The Dragon Duelist
Chapter Five: The Dragon and the Pharaoh
"It's become clear that I have no other choice." Yugi noted, drawing a new card- the Summoned Skull. In his hand were Big Shield Gardna, Gift of the Mystical Elf, Polymerization, Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts and De-Spell.
He selected two cards and one monster. "I'll lay two cards face down," he began, as the holographic cards appeared before him, "and then summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts, in Attack mode!" The ravenous mammal appeared on the field (1500/1200), roaring a challenge to Koumori Dragon.
"An unusual move to be sure." Ansem drew- the Lord of Dragons. In his hand was the Flute of Summoning Dragon, Luster Dragon, the new Harpie's Pet Dragon, and the Dragon Capture Jar. "I'll lay one card face down, and then set my Lord of Dragons in defense mode." The card hologram of a fairly useful trap and a relatively useful monster (1200/1100) appeared on the field. "That will end my turn."
"Very well." Yugi drew from the top of his deck, and pulled out Beta the Magnet Warrior (1700/1600). "I sacrifice Gazelle for Summoned Skull!" Upon saying this, the monster was destroyed, and the Summoned Skull appeared (2500/1200). "Attack his Koumori Dragon!"
Ansem said nothing and watched as his monster was destroyed, as his LP dropped to 3700. He drew a card- the Lesser Dragon. "I play Lesser Dragon in defense mode." Ansem said simply, throwing down the tiny green monster (1200/1000). " And of course, when Horn of the Unicorn goes to the graveyard, it returns to the top of my deck. On my next turn, I can power up any of my monsters. That will end my turn."
"Then I'll make my move!" Yugi declared, drawing a new card- the trap known as Mirror Force. "I'll set this card face down," he started, setting the trap on the field, and also summon Beta the Magnet Warrior in attack mode!" After saying this, the yellowish monster appeared (1700/1600). "Before I attack, I'll activate this- Gift of the Mystical Elf! It increases my life points by 300 for every monster on the field." Ansem grunted as Yugi's LP increased to 4400. "Now, Beta, destroy the Lesser Dragon!"
Ansem growled as his monster was destroyed, leaving him with one defense. He drew the Horn of the Unicorn and added it to his hand. "I play Flute of Summoning Dragon!" Ansem stated, as the odd shaped flute entered the Lord of Dragons' hands. "With it, I special summon the Harpie's Pet Dragon in defense mode…" the reddish dragon appeared (2000/2500), "…and then sacrifice my Lord of Dragons for Luster Dragon!" He did as he had claimed, as the greenish dragon emerged alongside the other (2400/1400). "Destroy his Beta!" An attack from Luster Dragon destroyed Beta the Magnet Warrior, bringing Yugi down to 3700 LP.
Why did he sacrifice his Lord of D.? Yugi wondered, Now his dragons are left on the field, relatively unprotected… there must be some plan up his sleeve. Yugi drew- the Red-Eyes Black Dragon! With a Summoned Skull on the field and a Polymerization card in his hand… "I play Polymerization!" Yugi declared. "And fuse my Red-Eyes and Summoned Skull into one…" The two monsters began to combine, increasing their powers.
"… the Black Skull Dragon." Ansem Jaeger observed. "Powerful as it is, it can't attack this turn, so our match continues." The ferocious dragon roared in all its fury (3200/2500), as it stared down Ansem's monsters. "I'll draw…" he did, pulling out his Tri-Horned Dragon. "I'll lay one more card face down, and end my turn."
"So will I." Yugi replied nonchalantly, pulling out- the Dark Magician. With nothing to sacrifice, the monster was of no great use.
"Then allow me to add my two cents." Jaeger muttered as he drew- the magic card, Flight of Dragon Eyes. "I play Flight of Dragon Eyes! This magic card allows me to summon any dragon type monster from my hand. No tributes are required! It seems like a waste, but I think I'll summon the Tri-Horned Dragon!" The monster appeared from his hand, roaring out a challenge (2850/2350), "and I'll also equip it with Horn of the Unicorn, making it strong enough to destroy your beast!" The newly powered Tri-Horned Dragon (3550/3050) unleashed a concentrated burst of flame towards the Black Skull Dragon.
"Not so fast!" Yugi replied, activating one face down card. "You've activated my Mirror Force trap card! Your attack is sent right back at you!"
"Dragon Capture Jar!" Ansem countered, revealing the trap. Upon doing this, all dragon type monsters on the field were switched into defense position, among them Yugi's Black Skull Dragon. The magical barrier that had protected that monster launched the fire out and away, but it did not strike Ansem's monsters. "Mirror Force only destroys monsters in attack mode! My dragons are spared."
"So I noticed." Yugi muttered. "I'll lay down Big Shield Gardna, in defense mode. That will end my turn." The warrior with the massive shield appeared on the field (100/2600), as Ansem added a card to his nonexistent hand. "Nothing here, I'm afraid."
"Nor here." Yugi responded as he drew. "Just another card to lay down."
The two players continued to draw, neither moving for a few turns. Yugi played De-Spell on Horn of the Unicorn, placing it back atop Ansem's deck, hoping to stall for time. Ansem set a new monster in defense mode, and slowly drew more and more. After five full turns, they now had hands to play with.
In Yugi's hand was his Dark Magician, another Beta, the Magic Cylinder trap card, Brain Control, and Book of Secret Arts. He drew- the Dark Magician Girl! His hand now looked promising, especially with two powerful defenders on the field. "I place two cards face down, and end my turn."
"As you will." Ansem Jaeger nodded, drawing as well. In his hand was Dragon Seeker, another Koumori Dragon, Polymerization, Horn of the Unicorn, and his most recent draw-Tyrant Dragon. "I sacrifice my defense monster for Dragon Seeker!" His defense monster, Prevent Rat, was destroyed, as the mighty fiend took its place (2000/2100). "His special ability allows him to destroy one dragon type monster on the field! Say goodbye to your Black Skull Dragon!" Dragon Seeker leveled its shoulder-mounted cannon at the Black Skull Dragon, and annihilated it in an instant. "That'll do it for me."
"But not for me!" Yugi countered, drawing- adding Magical Hats to his hand. "I activate the magic card, Brain Control!" The card was flipped face up, as a brain-like object extended two freakish arms, grabbing Ansem's Harpie's Pet Dragon, and then tributing it, along with Big Shield Gardna for… "The Dark Magician!" His favorite monster appeared on the field in its flowing purple robe (2500/2100). "Destroy his Dragon Seeker! Dark Magic attack!" A blast of dark energy shot from the spellcaster's staff, obliterating Dragon Seeker and dropping Ansem's LP to 3200. He shrugged the attack off, and drew- the Dragon Piper!
"I'll lay one more monster in defense mode…" Ansem explained, setting the monster down, "and that will end my turn."
"And begin mine!" Yugi went on, drawing Kuriboh and adding it to his hand. "First, I'll lay this card face down… and then summon a new Beta the Magnet Warrior to join the battle!" The new magnet warrior appeared, the same as its predecessor (1700/1600). "But first, my Dark Magician will attack your new defense monster!"
"Big mistake, Yugi." Ansem noted as his Dragon Piper was blown apart. "My Dragon Capture Jar has been disabled- and both my dragons go back into attack mode." Yugi drew back in clear terror at the sight, as his opponent regained the upper hand. Ansem drew- the card Marik had given him: Last Turn. "I'll lay this card down, and have my Luster Dragon take care of Beta once again!" Another energy blast left Yugi with one monster, and a reasonable 3000 life points left. "And my Tri-Horned Dragon will deal with your Dark Magician!"
"Not so fast!" Yugi replied, revealing one card. "Behold- Magic Cylinder! Your attack is launched right back at you!" Ansem cried out in clear frustration as his life points took the long drop to 350.
"Useless monster!" Ansem cried at his Tri-Horned. "If I had used my Tyrant Dragon, nothing would've happened to me! But I tried to trust you- my formerly powerful beast…"
"You disrespect your cards!" Yugi growled. "For that- I will show you no mercy." He began to draw…
"I am not done. I have one move left." Ansem smiled, suddenly happy. "I knew this monster wouldn't be able to attack right now, so I saved it for this moment. I play Polymerization!" The magic card was revealed, as Ansem's two dragons, along with the two in his hand began to combine.
"Polymerization?" Yugi repeated. "What will that create?"
"By fusing four dragons, I create a beast more powerful than any other!" Ansem said simply. "Now you will know why I am known as the 'unstoppable' dragon duelist!" The energy on the field took a form, that of a massive, five-headed creature. "The unquestioned king of duel monsters… the Mythic Dragon!"
Yugi gasped- he had never intended to fight the mighty dragon again. He watched on in terror as a familiar beast appeared. Though its body was a golden yellow color, each of its five heads were different: one was made entirely of flame, while the other was made of wires and metal, and another was pale and spiked, and another was light blue, the final head was pure black, and residing in the center, where its great power all flowed (5000/5000). "Oh, my…"
"I can't attack right now, so make your move." Ansem instructed.
Yugi nodded and drew- the magic card, Multiply. "I'll lay another card face down, along with Kuriboh in defense mode." The tiny fuzzball appeared on the scene (300/200). "But I think I'll also use this- Magical Hats! Conceal my Dark Magician!" Four large hats appeared, moving around and hiding the Dark Magician.
"What a waste." Ansem muttered as he drew. "I play De-Spell and destroy the Magical Hats." Yugi gasped as his barrier was destroyed. "Mythic Dragon, annihilate his futile creature!" Yugi watched on in horror as his favorite monster was destroyed, leaving the battle fairly even, with only 150 life points separating them.
Yugi looked at his hand. There was little he could do- but one move that had saved him from another powerful dragon. "I activate the magic card Multiply! Now my Kuriboh will multiply, and fill the field!" Immediately after saying this, thousands of Kuribohs appeared, creating a barrier in front of Yugi's life points.
Ansem glanced at the huge army before him, and then began to laugh. "This is your pitiful move? To think- I expected a challenge!"
"And you'll get one." Yugi promised. "I still hold the lead, and I doubt you'll be able to defeat this many Kuribohs."
"I don't need to." Ansem replied simply. "I could draw my Stop Defense, or perhaps Raigeki, but why bother? I have another card, already out, I might add, that can stop you here and now. It is quite appropriately named…"
"What are you talking about now?" Yugi asked, glancing at his remaining cards- none of which could hope to match the Mythic Dragon.
"What else?" Ansem asked, lifting the card for his adversary to see. "The trap card- Last Turn!" As he activated the card, all the Kuribohs were destroyed, but his Mythic Dragon remained. "When its controller has less than 1000 life points remaining, Last Turn allows me to select 1 monster on the field. My opponent then special summons 1 monster from his deck, and the two battle. Life points and magic and trap cards are ignored. The battle ends with one monster's defeat."
Ansem expected Yugi to be caught off guard- defeated; but he wasn't. Yugi actually smiled. "You're right. The duel does end. But, powerful as your Mythic Dragon is, I have the one monster that can defeat it." Yugi discarded his hand and the cards on his field, and lifted his deck- selecting a monster near its top. "I summon Buster Blader!"
It was Ansem's turn to be surprised. He watched as the warrior appeared on the field, adorned in purple armor, wielding a massive blade (2600/2300). He also watched as its stats began to increase drastically.
"Buster Blader gains attack points from every dragon ever played on the field…" Ansem realized, before looking at his graveyard. "The four dragons I fused for mythic dragon, and the three I lost before that… and then the Mythic Dragon itself…"
"500 points for every dragon!" Yugi called triumphantly. His warrior's attack power climbed to near unreachable heights (6600/2300), as its blade practically glistened with the energy contained within it. "Now, Buster Blader, swing your mighty sword!"
Ansem watched- there was nothing else he could do. His 'unstoppable' dragon was cut apart by Buster Blader, and his life points dropped to zero. Ansem fell to one knee as the holograms dissipated, and Yugi stepped forward.
"Now- as you promised, return the Harpie's Pet Dragon." Yugi instructed.
Ansem glared up at Yugi, then nodded, as he lifted cards from his graveyard and handed the dragon to Yugi. He rose to his feet, and straightened the hood of his Rare Hunter uniform. "Well done, Yugi Mutoh. You're just as good as they said you'd be."
Yugi seemed taken aback. "You're quite polite for someone who just lost a rare monster… and for one of Marik's henchmen…"
"Henchmen?" Ansem Jaeger repeated. "I am not his lackey! I'm just helping him get what he wants- and in exchange, I get what I want!"
"What does Marik want?" Yugi wondered, "aside from my puzzle, that is?"
"Oh, that's easy- he wants the Egyptian card back from Kaiba." Ansem explained. "I've wanted a chance to battle Kaiba since our last conflict. If I defeat him, not only will I redeem myself as the world's most powerful dragon duelist and a contender in the Battle City finals, but also claim the world's most powerful dragon!" He went on as Yugi listened intently. "Marik wants Kaiba's God card, and I want the Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Then I'll finally be rid of some of the dead weight in my deck!"
Yugi looked at Ansem sternly. "Do you mean your Tri-Horned Dragon?"
"All my dragons are inferior." Ansem went on. "Only the Mythic Dragon is of any real use to me. The others are nothing more than fodder."
Yugi lowered his head in apparent disappointment. "Clearly, Marik has blinded you, as he's done others in the past. Marik does not want you to have your dragons, he merely needs you to do his dirty work. Do you honestly expect to share the world with him once he's conquered it? Marik cares only for himself, and he will have no need for you once you complete his tasks."
"We will see." Ansem replied, turning away. "I will see you in the finals, Yugi Mutoh. Next time, I won't be so reckless."
"One more thing." Yugi called. "Remember that a duelist can never attain true power until they trust and respect their cards. Your Tri-Horned Dragon and the others in your deck respect and trust you- but you belittle them and call them worthless. If you trust in your beasts, and allow your two powers to intertwine… then maybe you really will be the unstoppable dragon duelist."
"I do not share your fascination, 'pharaoh'." Ansem growled. "I'll deal with you in the future, and you will not halt my progress again." With that, he headed away, disappearing into a crowd of duelists.
Mai came over, quite pleased. "Thanks, Yugi- you bailed me out of another jam."
"Think nothing of it, Mai." Yugi responded. "I'll see you in the finals." He watched his friend leave and then glanced to where Ansem Jaeger had been.
My duels with Marik's forces have shown me how great a manipulator he really is. Keith couldn't resist his mental control. That Rare Hunter… Seeker, I believe, was overconfident because of Exodia. Arcana was desperate to be reunited, so he sacrificed his mind to Marik. But him… he turned, heading away…
…there may be hope for the Dragon Duelist yet…