The Dragon Duelist
Chapter Two: In the Company of the Bandit
Ansem finally drifted into consciousness, lying on a hard metal floor, his duel monster cards scattered around his body. His attire was no longer wet, but was ragged from battling the ocean. He slowly lifted himself, and began collecting his cards and putting his deck back together.
"Ah, excellent, you're awake."
Ansem turned, and saw a cloaked figure standing before him, with a trio of others behind it.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Jaeger demanded.
"My name is Seeker." Responded the cloaked figure. "And our…employer has patiently waited for you to wake."
"What does your employer want with me?" Ansem wondered.
"To see if you are worthy to serve him." Seeker replied. "You are one of this world's top duelists- but you've been unconscious for several days, and there is now a new duelist at the top."
"You're kidding." Ansem said in disbelief.
"The boy known as Yugi Mutoh has done the impossible- he has won the Duelist Kingdom tournament. And more surprisingly, he defeated Maxamillion Pegasus, this game's 'creator'."
"He's better than I thought." Jaeger admitted. "Anyway, how does your employer intend to test me?"
Seeker grinned smugly beneath his hood. "Why, with a duel. You will battle an opponent we picked up on our way back from Duelist Kingdom."
"So…we're going back to the mainland?" Ansem asked hopefully.
"We are." Seeker responded. "Keep in mind- we haven't decided whether or not to kill you yet."
"Joy and rapture." Ansem muttered. "All right… take me to this guy."
Seeker turned and pointed his hand forward. He and the other three marched forth, as Ansem followed suite, and they led him into a large chamber, where a duel ring had been set up. A person all ready stood at one side of the dueling arena, in the 'red' space- it was none other than a very annoyed Bandit Keith.
"What the-" Keith started. "What? I have to duel him?"
"That is correct." Replied a darkened figure sitting at a makeshift throne, located near the center of the arena. "You two are stowaways- and I wish to see which of you is the more valuable to keep."
Ansem smiled wickedly, while Keith wore a growl. As his adversary joined him in the arena, Keith grudgingly turned to face his adversary. 2000 life points appeared for each player, as the hologram-projectors activated. Each player shuffled their deck and placed it on the field, drawing five card hands and beginning the match.
"I guess I'll begin." Keith said. "And I'll summon the monster known as Launcher Spider in Defense mode!" Upon making this move, the massive arachnid machine emerged on the field (2200/2500).
Ansem drew a card from the top of his deck. "I'll play these two cards face-down. Plus, I'll summon the mighty Tripwire Beast in Attack mode!" Upon saying this, two rectangles of light appeared in the arena, while the pincushion-esque, electricity-producing Tripwire Beast emerged (1200/1300).
"That's it?" Keith asked rather mockingly. "In that case, I'll summon a new monster- Mechanical Chaser!" The strange, metal flying creature appeared on the field in Attack mode (1850/800). "Attack his Tripwire Beast!"
"Right into my trap, Keith." Ansem grinned. "Reveal face-down card, Enchanted Javelin! It inflicts your Attack directly onto my life points- but increases them instead of decreasing them." Upon saying this, his life points were elevated to 3850, while his Tripwire Beast remained on the field, unaffected.
"Punk." Keith muttered as he ended his turn.
"Next, I'll switch Tripwire Beast into defense mode, and summon the beast known as Hyozanryu!" The single-horned dragon appeared (2100/2800) and attacked Mechanical Chaser, costing Keith 250 life points.
Bandit Keith drew a new card. "I summon Zoa in attack mode." The reptilian-like monster appeared (2600/1900). "Next, I'll play Stop Defense on your Tripwire Beast. I believe you know what happens next."
Ansem said nothing as the electric reptile was destroyed, and his LP dropped to 2450. He drew a card, and eyed his hand. "I'll lay one more card face-down and switch Hyozanryu into Defense mode."
"Perfect." Keith said with a grin. "I'll activate this card- Metalmorph! It changes Zoa into Metal Zoa!" His monster was suddenly encased in a metal frame, and it received a sizeable power boost (2600/1900)- (3000/2300). "Now, attack and destroy his Hyozanryu!"
"Right into my trap." Ansem replied. He revealed his facedown card- something that looked like a fortress, which promptly appeared around Hyozanryu. "Castle Walls! It raises my monsters defense by 500 points!"
Keith snarled as he lost another 300 LP, bringing him down to 1450. Now a thousand points behind his adversary, he proceeded to curse profusely.
"Now I'll summon the beast known as Tri-Horned Dragon!" Jaeger declared, as his triple-horned monster appeared on the field (2850/2350). "Followed up with my other face-down card, Dragon Treasure! It raises my monsters attack and defense power by 300 points!" The Tri-Horned Dragon became significantly more powerful- (3150/2650). "Destroy Metal Zoa!"
A raging fireball later, and Metal Zoa was gone. Keith glanced at his 1300 LP, quickly realizing how bad his situation had become.
Keith looked at his hand, and then at his remaining defense monster,
Launcher Spider. It was a sacrifice he could afford… "I'll play this card-
Dark Hole! It destroys all monsters on the field!" Ansem grimaced as his
two dragons as well as Keith's Launcher Spider were obliterated. "And to
finish things off, I'll summon Slot Machine in attack mode!"
As he stated, the massive robot appeared (2000/2300). "I'll also lay
one more card face-down."
Ansem grunted and drew a new card. "I'll play this monster in defense mode."
"Pathetic." Keith looked at his hand and frowned, knowing he had nothing of value- so he reached into his wristband and drew the card known as Seven Complete. "I'll throw down this little magic card, which raises my Slot Machine's attack power by 700 points!" His Slot Machine's power was boosted (2700/2300), as it stared down at the glowing rectangle before it. "Attack!"
The Slot Machine surged forward, obliterating Ansem's defense monster, Prevent Rat (500/2000). The dragon duelist did not fret, as he drew a card from the top of his deck. "I'll now play this card- Fissure! It destroys one opponent's monster with the lowest attack!"
Keith growled as his Slot Machine was obliterated and Ansem lay a new monster, the Koumori Dragon, on the field in attack mode (1500/1200). "Not a bad move, but ultimately, it won't save you. Now I'll play this monster- Barrel Dragon! His special ability allows him to attack three monsters at once!" The metal-encased dragon appeared on the field (2600/2200), and obliterated the Koumori Dragon, bringing Jaeger's LP down to 1350, just 50 points ahead of his adversary.
Ansem drew a new card, and grinned. "I play the Red-Eyes Black Dragon in attack mode!" The massive black dragon appeared (2400/2000). "But that's not all…"
Not the Red-Eyes again…Keith growled. "Hold it right there! I think I'll play this card- Heavy Storm! Just in case you had anything on the field…" All the magic and trap zones on the field were negated.
"Hey, Seeker!" Ansem called. "Is this duel according to the same rules as the Duelist Kingdom tournament?"
Seeker nodded. "Yes."
Jaeger smiled. "Perfect! Then I'll play this card-Mountain! Normally it raises the attack power of all dragon, winged beast, and thunder type monsters by 200 points… but here… it's a 30% boost!"
Keith gasped as the Red-Eyes attack power received a major increase- (2400/2000- 3120/2600). "No!"
"Red-Eyes… Inferno Fire Blast!" The massive jet of flame incinerated Barrel Dragon, and Keith's LP dropped to a sparse 780. Jaeger cracked a smile, and waited for his adversary's next move.
Keith drew a card from the top of his deck and cracked a smile of his own. "I play this card- Monster Reborn! I think I'll use it to revive that Tri-Horned Dragon of yours…"
Ansem growled as his most powerful creature appeared on his opponent's side, starting out at (2850/2350), but climbing up to incredible heights (3855/3105). A shot from the Tri-Horned brought Jaeger's life points down to a mere 615. Though he was caught off guard, he was still prepared to continue the duel.
"Dragon Capture Jar." Ansem said, activating the trap, forcing the Tri-Horned into defense mode. "And another monster in defense mode for good measure."
Keith shrugged as he drew a new monster- Ground Attacker Bugroth (1500/1000). It wasn't exceptionally powerful… at least, not until Keith pulled a Machine Conversion Factory card from his wristband, concealing it in his hand. "Ground Attacker Bugroth, in Attack mode! And I'll toss in Machine Conversion factory, boosting its attack power to 1800!" The flying machine's power did increase (1800/1300), as it shot down at Jaeger's defense monster.
"Dragon Piper." Ansem replied simply, flipping his defense monster up
(200/1800).
"The battle is a stalemate. Also, my Dragon Capture Jar is destroyed
by said Dragon Piper." With the trap gone, the Tri-Horned Dragon was now
able to attack.
"You dweeb!" Keith laughed. "On my next turn I'll destroy you."
"Wrong." Ansem said, pulling a card from his hand. "I play Change of Heart! The Tri-Horned Dragon is back on my side, and ready to take you down!"
"No!" Keith cried again.
A raging fireball spewed from the massive dragon's mouth, but as it raced towards the flying machine, both disappeared, and the dueling arena was suddenly deactivated.
"Hey, what's the deal?" Ansem demanded.
"Bandit Keith has the higher number of life points." Seeker said. "Therefore he is the victor."
Ansem's jaw hung down while Keith grinned smugly.
"This is bullsh-" Jaeger began, as the cloaked figures advanced on him and carried him back to his holding area.
"So, what happens to me?" Keith asked.
The figure at the throne rose. "You have proven your worth- so you shall be the one to announce my coming."
" 'Announce your coming'?" Keith laughed. "Sorry, I've got better ideas." He reached into his pocket and withdrew his pistol. "I'd say you're all duelists- and this vessel's full of you guys. Give me your cards and the ship, and maybe I'll let you live."
The figure grinned. "You've got cunning… and I couldn't help but notice your cheating ways. That will prove useful."
"Back down." Keith ordered, cocking his weapon.
"No… you back down." From within his cloak the figure pulled out a staff of some sort, and by extending it forward, he released a blast of energy, straight onto Bandit Keith's mind. The Intercontinental champion cried out and tried to resist, but soon found himself suppressed, as his arm began moving the pistol to point at his own head.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Keith gasped, trying to fight.
"No questions. You belong to me now." With a wave of the staff, Keith dropped the gun and stood, unmoving. "Welcome to my ranks, Rare Hunter."
"Thank you, Master Marik." Keith replied stoically.
Back in the holding area, Ansem waited in the bowels- for hours, days,
without a word. Food was shuttled into the cell occasionally, but beyond
that he remained, ignored.
It was not until several weeks later that he was visited again, by
the thin man known as Seeker, pouring light into the dark cell.
"Our leader has accepted you." Seeker said simply. "Bandit Keith has failed him- and you may now work in our organization."
"Oh, so I'm still just second-best, eh?" Jaeger grunted.
"Hardly. We always knew Keith was a cheat, but that served our purpose for only a while." Seeker extended a hand out of the cell. "If you agree to aid our master, you can have whatever you want. If you choose not to, we will release you."
Ansem Jaeger considered this. "What do you mean 'whatever I want'?"
Seeker reached into his cloak and withdrew a handful of Duel Monsters cards. He handed them one at a time to Ansem. "These are the latest Dragon cards available. We know of your fondness for dragon-type monsters, so these may prove useful to you."
Jaeger glanced at the cards in disbelief- Luster Dragon, Tyrant Dragon, Yamata Dragon, Dragon's Bead- and he looked up at a grinning Seeker.
"Tell your boss I like it." Ansem grinned. "I like it very much."