It's been so long since I uploaded a chapter for this; I've been doing other things. And with Christmas just around the corner, I figured: Why not? Besides, I've FINALLY compromised with myself to let Asriel keep Caius, but to balance it, have Kaiba's deck just as strong as before, if not stronger. Prepare for trials, hardship, and more than likely a usage of Battle Fader.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Dragon's Heart, Dragon's Strength: Part 1

It was time for the last Quarterfinal duel of the Battle City tournament. The two competitors, as usual, were shuffling their decks and staring at each other. But, for once, it wasn't good versus evil, even if in the first round the evil was concealed. No, this duel was a test. Asriel had grown over the course of the tournament, and facing Seto Kaiba was the ultimate test of his skill.

Asriel drew his hand as Kaiba drew his. The two stood there for a while before Kaiba gave an icy stare at Rolund.

"Why... is THIS... in my deck?"

"Mr. Kaiba, your brother decided to edit your deck shortly before the tournament began."

"But isn't that tampering with one's deck?"

"Ahem," Rolund said, clearing his throat. He clearly didn't want to get involved, and Kaiba had no choice to give up the argument. "The fourth round of the Battle City finals will now commence. The host of the tournament, Seto Kaiba, will face the underdog, Asriel Dreemurr, in the match that will be the last in this tournament for one of the-"

"GET ON WITH IT," Kaiba yelled.

"Fine. Mr. Kaiba gets the first move."

Kaiba smiled. If he just ignored the card Mokuba gave him, it'd be alright. He just wouldn't have to play it at all, or let his opponent see it. Sure, that'd make it a dead card, but as long as nobody noticed...

"I'll start with my Lord of Dragons, in attack mode," announced Kaiba." Sure, his attack points are only 1200, but I needn't worry about that, because I now play the Melody of Awakening Dragon spell! By discarding one card, like my Vorse Raider, I get to add two of my Blue-Eyes White Dragons to my hand."

Asriel stared at Kaiba. "Why would you summon the Lord of Dragons," he asked, "if you had a more powerful monster like Vorse Raider in your hand already?"

"Because," Kaiba finished, "I'm activating the spell card, Flute of Summoning Dragon! By playing this flute, the Lord of Dragons can call two powerful dragons from my hand! So, I'd like you to meet Blue-Eyes number one, and Blue-Eyes number two!"

The two Blue-Eyes White Dragons appeared on Kaiba's side of the field, both intent on blasting Asriel with all of their might. Mokuba fell back in his seat. "But Seto!" he exclaimed. "You told me you were going to make a new deck!"

"I did," came the elder Kaiba's response. "I've created a deck that can destroy anyone I choose, weak or strong! What, did you think I was seriously going to water down my deck for the finals?"

Mokuba facepalmed. Of all the things Seto could've done to his deck, of COURSE he had to beef it up further. Why was the thought of the guy doing something nice even a possibility?

"I'll set one card," declared the president of Kaibacorp, "and end my turn."

Asriel drew carefully. The card he drew might be a bit helpful. "Not terrible," he decided. "I'll summon my Opticlops!"

Frisk gasped. "But that's his best non-tribute monster, and he's throwing it against Blue-Eyes! He's gonna be doomed!"

Kaiba chuckled. "Fine! Just summon all the monsters you want, because none can withstand ME!"

Asriel smiled. "Well, they won't have to. I'll activate the spell Enemy Controller from my hand!"

"WHAT?"

"You heard me," Asriel said, smirking. "I can use this card in one of two ways. Either I switch the battle position of one of your monsters, or... sacrifice one of mine to take one of yours for the turn!"

Yugi gasped. Frisk smiled. Even Marik obviously thought this move was well played. As Opticlops vanished, one of Kaiba's Blue-Eyes appeared in its place.

"Time to kill two birds with one stone!" Asriel announced. "I attack your Blue-Eyes with the one I just snatched!"

Kaiba smiled. "You triggered my trap."

"WHA-"

"And now you'll pay! I activate my Ring of Destruction trap! This lets me destroy one monster on the field, dealing us each damage equal to the monster's attack points, and I choose... the Blue-Eyes you're attacking me with!"

Asriel pulled another card from his hand. "Joke's on you, Kaiba! I activate my Quick-Play Spell, Ring of Defense! Using this, I can block any effect damage from one of your cards!"

Frisk chuckled. "He usually uses that card to get out of Flame Wingman's cannon fire. Looks like he's using it to make Ring of Destruction harmless!"

Kaiba smiled. "So what? Not only is my Blue-Eyes still safe, so are my Life Points, thanks to YOUR Ring of Defense. And without a monster to protect you, you're hopeless."

Asriel shrugged. "Then I guess," he said, "I'll have to play two cards face-down. Your go."

Kaiba drew. "Oh, look. Another card I can mop the floor with you using." He slipped the card into his Duel Disk. "I activate Cost Down!" he announced. "By discarding a card from my hand, I can cut the level of all of my monstrs by two for the turn. And that means that THIS Blue-Eyes," he finished, "is gonna come out for one less Tribute! Goodbye, Lord of Dragons... hello Blue-Eyes!"

Asriel fell back in shock. Once again, Kaiba had two Blue-Eyes White Dragons. And I should remind you that his strongest monsters had 2800 attack points- most of which currently weren't in his deck. The only one he'd kept was Mega Monarch Caius, who STILL couldn't defeat Blue-Eyes, despite potentially banishing it. Even if Asriel drew The Monarchs Stormforth, the only Monarch-related SPELL still in his deck, Kaiba would just find a way to bring back Blue-Eyes.

Kaiba chuckled. "Looks like it's lights out! Good thing, too. I'm afraid it's time you were put to pasture."

Papyrus crossed his arms. "YOU CAN'T SAY THAT! SANS ALREADY USED THAT JOKE IN THIS TOURNAMENT!"

Frisk shrugged. "Technically, it wasn't in the tournament..."

"I GIVE UP."

Kaiba laughed. "It's over, once I equip Blue-Eyes with the spell card Megamorph! If I have less Life Points than you, Blue-Eyes' power becomes doubled! And to do that, I'll play my Lullaby of Obedience, paying 2000 Life Points to declare a monster in your deck and add it to your hand. I'll choose a card that I know you have... Granmarg, the Mega Monarch!"

Asriel shrugged. "Nice try. I took Granmarg out just before this duel started."

"Wha- Well, at least I have less Life Points than you, which means Megamorph goes on. Say goodnight, puffy. You could never defeat someone who had talent. Blue-Eyes, attack with White Lightning!"

Asriel reached towards the underside of his Duel Disk. "Someone who had talent? I think I AM someone with talent, and I'll prove it! Go, Draining Shield!"

Everyone gasped.

"That's right. I've got some good cards since entering this tournament," Asriel announced, "and I'm going to use them well. See, Draining Shield converts the damage from your attack into Life Points. So I just got six thousand extra Life Points from your attack!"

"WHAT?" came Kaiba's reply. This was impossible! How did Asriel of all people get his hands on a Draining Shield? Kaiba growled. "Fine. I attack with my OTHER Blue-Eyes."

ASRIEL: 11000 LP

KAIBA: 6000 LP

"Your move, runt."

Asriel drew a card. "Heeeey, nice. I summon my Double Coston."

Kaiba laughed. "Double Coston? THAT'S how you plan to defeat my Blue-Eyes?"

"I wasn't done. I'll activate my other Set card now... the Ultimate Offering! This Continuous Trap lets me pay 500 Life Points to summon additional monsters each turn. So, I sacrifice 500 Life Points Double Coston to summon... CAIUS, THE MEGA MONARCH!"

Everyone gasped. Alphys was skeptical.

"Umm, guys," she asked, "..isn't Caius a, like, level eight or something? How can Asriel summon him with only one tribute?"

"IT'S QUITE SIMPLE, DR. ALPHYS," explained Papyrus, who usually wouldn't be the one to speak up here. However, when it came to dueling, he actually knew a lot. "SEE, WHEN A DARK MONSTER IS TRIBUTE SUMMONED, DOUBLE COSTON CAN BE USED AS TWO SACRIFICES!"

"What's more," Yugi realized, "is that Double Coston itself is a DARK monster! Asriel can use Caius' effect!"

Toriel stood up. "YES!" she exclaimed. "That's my bo-" She realized what she was doing, and sat down. "I'm sorry, my dears, I just got a tad excited."

"Yeah," Tea mumbled, "just a tad."

Asriel smiled. "As the audience pointed out, since Caius was Tribute Summoned by using the DARK-attribute Double Coston, not only does he need no more sacrifices, he can use his effect: I banish your two Blue-Eyes White Dragons and deal you 1000 points of damage!"

Kaiba stopped cold. "No."

"Yes," Asriel declared. Now, Caius, attack Kaiba directly!"

Kaiba growled. "I... I can't lose to this runt! How can I-"

"Big brother!" Mokuba yelled. "Play the card I gave you!"

"No. I can't-"

"JUST DO IT, OR YOU'LL LOSE!"

"FINE," Kaiba yelled. "I'LL PLAY THE STUPID KURIBOH!"

Everybody froze in shock. So THAT was the card Mokuba had given Seto? Kuriboh?

Silence.

Then, extremely heavy laughter.

"SHUT UP," Kaiba yelled. "Just because I'm playing a card doesn't mean I want to."

Asriel was beside himself in his humor. In fact, his black cheek-stripes were looking shorter already. "Oh, my gosh, this is too good. Seto Kaiba? With Kuriboh? Oh, if only Mettaton were here to report this..."

Kaiba stared Asriel down. "Not. Another. Peep."

Asriel chuckled. "Oh, come on, live a little! This duel is almost over anyway! To be honest, I'm kind of surprised, with my deck-"

"Shut it," Kaiba yelled. The CEO drew his next card. "Heh. Looks to me like this duel is just starting!"

I only just realized that even without a theme, Asriel could do pretty well, apart from, y'know, Mushroom Man and Cyber Commando. He's essentially the beatdown player in my cast, not counting Kaiba himself. But, of course, his opponent is Seto Kaiba... who's just declared that a whole new sort of duel is about to unfold! How's it gonna play out? Find out next time!