A note from the authors: Sorry for the lack of updates, but we thought you all went on vacation because hardly anyone reviewed Chapter 27.

Chapter 28

"Duel Montage"

Jetsu grinned behind his helmet as he selected his five cards (Exodia the Forbidden One, Millennium Shield, Lesser Fiend, Different Dimension Capsule, Graceful Charity). These two might provide for a decent warm-up, but it wasn't likely. Both of them were fools, and as allies: they were even worse. He folded his arms across his chest plate and inclined his head towards the two, "Begin now."

Seto Kaiba glared at his would-be "ally" in the duel and growled softly at him, "Listen up, dog. I'm going first, and I don't need your help to beat this psycho. Just stay out of my way." The young man glanced down at his six cards (Dragon's Gunfire, Stamping Destruction, A Wingbeat of Giant Dragon, Troop Dragon, The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave, and Dragon's Rage). Shifting his Duel Disk on his arm, the billionaire began to place cards on the field, "I set one monster in defense mode (The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave (1300/2000)) and one card face-down (Dragon's Rage)."

Joey glared angrily at Kaiba. Man, that guy really knows how ta tick me off! If we get through this alive… Still fuming, the teenager took a look down at the six cards that he was holding (Book of Moon, Lava Battleguard, Trap Dustshoot, Gravekeeper's Guard, Bottomless Traphole, and Inaba White Rabbit) "I'm also placin' a monster in defense mode (Gravekeeper's Guard (1000/1900)), but I'm gonna place two cards face-down (Trap Dustshoot & Book of Moon), unlike my partner." The young man shot a dirty look at Seto, who ignored him.

Lord Jetsu chuckled softly. Such idiocy was all too rare these days. It's actually rather refreshing, he thought to himself and he slipped another card from his deck (Offerings to the Doomed) and examined it carefully, considering his options. But before he could even play a card, the blonde-haired servant of the pharaoh had pressed a button on his Duel Disk, "What the-"

Grinning, Joey watched as his trap appeared on the field, "I'm activatin' my trap right off the bat: Trap Dustshoot! This card allows me (if ya have four or more cards in your hand) to see yer cards and choose a monster to go back to your deck! Now let's see 'em!"

Growling angrily, the evil warlord placed his six cards on the field, where they appeared face-up and large for both of his enemies to see. He watched as both of them balked at the sight of his Exodia head.

"Exodia!!" Kaiba cried, then he frowned, "Should've known he'd use that strategy…"

"Well, my mind's made up," Joey said, "I choose The Head of Exodia to go back into your deck!" That wouldn't stop Jetsu from summoning the horrible beast, but it would at least give them some time to think of a strategy. If Kaiba ever learns to cooperate, Joey thought grimly. He remembered what Athena had said the previous night – that Jetsu's Exodia was the probable reason for Weevil being in a coma, and he wasn't exactly anxious to suffer the same fate.

Jetsu nodded and placed the card into his deck, where the machine began to shuffle up his deck. Collecting up his remaining five cards, the black knight swiveled his helmet towards Joey, "If you're quite finished, may I get on with my turn?"

"Fine," came the answer from Kaiba, not giving Joey the chance to reply.

"Good. Then I will first play this card: the Graceful Charity. I believe you are both familiar with this card, so there's no need to explain." After selecting his three cards (Left Leg of the Forbidden One, Monster Reborn, and Witch of the Black Forest), he calmly pushed Lesser Fiend and Millennium Shield into the graveyard. Choosing three out of his remaining four cards in his hand, the evil entity announced his moves, "I place one monster (Witch of the Black Forest (1100/1200) in defense mode, place this one card face-down (Offerings to the Doomed) and now play a magic card known as the Different Dimension Capsule!"

Joey beat Kaiba to the punch, "What th' heck is that?"

Lord Jetsu calmly explained it to the confused 18-year-old as he began fishing through his deck, "This card allows me to select a single card from my deck and remove it from play. In two turns from now, that card will be added to my hand! HA HA HA HA!"

* * *

Yami had been anxiously trying to navigate the difficult and gloomy corridors for several minutes and was beginning to feel as though he was being followed. At his side was Yugi in translucent form. The poor boy seemed a wreck and, while Yami couldn't really blame him, this wasn't a good time to be having second thought. "Yugi…" he said softly.

"Huh?" the boy's head jerked towards his counterpart.

"You need to relax," Yami said, "Calm your mind and try to concentrate. Don't dwell on what only might happen, but rather what we need to happen. I'm going to need you with me for this. I don't think I can handle Jetsu on my own."

"I know," Yugi said, swallowing hard, "Thanks, Yami." Then, unprovoked, the boy wrapped his arms around Yami's midsection. The Pharaoh of Old gave a small smile and patted his counterpart on the head.

"Isn't this cute…" came a gravelly voice and they both looked up. Yami Bakura was standing in the shadows of the corridor ahead of them, smirking cruelly. "But do you really think this is the time or place to be having a moment?"

Yami frowned, "Where's Bakura?"

"Where he should be," Yami Bakura said, "in my shadow. I've been waiting for a rematch with you for a long time, Pharaoh."

"If it's a rematch you want, it's a rematch you'll get," Yami said, as Yugi dissolved back into him. He adjusted his DD2, "Let's duel!"

* * *

Daniel Stevens had taken a moment to muse about the situation as he wandered rather aimlessly through the dimly lit corridors. There was something about the lack of organization in the tournament that irked him. The tall, muscular teen felt that at least the courtesy of order was due to such a skilled duelist as he.

Growing up in the heart of London, Daniel had always been accustomed to routine and efficiency, so this whole 'anything goes' rule was quite distressing to him. I could be wandering around in this filthy place forever… he thought huffily, surely that was not the coordinator's intention.

"How do they expect us to eliminate each other if we can't even bloody well find each other??" he exclaimed to no one in particular.

"It's a simple trick of knowing where to look," said a feminine behind him and the Brit turned. Vitani was coming up behind him, a small smile tugging at her painted lips.

"You…?" Daniel said, "What do you want?"

"A duel, naturally," she said, "Do you accept my challenge?"

"Bah!" he said, waving a hand at her, "Duel? You don't stand a chance against me! Why don't we make this simple and you just surrender now?"

"I'm afraid that's not who it works," Vitani said, "Now enough talk. Will you duel me, or are you afraid??"

"I fear nothing and no one!" Daniel said, "Especially not you! Let's duel!!"

* * *

Kaiba grimaced in slight worry. He had a sinking suspicion that the card this maniac had selected was a piece of Exodia, which meant that he was going to have to end this duel in a hurry. Scanning his new card over quickly (Dragon Tribe), he started his turn, "First, I flip my Dragon Dwelling in the Cave into attack mode!"

A large, blue dragon that was lying low to the ground appeared, and a snot bubble appeared out of one of its nostrils, showing that though it was in attack mode it most certainly did not feel like doing anything until absolutely necessary. Kaiba ignored this ridiculousness and pulled several cards from his hand, "Now, I'll play the Stamping Destruction magic card, which will allow me to use my dragon to destroy your face-down card!" The large blue dragon straightened up on its hind legs, stretched, then flapped his way over to Jetsu and smashed his face-down card.

Lord Jetsu watched as his Offerings to the Doomed was destroyed, but took little notice. He could have activated it, but it just wouldn't be worth it to skip a draw phase over that monster. Suddenly, however, his Duel Disk began to beep at him. Bewildered, he watched as his life points dropped quickly and halted abruptly at 3500. The Millennium Shield was glowing intensely, stopping the physical damage to its master.

Kaiba sniggered, "Oh, and the other effect is that you lose 500 of your life points. Not too shabby, eh? It gets better, trust me. Now, I summon Troop Dragon (700/800) in attack mode!" A short, large-winged, green dragon with armor on and a worn sword and shield appeared before Kaiba, next to the lazy blue dragon. Selecting another green magic card, Kaiba pressed it into one of the empty slots in the back of his Duel Disk 2, "This card, Dragon's Gunfire, will use my Troop Dragon to deal another 800 points of damage to you!"

The little dragon reached behind his back and pulled out a bow and arrow set. Jetsu blinked in surprise as the creature fired the arrow right at him. Quick as a flash, he had raised his powerful Shield, and the arrow reflected off of it harmlessly, though his life points did drop further, down to 2700.

Kaiba blinked a few times. "Wait a minute. How does that shield deflect holographic images??" he demanded, turning to Joey.

"Haven't you realized by now??" Joey said, "First of all – that's a Millennium Item he's got, so of course it's gonna deflect attacks on him. Secondly – the monsters aren't holographic! He uses some kinda magic to bring 'em all to life!! Flesh and blood, all of 'em! Touch one and see."

"You've gotta be kidding," Kaiba said gruffly, stepping towards the Dragon Dwelling in the Cave. Wheeler's cracked, he thought, My hand will go right through this. He reached out and his hand touched warm, leathery skin. He drew his hand back quickly as if burned, and watched at the Dragon swung its head around to blink lazily at him. "What the hell?!?"

"Told ya," Joey said shortly.

What IS this?!?! Kaiba thought, feeling slightly panicked, This can't be real…it just can't!! "So…when they attack life points directly…?"

"Yep…" Joey nodded, jaw clenched.

"Just great…" Kaiba muttered under his breath, "Well, I think that in that case… Dragon Dwelling in the Cave! Attack his monster now!

The outsized blue dragon opened its mouth wide and roared loudly. The brown-haired man could feel the intense heat of the red-orange flames that were spewing out of his monster's mouth as they rushed towards his opponent. A strange looking woman in a black robe appeared for just a moment before becoming engulfed in the flames. The woman screamed, catching both Kaiba and Joey off guard. Neither of them had ever heard a Duel Monster card shriek in pain before, and it was more than a little unnerving.

"Ahh well," Jetsu said, "Now I get Witch of the Black Forest's effect." He searched quickly through his deck, and pulled out Right Arm of the Forbidden One.

Kaiba glanced over at Joey, who had gone pale and was staring at the floor. "GET A GRIP!!" the older boy shouted, "It's just a card!! I didn't really kill anything, OKAY?? Geezus…" Kaiba shook his head in frustration and then said to Jetsu, "Before I end my turn, I can use my Troop Dragon to attack your Life Points directly!!" The small dragon flew forward, and though Seto was sure that the sword contact would be direct, the mysterious man once again raised the golden shield and there was a loud King! as the two metals collided.

* * *

Vitani stood over her second fallen victim, her grim expression masking the raging emotions within. She fingered the hilt of the Millennium Sword, its gold sparkling in the torchlight. "I feel that today, young duelist, you have learned the meaning of fear. Pity it had to be your last lesson."

She shook her hair out of her face with a smooth motion and turned away. Today was not the day to show weakness. Jetsu was most definitely watching, and she could not afford to disappoint him, or she would surely be joining her victims in the Shadow Dungeon. A shiver ran down her spine and she had to resist the urge to hug herself. Instead, she balled her fists tightly and continued on, vanishing into the darkness of the corridor.

* * *

Both Japanese duelists stared in disbelief as the petite dragon walked sadly back towards Kaiba. Jetsu's Duel Disk ticked off more life points, down to 2000.

Kaiba was able to recover first. Well, even if he isn't injured physically, we're still leading in Life Points, he thought, so as long as Wheeler doesn't screw up, we can win this. Jetsu's already down by half… "That ends my turn," he said aloud, and then turned to Joey, "See if you can keep up the lead I've given us, dog."

Joey growled through clenched teeth. That guy…He thinks he's so smooth, givin' us an early lead like that… He had to resist the urge to jump Kaiba, and instead drew a card (Fairy Box). Hmm…that could come in handy later… "I'll place this card face down (Fairy Box), and then I'll tribute my Gravekeeper's Ghoul for Lava Battleguard (1550/1800) in attack mode! Go, Battleguard! Attack Jetsu now!"

The red-skinned beast lunged towards Jetsu, club raised. Carelessly, Jetsu raised his Shield and blocked the attack, as his Life Points dropped to 450. Disappointed that its attack had been blocked, the Lava Battleguard walked back to Joey's part of the field, its club dragging along the ground.

Kaiba smirked. Well…looks like Wheeler's not a complete idiot after all. Or maybe that was just a lucky break. Better not take any chances relying on him.

"It's your turn now," Joey said to Jetsu.

The black knight nodded. This was an unexpected surprise indeed. Somehow the fools were actually in the lead, but no matter. Two pieces in his hand, and one that would be his in one turn. Now, if his deck could just provide him with a good card…(Pot of Greed).

"Excellent! Now, I'll just play this magic card to gain two new cards," Jetsu pushed the magic card onto the field, where it appeared for just a brief moment, then the Duel Disk pulled it into the graveyard as he picked up another two cards (Right Leg of the Forbidden One and Sangan) "First, I will play the Monster Reborn Magic card, to revive my Millennium Shield in defense mode (0/3000)." The gold and red shield appeared out of the green magic card and positioned itself in front of its master, intent on defending him from any threats. He moved another card from his hand and placed it on the field, "Now, I'll lay one monster in defense mode (Sangan (1000/600)) and end my turn."

Kaiba snorted, "Seems strange that someone clearly so powerful has done nothing but play defense this whole game. Not only that, but it doesn't seem to be helping you." He drew his card (Dark Magic Curtain). A wide grin spread across his face, which was so uncharacteristic of him that it frightened Joey. "I'll play the Dark Magic Curtain!" Kaiba said, slapping the card into place, "Which allows all players to summon one high-level monster from their deck in exchange for half of their Life Points!"

In the center of the field a large archway formed, with a red curtain draping down from both sides. As it was forming, Kaiba was quickly rifling through his deck. "Naturally," Kaiba said, "I'm summoning the most faithful card in my deck – The Blue Eyes White Dragon!" The curtains parted, and the ground shook as the huge dragon emerged, craning its neck and roaring proudly. Kaiba was in awe. "It's even better than the holograms…" he murmured, reaching out to it.

"Kaiba! Don't!" Joey cried.

Too late. Kaiba's hand touched the sharp, metal-like scales of the Blue Eyes and he cried out, drawing back his bleeding hand and clutching it tightly. His face had paled with shock and pain.

"You should know better than that," Joey said, but there was a note of concern in his voice and he took a step towards the older boy.

"Get away from me!" Kaiba snapped, looking like a cornered animal. A second later, it dawned on him how foolish he must've looked and he composed himself, "Just get on with your summon," he said, tearing the end of one of his jacket sleeves off and using it as a crude bandage for his hand.

Joey frowned, and turned to look down at his DD2. "I'll bring out a dragon of my own – The Red Eyes Black Dragon!!" Once again the curtain parted and Red Eyes flew out, touching down next to the Blue Eyes. The dragons glanced at each other for a moment, before settling their focus back on the enemy. "Your turn, Jetsu," Joey said.

"I have no need for another monster, so please continue Mr. Kaiba." Jetsu folded his arms, smiling unseen beneath his black helmet, "After all, my Millennium Shield has enough defense power to stop both of your dragons."

"Hmph," Seto Kaiba snorted, "I'm switching my Troop Dragon and my Dragon Dwelling in the cave into defense mode. Now, my Blue Eyes will attack your face-down monster!" The mighty beast opened its mouth and blasted the face-down card with such fury that neither Kaiba nor Joey even had time to see the little creature.

The master of darkness sighed, then began to rifle through his deck once again, "You've attacked Sangan, which allows me to search my deck for a monster to add to my hand." He calmly found the Left Arm of The Forbidden One and placed it in his hand.

Kaiba grimaced and gave Joey a meaningful glance. He must be searching for the pieces of Exodia! When Wheeler ends his turn, he'll also get whatever care he put out of play! If it's another piece… Well, Kaiba didn't even want to think about that.