"The Final Round with the Masked Duelist"
By: Von Stupor
The clash between Yugi and Kaiba had finally ended. It was truly a spectacle, a near tie. However, in the end, Yugi emerged victorious over Kaiba.
The door opened and Kaiba stormed out, furious.
"It's still Karp," Von Stupor said as Kaiba walked toward him.
"Get out of my way," Kaiba snapped at him and pushed him over in an effort to get to the exit.
"…And I think you have some Styrofoam in your hair!" Von Stupor called, not bothering to get back up. "It's right on top of your head!"
Kaiba ignored Von Stupor and stomped out of the building.
"Talk about a sore loser," commented Joey, sneering at him. He turned to Von Stupor and said, "So Von… You gonna get back up?"
"This building… It is rotted, old, dank, cluttered, cold, dark, damp, and home to a mellow aroma that fills my nostrils with slight surprise, but this floor… 'Tis the most comfortable hard floor I had ever rested my buttocks upon!" he replied.
"It is time for the final round of the Battle City tournament," the referee announced. "The next match will be Yugi Mutou versus Baron Von Stupor."
Von Stupor looked over to Yugi to see him shift from Yami into regular Yami.
"Well," he said. "I'm ready. Are you, Von Stupor?"
"You… you return to your former self?" he wondered in reply.
"Well, I figured that we could enjoy this duel as friends…"
"Please, Yugi, do not do this to me. This is a competition, and you have worked hard to reach this level. I also entered this tournament to face many challenges, and here I have arrived in the final round, ready to face my greatest adversary… and you decide not to come at me with your greatest skill?"
"Well, I… I don't want this duel to endanger our friendship…"
"Have no fear, Yugi. No matter what the outcome of this duel may be, we shall remain friends. I can understand your fear, but it is no reason to deny me a challenge. Do not face me as the Yugi Mutou we all know and love; face me as Yugi Mutou, king of Games!"
"I think he's right, Yugi," chimed Joey. "You didn't hold out on me in Duelist Kingdom, so I don't think there's any reason why you should hold out on Von."
"It is time for the final round," said the referee impatiently.
Yugi looked at the referee, then back at Von Stupor and said, "You guys are right. Are you sure this is what you want, Von Stupor?"
"Do not show any less than your best."
"Alright, then," he said and shifted into Yami. "Let's duel."
Yami and friends followed Von Stupor and the referee up many flights of stairs as the elevator no longer functioned correctly.
Eventually, they came out onto the roof of the building.
"This is where the final match of the finals will be held. As you can see, a dueling platform has already been prepared for you. This match will consist of a single duel. You may now begin."
After viewing his hand, Von Stupor made the first move.
"I'll set two M/T, one monster, and play a particularly favorite card of mine, 'Wave motion Cannon'!" he declared.
A 'Wave Motion Cannon'? Yami wondered to himself.
"This is a very special card. I can send it to the Graveyard during my Main Phase to inflict an astounding zero points of damage to your Life Points!"
"Um… very well, then…"
A large golden cannon popped up from the floor. It had intricate designs carved all over it.
"No! I choose to leave it alone and end my turn!"
"Alright, then I shall set one M/T as well as this monster and end my turn."
Immediately after Von Stupor drew his next card, a light appeared within Von Stupor's cannon. It was a very luminous fluorescent light, with a blue tint.
"What's happening?" Yami asked.
"I just drew," replied Von Stupor.
"No, your cannon unarmed just a moment ago. Now it appears to be charging up."
"Ah, yes. With time, my cannon is ever charging, and gains power with every turn of mine. You'd best destroy it now, as its Direct Damage has increased to 1000!"
What?! thought Yami to himself.
We'll have to destroy that cannon quickly or Von Stupor will gain a monstrous Life Point lead! If we don't destroy it soon enough, we might even lose the duel to it… Yugi said to Yami in his mind.
Yes, we must, Yami replied. If we just trust our cards, we'll be just fine.
Yami set one M/T and ended his turn.
"Well, horfen blorfen and a Waddle Doo, I begin my turn!" said Von Stupor rotating himself in circles. "I'll summon the Giant Orc and end my turn without attacking!"
A large white orc stepped out of its card. It held a humongous wooden club and grinned at Yami evilly.
"By the way, be careful," warned Von Stupor. "My cannon's strength grows to 2000."
"I see now," Yami said with a smirk. "Your cannon's strength will increase by 1000 during each of your Standby Phases, and you can fire it whenever you're good and ready."
"Smart man, you are."
"Years of practice, my friend… if you know what I mean. I'll set one monster and end my turn."
Once Von Stupor drew, the cannon began to shake from the raw power it contained.
"I shall summon my Second Goblin and activate his special effect!" announced Von Stupor.
The Second Goblin appeared and high-fived the Giant Orc. The force from the orc's hand sent the puny imp sprawling, but he quickly returned to the orc's side.
"This is an interesting move," Yami observed.
"Giant Orc, attack his set monster!"
The monster revealed was the Witch of the Black Forest, which promptly had its brains bashed out. Due to the force the orc put into its swing, it stumbled clumsily and ultimately fell over, its head hitting the ground. The beast was instantly knocked out cold.
"Now you monster is in defense position and you cannot change it during your next turn, which gives me plenty of time to destroy it," commented Yami.
"Oh, ho! I think not, my yellow-scraggly-part-stick-uppy haired friend! Indeed, the Giant Orc's strength is all in his arms. And indeed, he cannot control that strength. When he swings his mighty club, his girth causes him to helplessly fall over, leaving him very vulnerable to attack. After all, everywhere else, he bruises like a peach. However, with his buddy, the Second Goblin, he becomes a very mighty four star monster!"
The Second Goblin reached into its bag and pulled out a rare hunter's cloak. The goblin waved it in front of the orc's nose and the orc got up with a jump and was in attack position.
"Now, we all know that the Second Goblin is a highly sub par monster, with only 100 attack and defense. However, when he is at my Giant Orc's aid, he cannot attack, in exchange for being under the orc's protection, preventing him from being attacked himself. Simply put, as long as my monsters are in union, my Giant Orc may change its battle position once per turn, regardless of its effect!"
"That is a very good move, Von Stupor! Now I shall pull a monster with a defense of 1500 or less from my deck and place it in my hand. I hate to cut your joy so short, but it is time for your cannon to depart! I shall activate 'Mystical Space Typhoon' and blow your cannon away!"
"Halt, for I counter with 'Magic Jammer', my Counter Trap card! I shall discard one card from my hand to do so!"
The Mystical Space Typhoon whirled out of its card, aimed for the Wave Motion Cannon, but was cut short when 'Magic Jammer' was activated. The dark tornado slowed to a halt, then dissipated with the card into nothing.
"Oh, no!" cried Yami. "Now it can only get stronger! I'll set this monster and end my turn…"
"Indeed, and to be frank, I am not willing to risk it staying out another turn! As part of my Main Phase, I shall fire my Wave Motion Cannon inflicting 4000 points of damage to your Life points!"
The cannon now had blue energy swirling all about it as it shook back and forth. It launched an awesome charge of energy that up, down, and all around the field until finally striking Yami, cutting his Life Points right in half with a mighty explosion. Everyone looked in shock.
Yami gaped in disbelief.
"Come now, Yami…" Von Stupor encouraged him. "You can still come back!"
Yami regained his stature and calmly said, "Continue your turn."
"Your game face… I am pleased. Giant Orc, attack his second set monster!"
The Giant Orc destroyed the face down 'Sinister Serpent' and once again, collapsed. Von Stupor then used the Second Goblin to put him back into attack position.
"Von Stupor, you're faring very well against me so far, but don't count me out of the game yet— I still have some tricks up my sleeve. I'll set one monster and two M/T cards. Your turn."
"Next, I shall use my Giant Orc to attack your set monster!"
"Thank you! Now I may activate 'Magic Cylinder'!"
"Wait! I counter with… um…" Von Stupor said, frantically looking at his face down cards. "Um, I de-spell that?"
"Ha, ha, I'm afraid that won't work."
The orc lunged at the card, but wound up flying into a cylinder in front of it. It then rolled out of a cylinder aimed at Von Stupor, flattening his Life points to 5800. The orc shook his head and got back into attack position.
"Ha, ha… That caught me off guard. I suppose that en-diddly ends my turn," he stated.
"I must admit, if you expect to win duel, you should learn to be more serious about it. I draw and end my turn."
"That is where you are mistaken, my holographic at times and other times not-so-holographic at all friend! In all of my duels, I have never tried less than my hardest. One must earn their victory from me. I'll end my turn without attacking. Who knows what else you may have in your sleeve."
"I'll draw and… oh!" Yami gasped in surprise.
I can't use this on Von Stupor… It's too powerful, he thought.
"Yami!" Von Stupor called. "I know that look that dresses your face. 'Tis a look of hesitance, it is. Let me tell you something, Mr. Pharaoh, I specifically said for you to give me your all, and I expect it. I am much honored to be able to duel you, but do not make me regret it simply because you did not do your best."
"But—"
"No! If it will help you win this game, then by Din, do it!!!"
"…You're absolutely certainly about this?"
"Beyond the shadow of a doubt."
"Very well, then. You chose not to attack me, and that shall cost you dearly, for I activate 'Change of Heart' on your set monster!"
Von Stupor's face down card floated over to Yami's side of the field.
"Yes, yes…" Von Stupor said to himself eagerly.
"Now," he continued. "I'll sacrifice these three monsters to summon the ancient Egyptian god, Slifer the Sky Dragon!!!"
"What?! No! No!!!" shrieked Von Stupor. He then whimpered, "To be quite frank, Yami, I was expecting a Dark Magician, or even a dark Paladin, but not… him."
"I'm sorry you miscalculated my actions, Von Stupor, but it's too late to back down now. Besides, this is what you wanted," Yami informed him.
"Yes, I suppose," he agreed. "I was asking for it. Go ahead, my friend! Do it!"
The skies darkened and thunder cracked throughout the clouds as Slifer himself hovered out of the portal.
"Now, Slifer! Attack his Life Points directly!"
The great dragon simply growled at Von Stupor and refused to move.
"Baron Von Stupor, Slifer is my monster," Yami stated blankly.
"Well, I thought I would at least try…" admitted Von Stupor sadly.
Slifer began charging a ball of energy within its mouth.
"Slifer's attack is equal to the number of cards in my hand multiplied by 1000," explained Yami. "Meaning that since I have five cards in my hand, Slifer's attack is equal to 5000!"
Slifer's burst stream engulfed both the Giant Orc and Second Goblin and everything became too bright to see anything. After a moment, when everything was clear again, nothing remained of Von Stupor's monsters. Von Stupor looked down at his Life points display to see his Life points plummet to 3000.
"Sweet, merciful Xel'lotath…" Von Stupor muttered to himself, drawing. How can I get out of this predicament? he thought. …Ha, ha, ha… 'Tis a long shot, but it's all I can do. "I'll set this monster, and—"
"Wait! That activates Slifer's second effect, his second mouth! If you summon or set a monster, Slifer automatically attacks it with 2000 points of damage, but no battle damage is dealt to either player's Life Points."
"Ha, ha, that is all I need him to do!"
"You realize that god cards cannot be destroyed by the effects of a Magic, Trap, or Monster card effect, correct?"
Von Stupor chuckled as the energy attack struck his set monster. The monster was revealed to be a Wall of Illusion.
"A Wall of Illusion?!" cried Yami.
"A Wall of Illusion! Any monster that attacks it is not destroyed per say, but is sent back to its owner's hand!"
"Is that possible?"
"Let us find out."
The Wall of Illusion stared at Slifer, its eyes glowing and wide. The shot hit it and the wall disintegrated in the stream of raw energy. After a short while, Slifer glowed a bright white color and shot like electricity into Yami's hand.
Confounded, Yami sputtered, "Um… good move?"
"Thank you manies," Von Stupor replied happily. "I have no more moves, so I shall end my turn."
"Then I shall set one monster, ending my turn."
"I set one monster and end my turn."
"I set one monster along with an M/T card. Your turn."
"I'll sacrifice my set monster to tribute set another. And conclude my alternation."
"Building up your defenses?"
"For now."
"Hm. I shall play 'Graceful Charity', which allows me to draw three cards from my deck and then discard two from my hand. Your turn."
"I pass this turn."
"Well, I'll set one monster and end my turn."
"I shall now summon the Dark Blade and attack the monster you have just set!"
My main priority is preventing him from getting three monsters on the field… thought Von Stupor.
The Dark Blade was a knight in shining black armor. It wielded a large, one-handed blade. It swiftly slashed Yami's face down card, revealing the Sinister Serpent.
"As long as this card exists in my Graveyard, it returns to my hand during my Standby Phase," he commented. "And now, I'll play 'Swords of Revealing Light', which prevents your monsters from attacking for three whole turns!"
"…Nutbunnies."
"That's right. Not only this, but any face down monsters you have are flipped face up immediately."
"Very well," Von Stupor said as a thick stone wall rose out of the floor, blocking view of Baron Von Stupor. "Meet my Labyrinth Wall, ha ha! Its superior defense can stand up to near any monster's attack!"
"3000 is an immense amount for defense, I'm impressed. That ends my turn."
"I shall set one M/T and end my turn."
"I'll set one monster and end my turn."
"I do believe you have too many monsters on the field for comfort. They must be removed! Therefore, I shall play 'Mystical Space Typhoon' on your swords of blinding light!"
The dark tornado swirled out and sucked the swords into its spiraling winds. The cyclone shot into the air and out of sight.
"Next I shall summon a Giant Orc and attack your two set monsters with mine! I cannot allow your monsters to accumulate on the field, as it may return disastrous results…"
Von Stupor's monsters mauled those of Yami's. His Kuriboh and Sinister Serpent fell under Von Stupor's mighty forces. Left with one monster, Yami began his turn.
"I shall play 'Raigeki'," he announced. "Now all monsters on your side of the field are destroyed!"
Lightning shot down from the sky and blew apart Von Stupor's Dark Blade and Giant Orc. His Labyrinth Wall took some time, but with enough strikes, it crumbled to pieces. Von Stupor was seen dancing on the other side.
"I see you!" he called, fluttering his fingers at Yami.
"It's your move," he replied, ignoring him.
Von Stupor winced when he drew a Second Goblin, as it was the only card in his hand.
"I'll set this card and end my turn," he said reluctantly.
"Baron Von Stupor, this duel has been one of the most exciting duels I've enjoyed in a long time," complimented Yami. "Sadly enough, though, in the next few turns, it will all be over. First, I shall tribute my face down monster, Beta the Magnet Warrior, along with Alpha and Gamma the Magnet Warriors from my hand to special summon Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!"
Beta jumped out of Yami's face down card while Alpha and Gamma leapt from his hand. They both transformed into body sections and merged together to form the mighty Valkyrion.
Excellent, thought Von Stupor. He shall be wide open once he attacks… Hmmm, I'm awfully hungry. Oh! A hunger pain… Ugh…
"I know you all too well, Von Stupor. I'll not trust your M/T cards, therefore I shall activate Valkyrion's effect!"
"What? His effect?" Von Stupor wondered.
"Yes, by offering Valkyrion as a tribute, I may special summon Alpha, Beta, and Gamma the Magnet Warriors from my Graveyard in attack position!"
Von Stupor chuckled for a few moments but then realizing what was going on, he gasped in shock.
He's got three monsters on the field!!! he thought. And… and he has yet to Normal Summon a monster!!!
"I take it by your bodily expression that you know what I'm up to. Yes, now I may offer Alpha, Beta, and Gamma as tributes to summon Slifer the Sky Dragon to the field once more! In addition, since I have four cards in my hand, Slifer's attack is now equal to 4000! Slifer, attack his set monster!"
Slifer charged up its burst stream and incinerated Von Stupor's Second Goblin. Afterward, Yami ended his turn.
"There is only one card in my deck that can save me now," Von Stupor said to himself, hesitating before he drew. "I simply must believe in the liver of the cards, and…"
He drew and stared at his card in awe.
"Huzzah!" he finally cried out loud. "Slifer's second effect does not affect special summons, does it?"
"I… am unsure," Yami replied.
"Well… I have nothing more left to lose, so I shall play 'Black Illusion Ritual'! I sacrifice the Dark Blade from my hand to Ritual Summon Relinquished!"
The ritual was performed and Relinquished burst from its pot as usual.
"Now Relinquished, absorb Slifer!!!" commanded Von Stupor.
Despite Relinquished's best efforts, it could not absorb Slifer. For a moment, Von Stupor thought he could hear Slifer chuckling pompously.
"I'm sorry, Von Stupor; Relinquished's effect does not work on god cards," Yami told him.
"Well! I suppose Plan B is the course of action to take. As I reminisce about past conversations concerning god cards, I recall being told that they may be powered up and powered down by Magic, Trap, and Monster card effects, but not destroyed. Keeping that in mind, I realize that the card I hold in my hand is indeed the gods' bane."
"I'm sorry, but you do not have the correct number of cards in your hand to even begin to match Slifer's 4000 attack points."
"Oh, but I do, heh, heh."
"Then tell me, what is the gods' bane?"
"Ho, ho, ho, why don't I demonstrate for you instead? I shall play the Magic card 'Riryoku'!"
"'Riryoku'? Oh, no!!! That card drains a selected monster's attack by half and adds it to another!!!"
"Correct, and I choose to drain Slifer's attack and add it to Relinquished's! Since their attacks are now equal, at the cost of my Relinquished, I may finish Slifer, once and for all! Relinquished, attack Slifer with Absorption Blast attack!!!"
Slifer rushed Relinquished and slapped it down with its foot, pinning it to the ground. Just before Relinquished was destroyed, it launched an energy blast directly into Slifer's first mouth, causing his head to explode. Both monsters faded into nothing.
"That was an excellent move, Von Stupor!" Yami complimented him once more.
"Thank you, he whose hair sports lightning bolts made from the scraggly parts of your hair that stick up! Now I shall play the Field Magic card 'Mystic Plasma Zone', which will increase all DARK-type monsters' attacks by 500 and end my turn."
A large typhoon of raw energy began circling overhead, darkening the sky.
"Von Stupor, I believe you have helped me seal your fate. First, I'll set one monster. Now I shall activate 'Ultimate Offering', which allows me to pay 500 Life points per extra Normal Summon or set. I'll first pay 500 to set a second monster, and then 500 more to tribute my two monsters to summon the Dark Magician! Thanks to your mystic plasma zone, my Dark Magician gains 500 attack, raising it to 3000, just enough to deplete your Life Points entirely! Now, my Dark Magician, finish Baron Von Stupor off with your Black Magic attack!!!"
The Dark Magician raised its staff to attack when a thick flaming necklace appeared around his neck.
"Yami," said Von Stupor. "I have fought hard to win this duel, but alas, I shall not win. I do know that now. However, if I cannot win, I shall ensure that you do not either."
"What do you mean?"
"I have activated my trump card, 'Ring of Destruction'. This card destroys one monster on the field and inflicts Direct Damage equal to its attack to both duelists' Life Points, resulting in a tie game!"
"That may be true, but according to official Battle City rules, the duelist who has the most Life Points at the moment before the draw was initiated will be declared the victor."
Von Stupor began chuckling evilly to himself.
Puzzled, Yami looked to the referee for the duel results. He confusedly stepped up and said, "As unpredicted and unprecedented as it is, both duelists' Life Points were exactly equal just before the draw was made, resulting in a draw. Please hold while I inquire Mr. Kaiba on the victor…"
The referee stepped down and wandered over to Kaiba, who had inconspicuously returned to watch the duel. The referee began to whisper to him.
"I saw the duel, you idiot. I don't care what happened, just end it. I'm too disgusted to continue," he muttered back quietly. He muttered something else that Von Stupor couldn't make out clearly and the referee nodded prior to marching back over to the dueling field.
"Strangely enough," he said. "The final match of the Battle City tournament has been officially declared a draw. This match has no victor; therefore no one shall lose any cards to the other. You are both declared as the Battle City champions and shall have the prize money divided between the both of you. Congratulations, Yugi Mutou and Baron Von Stupor, you both have come out above all other duelists. This shall now conclude the Battle City tournament. Meet back in the blimp in twenty minutes for departure toward Battle City."
The referee and Kaiba promptly headed back downstairs.
"That… was a very unexpected result," said Tristan.
"Man, I would've sworn that Yugi had the match won, but Von had to drag him down with him!" Joey said, surprise lingering in his voice.
"If you guys don't mind, I would like to speak with Von Stupor in private," said Yami to the others.
"Sure thing, Yug, I'll just be down in the blimp with the others."
With that, everyone left downstairs, leaving Yami and Von Stupor alone.
"Von Stupor, what you have done just now is something that none has ever done in millennia; though I didn't exactly lose this game, you successfully prevented me from winning it when I was at the top of my game. You even managed to stand tall against a god card, the mightiest opponent of all, and for all this, I must personally congratulate you," he conceded.
"It is an honor enough to know that my skills are on par with even the King of Games, it is. Though, all I have done was in hopes that I would find at least a lead towards what truly happened to Maximillion Pegasus."
"I see. You have very noble intentions. Though I wish I could do more, all I can offer is my advice. One known as bandit Keith held a great grudge against Pegasus for humiliating him in a national American Duel Monsters tournament."
"Ah, I saw that match. 'Twas very entertaining. I knew not that he retained ill will towards Pegasus, though. Thank you very much."
"Not a problem," Yami said beginning to walk toward the stairwell. Von Stupor followed close behind. "Suppose someone did do something to Pegasus. What will you do once you find them?"
"I am unsure, to tell the truth. If someone has done something to Pegasus and I manage to track them down, I may enter an unholy rage. Anything that occurs during that rage may suffice. I may allow Majora to come out, even."
"Do you really believe that is the right thing to do?"
"No, probably not. However, 'tis inevitable. I shall continue my search for answers until I find them. Next, if someone has done something to him and I find that person, I will not retain any common sense and quite possibly enter a blind rage. I will not control my actions from there. 'Tis definitely unavoidable. This is just a theory, though. I cannot give an answer until it happens."
"I see. Why haven't you simply tried to visit Pegasus?"
"Pegasus's employees operate the boats that go to and from Duelist Kingdom, so there is no way there with no way to contact him save through e-mail, which mind you, he has not responded to."
"Ah. Well, best of luck to you, Von Stupor."
They finally arrived at the blimp.
"As for me," he said, shifting back to Yugi. "I'm going to go visit Bakura. I heard he's better now."
"Wait! Why is this 'Bakura' of changed ways? How can he be healed of his evil?"
"Oh, his Millennium Ring houses a spirit too, except his spirit is evil and controls him against his will."
"Ahhh, okay. I shall follow and meet him more formally than before."
"Alright, then! I'm sure he'd like that!"
They moved into the blimp and heard everyone in the lounge room, chatting and laughing. Yugi poked his head in and asked where Bakura was. He then thanked them and came back out.
"He's in his room. Come on," he informed Von Stupor, moving into the hall.
Von Stupor obediently tagged along. About four doors down, there was one opened. Yugi and Von Stupor moved inside to see Bakura. He was heard muttering something to himself, his back turned.
"Speaking in tongue has become a hobby of yours?" blurted Von Stupor.
Bakura turned around quickly, an expression of surprise on his face.
"Oh! Hello, guys!" he said, his voice slightly shaking. "Who won the tournament?"
"It was a draw between me and Baron Von Stupor, believe it or not. By the way, this is Von Stupor," Yugi introduced.
"Ah, yes. I spoke to you before, but never really got to meet you. So that's your name? It's rather peculiar."
"I'm a rather peculiar person," said Von Stupor with a chuckle.
Von Stupor moved to sit on Bakura's table, but the instant he put his weight on it, the leg broke, sending Von Stupor and the bag he just noticed was on it crashing to the ground. Items from inside the bag scattered across the floor. Laughing, Yugi and Bakura rushed to pick up his possessions while Von Stupor sat on the floor, momentarily dazed. Just then, a spherical object rolled over and hit Von Stupor's leg. He looked down to see a golden sphere, about the size of a large marble. It had the trademark eye on it that was also found on the Millennium Puzzle, Millennium Ring, and Millennium Rod. His suspicion began to rise, as did his anger. He slipped it into his jacket pocket as he stood up.
"Are you alright, Von Stupor?" asked Bakura, still snickering a bit.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," he assured him, avoiding eye contact. Not yet, he thought to himself. You do not know any real facts just yet, just remain calm…
He helped pick up all the remaining items and began to leave when Bakura said, "I think I'm missing something…"
"I think I saw something roll underneath the bed," Von Stupor lied, and left.
He wandered up to the top of thee blimp and watched the sun set. He heard footsteps and turned to see that Téa had followed him.
"Von Stupor, I… I have to talk to you," she said nervously.
"This may not be a good time," he replied solemnly.
"It's very important, and I'm afraid I may not get another chance…"
"This may not be a safe place to be positioned near soon…"
"Please, you have to listen to me! It's about earlier, when you walked in on Bakura and me. I… I wasn't talking about—"
"You will give me back my Millennium Eye," a voice cut her off.
It was Bakura. He didn't have his usual accent, and his face looked more evil.
"So my inference was correct. What I saw was indeed the Millennium Eye," stated Von Stupor, his anger building. "Furthermore, the vessel did not obtain the item, you did. Now I want you to tell me how."
"Oh? It appears you are an acquaintance of Maximillion Pegasus. Well, then, I suppose I could oblige you. I seek to obtain all seven Millennium items, for when they are all in one's possession, that one will gain tremendous power, beyond anyone's imagination. Pegasus owned the Millennium Eye. When he dueled Yugi, their duel was in the Shadow Realm, and Pegasus had it set up to where it would put a strain on the minds of either duelist. Knowing that little Yugi would not be able to cope with it, Pegasus hoped to force the Pharaoh out for good, allowing Pegasus to read his mind once more. Needless to say, Pegasus was still defeated. When he retreated, I followed and challenged him to yet another shadow game, one that would also put a strain on his already weakened mind. Once I defeated him, I relinquished him of his Millennium Eye… in the only way possible."
Von Stupor's eyes opened wide.
"You… you…" he sputtered.
"Extracted it straight from his face," Bakura finished with a smirk. "If only you could have heard the cries of agony—"
"Enough!!!" Von Stupor screamed, waving his hand across his chest.
Once he did this, a ball of dark fire shot at Bakura.
"I activate 'Negate Attack'!" he cried, throwing a card in the air. Von Stupor's fireball dissipated before hitting Bakura. "How did you do that?!" he asked, baffled.
"I… I don't know…" he replied, looking at his hands as they remained ablaze with dark fire for a moment.
You're not supposed to do that! Majora shouted from within his head. How could you have possibly learned how to channel— he stopped suddenly.
Von Stupor sensed nervousness as his mind clicked. How to channel what? he thought back sternly.
How to channel the powers of the mask… he growled hesitantly. He sighed and thought, I have just given myself away…
You mean to inform me… that your spirit was never enchanted to begin with? That this mask is what contained the power, not you???
"That the power you claimed to have really lied within this mask and was usable by either one of us at any time?!" he screamed aloud.
Téa gasped and merely watched the mess she had unknowingly blundered into.
"You… you held out on me…" Von Stupor said, hurt.
His mask glowed and Majora spoke aloud, "Yes!!! All I needed was your body to get what I wanted!" Von Stupor then spoke. "I… I truly was… just a means to an end… Yes, you were. Why, Majora? Why would you do such a thing? Haven't you learned by now that I do not care about you? I only want to torture souls, and this deal was the perfect chance. The only reason I made that deal with you was because I was feeling merciful. I don't care about you, your deck, or your safety. I merely wanted to inflict pain and suffering, no matter what those poor fools' deeds were, and you helped me accomplish just that. Your emotional stress must have been at its climax just then, and that is why you were able to channel the mask's power. I… But… Now leave me alone! I do not wish to hear your childish whimpering."
Von Stupor sat in place for a moment, and his mask stopped glowing. He stared at the ground.
"Von Stupor… I'm so sorry," Téa said to him.
"If you are finished, I will be taking back my Millennium Eye now," Bakura said coldly.
"No…" Von Stupor retorted quickly, a burning hatred in his voice. "I am far from finished. Pegasus has had ill will inflicted upon him, and his Millennium Eye has been thieved from him. My search for answers has finally been completed, and now it is time for my retribution to begin."
"What are you talking about?"
"I challenge you to a game of shadows! Duel Monsters is the name. If I win, the Millennium Eye shall stay with me and your mind and soul shall repent in the Shadow Realm!"
"And if I win?"
"Then I will meet the same fate."
"I think I would rather seize my Millennium Eye by force."
Bakura began to reach for his Millennium Ring when in a flash, Von Stupor was in front of him and said in a horrific tone, "I think not that you have much of a choice."
"Von Stupor, don't! You'll send Bakura to the Shadow Realm!"
"I know what I'm doing, Téa! Trust me," he replied to her.
"Hm. Fine, then, I'll play your game. You have no idea of the horrors that lie within my deck."
The two duelists moved to either side of the blimp and readied their duel disks.