Chapter 6: In A Bind

4:46 P.M. Outside Domino Science Museum.

Happy with her victory over Ryan, Nikki quickened her pace searching for another challenge. Suddenly, she saw a small boy with seven talismans around his neck and a duel disk on his arm. "Hello!" She said to him.

"Salutations," he responded. "Is there a reason you are addressing me?"

"Yeah, I want to duel you," Nikki remarked. "See if you win you'll get my sign of fire which I see you don't have but if I win I'll get your signs of earth, thunder and darkness."

"Incorrect," the boy responded. "You will only obtain my sign of darkness as it is unequal for you to gain three when I only need and can obtain one."

"Fine then, one it is," Nikki said. "Let's duel!"

Sam 8000/Nikki 8000

"Since I'm younger I'll go first," Sam said. "I'll set one card face down and summon Witch of the Black Forest in attack mode!" 1100/1200. A woman with purple hair in a black flowing robe stood on the field.

"That's one wimpy witch," Nikki remarked. "I'll summon Gemini Elf!" 1900/900. The female elves stood facing the witch. "Now attack her with Gemini Blitz!" The elves ran and rammed the witch destroying her.

Sam 7200/Nikki 8000

"Now that you destroyed my witch I can add a monster with 1500 defense points or less to my hand," Sam pointed out. "Now I'll summon Jinzo #7 in attack mode!" 500/400. A small android with purple skin and it's brain revealed in a bubble appeared. "I can use his effect so he can attack you directly!" The monster shot a blast of energy from his right hand, which passed Nikki's monster and hit her.

Sam 7200/Nikki 8000

"That's nothing," Nikki snickered. "I still can destroy that little robot. Now I summon Harpie's Brother in attack mode!" 1800/600. The male aerial beast flapped slightly above the field. "Now attack Jinzo #7, Harpie's Brother!" The monster flew high into the sky, and then began to dive-bomb at the monster; however, he was weighed down and fell to the ground, as did Gemini Elf.

"I activated Gravity Bind." Sam said proudly. "As long as this trap remains in play only monsters with 3 stars or less can attack and both your monsters are level fours."

"Damn, I'll end my turn."

"Now you're in a corner." Sam smirked. "I summon Cannon Soldier in attack mode!" 1400/1300. The purple cannon-toting machine Nikki had faced in her last duel appeared. "Now I set one card and play Jam Breeding Machine!" A large metal object that resembled a sphere cut in half with a hole at the top appeared. "I can't summon any more monsters but I can still sacrifice the Slime tokens to Cannon Soldier. Now Jinzo #7 attack her again!" The monster fired another energy blast at Nikki hitting her again.

Sam 7200/Nikki 7000

"We're still close," Nikki remarked a bit angrily as she drew. "I'll sacrifice my two monsters for Dark Magician!" 2500/2100. The wizard clad in his purple armor with his greenish staff appeared. "Now I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Gravity Bind!" Suddenly, as the weight of gravity began to weigh down the magician, he suddenly began to rise.

"Not so fast!" Sam said. "I'll activate Cursed Seal of Forbidden Spell!" A large golden seal with red flames around it appeared and quelled the small storm. "Not only does it counter and destroy your Mystical Space Typhoon when I discard one magic card, but you can't use any cards of the same name for the rest of the duel!"

"No!" Nikki cried watching as her magician was once again lowered back to the ground.

"Now for my turn," Sam drew. Suddenly, the Jam Breeding Machine opened and a small creature that resembled a blue teardrop with red eyes appeared. 500/500. "Now I'll sacrifice my Slime Token to activate Cannon Soldier's effect!" The monster suddenly floated over to the cannon and loaded itself in. It was then fired at Nikki. "Now attack her directly Jinzo #7!" The monster fired yet another blast hitting Nikki even harder/

Sam 7200/Nikki 6000

"And at this rate I'll have you beat in six turns!" Sam giggled.

"I won't be beaten by a little kid!" Nikki growled. "I set one monster in defense mode and end my turn."

"Yes! Another great card!" Sam chuckled. "I activate Limiter Removal on Jinzo #7!" The small android began to grow to twice its original size. 1000/400. "It doubles my monster's attack meaning I can take you out even faster and look!" Another Slime Token appeared from the machine. "Now I'll have Jinzo #7 attack and I'll sacrifice my slime so Cannon Soldier can fire it at you!" The blast of both monsters hit Nikki simultaneously knocking her on her back. She rose, dusted herself off and drew.

Sam 7200/Nikki 3500

"I can't destroy your monsters," Nikki smiled now seeming happy. "But I can stop them...even if it's only temporary. I play Swords of Revealing Light!" Several golden swords appeared trapping Sam's monsters. "Now I'll set another monster and end my turn.

Sam didn't seem phased as he drew and another slime appeared. "I can't attack but Cannon Soldier's effect doesn't count as an attack! So long slime!" In a repeat of the previous turns, the slime became ammunition for the Cannon Soldier and he fired a blast at Nikki.

Sam 7200/Nikki 3000

"I'm not beat yet," Nikki remarked. "I'll summon my Panther Warrior in attack mode!" 2000/1500. A purple furred beast clad in armor and holding a sword and shield appeared. "That ends my turn."

"I'm not scared of your big cat," Sam smirked. "I get another Slime which I'll sacrifice so Cannon Soldier can fire again!" This time, the blast passed all four of Nikki's monsters and hit her square in the face. She recoiled a little, but managed to hold her ground.

Sam 7200/Nikki 2500

Nikki drew then frowned. "I pass my turn."

"Ha! Next turn your swords will disappear so I can attack," Sam said. Yet another slime token appeared. "I'll sacrifice it so Cannon Soldier can attack!" Another blast hit Nikki but by now she was used to it.

Sam 7200/Nikki 2000

"And next time I attack with Jinzo #7 and Cannon Soldier you'll lose!"

"I've got to get the right card," Nikki concentrated as she drew. "Maybe this will help! I'll play De-Spell to destroy Jam Breeding Machine!" The machine suddenly exploded and left a large cloud of smoke. "Maybe I can't beat you yet but I can slow you down. Now I set one card and end my turn."

"Regardless," Sam stated, a little annoyed. "I'll set one monster and order Jinzo #7 to attack you directly!" The monster shot an energy blast hitting Nikki in the chest.

Sam 7200/Nikki 1500

"And next turn I can defeat you!" Sam laughed.

"Not if I can help it," Nikki said. "I'll activate my set card. It is known as DNA Surgery!" Several surgeons holding surgical tools appeared. They began to inject every monster in play with a strange purple fluid. "Now all our monsters are spellcasters!"

"What will that do?" Sam asked.

"For a kid who wants to be a scientist you seem a little slow," Nikki remarked. "Now your Jinzo #7 loses the attack points it gained from Limiter Removal bringing it back to 500. So I'll still have one more turn to defeat you."

"Darn," he said. "I'll have Jinzo #7 attack and end my turn!" The monster fired another energy blast but this time Nikki didn't flinch.

Sam 7200/Nikki 1000

"Now for my turn," Nikki looked at the card she had drawn. "Sorry Sam but you lose," she said. "I play Remove Trap destroying Gravity Bind." Nikki's Dark Magician and Panther Warrior rose. "Now I'll flip summon my other two monsters, Sangan (1000/600) and Battle Ox (1700/1000). And now I'll summon my Dark Magician Girl by sacrificing Sangan!" 2000/1800. The female wizard stood alongside her male counterpart. "Now Dark Magician Girl destroy his Cannon Soldier! Dark Magician attack Jinzo #7! Battle Ox attack directly! Then I'll sacrifice you so Panther Warrior can do the same!" As all the monster's obeyed her commands, there was a flash of light.

Sam 0/Nikki 1000

Sam slowly strolled over and gave Nikki his talisman of darkness. She clipped it onto her necklace. "Now just two more and I'll be in the finals!" Nikki jumped for joy but didn't notice there was someone watching her....

HES: Thanks to all my fans! Your reviews have kept me going and thanks to their boost I've been able to write even faster! I am thinking of writing a sequel to Amateur after I finish it. If you think I should, tell me because I highly value my reader's input. I am sorry that earlier this chapter was submitted incomplete but I was rushed to post it.

Next time on Amateur Duelist: A rogue duelist who only refers to himself as "Shadow" challenges Nikki. He too has six talismans and they agree the winner will advance to the finals. However, he is a ruthless duelist, pulling out cards that make it almost impossible for her to win. Then Nikki learns why he's fighting so hard and the root of his evil. Will Nikki defeat this dark menace? Find out next time on Amateur Duelist.