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Chapter 26
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The duel had officially begun.
"I take the first action," Eve announced as she drew her first card of the duel. She studied her hand for a moment, her gaze narrowed as she examined her hand closely, only to select three cards before placing them onto her Duel Disk.. "I activate the Spell Card known as Double Summon, which gives me the ability to Normal Summon twice this turn. So come forth, Amazoness Paladin and Amazoness Tiger."
A small pillar of energy rose up on Eve's side of the field, growing for a second before splitting itself into twin streams that struck two spots in front of where the woman was standing. In seconds, a massive tiger with a scar over one eye appeared and lumbered forward, lowering its head to growl menacingly at Ian. Standing next to it was a lean yet powerful female warrior clad in a dusty cloak and tunic. She had long blonde hair that was partially concealed by the hood of her cloak, tribal feathers around her shoulders and skirt, and metal armbands covering each of her forearms. She also held a battle-worn sword in one hand while the other was placed gently on top of the tiger's broad head, scratching it affectionately while the woman's lips curved into a smirk directed at Ian. The way her eyes sparkled with cunning was almost enough to make Ian wonder which of them was more dangerous, the warrior woman or the tiger at her side.
"With both of these on the field, their Attack Power are both at 1900," Eve explained. "Also, Amazoness Tiger prevents you from attacking any of my other Amazoness monsters. It is quite the lovely defender."
Ian couldn't help but grimace at the immediate field presence staring him down. "Yeah," he grumbled, "I can see that. My turn," he called out, drawing his card. A glimpse of his hand had him grimacing even more. "I can't do anything right now to deal with her deadly duo, so I guess I'll just stall for time," he grumbled to himself mentally. He knew from the beginning that this duel wasn't going to be easy, especially since it concerned his and also Eve's release from this labyrinth prison, but this hand was almost even too ridiculous even for that. "I'll set one monster before activating my own Spell. Go! Swords of Revealing Light!"
At his command, the spell flashed into play and conjured a rain of glowing swords that blocked the center of the playing field. "One trap card face-down, and I end my turn," he finished.
"We will not get very far in this endeavor, Ian Diots," Eve noted calmly as she drew her own card. "I cannot allow that, so I must do this, even if it is with much regret. I activate this Spell Card, Mystical Space Typhoon. It will rid the field of your intrusive Swords of Revealing Light." An image of the card she had played appeared on the field with a flash of light, only to suddenly burst forth with a whirling gale that flew right at where the Swords had struck the field earlier. They were no match for the Mystical Space Typhoon's destructive power, and each and every one of them immediately shattered into tiny bits of light that were blown away by the dwindling breeze.
The victory was in Eve's favor, but the woman was already moving right along without batting an eyelash. Her Spell had triumphed this time, yet she wasn't even showing the slightest bit of satisfaction because of it when she played her next card. "With your Swords of Revealing Light destroyed, my monsters are free to attack. I summon the Amazoness Swords Woman."
In time with her words, another flash of light briefly lit up her side of the field and reformed into another one of her female warriors. This one had wild red hair that flared out in every direction, as well as an equally fierce looking sword and disposition. Her armor was almost nothing more than carved bone adorned with spikes that covered her legs, chest, hips, and forehead. Chuckling aloud, she stepped forward and pointed her sword at Ian before settling back into a readied stance. "With this new addition to my field, both the Attack Power of my Amazoness Tiger and Amazoness Paladin rise up even higher. My Paladin's Attack Power has risen to 2000 while my Tiger's is now at 2300." announced Eve when her newest monster had joined her other two waiting for it.
"Not good," Ian thought to himself. Looking at his hand, he only mumbled to himself before looking back up at Eve. "You really do intend to kill me, don't you?" He grimaced as the words left his mouth, almost as if just saying them left the most horrible of tastes in his mouth.
"I am afraid so, Ian Diots," Eve replied, her gaze slipping as her thoughts reflected upon her own incarceration. "I have been isolated in the labyrinth for some time, a period I cannot measure but know in my heart to be a small eternity. It has weathered me, and I will do what is necessary to escape." Her eyes suddenly sharpened as she returned to the match. "But enough idle chatter, I shall now declare my attack. Amazoness Tiger, destroy his face-down monster with all of your might."
As soon as Eve's words had reached its ears, the Amazoness Tiger let out a terrible roar and pounced at the face-down card on Ian's side of the field. Its lips were drawn back in a snarl as it prepared to rake its claws across the back of Ian's card, a fearsome glint shining in its single eye that brimmed with unleashed power. But just before the claws would've actually touched the card Eve had commanded it to attack...
"Not so fast," Ian exclaimed as his card flipped up, revealing the image of a small yet familiar rag doll. "I had set Forgotten Toy-Ann, and her effect will let me Special Summon another Forgotten Toy from my hand. I Special Summon my Forgotten Toy-Jack in Defense Mode!"
The image of little Ann emerged from the picture and the card and she almost seemed to glare hotly at the Tiger coming for her. She managed to avoid the first swipe of the beast's claws, her body floating surprisingly nimble in the air as she turned towards Ian and reached for one of the cards in his hand with one of her stubby little limbs. "You totally owe me for this," she grumbled before she picked out Jack's card and threw it down onto the field, just moments before the Tiger finally managed to tackle her and send her to the Graveyard. She let out a yell as her stuffed body was smothered by the Tiger's bulk, only to suddenly shatter into a tiny fragments that disappeared soon after. Forgotten Toy-Jack had appeared on the field just before Ann was destroyed and before the Tiger had retreated, revealing a battered-looking wind-up box with a load that sprang open to let Jack have a look at what was happening. The toy took one look at the fearsome opponents standing across the field, then looked back at Ian with a hopeless look upon his cracked face, and then finally retreated back into the safety of his box with a click of its latch.
Forgotten Toy-Ann DARK
Spellcaster/Effect
FLIP: Special Summon 1 "Forgotten Toy" monster from your hand. Also, during your Main Phase, you can discard this card from your hand to the Graveyard. During your next Standby Phase, add this card and 1 "Forgotten Toy" monster from your Graveyard to your hand.
1000/1000
Forgotten Toy-Jack EARTH
Warrior/Effect
As long as this card is face-up on your side of the field, you opponent cannot attack another "Forgotten Toy" monster you control. Also, during your Main Phase, you can discard this card from your hand to the Graveyard. During your next Standby Phase, add this card and 1 "Forgotten Toy" monster from your Graveyard to your hand.
500/2500
"With Jack on my field in defense position, I'm protected," Ian explained. "Nothing you have can get past his 2500 Defense Power. Not for the moment, anyway..."
"That is untrue, Ian Diots," Eve countered almost immediately. "I'll concede that your monster boasts considerable Defense Power, but that won't help you here. I attack Forgotten Toy-Jack with Amazoness Swords Woman."
"What?" Ian exclaimed as the fierce Amazon lifted her sword and charged at Jack's box. In the last seconds of her charge, she came to a standstill before actually throwing her weapon at Jack. He responded by recoiling back into his box, and the sword bounced into the air harmlessly. "What do you think you're accomplishing?" Ian exclaimed before noting the Amazon's fierce grin.
Suddenly, the sword fell from the sky, shaving past Ian and taking 1000 of his Life Points with it. "Gah," Ian gasped as he reached for the spot on his arm where the sword had grazed him. It had no visible wounds, but was in an incredible amount of pain nonetheless. "How the hell did that happen?"
"When my Amazoness Sword Woman battles a monster," Eve explained, "all damage that would be dealt to me is dealt to my opponent instead. She does not accept defeat so readily."
Eve | Ian
4000 | 3000
"I see," Ian chuckled through clenched teeth, his arm still sore from the blow. Straightening back up, he barely had a second of being upright before he was nearly doubled over by losing his footing. Before his very eyes, several blocks from the ground beneath him simply disappeared and revealed a black abyss directly beneath both himself and Eve. He actually had to resettle his footing, otherwise he might place a foot in one of the many holes that formed beneath him. "Now what?" he gasped.
"That would be the rules I arranged for this little charade," Copycat interrupted with a delightful little cackle "Look behind you, and witness the end result."
Ian turned again and noted the wall that opened up to reveal the exit. As he watched, bricks taken from the floor continued to appear around the whole and gradually form into an archway of sorts, almost like a mystical portal that lead from here to the outside world. "So that's what you're doing," he growled. His attention was back on Copycat when he spoke again. "You're using our lives to form the gate that'll take one of us out of here. That's low, even for you."
"Indeed," Copycat shrugged sarcastically, "as a player loses Life Points, the bricks beneath their very feet will leave to brace the door for their opponent's escape. This way, the only guarantee for retreat is to ensure the other's demise."
"You twisted son of a-" Ian started, but cut himself off before he could say something he would regret.
"Oh you," Copycat laughed. "Also, as an additional cost for you should you happen to be defeated, I will transform you back into that miserable little puppet-form you enjoyed not too long ago. And also, don't even thing about retreating from this match now. The hole in the ground will chase you, and won't miss if you attempt to run. You should ask Eve about that one."
Ian's attention turned to Eve, who was visibly shaken by the memories. "I cannot speak of such," Eve whispered, "I must focus. It will not happen again. I will not fall to the blackness, the darkness that separated us all." She mumbled the words continuously, as if she hoped it would wipe away whatever horrid memories haunted her. She had turned away, her back to Copycat as she hugged herself, bracing herself against the thoughts he conjured.
Ian growled as Copycat again. "The more I see of you, the worse you get," he mentally snarled at the devious clown with the mirror. "Fine then, if that's how it's going to be, then I have no choice but to finish this. Eve," he proclaimed, "I guess there's not much I can do you for. I'll make this quick and hope I figure out something."
Eve stopped shaking as she heard his words, but continued to look away. "He said something to that extent, too. He promised to find a way to save us both. He lied," Eve turned to look Ian square in the eye. "Victor Byron has already defeated me in one of the Labyrinth Duels. I learned my lesson back then to not back down. Come at me, Ian Diots, so that we may have no regrets when the victor escapes."
"Well," Ian choked, "at least you're not shaking anymore. My turn," he declared as he drew his next card, noting that it was Forgotten Toy-Puppet. "I have Toy Exchange face-down, so I could summon him and toss him for Ann if I have to." Looking at the rest of his hand, he noted Forgotten Toy-Reaper was also in there with a couple of other cards. "Alright, I'll start with activating the effect of my Forgotten Toy-Reaper from my hand. I can discard any of my Forgotten Toys to the Graveyard. During the next turn, they'll return and bring back a friend with them. Next, I'll summon Forgotten Toy-Puppet."
As Ian sent his Toy Reaper to the Graveyard and summoned his next monster, a larger version of Forgotten Toy-Puppet's card materialized horizontally on the field with a flash of light before several white strings burst forth from the card's flat surface. Soon enough, the Puppet held within had pulled itself up from the depths of its own card and stood there as if its strings were still attached to an unseen puppeteer's hand. However, that lasted for only a moment. The strings gave a stiff jerk on the Puppet's body before going slack once more, forcing the toy to collapse on the ground in a jumbled heap with its wooden limbs twisted all about its body. But even then, with that wide grin still painted onto its misshapen wooden head, it almost seemed to be leering hungrily at Eve with a hidden intelligence behind its googly eyes.
Forgotten Toy – Reaper
DARK
Zombie/Spirit
ATK/DEF: 1000/1000
This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card returns to the owner's hand during the End Phase of the turn that this card was Normal Summoned or flipped face-up. This card can attack your opponent directly. Also, during your Main Phase, you can discard this card from your hand to the Graveyard. During your next Standby Phase, add this card and 1 "Forgotten Toy" monster from your Graveyard to your hand.
Forgotten Toy-Puppet
DARK
Spellcaster/Effect
Once per turn, you can discard 1 card from your hand to destroy 1 Monster on the field. This monster cannot declare an attack on a turn this effect is used. Also, during your Main Phase, you can discard this card from your hand to the Graveyard. During your next Standby Phase, add this card and 1 "Forgotten Toy" monster from your Graveyard to your hand.
1000/1500
"This pal of mine may be smaller than any of your monsters, but what he lacks in power he more than makes up for with appetite. If I discard one card from my hand first, my Puppet can devour whatever monster you have. I choose your Amazoness Swords Woman to be the main course this time." So with that, Ian pulled one more card from his hand slid it into the Graveyard Zone of his Duel Disk. But while the card he chose seemed to perish, his Puppet appeared to be granted a strange and eerie form of new life. Each of the twisted marionette's slender wooden limbs rattled as it pulled itself back to its feet, it's head tilted to the side as it stared forward at the other duelist's Swords Woman. "It's dinnertime." Ian finished.
All of a sudden, the puppet let loose a wild cackle as it lifted its arms and held them out as if reaching for the warrior woman standing directly across from it, and each and every one of the puppet's strings suddenly shot forward and snagged its newest victim by her arms, legs, and waist.. The Swords Woman appeared to struggle, but no amount of that seemed to be enough to free her from the strings pulling her forward. With another demented cackle, the Puppet yanked its arms back and pulled Eve's Amazoness Swords Woman right off her feet and into the puppet's waiting and impossibly wide wooden jaws. The warrior woman was swallowed whole in a single gulp and the puppet merely let out a small belch before settling down into its own square, another child-like yet sinister chuckle coming through its clacking jaws.
"Very good, Ian Diots," Eve commented, "but you leave yourself open. No hand as well as a monster with only 1000 Attack Power means I will be unfortunately hurting you a lot this turn."
Yeah," Ian grumbled, "looks like it."
"Fear not," Eve continued as she drew her next card," I will end this quickly. I will start by activating another Double Summon, followed by summoning a pair of Amazoness Blowpiper to my field."
Amazoness Blowpiper
EARTH
Warrior/Effect
Select 1 face-up monster your opponent controls during each of your Standby Phases. It loses 500 ATK until the end of this turn.
800/1500
Yet another scantily-clad tribal woman appeared on Eve's field, this time clutching a long blowgun to her breast as she settle back into a squat position, followed by her twin who settled in next to her. "Her effect is yet to come, but for now she will boost my Amazoness Paladin to 2100 Attack Power and my Amazoness Tiger to 2700 Attack Power, which is enough to defeat your Forgotten Toy-Jack. Destroy that box, my beast!"
With another terrible roar, the Tiger launched into action and pounced at Jack and the box he was sitting in. Jack could only respond by retreating back into his box again, but that was to no avail as the Tiger's claws slashed across it and gouged a set four deep furrows into its worn wooden surface. The box simply blew apart with a hollow yelp coming from Jack still trapped inside, and the Tiger simply leapt back and resumed its stance beside the Amazoness Paladin.
"And next Amazoness Paladin will attack your Forgotten Toy-Puppet before he can devour any more of my monsters." Amazoness Paladin readied her blade and charged Puppet, who in turn merely glared back with his menacing smile still painted upon his face.
"Sorry", Ian shouted, "but I can't let you do that. I activate my Trap Card, Toy Exchange. This swaps a Forgotten Toy on the field that's about to be attacked with one that's in my Graveyard, and makes that one the new target."
Toy Exchange
Normal Trap
Activate when a "Forgotten Toy" monster on your side of the field is the target of an attack. Send the attacked monster to the Graveyard and Special Summon 1 "Forgotten Toy" monster from your Graveyard other than the attacked card. Switch the attack to the summoned monster.
"So I'll be sending Puppet to the Graveyard, and summoning back out Jack in Defense Position. And this time," Ian chuckled despite the situation, "you'll be taking the damage for sure."
Ian's Trap card materialized behind Puppet, who hefted himself backwards an into it before it summoned Jack from the Graveyard once more, crouched inside of his box and ready for the blow. Amazoness Paladin could only glare in anger and confusion as her sword ricocheted off the wooden box protecting Jack, although Eve looked less than enthused about losing 400 Life Points.
Eve | Ian
3600 | 3000
"That stung a little," Eve noted, "but you shall have to work harder if you wish to succeed, Ian Diots. Come at me with all your strength, please."
Ian could only grumble at her apparent sense of masochism. "She really wants me to go all out, but why? I can't stand this crap," he questioned himself with another sigh muttered beneath his breath. "Yeah yeah," Ian replied, "I draw, then my Toy Reaper will return to my hand from the Graveyard and bring my Puppet back with him" At his words, the ghostly image of a wind-up Reaper clutching the haunted Puppet by its gangly wooden arm rose up from the floor on Ian's side of the floor. They almost seemed to regard Eve ominously before the two of them transformed into tiny wisps of blue flame that disappeared into Ian's hand. "Now I can do something about that hand of hers, and try to slow down this stampede of Amazons".
"I'll start by discarding Reaper again to activate his effect, but this time I'll add on a little extra by using it to trigger my Forced Requisition trap card. Now whenever I discard a card, you'll have to discard a card as well. So after I set another card onto my field, I'll discard Puppet to make you discard as well."
"As you wish Ian Diots," Eve agreed as she slid one card from her hand into her Graveyard, "but such tactics will not win you this game."
"We'll see," Ian grimaced, "I end my turn." The image of his set card materialized into play on his field, but it did little to bring him much comfort in this situation. "She's right too. If I don't make a miracle happen, I'm gonna lose and end up trading places with her."