Hello, vsse here. I just want everyone to know, that since reviewing has been disabled for now, I won't recieve any reviews. I only ask that you remember to review once its been enabled again. Also, I have been misspelling the word Fortress, but I'm just going to ignore the mistakes of the early chapters.

Yu-Gi-Oh: Dark Destiny

Chapter 3: Let the Games Begin!

Yugi could only stare in shock at seeing Kaiba on the yacht with them. "So he's number three!" Yugi thought, "he's one of the strong-hearted duelists Akhma is targeting!"

"Mr. Kaiba," Egan continued, "and his company have graciously donated fifty-thousand dollars to support this tournament. In addition to being a participant, he will also serve as watchman for foul play around the fortress. Many thanks to him!"

A few duelists clapped, while most preferred to glare at Kaiba, especially Joey.

"Rich sleazeball," Joey said under his breath.

"Guys!" Yugi ran up to his friends, "I have to tell you, we're all in grave danger!"

Yugi then proceeded to explain about the Anubis Cult and their intentions. Joey screwed up his face, "Geez, everytime we go somewhere there's always something after us. Go figure," he said.

"So you, Kaiba, and Joey are supposed to be the ones Akhma is after," Tea said, "but who's the fourth?"

"I don't know, but I have a feeling we're gonna find out soon," Yugi said, "but first, we gotta warn Kaiba!"

Backstage, Kaiba walked back into his private room, and was met by Mokuba.

"Did everyone love, Seto?" Mokuba asked.

"Bah, I need nothing from those fodder," Seto said, "except for Yugi."

"Aww, c'mon, be nice, Seto. By the way, are you going to use that new card against him, Seto?" Mokuba asked.

Before Seto could answer, Yugi burst into the room, closely followed by Joey, Tristan, and Tea.

"Yugi!" Seto exclaimed, "what-"

"No time to explain, Kaiba!" Yugi said, "listen, Kaiba, we're in danger. These Akhma guys are after our souls!"

"Hah, more of that superstitious stuff," Seto snickered, "listen, Yugi, I funded part of this tournament for one reason: the opportunity to duel you once again, and to get my hands on the card Akhma Enterprises made so kindly for me."

"New card?" Yugi said, "Kaiba, these guys are supporters of Anubis, the guy who manipulated you to use the Pyramid of Light against me, and nearly killed both of us in the process! You're just being used again!"

"Quiet, Yugi," Seto said sharply, "I get used by no one. Besides, you're just afraid that the card they gave me will defeat you, just like the Blue Eyes Shining Dragon did."

"Kaiba!" Yugi started, but Kaiba cut him off, "Now, get out of my room before I call security."

"What? Bring them on then, Kaiba!" Joey huffed, but Yugi and Tristan dragged him out of the room.

They all stood outside the door silently. "Well," Yugi said, "we can't count on Kaiba being safe. It seems that we'll just have to make sure we last until the tournament finals, Joey. We can then defeat Akhma there, and free any souls he's taken."

"Right Yuge," Joey grinned, "bring them all on!"

A voice came over the intercom, "All duelists!" it said, "we are landing now. Prepare to disembark!"

"Let the games begin," Yugi thought.

A few minutes later, everyone was inside the Fortress. It was huge; the battlements were as high as a four-story building, and the area it accumulated was almost two football fields in both length and width. But the real wonder was the Central Tower in the middle of the courtyard. It seemed to be made of gold, shining with brilliance, spanning over six stories high.

Yugi stood with Joey and the others, planning. It was nearly noon.

Egan stood up on a platform, "All right, duelists, it's time! Dueling will officially begin in...five...four...three...two...one...BEGIN!"

Yugi changed into Atem and readied his Duel Disk. "Alright, guys," he said, "Tristan will go with Joey, and Tea will go with me. Joey, once you have enough keys, meet me at the Central Tower base."

"Got it," Joey said, putting on his Duel Disk, "let's go!"

Joey and Tristan headed off. "OK, Tea," Atem said, "we'll start off in the middle of the courtyard. That'll lure a cult meber out."

"Atem, are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Tea asked.

"No doubt, all of them have a copy of the Pyramid of Light card," Atem said, "the key to getting my soul and making my God Cards useless. However, there is also no doubt that most of them will rely on its power too much. That's their weak spot."

"That's right," a voice cut in. Atem turned to see a figure. He had dark hair and a mellow brown eyes. He was dressed in a blue sweatshirt, with a white shirt underneath and jeans, with a red necklace around his neck. He was about sixteen years old.

"Are you another one of the cult members?" Atem demanded.

"Quite so. And no so." the figure laughed, "you see, it is none other than I, Rames Akhma!"

"What! You!" Atem quickly drew his Duel Disk, "let's finish this right now!"

"Patience, Atem," 'Akhma' replied, "you see, I am just using this body as a puppet, to test your power. This was made possible by the Pyramid of Light card's power. Poor thing. That very card sucked out his strong-hearted soul too."

"Strong-hearted? You mean..." Atem said.

"That's right, Pharaoh," Akhman laughed, "I already have one the souls I need to resurrect Anubis. And the one I felt the most threat from, too!"

"Hm, afraid of innocent teenagers, Akhman?" Atem said, "then I can only guess what you fear of me."

"This boy was far from innocent!" Akhman thundered, "this boy is known as Reuben, the incarnation of the sorceror that helped you defeat Anubis five-thousand years ago!"

"An incarnation?" Atem stared, so he hadn't been Anubis' only enemy after all.

"Unfortunately, the boy had just learned this from who you know as Ishizu Ishtar, when I, in person, showed up and defeated him a few days ago. Now he is mine to control!" Akhma laughed.

Atem stirred with anger, "Taking people's souls, and using them as puppets," he seethed, "Akhma! I will make a wager with you! If I defeat you, you will give this boy his soul back, and you disappear from his body!"

"Very well," Akhman said, "however, if I win, not only will I get your soul, but you must give me the right to take the souls of Wheeler and Kaiba in the process!"

"Deal!" Atem thundered, "but I assure you, I will NOT lose!"

"Duel!" (Y: 4000 A: 4000)

The whole place was quite. No one was around, as many duelists had headed out of the courtyard to explore the Fortress.

"This boy's deck proved to be quite formidable," Akhma drawled as he drew his card, "however, I could not trust a deck made by an enemy, so I replaced his deck with one of my own! Go, Sonic Bird!" (1400/1000)

"That card allows you to put a ritual magic card from your deck to your hand," Atem mused.

"I then end my turn!" Akhma said.

"No facedown cards? How uncautious!" Atem said, "I play Opticlops, and attack!" (Opticlops: 1800/1700). The cyclops easily throttled the bird with its hands.

"Such is only a graze," Akhma said, (LP: 3600), "I'll next play Senju of the Thousand Hands! in attack mode!" A deity with many arms appeared on the field, "this card will let me get a ritual monster from my deck to my hand. I end my turn."

"What is Akhma up to?" Atem wondered, "he keeps playing weak monsters with no support at all. He is building something up in his hand, I am sure of it."

Atem drew, "I'll set a card facedown, and summon Gazelle, the King of Mythical Beasts (1500/1200)! My Opticlops attacks your Senju, and Gazelle with attack you directly!"

Akhma winced as his life points decreased drastically. (LP: 1700)

"Fine! Then I'll begin my retaliation!" Akhma roared, "I'll first set a card, then play the card The Greed of a King, which allows me to draw two cards! Next, I'll discard a Flaming Cerebrus from my hand to use the card Hamburger's Recipe, to summon Hungry Burger!" A gargantuan burger appeared out of a gigantic cooking pot, its mandibles snapping with sharpened teeth.

"Hungry Burger, eat that Gazelle to bits!" Akhma ordered, and the Burger lurched forward.

"Not so fast, Akhma," Atem stated, "I shall activate my facedown card, Energy Drain! This card will add to Gazelle's attack points by 200 times the number of cards in your hand, and you have three cards, giving my Gazelle 600 attack points!" (Gazelle: ATTK 2300) The Gazelle counter-attacked, slashing the Burger through its jaws and out back.

"Damn!" Akhma muttered. (LP: 1400)

"You are making this all too easy, Akhma!" Atem shouted, "I expected more from you!"

"And I expected more alertness from you, Atem!" Akhma shouted, "I now play the field card, Tomb of Rituals!"

"Wha-?" Atem managed to say before the whole place was engulfed into darkness. Suddenly, around them sprang a circle of lit candles, and Atem could see that they were in a place that looked like the inside of a Pharaoh's tomb. Hieroglyphics painted the walls, and Akhma stood facing him, next to a sarcophagus.

"Quite a place to die, eh, Pharaoh?" Akhma said, "this card gives me the ability to summon any ritual monster card from my hand without fulfilling its special requirements! Hahahahahaha!"

"No! This is serious," Atem thought, "the power of ritual monsters are balanced by their requirements. Now, Akhma can summon them at will!"

"Its over, Pharaoh," Akhma spoke softly, "I will take the souls of everyone, and my great ancestor Anubis will finally reign!"

"WHAT?" Atem thought, "Anubis..has..a descendant?"

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN! Cliffhanger!

Next Episode: Atem struggles against 'Puppet' Akhma, and just when things start turning around, Akhma activates the Pyramid of Light! Will our hero go to an early grave? Is there any hope left for Yugi and Atem?

See on Chapter 4: Kuriboh Combo, Infinite Assault!