Chapter 10: Nikki vs. Mark...Vengeance?

Nikki drew her cards glowering at Mark. He chuckled a little as he watched her.

"What's so funny?' She snarled.

"This will be so easy," he said nonchalantly. "I have even betters spirits than last time and there is no chance you'll even get close to beating me!"

"Don't be so sure..." she stammered. Believe, I gotta believe she thought.

Nikki 8000/Mark 8000

"I'll set a monster and end my turn." Nikki said.

"Well, I'll start off with a crushing attack. I summon Susa Soldier in attack mode!" 2000/1800. The mighty warrior/spirit from her earlier duel appeared. "Now attack her monster!" The spirit charged but it was knocked back as the monster reared up.

"My Giant Soldier of Stone won't crack so easily," she smiled.

"Damnit! I end my turn," Mark said gruffly as he returned Susa Soldier to his hand.

"You're completely unguarded!" Nikki said as she smiled. "I summon Dark Magician Girl by sacrificing my Giant Soldier of Stone!" 2000/1800. The female magician floated to the field and stared at Mark with a smile. "Now attack him directly!" Raising her staff, the mage shot a blast of dark energy that pierced Mark's life points.

Nikki 8000/Mark 6000

"Yeah Nikki!" Raijouta called. "Just three more attacks like that and he'll lose!"

Mark merely smiled. "I knew that would happen but I'm not worried. Because now I Cost Down on my Hino-Kagusuchi! Then by activating Change of Heart I can sacrifice your Dark Magician Girl!" Nikki watched as her favorite monster disappeared and a new one came from Mark's hand. 2800/2600. A muscular man with flames for hair and fire around his wrists emerged. "Now attack her directly!" The monster raised his hands and shot two fireballs hitting Nikki.

Nikki 5200/Mark 6000

"Sadly, my monster must return to my hand but he did his job." Mark said as his monster disappeared.

"Well, you won't be happy because I've got a card in my hand that'll do a ton of damage to you!" Nikki said.

"Nope. Because of Hino-Kagusuchi's effect, you must discard your entire hand before you draw your next card."

Nikki did so angrily as she picked up only one card. "Well, I'll summon Gemini Elf and attack you directly!" 1900/900. The female elf duo raced at Mark and delivered a series of hits.

Nikki 5200/Mark 4100

Mark merely smiled. "You have yet to taste my true power!" he laughed.

"Admit it, I'm better than you now." Nikki said proudly.

"Not true, amateur. Now I play Monster Reborn to revive your Dark Magician Girl!" Nikki watched as her former monster stood before her rival. "Now I activate Spirit Energy Settle Machine!" A large metal contraption appeared on mark's field. "With this card, my Spirits can stay in play meaning I don't need your monsters to sacrifice. Now I summon Susa Soldier!" 2000/1800. The white-haired soldier appeared once again. "Now Dark Magician Girl destroy Gemini Elf and attack directly Susa Soldier!" The wizard shot an energy blast that vaporized the elf. The soldier then ran and slashed Nikki across the chest making her step back in pain.

Nikki 4100/Mark 4100

"Now we're even," Mark retorted. "I end my turn."

Nikki looked at the one card she held. "Yes! This will do fine. I play Pot of Greed!" Nikki drew two cards and smiled. "Now I play one of my new cards, Fenshing Mirror!" A mirror that looked of Chinese craftsmanship appeared. It was made of jade and silver and Mark cursed. "Now I can choose one spirit in your hand and destroy it and I choose Hino-Kagusuchi!" Mark solemnly discarded one of his best spirits. "Now I set a card and end my turn."

Mark looked. "Damn, it could be a trap...maybe I shouldn't attack. I'll set a monster and end my turn."

He fell for it, Nikki thought. "Now I play Painful Choice!" Nikki looked through her deck and chose five cards. They were Dark Magician, Magician of Black Chaos, Brain Control, Goblin Attack Force and Magician of Faith.

"I choose Magician of Black Chaos considering I doubt you have the ritual so it will be worthless." Mark grinned.

"Then I'll end my turn." Nikki said not sounding the least bit sad or worried.

"Ha! Wide open!" Mark laughed.

"Don't forget my set card from last turn." She reminded him.

"Damnit, you're right. I'll set a card and end my turn." Mark said gruffly.

Nikki smiled at the card she drew. "Yes! Now it's time for some hurt! I activate Premature Burial! By paying 800 life points I revive my Dark Magician!" 2500/2100. The armor clad mage glowered at Mark.

"Looks like he wants his girlfriend back," Ryu-Yami joked.

Nikki 3300/Mark 4100

"Now I activate my set card, Title of a Knight!" A crest comprised of two broadswords and green/gold shield appeared. The Dark Magician's armor suddenly changed to look more medieval. His staff had disappeared and now he held a sword. "Meet Dark Magician Knight!" Nikki called. Suddenly, he raised his sword and slashed Mark's set monster in half.

"What the hell?" Mark asked.

"When Dark Magician Knight is summoned, he can destroy one monster in play."

"Damn you, my Tsukonami would've switched him to defense mode!"

"Well, now attack and destroy Susa Soldier!" The knight raced and slashed the spirit in half depleting Mark's life points.

Nikki 3300/Mark 3600

"Where did she get that card, I wonder?" Ryu-Yami said puzzled. Raijouta merely smiled and continued to watch the duel.

"I switch Dark Magician Girl to defense mode and end my turn." Mark groaned.

"I summon Harpie's Brother in attack mode!" 1800/600. The male winged beast flew down to the field. "Now Dark Magician Knight destroy Dark Magician Girl and Harpie's Brother attack directly!" The knight slashed the woman in half sadly as the Harpie rammed Mark.

Nikki 3300/Mark 1800

Mark looked at his cards sadly. There was nothing he had left to do. "I set a monster and end my turn." He prayed silently that she wouldn't attack as her turn began.

"This is it, Mark," Nikki said. "Now I am going to defeat you. Dark Magician Knight, destroy his set monster and attack directly Harpie's Brother!" The face down Yata-Garasu cried as it was met by the monster's blade. Mark wept himself as he watched Harpie's Brother destroy his remaining life points.

Nikki 3300/Mark 0

"Yeah Nikki!" Came the cries of the others.

"I...lost...to her?" Mark screamed. "It isn't possible! Damn you Nikki! Damn you Raijouta! I will have my revenge!" Mark ran off as Nikki listened to the next announcement.

"And finishing up round one we have Ryu-Hikari against Izumi." Ryu-Yami announced. Raijouta looked and hoped the winner could defeat Nikki...

HES: Cool battle if I do say so myself. Yes Nikki did it, she finally beat Mark. And no, the thing about him being mad at Raijouta isn't a typo because he gave her Dark Magician Knight. Also, you'll see why he wants the winner to beat Nikki. (I mean think about it folks, no it isn't cousin- rivalry if there is such a thing).

Next time on Amateur Duelist: Izumi battles Ryu-Hikari in a great battle. With wind monsters against dragons it's quite a battle. Both are exceedingly good but one truly dominates. Who will win? The world's #1 female duelist, or the man we know almost nothing about? Find out next time on Amateur Duelist.