A Black Rose by Any Other Name
Chapter Ten: Beast's Wrath
Josh stood before the Phantom Thief with his Duel Disk activate. "Well are you going to activate your Duel Disk or shall I keep up with my threat and kick some teeth out of your head?"
"Patience, is a virtue Joshua Atlas, but yes let's duel so I may collect your Red Dragon Archfiend," the masked man smirked, activating his Duel Disk.
"Maybe you should take off that mask and show me your face.....Aaron Zebel," Josh said.
The Phantom Thief gasped. "How do you know my name, boy?"
"Quite simple really, we've faced off before and I never forget an opponent or their voice," Josh explained.
The Phantom Thief smirked and pulled his mask off his face and threw it down, then he grabbed the brim of his hand and tossed its behind him. He had curly dark brown hair and grey eyes. "Yes I remember you now, it was a Pro League Exhibition match and you were the random person in the audience who was selected to duel me, five years ago," he said.
"Yes and shortly after that you vanished under mysterious circumstances, most people assumed you had died it some sort of accident, who knew you'd become such scum," Josh spat.
"Heh, heh I left because I was bored, duelling had lost the thrill, so when someone offered me more I gladly took their offer," Aaron laughed.
"I didn't ask for your life story, now let's duel!" Josh shouted.
"Yes lets," Aaron said as both Life Points counter's hit 8000.
(Josh: 8000) ---- (Aaron: 8000)
"I'll start us off by summoning Lance Lindwurm to the field!" from behind Josh appeared a humanoid Dragon that appeared to be dressed in bronze armor, in its hands it held a dual pointed lance. (ATK 1800/DEF 1200)
"Yes still using your Dragon Beatdown Deck I see," Aaron commented.
"Of course but I've vastly improved it, you told me I was a million years too early to defeat you five years ago, well I'm going to show that I've changed!" Josh declared.
"I'll end my turn by setting two cards face down!" he said.
While the two were distracted with the duel they failed to notice the small pink skinned creature watching them. She turned and flew off around the corner.
"Hmmm, a fairy normal start, but in the end I'll shall still be victorious and to prove this point I shall activate Necrovalley!" the two suddenly found themselves in the sacred burial ground.
"This sure brings back crappy memories, and I know what it does," Josh said. "Your Gravekeeper's gain 500 points for attacking and defending and any effects that target the Graveyard are negated."
"Very good, now I summon Gravekeeper's Descendant," the blond haired man jumped onto the field and smirked when he saw Josh. (ATK 1500-2000/DEF 1200-1700)
"Attack his Lindwurm with Spell of the Afterlife!" the man raised his staff and fired a burst of darkness blowing Lance Lindwurm to shards.
(Josh: 7800) ---- (Aaron: 8000)
"I activate Dragonic Spirit, since a Dragon type monster on my side of the field was destroy by battle I can Special Summon another one from my Deck so long as it's the same level as the destroyed monster, and I choose my Rare Metal Dragon!" in a burst of light appeared a large Dragon with a hide that appeared to be made out of steel with spikes covering its back. (ATK 2400/DEF 1200)
"Hmmm, good choice, I'll set a card face down and end my turn," Aaron said.
"I'll release my Rare Metal Dragon to call out the mighty Strong Wind Dragon!" a portal opened up and Rare Metal Dragon jumped inside. From the portal flew a large Dragon with dark green-blue scales. (ATK 2400/DEF 1000)
"And I think you'll like his effect, because you see since I used a Dragon to summon him he gains half that Dragon's attack points!" a spectral version of Rare Metal Dragon phased into Strong Wind Dragon. (ATK 2400-3600/DEF 1000)
"Attack Gravekeeper's Descendant with Strong Hurricane!" the powerful Dragon reared its head back and then fired power blast of wind that slammed into the blond man shattering him like glass.
(Josh: 7800) ---- (Aaron: 6400)
"Now I'll end my turn," Josh smirked.
"Valiant effort Joshua, but in the end as I said I shall be victorious and I shall activate my Rite of Spirit Trap card to prove that!" the strange alter burst out of the ground and with it Gravekeeper's Descendant was returned to being one of the living. (ATK 1500-2000/DEF 1200-1700)
"Next I shall summon Gravekeeper's Curse!" the man with the question mark shaped staff appeared and the yellow aura surrounding Josh, who gritted his teeth in pain. (ATK 800-1300/DEF 800-1300)
(Josh: 7300) ---- (Aaron: 6400)
"I'll activate my Gravekeeper's Descendant's effect and release my Gravekeeper's Curse to destroy your Strong Wind Dragon!" Gravekeeper's Curse dissolved into grains of light and Gravekeeper's Descendant fired a bolt energy eradicating Strong Wind Dragon.
"I activate Dark Wall of Wind!" Josh shouted as a cyclone of wind surrounded him. "Now monsters you control can't attack me directly this turn!"
"Hmmm, no matter I'll set a card face down and that shall be all," Aaron shrugged.
Josh drew and scowled. "I'll set a monster face down and end my turn," he grumbled.
"Heh, heh not having very good luck are we, well my luck seems to be much better, because will release my Gravekeeper's Descendant to unleash the deadly Gravekeeper's Chief!" the leader of the Gravekeeper's appeared where Gravekeeper's Descendant had just been. (ATK 1900-2400/DEF 1200-1700)
"Thanks to his effect Gravekeeper's Descendant will be returning!" Gravekeeper's Chief gestured and his descendant appeared. (ATK 1500-2000/DEF 1200-1700)
"Gravekeeper's Chief attack with Spell of the Afterlife!" the lead Gravekeeper's fired a blast of magic blowing a Masked Dragon to pieces.
"Thanks now I can Special Summon a weak Dragon from my Deck and I'll go with another Masked Dragon!" the red and white scaled Dragon appeared and crouched defensively. (ATK 1400/DEF 1100)
"Fine I'll have Gravekeeper's Descendant attack that trash!" the blond haired man fired his attack vaporizing the hapless Dragon.
"Well this time I'll call out Magna Drago!" the crimson scaled arrow headed Dragon appeared in a burst of flames. (ATK 1400/DEF 600)
"Hmph you're simply delaying the inevitable," Aaron said.
"That has got to be the single most clichéd villainous line I've ever heard, and is that all you're going to do this turn?" Josh asked.
Aaron looked over his hand and then nodded.
Josh drew and grinned. "Perfect, I activated Dragon Draw and since the only type of monster I control is Dragons I can draw two new cards!" Magna Drago began to glow and Josh pulled two cards off the top of his Deck.
"Now I'll summon my Star Dragon!" a thin Dragon with a jet black hide crawled onto the field. (ATK 1700/DEF 1100)
"And when he's Summoned I can select one monster on the field and then his level is treated as the selected monster's level until the end of the turn, and you know what I'll choose your Gravekeeper's Chief" five white stars appeared along Star Dagon's side. (LVL: 4-5)
"Now I'll tune my level two Magna Drago with my now level five Star Dragon....." he began.
"Behold the earth shaking power of the king's mightiest servant! His roar causes enemies to flee in terror! Synchro Summon and decimate Exploder Dragonwing!"
Magna Drago flew into the air with Star Dragon following behind. The red Dragon became two green rings that surrounded the stellar Dragon reducing it to framework.
From the flash of light emerged the dark purple scaled Dragon. It threw back its head and roared. (ATK 2400/DEF 1600)
"Exploder Dragonwing attack his Gravekeeper's Descendant with King Storm," the new Dragon threw back its head and then fired a blast of flames that headed towards the younger Gravekeeper.
"Now I activate his effect King's Wrath, which destroys your monster before damage calculation and hits your Life Points for damage equal to Gravekeeper's Descendant's current attack points!" the flames consumed the blond haired man before he could even cry out. They then flew forward and slammed into Aaron.
Only for a little girl with pink hair in a white dress with a hat shaped like a sheep to appear. She chanted and a glowing circle appeared around Aaron deflecting the flames.
"Heh, heh like my Pikeru's Circle of Enchantment thanks to this handy Trap card all damage to me done by a card effect his reduced to zero," Aaron laughed.
"Whatever at least I destroyed that annoying bastard," Josh said. "Now I'll set a card face down and end my turn."
"So far you've been doing quite well Joshua, but now it won't matter because I release my Gravekeeper's Chief to call out the only person higher among the Gravekeeper's than him, Gravekeeper's Visionary!" Gravekeeper's Chief bowed his head and vanished. In his place appeared the jackal headed high priest. (ATK 2000-2500/DEF 1800-2300)
"Of course I take it you remember his effect, and that is he gains 200 attack points for each Gravekeeper's monster my Graveyard and I have three," Aaron explained. (ATK 2500-3100/DEF 2300)
"Attack his Exploder Dragonwing with your Wrath of Ra!" the jackal headed priest fired a blast of energy that struck the purple scaled Dragon causing it to cry out in pain before it exploded into pixels.
(Josh: 6600) ---- (Aaron: 6400)
"Heh, heh now our scores are close," Aaron sneered.
"I'll change that pretty quickly mark my words!" Josh shouted.
"Hmmm, well we'll see then won't we," Aaron mused. "I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."
Josh grimaced when he saw his next card. "I'll set this monster face down and that's all I can do."
"Well Joshua it seems you were wrong because I am about to alter the scores, and quite drastically, because I shall now call forth Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier!" the spear wielding Gravekeeper jumped onto the field brandishing his weapon. (ATK 1500-2000/DEF 1000-1500)
"Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier attack his face down monster with Guardian Spear!" Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier rushed forward and impaled a humanoid Dragon with leather armor on, holding a shield and a machete.
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 6400)
"That was my Troop Dragon and since it was destroyed by battle I get to Special Summon another one from my Deck and it'll obviously be in defense mode," another Dragon man appeared holding his shield up to defend himself. (ATK 700/DEF 800)
"Visionary destroy it with Wrath of Ra!" the priest fired another blast of energy reducing the Dragon to ashes.
"I'll call out another!" another Dragon man appeared again holding his shield up to defend himself.
"I'll end my turn," Aaron sighed. "This is starting to get boring I had planned to crush Reina Fudo and steal her Black Rose Dragon by now."
"Ha," Josh laughed. "Do you really think you could possibly beat Reina, you think too highly of yourself, I may not like her but I respect her skills as a duelist and that's because she's a powerful opponent."
"And yet I am defeating you but that doesn't matter right now, make your move or surrender," Aaron said.
"Fine I release Troop Dragon to call out Kaiser Glider!" Troop Dragon vanished and the Dragon that seemed to be made of gold flew onto the field and let loose a powerful shriek. (ATK 2400/DEF 2200)
"Kill his Spear Soldier with Golden Fire!" Kaiser Glider began to spew fire from its maw until it covered its body. It streaked forward and slammed into Gravekeeper's Spear Solider causing him to burst into flames.
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 6000)
"Fool you've only made my Visionary stronger," Aaron laughed. (ATK 3100-3300/DEF 2300)
"I'm well aware of that so I'll set a card face down and end my turn," Josh smirked.
"Don't get full of yourself, you haven't won yet and I'm still ahead in all factors of this duel, I have hand, field and Life Points advantage, what do you have one pathetic little Dragon," Aaron spat.
"Visionary destroy it with your Wrath of Ra!" the priest raised his staff and fired a blast of energy that reduced Kaiser Glider to slag.
"I reveal my face down card Hallowed Life Barrier so for this turn only all damage from your cards and effects are reduced to zero and all it costs me is one card," Josh said sliding a card in his hand into the Graveyard.
"You only have one card left on the field and one card in your hand and my Visionary stands strong, you should just surrender and spare yourself the pain," Aaron said tauntingly.
"I'll only tell you this once! That will happen when hell itself freezes over and Satan himself offers free sleigh rides!" Josh roared. "Plus look at your mighty Visionary."
Much to Aaron's horror Gravekeeper's Visionary vanished in a burst of light. "What just happened!" he demanded.
"That would be Kaiser Glider's effect, since it was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard one monster on the field is returned to its owner's hand and your Visionary was the only monster on the field at the time," Josh snickered.
Aaron snarled. "You little bastard you tricked me!" he howled.
"No you simply never asked what Kaiser Glider's effect was I would've happily told you now are going to end your turn before or after that vein on your forehead explodes?" Josh asked.
"I'll summon my Gravekeeper's Cannonholder," the cannon wielding man that Aaron used against Melissa appeared on the field. (ATK 1400-1900/DEF 1200-1700)
Josh drew and grinned. "I summon Luster Dragon," a Dragon whose scales appeared to be carved out of sapphire jumped onto the field and snarled at Aaron. (ATK 1900/DEF 1600)
"Now let's get out of this crappy valley and go to a place I truly like, so I play Den of the Red Dragon!" the ground began to shake and the valley was demolished and replaced with a large volcanic mountain range. (ATK 1900-1400/DEF 1700-1200)
"Now I activate Call of the Haunted to revive Kaiser Glider!" the ground exploded and Kaiser Glider jumped out. (ATK 2400-2700/DEF 2200-2500)
"I don't get it what does this place do?" Aaron asked.
"It's actually pretty useful for Dragon duelists like myself for you see all Dragons that are level five or higher gain 300 attack and defense points and it also has another effect but we'll get to that if we have to, for now Luster Dragon attack his Cannonholder with Sapphire Slasher," Luster Dragon snarled and charged forward and slashed the cannon wielding man into pieces.
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 5500)
"Kaiser Glider attack him directly with Golden Flames!" Kaiser Glider bathed itself in fire and streaked forward.
"I activate Spellbinding Circle, so now your Glider is trapped, it can't attack nor can it change battle modes," Aaron laughed as a mystical circle appeared around Kaiser Glider immobilizing it.
"Damn, fine I'll end my turn," Josh growled.
Aaron drew and scowled "I'll set a monster face down and that's all I can do," he muttered.
"That's all you are Zebel is talk, our scores are almost tied and I now hold field advantage," Josh smirked.
"And now I'll activate Pot of Greed," the grinning jar appeared and Josh snapped two cards off the top of his Deck.
"I release Kaiser Glider to call out Tiger Dragon!" Kaiser Glider disappeared leaving the circle to hang in the air. And in its place appeared a large Dragon covered in orange fur with black stripes. (ATK 2400-2700/DEF 1800-2100)
"Now since I released a Dragon to call this guy out I can destroy up to two of your face down Spell or Trap cards, but since you only have one I'll take it out!" Tiger Dragon breathed a ball of fire that slammed in to Aaron's face down but he only laughed.
Where the face down card used to be a large gold sarcophagus covered with jewels appeared. "Fool you just destroyed my Dark Coffin which activates its effect, you must now choose, lose one random card in your hand, although you only have one, or destroy a monster of your choosing," Aaron laughed.
Josh sighed. "I hate to do this but Luster Dragon goodbye," the coffin appeared below Luster Dragon and pulled it in.
"Tiger Dragon attack with Strike Burst," Tiger Dragon's claws began to glow and it flew forward and cleaved the face down monster in two.
"Thank you because you just destroyed my Gravekeeper's Spy and now I can call out a Gravekeeper's monster with 1500 or less attack points I think I'll call out another Spy," a man with a turban wrapped around his head and like most of the other Gravekeeper's he wore a black cloak. (ATK 1200/DEF 2000)
"I'll set a face down and end my turn," Josh said sliding his last card into his Duel Disk.
"Well I hope you've been waiting to meet an old friend so welcome back Gravekeeper's Visionary and I now have seven Gravekeeper's in my Graveyard," the jackal headed priest appeared on the field and seemed to glare at Josh. (ATK 2000-3400/DEF 1800)
"Well that won't matter in about a second because I activate Fiendish Chain and select your Visionary so now it cannot attack and its effects are negated!" Josh said as chains burst out of the ground and snared the priest. (ATK 3400-2000/DEF 1800)
"Damn you Joshua Atlas," Aaron snarled. "I will set a card face down and end my turn."
Josh drew and smirked. "Time to bring out my heavy hitter, I summon Dread Dragon," the brown Dragon with dreadlocks flew onto the field. (ATK 1100/DEF 400)
"Now I tune my level six, Tiger Dragon with my level two, Dread Dragon....." he began.
"Twisting torrents of hellfire signal the king's arrival, his very presence makes his enemies quake in fear. Bow down and behold! Synchro Summon Red Dragon Archfiend!"
Dread Dragon flew into the air and became two green rings that surrounded Tiger Dragon, this reduced it to framework. The light exploded revealing the demonic looking Dragon who roared causing geysers of lava to erupt from the surrounding volcanoes. (ATK 3000-3300/DEF 2000-2300)
"Now the second effect of my Den of the Red Dragon would activate but the right conditions haven't been met, oh well."
"Red Dragon Archfiend attack his monster with Absolute Power Force!" Red Dragon Archfiend roared as its hand burst into flames. He flew forward and slashed Gravekeeper's Visionary causing the priest to cry out in pain as he was consumed by the flames.
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 4200)
"I activate my face down card the dreaded Pyramid of Light!" the ball of light flew out of the card and four beams of light spilt from it forming the pyramid shape.
"Am I supposed to be scared? Your shiny pyramid hasn't done anything," Josh said.
"Oh you'll soon know the meaning of terror, just end your turn for now," Aaron said ominously.
"Fine I end my turn," Josh said.
"I give up 1000 Life Points to Special Summon Sphinx Teleia and Andro Sphinx both in defense mode," the female sphinx with crimson hair and a lion like body appeared in a burst of light. (ATK 2500/DEF 3000) A moment later the male of the two appeared with his golden mane and dark blue armor. (ATK 3000/DEF 2500)
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 3200)
"I am not impressed, you summoned two monsters that are clearly weaker than Red Dragon Archfiend, the fish they served in the cafeteria last week smelled better than this," Josh said.
"I'll end my turn," Aaron said much to Josh's shock.
"Ok he's up to something, it's like he wants be to attack those two monstrosities, but should I pass up an opportunity like this?" Josh asked himself.
"Red Dragon Archfiend attack his Sphinx Teleia with Absolute Power Force!" Red Dragon Archfiend roared and struck Teleia with his burning hand.
"Now his effect activates and since he attacked a defense mode monster all monsters in defense mode are destroyed, Demon Meteor!" Red Dragon Archfiend opened his maw and spewed fire incinerating the sphinxes.
"Now the third effect of my Den of the Red Dragon activates and for every monster destroyed by his Demon Meteor effect you get hit for 500 points of damage!" Red Dragon Archfiend roared and spat two balls of flame that struck Aaron.
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 2200)
"Heh, heh, well I activate the effect of my ultimate monster, I pay 500 Life and then I get to call out Theinen the Great Sphinx!" the Pyramid of Light began to flash and a massive blast of light struck the field. Josh covered his eyes but when he uncovered them he couldn't help but gasp. The monster that appeared was huge, from the waist down it had the body of Sphinx Teleia only with larger wings but from the waist up it had the body of Andro Sphinx. (ATK 3500/DEF 3000)
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 1700)
"Holy crap," Josh gasped.
"Look upon the instrument of your destruction and my instrument of claiming your Red Dragon!" Aaron laughed.
"I'll set a card face down and end my turn," Josh said.
"Fool in the end that won't save you!" Aaron declared. "I activate Brain Control and all I have to do is pay 800 Life Points and then for this turn your Red Dragon Archfiend is mine!" a large brain floated up behind Aaron and two ghostly hands stretched out and grabbed Red Dragon Archfiend and pulled it over to Aaron's side of the field.
(Josh: 5400) ---- (Aaron: 900)
"You wouldn't dare," Josh growled.
"Don't I have no plans to attack you with your own monster, but I will activate Megamorph which since my Life Points are lower than yours doubles my Theinen's original attack points!" a strange symbol appeared on Theinen's chest and he started to grow until he was twice his original size. (ATK 3500-7000/DEF 3000)
"End this with Judgement Flames!" Theinen opened his mouth and began to gather blue flames. He roared unleashing a hellish torrent of fire towards Josh.
"I activate Waboku!" someone jumped in front of Josh and a clear barrier appeared around him and the other person.
(Josh: 0) ---- (Aaron: 900)
"Looks like I jumped in just in time," the person said snapping Josh out of the trance he was in. They tapped him on the forehead. "Josh are you alright, any injuries?"
Josh shook his head. "Reina what are you doing here?" he asked. The person standing in front of him was indeed Reina.
"Well saving your ungrateful butt it looks like, but I came to bring that guy down," she said pointing to Aaron. "I had Rose Fairy tracking him and she alerted me to where he was. I got here about the same time you first took out his Visionary."
"Good, Ms. Fudo you're here then I have no need to track you down," Aaron grinned.
"Save it buddy, now come quietly or I'll drag you in kicking and screaming or rather my monsters will," Reina said with a smirk.
"Oh will you?" Aaron asked.
"Yes now deactivate your Duel Disk or prepare for some pain," Reina threatened.
"Hmmm, that doesn't sit very well with me, no you see I'm calling the shots, and if you don't do as I say I'll tear this into tiny pieces," he said holding up the Red Dragon Archfiend card.
"You wouldn't dare," Reina and Josh both growled.
"Maybe I would maybe I wouldn't, but if Ms. Fudo agrees to duel me with her Black Rose Dragon on the line, then this card will live to see another day," Aaron said.
"Ok not that I'm questioning this deal or anything but wouldn't it make more sense to just force me to hand over Black Rose Dragon?" Reina asked.
"Yes that would be easier but much, much less fun, I prefer to enjoy myself and experience the thrill of the hunt so I'll duel you and when I defeat you as I defeated Mr. Atlas I will take Black Rose Dragon and you'll never see it again," Aaron laughed.
"Bring it on scum," Reina growled activating her Duel Disk.
Zeke: Man even Josh failed to beat this guy.
Rob: Ya, but Reina can win, I know it.
Melissa But he defeated Josh you know the guy who beat Reina a few days ago.
Rob: Yes but Reina has beaten Josh before as well, so we have to hope and pray.
Zeke: Well I believe in Reina.
Alexandria: Reina squares off against Aaron Zebel with two of the five Dragons hanging in the balance, don't miss The Black Rose's Might.
Josh: You can't lose Reina. Also the guy who calls himself our boss doesn't own Yu-gi-oh!
Original Cards
Dragonic Spirit
Image: The spirit of a Red-Eyes Black Dragon rising out of King Dragun's body.
| Trap | Activate this card when a Dragon type monster on your side of the field is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard. Select and Special Summon one Dragon type monster from your Deck whose level matches the level of the destroyed monster.
Dark Wall of Wind
Image: A man surrounded by a swirling vortex of black wind.
| Quick-Play Spell | Monster's your opponent controls cannot attack you directly this turn.
(This card was first used by Yami Marik in episode 126 of the original Yu-gi-oh! Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.)
Dragon Draw
Image: Felgrand Dragon handing a duelist two cards.
| Spell | Activate this card when the only type of monster you control is Dragon. Draw two cards from your Deck.
Star Dragon
Light | Level 4 | Dragon/Effect | 1700/1100 | When this card is Summoned you may select one monster on the the field and have this monster's level be treated as the selected monster's level until the End Phase.
Den of the Red Dragon
Image: Several volcanic mountains with the silhouette of Red Dragon Archfiend sitting on one of them.
| Field Spell | All Dragon type monsters that are level 5 or higher gain 300 attack and defense points. When the controller of this card successfully Synchro Summons Red Dragon Archfiend you may destroy monsters in defense mode equal to the number of Synchro Material monsters used in its Synchro Summoning. When monsters your opponent controls are destroyed by the effect of Red Dragon Archfiend inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent for each monster destroyed.