SailorStar9: With Chapter 95 uploaded, I present Chapter 96 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 96: Each One's Opponent

"My turn." Marik took his turn. "I Summon 'Dark Jeroid'. I'll go after Jonouchi's 'Gearfried the Iron Knight'. 'Dark Jeriod's Special Ability activates. Gearfried's Attack Power drops by 800 points."

"Not so fast." Jonouchi countered. "Reverse Card, activate. 'Skull Dice'. This is gonna lower your Monster's Attack Points."

"You depend way too much on luck, Jonouchi." Marik joked.

"It rolled a two." Jonouchi declared. "Your 'Dark Jeroid' loses half it's Attack." he then had 'Gearfried the Iron Knight' take out 'Dark Jeroid'.

"I just activated my reverse Card, 'Shrink'." Kaiba laughed, using the Magic Card to halve 'Gearfried the Iron Knight's Attack Power. "This Magic Card cuts the Attack Power of the selected Monster in half. Jonouchi, your Gearfried's Attack shrank to a low 800."

"Looks like Kaiba's hellbent on fighting Yuugi." Marik noted. "'Dark Jeroid', attack Gearfried."

"Listen well." Kaiba declared. "All enemies that oppose me serve only one purpose: to make me win."

"My turn." Yami Yuugi took his turn. "I attack with 'Beast of Gilfer'. The Monster I target is..."

"Yuugi." Jonouchi cut in. "Hold it a second. Before you do that, I wanted to ask you what a true duelist is. I've been looking for the answer through all of Battle City and made it this far. Yuugi, it's because I wanted to fight you fair and square. With every guy I fought in the city, I got a little closer to the answer. Yuugi, because of you, I don't back down from any opponents. You taught me to never give up, no matter how strong the opponent is and to trust my Cards all the way. Only one person can win Battle City and gain victorious glory. This is a Battle Royal. We're all your enemies. Yuugi, if you're a true duelist, take down your enemy; take me down. Stop playing favorites just so you can keep your promise with me in the semi-finals. I'm the weakest one here in the current situation. Just look around you and you'll see I'm the one with no reverse Cards. It's a basic strategy of this game to take down the weakest guy first, Yuugi. Don't waste your next turn. Just attack me. Even if I lose this match, I'll still get to the final to fight you. If you believe in me, Yuugi, attack me."

"Attack, 'Beast of Gilfer'." Yami Yuugi redirected the attack. "Aim for Jonouchi, direct attack."

"My turn." Jonouchi took his turn. "I Summon 'Axe Raider'. The guy I'm attacking is... Kaiba, you. 'Axe Raider', attack 'Blade Knight'."

"Bring it, deadbeat." Kaiba snorted. "Trap Card activate. 'Ring of Destruction'."

"The Monster that 'Ring of Destruction' attaches to is destroyed and the Monster's Attack Points are taken out of the controller's Life Points." Yami Yuugi realized Kaiba's plan.

"But I have no desire to be blown up alongside this common deadbeat." Kaiba smirked. "I activate my face-down Instant Quick-Play Magic Card, 'Ring of Defense'. It negates all damage inflicted by a Trap Card. Jonouchi, this time it's really game over."

"What the..." Marik gaped when his Life Points hit zero. "How in the world... it's my Life that hit zero?"

"I activated 'Graverobber'." Jonouchi grinned. "'Graverobber' is a Card that steals one Card from the opponent's graveyard. Now if you don't mind, Marik, I'll be taking that 'Spell of Pain' you tossed in the graveyard off your hands for a while. Using this Card, I can transfer all damage I receive to another player."

"Well played, Jonouchi." Marik applauded as he shot up to the top of the tower. "Well played. I'll see you at the top."

"Well, my field is wide open." Jonouchi shrugged. "It's just as I planned, though. Turn over."

"It's as you planned,you said?" Kaiba mocked. "Don't make me laugh. My turn. There's no way a loser like you who relies on nothing but luck as any sort of plan. 'Blade Knight', direct attack Jonouchi."

"The duel is over." Isono declared. "The duels for the semi-finals has just been decided. First match of the semi-finals: Marik Ishtar versus Katsuya Jonouchi. Second match: Muto Yuugi versus Kaiba Seto. Duel Gate, open. Let us head to the final stage. Launch the gondolas." he sent all four gondolas to the top of the tower.

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