Joey looked at his next card, and simply nodded. "I play Blue Flame Swordsman in Defense Mode!" Appearing in a flash, Blue Flame Swordsman knelt down on the ground, his sword gripped in both hands as he exhaled. "I will next set one card... turn end."
A Duel Monsters card flashed behind Joey's Blue Flame Swordsman as he exhaled, eyes closed, opening them as he got serious.
"My turn. Draw." Kite drew his next card, taking another Monster card and said "I will play another Masked Dragon in Defense Mode." Next to Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon, Masked Dragon appeared, kneeling down as it snapped its' teeth right at Joey as Kite smiled, thrusting his hand forward. "Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon! Attack Blue Flame Swordsman!"
Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon's mouth began to glow brightly as it then fired its' Flash Flare Blast, destroying Blue Flame Swordsman. Joey smiled and said "Thanks to you destroying Blue Flame Swordsman, I can invoke its' effect to Special Summon one of my old school Monsters!"
Joey pulled out his Deck, shuffling through it as he grinned, and slapped Flame Swordsman onto his Duel Disk. "Now I summon Flame Swordsman in Attack Mode! Special Summon!"
In a flash of red fire, A warrior much like Blue Flame Swordsman appeared, only his was a dark blue suit covering his arms, legs, and body, as well as a red sash down near his legs, holding a sword with "Fire" on it as well as two blades protruding from his shoulder armor as he slashed the air.
FLAME SWORDSMAN Fire/Warrior/5/1800 ATK/1600 DEF
"Well, I'll next set a card of my own face-down and end my turn." Kite smiled softly, his set card appearing right behind Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon as he ended his turn.
"My turn." Joey drew his next card, looking at it, as he exhaled, and said "I'll start by having Flame Swordsman attack Masked Dragon!"
Flame Swordsman grippped his sword, charging forward, Joey cried out Flame Swordsman's attack. "Burning Sword of Battle!" With a loud cry, one of Joey's favorite Monsters leapt into the air, slashing downward, spliting Masked Dragon in half, causing it to explode in a burst of flames. Kite smiled, pulling his Deck out as he shuffled through it and said "I now can Special Summon a Dragon from my Deck with an ATK of 1500 or less! And I Special Summon this! Winged Dragon - Guardian of the Fortress #1 in Attack Mode!"
In a flash, in Masked Dragon's place, a blue colored dragon with a long tail, small blue wings, claws along the top of them, teeth showing, and spines along its' back, as it snorted from its' rounded snout, appeared roaring. Yugi recognized Winged Dragon - Guardian of the Fortress #1 because he also used it in his Deck for some simple attack. And yet... he was confused as to why Kite had some weak Monsters in place... was it part of a ploy? Or was there something more...?
WINGED DRAGON, GUARDIAN OF THE FORTRESS #1 Wind/Dragon/4/1400 ATK/1200 DEF
"Well, to be honest, I'm not impressed so far, Kite. I guess you were wrong about me, loser!" Joey smiled. "Turn end!"
Kite closed his eyes and said "My turn. Draw." Kite drew his next card and opened his eyes as he said "I summon Troop Dragon in Attack Mode!"
A smaller dragon than Winged Dragon appeared next to it, gripping a sword in its' left hand, a shield along its' right as it looked at Joey with red eyes, its' wings spread out as it also had on armor, as if it was ready for battle. And slashing the air, Troop Dragon definitely looked the part.
TROOP DRAGON Wind/Dragon/2/700 ATK/800 DEF Effect: When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard as a result of Battle, take 1 "Troop Dragon" from your Deck and Special Summon it to the Field in face-up Attack or Defense Mode. The Deck is then shuffled.
"First things first! Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon! Attack Flame Swordsman!" Charging its' attack, soon enough, REBMD fired its' attack outward like a bullet, smashing Flame Swordsman and destroying him, dropping Joey's Life Points to 200. One more attack and it was over!
"Now to finish this. Troop Dragon! Direct Attack!" Troop Dragon charged forward, leaping into the air as it cried out. Joey then said "Don't think so! Quickplay Magic Card! Scapegoat!" In a flash, the four Sheep Tokens appeared onto Joey's side of the Field, as Troop Dragon slashed the blue Sheep Token right in half, as Joey exhaled, his Life Points safe.
"So, you still have some fighting spirit. I am impressed. Winged Dragon, attack another Sheep Token!" Winged Dragon heard Kite's command and flapped its' wings, shooting right at the pink Sheep Token as Joey said "Trap Card, activate! Vow of Tribe! When this card is activated, if both of us have the same amount of Monsters, the Battle Phase can't be conducted, and since you have 3, and I have 3, that means... say buh-bye to the rest of your Battle Phase!"
VOW OF TRIBE Normal Trap Card Effect: During the turn this card is activated, if both players have the same number of Monsters on their side of the Field, the Battle Phase cannot be conducted.
Suddenly, Winged Dragon stopped in mid-flight, then landed down between Troop Dragon and Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon as Kite clapped his hands. "You have some courage to keep going even if you know you may lose. But, it happens, I suppose. A lucky draw on your part. Bravo indeed. Turn end."
Joey exhaled. "My turn. Draw." Joey looked at the card he had drawn and held it up. "I now play Token Thanksgiving! This Magic Card destroys all Tokens on the Field and I gain 800 Life Points for each of them. 3 x 800 2400 Life Points."
In a flash, Joey's Sheep Tokens exploded, as his Life Point counter went up from 200 to 2600 as he smiled and said "Now I will set Landostar Swordsman in Defense Mode."
TOKEN THANKSGIVING Normal Magic Card Effect: Destroy all Tokens on the Field. Increase your Life points by the number of Tokens destroyed x 800 points.
Appearing on Joey's side of the Field, kneeling down, a small cute fairy-like Monster with a maroon set of armor, a small sword in his left hand, a small shield in the right with a fairy-like expression on it, as well as the same kind of boots took to the Field
LANDOSTAR SWORDSMAN (English Name: Swordsman of Landstar)
Earth/Warrior/3/500 ATK/1200 DEF
"And then I set one last card face-down and end my turn." Joey exhaled, shaking a bit.
Kite closed his eyes and said "My turn." He drew his next card, then opened his eyes to gaze upon his drawn card. Looking at it, the Card Hunter saw he had drawn one of his most cherished cards... Red Eyes Darkness Dragon, Red Eyes in its' ultimate form.
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon was beautiful, but frightening at the same time. It had 2 wings, 3 bladed shapes for both, red gems along the top blade, spikes jetting from its' shoulders and back, as well as having 2 gems along its' upper leg, its' chest, and forehead, as well as yellow markers along its' legs, wings, chest, neck, and under its' eyes. Kite knew he needed a Red Eyes Black Dragon to Special Summon Red Eyes Darkness Dragon, and he remembered how many Dragon-Type Monsters he had in his Graveyard to use its' effect; 2 Masked Dragons, Red Eyes Black Chick, Red Eyes Black Dragon, and that was it. He also noticed Pot of Greed and Dark Hole. Nodding, Kite said "I will play the Magic Card, Dark Hole, destroying all of our Monsters!"
A giant black hole circled all over the Field, sucking in all Monsters on the Field as Kite exhaled, and then played his next card. "Now I play the Magic Card, Pot of Greed"
The card image of Pot of Greed appeared, then exploded, as Kite drew two cards, getting Red Eyes Black Dragon and Red Eyes Black Chick. He nodded and said "Now I summon my second Red Eyes Black Chick in Attack Mode."
In a flash of fire, another Red Eyes Black Chick appeared, squwaking as it landed in front of Kite. "Now I will send Red Eyes Black Chick to my Graveyard to Special Summon Red Eyes Black Dragon from my hand!"
Once more, like before, fire blasted around Red Eyes Black Chick, its' shadow in the flames growing in size, and soon enough, the flames exploded, and Red Eyes Black Dragon appeared again!
"Now... it's time to end this. I sacrifice Red Eyes Black Dragon!" Red Eyes Black Dragon cried out as a fiery dragon shot up into the air, smashing down around it as Red Eyes' body began to change into the same form as Red Eyes Darkness Dragon, with Kite smiling. "This is Red Eyes Black Dragon's ultimate form, Joey. Red Eyes... show your true form! Break the flames surrounding yourself! Show your true form!"
Soon, the flames broke, and in Red Eyes Black Dragon's place, there was Red Eyes Darkness Dragon, which let out a roar as it floated down to the ground slowly, Kite smiling. "Red Eyes Darkness Dragon starts first with Red Eyes's original stats of 2400 ATK and 2000 DEF, but thanks to the Dragon-Type Monsters in my Graveyard, its' ATK is increased by 300 points. I have Masked Dragon, Masked Dragon, Red Eyes Black Chick, Red Eyes Black Chick, Red Eyes Black Dragon, Red Eyes Black Dragon, Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1, and finally, Troop Dragon. That's 8 Dragons. That's an additional 2400 ATK."
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon's body began to glow, its' ATK increasing from 2400 to 4800, as it opened its' mouth, a kind of black mist seething out of it. Joey gulped and thought 'Holy crap! Who knew that Red Eyes Black Dragon had such potential...!! This guy must run a whole Deck around it! No wonder he had two copies of it! If my Trap Card doesn't work... I don't know what will...!!'
RED EYES DARKNESS DRAGON Dark/Dragon/9/2400 ATK/2000 DEF Effect: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Sacrificing a "Red Eyes Black Dragon" on your side of the Field. The ATK of this card is increased by 300 points for every Dragon-Type Monster that is in your Graveyard.
"Now... it's time to end this Duel! Red Eyes Darkness Dragon!! Attack his Life Points direclty!" At Kite's command, Red Eyes Darkness Dragon's body began to crackle with the same kind of black mist that seethed from its' mouth, but this one surrounded its' body as it began to glow. "Darkness Giga Flare!!"
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon's blast of fire hurtled towards Joey as Joey gritted his teeth and tapped a button on his Duel Disk. "Trap Card, activate! Compensation of Arbitration!" At the call of Joey's Trap Card, Red Eyes Darkness Dragon's attack stopped before it connected, with Joey wiping his brow, then clenching his hands as he knew he had one last chance... and that was his luck!
COMPENSATION MEDIATION Normal Trap Card Effect: When this card is activated, your opponent chooses 2 cards in his/her Graveyard and is given this card. Your opponent then sets down this card and the 2 chosen cards and shuffles them. You then choose 1 of the 3 cards. If the chosen card is "Compensation of Arbitration", end the current turn's Battle Phase and your opponent places the chosen cards on the top of his/her Deck. If another card other than "Comenpsation of Arbitration" is chosen, place the card you pick and "Compensation of Arbitration" into their respective owners' Graveyards, and place the remaining card on top of your opponent's Deck.
"OK, Kite, select 2 cards in your Graveyard, and then you get Compensation Mediation. You set them down and shuffle 'em! Got it?"
"I got it." Kite replied, selecting his two cards, holding up Inferno Fire Blast and Pot of Greed. Joey grabbed Compensation Mediation, twirling it as he then flicked the card to Kite. Kite grabbed the card, setting all 3 selected cards face-down, Red Eyes Darkness Dragon disappearing as Kite said "Now what?"
"Simple. I choose one of those 3 cards, and if I get Compensation Mediation, your Battle Phase ends, and you place the two cards on top of your Deck that you got from your Graveyard. But... if I get it wrong, and it's one of your cards, the chosen card and Compensation of Arbitration go to the Graveyard, you place the remaining card on top of your Deck, and your Battle Phase continues."
Kite nodded. "Very interesting..."
Taro gulped and said "Man... this is a big gamble... if Joey calls it wrong, he loses. And even if he does, his opponent is gonna get his two chosen cards back on top of his Deck... that makes this a difficult task. Is his luck that good...?"
"It's been an asset and a curse to him, Taro." Yugi replied. "I think he can do it... it's just gonna be a tense moment."
Tristan nodded. "Yeah... I am so nervous now... this is gonna be bad..."
"Yeah, if he calls it wrong..." T? replied. "Let's hope we can keep our fingers crossed he can do well"
Joey looked at the cards, exhaling as he said "I pick... the middle card!!"
The middle card slowly lifted upward, then revealed... Inferno Fire Blast! Joey gulped as Kite smiled and said "Thank you...", taking Inferno Fire Blast, sliding it into his Graveyard, as he flicked Compensation Mediation to Joey, who caught it, sliding it into his Graveyard slot, as Kite smiled, Red Eyes Darkness Dragon returning to the Field, as Kite said "Red Eyes Darkness Dragon! Direct Attack!"
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon's body began to glow once more, as it opened its' mouth, its' fire spiralling at Joey as Joey's eyes widened, the attack smashing him hard as his Life Point counter dropped from 2600 to 0, while he wobbled, smoke rising from his body as Kite stood there, eyes closed, then looked at his Red Eyes Darkness Dragon, smiling. "Thank you, Red Eyes."
Red Eyes Darkness Dragon disappeared as Kite's Duel Disk turned off, with him taking his card off of his Duel Disk as he looked at his right arm, seeing... a tattoo that was like the design of Red Eyes Darkness Dragon's head. He looked at Joey and said "Thank you for the Duel. You are strong as a Duelist, but weak in your heart, Joseph Wheeler. When the time comes you become strong in your heart AND with your Duel... I look forward to a rematch with you to see if you have that bond."
Joey wobbled a bit, about to fall over til Tristan caught him, blinking when he saw Joey's Red Eyes Black Dragon slide out of his Graveyard slot onto the ground. Holding Joey up, Tristan kneeled down, collecting Joey's Red Eyes Black Dragon, just to be safe. After that had been done, Yugi rushed over as well, blinking. "Kite! Wait a minute"
Stopping before he walked, he turned around to look at Yugi. "Yes, Yugi? What is it you wish to ask?"
"I know you have good in your heart. So... why are you a Card Hunter? Why do you do all of this if your heart is good?" Yugi asked.
Joey heard what Yugi said about the good in his heart, and his nearly drooping eyes widened for a moment... until he groaned, passing out from the pain. Thinking on Yugi's question, Kite exhaled. "My mother. My mother is the reason I am doing what I do. I may not like my actions, I may not feel right about them, but helping my mother with the money I've earned for working as a Card Hunter is why I do what I do, Yugi Mutoh. Sometimes, the ends justify the means. Soon enough, I will see you again..."
Kite gestured to Yugi, turning, and walking slowly, exhaling as he did. A small spybot sat in the bushes, watching over the Duel as Sarah smiled. "That foolish posturing of Kite's will get him killed some day... but I am most impressed with your boy, Bandit Keith. He's much stronger than I had ever imagined. And you said you found him in Arizona and mentioned to him about us?"
Keith smiled devilishly, nodding. "Yeah. Even if I ain't gettin' the opportunity to bash Wheeler's brains in a Duel, it's nice to see that punk get a swift kick in the . So... you think that the research has helped?"
"Yes. It has so far. Dealing with any potential threats is an important matter. I cannot be stopped before my quest for vengeance is done with... that is the only way that I will work is if others who standing against me are defeated and humiliated horribly. That is why you wanted to be here too... wasn't it, Keith? Because our goals are the same?"
"Yeah, we both want to see Pegasus suffer. He humiliated me, and you felt he hurt you. In the end, we both win when he goes down."
Sarah had a seductive smile curved on her lips as she said "My thoughts exactly."
Back at the park, Joey groaned, opening his eyes. "Huh! Hey! Where is he!? Where'd he go!? What happened"
"Joey, Joey! Easy..." Taro replied. "It's over, man... you lost the Duel... sorry, man."
"How did I lose?"
Tristan had his arms crossed, looking away. "You called wrong with Compensation of Arbitration, remember? You got Inferno Fire Blast instead of Compensation of Arbitration. It was a pretty close Duel, man, but it seems right now, Kite's a little too strong for ya."
Joey looked at his Duel Disk and closed his eyes. "I told myself I wasn't gonna lose... I wasn't gonna let him walk all over me. And it looks like I did the very opposite. I'm so pathetic that I had to lose to some bad dude..." Standing up, Joey still had his head hung low. "I... I'm gonna go, guys..." Joey soon enough began to walk as Taro said
"Man, he's sure takin' this harshly... it's just a loss..."
Yugi frowned. "Maybe to Joey... it was something more, Taro..." All Yugi, Tristan, T?, and Taro could do was watch as Joey walked off, reaching into his pocket as he pulled out Red Eyes Black Dragon, sighing, and putting it into his Deck carefully, before he headed off... just to get his head cleared... perhaps.
-To Be Continued...-