Before we begin, a few review responses!
Time Mage: Had Kaiba used CED's effect, Kevin would have had 250 Life Points left, and Kaiba would have been out of options. Thus, Kevin could have had a free shot at his Life Points. Kaiba would've won anyway, of course.
The Helldragon: Plug in? What is this manga project really? Is it a way to enter the Matrix (speaking of which no one but Gym Rat's checked my Matrix fic out yet...)?
michael-91 (whenever you catch up): What is wrong with you, man? DON'T TELL ME WHAT THE HELL TO DO WITH MY STORY!
Yoshimo: As this chapter proves, characters are only mysterious so long as no one gets close enough to observe them. Then it turns out that they're just plain weird; or, possibly, insane.
You ever notice how Garfield can speak and Odie can't?
Tokyo Tournament
Chapter Twenty-Two: Insanity
Also Entitled: No...friggin'...way.
Term stepped into the dueling arena confidently. He shuffled his deck while staring down his opponent, who looked back with a grin. Term noticed that Shaun's Duel Disk was attached to his right arm, rather than his left; this left Term to believe that Shaun was left-handed. Shaun acted quite strangely then, as the prismatic effects of the holographic projectors of the arena caught his eye. He proceeded to stare at the rainbow of colors whilst muttering, "Ooh...pretty colors..."
Both duelists were jarred from their thoughts by Cerberus's declaration that the duel was to begin. Shaun immediately drew six cards, while Term drew five.
Shaun: 4000 Term: 4000
Shaun laughed gleefully in a childish manner, though the laugh sounded rather goofy. Term quirked an eyebrow at Shaun's behavior. "I'll just set three cards facedown and end my turn."
Term raised an eyebrow as he wondered why in the world Shaun hadn't summoned a monster. He must have has some confidence in his Traps to just put out those three cards as protection. But as Term drew, he grinned as he saw an immense flaw in his opponent's strategy, "I play Mystical Space Typhoon, which will destroy the card in the middle!" A cyclone sprang from the card that Term had played. The black wind extended towards Shaun's middle card, but the card to the left suddenly flipped up and a yellow circle of light appeared below the Mystical Space Typhoon, dispersing it.
"Nice try, but I activated Magic Jammer," Shaun explained briefly as he discarded a card due to his Trap's cost.
"That won't save you!" cried Term as he slapped a monster down, "I set a card facedown, then summon the Battle Ox and attack you directly!" The huge armored minotaur appeared, its large axe extended outwards. The bull-human then charged at Shaun with its axe held high, prepared to deal a mighty blow to Term's opponent. Before the minotaur could strike, however, a barrier swept upwards around Shaun, causing the Battle Ox to practically break its muzzle as it was unable to stop its charge.
"Rushing into an attack, tsk tsk," Shaun said with that same silly smile on his face, "I simply activated Negate Attack, the card I defended with my Magic Jammer." Term frowned as his turn ended, then watched Shaun draw. The young duelist simply added the card he had drawn to his hand and looked back up at Term, "I end my turn."
CUE ANIME SPLIT-SCREEN SHOT WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE STARE IN SHOCK AND GO "Huh?!"
Term swiped another card off his Duel Disk and set it down immediately, "I summon one of my most powerful monsters, the Xarian Universe (1800/1900)!" A centaur with the legs of a brown horse and a green humanoid torso appeared beside the Battle Ox. The Xarian Universe's upper body was partially covered with neon-blue armor, and its left hand covered by a clawed gauntlet. In its right hand the centaur carried a glaive that was bladed at both ends. "Prepare to lose! I activate Dust Tornado, destroying your facedown card and paving the way for both my monsters to attack directly!" The tornado swept away Shaun's card immediately, but still three robed women appeared, warning away Term's monsters.
"Even though you targeted it to be destroyed, I can still activate Waboku," said Shaun briefly, "now I'll be safe from your attack for the remainder of the turn."
Term grimaced before continuing, "Then I set a card facedown, and end my turn."
Shaun continued to smile as he drew, "I start by playing Pot of Greed, so now I'll get two more cards." His smile widened as he continued, "Now I set a monster in defense mode and a card facedown."
"So you choose NOW to play monsters," said Term, his hands shaking with the frustration of being unable to deal damage to his opponent. He angrily swiped a card off his deck. The card made him grin a bit before he played it, "Prepare to feel some pain! I play Wild Nature's Release, which will add the attack and defense points of one of my Beast-Warriors together! Now my Xarian Universe (3700/1900) has a power that will easily crush you!" The centaur began to shake violently, and the eyes that were shaded by its helmet blazed like fire. "That's not all," continued Term, "now I activate Xarian Universe's special ability, sacrificing 400 points from its attack to deal damage to you even when it attacks a defense-mode monster (Xarian Universe: 3300/1900)! Now, my beast, attack his monster!" The centaur charged forward at Shaun's monster, which flipped up to reveal a ball of metal tubes with a flat blue face and a single green eye before the Xarian Universe struck it with its gauntlet. However, as the ball was destroyed, a javelin struck the centaur, and both of Term's monsters were destroyed.
Shaun: 4700 Term: 4000
"What the Hell just happened," Term spat angrily.
"First, I activated Enchanted Javelin, giving me Life Points equal to Xarian Universes attack," explained Shaun, showing his card to Term, "then Cyber Jar's (900/700) effect activated, destroying all monsters on the field. Not only that, but now each of us draw five cards and play any level 4 or below monsters that we draw." He and Term both plucked the top five cards off their decks, and Shaun placed two monsters in defense mode.
"I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight (1800/1000) in attack mode," stated Term as the armored warrior appeared. "And don't forget, it's still my Battle Phase, so now Gearfried can attack!" The Iron Knight stampeded one of Shaun's monsters, which flipped up to reveal a black bear before the knight cleaved it apart with its twin blades.
Shaun's smile continued to grow as he stated, "Mother Grizzly (1400/1000) allows me to Special Summon a Water monster with 1500 or less attack when she is destroyed." Shaun then ejected his deck from his Duel Disk and flipped through it until he came across his monster, then summoned it, "I choose Catapult Turtle (1000/2000)." The machine turtle appeared, the launching mechanism pointed directly at Term.
"My turn isn't over yet," declared Term as he played another card, "I now play Cost Down, discarding a card from my hand to decrease the sacrifice level of this:," he sacrificed Gearfried and the blade-bearing jackal appeared, "behold! Anubis's paladin, the Mystical Knight of Jackal (2700/1200)! I may not be able to attack now, but I'm coming for you on my next turn."
"We'll see about that," replied Shaun as he drew. As soon as he saw the card, he broke out into laughter again, but this time a bit of insanity rang through his chuckle.
"What's so funny?" asked Term as he scowled.
"This," Shaun flipped his facedown monster up, revealing a small brown rodent, "I flip Bubonic Vermin, allowing me to Special Summon another of its kin facedown to the field." Beside the rat, a facedown monster appeared. "But now I sacrifice both Bubonic Vermin to summon my most powerful monster!" Both the brown rodent and the facedown card vanished, and a white-scaled being appeared, its sapphire eyes glowing and white lightning crackling between its jaws. Term stepped backwards as he gaped at the blue-eyed white monstrosity before him.
"Impossible!" yelled Kaiba, who had remained silent prior to the current moment, "Only four Blue Eyes White Dragons (3000/2500) have ever existed in the world! I have three, and the last one is useless!"
"There were, originally, supposed to have been four," said Shaun quietly as he stared, still smiling, at Term, "but a worker at Illusions Inc. happened to make a few too many. Desperate to hide his mistake, for Pegasus would have punished him severely, he gave this one to me. Luckily for him, I just happened to be passing by."
While everyone else in the room stared in shock at the monster, two people kept to their own thoughts. [Next round I'll be facing the winner of this Duel, and they'll have that Blue Eyes], thought Kaiba, [once I've won that duel, I'll tear that card in half and burn it!]
[That card shouldn't even exist], thought Nick as he leaned against the wall, his one visible eyes closed, [you shouldn't be flashing that card around like that, Shaun].
"Time to end this," declared Shaun, "I'll now power up my Blue Eyes White Dragon with Bright Castle and Dragon Treasure, giving him an attack power of 4000!" A white castle and a green round jewel appeared behind the Blue Eyes White Dragon, and it roared out a challenge to the Mystical Knight of Jackal. "Now I play Harpie's Feather Duster, destroying all your Spell and Trap cards!" Term's single facedown card, Magic Cylinder, was blown away by a gust from the Duster.
[Sorry, Rerecros], thought Term, [I couldn't use Magic Cylinder well enough].
"Now to end this!" cried Shaun with a wave of his arm, "Blue Eyes White Dragon, attack with White Lightning!" The lightning that the dragon had shown off before crackled to life again, and a stream of it blasted away the Mystical Knight of Jackal. "Catapult Turtle, attack directly!" The Turtle launched a stream of energy from its turret, taking out another chunk of Term's Life Points and bowling him over.
Shaun: 4700 Term: 1700
"It's not over yet!" cried Term as he stood back up and prepared to start his turn.
"Actually, it is," said Shaun simply, "because now I sacrifice Blue Eyes White Dragon to have him launched at you and deal you 2000 direct damage!" The Blue Eyes flew onto the Catapult Turtle's turret, and several mechanical whirs were heard as the Turtle prepared to fire. The Blue Eyes White Dragon let out a roar as it was thrust forward by the Turtle. In a tremendous white explosion, the dragon made contact with Term and bowled him head over heels.
Shaun: 4700 Term: 0
The holograms of the duel faded, and Term struggled to his feet again. Shaun stepped forward and offered his hand in sportsmanship. Term accepted it in a friendly shake, and the two walked off the arena.
[The fool!] Kaiba screamed in his head, [he just sacrificed a Blue Eyes White Dragon to a pathetic turtle! When we duel, I'll teach him to use a Blue Eyes White Dragon properly!]
"Now that that little shock is out of the way," declared Cerberus, "the fifth duel of the Tokyo Duel Monsters Tournament Finals will begin! Yamato and Zachary Kiselob, report to the dueling arena!"
So, Shaun somehow has a Blue Eyes White Dragon, whilst humor has once again been left out of the chapter, unless you found Shaun to be funny (I find the real Shaun to be hilarious). Shaun is a good friend of mine and is the reason I started writing fanfiction. He's also one of the funniest guys I know. Here's to you, man! (Holds up a Vanilla Coke and chugs it down).
Time Mage: Had Kaiba used CED's effect, Kevin would have had 250 Life Points left, and Kaiba would have been out of options. Thus, Kevin could have had a free shot at his Life Points. Kaiba would've won anyway, of course.
The Helldragon: Plug in? What is this manga project really? Is it a way to enter the Matrix (speaking of which no one but Gym Rat's checked my Matrix fic out yet...)?
michael-91 (whenever you catch up): What is wrong with you, man? DON'T TELL ME WHAT THE HELL TO DO WITH MY STORY!
Yoshimo: As this chapter proves, characters are only mysterious so long as no one gets close enough to observe them. Then it turns out that they're just plain weird; or, possibly, insane.
You ever notice how Garfield can speak and Odie can't?
Tokyo Tournament
Chapter Twenty-Two: Insanity
Also Entitled: No...friggin'...way.
Term stepped into the dueling arena confidently. He shuffled his deck while staring down his opponent, who looked back with a grin. Term noticed that Shaun's Duel Disk was attached to his right arm, rather than his left; this left Term to believe that Shaun was left-handed. Shaun acted quite strangely then, as the prismatic effects of the holographic projectors of the arena caught his eye. He proceeded to stare at the rainbow of colors whilst muttering, "Ooh...pretty colors..."
Both duelists were jarred from their thoughts by Cerberus's declaration that the duel was to begin. Shaun immediately drew six cards, while Term drew five.
Shaun: 4000 Term: 4000
Shaun laughed gleefully in a childish manner, though the laugh sounded rather goofy. Term quirked an eyebrow at Shaun's behavior. "I'll just set three cards facedown and end my turn."
Term raised an eyebrow as he wondered why in the world Shaun hadn't summoned a monster. He must have has some confidence in his Traps to just put out those three cards as protection. But as Term drew, he grinned as he saw an immense flaw in his opponent's strategy, "I play Mystical Space Typhoon, which will destroy the card in the middle!" A cyclone sprang from the card that Term had played. The black wind extended towards Shaun's middle card, but the card to the left suddenly flipped up and a yellow circle of light appeared below the Mystical Space Typhoon, dispersing it.
"Nice try, but I activated Magic Jammer," Shaun explained briefly as he discarded a card due to his Trap's cost.
"That won't save you!" cried Term as he slapped a monster down, "I set a card facedown, then summon the Battle Ox and attack you directly!" The huge armored minotaur appeared, its large axe extended outwards. The bull-human then charged at Shaun with its axe held high, prepared to deal a mighty blow to Term's opponent. Before the minotaur could strike, however, a barrier swept upwards around Shaun, causing the Battle Ox to practically break its muzzle as it was unable to stop its charge.
"Rushing into an attack, tsk tsk," Shaun said with that same silly smile on his face, "I simply activated Negate Attack, the card I defended with my Magic Jammer." Term frowned as his turn ended, then watched Shaun draw. The young duelist simply added the card he had drawn to his hand and looked back up at Term, "I end my turn."
CUE ANIME SPLIT-SCREEN SHOT WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE STARE IN SHOCK AND GO "Huh?!"
Term swiped another card off his Duel Disk and set it down immediately, "I summon one of my most powerful monsters, the Xarian Universe (1800/1900)!" A centaur with the legs of a brown horse and a green humanoid torso appeared beside the Battle Ox. The Xarian Universe's upper body was partially covered with neon-blue armor, and its left hand covered by a clawed gauntlet. In its right hand the centaur carried a glaive that was bladed at both ends. "Prepare to lose! I activate Dust Tornado, destroying your facedown card and paving the way for both my monsters to attack directly!" The tornado swept away Shaun's card immediately, but still three robed women appeared, warning away Term's monsters.
"Even though you targeted it to be destroyed, I can still activate Waboku," said Shaun briefly, "now I'll be safe from your attack for the remainder of the turn."
Term grimaced before continuing, "Then I set a card facedown, and end my turn."
Shaun continued to smile as he drew, "I start by playing Pot of Greed, so now I'll get two more cards." His smile widened as he continued, "Now I set a monster in defense mode and a card facedown."
"So you choose NOW to play monsters," said Term, his hands shaking with the frustration of being unable to deal damage to his opponent. He angrily swiped a card off his deck. The card made him grin a bit before he played it, "Prepare to feel some pain! I play Wild Nature's Release, which will add the attack and defense points of one of my Beast-Warriors together! Now my Xarian Universe (3700/1900) has a power that will easily crush you!" The centaur began to shake violently, and the eyes that were shaded by its helmet blazed like fire. "That's not all," continued Term, "now I activate Xarian Universe's special ability, sacrificing 400 points from its attack to deal damage to you even when it attacks a defense-mode monster (Xarian Universe: 3300/1900)! Now, my beast, attack his monster!" The centaur charged forward at Shaun's monster, which flipped up to reveal a ball of metal tubes with a flat blue face and a single green eye before the Xarian Universe struck it with its gauntlet. However, as the ball was destroyed, a javelin struck the centaur, and both of Term's monsters were destroyed.
Shaun: 4700 Term: 4000
"What the Hell just happened," Term spat angrily.
"First, I activated Enchanted Javelin, giving me Life Points equal to Xarian Universes attack," explained Shaun, showing his card to Term, "then Cyber Jar's (900/700) effect activated, destroying all monsters on the field. Not only that, but now each of us draw five cards and play any level 4 or below monsters that we draw." He and Term both plucked the top five cards off their decks, and Shaun placed two monsters in defense mode.
"I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight (1800/1000) in attack mode," stated Term as the armored warrior appeared. "And don't forget, it's still my Battle Phase, so now Gearfried can attack!" The Iron Knight stampeded one of Shaun's monsters, which flipped up to reveal a black bear before the knight cleaved it apart with its twin blades.
Shaun's smile continued to grow as he stated, "Mother Grizzly (1400/1000) allows me to Special Summon a Water monster with 1500 or less attack when she is destroyed." Shaun then ejected his deck from his Duel Disk and flipped through it until he came across his monster, then summoned it, "I choose Catapult Turtle (1000/2000)." The machine turtle appeared, the launching mechanism pointed directly at Term.
"My turn isn't over yet," declared Term as he played another card, "I now play Cost Down, discarding a card from my hand to decrease the sacrifice level of this:," he sacrificed Gearfried and the blade-bearing jackal appeared, "behold! Anubis's paladin, the Mystical Knight of Jackal (2700/1200)! I may not be able to attack now, but I'm coming for you on my next turn."
"We'll see about that," replied Shaun as he drew. As soon as he saw the card, he broke out into laughter again, but this time a bit of insanity rang through his chuckle.
"What's so funny?" asked Term as he scowled.
"This," Shaun flipped his facedown monster up, revealing a small brown rodent, "I flip Bubonic Vermin, allowing me to Special Summon another of its kin facedown to the field." Beside the rat, a facedown monster appeared. "But now I sacrifice both Bubonic Vermin to summon my most powerful monster!" Both the brown rodent and the facedown card vanished, and a white-scaled being appeared, its sapphire eyes glowing and white lightning crackling between its jaws. Term stepped backwards as he gaped at the blue-eyed white monstrosity before him.
"Impossible!" yelled Kaiba, who had remained silent prior to the current moment, "Only four Blue Eyes White Dragons (3000/2500) have ever existed in the world! I have three, and the last one is useless!"
"There were, originally, supposed to have been four," said Shaun quietly as he stared, still smiling, at Term, "but a worker at Illusions Inc. happened to make a few too many. Desperate to hide his mistake, for Pegasus would have punished him severely, he gave this one to me. Luckily for him, I just happened to be passing by."
While everyone else in the room stared in shock at the monster, two people kept to their own thoughts. [Next round I'll be facing the winner of this Duel, and they'll have that Blue Eyes], thought Kaiba, [once I've won that duel, I'll tear that card in half and burn it!]
[That card shouldn't even exist], thought Nick as he leaned against the wall, his one visible eyes closed, [you shouldn't be flashing that card around like that, Shaun].
"Time to end this," declared Shaun, "I'll now power up my Blue Eyes White Dragon with Bright Castle and Dragon Treasure, giving him an attack power of 4000!" A white castle and a green round jewel appeared behind the Blue Eyes White Dragon, and it roared out a challenge to the Mystical Knight of Jackal. "Now I play Harpie's Feather Duster, destroying all your Spell and Trap cards!" Term's single facedown card, Magic Cylinder, was blown away by a gust from the Duster.
[Sorry, Rerecros], thought Term, [I couldn't use Magic Cylinder well enough].
"Now to end this!" cried Shaun with a wave of his arm, "Blue Eyes White Dragon, attack with White Lightning!" The lightning that the dragon had shown off before crackled to life again, and a stream of it blasted away the Mystical Knight of Jackal. "Catapult Turtle, attack directly!" The Turtle launched a stream of energy from its turret, taking out another chunk of Term's Life Points and bowling him over.
Shaun: 4700 Term: 1700
"It's not over yet!" cried Term as he stood back up and prepared to start his turn.
"Actually, it is," said Shaun simply, "because now I sacrifice Blue Eyes White Dragon to have him launched at you and deal you 2000 direct damage!" The Blue Eyes flew onto the Catapult Turtle's turret, and several mechanical whirs were heard as the Turtle prepared to fire. The Blue Eyes White Dragon let out a roar as it was thrust forward by the Turtle. In a tremendous white explosion, the dragon made contact with Term and bowled him head over heels.
Shaun: 4700 Term: 0
The holograms of the duel faded, and Term struggled to his feet again. Shaun stepped forward and offered his hand in sportsmanship. Term accepted it in a friendly shake, and the two walked off the arena.
[The fool!] Kaiba screamed in his head, [he just sacrificed a Blue Eyes White Dragon to a pathetic turtle! When we duel, I'll teach him to use a Blue Eyes White Dragon properly!]
"Now that that little shock is out of the way," declared Cerberus, "the fifth duel of the Tokyo Duel Monsters Tournament Finals will begin! Yamato and Zachary Kiselob, report to the dueling arena!"
So, Shaun somehow has a Blue Eyes White Dragon, whilst humor has once again been left out of the chapter, unless you found Shaun to be funny (I find the real Shaun to be hilarious). Shaun is a good friend of mine and is the reason I started writing fanfiction. He's also one of the funniest guys I know. Here's to you, man! (Holds up a Vanilla Coke and chugs it down).