Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Virtual Nightmare
Episode 10: Forged by Fire, Part 2
Story by: jodalita
Written by: jodalita
Alexis and Lector of the Big Five face off in a duel, separated by a current of boiling lava. Out of the corners of the cave where they currently are, a young man slowly begins walking towards them. Alexis recognizes him immediately and begins running towards her brother, but is interrupted by Lector.
Lector (out loud): Hold it right there! Move one step away from the dueling field and I will consider that a forfeit. You will automatically lose the duel.
Alexis: But Atticus needs me.
Lector: You are in quite a predicament yourself, in case you forgot. Besides, there is nothing your brother can do to get you out of this.
Atticus, who has just started to notice all the things around him, begins moving towards them. He then sees Alexis, who seems to have scorch marks all over her skin and clothes, and reacts with excitement.
Atticus (confused): Alexis! What is going on here?
Lector: Welcome to the Virtual World, Mr. Rhodes. It wasn't in our interest for you to be here, but all the same… you are welcome to stay and watch your sister's final duel.
Alexis: Don't worry, Atticus. Just stand back and leave this duel to me. It's my turn, Lector.
Atticus looks at both duelists, then at the dueling field. Lector has a Backfire trap card and a Dark Room of Nightmare spell card active on the field, with two Fire monsters, Molten Zombie (ATK/1600) and Solar Flare Dragon (ATK/1500) in front of him. Behind Lector stands the imposing figure of his Deckmaster, Dark Ruler. Alexis has nothing on her side of the field other than Cyber Tutu, her Deckmaster, standing next to her.
Alexis = LP 400
Lector = LP 2600
Atticus: But… how? He can just wipe you out with no monsters on the field to protect you. And even if he doesn't attack, once his Solar Flare Dragon's effect activates at the end of his next turn, you will lose 500 life points and that is all you have left.
Alexis: Trust me, okay? I know what I'm doing.
Atticus (upset): You're delirious if you think I'm just going to stand aside and let you duel on your own.
Alexis (annoyed): I'm fine, really. Don't distract me.
Atticus: How can you act so selfish at a time like this? I'm offering you my help.
Lector (angry): ENOUGH! You'll have all the time in the world to argue as soon as I win this duel. I'm so close to winning your sister's body and finally being able to escape to the Real World. Now stand aside, Mr. Rhodes, if you please…
Atticus: You what? I don't think so. I have a proposition for you, Lector. What do you say you let my sister go and duel me instead?
Alexis (to Atticus): What do you think you're doing? I told you to stand back.
Lector: Why would I accept such an offer when I have already won? The answer is no.
Atticus (nervous): Okay… Well, how about this? Let me join the duel and form a tag team with my sister. If we win, we go free. If you win, you get both of our bodies. After all, I doubt you would want to spend the rest of your days in a girl's body.
Lector: Don't mock me, Mr. Rhodes! However, you do make a good point. After all, taking your body would be a much better reward than taking your sister's…
Alexis: Atticus, no! I don't want you to get involved in this.
Lector: Very well, I accept. I will duel both of you at the same time in a tag duel. However, we will continue the duel as it is right now.
Atticus (nodding): It's a deal.
Atticus quickly positions himself a few feet away from Alexis so that they are standing side by side. A Duel Disk suddenly materializes on his left arm.
Alexis: I told you I can handle this on my own. Why are you so stubborn?
Atticus: Would you relax? I'm trying to help you win this.
Alexis: But I we lose, Lector gets to keep both of our bodies. Did you think of that?
Atticus: Hey! What happened to "never give up"? Don't worry. Whatever happens next, we'll get through this together, I promise.
Alexis (sighing): That's what I'm worried about…
Lector (to Alexis): It seems that the rules of our duel have changed. Listen up… Your brother will join you as a team and each of you will get their respective turn. However, your life points will remain as they are, while your brother and I will be given an additional 4000 life points.
Atticus = LP 4000
Alexis = LP 400
Lector = LP 6600
Atticus: It's alright. No problem at all.
Alexis: You have no idea what this means. Now that he has more life points he can…
Lector (interrupting): That's enough talk between you two. And that reminds me… you are not allowed to discuss strategies with one another, not even my own. Do so and you will immediately lose the duel.
Lector flicks his fingers and a column of card appears in front of Atticus, startling him.
Lector: Whenever you're ready, Mr. Rhodes. Pick the cards that will form your deck. In the meantime, let me explain what the rules are here in the Virtual World.
While Atticus selects his cards, Lector explains the new rules along with the role of Deckmasters. Atticus seems to grasp the idea and after he finishes building his deck, he holds it and picks up one his cards.
Atticus: I choose Troop Dragon as my Deckmaster.
Two green skinned dragons equipped with lances appear behind Atticus as his Deckmaster. He shuffles his deck and puts it back in his Duel Disk.
Atticus: I'm ready and the first move goes to me (Draws). I summon Red-Eyes Black Chick (ATK/800).
A small red egg appears in front of Atticus. Suddenly, the egg begins to crack and a baby black dragon appears from inside.
Atticus (thinking): "Don't worry, Lexy. I'm going to protect you no matter what it takes, even if I have to give up my own body in the process."
Lector: Is that all?
Atticus: You wish. I activate his special ability. Now, all I have to do is sacrifice him in order to summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand!
Alexis (worried): Atticus, no! Wait…
Lector: Too late, I'm afraid. I activate my Deckmaster's special ability. By paying 1000 of my life points, Dark Ruler can negate the effect of your monster and destroy it. I guess we won't be seeing Red-Eyes any time soon.
Atticus = LP 4000
Alexis = LP 400
Lector = LP 5600
From behind Lector, Dark Ruler begins changing a laser beam, which immediately shoots towards Red-Eyes Black Chick, destroying it in a big explosion. Atticus is forced to cover his eyes from the blast.
Atticus (to Alexis): Oh… okay. So that's what you were trying to warn me about.
Alexis: Now he has enough life points to use that ability as many times as he wants.
Atticus: Don't worry, I got it covered. I play my Quick Summon spell card in order to summon another monster from my hand, such as my Masked Dragon in defense mode (DEF/1100). That's all, for now.
Lector: I'm disappointed, Mr. Rhodes. Is that really all you can do for your sister?
Atticus (to Alexis): Sorry I couldn't be of much help, Lex.
Alexis: Don't worry about it. Let's just win this. It's my turn (Draws) and I start by playing a spell card known as Monster Gate, but first I have to send my brother's Masked Dragon to the graveyard.
Atticus (surprised): Hey! That's my monster!
Alexis (to Atticus): You wanted to help, didn't you? As for Monster Gate's effect, I get to draw cards until I pick up a monster. The monster gets summoned to the field and the other cards I draw go straight to the graveyard.
As Atticus reluctantly puts Masked Dragon in his graveyard, Alexis begins to pick up the first card on the top of her deck. It is a monster and she immediately summons it to the field.
Alexis: I summon Cyber Prima in attack mode (ATK/2300)! Your Solar Flare Dragon can't be selected as an attack target as long as you have another Pyro type monster on the field, so I guess your Molten Zombie will have to take the hit. Cyber Prima, attack!
Atticus (loud): No, wait! Alexis, you'll lose the duel!
With an elegant pirouette, Cyber Prima approaches Lector's side of the field and destroys Molten Zombie with one swoop. Another explosion causes Lector to lose more life points.
Atticus = LP 4000
Alexis = LP 400
Lector = LP 4900
Lector (smiling): Your brother is right, you know? Thanks to my Backfire trap, now that one of my Fire monsters has been destroyed, you take 500 points of damage. Honestly, I never thought you would defeat yourself.
Alexis: Keep that thought 'cause I'm not done. I play the spell card, Soul of Pain, so I don't receive any damage and those 500 points are coming out of your life points instead.
Atticus = LP 4000
Alexis = LP 400
Lector = LP 4400
Alexis: I throw one card face down and activate the spell card, Mirage of Nightmare. That ends my turn.
Lector: What a waste of a move. You two are pathetic, not to mention predictable (Draws).
Alexis: Hold on. As soon as you draw, Mirage of Nightmare activates letting me draw until I'm holding 4 cards in my hand (Draws 4 cards). In addition to that I activate my face down card, Emergency Provisions. This spell card lets me destroy Mirage of Nightmare to raise my life points by 1000, so I'm safe for one more turn.
Atticus = LP 4000
Alexis = LP 1400
Lector = LP 4400
Lector: It doesn't make a difference. Summoning Cyber Prima was also pointless. Not only that, but you tried to leave your brother defenseless as well.
Atticus (to Alexis): He is right, you know? You could've at least warned me beforehand.
Alexis: Come on, Atticus. You know that's not true.
Lector (to Atticus): Don't you worry. She obviously wants to take you down with her and I'm willing to grant her wish. But enough talk, I summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4 (ATK/1600), but I'll get to that later. Now, Miss Rhodes, you wanted to destroy my monster? Now is your chance. Solar Flare Dragon (ATK/1500), attack Cyber Prima!
Atticus: But why? Your dragon is much weaker than Cyber Prima, unless…
At his command, Lector's dragon surrounds itself around Cyber Prima, ready to attack. However, she counterattacks and destroys it with a single kick. Lector holds himself in pain as a result.
Atticus = LP 4000
Alexis = LP 1400
Lector = LP 3700
Lector: I hope you already understand what's going on, don't you? Now that my monster has been destroyed, you'll receive 500 points of damage thanks to my Backfire trap, as well as an additional 300 points thanks to Dark Room of Nightmare. And, since this is a tag duel, you both take the hit.
This time around, two fire blasts are shot from Lector's trap card instead of one, hitting both Alexis and Atticus and reducing their life points by 800. They both hold themselves from the pain.
Atticus = LP 3200
Alexis = LP 600
Lector = LP 3700
Lector: I still have one more monster and once it is destroyed, Miss Rhodes will lose everything. Horus, attack Cyber Prima!
Alexis: I'm really sorry, Atticus, but I have to do this… I activate my Deckmaster's special ability. Thanks to Cyber Tutu, Cyber Prima can attack you directly right now. In exchange, I am allowed to change the attack of Horus into a direct attack… to Atticus.
Atticus (shocked): Say WHAT!
Cyber Prima immediately begins approaching Lector, while Horus abandons its original target to go after Atticus. He gets ready to brace himself.
Lector: Excellent, just as I expected. Now that one of my monsters has been destroyed, I can activate my face down card, Chain of the Underworld! This trap lets me bring back a monster on my opponent's side of the field. But don't get excited, the monster will have its attack reduced by 700 points. The one I choose is Red-Eyes Black Chick (ATK/100).
Atticus: But why?
Lector: Simple. Now that there is another monster on the field, I can change the target of my attack to a different one. Horus, destroy Red-Eyes Black Chick!
The black flames emerge from Horus' mouth, enveloping Atticus and his monster. The feeling of scorching flames burning his skin makes him begin to understand the pain his sister has been going through. On the other side of the field, Lector receives a direct attack from Cyber Prima.
Atticus = LP 1700
Alexis = LP 600
Lector = LP 1400
Lector: I place a card face down and at the end of the turn Horus destroys a monster, I can sacrifice it in order to summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6 (ATK/2300)! And if you think he is strong now, wait until you see his final form.
Alexis (upset): You already knew what I was going to do, so why did you attack me?
Lector: Just trying to prove my point. Do you remember when you said your brother had your back? Apparently it doesn't work the other way around.
Alexis: That's a lie!
Lector: Really? Because from where I stand, that seems like a pretty selfish decision to make. Just look at your brother… he is suffering just as much as you are right now, all because of you.
Alexis suddenly realizes what she has done and turns to her brother. He is kneeling down on the ground, holding himself in pain.
Lector: Face it, my dear. You are selfish and because of it, you will never be successful. Do you really want to make your brother suffer even more?
Alexis (sad): No, I don't. He means everything to me.
Lector: Which is why I think it's appropriate that you two just surrender your bodies to me.
Atticus (loud): Don't listen to him, sis!
Just as she is ready to quit, Alexis hears the voice of her brother. She turns to him and sees him slowly getting back up and ready to continue.
Atticus (to Alexis): It's not over yet. Don't give up!
Alexis: But what about you? I don't want you getting hurt. I'm sorry for being so selfish. I was just trying to protect both of us.
Atticus: I understand. I'm sorry for not trusting you before. Listen, since you asked me to trust you, I now ask you to trust me. We can win this.
Alexis listens to her brother's words of encouragement, giving her newfound confidence. They nod to each other and turn back to Lector, ready to duel.
Alexis: You're right. The duel is still on, Lector. Whenever you're ready, Atticus…
Lector (angry): Fine. If you want to do this the hard way, then so be it. It's just a matter of time before I win anyway. Now, Mr. Rhodes, make your move.
Atticus: If you insist, here goes (Draws). Thanks to the special ability of my Deckmaster, whenever a Dragon type monster in destroyed in battle, I can pay 700 life points to summon another one from my deck with the same name. So return, Red-Eyes Black Chick (ATK/800)!
Atticus = LP 1000
Alexis = LP 600
Lector = LP 1400
Lector: What good would that do?
Atticus: Just you wait and see. I play Tribute Doll. It's a spell card and it lets me summon a high level monster with only one sacrifice instead of two. So I sacrifice Red-Eyes Black Chick in order to summon a level 7 monster, Red-Eyes Black Dragon (ATK/2400)!
Lector: Go on, attack. Destroy my monster and your sister will pay the price.
Atticus: You're right, but don't worry, I have other plans. I activate the spell card, Inferno Fire Blast, dealing damage to your life points equal to Red-Eyes' attack points. You have only 1400 life points left, so it's game over for you.
Lector: Nice try. Activate trap card, Damage Polarizer! All your damage is negated and then the three of us are allowed to draw one card. I'm afraid I'm sticking around for a while longer.
Atticus grinds his teeth with frustration as he sees the fire blast being deflected by Lector's trap. The three of them draw a card each afterwards.
Atticus: That's fine, 'cause I activate the spell card I just drew, Exchange, and as the name suggests, this spell cards lets me exchange one card from my hand with that of another duelist… and I choose Alexis.
Lector, who is very surprised by Atticus' move, looks at both duelists move towards each other. Each raises their hand to let the other see his/her cards. Atticus picks first, selecting a trap and adding it to his hand, while Alexis chooses a spell and adds it to her own hand. They nod at each other in approval and move back to their respective positions afterwards.
Atticus: I finish by placing the card I just took from my sister face down on the field. Your turn, sis.
Alexis (nodding): It'll be my pleasure (Draws) and here is a surprise for you, Lector. It's time to cool things off a bit by summoning my Snow Fairy in attack mode (ATK/1100).
Atticus: Hey! I didn't know you still had that card.
Alexis: Being part of the Society of Light had its advantages. Anyway, from my hand I activate the spell card, Quick Summon, which lets me sacrifice Snow Fairy and Cyber Prima in order to summon White Night Dragon (ATK/3000). And now that I have a White Night monster out on the field, I can equip him with this, White Veil. Now, White Night Dragon, attack!
As White Night Dragon is surrounded by the shining light of White Veil, its wings begin to flap producing a strong wind that blows away Backfire and Dark Room of Nightmare from the field. The Dragon then attacks with a powerful ice beam coming out of its mouth, freezing Horus and shattering it into pieces. Lector suffers from the damage just received.
Alexis: Whenever a monster equipped with White Veil attacks, all of your Spell and Trap cards are destroyed, that includes your Backfire trap, which means we don't lose any life points once your monster is gone, but you sure will.
Atticus = LP 1000
Alexis = LP 600
Lector = LP 700
Alexis: That's all. One more turn and it's all over for you.
Lector: Or so you think (Draws). I play Pot Greed, which lets me draw 2 more cards from my deck (Draws). Then I play Monster Reborn, letting me bring back one monster from my graveyard, such as Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6 (ATK/2300). But why keep him, when I can get an even stronger one right now? I play the spell card, Level Up!, which lets me trade in my LV6 monster for a LV8 monster. Come forth, Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 (ATK/3000)!
Atticus: It's back, and it's even stronger than before.
Lector: You are correct. I also summon Gaia Soul the Combustive Collective in attack mode (ATK/2000). However, why leave it at that? I activate a Field spell known as Molten Destruction, raising the attack points of all Fire type monsters on the field by 500.
Suddenly and earthquake begins to shake the cave to its foundations while Alexis and Atticus brace themselves, trying to remain standing. The temperature of the cave rises even more to a point where it becomes unbearable as it increases the strength of Horus (ATK/3500) and Gaia Soul (ATK/2500).
Lector: Well, it seems someone's about to lose the duel. Horus, attack Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
Alexis: Not so fast. Now that you don't have enough life points to activate your Deckmaster's special ability, I can activate my White Night Dragon's effect. By sending White Veil to the graveyard, I can force Horus to attack my monster instead.
Lector (to Alexis): Suit yourself. In that case, Horus will destroy White Night Dragon, which means Gaia Soul will attack you directly!
Atticus: Not if I activate my face down card, Earthbound Spirit's Invitation, and just like my sister's Dragon, this trap card forces Gaia Soul to engage in battle with my Red-Eyes Black Dragon. That's means Alexis will be safe while I take the hit.
The attack from Horus hits White Night Dragon head on, destroying it and hitting Alexis with its black flames as well, while Gaia Soul shoots a fire blast at Red-Eyes Black Dragon which pierces right through and hits Atticus also. Both Alexis and Atticus hold their chest in pain at the same time due to the damage just received.
Atticus = LP 900
Alexis = LP 100
Lector = LP 700
Lector: How touching. It makes me sick to see you two desperately trying to protect each other. Is that your big plan to take me down?
Atticus (impatient): Just make your move.
Lector: If you insist. At the end of my turn, Gaia Soul is destroyed. However Miss Rhodes, I appreciate you for helping me notice how I can't use My Dark Ruler's effect anymore. So, just in case you two have something up your sleeve, I play Mystic Wok. This spell card lets me tribute my Gaia Soul and increase my life points by an amount equal to its attack points.
Atticus = LP 900
Alexis = LP 100
Lector = LP 2700
Lector: I place one card face down and end my turn. And just like before, since Horus destroyed a monster in battle I am allowed to do this… I sacrifice my LV8 monster in order to summon its ultimate form, Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV10 (ATK/3500)!
An enormous creature in the form of a black dragon materializes in front of Lector. A black flame seems to come out of Horus' mouth, while Lector seems insignificant standing next to it. Both Alexis and Atticus brace themselves at the presence of Horus.
Lector: Meet my most powerful monster. Not only does it negate every single one of your spell cards but as soon as he destroys one of your monsters during my next turn, you will receive 2000 points of damage.
Alexis (shocked): What!? So if we summon a monster it gets destroyed and we lose? And if we don't summon anything Horus will attack directly and we still lose?
Atticus: Sis, I hope you have a backup plan, 'cause if you don't, we're screwed!
To be continued…
CARD OF THE DAY:
Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV10
Fire, Level 10
[Dragon/Effect]
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by the effect of "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8". As long as this card remains face-up on your side of the field, you can negate the activation and effect of any spell cards and destroy them. When this card destroys an opponent's monster as a result of battle, inflict 2000 points of damage to your opponent's life points.
ATK/3500 DEF/3000