Episode #24- Dark Rage, Part 2
The Duel stood with Mai at her full 8000 and Yami Marik letting himself fall to 6550. I could tell he was lulling Mai further into a trap, but he still had me like a dog on a leash as well as Kaiba suspended in the Shadow Realm.
"Heh, my turn." Yami Marik stated and drew his card, "This turn I summon Makyura the Destructor in attack mode," He declared and a mean-looking warrior monster appeared with three blades jutting out of both arms, "and activate the powerful Black Pendant that will increase it's attack power by 500 points."
"2100?" Mai questioned in shock.
"Makyura, attack now!" Yami Marik declared and his death-dealing monster charged in with its blades set to strike.
"Not so fast, I'm activating my faced-down card, Amazon Archers!" Mai announced and five amazons assembled in front of her with bows and arrows set, "My Archers will fire their arrows at Makyura and reducing its attack back to its original 1600." She declared as five arrows went flying and knocked back Makyura.
'Did Yami Marik see this coming, too?' I thought and continued my gaze into the Duel.
"Now my Unfriendly Amazon, counterattack with Ferocious Slash Attack!" Mai commanded. Her Amazon leaped high into the sky before striking down on Makyura in the middle, "I've destroyed your monster, so now you lose someone from your mind."
'It's that Strings guy that had Slifer before me.' I thought. Makyura shattered, leaving behind a faint trace of Strings before his image disappeared.
"Heh, I don't mind if I've forgotten him." said Yami Marik as his Life Points rested at 6050, "I prefer to be alone, but only if I am assured that at least one is suffering." He shifted his gaze towards Kaiba and me.
"This guy's insane." Duke commented.
"But, you've activated both Black Pendant and Makyura's special abilities. First off, by destroying my Black Pendant, is hits your Life Points directly and blast away 500 points." He explained as Mai looked to her Life Points counter, now reading 7500. "Then, when Makyura is sent to the Graveyard, I can play one trap card from my hand. So I play this trap card, Rope of Life." He activated as a rope dropped into a newly formed black hole. It started pulling up and bringing Makyura with it, "Not only does it bring one monster back from my Graveyard, but it adds an extra 800 attack points. Now Makyura can attack your Amazon with an attack of 2400!" Yami Marik finished before bursting into one of his insane laughs.
"No!" Mai gasped.
"Makyura, attack with Three-Blade Slash!" commanded Yami Marik, "Destroy her Unfriendly Amazon and another person from her mind!" He boasted. Makyura charged in head-long and slashed at the Amazon twice. Her armor and fabrics were tattered and she shrieked before shattering to nonexistence.
'No...' Mai gasped as she felt another person being pulled from her mind, Joey. 'No, Joey, come back!' I felt her distressed aura as the Shadow Realm flooded Mai's mind and erased Joey. 'No, this can't be right.' Her Life Point counted decreased by 400.
"Mai, snap out of it!" Joey cried from the sidelines.
'Joey can't be gone.' Mai still dazed out.
I felt and actually saw the memories that were being pulled from her mind, images flashed before my mind and I heard Mai's words as she thought them.
'As a child I never had many friends because I moved around the world a lot.' She began, 'I only get their names and then I leave.' I soon saw myself in one of her memories, a child's room like what any five-year-old girl would have. I saw myself standing in the middle of her pink, lacy room. A young girl stood in front of me with her long, untamed blonde hair behind her back, wearing a teal green night gown and looking out a window into the rain outside. 'No, I never had any real friends.' The image faded as I was in it, her toys, her bed, even herself, faded into darkness.
'When I got older, I took up a job Dueling.' She resumed as a new scene brew around me. Many people crowded a room like you'd see in those fancy casinos. I saw her, much older now, in a white suit with her legs baring, sitting across from a gentleman with a hand of cards. She played two more cards and declared a game's end. All of the spectators exchanged compliments and applauded her victory. 'The powerful Harpie cards I kept in my deck were the closest things I had to friends... But as cool and powerful as my Harpies were, deep down inside, I knew they weren't real...'
The scene faded out again. Now I heard a group chattering like a small party. A small fire began to light on the far side as I found myself behind some bushes. Joey, Tea, Yugi, Mai, and Tristan all sat around a small fire in the middle of the woods. 'At Duelist Kingdom was when I met my first real friends. Sure they seemed like weirdoes at first, but I warmed up to them, especially Joey Wheeler. He can't take that away from me!' I heard her scream before the scene irrupted broke and fell apart like glass.
__________
My dream ended and my eyes reverted back to the Duel. Mai fell to her knees after the attack.
"Mai, come on!" Joey continued getting Mai's attention.
'Well Miranda,' Yami Marik entered my thoughts again during Mai's opportunity and attempt to regroup herself, 'What have you learned from that little trip down Memory Lane?'
'That Kaiba and I are really lucky right now.' I replied.
'You're luck will run out eventually, we'll discuss more once I'm finished with her.' Yami Marik returned his stare back to Mai.
Mai slowly looked to the sidelines. She saw Yugi, Tristan, Duke, and Serenity, but none of them were calling for her.
"Hello, Mai. Earth to Mai." Joey stopped his cries, "I don't get it, first she ignores Tea, and now me. What gives?"
"Mai's not ignoring you. Marik has erased her memory of you. She doesn't know who you are anymore." Yami replied calmly with a hint of concern in his eyes.
"What?" Joey jumped in disbelief, "Mai, it's me, Joey Wheeler. Come on, how can you forget a gorgeous face like mine?" Mai still stared at him blankly.
'This madness has to stop now!' Yugi cried from within, 'We'll defeat Marik's Millennium Item with our own!' The Puzzle glowed brightly and more imagery flashed in my mind.
Darkness surrounded the realm, but enough light to see where everyone was. I was standing to Yami Marik's right side and we watched Mai wander into darkness.
'That's it my dear, walk the darkness alone for eternity.' Yami Marik thought in satisfaction and his arms folded.
"Mai!" A voice called from behind. All three of us turned to a bright light in contrast to the black setting. A silhouette of Yami came forward, "Marik, what are you doing?" He demanded and shifted his strong violet eyes to me, "Miranda, what are you doing here?!"
"I would like to know what you are doing here." Yami Marik replied and turned his body towards Yami. Mai turned around but stayed in her tracks.
"Yugi?" She asked. I could only stay quiet. If anything could set Yami Marik off again, this would be more than anything.
"Mai, this is all an illusion. Marik is doing this to discourage you." Yami tried to assure her.
"But I..." Mai looked down to her feet.
"What is it Mai?" Yami asked with an inviting tone.
"I can't it all seems so real." She mumbled.
"Fight it, Mai." Yami shortened his breath.
"Mai, hey Mai!" Joey's voice sounded in front of Mai.
"Who is that?" She asked, "It sounds so familiar."
"They're your friends, Mai. They haven't given up on you yet." Yami answered. He stood still, gazing at Mai before turning his attention towards me. "Miranda, what is your purpose here?" He asked in the voice a student counselor's tone. I couldn't answer.
"Miranda is my prisoner much like Kaiba is now." Yami Marik boasted. He struck a grip quick as an assassin at my right wrist and clenched it tightly above the black shackle, "See, these are the shackles that keep her connected to the Shadow Realm." He held up my arm and showed off my imprisonment.
"Let--her--go." He demanded in chops in his words.
"Not likely to happen, Pharaoh; you can only help one at a time. Be aware of that and Miranda will remain partially free from the Shadow Realm."
"But not from you." Yami muttered before the image faded back to the Duel.
'This isn't right. Marik still has Miranda,' Yugi pondered, 'but I thought Marik managed to free her earlier.'
'Marik's darker half must have recaptured her somehow.' Yami replied in thought.
Mai got back to her feet and returned her focus to the Duel. "OK, I'll play my Amazon Chain Master in attack mode!" Mai sprang her next monster, another female warrior ripped in muscle.
"If you want to keep the memories of your friends, I suggest you don't throw out weak monsters." Yami Marik said. Now I wasn't the one who couldn't focus on the Duel.
'Mom...Dad.' I clasped my hands on my arms under my cloak, 'Why... Seeing Mai's memory made me realize what I have gone through. Mother, you were murdered and that forced me to move to America to live with Father, Ed "the Bowler." Then he was killed in some accident and forced me back to Japan in the same year. I didn't know a whole lot of people there, but they've given me great tips in my Dueling.' I thought, 'Though now I have Ashley, it feels like she's all that I have left.'
Mai regrouped her confidence and ended her turn with a card still down on the field, "I dare you attack me Marik."
"You'll regret those words, foolish girl." Yami Marik drew his card, "But, I'm not going for your trap card. So I'll summon Holding Arms." He called as a gold monster resembling much of a Millennium Item with two slender arms and cuffs on the ends appeared, "When I summon this monster, I can keep one of your monsters from attacking for three whole turns. This will leave you open for a direct assault to your Life Points." The gold shackles lunged forward and grabbed the Amazon Chain Master by both wrists. I lifted itself high enough so the Chain Master couldn't freely use its weapon.
__________
"Marik, stop this now!" Yami made his attempt to stop the Duel again.
"Why, because I use ancient magic like I'm supposed to?" Yami Marik replied, "From what I last recall, you, too, use your Millennium Puzzle's hidden powers."
"I don't need your help, Yugi." Mai got to her feet and looked down at them, "Look, Yugi, Tristan, everyone, I appreciate the support but I can beat this creep myself." Mai drew her next card, "So this turn, I play the magic card Grave Arm. It pulls one monster from the field and takes it to the Graveyard." A large, grim hand came from the bottom of the playing field.
"You're a fool. Holding Arms can't be destroyed by any means for the next three turns." Yami Marik pointed out.
"I'm not going for your Holding Arms, Marik." Mai answered, "The monster that I'm discarding from the field is my own Amazon Chain Master." The demon hand clutched onto Mai's designated monster and pulled down, "Since this is my own monster that I'm destroying, I won't lose anything."
Yami Marik gave a smug look in response.
"And here's another thing." Mai began as the shackles broke away from her Amazon, "Since I'm destroying my own Amazon Chain Master, it allows me to pull one card of my choice from your deck." Mai announced. Her Chain Master began to swing its gold chain before it got dragged down.
"Hm?" Yami Marik questioned wordlessly.
"And I know exactly which monster I'm taking from you: The Winged Dragon of Ra." Mai finished and the gold chain struck Yami Marik's Deck.
The monster was dragged down completely and in her right hand, Mai held The Winged Dragon of Ra. "You don't look so tough now without your Egyptian God Card now." Mai cocked.
"Well, the why don't you try to summon it?" Yami Marik taunted.
"And with zero attack points? Not yet. Now let's see what I can do here." Mai looked to her hand of cards, "Now I'll play my Amazon Fighter." She declared and summoned up another one of her monsters.
"Yet another weak monster..." commented Yami Marik.
"And that'll be it for me." Mai ended her turn with her new monster in attack mode.
"Fine then." Yami Marik drew his card, "Makyura, attack her Fighter now!"
'He's lost it.' I thought, 'Mai's going to trigger that trap card.' I looked to her trap card; it was slowly rising on one side.
"Activate Amazon Magician," Mai announced and flipped her card; "This trap card will swap the attack of your monster with that attack of my monster." Mai's Amazon Fighter now had the destructive attack power of 2400 while Makyura lost power to 1500, "Amazon Fighter, counterattack!" Her Amazon launched its own attack and shattered Makyura. Now some guy Marik called Arkana disappeared from his mind.
"I never did care much about that fool, Arkana." He left it be as Arkana disappeared completely and his Life Points dropped to 5750 while Mai still had 7100, "As for my counter. I'll first activate my trap card, Card of Last Will." He declared.
"Card of Last Will?" Mai repeated.
"This card allows me to draw five cards when my monster's attack points are decreased." He answered and drew a refreshed hand, "And as for Makyura's special ability, I play this trap card, Nightmare Wheel. This will decrease your Life Points by 500 each turn as long as this card remains on the field." A skeletal wheel appeared and Mai's Amazon Fighter was shackled by light bonds on the wheel.
"Nice try, but I'll activate this trap card, Rescue Operation." Mai opened fire to another trap; "This sends my Amazon Fighter back to my hand and allows me to summon another monster." the Amazon broke free and returned to Mai in a shot of white light. 'Now, which monster should I play?' Mai was hesitant to choose, 'Yes, that'll work.' "I now summon Cyber Harpie in attack mode." She declared. One of her Harpie Ladies appeared with the armor already equipped.
"Alright, this will end my turn." Yami Marik ended his turn after seeing that his weak Holding Arms couldn't exactly match a Cyber Harpie.
Mai drew her next card and began her play instantly. "Ha, look at this, Marik. I play Graceful Charity which allows me to draw three card then discard to from my hand." Mai looked to her hand again, she had everything she would need from here on out. "I play the magic card: Elegant Egotist! And now Elegant Egotist shall turn my one Harpie into three! Let's give a big Battle City hello to the Harpie Lady Sisters!" She declared as her Harpie split into three, each with a total attack of 1800.
"Aw right, Mai!" Joey cheered.
"And now I'll sacrifice all three of my Harpies to summon The Winged Dragon of Ra!" Mai declared as all three of her Harpies shot into the sky as beams of light.
'Even if she could summon it, there's no way she can use the God Card.' Yami Marik thought. Already I felt a power that could crush my 'sixth sense' easily. I gathered myself to stay conscious.
A bright light shined over the Duel arena in the awakening of the God Card and the winds whipped high. Kaiba even had enough strength to look up.
"This is it, the third Egyptian God Card," he gasped.
The light kept its intensity until the source itself came to form, a giant sphere the size of the sun from our distance.
"Wha-what is that?" Mai questioned.
"That is The Winged Dragon of Ra. It's locked in that sphere." Yami Marik answered.
"Then how am I supposed to use it?"
'You can't use it, you fool! You'll never be able to control its power!' Yami Marik thought in victory.
To be continued...
The Duel stood with Mai at her full 8000 and Yami Marik letting himself fall to 6550. I could tell he was lulling Mai further into a trap, but he still had me like a dog on a leash as well as Kaiba suspended in the Shadow Realm.
"Heh, my turn." Yami Marik stated and drew his card, "This turn I summon Makyura the Destructor in attack mode," He declared and a mean-looking warrior monster appeared with three blades jutting out of both arms, "and activate the powerful Black Pendant that will increase it's attack power by 500 points."
"2100?" Mai questioned in shock.
"Makyura, attack now!" Yami Marik declared and his death-dealing monster charged in with its blades set to strike.
"Not so fast, I'm activating my faced-down card, Amazon Archers!" Mai announced and five amazons assembled in front of her with bows and arrows set, "My Archers will fire their arrows at Makyura and reducing its attack back to its original 1600." She declared as five arrows went flying and knocked back Makyura.
'Did Yami Marik see this coming, too?' I thought and continued my gaze into the Duel.
"Now my Unfriendly Amazon, counterattack with Ferocious Slash Attack!" Mai commanded. Her Amazon leaped high into the sky before striking down on Makyura in the middle, "I've destroyed your monster, so now you lose someone from your mind."
'It's that Strings guy that had Slifer before me.' I thought. Makyura shattered, leaving behind a faint trace of Strings before his image disappeared.
"Heh, I don't mind if I've forgotten him." said Yami Marik as his Life Points rested at 6050, "I prefer to be alone, but only if I am assured that at least one is suffering." He shifted his gaze towards Kaiba and me.
"This guy's insane." Duke commented.
"But, you've activated both Black Pendant and Makyura's special abilities. First off, by destroying my Black Pendant, is hits your Life Points directly and blast away 500 points." He explained as Mai looked to her Life Points counter, now reading 7500. "Then, when Makyura is sent to the Graveyard, I can play one trap card from my hand. So I play this trap card, Rope of Life." He activated as a rope dropped into a newly formed black hole. It started pulling up and bringing Makyura with it, "Not only does it bring one monster back from my Graveyard, but it adds an extra 800 attack points. Now Makyura can attack your Amazon with an attack of 2400!" Yami Marik finished before bursting into one of his insane laughs.
"No!" Mai gasped.
"Makyura, attack with Three-Blade Slash!" commanded Yami Marik, "Destroy her Unfriendly Amazon and another person from her mind!" He boasted. Makyura charged in head-long and slashed at the Amazon twice. Her armor and fabrics were tattered and she shrieked before shattering to nonexistence.
'No...' Mai gasped as she felt another person being pulled from her mind, Joey. 'No, Joey, come back!' I felt her distressed aura as the Shadow Realm flooded Mai's mind and erased Joey. 'No, this can't be right.' Her Life Point counted decreased by 400.
"Mai, snap out of it!" Joey cried from the sidelines.
'Joey can't be gone.' Mai still dazed out.
I felt and actually saw the memories that were being pulled from her mind, images flashed before my mind and I heard Mai's words as she thought them.
'As a child I never had many friends because I moved around the world a lot.' She began, 'I only get their names and then I leave.' I soon saw myself in one of her memories, a child's room like what any five-year-old girl would have. I saw myself standing in the middle of her pink, lacy room. A young girl stood in front of me with her long, untamed blonde hair behind her back, wearing a teal green night gown and looking out a window into the rain outside. 'No, I never had any real friends.' The image faded as I was in it, her toys, her bed, even herself, faded into darkness.
'When I got older, I took up a job Dueling.' She resumed as a new scene brew around me. Many people crowded a room like you'd see in those fancy casinos. I saw her, much older now, in a white suit with her legs baring, sitting across from a gentleman with a hand of cards. She played two more cards and declared a game's end. All of the spectators exchanged compliments and applauded her victory. 'The powerful Harpie cards I kept in my deck were the closest things I had to friends... But as cool and powerful as my Harpies were, deep down inside, I knew they weren't real...'
The scene faded out again. Now I heard a group chattering like a small party. A small fire began to light on the far side as I found myself behind some bushes. Joey, Tea, Yugi, Mai, and Tristan all sat around a small fire in the middle of the woods. 'At Duelist Kingdom was when I met my first real friends. Sure they seemed like weirdoes at first, but I warmed up to them, especially Joey Wheeler. He can't take that away from me!' I heard her scream before the scene irrupted broke and fell apart like glass.
__________
My dream ended and my eyes reverted back to the Duel. Mai fell to her knees after the attack.
"Mai, come on!" Joey continued getting Mai's attention.
'Well Miranda,' Yami Marik entered my thoughts again during Mai's opportunity and attempt to regroup herself, 'What have you learned from that little trip down Memory Lane?'
'That Kaiba and I are really lucky right now.' I replied.
'You're luck will run out eventually, we'll discuss more once I'm finished with her.' Yami Marik returned his stare back to Mai.
Mai slowly looked to the sidelines. She saw Yugi, Tristan, Duke, and Serenity, but none of them were calling for her.
"Hello, Mai. Earth to Mai." Joey stopped his cries, "I don't get it, first she ignores Tea, and now me. What gives?"
"Mai's not ignoring you. Marik has erased her memory of you. She doesn't know who you are anymore." Yami replied calmly with a hint of concern in his eyes.
"What?" Joey jumped in disbelief, "Mai, it's me, Joey Wheeler. Come on, how can you forget a gorgeous face like mine?" Mai still stared at him blankly.
'This madness has to stop now!' Yugi cried from within, 'We'll defeat Marik's Millennium Item with our own!' The Puzzle glowed brightly and more imagery flashed in my mind.
Darkness surrounded the realm, but enough light to see where everyone was. I was standing to Yami Marik's right side and we watched Mai wander into darkness.
'That's it my dear, walk the darkness alone for eternity.' Yami Marik thought in satisfaction and his arms folded.
"Mai!" A voice called from behind. All three of us turned to a bright light in contrast to the black setting. A silhouette of Yami came forward, "Marik, what are you doing?" He demanded and shifted his strong violet eyes to me, "Miranda, what are you doing here?!"
"I would like to know what you are doing here." Yami Marik replied and turned his body towards Yami. Mai turned around but stayed in her tracks.
"Yugi?" She asked. I could only stay quiet. If anything could set Yami Marik off again, this would be more than anything.
"Mai, this is all an illusion. Marik is doing this to discourage you." Yami tried to assure her.
"But I..." Mai looked down to her feet.
"What is it Mai?" Yami asked with an inviting tone.
"I can't it all seems so real." She mumbled.
"Fight it, Mai." Yami shortened his breath.
"Mai, hey Mai!" Joey's voice sounded in front of Mai.
"Who is that?" She asked, "It sounds so familiar."
"They're your friends, Mai. They haven't given up on you yet." Yami answered. He stood still, gazing at Mai before turning his attention towards me. "Miranda, what is your purpose here?" He asked in the voice a student counselor's tone. I couldn't answer.
"Miranda is my prisoner much like Kaiba is now." Yami Marik boasted. He struck a grip quick as an assassin at my right wrist and clenched it tightly above the black shackle, "See, these are the shackles that keep her connected to the Shadow Realm." He held up my arm and showed off my imprisonment.
"Let--her--go." He demanded in chops in his words.
"Not likely to happen, Pharaoh; you can only help one at a time. Be aware of that and Miranda will remain partially free from the Shadow Realm."
"But not from you." Yami muttered before the image faded back to the Duel.
'This isn't right. Marik still has Miranda,' Yugi pondered, 'but I thought Marik managed to free her earlier.'
'Marik's darker half must have recaptured her somehow.' Yami replied in thought.
Mai got back to her feet and returned her focus to the Duel. "OK, I'll play my Amazon Chain Master in attack mode!" Mai sprang her next monster, another female warrior ripped in muscle.
"If you want to keep the memories of your friends, I suggest you don't throw out weak monsters." Yami Marik said. Now I wasn't the one who couldn't focus on the Duel.
'Mom...Dad.' I clasped my hands on my arms under my cloak, 'Why... Seeing Mai's memory made me realize what I have gone through. Mother, you were murdered and that forced me to move to America to live with Father, Ed "the Bowler." Then he was killed in some accident and forced me back to Japan in the same year. I didn't know a whole lot of people there, but they've given me great tips in my Dueling.' I thought, 'Though now I have Ashley, it feels like she's all that I have left.'
Mai regrouped her confidence and ended her turn with a card still down on the field, "I dare you attack me Marik."
"You'll regret those words, foolish girl." Yami Marik drew his card, "But, I'm not going for your trap card. So I'll summon Holding Arms." He called as a gold monster resembling much of a Millennium Item with two slender arms and cuffs on the ends appeared, "When I summon this monster, I can keep one of your monsters from attacking for three whole turns. This will leave you open for a direct assault to your Life Points." The gold shackles lunged forward and grabbed the Amazon Chain Master by both wrists. I lifted itself high enough so the Chain Master couldn't freely use its weapon.
__________
"Marik, stop this now!" Yami made his attempt to stop the Duel again.
"Why, because I use ancient magic like I'm supposed to?" Yami Marik replied, "From what I last recall, you, too, use your Millennium Puzzle's hidden powers."
"I don't need your help, Yugi." Mai got to her feet and looked down at them, "Look, Yugi, Tristan, everyone, I appreciate the support but I can beat this creep myself." Mai drew her next card, "So this turn, I play the magic card Grave Arm. It pulls one monster from the field and takes it to the Graveyard." A large, grim hand came from the bottom of the playing field.
"You're a fool. Holding Arms can't be destroyed by any means for the next three turns." Yami Marik pointed out.
"I'm not going for your Holding Arms, Marik." Mai answered, "The monster that I'm discarding from the field is my own Amazon Chain Master." The demon hand clutched onto Mai's designated monster and pulled down, "Since this is my own monster that I'm destroying, I won't lose anything."
Yami Marik gave a smug look in response.
"And here's another thing." Mai began as the shackles broke away from her Amazon, "Since I'm destroying my own Amazon Chain Master, it allows me to pull one card of my choice from your deck." Mai announced. Her Chain Master began to swing its gold chain before it got dragged down.
"Hm?" Yami Marik questioned wordlessly.
"And I know exactly which monster I'm taking from you: The Winged Dragon of Ra." Mai finished and the gold chain struck Yami Marik's Deck.
The monster was dragged down completely and in her right hand, Mai held The Winged Dragon of Ra. "You don't look so tough now without your Egyptian God Card now." Mai cocked.
"Well, the why don't you try to summon it?" Yami Marik taunted.
"And with zero attack points? Not yet. Now let's see what I can do here." Mai looked to her hand of cards, "Now I'll play my Amazon Fighter." She declared and summoned up another one of her monsters.
"Yet another weak monster..." commented Yami Marik.
"And that'll be it for me." Mai ended her turn with her new monster in attack mode.
"Fine then." Yami Marik drew his card, "Makyura, attack her Fighter now!"
'He's lost it.' I thought, 'Mai's going to trigger that trap card.' I looked to her trap card; it was slowly rising on one side.
"Activate Amazon Magician," Mai announced and flipped her card; "This trap card will swap the attack of your monster with that attack of my monster." Mai's Amazon Fighter now had the destructive attack power of 2400 while Makyura lost power to 1500, "Amazon Fighter, counterattack!" Her Amazon launched its own attack and shattered Makyura. Now some guy Marik called Arkana disappeared from his mind.
"I never did care much about that fool, Arkana." He left it be as Arkana disappeared completely and his Life Points dropped to 5750 while Mai still had 7100, "As for my counter. I'll first activate my trap card, Card of Last Will." He declared.
"Card of Last Will?" Mai repeated.
"This card allows me to draw five cards when my monster's attack points are decreased." He answered and drew a refreshed hand, "And as for Makyura's special ability, I play this trap card, Nightmare Wheel. This will decrease your Life Points by 500 each turn as long as this card remains on the field." A skeletal wheel appeared and Mai's Amazon Fighter was shackled by light bonds on the wheel.
"Nice try, but I'll activate this trap card, Rescue Operation." Mai opened fire to another trap; "This sends my Amazon Fighter back to my hand and allows me to summon another monster." the Amazon broke free and returned to Mai in a shot of white light. 'Now, which monster should I play?' Mai was hesitant to choose, 'Yes, that'll work.' "I now summon Cyber Harpie in attack mode." She declared. One of her Harpie Ladies appeared with the armor already equipped.
"Alright, this will end my turn." Yami Marik ended his turn after seeing that his weak Holding Arms couldn't exactly match a Cyber Harpie.
Mai drew her next card and began her play instantly. "Ha, look at this, Marik. I play Graceful Charity which allows me to draw three card then discard to from my hand." Mai looked to her hand again, she had everything she would need from here on out. "I play the magic card: Elegant Egotist! And now Elegant Egotist shall turn my one Harpie into three! Let's give a big Battle City hello to the Harpie Lady Sisters!" She declared as her Harpie split into three, each with a total attack of 1800.
"Aw right, Mai!" Joey cheered.
"And now I'll sacrifice all three of my Harpies to summon The Winged Dragon of Ra!" Mai declared as all three of her Harpies shot into the sky as beams of light.
'Even if she could summon it, there's no way she can use the God Card.' Yami Marik thought. Already I felt a power that could crush my 'sixth sense' easily. I gathered myself to stay conscious.
A bright light shined over the Duel arena in the awakening of the God Card and the winds whipped high. Kaiba even had enough strength to look up.
"This is it, the third Egyptian God Card," he gasped.
The light kept its intensity until the source itself came to form, a giant sphere the size of the sun from our distance.
"Wha-what is that?" Mai questioned.
"That is The Winged Dragon of Ra. It's locked in that sphere." Yami Marik answered.
"Then how am I supposed to use it?"
'You can't use it, you fool! You'll never be able to control its power!' Yami Marik thought in victory.
To be continued...