Previously, on Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Arcane Chronicles and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Yugi Mutou's deck was put on tour by Kaibacorp, keeping Yugi from coming to help stop Ramesus. During the winter break, Hikari made a special arrangement with Seto Kaiba to get Yugi's deck back. At Duel Academy, Jaden Yugi and his friends found themselves embroiled in a battle to protect the God Demon Cards from falling into evil hands. When the war began, Hikari made a fateful phone call. Throughout the year, CyberV periodically underwent a strange transformation, gaining shadow powers unlike any seen before. During an attempt to save Tapkar from Ramesus, Jay lost a shadow game and vanished into the Shadow Realm. In the aftermath, the Good Duelists were utterly demoralized and CyberV began to announce that he couldn't continue in his role. Allis, seeking to secretly atone for her role in the tragedy, suggested to Ikke that he could restore CyberV's spirit. Before things could get any worse, the results of Hikari's call became crystal clear... At long last, Yugi had arrived!
Seeing the arrival of Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, Tea Gardner, and Ishizu Ishtar had been a shock. But it was also just a warm-up.
The second Yugi stepped into the room, a dead silence came over the Good Duelists.
"My god..." muttered Drift.
"No way. Just... No way..." Magyk was equally astonished.
"It's a miracle," whispered Mouse.
"No," said Yugi. "It was Hikari."
Everyone turned to look at her. She shrugged.
"Did I forget to tell you guys that I made a phone call?"
"YES!" shouted almost everyone.
"Oh
. With all the craziness, it kinda slipped my mind. Sorry." Most of the Good Duelists flopped.
"And now that we're here," said Joey, "we're gonna teach this Ramesus creep a lesson he won't forget!"
"He just had to make a school pun..." Tea sighed.
"He'll never learn," agreed Tristan, before realizing what he just said.
"I'll need you to fill me in on what's happened," said Yugi to LazyMan. "And then, we'll do what we can to help."
"Welcome aboard," said LazyMan, fumbling through a star-struck tongue.
As LazyMan began to fill Yugi and his friends in, CyberV watched silently.
'With Yugi Mutou here... They definitely don't need me now... I guess the time's come for me to bow out, once and for all.'
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Arcane Chronicles: Battle for the Balance
Episode 36: Yugi Returns: Regain Your Confidence, Warrior!
Written by: Aaron (CyberV) Thall
"And that's how we got to this point," finished LazyMan. Telling Yugi and his friends the story had taken a good half hour, one which had opened a lot of fresh wounds. "We're losing ground and morale, and CV's been pretty badly shaken by losing Jay."
"I see," said Yugi. "I fear this is worse than I expected. This Ramesus has unleashed a Shadow Game unlike any other. I don't know what he wants with all those stolen souls, but it can't be good."
"There's more," said Nat. "I watched Ramesus' duel against Jay. I can't be sure, but it felt like every time Jay made a move, Ramesus had a counter ready to go, like he knew what Jay was going to play before he played it."
"Did ya check his left eye?" asked Joey. Tea whapped him in the arm. "OW! WHAT?! It's a valid question! It ain't like we haven't dealt with freaky mind readers before..."
"True," said Yugi, "but I think they would have noticed the Millennium Eye. Besides, we know for a fact that the Items are long buried beneath the sands of Egypt."
"True," said Ishizu. "Very true. But there are other ways to spy upon enemies if you possess enough shadow power."
"So Jay... never had a chance?" asked Ashes. "Ramesus might have known his every card and strategy?"
"It's a very real possibility. I fear he may know ALL your decks, which will make him a difficult opponent to defeat in a duel." Ishizu was deeply concerned by this.
"So we need to rely on decks that haven't been used... Maybe not even constructed yet." Rex didn't like the sound of that. "If anything, whomever would use such a deck would be at an even greater disadvantage than before."
"But what other choice is there?" asked Magyk. "I mean, CV may have three decks, but it doesn't matter if Ramesus is ready for any of them."
"Not to mention that he's having confidence issues..." said Tristan. "No offense, man." He turned to face CyberV... who wasn't there. "WHAT THE?! HE DITCHED US!"
"You gotta be kidding me!" Joey dashed over and started searching the room, even looking under pillows and sofas. "That little-! When I get my hands on him..."
"Way to keep your cool, Dad..." muttered Hikari.
"Like you can talk..." responded Mouse, mentally noting the irony in her saying it.
"Ummm... I think Ikke's missing, too," said Ami. Sure enough, the obstinate ousted prince was indeed missing from the gathering.
"Oh, this just CAN'T be good..." muttered LazyMan. "We should spread out and try to find them before things get ugly."
"I doubt that will be necessary," said Yugi. "I think I know where we'll find them both."
CyberV stood at the center of Arena 3, taking it all in. The entire room was all but pitch black, shut down after the horrors that had taken place within.
"I'm sorry, Jay," he said, softly.
He closed his eyes and remembered getting the call for help. He'd immediately started running, only to be stopped by Kuno and her goons... Then the attack on Allis.
He remembered running right past Ramesus, who'd gleefully said "Too late." as he'd gone by. He remembered seeing Hikari and Nat on the ground... Ashes hugging Jay's duel disk... And the realization that he had failed his friends when they'd needed him most.
"You can't give up!" said Rocket Warrior, appearing next to CV. "All you've gotta do is beat Ramesus in a duel, and everyone comes back!"
"And if I lose, it could mean the end of the world," responded the despondent duelist. "I can't take that chance."
"Can't or won't?" asked Rocket Warrior. Red-Eyes growled mournfully as he appeared by CV's other side.
"I..."
"You're afraid."
CV turned towards the sound of the voice, even as the lights in the arena suddenly came on. Standing in the doorway was Ikke, his arms crossed, wearing a smug knowing look on his face.
"Now that you've been stripped of all the bluster and foolishness, that's really all there is to you, isn't it? Fear and cowardice."
"Go away, Ikke."
"No, I think not. I rather enjoy seeing this look in your eyes. Of course, now that I'm getting a better look at it, I do believe I've seen it somewhere before... Ah yes, the time we dueled. You were so tired that you kept falling asleep through the duel. But, be honest... You weren't tired at all, were you?"
CV looked away, unable to meet Ikke's gaze.
"No, I didn't think so. You knew you weren't strong enough to beat me, so you resorted to a childish trick to save face in front of the others." Ikke chuckled. "And to think that they believed you were the fabled Warrior of the Balance. How pathetic."
He began walking towards CV, enjoying the moment to the fullest. "So let's see... Your little megaphone war, that idiotic Spider-Rock... Idiocy, or did you have a reason for it? Perhaps hiding your fear through performance?"
CV didn't answer.
"I'll take that as a yes. 'CyberV for victory'. Those stupid poses. The foolish jokes and pop culture references that grate on the nerves just enough to rile the less tolerant... All just an act to hide the pathetic child with the nerve to pretend that he's some kind of hero."
Ikke reached CV at last. Standing just a few inches from his rival, he felt sick just thinking of CV that way.
"You have the nerve to promise me you'll save my people when you aren't even strong enough to save a single person. For all I care, you can go hide in a corner and wait for oblivion."
"You've made your point," said CV. "Now leave me alone."
"I'd love nothing better, but I've made a promise to someone special to me, and, apparently unlike you, I keep my promises. Now, the fates have dictated that it is to be the Warrior that saves this school and my people, and all but I believe it to be you. So, Warrior... Prove me right," he said as he got right in CV's face, "or prove me wrong."
"What do you want?" asked CV.
"A duel. No tricks. No stunts. Just you and me. The winner is the true Warrior of the Balance, the true savior of the world."
"And if I refuse?"
"You will return to that shell of a life you knew before fate deemed you worthy, and never darken these halls again."
"Sounds fine by me. I surr-"
Furious, Ikke backhanded CV, knocking him to the floor.
"DON'T YOU DARE TAKE THE EASY ROUTE, COWARD! YOU ARE GOING TO FACE ME, or so help me, I'll break every bone in your body."
CV pulled himself up.
"Well, when you put it that way..."
They both extended their duel disks.
"Put me in, Coach," said Rocket Warrior. "I still owe this guy for ruining a perfectly good nap."
"If that's what you want..." said CV as he selected his Rocket Warrior deck.
CyberV: 8000
Ikke: 8000
"And now," said Ikke. "The onslaught begins."
'But,' thought CyberV, 'what if it's like the other duels today? What if the loser... vanishes?'
"I'm surprised the Shadow Realm's so... quiet," admitted Jay. "I thought there'd be, I dunno, horrors and screaming."
"No doubt," said the Creator, "thou shalt experience both if thou doth insist upon tarrying here."
"You mean the shadow monsters, don't you?" He shuddered, remembering the trip that he and the others had taken to the Shadow Realm in order to save Rex and Ami. The shapeless little blobs completely absorbed Sonny and Carly, and while he wasn't sorry to see them gone, he still wouldn't have wished that fate on anyone.
"Yes, and they draw near. They sense thy presence. They sense thy soul, and yearn to feast upon it."
"You paint such a LOVELY picture of this place..." said Jay, deadpan.
"Come," said the Creator as he gestured, creating his throne. "We must make haste if we are to find those that have been vanquished..."
"Assuming," said Jay, as he got on, "that there's anything left to find."
"Ikke," said CV, "this is too risky! What if this counts towards Ramesus' shadow game?!"
"Then one of us will very soon have plenty of time to go find Jay." Ikke drew a sixth card.
"I'll begin with a card you should be familiar with: Painful Choice! Now, I choose five cards from my deck, and you pick one to add to my hand. The other four go to the graveyard." Guardian Angel Joan, Watapon, Mirage of Nightmare, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Dark Hole appeared.
"Ikke... Don't do this..."
"YOU'LL CHOOSE RIGHT NOW OR RISK A FORFEIT!" Ikke practically spat the words out, and CV cringed.
"All right... Watapon." The four other cards shattered as Ikke sent them to the grave. Watapon, an adorable puffball, automatically appeared on the field.
Watapon: 200/300
"For a sniveling coward, that was smart," said Ikke. "Since Watapon's special ability causes him to be automatically summoned when he's added to my hand by a spell card. And as a bonus for you, it means I'm left without a replacement card for my Painful Choice."
CV breathed a sigh of relief.
"But one good move doesn't a duel win, nor a Warrior forge!" Ikke looked at his hand. "But even worse for you, that wasn't my best move. I'll discard Night Assailant from my hand to activate it's special ability! Doing so allows me to return an effect monster in my graveyard to my hand!" He sent away his Assailant and his Joan was ejected. He took it back to his hand.
"Now I'll summon a monster facedown." A card appeared before him. "And one facedown as well." A card appeared behind Watapon. "Your move, if you have any."
"Okay..." CV drew. "I'll begin with Graceful Charity!" said CV. An angel appeared behind him. "Now I draw three cards from my deck, and discard two from my hand." He chose Hero Kid and Kaiser Sea Horse and sent them to the grave.
"I hope you got what you wanted," said Ikke. "You'll need all the help you can get."
"I got something all right," said CV. "I PLAY METEOR OF DESTRUCTION!" A massive comet appeared in the sky above Ikke and came crashing down. "It takes out 1000 of your life points!"
"A COWARDLY MOVE!" bellowed Ikke, ignoring the hologram.
CyberV: 8000
Ikke: 7000
"And I'll summon Disc Fighter in defense mode." An armored knight with a glowing green discus appeared.
Disc Fighter: 1000/1000
"And that activates my trap!" said Ikke. "CEASEFIRE! Now my facedown goes face up." His monster card vanished, revealing Witch of the Black Forest.
Witch of the Black Forest: 1100/1200
"And now, for every effect monster on the field, you lose 500 life points." CV glowed as his life points lowered.
CyberV: 6500
Ikke: 7000
"What? Surprised I'd borrow from your playbook? I'm guessing you're using the Rocket Warrior deck, which, as I recall, is filled with life point manipulation cards. It isn't a deck worthy of a Warrior, but of some spineless slug afraid to take his enemies head on."
"Maybe," said CV, "but I guess it has it's perks." He placed a card in a spell slot. "One card facedown, and that's it." A card appeared behind Disc Fighter.
"Your move is a joke," said Ikke. "If you were smart, you would at least have attacked my Watapon! Now that I have two monsters on my field..." he started before drawing, "I can sacrifice them for the all powerful Guardian Angel Joan!" Watapon and Witch of the Black Forest vanished as an armored and winged woman appeared on the field, ready to battle.
Guardian Angel Joan: 2800/2000
"And there's more. My Witch's special ability now activates," said Ikke. "And now I can add a dark monster to my hand with up to 1500 defense points! A monster like my Magical Marionette." The card ejected from Ikke's deck, and he happily added it to his hand.
"And now for another surprise... I remove Watapon and Witch from play!" Both cards ejected, and Ikke placed them back into his deck holster. "And now I can summon the powerful Chaos Sorcerer in attack mode!" A blue-skinned mage erupted onto the field, ready for battle.
Chaos Sorcerer: 2300/2000
"Not good..." muttered CV.
"JOAN! DESTROY DISC FIGHTER!" Joan drew her sword and flew forward, striking down Disc Fighter easily.
CyberV: 6500
Ikke: 8000
"What?!" CV was shocked.
"Another trick from your playbook. Joan's ability gives me extra life points equal to the original attack of monsters she destroys in battle!"
"Oh man..." CV didn't like where this was going.
"CHAOS SORCERER! CHAOS MAGIC!" Chaos Sorcerer aimed his hands at CyberV. A magical blast launched at CV, who tapped his disk.
"DRAINING SHIELD!" A force field appeared around CV, blocking the attack. "Nice try, Ikke, but Draining Shield can raise my life points a lot faster than your angel."
CyberV: 8800
Ikke: 8000
"Perhaps, but it can't save you a second time. Now make your move."
CV drew. 'Maybe if I try to end this in a tie, we'll both be safe... But I don't think I can pull that off, not with two of his strongest monsters on the field..." He looked at his hand. 'Maybe this will slow him down...'
"I summon Rocket Warrior in attack mode!" Rocket Warrior went visible and appeared, battle ready, on the field.
Rocket Warrior: 1500/1300
"You got a plan?"
"Sort of," said CV.
Rocket Warrior sweatdropped. "NOT that reassuring."
"Okay, now I equip him with Rocket Warrior Defense Squadron!" The card appeared on the field, and Rocket Warriors Red, Blue, and Yellow appeared on the field, crouching.
Rocket Warrior Tokens (3) : 1500/1300
"His Chaos Sorcerer has GOT to go," said CV. "Blue, Yellow! I sacrifice you to reduce his attack by 1000 points!"
"YES SIR!" yelled the two tokens as they transformed into missiles and launched, erupting against Chaos Sorcerer.
Chaos Sorcerer: 2300/2000 -1000/0 1300/2000
The Sorcerer staggered, weakened by the attacks.
"Rocket Warrior! NAIL HIM!"
"You've got it!" said Rocket Warrior as he slashed through Chaos Sorcerer, causing the mage to erupt.
CyberV: 8800
Ikke: 7800
"Now I'll place one card facedown and end my turn." A card appeared behind Rocket Warrior Red.
"You'd have done more damage by sacrificing all three tokens," said Ikke. "Another mistake." He drew. "I play Monster Reborn!" he said. "To revive my Chaos Sorcerer!" The mage reappeared, as strong as ever.
"But he isn't staying," said Ikke as the Sorcerer faded away again. "I sacrifice him to summon ZABORG, THE THUNDER MONARCH!" A monestrous creature rose up, thunder and lightning storming behind him.
Zaborg, the Thunder Monarch: 2400/1000
"And now I activate his special ability! ZABORG! DESTROY HIS ROCKET WARRIOR!"
"...mommy...!" Rocket Warrior said, meekly, as lightning lashed out, striking him and causing him to explode. With his destruction, Rocket Warrior Red vanished as well.
"ROCKET WARRIOR!" exclaimed CV.
"I'm okay..." said the spirit, a bit charred. "But I do NOT recommend getting hit by lightning."
"I'll remember that," said CV.
"My Zaborg is impressive, yes?" asked Ikke. "Every bit the equal to your Mobius, and with the ability to destroy a monster without attacking. Simply marvelous. And now, to GET to said attacking. ZABORG! JOAN! ATTACK DIRECTLY!"
Before CV could react, a sword and lightning struck him dead on, bringing him to his knees.
CyberV: 3600
Ikke: 7800
"One more full assault should finish you off," said Ikke. "The next round shall surely be the last."
'He's right,' realized CyberV. 'He's got two insanely powerful monsters, and all I've got is one facedown. I'm out of moves! Whatever I draw could mean the difference between seeing tomorrow and joining Jay... Wherever he is.'
CyberV looked towards Ikke. 'He's obviously the stronger duelist. I'd better stop now while I've got some shred of dignity left.'
"Have you figured out yet that you can't win?" asked Ikke.
"OF COURSE HE CAN!"
Both duelists turned to see Yugi Mutou and virtually everyone else standing at the entrance, watching the proceedings.
"Don't stop now!" called out Ami. "You can do it! I know you can!"
"That's right!" said Joey. "A duel ain't over until the last card's played, right Yug'?"
"Right, Joey," said Yugi. "I know what you must be going through right now," he said. "I've been there. There was a time, long ago, where I was forced to make a horrible choice about who to save. I was dueling Kaiba at Duelist Kingdom, and he was standing on the edge of the castle's tower. He gave me a choice... I could attack him at the risk of seriously injuring him... or sacrifice what I thought was my only chance to save my grandfather. ...Not attacking Kaiba right then and there was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I thought I'd failed my grandfather... I believed I would never see him again... But with the help of my friends, and a little luck, in the end, I saved him anyway.
"It's all right to be afraid, and to doubt yourself. Everyone does. But you cannot let the fear and doubt to control you."
"I don't know if I can do that," admitted CV.
"You already have," said Ishizu, as she stepped forward. In her hand was a small remote control. She pressed the button on it, and CyberV's duel disk began to glow. Slowly, the red circle in the center began to rotate, slowly revealing a hidden chamber.
Lying inside was a black arm band. Attached to it was a golden wdjat.
"This is the Millennium Wdjat," said Ishizu. "Entrusted to a branch of the Arcane known as the Scarab, it represents the Yang to the Scepter of the Balance's Yin. When they are together, the Scepter becomes a force for the balance. Without it, as you have seen, it creates chaos and darkness."
"So that thing," asked Nat, "is what's caused his transformations?"
"Yes," said Ishizu. "During moments where his courage overcame his fears, it responded by giving him what he needed to succeed in his duty... Fighting prowess, shadow magic, knowledge of the ancient ways. Even when separated from him, it remained a part of him."
CyberV reached into the compartment and pulled out the Millennium Wdjat. He felt it pulse, and for a second saw the specter of Slifer within it.
"If you are truly meant to be the Warrior, you will be able to activate it at will, by summoning your courage and embracing your destiny."
Trembling, CV managed to slip the Wdjat onto his wrist, even as his disk sealed itself.
"Now's your chance," said Ikke. "Prove your valor. Win the day. If you can."
CV looked at Yugi, then Ishizu... Then to his friends and Spirits... And finally, towards Ikke.
"It's up to you to save the world," said Yugi. "Make your choice."
CV tensed, as a feeling of rightness began falling over him.
'Jay, wherever you are... this one's for you. I'll get you back. I promise.'
He swung his fist out to just below his mouth.
"MILLENNIUM POWER!" He instantly felt a surge of energy as his hair rose up and a golden wdjat appeared on his forehead.
"Woah..." Despite her sorrow, Ashes was astonished.
"You gave him his own morpher," said a slightly horrified Hikari to Ishizu. "You've created a monster."
Yugi just smiled slightly. Summoning the power was one thing. Using it wisely was quite another. The next few moves would tell the tale.
"So now you can change at will," said Ikke. "But a parlor trick means nothing. Your cards should speak for you."
"And they will," said CV as he drew. "First, I'll reveal my facedown! Bad Reaction to Simochi!" The card rose up, and mist began to fill the field. "And now, I play Upstart Goblin! Normally, you'd gain 1000 life points, but thanks to Simochi, you'll lose it instead!"
CyberV: 3600
Ikke: 6800
"A trifle," said Ikke.
"No," said CV. "A start. Now I can draw one new card." He did. "And it happens to be Pot of Greed!" The Pot appeared. "Now I can draw two more cards." He did, and the Pot shattered.
"Now I place one monster facedown," he said. A monster card appeared. "And now I play Swords of Revealing Light!" As the card appeared, energy blades shot out, surrounding Zaborg and Joan.
"Now you can't attack for three turns," said CV. "Which buys me the time I need to replenish my hand and develop a true counter strategy."
"So you hope," said Ikke. He drew. "All I need to do is draw my Heavy Storm, and it's all over."
"And I doubt you will," said CV, with a smirk. "But feel free to try."
Ikke looked at his new card. "I play Magic Copier! It allows me to play one card you have in your graveyard, as long as it's a spell. And if it specifies a specific amount of damage to your life points, I can triple the effect damage it does! So now I choose your Meteor of Destruction!" Meteor of Destruction appeared, and crashed down on CV. CV stood his ground, unimpressed.
"You're right. Move of a coward. You done?"
CyberV: 600
Ikke: 6800
Ikke didn't dignify that with a response.
"Then it's my turn," said CV as he drew. "First, I reveal my facedown monster, the Magician of Faith!" The card glowed, and the waifish spellcaster appeared.
Magician of Faith: 300/400
"That activates her special ability, which lets me select one spell card from my graveyard and add it to my hand." His graveyard ejected a card. "And I choose my Pot of Greed!" He placed the card into a spell slot and the Pot reappeared for a moment as he drew two more cards.
"Now I place one card facedown," he said as a card appeared behind the Magician of Faith. "And I play my own Mirage of Nightmare. Now, on your turn, I can draw until I have four cards, but on my turn, four cards will go to the graveyard."
"And your facedown is no doubt Emergency Provisions, correct?"
"You've got it," said CV. "An old move, but a good move. But this next one's all new. Now, I remove Rocket Warrior and Kaiser Sea Horse from play to summon a brand new monster!" Kaiser Sea Horse and Rocket Warrior appeared briefly as CV took the cards from his graveyard and placed them in his deck holster. "Behold the Soul of Purity and Light!" Another angel appeared on the field, but this one emanated tranquility.
Soul of Purity and Light: 2000/1800
"Of course, I'd lose her if I attacked you now, so I'll end my turn."
"Fine," said Ikke as he drew.
"And that activates Mirage of Nightmare. Now I draw 4 cards since my hand is empty." CV drew. "And I'll activate Emergency Provisions, to sacrifice it and gain 1000 life points!" The card rose up and both vanished.
CyberV: 1600
Ikke: 6800
"No amount of cards will save you," said Ikke. "I summon D.D. Warrior Lady in defense mode." The armored warrior appeared, crouching.
D.D. Warrior Lady: 1500/1600
"Now make your move or surrender. After my next turn, you're finished."
"We'll see," said CV. "I play Premature Burial!" The card appeared and glowed. "First, I pay 800 life points, but it allows me to summon a monster from my graveyard. Namely, my Hero Kid!" An armored boy appeared, crouching.
CyberV: 800
Ikke: 6800
Hero Kid: 300/600
"And that activates his special ability. When he's special summoned, I can summon two more from my deck! Come on out, boys!" His deck glowed, and two more Hero Kids emerged.
Hero Kid (2 and 3) : 300/600
"And now I'll sacrifice all three!" The three Kids faded away.
"You wouldn't DARE..." muttered Ikke.
"Oh, I dare," said CV. "It's Raigeki in a shiny suit of armor... GILFORD THE LIGHTNING, COME ON DOWN!" Lightning struck, and made way for an armored warrior with a very large sword.
Gilford the Lightning: 2800/1400
"And now his special ability activates! Zaborg, Joan, D.D.? See ya." The three monsters flickered, then erupted, leaving Ikke wide open.
"Go ahead," said Ikke. "Attack me directly. You still can't wipe me out entirely on this turn."
"I still have two cards left, Ikke. And one happens to be my Megamorph!" He turned his card around, and Ikke's eyes widened.
"Now I equip it to Soul of Purity and Light!" Megamorph appeared behind the angel.
Soul of Purity and Light (equipped) : 4000/1800
"Ikke," said CV. "Thank you. No matter what happens in the next few seconds, know that you've helped me more than you know. You may be the most egotistical jerk I've ever met, but ultimately, you're also a good man."
"Make your move," said Ikke, smirking. "Warrior."
CV nodded in acknowledgment. "SOUL OF PURITY AND LIGHT! HEAVEN'S WING!" The angel's wings grew and spread out, enveloping Ikke.
CyberV: 800
Ikke: 2800
"And now, Gilford the Lightning! LIGHTNING BLITZ!" Gilford the Lightning charged forward. Ikke stared down the charging monster, not flinching as the blade passed through him.
CyberV: 800
Ikke: 0
The monsters and Swords of Revealing Light faded away.
There was a pause.
"Ikke's still there, right?" asked CV, his hair no longer standing up and the wdjat gone from his forehead.
"Yes..." said several of the Good Duelists, a few a bit disappointed.
"Looks like he's back," said Hikari. "We're doomed again."
"There's just no pleasing you, is there?" asked Tristan.
"Ummm... No, not really." Tristan flopped.
"Well played," said Ikke. "You're finally ready to be the Warrior for real."
"And you have become the prince your people need," said CV as he walked over to his rival. He held out his hand. After a second's hesitation, Ikke took it.
"It looks like things are getting back on track," noted Yugi.
"I hope so," said LazyMan. "We have a long fight ahead of us, even WITH the Warrior back to normal."
"So..." said Ami, popping up behind Ishizu. "...Do you have more of those things? I'm thinking if we have four more, we could do an awesome sentai riff..."
Ishizu wisely just cocked an eyebrow and looked at her, bemused. "The Millennium Wdjat is not a toy."
"Tell that to the dork," muttered Nat, who was watching as CV started fiddling with the mystical item.
"Hooboy..." Joey sighed. "This is NOT gonna be one of the better vacations..."
"When have we EVER had a good vacation?" asked Tea.
"Good point."
"So," said Rex. "Can we get back to saving the school now?"
"Definitely," said CV. "Rocket Warrior? Red-Eyes? You with me?"
"Ummm..." Rocket Warrior suddenly looked stricken. "Is it me, or is the room spinning?" He put his hand to his head. CV looked to see Red-Eyes, no longer able to fly, lying on the ground.
"Guys?"
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Flame Sprite appeared, screaming in agony before fading away.
"SPRITE!" exclaimed Ashes.
"HIKARI!" yelled Flame Swordsman. "THE AGONY! IT'S TEARING ME APART!" He faded as well.
"NO!" Hikari reached for her spirit, but could do nothing to help him
"CYBER DRAGON!" Nat watched in horror as her dragon roared in pain and faded away.
"Something is happening," said Ryu Kokki. "Suddenly I feel ill, as though another is siphoning my power."
"What is it?" asked Ramesus.
"Something as evil as you and I... Something delicious."
"We should be clear of the creatures soon, right?" asked Jay. "Right?"
Getting no answer, he looked towards his spirit, only to see the Creator slumped over his arm rest and fading away.
"oh no..." The chair began to fall as the shadow creatures watched with delight. "WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"
The Creator vanished completely, and his throne crashed to the ground with Jay still calling to him...
"What's happening?!" demanded Ashes. "They've vanished!"
"I fear that another evil has risen," said Ishizu. "If duel spirits are vanishing, it can only mean that the God Demon Cards have been summoned."
"You mean there's nothing we can do?" asked Nat.
"I am afraid not. I fear that right now, the fate of this war, the lost students, and your spirit friends are all in the hands of another. All we can do is wait."
"Try to hang on, both of you," said CV.
"We'll... try..." Rocket Warrior's words trailed off as his knees buckled.
"Guys..." CV watched as Red-Eyes and Rocket Warrior collapsed completely at his feet, perhaps never to rise again...
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time: While Jaden Duels: One Hour of Silence