THE ENCOUNTER OF LOST SOULS
Chapter Sixteen: When the Bonds of Friendship are Tested (Part Three)
While the other Yugi and Emrys respectively sought a way to stop Sugoroku's plan, Jonouchi drew a card and added it to his hand. He then declared, "Swordsman of Landstar, go into defense mode. I end my turn."
After drawing a card, the other Yugi stared at it and placed it on the field. "I activate Swords of Revealing Light!"
Swords of Revealing Light
Normal Magic Card
Beginning your opponent's turn, your opponent cannot attack you for three turns.
Several swords of blinding white light rained from the sky and buried themselves in the ground, thereby protecting its conjurer from any attacks for three turns.
As Swords of Revealing Light took effect, he placed one face-down monster and pointed at Jonouchi's monster. "Black Paladin, attack Swordsman of Landstar!"
When Swordsman of Landstar was destroyed, the three bound captives screamed in pain. Their collective agony reverberated throughout the Shadow Realm.
Chills traveled down the other Yugi and Emrys' spines as Anzu passed out, while Honda and Bakura barely hung on.
Jonouchi cackled in delight. "Now that'll teach you to think twice before attacking us. Your precious friends are the ones who'll get hurt - not us!"
Glaring at his opponents, the other Yugi intently said, "I end my turn."
It was now Sugoroku's turn. As the elderly man set one face-down monster, he now had three defense-mode monsters and two covered cards.
Emrys' Swords of Revealing Light expired.
After analyzing the field, she drew a card for her turn. She stared at the card before adding it to her hand. "Cronus…maybe I'll get to unleash your power after all..."
Pointing at Jonouchi's side of the field, she then declared, "Meteor Black Dragon, attack Flame Swordsman! Meteor Flame Stream!"
The ferocious dragon's attack killed the Flame Swordsman. With the 1000-attack-point difference between the two monsters, Jonouchi's life points dwindled down to 3000. The assault also sent another surge of excruciating pain to the three hostages.
This time, Honda fell unconscious.
Unknown to the duelists, the other Bakura emerged from the Millennium Ring and protected his spirit vessel. Taking over his host's body, he then pretended to be unconscious.
Closing her eyes for a minute, she felt guilty for indirectly hurting their friends with her attack. She stated with clenched fists, "I end my turn..."
After drawing a card, Jonouchi then commanded, "Panther Warrior, go into defense mode. Jinzo, attack her face down card!"
Following its master's orders, the android produced a dark energy ball and hurled it across the field. The energy ball uncovered the Magician of Faith, thereby activating her special effect before going to the Graveyard.
Magician of Faith
One Star
ATK 300 / DEF 400
Light / Spellcaster / Effect
FLIP: Select one Magic Card from your Graveyard and return it to your hand.
Emrys retrieved a magic card from her Graveyard.
The blonde duelist then discarded one card from his deck due to Emrys' Gravekeeper's Servant before ending his turn.
It was now the other Yugi's turn. As he placed the card he just drew on the field, he proclaimed, "I tribute my face down card to summon the Dark Magician Girl!"
Dark Magician Girl
Six Stars - Super Rare
ATK 2000 / DEF 1700
Dark / Spellcaster / Effect
Effect: Increase this monster's attack strength by 300 for each Dark Magician and Magician of Black Chaos in each player's Graveyard.
The Dark Magician Girl's power boosted up from 2000 to 2300 attack points, since the Dark Magician was resting in his Graveyard.
The other Yugi now loudly declared, "Dark Magician Girl, attack Jii-chan's last face down card!"
The Dark Magician Girl aimed her staff at Sugoroku's face-down monster and destroyed it.
As the Left Leg of the Forbidden One was destroyed, only two conditions were missing for Sugoroku to summon Exodia Necros: for the Right Leg of the Forbidden One and Exodia the Forbidden One to go into the Graveyard, and the activation of the magic card The Pact of Exodia.
Sugoroku's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the Shadow Realm. Seeing his opponents' reaction, he noted, "It seems you know the inevitable!"
The other Yugi implored, "Jii-chan, Jonouchi…if you're in there, please listen to me. All of this has to stop!"
The brainwashed blonde teen mockingly replied, "Your pleas fall on deaf ears!"
Amethyst eyes intensely looked at the opposite side of the field, as the fire of determination within him renewed. "Then we'll win to get you back! Black Paladin – attack Jinzo!"
Since Jinzo's 2400 attack strength was no match against the Black Paladin's 4400 attack points, the android was easily destroyed. The 2000-attack-point difference between the two monsters was deducted, and Jonouchi now had 1000 life points left.
Momentarily glancing at the three bound captives, and surmising that all of them were unconscious, he declared, "I end my turn."
Sugoroku pulled a card from his deck. Liking the card he just drew, the elderly man said with such malevolence oozing from his voice, "I set one card face down, and then I activate Just Desserts!"
Just Desserts
Normal Trap Card
Decrease your opponent's Life Points by 500 for each monster your opponent has in his or her side of the field.
The ghoulish glutton emerged from the void, and outstretched its long arms. Without hesitation, the ghoul shrieked in delight as it clenched and squeezed the intended victims' hearts.
The two duelists felt every second of pain and torture – he had two monsters on the field, while she had one. The excruciating sensation of their hearts being ripped from their chest cavity did not stop until his life points were subtracted by 1000, and 500 were deducted from her life points.
After the ghoul was done in its sinister task, his life points now stood at 3000 and her life points dwindled down at 3500.
The elder Mutou then declared, "There's more. I also activate Dragon Capture Jar, and then I end my turn!"
Dragon Capture Jar
Continuous Trap Card
All Dragon-Type monsters on the field are switched to Defense Position and remain in this position as long as this card is active.
Due to Sugoroku's continuous Trap Card, the Meteor Black Dragon went into defense mode.
The duelist with the tri-colored mane looked at his three unconscious friends, and then gazed at his lover. He mused, as she clutched her chest and gasped for much-needed air, "Hang in there, Emrys!"
"Are you forfeiting?" Jonouchi mocked her.
Still in pain, she shook her head for her response.
"If you're still in this duel, then start your damn turn!" the blonde teen hollered.
As her muscles involuntarily twitched from their latest ordeal, she drew a card and added it to her hand. Carefully pulling out another card from her hand, she then declared, "I activate Swords of Revealing Light!"
Multiple swords, once again, fell from the sky and protected their mistress' side of the field.
She then placed one face-down monster and ended her turn.
Jonouchi sarcastically remarked, as he drew a card for his turn, "Can't attack, huh? The old man did a good job in stopping your dragon. I place one card face down, and then end my turn."
A card materialized in Jonouchi's Magic and Trap card slot.
The other Yugi drew a card, added it to his hand, and pulled out another one to play for this turn. "I arm Dark Magician Girl with the Book of Secret Arts!"
Book of Secret Arts
Equipment Magic Card
A Spellcaster-Type monster equipped with this card increases its ATK and DEF by 300 points.
Dark Magician Girl received two power boosts: 300 attack points from Dark Magician being in the Graveyard, and another 300 attack points due to the Book of Secret Arts. Her attack strength now stood at 2600.
The amethyst-eyed duelist pointed at Sugoroku's side of the field. "Dark Magician Girl, attack the face-down card on his far left!"
As soon as the Dark Magician Girl attacked, the Right Leg of the Forbidden One appeared before going to the Graveyard.
The younger Mutou braced himself, musing, "There's no avoiding it! Those Exodia parts will end up in his Graveyard, whether I attack or he tributes for more powerful monsters!" He then drew a card for his turn, and ordered, "Black Paladin, attack Jonouchi's Panther Warrior!"
Jonouchi interjected, "I activate a Trap Card for both of its effects – Kunai with Chain!"
Kunai with Chain
Normal Trap Card
When activated, you may change one of your opponent's attacking monsters to defense mode. Then, you may equip this card to one of your monsters, increasing its attack strength by 500. You may activate this card for either or both effects.
Kunai with Chain quickly immobilized the Black Paladin for one turn. With the Black Paladin temporarily out of commission, the other Yugi ended his turn.
The elder Mutou drew one card from his deck. Placing the card he just drew in his Magic and Trap slot, he stated, "I set one card face down on the field. Before I end my turn, I activate another Just Desserts!"
The greedy ghoul that previously tormented the other Yugi and Emrys re-emerged from the dark void. It repeated the same sinister and merciless act of squeezing the life out of his victims, until it subtracted 1000 Life Points from him and 1000 Life Points from her.
As the other Yugi and Emrys' life counters adjusted to 2000 and 2500 respectively, the ghoul's master maniacally laughed.
Emrys' gasped for air. Teary-eyed from the torment, she drew a card from her deck. She gazed long and hard on the card she just drew, added it to her hand, and then ended her turn.
Referring to her Swords of Revealing Light, Jonouchi mocked her, "You're such a coward!"
Still reeling from the ordeal, she retorted as her hazel eyes scanned the Shadow Realm, "You're both cowards for brainwashing and using our friends against us like this! Why don't you face your own battles for a change?"
The blonde teen drew a card, and then placed it in his Magic and Trap slot. Immediately thereafter, a card materialized on the field.
While the other Yugi pulled a card from his deck, the magical protection of his Swords of Revealing Light wore off. After adding the card in his hand, he then said, "Black Paladin, attack Panther Warrior!"
Jonouchi pointed at his amethyst-eyed opponent, "You're such an idiot! Activate Mirror Force!"
Mirror Force
Normal Trap Card
When an opponent's monster attacks, negate the attack and destroy all opponent's monsters in Attack Position.
Mirror Force decimated all of the other Yugi's monsters. Although the trap card also affected Emrys' side of the field, her defense-mode monsters remained safe.
Undaunted from Jonouchi's trap, the other Yugi declared, "My turn isn't over yet! Activate Monster Reborn and resurrect the Dark Magician!"
Monster Reborn
Normal Magic Card
Select one Monster Card from either your opponent's or your own Graveyard and place it on the field under your control in Attack or Defense Position (face-up). This is considered a Special Summon.
The Dark Magician, once again, materialized on the field and waited for his young master's instructions.
With amethyst eyes keenly focused on the field, he mused, "Jonouchi still has two covered cards in his Magic and Trap slots. Who knows what trap is in there?" Finalizing his decision, he then stated, "I end my turn."
Sugoroku just drew a card from his deck. He was elated from the lucky draw, pondering, "I'm steps closer to victory, but who says I can't have some fun while getting there?" With an evil glint in his eye, the elderly man then said, "I activate another Just Desserts!"
The spectral glutton once again appeared for the third and final time, physically and psychically tormenting the other Yugi and Emrys. Once the ghoul merged itself with the dark void, 500 life points were deducted from each duelist – thereby making the duelists' overall life points equally stand at 1500.
The elder Mutou scoffed, "You're both pathetic! I end my turn!"
Beginning her turn by drawing a card, Emrys' vision was getting blurry from lack of oxygen. She announced, "I activate Pot of Greed!"
Pot of Greed
Normal Magic Card
Draw two cards from your deck.
The hazel-eyed duelist then drew two additional cards from her deck. Intently looking at both cards, she mused while keeping a poker face, "Couldn't come at a better time!" She then said, "I place one card face down. Before I end my turn, I activate Monster Reborn! I choose to resurrect Buster Blader!"
Buster Blader
Seven Stars
ATK 2600 / DEF 2300
Earth / Warrior / Effect
Effect: Increase this monster's attack strength by 500 for each Dragon monster that your opponent has on the Field and in his or her Graveyard.
An eerie and heavy fog enveloped the other Yugi's Graveyard. Emerging from the fog was Buster Blader, now ready to serve its new mistress.
The lovers then intently gazed at each other as Jonouchi drew a card for his turn. The blond-haired teen added the newly drawn card to his hand. With his overall life points standing at 1000, he ended his turn.
The other Yugi drew a card, added it to his hand, and placed another card in his Magic and Trap slot. "I activate Brain Control, and I choose to have Buster Blader!" As soon as the warrior was under his control, he then declared, "I use Fusion Gate to merge Buster Blader with Dark Magician! Come forth, Black Paladin!"
Super Magical Swordsman – Black Paladin
Eight Stars
ATK 2900 / DEF 2400
Dark / Spellcaster / Effect
Fusion: Dark Magician Buster Blader
Effect: This Monster can only be Special Summoned by a Fusion. While this card is face-up on the Field, you may discard one card from your hand to negate and destroy a Magic activation. Increase this Monster's attack strength by 500 for each Dragon Sub-Type Monster on the field and in each player's Graveyard.
The Black Paladin garnered a 1500-boost in its attack points due to the Meteor Black Dragon on the field, as well as the Red Eyes Black Dragon and Meteor Dragon in Emrys' Graveyard. The monster's attack strength now stood at 4400.
Clenching his teeth and slamming his hands on the dueling platform, Jonouchi fumed, "Shit!"
Unfazed, the other Yugi declared, "I also summon Dark Knight Gaia of the Gale, and end my turn."
Dark Knight Gaia of the Gale
Seven Stars
Dark / Warrior / Effect
Effect: If this card is the only card in your hand, you may summon it in attack mode without sacrificing monsters. This counts as a Normal Summon.
Once Sugoroku's eyes rested on the card he just drew for his turn, he looked at Jonouchi and smirked. The elderly man then gloated, "You may have managed to revive your Black Paladin, but this is the beginning of the end for you two! I activate Dark Hole!"
As Jonouchi joined his teammate in maniacal laughter, the other Yugi and Emrys braced themselves for the inevitable: once Dark Hole was activated, their team was wide open for a direct attack.
End Chapter Sixteen
Author's Note
Rhea, Cronus, The Birth of Poseidon, and Poseidon Lord of the Seas are not real cards from the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game.
Just a bit of trivia: do you know that the magic card Brain Control – a staple in Yami Yugi / the other Yugi's deck – does not exist in either the Japanese or the English trading card game version? There is no Brain Control, only Change of Heart. However, for the story's purposes, Brain Control appears in this duel. I give my many thanks to Edo for clarifying this piece of information.
If you want to find out more about Emrys' parents, how they die, and how she takes it, read my short story There Will Come Soft Rain – a prequel set two years before the events narrated in The Encounter of Lost Souls.
Normal Disclaimer
Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Alexa, Yoshiko, Koji, Rhea, Cronus, The Birth of Poseidon, and Poseidon Lord of the Seas, and this fan fiction are the properties of the author. This fan fiction is written for entertainment purposes only - thereby releasing the author from any liabilities.