Yu-Gi-Oh: War of the Gods.

Disclaimer: I Don't Own Yu-Gi-Oh! And I don't own Gargoyles either.

Author's notes: OK Mohammed, Yoruto and Phoenix are out, who do you think will be next hmm?

"That was pretty impressive," Davis said. He stood at the top of the stairs.

"That," Ibrahim said, "Was a last minute pull from your butt because you underestimated your opponent."

Davis gave him an odd look.

"It was." Ibrahim said. "I expect he'll do better next round, or he won't last much longer in this tournament."

"Hey!" Davis said, "He's my friend, and I'll have you know that he dueled with Yugi Muto to a draw!"

"Then he should know better than to underestimate someone," Ibrahim said.

Davis sighed, "Back to the subject at hand…Suppose I am this so-called-Warrior-of-Light. How do I access this so called power?"

"It really doesn't matter if you are the Warrior or not," Ibrahim said, "What matters is that Herour thinks you are he."

"But," Davis said, "Suppose I am he."

Ibrahim sighed. "I'm not sure," He said, "I know that it has a great deal to do with faith. That's why it can feed Herour indefinitely. You should not forget that no ones power comes from themselves but is given to them as a gift from above."

"I never forget that," Davis said, "I've thanked Him for every one of my victories since this awful tournament started. I thought that it would be fun at first, but things have gotten out of hand. I think I may be in over my head."

"I understand how you feel," The Jewish Sage said sighing, "We are probably all in over our heads. Remember this though, you can never be in so deep that you can't be pulled out. There is one whose head is always above everyone else."

"Right," Davis said, "Always appeal to the Master Designer when you think you're in too deep…That's what I did in my first Sages Game and I ended up having infinite life points."

"INFINITE LIFE POINTS," Ibrahim practically yelled. "No wonder Herour thinks you to be him. Infinite life force energy was one of the first signs of The Warrior's arrival."

"What are the others?" Davis said a chill running down his spine.

"He would go through a series of tests to prove his worth. A battle of one's essence," he said seemingly calling a list up in his mind "That was the first one. Then a fight with a fallen angel, a battle with his one true love, a fight with a Necromancer, then a knight was to go into battle for him, to walk with a demon within a labyrinth, and to battle a power older than the pyramids. Then it was said that he would battle a god and the armor of the earth, heaven, and yet another plane was to be called out, and then the true power would be released."

Davis seemed to pause and think, "Erasmus used a Dark Magician strategy against me…my essence. Dark Magician was my first rare card. I beat Apollyon and he's a fallen angel. Raven was a Necromancer of sorts and I dueled alongside Daniel against the Paradox brothers. The Seal of Orichalcos was old and very powerful, and Asriel was both my knight, and…"

Davis trailed off, blushing and unwilling to finish his sentence.

"The signs fit," Ibrahim said, "The signs fit."

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"We will take a ten minute break before Eli and Badr's duel," Herour said stretching.

The Egyptian god turned and walked into the hall before vanishing in a flash of blue light and re-appearing in the labyrinth beneath the coliseum.

"Who killed Hefaratos," Herour said looking over the prostrate form of the former demon lord, "What am I saying?" he laughed, "I know who killed Hefaratos."

"Herour," spoke a voice from behind him.

"Who are you?" Herour said.

"I am the Hunter," he replied, "I have been hunting you false god. Defend yourself."

"As you wish," Herour said, "Astral Drop."

There was a flash of light and an exact clone of Herour appeared next to him.

"Go and be the master of ceremonies will you while I get rid of this pest." Herour said. His clone vanished.

The Hunter-4000LP

Herour-4000LP

"I shall begin," The Hunter said calling on the power within, and praying to the ultimate power as well.

("I am your adviser today Davis,") the Irish warrior Cuchulain said, ("Who could you possibly be dueling that you would require our assistance?")

As the Warrior of Light, The Hunter possessed the power to call on the shadow of an ancient hero whenever he was faced with an opponent he did not think he could handle on his own. Dueling had existed in many forms over the millennia and all of the heroes were familiar with it. Davis usually preferred to duel alone, but if he felt that he needed it he would tap into the Light, and the Light would send the soul of a Hero to his aid.

"This will be a Sage's duel," Herour said and the Seal of Sages appeared around them.

("Haven't had one of these in a while,") The Hunter thought, ("You certain Moses couldn't have come? Or perhaps Odysseus? You know someone who was alive at the height of the Egyptian gods power?")

("You know as well as I do that the Hero that the Light sends to aid you is beyond our control, or even your control. We're just sent that's all.") The Hound of Ulster said.

("So you say,") he responded, and drew his sixth card.

("You realize that if you win this…you understand the consequences of your actions here right?") Cuchulain asked. ("RIGHT!")

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"Begin duel," "Herour" said.

Eli-8000LP

Badr-8000LP

"I'll go first," Eli said. "I set one card facedown and Kaiser Seahorse in attack mode. (LIGHT/4/Sea-Serpent/Effect/1700/1650)"

"Then I shall take my turn," Badr said calmly drawing a card. "I play Spell Economics and then play the Spell Card: A Phoenix is Born. Normally this card costs 2000 life points but not so with Spell Economics. I summon Arabian Phoenix Ankaa (FIRE/7/Winged-Beast/Effect/2000/2700)"

Eli lifted his sunglasses at the monster and then put them back on.

"He certainly has an affinity for leather," Daniel said observing Eli's leather jacket and jeans.

"You're one to talk," Davis said as he and Ibrahim approached them.

"Don't blame me," Daniel said, "My sister picked this out."

Suddenly Daniel's feature erupted into those of Rikuo.

"Herour's not real," he announced, "He's an Astral Drop. The Real Herour must be somewhere else doing something else."

"Let's go find him," Asriel said leaping up and sliding up next to Davis. Davis got the impression that she felt out of place unless she was doing something. She wasn't the kind of girl who liked to sit on the sidelines.

"Indeed," Rikuo said.

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"I play three Trap Cards," The Hunter said, "Then I play Lost Cause. This card costs one card from my hand but forces you to skip your next three draw phases."

The Hunter looked at the remaining card in his hand, ("Thank you Asriel,")

"I then summon Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight," The Hunter said, "End Turn." (DARK/7/Warrior/Effect/2300/2100)

"Very impressive," Herour said skipping his draw phase. "But this game is over…I play Borrowed Time. For one turn I may treat this card as any card in the game. I shall treat it as Hell Meteor."

A huge ball of fire the size of a house appeared above them

"No need for a Sage's punishment," Herour said, "as you'll be dead. This is a Sage's game and all cards here are real."

"No!"

The ball of fire descended upon The Hunter and enveloped him. Herour thought he felt the presence of a powerful magic but it only lasted a split second and he brushed it off and wandered away.

The Hunter-0LP

Herour-4000LP

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Rikuo stopped.

"What is it?" Davis asked.

"Someone just stole energy from my deck with magic," Rikuo said. "If I had to guess I'd say Herour was using his Borrowed Time card."

"What's Borrowed Time?" Davis said.

"It's a spell card that was given to several major gaming companies last year by Pegasus," Asriel said, "It's effect states that you can treat it as any card in the game for one turn."

"Whatever was happening it's done now," Rikuo said, "Herour's back. That's the real him now."

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"I now Normal Summon La Jinn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp," Badr said. (DARK/4/Demon/1800/1000)

A green genie appeared and nodded at Badr.

"La Jinn attack," Badr said.

The Genie held up his arms and fired a blast of energy at Eli.

"Negate Attack," Eli said sounding almost bored.

The ball of energy flew into the swirling vortex.

"My turn," he said casually. "I summon Double Coston, (DARK/4/Undead/Effect/1700/1650) in oh let's say Defense mode."

"Here it comes," Deondre said.

"Here what comes?" CJ asked

"You'll see in about ten seconds,"

"I play Soul Demolition," Eli said and his Kaiser Seahorse and Double Coston vanished in a swirl of smoke. "This allows me to summon Chaos Emperor Dragon: Envoy of the End! (DARK/8/Dragon/Effect/3000/2500)"

A gigantic gold and green dragon burst out of a swirling seal of energy.

It let loose a powerful roar that shook the whole stadium.

"Jeez," Asriel commented, "That thing's as big as an Egyptian God Card."

"As powerful as one too," Deondre called up to her.

"I play Card of Sanctity," Eli said, "We both draw till we have six cards. Then I play Pot of Greed, and Primal Seed. This will return Kaiser Seahorse and Double Coston to my Hand."

Badr's Phoenix and Genie seemed to almost be trembling in the presence of Eli's dragon.

"Watch this," Deondre said, Davis noticed Deondre standing up and preparing for his own duel.

"Chaos Emperor Dragon: Envoy of the End!" Eli said, "Armageddon attack!"

There was a tremendous blast of energy and the entire Coliseum shook almost violently. When the smoke cleared Eli and Badr stood there with no cards in their hands and nothing on their fields.

Eli-7000LP

Badr-2600LP

"Did that dragon wipe everything out?" Asriel asked her eyes wide in shock.

"Pretty much," Deondre said, "It's down to their top-decking skills now."

"I draw," Badr said, though he was clearly shaken. "Pot of Greed let's me draw two cards. I summon Armed Dragon LV3. (WIND/3/Dragon/Effect/1200/800) I play Level Up which causes my monster to grow."

The dragon that Badr had summoned had seemed almost cute and cuddly like a spiky Baby Dragon, but in an instant it grew and became covered in drill-like spikes and lots of blades.

"Armed Dragon is now at LV five," (WIND/5/Dragon/Effect/2400/1400) Badr said. "Attack his life points directly."

Eli-4600LP

Badr-2600LP

"My move," Eli said, he drew. "I think that this is what is known in some circles as Topdeck. This will allow me to end with a Beginning. I sacrifice Kaiser Seahorse and Chaos Emperor Dragon: Envoy of the End from my Graveyard in order to summon Black Luster Soldier: Envoy of The Beginning. (LIGHT/8/Warrior/Effect/3000/2500)"

"It's been nice knowing ya Badr," Deondre said moving towards the pedestal he wanted to stand on.

"My Envoy of the Beginning will attack your dragon," Eli said.

The glowing soldier rushed forward and in a single slash destroyed the dragon, which broke apart into tiny particles of dust.

Eli-4600LP

Badr-2000LP

"Then it's my move?" Badr asked reaching for his deck.

"Sorry Badr," Eli said, "Not so much, see if my Envoy of the Beginning destroyed one of your cards in battle he gets to attack again."

The Soldier rushed forward again and struck Badr himself.

Eli-4600LP

Badr-0LP

"Good duel," Eli said offering Badr his hand.

Badr shook his head. "No you creamed me! I will have to work harder next time."

"I'm still not ready for Kaiba," Eli said looking at Deondre and Daniel. "I have to prove that I'm ready to duel Kaiba, and to take back what isn't his."

"Guess what?" Davis said patting Daniel on the back, "You get to duel him next round. Good luck with that."

"Yay?" Daniel said not even halfheartedly

"My turn," Deondre said smiling.

To be continued…

Original Cards:

Lost Cause

Borrowed Time

Original Cards by Grisham:

A Phoenix is Born

Arabian Phoenix Ankaa

Original Cards by Wolf General

Hell Meteor

To Seeker of the Soul: This chapter was mostly written for your benefit…well the duel Hunter vs. Herour was. Does anybody think that The Hunter is dead? Or did he survive? He could be burned to a crisp you know.

To Nanashi: What a review! I feel so validated and I just know that you loved the various subtleties and hard work I put into each chapter. (Sorry for the Sarcasm it's late and I'm tired)

To dragon lords: Ha! Close but no cigar. Not even a cigarette. You're not really that close at all. Stop guessing why the Hunter is here. All will be revealed in due time. It will be rather obvious what the Hunter is trying to prevent when the event actually occurs.