Chapter 7 – Become Stronger
I don't really have any reason for why I left this, or why I returned after over a year. But I had gotten an itch lately that needed to be scratched. I have no idea if I will continue, or when a new chapter will be here if I do. I can just say that I needed to write this. Hope you enjoy
Yugi took a deep breath as he looked over his new deck. With the new cards that Joey, courtesy of Pegasus, had given him, he had upgraded his build. Looking through his cards, he remembered the tight situations each card had pulled him out of. The Magnet Warriors, Kuriboh, or his signature cards, the Dark Magicians. Each part of his deck played an important part in shaping his journey over the years, and it was saddening that he would again have to use him in such dangerous situations. He had enjoyed the fun duels, where nothing was on the line, when instead he could just relax and have fun. And this time was without Atem. No reassuring voice to help guide him, this was a journey he would have to conquer without his friend.
Putting his deck back together and shuffling it before inserting it into his duel disk, he stood up, making his way towards Kaiba's office. The CEO had sent all his staff away, unable to trust any of them after the betrayal of Roland. He wasn't surprised to enter a silent room. The other two had scarcely said anything, their minds on Serenity and Mokuba. Yugi's own mind drifted to his grandfather, whose location they had no clue on. One could only assume the dark trio was keeping a hold of him like they were the other two, in the hopes of gaining leverage to use against the light trio.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Kaiba spoke. "We're not strong enough yet."
The acknowledgement of that fact was felt amongst both Joey and Yugi, but to voice it made everything different. There was no doubt in their minds that their foes had gotten stronger, and their lackeys had given them a run for their money. If they struggled against such low-level goons, they would be decimated by the time they reached the finish line.
Joey was the next to speak, answering a question that had crossed all their minds for the last few hours. "So, what do we do then?" And if he was being fully honest, Yugi didn't even know if he had an answer to that. Kaiba had managed to unlock the potential of Synchro Summoning, but he wasn't even sure how he had managed it. But despite that little setback, Kaiba still moved, a sense of confidence in him.
"We can use the duel bot for now. Keep getting it to come at us with every strategy and improving our decks until they can handle anything these bozos are going to throw at us." With a small smirk on his face, he looked to his friends. Yes, friends, because Kaiba knew this was one battle he couldn't fight alone. "So, who wants to duel the robot first?"
Before Yugi had even opened his mouth, Joey spoke again, activating his duel disk. "Oh, I got dibs on your tin can. I am really in need of a good punching bag now." He cast an apologetic look towards his best friend. "Sorry, Yuge, but you're not getting a crack at it before I am."
Knowing a losing battle when he saw one, Yugi raised his hands, a small smile on his face. "I don't think I can argue on that one. Just try not to destroy the thing before I get a crack at it, ok?"
Joey chuckled, giving him a small nod. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Soon enough, there were in Kaiba's testing area. Now that the bot was all set up and ready to go, Joey was stood at the other side of the room, with Kaiba and Yugi both watching from the side-lines.
(Joey: 8000, Duel Bot: 8000)
"Draw card," came the automatic voice of the robot, adding a card to its 'hand'. It paused for a moment, no doubt calculating for the best course of action in the duel.
"Normal Summon: Armed Samurai – Ben Kei, in attack mode (4/500/800)," the voice ran out again. With a card appearing on its interface, it was soon accompanied by the appropriate hologram. A mischievous man cloaked in robes graced the field with his presence. Upon his bag was a rucksack with a plethora of weapons, each one looking more threatening than the last. But clearly, the robot was far from done, as it inserted the rest of its hand onto the field.
"Activate Spells: Mage Power, Mage Power, Shooting Star Bow – Ceal, Axe of Despair. Set one card face down," it said, and soon, the effects of these cards were clear. While a brown backed card appeared behind the cloaked man, he reached into his bag, pulling out both a large axe as well as a thin bow. Meanwhile, he seemed to almost triple in size, his smirk widening as he increased in strength. (4/500 + 1000 – 1000 + 2500 + 2500 = 5500/800 + 2500 + 2500 = 5800)
Yugi frowned at the change in the monster's stats. "Well that's a pretty powerful opening move. Shooting Star Bow – Ceal means the equipped monster can attack directly, but reduces its attack by 1000. But Axe of Despair cancels that out. And then the two copies of Mage power each give Ben Kei an extra 500 attack points for every spell or trap that the bot has. So, that's 2500 points apiece."
Kaiba chuckled. "Not only that, but Ben Kei gains an additional attack for every equip spell equipped to it. And with four cards attached, that's five attacks each turn. Perhaps I made the bot too tough on the mutt." But as he looked over to Joey, he could tell that the formidable opening movie hadn't deterred the blonde man in the slightest. If anything, he looked even more determined to decimate the robot.
The second Joey had drawn his card, the brown-backed card on the Duel Bot's field flipped up. "Activate Trap: Fake Friendship Treaty."
Joey chuckled in response. "Ah, that's a pretty good card. If it's on the field, I can't summon Level 4 or lower monsters. It comes with conditions for what destroys it, but I don't really care. Because I'll just activate Giant Trunade to return all Spells and Traps to their owner's hand!" As he spoke, a strong gust struck the field. The weapons flew out the man's hand, and he was reduced back to his normal size. On the bot's screen, five brown-backed cards appeared, leaving Ben Kei with absolutely no defence.
Joey showed no signs of slowing down, sliding another card into his duel disk. "And next up is the spell card known as Red-Eyes Fusion, which allows me to send monsters from my hand or deck to the graveyard to Fusion Summon a monster that lists a Red-Eyes monster as fusion material. And I'll be sending Red-Eyes Black Dragon (7/2400/2000) and Summoned Skull (6/2500/1200) from the deck to the graveyard!"
Yugi's eyes widened. "He's bringing out Black Skull Dragon on his opening turn?!" But he was surprised when the result was not the familiar monster he and Joey had used back in the days of Duelist Kingdom. No, this was a monster he had never seen before. Fire surrounded the demon as it spread its wings to let out a mighty roar. It was enormous, easily dwarfing Ben Kei.
Joey grinned. "This here is my Archfiend Black Skull Dragon (9/3200/2500) and he's just ready to tear you apart. But first, a few more cards to play. You see, the monster summoned by Red-Eyes Fusion has its name treated as Red-Eyes Black Dragon while it's on the field, so now I can play my Inferno Fire Blast to deal you damage equal to my monster's original attack points, which is a whopping 3200!" As soon as he had inserted the spell card, the dragon let out a ferocious roar, which shot a fireball at the bot. The result was a massive explosion, and Yugi had to wonder that if Joey had been duelist a normal human, what they would have looked like after the blast.
(Joey: 8000, Duel Bot: 4800)
Joey showed no signs of slowing down as he added another card into the mix. "My monster can't attack the turn Inferno Fire Blast is used, but that's easily remedied. I activate Star Blast! Now I pay life points in multiples of 500, and for each 500 paid, I can reduce the level of a monster I control or that's in my hand by one! So, I'll pay that price five times to make my monster a level 4!"
As a red aura surrounded the man, draining his life points, the dragon shrank, though its reduce in size seemed to do nothing in making the monster less intimidating. (9 – 5 = 4/3200/2500)
(Joey: 5500, Duel Bot: 4800)
Joey smirked as he added another card in his strategy. "And now I'll set the final piece with my Quick Rush! This card comes with a few effects, but I already know what one I want. By choosing a level 4 or lower monster I control, I can make it do battle with one of yours, regardless of restrictions! Now Archfiend, incinerate old Ben Kei!"
"Well…it would appear Wheeler's actually learned how to duel," Kaiba muttered, as immediately, the dragon roared again, and launched forward at the warrior. It was clear from the get go who the winner was, and suspicions were only confirmed once the smoke had cleared, with only the dragon still present.
(Joey: 5500, Duel Bot: 2100)
Joey clenched his fist. "And now for the grand finale. I enter my battle phase!"
Yugi raised his eyebrows questionably. "Why would he do that? Sure, Quick Rush allowed him to get in an extra hit, but his monster still can't attack."
Joey laughed out loud as he heard Yugi. "Right you are, Yuge, but the plan never was for my monster to attack again. In fact, I've already done everything I needed to do to assure my monster was ready to end this. See, my dragon comes with a few effects, but only one of them is needed here. During the end of the Battle Phase in a turn in which damage calculation was performed involving this Fusion Summoned card, I can shuffle one 'Red-Eyes' Normal monster in my Graveyard back into my Deck and deal my opponent damage equal to the returned monster's attack. So, now I'll just end my Battle Phase and shuffle my Red-Eyes Black Dragon to hit the tin can with 2400 points of damage, which will end this!" As he spoke, the spirit of his most loyal monster appeared next to his other dragon. A roar from the bigger dragon was all that was needed for Red-Eyes to fly directly into the robot, hitting it hard and ending the relatively short duel.
(Joey: 5500, Duel Bot: 0000)
As the holograms disappeared, Joey turned to face his audience, smirking at Kaiba. "Now, rich boy, is that the best your hunk of junk can do or are you gonna give me a real challenge?"
Kaiba said nothing for a few moments, then turned to face Yugi. Before he could even speak, the King of Games had already interrupted him.
"Go ahead, I know both of you really don't want to let a comment like that go." With the confirmation from his rival all he really needed, Kaiba spoke. "Duel Bot, activate Creator Mode."
Suddenly, the machine lit up again. It made random noises, seemingly carrying out whatever orders Kaiba had given it. Soon enough, it spoke in the automated voice, revealing what exactly Creator Mode was. "Simulation has begun. Beginning Creator Mode, using the deck of Maximillion Pegasus."
Joey was briefly shocked, but then looked over to the CEO. "So, your little invention had Pegasus's deck, does it?"
Kaiba let out a derisive snort. "It's much more sophisticated than that Wheeler. That machine has every card in the game programmed into it, save a select few. You want an opponent? The machine will give it to you."
Joey shrugged. "Well, a duel's a duel." Turning to the machine, he reactivated his duel disk. "Alright you bag of bolts, let's see what you've got when using a better deck!"
(Joey: 8000, Duel Bot: 8000)
Joey snapped the top card of his duel disk, adding it to is hand. "I think it's only fair that I start this one, don't you?" he asked, as he looked over all the options he had at his disposal. Smiling as he decided on his course of action, he inserted a spell card into his duel disk. "I activate Dark Dragon Ritual! This allows me to sacrifice my Red-Eyes Wyvern (4/1800/1600) to Ritual Summon my Paladin of Dark Dragon (4/1900/1200)!"
Black flames covered the field as a small dragon appeared. Soon, the flames had enveloped the dragon, leaving nothing behind in its devastation. Once the smoke had settled, a new monster stood. It was a man sheathed in black armour, his tattered cape flowing behind him. He swirled the sword in his hand, a menacing grin evident on his face. However, suddenly, he disappeared in another explosion. Through the flames, Joey's voice could be heard. "I can tribute my Paladin to Special Summon any Red-Eyes monster from my deck. And I'll choose my Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon (10/2800/2400)!"
From the flames emerged another new card. Encased in metal, it reminded Kaiba of the monster Joey had summoned in their tag duel. Letting out a mighty roar that seemed to make the building shake, it towered over its master. Joey continued, slapping another card onto his duel disk. "And that's not all! My dragon, once per turn, can Special Summon a Dragon from either my hand or my Graveyard! And I'll choose the good old original, Red-Eyes Black Dragon (7/2400/2000)!" he yelled out as the metallic dragon was joined by his signature card.
Two brown-backed cards appeared behind the two monsters. "And I'll end my turn with a couple of face-downs."
On the side-lines, Kaiba had to admit he was impressed. "Well, it only took him about five years, but the idiot finally learned how to bring out the big guns quick. The only downside is he exhausted all his resources."
At that moment, Yugi spoke. "I know Joey enough to know that if he felt it was worth depleting his hand, then it was worth it. Those face-downs are probably incredibly useful.
"Draw card," came the familiar voice of the Duel Bot. Almost immediately, it continued, a spell depicting an open pop-up book appearing on the field, "Activate Spell: Toon World."
"Oh, great." Joey muttered, but it was all for naught as the key card of Pegasus's deck hit the field. It came at a price, but the three people there all knew it was well worth paying.
(Joey: 8000, Duel Bot: 7000)
"Special Summon: Toon Cyber Dragon. Activate Spell: Comic Hand," rang out the familiar voice again, and suddenly everything seemed to change. Before them appeared a cartoon version of the monster Umbra had used before (5/21000/1600). Then, from the second spell, an outstretched hand appeared and grabbed onto Joey's metallic dragon, taking it to the other side of the field, under the bot's control.
Joey was not pleased. "Hey, what's the big idea here? I get how you got your Cyber Dragon out, but why did my monster suddenly feel like switching to your side?!"
The automated voice spoke. "Comic Hand's effect allows the user to take control of one of the opponent's monsters as they control Toon World. The monster equipped with Comic Hand may attack the opponent directly if the opponent does not control a Toon Monster. Direct Attack: Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon."
Joey barely had a moment to take in what he had just been told before he was enveloped by the metallic dragon's black flame.
(Joey: 5200, Duel Bot: 7000)
Joey was breathing hard as the attack subsided, but it was clear the robot was far from done.
"Enter Main Phase 2. Sacrifice Toon Cyber Dragon and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. Tribute Summon: Red-Eyes Toon Dragon (7/2400/2000)."
Joey's eyes threatened to pop out of his skull as one of the most embarrassing sights he had ever witnessed graced the field. It was his signature card, only it was a cartoon. It was no longer threatening, an innocent look on its big red eyes as it opened its mouth in a youthful smile. Joey didn't even have time to voice his disgust as the robot spoke again. "Activate ability. Once per turn, Red-Eyes Toon Dragon permits the user to Special Summon a Toon monster from the hand. Special Summon: Toon Dark Magician (7/2500/2100)."
This time, it was Yugi's turn to growl in annoyance as the playful version of his favourite monster appeared. It twirled its staff, letting out a childish chant. It was only as the last card in the bot's hand disappeared that the duelists realised the chant had a purpose. "Activate Special Effect. By discarding a card, Toon Dark Magician allows its user to Special Summon one Toon monster from the deck, ignoring any summoning conditions. Discard: Manga Ryu-Ran (7/2200/2600). Special Summon: Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon (8/3000/2500)." This time, it was Kaiba's ace that was exposed to the cartoon treatment. Though they had seen Pegasus use the monster before, it still drew an irritable grunt from the CEO.
Joey frowned as he examined the formidable field the robot had formed, but still drew with eagerness. "Since your hand is empty, I guess it's my go. Draw," As he smiled at the card he had just received, he tapped a button on his duel disk, revealing one of his face-downs. "I activate Graverobber! This handy little trap allows me to steal one of the cards in your Graveyard and use it as my own. And I can think of nothing better than Comic Hand!"
From the trap emerged the same hand that has earlier taken Joey's metallic dragon. This time, it seized the tiny blue dragon and brought it over to Joey's field. Ignoring the obvious anger Kaiba had at seeing Joey utilise a Blue-Eyes monster, the blonde duelist continued. "Time to battle! I have to pay 500 life points in order to ensure my attack gets through, but it's worth it in order to take out your field. Blue-Eyes, attack Toon Dark Magician."
The animated version of Kaiba's ace launched itself at the small magician that resembled Yugi's most loyal monster. Soon, only one of them remained, as the dragon returned to Joey's side of the field.
(Joey: 4700, Duel Bot: 6500)
Joey gestured to his other monster next. "And next I'll send my Red-Eyes to destroy the imitation!" Letting out a mighty roar, the black dragon launched a fireball at the same time its animated copy did. Both monsters were incinerated, leaving only the blue dragon on the field. Joey, however, pressed another button on his duel disk, revealing the second face-down: Silver's Cry. Joey didn't even have to say anything as his Red-Eyes came back to the field and immediately shot another fireball, hitting the robot straight on.
(Joey: 4700, Duel Bot: 4100)
Joey grinned at how he had reclaimed the lead. "I'll let you go now, try to keep up."
Yugi smiled as he took in the situation. "That was a really impressive move. He was facing a field of three powerful monsters, and managed to take it all down with just three cards. Not only that, but he took the lead." He looked in admiration to his friend, who had grown immensely stronger since their Duelist Kingdom days.
The bot drew its card, immediately using it. "Activate Spell: Pot of Greed. Two cards are drawn," rang out the voice, and as two cards were added to its hand one of them was played straight away. "Normal Summon Sonic Bird (4/1400/1100). Activate effect, add Black Illusion Ritual from deck to hand." Joey didn't even get a good look at the monster as it suddenly disappeared in a blue flame. "Activate Spell: Black Illusion Ritual. Sacrifice Sonic Bird. Special Summon: Relinquished. (1/0/0)"
From the blue flame emerged one of Pegasus's most powerful monsters. It was grotesque, and its power was obvious as it seized the Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon, growing in power (1/0 + 3000 = 3000/0 + 2500 = 2500). It immediately charged forward, slamming into the Red-Eyes duelist's ace monster.
(Joey: 4100, Duel Bot: 4100)
Joey grinned, slamming a card from his hand onto the duel disk. "I activate the effect of the Red-Eyes Retro Dragon (4/1700/1600) in my hand. When a level 7 or lower Red-Eyes monster is destroyed by an opponent's attack, I can summon this little dude in defence mode, and revive the destroyed monster in the position he left the field. Red-Eyes, come on back!"
Alongside a smaller dragon reappeared the dragon that had maintained a presence on the field since the first turn. The bot indicated the end of its turn. Drawing a card, Joey smiled at the sight of it, and immediately placed it in his disk.
"I activate the effect of my Black Metal Dragon (1/600/600)! I can equip him from my hand to any Red-Eyes monster and give it a 600 boost. Any guesses on who?"
There was no need for anyone to offer their thoughts on which monster would be equipped, for the small black dragon appeared anyway. Climbing on top of Red-Eyes Black Dragon, it gave off another roar (7/2400 + 600 = 3000/2000). At Joey's command the bigger dragon launched forth, both it and the small metallic dragon letting out a mighty roar. Once it collided with Relinquished, there was a huge explosion. Once the smoke cleared, only Relinquished remain, and it has lost all its power from the cartoon beast (1/3000 – 3000 = 0/2500 – 2500 = 0).
Joey smirked at the new development, retrieving a card from the deck. "Oh, and when my Black Metal Dragon is sent to the graveyard, I can retrieve my Red-Eyes card from my deck, like my Red-Eyes Spirit. Now, Retro, attack and destroy that Relinquished." And with that, the smaller dragon struck the Ritual monster, leaving the duel bot's field barren except for Toon World.
(Joey: 4100, Duel Bot: 2400)
Joey smirked, a brown-backed card appearing before him. "I'll end my turn with a face-down. And now I activate the effect of my Red-Eyes Wyvern! Since I didn't Normal Summon this turn, I can banish him from the grave to Special Summon a Red-Eyes back to the field. And I choose my Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!" Appearing in front of Joey was the familiar dragon that he had begun the game with (10/2800/2400).
Drawing its next card, the only card in its hand, the duel bot let only a second pass before the card was played. "Activate Spell: Card of Demise: Cards are drawn until there are five cards in the hand. On the 5th Standby Phase after activation, cards are discarded." Because of its now empty hands, the full five were drawn, Joey tossing a glare over to Kaiba. "What's the big deal here? I never saw Pegasus use this card."
The CEO shrugged in response. "I made some adjustments so the deck could get better. Big whoop."
As it surveyed the cards in its hand, the robot waited for a while before playing the next card. "Activate Spell: Monster Reborn. Relinquished is revived." Again, appeared the monster, this time absorbing, to the surprise of both Joey and the spectators, the smaller dragon. (1/0 + 1700 = 1700/0 + 1600 = 1600)
Joey was certainly befuddled. "Ok, why would you take my smaller mon-" But he was cut off as the colour drained from his face, for the robot had revealed two cards; Polymerisation and Thousand-Eyes Idol. "Fusion Summon: Thousand-Eyes Restrict." And appearing alongside the Ritual Monster was a small green monster covered in eyes. Soon, both disappeared into a vortex, and was emerged was truly grotesque. It looked like a disease that had come to life, and before anyone could even blink, it had captured Joey's remaining monster (1/2800/2400). A brown-backed card appeared alongside Toon World, and then the monster moved towards Joey.
The blonde man eyed his face-down, "I could bring back Red-Eyes…. but he'd just be lamb to a slaughter. I won't treat him like that." And then the monster hit him in the chest, making him stumble as his life points fell.
(Joey: 1300, Duel Bot: 2400)
Realising it was his turn, Joey panted heavily. "Is that the best you can do then?" Drawing his card, he smiled as he pressed the button on his duel disk to activate his face-down. "I'm gonna use my Red-Eyes Spirit to bring back my old friend Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" As soon as the dragon graced the field again, however, it disappeared. "But I'll sacrifice him so that I can summon my Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon (9/2400/2000)."
Joey smirked as his monster grew in strength (9/2400 + 1200 = 3600/2000). "My dragon gains 300 attack points for every single dragon hanging about in my Graveyard. And I got four there for a boost of 1200! I know that because of your monster, I can't attack but got backup plans! I activate the effect of the Dark Dragon Ritual in my Graveyard. By banishing it, I can add a Red-Eyes Spell or Trap to my hand. Like my Red-Eyes insight, which immediately gets played! By sending a Red-Eyes monster to my graveyard, like my Meteor Dragon Red-Eyes Impact (6/1800/2000), I can add another Red-Eyes card from the deck to my hand, like Red-Eyes Fusion (9/3600 + 300 = 3900/2000)! And I'll end it there!" Fetching the appropriate card from his deck, he smiled. 'Almost there, no way it can handle a double-team.'
Another card drawn, the robot revealed its face-down. "Trap card activate: Courageous Heart. At the cost of half its user's life points, a monster's effect is negated. Target is Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon."
(Joey: 1300, Duel Bot: 1200)
The dragon groaned as it lost power, powering down (9/3900 – 1500 = 2400/2000). The abomination immediately charged at it, destroying it with relative ease.
(Joey: 900, Duel Bot: 1200)
A brown-backed card appeared on the robot's side again. "End turn." And the moment Joey drew, the card was revealed. "Activate Trap: Mind Crush. A card name is declared. If it is in the opponent's hand, the card must be discarded. Declared card is Red-Eyes Fusion."
Joey frowned as he discarded the card, one he had very much hoped to use. However, then his eyes fell on the card he had just drawn, and he did the only sensible thing.
He burst into laughter.
Kaiba raises his eyebrows from the sidelines. "Oh lovely…. he's lost his mind." Yugi, on the other hand, knew that kind of laugh. It always came about when Joey had just gotten extremely lucky. Speaking quietly, it was a miracle the CEO heard him. "He's about to win."
Joey shouted over to the bot. "Credit where it's due, that was a pretty smart move. You took out my way to Fusion Summon the big guns. But, through sheer luck, I've managed to pull out the win. Because you may have stopped one fusion, but you won't stop this one. Go, Dragon's Mirror! This allows me to banish monsters from my field OR my graveyard so that I can Fusion Summon a Dragon-Type monster. So now I'll banish my Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Meteor Dragon Red-Eyes Impact to summon the monster that will end this duel!"
Joey's ace appeared alongside another monster. Like the name suggested, it moved as fast as a meteor, so no one could get a good look at it before it and Red-Eyes vanished into a vortex. When the product of the fusion emerged, even Kaiba was shocked.
It was enormous. It dwarfed everything, and if they weren't just simple holograms, it was almost certain the dragon would have crashed through the ceiling. But the monster's size wasn't the most jarring thing. What surprised everyone except Joey was that the dragon was on fire. Every part of it was covered in flames. Shooting high above the duelists, it heated up as it let out a mighty roar (8/3500/2000).
Joey smirked. "Meet my Meteor Black Comet Dragon. You could say this guy, along with my Archfiend Black Skull Dragon, are the strongest I can offer. But I'll just cut straight to the chase here and talk about his effect. See, upon his Fusion Summon, I can send one Red-Eyes monster from the deck to the graveyard, and deal damage to you equal to half the monster's attack. And since I feel like getting you to exactly zero, my Red-Eyes Black Flare Dragon (7/2400/2000) is the perfection option. Meteor Black Comet Dragon, end this with Flame Shower!"
If the monster had been on fire now, it had just combusted. It almost felt like actual heat was being given off by the monster. Aiming at its target, it soared down to the ground. Past the grotesque Fusion it flew, and instead aimed straight for the robot. It landed, and the explosion sent both Yugi and Kaiba to their knees. Once the smoke cleared, only one person was still standing, and the result was clear.
(Joey: 900, Duel Bot: 0)
Joey was grinning as he walked back to his friends, and wow did it feel weird to regard Kaiba as a friend. "Hope I didn't go in too hard there, wouldn't want to have broken your machine."
Kaiba let out a derisive snort. "Don't oversell yourself, Wheeler. I can admit you've improved, but as far as I'm concerned, you're still the worst duelist in the room." Looking over to Yugi, he rolled his eyes. "Alright, Yugi, who do you want to face? I've got pretty much anyone."
Yugi grinned, moving over to the machine, scanning for who he wanted. Once he had found the desired opponent, he smirked. Moving over to the opposite side of the field, he activated his duel disk as the duel bot began the simulation. "You'll see soon enough, won't you?" Drawing the first five cards, he let his yell fill the sky.
"LET'S DUEL!"
(Yugi: 8000, Duel Bot: 8000)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
While Yugi began his duel with the robot, a much more sinister duelist was making his movement. He smirked as he called out his monster to attack. "Winged Dragon of Ra, obliterate the rest of his life point's!"
As impressive as the Five-Headed Dragon (12/5000/5000) was, it did absolutely nothing to stand up to the might of a god card. All the duelist could feel as he faded away was how ashamed he was to have failed, and to have been discarded so easily.
(Marik: 8000, Duel Academy Student: 0)
Marik growled. "Pathetic, I didn't even have to use any of Ra's abilities. You could have been beaten by a starter deck." But he moved to what had been left behind, an oddly shaped key. Moving over to an odd podium, he inserted the key into the final slot, having already placed in the other six. Immediately, the podium opened, revealing three cards. Looking at them with disinterest, Marik scoffed.
"So, these are the three Sacred Beasts? Keh, they are all cheap imitations of the Egyptian Gods. But they do, however, serve a purpose." And he smirked as the purpose in question arrived. The man was frail, having been refined to a wheelchair. However, despite this apparent weakness, he spoke with a powerful tone, anger clear in his voice. "Who are you, and what have you done?"
Marik chuckled darkly, holding the three cards in his hand. "I am the man who got you wanted, Kagemaru." His smirk turned into a sickly grin. "And now let's talk about how exactly you're going to pay me back for that favour."
