Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh.

Legends of the Demon Duelist-Chaos Arc

Chapter 20: The best of the best

A demon that looked a flaming version of the Terrorking Archfiend appeared on his field. "So now I special summon Hellking of the Abyss." (2000/1500) "This cards special ability forces any monster it battles with into attack mode! Attack Big Shield Gardna now!" Snarling, the demon launched forwards and slammed its fist against the warrior's shield, forcing it to its feet. "Blood Drainer!" The follow-up punch broke right through CJ's monster and flew onwards to slam into CJ's chest, sending him flying to the edge of the railing on the deck.

CJ- 600

Basil- 3400

Coughing out globs of blood, CJ pointed at his Long Ordeal card. It released a green glow.

CJ- 100

Basil- 3400

Stumbling back to his field, CJ drew. "I'm…not out yet. Draw!" He drew again.

"Not so fast big man." Basil pointed at the card CJ had drawn, and it disappeared. "When Hellking destroys a monster in also destroys all magic and trap cards in play." A burst of flames launched up and shattered CJ's two continuous cards. "So you get back your life points."

CJ- 600

Basil- 3400

CJ wiped some blood from his mouth and looked at the drawn card. He slid it into his disk. "So you want to fight serious? Fine…let's go!"

Basil's eyes widened as both Berfomet and Igzarion Universe disappeared. "Where did your monsters go?"

"They were sacrificed." CJ pointed at a pair of stone urns that stood on his field. "And like any good sacrifice they weren't given up in vain! I sacrifice Berfomet and Igzarion Universe…."

"…to summon the ultimate warrior!" A humanoid in smooth gold armor and wielding a pair of golden swords appeared on CJ's field. "I ritual summon Warrior Incarnate through the effect of the ritual magic card Trials of the Mighty!" (0/0)

"Your monster has zero attack points, so it's no threat to me." Basil pointed at his monster. "Hellking of the Abyss will be your death."

CJ pointed at the demon. "Warrior Incarnate, attack the Hellking now!"

"Idiot." Basil pointed at the warrior. "Hellking, kill it."

"Wrong." CJ pointed at his now charging warrior. "Warrior Incarnate's special ability activates now! When it battles against a demon monster, its attack points rise to 3000!" (3000/3000) The warrior swung its swords and turned the Hellking into dust. (0/0)

CJ- 600

Basil- 2400

Basil frowned and drew. "Now I'm angry. And if there is one thing you should never do, it's make me angry. Monster Reborn!" The Hellking reappeared on his field. "Then I sacrifice Hellking to summon Flame Majin Hell Burner!" (2800/1200) A warped mix of demon and insect appeared on his field. "This monster, when summoned, sends all cards on my hand and on my field to the graveyard. However, for every monster on your field my creature's attack strength rises by 200 points." (3000/1200) "End turn."

CJ looked down at his deck. Then he smirked. "You think it matters?"

"What are you talking about? Of course it matters." Basil growled angrily and pointed at the Warrior Incarnate. "If you summon another monster, then my monster's attack points will become too high for your monster to match."

"There won't be another monster." CJ slid the drawn card into his duel disk. "While my monster may have no base attack or defense points, that doesn't mean he's helpless. There isn't any kind of equipment magic card in my deck that will help him, but maybe this'll even the odds! From my hand, I activate the magic card Warrior's Heart! Go Warrior Incarnate; attack his Flame Majin Hell Burner now!" Lifting its swords, the warrior leapt across the field. (3000/3000)

Basil pointed at the warrior. "Feel the pain of hell! From my graveyard I activate the final effect of the Hellking! By removing it from play, I can protect one monster on my field with Hell in its title from destruction!" The Flame Majin released a blast of fire from its warped maw that consumed the Warrior Incarnate and blew it apart. "You've just lost."

Jared's eyes widened as he watched one of CJ's best warriors get taken apart in a flash of fire. "Oh man…what's CJ going to do now?"

"I've just lost?" CJ's lips lifted slightly and he pointed at his field. "Think again. Take a look at the field."

Basil's eyes widened as the form of the Warrior Incarnate reappeared on the field. It looked to CJ, gave him a nod, and then disappeared. "What was that about?"

"Warrior's Heart lets me draw cards equal to the level stars of one warrior monster that was destroyed as a result of battle during this turn. However, the max number of cards that can be drawn from this effect is four." Sliding four cards off of his deck, CJ glanced at each one and slid a card into his disk. "I set one card face-down on the field and a monster in defense mode. End turn."

Basil drew. "You're finished! I summon another Hellking of the Abyss!" (2000/1500) A second of the flaming demons appeared on the field. "Attack the defense mode monster!" Roaring, the monster punched into the set card and blew it apart. "Now to finish…"

"Reverse card open!" CJ pointed at his set card. "Flat Level Four! This trap is activated when a monster from my field is destroyed as a result of battle. Now both of us must summon a level four monster from our deck to the field!" He caught two cards and threw them down. "The first monster I summon is Giant Rat (1400/1450) in attack mode, thanks to the effect of the face-down Giant Rat that you destroyed!" A large grey rat appeared on his field. "Also, the monster summoned through the effect of Flat Level Four is Rage Fighter!" (2000/1600) A muscled warrior with a giant battle-axe across its back appeared on the field. "Also in attack mode."

"Then you've lost. First I'll summon out another Hellking of the Abyss through the effect of your trap!" Another of the flaming demons appeared on the field on the other side of the Hell Burner. "Then I attack your Rage Fighter with Flame Majin Hell Burner!" (3200/1200) The bug beast roared and released a burst of fire that hurtled towards CJ. "Prepare to lose your soul!"

"The only person losing anything here is you." CJ discarded a card from his hand. "I discard Battle Tactician." The burst of fire sputtered into sparks. "When there is one warrior monster in play with a monster of a different type on my field, then I may discard this magic card from my hand to end your battle phase immediately."

Basil spat onto the deck. "Take your damned turn then."

CJ drew. "Pot of Greed lets me draw two cards." Sliding two cards off of his deck, he added them to his single hand card. "This duel is finished."

"Prove it! As long as Flame Majin Hell Burner is in play I've got the ultimate attacker!" Basil pointed at the sick creature and it roared again.

"I can't beat your monster…yet." CJ slid three cards into his disk. "From my hand I play these three magic cards! First an equipment magic card called United We Stand! When equipped to a monster on the field its attack and defense strength rise by 800 times the number of monsters on my field." Rage Fighter hefted its axe and eyed the Flame Majin angrily. (3600/3200)

("Shit…") Basil glanced at his life points and took a deep breath. He was safe as long as he still had life points.

"Then from my hand comes the equipment magic card Explosive Rage!" The Flame Majin roared and doubled in size. "When played this card will double the attack of its target." (6400/1200)

"Why did you double the attack of my monster?"

CJ pointed to his last face-up card. "And finally, the magic card Wild Nature's Release. This card will transfer a beast monster's defense to its attack points." The Giant Rat chattered and its fur bunched up as pure muscle exploded along its frame. (2950/0)

"What are you doing?" Basil pointed at CJ. "Why did you raise…"

"Rage Fighter, attack Flame Majin now!" Roaring, the warrior leapt across the field and was immediately consumed in a torrent of flame. "Rage Fighter's special ability activates now! When this monster is destroyed as a result of battle by something with less than double its attack points, all battle damage to me is zero."

Basil was about to ask another question, but the pained roars of his monster caught his attention. "What…." An explosion rocked his field as his Flame Majin exploded in a flash of smoke and fire. "Impossible…."

"Explosive Rage isn't a figure of expression." CJ pointed at his opponent's empty. "When the monster equipped with Explosive Rage battles it is destroyed after the fight. Also, all monsters on your field are caught in the explosion and destroyed."

Basil ground his teeth just in time to feel the razor-sharp fangs of the Giant Rat bite into his shoulder.

CJ- 600

Basil- 0

Deondre looked down at his deck. "It's time to defeat you! Draw!" He held the drawn card up and closed his eyes. "So be it. If you want to summon a single monster to the field to fight for you, then so will I!"

Ken narrowed his eyes. "Good, bring your best. I want to see your most powerful monster."

Deondre slid Monster Returned into his graveyard. "I offer one magic card from my hand, and one dark spellcaster of level seven or higher…" The Dark Magician of Chaos faded away, and a black shape began to form on his field.

The new monster on Deondre's field was a black-robed swordsman holding a single huge claymore strapped across its back. "Legendary Spellsword (2500/2300) in attack mode!" Deondre's hand flashed across the top of his deck. "When this card is summoned to the field I draw five cards, discarding any monsters. The remaining magic and trap cards are also discarded, but a number of magic counters equal to them will be equipped to my Spellsword." He looked at all five of the cards and smirked, discarding them. "I discard five magic and trap cards to give Spellsword five counters!" Five glowing beads appeared over the head of the warrior.

Ken frowned and pointed at Deondre. Zombyra mimicked the motion, though it was pointing at the Spellsword. "You don't actually think that monster can defeat me, do you? Chaos Skyscraper will raise the attack of my monster by 3000 points when they battle, so I will win."

"We'll see about that!" Deondre pointed at Zombyra. "Legendary Spellsword's special ability activates!" One of the beads of light disappeared. "Now I may destroy one monster in play!" The warrior released a blast of energy from its sword that slammed into Zombyra and blew it apart.

Moments later the superhero reappeared. "Did you forget that Zombyra has Shadow Counters on? As long as these are attached he will be impossible to destroy!"

Deondre calmly pointed at Zombyra. "Activate special ability." The Spellsword swung its sword and another blast of energy blew Zombyra apart. As soon as it reformed he pointed at it again. "Again!" Another blast slammed into Zombyra and this time the monster blew apart permanently.

Ken ground his teeth and pointed at his face-down card. "Reveal Self Sacrifice!" Closing his eyes, he roared as loud as he could. White mist flowed out of his body and formed into Zombyra on his field. "By…" Taking a moment to catch his breath, the spiky-haired man snickered. "…paying 1000 life points I can restore life to my monster."

Deondre- 500

Ken- 5500

"What a waste." Deondre pointed at Zombyra. "Spellsword, activate your effect!" The second to last counter disappeared and another blast hurtled towards Ken's monster.

"Reverse card open!" Ken's remaining face-down card flipped up. "Rebirth Immunity! This trap card works only when a monster that was special summoned during this turn would be destroyed. The effect is negated and the monster becomes indestructible until the end of the turn!" The blast hit Zombyra, who casually back-handed it aside.

Deondre grimaced. "End turn."

Ken drew twice. "Zombyra, show that fool the error of his ways! Go!" The warrior leapt forwards and prepared to drive its fist through the Spellsword's face.

"Activate another of Spellsword's effects!" The warrior's last counter disappeared and it leapt into the air. Swinging its sword in a full circle, it created a glowing barrier of light that blocked Zombyra's attack. "This ability removes a magic counter and negates any one attack."

Growling, Ken slid the two drawn cards into his disk. "I set four cards face-down on the field and end my turn."

Deondre drew. "I won't flinch this time. Get ready Ken, because this is the end!" Holding up his drawn card, he remained expressionless. "Magic card activate! Card of Demise lets me draw until I hold five cards in my hand!" Snapping five cards off of his deck, the dog demon nodded. "I discard three cards from my hand to supply my monster with three more counters!" Three glowing motes of light appeared over the Spellsword's head. "Now I remove one counter to destroy Zombyra!"

"I reveal my Shield of Magic trap card! This will protect Zombyra from destruction by any effect other than battle at the cost of one magic or trap card on my field per turn." Ken's Final Attack Orders trap card disappeared and the blast that threatened to destroy Zombyra disappeared before it ever left the end of the warrior's sword.

Deondre slid another card into his disk. "Next I activate the magic card Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying your middle card!" A blast of wind blew Ken's middle face-down apart. "Then I order Spellsword to activate another effect! By removing another counter, I'll destroy a magic or trap card in play!" The warrior threw its sword, which pierced the face-down card and blew it apart. "Then I use the effect again!" Again the sword flew through the air and blew the other set card apart. "Now Zombyra is finished."

"Oh really? Chaos Skyscraper raises the attack power of by 3000 if you attack, and that means you can't attack. Nice try." Ken pointed at Deondre. "Now end your turn!"

"I would…" Deondre slid the remaining card in his hand into his disk. "But I have plans first!" An explosion of energy surged through the Spellsword's weapon as the blade changed into a heavy fang-shaped weapon. "I activate the Legendary Weapon Card Shattering Fang! With this card the attack power of Spellsword rises by 1000 and it can once per turn send a magic or trap card on the field to the graveyard!" The warrior slammed the blade into the ground and a wave of energy hurtled towards Ken's disk. "Chaos Skyscraper is about to leave!"

"Oh really?" Ken sneered as a blast of wind stopped the wave in its tracks. "Actually, if anyone other than the owner of the card tries to affect it with a target effect then the ability will be sent back to its sender!" The wave turned into an arrow that hurtled through the air and blew the Shattering Fang apart. "Sorry, but you lose."

Deondre's lips lifted slightly. "Oh is that so?" A halo of light appeared around the body of the Spellsword. "Truthfully, I was pretty sure your Chaos Dimension was going to do that. I was so sure in fact that I planned on it happening!"

"You planned on it happening?" Ken pointed at Deondre. "Alright, so end your turn then. If you knew your card was going to be destroyed, then why waste it?"

"I waste nothing." Deondre pointed at his Spellsword. "When Shattering Fang is sent to the graveyard by an opponent's card effect ten spell counters are added to one target on my field!"

"So what, my trap card protects Zombyra for this turn." Ken snickered calmly…until he realized that Deondre was snickering as well.

"Spellsword special ability…number three." Deondre pointed at Zombyra. "By removing a spell counter I can bring the attack of an enemy monster down by 1000. So I'll sacrifice two counters!" Two glowing bands of steel chain wrapped around Zombyra. "Now your monster has zero attack points." (0/500)

"Fool! Chaos Skyscraper will make my monster stronger than yours if you attack!" Ken wiped a drop of sweat away from his brow.

Deondre pointed at his monster. "Special ability number four. By sacrificing a counter I can raise the attack points of my monster by 1000 for one turn!" The remaining eight counters disappeared. (10500/2300)

Ken's eyes widened. "No…"

"Spellsword, attack Zombyra the Dark Hero!" Nodding, the warrior somersaulted through the air and came down with its sword-point leading. It pierced Zombyra's face mask and blew the warrior apart. "You lose."

Deondre- 500

Ken- 0

"I'm not beaten yet." Ken discarded the card he was still holding. "This card is called Chaos Disruption. If it is in my hand when I am about to lose, then Chaos Dimension is sent to the graveyard." Moments later the two of them were standing in the aisle of the plane. "I miscalculated this time. Next time will be the last." Ken threw something onto the ground and disappeared in an explosion of smoke.

Deondre ignored the looks of utter confusion he was getting. ("Ken…you and I will finish this next time. I promise you that.")

"Hm?" The genetic demon crossed his arms across his chest and waited patiently. ("I want to savor your last moments of pride. Then I'll rip that pride away from you, Pilkington.")

"You heard me." Daniel slid the drawn card into his disk. "It's time to awaken a monster you cannot defeat."

"A monster I cannot defeat. You must be delusional…there is no such thing." Rykiel thumbed at himself. "I am perfect."

"We'll see…"

Daniel held up his life point counter. "I sacrifice half of my life points to activate the magic card Nuclear Fusion." He drew five cards from his deck. "Now I discard all magic and trap cards that I drew." Two cards were pulled into his graveyard. "With the remaining cards, one of them must be Jinzo." (2400/1500) Holding up the three cards, Daniel smirked. "And just to let you know, it is Jinzo."

Rykiel narrowed his eyes.

The green armored humanoid appeared on Daniel's field. "If the other two monsters in my hand are machines, then I may send them to the graveyard to create the fusion capable of bringing you down!" A hunk of disfigured metal and a red robot appeared on Daniel's field and then exploded. "I sacrifice these two monsters to fuse with Jinzo!"

The two machines blew apart and Jinzo changed. Now it was covered with grey steel armor from head to toe, with absolutely none of its synthetic showing. "Say hello to Nuclear Psycho Shocker!" (2800/2000)

"Nuclear Psycho Shocker?" Rykiel already knew his face-down trap was useless, but now was curious as to what this monster could do. "Well…what's it effect?"

"It has an effect just like Jinzo's, but with a little twist." Daniel pointed at the face-down card on his opponent's field. "When summoned this monster reveals all cards in our hands and magic/trap zones. All trap cards are sent to the graveyard and we each take 1000 points of damage per trap removed in this manner. Also, this effect works whenever either of us draws cards!" The metallic monster rumbled and its eyes lenses flipped open to release a green ray of light that shattered Rykiel's set card. All of the pieces of Rykiel's card flew through the air and stabbed into the flesh of their owner.

Daniel- 100

Rykiel- 2900

"Nuclear Psycho Shocker, attack his Thundercloud!" Howling, Daniel's monster opened a hatch on its chest and released a green blast of energy that blew away the evil cloud.

Daniel- 100

Rykiel- 1900

Rykiel drew. "I'm far from done. From my hand I play the magic card Dark Attraction. When used, this card forces all machine monsters in play to switch into defense mode." Groaning in anger, Nuclear Psycho Shocker fell to one knee. "Also, this effect lets me revive one monster with Dark in its title to my field." With a roar the Dark Thundercloud reappeared. "Now your monster is destroyed!" A single bolt of lightning came down and blew Nuclear Psycho Shocker.

And Nuclear Psycho Shocker retaliated by exploding with enough force that an actual mushroom cloud formed from the blast. When the smoke cleared the field was empty.

Daniel drew. "You're good, but it doesn't matter. When destroyed Nuclear Psycho Shocker takes every card on the field with it." He slapped the drawn card down. "Mechanical Chaser attacks your life points directly!" A spindly-armed robot appeared on his field and slammed a scythe down onto Rykiel's shoulder. "End turn." (1850/800)

Daniel- 100

Rykiel- 50

Rykiel closed his eyes. ("I feel it…will I finally lose to a worthy opponent?") He drew. "Damn it…from my hand I play Hell Blast. This card only activates when I have no monsters in play. It will destroy all monsters you have in play and deal you half of their total attack in damage." An explosion of fire consumed Daniel, dropping his weakened body moments later to the floor of his office.

Daniel- 0

Rykiel- 50

("I lost….I'm sorry Rikuo.") Daniel slowly came to his feet, only to see that Rykiel was gone. "Where…"

Rykiel frowned and turned to look out at the ocean. "I did as you said. Though I advise against letting him get off with no punishment…I will abide by your will."

The sound of crystals reached his ears. "As you wish, Chaos."

To be continued…