SilverD: We have returned!
DWyrm: Finally.
SilverD: It wasn't my fault. I got bogged down with English papers.
DWyrm: Right…
SilverD: It's the truth!
DWyrm: Whatever.
SilverD: You should learn to trust me more. Remember what happened last time?
DWyrm: Yes…
SilverD: Anyway, on to the climatic final duel of Desert Shadow…
Notes: No new notes.
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Ch.14: Storm of the Century
Everyone stared at "Nabe," not believing their ears. A moment of shocked silence, then the air exploded in rapid-fire questions. "What!?"
"Are you insane?"
"You have been watching, right?"
"Where have you been?"
Finally Joey managed to get over the tumult, yelling loudly, "Ok! Ok! Everybody be quiet! There's bound to be a reasonable explanation to this. Right, Nabe?"
"Yeah," said Yugi, exasperatedly, "I have six locator cards already. Why should I duel you?"
Sebak's eyes flashed briefly, accompanied by a harsh glow from the Manacle. Letting his true voice filter through, he replied, "Because if you every want to see your little friend again, you will have to defeat me."
*****************
Ishizu sat tensely rigid in the back of her car, her eyes squeezed tight in concentration. Her mind sought another's through the power of her Millennium Item. Completing that task, she turned to a different one, focusing her mind to locate the pharaoh. In the driver's seat, her chauffeur waited patiently for directions. Eyes snapping open, Ishizu looked to the driver. "Domino docks; hurry."
****************
The Millennium Puzzle blazed as Yami took control, fearing for his hikari's safety. "Who are you and what have you done with Nabe?" demanded the Puzzle spirit.
"What, you do not recognize me? Of course not, time has weakened your memory, but not mine. You will regret the day you locked me in this prison."
"Wait, I'm confused," said Joey, looking from Sebak to Yami. "What's Nabe talking about?"
"That's not Nabe," said Yami, violet eyes not wavering from his foe.
"Huh?"
"Dude, Joey, it's just like Ryou, remember?" said Tristain.
"You mean there's an evil spirit inside Nabe too?" asked Tea`.
"Yes," said Yami, "and he has taken our friend's body hostage so he can duel me."
"Very perceptive, Yami. One of the reasons you were a good pharaoh, until you decided to challenge me."
"Tell me who you are!"
"Still giving orders, are we? 5000 years and you still think you rule the world, but not for much longer. Duel me and Nabe and the rest of your little friends will come to no harm. Refuse and I will send the lot of them to a special place, and Nabe will forever be locked away in his own mind."
"No! You will NOT hurt my friends!"
"Then duel me, now."
Yami looked over at his friends. Concerned and a bit frightened, they were huddled by one of the large warehouses, complete trust and support showing in their eyes. "You can do it Yugi!"
"Kick this guy's butt!"
Yami turned back to his challenger, filled with new-found determination. "All right, I accept. But you won't win."
"Oh? And why is that, pharaoh?"
"With the heart of the cards and all my friends backing me, I cannot lose."
"Heart of the cards? Ha! Prepare to meet your doom!"
Their Duel Disks changed to dueling mode and the little holograph projectors launched themselves to their positions. Sebak drew his first hand [Lava Field*, Lava Pit*, Sparks, Lady Assailant of Flames, Flame Ghost] and sneered at Yami. "I'll go first." He drew another card. [Fiery Skeleton*] "I set a monster, place one card facedown, and play Sparks, which takes 200 life points away from you!"
A series of small fireballs fell around Yami; he instinctively put his hands up for protection from the flames. Sebak laughed. "Only a light show and still you shield yourself. My turn is over. Go ahead and try to make a move." [Yami: 3800, Sebak: 4000]
"Fine." Yami drew a card, adding it to his hand. [Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Gama the Magnet Warrior, Spellbinding Circle, Black Luster Ritual, Celtic Guardian, Dust Tornado] "All right, I place two cards facedown and summon my Celtic Guardian! Now you'll see how real this 'light show' can be."
"I think not," said the dragon. "I activate my facedown card, Lava Pit. It destroys one non fire monster when it is summoned, flip-summoned, or special summoned, which includes your Guardian. Say good bye to your elf."
As the Celtic Guardian materialized on the field, a giant hole appeared right underneath him, sending him sinking into a pool of searing lava. Yami glared at his possessed friend. "I end my turn."
"Finally. I draw." [Apocalypse Flame*] 'Excellent, now I cannot lose!' "I play my spell card, Lava Field. It is a field card that raises all fire monsters' attack points by 200 and defense by 100, plus it subtracts two level stars from the said monsters."
An oozing, hissing layer of molten rock suddenly covered the once smooth concrete of the dock. Yami did not flinch as the lava swirled around his legs. 'I will not show fear to this spirit,' he thought.
"Now," continued the dragon, "I sacrifice my puny facedown monster for my all powerful Apocalypse Flame!"
The little Flame Ghost dissipated away, followed by a large ominous cloud. Roaring triumphantly, the large bulk of Nabe's strongest monster fell through the cloud, his smoky wings billowing around the whole field. [3100\2600, fire]
"Go my monstrous flame; attack the pharaoh's life points directly!"
Apocalypse surged forward, his gleaming sword-like claws reaching to disembowel the ancient king. "Not this time!" yelled Yami over the monster's roar. "I activate my facedown card, Spellbinding Circle."
Just as the flaming beast neared, a blinding light exploded around it, forming into a circle around his waist. "Now your Flame cannot attack."
"You will get yours, pharaoh, mark my words. I am through."
"Good." [Black Luster Soldier] 'My Black Luster Soldier! It's strong enough to take on his monster. But not yet.' "I activate my facedown card, Dust Tornado. It can destroy one spell or trap card on the field, and I choose your Lava Field."
A swirling twister shot from Yami's trap card, blowing away every trace of lava on the field. "Pure luck," said Sebak, scowling from across the field. "I still have the strongest monster."
"But not for long," said Yami, his voice building triumphantly. "I play Black Luster Ritual, and sacrifice my Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand, to bring forth my Black Luster Soldier!" [3000/2500]
The black knight exploded from his ritual gate, his shimmering black aura competing with the smoky haze of his opponent as he took a battle pose. "Now my monster," exclaimed Yami, "attack Apocalypse Flame!"
Soldier nodded, gripping his great sword with both hands. With a burst of speed, Black Luster Soldier charged the flame beast. A rumbling, moaning roar escaped Apocalypse Flame as his foe's sword passed unhindered through his bound body. Piece by piece he shattered, until nothing was left of the monster but wisps of smoke, dissipating away on the wind. The dragon glared at Yami, his inhuman eyes piercing like flaming daggers. But Yami could have been a stone wall for all the effect it had on him. The pharaoh smirked. "You see," he said, "you cannot triumph. My turn is over, try to beat me now." [Yami: 3800, Sebak: 3900]
"I will." [Polymerization] 'Arg! This in not what I need. But wait… Maybe I can use it. It will take some work, and an enormous amount of luck, but if I pull it off, Yami will fall, for sure.' "I set a monster for my turn."
"Is dat the best you can do!" jeered Joey from the sidelines.
"Yugi's got you on the ropes now!" added Tristan.
"Go Yugi!" shouted Tea`, playing the cheerleader as usual.
"Kick this guy's butt!" yelled Mai.
"As you can see," said Yami as he drew [Alpha the Magnet Warrior], "my friends always back me up. You have nothing but your hate."
'Oh I have much more than that, pharaoh,' thought Sebak, 'you just wait and see.'
"I summon Alpha the Magnet Warrior [1400\1700]," continued Yami; the round, pink robot appearing on the field. "Black Luster Soldier, attack his set monster with your mighty sword!"
The knight easily cut through the brown card, revealing and destroying the Lady Assailant of Flames [1500\1000]card beneath. "You have activated my monster's flip effect," said the dragon. "By removing the top three cards of my deck from play, I can inflict eight hundred points of direct damage to your life points."
As the fire mage disintegrated, she flung three burning cards at Yami, which met their mark; the pharaoh refused to flinch. [Yami: 3000, Sebak: 3900] "Do not move just yet pharaoh," said Sebak, his eyes again gaining their evil glow. "One of the cards I removed from play was my Cowardly Flame Spirit* monster; it has a special effect as well. If it is removed from play for any reason, I can return one of my own monsters from the graveyard to my hand. You know which one I choose, it is my Apocalypse Flame."
"Fine, may I finish my move?"
"Of course, but it will do you no good."
"If you forgot, I still have another monster on the field. Alpha, attack his life points directly!"
The little pink monster zoomed towards Sebak on his metal wings, landing a single punch right on the dragon's chest. Sebak growled at the thing as it glided back to Yami's side of the field. [Yami: 3000, Sebak: 2500]
"Your move," said Yami.
Sebak gave Yami another good snarl before drawing. [Negate Attack] 'I hope this holds him off long enough.' "I set a monster and place one card facedown. That ends my turn."
"My draw," said Yami. [Beta the Magnet Warrior] 'Hey, I have all of the magnet warriors. I hope I won't need their help.' "Black Luster Soldier, attack"
"I activate Negate Attack," cut in Sebak, "It forces you to stop your attack and end your battle phase."
"All right, I end my turn."
"Good." [Monster Reborn] 'YES! Now I am he pays.' "Prepare to meet your maker, pharaoh. I play Monster Reborn to revive your Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"Hey! That's my card!" yelled Joey, "You bastard!"
"The Red-Eyes may be powerful, but it's not enough to face my Luster Soldier, even if you sacrifice it for your Apocalypse Flame you won't have enough attack points," said Yami irreverently.
"Whoever said I was going to sacrifice it," said Sebak.
"Then what are you going to do with it?"
"Watch and learn, pharaoh. I play Polymerization to fuse your Red-Eyes with my Apocalypse Flame!"
Apocalypse once again took the field, blotting out the already dark night sky. But he did not stay long. The two monsters melded together, seeming to sink into the ground.
"What have you done!" screamed Joey, scrambling to attack Sebak himself. Fortunately, Tristan and Duke managed to grab him.
"I have unleashed your worst nightmare!" crowed the spirit. "Meet the last monster you will ever see, pharaoh. Come forth, Dragon of the Hellmouth*!" [3500\3000]
The concrete seemed to crack, bulge, as if a volcano was growing underneath it. A sound akin to lightning striking split the night air; darkness covered the field. As the gloom pervaded all, Yami could not help but feel fear. He faced his opponent through the shadows, trying not to notice a pair of blood red eyes glowing across the way.
********************
In her car, Ishizu could sense Yami's fear. 'Oh spirits,' she silently prayed, 'let me not be too late.'
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SilverD: Yay! Cliffy! I think I'll just leave it at that for now.
DWyrm: We would continue, but it has been a long time since we updated, so…
SilverD: Stupid compy, decided to go nuts after my papers were finished.
DWyrm: Internet has been down a while, so please excuse the lateness of this chapter.
SilverD: Don't worry, we'll update as soon as we finish updating the other stories.
DWyrm: Unless we hit writer's block.
SilverD: Which shouldn't happen to this story. ^______^ I LOOOOVE climaxes!
DWyrm: O;;o,,,, Right…
SilverD: Anywho, onto the reviews!
LittleYugiBoy: Thanks. I'm sure DWyrm got the point. We'll try to catch up with everything as soon as we can.
Mina-chan AMD: Well, I'm sure you're not sick any more, but we're glad it made you feel better.
Shadow Guardian of the Gate: Glad you like all the evil people. They tend to stand out in my writing. So expect tons more!
Shayken Destiny: Yeah, put in long hours watching re-runs of Yu-Gi-Oh too. Just for your entertainment. But it's worth it. I hope you like this duel.
GoldenEyesSilverWingDragon: Yay! New reviewer! Sorry it took so long, but you know compies… Whenever you get a story up, tell me so I can read it.
Sdrive: Yeah, Masters is pretty cool, sorry about the wait and not reviewing and all. Now the duel will soon end, or maybe not…
Flower Petals: O.O Wow, you really like this. Thanks a lot. We mean it. Sorry about your Internet situation, that really sucks. This story is nearing its close, but there may be a sequel… I'll let you know. ^_^
SilverD: Well, I think that covers everybody.
DWyrm: Yes.
SilverD: So, see you all in the next chapter!
Original cards:
Lava Field: Spell, field. +200 ATK, +100 DEF, and -2 level points to all Fire monsters.
Lava Pit: Trap, destroys one non fire or pyro monster when summoned, flip-summoned, or special summoned.
Fiery Skeleton: Fire att., zombie type, 4*, 1800\1300
Apocalypse Flame: fire att, pyro type, 8*, 2900/2500
Cowardly Flame Spirit: fire att, zombie type, 3*, 400\1500, Effect: If removed from play, return one monster from your graveyard to your hand.
Dragon of the Hellmouth: fire att, dragon type, 8*, 3500\3000, fusion: Apocalypse Flame and Red-Eyes Black Dragon
SilverD: okay, as an afterthought, I made one mistake within this part of the duel. It has to do with dueling rules. Whoever guesses right will get a permanent spot in my next story.