Chapter 36: Pole Position
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Looking at the card, Goliath couldn't help but lower his head. "Hauner…I know not what your pain feels like…but you are an excellent duelist. If we had faced each other on different terms…I would have enjoyed this duel."
At that moment Hauner knew it was over, for the card that Goliath held up struck terror into Hauner's eyes. "I activate Heavy Storm!"
Hauner closed his purple eyes and awaited for his finale.
"Argus! Finish him!"
The force of the slice sent Hauner and his cards flying through the air. The shadows began to wrap around his body…
…Yet, he seemed to be smiling.
'You're right…
'Another time…another place…we could've dueled for honor…
'But for now…goodbye my worthy prey…'Goliath closed his eyes, but from the sound of the slam…he guessed that Hauner had be thrown up against the wall and fell to the ground below.
With a loud sigh, the Kaiser dropped to the ground. Tired from his duel, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
'This is only the beginning…'
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Silence was golden as Cain watched the elevator lights flash before him. 'Darc, Alucar…whoever the hell you are…you're mine as soon as I get my hands on you…'
Rioko on the other hand…
'Goliath, Terri, Kazica, even Vic are dueling just to get the rest of us up here…and that just leaves me and Cain…' Rioko looked at Cain then turned to his cards that he held tightly in his grasp.
'I know for a fact I'm not as good as Cain…hell, I'm not even on the same level as Goliath or Vic…
'But still…I'll have enough skill to at least help Cain!'
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Sighing at the new card he held in his hand, Leon couldn't help but sit down in his seat. "Even Hauner has disappointed me…"
"Master Leon, you won't have to worry about us disappointing you…"
Leon just closed his eyes as Alucar and Kuri appeared from the shadows behind him. "I do not doubt your abilities…behind Maxwell, you two are the strongest duelists under my wing…
"However, unlike you two, Maxwell has had a history of back stabbing people. So as an order, you two are to…"
Kuri raised her hand up to stop Leon in mid-sentence. "Let me guess…to make sure he doesn't try anything?"
"…Very astute of you…" Leon complimented as the two subordinates disappeared into a pair of dark auras.
As soon as the auras vanished, Leon stood up and cracked his neck. "I guess its time for me to get ready…"
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"Goliath…ake…p."
Goliath stirred at the call of his name; he wanted to open his eyes, but the huge headache that he got from his duel with Hauner keep him from doing so. 'I guess that duel took more out of me than I thought…'
"Damn it…the big oaf just won't get up…"
"Let a lady try something…"
"Where can we find one then?"
A few seconds later, a loud smacking sound filled the air of the room, followed up by a growl of pain. "Damn…you hit harder than you look…"
A second smack soon followed that comment and then a semi loud falling sound.
That was the sound that got Goliath to open his eyes. Slowly the large Kaiser sat up and saw that Vic was on the ground and Terri was hovering over him looking like she was breathing steam. "Uh…I take it, that this isn't how it looks like it…"
Noticing that Goliath was awake; Terri just scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. "Oh…hey there Goliath…how much did you see?"
"I just woke up…" Goliath replied as he stood up. "Now come, we're going…"
"To follow Cain and Rioko!" Terri shouted as Vic stumbled to his feet.
Goliath coughed loudly to get the excited Slifer Red girl's attention. "No actually…we're going down to the main floor, get Kazica and then…"
"Go help the losers," Vic finished rubbing his swollen cheek.
But that wasn't what Goliath was going to say…the next few words seemed to come out as a whisper, even though Goliath was speaking with his booming voice.
The words shocked and confused Vic and Terri…
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Cain stepped from the elevator slowly with Rioko behind him…
"About time you two twits arrived…"
Looking around the room, Cain and Rioko could clearly see that the room was like the previous ones, only with a dark red paint job. And for the fact that there was a separate platform that led to a door.
However, on the second platform stood a familiar man with his metallic cane right in front of him and his white hair flowing backwards like his style. And to make him look even smugger, his eyes were closed.
At the mere sight of the guy, Cain narrowed his eyes towards the character. "…Maxwell…you bastard…"
"Sonryu and…I'm sorry, I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting each other…" Maxwell apologized as Rioko sweatdropped.
"Its Rioko Blaze."
"Interesting name, but then again, everyone I know has an interesting name," Maxwell commented poking his cane into the metallic platform. "Quite the coincidence actually…"
Slamming his foot into the metallic platform, Cain raised his arm towards Maxwell. "Cut the crap you freak! Judging by the past few encounters you want to duel one of us sending the other ahead! So get to the real deal!"
A small chuckle left Maxwell's lips as they curled into a wicked smile. "You are close…but I do not wish to duel either of you. At least not yet."
"Say what?" Cain asked a question mark appearing over his and Rioko's head.
"You heard me…I do not wish to duel against either of you…" Maxwell repeated placing his had to his chin. "Rather, I would like to make a deal with you both…"
"What kind of a deal?" Rioko asked as Maxwell jumped from the secondary platform and landed in front of the two.
"More like a partnership," Maxwell explained raising his arms in the air. "I require strong allies to accomplish what I have in mind. And as much as I hate to say it…you two might be my best bet.
"Before you ask why I need strong allies, I'll say this, facing against one powerful force, its better to have more players on your side in order to win.
Maxwell walked towards the two teens, opening his eyes to see the confused looks on both of their faces. "And I'm not asking for your cooperation for nothing. I plan on giving both of you want you desire when I acquire my power…"
"And just how exactly do you intend to promise that?" Cain scoffed to the side. He knew that Maxwell was trying to pull a fast on over his eyes. You'd have to be blind as a bat to not see it.
But Maxwell on the other hand just raised his free hand in defense and made his eyes look innocent…if that was possible. "Don't reject my offer to quickly young Sonryu…or doubt my abilities. If I had you and your friend's skills, then all three of us would be able to take down Mr. Leon Arch.
"After all, he doesn't properly know how to run this company…more obsessed with his dead love. And as I said earlier, you won't be doing this out of the kindness of your hearts, you need only to ask, and I'll gather what you desire.
That's when Maxwell specifically shot his piercing gray eyes into Cain's, sending a small chill down the short duelist's spine. "Especially for you, young Sonryu…I know exactly what you desire…"
At that comment, Cain's heart seemed to slow down.
Could it be that easy?
Would he be able to find 'her' by helping this jackass?
"You shouldn't make promises you can't deliver Maxwell…"
The familiar dark voice echoed through the entire room sending all three of the duelists to jump into the air.
Maxwell quickly turned around to see that Alucar and Kuri were walking from a pair of dark mists that were on the second platform. "Great…just what I needed…"
Kuri just giggled raising a hand to Maxwell. "Aw! Little Maxie's trying to act like a big tough guy! Its cute that he's trying to become head of the company!"
"Shut up you little wench! Whoever said I wanted to become the company president?" Maxwell shouted raising his fist into the air.
"You'd have to be a blind dog to not get it Maxwell," Alucar explained cracking his knuckles. "Now then, I suggest that unless you aren't using your legs anymore that you duel one of these punks to prove your loyalty!"
"You better respect me Alucar! I'm higher up on the company chain, and I will not tolerate any impudence!" Maxwell shouted narrowing his eyebrows towards Alucar. "I have nothing to prove to the likes of you two!"
"Come off your high horse Maxie!" Kuri laughed, as Maxwell didn't seem to enjoy getting his name mocked like that. "Leon's not that dense, he knows what you're up to so you better take care of at least one of these duelists!"
Maxwell just walked up to the edge of the platform across from Cain and Rioko. As soon as the nobleman spun around to face the two, his duel disk hummed to life and he slid his deck into the slot. "I must do what I must do…"
"I hope you're ready to get what you deserve Maxwell," Cain growled as he started to raise his duel disk up.
That's when Rioko jumped in front of Cain with his duel disk already activated. "No way little Cain, its time I prove myself!"
"Rioko! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Cain growled as Maxwell just rolled his eyes.
"Enough, I accept his challenge and am pleased to face a new opponent," Maxwell stated watching Rioko shuffle his deck. "I just hope you're more a challenge than that pathetic Fortanu I faced earlier…" (MLP: 4000)
Rioko just fanned out his first five cards and smiled at his opponent. "Listen, he may have been a teacher, but I was a better duelist because I managed to get to Ra by beating him several times. But I don't just rely on pure luck and skill…I follow the seven rules of the duels!" (RLP: 4000)
Embarrassed by his friend's comment, Cain lowered his head with a loud sigh following. '…Rules of the duels? That was the corniest thing I ever heard!'
"First rule! Announce the goal! Defeat Maxwell!" Rioko announced as a sweat drop appeared on the back of Cain's head.
"Whatever you lightning haired imbecile, if you're so confident on winning, then you won't mind…"
Maxwell snapped the sixth card from his deck into his hand while dropping his cane onto the platform. "If I go first!"
Looking over his hand, Maxwell's face seemed to be made of pure stone. After a few seconds passed, Maxwell lifted a card from his hand and slid it into his duel disk.
"I'll start off easy with a card face down, and with a monster on the defensive…"
The two face down cards materialized before Maxwell, one vertical the other horizontal. "And end my turn with that…"
"Talk about your little moves…" Rioko commented snapping the top card from his deck. "I'll show you how a real duelist duels! I summon Thunder Knight (1300/1200)!"
A large spark of electricity formed in front of Rioko, then parts of the electricity zapped to the ground to reveal a tall golden armored knight with electricity sparking from the monster's body. In its grasp was a large golden pike that seemed to also be electrified.
"And for each Thunder sub type monster out on the field, he gains four hundred attack points (1700/1200)!"
"A monster gaining from its own natural abilities…interesting, but we'll see if you can win this or not…" Maxwell commented as a card appeared behind the Thunder Knight.
"Oh yeah, well, my Thunder Knight isn't just for show! Go! Attack that face down monster!" Rioko ordered as his knight leapt into the air.
With a quick dive, the Thunder Knight stabbed its pike right through the card back revealing a large metallic dragon wearing a large mask. The force of the blow shattered the dragon into pixels that flew backwards.
However, Maxwell just smiled as he pulled his deck out and fanned it in his hand. "Thanks, that was my Masked Dragon (1400/1100), and when it's destroyed I can summon any dragon monster with fifteen hundred attack or less to my side of the field."
A powerful breeze flew over the field as a small orange dragon appeared in front of Maxwell. Its spikes appeared over the skin and under its chin. "So say hello to Armed Dragon LV 3 (1200/900)!"
"Great…" Cain muttered as Rioko looked through his hand.
"No worries, I know how to fix this," Rioko replied as he lifted another card from his hand. "With this spell card, go Overload Generator!"
As the spell card appeared showing a large battery being struck by lightning, the Thunder Knight landed back in front of Rioko.
"And what pray tell does that thing do?" Maxwell asked as Rioko raised his finger.
"Now, now, now, a duel needs to have some surprise to it," Rioko answered with a smug look on his face. "And since I'm ending my turn, you'll be leveling up that little dragon of yours…"
"…Well, you're not as dumb as your haircut little spark," Maxwell commented drawing the next card from the top of his deck. "Correct! I am sending my Armed Dragon LV 3 for the Armed Dragon LV 5 (2400/1700)!"
In a flash second, a powerful red aura surrounded the Armed Dragon. The aura seemed to be making the dragon grow into a larger, red, and jagged version of the dragon.
The aura quickly dropped and the new dragon roared loudly into the air. "And if that wasn't bad enough, I'm activating the spell card, Future Fusion!"
A bright light began to form over the entire playing field as two cards slid out of Maxwell's deck and into his graveyard. "And in case you're a little slow, I just send my Red Eyes Black Dragon (2400/2000) and my Summoned Skull (2500/1200) to the graveyard and in two turns…well, I think that the name explains itself.
"But now for the present, I'll summon Luster Dragon (1900/1600)!" Maxwell announced while the sapphire dragon emerged onto the field next to the Armed Dragon. "And next, I'll send him on the attack! Destroy that Knight!"
After drawing in a large amount of air, the blue dragon launched a powerful blaze of blue flame towards the knight.
"Not so fast there dragon man! My Overload Generator comes into play!" Rioko announced as he quickly snapped the top card from his deck. "When you attack a thunder type monster, I can draw a card!"
"That still won't stop my attack!" Maxwell shouted as Rioko's face down card began to lift up.
"Yeah, but this will! It's my Card of Lightning Protection!" Rioko announced as the trap with a tree being protected by a marked card from multiple strikes of lightning. "First it negates your attack, then you draw one card…"
Maxwell just smiled as he drew a card, now having four cards in his hand. "Alright…but it seems like a useless card…"
That's when Maxwell's hand began to give off sparks.
"Unless it has a secondary ability, like you taking four hundred points of damage for each card in your hand," Rioko replied as electricity began to surge through Maxwell's entire body.
Luckily, the electricity was only fake as it coursed through Maxwell's body. But the attack was a major strike on his pride. "D-Damn you punk…" (MLP: 2400)
"Rule of the Duel number two! Surprise the opponent!" Rioko shouted lifting his thumb to his chest. "In this case, zap Maxwell with my trap!"
Maxwell lowered his head to Rioko and a dark aura began to flow from Maxwell's feet. The aura began to warp around the entire room. "I don't give a damn about your rules…
"However, if you're playing by those seven rules…then I'll play by my one!"
Maxwell raised his head in a quick flash to show off the bright gunmetal gray coloring to his eyes. "My suffering…my curse…my pain…this is the power of wisdom and experience! I'll crush you! Armed Dragon LV 5! Attack the knight! Finish it off!"
In a quick amount of speed, the Armed Dragon quickly slammed its fist directly into the Knight's stomach shattering the monster into Rioko who was busy drawing another card. "Thanks! You seemed to have forgotten about my Overload Generator, allowing me to draw another card." (RLP: 3300)
"But things are about to get extremely bad for you," Maxwell stated as he slid two cards into his duel disk. "I'll wrap up my turn with a few cards face down…and since my Armed Dragon destroyed a monster as a result of battle, I can trade him in for the Armed Dragon LV 7 (2800/1000)!"
Engulfed in the bright red aura once more, allowing the dragon to evolve even further into a more jagged and dark form. "Just try and beat him…"
"…Well if you insist," Rioko commented as he drew. "Here's my next rule! If you're behind on the field, it's time to recharge! So I activate the spell card Electronic Charge!"
As two large sparks appeared on the field, and Maxwell narrowed his eyes. "So, you're going to summon level four or lower monsters equal to the amount of monster on my side of the field from your deck. You'll have to do better than that…"
"Oh yeah? Well, say hello to Batteryman AA (0/0) and Thunder Nyan Nyan (1900/800)!" Rioko announced as the two sparks began to take form.
One of the sparks had formed into a small orange battery shaped robot that seemed to spark with electricity as it waved its arms up and down.
The other spark formed into the lively tiger stripped girl beating on many different drums with her electrical cat paws.
"And here's number four! Clear the board! I'll sacrifice my Batteryman, to summon Zaborg the Thunder Monarch (2400/1000)!" Rioko announced as his Batteryman exploded into a large amount of electricity.
From the electrical surge emerged the new giant. He was dressed in fancy green and white armor, with a helmet and a circular disk on his back. He lifted his hand, and called lightning to it, and electricity flashed all over him. "And now, with his ability I'll make him blow away your Armed Dragon!"
Maxwell didn't even flinch, as his dragon was shattered with the electrical charge. "…That was dumb…"
"We'll see about that! Go Zaborg! Attack his Luster Dragon!" Rioko announced as Zaborg fired a second blast of electricity towards the sapphire dragon.
"Don't think so…I activate my Negate Attack trap card…so your little battle phase is a little no…" Maxwell announced while the vortex appeared over his monster to block the attack.
'If that had hit, then Rioko would have won…' Cain thought before turning his gaze over to Alucar and Kuri. 'Wonder why those two are just standing there…and what's up with Rioko's rules?'
"I'll wrap up this turn with two cards face down…" Rioko announced as the cards appeared behind him.
"My move," Maxwell growled drawing a card of his. "And I believe that you remember my Future Fusion…"
"Yes, well you've still got a turn to wait…" Rioko commented as Maxwell's face down card began to lift up.
"That's why I've got my trap card, Pyro Clock of Destiny!" Maxwell shouted as a large clock of flames appeared over his head. "Now time moves forward by one turn…and my Future Fusion activates! So arise…"
From the light that was hovering over the spell card emerged an extremely large dragon with demonic bone like armor cover it's body. In a sense it resembled the Red Eyes Black dragon only with a touch of the Summoned Skull's bones.
"BLACK SKULL DRAGON (3200/2500)!" Maxwell roared before the dragon roared so loudly that the platforms seemed to shake. "Attack his Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!"
Raising its head up, the Black Skull Dragon opened its mouth to charge up a powerful black flame, and then the dragon snapped its head forward launching the flame into Zaborg shattering the monster.
Rioko drew his next card thanks to the Overload Generator. "Too bad you can't attack again especially with your little Luster Dragon…" (RLP: 2400)
"That's why I've got my spell card, De-Fusion! To split my dragon apart so come back…" Maxwell announced while the dragon began to shatter into two forms.
The first one was a thin black dragon floating behind Maxwell; its piercing red eyes seemed to gleam directly into Rioko's soul. "…Red Eyes Black Dragon! (2400/2000)"
The second form was a demonic form that had two purple bat wings. Its muscle like body was covered from head to toe with demonic bone armor. "And Summoned Skull (2500/1200)!"
"Luckily I was prepared! Go trap card Celebrations of Creation!" Rioko announced as a bright light engulfed the center of the field. "This spell card actually stops your entire turn when you special summon a monster by monster effect, spell or trap card effect…So you'll have to wait for it!"
"Very well, just go…" Maxwell scoffed as he watched Rioko draw his next card.
"Rioko, you mind telling us when you're going to save yourself?" Cain asked as Rioko rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry, I just wanted to try out some new cards I got lately…" Rioko replied as Maxwell tapped his foot into the metallic platform.
"You think this duel is for fun and games?" Maxwell asked closing his eyes. "If you lose this duel, then you lose your soul…this is no time to have a good time…"
"That's the problem with stiffs like you," Rioko replied raising his finger towards Maxwell. "Sure, I know what's going to happen…but I try not to think about that.
"I mean, I'm Ra's Thunder! And if I have a serious title, then I've got to have a more relaxed attitude in dueling…even with the scores like this."
"So…are you ready for rule number five?" Rioko asked as Maxwell slapped his forehead.
"You're killing me with your little rules…so just do something!" Maxwell growled as Rioko slid the card into his duel disk.
The grinning pot of greed appeared before Rioko allowing him to draw two more cards. "I know you have a clue as to what this card is capable of…so I'll just summon up a second Thunder Knight (1300/1200 + 800/0)!"
In a large strike of lightning, a second golden knight appeared before Rioko raising his pike over his shoulder. "Now then…attack his Luster Dragon!"
Maxwell didn't even blink as his dragon was stabbed and electrified into pixels. "…You strike like a rat in the dark…" (MLP: 2200)
"Yeah, yeah, I'll just wrap up my turn…" Rioko replied closing his eyes. "But aren't you curious as to the fifth rule?"
"…No…" Maxwell replied as he drew. "Now then…I'll move into my battle phase and…"
"I've got a trap card to activate, and this one defines the fifth rule!" Rioko announced as two Magic Shield Arms shot out from both of his monsters towards Maxwell's monsters. "Clear the road to the future!"
Maxwell's eyes just widened at the sight of his monsters taking the place of Rioko's shattered monsters. "What have you done?"
"My trap is called Double Magic Arm Shield! I need to sacrifice two monsters on my side of the field, but in return, I get two of yours!" Rioko answered as the two new monsters stood before him. "Fortunately they can't attack or change battle position…"
The gunmetal gray glow from Maxwell's eyes seem to begin to fade as he raised another card from his hand and slapping it onto his duel disk. "I'll summon a monster on the defensive…"
Alucar just smirked mentally as he watched Rioko draw his next card. 'Excellent…Maxwell's lost his will to duel now. All we have to do now is wait for the electrified fool to finish this and then the key can finally be placed in the lock…'
"Alright Maxwell…" Rioko said as he raised a card from his hand. "Its time for rule number six…Blow the crowd away! So I'll activate the spell card Polymerization! And for what I'm fusing, I need to fuse my Super Electromagnetic Voltech Dragon with another dragon monster…and your Red Eyes will do nicely…"
Next to the black dragon emerged the large metallic dragon surging with electricity from its limbs. Then, both of the dragons were pulled into a large vortex that seemed to meld them together. "In order to form…Black Thunder Dragon (/?)!"
A large bolt of dark electricity slammed into the platform before Rioko, sending metallic debris to fly up into the air. From the smoke that was rising emerged a pitch-black dragon with the metallic neon armor that was pulsing with electricity. It's red eyes seemed to glow with the same intensity as the lights that were on its body.
"And what is that thing supposed to do?" Maxwell asked as the Black Thunder Dragon threw its head back for a mighty metallic roar.
"Well since you asked, first it gains the same attack points as the dragon that was used in the fusion, plus half of the thunder monster's attack points that was used in fusion as well so that's a grand total of thirty-six hundred attack points!" Rioko announced as his Black Thunder Dragon (3600/0) slammed its metallic clawed feet into the ground. "And guess what he has a trampling effect!"
'No…my Troop Dragon (700/600) is only a hinder to me now…' Maxwell thought watching the dragon charge up a powerful black energy. '…This isn't over…I won't give up on my life or dream!'
"Black Thunder Dragon attack his defense!" Rioko commanded as Maxwell closed his eyes.
'This is it…
'I may not be able to prevent the punishment…but I can delay it!
'Then…after all the fools leave I'll activate the term…'
The dark electricity slammed into the face down dragon and then into Maxwell causing him to scream in a loud fury of pain.
When the attack was finished Maxwell fell to his knees with his body smoking from the electrical burns and then fell to his face. (MLP: 0)
Rioko just raised his right hand in the air with the peace sign and smiled. "And finally the last rule…Strike a victory pose!"
Everyone who was still standing sweatdropped as Rioko fell to his butt and sat down. Cain just walked up to his friend and placed his hand on Rioko's shoulder. "Nice job Rioko…"
"Nah…just had the luck of the draw…" Rioko laughed but then lowered his head from exhaustion. "Whoa…that duel took a lot out of me…"
"Good, cause we don't want you to interfere lightning boy," Alucar commented as Kuri jumped from the platform slapping on a duel disk.
"So I'll be taking on the shorty!" Kuri announced as she activated her duel disk.
Cain just narrowed his eyes and raised his arm into the air. "…You want a duel…then you just got one!"
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Cain: Damn it! My cards are useless against this girl's strategy!
Alucar: I knew your weakness and made her deck revolve around exploiting it! You can't possibly win!
Kuri: I was trained by the best to take out the worst!
Rioko: Come on Cain! Don't lose to her! We've still got more chapters in the story to get through!
What is Cain's Deck weakness? Find out in – Chapter 37 – The Eye Of Truth
Cain: Can I win…against 'her'?