillotine snapped. "I set a card face-down, then switch Despair from the Dark to defense mode," he announced. As a set card appeared, the zombie behemoth crossed its arms in front of it, seemingly groaning at the thought of having to back away from the onslaught. "Make your move."
Uriel drew a card, but immediately played it. "I keep running into Pots for some reason. This time it's Pot of Avarice." He gathered up Asura Priest, both of his Nova Summoners, Airknight Parshath, and Herald of Orange Light from his Graveyard, and then shuffled them back into his deck. He drew two cards afterward.
He didn't focus on what he had drawn, since he had bigger fish to fry at this point in time. "Wyvern, attack Despair from the Dark!" The dragon fired another ball of white energy. The zombie was obliterated as Ryu Kokki was the previous turn.
"Ah well, parting is such sweet sorrow," Bonetail said.
Uriel returned his gaze to the two cards in his hand. The first one was best saved for later, while the other was situational, at best. He figured it wouldn't hurt to have it out, at least. "I set a card face-down and end my turn."
Bonetail made his draw, and there was a long pause after Card of Demise's third rope was cut. The boy didn't know it, but the demon would have been smiling at that moment. The quiet, still air was soon filled with hearty laughter from the monster.
"Hey, what's so funny?" Uriel asked.
"What's funny is the fact that victory has been handed to me on a silver platter!" The demon laughed. "It'll be a pleasure consuming that rebellious soul of yours."
"Shut up!" The boy exclaimed. "I'm sick and tired of this made-up BS about souls being taken. Even if you're telling the truth, which you're not, there's no way you could have the win!"
"No? This move will prove you wrong." Behind him, a phantom image of a zombie monster appeared. At first Uriel thought it was Gozuki, but this one was different. This zombie had the features of a horse, and it wielded a battle axe. "This is Mezuki, and I'll be using his special ability."
"Mezuki?" Uriel asked. "Hang on…I don't remember seeing him during the duel…"
"Of course you don't," Bonetail replied. "That's because I sent him from my deck to the Graveyard on my very first turn. Or do you not remember?"
Uriel's face paled. "No…you sent it there with Gozuki's effect…"
"Give the boy a reward! A one-way trip to oblivion! By removing Mezuki from my Graveyard, I can revive any Zombie I choose, and I think I'll choose the one I sent to the Graveyard on my secondturn. Behold, Il Blud!" As Bonetail gained a new card through Card of Safe Return, a larger, far more grotesque zombie donning chains emerged. Its wide striped girth was only matched by its sheer height. Its chest cavity opened like the zipper on a coat, and a larger, scarier face with bulging eyes made itself known, shrieking maniacally all the while. Uriel nearly leapt in the air in fright. (2100/800)
"Il Blud is not like most Effect monsters. Since it's a Gemini monster, it has no abilities unless I give up my normal-summon for the turn. I'll do that right now." Il Blud started to glow with black energy. "Now I'm free to activate his effect, which lets me revive yet another Zombie from the Graveyard. Despair from the Dark, welcome back." While Bonetail drew another card, the red and black zombie reemerged, its expression clearly one of pure rage.
"I'm far from finished! I reveal my own Call of the Haunted, and I'll use it to revive Ryu Kokki!" The ogre zombie reappeared, hissing all the while.
"Fine, keep bringing out monsters," Uriel said. "See if I care! None of them are strong enough to beat my Wyvern!"
"I told you," Bonetail snapped, drawing yet another card, "this game is over. Thanks to your over enthusiasm in using Soul Release, and with the revival of these behemoths, the scene has been set for your defeat! Right now I have exactly three Dark-type monsters in my Graveyard, which is the condition to summon my ultimate monster!" Black lightning struck the ground above them, but Uriel could clearly feel its power from all the way down below.
"ARISE! DARK ARMED DRAGON!"
Black energy crackled everywhere, eventually forming up into a massive black orb. It began to pull bones, rocks and sand into it as if it were a black hole. From this portal, a terrifying sight emerged. Uriel had seen a dragon similar to this new creature used in the local tournaments he had been a part of. It looked like Armed Dragon LV7, but there were some sharp contrasts. The armor on this beast was shiny-black, while its skin was a dark green. Its blood-red eyes showed nothing but malice. Its drill-like protrusions whirred to life as it gave an earth-shattering roar. (2800/1000)
"BEHOLD," Bonetail roared, "THE INSTRUMENT OF YOUR DESTRUCTION! For each Dark-type monsters I remove from my Graveyard, my ultimate weapon can destroy a card on the field!" All three of his Skull Servants gave shrieks of terror as they shot out of the ground and were quickly absorbed by Dark Armed Dragon.
"I've had just about enough of your Soul Absorption, so it will be the first to go!" Dark Armed Dragon breathed out a black fireball, destroying the Continuous Magic card. Since it left the field before the beast's effect resolved, Uriel wouldn't be gaining any more Life Points.
"Next in line is your Sanctuary in the Sky!" Dark Armed shot off another fireball, this one screaming through the open doorway and obliterating the Parthenon outside. Its brilliant light dissipated, the dungeon plunging back into darkness.
"Last, and certainly least, is your so-called ultimate beast!" The doppelganger unleashed its third volley, the fireball striking Ancient Sacred Wyvern. It screeched in pain as it was destroyed.
"You're finished! Your Life Points will be decimated by this onslaught! ALL OF YOU ATTACK HIM DIRECTLY AND END THIS DUEL!" All four of Bonetail's monsters simultaneously unleashed their respective attacks on the boy as the demon watched on, confident that his imprisonment was over.
Uriel looked on, but quickly remembered his face-down card. As he went to activate it, the attacks hit him all at once, resulting in a massive explosion.
Bonetail cackled as smoke and debris filled the room. When it began to clear, he saw Uriel was face-down on the ground, not moving…
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Is this duel really over? Has Bonetail been able to claim his 1000th soul? What will happen to the world if this is true? You'll have to find out in the next chapter, "Light of Judgment." Don't miss it…