A Note from the Authors: We're back again! We apologize for the slowness of the updates, but with school just starting, things have been pretty crazy around here. But anyway, here it is! And Chapter 32 is already finished, so that'll be coming shortly!
Chapter 31
"Duel to the Last:
The Fiend and the Pharaoh!!"
Vitani raised an amused eyebrow. Well that might actually make this match interesting… she thought as she selected her next card and added it to her hand (Marauding Captain, Hayabusa Knight, Secret Passage to the Treasures, Pyramid Energy, Banner of Courage, Heart of Clear Water), "To start with I summon the Marauding Captain (1200/400) in attack mode!" The dashing blonde knight rushed out of his card, sword drawn and at the ready as Vitani laid another card down on the field, "And with his special effect, I summon yet another Earth monster, the Hayabusa Knight (1000/700)!" Out of the Marauding Captain's card came another warrior, this one a bird-like creature holding twin swords in gold gauntleted hands.
Athena cast a doubtful glance at her opponent, "It doesn't really matter how many monsters you have if they're all so feeble."
Vitani grinned wickedly, "But that's the point, don't you see? Marauding Captain protects other warriors from magic and attack, while my Hayabusa picks you apart, starting now. I will play the Heart of Clear Water on my Captain," The warrior type raised his free hand and an aura of water surrounded him, "This protective magic card will shield any monster with under 1300 attack power from being destroyed in battle or by magic cards that have but one target."
Athena frowned, "Kind of ironic, don't you think? You don't have a heart of clear anything, in my opinion. It's just like you to try anything to cheat death, isn't it?"
Vitani ignored her and continued with her turn. "Then this card will go face-down for now (Pyramid Energy), and I'll use these last two magic cards to strengthen my Hayabusa Knight: First, the Secret Passage to the Treasures." She placed her final two cards into the Duel Disk and folded her now-empty hands across her chest, "This card allows one monster with 1000 attack power or under to attack directly for the duration of my turn. My Hayabusa will do nicely for this, don't you think?"
Athena grimaced slightly, but then brightened, "Your monster may hit me for 1000 points, but that amount won't really matter in the long run. I'm still going to defeat you."
Vitani watched as her next magic card appeared on the field "Is that so? Well this continuous magic card, called Banner of Courage, which will increase the attack power of all monster on my side of the field during my battle phase, which will bring the direct damage dealt to you up to 1200." A large half-red, half-white banner on a tall wooden pool planted itself firmly behind the two monsters on Vitani's side of the field, eating several inches right off of the hard stone floor.
The blonde sighed and began to lean against her Banner, "Weren't rules just made to be broken? Perhaps I'll take it another step or two further just for you… Hayabusa! Attack her directly now!" The bird-knight rushed forward and leapt over the brown, face-down defense that was protecting Athena and just before he could hit, Vitani pushed the small red button just above her face-down card, revealing her magic card, "Activate Pyramid Energy!" she shouted.
The metallic outline of a small pyramid surrounded her side of the playing field, and began to glow brightly. When it had finished, both of her monsters had gained 200 attack power. Hayabusa Knight swung one of its razor-sharp blades down at Athena, intent on decimating her life points.
Calmly, Athena closed her eyes and turned over the Millennium Hourglass in her hand, and everything froze around her. As the tiny grains of crushed stone began to descend into the new lower portion of the magical instrument, Athena walked several paces to her right, no longer in harm's way. The sands held time in its place for several more seconds before everything began to regain the original momentum it had had.
The warrior finished his swing, though the sword made no contact. Vitani blinked several times, confused, but then noticed Athena fingering the Millennium Hourglass slowly. She chuckled a bit, "Well, you've still lost 1400 life points, but I still haven't gotten to see what I'm most interested in: your blood! Hayabusa, attack again!"
Athena gasped. Again!?!? But how- She never completed her thought, as the Knight whirled around and swung again, this time with its other rapier. She leapt aside but wasn't quite quick enough. She felt a searing pain shoot up her left arm, and she clutched at it, her hand landing on the tear in her sleeve as well as in her flesh.
* * *
"Yami, are you alright?" Yugi was reaching toward his older counterpart, looking concerned.
"That beast!" The Dark Magician sputtered almost beyond words, "I'll kill him, master!"
Yami straightened up once again, "Finished?" The dark Bakura nodded smugly, and Yami pulled another card from his deck (Magic Cylinder) "I lay one card face-down (Magic Cylinders)," He glanced up at the Dark Magician, "Old friend, I'm counting on you."
The purple-clad magician bowed respectfully to him in reply. Yami pointed at Opticlops, "Attack that monster and destroy it! Go Dark Magician!" With a rush of wind, the mightiest of the enchanters flew towards his opponent, staff at the ready.
Yami Bakura cackled savagely, "Yes!" He activated one of his remaining two traps, "I will play Bark of the Dark Ruler!" The trap card revealed itself and a giant green head pushed itself out of the card. The head was donned in a gold, red and purple headdress, with blue glass spheres over where its ears might be. It's yellow teeth ere exposed in a wide, demonic grin.
Yami Yugi's eyes widened in surprise, "What is that thing?" he asked distrustfully.
"By sacrificing 800 of my own life points…" the giant green head opened its mouth and spat a bolt of lightning out at its controller, which knocked the crazed spirit to the floor. He sat up and spat quickly, his spittle mixing in with blood from a small wound somewhere. The wide, sinister smile he gave Yami was frightful, as the blood red of his own bodily fluids stained several of his pearly white teeth. He licked his teeth wickedly, "I can lower your monster's attack power by 800 points, making it weaker than my Opticlops!"
Yugi and his counterpart cried out at the same instant, "NO!" The Dark Magician too was zapped by the lightning of the head, and felt his strength suddenly fail him. The Duel Disk on Yami's arm lowered Dark Magician down to 1700/2100, dooming the servant of the pharaoh.
There was a sickening crunch that neither Yami nor Yugi watched. When they looked up, the Dark Magician had vanished. Yami Yugi: 3600 – Yami Bakura: 3200.
Bakura had stood up once again, cracking his neck from side to side, "Will that be all, or may I get on with my victory?"
"You'll pay for that, starting now!" Yami placed one of the last two cards that he had one the field, "Dark Hole will destroy both of your monsters, which leaves you open to attack next turn!" A giant, swirling black vortex appeared and both of the creatures on the field were sucked into the abyss above them.
Folding his arms, the tomb raider gave Yami a confident stare, "You're basing this on the assumption that I won't have another monster to play? That a bit of a far-fetched stretch, isn't it?" He selected another card off the top of his deck (Master Kyonshee), "This one should do nicely; I summon Master Kyonshee (1750/1000) in attack position!" Out of the card came a blue-skinned monster. It was clad in yellow pants and a long purple overcoat, but the strangest feature was the paper that was over his face, which was currently blank. The creature made no noise, but assumed a fighting pose.
It's not a bad draw, but it won't help him. Not this turn… Yami noticed Yugi's worried expression, placed a hand on his counterpart's shoulder and spoke softly to him, "Don't worry. Trust me."
Yugi nodded and then let himself dissolve back into his body, not taking control, but having instant access to Yami's strategies from there. It was time for him to start taking a bit more active role in this duel.
Yami Bakura eyed the Pharaoh with contempt. He must be planning something… but even if he manages to stop my attack this turn, I'll destroy him once his defense is gone! "Master Kyonshee, attack him directly!" A short message appeared on the short piece of parchment that covered the zombie's face (Imperial Decree- Execution!) and the monster leapt towards Yami.
"I activate my trap: The Magic Cylinder!" Instead of redirecting a projectile from the creature, several words were scrawled over the neat writing on the paper: Betrayal Decree- Execution! It abruptly turned around and smashed Yami Bakura in the face with a flying kick, which sent the stunned spirit airborne until the cold stone wall of the chamber stopped his progress. Yami Yugi: 3600 – Yami Bakura: 1550.
The white-haired young man took a few moments picking himself up off the chamber floor, spitting angrily and gingerly holding his broken nose. Panting and mopping his bloody face with the sleeve of his cloak, he got to his feet. "I suppose I should have expected something like that…" he said, "but don't think for a minute that this duel is anywhere near over!"
"It will be if
you keep making amateur mistakes like that!" Yami selected another glossy card
from his duel disk (Gamma the Magnet Warrior), "I play one monster face-down
(Gamma the Magnet Warrior (1500/1800)) in defense mode and end my turn!"
"Very well, you're just one step closer to the end Pharaoh!" The
Spirit looked at his card (Headless Knight) and frowned coldly. Feh,
worthless… "I set one monster in defense as well (Hiro's Shadow Scout
(650/500)) and attack again with Master Kyonshee!"
The magnet warrior was revealed and used its shield to throw the zombie creature back at its controller. Yami looked over at the surprised Yami Bakura with satisfaction, "My Gamma has 50 more defense power than your creature's attack, so you'll take the damage to your life points!" Yami Yugi: 3600 – Yami Bakura: 1500.
"Now, for my move," the king selected his card (Mage Power), "Now, for your finish! I tribute my Gamma for the Dark Magician Girl (2300/1700)!" There was a spouting of pink and blue smoke out of nowhere and the scent of bubble-gum filled the room. As the smoke cleared and the smell faded, the blonde young woman was standing in front of Yami. But she didn't look like her usual cheerful self. Quite the contrary, actually; she looked very solemn. She bowed deeply to Yami and said quietly, "My beloved has fallen in your service, has he not, master?"
"Yes, he has," Yami answered her clearly, no longer surprised by talking duel monsters, "But now is no time for grieving, or his sacrifice will have been in vain!"
The Dark Magician Girl nodded, her big blue eyes brimming with tears. "Yes master," she said, "Instruct me so that I may avenge the fallen one."
"I now equip my monster with Mage Power, raising her attack power by 500 points (2800/1700)!" He pointed at the waiting zombie, 'Attack Master Kyonshee now!" The girl mage rushed forward and blasted the monster at point-blank range with her magic staff, shattering him into a thousand pieces and smashing Bakura in the process. He crumpled to the ground, the sudden loss of life points weighing heavy on the spirit. Yami Yugi: 3600 – Yami Bakura: 450.
Yami Bakura shakily stood up, panting heavily, "Just you wait, Pharaoh… you wait…" he picked another card off of the top of his deck (Reversal Quiz) and stared at it almost in incredulity. His laughter started slowly, softly, almost so the others couldn't hear it. Then it grew in volume by the second until finally he tossed his head back and was in hysterics, still holding the card in his hand.
The Dark Magician Girl glanced back at Yami, utterly bewildered. "Do you suppose he's cracked??"
"I'm not sure. He's never been stable, but losing must have finally gotten to him." He raised his voice so that Bakura's captor would be able to hear him as well, "I think I missed the joke, Thief!"
Yami Bakura's laugher died away and he wiped his tearing eyes. "Oh, you will understand soon enough, Pharaoh," he said, "First…I'll flip Hiro's Shadow Scout into attack mode." Out of the card crawled an ugly, short, blue, one-eyed monster with a neon green buzz-cut hairdo. It blinked rather dully, and folded its arms over its chest, "This card's effect requires that my opponent draws three cards, and any magic cards are discarded. So go ahead, your majesty. Don't hold us in suspense…"
"Hmph." Yami drew his cards without looking at them and flipped them face-up once he held three: De-fusion… Swords of Revealing Light… Exchange! He eyes widened in shock and consternation, then angrily pushed all three into the graveyard.
Yami Bakura smirked. "All three?? Well, this really is a nice surprise, I must say." He placed the last card in his hand down on his Duel Disk, "Now, for my final move of the turn, the magic card Reversal Quiz!" Down from the ceiling came a large, green pedestal, with a little man who looked a lot like the Mad Hatter sitting on it.
The 'Mad Hatter' pulled a microphone out of thin air and spoke into it in a voice much too big to realistically be his, "All right!!! By destroying every card in Bakura's hand and on his side of the field, He is allowed a great chance. A chance to guess what type of card his next draw will be." Three different cards appeared above them near the ceiling of the room, each labeled appropriately: Magic, Trap, and Monster.
"And if he's correct?" Yami egged him on, knowing how much Bakura's imposter was enjoying keeping him in suspense.
"Well that's simple," the little man said, "He exchanges his current life points with those of his opponent! Now then… let the guessing begin!!"
Yami Bakura looked at the three cards and announced loudly, "My next card is a monster!" As soon as the words left his mouth, the cards began to spin madly above them, creating a mini-twister. After a few seconds of this, the tornado wormed its way to the top of Yami Bakura's deck. He reached down and pulled out the top one, holding it out for Yami to see. "Well…?" he said, "Don't leave me in suspense. What is it?"
"Oh shit!" Yami swore. The card was Yami Bakura's Dark Necrofear.
"I'll take that to mean I guessed correctly," the thief said with a smirk.
"Congratulations!!" boomed the 'Mad Hatter', "Let's get you your prize!!" He pressed the two buttons on the pedestal in front of him. Immediately, a wave of pain hit Yami so suddenly that he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Through blurry eyes, he watched as Yami Bakura held his hands above his head, as if enjoying a refreshing rainfall. At last the pain receded and the Pharaoh pushed himself off the ground, mumbling a long line of Egyptian profanities.
Yami Yugi: 450 – Yami Bakura: 3600.
"With no cards left, that makes it my turn!" Yami pulled another card shakily out of his Duel Disk 2 (Soul Release), "This is it! First, I'll lay one card face down (Soul Release), bringing the Dark Magician Girl's attack power up to 3300! Attack him again!" The powerful spellcaster swooped in for another attack, throwing Yami Bakura several feet back with its power. Yami Yugi: 450 – Yami Bakura: 300.
The spirit picked himself up slowly, "Are you finished?"
"No!" Yami told him loudly, "Now I activate my magic card, the Soul Release! It allows me to remove up to five cards from your graveyard! Starting with your fiends!"
Bakura's evil counterpart simply stood rooted to the spot, dazed. If the Pharaoh was removing his fiends, then that meant… that the Dark Necrofear was coming…
That he could have won…