Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing another duelist in the spotlight, along with Naruto getting closer to Rin and Nero. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
After arriving back at their camp, Naruto and Rin had placed Téa inside hers and Rin's tent to let her rest from her Shadow Game with Yami Bakura. With the two then setting up their own tents to get some sleep and rest as well.
"Do you think it's a good idea for all of us to sleep at the same time?" Rin asked while looking at Naruto, not feeling very comfortable with the idea of all of them sleeping.
Given how ever since they've set foot on this island, they've been kidnapped repeatedly, put in life-threatening danger, nearly killed, and being part of a Shadow Game. So the brunette didn't exactly feel safe closing her eyes and risking someone else showing up to kidnap one of them.
With Naruto nodding in agreement, feeling the same and not wanting to risk them being found by other Eliminators.
"Well we could take turns keeping watch. I'll take the first watch if you want." Offered Naruto.
"Are you sure? I could take first watch while you rest." Rin said, knowing he probably needs it more than she does at the moment, with his duel against Celenike and then being kidnapped by Yami Bakura, she didn't Naruto end up overworking himself.
"Yeah, I'm fine going first. Besides, I'll have an extra set of eyes with Nero helping me." Naruto replied as Nero appeared beside him and nodded.
"Of course Praetor, any who comes here shall not escape my sight!" Said Nero, while looking around for any sign that they might be being watched right now, with Rin looking at him before nodding slowly.
"Okay, if you're sure." Rin said, with Naruto nodding at her in response.
"I am, get some rest Rin. We're gonna need as much as we can get." Said Naruto, with the girl nodding before entering her tent to get some sleep, leaving Naruto and Nero to keep watch.
*Later*
Rin tossed and turned in her sleep, her face scrunching as memories flashed before her, memories that she prefers not reliving.
"No…Sakura…" Rin muttered as she began shaking, as she relived the accident that claimed her parents' and sister's lives.
But the worse part was when she heard the laughter, the dark, twisted, unnatural laughter that she had always wanted to forget, but could still hear it no matter how hard she tried.
"No…no…no…NO!" Said Rin before shooting up with a scream as she woke up, gasping and panting, with the girl flinching when the tent that she and Téa shared, suddenly opened revealing Naruto looking at her in concern.
"Are you alright?" Naruto asked, having heard her scream, and immediately came to check on her to make sure she was alright.
"I…I'm fine…just a…just a nightmare." Rin replied shakily, while taking a few breaths to calm herself down before getting up and exiting her tent, with Naruto still looking at her in worry.
The two sitting around the remnants of the fire they had made, with Rin looking into the pit silently while Naruto continued looking at her, wondering what made scream like that.
"Do you…wanna talk about it?" Naruto asked, with the girl glancing at him before looking back into the pit.
"It…it was just a nightmare, it's one I've had for years and one I thought I had managed to suppress. But being on this island and everything that's happened, it's made it come back." Said Rin, knowing she's grown more on edge since coming to Duelist Kingdom and everything that's happened.
While Naruto looked at her in confusion and concern, wondering what nightmare she could have had. Before the whiskered blonde remembered what Rin told him after they encountered the Ventriloquist of the Dead.
"The nightmare…it was about your parents and sister, wasn't it." Naruto stated, making Rin look at him before sighing and nodding.
"Yeah, it was." Rin replied, not seeing a point in hiding it, since she already told him about what happened to her birth family.
"If you don't mind me asking…what exactly happened to them?" Asked Naruto, wanting to know what happened and see if he could help Rin in some way, even if it's just listening to her.
Rin remained silent for a few moments, before reaching into her pocket and hand Naruto an old, worn out, and rolled up piece of parchment. Confused at what it was, Naruto unrolled it only to be confused further at not recognizing whatever was written on it.
"What is this? And what language is this?" Naruto asked, not understanding the significance of the item.
"It's Persian and what's written is just the word "All". That thing is what lead to the expedition that killed my parents and sister." Rin revealed, surprising Naruto as he looked at the parchment fragment, before looking back at Rin to hear what else she had to say.
"My father had acquired that from one of his contacts, and even now, I still don't understand the significance of it. But whatever it is and wherever it came from, it caused my parents to immediately start planning an expedition to Persia. While bringing me, Sakura, and my father's student Kirei Kotomine, along with a small team that they hired to help them. When we finally arrived at the site, my parents had me and Sakura stay in camp while they went to explore the ruins they were excavating. Something which confused us since we were usually allowed to join them in exploring the ruins. But we still listened to them and spent the next three days in camp, only being allowed to look over anything they had brought back from the ruins. Though eventually, we got too curious and secretly followed our parents and Kirei into the ruins, while being sure to stay far enough away, so we wouldn't be seen." Rin explained before taking a shaky breath, with Naruto putting a hand on her shoulder, making her nod in thanks.
"But the next thing we knew, a large earthquake had started, with me and Sakura being revealed. Leading to our father telling Kirei to get us out of there, while they stayed behind. We kicked and fought against him to get back to our parents, but we couldn't escape while everything was coming down around us. We had nearly reached the entrance when it started collapsing, with Kirei throwing me out just in time, while he and Sakura got stuck inside." Said Rin, before closing her eyes for a moment.
"You don't have to continue if you don't want to." Naruto said softly, seeing how hard it was for Rin to speak about this, with the girl shaking her head and wiping her eyes.
"No, it's fine, I just need a moment. Anyway, after that the workers had begun clearing away the debris while I was worried about my family. Only to be devastated when I was told that my parents had died in the cave-in, while there was no sign of Sakura or Kirei anywhere. But that didn't stop me from going back in, trying, and hoping to find something, anything, to show that Sakura was still alive. That I didn't lose my entire family. But I didn't find any sign of either of them." Said Rin before she started shaking, worrying Naruto even more.
"But you did find something." Said Naruto, only for Rin to look at him with fearful eyes.
"No, something found me. I don't what, but it wasn't human, an animal, it wasn't anything normal. But I saw something in those ruins, and it saw me. I never got a clear look, only that I turned and ran as fast as I could away from it, screaming and telling everyone that something was in there, but no one believed me. Only thinking that I was seeing things, due to the trauma of losing my family. But I know what I saw, something was there. And I know, because that night, I heard it laughing all around me. It knew I saw it and that no one believed me, that no one would believe me. And I've never forgotten it." Rin said as she began shaking even harder, as even now she could hear the laughter, while Naruto looked at her with wide eyes.
"Eventually though, Sakura and Kirei were declared dead when no bodies were found or any evidence that they were alive, while I was placed in the orphanage with Seto and Mokuba. I kept that with me ever since, hoping that maybe one day, I could find out what it was. To learn why I lost my family, and maybe, learn what that thing was." Said Rin, while taking the parchment back, looking at it sadly as despite everything, she's no closer to figure it out.
"Wow. I…I'm sorry that happened. And while I can't understand exactly what you're feeling, I do know what it's like to experience something traumatic." Naruto said, making Rin look at him.
"Celenike." Said Rin, with Naruto nodding in response.
"Yeah. That and thinking of what if I'm not able to save Shio's soul from Pegasus, that she'll never wake up. Now with what happened with Celenike and Kemo, even if I didn't mean to, I still ended up killing them. We've only just arrived and so much has already happened; I don't know if I can save them when I was barely able to save you and Téa." Naruto said, while looking down, knowing if it wasn't for Celenike's arrogance he would have lost the duel, then Rin and Téa would be dead while he'd be turned into some toy for that psycho.
Though he looked up at feeling Rin and Nero put their hands on his shoulders, while seeing both girls smiling at him.
"You shouldn't doubt yourself Naruto, you do have what it takes to save your sister and stop whatever Pegasus is planning. As for Celenike, we already told you, it wasn't your fault, so stop blaming yourself." Said Rin, with Nero nodding in agreement.
"She's correct Praetor, I know you shall save your sister, because nothing will stop you from saving someone you care about. That is what makes you truly strong, your will to never give up no matter the opposition." Nero said, while smiling brightly at the whiskered blonde, with Naruto looking between the two.
Only to be surprised, when Rin then leaned in and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
"And consider that my thank you for saving us from Celenike and Kemo. B-but don't th-think to d-deeply into it! I-it's j-just a tha-thank you!" Said Rin, before quickly looking away with a light blush, making Naruto smile at her.
"You don't have to thank me Rin, you and Téa being safe is all I care about." Naruto replied, with Rin gaining a small smile.
Though Naruto was surprised again when Nero actually leaned in and kissed his cheek as well.
"That is your reward for having done so amazingly, ever since getting the Millennium Ring and defeating all your opponents. Be honored Praetor at receiving an emperor's blessing!" Nero with a smirk, while suppressing her annoyance at Rin kissing Naruto as well.
Naruto could only blink in confusion, before sighing and nodding.
'I wonder how the others are doing?' Naruto thought, wondering how his other friends are doing so far.
*With Yugi, Bakura, Joey, Tristan, and Miho*
Meanwhile, Yugi and Bakura sat in the temporary campsite the former and his friends set up, before Bakura showed up as well. Leading to Yami Bakura trapping Yugi and his friend's souls in their favorite cards, forcing Yami to duel Yami Bakura to free them. While thankfully, also banishing the dark spirit to the graveyard, with Joey, Tristan, and Miho being asleep while Yugi was given back control.
With the tri-colored haired boy looking at Bakura's Millennium Ring curiously.
"Bakura, where did you even get that?" Yugi asked, wondering how Bakura gained possession of a Millennium Item, with Bakura looking down at the Millennium Ring.
"It was years ago; my father had always been fascinated with the Millennium Ring and spent most of his life searching for it. When he believed he discovered where it was, we moved to Egypt so he could locate it. But I had been afraid that my father was in danger, so I secretly followed him to a place called the Valley of the Kings. I followed him deep underground to a shrine, where a man and a group of children were. After that I don't really remember much, only that my father tried on the ring, but something happened, and when I checked on him, he was only concerned about the ring. I went to get it for him, but I must have blacked out since the next thing I know, I wake up back home with the ring around my neck." Explained Bakura, not knowing that the dark spirit had possessed him after he grabbed the ring and was found worthy of it.
Yugi looked at the ring with a frown, wondering what could have happened, but relieved that the spirit inside it was gone.
Just then, they saw their friends starting to wake up and went over to them.
"Woah, what a nightmare. I just dreamt Bakura went totally mental." Tristan said, with the three believing everything that happened was just a dream.
"Same here. Last time I snooze with dueling cards under my pillow." Said Joey, while rubbing his head.
"Sleep well guys?" Bakura asked while smiling at them, making the duo momentarily freak out.
"Well let's see, I dreamt that Yugi had us dress up like Duel Monster cards and you went nuts. So, no, not really." Said Miho.
"Uuuh…" Bakura said, not really sure how to respond to that.
Luckily, or unluckily, he was saved from having to answer when the group all heard a familiar scream.
"That voice, that was Mai!" Joey said, with the group realizing she was in trouble with how she didn't come back to their campsite, since she did say they'd be friends tonight but enemies tomorrow.
The five teens immediately took off running towards the source of the scream, arriving just in time to see Mai's Harpy Ladies being destroyed by an unknown duelist. With her opponent's side of the field being shrouded in darkness.
"My harpies?! They're gone!" Mai said, shocked at how quickly her harpies were wiped out by this guy.
"I think you mean, eliminated!" Said her opponent as the darkness began dispersing, revealing his appearance to the group.
"Just like you! Now hand over all your Star Chips, you loser!" The Eliminator demanded, as Mai looked down before removing her Star Chips from her glove.
"Mai! Are you okay?!" Said Yugi as they ran up to her, getting both duelists attention.
"You're too late." Mai said sadly, knowing that she's lost.
"Too late for what?" Miho asked.
"This sideshow freak giving you a hard time?!" Said Joey, while glaring at the Eliminator.
"That's right! Just like Pegasus pays me to do, root out all the dueling filth on this island and dispose of it. My name is PaniK, the Player Killer of Darkness!" PaniK said wickedly.
"More like Garbage Man of Darkness, if Pegasus has you cleaning up his dirty work." Said Tristan.
"This is no joke! PaniK's one of the islands Eliminators and if you don't get out of here, he's gonna do to you what he did to me!" Mai said.
"Eliminator, like the Imitator of Death?!" Said Yugi as he remembered his duel against that fake Kaiba.
"That's right! And check out her Duelist Glove, not a Star Chip left! And she was one of my easiest victims yet!" PaniK said, grabbing Mai's arm and showing her empty glove, before shoving her.
"That's it you creep! Nobody treats a girl like that in front me, lemme at him!" Joey said, only to be stopped by Tristan and Bakura.
"Calm down Joey, I know how you feel, but that guys more than twice your size." Said Bakura to calm him down, only for Joey to push past them and glare at PaniK.
"Oh I know I can take this jerk! But if he likes pushing people around in duels, then how about you duel me then!" Said Joey, with PaniK laughing at him.
"HAHAHAHA! You wanna duel runt, then let's duel! Maybe you'll be a better challenge than that stupid girl and her birdies." PaniK taunted, making Joey scowl before looking at Yugi.
"I got this one Yug, this guy's making it personal." Said Joey, with Yugi nodding in understanding.
"Go get him Joey." Yugi said, confident that Joey can take PaniK down.
"Joey, please you can't duel him! PaniK's on a different level!" Said Mai, doubting that Joey had what it takes to beat PaniK.
"Then I'll just have to bring him down to mine. Don't worry, I'll take this creep down and get your Star Chips back." Joey said, surprising Mai.
"What?" Questioned Mai.
"Hey, you wanted a rematch, remember. Can't do that if you don't make it to the finals. Just hang tight, this won't take long." Said Joey said, while grinning and giving her a thumbs up.
"HAHAHA! You're right, it won't take long for me to crush you pathetic weaklings into dust! And once I'm done with you, you're next Yugi! Pegasus has put a generous bounty on your head for the Eliminator that defeats you. It makes me wonder if there's a bonus for bodily harm. Not that I don't mind doing it for free!" PaniK said wickedly as he and Joey went up to the Duel Arena.
"Yeah keep talking pal, once I'm done with you, you'll wanna start looking for a new job!" Retorted Joey.
"You think I'm an Eliminator for the money?! Please, I've already earned more than enough money to retire long ago, but there's nothing better than crushing weak duelists like you! So get ready for a world of hurt!" PaniK said, with Joey merely glaring at him.
"Just shut up and let's duel. And I hope you aren't too attached to those Star Chips, because I'll be taking them back soon." Said Joey, only for PaniK to laugh.
"AHAHAHA! You think we're dueling just for Star Chips?! When you duel against PaniK, you're putting more on the line than just Star Chips, much more!" PaniK said, as Joey was shocked when ankle restraints appeared and locked him in place while flamethrowers popped up and shot out waves of flames around him.
"Joey!" His friends cried out in worry at seeing the flames.
"What's the matter Joey?! Can't take the heat?! Well get used to it because you're strapped in for the long haul!" Taunted PaniK before turning the flamethrowers off.
"I can see the fear growing in your eyes Joey, I can hear you quaking in your boots, you're beginning to realize-"
"I thought I told you to shut up you reject circus clown." Joey said coldly, surprising both PaniK and his friends.
"If you think a little fire is gonna scare me, then you're stupider than you look. Cause from where I'm standing, the only one scared is you, with how you keep stalling." Said Joey.
"Woah, didn't expect Joey to act like this." Tristan said, surprised at Joey's words.
"What's gotten into him?" Mai asked, not expecting Joey to have a side like this, and to be honest, she actually found it kind of hot.
"He's playing PaniK at his own game." Said Yugi, seeing Joey was acting like he used to before they became friends, to get inside PaniK's head.
"The last time a person had the nerve to talk to me like that, I broke them in half!" PaniK threatened.
"I doubt you could even rip wet paper in half moron. Now are ya done stalling or are ya still scared to duel?" Taunted Joey, making PaniK scowl as the arena activated.
"DUEL!"
Joey-2000
PaniK-2000
"I'll start things off! And if you aren't scared of my fire, then let's see how you handle yourself in the dark! I summon Castle of Dark Illusions in defense mode!" PaniK said, while summoning his large floating castle to the field.
Castle of Dark Illusions
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
Card Type: Effect Monster.
Monster Type: Fiend
Effect: Your monsters become hidden in darkness.
ATK/920 DEF/1930
"My castle will turn this duel into your darkest hour, it's magic shrouds the field with a veil of shadows! And because I played it at night, it grows even more fortified!" Said PaniK as shadows spread out from his castle and covered his side of the field.
Castle of Dark Illusion: ATK/920 DEF/1930 – ATK/1220 DEF/2130
"Hey thanks, if I had to look at that ugly mug any longer, I was gonna puke." Joey mocked, angering PaniK even further, before the Eliminator began laughing.
"You can act tough all you like, but soon, you'll see why you should be scared of the dark and the nightmares within! As now, you can no longer see the monsters I summon, while your sides is open and exposed to my attacks. Unnerving isn't it Joey, how the darkness preys on your fears, on your mind until your-"
"Until I'm falling asleep, because of how boring your stupid speeches are! Seriously, I've met chihuahua's that yap less than you! Now are ya done or you gonna talk some more?!" Demanded Joey, making PaniK scowl, but end his turn.
"Okay I draw then. And I'm gonna summon Lava Battleguard in attack mode!" Said Joey, while summoning his monster to the field.
Lava Battleguard
Attribute: Earth
Level: 5
Card Type: Effect Monster.
Monster Type: Warrior
Effect: This card gains 500 ATK for each "Swamp Battleguard" you control.
ATK/1550 DEF/1800
"Then I place a card facedown and end my turn." Joey said, while smirking as he placed a card facedown.
"Hmph, your attempts to hide your fear are pathetic. I draw and summon another monster to the field, not that you can tell. HAHAHAHA!" PaniK laughed.
"Ya know, if you're gonna keep laughing, the least you could do is provide us some earplugs. We don't like our ears bleeding clown boy!" Said Joey, while drawing a card.
"Now I summon Swamp Battleguard to the field. And thanks to his and Lava Battleguard's effect, they each gain a 500 Attack Boost!" Said Joey summoning another monster.
Swamp Battleguard
Attribute: Earth
Level: 5
Card Type: Effect Monster.
Monster Type: Warrior
Effect: This card gains 500 ATK for each "Lava Battleguard" you control.
ATK/1800 DEF/1500
Swamp Battleguard: ATL/1800 DEF/1500 – ATK/2300 DEF/1500
Lava Battleguard: ATK/1550 DEF/1800 – ATK/2050 DEF/1800
"Then I put another card facedown and end my turn." Joey said, making PaniK scowl in the darkness.
"What are you planning?!" Demanded PaniK.
"Sorry, what was that? I don't speak idiot." Stated Joey, with PaniK growling as he drew a card.
"HAHAHA! I summon another monster and this one's going to attack your Lava Battleguard!" PaniK said summoning a monster, which immediately rushed forward, still shrouded in darkness.
"Sorry to disappoint ya clown, but that's not happening. Just because I can't see your monsters, doesn't mean they still can't be destroyed and I play the trap, Chasm of Spikes!" Said Joey, playing his trap as a pit filled with spikes appeared in front of the charging monster, which it fell into.
Chasm of Spikes
Card Type: Normal Spell
Effect: When an opponent's monster attacks, it is destroyed. The opponent loses Life Points equal to 1/4 of the monster's ATK.
"And thanks to it, not only is your monster destroyed, you take damage equal to a quarter of their ATK." Said Joey, smirking as PaniK's life points went down.
PaniK-2000 – 525 = 1475
"Grr, you'll regret that you little brat!" PaniK shouted as he ended his turn.
"The only thing I regret, is that I'll have to see your face again once I turn that castle into rubble." Joey retorted while drawing a card, before smirking at what he had.
"And now I'm gonna summon the Flame Swordsman!" Said Joey, while summoning another monster to the field.
Flame Swordsman
Attribute: Fire
Level: 5
Card Type: Normal Monster.
Monster Type: Warrior
Card Text: With a sword wrapped in flames, he is a strong warrior. The attack issued by his sword is very powerful!
ATK/1800 DEF/1600
"And that's not all, now I'm gonna equip him with Salamandra, making him even stronger! Along with wiping out the darkness!" Said Joey, while equipping his Swordsman with a new blade wrapped in a fiery dragon that illuminated the field.
Salamandra
Card Type: Equip Spell
Effect: Equip only to a FIRE monster. It gains 700 ATK!
Flame Swordsman: ATK/1800 DEF/1600 – ATK/2500 DEF/1600
With the flames also revealing PaniK's field again and the other monster he had.
Barox
Attribute: Dark
Level: 5
Card Type: Effect Monster.
ATK/1580 DEF/1730
"No more hiding now PaniK! Swamp Battleguard, stomp that reject Bigfoot!" Joey said as his Battleguard roared and charge towards Barox destroying it with its club and lowering PaniK's life points
PaniK-1475 – 720 = 755
"Now Flame Swordsman, send that castle of his crashing to the ground!" Said Joey, with Flame Swordsman giving a battle cry before leaping into the air and swinging his sword, slicing Castle of Dark Illusions into pieces, which went crashing down around PaniK.
Who panicked himself, while shielding himself from his destroyed castle falling around him.
"Aaaah, what's the matter PaniK? Getting scared? Don't worry, it's almost over." Joey taunted, with PaniK glaring murderously at him, while shaking in anger.
"You worthless brat! I'll show you what happens to those that cross me!" Shouted PaniK, before drawing a card and smiled wickedly at what he drew.
"And I'll start with this, I summon Reaper of the Cards in attack mode!" PaniK said, while summoning his monster.
Reaper of the Cards
Attribute: Dark
Level: 5
Card Type: Effect Monster.
Monster Type: Fiend
Effect: This card can attack and destroy face-down Spell and Trap Cards.
ATK/1380 DEF/1930
Reaper of the Cards: ATK/1380 DEF/1930 – ATK/1580 DEF/2130
"And thanks to my Reaper's ability, it can destroy your facedowns as well, and you have one right now!" PaniK said.
"Yeah, and I'm activating it! Kunai with Chain!" Said Joey, while activating his trap.
Kunai with Chain
Card Type: Normal Trap
Effect: An opponent's attacking monster can be switched to Defense Position. Also, your monster gains 500 ATK!
"With it, I can force your Reaper into defense mode and equip my Swordsman with it as well, giving him five hundred more points." Said Joey as his Swordsman was equipped with Kunai with Chain as well, while Reaper of the Cards was forced into defense mode.
Flame Swordsman: ATK/2500 DEF/1600 – ATK/3000 DEF/1600
"Now my Swordsman is gonna incinerate that Reaper!" Joey said, as the Flame Swordsman raised his blade with a large dragon of pure fire wrapped around it, before lunging forward and with one slash, PaniK's reaper was engulfed in a pillar of swirling flames.
PaniK gritted his teeth in anger at how this worthless brat was actually managing to push him back!
Drawing a card, PaniK grinned madly at what he drew.
"You're done for now you damn brat! I summon King of Yamimakai!" PaniK said, while summoning his monster.
King of Yamimakai
Attribute: Dark
Level: 5
Card Type: Normal Monster.
Monster Type: Fiend
Card Text: Wields the power of darkness to destroy its enemies.
ATK/2000 DEF/1530
King of Yamimakai: ATK/2000 DEF/1530 – ATK/2200 DEF/1730
"Now destroy his Lava Battleguard!" Ordered PaniK, as his King roared before rushing forward and destroying Lava Battleguard, along with lowering Joey's life points and Swamp Battleguard's ATK.
Joey-2000 – 150 = 1850
Swamp Battleguard: ATK/2300 DEF/1500 – ATK/1800 DEF/1500
"Yes! Can you feel it now?! The fear, the darkness surrounding your heart, your mind! The feeling of drowning and being unable to escape! Because soon, you will spend eternity alone and scared within the shadow of night!" PaniK laughed wickedly, while Joey remained unphased.
"Ya know PaniK, you're pathetic." Joey stated, making PaniK stop as everyone looked at him in shock.
"What? I'm pathetic?!" PaniK shouted, enraged at him daring to call him pathetic.
"Joey, watch it, he's dangerous!" Miho called out only for Joey to smirk.
"That's right you act tough, but the truth is you're just a jerk who gets his kicks from picking on people, who are smaller and weaker than you. You use scare tactics and intimidation as a way to make them feel small and make yourself big." Joey said, angering PaniK even more before he finally snapped.
"Shut your mouth, you worthless street urchin!" PaniK roared, slamming down his fist on the button causing the flames to rage over him again, but did nothing to phase the young duelist.
"I know how guys like you think PaniK, cause I use to be just like you." Joey stated with no fear of the flames surrounding him.
"Joey!" The others shouted in fear for their friend.
"Yugi! Do as I say, and we can help Joey!" Yami said, with Yugi nodding as his puzzle began glowing.
While within the flames, Joey was surprised when they didn't get near him, being even more surprised when he saw the spectral image of the nameless pharaoh appear beside him.
"Yug?" Joey said, surprised and confused at what he was seeing.
"It's your move Joey, now show PaniK how a real duelist does things." Said Yami with a smirk, while Joey nodded in determination before drawing a card.
Meanwhile, outside of the flames, PaniK laughed madly. Believing he had won by killing Joey, while the group looked on in worry for their friend. Though everyone was shocked, while PaniK was silenced as a loud roar emerged from the flames along with a pair of glowing red eyes. Just then, the flames were suddenly pushed away, revealing Joey standing there while above him, was the Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
Red-Eyes Black Dragon
Attribute: Dark
Level: 7
Card Type: Normal Monster.
Monster Type: Dragon
Card Text: A ferocious dragon with a deadly attack.
ATK/2400 DEF/2000
'Thanks Red-Eyes.' Joey thought, while looking at his monster, remembering how he won him from Rex.
*Flashback*
"Well, a deals a deal." Rex said, while handing his Red-Eyes and Star Chips over to Joey, who grinned in amazement at his new card.
"Man, what a sweet card. Thanks Rex, and thanks for the great duel." Joey said as they shook hands.
"You too, I can see why you made it so far in the tournament before. And thanks for knocking Mai down a couple pegs earlier, it feels good seeing her feeling some humility." Said Rex.
"Yeah, but she's a nice person once you get to know her. But what about you, you lost your Star Chips." Said Joey, only for Rex to shake his head, while showing he still had a few in his glove.
"I managed to win a couple more before I found Mai and she convinced me to duel you. You can't take the Dino Duelist down that easily. So, we may see each other again in the finals." Rex said with a smirk, before looking at Red-Eyes.
"And take care of Red-Eyes, he's more than just a regular card." Said Rex, with Joey nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, he definitely is." Joey replied, knowing Red-Eyes was a special card to have.
*End Flashback*
Meanwhile, PaniK looked on in shock as the flames cleared revealing Joey and Red-Eyes, not believing that he somehow managed to survive. While Red-Eyes growled and glared down at the Eliminator, who unconsciously took a step back in terror.
Not noticing just how close he was standing to the edge of his platform.
"S-stay back…stay away from me!" PaniK cried out with fear, his previous attitude complete gone and instead replaced by pure terror at the person, who stood before him.
Joey simply glared at him with rage and even a small hint of pity for the once fearsome Eliminator.
"I'm ending this now." Said Joey, as PaniK looked down at the field, with his eyes widening in shock and horror at what he saw.
King of Yamimakai: ATK/1730 DEF/2200
Red-Eyes Black Dragon: ATK/3000 DEF/2000
Looking back up, PaniK saw that Joey had also played two spells along with summoning his Red-Eyes.
Dragon Nails
Card Type: Equip Spell
Effect: A Dark Dragon gains 600 ATK by this Equip Card.
Shield & Sword
Card Type: Normal Spell
Effect: Switch the ATK and DEF of all face-up monsters on the field until the end of this turn. Any increases to their DEF are applied to their ATK and vice versa, until the end of the turn.
"I played Shield & Sword before summoning my Red-Eyes, swapping the ATK and DEF of all monsters on the field, so my dragon wasn't affected. While Dragon Nails gives Red-Eyes enough power to wipe out your King. Now go Red-Eyes, Inferno Fire Blast!" Joey said, as Red-Eyes roared before launching a fireball at King of Yamimakai, destroying it and the last of PaniK's life points.
PaniK-755 – 1270 = -515
PaniK cried out as he was thrown back from the force of the attack, descending down into the flames below, with the Eliminator being consumed by them.
Joey exited the arena, before going over and retrieving Mai's Star Chips.
"Here ya go Mai." Joey said, only for Mai to shake her head and look away.
"Keep them, I don't deserve those." Said Mai, believing she didn't deserve her Star Chips anymore, after losing like that.
"Hmm, well…okay. if you're sure. Thanks Mai." Joey said, grinning and was about to put them in his glove, only for Mai to immediately snatch them.
"W-wait just a moment! I changed my mind and those are my Star Chips!" Said Mai, while putting them back in her own glove, before looking at Joey.
"And…thanks for getting them back for me. You looked pretty good up there." Mai said, willing to admit Joey put up a great fight.
"No problem, glad I could help. After all we're friends, aren't we." Stated Joey, surprising Mai before she gained a small smile.
"Yeah, friends. I'll be sure to repay the favor and next time we meet, we'll have a more honorable duel, no perfume tricks or anything." Mai said, with Joey nodding in agreement, before she took her leave.
Afterwards, Yugi, Bakura, Tristan, and Miho congratulated Joey on his victory before they returned to their campsite to call it a night.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto learning exactly what happened to Rin's family along with him and Nero comforting her, with Naruto also telling her about his own trauma and self-doubts, leading to the three growing closer. Then we get a look at the others, seeing Yami's already defeated Yami Bakura in their Shadow Game, with Bakura telling Yugi how he got the Millennium Ring (which is in line with the Dark Side of Dimensions movie) before the others wake up as they go to save Mai when they hear her scream. Leading to Joey dueling PaniK instead of Yugi, while playing the Eliminator at his own game, before eventually defeating him with Red-Eyes, along with seeing Rex is still in the tournament. With Joey giving Mai back her Star Chips before they return to camp to call it a night. So, revie if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out