On the third day, Yugi came down stairs as determined as ever. Joey, Tristan, Bakura, his Grandpa, Kaiba, and Mokuba were in the store.
"Here," Kaiba said handing Yugi a folded piece of paper. "It's a map to Masters' place." Yugi opened it and looked at the route. It looked like it was pretty far off. It would probably be a 90 minute hike. Fortunately, the map also had familiar landmarks like Domino School, the Game Shop, and Kaiba Corp so he wouldn't get lost.
"This is it," Yugi announced to the six humans and two Millennium Item spirits. "If I had my way, I'd rather just get Tea and get out of there without dueling Edric, but... if for some reason I don't come back, I just wanted to say thanks for everything you all have done. I'm very grateful to have friends like you."
"Yugi, wait," Joey said. He took out a card. "I want you to take the Swamp Battleguard."
"Take the Lava Battleguard too," Tristan added. "You never know when you're going to need their powering-up ability."
Joey nodded then handed another card to Yugi. "I also want you to take Masaki, the Legendary Swordsman. Some of your cards require you to sacrifice other cards so this will make a good sacrifice card."
"Joey..."
"Hey, Yug, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to get the Duelist Kingdom prize money for Serenity's operation. This is the least I can do."
"Yugi, take one of my cards too," Bakura said offering him his Enchanted Javelin trap card.
"Bakura, are you sure?" Bakura nodded.
"Yugi, I also have a card for you," his grandfather said. He handed Yugi the Flame Manipulator. "I know it may seem worthless, but when used in the right combo, it can be really strong."
Kaiba noticed Mokuba looking through his deck. Mokuba had been trying to form his own deck for quite a while and said that he wanted to create a deck himself without any help from Seto. Mokuba took out a card. "Here, Yugi, this might make a good sacrifice monster too." It was the Man-Eating Treasure Chest.
"Thanks, Mokuba. Well, I guess this is it."
"Wait a second, Yugi," Kaiba said. "I don't think you'll get very far in a duel with 8000 life points with two level 5 cards and three weak cards. You might as well take a card that you can actually use." He tossed Yugi his Vorse Raider card.
"Vorse Raider?"
Kaiba nodded. "I just expect you to return it to me without a scratch."
"You got it. Thanks, everyone. I promise I'll make you all proud." And he left the Game Store.
Joey punched his palm in frustration. "I hate waiting. I wish there was a way we could find out what's going on."
Kaiba pondered that. "Perhaps there is..."
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Following Kaiba's map, Yugi made his way through Domino. In his mind, he went through what he would say to Tea when he saw her. Tea, I'm really sorry I wasn't there for you when you really needed me. But don't worry, I'm here now, and I'll do anything to make sure you're safe, even if it means...
"Well, if it isn't little Yugi," a nasal voice said.
"Oh no," Yugi groaned He recognized that voice, Weevil Underwood. The insect Duelist was standing before Yugi blocking his way. "Weevil, I don't have time to deal with you right now."
"You'll just have to make time. You owe me a duel and I intend to collect."
"Weevil, my friend is in trouble, I have to save her."
"Well your friend will just have to wait while I squash you for the humiliation you and your gnat Joey Wheeler gave me." Yugi tried going around Weevil but Weevil kept blocking his way.
"Looks like I have no choice," Yugi complained as he activated his Duel Disk. "I have to beat Weevil if I'm going to save Tea."
"That's the problem with cockroaches," a new voice said. "No matter how many times you stomp on them, they always come back." Yugi and Weevil turned and saw a voluptuous woman with wavy blonde hair and purple eyes wearing a white denim jacket with matching skirt and heels.
"Mai!" Yugi called, surprised and a little glad to see her.
Weevil, however, wasn't as ecstatic. "Stay out of this, Valentine; this is between me and Little Yugi."
"Obviously your memory is as small as those bugs you love so much, Weevil. You couldn't even beat Joey at Battle City, and Yugi already beat you once before. I should know; I was there. What makes you think you can beat him again. You probably couldn't even beat me in a duel let alone Yugi."
"Is that a challenge?"
"You bet it is!" Mai activated her Duel Disk. "You beat me, then you can duel Yugi. But don't think that far ahead because you won't even get passed me." She cast an eye at Yugi. "Say kid, don't you have somewhere you need to be?"
"Yeah, I do. Thanks, Mai!"
"It won't matter. This won't take long," Weevil said as Yugi went around him and ran off into the distance.
"Let's Duel, shorty!" Mai said.
(W: 4000)
(M: 4000)
"I summon Atomic Firefly in attack mode!" Weevil called. An insect-shaped nuclear bomb appeared.
Name: Atomic Firefly
Level: 1
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 100
DEF: 200
"Well I summon D. D. Warrior Lady in attack mode!" Mai countered. A blonde woman wearing armor appeared.
Name: D. D. Warrior Lady
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1600
"Attack!" The both shouted. The Warrior Lady swung her sword. The moment she hit the firefly, it exploded taking both of them.
"By attacking my Atomic Firefly, you activated its special ability which takes you down by 1000 life points."
"Well by allowing my Warrior Lady to attack you, her special ability activates which removes both monsters from the game."
(W: 2600)
(M: 3000)
"You'll pay for that," Weevil said. "I summon Neo Bug in attack mode." Neo Bug had the body of a grasshopper but wings of a Dragon Fly and its tail looked like a fly's pinchers.
Name: Neo Bug
Level: 4
Type: Insect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1700
"Attack her directly!" Weevil commanded. The Neo Bug sandwiched Mai with its pinchers.
(W: 2600)
(M: 1200)
Weevil laughed hysterically. "You're only one attack from being defeated, Valentine! You'll pay for disrespecting me and keeping me from my revenge!"
"Go fly into a bug zapper, wormy," Mai insulted infuriating Weevil. "Anyway, it's over for your turn so now it's my turn." She drew a card. "I summon Amazoness Fighter in attack mode!" The Amazoness Fighter was a burly woman with long spiky dark hair.
Name: Amazoness Fighter
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1300
"Next, I'll activate Tribute Doll!"
"Oh no, don't tell me you're going to special summon a level 7 monster!" Weevil gasped.
"Bingo, and this card was inspired by a special friend of mine. I special summon... Guardian Angel Joan!"
"I told you not to tell me," Weevil moaned as a bright light took the form of another female monster. As her name suggests, Guardian Angel Joan was a more magnificent, more angelic version of the fusion monster.
Name: Guardian Angel Joan
Level: 7
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 2800
DEF: 2000
"Fortunately for you, using Tribute Doll means I can't attack so I end my turn."
I have to protect my life points from that... powerhouse pixie. "I switch Neo Bug into defense mode and summon Arsenal Bug in attack mode!" Arsenal Bug was a brown beetle carrying a sword and a shield.
Name: Arsenal Bug
Level: 3
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 2000
DEF: 2000
"I lay one card face-down and end my turn." She can't resist attacking my attack-position monster, Weevil thought. When she does, I'll have a nasty surprise waiting for her. Then, once she's out of the way, it's onto Little Yugi.
Mai drew a card. "Get ready for one serious pounding, Underpants," Mai said. "I equip Joan with a spell card called Big Bang Shot!"
"No! Now she can damage my life points even with my monster in defense mode!"
"You're pretty smart for someone with a bug-size brain. Not only does Big Bang Shot increases my monster's attack points by 400, but it can do damage to life points no matter the position."
(GAJ: 2800---3200)
"Joan, attack his Neo Bug!" Joan formed a sphere of light and shot it at the Neo Bug. "And your luck just keeps getting worse, Weevil, because every time Guardian Angel Joan destroys a monster, my life points increase by the destroyed monster's attack points.
(W: 1100)
(M: 3000)
"Plus since it's now the only card on your side of the field, your Arsenal Bug's points are cut in half!"
(AB: 2000---1000, 2000---1000)
"But you don't come through this unharmed either, Mai. Activate trap card: Just Dessert! Now you lose 500 life points!"
(W: 1100)
(M: 2500)
Mai took a card from her hand. "I summon The Forgiving Maiden in defense mode!" A woman wearing religious-looking robes appeared.
Name: The Forgiving Maiden
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 850
DEF: 2000
"I also activate Spell Force."
"What does that do?" Weevil asked.
"It allows me to draw as many spell and trap cards as my opponent has cards in his hand for 1000 life points."
(W: 1100)
(M: 1500)
"And since you have four cards in your hand, that means I can draw four spell and/or trap cards." Mai took the cards from her deck and added them to the two cards that she already had. "I equip The Forgiving Maiden with Silver Bow and Arrow and Cestus of Dagla which raises her attack and defense points." Silver Bow and Arrow raised a fairy monster's ATK and DEF by 300 while Cestus of Dagla raises only the ATK by 500 points.
(TFM: 850---1650, 2000---2300)
"I'll lay two cards face-down and end my turn."
Weevil drew a card making his hand content six cards. "I play Monster Reborn to revive Neo Bug!" His bug reappeared next to the Arsenal Bug. "I then sacrifice the two to summon Metal Armored Bug." His Metal Armored Bug looked like a metal beetle.
Name: Metal Armored Bug
Level: 8
Type: Insect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 2800
DEF: 1500
"I equip it with Invigoration and Fairy Meteor Crush!"
(MAB: 2800---3200)
"Now you'll receive your punishment for siding with Yugi. Attack her Forgiving Maiden!"
"I don't think so. Reveal trap cards: Collected Power and Bypass!"
"Oh no!"
"Oh yes. Collected Power takes all the equip spell cards I have on the field and transfers them to one monster. And the monster I choose is my Guardian Angel Joan!"
The Forgiving Maiden raised her head to look at Guardian Angel Joan. The maiden held out her hands and energy flowed into the higher-level monster.
(GAJ: 3200---4000, 2000---2300)
"And Bypass lets me attack your life points directly for one half of my total life points."
(W: 1100)
(M: 750)
Weevil let out an 'eep.'
"Joan, attack Weevil!" Guardian Angel Joan gathered energy into her hands again, but instead of throwing it at him; she flew into the air and dive-bombed him, hitting him at point-blank range. The entire street lit up in one spectacular explosion.
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Yugi saw a flash of light behind him. I hope Mai's all right. Weevil can be brutal. I can't worry about her now; I have to get to Tea. Yugi was able to run another two miles before getting worn out from all the running. Suddenly, a familiar purple convertible pulled up beside him. "Hey Yugi, need a lift?"
"Mai, but, what happened to Weevil?"
Mai winked at him. "Let's just say he couldn't handle a woman like me"
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The attack from Guardian Angel Joan left Weevil dazed on the sidewalk. People passed by him giving him one glance then continued on their merry way.
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Minutes later, Yugi and Mai were traveling a dirt road towards Mount Fuji. "I saw you chasing after something a couple of days ago. When Joey called me and told me what was going on, I was stunned to say the least. I felt sorry for Tea and you too so I drove over to see what I could do to help."
"Well your timing couldn't have been more perfect," Yugi said. "I feel like we're racing against the clock here. Who knows what Edric is doing to her?"
"I don't think you're giving Tea enough credit," Mai said. "She's a lot stronger than you might think, plus she's hooked on you."
"She is?"
"What, you think all that cheerleading was a natural part of her personality? She's interested in you and I'm not just talking about as a friend. Don't forget, she was willing to duel me on your behalf even though she's a worst Duelist than Joey. So what about you? You're willing to do whatever it takes for her?"
Yugi nodded. "Even sacrifice my life if necessary."
"I thought you might say something like that. Get my Duel Disk from the back seat, will 'ya?"
"Sure." Yugi reached into the backseat and took out the Kaiba-Corp. Duel Disk that Mai used during Battle City.
"Take out the top card and look at it." Yugi complied. It was Mai's Harpie Lady.
"Mai, this is your Harpie Lady card."
"Yup, it's the one I was going to use against you at Duelist Kingdom had you not brought out that Black Luster Soldier. Use it."
"Thanks, Mai; I don't know how I can repay you."
"You can repay me by being there for your sweetheart. You're crazy about her and I'm positive she's crazy about you as well."
"I will."
"Can I give you another piece of advice?"
"Sure."
"I had dueled Masters at Duelist Kingdom. He seemed to rely too much on his machines than his self. You and I both know what it takes to really win a duel. Show Masters what a true Duelist duels like." Mai pulled up to a side dirt road. "This is the place."
"How can you tell?" Mai pointed to a large mansion just beyond the dirt road. "Oh. Well, thanks, Mai."
"Good luck, kid." I have a feeling you'll need it. And she drove off.
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Edric was not unaware of Yugi's approach. He was watching Yugi approach from his security camera. Looking perturbed, he got up and went down into the Sub-Basement.
"Heads up, my dear," he told Tea. "I have something to show you." Tea raised her head and scowled at him. Edric activated a holographic view screen which showed Yugi approaching.
"It's Yugi!" Tea cried happily. "I knew he would come."
"Look closely, my dear, do you see? He's wearing his Duel Disk. Why would he bring his Duel Disk if he was just coming to rescue you? And why would he wait for four days after our previous encounter to make a rescue attempt? You see, my pretty one, he doesn't care about you at all. He's just a shallow little boy who doesn't deserve the honor given to him! And I'll prove it."
Tea made one last attempt to reason with Edric. "Edric, why are you doing this? I can understand why you would want to duel Yugi but kidnapping me, torturing Yugi, using invincible cards that could probably even take out the Egyptian God Cards? You're no better than Seto Kaiba..."
SLAP
"How dare you compare me to that filthy inbreed heathen!" Edric hissed. Tea was shocked both by the slap he gave her across the cheek, and by his insult to Kaiba. "My family worked hard and we were the dominant company in the field in technology productions. Then Kaiba Corp. appeared. I didn't mind so long as they limited their venues to the military. But then their new C.E.O., Seto Kaiba, started to turn Kaiba Corp. to other venues. Soon, they were producing technology that we couldn't even begin to imagine, and they were using it for games. FOR GAMES! What's worse, their company was skyrocketing to the top while we were getting sent down to the basement. I wasn't about to let a company that I worked long and hard to bring up to global status be overrun by a ragtag game company owned by a boy who isn't even a Kaiba. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Seto Kaiba had been beaten in a Duel by a virtual nobody named Yugi Moto. I thought that if some pipsqueak loser from a run-down gaming store could beat Seto Kaiba, then so could I, the head of a conglomerate unmatched by any in the world!
"So I decided to initiate a hostile takeover of the very company that threatened my power. By bribing certain people, I was able to take stock from Kaiba Corp. shareholders. After that, it was like pushing over a stack of dominos. And soon, the takeover will be completed. Perhaps if Kaiba spent more time keeping hold on his company and less time playing games, he wouldn't be so close to losing his job. When I heard that Yugi Moto defeated Seto Kaiba again at Battle City, I decided to go the extra mile and humiliate Kaiba at his own game. I even decided to produce my own version of the Duel Disk and I invented the 8000 life point rule as well. But I had to test it and the Inferno Tempest card that I was able to... 'acquire' from one of Pegasus' Eliminators just before my departure from Duelist Kingdom, to make sure it would stand up to Seto Kaiba. So what better way to test it than to defeat the boy who defeated Kaiba? For if I could defeat Yugi Moto, then Seto Kaiba would be a breeze to beat."
"So all this is just so you can be one up on Kaiba Corp.? How selfish is that? You think you should be on top and nobody else!"
"That's correct; I should be on top because I deserve it! And if I have to step on some people to do it; then I would do it again and again."
"That makes you lower than Kaiba, that makes you barbaric," Tea said. "I feel sorry for you."
SLAP
Now both of Tea's cheeks were red.
"Stop comparing me to him! He's nothing but a selfish, egotistical, rotten, poor excuse for a man! I am dignified and superior in every way! I am confident in my abilities."
Overconfident is more like it, Tea thought.
"Name one thing that puts that... that... scraggly orphan over me."
"He has someone to care about him."
"Caring? Humbug! Emotions like that only get in the way with progress." Edric patted his Duel Disk. "That's why technology is such a wonderful thing. Technology is not held back by petty emotions, and they serve their master willfully and get the job done. The fact that my Technological Dominance Deck defeated your 'pal' Yugi in a duel is proof of that."
"You didn't beat him, you tricked him! You all but stabbed him in the back! That's not the way real Duelists duel, they duel with honor and respect for one another! Yugi and Kaiba are rivals, but they respect each other's dueling skills and honor it by dueling fairly. And that doesn't just make them rivals, but friends as well."
"Oh please, that friendship garbage is nothing but a trick to sooth children from the harshness of reality." He walked up to her and gave her a smile that sickened her. "I bet you consider yourself Yugi's friend. Well, my dear, here is the truth, you may care about Yugi, but he doesn't care about you. If you want to compare someone to Kaiba, compare Yugi to him, because all they both care about is improving their decks and boosting their egos. And I'll prove it." Edric turned to leave.
"What are you going to do?" Tea asked rapidly.
"What am I going to do? I'm going to prove that your friendship and caring are nothing compared to the overwhelming power of my technology."
He's going to try to hurt Yugi again! Tea thought. And there's nothing I can do to stop him.