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Fanfic Chapter 54: Prelude to Battle Pt 3: The Rules of the Game
Episode Basis: Obelisk the Tormentor

Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Yugi set out to help the Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle figure out who he is, he even got Tea in on the matter (just between you, me, and the New York Post, I think he did it just so he could set them up on a date). Everything was fine, until Johnny Step, this annoying underhanded dancer, started harassing them. Yami challenged him to a duel to get him off their back. Johnny's deck was purely fan-based and not meant for dueling. He didn't even know WHO he was dueling. And when it was revealed that the person he was dueling was the winner of Duelist Kingdom, he high-tailed it out of there. But Tea blocked his escape and gave him a good verbal bashing. Johnny realized the error of his ways and they parted on good terms (I think). They then got the idea to go to the Egyptian History Exhibit at the Domino Museum. Now here's where things really get interesting.


Yami and Tea walked through the museum looking at the various artifacts in glass cases.

"So, does anything here look familiar to you?" Tea asked.

"No," Yami replied. "It's all so… vague." Yami paused at an artifact, a ring that, according to the plaque next to it, Egyptian Nobility used to pass along to their children or to people they loved.

"You're really giving me this? But why?"

"Isn't it obvious? I…"

"Hey, is everything all right?" Tea asked shaking his shoulder.

Yami looked from the ring to Tea. Shaking off the strange scene, he said, "Yeah, everything's fine."

"You sure nothing here is triggering a flashback or something."

"No… I'm sorry, it's not." The two continued to walk through the museum.

Suddenly Yami paused by the basement door. The Millennium Emblem appeared briefly on his forehead.

"What's wrong?" Tea asked.

"I'm sensing something down here," he said pushing the door open and walking downstairs. Tea followed close behind him.

They came to the basement where they gasped on seeing a huge stone tablet. They noticed one of the figures on it.

"No way… that guy looks just like you," Tea commented. "But… it can't be… is this for real?"

"I think it is," Yami confirmed. "Look, he's wearing the Millennium Puzzle. That appears to be me playing an ancient form of Duel Monsters."

"You mean Duel Monsters was around thousands of years ago?"

"If not that, then a game much similar to it, look he's summoning the Dark Magician." Yami's eyes narrowed. "But… who am I dueling against? What was the purpose of this age-old game? Was it even a game?" Despite himself, Yami smiled, "Just when I think I've discovered the answer, a thousand new questions arise."

"Sorry to keep you waiting," a female voice said. A woman with dark skin and hair wearing an off-white colored dress and a tiara entered. The tauk on her necklace looked like the center piece to Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. "Welcome… my Pharaoh."

Yami and Tea turned to her with shocked expressions. "Who are you?" Yami demanded to know. "Are you friend or foe?"

"You have nothing to fear from me. I am Ishizu. My family, the Ishtars, have guarded the secret of the Unknown Pharaoh for centuries."

"You called me Pharaoh," Yami noted. "Does that mean…"

"Yes, that person on the stone tablet behind you is you, my Pharaoh."

"So you were a Pharaoh?" Tea asked. "Whoa, that's major!"

"How do you know so much?" Yami asked, not ready to believe her story just yet. Ishizu merely touched her necklace. Yami gasped, "Another Millennium Item!" That made five Millennium Items that he had come across.

"Yes, my Millennium Necklace has the power to see into the future. I know that your memories have faded from being trapped in the puzzle for so much time, my Pharaoh. I know that you are seeking your identity and past memories. I know how you can do that."

"Tell me," Yami pleaded.

"When you arrive home, there will be an invitation to an upcoming Duel Monsters tournament. If you choose to participate in this tournament, you will gradually recover your memories. But to understand your future, which I believe you also want to do, you shall need all seven Millennium Items. And they can only be gathered through two methods: through a Shadow Game or if it is given to you. Rest assure, you will receive my Millennium Necklace, but now is the wrong time."

"I sense that you have an ulterior motive," Yami said.

"Your senses are as strong as ever, My Pharaoh," Ishizu complimented. "Yes, I'm afraid there is another reason you must participate in this tournament. There is a dark force, growing in strength with each passing day. A dark force that, if left unchecked, shall plunge the world into eternal darkness and torment. Only the Pharaoh who has locked the Shadow Magic away can save the world using the same dark power."

"This dark force, how will I recognize it?"

"This dark force also has a Millennium Item. Your Millennium Puzzle is the only force strong enough to stop it. Don't worry; you will recognize it when it presents itself to you. Good luck, my Pharaoh." And Ishizu turned and left.

Could it be that I have already come across this great evil, Yami wondered. Ishizu said that the dark force also has a Millennium Item. I've encountered Shadi and his Millennium Key, but I don't believe he's evil. There's the spirit of Bakura's Millennium Ring, but Yugi already vanquished him. And Pegasus's Millennium Eye was stolen according to Shadi. What…

"You know," Tea said interrupting Yami's pondering. "The monster that the guy you're fighting has above him kind of looks like the Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

A mental alarm triggered in the back of Yami's mind. "Let me see." He leaned over Tea's shoulder and looked at it. "My opponent… he looks like Kaiba!"

"You don't think…" Tea began.

"That the dark force is actually Kaiba," Yami finished. "I don't know what to think, Tea, what I do know is that I have to enter that tournament."


Speaking at Kaiba, he was at the R&D department at Kaiba Corp.

"All systems check out," Mokuba reported from the control room.

"Roger," a scientist sitting next to Mokuba agreed. "Systems set to 95 percent above normal. Any higher and the computer will overload."

"Seto, you sure you want to go through with this?" Mokuba asked.

"Quit asking me that," Kaiba snapped. "I'm going to be the one to test out our new system and that's that." Kaiba was down in the chamber, now dressed in a silver sleeveless duster coat over black shirt and pants. On his left forearm was a strange device: it looked like the deck holder he used at Duelist Kingdom except now there were two wing-like attachments. The attachments had room for five cards and slots underneath for five more. With these new Duel Disks I designed, there's no need for oversize dueling arenas. And with the new rules, the dueling time should be cut in half. But I have to make sure it's perfect. But what's more, I need to see the power of an Egyptian God Card with my own two eyes.

Kaiba recalled what Ishizu warned him as he was leaving, "Beware, Kaiba, Obelisk may be too powerful for even you to handle."

Even if she's right, I won't know for sure until I test it out, and the best way to do that is to test it against not one, but three of the most powerful dragons in all of Duel Monsters.

"Duel Robot being lowered into position," a scientist reported. The Duel Robot was simply a wheel with ten slots. "Safety Locks removed."

"Seto, this is your last chance, you sure you want to go through with this?"

"I'm sure, Mokuba, there are some things that you just have to experience for yourself."

"Keep the medics on standby," another scientist ordered. "In case the Duel Robot succeeds."

"Shut your trap," Mokuba snapped. "My Big Brother would never let himself be beaten by a machine!"

"But the Duel Robot is using the same deck Mister Kaiba was using at Duelist Kingdom."

"You put all three Blue-Eyes White Dragons into the opponent's deck?"

"Those were Mister Kaiba's precise instructions."

Mokuba moaned, "Ho boy."

"Eject holo-emitters!" Kaiba commanded. From the underside of the Duel Disk, two half-circle-shape objects flew out and landed on either side of Kaiba. The holo-emitters were going to be the projectors. Their small size would make them easy to carry around. The other purpose of them was to relay all the cards that were played to a Kaiba-Corp. satellite which would then be relayed to the computer at Kaiba-Corp. The reasons for this were two-fold: one was to keep an eye on any restricted cards. The other reason was to notify him if the other two Egyptian God Cards were played. "Duel Tray, transform!" The two 'wings' of the Duel Disk came together in front of the Duel Disk. After extending beyond the fist, the whole thing rotated to the outside. The tray lit up. Kaiba took a new deck from his card holder and inserted it into the holder. "Scan deck!" The deck holder lit up for a brief moment. One of the features of the duel disk is that it could automatically eject cards from the deck into the hand. The discard slot was behind the Duel Tray. "Set Life Points!" Another new rule was that the life points were doubled.

(K: 4000)
(C: 4000)

"Let's duel!" Kaiba announced. The Duel Robot turned on.

"Begin turn," the computer said in a female voice as a card slid into the wheel. "Draw card, set one monster face-down in defense mode. End turn."

"Now it's my turn!" Kaiba announced as he drew a card from the Duel Disk. "I place one card face-down and summon Battle Ox (1) in attack mode!" A half-man, half-bull wearing armor and carrying an axe appeared. "Attack!" The Battle Ox swung its weapon down at the hologram of the face-down card.

The monster was Cyber Jar. Kaiba gasped.

"Monster: Cyber Jar. Special Effect #1: Destroys all monsters on the field." Battle Ox was destroyed. "Special Effect #2: Draw 5 cards and summon or set any monster cards with four stars or lower." Kaiba and the computer each drew five cards. "Set two monsters face-down in defense mode."

"I summon four monsters to the field!" Kaiba announced as he summoned Maha Vailo (2), Dark Zebra (3), Boar Soldier (4), and Hitotsu-me Giant (5). "I end my turn."

"What a digital dummy," Mokuba commented. "The computer just gave Seto a huge advantage."

"Begin turn," the computer announced as it drew a card. "Reveal face-down monsters." Wall of Illusion (6) and Aqua Madoor (7) appeared. "Sacrifice two monsters to summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

"Already?" Kaiba gasped. I didn't expect the computer to master the sacrifice rule so quickly. And now it's going to summon MY Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Kaiba watched as the two monsters disappeared and the large dragon appeared. "End turn."

Kaiba drew a card. "I sacrifice Hitotsu-me Giant to summon Dragon Seeker (8)." Dragon Seeker has the special ability to destroy one dragon monster when it's shifted from defense to attack mode. On my next turn, that Blue-Eyes is history.

"Monster: Dragon Seeker, Special Ability: can destroy one dragon monster on field. Preparing countermeasures." The computer drew a card. "Set one card face-down, summon Lord of Dragons (9) in attack mode." Kaiba gasped as his strategy fell to pieces. "Lord of Dragons' special ability: protects all dragon monsters from effects, magic, and trap cards. Dragon Seeker's effect negated."

"Nuts," Kaiba moaned. "Since I can't destroy that Blue-Eyes, I switch all my monsters to defense mode."

The Duel Robot drew a card. "Play magic card: Flute of Summoning Dragon." Kaiba cringed. "Summon two Blue-Eyes White Dragons." Two more white dragons appeared on either side of the first one. "Play set card: Polymerization." Kaiba gasped again as with an explosion, the bodies of the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons melded to form the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon (10).

In the control room, pandemonium (not the card) reigned. "Without the safeguards, the Ultimate Dragon's Neutron Blast will cause serious injury to Mister Kaiba," the scientist reported.

"Shut down the duel, get him out of there!" Mokuba commanded.

Beautiful, Kaiba thought, staring at the roaring dragon. So, this is what Yugi saw when he faced-down it at Duelist Kingdom. He may have almost beaten it, but in the end, not even Yugi could stand up to its might. So if I'm going to reclaim my title from him, I have to follow in his footsteps, face what he has faced. Kaiba closed his eyes and fingered the top card on his deck. Let's see if all that Heart of the Card crap is actually worth something. He drew the card. Yes, it's Obelisk! Now is the time to see the power of the Egyptian God! "I use Monster Reborn to revive Aqua Madoor!" The monster reappeared on Kaiba's side of the field. "Now, I sacrifice Aqua Madoor, Boar Soldier, and Dragon Seeker so I can summon Obelisk the Tormentor!" The entire room started to shake as a blue demon-like creature arose. "Now, I offer my two remaining monsters so I can power you up even more!" Obelisk picked up Maha Vailo and Dark Zebra, transformed them into energy, and absorbed it into his mouth.

(OT: 4000-4800)

In the control room, sparks erupted from the control panel. "Obelisk's attack power is off the charts," a scientist reported.

"Go, Obelisk, show Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon why you're called the Tormentor! Fist of Fury!" Obelisk's hand was charged with energy and he slugged the dragon, blowing a hole through its chest.

(K: 4000)
(C: 0)

The Duel Robot exploded dropping cards all over the place. Kaiba gazed lustfully at Obelisk. "If this is the power of one Egyptian God Card, imagine the power of all three! Once I have all three, I'll be unstoppable! Yugi will fall before my power and I will once again reign supreme as the number one Duelist in the land!" Kaiba erupted into diabolic laughter.


Yami and Tea walked into the center square. Ishizu had been right on the money. The moment they came to the Game Shop, there was an invitation to "The Ultimate Duel Monsters Tournament." The invitation also said that information will be given at the Domino Convention Center.

"Wow, looks like Ishizu's predictions came true," Tea figured as they looked around at the large crowd.

"I don't know if everything Ishizu said was true," Yami said. "But I do know this: I must enter that tournament. It is my destiny."

"Just be sure you're careful, Spirit," Tea advised. "I'd hate to think what would happen if something were to happen to you… to Yugi."

"I know, whoever's after the Millennium Puzzle is still out there," Yami said. He pulled out his deck. "But you have to trust me, Tea, this deck has never let me down before. As long as Yugi and I stick together, we can use it to recover my memories and defeat whatever this phantom menace is." Yami felt a chill go up his spine. He looked around. What's that strange aura I'm sensing?

"Is something wrong?" Tea asked.

"No, it's probably nothing."

"Yugi, Tea!" A high-pitch voice called. It was Mai Valentine, who came running up to them.

"Hey Mai," Yami and Tea greeted.

"Well, don't we look snazzy," Mai said slapping Tea on the back a little too hard. "Is this a date?"

"It's nothing like that," Tea protested.

"Oh, I say it is," Mai sang grabbing Tea in a head lock and giving her a noogie. "Two little lovebirds on a date, on a date." Seeing Tea's face turning blue, she let go of the younger girl. "Oops, sorry, Tea."

"Are you here for the tournament?" Yami asked as Tea recovered her breath.

"Yup, it's the real scuttle bug around the Dueling circuit."

"Do you have any idea who might be hosting this tournament?"

"Nobody knows who's throwing this shindig," Mai replied. "But there is a rumor going around that it's someone with a lot of money and an obnoxious attitude. I'd say Kaiba."

"So the events of the past are happening again," Yami muttered.

Mai gave him an odd look. "What are you talking about? Well, I think we can safely rule Pegasus out as the host for this; he's been incognito since Duelist Kingdom. What did you do to him, Yugi?"

"It's… a long story."

"Speaking of Duelist Kingdom, a lot of these people here look familiar, and some of them I'm not too happy to see." She and Yami looked in a certain direction.

Tea gazed around at the crowd before settling her gaze in the same direction. She let out a sound of disgust, "It's Weevil Underwood and Rex Raptor."

Mai pointed to a marine-haired kid. "And that's Espa Ropa, I heard that he duels using psychic powers."

"And Mako's here too," Tea said pointing out the sea Duelist who was eating some fish.

"You know, Yugi, what you said about the past happening again… there might be some truth in that, except I think this time there will be a brand new player."

"Attention all who have gathered for the tournament," a voice called. "Please enter the convention center now." The group began to pour in to the main room of the convention center where a stage was set up. Everyone watched as the lights dimmed and someone stepped from behind the curtains on to the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the owner and CEO of Kaiba Corporation, and master of the Dueling world… Seto Kaiba!"

"Thought so," Mai said.

"I'm pleased to see that you gathered up the guts to come out of here," Kaiba said assuming his typical high-and-mighty pose. "Welcome to my tournament. Kaiba Corp. is sponsoring a Duel Monsters tournament on an incredible scale. This will be a no-holds-bar battle royal. Put any thoughts you have about friendly competition to bed because will be an all-out war!"

Yami stared daggers at Kaiba as shadows of a memory occurred in his head.

"How could you have done that to her?"

"An eye for an eye."

"This tournament will be the most intense thing this town has ever seen," Kaiba was saying. "Because you are all the elite of the Dueling world, I have included rules just for experts."

"I'll be right back," Mai whispered. "I just have to use the restroom."

"Rather than explain to you imbeciles, I think it would be better to demonstrate. He pointed to a kid near the corner. "You!"

"Who, me?" The kid asked.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Kevin."

"Kevin, come up here." It was clearly a command so the boy wearing a white T-shirt over a denim jacket and blue jeans. "You will help me demonstrate the new rules."

"There are new rules?"

"Yes." Kaiba took out another Duel Disk and tossed it to Kevin. "Put this on your left arm." Kevin complied. "Now, follow my movements." He held out his Duel Disk so that it was facing Kevin. "Eject holo-emitters!"

"Eject holo-emitters!" Kevin copied.

Kaiba rotated his forearm so that the Duel Disk was now facing up. "Duel Tray transform!"

"Duel Tray transform!"

"Deck Scan!"

"Deck Scan!" They both inserted their Duel Monster decks into the deck holder. The holder glowed briefly.

"Life Points set!"

"Life Points set!"

(Ka: 4000)
(Ke: 4000)

"For this tournament, I've doubled the life points and for good reasons too. Now, Kevin, summon a monster in attack mode."

"Okay," Kevin said and he drew a card. "I summon Witch of the Black Forest in attack mode!" The dark-skinned female in a black dress appeared.

"Good, now it's my turn. I summon Hitotsu-me Giant! Attack his witch!" The giant slugged the witch in the stomach and destroyed it.

(Ka: 4000)
(Ke: 3900)

"Go," Kaiba commanded.

Kevin drew a card. "I summon Koumori Dragon in attack mode! Attack his giant with dark flame!" The dragon incinerated the giant.

(Ka: 3700)
(Ke: 3900)

Kevin was pleased that he managed to affect Kaiba's life points.

"I don't see what's so special about that," Rex commented.

"Then I'll show you," Kaiba said as he drew a card. "I play Lightning Vortex. By discarding one card, I can destroy all the monsters on my opponent's side of the field. The dragon disintegrated. "Next I summon Battle Ox in attack mode. Battle Ox, attack his life points directly!"

Everyone gasped as the Battle Ox swung his weapon which seemed to cut right through Kevin. But he was all right.

(Ka: 3700)
(Ke: 2200)

"No way, your monsters can attack me directly?" Kevin gasped.

"When there are no monsters on the opponent's side of the field, a player can have his monster attack him directly. I told you these were rules for experts. Now go!"

Kevin drew a card. "I summon Mystical Elf in defense mode!"

"Perfect, this brings me to another of my new rules. I sacrifice my Battle Ox so I can summon Dragon Seeker in attack mode!"

"Sacrificing monsters? That sounds barbaric," Tea commented.

"If you wish to summon a stronger monster, you would have to sacrifice a weaker monster. For monsters of levels five or six, one monster is needed to be sacrificed, for levels seven or eight, you need two monsters. Anything higher requires three sacrifices. Now, I play Stop Defense which switches your Elf into attack mode. Now, Dragon Seeker, attack his Elf." The Dragon Seeker slashed the Mystical Elf with its claws.

(Ka: 3700)
(Ke: 1000)

"Finally, I activate Tremendous Fire which takes away the rest of your Life Points."

(Ka: 3200)
(Ke: 0)

"The sacrifice rules are the most pivotal to learn if you're going to survive this tournament," Kaiba said as Kevin sat back down.

"So, what did I miss?" Mai asked as she returned.

"Kaiba just challenged some kid and won. Apparently, now you need to sacrifice monsters and the life points are doubled," Tea recapped.

"I see, that means I might need to modify my deck."

"The other important rule you must know is the ante rule. Before each duel, each player must ante their rarest card. And the winner gets the rarest card from the loser."

"Give up my Dark Magician!" Yami gasped.

"That means that losing just one duel could completely ruin my deck!" Mai complained. The others were just as apprehensive about doing it as Yami and Mai were.

Kaiba stared daggers at Yami who returned it with equal intensity. So, I see Yugi has decided to accept my bait, now to spring the trap.

"The only thing you didn't explain is where this will be held," Mai called out.

"It will be held in Domino," Kaiba explained.

"Where in Domino?"

"The entire town." Everyone gasped. "That's right, the battlefield for this tournament will be the entire city. Anywhere within the city limits is fair game. As such, I have chosen to name this tournament… Battle City."

"Battle City," Mai mumbled to herself.

"A few more rules I should probably tell you about. And that rule is regarding fusion monsters. Fusion monsters can not attack on a turn that it was summoned in. You will get more detailed explanations soon. Don't forget to register as soon as possible because in one-week's time, Battle City shall begin. This will not be like the pathetic Duelist Kingdom, this tournament will be reserved for serious Duelists. So I dare anyone to show up." That was responded with cries of mix cheer and jeer.

Kaiba, I accept your challenge, Yami thought.


"That was intense," Tea commented as she, Mai, and Yami left.

"Tell me about it," Mai agreed. She turned to Yugi. "You know, Yugi, with these new rules, we're going to need to overhaul our decks."

"You're right, Mai," Yami agreed. "But what worries me is anteing up my rarest card." Yami took out his Dark Magician card. "The Dark Magician has gotten me out of more jams than I can remember. I couldn't bare it if something were to happen to him."

"Well, I better get going, see 'ya, kids, have fun with your date!" Mai waved good-bye and ran off.

Tea was worried, she recalled her dream and once again started to wonder if Yugi was going to leave forever. If he did, this tournament would probably set the stage.

"Are you kidding me?" Yami and Tea turned and saw Kevin, the boy who Kaiba dueled staring at a Kaiba Corp. official. "You're telling me that Kaiba won't be putting up his Blue-Eyes White Dragons?"

"The Blue-Eyes White Dragon is no longer the rarest card Mister Kaiba has."

"Then what is his rarest card?"

"I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to divulge that information." And despite Kevin's protests, he turned and walked away. Kevin swore and glumly walked away.

"Tea, I've been thinking," Yami said. "That stone tablet we saw today at the museum. I think that the dark force Ishizu warned us about… is Kaiba."

"He definitely seems to be the type," Tea commented.

"The thing is I don't know why I think this, but it feels to be truth to me. Last time we dueled, he used underhanded tactics to win. I don't know if I'll be able to beat him this time around."

Tea leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I know you can do it."

Yami patted her hand. "Thanks, Tea."


"So, Seto Kaiba is throwing a Duel Monsters tournament, is he?"

"Yes, master, the prize is a deck full of the rarest cards."

"How fortuitous, something like this should not be passed up. Go, my Rare Hunters, go to the town of Domino and let the hunt begin!"

To Be Continued


Duel Monster Database

(1)
Name: Battle Ox
Level: 4
Type: Beast-Warrior
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1700
DEF: 1000

(2)
Name: Maha Vailo
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1550
DEF: 1550

(3)
Name: Dark Zebra
Level: 4
Type: Beast/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1400

(4)
Name: Boar Soldier
Level: 4
Type: Beast-Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 2000
DEF: 500

(5)
Name: Hitotsu-me Giant
Level: 4
Type: Beast-Warrior
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1000

(6)
Name: Wall of Illusion
Level: 4
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1000
DEF: 1850

(7)
Name: Aqua Madoor
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster
Attribute: Water
ATK: 1200
DEF: 2000

(8)
Name: Dragon Seeker
Level: 6
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 2000
DEF: 2100

(9)
Name: Lord of Dragons (Lord of D.)
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1100

(10)
Name: Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon
Level: 9
Type: Dragon/Fusion
Attribute: Light
ATK: 4500
DEF: 3800