Disclaimer: I do not own Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh!

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As Arrathir stood by the elevator that would take him to the duelling arena. He was going over his strategy in his head.

Khell plays big creatures that cost a lot of mana. Most of his stuff costs four or more. Krosan Drover could complicate things, so I can't let him summon any! He's still got his burn cards to hold me off though. I'll need to quickly take control of the field and watch out for his Cloudscraper.

The elevator doors opened and he stepped inside.

I hate elevator music.

The elevator rumbled as it carried him up. He noticed he didn't have his Duel Disk and wondered if they would be provided before the duel. He had agreed with Khell to play a regular Magic game including mana. The doors opened and Arrathir's breath caught in his throat. Ahead of his was a walkway suspended in mid-airThe walkway led to a circular platform with a panel on it. However, it was the size of the arena that surprised him. The arena (it was so big it might as well be called a stadium) was packed full of people, all cheering. At both ends of the stadium was a gigantic television screen. Arrathir saw himself standing in the doorway; a camera mounted on a flying robot filming his every move.

Arrathir walked forward and reached the platform. There was a flat inclined surface on the platform with an unmistakable deck and graveyard holder. It was a duelling board. He saw a zone for creatures, enchantments, and even an area designated by mana, judging from the five symbols that framed it: A fireball, a drop of water, a tree, a white sun, and a skull. There was also a readout on one side for lifepoints. He pulled his deck from his pocket and placed it on the board. Instantly he saw electrical impulses streaking away from it as the board analyzed his deck.

"Deck status confirmed," said a voice from the board.

"Hey, Arrathir," said Yugi.

Arrathir looked down and saw his friend's face on a small TV screen near the board.

"Hey, Yugi," he said.

"Good luck out there."

Thanks, Yugi.

Arrathir looked across the field and saw Khell had arrived. The lights dimmed and the giant screens turned on.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the finals of the second Battle City Duel Monsters Tournament!" said a man on screen. The caption in the lower-left hand corner read 'Judge Komo' "For the first duel of the tournament, we have a surprise for you! With their new duelling game, here are Arrathir and Khell Dracos! Now, let's duel!"

Arrathir's attention was caught when a small button under his TV screen began blinking. He pushed it and Khell's face appeared.

"Arrathir," he said "I was hoping we wouldn't have to duel so early in the finals, but no matter who wins, I still think you're one of the most talented summoners I've ever met!"

Arrathir smiled and drew his seven-card hand. "Cut?" he asked.

"Sure thing," said Khell, cutting his deck "Copperhoof Vorrac (5)."

Arrathir cut his deck.

Five is a big one. I don't have many cards that can beat it.

"Festering Goblin (1)," he told Khell.

"Guess I'll go first then. I play one mountain," the field around Khell shimmered and the ground split as snow-capped mountains appeared, "And I tap it," when Khell tapped his land, Arrathir saw the red symbol of mana briefly appear in from of Khell's platform, "to play Firebolt dealing 2 damage to you. End turn."

A streak of fire shot at Arrathir and caught him in the chest. He winced in pain and his lifepoints fell to 18.

ARRATHIR: 18
KHELL: 20

Arrathir drew his eighth card and added it to his hand.

"I drop one swap," the field around him shimmered and dead trees grew around him as pools of foul-smelling water materialized. Arrathir's nostrils were filled with the stench of rot, but curiously, it did not bother him as much as usual. "I tap it to play Dark Ritual, adding three mana to my mana pool." When he placed the card down, the electrical impulses shot out from it, like miniature snakes, streaking off in all directions. Three black skulls burst from the card and hung in front of Arrathir's platform. "I use all three to summon Zombie Trailblazer (2/2). End turn." A withered zombie with wispy white hair wearing a headband with a purple stone in its centre sprung from the card and drew a rusty dagger.

"I play a forest," said Khell as a multitude of trees grew on the flanks of his mountains. "And summon Slagwurm Armour; this equipment gives equipped creatures 0/6. End turn."

Arrathir drew next card and announced, "I play one land and tap one to summon Carrion Feeder (1/1)." A small zombie clawed its way out of the ground and sniffed the air, seeking out fresh carrion to feed on. "I attack with Zombie Trailblazer!"

The zombie lurched forward and leapt at Khell, swinging its dagger. The mage was knocked back from the force of the blow.

ARRATHIR: 18
KHELL: 18

"I end my turn," said Arrathir.

"I play another forest," said Khell "And I cast Carbonize on your Zombie Trailblazer!"

"Before he dies, I sack him into Carrion Feeder, giving him 1/1!"

The Carrion Feeder opened its jaw in a disproportionate manner and swallowed the Zombie Trailblazer whole. Khell's spell fizzled since its target was lost.

"Go."

Arrathir drew his next card and grinned: Havoc Demon.

Fortune favours me. It's expensive, but if I can get enough mana, I'm definitely summoning it.

"I play Disturbed Burial to return Zombie Trailblazer to my hand," announced Arrathir, "Now, Carrion Feeder, attack Khell directly!" The zombie crouched low and sprung at Khell, slashing the mage across the face. Khell reeled from the blow, but recovered his balance.

ARRATHIR: 18
KHELL: 16

I can't keep this up for long. When he gets some of his big creatures out, I'm in trouble.

Khell dropped another mountain and summoned a Krosan Drover (2/2).

Shit.

Arrathir was worried now. Krosan drover reduced the cost of summoning creatures with a converted mana cost of six or more by two colourless mana.

Khell ended his turn.

Arrathir started at the next card he drew: Tortured Existence.

This could help me. I just need the right card to go with it and my Havoc Demon could be in play!

"I play Tortured Existence," said Arrathir, "And I attack with Carrion Feeder!"

Khell shrugged and took the damage.

ARRATHIR: 18
KHELL: 14

Now he's gonna attach Slagwurm Armour to his Drover.

Khell did just that, making his Krosan Drover a 2/8 and ended his turn.

Sweating, Arrathir drew his next card and sighed with relief as he slapped down another mana.

"I tap out and summon Zombie Trailblazer, again. Go."

"I tap all my mana to summon Canopy Dragon (4/4, trample)!" A green dragon erupted from the foliage of Khell's forest and settled down in front of its master. "Now, Krosan Drover, attack!" The elf stood up and charged at Arrathir, wielding a long knife. Arrathir braced himself as he took the blow.

ARRATHIR: 16
KHELL: 14

Arrathir drew and played another mana. He examined his hand.

Let's see: I could attack with Carrion Feeder and pump him up with Howl from Beyond if he blocks with Canopy Dragon, but if he blocks with Krosan Drover, I'm screwed.

"I'll play it safe and end my turn," he said.

Khell dropped another forest and said, "I tap one forest and one mountain to use my Canopy Dragon's ability, giving it flying, but it looses trample. Next, I enchant it with Predatory Hunger, meaning each time you summon a creature it gets a 1/1 counter. Canopy Dragon, attack!"

Arrathir watched helplessly as the dragon flew over to him and spewed a torrent of flames at him, knocking him back.

ARRATHIR: 12
KHELL: 14

Come on, deck, it's now or never!

"Ha!" said Arrathir, slapping down his card "I play Terror on your dragon!" Khell's dragon thrashed in pain before exploding into a million digital shards. Khell sadly slipped the card into his graveyard. "Next, I sacrifice Zombie Trailblazer into Carrion Feeder, making him a 3/3. Then, I tap one land to use Tortured Existence. It allows me to discard a creature card from my hand to return a creature card from my graveyard to my hand. I discard Zombie Brute to bring back Zombie Trailblazer. Your move."

"I summon Venomsprout Brackus (5/5). Go."

Arrathir winced at his next card, Aphetto Vulture.

Pretty useless right now, but I can use it with Tortured Existence again, except if I do, he can attack full out and my Carrion Feeder can't block it.

"I summon Zombie Trailblazer. Your move."

Khell put down another forest, tapped four forests and said, "I summon Yavimaya Wurm (6/4, trample) and attack with Venomsprout Brackus!"

"I block with Zombie Trailblazer and sack him into Carrion Feeder before he dies."

As Khell's creature struck Arrathir's zombie, the Carrion Feeder ate the zombie, growing larger.

Arrathir drew another swamp and played it. He now had five mana at his disposal.

Let's see, he's got two beatsticks, one with trample. Should I Cruel Revival his Wurm or his Brackus? I'm still kind of screwed since my carrion Feeder can't block. There's really only one thing to do.

"I tap one mana and discard Aphetto Vulture to bring Zombie Trailblazer back to my hand and I summon him. Your move."

The next turn's gonna hurt.

Khell did not summon anything, but ordered his two beatsticks to attack. Arrathir blocked Venomsprout Brackus, sacking it into Carrion Feeder and taking the blow from Yavimaya Wurm, the impact knocking him down.

ARRATHIR: 6
KHELL: 14

Things are real bad! There's only one card that can save me now, please, deck, give me that card.

Arrathir drew and gasped: This was it!

"I tap one mana, play Dark Ritual and use all the mana to summon Havoc Demon (5/5, flying)

The demon burst from the card, drawing gasps of fear from the crowd.

"Good move," said Khell "You can still put up a fight."

"Thanks," said Arrathir "Your move."

Khell wasted no time and sent his creatures to attack. Arrathir knew he had no choice: he blocked the Yavimaya Wurm with his Havoc Demon. When the Wurm slew the demon, the demon let out a powerful screech that brought Khell's creatures down.

"It was a good try," said Khell "But by the time you manage to bring it back to your hand, get enough mana to summon it, and summon it, I'll have built up my defence again. Your move."

"Not with the card I've just drawn, Khell! Go, Necromancy!"

The inert form of Arrathir's Havoc Demon appeared on the field. A pentacle appeared on the ground, the lines glowing a bright green. The demon stirred and its eyes opened.

"My demon is back! Your move."

"I didn't want to use this, but you leave me no choice," said Khell, slapping a card down. A red dragon appeared on the field and roared, exposing its sharp fangs. "My Rorix Bladewing (6/5, flying, haste) has haste, but it would be a waste against your Havoc Demon, so I'll just keep it for defence. Your move."

"I draw (Consume Spirit)," said Arrathir "And you should have attacked, because now I play Cruel Revival on your Bladewing!" A beam of blue light shot from the ground and pulled the dragon under. Arrathir searched through his graveyard and put Aphetto Vulture back in his hand. "Now, Havoc Demon, attack!"

Khell stood his ground as the demon rushed at him.

"I play Moment's Peace, preventing all damage," said Khell. Arrathir's Havoc Demon stopped and returned to its master.

"Your move."

"I tap all mana and summon Avatar of Might (8/8 trample)!" said Khell. A giant wooden monster appeared. It growled a threat at Arrathir's creatures.

"Tapping out was your mistake!" said Arrathir, drawing Festering Goblin, "I attack with Havoc Demon and Carrion Feeder!"

Arrathir's creatures let out a terrifying howl as they attacked Khell.

"I block your Carrion Feeder with Krosan Drover," said Khell "What a stupid mistake! You really though I was going to block with Avatar of Might just so you could pump up your Carrion Feeder?"

"That wasn't my plan at all!" said Arrathir "Carrion Feeder deals six damage to your Krosan Drover and Havoc Demon deals five to you."

ARRATHIR: 6
KHELL: 14

"Next, I sacrifice Havoc Demon into Carrion Feeder, killing your Krosan Drover and Carrion Feeder. Now, since your avatar is a 3/3, I tap out and play Consume Spirit on it, dealing three damage to it, and I gain three life."

ARRATHIR: 9
KHELL: 9

"Impressive," said Khell.

"I'm not letting you win without a fight," said Arrathir "Your move."

"I play another mountain," said Khell "Then I play Roar of the Wurm, putting a 6/6 wurm into play," a green wurm appeared on the field and roared. "Your move."

Drawing his next card, Arrathir smiled, "I play Zombify, retuning a creature from my graveyard into play."

"So? My wurm is still more powerful than your Havoc Demon!"

"Who says I'm returning Havoc Demon?" asked Arrathir "I return Zombie Brute (5/4, trample) to play, revealing three zombie cards (Aphetto Vulture, Festering Goblin, Zombie Trailblazer) to give him 3/3, making him a 8/7! Then I tap my last mana and summon Festering Goblin." A two-headed, four-armed giant appeared on the field, wielding a long dagger beside a partially decomposed goblin. "Your move."

Khell played another mountain and said, "I tap four mana to flashback Roar of the Wurm, putting another 6/6 wurm into play, and I end my turn."

Arrathir drew another swamp and played it. He had six mana at his disposal. "I tap three mana and summon Zombie Trailblazer (2/2). Then I attack with Zombie Brute!"

"I play Fiery Temper, dealing three damage to your Zombie Brute, then I block with one of my wurm tokens," said Khell as a jet of flame licked Arrathir's zombie. The zombie and the wurm met with crashing force and killed each other, exploding in a shower of pixels.

"I play Violent Eruption," said Khell "It deals 4 damage, divided any way, so I deal two to your Trailblazer, one to your Festering Goblin, and one to you."

Four fireballs appeared from the card and streaked towards Arrathir's creatures. Two hit his Trailblazer, one his goblin, killing them both. The last hit Arrathir head-on.

ARRATHIR: 8
KHELL: 9

"Now, I enchant my wurm token with Dragon Fangs, giving it 1/1 and trample. Wurm, attack him directly!"

The wurm charged at Arrathir and knocked him, as well as his lifepoints, down.

ARRATHIR: 2
KHELL: 9

"What?" said Khell, "You should be down to one!"

"I activated my Festering Goblin's effect," said Arrathir "When he goes into a graveyard, target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn."

"One good burn card and you're finished," said Khell.

"This will buy me some time," said Arrathir, playing Terror on the wurm token "Next, I discard Aphetto Vulture to bring Havoc Demon back to my hand. End turn."

"You better hope you get a land next turn," said Khell "Or you will be in serious trouble. I summon Whiptail Wurm (8/5). Your move."

This is it, where I find out if I truly believe in the Heart of the Cards. If I don't draw mana, I know I won't be winning.

"I trust in the Heart of the Cards! I know my deck will give me what I need," said Arrathir, drawing his next card, a swamp. He sighed in relief as he slipped it and Havoc Demon (5/5, flying) onto his board.

"You can't keep relying on the same creature to save you," said Khell "I summon Crater Hellion (6/6). When it comes into play, it deals 4 damage to your Havoc Demon. I attack with Whiptail Wurm!"

"I block with Havoc Demon, of course."

The demon dies, taking the wurm with it.

Come on Hear of the Cards!

Arrathir stared in mute shock at the card he'd drawn. Of all the cards in his deck, of all the cards that could make or break this duel for him, he'd gotten the one card that would not only win it all for him, but do it with such style they'd remember this one for years.

Khell was getting impatient as he saw the goofy grin forming on Arrathir's face. How could he be smiling? He had a powerful creature, and nearly all of his opponent's best monsters were in his graveyard. This match was as good as done!

Arrathir snapped out of his happy trance. "I summon..." he paused for dramatic effect. "...the Soulless One!"

From the ground rose the bane of evil, the soul collector, the mighty zombie avatar, Soulless One.

"I have five zombies in the graveyard, meaning he's a 6/6, your move!"

"It won't help you now," said Khell "I summon Krosan Tusker (6/4) and attack with Crater Hellion!"

"I block with Soulless One," said Arrathir as his zombie destroyed and was destroyed by Khell's creature.

"Too bad your avatar isn't with us anymore," taunted Khell.

"He'll be back," said Arrathir, drawing Boneknitter "I discard Boneknitter to return Soulless One to my hand, and summon it, except this time, it's a 7/7!"

"I see," said Khell "Well, I almost forgot about this! I attach Slagwurm Armour to Krosan Tusker, making him a 6/8. Your move."

"Well, your burn cards won't be a threat now," said Arrathir "I play Consume Spirit on you, dealing five damage and I gain five life."

ARRATHIR: 7
KHELL: 4

"Impressive," said Khell "You leave me no choice, I summon Trolls of Tel-Jilad (5/6). This creature lets me regenerate green creatures. Your move."

"You aren't the only one who can regenerate, Khell," said Arrathir "I summon Twisted Abomination (5/3). I can regenerate him for one swamp. Go."

Khell drew and ended his turn.

Arrathir grinned, "I summon Undead Warchief (3/2). Your move."

"Well," said Khell "First I get rid of your power-up: I play Thunderclap on your Undead Warchief, dealing 3 damage to it. Next, I play Firebolt, dealing 2 damage to you. End turn."

ARRATHIR: 5
KHELL: 4

"You'll pay for that," said Arrathir "I play Cruel Revival on your Trolls of Tell-Jilad, and you can't regenerate them," he added, seeing Khell going to tap his mana. "As per its effect, I return a zombie card to my hand, and I return Carrion Feeder and summon it. Now, I attack with Soulless One."

"I flashback Moment's Peace to prevent all combat damage," said Khell.

"End turn."

"I summon Copperhoof Vorrack (2/2)," said Khell "It gets 1/1 for each untapped permanent you control, your move."

"It's over," said Arrathir "I discard Infernal Caretaker to return Havoc Demon to my hand, next I discard Havoc Demon to return Infernal Caretaker to my hand."

"What, pray tell, was the point of that?" asked Khell, confused.

"It's because I wanted to make sure Havoc Demon was on top of my library," said Arrathir "Now I play Corpse Dance. This instant returns the top creature card from my library into play, and it has haste. The downside is I have to sacrifice it at the end of my turn, but that won't matter. Come forth Havoc Demon!"

The demon's body appeared on the field and it began twitching, as if being pulled by invisible puppet strings.

"Do it, Arrathir," said Khell "I accept my defeat."

Without a word, the Havoc Demon flew over to Khell and dropped his lifepoints to zero.

ARRATHIR: 5
KHELL: 0

"Ladies and gentlemen," said the judge, "The winner of the first second Battle City finals, Arrathir!"

The crowd cheered madly as Arrathir waved back, acknowledging their praise. He gathered up his cards and noticed he was breathing heavily and was drenched in sweat.

"Arrathir," said Khell "That was an excellent duel."

"Thanks," said Arrathir, grinning, "You had me really hard-pressed."

"Well," said Khell "Look what I had," he showed Arrathir his hand. Arrathir saw he had a Natural Spring (target player gains 8 life).

"You let me win?" he asked.

"Well, not really," said Khell "You fought hard and deserved the win, but there's something else. I feel that you need to progress in this tournament. It's just this feeling I have. You must be the one to reach the finals, not me."

To be continued…

Author's note: There you are! The first duel of the finals. Khell, sorry you lost, but it was necessary for the rest of the plot. I'd like to credit The White Dwarf for his writing on the passage where Arrathir summons his Soulless One. Next up: Mai vs. Yugi! Oh yes, some might have noticed only nine duellists were actually present. The last one came in late and had to wait. Marik Koritaigo, rejoice, you are the late duellist (had to change your name to Mariku, hope you don't mind.)