Jason walked to the end of the hall in his mindscape and opened the door.
A large bone white hand grabbed him and pulled him into the room before throwing him.
He backflipped and landed on his feet in a crouch and stood up. To his surprise 'Imprisoned Queen Archfiend' wasn't alone. Instead, she stood with 'Terrorking Archfiend'.
•Hello.• he said
Ryder stood on his side of the arena. He looked across the field at his opponent. Kaeru was shuffling his deck before he placed it on the field. He flipped the coin in the air and caught it as it came down. He placed it on the back of his hand and looked at it. He smiled at the result.
Kaeru shuffled his deck and placed in on the field in the deck zone.
They each drew five cards. "Let's duel!" They shouted in unison. As the life point counter activated.
Ryder Furukawa: 2000
Kaeru Shoki: 2000
"I'll start things off." Kaeru said a little annoyed. "I play the Field Spell 'Umiiruka', and I set a card in the spell and trap zone. Next, I Play 'Submarine Frog' in attack position! I end." The field was covered in water with an island where Ryder's monster zones were. Then a green frog wearing a blue and yellow divers suit wielding an orange spear appeared over the water and dove in. Finally, a face down card appeared in the spell and trap zone.
"Hm. Interesting deck." Ryder said.
"It would appear that Mister Pegasus has an odd sense of humor." Kaeru replied.
"I draw, and I set a monster in face down defense position and set three cards in my spell and trap zone. I end." Four holographic cards appeared on the field, one in Face down defense position, and the other three in the spell and trap zone.
"I dra..." Kaeru began only to be cut off from Ryder.
"I activate my trap card, 'Ominous Fortunetelling'. During my Standby Phase I can guess a card in your hand. If I guess correctly then you take seven hundred life points. If I guess wrong though. You lose no life points." A fortune teller wearing a red cloak appeared on the field shrouded by mist. She produced a crystal ball from her cloak and began waving her hand over it.
"All right. As I was saying. I draw." Kaeru looked at the card he drew. "I play 'Unifrog' in attack mode, and I'll attack your life points directly!" A small purple, blue, and white frog appeared on the battlefield before falling into the water. "And thanks to my 'Uniiruka', my 'Unifrog' is boosted from 400 ATK to 900 ATK. 'Unifrog'! Attack with Froggy Horn Attack!"
Unifrog swam through the water like a bullet and jumped out of the water at the last second and stabbed Ryder in the chest where his heart was.
Ryder let out a grunt as 'Unifrog' attacked him, and his life points went from 2000 to 1100.
"I'll end."
"I draw, and since it's my Standby Phase. I'll guess that the card in your hand is a..." he activated the dice function. "A one or six it's a monster, a two or five it's a spell, and a three or four it's a trap." He rolled the dice and got... "one! I choose the left card is a monster!" The fortune teller held her Crystal ball at Kaeru, and it showed a skull before sending a beam of energy towards him.
Kaeru was hit with a beam of pure holographic energy and grunted as his life points dropped from 2000 to 1300.
Ryder looked at his card. "I play 'Overdrive' in attack position and attack your 'Unifrog'. 'Overdrive'! Attack 'Unifrog' with Bullet Barrage!" An AT-AV appeared on the field and revved its engine threateningly before its massive Gatling Gun exploded with a barrage of bullets that flew towards 'Unifrog'.
'Overdrive' fired at 'Unifrog' with its Gatling Gun but was stopped by Kaeru.
"I activate my trap card! 'Froggy Forcefield'! It creates a barrier around my frogs protecting them, but that's not all it does! It destroys all of your face up monsters!" 'Unifrog' and 'Submarine Frog' were covered in orbs of light that protected them from the barrage of bullets. The bullets were deflected back at 'Overdrive' pixilating it.
"And that's not all! 'Froggy Forcefields' special effect activates. Because your monsters were destroyed you take effect damage equal to half of your 'Overdrives' attack!"
Ryder grunted as holographic bullets hit him taking his life points from 1100 to 300. "I'm not done yet!" Ryder yelled. "I activate 'Lightning Vortex'! By discarding one card!" He held up 'Island Turtle'. "I can destroy all of your face up monsters!"
"What!" Kaeru yelled. As his frogs were destroyed by bolts of lightning. "No!"
"And that's not all!" Ryder said. "Thanks to the effect rule you take half of your monsters attack points as effect damage!"
"What! No! That takes me down to zero!" Kaeru yelled as holographic Lightning hit him taking his life points from 1300 to 0000.
"Good Game man." Ryder yelled. "I thought that I was going to lose there for a second. That was pretty intense."
"Ya know what." Kaeru said. "I may have lost, but I had fun."
"And isn't that what it's all about?" Ryder asked.
"Yeah. I guess it is."
"Ryder Furukawa is the winner!" The Drill Sergeant yelled. "Next up is Saru Sumibumi Vs. Alexander Surge!"
Jason looked at the 'Imprisoned Queen Archfiend' and the 'Terrorking Archfiend'. •Hello.• He said in Arabic.
•You're right.• The 'Terrorking Archfiend' said. •He is an idiot.•
•Um. You know I can understand you right?•
•You don't remember, do you?•The 'Terrorking Archfiend' asked.
•Remember what?•
•That Night.•
•Considering that I don't believe in that Reincarnation bullshit, no. I don't remember.•
•Then I urge you to remember.• The 'Imprisoned Queen Archfiend' said. •Remember the strongest card from that night.•
Jason blew out a sigh. •Fine. How do I remember?•
•Think back to that night.•
•I merge the 'Imprisoned Queen Archfiend' and the 'Terrorking Archfiend' to bring to life the 'Terrorqueen Archfiend'!•
Jason jumped back. •What was that?• He asked.
•What did you see?• The Imprisoned Queen Archfiend asked.
•A Fusion summon between you two.•
•Did you see what happened next?•
•No.•
•Watch what happens next.•
Jason thought back and remembered.
•'Terrorqueen Archfiend'! INCINERATE!• Fire shot out of the tablet and hit the Pharaoh. Killing him instantly.
•The Pharaoh is dead!• Someone shouted.
•Seize him!• His one-time Mentor said.
•MIND CRUSH!• The Pharaoh's son shouted thrusting out his hand.
Something didn't feel right. It felt like his hatred towards the Pharaoh had dissipated. •Wh-what did you do to me?•
•I ripped all of the darkness out of you. Now! For the crime of murdering the Pharaoh! You will be the prison for the Archfiends! They will be locked inside your subconscious so that you will be forced to live with the knowledge of what you have done!•
There was a flash and he screamed as the Archfiend monsters were locked away in his subconscious so that he would be forced to live with the memories of what he had done that night.
•What the hell!• He gasped.
•Then you have seen the truth.• 'Imprisoned Queen Archfiend' said. •you know that you were our Warden in the hopes of punishing you.•
•Not me. That was some poor Schmuck. I'm just a kid from Gotham.•
•What will make you believe that you are the Archfiends Warden?• The Terrorking Archfiend asked.
•Honestly. Save an Egyptian deity coming down and telling me that I'm a reincarnated assassin or something, chances are that I won't believe it.•
The Archfiends looked at each other before looking back at him:
•Wait. I forgot about the Egyptian God cards.•
•Yes... there was a tablet that had three monsters with Godlike powers. The Sky God, The Tormentor, and the Winged Dragon of Ra.•
•Damn it. How could I have forgotten that Pegasus has made cards out of them?•
Meanwhile Pegasus was in the room he's dedicated to Cecilia.
"Don't worry my dear. Soon I will have all of the... Ah, ah, ah, choo!" He sneezed. "Oh. I'm dreadfully sorry my dear. As I was saying. Soon I will have control of KaibaCorp, and I will be able to bring you back to me."
He caressed her picture tenderly before he left the room.
Rio De Janeiro
Saru and Surge walked up to the dueling Arena and began shuffling their decks. "Let's Duel!" They yelled after drawing five cards, and their life point counters lit up.
Saru Sumibumi: 2000
Alexander Surge: 2000
"I'll start things off." Saru said. "I'll play 'Forest' in the Field Spell Zone and set two cards face down and a card in face down defense position." The arena changed to a lush forest with twin clearings for the players cards. In Saru's card zones a face down defense position monster appeared, and two cards appeared in the spell and trap zone. "I'll end." he said.
"I'll draw." Surge said. "I set three cards face down in the spell and trap zone and discard a 'Thunder Dragon' to add two more 'Thunder Dragon's' to my hand. Then I'll play one of the 'Thunder Dragon's' in attack mode." A giant green dragon coiled through the air while lightning flashed across the sky. It unfurled its wings and roared a deafening roar. "Thunder Dragon! Attack his face down!"
Saru flipped his face down into faceup defense position. "You attacked my 'Acrobat Monkey'! with 1800 Defense!" A mechanized acrobatic monkey appeared on the field... breakdancing?
Surge clicked his tongue as his life points went from 2000 to 1800. "Oh well." He spoke. "I end."
"I'll draw." Saru said. "I set a card in the spell and trap zone and play a card in face down defense position." A holographic card appeared in the air in a monster position, and two of the spell and trap zones. "I end."
"I'll draw. I play the fields spell 'Umi' drowning out your 'Forest' and giving my monsters the advantage."
"What! No!" Saru yelled as the 'Forest' was flooded leaving nothing but water in its tracks. The only land left was the spaces under his monsters.
"Next I play a second 'Thunder Dragon', and I'll activate a trap card. The 'Judgement of Thunder' card will destroy your facedown monster." A second 'Thunder Dragon' appeared in the air. It opened its mouth and shot a bolt of lightning at Saru's facedown. destroying 'Inpachi'. "I'll end."
"I draw! And I play 'Voltic Kong' in attack position." A massive red and gold Kong appeared on the field, sending sparks of electricity into the air. It slammed its massive fists into its chest sending more electricity into the air with each hit. "Next I'll play the 'Closed Forest' Field Spell!" The ocean dried up and their monsters were covered by a thick forest. "Next I'll have 'Voltic Kong attack your 'Thunder Dragon'!"
"How? You've got no way to reach him!"
"That's where your wrong! 'Voltic Kong'! Use Lightning Destruction Wave! Kaminari Hakai-Ha!"
'Voltic Kong' pulled its arms back, put its hands together, and collected electricity in its hands before releasing it in one massive burst of electrical energy. The burst of energy flew towards the 'Thunder Dragons' and hit the closest one before the lightning arced downward, hitting Surge.
Surge cried out when the lightning hit him, lowering his life points from 1800 to 1500.
"But I'm not done yet!" Saru yelled. "'Voltic Kong' has a special effect that forces you to send one card from the top of your deck for each face up light monster on my field, and I have two!"
Surge clicked his tongue in annoyance as he sent the top two cards of his deck to his Graveyard.
"I end."
"I draw." Surge said. "I switch my 'Thunder Dragon' into defense mode and play a card in Facedown defense position. I end."
"I draw, and I'll attack your remaining 'Thunder Dragon with my 'Voltic Kong'! Kaminari Hakai-Ha!" 'Voltic Kong' attacked 'Thunder Dragon' with Lightning Destruction Wave sending 'Thunder Dragon' to the Graveyard. "I end."
"I draw, and I play a card in facedown defense position, and I'll end."
"I'll draw, and I'll play 'Baobaboon' in attack position, and I'll use his effect to draw a card, and I'll place a card on top of my deck, and I'll have 'Voltic Kong' attack the card you just played in defense position."
Surge moved the card to the Graveyard and clicked his tongue again.
"I end."
"I draw." Surge said before he smiled an evil smile. "You're screwed now. First, I flip my face down into faceup attack position. Next I banish my 'Thunder Dragon' and my 'Thunder Dragonroar' to special summon 'Thunder Dragonduo'!" A long four-legged dragon with two heads, and lightning sparking off of its body formed onto the field.
"Next I activate my 'Thunder Dragonduo's effect. I banish my 'Thunder Dragondark' to add a thunder monster from my deck to my hand." Surge picked up his deck and looked through it and chose a card. "Next I use my 'Thunder Dragonlords' effect to banish my 'Thunder Dragonmatrix' to special summon my 'Thunder Dragonlord'." A massive white and blue dragon that looked like Shenron from Dragon Ball Z appeared on the field. "And thanks to my 'Thunder Dragonmatrix's effect I can add another 'Thunder Dragonmatrix' to my hand. Finally, I attack your 'Voltic Kong' with 'Thunder Dragon'. 'Thunder Dragonduo! Attack his 'Voltic Kong'! 'Thunder Dragonduo'! Twin Lightning Blast!"
Saru cried out as his 'Voltic Kong' was destroyed and his life points dropped from 2000 to 1100.
"And my 'Thunder Dragonlord' will attack your..." Surge smiled. "...your 'Acrobat Monkey'."
"What? Why?"
"Because. I want to savor this. 'Thunder Dragonlord'! Thunder Dragon Blast!"
Saru growled as he put 'Acrobat Monkey' into the Graveyard.
"I end."
"I draw. I play 'Ancient Crimson Ape' in attack mode." A crimson ape wearing brown leather armor with yellow-orange hair wielding a spear appeared on the field. "'Ancient Crimson Ape' Attack his 'Thunder Dragonduo'! Ancient Crimson Slash!"
The 'Ancient Crimson Ape' swung his spear bisecting the 'Thunder Dragonduo'.
Surge clicked his tongue as his life points dropped from 1500 to 1400.
"I end."
"I draw a card and discard two of my 'Thunder Dragonroar's to add 'Thunder Dragonduo' from my Removed from play and 'Thunder Dragon' from my Graveyard to my hand. Then I banish my 'Thunder Dragon' and my 'Thunder Dragonroar' to special summon my 'Thunder Dragonduo', and I'll play 'Thunder Dragon'. Next, I'll have my 'Thunder Dragonlord' attack your 'Ancient Crimson Ape', and my 'Thunder Dragonduo' will attack your 'Baobaboon'." Saru's Life points dropped from 1100 to 1000. "Now I'll end."
Saru growled. "Why are you doing this!"
"Because. I love watching my opponents go slowly insane as I spare them, only to beat them in the end."
Saru glared at Surge. "I'm going to be the one to beat you! And I'll do it with my next card!"
"I'd like to see you do that."
Saru drew his next card. "I summon 'Yellow Baboon, Archer of the Forest' in attack mode!" A yellow baboon wearing leather armor and wielding a bow appeared on the field before letting out a screeching war cry. "Then, because I have two or more normal monsters in my graveyard, I special Summon 'Woodland Archer' in attack mode!" A bearded Dragonborn archer appeared on the field before pointing his bow hand at Surge. "Next I equip 'Woodland archer' with 'Mystical Moon' increasing his attack from 1400 to 1700." A full moon appeared in the sky shining down on 'Woodland Archer'. "Finally, I'll have my 'Woodland Archer' attack your 'Thunder Dragon', and my 'Yellow Baboon, Archer of the Forest' attack your 'Thunder Dragonlord'!" 'Woodland Archer! Rangers Fury! Yellow Baboon, Archer of the Forest! Screeching Arrow Shot!"
Surge glared at Saru when his dragons pixilated. "You're going to pay for that!" He snarled as his life points dropped from 1400 to 1200.
"I'm going to end now."
Surge drew a card. "I play a card in facedown defense position. Then my 'Thunder Dragonduo' will attack your 'Woodland Archer'."
"I activate my Trap Card, Beast Rising! I remove my 'Yellow Baboon, Archer of the Forest', and give his original attack to 'Woodland Archer' making his attack 4300!"
As 'Yellow Baboon, Archer of the Forest' was removed from play, 'Woodland Archer' grew to fifty feet in height, and the Lightning attack bounced off his chest and was sent careening back into 'Thunder Dragonduo'.
"NO!" Surge yelled as his 'Thunder Dragonduo' attacked 'Woodland Archer', causing his attack to backfire pixilating his Dragon and the rest of its lightning attack hit him in the face taking out the rest of his life points.
Saru let out a sigh of relief as he slumped forward onto the dueling platform. "Damn it, that was rough." He swore.
"All right!" Kaeru cheered. "That's the way to play!"
Saru looked up and gave Kaeru a thumbs up.
"All right ladies!" The Drill Sergeant yelled. "It's time for a lunch break and then the final duel will take place! Now get to the mess tent!"
Saru put his deck back in the box and placed it in his belt before walking towards the mess hall.
Jason walked into the dining room the next morning to see everyone looking more glum than yesterday. "What happened? He asked sitting down and making a plate of Hash Browns, scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, toast, and a glass of thick chocolate milk.
"Joey and Yugi had to duel each other yesterday." Téa sighed. "It was a pretty dismal duel."
"So..." he said taking a bite out of his food. "...who's my next opponent?" He knew that it was Yugi, but with the changes to the canon he'd been making, it could have been Joey.
"Joey lost to Yugi." Tristan said. "It was a pretty intense duel."
"Let me guess. Joey activated 'Time Wizards' Time Roulette, and aged his 'Baby Dragon', but also aged up Yugi's 'Dark Magician' giving Yugi the duel."
"So, you watched the Duel?" Mokuba asked.
"Nope."
"Then, how did you know?"
"I've seen them duel. With the cards they have in their current decks it's the only way that the duel could have ended." 'Not to mention that Yugi has plot armor. I'm going to have to find a way around that.'
Joey got up and stalked off.
"What's wrong with Joey?" Jason asked.
"This Tournament was his only chance to save his sisters eyesight." Tristan said.
"Oh." Jason said. 'I forgot about Serenity. Wait...' "where's Bakura?"
"Hm?" Téa asked. "We got separated in the tunnels. Why do you ask?"
Meanwhile
Yami Bakura was lying in wait in the room Pegasus had turned into a shrine for Cecelia.
'Eventually you will come here Pegasus, and I will be waiting until that time. No matter how long it takes. I've been waiting this long. I might as well wait a little longer. Damn it, I'm bored.'
"No reason." Jason said. "No reason at all."
Rio de Janeiro.
Ryder, Kaeru, and Saru were eating lunch in the mess tent.
"That was a pretty intense duel." Ryder told Saru.
"Well so was yours and Kaeru's. I thought Kaeru had you dead to rights. If you hadn't of had 'Lightning Vortex' then Kaeru would have won next turn."
"Most likely, but that's the way I like to play."
"Interesting strategy." Surge said. "It's almost like every turn is a gamble for you."
"It is. I play hard and work harder. I always love taking risks."
"So, what you're saying is that you go into a duel with no expectations of the outcome?" Kaeru asked.
"More or less."
They continued eating when Ryder had a question. "Hey Surge?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you have like multiple personalities or something?"
"What? Why do you ask?"
"Well, it's just because when you were dueling you were acting differently than now or during the Decathlon. I'm just wondering."
"No. I don't have Multiple Personalities. I'm still me, but I'm just a lot more sadistic when I duel. I let all of the negativity in my life out when I duel, and I become more sadistic because of it. I'm actually a pretty nice guy outside of dueling, but everyone needs to vent, and I just become a sadist when I duel."
"Oh. I see."
They finished eating in silence and were relaxing when the Drill Sergeant came into the tent. "All right ladies! The final duel is about to commence! The winner of this duel will get the never-before-seen deck, and all of the prizes in the tent! Now! Hey out there and Duel!"
"Yes sir!" They all yelled before running out of the mess tent and to the Dueling Arena.
Pegasus' castle: Duelist Kingdom
Jason and Yugi looked at each other from across their fields.
"Are you ready for this?" Jason asked.
"Yes." Yugi said. 'I'm doing this to get back my grandpa's soul." Yugi thought. 'I'm ready for this.'
Jason handed his deck over to a servant who walked his deck over to Yugi and returned with Yugi's cards. Jason shuffled Yugi's deck and handed it back to the servant who returned it to Yugi and returned with his deck.
"Let's duel!" Both duelists shouted as their life point counters came to life.
Jason Todd: 2000
Yugi Muto: 2000
Jason drew five cards "I'll start things off. I set a card in face down in the spell and trap zone and play 'Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning' in attack position."
With a spark from the hologram projectors a purple sinewy monster with black and white bony armor, razor sharp claws on its hands, razor sharp talons on its feet, and a pair of sinister black and red wings on its back let out a shrieking snarl as lightning crackled around it.
A holographic card appeared in the spell and trap zone.
"I'll end." Jason said.
The onlookers, with the exception of Pegasus and Mokuba, watched with horror filled eyes as a demonic looking 'Summoned Skull' appeared on the field.
Pegasus watched in fascination as a monster he'd not planned on releasing for at least ten or so years showed its face once again.
Mokuba watched in amazement as Jason showed more and more of his Archfiends letting their awesome destructive power be seen. "All right Jason!" He cheered.
"YUGI!" TéA called out. "Does Yugi have anything that can counter that?" She asked Joey and Tristan.
"I don't know TéA." Tristan said.
"He does." Joey said in a more mellow tone than normal. "It's only a matter of getting them out."
"I'll draw." Yugi said. "I'll play 'Catapult Turtle' in face up defense position, and I'll play two cards face down in the spell and trap zone.
A giant holographic mechanical turtle with a catapult on its back and four massive spheres underneath its legs rolled onto the field and pulled its mechanical head and limbs into its shell.
Two holographic cards appeared behind the turtle.
"I'll end."
"I draw." Jason said as he drew his next card. "Then I'll send the 'Archfiend General' from my hand to my graveyard to add the 'Pandemonium' Field Spell to my hand. I'll play 'Pandemonium' to keep my life points safe from my Archfiends penalty cost."
The massive ruin appeared on the field creating a chill in the air. The fire at the center of the amphitheater burned brightly showing the 'Terrorking Archfiend'. Lightning flashed across the amphitheater flashing across the 'Imprisoned Queen Archfiend' chained to a wall as if in some form of public humiliation. The rest of the Archfiends were silhouetted so that no one could see what they looked like.
"Next I'll Gemini summon 'Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning' to activate its Gemini Effect."
"What?" TéA asked. "What's a Gemini effect?"
"I've never heard of it." Tristan said.
"A Gemini Monster!" Yami Yugi said. "Those are extremely rare cards!"
'Right you are Yugi Boy.' Pegasus thought. 'And this Gemini Monster is no exception.'
"Thanks to my Monsters Gemini Effect..." Jason began. "... once per turn I can destroy all of my opponents face up monsters whose defense is lower than "Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning's, and since your 'Catapult Turtles' Defense is lower than my Archfiends attack..."
'Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning' swept its arm across the field sending lightning to Yugi's Monster zones sending his 'Catapult Turtle' to the graveyard.
"My 'Catapult Turtle'!" Yami yelled.
"And thanks to the effect damage rule. You lose half of 'Catapult Turtle's attack as battle damage."
"No!" TéA yelled.
"Yugi!" Tristan yelled.
"Hang in der Yug!" Joey yelled.
Yami growled out as his life points dropped from 2000 to 1500.
"I end."
"I'll draw a card." Yami said. "Then I'll play the 'Celtic Guardian' in attack position and place a card in the spell and trap zone." A warrior clad in Celtic style armor wielding a long sword appeared on the field holding a defensive stance. "That's all I can do, so I'll end."
"I'll draw a card, and I'll play 'Terrorking Archfiend' in attack position."
The 'Terrorking Archfiend' walked up from the center of the amphitheater and stood next to the 'Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning'. It drew his sword and placed it in front of him before placing his hands on the pommel.
The air became chilled with the pure evil radiating from the Archfiends.
"I'll activate 'Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning's Gemini Effect destroying all the monsters on your field with less defense than my 'Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning's ATK."
'Celtic Guardian' roared in pain as he was pixilated.
"NO!" Yami shouted as his life points dropped again from 1500 to 800.
"Yugi!" Joey, TéA, and Tristan shouted in unison.
"I'll end." Jason said.
"Yugi!" Joey shouted. "Just believe in da h'art o' da ca'ds."
"There is no such thing as the heart of the cards." Jason said. "Only luck of the draw."
Meanwhile in Rio de Janeiro.
Ryder Furukawa was about to start dueling when he felt a shiver run up his spine. "That was weird." He spoke.
"What was?"
"I just felt like someone made a play on luck. Maybe I'm just being weird."
"Maybe."
"Well..."
"Let's duel!" Both duelists shouted.
Duelist kingdom
Joey looked down at Jason. "Yer wrong Jay. Da h'art o' da ca'ds does exist. How else do ya expect us gettin' da right ca'd at da right time?"
"Luck of the draw. It would be nice if some mystical force determined if you win or lose but sadly it doesn't. It just determines on if you can draw the right card at the right time. If you like, then I can say that the heart of the cards IS just the luck of the draw?"
"Nah man. You'll see. Yug has two ca'ds that can beatcha. Da h'art o' da ca'ds will kick in and he'll beat ya."
Jason coughed in way that suspiciously sounded like "plot armor."
"My friends are right." Yami said. "I just have to believe in the heart of the cards, and I will win this duel. I draw!" Yugi looked at the card and smiled. "And my faith in my cards rewards me! I summon the 'Dark Magician' in attack mode!"
The purple clad magician rose out of a seal on the floor and spun his staff around himself before catching it one handed and glaring threateningly at Jason.
"He has less defense than my 'Red Eyes Archfiend'." Jason said. "He'll be destroyed next turn."
"Not when I equip him with 'Book of Secret Arts' and 'Horn of the Unicorn', increasing his attack and defense by 1000!"
The Dark Magician picked up a spell book out of his portal and read it before placing it back, increasing his attack to 2800. This was followed by a unicorn horn appearing on his head increasing his attack to 3500.
"Way ta go Yug!" Joey yelled.
"That's the way to play!" Tristan cheered.
"Go Yugi!" TéA cheered.
"Now!" Yugi yelled. "'Dark Magician'! Dark Magic Attack! on his 'Terrorking Archfiend'!"
'Dark Magician' thrust his hand forward becoming bathed in negative light, and bathing 'Terrorking Archfiend' in the same negative light, destroying it, and hitting Jason with the back lash dropping his life points from 2000 to 500.
'Shit.' Jason thought as he began to feel woozy. 'That actually hurt. What the hell was that?'
"I end!" Yami shouted.
"All right Yugi!" His friends cheered.
"Jason!" Mokuba shouted. "I know that you can beat Yugi! I just know it!"
"It's all based on the luck of the draw." Jason said. "I'll try my best, but sometimes, your best just isn't good enough. I draw." Jason looked down at his hand and placed a card in the spell and trap zone. "I place a card in the spell and trap zone, and I'll play the 'Mad Archfiend' in attack position before changing 'Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning' into face up defense position. I'll end."
"Huh?" Joey asked. "'ey Jay! Why'd ya do dat?"
"Because..." Jason said. "It's all a part of my strategy."
'Hm.' Pegasus thought intrigued. 'What kind of strategy do you have planned young Jason? Let's take a peek, shall we?' Pegasus focused his Millennium Eye on Jason and peered inside his mind.
'If I can activate 'Nightmare Archfiends' and use 'Red Eyes Archfiend of Lightning's ability, I'll win.'
'Ooh. What a clever and cunning strategy.' Pegasus thought. 'How does Young Yugi plan to counter it?'
'Depending on my next card I could beat Jason. I just have to draw the right card.'
'Oh my, my.' Pegasus thought. 'Young Jason appears to have the upper hand in terms of strategy, but Young Yugi has the upper hand in terms of attack.'
"I draw, and I play 'Swords of Revealing light'! For three of your turns, you can't attack."
"Okay." Jason said as three blindingly bright swords appeared in front of his monsters. "Do you end?"
"Not quite yet! I attack your 'Red Eyes Archfiend' with 'Dark Magician'. 'Dark Magician'! Dark Magic Attack!"
'Red Eyes Archfiend' was sent to the graveyard as the world went negative again.
"And with that. I will end." Yami said.
"I draw." Jason said. "Then I set a monster in defense position and Activate 'Nightmare Archfiends'! With that I end." A holographic card appeared on Jason's side of the field, three imps appeared on Yugi's side of the field, and one of the three swords disappeared.
"I draw." Yami said. "And I play my 'Mammoth Graveyard' in attack position." A giant Mammoth Skeleton appeared on the field next to the 'Dark Magician'. Then my 'Dark Magician' will attack your 'Mad Archfiend'."
"My Archfiends effect activates, and is turned to defense position, protecting my life points, but still ending up in the graveyard."
"Then my 'Mammoth Graveyard' will attack your face down."
"Did no one read the rule book!?" Jason asked.
"What?" Yugi yelled.
"Did you not read the Rule book? You can only attack with one Monster per turn in Duelist Kingdom!"
"It seems that Jason and Mokuba were the only one to read the Rule book." Pegasus said. "Seeing as they were the only ones who read the rule books, I see three options. Either I disqualify Yugi boy, let you two continue and enforce the rules, or I get rid of the rules and let you play however you are most comfortable."
Yugi looked at Pegasus in horrified rage.
"I'll let you continue to play Yugi boy, but you have to follow the rules for now on or be disqualified. Also, Yugi boy will take the damage you would have taken, and Jason keeps his 'Archfiend Soldier', does that sound fair?"
"Sounds good to me." Jason said.
Yugi grimaced as his life points dropped from 800 to 500. "I end." He spoke.
"I draw and I set a card in face down defense position, and I end." Jason said as a second sword faded.
"I dra..."
"I activate a trap card." Jason interrupted Yugi. "I activate the 'Solemn Wishes' trap card. Whenever I draw a card, or cards, I gain five hundred life points."
"Then I must defeat you before you draw too many cards." Yami said. "I draw a card. I play the 'Giant Soldier of Stone' in defense mode." A massive stone figure appeared on the field next to 'Mammoth Graveyard' with its arms crossed over its chest. "Next. My 'Dark Magician' will attack your 'Archfiend Soldier'."
Jason put his 'Archfiend Soldier' into the graveyard.
"I end." Yugi spoke.
"I draw, and because I draw, I gain five hundred life points taking me from 500 to 1000. Then I'll set a card in the spell and trap zone, and I'll set a monster in face down defense position. I'll end." The third and final sword disappeared allowing Jason to attack the following turn.
"I draw." Yugi said. "I'll put my 'Mammoth Graveyard' into defense position, and I'll attack your 'Shadowknight Archfiend' with my 'Dark Magician'. I'll end."
"I draw." Jason said. "My life points increase from 1000 to 1500. Then I'll activate the trap card 'Archfiends Roar'. I pay five hundred life points, and target one archfiend monster in my graveyard and special summon it to my side of the field, and I choose 'Terrorking Archfiend'." Jason's life points dropped from 1500 to 1000 as 'Terrorking Archfiend' appeared on the field. "Next I Play 'Archfiend General' in attack mode, but he won't be staying because I activate 'Checkmate' which allows me to attack your life points directly after tributing 'Archfiend General'. 'Terrorking Archfiend'! Unholy Demonic Slash!"
"NO!" TéA and Tristan yelled in unison.
"YUG!" Joey yelled.
"All right Jason!" Mokuba yelled.
"Not so fast!" Yami yelled. "I activated my Trap card, 'Mirror Force'. It prevents your monsters attack, destroys your monster, and deals effect damage directly to your life points equal to half of your monsters attack power."
The resulting shockwave destroyed 'Terrorking Archfiend' and slammed into Jason taking his life points from 1000 to 0000."
"NO!" Mokuba shouted.
"All right Yug!" Joey cheered.
"You did it Yugi!" Tristan cheered.
"Way to go Yugi!" TéA called out.
"Marvelous." Pegasus said. "Simply marvelous. I must say that you had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. However..." Pegasus' Aura became dark. "I can't forgive your blatant disrespect Young Jason."
Jason tensed up only to fall to the floor soulless.
"Take Young Jason to his room." Pegasus said. 'I hope one day you will be able to forgive me young Jason, but I think some time in the Shadow Realm with your own personal Kaiba punch clown will more than make up for it.' "Now?" He asked. "Who's ready for lunch? I'm famished."
Rio De Janeiro.
"Let's duel!" Ryder Furukawa and Saru Sumibumi yelled in unison.
"I'll go first." Ryder said drawing a card. "I'll set four spell or trap cards in the spell and trap zone, and I'll set a monster in defense position." Five holographic cards appeared on the field, one in the monster zone and four in the spell and trap zone. "I'll end."
"I'll draw a card." Saru said. "Then I'll set two spell or trap cards in the spell and trap zone, and I'll play 'Ape Fighter' in attack mode. Finally, I'll attack your face down with 'Ape Fighter'."
"You attacked my 'Man-Eater Bug', so It destroys your 'Ape Fighter' taking it to the Graveyard too."
"What!" Saru yelled as 'Man-Eater Bug' devoured his 'Ape Fighter', pixilating both of them. "No way!"
"I'm afraid so."
"Fine. I end."
"I play a card in Face down Defense position, and I'll end."
"I'll draw a card, and I'll play a second 'Ape Fighter' in attack position, and I'll attack your face down monster."
"You attacked my 'Yaranzo'."
"'Ape Fighter' destroy his 'Yaranzo' with Power-Up Punch!"
'Ape Fighter' ran at 'Yaranzo' and punched through the mimic treasure chest, shattering it.
"And thanks to 'Ape Fighter's special effect, he gains 300 ATK."
"Wow. Powerful card."
"Yes, it is. I end my turn."
"I draw." Ryder said drawing his next card. "I'll play 'Mother Grizzly' in attack position. I'll end."
'He's got a trap.' Saru thought. 'Maybe I can trip the trap.' "I draw, and I activate the Field Spell 'Forest' turning the arena into a forest, and increasing the attack of all Beast, Beast-Warrior, Insect, and Plant monsters by 200."
The hologram generators whirred to life and created a forest on the arena leaving everything, but the dueling mats covered in thick foliage.
"Next I'll play 'Berserk Gorilla' in attack position, and my 'Ape Fighter' will attack your 'Mother Grizzly' for 2400 attack points!"
"I activate the trap card: 'Changing Destiny'!" Ryder countered. "Your monsters attack is countered, and 'Ape Fighter' is forced into defense position for the rest of the turn. Next You choose between gaining half of your monster's attack as life points or dealing half of its attack points to me as effect damage."
"I'll choose the battle damage. Say goodbye to 1200 life points."
Ryder grunted as a red door appeared in front of him and opened before hitting him with red energy that took his life points from 2000 to 800.
"Then. I'll attack your 'Mother Grizzly' with 'Berserk Gorilla', but before I do that, I'm going to activate my face downs. I activate 'Beast Rising' and 'Wild Nature's Release'! 'Wild Nature's Release' will give my 'Berserk Gorilla' attack equal to his Defense, making my 'Berserk Gorilla's attack three thousand!"
"Whoa." Ryder said. "That's pretty impressive."
"It's more than impressive! Next, I'll activate 'Beast Rising' which allows me to remove from play one face up Beast or Beast-Warrior and add its original attack to another Beast or Beast-Warrior type monster on my field, and I choose to remove from play my 'Ape Fighter' and add his attack to 'Berserk Gorilla' making him and astonishing 4900 attack."
"That's... that's stronger than "Blue Eyes White Dragon'!" Kaeru yelled.
"And don't forget about the 'Forest' field power Bonus!" Saru yelled. "It makes my monster and astonishing..."
"... 5100!" Kaeru and Surge yelled in unison.
"That's right! Now. 'Berserk Gorilla'! Attack his 'Mother Grizzly'!"
"I activate my trap card!" Ryder yelled. "I activate the trap card 'Half or Nothing'! During your battle phase I can activate this trap card. You choose to cut your monsters attack in half or end the battle phase."
"I'll cut the attack in half! 'Berserk Gorilla'! Attack his 'Mother Grizzly'!"
"I activate my trap card! 'Ordeal of the Traveler'! With this card you must choose if the card(s) in my hand are a Monster card, Spell card or Trap card, and I have two! If you guess correctly then the attack goes through. If not, then your monster gets returned to your hand! That will help you from taking the effect damage from 'Wild Nature's Release'."
Saru looked at Ryders outstretched hand and glared as if he could see through the cards backing. "The card on your left is a monster card!"
"You sure about that? You feelin' lucky?"
Saru began sweating. "No. I think it's a spell!"
"You sure?"
"No! It's a trap!"
"Is that your final answer?"
"Yes! No! Yes! No! It's a spell! Final answer!"
"Are you really sure?"
"Yes! It's a spell!"
Ryder showed his left card to reveal... 'Mystic Horseman'. "You were right the first time. I was just pulling your leg."
"What! Why!"
"Because I'm a gambler! It's what I do. Now. Thanks to 'Ordeal of the Traveler' your monster is returned to your hand, and I don't know if you would have taken effect damage from the power up. I was just bluffing."
"Damn it! I end."
"I draw a card, and I activate 'Card Destruction'. We discard our cards and draw new cards equal to the amount we discard." Ryder discarded two cards and drew two new cards. He smiled at his new hand. "I set a monster in facedown defense position, and I'll end."
"I'll draw a card and play 'Berserk Gorilla' in attack mode. 'Berserk Gorilla' attack his 'Mother Grizzly'!"
"Is the card in my hand a Monster, Spell, or Trap?" Ryder asked.
"A monster! Final answer! You won't trick me again!"
Ryder showed Saru the card in his hand to reveal 'Man Eater'. "Correct. Your attack goes through."
'Berserk Gorilla' sucked in a breath and blasted out a beam of energy that hit 'Mother Grizzly' in the chest pixilating it.
"You've activated 'Mother Grizzly's effect. I can search my deck for a 1500 attack or less water monster and special summon it in face up attack position..." Ryder looked through his deck until he found the card he wanted. "... I play 'Island Turtle' in attack position."
"I end." Saru said.
"I draw." Ryder said. "I switch 'Island Turtle' to Defense position and play 'Overdrive' in attack position. Then I flip my face down, face up."
"What! No! Not a Flip effect!"
"Yes, and it's one of my favorites. Tell me. Are ya feelin' lucky?" Ryder asked as he flipped 'Dice Jar' face up. "When 'Dice Jar' is flipped face up we both roll a dice. Whichever one of us has the higher roll, that dice gets used to deal damage to the loser equal to the roll times five hundred. Unless the winner rolls a six. In which case the loser takes six thousand damage."
"What! No way!"
"Oh, and if it's a tie, we have to Reroll."
Both players pressed the dice function on their fields and a holographic dice rolled for each of them. As the dice slowed Saru began sweating. Ryder took out his coin and gave it a flip before placing the coin on his hand. He looked at it and smiled. "It looks like Lady Luck is smiling down on me today." He said before putting the coin back in his pocket.
The dice stopped at the same time.
"Snake eyes." Ryder said. "Looks like we have to roll again."
They pressed the dice function again and the holographic dice rolled again.
This Time they both rolled sixes.
They rolled a third time, and Ryder smiled at his dice. He'd rolled a six while Saru rolled a...
"A three! No!"
"Sorry Saru." Ryder said. "But it's been fun. "
'Dice Jar' picked up the dice and spit them out at Saru taking his life points down from 2000 to 0000.
"Good Game though." Ryder said collecting his cards and lowering himself to the ground. He walked over to Saru and held out his hand. "You had me on the ropes there for a while. Good game."
Saru took Ryder's hand and shook it. "Yeah. I suppose it was. Good game."
"And the winner of the Pico da Nablina Decathlon is... Ryder Furukawa!" The Drill Sergeant yelled.
Joey, Mai, Mokuba, TéA, Tristan, and Yugi watched as Jason fell limply to the floor, like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Take Young Jason to his room." Pegasus said startling them. "Now? Who's ready for lunch?" He asked. "I'm famished."
"What did you do to Jason!" Mokuba yelled.
"I simply gave him some time to work off some unneeded stress. He'll be just fine when he wakes up." 'Don't worry Young Mokuba. I won't take both your big brothers away. I'm not heartless after all.' "So. Who's hungry?" He asked.
Ryder was led to the tent by the Drill Sergeant who threw open the flaps. "Look around boy." He spoke. "All of this. All. Of. This. Is yours."
Ryder looked around. He saw a Ducati 1000 Sport Classic Biposto, a three-piece Italian suit with Italian leather shoes, a Rolex Watch, the keys, and title to a fully restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air, the title to a yacht with a Jet ski, an envelope from a travel agency, a briefcase, and a gift card wallet.
"There is a million dollars' worth of merchandise in this tent, as well as the ten-thousand-dollar pot. Not to mention..." he handed Ryder an unopened structure deck box. "... this deck is hand crafted by Mr. Pegasus himself."
Ryder took the deck and looked at the back to see the deck list.
The Pico da Nablina Decathlon Deck
Dark Honest X3
Honest X3
Maha Vailo X3
Perfect Machine King
Satellite Cannon
Sephylon, the Ultimate Time Lord
Victory Viper X2
Cosmo Queen
Mechanical Chaser X2
Shapesnatch
V-Tiger Jet
Wingweaver
X-Head Cannon
Axe of Despair X3
Ballista of Rampart Smashing
Mage Power X3
Megamorph
United We Stand
Adhesion Trap Hole
Blast with Chain
Bottomless Trap Hole X2
Metalmorph X2
Trojan Blast X2
Plus, one special edition, never before seen booster pack with seven ultra-rare cards.
"I haven't heard of some of these cards."
"Of course not! Pegasus releases cards on a schedule! But to keep things interesting and to keep duelists on their toes he will release specialized decks out at Tournaments and events like Duelist Kingdom and the Decathlon! Last year he released a specialized 'Fur Hire' deck. He said that he gave out an 'Archfiend' deck this week at Duelist Kingdom!"
"What is Duelist Kingdom?"
"If you didn't get an invite then all you need to know is that Duelist Kingdom is a one-time tournament that Pegasus threw together to see who the best duelist is, and to offer the title of 'King of Games'!"
"Sounds fancy. Too bad I didn't get to go, but I guess winning the Decathlon is just as good."
"If Not better! You pushed your body and spirit to the limit in the ultimate challenge! You should be proud of your accomplishment!"
"Yes sir!" Ryder yelled. "Now. How am I going to get this stuff home?"
"Come over here!" The Drill Sergeant yelled leading to a computer. "Press Your Hand on this Scanner!"
Ryder did so, and felt warmth rise up his hand to his fingers.
"The Briefcase Will now recognize your fingerprint allowing you to open it!"
Ryder pressed his thumb to the fingerprint scanner and heard a click. He opened it to see that the briefcase was full of money.
"If anyone other than you try opening it, the briefcase will release a sleeping agent, and release a transmitter signal that will be sent to the Industrial Illusions mainframe! The Money will be returned to you, and the thief will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!"
"Well, that's a relief."
"There is also This!" The Drill Sergeant yelled handing him a gift card wallet. "There is an Industrial Illusions debit card that has access to a bank owned by Industrial Illusions! It has $300,000.00 at your disposal, and an additional $50,000.00 for a shopping spree of your choice! The briefcase has $500,000.00 in cash! The prizes in this tent, including the deck, are worth $1,000,000.00! Please enjoy yourself on behalf of Industrial Illusions!"
Ryder looked stunned. "Th-thank you. I don't know what to say."
"Say that you'll be on the plane headed back to Japan on Friday morning at 11:30 sharp and enjoy the rest of the week in beautiful Rio De Janeiro." The Drill Sergeant said without his signature yell.
"Wait, what?" Ryder asked.
"Oh. Your probably confused as to why I'm not yelling anymore."
"Uh, yeah."
"Forgive me. My name is Antoine Farnsworth. I'm an actor that Mr. Pegasus hires to run his High Adventure events. I've been a mercenary, a pirate, a biker gang leader; that was weird. Imagine having to duel while riding motorcycles."
"Sounds like a Rush."
"Yeah. Well three deaths, two highly dangerous surgeries, and a dozen lawsuits were enough to tell Mr. Pegasus that it was a bad idea, and not to do it again."
"Sheesh. Not even I'm that adventurous."
"Thought not, but like I said. Enjoy yourself. You've got a few days."
"Thanks. I will." Ryder said as he put the Decathlon Structure Deck, the ten-thousand-dollar pot, and a stack of hundreds from the briefcase in his bag and got into the Hummer he'd driven to the Decathlon in and noticed Amese give Antoine a quick kiss before getting in the Hummer.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" She asked.
"Yeah, but I feel like I could sleep for three days. I might as well get a shower before I do though."
"Sounds like a Good idea. This Decathlon takes a lot out of people."
They drove to the hotel he'd be staying at in a comfortable silence, and he checked in when Amese dropped him off.
When he got to his room, he pulled a spare outfit out of his bag and placed the structure deck in his bag before zipping it up.
He took a shower and could feel himself starting to doze off under the hot water, so he showered, changed, and fell onto the bed before passing out.
Jason looked around. He wasn't in Pegasus Castle anymore. Instead, he Was in a void filled with purple mist.
He was in the Shadow Realm.
He looked around and saw that he wasn't alone. Two other people were here with him. One of them was Solomon Muto, Yugi's Grandpa, and the other was... "KAIBA!" He shouted before charging.
AN: I used two different play styles to show that Duelist Kingdom plays on different rules than others might play by, so that's why the Decathlon had different rules. What will the Shadow Realm be like? Enjoy.