Chapter 20: Shadow Duel: Part Two

Marik grinned darkly as he looked over at Hikaru.

"Now then, I activate my Snatch Steal Magic Card and I'll use it to take control of your Celtic Guardian." Hikaru's monster stumbled over to Marik's' side of the field. "Now I'll sacrifice your Guardian and my Revival Jam to summon Bezerk Dragon!" Marik's new monster roared its way onto the field. Hikaru's Sword of Deep Sated automatically went to the top of her deck, ruining her chances of drawing a good card next turn. "Now Bezerk Dragon, attack her Beautiful Headhuntress with Bezerk Slash!"

Hikaru cried out as she felt her Headhuntress get destroyed. Her life points dropped to 2600 and her legs vanished. She smiled.

"Now that's what I expected from you. You're a worthy opponent Marik," Hikaru called over.

"Why thank you. So, are you ready to admit defeat?"

"Hah! Not even close. Now it's time for me to inflict some damage of my own. First I draw. Then I'll start by summoning my Ancient Lizard Warrior in attack mode. Next I'll use Monster Reborn to revive my Beautiful Headhuntress. Now I'll activate Megamorph and equip it to my Headhuntress, raising her attack points to 3200!" The smile left Marik's face as Hikaru's monster became stronger than his. "Next I'll activate the Sword of Deep sated I just drew and give it to my Lizard Warrior. Ok, NOW I'm ready. Beautiful Headhuntress, attack and destroy his Bezerk Dragon! Show him what girl power's all about!" Hikaru's monster swung its cleaver with all its might and severed Bezerk Dragon's head from its neck. Marik staggered back a step as his life points dropped down to 3300. "Now, Ancient Lizard Warrior, attack Marik's life points directly!" Marik cried out as Hikaru's second monster slashed him with its claws and sword, and lowered his lie points to 1400. Marik's body became riddled with holes as it began fading, and he lost what remained if his left leg. His face, the only part of him still completely there, was a mask of rage. "Finally, I set one card face down."

In the stands Tea and the gang were cheering.

"Yeah! Way to go Hikaru!" Tea cried.

"Yeah, kick butt!" Joey and Tristan called out together.

"Man, Hikaru really turned it round that turn," Joey said.

"Yeah, I guess she was holding back and trying to figure out Marik's strategy," Yugi replied.

Back in the arena Marik's smile half returned. "You realize that now that I have fewer life points than you your Headhuntress's attack points drop down to a mere 800 don't you? Now then, I summon my Blackland Fire Dragon to the field. Attack her Headhuntress!"

"Nice try," Hikaru smirked. "I activate Negate Attack!" Marik growled as his attack was stopped.

"Very well, I place one card face down and end my turn."

"Perfect. Now let's see what the cards see fit to gift me with," Hikaru said as she drew. A smile enveloped her face. "Now then, it's time to meet your demise Marik! I sacrifice my Beautiful Headhuntress and my Ancient Lizard Warrior to summon…Cosmo Queen! Now Cosmo Queen, attack with galactic blast!"

"Not so fast!" Marik said. "I active my Mirror Force trap card."

"Oh no!" Hikaru cried as her attack was shot back at her. Marik grinned as he watcher her life points drop to…2600?

"Your life points should be gone!"

"Yes, if it weren't for a page I took out of Yugi's book. I sent my Kuribo to the Graveyard in order to protect my life points. Thanks Yugi!" Hikaru called out, winking where she knew Yugi was seated. Beside him, Tea got a bit red.

"Are you all right Tea?" Yugi asked.

"Who me? Yeah, I'm fine, just fine," Tea replied.

"Hey, you thinkin' what I'm thinkin man?" Joey asked Tristan, grinning. Tea saw it and bashed him with her fist, leaving him on the ground with a major bump on his head.

"I'm trying to watch a duel here," she said.

"Sorry," Joey groaned from the ground.

"Now then," Marik said back in the arena. "I believe the time has come to activate this card. Graceful Charity. It lets me draw three cards as long as I discard two. Next I activate my Monster Reborn magic card. Get ready Hikaru. This is your end!" The sky overhead crackled. Lighting split it in a dozen places. "Now I summon my ultimate creature! ARISE, WINGED DRAGON OF RA!" Marik's Egyptian god card filled the arena as it swept down from the clouds. "Now Ra, transform into your unstoppable phoenix mode and annialate Cosmo Queen!" Golden fire covered the Winged Dragon as Marik's' life points dropped to 400. The Winged Dragon of Ra fired a massive blast of golden flame as Hikaru's Cosmo Queen, obliterating her. "You're done!"

"Not so fast!" Hikaru replied as she revealed her face down card. "I reveal my face down card, A Deal with Dark Ruler. It prevents me from losing any life points. And second, it lets me summon Bezerk Dragon to the field, and since you summoned your Winged Dragon of Ra with a magic card it goes back to the graveyard this turn."

"No, this can't be," Marik growled as his God card returned to the graveyard, leaving him wide open.

"Oh but it can. You gave your best Marik, but I'm afraid your best just wasn't good enough. Now then, I think I'll use my Rope of Life magic card to revive my Cosmo Queen. But wait, it gets better. Rope of life also gives my Queen an extra 800 attack points. Now Cosmo Queen, attack Marik's' life points directly. Wipe him out! Galactic Blast!"

"NOOOO!" Marik cried as Cosmo Queen's attack drained away the remainder of his life points. His body began to vanish completely, but then Hikaru focused her power and broke Marik's Shadow Spell, sparing his soul. The shadows that had surrounded them disappeared, allowing sunlight to shine through. Hikaru walked over to Marik and offered her hand.

"You fought very well. I hope I can have the pleasure of dueling you again sometime," Hikaru said, smiling. Marik took her hand.

"As do I. You are very skilled for such a novice. Next time though, I don't plan on losing," he said, grinning.

"Well, I guess that that," Joey said.

"Yeah, Hikaru was incredible," Yugi said. Tea glanced at him worryingly.

"Could Yugi be falling for Hikaru?" She thought to herself. She resolved then and there to tell Yugi how she left before the end of the day.

As Hikaru was finishing up her match against Yami Marik, Derek was still in Steven's house. His device had finally managed to break through the wards protecting the Prism Crystal and Derek now had full access to its power. As he was absorbing the new power, the black pendant Derek always wore around his neck began to glow. It projected an image of Derek's father, a man he couldn't remember. He and his mother had both died when Derek was only two.

"Hello Son," the projection said.

"Dad?" Derek asked.

"If you're hearing this, then you've reached the final level of your power. I can now tell you what happened to your mother and me. Close your eyes Son, and learn," Derek's father said. Derek closed his eyes and a rush of memories suddenly flooded his mind, too fast for him to discern. Finally, the flood of memories stopped and Derek fell to the ground.

"Just sleep for a while Son. When you wake up, you'll know everything." Derek closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, where he dreamt of the past.

So how was that? Sorry if it was a bit short. The next chapter is going to be explosive. Derek will finally realize his true purpose, and Hikaru will learn a dark secret about the Cross Realm's past. What else will happen? Find out in the next exciting chapter of the story. Well, see ya then, and don't forget to review!

ENTILZA