Episode 12: Seto Strikes Back

Yuni and friends are standing in front of the door to the Duel Sanctuary Castle. Standing in front of them Seto Ossius. Brutus shouts, "That's the punk that stole your Another Hope card! Let me at him!" Brutus charges at Seto, but Yuni holds out his arm and blocks him.

"Hold on Brutus," he says. "What is your purpose here Seto? I heard you weren't entering this tournament."

Seto responds, "I had a change of heart. But, technically, I'm not in this tournament, I have come only to challenge the Organizer of this tournament."

Yuni thinks for a moment. He then exclaims, "You're still after my card!"

Seto says, "And I had you pegged as ignorant. Yes, I am still after Another Hope."

Yugi mentions to Yuni, How would he know that you don't have that card any more? I would assume that no one but us knew of it being stolen.

Yuni thinks, Hmm, that is strange. Yuni then says out loud, "So why are you wasting your time out here?"

Seto chuckles. "I am not wasting my time, in fact I have been waiting specifically for you, Yuni."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that in order to duel the Organizer, I must first duel you."

Yuni says confidently, "Is that a challenge?"

"Yes it is. I, Seto Ossius, the Kaiba of Kaiba Corp., challenge you, Yuni Oha, to a duel!"

"My only response is," Yuni pauses, "duel on!"

Inside the castle's throne room, Lux and Nox approach The Lord of Chaos. The Lord says, "What do you have to report, my Servers of Chaos?"

Lux begins, "My lord, Yuni and Brutus have just defeated us."

Nox continues, "And now they head to where Seto Ossius awaits them."

The Lord says with a pleased tone in his voice, "Yes, very good. All goes according to plan. Yuni has overcame one of his greatest weaknesses and our ceremonial duel of Yin and Yang is about to begin."

Lux says, "My lord, if you would be as kind as to explain what this duel is, we would be most grateful."

"Of course my servants. As you already know, together Seto and Yuni form a very special yin-yang. This yin-yang is required to gain access to the true power behind the Another Hope card, so we must take their souls to acquire this yin-yang. But first we must place them against each other, so that we may bring to the surface their difference, allowing me to take that power they posses for myself."

Nox says, "It is a most wonderful plan my lord. One that only one as illustrious as you could have come up with."

"Of course."

Back with Yuni and Seto, Seto says, "If you are prepared to duel, then ready your Duel Gauntlet!"

Yuni and Seto activate their Gauntlets. "Scanning Decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

Seto says, "If I am correct, you took the first move in our last duel. So it is only right that I go first in this one."

Yuni says, "That is acceptable to me."

"Alright then, I draw my card. Now I summon Plasma Serpent (Light/Level 5/Dragon/Effect/ATK 1800/DEF 2000)." Seto summons a serpentine dragon made out of the standard yellow plasma energy.

Yuni objects, "How did you summon a level five monster without tributes?! You can't do that!"

"Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you, but my monster's effect allows it to be normal summoned without tributes, if I control no monsters. Now to continue my turn. I activate Plasma Stream. This card allows me to special summon one level five or lower Plasma monster from my hand. I summon Plasma Ghost (Light/Level 5/Zombie/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 2000)." The monster looks like a typical ghost, except it is made out of an orangish plasma energy. "When I special summon Plasma Ghost, I can draw one card." Seto draws a card. "Now I overlay my two monsters and build the Overlay Network. I Xyz summon Plasma Kaiser (Light/Rank 5/Warrior/Xyz/ATK 2400/DEF 2400)." Seto summons a majestic, royal looking warrior, made completely out of a bright yellow plasma. "I can remove all of his overlay units in order to add one Plasma monster to my hand." Plasma Kaiser's overlay units are absorbed into its hands, one into each. "I add Cosmic Plasma Dragon to my hand. Now I set a card and end my turn (Seto's hand: 3)."

Yuni draws a card. "That was quite a move Seto, too bad I can beat it. I summon Cyber-Tech Cannon (Fire/Level 4/Machine/Effect/ATK 1700/DEF 0)." Yuni's monster looks like a long barreled cannon with a body beneath it. "When I summon this monster, I can destroy one card on the field. I destroy your Kaiser!" Yuni's monster fires a projectile from its large cannon. The projectile makes impact on Seto's Plasma Kaiser. "Ha, not so powerful now, are you?"

Seto begins to laugh. He laughs a maniacal laugh.

Yuni asks, "What's so funny?"

"It's you! I take back what I said about you not being ignorant, if you couldn't see my trap. You see, if my Kaiser is destroyed by a card effect, I can summon both of the monsters used as overlay units from the grave, but their attack and defense become zero and their effects are negated." Seto's Plasma Ghost and Serpent return to the field in defense mode (ATK and DEF of both: 0). "Like a moth to a flame. You just couldn't resist."

Yuni counters, "Maybe not, but a lot of good two zero attack and defense monsters are going to do for you. I have my Cyber-Tech Cannon attack your Plasma Serpent!" Yuni's monster unleashes its cannon on Plasma Serpent.

"I won't allow that to happen. I activate Plasma Phase Shift. This trap makes it so that all level five or higher Plasma monsters can't be destroyed by battle, if I first discard a card." All of Seto's monsters appear to half fade away, allowing the attack of Cyber-Tech cannon to pass right through Plasma Serpent.

Yuni thinks to himself, This is not good.

Yugi asks, What is it?

He has two level five monsters on his field and his Cosmic Plasma Dragon in his hand. Remember our last duel? He summons his monster by tributing two level five or higher monsters.

That's right! You're in for some trouble.

Let's see what we can do. Yuni then says aloud, "I'll just set these two cards and end my turn (Yuni's hand: 3)."

Seto draws. "If you are half as smart as I think you are, you should know what comes next. I tribute my two level five monsters in order to summon Cosmic Plasma Dragon (Light/Level 8/Dragon/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2500)!" The dragon made of a light blue plasma emerges from the star that it appeared in. It roars into the sky. "Now I summon Plasma Mage (Light/Level 4/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 200/DEF 1800) in defense mode." Seto new monster looks like a magician holding a staff. It is completely made out of a yellow-orange plasma. "When I summon this monster, I can increase the level of all monsters I control by one (Mage's Level 5) (Dragon's Level 9). My dragon's effect gives it 100 additional attack for each of its additional levels (ATK 3100). Now, Cosmic Plasma Dragon, attack with Plasma Stream of Destruction!" Seto's dragon lets loose a stream of plasma at Yuni's monster.

"I activate Negate Attack and negate your attack!"

"I activate the effect of my Plasma Mage. Once per turn I can negate the effect of a card that targets a Plasma monster." Plasma Mage raises its staff and destroys Yuni's trap card. "Now my attack may continue unimpeded." The plasma stream hits Cyber-Tech cannon and vaporizes it (Yuni's LP: 2600). "I end my turn (Seto's hand: 1)."

Yuni draws. "I have no intention of losing to you this time. I summon Cyber-Tech Mystic (Water/Level 1/Spellcater/Effect/ATK 300/DEF 200)." Yuni's previously un-summoned monster looks like what might be a smaller, younger version of his Cyber-Tech Magician, with slightly less armor than it. "Now I activate my face down Cyber-Tech Exchange. This quick-play card allows me to tribute one Cyber-Tech monster I control in order to draw two cards." Yuni's monster goes away and he draws two cards. "Now that my Mystic is in the grave, I can access its full potential. By banishing it I can summon one Cyber-Tech Magician from my hand (Dark/Level 7/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2100)!" Yuni's ace monster appears on the field. "As a bonus, I can add one Cyber-Tech Spellbook card to my hand. I add Cyber-Tech Spellbook of Survival. I can equip this spellbook to my Cyber-Tech Magician." The spellbook appears in Cyber-Tech Magician's hand. "Now I end my turn (Yuni's hand: 4)."

"I draw. Plasma Dragon, get revenge on Yuni's monster. Go, Plasma Stream of Destruction!" Cosmic Plasma Dragon unleashes its attack on Yuni's monster.

"I can now activate the effect of my Cyber-Tech Spellbook of Survival! When ever my monster would be destroyed, I can lower its attack by 500 to prevent it from being destroyed." Yuni's monster activates its spell and weakens itself (ATK 2000), but it survives Seto's attack (Yuni's LP: 2000).

"You just delay the inevitable. I end my turn (Seto's hand: 2)."

Yuni draws his card. "I activate Cyber-Tech Brutality! This spell card allows me discard three cards and double the attack of one Cyber-Tech monster I control until the end of the turn. I'll use its effect on my magician (ATK 4000). Cyber-Tech Magician, attack Cosmic Plasma Dragon, Cyber Magic Attack!" Yuni's Magician launches its dark magic at Seto's monster, destroying it (Seto's LP: 3100). "I'll end my turn (Magician's ATK 2000) (Yuni's hand: 1)."

Seto draws a card. "You think that destroying my monster has ensured your victory, don't you? I will ensure you that is far from the case. You actually helped me. I can tribute a level five or higher monster I control, in this case my Plasma Mage, in order to special summon Plasma Wyvern (Light/Level 7/Dragon/Effect/ATK 2600/ DEF 2200)." The wyvern bears a resemblance to Cosmic Plasma Dragon, except its wings replace its arms. Also it is a little smaller and is colored a darker blue. "I set a card. Now Wyvern, attack his Magician!" Plasma Wyvern unleashes a burst of plasma that it fires at Yuni's magician.

"I Activate the effect of my Spellbook of Survival again!" Cyber-Tech Magician weakens again (ATK 1500), but once again it survives (Yuni's LP: 1400).

"And again you only stall. I will end my turn (Seto's hand: 1)."

Yuni smiles and then draws his card. "I may have been stalling, but for a good reason. It's time for an evolution!" Cyber-Tech Magician tosses aside its spellbook and begins to glow. He becomes encircled by two perpendicular Magician's Circles. They begin to rotate, creating a sphere around Cyber-Tech Magician. "Listen now to the chant I recite! Come and bring me victory in this fight! Cyber-Tech Magician evolve and show me your true might! I evolve Cyber-Tech Magician into Temporax, the Cyber-Tech Magician of Time (Dark/Level 9/Spellcaster/Evolution/ATK 3500/DEF 3100)!" The orbiting circles begin to slow. They reveal a silhouette behind them. They then vanish, leaving behind Yuni's new monster. Temporax at first glance looks like its base form, but it is larger. Also its armor looks more advanced. Changes in its armor include a taller conical hat, large flare outs at the joints and shoulder, and a reverse in color from silver with gold trim to gold with silver trim. Also the hologram projected from its staff now projects an infinity symbol that rotates. "I can evolve my Magician into this monster when it has been on the field for at least three turns."

"You should know before you attack, my Wyvern has an additional effect, if it would be destroyed, I can banish a Plasma monster in my graveyard to prevent his destruction."

"It's good thing I have an effect of my own then. You see, when Temporax is summoned, I can select one card on the field, as long as my monster remains on the field, the effect of that card is negated, in this case that's your Wyvern. Now Temporax, attack Seto's Plasma Wyvern with Temporal Burst!"

"I activate Plasma Flare! Since your attacking a Plasma monster, I can destroy the attacking monster."

"I'll counter that with Temporax's second effect. Once per turn, I can select one Cyber-Tech Spellbook card in my deck and activate it. I select the Cyber-Tech Spellbook of Immunity. This spell makes it so that all Cyber-Tech Magician monsters I control are unaffected by effects this turn. So my attack will go through." Temporax unleashes a large beam of energy from its staff. The energy engulfs and destroys Plasma Wyvern (Seto's LP: 2200). "Lastly, I will equip my monster with the spell Anti-Devolution Device. This card stops my monster from devolving at the end of the turn, but I have to pay 1000 life points during each of my stand-by phases. Now my turn is up (Yuni's hand: 1)."

Seto begins to laugh maniacally again. "You really think your going to beat me. Don't you?"

"So what if I do? Didn't I just beat your plan?"

"Ha! That? That was just stalling. I said that you sending my Cosmic Plasma Dragon was what helped me. Allow me to demonstrate. I activate Plasma Boost. This card allows me to banish my Plasma Ghost from my grave and draw two cards. Now I summon Plasmamancer (Light/Level 4/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 500/DEF 1700). When this card is summoned I can discard one card in my hand in order to special summon one Plasma monster from my grave. I summon Cosmic Plasma Dragon! As a bonus, the monster summoned has its level doubled (Level 16) (ATK 3800). Now I activate Plasma Matter. This card increases one Plasma monster's level by its original level (Level 24) (ATK 4600). You're not the only one who has a fancy evolution monster." Seto's monster begins to glow. It is enveloped by a yellow star. The star turns white and a beam of light shoots out of the top and bottom of the star. The star begins to spin, causing the lights to spin with it. It is a pulsar star. "Plasma Dragon comes form the stars, the power of the cosmos pump through his veins! Now that astronomical power multiplies! Come to me Cosmic Tri-Pulsar Dragon (Light/Level 10/Dragon/Evolution/ATK 4500/DEF 4000)!" The pulsar dissipates. It leaves behind Seto's new monster. Where it was once light blue, it is now white. Its shape has taken on a more serpentine appearance and is larger. Also, now its two arms have become two new heads. Out of each of the three heads, a beam of white light is emitted. "I can evolve my Cosmic Plasma Dragon when its level is 24, three times its original. Now, Tri-Pulsar Dragon attack Yuni's monster with Pulsar Blast Attack!" Each of the heads fires a white beam of energy. The three beams converge together and swirl into one beam. The beams hit Temporax and destroy it. "Normally you would still survive, but I can inflict damage to you equal to your monsters attack. You lose (Yuni's LP: 0)." As soon as the duel ends, Seto walks away towards the castle. As he's leaving he says, "I can't believe I lost to you in our last duel. That wasn't even worth it."

Yuni, upon losing falls to the ground. "I can't believe I just lost to him."

Brutus and Tori come up to him. Tori says, "Come on Yuni, you can't win them all. You should know that."

Brutus then adds, "Besides, that duel didn't even matter. It wasn't part of the tournament. If you were going to lose, it might of well have been in this duel."

Yuni sigh, "Yeah, I guess. But this just seems different. I feel like I should be beating Seto. It like when I duel him, it's more personal."

Yugi says, Sounds to me like you have yourself a rival.

I guess you would know.

Brutus says, "Come on Yuni, let's get through those doors. The finals await us." The three friends walk towards the castle.