Well, here's chapter twelve, of course. Please read and review.

Chapter 12: Duel for Life - Yata's Relentless Assault!

The two duelists stared each other down, neither one ready to back down. Jason could feel the tension mounting in the back of his neck as he prepared for a huge battle.

'If I win, I can get into the finals,' he thought. 'But if I lose...no, I won't lose. I'll never lose to this guy.'

Number two placed his deck in his duel gauntlet.

"I'll start this duel, if that's all right with you."

"That's fine by me," Jason replied. "You need all the advantage you can get."

The Rare Hunter drew his six cards and prepared himself.

(Jason: 8000) (Number Two: 8000)

"I'll place two cards face down and a monster in defense mode, and end my turn," Number Two said.

"Okay, I'll place one card face down and summon Des Kangaroo (1500/1700) in defense mode," Jason said as he swiped the cards. A tall, green kangaroo in boxing gloves appeared in front of Jason's face down hologram. "That'll do it for me."

"I'll play Confiscation," Number Two said. "This card allows me to look at your hand and discard one card to the graveyard, at the cost of 1000 life points."

(Jason: 8000) (Number Two: 7000)

Jason fanned out his hand and showed it to Number Two, who immediately selected Raigeki. Jason placed it in the graveyard slot and the Rare Hunter ended his turn.

"You'll pay for that," Jason said as he drew.

"Not with that card, because I'll activate Drop Off," Number Two said as one of his face down holograms flipped up. "This trap card forces you to discard the card you just drew to the graveyard."

"That's fine. It was nothing anyway," Jason said as he discarded Spell Shield Type 8. "I'll just place one card face down and end my turn."

"I'll place a monster in defense mode and end my turn," Number Two said.

"All right. Let's get down to business. I'll summon Mad Dog of Darkness (1900/1400) in attack mode." A large demonic dog with long, sharp fangs appeared on the field. "Now, my dog, attack the monster on the right!" The Dog unleashed a large column of flames from its mouth and incinerated the face down monster.

"You fell right for my trap. The monster you attacked was Wall of Illusion (1000/1850), and your dog gets sent back to your hand," Number Two said.

"That's not good. I'll end my turn."

"I set one monster and one card face down, and end my turn," the Rare Hunter said with a smirk.

Jason drew, and Number Two activated another Drop Off as Jason added the card to his hand. With a grumble, Jason sent Cyber Tech Alligator to the graveyard.

"You're a real pain in the ass, you know that? I'll just summon my Mad Dog of Darkness again and end my turn."

"Already starting to feel the despair, huh? Well don't worry, I'll end you soon," Number Two said as he placed a card face down and ended his turn.

"That's not going to happen. First I'll activate my face down card Barrier of the Black Arts. This card protects one monster on the field from any magic effects for one full turn, and I'll use it on my Mad Dog." Jason's monster glowed with a dark aura. "Next, I'll activate Dark Hole, to destroy everything except my dog." A raging swirl of energy absorbed the two face down monsters and Des Kangaroo.

"You destroyed my Witch of the Black Forrest, which allows me to..."

"I know what it does," Jason interrupted. "Get your monster so we can get on with this."

"Very well," Number Two said as he pulled the monster from his deck.

"Now, the Mad Dog of Darkness will attack your life points directly." Jason's monster blasted searing hot flames at Number Two.

(Jason: 8000) (Number Two: 6100)

"You kept talking like some you were something tough, but really, you're nothing. I'll end my turn, tough guy."

"Keep talking. Meanwhile, I'll activate Fissure, to destroy your Dog." Number Two swiped the card and the ground under Mad Dog of Darkness cracked open and swallowed the demonic canine.

"Next, I'll play Don Zaloog (1400/1500) in attack mode!"

A tall, light haired man appeared on the field. His one eye glimmered with a dangerous intent; the other was concealed behind a dark patch. He cocked his guns and snickered at Jason.

"Interesting. He looks just as shady and pathetic as you," Jason remarked.

"You won't be so cocky when Don attacks your life points directly, which he will now." The man aimed his gun and fired at Jason, striking the duelist in his heart.

(Jason: 6600) (Number Two: 6100)

"I imagined that I would end up shot one day, but not like this," Jason laughed as he clutched his chest.

"That's not all. My monster has a very special ability which allows me to either discard the top two cards of your deck, or one card in your hand," Number Two explained. "And I'll discard the card on my left."

"Just great. Now I only have one card left in my hand, and it won't help me," Jason said as he placed a card in the graveyard.

"Nothing will help you, fool," Number Two said. "This duel will be your last."
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Yugi walked on towards the middle of the island city. He couldn't help but think about Jason as he did.

'I hope he's all right. I need all the help I can get if I'm going to get to the bottom of this whole thing. Plus, there's the matter of the other duelists being held hostage.'

Relax, Yugi. I'm sure that Jason will be fine. He has the Millennium Ring now. Plus, he isn't very easy to beat. Right now, we should focus on getting to the site where the finals will be held.

'Yeah, I suppose Jason will be fine. But I'm also worried about Joey. Do you think that he'll get out of this coma?'

Of course he will, Yugi. Joey has been in worse situations than this. He'll be fine.

'I hope so.'

Yugi continued on, unaware that he was being watched.
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Jason drew, hoping for something to protect his life points.

"Now that's what I needed! I activate Monster Reborn!"

Jason swiped the card and a beam of light shot from the ground in front of him.

"Be Reborn, my Cyber Tech Alligator (2500/1500)!" Jason declared. The mechanical beast appeared in a flash. "Now, my beast, attack Don Zaloog!"

The Alligator spread its wings and glided over to Number Two's monster and shredded him with its sharp claws.

(Jason: 6600) (Number Two: 5000)

"That'll do it for me," Jason said, enjoying the moment.

Number Two drew, but found nothing to aid him in getting rid of Jason's monster. "I'll set a monster in defense mode and end my turn."

"That's easily taken care of. I'll place one card face down and have Cyber Tech Alligator attack that defense monster."

Once again, the monster slashed through the face down hologram with its claws. A man in a tuxedo and a white hat appeared for a short moment, then, shattered.

"I'll never get tired of that. I end my turn."

Number Two drew from his deck, hoping for a solution.

"Perfect. This is just what I needed. Prepare yourself for surrender."

Jason had an idea of what Number Two was talking about and his mind immediately snapped into action to form a plan.

"First, I'll activate The Forceful Sentry. It forces you to send one card in your hand back to your deck."

Jason placed his final card back in his deck.

"Next, I'll activate Offerings to the Doomed. It allows me to destroy one monster on the field, so say goodbye to your Alligator."

"I've got a better idea. I'll activate Mystik Wok," Jason said as his holographic card flipped up. "I'm sure you know what it does, but I'll tell you anyway just to see the look on your face. I can sacrifice one of my monsters to gain life points equal to that monster's attack or defense, and I choose Cyber Tech Alligator for attack."

The Alligator dissolved into a bright flash of sparks that floated over to Jason and wrapped themselves around him, enveloping him in a soft glow.

(Jason: 9100) (Number Two: 5000)

"Fine. I'll still summon my..."

"Wait. Before you make that move, what do you say we take this duel somewhere more interesting?" Jason said, raising an eyebrow to feign interest.

He closed his eyes and reached down into his Millennium Ring. He could feel the air around him getting colder and the sun seemed to disappear. When he opened his eyes, Jason saw Number Two, as well as the other Rare Hunters, looking around in surprise, as the shadows spread over them like a thick blanket.

"What have you done?" Number Two demanded.

"I've done just what I said I was going to do," Yami Jason said. "We're dueling in the Shadow Realm."

"Well take us back to reality."

"Sorry, but I can't do that. Once a shadow duel has begun, only the winner may leave," Yami Jason said as a sly grin slowly crept across his face.

One of the Rare Hunter enforcers tried to rush at Jason, but stopped short of the Yami duelist. He clutched his chest in pain and stumbled backwards. Finally he succumbed to the suffering, drew his final breath, and fell.

"Intruding on a shadow game comes with severe consequences. I'd suggest you stay where you are, but I don't give one tenth of a rat's ass about you people, so come near me if you want to. Now, back to our duel."

Number Two stood stunned at the events that were unfolding, but he regained his composure and made his move.

"I play Yata Garasu (200/100) in attack mode!"

In a flash of dark sparks, a large purple crow appeared on the field.

"Well, well, well. It seems the infamous Yata lock has come into play," Jason said.

"I wouldn't be so sure of victory if I were you. Yata, attack him directly!"

The crow flew at Yami Jason and slashed him with one of its talons. He reeled back slightly.

(Jason: 8900) (Number Two: 5000)

"Now you can't draw, but I'm sure you already knew that. Welcome to the Yata lock. You have no cards in your hand and one useless card face down. How are you going to get out of this?" Number Two asked.

"You'll see," Yami Jason replied calmly.

"No. You can't get out. I told you that this duel would be your last, and I was right. You've sealed your own fate. You're done for!"

The Rare Hunters looked on as Number Two ended his turn and called Yata back into his hand due to its effect.

"Well, since I can't draw, and I have nothing, I'll just end my turn," Yami Jason said calmly.

"Of course you will. I'll summon Yata (200/100) of course, and I'll attack you directly, again," Number Two said.

Again the bird struck Jason and he found himself losing two hundred more life points

(Yami Jason: 8700) (Number Two: 5000)

"Great attack. Only forty-four more to go before you finish me off," Yami Jason said as he brushed himself off.

"And I will. I end my turn."

"And I end mine."

Number Two summoned Yata again and attacked Jason again.

(Yami Jason: 8500) (Number Two: 5000)
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Yugi found himself in front of a large building, but saw no signs or anything that said where the finals would be held.

"That's weird. This is the middle of the city, right?"

It should be, Yami said. This is where they said the finals would be held. I guess we're the first ones here.

Yugi looked around, then, sat down next to Joey, who was still asleep from his excursion in the Shadow Realm.

"Nothing left to do but wait."

Yugi sat on the ground and stared up at the sky. Footsteps disturbed his thoughts of the finals, however. Yugi looked up and saw a silhouette walking towards him.

'It looks like perhaps I will have a little challenge first.'
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Number One sat at the control panel monitoring the duels. She also kept an eye on the captured duelists, and their interrogations. The Rare Hunter laughed as one of the duelists tried to run, but was caught and beaten savagely.

"Such fools. Don't they realize that it is useless trying to escape?"

Suddenly, a Rare Hunter subordinate came through the door to the room. He crossed his arms and bowed quickly.

"Sorry to disturb you mistress, but there's something you need to see on the screen, outside of the facility," he said.

Number One pressed some buttons on the keypad and the outside came up on the viewing screen.

"Well I don't believe it. He just dropped right into our lap," she said as she watched Yugi go through his deck.

"Should I send some Hunters out there?" the Rare Hunter asked.

"No. Just keep him in your sights for now and wait for orders from Lord Superior."

"Yes, ma'am."

With that, the Rare Hunter crossed his arms and gave another quick bow and left Number One to contemplate what to do about Yugi.
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"Yata, attack him directly!" Number Two commanded.

The crow flew at Jason and slashed him with its claws again.

(Yami Jason: 5100) (Number Two: 5000)

"Come on now. We've been at this for a while. Why don't you just give up and spare yourself?" Yami Jason asked as he began to sit on the shadow-covered ground.

"Why would I quit when I'm winning?"

Suddenly, two of the Rare Hunter enforcers fell to the ground leaving the other two in a daze.

"That's why," Yami Jason said with a nearly evil smile plastered on his face.

"What happened to them?!"

"This place that we are in is the Shadow Realm. It is a world of darkness forged by the magic of the Millennium Items. In this world, only someone who has a Millennium Item may survive. Anyone else eventually has their souls absorbed by the Shadows."

"Why did you bring us here?" Number Two demanded.

"Simple. To see how long you can last in a simple Shadow Game with no penalties. So, do you end your turn?"

Number Two nodded, anxiously. Jason yawned, then, looked at his watch.

"Three fifteen already. Gee, time sure flies when you're dueling."

The Yami duelist looked up at Number Two, who started to have a shortness of breath. He clutched his chest under his cloak and struggled to breath.

"It looks like the Shadows are starting to get to you. I'll end my turn."

Number Two drew, hoping for something to help him speed things up, but he found nothing that would help him.

"I'll just summon Yata and attack."

The crow attacked Yami Jason again.

(Yami Jason: 4900) (Number Two: 5000)

Number Two's eyes started to become blurry and he had to take deeper breaths. He looked up as the other two Rare Hunters passed out.

"Good help is so hard to find, isn't it? It's only a matter of time you know. You should quit while your soul and body are still one," Yami Jason teased.

"Silence! I will finish you!" Number Two yelled. "But for now I end my turn."

"And I'll end mine."

Number Two started to draw, but became dizzy. Shapes and colors swirled before his eyes as he started to slip. He dropped the cards in his hand and sank to one knee.

"Well, that seems to be it. You're done for," Yami Jason said with satisfaction.

"Not yet. I'm...still in this. So don't...count me out...yet," Number Two said as he drew. 'Just what I needed to finish this.' The Rare Hunter searched through his hand for Yata, then, stood up after finding the bird. "I'll activate Monster Reborn!"

"What could you possibly bring back that will make a difference?" Yami Jason asked.

"Your Cyber Tech Alligator," Number Two said as the beam came up from the ground.

The mechanized creature stepped forward and roared at its former master.

"Sorry, but that's not going to happen. Remember that "useless" face down card. Well here it is: Bottomless Trap Hole!" Yami Jason declared proudly. "A little something I "borrowed" from Bakura's deck. I've come up against Yata Garasu before, and this time is no different. So goodbye Cyber Tech Alligator."

A deep pit opened up under Jason's revived creature. The Alligator was then pulled into the pit and disappeared.

"I'll still summon Yata and..."

Number Two trailed off as the energy drain got to him. He fell to the ground and closed his eyes.

"Well, that took longer than I expected. Now according to these stupid rules, I have to wait for two minutes before I can claim victory, so now the waiting begins."

Yami Jason sat on the ground and looked at his watch, waiting for the two minutes to pass.
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Yugi lay on the ground, continuing to think about the finals. He hadn't seen any duelists since the last one was there.

'I wonder whether or not this was the best idea,' the boy thought as he watched the clouds roll across the sky. Suddenly, a humming noise caught Yugi's attention. "What is that?"

He looked up to see a shaft rising from the ground. The cylinder stopped, then, opened. A tall woman draped in a cloak stepped out and looked around. Yugi instantly recognized the garment she was wearing.

"You! You're a Rare Hunter!" he called out.

The woman looked at him with piercing green eyes. She chuckled softly to herself.

"Yes, boy. I am. Or to be more precise, I am second in command to Lord Superior. But you can just call me Number One," the woman said.

"Who is Lord Superior?"

"You will find out soon enough. But first, we duel. If I win, you give your rarest card, then, come nice and quiet with me down to see my boss."

"And if I win, you will release the duelists that you are holding hostage," Yugi demanded.

The green-eyed woman chuckled to herself again, then, activated her duel gauntlet.

"You're so young and naïve. It's not within my power to do that. But if you win, you can see the one who can do that."

"So be it. Let's duel."

Yami's spirit took control of Yugi and activated his duel gauntlet.

(Yami Yugi: 8000) (Number One: 8000)

"Ladies first," Number One said as she drew her sixth card. "I'll set one card face down and one monster in defense mode. Your go."

"I'll place a card face down, and summon Beta the Magnet Warrior (1700/1600) in attack mode."

A small yellow monster with magnets on its hands and head appeared in a flash a sparks.

"Go, Beta, attack her defense monster!"

The creature fired and electromagnetic blast at the defense monster. An angelic creature appeared, then, shattered.

"You destroyed my Shining Angel (1400/800), and that allows me to summon a light monster with an attack of 1500 or less in attack mode from my deck. And I choose Pixie Knight (1300/200)!"

A small, winged pixie appeared in a flash of light and floated down next to Number One.

'Now why would she choose such a weak monster? I'm sure that she can do better than that,' Yugi thought.

Yami Yugi looked at the cards in his hand and ended his turn.

"Now, I'll summon Hysteric Fairy (1800/500) in attack mode," Number One said as she swiped the card.

A winged woman holding a book materialized and adjusted her glasses with a sly smirk.

"Now, attack his Beta, Hysteric Fairy!"

The angelic woman threw a ball of energy at the magnet creature.

"Not so fast! Reveal trap card: Misdirection!" Yami Yugi declared. "My trap card stops your attack and destroys the weakest monster on your side of the field. So say goodbye to the Pixie Knight!"

The energy ball dissipated before it could reach Beta, and the Pixie Knight shattered into pieces. Number One smirked slightly.

"Well played, boy. I end my turn."

Yugi drew, then, took action.

"I'll summon the Skilled Dark Magician (1900/1700) in attack mode!"

A magician in long black robes materialized next to Beta. His staff glowed slightly as he stood ready for battle.

"Skilled Dark Magician, attack the Hysteric Fairy!"

The mage pointed its staff at the angel and fired a black beam of energy, which eradicated Number One's monster.

(Yami Yugi: 8000) (Number One: 7900)

"Beta, attack her life points directly!" Yami Yugi ordered.

The monster raised its hands and fired another electromagnetic pulse, this time striking Number One directly in her chest, and knocking the Rare Hunter to the ground.

(Yami Yugi: 8000) (Number One: 6200)

"I'll end my turn by placing one card face down. It's your go."

"Fine. That was slightly annoying, but I'll bounce back. And I'll do it by activating Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two cards."

Number Two drew her cards, then, looked at one of them intently.

'I can't believe it. This is so early in the game. I've got everything I need, but it's too soon. I need to get some more support,' she thought as she placed a card in defense mode and ended her turn.

"My turn. I don't trust that look on your face right now. Well actually, I don't trust anything about you, so I'll activate Card Destruction! Both players must discard their entire hands to the graveyard and draw the same number of cards that they discarded. So discard now."

Yami Yugi placed his four cards in the graveyard and drew four fresh cards. Number One looked at her hand and placed it in the graveyard slot, then, drew six new cards.

'Well, that wasn't as bad as I thought. At least I can get it back,' Number One thought as Yami Yugi made his move.

"Beta, attack the face down monster, now!"

Beta's assault revealed a large wall with an ominous face.

"You've just attacked my Wall of Illusion (1000/1850) and that sends Beta back to your hand," Number One said.

(Yami Yugi: 7850) (Number One: 6200)

'A Dark monster? I thought that she ran a light deck. What's going on here?' Yami thought as he returned Beta to his hand. 'I can't afford to have Skilled Dark Magician sent back to my hand right now.' "I'll place another card face down and end my turn."

Number One drew, then, smiled as she looked at the card.

'Perfect. This is going to help me a lot.' "I'll set one card face down and sacrifice Wall of Illusion to summon the Blowback Dragon (2300/1200)!"

Her wall dissolved and in its place stood a mechanized red dragon with a large pistol on its head. In a mechanical whiring of gears, the dragon raised its head and roared at Yugi's monster.

"What is that thing?" Yami asked.

"This is my Blowback Dragon. It has a very special effect that I will demonstrate now. Activate coin flip!" Three holographic coins appeared next to the dragon. "If two of these coins lands on heads, I can destroy one card on the field. So let's test my luck."

The three coins flipped through the air. Yami and Number One stared in anticipation as the coins rotated. They came to a stop on heads, tails, and heads again.

"Well it seems your luck is good. Now make your move," Yami said.

Number One looked at Yami's face for a second. His expression was as grim as death, yet twice as mysterious. She then looked at his face down cards. Number One brushed a wisp of brown hair out of her face and thought for a second.

'He is far too confident for this. Those eyes show no fear. Even if I destroy his pathetic magician, he must have a trap waiting to stop my attack somehow. I can't let that happen.' "I'll destroy the card on the left, the one you set earlier."

Blowback Dragon took aim and fired a blue energy shot that passed through the Skilled Dark Magician and shattered Yami's face down card.

"Now, my dragon, destroy the Skilled Dark Magician!"

The mechanized dragon fired a red energy blast at Yami's mage.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but activate trap card: Magic Cylinder!" Yami declared as his last face down card flipped up.

A large red cylinder materialized in front of the ancient pharaoh. The dragon's blast struck the cylinder and was absorbed into it. Seconds later another cylinder appeared in front of Number One. The energy shot came through the second cylinder and struck Number One, knocking her to the ground.

(Yami Yugi: 7850) (Number One: 3900)

"What have you done?" she asked as she recovered from the attack.

"My Magic Cylinder trap card takes your attack and sends it right back at you directly," Yami Yugi responded.

"Very clever, boy. I underestimated you, but mark my words: it won't happen again," Number One hissed as she stood up and ended her turn.

"Now, I have everything that I need," Yami Yugi said as he drew. "I will take your dragon down. First, I'll activate my Pot of Greed." Yami Yugi swiped the card..

"That's not going to help you. Besides, I've got a card of my own to activate. Say hello to Pharaoh's Treasure," Number One said. "This card gets shuffled into my deck face up, and when I draw it, I can take one monster from my graveyard and add it to my hand."

"I'll defeat you before then. You see, the whole time my Magician was on the field, its effect was active."

"What effect?"

"When three magic cards are activated by either me or you, I can sacrifice him to special summon a very powerful monster from my deck. And three magic cards were activated: The two Pots of Greed, and my Card Destruction. So now, I sacrifice Skilled Dark Magician to summon the Dark Magician (2500/2100)! Come forth my mage!"

The Skilled Dark Magician curled into a glowing ball of energy. The ball expanded and grew until it took the form of a taller, younger mage in dark purple armor.

"Now, Dark Magician, attack the Blowback Dragon with Dark Magic Attack!"

The monster pointed his staff at Number One's monster and shattered it with a flash of dark energy.

(Yami Yugi: 7850) (Number One: 3700)

"So far, you've barely touched me with that strange hybrid deck of yours. I'm not impressed," Yami Yugi said.

"You've yet to see what my deck can offer," Number One said as she drew. She caught a glimpse of what she needed as she drew. 'It's close, about two cards away. If I can hold on for that much time, then he will know the meaning of defeat. I swear it.'