Stronger than Death
The announcer stepped onto the arena slowly. "UM…WELL, WASN'T THAT EXCITING FOLKS?! SOME INTERESTING EFFECTS NO DOUBTLY BY OUR LIGHTING CREW. AND A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE BY EDDIE", the announcer said as beads of sweat ran down his forehead into his face. He took out a small hanker chief and wiped his face.
'What's going on? Three of the finalists have disappeared. This is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen', the announcer said. He looked up through his dark glasses at the puzzled crowd. 'Boy, I really hope they don't blame me for any of this'. He looked over at the staircase and saw the next duelist to be introduced watching him. He regained his composure and tried to put his worries out of his mind.
"NOW THEN FOLKS, WE'VE SEEN HALF OF THE FINALISTS DUEL!! AND I'D HAVE TO SAY SO FAR, EACH OF THEM LOOK TOUGH ENOUGH TO MAKE IT IN THE PRO LEAGUE!! BUT NOW, IT'S TIME TO SEE THE REMAINING EIGHT DUELISTS PLAY!! SO FOR THE FNEXT MATCH, PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME SPIRIT AND KIRI!!". The crowd went crazy as they applauded the two duelists into the arena.
The masked Spirit shuffled her cards and stared down the field at her opponent. Even though Kiri was a little girl, Spirit was certain not to take her lightly. Kiri had made it to the finals just as she did, by being better than everyone she dueled in the tournament thus far. Age didn't matter in Duel Monsters. What mattered was winning. Having fun was important to, but winning was the number one. But Spirit smiled. She already knew how this game was going to end. She knew that she was to walk away victorious.
Kiri bowed before her opponent. Spirit, a little surprised, responded the same way. Spirit didn't waste time with talking. She drew six cards from her duel disk and immediately started looking for her first move. She glanced over the arena at Kiri, who was arranging the cards in her hand. Spirit looked back at her hand.
"I'll make my first summon. I choose to play Harvest Angel of Wisdom (A1800, D1000). I end my turn". The floated slowly down in front of Spirit. It's orange armor gave of a faint glow as it crossed its warms.
Kiri picked up two cards of the six in her hand. "I set one monster face down in defense mode and set one card face down. I end my turn". The brown cards materialized.
Spirit looked at her hand. The crowd was silent as they watched the two quiet duelists concentrate. "I sacrifice my angel for Airknight Parshath (A1900, D1400). Then I activate my Premature Burial magic card to bring back Harvest Angel of Wisdom. I'll attack your monster with Harvest". The angel floated across the field and punched the face down card with its mighty fist. "And now it's Parshath's turn". The great Airknight raised its sword above its head and a golden aura flowed around the blade. He flew at Kiri and swung the sword at her and returned next to Spirit. "When he does damage, I may draw a card". Spirit picked up her card. "I set one card face down and end my turn".
Spirit- 7200LP
Kiri- 6100LP
Kiri picked up her deck from the duel disk. "The card you destroyed was my Elder of the Sword. When he's destroyed, I may search my deck for any equip card and at it to my hand. She found where her card was returned her deck. "I chose to bring to my hand Boukyoko: Kosmos Calibur. And now for my turn, I summon Swordsman of Savage Rebirth (A1000, D600)". A swordsman with battle armor on his arms and legs appeared on the field, toting a long sword. "Then I equip him with Boukyoku: Kosmos Calibur and Fumetsu: Burning Eternity". The sword in her monster's hand was replaced by a larger one with a star design near the top, then again by a normal sword with fire around the edges. "Each of my swordsmen their own signature sword. And each sword has its own ability to offer whichever creature it's equipped to. Boukyoko gives my swordsman the ability to destroy all of your monsters when it attacks. And Fumetsu gives it 1000 added attack points and it can't be destroyed when its attacked in attack mode. I'll attack both of your monsters. I end my turn". The swordsman waved Fumetsu twice, each time sending a wave of fire into one of Spirit's monsters.
Spirit- 6900LP
Kiri- 6100LP
Spirit drew her card. "I set one card face down. Then I flip up my Lightning Vortex magic card. By discarding one card from my hand, I can destroy all of your face up monsters. So now I'll discard my Beckoning the Light and". Spirit's last words were drowned out by the sound of lighting as a bolt of it crashed down onto Kiri's swordsman. "I end my turn".
Kiri pulled out two cards from her graveyard. "I'll activate my two swords' abilities. By paying 500 life points, I can shuffle them into my deck. I'll end my turn by setting one monster face down in defense mode".
Spirit- 6900LP
Kiri- 5100LP
Spirit started her turn with her draw. "I summon Royal Knight (A1300, D800). Then I end my turn".
Kiri drew her card. "I sacrifice Mid Shield Gardna for Swordsman of Eternal Night (A1800, D1600). I'll equip him with Sosei: Illumination. This card will let me rearrange the top five cards of my deck at the end of my turn. I'll attack your Royal Knight. Then I'll rearrange my cards and end my turn". Kiri replaced her five cards as Spirit drew her next card.
Spirit- 6400LP
Kiri- 5100LP
"I'll set one card face down and end my turn", she said.
"For such a strong opening, you sure aren't putting up much of a fight. But I guess that's fine since you won't be advancing to the next round anyway. I'll set one monster face down in defense mode. Then I'll attack your face down monster". Kiri's monster rushed at the face down card. Its blade was glowing with light as it struck the back of the card, but didn't go through it.
"That's my Gellenduo (A1700, D0). It's a helpful little monster as it can't be destroyed in battle. However, if I take any damage to my life points, it'll be destroyed instantly".
"I'll end my turn Kiri said, pouting.
Spirit added another card to her hand. "I summon Dunames Dark Witch (A1800, D1050). Dunames, attack his swordsman".
"But that'll destroy both of them", Kiri said confused.
"Indeed it will. But I'm willing to part with my witch if it will destroy your monster. Then I attack your face down monster with Gellenduo". Kiri's monsters were both blasted to pieces, along with Dunames. "I end my turn".
Kiri drew her card and then lifted up her deck. "Because the monster you destroyed was my Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu, I can search my deck for another equip card. I'll set one card face down and summon Swordsman of Dragon's Roar (A1400, D1700). Then I'll equip it with Hilt of Numerous Swords. I must discard an equip card from my hand or deck and the Hilt becomes that equip card. So I'll discard Fumetsu:Burning Eternity. Now my swordsman has 2400. Attack Gellenduo, BLAZE OF ETERNITY". The swordsman roared as it swung the weapon, releasing a wave of fire. "I end my turn".
Spirit- 5400LP
Kiri- 5100LP
Spirit drew her card. "I activate Magical Mallet. I return one card to my deck and am allowed to draw a new card. Then I sent one monster face down in defense mode. I end my turn".
Kiri drew her next card. "I summon my Mist Swordsman (A1700, D1300)". A warrior in leather pants and large boots appeared on the field. He had now shirt, but wore a strap around his chest. Short, dark green hair sat atop his cold face. He raised his right hand in the air and pulled out an oversized sword. "Attack her face down card". The warrior slammed its sword on the face down card, but couldn't cut through it.
"Banisher of the Light (A100, D2000) is strong enough to withstand your swordsman's attack", Spirit said triumphantly.
"Yeah, but not strong enough to survive an attack from Dragon's Roar. Attack with BLAZE OF ETERNITY!" Another wave of fire lashed through the small man. "I end my turn".
Spirit- 5400LP
Kiri- 4800LP
Spirit looked onto the field. She's still little. She doesn't think rationally. She attacks with every opportunity she gets without thinking of possible consequences. And that's where I take my advantage'.
"I set one card face down. Then I summon my Absorbing Kid From the Sky (A1300, D1000)". A pudgy little boy with angel wings clad in shorts, a white shirt, and sandals materialized. "And I'll combine him with the Cestus of Dagla. These mystics blades power up any fairy by 500 points. And not only that, they will also increase my life points by any damage they cause you". The kid clapped his hands together and the curved blades formed in them. "Attack her Mist Swordsman". The kid flew into the air and latched itself onto the swordsman by the dagla. It then started absorbing the life from the creature. "Oh, and I forgot to mention. Whenever my monster destroys one of yours, I gain life points equal to that monster's level times three". The swordsman fell to pieces and a golden light surrounded Spirit. "I end my turn".
Spirit- 6700LP
Kiri- 4700LP
Kiri drew her card. "I activate Naito: Twilight Edge. This sword will give Dragon's Roar an additional 500 attack points and let me remove one of your magic cards each time it inflicts battle damage. Attack her tiny monster with TWILIGHT STRIKE!" The sword was covered with a white light. Swordsman of Dragon's Roar swung the sword and the light shot like a wave at the kid.
"Reveal face down trap card, Negate Attack". The wave of light was sucked into an invisible vortex where it disappeared. "My trap card completely stops your attack and ends your battle phase".
"I end my turn", Kiri said.
Spirit drew her card but didn't look at it. "Kiri, why don't you just give up? You aren't to win this duel. I have already seen how this game will end", Spirit warned. Kiri rolled her eyes and pointed at Spirit.
"You think just because I'm a kid, I'm an idiot. I won't buy into something that ridiculous for a second". The little girl folded her arms.
"What I say is true. Allow me to show you. I will play the card I have just drawn without looking; the card that will help me defeat you. I activate Terraforming. This magic card lets me add one field card from my deck to my hand. Next I'll activate the field card, Sanctuary in the Sky". Clouds filled the arena and the floor beneath both players disappeared and became clouds. Behind Spirit rose a great sanctuary and a sun shone brightly behind it. "On this field, any damage you do to a light fairy monster becomes zero. I end my turn".
Kiri drew her card. 'Lucky guess'. She looked down at her hand. "I don't have a play this turn. But I can attack with Dragon's Roar". The swordsman swung its blade. The light attack completely surrounded Absorbing Kid From the Sky. But when the attack stopped, the kid remained unscathed. Spirit opened her mouth to speak, but Kiri beat her to it. "I know it wouldn't work. That doesn't mean I couldn't do it anyway. I end my turn".
Spirit drew her card. "I will end my turn without making a play".
Kiri drew her card. "I'll set one monster face down in defense mode. Then I'll attack your monster again to end my turn". The Twilight Strike covered the kid again, only to leave it perfectly fine.
"I will also have to pass this turn", Spirit said.
Kiri drew her card. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon on your sanctuary".
"Reveal face down trap card, Magic Jammer. As I discard my other Sanctuary in the Sky, I cancel your magic card". A seal formed underneath the magic card and destroyed it.
"I'll end my turn by attacking. Go TWILIGHT STRIKE!"
Spirit drew her card and motioned for Kiri to take her next turn.
"A-ha! Now I can play my strongest swordsman. I sacrifice both of my monsters to summon Swordsman of Cosmic Oblivion (A2900, D2500). Attack her life points directly". The unarmed swordsman ran across the field and punched Spirit's monster, but nothing happened.
"I summon another Dunames Dark Witch. Then I end my turn".
Kiri drew her card and frowned. "Attack her new monster". Again the warrior punched one of Spirit's monsters with no affect.
Spirit drew her card. "I summon Freya, Spirit f Victory (A100, D100). As long as this card remains face up on the field, all of my other fairy monsters get an additional 400 attack and defense points". I end my turn.
Kiri drew. "I set one monster face down in defense mode. Then I'll attack your kid again". The swordsman threw another punch. "It's sad watching my strongest monster fight without a weapon", she sighed.
Spirit drew up her next card. "I sacrifice Freya for Airknight Parshath. Then I activate Heavy Storm. With this I destroy every magic card on the field. This does destroy my Sanctuary, but it also destroys your face down card. Then I attack your face down monster with Airknight Parshath". The knight swung his sword through the card with ease. "And I'll finish by setting a card face down".
Spirit- 6700LP
Kiri- 4500LP
Kiri had a mile wide grin on her face. She watched Spirit draw her card from Parshath's effect. "Now I can finally do damage. Attack her Absorbing Kid". The swordsman was running across the field when an explosion occurred beneath it. Kiri gasped for her monster. When the dust settled, Kiri couldn't find her monster. All she was a trap card on Spirit's field. "What is that?"
"It's my Widespread Ruin trap card. This destroys your strongest monster". Kiri's eyes shot open.
"And since you have nothing else to do, I'll attack your remaining life points with all three of my monsters". The three fairies all attacked Kiri at once, sending her life points down to zero.
"AND SPIRIT HAS DEFEATED KIRI AND WON HER BET CARD, THE SWORDSMAN OF COSMIC OBLIVION!!. SPIRIT HAS MADE IT INTO THE QUARTER FINALS!! BUT WHO WILL SHE FACE? WILL IT BE ERIC FLYLEAF OR CAIRO?".
As Spirit walked off the field, she looked up into the stands at Darren. 'So, he's the one who possesses the Millennium Medallion. He has his father's eyes…in a way', she thought. She looked to Cairo, who was walking toward her. The tattoo on his forehead was giving off a golden glow.
'Soon I shall have three Millenium Items', he thought as he passed her.
'Don't be so certain. I have foreseen the future and I know the Seventh Guardian will defeat you'. The conversation died away with Cairo's laughter.
Cairo and Eric stood opposite each other on the playing field. 'The first of four. After I beat him, it's just Spirit and then two more wins until I win the whole thing. A man knows no defeat, Eric thought to himself. Cairo picked up five cards. "I must warn you…I won't lose", Eric stated. Cairo just grinned and grabbed a sixth.
"I'll start with a field spell card, Alter of Sacrifice". The staircase rose up behind him with the alter atop it. Two pillars of fire burst from the ground. "While this card is in play, I can sacrifice my life points equal to the level of a ritual monster to special summon it instead of using its ritual. For the cost of 800 life points, I summon Crab Turtle (A2550, D2500). Then I'll set one card face down". A freakish hybrid of crab limbs protruding from a turtle shell leapt down from the alter.
Cairo- 7200LP
Eric- 8000LP
Eric drew up a card. "Go! Harpie Queen (A1900, D1200)". A harpy with majestic, glowing, teal wings appeared in a rush of beautiful feathers. "Next I'll set one card face down and activate Smashing Ground. This card will destroy your Crab Turtle, leaving you without a monster". The ground below the revolting monster crumbled away, destroying the monster. "Now attack his life points directly with Talon Crush!" The harpy flew into the air and dived at Cairo, stopping in front of him to claw at him with her talons. "I end my turn".
Cairo- 5300LP
Eric- 8000LP
'This is going to be easy. He's even helping me by sacrificing his own life points. I've already seen Spirit's deck. And I already beat Darren. That's my edge in this tournament. Once I win, I know I can beat Spirit. I've formulated strategies on how to win this tournament. All I have to do is win this duel, and it'll be clear sailing through the rest'.
"Really now? You beat Darren? Then I offer my kudos to you. You must be a very talented duelist to have beat him", Cairo complimented. Eric starred in awe at Cairo.
"H-how d-d-did you know that?" Eric stuttered out.
"It's just a talent I have. It's why you won't win this duel. But do tell about your encounter with Darren. Was he a challenge for you?"
"No, not really. It wasn't a very long duel". Darren's eyes narrowed and he pouted in the stands.
"Haha! Then he will be no problem for me". The tattoo on his forehead lit up. "I see that you've set Icarus Attack face down. But I'll let you keep it. I don't even have a monster on the field, so it's useless to you now anyway". Eric just looked nervously down at his card.
'What's going on? He knows what I'm thinking. That's how he figured out what I played. But how is that even possible?'
"I activate Monster Reborn on my Crab Turtle. And I'll add to my field Ruin, Queen of Oblivion (A2300, D2000). Care to find out which of our queens is stronger? OBLIVION!" Cairo shouted. The gorgeous queen raised her crimson weapon over her head as a brilliant flash of red lit up the field. Eric watched his own queen scream in agony before spontaneously bursting into dust. "And because she destroyed a monster, my queen can attack again. So I'll have both of my monsters attack you". At his words, both monsters charged and struck Eric. "I end my turn".
Cairo- 4600LP
Eric- 2750LP
Eric slowly drew his card. 'This is wrong! It's impossible for him to read my mind. But I can't be afraid. A man knows no fear'. He looked at the card he drew. "I'll discard another Harpie Queen to move a Harpie's Hunting Ground to my hand. I activate my field card to stop you from summoning any more of your monsters". The stairs, the alter, and the pillars of fire all vanished as the ground became dirt with skeletons of animals scattered around. "Then I'll set one card face down and set one monster in defense mode. I end my turn",
Cairo didn't look at the card he drew. "I see. So you have Birdface in defense mode. There's no hiding your cards from me. Anyway, I know you're waiting for me to attack so you can activate your Icarus Attack. But I already know how this turn is going to play out. Either way, I'll lose my monsters. So I'll go ahead and attack with both of them". As the two monsters ran toward Eric, he pressed a button on his duel disk.
"Reveal face down card, Icarus Attack. By sacrificing one winged-beast on my field, I can destroy two monsters on your field", Eric declared. His face down monster was struck by a bolt of lightning and destroyed.
"It's not really revealing. Cairo already told us what it was", Darren said to himself. Cairo pressed a button on his own duel disk.
"Reveal face down card, Trap Jammer. This helpful little trap with negate your own and destroy it". The monsters continued their path toward Eric. Darren gripped the barrier in front of his seat.
"Reveal face down card, Mirror Force. This will return your monsters' attacks back at them". Both of Cairo's monsters ran into the invisible field and were destroyed.
"Like I said, either way I was losing my monsters. But now that I'm left with nothing, I think I should make this game a little more interesting". The eye on his forehead and the four rings on his hand started glowing as the black fog quickly engulfed the duel. "We'll play a Shadow Game for the remainder of the duel. I end my turn".
Eric looked around, slightly shaking at the sight of the black clouds. "Because my Birdface was destroyed, I can move one winged-beast to my hand. And I'll summon Harpie Lady 1 (A1300, D1400). Next I'll set one card face down, not that it does any good, and attack your life points directly. TALON STRIKE!" The bird-woman flew at Cairo and scratched him. "I'll end my turn".
Cairo- 3100LP
Eric- 2750LP
"I'll simply activate my Different Dimension Capsule to move another Alter of Sacrifice from my deck out of play. But in two turns, it will come back into play in my hand. I end my turn".
Eric drew his card. "I summon Harpie's Pet Baby Dragon (A1200, D600). Then I'll attack with both of my monsters and end my turn". The small dragon spit a fireball at Cairo, hitting him in the face. The crowd laughed for a few seconds at the scene.
"Little pest", he muttered angrily.
Cairo- 600LP
Eric- 2750LP
Cairo starred gleefully at his hand. "I activate Alter of Sacrifice. But I don't have enough life points left to summon any monsters with it. Luckily, I have my Zera Ritual. By discarding a high level monster, like my Rashef the Dark Being, I can summon Zera, the Mant (A2800, D2300). Zera, attack his dragon! DARK FIRE!! The great blue demon opened its mouth and a dark burst of flames showered over the little dragon. "I end my turn".
Cairo- 600LP
Eric- 1150LP
'Things aren't looking so well for you Cairo. Are you sure you can handle this kid. You only made a play last turn out of luck', Talon's voice echoed.
'Yes, I'm certain I can handle him. In fact, I will do so without letting him get off another attack. Unlike you, I like to play with strong monsters instead of hiding behind big walls', Cairo snapped back.
'Ha! My Exxod is strong enough to withstand whatever attack you send at it. And if I give it Sword and Shield, it can easily doze through any of your monsters'.
'Exactly. It can be a wall and you have to use another magic card to even let it attack'. Cairo heard Talon try to "speak" again, but he quickly blocked her out.
Eric drew his card. "I activate my Swords of Revealing Light. That'll give me three more turns to take you down".
"Do you really think those swords will help you? Be honest now, I'll know if you're lying". Cairo laughed at his own joke.
"And I'll finish with Harpie Lady 2 (A1300, D1400)".
Cario motioned that he passed his turn.
"I summon my Harpie Girl (A500, D500)". A cute little blonde harpy sat on the ground next to the older harpy. "I end my turn". Cairo simply waved his hand.
"Come now. My deck is full of ritual monsters. And you've stopped me from attacking. What do you think I could possibly do? ".
Eric ignored the question. "Eric's got this one in the bag", Darren said to himself. "He's got two monsters and a whole free turn still left. Cairo just has one monster and he can't play anything else".
Eric drew his card. "I summon Rallis the Starbird (A800, D800)". The bird flapped its wings as a magical glow much like that of a star emanated from its body. "I end my turn".
Cairo drew a card. "This is the last turn of your swords. And I still have nothing to play. I will let you have one more turn before I defeat you".
Eric drew his card. 'Ha! Perfect.'
"Just as I thought, nothing", Cairo responded to Eric's thought.
"We'll see. I activate Monster Reborn on Harpie's Pet Baby Dragon. Because I have two harpies on the field, his attack points are doubled. Next I'll switch all four of my monsters to defense mode. That makes four monsters you have to get through before you can reach my life points. I end my turn".
Cairo bowed his head and shook it. "Reduced to hiding behind a wall. Is that really your strategy? I thought you were going to show no fear. But here you are, cowering before my one single monster. It's people like you who make me sick. People like you who hide. People like you who despite everything you might do or say, you're still afraid".
Eric glared at Cairo. "You're wrong! I'm not afraid. Not of you or your monster".
"And what of this Shadow Game? You saw what happened to everyone else who lost here. Aren't you afraid the same will happen to you?"
"No!"
"You're lying. I don't even have to listen to your thoughts", Cairo glared through clenched teeth
"No! I'm not scared! I'm not afraid of this black mist. I'm not afraid of your monster. And I'm not afraid of you!" Eric argued.
Cairo's face fell to an angry, annoyed stare. "You should be". He drew his card. "I'll activate Alter of Sacrifice's second ability. By removing five ritual magic cards from my deck to the graveyard and sacrificing the alter itself, I can destroy every monster on your field. I discard Garma Sword Oath, Final Ritual of the Ancients, Shinato's Ark, End of the World, and Novox's Prayer". The entire alter shrine exploded. When everything settled, Darren looked down into the arena. The only remaining figures were Cairo, Eric, and Zera. Eric had collapsed to his knees.
"ERIC!?" Darren called out. But Eric didn't say anything. He didn't even look back. He just stared up at Cairo and his monster.
"Finish it", Cairo ordered. The large blue beast roared and a gust of fire swept over Eric. Eric's life points dropped to zero. Darren saw Eric give one last look at Cairo; a look that combined awe, confusion, anger, humiliation, shame, and defeat. But one the one thing that certainly wasn't in his face was fear. Darren clenched his fists as the black cloud returned to Cairo along with all traces of Eric.
As we close, we see the only person to beat Darren defeated so easily by Cairo. How will Darren overcome this obstacle? And what is up with the mysterious Spirit? Please R&R