Chapter 34

'Crovell?' Ahna laughed in surprise. 'But...?'

'After the Wen gave up trying to kill him, they decided a child of his importance should have the best upbringing possible. Set in particular had concerns with how well mortals could cope with raising a God Class being, so he made contact with Crovell who reminded Set that his father was the First's host, Set responded by pointing out what a poor parental figure the First had been in regards to her elder three children and thus the challenge was issued,' Mov gave a heavy sigh. 'I can't say I fully agree with the situation, but I do understand where it's coming from. And I also agree with this notion that it takes a village to raise a child.'

'And I'm guessing with a second child of similar power on its way, now seemed like the perfect time to do this,' Joey pressed his lips together as his hand gently rubbed his unnatural bump.

'Exactly.'

'But if this is all about our abilities to raise children of great power, what's with this bizarre set up? I mean, what does this situation prove exactly?'

'There are several things the Master is trying to prove here,' without warning Téa appeared beside Mov holding the Elemental Axe. 'For a start he's trying to show you're not totally reliant on your powers in order to survive. And, as some of you are already aware, he's also trying to get you to face up to yourself and overcome various self-imposed obstacles which might prove problematic. For some of you it's important you overcome these things before this game is finished, for others of you just being aware these things exist within you is more than enough. There are a few more things he needs to prove and that's where the next stage of the game comes in.'

For a few seconds no one said anything and a part of Ahna suspected they were all too shocked at seeing her to really take in what she was saying.

'T-T-Téa,' Yugi was the one to break the silence, 'you... you're awake.'

'Not exactly, that's why I'm able to hold this with no consequences,' she held up the Axe. 'Or at least that has something to do with it. I never really needed the Master to explain the ins and outs of it all to me.'

'Téa I... I need you to know... you have to know how... how sorry I am for what I did. Please...'

'Oh just shut up, would you? I didn't come here to hear your snivelling apology; I came to start the next stage of the game.' Without giving any of them a chance to react to the brutalness of her words, she lifted her right arm up causing four chests to rise up from the ground. 'Each one of these contains a soul card; the Cousin's Ghost, the Laughing Hyena, the Lioness Knightess and the Jack of Dice. In other words, the four cards secured by the gods in the last round.'

'And what exactly happened to the players who lost?' Tristan folded his arms and flicked his gaze up to meet with Téa's.

'These are their soul cards, aren't they? For now each player is trapped within them and that's where they will remain until further notice.'

'So I guess this really means I'm not Ahna then,' Ahna gave a nervous laugh, 'since I can't both be here and trapped within my own soul card.

'That's an issue for you to come to terms with,' Téa rolled her eyes, 'right now I want to explain the rules for the next stage of this little game. You see the next stage is a competition between the eight of you and the two of us,' she smirked. 'The idea is to pass through a series of eight gates by completing a series of eight random challenges, most of which have very strict time limits. If you fail to complete a challenge the only way to open a gate is to sacrifice a soul card and player. Mov and I will then gain an extra chest.'

'And what happens if you fail a challenge?' Tristan narrowed his gaze.

'Then we lose one random soul card and you gain a player,' she gave a nonchalant shrug, 'which is also what will happen if you make it through a gate before we do.'

'And let me guess, the team with the most soul cards at the end wins, right?' 'That's right.'

'You're starting this game at a serious disadvantage you know.'

'Maybe, but unlike you we're allowed to use our powers in order to aid us.'

'Wait, powers?' Yugi stared at her.

'I have the Axe remember.'

'But the Axe doesn't give people powers, it just enhances the powers people already have,' Tristan shook his head.

'I'm an onchasen, different rules apply to me. That's something you would know if you'd done your homework properly. Now,' she gave a dismissive flick of her hand causing the four boxes to disappear, 'its time for us to start the next stage of this game.'

Kaiba's eyes flicked between the two doors they now found themselves stood before. They were monstrously high and almost identical looking. Almost. Something about the marginal differences between them told Kaiba there almost definitely were differences between the two routes. Whether or not that made one easier or harder than the other was yet to be seen, but he had a strong feeling picking the right door would make all the difference.

'As we're starting at a disadvantage, I'm sure you won't mind if we pick our door first,' Téa's face filled with a fake smile.

'Okay,' Mai nodded in agreement, 'I mean, its only fair, right?'

Without hesitation she and Mov made their way towards the door to the left. She then sent an almost bored look back towards the rest of them.

'We can't enter before you; the doors will only open when both teams are ready to go in.'

Obediently everyone made their way towards the door on the right and almost as soon as they were stood in front of it, the door slid open. Without hesitation the group entered. For a few long seconds they huddling together in their new enclosure as the door behind them slid closed again.

'So what do we do now?' Mokuba stared around the grassy, forest-like area they found themselves in.

'We complete the challenge before they do,' Kaiba could hear the dull dryness in his own voice.

'What challenge?'

As he spoke, a large stone table shimmered out of nowhere. On the table was a system of gears clearly missing three of the cogs it needed to work.

'Okay…' Mai cocked an eyebrow, 'well this isn't what I was expecting.'

'And just what were you expecting Wheeler?' Kaiba folded his arms. 'We're powerless so they're hardly going to set us up against a fire breathing dragon on our first challenge.'

'No, that'll come later,' she rolled her eyes. 'What I meant was that I didn't expect it to be so… basic. I mean find the cogs and make the gear system work, how much more game show can you get?'

'There's probably some kind of level system to these challenges,' he shrugged. 'Right now we have to concentrate on passing each one as they come. And for this one I suggest we split into four teams.'

'Why four?'

'Are you forgetting the fact you're pregnant Wheeler? It'll be faster if you wait here whilst the rest of us go look.'

'I'm not staying here on my own,' Mai glared at him.

'That's why I said four teams, pick who you want to stay with you.'

'Fine, then I pick him,' she pointed towards Tristan.

'But I want to stay with Seto,' Tristan stared at her as though she'd gone insane.

'Tough, if I'm not allowed to go anywhere, then neither can you.'

'If this is to do with his memory problems Wheeler, then it's a pretty low shot,' Kaiba gritted his teeth.

'And the pregnancy thing isn't?'

'Whatever,' he turned. 'Duke comes with me; the rest of you can sort out your own teams.'

'Remind me again, who exactly put you in charge?' Mai sounded more than a little annoyed.

'Someone has to be.'

'And why should that someone be you?'

'Because I say so,' he started walking away.

'Hey, I haven't finished with you yet,' Mai called after him.

'We're wasting time Wheeler,' he gave a dismissive wave, 'do you want to rescue your son or not?'