SailorStar9: With Chapter 78 uploaded, I present Chapter 79 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 79: Dreadful Regeneration Combo

"An Italian political philosopher of the Renaissance once said 'It's more profitable to utilize your enemies than it is your allies.'" Konosuke recited.

"A universe proverb, again?" Yami Yuugi snorted. "But because of your Special Ability you used just now, you don't have a single Monster on the field. My Battle Phase isn't over yet. I can use direct attacks, too. Go, 'Obnoxious Celtic Guardian'."

"That one was a little dangerous." Konosuke admitted, taking direct damage.

"But I have more Monsters." Yami Yuugi reminded. "I hold the advantage. I won't let you keep any sacrifices you plan to Summon a Monster with."

"If you say so." Konosuke chuckled. "Thanks to the damage I took just now, I can Special Summon a Monster. I Summon 'Ruklamba the Spirit King'. If the player holding 'Ruklamba the Spirit King' receives 1000 points of damage or more, you can Summon 'Ruklamba the Spirit King' from your hand. You'd better remember that. If you're finished, declare 'turn end' already."

"I realize that you have a strong defense." Yami Yuugi noted. " "But you can't win if you do nothing but defend."

"Defending is an easier and stronger way to fight without attacking." Konosuke defended. "However, it requires a strong mentality to maintain your status quo and conserve your resources. Some people out there are not capable of such thought process. And there is no better strategy our there than simply maintaining your present situation. You will come to understand this."

"Turn end." Yami Yuugi declared.

"It's my turn." Konosuke took his turn. "I Summon 'Yowie' in Attack Mode. The player opposite of whoever Summons 'Yowie' is not permitted to draw a card next turn. And my turn isn't over yet. I activate Magic Card 'Premature Burial' from my hand. I give up 800 of my Life to allow a Monster Card from my graveyard to revive." and revived 'Ipiria'. "You might be thinking that you'd like to beat me quickly and get to your friends, but you're naive. I am terribly sorry, but the reality is that won't be happening."

"This lineup again?" Yami Yuugi growled.

"What's wrong with you?" Konosuke mocked. "Are you so terrified that you've become frozen with fear? I'd like to experience what your Deck Master can do at least once. Although 'Kuriboh' probably won't do much to prove itself. And I shall declare 'turn end'."

With Otogi and Honda...

Both players finally broke through the outer walls of the castle they were transported to.

"But it's still the Virtual World." Otogi stepped out of the courtyard. "No matter how you think about it, it's too strange for a dungeon like this to be inside a mobile fortress."

"Shizuka!" both Honda and Otogi then heard Shizuka's cry for help.

On the ground...

"Anyone, help us." Shizuka pleaded, she, Ami and Marik were being chased by a 'Mad Sword Beast'.

"I'm tired of this bull crap." Marik snarled, skidding to a stop and pulling out a Card from his makeshift deck. "Go, 'Juragedo'!"

"I Summon 'Storm Rider, Diamantes'!" Ami followed suit, Summoning the dual-bladed Aqua soldier.

"Shizuka, this way." Otogi moved Shizuka out of the way as the two Monsters dealt with the 'Mad Sword Beast'.

"You really need to get better Cards." Honda told the Aquaforce user.

"No kidding." Ami muttered.

With Konosuke and Yami Yuugi...

"My turn." Yami Yuugi took his turn.

"You have a greater chance of winning a war if you have higher numbers." Konosuke advised. "Such advice can be found in countless numbers of strategical books. For example, it was said back in Ancient China that 'You can't do harm to a battalion.' or as they say in France 'Victory lies in keeping a battalion.' These proverbs are spoken even today. But on the other hand, a militarist of Prussia once said 'The quality of troops is just one of the factors in winning'. And there are many other incidents in history that teaches us the same thing."

"'Obnoxious Celtic Guardian', attack 'Ipiria'." Yami Yuugi ordered.

"At this moment, I activate my Deck Master Ability." Konosuke countered. "I sacrifice 'Ipiria' and 'Yowie' and launch Reflector Hole. Which makes the attack of the opponent invalid and in return steals the Life Points from the opponent's Life Points. Damaged twice now, huh? So, how's it feel? Painful, isn't it? If you are attacked one more time, the mental shock will render your body unable to move and even if your Life Points doesn't hit zero, you could lose your actual life in this world first."

"But there shouldn't be any Monsters left for him to sacrifice." Yami Yuugi winced. "His Tribute Monsters should have disappeared." he gaped when 'Wall of Illusion' and a third 'Ruklamba the Spirit King' were Summoned on the field.

"By sacrificing 'Ruklamba the Spirit King', you can Special Summon two Monsters with a total combined Attack Power of 2000 points." Konosuke chuckled. "However, the Attack Power of the Monsters you place on the field must not be higher than 2000. So I Summoned another 'Ruklamba the Spirit King' and 'Wall of Illusion'. When you beat them down, a new enemy will always take its place. What's wrong with you? Is this the first time you feel like you'll lose? But you don't need to feel ashamed. A general in Prussia once said 'A true master of failure will feel his pending fate to lose long before it happens.' Are you going to surrender? But your body is mine the moment you do. You were destined to lose when you chose 'Kuriboh' as your Deck Master. You at least look somewhat threatening when you're angry." he mocked the fuming 'Kuriboh'.

"I won't let you insult 'Kuriboh'." Yami Yuugi snapped. "Turn end."

"It's my turn, then." Konosuke took his turn. "I can't put it in words. Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this? My attack will cause you so much mental damage you won't be able to take it. You'll fall into despair. And I'll finally get a body at long last."

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