Raven stood outside the jet, waiting for take-off. He had herd from Ardrea Amun, a liaison between the Stars of Destiny and Industrial Illusions, that this was an Industrial Illusions tournament, and they had cut the deck size to forty cards. He disliked this. It made him feel confined. She had also mentioned that they were using a system for wins similar to Kaiba Corp.'s 'Battle City', where the winner of a duel gets the loser's rarest card. All the same, half the duelists were those pretentious, ignorant, and gloriously diluted 'S List' duelists, who took themselves so seriously, they probably all have ulcers, or will by twenty. Raven closed his eyes and envisioned the lot.
He had heard that although play of Duel Monsters was at the highest yet, with so many duelists either afraid that Yugi Motou might partake in the World Championship, or hunting his God Cards down on their own, the qualifiers suffered low turnout. Only one Japanese Qualifier, the Fallen Star Cup, had any turnout whatsoever, apparently America, Europe, the rest of Asia, indeed, the world all suffered the same. Duelists were common, but bold duelists were slim.
Perhaps it was connected to the S List? Duelists like them dueled for only victory, and no doubt made the sting of defeat twice as bad for duelists of Heart. They disrespected other duelists. They disrespected their own decks. They were dishonorable.
Raven opened his eyes and stared at his deck. What if their despicable, dishonorable, and self-important decks and styles actually were good? Actually beat him? The only duelist who Raven could imagine making a recovery from such a stinging defeat was Seto Kaiba himself. Raven admired Kaiba. No matter how many times Kaiba dueled little Yugi, he still lost. Every time. He won once by using underhanded tactics, playing on Yugi's mercy by risking his own life. That, Raven found dishonorable. But for the rest of the duels, even after losing his God Card in Battle City, he gave his all. For the three years leading up to this summer, for the year and a half between Battle City and Duelist Kingdom, Kaiba tried to become more than he was, to grow as a duelist.
The S List duelists didn't. They used cheap tactics and never grew. They didn't aspire to become more than they were, the just believed no one was better. They were heartless, not only with their decks, but their very lives. Raven wanted them stopped.
"Good afternoon, Raven!" Wesley greeted him.
"Hey." Raven said, indifferently.
"A few things, as winner of the Fallen Star Cup, you get a second little trophy." Wes handed Raven a Duel Disk. It was made mainly of gold, though the monster slots were silver. The activation triggers on the side were all crystal, and the small red arrows on the monster slots were made of ruby. The piece above the Graveyard, normally red, was now a whitish-gold, but the rest was a pure yellowish-gold.
"You're kidding?" Raven looked at Wes, a little shocked.
"By order of Sevanos." Wes smiled, "I'll also be pilot of the jet this time."
"Cool. Who's on out passenger list?" Raven asked.
"You, me, Sevanos, Kaomi, Kaya, Illarya, Aura, Shuyin, Cid, Serenity, Ardrea, Alan, Barbas, and Opaka." Wes smiled, "I think we're at capacity, too."
"Nah, we can seat fifteen, safely." Sevanos approached. "That's only fourteen."
"Well let's pull someone off the street then." Wes shot him a glare.
"We're flying to New York? I hope we're under capacity, I learned just how loud Shuyin snores on the way back from L.A." Raven laughed.
"How long till take-off?" Wes asked.
"I've ordered everyone here soon. The first round is tomorrow afternoon." Sevanos explained.
"I've been meaning to ask, how will this work? I know there are twenty-four duelists, that breaks down into twelve, then six, then three." Raven explained, "But what happens at three?"
"Each duelist plays each other duelist and the one with the most victories wins." Sevanos sighed. He hadn't time to waste. Somehow, he expected to see Lantash again soon. Maybe even at this tournament. He closed his eyes, remembering their duel.
"Lantash, that match is none of your concern." Sevanos drew, his Guardian Angel Joan before him.
"It's my boss's concern." Lantash explained.
"Yes, this 'Hathor' of yours." Sevanos folded his hand, "Joan, attack his defensive monster."
"Draw." Lantash grinned evily, "Emove my Skilled Magicians from play to summon Chaos Emperor Dragon. Dragon, activate effect!"
"Reveal Reverse of Reverse!" Sevanos smiled, "This card allows me to use the last card you set, the Barrel Behind the Door!" As the explosion from Chaos Emperor Dragon flew at him, a small barrel appeared before him. This absorbed the explosion and shot it at Lantash.
"You." Lantash said, enraged. The explosive force hit him, kicking up a cloud of dirt and smoke.
"Tell Hathor to send someone more capable next time." Sevanos smiled
As the smoke began to clear, it became apparent that Lantash was gone...
"Earth to Sevanos!" Shuyin waved his hand from the plane, "Lift-off. T-minus 10!"
"Shooties." Sevanos hopped quickly onto the plane, and sealed the door behind him.
-O-
"Duelists." The annoyingly pleasant voice came over the Public Announcement system at the Convention Center in New York the next afternoon, "Match-ups for round one will be announced soon. Please report to the Stadium Antechamber."
Sevanos sighed. The moment of truth approached.
"Sevvy-boy!" Pegasus smiled, approaching the Stars. He was wearing his dark red and yellow suit, with a standards issue Duel Disk.
"Pegasus! A pleasure to see you well." Sevanos smiled, white robes and all, "The Ancient Star proceeds as planned."
"Come, now. I didn't come out of retirement to talk shop all the time." He smiled, and nodded to Ardrea, "How have you been shaping up?"
"Very well, Sensei." Ardrea bowed. She wore a suit almost exactly like his.
"Ah, Cid Orlandu! I hear tell you're quite apt at summoning the Ultimate Dragon." Pegasus moved on to talking with Cid.
"Yeah." Cid shrugged, in black robe and cloak as always.
"Splended show." Pegasus handed him a card.
"'Blue Eyes... Shining Dragon'?"
"Yuppers." He then moved to Raven. "And boy what I've heard of you."
"A pleasure to meet in person." Raven bowed. He had his classic black trenchcoat, but wore white under it.
"Yeah. Doubly so. I've wanted to meet you since you sent me that Duelist Kingdom invite." Kaomi bowed as well. She wore a purpleish top with similarly colored shorts.
"Indeed, Mr. Vaniver and Ms. Itai. I hear you've showed plenty of people what-for." Pegasus smiled, "I have a charge for the lot of you. These new duelists think they're all that, and seem to back it up. We're going to change all that."
"S list. We know." Sevanos nodded.
"We'll bury them." Illarya interjected, now wearing her white shirt and black jeans with a dark blue coat.
"Good to here from one who'll do just that." Pegasus joked.
"Can we just get on with the match-ups?" Shuyin sat on a bench, wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, and a tan coat.
"Attention duelists!" A woman, the pleasant-sounding one from earlier, entered the antechamber. "The first duel will be between Shuyin Belove from Japan, with Ultima, and Emily Hunter from Canada, with the Needle Worm." The woman smiled.
-O-
Lights focused on the arena in the center of the great, enclosed, stadium. Lights on the floor lit as well, all hitting a focal point in the center of the dueling field. From that point, the lights then spread to equally cover the entire field. A woman entered from the door center stage and took her position at one end.
Shuyin took his place opposite the woman, Emily. "Hey, Hunter, you're going down!" Shuyin smiled, launching his Duel Disk.
"So you think." Emily said, emotionless.
"I'll draw." Shuyin began his turn; "I summon Loyal Knight in defense mode. That's a good two thousand points of defense to chomp through." A knight with a large shield appeared before Shuyin.
"I'll set one monster in defense mode. Go." Emily said, seeming bored.
"Not doing it for you? How about this; summon my Little-Windguard, and play the Wicked-Breaking Flamberg!" A tiny guardian came to the field holding a big sword, "Windguard, attack!"
"Needle Worm." Emily flipped her card. She paused. Why wasn't it doing anything? Why was his deck not slimming?
"Sorry, Em, but my Flamberg negates effects." Shuyin smiled, setting a card, "Your move."
"I underestimated you. It won't happen again. First, I activate the spell card Share the Greed, this makes us both draw two cards each Draw Phase." Emily explained, "Then I summon my Beistro Butcher, Also, here go my Spells, Mystical Space Typhoon and Gravekeeper's Servant." She paused. The Windguard's sword was gone, but she couldn't detory his face-down card... "Attack."
"Reveal Zero Gravity." The Butcher defended, as Shuyin drew two cards, "I activate Oath to Order, offering my Windguard to summon my Grand Knight, and finally I play the Magic Knight." Both a knight with a giant sword and a knight with a sword and shield both marked with crests appeared before shuyin, "And I sacrifice them to play my Triad of the High Knights!" The three knights now stood together, Their Attack and Defense points soared to 3500. "Knights, attack!" A shadowy shand shot from Emily's other card, the Gravekeeper's Servant, and dragged one of Shuyin's cards to the Graveyard; Higher Power. Nevertheless, the Triad sliced and diced up the Butcher.
"I draw." She examined her hand, "Set two cards and defend. Go."
"Draw!" Shuyin drew two cards.
"Reveal twin Drop Offs!" Emily smiled, "Send them both to the Grave."
"Attack!" Shuyin ordered. The hand dragged down Remote Detonation. The monster revealed was Needle Worm.
"You're susceptible now." Emily watched as five more cards vanished from his deck.
"Go."
Emily drew two cards, "Activate another Gravekeeper's Servant and set this card. Go."
Shuyin drew his two cards, and eyed her evily. He was loosing deck fast, and unless he did something, she'd defend long enough to keep this going forever. To top it all off, he had to keep discarding every turn thanks to his Triad. He'd risk another attack, though. "Attack!" This time two shadowy hands stole cards from his Deck.
"Reveal my Morphing Jar. We lose our hands and draw five new cards."
Shuyin growled. Half his deck was in the Grave.
"I set this card and activate Card Destruction, revealing my Soul Reversal, sending my Needle Worm to the top of my deck, and I draw. And play a monster in defense mode. You have how many cards left?"
Shuyin sighed after drawing. "Not many." In truth, it was eleven. He needed a solution now He sort of had one. "I do not pay the cost of my Triad." The three knights separated, "and I offer my Magic Knight and Loyal Knight to summon my Cosmo Queen." He sighed. This all relied on one card now. "And play Monster Reborn, returning my Vampire Lord! Grand Knight, attack!" The great two thousand attack point knight sliced through the Needle Worm, while a total of seven cards vanished from his deck. "Perfect. Four left. My two monsters, attack directly!" All Shuyin's cards disappeared, but it didn't matter, the combined assault of his Queen and his Lord put Emily away.
"You... you beat me?" Emily handed over her Needle Worm.
"I have no need for this." Shuyin looked at the card.
"It's yours. Please take it." Emily walked away.
-O-
"Nice job, Hunter." Hoshi Sato, dressed in oriental clothes, with a decided oriental look, greeted her on her way out of the Antechamber.
"Like you could do better, little miss Monster-less. What kind of crap duelists does South Korea put out?" Emily scoffed.
"We'll see who is a crappy duelist, Hunter, when I win the World Championship." Hoshi scowled.
"Yeah right. You can't even beat that Vaniver kid." Emily walked off toward the stands.
"You watch, Hunter!"
"I will, Sato!"
-O-
"Next duel will be Sevanos Otaga with the Seraph Knight Kojiro versus Set, with Themen the Great Sphinx."
"Why does Set sound familiar?" Pegasus pondered.
"He's a duelist, the Egyptian duelist, you know, sphinxes, pyramids, and mummies." Ardrea explained.
"Could he be connected to Hathor?" Raven asked Sevanos.
"I don't know." Sevanos eyed a duelist in a dark outfit moving toward the stadium, "That's my charge."
-O-
"I summon my Sphinx Warrior of Darkness!" The deep voice of Set commanded, as an Eye of Anubis began to glow on his forehead. A warrior with a large staff and a sphinx mask arose before him, with nineteen hundred points of attack.
"A Yami, eh?" Sevanos drew, "Don't think that'll save you." He examined his hand. "Summon my Kelbek in defense mode and set one card face-down. Go."
"Set two cards and have my Sphinx attack!" Although the Sphinx defeated the fairy, it fizzled out of existence.
"Too bad. My move. Summon my Durames Dark Witch!" An angelic witch came to be in front of him, "Witch, attack!"
"Reveal Ring of Destruction and-"Set began.
"I activate Reverse of Reverse! This allows me to activate one of your face-down spell or trap cards. I choose the only one I can, Barrel Behind the Door!" Sevanos smiled.
"Wrong, Sevanos. You activate my Pyramid Energy, giving your monster a boost in attack power. That's half of both our Life Points." Set smiled, "And now it's my move!" He drew, "You're done, Sevanos. I play Pyramid of the Ancients!" The ground began to rumble as a pyramid came from beneath it to surround them, "Now, summon Sphinx Warrior of Darknesss!" Another Sphinx Warrior came to the field, with an attack increase of 700, putting it at 2600 points of attack, "Sphinx, finish him!"
Sevanos got beat over the head by the Sphinx, knocking him down. Set walked over to him, drew the Seraph Knight, and walked away.
-O-
"That was so fast..." Aura watched in horror.
"These 'S List' people tend to make short work of their opponents." Ardrea explained.
Set entered the Antechamber. "An easy victory."
"We'll see, Set." Raven eyed him angrily.
"Ah, the Vaniver boy. Lady Hathor told me about you. Said you'd become a nuisance." Set laughed, "I doubt you'll have the chance."
"Shut up, Set." Another duelist entered, wearing distinctly Egyptian clothes and an odd black Duel Disk Raven had never seen before. "The sound of your voice irritates me."
"Ah, Shikeru. A pleasure seeing you here." Set smiled.
"Stuff the pleasantries. Your disgusting display out there dishonored the Sphinxes. You'll pay." The man, Shikeru Ryou, glared twice as angrily as Raven.
"Well, I don't think the plastic-coated paper minds too terribly much." Set laughed.
"You're wrong." Ardrea said angrily. "The cards are more than just plastic-coated paper."
"And they do mind." Pegasus added.
"Quit speaking, Pegasus, you're showing your senility." Set scowled. "If you think I've done the Sphinxes wrong, stop me." He addressed Shikeru.
"Set. The time for games is over." A familiar voice called thorough the Antechamber. Lantash. Lantash had an Eye of Anubis on his forehead too.
"C'mon, Hathor won't mind." Set smiled back.
"We can't spare time to bother with them, Set. They're nothing. We are something. Two separate classes, only to meet when forced to on the field of battle. In there, not out here." Lantash explained.
"The next match-up: The United States' Illarya Eden with the great Destiny Board versus Canada's Dominic Hatch with the End of Anubis." The overly pleasant woman smiled and walked out.
"Can you do it, Illarya?" Raven asked.
"I used to do this for a living, more or less." Illarya smiled.
"Yeah, well you really didn't, did you? It was your darker half. Little Miss God-King." Raven countered. "I'm worried that the fate of Heart of the Cards will fall on me alone. For this whole ride, I've had people to rely on."
"You won't forever, Raven." Kaomi replied. "Fact of the matter is, that although I will always be there for you, I'm no where near as good of a duelist as you. Odds are I don't make it past this round." Kaomi sighed, "When you duel, inevitably, you duel alone. Your friends are there to support you, but you're not on the field. They can't make the calls for you."
"Kaomi, it sounds like you've given up hope." Serenity said, concerned, "Granted, hope does dangle precariously, but you can't just give up. Where there's life, there's hope. You'd do well to remember that."
"Yeah. Hope for a better tomorrow." Cid said, plainly.
"Hope for the support of your friends." Shikeru interjected.
"Hope for triumph over the darkness." Illarya smiled, "I'm proof of that one."
"Hope that someone will be there for you." Raven nodded.
"Hope that out there, in the vast world, one gloriously diluted fool still believes in us. Believes we're doing the right thing. Believes in the Heart of the Cards." Ardrea sighed. "I really hope so."
"Hope that this annoying round robin of hope ends at me." Pegasus said, in his normal singsong manner.
"Yeah," Shuyin laughed, "Hope that we can shut up and duel."
"That was possibly the most corny dozen lines I've heard in my life. It takes real effort to sound that horribly, painfully corny. Thanks." Kaomi smiled, "Now get out there and duel your best, Illarya. I only hope it's good enough."
"Can we not say 'hope'?" Shuyin winced.
-O-
"Draw!" Illarya looked at her hand, "You're going down, Dominic!"
"Talk big, Illarya. You need to reassure yourself." The Canadian responded. He was probably about forty. He showed just how popular and outside the target audience the game had become.
"I summon Sangan in defense mode and set three cards face-down. Go." Illarya smiled.
"I'll set one face-down card and summon Kycoo, the Ghost Destroyer." Dominic smiled, "Kycoo, attack!"
The Sangan's soul became exercised from its body, shattering it. Illarya smiled, "Not only do I now get my monster Sangan left me, Witch of the Black Forest, but I activate Rope of Life, returning my Sangan. Now I activate Polymerization, combining my two monsters to create Sangan-Witch! Thusly retrieving two Watapon! These cute creampuffs are instantly Special Summoned." A Sangan in odd robes and two little balls of fluff appear before her.
"So you plant to beat me with furballs and creampuffs? I could eat those little Watapon!" Dominic scoffed.
Both Watapon developed a look of fright.
"Not quite, Hatch. I offer my two Watapon for the great Day Falcon of Council!" A great bird flew down from the ceiling of the arena. It seemed to shimmer in sunlight what wasn't there. "Not only does my Falcon have just under three thousand attack," 2900 to be exact, "but should there be cards removed from play, they would now return to the Graveyard." Illarya explained, "Now, Sangan-Witch, with your 2100 points of attack, get rid of Kycoo!"
"Reveal Wabaku!" Dominic smiled, "Think it'd that easy?"
"Close to that easy. Activate Destiny Board." Illarya smiled, "Got ya."
"Think again!" Dominic drew, "Mystical Space Typhoon!"
"I still control the field." Illarya gestured to her monsters.
"For how long. Illarya?" Dominic drew, "Activate Snatch Steal!"
"Reveal Remove Brainwashing." Illarya smiled, "Not that easy, is it, Dominic?"
"Dark Hole!" Dominic called as a great vortex swallowed Illarya's monsters. "And I summon my Spirit Reaper in defense mode."
"My move!" Illarya drew, "go Vorse Raider. Since I know Spirit Reaper is immune to attacks, you can go."
"Activate Monster Reborn, returning my Kycoo, and I'll set this card. Go." Dominic smiled.
"Set a monster in defense mode and another face-down cards. Go." Illarya waved him on.
"I'm getting bored." Dominic smiled, "Kycoo, attack the defensive monster."
"My Old Vindictive Magician! My aged caster banishes your Spirit Reaper!" Illarya smiled.
"Good for you." Dominic waved her on.
"Yeah. It is. I play Deamoness of Council in defense mode. Vorse, attack the Ghost Destroyer!"
"Reveal Wabaku!"
"How'd I guess? Your move." Illarya sighed.
"Kycoo, defend."
"Wise. Now it's my move. Sacrifice Demoness of Council and Vorse Raider for Cosmo Queen, and equip her with the Black Pendant! Queen, attack!"
The Ghost Destroyer was blown away by the pendant-wearing majesty. Dominic drew. The Remove Brainwashing card stopped him from taking control of Illarya's Cosmo Queen... This was bad. He had to take a chance. "Set one card face-down and end my turn."
"Queen, attack!"
"Reveal Ring of Destruction!" Dominic smiled. The ring of bombs appeared around the Queen and exploded, destroying it. Dominic's Life Points fell to 100, whereas Illarya's rested at 600, thanks to the Black Pendant.
"You're hoping I can't defend myself." Illarya reasoned., "Too bad I can play my Gear Golem the Moving Fortress in defense mode." The great metal golem appeared before her.
"Not bad, I will defend as well." Dominic smiled.
"No more games." Illarya drew, "Offer for Doma, the Angel of Silence. Doma, attack!"
"Cyber Jar!" Dominic smiled, watching both fields clear.
"I draw Vampire Lady, Watapon, Night Assailant, Night Assailant, and Buster Blader." Illarya smiled.
"Airknight Parshath, The End of Anubis, Mystical Space Typhoon, Creature Swap... and Premature Burial."
"Too bad. Vampire Lady, devour the last of his Life Points!" The vampire lunged at Dominic. "That, as they say, is that." The Vampire Lady took the End of Anubis from his hand and gave it to Illarya, who exited to the antechamber.
-O-
The now conscious Sevanos greeted her, "Good work, Illarya."
"Made your mentor proud." Cid smiled.
"Yeah. That was an easy win for you." Raves congratulated her.
"That's enough from the peanut gallery." Lantash said, approaching Illarya, "Illarya, dear. There's hope for you. Join us. Lady Hathor could use someone like you. Of course, you're a little less than you used to be, but we can work together to get the old you back."
"No." Illarya said forcefully, "I'll never go back to being who I was."
"At least," Lantash touched her hair, "Consider it." He began to walk off.
"Lantash." Illarya's called after him
Lantash spun to face her.
"If you ever touch me again, I'll kill you." Illarya said, calmly.
Lantash smiled and walked off.
"Next up!" The pleasant woman returned, "The U.S.A's Maximillion Pegasus with the elusive Blue Eyes Shining Dragon versus Lantash, also from the States, with the Chaos Emperor Dragon."
"Well, well. Let the games begin!" Pegasus laughed.
"Good luck, Sir Pegasus!" Ardrea cheered.
"Suck up." Illarya said under her breath.
-O-
"Alright, Lanny-boy. Let's see what you're made of." Pegasus smirked, activating his Duel Disk.
"Are you sure you want to do this, old man?" Lantash smiled, "Don't worry, we'll all hold it against you."
"Talk big." Pegasus drew, "Because all the talk in the world can't save you from a world of nightmares unlike you've ever known. A world of suppresses. A world of Toons!" Pegasus activated his Toon World spell. His Life Points fell to 3000.
"Pegasus, how old are you? And still playing with cartoons?" Lantash shook his head.
"We'll see if that stupid grin stays on your face after I summon my Toon Gemini Elf in attack position, and set this card face-down. Go." Pegasus smiled at Lantash, "I don't need a Millennium Eye to predict moves of a Chaos Duelist such as yourself."
"Summon D. D. Warrior Lady in defense mode!"
"Reveal the Gorgan's Eye!" Pegasus laughed, "When your Defensive monsters are destroyed, half their attack value is deducted from your Life Points. Not like that matters." Pegasus' Life Points fell to 2500 as the Toon Elves launched a direct assault. "And my Elves take a card from your hand to the grave. Your precious Jinzo!" Pegasus smiled, "Gone, but not forgotten."
Lantash smiled, his Life Points down to 2100, "Now, I summon Tribe-Infecting Virus, discarding my Sgining Angel to destroy your Spellcaster monsters, allowing me to remove my two monsters from play to summon my Chaos Emperor Dragon, Envoy of the End!"
"What?" Pegasus looked shocked.
"Dragon, obliterate the old man!" Lantash smiled as the dragon's attack knocked Pegasus down. "Some Creator. You stink at your own game."
Pegasus stood and tossed Lantash the Shining Dragon. He walked off.
-O-
"Pegasus!" Ardrea ran to his side, "Master Pegasus, lend me your Duel Disk."
Pegasus said nothing, but deactivated the disk and handed it to Ardrea.
"Next up, Hoshi Sato from South Korea with her Exchange of the Spirit versus a Japanese duelist who qualified in China, Koji Isamu, with Requiem, one of the rarest monsters in the game!"
"Koji Isamu?" Sevanos raised an eyebrow.
"Eliminated by Sora Takahashi, round one, Fallen Star Cup." Illarya replied.
"A duelist of heart." Serenity replied.
"I've heard of Hoshi." Ardrea put Pegasus' Disk on, "A duelist who uses no monster cards."
"That's odd." Kaomi said.
"More like insane." Shikeru spoke up again.
"Not entirely." Cid stared as the woman, Hoshi, entered the arena, "If she has enough prowess with the spells and traps in her deck, she could very well succeed without monsters."
"Cid, can I borrow your Shining Dragon?" Ardrea asked.
"Sure." Cid pulled it from his deck, "What are you doing?"
"I've used a deck like this one for three years. I'm proving to that jerk Lantash that it can out-duel him any day. I'm reclaiming the honor he stole from Pegasus." Ardrea took the Dragon, "Thank you, Cid." Ardrea walked into the hall outside the antechamber.
"Check it out, the duel's underway!" Shuyin called.
"I'm heading to the stands with Kaya." Sevanos exited.
-O-
"Zolga, attack!" Koji ordered. The great fairy flew at Hoshi, who only had her Infinite Cards, her Share the Greed card, and two face-down cards.
"Reveal my Shadow Spell!" Chains shot from her spell, ensnaring the Zolga.
"Fine, I offer Zolga and Mystical Elf to summon Ark!" A great metal ship flew down from the sky and came to reat on Koji's field, "I can't attack with my might Ark until next turn, so go."
"Too late. I activate my Cheerful Coffin, discarding two cards from my hand, and then activate Spell Reproduction, discarding a total of three more. This gives me a grant total of fifteen cards in my Graveyard, and you only have three. Exchange of the Spirit!"
"What?"
"My trap switches our decks with our Graveyards." Hoshi smiled.
-O-
"Lantash!" Ardrea approached him; "I challenge you for the Blue Eyes Shining Dragon!"
"And what do I get if I win?" Lantash smiled.
"Me." Ardrea said, impassively.
"You? Well, that's an awful high wager. Someone's confident." Lantash launched his Duel Disk.
"Let's duel!" Ardrea drew her first hand. "First, I play the Red Archery Girl in Defense Mode, and set two cards face-down."
-O-
"Go." Hoshi smiled wider as he drew.
"I summon my Zolga. Now, I launch Ark into attack mode!" The ship began to launch parst at odd angles. Slowly, legs became apparent. And arms. And a head. And from the torso, a great cannon launched. "Ark, get her!"
"Reveal Wall of Revealing Light, paying three thousand Life Points, dropping me to one thousand, to make it so your monster would more than three thousand attack to touch me." The blast from the cannon crashed into a wall.
-O-
"You think me a fool? I know how Chaos decks work, Lantash. So I play this, Prophecy! After studying your play styles from the two duels during Sevvy-boy's last tournament and now, I predict you have one monster in your hand, with well over 2000 attack points. I predict, furthermore, that that monster is the Chaos Emperor Dragon, Envoy of the End!"
Lantash scowled. His Dragon began to shimmer and floated across the field to Ardrea's hand.
"Nice one, huh? Well, now I play this card, the Index of Toon World. This lets me retrieve and activate the Toon World card for free." The Toon World book appeared in a cloud of cartoon-esque smoke. "Now I play these cards, Summoner of Illusions, Toon Mermaid, and Toon Goblin Attack Force. I offer my Toon for my other great Toon monster, the Toon Summoned Skull, and use my Summoner to offer the Mermaid to being forth the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" Ardrea smiled as the Ultimate Dragon appeared before her, "Since I loose my Dragon at the end of this turn, and I'm farily confident your face-down card is a Wabaku, I will offer it for this card!" She held a card in the air. The Ultimate Dragon exploded, and the pieces began reforming. Behind the new dragon, a bright light made only its silhouette visable. That was, of course, until blue lights lit all over it. "My Blue Eyes Shining Dragon!" Ardrea called, "Your move."
"A long move. That's for sure." Lantash drew, "Activate Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Toon World." Lantash looked at his hand. He was Envoy-less. "And play a monster in defense mode. Go."
"Don't mind if I do. I thank you for destroying my Summoned Skull, for now I remove it and my Ultimate Dragon from play to summon your Chaos Emperor Dragon!" Ardrea laughed, "Emperor, attack!"
-O-
"Come on, Koji, draw." Hoshi smiled. Koji was out of a deck.
"I can't." He conceded.
"Looks like I win your Requiem." Hoshi took the card from him and walked off.
-O-
"Now, my Blue Eyes, obliterate the last of his Life Points!" Ardrea called. The Shining Dragon launched its attack on Lantash, knocking him to the ground. Ardrea walked across the battlefield as it faded away. She bent down next to him, "Don't disrespect my mentor. He made this game, and you're out here breaking it." Ardrea took the Shining Dragon and walked back to the antechamber.
Sevanos had caught the end of their match on his way to the stands. "Good show, Amun."
-O-
"Next game, Serenity Tesconé of Japan, with the Spell Weaver, versus the Chinese duelist Masami Takizawa, who possesses the Invader of Darkness." The pleasant woman smiled.
"Wish me luck." Serenity entered the stadium as Ardrea entered the antechamber.
"Here." She handed Cid his card back, "And for you," She handed Pegasus his Duel Disk, and deck, with the Shining Dragon resting atop it.
"Thank you, Ardrea." Pegasus nodded, "I may go join Sevvy-boy up in the stands."
"I'd love to join you, sir, but I'd much rather remain here." Ardrea bowed to him.
"As you wish." Pegasus exited the room.
-O-
"I summon Harpie Lady in defense mode and active ate Elegant Egotist, bringing forth my Harpie Lady Sisters in attack mode." Serenity smiled, "Go."
"I activate Graceful Charity." Masami drew, "And discard Double Snare and Invader of Darkness. Now I summon my Dark Blade. Blade, take out her Harpie Lady!"
"My move!" Serenity drew, "Offer my Sisters for the Dark Magician Girl, and then activate Sage's Stone!" The Dark Magician Girl and the Dark Magician appeared on the field, "And sacrifice my Magicians for the Sorcerer of Dark Magic!" As the two Magicians vanished, another rose to take its place, this one with a grand total of 3200 points of attack, "Attack!" Serenity ordered.
"Fine." Masami drew, her Life Points spiraling down to 2600, "Pot of Greed." She drew again, "Mystic Tomato, defend. And set these cards face-down" three face-down cards appeared before her.
"Sorcerer, attack!"
"Mystic Tomato allows me to get my Witch of the Black Forest." Masami drew, "And play Sangan in Defense Mode. Witch, defend as well. Go."
"Attack the Sangan." Serenity sounded bored.
"Getting a Mystic Tomato, which I summon in defense mode." Masami waved Serenity on.
"Speed deck? Seems like you stall fairly well. Take out the Witch." Serenity ordered.
"Your lightning-fast offensive makes me jealous, Serenity, but your choice of cards leaves something to be desired." Masami looked through her deck, "Newdoria, which I summon in Defense Mode."
"No. I like my choice in monsters. That's what's important. Now watch this. Monster Reborn the Dark Magician and activate Knight's Title, transforming it into the Dark Magician Knight!" A magic swordsman appeared before Serenity, enchanting his blade, "Which will instantly destroy your Newdoria, rendering it's effect harmless. Now, Magician Knight, take out her Tomato!" The knight attacked the evil food-product.
"My other Newdoria!" Another odd creature sprung forth.
"Sorcerer, attack!" Serenity smiled. She knew Newdoria could take the Sorcerer out with its effect, but the Direct Damage would be a decent amount.
"Newdoria, activate effect, take the Sorcerer to the Grave with you!" Masami smiled, "My traps are free again." She drew, Life Points down to 800, "Set three cards and summon Slate Warrior! Go."
"Knight, attack!" Serenity ordered, not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
"Reveal Raigeki Break! Discard one card to destroy your monster."
"Set a monster to defend and three cards of my own face-down. Go." Serenity closed her eyes. She may have a Life Point lead, but she had totally lost field control... unless...
"Monster Reborn! Return your Sorcerer of Dark Magic to my field, rendering your face-down cards useless! Now, Slate Warrior, attack!" A woman with a sword, Kanan the Swardsmistress, was clobbered. "Sorcerer, her Life Points.
And here it was, she was tied with her opponent at a mere 800 Life Points, with a total lack of field control. Only one card in her deck was powerful enough to win this... "Draw!" Serenity began laughing.
"Have you gone mad?" Masami asked.
"Maybe." Serenity conceded, "But I've just won."
"Look at your field. Three cards I've negated, no monsters... what can you do?" Masami asked.
"This." She threw down her newly drawn card, "I summon Amazoness Swards Woman!" Serenity smiled, "All battle damage I'd take because of her, you take. You know what that means?" Serenity smiled, "See? Trust in the Heart of the Cards." Serenity drew her hand back, "Swards Woman, attack the Sorcerer of Dark Magic!"
"No!" Masami screamed. The Sorcerer counterattacked, shattering the Swards Woman. Her Life Points fell to zero.
"I'll take that Invader of Darkness." Serenity smiled. Cheers really rose for the first time in the tournament.
-O-
"Next up, Japan's Cidofolos Orlandu with the other Blue Eyes Shining Dragon versus the British Molly Dent with Jinzo." The pleasant woman smiled.
"Make the Blue Eyes proud, Cid!" Ardrea smiled.
"Yeah!" Kaomi cheered.
-O-
"I hear tell you got stomped." Illarya smiled, approaching Lantash in the hall outside the antechamber.
"Rethink my offer?" Lantash asked, smiling.
"No." Illarya shook her head, "I just came to mock you."
-O-
"Let's go, Dent!" Cid launched his Duel Dick.
Molly said nothing, but launched hers, "I will go first." She drew. "Summon Familiar Knight in defense mode. Also set two cards face-down. Go."
"Summon my Dragon Dwelling in the Cave in defense mode and set two cards of my own face-down. Your move, Molly Dent."
"Summon Giant Orc. Orc, destroy his Dragon!" The large monster demolished the dragon.
"You gone and made me mad. Luster Dragon #1, come forth and attack the Orc!"
The Ginat Orc was destroyed. "Your lucky my Orc has to defend after it attacks." Molly drew, "Go, Breaker the Magical Warrior!" Molly paused, "That's all for me."
"I activate the special effect of my Thunder Dragon, discarding it to add two more to my hand. Then I play this card!" Cid's field slot slid open, "Fusion Gate! This allows me to fuse monsters at will, without use of Polymerization." The floor of the arena tourned black with interlacing green lines, froming green boxes over the pitch black surface of the floor, "So I fuse my two Thunder Dragons, and my Curse of Dragon with my King of the Swamp, to from my Gaia the Dragon Champion and Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!" Cid could hear Raven and Kaomi cheer from the antechamber. He knew the Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon represented their bond with each other, and he had it in his deck to remind him of whom he started this odd quest with. "See, Molly, the Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon represents my two closest friends, Raven Vaniver and Kaomi Itai, and as long as they're here beside me, I can't lose!"
"How cute." Molly laughed, "You have fun with that."
-O-
Illarya and Lantash stood silent in the hallway. Illarya finally broke the silence, "Who is Hathor?"
"She's a great woman. She's about five thousand years old, but honestly looks like she's twenty." Lantash explained, "She's spent the last few millennia waiting for the time to be right to bring about the enslavement of the human race, and now that the Pharaoh is back and Anubis has been banished, she sees it as being the perfect time to launch her plans!"
"And you get what by serving her?" Illarya asked.
"A position of power in her new world order." Lantash smiled, "You could have one too."
"I'll have to pass." Illarya said. She knew she was in the best position for running reconnaissance.
-O-
"Attack!" Cid ordered his monsters.
"Reveal Wabaku/!" Molly smiled, drawing, "Activate Snatch Steal, taking control of your friends, the Twin Headed Thunder Dragon!" Molly laughed as the Dragon floated across the field.
"Sorry, Molly." Cid smiled, "Reveal Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell, discarding Polymerization... like I needed that anyway." Cid smiled as his Dragon returned to him.
"Breaker, defend. And pay 300 points of your Attack Factor to take care of Cid's last trap!" Breaker threw its sword through Cid's face-down Dragon's Rage.
"Draw!" Cid smiled, "Offer Luster Dragon #1 for Luster Dragon #2, and as for my Thunder Dragon, here goes Dragon Nails, raising it's attack by 500 points, putting it at 3300 points of attack!" Cid smiled, "Sorry Molly, but this phase of the tournament separates the kids from the grown-up, and I guess we see which you are. Now, my Dragons attack. Gaia and Luster, her knights!"
"My Familiar Knight lets me summon a level four monster in its place. I bring forth my Raremetal Dragon."
"So do I. Raremetal, attack hers!" The two Raremrtals attacked one another, both shattering, "Now, Thunder Dragon, her Life Points!" The Thunder Dragon shot a blast of electric breath at Molly, pushing her back a few feet, "Make your move."
Molly Dent drew. Her Life Points had fallen to 700, and she had nothing to save her.
"No? Well let me finish this then." Cid smiled, "Thunder Dragon, attack!" The Thunder Dragon's attack knocked Molly against the back wall. "You can keep your cruddy Jinzo. I've no need for it." Cid walked off.
"What was that?" Molly stared at Cid as he walked off.