Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh.

Legends of the Demon Duelist-Midnight Arc

Chapter 12: Past vs. Future; Cyber Shadows vs. Shining Force

Ichigo smiled slightly and then went stone-faced. "By the power of the Dark Halo, I overlap your challenge with one of my own."

Akuma grunted as he was forced to let Eri go by the power of the Shadow judges. "So you know of the laws of the darkness games…"

Ichigo lifted his arm to reveal a duel disk. It clicked into place and he slammed his deck into place. "Enough talk. I'm sick of you."

Akuma activated his duel disk. "Prepare to feel the pain of my deck."

"You're wrong." Ichigo closed his eyes. "Snake…King of Swords…Lord of Knives…I shall put their souls to rest right here and right now! Let the duel begin!"

Ichigo- 4000

Akuma- 4000

Lightning crashed down between both of them. Hazel eyes met red ones…and a few drops of rain fell to the earth, as dark clouds gathered.

Eri watched in amazement. It was strange…Ichigo looked different. It was as if he weaker and yet stronger at the same time. She also noticed something about his clothing…his Fenrir Black jacket was now a glittering gold and white.

Akuma's dark gi blended in perfectly with the night…and the only light was from his eyes and teeth. "Boy…I will kill you and give your soul to the darkness."

Ichigo felt a drop of rain fall onto his head. "Like I said…duel."

They drew their hands.


Davis ran towards the location where the storm clouds were, his eyes locked straight ahead. ("I can't let them fall…they're too important…")


Akuma fanned out his cards. "I go first." He drew. "Cyber Shadow Soldier!" (1600/1600) The medium-sized warrior appeared on the field in defense mode. "Also, I set one card face-down and end my turn."

"Nice start, but it's my turn!" Ichigo drew. "First I play Polymerization!" He held up two cards. "Shining Force-Hyperion and Shining Force-Gale Spirit Ryu fuse together!" A dragon armored warrior with a vacuum cleaner-like device on one arm appeared on the field. "Shining Force-Spirit Galion!" (1800/1200)

Akuma blinked in surprise at the monster. "It's the creature from before."

"Spirit Galion's special ability lets it switch the modes of any monsters in play before it attacks!" Ichigo pointed at Soldier. "Tempest Cannon!" A tornado flew from the warrior's weapon towards the crouching Cyber Shadow.

"Reveal Shadow Barrier!" Akuma sneered. "This counter trap negates any effect that targets a Cyber Shadow in play and destroys the source!"

Ichigo snapped a card into his disk. "From my hand I activate the counter quickplay magic card Shining Luck! This card negates one effect that targets a Shining Force monster and destroys it!" Shadow Barrier exploded into dust and Soldier stood up. "Attack now!" A green blast of air hit Soldier and blew it apart. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."

Ichigo- 4000

Akuma- 3800

Akuma drew. "I play Electric Animators to revive Soldier in defense." The warrior appeared on the field in a crouching position. "Also, I set one card face-down. End turn."

Ichigo drew. "From my hand I play Pot of Greed!" He drew two cards. "Now I summon Shining Force-Firestorm Cobra (1400/1100) in attack mode!" An explosion of fire rocketed up alongside Spirit Galion. It formed into a snake that hissed and then writhed around the fusion warrior. "Its special ability lets me union it to one warrior in play!" It curled around Spirit Galion's arm and seared into the bare skin, becoming a tattoo. "The equipped monster's attack power goes up by 700!" (2500/1200) "Spirit Galion, Tempest Cannon!" The warrior released a tornado that slammed into Soldier and forced it to stand up. "Firestorm Fist!" The Cyber Shadow was sent flying by a flaming punch from the fusion warrior. "Also, the effect of Firestorm Cobra doubles the amount of damage that the equipped monster does to your life points. End turn."

Ichigo- 4000

Akuma- 2000

Akuma clenched his fist and drew. "You little bastard…" He slammed a card down. "I summon Cyber Shadow Trainer (300/1200) in defense mode and set one card face-down. End turn." A grizzled old man in a black bodysuit appeared on the field in a crouching position.

Ichigo drew. "Go Spirit Galion! Tempest Cannon!" A tornado slammed into Trainer and forced it to stand up. "Now Firestorm Fist!"

"Reverse card open!" Akuma pointed at one of his set cards. "I activate Emergency Alarm to end your attack and pick up Soldier from my graveyard."

Ichigo glanced at his hand. "End turn."

Akuma drew. "Now I play my Pot of Greed." He drew two cards. "Now I play Polymerization to fuse Soldier and Charger together." A warrior holding a huge battering ram with a jet engine attached to it appeared on the field. "Cyber Shadow Jet Charger. (3500/0) attack his monster now!"

"Reverse card open!" Ichigo pointed at his set card. "Shining Aura!" Spirit Galion was struck by the battering ram and was sent skidding backwards…but otherwise was alright. "This card will only work if I have no other monsters in play. One Shining Force monster will be protected from death by battle as long as it is in attack mode."

Ichigo- 2500

Akuma- 2000

Akuma grimaced. "Jet Charger switches into defense mode." The warrior dropped to one knee and held its battering ram up in front of it. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."

Ichigo drew. "It's my turn now." He pointed at Trainer. "I'll still finish you off! Attack now with Firestorm Fist!" Spirit Galion's fist exploded into flames and it charged.

"Reveal Alert Tripwire!" One of Akuma's set cards flipped up. "This quickplay magic card will negate your attack and let me draw a card for every Cyber Shadow in play." He drew twice, and when he looked at the drawn cards he sneered.

Ichigo slid a card into his disk. "I set one card face-down on the field. End turn."

Akuma drew. "I set one monster face-down on the field and switch Jet Charger into attack mode!" The warrior stood up. "Attack now!" It launched towards Spirit Galion.

"Reveal face-down card!" Ichigo's set card flipped up and energy flowed around his warrior. "Shining Charge increases the attack of one Shining Force in play by 1000, and it also lets me draw one card." He slid the top card off of his deck. (3500/1200) "Fight back Spirit Galion! Firestorm Fist!" Both monsters collided and exploded into dust. Shining Aura shattered.

Akuma snickered. "Did you forget that when Jet Charger is destroyed as a result of battle that I can destroy one monster in play?"

"No, I didn't." Ichigo slid Firestorm Cobra into the graveyard.

Akuma looked at his hand again. "After I switch Trainer into defense mode I end my turn."

Ichigo felt more rain hit his head, but he didn't react to it. His attention was completely on this duel. ("So far I'm staying alive…but he has the advantage…")

Eri, who had moved under the shelter of the trees, clenched her hands together tightly. "Please…Ichigo. Give it your best."

Ichigo heard that…and chuckled. "It's my turn now, draw." He looked at the drawn card. "I summon Shining Force-Marble Guard (800/2000) in defense mode." A white marble statue appeared on his field in a crouching position. "End turn."

Akuma drew. "I flip up Cyber Shadow Screamer (350/650) into attack mode." A little metal box with legs appeared in play. "Now I take back one Polymerization and one Cyber Shadow." He held up Soldier and the magic card. "Tell me something…are you ready to die?"

"You first."

Akuma slid a card into his disk. "I activate Polymerization! Fuse together Cyber Shadow Berserker and Trainer to create Cyber Shadow Cutter!" (2100/1200) A warrior holding a laser chainsaw appeared on the field.

Ichigo's eyes widened. ("Cutter…the damage dealer of the Cyber Shadows…")

Akuma slapped down another card. "Now I summon Soldier!" The medium warrior appeared alongside the stronger fusion. "Cutter, attack with Berserk Slash-down!" The chainsaw blade slashed along Marble Guard hundreds of times, and then it blew apart. "When Cutter destroys a monster as a result of battle you lose life points equal to the destroyed monster's attack!"

Ichigo- 1700

Akuma- 2000

Ichigo stumbled. "When Marble Guard is destroyed as a result of battle…all battle damage to me for the rest of this turn is halved."

"Soldier and Screamer attack you directly regardless!" The medium warrior fired a beam of black light that slammed into Ichigo's chest, followed up by an echoing scream that left him clutching his sensitive ears.

Ichigo- 725

Akuma- 2000

Akuma sneered. "I'm far from done. I set two cards face-down and play Mirage of Nightmare. End turn."

Ichigo clutched at his chest where the beam had burned in… ("The future…") He stood up and drew. "It's my turn now…"

Akuma pointed at Mirage of Nightmare. "The effect of Mirage of Nightmare lets me draw until I have four cards in my hand." He drew four cards off of his deck.

Ichigo looked at his hand…and then up at the giant who stood where he once stood. ("I must defeat my past…I must win!") "I summon Shining Force-Element Commander!" (700/500) A cyborg in steel grey armor appeared on the field. "When I have no other cards in play I draw twice." Looking at the drawn cards he grinned. "I activate Polymerization!" A swirling vortex appeared in the air above him. "Shining Force-Dark Reaper, Spell Binder, and Element Commander fuse together!" A dark-clothed reaper and a dark-clothed mage appeared on both sides of Element Commander and they were sucked into the vortex. "Shining Force-Dark Skull Mage (2700/2500) is summoned!"

A hooded mage-like stood on the field. In one hand rested a black steel staff with a purple jewel on top that was glowing with energy of its own. "This time I won't be leaving so quickly."

Akuma gasped in surprise. ("That monster again…")

"Black Skull Mage's special ability lets me lower the attack of one monster in play by the number of monsters in my graveyard times 100 plus 300!" (1100) The spellcaster pointed its staff at Cutter and blasted it. (1000/1200) "Dark Skull Mage, Dark Skull Burning!" A fireball leapt out of the mage's staff and slammed into the fusion's chest, shattering it.

The fireball kept going and slammed right into Akuma's chest, burning a hole in his gi and dropping him to one knee.

Ichigo- 725

Akuma- 300

Ichigo smiled slightly. "You're powerful…but I'm not giving up. I swore that I would stop you and the Cyber Shadows, and that is exactly what I will do. I set one card face-down and end my turn."

Akuma stood up. "At the end phase of your turn I activate Emergency Provisions." Mirage of Nightmare and two of the set cards disappeared.

Ichigo- 725

Akuma- 3300

Ichigo didn't react. He knew that was going to happen.

Akuma drew. "Boy…you think that these monsters should be destroyed?"

Ichigo shook his head. "No, but they are my enemies now. I can't let them hurt those that I care about."

The giant chuckled. "Weak sentiments from a weak duelist. For now I switch my monsters into defense mode and summon Cyber Shadow Shield Bearer (0/2400) in defense mode." A man holding a huge riot shield in front of him appeared in play. "Also, I set one card face-down on the field. End turn."

Ichigo drew. ("I need to stop him from defending.") He looked at the drawn card and a calm smile came across his face. ("That will work.") "I activate Monster Reborn!"

Akuma growled as he saw Spirit Galion appear on the field. "That monster…"

Ichigo smiled as the dragon warrior lowered onto the field next to Dark Skull Mage. "I see that you understand your problem. Spirit Galion, Tempest Cannon!" A tornado slammed into all of the defenders and they all stood up in attack mode.

Eri grinned and hopped up and down happily. "Alright!"

"I've got your number." Ichigo pointed at Soldier. "I use the effect of Dark Skull Mage!" (1000) (600/1600) "And I'll summon Shining Force-Heal Angel (1600/0) in attack mode!" An angel in medic's clothing slowly lowered onto the field. "Attack Shield Bearer!" She pulled a huge syringe from out of nowhere and ran through the monster. Then it flew over to Akuma and stabbed him right in the chest with the enormous needle.

"Blasted little…" The giant shivered as he felt his life sucked out of him.

Heal Angel landed next to Ichigo and the syringe shrank to a normal size. He rolled back his sleeve and she injected him in the arm with a glowing gold liquid. "When this monster deals you life point damage I gain that much life."

Ichigo- 2325

Akuma- 1700

Akuma dropped to one knee and clutched at his chest. "You little….bastard…"

Ichigo pointed at Soldier. "Spirit Galion, attack now!" The warrior flapped his wings a few times and a blast of wind slammed into the Cyber Shadow, shattering it.

Ichigo- 2325

Akuma- 500

Akuma grabbed his chest and dropped like a sack of rocks to the wet grass. Drops of blood dribbled out of his mouth to the moist grass.

Ichigo closed his eyes. "The final blow. Dark Skull Burning!" The Dark Skull Mage snapped up its staff and pointed the weapon at Screamer. "Farewell."

"Reverse…card open!" Akuma's set card flipped up. "Shadow Force!"

Ichigo's eyes widened as a silver barrier sprang up and stopped the attack. "No…" (3050/650)

Akuma stumbled to his feet and wiped away some blood. "That's right…this trap card negates your attack and adds the attack of your monster to Screamer."

Ichigo frowned. "End turn."

Akuma drew. ("I have conquered the trials of hell…you cannot beat me boy. I am the hell supreme…") He looked at the drawn card. "First Monster Reborn revives one monster from my graveyard. Return now Trainer." The grizzled old man appeared on the field.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed. ("The fusion substitute…")

Akuma held up Polymerization. "Come out now…" King of Swords appeared in play and saw Ichigo. "Ichigo…"

The half demon's eyes widened. ("No….") "King of Swords…"

Akuma pointed at Trainer. "Fuse with this monster now!" Both warriors were pulled into a vortex of energy. "King Wolf Swordsman (2600/2000) is summoned." A powerful warrior with a sword held over one shoulder lowered onto the field. "This monster can attack all monsters in play! Screamer, attack Dark Skull Mage!" The little box started to build up a screeching noise…

"Reveal Negate Attack!" Ichigo's set card flipped up. "This trap will negate your attack and end your battle phase!" Screamer's charging energy died down.

Akuma slid a card into his disk. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."

Ichigo drew. "I've got you beaten! Dark Skull Mage's special ability activates!" (1000) The spellcaster aimed its staff at Screamer and hit it with a beam of energy. (2050/650) "Attack now! Dark Skull Burning!"

"Reveal Negate Attack!" Akuma's face-down card flipped up and the spellcaster lowered its staff.

Ichigo looked at his hand and then at the field. ("Great…") Spirit Galion folded its wings in front of it and so did Heal Angel. "I switch these two into defense mode. End turn."

Akuma drew…the top card sliding off of his deck while rain poured down around them. And yet neither of their cards was affected by the water…as if even the elements knew not to interfere. "You…I grow tired of you."

"And I grow tired of you." Ichigo smiled slightly. "But I think that are getting more tired of the fact that you have taken so much damage…"

Akuma shook his head to clear it. "I will not lose to a mortal!" He held up the drawn card. "Card of Sanctity forces us both to draw until we hold six cards!" He drew six while Ichigo drew four. As he fanned out his hand…he sneered. "Boy…you said that these cards were once yours. Well then you should know why I am smiling…"

Ichigo clenched his fist. ("There's only one possibility…")

Akuma pointed at the monsters on his field. "I sacrifice these two useless monsters now." Both King Wolf Swordsman and Screamer disappeared. "And summon Steel Titan Nightmare!"

"What?" Ichigo's eyes snapped wide. "That's impossible…there's no such thing!"

A giant jet black horse-shaped robot appeared on the field and roared, slamming its treads into the ground. (2700/2400)

Ichigo looked at the thing…and frowned. "A perverse version of my monsters…"

"Nightmare, when summoned, forces me to either discard three cards from my hand or take 1000 damage per card I choose not to discard!" Akuma slammed three cards into his graveyard. "And when this monster is tribute summoned all face-up monsters in play are destroyed!"

Ichigo braced himself as all three of his monsters exploded into dust. "No…everyone…" Without skipping more than a beat he grabbed two cards out of his graveyard. "When Dark Skull Mage is destroyed two of its fusion components are special summoned one after another!" Element Commander and then Dark Reaper appeared on the field in crouching positions. "And because Element Commander was summoned I draw two cards!"

"It doesn't matter! Because Nightmare can attack twice!" The horse machine sprayed both of Ichigo's monsters with flames and burned them to ash. Akuma took a card from his hand and slid it into his disk. "Now I set one card face-down on the field. End turn."

Ichigo looked down at his deck…and then at his hand. ("Everyone is counting on me to win….and that's exactly what I will do.")

To be continued…

Eri here. Ichigo's doing well…but Akuma refuses to fall. And now he has this new Steel Titan in play. I still don't know a lot about Ichigo's new Shining Force monsters, and I don't think that he knows that much about them either. But he has to win…he has to.

Next Episode: Ascension; Awaken Dark Angelica

To Rex: I leave it to you whether he is doing well or not so far.

To Seeker of the Soul: I know that is has been a big let down so far, but don't worry. It will pick up now and later.

To G.O.T. Nick: Yeah….the rocks didn't work. Next time we need some good old-fashioned land mines.

To Star: Huh? You lost me on that last sentence.

To falcon demon general: You'll take him on hmm?