By the time the workers working for Michael's boss had cleared Lector's body Michael and Kimberly where in the middle of shuffling their decks having already activated their duel disks, the whole time Kimberly didn't take her eyes off of Michael as she glared daggers at the hooded duelist, the other students were worried however as they had seen this man regarded with fear by his cohorts.
"Does anyone know what kind of deck this guy runs?" Lance asked as he scratched his head in confusion, the other students shook their heads.
"No, the majority of the students were either in class or, in your case, training for the tournament." Jeff answered him with a frown. "The only witness to the duel that we know off is Kimberly."
"I asked around my dorm after Nathan was taken to the infirmary to see if anyone had witnessed the duel." Martin added as the two duelists drew their opening hands. "However none of the students who were in their rooms at the time witnessed the duel, the only time they realized what was going on was when they heard Nathan's scream." Martin added and Lance frowned.
"Gee, how fucking convenient for him." Lance responded as he folded his arms. "Did this guy compete in the tournament? You'd think we'd hear of a cloaked weirdo walking around stealing people's souls."
"No, I didn't" Michael answered as he turned his attention to Lance. "My boss withdrew me from the tournament at the last minute."
"Why? Is it because you suck at dueling?" Lance asked and Michael shook his head.
"No, my boss didn't want to risk losing the second best duelist in the organization." Michael said simply as he looked over his hand. "If you don't believe me ask Kimberly, she witnessed the duel and can attest for my skills."
"All I can attest too is that you use a broken deck with an even more broken field spell." Kimberly snapped at him and Michael frowned. "I'm going first." Kimberly added before drawing her first card. "Good, I have what I need to block his strongest monsters, but I'd better play it safe and hold on to it until he tries to summon one of those monsters." Kimberly thought as she decided on an opening move.
"Guys, I'm worried about her." Chloe admitted as she rubbed her arm nervously. "She was let out of the hospital recently so how do we know if she's in any condition to duel."
"Appreciate the thought kid but don't worry, I can look after myself." Kimberly reassured her before picking up the card she drew. "I start with Allure of Darkness, in exchange for banishing one Dark Type monster in my hand…"
"That card will allow you to draw two cards." Michael interrupted her before pointing at the security cameras. "I have watched each and every one of your duels in this tournament little girl, there's nothing you can surprise me with." Michael added and Kimberly frowned before pocketing a monster, drawing two cards and sending her Spell to the grave.
"That's what he thinks." Kimberly thought before picking the top card in her deck. "The card I removed from play is Cyber Ouroboros (2/100/600), when that monster is removed from play I can draw another card as long as I send a card from my hand to the graveyard." Kimberly drew the card and discarded one of her cards, once that was done she picked up three cards, two of which she had just drawn. "I set two cards facedown and summon Archfiend Soldier in attack mode!" Kimberly played the cards and the purple fiend appeared on the field ready for battle (4/1900/1600). "And I end my turn at that." Kimberly announced and Michael drew his card.
"What's this? I haven't drawn any of my best monsters!" Michael thought as he looked over his opening hand, Kimberly couldn't see it because of his hood but he was frowning at the moment. "No matter, I'll make do." Michael thought before playing a card. "I summon Beast King Barborus in attack mode!" Michael played the card and a strange being appeared on the field, it had the upper body of a muscular man but the lower body of a Panther and the head of a lion; it was wielding a shield and a spear (8/3000/1200).
"Am I going crazy or did he just summon a Level 8 monster without a single sacrifice?" Lance asked clearly confused by this.
"My Beast King allows for that to happen via his effect, however as a consequence his attack drops to 1900." Michael explained as his beast warrior's attack dropped. "I set a card facedown and end my turn, attack if you dare!" Michael taunted her and Kimberly drew her card.
"Don't tempt me." Kimberly said plainly before looking at her new card. "He didn't use that monster during his match with Nathan; then again it was a short match so maybe he didn't get a chance to draw that thing." Kimberly thought before playing the card. "I summon Terrorking Archfiend in attack mode!" Kimberly played the card and the king of the archfiends appeared on the field (4/2000/1500).
"That just means you'll lose 800 life-points per turn." Michael scoffed and Kimberly grinned.
"I know, but so will you!" Kimberly said as one of her trap cards flipped up. "I activate Battle Scarred and I target Terrorking with its effect, now we both have to pay 800 life-points per turn." Kimberly announced and Michael just stared at her. "You ever remove that hood by the way?"
"Yes but only in private." Michael said bluntly. "Tell you what, you somehow get my life-points below one thousand and I will remove the hood."
"Well, let's get started then, Terrorking attack Barboros!" Kimberly commanded and the fiend reached forward with its claws before tearing the Beast Warrior in half.
"You fool, that's what I wanted you to do!" Michael said barely noticing that his life-points dropped to 7900 as he activated his trap. "I activate Option Hunter; this trap card can only be activated if one of my monsters is destroyed in battle, as a direct result of this that monster's original attack points are added to my life-points."
"Wait, wasn't Barboros's original attack 3000?" Lance asked and the others nodded grimly as Michael's life-points shot up to 10,900. "Oh man, Kimberly's own trap has put her at a disadvantage!"
"Don't worry Lance; my remaining monster can still attack!" Kimberly announced as Archfiend Soldier charged towards Michael…
"Not if I summon Battle Fader to intercept the attack!" Michael played the card and the small, clock like fiend appeared in Archfiend Soldier's path (1/0/0), the Soldier stopped in its tracks and returned to Kimberly's side of the field. "I warned you not to challenge me little girl, you should've headed my warning when you still had the chance."
"I'm not giving up yet." Kimberly growled before looking at her hand. "One card facedown and that ends my turn." Kimberly set the card and Michael drew his card.
"I activate the Spell Card Pot of Duality." Michael played the card and picked up the next three cards in his deck. "All I have to do is show you these three cards and chose one of them to go to my hand, the rest are shuffled into my deck." Michael turned the cards around and Kimberly's eyes narrowed, she definitely recognized the third card, it was the Seal of the Orichalcos, but the other two cards where a complete mystery, Michael added the two mystery cards to his deck, shuffled it and added the Seal to his hand. "I suppose you know what's coming up next so I won't keep you in suspense; I activate The Seal of the Orichalcos." Michael played the card and Kimberly shielded herself as the infamous field spell surrounded the two duelists, as his hood concealed his forehead Kimberly couldn't see the Seal on it but she could tell it was there as his eyes where glowing red.
"Man, this is bad." Chloe winced and Kimberly turned her attention to her briefly.
"You think this is bad? I have to deal with this thing." Kimberly pointed out before turning back to Michael in time to see that Battle Fader's attack increased to 500 thanks to the seal. "If he's half the duelist he thinks he is he'll get rid of Battle Fader as soon as possible." Kimberly thought as she waited for Michael to continue his move.
"Now onto the business at hand, I have no further use for Battle Fader so I sacrifice him in order to summon Darkflare Dragon." Michael pocketed Battle Fader due to its effect and the fiend vanished, in its place stood a large jetblack dragon with red scales down its stomach (5/2400/1200) and its attack increased to 2900 thanks to the seal. "Darkflare Dragon, attack Archfiend Soldier!" Michael commanded and the dragon breathed fire at the fiend incinerating it.
K: 7000
M: 10,900
"In case you have any desire to bring back your soldier with either Archfiend's Roar or Monster Reborn than forget it." Michael said as he pointed at Darkflare Dragon. "My dragon has a very special ability, all I need to do is send two dragon type monsters from my hand and my graveyard, in exchange for this I can banish one card from either of our graveyards, I choose your graveyard." Michael said coldly and Kimberly reluctantly retrieved Archfiend Soldier from the graveyard. "I shall end my turn at that."
"So what is this guy's strategy anyway?" Lance asked as he scratched his head in confusion. "None of his cards so far have had any common themes between them." Lance added as Kimberly drew her card, she winced as Battle Scarred took effect bringing her life-points down to 6200 and Michael's life-points down to 10,100.
"He could be using a chaos deck; Darkflare Dragon has an additional ability that's very similar to most Chaos monsters." Jeff said before shaking his head, "But why would a Chaos Duelist use cards like Option Hunter or Beast King Barboros?"
"I was planning on using this on something weaker." Kimberly said as her trap card flipped up. "But since Battle Scarred can do nothing but hurt me at the moment I'm activating Dark Spirit Art – Greed." Kimberly announced as Terrorking Archfiend vanished alongside Battle Scarred's hologram, she drew twice and looked at the two cards she had drawn.
"Draw all the cards you like, I still have the advantage." Michael scoffed as he waited for Kimberly to make her move.
"Not for long, I activate the Spell Card I just drew, Lightning Vortex!" Kimberly played the card and Michael's eyes widened as, after Kimberly discarded one of the cards in her hand, lightning struck his dragon destroying it. "Now to narrow down the difference between our life-points a bit, I summon Shadowknight Archfiend in attack mode!" Kimberly played the second card she drew and the knight of the archfiends appeared on the field (4/2000/1600). "Now Shadowknight Archfiend, narrow down the gap between our life-points!" Kimberly commanded and the knight charged towards the robed figure before slashing him across the chest.
K: 6200
M: 9100
"Fortunately for me the battle damage I would've taken from Shadowknight Archfiend's attack is cut in half by its own effect." Michael said with a grunt as he got up. "You're going to have to try better than that pathetic excuse for an Archfiend."
"Oh believe me, I will try better," Kimberly sneered as she looked at the rest of her hand. "I end my turn but fair warning; don't call my Archfiends pathetic when you haven't even seen the best that my deck has to offer." Kimberly said as Michael drew his card, "Even if some of those monsters have yet to show up in my hand." Kimberly thought.
"Please, I've seen the best your deck has to offer and frankly I'm not impressed." Michael said as he drew his card. "I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn." Michael announced and Kimberly drew her card ignoring the pain from Shadowknight's effect as it brought her life-points down to 5300.
"Finally, I drew an Archfiend that won't cost me life-points!" Kimberly sighed in relief before playing the card. "And this Archfiend spells nothing but bad news for you; I summon Mad Archfiend in attack mode!" Kimberly played the card and a new Archfiend appeared on the field, this fiend's skin was bone white, had wild red hair and most strikingly off all, had a hole in its chest that exposed a skull and had teeth around the edges (4/1800/0).
"That monster may be terrifying to look at but its attack score is pathetic and its defense score is non-existent." Michael said dismissively as he folded his arms. "How will that abomination help you exactly?"
"How will it help? Easy, Mad Archfiend has the ability to inflict piercing damage!" Kimberly announced and Michael's eyes widened when he heard that. "Mad Archfiend, attack his defense!" Kimberly commanded and the fiend charged towards the facedown monster, revealed to be a small grey pot with a smiling face in it (2/700/600) which was quickly shattered by Mad Archfiend's claws.
K: 5200
M: 7900
"Morphing Jar? Your deck makes no sense, you know that right?" Lance called out from the sidelines as both duelists discarded their hands and drew new ones.
"Lance, do me a favor and don't give him ideas." Kimberly shouted back before turning to Michael. "Shadowknight, you know what to do!" Kimberly commanded and the knight charged towards Michael…..but the slash was blocked by the sudden appearance of a second Battle Fader. "I should've known you wouldn't be that easy to beat." Kimberly growled as Shadowknight Archfiend returned to her side of the field. "I end my turn." Kimberly announced and Michael drew his card.
"Very well, I start by activating Pot of Avarice." Michael played the card before retrieving Beast King Barbarous, Darkblaze Dragon, the two dragons Michael discarded for Darkblaze's effect and Morphing Jar, returning them to his deck and drawing two cards. "Excellent, first I bring back an old friend of ours!" Michael played the card and Beast King Barbarous appeared on the field with its attack point reduction intact, even as the Seal increased its power to 2400.
"Well, at least it's not at full power." Lance said with a nervous chuckle as Michael picked up another card.
"If you believe that then you are sadly mistaken." Michael said as he played the card. "I equip my Beast King with the Spell Card Axe of Fools, this Spell Card increases my Beast King's attack by 1000 points but in exchange his effects are negated." Michael said with a grin as an axe with a foolish looking face appeared in Beast King's hands its attack skyrocketed to 3500.
"Lance, what did I tell you about giving my opponent ideas?" Kimberly called out to him and Lance laughed nervously.
"It doesn't matter, now Barboros attack Mad Archfiend this instant!" Michael commanded and Barboros charged towards Mad Archfiend, however the fiend crouched down before the attack hit and was decapitated. "What on Earth…"
"That's Mad Archfiend's second effect, when he's attacked he shifts to defense mode immediately." Kimberly said with a smirk. "In other words you would have been better off attacking Shadowknight Archfiend." Kimberly added and Michael scowled.
"Very well, I end my turn." Michael said and Kimberly drew her card wincing as Shadowknight's effect drained her life-points even more, down to 4300.
"Good, just the card I was looking for." Kimberly said as she played the card. "I summon Terrorking Archfiend in attack mode!" Kimberly played the card and the king of the Archfiends reappeared on the field (4/2000/1500).
"That monster will just drain your life-points quicker!" Michael scoffed as Kimberly played another card.
"I'm not done, I activate Checkmate!" Kimberly played the card and Shadowknight Archfiend disappeared from the field, "Now that I've sacrificed Shadowknight my Terrorking can bypass your overgrown pussycat and attack your life-points directly!"
"Err, Kimberly, I don't think that's a pussycat." Chloe called out and Kimberly facepalmed.
"Not the point kid." Kimberly called back before turning her attention to Michael. "Terrorking, attack his life-points directly!" Kimberly commanded and the archfiend charged towards Michael, Barboros tried striking it with his axe but Terrorking avoided the strike and slashed Michael across the chest.
K: 4300
M: 5900
"Your life-points are running low Michael, I suggest you do something fast." The leader said into Michael's earpiece.
"It matters not, she may have just cost me life-points but I still have the field advantage!" Michael answered back as he got to his feet.
"Who are you talking too?" Kimberly asked and Michael frowned.
"I was talking too my employer." Michael said as he pointed towards the ship. "If I somehow lose this duel then he's all that stands between you and freeing your friend." Michael added and Kimberly grinned as she heard that. "All though that is unlikely to happen anytime soon, my Beast King is the best monster on the field." Michael thought before looking over his hand.
"Well I guess I'll have to beat you in the next few turns." Kimberly said confidently before looking at her hand. "I end my turn." Kimberly announced and Michael drew his card only to wince as his own life-points dropped to 5400.
"Axe of Fools has a third effect not unlike the effect of your Archfiends; as long as it's on the field I shall lose 500 life-points during each of my standby phases." Michael explained before pointing at Barboros, "Go my Beast King, strike down her Terrorking now and show her true royalty!" Michael commanded and the Beast-Warrior charged towards the Archfiend…but was blocked by the ghostly image of Necro Gardna (3/600/1300). "I never destroyed that monster!"
"You didn't need too; remember when I removed Cyber Ouroboros from play at the beginning of the duel? The card I discarded for his effect was Necro Gardna." Kimberly answered as Beast King Barboros returned to Michael's side of the field, Kimberly pocketed Necro Gardna and the ghostly image of the monster faded from the field.
"Fine, I'll end my turn with a facedown card." Michael growled and Kimberly drew her card whilst ignoring the pain from Terrorking's effect bringing her life-points down to 3400.
"Perfect, I equip Beast King with the Spell Card Falling Down!" Kimberly played the card and Beast King glowed.
"You fool, that hasn't lowered my Beast King's attack one bit!" Michael taunted her with a smirk…which quickly faded when Beast King walked over to Kimberly's side of the field. "Explain yourself!"
"Gladly, Falling Down can only be equipped to a monster if I have an Archfiend on my side of the field, in this case Terrorking, otherwise it's destroyed." Kimberly explained with a grin. "In exchange for that and taking 800 life-points during each of your standby phases I get to control Beast King!" Kimberly explained and Michael's eyes widened. "Beast King, Terrorking, attack his life-points directly!" Kimberly commanded and the two kings charged towards Michael, Terrorking struck first bringing Michael's life-points down to 3400, but as Beast King went to deliver the finishing blow…
"I'm not out of this yet! I activate my trap card Confusion Chaff which redirects Beast King's attack towards Terrorking!" Michael activated the trap and Beast King changed course skewering Terrorking through the chest with its spear.
K: 1900
M: 3400
"In your quest to eliminate me you have ensured your own demise!" Michael said confidently as Beast King returned to his side of the field. "With no Archfiends on your side of the field your Spell Card is destroyed thus returning the Beast King to its rightful owner, on my next turn your soul is mine."
"I still have a move to make asshole!" Kimberly snapped at him as she looked over her hand. "This had better work; I refuse to have my soul trapped like Nathan's!" Kimberly thought as she picked up and set a card. "That ends my turn."
"I can't watch." Marcus said as he turned away from the duel, Chloe clenched her fists in anger as she glared daggers at Michael.
"Chloe, relax, Kimberly will be fine." Silent Magician reassured her mentally and Chloe let out a sigh.
"It's kind of hard to do that with the current situation!" Chloe responded as Michael drew his card, "But you haven't been wrong before so I'll take your word for it."
"Your time in this duel has come to an end!" Michael said as he ignored the pain from his Spell Card bringing his life-points down to 2900. "Beast King, finish the foolish girl off!" Michael commanded and the king charged towards Kimberly before stabbing her in the stomach and pinning her against the Orichalcos Wall, Michael laughed evilly as Kimberly coughed up blood….but stopped when he saw that her life-points hadn't moved an inch. "What on Earth….." Michael demanded before looking at Kimberly's side of the field. "You set Defense Draw!"
"That's right." Kimberly said as she drew a card. "This trap keeps my life-points safe for another round and lets me draw a card; only downside is that I still take the hit." Kimberly added and Beast King dropped her, Kimberly slumped down and Beast King returned to Michael's side of the field.
"Oh man, this is bad!" Marcus winced as he saw Kimberly cough up blood again. "Argh, I've had enough of this! Let me duel in her place!" Marcus shouted as he activated his duel disk.
"I can't even if I wanted too." Michael said simply as he turned to Kimberly. "The only way this duel ends is if either of us is defeated, I never said anything about her life-points hitting zero."
"You mean she could pass out and the Orichalcos will take her soul?" Lance shouted out and Michael nodded. "That's sadistic!"
"That's the nature of the Orichalcos; it cares not for the method of defeat so long as one duelist knows defeat!" Michael shouted back at him and Lance grit his teeth in anger.
"Silent Magician, can you use your magic to help her?" Chloe asked mentally as the spectral form of Silent Magician Level 8 appeared alongside her.
"I'm afraid not, my power is being blocked by the Orichalcos." Silent Magician answered back with a sigh of annoyance. "All though it looks like she won't need my help." Silent Magician added as, too everyone's surprise Kimberly forced herself to her feet.
"Impossible, you took the full brunt of my Beast King's power!" Michael shouted out in surprise as Kimberly glared daggers at him. "How…how are you still moving? ANSWER ME!" Michael demanded and Kimberly smirked.
"I won't give up, not as long as I have life-points left!" Kimberly said as she clenched her fists. "And it's my turn!" Kimberly shouted as she drew her card. "Perfect. I don't get to use this card often but now is as good a time as any; I activate the Spell Card "The Beginning of the End!" Kimberly played the card and the Spell Card's hologram appeared on the field,
"An appropriate metaphor for what's going to happen next turn but I fail to see the point." Michael commented with a grin. "What exactly does it do?"
"This Spell Card can only be activated if I have seven or more Dark Type monsters in my graveyard. In exchange for banishing five of those cards I can draw three cards from my deck." Kimberly explained as she retrieved the monsters, pocketed them and drew three cards.
"Hold on, I only destroyed four cards, one of which was a wind type monster!" Michael shouted and Kimberly grinned.
"True but you helped me get more cards in my graveyard with Morphing Jar earlier in the duel." Kimberly explained as she looked at her three new cards. "And I have just the card to eliminate Beast King Barboros for good!"
"How on Earth do you plan to do that with no monsters on your side of the field?" Michael demanded as she played another card.
"I plan to do that with this Spell Card, Dark Core!" Kimberly played the card Michael's eyes widened when he heard that. "In exchange for tossing one card from my hand I can remove one monster on your side of the field from play!" Kimberly discarded the card and Beast King was sucked into a black hole, Michael growled as he pocketed Beast King and sent his Spell to the graveyard. "Now to even the playing field, I summon Archfiend Soldier!" Kimberly played the card and the purple fiend appeared on the field ready for battle (4/1900/1600). "Archfiend, attack his Battle Fader!" Kimberly commanded and the purple fiend charged towards Michael's fiend before slashing it in two with its sword. "That ends my turn."
"Very well, it's my move." Michael announced as he drew his card, however he frowned when he saw it. "This trap card is useless, I can't use this yet." Michael thought before adding the card to his hand. "I pass." Michael announced and Kimberly wasted no time in drawing her card.
"Archfiend Soldier, attack his life-points directly!" Kimberly commanded as she added the monster she drew to her hand, the soldier charged towards Michael before slashing him across the chest with his sword.
K: 1900
M: 500
Michael slowly got to his feet as he glared at Kimberly. "It's been so long since anyone has lasted this long against me, let alone brought my life-points down by this much." Michael said as he got up. "I agreed at the beginning of the duel to remove my hood if you brought my life-points down below one thousand, I am a man of my word." Michael added as he stood up straight, with one hand he grabbed his hood and slowly removed it…and Kimberly gasped in horror at what she saw.
"Your…..you're….." Kimberly stammered clearly at a loss for words.
"Hideous? Am I repulsive? I've heard it all before." Michael said as his eyes narrowed, his face was hideously scarred to the point where Kimberly couldn't tell what parts of his face weren't scarred. "It wasn't always like this, twenty years ago I had it all, looks, charm, a happy family, a successful career as a pro league duelist, I had it all, only for it to be stolen from me in one horrible night."
"What happened?" Kimberly asked as her Archfiend returned to the field. "I think the better question is; why do I care? This guy took Nathan from me."
"It started off innocently enough, I had come home from a tournament in Los Angeles, I won off course, and by the time I returned home it was late at night." Michael said as his eyes narrowed. "Whilst I slept I was alerted by my wife to the smell of smoke, my house had been set alight but that wasn't what scarred me, no, we escaped the house but I realized that my youngest daughter was still inside, the fireman told me that it was too late for her but I didn't listen, instead I did what any loving father would and ran into the house trying to save her." Tears ran down the normally stoic Michael's eyes as he recounted the story. "She was still in her room, I could hear her terrified sobs from miles away, and I opened the door to her room but was hit by blowback." Michael said as he pointed to his face. "This was the result."
"Holy….." Lance muttered as it dawned on him. "Did they ever find out what the cause was?"
"Indeed, a serial arsonist with a criminal record a mile long had set the fire; he thought the house was empty. He was wrong." Michael said as he clenched his fists in anger. "He turned himself in the next day, he claimed that he had no idea that my family was inside the house at the time and had felt incredible guilt upon hearing that my daughter had died in the fire, I would've been killed as well but they were able to get me to a hospital in time."
"So he got everything he deserved right?" Marcus asked and Michael shook his head.
"Despite all the overwhelming evidence against him, ranging from his fingerprints on the gas canister he used to start the fire to eye witness accounts that put him in the area at the time of the fire, his lawyer was able to secure a plea bargain, he should've served a life sentence for his crime but his lawyer ensured that he would only serve a sentence of 25 to Life, I was enraged." Michael said as he clenched his fists. "I was never the same after that day, I pleaded with the DA'S office to take back the plea bargain but my pleas fell on deaf ears, my obsession with the case ended up costing me my wife and my remaining child, my son, and it almost cost me my life."
"I may hate him for, well, being with the psycho on the ship, but I don't like where this is going." Lance muttered under his breath as he listened.
"My plan was simple, I would jump off a bridge into oncoming traffic and at the same time I wouldn't give the local police force time to arrive." Michael said as he sighed. "That was when he arrived, I thought he was an innocent bystander trying to do the right thing in preventing my suicide, I was about to jump when he offered me a chance at revenge, at power, as strong as my thirst for suicide was my thirst for revenge was far stronger."
"But the arsonist was in jail wasn't he?" Kimberly asked wincing from the pain that had accumulated over the course of the duel.
"Indeed he was; the leader had him broken out of jail just so I could eliminate him, I took my time with him, and I made sure he felt the pain that I felt." Michael said before lowering his eyes. "But that wasn't enough for me, the arsonist may have carried out the act but it was his lawyer that started me down the path to where I am today, he was easy enough to find, all I needed to do was wait for him in the parking garage of his law firm and I made him an offer he couldn't refuse, duel me for his soul or his family….." Michael remained silent before slowly making a cut throat motion with his thumb.
"You threatened an innocent man's…" Theresa started as she trembled with anger but was cut off by Michael.
"HE WAS NOT INNOCENT!" Michael yelled at her with rage previously unseen. "After I won I ordered the deaths of his family, made him listen to the gunfire and anguished screams as the Orichalcos took his soul away." Michael added earning a collective gasp from the other duelists. "It was the least he deserved for ruining my life!"
"Dad…what are you saying?" A familiar voice rang out from behind the students and they turned around, Tyler was standing there with a look of shock on his face. "Or should I ask, what are you doing still alive."
"You still believe the lies your mother fed you?" Michael scoffed as he folded his arms. "After the…..incident with the lawyer my wife finally had enough, she left with my sole remaining son who was only a baby at the time."
"She told me you died in that fire alongside my sister." Tyler said as his eyes narrowed. "But if I had known that you were in the city I would've tracked you down."
"Ah yes, your mother could never handle the truth behind my actions, couldn't she?" Michael asked as his eyes narrowed. "So instead of living with the truth she killed herself didn't she?"
"Don't you dare bring her into this!" Tyler snapped at him. "My mother was a great woman, and ten times the person you'll ever be!"
"ENOUGH!" Michael yelled as he pulled his hood up. "I have a duel to win, if you still wish to deal with me after I crush this pathetic girl then so be it!"
"In case you haven't noticed it's still my move!" Kimberly said as she picked up the third card she drew with Beginning of the End's effect. "I set this card facedown and end my turn." Kimberly set the card and Michael, despite his shaking hands as a result of retelling his story, drew his card.
"I activate the magic of Card of Sanctity." Michael said plainly as he drew until he had six cards in his hand, Kimberly did likewise and Michael grinned evilly as he saw the card in question. "It was very appropriate that you activated a card called Beginning of the End during your last turn because it is the beginning of the end for you!" Michael said as he picked up a card. "I summon Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"What did he say?" Lance and Marcus shouted out simultaneously but Kimberly smirked.
"I think not, you used that card against Nathan and it led to his defeat." Kimberly said as she activated the trap that she had set at the beginning of the duel. "But since you need to remove the original Blue-Eyes White Dragon from play to summon it I counter your card with Imperial Iron Wall!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Michael shouted as it dawned on him. "I was wondering why you hadn't used that trap, no wonder you were so eager to duel me." Michael added and Kimberly smirked. "Very well, I shall pass my turn." Michael announced and Kimberly drew her card.
"That still doesn't answer our question." Lance pointed out as he scratched his head in confusion. "What exactly are Malefic monsters anyway?"
"They are extremely rare and powerful cards, even rarer than the Yubel series." Tyler answered him as his eyes narrowed, "In a way they are similar to the Dark Counterparts but have summoning restrictions that make Dark Armed Dragon look like an average Level 4 monster by comparison." Tyler added with a sigh. "I don't know where and how my father got his hands on those cards; according to my mother he ran a Warrior deck back when he was a Pro Duelist that was lost in the fire that killed my sister." Tyler added the sadness clear in his voice as he remembered that.
"Actually, now that you mention it, something's been bugging me since you turned up." Chloe said as she turned her attention to Tyler.
"Why am I here right?" Tyler asked and Chloe nodded. "Alex spread word of your assault on the Orichalcos Duelists base of operations, it eventually reached my step father's office and he asked me to see if you needed any help." Tyler added and Chloe nodded before turning her attention back to the duel just as Kimberly gingerly drew her card. "She seems to be injured."
"Yeah, she was coughing up blood earlier." Chloe nodded with a frown. "How she's still standing, let alone dueling, is beyond me." Chloe added.
"Archfiend Soldier, finish him off!" Kimberly commanded the purple fiend charged towards the cloaked man again…only to be stopped by a third Battle Fader.
"Did you honestly think that I would be beaten THAT easily!" Michael demanded as he folded his arms. "End your turn girl, I don't have all day."
"Fine, I end my turn." Kimberly said as she discarded a card due to hand size limit, Michael said nothing before drawing his card…..but the silence was broken by his evil laughter. "Now what do you have up your sleeve?"
"The key to your defeat but first I activate the Spell Card Share the Pain!" Michael played the card and Battle Fader vanished from the field. "This card may be old but it still has its uses, not unlike me if you think about it, basically I tribute one monster on my side of the field and you must do the same." Michael explained and Kimberly frowned before sending her fiend to the graveyard. "Now to secure your demise once and for all, I summon the Tuner Monster Malefic Parallel Gear!" Michael played the card and a small green and black machine made out of gears appeared on the field (2/0/0) and its attack increased to 500 thanks to the seal.
"This is bad; he never used that card against Nathan!" Kimberly thought as she desperately tried to keep her cool. "I can't believe you were ever a Pro Duelist, even a rookie knows that the only way to do a Synchro Summon is to have more than one monster on your side of the field!" Kimberly taunted him, however Tyler's eyes narrowed.
"No, don't tell me he's summoning THAT monster!" Tyler pleaded mentally as he watched his biological farther grin evilly.
"That is the case with most tuner monsters." Michael said as he picked up a card from his hand. "However Parallel Gear is a unique exception to the rule as the Synchro Material Monster must be a card in my hand with the name "Malefic" in the name."
"You can't be serious?" Lance yelled out in surprise and Michael smirked.
"Just watch, I tune Malefic Parallel Gear….." Michael said as the small machine took flight. "…with Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon to Synchro Summon the mighty Malefic Paradox Dragon!" Michael said as the ghostly image of the famous dragon appeared behind Malefic Parallel Gear, the two monsters vanished into 10 shining stars as the bright flash enveloped the field, when it faded Kimberly looked up and saw a black and silver dragon that was terrifying to look at (10/4000/4000) and it's attack increased to 4500. "My new monster has several effects but there's only one you should worry about, if a certain field spell isn't in play it's automatically destroyed."
"Let me guess, that Field Spell just happens to be the Seal of the Orichalcos?" Kimberly asked…only to do a double take as the massive dragon's hologram shattered. "Or maybe it's not the field spell in question, I'm confused." Kimberly admitted as she scratched her head in confusion, the other students were equally as confused as she was but it was Lance that spoke up.
"Why would he waste his summon on a monster that he knew was going to be destroyed?" Lance asked clearly confused by this.
"Why would I waste that powerful monster? The answer is simple, because now that a Malefic monster has been destroyed I can summon another, much more powerful monster in its place." Michael said before wincing as his life-points dropped to 250. "Sure, it costs me half of my life-points but with this much power it's worth it! You see, on the condition that a Malefic monster I control is destroyed by either a card effect or battle AND that I cut my life-points in half I can Special Summon the strongest monster in my deck to the field, come forth Malefic Truth Dragon!" Michael played the card and a massive orange dragon appeared on the field with a mighty roar (12/5000/5000) and its attack increased to 5500 thanks to the Seal's power.
"5500 attack points….." Lance gulped as he saw the stats. "Not…not to worry….maybe it has the same weakness as that other dragon."
"That's where you're wrong." Michael said plainly as the dragon roared again. "Malefic Truth Dragon has a similar weakness to that off Malefic Paradox Dragon but with one exception, whilst Malefic Paradox Dragon requires one specific Field Spell to be on the field Malefic Paradox Dragon has no such limitation, as long as there's a Field Spell on the field this monster remains on the field."
"And the Seal of the Orichalcos just happens to be a Field Spell." Kimberly said as her eyes narrowed. "Any other effects I should worry about?"
"Why yes there is, I can only have one face up Malefic monster on my side of the field at a time and if it attacks a face-up attack position monster all monsters on your side of the field are destroyed." Michael said before smirking. "But that doesn't matter, why? It's simple, because this dragon is about to deliver the finishing blow to you, GO MALEFIC TRUTH DRAGON!" Michael commanded and the dragon let loose with a mighty burst of energy.
"I don't think so, I activate my trap card Dimension Wall, I still take the hit but you take all the damage!" Kimberly activated her trap and Michael's eyes widened as the burst of energy collided with an invisible wall, the wall wavered almost as if it was going to give way but the energy was successfully bounced back to Michael and he took the full brunt of the blast.
K: 1900
M: 0000
Kimberly collapsed to her knees from a combination of pain and exhaustion but was glad that she had been able to avenge her brother; Michael was leaning against the Orichalcos wall in a sitting position as the holograms disappeared and the seal closed in on him. "DAD!" Tyler yelled out as he ran up to him.
"Tyler, it is too late for me." Michael said as he held up his copy of the Seal of the Orichalcos which he had retrieved from the Field Spell Slot. "I have been using this card for over twenty years; I have trapped many innocents within this Spell Card's cursed power in that time." Michael said as he sighed sadly.
"What….what are you saying?" Tyler demanded and Michael removed his hood one last time.
"Tyler….my son, I have one final request." Michael said as he dropped the Spell Card. "That Spell Card will have my soul trapped within it once my soul is taken from me, you must destroy it, and doing so will destroy my soul."
"You…you can't be serious?" Tyler asked as his tears welled up in his eyes. "You're basically asking me to kill you."
"Please, listen to me, my soul is far to corrupted from all the years I've used this Spell Card, I could never get into heaven, nor could I ever see my wife or daughter again, not with all the sins I committed." Michael pleaded and Tyler remained silent for a few minutes.
"All right, I'll do it." Tyler sighed and Michael smiled as his soul was taken by the Orichalcos, whilst the teachers called for an ambulance Chloe and Brandon approached him.
"Are you going to be okay?" Chloe asked and Tyler turned to her.
"My father, who I thought was dead for years, just asked me to put him out of his misery, what do you think?" Tyler snapped at her and Chloe was clearly taken aback by this. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for." Tyler sighed as he picked up Michael's soul card. "I appreciate the concern Chloe but I want a few minutes to myself." Tyler requested and Chloe bit her lip before following Brandon to the ship, once the other students had left Tyler said a silent prayer. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen." As Tyler said the last line of the prayer he tore up the card just as the paramedics arrived to take Kimberly to the hospital. "This man needs medical assistance as well." Tyler called out to them and the one of the paramedics went back to the ambulance to call for another ambulance. "It's not that they'd believe me if I told them the truth." Tyler thought with a sigh before standing up. "I'd better have a talk with my stepfather when I get back, I'm sure he'd understand." Tyler thought before leaving.
*meanwhile*
Whilst Tyler fulfilled his father's final request the other students where making their way through the ship trying to find the leader's office.
"Man, I wish Tyler had given us time to ask Michael where the leader was held up." Lance complained as they explored the ship. "This place is like a maze!"
"Given the circumstances I don't blame him." Theresa admitted as they looked around. "But your right Lance, we've been searching for what feels like twenty minutes with no luck."
"Looking for someone?" The leader's voice rang out over the PA system and they looked around trying to find the source. "Congratulations duelists, you have passed the gauntlet." The leader added and Lance growled.
"Show yourself you coward!" Lance shouted and the Leader chuckled.
"I will, certainly but there are three tests that you must pass first." The leader said earning a collective groan from the students. "Test number 1: your opponent has 2000 life-points whilst you have 200, on his side of the field are the monsters "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon" (12/4500/3800) and "King Dragun (7/2400/1100) and the trap card Dragon's Rage is active, on the other hand your side of the field is empty but you have Swordstalker (6/2000/1600) and Ancient Rules in your hand, you have just drawn Dark Hole, what do you do in order to win in this turn."
"That's easy!" Marcus said with a grin. "First I use Dark Hole to clear the field then I use Ancient Rules to Special Summon Swordstalker, one direct attack later and the match is mine!" Marcus added and there was a brief silence.
"Congratulations, you have passed the first test." The leader said begrudgingly as Marcus grinned broadly. "But the tests only get harder from here, now for test number 2: your opponent has all his life-points in tact but only one card left in his deck, you have fifty life-points left and Bistro Butcher (4/1800/1000) on your side of the field, what do you do to win in this….."
"Attack directly thus triggering Bistro Butcher's effect forcing the opponent to draw two cards thus decking him out," Theresa interrupted barely suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at this point. "Are you even trying? I could've solved both those puzzles in my sleep."
"I can top that; I could've solved both those puzzles with severe brain damage!" Lance chimed in before frowning. "I won't ask again, show yourself!"
"Lance, I hate to be a know-it-all but technically that was a demand." Chloe pointed out and Lance sweat-dropped.
"Very well Mr. Alvers." The leader said as the door just ahead of them opened up and the leader stepped out. "I must congratulate all off you for making it this far, I honestly believed that Michael was unbeatable."
"Who are you? And why have you revived the Orichalcos?" Lance demanded and the leader chuckled under his breath.
"Why? This world is full of weaklings, we are supposedly at the top of the food chain but we do nothing to prove it." The leader said as he spat to the side. "Under my leadership only the strong will survive but this was only the beginning, I don't have nearly enough souls to complete my task."
"So you had your thugs enter the tournament to gather more souls." Lance said as his eyes narrowed. "But we can see how well that went can't we? After all, in the matches prior to the Semi-Finals we, a bunch of kids not to mention Duel Academy students, where able to eliminate the majority of your employees which led to your little plan backfiring."
"Please Mr. Alvers, don't insult my intelligence." The leader scoffed as he turned to them. "Those men and women you faced in the tournament where nothing more than hired thugs looking for a big payday, I offered them that and more." The leader chuckled as he placed his hands behind his back. "In short, each one of them was ultimately expendable, I got a soul regardless of who won the duels but the seven of you were ultimately my targets."
"Why go after us? We're just students, hell I'm in Osiris Red!" Chloe protested and the leader chuckled.
"You underestimate yourself Ms. Richardson, true you belong to the worst dorm in Duel Academy but let's look at your achievements, you almost beat a far more experienced and talented duelist in Ms. Daniels in the second to last match of the tournament, you outwitted one of the best strategists in Duel Academy despite his constant taunting." The Leader said with a smirk. "And then there's your…less than pleasant childhood…"
"Don't you dare bring that up you bastard!" Chloe snapped at him and the leader kept his cool. "If it weren't for you and your twisted view of how the world works I never would've met my biological dad again and I would've been a lot happier knowing that that bastard got everything he deserved for what he put me through."
"But he ultimately did, isn't that right?" The leader said with a chuckle. "After all, he may have escaped justice for your mother's murder and the horrific abuse he put you through but you were able to get your revenge ten years after the fact." The leader said and Chloe was practically trembling with anger at this point.
"That's enough, is making her relive the trauma she went through really a part of your plan?" Theresa demanded as Brandon and Marcus tried to calm Chloe down. "You know what? You may preach all this survival of the fittest nonsense but the fact remains that you ordered your thugs to terrorize a city, as far as I'm concerned your nothing more than a criminal."
"Theresa's right." Lance agreed with her. "And you still didn't answer my first question you lunatic!" Lance pointed out.
"Very well, though I'm surprised you didn't recognize me sooner Lance." The leader said as he stared straight into his eyes. "I am after all your father!"