"In our next match we have Robert Marcus, an employee of Industrial Illusions, The company which many of you know is the creator of the Duel Monsters card game. Robert has proven himself time and again in this Tournament, masterfully wielding his dragons including the powerful Blue Eyes White Dragon and the mighty God card Ra." Antony was working the crowd up, images of Robert in past duels played out behind him on the massive plasma screen television.
"And his competitor, Vocation unknown, hailing from parts unknown. Willem Spring. His command of the devastating Sphinx monsters shows that this Duelist means business. His attitude after the match against Joey Wheeler proves he's not here to make friends." Cued by Antony's words images of Theinen the Great Sphinx wiping out what was left of Joeys life points and Willem shredding the Red Eyes Black Dragon card Robert had given Joey.
Antony turned away from the screen back towards the audience as the two Duelist took up positions on either side of him.
"Now, these two skilled competitors will face off for a place in the final round. Which of these two will face off against Yugi Muto for the championship?" Antony stepped back slightly as the two Duelists stepped forward and shook hands.
"Those god cards are mine when I win. And you're as good as dead. Maybe I'll take that little lady of yours too." Willem hissed quietly.
"I'll turn you into a greasy smear on the ground if you go near Sammantha." Robert spat back, his green eyes flashing briefly in the bright afternoon sun.
"Let the Duel begin. As with the last match these two Duelists flipped a coin back stage. Robert has agreed to go first." Antony explained and walked off the filed with a slight bow.
Locking his Duel Disk into ready position and connecting the cable that would tie its systems into the Stadium Robert Drew his cards.
"I'll set two cards and summon my Tribe infecting Virus in attack mode to end my turn." Robert spoke.
Willem was already drawing his card before Robert had finished his declaration ending his turn.
"I'll set three cards face down and one monster face down. My turn is over." Willem was smiling that same oily smile of his, the sun glinting off of his black sunglasses.
As Robert placed his hand on his deck to draw his card a jolt of energy shot through his arm. It felt as if lightning had struck him.
Roberts eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly as he figured out, almost instinctively, what it meant. Drawing the card he wasn't terribly surprised by what he saw. The ominous blue visage of Obelisk stared back at him from the face of the card. It seemed to pulse slightly with an odd power. Almost beckoning Robert to let is divine wrath loose upon Willem.
With no way to summon it Robert shifted his hand slightly.
"I'll summon my Spear dragon in attack mode and it will attack your face down monster!" Roberts small blue dragon launched into the air and dropped down onto Willems face down card like a falling lawn dart.
A small black cat flashed on the field briefly as the card blew apart from the force of the Spear dragons impact.
Robert: 8000
Willem: 6400
"My cat of Ill omen allows me to place a trap card of my choice from anywhere in my deck at the top. My choice will be my pyramid of light." Willem explained as the turn halted momentarily to allow him to carry out the cards effect.
Shuffling his deck Willem placed the chosen trap card on top after showing it to Robert for verification.
"Now my Tribe will attack you directly!" Robert called out causing a wave rotting creatures, and one very confused rabbit, two launch across the field only to slam into a round shield emitting a strange green glow.
"My Draining Shield will stop that and fix me up again." Willem smiled as his life points climbed back to full.
Robert: 8000
Willem: 8000
"Now if you're quite finished I think it's time I started to win this match." Willem hissed as he drew his card.
"I'll set one card face down and one monster in defense mode and end my turn." Willem yawned and waved his hand at Robert, signaling him to take his turn.
Robert placed his fingertips on his deck and was greeted once again to the electrical sensation. As he lifted the card into his field of vision he could see the glowing form of Ra.
'This isn't good. I've got too many high level monsters in my hand. I just hope my Trap cards can hold out until I can get one of these God cards out.' Robert thought as he planned his next move.
"I'll summon a second Spear Dragon and have it attack your face down monster." Robert declared, his blue dragon sweeping over the field to wipe out Willems face down card.
The image of a young red haired girl in tattered dress flashed onto the field briefly and blew into millions of pieces of digital flotsam.
"My Unhappy Maiden. Sorry about that Robert but your attack phase is finished." Willem gloated.
Robert: 8000
Willem: 6200
As Roberts turn ended Willem once again drew his card, that oily smile of his sliding into place yet again.
"I'll activate my trap card, The Pyramid of Light and pay one thousand life points to special summon Andro Sphinx and Sphinx Teleia!" Willem's teeth were bared as his two vicious creatures materialized on the field. Their might claws digging at the ground.
Robert: 8000
Willem: 5200
Andros Sphinx slammed it's huge fists together in a show of strength, shaking the stadium with the force of their impact.
Sphinx Teleia smiled at Robert prettily then flashed her razor sharp teeth at him, twisting her features from pleasant to grotesque.
"Next turn your monsters and you are gone." Willem was still smiling that slick predatory smile of his.
Robert swallowed nervously as he stared down the huge beasts on Willems side of the field, both held back only by their summoning restrictions.
"I'll activate Tribes special effect and declare Beast as I discard one cad from my hand." Robert was panicking, after what he'd seen these beasts do to Joey and the reaction Yugi had to them he had every right to be worried.
As Willems two beast vanished from the field another took their place, larger than the others. Thienen the Great Sphinx had been summoned due to Roberts panicked actions.
"I can still stay safe, I sacrifice all three of my monsters to special summon, The Immense Divine Soldier of Obelisk!" Robert slid all three of his creatures into the graveyard slapping Obelisks card into his Duel Disk.
The ground behind Robert exploded in a shower of dirt and debris as the huge blue beast appeared anew. It's huge wings moved briefly and its glowing red eyes locked on Willems new Sphinx.
Obelisk crossed its arms and waited for what was to come.
Willem broke into a crazed bout of laughter as he reached forward and activated his last face down card.
"Behold, TIME FLUX!" Willem's trap card flipped face up revealing a distorted image of a monster being warped by some strange force.
"My Trap card causes the turn it's activated on to end immediately, though it costs me two thousand Life Points." Willem explained as the turn shifted to him, his life points dropping rapidly.
Robert: 8000
Willem: 3200
"I bet you're feeling fairly sure you can withstand the force of my attack thank to your Life Points being untouched." Willem started and reached up to lower his sunglasses to fix Robert with a stare.
His vivid red eyes glowing brightly, made even more dramatic by the slowly fading light of the setting sun.
"Well, the Truth is I've seen how this match turns out. You're good boy but I've seen the future, you can't hope to win." Willem cackled as a golden eye shape formed on his forehead, His short black hair spiking up dramatically, the veins on his face and neck protruding as some unseen energy filled his very being.
"Say good night Robby!" Willem spat after drawing his card.
"I pay two thousand life points to activate Theinens effect four times! Increasing his total Attack power to fifteen thousand five hundred points!" Willems monster shuddered and grew to massive proportions.
Robert: 8000
Willem: 1200
"Now, FEED ON HIS SOUL!" Willem screamed, spittle flinging from his mouth as his command spurred his beast to bound across the field and batter Obelisk with a rain of death blows.
The two huge beasts struggled for only an instant before Obelisk was blown to pieces under the assault. The Immense Soldiers destruction caused waves of energy to wash over the field. A small dust storm formed in the center of the field obscuring the view of the two competitors from the audience... Most of the audience.
Yugi watched intently as the exchange took place, his puzzle, it's ancient magics granting him sight beyond sight, allowed him to do so. Though watch was all he was allowed to do, for now.
Roberts life points dropped like a stone. His body began to feel heavy, like his limbs were made of lead.
"You see Robert, We've been playing a very special Shadow Game here. You lost that means your Soul is forfeit. I hope you enjoy hell!" Willem spoke, his words carrying malice beyond description, his hand shot out and wave after wave of dark energy slammed into Roberts chest.
Battle Island Resort, Ryu's Room
Bakura shot awake, his Millennium ring glowing brightly and issuing bolts of energy forth from its eternal circle. The small hanging points all pointing... no, pulling towards the Stadium as if being drawn by some urgent need to the battle at hand.
Bakura could see the massive dust cloud rising form the Colosseum, a sign of an intense battle.
Without warning Bakuras mind was flooded with images from another life... but not those of the thief he knew, someone else... A priest in ancient Egyptian robes and gold ornamentation.
"What is this! How can these memories still exist?" It was the thief personality in command of Bakuras body now. The ring pulled even harder threatening to snap the cord that held it around Bakuras neck.
Stadium
Roberts mind flooded with images of a time long past, he stood before a mighty throne, occupied by a slight man who's power was masked by his small build, the large inverted gold pyramid hanging from his neck was just like Yugi's... In fact the young man looked exactly like Yugi did when he dueled, streaks of blond hair piercing the dark purple almost black crown of hair upon his head.
Five others stood with beside Robert in the vision, One looked like Seto Kaiba. The same severe, no nonsense expression upon his face. The six gathered and bowed before the Pharaoh.
"Why did the Millennium Ring not warn us of this interlopers approach?" The Seto look alike asked sternly.
"I know not, the ring has been harder to control over the past months..." Robert felt himself say as the others looked upon him. They knew what it meant.
So did he, he just didn't want to admit it to them or himself. The Ring was going to choose another person to bear its awesome power.
Robert felt his body go limp as he hit the ground her could hear Willem curse and slam him with more dark energy, Roberts last sight was a confused and enraged look on Willems face, twin trails of blood streaming from his nose down his face...
... then darkness.
Robert: 0000
Willem: 1200
As the dust storm settled Willem was standing calmly on his side of the field, his right sleeve wet and matted, a slight pink stain streaked across his lower face.
Antony ran out onto the field and immediately was joined by Yugi and Mai. Sammantha was about to jump the rail in the stands but a stern glance from Yugi, as if he'd read her mind, made her stop. Wringing her hands nervously she waited.
"Yugi this looks like..." Mai started.
"I know Mai. And It is but not the way we think." Yugi broke in and turned to Antony.
"He's passed out form the strain of both using a God card and the massive amount of damage produced by Willems attack." Yugi spoke, shooting a glance to Mai telling her to play along.
"If you're sure." Antony said uncertainly, rising to his feet and calling Willem over.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems Willems great Sphinx was to much for Robert, the powerful attack overwhelmed him and caused him to collapse. But even if he hadn't Willem has succeeded in removing all of Roberts life points in one attack. The Winner, Willem Spring." Antony reached for Willems hand only to be greeted by a look that would make Medusa flee.
"And I'll be taking those God Cards. Obelisk is on his Duel Disk, Ra is in his hand." Willem spoke with cold certainty.
Handing the cards to Willem Yugi added a small warning.
"You will lose this next match. I'll ensure it and I'll lock those powers of yours awa again." Yugi's face was dark, his Violet eyes shinning with an inner power.
"Ladies and Gentlemen we have our finalists. Tomorrow afternoon Yugi Muto versus Willem Spring. The Battle of the God Cards and for the title of Worlds finest. Be here." Antony stood aside as the paramedics took Robert out on a stretcher.
Yugi and Willem stood before each other string intently.
Tomorrow they would end this, once and for all.