Chapter 8: Kung-Fu Action Dueling
Yugi and friends quickly rushed after Andrew towards the next dueling room, and after traversing the long hallways of the craft, they made it to the room with a couple of minutes to spare!
"Man, dat was close," Joey said.
"I'll say," Andrew nodded.
"I don't think I can handle anymore of Matt's time limits," Tristan wheezed.
"I guess I better get to the arena then," Yugi said, and he entered through the door.
"Hey Andrew," Joey asked, "how come you knew about dat regulation before we did?"
"You should know about that new set-up," Andrew answered. "Matt sent a message to everyone's PDAs, or at least I think he did."
Joey then checked his own and saw a message from Matt. "Huh, whaddya know," Joey remarked. "It's right there after all."
"But where's Yugi's opponent?" Tristan asked.
"That's right," Tea noted, "where are they?"
Just then, the doors to the arena themselves began to close down!
"They're not gonna make it!" Andrew said.
As the doors were about to close, a shadowy figure dashed right under them in the nick of time!
"WHOA!" everyone shouted.
The figure stood up and dusted herself off. She wore an orange sweatshirt that accompanied her denim capris and sneakers.
"Phew!" she said. "That was too close for comfort!"
She retrieved her Duel Disk and looked over at Yugi. "So I'm to be your opponent, eh?" she asked.
"That would seem to be the case," Yugi said, smiling a little. He couldn't help it after this girl narrowly dodged death, much less a duel.
"Good to hear!" the girl called out, and she began to perform various poses as she introduced herself. "I myself am known by many names. The Elegant Ninja, Lady Darkness, the Kung Fu Killer, but you may call me Jade Weng!"
"Nyeh~? What's with dis girl?" Joey asked.
"Jade Weng, martial artist and duelist extraordinaire," Andrew introduced. "Or at least that's who she's supposed to be."
"What do you mean?" Tea asked.
Andrew noted the others looking at him expecting an answer as well, to which he flinched a little and said, "Oh, ya know, there are a lot of Jade Weng impersonators about! We don't even know if this is the real Jade Weng!"
"You mean dis could be just some faker?!" Joey yelped.
"Nah, she's definitely the real one," Andrew answered, to which the others collapsed.
Meanwhile, on the dueling field, Yugi and Jade shuffled their decks and prepared to begin the fight.
"There don't seem to be any Deck Master rules on this match," Jade said.
"I'm alright with that," Yugi said, and the two then drew their first five cards.
"DUEL!"
Yugi: 8000
Jade: 8000
"Looks like I get the first turn," Yugi said, drawing a card. "And I summon Gazelle, the King of Mythical Beasts (4/1500/1200) in Attack mode!"
A lion-like creature with a single horn appeared on Yugi's field, ready to take on any attack.
"And then I'll Set one card on the field," Yugi concluded, "and end my turn."
"Is that all you've got? Ha! My left hook could take out that monster in a minute!" Jade said as she drew her next card. "But since I can't summon myself to the field, I'll summon Karate Man (4/1000/1000) instead!"
A martial artist with an afro appeared on Jade's field, his headband flowing in a mysterious breeze.
"And now for Karate Man's special ability," Jade continued. "Once per turn, I'm allowed to double his attack points, but he'll be destroyed at the end of the turn!"
Karate Man then flexed his muscles, pumping and enlarging them to nearly twice their size!
Karate Man (4/1000/1000 - 4/2000/1000)
"Now go, Karate Man!" Jade announced. "Strike down Gazelle with your karate chop!"
The martial artist charged at the King of Mythical Beasts and brought down his mighty hand onto Gazelle, destroying the once proud ruler.
Yugi: 7500
Jade: 8000
"Aw man," Joey said, "she's already taken the lead."
"Jade has been known to be quick and vicious with her attack strategy," Andrew noted.
"I'll now play one card face-down," Jade said, "and end my turn, which means my Karate Man's ability forces him to leave the field!"
At that moment, Karate Man breathed out a heavy sigh as he disappeared from the playing field.
"Then it's my turn now," Yugi said, drawing a new card. "And I summon forth Beta the Magnet Warrior (4/1700/1600) in Attack mode!"
A yellow warrior composed of magnets appeared on the field ready for battle.
"And now, Beta the Magnet Warrior," Yugi declared, "attack her Life Points directly!"
The magnet warrior lunged forward and walloped Jade's Life Points!
Yugi: 7500
Jade: 6300
"I hope you don't think this means you've got the best of me," Jade said.
"I wouldn't think of it," Yugi said. "So now I end my turn with another face-down card."
"Not exactly," Jade said. "Before your turn ends, I activate my face-down card: the Quick-Play Spell Shadow Khan Assembly!"
A card featuring several black-clothed creatures appearing from the shadows was flipped face-up.
"You see with this card," Jade continued, "I'm allowed to summon out from my hand any Shadow Khan monsters that happen to be there. And as it happens, I have a full hand! So now, I summon out Shadow Khan - Ninja (4/1500/1200), Shadow Khan - Crab (4/1900/1100), Shadow Khan - Razor (4/1600/1300), and finally Shadow Khan - Bat (3/900/600)!"
At that moment, a multitude of shadows appeared, each ending up in one of four spots. The shadows melded together and formed four very different creatures. The most humanoid of all wore black clothes and wielded a small shuriken, its blue skin and red eyes very visible. The next creature to appear was entirely black, with large pincers for hands. The shadows then formed a creature with very thin legs, arms, and long fingers each ending in a sharp point. The last creature then appeared, sprouting wings and taking flight above the field.
"Shadow Khan?" Joey asked.
"I haven't heard too much about this particular group of cards," Andrew said, "but from what I do know, your friend's gonna need to watch himself."
"And now that that's out of the way," Jade said as she drew her next card, "I draw and use the abilities of my monsters! First up, Bat's effect!"
The winged Shadow Khan took flight and began charging shadow energy. "With my Shadow Khan - Bat's effect," Jade explained, "I'm allowed to destroy an opponent's Spell or Trap card on the field once per turn! Now I choose the left card!"
At her command, the Shadow Khan fired off a bolt of shadow energy at the face-down card, revealing it as Mystical Refpanel.
"Next," Jade continued, "I'll use the power of my Shadow Khan - Crab! With his ability, by sacrificing his attack for this turn, I can destroy your Beta the Magnet Warrior instantly!"
With that, the crablike creature swiped at Beta the Magnet Warrior with its pincers, sending a blade of shadow energy toward it and destroying it instantly!
"And now I'll summon out Shadow Khan - Sumo (5/2200/300) by Tributing Shadow Khan - Crab!"
The crablike creature then disappeared to make way for an even larger Shadow Khan. In fact, it was the largest in size, appearing as a fearsome and brutal warrior with a great amount of bulk beneath its garment.
"Ready to lose?" Jade taunted. "I attack with my Shadow Khan - Ninja!"
The stealthy Shadow Khan disappeared in a flash and then reappeared, striking Yugi's back!
Yugi: 6000
Jade: 6300
"As a little bonus to my Shadow Khan - Ninja," Jade continued, "you now have to discard one card from your hand."
With that said, Yugi sent his Alpha the Magnet Warrior to the Graveyard.
"And now, Shadow Khan - Razor, attack!"
The thinnest of the Shadow Khan dashed quickly over to Yugi, slicing at him with its long claws!
Yugi: 4400
Jade: 6300
"And with Shadow Khan - Razor's effect," Jade announced as she drew a card, "I draw one card from my deck. And now, Shadow Khan - Bat attacks!"
The flying Shadow Khan dive-bombed Yugi, inflicting even more damage onto him!
Yugi: 3500
Jade: 6300
"And now, Shadow Khan - Sumo!" Jade declared. "Attack him now!"
The largest Shadow Khan lunged forward and landed a mighty blow with its fist against Yugi, knocking him onto the ground!
Yugi: 1300
Jade: 6300
"And with that," Jade said while pressing her fist into her palm and bowing, "I can now end my turn."
Yugi stood up and looked over at Jade. This isn't going to go well, he thought. If I can't find a way to defeat her Shadow Khan, she'll overrun my Life Points and I'll be out of the tournament! I need a strategy.
Placing his hand on the next card of his deck, he closed his eyes. Heart of the cards, guide me...
He drew his card, announcing, "It's my turn!"
He looked at his next card and smiled. "Now I activate the Dark Magic Curtain from my hand," he said. "By paying half of my life points, I'm allowed to Special Summon from my Deck the Dark Magician (7/2500/2100)!"
Yugi: 750
Jade: 6300
And like that, Yugi's ace monster appeared on the field ready for battle!
"The Dark Magician, eh?" Jade asked. "Guess it's come down to your last few Life Points then."
"And now I activate the Magic Formula card!" Yugi continued. "With this card, my Dark Magician is able to gain 700 Atk points!"
Dark Magician (7/2500/2100 - 7/3200/2100)
"Now go, Dark Magician," Yugi declared. "Attack her Shadow Khan - Sumo! Dark Magic Attack!"
The Dark Magician charged up a source of dark magic into the staff before firing it off towards the largest of Jade's shadowy monsters! As the magic was about to hit her monster, the large shadow vanished into thin air, alongside the rest of her Shadow Khan! The magic attack continued until it hit Jade directly, damaging her Life Points!
Yugi: 750
Jade: 3100
"I'm afraid you won't be able to attack my monsters," Jade said as the shadows reformed themselves on her field.
"What?"
"You see," Jade explained, "my monsters are comprised of shadows, and as such they don't have a physical form to be attacked. In other words, you can't make them the target of an attack!"
"No way!"
"Of course this comes at the small price of having to take your attacks directly, but it's a price well worth paying to keep my monsters in play!"
"What?!" Joey yelped from the room. "How's Yug supposed to get rid of dem if dey can't even be da target of an attack?!"
"He'll have to find another way of beating these Shadow Khan," Andrew said. "Cause at this point, it could be anyone's game."
"Come on, Yugi! You can do it!" Tristan cheered on.
"I hope so," Tea said quietly. "Cause if not, Yugi could be out of the tournament."
Yugi browsed the cards in his hand, thinking carefully about his next move. Then finally, he announced, "I'll Set these last two cards on the field and end my turn."
With that, the stage was set. "It's my turn now," Jade said, drawing a new card. "And I activate the effect of my Shadow Khan - Bat to destroy your Magic Formula!"
The winged Shadow Khan fired off a dark bolt of energy at the spellbook, destroying it!
Dark Magician (7/3200/2100 - 7/2500/2100)
"When my Magic Formula is destroyed," Yugi said, "I regain 1000 of my life points!"
Yugi: 1750
Jade: 3100
"I hope that wasn't your entire plan," Jade said. "Now I summon out my Shadow Khan - Samurai (4/1600/1400) in Attack mode!"
A new Shadow Khan appeared, wearing dark samurai armor and carrying a mighty sword at its side.
"And now I activate the power of Shadow Khan Army Strike!" Jade declared. "With this, all of my Shadow Khan must attack this turn, and they each gain 500 Atk points!"
Shadow Khan - Ninja (4/1500/1200 - 4/2000/1200)
Shadow Khan - Razor (4/1600/1300 - 4/2100/1300)
Shadow Khan - Bat (3/900/600 - 3/1400/600)
Shadow Khan - Sumo (5/2200/300 - 5/2700/300)
Shadow Khan - Samurai (4/1600/1400 - 4/2100/1400)
"With this strike, victory is mine!" Jade announced. "Go, Shadow Khan - Sumo! Take out that Dark Magician!"
The large warrior lunged at the Dark Magician and-
"Not so fast," Yugi said. "I activate the Magician's Selection trap card! With it, when you declare an attack, I can negate the attack and destroy the monster on your field with the lowest attack points!"
With the power of the trap card, the Dark Magician deflected Shadow Khan - Sumo's fist, sending it towards Shadow Khan - Bat, destroying the winged creature!
"I hope you don't think you're safe from my attacks just yet," Jade said. "I now attack with Shadow Khan - Samurai!"
The shadow warrior drew out its sword and prepared to charge!
"And here's a little bonus from my Shadow Khan - Samurai," Jade continued. "Not only can he not be destroyed by a monster with the same attack points as him, but he can reduce the attack of an opponent's monster that he charges at by 500!"
Dark Magician (7/2500/2100 - 7/2000/2100)
"And now, my Shadow Khan - Samurai, attack!"
The warrior charges at the Dark Magician and-
"Go, Mirror Force!"
"Mirror Force?!"
The warrior's attack was reflected by a powerful wall, spreading the energy out and destroying all of the Shadow Khan!
"While I can't destroy the Shadow Khan with my monsters," Yugi explained, "I can destroy them with my other cards, and with Mirror Force, I can destroy all your Attack Position monsters when one of them makes an attack!"
Jade was stunned, her entire attack force wiped out in a single turn. And then she laughed.
"Countered and beaten by a master duelist!" she exclaimed. "Well played, Yugi, but you have yet to beat me. It's your turn!"
Yugi nodded and drew his next card. Looking at it, he announced, "I now attack with my Dark Magician."
The monster obeyed and sent out a new Dark Magic Attack against Jade!
Yugi: 1750
Jade: 1100
Jade smirked. "Seems you couldn't quite deal the finishing blow," she said. Then she realized: Yugi was smiling too.
"Actually," he said, "I've got one last move to make. Reveal face-down card: Magical Dimension! With it, I can sacrifice my Dark Magician to summon a Spellcaster from my hand, such as my Dark Magician Girl (6/2000/1700)!"
The Dark Magician disappeared from the field, and out arose a cute magician who dressed identically to her master, only with a blue outfit.
"And for every Dark Magician in the graveyard," Yugi continued, "she gains an extra 300 attack points!"
Dark Magician Girl (6/2000/1700 - 6/2300/1700)
"Now go, Dark Magician Girl! Attack Jade directly!"
With nothing else to guard against the attack, Jade took the Dark Magician Girl's Dark Burning attack head-on!
Yugi: 1750
Jade: 0
"Alright!" Joey cheered.
"He did it! He won!" Tristan cheered.
Tea sighed with relief while Andrew nodded his head. "Very impressive duel," he acknowledged.
On the dueling field, Jade shook Yugi's hand. "I gotta hand it to you, Yugi," she said, "I didn't think you were going to turn it around like you did."
"Thanks," Yugi replied. "You dueled really well too! I was pretty impressed with those Shadow Khan cards of yours!"
Jade smiled and looked at her watch. "Well, I better get going then," she said. "Places to be, things to do, duelists to duel and all that jazz! I'll see ya around, but you definitely won't see me!"
She winked and then ran out of the room.
"What a character," Yugi said to himself...
...meanwhile, on another dueling field...
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Attack with your White Lightning!"
The opposing duelist fell to his knees in defeat. Kaiba had managed to win another round, but to him that wasn't so surprising. At least the duelists were getting tougher. This one tried to at least give him some trouble, but he succeeded in winning regardless.
He exited the dueling field and heard someone say his name.
"You're Seto Kaiba, am I right?"
He turned to the source of the voice and found himself looking at a young man with brown hair and brown eyes looking back at him with a serious look on his face.
"Who's asking?" Kaiba asked.
"I'm Matt Zero," the man said, "and if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to ask a favor of you."
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Well THAT was intense! And that's a lot of new cards to cover! Time to get cracking on that!
Karate Man (Effect Monster)
Level 3, 1000 Atk, 1000 Def, Warrior, EARTH
Effect: Once per turn, you can double the original Atk of this card. If you do, destroy it during the End Phase.
Shadow Khan Assembly (Quick-Play Spell)
Effect: Special Summon as many "Shadow Khan" monsters from your hand to your field as possible. Those monsters cannot attack this turn.
Shadow Khan - Ninja (Effect Monster)
Level 4, 1500 Atk, 1200 Def, Warrior, DARK
Effect: This card cannot targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent: discard 1 card from your opponent's hand.
Shadow Khan - Crab (Effect Monster)
Level 4, 1900 Atk, 1100 Def, Fiend, DARK
Effect: This card cannot targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. Once per turn: you can destroy one of your opponent's monsters, and if you do, this card cannot attack this turn.
Shadow Khan - Razor (Effect Monster)
Level 4, 1600 Atk, 1300 Def, Fiend, DARK
Effect: This card cannot targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. When this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing Battle Damage to your opponent. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent, draw 1 card.
Shadow Khan - Bat (Effect Monster)
Level 3, 900 Atk, 600 Def, Fiend, DARK
Effect: This card can attack your opponent directly. This card cannot targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. Once per turn: you can destroy 1 Spell or Trap card on the field.
Shadow Khan - Sumo (Effect Monster)
Level 5, 2200 Atk, 300 Def, Warrior, DARK
Effect: This card cannot targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. Destroy any monster that battles with this card after damage calculation.
Dark Magic Curtain (Normal Spell)
Effect: Pay half your LP; Special Summon 1 "Dark Magician" from your Deck. You cannot Summon other monsters the turn you activate this effect (but you can Set).
Magic Formula (Equip Spell)
Effect: Equip only to "Dark Magician" or "Dark Magician Girl". It gains 700 Atk. If this card is sent from the field to the GY: gain 1000 LP.
Shadow Khan - Samurai (Effect Monster)
Level 4, 1600 Atk, 1400 Def, Warrior, DARK
Effect: This card cannot targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. Cannot be destroyed by battle with a monster that has the same ATK. If this card battles an opponent's monster, during damage calculation: that monster loses 500 ATK until the End Phase.
Shadow Khan Army Strike (Quick-Play Spell)
Effect: All "Shadow Khan" monsters you control gain 500 ATK and must attack your opponent's monsters. Until your opponent's next End Phase, negate the effect of all "Shadow Khan" monsters that prevents them from being targeted for attacks.
Mirror Force (Normal Trap)
Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack: destroy all your opponent's Attack Position monsters.
Magical Dimension (Quick-Play Spell)
Effect: If you control a Spellcaster monster: Target 1 monster you control; Tribute that monster, and if you do, Special Summon 1 Spellcaster monster from your hand, then you can destroy 1 monster on the field.
Now what could Matt want with Kaiba? What's his interest with him? And why are all of Yugi and Joey's opponents girls anyway? Maybe there's an answer in the next chapter.
