Chapter 26 – Falcon in the Darkness
Author Notes : This chapter will be suprisingly long, but I hope you enjoy the duel!
After half of hour break, first duel of the first wing would begin. In other end of the arena would be standing Bakura darker version, smirking, adjusting his older model KaibaCorp Duel Disk. In the other end, Shay would be preparing for duel, glaring at his opponent. Tension could be felt in the air.
Among the finalists waiting their turns, Atem, Yugi and Joey would be watching the duel. "...Isn't that the Spirit of the Millennium Ring?" Joey asks. Atem nods. "It is... Seems he was brought here from the Shadow Realm." Yugi narrows his eyes. "I hope the ones who organized this know what they are doing, bringing him here..." In the arena, announcer would call the duel to start.
"DUEL!"
"I take the first turn!" Bakura calls out, looking his hand. "I start by placing a monster face-down, and ending my turn. That should work for now..." He says, looking calm. "But before I end my turn properly... Let's make the game more interesting!" In a moment, shadows appear to the arena. "Let the Shadow Game begin! Yami Bakura says, Millenium Rings eye starting to glow bright.
"Draw!" Shay looks his hand. "I start by summoning Raidraptor – Tribute Lanius to attack mode!" He calls out, summoning his blue mechanical bird. "As I control a Raidraptor monster, I can now Special Summon this monster : Come out, Raidraptor – Fuzzy Lanius!" he calls, summoning this time purple one. "Next, I set a card", he says. "Then, I activate Raidraptor – Nest : When I have two or more Raidraptors on the field, I can add a Raidraptor monster to my hand from Graveyard or Deck! I choose Raidraptor – Vanishing Lanius!" He then points his hand at Bakura. "And now I attack with Tribute Lanius your face-down monster!" Bird would take off and charge at Bakura's monster. As it reaches it, monster reveals it to be a Earthbound Spirit, who roars, pushing Tribute Lanius back and dropping life points of Shay to 7800. "Kh... 2000 Defense, that was unexpected", he thinks. He then looks his field. "No matter. I overlay Level 4 Fuzzy Lanius and Tribute Lanius to build an Overlay Network!" He then calls out. Bakura observes, as two monster turn into purple spheres and enter in a black hole which collapses. "Avian hunter of the afterlife, seek the truth with your dark eyes, and grasp glory with your sharp talons! Xyz Summon! Take flight! Rank 4! Raidraptors - Force Strix!" From the smoke of collapsed black hole, a mechanized owl would appear in defense position. "Effect of Force Strix! By detaching one of its overlay units, I can add level 4 or lower winged beast-type monster to my hand... I choose Raidraptor – Singing Lanius!" He says. "With that, I end my turn."
"I draw", Bakura says, looking at the card, then smirking evilly. "I could not had wished for a better card!" he then says, laughing. Shay narrows his eyes a bit. "I tribute my Earthbound Spirit and Tribute Summon Diabound Kernel!" Bakura calls out, tributing his earthbound spirit to summon a living, winged statue with snake as a lower body. Atem looks at the monster. "That's Diabound!" He then says, narrowing his eyes. "If it is anything like the ancient version, that man is in trouble..." Kaiba peers at the monster. "Of course, Diabound Kernel has nowhere enough attack to defeat your Strix... Usually", Bakura says. "But every time Diabound attacks, it gains 600 attack points! Go, Spiral Wave!" Diabound would gather winds to his hands, unleashing it as a blast at Force Strix. "Trap, Activate : Raidraptor – Readiness! With this, during this turn my Raidraptor monsters cannot be destroyed by battle", he explains. Force Strix withstands the winds easily. "Hm. I end my turn, then", He simply says, shrugging a bit.
"I draw!" Shay says, looking his hand. "I summon Raidraptor – Vanishing Lanius!" He says, calling out, summoning his green falcon to the field. "Then I use its special ability, special summoning level 4 or lower Raidraptor from my hand. Come, Necro Vulture!" Shay calls out, summoning yet another bird. "Now, as I control an Xyz Monster, I special summon from my hand Raidraptor – Singing Lanius!" He calls out, summoning small yellow bird. "And with effect of Raidraptor – Nest I add to my hand Fuzzy Lanius from my Deck to my Hand! And as I control Raidraptor, I can Special Summon it!" Bakura observes, as mechanical birds fill Shays field. "Now! I overlay level 4 Singing Lanius and Vanishing Lanius to Xyz Summon Rank 4 Raidraptor – Force Strix!" Shay calls out, as another owl appears to the field. "Next, I repeat the Xyz Summon with Necro Vulture and Fuzzy Lanius! Take flight once more, Force Strix!" In Shays side of the field, three owls would be looming. "And for your information... For each Flying Beast monster I control, Force Strix gains 500 attack and defense points", Shay adds. Bakura peers at the monsters. "So, 3000 Defense each", he muses. "I activate effects of the first Force Strix, detaching Overlay Unit to add Raidraptor Vanishing Lanius to my hand" Shay says. "I repeat this with the secound one, adding another Vanishing Lanius to my hand", he adds to that. "And finally, with third I add Raidraptor – Tribute Lanius to my hand!" "That's lot birds..." Bakura muses. "I end my turn", Shay would say.
"I draw!" Bakura calls out, looking his hand. "I place a monster face-down", he says. "Now, Diabound Kernel, attack his Force Strix with Spiral Wave!" Shay blinks. "Why?" He asks. Bakura smirks. "Did you forget? Every time Diabound Kernel battles, it gains more power!" He says. True enough, Kernel grows a bit once more, raising its attack to 3000. "That ends my turn."
"Draw!" Shay calls out, looking his hand. "I activate effects of second and third Force Strix, adding to my hand Necro Vulture and Singing Lanius", he then says. "Next, I special summon Singing Lanius to Defense Mode... And summon Tribute Lanius!" Shay says, summoning two birds. "...With two more birds, your monsters have now 4000 Defense", he says, looking surprised. "...I end my turn", he then says.
"I draw!" Bakura calls out. "Now, Diabound Kernel, attack his Tribute Lanius with Spiral Wave!" Once more, Diabound grows, and its gale destroys easily Tribute Lanius, dropping Life Points of Shay to 6000. "That should do for now", he says. Smirking.
"Draw!" Shay calls out, looking his hand. Thinking. "I change one of my Force Strix to Attack Mode", he then says. Bakura blinks. "Now, Force Strix, attack Diabound Kernel!" He calls out, bird attacking spirit only to be destroyed, his life points dropping further. "Even if we do play with 8000 points, that has dropped your life to half", Bakura says. "Did you have a reason to do that?" He asks. "I did", Shay admits. "I summon Raidraptor Necro Vulture!" Shay says, summoning yet another bird. "And now I overlay level 4 Necro Vulture and Singing Lanius to perform an Xyz Summon!" Shay calls out, two monsters entering into a black hole in the sky. "Blaze with crimson light! Set flame your thirsting wings to light my soul! Xyz Summon! Raidraptor - Blade Burner Falcon!" From the collapsing black hole, yet another bird appears. "1000 Attack Points?" Bakura asks, looking suprised. "That is nowhere near strong enough to defeat my Diabound", he says. "It is why I lowered my Life Points", Shay says. "When my opponent have 3000 or more Life Points than I do, Blade Burner Falcon gains 3000 attack points", Shay says, as his monsters attack raises to 4000. "Since I already attacked, this ends my turn", Shay then says.
"I draw!" Bakura calls, as he looks the new card. Then, he looks at Shay a bit. "I set card face-down", he says. "And now, Diabound Kernel, attack his Blade Burner Falcon with Spiral Wave!" Once more, Diabound grows as it attacks. "Effect of Raidraptor – Readiness in my Graveyard activates!" Shay calls out. "By banishing it, I take no battle damage this turn!" Shay would be surrounded by vortex of wind as Blade Burner Falcon is destroyed. "Hmph. You just lived a bit longer, that's all", Bakura says.
"I draw!" Shay calls out. "I equip my Force Strix with Raidraptor – Ultimate Mace, increasing its ATK by 1000", Shay explains. "Next, I use Raidraptor – Nest to add Vanishing Lanius from my Graveyard to my hand", he adds. "That ends my tur-" Shay is about to say. "I activate a Trap!" Bakura calls out, surprising Shay. "Destiny Board!" "What?" Shay asks, looking as Ouija Board appears in air. "Now, each turn I can add "Spirit Message" card to the field. Once they are all there, they spell you a message", Bakura says as a smirk. There would already be letter "F" in the field. "Now, as it is your End Phase, I add Spirit Message "I" to the field!" Next to "F", "I" would appear. Shay narrows his eyes. "I end my turn, then."
"I draw!" Bakura calls out. Looking his hand. "Diabound Kernel, attack his Force Strix with Spiral Wave!" Once more, Diabound Kernel grows, its attack raising to 4800 and destroying the owl. "I end my turn", he then says.
"I draw" Shay calls out, looking his hand and smirking. "I start by normal summoning Raidraptor – Vanishing Lanius", he then calls out. "With effect of Vanishing Lanius, I can Special Summon other one, which allows me to Special Summon a third one!" In a moment, three Vanishing Lanius appear to the field. Yuto would be watching the duel. "He is planning to summon it, huh..." "I overlay three level 4 Vanishing Lanius to perform an Xyz Summon!" Shay calls out, three birds turning into a purple spheres and ascending in a black hole in the sky. "Obscured falcon, raise your sharpened talons in front of adversity, spread your wings of rebellion! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Raidraptor – Rise Falcon!" As Shays Falcon appears to the field, Bakura smirks a bit. "That one has only 100 attack... It hardly can match my Kernel", he says. Shay nods. "True. That is why I use this!" He says, taking card from his hand. "I activate a spell card Rank-Up-Magic Skip Force! By using a Raidraptor monster I control as Xyz Material, I can Special Summon from my Extra Deck a Raidraptor monster that is 2 ranks higher!" Shay calls out. Rise Falcon takes flight and flies into a black hole itself. "Prideful falcon. Spread your wings, dyed in the blood of heroes, and charge through the path of revolution! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear! Rank 6! Raidraptor – Revolution Falcon!" Shay calls out, a massive falcon appearing from the black hole. Bakura would not be impressed, though. "Effect of Revolution Falcon activates!" Shay calls out. "As it has an Xyz Monster as Overlay Unit, it can destroy once per turn a monster in field and inflict you damage half of that monsters attack!"
In audience, Atem, Yugi and Joey would be watching. "That's why he raised its attack points?" Yugi asks, looking surprised. Yuto makes his way to the group. "Most likely... Shay aims to destroy his monster and inflict massive damage to him with Revolution Falcon", He says. Kaiba narrows his eyes. "It won't work", he then says. Others look at him a bit. "What you mean?" They ask. "Just watch." Kaiba says.
True to Kaibas words, Bakura just smirks as Revolution Falcon takes aim. "I activate Special Ability of Diabound Kernel – Phantom Bind!" Bakura calls out, Shay widening his eyes as Diabound Kernel vanishes from sight. "Where did it go?" Shay would ask, looking at Bakura who smirks. "I can once per turn Banish Diabound Kernel to drop attack points of monster in field by ammount of his attack points", Bakura explains, pointing Revolution Falcon. Looking at his monster, Shay widens his eyes, as he notices that his monster is bound by Diabound. "As current attack of Kernel was 4800, your monster loses that much attack until End Phase", Bakura explains. Yuto would look shocked, while Kaiba looks like he knew this would happen – he had to deal with this monster once in a past. "Kh... I end my turn", Shay calls out. "Good. And as you do, third letter of the Destiny Board appears to the field!" Bakura says, as Spirit Message "N" appears to the field.
"I draw!" Bakura then calls out, looking his hand. "During my Standby Phase, Diabound Kernel returns to field with its original attack points", he then says. "Now, attack his Revolution Falcon with Spiral Wave!" Diabound attacks, destroying Revolution Falcon and dropping Shays life points to 3600. "That ends my turn", he then says.
"I draw", Shay calls out, looking his hand. "I just set a monster and end my turn", he then says. "And when you do, fourth letter appears to the field!" Bakura calls out, as Spirit Message "A" is placed to the field. Shay smirks. "Too bad you cannot spell the last letter", he then says. Bakura looks at his Spell/Trap zone, frowning. It is full. "...Damn it", he mutters.
"I draw!" Bakura calls out, looking his hand. "I set a monster to the field, and attack your last Force Strix with Spiral Wave!" Bakura calls out. Shay smiles a bit. "As my monster was attacked while it had Raidraptor Ultimate Mace, I can now add a Rank-Up-Magic card to my hand", Shay says. "I choose Rank-Up-Magic Double Doom Force", Shay says. Bakura narrows his eyes. "I end my turn, then."
"I draw!" Shay calls out, looking his hand and smiling a bit. "I activate effect of Rank-Up-Magic Skip Force!" He calls out. "By banishing Raidraptor – Fuzzy Lanius from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon "Rise Falcon" from my Graveyard!" Shay calls out, as his falcon appears to the field once more. "Next, I activate Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force", Shay calls out. "By using Rise Falcon as Xyz Material, I Xyz Summon a monster that is one rank higher from my extra deck!" Shay calls out, as Rise Falcon once more takes flight to the hole in the sky. "The unseen bold falcon. Reveal your wings' unknown power here and now! Rank Up Xyz Change! Come forth! Rank 5! Stranger Falcon!" Shay calls out, summoning another falcon to the field. "Effect of Stranger Falcon activates!" Shay then calls out. "Once per turn, when it has a Raidraptor as Xyz Material, I can detach that material from it to destroy one of your monsters and inflict its attack points as damage to you!" Shay calls out. Bakura smirks. "Again? You don't learn do you... It does not work on Diabound! Phantom Bind!" Diabound vanishes and appears around Stranger Falcon, dropping falcons attack to 0. "I set two cards, and end my turn", Shay calls out. Diabound releases Stranger Falcon from the bind, vanishing once.
"I draw" Bakura calls out, looking his hand. During Standby Phase, his Diabound Kernel appears back to the field. "I tribute my face-down The Headless Knight to Tribute Summon another Diabound Kernel!" Bakura then calls out, summoning copy of his monster. "Now, Diabound Kernel, attack Stranger Falcon with Spiral Wave!" Stranger Falcon is destroyed, and shredding winds drop life points of Shay to 3200. "Now, Diabound Number two, attack his face-down monster with Spiral Wave!" Bakura calls out. "I activate quick-magic!" Shay calls out. Yuto smirks. "Here it is, his strongest monster..." Yuto says. "First, I special summon Stranger Falcon you destroyed this turn", Shay says. "Next, I use it as Xyz Material to summon a monster with twice a rank it had!" Shay calls out as Stranger Falcon takes it to the sky. "As Stranger Falcon is Rank 5, I special summon Rank 10 Xyz Monster!" Shay calls out as black hole collapses. "Supreme falcon. Carry on the wishes of your fallen friends, and fly off to the sky of victory! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 10! Take Flight! Raidraptor – Ultimate Falcon!" Shay calls out, a massive black hole appearing to the field. Spiral Wave still destroys Shays face-down monster, Necro Vulture. Bakura looks at the monster. "3500 Attack Points... Thats a strong one", he thinks. "I end my turn", Bakura says. "When you end your turn, effect of Ultimate Falcon activates!" Shay calls out. "Every End Phase, it lowers attack points of your face-up monsters by 1000!" Bakuras eyes widden as his monsters get weaker. "Shit..." He thinks.
"I draw!" Shay calls out. "Ultimate Falcon, attack Diabound Kernel! Blitzing Bombardment!" Ultimate Falcon would begin to bomb one of the Diabound Kernels. "I activate first effect of Diabound Kernel, Phantom Bind, and then a Trap, Depth Amulet!" Bakura calls out. "I banish Diabound to decrease Attack Points of your monster by that of Diabounds, and with Depth Amulet I can discard a card to negate your attacks!" Shay smirks. "Good try, but Ultimate Falcon cannot be affected by the card effects!" Shay then says, Bakuras expression freezing. One of his Diabounds is obliterated, and his life points fall to 5900. "I end my turn; And as you have no monsters face-up, you take 1000 points damage! Shay calls out, Ultimate Falcon bombing him, his life points falling even further.
"Kh... DRAW!" Bakura calls out, drawing a card. "I first change Diabound Kernel to Defense Mode, and then set a monster", Bakura says. "I end my turn." During End Phase, Ultimate Falcon glows and lowers attack points of Bakuras monsters further.
"Draw!" Shay calls out, looking his hand. "Ultimate Falcon, destroy Diabound Kernel with Blitzing Bombardment!" Shay calls out. "Kh... I activate effect of Diabound Kernel, Phantom Bind, to banish it!" Bakura says. Shay smirks. "You know that it does not do other than force me attack your other monster, right?" He asks, as Ultimate Falcon bombs down a face-down monster, Malice Doll of Demise. "And as you have no face-up monsters, you take now 1000 points damage. Bakura is bombed, and his life points drop to 3900.
"DRAW!" Bakura calls out, looking at the card he draws, then at Shay as Diabound Kernel once more shows itself. "I show you what happens to those who underestimate Zorc Necrophades!" Bakura finally snaps at Shay, shocking Atem, Yugi and Joey. "I banish from my Graveyard Malice Doll of Demise, The Headless Knight and Earthbound Spirit to Special Summon from my hand Dark Necrofear!" Bakura calls out, Special Summoning a demon holding a marionette to Defense Mode. "This monster will be one taking you to the Shadow Realm..." Bakura says, ending his turn.
"I draw!" Shay calls out. He then looks at the Dark Necrofear. "...It probably has some ability that will be troublesome later", He thinks, peering at Diabound Kernel. "And if I attack Diabound he just banishes it again..." He adds to his thoughts. "Ultimate Falcon, attack Dark Necrofear with Blitzing Bombardment!" Shay finally calls out, Marionette getting bombed to ashes. "That ends my turn. And During End phase, your monsters lose 1000 more attack points", Shay says. Suddenly, Bakuras face twists a bit, Shay narrowing his eyes. "And with this, victory is mine!" He calls out. "This is your third end phase since Depth Amulet was activated, so it is destroyed!" Trap of Bakura would shatter. Shay realizes something. "Oh no!" He says, realizing something too late. "And with this, I can place final Spirit Message to the field : Spirit Message "L"!" Bakura calls out. Ouija boards final letter is spelled, spelling F-I-N-A-L. Then, a ghost like being appears holding Ouija Boards pointer : Dark Necrofear. "All this time, my Dark Necrofear has been moving the needle of the Ouija Board", Bakura says, smirking. "And with all letters of Destiny Board assembled, its effect activates!" Five letters glow, all cards on Shays field vanishing and his life points hitting 0, Shay himself vanishing in the shadows which then take form of a card Bakura claims.
In the waiting room and in the audience, people would be shocked. Gorz narrows his eyes to this, as Bakura makes his way out of the arena, smirking.
Author Note : I hope you enjoyed extra-long duel. Next, we have Aigami vs OC of mine, Mira : How Cubic cards fare against Metalfoes? Can Aigami make it past the first round and get chance to avenge his mentor? Stay tuned!