Disclaimer: I shouldn't have to repeat myself, fools.
To those who reviewed: Thank for your input. Oh, and to Seeker, I had a memory lapse when I was trying to remember Dark Magician's level. I'll fix it, and thanks for pointing it out.
Oh, and I'm aware how corny the ending of this duel is. Very aware. I just… hit a block.
Tournament of the Century
Chapter 5: A Dark Conclusion
"Not so fast, Weevil! I'm going to activate the ability of my Purification Jar! First, I'll have to get rid of it's three spell counters, which it got for every magic card played, one by Rex, two just by you, and I get to destroy one monster on the field!" shouted Mai, pointing at the opal jar on her side of the field.
"And I choose Queen of Twilight!"
The Queen of Twilight turned towards to Purification Jar, at which a ball of energy was gathering on top of its lid. Weevil grinned widely, pushing up his glasses a bit.
"Queen of Twilight's special ability activates! Normally she only destroys one monster when she's destroyed, but since the field magic card Twilight Night is out, she can destroy two! I choose Purification Jar and Supreme Knight!" yelled the bug duelist.
The Queen of Twilight turned towards Joey's Supreme Knight and gave a mighty heave, then expelled green acid all over it, the knight writhing for a bit before melting into a puddle, the only thing left being his helmet. The bug then turned back to the Purification Jar, and gave another shot of acid just as the jar shot a beam of light, effectively destroying them both.
"It doesn't matter! Wheeler doesn't have anymore monsters on the field! Venomous Spider! Attack his life points directly and finish him!" cackled Weevil.
The Venomous Spider skittered over to Joey, raising up and baring its dripping fangs for a second, then it was blindsided by the Harpy Martyr. (3000/0)
"What! How did your monster get attack points!" asked Weevil in disbelief, watching his Venomous Spider disappear into digital sparkles.
Mai sighed. "It's simple, really. I'm allowed to pay any multiple of 1000 life points to increase her attack points by that much until the end of your turn. I had to pay 4000, however, because of Rex's Pestilence Dragon. And, since a monster on my side of the field was sent to the graveyard, I get life points equal to the original defense of the monster due to Harpy Martyr's second ability."
Joey – 2100
Mai – 6000
Weevil – 8000
Rex – 7050
Weevil looked as if he was about to have a stroke, his face a bright red, thought it was obvious he was quite embarrassed by it. "Alright, go already!"
Mai drew a card. "My pleasure. Hmm.. I'll activate the magic card Raigeki! This heavenly thunderbolt will destroy all of your monsters!"
The second Mai slid the card into her duel disk, a gigantic thunderbolt shot out from right above her, and ravaged the opposite side of the playing field, Rex's monsters breaking apart from the force.
"Now, since you don't have any monsters, I'll first play the magic card Angelic Revivification! This allows me to discard any number of cards from my hand, and gain 500 life points for each one! I'll discard three to gain 1500… but the magic card Apple of Idun activates! Normally, it only restores 2000 life points to me and my teammates, but since it was discarded, it restores 3000!"
Weevil and Rex were stunned by her degree of play… apparently, it seemed they hadn't really improved at all.
Joey – 5100
Mai – 10500
Weevil – 8000
Rex – 7050
"And since Weevil is the better you two jokers, I'll take him out first! I'll pay 8000 life points to increase my Harpy Martyr's attack points by 8000! Now attack!"
Weevil screamed and fell backwards onto his rear, the Harpy Martyr flying up, and diving directly at him, slamming her weapon into his duel disk and sending him careening to the back of the arena.
Joey – 5100
Mai – 2500
Weevil – 0
Rex – 7050
"Weevil! No way! She's just too good!" said a breathless Rex, his hands shaking a bit. "I forfeit! There's just no way!"
Joey blinked, and then stomped over to Rex as the holograms disappeared, and shook his fist at the duelist. "Whaddya mean you forfeit! You can't forfeit! I didn't get to cream you!"
Rex smirked. "I didn't forfeit because I was afraid of you, Wheeler. Mai's just gotten too good… there's no way I could have won! But you count on me coming back and getting you out of the way, Wheeler! You can count on it!"
Pegasus and Yami moved to the back of the dueling arena, Pegasus humming a light tune with a happy smirk, while Yami frowned lightly, still absorbing the knowledge of Pegasus having his Millennium eye back.
"There's just... no way I can trust him. I've got to be careful… with what I say, do, AND think." muttered Yami to Yugi.
"Well, Yami, he hasn't tried anything yet… and I feel as though we can trust him for the time being… Oh! Remember to help Amadeus with the cards that grandpa gave him!"
Yami nodded, and tapped Amadeus on the shoulder. The violet-haired boy turned around, and smiled.
"Yeah?"
"Let me see your deck… my grandfather wanted me to add those cards he gave you to it."
Amadeus blinked, and then handed his deck and the newer cards to Yami, who shuffled through it, pulling out a number of cards equal to the newer ones. He handed the deck and the leftover cards to Amadeus, who nodded and smiled.
"Thanks, now I have to duel. Wish me luck!"
Amadeus stepped up into position, sliding his deck into his duel disk, the black haired girl doing the same. Then the girl spoke: "Alright, my name is Alexia, and you're going down!"
Amadeus grinned, and gave a retort: "You'll be wishing you hadn't said that by the end of this duel; I'm going all out."
"DUEL!"
Amadeus – 4000
Alexia – 4000
"I'll go first." said Alexia, drawing herself a hand. "And I'll lead with Gemini Elf."
A pair of elves appeared on the field, moving about in a dance, their motions fluid, until stopping back to back, with a grin. (1900/900)
"Your move."
Amadeus drew a card, then looked over his hand, and cringed. There were different cards, some he hadn't seen before. The youth guessed that the old man at the game shop really did know he cheated after all… but he could still win!
"I'll play Angelic Page in attack mode!"
An angel in rags appeared on the field, its tiny white wings smothered with dirt, clutching a large flag in its hands. (1200/500)
"I'll also set two cards face down. End turn."
Alexia drew her card, and then slid a card into her duel disk. "First, I'll sacrifice my Gemini Elf to summon Foolish Magician, whose effect allows me to search my deck for one card with "Magician" in its name, or one magic card, then put it into my hand."
Alexia removed her deck and pulled a card from it as her monster appeared on the field, a rather odd looking magician with a painted face and a jester's hat, waving around a silver scepter. (2000/2000)
"Then I'll activate the continuous trap card Final Countdown! In 20 turns, you'll lose the duel. All I have to do is pay 2000 life points to start the countdown."
Amadeus – 4000
Alexia - 2000
Twenty red flames encircled the area above them, and then a dark purple sky came to life above the flames, gently moving about, making a light swirl.
"Then I'll activate the continuous magic card Prohibition! I choose the magic card Heavy Storm!"
A sign rose up in front of Alexia, with a picture of the Heavy Storm magic card on it, but crossed out.
"Now, Foolish Magician! Attack his Angelic Page with Mystery Magic Attack!"
The Foolish Magician rose it's scepter, and swung it around a few times, creating a small vortex from which a tiny bomb came out, rolling over to the Angelic Page and then exploding with amazing force.
"Hold on! I activate the trap card Reversal of Power! This card switches the attack of your monster and my monster if the attack difference isn't over 1000!"
The smoke cleared, and the Angelic Page was still standing tall.
"Now, Angelic Page, counterattack!"
The angel flew over to the Foolish Magician, and swung her flag down with mighty force. A loud crack, and the magician disappeared into sparkles.
Amadeus – 4000
Alexia – 1200
Alexia growled under her breath, then slid another card into her duel disk. "I'll set this face down, and end my turn."
Amadeus drew another card into his hand, and looked over his options. "I'm going to play the magic card Sacrificial Light! This allows me to use a monster in your graveyard as a tribute, and remove it from the game in the process, by paying 1000 life points!"
The discard slot of Alexia's duel disk released a burst of light, and the Foolish Magician was removed from the game.
"I summon Glittering Angel in attack mode!"
A burst of light came from Amadeus' side of the field, and then came a cascade of sparkles, coming from the wings of an outstretched angel clad in golden armor, who raised its shining blade and smirked. (2400/2500)
"Attack, my Glittering Angel! Finish the duel!"
Alexia smiled. "Not so fast! I'll activate Blast held by a Tribute! This'll destroy all your monsters, and deal you 1000 life points of damage!"
The chest of the Glittering Angel suddenly gave off a radiant light, which turned red just before the angel itself exploded from the inside, taking the Angelic Page with it in the large blast.
Amadeus – 2500
Alexia – 1200
"Well, the special ability of my angel was triggered. I only lose half the amount of life points I would have lost." muttered Amadeus, now defenseless.
"But, I'll set a card face-down and end my turn."
Alexia drew, and then set a card in her duel disk. "I'll play Gradius in attack mode!"
A futuristic ship appeared on Alexia's side of the field, sleek and silver, the dark figure of the pilot giving a thumbs-up. (1200/800)
"And then, I'll increase its attack power by 500 with the Wave Cannon equipment magic card!"
Two turrets appeared on the underside of the ship, and then fused with the hull, charging up energy to attack. (1700/800)
"Now, Gradius! Attack his life points directly!"
Gradius' Wave Cannons fired at the exact same time as the frontal cannons, focused right on Amadeus' duel disk, the boy steeling himself to remain on his two feet.
Amadeus – 800
Alexia – 1200
"That's not all. Since I equipped him with the Wave Cannon equipment card, Gradius also gains an additional 300 attack points every time it causes battle damage!"
The Wave Cannons on the Gradius fighter shone, and then suddenly each was given an extra barrel to fire from. (2000/800)
"Heh. That's exactly what I wanted you to do. Activate trap card, Bound to the Master!" Amadeus said, pointing to the card on his side of the field.
"This trap card can only be activated when I take direct damage that lowers my life points to less than 1000, have no other cards on the field, and it automatically allows me to summon Shining Protector from my deck or hand!"
Amadeus reached down and took out the card that slid out automatically from inside his deck, and set it onto the field. The form of a giant leonine figure appeared in front of him, then glow fading to reveal a golden lion, its fangs bared at Alexia. (2500/1700)
Alexia smirked softly, then slid a card into her duel disk. "That golden kitten can't save you from your inevitable loss! I'll set one card face down, and end my turn."
Amadeus looked over his hand, drawing a new card, and considered his options for a fleeting moment before setting a card on his duel disk. "I'll set one monster card face down, and another in my magic and trap zone… then I'll have my Shining Protector attack your Gradius!"
The golden lion leaped up into the air, aiming to land directly onto the futuristic ship, but was suddenly hit by a flurry of small, shining orbs which knocked it right back into its original position.
"My quick-play magic card, Shield of Wisps, negates your attack on my monster and allows me to draw one card. Thank you."
Amadeus frowned and waved his hand away, signaling her to take her move. Alexia drew her card, then slid a card into her duel disk.
"I'll activate the magic card Eventual Upgrade! This allows me to sacrifice a Gradius with 2000 or more attack points to search for a machine monster with seven or more stars and summon it to the field… and I'll choose Thunder Force – Mark IV!"
As Gradius disappeared, it was replaced by a larger version of itself, it seemed, except the new version had a larger wingspan and a giant cannon atop it. (2600/2000)
"And then I'll equip it with the magic of Dual Orb Option, which increases its attack and defense by 500 points!"
Two orbs appeared around the ship, swirling around it, each of them gathering energy and gaining a small electrical field around them, transferring this energy to the ship. (3100/2500)
"And now, I'll play the machine creature Bit!"
A small green orb appeared next to the Thunder Force ship, giving off a light hum. (0/0)
"Now, my Thunder Force – Mark IV! Attack his Shining Protector with Beam Sword Cannon!"
One of the orbs moved to the top of the ship, while the other went to the bottom. Each orb gathered a large electrical charge, then a blue field appeared around the ship. Amadeus braced for impact as the orbs each released a wave of lightning, and the blue field shone with a bright light, suddenly shooting out towards his Shining Protector like a sword, utterly obliterating it.
Amadeus – 200
Alexia – 1200
"Just give it up, Amadeus. There's no way you can beat my Thunder Force ship."
Amadeus growled softly, so close to losing the duel…
End of Chapter 5.
You're probably wondering, "What the hey? I see no conclusion! And that forfeit was stupid!"
Yeah, yeah, don't kill me yet. There's a pretty good reason for that.
To be continued in:
Chapter 6: Shadows About
