Hello once more. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the opening chapter of Illidan and Marie's duel. At any rate, onto the reviews now.

thehyperactivecow: Very true. I once stayed up all night reading a fan fic called Otherworld. The author had two of them published, and I just couldn't stop reading it. Try as I may, I couldn't, lol. She could win… Never know about that silly girl.

pink-kiss-candy: Yay, someone feels sorry for him! You'll find a boyfriend one day, trust me. It took me some time, but I found a wonderful girlfriend, one I love very much whom I intend on marrying (soon, I hope). Ryou, you know, she's great for you. Ryou: Hell no! Watches Ryou run away.

Isis the Sphinx: Happy day that school is almost over for you. Yeah, Marie is sneaky like that. She can surprise you, sometimes, hehe. It depends on when I have work. Like yesterday, I was up at 5 in the morning, so I update then. When I work later in the day, I update around 11 or so.

Metal Overlord 2.0: It is something to be feared indeed. Well, my fiancé is a good duelist, but as good as Marie, I'm not sure. Gets smacked in the back of head by fiancé. I mean she's a great duelist… who just isn't as good as Marie. Smacked again. Sighs But really, she is a good duelist in real life, she's just not super or whatever. We still duel, and she's pretty good, although she says I win too much sometimes, hehe. Yep, she has a few surprises for Illidan. As for Gozaburo controlling her during this duel… We'll see, hehe.

Well, that's all for me. I'll post more tomorrow, and in the meantime, don't forget to check out my fiancé's story. You can find it at Cartoon-Protector, and check under The History of the Millennium Items. So, till tomorrow, enjoy.

Chapter 65

Marie smiled, saying "Not bad Illidan. I was beginning to wonder if you'd rebound or not. I see now that you can and will, but don't think I'm done yet. Now, I'll remove from play from my Graveyard my last Shining Angel and my Spirit of the Harp in order to special summon another Soul of Purity and Light (2000/1800) to the field in attack mode." The same monster Marie had played a turn back showed up on the field to replace the former one.

Illidan could only lightly growl at this, curious to what Marie was up to.

"Next I'll play the equip magic card Silver Bow and Arrow, and equip it to Soul of Purity and Light, which raises it's stats by 300 (2300/2100)." A silver bow and arrow then appeared in front of the spirit angel. It grabbed both and fitted the arrow into the bow, ready to fire at anything that tried to attack it.

"Next I'll summon my Hysteric Fairy (1800/500) in attack mode." An angel with glasses and blue hair then appeared on the field. She was also holding some books as well.

"Soul of Purity and Light, destroy one of Illidan's Scapegoats with Silver Arrow Blast!" The spirit angel then pulled back on the arrow and released the arrow which glowed, letting off a stream of silver as it shot through the weaker orange goat creature.

"Hysteric Fairy, use Fairy Blast on another Scapegoat!" The fair straightened its glasses with one hand and fired a blast from her eyes, which hit the pink goat creature. The creature shrieked as it exploded.

"That'll end my turn." (Marie 10600, Illidan 4400)

Curious to Marie's actions, Illidan's mind began wondering what her move was really doing. "What was the point of her summoning those two monsters? She knows I can easily destroy her two monsters with Jinzo, so why bother? I guess I'll just have to teach her the hard way that it's not about how many monsters you have, it's about what they can do."

Illidan drew and smiled at his Slate Warrior card. He then glanced up at Marie and said "I summon Slate Warrior (1900/400) in attack mode." Suddenly a bluish fiend with golden armor appeared. On his back was his large halberd that could slash through anything.

"Jinzo, attack her Hysteric Fairy with Cyber Energy Shock!" The cyborg let out a low moan and powered up. It then stuck out it's hand and fired a sphere of black energy straight at the weaker fairy, which was easily destroyed by the blast.

"I now invoke my Deck Master's special ability. Jinzo, take down Marie's Soul of Purity and Light with Cyber Energy Shock!" Once again powering up, the cyborg raised it's hand again and fired yet another sphere of black energy. This time though, the blast didn't hit it's mark. The spirit angel moved out of the line of fire as the blast was about to hit.

Shocked, Illidan said "Why didn't the blast hit?"

Marie only innocently giggled and waved a finger at Illidan, saying "Silly, you forgot my Soul of Purity and Light's special effect. During each of your battle phases, Soul of Purity and Light lowers your monsters attack points by 300 (2100/1500) (1600/400). So, that means you just attacked a weaker monster with your monster, and you know that means. Soul of Purity and Light, counter attack with Silver Arrow Blast!" The spirit angel then pulled back on it's bow and formed an arrow. It released the new arrow, which had a silver trail behind it as it flew through the air. The arrow then hit it's mark, which was the cyborg. It let out a mechanical moan as it was easily pierced by the arrow and exploded.

Lightly growling, Illidan realized what happened. "She played me for a fool again. I should have known that monster's effect. Now what?"

Looking at his hand, he sighed and said "I'll set one card face down. Now I'll end my move." (Marie 13000, Illidan 4100)

Before Marie drew, she closed her eyes for a moment. She then looked up at Illidan, saying "I hope you aren't holding back on my Illidan. I want a real duel, and if you're holding back, you're wasting my time along with your own. So, tell me in all honesty, are you holding back still? I know you, and you always held back against me. I want a real fight, not a fake one like you used to do to me."

Standing there, Illidan only pondered her words. "Holding back? I'm trying for all I can to beat her, yet she says I'm holding back? Maybe… Just maybe that does explain why I didn't think about her monster's effect. If I'd thought about it, I would have not attacked her monster. Possibly subconsciously I am still, but no more of that. I'm going to fight her with all I have!"

Looking up into her beautiful brown eyes, Illidan said "Perhaps I was, but now I'm ready to fight for real. So let's continue."

Smiling back at Illidan, Marie then drew her next card and said "I'll summon The Forgiving Maiden (850/2000) in defense mode." An older woman dressed in odd black robes appeared on the field in a sitting position.

"Now, let's see. Hmm, you have a face down card, so I won't attack this turn. I end my move." (Marie 13000, Illidan 4100)

Sighing, Illidan realized she read him like the cover of a book. "She knew that I had something up my sleeve. Well, I'll just have to try harder to beat her."

Drawing his next card, he only smiled, saying "I play Graceful Charity! This allows me to draw three new cards from my deck, but forces me to discard two from my hand when I'm done." He picked up his three new cards and smirked at them.

"I discard my Dark Magician of Chaos and my Thunder Nyan Nyan from my hand to the Graveyard. Next I play Monster Reborn, allowing me to bring back my Dark Magician of Chaos (2800/2600) in attack mode!" Suddenly a pentagram of flames formed on the field. Within the flames slowly rose a black armor clad mage. His blue face shimmered in the flames as he slowly rose. His eyes were closed and his head was looking downward. Once he was fully on the field, his head raised and he opened his eyes to reveal yellow corneas and blood red irises. Just by opening his eyes, the flames extinguished due to the force of his magical energies.

Smiling now, Illidan said "Thanks to his resurrection, I can return one magic card from the Graveyard to my hand, and I'll choose Monster Reborn. I then play it again in order to resurrect Jinzo (2400/1500)!" The cyborg in green and black then reappeared on the field beside of the powerful mage.

"I'm not done yet! I now remove from play from my Graveyard my Thunder Nyan Nyan and Breaker the Magical Warrior in order to special summon Chaos Emperor Dragon – Envoy of the End (3000/2500)!" The mighty black dragon with orange hair then appeared on the field as he spread his wings. He let out a terrible roar, trying hard to show everyone he was the top dog on the field.

Illidan beamed with pride as three of his most powerful monsters were on the field, ready to take down Marie. "Chaos Emperor Dragon, use Chaos Blaster on Marie's Soul of Purity and Light!" The mighty dragon roared and opened it's mouth, letting a blast of black energy pour from it. The blast struck the weaker spirit angel, making it cry out as it was destroyed.

"Now I invoke my Deck Master's special ability. Chaos Emperor Dragon, attack Marie's The Forgiving Maiden with Chaos Blaster!" The dragon roared again and let loose another stream of black energy. It found it's mark, hitting the black robed woman, making her scream as she was thoroughly destroyed by the blast.

"Dark Magician of Chaos, direct attack Marie's life points now with Chaos Scepter Blast!" Twirling his scepter, the mage then aimed straight at Marie, letting loose a powerful blast of black energy from the staff. The blast struck Marie hard, knocking her backwards slightly, but she remained standing tall.

"Jinzo, direct attack Marie now with Cyber Energy Shock!" The cyborg raised his hand at Marie and let a blast of dark energy escape his palm, which struck Marie hard, but still, she remained standing. All that had happened was she slid back slightly again.

"Slate Warrior, it's your turn to direct attack with Fiend Slash!" The blue fiend jumped into the air and grabbed the hilt of his halberd. In a simple motion, he pulled it off his back and slashed Marie hard with it, making her slide back once again.

"I'll end my move." (Marie 7000, Illidan 4100)

Marie only giggled after Illidan had ended his turn. Curious, his thoughts became filled with "Why is she giggling? She should be worried that I'll defeat her."

She finally stopped giggling and drew her card, saying "Illidan, I was worried you wouldn't be able to make a comeback there for a moment, but now I see you can. You're finally serious about this duel with me at last. So, I'll get more serious as well. Watch as I first a magic card known as Card of Sanctity, allowing us both to draw till we hold six cards in our hands."

Illidan drew his cards, pleased with what he now had. He'd drawn Kuriboh, Spirit Reaper, Beta the Magnet Warrior, and Mystical Space Typhoon.

Marie only lightly giggled innocently as she said "Now I special summon my 2 x Watapon (200/300) in defense mode." Two little white dust bunny like creatures with blue eyes and antenna then appeared on the field.

Curious, Illidan interrupted, saying "Wait, how did you do that?"

Smiling, Marie explained by saying "Their special effect allows them to automatically be special summoned when a card allowed me to draw an extra card or cards. Since I played Card of Sanctity, and I drew both from that, they were special summoned. Next I play the ritual magic card Shinato's Ark!" A huge ark then appeared on the field.

Illidan's mind quickly realized he'd seen this card before, and knew what it did. "This is the same ritual card that summons Shinato, King of a Higher Plane. If it's anything like Noa's Deck Master, I'll have my hands full in a moment."

"In order to special summon Shinato, I must first make a sacrifice of monsters totaling eight stars. So, I'll send my Wingweaver (2750/2400) from my hand, which has seven stars, and a Watapon from my field, which has one star, to the Graveyard. This allows me to special summon Shinato, King of a Higher Plane (3300/3000)!" The ark then glowed as it's doors opened to reveal a large blue skinned angel with huge golden wings.

Marie only grinned at this sight, but then said "I'm far from done yet. Notice I still hold one more card in my hand. So, I sacrifice my Watapon for The Agent of Judgment – Saturn (2400/0)!" A new blue skinned angel that had blue wings then appeared on the field.

Suddenly, Illidan's mind warned him of what he saw. "I've seen this monster before. This is how she's beaten many people. She gains a tremendous amount of life points and then uses its effect. She's trying to do the same to me. But I hopefully will be ready."

"Shinato, destroy Illidan's Chaos Emperor Dragon with Cosmic Halo!" Twelve spheres of light appeared in front of the large blue skinned angel. The spheres then began to spin in a circle till they formed what looked like a ring, or more like a halo. Then the angel motioned with his hand for the halo to cross the field. The halo tore through the black dragon easily, making it roar in pain as it was finally destroyed.

"Now my Deck Master's special ability kicks in. The attack points of your monster are now added to my life points." The pink skinned angel then glowed as she transferred the fallen monster's attack points over to Marie's life points.

"Saturn, destroy Illidan's last Scapegoat with Judgement Blast!" The weaker of the two blue skinned angels then fired a blue beam from her one hand straight at the final red goat, which was easily smashed by the attack.

"Unfortunately I can't finish you off this turn, but don't worry, I will next turn with my two monsters. For now, I'll end my move." (Marie 9800, Illidan 3800)