Episode #40- Double Duels, Part 2
Playing out his turn, Yami Bakura debated whether or not to destroy Ashley's Venetian Maiden. 'I don't believe this. This amateur of a Duelist has a tactically powerful card like Venetian Maiden. That card is even strong enough to stop a Chaos Emperor Dragon's total inhalation effect.' He thought bitterly, 'I need another way to get to her Life Points.'
"What's the matter? I'm aiming to get your Millennium Item and a nice souvenir for my cuz." Ashley cocked, earning Yami Bakura a reminded smile.
'A nice souvenir huh? I wonder how Miranda would like it myself.' He thought and drew his card. 'She only has 3800 left while she didn't even leave a scratch on me. However, there are other ways to destroy the Venetian Maiden and her effect would be pointless.' He reviewed his hand and held the dark atmosphere in suspense. "I place one card faced down and one monster in defense mode. Your turn."
"Didn't have a monster that could topple my Venetian Maiden? Pity," Ashley made her draw of the card. "Now I'll sacrifice my Venetian Maiden to summon Bolban in attack mode!" She declared as the familiar beast of stone revealed itself. "This Cannon Sphinx as 2500 attack points, just enough to wipe out your Vampire Lord!"
"Well, go on..." Yami Bakura urged Ashley to attack, "you know as well as I do the winner gets the other's Millennium Item."
"I'm not deaf, I heard you the first time. I do aim to get that metal dream- catcher you're hanging around your neck. Bolban, attack Vampire Lord with Cannon Fire!" Ashley commanded and her monster fired both cannons in unison and landed critical on Vampire Lord. The blast destroyed the zombie and knocked off 500 Life Points on Yami Bakura.
"Very good, at this rate you'll get the Millennium Ring in no time at all..." He mumbled into thought as he wrapped his ribcage with one hand, 'and soon I'll possess you. It's my deal to give you the Millennium Ring, I just didn't say what comes with it.'
"Because it destroyed a monster, Bolban recedes into defense mode. I'll also lay two cards faced down and that'll end my turn." Ashley informed as her stone guardian went to a protective pose and two cards appeared behind it.
"It's my turn now. So now I'll activate my trap card, Call of the Haunted: this card revives one of my monsters in attack mode so I'm returning to the field Vampire Lord!" Yami Bakura announced as a coffin revealed itself and Vampire Lord returned wrapped in its cape and a smirked leer under its light blue hair covering one eye. "I'll also flip my face down card, Demon's Curse!"
"Demon's Curse?"
"This monster can equip itself to any Zombie or Stone monster on the field and increase it's overall attack power varying on the monsters on the field."
"Well in that case, reveal faced-down card: Tailor of the Fickle." Ashley activated one of her cards. "I thank you for the information on Demon's Curse. Now I'll take this little curse and equip it to Bolban, giving my sphinx a total attack power of 4000." Ashley countered with the curse infecting Bolban.
"Interesting, that'll end my turn then." Yami Bakura smiled.
"Sheesh, you look so happy with your pins about to fall down." Ashley drew, "So I'll just draw and let Bolban make full impact on Sangan. Bolban, Cannon Fire now!" Ashley kept her streak going and blew up Sangan as well as reduces Yami Bakura to 4500. "Yeah, that Millennium Ring is as good as mine." Ashley cheered.
'This is it, Ashley is showing her true colors now. Her greed has already consumed her and it will be her undoing in the end. I wonder what makes her so materialistic? Perhaps it would be that pathetic bowling ball that carries a family spirit...' Yami Bakura thought while recalling the Duel he stuck the Rare Hunter in before the Finals. He shifted through his deck until he found a monster
"Come on already, make a move!" Ashley demanded.
"I'll throw Vampire Lady in attack mode and end my turn." Yami Bakura let his game slide quickly.
"Perfect. I'm switching Bolban into attack mode and fire on Vampire Lady!" Ashley attacked immediately on Yami Bakura's new monster, chopping another 2900 of his Life Points. "Yeah, another one down! Heh, you're not putting up much of a fight as that Rare Hunter did. At least I had a finishing move over him. Now Bolban will retreat into defense mode and I plae another card faced down. That'll end my turn." Ashley made her move without any second thoughts. 'Boy, Miranda's gonna pick up a spare when she finds out I'm whipping butt in the Shadow Realm twice.' She thought in self- satisfaction.
Raikoukou just landed on all fours on the bottom of the tower. Facing towards the blimp, the fox sees the dark orb of the Shadow Realm as well as sensing Ashley. 'This is bad...' Raikoukou thought to itself and extended all nine tails. A blue lightning net surrounded the Shadow Realm bulge and attempted to contain it from any outbursts.
The Duel was a heart-beater from the get-go. Now that Exchange was played out, Yami got Slifer into his hand. Now the question was which Duelist would summon his God Card first? Kaiba already has two monsters but fused together while Yami had Queen's Knight; and Lightforce Sword still had two more turns to go.
"Make your move already, Yugi! You won't be able to summon Slifer when I keep knocking your monsters down." Kaiba grew impatient quickly. Yami nodded and made his draw.
"I summon Big Shield Gardna in defense mode and play one card faced down." Yami announced as another warrior appeared on the defensive with a card behind him.
"That's pathetic. If all you're going to do is play defense, you might just want to forfeit now." Kaiba smirked and made his draw of the card. "Because now I have the monster that can destroy it. Go Z-Metal Tank!" He announced as a third machine appeared on his field. "Now I fuse them together to create the ultimate machine monster. Come together, XYZ-Dragon Cannon!" Kaiba cried as his monsters proceeded with the upgrade. The monsters finally merged and its attack points climbed to 2800.
'That thing has more attack point than Big Shield Gardna's defense points!' Yugi panicked from within the Millennium Puzzle.
"Nothing will stand in my way from summoning Obelisk and destroying you, Yugi." Kaiba boasted. I couldn't help but take notice of Kathy's fanfare.
'Kaiba, you rock.' She thought fanatically. The multiple cannons on Kaiba's new monster engaged and made their target.
"XYZ-Dragon Cannon, attack Yugi's Big Shield Gardna now!" Kaiba commanded. The machine rapidly fired rounds of lasers onto Yami's monster. It was destroyed automatically in a blaze of devastation. "I'll end my turn here, Yugi. And I highly doubt that Slifer will even make it to the field." Kaiba ended and left Yami to draw.
'That card just has to be that Life Shaver trap card he got from Exchange.' Yugi precaution, 'It'll ruin our whole strategy with Slifer.' Yami took the advice of his partner but the draw was more than successful.
"Kaiba, Slifer will be coming to the field, this turn I may add." Yami announced, "Now I play King's Knight." He called as another knight of royalty took position. "And there's a effect with that, Kaiba." Kaiba stood speechless but dauntless until he heard it. "With King's Knight and Queen's Knight on the field, it summons Jack's Knight!" Another knight appeared, making Yami's trio of sacrifice for Slifer.
'That's a twist...' I thought to myself, and again getting the feeling that something still wasn't right.
"Miranda, you OK?" Kevin saw my disturbed look. I got back from my mind and glanced at him.
"Yeah, I'm al'right."
Mai caught on fast with a jumpy conclusion. "Oh, worried about your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend!" Kevin jumped once more with embarrassment. I just tilted my head away slightly, as the Duel roared on with Kaiba in frozen shock.
'No, this is impossible, he can't summon his God Card before me!' Kaiba thought with rejection.
"Now Kaiba, behold my Egyptian God Card: Slifer the Sky Dragon!" Yami declared as all three of his Knights vaporized into the sky. Again the tower literally quaked with a God's awakening.
"Yeah Yugi!" Joey cheered in the brief moment where the quakes ceased and a red bolt of lightning fell from the sky. In its strike, the seemingly endless red body appeared with Slifer leading the infinity of spines. With its second appearance, its energy output wasn't as overwhelming as it was.
"There's Slifer the Sky Dragon, one of the Egyptian God Cards." I murmured, though Kevin heard me.
"How many of these things are there?" He asked with a startled look.
"There's only three Egyptian God Cards and, as we know of, one Zodiac God Card." I answered; now my senses we're something I could ignore any longer but I kept my mind on the Duel.
"With three cards in my hand, Slifer's attack power is 3000, more than enough to destroy you Dragon Cannon." Yami announced but seemed hesitant.
Back within Domino, everyone was glued to the televisions both large- screened and those for sale. The masses were mostly the eliminated Duelists; even Mako watched from the pier where he could barely see the tower's top. Earlier he saw a bolt of lightning hit the tower, it turned out to be Yugi's Egyptian God Card. "This is one whale of a Duel."
Another watching was cocky Rex Raptor from a small restaurant. "So that's Yugi's Egyptian God Card... Do all of the Finalists have God Cards or something like that?" He muttered and took a dino-bite out of his cheeseburger.
As the Duel resumed, Slifer was ready to launch its first attack of the round. "So, if your monster is more powerful than mine, why don't you attack it?" Kaiba taunted, "Is my trap card that discouraging?"
'It just has to be that Life Shaver trap card. When he activates it, it'll discard one card from my hand and decrease Slifer's attack power.' Yugi panicked behind Yami's subconscious.
I kept myself a steady face while trying to ignore the temptation to look over the tower's edge. 'Raikoukou, what's going on down there?' I tried to contact one of my spirit allies.
'There's a bulge of the Shadow Realm that crossed the threshold, and Ashley's in it!' I heard Raikoukou clearly.
'Can you sense her status?' I continued to question with Miran listening as well.
'She seems weak but her condition stabilized a while ago.'
'Now we have to go down there.' Miran jumped. I was about to agree but the climax of the turn stopped me.
"Slifer, attack his Dragon Cannon!" Yami commanded. Slifer lifted itself to gain distance from point-blank range of attack and opened its bottom set of teeth. A charge of energy took effect from inside the jaws and soon blew out into full force of an energy attack.
"Reveal trap card!" Kaiba activated just as the beam fired.
'That's not Life Shaver!' Yugi realized suddenly.
"It's called Interdimensional Matter Transporter." Kaiba informed. Just as Slifer's attack was coming close, XYZ-Dragon Cannon disappeared and the beam instead was directed towards the sky. The impact was forceful as Serenity was nearly knocked off her feet but was caught by Joey.
"Where did the Dragon Cannon go, Kaiba?!" Yami demanded angrily.
"The Interdimensional Matter Transporter can safely transport my monster from the field for one turn." Kaiba briefed.
"In that case, I'll place one card faced down and end my turn." Yami said calmly and placed his card.
'Is he crazy?! Why would he go and decrease Slifer's attack power?!' Kaiba thought with the twists of the King of Games messing with his head. But his expression changed, the hologram of the Lightforce Sword vanished and Kaiba soon regained Obelisk in his hand.
"Oh man, I've seen the damage of one God Card. But what of two and opposing each other?" Mai questioned.
"It's not going to be pretty." Marik and I replied at the same time, but didn't take the second to notice.
Kaiba just drew and instantly went for Obelisk in his hand. "Yugi, prepare to fall before Obelisk the Tormentor! I sacrifice my XYZ-Dragon Cannon to summon this Egyptian God!" Kaiba announced as his machine vaporized to the sky. A strike of lightning fell in return and opened the clouds, showing a powerful shadowed image of Obelisk. Quickly it turned to land behind Kaiba with its wings to a full extent and a magnitude to follow. "It's over, Yugi! The second God has arrived!"
Yami Bakura's turn as his draw gave him something to smile about. As it stood, Ashley still had her 3800 while he plummeted to 1600 left. 'It's about time I had a new host anyway.' He thought as his Vampire Lord still remained on the field.
"What are you so happy about?" Ashley cocked "You're about to lose, I guarantee it!"
"If it's your request..." Yami Bakura reviewed his hand, "I shouldn't be too worried about your Bolban, its defense is weak, very weak. Vampire Lord, strike Bolban now!" He commanded.
"Activate trap card, Barrier Busted!" Ashley activated her only trap card. A light blue bubble barrier surrounded Bolban's defense stature and protected itself from Vampire Lord's first attack. "Nice try ya nut, but Barrier Busted protects Bolban's defense and instantly switches him into attack mode, to automatically counter your attack and win me the game." Ashley explained. The barrier disintegrated and Bolban threw overhead one of its giant stone paws and crushed Vampire Lord like a bug.
'Yes...' Yami Bakura thought in a pleased matter.
"And did I forget to mention, battle damage is calculated normally so...you lose." Ashley gave him thumbs down as Bolban used one cannon and fired directly on Yami Bakura, making his Life Points slide to zero.
Interrupting her celebrations, the Shadow Realm didn't fade away. "Hey, what gives?" She asked. Yami Bakura began to step forward with a distinguished look of fiend.
"Don't you want to stick around and collect your prizes?" He asked, giving Ashley a chance to rant.
"I guess, I mean I did won after all. So fork over your Millennium Ring and Miranda's prize." Ashley bragged like winning was nothing to it at all.
"Alright then, first yours." Yami Bakura nodded and began to pull the Millennium Ring off of him while keeping temporary and difficult control over Bakura. "The Millennium Ring is yours, you've earned it. Momentarily I will present Mianda's 'souvenir' as you would call it." Yami Bakura then finally collapsed onto her and the Shadow Realm finally dissipated.
Ashley caught Bakura as he awoke with a different tone."Huh? Where am I? And how in the world did I get here?" He pondered his new surroundings and acted like he had amnesia.
"You don't remember? I just beat you and won your Millennium Ring." Ashley continued ranting.
Bakura gasped slightly with shock, "You mustn't, my Millennium Item is dangerous."
"You worry too much. I think I know how to keep a Millennium Item." Ashley threw precaution to the wind and showed Bakura her Millennium Shield, still a wristwatch on her arm. "Now where's my cousin's prize?"
"What?"
"You said that if I won the Duel, I'd be getting something for Miranda." Ashley irritably restated.
"You must have Dueled the Spirit of the Millennium Ring. I don't remember promising anything of the sort." Bakura declined, "I doubt he can be trusted." He got up to his feet and looked around. "So where are we anyway?"
"Kaiba's Duel tower."
'Ashley, you are all right.' Raikoukou relieved itself and saw the Millennium Ring in her hand.
"What is that?" Bakura startled.
"Raikoukou. And I thought everyone was used to it by now." Ashley introduced.
"OK then. I'm gonna go wait in the blimp and find something to eat, see ya around, Ashley." Bakura finished chatting and rushed into the blimp.
"Hey, what about your Spirit buddy huh? Where's my second prize?!" Ashley called after him, but was too late to get his attention and sighed.
The Millennium Ring reacted as the five points dangled without any outside force. "What the?" The points finally flew to the face of the Ring and formed a small black flame with a gold spark.
'There's Miranda's prize for your selfish victory.' She heard Yami Bakura in thought; apparently Raikoukou heard as well.
"Selfish? How?" Ashley thought the idea of her greed was absurd.
'You only thought of yourself throughout that Duel. And Miranda is the one to take the fall.' He continued, 'Now I'll rant about it, Miranda's prize is an old friend we all know and you loathe.' The golf ball-sized flame began to dance teasingly around Ashley as she tried to catch it like a firefly.
"Hey, what is this thing?" Ashley asked while trying to catch it with one hand.
'Heh heh, go now and reunite!' Yami Bakura declared as the flame fired towards the top of the tower.
"What do you mean 'we all know and I loathe...'" Ashley trailed of when the answer hit her and Raikoukou. "Aw bowling balls! Miranda!" She cried as loud as she could.
'I won't allow him to harm Master Miranda again!' Raikoukou charged and tried to keep up on the vertical race.
To be continued...
New cards played
Bolban: Rock/Earth. Monster/Effect, 6/2500/1200. When this monster attacks, it is sent to defense mode after the Battle Phase. When this monster is sent to the Graveyard, discard one monster card from your hand to Special Summon this creature in face-up attack or defense position.
Demon's Curse: Fiend/Dark. Monster/ FLIP Effect, 1/0/0. FLIP: When this monster is flipped summoned, equip it to one monster on the field. Increase the equipped monster's ATK by 500 for each monster face-up on the field.
Barrier Busted: Quickplay Magic. You can only activate this card when the opponent declares an attack. Switch the targeted monster's position before the Damage Step. (Damage calculations are applied normally.)
Playing out his turn, Yami Bakura debated whether or not to destroy Ashley's Venetian Maiden. 'I don't believe this. This amateur of a Duelist has a tactically powerful card like Venetian Maiden. That card is even strong enough to stop a Chaos Emperor Dragon's total inhalation effect.' He thought bitterly, 'I need another way to get to her Life Points.'
"What's the matter? I'm aiming to get your Millennium Item and a nice souvenir for my cuz." Ashley cocked, earning Yami Bakura a reminded smile.
'A nice souvenir huh? I wonder how Miranda would like it myself.' He thought and drew his card. 'She only has 3800 left while she didn't even leave a scratch on me. However, there are other ways to destroy the Venetian Maiden and her effect would be pointless.' He reviewed his hand and held the dark atmosphere in suspense. "I place one card faced down and one monster in defense mode. Your turn."
"Didn't have a monster that could topple my Venetian Maiden? Pity," Ashley made her draw of the card. "Now I'll sacrifice my Venetian Maiden to summon Bolban in attack mode!" She declared as the familiar beast of stone revealed itself. "This Cannon Sphinx as 2500 attack points, just enough to wipe out your Vampire Lord!"
"Well, go on..." Yami Bakura urged Ashley to attack, "you know as well as I do the winner gets the other's Millennium Item."
"I'm not deaf, I heard you the first time. I do aim to get that metal dream- catcher you're hanging around your neck. Bolban, attack Vampire Lord with Cannon Fire!" Ashley commanded and her monster fired both cannons in unison and landed critical on Vampire Lord. The blast destroyed the zombie and knocked off 500 Life Points on Yami Bakura.
"Very good, at this rate you'll get the Millennium Ring in no time at all..." He mumbled into thought as he wrapped his ribcage with one hand, 'and soon I'll possess you. It's my deal to give you the Millennium Ring, I just didn't say what comes with it.'
"Because it destroyed a monster, Bolban recedes into defense mode. I'll also lay two cards faced down and that'll end my turn." Ashley informed as her stone guardian went to a protective pose and two cards appeared behind it.
"It's my turn now. So now I'll activate my trap card, Call of the Haunted: this card revives one of my monsters in attack mode so I'm returning to the field Vampire Lord!" Yami Bakura announced as a coffin revealed itself and Vampire Lord returned wrapped in its cape and a smirked leer under its light blue hair covering one eye. "I'll also flip my face down card, Demon's Curse!"
"Demon's Curse?"
"This monster can equip itself to any Zombie or Stone monster on the field and increase it's overall attack power varying on the monsters on the field."
"Well in that case, reveal faced-down card: Tailor of the Fickle." Ashley activated one of her cards. "I thank you for the information on Demon's Curse. Now I'll take this little curse and equip it to Bolban, giving my sphinx a total attack power of 4000." Ashley countered with the curse infecting Bolban.
"Interesting, that'll end my turn then." Yami Bakura smiled.
"Sheesh, you look so happy with your pins about to fall down." Ashley drew, "So I'll just draw and let Bolban make full impact on Sangan. Bolban, Cannon Fire now!" Ashley kept her streak going and blew up Sangan as well as reduces Yami Bakura to 4500. "Yeah, that Millennium Ring is as good as mine." Ashley cheered.
'This is it, Ashley is showing her true colors now. Her greed has already consumed her and it will be her undoing in the end. I wonder what makes her so materialistic? Perhaps it would be that pathetic bowling ball that carries a family spirit...' Yami Bakura thought while recalling the Duel he stuck the Rare Hunter in before the Finals. He shifted through his deck until he found a monster
"Come on already, make a move!" Ashley demanded.
"I'll throw Vampire Lady in attack mode and end my turn." Yami Bakura let his game slide quickly.
"Perfect. I'm switching Bolban into attack mode and fire on Vampire Lady!" Ashley attacked immediately on Yami Bakura's new monster, chopping another 2900 of his Life Points. "Yeah, another one down! Heh, you're not putting up much of a fight as that Rare Hunter did. At least I had a finishing move over him. Now Bolban will retreat into defense mode and I plae another card faced down. That'll end my turn." Ashley made her move without any second thoughts. 'Boy, Miranda's gonna pick up a spare when she finds out I'm whipping butt in the Shadow Realm twice.' She thought in self- satisfaction.
Raikoukou just landed on all fours on the bottom of the tower. Facing towards the blimp, the fox sees the dark orb of the Shadow Realm as well as sensing Ashley. 'This is bad...' Raikoukou thought to itself and extended all nine tails. A blue lightning net surrounded the Shadow Realm bulge and attempted to contain it from any outbursts.
The Duel was a heart-beater from the get-go. Now that Exchange was played out, Yami got Slifer into his hand. Now the question was which Duelist would summon his God Card first? Kaiba already has two monsters but fused together while Yami had Queen's Knight; and Lightforce Sword still had two more turns to go.
"Make your move already, Yugi! You won't be able to summon Slifer when I keep knocking your monsters down." Kaiba grew impatient quickly. Yami nodded and made his draw.
"I summon Big Shield Gardna in defense mode and play one card faced down." Yami announced as another warrior appeared on the defensive with a card behind him.
"That's pathetic. If all you're going to do is play defense, you might just want to forfeit now." Kaiba smirked and made his draw of the card. "Because now I have the monster that can destroy it. Go Z-Metal Tank!" He announced as a third machine appeared on his field. "Now I fuse them together to create the ultimate machine monster. Come together, XYZ-Dragon Cannon!" Kaiba cried as his monsters proceeded with the upgrade. The monsters finally merged and its attack points climbed to 2800.
'That thing has more attack point than Big Shield Gardna's defense points!' Yugi panicked from within the Millennium Puzzle.
"Nothing will stand in my way from summoning Obelisk and destroying you, Yugi." Kaiba boasted. I couldn't help but take notice of Kathy's fanfare.
'Kaiba, you rock.' She thought fanatically. The multiple cannons on Kaiba's new monster engaged and made their target.
"XYZ-Dragon Cannon, attack Yugi's Big Shield Gardna now!" Kaiba commanded. The machine rapidly fired rounds of lasers onto Yami's monster. It was destroyed automatically in a blaze of devastation. "I'll end my turn here, Yugi. And I highly doubt that Slifer will even make it to the field." Kaiba ended and left Yami to draw.
'That card just has to be that Life Shaver trap card he got from Exchange.' Yugi precaution, 'It'll ruin our whole strategy with Slifer.' Yami took the advice of his partner but the draw was more than successful.
"Kaiba, Slifer will be coming to the field, this turn I may add." Yami announced, "Now I play King's Knight." He called as another knight of royalty took position. "And there's a effect with that, Kaiba." Kaiba stood speechless but dauntless until he heard it. "With King's Knight and Queen's Knight on the field, it summons Jack's Knight!" Another knight appeared, making Yami's trio of sacrifice for Slifer.
'That's a twist...' I thought to myself, and again getting the feeling that something still wasn't right.
"Miranda, you OK?" Kevin saw my disturbed look. I got back from my mind and glanced at him.
"Yeah, I'm al'right."
Mai caught on fast with a jumpy conclusion. "Oh, worried about your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend!" Kevin jumped once more with embarrassment. I just tilted my head away slightly, as the Duel roared on with Kaiba in frozen shock.
'No, this is impossible, he can't summon his God Card before me!' Kaiba thought with rejection.
"Now Kaiba, behold my Egyptian God Card: Slifer the Sky Dragon!" Yami declared as all three of his Knights vaporized into the sky. Again the tower literally quaked with a God's awakening.
"Yeah Yugi!" Joey cheered in the brief moment where the quakes ceased and a red bolt of lightning fell from the sky. In its strike, the seemingly endless red body appeared with Slifer leading the infinity of spines. With its second appearance, its energy output wasn't as overwhelming as it was.
"There's Slifer the Sky Dragon, one of the Egyptian God Cards." I murmured, though Kevin heard me.
"How many of these things are there?" He asked with a startled look.
"There's only three Egyptian God Cards and, as we know of, one Zodiac God Card." I answered; now my senses we're something I could ignore any longer but I kept my mind on the Duel.
"With three cards in my hand, Slifer's attack power is 3000, more than enough to destroy you Dragon Cannon." Yami announced but seemed hesitant.
Back within Domino, everyone was glued to the televisions both large- screened and those for sale. The masses were mostly the eliminated Duelists; even Mako watched from the pier where he could barely see the tower's top. Earlier he saw a bolt of lightning hit the tower, it turned out to be Yugi's Egyptian God Card. "This is one whale of a Duel."
Another watching was cocky Rex Raptor from a small restaurant. "So that's Yugi's Egyptian God Card... Do all of the Finalists have God Cards or something like that?" He muttered and took a dino-bite out of his cheeseburger.
As the Duel resumed, Slifer was ready to launch its first attack of the round. "So, if your monster is more powerful than mine, why don't you attack it?" Kaiba taunted, "Is my trap card that discouraging?"
'It just has to be that Life Shaver trap card. When he activates it, it'll discard one card from my hand and decrease Slifer's attack power.' Yugi panicked behind Yami's subconscious.
I kept myself a steady face while trying to ignore the temptation to look over the tower's edge. 'Raikoukou, what's going on down there?' I tried to contact one of my spirit allies.
'There's a bulge of the Shadow Realm that crossed the threshold, and Ashley's in it!' I heard Raikoukou clearly.
'Can you sense her status?' I continued to question with Miran listening as well.
'She seems weak but her condition stabilized a while ago.'
'Now we have to go down there.' Miran jumped. I was about to agree but the climax of the turn stopped me.
"Slifer, attack his Dragon Cannon!" Yami commanded. Slifer lifted itself to gain distance from point-blank range of attack and opened its bottom set of teeth. A charge of energy took effect from inside the jaws and soon blew out into full force of an energy attack.
"Reveal trap card!" Kaiba activated just as the beam fired.
'That's not Life Shaver!' Yugi realized suddenly.
"It's called Interdimensional Matter Transporter." Kaiba informed. Just as Slifer's attack was coming close, XYZ-Dragon Cannon disappeared and the beam instead was directed towards the sky. The impact was forceful as Serenity was nearly knocked off her feet but was caught by Joey.
"Where did the Dragon Cannon go, Kaiba?!" Yami demanded angrily.
"The Interdimensional Matter Transporter can safely transport my monster from the field for one turn." Kaiba briefed.
"In that case, I'll place one card faced down and end my turn." Yami said calmly and placed his card.
'Is he crazy?! Why would he go and decrease Slifer's attack power?!' Kaiba thought with the twists of the King of Games messing with his head. But his expression changed, the hologram of the Lightforce Sword vanished and Kaiba soon regained Obelisk in his hand.
"Oh man, I've seen the damage of one God Card. But what of two and opposing each other?" Mai questioned.
"It's not going to be pretty." Marik and I replied at the same time, but didn't take the second to notice.
Kaiba just drew and instantly went for Obelisk in his hand. "Yugi, prepare to fall before Obelisk the Tormentor! I sacrifice my XYZ-Dragon Cannon to summon this Egyptian God!" Kaiba announced as his machine vaporized to the sky. A strike of lightning fell in return and opened the clouds, showing a powerful shadowed image of Obelisk. Quickly it turned to land behind Kaiba with its wings to a full extent and a magnitude to follow. "It's over, Yugi! The second God has arrived!"
Yami Bakura's turn as his draw gave him something to smile about. As it stood, Ashley still had her 3800 while he plummeted to 1600 left. 'It's about time I had a new host anyway.' He thought as his Vampire Lord still remained on the field.
"What are you so happy about?" Ashley cocked "You're about to lose, I guarantee it!"
"If it's your request..." Yami Bakura reviewed his hand, "I shouldn't be too worried about your Bolban, its defense is weak, very weak. Vampire Lord, strike Bolban now!" He commanded.
"Activate trap card, Barrier Busted!" Ashley activated her only trap card. A light blue bubble barrier surrounded Bolban's defense stature and protected itself from Vampire Lord's first attack. "Nice try ya nut, but Barrier Busted protects Bolban's defense and instantly switches him into attack mode, to automatically counter your attack and win me the game." Ashley explained. The barrier disintegrated and Bolban threw overhead one of its giant stone paws and crushed Vampire Lord like a bug.
'Yes...' Yami Bakura thought in a pleased matter.
"And did I forget to mention, battle damage is calculated normally so...you lose." Ashley gave him thumbs down as Bolban used one cannon and fired directly on Yami Bakura, making his Life Points slide to zero.
Interrupting her celebrations, the Shadow Realm didn't fade away. "Hey, what gives?" She asked. Yami Bakura began to step forward with a distinguished look of fiend.
"Don't you want to stick around and collect your prizes?" He asked, giving Ashley a chance to rant.
"I guess, I mean I did won after all. So fork over your Millennium Ring and Miranda's prize." Ashley bragged like winning was nothing to it at all.
"Alright then, first yours." Yami Bakura nodded and began to pull the Millennium Ring off of him while keeping temporary and difficult control over Bakura. "The Millennium Ring is yours, you've earned it. Momentarily I will present Mianda's 'souvenir' as you would call it." Yami Bakura then finally collapsed onto her and the Shadow Realm finally dissipated.
Ashley caught Bakura as he awoke with a different tone."Huh? Where am I? And how in the world did I get here?" He pondered his new surroundings and acted like he had amnesia.
"You don't remember? I just beat you and won your Millennium Ring." Ashley continued ranting.
Bakura gasped slightly with shock, "You mustn't, my Millennium Item is dangerous."
"You worry too much. I think I know how to keep a Millennium Item." Ashley threw precaution to the wind and showed Bakura her Millennium Shield, still a wristwatch on her arm. "Now where's my cousin's prize?"
"What?"
"You said that if I won the Duel, I'd be getting something for Miranda." Ashley irritably restated.
"You must have Dueled the Spirit of the Millennium Ring. I don't remember promising anything of the sort." Bakura declined, "I doubt he can be trusted." He got up to his feet and looked around. "So where are we anyway?"
"Kaiba's Duel tower."
'Ashley, you are all right.' Raikoukou relieved itself and saw the Millennium Ring in her hand.
"What is that?" Bakura startled.
"Raikoukou. And I thought everyone was used to it by now." Ashley introduced.
"OK then. I'm gonna go wait in the blimp and find something to eat, see ya around, Ashley." Bakura finished chatting and rushed into the blimp.
"Hey, what about your Spirit buddy huh? Where's my second prize?!" Ashley called after him, but was too late to get his attention and sighed.
The Millennium Ring reacted as the five points dangled without any outside force. "What the?" The points finally flew to the face of the Ring and formed a small black flame with a gold spark.
'There's Miranda's prize for your selfish victory.' She heard Yami Bakura in thought; apparently Raikoukou heard as well.
"Selfish? How?" Ashley thought the idea of her greed was absurd.
'You only thought of yourself throughout that Duel. And Miranda is the one to take the fall.' He continued, 'Now I'll rant about it, Miranda's prize is an old friend we all know and you loathe.' The golf ball-sized flame began to dance teasingly around Ashley as she tried to catch it like a firefly.
"Hey, what is this thing?" Ashley asked while trying to catch it with one hand.
'Heh heh, go now and reunite!' Yami Bakura declared as the flame fired towards the top of the tower.
"What do you mean 'we all know and I loathe...'" Ashley trailed of when the answer hit her and Raikoukou. "Aw bowling balls! Miranda!" She cried as loud as she could.
'I won't allow him to harm Master Miranda again!' Raikoukou charged and tried to keep up on the vertical race.
To be continued...
New cards played
Bolban: Rock/Earth. Monster/Effect, 6/2500/1200. When this monster attacks, it is sent to defense mode after the Battle Phase. When this monster is sent to the Graveyard, discard one monster card from your hand to Special Summon this creature in face-up attack or defense position.
Demon's Curse: Fiend/Dark. Monster/ FLIP Effect, 1/0/0. FLIP: When this monster is flipped summoned, equip it to one monster on the field. Increase the equipped monster's ATK by 500 for each monster face-up on the field.
Barrier Busted: Quickplay Magic. You can only activate this card when the opponent declares an attack. Switch the targeted monster's position before the Damage Step. (Damage calculations are applied normally.)