Next Generation: Opening Tournament of Shadows
By Cere

Chapter 10: Hunter and Hunted

"Ellie!" Damon cried again. He rushed over to the bedside and grabbed her shoulder to try and steady her, but she didn't seem to register his presence. "Oh god, Ellie," he said. He swallowed hard, and then ran to the door and stuck his head out. "Nurse! Nurse!" he hollered. "Come quick!"

He sprinted back to the bed and tried again to calm her. Her breathing was growing ragged, and he struggled to get her attention. Finally, he grabbed her face and directed her eyes straight into his. "Ellie, please calm down."

She finally seemed to realize that he was there. "Damon!" she gasped out. "Where am I? What...what's going on?"

"Shh, shh," he said. "Just try to calm down. The doctors should be on their way soon."

"Damon," she said. Her eyes wandered around the room, trying to conceive what everything was. When she saw her bandaged arm, her breathing quickened again and she clutched Damon's shirt. "I saw him," she blubbered. "I didn't mean to. I was just wandering around and then...He took me by surprise, I couldn't-"

"It's okay, it's okay," he said. "Just calm down, okay?"

She looked up at the TV and whimpered in terror. "It's him."

"What?" He looked up at the montage of the previous round's duels.

She lifted her hand and pointed at a person on the screen. "There he is," she said. "That's the one who attacked me."

Damon's stomach clenched itself. The doctors rushed into the room, and Damon dazedly let them take his place. He stepped out of the room and rested his back against the wall. He knew who the Hunter was. His mind took a moment to digest that information. I have to tell someone.

He sprung to action, searching through all of his pockets. Slowly, the numbing truth descended upon him. His cell phone...he had left it in his jacket. He muttered a silent curse, briefly considered his options, and then ran down the hallway. There had to be a pay phone somewhere. I have to let them know, he thought. They're in danger.

Kyra raised her duel gauntlet opposite of Cliff, trying to keep the butterflies in her stomach under control. He looked back at her, slowing his breathing and collecting his thoughts. The turn light flickered, and Cliff drew his sixth card. He observed his hand and decided on his opening move. "I summon the Trojan Horse," he said, "and set a card." The wooden mechanical horse (1600/1200) stood tall in front of him.

Kyra swallowed and prepared to give her response. "I set a monster and a card," she said. "Your turn."

He drew a card and moved his Trojan Horse to the Graveyard. "I tribute Trojan Horse" - Kyra tensed - "to summon Ancient Gear Beast."

Kyra exhaled as the automaton dog (2000/2000) rose before her. It wasn't the Golem, but it was still a troublesome monster. "Ancient Beast," he said, "attack her face-down monster." The rusting dog pounced on Kyra's card, which flipped up to reveal Apprentice Magician (400/800). "I know it hasn't been important before," he said, "but my Beast negates the effect of every monster it destroys in battle."

So, Kyra thought, my Apprentice Magician doesn't fetch another Spellcaster. Just as well.

Cliff nodded as the opposing magician was shaken and destroyed. "Then I'll finish my turn by setting two cards."

Three face-down cards, she thought. Well, I've managed worse. "I activate Scapegoat," she said. Four sheep tokens (0/0) floated out of the Magic card and settled onto the field. "Then I set a card and end my turn."

"All right," Cliff said. "Ancient Gear Beast will attack one of your tokens." The little puffball was easily ripped to shreds. "Then I set a monster and a card."

Kyra grinned and drew a card. "Now I summon Hand of Nephthys," she said. The priestess robed in gold and flames (600/600) alighted on the field. "Then I can tribute the priestess and a token to summon the Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys from my deck." The gold-plated phoenix roared onto the field in all her glory (2400/1600). Her wings spread wide over the field and her arms crossed over her chest.

Kyra took a deep breath. "Nephthys," she ordered, "attack the Ancient Beast." The bird roared, and fire spewed from her mouth. It was shaped by her wings and collected in her hands, until she held a raging ball of fire that she threw at the metal monster.

Cliff tapped one of his face-down cards. "I activate Limiter Removal," he said. "The ATK of my Machine monster is doubled." Electricity surged and the robot's gears groaned as it increased in size (Ancient Beast: 4000/2000).

"I thought as much," Kyra said. "I activate Assault on GHQ. It destroys my monster, so my Nephthys avoids being destroyed in battle and will revive next turn. Plus, you have to discard two cards off the top of your deck."

Cliff smiled and picked up his top two cards. His smile twitched when he noticed that one of them was Ancient Gear Golem. Crud, he thought, one of them gone already. I'll have to get it back to my hand.

As he slid his cards into the Graveyard, Nephthys exploded and left the Ancient Beast sitting there, restless in its power. "And the other effect of Limiter Removal," Kyra said with a grin, "is that your monster is destroyed at the end of the turn."

"Which is why I have this card," Cliff replied. "I activate Mystik Wok. It lets me tribute one of my monsters and add that monster's ATK or DEF to my Life Points. So, obviously, I choose the attack points." Cliff's monster dissolved into blue points of light that were absorbed into his Life Point counter (C LP: 12000).

Kyra sputtered a little. "Anything else you want to do during your turn?" Cliff asked. She shook her head. "Then I have one more play. I activate Labyrinth of Nightmare."

The Continuous Trap flipped up and Kyra groaned inside. "Now the battle position of our monsters changes at the end of our turns," he explained. "So, your tokens all switch to attack position."

Ghostly heads drifted out of the Trap and incited her monsters to wake up. Kyra bit her lip. Now it was as though she was wide open.

Cliff drew a card. "I Flip Summon Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive," he said, "which makes me draw one more card. Then I Normal Summon Battle Footballer." The evil train engine (1400/1000) puffed out smoke as a robot dressed in football equipment (1000/2100) took the field beside it. "Then both of them will attack your sheep tokens."

The train plowed through a token and clipped Kyra (K LP: 6600) and the football robot charged the other token and collided with her other side (K LP: 5600). Okay, she thought, that wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

"Then I end my turn," Cliff said, "so my monsters switch to defense position."

"It won't last long," Kyra said. "Nephthys revives and destroys every Magic and Trap card on the field." The ghostly heads were wiped out by intense flames. "I also summon Enraged Battle Ox. Now, Beast, Beast-Warrior, and Winged Beast monsters inflict damage when attacking defensive monsters." The furious minotaur (1700/1000) gripped its axe tight as it stood next to the phoenix. "Now attack!"

Flames burst through the Footballer (C LP: 11700), and Dekoichi was taken down by an axe slice (C LP: 11000). Cliff shrugged off the damage. He was still effectively in the lead.

"Then I'll set a card," she said, "before ending my turn."

Cliff drew a card. "I play the Continuous Magic card Cycle of Life and Death," he said. "By paying 500 Life Points and discarding a monster from my hand, I can return a monster with the same Type from my Graveyard to my hand. So, I discard Gear Golem the Moving Fortress to retrieve Mechanicalchaser."

Mechanicalchaser? Kyra thought. Oh, I bet it was discarded by my card.

Cliff took the card from his Graveyard (C LP: 10500). "Then I'll summon it and equip it with Construction Material." The orb soldier (1850/800) floated into place and unlocked its attack arms. "Next it attacks Battle Ox."

The two traded swings, but a swift jab finished the minotaur (K LP: 5450). "And by the effect of Construction Material," he said, "I can add a Machine monster with an ATK less than your monster's from my deck to my hand. I choose Cyber Jar."

Kyra frowned thoughtfully. It still won't help get rid of my Nephthys, she thought. Is he planning something else? Maybe that's it. He wants to summon enough tributes to summon his Golem.

"Your turn," he said.

She drew a card and added it to her hand. "I summon Great Angus," she said. The brutal bovine (1800/600) pounded its fists together. "Then Nephthys will attack your robot and Great Angus will attack directly."

The robot seeker melted under the blaze (C LP: 9950) and the beast charged in and swiped at him (C LP: 8150). His vest jacket fluttered from the attack, but he kept his cool. Almost got him down to his starting Life Points, she thought. She motioned for him to take his turn.

He drew a card and then set his other card onto the field. "I set a monster," he said. "That's it."

Kyra sighed and drew another card. She knew what his monster was, but there really wasn't much she could do about it. Maybe her new card would help a little. "I summon Brushfire," she said.

The burning brush (500/500) looked out of place next to its strong counterparts. Nice move, he thought. Always increase your options.

"Nephthys," she said, "attack his Cyber Jar."

The pod (900/900) flipped up and exploded, its wake taking out every monster on the field. Kyra just sighed and took five cards off the top of her deck. "I summon two monsters face-down," she said, adding the other three cards to her hand.

"And I have three face-down monsters," he said.

Kyra took some calming breaths. She did not want him to have this many monsters on the field at once. However, she thought, looking at the cards in her hand, I should be able to handle it.

"Your turn," she said. She didn't want to set any cards, because they'd just be wiped out by Nephthys on her next turn.

Cliff smiled warmly. "I activate my Cycle of Life and Death again," he said (C LP: 7650). "I discard Ancient Gear Beast to add Ancient Gear Golem to my hand."

You're kidding me, she thought. That was the other card I discarded?!

"Then I tribute two monsters to summon him." Two holographic cards vanished and were replaced by the towering humanoid robot (3000/3000). "I'll also Flip Summon my other monster, Heavy Mech Support Platform, and use its effect to equip it to my Golem."

Oh crud, she thought as the support robot separated and integrated into the older robot's armor (Ancient Golem: 3500/3500). I wasn't planning for that.

"Ancient Golem," he said, "attack the left monster." The card flipped to reveal a wicked face surrounded by swirling flames (600/700) that was soundly squished by the robot's punch. The wake shook the ground and made her stagger (K LP: 2650).

Ugh, she thought. I can't take this much.

"Then I set a monster and end my turn," he said.

Set a card? she thought. "My turn," she said, "and Nephthys comes back." The phoenix revived and spread its flame around the field again. "So, let's see what your face-down card is."

"Indeed," he said. "I activate Misdirected Revival."

Her eyes shot open. The phoenix glowered for a moment and then walked over to stand beside the ancient mechanical man.

"This Trap card," he said, "that activates when you Special Summon a monster from your Graveyard, gives me control of that monster."

Crap, she thought. Crap, crap, crap. I wasn't planning for this. This isn't what I wanted at all.

"Come on," James muttered. "Keep your focus."

"Go, Kyra!" Michael shouted.

She looked over at her friends, saw their encouraging faces, and smiled. She turned back to her hand and started thinking seriously. Come on, she thought, you have seven cards in your hand. You have to be able to do something. Her mind traveled through the options and then glanced at her monster on the field. This set her mind going in a different route, and a plan started to form.

"Well," she said, "it's still my Standby Phase, so I can activate Brushfire's effect." The flaming weed (500/500) broke out of the ground before its owner (K LP: 2150). "Then I move to my Main Phase and tribute it to summon Lesser Phoenix." The plant was replaced by a silver-plated armless phoenix (2200/1500).

Her eyes glanced down at her Life Point counter, and she realized that she was dangerously vulnerable to one of his combos. She grabbed a card from her hand and then another to back it up. "I then play Smashing Ground," she said, "and chain Emergency Provisions to it. Emergency Provisions lets me send Smashing Ground to the Graveyard to gain 1000 Life Points, and Smashing Ground's effect still resolves and destroys your monster with the highest DEF."

Kyra smiled at the Life boost (K LP: 3150) while the support gear on Ancient Golem shattered (Ancient Golem: 3000/3000). "But Heavy Mech Support Platform's effect protects it from destruction," Cliff said.

"I know," she said, "which is why I'll then Flip Summon Magician of Faith." The holy priestess (300/400) waved her staff and an aura extended into Kyra's Graveyard and added Smashing Ground back to her hand.

"I see," Cliff said. "That's a good move."

"I'm not done yet," she said with a grin. "Next I'll play United We Stand and equip it to my Lesser Phoenix. She'll gain attack points for every face-up monster on my field." Bonds of power flowed from the Faith Magician to the phoenix (Lesser Phoenix: 3800/3100). "Lesser Phoenix, attack Ancient Golem."

Silver-tinged flames enveloped the huge automaton. Now I see what you're doing, he thought (C LP: 6850). Clever girl.

"Then," Kyra said dramatically, "I play Smashing Ground, destroying my Nephthys."

And she'll come back on your side of the field, he thought. Very well done, Kyra.

"Finally," she said, "I'll set a card. Your move."

"Come on, Kyra," Yugi said.

"I don't know that I would have ever thought of that," Aura said. "I mean, I would have just destroyed the Golem, but she thought it out and got her monster back as well."

Yugi smiled. "She knows how to use that monster well," he said, and then turned to his wife. "Are you enjoying it too, dear?"

She smiled and nodded. "Of course," she said. "I'm a little rusty on the rules for not watching it for many years, but it's just as entertaining to watch our kids play it as it was to watch you guys." She crumpled up her hamburger wrapper and handed it to him. "Here you go."

"I'll take it," Aura said, snatching it off of Yugi's lap.

"You don't have to," Yugi said.

"No," she replied, "I want to stretch my legs a little, and I want to do it before my brother goes." She stood and jogged away up the stairs.

Yugi smiled. "You know," he said, "she's going to turn into a really good duelist. All she needs is a little experience."

His gaze turned to his cell phone. Still no news. What was happening?

Damon stood panting before the pay phone. His hands dug through his pockets and he pulled out some change. He looked at the small amount with relief. He had enough to make two calls, but it should only take one to let Yugi know what was happening. He picked up the receiver, slid in his coins, moved his hands to the buttons, and then he froze. With sudden embarrassment, he didn't know what Yugi's number was. All of his friend's numbers were saved in his phone. He hadn't bothered to memorize any of them.

He set the receiver back and banged his head against the wall. Okay, okay, he thought, taking deep breaths to calm himself. There has to be somebody's number that I know...Well, there's Michael's, but his cell phone is off right now. Aura. I called her earlier. I think it's still a little fresh in my mind. I just have to concentrate and remember what it looked like.

After a few minutes of careful thought, visualizing the number over and over in his head, he slid his coins back into the machine, picked up the receiver, dialed the number, and waited for an answer. The phone rang three times, but he calmed his racing heart. Of course she wouldn't answer her phone instantly. But what was taking so long?

Finally, the other line picked up. "Aura," Damon burst out, "I-"

"Hello?" an old woman answered.

"Sorry, wrong number," he said, and hung up. "Damn it!" This wasn't good. He only had enough money for one more call, and he had to make sure that it was exactly right. He had only one shot.

Suddenly, the solution hit him. "Of course!" he said. "Why didn't I think of it earlier?" He hurriedly put his money in and dialed. This was the one number that he should know the best. He only hoped that they picked up on the other end.

Yugi was explaining the updated rules to Tea when the phone in Damon's jacket rang. Tea sighed. "That boy," she said. "Did he really leave it here?"

Yugi shrugged. "His voicemail can pick it up, it's no big deal."

Cliff took a breath to collect himself and drew a card. He hadn't expected Kyra to retake control of the situation so quickly. But she had made one mistake. He drew a card, frowned a bit, and then placed it on the field. "I summon Dekoichi," he said, "and it attacks your attack position Magician of Faith." The steam-powered monster (1400/1000) rushed towards the defenseless girl.

"Not so fast," she said. "I activate Enemy Controller. By tributing my Magician of Faith, I gain control of your monster for this turn." The Magician vanished, and the locomotive slowed down and took her place.

I see, he thought. "Then I'll set a card and end my turn."

"Setting a card again," Kyra said as Dekoichi shifted back over to Cliff's side. "Say hello to Nephthys."

He hurriedly tapped his face-down card as Nephthys's flames surrounded the field. "I activate Limiter Removal," he said. Fresh brush of steam flowed out of the engine as it grew larger (2800/1000). The fires passed around it, also wiping out the power connection to Lesser Phoenix.

Kyra just smiled, looking at the card she had just drawn. "That actually won't help you," she said. "I play Molten Destruction, powering up every Fire monster on the field."

The familiar streams of hot lava erupted around them, and Kyra's monsters bellowed in welcome (Nephthys: 2900/1200) (Lesser Phoenix: 2700/1100). "Go, Nephthys," she said, "and attack his Dekoichi." Even the powered up engine couldn't withstand the flames (C LP: 6750), and Lesser Phoenix swooped in to attack directly (C LP: 4050).

Getting there, Kyra thought. "Then I'll set a monster and end my turn."

Cliff started to look a little worried, but his drawn card allayed his fears somewhat. "I play Courage in the Face of Defeat," he said, "and draw a card for each monster on your side of the field." He pulled three new cards and looked through them. "I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Field card, I summon Gear Golem the Moving Fortress, and then I play Sword & Shield to switch the statistics of every face-up monster."

The lava ebbed, and Kyra's monsters weakened under the effects of the Magic card (Nephthys: 1600/2400) (Lesser Phoenix: 1500/2200) while Cliff's grew stronger (Gear Fortress: 2200/800). "Now," he said, "Gear Fortress will finally get rid of your Sacred Phoenix."

The bird cried out, but the robot's forceful strike quickly subdued it. Kyra shielded her eyes from the flaming wake of the attack (K LP: 2550).

Cliff heaved a sigh of relief. "Finally," he said. "I think that that monster has been on the field continuously since the moment it was summoned. Now it's not coming back by its effect." He took the last card from his hand. "I'll then set a card and end my turn."

Kyra drew a card. He wasn't entirely correct. If she could destroy Lesser Phoenix by a card effect, then Nephthys would revive. Unfortunately, she couldn't do anything about that now, but a move was open to her.

"Lesser Phoenix," she said, "attack the Gear Fortress."

"But first," Cliff said, "I'll activate my face-down Mystik Wok, tributing my monster and this time choosing its DEF." His Life Points grew and then fell as the phoenix attacked him directly (C LP: 4050).

Kyra clicked in disappointment and set a card. "Your turn."

Cliff drew his card and instantly played it. "Pot of Greed," he said and drew two more cards. This isn't good, he thought. I'm playing too many of my cards. I have to back off for a little while and regroup.

"I then play Monster Reincarnation," he said. "By discarding my other card to the Graveyard, I can return Gear Golem the Moving Fortress to my hand, which I'll then set." He motioned to her with an open palm. "Your turn."

She picked up a card. A sudden tinge of nervousness started in the pit of her stomach. Why now? she thought. I have the upper hand. However, that little worry in the back of her mind wouldn't go away.

"I activate my face-down card," she said, the Trap flipping up to reveal Phoenix Wing Wind Blast. "By discarding a card, I can return one card on your field to the top of your deck. So, bye-bye Gear Fortress."

Cliff looked shocked as his only defense moved to the top of his deck, obstructing his next draw. His expression darkened as the flames of Lesser Phoenix broke over his body (C LP: 1850).

"Your turn," she said. Without looking, he drew his card and set it on the field.

Well, she thought, I didn't expect much else. That move bought me one turn, but I still can't defeat his monster. She drew a card and grinned. Perfect.

That bite of worry hit again, a little stronger this time, but she shrugged it off and commanded her monster. "Attack, Lesser Phoenix," she said. The bird moved and bellowed its flames, but the opposing Fortress withstood the assault.

What's her plan? Cliff wondered.

Kyra just smiled. "Your turn."

Cliff drew a card. "I'll set a card and end my turn."

"All right," Kyra said, drawing her card. A fresh pang of fear swept over her. What's going on with me? she wondered. She shook it off and stood strong. "I activate the effect of Flame Whirlwind. By discarding it from my hand, I can change the battle position of one face-up monster on the field."

"Which is why you attacked it," he said, a bead of sweat dripping down the back of his neck. "Smart move."

She beamed. "Lesser Phoenix," she said, "attack his Gear Fortress now." The robot punched back, but the fire attack pushed through it (C LP: 450). "I'll then set a card and end my turn."

Despite her best efforts, her breathing quickened. Come on, she told herself, I'm in control now. She looked at the playing field. Is this my duelist's instinct? Is there something that I'm not noticing?

"All right, Kyra," Michael said. He turned and noticed James's worried expression. "What is it?"

He shook his head in puzzlement. "She's a lot more shaken than she should be. Something's making her nervous."

Cliff drew a card, looked at it, and then slid it into his duel gauntlet. "I set another card and end my turn."

Two face-down cards, she thought, wiping some sweat from her brow. That shouldn't worry me. If they destroy my Phoenix, then I'll just summon Nephthys back and attack with her. I've got nothing to worry about.

"Lesser Phoenix," she said, "attack him directly."

As the bird lunged towards him for the fatal blow, one of the face-down cards sprung open and dark smoke billowed out. "I activate Call of the Haunted," he said, "summoning Mechanicalchaser back from the Graveyard." The killer robot (1850/800) took its place hovering in front of him.

"It'll only delay me a little bit," she called back. "Phoenix, attack the chaser."

He smiled and touched his other card. "I also activate Rare Metalmorph," he said. Kyra's heart dropped as the robot's armor changed to a pristine silver (Mechanicalchaser: 2350/800). She couldn't call back the attack now. The robot caught the bird with two of its arms and sliced her in three. Kyra watched in horror as it dropped the pieces of her monster onto the ground (K LP: 2400).

I'm in trouble, she thought. My other monster isn't enough to stop him. If he draws another monster and pushes it, I'm finished!

"Come on, Kyra," James muttered. "Keep your cool."

"Go, Kyra!" Michael shouted.

Her gaze shifted around the field and then came to rest on her face-down card. What was it again? The realization hit her. Of course, she thought. Your face-down card, your face-down card!

"I activate my Trap card, Time Machine," she said. "When one of my monsters is defeated in battle, I can Special Summon it back to the field." Lesser Phoenix exploded back onto the playing arena. It won't be enough to stop him, she thought, but it should stall for a turn.

Cliff drew a card. He blinked at it and breathed in deep. "Mechanicalchaser," he ordered, "attack Lesser Phoenix again." When the robot had finished its work (K LP: 2250), he slid the card into his duel gauntlet. "Then I'll set a card and end my turn."

Kyra drew her card and sighed. Well, she thought, I guess it'll have to work. That is why I included it in my deck.

"I Flip Summon Brushfire," she said. The flaming bush (500/500) gave a faint little growl as it revealed itself. "Then I set a card and end my turn."

Cliff took a deep breath and drew his card. He was startled when Kyra quickly touched her face-down card and motioned with its opening. "I activate Destruction Ring," she said. A small ring with a bomb attached to it fell onto the burning bush, its lit fuse leaving a trail behind it. "This Trap destroys my own monster and deals 1000 points of damage to each of us. That's enough to finish you, but I'll be left standing."

"No one will be left standing," he replied. "Let me introduce you to its big brother, Ring of Destruction." Cliff's Trap card opened, and a large ring with grenades bolted to it dropped around his orb robot. "This card destroys any monster and deals damage to both of us equal to that monster's ATK."

Kyra bit her lip. She had no other cards to get out of this. The robot exploded, and the wake whipped against both players (C LP: 0) (K LP: 0).

"Man," Michael said. "Didn't see that coming."

"Incredible," Kenn announced. "It's a draw! Both duelist's Life Points have reached zero at the same time."

"Well, shoot," Tea said. "Now we're going to have to watch her play all over again, right? I don't think I can take this much stress."

Yugi sighed. You came so close, Kyra.

Damon's phone rang again. Tea sighed in disgust. "Can you please just answer it and let whoever it is know that Damon isn't here?" she asked.

Yugi nodded and dug through Damon's jacket. He brought out the cell phone and looked at the display. He froze when he saw who was calling. "The hospital..." he muttered.

"What, dear?" Tea asked.

Yugi didn't reply and instead brought the phone to his ear. "Hello?" he said. "Damon, is that you?...Yes, well, you should remember it next-...What?! Who is it?"

"What's going on?" Tea asked.

Yugi's heart fell into his stomach. "I see," he said. "Thank you for telling me. I'll take care of it. Keep an eye on her."

"I will," Damon said. He put down the receiver and walked back to Ellie's room. Along the way, he passed by the receptionist's desk and smiled at her. "Thanks again for the change," he said.

"No problem, son," she replied. "Did you get through this time?"

He nodded and smiled. "Sure did."

Yugi clicked the phone off and looked onto the field in horror. "That was Damon," he said. "Ellie's awake."

Tea sighed in relief. "Good," she said.

Yugi's expression didn't change. "She also told him who the Hunter is." He put the phone back. "I have to let Kaiba know."

Aura watched the result of the duel on the TVs in the lobby. "Aw man," she said, "so close." Then she remembered that she was still holding Mrs. Moto's trash and looked for a trash can.

While she was looking, she saw Isaac, the duelist who had faced Kyra in the previous round. She started to call to him, but then she saw that he was acting very strangely. His hand was in his pocket and he was looking around. She dropped her gaze before he saw her and put the wrapper into the nearest trash can. She glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw that he had ducked through a restricted door.

What is he doing? she wondered. She walked over to the door, propped it open a little, and peeked inside. He had walked halfway down the hallway and was standing with his back to her, staring at something in his hand. Then his head jerked back suddenly and returned to normal.

"Isaac?" she said, pushing through the door. "What are you doing?"

The smoke cleared on the dueling field. "Well," Kyra said, "I wasn't expecting that outcome."

"Neither was I," Cliff said, his expression still dark. "I didn't know that you would be such an obstacle."

"What?" she asked.

His eyes caught some motion on the edge of the arena. "I'm really sorry, Kyra, but I have to win this tournament." He reached into his vest jacket and pulled out an object. It was a golden sheathed dagger, topped by a small ball with decorative eye on it. It managed to occur to her that the eye was the same eye that had adorned her father's puzzle.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

His eyes caught the security guards running towards them, but they wouldn't be fast enough. "I'm sorry, Kyra," he said sadly, and raised the dagger into the air. Black and purple tendrils sprung out and enveloped around them. Kyra gasped as their world grew dark and the sun was blotted out.

Yugi stopped in his run as he turned and saw the field with horror. "It can't be," he said.

"Yugi!" Tea called, running up towards him. He caught her and held her close. "Is that...?"

Yugi nodded. "A shadow game."

to be continued...

Here, for your reference, is the "official" card text of my original cards in this chapter:

Cycle of Life and Death (Continuous Magic) Once per turn, you can pay 500 Life Points to discard 1 Monster Card from your hand and add 1 Monster Card in your Graveyard with the same Type as the discarded card to your hand.

Construction Material (Equip Magic) Equip only to a Machine-Type monster. When the equipped monster destroys a monster by battle, you can select 1 Machine-Type monster in your Deck with an ATK lower than the destroyed monster's ATK and add it to your hand. Then shuffle your Deck.

Brushfire (FIRE/Pyro/2/500/500) If this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, during your next Standby Phase, you can pay 500 Life Points to Special Summon it in Attack Position.

Flame Whirlwind (FIRE/Pyro/2/600/700) You can discard this card from your hand to change the battle position of 1 face-up monster on the field.

Misdirected Revival (Trap) Activate only when your opponent Special Summons a monster from his/her Graveyard. Take control of the summoned monster.

Lesser Phoenix (FIRE/Winged Beast/6/2200/1500) When this monster is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 FIRE monster from your Graveyard except "Lesser Phoenix".

Courage in the Face of Defeat (Magic) Draw 1 card for each monster your opponent controls.