Yami no Game: Dark Saga

Chapter 45

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Blood dripped from pointed claws as Ryou's arm was left to bleed. It wasn't deep enough to be fatal but it was enough that it will spark concern among his friends. Crimson stood with Diamond held under his arm and he set her down beside Ryou. When Bakura stood, his features changed just marginally, a sharp grin pulling across his face that closely resembled the sharpness of a fox or a jackal, the real form of the demon that was left unknown to anyone but the male that stood before him. "Your story will check out as long as your motive is unheard. They were attacked and Ryou was wounded. Anyone with doubt in their eyes stay away for they are one with the possibility of ancient magic. They will oust you before you can get a hold of anyone." he said, licking away the blood from his hand. "We still have some work to do but when the time comes, we will appear." Malik hummed as Bakura transferred the duel disk to Ryou before he raised a hand. Crimson's brow arched before listening to what he had to say and grunted but gave a nod. Giving a nod to Bakura, he stayed behind while Bakura deftly ascending the warehouse before he were gone from sight and Crimson split off to do something else. Malik looked down to the bodies, seeing Diamond beginning to shift and smirked.

'Game on, Yami...'

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'How am I supposed...ta beat that?!'

Not only was the monster given a power boost from the ocean, bringing its attack to 2550, it was also floating over it and that certainly didn't bode well for any monsters on Jou's side of the field. "Learn this lesson well, Jou! Never underestimate the sea! While your heart is always in a good place, I still won't take lightly to anyone insulting the ocean!" Kajiki spoke before resting a hand over the crystal heart that he still wore to this day. "We men of the sea always take a heavy burden living on these dangerous waters, taking on scars from any battles we have. My dad is a prime example of that very fact but one day I had lost him when he went to fish for other fishermen too scared to take on the sea..." he said softly before looking up, conviction heavy in his eyes. "So here I will make sure you know to fear and respect the sea! Now be prepared for all your landlubbing monsters won't be able to take on my Fortress Whale when he drops from the sky!"

Jou let out a soft sigh as he listened to the story before giving a nod. "Kajiki, I've already respected ya as a very proud duelist who can do no wrong. There's no tricks and no bullshit when it comes to yer deck...but I am a duelist as well and I won't give up here!" Kajiki gave a nod, smile on his face. 'You can try but you won't be able to stand up to the ocean!' Kajiki raised a hand. "Let's see how long you can last then! Fortress Whale, attack!" Another bellow came from the whale but it didn't attack immediately as spears once again came, skewering Rocket Warrior. 'Again with the invisible enemy!' With his monster out of the way, Fortress Whale was free to attack once again, aiming all turrets directly for Jou and unleashed the torrent of shots that connected, knocking him to a mere 300 life points. "Oh no, he's on his last leg..." Myrrh whispered. "Come on, man! Don't lose it all here!" Kaiser called while some of the younger ones were commenting on how Kajiki had this one in the bag. But one kid, the bratty one, had looked to the whale tank in curiosity. "Kaa-san, there's two killer whales in the tank..." he murmured. "No, dear, that is a blue whale." she replied as if she had thought that her son was speaking of Fortress Whale. "No...I see it...two killer whales..." he murmured and indeed, another shadow almost invisible to the eye of the rest of the patrons swam through the killer whale tank and it definitely wasn't Sapphire. Jou was starting to heavily doubt of any chance to salvage this match. The only way he could think to do so would be to find the sniper that has been tearing through his defenses out of nowhere. 'But how...how can I...it wasn't even on the field when Tornado Wall was up...' He could hear the encouragement from the others being shouted towards him but it seemed like empty promises. Sugoroku hummed as he looked around the field himself. He was thinking along the same lines as Jou was but he couldn't think of it either. 'So where...where could he hide a sniper...'

"Come now, Jou! It's your turn!" Kajiki called before looking into the other's eyes and saw them devoid of their fighting spirit. "Don't tell me those are the eyes of a dead fish! Have you really succumbed to defeat now?! Where are the eyes you had when you walked into my territory?!" Jou blinked as realization hit. 'Wait...his territory...just like back in Duelist Kingdom. He led hungry duelists to challenge him near the sea where he'd have the advantage of the area for the field map. It has to be the same here and the entirety of the aquarium is being used here...then...' Jou glanced to the tank where the killer whale was. 'I've been lookin' in the wrong spot?!'

"I got it now! I'm ready for ya!" he called as he drew his card, revealing Kunai with Chain. Now he was left with one trap, one spell and one monster including the spell he set onto the field. This was his last gamble now and if he didn't make this work, this was the end of him. "Alright! I'll set two cards face down and bring out Panther Warrior onto the field in attack mode!" The feline warrior appeared with a snarl, taking his place beside Jou and far from the water's edge. "What good will that do you? You are unable to attack me!" Kajiki claimed. "Maybe not but it's better than leaving myself open." Jou replied. "No matter then, He won't last long." Kajiki spoke as he drew for his turn. "I'll summon Sea Snake in defense then commence my attack! I'll get rid of your kitty cat with a stealth attack then Fortress Whale will end you!" Jou gripped his cards, glancing to the side to the whale tank. 'It's coming...' As the monster began to emerge, that's when Jou made his move. "Now I'll play my face down! Magic Arm Shield!" The shield appeared onto Panther Warrior's arm and a hatch on it opened up, extending a gripping arm that aimed for the emerged monster. "Gotcha!" Kajiki was stunned as the monster's leg was grasped in the arm. "It took some time but I came ta realize when ya summoned all that seawater, it leaked into the killer whale tank! That's why I never knew where the hell yer monster was hidin'!" Jou spoke as the Legendary Fisherman was drawn back to the Panther Warrior and brought to settle in front of him to take on Fortress Whale's attack. "Seems we got a bit of mistaken identity now." he jeered as the cannons that were aimed for Panther Warrior were focused on the fisherman. The weapons let out their volleys and the monster gasped as the shots connected, destroying him and bringing Kajiki down to 900. He couldn't allow himself to be deterred now. His Sea Stealth II may have failed but he can still be rid of Panther Warrior.

"What about the shrapnel?! Panther Warrior would still be caught in it even if you sacrificed my fisherman!" Kajiki claimed and Jou chuckled. "Ya sure 'bout that? Lemme show ya my other trap, shall we!" The card flipped up, revealing Kunai with Chain which landed in Panther Warrior's hand and he swung it deftly, looping the weapon around Fortress Whale's horn before leaping up, the whale making a sound of angered distress. "You...you got to be kidding me! Your cat is trying to challenge Fortress Whale?!" Kajiki shouted, Sapphire peeking from the tank to see the rest of the match. "But of course! I'm on a mission ta give Yami a proper fight and I'm not even gonna let ya stand in my way!" Kajiki growled but knew that Jou still didn't stand a chance. Sure the Panther Warrior gained a boost from Kunai with Chain, raising his attack to 2500 but still was at a disadvantage thanks to the extra 50 attack Fortress Whale had over him. "You may have your monster at the same level as Fortress Whale but he's still not strong enough to take him out!" Kajiki called. "So even if he attacks from up there, he'll only hurt himself." Kaiser mumbled. "Maybe he jumped just to show off." Myrrh groaned. Kajiki smirked as he crossed his arms. "Well I will commend you for learning how to fly but you're still no match for me! You can't win this!" Jou returned the smirk. "But duel ain't over yet so hold yer shorts and watch! Let's go, Panther Warrior!" With a roar, Panther Warrior raised his sword into the air before stabbing it deep into Fortress Whale but even with the attack, the monster hardly budged. "See?! Nothing! Now let me show you what else my what can do! Give it a spin!" Kajiki called and the whale roared before it began to spin, going faster and faster with each second passed. "I'll throw your beast-warrior right off of him!" As expected, Panther Warrior was flung off back to Jou but as a cat, he still had some balance and manage to right himself to land back on his feet beside the duelist. 'Good, he's safe...' Jou thought but even though he made a safe landing, Kajiki was one to remind him that because of the attack, Panther Warrior will still fall soon. But Jou wasn't deterred...in fact, he smiled which only angered Kajiki. "What...why are you smiling?! You're gonna lose!"

"Take a look." Jou spoke, pointing upward and Kajiki did so, eyes widening in horror when he saw that Panther Warrior's sword was left behind, kept in place still by the chain of the kunai. "How!? The sword was left behind?!" Sapphire gasped from the water. "And I'm not done yet so let's show off my other face down! Panther Warrior's is just a hair under yer Fortress Whale's but I think this will make a nice turn of the match, dontcha think?" Jou called as he went to flip the card and revealed Lightning Blade. Clouds darkened overheard, coursing with lightning and Kajiki gaped as the bolt struck down towards the sword of Panther Warrior's that acted as a lightning rod, shocking Fortress Whale viciously. "Due to Fortress Whale bein' a water monster, lightnin' does double the damage!" Jou spoke as Fortress Whale fell and in the process, the current flowed through the water. "And can't forget that the rest of yer water monsters take the hit too!" With all his monsters hit and Fortress Whale finally grounded from its aerial assault, Kajiki was left with only 150 points while the Kunai with Chain returned, bringing the sword back to Panther Warrior who stood proudly from the other side.

"So...that was your plan...to let the whale shake you off so he wouldn't get hit..." he murmured and while the strategy sounded legit, Jou could only think to himself that being thrown off wasn't really a tactic but it managed to prove useful in the end anyway. "Anyway...my turn isn't quite over." Kajiki spoke as he looked to his hand. 'And I have just the card I need.' Pulling up Return of the Doomed, he went to set it on the field before ending his turn. 'So...there's a chance that Kajiki used a spell to hide another monster under the sea...I can't do a thing if that's the case. Should I go on the offensive and risk it all...' As the blonde thought this, he looked to his mere 300 points and if his next moved failed, he can kiss being in Battle City goodbye. 'Guess I don't have much of a choice now...'

"My turn! I'm comin' for ya, Kajiki!"

"Bring it!"

Jou drew his card and looked to it, seeing that it was going to become quite useful before glancing up. "Hope you remember that your kunai is gone now so Panther Warrior can't cross the sea a second time!" Kajiki called out. "That's where ya wrong! Panther Warrior goes in for the attack!" Jou called right back. 'Again!? I'll just shoot you down from my hiding spot just like before!' But while Kajiki thought such, Jou was quick to shut him down. "Ya think I don't know what I'm goin' in for?! That's why I have this card ready! Giant Trunade!" The spell activated and a giant hurricane began, touching down onto the field and soon took away all the spells and traps on the field to return to their owner's hands. "Looks like Umi is takin' a hike now and I can finally see yer monsters!" Jou claimed as the Legendary Fisherman appeared onto the field now that his hiding spot was compromised. Jou was surprised that of all the monsters he brought back, it was him instead of Fortress Whale. 'Why him...Fortress Whale was definitely stronger...' Jou thought and unbeknownst to both, the crystal hearts both held began to shine, as if ready to relay something important between the two duelists...

'It's...the one monster I don't want to see die...' Jou perked as he heard the faint voice and looked to Kajiki, watching as Panther Warrior shot forward from the commanded attack once the water was gone and let out a breath, Panther Warrior raising his sword.

"Koku Hyo Shi Pu Zan!"