Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Virtual Nightmare
Episode 11: Winner Takes All, Part 1
Story by: jodalita
Written by: jodalita
Along a dark and narrow corridor, Jaden and Syrus keep running one behind the other in the hopes of finding their missing friends. After running for so long, they finally see a wooden door at the end of the passageway. They both stop only a few steps away from the door.
Syrus: Here it is! The exit! What do you think is on the other side?
Jaden: Only one way to find out…
Jaden then opens the wooden door in front of them. A bright red light comes out of the open door, forcing them to cover their eyes. Once their eyes have adapted to the light, they manage to see a dark cave with walls made out of solid rock, with small currents of boiling lava coming in from every crack and opening. A wide current of lava separates the cave into two sections, with Lector of the Big Five on one side and their friends Alexis and Atticus on the other. They are facing each other in a tag duel.
Syrus (loud): It's Alexis. Hey, guys! Over here!
Both Atticus and Alexis are startled by Syrus' loud announcement. They recognize them immediately and begin acting exited. Lector, on the other hand, looks extremely upset.
Alexis: Jaden! Syrus! I'm so glad to see you two! But how did you find us?
Lector (angry): Noah… that little runt did it again! What an annoying interruption.
Jaden (to Lector): I guess you are another member of the Big Five. That's means we're too late.
Lector: Not at all. I'd say you're just in time to see me take control of your friends' bodies.
Syrus (surprised): How come you two are dueling him as a team?
Alexis: It started out as just me against Lector, but then Atticus came and volunteered to join the duel.
Jaden: That's great! With Alexis and Atticus working as a team, there's no way they can lose.
Syrus: I wouldn't be so sure of that, Jaden. Look…
With just a quick glance at the dueling field, Jaden understands the reason why Syrus seems worried. The field is currently under the effect of the Molten Destruction field spell. On one side of the field stands Lector, with one card face down and Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV10 (ATK/3500) in front of him, with Dark Ruler standing by his side as his Deckmaster. On the other side, Alexis and Atticus stand alone with no cards on their side of the field other than their Deckmasters, Cyber Tutu and Troop Dragon respectively, standing beside them.
Atticus LP 900
Alexis LP 200
Lector LP 2700
Syrus: This isn't good. I've never seen that monster before but it looks powerful.
Atticus: That's Horus the Black Flame Dragon, and it has already been upgraded all the way to LV10, dealing 2000 points of damage whenever it destroys a monster. Not only that, but its special ability negates any spells cards we play. And if that wasn't enough, his Deckmaster can negate all monster effects.
Lector: You're forgetting something. Thanks to my Molten Destruction field spell, the attack of Horus rises to a grand total of 4000 points (ATK/4000).
Atticus: We'll find a way to take him down. My move (Draws).
Lector: There is not a card in your deck that can save you now, but just in case you were thinking of using traps against me, I activate Royal Decree. As long as this trap card remains on the field the effects of all other traps are negated.
Syrus: No spells, no traps, no monster effects? This is insane!
Alexis: Don't worry, Syrus. We have a plan. All we need to do is draw the right cards.
Lector: Please, you must be joking. How can you possibly hope to defeat me under these conditions? And here I thought having to duel two Obelisk Blue students at the same time would prove to be more of a challenge.
Atticus: No strategy is flawless. For starters, your Dark Ruler doesn't negate Deckmaster special abilities. So, for my first move, I think I'll activate my Troop Dragon's effect. It lets me pay 700 life points in order to summon a monster from my deck with the same name as the one that was destroyed in battle during your last turn. Welcome back, Red-Eyes Black Dragon (ATK/2400)!
Atticus LP 200
Alexis LP 200
Lector LP 2700
Lector: I destroyed him once and I'll do it again.
Atticus: You won't get a chance, because I now sacrifice him in order to summon my most powerful monster, Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon (ATK/2400). He gains 300 attack points for each Dragon type monster in my graveyard… and I count 5 (ATK/3900).
Lector (sarcastic): Congratulations. You have just summoned a monster that even with its special ability, is not strong enough to take down Horus.
Atticus: You're missing the point. Now, you might be wondering why it is that I used Exchange during my last turn, don't you?
Lector: Do you think me a fool? That was an obvious attempt to exchange information between one another without breaking the rules.
Atticus: That was part of it, yes. But I also said I was going to help Lexy win and I did, by giving her the card she needed. Finally, I move my Deckmaster to the field… Troop Dragon, you're up (ATK/700)! That ends my turn.
Syrus (confused): But why? He's left himself wide open!
Lector: How foolish. Don't you realize that by exposing your Deckmaster you have guaranteed your defeat? But then again, you two are losing on my next turn anyway.
Atticus: I wouldn't count on that if I were you. Alexis, it's all you now.
Alexis (nodding): Here goes (Draws). Okay, time to end this. I move my Deckmaster to the field as well. Cyber Tutu, go (ATK/1000)! Next, I sacrifice both Cyber Tutu and Troop Dragon in order to summon this from my hand, The Splendid Venus (ATK/2800)!
As Cyber Tutu and Troop Dragon disappear, a majestic angel with four white and enormous wings and a shining golden armor appears on the field in front of Alexis. On her left hand, she holds a golden staff.
Alexis: It's over, Lector. You've underestimated us and you've lost.
Lector: Is that so? Thanks to Horus and Royal Decree, it doesn't matter what you summon.
Alexis: Thanks to the special ability of The Splendid Venus, it does, since I can play any spell or trap cards and their activation cannot be negated, so I'm afraid your cards won't be of much help to you.
Lector: You're forgetting something, my dear. I still have my Deckmaster, which lets me negate the special ability of your monster and destroy it as long as I pay 1000 of my life points.
Alexis: That would be the case if it wasn't for another flaw in your strategy. Early in the duel, I summoned Cyber Blader, yet you didn't destroy her even though she had a special ability of her own. Then I realized you couldn't destroy her… because she never activated her special ability. The effect of The Splendid Venus works the same way as Cyber Blader, it never activates but it remains in effect as long as she is on the field.
Lector (angry): What's your point?
Alexis: The point is that now I can activate any card I want from my hand and there is nothing you can do about it. Now that that's out of the way, I activate the spell card my brother gave during his last turn, Gift of the Martyr! This lets me sacrifice one monster on the field. Atticus, do you mind if I take your Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon?
Atticus (to Alexis): You want my Red-Eyes? He's all yours.
Alexis: Thank you. Now, thanks to Gift of the Martyr's effect, all of Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon's attack points are added to The Splendid Venus, raising her attack by 3900 points (ATK/6700)!
Lector (shocked): WHAT? How can this be? My strategy was flawless!
Alexis: You told me I couldn't be truly successful unless I gave up on everyone I care about and do things on my own. Well, you're about to see to my brother and I win this duel as a team. Venus, take him down!
While charging energy by raising her staff high up in the air, The Splendid Venus begins to fly reaching towards the heavens. Once she is high enough, she points the staff and shoots a powerful energy beam, piercing right through Horus the Black Flame Dragon and hitting Lector as well. Horus is then destroyed by a massive explosion that causes Lector to fall to the ground. Alexis also falls on her knees due to exhaustion.
Atticus LP 200
Alexis LP 200
Lector LP 0
Atticus (worried): Sis, are you alright?
Atticus quickly takes off his Duel Disk and runs to Alexis. Jaden and Syrus do the same. Atticus gets close to Alexis and helps her get up, just as she slowly begins to regain consciousness.
Alexis: I'm okay. Thanks for being there for me. I couldn't have done it without you.
Atticus: Don't sweat it, Lex. You would've done the same thing for me.
Jaden: That was a close one. Good thing it's over now. Great job Alexis!
Alexis: Thank you, but we're not out of the blue just yet.
Alexis then turns to where Lector is and begins walking towards him while the others follow, carefully jumping across the lava current. Lector lies on his knees while his body has already begun to disintegrate into millions of pixels.
Lector: Unbelievable. To think I was so close to escaping this Virtual prison…
Alexis (to Lector): Okay Lector, time for some answers. How do we get out of here?
Lector: Do you really think there is an end to this? There is nowhere for you to go.
Jaden: That's not true. Noah told us there is a way out.
Lector: So you would put your trust on Noah without any proof? He holds all the cards, you foolish boy… The only one who can let you go is him, and I see no reason why he would want to do that.
Syrus: The Big Five are almost finished. Once we're through with you Noah will set us all free.
Lector: Believe what you want to, it won't make a difference. We can try as many times as necessary until we are finally victorious. There is no end to us, or haven't you realized? This is our World!
While smiling to himself, Lector's body finally disappears, leaving the others puzzled.
Syrus: What are we going to do? I knew we shouldn't have trusted Noah.
Atticus: I don't believe a word that Lector said. I was able to get in here by free will. If there is a way in, there must be a way out. By the way, who is Noah?
Jaden: Long story. But I think you're right. The question is, who do we trust, Noah or the Big Five?
Alexis: Considering what the Big Five are capable of, Noah seems like the best bet, whoever he is. What did he ask you to do?
Syrus: We're supposed to take down each and every single member of the Big Five, but I'm not sure that's such a good idea anymore. Look at what happened to Hassleberry!
Atticus: What about him?
Jaden: Never mind, that's an even longer story. Speaking of which, have you heard anything from Chazz?
Alexis: We were wondering the same thing. What do you think he's up to?
Atticus: If all you just said is true, then the answer is simple… Chazz has to be with one of the Big Five. The big question is "Where".
Far away in a dark corner of the Virtual World, Chazz Princeton has just begun to wake up. He tries to look around him but it is too dark to barely see a thing. However, he notices he is sitting on a chair and unable to move. Just as his eyes begin to adjust, he manages to see a man in a suit standing a few feet in front of him. He possesses the voice of an old man.
Chazz: Hey! What's going on? Where am I?
Man: It's about time you woke up.
Chazz: And who are you supposed to be?
Man: You can call me Gansley, founding leader of the Big Five.
Chazz: Big deal. I've never even heard of you or the Big Five.
Gansley: Don't worry, you'll get acquainted with us soon enough.
Chazz: How come I can't move?
Gangsley: I wouldn't want you to run away on me, would I? After all, I need to defeat you in a duel first in order to gain control over your body. If you happen to win, I'll let you go.
Chazz: If it's a duel you want, then let me out of this chair and let's get on with it.
Gansley: Not so fast, Mr. Princeton. Let's move to a better dueling arena.
With a flick of Gansley's finger, the light suddenly turns on and the floor underneath begins to rise. Once his eyes have adjusted to the light, Chazz sees Gansley for the first time as well as the area surrounding him. The platform where they both stand is actually a heliport, rising higher and higher until it reaches the top. The locks on his chair are then disabled, allowing Chazz to stand up. He looks around suddenly realizes where he is: standing in the middle of Domino City and at the top of Kaiba Corp skyscraper.
Gansley: Welcome to Kaiba Corp. I once was the Vice President of this multimillion dollar corporation, and I will be once again after I take over your body. You and your brothers are part of a company as well, am I right?
Chazz: That would be Princeton Corporation, but I want nothing to do with it or my brothers. I'll rise to the top under my own terms once I become a Pro duelist.
Gansley: You are the heir to your family's wealth and you have the opportunity to make a difference in the corporate world, yet you refuse? You don't deserve the life that has been given to you, which is why I will take it away from you.
Chazz: I'd like to see you try. Besides, I don't have time to waste with an old geezer like you.
Gansley (upset): How dare you, you insolent brat?
Chazz turns his back to Gansley and begins walking away from him. While looking all around him, he realizes there is no exit.
Gansley: I don't think so, Mr. Princeton. You're not going anywhere. Not unless you want to jump off the top of the Kaiba Corp building, that is… Otherwise, there is no way out.
Chazz (confident): Fine, then I'll duel you, but I wouldn't hope on winning if I were you.
Gansley: Let get this started then. Prepare to be crushed by a real duelist.
Back in the lava cave, the group has already found their way out of the cave. More trees can be seen all around them, while a big city can be seen in the far distance.
Alexis (surprised): Is that… Domino City? But I thought none of this was real.
Atticus: Exactly. The Big Five can make this Virtual World look any way they want it to.
Jaden: Do you think Chazz might be in there? I recall Johnson saying that the Big Five's main purpose was to take over our bodies so that they could go back to the Real World and become successful once again.
Syrus: That's right. Nesbitt said the exact same thing. He wanted to create weapons of war to that the Big Five could take over the World.
Alexis: And what better way to do it that by taking over the biggest corporation in the world, Kaiba Corp. You're right. The last member of the Big Five has to be there with Chazz.
Syrus: But it's pretty far away. It's going to take us forever to get there.
Atticus: Not necessarily. This is a Virtual World, right? That means we can literally use our cards to take us wherever we need to go.
Alexis: How do you figure?
Atticus: We still have our decks, right? Then let's use some flying monsters to take us over there.
Each one picks a monster from their deck and begins calling out their names out loud. Afterwards, the monsters materialize next to each duelist.
Jaden: Got it! Here comes, Elemental Hero Air Neos!
Syrus: I summon… Steam Gyroid!
Alexis: Come on out, White Night Dragon!
Atticus: I choose Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!
Alexis and Atticus begin to climb on top of their respective dragons, while Jaden is grabbed by the waist and lifted up in the air by his monster. While Syrus acts terrified, Steam Gyroid uses its front wheels to grab him by his shoulders and lift him in the air as well. Once they are all in position, all four monsters take off and begin flying towards Domino City.
Jaden (exited): Are we all ready? Let's go find Chazz!
Meanwhile, at the top of the Kaiba Corp building, Chazz and Gansley stand facing each other ready to duel. Their decks have already been selected and their Duel Disks are in place. Chazz seems to have already been introduced to the new rules, as well as the high stakes of this duel.
Gansley: If you're ready then let's get down to business! As my Deckmaster, I choose Summon Sage.
A fragile old man wearing a long purple robe appears, putting himself in a meditating position and beginning to levitate next to Gansley.
Chazz: That's original, an old man just like you. Here's a real Deckmaster, X-Head Cannon!
A medium-sized android with two cannon barrels over its shoulders appears floating next to Chazz.
Chazz/Gansley: Let's duel!
Chazz LP 4000
Gansley LP 4000
Chazz: Get ready, Gansley, 'cause I'm about to wipe the floor with you (Draws). I start by summoning Beetron-1 Beetletop in attack mode (ATK/1700)! Next I activate my Deckmaster's special ability. Thanks to him, I get to summon another Union monster from my hand every turn, so here comes, Beetron-3 Spider Base (DEF/2000)! After that, I end my turn.
Gansley: Here is how the game is played, kid (Draws). I place a monster in defense mode and then I activate the special ability of my Deckmaster as well. By discarding one spell card from my hand, I am allowed to summon any Level 4 monster from my deck.
Chazz: I see, so you're trying to keep up.
Gansley: That's right. As you can see, you are not the only one who can swarm the field with monsters. I now summon Sacred Crane in attack mode (ATK/1600), and thanks to its special ability I can draw one more card (Draws). Then I place one card face down. That is all.
Chazz (disappointed): You're kidding, right? That's all you're going to do? Figures (Draws)… I switch my Beetron-3 to attack mode (ATK/1000) and then I summon Beetron-2 Beetleturbo in attack mode as well (ATK/1500). Now, Beetron-1 and Beetron-2, take down his monsters!
Each of Chazz's beetle-shaped machines ram into Gansley's monsters, his face down being destroyed by Beetron-2, while his Sacred Crane is destroyed by Beetron-1.
Chazz LP 4000
Gansley LP 3900
Chazz: Beetron-3, direct attack!
The third Beetron obeys the command and quickly rams into Gansley, knocking him back a few steps and taking some of his life points.
Chazz LP 4000
Gansley LP 2900
Chazz: I think you've had enough for now, so I'll place a face down and take a break.
Gansley: Why, thank you, Mr. Princeton. Now that I have lost over 1000 life points, I am allowed to summon Ruklamba the Spirit King from my hand (DEF/2000). In addition to that, the face-down monster you happened to destroy was Skelengel, which lets me draw one card (Draws).
Chazz: What good will that do? Swarm the field with monsters all you want, you're still going to lose.
Gansley: I'm afraid you are mistaken. Just like in the business world, assembling a powerful workforce is the most important aspect in Duel Monsters. As long as I have monsters I will never be beat.
Chazz: Powerful? Who are you kidding? Your deck is full of weak monsters.
Gansley: You mean just like your Ojamas? Oh, yes. I know everything about your duel strategies. You should know better than to underestimate the power of the small.
Chazz: Whatever, just go.
Gansley: Very well. In that case, I activate the effect of my Magical Blast spell card. When it's in my Graveyard, I can add it to my card instead of drawing a card from my deck. Next I discard it once more, so that I can summon another Sacred Crane from my deck in defense mode (DEF/400).
Chazz: In defense mode? You could've destroyed one of my Beetrons, but decided to cower behind your pathetic monsters instead.
Gansley (smiling): I have my reasons. Moving on, as you recall, Sacred Crane lets me draw yet another card from my deck (Draw). That ends my turn.
Chazz: How lame (Draw). What do you say we end this duel right now? I've wasted enough of my time already. I activate my face down card, Limiter Removal. This lets me double the attack power of each of my machines. Now, Beetron-2 (ATK/3000) and Beetron-3 (ATK/2000) will destroy all of your monsters!
Once again, both Beetrons ram into each of Gansley's monsters, leaving him defenseless.
Chazz: And that leaves the coast clear for a direct attack. Go, Beetron-1 (ATK/3400), attack!
Gansley (interrupting): This duel is not over yet, Mr. Princeton! Without noticing it, you have given me the perfect opportunity to get rid of all your monsters for good. Since you have destroyed 2 of my monsters, I am allowed to summon this from my hand… Tualatin, come forth (ATK/2800)!
An enormous angel with a protective suit of armor appears on the field with its lower body seemingly directly attached to the ground.
Chazz: So what? Your monster is weaker than my Beetron.
Gansley: In about 10 seconds there will be nothing left of your monsters but scrap metal, thanks to Tualatin's special ability. All I have to do now is select an Attribute and every monster on the field with the same attribute is instantly destroyed. The one I choose is EARTH, the same attribute as your Beetrons.
After Gansley's announcement, Tualatin raises both of its arms and destroys all of Chazz's monsters with a powerful current of wind. His field is now completely empty.
Gansley: Unfortunately for you, if you happen to summon a monster with the Earth Attribute, Tualatin will destroy it right on the spot. For this purpose I activate the trap card, DNA Transplant, transforming any and all monsters on the field into Earth Attribute monsters.
Chazz (shocked): WHAT? So if I summon a monster…
Gansley: … it will burn and crash faster than the stock market. With no monsters, your chances of success have just plummeted. Prepare to be crushed by the competition!
To be continued…
CARD OF THE DAY:
Tualatin
Light, Level 8
[Fairy/Effect
You can only activate this card during your opponent's Battle Phase. If you have 2 or more monsters on your field and they are destroyed as a result of battle during the Battle Phase and sent to the Graveyard, you may Special Summon this card from your hand. If you successfully Special Summon this card in this way, declare an Attribute. Any face-up monsters on the field of the declared Attribute are destroyed. As long as this card remains face-up on the field, your opponent cannot Normal Summon or Special Summon any monster of that Attribute.
ATK/2800 DEF/2500