Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh or any of the characters in it. I do own Drake, Dalin, Taichi, Kensai, Autumn, Hinata, Kirani, Ihachi, and any subsequent minor characters that just sorta appear. Like that guy Lucas Braunham from Drake's first Battle City duel. And that fat ugly guy who Dalin creamed in the first duel in the Shadow Realm. Anyways, I also don't own Kevin Hunter and Kai Kaethen. They are owned by Blue Eyed Knight and Time Mage respectively. I apologize if I got the name wronge Edgar!
Author's Note: Here we go, the duel that you've all probably been waiting for!
Quote of the Chapter: LORD, WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? -Death, from Terry Pratchett's 'Reaper Man'.
Advertisement Time: Yugioh, Fanfiction For Dummmies by The Helldragon is not exactly a serious fic. Its the farthest thing from it in fact. Though he may not think of it as a great piece of work, I find it utterly hilarious and recommend it to anyone who likes a good laugh. Load it up on the screen and watch as your computer jumps up and down with uninhibited glee! Well...note really because its a computer, but you will!
Chapter Thirty-One: The Long Awaited Duel
"Everything changes? How utterly ridiculous." Kai's gaze whipped around and came into contact with the freaky eyes of the twisted spirit that was Yami Malik. A fierce grin spread across his face, distorting his already sickening face into something even worse then it was before. As he watched part of Yami Malik's face shifted to the side, stretching away from him as if it was frightened of being part of this creature.
Kai blinked and leaned towards Dalin who watched Yami Malik with the expression of one who is looking down upon a cockroach they are about to squash with a hammer. "Is it just me, or does that face thing defy the laws of physics?" Dalin turned to him and quirked an eyebrow, smiling slightly at the joke.
"Enough of this! The five of you are the last ones remaining, and should you wish to enter the temple you must first get past me, and as my reward for my service I shall choose who my first opponent is." Kai couldn't help but turn his head and look over each of them. Five didn't make sense at all, there were six of them left. Who the heck had Yami Malik missed in counting?
Upon hearing Yami Malik's words, Dalin stepped forward, the same expression still on his face. Yami Malik sneered and raised his arm, pointing to his intended target. Everyone's gaze swivelled away from Dalin and onto the target. "The Pharaoh is my first victim!"
Yami grimaced and with a single motion he cast his coat off of his shoulders and stood ready, duel disk active and deck in place. His life points started counting up and he turned his gaze upon his opponent. "I've been waiting for this as much as you have Malik. And I will win this duel!" (YLP: 8000)
Yami Malik let out a sickening laugh and activated his own duel disk, deck already where it needed to be. His life points also shot up to their correct place, and as this happened he drew an opening hand of six cards, declaring without words that he would go first. "Dalin may have managed to defeat me, but without a god card you don't stand a chance against my dark power! I don't even need a deck master to crush you, all I need is the power of my deck!" (MLP: 8000)
Yami Malik fanned his cards out in front of his face and then smirked, picking out the cards he wanted to use. "Lets get started. I summon Drillago(1600/1100) in attack mode! Then I lay one card face down. Match that Pharaoh!" The machine creature made entirely out of drills was summoned, followed by a card behind it and to the left. Yami grinned upon seeing this, realizing that Malik hadn't made any real changes to his strategy.
He drew a card and looked over his hand. Unfortunately for him he had no monster available with attack points greater then the Drillago, so for the moment he would have to play defensive. His Giant Soldier of Stone would work perfectly for that. "I set a monster and place two cards face down on the field! That ends my turn." The three cards shimmered into view, and then play shifted to Malik again.
The white haired angry spirit added a card to his hand and then smirked even wider then before. It was time to make the Pharaoh walk into an easy trap. "I sacrifice Drillago for Legend Devil(1500/1600) who will gain seven hundred attack points in each of my standby phases. I also set one card and end my turn." On the outside he was grinning wildly, but he was also grinning wildly on the inside, chanting to himself hoping that the Pharaoh would take the bait.
Yami drew a card and glanced down on it. The familiar form of the little earth type monster made him smile, and now he had a way past Malik's monster. "I summon Beta the Magnet Warrior(1700/1400)!" The metallic warrior with his blade was summoned into play, sparks spitting out of his magnet head. With his greater power he would make quick work of Malik's monster.
"Beta will attack your Legend Devil and destroy it! Magnet Slash!" Beta flew across the field and sliced down, intent on destroying Malik's demon. However, at the very last moment one of Malik's two set cards flipped up, revealing a man on a throne pointing down at the man at the bottom of the steps who wore only rags. It was a King and a peasant.
"My trap card is The Upper Class! If your attacking monster is not of a higher level then my monster, then it's destroyed!" Yami grimaced as the trap blew his monster into little pieces of shrapnel, ending his turn because he had no other moves to make. Now was soon as Malik started his turn he would have a monster with over two thousand attack points, strong enough to destroy his set stone soldier.
He drew a card and watched his monster raise to twenty-two thousand attack strength. He glanced at his newest card and then at one of his other cards, seeing the combo he could create. At this rate it would be all to easy to destroy the Pharaoh. "I play Grave Sacrifice, removing Drillago and Beta from the cemetery to summon Hell Poemer(2000/1000) without a sacrifice!"
The disgusting monster with the large cross on its back appeared, its body sending waves of offensive odor all throughout the dueling field. Yami flinched at the smell, but Malik seemed unaffected by it. "Legend Devil will destroy your set monster!"
Mere moments before its claws managed to slash through the stone soldier the Legend Devil was chained up by black chains that shot out from one of Yami's set cards as it flipped up. Similar chains shot out and tied up Hell Poemer, preventing it from moving. "My Regulation of Tribe allows me to choose one sub-type, demons in this case, and as long as its active they can't attack! So end you turn!" Yami Malik shrugged and passed the turn to Yami.
Yami drew his card and quickly played the Pot of Greed magic card. His hand immediately jumped up to five cards, and he plainly saw that he had what he needed. This would work out quite nicely. "I sacrifice my Giant Soldier of Stone for Curse of Dragon(2000/1000)!" The golden dragon let out a shriek as it replaced the stone soldier, ready to take flight and destroy.
"Now I activate Twinkle Five Star! By sacrificing my Curse of Dragon I can special summon the five Kuribo Siblings!" The golden dragon was quickly replaced with five furry brown creatures. One was brown, one was pink, another was green, then there was a red and a white. Five little creatures each with identical stats of three hundred attack and two hundred defense.
Yami Malik couldn't help but laughing, and those supporting Yami in this duel were quite uncertain about Yami's sanity. What could these five weak little fur balls do? "I'll use the effect of one of my siblings! I can discard one trap card from my hand to reduce one of your monster's attack or defense power by their combined attack strength!" The five little fur balls started rolling, coming together in the form of a white ball that collided with Legend Devil, dropping its attack to seven hundred.
The five siblings separated again, leaving them perfectly intact. Yami grinned as he started his next part of this move, which would easily grant him what he needed. "I combine the five together to form Kuribablyon(1500/1000)! Whose power is the same as theirs combined. He will attack and destroy Legend Devil!" The new fur ball was vicious looking, truly appearing the part of a demon with its horn, its fangs, and black fur.
It flew at the blue demon, intent on goring it with its little horn. However Yami Malik had other plans, he had no intention of having his monster crushed by such a puny creature. "I activate Demon Mirror! By discarding one card I negate your attack and deal one thousand damage!" A black mirror appeared on the field, revealing a reflection of Yami. Kuribablyon crashed through it, shattering it into pieces. (YLP: 7000)
"Because Kuribablyon's attack failed, the five siblings will now return to the field!" The five little creatures reappeared, and Yami merely declared the end of his turn, knowing full well what his creatures could do. Yami Malik drew a card and grinned wickedly.
His Legend Devil's attack rose to fourteen hundred, and he glanced at the card he held. It was Card of Last Will, so now all he had to do was wait for Yami to use that decreasing effect and he'd be able to gain a new hand. "I'll set one card. Now I attack with Hell Poemer!"
Hell Poemer lurched forwards intent on doing serious damage with its slightly clawed hands. However, the five siblings formed into a line with the green one at the front, and a pink star appeared, blocking off the attack. "That's another effect. As long as all five are on the field I can negate your attacks!" Yami Malik sneered and finished his turn.
"I set one card and combine them into Kuribablyon again. Now I destroy Legend Devil!" The black furred demon rushed forwards and speared the devil with its horn, killing it instantly. It wasn't much damage, but at least it got rid of a potentially dangerous monster before it could become even stronger. (MLP: 7900)
Yami Malik drew free a card and glanced at it, smirking evilly. Here was another card that was key to his strategy. Once Yami fell into his trap he'd have the ultimate source of pain ready and waiting! "I set one card face down. Now, Hell Poemer will attack your fur ball!"
It hurled itself headlong at the smaller demon, slashing at it. A single streak from its claws managed to rend the tiny demon into dozens of pieces, causing a decent amount of damage to Yami's life points. It wasn't huge, but it would certainly make Yami more eager to even things up, which was exactly what he wanted. (YLP: 6500)
"You haven't seen the last of my so-called fur ball! I reveal Rope of Life!" Yami's trap revealed itself, and a hole opened up in the ground with a rope extending down into it. The rope was pulled up, and after several seconds the demonic critter appeared, clutching the rope with its teeth. It hopped off and let out a little howl, grinning evilly as its attack rose to twenty-three hundred.
Yami snatched at his next card, and before he could even consider whether or not he should attack, Yami Malik revealed one of his face down cards, opening up the options for him. "Reveal Coffin Seller! From now on when one of your monsters goes to the cemetery you will take three hundred damage! So now even sacrifices are dangerous for you!" The ancient Pharaoh could only grimace, as the card he had drawn was Jack's Knight, a monster he couldn't play.
"Kuribablyon, destroy his Hell Poemer!" Again the little creature attacked, ripping into the other demon with its horn and its teeth, shredding it completely. It jumped back, satisfied with its work as Malik's score lowered slightly. They were far from even, but now Yami's monster dominated the field. (MLP: 7600)
"That will end my turn!" Suddenly something strange happened. A blue hand shot out of his cemetery slot and grabbed hold of his Jack's Knight. He let out a sharp cry as it pulled the card from his hand and dragged it back with it into the cemetery. He could also faintly here the notes of an eerie song being played. (YLP: 6200)
"What's going on? What happened just then?" Yami Malik let out chilling laughter and opened his mouth to speak, however before he could a wide-eyed Kevin responded, a semi-horrified look on his face. Something about that look struck Yami as odd, but he couldn't place it exactly.
"When destroyed in battle Hell Poemer becomes untouchable, it can't be effected by any card played by either duelist. While in the cemetery it begins to play a hellish song, and at the end of each of your battle phases it will drag a card randomly from your hand with it into the grave." Yami's eyes widened as he started to understand what had happened. He couldn't stop Hell Poemer, and whenever it dragged one of his monsters to the grave he'd lose three points for Coffin Seller. The combo was brilliant!
Yami Malik drew another card, looking over his two cards. He couldn't necessarily win at this pace, but at least he was trapping the Pharaoh. Once he drew his trump card then this would all become far too easy. "I'll simply set one card face down and end my turn." The card appeared next to his other set card and to the left of the face-up Coffin Seller card.
The Pharaoh drew a card, looking down at the image of a very special magic card. With this card and Malik's field nearly cleared he could more then even things up, he could turn the tide! "This duel is about to turn around Malik, because I play Pump Up, doubling Kuribablyon's attack strength!" Malik just threw back his head and laughed.
Yami grimaced, not liking exactly the manner in which his opponent was laughing. How could he possibly be so confident? He had no monsters to defend himself and one of his trap cards had proven itself useless in such a situation once before. Did that mean Malik was confident in his remaining trap protecting himself, or was he bluffing. In this case he had to make a choice. "Kuribablyon, attack directly!"
The little black demon launched itself straight at Malik's chest, obviously intent on doing him in just as it had finished off Legend Devil and Hell Poemer. But this time it would be doing real damage, not the measly sort it had before. When it was only five feet from Malik, the white haired lunatic sprung his first trap. "I reveal Nightmare Wheel, which will trap your monster, preventing it from attacking or splitting into its five parts!"
A giant black wheel that looked like an implement for torture appeared, chains launching out to grab a hold of the little demon and hold it fast. It shrieked and struggled against its bonds, but it couldn't do anything. All Yami could do was declare the end of his turn, but as soon as he started to do so his opponent sprang his other trap. "As your demon's power leaves it, I can activate Card of Last Will, to draw five new cards!"
Malik picked up six cards, five from his Card of Last Will and one for his turn's draw. As soon as he saw those cards he started to grin worse then he had been before. A vein pulsed dangerously on his forehead, threatening to explode at any moment. "I set one monster in defense mode and set two magic or trap cards. Now my Nightmare Wheel will go to work!"
Yami gasped and forced himself to watch as the Nightmare Wheel did its work. It could easily have been called a torture wheel, because it stretched at the demon's body and inserted hot pokers into its flesh, bringing on agonized screams. As it did so, Yami's life points dropped. "For every turn your pathetic ball of fluff is trapped in my wheel you will take five hundred points of damage! Hahahahahahahahaha!" (YLP: 5700)
Yami grimaced upon his draw, finding only the powerful Buster Blader. However, because of its strength it was a level seven monster, and needed two sacrifices. With only one monster in play he couldn't summon it, and he'd soon lose it. "I can't do anything. I pass."
As soon as he declared these words the blue spectral hand rose from his cemetery and grabbed at his hand, pulling free the blader and dragging it to the depths of hell that was his graveyard pile. As soon as the monster passed on, the Coffin Seller trap started glowing a deep red color as its effect activated, draining Yami of more life points. (YLP: 5400)
The psychotic dark spirit added another card to his hand and grinned wickedly at the site of it. Now all he had need of was a single card, his trump card with which to finish his opponent off. Even without it his next combo would devastate his opponent. "Pharaoh, I'd like you to meet my newest monster, Needle Worm(750/750), who when flipped forces you to discard five cards from the top of your deck!"
A vicious looking little bug was revealed and it flew at Yami, assaulting him. He swatted it aside and gravely shoved his next five cards into the grave. Two of them were monsters, and the Coffin Seller greedily attacked his life points, dealing him further damage. Then the Nightmare Wheel went to work again, dealing even more damage. (YLP: 4300)
"I'll lay another trap for you and summon another new monster. You should enjoy this one, she's called Tsukuyomi, the Moon Diviner!" Yami grimaced as he recognized the glowing blue spellcaster. She was a spirit monster with the ability to force any monster on the field into defense mode. The giant bug reformed into a face down brown card, and Malik finished his turn off.
When it came time for the Pharaoh to make his move, all he discovered was a simple monster. Unfortunately for him it was just a basic monster, but a least he could get rid of it instead of having it taken from him and having Coffin Seller deal him damage. He was already in great trouble with Needle Worm and Tsukuyomi. "I set a monster and end my turn."
With his face twisting off to the side the freaky deputy of Ihachi drew another card, and then threw his head back laughing. At last, his trump card had appeared! Now would come the end of the Pharaoh and with the Pharaoh's end he would be able to strike out against Ihachi and gain true absolute power! This realm would be his for the taking!
"I sacrifice your two monsters to summon my deadliest creature, the Lava Golem!" In a blaze of fire Yami lost his two monsters, and a cage appeared around him. A huge beast formed of pure lava rose up behind him, already starting to drip lava. In each turn it would deal him one thousand damage, further completing the circle of Malik's combos. And because he lost two monsters, he lost six hundred life points. (YLP: 3700)
"I'll again flip Needle Worm, forcing you to lose another group of five cards!" He dropped his cards into the cemetery, glad that he had only lost one single monster from that flip. Of course now Lava Golem was his, and Needle Worm was in attack with no way of summoning Tsukuyomi to flip it down this turn. Perhaps Yami could still recover. (YLP: 3400)
As soon as the Pharaoh drew the golem's body began dripping even worse. A glob of super heated magma dropped from its fingers into the cage. Yami barely managed to dodge to the side into time to prevent his head from being incinerated. Unfortunately he wasn't fast enough to prevent some of it from hitting him, and the molten metal burned away the right corner of his left shoe, burning a tiny hole through the right side of his foot before it finished up. (YLP: 2400)
Dropping to his knees in agony, the former Pharaoh cried out, screaming his pain to this child's plaything of a world. The insane Yami Malik just laughed even harder, his hair bouncing as he did so. Breathing deeply the Pharaoh pushed himself back up to standing position, now favoring his left leg and putting his weight all on his right leg.
"I play one card face down, and now I shall attack your worm with my golem!" The mighty magma beast opened its jaws wide and launched out a roaring ball of fire which streaked straight towards the worm. But it didn't hit the worm, instead it hit the ground in front of the worm. The card that now appeared on Malik's field was answer enough.
It was a simple grid of green glowing lines with a spherical lump in the center rising up. It was the permanent trap card that Rebecca had used on Mokuba, the Gravity Bind trap. With that in play the power of the enormous golem was reigned in. He couldn't attack with it at all. "End turn."
Malik started up his turn, drawing a card and looking down at it. There were no cards he could place, and he really didn't need anything new anyways. All that he needed was already here, he would crush the Pharaoh in just a few short turns using the strength of his golem's effect and the combined powers of his various traps. All he did was summon Tsukuyomi to flip his worm into defense and then he ended his turn.
As soon as he started off his turn Yami hurled himself into the edge of the cage, easily avoiding the dripping molten lava of his captor, the dreadful Lava Golem. The sulfurous smoke still had an effect on him, making breather more difficult then it should have been. Worse, he had already counted and it would take only two more turns of this and nothing else to finish him off. (YLP: 1400)
Glancing down at the card he held in his hand he felt joy leap up to the surface. Of all the cards he could have drawn it was one of the very few that could save him! His deck held six monsters that were of either five stars or six, and he had already lost two of them. But now he held the third in his hand! "I shall sacrifice Lava Golem for Dark Magician Girl(2000/1700)!"
He slapped the card down onto the field, and instead received a jolt of electricity. He grunted and drew back the card, looking towards the flashing of his life point counter. For a moment instead of showing his life points it showed two words that confused him. ILLEGAL MOVE it said, but how could sacrificing the golem be illegal?
"Trying to sacrifice are we? It won't work while I use this trap card, Mask of Restrict to prevent either of us from sacrificing monsters for any reason whatsoever. Now the Lava Golem can't be sacrificed and can't attack, so each turn it will kill you a little bit more. Welcome to your worst nightmare Pharaoh, because you've just entered the Lava Lock!" Malik's laughter echoed throughout all of the false Eden, and none there could see any way out for Yami. He truly seemed doomed to defeat, and he had hardly touched Malik the entire duel.
Unable to do anything further the one time Pharaoh declared the end of his turn. He had almost forgotten about the hellish song being played, but his reminder came when the blue hand reached out and tugged away his Dark Magician Girl, taking with it his hope of grasping victory. Of course it only meant more pain for him as well. (YLP: 1100)
Malik sneered as he drew, well aware that he could potentially finish the Pharaoh off in this next move. It would be all too easy, the Pharaoh hadn't even been a challenge to him! What a pathetic laugh! Once he was finished with this fool, he'd show Dalin the new power of his deck and have his revenge on that arrogant fool for handing him his previous defeat!
"I set one card face down, and now I flip Needle Worm! Lose your cards Pharaoh, lose them and die for it!" The bug appeared again, and Yami calmly pulled free five cards. He held them up in front of his face, examining them for a moment, and then he shoved them into his cemetery slot. Malik glanced towards his Coffin Seller trap, but nothing happened, telling him that his opponent hadn't discarded any monsters at all.
"I believe that this time you're the one who has fallen into my hands Malik! Not only didn't I lose any monsters, but because an effect sent cards to the cemetery I can activate my placed trap card, Fallen Angel's Gift, which will return all five cards to my hand!" A blue skinned demon showed itself on the trap card that flipped up, and Yami calmly ejected the cards from his graveyard and held them carefully, now giving him a full span of options.
"Why can't you just die like a normal person? It doesn't matter anyways, no matter what cards you draw it'll just take another turn or so under the influence of my monster and then you'll be dead! So take your pathetic turn and then suffer!" His face was not happy, but he was still confident. The Pharaoh stood no chance against him, no options could help out at this juncture. The duel was already set.
Yami brought his hand up to six cards with a single draw, and he casually sidestepped the downpour of lava that could have eliminated him completely. Some how he had known exactly where it would fall this time, and it seemed that with this knowledge he had regained that cockiness that he had whenever he was about to do something to turn the tide of a duel and win....but that was impossible wasn't it? (YLP: 100)
The Pharaoh smirked as he turned one of his cards around, showing it to Malik before he activated it. The horror of exactly what the card was flooded through the dark spirit as he became aware of the fact that he hadn't summoned Tsukuyomi, so his Needle Worm was in attack mode!
"I use Heavy Storm to clear the field of all your traps!" A huge gust of wind and a downpour of water blasted away all of Malik's well laid plans, clearing the way for a devastating attack by the golem. But it didn't matter, he would survive it. The Pharaoh on the other hand hadn't lost any monsters from Needle Worm so hadn't gotten any by Fallen Angel's Gift. That meant that he would die as soon as his next turn started.
"Now I activate Black Magic Ritual, offering the Lava Golem to summon Magician of Black Chaos(2800/2600)!" Two black fancy pots appeared, and the golem was sucked into both pots, splitting into individual streams of magma as it did so. Moments later the special wizard appeared, swinging his staff around as he was at the ready.
"I'll set one card face down, and now I attack your Needle Worm!" A sphere of chaotic energies erupted from the staff and traveled across the ground, splitting it apart as it went. The bug let out a cry that must have been pain as it was ripped apart by the energy, and Malik's life points suffered because of it, the first major damage he had taken the whole duel. (MLP: 5550)
"That's all for now!" The phantom arm sprang out of his grave and grabbed one of his two cards, pulling it into the abyss. However it wasn't enough to leave Yami's hand empty, so he retained one card which might yet prove useful. Malik on the other hand still had more options to work with, so there was no telling what he would do.
Yami Malik drew a card, giving him a total of six in his hand. He smirked, knowing that his next play would crush the Pharaoh once and for all, and he would make it especially painful for him! Nobody crushed his strategies and got away with it, nobody! "I play Victimize, which lets me discard cards instead of sacrificing, so I discard one trap and one monster to summon Masked Beast Des Guardias(3300/2500)!"
The wicked looking clawed mask wearing beast was just the first of the Pharaoh's worries, and not the true threat either. He had something much worse in mind, a creature that would surpass any power the Pharaoh could imagine! "I sacrifice my beast for the mightiest of all creatures, Great Maju Gerzett whose attack is double that of the monster sacrifice for him, placing his power at an astounding sixty-six hundred!"
The creature that now stood before Malik and ready to attack was an abomination. That was the easiest way of describing it. It seemed to be made of the flesh of thousands of other creatures, all compiled together into a disgusting walking....thing. However, its power was nothing to be laughed at. "Great Maju Gerzett will now finish you once and for all!"
The creature attacked, hurling itself bodily at the much weaker magician that faced it confidently. Despite that confidence the Magician of Black Chaos wouldn't be able to survive that attack, and neither would Yami. "Reveal Power Cancellation, which switches all monsters on the field into defense mode!" Both monsters moved into a crouch, meaning that the magician was safe and Malik had nothing more he could do that turn but set a single card and end his turn.
Yami casually drew a card, knowing that despite his current semi-advantage he couldn't let himself become overconfident. Unless he kept his advantage he wouldn't stand much of a chance. And the card he had just drawn would do that when combined with his other card. "I play Monster Reborn to revive Dark Magician Girl(2000/1700)!"
The magic using girl came out and twirled around, flashing a wink to both of the duelists. Malik grinned lecherously at her and she frowned, backing away from him. "Now I use Jewel of the Wise to bring out the Dark Magician(2500/2100) from my deck!" The purple robed magic user joined his apprentice on the field and both casually offered a bow to the stronger Magician of Black Chaos.
"Your Gerzett may be unstoppable in attack mode, but it has zero defense points! My Dark Magician Girl will rip through it, and my other two magician's will rip through your life points!" An furious assault of various magical attacks speared through the composite beast and then into Malik, knocking him over and dropping his life points so far that they were nearly in line with Yami's. (MLP: 250)
Malik's fists shook with rage as he drew his card. He slammed it onto the field in defense mode, putting a wall between the Pharaoh's monsters and him. Hopefully the pointy haired freak wouldn't find a way past it, otherwise he would be finished! How could things have gone wrong so quickly?
Yami drew and quickly placed his card down, knowing that if he didn't he'd loose it come the end of his turn. Not that it mattered, Malik's face down obviously couldn't help him and there was no creature that could stand up to his next attack. "Dark Magician Girl attacks!" A blaze of pink energy collided with something big, and then the creature was revealed, unharmed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! You've attacked Plasma Eel(500/1200)! This monster can't be destroyed by battle, allowing me the perfect wall from your attacks!" The metallic eel clinched its pincers and Yami could only grimace as he ends his turn. He had no way past the eel at the moment, but perhaps he could find a way soon enough.
Malik drew his card and smirked, well aware that now the duel was his to claim victory with. The single card in his hand would end everything as soon as the Pharaoh started his next turn. Nobody defeated him and got away with it, and from now on nobody defeated him period. "I sacrifice Dark Magician and Magician of Black Chaos for the second Lava Golem(3000/2500)!"
For the second time in that duel Yami was surrounded by a black cage and towered over by the huge dripping lava beast. The Dark Magician Girl yelped as she jumped away in time to avoid being burned alive by a down pour of magma. "I end my turn, and as soon as you start yours it will be your end! Victory is at last mine!"
Yami drew, and lava gushed into the cage, covering him to completely annihilate him. It was all over, and as soon as the lava was finished with its work in burning away any left overs of a corpse, Malik would move on to crushing Dalin. Victory was sweet, and in this case it was also extra crispy. "MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!"
"I wouldn't laugh yet Malik, because this duel isn't over!" Malik's eyes widened in horror at the sound of that voice, the impossible voice. It was the Pharaoh's voice! The deluge of lava ceased, and Yami was revealed unharmed and ready to continue. He smirked at his opponent and raised one arm to point at his now face-up trap card, the trap that had saved his life.
"Trap of Board Eraser negates any non-battle damage dealt to me in this turn and forces you to discard a card. Since you don't have any it doesn't matter, but I still managed to escape the golem's burn unharmed." Malik's face twisted to the side, nearly splitting in two from his own rage. Again the Pharaoh slipped away from defeat! It couldn't be possible! How could one person avoid death so many times and do it so well each time!
"I play Card of Sanctity!" Both duelists swiftly and surely drew six cards, giving them full hands. As he did so, Malik glanced down at his set card, waiting for the right moment to use it. He had to know exactly what the Pharaoh would do, otherwise using it might not work as well as he could hope for.
"My next card is Revival of the Gods! By sacrificing one monster on the field and half of my life points I can revive any number of monsters from the graveyard! I'm sacrificing Lava Golem to bring about this effect!" The cage vanished as did the golem, and an aurora of light surrounded the Pharaoh, readying whatever was to come next. (YLP: 50)
"Now come forth, Dark Magician, Magician of Black Chaos, and Dark Sage(2800/3200)!" The three monsters appeared on the field in the order they were named, each of them giving each other respectful bows of the head. The Dark Sage however, in all its old and wizened glory, got deep bows from the three other monsters.
Malik once again glanced at his set card, and then readied himself to use it. The effect of the Dark Sage allowed the Pharaoh to place a magic card from his deck into his hand, and it was bound to be something to eliminate his Plasma Eel. He just had to hope now. "I activate Reward of Discard, which gives me one thousand life points for each card I discard!" He shoved all six cards into the cemetery, well aware that one of cards he had discarded allowed him to remove it to negate the destruction of one his monsters. (MLP: 6250)
Yami had just finished searching his deck and he smirked as he added the card to his hand, ready to use it. This card was difficult to use, but highly effective if used correctly. Now he could use it correctly, and it was going to win him the duel. "The card I've chosen is known as Ragnarok! It can only be activated when I have these four monsters on the field! It will remove all other monsters in my deck from the game, and then removed all of your monsters on the field from the game, clearing a path for me towards victory!"
Malik gasped and staggered backwards, only his pure force of will keeping him standing. The card had just removed his last defense, the Plasma Eel. Because it had been removed from the game instead of being destroyed, he couldn't stop it. He was now totally defenseless! "No....this is impossible! This can't be happening, I am unstoppable, I am invincible!"
Yami just raised one arm, palm raised up and fingers spread out as wide as they would go. His mouth was in a tight line and his eyes were fiercely determined as he gave the final command of the duel. "Dark Magician Girl, Dark Magician, Magician of Black Chaos, and Dark Sage will now all attack directly. For the last few moments of your existence remember these words: Noone is invincible, not you and not your goddess up there. She will fall shortly, just as you have. IT'S OVER!"
The four magical attacks covered his body, blistering it and tearing at it. He tried to put up a magical defense, but without the power of the Millennium Rod he simply wasn't strong enough to defend himself against the magnitude of these combined attacks. He was vaporized, leaving no trace that he had ever existed.
Each of the duelists there turned their gaze upwards and aware from the smoldering streak of dirt where Malik had once stood. Their eyes were focused on their goal, the temple that contained the last threat. Ihachi was in that temple, and now they had no obstacles in getting there.
The temple gleamed white in the sun, and within it Ihachi began to laugh. They would not worship? Then they would all have to burn under her gaze, burn and seethe in agony at her power! None could challenge the Goddess, not in her very own temple. "Let them come, I will crush them all into powder that not even time will remember. Let them come!"
(End)
Author's Notes: Phew, I'm amazed at myself. I got most of this done in one day when I had the day off cause my dad was being nice. Pretty amazing huh? Also I'd like to note that a large portion of the strategy Malik was using, as some of you know, is the same strategy that I use in my deck. A Lava Lock.
Original Cards
Malik: Victimize(first used by Kaiba), Reward of Discard
Yami: Revival of the Gods
Anime Series Cards: The Upper Class(Battle City Finals), Demon Mirror(Battle City Finals), Twinkle Five Star(Doom), The Five Siblings(Doom), Pump Up(Doom), Fallen Angel's Gift(Battle City Finals), Held in One's Hand(Doom), Power Cancelation(Doom), Plasma Eel(Battle City Finals), Ragnarok(Battle City Finals, note: I don't think I used the exact effect of this card)
Author's Note: Here we go, the duel that you've all probably been waiting for!
Quote of the Chapter: LORD, WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? -Death, from Terry Pratchett's 'Reaper Man'.
Advertisement Time: Yugioh, Fanfiction For Dummmies by The Helldragon is not exactly a serious fic. Its the farthest thing from it in fact. Though he may not think of it as a great piece of work, I find it utterly hilarious and recommend it to anyone who likes a good laugh. Load it up on the screen and watch as your computer jumps up and down with uninhibited glee! Well...note really because its a computer, but you will!
Chapter Thirty-One: The Long Awaited Duel
"Everything changes? How utterly ridiculous." Kai's gaze whipped around and came into contact with the freaky eyes of the twisted spirit that was Yami Malik. A fierce grin spread across his face, distorting his already sickening face into something even worse then it was before. As he watched part of Yami Malik's face shifted to the side, stretching away from him as if it was frightened of being part of this creature.
Kai blinked and leaned towards Dalin who watched Yami Malik with the expression of one who is looking down upon a cockroach they are about to squash with a hammer. "Is it just me, or does that face thing defy the laws of physics?" Dalin turned to him and quirked an eyebrow, smiling slightly at the joke.
"Enough of this! The five of you are the last ones remaining, and should you wish to enter the temple you must first get past me, and as my reward for my service I shall choose who my first opponent is." Kai couldn't help but turn his head and look over each of them. Five didn't make sense at all, there were six of them left. Who the heck had Yami Malik missed in counting?
Upon hearing Yami Malik's words, Dalin stepped forward, the same expression still on his face. Yami Malik sneered and raised his arm, pointing to his intended target. Everyone's gaze swivelled away from Dalin and onto the target. "The Pharaoh is my first victim!"
Yami grimaced and with a single motion he cast his coat off of his shoulders and stood ready, duel disk active and deck in place. His life points started counting up and he turned his gaze upon his opponent. "I've been waiting for this as much as you have Malik. And I will win this duel!" (YLP: 8000)
Yami Malik let out a sickening laugh and activated his own duel disk, deck already where it needed to be. His life points also shot up to their correct place, and as this happened he drew an opening hand of six cards, declaring without words that he would go first. "Dalin may have managed to defeat me, but without a god card you don't stand a chance against my dark power! I don't even need a deck master to crush you, all I need is the power of my deck!" (MLP: 8000)
Yami Malik fanned his cards out in front of his face and then smirked, picking out the cards he wanted to use. "Lets get started. I summon Drillago(1600/1100) in attack mode! Then I lay one card face down. Match that Pharaoh!" The machine creature made entirely out of drills was summoned, followed by a card behind it and to the left. Yami grinned upon seeing this, realizing that Malik hadn't made any real changes to his strategy.
He drew a card and looked over his hand. Unfortunately for him he had no monster available with attack points greater then the Drillago, so for the moment he would have to play defensive. His Giant Soldier of Stone would work perfectly for that. "I set a monster and place two cards face down on the field! That ends my turn." The three cards shimmered into view, and then play shifted to Malik again.
The white haired angry spirit added a card to his hand and then smirked even wider then before. It was time to make the Pharaoh walk into an easy trap. "I sacrifice Drillago for Legend Devil(1500/1600) who will gain seven hundred attack points in each of my standby phases. I also set one card and end my turn." On the outside he was grinning wildly, but he was also grinning wildly on the inside, chanting to himself hoping that the Pharaoh would take the bait.
Yami drew a card and glanced down on it. The familiar form of the little earth type monster made him smile, and now he had a way past Malik's monster. "I summon Beta the Magnet Warrior(1700/1400)!" The metallic warrior with his blade was summoned into play, sparks spitting out of his magnet head. With his greater power he would make quick work of Malik's monster.
"Beta will attack your Legend Devil and destroy it! Magnet Slash!" Beta flew across the field and sliced down, intent on destroying Malik's demon. However, at the very last moment one of Malik's two set cards flipped up, revealing a man on a throne pointing down at the man at the bottom of the steps who wore only rags. It was a King and a peasant.
"My trap card is The Upper Class! If your attacking monster is not of a higher level then my monster, then it's destroyed!" Yami grimaced as the trap blew his monster into little pieces of shrapnel, ending his turn because he had no other moves to make. Now was soon as Malik started his turn he would have a monster with over two thousand attack points, strong enough to destroy his set stone soldier.
He drew a card and watched his monster raise to twenty-two thousand attack strength. He glanced at his newest card and then at one of his other cards, seeing the combo he could create. At this rate it would be all to easy to destroy the Pharaoh. "I play Grave Sacrifice, removing Drillago and Beta from the cemetery to summon Hell Poemer(2000/1000) without a sacrifice!"
The disgusting monster with the large cross on its back appeared, its body sending waves of offensive odor all throughout the dueling field. Yami flinched at the smell, but Malik seemed unaffected by it. "Legend Devil will destroy your set monster!"
Mere moments before its claws managed to slash through the stone soldier the Legend Devil was chained up by black chains that shot out from one of Yami's set cards as it flipped up. Similar chains shot out and tied up Hell Poemer, preventing it from moving. "My Regulation of Tribe allows me to choose one sub-type, demons in this case, and as long as its active they can't attack! So end you turn!" Yami Malik shrugged and passed the turn to Yami.
Yami drew his card and quickly played the Pot of Greed magic card. His hand immediately jumped up to five cards, and he plainly saw that he had what he needed. This would work out quite nicely. "I sacrifice my Giant Soldier of Stone for Curse of Dragon(2000/1000)!" The golden dragon let out a shriek as it replaced the stone soldier, ready to take flight and destroy.
"Now I activate Twinkle Five Star! By sacrificing my Curse of Dragon I can special summon the five Kuribo Siblings!" The golden dragon was quickly replaced with five furry brown creatures. One was brown, one was pink, another was green, then there was a red and a white. Five little creatures each with identical stats of three hundred attack and two hundred defense.
Yami Malik couldn't help but laughing, and those supporting Yami in this duel were quite uncertain about Yami's sanity. What could these five weak little fur balls do? "I'll use the effect of one of my siblings! I can discard one trap card from my hand to reduce one of your monster's attack or defense power by their combined attack strength!" The five little fur balls started rolling, coming together in the form of a white ball that collided with Legend Devil, dropping its attack to seven hundred.
The five siblings separated again, leaving them perfectly intact. Yami grinned as he started his next part of this move, which would easily grant him what he needed. "I combine the five together to form Kuribablyon(1500/1000)! Whose power is the same as theirs combined. He will attack and destroy Legend Devil!" The new fur ball was vicious looking, truly appearing the part of a demon with its horn, its fangs, and black fur.
It flew at the blue demon, intent on goring it with its little horn. However Yami Malik had other plans, he had no intention of having his monster crushed by such a puny creature. "I activate Demon Mirror! By discarding one card I negate your attack and deal one thousand damage!" A black mirror appeared on the field, revealing a reflection of Yami. Kuribablyon crashed through it, shattering it into pieces. (YLP: 7000)
"Because Kuribablyon's attack failed, the five siblings will now return to the field!" The five little creatures reappeared, and Yami merely declared the end of his turn, knowing full well what his creatures could do. Yami Malik drew a card and grinned wickedly.
His Legend Devil's attack rose to fourteen hundred, and he glanced at the card he held. It was Card of Last Will, so now all he had to do was wait for Yami to use that decreasing effect and he'd be able to gain a new hand. "I'll set one card. Now I attack with Hell Poemer!"
Hell Poemer lurched forwards intent on doing serious damage with its slightly clawed hands. However, the five siblings formed into a line with the green one at the front, and a pink star appeared, blocking off the attack. "That's another effect. As long as all five are on the field I can negate your attacks!" Yami Malik sneered and finished his turn.
"I set one card and combine them into Kuribablyon again. Now I destroy Legend Devil!" The black furred demon rushed forwards and speared the devil with its horn, killing it instantly. It wasn't much damage, but at least it got rid of a potentially dangerous monster before it could become even stronger. (MLP: 7900)
Yami Malik drew free a card and glanced at it, smirking evilly. Here was another card that was key to his strategy. Once Yami fell into his trap he'd have the ultimate source of pain ready and waiting! "I set one card face down. Now, Hell Poemer will attack your fur ball!"
It hurled itself headlong at the smaller demon, slashing at it. A single streak from its claws managed to rend the tiny demon into dozens of pieces, causing a decent amount of damage to Yami's life points. It wasn't huge, but it would certainly make Yami more eager to even things up, which was exactly what he wanted. (YLP: 6500)
"You haven't seen the last of my so-called fur ball! I reveal Rope of Life!" Yami's trap revealed itself, and a hole opened up in the ground with a rope extending down into it. The rope was pulled up, and after several seconds the demonic critter appeared, clutching the rope with its teeth. It hopped off and let out a little howl, grinning evilly as its attack rose to twenty-three hundred.
Yami snatched at his next card, and before he could even consider whether or not he should attack, Yami Malik revealed one of his face down cards, opening up the options for him. "Reveal Coffin Seller! From now on when one of your monsters goes to the cemetery you will take three hundred damage! So now even sacrifices are dangerous for you!" The ancient Pharaoh could only grimace, as the card he had drawn was Jack's Knight, a monster he couldn't play.
"Kuribablyon, destroy his Hell Poemer!" Again the little creature attacked, ripping into the other demon with its horn and its teeth, shredding it completely. It jumped back, satisfied with its work as Malik's score lowered slightly. They were far from even, but now Yami's monster dominated the field. (MLP: 7600)
"That will end my turn!" Suddenly something strange happened. A blue hand shot out of his cemetery slot and grabbed hold of his Jack's Knight. He let out a sharp cry as it pulled the card from his hand and dragged it back with it into the cemetery. He could also faintly here the notes of an eerie song being played. (YLP: 6200)
"What's going on? What happened just then?" Yami Malik let out chilling laughter and opened his mouth to speak, however before he could a wide-eyed Kevin responded, a semi-horrified look on his face. Something about that look struck Yami as odd, but he couldn't place it exactly.
"When destroyed in battle Hell Poemer becomes untouchable, it can't be effected by any card played by either duelist. While in the cemetery it begins to play a hellish song, and at the end of each of your battle phases it will drag a card randomly from your hand with it into the grave." Yami's eyes widened as he started to understand what had happened. He couldn't stop Hell Poemer, and whenever it dragged one of his monsters to the grave he'd lose three points for Coffin Seller. The combo was brilliant!
Yami Malik drew another card, looking over his two cards. He couldn't necessarily win at this pace, but at least he was trapping the Pharaoh. Once he drew his trump card then this would all become far too easy. "I'll simply set one card face down and end my turn." The card appeared next to his other set card and to the left of the face-up Coffin Seller card.
The Pharaoh drew a card, looking down at the image of a very special magic card. With this card and Malik's field nearly cleared he could more then even things up, he could turn the tide! "This duel is about to turn around Malik, because I play Pump Up, doubling Kuribablyon's attack strength!" Malik just threw back his head and laughed.
Yami grimaced, not liking exactly the manner in which his opponent was laughing. How could he possibly be so confident? He had no monsters to defend himself and one of his trap cards had proven itself useless in such a situation once before. Did that mean Malik was confident in his remaining trap protecting himself, or was he bluffing. In this case he had to make a choice. "Kuribablyon, attack directly!"
The little black demon launched itself straight at Malik's chest, obviously intent on doing him in just as it had finished off Legend Devil and Hell Poemer. But this time it would be doing real damage, not the measly sort it had before. When it was only five feet from Malik, the white haired lunatic sprung his first trap. "I reveal Nightmare Wheel, which will trap your monster, preventing it from attacking or splitting into its five parts!"
A giant black wheel that looked like an implement for torture appeared, chains launching out to grab a hold of the little demon and hold it fast. It shrieked and struggled against its bonds, but it couldn't do anything. All Yami could do was declare the end of his turn, but as soon as he started to do so his opponent sprang his other trap. "As your demon's power leaves it, I can activate Card of Last Will, to draw five new cards!"
Malik picked up six cards, five from his Card of Last Will and one for his turn's draw. As soon as he saw those cards he started to grin worse then he had been before. A vein pulsed dangerously on his forehead, threatening to explode at any moment. "I set one monster in defense mode and set two magic or trap cards. Now my Nightmare Wheel will go to work!"
Yami gasped and forced himself to watch as the Nightmare Wheel did its work. It could easily have been called a torture wheel, because it stretched at the demon's body and inserted hot pokers into its flesh, bringing on agonized screams. As it did so, Yami's life points dropped. "For every turn your pathetic ball of fluff is trapped in my wheel you will take five hundred points of damage! Hahahahahahahahaha!" (YLP: 5700)
Yami grimaced upon his draw, finding only the powerful Buster Blader. However, because of its strength it was a level seven monster, and needed two sacrifices. With only one monster in play he couldn't summon it, and he'd soon lose it. "I can't do anything. I pass."
As soon as he declared these words the blue spectral hand rose from his cemetery and grabbed at his hand, pulling free the blader and dragging it to the depths of hell that was his graveyard pile. As soon as the monster passed on, the Coffin Seller trap started glowing a deep red color as its effect activated, draining Yami of more life points. (YLP: 5400)
The psychotic dark spirit added another card to his hand and grinned wickedly at the site of it. Now all he had need of was a single card, his trump card with which to finish his opponent off. Even without it his next combo would devastate his opponent. "Pharaoh, I'd like you to meet my newest monster, Needle Worm(750/750), who when flipped forces you to discard five cards from the top of your deck!"
A vicious looking little bug was revealed and it flew at Yami, assaulting him. He swatted it aside and gravely shoved his next five cards into the grave. Two of them were monsters, and the Coffin Seller greedily attacked his life points, dealing him further damage. Then the Nightmare Wheel went to work again, dealing even more damage. (YLP: 4300)
"I'll lay another trap for you and summon another new monster. You should enjoy this one, she's called Tsukuyomi, the Moon Diviner!" Yami grimaced as he recognized the glowing blue spellcaster. She was a spirit monster with the ability to force any monster on the field into defense mode. The giant bug reformed into a face down brown card, and Malik finished his turn off.
When it came time for the Pharaoh to make his move, all he discovered was a simple monster. Unfortunately for him it was just a basic monster, but a least he could get rid of it instead of having it taken from him and having Coffin Seller deal him damage. He was already in great trouble with Needle Worm and Tsukuyomi. "I set a monster and end my turn."
With his face twisting off to the side the freaky deputy of Ihachi drew another card, and then threw his head back laughing. At last, his trump card had appeared! Now would come the end of the Pharaoh and with the Pharaoh's end he would be able to strike out against Ihachi and gain true absolute power! This realm would be his for the taking!
"I sacrifice your two monsters to summon my deadliest creature, the Lava Golem!" In a blaze of fire Yami lost his two monsters, and a cage appeared around him. A huge beast formed of pure lava rose up behind him, already starting to drip lava. In each turn it would deal him one thousand damage, further completing the circle of Malik's combos. And because he lost two monsters, he lost six hundred life points. (YLP: 3700)
"I'll again flip Needle Worm, forcing you to lose another group of five cards!" He dropped his cards into the cemetery, glad that he had only lost one single monster from that flip. Of course now Lava Golem was his, and Needle Worm was in attack with no way of summoning Tsukuyomi to flip it down this turn. Perhaps Yami could still recover. (YLP: 3400)
As soon as the Pharaoh drew the golem's body began dripping even worse. A glob of super heated magma dropped from its fingers into the cage. Yami barely managed to dodge to the side into time to prevent his head from being incinerated. Unfortunately he wasn't fast enough to prevent some of it from hitting him, and the molten metal burned away the right corner of his left shoe, burning a tiny hole through the right side of his foot before it finished up. (YLP: 2400)
Dropping to his knees in agony, the former Pharaoh cried out, screaming his pain to this child's plaything of a world. The insane Yami Malik just laughed even harder, his hair bouncing as he did so. Breathing deeply the Pharaoh pushed himself back up to standing position, now favoring his left leg and putting his weight all on his right leg.
"I play one card face down, and now I shall attack your worm with my golem!" The mighty magma beast opened its jaws wide and launched out a roaring ball of fire which streaked straight towards the worm. But it didn't hit the worm, instead it hit the ground in front of the worm. The card that now appeared on Malik's field was answer enough.
It was a simple grid of green glowing lines with a spherical lump in the center rising up. It was the permanent trap card that Rebecca had used on Mokuba, the Gravity Bind trap. With that in play the power of the enormous golem was reigned in. He couldn't attack with it at all. "End turn."
Malik started up his turn, drawing a card and looking down at it. There were no cards he could place, and he really didn't need anything new anyways. All that he needed was already here, he would crush the Pharaoh in just a few short turns using the strength of his golem's effect and the combined powers of his various traps. All he did was summon Tsukuyomi to flip his worm into defense and then he ended his turn.
As soon as he started off his turn Yami hurled himself into the edge of the cage, easily avoiding the dripping molten lava of his captor, the dreadful Lava Golem. The sulfurous smoke still had an effect on him, making breather more difficult then it should have been. Worse, he had already counted and it would take only two more turns of this and nothing else to finish him off. (YLP: 1400)
Glancing down at the card he held in his hand he felt joy leap up to the surface. Of all the cards he could have drawn it was one of the very few that could save him! His deck held six monsters that were of either five stars or six, and he had already lost two of them. But now he held the third in his hand! "I shall sacrifice Lava Golem for Dark Magician Girl(2000/1700)!"
He slapped the card down onto the field, and instead received a jolt of electricity. He grunted and drew back the card, looking towards the flashing of his life point counter. For a moment instead of showing his life points it showed two words that confused him. ILLEGAL MOVE it said, but how could sacrificing the golem be illegal?
"Trying to sacrifice are we? It won't work while I use this trap card, Mask of Restrict to prevent either of us from sacrificing monsters for any reason whatsoever. Now the Lava Golem can't be sacrificed and can't attack, so each turn it will kill you a little bit more. Welcome to your worst nightmare Pharaoh, because you've just entered the Lava Lock!" Malik's laughter echoed throughout all of the false Eden, and none there could see any way out for Yami. He truly seemed doomed to defeat, and he had hardly touched Malik the entire duel.
Unable to do anything further the one time Pharaoh declared the end of his turn. He had almost forgotten about the hellish song being played, but his reminder came when the blue hand reached out and tugged away his Dark Magician Girl, taking with it his hope of grasping victory. Of course it only meant more pain for him as well. (YLP: 1100)
Malik sneered as he drew, well aware that he could potentially finish the Pharaoh off in this next move. It would be all too easy, the Pharaoh hadn't even been a challenge to him! What a pathetic laugh! Once he was finished with this fool, he'd show Dalin the new power of his deck and have his revenge on that arrogant fool for handing him his previous defeat!
"I set one card face down, and now I flip Needle Worm! Lose your cards Pharaoh, lose them and die for it!" The bug appeared again, and Yami calmly pulled free five cards. He held them up in front of his face, examining them for a moment, and then he shoved them into his cemetery slot. Malik glanced towards his Coffin Seller trap, but nothing happened, telling him that his opponent hadn't discarded any monsters at all.
"I believe that this time you're the one who has fallen into my hands Malik! Not only didn't I lose any monsters, but because an effect sent cards to the cemetery I can activate my placed trap card, Fallen Angel's Gift, which will return all five cards to my hand!" A blue skinned demon showed itself on the trap card that flipped up, and Yami calmly ejected the cards from his graveyard and held them carefully, now giving him a full span of options.
"Why can't you just die like a normal person? It doesn't matter anyways, no matter what cards you draw it'll just take another turn or so under the influence of my monster and then you'll be dead! So take your pathetic turn and then suffer!" His face was not happy, but he was still confident. The Pharaoh stood no chance against him, no options could help out at this juncture. The duel was already set.
Yami brought his hand up to six cards with a single draw, and he casually sidestepped the downpour of lava that could have eliminated him completely. Some how he had known exactly where it would fall this time, and it seemed that with this knowledge he had regained that cockiness that he had whenever he was about to do something to turn the tide of a duel and win....but that was impossible wasn't it? (YLP: 100)
The Pharaoh smirked as he turned one of his cards around, showing it to Malik before he activated it. The horror of exactly what the card was flooded through the dark spirit as he became aware of the fact that he hadn't summoned Tsukuyomi, so his Needle Worm was in attack mode!
"I use Heavy Storm to clear the field of all your traps!" A huge gust of wind and a downpour of water blasted away all of Malik's well laid plans, clearing the way for a devastating attack by the golem. But it didn't matter, he would survive it. The Pharaoh on the other hand hadn't lost any monsters from Needle Worm so hadn't gotten any by Fallen Angel's Gift. That meant that he would die as soon as his next turn started.
"Now I activate Black Magic Ritual, offering the Lava Golem to summon Magician of Black Chaos(2800/2600)!" Two black fancy pots appeared, and the golem was sucked into both pots, splitting into individual streams of magma as it did so. Moments later the special wizard appeared, swinging his staff around as he was at the ready.
"I'll set one card face down, and now I attack your Needle Worm!" A sphere of chaotic energies erupted from the staff and traveled across the ground, splitting it apart as it went. The bug let out a cry that must have been pain as it was ripped apart by the energy, and Malik's life points suffered because of it, the first major damage he had taken the whole duel. (MLP: 5550)
"That's all for now!" The phantom arm sprang out of his grave and grabbed one of his two cards, pulling it into the abyss. However it wasn't enough to leave Yami's hand empty, so he retained one card which might yet prove useful. Malik on the other hand still had more options to work with, so there was no telling what he would do.
Yami Malik drew a card, giving him a total of six in his hand. He smirked, knowing that his next play would crush the Pharaoh once and for all, and he would make it especially painful for him! Nobody crushed his strategies and got away with it, nobody! "I play Victimize, which lets me discard cards instead of sacrificing, so I discard one trap and one monster to summon Masked Beast Des Guardias(3300/2500)!"
The wicked looking clawed mask wearing beast was just the first of the Pharaoh's worries, and not the true threat either. He had something much worse in mind, a creature that would surpass any power the Pharaoh could imagine! "I sacrifice my beast for the mightiest of all creatures, Great Maju Gerzett whose attack is double that of the monster sacrifice for him, placing his power at an astounding sixty-six hundred!"
The creature that now stood before Malik and ready to attack was an abomination. That was the easiest way of describing it. It seemed to be made of the flesh of thousands of other creatures, all compiled together into a disgusting walking....thing. However, its power was nothing to be laughed at. "Great Maju Gerzett will now finish you once and for all!"
The creature attacked, hurling itself bodily at the much weaker magician that faced it confidently. Despite that confidence the Magician of Black Chaos wouldn't be able to survive that attack, and neither would Yami. "Reveal Power Cancellation, which switches all monsters on the field into defense mode!" Both monsters moved into a crouch, meaning that the magician was safe and Malik had nothing more he could do that turn but set a single card and end his turn.
Yami casually drew a card, knowing that despite his current semi-advantage he couldn't let himself become overconfident. Unless he kept his advantage he wouldn't stand much of a chance. And the card he had just drawn would do that when combined with his other card. "I play Monster Reborn to revive Dark Magician Girl(2000/1700)!"
The magic using girl came out and twirled around, flashing a wink to both of the duelists. Malik grinned lecherously at her and she frowned, backing away from him. "Now I use Jewel of the Wise to bring out the Dark Magician(2500/2100) from my deck!" The purple robed magic user joined his apprentice on the field and both casually offered a bow to the stronger Magician of Black Chaos.
"Your Gerzett may be unstoppable in attack mode, but it has zero defense points! My Dark Magician Girl will rip through it, and my other two magician's will rip through your life points!" An furious assault of various magical attacks speared through the composite beast and then into Malik, knocking him over and dropping his life points so far that they were nearly in line with Yami's. (MLP: 250)
Malik's fists shook with rage as he drew his card. He slammed it onto the field in defense mode, putting a wall between the Pharaoh's monsters and him. Hopefully the pointy haired freak wouldn't find a way past it, otherwise he would be finished! How could things have gone wrong so quickly?
Yami drew and quickly placed his card down, knowing that if he didn't he'd loose it come the end of his turn. Not that it mattered, Malik's face down obviously couldn't help him and there was no creature that could stand up to his next attack. "Dark Magician Girl attacks!" A blaze of pink energy collided with something big, and then the creature was revealed, unharmed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! You've attacked Plasma Eel(500/1200)! This monster can't be destroyed by battle, allowing me the perfect wall from your attacks!" The metallic eel clinched its pincers and Yami could only grimace as he ends his turn. He had no way past the eel at the moment, but perhaps he could find a way soon enough.
Malik drew his card and smirked, well aware that now the duel was his to claim victory with. The single card in his hand would end everything as soon as the Pharaoh started his next turn. Nobody defeated him and got away with it, and from now on nobody defeated him period. "I sacrifice Dark Magician and Magician of Black Chaos for the second Lava Golem(3000/2500)!"
For the second time in that duel Yami was surrounded by a black cage and towered over by the huge dripping lava beast. The Dark Magician Girl yelped as she jumped away in time to avoid being burned alive by a down pour of magma. "I end my turn, and as soon as you start yours it will be your end! Victory is at last mine!"
Yami drew, and lava gushed into the cage, covering him to completely annihilate him. It was all over, and as soon as the lava was finished with its work in burning away any left overs of a corpse, Malik would move on to crushing Dalin. Victory was sweet, and in this case it was also extra crispy. "MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!"
"I wouldn't laugh yet Malik, because this duel isn't over!" Malik's eyes widened in horror at the sound of that voice, the impossible voice. It was the Pharaoh's voice! The deluge of lava ceased, and Yami was revealed unharmed and ready to continue. He smirked at his opponent and raised one arm to point at his now face-up trap card, the trap that had saved his life.
"Trap of Board Eraser negates any non-battle damage dealt to me in this turn and forces you to discard a card. Since you don't have any it doesn't matter, but I still managed to escape the golem's burn unharmed." Malik's face twisted to the side, nearly splitting in two from his own rage. Again the Pharaoh slipped away from defeat! It couldn't be possible! How could one person avoid death so many times and do it so well each time!
"I play Card of Sanctity!" Both duelists swiftly and surely drew six cards, giving them full hands. As he did so, Malik glanced down at his set card, waiting for the right moment to use it. He had to know exactly what the Pharaoh would do, otherwise using it might not work as well as he could hope for.
"My next card is Revival of the Gods! By sacrificing one monster on the field and half of my life points I can revive any number of monsters from the graveyard! I'm sacrificing Lava Golem to bring about this effect!" The cage vanished as did the golem, and an aurora of light surrounded the Pharaoh, readying whatever was to come next. (YLP: 50)
"Now come forth, Dark Magician, Magician of Black Chaos, and Dark Sage(2800/3200)!" The three monsters appeared on the field in the order they were named, each of them giving each other respectful bows of the head. The Dark Sage however, in all its old and wizened glory, got deep bows from the three other monsters.
Malik once again glanced at his set card, and then readied himself to use it. The effect of the Dark Sage allowed the Pharaoh to place a magic card from his deck into his hand, and it was bound to be something to eliminate his Plasma Eel. He just had to hope now. "I activate Reward of Discard, which gives me one thousand life points for each card I discard!" He shoved all six cards into the cemetery, well aware that one of cards he had discarded allowed him to remove it to negate the destruction of one his monsters. (MLP: 6250)
Yami had just finished searching his deck and he smirked as he added the card to his hand, ready to use it. This card was difficult to use, but highly effective if used correctly. Now he could use it correctly, and it was going to win him the duel. "The card I've chosen is known as Ragnarok! It can only be activated when I have these four monsters on the field! It will remove all other monsters in my deck from the game, and then removed all of your monsters on the field from the game, clearing a path for me towards victory!"
Malik gasped and staggered backwards, only his pure force of will keeping him standing. The card had just removed his last defense, the Plasma Eel. Because it had been removed from the game instead of being destroyed, he couldn't stop it. He was now totally defenseless! "No....this is impossible! This can't be happening, I am unstoppable, I am invincible!"
Yami just raised one arm, palm raised up and fingers spread out as wide as they would go. His mouth was in a tight line and his eyes were fiercely determined as he gave the final command of the duel. "Dark Magician Girl, Dark Magician, Magician of Black Chaos, and Dark Sage will now all attack directly. For the last few moments of your existence remember these words: Noone is invincible, not you and not your goddess up there. She will fall shortly, just as you have. IT'S OVER!"
The four magical attacks covered his body, blistering it and tearing at it. He tried to put up a magical defense, but without the power of the Millennium Rod he simply wasn't strong enough to defend himself against the magnitude of these combined attacks. He was vaporized, leaving no trace that he had ever existed.
Each of the duelists there turned their gaze upwards and aware from the smoldering streak of dirt where Malik had once stood. Their eyes were focused on their goal, the temple that contained the last threat. Ihachi was in that temple, and now they had no obstacles in getting there.
The temple gleamed white in the sun, and within it Ihachi began to laugh. They would not worship? Then they would all have to burn under her gaze, burn and seethe in agony at her power! None could challenge the Goddess, not in her very own temple. "Let them come, I will crush them all into powder that not even time will remember. Let them come!"
(End)
Author's Notes: Phew, I'm amazed at myself. I got most of this done in one day when I had the day off cause my dad was being nice. Pretty amazing huh? Also I'd like to note that a large portion of the strategy Malik was using, as some of you know, is the same strategy that I use in my deck. A Lava Lock.
Original Cards
Malik: Victimize(first used by Kaiba), Reward of Discard
Yami: Revival of the Gods
Anime Series Cards: The Upper Class(Battle City Finals), Demon Mirror(Battle City Finals), Twinkle Five Star(Doom), The Five Siblings(Doom), Pump Up(Doom), Fallen Angel's Gift(Battle City Finals), Held in One's Hand(Doom), Power Cancelation(Doom), Plasma Eel(Battle City Finals), Ragnarok(Battle City Finals, note: I don't think I used the exact effect of this card)