Episode #31- Battle Royale
Mokuba and the others watch on the ground floor as we were elevated to the 4000 point mark. We all drew our hands and as order went, Kaiba drew his sixth card first. Before he made his play, I sensed Yami Marik standing behind me and eyeing me like a vulture. My hand was nothing short of a good start: Needle Wall, Spear Dragon, Raikoukou, Graceful Charity, and a new card that appeared unfamiliar, Ryo-Ryu Ritual.
"As a note before I begin, we cannot attack, flip or activate magic or trap cards until each player has made their draw." Kaiba stated, "With that clear, I'll begin with Vorse Raider, and one card faced down." He played his cards on the Duel Disc. Before him, a card situated itself in front of him and Vorse Raider floated above the crowd below. "You're move, Miranda."
"Very well." I accepted the turn and drew Troop Dragon. Yami Marik appeared in my mind's eye and glanced at my hand.
'Quite a start.' He commented. I had to ignore him.
"Spear Dragon in attack mode and one card faced down." I declared, Spear Dragon appeared before me with a card behind it, "That'll be it for me."
Turn went to Marik, his eyes served a stressed look. "I'll play one monster in defense mode. This ends my turn." Marik played quickly and shifted his eyes to me. 'I can still feel His presence within Miranda. There just has to be a way to get Him out. I'll have to eliminate Yugi and Kaiba first.' He thought.
Yami drew his sixth card to end the preparational turns of the Duel. He, too, shared a concerned look. 'Being last might give me some advantage.' Yugi thought, 'I need to defeat Kaiba to end this destined war; I need to defeat Marik so he doesn't get all the God Cards; and I have to break Miranda of Yami Marik.'
"Alright, I summon Big Shield Gardna in defense mode and two cards faced down." Yami stated as his shielded warrior appeared in front of two face- down cards. "This ends my turn."
"Yugi, you had the advantage to attack or use any magic cards before any of us did." Kaiba said, "But with Spear Dragon in attack mode, I'll be making more than a foolish mistake in attacking Miranda. As for Marik, I don't like the look of that face-down card; and Yugi, your monster's defense completely outmatches my Vorse Raider's attack, so I'll place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"Kaiba, your mistake was ever putting that monster on the field." I suggested.
"What?"
"Before I begin my turn, I'll activate my trap card: Needle Wall. This permanent trap card will selectively destroy monsters on all of you or not, varying on your luck." I said. A wide stone panel appeared under the monster cards set by Yami, Marik, and Kaiba. All three floorings were marked with five trap doors with a number over each.
"What kind of trap card is this?" Yami asked.
"One of my more favorable trap cards, but I prefer to call this trap card 'Russian Roulette;' it's all about chance." I began, "I'll start with the roll of a single die. Which ever number it lands on, that marked door will open and destroy which ever monster is on top of it."
Kathy, Mokuba, Ashley, Duke, and Tea all watched from below. They saw the Duelists' down cards clearly but refused to say out loud. "That is a trap card I would prefer. But it's only the beginning of the game so it'll be hard for the dice to get rolling." Duke commented.
"What do you mean?" Kathy asked.
"Miranda made the smart move by playing Needle Wall, but the problem is the positions that their monsters are in. Yugi has Big Shield Gardna on "2," Marik has his defensive monster on "3," and Kaiba has his two monsters on "1" and "2." Duke explained, "If Miranda rolls a four or five, no monsters will be destroyed. But rolling a six will give her another roll."
"Activate trap, Coffin Seller!" Marik exclaimed and activated his trap, "Coffin Seller will decrease any one of their Life Points for each monster that is sent to the Graveyard. Anyone but me to say the very least."
"This can't be good. Anyone but Marik who loses their monsters will lose their Life Points by 300 per monster." Ashley cried.
"Now that it's my turn, I'll begin the game." A black die with green dots materialized into my hand, "Come on, 1, 2, or 3!" I exclaimed and threw the die on the panel in front of me. The die stopped rolling on "2." "That's it! Yugi's Big Shield Garna is destroyed and so is Kaiba's defensive monster, just what I was hoping for." I cheered.
"On top of that, both Yugi and Kaiba will lose Life Points thanks to Coffin Seller." Marik added as Yugi's and Kaiba's Life Points dropped by 300. Both of their platforms began their ascend. 'This is good, as long as Yugi and Kaiba are first to go, I can at least try to save Miranda. After all, I owe Kikaita. She has done the nicest things anyone could do for me. Aside from Odion, Kikaita was a true friend, and it's time I paid back that debt.' Marik thought while staring at me.
"Now I'll truly begin with a familiar face, Raikoukou of the Blue Lightning." I announced as the familiar spirit appeared in its eligant form.
"You'd have to sacrifice your Spear Dragon to bring that monster out, it's way too powerful to play alone." Kaiba objected.
"Don't you remember, Kaiba? I can summon Raikoukou without the requirement of a sacrifice. And it's all thanks to you; your Vorse Raider is a dark- type monster, in which Raikoukou could come out automatically. And because of Raikoukou's second effect, your Vorse Raider is gone even before I attack. Raikoukou, Sacred Lightning Barrier." I declared. Raikoukou spread out its nine tails, sparking with blue cracks of lightning. An orb of lightning surrounded Raikoukou and fired out on all directions. Only Kaiba's Vorse Raider took the hit, "You're Vorse Raider is destroyed, leaving you open for a direct assault."
"And with that in mind, you automatically lose another 300 Life Points by my Coffin Seller." Marik tacked on as Kaiba's Life Points fell to 3400. His platform was first to rise closer to the "3000" mark.
"This Duel might take a while unless Miranda keeps up the Needle Wall." Mokuba commented below us, "They will be arriving at the top of the tower when two of them reach zero. We should be heading up there to see the first semifinal match-up."
"I'll watch down here. Personally, I'd like to see Miranda vs. Kaiba, considering they both have God Cards." Kathy looked up.
"All four of them have God Cards." Tea reminded.
"What?"
"Not only does Miranda have Yin-Yang and Kaiba have Obelisk, but Yugi also has Slifer and Marik holds The Winged Dragon of Ra." Tea briefed.
"I thought Miranda had Slifer, and who's Yin-Yang?" Kathy said with a confused daze.
"Yugi told me that Miranda left a note with Slifer in it." She answered as they began their exit.
__________
"Now then, Raikoukou, attack Kaiba's Life Points directly with Blue Lightning Crash!" I cried. Raikoukou fanned out its tails again and directed an number of blue bolts to Kaiba, dropping his Life Points further to 1300 and raising his platform over twice the level of the others.
'No, I will not lose. But she'll be going down in the Finals. That, I swear.' Kaiba thought bitterly.
'Did Miranda and Marik just perform a combo with each other against Kaiba?' Yugi crept up on Yami in his spirit form.
'Marik would have the advantage after Miranda made that roll for Needle Wall.' Yami replied and drew his next card, "This turn I summon Beta in defense mode. That ends my turn."
Marik drew his card and glanced at the three of us, including Kaiba about two stories up from our level. "For now, I'll summon Stratos in attack mode: it allows me to summon another monster as well, Harpie's Brother." Marik declared. His first monster appeared over the "4" marker, a large hawk woth bronze-colored wings and breast plate of silver armor. Harpie's Brother appeared on the "3" marker next to Stratos. "Stratos, attack Yugi's Beta and destroy it now!" He declared as the hawk drew back and charged to the magnet warrior, beak-first.
I felt Yami Marik still behind me, gazing out into the arena with the most of his satisfaction. 'I see, the two of you truly want to Duel in the semifinals.' He commented.
'Come again?' I tilted my head down.
'Well, that last attack from Raikoukou made Kaiba lose Life Points. And with the onslaught Marik is about to deploy, the Pharaoh will be just in the same predicament.' He briefed.
Raikoukou still stood in its position and glance behind its shoulder. 'Master Kikaita, I will not fail you. I trust Marik, myself, to free Miranda.' It thought, 'If anyone could know the Demon well enough to beat him, His previous host is the one. Though I have faith in the Pharaoh...'
The attack left Yami one defensive monster short, only Big Shield Gardna defending him from an assault against his Life Points.
"And that loses you another 300 Life Points, Pharaoh." Marik exclaimed and focused on Kaiba. "Now Harpie's Brother, finish off the rest of Kaiba's Life Points with Blade Talon Slash!" He declared. Harpie's Brother spread its wings and darted up to Kaiba's position. He stopped right before Kaiba's panel of trap doors with its right arm held back. In a fluent motion, The Harpie thrusted his claw over his head and struck down hard on Kaiba. He drew back as his Life Points dropped to zero. The Duel Disc deactivated and the platform elevated to meet the top of the tower.
The breeze wasn't as strong as the blimp's gusts during the Duels. Kathy, Mokuba, Ashley, Joey, Duke, and Tristan waited in the center of the four spires holding the floor on the top.
"So this is where the semis are supposed to take place after the decisions have been made?" Ashley asked while pacing around the top floor.
"Yeap, this is where the remaining Dules are as soon as the first two Duelists arrive up here." Mokuba answered. A whirring got everyone's attention at the top, Ashley stood right by the source of the racket as two silver doors opened on the floor near her.
"The first one's already up here now." Kathy exclaimed. The elevator brought up the first of the semifinalists. Her cheerful expression suddenly went to a state of shock.
"No way, Seto lost the four-way?!" Mokuba cried with a shocked look, Kathy held the same stare. Kaiba appeared from the floor with a serious look on his face. The elevator came to a stop and Kaiba unhooked his Duel Disc from the computer.
"Kaiba, how'd that happen?" Kathy asked in her semi-paralysis state.
"The four-way Duel only decides whom is against who." Kaiba said to his secretary, "I'm not eliminated from this tournament, and I don't plan to for the second time." He said while glaring at Ashley.
"Where are the others?" Joey questioned.
"Marik, Yugi, and Miranda are still deciding as far as I'm concerned." Kaiba hissed, "But I don't really care who I'm going to face in the next round. Each of their God Cards will be a simple task to take from them and eliminate them from the Finals."
__________
Kaiba's defeat left Yugi at a disadvantage. With only 3400 Life Points to spare, Marik and I both had full 4000. "It's my draw." Yami breathed and drew his next card, "And first I'll summon Celtic Guardian and play Black Luster Ritual." He said. In one swift motion, his newly summoned Celtic Guardian and Gardna were combined to form the Black Luster Soldier on the "3" mark of Needle Wall. "Black Luster Soldier, attack Miranda's Spear Dragon now!" Yami declared. His soldier leaped high before striking my Dragon. My dragon didn't stand a chance and shattered; the attack deducted my Life Points to 2600 and lifted my platform higher past the "3000" mark on the wall behind me.
'Great, because of Coffin Seller, I lost the 300 additional Life Points with that last assault.' I thought and looked over the railing of my platform. Yami Marik eyed over my shoulder. I shook the feeling off and drew my card. "First I'll use Needle Wall." I said with a flip of fingers and rolled the die on the panel, 4. "That roll will cost Marik his Stratos Falcon." I informed as Marik's hawk fell through the open door. "Next, I'll summon Troop Dragon to the field and play a ritual magic card of my own, the Ryo-Ryu Ritual." I declared. Raikoukou and Troop Dragon both shifted to dark orbs and merged together. "By the powers of Dragon, I summon the Demon Dragon of Darkness, The Shadow Dragon!" I called, the orb grew wider, almost as big as Ra's sphere.
It formed under my feet, as if I was ready to watch a colosseum match where the gladiators were ready to fight a lion or two; but this was no lion. Two black wings brimming with a violet aura shot from the sphere first, violet sparks were outlining its body and limbs separated to their joints when the cutout was made. All over its body was black with the deep purple energy emitting from it's body. "Black Shadow Dragon, begin by inflicting your rage upon Marik's face-down card with Violent Violet Flames." I commanded. The spectral Dragon opened its jaws and fired a blast of black flames at Marik's defense.
"You've triggered the Gravekeeper's Guard special ability." Marik said, "By this, one monster on either yours or Yugi's side is sent back to the owner's hand. And I decide the Black Luster Soldier shuld back off." He said. Before the guard was destroyed, he performed a spell that sent the Black Luster Soldier out of play. 'Pharaoh, you will get yours yet. However, I will take Miranda as my opponent.' Marik thought.
"This ends my turn; now you make yours, Marik." I boasted from above.
"With pleasure." Marik drew his next card, "I'll use Monster Reborn to summon back Raikoukou to the field. In that scenario, your Shadow Dragon is no longer." He declared. Raikoukou reappeared over the "2" trap door on his panel. It fanned out it's nine tails and destroyed Shadow Dragon, reducing my Life Points further to 2300. "Now Raikoukou, attack Yugi directly with Blue Lightning Crash!" Raikoukou roared as massie bolts shot from its nine tails and blue thunderbolts landed on Yugi with critical force. This platform elevated further than mine did until it almost reached the "1000" mark behind him. I'll also place one more card faced down, and end my turn."
"Alright," Yami looked to his hand and eyed Marik and me below him.
'Marik hasn't once touched Miranda.' Yugi pointed out.
'There is a chance that Marik would want to Duel Miranda, maybe to pull her free of Yami Marik.' Yami replied, "First I'll remove my Big Shield Gardna from play to summon The Rock Spirit. Then sacrifice him for Des Volsgaf." In one turn, Yami sacrificed twice to summon a rugged dragon of dirty green and rust brown scales of color.
'That monster matches Raikoukou's strength.' I thought as I observed.
"Des Volsgaf, attack-huh?" Yami was stopped by Yugi from his subconscious.
'Yami, wait. If you attack Miranda, then Kaiba will sure to face her in the Finals. We can't risk Kaiba in the Shadow Realm again.' Yugi warned.
'But if I attack Marik, both Des Volsgaf and Raikoukou will be destroyed, leaving Miranda wide for an attack on both of us.' Yami replied.
'If we can make Miranda attack us, we'll be Dueling Kaiba in the semifinals. Chances are, Yami Marik will possess the winner between Marik and Miranda.' Yugi edged on.
'But what if that theory doesn't work?'
'Yami, think about it. Yami Marik is after all of the God Cards, including Yin-Yang. But what I don't get is that Yami Marik didn't seem to influence Miranda for this Duel.' Yugi glance over to me, 'If it's possible, and we destroy both monsters, Miranda will attack the one of the weaker: us.'
'Al'right, we'll go with it.' Yami nodded and Yugi receded from thought. "Des Volsgaf, attack Raikoukou now!" The Dragon unleashed a blast of red flare aimed to Raikoukou. Raikoukou instinctively defended with its blue lightning and battled it out in a tied stand-off.
"No, they'll destroy each other!" Marik cried before both monster were vanquished.
"And I lose 300 Life Points because of Coffin Seller." Yami muttered before his platform was raised past the "1000" mark. "Miranda, your move."
'Why did Yugi do that?' I puzzled, 'He could have just as easily attacked me.'
'Miranda, forget about those fools and attack Yugi.' Yami Marik stated behind my back. I pulled my next card, Spirit Ryu.
"I summon Spirit Ryu to the field and attack Yugi. Finish him off with Spirit Attack!" I delcared, the ghastly dragon returned and attacked Yami once more, sending his Life Points to zero and ascending to the ceiling.
Kaiba waited in the center with his arms folded, impatiently waiting for the second Duelist to rise. 'What is taking them so long? They should have decided by now.' His thoughts were interrupted by Tea.
"Look, someone else is coming." She said as the second panel opened. All of the were shocked to see Yami ascend on the platform.
"Yugi, how in the heck?" Joey muttered his words. The other two panels opened with myself and Marik ascending to the sunlight as well.
"So the Duels begin. It's between you and me first, Yugi!" Kaiba boasted.
"So be it." Yami muttered and disegaged his Duel Disc.
To be continued...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
New cards played
Stratos Falcon: Winged Beast/Wind. Monster/Effect, 4/900/300. When this monster is successfully Summoned (including Flip Summon and Special Summon), Special Summon one "Harpie's Brother" from your hand.
Ryo-Ryu Ritual: Ritual Magic. This card is used to Ritual Summon "The Shadow Dragon". You must also offer monsters whose total Star Level equal 7 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand.
The Shadow Dragon: Dragon/Dark. Monster/Ritual, 7/2500/2300. This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the ritual Magic Card, "Ryo-Ryu Ritual". You must also offer monsters whose total Star Level equal 7 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand.
Mokuba and the others watch on the ground floor as we were elevated to the 4000 point mark. We all drew our hands and as order went, Kaiba drew his sixth card first. Before he made his play, I sensed Yami Marik standing behind me and eyeing me like a vulture. My hand was nothing short of a good start: Needle Wall, Spear Dragon, Raikoukou, Graceful Charity, and a new card that appeared unfamiliar, Ryo-Ryu Ritual.
"As a note before I begin, we cannot attack, flip or activate magic or trap cards until each player has made their draw." Kaiba stated, "With that clear, I'll begin with Vorse Raider, and one card faced down." He played his cards on the Duel Disc. Before him, a card situated itself in front of him and Vorse Raider floated above the crowd below. "You're move, Miranda."
"Very well." I accepted the turn and drew Troop Dragon. Yami Marik appeared in my mind's eye and glanced at my hand.
'Quite a start.' He commented. I had to ignore him.
"Spear Dragon in attack mode and one card faced down." I declared, Spear Dragon appeared before me with a card behind it, "That'll be it for me."
Turn went to Marik, his eyes served a stressed look. "I'll play one monster in defense mode. This ends my turn." Marik played quickly and shifted his eyes to me. 'I can still feel His presence within Miranda. There just has to be a way to get Him out. I'll have to eliminate Yugi and Kaiba first.' He thought.
Yami drew his sixth card to end the preparational turns of the Duel. He, too, shared a concerned look. 'Being last might give me some advantage.' Yugi thought, 'I need to defeat Kaiba to end this destined war; I need to defeat Marik so he doesn't get all the God Cards; and I have to break Miranda of Yami Marik.'
"Alright, I summon Big Shield Gardna in defense mode and two cards faced down." Yami stated as his shielded warrior appeared in front of two face- down cards. "This ends my turn."
"Yugi, you had the advantage to attack or use any magic cards before any of us did." Kaiba said, "But with Spear Dragon in attack mode, I'll be making more than a foolish mistake in attacking Miranda. As for Marik, I don't like the look of that face-down card; and Yugi, your monster's defense completely outmatches my Vorse Raider's attack, so I'll place one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"Kaiba, your mistake was ever putting that monster on the field." I suggested.
"What?"
"Before I begin my turn, I'll activate my trap card: Needle Wall. This permanent trap card will selectively destroy monsters on all of you or not, varying on your luck." I said. A wide stone panel appeared under the monster cards set by Yami, Marik, and Kaiba. All three floorings were marked with five trap doors with a number over each.
"What kind of trap card is this?" Yami asked.
"One of my more favorable trap cards, but I prefer to call this trap card 'Russian Roulette;' it's all about chance." I began, "I'll start with the roll of a single die. Which ever number it lands on, that marked door will open and destroy which ever monster is on top of it."
Kathy, Mokuba, Ashley, Duke, and Tea all watched from below. They saw the Duelists' down cards clearly but refused to say out loud. "That is a trap card I would prefer. But it's only the beginning of the game so it'll be hard for the dice to get rolling." Duke commented.
"What do you mean?" Kathy asked.
"Miranda made the smart move by playing Needle Wall, but the problem is the positions that their monsters are in. Yugi has Big Shield Gardna on "2," Marik has his defensive monster on "3," and Kaiba has his two monsters on "1" and "2." Duke explained, "If Miranda rolls a four or five, no monsters will be destroyed. But rolling a six will give her another roll."
"Activate trap, Coffin Seller!" Marik exclaimed and activated his trap, "Coffin Seller will decrease any one of their Life Points for each monster that is sent to the Graveyard. Anyone but me to say the very least."
"This can't be good. Anyone but Marik who loses their monsters will lose their Life Points by 300 per monster." Ashley cried.
"Now that it's my turn, I'll begin the game." A black die with green dots materialized into my hand, "Come on, 1, 2, or 3!" I exclaimed and threw the die on the panel in front of me. The die stopped rolling on "2." "That's it! Yugi's Big Shield Garna is destroyed and so is Kaiba's defensive monster, just what I was hoping for." I cheered.
"On top of that, both Yugi and Kaiba will lose Life Points thanks to Coffin Seller." Marik added as Yugi's and Kaiba's Life Points dropped by 300. Both of their platforms began their ascend. 'This is good, as long as Yugi and Kaiba are first to go, I can at least try to save Miranda. After all, I owe Kikaita. She has done the nicest things anyone could do for me. Aside from Odion, Kikaita was a true friend, and it's time I paid back that debt.' Marik thought while staring at me.
"Now I'll truly begin with a familiar face, Raikoukou of the Blue Lightning." I announced as the familiar spirit appeared in its eligant form.
"You'd have to sacrifice your Spear Dragon to bring that monster out, it's way too powerful to play alone." Kaiba objected.
"Don't you remember, Kaiba? I can summon Raikoukou without the requirement of a sacrifice. And it's all thanks to you; your Vorse Raider is a dark- type monster, in which Raikoukou could come out automatically. And because of Raikoukou's second effect, your Vorse Raider is gone even before I attack. Raikoukou, Sacred Lightning Barrier." I declared. Raikoukou spread out its nine tails, sparking with blue cracks of lightning. An orb of lightning surrounded Raikoukou and fired out on all directions. Only Kaiba's Vorse Raider took the hit, "You're Vorse Raider is destroyed, leaving you open for a direct assault."
"And with that in mind, you automatically lose another 300 Life Points by my Coffin Seller." Marik tacked on as Kaiba's Life Points fell to 3400. His platform was first to rise closer to the "3000" mark.
"This Duel might take a while unless Miranda keeps up the Needle Wall." Mokuba commented below us, "They will be arriving at the top of the tower when two of them reach zero. We should be heading up there to see the first semifinal match-up."
"I'll watch down here. Personally, I'd like to see Miranda vs. Kaiba, considering they both have God Cards." Kathy looked up.
"All four of them have God Cards." Tea reminded.
"What?"
"Not only does Miranda have Yin-Yang and Kaiba have Obelisk, but Yugi also has Slifer and Marik holds The Winged Dragon of Ra." Tea briefed.
"I thought Miranda had Slifer, and who's Yin-Yang?" Kathy said with a confused daze.
"Yugi told me that Miranda left a note with Slifer in it." She answered as they began their exit.
__________
"Now then, Raikoukou, attack Kaiba's Life Points directly with Blue Lightning Crash!" I cried. Raikoukou fanned out its tails again and directed an number of blue bolts to Kaiba, dropping his Life Points further to 1300 and raising his platform over twice the level of the others.
'No, I will not lose. But she'll be going down in the Finals. That, I swear.' Kaiba thought bitterly.
'Did Miranda and Marik just perform a combo with each other against Kaiba?' Yugi crept up on Yami in his spirit form.
'Marik would have the advantage after Miranda made that roll for Needle Wall.' Yami replied and drew his next card, "This turn I summon Beta in defense mode. That ends my turn."
Marik drew his card and glanced at the three of us, including Kaiba about two stories up from our level. "For now, I'll summon Stratos in attack mode: it allows me to summon another monster as well, Harpie's Brother." Marik declared. His first monster appeared over the "4" marker, a large hawk woth bronze-colored wings and breast plate of silver armor. Harpie's Brother appeared on the "3" marker next to Stratos. "Stratos, attack Yugi's Beta and destroy it now!" He declared as the hawk drew back and charged to the magnet warrior, beak-first.
I felt Yami Marik still behind me, gazing out into the arena with the most of his satisfaction. 'I see, the two of you truly want to Duel in the semifinals.' He commented.
'Come again?' I tilted my head down.
'Well, that last attack from Raikoukou made Kaiba lose Life Points. And with the onslaught Marik is about to deploy, the Pharaoh will be just in the same predicament.' He briefed.
Raikoukou still stood in its position and glance behind its shoulder. 'Master Kikaita, I will not fail you. I trust Marik, myself, to free Miranda.' It thought, 'If anyone could know the Demon well enough to beat him, His previous host is the one. Though I have faith in the Pharaoh...'
The attack left Yami one defensive monster short, only Big Shield Gardna defending him from an assault against his Life Points.
"And that loses you another 300 Life Points, Pharaoh." Marik exclaimed and focused on Kaiba. "Now Harpie's Brother, finish off the rest of Kaiba's Life Points with Blade Talon Slash!" He declared. Harpie's Brother spread its wings and darted up to Kaiba's position. He stopped right before Kaiba's panel of trap doors with its right arm held back. In a fluent motion, The Harpie thrusted his claw over his head and struck down hard on Kaiba. He drew back as his Life Points dropped to zero. The Duel Disc deactivated and the platform elevated to meet the top of the tower.
The breeze wasn't as strong as the blimp's gusts during the Duels. Kathy, Mokuba, Ashley, Joey, Duke, and Tristan waited in the center of the four spires holding the floor on the top.
"So this is where the semis are supposed to take place after the decisions have been made?" Ashley asked while pacing around the top floor.
"Yeap, this is where the remaining Dules are as soon as the first two Duelists arrive up here." Mokuba answered. A whirring got everyone's attention at the top, Ashley stood right by the source of the racket as two silver doors opened on the floor near her.
"The first one's already up here now." Kathy exclaimed. The elevator brought up the first of the semifinalists. Her cheerful expression suddenly went to a state of shock.
"No way, Seto lost the four-way?!" Mokuba cried with a shocked look, Kathy held the same stare. Kaiba appeared from the floor with a serious look on his face. The elevator came to a stop and Kaiba unhooked his Duel Disc from the computer.
"Kaiba, how'd that happen?" Kathy asked in her semi-paralysis state.
"The four-way Duel only decides whom is against who." Kaiba said to his secretary, "I'm not eliminated from this tournament, and I don't plan to for the second time." He said while glaring at Ashley.
"Where are the others?" Joey questioned.
"Marik, Yugi, and Miranda are still deciding as far as I'm concerned." Kaiba hissed, "But I don't really care who I'm going to face in the next round. Each of their God Cards will be a simple task to take from them and eliminate them from the Finals."
__________
Kaiba's defeat left Yugi at a disadvantage. With only 3400 Life Points to spare, Marik and I both had full 4000. "It's my draw." Yami breathed and drew his next card, "And first I'll summon Celtic Guardian and play Black Luster Ritual." He said. In one swift motion, his newly summoned Celtic Guardian and Gardna were combined to form the Black Luster Soldier on the "3" mark of Needle Wall. "Black Luster Soldier, attack Miranda's Spear Dragon now!" Yami declared. His soldier leaped high before striking my Dragon. My dragon didn't stand a chance and shattered; the attack deducted my Life Points to 2600 and lifted my platform higher past the "3000" mark on the wall behind me.
'Great, because of Coffin Seller, I lost the 300 additional Life Points with that last assault.' I thought and looked over the railing of my platform. Yami Marik eyed over my shoulder. I shook the feeling off and drew my card. "First I'll use Needle Wall." I said with a flip of fingers and rolled the die on the panel, 4. "That roll will cost Marik his Stratos Falcon." I informed as Marik's hawk fell through the open door. "Next, I'll summon Troop Dragon to the field and play a ritual magic card of my own, the Ryo-Ryu Ritual." I declared. Raikoukou and Troop Dragon both shifted to dark orbs and merged together. "By the powers of Dragon, I summon the Demon Dragon of Darkness, The Shadow Dragon!" I called, the orb grew wider, almost as big as Ra's sphere.
It formed under my feet, as if I was ready to watch a colosseum match where the gladiators were ready to fight a lion or two; but this was no lion. Two black wings brimming with a violet aura shot from the sphere first, violet sparks were outlining its body and limbs separated to their joints when the cutout was made. All over its body was black with the deep purple energy emitting from it's body. "Black Shadow Dragon, begin by inflicting your rage upon Marik's face-down card with Violent Violet Flames." I commanded. The spectral Dragon opened its jaws and fired a blast of black flames at Marik's defense.
"You've triggered the Gravekeeper's Guard special ability." Marik said, "By this, one monster on either yours or Yugi's side is sent back to the owner's hand. And I decide the Black Luster Soldier shuld back off." He said. Before the guard was destroyed, he performed a spell that sent the Black Luster Soldier out of play. 'Pharaoh, you will get yours yet. However, I will take Miranda as my opponent.' Marik thought.
"This ends my turn; now you make yours, Marik." I boasted from above.
"With pleasure." Marik drew his next card, "I'll use Monster Reborn to summon back Raikoukou to the field. In that scenario, your Shadow Dragon is no longer." He declared. Raikoukou reappeared over the "2" trap door on his panel. It fanned out it's nine tails and destroyed Shadow Dragon, reducing my Life Points further to 2300. "Now Raikoukou, attack Yugi directly with Blue Lightning Crash!" Raikoukou roared as massie bolts shot from its nine tails and blue thunderbolts landed on Yugi with critical force. This platform elevated further than mine did until it almost reached the "1000" mark behind him. I'll also place one more card faced down, and end my turn."
"Alright," Yami looked to his hand and eyed Marik and me below him.
'Marik hasn't once touched Miranda.' Yugi pointed out.
'There is a chance that Marik would want to Duel Miranda, maybe to pull her free of Yami Marik.' Yami replied, "First I'll remove my Big Shield Gardna from play to summon The Rock Spirit. Then sacrifice him for Des Volsgaf." In one turn, Yami sacrificed twice to summon a rugged dragon of dirty green and rust brown scales of color.
'That monster matches Raikoukou's strength.' I thought as I observed.
"Des Volsgaf, attack-huh?" Yami was stopped by Yugi from his subconscious.
'Yami, wait. If you attack Miranda, then Kaiba will sure to face her in the Finals. We can't risk Kaiba in the Shadow Realm again.' Yugi warned.
'But if I attack Marik, both Des Volsgaf and Raikoukou will be destroyed, leaving Miranda wide for an attack on both of us.' Yami replied.
'If we can make Miranda attack us, we'll be Dueling Kaiba in the semifinals. Chances are, Yami Marik will possess the winner between Marik and Miranda.' Yugi edged on.
'But what if that theory doesn't work?'
'Yami, think about it. Yami Marik is after all of the God Cards, including Yin-Yang. But what I don't get is that Yami Marik didn't seem to influence Miranda for this Duel.' Yugi glance over to me, 'If it's possible, and we destroy both monsters, Miranda will attack the one of the weaker: us.'
'Al'right, we'll go with it.' Yami nodded and Yugi receded from thought. "Des Volsgaf, attack Raikoukou now!" The Dragon unleashed a blast of red flare aimed to Raikoukou. Raikoukou instinctively defended with its blue lightning and battled it out in a tied stand-off.
"No, they'll destroy each other!" Marik cried before both monster were vanquished.
"And I lose 300 Life Points because of Coffin Seller." Yami muttered before his platform was raised past the "1000" mark. "Miranda, your move."
'Why did Yugi do that?' I puzzled, 'He could have just as easily attacked me.'
'Miranda, forget about those fools and attack Yugi.' Yami Marik stated behind my back. I pulled my next card, Spirit Ryu.
"I summon Spirit Ryu to the field and attack Yugi. Finish him off with Spirit Attack!" I delcared, the ghastly dragon returned and attacked Yami once more, sending his Life Points to zero and ascending to the ceiling.
Kaiba waited in the center with his arms folded, impatiently waiting for the second Duelist to rise. 'What is taking them so long? They should have decided by now.' His thoughts were interrupted by Tea.
"Look, someone else is coming." She said as the second panel opened. All of the were shocked to see Yami ascend on the platform.
"Yugi, how in the heck?" Joey muttered his words. The other two panels opened with myself and Marik ascending to the sunlight as well.
"So the Duels begin. It's between you and me first, Yugi!" Kaiba boasted.
"So be it." Yami muttered and disegaged his Duel Disc.
To be continued...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
New cards played
Stratos Falcon: Winged Beast/Wind. Monster/Effect, 4/900/300. When this monster is successfully Summoned (including Flip Summon and Special Summon), Special Summon one "Harpie's Brother" from your hand.
Ryo-Ryu Ritual: Ritual Magic. This card is used to Ritual Summon "The Shadow Dragon". You must also offer monsters whose total Star Level equal 7 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand.
The Shadow Dragon: Dragon/Dark. Monster/Ritual, 7/2500/2300. This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the ritual Magic Card, "Ryo-Ryu Ritual". You must also offer monsters whose total Star Level equal 7 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand.