Taming the Veil- Chapter Nine

Danger Revealed

"I wish you could stop showing off and just win your duels as quickly as I win mine. Then I wouldn't have to worry if I'd get to defeat you or not!" Marci said punching Aiden in the arm.

"Ouch! Come on Marci, what's the fun in ending a game so soon?"

"Whatever dude…"

Breaker turned in their direction, no doubt checking out his next opponent. Aiden tried to keep his eyes from straying away, but he just couldn't match his stare. Marci could, but she didn't feel what Aiden was feeling.

"It's time to wrap up the semi-finals! Breaker and Marci will be closing out the semi-finals, but just who will be the victor?"

Aiden had wanted to stop Marci from dueling, but that idea had been pointless for many reasons.

"Marci shall have the first move this round."

"I hope you're ready for defeat! I've got a rival to destroy in the finals!"

"Your defeat won't hurt too badly if you accept it… struggle and you'll be destroyed."

Marci wasn't even slightly fazed by Breaker's threat; she placed her cards and got ready to do her thing. They both played mana, first Marci, and then Breaker. When Marci's second turn came, she was able to summon her Brain Squirmer. It had 2000 power and was ready to attack. Breaker used his second turn to summon his Ambush Scorpion. It also had 2000 power. So far, the duel looked pretty even. Marci was up again and she was getting ready to make a fast win out of Breaker. She summoned her light creature, Sun-Stalk Seed (blocker 3000 power). She sent her Brain Squirmer to break a shield and hit the shield blast Sprout, giving breaker another card for his mana. He silently began his next turn. He played another card into his mana and then summoned two Brain Squirmers, ending his turn with that.

"What's wrong? Are you afraid to attack me? If you want, you can keep up this passive-play, but I'm not going to spare you while you do!"

Marci raised her mana total to four and summoned her light creature Star Lantern. It was a blocker with 3000 power and perfect for protecting her. She then attacked Breaker again and broke another shield blast. She hit Return to the Soil and lost her Star Lantern.

"Stop resisting. It'll only bring you greater displeasure."

"Shut up and take your turn!"

Breaker drew, and played a card into his mana zone so he could summon his Horrid Stinger. It was a darkness creature with 3000 power and gave all other Rot Worms (Brain Squirmer) an extra 2000 power. Things weren't looking up for Marci. Breaker attacked her Brain Squirmer with his, and sent it to the grave. He proceeded to break a shield with his other Brain Squirmer and then another with his Ambush Scorpion, but Marci's Sun-Stalk Seed blocked the attack.

"Get it together Marci! Don't let him keep pushing you!" Zane yelled.

You better not lose this one Marci!"

"Will you guys shut up? I've got this covered!"

Marci staggered back from the table slightly as Aiden started to help her, but she motioned for him to stay back, insisting that she was okay. She drew her card and summoned her Writhing Bone Ghoul. It was her strongest card, standing at 4000 power. It was just enough to keep up with Breaker's creatures, but she'd need to take out Horrid Stinger.

"I apologize for your ignorance. You've walked down a path you must now embrace as your own mistake."

"Oh yeah, well bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!"

Breaker drew and played mana once more. His total stood at six as he used four to summon his Grave Worm Hatchling. It had 3000 power and was another Rot Worm, so that meant its new strength was 5000. Breaker's Brain Squirmers attacked Marci, breaking two of her shields and causing a strange phenomenon to occur. Two cuts appeared quickly on her arms as her blood splattered on her forearms. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to shock her.

"Marci, are you okay!" Aiden yelled with concern.

"Stay out of this! This is my battle to fight no matter what weird things happen during it!"

One of Marci's shields was the shield blast SunShock. It let her tap Horrid Stinger, preventing another attack. Marci began her turn by playing a card in her mana and then summoning her Skeeter Swarmer (blocker/4000 power) and Keeper of Clouds (blocker/5000). Only her Keeper of Clouds could attack and it could only attack creatures. Her Skeeter Swarmer couldn't attack at all and then when it won a battle, it would go to the graveyard. They'd provide decent protection for the moment. In the meantime, her Sun-Stalk Seed and Writhing Bone Ghoul were able to attack and destroy Breaker's Horrid Stinger and Brain Squirmer. Breaker seemed hardly worried about Marci's comeback. When he took his turn, all he did was play a card into his mana. Marci was still confused about her cuts, but that didn't matter to her at the moment. She was closer to victory than ever. She drew a card and summoned her Keeper of Twilight. It was another blocker that could only attack creatures, but it had 6000 power. Things were looking up for Marci.

"You're finally about to meet your defeat Breaker! Overconfidence is a weak man's downfall."

Marci attacked Breaker again and hit the shield blast Sprout, giving Breaker his Eighth mana card.

"What do you have to say about that big guy?" she taunted.

"When you said overconfidence is a weak man's downfall… unfortunately for you, I'm not overconfident, nor weak. You're about to realize both of these facts quite soon."

Confused by Marci's cuts and the tone of this duel, the crowd stood skeptical, but the most were simply intrigued. Everyone watched as Breaker summoned the strongest card played in the finals by far. He summoned the darkness creature Gigargon. It was a double breaker and had an impressive 9000 power. Marci was overcome with surprise and worry.

"It's your turn little girl. Please try to keep me interested."

"Marci tried to stay strong, as she drew her next card. She summoned another Sun-Stalk Seed and her Ghost Spy. It only had 1000 power, but it could attack and when destroyed, Breaker would be forced to discard a card and Marci would get to draw one. She attacked with her Writhing Bone Ghoul and broke the shield blast Terror Pit, destroying her Keeper of Twilight. It was Breaker's turn and he was ready to get serious. He drew a card and summoned it right away. It was his Razorkinder. It was pricey (seven mana) and only had 4000 power, but it would destroy one of Marci's creatures when it entered the battle zone. It destroyed her keeper of clouds. He attacked with his creature, only to be blocked by Sun-Stalk Seed, and then he ended his turn. Marci quickly took her next card and played it. It was her Fumes. Upon entering the battle zone, it forced the opponent to discard a card, but Breaker didn't have any in his hand. At least its 2000 power would be useful to some degree. Marci attacked with her Ghost Spy and Broke the last shield, about to claim victory until breaker revealed his Terror Pit and took out her last attacker. She regretfully ended her turn, so close to victory. Breaker began his turn by drawing and then casting his Return to the Soil spell on fumes, sending it to the graveyard. Then he went for an all-out attack. Gigargon attacked Ghost Spy and Marci blocked it, losing her Sun-Stalk Seed. Then he attacked with Razorkinder, forcing Marci to block again with her Skeeter Swarmer. Both creatures got destroyed, but Breaker's Hatchling was able to get the job done. Marci was able to draw a card, but between the one she got from her Ghost Spy and the one she got at the start of her turn, she had nothing left to defend herself but a Skull Cutter. She'd have to pray her last two shields would save her…

"Marci, don't give up!" Aiden cheered.

She gazed down and saw cuts on her legs as well. She was wearing shorts that were up to her mid-thigh and the cuts encompassed her legs all the way down. She summoned her Skull Cutter, hardly able to stand, and ended her turn.

"As fun as this has been," breaker said drawing his card. "I'm afraid it's time we part ways little snowflake…"

Breaker summoned another Horrid Stinger, raising the power of all his creatures once more and attacked the first shield with Brain Squirmer. A small cut appeared on Marci's cheek as her shield broke, it wasn't a shield blast. She was still in danger. The last shield shattered from the Hatchling's attack. It was a shield blast! Sadly, the Bone Blades shield blast could destroy Gigargon. Marci was hardly able to stand, let alone cast it.

"This is the end of this charade."

Breaker attacked with Gigargon, causing a slight spray of blood to splatter from Marci's forehead as she lost the duel and fell to the ground. The crowd was in utter silence as Aiden watched his friend hit the ground in horror. Breaker lifted his mask slightly, giving Aiden a slight glimpse of a sadistic smile.