(A/N: The hardest part of this duel was coming up with an original shadow game and sticking to its rules. It was a LOT to keep track of in addition to the usual planning and outlining for the duel. I think you guys have already determined who's gonna win this one, but I don't make good writing by half-assing potential foregone conclusion. Strap in, ladies and gents. This one's gonna hurt).
Ten Years ago…
"Hey, did you hear about that weirdo, Tanaka? I hear he spends all his time playing with animals."
"I hear his dad walked out on him and it's just him and his mom."
6 years old, Gundham could overhear the cruel gossiping of his peers as he hid in the corner of the hallway with the cage of his pet turtle, Mosu. His entire body wrapped in a scarf two sizes too big for the young grade schooler, he just brooded alone, friendless while petting Mosu on the head with his finger.
Three Years Later…
"Tanaka-san," one of the girls in his class said, walking up to him. "I hear you're really good with animals. My cat's sick and I don't have the money for a vet. Can you please see what's wrong with her?"
"Typically I do not associate with the familiars of other humans, but since you asked so earnestly, I don't suppose why not."
That afternoon…
"There is no need to worry. Your cat is in the middle of her gestation period."
"Huh?"
"She's pregnant."
The girl gasped. "Kitties! Oh, thank you, Tanaka-san! I'm so happy!"
Two weeks later…
"Meeeeew!"
Gundham sat in his room at home playing with one of the kittens. He'd named her Sayla. He'd adopted it given his classmate couldn't take care of all of them. Gundham had helped her find all the kittens a good home, including his.
Gundham looked around his room. Cages upon cages sat around the confines of his safe haven that included mice, turtles, snakes, a couple of birds, and one big iguana.
Taking Sayla upon his shoulder, Gundham stood and declared, "My fellow agents of darkness! Sound off!" He always liked to pretend his life was more extravagant than it was with his animal companions. Many children played with toys. Gundham preferred living, breathing animals.
One by one, he allowed his pets out of their cages to freely roam about the room. And, after an hour or two, one by one, he escorted them back in. It was like this a lot. After all, though he had many friends of the animal kingdom, none of them were human.
Three months later…
"Tanaka-san, I appreciate you helping my cat, but I don't think it's a good idea if we keep hanging out. You're a bit…out there."
"Yes…I see…I understand."
That day, Gundham learned the true cruelty of humankind.
Three years later…
Gundham sat in a room full of animal cages from the plain to the strange. In front of him sat a stack of paperwork. At the top, in typewritten lettering the first sheet read, "Animal Care Club"
Gundham though he would be alone in this room and the club would never see the light of day, but much to his surprise no less than seven students arrived. One by one they all signed up to join and take care of the animals that Gundham had brought from his own fortress of solitude.
And then, one by one, as the school years dragged on, they all started to leave.
"Sorry, Tanaka, I'm a bit busy with exams."
"Oh? Today? Sorry, I promised my boyfriend we'd go to the movies."
Often Gundham was found alone to take care of the animals. But, though fate was unkind to him for so many years, the great Gundham Tanaka would soon meet his most treasured companions.
Three Years Later…
During his one and only year Fazal Commerce High School, Gundham was surprised to find that there was already an Animal Care Club. Upon going to the club room on his first day, the president, a senior student with light brown hair, smiled at him.
"Welcome. My name is Tai Takemaru. Do you like animals?"
"I am one with nature," Gundham said with a chuckle and a grin.
"You have an odd way of speaking, but, it takes all kinds here at Fazal's Animal Club. Let me show you around."
It wasn't long into the tour before Gundham became…distracted. He spotted four cages, each with a hamster in it. They looked unhappy and low on energy. "Why are these beasts being separated? Can you not see how the Silver fox yearns for the company of the steel elephant.
"Silver…oh you mean the hamsters?" Takemaru asked. "We just got them from the shelter. They were donated. They're barely a few months old. Feisty little things."
Gundham opened the cage to one of the hamsters, a brown one with a chipped ear.
"Ah, careful," Takemaru said, as Gundham slipped his hand inside.
But Gundham lay his hand flat on the base of the cage. The hamster looked at it and then scrambled up Gundham's arm onto his shoulder. From his shirt pocket, Gundham procured a sunflower seed, which the tiny creature nibbled on.
"And thus I christen thee, Crimson Steel Elephant, Maga-Z!"
Hearing Gundham's bellowing voice, the other three hamsters perked their little ears up and stared at him from inside the cage.
"Ahahaha!" Gundham laughed. "Do you hear the darkness beckon my furry friends? Shall I temper you with my strong, commanding disposition." He opened the cage to each hamster. "Come then, your master beckons!"
Takemaru watched as the hamsters leapt onto Gundham almost simultaneously, crawling up and down his uniform and burrowing into his pockets, or nestling somewhere on his person.
Takemaru chuckled. "They seem to like you, Tanaka. Why don't you take care of them?"
"Indeed. These fell beasts and I have forged a bond stronger than steel. Together, I am Gundham Tanaka, the Supreme Overlord of Ice and these are my loyal demonic spawn, the Four Dark Devas of Destruction!"
Nine Months Later…
With an external heater plugged into the wall, Gundham was having the Four Dark Devas running a cardboard maze made by the younger sibling of one of the club members. He had a stopwatch, timing their adventure.
"Ah, Tanaka," Takemaru said, walking into the open club room. "I thought I'd find you in here. Aren't you going home? It's almost time for Winter Break."
"The four walls I used to call home rarely resonate within me anymore. And…I shant be of this domain much longer."
Takemaru grabbed a chair and sat down. "What's on your mind?"
"Do you recall how earlier last week when several officials came in here to observe our club?"
"Oh, right, from Hope's Peak," Takemaru said, slapping his forehead. He had practically forgotten.
"I just received a letter in the mail the night before. I am to attend their school this spring. So, I aim to spend all the time I can with my closest companions, for I soon may not be able to do so anymore."
"I see. You've really grown attached to the little guys, huh?" Takemaru asked.
"And they I." Gundham dropped his overlord persona, mostly. With Takemaru, he knew he could be straightforward. "We are practically inseparable. Animals do not comprehend the passage of time, or obligations the way we humans do. The Four Dark Devas will not understand when I simply stop showing up for class, or do not routinely clean their cages. And will my successor care for them the way I do? Raising a pet is not the same as raising a child, for not only will you live far beyond their years, but you may not always be able to see them through to their meet with the Reaper."
After a small pause, Gundham heard Takemaru say, "Why not take them with you?"
Gundham turned his head towards Takemaru, glowering. He did not know if the declaration was in jest.
"I'm serious, Gundham. If you hadn't joined the club, I think we would've had a lot more problems. I know I'm the only one that bothers to talk to you, but I know the other club members respect your skill. They just…don't know how to approach you."
"Such is the curse of humans."
Takemaru sighed. "Take them with you, Gundham. The Four Dark Devas are as much a part of you as that scarf."
Gundham smiled. "Takemaru, you are truly a rare soul out of the billions that exist. When this world is mine, you shall be given a title and great endowments."
Takemaru laughed. "Good luck out there, Gundham. And if things get tough, even though I'm off to university, you can always call upon me, your rare human summon."
Gundham chuckled. "To think of yourself so highly, but, who knows, one day I may do precisely that."
Four months later…
With only the Four Dark Devas of Destruction for company, Gundham made his debut at Hope's Peak Academy. His fellow students were, colorful, yet seemingly extremely disinterested in him. The lukewarm reception to his introduction seemed to indicate that, for the next three years, he would once again be alone.
And yet, as he approached the animal silo that Hope's Peak had prepared for him, hand within inches from the door handle, a kind voice called out to him. "Gundham, correct?"
Gundham turned sharply to see the radiant foreign girl behind him. Ah, yes, he recalled her name. "Ah, Princess Nevermind. Is there something I can help you with?"
"You can call me Sonia, Gundham. I do not wish for titles and status to interfere with my making friends with my classmates."
"Well, you'd best steer clear of my path," Gundham said in the same defensive manner that a dog would growl at a trespasser. "I have come to know the cruelty and self-serving nature of humans. You shant sway me with your golden hair nor your deceptive scepter, foul she cat!"
Sonia sounded crushed. "Oh. That is a shame. I was hoping to meet your animals. The Four Dark Devas are so cute after all. I wanted to pet them."
Gundham looked at Sonia with a mix of confusion and skepticism. "R-Really?"
Sonia smiled kindly. "Oh yes. I don't always make a mention of it, but animals and the occult are kind of hobbies of mine."
Gundham still looked skeptic. "You don't say."
"Please," Sonia almost pleaded. "I mean no harm."
Gundham turned his head away. "When canines mean no harm they typically roll on their back and pant. Yet for humans, they…" Gundham then looked at Sonia, on her back, smiling, hands up and raised like a dog. Gundham believed that if Sonia had a tail, it would be wagging. And yet… "Desist in your actions at once. A woman of your caliber has no place being on the ground."
"Oh," Sonia got to her feet, brushing the dirt out of her hair. "Was that not a request for me to prove my worth to enter the Den of Darkness?"
Something sparked within Gundham. A gut feeling that, in spite of his previous altercations with humans, Takemaru aside, he felt as though he could trust this Sonia. She seemed…just as out there as himself.
Chuckling giddily, Gundham then said with a crafty smile, "It was indeed. And you have passed my test, Foreign Witch." Gundham opened the door to the silo. "Enter the lair of I, Gundham Tanaka! And see what forbidden secrets lay before you!"
Two months later…
"Oh. Gundham, I did not expect to see you here," Sonia said as she got in one of the lines for KaibaCorp's qualifying Duel Terminal exam for uninvited guests to be worthy of Battle City.
Gundham bellowed out a malevolent cackle. "BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Where the creatures of darkness may slumber, you can always count on I, GUNDHAM TANAKA, to appear! I would say the same of you, Dark Queen, but I suspected already that you were a mistress of the dark arts."
"Oh, am I the Dark Queen now?" Sonia asked.
"Keh heh heh heh," Gundham chuckled. "You are not yet, but in my mind you shall one day be so. For we masters of the mystique cannot be held down by this plebian existence!"
"Most agreed. See you on the battlefield, Supreme Overlord of Ice," Sonia said with a bright smile.
Gundham pushed his scarf up above his nose, blushing. "S-See you on the battlefield."
Present Day
A loud, cold wind blew across the KaibaCorp blimp. Gundham and Marik stood opposite each other under the midday sun. It blew at Marik's cape and Gundham's scarf, the articles billowing in the pacific air over the ocean below. Gundham's thoughts were only of Sonia and beating Marik. No more distractions stood in his path. It was just him and the Fell Dragon. Though without Falchion, Gundham believed he could slay the fiendish master of the Shadow Realm.
Things were dead silent from the spectators. Yugi, most of all, knew what rode on this duel and he prayed for Gundham's safety.
Chiaki too was of the same mindset. She'd already lost one classmate to Marik. She could not bear to lose another. And, if Marik won, there was a disturbingly high chance he could duel Hajime next. She hoped and hoped that Gundham would stop Marik here.
"So, Gundham Tanaka, you have the courage to face me, not that I expected any less from you," Marik chuckled with a sinister sneer.
"Words cannot express my unholy rage for your schemes, Fell Dragon. For the sake of the Dark Queen, our bitter rivalry ends here today."
"All too true. So, Gundham, are you ready for your Shadow Game?"
The shadows closed in as the sun was blotted out and purple smoke overtook the battlefield. It was if eternal night had fallen.
"I stand ready for anything!" Gundham declared.
Marik chuckled as the Millennium Rod gave of a bright glow and Gundham could suddenly feel as if he could feel the Shadow Realm with his very soul. "Here's today's shadow game," Marik said. "With every card that goes to your graveyard, the weight of your soul becomes heavier. And your soul will grow weaker as you take direct damage. Additionally, at the start of your turn, you will take even more damage proportionate to the damage to your life points and the number of cards in your graveyard. I should warn you though, while damage to sixty percent of your soul is dangerous, if your soul is damaged one-hundred percent, you will die!"
Chiaki swallowed, Mahiru shivered and Celeste looked on with a pained expression. Everyone knew that to ask Gundham to back down would be a insult to his pride, but to risk his life…
"I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE! For the sake of the Dark Queen, I shall smite thee!"
Marik chuckled. "Then you'd best hope your life points run out before your soul is completely destroyed.
"It shan't happen. For it will be your soul cast into the pits of hell! Fell Dragon, this is your reckoning! For today, I, Gundham Tanaka, the Supreme Overlord Of Ice shall STRIKE! YOU! DOWN!
"Let's Duel!" Marik and Gundham declared together.
"I shall go first," Gundham stated. "I DRAW!" Looking at his hand, Gundham made no hesitation making his move. "First I shall summon Voltic Kong to the field, in attack mode!" A red furred gorilla with yellow skin and lightning sparking all around it, hit the table with 1800 attack points and 1000 defense points. "And I shall equip it with this, the spell card Beast Fangs!" Voltic Kong's jaw widened as its fangs became more prominent. "This increases my monsters power far beyond what a first turn summon is typically capable of!" Gundham declared as Voltic Kong now had 2100 attack points and 1300 defense points. "Next, I shall set two cards," Gundham stated, reducing his hand to only two cards. "My first turn, is complete!"
"My move," Marik snickered and drew the top card of his deck. "And I shall start my turn with the magic of Mutual Graceful Charity, causing us both to draw three cards, but we must each discard two."
As Gundham sent the two selected cards to the graveyard, he felt the weight upon his soul. It was like a minor twinge of pain, but it passed as soon as it occurred, yet lingered like a weight upon his shoulder.
So, this is the power of the shadows. How quaint.
"Next, I activate the magic card, The Shallow Grave. Now we must both select a monster in our graveyard and return it to the field in face-up defense position. And the monster I choose is Legendary Fiend!"
Gundham recognized the winged, blue fiend from his previous battle with Marik. He was not thrilled to see it, but Marik, he felt had made a grave miscalculation. "I select the rare Twinheaded Beast!" A double headed lion with its mane on fire appeared at Gundham's side. It had 1700 attack points and 1900 defense points.
"An interesting decision. I shall now play Makyura the Destructor in attack mode!" Marik declared. The clawed, fiendish warrior appeared with 1600 attack points and 1200 defense points. "And next, I shall set one card face-down onto the field. My turn is over."
Gundham stared puzzlingly at the field. What was Marik up to? Surely he did not thing Gundham was so amateurish that he could not see the obvious ploy at work. Well, it was time for Marik to feel the wrath of the Ultimate Animal Breeder.
"My turn!" Gundham bellowed. "I draw!"
"I begin by activating Giant Trunade, thus returning all spell and trap cards to our hands."
Marik seemed to frown a little as Gundham returned his cards to his hand. "Next, I shall reset my spell and trap cards," Gundham stated, re-equipping Voltic Kong and setting the two cards on the field once more. "And now, I shall attack with Twin Headed Beast! Destroy Makyura!"
Gundham's monster unleashed its fury upon Marik's monster, destroying it and drawing first blood.
Marik's life points ticked down to 3900.
"And with first blood shall come second. Twinheaded Beast, attack once more!" Gundham declared, pointing at legendary fiend.
"Not so fast. From my hand, I activate the trap card Mirror Force!"
"Fool!" Gundham shouted. "You cannot cast a trap from your hand."
"Oh, but I can," Marik grinned. "The turn Makyura is destroyed, I am allowed to play one trap card from my hand that turn."
"No! It cannot be!" Gundham declared, going pale.
"Farewell to your monsters, Gundham Tanaka! You should be more careful next time!"
Mirror Force activated and Twinheaded Beast bashed its skull against it, the rebound of which annihilated it and Voltic Kong, sending both and the attached Beast Fangs to the graveyard.
"That's playing dirty," Téa commented.
"It's Gundham's own fault for falling for it," Celeste said.
"Maybe," Yugi said, gazing sternly at the battlefield, "But this duel is far from over. I don't think one little setback will cost someone like Gundham victory."
"Yugi, do you believe…that Gundham can win?" Chiaki asked miserably.
"I don't know, Chiaki. I know that I'm fated to stop Marik and his wicked ways. And honestly, I don't know if Gundham has what it takes to stop the Winged Dragon of Ra. But…I want to believe in my friends. I want to believe that the burden of the fate of the world doesn't always have to fall on my shoulders. But if it does, I promise to avenge them, both Gundham and Sonia."
Yugi's words were a small comfort to the worried Chiaki. Hajime put a firm hand on her shoulder, indicating that he was right by her side.
Upon the battlefield, Gundham folded his arms crossly. "Tch." He unfolded them to continue his turn. "I shall set one monster card face-down and then I am forced to end my turn," Gundham stated.
Marik chuckled. "But of course, you have no other options." Marik drew the top card of his deck. "After all, you know as well as I that during my turn, Legendary Fiend grows in power by 700 attack points."
Marik's monster increased in power as he then switched it into attack mode. At 2200 attack points strong, Marik had the might to make mince meat out of whatever pathetic monster Gundham had facedown.
"And that's not all. First, I set one card face-down. And next, I'm summoning the mighty Gil Garth, in attack mode!" Marik declared as the armored, hunchbacked, sword carrying fiend hit the table with its whopping 1800 attack points.
"Say goodbye to more than half your life points. Gil Garth, attack Gundham's face-down monster!"
"HALT!" Gundham declared. "I activate my face-down card, Threatening Roar!"
Gundham's trap card revealed a behemoth barking at three strange, unidentifiable monsters. "Your attack is cancelled, as are all for this turn!"
"How clever," Marik chuckled. "But you should act fast for soon my Legendary Fiend will become too powerful for you to stop."
Gundham smiled in satisfaction. "How appropriate then that I have just the fiend to stop him."
"What?" Marik growled.
"Surely you remember our previous bout, Marik. The beast I used to stop your almighty Legendary Fiend. For I shall now summon a demon so powerful, few can stand up against it. By sacrificing my only monster, I call upon the mighty SUMMONED SKULL!"
Summoning his favorite monster to the field, the mighty Summoned Skull growled as lightning crashed around it, sparking at Gundham's feet. "Now see who you trifle with, Fell Dragon! Feel the wrath of the underworld! Summoned Skull, attack Legendary Fiend! Lightning Strike!"
"Predictable," Marik declared as he thrust out the Millennium Rod over his face-down card, "I activate the trap card Mask of Weakness!"
A gaudy looking mask attached itself to Summoned Skull's face, lowering its attack potency from 2500 to 1800.
"Taking me on with such paltry gimmicks," Gundham barked back. "Do not underestimate me, Marik! I activate Bark of Dark Ruler!" Gundham declared, activating his trap card. "By giving up 500 of my life points, I can deplete Legendary Fiend's attack power just enough for Summoned Skull to win their bout!"
Despite being weakened by Marik's mask, Gundham's Summoned Skull ran its electrified claws through Marik's monster, shocking it through its whole body and destroying it. Gundham's monster remained weakened, but at least now it had the power to match Marik's Gil Garth. If Marik attacked, the monsters would destroy each other. "My turn is complete," Gundham stated.
Marik drew the top card of his deck.
"You are quite the tenacious competitor, young Gundham. But it is foolhardy if you think you can defeat the likes of me."
"Make your move, Fell Dragon! I am immune to your taunting!" Gundham snapped.
"Well someone's in a hurry to be sent to the Shadow Realm. Let's see," Marik said, drawing his card. "What magnificent ways do I have of destroying you?" Gundham studied Marik carefully as the latter looked at his hand. "Ah, yes, I have this." Marik plucked a card from his hand. "I summon the mysterious Dark Jeroid in attack mode!" A strange blue monster built like a fiendish centaur…thing appeared. It had 1200 attack points and 1500 defense points. "And when Dark Jeroid is summoned to the field, I can target any monster on the field and lower its attack power by 800 points.
Using four of its limbs, Dark Jeroid sent mysterious waves towards Summoned Skull, weakening it further to only 1000 attack points. It wounded Gundham internally to see his favorite monster in so much pain.
"Next, I shall annihilate your favorite monster with Gil Garth!" Marik declared. Gil Garth's sword slashed the weakened Summoned Skull in half, reducing Gundham's life points to 2700. His body felt as if he was wearing a pound of lead all around it.
"And now, Dark Jeroid attacks directly!" Marik declared.
The blue fiend sped towards Gundham and then struck him with every single one of its many limbs, bringing Gundham's life points down to only 1500.
"Gundham!" Mahiru exclaimed.
However, despite the attack, Gundham remained firm.
"Impressive. Your soul must be strong indeed," Marik stated. "I wonder just how long you'll last. My turn is done."
"My turn begins!" Gundham declared, only for the shadows to pierce his soul and now he suddenly felt woozy. His head throbbed with serious pain.
"What's the matter? Feeling the effects of the shadows already?" Marik chuckled. "By my estimate, your soul is suffering equivalent to ten percent of its capacity. You should be more careful in this duel, Gundham Tanaka. It could prove fatal."
However, despite the pain, Gundham stood tall. "I care not what happens to me. I care only that the Dark Queen will be saved!" Gundham pulled the top card of his deck and looked at what he drew. A metal elephant was reflected in the card's image. Gundham had never seen this creature before in his deck. No…wait, he had. Once. And just a few hours ago.
From within his coat, a brown hamster with a chipped ear poked its head out. "Seems your time has come my friend. We shall do battle together."
With a salute and a squeak, Gundham's hamster sat upon the card. "I summon to the field one of the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. Come forth! CRIMSON STEEL ELEPHANT MAGA-Z!"
As Gundham placed the card on the reader, Maga-Z's body became enveloped in light and it returned to what Gundham considered its true form, a steel elephant with a reddish tint on its tusks, back, and knees. With a triumphant, hellish trumpet, Maga-Z stood with a robust 1900 attack and 1600 defense.
"What is that? I've never seen anything like it!" Joey exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"Kaiba, does that card even exist?" Byakuya asked him.
"You expect me to have memorized every card in Duel Monsters?" Kaiba responded. "If the card activated, then clearly it exists."
I know that card is exclusive to Gundham, Yugi thought. The Pharaoh and I were there when he received them from his previous shadow duel with Marik. Let's see what the Four Dark Devas of Destruction are really capable of!
Chiaki called out to Gundham. "You can do it, Gundham! Show Marik the true depths of your strength!"
"Yeah! Show him why hope will never lose to despair!" Nagito added.
"Stomp his butt good!" Ibuki shouted.
As Gundham looked over at his classmates, Mahiru and Hajime nodded at him firmly. He had their support to take Marik down. It filled the once friendless Gundham with pride and determination.
"Maga-Z!" Gundham shouted. "Attack! Ram into Gil Garth! Destroy it!"
With its hellish trumpet, Maga-Z charged at Marik's monster, destroying it and scratching Marik for another 100 points of damage. His life points were now 3700.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would play the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. It's about time they joined you in battle."
Gundham laughed. "You should feel honored Marik. It has been a long time since anyone has forced me to use my true power. You should be cautious for I could bring calamity upon this entire continent! Now, I shall set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
Marik chuckled. "How delightful. I cannot wait to see the look on your face when I annihilate your precious dark devas one by one. And the sturdy Maga-Z is a good place to start!" Marik exclaimed as he drew the top card of his deck. "I begin by sacrificing Dark Jeroid in order to play the terrifying Helpoemer!"
A rotting blue fiend, strapped to an orange slab of stone appeared on the battlefield with 2000 attack points and 1400 defense points. "And since my monster is stronger than yours…Helpoemer! Attack!"
Helpoemer unleashed several phantasmal arms at Gundham's monster, but the Supreme Overlord of Ice was not to be taken off guard.
"I activate Horn of the Phantom Beast!" Gundham declared. "This increases Maga-Z's attack power!"
Maga-Z's attack power surged to 2,700 and with a hellish burst of flame from its trunk then rammed into Helpoemer, destroying it and reducing Marik's life points down to 3,000 exactly.
"I see. How resourceful," Marik said, chuckling as Gundham drew one card silently thanks to the effects of his equip trap card. "But I'm resourceful as well. I activate Nightmare Steel Cage!"
A spikey cage dropped down onto Gundham and Maga-Z.
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What's wrong, Fell Dragon? Running scared of my awesome and mighty power?" Gundham asked, gleefully.
"Hardly," Marik smirked. He stuck out his tongue, letting it waggle back and forth menacingly. "I just think it will be ever so entertaining to watch you self-destruct. After all, with 2,500 points of damage and several cards in your graveyard, you will simply take massive soul damage with every passing turn. Enjoy collapsing dead in a cage like those animals you love so much."
"Marik! I do not cage my furred friends! They are the closest companions I will ever have and they shall be your undoing! Now behold!" Gundham drew the top card of his deck. "I begin by activating Card of Demise, bringing my hand up to 5 cards, though I must discard my whole hand five turns later."
"Not that you'll last that long," Marik taunted.
"I won't need to," Gundham declared, "I shall have destroyed you before then!" He exclaimed as he went up to a hand of five cards. "Watch now as I summon Supernova Silver Fox, San-D!" Gundham held out the card for his female companion to jump onto it and then be summoned to the battlefield in her true form, a nine-tailed silver fox. She had 1600 attack points and 1200 defense points.
Gundham chuckled. "Even if I cannot attack, I can still burn you with San-D's hellspawn power. "Her special ability allows me to burn you for 200 points of damage for monster card on my side of the field!"
Lighting her tails aflame, San-D sent the fireballs at Marik and reduced his life points down to 2,800. Marik took it in stride.
"Since your battle phase has passed because your monsters can't attack, allow me to introduce you to the special effect of my Helpoemer!" Marik's monster reached out of Gundham's graveyard and pulled a card at random from Gundham's hand to his graveyard.
Marik chuckled. "When you are finished attacking, every turn, my Helpoemer will pluck one card from your hand to the graveyard. Your soul will not survive for much longer. Though you are at twenty percent damage now, soon you will be well over the dangerous limit."
"I shall not fall!" Gundham barked. "Make your move, Fell Dragon! You stand at a disadvantage in monsters on the field and I will enjoy annihilating what feeble defense you have once your Nightmare Steel Cage vanishes into the ether."
"Oh trust me, young Gundham," Marik said as he drew the top card of his deck, "When that cage disappears, it will be you at a grave disadvantage. For now, I summon Melchid the Four Faced Beast, in attack mode!"
A strange fiend whose entire existence comprised of only four faces seemingly glued together, one of them yellow, appeared in front of Marik with 1500 attack points and 1200 defense points.
"And that is all I shall do this turn."
"A pathetic display of defenses. When I can attack again. I shall crush you!" Gundham declared as he drew the top card of his deck only to feel short of breath.
Marik chuckled sinisterly. "What's the matter? The power of the Shadow Realm finally catching up with you?"
Gundham put his hand against his chest, clutching it. The Shadow Realm's effects were beginning to get a bit taxing, but he was far from wanting to throw in the towel.
Gundham, Yugi thought.
Please be safe, Chiaki prayed.
Adding the top card of his deck to his hand, Gundham knew exactly his last move before Nightmare Steel Cage lifted, allowing him to attack next turn. With a smirk, he held out the card he drew for Jum-P and declare, "I summon Mirage Golden Hawk Jum-P!" Gundham declared, causing a large, golden bird to appear. It had 1600 attack points and 1000 defense points. "And now that three of the Four Dark Devas of Destruction have appeared, I am allowed to special summon the last one from my deck. "Come forth, Invading Black Dragon, Cham-P!"
A Blackland Fire Dragon lookalike, though this one was all black with purple spine frills and wing backs, appeared at Gundham's side. It had 1700 attack points and 1200 defense points.
"Next, I will activate San-D's special ability once more, burning you for 800 points of damage now that all of my Dark Devas of Destruction are on the field."
Marik's life points dropped to 2,000 due to the incoming barrage of blue fireballs. Once more, Marik just shrugged it off.
"Since you cannot attack this turn once more, Helpoemer will take another card from your hand!" Marik declared as once more a card was removed from Gundham's hand.
"It matters not. I have everything I need to defeat you!" Gundham shouted.
"We shall see about that," Marik stated and drew the top card of his deck. Despite the continuous soul damage, Marik was still holding strong, a testament to his dark powers blessed to him by the Millennium Rod.
"I don't get it. Why isn't Marik affected by the Shadow Realm the way Gundham is?" Serenity asked.
"Well, for starters, if my math is right, and I'm pretty sure it is," Yugi began to explain, "Marik has taken far less soul damage than Gundham, and, even that notwithstanding, Marik should be far stronger than Gundham in that regard due the powers of the Millennium Rod."
"So Marik rigged the game in his favor?" Mahiru shivered.
"Sounds like the sort of dirty tactics Marik enjoys," Celeste commented.
"You employed those same dirty tactics at Domino Pier," Byakuya glared at her. "Don't act all high and mighty now."
"Oh come now. That was the past. I'm a changed woman," Celeste said with a wily smirk. "I've had a whole character arc and everything."
"That was yesterday," Tristan said with a glazed look.
"Semantics," Celeste said, turning her head away, irritated.
Back up on the dueling platform, Marik continued his evil machinations, "I activate Card of Sanctity, forcing us both to draw until we are holding six cards."
Gundham glared as he watched Marik draw his cards with an evil grin.
What's Marik up to? Yugi wondered. Nightmare Steel Cage didn't give him anywhere close to the necessary amount of turns to summon Ra.
Perhaps Marik doesn't think Gundham worthy to be crushed by Ra. Perhaps he has a far more simple solution in mind.
"And now, I summon to the field the monster Lord Poison!" Marik declared, summoning a twisted gnarling mass of spikes and mold. "But he will not be around for long, for thanks to Melchid the Four Faced Beast being in play, I am able to summon a creature without equal."
"I think I know," Gundham said. "Play your foul demon Marik, I am not afraid!"
"With pleasure! Behold the mighty Masked Beast Des Gardius!"
Yugi and Kaiba both gasped and had PTSD flashbacks to that three-headed, masked behemoth staring them down during their duel with Lumis and Umbra. It had a massive 3300 attack points and 2500 defense points.
"With a card that powerful, Marik could end the duel," Téa gasped, recoiling in horror.
"Gundham!" Chiaki called out in worry.
"So many monsters I could destroy, but which one?" Marik asked, licking his lips. "Ah yes, I think I've had just about enough of that putrid fox of yours whittling down my life points. Masked Beast Des Gardius, destroy Supernova Silver Fox, San-D!"
"Gundham!" Ibuki, Mahiru and Chiaki called out at the same time.
However, Gundham was not afraid. Gundham, was laughing.
"What is so funny? You're about to be destroyed!"
"You are quite amusing indeed, Marik. For you see, had you chosen to attack Cham-P or Jum-P, you may have defeated me handedly, but by attacking San-D you have allowed me to play this: WILD NATURE'S RELEASE!"
Gundham activated a quick play spell. "Now, San-D will gain attack points equal to her defense points. She may not survive this battle, but I, Gundham Tanaka, will live to fight another day!"
San-D's power surged to 2800, still inferior to Des Gardius and she was struck down by Des Gardius, collapsing on the ground, reverting to her hamster body.
Gundham waltzed into the middle of the battlefield to pick her up, patting her on the back. You fought valiantly and bravely, San-D, Gundham thought, sticking her in his pocket, Rest now.
Gundham's life points now sat at 1100.
"I shall set one card onto the field," Marik said. "And end my turn."
Gundham marched back to his original position and turned to face Marik. "Fell Dragon, you shall pay for not only your transgressions against the Dark Queen, but also against the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. Watch now though, as I draw and—"
Before Gundham could draw, the mere declaration of it caused his entire body to wrack with pain, enough for him to let out an agonizing scream.
"Enjoying yourself?" Marik cackled. "It's likely you've nearly entered the danger zone at fifty percent of soul damage."
Gundham hunched over, panting and sweating through his coat. A spot of bloodied drool escaped his mouth and dripped onto the stadium floor. He wiped his mouth with his scarf. Although it was hard to breathe, Gundham refused to fall. He had a job to do.
Drawing the top card of his deck, he declared, "I activate Malevolent Nuzzler, equipping it to Invading Black Dragon, Cham-P!" A dark aura enveloped Gundham's monster, bringing its attack power to 2400 attack points. "And now, I shall use Cham-P, to rid the field of Des Gardius!"
"Impossible! Your monster has almost 1000 fewer attack points than mine!"
"Perhaps, but Cham-P is special. For you see, when he initiates combat, he becomes a force to be reckoned with, gaining 500 attack points. Furthermore, when he encounters a foe far greater in power than himself, he gains an additional 500 points."
"But that means…"
"Yes! He is now stronger than your mighty fiend! Go! Cham-P! Attack with Dark Destructive Charge! Take down Des Gardius!"
Gundham's monster galloped like a horse as a mach cone of darkness formed around it. It slammed straight into Des Gardius, destroying it and bringing Marik's life points down to 1,900, leaving behind only a mask on the ground.
"And now I shall—"
"Not so fast," Marik said as the mask on the ground rose up and affixed itself to the face of Cham-P.
"What? Cham-P!"
"I'm afraid your friend cannot hear you, Gundham," Marik said, as the dragon thrashed about, only to Ultimately turn against his master. "For when Masked Beast Des Gardius is destroyed, it leaves behind a powerful artifact known as the Mask of Remnants. And this mask allows me to take control of any single one of your monsters. Isn't it agonizing how your own companion now stands against you?"
However, Gundham could only laugh. "Fell Dragon, you have much to learn about the animal kingdom. For only I, the tame of the Four Dark Devas of Destruction, know one, crucial detail, Maga-Z and Cham-P are bitter rivals." Gundham held up his left arm, on which his duel disk was affixed. "Do you see my left arm? It has been the sight of many battles between my Dark Devas. Bitter wounds cover it aplenty. And I know Maga-Z is more than willing to engage in battle with his old rival."
"You will self-destruct. By your own admission—"
Gundham grinned. "If you were hoping to gain 500 points thanks to Cham-P's effect when he battles a stronger foe, I'm afraid I wasn't clear enough earlier. Both effects are only gained when Cham-P initiates combat."
"WHAT?!"
Gundham cackled. "Fell Dragon, you spend so much time wallowing in the shadows, yet you have no skills communicating with the creatures within. If you spent more time listening to the shadows instead of conquering them, you would not be in such a precarious position now. But enough talk. Now, Maga-Z! Attack Cham-P! Release him from his brainwashing!"
With a hellish trumpet, Maga-Z charged towards Cham-P who charged back. The two beasts locked in headbutting combat, until finally Maga-Z wrapped its trunk around Cham-P and threw him at the ground, stomping on his neck, winning the battle.
Marik's life points descended to 1,600.
Maga-Z then picked up his lifelong rival and returned him to Gundham safely, who pat his friend on the trunk and returned Cham-P to the inside of his coat. He then drew a card thanks to the effects of Horn of the Phantom Beast.
"Take a look at your life points, Fell Dragon. You have just enough to be defeated by Jum-P."
"What? No! It can't be!" Marik did a double take. Unfortunately, Gundham was right.
"You can do it, Gundham!" Ibuki cheered.
Yugi smiled. This nightmare might actually be over. Gundham could win. His self-proclaimed dark powers could end this madness once and for all.
"Mirage Golden Hawk, Jum-P! Attack Marik directly and end this duel!" Gundham declared, fanning out his unbandaged palm in a way that made Yugi feel nostalgic.
Unfortunately, much like with Sonia, the final blow was not to be. Marik had, once more, planned ahead.
"I activate the Quick Play spell Dark Wall of Wind!" Marik declared, activating the card as his body faded into the Shadow Realm, becoming transparent. Jum-P sailed right through him, dealing no damage. "Too bad, and to think you were one attack away from complete and total victory. Oh, and do mind Helpoemer's effect."
A random card was stolen from Gundham's hand.
"Do not think yourself safe for long, Fell Dragon! Though I lack Falchion, I have the necessary tools to slay you this day! You are without any monsters of your own to smite me and I still have Crimson Steel Elephant Maga-Z at my side boosted by Horn of the Phantom Beast!" Gundham shouted as Marik's body ceased being transparent. "Just how exactly do you plan to counterattack? Without any monsters on the field, even Ra's Holy Song will not help you!"
"Fool!" Marik barked. "If you think yourself safe from Ra, allow me to prove you wrong."
What's Marik thinking? Yugi wondered. He has no monsters on the field. How does he plan to summon Ra?
"Watch closely," Marik chuckled. "You're about to witness the true might of the gods."
Marik drew the top card of his deck as anxiety lay in the heart of all of the spectators, sans Kaiba. Sweat also broke out on all of their faces.
"I activate the spell card Tribute Burial. By removing one monster card from each of our graveyards, I am able to summon any monster from my hand without sacrificing any monsters on my field. So behold as I summon the one, the only Winged Dragon of Ra!"
All of the spectators watched as the golden, metallic dragon took to the skies in all its gargantuan, terrifying glory for the second time in the tournament, Odion's fake notwithstanding. It had 0000 attack and 0000 defense points.
"Why would you summon Ra, now?" Gundham inquired. "It has no power of its own. You have offered it no tribute."
"Too true," Marik smirked. "But just as with Osiris and Obelisk, Ra comes with its own hidden abilities. Behold one of them now!"
Everyone watched as Ra's wings ignited and the whole being began to transform from a dragon into a Phoenix. "By giving up 1000 life points, Ra enters its Phoenix Form," Marik stated as his life points became 600. "And when it is summoned in such a state, it automatically destroys every single monster on my opponent's side of the field."
"NO!" Mahiru exclaimed in horror.
"Prepare to be incinerated by the power of Ra!" Marik exclaimed. "Much like little Makoto and that witch Celeste before you, you shall be annihilated due to your ill comprehension of the power of the gods! You should've been more like Sonia and attempted to control the power of the gods for yourself. She at least comprehended the terrifying and mighty power of Ra."
"Leave the Dark Queen out of this!" Gundham bellowed.
"Why? You'll be joining her soon enough," Marik said. "Now then, Winged Dragon of Ra!" He declared as his Millennium Rod glowed brightly, "Destroy these foolish creatures with your power! I command you!"
Ra let out a terrifying roar and then unleashed a massively powerful inferno that seemed to engulf the whole battlefield.
"Gundham!" Yugi shouted.
Afraid of the flames himself, Roland put his back to the guard rail, barely able to escape the blaze that was tearing apart Gundham's monsters and dealing damage to their tamer within.
"Seto, I'm scared," Mokuba said, hugging his big brother. Kaiba leant him an arm of comfort to abate Mokuba's worries. Unsurprisingly, Komaru and Serenity were cuddling up to their big brothers as well.
"Whoa! Talk about great balls of fire!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"Not the time or place!" Mai shouted.
"GUNDHAM!" Chiaki shouted at the top of her lungs, tears running down, eyes shut tight.
If Gundham was screaming, then the screams were drowned out by the roaring inferno that was Ra's power.
"Gundham! You have to live!" Nagito called to him. "You can't let yourself get consumed by Ra's despair!"
As if on cue, the flames ceased, peeling away by a mighty gust of wind. There was naught, but silence. All eyes were on Gundham.
"Look!" Espa pointed. "Look, he's still standing!"
Sure enough, Gundham was not collapsed on the ground. Though his life points remained untouched at 1,100, his body and mind had both suffered from the agonizing power that was the Winged Dragon of Ra. Jum-P and Maga-Z lay unconscious and comatose at his feet in their hamster forms. The young breeder's shoulders were slouched, his arms slack at his sides.
Chiaki gulped. "He didn't die standing up, did he?"
As if on cue, Gundham's left arm twitched.
"Gundham!" Mahiru's eyes were filled with tears as she called out in concern.
"Yeah! Keep it going man! You can still fight!" Tristan declared.
"Can he?" Marik chuckled. "He looks just about ready to keel over."
It was only then that everyone noticed that not only was Marik grinning like a complete asshole, but Ra, in all its Phoenix Form glory was still upon the battlefield.
"And at the end of my turn, poor Gundham's body will be wracked with so much soul damage, it's likely this duel will end before he can even move."
Eyes bloodshot, Gundham could hear everything. He stared at the sky, the shadow realm being the only thing his vision could ascertain. He slowly shut them.
"And now," Marik grinned, swinging the Millennium Rod down like a hammer of judgment. "My turn is over."
As though his heart had exploded from the inside, Gundham's body became wracked with pain, blood seeping from spontaneous wounds that ripped open and stained his shirt and sleeves. Gundham staggered about, but did not lose his balance and remained standing. His eyes remained shut. He opened them briefly, seeing the blurry images of Marik and Ra. But…no…he could not continue. His body had suffered eighty percent of its finite damage to his soul.
As Gundham breathed weakly, he could only feel that this was the end. He could not feel the power of the Four Dark Devas of Destruction, nor the comforting feeling of his own dark powers. It…was over.
…
…
One more card…
Gundham gasped. He recognized that voice. "Dark…Queen?" He spoke aloud, his voice gravely like a chain smoker as blood dripped down from his eyes. "Sonia?"
Sonia's image flashed in his mind as she spoke, though her mouth did not move. It was more her thoughts making manifest her physical form in Gundham's mind.
You can do it, Gundham…
Draw one more card…
I believe in you…
One…more…card, Gundham thought as he moved his left arm, bending it at a right angle towards his chest. One. More. Card. Gundham thought more forcefully as he lowered his head, courage and confidence welling up inside him. "ONE! MOOOORE! CAAAAAAAARD!" Gundham roared, his fighting spirit coming alight inexplicably.
"Impossible!" Marik exclaimed. "Where? Where is this second wind coming from?"
Marik studied Gundham carefully as he saw a bright, white wing spiritually emit from the right side of Gundham's body. And there, behind him, like a guardian angel, a phantasmal image of Sonia, with her arms gently embracing Gundham's heart, had appeared. The princess? But how?
Gundham's eyes were bloodshot, his body was bleeding in multiple places, evident from the bloodstains on his clothing, and yet, Gundham was deciding to fight on.
As Sonia's image disappeared, giving the last of her strength to aid Gundham, Gundham decided to go all or nothing on one last draw. Win or lose, this would be the end. He would muster up every ounce of reserves he had and crush the Fell Dragon once and for all.
Gundham drew the top card of his deck. Lo and behold, he'd drawn the final card he'd obtained from his previous Shadow Duel with Marik. He could barely make out the card's image, but he could tell what it was. No, it was more like Sonia's heart was helping him see.
"This duel is over," Gundham declared. "I activate Dark Sword of Morningstar! This special equip-type spell card can only be activated if it is not the first turn of the duel when I have no monsters on the field and I have five or more monster cards in my graveyard. It equips me, the duelist with it," Gundham said as he took the sword resembling the weapon carried by Sonia's ace monster, Darklord Morningstar, into his hands. "Then, it makes me equivalent to a monster on the field with attack and defense equal to my current life points. It's no Falchion, but it will do."
Gundham now stood with 1,100 attack points and 1,100 defense points and 1,100 life points.
Marik was horrified. No. It couldn't be so. Gundham had more than enough attack points to wipe out his life points.
"MARIIIIIIK! THIS! ENDS! NOW!" Gundham bellowed.
Taking the sword in both hands, Gundham charged.
It took a very special sort of man to defy the gods. Gundham would've called this moment poetic if his mind was not focused on his attack. For a man who had always been so alone, he would've smiled at the cheering of his classmates, if he could hear them at all. The heat of Ra's phoenix form was the only thing guiding Gundham's blade towards its vulnerable body. After all, so much blood was pouring out of Gundham's eyes, he could not see.
The only thing he could see resided only in his mind. Images and multiple, flashing ones at that, of Sonia and her kind, smiling face, guided Gundham forward as he made heavy, plodded footsteps towards Marik and Ra.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Gundham could not hear his own screams, but he could feel his throat expanded and his mouth open. All he needed was one blow. Even at the cost of his life, if it was to save the Dark Queen, that was all that mattered. One blow. One strike. He needed only to swing the sword.
And that was where Gundham's divine plan fell apart.
Although Sonia had given him the chance, although he'd had the strength, courage and will to draw, fight, and attack, he hadn't the power left to follow through his plan all the way.
Halfway to Marik, everyone could see Gundham running out of breath like a smoker trying to run track and field. The charge stopped and became a series of slow footsteps, followed by Gundham dragging his sword towards Marik who could do nothing, but watch in horror and anxiety. If Gundham finished, if he attacked, it was over. Marik could only pray that Gundham would collapse, repeating the words "Fall over" to himself over and over.
And, as Gundham neared, dragging the tip of Dark Sword of Morningstar until he was positioned right in front of Ra, Marik quickly realized just how much damage Gundham had sustained and soon realized that he was in no danger. His smile hidden by Ra's light and flames, no one in the spectator's seat could see that, as Gundham raised his sword, he would never bring it down.
He tried. He tried to commit, but his body…just didn't have the strength. The sword felt as though it was 200 tons and Gundham's body felt even worse. His hands losing their grip, the sword fell behind Gundham, snapping in two as it hit the ground.
"GUNDHAM!" Chiaki shouted, the first to realize that something had gone horribly wrong.
Forgive me thoughtful one… Gundham thought as he turned his face towards her. But this is as far as I go.
For a moment, Gundham could see with utmost clarity. No, these were not his eyes. He knew that it was Sonia giving him the ability to see. With one eye closed, he reached out, smiling, accepting of his fate, and extended his arm towards not Yugi, but Hajime. Gundham knew that Chiaki wanted to be the one to take down Marik. Gundham knew that it was Yugi's destiny to fight him. And yet, in his heart, he could only think to reach out to the only other duelist he felt was worthy to succeed his will.
I leave my will to you, Hajime Hinata. Make sure…the thoughtful one…does not lose…another…friend.
Gundham then gazed up at the sky as Ra's light gave way to the happy faces of Sonia and the Four Dark Devas of Destruction, welcoming him to the Shadow Realm. Tears dripped in a steady stream down his cheeks. "I'm sorry…" Gundham said to them. Then, like an old man having a heart attack, Gundham then felt the last of his strength give way and he collapsed upon the ground, crumpling to his knees and then falling onto his back.
Marik could only chuckle. "Another victim of the shadows. Oh well. In the end, it seems, Gundham Tanaka, that your ambition far exceeded your capabilities." Marik looked over Gundham's fallen body. "But you fought to the bitter end. I commend you on what you could achieve, and yet I mock you for falling just so short of actually completing the task set before you. And that, Gundham Tanaka, is the difference between you and I."
"Call it, Roland. Tanaka can't duel anymore, so it's the same as giving up," Kaiba said to him.
"Y-yes. This duel is over! Marik Ishtar is the winner!"
"NO!" Chiaki wailed.
The dueling platform lowered to the level of the spectators as Marik rummaged through Gundham's deck and plucked out the very sword that Gundham tried to kill him with. "I believe this sword shall serve me greatly as I use to strike down the rest of the competition." Marik cackled fiendishly. "How sad that the key that was to be your salvation shall now be the instrument of this world's destruction!" Then with a spin of his heel and a wave of his cape, Marik stomped away to the elevator in order to go back to his room until the next time he would rise from it to witness or participate in a duel.
As the shadow realm vanished, though it was still the middle of the afternoon, gray clouds now hung over the sky so thick one could be forgiven for thinking night had fallen.
With Marik gone, Chiaki and the others instantly rushed over to Gundham, Mikan surprisingly the first to make it. She immediately checked Gundham's condition.
"He's breathing, but it's like Sonia. I can't get a normal response out of him," She sniffed, tears dripping. "I need to get him to the medical wing though. These wounds are terrible."
Hajime began to bend down to pick Gundham up, but was verbally shoved aside.
"Move."
Everyone was surprised to see Kaiba of all people bending down to shoulder Gundham onto his back. "No duelist with that kind of fortitude is just going to rot on my blimp. Mokuba, get the hamsters. I think we might have some sort of container we can keep them in and monitor them.
"You got it, Seto," Mokuba said, scooping up Jum-P and Maga-Z.
Kaiba marched for the elevator with Mikan following close behind to make sure Gundham didn't fall off his back. He stopped when he passed by Roland. "We're having a recess," Kaiba said. "There's only one more duel to go and in spite of Noah we're a bit ahead of schedule before docking at our final destination. We're going on break for an hour."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Kaiba."
Kaiba pressed the button for the elevator. "Hmph. Oh well. At least the catharsis of that will get this bad taste out of my mouth."
"Come back here and say that to my face, rich boy!" Joey exclaimed, raising a fist. Duke, Tristan and Téa were all holding him back.
"Joey, now is not the time!"
"Yeah, well he pisses me off!"
Normally one to add to Joey's verbal abuse, Celeste simply stood there in anguish over witnessing the dangerous nature of the Shadow Realm and Gundham's final fall. She had been in league with power so terrifying, and the gravity of what she helped accomplish was slowly beginning to catch up with her, leaving a taste in her mouth so foul, even fecal matter would've been preferable.
Serenity was sobbing into Mahiru's shoulder and everyone looked dejected. The nightmare would continue. Another friend had fallen. For this bout, despair had won.
"Marik needs to be stopped," Nagito said. "His level of despair is incredibly high. Yugi. Hajime. It's up to the two of you."
"Huh? Us?" Hajime asked, surprised.
"I saw what Gundham did. He believes in you, Hajime. And Yugi, it's your destiny to take down Marik. I believe in your hope. I believe its strong enough to defeat Marik."
"What about Kaiba?" Hajime asked.
"Kaiba's too focused on Yugi to consider Marik enough of a threat, but I see his threat level and it's quite frankly, nerve wracking," Nagito stated.
Yugi switched to letting Yami have control. "Do not worry, Nagito. Marik will be defeated. Count on it."
It took nearly half an hour for Mikan to get Gundham's life out of danger by administering medicine to stop the bleeding of his eyes and suturing up all of his wounds. Yugi and friends, and Chiaki and her class all stood around the fallen Gundham, Sonia and Bakura, each one a victim of the terrifying dark powers of the spirit of the Millennium Rod.
Hajime was the first to step out, pounding his fist against the opposite side wall as he stared down the hall, unknowingly making a dent in the infrastructure. No matter what. I'm going to stop Marik. I don't care if Yugi and Kaiba are connected to him by some Ancient Egyptian prophecy. I may just be a normal human being, but I swear, Hajime's eyes unknowingly flashed red for two whole seconds. I will stop Marik!
(A/N: Well Hajime, do your best. And my god, if this shit doesn't end up on the tvtropes tear jerker and awesome pages for Dueling Trigger Finger's tvtropes page, I will be disappointed. I hope you all liked the small summary of Gundham's backstory too. We'll see more of that in the next arc as well with the Orichalcos. Or at least that's the intent.
And I know I haven't really been listing original cards at the end here like I promised I would, but I've just been so damn busy lately. I promise though to make a compilation and maybe make a deviantART journal about it though.
Originally, for this duel, I was going to numerically list the soul damage, but I figured quantifying it in story would just be difficult to keep track of and become confusing and annoying to constantly read. Either way, the result is the same. Poor Gundham. Seriously.
And yes, not even going to try and act like I'm not building towards this: the semi-final matches will be Kaiba Vs Yugi and Marik Vs Hajime. True, this means Joey and Kaiba's duel is about as predictable as the sun rising in the morning. I mean, come on, it's Joey Vs Kaiba, but at the very least, I hope the enjoyment will be to see just how far Joey has come with his new cards and Celeste's tutoring, even if you already know who's gonna win. On top of that, those of you not reading these notes—not everyone does—don't know that it's a foregone conclusion.
Now I know Joey dueled Kaiba in canon and that the cards he used in that duel could allow me to skip over the duel in its entirety…However, there are two reasons I'm not doing that.
Reason One: That duel was for a 3rd Vs 4th place finish as opposed to this duel which is part of the Battle City primary bracket.
Reason Two: To skip over this duel would spit in the face of all the new spoils of war and tutoring Joey has undergone through this tournament. It's his last chance to at least prove to Kaiba that he's "Not a joke". Not to mention, Joey has yet to go comatose, so we don't have Kaiba's manga counterpart acknowledging the strength of Joey's will prior to this duel either, which might've facilitated Kaiba's decision to allow Joey to be part of the KaibaCorp Grand Prix, which IS going to be an arc in this story.
Not to mention, I can't be the only one who wants to see the look on Kaiba's face when he actually has to try to beat Joey. Does that mean Joey may actually earn Kaiba's respect? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No. Or rather, if he does, Kaiba will never admit to it XD.
Anyway, that's all for next time, which may be in two weeks or more since I don't have the duel outlined, like at all. But for now, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)