---- Chapter 11: Paths To the Future ----
=== Egypt ===
The Black Magician struggled against its bindings, but seemed to make no progress. Chuckling, Keiko taunted Yugi. "Aww, can't seem to break free? Too bad. Anyway, it's all over. My 'Avatar of Horus' will wipe out your Black Magician...."
[Yugi's LP: 751] [Keiko's LP: 3700]
"Hmm...." mused Keiko. "Seems your Black Magician is still too strong for my 'Avatar of Horus....' 1650 attack points as opposed to 1500.... Still, it won't be like that for long. Now, take your turn Yugi!"
Yugi drew - 'Coins from Heaven.'
"I activate 'Coins from Heaven!' Each of us must draw until we have five cards in our hand! Hm.... I'll place two cards, and summon a 'Baffomett' in defense mode!" A horned, winged demon materialized on the field (Lv. 4/Dark/Demon/1400 ATK/1800 DEF), and it was now Keiko's turn.
"Mmeh-heh-heh.... Now, I activate the special ability of 'Avatar of Horus!!' Now, gain 1000 attack points, by the power of your master!!!"
Indeed, flames burst from the ground, and melted into the 'Avatar of Horus,' and its attack strength increased to 2500.
"'Avatar of Horus' increases its attack strength by 1000 points during each of my Standby Phases.... It really is over, Yugi!!!"
".... Urk...."
=== New York City ===
".... I see. So Pegasus isn't what he appears to be."
At first, Jonathan had understandably been dumbfounded by the revelations, but slowly began to believe Kaori.
"That's right. He all but kidnapped myself and my friend, and trapped us here."
Getting to his feet, Jonathan brushed the debris off of himself.
"Then, we'll just have to help get you back."
=== Russia ===
Masaharu exited the hut, and began walking towards the now not-so-distant column of smoke once more - it seemed to be a factory town.
For hours, he traveled, until he finally reached the gates. Exhausted from his travels, Masaharu collapsed once more, and the darkness enveloped his eyes....
=== Egypt ===
"Attack now, my warrior!" called out Keiko. "Wipe out his Life Points and his Black Magician now!!!"
The warrior charged forward, its sword lifted above its head. Just as it swung downwards, the blow was deflected by the newly-freed Black Magician, who blew it away with a point-blank Black Magic attack.
"W-What?!"
Yugi chuckled softly. "I activated my Trap Card, 'Reversed Spirit.' It switches the attack and defense strength of our monsters for one turn.... enough to break through the Black Magician's bonds and return it to full attack strength. Now, activate!!! 'Fusion!!!'"
Keiko was dumbfounded. "F.... Fusion?! Black Magician and Baffomett can't fuse!!"
"Who said I was fusing those two?"
A bright light filled the area, as Yugi and the Black Magician fused together. When the Black Sorceror appeared, Keiko fell to her knees, too shocked to do anything but whisper.... "It's over...."
One Neo Black Magic attack was more than enough to wipe out the rest of Keiko's Life Points.
[Yugi's LP: 751] [Keiko's LP: 0]
Yugi walked over to Keiko, and offered his hand to help her up. She just looked up at him in surprise, but took his hand firmly and lifted herself up to the ground.
=== New York City ===
"So," Kaori said, "you're gonna help me win this?"
Jonathan nodded firmly. "Yep. If I win, I'll use the shadow power I gain to send you back."
Kaori bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Jonathan-san."
"Now," added Jonathan, "how 'bout our duel? I have a tournament to win, after all."
Scoffing, Kaori chuckled, "You? Beat me? I think not! I'll bet one of my Millennium Cards..,."
And she held up the Millennium Ring as well as a 'Buster Blader.' Jonathan held up a 'Hellfire Black Dragon' and a Millennium Tauk.
Both readied their Duel Disks, and shouted, "DUEL!!"
=== Russia ===
"Ungh.... Huh??"
Masaharu had just woken up, and found himself wrapped up tightly in thick ropes. As he struggled to free himself, he heard a voice....
"Don't try to break through those, comrade.... They don't like that."
And he suddenly felt a massive jolt run through his body, as he screamed in pain.
His captor smiled devilishly. "You see? It is pointless. I can free you.... in exchange for all your cards!"
"Never!" spat back Masaharu, as he rustled around in his pocket. He finally found what he was looking for....
.... and the Strike Mage appeared and blasted through his bonds.
=== Egypt ===
Keiko handed over her Millennium Rod card, as well as the God of Horus. Yugi moved to shake her hand, but she pulled away suddenly.
"I have no right or need for your friendship, Mutou. Leave it for the people who care."
She turned, and started to walk away, when the Black Magician blocked her path. Angrily, she turned back and shouted, "What's the matter with you?! Let me leave!"
Yugi shook his head decisively. "I won't allow you to walk in this heat," he said firmly. Keiko was taken aback, as Yugi held a card up....
.... and summoned Cursed Dragon to the area. He climbed up on top of it, the Black Magician floating beside him, and offered Keiko his hand.
And she took it.
=== New York City ===
In the ruins of Jonathan's apartment, the two duelists faced off, their Duel Disks at the ready.
Grinning, Jonathan spoke up. "I'll start. I place a monster in defense mode, and place three cards. Turn end."
What's Jonathan up to.... ? Why's he smiling like that? Well.... I'll put him in his place.
"I play 'Cost Down,' allowing me to summon my 'Heavenly Knight Perseus' to the field without a sacrifice! Now, my paladin, attack his monster and destroy it!"
A man dressed in golden armor materialized, and charged for the face-down monster on Jonathan's field. With one swift slice, the card fell to pieces, and a small, strange machine-like device was blown to pieces. Jonathan laughed loudly at this.
"Ha! That was my 'Baatezu Scout Machine,' which Special Summons a Baatezu demon monster from my hand. And I choose to summon.... Hamatula!"
A huge, almost seven-foot-tall beast appeared on the field, with an enormous tail and shifty eyes that darted to and fro. (Level 5/Dark/Demon/2100 ATK/1700 DEF)
Jonathan chuckled lightly. "I activate its special effect now.... to Special Summon up to two Imp monsters to my field!"
Blasting up from the floor, two tiny creatures, looking much like a human but with batwings, a barbed tail, and twisting horns, appeared. (Level 2/Dark/Demon/450 ATK/300 DEF)
The Hamatula charged for 'Perseus,' and ripped it in two messily with one swipe of both its arms. Kaori gasped, as she felt its pain, and collapsed to the ground. Concerned, Jonathan almost forfeited the duel by running over to her, but restrained himself.
Getting to her feet with marked difficulty, Kaori spat up a small bit of blood.
"I won't let you win. Know that now."
=== Egypt ===
The Black Magician struggled against its bindings, but seemed to make no progress. Chuckling, Keiko taunted Yugi. "Aww, can't seem to break free? Too bad. Anyway, it's all over. My 'Avatar of Horus' will wipe out your Black Magician...."
[Yugi's LP: 751] [Keiko's LP: 3700]
"Hmm...." mused Keiko. "Seems your Black Magician is still too strong for my 'Avatar of Horus....' 1650 attack points as opposed to 1500.... Still, it won't be like that for long. Now, take your turn Yugi!"
Yugi drew - 'Coins from Heaven.'
"I activate 'Coins from Heaven!' Each of us must draw until we have five cards in our hand! Hm.... I'll place two cards, and summon a 'Baffomett' in defense mode!" A horned, winged demon materialized on the field (Lv. 4/Dark/Demon/1400 ATK/1800 DEF), and it was now Keiko's turn.
"Mmeh-heh-heh.... Now, I activate the special ability of 'Avatar of Horus!!' Now, gain 1000 attack points, by the power of your master!!!"
Indeed, flames burst from the ground, and melted into the 'Avatar of Horus,' and its attack strength increased to 2500.
"'Avatar of Horus' increases its attack strength by 1000 points during each of my Standby Phases.... It really is over, Yugi!!!"
".... Urk...."
=== New York City ===
".... I see. So Pegasus isn't what he appears to be."
At first, Jonathan had understandably been dumbfounded by the revelations, but slowly began to believe Kaori.
"That's right. He all but kidnapped myself and my friend, and trapped us here."
Getting to his feet, Jonathan brushed the debris off of himself.
"Then, we'll just have to help get you back."
=== Russia ===
Masaharu exited the hut, and began walking towards the now not-so-distant column of smoke once more - it seemed to be a factory town.
For hours, he traveled, until he finally reached the gates. Exhausted from his travels, Masaharu collapsed once more, and the darkness enveloped his eyes....
=== Egypt ===
"Attack now, my warrior!" called out Keiko. "Wipe out his Life Points and his Black Magician now!!!"
The warrior charged forward, its sword lifted above its head. Just as it swung downwards, the blow was deflected by the newly-freed Black Magician, who blew it away with a point-blank Black Magic attack.
"W-What?!"
Yugi chuckled softly. "I activated my Trap Card, 'Reversed Spirit.' It switches the attack and defense strength of our monsters for one turn.... enough to break through the Black Magician's bonds and return it to full attack strength. Now, activate!!! 'Fusion!!!'"
Keiko was dumbfounded. "F.... Fusion?! Black Magician and Baffomett can't fuse!!"
"Who said I was fusing those two?"
A bright light filled the area, as Yugi and the Black Magician fused together. When the Black Sorceror appeared, Keiko fell to her knees, too shocked to do anything but whisper.... "It's over...."
One Neo Black Magic attack was more than enough to wipe out the rest of Keiko's Life Points.
[Yugi's LP: 751] [Keiko's LP: 0]
Yugi walked over to Keiko, and offered his hand to help her up. She just looked up at him in surprise, but took his hand firmly and lifted herself up to the ground.
=== New York City ===
"So," Kaori said, "you're gonna help me win this?"
Jonathan nodded firmly. "Yep. If I win, I'll use the shadow power I gain to send you back."
Kaori bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Jonathan-san."
"Now," added Jonathan, "how 'bout our duel? I have a tournament to win, after all."
Scoffing, Kaori chuckled, "You? Beat me? I think not! I'll bet one of my Millennium Cards..,."
And she held up the Millennium Ring as well as a 'Buster Blader.' Jonathan held up a 'Hellfire Black Dragon' and a Millennium Tauk.
Both readied their Duel Disks, and shouted, "DUEL!!"
=== Russia ===
"Ungh.... Huh??"
Masaharu had just woken up, and found himself wrapped up tightly in thick ropes. As he struggled to free himself, he heard a voice....
"Don't try to break through those, comrade.... They don't like that."
And he suddenly felt a massive jolt run through his body, as he screamed in pain.
His captor smiled devilishly. "You see? It is pointless. I can free you.... in exchange for all your cards!"
"Never!" spat back Masaharu, as he rustled around in his pocket. He finally found what he was looking for....
.... and the Strike Mage appeared and blasted through his bonds.
=== Egypt ===
Keiko handed over her Millennium Rod card, as well as the God of Horus. Yugi moved to shake her hand, but she pulled away suddenly.
"I have no right or need for your friendship, Mutou. Leave it for the people who care."
She turned, and started to walk away, when the Black Magician blocked her path. Angrily, she turned back and shouted, "What's the matter with you?! Let me leave!"
Yugi shook his head decisively. "I won't allow you to walk in this heat," he said firmly. Keiko was taken aback, as Yugi held a card up....
.... and summoned Cursed Dragon to the area. He climbed up on top of it, the Black Magician floating beside him, and offered Keiko his hand.
And she took it.
=== New York City ===
In the ruins of Jonathan's apartment, the two duelists faced off, their Duel Disks at the ready.
Grinning, Jonathan spoke up. "I'll start. I place a monster in defense mode, and place three cards. Turn end."
What's Jonathan up to.... ? Why's he smiling like that? Well.... I'll put him in his place.
"I play 'Cost Down,' allowing me to summon my 'Heavenly Knight Perseus' to the field without a sacrifice! Now, my paladin, attack his monster and destroy it!"
A man dressed in golden armor materialized, and charged for the face-down monster on Jonathan's field. With one swift slice, the card fell to pieces, and a small, strange machine-like device was blown to pieces. Jonathan laughed loudly at this.
"Ha! That was my 'Baatezu Scout Machine,' which Special Summons a Baatezu demon monster from my hand. And I choose to summon.... Hamatula!"
A huge, almost seven-foot-tall beast appeared on the field, with an enormous tail and shifty eyes that darted to and fro. (Level 5/Dark/Demon/2100 ATK/1700 DEF)
Jonathan chuckled lightly. "I activate its special effect now.... to Special Summon up to two Imp monsters to my field!"
Blasting up from the floor, two tiny creatures, looking much like a human but with batwings, a barbed tail, and twisting horns, appeared. (Level 2/Dark/Demon/450 ATK/300 DEF)
The Hamatula charged for 'Perseus,' and ripped it in two messily with one swipe of both its arms. Kaori gasped, as she felt its pain, and collapsed to the ground. Concerned, Jonathan almost forfeited the duel by running over to her, but restrained himself.
Getting to her feet with marked difficulty, Kaori spat up a small bit of blood.
"I won't let you win. Know that now."