Chapter 9

The Hunt

Ryo, Max, and Hope had finally reached the end of the cave. They stepped out of the darkness and into a tropical rain forest. The mist in the air and beautiful scenery even had Max in awe.

"Whoa..." Max said. "Just...whoa."

"Kaiba really did a good job at developing the game," Ryo chimed in.

"It feels so real though," Hope said tugging at her sweatshirt. "I'm burning up over here."

"Now that you mention it, I'm feeling the heat as well," Max admitted pulling at the collar of his cloak.

"I second that," Ryo said taking off his red overcoat revealing a black undershirt.

"Well, we aren't going to get anything done just standing here thinking about how hot it is," Hope pointed out. "Let's get moving."

They traveled for about 10 minutes before Ryo sensed something wrong.

"What is it?" Max said with a hint of worry of his voice.

"Don't you find it strange that we have been in a tropical rain forest but we have yet to hear a single animal?" Ryo asked.

"Now that you mention it," Hope listening closely to their surrounding. "The only noise I can hear right now is us. Well, maybe it means there is some jungle predator nearby or something."

Suddenly, what sounded like a thunderclap broke the silence. Max quickly tackled Hope to the ground as a bullet hole appeared where she had last been standing before Max pushed Hope out of the way.

"T-t-thanks," Hope stuttered out. "You save my life again."

"Like I said before, no problem," Max replied.

"Lucky...."Ryo said with a face of disappointment.

"Damn," a British voice called out from high and the treetops. "I missed."

"Who's there!?" Max called out.

A cloaked figure fell from high up and landed perfectly in front of them. The person took of his cloak revealing an elderly man, with a typical safari outfit. He was holding a large rifle in his right hand. "I'm Predator, a dignified member of the Judges."

"Predator?" Ryo said. "I've seen that name on INTERPOLE'S website! You're..."

"Wanted on all continents for poaching." Predator chuckled. "There isn't a single endangered species that I haven't hunted and killed successfully and kept the trophy."

"You're are a sick man," Max muttered out. "Killing helpless animals for sport."

"Helpless? I beg to differ. Many animals are very dangerous to hunt such as the African Elephant or the Bengal Tiger," Predator stated.

"You son of a bitch!" Hope yelled. "How dare you! You have the advantage with guns and technology; they don't stand a chance!"

Max and Ryo stared. "Hope. calm down..." Ryo said.

"I will not!" Hope exclaimed. "First he tried to kill me, then he talked about his sick passion in life and you expect to let him get away with it?! I don't think so!"

"Enough idle threats; do you wish to duel?"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK, YOU FUCKING LOSER?!"

"Then let the hunt begin my prey."

Hope, Ryo, and Max shot him venomous looks.

"Sorry, I couldn't contain myself," Predator chuckled.

"I chose Undefeated General Freed as my Deck Master."

"And I select Minotaur as mine." Predator's body was covered in the monster's image. He looked like a bull wearing battle armor.

(Hope: 8000 Predator: 8000)

"I'll start," Predator said. "I set one monster facedown and end my turn."

"I summon Goblin Strike Team! (2300/0) And I attack you face down monster!"

"My Death Kangaroo has been slaughtered. How delightful." Predator grinned as he chuckled.

"I see," Max said. "He uses a deck based around Animal monsters so that when they get killed he gets thrills off it."

"That sick bastard," Ryo muttered.

"My turn," Predator said. "I play Angel's Gift. I draw three cards and discard two. I choose to discard Soul Tiger and Millennium Neanderthal from my hand."

"Hmmmm," Ryo said. "I think he ditched that monster in order to revive it."

"Agreed," Max replied.

"Now I play Raise Dead on Millennium Neanderthal (2750/2500) and Summoned Enraged Minotaur (1700/1000)"A redder, more pissed of version of Predator's Deck Master appeared on the field. "My newest monster gives all of my Animal, Animal Warriors, and Bird Sub Types the ability to damage to your Life Points even if your monsters are in defense mode."

Not good, Hope gulped silently. I'm in big trouble with that Neanderthal on the field.

"I'm not done yet either," Predator said with an evil smirk spreading across his face. "I play Wild Burst on Millennium Neanderthal!" As Predator said those words, the giant monster turned red with anger and its veins popped with enormous strength. "This card allows me to choose one of my Animal or Animal-Warriors to have their attack powers increased by their defense powers, (5250) but they die at the end of the turn."

Hope stared with intense fear at the monster

"Now attack my monsters!" Predator commanded. The Neanderthal slammed his giant mace into the Goblin Strike Team killing it with extreme force. Then, Enraged Minotaur charged forward and slashed Hope's chest with its mighty axe, sending her flying backwards.

"Hope!" Ryo called out with concern. "Are you okay?"

Ryo's question was answered by an extreme cry of pain. Hope was panting heavily and was holding herself were the Minotaur had slashed "No..." She managed to breathe out.

(Hope: 1050 Predator: 8000)

"I end my turn," Predator said with glee watching his Neanderthal die from the after effect of his magic card.

"I... I use the effect of my Deck Master," Hope said in a heavy breath. "Reinforcements. It allows me to skip my draw phase and bring any Warrior monster to my hand. And now I will summon it! Troop Commander! (1200/400) And now, using his effect, I special summon Blindly Loyal Goblin! (1800/1500) And now I equip Troop Commander with The Fused Weapon, Murasame, raising his attack by 800! (2000)"

"Heh. Like I care if you kill my monster."

"Blindly Loyal Goblin attacks Enraged Minotaur and Troop Commander attacks directly!"

(Hope: 1050 Predator: 5900)

"I place one card facedown and end my turn."

"My turn. I play Welcomed to the Dead, discarding Big Koala and killing your Troop Commander."

Hope just smirked at Predator's attempt to use his same trick again.

"Now I play Early Burial, paying 800 Life Points to revive Big Koala."

(Hope: 1050 Predator: 5100)

Predator smirked. "Now I play another Wild Burst, raising Big Koala's attack by his defense.(4700) Now, ATTACK! "

"Attack Nullification! Your Battle phase automatically ends!" Hope retorted instantly.

"No!" Predator yelled out. "Now I'm defenseless."

"Exactly," Hope said with a big grin on her face.

"Grrr, I place one card facedown and end my turn."

Hmmm, Hope said to herself. I bet that facedown is a trap card. I won't fall for that old trick.

"I change Blindly Loyal Goblin into defense, set one monster, place one card facedown, and end my turn."

"I activate my facedown card! Hidden Tomes! I can choose two magic cards from my cemetery and return them to my deck, and I chose Raise Dead and Wild Burst," Predator said while shuffling. "Now I play Jar of Greed and then I play Reload. It lets me put my hand back into my deck and allows me to draw cards equal to what I returned, so I draw two. Now I Play Raise Dead on Millennium Neanderthal and end my turn."

"I guess you didn't get all the cards you needed," Hope teased. "I set another monster and end my turn."

"I play Wild Burst on my Neanderthal and then I play Big Bang Shot! Which raises my monster's attack by 400 (5650) and allows him to pierce your defense."

"Oh no," Hope said sarcastically. "I'm doomed."

"Now I attack your Goblin!" Predator yelled with anger.

"Curse of Darkness," Hope said while sticking her tongue out at Predator. "Your monster can't attack and he loses 700 attack points."

"DAMN IT!" Predator exclaimed in extreme anger. "I...I end my turn."

"My turn, and time to end this!" Hope said with confidence. "I flip summon Blade Knight (1600/1000) and Retrained Elven Swordsman. (1400/1200) And now I play Thunder Sword on Retrained Elven Swordsman, raising his attack by 800 (2200), and since I only have one card in my hand, Blade Knight's attack power is increased by 400. (2000)"

"No!" Predator cried out. "I'm doomed!"

"Exactly!" Hope replied with force. "You lose! Blindy Loyal Goblin! Blade Knight! Retrained Elven Swordsman! Direct attack!"

(Hope: 1050 Predator: 0)

Predator was thrown back by the force of the three attacks and the image of his Deck Master vanished.

"I win, you old man." Hope teased him.

"Shut up you bitch!" Predator said violently as he drew his rifle, but suddenly stopped and put his hands into the air.

"What the?"Max,Hope, and Ryo said in unison

"It seems the proper authorities have caught up with me after all this time," Predator said. "They say thanks to whoever stalled me long enough to track my internet connection and that they are a hero for standing in my way."

Hope blushed at that statement.

"Cheerio," Predator said politely and disappeared.

"Me... a hero?" Hope said in shock.

Ryo grabbed her and put Hope into a headlock while running his knuckle through her hair, trying to mess it up. "Yup! You're a hero now! Good job," he said with a big smile on his face.

"I agree," Max said. "Good job."

Hope noticed that under the shadows cast by the sombrero that he broke into a smirk.

"Thanks," she said.

"Well," Ryo said. "Let's get going."

***********************************

Elsewhere, in a darkly lighted throne room.

"So," a heavily shadowed figure said. "The first wave of Judges were too weak to win. No matter." He raised his hand and 5 figures appeared. "Go, and do not fail me like the other did."

The mysterious figures bowed and disappeared into the shadows.

End Chapter