Chapter 68

Illidan only stood there, like a statue staring into space. "What to do? I just can't think of a solution to beat her. Wait, there might be. I still have my Mirror Force. But she has too many life points now. It'd take forever to chop her points down to zero. There has to be another way. But what?"

Illidan then looked at his hand for solutions. The only thing he saw in it that stuck out was Mystical Space Typhoon. "Even if I use that, she'll still be too strong. Hmm, there has to be a way to beat her."

Nervously, Illidan then prepared to draw his next card. His fingers touched the tip of the card as his mind raced wildly. Each second seemed more desperate than the last. "I… I don't know if I can win. I just don't know. She has 17,400 life points, and I have a meek 2,200. There is no way to compete with her points at the moment. I… I should give up…"

Marie, seemingly noticing Illidan's hesitation, then said "Don't even think about surrendering Illidan. You know as well as I do if you surrender, you're also surrendering your future to a madman. So please, think things through before you do make your move."

These words made Illidan feel a new surge of confidence. "She's right. If I surrender now, my future, the world, my friends, and the woman I love are in danger. No, I can't give up! I refuse to give up! Giving up would only plunge this world into eternal darkness, meaning all would be lost! No, she's right, I can't and I won't give up!"

With those words ringing through his head, he drew his next card to see there was still hope left. Smiling, he said "Thanks Marie for giving me the confidence to fight on, and now it's time I prove I'm the one to stop Gozaburo. So, let's continue."

Nodding, Marie only smiled, saying "Yes, let's continue, but don't think I'm going to make this easy on you."

Smiling back, Illidan only replied with "I know, and I'm grateful for you pushing me to my limits. Now, I'll play the magic card known as Mystical Space Typhoon, and I use it to destroy your field card, Sanctuary of the Sky!" A powerful typhoon then blew up and struck the ancient building behind Marie. She gasped as suddenly her building collapsed, causing the destruction of her field card and returning the field to normal.

Marie only lightly chuckled, saying "You may have destroyed my field card and taken away my advantage, but it's not over yet Illidan. I still have 17,400 life points, more than enough to weather any attacks you throw at me."

Illidan only smirked, saying "Oh really? Well, you'll love the card I'm about to play then. It's a card that'll change this duel, but first, there is a matter about your Mars. Due to the loss of your field card, he's now back down to his original stats (0/0)!" The powerful red angel then glowed as his power left him, leaving him a weak and powerless old monster.

"Still, that isn't anything to brag about due that your life points are real high, but I'm about to change that. Now, I'll move my Deck Master to the field, so move to the field my Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning (3000/2500)!" The powerful soldier in black armor then leapt into the air from his position beside Illidan and landed onto the field beside his comrades.

"Bold move Illidan, but it'll take more than him to beat me." Marie chimed in.

Illidan only nodded, saying "Of course it will, but watch this move. Now I play the magic card Double Spell! This magic card forces me to discard one magic card, which will be Exchange, to the Graveyard. In return, I get to use one magic card from your Graveyard this turn, and the card I choose is your Reversal Quiz!"

Marie could only watch in shock as the magic card she had used flew straight out of her Graveyard and into Illidan's hand. "You can't!" she protested.

Illidan only slightly grinned, replying "I can, and I'm about to! Now, as I remember, this card forces me to discard my entire hand, which I do now. Next, I get to draw one card, but I must declare what kind of card it is, which is monster, magic, or trap. If I guess right, our life points switch, but if I guess wrong, nothing happens."

Everyone in the crowd just gasped in awe at this move. Joey was quick to say "This is the move that will either make or break Illidan. If he guesses right, Marie is through, but if he guesses wrong, she still has time to take out his Deck Master. Man, this is what dueling is all about!"

Seto only stared on, thinking "What a fool! Rather than take his time and wait her out, he's trying some harebrained scheme that is likely to fail."

Yugi soon enough asked Yami "Is he insane? That move is so risky."

Yami only lightly chuckled, replying with "He's always been a risk taker from what I remember Yugi, and this is the one big risk he has to take. I just wonder if it'll work out though."

Back on the field, Illidan stared at Marie with confidence in his eyes. He then looked at his deck and thought about what he could possibly draw. "I don't know how this will turn out, but one way or another, she's going down."

After a moment of thought, Illidan finally said "My choice of card shall be monster. Now, let's see if I just wasted my turn or not!"

He then drew and raised the card up to his view with a big smirk. Marie and the crowd were in suspense while waiting for the results. He then turned the card towards Marie, revealing that the monster he had was his favorite non-tribute monster, his Luster Dragon. Marie's mouth just opened in pure shock.

Illidan only smiled, saying "Well, since I just drew a monster card, now our life points switch, so I get 17,400, and you get 2,200. And now, you're through."

With the exchange of points, Marie just sighed, knowing it was over. She smiled at Illidan meekly, only nodding in response to his accusation.

"Black Luster Soldier, attack her Mars with Chaos Slash!" Letting out a battle cry, the soldier then charged the red winged angel with a powerful force. He quickly slashed the angel, making it cry out in pain as it was destroyed. Marie was then hit by the backwash of the attack, knocking her to her knees and dropping her life points to zero, which caused her Duel Disk to then power down.

The judge then announced "The winner of the duel, Illidan Stormrage."

Not bothering to wait any longer, Illidan quickly ran over to Marie while the judge made his usual declaration. He got down on his knees in front of her, making sure she was alright. She fell up against him. His earlier attacks had truly wore her out, and the sheer force of his soldier had just completely wiped out her strength.

She was still panting from the attack, but meekly smiled at him, flashing her eyes up to his, making him slightly sigh with contentment that she was alright. He then offered her a hand and helped her back to her feet. She tried to stand at first on her own after he had helped her up, but as Illidan thought, she didn't have much energy left. Not wanting her to fall, he leaned her body up against his own, making a crutch out of himself.

The entire group had by this time come onto the field and asked if Marie was alright. She nodded and Bakura then asked if she'd like for him to help heal her. Happy for the offer, she accepted and Bakura poured his healing powers out of the ring and into Marie's body. Soon enough, she was completely healed, head to toe.

Once she was, she turned to Illidan and hugged him, whispering "I just knew you could make a come back. I was silently rooting for you if you didn't notice."

Smiling at her, he then whispered back in her ear "Thanks."

Illidan then turned to Yami, saying "Well, it looks like it will finally come down to you and me after all."

The two stared at one another, seemingly knowing what the results of their duel would set into motion. They both knew that their duel would determine who would face Gozaburo most likely. One of the two mighty duelists would fall tomorrow. The other would be one step closer to facing Gozaburo.

Illidan then felt a tug on his arm, and noticed it was Marie. She smiled at him and then said "Good duel Illidan. I had a feeling you'd win. I'm glad that we dueled though. Congratulations."

Smiling back at her, he replied "Congratulations to yourself as well. You did a wonderful job. Now, are you happy that I didn't hold back?"

Marie and the others only laughed at the comment that Illidan had left as a taunt at Marie. She started chasing after him, yelling for him to get back there so she could beat him to death. Of course, Illidan just ran, knowing if she caught him, there'd be a thumping to pay for.

Elsewhere in the tower, Gozaburo was trashing his office as usual, growling and seething with anger, screaming "WHY WON'T HE LOSE? I HAVE THROWN ALMOST EVERYONE AT HIM, AND HE STILL WINS!"

Gozaburo only continued destroying his office. He destroyed his desk, smashed his mirror, and threw a chair through the wall. Finally, after thirty minutes of destroying his office, he slightly calmed down.

He then began laughing with insanity in his voice, saying "You may have defeated Marie, but will you defeat the pharaoh, Illidan?"