Ready for action, Yugi sized up his cards. Yes - Aesop in my first hand! I need to offer my best strength for this duel. The dragons trusted me, and I won't let them down.

"I will go first. Draw," intoned Nightshroud, as a card materialized into his open hand. "Activate spell, Cold Wave." From one of his wings pulsed the shaded shape of the spell, but before Yugi could recognize this manner of dueling, a petrifying wind howled across the field, covering the ground in an inch-thick icy crust. "This spell may only be played at the beginning of my main phase. It forbids any spells or traps from being activated or set until the end of your next turn. Set one monster." The hidden card appeared on another wing. "End turn."

"Draw." Fang of Critias! I want to use you, but I can't provide a card for you or Aesop... at least, not yet. But I'll fight as best as I can, and next turn, with two dragons, I'll show this guy what we can do! "I summon Gamma the Magnet Warrior in attack mode! Attack his monster!" The pink fighter appeared on the field, wings spread wide. Leaping to its target, it coiled its spring-loaded arm and punched through the set card easily.

All at once, the fragments reappeared as a stone jar with a gaping, grinning eye inside. "No - not Morphing Jar!"

"Morphing Jar's flip effect - both players discard their entire hands and draw five cards." All at once, every card in Nightshroud's hand vanished into smoky darkness, to be replaced by five more.

Yugi managed to do the same with his cards. "End turn."

"Your hands are trembling, Yugi. Why is this?"

"You already know - you planned that, didn't you?"

"It seems that more than one dragon was in your hand."

"Just make your move!"

"If you insist. Draw. It is time to begin the true darkness game. Activate Seal of Orichalcos!" The card floated from his hands, orbited by the small green stone that appeared around it. With a roar, both objects were bathed in the stream of darkness flowing from his hands until the fierce column sprang up around Nightshroud, growing around both duelists until it absorbed them both. Above and around them surged a dark cloud, closing into a dome and blocking all surroundings from view, leaving the duel illuminated only by the seal burning beneath their feet.

Yugi stared back at his opponent, but something seemed out of place. Then he realized: Nightshroud's brow had no seal on it, and his eyes were still that piercing blue. Instead, the darkness flowed from his gaunt frame across the lines of the boundary and back again, like water on a spider web, moving of its own volition. "Now, Yugi, the revelation begins. Summon Mystic Tomato - attack Gamma." The plant grew by the seal's power to 1900 points, bounding hungrily at the fighter, shattering it and reducing Yugi's life points to 3600. "End turn."

He got an early lead and a strong monster. But worse than that... Aesop, Critias - I'm sorry. Whatever it takes, I'll make things right again - I promise! "Draw. Activate spell, Graceful Charity. I draw three cards and discard two." Even though mou hitori no boku isn't with me, this duel is for him and our shared heart! He declared, "Activate spell, Polymerization. Go, Dark Magician and Buster Blader - combine your strength to form Dark Paladin!" The purple-clad sorcerer and swordsman sprang to the glowing spell, melting into the new form, appearing in a flash. The new warlock stood taller than his forebears, wielding a sharp-edged staff, glaring quietly at its target. "Dark Paladin's ability gives him 500 attack for every dragon-type monster on the field or in the graveyard."

"I have no dragons."

"No, but I do: one of my discards was Curse of Dragon, raising my paladin to 3400! Go, destroy Mystic Tomato!" Holding his wand like a sword, the dark man gathered his magic, until his arm suddenly lanced out. The dark beam slashed across the plant, who shattered in a shriek, Nightshroud's life falling to 2500.

"Mystic Tomato's special ability: when it is destroyed and sent to the grave by battle, I can summon a dark-attribute monster with 1500 or less attack. Summon Metabo Globster in attack mode."

Yugi had braced himself, but he paused at the sight of the shriveled creature, with only 1300 attack. Why such a weak monster? He's planning something, I'm sure of it! "Set one card, and activate Swords of Revealing Light, sealing your monsters for three turns. I end my turn."

"Interesting. You panicked sooner than I thought."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You haven't realized it yet? Yugi, nothing is hidden from me. I can see into the darkest corners of any heart, including yours."

"My heart?" Nightshroud's voice had that knowing note again, and his eyes - those eyes - glowed brighter than before.

"Your friends could not hide the darkness in their hearts from me, and I see yours also. Yes... Always alone, always the smallest, you sought friends. Over time, you came to rely on them. Without them, you suffer again, feeling lost, weakened."

"Stop it! We're not like that!"

"But what brings more suffering to you is seeing your friends tortured on your behalf. And so you declare yourself the protector of those around you, as if that is able to remove them from pain. But you cannot divert their pain. As long as they are with you, they will be in danger. Who will fall first, your friends, or their self-appointed protector?"

"Your words won't affect me. Just make your move!"

Though it was impossible, Nightshroud seemed to smile with a satisfied air. He added, almost as an afterthought, "Of course, this role of yours does nothing to change the true fear at the bottom of your heart." But Yugi refused to answer. "Draw card. I sacrifice Metabo Globster to summon Caius the Shadow Monarch." Engulfed in the dark cloud, the smaller monster gave way to a towering demon, cloaked, armored and leering, 2900 attack strong.

"He can't beat my Dark Paladin!"

"Caius' special ability: when he is tribute summoned, one card on the field is removed from play."

"What? Any card?"

"Furthermore, if the removed card is a dark-attribute monster, Caius inflicts 1000 points of damage to the opponent. Go, eliminate Dark Paladin!" Holding a sphere of void in his hands, Caius launched his curse at the enemy.

"Activate quick-play spell, De-Fusion!" Inches from oblivion, the monster split, Dark Magician and Buster Blader leaping to either side of the blast, landing defiantly to the field. "You won't hurt me or my monsters that easily."

"And neither will you hurt me. First, Metabo Globster's ability activates. By offering it to summon a dark-attribute monster, I summon three Metabo Tokens in defense mode." The slouching creatures, mimics of their predecessor, slumped with zero strength in front of the monarch. "And now, with your paladin gone, I activate the spell Terraforming, letting me move a field spell from my deck to my hand."

"A second field spell?"

"Activate Orichalcos Deuteros!" The howling circuit of darkness rose in pitch as a second border of runes appeared around the first, spinning, encircling the field, humming with energy. Nightshroud, amused at Yugi's trembling courage, savored the moment before continuing his move.

Outside the field, out of the opaque hemisphere, the other Yugi peered frantically into the murky depths for any sign of his partner. At first, Nightshroud's presence had merely dulled his senses, making him unable to speak to Yugi's thoughts. But the dome had blocked him completely, and the appearance of the second border petrified him before it too was engulfed in the shadow. In desperation, the spirit cast the voice of his mind about, calling for any one to hear him, calling Yugi's name.

What answered was not Yugi's voice, and he wheeled around to the source. Anzu's form lay still on the ground, but some part of her heart stirred, and he called out to her. "Anzu! Can you hear me? Anzu!"

"Wh... who's... there?"

In the void of mental exile, the other Yugi could see Anzu's spirit, adrift from her body, still sluggish. "Anzu, listen to me! Yugi is dueling Nightshroud, and I can't reach him! He's alone."

"Mou hitori no... Yugi..." Anzu's eyes flew open, and she saw her disabled form below her, but she could not reach it. It felt too far away, as if on top of a mountain. "What happened? Where are we?"

"I believe Nightshroud cast your soul out of your body, much like he did with me."

"What about the others? Are they all right?"

With all his mind, the other Yugi called out, but could not even sense the others. "Their souls are beyond my reach. I know their bodies are alive, but I can't feel them."

"But why am I the only one... The last thing I remember was being on Timaeus, and he fell to one side all of a sudden, and then I blacked out."

"He must have also heard me!"

"Heard what?" But she gasped and wheeled around, having just noticed the dark hemisphere. "Yugi's in there!"

"Can you feel him?"

"I... I think I can. It's hard, though. The shadow is blocking him out."

"We'll both reach out to him." Concentrating, Anzu and the other Yugi sought their companion. Their gaze, digging through the depths of the darkness, slowly drew their spirits forward also.

While the other Yugi awakened Anzu, Nightshroud addressed Yugi within the second seal. "Orichalcos Deuteros' ability increases my life points once per turn by 500 for each monster I control," and as the energy pulsed from his four monsters, his life rose to 4500. "Your monsters can no longer defeat Caius, but your spell of light holds me at bay. Clearly, I cannot touch you or your monsters. Set one card. End turn."

I have to find a way to beat his monsters, or else he'll become too powerful to defeat! No... he's not that powerful. I won't let him defeat my heart! "My turn! Draw! I set one card and activate Card of Sanctity. We both draw until we hold six cards." Four shadows blossomed into Nightshroud's hand, while Yugi silently called to his deck. I am not afraid of him. The strength to survive is in these cards. Please, give me your strength.

Just as the other Yugi was worried they might not be able to reach, the field appeared before them, as though they floated outside a dome of glass. He and Anzu called Yugi's name, but there was no reaction, and their voices died away too quickly in this void. Then, when they saw Yugi activate his spell, they held their breath as Yugi prepared himself, drawing six cards all at once.

"This is it, Nightshroud! I call upon Wing of Penelope!" From the light appeared the orchid dragon, roar and stance strong. "Fuse with my spell, Swords of Revealing Light, to create a new power!" Drawn to her, the crosses of light spun her within their radiance, melting her form away into light. The brightness parted, revealing a new weapon - a true sword, with crystalline hilt and blade shining like the sun at its height. Buster Blader willingly replaced his sword for the luminous weapon, wielding it with all his ease. "The equip spell to erase the darkness - Piercing Light Sword! This sword appears with three spell counters on it." As the bright spheres appeared on the hilt, Yugi thought, Not only that, I can remove one of them to end his battle phase at will - three more turns safe from his monsters, instead of two! "But its real power lets me see through all your deception. With this spell, all face-down cards on your field are revealed to my sight! Go, illuminate the darkness!" Buster Blader, brandishing the sword like a torch, allowed the beam to fill to the far field.

"So you wish to see the card I have hidden? Very well. Activate trap, Eradicator Epidemic Virus, sacrificing Caius as the cost!" The monarch melted into a cloud of swirling particles, seething and moving like a swarm of insects.

"Sacrificing Caius? What have you done?"

"To use this trap costs a dark-attribute monster with at least 2500 attack. However, it releases a virus capable of destroying either all the spells or traps you possess."

"No! It can't be!"

"Eradicator Epidemic Virus, destroy all Yugi's spell cards!" The swarm broke, scattering in all directions before striking, smothering his field from every side. Buster Blader panicked, feeling the sword in his hands convulse violently before exploding into countless fragments.

"Penelope!"

"And this is only the beginning. The virus also destroys all spells in your hand, and will continue to do so until your third turn has ended." The cloud tightened its grip onto Yugi's wrist, sniffing out his cards and descending upon one. "Ah, you hold another spell."

Alarmed, Yugi looked up, seeing Nightshroud's piercing gaze sweeping the contamination.

But the other forestalled his surprise. "Of course, the virus lets me confirm every card you hold. Your face-down is the trap, Backup Soldier, and your hand holds one spell, Monster Reborn."

Outside the field, the other Yugi realized the true magnitude of those words. He saw every card Yugi holds. Without spells, Yugi might counter with traps, but now Nightshroud can anticipate all of them!

"I won't forgive you for destroying Penelope!"

"And how do you intend to respond?"

"You still think I can't fight back?"

"Can you? You have not shown much ability thus far."

"I... of course I can! Your strength isn't so great as you say it is. You gave up your ace monster for that trap, and now I can break your defenses. I summon Obnoxious Celtic Guard in attack mode!" The elf swordsman held his weapon at the ready, as did his larger comrades. "Celtic Guard, attack the first Metabo Token!" Leaping at the central fiend, the warrior swung his blade down, straight on target.

But the blade did not connect. Around Yugi rose an angry hum, and the token seized up, surging with a violent energy that crushed it into a sphere of shining power. The sword froze against the sphere, and for a moment all was still. Then, the sphere released its energy with a searing roar, and the blast caught its victim straight in the heart, obliterating him with only a single yell.

"What... what happened?"

"The other ability of Orichalcos Deuteros - when an opponent's monster attacks, I have the power to sacrifice one monster to negate your attack and destroy the attacking monster."

"It... can't be... All my attacks are sealed?"

"Of course not. You may attack any time you wish."

"You know I can't do that! I can't hand over my monsters to be destroyed!" The silent smile choked his throat, in all its galling confidence. "I end my turn."

"Do you see it now, Yugi? The thing you fear most?"

I won't be provoked by him. I won't even respond!

"Draw. Set two cards and one monster. Then I activate the power of Orichalcos Deuteros." His life points rose to 6000, and he continued, "For all your words, you have not damaged me. You suspected this might happen, though you refused to admit it to yourself. Tell me, has the nameless Pharaoh undergone great trials?"

"What? I mean..." The words torn from him, he finished, "Of course he has."

"Has he faced strong, terrifying opponents and defeated them also?"

"You already know he has!"

"Am I a strong, terrifying opponent?"

"You're nothing! Mou hitori no boku could defeat you easily!"

"But you cannot, and this is what you fear."

"Sh... stop talking!"

"You know the nameless Pharaoh is a great duelist. You know many champion duelists. But the strongest enemies are always met by them, not by you. They are special; they are unique. As for you... you are only an observer to this, dragged into battle by those chosen to fight. You are merely the vessel, chosen by chance and not by merit. Though you have tried to convince yourself otherwise, you refuse to exalt yourself, knowing how fiercely such pride would dominate you. You fear, and rightly so, that despite all you would say, you are really no better than anyone else."

Far away, hidden voices protested violently against his voice, begging Yugi to not listen, yelling for the shadow to be silent. Nothing was heard by the shaking duelist within the boundary, clenching his fists repeatedly.

"Now you see, Yugi. End turn."

"You... I'll withstand anything you try to do! I won't be beaten! My draw!"

"Reveal the card to me."

Silently, for the barest instant, Yugi revealed Beta the Magnet Warrior, then shuffled it into his hand. "I set one card and one monster. Turn end."

"Draw. Activate spell, Different Dimension Capsule, allowing me to remove a card from my deck and add it to my hand in two turns. I promise you, Yugi: this card will unleash nightmares you have never faced before!"

He's probably bluffing again. He wants to distract me from his other down cards. A destructive effect would be helpful, but without my spells, it won't be easy.

But Nightshroud was already there. "Activate spell, Magic Reflector. This card places a counter on my spell, preventing the capsule from being destroyed once." As Yugi glared at the now-shrouded capsule, realizing its true importance, Nightshroud asked in what was meant to be a hurt voice, "Yugi, did you doubt the openness of my intentions?" Continuing regardless, he called, "Set one monster, and activate Deuteros' ability," his life rising to 8000. "Now it is time for the bottomless darkness to test your limits. Flip summon, Brain Jacker." The hidden monster appeared, a winged brain with a protruding eye that glanced about, sighted its target and leapt straight at the face of Buster Blader.

Frantically, the swordsman tried to pull the grotesque creature away, but Yugi could only watch as it sickeningly sunk into his monster's head. The wings protruding dully, Buster Blader became calm and leapt to the opposing field. "What did you do?"

"When flipped, Brain Jacker becomes a spell equipped to the opponent's monster, giving me control over that monster." Horrified, Yugi saw Buster Blader stand tall between the two tokens, protecting all the cards on Nightshroud's back row. "Because you are Buster Blader's enemy now, his power increases from the dragon in your grave to 3600 total. Go, Buster Blader - attack Dark Magician!" Seal burning, sword shining, the warrior struck out at the sorcerer.

"Activate trap, Shift! I switch the attack to my face-down monster!" In a flash, Dark Magician and the hidden card exchanged places, and the blade crushed the imp within easily. "With Sangan destroyed, I can move a monster to my hand - Kuriboh!"

"A curious choice... But, it is obvious. That is one of the monsters bound closest to your heart, is it not?" Occupied in shuffling his hand again, Yugi did not answer. "It must be sentimental, as its ability contradicts your current plight. Kuriboh is meant to be a defense for when things have gone very wrong for you. The fact you choose him means you must lack faith in your monsters after all."

"Take that back!" Anzu and the other Yugi gasped at the vehemence of this recent outburst. "My monsters do not lack faith in each other, and I do not lack faith in them!"

"Then we will see how well they protect you, for my ability to attack varies beyond the reach of your defenses. End turn."

"I draw!" Confident, he showed, "Here's my card, Valkyrion!"

"And here is mine. Activate continuous trap, Bad Reaction to Simochi. You see, Brain Jacker has a second effect: the original owner of the controlled monster gains 500 life points in each of his standby phases. However, my trap changes all healing of your life into damage."

"What?" But the purple glow had already spread across Buster Blader's head, erupting into an electrical surge causing him to clutch his brow tightly. And then Yugi knew no more - the pain was in him, through his head, down his spine, convulsing his limbs and escaping from his screaming mouth. All at once it faded, and his life fell to 3100, but it felt like it should be much lower. "That... won't stop me... activate trap, Backup Soldier! Let's test your foresight, Nightshroud. This lets me return three monsters from my grave to my hand if they have 1500 or less attack and no effect. I recover Alpha the Magnet Warrior, Gamma the Magnet Warrior, and Giant Soldier of Stone! Then I discard Alpha, Beta, and Gamma to the grave to summon my trump card." Above him appeared the sword-bearing, horseshoe-powered, and spring-fisted fighters, disassembling to components that swarmed and reformed under their own direction. "Go, Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!" Complete, the champion landed to the field, 3500 attack strong.

"Three cards fused as one. But even this is not strange to me. Activate quick-play spell, Demise of the Land. By your special summon, I can respond with this, allowing me to activate a field spell from my deck."

"It can't be!"

"Activate Orichalcos Tritos!" Around them spiraled the third border, the triple boundary of runes and intensifying magic. As it settled to a stop, solidifying the barrier around them, the hiss of flowing shadow lowered to a predatory rumble. Yugi's friends were nearly cast away, but tirelessly they willed themselves to remain. The other Yugi silently prayed his companion could withstand the pressures to come. Anzu whispered Yugi's name, her unease growing at the sight of his clenched fists.

Stalwart as his new monster, he called, "I end my turn."

Anzu wondered, "Mou hitori no Yugi... he doesn't have any traps left. Is he saving Dark Magician by destroying Valkyrion?"

"Aibou... no, he would never do that. He might- he must have something else!"

Already, the phantom closed in. "Draw card. Activate Deuteros' power, raising my life points to 10000. Buster Blader - destroy the Dark Magician!" Again, the mighty warrior leapt in to attack.

"Monster ability, activate!" Dark Magician crossed his arms, and a barrier of voltage surrounded him, stopping the sword cold in its arc. "By excluding Electromagnetic Turtle from my grave, your battle phase is finished. You won't be able to hurt my monsters so easily. But of course you saw that coming, didn't you?"

"Turn end."

"Then you know as well as I do that my turn has ended three times since your virus appeared. My spells are free, and I promise I'll draw the card to break your strength this turn. Draw!"

"Brain Jacker combo, activate." Buster Blader's seizure, severe as it was, did not match Yugi's convulsing screams, staggering as his life points fell to 2600. But presently, Yugi's eyes flashed open, and he forced himself to look at what card he held. His mouth creased into a snickering smile, and he yelled, "This is the spell, Nightshroud! Activate, Dark Magic Attack!" Dark Magician's staff glowed brightly, quaking from the energy within. "Deuteros can't seal this attack, because now my monster uses a spell to destroy your cards!"

"Have you forgotten Tritos? Its ability is to protect all my monsters from your spells and traps."

"That's too bad, because it's not your monsters I'm attacking!"

"What?"

"Dark Magician, activate your power to destroy all his spell and trap cards! Dark Magic Attack!" The staff swung, and the power shot forth, crushing all parts of the far field, including Buster Blader, whose frightened voice suddenly cut out as the winged energy on his head broke. Shaken, the seal faded from his brow, and he leapt back to Yugi's field with fresh eyes. "The Brain Jacker combo is gone!"

"By removing the reflector's counter, my capsule is not destroyed, though my other two cards are," recited Nightshroud, as the sphere disintegrated from the lone spell.

"But my three monsters are reunited. Nightshroud! Just as Dark Magician rescued Buster Blader from your control, so will their union keep them alive. This is the bond that cannot be broken!" Dark Magician, Valkyrion and Buster Blader stood together, weapons ready, eyes set for battle. "Turn end."

"Draw card. Yugi, you will regret your haste. You have not known darkness until now. Different Dimension Capsule, open." Receiving the hidden card, he called, "Summon Magical Scientist in attack mode!" The dark-glassed doctor with 800 attack had no sooner appeared than his master called, "Set one card. Flip summon, Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV 4!" The metallic eagle-beaked dragon's eyes burned to 2100 strength. "I also activate the ability of Magical Scientist: by paying 1000 life points, I may summon a fusion monster for one turn."

"What? Any fusion monster?"

"The monster I choose must be level 6 or less. But that is enough power for this. Summon, Sanwitch in attack mode." The three-eyed magician's strength grew to 2600. "I activate this ability again, summoning another Sanwitch in attack mode."

Those monsters aren't strong enough beat Buster Blader, now that he has a dragon on his field, but they can beat Dark Magician! "This is your plan, to cover your field with fusion monsters?"

"Activate Deuteros' ability, recovering my life points to 11000. Activate spell, Level Up! Horus, advance to your next level - LV 6!" The darkness enveloped the dragon head to claw, growing and filling it until it stood taller than any of Yugi's monsters, wings spreading wide.

"2800 attack!" But Buster Blader is at 3600 now!

"To summon my next monster, I must sacrifice two spellcasters of level 6 or higher. I offer both Sanwitch monsters as tributes!" The witches, bathed in circles of energy from below, melted into ghosts that merged into one magical circle of power at the center of Nightshroud's field. Upon combining, the circle turned a furious red, and with a roar, it delivered the monster rising from within. Muscles flexed, hair wild, black robes like iron, his magical staff crackled with the energy flowing from the seal's darkness. "Rise, Sorcerer of Dark Magic!" His eyes snapped open, surging by the seal to 3700 attack.

Not him... it can't be him!

"Go, Horus LV 6 - destroy Dark Magician!" The dark fire launched forth from the dragon's throat in a roaring volcanic blast. This time, nothing stood in the way, and the explosion towered like a funeral pyre as Yugi's monster broke and disappeared.

"No! Dark Magician!"

"Sorcerer of Dark Magic - destroy Buster Blader!" Swinging his mighty scepter, the warlock brought it crashing down to the ground, catapulting a sphere of raw darkness that ripped up the earth in its wake. The impact with the swordsman deafened Yugi, the catastrophic shockwave nearly drowning out the sight of his warrior's demise.

Gasping and shaking, no clear words managed to emerge, and his mind struggled even to grasp what he had just seen. All at once... the twin aces of my deck... mou hitori no boku and me... I was supposed to keep them together, keep us together! How could I let this happen?

"At the end of my turn, when Horus LV 6 has defeated a monster, his ability activates!" The dark shroud, deeper than before, feeding and transforming the dragon, opened to reveal a terrifying monster, clawed arms outstretched, broad wings flexed, fierce face set on its prey. The seal, adding to its fiery eyes, burned at 3500 attack. "Summon Horus LV 8! End turn."

Yugi's breath caught in his throat. Something's not right. Nightshroud had that level spell in his hand last turn. He waited until my defenses were gone so that he could summon the highest form all at once. Why put so much value on that, unless- "Horus has the power to destroy spells!"

Thunderstruck at these words, Anzu and the other Yugi's surprise changed to creeping fear as Nightshroud laughed. "Correct. You have played this sorcerer in the past, so you already know his power, to seal any trap I choose. And now, you see my dragon grants me the ability to seal any spell I choose."

Anzu wailed, "It can't be! Mou hitori no Yugi, he's lying, isn't he?"

"No, that is the sorcerer's power, and I can feel the energy from that dragon. He's right; with those monsters together, as soon as a spell or trap is activated, he has the power to negate and destroy it!" And with 11000 life against 2200...

"This is the ultimate seal, Yugi," Nightshroud chanted. "Each of these monsters is the match of the other, the two halves of the negation combo. This is the darkness you must defeat, before it closes in and smothers you completely."

"No... no, I won't give up!" Every word was torn from his heart and throat, his friends torn with anguish to see the pressure he was under, but he managed to say, "My turn."