I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my reviewers very very much for their support! There are almost too many to mention, you know who you are! And for being so loyal, I shall reward you all with the continuation of my story! Please remember to R&R, like you have been doing so faithfully! =0)

Part Twelve

            Seto sped upwards towards the top of the chamber. He braced himself just as his shoulder slammed hard against the stone above him. A sharp jolt of pain shot through his arm, but he had succeeded in his mission. He had felt the piece of rock budge away from its nesting place.

            His lungs started to burn again. He had to get out of there now. He pushed up against the piece of stone and kicked fiercely in the water to propel his body upward.

            Come on... MOVE!! he pleaded. Seto could feel his legs cramping, and his lungs ached for air. He had to consciously keep his mouth shut; otherwise he was sure his body would have no qualms about taking in a lungful of water.

            Oh, God...please don't let me die in here! He had worked too hard in his life to die from drowning!! Assassination- that he could handle. Horrible technological accident- even better. But there was no way he was going to let himself be sent to his grave by a little WATER!!! Every muscle in his body screamed for release, but he could not do it. Not until...

            THE ROCK MOVED!!!! Seto felt the stone above him shift again and loosen from its place. With one great heave, he pushed it up and slid it onto what was ground above him. Then he broke up through the surface of the water, coughing and panting hard. Though he was exhausted, he managed to pull himself up and out through the hole onto solid ground. There he collapsed to the floor, still breathing heavily. His clothes were sopping wet, and his hair released streams of water that dripped down his face and into his eyes. His head spun with dizziness, and the chill of the cavern was amplified by his soaked clothing.

            What I wouldn't give for a nice warm fire right about now... he thought. Just then, he noticed a bright flash of light out of the corner of his eye. He slowly picked himself up onto his hands and knees. When he looked, he saw a small fire blazing warmly near one of the walls.

            Okkk... that was waaaaaay too much of a coincidence... A single high screech then pierced his ears and resounded through the cave. It took several moments to fully echo off, and was followed by an eerie silence.

            Seto looked around at the upper heights of the cavern. The apparent lack of threat was extremely unnerving. He liked to face an opponent who attacked head on, instead of lurking in the shadows. Right now, however, he wasn't sure if had any strength reserves to fight with.

            Another screech echoed through the area, and Seto was struck with a sense of familiarity.

            I've heard that sound before... He closed his eyes, trying to use the sound to create a mental picture from his memory. Whatever was making the noise; it was obvious that Seto had faced it before.

            The wind blew through his hair, pushing a few stray strands in front of his eyes. He was high up somewhere, but still exposed to the outside. A window was open? No, he WAS outside. On a roof...

            He felt a hot blaze travel by his cheek. His eyes flew open and he dodged to the left as a stream of fire came at him. He looked around and realized that a dozen or more little fires had been started all over the floor of the chamber. He looked at them more closely, and also noticed that they weren't burning on wood or leaves.

            Then what are they consuming...? he thought. Before he could think of an answer, a huge figure came swooping down at him. He had barely enough time to react and duck as the giant creature sailed over his head and then flew back up, into the shadows.

            I've got to get a monster out; otherwise, I'm open for an attack! Seto realized. But how do I know what to play if I can't see it?!

            He growled. "Come on out!" he called heatedly. "What's wrong, afraid I'll beat you too easy?!"

            In reply came another shrill screech. Then above his head, the image of a new dragon appeared. A Curse of Dragon looked down at him with evil red eyes. It opened its mouth and another hot stream of fire rained down. Seto ducked and covered his head, but the blaze didn't hit him. Instead, he looked around and found himself surrounded by a ring of flames. The Curse of Dragon stared at its prey; obviously thinking it had sealed Seto's demise.

            No single monster I have can beat that creature, so I'll just have to use a combo...

            "Ryu-Kishin Powered!" he called. The monster appeared in front of him and gave a low roar.

            Seto imagined that if the Curse of Dragon could laugh, it would be doing so. Instead it shot out another trail of flames, which destroyed Seto's creature. His life points lowered from 1300 to 900. As much as he had not wanted to, he had to sacrifice the points to destroy the monster.

            Gotcha, he thought. I would have imagined that monsters are smart enough not to be beaten by the same strategy twice, but I suppose I was wrong.

            "I play Swordstalker!" he announced. "Attack!"

            The dark warrior leapt up, and slashed its wicked blade at the dragon. The creature gave a shriek in surprise right before it disappeared.

            Swordstalker's attack was originally 2000, but playing it after Ryu-Kishin was destroyed gave him an extra 400.

            Now that the Curse of Dragon was gone, Seto was still left with one tiny problem. He was surrounded by fire, and the ring was becoming gradually smaller. Somehow, the flames were feeding directly off the stone floor.

            The Burning Land card, he thought. There's no other way fire could consume solid rock. He looked around, but he could find no gap in the flames, which were now leaping as high as the ceiling. Drops of sweat trickled down his still-soaked face, mixing with the salt water already in his eyes.

            The water! he thought. He turned to look for the hole in the floor, but couldn't see it anywhere. Finally he spotted it, but to his dismay, the fire had spread across it and was burning right on the water's surface.

            Okay, scrap that idea... Now what? The blazing circle closed in on him another few inches, and was steadily moving in.

            Seto then heard the familiar sound of tiny tinklings. Indeed, the Key Mace made its programmed appearance once again to help him.

            "I'm open to suggestions," he said mockingly. The fairy shrugged, then giggled like a madman as it flew away, followed by its signature trail of sparkles.

            "AARGGGHH!!" he roared.

            Why did I even bother...? he thought in frustration. Then he felt as if someone had smacked him across the cheek. His body stood at full attention as the answer came to his mind

            Delaney. The thought of seeing her gave him a surge of determination.

            Wait a minute; don't I have a water monster in my deck? he thought. Grappler! It's a long shot, but it's the only shot I have.

            He pulled the card out of the deckholder on his wrist. He looked around. The flames were within only a few feet of burning him to a cinder. The edges of his clothes were already becoming singed and scorched.

            He held up the card. Just then, a stray spark leapt up and hit the card, which combusted in his hand. He dropped what was left of it and blew cool air on his burnt fingers.

            DAMN IT!! That was his last hope. Now, he was going to fall victim not to water, but to its opposite. The heat of the fire was causing him to swelter, and he could almost feel blisters forming on his skin.

            No...it can't end here! I've come so far... Delaney...

            That was his last thought before he passed out from the heat.