Episode #34- A Promise Kept, Part 3
Author's Note: No prize for finding the video game parody, but see if you can find it anyway. Here's a hint: It's from Sonic Adventure 2 Battle.
My Life Points: 13750; Marik's Life Points: 5100. Yin-Yang's attack power: 13000; Ra's attack power: 7700. The scene was made pretty clear on which God Monster would win this outcome. Already Yin-Yang charged for its attack, getting ready to knock off The Winged Dragon of Ra and a chunk out of Marik's Life Points. The only other things were my Twin-Headed Behemoth and Fault-Line in defense mode.
After moments of increasing the impact of its energy blast, Yin-Yang finally fired. The blast was coming straight for the Egyptian God Card. Yami Marik waited eagerly for the desire of a God's destruction; which got me thinking...
'Didn't I say, if played right, Yin-Yang would overpower Ra, hm?' I taunted him a little bit. Yami Marik just grumbled.
The light sphere came in close to contact of the God Card until the blue plasma of a monster jumped in between and intervened the shot.
'You forgot Revival Jam?!' Yami Marik's temperment was very fragile.
'How was I supposed to know it was still there?! It was hiding behind the God Card!' I barked back. The explosion clear and Revival Jam regenerated itself.
"Revival Jam intercepted Yin-Yang's attack!" Yami gasped.
"And if the Revival Jam was in attack mode, this Duel would have been over." Tea added.
"I wish." Ashley followed.
"You know what this means, Miranda." Marik said before the jaws surrounding me snapped once more. I didn't flinch, my Life Points only dropped by 500.
"Then I place one card faced down and end my turn." I ended by laying the Transporter down.
"My turn." Marik said and drew and launched another attack, "Attack her Fault-Line now!" The Dragon launched another blast. Instantly transforming Fault-Line into a crystal state and just as quickly, shattering it. Though my Life Points were not touched, losing Fault-Line means no summoning of Candela. "Thi ends my turn, Miranda."
"Alright." I took my turn, drawing another one of the Dragons I had. Already I had a sequence of cards in my hand, and no help from Yami Marik. "First I play the magic card, Constellation Draco. By summoning the stars to do my bidding, it summons back a monster from my Graveyard; and I call forth the return of Fault-Line." I stated. Several stars assembled above me and made formation to a translucent image of Fault-Line. "Next, I'll use Fault-Line's specal ability. By returning my Twin-Headed Behemoth to my hand, I summon Candela of Light in defense mode!"
The next Dragon that appeared almost matched that to the standards of Sirius. A gold plated helmet covered just the top of its head with a topaz in between the twisted horns; its white scales glisten in the sunlight and a wingspan as wide as the Duel arena stretched out to the wrists of its claws, eack palm housing another topaz jewel. Taloned feet balanced it out with other plates of armor on its chest, shins and arms.
"Summoning a monster that weak? Are you trying to lose?" Marik questioned. For once, Yami Marik agreed.
'Are you?' He asked but I ignored him.
'I'm building my defense.' I replied, 'You made my Deck, at least have a clue about it!' "I'll end my turn here."
"I didn't really want to do this..." Marik mumbled.
"Come again?" I asked. Marik just looked to his Duel Disc and drew his card.
"I'll first pay 1000 of my Life Points to destroy Candela." Marik said. His God Monster fired a quick blast at Candela and destroyed it without resistance. "Next I summon Otohime. This particuliar Spirit monster can change the positions of one of your monsters. So I switch your Fault-Line from defense mode to attack mode." Marik's next monster was as clear as Fault-Line, almost somewhat of a Goddess at eye. Fault-Line shifted position by moving upward towards the sky, revealing segments of rock, and looked upon the opposition like a snake.
"Is he doing what I think he's doing?" Miran questioned.
"He's gonna attack Fault-Line!" Ashley cried.
'That's going to be a critical hit on Master Miranda's Life Points!" Raikoukou informed.
'Miranda, you better have a use for that trap card.' Yami Marik warned. I already felt the beads behind me grow cold against my bare neck, especially the loop containing Yami Marik.
"Winged Dragon of Ra, attack Fault-Line with Almighty Blast Nova!" Marik declared and the blast of solar heat was fired.
"Reveal face-down card, Interdimensional Matter Transporter!" I countered and activated the trap, "Transport Fault-Line from the field now!" Fault- Line glowed in an aurora of color and quickly vanished. The shot came through Fault-Line's last position and rushed past my left side with an explosive impact.
"Where'd that Dragon go!" Marik yelled in an upset of anger.
"By using my Transporter, Fault-Line was sent out of play for one turn. Although it reduces Yin-Yang's attack for that turn, it doesn't matter to me."
"I place one more trap card. This ends my turn and Otohime returns to my hand." Marik stated. as a card appeared in front of him and Otohime disappeared in a stream of light back to his hand.
"Now that it's my turn, Fault-Line returns to the field." I declared and drew my card, Raigeki Break. 'Tell me you didn't...'
__________
Kevin was rushed right into the battle of more than just two powerful Dragons, both of them and the Duelists controlling them emitted strong auras. His closest to the lowdown was the Duelist Kingdom Champion. "Yugi, exactly what is going on here? Who are the two Duelists Dueling right now?" He asked with his eyes gazing at the two massive Dragons.
"The one with the Egyptian God Card, The Winged Dragon of Ra, is Marik. He is the mastermind behind the Rare Hunters who have been after my Millennium Puzzle and the other two Egyptian God Cards: My Slifer and Kaiba's Obelisk." Yami began explaining, "Though Marik has a sister; her name is Ishizu and she seems to be concerned about Marik."
"Concerned?" Kevin repeated, "Sounds like insanity runs in the family." He joked.
"This isn't funny. Ishizu has told me of the evil that resided in Marik since he was young." Yami continued, "This evil has convinced Marik that I am the enemy. Though he broke through, that evil has fled..."
"So it's gone?" Yami didn't answer but moved on with his eyes gazing at the Duelist fighting against Marik.
"That is Miranda, a newcomer. She just moved here a week before the tournament began. The evil that used to possess Marik has now taken Miranda, according to what Miran said." Yami glanced over to the Samurai.
"I'm beginning to hate the paranormal." Kevin sighed.
'Watch your tone! I am a spirit to what you humans call "paranormal."' Raikoukou stated before nearly snapping its jaws on Kevin's leg like Fearful Earthbound. Kevin jumped, still startled from his first encounter with the fox-demon spirit.
'This Duel will be at a stalemate with you refusing to attack with Yin- Yang.' said Yami Marik.
'So you want me to attack his Revival Jam and let my Life Points slowly slide?!' I snapped at him angrily, 'My Deck will be gone way before my Life Points reach zero if I do nothing but attack his Revival Jam!'
'You're pushing it, Guinaldo...'
'You're pushing it!' I mocked in an outraged tone in mind, 'I said I don't need your stinkin' charity! This Duel would go a lot more smoothly without you pulling aces!'
'This Duel would go more more smoothly if I took over. You have no idea what Marik can do.' Yami Marik kept a straight signature against my erratic irritation.
'What are you babbling about? You call yourself a Guardian Angel? Tormenting a lady, shame on you!' I cocked out of my rage.
'Oh, I am far from Guardian Angel. And what kind of lady disrespects a gentleman anyway?' Yami Marik countered.
'A gentleman, what nerve! A gentleman should let a lady do what she wants, even if it means commiting suicide.'
'Are you saying you were trying to let yourself lose?! Think what you want, Dragon. I'm only helping you so you can advance to the Finals.'
'I never said that. Though I might let my Life Points go to zero before his.' My hand hovered over Fault-Line, 'And no matter what you say about your reason of assistance, it sounds crazy. I already know what you're after. And I think I can handle this Duel without you.'
'You wouldn't be in the Finals if it wasn't for me. I was being gentle by giving you a secondary body. And now you're thanking me for all of your benefits like this? If I didn't repay for recovering in your soul, you'd still be in the Shadow Realm.'
'I'm sure if you didn't step up, Raikoukou or Miran would have done something about it.'
'In those shackles? I'm the only one who knows how to release those.'
'So in other words, we're at our own stalemate huh? You can't be released from those beads unless they come undone and I can't break from your shackles until you say some incantation. Is that it?'
'Those beads are weaker than my immense power of the Shadow Realm. Once those beads break...'
'Oh, just shaddup!' I finished in a slur of words and refocused back into the Duel. I saw Marik's glare of impatience and made my play. "I'll use Dark Hole, sending your Revival Jam and my Fault-Line off the field." A dark vortex appeared below and dragged Fault-Line and Revival Jam down into it, leaving only the two God Monsters. "And since your Revival Jam wasn't destroyed in battle, it can't recover. Now moving on-"
"Activate Frozen Soul!" Marik declared and activated his trap. "Since my Life Points are only a mere fraction to yours, I can activate this card to keep you from attacking for one turn." A thick wall of ice grew in the middle and cutting Marik from my view.
'Hm, looks like I won't be attacking Ra this turn.' I sarcastically sympathized my predicament, earning the goal to annoy Yami Marik. "I suppose I'll play another Constallation Draco to summon Fault-Line in defense mode and end my turn here with one trap card." The ice wall melted off.
"Come on Miranda!" A new voice entered my ears, Kevin, "Beat this psycho!"
'Which one?' I thought with a hint of a joke.
"My turn, and I'll summon Otohime to bring Fault-Line in attack mode." He declared as the stone Dragon returned fighter stance.
'He did not...' Yami Marik couldn't believe it.
'He did.' I followed.
"Winged Dragon of Ra, attack Fault-Line and destroy it!" Marik commanded. Again, the God Card launched a severing blow; only this time, Fault-Line was in attack mode.
In one clean sweep, Fault-Line was destroyed in an earth-shattering impact; with that, my Life Points dropped by 5500, a critical hit-I could tell. The blast nearly knocked me off my feet, but it undid the beaded loop behind my neck.
Big mistake.
'Now it's my turn!' Yami Marik whispered in a tone of inevitable death of me.
__________
A cold hand grasped tight around my neck. The necklace that contained him shattered; the beads fell through my cloak collar and rolled all over on the platform in a clatter of glass. Thirteen of them were black, now faded back to their purple and ivory color.
"What the..." Miran gasped, feeling the dark energy she didn't want to be aware of again.
'The necklace containing Him...it's broken!' Raikoukou was in the same state of panic. I had to recoil; I dropped the few remaining cards in my hand and kneeled, trying to release the constriction with both hands.
"Miranda, what's wrong?" Yami asked from the sidelines.
"You and Marik out of all people should know exactly what's going on." I gagged out. The Shadow Realm dispersed out to the arena. Yami Marik became visible as the Shadow Realm took full effect, still a constant grip on my throat.
"It's Him." Marik shocked. Yami Marik looked to his previous counterpart with an evil grin.
"Good to see you again." He said in a demonic voice.
"And who is that?!" Kevin hollered, seeing the newcomer subduing Marik's opponent with one hand.
"That's the evil's form that possessed both Marik and Miranda."
"What the?" Kathy was just as shocked as anyone, "You let her go!"
"Kathy, no!" I gasped before Yami Marik jerked me to my feet.
"A protector to the end, eh? Don't make yourself useless Guinaldo." Yami Marik whispered into my ear and ringed my throat with a full arm. He looked to the sidelines; half of them looked ready to pull off a joint attack against him. Yami Marik warned them all, "Several of you are aware of my powers. Any sudden moves and Miranda and Miran will die."
"What do you mean?" Miran kept a grip on the Millennium Sword.
"It's quite simple to explain, really." was the demon's reply. Out of the darkness above us materialized a monster, Holding Arms. Its chain-linked arms snapped on my wrists and lifted me off my feet, at least I could breathe again. "For one, I'm in control of this Duel now."
"Yin-Yang would never listen to you!" Miran objected.
"I disagree. Now that I have the upperhand over Miranda, Yin-Yang will obey me. But about why if any of you makes a move, the girl and the Swordsman will die as I said is a simple task." He began just as Holding Arms reached the recommended height and Holding Legs clasped on my ankles. "You see, Water attributes of the Zodiac like Miranda here have a keen sense in the paranormal; though it can be her strength or weakness. Those of the Earth- born element are well intuned with the nature around them. The attribute of Fire is an admirable bunch; their burning spirits help them drive to achieve their goals. And finally, individuals of Wind are capable of hearing messages within each blow of the wind; like a small wish in a breeze, or a warning in a gale. But we're really focused on what exactly they all have in common: a connection."
"A connection? You're bluffing." Miran was ready to take one swipe with the Millennium Sword.
"Oh really, tell me if I'm bluffing now. The connection of each Zodiac is this: no matter how far the soul and the body are, if the soul dies, so does the body, and that means that Mirandragon will be ejected from Miranda's body with nowhere to run." Yami Marik continued. "If I declare that Miranda's soul is destroyed and forever enshrouded in the Shadow Realm, Miranda's body will become useless. Thus forcing the Swordsman out and also becomes a fixture in the realm of darkness. Like killing two birds with one stone."
"You can't possibly mean that!"
"What is he talking about?!" Kevin wasn't exactly aware of the entire situation.
"I get to one of the bottom lines for the newcomer's sake: Miranda is not human. She's been a ghost herself since she got out of the Shadow Realm by me." Yami Marik boasted.
"I knew it!" Marik cried.
"So now that I've explained myself, how about we get this thing rolling again. Last I've checked, my next turn, Yin-Yang can attack." Yami Marik prepared his Duel Disc.
"No Duelist will have substitutes. I don't think Miranda even asked for your help." Kathy refereed.
"Kathy..." I gasped under my breath. Kathy looked to me with concerned eyes, "Just let the Duel go as it should. I don't care what happens to me; and confidentially, I don't think Yami Marik cares either."
Yami Marik looked to me with a stale gaze, giving me the look I was wrong, "Miranda, I have the power to back my threats, especially against you!" He cried and the monsters holding me burst into a quick electrical shock over my body. I weakily looked up after trying to regain my breath. My vision was blurry, it was hard maintaining my focus with two God Monsters now. Even Yin-Yang began to radiate a dark vibe.
Kevin winced, regretting ever to even come here now that he's seen more of the Shadow Realm than he could handle. He shook his head and took a step back, not aware Raikoukou was behind him.
Raikoukou shifted its silver gaze to Kevin, sensing an aura. 'Strange. I'm sensing something from this boy. A spirit energy of the Dragon sort, Fire attribute.' Raikoukou thought to itself.
On the Duel, The Winged Dragon of Ra was still much weaker than Yin-Yang. And with Yami Marik controlling the serpent Dragon, the result could be catastrophic. "I'll play one trap card and end my turn." Marik called out after his Egyptian God attacked.
"I suppose even Point-to-Point Transfer can't help you defeat the power of Yin-Yang, eh?" Yami Marik drew his card, "Now it's time to see the end, my pathetic host."
To be continued...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
New Cards played
Constellation Draco: Equip Magic Card. Select one Dragon-Type monster from your Graveyard. Special Summon it and equip it with this card. If this card is destroyed, the equipped monster is also destroyed.
Candela of Light: Light/Dragon. Monster/Effect, 8/2800/2200. This monster's ATK is increased by 500 for every LIGHT monster in your Graveyard.
Author's Note: No prize for finding the video game parody, but see if you can find it anyway. Here's a hint: It's from Sonic Adventure 2 Battle.
My Life Points: 13750; Marik's Life Points: 5100. Yin-Yang's attack power: 13000; Ra's attack power: 7700. The scene was made pretty clear on which God Monster would win this outcome. Already Yin-Yang charged for its attack, getting ready to knock off The Winged Dragon of Ra and a chunk out of Marik's Life Points. The only other things were my Twin-Headed Behemoth and Fault-Line in defense mode.
After moments of increasing the impact of its energy blast, Yin-Yang finally fired. The blast was coming straight for the Egyptian God Card. Yami Marik waited eagerly for the desire of a God's destruction; which got me thinking...
'Didn't I say, if played right, Yin-Yang would overpower Ra, hm?' I taunted him a little bit. Yami Marik just grumbled.
The light sphere came in close to contact of the God Card until the blue plasma of a monster jumped in between and intervened the shot.
'You forgot Revival Jam?!' Yami Marik's temperment was very fragile.
'How was I supposed to know it was still there?! It was hiding behind the God Card!' I barked back. The explosion clear and Revival Jam regenerated itself.
"Revival Jam intercepted Yin-Yang's attack!" Yami gasped.
"And if the Revival Jam was in attack mode, this Duel would have been over." Tea added.
"I wish." Ashley followed.
"You know what this means, Miranda." Marik said before the jaws surrounding me snapped once more. I didn't flinch, my Life Points only dropped by 500.
"Then I place one card faced down and end my turn." I ended by laying the Transporter down.
"My turn." Marik said and drew and launched another attack, "Attack her Fault-Line now!" The Dragon launched another blast. Instantly transforming Fault-Line into a crystal state and just as quickly, shattering it. Though my Life Points were not touched, losing Fault-Line means no summoning of Candela. "Thi ends my turn, Miranda."
"Alright." I took my turn, drawing another one of the Dragons I had. Already I had a sequence of cards in my hand, and no help from Yami Marik. "First I play the magic card, Constellation Draco. By summoning the stars to do my bidding, it summons back a monster from my Graveyard; and I call forth the return of Fault-Line." I stated. Several stars assembled above me and made formation to a translucent image of Fault-Line. "Next, I'll use Fault-Line's specal ability. By returning my Twin-Headed Behemoth to my hand, I summon Candela of Light in defense mode!"
The next Dragon that appeared almost matched that to the standards of Sirius. A gold plated helmet covered just the top of its head with a topaz in between the twisted horns; its white scales glisten in the sunlight and a wingspan as wide as the Duel arena stretched out to the wrists of its claws, eack palm housing another topaz jewel. Taloned feet balanced it out with other plates of armor on its chest, shins and arms.
"Summoning a monster that weak? Are you trying to lose?" Marik questioned. For once, Yami Marik agreed.
'Are you?' He asked but I ignored him.
'I'm building my defense.' I replied, 'You made my Deck, at least have a clue about it!' "I'll end my turn here."
"I didn't really want to do this..." Marik mumbled.
"Come again?" I asked. Marik just looked to his Duel Disc and drew his card.
"I'll first pay 1000 of my Life Points to destroy Candela." Marik said. His God Monster fired a quick blast at Candela and destroyed it without resistance. "Next I summon Otohime. This particuliar Spirit monster can change the positions of one of your monsters. So I switch your Fault-Line from defense mode to attack mode." Marik's next monster was as clear as Fault-Line, almost somewhat of a Goddess at eye. Fault-Line shifted position by moving upward towards the sky, revealing segments of rock, and looked upon the opposition like a snake.
"Is he doing what I think he's doing?" Miran questioned.
"He's gonna attack Fault-Line!" Ashley cried.
'That's going to be a critical hit on Master Miranda's Life Points!" Raikoukou informed.
'Miranda, you better have a use for that trap card.' Yami Marik warned. I already felt the beads behind me grow cold against my bare neck, especially the loop containing Yami Marik.
"Winged Dragon of Ra, attack Fault-Line with Almighty Blast Nova!" Marik declared and the blast of solar heat was fired.
"Reveal face-down card, Interdimensional Matter Transporter!" I countered and activated the trap, "Transport Fault-Line from the field now!" Fault- Line glowed in an aurora of color and quickly vanished. The shot came through Fault-Line's last position and rushed past my left side with an explosive impact.
"Where'd that Dragon go!" Marik yelled in an upset of anger.
"By using my Transporter, Fault-Line was sent out of play for one turn. Although it reduces Yin-Yang's attack for that turn, it doesn't matter to me."
"I place one more trap card. This ends my turn and Otohime returns to my hand." Marik stated. as a card appeared in front of him and Otohime disappeared in a stream of light back to his hand.
"Now that it's my turn, Fault-Line returns to the field." I declared and drew my card, Raigeki Break. 'Tell me you didn't...'
__________
Kevin was rushed right into the battle of more than just two powerful Dragons, both of them and the Duelists controlling them emitted strong auras. His closest to the lowdown was the Duelist Kingdom Champion. "Yugi, exactly what is going on here? Who are the two Duelists Dueling right now?" He asked with his eyes gazing at the two massive Dragons.
"The one with the Egyptian God Card, The Winged Dragon of Ra, is Marik. He is the mastermind behind the Rare Hunters who have been after my Millennium Puzzle and the other two Egyptian God Cards: My Slifer and Kaiba's Obelisk." Yami began explaining, "Though Marik has a sister; her name is Ishizu and she seems to be concerned about Marik."
"Concerned?" Kevin repeated, "Sounds like insanity runs in the family." He joked.
"This isn't funny. Ishizu has told me of the evil that resided in Marik since he was young." Yami continued, "This evil has convinced Marik that I am the enemy. Though he broke through, that evil has fled..."
"So it's gone?" Yami didn't answer but moved on with his eyes gazing at the Duelist fighting against Marik.
"That is Miranda, a newcomer. She just moved here a week before the tournament began. The evil that used to possess Marik has now taken Miranda, according to what Miran said." Yami glanced over to the Samurai.
"I'm beginning to hate the paranormal." Kevin sighed.
'Watch your tone! I am a spirit to what you humans call "paranormal."' Raikoukou stated before nearly snapping its jaws on Kevin's leg like Fearful Earthbound. Kevin jumped, still startled from his first encounter with the fox-demon spirit.
'This Duel will be at a stalemate with you refusing to attack with Yin- Yang.' said Yami Marik.
'So you want me to attack his Revival Jam and let my Life Points slowly slide?!' I snapped at him angrily, 'My Deck will be gone way before my Life Points reach zero if I do nothing but attack his Revival Jam!'
'You're pushing it, Guinaldo...'
'You're pushing it!' I mocked in an outraged tone in mind, 'I said I don't need your stinkin' charity! This Duel would go a lot more smoothly without you pulling aces!'
'This Duel would go more more smoothly if I took over. You have no idea what Marik can do.' Yami Marik kept a straight signature against my erratic irritation.
'What are you babbling about? You call yourself a Guardian Angel? Tormenting a lady, shame on you!' I cocked out of my rage.
'Oh, I am far from Guardian Angel. And what kind of lady disrespects a gentleman anyway?' Yami Marik countered.
'A gentleman, what nerve! A gentleman should let a lady do what she wants, even if it means commiting suicide.'
'Are you saying you were trying to let yourself lose?! Think what you want, Dragon. I'm only helping you so you can advance to the Finals.'
'I never said that. Though I might let my Life Points go to zero before his.' My hand hovered over Fault-Line, 'And no matter what you say about your reason of assistance, it sounds crazy. I already know what you're after. And I think I can handle this Duel without you.'
'You wouldn't be in the Finals if it wasn't for me. I was being gentle by giving you a secondary body. And now you're thanking me for all of your benefits like this? If I didn't repay for recovering in your soul, you'd still be in the Shadow Realm.'
'I'm sure if you didn't step up, Raikoukou or Miran would have done something about it.'
'In those shackles? I'm the only one who knows how to release those.'
'So in other words, we're at our own stalemate huh? You can't be released from those beads unless they come undone and I can't break from your shackles until you say some incantation. Is that it?'
'Those beads are weaker than my immense power of the Shadow Realm. Once those beads break...'
'Oh, just shaddup!' I finished in a slur of words and refocused back into the Duel. I saw Marik's glare of impatience and made my play. "I'll use Dark Hole, sending your Revival Jam and my Fault-Line off the field." A dark vortex appeared below and dragged Fault-Line and Revival Jam down into it, leaving only the two God Monsters. "And since your Revival Jam wasn't destroyed in battle, it can't recover. Now moving on-"
"Activate Frozen Soul!" Marik declared and activated his trap. "Since my Life Points are only a mere fraction to yours, I can activate this card to keep you from attacking for one turn." A thick wall of ice grew in the middle and cutting Marik from my view.
'Hm, looks like I won't be attacking Ra this turn.' I sarcastically sympathized my predicament, earning the goal to annoy Yami Marik. "I suppose I'll play another Constallation Draco to summon Fault-Line in defense mode and end my turn here with one trap card." The ice wall melted off.
"Come on Miranda!" A new voice entered my ears, Kevin, "Beat this psycho!"
'Which one?' I thought with a hint of a joke.
"My turn, and I'll summon Otohime to bring Fault-Line in attack mode." He declared as the stone Dragon returned fighter stance.
'He did not...' Yami Marik couldn't believe it.
'He did.' I followed.
"Winged Dragon of Ra, attack Fault-Line and destroy it!" Marik commanded. Again, the God Card launched a severing blow; only this time, Fault-Line was in attack mode.
In one clean sweep, Fault-Line was destroyed in an earth-shattering impact; with that, my Life Points dropped by 5500, a critical hit-I could tell. The blast nearly knocked me off my feet, but it undid the beaded loop behind my neck.
Big mistake.
'Now it's my turn!' Yami Marik whispered in a tone of inevitable death of me.
__________
A cold hand grasped tight around my neck. The necklace that contained him shattered; the beads fell through my cloak collar and rolled all over on the platform in a clatter of glass. Thirteen of them were black, now faded back to their purple and ivory color.
"What the..." Miran gasped, feeling the dark energy she didn't want to be aware of again.
'The necklace containing Him...it's broken!' Raikoukou was in the same state of panic. I had to recoil; I dropped the few remaining cards in my hand and kneeled, trying to release the constriction with both hands.
"Miranda, what's wrong?" Yami asked from the sidelines.
"You and Marik out of all people should know exactly what's going on." I gagged out. The Shadow Realm dispersed out to the arena. Yami Marik became visible as the Shadow Realm took full effect, still a constant grip on my throat.
"It's Him." Marik shocked. Yami Marik looked to his previous counterpart with an evil grin.
"Good to see you again." He said in a demonic voice.
"And who is that?!" Kevin hollered, seeing the newcomer subduing Marik's opponent with one hand.
"That's the evil's form that possessed both Marik and Miranda."
"What the?" Kathy was just as shocked as anyone, "You let her go!"
"Kathy, no!" I gasped before Yami Marik jerked me to my feet.
"A protector to the end, eh? Don't make yourself useless Guinaldo." Yami Marik whispered into my ear and ringed my throat with a full arm. He looked to the sidelines; half of them looked ready to pull off a joint attack against him. Yami Marik warned them all, "Several of you are aware of my powers. Any sudden moves and Miranda and Miran will die."
"What do you mean?" Miran kept a grip on the Millennium Sword.
"It's quite simple to explain, really." was the demon's reply. Out of the darkness above us materialized a monster, Holding Arms. Its chain-linked arms snapped on my wrists and lifted me off my feet, at least I could breathe again. "For one, I'm in control of this Duel now."
"Yin-Yang would never listen to you!" Miran objected.
"I disagree. Now that I have the upperhand over Miranda, Yin-Yang will obey me. But about why if any of you makes a move, the girl and the Swordsman will die as I said is a simple task." He began just as Holding Arms reached the recommended height and Holding Legs clasped on my ankles. "You see, Water attributes of the Zodiac like Miranda here have a keen sense in the paranormal; though it can be her strength or weakness. Those of the Earth- born element are well intuned with the nature around them. The attribute of Fire is an admirable bunch; their burning spirits help them drive to achieve their goals. And finally, individuals of Wind are capable of hearing messages within each blow of the wind; like a small wish in a breeze, or a warning in a gale. But we're really focused on what exactly they all have in common: a connection."
"A connection? You're bluffing." Miran was ready to take one swipe with the Millennium Sword.
"Oh really, tell me if I'm bluffing now. The connection of each Zodiac is this: no matter how far the soul and the body are, if the soul dies, so does the body, and that means that Mirandragon will be ejected from Miranda's body with nowhere to run." Yami Marik continued. "If I declare that Miranda's soul is destroyed and forever enshrouded in the Shadow Realm, Miranda's body will become useless. Thus forcing the Swordsman out and also becomes a fixture in the realm of darkness. Like killing two birds with one stone."
"You can't possibly mean that!"
"What is he talking about?!" Kevin wasn't exactly aware of the entire situation.
"I get to one of the bottom lines for the newcomer's sake: Miranda is not human. She's been a ghost herself since she got out of the Shadow Realm by me." Yami Marik boasted.
"I knew it!" Marik cried.
"So now that I've explained myself, how about we get this thing rolling again. Last I've checked, my next turn, Yin-Yang can attack." Yami Marik prepared his Duel Disc.
"No Duelist will have substitutes. I don't think Miranda even asked for your help." Kathy refereed.
"Kathy..." I gasped under my breath. Kathy looked to me with concerned eyes, "Just let the Duel go as it should. I don't care what happens to me; and confidentially, I don't think Yami Marik cares either."
Yami Marik looked to me with a stale gaze, giving me the look I was wrong, "Miranda, I have the power to back my threats, especially against you!" He cried and the monsters holding me burst into a quick electrical shock over my body. I weakily looked up after trying to regain my breath. My vision was blurry, it was hard maintaining my focus with two God Monsters now. Even Yin-Yang began to radiate a dark vibe.
Kevin winced, regretting ever to even come here now that he's seen more of the Shadow Realm than he could handle. He shook his head and took a step back, not aware Raikoukou was behind him.
Raikoukou shifted its silver gaze to Kevin, sensing an aura. 'Strange. I'm sensing something from this boy. A spirit energy of the Dragon sort, Fire attribute.' Raikoukou thought to itself.
On the Duel, The Winged Dragon of Ra was still much weaker than Yin-Yang. And with Yami Marik controlling the serpent Dragon, the result could be catastrophic. "I'll play one trap card and end my turn." Marik called out after his Egyptian God attacked.
"I suppose even Point-to-Point Transfer can't help you defeat the power of Yin-Yang, eh?" Yami Marik drew his card, "Now it's time to see the end, my pathetic host."
To be continued...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
New Cards played
Constellation Draco: Equip Magic Card. Select one Dragon-Type monster from your Graveyard. Special Summon it and equip it with this card. If this card is destroyed, the equipped monster is also destroyed.
Candela of Light: Light/Dragon. Monster/Effect, 8/2800/2200. This monster's ATK is increased by 500 for every LIGHT monster in your Graveyard.