(A/N: So with how hype this chapter ended up getting from you all, I've decided to alter my plans for the final confrontation with Dartz. All I request is that you all keep an open mind.
Also, some of you are a bit disgruntled that Junko is fooling everyone. May I remind you all that Marik fooled Joey and Téa and he was completely incompetent. What the hell kind of chance do they stand trying to figure out that Junko is evil? For that matter, Junko spent an entire year with Class 78 and none of them every knew she was a complete nutcase. So, I'm sorry, but them's the brakes.
Additionally, while Timaeus was only ever shown, in the anime, to fuse with Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl—and this later adapted its TCG counterpart—the dragons are still broken AF, meaning that I am going to fuse Timaeus with whatever I plan to thank you very much. As I said before at the beginning of this chapter, keep an open mind as you read this duel.
But that's neither here nor there. Let's see The King of Games duel the Queen of Despair for the first and definitely not last time).
"Since I already played the Seal of Orichalcos," Junko said, maintaining her terrifyingly stoically evil persona. "I suppose I'll start things off. I summon to the field Dark Valkyria," Junko said as a purple skinned angelic creature with a whopping 1,800 attack points sat upon the battlefield. And thanks to the power of the Seal of Orichalcos, she gets even more attack power. Dark Valkyria now had 2,300 attack points. "I'll also set not one, but two cards face-down onto the field." Junko said, inserting the cards into her duel disk as the proper holograms appeared. "Your move, Pharaoh."
"Very well, I draw!" Yami exclaimed, drawing the top card of his deck. "And I'm setting a monster into defense mode," he said. I don't have anything that can stop the sheer power of her Valkyria, but with a little strategy, I may be able to get around that. "I'm setting one card face-down onto the field and ending my turn."
Junko drew the top card of her deck. "Pathetic." She looked at the cards in her hand. "I double summon Dark Valkyria!"
"Double Summon?" Yami gasped.
"Didn't you know? Dark Valkyria is a special type of monster known as a Gemini Monster. If you summon them again while they're on the field, they gain additional effects. Take Dark Valkyria her for instance. Watch!"
Dark Valkyria let out a violent growl as her body transformed into a more hideously demonic creature, the orbs on her wings turning into demonic eyeballs.
"And now, I can use her special ability. Once while she's on the field, I can increase her attack power by 300 points."
Dark Valkyria's power increased to 2,600.
Yami gasped, growling in fear.
"And next, I can take those points away in order to destroy any monster on the field and instantly destroy it. So I hope you weren't planning on defending this turn, because I'm about to hit you with a direct attack!" Junko exclaimed. "Dark Valkyria! Destroy his monster! Dark Arrow Rain!"
Dark Valkyria's attack power dropped back down to 2,300. Then she fired an energy bow up into the air and the arrows rained down, destroying Yami's monster, revealed to be Big Shield Gardna.
"And now, Dark Valkyria, attack directly. Dark Arrow Barrage!"
Dark Valkyria drew her energy bow and took aim at Yami.
"Not so fast!" Yami exclaimed. "I activate Spellbinding Circle!" A magic circle formed around Dark Valkyria and ensnared her body, immobilizing her. Her attack power dropped down to 1,600, a much more manageable amount for Yami to deal with.
Junko double over as if in pain. "Junko!" Yami called out.
"Pharaoh," Junko grunted. "She can't…she can't summon again because of her Gemini monster. Attack me! Do it! She has trap cards face-down, but I can hold her back! Attack me and ruin her strategy!"
Junko is still doing her best to fight from within, Yami thought. As long as she's in there, I can still save her. "It's my move," Yami stated. "I draw." He drew the top card of his deck and placed it in his hand. "I summon to the field Beta the Magnet Warrior!"
The yellow magnet-like rock monster appeared with its 1,700 attack and 1,600 defense, just enough to take out Junko's weakened Dark Valkyria.
"Go, my magnet warrior, take out her Dark Valkyria!"
Sucker, Junko thought, her grin aimed at the floor of the roof. "Graaaaah!" she exclaimed, taking back control. "I activate my face-down card, Shadow Spell!"
"Oh no!" Yami gasped.
Beta was shackled in place much the same way that Eatos was in Junko's duel with Rafael.
"Paaaahahahahahahaha! Did you really think my good half would be able to hold me off long enough for you to complete your attack? Or maybe…" Junko chuckled. "Maybe you just weren't fast enough."
Yami growled. He wasn't going to let Junko psyche him out, unaware that she already had.
Beta the Magnet Warrior's attack power was now just 1,000 and since Yami no longer could summon a monster this turn, he was out of luck for now.
"Judging by your silence, I'm assuming that you aren't going to do play any face-down cards. That's fine I suppose." Junko drew the top card of her deck. "My turn then." She looked at her hand and then declared. "Since Valkyria has served her purpose and can't attack anyway, I'll remove her from the field." She pulled a card from her hand, reared her arm back and fashionably slapped her new monster on the duel disk. "That will let me summon Vampire Dragon!" A legless dragon with a black body and a red underbelly, a human shaped skull and one giant eyeball in the center of its face, along with giant vampire fangs, appeared on the battlefield with a scarily high 2,400 attack points and 0 defense points. "And with the power of the Orichalcos," Junko said as her monster gained 500 attack points for a total of 2,900. "He gains even more power. Now, go my dragon, destroy his magnet warrior now! Undead Claw Strike!"
Vampire Dragon zoomed forward and struck down Yami's Magnet warrior, reducing his life points down to 2,100 points.
"And there's plenty more where that came from," Junko chuckled darkly. "But it's your turn for now. I enjoy anticipating how you're going to get out of this one."
Yami sneered but drew the top card of his deck anyway. With the power of the cards in his hand, he may not be able to overpower Junko at the moment, but he had a card that would let him survive otherwise.
"I'm setting a monster face-down onto the field," Yami stated.
"Hold that thought!" Junko exclaimed. "I activate my other face-down card: Acid Trap Hole!"
"Oh no!" Yami gasped.
"That's right. This trap card allows me to target a monster in face-down defense position. And if it has 2,000 defense points or less," Junko sneered as she drew a thumb across her neck. "It gets destroyed."
Yami's monster was revealed to be Obnoxious Celtic Guardian. As it only had 1,200 defense points, it fell into the acid filled hole that Junko had created with her trap and was instantly destroyed, the last thing anyone saw of it was its arm reaching up to the sky before the ground closed up.
"Well, well, well," Junko chuckled darkly. "Looks like you're completely defenseless. Without a monster to protect you this turn, you'll lose the duel."
Yami gnashed his teeth in frustration.
"How pathetic," Junko and Kaiba said at the same time.
"Oho?" Junko looked at Kaiba, raising her eyebrow, intrigued.
"This is the best effort of the duelist I lost to? This is the man who defeated me at my own tournament. What a joke!"
"Kaiba…" Yami glared at him. He really did not need Kaiba's insults right now.
"You're a disgrace to the game, Yugi! Losing not once, but twice, and to two different opponents! I can't believe I'm about to see the title of Duel Monsters Champion go to some flashy idol!"
"Kaiba, this is way more important than titles! Yugi and Junko's souls are on the line!" Yukizome chastised.
"Hmph. What utter nonsense! You know what's on the line right now? My interest watching this sham."
The taunts and jeers were doing Yami no favors. He and Yugi were two halves of a greater whole. As he looked at his remaining hand, staring down the maw of a possessed Junko Enoshima, he became short of breath. His vision waned.
I can't…I can't risk the lives of two of my friends! I'd rather—
"Snap out of it!"
Yami looked up and back. The shout had come from Hajime. The young man was gazing down at him with eyes full of not disappointment, but determination and vigor.
"Hajime…" Yami's eyes shook. What was this about now?
"During Battle City, whenever I was in a bind, Chiaki would always tell me to stop thinking about winning and losing and what's at stake. She told me I should just have fun." Hajime clenched a fist under his chin. "I know that's difficult to consider under the circumstances, but…" He pointed at Yami again. "I think the principles still apply to every duel. No matter the opponent, no matter the circumstances, you have to give any duel your all. You can't let Junko or the circumstances scare you! Now take her down!" Hajime exclaimed.
"He's right you know."
Yami looked to see Junko adopting her "good" persona, hands behind her back, smiling sweetly. "The fate of the world is at stake. You'll get me back, Pharaoh." She cocked her head to one side, eyes shut. "I believe in you."
"Junko…" Her name barely escaped above a whisper on Yami's lips.
"We're all here with you!" Téa exclaimed, fists raised. "No matter what happens, Junko is our friend!"
"Dat's right!" Joey chimed in.
"But…how can you talk of such things as though it's so simple," Sonia said, catching the attention of the others. "Having your soul stolen is no trivial matter. I was in the Shadow Realm for over 24 hours! It's a truly terrifying experi—"
Sonia stopped talking when Yukizome grabbed her trembling hands. "We know, Sonia. But…nothing can be done about it now. We must press onward. Sometimes, life is cruel and we must accept the tragedies that come our way. If we do not overcome them, we will not grow stronger."
Grow stronger from tragedy? Mukuro thought. Junko had always told her that tragedy beget despair and despair was insurmountable. She thought it best to keep her opinion to herself though.
"Yugi…no, Pharaoh," Hajime said. "If you can't defeat Junko, Kaiba or I will stop her. So don't worry about the consequences or that you're letting the world down." Hajime slammed a fist against his chest. "I never asked to be chosen to save the world. I just want Chiaki back safe and sound. But that doesn't mean I don't know how to be a hero. And…I think that a hero should never look how you do right now."
Yami turned back towards the duel, smiling slightly, eyes closed. He's absolutely right. It's already too late to stop this duel from happening. I cannot placate Junko. Like any opponent I've faced before, I must stand against her. And, as her friend, I will save her!"
A bright glow gave off from the Millennium Puzzle, a clear sign of Yami's resolve restored anew. "Junko, I refuse to give up! No matter who my opponent is, I will not show a single sign of weakness, even to you!"
Junko, her evil persona smirking wildly, replied simply, "Come then." She placed the edges of the top of her cards against her chin. "Show me what you can do without a monster to defend you."
Yami nodded. "I place one-card face-down onto the field," Yami declared. "And next I activate Swords of Revealing Light, preventing you from attacking me for three turns!"
The swords of light rained down onto Junko's side of the field.
"Buying yourself time, I see. But here's the problem Pharaoh, I know all your tricks and strategies. I've observed you dueling. Nothing you can do will surprise me."
Yami smiled at Junko's taunt unflinchingly. "We'll see. Make your move, Junko."
Internally, Junko purred. That defiant hope! Oh, how she wanted to crush it into dust so very badly. "Very well," Junko said. "I draw!" She drew the top card of her deck and placed it into her hand. "First I'll activate the power of De-spell, ridding the field of your Swords of Revealing Light!"
This shocked all of the bystanders, giving a few of them severely rapid heart palpitations.
"And next, I'll set a monster face-down onto the field," Junko stated as the sideways hologram appeared. She smiled wickedly. "Your face-down card is Mirror Force, isn't it?" she asked.
Yami tried his best to keep a good poker face, but his eyebrows twitched and he let out a small grunt.
"Hmph, I had a feeling. Trying to confuse me, are we Pharaoh? Too bad, I see right through your games! Vampire Dragon, attack!"
"Watch out!" Téa, Joey and Tristan shouted at the same time.
However, as Vampire Dragon neared Yami's side of the field, he suddenly was protected by a wall of Kuribohs.
Vampire Dragon's attack was repelled as it returned to Junko's side of the field, her attack unsuccessful.
"Not bad. I didn't take into account that you had a Kuriboh lying in wait in your hand. Seems you can still surprise me yet," Junko said with a smile.
"Yes, and by allowing your monster to remain in play, you've given me just the opening I need to turn this duel around!" Yami exclaimed.
"Oh? You really think you can overcome a monster as strong as my Vampire Dragon?" Junko asked.
"I don't think I can, I know!" Yami exclaimed. He pulled the top card of his deck to his hand. "I activate this magic card! Brain Control! Now, your Vampire Dragon belongs to me!" Yami exclaimed.
The magic hands of Brain Control emerged and brought Vampire Dragon to Yami's side of the field.
"And since your monster is still technically yours, it retains its power boost from the Seal of Orichalcos!"
"Too true," Junko replied. "What's next?"
"Next, I attack your face-down monster with your own Vampire Dragon!" Yami exclaimed.
Vampire Dragon charged at Junko's monster, revealing the hellish sight of Giant Germ. "No! Not that monster!" Yami exclaimed.
Junko chuckled. "Yes! And thanks to Giant Germ's special ability, not only do I get to inflict 500 points of damage directly to your life points, but I can also summon two more to my side of the field!"
Yami growled, watching as two Giant Germs appeared on Junko's side of the field, each with 1,000 attack points and 100 defense points. His life points then dropped to 1,600.
"I'll take my Vampire Dragon back now, thank you very much," Junko said with a smile.
"I'm afraid your Vampire Dragon won't be returning to you, Junko," Yami said with a smile of his own.
"Now, now, Pharaoh. No one likes a sore loser."
"I'm still following the rules, Junko. I haven't summoned a monster this turn, and I'll be using your own Vampire Dragon to bring forth my Summoned Skull!"
Vampire Dragon was swiftly removed from the field as Summoned Skull took its place, lightning discharging outward above its wings a little. It had 2,500 attack points and 1,200 defense points.
"Summoned Skull may be weaker than Vampire Dragon boosted with the power of the Orichalcos," Yami said and clenched a fist by his chest, arm bent at an acute angle. "But since he's my monster, he gets to stay on the field and defend me!"
"Not a bad strategy," Junko said with a smirk as a reply. "But I'm afraid you're forgetting something. Since Vampire Dragon is now in my graveyard, I get to bring any monster with 4 or fewer stars from my deck, straight to my hand." Junko sifted through her deck for a monster card and placed it in her hand, promptly shuffling her deck afterward. She now had five cards in her hand and would be drawing up to six next turn. "Oh and this probably won't come as a surprise to you, but Summoned Skull won't be quite good enough to stop me from utterly destroying you!"
"We'll see about that," Yami replied, glaring.
"Yes," Junko said, reaching for the top card of her deck. "We will!" She exclaimed, plucking the card from her deck forcefully. She looked at the now six cards in her hand. Oh the wonderful ways she had of torturing the Pharaoh. She took a moment to optimize her best strategy in mere seconds and then continued with her move. "I sacrifice both of my Giant Germs to summon a monster so powerful even Summoned Skull will quake in fear before it!" Junko's monsters were removed from the field as she swept her arm that wasn't wearing her duel disk over her chest. The card she was planning to play was clutched ever so sinisterly between her thumb, index and middle fingers. "Behold!" she exclaimed, throwing her monster onto the duel disk. "Despair from the Dark!"
A massively tall fiend appeared on the battlefield. Scarier was that its true form could not be grasped. Its entire body was comprised of shadow with just an orange glow running up the torso of a creature whose lower body wasn't even present on the battlefield. It was like it was present as a shadow behind Junko, its massive horns and wicked, flame filled maw and eyes gazing down hungrily at Yugi. The fiend produced two massive, shadow covered, sharp claws. It had 2,800 attack points and 3,000 defense points. Its eyes glowed red and its attack power quickly increased to 3,300 as the emblem intensified the glow in its eyes.
Yami growled, pupils dilating. He knew he was in for a rough time with this thing on the field.
"Despair from the Dark! Go! Destroy Summoned Skull! Despair Claw Strike!" Junko declared.
"Hold on!" Yami declared. "Did you forget I have a card face-down on the field?"
"Not at all. Are you going to use it to save your Skull?" Junko asked.
"I am indeed!" Yami exclaimed. "And you were right, the card I've played face-down is, in fact, Mirror Force!"
Despair from the Dark's attack was repelled as it cowered and hissed from the trap and was destroyed.
"You've destroyed your own monster," Yami stated, "How careless!"
Junko smirked. "I prefer to think of it as sound strategy."
"What?" Yami gasped.
"I set one card face-down onto the field," Junko said. "And next, I'll activate Graceful Charity, allowing me to draw three cards," she said, quickly drawing three, "As long as I discard two." She promptly sent two cards to the graveyard. "It's your move, Pharaoh."
"All right, my move!" Yami exclaimed. "I draw!" He drew the top card of his deck.
"Stop right there!" Junko exclaimed.
"What? What for?" Yami asked.
"Since you just drew the top card of your deck, I can activate the effect of a monster I sent to the graveyard with Graceful Charity! Come on out, my Doomking Balerdroch!" A nightmarish hell-spawn that looked like what would happen if a snake, a lich and a dragon all got into a DNA splicer appeared on Junko's side of the field. The terrifying creature had 2,800 attack points and 2,000 defense points. Its attack points readjusted to 3,300, but the monster was in defense mode so that hardly mattered.
"Oh man, as if Yugi needs anything more to worry about," Mokuba sighed.
"You're telling me," Joey agreed.
Why did Junko play such a weak monster? Hajime wondered. Surely, she knows the Pharaoh will wipe it out. Hajime gasped. Unless that's exactly what she wants!
"I activate Card of Sanctity, now we must both keep drawing until we hold six cards!" Yami exclaimed.
"The heart of the cards certainly is something to help you draw that at such an opportune time," Junko stated with a deceptively sinister smile.
"My deck has never let me down before and that's why I'm going to use it to turn this duel around!" Yami exclaimed. "I activate a ritual spell: Black Luster Ritual!" Yami exclaimed. "Now, by sending two monsters to the graveyard, I open the gates of Chaos! Come forth, Black Luster Soldier!"
Yami's most powerful warrior stepped onto the battlefield with its 3,000 attack and 2,500 defense points. Yami looked at the remaining two cards in his hand. Nodding to himself, he declared, "I set one card face-down onto the field." The appropriate hologram appeared.
"And next I attack with Black Luster Soldier at your Doomking Balerdroch!" Yami exclaimed.
"And right into my trap!" Junko exclaimed. "I activate Call of the Haunted!"
Suddenly, a tombstone appeared and a shadowy purple claw grabbed Black Luster Soldier's sword, clamping down on it.
"Oh no!" Yami gasped, barely able to believe his eyes. Despair from the Dark was returning to the field and it had intercepted Yami's attack.
"Despair from the Dark, counterattack!" Junko exclaimed.
Despair from the Dark took a swing at Black Luster Soldier, but suddenly an electromagnetic pulse separated the two, saving Black Luster Soldier.
"Hmm?" Junko's eyes narrowed.
Yami was quick to explain. He ejected a card from his graveyard. He held it up to Junko, artwork facing her. "When I summoned Black Luster Soldier, I sent this card to the graveyard: my Electromagnetic Turtle. Thanks to him I was able to end the battle as soon as your Despair from the Dark was revived."
"Oh, clever," Junko said. "Too bad it does nothing to help your situation. You have two monsters on the field and both of them are too weak to stop my 3,300 attack point monstrosities." Junko's monsters growled at Yami, fire and hellish purple smoke being exuded from their mouths at him.
"If that's how you feel, then why don't you try to attack?" Yami asked.
"Hmm?" Junko's gaze was affixed on Yami. He seemed unfazed by her smugness.
"I'll set one more card face-down onto the field," Yami stated. "That'll end my turn." He had but a single card in his hand now.
Junko looked at the six cards in her hand. "You're a fool, Pharaoh! I draw!" she had 7 cards in her hand now. She looked at them all. "I'll start by setting three cards face-down onto the field," Junko exclaimed, leaving her with only one open card slot with Call of the Haunted in effect. "And now, Doomking Balerdroch, attack his Black Luster Soldier!"
"Not so fast!" Yami declared. "I activate my face-down card, Dark Renewal!"
A gigantic coffin appeared as Summoned Skull and Doomking Balerdroch were dragged into it.
"Oh? Now that's unexpected? Going to summon your favorite monster with the power of your trap card?" Junko asked.
"I see your well-informed. You're exactly right," Yami replied. "By sacrificing my Summoned Skull and your Doomking Balerdrcoh, I can bring forth my ever faithful companion: Dark Magician!"
Dark Magician emerged from the coffin, spinning its staff everywhere and causing the tip to flash against the moonlight. It appeared in attack mode.
"Huh? Why'd he play it in attack mode?" Tristan asked. "Junko's gonna crush it with her other monster!"
"Don't be so sure," Hajime replied. "She did attack Black Luster Soldier a moment ago. She may ignore Dark Magician just to rid the field of a more powerful monster."
"What would you do, Kaiba?" Miho asked him.
"Well, honestly, who could resist the bounty of Yugi's Dark Magician going to the graveyard, after he worked so hard to summon it?" Kaiba asked with a smug smirk.
Mai put the side of her index finger against her lips. "You think that's what the kiddo wants?" Mai asked.
"Who can say?" Kaiba asked. "If I were Yugi, I'd have set the field so that no matter what Junko did, the board would be in my favor. And if I know him, he already has."
"You're down a monster, Junko," Yami replied, smiling deviously. "What are you going to do now?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Junko asked. "I'm going to wipe the field of…" Her arm panned back and forth, uncertain which target to pick at first. If I attack Dark Magician, he likely played it in attack position for a reason. However, Black Luster Soldier doesn't require much powering up by comparison to destroy my monster if I leave it unchecked. Hmm… Junko looked at the cards face-down on her side of the field. I know what I have to do. "I attack Black Luster Soldier!"
This surprised a few of the spectators, including Mokuba, Hajime, Joey and Mai.
Yami braced for impact as Despair from the Dark swung out its massive claw and swat Black Luster Soldier like a fly, blowing it up. Yami was left with but his Dark Magician on his side of the field. His life points counted downward to 1,300. Junko still had yet to be touched.
"That's all I'm going to do this turn," Junko said, folding her arms and resting the remaining four cards in her hand against her elbow. "It's your move, Pharaoh."
Yami drew the top card of his deck.
"And since you just drew a card, Doomking Balerdroch returns to the field in defense mode!" Junko exclaimed. The monster returned to her side of the field with 2,000 defense points.
"It can keep coming back?" Mokuba gasped.
"As long as there's a field-spell magic card in play, Balerdroch can always return to the field."
"That's not fair!" Joey exclaimed. "How are you supposed to stop a monster that can keep coming back from the graveyard. The Seal of Orichalcos can't be destroyed!"
"Oh well," Kaiba chuckled. "Guess we should be glad that's not you down there."
Mai and Tristan had to hold Joey back to keep him from trying to slug Kaiba.
"He'll figure it out," Yukizome said. "He's the king of games after all. I'm sure he'll pull through."
"She's right," Kaiba responded. "Well, former King of Games," he chuckled. "Right now that title…" he looked at Junko, "Belongs to her."
"Come on, Pharaoh," Téa said, worryingly.
Yami now with two cards in his hand, observed the situation. Junko had two powerful monsters on the field and he only had Dark Magician in play. He had 1,300 life points. She had 4,000. She had three cards face-down on the field. He had none. Not exactly the best situation for him to be in. Fortunately, with the cards in his hand, it seemed he might be able to get out of the corner she'd backed him into.
"I activate Thousand Knives!" Yami shouted. "With this, I can destroy any monster on your side of the field! And the monster I choose is, Despair From the Dark!"
One thousand knives appeared surrounding Yami's Dark Magician as it prepared to launch them at Junko.
"Go, Dark Magician! Destroy her monster now!" Yami bellowed.
The knives all darted at Junko's monster, sticking it with their sharp points and causing it lurch back, howling to the sky before exploding.
"So now you have your magician doing magic tricks?" Junko asked, her wrist under her chin. "What's next? Magical Hats?"
"Close, but not quite," Yami said with a confident smirk. Junko frowned. "No, I'll be playing Dark Magician's other favorite trick! Behold! Mystic Box!"
Junko's Doomking Balerdroch and Dark Magician became concealed in two tall, thin Magical Boxes. Suddenly, a bunch of swords stabbed the box Dark Magician was in.
"Is he nuts?!" Kazuichi exclaimed. "Taking out Junko's monster can't be worth the price of his Dark Magician, can it? Not to mention it comes back the next turn."
Joey started laughing. "You'd think so, but watch. I love this part!"
Suddenly, the box on Junko's side of the field opened and Dark Magician stepped out unharmed, surprising Kazuichi and the other novice duelists among Yukizome's class. Mukuro even clapped a little, letting out a little "oooooh" of wonder, like a child.
I can't believe that amuses her, Junko thought grumpily. I suppose it suits that flat-chested deviant.
The box on Yami's side of the field slid open, revealing Junko's monster skewered from all sides.
"My, my, going on the offensive. You're full of surprises tonight, Pharaoh," Junko said with a smirk.
Dark Magician performed a backflip as both boxes disappeared, landing with his back to his master.
"And I'm not done yet," Yami said. "Go, Dark Magician! DARK MAGIC ATTACK!"
Everything went photo negative as Yami's ever faithful companion raised his arm, clenched his staff tightly and let loose a direct attack at Junko's body.
However, the results were not what Yami was hoping for. Junko's life points remained untouched as she dusted off her shoulder. "Hmph, was that it?"
"What?!" Yami gasped.
"Confused?" Junko asked. "Then perhaps you should take a good look at this trap card," she said spreading her arm out wide. "Ghosts From the Past!"
Yami noticed several green ghosts that looked like muscular reptile men appearing around Junko. One of them was even clenching the staff of his Dark Magician.
"Thanks to this trap card, I can reduce the attack of any monster to 0 until the end of the turn. So sorry. Better luck next time, handsome."
The ghosts disappeared and so did Junko's trap card. And now it was her turn once more.
"First, I draw," Junko said, placing the card in her hand. "And next," she said, clapping her hands out in front of her once, and loudly. "Let's give a warmhearted welcome to Doomking Balerdroch, returning from the graveyard once more!"
Her monster crawled its way out of the ground with 2,000 defense points, sitting on Junko's side of the battlefield, ready to be commanded.
"What?! She can summon that creepy thing no matter whose turn it is?" Joey exclaimed.
"Didn't I already say that?" Kaiba asked, glaring.
"To be fair, you did not specify that she could do so during either player's turn," Sonia stated worryingly, but calmly. "Oh dear. What can Yugi do? Her monster seems unstoppable."
"The only good news is that as long as Yugi destroys it on her turn, she won't be able to switch it to attack mode per the rules," Ryota pointed out.
"Yeah, but…Junko will just get it back on her turn," Téa said. "And who knows what she can do with that freaky thing."
"Lots of terrible things, knowing my sister," Mukuro stated.
Junko looked at the 5 cards in her hand. She smirked when she saw two of them. "Thanks to you adding my Vampire Dragon's effect earlier, I can now send the Man-Eating Treasure Chest I brought to my hand in order to special summon an incredibly powerful monster! Behold! Cosmo Brain!"
A regally dressed galactic emperor looking type of sorcerer stood upon the battlefield with its purple skin and gigantic scepter. It had 1,500 attack points and 2,450 defense points. It's attack power then jumped up to 2,000 with the boost received from the Orichalcos.
"Hold on," Joey said. "That monster's too weak to destroy Dark Magician. What's she thinking?"
"Logic has never been your strong suit, has it Joey?" Junko asked.
"Hey!" Joey barked at her.
"Now then," Junko said, taking her Man Eating Treasure Chest out of the graveyard momentarily. "I'll explain for him and those with lesser brains." She held up the card to show Yami. "Since the monster I sent to the graveyard was a 4-star monster, my monster gains 800 more attack points!" She sent Man-Eating Treasure Chest back to the graveyard. "That's why I summoned this monster."
Cosmo Brain's attack power reached 2,800.
"Uhhh, statement retracted," Joey gulped.
"Oh it gets worse," Junko chuckled. "You see. Now, by simply sending my Doomking Balerdroch to the graveyard," she said as a blustering gale surrounded her monster. "I can summon any monster without a special ability from my deck. And the card I choose is none other than the unrivaled dark sorceress of the Cosmos: My Cosmo Queen!"
Junko's Doomking vanished from the field and in its place her Cosmo Queen appeared. Its 2,900 attack points were a damning sight to behold, especially under the circumstances.
Joey nodded. "Yup, that's definitely worse."
"Yeah, and now, thanks to the Seal of Orichalcos, it's gonna get even more attack points." Cosmo Queen now had 3,400 attack points.
"You're out of luck!" Junko exclaimed. "Cosmo Brain, attack! Wipe out his Dark Magician! Cosmic Scepter Blast!"
"Hold it right there!" Yami thundered. "I activate the trap card Magician's Selection!" A trap card flipped face-up, revealing Dark Magician standing with its staff sideways against a magic circle. "This trap card stops your attack and allows me to destroy the monster on your side of the field with the lowest attack points, which just so happens to be the monster you just chose to attack with. Dark Magician! Go! Take out her Cosmo Brain!"
Dark Magician unleashed a blue wave of energy that completely obliterated Junko's monster.
"Yeah! Way to go, Yug!" Joey exclaimed. "That'll show her!"
Junko, who had leaned back a little so that her bangs were covering her eyes with a shadow was chuckling.
"What's so funny?" Yami asked.
"You are," Junko said with an excited smile. "You're a fool! Don't you realize I had a feeling your face-down card may have been Magician's Selection? Why else would you have left Dark Magician in attack mode when you summoned it! That's why I attacked with my weaker monster first!"
"Cosmo Queen has more attack points and it hasn't attacked yet!" Tristan called out in alarm.
"This is bad!" Téa whimpered.
"You're going down!" Junko shouted. "Cosmo Queen, attack with Shadow Master Blast!" Junko raised her arms to the sky and then held them out at her side, fingers clutched, palms facing up. "Rid the field of his favorite monster, The Dark Magician!"
Cosmo Queen unleashed a powerful blast from her hands and, unfortunately, there was no saving Yugi's monster this time. His life points took a nasty tumble, stopping only at a mere 400 points.
"Aw, man! Junko hasn't even been touched!" Tristan exclaimed.
"Pharaoh…" Téa whimpered.
Junko chuckled darkly, seeing the look of teeth grinded frustration on Yami's face. "You're out of monsters and out of options." Junko held up the three remaining cards in her hand. "And I still have plenty of cards I can use to take you down. Looks like I'm Queen of Games now, wouldn't you say?" Junko asked, smirking wickedly.
"That's not…" Yami was shaking, fists trembling.
"Oh, come now, Pharaoh," Junko said. "You already used Card of Sanctity and Graceful Charity. Your next best option would be to use Pot of Greed. And no single card on its own can save you now. Not even the Eye of Timaeus." Junko smiled, looking at Kaiba. "Interested in Yugi's sloppy seconds when he loses?"
"Hmph, you really think you have this duel won? Please! I can think of three different ways I could come back from a situation like this! And if Yugi is even half the duelist I am, he'll do the same!"
"Kaiba…" Yami could barely believe his ears. Kaiba was encouraging him.
"Yugi, you'd better not lose. If you do, what respect I have left for you as a duelist will disappear. You'd better reclaim your title from Junko." Kaiba clenched his fist and pulled it down towards his chest. "So that I can take it from you myself!"
"There it is!" Joey exclaimed, knowing the backhand of Kaiba's speech was going to show up sooner or later.
Junko chuckled. "You really do enjoy your fantasies, Seto Kaiba. But here's reality for you," Junko said. "Once I'm done with Yugi, you're next. And soon, no one on top of that building will remain. The entire world will belong to the Great Leviathan!" Junko exclaimed with satanic glee, spreading her arms out wide.
Then, suddenly, she palmed her right eye with her right hand, hunching over.
"No…stop…not now…We're so close! Don't you dare!"
"Junko!" Yami called her name. She was fighting back against her dark half yet again.
"Yu…gi…" Junko squeaked out.
"Junko! Fight it! I know you can!" Yami shouted.
"Evil" Junko resurfaced, moving her hands in such a way that it looked like she was struggling against her "good" half's influence. "Don't you dare!"
"Good" Junko returned. "I'm not going to…let it end…like this…Nnngh! I activate…Nngh!" she was "struggling" against her "Evil" half. "My face-down card: Graceful Tear!"
"Y-you idiot!" The evil side of Junko declared.
Junko staggered towards Yami, only to stumble and fall onto her hands and knees, crawling to him, a card in her hand. Her nails scraped against the metal rooftop, both "halves" fighting each other, but good Junko was winning out.
"Here…Pharaoh…" she said, straining her arm, extending a hand. "Take it."
"Y-you idiot!" Her evil side, chastised, but unable to take control of the body. "We were supposed to save this trap card until we could give him something completely useless!"
"Poo bear…" Junko said, handing the card to Yami face-down. "Take it…"
"Junko…"
"Take it now! Take it before she makes me give you something else!" Junko exclaimed.
Yami clenched the card tightly just in time for Junko to stagger back to her feet, hands clutched against her temples. She traipsed back and forth, pretending to fight from within, convincing everyone of her completely made-up inner struggle.
"How can she fight against it so hard?" Kazuichi wondered. "Gundham and Hiyoko were never like this."
"It must be her will," Akane said, having one of her rare profound moments. "Gundham was faking it the whole time and Hiyoko was being manipulated by Dartz. But Junko's been with Yugi and his friends the whole time! I bet she knows what it's like to be a good person, so she doesn't want to lose what's left of her humanity!"
"That must be it!" Yukizome exclaimed.
"That's some willpower," Hajime noted.
"About as good as yours, I'd say, Mr. I Refuse To Lose," Kaiba chuckled.
Hajime sheepishly rubbed the back of her head.
"RAAAARGH!" Junko exclaimed, the dark side of her in full control. She panted, hunched over a little. "Ugh, that idiot! She screwed everything up!" Junko sneered and then looked at the remaining two cards in her hand. "Oh well, it's not like she gave you anything terribly useful. Next turn I'll be returning my Doomking to my field and with Cosmo Queen still in play, you don't have a prayer, especially since the secondary effect of Graceful Tear grants me an extra 2,000 life points." Junko's life points jumped up to 6,000.
"Great," Joey lamented, scratching his bangs with his hand. "As if she needs any more life points.
Yami looked at the card in his hand that Junko had given him. The card was called Legendary Maju Garzett. It was an 8 star fiend monster with 0 attack and 0 defense, but with a nasty ability. In order to summon it, he would need a monster. It was the only card in his hand, his deck required that he draw something to help him summon it, or possibly even use its level to his advantage.
"Sorry to disappoint you!" Yami exclaimed. "But from this card alone, Junko, I can see into your soul."
Junko wanted to laugh. This was all part of her plan. But if she laughed, she'd likely expose herself.
"The good inside you has given me a gift that I will use to its full advantage. For you see, just as she said when she won against Rafael, she still believes," Yami said as he went for the top card of his deck. "In the heart of the cards!"
Kaiba rolled his eyes. Oh well, whatever keeps him from giving up I suppose.
Yami pulled the top card of his deck to his hand.
"Just in case, I think I'll bring Doomking back from the graveyard," Junko stated as her monster crawled its way onto the battlefield.
"That's fine. I'm happy to see him," Yami stated with a smile.
"Huh?" Junko asked flatly.
Yami held out the card in his hand that he drew. "I activate Pot of Greed!"
"That'll allow you to draw two cards. Yes, Pharaoh. I'm aware. Everyone knows what Pot of Greed does. Now draw."
Yami drew the next top two cards of his deck. His eyes shook when he saw what he had in his hand. Yes, this was exactly what he needed to turn this duel around. "I activate the magic card Change of Heart! This will allow me to take control of one of your monsters and bring it to my side of the field. And the card I choose is, your Cosmo Queen!" Yami exclaimed, as the monster floated over to his side of the field and turned around.
"Going to use my monster against me?" Junko asked, slightly intrigued.
"I'll do more than that," Yami stated. "I'm going to use both monsters against you with this magic card: Soul Taker! This allows me to tribute one of your monsters as though it were my own, at the cost of granting you 1,000 life points."
"Must be worth the risk," Hajime stated.
"It is indeed," Yami said. "For you see, Junko, the card your good half gave me was none other than one of the most powerful fiends in all of Duel Monsters. I now sacrifice your Doomking and your Cosmo Queen to summon The Legendary Maju Garzett!" An enormous pinkish brown fiend, covered in fur and yellow eyes on its shoulders and face appeared on the battlefield. It had 0 attack and defense points.
"Yugi! Come on! That monster has 0 attack points!" Joey exclaimed.
Mokuba chuckled. "Yeah, but it's got a killer ability."
"Indeed," Yami stated. "For you see Legendary Maju Garzett gains the attack points of the original attack points of the monsters used to summon it. Cosmo Queen had 2,900 attack points and Doomking Balerdroch had 2,800. That means my monster has a grand total of 5,700 attack points!"
Legendary Maju Garzett's attack points climbed and climbed and didn't stop until they hit that magic number of 5,700.
"H-hey now…L-Let's talk about this…" Junko's dark half said, sweating as her life points increased to 7,000.
"Talk to this," Yami said with a stern calmness. He then extended his arm out, palm open as he declared, "Legendary Maju Garzett attack, take out a chunk of Junko's life points now!"
"Aw, yeah!" Téa cheered, fists clenched as she jumped for joy.
"You da man, Yug!" Joey exclaimed.
"Do it now!" Junko exclaimed, her good half managing to come through.
Legendary Maju Garzett charged up a gigantic orange energy beam aimed directly at Junko.
"Forgive me, Junko," Yami said. "But I have to do this for the fate of the world!"
"I know," Junko said with a sweet smile. And, without a hint of her other personality taking over, she then said deviously. "Because there's nothing to forgive."
Before Legendary Maju Garzett could finish charging its attack, it suddenly stumbled, clutching its head and then crouched on the ground.
"What? What's going on?" Yami demanded to know. "What happened to my monster?"
Junko laughed darkly. "So close yet so far yet again, Pharaoh," she said. "Reveal trap card: No Entry!" Junko's last remaining face-down card flipped face-up, showing two policemen facing a locked jail cell. "This trap card switches all of your monsters in attack position into defense position. Better luck next time."
"Oh no! Legendary Maju Garzett has 0 defense points!" Yami exclaimed as Junko went for the top card of her deck. "Any monster could defeat it now!"
"Correct. But first," Junko said, snapping her fingers. "Let's welcome back an old friend that just hates to say goodbye." Doomking Baledroch returned to the field in face-up defense position. "But he won't be sticking around for long. For I'm going to sacrifice him to summon a monster to take his place so I can attack this turn and rid the field of that eyesore of a demon! I summon Ushi Oni, in attack mode!" Junko declared.
A legless bull demon rising up out of a jar appeared on her side of the battlefield. It had 2,150 attack points and 1,950 defense points. Its eyes glowed red and then its attack power increased to 2,650.
"Ushi Oni, attack!" Junko exclaimed. "Wipe out his Legendary Maju Garzett!"
Ushi Oni rammed forward, a wisp of its spirit remaining inside the jar it was summoned from. It bowled over Legendary Maju Garzett, destroying it. Since Yami's monster was in defense mode, his 400 life points remained untouched.
"I think I'll just play this little guy face-down onto the field," Junko said, leaving herself with one card in her hand. "Your turn, Pharaoh." Yami drew his card and then waited, unsurprised when Junko declared, "Doomking Balerdroch, return to the field!" Junko's eyesore of a demon came back to her side of the field in defense position.
"Ugh, can't you get rid of that thing, Yug!" Joey shouted, fists clenched. He was tired of watching it crawl back onto the field every turn.
"Don't worry, Joey," Yami said. "I think it's finally time I turn this duel around."
"Oh yeah, and how are you going to do that?" Junko asked.
"With this!" Yami exclaimed. "I activate Monster Reborn! Return to me now, Black Luster Soldier!" Yami's most powerful warrior returned to the field in all his gilded glory at 3,000 attack points strong.
"And now I'll use him to wipe out your Doomking Balerdroch from the field! Go, attack!" Yami exclaimed.
Black Luster Soldier charged forward and took out Doomking Balerdroch.
"Good call," Hajime said. "He had to go for it instead of Junko's life points, or he'd lose the only advantage he had. Doomking Balerdroch might response every turn, but always in defense mode."
"So what? I sent that master to an early grave once before and I'll do it again," Junko stated.
"We'll see!" Yami declared.
"Indeed," Junko said. She drew the top card of her deck and snapped her fingers, Doomking Balerdroch returning to the field as if on command. "And now," Junko said and looked at her hand. Unfortunately, the current situation left her at a disadvantage in terms of field presence. Sure, she could hold out until she drew a monster capable of taking Black Luster Soldier down, but that also gave Yami turns to come back from this corner she'd decisively put him into. She had no choice. She needed resources. She took a deep breath, to soak in the despair of that sensation. And then, she made her move.
"I'll set another card face-down onto the field," Junko stated. "And then I'll activate Card of Sanctity! You know the drill. And since both of our hands are empty, we both get to have full hands."
"All right! Back in da game!" Joey cheered.
With a full hand, Yami certainly had options now. In fact, the cards he was holding would clearly help him turn the tide of warfare. Now, only one question remained. Could he survive Junko's turn so that he could turn this duel around?
Junko smirked, making Yami clench his teeth and buttocks as he wondered if things were over for him before they'd even gotten started. "I sacrifice my Ushi Oni and my Doomking Balerdroch to summon Darkstorm Dragon!" A black dragon with beige wings stormed onto the battlefield. It had a dark gray twister covering the lower half of its body. It had 2,700 attack points and 2,500 defense points. "And before you say, but that's not enough attack points," Junko said, chuckling. "The Seal of Orichalcos will take care of that problem for me." Darkstorm Dragon's attack points rose to 3,200, giving Junko just enough power to stomp over Black Luster Soldier a second time.
"Oh no!" Yami gasped.
"Oh yes!" Junko exclaimed with almost orgasmic glee. "Darkstorm Dragon, attack! Violent Dark Hurricane!"
Junko's monster covered Yami's Black Luster Soldier in a gray tornado with a beat of its wings, destroying it and lowering Yami's life points to an even more uncomfortable 200.
"Oh no, poor Pharaoh," Téa said, worried.
"This is kind of hard to watch," Yukizome admitted.
"He'll pull through," Hajime said with gusto. "He has to. I know he will."
"And just so you don't get any funny ideas, I'm activating my face-down card, Fateful Hour! This lets me bring back Black Luster Soldier from your graveyard to my side of the field!"
This shocked everyone, including Kaiba, and even Kyoko.
Black Luster Soldier was revived as Junko's ally, his blade aimed at Yami.
"And since your monster now serves me, he gains an extra 500 attack points from the power of the Seal of Orichalcos!" Junko exclaimed.
Black Luster Soldier now had a stalwart 3,500 attack points.
Junko looked at the 5 cards in her hand. "I think I'm done torturing you for a while, Pharaoh," she chuckled. "It's your move."
"I'm glad to hear it," Yami said with a smile.
"What?" Junko asked flatly.
"Now that I've survived your turn, it's finally time for me to truly turn this duel around!"
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Junko asked, intrigued, almost laughing.
"First," Yami said. "I draw." The world seemed to resonate as Yami drew his card. He'd finally drawn it. The Eye of Timaeus was now in his hand.
"Next, I suspect that you'll be bringing back your Doomking Baledroch back from the graveyard?" Yami asked.
"You'd suspect right," Junko said, snapping her fingers as the appropriate monster returned to her side of the field.
This was it. The time to strike was nigh. "First, I activate the ritual spell known as Dark Magic Ritual!" Yami exclaimed. "Now, by sending Valkyrion the Magna Warrior to my graveyard, I can summon Magician of Black Chaos!"
Yami's most powerful sorcerer stood upon the field with its insanely powerful 2,800 attack points and 2,600 defense points.
"And next, I fuse Magician of Black Chaos together with this! THE EYE OF TIMAEUS!"
Junko grinned from ear to ear. Nothing made her happier than seeing something brand new she'd never seen before. Magician of Black Chaos with Timaeus? The possibilities were certainly endless.
"Now, behold, a monster unlike any other!" Yami declared as the two monsters united to create Magician of Black Chaos riding Timaeus, the latter of which was covered in dark, black plate armor on his head, his limbs, his wings, his tail and his back. "Behold, Black Chaos Dragon Knight!"
Timaeus roared proudly as Magician of Black Chaos pulled on the dragon's reins, their attack points equaling no less than 3,300 points. It also had 3,100 defense points.
"Fascinating," Junko stated. "And just what can it do?"
"Oh it can do lots of things," Yami stated. He smirked. "But first, I activate Mystic Space Typhoon to destroy your face-down card!"
Junko was somewhat surprised by this as the swirling vortex launched from the spell card and blew up her trap card: Memory Loss.
"H-how did you…?"
"You've been plotting things well in advance the whole duel, Junko. I had a feeling you'd lain a trap for my Legendary Dragon as well!" Yami declared. "You're not the only one who can think analytically."
Internally, Junko purred once more.
"Now then, I activate the special ability of my Black Chaos Dragon Knight! By removing every card from my graveyard, my monster gains 100 attack points for every card removed." Yami smirked. "And you've forced me to send quite a lot of cards to the graveyard, haven't you, Junko?"
Junko did the math as cards came flying out of Yami's graveyard. Magician of Black Chaos held its magic staff aloft atop Timaeus as Timaeus reared back like a steed as its armor glowed red while a powerful, dark aura surrounded Magician of Black Chaos. Yami had sent 25 cards to the card graveyard, one of which he'd banished previously with Electromagnetic Turtle, that meant that Black Chaos Dragon Knight was going to gain 2,400 attack points.
And it did, its power climbing tremendously all the way to 5,700, coincidentally the same attack points that Legendary Maju Garzett had had.
"And that's not all," Yami stated. "If Black Chaos Dragon Knight attacks a monster, it cannot make a direct attack that turn, but it can attack every single monster on your side of the field until they're all gone. First! Go my dragon! Destroy Black Luster Soldier! Chaos Dragon Breath!"
Dark flames charged inside Timaeus' throat that were then launched at Black Luster Soldier, blowing it to kingdom come and creating a towering spire of flame in its wake. Junko's life points finally descended to the tune of 2,200 points, leaving her with 4,800 points.
"Now, thanks to Black Luster Soldier returning to my graveyard, I can banish him from the graveyard as well, increasing my Dragon Knight's power by another 100 points!"
Black Chaos Dragon Knight's attack power grew to 5,800.
"Go, my dragon! Attack again! Take out her Darkstorm Dragon!"
Another blast of dark flames completely shut down Junko's monster. She hissed and recoiled at the sight. It was, of course, an act. She really didn't care, but she had to play the part. She lost another 2,600 life points, bringing her down to only 2,200.
"And there's one more thing you should know," Yami stated. "Whenever Black Chaos Dragon Knight attacks a monster in defense position and destroys it, all of that monster's defense points are subtracted from your life points! So say goodbye to Doomking Balerdroch! Black Chaos Dragon Knight, wipe out her last remaining monster!"
Black Chaos Dragon Knight unleashed one more powerful blast of Dark Flames that consumed Doomking Balerdroch, obliterating it from the field and dropping Junko's life points down to 200 points, tying the game.
"He tied the game!" Tristan exclaimed, excitedly.
"Thank goodness," Miho said with a smile.
"That's our Yug!" Joey cheered.
Téa's eyes shimmered with tears that had almost fallen. She wiped her eyes with the side of her finger in relief.
"Since I was able to destroy three monsters this turn," Yami stated. "I gain 300 life points for each monster destroyed, increasing my life points to 1,100 points." Yami's life points grew, putting him significantly ahead of Junko.
Black Chaos Dragon Knight roared triumphantly. This duel was not over. Not by a long shot. And it looked like, with just his Legendary Dragon, Yami had decisively put the match in his favor.
So then…why was Junko laughing? It was an amused, low-pitch chuckle at first, but it got louder, and then louder still until, once more, she was full-blown cackling. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Junko took a breath and continued laughing. "AHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Spelndid!" She exclaimed with a wide-wicked grin, "Simply splendid!" She hugged herself, cheeks flushed, eyes gentle with what seemed to be arousal. "So this is the potential of the Legendary Dragons! How beautiful, how wonderful it is."
"Anyone else feeling a case of déjà vu?" Kazuichi asked. His classmates all knew what he was talking about and thought it best to decline to comment.
"You really are an amazing duelist Pharaoh," Junko said, cheeks returning to their normal color. She went for the top card of her deck. "In one move you managed to drag me down to your level. I must say, I'm quite impressed." She drew the top card of her deck and smiled and it was not a nice smile at all. "Unfortunately, the power you've shown me will not be quite enough to clinch the duel," Junko replied.
"What do you mean?" Yami demanded to know.
Junko chuckled. "I mean this. Doomking Balerdroch, return and serve me now!"
Junko's disgusting lich-like creature crawled its way up from below yet again.
"And now," Junko said with a giddy grin, "I'm going to sacrifice him again to play Legendary Maju Garzett's 6-star in-bred cousin. Behold! Great Maju Garzett!"
With fur upon his shoulders and wrists, blue muscle fibers covering his body and thick, red horns atop his head, Junko's six-star monster stood stalwartly on the battlefield with its arms folded with 0 attack and 0 defense points. "And thanks to his special ability, his attack points are double the original attack of the monster used to summon him. The monster I chose, Doomking Balerdroch, had 2,800 attack points, that means Great Maju Garzett's power is almost equal to the power of your Black Chaos Dragon Knight!"
Great Maju Garzett's power surged to 5,600 points.
"And don't forget that my monster gains an additional 500 attack points thanks to the power of the Seal of the Orichalcos!"
Great Maju Garzett's growled and beat its chest as its attack points increased to 6,100, eyes glowing red from inside its helmet from the power of the Orichalcos as the seal appeared on its forehead.
"Now it's stronger than Yugi's dragon!" Mikan exclaimed in fright.
"And don't think I'm done screwing you over quite yet," Junko said, holding up a card. "I activate the magic card Black Pendant! This will increase my Great Maju Garzett's power by an additional 500 points."
Great Maju Garzett now had 6,600 attack points, a terrifyingly high amount to be sure. Its might left shocked faces all around the audience.
"No! My dragon!" Yami exclaimed.
Junko chuckled darkly. "And you worked so hard to summon it too. Oh well. Great Maju Garzett, attack! Wipe out his legendary Black Chaos Dragon Knight!"
An orange beam charged on top of Great Maju Garzett's forehead. The blast shot forth and consumed Yami's almighty dragon, causing him to shout "NO!"
When the flash from the blast dissipated, Yami was left no dragon to speak of and his life points descended down to 300 points, only 100 points more than Junko's.
Junko chuckled sinisterly, pressing the remaining four cards in her hand to her lips. "That's too bad," she said. "What a disappointing finish." She fanned herself with her hand of cards. "But just in case," she said, plucking a card from it. "One card face-down onto the field." The face-down hologram appeared. "Oh, and I hope you don't have any illusions about blowing up my Great Maju Garzett with some sort of magic or trap card. For you see, Black Pendant is a nasty spell card. When its destroyed, you are dealt 500 life points of damage. Make your move, Pharaoh. I can't wait."
Yukizome gasped. This situation felt very familiar. She didn't care if what she was about to do was cheating or not, she called down to the Pharaoh. "Pharaoh!" she called, the sides of her hands by her cheeks.
"Hmm?" Yami turned his gaze towards her.
"Do you have a copy of Spell Shattering Arrow in your deck?"
Yami looked at his hand, eyes dilating. He looked back at Yukizome. "It's in my hand!" He then realized what Yukizome was getting at. Yes! Of course! Spell shattering arrow would destroy Junko's Black Pendant and then we would both take 500 points of damage. The effects would cause us to tie and therefore end the duel.
"Do you really think I didn't account for that?" Junko asked, pointing at her face-down card. "I wouldn't give you that kind of opportunity. I…"
Then, one more time Junko looked as if in pain, her "good half" surging forth. "No! I don't want to lose my soul!" she exclaimed, wincing with one eye and closing the other. "And…neither will…the Pharaoh…"
"Junko!"
"Pharaoh…hurry…I can't hold her off for very long. This is…taking all of my strength."
Yami drew the top card of his deck.
"I won't summon Doomking Balerdroch, so please, quickly…while I'm still myself…before she can activate Magic Jammer…END THE DUEL!" Junko pleaded. Her eyes were clenched shut and her hands were balled into fists over her chest, elbows down by her abdomen.
Yami nodded and quickly sent Spell Shattering Arrow into the spell/trap zone. "I activate Spell Shattering Arrow, destroying every face-up spell card you have on the field. For each card destroyed this way, you will take 500 points of damage and since one of the cards I'm destroying is Black Pendant, I will take 500 points of damage as well, ending the duel.
Junko dropped to one knee, panting, pretending to fight off her inner darkness, watching as Spell Shattering Arrow came shooting out of its card artwork directly at the artwork of her Black Pendant spell card.
"I…" Junko wheezed. "I…"
Spell Shattering Arrow drew nearer and nearer.
Finally, Yami thought solemnly, eyes closed, grateful for this nightmare to be over. It can all come to an end.
Junko reached around her face with her right hand and grabbed her left cheek. "RRRAAARGH!"
Junko got to her feet, evil side in full control. Spell Shattering Arrow was just about to hit her spell.
"I activate Magic Jammer!"
Yami's eyes shot open in horror. Wh-what?
His pupils dilated, watching as Spell Shattering Arrow slammed into Black Pendant's card, but did not penetrate, horrified at the sight of Junko's trap card visible right next to it.
"Now, by discarding one card from my hand," Junko said, sending a card to the graveyard, leaving her with two, "I can negate the effects of your spell card."
"Junko! No! What have you done?" Yami shouted.
Junko chuckled darkly. "Junko? I'm afraid Junko Enoshima has left the building. I am she that slumbers inside the Orichalcos." Junko tilted her head back, knuckles brushing up and pressed against her bangs. "I am a servant of the Great Leviathan. Your friend is gone, Pharaoh. You failed to stop her. I am in control now."
"No…" A protest barely above a whisper escaped Yami's lips.
"What's the matter? Are you upset because you failed to save her? Too bad," Junko, masquerading as a servant of the Orichalcos, said, throwing her arm out to the side. "Junko's gone forever!"
Tears welled up in Yami's eyes. Happy memories of the brief time he'd spent with Junko rushing to his brain. Shaking his head as fists trembled with rage at his sides, he shouted, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Junko…" Even Téa was upset by her loss.
"Don't worry, Pharaoh," The Orichalcos-possessed Junko said to him, "I'll gladly send you to see your beloved Junko Enoshima. I mean, you may as well surrender anyway. You have no monsters on the field, and only three cards in your hand. No pre-set trap cards and even if you somehow destroyed Great Maju Garzett, you'd only succeed in self-destructing. Even if you somehow managed to revive your Black Chaos Dragon Knight, you wouldn't be able to Face it, Pharaoh. You lose."
Yukizome dropped to her knees. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't told him to play Spell Shattering Arrow…"
"Get up off the ground, Yukizome," Kaiba said to her. "This isn't yours or anyone's fault, except for Yugi's. He's the one that keeps coddling his girlfriend and that's why he's about to lose this duel."
"Junko is not his girlfriend!" Téa snapped.
"Priorities, huh," Mai said to her.
Joey growled fiercely. If he could, he'd rush down there and give Yami a knuckle sandwich. So…he settled for the next best thing. "Don't let her psyche you out, Yug!" Joey shouted.
Yami, who had been grieving on his knees, gazed up to look at Joey. "Joey…"
"I can't believe you look like you're giving up. Who cares what she says? It doesn't matter if Junko isn't in her head right now, what matters is what you think!" Joey exclaimed. "And what do you think, pal? Do you think you can save Junko?"
Yami got to his feet, pushing down on his knee as he did so. "You're absolutely right, Joey. No matter what lies the Orichalcos purports, I know one thing for certain. If we defeat Dartz, then everything will go back to normal."
"And what if that's not the case, what if all of the souls of all the people absorbed by the Leviathan don't come back? The power of Atlantis isn't like the power of Egypt," Junko told him.
"I will at least try," Yami stated, glaring. "I must do everything I can for the people that lost their souls. I must! For the sake of destiny! For the sake of the world! I will not falter! I believe that I can still save Junko! I believe I can still save Yugi! I believe I can save the world! And so…I shall prevail!"
A fierce wind blew around Yami as he gracefully plucked a card from his hand of three, holding it aloft. "I activate the spell card Giant Trunade!" Yami exclaimed. "This magic card will return your Black Pendant back to your hand and since it didn't go to the graveyard, I won't take damage!"
Junko returned her Black Pendant to her hand. "All right, but you still have to contend with my Great Maju Garzett."
"I have a plan for that too," Yami replied, smirking confidently.
Junko frowned.
"I activate the spell card Exile of the Wicked!" Yami exclaimed. The spell card flipped face-up. "This special magic card destroys all fiend-type monsters on the field, which Great Maju Garzett can only be described as such."
Junko gasped as a shimmering light gave off from within her Great Maju Garzett and it exploded within a pillar of light, going to the graveyard.
"Junko's wide open!" Téa cheered happily.
"Take her down, Yug!" Joey exclaimed.
Yami nodded. With the last card in his hand, he would finish this duel. Junko, forgive me. I never wanted this to happen to you, but…I can at least bring you peace. "I summon to the field Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress!"
One of the most commonplace, recognizable cards in Duel Monsters roared loud and proud as it stood upon the field. It had only 1,400 attack points and 1,200 defense points, but that was more than enough to finish the duel.
"Winged Dragon!" Yami exclaimed, pointing at Junko. "Go! End this duel with your Fireball Attack!"
Winged Dragon growled proudly as flame could be seen surrounding its fangs. Then, its mouth spitting with the force of a cannon, the fireball was launched from Winged Dragon's mouth like a fiery cannonball and barreled towards Junko to finish the duel.
As the fiery light concealed her from view, Junko could only smirk. In the end, she said, spreading her arms out. All according to plan. Then, pretending the attack hurt worse than it actually did, Junko screamed, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!" Her life points hit 0. The duel was finally over.
Then, making it look like it was by chance, but really she just that good of body control, Junko fell backwards and made sure to land so that, as she lay upon the ground, she had a clear sight of Téa Gardner. She wasn't done screwing with everyone quite yet. Oh no, she had one last act of despair to commit before she was taken by the Leviathan.
"Junko!" Yami exclaimed, running over to her, as the blonde expected. She knew he wanted to make sure he was okay.
Yami cradled her in his arms. "Junko! Junko, please say something! Tell me you're you again!"
"Nnnnh," Junko groaned. "Ph-Pharaoh? What happened? Did I lose the duel?"
From the tone in her voice, and the words she spoke, Yami could tell that Junko was back to normal. And yet, tears were falling from his face. "You did," he said. "I'm sorry…I wasn't strong enough. I didn't…" Yami bit his lip. "I didn't want this to happen. Junko…please don't go."
Junko gripped Yami's coat firmly. "It's okay," she said. "I'm free, Pharaoh. That's what matters. If you defeat Dartz…everyone will come back. Me, Yugi, and even your friend Ibuki." Junko reached up her other hand and brushed a tear away from Yami's cheek. "So…" she did her best to smile. "Don't be sad, okay?" she asked with warm bubbliness.
"Junko…" Yami said, only getting choked up more.
And that was when Junko did something that would forever cement herself within Yami's soul. Clenching tightly to his jacket and keeping her hand on his cheek, she lifted herself from being held by Yami's strong hands so that her face was up to his. Her lips met his, tongue driving deep into his mouth. Junko moaned into the kiss, leaving Yami stunned speechless in surprise, unable to do much else, but enjoy it.
However, the most striking thing Junko did during this action was slowly affix her gaze from Yami to Téa. And she made sure that Téa was looking at her too. The despair, rage, and jealousy all over Téa's face was precisely the reaction Junko needed to know that the wheels for her grandmaster plan had begun to roll along the track. Everything had led up to this moment.
From the moment I obtained the Seal of the Orichalcos, this was what I had been planning from the very start, Junko thought as she closed her eyes, continuing to make out with Yami, the stone of the Orichalcos in her hairpin glowing wildly. It had its twists and turns, but ultimately, this despair is exactly what I desired. She chuckled. Pharaoh…you really are a sucker.
Strength leaving her, Junko went limp in Yami's arms.
"Junko?"
"It's coming," Junko said. "I'm to be a victim of the Orichalcos." Junko tilted her head up to make eye contact with Yami as long as she could. "Don't give up. I'll be waiting for you, Pharaoh. One little victory. You can do it, Pharaoh. I believe in you. Come…save…me…"
It wasn't acting this time, The Seal of the Orichalcos was ready to claim Junko's soul and her capacity for speech was dying rapidly.
So this is what it feels like to lose your soul, Junko thought as she closed her eyes. Ahhhh, what wonderful despair.
And then, Junko's soul vanished from her body, becoming food for the Great Leviathan.
There was utter silence across the rooftop. Only the wind made noise. Disheartened, Yami cradled Junko's body and carried her under his arm up the ladder to the others.
Téa could barely look at him at the moment. She was afraid she would say something she didn't mean. How dare that blonde hussy take her Yugi's first kiss.
"You okay, pal?" Joey asked, putting a hand on Yami's shoulder.
Yami shook his head, prompting Joey to remove his hand from his shoulder.
"Well thank goodness that's over. I was worried for a minute, you wouldn't be able to get your title back. But I guess there really is only one King of Games."
Yami clenched his teeth. Even after all this, Kaiba still didn't understand. But Yami knew that wasting his breath on Kaiba was pointless at the moment. He had more important priorities.
He walked up to Mukuro.
"Yes?" Mukuro asked, looking at Yami.
He presented her with Junko's body. "Please, Mukuro. I need you to look after your sister," Yami said.
Mukuro graciously accepted Junko from Yami, holding her sister firmly in her arms.
Without the burden of Junko's body weighing him down, Yami only now took a deep breath. And then he took another. Téa thought he might cry, but the truth couldn't be further from that. He just needed a few seconds to get his bravado back in gear.
"ALL RIGHT!" Yami thundered, clenching a fist, eyes full of vitality. "Let's go! Dartz's compound awaits!"
"Are you really okay?" Yukizome asked.
"I'm fine," Yami said, his voice unwavering. "If I mope around or mourn, it would let what Junko believes in go to waste! I must press onward and defeat Dartz! And I cannot do it without all of you to help me!"
"Gladly," Kaiba said with a stare. "Let's go pay back Dartz for everything he's done."
"You got my support," Joey said, slapping Yami on the shoulder.
"Mine too," Hajime said with conviction.
"Dartz is going to pay for what he's done to my class," Yukizome said.
"I might not have a Legendary Dragon, but count me in as well," Mai stated.
"And me!" Sonia exclaimed. "For Rafael's sake and for Gundham's too. Please allow me to come with you!"
Téa smiled. No, she couldn't be mad. She'd never seen Yami so inspired. She was afraid he would mourn and collapse over what he'd done to Junko, but it made her heart soar to see him so full of conviction. Unable to stop herself, she grabbed Yami from behind in a tight hug and pecked him on the cheek. "Go get him, Pharaoh."
"T-Téa…" Yami said, blushing.
Téa stood back by Miho and Tristan, blushing, hands behind her back. "Sorry," she apologized. "Got a little caught up in the moment."
Yami smiled brightly, easing Téa's worries. She may not have had enough confidence to make out with her love in front of everyone, but she got her feelings across she hoped.
"All non-duelist personnel should come with Mukuro and me," Kyoko said. "I believe the situation will get far more dangerous than we anticipated. The Seal of the Orichalcos should not be taken lightly."
"We can wait in Dartz's office for the others," Mukuro said. "There is a large television screen where we will be able to comfortably observe the others. And if monsters do attack us, we still have some average duelists able to fend them off."
"Agreed," Kyoko stated.
Walking all in a group together, Mukuro led the heroes to the portal that Junko was talking about that led to Doma's headquarters. It was a purple version of the Seal of the Orichalcos just beyond the mirror in the conference room. "It's a stable two-way portal," she stated, gesturing to it, having left Junko on a couch. "Please be careful." She saluted to the seven heroes. "Godspeed."
Yami gave Mukuro a two-finger salute. Then, he, Yukizome, Kaiba, Hajime, Joey, Mai and Sonia walked through the portal to the other side. They now stood in front of Doma's front gates below a stone staircase leading up to the cathedral. Side-by-side, they marched upward and onward.
Back inside Paradius, Mukuro came out of the mirror and turned on the television set, channeling it to Doma's camera sets. She was particularly interested in the conviction of Yami's face. Despair wasn't anywhere to be found in his strong, determined gaze.
Is despair really the force that conquers all? Mukuro wondered. In Junko's version of things, Yami was supposed to be crestfallen over what he'd done, requiring encouragement from Joey and the others, but it had only taken a few breaths to restore his hope all on his own.
As Mukuro sat in Dartz's chair, Tristan, Téa and Miho stood to her right, eyes strong and determined, gazing up at their friends climbing Dartz's staircase.
"Return to us safely, you guys," Téa said. "Bring Yugi back."
"Give 'em everything you got, Joey," Tristan said.
"Mai…Miho is rooting for you too," Miho stated.
Mukuro was perplexed by Yugi's friends as well. Where was their despair against such insurmountable odds? And, unfortunately for Junko, their hope was contagious, a bit of it making its way into Mukuro's heart.
Makoto, she thought, even though he wasn't here at all. I want to see you again. I must find out for myself what is stronger: Hope or Despair. I cannot take my sister at her word any longer. I must…find my own path.
Junko had certainly shaken the hearts of Yami and the others all right and her actions would carry on with them for years to come. However, before the consequences of her actions could be seen, before the plants from the seeds she planted could grow, Dartz had to be taken care of first.
And now, as the seven heroes stood in front of a gigantic gate, the final battle was swiftly approaching. It would be a battle for everyone's souls!
(A/N: Phew. Done. I think this is by far my favorite chapter to date with maybe the soul exception being Bakura Vs Chiaki. Now, I know the last few paragraphs of this chapter are a bit definitive, but we still have one more duel before the true final battle is upon us. After all, you don't think I forgot about Nagito did you? Next time on Dueling Trigger Finger, Nagito and Hajime have their rematch. That'll be chapter 81, and then, for chapter 82 the final battle begins and you won't want to miss it. It's likely the final battle itself will have to be split into two or even three parts. I haven't decided yet. We'll see what happens.
But, as I promised, let's talk about Junko's plan. No, none of this was particularly dark, but let's all consider what Junko has done. She's completely set herself up as an unforgettable comrade to Yami and his friends, and she has now marked Téa as a love rival for the Pharaoh, and Yugi's, affections. That may not sound that bad, but you also need to look at some of the other details of these last two chapters carefully to see something else that's brewing. Additionally, you need to let the paranoia in your brains run rampant of what Junko can do with this status quo alteration for the remainder of the story.
The kiss was really the "status quo altering moment" I'd been talking about for the past couple of chapters.
Don't worry, this doesn't mean that Yami is suddenly going to have affections for Junko and that they're automatically a couple. However, it is now a thing that Yugi and Yami are caught in a love triangle between Téa and Junko. You folks let me know what you make of that.
Now then, I think I could use a good long break—maybe a few days—before I'm ready to tackle the next chapter. Or maybe I'll surprise you all and race to the finish, without a dip in quality, to just end this arc. Who knows? Who cares? All I do know is that until next time, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)