Chapter 54: Ritual Showdown
Carefully, the group climbed down into the pit, taking out flashlights to help them find their way down. Once they reached the bottom, they found a deep, dark chasm.
"Ah man, this place gives me the creeps!"
"When doesn't a place give you the creeps, Syrus?"
"Alright, let's find what we're looking for and get out of here."
"Leaving so soon? But you've only just arrived."
Startled, the group got on guard as a figure approached. They found a Senju of the Thousand Hands, looking none too pleased to have visitors.
"Who are you? I see my guard failed to keep you out."
"Look, we don't want any trouble. Some friends of ours lost something really important, and-"
"Could they be looking for this, perhaps?"
Everyone gasped as the monster took out a card.
"Yeah, probably! Thanks, we'll just be taking that, and-"
"Not so fast! I'm not going to part with something so valuable that easily. If you want this card, then one of you must duel me for it. Any volunteers?"
Alexis stepped forward, duel disk locked and ready.
"Whatever. Let's just get this over with."
"Couldn't agree more."
GAME ON!
Alexis: 8000
Senju: 8000
"I'll begin. And to start, I summon D.D. Assailant in attack mode! I'll set one card face down and end my turn."
"Is that all? I'll begin with Senju of the Thousand Arms (1400/1000) in attack mode! And with his effect, I add Reshef the Dark Being to my hand. Next, I activate the continuous spell card Samsara! Now monsters tributed for ritual summons go back to our decks instead of the graveyard. Next, I activate Final Ritual of the Ancients! I tribute my Goggiga Gaigagigo to Ritual Summon Reshef the Dark Being (2500/1500)!"
A large, ominous figure rose out of the ground, looking almost like a living statue. Then sections on the torso and arms opened up, revealing blue, gold, and orange energy orbs that crackled with power.
"Woah."
"And it gets worse for you, because by discarding Dimensionhole he lets me take control of your Assailant. Attack her directly, my monsters!"
Alexis groaned as the monsters slashed and smashed into her, nearly making her collapse to her knees.
Alexis: 2400
"Alexis!"
"Don't worry, I'm fine! And with my Damage Condenser, I'll summon Cyber Prima (2300/1600) in attack mode!"
"You won't be. I'll end my turn there with Gold Sarcophagus. By banishing Shinato's Arc, I can add it to my hand in two standby phases."
"If you last that long! I'll activate Card of Sanctity to refill our hands. Then I'll activate Fissure to destroy your Senju. Next, I'll activate Polymerization to fuse Etoile Cyber with Blade Skater to summon Cyber Blader (2100-4200)! And for some extra firepower, I'll summon Command Knight (1200-1600) (2300-2700) (4200-4600)!"
"Uh oh."
"That's right. Cyber Blader, take out his Dark Being!"
Alexis's Fusion Monster leapt up high, cutting the stone giant down with one swift kick.
Senju: 6100
"Now Cyber Prima, attack D.D. Assailant!"
Alexis's second strongest monster did a pirouette and struck the Assailant right in the face. But before she disappeared she created a rift in space with her sword, sucking her and her opponent into another dimension.
Senju: 5300
"Now Command Knight, attack her directly!"
Alexis's weakest monster ran across the field and slashed her opponent with her sword, forcing him to stumble back as he moaned in pain.
Senju: 3700
"I'll end my turn there. Still think you can beat me?"
"I know I can. First, I summon Sonic Bird (1400/1000) in attack mode! And thanks to his effect, I can add Shinato's Ark from my deck to my hand. And I'll activate it, tributing my Bird and the Manju with the Thousand Hands in my hand to Ritual Summon Shinato, King of a Higher Plane (3300/3000) in attack mode!"
Alexis watched in horror as a 4-winged angel descended from on high, a beautiful glow surrounding him as he touched the ground.
"This is bad."
"Shinato, attack her Command Knight and put her in her place!"
The massive angel brought his hands together and shot out a beam of light, obliterating the weaker warrior (2500-2100). The backblast from the attack was so strong that it sent Alexis to her knees.
Alexis: 700
"If you're smart, then you'll stay where you are. I end my turn."
"Alexis!"
"Don't worry, I'm about to end this right here! I'll start with Cyber Petit Angel (300/200) in attack mode! And since she was summoned, I can add Machine Angel Ritual from my deck to my hand. Now I'll activate it, tributing Cyber Blader and my Petit Angel in order to summon Cyber Angel Dakini (2700/2400)!"
"Ah yeah! That's her strongest monster!"
"Too bad it's not stronger! My Shinato can wipe her and your life points out easily!"
"He won't get a chance! When Dakini is Ritual Summoned, you have to choose one of your monsters and send it to the graveyard!"
"B-but I only have one!"
"Then I guess it's an easy choice."
The Senju could only watch in horror as his Shinato disappeared in a golden light.
"So what? I'll still have 1000 life points after this attack."
"Then it's a good thing I have Axe of Despair, isn't it? Now she has exactly enough attack points to finish you off!"
Her opponent had just enough time to scream in horror as Alexis's monster slashed him with multiple weapons, cutting his life points down to zero in the blink of an eye.
Senju: 0000
"A deal's a deal! Now hand it over!"
The fairy grumbled, but complied. Alexis examined the card, finding it to be a Nova Summoner.
"Fine, but don't come back!"
"Happily. Come on guys, let's go take this to that Parshath guy."
"Right!:
