All disclaimers are located in chapters 1 and 22.
Please read, review and I hope you are enjoying the story so far.
Two days latter the school was in a uproar about a new transfer student. In Yugi's class the girls were excited since the transfer student arrived much earlier than what they over heard. "The new student is a really cute guy, just like William is!" A girl squealed in delight.
"He's also going to be in our class." A boy said.
"Please let him be single! " another girl yelled as she accidently scared a lot of the guys in the classroom from her sudden outburst.
The teacher lead the new student into the classroom. "Attention class we have a new student. Please welcome Ryo Bakura." The teacher said.
"It's very nice meet all of you." He said with a warm smile.
"Now than...where should we have you sit...ah, yes...the desk beside William Dracon is available. William please raise your hand so Ryo can sit beside you." The teacher said before he realized he for his stuff in the teacher's lounge. "I'll be right back! How embarrassing...that I forgot my notes for today's lessons!" The teacher yelled as he raced off.
William calmly raised his left hand as Ryo walked over to him and took his seat. "It's nice to meet you, William." Ryo said with a friendly smile.
"Like wise. Say how about I introduce you to my friends during free time, so you can hang out with all of us?" William asked him.
" I would like that...I also over heard from a few students and teachers that you are from America but suffer from amnesia?" Ryo said in concern
"Yeah...A lot of people are still talking about that. You see, I ended up being struck by lightning...woke up in a hospital here in Domino City with no real clue where I was or how I ended up here. Don't even remember where I live, how to contact my parents or If I even have them. All I remember is my name, some very small shards of my memories and just the basic things. I got really lucky to still be alive and the fact that I ended up being taken in by Yugi's grandfather...so now I live with Yugi's family and Yugi is one of my friends who I will introduce you too. His family runs a game store." William said softly.
" You really were struck by lightning!? " Ryo yelled with wide eyes of horror.
"Yep...like I said I got really lucky to still be here." William said nervously. In more ways than one...William thought sadly as painful memories of his past flashed before him.
"Sounds like you been though hell and back..." Ryo said softly.
"You have no idea..." William said. "I should warn you now...that the girls in this school can be rather scary." He added as he noticed how all the girls were watching them with heart filled eyes.
Ryo paled at those words. "Fan girls?" He asked fearfully.
" Yep... " William said as they both suppressed a shudder of fear.
The teacher returned as he cleared his throat as he began the lesson of the day. When free period arrived William introduced Ryo to Yugi, Tristan, Tea and Joey before he had to head off to see a teacher who wished to speak with him about taking a college level class.
"William, told me that your family runs a game store Yugi. That must be rather exciting." Ryo said as he looked at Yugi.
" Yeah it's my grandpa's store and it can be rather exciting especially when a new game comes out. So do you like games, Ryo? " Yugi asked him with a warm smile.
"Yes. I especially like board games and table top games. My favorite game is called Monster World. Have you heard of it? " Ryo asked.
"What kind of game is Monster World?" Joey asked.
" Joey, Monster World is a lot like the roll playing game that William is still teaching us how to play." Tristan said.
"Oh right Dungeons and Dragons..." Joey said.
"The two games are very familiar with one another the only difference is that Monster World has many interconnected blocks that can deranged in many different ways or buy more blocks to expand it. There are mountains, forests, villages, castles, caves and many more. Sounds like William is a dungeon master if he plays Dungeons and Dragons or he is a Dark Master if he plays Monster World. Haven't really played against another Dark Master before..." Ryo trailed off as he wonder just how good of a Dungeon Master or Dark Master William was or could be.
"That sounds like fun! How about we all play monster world tomorrow?" Joey asked.
"O-okay...Say Yugi...I was wondering...where did you get that pendant? " Roy said as he tried to change the topic without rising any suspicion .
"My millennium puzzle? It came from a tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh, that my grandpa found." Yugi said grinning. "William also has an Egyptian artifact...his is called the bracelet of Anubis, I'm not really sure where he got his. Sometimes I swear his bracelet is alive or something it can be rather creepy to look at...one time I swore it winked at me." Yugi said nervously only for Ryo to suddenly grip his chest in pain. "What's wrong, Ryo?"
"It's nothing." Ryo said. Why did my chest hurt all of a sudden at the mention of William's item and when I was asking Yugi about his item?
A group of girls walked over to Yugi and the others. "Come on Ryo, let's show you around the school, cutie!" The girls said as they grabbed Ryo and began dragging him out of the room. Very much like they had done with William's first day. Ryo was stuttering in protest but was ignored as he was practically dragged out of the room by the group of girls.
"Guys, like Ryo and William have all the luck." Joey grumbled.
"Unlike you." Tristan teased.
"Hey, what was that suppose to mean Tristan!?" Joey shouted as he growled.
"Nothing at all... " Tristan snickered as Joey growled at him.
"Was it me or did Ryo look like he wasn't into playing monster world earlier?" Yugi asked in concern.
"He might be nervous like William was when he taught us how to play Dungeons and Dragons for the first time. Besides Ryo seems nice." Tea pointed out.
"True." Yugi said looking unsure.
" By the way, Yuge. Did you ever figure out how to get out of that trap William set for us the last time we played Dungeons and Dragons with him? " Joey asked.
"No...and William won't even give me any more hints... All he said was to think back to what we saw when we entered the maze." Yugi grumbled.
Ryo was very uneasy as the girls showed him around the school. "Hey you! Whose class are you suppose to be in!?" A teacher shouted as he approached them.
"Uh-oh...it's Mr.Karita, the gym teacher! " the girls whispeared fearfully.
"Tch...so your the new kid, who just transferred in, aren't ya? I hear you had some trouble in your last school. However, there are rules here in Domino High! Like this hair!!!" He shouted as he suddenly grabbed Ryo by his hair as he yanked it.
"Ah!" Ryo cried out in pain.
"Please don't hurt him!" The girls begged.
"Long hair for boys are strictly against the rules!!!" Mr. Karita snarled.
"Let him go, unless you want to cause an international incident!" William spat venomous making the gym teacher look up at him.
" William! " the girls said with wide eyes as they watched as William walked forward slowly looking like an angry wolf about to go in for the kill. Ryo froze as he saw just how intimidating William could be.
"International incident?" Mr. Karita asked in confusion.
" It would be bad for the school's image if Ryo or even myself spoke to the media on how students from other nations are being bullied by the staff in this school. The backlash would cause a internal investigation on the highest level and many staff members in this school might be fired for causing the incident. Also it would seriously harm the school's reputation and the person or people responsible for it being damaged might never be able to get a new job because of it. Now let him go, or do you want to test just how badly Ryo and I can damage this school's reputation? " William spoke coldly. The gym teacher's face paled dramatically before he glared at Ryo.
"You better get a crew cut by tomorrow!" The gym teacher snarled as he let go of his hair before he stormed off. William than approached Ryo as he softened his expression.
"You okay Ryo?" William asked.
" Yeah...I think so. " Ryo said.
"I'll continue things from here...you girls should head back to your classes...before Mr. Karita comes back." William said softly. The girls nodded as they walked away.
"Thanks for coming to my rescue..." Ryo said as they walked.
"Not a problem...also mr. Karita lied about the rules. There is no rule in this school about guys having long hair...He's just being a bully." William said softly as they walked. Ryo's eyes traveled to his bracelet of Anubis while they walked.
Ryo felt tears forming in his eyes and he had no idea why he felt like crying or even why his chest was hurting even worse than before. Yugi's and even William's item resemble so much like my own item. Ryo thought to himself. He glanced at William who was silently walking beside him.
"You okay? You're very quiet." William asked him in concern.
" I'm okay...Yugi told me, that you play role playing games. " Ryo said slowly.
"I have always enjoyed them...Dungeons and Dragons is one of my favorite board games." William said softly.
"Ever play monster world?" Ryo asked.
"Sadly I haven't but it looks like a lot of fun and from what I've heard it is a lot like Dungeons and Dragons." William said with a warm friendly smile.
"They are very similar..." Ryo said softly as he went into more details about the game with him as he pointed out the differences to him.
After school they all meet up at the entrance of the school. "Hey Ryo, is it okay if we come over to your place tomorrow and play Monster World? If not we could always play it at Yugi's." Joey suggested.
Ryo's exspression turned rather depressing. "You okay?" William asked him.
"All of you may or may not believe me...but...at my last school I use to get together with my friends just to play role playing games...however strange things would happen...the people I played games with...they would lose consciousness. They're still in the hospital in a coma...the sad part is that it kept happening over and over again. " Ryo said slowly as he started to tense and look depressed.
"Let me guess, people than began avoiding you, spreading rumors that weren't true, blaming you for things you didn't do, began judging you before they got to know you and they were making your life miserable. Causing you to keep changing schools and making you afraid to be around others in fear of hurting those close to you...am I right?" William asked as Ryo stared with him with wide eyes as he saw William's haunted expression. The very same one Ryo often wore himself.
"How did you know? " Roy asked slowly.
"William?" Tea asked softly.
William closed his eyes briefly before opening them slowly. "I might of gone through something similar to what your going through, only my situation was far worse." William said softly.
"I want to be friends with all of you, but I made a decision a long time ago. I don't want to lose any more friends...so you shouldn't get too close to me..." Ryo said. "I'll see you...around." he added before leaving in hurry.
"Ryo, wait!" William called out but Ryo was already gone. " Damn... " William grumbled bitterly under his breath.
"William, your hiding something." Joey said slowly after Ryo was already gone.
"William, is it a memory?" Tea asked in concern.
"One memory I wish would just stay gone and long forgotten. Try being the only survivor of a class shooting as your girlfriend who happened to be your best friend pushes you out a window in order to save your life as you watch as she is murdered before your eyes from a single gunshot to the head. Only to be questioned by giving parents, siblings, friends and fellow students, on how you survived, why weren't dead like your classmates and why your life was spared while no one else survived? Only to be hated for something that wasn't even your fault as you hear the harsh whispers from others as you pass them as they even label you as a cold hearted murderer. In all honestly...I shouldn't even be here. " William stated coldly before he froze as he realized he might have said a bit too much or given away a huge hint. He inwardly cursed himself out.
Tea, Joey, Tristan and Yugi stared at him in horror as they tried to image just how traumatizing that had to have been for him. William wasn't prepared to be hugged tightly by them which he tensed before slowly relaxing into their little group hug. Yugi was torn with concern for both William and for Ryo.
"William...what happened...wasn't your fault...you shouldn't keep blaming yourself for it and you're not a cold blooded killer." Yugi said.
I wish I could believe that...but in all honesty I'm just as equally responsible for what happened that day...I didn't take the threat seriously nor did I report it to anyone after I caused that teacher to loose his job. If anyone should have died...it should have been me that horrible day. William thought to himself as the memory replayed in his mind as reopened old wounds on top of the new ones.
"Yuge's right William, you might be down right scary at times, even terrifying beyond imagination. However all we see is that you're just over protective of those you care about, but you're no killer." Joey said.
"William we are all happy that you are here with us. Besides your like the older brother Yugi never had." Tristan said softly.
" it's true...you sort of stepped into that role of being a big brother to me. " Yugi said with a smile.
"Also I don't think your girlfriend would want you to stay in the past forever haunted by that day that prevents you from being happy with another person. She would want you to be happy. "Tea added softly. William felt his throat tighten as he felt the urge to start crying but he was unable to do so. This only made him feel even more guilty.
They will never forgive me, when they learn the truth. Damn it, these guys are going to make me start crying at this rate. William thought to himself.
The next day Ryo wasn't at school and their was rumors going about that Mr. Karita was found in a comatose state and was taken to the hospital that was spreading around like wild fire. William groaned as he realised what was going on. The spirit of the millennium ring...should have remembered this from the manga and from season 0 of the anime. William thought to himself as he went to look for Seto Kaiba for tiny little favor. A favor Kaiba most likely wouldn't agree too, but William had to try at least.
He found Kaiba in the school's computer classroom. "Hey, Kaiba...could we talk just for a minute?" William asked him.
Kaiba raised an eye brow as he only made a motion for him to sit down beside him. "What is it?" Kaiba asked him once William sat down beside him.
" I sort of need a favor...more like I need the home address of a fellow classmate kind of a favor." William said softly as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Hnn...why do you want the address of this student so badly that you would ask another student for assistance especially one that you don't know all that well?" Kaiba asked him as he stated at him. In all honesty Kaiba was surprised William wasn't asking him for money.
"Look I'm worried about his well being...since depression can lead to doing something really stupid where one may or not be able to correct a horrible mistake. I don't want him to do something stupid like I did in the past." William said softly.
Kaiba was very silent for a moment as he looked at William. William was most likely the first person other than his brother who ever asked him for help without asking for money or having an alternative motive behind a request. Kaiba narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at William. Kaiba could only see that William was honestly worried and deeply concerned for this student.
"If I help you...than I want something in return." Kaiba said as he broke the thick silence between them. William stared at him intently.
"Name your price." William said surprising Kaiba at how quick William would practically sell his own soul away if needed.
"A duel against you, here at the school latter tonight." Kaiba said firmly. I need to see if your the Duelist, that I think that you are. Kaiba thought to himself.
"Deal." William said. Damn it, I won't be able to use my true dueling deck that I built around my Egyptain God Cards and removing those three cards would throw the whole deck off balance...but I can use my other deck...all I need to do is borrow a few cards from my main dueling deck to help it out which I have copies of. However I know for a fact my Egyptain God card known as The Winged Dragon of Ra is going to be pissed since I've never once dueled without him before. I wonder should I start dueling with my evil god cards since they were never really shown in the anime?
"Good...now give me the name of this student that your so concerned about. " Kaiba said.
"Ryo Bakura...the new transfer student." William said.
Kaiba typed away at his laptop until he found the information William needed. Kaiba than wrote the address down in his note book before ripping the page out and handed it to him. "Remember our deal." Kaiba said firmly.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world and thanks, Kaiba. I owe you big time for this." William said as Kaiba only grunted before going back to what he was working on. William than left the room.
"In more ways than one, Dracon." Kaiba said once William was out of the room.
After school William, Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Tea arrived at a large apartment complex. "Here we are...this is the building where Ryo Bakura lives." William said as they headed inside.
"How do you know this is where Ryo lives?" Joey asked him.
"I have my ways. " William said as he looked down at the piece of paper that Kaiba gave him. "Let's see his apartment number should be 801."
"William, you didn't break into the teacher's lounge to get Ryo's information did you? " Tea asked in concern.
"No." William said as the group sighed in relief. "All I did was simply ask someone that I knew who was super good with computers to hack into the school's main computer system just to give me the address." William said making everyone 's eyes widen in disbelief.
" William, that's just as bad! " Tea yelled.
"What? I thought it was the safer option, other than me breaking into the principal's office just to steal the information that I needed and hope I didn't get caught." William said.
"William, your kind of scary...you know that right?" Yugi said nervously.
"Just part of my charming personality. Besides I'm worried about Ryo." William said.
"Over protective as always." Tristan pointed out.
"Ryo must be really depressed if he skipped school." William said frowning. This is really bringing back all the bad memories, that I thought I locked away so those memories would never see the light of day again.
"William we understand your concern...but I don't think Ryo would hurt himself. " Joey said.
"Joey, I purposely stabbed a large stake knife straight through my left hand in hopes of distracting myself from a broken heart a few months after the school shooting." William said as he revealed the deep almost completely faded scar on the palm of his left hand. "Before anyone screams at me, this happened a long time ago and I'm not like that anymore." William said once when he saw their expressions, even though he wasn't entirely sure if he was like that or not. The only problem was with how shattered and damaged his heart was now...there was no guarantee that he wouldn't do something much worse.
"Why would you do that!?" Yugi yelled.
"I wasn't in my right mind set at the time. Depression does that to a person. " William said.
"Which is why we are here to play games with Ryo until we prove to him that whatever happened in the past was just a strange coincidence, and to get him out of this depression!" Joey shouted in determination unaware that he had just accidentally shouted straight into William's right ear.
"God damn it Joey, if you shout one more time into my ear causing me to go deaf, I swear to Ra that I will personally rip your voice box out!" William snarled in a deadly tone making Joey jump in fright and move to hide behind Yugi. "And will you stop using Yugi as a human shield!!!" Joey laughed nervously as William snarled at him.
"Well here we are, room 801." Yugi said as he pressed the door bell.
A few minutes latter the door opened revealing Ryo. "Yes?" He asked before he looked completely surprised and slightly taken back. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Hi Ryo, we came over to play Monster world with you, and we were concerned about you." Tea said with a smile. Ryo's eyes widen in pure horror.
"No! All of you need to get out of... "Ryo started in fear before his personality just seemed to change. "The hall and come inside, pleasr. I'm so happy that all of you could come over. Come in, come in." He said allowing them inside.
Don't be so mean, my host. Besides it would be rather rude to turn them away after they came all the way over here just to play. If I am honest with myself I am a bit uneasy with the keeper of the Bracelet of Anubis.He might be the biggest threat in this room since the God items are far stronger than normal millennium items. However William doesn't appear to know how to fully use his item so I might have a chance to over power him and his item even if it just for a moment. The evil spirit of the millennium ring thought to himself.
Ryo jumped when William touched his shoulder gently as he gripped it. "You're not fooling me...Bakura...I know you are the spirit from the millennium ring...just a friendly warning. You hurt Ryo or my friends in any way and you will be dealing with me...after all I was rather good at exorcisms and not once did any of those evil spirits ever dared to return afterwards." William hissed in a low deadly tone as there was deep growl lurking behind his words. No one except Bakura could hear him.
Bakura's eyes widen in pure horror when he turned to see William's lips pull back unnaturally to reveal razor sharp teeth as his eyes glowed a very bright inhuman yellow color. William No way looked human at that very moment than ever so quickly William had soften his expression. He gave a warm friendly smile to him just to make it look like a trick of the lighting in the room as William than released his shoulder to move a few steps away from him.
"Sorry, we didn't call you first before coming over, Ryo." Yugi said making Bakura turn to look at the others.
"I-it's fine really. Make yourselves at home. Also I had a feeling that all of you might come over, so I got the game all set up in advance." Bakura said as he lead them into a side room.What the bloody hell did I just witness?! That was no way bloody fucken normal!!! The spirit thought frantically in fear.
"What's in here Ryo?" Joey asked.
"This is my custom made battle board for monster world." Ryo added when he flipped the light switch as he revealed the very large game board in the center of the room.
"Wow..." William said with wide eyes at just how more advanced monster world was compared to Dungeons and Dragons.
"This is so cool!! " Joey and Tristan said.I
"This must have taken months to set up and even longer to collect all these pieces." William said.
"Now, let's play. " Bakura said grinning. Let the shadow game begin, so I can take the millennium puzzle, when I win this game. As for the Bracelet of Anubis, I won't be able to do anything with it since only beings who possesses a portion of the God's very soul and essence that the item is named after is able to wield the god item. He thought to himself as they took their seats.
"So what are the rules?" William asked.
"The players are split into two groups...you have the Dark Master on one side and than you have the adventurers on the other side. The dark master will be played by me, which means I control the monsters and the evil creatures that lurk throughout monster world. Basically the Dark Master's roll is to stop the adventurers by playing them to the best of his ability. The adventurers work as a team. Each player chooses their character's race, class and ability scores. Together they work to defeat the Dark master. In order to win the adventures will have to find the Dark Master's main boss character and destroy him. In order for me to win I will have to defeat all of the adventurers."
"Very similiar to Dungeons and Dragons." William said feeling more at ease.
" Yes...which tells me you will a very hard opponent to defeat, William since I take your a skilled dungeon master. " Bakura said. "Now before we can play, everyone needs to create their characters. You will need to fill out these character sheets. Once you decide the race you need to choose your class. " Bakura said as he handed them out. Choose carefully. You will be playing that character far longer than you realize.
William looked at the sheet before him. The races available were human, elf, half elf, hobbit, fairy, dwarf, birdtail, werewolf and vampire. The werewolf class showed the high strength, average wisdom, high charaisma. The classes showed warrior, thief, beast tamer, magician, merchant, magic gunman, martial artist, priest and necromancer and mixed class. Mixed class allows a player to be two classes. Mixed classes can only be played by werewolf, birdtail and vampire races.
They soon all filled out their shirts and have them back to Bakura. "Very good...and you rolled your ability scores fair and square."
Yugi, half elf, beast tamer, weapons: none, equipment: elf cloak. Hit points 22. Level one. Abilities: speed 17. Wisdom 18. Strength 9 and courage 18.
Joey, human, warrior, weapon: short sword, equipment: leather armor and shield. Hit points 25. Level one. Abilities: speed 16, wisdom 8, strength 20, courage 21.
Tea, elf, magician, weapon: elf's staff, equipment: elf's cloak and hat. Abilities: Speed 20, wisdom 17, strength 9 courage 14. Hit points 18 level one.
Tristan, human, magic gunman, weapon: magic gun, equipment: cloak and magic bullets. Abilities: Speed 18, wisdom 10, strength 14, courage 19. Hit points 23. Level one.
William, werewolf, mixed class: thief and necromancer, equipment: thief's tools and necromancer's hooded robes. Weapon: Necromancer's scythe. Abilities: Speed 20, wisdom 18, strength 20, courage 23. Hit points 30. level one.
Bakura blinked in surprise at William's choice. " I never once had a player that choose werewolf race let along go for the mixed classes before." he said.
"Staying true to your nature, eh Will?" Joey teased.
"Perhaps..." William said smirking.
"Let me put the final touches on your miniatures and we can be all set to play." Bakura said as he left the room for a few minutes only to return with miniatures that looked just like them.
William looked at his chapter it looked just like him only with wolf like ears and a tail as it held a scythe while wearing black robes as the hood hung downwards.
"Oh wow, they really do look just like us!" Tea said as she looked at her character.
"I take a great deal of pride on my attention to detail. Now than, I'll enter your characters data into the computer for reference. These numbers will make all the difference when you end up in a life or death battle. As the master I make all the crucial rolls. All right,let's begin. Place your characters on start to begin. " Bakura said.
"Let's do this." The group said as William already knew that this was no ordinary game but a shadow game. The real reason he went with the werewolf class was for it's special hidden ability that could only be activated at night and with the necromancer class it made it a deadly combination one he was pretty sure Bakura most likely forgot or over looked since he never had a player that went for this combination before.
" Where are the monsters? " Joey asked.
"Joey...it's an rpg game...meaning that the monsters are in hiding until a chance encounter with them is activated. Since it is the start of the game we need to head into the town for the quest to fully begin." William said.
" That would be correct. " Bakura said as they made their characters enter the town which took five turns as the lid was removed to show more figurines in side.
"Oh wow...look at all the details!" Tea said
"Okay let's get some answers at the bar. " Joey said.
William makes his character put his hood up so people wouldn't notice he is a werewolf that entered the tavern. His character stays near the door of the tavern.
"Hey old man, we highly skilled adventurers are searching for a way to make some money. Got any leads?" Joey asked as he moved his miniature up to the bar.
"Joey, you start with money?" Tristan grumbled.
"At those words the villages sends a glance in your direction and sighs as he speaks..." Bakura says softly.
"If money could solve our problems, I really would give you all I got. However the sad truth is you will all be dead before I could ever reward you." The old man said.
"With that the old man turns away from the bar." Bakura said as the miniature turns away from the group.
"Hold on there gramps, sounds like you got a story to tell so spill it!" Joey yells.
"Hearing those words the old man turns to glare before he speaks in sorrow." Bakura continues.
"A few years ago this village was very peaceful. Ruled by a gentle long until that day when the Dark Lord Zorc appeared assassinating the gentle king. Alex turned the castle into a den of pure evil as monsters began appearing in our little village slaughtering many of the villages. I've seen many adventures fallen prey to the monsters that lurk in the forests especially around the castle." The old man said.
" That's not cool at all! Don't you worry gramps, we will take care of Zorc. But before we do that...much gold will we get? " Joey asked.
"Joey!" Tristan spat.
" What? " Joey asked.
"Is it me or did it sound like that miniature was really talking to us? " Tea asked.
"In these type of games the game master usually plays the non player characters. Bakura is most likely throwing his voice to give it a more realistic feeling. " Yugi said softly. William was very silent as he glanced at Bakura who narrowed his eyes at them all.
I got a really bad feeling about this...William thought as his bracelet tightened its grip on his arm.
"Since you adventures are so determine to help us even though some of you have alternative motives...you better go speak to that young lad in the corner...He knows the safest way into Zorc's castle." The old man said before turns awat.
" Hey, we been told you know away into the castle can you help us? " Yea asked as the character turned to face them.
"That village looks just like our gym teacher mr. Karita!!!" Joey and Tristan yelled. The character's eyes widen as he recognized his students.
"Joey! Tristan! You guys, have to help me!!! That creepy psycho kid turned me into a miniature!!! " the character screamed in near hysterics.
"Did that figure just talk?" Tea asked.
"Why did it sound like our gym teacher? " Joey asked.
That's because it is our gym teacher. Is it wrong of me, of wanting to ask Bakura if he could just keep Mr. Karita like this? William thought with a blank face.
"No way...it's just not possible." Tristan said.
Okay, let me make myself perfectly clear...You either play your part or die! You are no longer a teacher or even a man known as mr. Karita! You are villager D an eternal inhabitant of this game world, so now play your part unless you wish to be destroyed! Bakura thought telepathically to the miniature with an expression that screamed obey me or die.
"Z-zorc's castle is to the north...outside the village. Stay out of the forest...it's full of monsters...there is two paths to the castle. ..one through the monster filled forest or by taking a small boat into the castle's lower dungeons but the lake is filled with higher level monsters...that won't hesitate to attack the boat." The miniature said stuttering in fear.
"Okay let's kill some high level monsters! Let's take the lake entrance." Joey laughed.
" The boat will coast 60,000 gold in order to take the lake entrance. And the adventurers all together only have 50 gold. " Bakura said as Joey grumbled about how unfair that sounded.
The villager that resembles our gym teacher...and it really did seem like it was talking to us...almost like it was alive. It's not really possible that figure is alive, right? Yugi thought as he looked rather uneasy.
I hate being right...I just hope Bakura takes my warning seriously and won't hurt my friends or his host too badly since I don't know what the spirit within my item is like. This should be rather interesting indeed. William thought to himself.
"The adventurers head into the forest as they make their way to Zork's castle. From here on out there is a danger of a random encounter. Also from here on out there is a judgement roll every turn to determine if monsters will appear. We will be using Ten sides dice. The white die is the ones column as the red on is the tens column so you can get numbers between zero and 99. If the out come is between 31 and 99 you avoid meeting any monsters." Bakura exsplains. He reveals the five and rolls them the number 23 appears. "A level 3 goblin appears."
"Alright I was getting board waiting to fight something!" Joey said grinning.
"All the battles are decided with these ten sides dice. the closer you are to double zero the more damage you do...if you will 99 you have to play a penalty. Joey, you go first." Bakura said.
"Alright the warrior attacks!" Joey said as he rolled the dice. The number 14 appears.
"Level 3 goblin is destroyed." Bakura said as he calculated the damage.
"Alright Joey!" Tristan and Yugi cheers him on. William was silent as he went over all the ways to roll double zeros or lower numbers. There was a few tricks to rolling dice very similar to these, that most dungeon masters knew how to do without resorting to cheating methods with the dice.
The true penalty in this game is that you fools will become these miniatures in my game world for the rest of your lives! Bakura thought with an evil smile. He looked at William who stated right at him. For a brief moment Bakura thought he saw three mummified Anubis warriors lurking behind William with snarling faces glaring right at him while they showed their razor sharp nightmarish fangs at him. Bakura rubbed his eyes frantically but whatever he thought he saw was gone.
"You okay Bakura, you look like you seen a ghost?" William asked him.
" I'm fine...just had something in my eyes is all. Let us continue... " Bakura said looking unsure of what just happened besides looking rather disturbed by it. The game continued.
"The players come across a stranger in the ground. Who appears to have been attacked by monsters." Bakura said.
"Poor thing, we should help him." Tea said.
"Hold on Tea, in these types of games nothing is what it seems. As a dungeon master it is not uncommon to set traps using non player characters as part of the distraction of the true danger lurking before the players." William said as he noticed how Bakura sent him a sharp piercing glare.
"William is right Tea. It's rather suspicious and I agree that it could be a trap." Yugi said.
" I say we still help the poor guy out and take the risk. " Joey said.
"Yeah." Tristan said.
"The players decide to help the stranger who wakes with a start as he expects to be attacked again, until he realizes he is company of adventurers and not monsters." Bakura said.
"Please, you must help me! I was attacked by monsters and they stole my greatest treasure!" The stranger yells.
"Treasure?!" Joey, Tristan, Tea and Yugi asked. William was silent as he listened to the dialogue.
"Yes! You see my greatest treasure was known as the Holy sword of legend! It is the only weapon that can defeat the Dark Master Zorc!" The stranger continued.
"Yep, this is definitely a trap..." William said frowning.
"A sword that can defeat Zorc?" Tea asked.
"Please! You must retrieve the sword!" The stranger begged.
"Is it really that easy to obtain a sword capable of defeating Zorc?" Yugi asked.
"No." William grumbled under his breath. "This just screams trap."
"What should we do?" Tea asked.
"Who cares, treasure is always good. Also a weapon able to destroy Z orc is even better." Joey said grinning.
"Instead of a warrior you should have gone for a merchant or thief class. " William grumbled about Joey's hunger for wealth in this game.
"Let's go for it!" Tristan said.
"Thank you brave adventurers! Please allow me to go with you! " the stranger begged.
"Sure thing." Tea said.
William had a blank look on his face. Seriously? These guys aren't even listening to my warnings.
"The adventurers travel further into the forest the closer they get to the castle the encounter rate jumps to anywhere from 50 percent chance to a 85 percent chance encounter rate. A small group of monsters appear." Bakura said.
" Let's do this! " Joey yells as he rolls the dice. The number 87 appears. Joey's character moves to attack but suddenly stumbles and falls over.
"The attack is a miss." Bakura said.
"My turn!" Tristan said as he rolls the dice. The number 20 appears. Christian's charter fires his gun as he destroys the monster about to attack Joey's character.
"Direct hit, the monster is killed instantly." Bakura said.
"It's my turn. " Yugi said with a smile as he rolls the dice. The number 19 appears. The beast tamer can turn one enemy monster into a comrade. "Alright I choose you. " Yugi said looking at a monster that oddly looked like a evil demonic looking form of a Jigglypuff from pokemon. In seconds the creature was transformed into a cute puff ball with wings as it looked extremely adorable. Tea practically squealed at how cute it now looked. William hated to say this but he liked how it looked before it got transformed into an ally.
"Poki?" The creature said. Yugi only smiled at this.
"The adventurers have gained a new ally. " Bakura said.
"My move." William said as he rolled the dice. The number 09 appears as William's character charges at the largest enemy as it used it's werewolf speed as he steals the creatures gold seconds before it swings it's scythe at the monster destroying it.
"William's character successfully steals 200 gold and unleashed a instant kill attack. Only three monsters remain." Bakura said with a smirk.
"My turn. " Tea as she picks up the dice.
"You can do it, Tea!" Yugi said smiling.
Tea rolls the dice as she reveals 00. Bakura is startled and even surprised by the roll. "Despite being a low level magician Tea unleashes her ultimate attack that instantly destroys all 3 monsters." Bakura says.
"Alright, Tea!" Tristan cheered.
"Your awesome Tea!" Yugi said making Tea blush.
"Come on guys, let's do this! " Joey yelled.
"This is usually when the trap is sprung..." William grumbled under his breath.
"The stranger in the adventurers group suddenly begins to laugh in a evil filled tone after the battle is over. " Bakura speaks with an evil grin.
"So you lot are the pathetic adventurers that are trying to defy me? It's rather sad...but your luck ends here! When you entered this forest, you fools walked straight to your deaths! For all of you are going to die here and now!!!" The stranger laughs in a evil tone.
"What?!" Yugi, Tristan, Tea, Joey yells in alarm.
"Did anyone listen to me? No...now the trap has been triggered." William grumbled.
"Just who are you?!" Joey growled.
" I am the Dark Master Zorc... " the stranger said grinning demonically as the miniature transforms into a giant monster that oddly resembles Bakura's evil spirit.
"The stranger reveals his true identity to the adventurers. Revealing that he is actually the Dark Master Zorc. " Bakura said smirking.
"Zorc!?" Tristan, Yugi, Tea and Joey yelled. William was silent as he allowed the events to play out.
"There is no sword or any weapon that can defeat me in this world! You all walked right into my trap and fell for it!" Zorc yells.
"The players are caught completely off guard by the sudden events. Due to this they are defenseless. They get hit by Zorc's preemptive attack." Bakura said as he picks up the dice.
"That Bastard, completely tricked us!" Joey and Tristan snarled.
Now the shadow game truly begins...William thought to himself with narrowed eyes as he feels his bracelet clamp down tighter.
"Zorc now attacks." Bakura said as he rolled the dice. The number 00 appears.
"Super critical hit!?" Joey yells in disbelief.
"Zorc uses his dark power to attack the player. You Tea, are Zorc's target! Soul transfer!" Bakura yells as he points at her. Tea's eyes widen as all life seemed to leave them instantly just as her body suddenly collapses against the table.
" Tea!? " William yelled as he jumps up out of his seat to go and check on her as he leans over to check on her. However he already knows what had happened to her as he glances down at the game board as he sees Tea's miniature glow briefly.
"Tea!? What happened to her!?" Joey asked.
"Did she pass out from the excitement?!" Tristan yelled.
"Tea, wake up! " Yugi asked before he turns to glare at Bakura. "What did you do to, Tea!?"
"It's part of the game, Yugi. You see all of you are playing the ultimate role playing game of all time!" Bakura laughed.
"What are you talking about?!" Joey and Tristan demand.
"Correct me if I am wrong about this, Bakura. However our fates as the players are all decided by the dice. When we are hit by Zorc's super critical hit or when you roll a 99...the true power of darkness is activated as it than lashes out trapping the player's very soul into the miniature that they are playing? Am I right?" William asked with narrowed eyes as they flashed to a bright inhuman yellow color.
"William, that's crazy! You can't be serious about that. " Joey said.
Bakura clapped his hands. "Well done...dungeon master. I knew you were going to be very difficult opponent. However you are surprisingly accurate with your deduction, and your correct. Don't worry too much, for you see Tea is still very much alive...in Monster World."
"Bakura! Explain what did you do to Tea you, snake! " Joey and Tristan snarled.
"We both just explained what happened her." William grumbled in annoyance.
"Like I said before, she's still very much alive...in monster world. Look down at the board. " Bakura said.
Tea's miniature blinked her eyes as she made a horrifying realization. What happened to me? More importantly where am I? She wondered before she looked upwards to see her friends as giants when everything clicked together for her. It can't be...no way...I've become a lead miniature?!
Tea's miniature than screamed as she began to freak out badly. "Did Tea's miniature just scream and move on it's own?" Tristan, Yugi and Joey asked.
"What part of her soul was taken and dropped into a lead miniature didn't you get during my explanation!?" William asked as his eye twitched violently in annoyance.
" T-Tea?! " Tristan and Joey asked looking ready to faint when the realization finally dawned on them.
"H-hi guys. " she said softly.
"If you two faint, I swear to Ra that I'm not catching either one of you." William grumbled warning.
Yugi growled as he glared at Bakura. "Bakura! Change her back, right now!" Yugi shouted as he went to lunge at him only for William to grab him.
" Who's easy there, Yugi...you attack Bakura and he could do things much worse than trapping a soul into a lead miniature with his minimum item! Just calm down." William said as he hoped Yami wouldn't switch out with Yugi just yet.
"Millennium item? " Yugi asked in confusion.
Bakura smirked as he revealed his millennium ring. "Your friend is right, Yugi. I can do far worse than trapping a soul in a lead miniature with my millennium ring. However I'm not in the mood to go on about that subject. Look there is a way to retrieve a soul or restore a person back to normal. All you have to do is defeat the Dark master Zorc." Bakura explained.
Joey growled in rage as he suddenly rolled the dice. "Joey, don't!" William scolded but the damage had already been done. The dice revealed 05 as the number while Bakura glared at him.
" It wasn't your turn to attack, allow me to show you what happens when you break the rules! " Bakura yells as his millennium ring glows. I'm seconds Joey's eyes widen as his body collapses to the floor as his soul is dropped into his miniature.
"Joey!!!" Yugi and Tristan shouted.
"Wh-what the hell?!" Joey's miniature screamed.
"You idiot!!!" Tea screamed at him. William was twitching in irritation as he growled under his breath like an angry wolf.
" Huh Tea?! Wait...you mean William was serious about that soul trapping nonsense?! "Joey yelled.
William eyes sparked in rage as he reached down and lightly flicked the back of Joey's head making him yelp. "What the hell William!? " Joey yells as he glared upwards only to freeze in pure fear upon seeing William's dark expression..
"You did this to yourself, idiot! Also that was for not listening to me!" William growled as he made his face as terrifying as possible making Joey cry out in fear as he hid behind Tea who was also shaking in fear when she caught William's dark expression.
"Bakura, you bastard!!!" Tristan snarled.
"Tristan, calm down, getting missed is not going to help anyone or solve anything!!" William spat.
"Shall we continue the game, gentleman? " Bakura asked with a evil grin of amusement. So far I'm starting to like the keeper of the bracelet of Anubis.
Yugi was shaking in rage and he was also worried for his friends. "Not like we have much of a choice, if we want to save our friends. Yugi will roll the dice for Joey and Tea." William said ever so calmly before he retook his seat.
"You can't be serious about continuing this insane game!" Tristan spat.
"Tristan, do you want to save Tea and Joey?" William asked him. Tristan was still angry but knew William was right as he sits back down with a scowl. Yugi takes his seat as well. "We're ready to continue this game."
"Very well than. The magic gunman can attack Zorc on the next turn. However there is a high chance that he might be paralyzed by fear from Zorc's powerful aura. Now we will have to check and see the Magic Gunman's courage score. Tristan you must roll less than a 70 to conquer your fear allowing you to go first. Should you fail Zorc makes the first move. Let the dice fall where they may. " Bakura explains.
Tristan stood up again as he snarled in rage as he grabbed the dice. "Tristan you must calm yourself. Throwing the dice in anger isn't going to help, if anything it will make the dice do the opposite of what you want them to do!." William warned.
" I'm not afraid of you, Bakura! "Tristan spat in rage. William only shook his head.
"Than why is your hand shaking? " Bakura pointed out.
"My hand is shaking from my anger at what your doing!" Tristan spat at him.
"Tristan..." William warned.
"Can it, William! " Tristan snapped. William fell silent as he shook his head in disappointment.
"You really should listen to him, Tristan. However do what you will, for you see the dice never lie and they will make the final call." Bakura said.
"Go for it, Tristan!" Yugi said as Tristan rolled the dice. The number 96 appeared.
"96! This is such bullshit! I'm not afraid of Zorc!!" Tristan yelled.
"The Magic gunman is paralyzed with fear as he cursed himself for his cowardice." Bakura said.
"Why you sorry son of a-" Tristan snarls.
"Zorc wins the initiative. Shadow Attack roll!" Bakura calls out as he picks up the dice and rolls them. The dice than reveals the number 00, a super critical.
"No way!" Yugi cries out in alarm.
William stayed silent. So he is using the dice trick...it's not against the rules but they do make the game a bit unfair and seeing how this is a shadow games things just got a whole lot harder.
"Bakura! What did you do to the dice!?" Yugi demands.
"I have done nothing to the dice. Like I said before...the dice don't lie..." Bakura said as Tristan's soul is transported into the lead miniature. Tristan's body than collapsed to the ground as it lands on top of Joey's.
William glances down at the two soul less bodies. Those two aren't gonna be happy when they see how they landed in top of each other. Oh well not my problem. William thought to himself as he looks back at Bakura.
"Tristan!" Joey and Tea cried out in concern as they approach him.
" Damn it! I wasn't afraid! " Tristan yells
"No! Tristan! " Yugi yelled. William was completely silent as he stated at Bakura who simply smirked at them in amusement. Yugi than glares at Bakura.
"William, it is your turn." Bakura said as William picked up the dice.
"My move... " William said as rolled the dice. The dice than revealed a 03. Bakura's eyes widen in alarm.
"I attack Zork's left hand." William said calmly as his lead miniature races forward as he swings the scythe as it cleanly sliced Zorc's left hand clean off. Zorc's eyes widen in anger and from the shock.
Bakura types on his small laptop and growls. "Due to your character being part of the thief class he also steals 500 gold from Zorc durring the attack. However it's my turn. " Bakura growled as he rolls the dice revealing another 00.
Yugi looked horrified. "Three super critical in a row!?" Yugi yells. William closed his eyes as his body slumps against the table. Only for his soul to end up in his lead miniature. "Well this isn't good." William grumbled as he reopened his eyes just as his wolf ears twitched.
"Not you as well, William." Joey said as William towels his scythe.
"oh shut up...I already foresaw my date and accepted it. Look I have complete faith in Yugi's skills. He'll figure this all out. Otherwise we are all trapped like this forever. So yeah...No pressure at all." William said calmly.
"William!" Yugi yelled.
"Stop yelling...we aren't deaf or dead, Yugi. Just stay calm. " William said with a yawn.
"Looks like it's just you...Yugi. The last player." Bakura laughs.
To be continued...