Yu-Gi-Oh! - The Approaching Darkness

Chapter 1: Pieces to a Puzzle

"PLEASE CLEAR DUELING ARENA" the filtered computer voice announced as dozens of technicians scrambled out of the chamber. Finally, one person remained, standing opposite of a large, spherical orb with two mechanical arms, one of which had a duel disk attached.

"Mr. Kaiba, sir, we are ready to begin the final test for your updated tournament rules." the head technicians voice sounded over the PA system in the arena. "The final version of the rules have been uploaded into the Duel Computers hard drive, and it is standing by."

"Good, lets get this duel going." Kaiba said, as he slid his deck into the duel disk and powered it up. He looked across the duel arena and watched as the computer mimicked his own actions. "With Life Points set at 8000, this duel should be an all out war."

He looked at the computer once more, the new computer, he remembered. The old one had been thoroughly destroyed when he had first used the Egyptian God card, Obelisk The Tormentor. However, he didn't have Obelisk anymore, all he had now was his own skill as a duelist, and that was all he needed.

"I'll begin this duel," Kaiba said, as he drew six cards from his deck, "I'll set two cards face down, and set this monster in defense position," he said as he placed the three cards on his duel disk, "then I'll end my turn."

"DRAWING OPENING HAND", the computer said as it began its turn, "ANALYZING HAND…SUMMONNING GIANT ORC TO THE FIELD…"

"Not so fast, I'll activate Ring of Destruction, and destroy your monster." Kaiba replied, as he activated his trap card. "Then I'll activate Barrel Behind The Door to protect my life points.

Kaiba: 8000 Duel Computer: 3600

"SETTING TWO CARDS FACE-DOWN ON THE FIELD, END TURN."

"So far, this isn't much of a duel…" Kaiba said, as he drew his next card. "I'll place one card face-down, then I'll sacrifice my face-down Kaiser Sea Horse to summon the Blue-Eyes White Dragon," he said as he placed his signature card on the duel disk, "Now, my dragon, attack him directly!" Kaiba ordered his Blue-Eyes.

"ACTIVATING TRAP CARD SAKURETSU ARMOR"

"Should have known better." Kaiba replied in anger as he placed his dragon in the graveyard. "I'll end my turn."

"DRAWING CARD. ACTIVATE MONSTER REBORN TO REVIVE BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON." the dragon appeared on the computers side of the field, letting out a loud roar as it stared at its previous controller. "ACTIVATING HEAVY STORM"

"This is going to hurt." Kaiba said as he placed his Negate Attack in the graveyard.

"SUMMONING ARCHFIEND SOLDIER" the computer said, as it continued its turn. "ENTERING BATTLE PHASE…".

---

"And then I'll attack your Gearfried with my Dark Magician Girl", Yugi said, "Your turn, Joey."

"Nice move, Yug, but I'm not out yet." Joey said, as he drew what would probably be his last card of the duel. "Alright! Yugi, you put up a good fight, but it looks like I win." Joey said, with a look of pure joy on his face, "First, I'll activate my Graverobber to use the Monster Reborn in your graveyard, which will bring back my Alligator Sword Dragon. Then, I'll activate De-Fusion too split it back into its fusion-material monsters. Next, I'll play Premature Burial to summon Panther Warrior. Finally I'll sacrifice my three monsters on the field to summon Gilford The Lightning, and destroy your Dark Magician Girl, then I'll attack for the win!"

"Joey, you forgot that I still have Swords of Revealing Light on the field for one more turn!"

"Arrg!", Joey growled, "I should have known that it was too easy!"

"I'll Summon Vorse Raider to the field, and equip it with Megamorph, then I'll destroy the Blue-Eyes that was resurrected from my graveyard. Now I'll activate Premature Burial to return my dragon to the field. Finally, I'll place one card face-down and end my turn."

Kaiba: 2300 Duel Computer: 2800

"DRAWING CARD…SACRIFICING GIANT ORC TO SUMMON END OF ANUBIS."

"Looks like I'm one step ahead, yet again. I'll activate my Crush Card virus, and tribute my Vorse Raider, which will destroy your monster and any creature you have in your hand for the next three turns that an attack strength over 1500." Kaiba said, as he activated his virus card.

"END TURN." the computer said in it's filtered voice.

"That all, maybe this computer needs a little more work, if it's going to lose that easily." Kaiba said as he drew his last card of the duel.

"Blue-Eyes, finish this duel! Attack with White Lightning!"

"I'll summon my Dark Magician, and attack you directly to finish the duel!" Yugi said as he placed his favorite card on the table. "Good game, Joey. You get better every time we duel."

"Yeah, but I'll never be better then you, Yugi. That's a given."

"Joey, don't get yourself down man, and was an awesome comeback, almost." Tristen said, as he watched both players place their decks back in their appropriate cases.

All of them turned to the door when they heard someone come in.

"Whoa, isn't that Croquet, Pegasus's bodyguard?", Tea said, standing behind Tristen.

"Yeah, it is. I wonder what he wants."

"Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler. Mr. Pegasus would like to meet with you. He has instructed me to take you to him.

"Pegasus? Why does he want to see us?" Yugi asked Joey.

"I don't know, but whatever Mr. Toons-on-the-Brain wants, It's most likely trouble."

"Mr. Kaiba, a letter from Industrial Illusions was delivered to you while you were down at the duel arena. I placed it on your desk." the secretary said as Kaiba walked towards his office.

"Thank you." Seto said, as he walked past, "I need some privacy for a little while, hold all my calls."

"Yes Sir."

Hmm, I wonder what Pegasus wants now. Kaiba wondered, as he made his way to his desk. Once there, he sat down in the expensive chair, and opened the letter. Interesting, very interesting. He thought.

He reached over and hit the button for his intercom, "Cancel my meetings for the rest of the day."

"Yes sir, Mr. Kaiba."

Looks like I'll be taking an unscheduled trip to Duelist Kingdom.

"Your sure that Kaiba will start his tournament next week, and that Yugi Muto will be attending?" Mr. Ramsey asked Keiran.

"He wouldn't even bother throwing a tournament, if he knew that Yugi wouldn't be there." Keiran replied, "Don't worry, everything is going as scheduled. If there are any problems, we'll get them sorted out before they become too troublesome."

"And what of the card, did you get it from Pegasus?"

"Yes, Master." he said, as he took the card out of his pocket. "Here you are."

"Perfect. Everything is ready, make sure things move forward as planned." he said, as he gazed upon the card. His card. "You may leave us now."

"Yes, my master."

Ramsey watched as his faithful servant left the room.

With this card, we'll be unstoppable. Not even the Pharaoh will be able to stand up to the power of this card. And once we defeat him, the infinite energy of the gods will be mine, and I'll be free at last

"Yes, Master. You will be free, and I'll have my youth back."

Not just your youth, but eternal youth. I'll give you a portion of my soul, and from that, you will live for as long as you could ever want. But you must have patience, we must wait for all of the pieces to this puzzle to reveal themselves, otherwise we will fail at our task. You wouldn't want that, would you.

"No, of course not!" Ramsey replied defensively. "Anything for you, master!"

Good.