---- Chapter 7: Tournament's Start ----
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store ===
Everything was quiet, when suddenly the door slid open.... revealing Yugi and Jounouchi. As the two entered the empty store, Sugoroku appeared, brandishing a baseball bat. As Jounouchi fainted dead away from surprise, Yugi asked, "G-Grandpa? What're you.... ?" Scratching his head nervously, Sugoroku replied, "Err.... Sorry. Just protecting our guests."
".... ? Guests?"
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store, Yugi's Room ===
Masaharu looked around the room in awe, as Kaori sat quietly on the bed.
"Why do you keep looking around like that?" Kaori asked with a hint of irritation. "It's freaking me out."
Turning to her, Masaharu replied, "Because I'm just so exited to be in THE Yugi Mutou's room! He's my dueling idol...."
"Glad I'm so famous in your world."
Both duelists turned their gaze to the newly-arrived Yugi, who stood smiling at the doorway.
"Y-Yugi.... M-Mutou?! I can't believe it!" Masaharu ran over and started shaking Yugi's hand like a mad fool. "We HAVE to have a duel, Yugi-sama! I want to see first hand the dueling prowess that beat the great Pharaoh Atem!!"
".... !!! Y-You.... know about Atem.... ?"
Masaharu nodded enthusiastically. Yugi was silent for a moment, when he murmured, "Of course.... I'm an anime character in your world. I forgot. Please, stay as long as you like, guys." With that, he went over to his bed, and shook Kaori's hand as well.
Glancing over at a very excited Masaharu, Yugi nodded, and said, "Let's have a duel, then."
"This will be the first official duel of the tournament...."
Each of the duelists turned and saw Shadi, hiding in the shadows. As he stepped into view, he tossed two cards to Masaharu and Yugi.
"These are 'Millennium' cards. You'll start out with the Millennium Tauk and the Millennium Puzzle, Yugi. Masaharu, you'll begin with the Millennium Eye and the Millennium Ring. Players bet their cards on the outcome of their duels; those with all seven may apply to the semi-final round. Also, like Battle City, each player bets one of their rarest cards. So, what will you two bet?"
Without hesitation, Masaharu held up two cards - the Millennium Ring and the 'Black Magician.' Yugi also held up two cards - the Millennium Tauk and the 'Dark Knight Gaia.' A dark mist started to surround the room, but Shadi stopped its intrusion with a wave of his hand.
"No.... Let us duel outside, where all may see your dueling prowess."
Saying nothing, everyone filed out of the house and into the street. Both duelists started up their Duel Disks, and shouted, "Duel!!!"
Drawing his cards, Masaharu looked them over carefully.
"I summon 'Black Forest Witch' in defense mode! Next, I place one card. Turn end." As the witch appeared on the field, Yugi took his turn. "I summon 'Big Shield Guarder,' in defense mode! Then, I place two cards. Turn end." A man carrying an enormous shield materialized between Yugi and the witch.
Kaori mused to herself, "They're both being cautious.... Neither knows what the other has planned. It's a good strategy.... against stronger opponents. They seem about equal."
"No. They are not equal."
Turning to Shadi, Kaori gave him a confused look.
"One of them is far stronger than the other.... Take a look at their auras."
".... ? Auras.... ?"
Concentrating with all her might, Kaori was shocked to see both fighters covered with a soft, white glow. They looked as though they were on fire.
"I summon 'Strike Mage,' in defense mode! Then, I place another card. Turn end."
"Summon 'Rock Soldier,' in defense mode! Turn end."
Both duelists stared each other down, as the light surrounding them grew ever larger. Shadi chuckled to himself.
"Both have an enormous amount of latent skill.... I wouldn't be surprised if one of them became the next King of Games. But the first to draw out that full latent power.... that will be the victor here and now."
Masaharu grinned, pulling both his monster cards from the field.
"Summon!! Black Magician!!!"
As the Black Magician appeared on the field, Yugi grinned, and called out, "Activate! Hand Obliteration!!! Each of us must now discard our hands and draw the same number of cards."
While Masaharu drew his cards, Yugi again called out. "Activate! Raise Dead!!"
And a second Black Magician appeared on the field.
Masaharu smirked. "Activate! Treasure from Heaven!! Each of us now draws until we have seven cards in our hand. Next, I place three cards. Turn end." Three cards materialized on the field face-down, as Yugi looked over his newly-drawn cards.
He must not know about Player Fusion yet.... I'll teach him first-hand! And show him that I can still make Atem-san proud!!
With a wide smile, Yugi held up his next card - 'Fusion.' Lightning split the sky, striking Yugi head-on. In a bright flash of light, Yugi was gone.... and in his place was the Black Sorceror.
"Attack!! Shadow Spark!!!"
Just before the electric attack hit, a voice called out....
"Activate!!! 'Fusion!!!' Activate!! 'Magician's Tome!!!'"
And the attack was deflected, hitting Yugi directly and sending him crashing to the ground. As Yugi returned back to normal, he saw another Black Sorceror standing before him, its staff clutched to his neck.
"Game over."
Shadi and Kaori stared in awe. Shaking, Shadi murmured, "B-But how.... even I did not know of Player Fusion.... How could he.... ?"
"I sensed the ripple in the space-time continnuum caused by Yugi's Player Fusion. Somehow, something just sort of clicked inside of me.... I knew about how this works. By drawing upon latent shadow power, the user is transformed into an actual monster.... with the power to fully manipulate the Shadow Games. Kaori can do it too.... but not Shadi."
".... !!! Y-You.... know.... ?"
The Black Sorceror smirked slightly. "Don't worry - your secret's safe with me."
Who.... who IS this boy? To have effortlessly defeated even Yugi.... and to have known of Player Fusion just by sensing its disturbances in the Shadow Games.... WHAT is he?
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store ===
Everything was quiet, when suddenly the door slid open.... revealing Yugi and Jounouchi. As the two entered the empty store, Sugoroku appeared, brandishing a baseball bat. As Jounouchi fainted dead away from surprise, Yugi asked, "G-Grandpa? What're you.... ?" Scratching his head nervously, Sugoroku replied, "Err.... Sorry. Just protecting our guests."
".... ? Guests?"
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store, Yugi's Room ===
Masaharu looked around the room in awe, as Kaori sat quietly on the bed.
"Why do you keep looking around like that?" Kaori asked with a hint of irritation. "It's freaking me out."
Turning to her, Masaharu replied, "Because I'm just so exited to be in THE Yugi Mutou's room! He's my dueling idol...."
"Glad I'm so famous in your world."
Both duelists turned their gaze to the newly-arrived Yugi, who stood smiling at the doorway.
"Y-Yugi.... M-Mutou?! I can't believe it!" Masaharu ran over and started shaking Yugi's hand like a mad fool. "We HAVE to have a duel, Yugi-sama! I want to see first hand the dueling prowess that beat the great Pharaoh Atem!!"
".... !!! Y-You.... know about Atem.... ?"
Masaharu nodded enthusiastically. Yugi was silent for a moment, when he murmured, "Of course.... I'm an anime character in your world. I forgot. Please, stay as long as you like, guys." With that, he went over to his bed, and shook Kaori's hand as well.
Glancing over at a very excited Masaharu, Yugi nodded, and said, "Let's have a duel, then."
"This will be the first official duel of the tournament...."
Each of the duelists turned and saw Shadi, hiding in the shadows. As he stepped into view, he tossed two cards to Masaharu and Yugi.
"These are 'Millennium' cards. You'll start out with the Millennium Tauk and the Millennium Puzzle, Yugi. Masaharu, you'll begin with the Millennium Eye and the Millennium Ring. Players bet their cards on the outcome of their duels; those with all seven may apply to the semi-final round. Also, like Battle City, each player bets one of their rarest cards. So, what will you two bet?"
Without hesitation, Masaharu held up two cards - the Millennium Ring and the 'Black Magician.' Yugi also held up two cards - the Millennium Tauk and the 'Dark Knight Gaia.' A dark mist started to surround the room, but Shadi stopped its intrusion with a wave of his hand.
"No.... Let us duel outside, where all may see your dueling prowess."
Saying nothing, everyone filed out of the house and into the street. Both duelists started up their Duel Disks, and shouted, "Duel!!!"
Drawing his cards, Masaharu looked them over carefully.
"I summon 'Black Forest Witch' in defense mode! Next, I place one card. Turn end." As the witch appeared on the field, Yugi took his turn. "I summon 'Big Shield Guarder,' in defense mode! Then, I place two cards. Turn end." A man carrying an enormous shield materialized between Yugi and the witch.
Kaori mused to herself, "They're both being cautious.... Neither knows what the other has planned. It's a good strategy.... against stronger opponents. They seem about equal."
"No. They are not equal."
Turning to Shadi, Kaori gave him a confused look.
"One of them is far stronger than the other.... Take a look at their auras."
".... ? Auras.... ?"
Concentrating with all her might, Kaori was shocked to see both fighters covered with a soft, white glow. They looked as though they were on fire.
"I summon 'Strike Mage,' in defense mode! Then, I place another card. Turn end."
"Summon 'Rock Soldier,' in defense mode! Turn end."
Both duelists stared each other down, as the light surrounding them grew ever larger. Shadi chuckled to himself.
"Both have an enormous amount of latent skill.... I wouldn't be surprised if one of them became the next King of Games. But the first to draw out that full latent power.... that will be the victor here and now."
Masaharu grinned, pulling both his monster cards from the field.
"Summon!! Black Magician!!!"
As the Black Magician appeared on the field, Yugi grinned, and called out, "Activate! Hand Obliteration!!! Each of us must now discard our hands and draw the same number of cards."
While Masaharu drew his cards, Yugi again called out. "Activate! Raise Dead!!"
And a second Black Magician appeared on the field.
Masaharu smirked. "Activate! Treasure from Heaven!! Each of us now draws until we have seven cards in our hand. Next, I place three cards. Turn end." Three cards materialized on the field face-down, as Yugi looked over his newly-drawn cards.
He must not know about Player Fusion yet.... I'll teach him first-hand! And show him that I can still make Atem-san proud!!
With a wide smile, Yugi held up his next card - 'Fusion.' Lightning split the sky, striking Yugi head-on. In a bright flash of light, Yugi was gone.... and in his place was the Black Sorceror.
"Attack!! Shadow Spark!!!"
Just before the electric attack hit, a voice called out....
"Activate!!! 'Fusion!!!' Activate!! 'Magician's Tome!!!'"
And the attack was deflected, hitting Yugi directly and sending him crashing to the ground. As Yugi returned back to normal, he saw another Black Sorceror standing before him, its staff clutched to his neck.
"Game over."
Shadi and Kaori stared in awe. Shaking, Shadi murmured, "B-But how.... even I did not know of Player Fusion.... How could he.... ?"
"I sensed the ripple in the space-time continnuum caused by Yugi's Player Fusion. Somehow, something just sort of clicked inside of me.... I knew about how this works. By drawing upon latent shadow power, the user is transformed into an actual monster.... with the power to fully manipulate the Shadow Games. Kaori can do it too.... but not Shadi."
".... !!! Y-You.... know.... ?"
The Black Sorceror smirked slightly. "Don't worry - your secret's safe with me."
Who.... who IS this boy? To have effortlessly defeated even Yugi.... and to have known of Player Fusion just by sensing its disturbances in the Shadow Games.... WHAT is he?