"Daybreak minus one hour." Rang throught the lobby, smoldering and destroyed as it was. The nine gathered there. Ardrea, Shuyin, Cid, Aura, Lantash, Serena, Sevanos, and Raven.
"What a failure." Serena sighed, "Hey, Raven, can you get Marshal or Colbert back?"
"No. I can't sense them in the shadow realm." Raven replied.
"Perhaps they've been freed... somewhere," suggested a somewhat recovered Aura.
"All I know is I wish to duel." Lantash shot Sevanos a glance.
"Sevanos, daybreak is in less than one hour and over the night we lost Colbert and Marshal." Serena closed her eyes, "We only mopped the floor with five of those damned Abyss worms, and my lobby has been destroyed. We need to swing into high."
"You're right. We didn't come all the way to America to sit on our hands." Sevanos said, "But this is covert stuff... this isn't for the public."
"I'm sick of playing host to their party of destruction." Serena said, ingenuously.
"Simple answer." Ardrea interjected, "We have Illarya host it."
-O-
"Daybreak minus five minutes." The obviously bored female intern forced to call off the sunrise sighed.
-O-
"Attention!" Sevanos screamed into the front parking lot of the branch HQ, "In four minutes the sun will rise on California. We have found, through inquisition of defeated Abyssmen, that Illarya plans to launch her plan this evening, but in order to enslave the population of earth, you guys need the power to stop this Datrz fellow. We have it."
Raven stepped forward and raised the Scale.
"The Millennium Scale will go to your organization on the following terms; first, the Item will be a prize for a Shadow Tournament held by the Stars of Destiny, but hosted by the Abyss. Meaning although the tournament is ours to document and run from our Central HQ, but it will be at your facilities. Two duels will happen a once, always between Abyss and Star. And... okay, I've no idea how it'll work, but we'll just kick your-"
"See you at the location of your choice, Abyss!" Raven dragged Sevanos inside.
-O-
"Daybrake minus five... four... three... two... one!" The Stars plane flew from the grounds toward the ocean with the sun breaking the horizon behind it.
"Gee, evil person wanting a Millennium Item dragging people off to some island location... where have I heard this one?" Shuyin yawned.
"Are you insulting Master Pegasus?" Ardrea shot him a cold glare.
"Never!" Shuyin said sarcastically.
"Don't make me pull this thing over!" Sevanos screamed from the cockpit.
-O-
As the exited the aircraft, they looked about them. This island had, structurally, near nothing. They trekked through the forest until Kaomi tripped on a handle to a large stone door. The nine progressed down dark stairs for some time before reaching flat ground. Then they followed a thin hallway for some time. It twisted and wound until it emptied into a large room which lit with torches upon their entry. On the other side of the room was another hall which ended with a ladder only a few feet down.
"Now what?" Ardrea asked,
"'Run and tell all of you angels, this could take all night. Think I need a devil to help me make things right.'" Raven quoted. He got a few odd glares, "Foo Fighters, Learn to Fly."
"'Make my way back home when I learn to fly'. A good song." Sevanos responded.
"Not the time nor the place, gents." Serenity said.
"It makes a point, though." Kaomi thought, "This may take forever, and we keep thinking of this as the City of Angels, because we're up against its resident devils."
"That's deep." Ardrea smiled.
"Enough!" A familiar voice rang through the room. "Which of you first to play? I suppose of course it is your choice, Mister Sevanos, as you are holding this tournament on our grounds. Though I'll help you work it out. Raven? No. He has the Scale, can't risk that. Kaomi, then? Well, I have had plenty of fun with her, but I'm up for more. Shuyin? Perhaps. If he makes it to me again, he'll wet his pants, so I'd use him early. Yourself? Well, your Yami beat me before, not you, so who knows how you'd fare against me? If you were afraid, though, you'd want to get it over now. Who will you save for me, Sevanos, and who will you sacrifice?"
"Shut up, Illarya, and send yor first down here. Two duels at once, remember? So I'm sending one up there." Sevanos screamed.
"How nice. Who do you send up here?"
"My duelist down here will be Cid Orlandu, and-"Sevanos looked over to Lantash, who nodded, "My duelist topside will be Lantash Izolude."
"Ahh, my stray lamb."
"Shut up, God-King!" Aura screamed.
"Tisk, tisk! That's no way to talk to your destructor. Mine are in position. I think yours down there will recognize my newest servant."
A cloaked man entered the room and stood opposite Cid. He removed his hood.
"Beware of Lios!" laughed Illarya, "One of my new Agents to replace the ones I lost at your tournament Sevanos."
Lios stood, a pendant round his neck. "We duel, Cid."
"Lios... Why do I suspect this won't be like old times? Fortunately, I've taken my deck and game up all sorts of notches since our last one-on-one."
"Ah. Duelist Kingdom... Good times, eh, D.H. Cid." Lios laughed.
"D.H.... Dragon Handler?" Aura guessed.
"That's how he first introduced himself to us... I think." Kaomi scratched her head. She froze, "Raven... that evil sense... it's here."
"Nemesis." Raven gritted his teeth.
"Who?" Sevanos looked puzzled.
"Long story. Suffice it to say we're in a whole lot of trouble unless I go take care of something. I need to focus and use the Scale as a beacon."
"For what?"
"A roaming spirit or two."
-O-
Raven stood in shadows, alone, "how am I gonna do this?" Shadi's words rang in his head, I know that for every action there is a reaction of equal and opposite force. So, since Nemesis is an entity of pure evil, there is one of pure good. It hit him, "Equal and opposite! It's a scale, right? So if I can balance Nemesis, the uber-good essence will arrive to balance!"
-O-
"Come forth, Gate Guardian!" Lios laughed, "Guardian, destroy Cid's last monster!"
-O-
"Sacrifice your Gear Golem, my Blue-Eyed Zombie, and my Red Moon Baby to summon the greatest monster to exist, Gilford the Lightning!"
-O-
One end of the balance tipped. "Come on..." Raven held tightly to the scale. The sides balanced. "Yes!" Raven put the item away. "Spirit, identify yourself."
Letters formed of pure light appeared on the dark wall, "Seraph".
"Seraph, eh? So you're Nemesis's nemesis?"
"More or less" replaced the previous message.
"You have all the powers of Nemesis?" Raven asked.
"Yes" appeared.
"Alright. You're needed." Raven went on to explain the situation.
-O-
"Draw." Cid slid a card from his deck, "You're done, Lios. I play a monster in defense mode, set one card and activate Pyro Clock of Destiny, allowing me to flip my Summoner of Illusions, sacrifice it, and bring forth my great Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon! Ultimate Dragon, attack!" The blasts of the Dragon blasted away the Guardian, "Now I end my turn. Since this sends my Dragon to the grave, I activate Call of the Haunted!"
-O-
"Not bad. You have me fairly low on the Life Point scale. 1000 to be exact." Lantash gestured to his Duel Disk, "But I have a question for you. What's at the bottom of my Graveyard?"
"Easy, Familiar Knight."
"Sorry, the correct answer is my great End of Anubis! Now, time for my Anubis to become more menacing. You're at 2000 Life Points, so by playing the Megamorph spell!" the beast grew to twice it's normal size, "Anubis, crush Gilford, and finish this duel!"
-O-
"Blue Eyes, obliterate!" Cid threw his hand forward, "Next?" Lios vanished.
-O-
"No!" Illarya pounded her fist, "This must be the work of Seraph! Seraph counters Nemesis, meaning I'm out the upper hand."
-O-
"Next up is Kaomi and Ardre-"
"I wish to get my last over with." Cid said to Sevanos.
"Deal. Kaomi and Cid."
"Arkith is coming down."
-O-
"Raremetal Dragon, attack and finish him!" Orlandu smiled.
-O-
"You're zero for three, Arkith. Seiyaryu, toast him!" Kaomi ordered.
-O-
"Guardian Angel Joan, pass your judgement!" Sevanos ordered.
-O-
"Toon Gemini Elf, Toon Magician Girl, and Manga Ryu Ran, team assault! Finish her!" Ardrea threw her hand forward.
-O-
"Tyrant Dragon, obliterate!" Raven smiled.
-O-
"Woodland Sprite, remove the Elma Blade to inflict 500 damage, then Elma returns to me and I do it again. I can do it four more times if you want, but it might be more efficient to surrender." Aura shot a glance at Kaomi, "Thanks for the combo."
-O-
"Time to go bye-bye. My wonderful planetary agents, knock her into the cosmos!" Serenity smiled. "Yay for me!"
-O-
"Harpie Lady Sisters and Dark Magician Girl, that's a total of almost 4000 damage. You're done." Serenity smiled.
-O-
"Monster Reborn your Chaos Emperor Dragon and activate Apocalypse! That's all, folks!" Lantash grinned.
-O-
"This is it, my dark-mannered friend." Shuyin grinned, "Vampire Lord, take a bite out of his Life Points!"
-O-
"Ready Kaomi?" Raven asked as they stood against two opponents.
"Activate Polymerization, combining Thunder Dragon" Kaomi rose the Thunder Dragon and the Polymerization spell.
"And Thunder Dragon!" Raven rose his Thunder Dragon.
"To make the Twin Headed Thunder Dragon!" Both called as their monsters fused.
"And as our dragons become one as do our actions." Raven explained.
"The dragons are as we are, Raven." Kaomi smiled.
"ATTACK!" They both ordered.
"And now, I activate the trap Pyro Clock of Destiny, allowing us to attack again!" Raven called.
"ATTACK!" They both ordered.
-O-
"Two left, Illarya." Sevanos smiled, "Then it's you."
"Sevanos," Ardrea looked at him, "We've been dueling in either this dark room or the one just like it up there for almost twelve hours now. And we were up all last night dueling and holding the fort and in my case saving lives, god slaying, and visiting the Shadow Realm."
"Yeah, we're all exhausted." Kaomi said.
"Sevanos, we still have about five hours, perhaps a rest?" Raven suggested.
"After these two." Sevanos conceded.
"A double duel between my last two and the team of your choosing."
"Orlandu, Beolve, you're up. Argue and you die." Serenity said, fatigued.
"Done." Cid launched his Disk.
"No problemo." Shuyin launched his as well.
"You take none of this seriously." Cid shot Shuyin a glance.
"Should I?"
Cid laughed, "Nah, I sort of envy you for that."
Two duelists took the positions opposite them. Kaomi instantly recognized them. "Willow and Quinn."
"Guys, they're Spellcaster duelists! A great team combination, and probably at least casually dating." Raven called.
"Raven?" Kaomi shot him a glance.
"I calls 'em as I sees 'em." Raven laughed.
"Let's duel!" Shuyin called.
"I place one arid face-down and summon the Pixie Knight in defense mode." Willow smiled.
"I play Troop Dragon in Defense Mode." Cid threw his card down.
"One card face down and I play Skilled Dark Magician."
"I have you all beat. Activate Soul Exchange offering the Skilled Dark Magician and summon the Total Defense Shogun!"
"Not bad, for a newbie." Willow drew, "Activate the spell card Restrictor Revolution, inflicting 200 damage for each card in your hands!"
Both Cid's and Shuyin's counters fell to 3000.
"You call that a move? Sacrifice my Troop Dragon for the Luster Dragon #2!" The proud green dragon rose as another Troop Dragon came to exist next to it. "Now, Flame Breath!" The fires of the dragon shot at Quinn, but the Pixie intercepted.
"And that returns Restrictor to my hand."
"Card Destruction!" Cid smiled, "Too bad."
"I summon forth the Skilled White Magician in defense mode." Quinn made a gesture of passing the remainder of his turn.
"Al right. I now play the spell Array of Revealing Light!" he laughed, "Your Spellcasters can't attack the turn they enter the field! And I'll set this."
"Well, then, I suppose playing these dual Soul Exchanges and offering both the Luster Dragon and the Shogun to play the Dark Magician." Willow laughed.
"Well, I'll play my Dragon Dwelling in the Cave, defending me further." Cid looked to Shuyin.
"Play Time Wizard, and activate effect! Time Roulette!" Quinn called.
"They have the upper hand. Why are they doing this... unless..." Cid watched as the Roulette began to spin.
"Come on!" Willow called.
"Shuyin, they're trying to transform the Dark Magician into the Dark Sage!" Cid looked to Shuyin.
"Aw, crap." Shuyin closed his eyes.
The arrow stopped pointing at the Time Warp. "Time Magic!" The Dragons aged a thousand years and corroded to nothingness. The Dark Magician on the other hand grew to be the Dark Sage.
"As per my Sage's effect, I get one spell from my deck, the Ragnarock spell card."
"And I play Monster Reborn, reviving the Dark Magician." The Magician reappeared on Quinn's field, "Dark Magic Attack, Shuyin's Life Points!"
"Call of the Haunted! Return to me my Shogun!" The Shogun appeared on Shuyin's field, "Sorry, Quinn." The Shogun shrugged off the assault.
"It matters not." Willow smiled.
"Yeah, well, as you know, my last Troop Dragon came after that Time Assault, so I play my monster in defense mode and complete my turn." Cid sighed.
"You think it's bad, Cid? Well it's worse than you think. I sacrifice my monster for the Dark Magician Girl! Now that the Dark Magician and the Dark Magician Girl are in play, I can activate, arguably, the most powerful spell in Duel Monsters!" Willow laughed, "Ragnarock!" All the monsters in the team's decks appeared behind them, floating thought the room. Then a magic circle appeared above Shuyin and Cid. "My foes, this removes all monsters besides the casters from the game!" All the monsters on Shuyin's and Cid's Duel Disks, decks, and Graveyards shot into the circle. As the Dark Magician and it's female counterpart spun, the circle exploded.
"It's over. Our magicians can't attack till next turn, but it's still over."
"Really?" Shuyin smiled, "I beg to differ. You see, now it's my turn. I activate the spell Dimension Fusion!"
"Yes! I Special Summon Red Eyes Black Dragon, K, Y, and Z pieces, and the mighty Tir-Horned Dragon!"
"I summon Total Defense Shogun, Cosmo Queen, Sword Hunter, Gemini Elf, and Raremetal Dragon!"
"I obtain..."
"Don't care." Shuyin sat a card face down as he stared down an armada of high-powered Spellcasters.
"Now, Dark Magician of Chaos, attack Z-Metal Tank!" Quinn ordered.
"Mirror Force!" Shuyin smiled.
"Damn!" Willow and Quinn threw out all their monsters.
"Yeah." Cid smiled, "Combine X, Y, and Z to form the mighty XYZ Dragon Cannon!" The great cannon tank thing formed. "Now, Dragon Cannon, Tri-Horned and Red Eyes, attack Willow and finish her!"
"And then there were none!" Shuyin drew his hand back, "Monsters, all assault!" All Shuyin's monsters flew at Quinn, knocking him back into the shadows.
"Thanks." Cid sighed, "If not for the Dimension Fusion we'd have been sitting ducks."
"No prob, Cid." Shuyin sat aginst the back wall.
"That's all of them Illarya!" Sevanos screamed.
"Good show, Sevanos." Illarya's voice replied, slightly trembling.
"She's afraid. Nemesis was held off by the presence of Seraph." Kaomi explained, "She's lost the upper hand and this frightens her. She's becoming desperate." Kaomi explained.
"How do you know all that?" Serena asked.
"I can almost sense it in her voice." Kaomi looked to Raven, "She might do something drastic."
"Time off?" Sevanos asked.
"You wanted her off-guard. We go now." Raven said.
"'We?'" Sevanos cocked his head.
"You and I duel together on this one, Sevanos. In case we need a little help." Raven hinted at their Yami forms.
"Illarya. Next fight is up there. Raven and I versus you!" Sevanos called, "Let's go on up."
"Raven!" Kaomi called. "Be careful!"
"Good luck, Sevvy-boy!" Ardrea smiled.
"Yeah! Show the God-King of the Primordium that titles aren't everything!" Aura cheered, tossing the Millennium Sword to Raven.
"Get 'er, sir!" Serenity smiled.
"Toast 'em and roast 'em!" Shuyin yelled.
"You can do it Mister Vaniver!" Lantash chimed in with support.
"Show the psycho we mean business!" Cid cheered.
With the cheers of the other seven, Raven and Sevanos climbed up the ladder.
"C'mon! I can't stand the suspense down here!" Kaomi ran to the ladder. Others followed suit.