Yami no Game: Dark Saga

Chapter 48

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With Mask of Darkness out 2000 life points, they took a sizable lead even if it was small. The Blue-Eyes was safe and now they had a monster to combat whatever they could think to toss at them for now. But there were still restrictions that kept them in danger, the worst of it being the damage to still chip away at Yami's life points as long as the two mask cards stayed attached to him like parasites. With a growl, Mask of Darkness cast out in trusting his partner to continue to support him. "It's still my turn! I set one card face down before ending my turn!" he spoke and Kaiba nodded as he drew a card for his turn. Power was back in his hand and power is all that settled into his mind. Just one strike from the Blue-Eyes would take either one of them out. With the fractures in their teamwork, they would surely abandon the means to protect each other. He had to take the chance now, anything that meant getting to Katsuya faster. "Blue-Eyes! Prepare yourself for attack! Your target is the Mask of Darkness!" Seto called and Yami glanced to him. It was one thing to believe that Mask of Darkness would be wiped if the attack went through. But there was also the fact that the covered card could be something that could stop the attack or even destroy the Blue-Eyes. Seto, as a high ranked duelist, should know such a thing and yet risked the attack. 'He better know what he's doing after this. I can't support him if he refuses to accept my help still even if it meant Jou's confirmed safety.' he thought as the Mask of Darkness expected the attack and used the spell card 'Mask of Impregnability' to stop the Blue-Eyes from harming the last of his life points. A chuckle left the brunet as he mentioned the Mask of Light just barely got away with his own life points. He was a smaller target but still a target all the same.

"Makes you wonder...would your partner offer to protect you with that spell card should I have aimed for you instead?" The Mask of Light swallowed before glancing towards Mask of Darkness. Would he have used it if he was a target? After all, their combined efforts have failed before and the taller blamed him for it. Out of spite and preservation of his own life, he was sure the other wouldn't and leave him for the dogs. Mask of Darkness could see the stance his partner took and tried to reassure that of course he would use the card and Yami smirked just slightly. So that was Seto's game now. Rattle them as they had done to them once before. To make them question just how close their bonds as partners were in protecting each other. If their teamwork fractured more, they would only worry for themselves, leaving them to eventually screw up a critical play that working together could possibly achieve victory towards the two across the glass. Mask of Light growled before drawing his card, taking a glance to it and gulped. It was a high gamble card but with what awaited on the field and little to protect themselves if they don't get a monster onto the field, he had to stake whatever chances he had. "I'll use this spell! The Chosen One!" The two across the field started to the sight of the card as Mask of Light activated it, setting three face down cards onto the field and a top appeared in between them. A mask marked the pointer as Mask of Light explained its purpose. It was to spin and choose a card at random. If it just so happens to be a monster, he was able to summon it with no requirements needing to be met. Yami's lips curled into a snarl. A gamble that could bring something out to take down the Blue-Eyes. He was sure of it or Mask of Light wouldn't have chosen to use it now. He tensed as he awaited the worse as the top was set to spin, four pairs of eyes watching the verdict given by the spell played. The top slowed and soon came to a stop, revealing the card as it lifted.

A decrepit roar met their ears as the Masked Beast of Guardius appeared on the field with a staggering 3300 attack. Just enough to get through the Blue-Eyes who roared in challenge to the new beast. "Luck was on my side! Now meet the strongest monster I have!" Mask of Light called victoriously as Seto clenched his teeth. Just when they had the edge and power, the little shrimp brought out something to counter by sheer luck. It was one thing that Katsuya lucked out and he could be forgiven by the brunet but this was unacceptable. With confidence back, Mask of Light restored their teamwork and Yami growled. With a wall like that, it would take so much to get through it and without the use of their gods, they were at a huge disadvantage with their means to sacrifice summon still restricted. Glancing to his hand, he looked to a single card that could turn the tides of the duel but he had to be sure the move can go through. Mask of Light looked to the options on the field. The Blue-Eyes was still a bigger threat even when it was on the verge to be defeated while Yami still had his magnet warriors out. One in particular was Alpha who was in attack mode. One attack towards it would net him a 1900 point loss and with all he has taken from the masks, it would wipe him off the field and end his demonic reign as the master wished and reclaim Osiris. Yami saw the look in his eyes and growled in warning but Seto had other plans. As the Mask of Darkness explained to focus his attack on the Blue-Eyes as it was still free to attack him if he didn't, the brunet spoke up. "Go ahead and kill the demon if you like. Since a shrimp like you wants to be such a big man today, show off and kill him. I have the means to make my dragon stronger than your beast so leaving him to roam free just means I'll take you out quicker." His words made them shudder and with how confident he spoke, it was hard to determine if the threat was serious or an elaborate bluff to set them up for an even stronger move.

Yami glanced to him, wondering what he was up to. Sacrificing him was a big gamble and frankly, the idea stung and made him wish he could trip the brunet and see his face hit the glass just once for his own amusement. The demon still had to take into thought, Seto won't talk out his ass for no good reason. He may have to cooperate for a common goal now but he wouldn't risk any piece that was still of use to him. After all, the demon was his only source of quick transport to get to where Katsuya was so having him dead by any means these two jokers across from them could possibly come up with to stop his ability of flight would hold him back until a chopper got to his location. Glancing back to Mask of Light, Yami awaited as the other went to make his move after enough contemplation. "Fine then! With this turn I will destroy...the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" he called as the masked monster raised its claws, dark energy forming around them before blasting the dragon to bits, its defeated roar sounding over the field as Seto mourned his dragon's defeat. "Make your move, Yami!" The brunet called and with that alone, Yami knew the plan was a success. Seto put everything into his words to deter the two, now it was time for him to make their comeback a reality. "Foolish prey should never look too deep into a baited trap..." Yami hissed as he drew his card. "I had my doubts when it comes to working with Seto but somehow, I can still read when he crafts a plan to work in my favor. Now let me show you my ultimate creature!" The two gasped before Mask of Light reminded them that the Mask of Restrict was still on the field, leaving them unable to sacrifice summon. "If you would silence yourselves, I'll show you what I'm really capable of doing." Setting the card onto the field, it revealed itself to be Gamma the Magnet Warrior.

"Let me tell you something about summoning, it isn't all about sacrificing." Yami whispered as the three magnet warriors began to deconstruct themselves, Beta losing the mask that had sealed its movements, before reforming into a bigger monster. "But unifying their power together!" Their opponents stepped back in horror as the large magnetized warrior formed before their very eyes. "W-what?! They're merging together!" Mask of Light gasped, the new monster giving a swing of its sword before glaring down to the two masked figured, the animosity from Beta fueling it. It did not like being immovable and unable to protect the royal it was made to guard and will be sure that Guardius felt all of its anger. "Meet Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!" Standing with 3500 attack, Guardius was but an ant in comparison. The two surely didn't think they still had tricks under their sleeve to bring out stronger monsters but one should never doubt the critical minds of the two duelists. "Do it, Yami. Destroy the thing that destroyed my Blue-Eyes. I never allow one to slide from killing my dragon but that right is currently in your hands." Seto spoke and Yami nodded though something in him told him that there was something else to consider. The two...hardly look worried. The attack will surely go through with nothing covered to protect them or their monster...so is the monster itself harboring something? His tail flicked irritably. Guess it's now or never. He hated being baited in return but it was at more risk to leave the monster on their field than to worry about an effect. "Well! What are you waiting for?! Kill that beast and be rid of it!" Seto snapped before Yami roared in warning, making the brunet flinch. With his anger quelled, Yami made to set a card face down.

"I understand your anger...and your fear. I want to get off this roof as much as you do but I refuse to go in with an attack without knowing that your mind's judgement is not in the right place." Yami murmured. "Be rid of your anger and hatred for the two before me then I'll make my attack. Fueled by anger is what made me nearly lost so much and you will be well on that same path. Demons in a modern world have to take critical steps to ensure a safe living. I rather not be one to expose all my weaknesses at once." Seto growled at his words but took a deep inhale. They got this far and he would be a fool to not take Yami's words into consideration. He was seeing something he wasn't with an irrational mind. Glancing to his hand, his eyes caught sight of the god of Obelisk resting there, power restricted thanks to the Mask of Restrict. If only he could get the god onto the field, the fools before him will be no challenge to him. But how...how can he summon...wait. Right before it was another card, a spell. Realization sparked in his eyes as he looked toward Valkyrion. Was it but another trap? Something to bait the masked duo in believing they still had the upper hand? It seemed too uncanny, too unrealistic for Yami to have thought so far ahead, to have read into his desire to crush them literally under his fist. But Seto had to remember, at the core of him wasn't just a duelist or gaming expert but a demon. A demon that knows how to reach into the deepest recesses of a prey's psyche and use it to his advantage. He has read in what made the masked duo truly weak before them.

Their overconfidence.

Once he would never believe such notions, such fantasies to exist in his lifetime but Yami was there in the flesh, once a spirit who regained a body and had a power that was only fabricated in ancient medieval times. His instincts would never lie to him and he would never lie to Seto when someone close is on the line that he valued to keep their life. Closing his eyes, Seto gave a nod. "Make the attack, Yami." he whispered and the demon nodded, hearing the relaxed but trusting tone in his words. Seto knows exactly what he is to do. Raising a hand, Yami commanded the warrior to attack and upon doing so with a mighty Magnet Saber, the beast fell but Mask of Light commended him for unleashing its special ability with its defeat. A mask was left on the ground where it fell, a twisted mask with a façade that could chill a weak soul. "Now, Mask of Possession, take Guardius' anger and attach yourself to Valkyrion!" The mask flew as commanded, attaching itself to Valkyrion and no matter how much he tried to resist it, he was soon forced towards the opponents' side, Seto glowered in anger of the move. Their last defense was taken from them and they had nothing except the card Yami covered. But with a glance to Yami, he hardly seemed deterred though his expression was made to look as if he was stressed at the loss of his monster to the duo. "Finally! We have you now! You have nothing to protect you and your strongest is mine to command!" Mask of Light cheered before looking to his partner. "You take Yami, I'll take Kaiba! I will make him pay for daring to sway me! And calling me a shrimp!" Mask of Darkness nodded as he took his draw and commanded the magna warrior to make the attack. "Die Yami! Your demonic reign will be silenced here by the sword of your own monster!" With 1100 life points, the attack connecting would indeed end him.

/Yami!/ Yugi cried through the bond. He had been silent throughout the duel but he had seen everything to have happened. He trusted the demon to know what he was doing but there was ever a sliver of fear that someone will come and take the demon from him. He didn't want that. He had given so much to keep them with him after his own foolishness to pushing them away when he did not truly understood their position. The teen refused to imagine someone could have the power to defeat or even kill Yami. The masked duo's boastful talk of stopping him from flying should he lose is what his mind was too focused on. What if they did!? If he fell and died, shattering the puzzle upon impact then Aqua...

/Calm, my love. They have fell for everything I set up./ Yami soothed as he looked up to Valkyrion lifting the sword, ready to slash him and the rest of his points. "Know this, my foolish prey...that the reason you lost today is from your own debilitating anger and vengeance." he whispered as he flipped the covered card to reveal De-Fusion. Before the sword could touch a single hair on his head, the warriors have defused, returning them back to normal and cutting off the attack. "No! You separated the fusion!" Mask of Light gasped in horror before looking into the deep cerise that spelled death for the two. He knew...he always knew. They were to fall before them and they didn't realize it, baited completely into thinking they had everything under control. A glance to his partner was met with the same worrying glance as Seto took his turn. "You have angered me but thanks to Yami, my mind is clear. A clear mind is just what I need to harness the powers of a god to destroy you." he whispered as Mask of Light once more reminded him that tributes were restricted. "I heard you the first time and it's clear you haven't read the fine print of your own card if you have to repeat it. So let me reiterate that it isn't my monsters I'm using." he spoke as he activated Soul Exchange and the duo gasped in horror, realizing their mistake all too late. The clouds above stirred angrily to the ancient power, the spell taking the three magnet warriors as tribute as Seto lifted the card from his hand. "Taste your defeat tenfold as I bring to your eyes...the God of Obelisk!" Setting the card onto the field, the effect was instantaneous. The god slowly rose from behind the brunet, red eyes holding great knowledge and power glaring down to the duo that stood before it. A size unfit to be recreated by the holographic technology only showed as much of its upper body as able upon the top of the building but that was enough to commit to the command given by Seto.

A smirk crossed his lips as he raised a hand towards the god. "Die, insects. God Hand Crusher!"

A resounding roar met the brunet's call as Obelisk raised a fist, sending it straight for Mask of Darkness who could only look on helplessly as his life points were to be dusted. There was no stopping a god and even when they took such careful steps to prevent it from being summoned, they found a way. Now they both were to meet their end.

'We failed you, Master Malik...'