Zypher: After so long...this story makes it comeback. Take this as your holiday present. Happy Holidays to all who stuck with me for this story and the various ups and downs I had with it.
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Yami no Game: Dark Saga
Chapter 42
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When Yami met back up with Aqua who waited outside, they continued on their way. Yami thought over the words Malik spoke to him just before leaving the body of another one of his pawns that frequented the area of Battle City. 'He said to beware the silent doll...what is this doll he speaks of...' he thought to himself as they continued to walk, keeping a sharp eye for the next of the Ghouls that was confirmed to come at him next, this time accompanied by a God card. At Kaiba Corporation, workers monitoring the tournament were using the Kaiba satellites to check each and every duelist and their decks for the aforementioned God cards. "Domino City West Block D, two duelists detected! Checking Duel Disk registration...searching decks..." The head of the department watched the screen and waited on the results before they came in. "No God cards detected."
"Damn it, scan for another Duel Disk frequency! Figure out the next coordinates and fast!" The department head spoke and the workers went to do so just as another, empty screen blinked on, revealing Seto. "Ah, Kaiba-sama!" Seto gave the man a dark look. "Did you find it? One of the Rare Hunters must have the God cards. Where is he?" Seto demanded. "I'm sorry, sir, but we're trying out best. Duelists are scattered all over the city so the search will take some time even with such advance equipment..." he whispered but was interrupted. "The Ghouls are hiding in this town somewhere! They will eventually sniff out my Obelisk and attack. I'm not allowing them the first move." he murmured before the screen blinked out after one last message. "Call me when you locate them so I can reach them first."
"Yes sir..." The department head spoke softly. Where they were, Seto closed the laptop briefcase and sighed. Mokuba watched him and pouted. "No luck catching those rats, huh nii-sama?" he questioned. "No but with Kaiba Corp's technology, it won't be long before they are revealed to me." Seto replied as he stood. "Our satellite surveillance is, after all, equipped with the same ground surveillance as the US military. They won't escape that ever watchful eye easily." Mokuba chuckled and nodded as he grabbed the briefcase. "They'll never guess that we have a virtual net in the sky!"
"Not at all, this whole tournament is nothing but a trap to get them out into the open." Seto murmured as he began to walk with Mokuba following behind and Ruby taking to the skies. 'Get ready, Ghouls. I'm coming after you for the God cards.'
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-Port Othello, 1:07 pm-
The port was accompanied with a boat and two figures stepped out from within, meeting more of the cloaked pawns who greeted them quietly. "Master Malik, Master Topaz...we have been waiting." One spoke as another stepped up with a Duel Disk. "Good, is everything set up as planned?" Malik questioned. "Yes, here is the Duel Disk." Malik took it and weighed it in his hands and hummed. "Thought it would weigh a little more than that." he murmured. They gave a nod before they looked to each other as Malik stepped over to a motorbike waiting for him. "But sir, we're still surprised that you both wanted to come here personally. We have the best of Rare Hunters out searching for the last God card for you."
"You don't have to tell me such nonsense. Tell that to the deck holding a God card. Besides, I've been sitting on the sidelines so long I'm going to forget that I'm a duelist myself." he said as he hooked the Duel Disk on the side of the bike while he climbed on and started it up with a loud rumble that echoed through the port warehouse. They nodded as one of the Ghouls stepped over to him. "Domino City is about an hour from here."
"Then I'll get there in 40 minutes. What is Yami's current location at this moment?"
"He's heading west along "E" block." One confirmed and Malik smirked.
"Well we can't leave him bored and pondering on our next attack...so let's give it to him. I'll fight him before even reaching the city." he said and the Ghoul gasped. "You're going to use the 'doll'?" he questioned. "But of course, why else would I leave it sitting in the middle of town for the past two days? Draw in a crowd by having him play the immovable statue?" he said as he grinned. "I'll inhabit it and fight Yami and show him what to truly fear from the Ghouls!" he said before revving the bike and soon shot off with Topaz taking to the sky following behind him.
'Soon, the Millennium Battle shall begin!'
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"I can't believe this mime's been standing here for two days!" A woman whispered in shock as they came across the park to see that the mime was still standing there. But soon, he twitched as Malik assumed control over the silent doll and he began to move, shocking the people that gathered to see whether he would move.
"Hey, did he just move?"
"No way..."
"Look at that! He just did!"
People continued to murmur as the doll brought out a Duel Disk from nowhere that the people could see and slipped it on.
/Run.../
The doll hopped down from the branch and ran at an odd gait as Malik's voice continued to speak and control him. /Run to Yami...my silent doll.../
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On an overpass, Yugi sighed as he floated beside his lover as he walked. /What do you think he meant by 'doll'?/ Yugi questioned softly. "If they are still hiding and waiting to seek me out, we'll just have to wait for them." he replied. /But I hate this waiting! They're out to kill you both and for demons, while impossible, I fear that they know something that even you don't know! You both have something important to get back and we can't allow that to end here!/ Yugi claimed and Yami looked to him in surprise. Yugi looked down and sighed. /I know...why you came to Battle City.../ The teen whispered softly. /You're here...to find your lost memories. I knew from the start that you came here for that. Why else would you join a tournament for rare cards if there wasn't a purpose behind it.../ he continued and Yami fell silent, feeling as if he betrayed his partner again. /But don't worry, I'm here to help you both. We've been through so much and you've both done a lot for me as well. It's time for me to help you. We fought together so finding your memories is something I should consider a duty as well./ Yugi said as he touched the Puzzle that hung around his neck. /It took me years to complete the puzzle and it led me to you two. You gave me protection and love, something that mythology's interpretation of demons lacked to see. And with your arrival, you also brought many friends to me./
"No, Yugi, your bright personality brought them to you. We just watch over them just like we do for you so they don't get hurt." Aqua spoke. Yugi smiled before looking down. /I really want you two to stay with me forever like this...but maybe that's because you both are the first to love me so much. No one would ever love my cause I'm too short or look too childish. But maybe I'm becoming too dependent on what is my first love. But...but I can't let you protect me forever! So let me help! Let me help you find your missing memories!/ Yami was amazed and proud at his lover's determination and smiled as he continued to walk. 'Thank you, little one...' he thought before he felt a disturbance in the air and growled, pivoting on his heels. 'Something's coming this way!' When he caught sight of the presence, it was the mime from the park. While there were many in the city for the tournament, Yami could already tell this isn't your normal, ordinary opponent. Especially when he could feel his skin crawling from the raw stench of Malik's power. "A Rare Hunter!" he hissed as the mime brandished the Duel Disk. Malik, from where he was, could see through the doll's eyes and grinned when it had located the demon.
'Yes, Yami, another Rare Hunter to combat with you and this time, it is prepared with your worst nightmare! The legendary God card!'
"..We meet again, demon king..."
"You..." Yami hissed. Malik cackled through the doll. "Here is the final round of a battle that has lasted too long! A battle that has lasted for a thousand years! I do hope that your vessel won't chime in." Yugi clenched his fist from within his soul room but said nothing. He knew well and also knew Yami wouldn't step down either to such a challenge. His only worry now was the fact that this supposed doll will likely have the feared god card, Osiris. 'But he's prepared...prepared to take down a god...' Yugi thought. As the wind ghosted through the canal, Yami gave a small turn of the lip. "Your doll has seen better days...you sure this is the one befitting for a god?" he questioned. Malik chuckled deeply. "This dear mime here went mad years ago when he killed his parents. Out of guilt he locked away everything, leaving him emotionless...a vessel so to say. And such makes for the best pawn." Yami sneered in disgust. "But you use your Sennen item to brainwash people. I will not allow this to continue on."
"Oh dearest king...but the human body is such a fragile item. You as one who devours them should know this...but the most sensitive has always been the mind. To allow imagination to run free can eat up the mind. People are always influenced by what they see and what they read. As such, people can create split personalities that differ from the norm. Some even believe they can hear "God"...but when my unbounding charisma and dominance combines with a person's image of "God", it makes it easy to control anyone!" he spoke and cackled. "That is the power of the Sennen Rod! My mind literally dominates them! Their thoughts, their senses, their memories! So, if I win this duel...then this doll shall take your life and bring your heart back to me. That's just its programming...no matter where you go, this doll shall continue to hunt you until you die. It shall never stop until it catches you..." Malik spoke. Yami huffed. "Then it best try its hardest for a demon isn't the easiest to kill. Now, you have caught up to me...but can you truly beat me?" Yami questioned, fingers changing to claws and flexed them.
Malik from his location could only smirk more. 'Of course I can...and once I deal with you, I will find Kaiba and reclaim his god then I'll be free from this nightmare! I will be given the title of king and be uplifted from this terrible chore after a thousand years!' Eyes narrowed, the two prepared their decks before placing them into their Duel Disks. Cerise eyes glared at the empty voids of their opponent before they started their duel. "I'll draw first." Malik spoke as the doll drew a card. "Hope you're ready...I'll play one card face down and summon Humanoid Slime in attack mode!" he said as the slime monster appeared on the field. Yami was skeptical of such a move for an 800 point monster. 'He must have something planned...800 points isn't that much of a threat for an attacking monster...' he thought as he drew his card at the call of Malik's turn end. 'I can't attack for this turn so I'll match him trap for trap...' he thought as he pulled two cards from his hand. "I'll set a face down as well then send out Gazelle in attack mode!" he said as the beast monster appeared with a deep roar. "No attack? Playing awfully cautious...or are you being cowardly? Such will never be able to beat me...so let's not have you die on me before you see Osiris with your own eyes." The doll drew for his turn before following Malik's expert puppeteering. "First I'll summon Worm Drake from my hand...then play the spell card Polymerization! Come forth, Humanoid Drake!" As the worm monster appeared, the two were fused together, the new creature holding a dreadful 2200 attack. Yami was stunned at the bold move. 'Only his second turn and he was able to bring out a strong monster...but a fused monster can't attack the turn it was created so I'm safe for now...'
"Or so you think..." Malik spoke and Yami gritted his teeth. "You see this face down card here...the one you suspect of a trap? Well it wasn't." he spoke before the doll flipped up the card. "Meet the Quick Attack spell card!"
"No!"
"I don't fear my opponent's cards. I'm not the kind of duelist that plays safe until I believe to have the upper hand. I'm not the kind of fool who plays cowardly over one measly face down! Now go, Slime Drake! Destroy his beast!" Malik commanded and the monster shot forward, swinging the deadly blade that made up its arm. But Yami only looked on with a small smirk which deterred Malik. "Even through the eyes of a doll I can see what you have planned. I could tell from the start that you were planning to use the Humanoid Slime for a fusion. Sure you have gotten me nervous with your Quick Attack spell but even then I make sure to cover every contingency...unlike the Sacrifice Summon, a Polymerization Summon gives one the opportunity to bring out a high monster without wasting a turn."
"So you knew..."
"That I did...now reveal face down! De-Fusion!" Before the blade could hit its target, the slime drake halted as its body began to quiver from the effects of the spell before the two monsters were forced apart. "Now! While they are separated! Attack Gazelle!" The beast roared once more before lunging in for the attack, destroying the Humanoid Slime and knocking Malik's life points to 3300. Malik growled as Yami smirked from across the field. "I'm sure you have your next move planned...but I will be prepared for one after." he spoke. Malik could only chuckle. "So you predicted my fusion and topped it with a combo to save yourself...this should be a fun game then, Yami..." he murmured as Topaz watched from above. "Such moves are too weak to touch my life points..." Yami bit back. "Ah but that was just to test the waters you see...like throwing a pebble into the water to see what kind of ripples it would make. Think of it this way, if a duelist is a vessel, then their strategy would be like water. Cast a stone and watch the ripples flow...but if you can see the bottom then the vessel is much too shallow for a decent fight and would be easily destroyed. But you...the rumors don't lie...you are indeed a duelist with depth!"
'But soon enough, I will cast a great stone...the stone called Osiris! The great god will shatter you!'
"Now let us continue!" Yami gave a nod as he drew his next card. Seeing it was the Buster Blader, he hummed. If he could get another monster onto the field and avoid any traps that Malik could have planned, he would be able to bring out the great warrior and have a solid offense. Yami was sure the other was crafty still and have plenty awaiting him aside from the god sleeping in the deck but if all goes well, the god won't be able to see the light of day. "I summon Beta the Magnet Warrior! Now for my attack phase, Gazelle! Destroy the Worm Drake!" The beast roared again before charging forward, slashing at the monster, destroying it with ease and shaved another 100 points from Malik's life. Yami ended the turn but still watched the field and his opponent carefully. 'He has no monsters...so I have the upper hand...' But to Malik, his thoughts were of a completely different matter. 'Slowly you are becoming cornered and you are still none the wiser...' he thought. "Now...my turn..." he whispered as the doll drew. 'There is a reason I speak of water in relation to our little duel. At certain times water can become a shapeless shield that can protect against anything...but the very same it can become a sword to pierce through your opponent's heart...' The doll lifted Malik's chosen card. "And this monster shall demonstrate such ideals! I summon the Revival Jam in defense mode!" he called as the monster appeared, another slime but this one lacking a physically defining form aside from the shadows on what could be called a face. "Another slime..." Yami breathed. "But I'm not done there...it's time to bring out the Jam Breeding Machine!" The large machine appeared behind the doll duelist, steam emitting from various exhausts and Yami's eyes narrowed. "So this is what you have planned..."
"Ah yes...of course as long as I have this machine out, I can't summon another monster but the best part aside from that is that this machine will produce a single slime on every turn!" With the purpose of the machine exposed, Yami knew full well where this was going. Malik had the means to summon monsters without the use of his own hand...and as such will eventually get what he needs to summon a max-level monster...a God...
'I have to stop him. I have to defeat him before he summons his god...' Even though Yami had figured his strategy and that Osiris would soon come forth, Malik already had him trapped. The demon king's fate was set and all it took was three more turns. "My turn!" Yami called as he drew another card. "I'll sacrifice my two monsters and bring out the Dragon Slayer, Buster Blader! Now attack the Revival Jam with Hakai-Ken Issen [Destructive Sword Flash]!" The warrior raised his sword and swung down, destroying the slime with ease before landing back at Yami's side. As the monster splattered onto the ground, Yami had thought he was done with one headache but his eyes widened when the puddles of the monster began to form back together. "No..." Soon, the Revival Jam was back on the field, whole and unharmed. "Shocked? This is the power of Revival Jam. Guess I didn't tell you did I...no matter how much you attack me, it will not die. It's like attacking a pool of water, a shapeless shield that will keep your monsters from touching me!" A snarl escaped from the other, leaving Malik to smirk.
"My turn. Jam Breeding Machine, activate!" The machine booted up and exhausted a rush of steam, producing a single slime, puny with an attack of 500 but to Yami, it was considered the greatest threat. "I can see what you're thinking, Yami...the slimes bred from the machine only have 500 attack. If you attack them, it would hurt me good. So let me prevent that with this spell...Nightmare Steel Cage!" The doll set the card and a dome shaped cage trapped Yami and Buster Blader. "Now we can't attack each other through such a strong cage...for three turns..." Yami gasped and for once...found himself lacking options. He didn't have the means to get rid of the cage around him in his hand and worse still was that Revival Jam was on the field and he felt that even if he could rid of the slimes, its purpose will come back to haunt him. "Seem hopeless yet, great demon king? Even though I can't attack I can still work on building my forces!" With Yami unable to attack with the end of his turn while another slime appeared onto the field, that came back to him and the Jam Breeding Machine activated yet again. "And now I have three...that's all I needed..."
'No...he has Osiris in his hand...he's going to summon the Sky Dragon...'
"So then...how does it feel to be imprisoned in that steel cage? Humiliation? Sorrow? Despair? Maybe all three because that's exactly how I felt under the jurisdiction of being a Tomb Guardian!" Malik spat. 'But soon...I'll be free...free from all of this!' Yami kept his cool on the outside as he continued to glare at the man behind the doll but inside, his mind was a tumult of emotions and Yugi could feel it. He was indeed feeling despair, despair that soon, the unstoppable god would stand before him and he is unable to do a thing within the cage. "Now, Yami! Prepare to meet the last sight you will ever see! Destroy the machine in this sacrifice summon! Use my three slimes to bring out the god of the skies!" Malik called as the skies darkened in response to the sheer power that was to come. Lightning coursed through the darkened clouds before a bolt came crashing down, destroying the machine as the doll placed the god card onto the disk. Scales of crimson broke through the sea of gray, claws breaking through as the snaking body revealed more and more before the head crested through the clouds. Pools of amber glared down at the demon within the cage before letting out an earth shattering roar, its very breath ripping past the still demon as he could only gaze upon the god dragon before him. "Oh no..." Yugi whispered from within the puzzle while above, Aqua cursed. "This isn't good..." he murmured. A god now graced the field, leaving Yami to face a powerful offense with a solid, shapeless defense. All three could only wonder now as the horror of the situation dawned on them...
How does one defeat a god...?