Chapter 7-

Junior's First Duel:

Part 3

Junior's Midnight Phantom (Atk: 3400/Def: 3000) looked like a black, yet transparent cloak. It had white, simple-shaped hands protruding from ripped sleeves, which matched the bottom of the cloak, which was also torn. A hood hid the monster's white face, with the exception of two bright red eyes and a gaping black mouth.

"This is where the duel ends! My Phantom will be your demise!"

Bakura looked at the Midnight Phantom, with pure admiration on his face.

"Very impressive. And the show you put on to summon it was most fascinating."

"Thank you. But you do realize, my Midnight Phantom is the hearse driver and you are the corpse in the trunk."

"Though I like your analogy, I will overcome your monster with ease."

"You really think so? Then go ahead. I end my turn."

"I activate the field magic card, Underworld. It raises the attack of all fiend, zombie, and spirit monsters on the field by 500, and decreases their defense by 300. I put a card face down and end my turn."

"First I activate the magic card, One Way Only, which cancels out Underworld's effect on your side of the field. But I still get the boost!

Next, I activate Midnight Phantom's effect, allowing me to bring one monster on your side of the field to mine for three turns. And I choose Troll Emperor. Even though I don't have Goblin King on my side of the field, I don't get the 1500 attack boost…but neither do you."

Bakura's eyes widened as Troll Emperor appeared on Junior's side of the field, and all his monster's attack and defense dropped by 1500 points.

"What have you done!?! My monsters… they're becoming weaker!"

"Yahtzee! So he can be taught! I told you, you will lose!"

"Not so fast! I activate Quick Attack, allowing me to attack on your turn, and I attack your Phantom with Goblin King! Minion Charge!"

Goblin King snapped its fingers, and sent one of its fiend servants towards Midnight Phantom.

"I activate Midnight Phantom's other effect! Paranormal Apparition!"

Aside from Midnight Phantom's usual slight transparency, Midnight Phantom disappeared from sight completely, just in time to miss the fiend servant's snapping jaws.

"Where'd it go?" demanded Bakura.

"It's still there," replied Jr., right when Midnight Phantom returned to its usual see-through, but still visible self.

"H-h-how?" stuttered Bakura.

"Well, Duh! It's a ghost!" Snapped Jr. "It has all kinds of special abilities. And here is another one. Attack, with Poltergeist Duplication!"

Just then, Midnight Phantom glowed bright white, and split into two Midnight Phantoms. One went towards Giant Orc (0 Def vs. 3900 Atk), and the other went towards Archfiend Soldier (3600 Atk vs. 3900 Atk).

The two Phantoms destroyed the monsters by touching the monsters on the head, then blowing up. Though Bakura's monsters were destroyed, Junior's monster reappeared, but as one, and back on Junior's side of the field. Altogether, Bakura was reduced to 6700 life points.

"But, all my fun ends in a cost, one of 1000 life points per trick Midnight Phantom pulled off. I have 7400 life points," said Jr., sighing.

Bakura's teeth were clenched in an aggravated grimace.

"Exactly how many abilities does your monster have?"

"Sadly, this version of Midnight Phantom has only those three effects. But, he's not all you should worry about."

"I attack Skeleton Assailant with Troll Emperor. Axe Boomerang!"

The Troll Emperor leaned back, with its arm held high above its head, and launched its double-bladed axe at Skeleton Assailant (1600 Atk vs. 4000 Atk).

Skeleton Assailant got sliced right down the middle. It disappeared as the axe sailed into Troll Emperor's bulky fist.

"I end my turn," said Jr., with a smug grin on his face.

Bakura's hands trembled as he drew.

How can I beat him? Thought Bakura.

That Phantom is unstoppable! And what did he say? 'This version of Midnight Phantom.' Does that mean there's a stronger version of it?

If I play right, I should be able to summon my trump card. Just maybe…

"I summon the Bog Gremlin (Atk: 1200/Def: 1300) in defense mode, and activate Chain Destruction to destroy the two other Bog Gremlins in my deck. I put a card face down and end my turn."

"With Midnight Phantom, I attack Bog Gremlin."

Bog Gremlin was left with the same fate as Archfiend Soldier and Giant Orc.

"And with Troll Emperor, I attack your life points directly!"

Bakura was left with 4300 life points.

"Your turn."

"I offer my three Bog Gremlin to special summon a new monster. Since I offered three fiend monsters of the same name, I can summon an extra powerful monster. Behold, Great Necrofear (Atk: 3000/Def 3600)!"

"An enhanced version of Dark Necrofear, Great Necrofear has 800 more attack and defense points, and has the effect of destroying all of my opponent's life points when destroyed!"

"My turn. You've played valiantly, though now I must defeat you. I equip Troll Emperor with Wicked-Breaking Flamberge- Baou."

"Forgotten my monster already? My Necrofear is automatically equipped with an impact bomb that detonates when sent to the graveyard. You attack, you lose!"

"Wicked Breaking Flamberge-Baou negates the effects of all monsters Troll Emperor destroys.

Attack (4500 Atk vs. 3000 Atk)!"

Troll Emperor lunged its axe and destroyed Great Necrofear.

"And now, Midnight Phantom, finish off the rest of Bakura's life points!"

Since there were no monsters to self destruct upon, Midnight Phantom just rammed into Bakura.

"You lose!" shouted Jr., as Bakura's life point counter dropped to zero.