Chapter 5: Panik Attack

The next morning, the news ran a coverage on the attack.

"Attention Paradise City, we interrupt this program to bring you breaking news. Last night, four LDS students were attacked in a storage house by the pier. We now take you live Paradise Medical, where one of the students, Sylvio Sawatari, was injured in an attempt to save the others."

The screen cut to Sylvio lay up in a hospital bed, bandages and stitches all over his body. Truthfully, he wasn't hurt all that bad, nothing more than a few cuts and bruises. But he and his father had insisted on the whole hospital trip, to make him look more sympathetic.

"I don't know who did this to me, but the next time I see them, they'll regret ever crossing me!"

"The reason for this attack is unknown, but LDS officials suspect that it was an attempt by a rival school to undermine them. Regardless, all citizens are advised to practice extreme caution if they travel at night. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programing."

Yoko turned off the tv, sighing as she set down the breakfast for her, Yuya, and Sora.

"Some people these days. Yuya, I want you home right after you're done at You Show, understood?"

"No problem, mom."

"Sora, you're welcome to stay here if you'd like."

"Nah, don't worry about me. I'm tougher than I look."

Just then, a knock was heard at the door, and Zuzu and Gong came in as they finished up.

"You guys ready for school?"

"You bet! Bye mom!"

"Be safe!"

Despite their best efforts, it was late by the time Skip let everyone go. He had gotten lost in reliving the glory days again and, despite their best efforts to convince him otherwise, refused to let them leave until he had taught them something related to dueling. The lesson? Drawing cards.

"Is your dad feeling alright? I mean, he went on for an hour about Pot of Greed today."

"Yeah, he's fine. Work's just been getting to him lately. Anyway, thanks for walking me home. Dad had to work late, And Tate's mom only had enough room in her car for the kids."

"No problem, Zuzu. Mom will feel a little better if I walk home with someone, anyway."

But even together, the two couldn't feel at ease. Every sound felt like a demonic screech, and every shape looked otherworldly.

"Come on, I know a shortcut."

"AH!"

"Yuya!"

Zuzu turned to see a giant, lumbering man carrying Yuya down a dark corridor.

"Hang tight, Yuya!"

Giving chase, she followed them into a dark warehouse.

"Alright, the gig is up! Let him go!"

"Grr, I should've known it wouldn't be that easy."

The lights flashed on, revealing Yuya in the grasp of a large, hulking brute of a man. Compared to him, Yuya'a head looked like a grapefruit.

"Who are you? What do you want with Yuya?"

"Who I am is none of your concern, but my victims call me Panik. As for what we want with your friend here, isn't it obvious? Those Pendulum monsters of his will fetch a high price on the black market, and let's say my employer is VERY interested. Now leave us be!"

"If you want Yuya, you'll have to go through me!"

Sighing, Panik shoved Yuya against a wall, where one of his followers held him in place.

"Fine girly, but you'll regret that decision! No one duels Panik and makes it out alive!"

"Then I'll be the first."

DUEL!

Zuzu: 4000

Panik: 4000

"Since I'm feeling generous, I'll let you make the first move. Make it count, because it's the only mercy you'll receive from me!"

"Gee, thanks. To start off, I'll activate the spell card Foolish Burial, sending a monster from my deck to the graveyard. Next, I activate the spell card Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen! Since I don't have any monsters on my field, I can summon a fairy straight from my hand, so come on out Athena (2600/800)!"

A warrior, beautiful as the goddess she was named after, descended from on high.

"Next, I summon Aria the Melodious Diva (1600/1200) in attack mode! And when a Fairy type monster is summoned, you take 600 life points due to Athena's effect!"

Panik grunted as Athena's arrow pierced his chest.

Panik: 3400

"Grr, lucky shot punk!"

"I'm not done yet! Athena has another effect. I can tribute my Aria to summon Mozarta the Melodious Maestra from my graveyard (2600/2000)!"

Panik: 2800

"Are you done yet?"

"Let me think, no! Mozarta's effect activates. Once per turn, I can special summon a Light Fair from my hand, and I choose Shopina the Melodious Maestra (2300/1700)! You know the drill."

Panik growled as Athena's arrow pierced him for the third time.

Panik: 2200

"And with Shopina's effect, I return Aria to my hand. And now I'm done."

"Alright, that's it! You just earned a one way ticket to pain! I activate the field spell Archfiend Palabyrinth, giving all fiend type monsters 500 attack points! Next, I summon Archfiend Emperor, The First Lord of Horror (3000-3500/2000)!"

In a flash of lightning, a towering demon rose up, atop a throne and carrying a massive sword. Compared to him, Zuzu and her monsters were mere mosquitoes.

"Wait a minute, that's a level 8 monster! How did you summon it?"

"Through its effect. By cutting his original attack and defense by half, I can summon him without a tribute, but it'll be destroyed at the end of the turn (3500-2000/2000-1000). Next, I activate the spell card Double Summon, letting me summon Mad Archfiend (1800/0). Next, I activate the effect of my Palabyrinth. By banishing Mad Archfiend, I can summon another Lord of Horror at full strength!"

"Uh oh."

"Archfiend Emperor's effect activates! I banish Skull Archfiend of Lightning to destroy Athena!"

The massive demon raised his sword to the sky, creating a massive bolt of lightning to destroy the goddess.

"Now destroy her Shopina!"

With one clean swipe of his sword, Zuzu's ace was cut in half.

Zuzu: 3300

"Maybe that'll teach you to mind your own business next time. Your move."

As Panik's turn finished, his first Emperor exploded into darkness.

"The only thing you've taught me is to face my fears head on. I activate the spell card Solidarity! Since the only monsters in my graveyard are Fairies, all Fairies I control 800 attack points (2600-3400). Next, I summon Aria the Melodious Diva (1600-2400)."

"No! This isn't possible!"

"Uh yeah, it is. Mozarta, take out his ugly emperor!"

With a beautiful wave of music, the giant demon crumbled into dust.

Panik: 1800

"Now Aria, finish him off!"

Aria's mouth opened her mouth, releasing a beautiful swan song that finish Panik off.

Panik: 0000

Zuzu wins!

Panik quickly recovered, making a move to grab Zuzu.

"Alright, that's it! Grab the boy, I've got the girl!"

"You're not going anywhere."

Panik glanced up, only to be kicked right in the face by a teenager. He tried to get up, only for the stranger to kick him back down.

"Who...who are you?"

"I'm your worst nightmare."

Then, to their surprised, he raised his duel disk and pressed a button, creating a black glow that enveloped Panik and consumed him before disappearing. He then pulled out a card, embedded on which was Panik's terrified face.

"What...what did you do?"

"Made sure he wasn't getting back up."

The stranger then turned to them, his eyes falling on Zuzu.

"No way...Lulu? Is that you?"

"Lulu?"

"How did you escape? Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know you."

The stranger then grabbed Yuya, shaking him violently.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Just then, police sirens were heard outside the warehouse, much to the stranger's dismay.

"Damn it."

With that, he leapt out an open window, leaving Yuya and Zuzu with just one question:

"What just happened?"