Small Note

Sakura: Happy new year everyone! Now that all the craziness that comes along with Christmas is out of the way and a new year is here it's time to relax a little. Updates will be the same, every other week because it still works out for me and my work schedule. Other than that no other news to report. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 18

A Duelist's Power

As the sky god appeared out of the sky onto the field to serve the mindless doll, the duel King across from it was stricken with fear. He stood there staring at it as if he wasn't even sure what to do. Yugi was trapped within the Nightmare Cage and it was the only thing saving him from an attack from Slifer.

"That's right; this is one of the three Egyptian God cards! Take a good look at its power!" Marik said laughing evilly. Just the look on Yugi's face was priceless.

'I can't move… and it's not just this steel cage…' Yugi was frozen in fear by the beast before him. He could feel the power pouring from Slifer. 'How can I ever beat this thing? It's like the whole world shakes when it moves…' While there was also the fear of the god before him, there was something else there that Yugi couldn't quite place. There was a since of déjà vu as he looked at the almighty Slifer like he has already met him before.

He could almost see the scenery around him changing to that of a temple with stone pillars and ancient carvings on the wall. It was like looking through the eyes of someone else as he remained hidden behind another figure whose face was covered in shadows. The figure turned and was saying something Yugi couldn't understand while he reached out to touch the dragon. Slifer seemed more peaceful there than on the dueling field and while Yugi was terrified of the god before him, in this new place he was not as he slowly with baby steps followed the other person's lead and reached out to the dragon.

The laughter from Marik awoke Yugi from his thoughts not having a clue what had just happened to his opponent once he summoned Slifer. "No one can beat it! Every duelist is powerless against Slifer's infinite attack power. Even you Yugi…." He spoke not having any clue that Yugi had been zoned out just a second before.

'Infinite power!' Yugi thought worriedly the strange sense of déjà vu gone as he was one hundred percent back to the present.

"The sky dragon's attack points equal one thousand times the number of cards in the player's hand. Right now my little doll has three cards so the dragon has three thousand attack points…"

'What?! Its attack points are based on the number of cards in the players hands?!' This was going to make things hard for Yugi as he knew on Marik's next turn he would have four cards in his hands. 'According to the rules of duel monsters a player's hand can have a maximum of seven cards. In other words it's possible for Slifer to get up to seven thousand attack points…!'

Marik knew Yugi knew that Slifer could get up to seven thousand points, but there was something Yugi didn't know. "I know what you're thinking Yugi. But I said infinite power. I have a card in my hand that can increase Slifer's power even more." He of course wasn't going to give it away yet, until that certain card was played. Plus Yugi didn't know about Slifer's other special ability. However it was Yugi's turn for now, "After the end of your next turn, the nightmare steel cage will disappear… at that moment you will be vulnerable to Slifer. Now Yugi, make your move."

Yugi looked to his partner and could see the worried look on Yami's face without him saying anything. His friends would normally be cheering him on right about now, but he loved Yami's silent support. He knew his lover wanted him to think carefully and focus on his moves. That is just what Yugi was going to do as he looked down at his hand. 'Right now, Slifer has three thousand attack points. My Buster Blader gains five hundred attack points for every dragon on the opponent's side of the field that makes three thousand and one hundred attack points. If I attacked right now I could kill Slifer but I can't do anything as long as I'm surrounded by this steel cage and on his next turn Marik can draw another card and Slifer's attack points will go up again…'

"What's wrong Yugi?" Marik spoke up cutting Yugi from his thoughts and throw him off his game. He could see the gears turning as Yugi tried to think up the best way to go about this duel, but nothing he did would save him. "Has the terror paralyzed you to the point that you can't draw a card? You can't fight me because of the steel cage, but you can still play a face-down card or summon a monster. You can at least pretend not to give up, can't you?" The wait was over it was time to move on with this duel. "Now! Let me see you struggle in the cage! Let me see you squirm and shake as you futilely try to defend yourself!"

Those words put a fire back in Yugi as he would never think of giving up. To prove it he drew his next card determined not to lose that fight. Adding the new card to his hand he took a moment to think of the best way to go about his turn. 'There has to be a way that I can beat Slifer with these cards. He has Slifer the sky dragon and the revival jam in defense mode and one face down card…' It was to the point that Yugi felt like he might be over thinking it as he looked at his cards. There was one combo that could work and he was going to have to put all his faith in his cards. Finally making his move Yugi put two cards face down and then summoned Kuriboh in defense mode.

"And now, the steel cage will finally disappear. The steel cage that protected you until now," Marik stated the obvious as Yugi's turn ended and the steel cage started to disappear around him. "Now it's my turn…" He had his puppet draw a new card which rose Slifer's power up to four thousand and as soon as his dragon was powered up he wasted no time in sending him on the attack.

Slifer unleashed a giant ball of lightening from his mouth heading straight for Buster Blader. However Marik had attacked blindly as Yugi had a face down card ready for that attack. "Reveal face down card! Light force sword!"

A sword appeared on the field for a brief moment above the doll before it shot forward and took out one of the cards in the doll's hand. The card was no longer in play and it appeared Marik knew what that meant by the angry growl sent Yugi's way. As Slifer's attack points dropped down to three thousand, Buster Blader was able to dodge the attack and go for a counter attack.

'Yes!' Yami thought with a smile as Yugi went for the attack. 'He can defeat Slifer.' Marik wouldn't take a large hit in life points but Slifer would be no more.

Sadly Yugi's victory would have to wait as Marik wasn't finished yet as he said, "Not so fast!" Before all their eyes revival Jam moved in front of the large god and took the attack.

"What?" Yugi gasped as he watched the slime takes it places which should not have been possible unless…

"You triggered my face down card," Marik informed him as he reveal the trap card Jam Defender, "And revival jam will regenerate and be summoned on the field once more." He stated as the slime did just that before Marik continued on with his turn. "And at this moment I activate another spell card, card of safe return. This is a permanent spell card that allows me to draw three new cards every time my slime regenerates and since I have five cards…"

There was no point in finishing his sentence as with now five thousand attack points Slifer attacked again taking out Buster Blader with no problem that time. With the warrior defeated Yugi's life points finally dropped from four thousand to twenty one hundred. All while Marik was laughing and stating, "You can't defeat god, Yugi!"

Meanwhile somewhere in town, Seto had been looking out for another opponent when he received a call from his office. Taking a moment to stop and take the call he found it to be some very interesting news.

"Mr. Kaiba we have detected the location of a rare hunter with a god card. The place is three hundred and fifty west block 'e' and sir you're not going to believer his opponent…"

"Who?" The question was short and to the point. He didn't have time for games he didn't care who the rare hunter was fighting so long as he was next to face him.

"The duelist is Yugi Mutou…"

Of course that certainly got his attention as Mokuba watched his big brother turn and head back the way they came. Oh this was definitely going to be interesting especially when his brother tried to call their other brother Yami who was for some reason was not answering his phone. So there were times when Mokuba found it hard not to laugh as Seto cursed Yami for not answering his cell.

"Come on Yugi it's your turn!"

Yugi looked at the field and knew the situation wasn't good for him. 'I have Kuriboh in defense mode and one face down card…' He looked down at his hand and realized that none of those cards could help him. However he hadn't drawn his next card yet and if it wasn't something that could help him then the duel would be over sooner. There was no use delaying his turn as he put his faith in his card and drew his next one.

'Magic Cylinder… I need a spell caster in play to control this card…' Yugi knew the new card could come in handy but in order to use it he would need the spell caster he had in his hand on the field. Pulling her from his hand he knew what he had to do. "I offer Kuriboh as a sacrifice and summon the Dark Magician Girl."

"You summoned a new servant and that activates Slifer's special power." Marik announced as soon as the new monster appeared on the field in defense mode. Before Yugi could begin to understand what he was talking about Slifer opened up its second mouth to attack with. "When the opponent summons a monster on their turn, Slifer deals it two thousand points of damage. The opponent himself isn't harmed but if the card is in attack mode, it loses two thousand attack points. If it's in defense mode and it has less than two thousand defense points it's instantly destroyed."

'A monster that attacks on the opponent's turn!' Yugi knew what would happen if Dark Magician Girl was destroyed and he wasn't going to go down so easily, "Face down card reveal!"

"Your woman's life was cut short…" Marik stated as soon as the attack hit.

"We'll see about that…" Yugi informed him as the smoke cleared and three of his four magical hats remained. If all of them were still around that means his Dark Magician Girl was still safely hidden beneath one of them.

Marik appeared mad at first by the growl he let out by that move, but he quickly covered it up with a chuckle. "I thought I could end your pain quickly but I guess you like being tortured. I wish you the best of luck. Slifer will tear you apart, point by point, piece by piece…. Though it's useless to resist…"

Yugi glared at the doll before him knowing Marik was watching him. He wasn't going to do down without a fight as he took two cards from his hand. He played them both on the field face down before ending his turn.

Marik wasn't blind to see what Yugi was doing as he hid both new cards in the magical hats. No matter what he hid within them nothing could stop Slifer. "It's my turn…" He had his doll draw another card. It was time to start the next part of his plan. "Yugi… right now I have six cards in my hand. According to the rules, a player may have no more than eight cards. Any more cards go in the graveyard but…" Pulling a card from his hand he showed it to Yugi, "If I play this card I can have as many cards as I want."

And that is just what he did as he played Infinite Cards on the field and they all knew that meant Marik could have as many cards as he wanted in his hand. Slifer's power would never decrease only increase with each turn.

'Starting next turn Slifer's attack points will be over six thousand…' Yugi was left speechless once again at the stunt Marik pulled. His combo was deadly with Infinite cards so he could hold as many cards as he wanted. Revival jam to protect Slifer if Yugi were to attack and then whenever revival jam came back Marik would gain three cards thanks to Card of Safe Return. Revival jam could not be killed and both with him protecting Slifer and the gods attack points it appeared impossible for Yugi to ever be able to defeat the god.

Marik did not leave Yugi to his thoughts of the impossible for long as he issued his battle phrase of his turn. Sending Slifer on the attack, the god opened its mouth to issue another strike at the Magical hats. "The hat on the right!"

'His aim is on the mark!' Never before had anyone guessed right with the magical hats. Yugi could not let his Magician die so he cancelled magical hats just as Slifer attack hit to activate one of his hidden face-down cards. Just when Marik thought he had destroyed Dark Magician Girl, the smoke cleared to show her still alive but this time with Magical Cylinders by her side that absorbed the gods attack.

"What is this!" Marik yelled as he found that his attack had not worked.

"I hid two cards in the hat you attacked along with Dark Magician girl!" Yugi told him as he revealed his second face down card spell binding circle. "The curse of the hexagram weakens Slifer and holds it in place."

Slifer's attack points went down seven hundred points bringing him to forty three hundred with spell binding circle. Now with Magic Cylinders Slifer's attack was redirected right back at the weaken god. While Slifer should have died by his own attack there was one small flaw in Yugi's plan.

"If you're thinking you can kill god. One word: no." Marik almost sounded bored by this point as if wondering why Yugi was still trying to fight. "Didn't I tell you? No mortal can raise a hand against the gods."

Once Marik was finished revival jam jumped in the way of the attack saving Slifer before reappearing again. Once the jam reformed the doll was allowed three more cards making Slifer's points go up to seventy three hundred. However that wasn't all as Marik began to speak again, "One more thing. The curse of the hexagram only lasts for an instant against a god. The effects of your magic will disappear in one turn."

Of course there was nothing else Yugi could do thus his turn did end after that attack and the spell was broken. This gave the god another boost bringing his attacks points to where they should be at eight thousand, but it was also the doll's turn now. Once he drew a card Slifer's attack points went up another thousand.

With nine thousand attack points Slifer attacked Dark Magician girl finishing her off for good and leaving Yugi with nothing on his side of the field. The only thing that had saved Yugi on that turn from being defeated was that his magician had been in defense mode. He was still left with twenty one hundred life points and nothing else that could defeat god.

'I can't win…' Yugi thought as for once he was bought to his knees. 'There's no way to defeat it.. There's no way…'

"Yugi!" Yami called out to his fiancé having never seen him look so defeat before. This wasn't like him at all. Yugi didn't belong on his knees, Yami wasn't sure how but somehow he knew Yugi would still win. There was this strange feeling and he didn't know whether it was because Yugi would defeat Slifer or he just didn't want to see his partner give up so easily.

"Get on your feet, Yugi!"

Yugi and Yami's head turned to the sidewalk above them and were surprised to find Seto and Mokuba standing there. There was no telling how long those two had been there or whether they had just arrived.

"Your life as a duelist doesn't end here! I know you can defeat god!" Seto informed him which made Yami wonder if he had the same feeling he had about the situation. "You are one of the few people I recognize as a duelist! Where's your pride? I won't allow you to lose miserably while I watch." That or it was Seto's weird way of being nice.

"Yugi! You have to play my brother in this tournament. Don't lose to that bald guy!" Mokuba chimed in which was so like him.

Yami had no clue what got into his siblings but he was glad they were cheering for Yugi and not against him. Of course Seto always had his own agendas but it was nice to see the support.

"Can't you see it Yugi? Our road of battle goes farther than the eye can see. Don't tell me you're going to stop here. If god stands in your way mow him down! Have no regrets!"

Yugi took in their words looking at them and then looking at Yami. He had something that Marik didn't have, friends and family who supported him even in the toughest of moments. Plus he was the King of Games and most importantly he was no quitter until the last card was drawn.

"All right Seto stay right there and watch," Yugi told him as he stood back up and faced the almighty god card. "I am going to defeat god."

Marik on the other hand couldn't believe his luck as Seto Kaiba came to Yugi's rescue. 'How convenient, Seto Kaiba, the wielder of the last god card, the god of obelisk… after I kill Yugi. It's going to be your turn.'

No one but Seto knew the real reasons he was in his own way cheering Yugi on. The part of him that saw him as family knew that Yugi was better than this and if anyone could defeat Slifer it was him. While for the most part the duelist side of him like to think that the only person who could and was allow to defeat Yugi was himself. Either way Yugi was not allowed to lose this duel.

Thus the duel commence with Yugi back on his feet and ready to take his turn. There were only two cards in his hand and they were both monsters that wouldn't ever stand a chance against Slifer. 'I'll have to trust in the next card I draw.' He drew his card determined for it to be something good and to his luck he got monster reborn. "My turn! I play a face down card and summon Big Shield Guardna in defense mode."

Marik chuckled, "The moment you summon a monster, Slifer automatically attacks!" Slifer attacked Big Shield Guardna with summon lightning shot. "No sooner does he show up than Slifer strikes!"

"W-wow…" Mokuba gasped as he witnessed the attack power of Slifer. Big Shield Guardna took a hit but it was still on the field thanks to having over two thousand attack points. "Yugi's monster is safe, but it did two thousand points of damage to him…"

While Seto and Mokuba were impressed by the gods' power, Yugi was still trying to figure out how to beat it. 'If I run out of monsters, Slifer's attack will hit me dead-on… if that happens, I'm dead. How can I overcome the infinite power of a god card?'

Not leaving Yugi with much time to figure things out, Marik forced his doll to start his turn. The doll drew another card making Slifer even stronger. "Now I have ten cards in my hand and Slifer has ten thousand attack points…"

"T-Ten thousand… Seto his dragon gets stronger for every card he has in his hand!" Mokuba was both impressed by the dragon but mostly scared for Yugi. He had taken note of Yugi's opponent's combo and it was a deadly one alright, "Plus he played infinite cards, so there's no limit to how big his hand is. Big brother how can Yugi beat a monster with infinite attack points?" He wondered if Yugi could really get through this duel alive.

'Infinite cards…' Yami had heard what Mokuba said as he took another look at the doll's deadly combo. He didn't even listen to see if his twin had replied to their little brother as he tried to see if there was something they were missing. That one reminder about that deadly card seemed to trigger something and he could feel the pharaoh becoming restless. 'Something you want to say?'

'No matter what Marik says nothing is infinite… Take a look at the doll's deck…'

Yami eyes moved toward the other player's duel disk and his eyes widen. There was a rule in duel monsters that seemed to hit him in the face. They had been blind due to the fear that they all felt from Slifer's power and that he was sure was throwing Yugi off his game. "Yugi!" He called out to his partner and waited until he had Yugi's eyes on him before he told him, "Nothing is infinite! That's just god's deception!"

'Nothing is infinite…' Those words played around in Yugi's head even as Slifer attacked his monster and destroyed it.

"What are you two blabbing about?" Marik laughed as Yugi was left defenseless once again. "God's power is infinite!"

For a second Yugi didn't say a word until a new fire could be seen in his eyes as he looked up at his opponent and smirked, "I see… I know how to beat Slifer." He briefly winked at his lover to let him know he got the message before he decided to give Marik the bad news. "My next turn will probably be the last turn of our duel. At the end of the turn, only one of us will be left standing… you or me… that will be the winner."

"Have you lost your mind?" Marik felt the need to ask, "Are you saying there's a way you can dig yourself out of your grave in one turn?"

"There is!"

That look in Yugi's eyes and that simple reply was enough to shock Marik speechless. 'He's lying…There's no way for him to get out of my trap.' However he couldn't explain this overcoming feeling of slight worry he could feel like something wasn't about to go his way.

He wasn't the only one feeling worry as Mokuba tried to figure out what his big bro and Yugi had figured out. 'He can't win unless he beats Slifer and Slifer has ten thousand attack points. There's no way! No card that strong…!' He turned to his taller brother, "S-Seto…"

"Quiet Mokuba, don't say anything." Seto hushed him as he too figured out what Yugi's plan might be. "Just watch closely… This is the power of a true duelist."

"This is it! My last turn!" Yugi announce as he drew his final card, he didn't even have to look at it for long as his smirk turned into the biggest smile. "Marik… I win."

"What?" Marik shouted not sure what useless card Yugi could have drawn. Nothing could beat Slifer!

Yami was practically beaming with pride wishing the duel was already over so he could hug his cute little partner. He knew Yugi would figure it out and the heart of the cards would always be there for him when he needed it to be. Now all he had to do was play that card and end the duel.

Yugi knew the others were just waiting on him to finish this, so he started his turn by playing monster reborn. "With this card I bring back my fallen warrior Buster Blader!"

Marik was not impressed, "So you're going to bring him back from the dead in defense mode just so I can kill him again? That'll only save you for one turn."

"Did you say defense mode? Sorry Marik but your wrong," Yugi happily informed him as he played Buster Blader in attack mode.

Marik was livid by that move. 'What? Attack mode? He dares to attack Slifer… is he insane?!'

"Now watch Marik. This is the infinite combo that goes past the limits of god." Yugi pulled one card from his hand prepared to end the duel once and for all.

Sakura: Next chapter will be the conclusion to Yugi's duel against Slifer and then a few interesting things will be happening next chapter as Marik gets closer to Battle City. We are slowly getting closer to the finals those are going to be the really fun chapters to write.

Yumi: Please Review!