Episode #27- Soul Duel, Sole Purpose, Part 1
Mai lay motionless in bed. The others gathered around her, despite the fact that their efforts failed. Everyone was scattered about her room but their eyes all set on Mai.
I just entered in to the crowded room after passing Marik's. Just before I came in, I felt Him absorb into my being. I just can't help that he's right, Miran still has my body and that my appearance to the others is just an illusion created by Yami Marik.
"Mai still won't wake up." Serenity whimpered, sitting near the front to see Mai.
'I'm sorry, Mai. Sorry to let ya down.' Joey thought as he stood beside his sister.
"Unless Marik is stopped, she'll be like this forever." Yami stated, "But I mean the dark Marik, the one that took over Marik's body during the Duel."
"They're the same to me." Tristan side commented.
"Not quite. Marik seemed to ease up on his intentions ever since we first attempted to send his darker half to the Shadow Realm, and he even offered to free Miranda from the Shadow Realm." Yami answered, "But we can't be too careful. However, when I used my Shadow magic to help Mai, Miranda was also in my vision, as Yami Marik's prisoner. Marik's darker half must have somehow reclaimed Miranda."
"Are you serious?" Ashley questioned. I had to turn my back and leave the room unnoticed.
A ghost also watched the depressing scene. Kikaita stood a distance with her arms folded. 'He did it again, only this time he was more than successful. Not even Yin-Yang and Miranda combined can pull her free.' She thought, 'But now it's time to take matters into my own hands.' Kikaita unwearyingly walked out of the room, 'I mean, sure, Serenity and Kaiba were freed by Raikoukou and Miranda managed Yin-Yang's gift of spectral energies. But if going to the Shadow Realm means by losing to an Egyptian God Card, not even The Eternal Dragon can do it.' Kikaita thought to herself and advanced down the hall to Room 7.
She fluently walked through the sealed steel door and into the room. Kikaita saw as much as any of the other rooms; two chairs, a table, a small fridge, and a bed. The only difference was the dark magic residue left from Yami Marik.
The door opened and Kikaita hid herself. I walked in with Yami Marik trailing behind me.
"So, come to grips at what Ra can do compared to Yin-Yang? No other God can stop The Winged Dragon of Ra." He boasted as the door closed behind me, automatically turning on the room lights.
"If Yin-Yang is play correctly, it can probably stand more powerful than Ra." I pointed out, "You've seen how much power Yin-Yang can obtain just by discarding Dragon monsters." Instantly the Shadow Realm sprang up into the vicinity of my room. He swung his arm and grabbed me by the collar of my turtleneck, spun me around and literally picked me up off the floor. I was now staring to his anger-enraged eyes.
"I've been going easy on you, Guinaldo. But don't expect me to keep it this way for any longer." He growled, "One more crack like that and I'll take your body and forever strand you in the Shadow Realm. Do I make myself clear?" He paused his rhetorical question, "I reason I've kept you like this was because your soul possesses a greater purpose, and the God monsters seem to recognize you in the form you are now."
"And what exactly is this purpose that's keeping me from being spiritually dead?" I grunted under the constriction of his grip.
"Your soul, as I've said before, is pure of the Zodiac traits. And being a Dragon in the Zodiac, Slifer the Sky Dragon and The Winged Dragon of Ra will have no trouble obeying you as they would me." He replied while keeping his grip on my shirt, "Yin-Yang will also be no trouble, for when I rule this world, Yin-Yang will be no longer."
"That's enough, demon!" Kikaita's voice sprang out. She appeared from the Shadows and approached us, "Put her down, I want to settle this." Kikaita boasted. Yami Marik slowly brought me to the ground and let go of my collar.
"Settle what, my dear?" Yami Marik asked sarcastically.
"The torture involving your existing; I demand a Duel. If I win, you'll let Miranda and Mai go." She laid down the conditions.
"And if I win, you'll cease your attempts to help Miranda in any way, same for the possessed bowling ball." He declared his terms.
"Agreed." Kikaita nodded. Now I knew something was brewing, and which will favor victory in the upcoming Duel.
__________
Everyone else started to clear out of the room and leaving one of Kaiba's physicians to his work. Kaiba and Mokuba branched off from the others and headed towards the elevator without anyone stopping them. Mokuba guided the elevator to the first floor, a restricted area.
"Mokuba, have you finished translating the texts on those two cards?" Seto asked demandingly after the doors slid open.
"Yin-Yang, I'm having no such luck Seto. But I'm also having trouble translating the last line on The Winged Dragon of Ra." Mokuba answered and jumped to one of the chairs and spun himself to face the computer.
Kaiba walked until he was behind Mokuba and looked to the screen. Several programs were opened up already and the cards of Ra and Yin-Yang were first to catch his eye. He gasped after quickly studying The Winged Dragon of Ra.
"What is it Seto?" Mokuba was distracted from the keyboard.
"I...I can read the text!" Seto stuttered out, 'But this is impossible! I can read the text as if it was written in English and I've never seen that language before!' He thought as he remembered was Marik had said earlier, 'The words are written in a special hieroglyphic that can only be read by high-ranking individuals in ancient Egypt. I'm sure Kaiba could read it. In fact, several people aboard this vessel can decipher the text. Some of us can trace our history back to ancient Egypt, a time where sorcerers and kings waged great wars with each other.' "I can read the text on The Winged Dragon of Ra, clear as crystal!"
"No way!" Mokuba couldn't believe it either, "But what about Yin-Yang, can you read that text?"
Kaiba shifted his eyes to the card on the left; all he saw below the picture of the limitless-bodied dragon was just undecipherable marks as if they were scratched on by a sword tip. "No." He settled down and grabbed a phone nearby, "CEO to Battle Tower." He stated into the transmitter.
"Battle Tower copies. Over." was the response of a female voice tone.
"Round One of the Battle City Finals is complete. Start preparing for the semifinals, I'll be there tomorrow. Over." He reported.
"Might I ask who the remaining finalists are?"
"Ashley, Miranda, Yugi, and Marik." Kaiba replied, "Ashley beat me in the first round."
"You're joking!"
"I'm not. Now get Battle Tower ready, we'll be there first thing in the morning."
"Yes, sir. Battle Tower, over and out." The transmission ended.
After some delay, the three of us, Kikaita, Yami Marik, and I, made it to the inactive Dueling arena. We were all in a no-matter state so the wind didn't exactly bother us. The magic of the Shadow Realm took hold, so were the shackles still bearing down on my wrists. Yami Marik and Kikaita took their positions on the arena. Yami Marik was using the same Duel Disc as I was, green with a Dark Magician's staff touch, only wearing it on the left arm and using a different Deck I felt to be very tactical. Kikaita was yet to be fitted with a Duel Disc of her own.
"Well, do you need a Duel Disc?" Yami Marik asked tauntingly, "The Shadow Realm can provide you one." He gazed towards Kikaita and saw the dark spirits beginning to swerve around her left arm.
"I don't need your charity." Kikaita stomped down his "offer." She quickly lifted her arm away from the dark ghosts and blue spirit flames took their places above her head and around it. The flames piled up onto each other and solidified. As for her Duel Disc, Kikaita had a blue card display recognizer with a semi-sphere base above her arm, the base's rim surrounded with the marks of the Astrological Zodiac and her Life Point counter and Deck in the middle. "I'll be using a Duel Disc supplied by Lord Yin-Yang."
"Still believe in such a futile God, even after your passing." Yami Marik snickered, "During that Duel between Joey and Miranda, not even Yin-Yang could break my grip, and you will fall as well."
'My mom was a Duelist?' I thought with a lifted eyebrow.
"Fine then, I'll let you make the first move." Yami Marik nodded.
"I'll start off with Amazoness Paladin in attack mode." Kikaita declared, the Amazoness appeared into the game, "And it'll get 100 more attack points for reach Amazoness out on my field. I'll also lay one card faced down and end my turn." Kikaita ended with a card behind her Paladin.
"My turn." Yami Marik drew his card and reviewed his hand, 'Lava Golem will do nicely later on, as soon as I get better cards. As for now, this will have to do.' He thought and pulled three cards from his hand, "I will place a monster in defense mode and one trap card as well." He ended his turn, 'Sakuretsu Armor will protect me. Once activated, it'll stop a monster's attack and instantly destroy it. And as for Coffin Seller, I'll obliterate her Life Points quickly.'
'I thought he would have a powerful monster to attack my Amazoness or destroy it with a magic card.' Kikaita thought and drew, "Alright, now I'll summon Gemini Elf in attack mode!"
'She's going too high too fast.' I panicked in thought, 'Throwing out all of her high-powered monsters early in the game will be her downfall.'
'Go ahead, take my bait.' Yami Marik thought in pleasure.
"Gemini Elf, attack his face-down card now!" Kikaita commanded; both of her elves sprang into an attack.
"Activate Sakuretsu Armor!" Yami Marik countered and flipped his trap card.
"What?!" My mother and I cried at once.
"Sakuretsu Armor will protect my monster for this attack only. It automatically destroys your own monster." He exclaimed and a rock-hard armor casing appeared over his defensive monster, "But before that happens, I'll play this other trap card, Coffin Seller: for each of your monsters destroyed, you'll loose an additional 300 Life Points." As it happened, Gemini Elf was destroyed and the rocks receded, her Life Points dropped to 7700.
"Amazoness Paladin, attack!" Kikaita went for another attack, "You only said that armor only lasted for that attack, it doesn't mean I can't strike again."
"That was your second mistake." Yami Marik sneered, "The monster I put on the field was my Gravekeeper's Guard, a near-impenetrable defensive strength and he'll return your monster back to your hand." He briefed. The Amazoness's attempt failed against an obese guard and retreated back to Kikaita's hand. "Heh, with no monsters on the field, you're open for a direct assault."
"I'll place one card faced down and end my turn." Kikaita placed another trap card, 'Hopefully Physical Double can work for me. I can play it as a copy of his strongest monster.'
"Now I'll do some more damage, my dear, by playing the Gravekeeper's Spy. It'll allow me to summon another monster I call the Gravekeeper's Curse." He began his turn and summoned two monsters next to his Guard, "Yet again I decrease your Life Points. For when Gravekeeper's Curse is summoned in any way, it'll take away 500 of your Life Points." He exclaimed. His Curse twirled his staff and fired a quick shot of magic towards Kikaita.
"Mom!" I cried as she took the hit and her Life Points stepped down to 7200.
"Now I'll switch all of my Gravekeeper's servants to attack mode." He announced, "This might come as a little shock to you, but since we're in the vicinity of the Shadow Realm, the cost is much higher. As a recap, we're both Dueling to see who will decide Miranda's fate and the loser is strictly prohibited to proceeded with ordeals involving her; I've taken the liberty of enforcing that result. The loser will just be a forgotten memory to her."
"What?!" I shouted in question. Yami Marik didn't seem to hear me as he kept his stare to my mother.
__________
"Miranda has already turned in for the night, again." Miran said as they began to go to their own rooms.
"We'll all need some rest for the semifinals tomorrow." Yugi sighed, he past Miran and entered his room. The lights flashed on and Yugi spotted a small note left on the table. He treaded up to it and unfolded the paper.
*Yugi, I'll give you Slifer for the semis tomorrow. The God Card I already hold is Yin-Yang, there's no point in me having two if we're to face in the Finals. Miranda* the note read, in its creases was the specified Egyptian God Card.
'Miranda gave me Slifer?' Yugi questioned. A faint image of Yami appeared beside him with a disturbed look in his eyes.
'Well, she does have Yin-Yang the Eternal Dragon. And if we were to go against her in the semifinals, we would be at a disadvantage.' Yami pointed out.
"Yeah, but I think there would be another reason why she'd give it to us." Yugi still questioned the note with the Egyptian God Card.
'Let's just get some sleep, Yugi. We'll need all the rest we can get.' Yami suggested. Yugi nodded in agreement and unequipped his Duel Disc; he kicked his shoes off and tossed himself into bed.
"Settle down, you two. This is only insurance that our deal passes through." Yami Marik made a futile attempt to calm us, "So now, I'll end my turn with a card faced down, and your Physical Double trap card's effect ends here as well." Yami Marik ended his turn.
"Fine, I draw." Kikaita quickly pulled the top card and scanned it quickly, "Now I'll change the setting of our Duel." She declared.
"Huh?" Yami Marik glanced up from his hand.
"I'll play this magic card, Zodiac Sacred Grounds!" She announced. Instantly a glowing ring grew until both of them were on either side of the circle, a larger double of Yin-Yang's summoning symbol. Lit markings of the Astrological Zodiac ringed the edge and slowly spun underneath them.
"What kind of field magic card is this, Samurai?" Yami Marik questioned.
"This is my key card in my Deck because it can power up all of my Zodiac monsters." Kikaita answered, "I just didn't play any and wouldn't until I got this card. So with it, I summon Sagittarius Archeries in attack mode." In front of her, another monster appeared: a male archer with a horse's body and flames firing from the tail and hooves. "And because Sagittarius Archeries is one of the Zodiacs, its attack power is increased by 700 points."
'Nice one, mom.' I cheered in thought, still being cautious about my connection with Yami Marik.
"Sagittarius Archeries, attack his Gravekeeper's Curse now with Orion's Arrow!" Kikaita commanded. The Archeries reared high on it legs before aiming his arrow at Yami Marik's first monster on his right. His attack strength of 2300 outmatched the Curse's 900 and was destroyed on contact, reducing his Life Points by 1400.
Yami Marik recovered from the attack with an unpleasant smirk, "Impressive, you've actually reduced my Life Points some. However, an early lead does not grant you a solid victory." He drew his next card, "So now I'll summon Holding Arms. With it, I freeze your Sagittarius Archeries for three turns." He briefed just as the same grappling monster appeared and took both of Sagittarius's wrists. "I will also bring both of my monsters into defense mode to end my turn." 'I'm leading her through this Duel flawlessly, I just need Mask of the Accursed and this Duel is mine.' He thought with an insidious grin.
Kikaita drew her next card and reviewed the field, 'Maybe I can sacrifice my Archer while it's being controlled by those Holding Arms.' She thought and began her play. "Now I'll sacrifice my Sagittarius Archeries for Aries in attack mode!"
"Not quite, activate trap card Mask of Restrict." Yami Marik announced and a mask the size of a shield appeared in front of him, "While this is on the field, no sacrifices are to be made."
Kikaita murmured and slid her card back to her hand. "OK. Instead, I'll play Scorpio in attack mode." she changed her plans and summoned a giant scorpion, yet another one of her Zodiac monster, "My Sagittarius may be frozen, but my Scorpio is free to attack, and it's attack power is lifted to 2500 by Zodiac Sacred Grounds. Scorpio, attack his Gravekeeper's Spy with your Tidal Guillotine Crush." Kikaita commanded. Her scorpion attacked and Yami Marik's Life Points were reduced further by 1000.
"How? My monster was in defense mode." Yami Marik argued as his Life Points crippled to 5600.
"Actually, that's partially my fault, but only because I allowed my Sagittarius Archeries to do so." Kikaita answered, "You froze my Sagittarius's attack, but not its effect. Once per turn, I can switch one of your defensive monsters to attack mode. But either way, you still would have lost Life Points no matter what position your monster was in."
"And how so?"
"Scorpio can inflict the difference as battle damage to your Life Points."
Yami Marik waited until Kikaita finished her answer before snickering in accomplishment, "You have no idea who you're up against. By this Duel's end, you'll be left with nothing. Here I hold the combo of your demise." Yami Marik pulled two cards from his hand, "Prepare for your destruction!"
To be continued...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
New cards played
Zodiac Sacred Grounds: Field Magic Card. All monsters with "Aquarius," "Aries," "Cancer," "Capricorn," "Gemini," "Leo," "Libra," "Pisces," "Sagittarius," "Scorpio," "Taurus," or "Virgo" in their names will have their ATK and DEF increased by 700 points.
Sagittarius Archeries: Warrior/Earth. Monster/Zodiac, 4/1600/1000. Once during your Standby Phase, switch one of your opponent's monsters from Defense mode to Attack mode. That monster must remain in that position during your opponent's next turn. This effect can only be activated if "Zodiac Sacred Grounds" exists on the field.
Scorpio: Aqua/Water. Monster/Zodiac, 4/1800/1500. When this card attacks with an ATK higher than the DEF of your opponent's Defense Position Monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points. This effect can only be activated if "Zodiac Sacred Grounds" exists on the field.
Mai lay motionless in bed. The others gathered around her, despite the fact that their efforts failed. Everyone was scattered about her room but their eyes all set on Mai.
I just entered in to the crowded room after passing Marik's. Just before I came in, I felt Him absorb into my being. I just can't help that he's right, Miran still has my body and that my appearance to the others is just an illusion created by Yami Marik.
"Mai still won't wake up." Serenity whimpered, sitting near the front to see Mai.
'I'm sorry, Mai. Sorry to let ya down.' Joey thought as he stood beside his sister.
"Unless Marik is stopped, she'll be like this forever." Yami stated, "But I mean the dark Marik, the one that took over Marik's body during the Duel."
"They're the same to me." Tristan side commented.
"Not quite. Marik seemed to ease up on his intentions ever since we first attempted to send his darker half to the Shadow Realm, and he even offered to free Miranda from the Shadow Realm." Yami answered, "But we can't be too careful. However, when I used my Shadow magic to help Mai, Miranda was also in my vision, as Yami Marik's prisoner. Marik's darker half must have somehow reclaimed Miranda."
"Are you serious?" Ashley questioned. I had to turn my back and leave the room unnoticed.
A ghost also watched the depressing scene. Kikaita stood a distance with her arms folded. 'He did it again, only this time he was more than successful. Not even Yin-Yang and Miranda combined can pull her free.' She thought, 'But now it's time to take matters into my own hands.' Kikaita unwearyingly walked out of the room, 'I mean, sure, Serenity and Kaiba were freed by Raikoukou and Miranda managed Yin-Yang's gift of spectral energies. But if going to the Shadow Realm means by losing to an Egyptian God Card, not even The Eternal Dragon can do it.' Kikaita thought to herself and advanced down the hall to Room 7.
She fluently walked through the sealed steel door and into the room. Kikaita saw as much as any of the other rooms; two chairs, a table, a small fridge, and a bed. The only difference was the dark magic residue left from Yami Marik.
The door opened and Kikaita hid herself. I walked in with Yami Marik trailing behind me.
"So, come to grips at what Ra can do compared to Yin-Yang? No other God can stop The Winged Dragon of Ra." He boasted as the door closed behind me, automatically turning on the room lights.
"If Yin-Yang is play correctly, it can probably stand more powerful than Ra." I pointed out, "You've seen how much power Yin-Yang can obtain just by discarding Dragon monsters." Instantly the Shadow Realm sprang up into the vicinity of my room. He swung his arm and grabbed me by the collar of my turtleneck, spun me around and literally picked me up off the floor. I was now staring to his anger-enraged eyes.
"I've been going easy on you, Guinaldo. But don't expect me to keep it this way for any longer." He growled, "One more crack like that and I'll take your body and forever strand you in the Shadow Realm. Do I make myself clear?" He paused his rhetorical question, "I reason I've kept you like this was because your soul possesses a greater purpose, and the God monsters seem to recognize you in the form you are now."
"And what exactly is this purpose that's keeping me from being spiritually dead?" I grunted under the constriction of his grip.
"Your soul, as I've said before, is pure of the Zodiac traits. And being a Dragon in the Zodiac, Slifer the Sky Dragon and The Winged Dragon of Ra will have no trouble obeying you as they would me." He replied while keeping his grip on my shirt, "Yin-Yang will also be no trouble, for when I rule this world, Yin-Yang will be no longer."
"That's enough, demon!" Kikaita's voice sprang out. She appeared from the Shadows and approached us, "Put her down, I want to settle this." Kikaita boasted. Yami Marik slowly brought me to the ground and let go of my collar.
"Settle what, my dear?" Yami Marik asked sarcastically.
"The torture involving your existing; I demand a Duel. If I win, you'll let Miranda and Mai go." She laid down the conditions.
"And if I win, you'll cease your attempts to help Miranda in any way, same for the possessed bowling ball." He declared his terms.
"Agreed." Kikaita nodded. Now I knew something was brewing, and which will favor victory in the upcoming Duel.
__________
Everyone else started to clear out of the room and leaving one of Kaiba's physicians to his work. Kaiba and Mokuba branched off from the others and headed towards the elevator without anyone stopping them. Mokuba guided the elevator to the first floor, a restricted area.
"Mokuba, have you finished translating the texts on those two cards?" Seto asked demandingly after the doors slid open.
"Yin-Yang, I'm having no such luck Seto. But I'm also having trouble translating the last line on The Winged Dragon of Ra." Mokuba answered and jumped to one of the chairs and spun himself to face the computer.
Kaiba walked until he was behind Mokuba and looked to the screen. Several programs were opened up already and the cards of Ra and Yin-Yang were first to catch his eye. He gasped after quickly studying The Winged Dragon of Ra.
"What is it Seto?" Mokuba was distracted from the keyboard.
"I...I can read the text!" Seto stuttered out, 'But this is impossible! I can read the text as if it was written in English and I've never seen that language before!' He thought as he remembered was Marik had said earlier, 'The words are written in a special hieroglyphic that can only be read by high-ranking individuals in ancient Egypt. I'm sure Kaiba could read it. In fact, several people aboard this vessel can decipher the text. Some of us can trace our history back to ancient Egypt, a time where sorcerers and kings waged great wars with each other.' "I can read the text on The Winged Dragon of Ra, clear as crystal!"
"No way!" Mokuba couldn't believe it either, "But what about Yin-Yang, can you read that text?"
Kaiba shifted his eyes to the card on the left; all he saw below the picture of the limitless-bodied dragon was just undecipherable marks as if they were scratched on by a sword tip. "No." He settled down and grabbed a phone nearby, "CEO to Battle Tower." He stated into the transmitter.
"Battle Tower copies. Over." was the response of a female voice tone.
"Round One of the Battle City Finals is complete. Start preparing for the semifinals, I'll be there tomorrow. Over." He reported.
"Might I ask who the remaining finalists are?"
"Ashley, Miranda, Yugi, and Marik." Kaiba replied, "Ashley beat me in the first round."
"You're joking!"
"I'm not. Now get Battle Tower ready, we'll be there first thing in the morning."
"Yes, sir. Battle Tower, over and out." The transmission ended.
After some delay, the three of us, Kikaita, Yami Marik, and I, made it to the inactive Dueling arena. We were all in a no-matter state so the wind didn't exactly bother us. The magic of the Shadow Realm took hold, so were the shackles still bearing down on my wrists. Yami Marik and Kikaita took their positions on the arena. Yami Marik was using the same Duel Disc as I was, green with a Dark Magician's staff touch, only wearing it on the left arm and using a different Deck I felt to be very tactical. Kikaita was yet to be fitted with a Duel Disc of her own.
"Well, do you need a Duel Disc?" Yami Marik asked tauntingly, "The Shadow Realm can provide you one." He gazed towards Kikaita and saw the dark spirits beginning to swerve around her left arm.
"I don't need your charity." Kikaita stomped down his "offer." She quickly lifted her arm away from the dark ghosts and blue spirit flames took their places above her head and around it. The flames piled up onto each other and solidified. As for her Duel Disc, Kikaita had a blue card display recognizer with a semi-sphere base above her arm, the base's rim surrounded with the marks of the Astrological Zodiac and her Life Point counter and Deck in the middle. "I'll be using a Duel Disc supplied by Lord Yin-Yang."
"Still believe in such a futile God, even after your passing." Yami Marik snickered, "During that Duel between Joey and Miranda, not even Yin-Yang could break my grip, and you will fall as well."
'My mom was a Duelist?' I thought with a lifted eyebrow.
"Fine then, I'll let you make the first move." Yami Marik nodded.
"I'll start off with Amazoness Paladin in attack mode." Kikaita declared, the Amazoness appeared into the game, "And it'll get 100 more attack points for reach Amazoness out on my field. I'll also lay one card faced down and end my turn." Kikaita ended with a card behind her Paladin.
"My turn." Yami Marik drew his card and reviewed his hand, 'Lava Golem will do nicely later on, as soon as I get better cards. As for now, this will have to do.' He thought and pulled three cards from his hand, "I will place a monster in defense mode and one trap card as well." He ended his turn, 'Sakuretsu Armor will protect me. Once activated, it'll stop a monster's attack and instantly destroy it. And as for Coffin Seller, I'll obliterate her Life Points quickly.'
'I thought he would have a powerful monster to attack my Amazoness or destroy it with a magic card.' Kikaita thought and drew, "Alright, now I'll summon Gemini Elf in attack mode!"
'She's going too high too fast.' I panicked in thought, 'Throwing out all of her high-powered monsters early in the game will be her downfall.'
'Go ahead, take my bait.' Yami Marik thought in pleasure.
"Gemini Elf, attack his face-down card now!" Kikaita commanded; both of her elves sprang into an attack.
"Activate Sakuretsu Armor!" Yami Marik countered and flipped his trap card.
"What?!" My mother and I cried at once.
"Sakuretsu Armor will protect my monster for this attack only. It automatically destroys your own monster." He exclaimed and a rock-hard armor casing appeared over his defensive monster, "But before that happens, I'll play this other trap card, Coffin Seller: for each of your monsters destroyed, you'll loose an additional 300 Life Points." As it happened, Gemini Elf was destroyed and the rocks receded, her Life Points dropped to 7700.
"Amazoness Paladin, attack!" Kikaita went for another attack, "You only said that armor only lasted for that attack, it doesn't mean I can't strike again."
"That was your second mistake." Yami Marik sneered, "The monster I put on the field was my Gravekeeper's Guard, a near-impenetrable defensive strength and he'll return your monster back to your hand." He briefed. The Amazoness's attempt failed against an obese guard and retreated back to Kikaita's hand. "Heh, with no monsters on the field, you're open for a direct assault."
"I'll place one card faced down and end my turn." Kikaita placed another trap card, 'Hopefully Physical Double can work for me. I can play it as a copy of his strongest monster.'
"Now I'll do some more damage, my dear, by playing the Gravekeeper's Spy. It'll allow me to summon another monster I call the Gravekeeper's Curse." He began his turn and summoned two monsters next to his Guard, "Yet again I decrease your Life Points. For when Gravekeeper's Curse is summoned in any way, it'll take away 500 of your Life Points." He exclaimed. His Curse twirled his staff and fired a quick shot of magic towards Kikaita.
"Mom!" I cried as she took the hit and her Life Points stepped down to 7200.
"Now I'll switch all of my Gravekeeper's servants to attack mode." He announced, "This might come as a little shock to you, but since we're in the vicinity of the Shadow Realm, the cost is much higher. As a recap, we're both Dueling to see who will decide Miranda's fate and the loser is strictly prohibited to proceeded with ordeals involving her; I've taken the liberty of enforcing that result. The loser will just be a forgotten memory to her."
"What?!" I shouted in question. Yami Marik didn't seem to hear me as he kept his stare to my mother.
__________
"Miranda has already turned in for the night, again." Miran said as they began to go to their own rooms.
"We'll all need some rest for the semifinals tomorrow." Yugi sighed, he past Miran and entered his room. The lights flashed on and Yugi spotted a small note left on the table. He treaded up to it and unfolded the paper.
*Yugi, I'll give you Slifer for the semis tomorrow. The God Card I already hold is Yin-Yang, there's no point in me having two if we're to face in the Finals. Miranda* the note read, in its creases was the specified Egyptian God Card.
'Miranda gave me Slifer?' Yugi questioned. A faint image of Yami appeared beside him with a disturbed look in his eyes.
'Well, she does have Yin-Yang the Eternal Dragon. And if we were to go against her in the semifinals, we would be at a disadvantage.' Yami pointed out.
"Yeah, but I think there would be another reason why she'd give it to us." Yugi still questioned the note with the Egyptian God Card.
'Let's just get some sleep, Yugi. We'll need all the rest we can get.' Yami suggested. Yugi nodded in agreement and unequipped his Duel Disc; he kicked his shoes off and tossed himself into bed.
"Settle down, you two. This is only insurance that our deal passes through." Yami Marik made a futile attempt to calm us, "So now, I'll end my turn with a card faced down, and your Physical Double trap card's effect ends here as well." Yami Marik ended his turn.
"Fine, I draw." Kikaita quickly pulled the top card and scanned it quickly, "Now I'll change the setting of our Duel." She declared.
"Huh?" Yami Marik glanced up from his hand.
"I'll play this magic card, Zodiac Sacred Grounds!" She announced. Instantly a glowing ring grew until both of them were on either side of the circle, a larger double of Yin-Yang's summoning symbol. Lit markings of the Astrological Zodiac ringed the edge and slowly spun underneath them.
"What kind of field magic card is this, Samurai?" Yami Marik questioned.
"This is my key card in my Deck because it can power up all of my Zodiac monsters." Kikaita answered, "I just didn't play any and wouldn't until I got this card. So with it, I summon Sagittarius Archeries in attack mode." In front of her, another monster appeared: a male archer with a horse's body and flames firing from the tail and hooves. "And because Sagittarius Archeries is one of the Zodiacs, its attack power is increased by 700 points."
'Nice one, mom.' I cheered in thought, still being cautious about my connection with Yami Marik.
"Sagittarius Archeries, attack his Gravekeeper's Curse now with Orion's Arrow!" Kikaita commanded. The Archeries reared high on it legs before aiming his arrow at Yami Marik's first monster on his right. His attack strength of 2300 outmatched the Curse's 900 and was destroyed on contact, reducing his Life Points by 1400.
Yami Marik recovered from the attack with an unpleasant smirk, "Impressive, you've actually reduced my Life Points some. However, an early lead does not grant you a solid victory." He drew his next card, "So now I'll summon Holding Arms. With it, I freeze your Sagittarius Archeries for three turns." He briefed just as the same grappling monster appeared and took both of Sagittarius's wrists. "I will also bring both of my monsters into defense mode to end my turn." 'I'm leading her through this Duel flawlessly, I just need Mask of the Accursed and this Duel is mine.' He thought with an insidious grin.
Kikaita drew her next card and reviewed the field, 'Maybe I can sacrifice my Archer while it's being controlled by those Holding Arms.' She thought and began her play. "Now I'll sacrifice my Sagittarius Archeries for Aries in attack mode!"
"Not quite, activate trap card Mask of Restrict." Yami Marik announced and a mask the size of a shield appeared in front of him, "While this is on the field, no sacrifices are to be made."
Kikaita murmured and slid her card back to her hand. "OK. Instead, I'll play Scorpio in attack mode." she changed her plans and summoned a giant scorpion, yet another one of her Zodiac monster, "My Sagittarius may be frozen, but my Scorpio is free to attack, and it's attack power is lifted to 2500 by Zodiac Sacred Grounds. Scorpio, attack his Gravekeeper's Spy with your Tidal Guillotine Crush." Kikaita commanded. Her scorpion attacked and Yami Marik's Life Points were reduced further by 1000.
"How? My monster was in defense mode." Yami Marik argued as his Life Points crippled to 5600.
"Actually, that's partially my fault, but only because I allowed my Sagittarius Archeries to do so." Kikaita answered, "You froze my Sagittarius's attack, but not its effect. Once per turn, I can switch one of your defensive monsters to attack mode. But either way, you still would have lost Life Points no matter what position your monster was in."
"And how so?"
"Scorpio can inflict the difference as battle damage to your Life Points."
Yami Marik waited until Kikaita finished her answer before snickering in accomplishment, "You have no idea who you're up against. By this Duel's end, you'll be left with nothing. Here I hold the combo of your demise." Yami Marik pulled two cards from his hand, "Prepare for your destruction!"
To be continued...
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New cards played
Zodiac Sacred Grounds: Field Magic Card. All monsters with "Aquarius," "Aries," "Cancer," "Capricorn," "Gemini," "Leo," "Libra," "Pisces," "Sagittarius," "Scorpio," "Taurus," or "Virgo" in their names will have their ATK and DEF increased by 700 points.
Sagittarius Archeries: Warrior/Earth. Monster/Zodiac, 4/1600/1000. Once during your Standby Phase, switch one of your opponent's monsters from Defense mode to Attack mode. That monster must remain in that position during your opponent's next turn. This effect can only be activated if "Zodiac Sacred Grounds" exists on the field.
Scorpio: Aqua/Water. Monster/Zodiac, 4/1800/1500. When this card attacks with an ATK higher than the DEF of your opponent's Defense Position Monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points. This effect can only be activated if "Zodiac Sacred Grounds" exists on the field.