Yu-Gi-Oh: War of the Gods.
Disclaimer: Still Don't Own Yu-Gi-Oh!Author's notes: The Polls are closed. I accept no more Sage Decks, I have nowhere to put them.
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! War of the Gods:
"…Congratulations Tristram D Coffin and Daniel J Pilkington you now qualify for the grand finals of the Global Duel Tournament," Davis's Dueling Page declared, "The Location is being transmitted to you now, good luck in the finals…"
"…Congratulations CJ Anderson and Malachi Anasazi you now qualify for the grand finals of the Global Duel Tournament," CJ's Dueling Page declared, "The Location is being transmitted to you now, good luck in the finals! The Finals are in Rome, Italy…"
"Catapult Turtle, Astral Barrier, Spirit Barrier, Spell Reproduction, Mother Grizzly, Stray Lambs, Metalizing Parasite-Lunatite,Pitch Black Warwolf," Davis said aloud as he slid those 8 cards into a small deck box with 7 other cards.
"Davis honey…" Asriel asked stirring, "What are you doing? It's the middle of the night. The other passengers are trying to sleep."
"What other passengers?" Davis said looking around first class; it was completely dark, save for two passenger lights.
"Me and Daniel," Asriel said shoving her pillow at him playfully.
"I'm sorry for waking you," Davis said looking at her, "but Daniel is doing the same thing I am."
"And what's that?" she said yawning.
"We're reconfiguring our decks," Daniel said piping up from behind them.
"You can't change your deck," Asriel said, "Your cards are all registered, if you play a new card then you're in violation of tournament rules."
"We're not changing any of the cards we registered with," Davis said, "Every good duelist has a side deck: Fifteen cards that are not part of your main deck. Mine has some very good cards that you haven't seen yet."
"With the finals coming up we can't take any chances," Daniel said, "Every life point counts. That's why I put the Tetragon Lizard that Davis gave me in my side deck. He's been handy in two of my duels so far, but for the finals I don't want to take any chances."
"That's nice and it's good that you two are thinking strategically and all but…" Asriel trailed off.
"What?"
"GO TO SLEEP!"
"Ok, ok," Davis said. "Good night Daniel, good night Asriel."
Davis and Daniel knew better than to argue with her, they reached up and clicked off their lights.
In the darkness Davis felt Asriel snuggle up next to him and he heard her let out a contented sigh.
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"We're lost aren't we?" Davis said.
"That's the last time we let Rikuo navigate," Daniel said, "five thousand years old and can't read a simple map."
"It's not simple," the ancient demon lord said from within Daniel's body. It seemed clear to Davis that the wolf general was getting very frustrated. "We don't even know where we're going anyway. The Pager said Rome. It didn't say where in Rome."
"So," Davis said, "It should be obvious where we are supposed to go…"
Davis stopped short as Daniel was giving him a look that said "don't push it or he'll probably rip your guts out and make eat them."
Davis was glad that he didn't have a Yami.
Davis looked around the ancient city. It was beautiful. He'd love to spend some time alone just exploring the whole place. Maybe not alone. Maybe with Asriel.
He glanced over and saw the blonde duelist talking to a stranger, her blue eyes shining in the early morning sun. She laughed as she spoke to the man.
Davis looked away when she noticed him staring at her. She had the body of a Greek goddess, and Davis had to admit that he was starting to fall for her.
"OK," she said returning to the two male duelists, "I think that we can undo some of the damage Rikuo did. If we follow this street in that direction," she jerked her thumb to their right, "we'll end up at the coliseum."
"Excuse me," said a voice from behind them.
The three of them spun around to see an Egyptian man of about 19 wearing white linen and a Duel Disk.
"I seem to be lost," he said looking at them helplessly, "I am looking for the coliseum. You wouldn't happen to know where that is would you?"
"You're in luck," Asriel said, "we are heading in that direction as we speak."
"Oh thank you," he said, "You have no idea what this means to me. My fiancée told me to enter this tournament to relax and I would hate to tell her that I couldn't find the location of the finals. I got separated from my tag team partner earlier."
"Hi," Davis said, "I'm Davis, this is Asriel, and Daniel."
"I am Achmed Mohistiva," he said.
Davis gasped, "The famous Gravekeeper Duelist?"
Achmed suddenly looked a bit nervous, "Um yes."
"Only four people on the planet have mastered that strategy completely and you're said to be the best."
"I'm flattered that you think so," he said, "but I think we should continue toward the coliseum."
Davis realized that he was embarrassing the modest Egyptian and let the subject drop.
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The four of them arrived outside of the coliseum, and Daniel noticed a sign.
The Coliseum is Closed to Tourists Temporarily and is being Rented out to Black Falcon Industries for use in their Global Duel Tournament.
"I think we're in the right place," Davis said. "I wonder how much Black Falcon Industries is paying them for the Coliseum."
"Well, well, well," came an all too familiar voice from behind them, "If it isn't the biggest loser on the planet! Davis T Coffin."
"Malachi," Davis said spinning around to greet his friend, "You forget that I'm only the second biggest loser, the grand title for biggest goes to you."
The two friends clasped each other's upper forearm, which had been their bond for ages.
"So this is the famous Malachi Anasazi," Asriel said, "I've heard a lot about you."
Malachi's eyes bugged out when he saw Asriel.
"At your service Madam," Malachi said.
"Davis told me about your charm too," Asriel said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Davis," Malachi said grabbing him and pulling him aside, "You're the shyest guy I know. Where'd you get the supermodel!"
"She followed me home," Davis said in his best innocent little kid voice, "Can I keep her?"
"No," Malachi said, "You must give her to me."
"Sorry pal," Davis said in a singsong voice as he walked over to Asriel and offered her his arm, "I saw her first."
"Davis," Malachi said his eyes widening as Asriel smiled sweetly at Malachi and took Davis's arm, "What have you been up too?"
"Are just going to stand around out here or are we going in?" CJ, who had arrived with Malachi, asked.
The six duelists wandered into the ancient stadium. Davis immediately saw two pedestals on opposite sides of the Coliseum. These pedestals were obviously newer than the rest of the building. The ancient network of tunnels under the building that had been exposed was now covered again, so that the whole of the field was smooth and ready for the duelists.
"Hey guys," Deondre Anderson said spinning around in his seat in the bleachers as if he'd been expecting them, "You have excellent timing."
"Deondre," Daniel said walking up to his friend and giving him the high five.
"These are my friends Davis, Asriel, Achmed and Malachi."
"Achmed I've met before," Deondre said giving them a glance over, "He was in the Shadow Tournament Finals but his team was eliminated before you…arrived."
"What can you tell us about the competition?" CJ asked, regarding the five duelists already there other than Deondre himself.
"Well," Deondre said, "He's Ibrahim." Deondre said pointing to a distinctly Jewish man of about 20 "As I understand it he runs a deck similar to your sister's Daniel."
"Cool," Daniel said, "I can deal with that."
"The 14 year old girl over there is Phoenix-Talon," Deondre continued pointing to a cute brunette with an odd taste in clothing. "I hear she uses the Stone Warrior set."
"What?" CJ said in surprise, "Nobody uses the Stone Warriors!"
"She does,"
"How'd she make it to the finals?" Achmed said.
"Got me." Deondre said, "That's just what I hear. That guy is Lucian Aslan."
He pointed to a tall sinister looking ugly man of about 21.
"He uses Archfiends."
There came a shudder from all seven duelists. Archfiends no matter how powerful, were definitely evil.
"I don't know about him," Deondre said, pointing to a Japanese kid dressed in black. "He arrived just before you did."
"I know him," Achmed said, "He was my Tag Team partner. His name is Yoruto, he uses high power wind monsters with unusual effects."
"Now him!" Deondre said pointing to the last duelist. "Him you need to watch out for. His name is Eli, and he's good. He was my Tag Team partner and I'm glad I was on his team or I might not be here. He uses a bunch of cards I've never seen before including this one Dragon that when he summoned it…"
"My move," Eli said, "And I sacrifice Kuriboh and Mirage Dragon from my Graveyard in order to summon Chaos Emperor Dragon: Envoy of the End (DARK/8/Dragon/Effect/3000/2500) I now sacrifice 1000 life points in order to use his ability. All cards in our hands and fields are now destroyed and you two take 300 points of damage per card!
Lumos- 0LP
Deondre- 2300LP
Umbra- 0LP
Eli- 200LP
"I don't envy the duelist who has to face him," Deondre said, "And I really hope it isn't me,"
"Archlords, Archfiends, Stone Warriors, Wind, and cards Deondre has never seen," Davis said. "Well this is turning out to be a peachy tournament."
"What'd you expect?" Asriel said, "A duelist who plays nothing but Kuriboh?"
"Watch out for Kuribabylon," Malachi said.
"Check this guy out," Daniel said pointing to a man dressed like a ninja coming out of another entrance.
"Naohuru Unmei," Malachi breathed. "The infamous ninja duelist."
"And Sage of Shinto besides," Davis said pointing to Naohuru's Sage's Crystal.
"Achmed!" Came a voice from nearby, "Achmed can it truly be you!"
"Badr," the two Egyptians rushed and embraced.
"I haven't seen you in three years," Badr said, "Allah forbid, your family never speaks of you."
"It is because I am a shame to them," Achmed said shaking his head, "I converted to Christianity and they have disowned me."
Badr looked surprised, "I am disappointed," he said slowly, "but why should something like that stop us from being friends! You taught me Duel Monsters, and I have missed you."
"Badr," Achmed said, "I am to be wed this June to a wonderful woman. Her name is Sharia and I would be honored if you would be there."
"Only Allah could prevent me from being there," Badr said.
Davis noticed a crescent moon shaped crystal hanging from Badr's neck
"Wait," he said, "You can't be the Muslim Sage. I saw the Muslim Sage in New Orleans and he used an Exodia Deck."
Badr scowled. "It is because of him that I am here, he shames me and Allah. I am here to stop his wanton destruction in Allah's name."
"Is that him?" Deondre said pointing to a third Egyptian of about 16 who came in the same entrance as Naohuru.
"Yes!"
"It cannot be!" Achmed declared! Badr looked just as shocked
"You know him?" Malachi asked.
"He is my brother Mohammed!" Achmed said.
"Oh dear," Davis said.
A blond haired girl with brown eyes who was about Asriel's age came skipping in.
"That is Allison," Badr said, "She was my Tag Team partner and was useless, I won our entire duel on my own and all she did was summon Toon Alligator and Alligator Sword in defense mode."
At that point a tall lanky teen with wild gray hair that covered his face came in.
"Apollyon!" Davis hissed at the Satanic Duelist. "It can't be! I thought Yami locked his soul away."
"It did," Boomed a voice over speakers strategically placed all about the Coliseum.
Joseph Herour calmly stepped out into the platform where the Caesar once stood.
"I released it," he said.
"Welcome one and all to the finals of my Global Duel Tournament," Herour said. "I trust that your journey was pleasant? Good. If it's not too much trouble I'd like to get the semi-finals underway soon, but not before we see who's here hmm?"
"The Mohistiva brothers," Herour said grinning at them, "That should be entertaining."
"Davis Coffin," he said looking right at Davis and sending chills down his spine. "Sage of Protestant Christianity."
"Daniel Pilkington," He said observing him closely, "and what's this?"
Herour held up his right hand and a small flash of red light shot out and struck Daniel, in seconds Rikuo had taken over, but it was clear that Rikuo had not intended to take over.
"And the much vaunted Demon General Rikuo Amero," he said sounding genuinely surprised, "Haven't seen you in a few millennia."
"Have we met?" Rikuo said sounding angry and curious at the same time.
"I'm disappointed," Herour said mockingly, "After all that time you spent attempting to avenge Hefaratos and now you've forgotten me."
"That's impossible," Rikuo said coldly.
"Eli Meggido, and Badr Sayid, Sages of Messianic Judaism and Islam" he said his eyes passing over the two of them making them shiver.
"The Anderson's Deondre and CJ, as well as Malachi Anasazi Catholic Sage and Allison Pegasus."
("Did he just say PEGASUS!") Davis thought, and he could see that others were thinking similar things.
"Naohuru, Shinto Sage," Herour continued, "Lucian Aslan Secular Satanism I believe."
"Ibrahim Ben Maimon, Orthodox Jew," he said, "and Apollyon servant of Satan. And pretty little Phoenix Talon."
"Well," Herour said, "We all know who's who. Shall you like to hear the prize?"
Everyone was thoroughly shaken by Herour's apparent intimate knowledge of him or her.
"In addition to the Infinite power granted if one of you Sages win, the winning duelist will become a professional duelist given a paycheck of one thousand dollars for every duel won. Imagine, dueling as a career option! Think of the possibilities: twenty years from now there could be schools to train professional duelists, and you sixteen can say that you were here when it started."
"That is a sweet prize," Eli said.
"Well, enough lollygaging," Herour said, "Let's get down to business."
"Dueling schools?" Achmed said, "If that ever happens I'll eat my turban."
Author's Notes: Many Apologies for yesterday's Chapter it was not my best work.
To Seeker of the Soul and John: You'll learn all about the Phoenix Gate in the Sequel to War of the Gods. I can hint at this though: it's in the class of the Egyptian God Cards and the Sealed Dragons so there are other items like it.
To Wolf General: Tris got a bunch of Flaming Eternity packs Thursday and I noticed quite a few cards that I was certain CJ would use so I used them, though I bent the rules on some of them. It seems to be an awesome set. And only 11 days till my birthday.
