Eliminator

Magicman: Hehehehehehehehehehehe!

Joey: --' You're still doing that?

Magicman: Yep!

Pegasus: Sigh… Sorry guys, but Magicman has gone nuts. He finally saw Yami lose a duel, legally and with nothing that could be construed as cheating. He was facing Raphael, one of Dartz's henchmen at the time. Now our illustrious author can't stop snickering.

Magicman: Hehehehehehehehehehehe!

Tea: Well we may as well let the story continue. He won't be done that for a while. Incidentally, he's making up a few details about certain characters. But who can say that they aren't curious about the Rare Hunter's background?

IIIIIII

The message came in on the speakers built into their duelling gloves. There was trouble on the island. And Pegasus was worried.

"There are Rare Hunters on the island," he said to his eliminators. "Vicious card thieves who attack duellists and take their rarest cards. They've only surfaced a few years ago but they've been enormously successful, as you'll know if you keep up with card game news. We cannot allow them to terrorise the participants in my tournament. Starting now, they are your top priority. Eliminate them from the tournament. Without any star chips, security will soon throw them off the island. The longer it takes though, the more duellists will suffer. I'm counting on you." Then the speakers all fell silent.

Simon lowered his gauntleted right hand and stood still for a moment. Then he turned, a smile creeping slowly across his face. When he faced a nearby cluster of trees he stopped and waited patiently. Soon a tall and gaunt man stepped out of the shrubbery and sloped toward the duellist.

"Very impressive" he said by way of greeting, his voice sharp and grating. "You knew I was there the whole time." The man grinned, stretching the skin from across his bony face. As he stretched himself up to his full height to tower a full head over Simon, he raised his hand, showing off a duelling glove full of star chips. The bony hand protruding from his sweater sleeve tossed another handful onto the grassy ground.

Simon nodded at that. "Impressive yourself. I suppose you're one of these Rare Hunters I've heard so much about."

"Indeed I am. And you are Simon Corona, former champion and one of the island's eliminators. You should prove an interesting challenge." The Rare Hunter smirked. "That's a challenge to duel by the way."

"I gathered. But before we duel, just one question." Simon paused as the duelling was set up. "What's your name?"

"It doesn't matter. You're going to lose anyway."

"Humour me, please."

The Rare Hunter frowned. He preferred to keep his identity secret. But if he didn't duel then the master would be angry. "Jasper" he spat finally. "Jasper Creed."

At this Simon's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly recovered. "I didn't expect that. So these Rare Hunters have a professional hacker working for them, hmm?"

"I'm known for more than my hacking" the hunter named Jasper Creed taunted. "If you really know so much about me then you'll know I'm undefeated. People who specialize in back alley duels are all terrified of me, because they all lose more than they can afford." He smirked evilly.

"I also know that you use marked cards." Simon raised an eyebrow meaningfully.

"Not always, and not here. Pegasus has too much surveillance to risk it. No matter though." Jasper climbed into his side of the duel arena. "Now are you going to duel me or run your mouth all day?"

"This should be an interesting challenge." Simon prepared his deck.

IIIIIII

Espa glared fiercely at the laughing man across from him.

"Come one and all my friends!" the masked magician showboated to a pack of terrified duellists near the castle. "Watch the greatest show on Earth, where Arcana, the greatest illusionist of all time will defeat this pathetic card jockey!"

"Keep on talking magic boy!"

"I will, especially since I have you right where I want you. No duellist and his tricks is a match for magic and might!" Arcana laughed his crazed manic laugh again.

Espa smiled. "Is that so? I guess then we'll find out what's more powerful?"

"What are you babbling about boy?"

"Didn't your fans down there tell you? I'm psychic."

Arcana frowned. "Don't be ridiculous. This is my show, and I control all the moves. You're just trying to rattle me." Then he grinned madly. "Maybe you foresee your own defeat. But enough talk. Lets duel!"

Brightly clad magician and blue haired eliminator shuffled and cut each other's decks. When they drew, Arcana smiled. 'Of course I'd draw Dark Magician' he gloated to himself. 'When you know how to alter a deck as well as I do, who needs luck? Or psychic powers. Ha!'

Espa smiled quietly. "Ah. So you have one of those, hmm?"

"Nice try kiddo, but that's not going to work on old Arcana today."

Espa shook his finger. "Oh please. Don't try to hide it. I know you've got a Dark Magician in your hand."

"What?!" Arcana almost flipped his mask in surprise.

Espa just smiled. He didn't really have ESP. But he was great at deductive reasoning, which was jus as good. Arcana had called himself 'the greatest illusionist of all time' so he was sure to have a powerful spellcaster like the Dark Magician. And he was a magician himself, so he was sure to know how to rig his deck at will. 'Child's play' Espa thought. 'This should be a piece of cake.'

IIIIIII

"You have made a grave mistake to challenge us this day!"

"For when we strike with all our might you will lose the play!"

"You have no hope."

"You have no chance."

"Prepare to face the shock!"

"Within this room."

"You face your doom."

"The brothers Paradox!"

The two robed eliminators struck fierce martial arts poses and glared nastily at their two opponents, who were sweatdropping in robes of their own.

The short one groaned and put his face in his hand. "Tell me Umbra," he muttered to his taller companion, "Why is it that we always have to duel the freaks?"

"I just don't know Lumis. But I guess the only way to shut these clowns up is to duel them!"

"That's right!" Lumis grinned evilly, the smirk combining with the white hideous half-mask he wore. "Do you two really think that your stupid rhyming can beat us? We are the deadliest tag team in the world! I am Lumis."

"And I'm Umbra!" The taller man wore a scowling half-mask, painted black. "I've heard about the famous Paradox brothers working for Pegasus, and I can already see that you're no match for us! Get ready to duel."

The brothers laughed scornfully. Even that was rhythmically done, and it grated on the already frayed nerves of the two card hunters.

Para gestured and a duel arena rose up behind him. "You wish to play? Then be our guests. It really isn't hard."

"But know right now that you will fail, despite your strongest cards!" Dox started to laugh again and Para joined him. The two rare hunters scowled.

"I'm going to enjoy crushing them, and taking their cards."

Lumis nodded to his partner in crime as he shuffled up his deck. They had pulled the tag team act against countless opponents, but none of them had ever been so annoying! "You and me both."

IIIIIII

Joey stood his ground and watched his opponent coldly. Not ten minutes after Pegasus' announcement had come in through his duelling gauntlet, this short little guy dressed in a black body suit had come slinking over to him, pretending to walk against the wind or something weird like that.

The creepy guy didn't change his facial expression in the slightest. The dull eyes were heavily accented with black makeup, and his face was painted white. Joey felt himself being scanned. Not liking the feeling, he crossed his arms defensively and put on his tough guy façade. "You want something buddy?" he growled.

The creepy guy didn't answer for about five seconds after Joey asked the question. When the cracked and rattling voice finally did emerge from his throat, the blonde duellist nearly jumped. "Joey Wheeler. I am Strings. My master has ordered me to crush you."

"Oh really? Well does your master know who he's dealing with?"

Strings seemed utterly unperturbed by Joey's and continued to drone on in his monotone that sent chills down Joey's spine. "I challenge you to a duel."

Joey frowned. "You're one of those Rare Hunters?"

Strings blinked slowly. "Yes."

"Then bring it on!" Joey grinned. "Any last words?"

"Fool. I will not fail my master."

The man who looked like a puppet mime slunk to his position in the duel arena and Joey took the moment to get a closer look at him. There was something definitely spooky about this weirdo. It was almost like he really was a puppet, jerking around to someone's strings. Which made perfect sense, considering the name.

Snapping his mind back to the present, Joey stepped up to his end of the arena and activated the elimination button on his gauntlet to lock his opponent into the duel. "Alright buddy" Joey said once this bit of business had been finished, "How many starchips are you throwing in?"

Strings reached into a pocket. Pulling out a handful of shiny stars he tossed them indifferently onto the ground. "All of them."

Joey blinked, shocked at the number. His brown eyes drifted upwards to settle on the emotionless black orbs, narrowing as they went. "What do you want?"

"I want what master wants. I want to duel you. All eliminators must be defeated. Failure is not an option." This surprised Joey. What did this fruitcake really want with him and the others? But before he could ask the question Strings drew his hand, starting the duel. "You will lose to my skill. You will not interfere with my master's plans."

Joey smirked. "Bring it then. I'm ready. And since you're so confident, I'll even let you go first."

"Arrogance will get you killed. It's time to duel." Strings drew his first card, scanning his hand with a dispassionate eye. "Defend with this monster. Place one card facedown. End turn."

Joey checked his hand and examined his moves. The monsters could have been better, but he had just the cards to clear out freak-boy's field. Joey nodded to himself. 'I can't beat him in one turn, but I can still put a hurt on him', he thought. 'Lets get things rolling.'

Joey picked his first card and laid it on the field with confidence. "I play Nobleman of Cross Out. This magic card will eliminate your facedown monster and remove it from the game."

Strings didn't even flinch as his Ashinigrai was pulled forcibly from the field. "One monster is nothing."

"Oh, it gets better! Nobleman of Cross Out also destroys any others you have in your deck. Say goodbye to your pack of little twerps!"

Again Strings didn't reveal any emotion as he removed the other two he kept in his deck. This was really starting to annoy the blonde. "Next I'll destroy your facedown card with Mystical Space Typhoon!"

The vicious wind gust swept the facedown card from the map, revealing it to be a Monster Reborn. 'So it was a throwaway card.' Joey frowned as a sudden thought came to him. 'This guy is trying to figure me out! He's trying to get my dueling strategy from the first few turns. Well he's gonna take a hurting for it. I'll just have to attack with a strong monster and nail him.'

"Is that your best? I am disappointed."

There was no mocking tone. It was still that damned monotone droning that was grating on Joey's nerves! "I'll give you my best! I just hope you don't mind losing a few lifepoints, because I'm bringing out Gearfried the Iron Knight (1800/1600)! Now hammer his lifepoints hard Gearfried!"

The armour-clad warrior rushed forward, its boots pounding hard against the illusory ground. He pulled back and swung viciously at Strings' lifepoints with his iron clawed-arm. All of a sudden a large squeaking puffball popped up on the field. Catching the warrior by surprise, the Kuriboh took the hit, protecting the little freak's lifepoints from being cut almost in half.

"As I thought" Strings droned. "You have no skill. You rely on blind aggression and use no subtlety. This opening turn proves my point exactly. You attacked my throwaway cards and left yourself open to counter attack. This battle is already over."

Joey shook his head in bewilderment. "It's only been one turn! Jeez! What is making you so arrogant?"

And this finally drew a facial expression, a slight smile that hovered just at the edge of Strings' lips as he drew his next card, planning a strategy. "A card I have in my deck, given to me by my master. There is none like it in the world and even a Blue Eyes White Dragon is helpless before its fury."

Joey hesitated. The little creep was probably bluffing, but… "Where would you get a card like that?"

"None of your business. I summon the deadly Revival Jam (1500/500) in defence mode. Then I will play Card of Safe Return to let me draw a new card whenever a monster is special summoned. Then I will play my remaining cards facedown. Nothing you do can save you now. I end my turn." The freaky mime man settled back in his booth and placed both of his hands up against an invisible glass plate.

Joey frowned. He really hated being patronised. "Well then, since you've so obviously prepared for my attack, why don't I just uncover your cards by attacking anyway? Get that weakling Gearfried!"

Gearfried the Iron Kinght rushed forward again, smashing Revival Jam into water droplets spattered all across the arena. Joey smirked. "So much for your unbeatable strategy! Heh heh ha?" His chuckling cut off when the remnants of the blue water monster swarmed the field, merging back together into one whole creature. "Hey what gives?!"

"You must not have known my monster's special ability. Revival Jam cannot be destroyed, as long as I pay 1000 lifepoints to reform it."

Strings' lifepoints dropped down to 3000, and he drew a card from his magic card's effect. "But that's not all" Strings grated. "I now activate my Solemn Wishes trap card, which gains me 500 lifepoints whenever I draw a card. So I automatically earn back half of what I just spent. I told you my strategy was perfect."

Joey frowned. "Just go" he snapped. This Strings guy was better than he had thought. He'd have to pick up the pace a little bit.

"Good. And since it's my turn, I get to draw again, regaining all the lifepoints I lost to Revival Jam. And I'm not done yet. Now I play the magic card Dark Door."

The magic card appeared, and instantly the field was darkened. Only a narrow beam of light remained to connect the two duellists' fields. Joey knew this card, and knew that now only one monster could attack per battle phase. Joey snorted. "Hiding behind your slime ball and your spooky door won't help you. I can still attack you, and your field is too full for you to do anything about it!"

"Perhaps. But now I will place my remaining card on the field, in facedown defence mode. It's your turn now." Strings (4000 LP) played his final card and crossed his arms patiently.

Joey studied the field, pondering. 'If I attack his Revival Jam he'll just bring it back to life and gain the lifepoints he lost on his next turn. But his other facedown card could be a trap. Grrr! I don't know who this guy is, but he's duelling circles around me! I can only attack once, so I'll have to take the chance and take out his facedown card. I don't want him to build up monsters for tribute, and he won't waste his Revival Jam while it's guarding him like that. So here we go!' Joey drew and scanned the card quickly. "This would have been nice earlier," he grumbled.

"Didn't you get what you need?" Strings taunted him emotionlessly. Joey glared daggers at his opponent.

"Shut up twerp! I'm not about to let you build up your monster base, so I'll just take down your hidden monster. Attack Gearfried, and smash it to bits!" Joey watched as his knight rushed to the attack. The defending monster was some kind of angel, crouched in defence position. It fell easily to Joey's attack and it vanished with a scream.

Then Strings suddenly started to laugh.

The laughter was cold and sinister, and black clouds seemed to gather even as the howling cackles erupted from his throat. Finally the maniacal puppet stopped laughing long enough o gloat. "You have just sealed your own fate!"

Joey watched the sky worriedly. Where had those clouds come from? "What are you talking about? You're the one with the trashed monster!"

Strings laughed again, a short and mocking bark. "You destroyed my Shining Angel (1400/1100). Are you familiar with its effect?"

Joey scowled. He'd seen Tea play with that card before. "You can bring out another monster to the field, as long as it has 1500 attack points or less and is a light type monster."

"And that's exactly what I'm doing. You see, you've just allowed me to play the strongest monster you'll ever see."

"What? That super card you were talking about before?"

"Oh yes!" Strings threw his arms wide apart and stared up to the sky in expectation. "You should be honoured, for you will be the first of its victims after a long period sealed away. You will be destroyed by Slifer the Sky Dragon!"

A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating a great beast that suddenly hadn't been there seconds ago. Joey stared, aghast at the sight. A seemingly endless body wound across the sky, supported by two massive wings that blocked out any light that tried to break past the clouds. A giant head supporting two vicious mouths lined with razor sharp teeth and as long as Joey's arm glared menacingly at the duellist with beady eyes that gleamed gold. It's lower mouth opened and let loose a roar that tore through the world, announcing the presence of a God.

Joey could only watch helplessly as the behemoth sank slowly from the sky, nestling close to the short mime and seeming to tremble with eagerness for battle.

"Ah crap" Joey muttered. "It looks like I've got my work cut out for me."

IIIIIII

Tea: Well Joey looks pretty screwed.

Joey: Hey! I've been through worse before.

Pegasus: Not in this fic you haven't.

Joey: Grrr!

Pegasus: One question though Magic. How did Strings manage to summon Slifer? I thought he needed three sacrifices for it.

Magicman: Normally he would. But he found a slight loophole. And I leave it to you, my beloved readers, to discover how he pulled it off. I shall reveal all next update, but the first to review with the answer gets official mentioning in the next pre-fic conversation! Until then, keep on trucking, driving, or whatever you want to call it!