My name is Tyson, the Shadow Spawn of Fire. And I think I know what your reaction was to that whole thing in Glitzville; you were thinking that the guy dueling Andy was a third-rate comic who was flatter than a pancake. Well, to be honest, I get that a lot.
Still, if you think my routine wasn't funny, you should have seen General Jozzin, one of the leaders of the Company of Malice.
What I know about her (yes, her; if those guys had any redeeming features, one of them was the lack of a "glass ceiling" in their culture) I only know from hearsay and history, but she was the Minister of Morale, meaning it was her job to keep the troops in high spirits and confident of their abilities. A lot of people said that it was her job to cover up the mistakes of the other generals who led the Company, but whoever said that usually made sure they did so out of earshot of any of her underlings.
Anyway, Jozzin was never seen without a big smile on her face, and she had the best sense of humor of any member of the Company. Of course, it was said that she smiled even as she crushed the last bit of life out of an enemy, and being a demon, her idea of what was funny… Well it wasn't always funny to folks other than demons.
To put it simply, there are a few subjects that really should never be joked about, but for some reason still are from time to time. Things like bigotry, child abuse, spousal abuse, suicide, slavery, torture, and especially rape. Some controversial comedians use such subjects in their routines, which is one of the biggest reasons why they're "controversial".
These were Jozzin's favorite topics. Her jokes would have offended Andrew Dice Clay.
What's the point I'm trying to make here? As bad as your experience with someone is, you can be sure that you could be dealing with someone even worse…
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DUEL FIFTY-THREE
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Wild Fire
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Glitzville was quiet right now, which was very unusual for a place known for the nightlife.
Then there was an explosion, followed by screams as people fled towards the center of the city.
A figure walked from the smoke, shaking his head as he did. It was the Duel Spirit Vampire's Curse, a tired look on his face as he watched the fleeing citizens.
"As if running will work," he said. "We're on a city that's two miles in the air, people! Where are you going to run to?"
No-one answered, and he sighed.
"Humans are so dense…" he muttered. "These folk reminds me of the ones who try to hide in a house by running upstairs. I mean really, do they actually think…"
Then he fell forward with a loud "OOF!" as someone kicked him in the back.
"A guy who lets his guard down is pretty dumb too, fellah," said a voice behind him.
"Who dares…" said the now angry Spirit, turning around, his eyes glowing with evil energy.
He saw Yuki standing over him. She took off her mask as he got up. The sigil that Merlow had drawn on her forehead was still clearly visible.
"If you're working for the Queen, I'm glad you're here," she said, as she tossed it aside. "I'm done hiding… She wanted me to be a Ninja…
"Know how Ninja were viewed in feudal Japan? With fear, yes, but also with disgust, because they lacked honor.
"Well, since hiding from her just reinforces that…"
She activated her Duel Disk.
"…come and get me…"
The vampire smirked, and his own Disk, a gilded one shaped like a bat, unfolded…
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The three teenagers looked hard at the huge hand again.
"Do you really think that they…" said Andy.
"I'm trying not to think about it…" replied Francesca.
Then it started again. Another portal appeared on the huge thing's palm, this one a huge, flaming orb.
"Heads up!" shouted Stan. "Try to brace yourself this time!"
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His warning came just in time. The rather rough trip through the portal didn't hurt as bad this time.
Still, that didn't make them like the place they were in any better. The first thing they noticed was the smell of brimstone, and when they actually looked around, they found themselves in a large cavern with a hellish red glow.
Then they realized what was causing the glow. Flowing, churning lava was to both sides of them. They were in some sort of cave with serious volcanic activity.
In front of them was exactly who they expected to see in a place like this. Tyson was reclining on a throne that seemed to have been chiseled out of the stone wall behind him, wearing scarlet armor of the same design that Melissa and Kurtis had. He was leaning his head on his arm, and looking at them with a bored expression. Next to him, a long, iron, twin-headed spear was leaning against the wall.
After a few tense seconds, he sat up straight.
"Hi," he said.
"Look, Tyson…" said Stan. "If you want a duel, I really don't want to go through the same old stupid jokes you used on Andy last time."
"Heaven forbid," said Tyson.
He stood up.
"I have all new stupid jokes," he said.
"Can't you ever be serious?" asked Francesca.
"Serious, huh?" asked Tyson. "Okay, here's something serious. Look around you. See the place we're in? This volcanic cavern?
"Contrary to what you see in television, and movies, humans can't survive in places like this."
He reached over and picked up the spear.
"Uh…" said Stan.
"That's right…" said Tyson, as he started to walk forward. "Writers seem to think that pools of lava have rocks in it that you can use as stepping stones, that things can be used like rafts in it, and that so long as you don't actually touch themelted rock, you're perfectly safe around it.
"They don't realize just how hot this stuff is…"
He stuck the spear in the lava next to him, causing a sizzling sound and rising smoke. Then he pulled it out; the end had been melted off, and the stump was red-hot.
"They also don't know about a thing called convection," he said, as he tossed it aside, "how the rising heat turns the area into an oven that can kill a person rather quickly. Or if they do know, they choose to ignore it.
"I guess that's how artistic license works… If being realistic results in a boring movie that people won't pay ten bucks to see, the creators are allowed to ignore the laws of science.
"So, know why you three aren't dead right now?"
He pointed to his chest.
"You?" asked Stan, nervously.
"Yep," said Tyson, "a little trick I inherited from my dad. And now that the science lesson is over…"
He held up his left gauntlet, and like before, a Duel Disk unfolded from it.
"No more lame jokes this time," he said. "Believe me, we're capable of learning from all this, and I'm deadly serious now.
"So… Stan… I know you three are under the impression that you were roped into this against your wills… And frankly, that's the same way we feel, and we can't do anything about it.
"So let's see the Deckmaster."
Stan sighed, and stepped forward.
Then he took his deck, and spread the cards out, quickly taking one.
"Well, since I don't have a choice," he said. "I choose Gagaga Gardna!"
In an aura of energy behind him, the well-dressed, veiled Warrior appeared, holding his staff. (1,800 ATK)
Tyson closed his eyes and held up a card.
"This card is rather antiquated…" he said. "But… I've always been rather fond of it…"
He held up the card, and a fiery column appeared behind him. It subsided, and a man with flaming red hair wearing a formal suit and a cape appeared. (2,100 ATK)
"Mr. Volcano?" said Andy. "Huh, he wasn't kidding…"
"Hey…" said Francesca.
She looked the Monster in the face.
"It… It kinda looks like Tyson…" she said. "But older… And sharper-dressed…"
Stan quickly grabbed hold of the brim of his hat, and turned it backwards.
"It seems you have the first move, Stan," said Tyson, as Stan's Disk tray snapped into position. "Good luck…
"You're gonna need it…"
(Stan: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Tyson: 8,000)
Yeah, Tyson, funny, said Stan, as he drew a card. I saw that movie too…
He placed a card on his Disk, and a set Monster appeared in front of him.
"All right Tyson, that will be enough for now…"
So what are you going to throw at me? he thought, as the Shadow Spawn of Fire drew a card. Lavals? Flamvells? Jurracs?
"I'll also set a Monster," said Tyson, as a defender appeared on his side of the field, "and then play Field Spell, Molten Destruction."
He fit the card into his Field Zone, and oddly, it didn't seem to do much of anything. Stan looked around.
Well, of course… he said. We're already in the sort of place that Molten Destruction would create…
Tyson looked at Stan and nodded. Stan made a draw.
With that Field Spell in play, it means Fire Monsters take a penalty to their Defense Scores, he thought. But he's defending for some reason…
He took a card from his hand and looked at it for a minute.
Here goes nothing…
"Magician's Valkyria, reveal yourself!" he said, as his set card flipped up, and the female mage stood forward. (1,600 ATK)
"Then, I'll summon Frontier Wiseman too…" he said.
As he played the card, the aged sage appeared, holding his tome. (1,600 ATK)
"Then he'll destroy your Monster! Sacred Lightning!"
There was a clap of thunder, and the divine energy crashed down on the card, blowing UFO Turtle to little pieces.
"Crap…" said Stan.
"I use my Monster's effect," said Tyson, "to summon Molten Behemoth!"
There was a loud, rumbling groan, and a large, hulking creature made of volcanic rock rose out of the ground. (1,000 ATK)
"Say WHAT?" shouted Stan.
"And he gains 500 Attack Points due to the Field Spell," continued Tyson.
(1,500 ATK)
"Uh, Molten Behemoth?" said Stan.
"Is there a problem?" asked Tyson.
"Someone still uses that card?" asked Stan. "No, wait… Did anyone ever use that card?"
"I'm using it now," said Tyson. "I don't think there's a rule against it."
"Uh, no…" said Stan, as Valkyria pointed her scepter. "It's a legal move… Not a smart move, but a legal move…"
She fired her blast of energy, blasting the creature into a pile of inert stone.
(S: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 7,900)
"Uh…" he said, "I end my turn…"
"My move…" said Tyson, as he drew a card. "I'll banish my UFO Turtle…"
The Machine appeared behind him, and faded away.
"…to Special Summon Inferno."
A large, crackling bonfire with eyes appeared in front of him. (1,100 ATK) –) (1,600 ATK)
"Next, I'll sacrifice it…"
The Fire elemental turned into a burning, fiery orb.
"…to summon Flame Champion."
The orb burst, and a young woman wearing plate armor holding a sword and a blazing shield appeared in front of him. (1,900 ATK) –) (2,400 ATK)
A minute ago, Stan questioned Tyson's intelligence… Now he was starting to question his opponent's sanity. Still, Tyson went on.
"I activate the Ancient Rules Spell Card!" he shouted, as the Spell appeared. "I can now Special Summon a high-Level Normal Monster to the field, and I choose to summon Garoozis!"
There was another spout of fire, and a lizard man holding a battle-axe appeared. (1,800 ATK –) 2,300 ATK)
He looked at Flame Champion, and the two Monsters nodded to each other.
"Get 'em!" shouted Tyson. "Attack with Fiery Sword of Vengeance!"
Flame Champion swung her sword with a downward stroke, sending a blast of fire along the floor, hitting Valkyria and roasting her to a crisp. Then Garoozis did the same, hitting Frontier Wiseman with his weapon and blowing him to pieces.
"Ugh…" said Stan.
(S: 6,500) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 7,900)
"That's enough for now…" said Tyson. "It's your move, Stan."
Okay, Stan, think about this… thought Stan to himself. Tyson isn't an idiot… There has to be some reason he's using antiquated cards that no duelist in his right mind would…
Wait… All these Monsters he's using are Normal, Level 5 Fire Monsters…
And his Deckmaster fits all those criteria too…
He's up to something… But what?
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As this was happening, Magical Scientist was hard at work, stirring a small pot of bubbling liquid. Eerie purple vapors rose from it.
He took a small tube of powder and slowly poured it into the concoction. As the vapors changed from purple to green, he started to chant…
"Double, double, toil and trouble, Newton, Hawking, Edwin Hubble, 3.14159, secant, tangent, arccosine!"
Then he threw back his head, and let out a loud cackle.
"Okay, okay, I guess it is kind of lame," he laughed. "I'm a scientist, not a poet!"
Then his expression suddenly turned serious. He picked up a ladle, and carefully dipped it in the mixture.
Then he looked at four cards next to him. The orange boarders suggested that they were Effect Monster cards, but they were blank, with no pictures or any text.
Carefully, he sprinkled the stuff over the four cards, and they started to emit an eerie, otherworldly aura…
"Almost done…" he said. "The Queen should be pleased…"
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"My move, Tyson!" said Stan, as he made a draw.
"And it's a good one! Because you have two Monsters more than I do, I don't need a sacrifice to summon Gagaga Druid!"
In a dark, eerie shadow, the mysterious robed, hooded Spellcaster appeared. (2,200 ATK)
"Next," said Stan, as he played a card, "I use the Bond Wand Equip Spell."
The Druid's shillelagh vanished, quickly replaced by the ruby-tipped staff. (2,800 ATK)
"So, let's put out this fire! Attack Flame Champion with Dark Curse!"
The Spellcaster pointed the wand and fired. The Pyro tried to block the blast with her shield, but it shattered, and she tumbled backwards before vanishing in a cloud of smoke.
"Guh…" mumbled Tyson.
(S: 6,500) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 7,500)
Stan looked at him with a frown.
"Your move…" he said.
Tyson flipped the top card from his deck, and then quickly played it.
"I activate Akashic Record," he said, as the Spell appeared in a glowing aura. "Now I get to make two draws.
"However, I lose them both if I've used either of them previously…"
He drew twice.
"Fortunately, I haven't," he said, as he turned them forward.
Stan looked strangely at the two Trap Cards. He recognized one – it was common enough – but he had no idea what the other was…
"I'll set two cards facedown," said Tyson, as two hidden cards appeared in his Spell Zone, "and then move Garoozis to Defense Mode…"
The lizard man knelt, and held his axe in his lap. (1,100 DEF)
"…and then I'm done…"
Stan drew a card. The Fiend Megacyber.
I'll save this guy, he thought, putting it with his others.
Then he took another one, and played it. Familiar Knight appeared in front of him. (1,200 ATK)
"Attack Garoozis with Chivalrous Blade!" he shouted.
The Knight made a fierce slash with his weapon, blasting the reptilian Beast-Warrior to little fragments.
"You're next, Tyson!" shouted Stan, as the Druid aimed his wand.
Tyson grit his teeth… Then the mighty blast hit him in the chest, and he let out a short, painful cry.
(S: 6,500) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 4,700)
"Look Tyson," said Stan, "this whole setup with you and the other Spawn is really giving me the creeps.
"I have no idea what happened to Melissa and Kurtis, but I doubt it was pleasant… And I'm wondering if you know."
"I know exactly where they are!" shouted Tyson.
He sighed.
"If I dwelled too much on it, I'd likely snap…
"You know Stan, that's one of the reasons why I always told those bad jokes all the time. All six of us needed a way to cope, a way to keep from going mad all these years…"
One of his two face-down cards lifted up, revealing the Shock Draw Trap Card.
"We all found some way to do it… More or less… Leopold studies, Kurtis plays the piano…"
"Really?" asked Francesca, lifting an eyebrow.
Tyson nodded.
"And he's really good," he said, as he made two draws. "I tell jokes… I'm not too good at it, but it keeps my mind occupied.
"But those things don't work forever… You can only do it for so long before it just stops working…"
"Uh…" said Stan. "I… guess it's your move…"
Tyson looked closely at his three cards, and then drew a fourth one.
Okay… he thought. This is the last card I need for the first strike…
"I activate Foolish Burial!" he shouted. "I'll use this card to send Woodborg Inpachi to my Graveyard…"
The Spell Card appeared, and then he took a card from his deck, and discarded it.
"You like baseball, Stan?" he asked.
"Oh, crud!" shouted Andy. "When a Fire duelist says that, it only means one thing…"
"That's right!" shouted Tyson, as he played a card. "I summon the pint-sized powerhouse known as… Ultimate Baseball Kid!"
He played the card, and the ground in front of him cracked open. A small form leapt out of the fiery pit, a rather unlikely Monster.
It was a small child, dressed in a scarlet baseball uniform, and a batting helmet with the Kanji symbol for Fire on the front. He held a metal bat with mace-like spikes covering it. (500 ATK) –) (1,000 ATK)
"Don't panic yet…" said Andy. "That guy is only serious trouble if someone has other Fire Monsters…"
"I'm about to have several more," said Tyson.
Mr. Volcano held up his palms, and fire appeared in them.
"My Deckmaster has an effect that I can only use once, but it's incredibly powerful. I can summon as many Fire Monsters from my Graveyard as I'm able to in Defense Mode.
"But… They have to be Normal Monsters that are the same Level as he is. I admit that those Monsters I used earlier were junk cards that you find in discount bins these days…"
Flame Champion appeared, kneeling behind her shield. (900 DEF) Then Garoozis appeared, also defending. (1,100 DEF)
"Most of the time, anyway…"
Then Woodborg Inpachi appeared (2,100 DEF) then Molten Behemoth (1,800 DEF)
Stan started to sweat, and it wasn't from the heat. The small slugger's eyes were starting to glow with fury.
"As you can see," said Tyson, "I now have four other Fire Monsters, and as your friend pointed out, Ultimate Baseball Kid gains 1,000 Attack Points for each one…"
(5,000 ATK)
"Now, my Trap Card activates…"
His face-down card lifted up.
"It's called Home Run!" he shouted. "By cutting my Life Points in half, my Kid can really belt one out of the park, and attack directly, so long as I don't make any other attacks this turn!"
"That's crazy!" screamed Stan.
'We're all a little crazy, Stan," said Tyson. "Attack directly with Ultimate Blazing Line Drive!"
The fiery batter held out his free hand, and a fireball appeared in it. Then he tossed it into the air, and it quickly started to grow, enlarging until it was fully twice the size of Ultimate Baseball Kid himself.
Then he gripped his bat in both hands, and socked it hard sending it screaming towards Stan.
Stan could hear Andy and Francesca shouting for him as the burning liner hit him and flames surrounded him, but all he could see and feel was the super-intense heat…
(S: 1,500) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 2,350)
He collapsed on his side.
"No, no…" begged Francesca. "Tyson, please…"
"Oh, calm down…" said Tyson, rolling his eyes. "I can't use my Kid's other effect. In fact, both my Deckmaster and Home Run have side effects that would prevent it.
"Not that I wouldn't if I could…"
Stan groaned a little as he sat up.
"Anyway…" said Tyson. "I'll set this card…"
He fit a card into his Disk, and a set card appeared in his Spell Zone.
"Then, I play the Equip Spell, Light Law Protection," he said, "and I Equip it to my Kid."
He played the card, and a golden glow surrounded the batter.
"I realize that even having a ten-thousand Attack Points won't matter if you summon Gagaga Girl," he said. "However… If my Kid's Attack Score is changed by a card Effect, this card's effect will activate, foiling the attempt and destroying that card."
Stan gave him a weird look.
"Uh…" said Francesca. "There's one thing wrong with that…"
Andy nudged her with his elbow, and then shook his head. She quickly stopped.
"Any questions?" asked Tyson.
"Just one…" grunted Stan, as he got up.
"If the name of the Trap was 'Home Run', why did you call the attack a line drive?"
"Huh?" said Tyson.
"See," said Stan, "by definition, a 'line drive' is a level hit, and likely wouldn't achieve a home run. Unless we were talking about an inside-the-park-home run, which is kind of…"
"Will you just move?!" shouted Tyson.
Stan drew a card, as Tyson grimaced at him.
"Smart-ass," he snapped.
"I Special Summon The Fiend Megacyber!" shouted Stan.
He threw the card on his Disk, and the hulking, armored Warrior appeared. (2,200 ATK)
"And because he and Gagaga Druid are Level 6," he said, as the Overlay Network opened, "I can Overlay they both…"
The Spellcaster and the Warrior turned into dark orbs of energy, and flew into the spiraling vortex.
"I Xyz Summon… Sword Breaker!"
The portal opened, and the armored, armed-to-the-teeth Warrior slowly emerged. (2,700 ATK)
"All right, now I can use his effect," said Stan.
An orb flew out of the Warrior's chest, and then into his visor, which glowed with energy.
"By getting rid of one Overlay Unit, I can name a Type of Monster, like Warriors. And when Sword Breaker battles such a Monster… He can't lose, and neither can I.
"Attack his Ultimate Baseball Kid! Flashing Bladestorm!"
The Warrior's armor shimmered… Then he collapsed into a whirlwind of deadly swords and knives…
"I activate Staunch Defender!" shouted Tyson, as he Trap Card lifted up.
"Now you can only attack one of my Monsters, and I choose to have you attack…
"Ugh… Ultimate Baseball Kid…"
It didn't seem to matter to Sword Breaker at all, seeing as that was who he was aiming at. There was a loud "WHOOMP" and a burst of soot and smoke as he hit the target and the small slugger vanished.
"I have to admit, Tyson," said Stan, "it was a nice try… Your set-up seemed to have an obvious flaw in it…"
As he said this, both Koops and Bobbery appeared behind Andy. Tyson noticed them briefly, but he didn't say anything.
"See…" continued Stan, "Ultimate Baseball Kid can gain or lose Attack Points via his own effect, and if that happened, Light Law Protection would have done him in.
"You were expecting me to realize that, and try to attack one of your other Monsters so it would happen, at which point you would have triggered Staunch Defender to force all of my Monsters to attack the Kid.
"You would have won if it worked, but there was a real flaw in the plan that you didn't notice. You drew Staunch Defender using Akashic Record, so I knew you had that card and it was pretty obvious that it was the card you set."
"So, uhm…" said Koops. "Why did Tyson trigger it anyway?"
"Because he knew that Ultimate Baseball Kid couldn't defeat Sword Breaker," replied Bobbery. "By using Staunch Defender, Tyson made that Monster the only target, effectively protecting his other Monsters against Familiar Knight…
"And that worries me… It clearly means he has other plans for them…"
"It's still my turn, Tyson…" said Stan. "I'll set one Monster, and then move my Knight to Defense Mode…"
A set Monster appeared, and then the Familiar Knight knelt and lifted his shield. (1,400 DEF)
"…and I end my turn…"
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Back in Glitzville, a large crowd had turned out to watch Yuki's duel.
She sighed, remembering the duel with Francesca. No-one was cheering for her then… She was the villain who had forced someone to fight for her life.
The roles were reversed now, and everyone was supporting her… But for some reason, it didn't make her feel any more secure.
In fact, it made her start to realize just how Francesca must have felt…
(Yuki: 3,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Vampire's Curse: 5,000)
The Duel Spirit in front of her had Vampire Lord in play. (2,000 ATK) Yuki had Senior Silver Ninja (2,300 ATK) and two set cards in her Spell Zone.
She looked her opponent directly in the eye.
"Your move, Morbius," she said.
The armored vampire made a draw…
Then he smiled slightly, briefly showing his fangs.
"Vampire Lord, begone," he said, as the Zombie in front of him vanished into a ripple of energy. "I cast you out to summon…"
There was a loud bellow, and a huge, hulking, muscular creature with mauve skin and a demonic face, along with a spike-studded cape, appeared in its place. (3,000 ATK)
Yuki wasn't all-too intimidated, however.
"Vampire Genesis?" she said. "I've seen worse…"
"Oh, I can do much worse…" said the Spirit.
He turned a card in his hand around.
"True, this Monster isn't as formidable as it used to be, but the Continuous Spell Genesis Crisis makes it deadlier by far."
He played the card, and an aura of unholy darkness surrounded the creature.
"This Spell, along with Vampire Genesis, lets me take one Zombie from my deck each turn…"
He took a card from his deck, a second Vampire Lord.
"…which makes using its effect a great deal easier… By discarding this Level 5 Zombie, I can raise a Level 4 one, like Blood Sucker."
He discarded the card, and the ground split open, disgorging a fiendish, bat-like vampire. (1,300 ATK)
He paused for a minute. He looked a little embarrassed, actually.
"Attack her Ninja!" he shouted.
The creature clenched its fists as it looked at Senior Silver Ninja. Yuki tensed.
"I activate the effect of…" said Vampire's Curse. "Uh… Bacon Saver… In my Graveyard…"
As he said this, a small, black pig floated out of the ground in front of Vampire Genesis.
Everyone stared in slack jawed silence for a moment, and then people started to giggle even as they tried to cover it up.
Hearing this, a blood vessel started to bulge on the side of Curse's head.
"SH-SHUT IT!" he shouted. "I didn't name the damn card, I just use it okay?!"
He sneered a little.
"I swear to Obelisk I'm going to petition to the Queen to have every one of the idiots in charge of naming cards at I2 publicly disemboweled if she ever conquers the States," he growled through clenched teeth "You think it's funny? Well guess what? By banishing this swine from my Graveyard…"
The strange pig's flesh melted away, leaving a pig's skeleton in its place. Then that vanished too.
"…I can stop the attack of a Monster dead in its tracks, even mine…"
The huge vampire paused. Then its master played another card.
"And because Vampire Genesis' attack was negated I can let him have another go with Double or Nothing with TWICE his original Attack Score!"
The giggling came to an abrupt halt as every watched the undead demon swell in size howling in bloodlust. (6,000 ATK)
Seeing the color leave Yuki's face, Curse gave a grin that looked more than a little unhinged.
"Not so funny now is it?"
It certainly wasn't. They all realized that he didn't even need Blood Sucker. An attack from that beast would wipe Yuki out.
"Destroy her Ninja with Crimson Shroud! There'll be no stopping it this time!"
"I may not be able to stop it," shouted Yuki, as her Quickplay Spell Card lifted up. "But I can still protect myself from it! I activate… Star Changer! This changes my Ninja's Level from 6 to 7!"
Vampire Genesis turned into a roaring cloud of blood-red vapor, and rushed at Senior Silver Ninja.
"And since he's Level 7 now, it's the right time to activate this…"
Her Trap Card lifted up.
"Ninjitsu Art of Duplication! By sacrificing one strong Ninja, I can take two weak ones from my deck, and then set them in Defense Mode."
Senior Silver Ninja vanished, and then two set Monsters appeared in front of her.
"So long as the combined Levels of both don't exceed that of the one I sacrificed."
The red cloud thundered towards one of the two Monsters. Lady Ninja Yae appeared on it, and covered herself before she was blown to bits.
"Since she was defending, my Life Points are safe…"
Then Blood Sucker flew towards the other Monster. However, it wasn't as successful. Upstart Golden Ninja appeared on the card, and slugged it hard in the jaw. (1,800 DEF) The well-dressed Ninja looked at it with an annoyed frown as it stumbled away.
"I end my turn…" said Vampire's Curse. "He won't be so lucky next time…"
Vampire Genesis calmed down, and fell to its base Attack Score of 3,000.
(Y: 2,000) - - - - - - - - - - (VC: 4,500)
Yuki made a draw.
"I summon Ninja Commando Kabuki to the field!" she shouted.
She played the card, and a Ninja dressed in white, with black trousers and a flared, golden skirt, appeared in front of her. (700 ATK)
Vampire's Curse rolled his eyes.
"First a Ninja that dresses in loud clothing," he muttered, "now this guy… These so-called Ninja you have couldn't sneak up on a blind man."
"They may be historically inaccurate," said Yuki, "but Kabuki's very useful effect lets me Special Summon another low-Level Ninja from my deck, like another copy of himself."
She played a card, and a second Ninja Commando appeared.
"And I'll just use his effect to summon a third one…"
She played another card, and a third Kabuki appeared. (700 ATK x2)
"Hell, why stop there? I'll use the third one's effect to summon Strike Ninja."
She played another card, and the tall Ninja in black appeared on the last space in her Monster Zone. (1,700 ATK)
"So what are you going to do with them all?" asked Vampire's Curse.
"Depends," said Yuki. "First of all, I'm going to Overlay Upstart Gold Ninja and Strike Ninja…"
The two Ninja were drawn into the Overlay Network, and then, with a powerful gust of wind, Blade Armor Ninja appeared, brandishing his twin katana. (2,200 ATK)
"He's no match for your Vampire Genesis, at the moment…" she said, "fortunately, I have this…"
She played a Spell Card.
"Armor Ninjitsu Art of Alchemy! By destroying all of my Trap Cards with the words 'Ninjitsu Art' in their names…"
The now-inert Ninjitsu Art of Duplication card shattered.
"…I can draw twice…"
She made two draws.
"Well…" she said. "Maybe a necklace of garlic cloves might have been better… But this will do! I play the United We Stand Spell Card!"
She threw the card into her Disk, and Blade Armor Ninja shot up to an Attack Score of 5,400.
"Hey, look!" laughed someone in the crowd, pointing at Vampire's Curse. "That guy's so scared, he's turning pale!
"Oh, wait… He's a vampire… He's always like that."
"Oh, shut up!" shouted Vampire's Curse.
"I'm going to shut you up permanently!" shouted Yuki. "By getting rid of one of Blade Armor Ninja's Overlay Units, he can attack twice this turn!
"Attack! Move like thunder, strike like lightning!"
The Ninja leapt, and lightning did indeed flash as he struck, slicing right through Vampire Genesis. The demon howled, and then burst.
"That's serious bad news for you," she continued, "because Genesis Crisis has a downside… When Vampire Genesis goes when it's on the field, ALL your other Monsters go with it!"
Blood Sucker shattered. Then Blade Armor Ninja lifted his weapons again.
"Oh, by the way… Tell the Queen that I quit…"
Vampire's Curse let out a scream that shook the whole floating city as the blade impaled him…
(Y: 3,000) - - - - - - - - - - (VC: 0)
Then he shattered, just as his Monster did.
Yuki picked up the mask she had discarded, and then wiped her brow with it.
Slowly, she took a mobile phone out of her gi, and hit a number on it.
"Merlow?" she said into it. "Glitzville is secure…"
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Back in the lava-filled cavern, Tyson drew a card.
Time for plan-B, he thought. Stan may not have known it, but these antiquated Level 5s actually have more than one use…
"I Overlay Molten Behemoth, Garoozis, and Flame Champion…" he said.
The three Monsters turned into balls of fire, and then flew into the boiling lava, two to the left, and one to the right. The molten rock started to boil even fiercer…
"Something bad is cooking…" said Andy, "and really don't think it's gonna be good to eat…"
Tyson chuckled.
"Seriously, Andy," he said, "this one is more like the type that will eat you.
"I Xyz Summon… The Czar Dragon!"
As he said that, the whole cavern changed, transforming the whole surface from a stony floor surrounded by lava to just lava. Exactly how they were standing on it was something Stan didn't know, and quite frankly, he didn't want to know.
Then the Monster appeared, a huge, red Dragon that seemed to be made of lava, literally. Its eyes burned with blazing fire, and the still molten lava dripped from its wings. (2,500 ATK) –) (3,000 ATK)
"Now, this guy is incredibly strong now…" said Tyson. "However… It will lose 400 Attack Points every time it loses an Overlay Unit, and it automatically loses one during each of my End Phases…"
"Good to know…" said Stan, looking up at the huge Dragon.
"But…" said Tyson. "Since it obviously isn't a Warrior… Barbecue his Sword Breaker with Magma Storm!"
The attack was like an erupting volcano. That was the best way to describe it. A blast of magma and flaming rocks shot from the beast's maw, literally melting Sword Breaker partially before he shattered. Stan could actually feel the heat.
Tyson looked at Stan and then played the Spell Card he had just drawn.
"I use the Field Barrier Spell Card."
He fit the card into his Disk.
"This Continuous Spell makes my Field Spell nearly invulnerable, unless the Field Barrier is destroyed first.
"I'll end my turn there, and like I said…"
He discarded Woodborg Inpachi's card, and Czar Dragon fell to an Attack Score of 2,600.
(S: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 2,350)
Stan drew the top card from his deck.
Mirror Force… he thought. Man, I really hope the Queen's men never found out that Cleo helped us… She did wonders for our decks…
"I'm Flip Summoning Crystal Seer," he said, as his face-down Monster flipped up, revealing the mysterious fortuneteller. (100 ATK)
"Now, let's see what it does…"
He picked up the top two cards on his deck. Apprentice Magician and Shrink.
He quickly put the latter one with his other four cards, and slid the other underneath his deck.
"Next, I'm summoning Anarchist Monk Rashin," he said.
He played a new card, and a new Spellcaster appeared, a frightening-looking man wearing a fancy red jacket over a metal vest, a wide-brimmed hat, and a Hannibal Lector mask. He held a slender, golden rod. (1,800 ATK)
"A new one, Stan?" asked Tyson.
"Maybe," replied Stan. "Now I use my Deckmaster effect…"
Gagaga Kaiser's staff started to glow.
"I choose one Monster I have on the field, and one in my Graveyard, both of the same Type. Then I banish the one in my Graveyard, and the one on the field becomes the same Level as that one."
Frontier Wiseman's card appeared, and then disappeared into a void. Crystal Seer started to glow with energy.
"That means Seer is now Level 3… So is Familiar Knight, meaning I can Overlay both Monsters…"
The Overlay Network opened again, and Familiar Knight and Crystal Seer were absorbed into it.
Muzurhythm the String Djinn appeared in a blast of colored stars. (1,500 ATK)
"That's what I'm talking about!" said Stan, as the Djinn started to play his battle melody. "Get that Dragon!"
The small Fiend rushed at Czar Dragon as Stan discarded Familiar Knight's card, and its Attack Score shot up to 3,000. The huge Dragon let out a roar…
And then there was an explosion, followed by a rain of ash and cinders, as the beast was smashed to a million pieces.
"All right!" cheered Koops. "Muzurhythm just blew that awful thing to Kingdom Come!"
"So… Uh… Why does Tyson seem so happy about it?" asked Bobbery.
It was only too true. Tyson had a wicked grin on his face. Stan had a bad feeling that he had just been played for a sucker…
"Thank you…" said Tyson. "When Czar Dragon is destroyed while it has at least one Overlay Unit, it's dead… But not defeated…"
A dark, ominous shape started to appear behind him, and the whole chamber that was so hot just a minute ago suddenly had a deathly chill.
"My Czar Dragon lives again…" continued Tyson. "As Zombone!"
The new Monster wasn't a Dragon… It was a huge Dragon's skeleton. To Stan and his two friends, it was as if Hooktail's corpse, the one they had seen back in that castle, had come to life, and was looking at them with murderous revenge on its mind.
(3,000 ATK)
Stan quickly snatched the Shrink card from his hand.
"Still my turn, Tyson!" he shouted. "I'm using Shrink to make that thing more manageable…"
He played the card, and Zombone hissed a little. (1,500 ATK)
"Rashin, destroy it!" he shouted, as the Anarchist Monk aimed his rod. "Chaos Hammer!"
A bolt of multicolored energy shot from the rod at the huge Zombie… Unfortunately, it only glanced off the thing's bony hide.
(S: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 1,650)
"Sorry, Stan, but Zombone won't go down as easy as Czar Dragon did…" said Tyson. "Got anything else?"
"Uh, uhm…" said Stan.
He fit two cards into his Disk, and two set cards appeared behind his two Monsters.
"Only those…" he said. "It's… uh… Your move…"
Zombone returned to 3,000 Attack Points, while Muzurhythm fell to 1,500.
Tyson quickly drew a card.
"Destroy his String Djinn!" he shouted. "Plague of Ruin!"
The huge Zombie's jaws opened with a loud creak…
"I activate Mirror Force!" shouted Stan, as his Trap Card lifted up.
"Sorry…" said Tyson, "that won't work either…"
A cloud of corrosive gas shot towards the Fiend, literally causing it to rot and decay until it turned into a pile of dust.
"Stan…" said Francesca, sadly. A tear started to form in her eye.
"Well?" said Tyson. "Fall down! You should…"
(S: 700) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 1,650)
"HUH?"
"I was just taking advice from the Boy Scouts…" said Stan. "You know what their motto is… 'Be Prepared'? I used Emergency Provisions to send Mirror Force to the Graveyard and gain 1,000 Life Points right before I took damage.
"So it's not over."
"Yeah, well, it's all over but the crying…" said Tyson, as he played the card he had drawn.
Pot of Avarice appeared in front of him, and then Ultimate Baseball Kid, Czar Dragon, Garoozis, Flame Champion, and Inferno's cards appeared over him. He shuffled his deck, and made two draws.
Then he used one of them.
"I play Mystik Wok," he said.
Woodborg Inpachi vanished into grains of light.
"That means I gain 2,100 Life Points. And it's your move…"
(S: 700) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 3,750)
As Stan drew a card, Goombella and Vivian appeared behind him. The card was Call of the Haunted.
"Right…" he muttered. "Like that's useful…
"How the hell am I gonna beat this thing? I can't destroy it with attacks, Trap Cards… What can destroy it?"
"Not sure…" said Vivian. "Although… There is something really funny about it… And I don't mean funny as in 'ha-ha', I mean funny as in weird."
"Huh?" said Stan.
"I think I see what she's saying," said Goombella. "See, Tyson is the Shadow Spawn of Fire, and Zombone clearly isn't Fire.
"And Tyson has gone to great lengths to protect his Field Spell despite the fact that Zombone doesn't benefit from it…
"Or does it?"
"Yeah…" said Stan. "Yeah, I get it! The Field Spell has something to do with its defensive ability! So if I get rid of that…"
He stopped.
"Which is much easier said than done…"
"Well…" said Goombella. "First you'd need a card that could destroy Field Barrier, then a card that could destroy the actual Field Spell, then find a way to launch an effective offense against Zombone… True, the chances of accomplishing that are pretty slim…"
"Especially since Tyson is going to be attacking with it the whole time…" muttered Stan.
"Well…" said Vivian. "There are other options…"
As the two Companions disappeared, Stan looked at Call of the Haunted and the other card he had, Kycoo the Ghost destroyer.
He played both, and the set Trap Card and the bald, scarred monk appeared. (1,800 ATK)
"Now, I Overlay both of them…"
The vortex appeared once again, and the two Spellcasters were drawn through it.
Slowly, Gagaga Cowboy rose through it, and kneeled in Defense Mode. (2,400 DEF)
"And what's he going to do?" asked Tyson.
"This," said Stan, as he discarded Rashin's card. "By getting rid of one Overlay Unit while he's in Defense Mode…"
The Cowboy stood up, and drew his pistols, firing two rounds. A look of shock came over Tyson's face as a pain pierced his chest.
The bastard SHOT me? he thought.
(S: 700) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 2,950)
"It's your move, Tyson…" said Stan, with sweat running down his face.
"Okay, now I'm pissed…" said the Shadow Spawn.
He drew a card. Then he growled a little.
"Problem?" asked Stan, with a nervous smile. "Bad draw, huh?"
Tyson didn't answer. Zombone simply shot its Plague of Ruin at Gagaga Cowboy, eradicating him.
"I'll take that as a yes," said Stan. "It's another one of those Level 5s, isn't it? Seems that deck of yours does have a downside."
"Just move…" said Tyson. "What else do you have, pray tell?"
Stan drew a card.
He sighed.
"I'll show you…" he said.
His Call of the Haunted card lifted up, and Gagaga Cowboy appeared again. (1,500 ATK)
"And he's going to help you how?" asked Tyson.
"It didn't matter which Monster I summoned," said Stan. "I just needed one to use this card…"
He turned the card forward, and Tyson stopped cold.
"See, Tyson, your strategy was pretty solid…" said Stan. "You made it so that Zombone was nearly unbeatable…
"But, as the old saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em… Or better yet, get 'em to join you! I activate Enemy Controller!"
He played the card, and Gagaga Cowboy vanished. Then the large video game controller appeared, and a cord shot out of it, hooking to the huge Zombie.
It roared, but the roar quickly faded to a whimper. It quickly flew over to Stan's side of the field.
"I hate to do this, Tyson, I really do…" said Stan. "If there was a way to end this peacefully, I'd do it… But your mother doesn't seem to want to walk that route…
"Attack him directly!"
Tyson closed his eyes.
This is it… thought Tyson, as the creature opened its jaws. Still… There may be one thing I can get out of this…
He opened his eyes again and clenched his fist.
On way I can truly get the last laugh…
Then he screamed as the foul breath tore into him, and he fell over, slamming against the stone chair behind him.
(S: 700) - - - - - - - - - - (T: 0)
The lava that Czar Dragon had created started to recede, turning the cavern back to the way it was. Tyson's armor was rusted and corroded, and he didn't seem able to get up. He was trying to, but it was taking effort.
"Stan… Andy… Francesca… All three of you…" he said, with a painful tone to his voice.
The dark portal started to form behind him.
"Listen!" he shouted, as the hands started to claw at him. "If you ever make it to the center of the palace and fight mom, you have to…"
Unfortunately, that was all they heard. Before he could finish the sentence, the other portal opened, kicking them out just like it had twice before.
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Stan looked at the giant hand.
"DAMN!" he shouted, as he hit his first against the ground.
Then he sighed hard, and looked at Andy and Francesca.
"Anyone have any idea what he was going to say?" he asked.
They shook their heads sadly.
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NINJA COMMANDO KABUKI (Monster Card)
Warrior/Earth/Effect/Lvl3/700ATK/700DEF
Effect: When this card is Normal Summoned or Special Summoned, you may Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Ninja" Monster from your deck.
Note: "Ninja Commando Kabuki" was first used by Jean-Claude Magnum in the original anime episode "Lights, Camera, Duel!" Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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AKASHIC RECORD (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A dinosaur skull with a few bones scattered.
Card Description: Draw two cards. If a card with the same name as either card has been used previously in the duel, banish both of the drawn cards.
Note: "Akashic Record" was first used by Johan (possessed by Yubel) in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "The Ultimate Face-Off (Part 2)". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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GENESIS CRISIS (Spell Card)
Continuous Spell
Image: Vampire Genesis' face surrounded by hellfire.
Card Description: Upon activation, select 1 "Vampire Genesis" you control. Once per turn, you may add 1 Zombie-Type Monster from your deck to your hand. If the selected "Vampire Genesis" leaves the field, destroy this card and all other Monsters you control.
Note: "Genesis Crisis" was first used by Camula in the original anime episode "Doomsday Duel (Part 3)". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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LIGHT LAW PROTECTION (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: A male figure with a crown and a sword with an angelic female figure behind him.
Card Description: If the ATK of the Equipped Monster if increased or decreased by a card effect, destroy that card.
Note: "Light Law Protection" was first used by Kodo Kinomiya in the "Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds" episode "Bloom of the Black Rose". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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HOME RUN (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: Ultimate Baseball Kid hitting a flaming baseball over a centerfield wall.
Card Description: Activate during the Main Phase 1 of your turn. Pay half your Life Points and select 1 "Ultimate Baseball Kid" you control. This turn, the selected "Ultimate Baseball Kid" is the only Monster that may attack, and may attack directly. You cannot Tribute Monsters during the turn you use this card.
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CZAR DRAGON (Monster Card)
Dragon/Fire/Xyz/Effect/Rank 5/2,500ATK/2,000DEF
3 Level 5 Monsters
Effect: During each of your End Phases, remove 1 Xyz Material from this card. When this card loses 1 or more Xyz Materials, decrease its ATK and DEF by 400 for each Xyz Material lost. If this card is destroyed while it has at least 1 Xyz Materials, Special Summon 1 "Zombone" from your hand or deck.
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ZOMBONE (Monster Card)
Zombie/Dark/Effect/Lvl8/3,000ATK/2,000DEF
Effect: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This card cannot be Special Summoned, except via the effect of "Czar Dragon". If you control a face-up Field Spell, this card cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects.
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"Gagaga Kaiser": Warrior/Earth/Lvl3/1,800/600: "Effect Mentor": Once per turn, you may select 1 Warrior or Spellcaster-Type Monster you control and banish 1 Monster in your Graveyard of the same Type. The Level of the selected Monster becomes the Level of the banished Monster until the End Phase of the turn. This effect cannot be activated if this Deckmaster is summoned to the field.
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"Mr. Volcano": Pyro/Fire/Lvl5/2,100/1,300: "Volcanic Eruption": Once per duel, you may Special Summon as many Normal Level 5 FIRE Monsters as possible from your Graveyard in face-up Defense Position. Monsters Special Summoned this way cannot change their battle position except via a card effect. During the turn you use this effect, the Monsters Special Summoned by this effect cannot be sent to the Graveyard unless they are destroyed.
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As the dark gauntlet continues, it seems that the Shadow Queen's forces may be showing signs of strain. Still… It seems that the ending may not be happy for everyone… The Queen's heirs are showing signs of having second thoughts… But is it too late?
Next:
Merlow: As a sage, I've spent much of my long life studying, but one cannot be general while doing so. I've specialized in one area… Psychology.
Specifically, the study of Evil in mortals.
I've spent years researching the most wicked tyrants and dictators in human history. Genocidal tyrants like Hitler and Pol Pot, notorious madmen like Vlad the Impaler and Shaka Zulu, and a lot folks that you've probably never heard of but were just as bad, like Zhang Xianzhong. (Eh? Well, he was the leader of a peasant revolt in China during the 17th Century, and after conquering the Sichuan region, became so paranoid that he ordered the execution of anyone who opposed his rule, which meant almost everyone. By the time he was killed, his forces had murdered almost ninety-nine percent of Sichuan.)
Some of these people are worse than the Shadow Queen… And I study them hoping to understand her.
What lurks inside the Mind of a Monster? What motivates a man to do such things? The notes I have accumulated while trying to figure this out could fill volumes, and while I have made progress, I only have theories… No definite answers…
I often wonder if Leopold has had any success… I have reason to believe he's spent some time on this too…
"Rare Value" is coming soon.
