Next Generation: Opening Tournament of Shadows
By Cere
Chapter 12: The Strength to Survive
Their duel had a sinister tone, surrounded by dark clouds and with the Duelist Hunter their only audience. Michael nodded, and James drew another card. "I'll just set a monster," he said. The blackened image of a playing card rose from the ground before him, and he noticed with worry that it wasn't created by the hologram projectors.
Michael drew a card from his deck. He took a deep breath and placed his card into the field. "I play Call of the Mummy," he said. A shadowed card image expanded from his duel gauntlet. "If my field is empty, I can Special Summon a Zombie from my hand. So, I use Call of the Mummy to summon Vampire Lord."
A black fog erupted from Michael's Magic card and the black-robed vampire (2000/1500) stepped out. Michael startled when he realized that the monster was breathing.
"What's going on here?" he asked dumbfoundedly.
"I told you," Cliff said. "The Shadow Realm is a place in-between dimensions. We aren't close enough to actually communicate with them, but their presence can be invoked with the proper sigil. And, in our case, that sigil is a Duel Monsters card."
Vampire Lord looked at his master, but Michael found it hard to look back. Just focus on the game, he told himself. "I also play Coercive Magic Eyes," he said. "Now, for this turn, Vampire Lord can attack you directly."
The vampire leapt across the field, spreading its cape wide behind it, and punched James in the chest. He stumbled backwards, eyes wide and holding the place where he was hit (J LP: 6000).
"What the..." Michael said. "James, are you alright?"
"I told you," Cliff said. "They're real monsters. So, their attacks are also real."
"I'm okay," James said, stepping back up. "Let's just be more careful next time."
Michael nodded. This just kept getting worse and worse. "Vampire Lord's effect activates," he said. "Discard one Trap card from your deck."
James's mind made his decision, but before he could move his hand to his deck, a single card slid out of place. He jumped a little, but then grabbed it and saw that it was the card he had chosen. It makes the game easier, he told himself. Keep telling yourself that. He took a moment to catch his breath and then slid Metal Reflect Slime into his Graveyard.
Michael stared at the rightmost card in his hand, the card he had purchased just yesterday. Then he took a deep breath, sighed, and slid the card into his duel gauntlet. "Then I'll set a card and end my turn."
James drew a card. He grimaced and steeled himself. "First," he said, "I Flip Summon Nightmare Penguin." The card rotated to reveal a penguin dressed in a tuxedo (1100/1800). "And then, when he's flipped, he returns one card on your field to your hand." A burst of water erupted under Vampire Lord, and Michael grabbed his card back.
"Then I also summon Gagagigo." The muscular reptilian warrior (2050/1000) stepped next to the penguin. James nodded grimly, and the two launched themselves at Michael. He stood his ground as a torrent of water rushed past his head (M LP: 6900), lightly misting him, and a spiked fist grazed his hair (M LP: 4850).
"Now, now," Cliff said, "don't finish this too quickly. I want to have time to rest and be entertained before my next duel."
"We don't owe you anything," Michael said. "Are you done?" James nodded, and Michael drew a card. "I use Call of the Mummy's effect to re-summon Vampire Lord, and then I Normal Summon Regenerating Mummy." The caped vampire jumped onto the field again, and a quickly unraveling mummy (1800/1500) broke from the ground beside him. Michael winced from the smell of his new monster, for the first time slightly regretting his deck choice, and then ordered their attacks.
"Regenerating Mummy," he said, "attack Nightmare Penguin." The penguin was tackled and devoured by the black mist (J LP: 5300) (Gagagigo: 1850/1000). "Then Vampire Lord attacks Gagagigo. Discard another Trap." The reptile fell backwards from the punch and disappeared (J LP: 5150), while James sent Raigeki Break to his Graveyard. "Your turn."
James took the top card and added it to his hand. "I set a monster and end my turn," he said.
He's collecting cards, Michael thought, trying to build the perfect hand. Then I'll just have to attack it next. "I summon Spirit Reaper," he said aloud. The purple-robed reaper rested its scythe on its shoulder (300/200). "First, Vampire Lord attacks your face-down monster." He rushed towards the black card and his target was revealed to be a hefty bear (1400/1000), though one swift kick was all it took to defeat it.
"Mother Grizzly's effect," James said, "summons another Water monster when it is destroyed in battle. So, I summon another Mother Grizzly from my deck."
Michael nodded. "Regenerating Mummy, attack the second Grizzly."
The identical bear also fell (J LP: 4750), but this time it was replaced by a young regal woman (700/2000). She rotated her trident along the ground, and a thin layer of water rose from the blackness. Both duelists shivered as their feet were soaked.
"Maybe you should have chosen a different deck," Michael commented.
"Um," James said to his monster, not sure how to phrase the request. However, the Maiden of the Aqua seemed to understand him and motioned again. The water around the duelists' feet moved away, creating small circles of dry land.
Well, Michael thought, his monster is stronger than my Spirit Reaper. "Your turn," he said.
"I set one card," James said, "switch Maiden to defense position, and summon Amphibious Bugroth MK-3." His hair was ruffled by the hot wind as the large machine (1500/1300) descended from the black sky and lay before him. "And now, since Maiden of the Aqua makes the field count as Umi, Amphibious Bugroth can attack directly."
Michael was blown backwards as the large monster burst past him (M LP: 3350). He brushed the hair out of his face. "You know," he said, "I have a feeling that fewer people would play this game if it were like this."
"Maybe not," Cliff said. "I read an interesting article once, written a long time ago by an archaeologist named Arthur Hawkins. He hypothesized that the Egyptians played an ancient version of this game, using stone representations of the monsters."
Michael stared back at him. "You've got to be kidding me."
"It's true," Cliff replied. "In fact, some have said that Pegasus based the game on those ancient inscriptions."
"Anyway," James said, "let's continue the game. It's your turn."
Michael turned to him and drew his card. "You're really serious about this, huh?"
James frowned. "I like it as little as you do," he said, "but it has to be done."
"I just didn't want our battle in this tournament to be like this." He sighed. "It's too serious."
James's eyes dropped to the cards in his hand. "I didn't want this either. But this situation has been thrust upon us." He looked up and stared sadly into his eyes. "We're dueling for Kyra now."
Michael grinned sadly. Why is it you? he thought. How come you're the one who's so determined to do what's necessary? "I tribute Regenerating Mummy to summon Ryu Kokki," he said. The mummy sank into the ground, and a living pile of bones and skulls (2400/2000) rose from the blackness. If that face-down card is what I think it is, then I need to make this move first. "Ryu Kokki, attack Maiden of the Aqua."
The creature stretched across and thrust with its fist. The Maiden blocked the attack with her trident, but the force of the attack propelled her backwards into the darkness. The water around them receded with her. "Then, Vampire Lord attacks MK-3." The vampire floated up to the machine and ripped out some essential wires. As it drifted away, the machine shorted out and plummeted through the ground (J LP: 4250).
"Discard another Trap from your deck," Michael said. James obediently took Curse of Royal and slid it into the Graveyard slot. "Then finally, Spirit Reaper attacks you directly." The robed skeleton slid across the field and swung its scythe upwards. The wake from the attack caught James's body (J LP: 3950), and the blunt tip of the scythe collided with one of the cards in his hand, making Mermaid Knight drift down into his Graveyard.
"Whenever Spirit Reaper attacks directly," Michael said, "a card is randomly discarded from your hand. However, it seems to have already done that on its own. Your turn."
James took a deep breath and drew a card. He needed to reestablish his field position. His drawn card could help with that. "I play Pot of Greed," he said, taking two more cards from his deck. He smiled at his catch. "Then I play A Legendary Ocean, turning the whole field to sea." He smiled. "Except for where we're standing, of course."
Michael didn't laugh at the joke, but just stared grimly back. Then, having reassured himself of his decision, he touched the face-down card on his field. "I activate Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell," he said. "All I need to do is discard a Magic card from my hand and your Magic card is negated and can't be played again for the rest of this duel."
He sent Book of Life from his hand to the Graveyard and a complex circular seal appeared before him. The seal started spinning and a purple gas oozed out, which spread over the field to envelop the card in his hand. James felt the gas tug on the card, so he quickly let go and let it deposit the card in his Graveyard. "Michael," he said, looking at him.
Michael stared back. Prove this to me, he thought. Prove that you can win without the card your deck revolves around.
James looked back for a minute and then shook it off, grabbing another card from his hand. "I summon Abyss Soldier," he said, the humanoid whale (1800/1300) springing up in front of him. "By discarding a Water monster, Abyss Soldier returns one monster on the field to your hand." The whale swung its trident, and a whirlpool of water flew from it and encased Vampire Lord. Michael nodded and picked the card up back to his hand again.
"Then," James continued, "Abyss Soldier attacks Spirit Reaper."
The whale swept forward and stuck its trident into the reaper. The force of the attack ripped through the monster, flinging its cloak back, and passed through Michael (M LP: 1850). He gritted his teeth from the blow. His monster couldn't be destroyed in battle, but he still had to take the damage.
"You okay?" James asked. He got a nod in reply. "Then I set a card and end my turn."
The black card swirled up through the mist while Michael took a new card for himself. He couldn't use Call of the Mummy right now, but he did have ample sacrifices. "I tribute Spirit Reaper to summon Vampire Lord," he said, the cloaked vampire taking the field once again, "and Vampire Lord attacks Abyss Soldier."
The vampire rushed through and tackled the whale soldier (J LP: 3750). "Get rid of another Trap," Michael said.
I won't need this anymore, James thought as he discarded Tornado Wall.
Michael nodded. "Then Ryu Kokki attacks directly." James just pointed to his face-down card. It rose up and purple smoke billowed out of the ground before it. Michael had an inkling what that meant.
"Call of the Haunted," James said, "summons one monster back from the Graveyard. So, I summon Giga Gagagigo."
The monster he discarded last turn, Michael realized with surprise as the reptilian warrior enhanced with robotic upgrades (2450/1500) rose onto the field. "You've caused a replay by summoning a monster," Michael said, "so I can choose whether or not I want to continue attacking. Obviously, I'm not. Instead, I'll go to my Main Phase 2." He pulled a card from his hand. "I set a card and end my turn."
James drew a card, but his action was already clear. "Giga Gagagigo," he said, "attack Vampire Lord." The lord was wiped out by a steel punch, and Michael bemoaned inside the additional loss of Life Points (M LP: 1400). Not good enough, he thought. I have to push him further.
James motioned to him, and he drew his new card. "Ryu Kokki moves to defense position," he said, "and I set a monster."
James looked at his new card with satisfaction. "I summon normal Gagagigo," he said. The shorter and more resilient reptile (1850/1000) took its place next to its brother. "Giga, attack Ryu Kokki." Giga Gagagigo stepped across the field and smashed through the smiling skulls. "And Gagagigo, attack his other monster." The card turned upwards and revealed a turtle hiding behind its stone pyramid shell (1200/1400). The reptile leapt and toppled the creature onto its back.
Michael pulled a card from his deck as the turtle sank through the muck. "Pyramid Turtle's effect lets me summon another Zombie," he said, "and I choose Vampire's Curse."
A more regal vampire (2000/800) slowly rose from the ground and looked grimly at its opponent. James brushed some hair out of his eyes. "Vampire's Curse," he said. "If I remember correctly, it's a monster that revives itself after being destroyed in battle. And when it does so, it gains 500 attack points."
"That's right," Michael said with a serious smile. "So if you want your Giga reptile to be destroyed, go ahead and attack."
James looked down at his hand, but there was nothing he could do about it now. "Your turn," he said.
Michael took his card from his deck. "Vampire's Curse," he said, "attack Gagagigo." The vampire sneered and darted across the field, stabbing its clawed hand through the reptile (J LP: 3600). "I'll also set a card," he said. "Your turn."
James drew a card and slightly grimaced at it. "First," he said, "I play the Magic card Terraforming. With its effect, I can move a Field Magic card from my deck to my hand." He grabbed A Legendary Ocean as it stuck out from his card pile.
"Legendary Ocean?" Michael asked with intrigue. "But you can't activate it."
"I know," James said, "but taking it now will prevent me from having a dead draw later. Plus, there are other uses for it. Next, I summon Tribe-Infecting Virus." A cloud of hovering viruses (1600/1000) gathered in a swarm before him. Michael braced for what was coming next. "Tribe-Infecting Virus's effect lets me discard a card to destroy all monsters of a specific Type on the field. I discard A Legendary Ocean to destroy all Zombies on the field."
As James slid the card into his Graveyard, the viruses swarmed out and gathered around the vampire. It groaned a couple times and then dissolved into mist. "Well," Michael said, "I won't waste your time. I activate Waboku, protecting me from all battle damage this turn."
James brushed some hair out of his face as the line of chanting priestesses rose up in front of him. He took in a deep breath and let it out. "I guess it's your turn, then," he said.
Michael drew a card as the priestesses sank back out of sight. "I set a card and a monster," he said. "Your move, but there's something I want to do first." As James took his card, Michael's face-down Trap swung upwards. "I have my own viruses for you," he said wryly. "I tribute my face-down Soul-Absorbing Bone Tower to activate Crush Card Virus."
Michael's face-down monster dissolved into another swarm of spiky viruses, but this group swarmed to all cards on James's side of the field. "Crush Card Virus destroys all monsters with an ATK of 1500 or more," Michael said as Tribe-Infecting Virus and Giga Gagagigo were devoured, "on the field as well as your hand." The viruses gathered around the cards James was holding but he turned it around to reveal Junkyard Robot and Salvage.
The viruses backed up and hovered over his head. "Crush Card Virus also checks every card you draw for the next three turns," Michael continued, "this one being the first one."
James gritted his teeth, but he just took the Magic card from his hand and played it. "I play Salvage," he said, "returning two Water monsters with 1500 ATK or less from my Graveyard to my hand." He took Nightmare Penguin and Maiden of the Aqua from his Graveyard and set one of them on his duel gauntlet. "Your turn."
Michael drew a card. "I play Book of Life," he said. The ancient green book appeared and shone light on the ground before him. "It revives Ryu Kokki from the Graveyard and removes Giga Gagagigo in your Graveyard from play." James exchanged the slot his monster was in while Michael's bone zombie rose onto the field again. Then the conglomerate of skulls lunged across the field, crushing the tuxedoed penguin (1100/1800) under it.
However, a few streams of water trickled out from the fallen penguin and rushed around Ryu Kokki. "When Nightmare Penguin is flipped," James said, "a monster on your side of the field is returned to your hand."
"True," Michael said, grabbing his card, "but I still have Call of the Mummy on the field. So, I use its effect to Special Summon Ryu Kokki again."
James nodded and drew a card. The viruses swarmed down around it and latched onto it. "Levia-Dragon – Daedalus," James said, sliding it into his Graveyard. "I set a monster and end my turn."
Michael drew a card and motioned for his monster to attack, and the Maiden could not withstand it. James drew another card, this time relieved to see that it wouldn't be taken from him. "Magician of Faith," he announced, "and now your Trap's effect is over."
The cloud of viruses drifted away as James set the card onto his field. "Your turn."
Michael took a card. This is my chance. "I summon Spirit Reaper," he said, acknowledging the hidden look of worry on James's face. "Ryu Kokki, attack Magician of Faith."
The saint magician was destroyed, but an aura sprouted from her body and reached into his Graveyard. "Magician of Faith's effect," James said, "returns Pot of Greed from my Graveyard to my hand."
Michael nodded. "Spirit Reaper," he said, "attack directly."
James faced down the monster as it floated towards him. Its effect would discard a random card from his hand. If it was the card he had just returned, then he would be in serious trouble.
The reaper drew back its scythe and swung, catching James with the blunt end across his stomach (J LP: 3300). Then both duelists watched intently as the scythe swung upwards and knocked a card from his hand. It fluttered downward, and James snatched it from the air with a smile. "Junkyard Robot," he said, sending it to his Graveyard.
A tease of a smile formed at the corner of Michael's mouth. "Your move," he said.
Cliff shook his head and snickered. "Dodged a bullet there," he said.
"Shut up," Michael said. "You've been quiet up until now."
Cliff shrugged. "Just admiring a good duel."
"We don't need your admiration," Michael spat back. "You ready, James?"
He sighed sadly, nodded, and drew a card. "I play Pot of Greed," he said, taking two more cards. "Then I play Premature Burial to summon Levia-Dragon – Daedalus from my Graveyard."
The one downside of Crush Card Virus, Michael thought with a smile. He wouldn't have been able to summon it otherwise. On the other hand...
James's Life Points decreased (J LP: 2500) as the long winding blue sea dragon (2600/1500) twisted up from the ground. It spread its tooth-rimmed mouth and roared, shaking the ground around them. "Daedalus," James said, "attack Spirit Reaper." He held his breath, looking at Michael's face-down card.
Michael nodded and touched his Trap card. "I activate Dust Tornado," he said, "destroying your Premature Burial." His clothes were blown around as a whirlwind swept across the field and destroyed his Magic card. Daedalus howled as a dozen rotting hands reached up from the ground and latched onto the sea serpent.
James nodded as his monster was dragged back down into the grave. He took the remaining two cards from his hand. "I set one monster," he said, "and remove Gagagigo in my Graveyard from the game to summon Aqua Spirit in defense position." The girl wreathed in watery clothes (1600/1200) kneeled beside the darkened card.
Michael drew a card, and then Aqua Spirit held up her hands and a swarm of bubbles flew out of them. They surrounded the bone composite, which relaxed down in defense position.
"Aqua Spirit's effect," James said, "changes the battle position of one of your monsters during your Standby Phase."
"That's right," Michael said. "Okay then, I'll switch Spirit Reaper to defense position as well."
James drew a card. "I tribute my face-down Sinister Serpent to summon Mobius the Frost Monarch." The winged snake briefly appeared and then vanished, to be replaced by an ice-covered ruler (2400/1000). James shivered a little from the waves of cold sliding off his monster.
The Monarch raised its arms and pointed at Michael's Call of the Mummy. The Magic card was covered in ice and shattered. "When Mobius is Tribute Summoned," James said, "it destroys up to two Magic and Trap cards on the field. Plus, it's stronger than your Ryu Kokki."
The ruler brought back its fist and struck the bone zombie. It broke apart and sank through the ground. Michael gritted his teeth, knowing what was coming next.
"Your turn," James said, "and Aqua Spirit's effect activates again during your Standby Phase, but your Spirit Reaper's effect destroys it as soon as it's targeted by an effect." Shimmering bubbles gathered around the reaper, but it just cackled and collapsed into a cascade of clattering bones and tattered cloth.
However, Michael still had a plan. "I play Card of Safe Return," he said, "a Continuous Magic card that gives me a drawn card every time a monster is summoned from my Graveyard. I also set a card and a monster."
James frowned. He knew what Michael's next move was, but he wasn't sure how to deal with it. He drew a card, looked at it, and then returned Sinister Serpent to his hand. Might as well get this situation moving, he thought.
"I move Aqua Spirit to attack position," he said, "Aqua Spirit, attack his face-down monster."
A grinning tomato (1400/1100) rose out of the dark card, and the water user drowned it and carried it away in a flood of water. "When Mystic Tomato is destroyed in battle," Michael said, "I can summon a Dark monster from my deck. Come out, Soul-Absorbing Bone Tower."
James frowned more as the mist-covered tower of bones (400/1500) rose before him. He knew what was coming next, but he had no choice but to fall into it. "Mobius," he said, "attack the Bone Tower."
Michael shook his head. "I activate Call of the Haunted," he said, "summoning back Ryu Kokki." The collection of bones rose yet again and rested a hand against the Bone Tower. Screaming ghost skulls flew out of the Tower and sent two cards off of the top of James's deck. "Is that all you have?" Michael asked, drawing a card from Card of Safe Return's effect.
James shrugged. He had no more attack target, as Bone Tower's effect prevented it from being attacked and Mobius's ATK tied with Ryu Kokki. "Our monsters won't remain tied for long," he said. "It's your turn, and Aqua Spirit's effect activates again."
Ryu Kokki switched to defense position again while Michael drew a second card. Then he nodded and slipped a Magic card into his duel gauntlet. "I play Creature Swap," he said. "Each of us chooses a monster to give the opponent."
James's eyes narrowed. Is he hoping to trade his defense position monster for my attack position 2400 ATK monster? he thought. "I choose Aqua Spirit," he said.
"And I choose Soul-Absorbing Bone Tower," Michael said.
James looked at him curiously as their monsters traded places, but then started to get a grasp on the situation as Michael grabbed another card from his hand. "Then I tribute Ryu Kokki," Michael said, "to summon my second Vampire Lord."
The vampire (2000/1500) rose out of the mist and swept its cloak over its shoulder. "Vampire Lord," he said, "attack Bone Tower." The vampire swept over the field and smashed through the skeleton tower. Pieces of bones clattered around James (J LP: 900).
"This time," Michael said, "discard a Magic card. I don't want you pulling any comebacks."
"Fine," James said, "I send Mystical Space Typhoon to the Graveyard."
Michael nodded. "Your turn."
James drew a card, and then Aqua Spirit's effect changed his own Mobius to defense position. Michael wiped some sweat from his brow as James moved his card to his duel gauntlet.
"I play Graceful Charity," he said, taking three cards from his deck and looking through his options. He shook his head, trying to clear it and comprehend the situation. There wasn't an immediate win available to him, but he saw how to turn the tables.
"I discard Sinister Serpent and Torrential Tribute," he said. "Then, I play Snatch Steal, an Equip Magic card that gives me control of one of your monsters." The Magic card rose and a thin tether connected it to Michael's Vampire Lord. The supreme vampire staggered over to James's field.
"Then," he said, "I tribute Vampire Lord and Mobius to summon Levia-Dragon – Daedalus." The two monsters changed into the long sea serpent (2600/1500), curling around James and glaring at the opponent.
"I'm sorry, Aqua Spirit," he whispered. "Daedalus, attack." The sea dragon opened it mouth and released a torrent of water, washing away the water spirit. Michael braced himself as the water rushed through his monster and around him (M LP: 400). When the attack had ceased, he lowered his arms and looked back at James. He saw the compassion in his eyes, but also the determination to succeed.
You're close, he thought, but not quite there yet.
"My turn," he said. "I set a monster and end my turn."
James drew a card and looked at it with sadness. "Michael," he said, "you understand, right?"
Michael smiled. "I won't understand anything until you show me what you've got," he said. "You won't win unless you bring it all against me."
James closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and placed two cards onto the duel gauntlet. "I summon Sinister Serpent," he said, "and then play Death Mask." The winged serpent (300/250) set itself on the field and then gained a golden glow. "Death Mask's effect," he continued, "lets me remove one card in my Graveyard from play, and then change the name of one card on the field to the name of the removed card. So, I change Sinister Serpent's name to Umi by removing A Legendary Ocean."
Michael smiled. That was it.
"Then I activate Daedalus's effect," he said. "By sending Umi to the Graveyard, it destroys every other card on the field." The sea dragon rose up tall, blinked its double pair of eyes, and opened its mouth again. Gallons of water poured out, tearing around the entire field, destroying Michael's Pyramid Turtle and sparing only the duelists. James couldn't help looking a little disappointed when the deluge stopped and they stood alone.
"You did very well," Michael said. "You won."
James bit his lip. "I'm sorry," he said. "I hope it doesn't hurt."
"Are you kidding?" Michael said. He pointed at Kyra's body. "That isn't a fate I would wish on any of you."
James gradually realized what he was saying. "You mean," he said, "that you intentionally lost?"
"Not really," Michael said, shaking his head. "A temporary imprisonment is still better than permanent one. If I didn't think you had what it took to defeat him, then I would have beaten you and taken this task on myself. But you've proven yourself, that you could win even without your essential Magic card." He smiled. "I know that you can save the both of us."
James still looked stupefied. "Then, you were holding back the whole time."
"But you weren't!" Michael shouted. "James, you have what it takes to defeat him. I believe in you."
James drew himself upright, trying to keep his knees from shaking. "Any other advice?" he asked.
"Beat the hell out of him for me."
James nodded and motioned to his monster. "Daedalus," he said, his voice cracking, "attack Michael directly."
Michael closed his eyes and relaxed as the water flowed over him (M LP: 0). He fell backwards and hit the ground, twitching as his soul was taken by the darkness. Daedalus grinned and then vanished into the black mist.
Cliff stepped forward, clapping his hands. "Good job," he said. "You really are the son of Moto."
James looked at Michael's body, took in a few deep breaths, and then took his cards from his duel gauntlet, shuffling them together. "This is it," he said. "If I win, you have to promise that you'll release everyone's souls."
Cliff nodded. "Of course."
"No double-crossing."
He chuckled. "Don't worry," he said. "The Shadow Game will ensure that the loser gets his punishment. It doesn't know otherwise."
James slid his cards into his duel gauntlet. "And stop that," he said. "Stop using your Millennium Dagger to affect my emotions and make me nervous."
Cliff grinned. "You've betrayed yourself," he said. "I hadn't even started doing that yet."
James looked taken aback and grabbed his first five cards. "Let's do this."
to be continued...
Here, for your reference, is the "official" card text of my original cards in this chapter:
Junkyard Robot (Magic) Add 1 Continuous, Equip, or Field Magic Card from your Graveyard to your hand. That card's effect is negated until your next Standby Phase after it is activated.
Death Mask (Magic) Remove 1 card in your Graveyard from play and select 1 card on the field. As long as the selected card remains face-up on the field, its card name is changed to the name of the card you removed.
