Episode 98: In the Cards Part 2

Unknown Location

Yuni is looking at the newly unveiled Sartorius with shock and surprise. After a few shock filled moments he stammers, "But…but…you died almost 5,000 years ago!"

Sartorius chuckles. "That is true, from a certain point of view at least."

"What do you mean?"

"I am Sartorius, and yet I am not. Destiny works in odd ways like that. As I'm sure you know, the Light of Destruction made its first appearance on Earth 5,000 years ago. It merged with a host," he beckons to himself, "but then the accursed Jaiden Yuki destroyed the beautiful Light. However, the Light of Destruction is an omnipotent being. All Jaiden managed to defeat was but a fraction of the actual entity known as the Light of Destruction. Now, 5,000 years later, I have returned to this planet to exact my vengeance."

Yuni realizes what Sartorius is inferring. "So you're not Sartorius, you're the Light of Destruction!"

"Once again, you are both right and wrong. I am the Light of Destruction yes, but I am also Sartorius. Having been bonded for as long as they were, Sartorius became a part of the Light of Destruction, and the Light of Destruction became part of him. When Jaiden Yuki thought he defeated the Light of Destruction, the experience of being bonded transferred back to me. I assimilated all that was Sartorius into my very being. I am both. When the time came for me to return to this planet, I reanimated the body of Sartorius to serve as my vessel."

Yuni activates his Duel Gauntlet. "You know what? I don't care what you are. You challenged me to a duel, so it's duel on!"

Sartorius spreads his hands in front of him. "And so we will."

Noticing that Sartorius is still sitting at his table with his deck in front of him, Yuni declares, "Then get out your Duel Gauntlet!"

Sartorius chuckles again. "I have no need for such trivial devices." He snaps his fingers.

The Duel Computer activates. "Duel now commencing. Yuni Oha vs. Sartorius. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

Sartorius slides his hand over his deck, spreading out six cards upside-down in front of him. He asks, "Tell me Yuni, have you ever had your fortune told?"

Yuni scoffs, "Yeah, right after I got abducted by aliens." He pauses for a second and then adds, "I guess that doesn't seem so crazy anymore though."

"You shouldn't have such a closed mind Yuni. Let's consider this your first reading." Without looking at it, Sartorius flips one of his cards up. "I activate Readings of Destiny. This Spell allows me to reveal the top card of my deck, and if it's a monster, I get to instantly summon it. If it isn't, then I take 1000 points of damage."

Yuni thinks, How could he possibly have known what that card was before he looked at it!?

Sartorius removes the top card of his deck and lies it down on the table. It's a monster. "Look at this card Yuni, it represents you. It is known as The Hierophant."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what I said. Everyone in this world has a card that represents them. This is your card. The Hierophant is strong leader, and full of knowledge and expertise. However, there is also a darker side to this card. With your high role of power, you also must stick to a certain convention; you are held to a higher standard than others. This weighs heavily on your life. On the inside all you really want is for your life to be normal, but you know that that's impossible."
This reading has caused Yuni's eyes to go wide. Yugi asks him, What's wrong Yuni?

He got it right…that's exactly how I feel.

He could have just guessed all that. You can't let it get to you.

Sartorius declares, "And so I summon Arcana Force V – The Hierophant (Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1500/DEF 1500)." Sartorius' monster is a slim humanoid, yet alien-like form with white and grey flesh. It has flaps of skin that bear a resemblance to a robe. It carries a wand with a red jewel in its tip. Above the monster, an image of its card appears and begins to spin around. Sartorius explains, "When I summon an Arcana Force monster, you must tell the card when to stop spinning. Depending on whether it stops right-side up or upside-down, the monster will have a different effect." He beckons to Yuni. "Whenever you're ready."

Yuni watches the card. "Stop now!" The card slowly comes to the stop. It's right-side up.

Sartorius grins. "You might feel like you have control over your fate, but I knew all along how that card would stop." Sartorius flips up another card. "Now I summon Arcana Force IV – The Emperor (Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1400/DEF 1400)." Now this card begins to spin. "At your earliest convenience Mr. Oha."

Yuni grunts, "Stop."

Once again, the card stops right side up. "Since The Emperor landed upwards, all of my Arcana Force monsters gain 500 attack (Emperor's ATK: 1900) (Hierophant's ATK: 2000). And since my Hierophant has its upwards effect, I get to draw a card every time I summon an Arcana force monster." Without looking at it, Sartorius adds another card to his hand. He pushes a card up to the Spell and Trap Zone of his table. "Do you still not believe in the power of the Arcane Arts (Sartorius' hand: 3)?"

Yuni draws. "I'm willing to admit that the Light of Destruction has certain special abilities. That does not mean that you can tell my fortune, that does not mean I have no control over my fate." He looks over to Tori, standing expressionlessly off to the side. "That can't be right. I summon Cyber-Tech Berserker via its effect (Dark/Level 5/Fiend/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 1100). Cyber-Tech Berserker, attack Arcana Force IV – The Emperor!" Yuni's monster slashes its sword, destroying Sartorius' monster (Sartorius' LP: 3600) and weakening his remaining one (ATK: 1500). "Don't worry Tori, I'll save you (Yuni's hand: 5)."

Sartorius draws another card without looking. "How do expect to save your friend when you aren't even in control of your own fate? If you still don't believe me, just watch. I tribute The Hierophant in order to summon Arcana Force XIII – The Reaper (Light/Level 6/Fairy/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 2300)." Another grotesque being of white and gray appears. Its head is shaped like a skull with its skin receding into it, and its two arms end in scythe-like shapes. Its card appears above it. "If you think that you really can control your fate, prove it. Stop the card when it's facing down, it's your only hope to come out on top this turn, for if it does my monster will destroy itself."

Yuni focuses on the spinning card. He shouts, "Stop!" The card stops right-side up. Horror crosses Yuni's face.

"You see, you have no control over your fate. I knew that it would land this way. Destiny is but a story that has already been written. You are only a character in this grand story, one who is at the whim of the writer. I, on the other hand, am not a character, but the reader." Sartorius beckons to his monster and explains, "Since The Reaper landed upwards, it automatically destroys one of your monsters." The Reaper slashes its scythe-arms at Yuni's monster, destroying it. "Now Reaper, attack Yuni directly!" The monster attacks again, this time hitting Yuni (Yuni's LP: 1700). "What's your plan now (Sartorius' hand: 3)?"

Yuni is still shocked. He shakes it off. "This is all just a sick trick. Play all the games you want. I don't care. I'll still stop you." He draws. "Since you have more life points than me, I can special summon the Cyber-Tech Healer (Light/Level 6/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 2600)!" A female cybernetic magician holding wand appears on the field. "When I special summon the Cyber-Tech Healer, my life points are increased by 1000 (Yuni's LP: 2700)." A soothing light washes over Yuni. "Now Cyber-Tech Healer, attack Arcana Force XIII – The Reaper!" Yuni's monster casts a spell which destroys Sartorius' monster (Sartorius' LP: 3500).

Sartorius declares, "I activate Reveal of Justice. This trap, like my other cards, will spin. If it lands up, I get to special summon an Arcana Force monster from my hand. If it faces down, then I have to banish the monster you just destroyed." The card begins to spin.

Yuni shouts, "Stop!"

The card stops upwards. "Now I summon Arcana Force XVII – The Star (Light/Level 7/Fairy/Effect/ATK 2700/DEF 2700)." A shining white monster appears before Sartorius. Its main body is shaped like a six-pointed star and has several projections that serve as limbs and a head. Its card appears above it.

Without being asked, Yuni declares, "Stop now." The card faces up.

Sartorius grins. "You may continue your turn."

"I've got nothing left to do but set a facedown card (Yuni's hand: 4)."

Sartorius draws. "During my Standby Phase, the effect of The Star activates, increasing my life points by 500 (Sartorius' LP: 4000)."

Yuni grimaces. He then declares, "You might have brought your life points back up to full, but nothing will stop me from saving Tori, along with everyone else you've enslaved."

Sartorius nods. "Ah yes, I almost forgot that the fate of Tori is on the line." He looks down at his facedown cards. "This card should have some importance to you. I summon Arcana Force II – The High Priestess (Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1200/DEF 1200)." The monster is a vaguely humanoid female form. Its flesh is gray and white like other Arcana Force monsters, and it appears to wear robes and a ceremonial headdress. "This monster represents one very close to you. She represents knowledge, common-sense, and intuition."

Yuni slowly answers, "It's…Tori…"

"Exactly." The card above it begins to spin. Yuni gives a simple nod to tell it to stop. It stops face up. "Since it landed as so, I can excavate the top card of my deck, and if it's an Arcana Force monster, I get to special summon it." Sartorius flips up the top card of his deck. "As predicted, it is a monster. Welcome to the field Arcana Force VII – The Chariot (Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1700/DEF 1700). Maybe this will make you believe me, for I happen to know that this card represents another who is dear to you. The Chariot symbolizes one who prideful, honorable, and strong, and yet also ignorant and egotistical at times. Sound familiar?"

Yuni's eyes go wide. "That's…Brutus! But how could you know who he is?"

"Exactly my point Yuni. I know all, past, present, and future. Now, I believe you have something to do." Sartorius beckons towards The Chariot's now spinning card. Yuni reluctantly nods again. The card stops right-side up. "Now I activate II of Swords. With this card we go through the usual process of the spinning card. If it lands upwards, I get to destroy up to two of your monsters, but if it's downwards, I have to destroy two of my own monsters." The card begins to spin.

Yuni declares, "Now." The card stops downwards. Yuni's eyes widen. He smiles smugly. "It looks like you aren't as all-knowing as you thought."

"You forget which two monsters are on my field." The Chariot and The High Priestess are impaled by a sword each.

Yuni's eyes go wide in shock. "No!"

"What's that I hear? Are you beginning to believe me?"

Yuni recovers. "No, not at all."

"It does not matter whether you believe me or not. The cards do not lie. A great tragedy is about to occur to both of your friends. One of them," he motions towards Tori, "is probably pretty obvious. But the other, that is up to you to figure out. Consider this a friendly warning." Yuni scowls. "Now Arcana Force XVII, attack the Cyber-Tech Healer." The Star destroys Yuni's only monster (Yuni's LP: 2400). "That concludes my turn (Sartorius' hand: 1)."

Yuni hesitates to draw. He thinks, What if Sartorius is right? What if I really don't have any control over my future? Is this all hopeless? Are Tori and Brutus doomed to suffer no matter what I do?"

Yugi snaps, That's no way to talk! Can't you tell? He's playing with your head! The moment you admit that you have no control and that all is hopeless is the moment you lose! There's nothing you can do but press on regardless of his mind games!

I hope you're right. Yuni draws. "I summon the Cyber-Tech Acolyte (Dark/Level 4/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 1500/DEF 1900), and then I'll activate Cyber-Tech Rebuild in order to tribute it to summon another, more powerful Cyber-Tech monster from my deck. Come forth, Cyber-Tech Magician (Dark/Level 7/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2100)!"

Sartorius states, "I see we are getting ambitious, but it is still not enough to defeat The Star."

"That's why I'm equipping my magician with the Wisdom of Yugoha: Chronoton Staff, granting it 1000 extra Attack Points (ATK: 3500)! Go Cyber-Tech Magician; attack Arcana Force XVII – The Star, Cyber Magic Attack!" Yuni's magician launches a magical blast destroying Sartorius' monster. Yuni asks smugly, "I'll bet you didn't see that coming."

"The mystic energies of universe tend to be indirect when revealing their secrets. There are many paths that lead to the same destination."

Yuni scowls. "At the end of each of my turns, the Chronoton Staff increases my monster's attack by an additional 500 points (ATK: 4000) (Yuni's hand: 3)."

Sartorius picks up another card and places it on his table, facedown as always. Immediately he flips it up. "I activate the Cup of Ace. This card will spin itself, an upwards result grants me two cards, and a downwards result gives you two cards." Yuni nods to tell the card to stop. It's facing up. "It looks like the spoils go to me." Sartorius places two more cards on his table. "I summon Arcana Force IX – The Hermit (Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1900/DEF 1900)." This monster is shaped like an old man. It is made of dark gray flesh and what appears to be a lantern is attached to arm which it raises up above its head. A tentacle coming out of its back holds a walking cane. "You know how Arcana Force monsters work by now." The card rotates.

"Now." The card stops right-side up.

"That means I can tribute The Hermit in order to summon the first Arcana Force monster in my deck." The Hermit vanishes, and without looking Sartorius removes the third down card from his deck and summons it. "I summon Arcana Force XX – Judgment (Light/Level 8/Fairy/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 3000)!" This monster is a large, white, ring-shaped, bio-mechanical object. A light seems to emanate from it. Its card begins to spin.

Yuni calls, "Stop." It stops right-side up.

"I must admit that I am very fond of the effect of this monster. By tributing it, I can special summon three Arcana Force monsters from my graveyard, but they all have their effects negated. Return to me Arcana Force II – The High Priestess, Arcana Force V – The Hierophant, and Arcana Force XII – The Chariot! Tell me Yuni, do you remember these cards?" Yuni looks speechlessly at them. "They are the cards that represent you and those you hold most dear. Now watch as they turn against you. The second effect of Arcana Force XX allows me to add an Arcana Force EX monster from my deck to my hand." A white aura suddenly surrounds Sartorius. "I send my three Arcana Force monsters to the grave in order to summon Arcana Force EX – The Light Ruler (Light/Level 10/Fairy/Effect/ATK 4000/DEF 4000)!" As the massive monster appears on the field, Sartorius begins to change. The white aura grows harsher, the veins on his head begin to bulge, and his hair lifts into the air as if being moved by an unseen force.

Yuni thinks, He is now calling upon the full power of the Light of Destruction… Its card begins to spin and Yuni slowly nods to tell it to stop. It's upwards.

"I used to believe that The Light Ruler was the most powerful of the Arcana Force monsters, but since my alliance with New Yugoha began, I have been proven wrong. I activate Celestial Advancement: Clarity of Light!" The Light Ruler becomes cloaked in a harsh light. Its shape begins to morph and change. "I summon Arcana Force ∞ – The Universe (Light/Level 12/Fairy/Evolution/ATK ?/DEF ?)!" The new monster keeps the bio-mechanical aspect of its previous form, but looks much more lethal. It now has four dragon-like head coming out of its back and its tail now holds an additional one. Most of its chest consists of an infinity symbol and its color has changed to white. "With the combined power of the Light of Destruction and New Yugoha you will never win! As destiny has already determined, you will lose!" Sartorius laughs.