Nick drew his sixth card, "I'll start this duel by setting this card in defense mode, and one card facedown." He said, as cards appeared in quick flashes.
Rocky drew his, "I play the magic card, Infinite Cards; now both of us will be able to hold as many cards in our hands as we want. Then I set one monster and end my turn."
Just a monster? Probably a strong defender.
Nick drew his next card, "I set one more card and end my turn." He said.
"For some one who is trying to get back to his friends, you're sure taking your time." Rocky said, as he drew his next card, "I flip my Cyber Jar, you know what that means." The card in front of him flipped up, and appearing before him was the same rock monster that Sarah had played appeared, (900/900). And once again, the eye of the creature opened, and created a powerful vacuum, sucking up Nick's only monster and destroyed itself.
And appearing on the fields of both players appeared the top 5 cards of each of their decks, revealing themselves to one another.
Rocky's were Alpha the Magnet Warrior, Stone Statue of the Aztecs, Pot of Greed, Rocket Jumper, and Soul Resurrection.
Nick's were Royal Keeper, Bistro Butcher, Reasoning, Giant Trunade, and Mystic Tomato.
All of Rocky's monsters appeared facedown on the field, (1400/1700), (300/2000), (1000/800). While Nick's Keeper and Tomato stayed down, (1600/1700), (1400/1100), while his Bistro Butcher remained face up, its face was bright purple with a sinister grin, he had a hook on its right arm, and in its left was a large knife the size of a machete, and wore an outfit of a flesh like pink, and a same shade chef hat, (1800/1000).
"Now I summon my Beta the Magnet Warrior." He said, as the yellow monster appeared for battle, (1700/1600).
"I'll end my turn there." He said.
Why'd he leave Beta in attack mode? He's up to something. Nick thought to himself as he drew his next card.
"I'll set this monster facedown, and I'll attack with my Butcher, your Beta is the main course!" Nick called out, as the butcher leaped into the air, and with a single slice, cleaved the Magnet's head off.
Rocky's life points dropped by 100, but due to the effect of the Butcher, he had to draw the next two cards in his deck, giving him a total of 7 cards in his hand.
Nick finished and said, "Your move."
"I draw," Rocky looked at his next card, "I summon the Avatar of the Pot." He stated, as a monster bearing the Pot of greed for its head appeared on the field, his body was muscular but its stats were still weak, (1200/1300).
"When this monster is one the field, I can discard my Pot of Greed in my Hand to draw an additional 3 cards. He said, giving him a total of 10."
"Now I flip my Alpha the Magnet Warrior, I use him to attack your Facedown Mystic Tomato!" He commanded, as the magnet monster flew forward, and sliced Nick's card in half, but emerging from it came Don Zaloog, (1400/1500).
"By destroying your Tomato you are allowed to summon any monster with 1500 or lower attack points aligned with Darkness in attack mode. I end my turn."
What's this guy doing? He's leaving weak monsters out in the open without any defenses, he's up to some thing, but if he keeps up these plays, I can get through him, his deck has already loss about 25 percent of itself, If I keep this up, I can deck him.
"Draw," Nick called out, as he drew his next card, "I flip my Needle Worm!" As his facedown monster flipped up, and revealed the pink caterpillar, (750/600).
"Watch as you lose 5 more cards!" He said, as the Worm fired its needle at the deck and sent the cards to the grave yard.
"Now, Don Zaloog, attack the Avatar of the Pot!" He commanded, as his monster pulled the blades from his sides and dove forward, and sliced the monster into 4 pieces.
"Whenever Don Zaloog strikes your life points, I can send the top 2 cards from your deck to the graveyard. And don't think it's over yet! Butcher, Destroy his magnet warrior!" Nick shouted, as the butcher added another Magnet Warrior to the Graveyard.
Rocky's hand was now at 12 cards, his life points were 7400, but his deck was near half way gone.
"I end my turn."
"I draw," Rocky said, "I set two cards facedown, and play the magic card Mesmeric Control, this card forces all your monsters to stay in the same mode their in till my next turn. Then I set one monster facedown and end my turn."
Nick drew his next card, and saw the pendulum generated from Rocky's card, all his monsters were hypnotized. "Set one card facedown and end my turn."
"Draw." He said, then grinned, "I play the magic card Shallow Grave, calling back a monster facedown for each of us." As a monster appeared facedown in front of him, Nick chose his Mystic Tomato and put it facedown.
"Then I reveal my Soul Resurrection, allowing me to summon another monster back from the graveyard in defense mode. I choose Alpha the Magnet Warrior." He explained as his trap flipped over, and his Magnet returned again.
"Now watch, I'll now use the power of my Gamma the Magnet Warrior!" He said, as the Pink monster appeared on the field, (1500/1800).
Uh oh! Here it comes!
"Combine my Magnet Warriors, combine into your ultimate form!" Rocky commanded.
Each of the magnets broke apart into separate pieces, but flew up into the air, in a bright flash, a new being was formed. It was huge, body resembled a humanoid form, but had distinct parts visible from each of the magnet warriors, Alpha's body had become armor and skin while its sword had become this form's weapon, Beta's orbs were used as joints to hold the form together, and Gamma's face, hands, feet and wings had become the creatures as well. It flew down to the ground, and landed next to Rocky.
"Say hello to my Valkyrion the Magna Warrior." (3500/3850).
Nick knew he was in trouble, Oh great; he managed to do it the hard way, and with my deck as it is, I have no monsters with the strength to beat that thing.
"And the fun is just beginning; next I play the Field power of Wasteland, changing this environment more suitable for my Rocks." Rocky said, as the forest around them changed into a desert, raising Valk's and all the other Rock, Dinosaur and Zombie monsters by 200 points."
"I will now flip summon my Giant Soldier of Stone and My Stone Statue of Aztecs. Come forth my mighty sentinels!" He commanded, as the two cards flipped up.
First arriving was a giant who rivaled Valkyrion in Height; it was a crude looking monster block monster which two stone swords now in its hands. (1500/2200)
And then the second, it was about the size of a truck, a simple statue of a face with two hands bracing for impact, (500/2200).
Nick wondered what the hell this guy was planning, The Statue is too weak to do any damage on its own. So why'd he bring it into attack mode, he's only got 3 monsters on the field in attack mode, while I have 3 in attack and 2 defense.
"Here comes the fun part, I play the Magic of Shield and Sword!" Rocky called out, and Nick's face went pale, as all the monsters on the field's attack and defenses switched, and he was looking at a very powerful assault team, while his all but his Zaloog and Keeper had become weaker.
Rocky's Attack points (4050) (2200)2
Nick's Attack Points (1500) (600) (1000)
"Fear the power of the Landslide, Statue, Soldier, Valkyrion, Attack!"
The Solider of Stone jumped into the air, while the other two dove forward. The Statue's hands clasped around the Butcher and crushed it to dust. Valkryion made a massive swing, and pulverized the Needle worm, and the Giant Soldier of Stone landed on Don, crushing him instantly!
The powerful shockwaves were too much, and sent Nick flying backwards, till he crashed against the brick wall, with sand flying all around him. He fell down; his life points plunged straight down to 2650.
Kuro looked at her screen, and saw a massive seismic tremor down towards the southern gate. She scanned the area, and saw the 3 giant monsters, and a down and out Nick!
"Guys we've got a problem!"
Up in the infirmary, V looked out a window, and saw the faint image of the Magna Warrior. "Rock Monsters. A tough opponent, I wonder how he'll handle it?"
Nick was still sprawled on the ground, but his slowly came to.
"Aw man...that was painful." He moaned as he picked himself up.
"The agony of defeat is worse, so maybe you should forfeit and crawl away." Rocky said, with a confidant glare in his eyes, "I set one card, so give me your best shot."
Nick drew his next card, "I set this card facedown, and I flip my facedown Tomato."
The card flipped to reveal the large red fruit with a pair of eyes and a mouth appeared on the field, (1400/1100).
"The power of shield and sword is old news, so taste this rotten tomato!" Nick spat, as the Tomato lunged at the Stone Statue.
"I'm not hungry, Take this! Desert Sunlight!" Rocky called out as his facedown card flipped up. A trap card, with apparently an image of Egyptian territory, flashed with a bright light.
All of Rocky's monsters crouched and changed to defense mode, the Tomato bounced off the Statue, and vibrated violently. "My Statue can double the damage reflected back at my opponents failed attack, and I chain with My Destruction Punch!" Rocky said, as his other facedown card flipped up, and a flying boxing mitt flew out, and blew apart the tomato into a splatter.
Nick watched as his life points dropped down to 1050, but appearing from his deck was a Swarm of Grasshoppers, (1000/500).
"I end my Turn." Nick said.
"Too bad, I draw, and bye bye Nick." Rocky said, as he drew his next card.
"Hold on, Thunder of Ruler!" Nick smiled and he threw out his hand, as his trap activated, a powerful blast of energy hit all of Rocky's monsters, immobilizing each.
"No battle phase for you, too bad, ha ha!" Nick mocked.
"You have a funny way of fooling yourself. I play Upstart Goblin, it may give you 1000 life points, but another card for me." He said, drawing a card, and Nick's lp rose.
"I'll set this card facedown, and end my turn. Go ahead, try and stop me, my Magna Warrior is more than enough to destroy you." Rocky goaded.
Nick looked at the creature, its bright glowing yellow eyes were focused on him, and his Swarm. If I defend, his Rocket Jumper will be able to hit my Life points, but I can't win with that guy on the field, I need away to get rid of it, and I need to draw the card now, or I'm finished.
He held his hand over his deck, and prepared to draw, I know it's been along time since I've put this much faith in my deck, ever since that time, but know I must put my trust in this deck, or It's all over.
Back in the Castle, in Aaron's subconscious, he was seeing a vague memory, but not of his own.
It was a large stadium, and it was full of kids, they were all cheering wildly, as it was the finals of a tournament, and the end was near.
One kid was a big duffus, but on his field was a pair of Blue Eyes White Dragons, and no cards left in his hand or field, life points at 1400.
The other was Nick, a little younger, but he had only one facedown monster left, and 4 magic cards in his hand. Life points for him stood at 550.
It looks like Nick's going to need a miracle to pull this one off.
Nick prepared to draw his next card, and closed his eyes. He drew the card, and slammed it on top of his facedown monster, "I sacrifice my facedown monster to summon my all powerful Magical Marionette!" He said, without looking at the card, yet that was it.
"You think you can handle me with that?"
"Oh yeah watch this!" Paul said, as he prepared to win.
Those 4 magic cards are just what he needs, activating all of them will give the monster the 4 spell counters it needs, it won't give him the strength to destroy them in battle, but the counters will finish the blue eyes so he can attack dire- Hey! What's that?
Aaron saw Nick's was quite literally on fire, a mysterious green fire was surrounding him, but nobody seemed to notice.
I'm sensing incredible Rema, its overflowing, but if it... oh no!
The surging Rema managed to reach the Marionette card, and the card started glowing.
"What the?" Nick said, as all of a sudden, the creature inside the card emerged in a powerful burst of energy, taking up the ceiling.
However, the monster continued growing, Nick's overflowing Rema was feeding the card too much for it to handle!
The crowd couldn't make out the creature, as a matter of fact, no one, not even Nick could tell what was happening, save for the fact the card was sparking with energy generated by himself.
Just then, the mass hit critical mass, and in a surge of incredible energy, blew up! Vaporizing the ceiling, but putting everyone in a frightened shock.
Nick remained still, motion less, "What...what was that?"
Then image vanished from Aaron's mind, leaving him with the question, What happened?
Back at the Duel, Nick put his fingers on the card, The power of Valkyrion is what I have to counter, his strength is in its 3 parts merging, and its too late to stop that problem. Second is its ability allows it to split back into its 3 pieces, and that's not going to happen. So what's left to handle is the incredible stats it's got. Despite its defense power, he's not going to keep it in defense mode against me, so the only factor left for me to do is counter that attack power. I know the cards I need, I've just got to draw the right one!
He pulled, PLEASE!
He looked at the card, and said, "Time I give you a run for your money Rocky, I play the Magic Card Ekibyo Drakmord!"
Just then, Valkyrion clutched his head, and began thrashing it around, as though it had a splinter its mind and couldn't get it out.
"NO!" Rocky called out.
"And that's not all, Locusts,Lunch time!" Nick called out, as the Swarm dove forth and devoured the Rocket monster.
Rocky was a little taken aback, "You're stronger than I thought you'd be. Not many have the will to stand in my way when I've reminded them of the hard times."
"I learned to deal, so I can move on. And it looks to me like your best monster isn't going to be lasting too much longer." Nick said.
"Who said, my Valkyrion was my best monster? Sure he's mighty but not the best creature my deck can produce."
"What?" Nick said, Impossible, Valkyrion is one of strongest cards in the game, what could he have that would make it that be the second best?
"This Duel may have just drifted your direction. However, this isn't over just yet. So prepare to lose, your Deck will be crushed!"
To be continued...