Before I start this chapter, to avoid the risk of offending anyone from Chicago, I'd like to say I have nothing against that city, or their two baseball teams. The views of the characters in this fic are not mine.
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CHAPTER TWENTY
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Olga's Power
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Lucky Goddesses
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Cassandra spread her cards on the table, once again shuffling the twenty-two-card deck.
She slowly lifted a new card off the top.
It bore the image of a crescent moon inside a full moon with a face, looking down from the night sky onto a dark countryside. Ominous shapes prowled below.
"The Moon…" she said, scratching her chin. "A card representing a person who holds secrets and unexpected possibilities. Not quite what I expected from Olga.
"What dark secrets do you hide, child? What lurks in the far corners of your mind?"
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Six PM.
Rasputin had made a threat, and he had every intention of making good on it if Sheena Arachne ever became a problem. As Olga watched from a couch, he contacted his lawyer via the video phone in the hotel penthouse.
The image of a man who looked to be in his late thirties with a short goatee appeared on the screen.
"Good evening, Julius," he said. "Or whatever time it is there. I trust you're doing what I told you to do."
"Well, I'm trying to…" answered Julius.
"Trying to?" asked Rasputin. "What have you discovered about Sheena Arachne?"
"Rasputin…" answered Julius, "as hard as you may find this to believe, nothing. Nothing that is not well known. I have not found anything incriminating."
"Oh please, Julius," said Rasputin. "You were able to dig up dirt on the Pope."
Julius sighed.
"For the last time," he replied, "the 'dirt' I got on the Pope was that his grandfather was a successful gambler who frequented respectable casinos and quit when he was twenty-five. Not exactly something I could use to shake up the papacy. Gambling is rather common in Europe, as you no-doubt know."
"Julius, you must have found something we can use against Arachne…" said Rasputin.
"I tried!" protested Julius. "Not a thing. She's a saint! The only crime I could find out about that she's ever committed was a parking violation for having her car next to a meter that expired. And for that, she paid the fine herself rather than let her company pay for it, I might add."
"Julius, there must be something…" replied Rasputin.
Julius held his head.
"Well, maybe one thing…" he replied. "I might, just might mind you, have uncovered a small rumor. I heard from a questionable source that her very first position at KaibaCorp was one of… Questionable nature.
"But more than that, I don't know. If she was a corporate spy or something, that might be a smoking gun. But I haven't found anything solid."
"Then try harder," demanded Rasputin. "Get into her personal files if you have to…"
Julius sighed.
"Well, that is much, much easier said than done…" he replied. "From what I've heard, those files are protected from online intrusion in an incredibly simple way – no online connection for that computer. There's no outside line that connects to those files – no modem at all. The computer that holds them isn't even plugged in – it uses an internal battery. The only way to view them is to be at the actual console. So I'd have to break into KaibaCorp's offices and hack into the system there. I might have to bribe a few folks…"
"Do it…" said Rasputin. "We must find something…"
"I'll do more research first," said Julius. "Maybe I can follow up on this rumor a little further."
"Then do so…" said Rasputin.
He hung up.
He crossed his arms.
"Not quite going according to plan, is it?" asked Olga.
"An honest CEO?" muttered Rasputin. "That's about as believable as that Light Attribute Zombie that Chelsea has…"
"Spirit of the Pharaoh…" said Chelsea with a sigh.
"What?" asked Rasputin.
The talisman next to him started to glow.
He picked it up. He concentrated.
"More bad news…" he said with a growl. "Someone has found the Cat's Cradle Comb… That crude, lewd Leroy Brown character…
"I never liked Chicago… City thinks it's so special because it has two baseball teams, even though both of them stink…"
He had a point with that last comment. Neither the Cubs nor the White Sox had come close to winning the Pennant for the past forty years. Even the Red Sox were doing better, having won four World Series in that time.
"The Cat's Cradle Comb?" asked Olga. "Which one is that again?"
"The Charm crafted by Narma the Seducer," he replied. "A playful flirt among the Sorcerer Kings, known for toying with men, promising them near-infinite pleasures in exchange for power… And then making them her slaves after she got it. Her comb was like the mythical Girdle of Aphrodite… It made her irresistible, and even in the hands of another, it can heighten charisma."
"That Leroy likely already hawked it," said Olga.
"He won't find any third-rate pawn shop on this island," replied Rasputin. "And even if he found a jewelry store willing to buy it, he wouldn't be able to give it to the clerk. The only way to voluntarily relinquish possession of a Charm is with a complex ritual that he couldn't learn how to do on his own if his life depended on it."
He looked at Olga.
"Olga, my dear…" he said. "I'm going to need you to confront him… And use the same strategy you did with that guy on Malta."
Olga frowned. She turned her back to him and crossed her arms.
"He won't defeat you…" said Rasputin, getting up.
"I felt like a common whore after I did that…" muttered Olga.
Rasputin got up and started stroking her hair.
"Olga…" he said softly. "Ever since the terrible night when I took you in, you've been like a daughter to me. I've tried hard to be a father to you, even though I could never replace him…
"You're still young, still beautiful…
"And when all the Charms are ours, that youth and beauty will become eternal. Sacrifices must be made. This is nothing compared to what I must do…
"Besides, Narma did this sort of thing all the time. And when she finally got her power, men groveled at her feet, and she became nearly immortal.
"Help me gain that power, Olga… Make your father proud…"
Olga closed her eyes and nodded. A tear fell down her cheek.
Rasputin handed her a vial of the strange, green liquid.
"Use this too…" he said. "He may yet be of some use later.
"Now go get him…"
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Leroy Brown was back in good standing, having advanced back to Blue.
Right now, he was enjoying the nightlife. The outdoor bar at the beach was a place where he could watch the girls go by and relax with a drink. There was even live music, and a singer wearing a skimpy outfit was performing up on the stage in front of him. He watched and listened, as he fingered the strange comb in his hand…
Whenever, wherever,
We're meant to be together,
I'll be there and you'll be near,
And that's the deal my dear,
Thereover, hereunder,
You'll never have to wonder,
We can always play by ear,
But that's the deal my dear.
As everyone applauded, Leroy considered the comb again.
He didn't know what any of the symbols on it meant, but he knew gold and emeralds when he saw them. Why on Earth would someone leave this lying in an ashtray?
Well, finders keepers, losers weepers…
As he considered this, he was startled as he saw Olga walk up to him, wearing only a string bikini and her Duel Disk. Leroy gulped as she sat down.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked in a seductive tone.
"Ah heh…" he muttered. "Beautiful women are always welcome to join me…"
She smiled a sweet smile, and Leroy started thinking he had lucked out – big time.
"Enjoying the tournament?" asked Olga.
"Uh huh…" he stammered. "And you?"
She nodded.
Her badge was pinned to her bikini bottoms, and it stood at Blue. He didn't notice it, however. He was too busy trying to picture her without the bikini.
"Like to make wagers, handsome?" she asked.
"Well, depends…" he said. "Really depends on what the ante is."
He sighed. The memory of the wager he had made with Erik – and lost – was still fresh in his mind…
Olga smiled sweetly again.
"I just love to make… dangerous wagers…" she said, again in that seductive tone. "It makes things more exciting… Tell you what we can do if you accept my challenge…
"If I win, I only want that comb you found…
"If you win, you're free to do with me whatever you want until the sun rises."
Leroy's eyes opened wide.
He simply had to win one duel, and this girl would be his tonight?
"No kidding?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
He looked at her breasts… Fantasies started to fly through his mind…
All he had to wager was a comb… It was only money…
"I accept!" he said, eagerly.
Olga smiled sweetly again…
…but inside, she was more than a little scared, just like the last time she had made this insane wager at Rasputin's request.
She was almost certain she could beat this guy.
Almost.
If by some horrendous string of bad luck, she couldn't, she would be forced to sacrifice her virginity, and she'd have Rasputin to blame for it…
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Leroy and Olga stood facing each other on the beach as the full moon started to rise.
A lot of people were watching, having come to see the "hot babe in the bikini" duel. A lot of them were giving out catcalls and whistles. Olga smiled and waved to them…
…even though she was disgusted inside.
"Ready princess?" asked Leroy.
"Oh, yeah…" she said, as her Disk activated.
"Game on!" they both shouted.
(Olga: 8,000) -------------------- (Leroy: 8,000)
"Okay…" said Olga, looking over her opening hand. "Guess I'll put this in Defense Mode, and that will be all for my turn."
A facedown Monster appeared on the sandy surface.
Leroy drew his first card.
Heh, he thought. Her deck is likely nothing but trash Monsters and common Spells and Traps. She's probably some sister of a real contestant. I'll finish her in less than five rounds…
"For my first move…" he said. "I'll play my Graceful Charity Spell Card."
He played the card, and his deck glowed.
He drew three cards. Then he discarded Warrior Dai Grepher and Divine Sword Phoenix Blade.
"Now, I summon Marauding Captain to the field."
He played the card, and the battle-scarred veteran appeared, brandishing his two swords. (1,200/400)
"And now I'll use his effect," he continued, "to also summon Warrior Lady of the Wasteland."
Marauding Captain whistled, and another Warrior appeared, a female one who had a strange sense of fashion. She was dressed in a brief halter and shorts, and knee-high boots, along with a black, tattered cape, and a wide-brimmed hat with a feather in it. (1,100/1,200)
"Someone has GOT to take her shopping," said Olga.
"True," said Leroy. "Accessories make or break your looks. I'll give you a sample. I Equip Marauding Captain with Fusion Sword Murasame Blade…"
One of the Captain's swords vanished, and was replaced by a fancier, sharper katana. (2,000/400)
"And then, I Equip my Warrior Lady with Jeweled Sword."
The female Warrior's sword vanished, and was replaced by a fancier, bejeweled blade. (1,400/1,200)
"Impressive…" said Olga.
"Just wait until they attack!" said Leroy. "Marauding Captain, attack her facedown Monster!"
Marauding Captain rushed towards the facedown card…
…and he was interrupted by a loud SPROING!
When Leroy looked, a woman in a golden robe and a tiara was on her knees where the card was, blocking his Warrior's advance with, of all things, a large harp. (800/2,000)
"Sorry, Leroy," said Olga, "but with 2,000 Defense Points, Spirit of the Harp's Defense is too high for him to bust through."
"All right, I'll end my turn there then," said Leroy, as the Captain backed up.
No harm, no foul… he thought. But not very dignified…
Olga drew, and looked around at the onlookers.
I wish I could use my real deck, she thought. But Rasputin was right… Using such powerful and rare cards during the preliminaries would make everyone scared of me. This older deck is less threatening…
She played a card.
"I play Pot of Greed," she said.
The jar appeared, and she drew two cards. She looked at them, and added them to her hand.
"Next I summon… Cyber Petite Angel."
She played a card, and a little creature appeared. It was little more than a pink ball with a face and tiny wings, apparently made out of plastic. (300/200)
"Eh?" said Leroy.
"And by summoning it," continued Olga, "I get to search my deck for a specific Spell Card…"
She took a card from her deck.
"It's called Machine Angel Ritual! And I'm playing it now!
"So, I'll sacrifice Cyber Petite Angel and Spirit of the Harp…"
Both Monsters seemingly turned into silvery metal, and then faded into light…
"…and I summon… Cyber Angel Idaten!"
Lightning flashed. In a burst of light, a female form appeared in front of her. She was muscular, with purple skin, with a fierce-looking face. She wore a black leotard, steel wristbands, and her hair was seemingly made of metal braids. (1,600/2,000)
"Whoa…" muttered Leroy, stepping backwards. "Now you're scaring me… I never liked women who were more ripped than me…"
"Your Captain isn't going to like her much either in a minute," said Olga. "But first, she has a nifty effect. I now get to reclaim one Spell Card from my Graveyard."
Pot of Greed slipped out of her discard slot, and she added it to her hand.
"I'll save this for when I need it," she continued, adding it to her hand. "For now, I'm giving her two Equips. I'll start out with Angel Wings."
Idaten closed her eyes and started to glow. Then, two huge, beautiful, feathered wings sprouted from her back.
"So what does that do?" asked Leroy.
"You'll see in a minute," replied Olga. "I also Equip her with Ritual Weapon."
She played another card. Idaten glowed.
"I can only use this on Ritual Monsters who are Level Six or less," she said, as Idaten flexed her already ample arm muscles, "but it's powerful, giving them 1,500 extra points to both their scores."
(3,100/3,500)
"Good grief…" muttered Leroy.
It seemed his opponent was better at this than he gave her credit for.
"Idaten… Attack his Marauding Captain!" shouted Olga.
Idaten spread her wings, and flew upward, forming a silhouette across the moon…
She swooped downwards, and delivered a savage punch to Marauding Captain's jaw. He toppled over, and shattered into shards.
"And since she has those Wings," continued Olga. "You lose an extra 300 Life Points."
(O: 8,000) -------------------- (L: 6,600)
"And that will do it," said Olga, as Idaten alighted in front of her.
Leroy drew a card.
"Moving Warrior Lady to Defense Mode…" he said.
Warrior Lady of the Wasteland crouched in Defense.
"And I'll end with a facedown card."
He placed a card in his Disk, and it appeared behind her.
Olga drew again.
I'll save her for later… she thought.
"Idaten…" she said. "Attack his Warrior Lady!"
Idaten flew into the air again.
"I activate Dust Tornado!" shouted Leroy, as his Trap Card lifted. "Now your Angel loses her Ritual Weapon!"
The tornado tore forth. Idaten grunted as she was caught in it. Her scores changed back to (1,600/2,000).
"Your Warrior Lady still dies!" shouted Olga.
Idaten kicked Warrior Lady of the Wasteland, smashing her to pieces.
"True…" answered Leroy. "But when that happens, someone comes to avenge her. Now I can summon an Earth Attribute Warrior from my deck, so long as it has 1,500 Attack Points or less.
"So come on out… Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!"
In a burst of energy, the famous elven Warrior that Yugi himself had used from Battle City onward appeared, holding aloft his longsword. (1,400/1,200)
"And one more thing," added Leroy. "Since my Warrior Lady was holding the Jeweled Sword when she bit the dust, I get to draw one card."
He drew one card. Then he grinned when he saw who it was.
"Incidentally…" he said, motioning towards his Monster, "I have no idea what this poor guy ever did to be labeled 'obnoxious'. But what are you gonna do?"
"Yeah, what are you gonna do?" replied Olga. "In case you didn't realize it, Idaten is just the right strength to take him out. The turn is yours, so don't waste it."
She smiled sweetly again.
Leroy drew a card, and quickly added it to his hand.
"I sacrifice my Guardian…" he said.
Obnoxious Celtic Guardian vanished in a burst of light.
"…to call forth Freed the Matchless General!"
In another burst of energy, a far more powerful Warrior appeared on the field. It was a tall, robust man in decorated armor, whose powerful face had long blonde hair and a moustache. (2,300/1,700)
"All right Freed…" commanded Leroy, "take out her Angel! Blade of the battle-scarred!"
Freed drew a powerful-looking sword from his back, and it shimmered in the moonlight. He charged, and he smote Cyber Angel Idaten. She screamed and burst into fragments.
(O: 7,300) -------------------- (L: 6,600)
"Heh, heh…" said Leroy. "So much for her…"
"Oh really?" replied Olga. "Well, Angel Wings has another effect, and it's similar to your Jeweled Sword. I get to draw one card now."
She made a draw.
"Uh… yeah…" said Leroy, with a big grin. "I guess that's my turn."
Leroy watched her as she drew a card.
He imaged himself in his hotel room, kissing her on the lips, and then slowly undoing that bikini top, exposing what was beneath…
Then he imagined slowing kissing her there, caressing her breasts with his lips and tongue…
"Hey!" shouted Olga.
Leroy shook his head, and came back to his senses. And then he was startled to see that Idaten was back on Olga's side of the field. (1,600/2,000)
"What did you…" he started.
"I played a Spell Card called Fulfillment of the Contract," she replied. "Weren't you paying attention? It lets me raise a Ritual Monster from the grave for the small price of only 800 Life Points.
"And you remember Idaten's effect, right? I get a Spell Card back…"
A card slipped out of her discard slot.
"This time, I choose my Machine Angel Ritual."
"What?" said Leroy, confused. "She's already on the field. Why do you need that again?"
Olga grinned.
"This Ritual Spell doesn't just summon one Monster…" she said. "It can Ritual Summon any Monster with the words Cyber Angel in her name. There are three Cyber Angels. Idaten has two sisters…
"She's the youngest, and the least powerful.
"So I'll play it again to summon the middle-sister now, offering Idaten as a sacrifice."
Idaten turned to metal and slowly vanished. Lightning flashed again…
In a burst, a new female form appeared. She was dressed in a red, black, and silver bodysuit, with a waistband just below her chest, fingerless gloves, and a ceremonial headdress. She carried what appeared to be a nunchaku connected by a long chain.
The "nunchaku" opened, revealed to be a pair of fans. Her eyes glowed green. (1,800/1,500)
"Meet Cyber Angel Benten," said Olga.
"All right, she's a little stronger than the last one…" said Leroy, "but she can't beat Freed."
Olga played a Spell Card.
"I play Shine Castle!" she exclaimed.
Night turned to day, as a beautiful palace made of pure silver rose behind Olga.
"It's so shiny, it empowers all Light Monsters on the field, giving them 700 more Attack Points."
Benten glowed with energy, and rose to (2,500/1,500)
"Benten…" ordered Olga. "Attack his so-called Matchless General with angelic turn!"
Cyber Angel Benten flew forward. She smacked Freed with her fans once, twice, three times, and he staggered back under the onslaught before finally shattering.
"Ah, big deal…" said Leroy. "I only lost 200 little Life Points…"
Then he saw that Benten was right in front of him, staring him in the eyes…
"There's also Benten's effect," said Olga. "Now you lose Life Points equal to Freed's Defense Score. That's 1,700, I believe."
"Hey, wait a minute…" said Leroy.
Benten's eyes burned with fire, and Leroy screamed as flames erupted around him.
(O: 6,500) -------------------- (L: 4,700)
These gals play a little rough for angels… he thought, taking some deep breaths. Maybe God was in one of His wrathful moods when he thought them up.
He drew a card.
"Well, you are pretty frisky…" he said. "I guess that means you like to play rough…
"Well… So do I!
"I play my Pot of Greed."
He played the card, and drew two cards.
He smirked.
"Check it out…" he said. "I Special Summon The Green Knight."
He played the card. The Warrior that appeared was a knight in shining armor, whose armor was – naturally – green. Strangely, he had no weapon. (0/0)
Olga raised an eyebrow.
"What's so special about him?" she asked.
"I can treat this summon as a Special Summon," replied Leroy, "although, now I have to let you summon a Monster from your Graveyard."
Olga raised an eyebrow again.
"Zero attack and zero defense, and now I get to bring a Monster back?"
Idaten appeared on her side of the field, next to Benten. (1,600/2,000)
"I get a Spell Card back again, I hope you know…"
Ritual Weapon slipped out of her discard slot, and she took it.
"The Green Knight has another great effect," continued Leroy. "If I toss one Warrior from my hand when I use him as a sacrifice, he counts as two sacrifices."
Two… thought Olga. Oh… no… Not Gilford the Legend…
"And that's not all," said Leroy. "If I toss TWO Warriors, then he counts as THREE sacrifices."
Three sacrifices? thought Olga. What the heck is he…
Her eyes widened.
Oh no… There's only one Warrior that you summon like this… Curse you Rasputin, why didn't you find out that he had a card that powerful?
"So…" said Leroy, taking two cards from his hand, "I'll get rid of Big Shield Gardna and another Marauding Captain…"
He slipped the two cards into his discard slot.
"Then I'll sacrifice The Green Knight…"
The Knight vanished. Thunder rolled…
"…to summon the baddest fighter in my deck… This is the main reason they call Leroy Brown bad…
"It's time to summon the true storm! Appear, Gilford the Lightning!"
In a flash of lightning, the powerful, hulking Warrior appeared, dressed in elaborate armor, with a fancy helmet and cape. (2,800/1,400)
"All right, Gilford…" said Leroy, "let's show her how it's done…"
Olga backed up in fear as Gilford slowly drew his sword…
Lightning crashed from the heavens, striking Gilford's sword and sending sparks flying in all directions. Cyber Angel Benten and Cyber Angel Idaten screamed and were blown to atoms.
"How the Hell did you ever get a card that rare?" screamed Olga.
Leroy looked at her, not looking very happy.
"Babe…" he said, "show some respect… I'm in Duelatopia… Do you actually believe I never won any major tournaments?
"Now then, getting back to what I was doing… I'll remove two of my Warriors from play, to bring Divine Sword Phoenix Blade back to my hand, which I discarded with Graceful Charity…"
Big Shield Gardna and Warrior Lady of the Wasteland slipped out of his discard slot, and he placed them inside his jacket. Then he took the Equip Spell.
He played it, and the Phoenix Blade was absorbed into Gilford's sword. (3,100/1,400)
"Gilford, direct attack! Lightning blade!"
Gilford the Lightning charged. Olga screamed as the huge sword slammed into her, and electricity shot through her body. She was thrown backwards.
(O: 3,400) -------------------- (L: 4,700)
"I promise, Olga," said Leroy, "once we're done, I'll be gentler…
"Maybe…"
A slight sneer appeared on Olga's face as she sat up.
She stood up, and slowly drew a card… She added it to her hand.
"I play that Pot of Greed I was saving…" she said, playing the card.
The jar appeared, and she drew two cards.
She looked over her cards, and then played one.
"I play Premature Burial," she said, "and bring back Cyber Petite Angel."
Cyber Petite Angel reappeared. (300/200)
"And you remember its effect, right?" she asked. "I get to add a Machine Angel Ritual card to my hand from my deck."
A card slipped out of her deck and she took it.
"Now I'll use it one more time…" she said. "Sacrificing Cyber Petite Angel, and my Guardian Angel Joan…"
The mighty form of Guardian Angel Joan appeared on the field. Both Monsters again turned to metal, and vanished…
The sky clouded up, and lightning flashed once more.
"I summon the eldest sister of the Cyber Angels!" shouted Olga. "Cyber Angel Dakini!"
In another flash of lightning, a new Cyber Angel appeared. This one, most remarkably, had blue skin, was eight feet tall, and had four arms. She wore a shogun-like helmet, an orange halter, and golden trousers that resembled spandex. In each of her upper arms she held a huge nodachi, and in her lower arms she held a sharp, double-bladed yari.
She shouted a war cry and twirled the yari above her head. (2,700/2,400)
"Well…" said Leroy, nervously. "I'll admit you had me worried there for a few seconds. But that's not good enough. Gilford is 400 Attack Points stronger."
"Maybe so," replied Olga. "But Dakini has a lethal ability. When she's summoned, she forces you to choose one of your Monsters. Then she sends it packing. And since you only have one, the choice is clear…"
Dakini's eyes glowed with fire. Leroy gasped as Gilford exploded into pixels.
"Dakini," ordered Olga, "attack directly with angel rage!"
Cyber Angel Dakini flew forward. Leroy screamed as she slashed at him with four blades. Then she gave him a kick with both feet, and he fell over.
(O: 2,600) -------------------- (L: 2,000)
That hurt… he thought.
Olga took one of her remaining four cards.
"I'll place one card facedown, and that will be all for my turn," she said.
A facedown card appeared behind Dakini.
Leroy got up, sweating.
He looked at the only card in his hand.
C'mon, gimme something… he thought, drawing a card.
He looked at the card.
"All right, I play Card of Demise," he said, playing the card. "Now I get to make five draws, on the condition that I toss my whole hand after five turns.
"But hey, if I don't draw something good with this, this duel isn't gonna last that long…"
He made five draws.
He smirked.
"I summon Exiled Force!" he shouted.
In a burst of light, a small group of disheveled warriors in ragtag armor appeared in front of him. (1,000/1,000)
"And they have a nasty effect," he said. "I simply have to sacrifice them, and they'll drag your Angel into the grave with them.
"Exiled Force, get her!"
The soldiers' eyes glowed, and they turned into ghostly, fiendish forms… They flew towards Dakini…
"Oh really?" asked Olga. "Let's see what my Trap Card says about that."
Her facedown card lifted.
"I activate Divine Wrath!"
Lightning flashed.
"I simply have to send one card in my hand to the grave, and your Monster is smote before its effect activates."
She discarded a card (it was Ritual Weapon), and a bolt of lightning crashed down, eradicating the phantoms.
"This isn't fun anymore…" muttered Leroy. "I'll end with this…"
He fit another card in his Disk, and a facedown card appeared.
Olga drew a card.
"Dakini, attack…" she started.
"I activate Soul Resurrection!" shouted Leroy. "Now I can summon a Monster from my Graveyard in Defense Mode, so long as it's a Normal Monster. So come on out, Warrior Dai Grepher!"
In a burst of light, a Warrior in leather armor appeared, holding a steel sword. He knelt in Defense Mode. (1,700/1,600)
"He'll be an effective shield…" said Leroy.
Olga lifted an eyebrow. She turned to Dakini.
"Go ahead…" she said.
Dakini slashed at Grepher with a nodachi, and he burst into triangles.
Leroy felt a pain in his chest, as he glowed with burning energy.
"What happened?" he asked.
(O: 2,600) -------------------- (L: 900)
"Defending doesn't work against Dakini," answered Olga. "When she attacks a Monster in Defense Mode, the difference between its Defense Score and her Attack Score comes out of your Life Points."
I can't catch a break here! thought Leroy.
"I'm not done," said Olga, taking her last two cards. "I play Double Spell. Now for the cost of one other Spell Card…"
She discarded her Samsara card.
"I can use one Spell from your Graveyard, and I think I'm gonna do that with your Card of Demise."
Double Spell's art changed to that of Card of Demise, and she drew five times. She looked over the cards.
"I'll place two cards facedown, and end my turn," she said.
Two facedown cards appeared behind Dakini.
Best get something good… thought Leroy, drawing. This chick is getting on my nerves. If I win this duel now, I'm gonna treat her to a little S&M…
He looked at the card he had drawn.
YES! he thought.
He placed one card on his Disk.
"First, I summon Axe Raider," he said.
A hulking barbarian appeared, holding a battle axe. (1,700/1,150)
"Next I play… Monster Reborn!"
He played the card, and in a burst of energy, Gilford the Lightning reappeared. (2,800/1,400)
"Now…" he said. "I'll remove two more Warriors from play, to recover Phoenix Blade again."
He took Warrior Dai Grepher and Marauding Captain from his Graveyard and pocketed them. Then he played the Equip, and Gilford rose to an attack of 3,100 again.
"I activate a Trap Card," said Olga, as one of her facedown cards lifted. "Spirit Barrier. Now I can't lose Life Points from a battle so long as I have at least one Monster on the field."
"Heh, heh…" said Leroy, with a chuckle. "You only have one Monster on the field right now. That Trap is worthless.
"Gilford, attack her Cyber Angel!"
Gilford charged towards Dakini…
"Did you forget I had another Trap?" asked Olga, as her second facedown card lifted.
The Trap showed the image of a ballerina dancing.
"Doble Passe," she said. "This lets her dodge the attack and let it hit me."
Dakini leapt out of the way, and Gilford's sword hit Olga, but this time, she didn't flinch.
"Of course, due to my Spirit Barrier, it doesn't hurt me at all," she continued. "But Doble Passe has another effect… It lets Dakini attack you now."
Dakini leapt towards Leroy.
"Not again…" he whined.
He screamed again as Dakini's sword plowed into him.
He fell over on his back.
(O: 2,600) -------------------- (L: 0)
Olga breathed a sigh of relief as Dakini and Leroy's Warriors slowly faded away.
The Cat's Cradle Comb appeared in her hand. She placed it in her hair, and walked over to Leroy, who was on the ground moaning.
"I'll call you…" she whispered, leaning over him.
She kissed him on the lips, and his eyes opened for a minute. Then he closed them, as faint wisps of green smoke escaped from where their lips met.
People started to applaud and make catcalls as Olga started walking away. She wiped her mouth, and then spat on the ground.
Disgusting… she thought. Bad enough he was a big jerk, he was a smoker on top of it…
"Olga!" shouted a voice.
Olga looked up, and saw Nicholas. He was holding a beach towel.
He ran up, and then covered her with it. She looked a little irked, but she didn't resist.
"Olga, let's get you off this beach," he muttered. "Do you know how many folks were taking your picture? I mean, if I was your father, I never would have approved of that swimsuit…"
She gave him a dirty look. Nicholas sighed.
"Eh, but sadly, I am not…" he sighed.
"Why did you come?" she asked.
"To bail you out in case things went bad," he replied. "I heard that he told you to make that mad wager again, and if you had lost, I wasn't going to let you pay up. I would have challenged that guy with an even more tempting wager to get him to annul yours, and I would have used this."
He showed her a card. It was the centerpiece of his real deck.
"That was very sweet of you, Nicholas," she said. "But..."
"But what?" he asked. "A brother has to look out for his sister."
"You aren't my brother, Nicholas…" she said.
"Maybe not truly," he replied, "but I'm as close to one as you're ever gonna get.
"And we're getting serious now, Olga… I have a Shadow Charm, you have one too… Soon we'll be able to stop taking orders and start giving them. You remember the story of how Zeus became King of Olympus? He overthrew his tyrannical father, and then ruled with his sister as his queen. We can do the same… All we need to do is wait until he gets what he wants, and then we can take it from him."
He punctuated the sentence by clenching his fist.
"An impressive plan…" said Olga, "and quite bold… But maybe a bit too hasty. You realize he's already looking for one traitor…
"Unless you were the one who warned Yumi about Icarus…"
Nicholas shook his head.
"I'm not that stupid," he said. "Although… I do find Yumi somewhat attractive… That wager you made with that lout… I'd gladly wager my own Charm if she offered a similar one…"
Olga shook her head.
"I can see a disaster ahead…" she muttered. "Hope that I have to duel her instead of you…"
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A short time and a change of clothes later, Nicholas and Olga were at a quiet table at a restaurant, waiting for an order.
"Olga…" said Nicholas, offhand, "have you considered what we're gonna do when all this is over?
"I figure we can settle somewhere nice… Like Paris… Or maybe Rome…"
"Tell you what," replied Olga, stirring her drink, "you go to Paris… I'll go to Rome."
Nicholas chuckled.
He changed the subject.
"Here's a question for you to consider…" he mused.
"Is this another one of your philosophical questions that was originally posed by Aristotle?" asked Olga.
"Well, Plato, technically," replied Nicholas. "He attributed it to Socrates, but then again, he did that with most of what he wrote.
"Anyway… consider this…
"Is the force that controls Law itself a lawful entity?"
Olga looked at him strangely.
"I should hope so…" she answered.
"Actually, Olga," he replied, "the answer isn't as cut and dry as you might think…
"You see, if it is, then that would imply that it answers to a higher law, which is impossible because it controls Law.
"And the alternative is, the force that controls Law is itself lawless, which is contradictory."
Olga looked at him for a minute.
"I'm guessing a lot of folks have gone mad trying to figure that out," she finally said.
"Yeah, more than you think…" muttered Nicholas. "But not Rasputin. He posed the paradox to me a long time ago. Although he didn't venture to give a logical solution to it, he pointed to it as one of his so-called proofs that the higher powers are frauds. He said that if such entities were all-powerful, such paradoxes wouldn't exist, and the truth wouldn't be so hard to see. In his opinion, things like the meaning of life shouldn't be hidden.
"Utter nonsense in my own opinion… The gods need their secrets to set them apart from mortals…"
"If you don't like him so much, why do you do what he says?" asked Olga.
"Well, why do you?" asked Nicholas.
Olga sipped her beverage.
"As the great military mind Sun-Tzu once said…" she replied, "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Nicholas.
"Where's our food?" sighed Olga.
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Seek the inner sanctum of the tomb where the three brothers sleep in eternal hibernation, where their Guardians maintain their vigil. Triumph, and emerge with greater vision. Fail, and face the same fate that the brothers willingly accepted.
Yumi read the cryptic warning on the map again.
She looked at all the cards from her deck, which were spread out on the table.
She hadn't been able to actually see the duels where her parents and Ren and Chelsea's parents faced Eliminators. They were not recorded for the public. Her dad had been Master of Games for a short time, but he didn't share any secrets about them. That was one secret of Duelatopia that no employee could reveal to anyone.
Or so she had thought. Sam's smile when she gave her this map looked a little evil… Was she privy to some secret knowledge?
So many myths about the Eliminators. About how some weren't human. About how some possessed dark powers…
…and about how you'd be dearly punished for defeat. Perhaps with death.
Was it worth the risk? She weighed the risk…
Originally, the reward for winning was one or more rare cards and two upgrades in rank.
Now, you still got the rare card or cards, only one upgrade in rank, and "one other priceless gift", whatever that meant. Sheena did not elaborate.
She gathered her cards and shuffled them together into a deck.
"We're gonna do it guys…" she said. "We'll take on this guy, and just like my folks did, we'll come out in the end."
She yawned.
She figured she'd best get a good night's sleep…
The balance of power tilts again, as Olga claims the Cat's Cradle Comb. Soon, a battle of epic proportions may erupt on the streets of Duelatopia, with the tools of the Sorcerer Kings as weapons. Who will be the victor? Four more Charms remain to be found… It is far from decided.
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DOBLE PASSE (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: A ballerina in a fancy dress dancing.
Card Description: You may activate this card when your opponent declares an attack against one of your Monsters. Turn the attack into a direct attack on your Life Points. Then, the original target of the attack attacks your opponent directly.
Note: "Doble Passe" was used by Alexis several times in "Yu-Gi-Oh GX", originally in "A Duel in Love". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
0
0
0
MACHINE ANGEL RITUAL (Spell Card)
Ritual Spell
Image: A feminine form running from a huge, blazing cauldron.
Card Description: This card is used to Ritual Summon any Ritual Monster with the words "Cyber Angel" in its name. You must offer as a Tribute Monsters from the field or your hand whose total levels are equal to or more than that of the Monster you are summoning.
0
0
0
CYBER ANGEL BENTEN (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Fairy/Ritual/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 6
ATK: 1,800
DEF: 1,500
Card Description: This card is Ritual Summoned with "Machine Angel Ritual". You must also offer as a Tribute Monsters from the field or your hand whose total levels equal six or more. If this card destroys an opposing Monster as a result of battle, inflict damage to the Life Points of the owner of the destroyed Monster equal to the destroyed Monster's DEF.
Note: "Machine Angel Ritual" and "Cyber Angel Benten" were first used by Alexis in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "Chazz-a-Nova". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
0
0
0
CYBER PETITE ANGEL (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 2
ATK: 300
DEF: 200
Card Description: When this card is Normal Summoned, Flip-Summoned, or Special Summoned, search your deck for one "Machine Angel Ritual" and add it to your hand.
0
0
0
CYBER ANGEL IDATEN (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Fairy/Ritual/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 6
ATK: 1,600
DEF: 2,000
Card Description: This card is Ritual Summoned with "Machine Angel Ritual". You must also offer as a Tribute Monsters from the field or your hand whose total levels equal six or more. When this card is summoned, take one Spell Card from your Graveyard and add it to your hand.
0
0
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CYBER ANGEL DAKINI (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Fairy/Ritual/Effect
Attribute: Light
Level: 8
ATK: 2,700
DEF: 2,400
Card Description: This card is Ritual Summoned with "Machine Angel Ritual". You must also offer as a Tribute Monsters from the field or your hand whose total levels equal eight or more. When this card is summoned, your opponent chooses one Monster on his/her side of the field. That Monster is destroyed. When this card attacks a Defense Position Monster with lower DEF than this card's ATK, inflict the difference as battle damage to your opponent's Life Points.
Note: "Cyber Petite Angel," Cyber Angel Idaten", and "Cyber Angel Dakini" were first used by Alexis in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "Pop Goes The Duel". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
Idaten, Benten, and Dakini are three members of the Shichifuhaten, or "Seven Lucky Goddesses", the seven deities of Japanese culture.
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ANGEL WINGS (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: A burst of light and feathers.
Card Description: When a Monster Equipped with this card does battle damage to your opponent, deal an additional 300 points of battle damage to your opponent. When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, draw one card from your deck.
Note: "Angel Wings" was first used by Alexis in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "Obelisk White?". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
0
0
0
SHINE CASTLE (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A shiny, silver palace.
Card Description: Increase the ATK of all LIGHT Monsters currently face-up on the field by 700.
Note: "Shine Castle" is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States.
0
0
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JEWELED SWORD (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: A short sword with a hilt inlaid with gemstones.
Card Description: This card can be Equipped to a Warrior-Type Monster. Increase the ATK of the Equipped Monster by 300. If this card goes from the field to the Graveyard, draw one card.
Note: "Jeweled Sword" was first used by Reggie in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "Champion or Chazz-Been". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
0
0
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THE GREEN KNIGHT (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 2
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
Card Description: You may treat the Normal Summon of this card as a Special Summon. If you select Special Summon, your opponent may select a Monster from his/her Graveyard and Special Summon the Monster to the field. This card cannot be Special Summoned by any means other than its own effect. If this card is offered as a Tribute for a Tribute Summon, you may discard one Warrior-Type Monster from your hand to treat this card as two Monsters for the conditions of the Tribute, OR discard two Warrior-Type Monsters from your hand to treat this card as three Monsters for the conditions of the Tribute.
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Ren: Be careful Yumi! This duelist looks serious!
Chelsea: This strategy is strange… Why is she helping Yumi's Monsters?
Yumi: Strange it may seem, but I have to find the method to this madness.
Voice: Oh, you will find it, Yumi, but by then, it may be too late for you to save yourself…
Next, "Elimination Duel One; Yumi versus Mystara".
Enter at your own risk, Yumi… I've been waiting for this for a very long time…