"Duelists prepare yourselves," said Croquet as the stadium was reset. Mako
and Ravi walked up to their platforms.
"Go Mako!" said Tea.
"You can do it!" said Tristan and Bakura.
"You are a champion, you can win this easily!" encouraged Joe.
"Remember who you are dueling for," added Yu-Gi.
"What do you mean?" asked Tempest, turning to the group.
"Mako's dad was lost at sea," explained Joe.
"He wants the prize money to buy a boat and try to find him," finished Yu- Gi.
"Oh...." muttered Tempest, shocked. "I hope he wins." The duel was beginning.
"For my opening move," said Ravi, "I play the Flame Ghost in defense mode." His defending monster looked like a burned corpse that was still smoldering. Thin wisps of smoke curled away from its body. Its stats were 1000 and 800.
"Ha!" exclaimed Mako with a smile, "I play the Armored Starfish in attack mode. Due to its type it has an advantage on your fire type!" The starfish appeared. It was about five feet from point to point. It was a dull red color with a blue anemone glowing from the center. It had a defense of 1400, and an attack of 850. But because of its aquatic type its attack was raised to 1350. "Armored Starfish destroy the Flame Ghost!"
The starfish began to whirl furiously, before flying straight through Ravi's monster. His life points were unharmed, though, because the Flame Ghost was in defense mode.
"Fair enough," said the man in a sinister voice. He pulled his sombrero further over his face. The duelists had yet to gaze upon his countenance (Sorry too much Edgar Allen Poe.) "I play the Darkfire Dragon in attack mode." The serpentine flame monster appeared. "Despite of your advantage, it is strong enough to destroy you wimpy crustacean." The dragon reduced the water type to ashes, taking Mako down to 1850 life points.
"I am beginning to see a theme," muttered Mai.
"What do you mean?" asked Tempest.
"We have a water based deck versus a fire based deck," explained Mai, "Duelists like to give their decks themes."
"That means Mako should have the advantage through this!" exclaimed Tea.
"Yeah! Go Mako!" exclaimed Joe.
"This will be easier than I thought," snickered Mako, "I play the Wow Warrior in attack mode." He laid down his card and the holo-field produced the image of his next monster. It looked like a very ugly blue fish with human arms and legs. Its attack was 1250 but its defense was only 900. "And it also gains a power bonus against your fire type! Wow Warrior destroy the Darkfire Dragon." The fish type blasted the dragon with a solid beam of water and it turned to steam and disappeared. Ravi took his first hit to his life points, and was down to 1750.
Ravi drew his next card. "Charubin the Fire Knight in defense mode," he declared. His next monster was a humanoid monster. It had had a red cape and blue armor. In his hands was a large scythe of fire. He had an attack of 1100 and a defense of 800.
"Then I play Grappler in attack mode, and it will destroy your monster," declared Mako. His next monster was of purple frog like creature with wicked claws and walked upright. It stats were 1300 and 1200. It attacked the fire knight and completely obliterated it.
Ravi was strangely calm, but it was hard to tell because his face was still hidden in shadows. "I play Firewing Pegasus in attack mode," he declared happily. His next monster appeared in a flash of light. This monster was beautiful, straight out of mythology. It was a coal black horse with wings made up of sheer fire. It was a couple of hands* higher than even the largest equines. (*For all of you horse people out there who know what I am talking about.) Its attack was 2250 and it had a defense of 1800.
"My beauty, destroy the Grappler!" ordered Ravi. The flames the horse produced were hotter than any kiln and the Grappler, despite its aquatic advantage. Mako was down to 1300 life points.
"I think we found Ravi's favorite card," muttered Tempest.
"Count that your last victory," said Mako, "First I move my Wow Warrior to defense mode. Then I play this magic card, Umi, and turn the entire field into an ocean. Finally I play the Crazy Fish in attack mode. It gains a power bonus, while yours gains a disadvantage." The holo-field visualized his every move. "Then Crazy Fish, destroy the Pegasus!" The beautiful horse didn't stand a chance with its opponent's increase strength and its attack was reduced to 1750. The crazy fish had oversized brown scales and a green face. It was a swordfish with stats of 2100 and 1700.
"How dare you!" growled Ravi as his life points dropped to 1400. "I play the Vermilion Sparrow in defense mode, along with this magic card." He played his next monster. It was humanoid with trim brown hair. It wore a gold and blue robe, much like a clergyman's. Raw energy sparked from its hands. But it was a pyro type, so its reduced stats were 1400 and 1000.
"I won't fall for your trap," declared Mako, suspiciously eyeing the magic card. "I play Fiend Kraken in attack mode and end my turn now." His next monster appeared beneath the crashing surf. Barely the outline of the oversized white squid was visible. It raised stats were 1700 and 1400. Ravi eyed the ocean's surface with apprehension, but no fear.
"I play the Tripwire Beast in attack mode," declared Ravi as he played his next card, "It is a thunder type, so it also gains a power bonus from the ocean. Now it stale mates your monster." The tripwire beast appeared. It looked like a blue version of Frankenstien's pet dog. It stood on the coast with electricity running between its two antenna. It attack was 1700 and its defense was 1800. "Your move."
"Fine, Crazy Fish attack the Tripwire Beast," ordered Mako. His fish dove beneath the waves, out of sight. It suddenly reappeared, sending water every where, ready to shish-kabob the land-based monster.
"You forgot about my magic card," smiled Ravi, "Eternal Drought beaches your fish."
"No!" cried Mako as his monster was sent to the graveyard.
"And I play this in defense mode, you turn," commented Ravi.
"Ha! Kairyu-Shin, master of the tides, appear!" yelled Mako as he played his next monster.
"I remember that card," commented Yu-Gi below.
"That snake pacts a heck of a punch," agreed Joe.
The azure colored sea-snake appeared. It had a white belly and several white bands. It had a mouth full of deadly teeth, and it thrashed in the ocean, creating large waves on the holo-field's coast. Its raised stats were 2300 and 2000.
"Kairyu-Shin destroy the Tripwire Beast!" ordered Mako. The sea serpent dove into the ocean and created a huge wake of water. It flooded the small bit of land and Ravi's monster was drug out to sea in its wake, never to be seen again. Ravi lost a nice chunk of his life points from that, he was now at 800.
"But that isn't all. Fiend Kraken, destroy his defending card!" yelled Mako. The monster lifted its massive tentacles out of the water and Ravi's defending monster was throttled. He now only had his defending, weaken Vermilion Sparrow left.
"Way to go Mako!"
"You can do it!"
"He's on the ropes!" came the encouragement from the spectators. The remaining eliminators sat in stony silence.
"Don't think you have won yet," cautioned Ravi. "I play another thunder type card, The Immortal of Thunder, in attack mode. Thanks to you, it also receives a power bonus." A blue skinned old man appeared on the field. It had a neatly trimmed beard and carried a large, golden staff. This monster wore a black robe with a red sash. Its eyes blazed like warm coals. "Destroy the kraken!"
The thunder immortal raised its staff and the holo-field showed the skies darken. A bolt of thunder shot down and pierce the surface of the ocean. The Fiend Kraken bellowed in pain before it was dissipated. Mako was brought down to 1000 life points.
"It isn't over yet!" countered Mako, "I play Jellyfish in attack mode." His next monster was barely visible in the water. It was a near transparent blue jelly fish with stats of 1200 and 1500, which were raised to 1700 and 2000. "And to finish my turn I will have my Kairyu-Shin destroy your Vermilion Sparrow." It was done.
Now Ravi had his Immortal of Thunder in play. Mako had his Jellyfish and Kairyu-Shin. Mako had 1000 life points while Ravi only had 800. It was Ravi's turn.
"I play monster card in defense mode," said Ravi with a smile, "Be careful, because it is your turn."
"You waste your turns," said Mako, "I play the Rare Fish in attack mode and it will obliterate your thunder immortal." His next monster was a hybrid. It had the tail of a fish and head of a lion. It also had to massive furry arms. The Rare Fish had raised stats of 2000 and 1700. It dove deep and drug the Immortal of Thunder with it. Ravi was knocked down to 300 life points.
"Go Mako!"
"Your on the home stretch!" encouraged his friends.
"Do not count your victory yet," said Ravi with a sly smile. He pulled his sombrero further over his face. "I play Kaminari Attack in attack mode." He played his new card. The sky of the field darkened, and clouds began to gather. The storm clouds took shape and a bearded head and arms were distinguished. The Kaminari Attack was a cloud. Its stats were 1900 and 1400, but because it was a thunder type its stats became 2400 and 1900. "Kaminari attack, destroy the Kairyu-Shin!" The whole ocean became a gigantic electric field.
"Ha! You have forgotten about my Jellyfish!" gloated Mako, "It neutralizes and incoming electric attack!"
"No!" cried Ravi as his attack did nothing.
"Yeah!"
"Awesome move Mako!"
"Its in the bag!" encouraged the spectators.
"I play the Deep Sea Shark," declared Mako. The surface didn't even ripple as his monster came into play.
"How can I attack it when I can't even see it," whined Ravi.
"That is the beauty of the sea," said Mako, "It can be placid one minute and wild the next. It hides and conceals its own...."
"Can it," muttered Ravi, "Since your monster is in a stale mate, it is my turn. And I am ready to finish this match."
"No way!" cried Mako, "You are bluffing!"
"Watch and learn," said Ravi with a tilt of his oversized hat. "I activate my monster card that you have forgotten about." He turned his face down card over. "I use the effect of the Electric Lizard. It paralyzes one of your monsters of my choice. And I chose your Jellyfish!"
"No!" cried Mako.
"Oh no!" cried Yu-Gi.
"Why? What is the big deal?" asked Joe.
"The Jellyfish's special power in also paralyzed," explained Tempest.
"What?" asked Tristan.
"Mako is no longer immune to electric attacks!" cried Yu-Gi.
"Now, I use Invigoration, to further raise the attack of my Kaminari Attack," said Ravi. "Kaminari Attack, destroy the Jellyfish!"
"No!" cried Mako as his monster was electrocuted. The holo-field reduced his life points to 0. "NO!!!!"
"Mako," whispered Tea as he was escorted out by the guards.
"That wasn't right," protested Joe as Ravi disappeared.
"Do you realize that it is either you or me next?" asked Yu-Gi to Joe.
Croquet stepped forward to announce the next contestant. Joe and Yu-Gi looked at each other apprehensively.
"Go Mako!" said Tea.
"You can do it!" said Tristan and Bakura.
"You are a champion, you can win this easily!" encouraged Joe.
"Remember who you are dueling for," added Yu-Gi.
"What do you mean?" asked Tempest, turning to the group.
"Mako's dad was lost at sea," explained Joe.
"He wants the prize money to buy a boat and try to find him," finished Yu- Gi.
"Oh...." muttered Tempest, shocked. "I hope he wins." The duel was beginning.
"For my opening move," said Ravi, "I play the Flame Ghost in defense mode." His defending monster looked like a burned corpse that was still smoldering. Thin wisps of smoke curled away from its body. Its stats were 1000 and 800.
"Ha!" exclaimed Mako with a smile, "I play the Armored Starfish in attack mode. Due to its type it has an advantage on your fire type!" The starfish appeared. It was about five feet from point to point. It was a dull red color with a blue anemone glowing from the center. It had a defense of 1400, and an attack of 850. But because of its aquatic type its attack was raised to 1350. "Armored Starfish destroy the Flame Ghost!"
The starfish began to whirl furiously, before flying straight through Ravi's monster. His life points were unharmed, though, because the Flame Ghost was in defense mode.
"Fair enough," said the man in a sinister voice. He pulled his sombrero further over his face. The duelists had yet to gaze upon his countenance (Sorry too much Edgar Allen Poe.) "I play the Darkfire Dragon in attack mode." The serpentine flame monster appeared. "Despite of your advantage, it is strong enough to destroy you wimpy crustacean." The dragon reduced the water type to ashes, taking Mako down to 1850 life points.
"I am beginning to see a theme," muttered Mai.
"What do you mean?" asked Tempest.
"We have a water based deck versus a fire based deck," explained Mai, "Duelists like to give their decks themes."
"That means Mako should have the advantage through this!" exclaimed Tea.
"Yeah! Go Mako!" exclaimed Joe.
"This will be easier than I thought," snickered Mako, "I play the Wow Warrior in attack mode." He laid down his card and the holo-field produced the image of his next monster. It looked like a very ugly blue fish with human arms and legs. Its attack was 1250 but its defense was only 900. "And it also gains a power bonus against your fire type! Wow Warrior destroy the Darkfire Dragon." The fish type blasted the dragon with a solid beam of water and it turned to steam and disappeared. Ravi took his first hit to his life points, and was down to 1750.
Ravi drew his next card. "Charubin the Fire Knight in defense mode," he declared. His next monster was a humanoid monster. It had had a red cape and blue armor. In his hands was a large scythe of fire. He had an attack of 1100 and a defense of 800.
"Then I play Grappler in attack mode, and it will destroy your monster," declared Mako. His next monster was of purple frog like creature with wicked claws and walked upright. It stats were 1300 and 1200. It attacked the fire knight and completely obliterated it.
Ravi was strangely calm, but it was hard to tell because his face was still hidden in shadows. "I play Firewing Pegasus in attack mode," he declared happily. His next monster appeared in a flash of light. This monster was beautiful, straight out of mythology. It was a coal black horse with wings made up of sheer fire. It was a couple of hands* higher than even the largest equines. (*For all of you horse people out there who know what I am talking about.) Its attack was 2250 and it had a defense of 1800.
"My beauty, destroy the Grappler!" ordered Ravi. The flames the horse produced were hotter than any kiln and the Grappler, despite its aquatic advantage. Mako was down to 1300 life points.
"I think we found Ravi's favorite card," muttered Tempest.
"Count that your last victory," said Mako, "First I move my Wow Warrior to defense mode. Then I play this magic card, Umi, and turn the entire field into an ocean. Finally I play the Crazy Fish in attack mode. It gains a power bonus, while yours gains a disadvantage." The holo-field visualized his every move. "Then Crazy Fish, destroy the Pegasus!" The beautiful horse didn't stand a chance with its opponent's increase strength and its attack was reduced to 1750. The crazy fish had oversized brown scales and a green face. It was a swordfish with stats of 2100 and 1700.
"How dare you!" growled Ravi as his life points dropped to 1400. "I play the Vermilion Sparrow in defense mode, along with this magic card." He played his next monster. It was humanoid with trim brown hair. It wore a gold and blue robe, much like a clergyman's. Raw energy sparked from its hands. But it was a pyro type, so its reduced stats were 1400 and 1000.
"I won't fall for your trap," declared Mako, suspiciously eyeing the magic card. "I play Fiend Kraken in attack mode and end my turn now." His next monster appeared beneath the crashing surf. Barely the outline of the oversized white squid was visible. It raised stats were 1700 and 1400. Ravi eyed the ocean's surface with apprehension, but no fear.
"I play the Tripwire Beast in attack mode," declared Ravi as he played his next card, "It is a thunder type, so it also gains a power bonus from the ocean. Now it stale mates your monster." The tripwire beast appeared. It looked like a blue version of Frankenstien's pet dog. It stood on the coast with electricity running between its two antenna. It attack was 1700 and its defense was 1800. "Your move."
"Fine, Crazy Fish attack the Tripwire Beast," ordered Mako. His fish dove beneath the waves, out of sight. It suddenly reappeared, sending water every where, ready to shish-kabob the land-based monster.
"You forgot about my magic card," smiled Ravi, "Eternal Drought beaches your fish."
"No!" cried Mako as his monster was sent to the graveyard.
"And I play this in defense mode, you turn," commented Ravi.
"Ha! Kairyu-Shin, master of the tides, appear!" yelled Mako as he played his next monster.
"I remember that card," commented Yu-Gi below.
"That snake pacts a heck of a punch," agreed Joe.
The azure colored sea-snake appeared. It had a white belly and several white bands. It had a mouth full of deadly teeth, and it thrashed in the ocean, creating large waves on the holo-field's coast. Its raised stats were 2300 and 2000.
"Kairyu-Shin destroy the Tripwire Beast!" ordered Mako. The sea serpent dove into the ocean and created a huge wake of water. It flooded the small bit of land and Ravi's monster was drug out to sea in its wake, never to be seen again. Ravi lost a nice chunk of his life points from that, he was now at 800.
"But that isn't all. Fiend Kraken, destroy his defending card!" yelled Mako. The monster lifted its massive tentacles out of the water and Ravi's defending monster was throttled. He now only had his defending, weaken Vermilion Sparrow left.
"Way to go Mako!"
"You can do it!"
"He's on the ropes!" came the encouragement from the spectators. The remaining eliminators sat in stony silence.
"Don't think you have won yet," cautioned Ravi. "I play another thunder type card, The Immortal of Thunder, in attack mode. Thanks to you, it also receives a power bonus." A blue skinned old man appeared on the field. It had a neatly trimmed beard and carried a large, golden staff. This monster wore a black robe with a red sash. Its eyes blazed like warm coals. "Destroy the kraken!"
The thunder immortal raised its staff and the holo-field showed the skies darken. A bolt of thunder shot down and pierce the surface of the ocean. The Fiend Kraken bellowed in pain before it was dissipated. Mako was brought down to 1000 life points.
"It isn't over yet!" countered Mako, "I play Jellyfish in attack mode." His next monster was barely visible in the water. It was a near transparent blue jelly fish with stats of 1200 and 1500, which were raised to 1700 and 2000. "And to finish my turn I will have my Kairyu-Shin destroy your Vermilion Sparrow." It was done.
Now Ravi had his Immortal of Thunder in play. Mako had his Jellyfish and Kairyu-Shin. Mako had 1000 life points while Ravi only had 800. It was Ravi's turn.
"I play monster card in defense mode," said Ravi with a smile, "Be careful, because it is your turn."
"You waste your turns," said Mako, "I play the Rare Fish in attack mode and it will obliterate your thunder immortal." His next monster was a hybrid. It had the tail of a fish and head of a lion. It also had to massive furry arms. The Rare Fish had raised stats of 2000 and 1700. It dove deep and drug the Immortal of Thunder with it. Ravi was knocked down to 300 life points.
"Go Mako!"
"Your on the home stretch!" encouraged his friends.
"Do not count your victory yet," said Ravi with a sly smile. He pulled his sombrero further over his face. "I play Kaminari Attack in attack mode." He played his new card. The sky of the field darkened, and clouds began to gather. The storm clouds took shape and a bearded head and arms were distinguished. The Kaminari Attack was a cloud. Its stats were 1900 and 1400, but because it was a thunder type its stats became 2400 and 1900. "Kaminari attack, destroy the Kairyu-Shin!" The whole ocean became a gigantic electric field.
"Ha! You have forgotten about my Jellyfish!" gloated Mako, "It neutralizes and incoming electric attack!"
"No!" cried Ravi as his attack did nothing.
"Yeah!"
"Awesome move Mako!"
"Its in the bag!" encouraged the spectators.
"I play the Deep Sea Shark," declared Mako. The surface didn't even ripple as his monster came into play.
"How can I attack it when I can't even see it," whined Ravi.
"That is the beauty of the sea," said Mako, "It can be placid one minute and wild the next. It hides and conceals its own...."
"Can it," muttered Ravi, "Since your monster is in a stale mate, it is my turn. And I am ready to finish this match."
"No way!" cried Mako, "You are bluffing!"
"Watch and learn," said Ravi with a tilt of his oversized hat. "I activate my monster card that you have forgotten about." He turned his face down card over. "I use the effect of the Electric Lizard. It paralyzes one of your monsters of my choice. And I chose your Jellyfish!"
"No!" cried Mako.
"Oh no!" cried Yu-Gi.
"Why? What is the big deal?" asked Joe.
"The Jellyfish's special power in also paralyzed," explained Tempest.
"What?" asked Tristan.
"Mako is no longer immune to electric attacks!" cried Yu-Gi.
"Now, I use Invigoration, to further raise the attack of my Kaminari Attack," said Ravi. "Kaminari Attack, destroy the Jellyfish!"
"No!" cried Mako as his monster was electrocuted. The holo-field reduced his life points to 0. "NO!!!!"
"Mako," whispered Tea as he was escorted out by the guards.
"That wasn't right," protested Joe as Ravi disappeared.
"Do you realize that it is either you or me next?" asked Yu-Gi to Joe.
Croquet stepped forward to announce the next contestant. Joe and Yu-Gi looked at each other apprehensively.