The Dragon Duelist
Author's Note: In this chapter's duel, Ansem uses a card called 'Howl of the Underworld'. This is the Legacy of Darkness card 'Bark of Dark Ruler'. It just bears the Japanese name and effects.
Chapter Seven: Seto Kaiba vs. Ansem Jaeger
"I'll start." Ansem began, eyeing his hand- the Koumori Dragon, Flute of Summoning Dragon, Life Absorbing Machine, Magic Cylinder and Prevent Rat. "I'll lay two cards face down…" Ansem selected the cards, "and I'll summon Koumori Dragon in attack mode!" Two holographic cards appeared on the field, while the purplish dragon appeared before Kaiba, baring its fangs (1500/1200).
"How familiar." Kaiba mocked, looking at his hand- Battle Ox, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dian Keto the Cure Master, Ring of Destruction and Cyber Jar. The first card he drew was- Vorse Raider! "Perfect!" Kaiba declared, selecting the mighty monster from his hand. "I summon Vorse Raider! Chop up his Koumori Dragon!" The strange looking warrior appeared on the field (1900/1200), wielding a pair of blades attached by a length of chain, which it extended towards Koumori Dragon.
"Not so fast!" Ansem countered, revealing one card on his Duel Disc. "I activate Magic Cylinder- reflecting your attack right back at you!" As Ansem said this, a pair of strange canisters appeared on either side of Koumori Dragon, as Vorse Raider's blade weapon was sucked into one of the devices and then hurled out the other, directly onto Kaiba's life points. The World Champion shuddered in surprise as his life points dropped to 2100.
"Clever move." Kaiba noted. "But you can't hope to hold me off forever." Kaiba smirked, as he set Ring of Destruction down on the field. "That ends my turn."
Ansem drew- the trap card, Howl of the Underworld. "I'll set this card face down and another monster in defense mode." He looked over at Kaiba and smiled. "That will do for me."
Kaiba drew- Mystical Rift Panel! "I'll set this monster down in defense mode too, and then activate Ring of Destruction, to destroy your Koumori Dragon!" He said this and a circle of flames surrounded the purple dragon, destroying it instantly. "Normally, both players lose life points equal to the destroyed monster's attack power. But when I play Mystical Rift Panel…" Kaiba punctuated his statement by flashing the card in Ansem's face. "I can reflect those damaging effects back onto you. You loose 3000 life points!"
"Not quite." Ansem replied calmly. "I activate Life Absorbing Machine." The device he spoke of appeared. "I only lose 1500 life points, while you lose two valuable trap cards."
Kaiba sneered, as he now found himself 400 points behind his adversary. "Then that will end my turn."
"Very well." Ansem drew- the Serpent Night Dragon. "I'm done as well."
"I'm certain your defense monster can withstand my attack." Kaiba noted. "I remember all too well your little Prevent Rat." He drew a card- Axe of Despair. "I reveal my defense monster- Cyber Jar!" Instantly, the inconspicuous-looking mechanical cylinder appeared (900/900) and obliterated everything on the field. Each duelist drew five cards and showed them to each other.
Ansem gasped. His own hand had a Lord of D., a Lesser Dragon, the Tyrant Dragon, De-Spell and Polymerization, but it couldn't match up to Kaiba's. In Seto Kaiba's hands were three simple beasts: Hitotsu-Me Giant, La Jinn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp, and Ryu-Kishin Powered. But the most frightful of his beasts were a Blue-Eyes White Dragon and a second… significantly more frightening creature…
In Kaiba's hand was a great behemoth of a creature, a blue gray color, with an equally humanoid and demonic appearance… and Ansem knew at once he was laying eyes on Obelisk the Tormentor.
"This duel will be over sooner than I thought." Kaiba observed, setting down his three beasts in attack position- (1200/1000), (1800/1000) and (1600/1200) respectively- and then selecting one magic card from his hand. "I play Dian Keto the Cure Master… boosting my life points back up…" Now with 3100 LP, Kaiba had regained the lead, and Ansem with only two weak defense monsters.
Desperately searching for some hope, Ansem drew a card- the trap: Last Turn. I could use this…Ansem thought, but my life points are too high and I don't know where his Blue-Eyes White Dragons are! If he has even one left in his deck, this card will be useless!
He looked at his hand and his two defense monsters. "I play Flute of Summoning Dragon!" Ansem declared as he used the magic card, and sent Tyrant Dragon onto the field, extending its wings and lifting its massive head into a roar (2900/2500), and then bringing out the snakelike Serpent Night Dragon (2350/2400) both in defense position.
"What a pity." Kaiba shrugged. "Oh, well. I guess defeating you means I get another God card… but first we'll see what you think of them…" He smiled wickedly as he lifted one card from his hand, and Ansem knew immediately what he had selected. "I sacrifice my three monsters for Obelisk the Tormentor!" Ansem could only watch in horror as Hitotsu-Me Giant, La Jinn and Ryu-Kishin were all destroyed, and replaced by a monolith of a creature… it dwarfed Ansem's two dragons with ease.
Seeing the card was nowhere near as intimidating as seeing Obelisk in person (4000/4000). A light blue coated the monster's rough skin, which extended into points along its legs, hands and shoulders (as well as a sort of crown atop its head). Despite its menacing appearance, it was the monster's cold gray eyes, along with Kaiba's constant laughter that frightened Ansem Jaeger most.
"Ye Gods…" Ansem muttered, stepping back.
"God indeed." Kaiba chuckled. "Now witness his power… Obelisk the Tormentor, attack his Lord of Dragons! FIST OF FATE!"
Ansem could say nothing as Obelisk lifted one massive arm, before bringing it down on Lord of D. with the force of a small earthquake. The spellcaster was annihilated instantly, but Ansem's life points were spared.
Still terrified, Ansem shakily reached for his deck. I have three dragons and a Polymerization card. If I draw another dragon… any other dragon, I can bring out my most powerful monster. I have several dragons in my deck, so the odds of drawing one are high… Ansem again reached for his deck, with a bit more confidence. But I have several other cards that could interfere… and I'm not sure whether I shuffled well enough…
…
I have to stop doubting myself, Ansem realized, I have to believe… like Yugi does… in my cards.
The Heart of the Cards… the heart of my cards…
…and believe we can defeat Kaiba.
Finally Ansem drew, lifting the card high in the air, and revealing it as one of his Red-Eyes Black dragons. "I play Polymerization!" Ansem declared, as his four dragons began to join together. "And my four dragons shall form a creature strong enough to defeat you, Kaiba!" Together, the dragons fused into one beast- a five-headed behemoth with a tan-colored body but ridiculously powerful and fearsome appearance, with stats to match (5000/5000). It was Kaiba's turn to gasp: he had not expected anything to match up to his god card. "I can't attack this turn… but Obelisk is no longer a match anyway."
Kaiba glowered as he drew a card- his Polymerization card. With no way to fuse anything, however, and Obelisk not affected by magic and trap cards, left the battle in Ansem's favor. There was no way Kaiba would switch Obelisk into defense mode… his ego wouldn't allow it. But Kaiba was paralyzed with fear.
"Mythic Dragon!" Ansem called, pointing towards Kaiba. "Annihilate that creature! Show it the true power of dragons!" The five-headed beast complied, launching its various attacks onto Obelisk. The great God stood for a few moments, attempting to resist the attack, but it was ultimately annihilated, and Kaiba lost his most powerful beast, as well as 1000 life points in an instant. He glared at Ansem, who had gained complete control of the field.
"No…" Kaiba gasped, as he fell onto one knee. "How? How can this…" He stopped, unable to speak.
"It seems that you're losing your cool already." Ansem noted. "What's the matter, Seto? You must've known that someone would inevitably beat you. After Yugi proved it was possible, that is…"
Seto Kaiba lifted himself then, glaring at Ansem Jaeger. "No. I can not be beaten." He drew a card from the top of his deck, and punctuated his move with a statement: "And now I'll prove it!" He showed his card to Ansem- the third and final Blue-Eyes White Dragon. "I play Polymerization, and fuse my three Blue-Eyes into one creature…" The three dragons appeared on the field, and began to combine.
Ansem watched with great interest. So… the Blue-Eyes White Dragon has more power than I gave it credit for… I may have to get all three of those dragons from Kaiba…
"Behold…" Kaiba declared, as the three-headed creature appeared, "the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" The great creature appeared, flapping its large wings, pointing all three mouths at the Mythic Dragon (4500/3800).
Ansem smiled. "Powerful as it is, Kaiba… I don't think there's anything you can do with it."
"Watch." Kaiba replied maliciously, drawing one of the only remaining cards at his disposal. "I play Axe of Despair!" Upon doing this, the monster's power rose even more- making it more powerful than ever (5500/3800).
Ansem gasped and stepped back. The battle had shifted again. "No way…"
"I can't attack, but I'll lay this monster in defense mode." Kaiba noted. "It's your move."
Ansem slowly nodded as he drew- the Flight of Dragon Eyes card. But he could do nothing. Even if he used De-Spell on Axe of Despair, Kaiba could restore it by sacrificing his extra monster. "I switch Mythic Dragon into defense mode." Ansem muttered helplessly.
"And I pull it right back into the fray!" Kaiba called, drawing the card that sealed Ansem's fate. "Stop Defense!"
"No!" Ansem growled, as the Mythic Dragon returned to attack position. He tried to help his beast, but there was nothing he could do.
"Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Neutron Blast!" Kaiba called. The three-headed Blue-Eyes moved each mouth into a different area, creating a sort of triangle. Each head charged up energy, which formed into a singular sphere- which it then shot at Mythic Dragon, annihilating it in an instant, along with a few life points (half of the 500 were spared thanks to Life Absorbing Machine).
Now with 2250 life points to match Kaiba's 2100, and an empty field, Ansem could do nothing. He was trapped.
"You fought better than last time." Kaiba observed. "But you could hardly hope to match up to me, now could you? Maybe another defeat will teach you your place."
Ansem glared up at Kaiba as he looked at his field and hand. There was nothing he could do.
Nothing except draw the card he needed.
I have to believe… Ansem told himself, as he lifted the card into his hand, not looking at it. I have to know that this card can win the duel. I have to know that I can win.
That we can win…
"Well, this was fun." Kaiba chuckled, "we'll have to try it again some-" He was cut off by Ansem's declaration.
"I play Flight of Dragon Eyes!" Ansem cried, tossing the magic card down. On the field then appeared his once most-trusted beast, the blue-skinned, sharp-clawed Tri-Horned Dragon (2850/2350). "Tri-Horned Dragon, annihilate Kaiba's defense monster!"
And so the Tri-Horned Dragon did, annihilating Kaiba's defending Battle Ox (1700/1000). "And now…" Ansem continued. "I play De-Spell on your Axe of Despair!" The Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's stats returned to normal (4500/3800).
Seto Kaiba glanced at Ansem Jaeger. "As impressive a display as that was… this duel is still mine. Say good bye to Battle City… NEUTRON BLAST!" The Ultimate Dragon again combined its powers, and let loose a massive energy blast… but it stopped as a great mouth appeared before Tri-Horned Dragon, stopping the attack. "What the…"
"I activate my final trap- Howl of the Underworld!" Ansem declared. "By subtracting a few life points, I can reduce your monster's attack power!"
"W-what…" Kaiba began, before gasping in realization. "No!"
"1700 life points should do." Ansem noted as his LP dropped to 550. Now with a mere 2800 attack points, the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's attack fell short, as the triple-headed Blue-Eyes was destroyed, Kaiba with 50 less life points, and more importantly… a clear field.
"No!" Kaiba cried in disbelief, as he watched both of his most powerful creatures were destroyed.
"Now, Tri-Horned Dragon…" Ansem said simply. "For every humiliation we endured… for every duel gone awry… and for every mistake I made in my spite.. FINISH HIM OFF!"
With a new sense of unity, the Tri-Horned Dragon complied, as it unleashed
an incredible blast of flame directly onto Kaiba's life points. The champion
screamed as his LP dropped to zero, and the duel ended.
Finally, a few moments after the bombshell sunk in, Ansem Jaeger stepped forward and looked down at his fallen foe.
"So…you finally won…" Kaiba admitted. "Take what is yours. You beat me."
Ansem could hardly believe his senses. The sight of Kaiba cowering before him, and the words he had spoken… and Ansem Jaeger was ready to comply, lifting two Locator cards, as well as the God card, Obelisk the tormentor… and his prize… the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"At last…" Ansem gasped, his face wet with tears. "I have the most powerful dragon in the world…" As he prepared to place the creature at the top of his deck… he hesitated.
What's wrong with me? Ansem wondered, surprised at his hesitation. This is what I've waited for. This is what I want!
Or is it? came a new voice. I didn't know what I wanted…
He lifted the Tri-Horned Dragon into his hand. But it was in my deck all along.
Ansem Jaeger turned to Kaiba and tossed the cards back at him. "Thanks but no thanks, Kaiba."
"What?" Kaiba gasped. "But… this is what you demanded of me! This is what you wanted!"
"It's what I thought I wanted." Ansem replied gently. "Sorry, Seto. But I don't need them anymore."
As he turned away, his body went into violent convulsions. He grabbed at his head and screamed.
What do you think you're doing?! Came Marik's voice into Ansem's mind. Go back and get Obelisk!
What are you doing in my mind?! Ansem shot back. This is my battle! I never had any obligation to you!
I gave you power, you fool! Marik raged back. I gave you some of my best cards… and all I wanted was Obelisk in return! Now GO AND GET IT.
Get out of my head, Marik! Ansem cried desperately. I don't want Kaiba's cards anymore!
You will pay for disrespecting me, Dragon Duelist. Marik promised. Now be a good little mind-slave and get me that God card!
Get out of my head! Ansem repeated. I am not your mind-slave!
I beg to differ.
Ansem screamed again as he felt the pain in his head growing. But, after a few moments, he stopped resisting.
"What's going on?" Kaiba demanded, turning Ansem around, seeing a strange, golden eye burned into Ansem's forehead.
"Nothing." Ansem replied, in a mixture of his voice and Marik's. "As I was saying, give me Obelisk and your Locator cards."
"I thought you didn't want them…" Kaiba began.
"I changed my mind." 'Ansem' replied coldly. "Give me the God card, before I…" He stopped and again grabbed his head, and the golden eye dissipated.
"What's happening to you?" Kaiba asked. "What the hell's wrong with you?"
"STOP FIGHTING!" roared one voice. "NO!" came another. "This is my mind… and you won't take it!"
Kaiba tried to move in, but Ansem let out another scream and charged away as fast as he could.
"What's wrong with him?" Kaiba wondered, before dismissing it. "Ah,
well. I still have my key…" He glanced at Obelisk and cracked an evil grin.
"…to Yugi's defeat."
Yugi himself, was in one corner of Battle City, speaking with Yami.
"So… have you sensed any more of Marik's henchmen?" Yugi asked curiously.
"I'm afraid not." Yami replied. "They don't seem very active. Perhaps I-" He stopped and looked around. "I sense him. Marik is near."
"What?" Yugi gasped, but he said nothing else as he and Yami combined into Yami Yugi. The combined entity glanced around, until he spotted Ansem charging towards him.
"Maaarik!" Ansem roared.
"The Dragon Duelist?" Yami Yugi wondered, before grabbing Ansem in mid-run. "What about Marik?"
"Yugi!" Ansem cried in relief... which quickly turned to desperation.
"Help me…. Please help me…"