"It is never wise to rely on strength alone. One must have cunning, daring, strategy and skill.

…But strength never hurt anyone."

-Geno Roads

The Hammer of Mars

Are you this desperate Owen? Are you this close to being beat that you have to fall back on your sanctuary to save you? I still have two monsters on the field, and your sanctuary only protects you when there is a fairy on your side of the field. Once I have my Saturn destroy it, my Dark Magician Girl will end this game once and for all Kelli sighed. And here I thought you would be a challenge.

"I will have my Saturn attack your Zolga!"

Kelli watched as the ring appeared around Zolga, and began to tighten. She closed her eyes, waiting to savor the sound of the monster shattering, knowing that was her signal to attack with her mage.

But it never came.

Kelli opened her eyes, only to see Zolga not only still on the field, but pushing the ring back with it's cape. Owen smiled.

"What's wrong, don't know why it didn't work?" Owen asked. Kelli nodded, not able to come up with a snappy comeback. Owen waved his hand, and Zolga opened it's cape, revealing a grand shield. The center of the defense weapon flashed, and the ring was sucked into it. "I reveal Draining Shield!" (Owen-4300)

Damn it! Kelli thought. I should have known he would pull this. Owen is known for coming back after having low lp. His deck is designed around burn and Lp gain!

She motioned for her Dark Magician Girl, and the female mage nodded, destroying Zolga. But it didn't make Kelli feel good. Owen had gone from being within an inch of death to being back in competition. All because she had failed to realize his pattern.

Kelli turned back to Owen as he drew, taking in the cards in his hand. He smiled softly and looked up at her. "I am about to do something that many would say is foolish, very foolish."

"What's that?" She asked.

"I am going to deplete my hand." Owen said calmly, ignoring the murmer form the crowd.

Kelli raised an eyebrow. IT had been well known that duelists should ever give up every card in their hand. Only the desperate would do that. The crowd knew this, and Owen should have known this. Only someone on the verge of losing would do that. Them…

and Geno Roads Kelli thought. She remembered her father telling her that Geno had mastered the ability to play with all your cards on the field. He would start a turn with a full hand, end it with nothing, yet still have you beat before you could even look at yoru hand full of shiny cards. He was a warrior, and didn't keep alot of weapons hidden.

It seemed as if Owen had gained this trait as well from his grandfather. And he was about to try his hand at it.

"First, I will set this card. Next, I will summon Agent of Death-Pluto to the field."

Kelli watched as the angel appeared, and took a step back. The Agent was pale white, a sickly white, with glowing red eyes. An Albino she realized. It wore a long, golden robe, it's wings pitch black. Upon it's head sat a twisted crown, and in it's hands it held a scythe with a black staff and white blade, cold and gleaming. It stood about 8 feet tall, his body strong, despite what one would think the angel of death should look like. (Atk-1300, Def-1200)

"Now, I will activate this card: Harmony of the Planets." The card flashed, the image of the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and the Moon all-orbiting around the sun. "It allows each of us to draw 5 cards and send them as many as we wish to the graveyard. For every card we send, we gain 500 lp. But, for every one we hold onto, we lose that much. So, as you can see, you can choose to have more options, but less lp, or more lp but fewer cards to choose from."

Kelli nodded as she drew her five cards first. Kelli looked over the first four, nothing really special there that could help her at this moment. Just a few spell cards. but Magical Hats….this could come in handy. I think I'll hold onto this one. (Kelli-7000)

Owen nodded, and after a moment, sent 3 cards to the graveyard, keeping two for himself. (Owen-4800)

Kelli really didn't get this move. Owen needed all the lp he could get now, and he was keeping 2 cards? That meant he only got a 500 boost. What could he be up to with this strange move?

Owen smirked. "And now, I think it's time for my Agent of Death to perform his effect!"

"His effect?" Kelli asked.

Owen smiled. "Oh yes, did I forget to mention that? I can summon one agent from my graveyard to the field each turn."

"But you don't have any agents in your graveyard!" Kelli shouted.

Owen titled his head. "Are you really sure of that Kelli?"

Kelli paused, and paled. "Harmony of the Planets…you sent an agent to the graveyard, didn't you!"

Owen nodded. "Agent of Death! Open the gates of the underworld and bring forth my agent! The Agent of Judgment, Saturn!"

Kelli could only watch as Pluto waved his arms, and one of the gates of Owen's sanctuary glowed. From it, a second Saturn appeared on the field, standing next to Pluto. Owen smiled again and held up a card.

"But I ain't done yet. Now I will activate Goblin Thief!" (Kelli-6500, Owen-5300)

"Now! Agent of Judgment, destroys Kelli's Dark Magician Girl!"

"NO!" Kelli shouted, watching her mage shatter under the ring's pressure. "I don't believe it."

Owen smirked. "Believe it love." (Kelli-6100)

Kelli glanced at her hand and sighed in disgust. She looked back at her boyfriend. "I will set these this monster and this card, and now…I will take revenge for my Dark Magician Girl! Your Pluto is a strong agent, but let us see what he can do against my Saturn! Attack!"

"I don't think so!" Owen said. "Reveal Draining Shield!" Kelli watched in horror as Saturn's attack was absorbed again. (Owen-7700)

Owen smiled to himself. Already, his strategy had saved him and given him the upper hand. Now, eh could begin his plan to make sure Kelli got into the finals. He drew his card and nodded softly. The Hammer of Mars. This card will come in very handy…but I have to wait to play it. If I do it now, Kelli is as good as dead, and that won't do me any good. Better to hold it close…for now, and wait till the timing is just right.

"Now, it is time to show you why all fear the agents!" Owen pointed to his Saturn. "Saturn, I command you, use your special ability: Divine Judgment!" Saturn nodded, and began to glow. "This card allows me to sacrifice Saturn to deal you damage equal to the difference in our lp!"

Kelli's eyes grew wide. "Oh no…"

"Oh yes!" Owen shouted, laughing as his Saturn began to crack, light bursting out of it. That continued, until it was nothing but a form of light, then exploded with a fury. Kelli screamed as the blast hit her, sending her flying. She got up with a grunt. (Kelli-4500)

"Is…that all you got?" Kelli asked with a cough, getting a gently smile from Owen. "That barely hurt me."

Owen smiled. She's got spunk.

"And now Kelli, it's time to say hello to Saturn!"

Kelli watched as Saturn emerged from the Sanctuary. She was confused, till Pluto bowed.

"Damn it." She said softly.

Owen smiled. This is waaaaaaayyyy to easy. He looked over the field. A few more of those, and Kelli will be right in range, and then phase two begins. I just hope she is smart enough to take advantage of the opening I leave her, and not force me to get drastic.

"I end my turn." Owen said. "Your move."

You think your smart Owen? Kelli thought. Well, I got a few surprises of my own.

"Now, I gues sit is time for me to show off!" Kelli shouted. "First, I will sacrifice my downface card, as well as the Saturn I control, to summon the Dark Magician, in attack mode!"

The two monsters faded, replaced by a spellcasters ring. From it emerged the purple robed mage. It spun it's staff and watched the two agents carefully, floating voer to Kelli's side.

"Next, I will make sure that you don't go reviving your first Saturn with this: Thousand Knives!"

Owen could only watch as the Dark Magician grabbed the weapons from mid air and threw them directly at his agents, slicing his Agent of Death into bits and pieces before Pluto shattered.

"And now, I will attack your Agent of Power, Saturn, with my Dark Magician. Dark Magician, Dark Magic Attack!" The mage nodded and with a spin of his staff, shattered Owen's Saturn with a pure blast of dark magic. He nodded, returning to his waiting postion.

"Thanks to my sanctuary, I receive no damage." Owen said calmly.

"Hold onto that thought for next turn, and see where it gets you." Kelli said with a smile.

Now this is fun. Kelli thought. I haven't had a duel like this in ages. He's actually giving me a run for my money.

Owen drew his card, and paused as he felt a chill run through his arm. He smiled, already knowing what it was. "Oh Kelli, I think it's time you meet another agent. And trust me…" He smiled wickedly as he looked down, confirming what he had thought. "…he's one powerful one."

Owen threw the card onto his duel disk. The disk rumbled on his arm and in the sky, where Saturn had once been, another planet began to pull in. Kelli watched…and gasped as the red planet appeared.

"Yes! I summon my ultimate monster! The Agent of Power-Mars!"

The stadium rumbled as, from the Sanctuary, there appeared Owen's newest monster. The 10 foot angel appeared, it's hammer raised. It smiled and twirled it's weapon.

"And because of our lp difference, my Mars increases it's attack to 3200" Owen laughed as his Mars let out a cry…and began to increase in size, till it stood nearly 40 feet tall. "And now, let's see your Magician dodge this! Mars, Hammer of Power!" Mars nodded and slammed his weapon down at Kelli's Dark magician, ready for the kill…

"Think again Owen! I activate Magical Hats!" Owen watched as the Dark Magician leaptinto one of four hats, then each shuffled up. "And also, I have included a trap card in one of these hats. Hit the wrong one…and boom." Kelli smiled. "Do you like magic tricks Owen? I hope so."

Owen had to smile. She's good..she's very good

"tell me Kelli..is it wrong that I find this side very attractive?" Owen said with a laugh.

Kelli chuckled. "Glad to see your enjoying yourself Owen. Now, play the game and risk it all."

Owen nodded. "Mars, attack the farthest hat to the right!"

Kelli smiled. "You are very bad at this game Owen. Reveal Card Trick!"

Out of the shattered hat appeared the trap card. "You see, while you might have your Harmony of Planets, I also have a nifty little card for lp gain. Each one of us can select one type of card: Monster, Trap or Magic. We then each look at the top 5 cards of the other's deck, and inflict damage for each one we guessed at. Then the cards are placed back on the deck." She smiled. "Now, I will select Monsters. Owen…show me your top 5 cards!"

Owen nodded and drew his five. "Agent of Change-Neptune, Magic Reflector, Airknight Parshath, Terraforming and The Agent of Power." He watched his lp drop. "I select Magic." (Owen-6200)

Kelli drew her five. "Sorry Owen, but I have only one magic trick: Soul release. That means your Mars has decreased to 2200." (Kelli-4000)

"Only a delay." Owen said calmly.

Kelli drew the soul release and passed. "Three chances Owen…only this time, you must risk hitting my Dark Magician, instead of trying to."

Owen nodded. It is time…

"Kelli, I have no need to attack. Because I have just drawn the card that will destroy you! With this card, the game will change…and see your end! I activate The Hammer of Mars!"

Kelli watched as Mars spun his hammer, faster and faster, till it was a blur. Mars had shrunk down to 20 feet, but still, the agent dwarfed her. She frowned, however, her mind working.

Wait a minute…he just said…

"You see, the Hammer of Mars allows me to send my Mars' attack points directly at you, and you can't negate the attack. The cost is that he is left with 0 attack points for the rest of the duel, but that I will fix later. Now, Hammer of Mars!"

Mars smiled, and leapt in the air, till he was but a pinpoint of light, a mere speck. Kelli searched for him in vain, only to watch in horror as he came straight down at her, bringing his hammer right on her head. She let out a scream, falling to the ground. (Kelli-1800)

'Are you ok?" Owen shouted, about to run to Kelli's side before the ref stopped him.