SailorStar9: With Chapter 67 uploaded, I present Chapter 68 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra and Ami's dueling deck.

Chapter 68: The Inherited Card - Psycho Shocker Counterattacks!

"I set a reverse card." Jonouchi played his turn. "I then switch 'Alligator's Sword' to Defense Mode. Turn over."

"Is that meant to help you somehow avoid my attacks?" Rishid questioned.

"Yeah, this will do the trick." Jonouchi nodded.

"It's my turn now." Rishid took his turn. "You had best prepare yourself, Jonouchi. Avatars of Apophis, three-way attack."

"Reverse Card open." Jonouchi countered. "These guys will block your Trap Monsters' attacks." he activated the 'Scapegoat' Spell Card, using it to fend off the attack.

"Naive." Rishid scoffed. "Counter Trap: 'Magic Jammer' activate. 'Scapegoat' is wiped out." he nullified 'Scapegoat'. "Go, Apophis. There's still one target left." he had two of his Trap Monsters take out 'Alligator's Sword' and 'Rocket Warrior'. Direct attack. Jonouchi, with your strategy, you cannot defeat me. It was too easy."

It's no use. Jonouchi sank to his knees. He's way too strong. Marik's strong even without using dirty tricks. I have nothing else up my sleeves.

On the sidelines...

"Jonouchi!" Honda hollered.

"Honda, my brother really can't win anymore?" Shizuka asked.

"It's very unlikely." Mai responded. "Shizuka, I told you this before, dueling is a world of cruelty. Even if it's your sibling fighting, you can't turn your eyes away from this reality. But at the very least, he can fight on until the very end. Jonouchi!" she shouted, seeing Jonouchi was about to surrender. "I have something to tell you before you surrender. A winning duelist has to take responsibility. Those who lost to you, Insector Haga, Esper Roba and Kajiki Ryota; if it was them fighting here in your place, what do you think they would do? Would would they think if hey saw you like this? Of course, maybe, you shouldn't care about those who lost. But you inherit the loser's dreams along with your win. This is the fate of someone who wants to win. It is what makes a real duelist who they are. If you don't mind shaming them, place your hand on the deck."

"Onii-chan." Shizuka called out. "You can do this. You've worked so hard: for yourself and your friends and for me as well. If I didn't have you by my side, I would have been too scared to have my surgery. I wouldn't have been able to take off my bandages, either. If it was not for you, I would still be wandering in the darkness. You've continued to fight and you gave me the light I needed to live."

On the Aerial Duel Ring...

So, Jonouchi gave light to his sister... Rishid mused. "Jonouchi, will you answer me one question before the end arrives? What did you seek by fighting in this Battle City tournament?"

"There's someone I must fight, no matter what." Jonouchi answered. "To keep my promise to him. I've met all kinds of people on my journey to this point and I fought them." that's right, I followed my path while fighting against them. That's my Battle City. "That's enough of an answer." he retorted. "Now I got something to say to you. Take back that 'before the end' crap." he stood back up. "I haven't lost yet. If I lose here, what am I gonna tell the guys I fought who paved the path for me? Every single one of them fought me until the end without giving up."

"But, there's nothing more you can do." Rishid reminded. "Is having the courage to accept their loss not also a part of being a duelist?"

On the sidelines...

"Jonouchi," Yami Yuugi took over. "'What you can see, but can't see?'?" he repeated the quote.

On the Aerial Duel Ring...

"I may have close to zero hope of winning." Jonouchi admitted. "But I can't give up that easily. That's not what a real duelist is; the thing I'm aiming to become. I'll struggle down the path I've chosen with the deck I built. Let's settle this." he drew a card. "Marik, my fight has just begun."

"So you still have the guts to move forward?" Rishid inquired.

"I'll set 2 reverse cards on the field." Jonouchi continued to play. "And 'Swordsman of Landstar' in Defense Mode. My turn ends now."

"If my prey so desires it, I shall destroy you in a flash." Rishid promised. "Avatars of Apophis, eliminate the enemy."

"I won't lose." Jonouchi growled. "Magic Card, open. 'Foolish Burial'. This Card lets you choose a Card from your deck and place it in the opponent's graveyard. I'll also open my other set Card. The Trap Card, 'Graverobber'."

"You plan on robbing my 'Temple of the Kings'?" Rishid questioned.

"That's right." Jonouchi replied. "I call the Monster I placed in your graveyard back to the field with 'Graverobber'. And the Monster I call back to the field is... come out, 'Jinzo'."

"Impossible." Rishid was stunned. "You Summoned a 7-star Monster in a little to no time at all."

"And due to 'Jinzo's Special Ability, all Trap Cards on the field are destroyed." Jonouchi explained. "I recall that you Summoned those Apophis guys with a Trap Card earlier. So I'll activate 'Jinzo's Special Ability." he took out all three 'Embodiment of Apophis'. "Now, what are you gonna do? Your strategy won't work on me anymore."

'Jinzo', so he had that in his deck all along? Rishid was surprised.

"This guy's poison for that Trap deck of yours." Jonouchi stated. "My turn. I Summon 'Battle Warrior'. And I switch 'Swordsman of Landstar' to Attack Mode. 'Jinzo', direct attack the player. My attack ain't over yet. Go, 'Battle Warrior' and 'Swordsman of Landstar'. That's payback for your three attacks from those Apophis freaks earlier."

"That was an impressive comeback, Jonouchi." Rishid praised. "Despite being out of Life Points, you showed your pride as a duelist by standing up to me."

"My turn is over." Jonouchi ended his turn.

"My turn." Rishid took his turn. "Magic Card activate. 'Swords of Revealing Light'. Turn over."

"My turn." Jonouchi took his turn. "Even if I can't attack, I can still keep Summoning Monsters. I sacrifice 'Battle Warrior'. I Summon 'The Legendary Fisherman', Defense Mode. I switch my other Monsters on the field to Defense Mode. Turn over."

"My turn." Rishid took his turn. "This Card..." he was stunned to see the unexpected Card in his hand. Why is this in my deck? Marik-sama... he realized what Marik had done. "I set one Card face-down on the field. I seal one Card away within the ark of the Temple. Now I end my turn."

"My turn." Jonouchi declared. "I use the Magic Card 'Monster Reborn' this turn. Revive 'Alligator's Sword'. I'll then sacrifice 'Alligator's Sword' and 'Swordsman of Landstar'. Appear, 'Insect Queen', Defense Mode. The effect of 'Swords of Revealing Light' disappear on my next turn. But you don't have a single Monster on the field. You're history if I attack you with all three of my Monsters at once."

"No, you will not be touching me with any of those Monsters." Rishid corrected. "So long as the Card I placed in the ark remains within the 'Temple of the Kings' alter, it shall not be harmed by the enemy's attacks or magic effects. And I was simply using the 'Swords of Revealing Light' as a way to buy time while I prepare for a ritual. But the time has now come. The 3 Cards I've gathered on the field hold the power to Summon the great guardian of the temple, protecting the sacred sealed Card. Magic Card, 'Cup of Sealed Soul'. Then I open my reverse Card: 'Seal of Serket'. And the 'Temple of the Kings'. When I gather these 3 Magic Cards together, I can Summon the Mystical Beast who protects the secrets of the alter; the guardian of the temple: the Scorpion God that shall devour your Monsters. Show your glorious form before us. I Summon the 'Mystical Beast Serket'. The 'Mystical Beast Serket' exist to guard the sacred Card sealed in the ark."

"So then, the Card you sealed in the ark..." Jonouchi realized.

"It's the God Card, the 'Winged Dragon of Ra'." Rishid confirmed.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.