A/N: And here comes part 2! Hope you enjoy. And by the way, thanks to Ankhutenshi. You know what for.
Voakands: Well, I could always start making you wait five days again instead of two... hee hee.
Lumen: Well, you wanted it, and so it's here! Hope you enjoy it.
Eusine: I try to keep it realistic. Of course, it's hard to do that when a Shadow Game is involved. And glad you enjoyed the recipe. There're several ritual monsters but that one has to be the most amusing of all of them.
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Kyle's LP - 3350
Shadi's LP - 2580
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"I'll play my second Mysterious Puppeteer (1000/1500)," Kyle declared.
The second Mysterious Puppeteer that Kyle possessed appeared on the field. Cosmo Queen dwarfed him by far, yet he still glowered up at her, ready to take whatever she had to dish out. Puppeteer's effect kicked in and afforded Kyle an extra 500 Life Points. Always carry a spare.
Kyle, that is not a particularly wise move.
If you pay attention, maybe you'll find it's not so unwise.
I am sure.
Just watch me work. "Next, since your Ultimate Offering doesn't designate you as the only player privy to its effects, I'll use its power to place Spirit of the Harp (800/2000) and Mystical Elf (800/2000) in defense mode, like this." Kyle placed his two monsters. Spirit of the Harp was a fairy who was gently strumming on a giant harp, while Mystical Elf was a delicate, blue-skinned creature who had her hands clasped together in prayer. And since Puppeteer's effect gains me 500 LP for every monster played through normal summoning, I don't lose any Life Points from Ultimate Offering. Kyle grinned, even as the strange alternating sensations of feeling more tired and more energetic washed over him. You see? Maybe I'm not as foolish as you think.
You have still left your Puppeteer open for attack.
"I'm not done with Ultimate Offering yet," Kyle said aloud. "Now I'll sacrifice my Mystical Elf to set a higher-level monster in defense mode."
As Mystical Elf disappeared, Kyle could feel the drain of Life Points from using Ultimate Offering – he dropped to 3350 once more. Right... it's not being summoned yet, so it doesn't count for that to Puppeteer, so I don't gain any Life Points...
He tried to keep his focus. "And finally, I'll sacrifice my Spirit of the Harp and my Mysterious Puppeteer to summon Suijin (2500/2400) in attack mode!"
Both Puppeteer and the face-down monster's vortices merged together, and from that vortex came forth the infamous Labyrinth Brother, Suijin. It looked as if it were a strange creature behind a blue, fluid cloth, trying to push its way through.
The effect of your Puppeteer is lost when it goes to the graveyard, Kyle. You will lose five hundred Life Points.
Kyle grimaced and tried to hold back a yawn as the drain struck him once more. Cumulatively, I haven't lost all that many Life Points – I'm sitting on 2850 after all that. That's the perk of Mysterious Puppeteer. He looked up at Suijin. "Suijin, attack his defensive monster!"
A grim smile passed across his features when he saw the monster's silhouette as it was destroyed. Ryu-Kishin Powered (1600/1200). Shame he didn't put that one into attack mode. "That'll end my turn."
You are running out of cards.
I know. But I can't very well let him know that, can I?
You do not need to. The height of your graveyard pile is greater than that of your deck now. I should hope that another saving grace comes your way soon.
For someone who believes I can still win this duel, you're being awfully pessimistic.
It is simple math, Kyle. Both of you have been reduced to almost one-quarter of your starting Life Points, and now Shadi bests you in that regard.
Tell you what. I'll remember that I'm dueling for you if you remember you're rooting for me.
Theoris chose not to respond to this.
Shadi drew his next card. "I shall place one card face-down."
A third vortex in his magic/trap field sprang to existence.
"Cosmo Queen, attack Suijin."
Kyle frowned. Why is he attacking? Surely he knows about the effects of a Labyrinth Brother.
If he does not, then I suggest you educate him.
"Suijin, Tidal Shield!" Kyle commanded.
Obediently, Suijin raised a curtain of water in front of Cosmo Queen's attack, and its jaws opened wide in its preparation for counterattack. "Your Cosmo Queen's attack power is reduced to zero by Suijin's effect," said Kyle, "and so now Suijin gets to take a chunk out of your Life Points!"
"Not quite so," said Shadi. "You activated your monster's effect, which is enough of a trigger for me to activate Waboku."
The well-known squad of spellcasters appeared and blocked Suijin's aquatic counterattack, splitting it in half so that it splashed harmlessly around Shadi's weakened Cosmo Queen.
"The attack factors of our monsters remain unchanged after its activation, but no actual battle damage is dealt to my creatures – therefore my Queen is spared the wrath of your Labyrinth Brother, as are my Life Points."
He found a way to counter the effect! He must have been waiting for that!
Shadi nodded slightly, perhaps in triumph. "My turn is ended."
He's got to know that the Labyrinth Brothers can only do that once during their time on the field. So now Suijin's just another normal monster on my field. Great.
You have no hand, Kyle. You will have to trust wholeheartedly in your deck. My heart goes with you.
Kyle drew his next card. When he saw it, he very nearly lost his composure. You've got to be kidding me! Even if I played this, there's almost no way I could use it before this duel is over!
Play it, anyway. Perhaps it will make him think twice.
There's only one way that'll happen. "I place one magic/trap face-down. Suijin, go to defense mode."
Another magic/trap vortex opened at Kyle's feet, and Suijin took on a more defensive pose. "Your move."
Shadi drew his card swiftly. "I shall not play a card this turn. Cosmo Queen, destroy Suijin."
Kyle shook his head. "Not this turn, Shadi. Activate Castle Walls!"
From one of Kyle's magic/trap vortices sprang up a virtual miniature fortress, which floated towards Suijin and settled itself around the monster. When Cosmo Queen's energy bolt struck, the miniature wall and Suijin shared the hit. The wall was destroyed, but Suijin was not.
The boost to defense was just enough to stop Cosmo Queen's attack.
That card's been waiting a long time. I'm glad it had its moment. It's a shame you were wrong about him thinking twice, though.
"My turn ends now," said Shadi, who again nodded in approval of Kyle's strategy.
Kyle drew his next card. His eyes narrowed. "I'll place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
Shadi drew. "I shall place one monster in defense mode. Cosmo Queen, I again urge you to destroy Suijin."
Kyle's face split into a wide grin. "Once again, Shadi, you're not paying attention. Activate The Reliable Guardian."
Another one of Kyle's magic/trap vortices opened, and a wide silver shield burst forth from it and totally occluded Suijin from the incoming attack.
"Now Suijin's defense is up to 3100, so this time, it'll cost you two hundred Life Points for that attack," said Kyle. "But considering how many you had before, it shouldn't be too hard a hit."
Shadi blew a breath of exasperation out his nose as his LP sank to 2380. Obviously he was getting tired of Suijin's continued presence on the field. "Very well. It is your turn."
"Indeed," said Kyle, drawing his next card. He's spending so much time worrying about Suijin that he's all but forgotten I've got other monsters on the field. "I'll play one magic/trap face-down and end my turn."
Shadi drew. "I shall also place one magic/trap face-down, and then equip Cosmo Queen with the Black Pendant."
One of Shadi's magic/trap vortices spewed forth a beautiful pendant with a sharply cut obsidian in the center. The necklace wrapped itself around Cosmo Queen's neck, increasing its attack power to 3400.
"Cosmo Queen, once more, attack Suijin."
Kyle sighed as Suijin was blasted from the field. You did well, Suijin. I'll make sure I win this.
"It is now your turn."
Kyle clenched his eyes shut and drew his next card. It might be my last...
He pulled it in front of him and opened his eyes.
Yes!
"I'll play Torike (1200/600) in attack mode," he announced, trying to keep his composure. "And on top of that, I'll switch Black Dragon Jungle King (2100/1800) and Feral Imp (1300/1400) to attack mode."
One by one, the announced monsters sprang up. Torike, the first, manifested in the form of a small, greenish dragon without wings.
Next was Black Dragon Jungle King, also a dragon without wings, and by far the strongest of the announced monsters. It lunged forth and roared a foreboding roar.
Finally was Feral Imp. It whined out its battle cry, eager to take on any opponent.
"And now I'll activate Curse of Tri-Horned Dragon!"
The magic/trap vortex on Kyle's right floated out to meet the three monsters he'd just summoned to the field, and it widened exponentially. The vortex swallowed them, then changed colors... from an indigo color to a shade of red more suited for blood.
In the center of the vortex, there arose a creature of absolutely gargantuan proportions. It possessed an elongated head, bony spikes along its spine, razored talons for fingers and toes, and a grin that could parallel those of demons. Three massive horns adorned the top of its equally massive head. It glowed an aqua shade.
As the creature came into existence, Kyle felt a huge drain, and he staggered in an attempt to keep his balance. He clutched his head. This is another old school ritual; the drain's got to be the stress of creating a new monster like this one...
It is. Your power will return with time.
Kyle looked down at his board. Sure enough, there floated a normal monster card of the eighth level.
He looked back up at Shadi. "And there you have it: Tri-Horned Dragon (2850/2350) in attack mode."
"It is fitting that the owner of an unworthy Millennium item is also the owner of an unworthy dragon," Shadi uttered.
"True, when compared to Cosmo Queen, it's not the best monster on the field. But it's not so unworthy," said Kyle, "when I activate Reverse Trap and take her attack power down to 2400."
Shadi's eyes grew wide. He had not anticipated this, and now there was nothing he could do.
The imp that they had seen once before again appeared to antagonize the guardian of the Millennium items. It passed straight through Cosmo Queen, robbing her of her necklace.
"Tri-Horned Dragon, attack Cosmo Queen!"
Tri-Horned Dragon stomped forward, not to be stopped by anything. It raised its massive claws over its head and brought them down, slashing straight through Cosmo Queen. Novas of energy expanded from where the dragon's claws had touched, and Cosmo Queen barely had time enough to scream before she was destroyed.
A great blast of energy blew out from the center of the field, washing over Kyle and Shadi both. Due to Black Pendant's effect, Kyle's Life Points dropped to 2350 as it went to the graveyard... but meantime, Shadi's Life Points were sinking to 1930.
Silence reigned over the field for a moment.
Then Kyle grinned.
"Your move."
Shadi pulled his next card. "I shall place one monster in defense mode and activate the magic of Swords of Revealing Light!"
"Shouldn't have bothered," Kyle answered, even as the blazing swords began to settle across the vortices on his field. "Your Swords do more than just pin my monsters, they reveal any hidden ones. And you've now revealed my Weather Report (950/1500). Unfortunately for you, its effect means that your Swords of Revealing Light are destroyed, and next turn, each of my monsters will be able to attack twice."
The swords shattered as soon as Weather Report – a creature resembling a snowman bearing an umbrella – emerged from its vortex. Ridiculous though it may have appeared, it was precisely what Kyle had needed in this instance.
Knew I had that one for a reason.
Shadi's head hung. "That will end my turn, then."
Kyle almost felt sympathetic to the man. After all, he was doing his duty.
But that's exactly what the German officers said at the Nuremburg trials. It's never been an acceptable excuse since then. And I'm not going to let it be one now. He wanted a duel to the end, and that's what he's going to get.
Kyle drew his next card. Perfect. "I'll sacrifice Weather Report to play Millennium Golem (2000/2200) in attack mode."
The golem rose from what was previously Weather Report's vortex as Weather Report vanished from view.
"Golem, attack the monster he played last turn!"
Kyle's monster raced forward and punched down into that monster's vortex – a monster in a chef's uniform, with a hook for one hand, and bearing a long blade in its other. The Bistro Butcher (1800/1000), Kyle noted. "Now, Tri-Horned Dragon, attack his other monster!"
Tri-Horned Dragon stomped forth again and crushed the vortex underfoot.
Banisher of the Light (100/2000). Meant more for defense than anything else. And now for the second attack...
"Tri-Horned Dragon, attack his Life Points!"
Tri-Horned advanced on Shadi, who let his head hang in defeat. It crashed across the field, roaring loudly, and stomped down on its foe.
The stomp broke through the barrier.
Shadi cried out from the pain of losing the barrier, tied directly to his life force.
For a split-instant, Kyle was sure that the dragon was going to kill Shadi.
No... Don't kill him...
Tri-Horned Dragon's foot hovered just centimeters over Shadi, whose eyes were closed. It appeared as though he was ready to accept death at Kyle's beckon.
Kyle hesitated... then pulled his cards off the "board" and out of his graveyard, returning them all to his deck.
Millennium Golem and Tri-Horned Dragon disappeared.
The symbol in the center of the Millennium Shield -- the Eye of Horus -- glowed a bright yellow. The glow washed over Kyle, Shadi, and the entire Shadow Realm in which they'd dueled.
Kyle was standing on the sidewalk outside his apartment complex. Shadi lay on the ground mere feet from him.
The Egyptian stared at Kyle, who remained where he was. "Why did you not let your dragon kill me?"
"There's no point in killing you. It's against my ethics," Kyle responded. "You're the guardian of the Millennium items. You're too important to the balance to be destroyed. And I don't take us to be enemies. Why would I wish any ill on someone who isn't my enemy?"
Shadi got to his feet. "Then the shield is in capable hands. The duel is over. You have won. You are the shield's rightful owner and shall remain so. However, you must remain wary now. I warn you that those who wish to claim the Millennium Shield as their own will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. You are in danger; more importantly, the shield is in danger. I fear this is only the beginning of your true trials."
Kyle watched the Egyptian for a moment. "I'll be ready," he said simply.
"For your sake... I would hope so."
Shadi turned and walked up the sidewalk.
Kyle looked through his deck. These really did help me out, in a big way...
Then he noticed something odd.
The Tri-Horned Dragon card was there.
And missing from his deck was his Curse of Tri-Horned Dragon ritual.
He looked up to find Shadi, curious about what had happened...
But Shadi was already gone.