What card's TCG version has only twenty copies in existence? If you said "Des Volstgalph", you were successfully able to Name that Card!
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My grandparents' experiences with Duel Spirits weren't as numerous as those of Jaden Yuki and his friends. But even early on, they knew that cards were more than just cardboard and ink. They knew that cards had souls, and they told anyone who would listen that you needed to respect your deck.
They were angered by duelists like Arkana who prepared their decks using "shotgun shuffling" and cut up their cards in order to cheat. Such acts were abominable to them.
Now that we're in a dimension of walking, breathing Duel Spirits, I have all the proof I need that they were right.
But even they weren't perfect. It seems some Spirits are too sensitive, and are offended by the smallest things.
Or maybe some Spirits are just as thick-headed as some of the humans that they faced. Maybe some of them, like some humans, are just big jerks.
Reasoning with this one will get me nowhere… It's time to duel…
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CHAPTER TWENTY
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Showdown
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The Tzimisce Woods may have been secured, but there were still some outposts in it that were loyal to Daala. The mission that the guide was on that Joan spoke of was to make his way to these outposts and defeat their commanders, to make it known that Joan's rule over this Realm would not be temporary.
The one doing it was none other than Jesse.
It was now midnight, and in a section of the Woods that could better be described as a swamp, a wooden fort stood, its front gate smashed down (courtesy of Amber Mammoth).
An explosion lit up the sky.
Jesse cringed as his Life Points fell to 3,000.
He looked at his opponent, who was none other than the fused Fiend Dark Balter the Terrible. The Fiend had Shadowslayer (1,400/200), Servants of Catabolism (700/500), Gear Golem the Moving Fortress (800/2,200) and Messenger of Peace on his side of the field. Jesse had Emerald Tortoise in Defense Mode (600/2,000) two facedown cards, and well as Cobalt Eagle and Amethyst Cat in his Spell Zone. He had 3,000 Life Points left, while the Fiend had 5,300.
Watching the duel with some worry were a Goblin Elite Attack Force, a Gene-Warped Warwolf, two Battle Steer, and two Krokodilus. All of them had a lot to lose if Balter lost. The two Reptiles were Water, but they knew that Krump had been dethroned as well. The swamplands were their best second choice.
"Give it up, Anderson!" laughed Balter. "I've already crushed the only two Monsters you've got that can both oppose my Monsters and get past my lockdown!"
"You know," said Jesse, "I'm beginning to understand why they outlawed Metamorphosis again. If I was dueling someone human, I wouldn't want to see your ugly mug either."
"Ooh!" said all the other Spirits.
"You take that back!" shouted Balter.
"Oh, lighten up," said Jesse, drawing a card.
"I play Rare Value. Now you gotta choose one Crystal Beast in my Spell Zone, and it goes to the Graveyard."
"If I must choose," said Balter, "I choose the Amethyst Cat."
"They always pick her…" muttered Jesse, as the amethyst vanished. "Now I get to draw two cards."
He drew twice.
"Now, I switch Emerald Tortoise to Attack Mode."
Emerald Tortoise peeked out of his shell.
"Huh?" said Balter. "It's not strong enough to defeat my Monsters."
"He will be in a minute," said Jesse. "Now I play… M-Force! It gives him 500 more Attack Points!
"But that's still low enough to slip by your Messenger."
Emerald Tortoise rose to 1,100 Attack Points.
"Get that Servant of Catabolism!" shouted Jesse. "Emerald cutter!"
Emerald Tortoise retreated into his shell again, and his shell started spinning like a rotary saw. Energy blades shot out of it, and the Servant exploded.
"Ergh…" groaned Balter, as his Life Points fell to 4,900.
"Now I use his effect, to move him back to Defense Mode."
Emerald Tortoise retreated back to his shell.
"And that's my turn."
"I'll show you!" shouted Balter, drawing. "I pay 100 Life Points to keep Messenger of Peace.
"Now I'll pay another 800 to attack directly with my Gear Golem! Attack!"
The Machine launched a volley of sharp spikes, flying right over Emerald Tortoise. Jesse groaned as they stabbed into him and his Life Points fell to 2,200.
"Now," said Balter, "since your turtle is in Defense Mode, Shadowslayer can do the same!"
Shadowslayer drew a katana from its back. It rushed at Jesse.
"Not so fast!" shouted Jesse. "I activate… G-Force!"
One of his Trap Cards lifted up.
"Now, instead of attacking me, your slayer has to attack a Crystal Beast while it's still in my hand. And guess what? I have Amber Mammoth right here!"
He held up a card. Amber Mammoth loomed above Shadowslayer. (1,700/1,600)
The Fiend dropped its sword in fright. The huge elephant lifted its foot, and then crushed it flat.
"Ergh!" shouted Balter again, as his Life Points fell to 3,700.
Amber Mammoth vanished, as Jesse returned the card to his hand.
"My move now…" said Jesse, drawing.
"And I play E-Force!"
"What does that do?" moaned Balter.
"It lets me move a Crystal Beast from my Spell Zone to the field," said Jesse.
The cobalt in front of him shattered, and Cobalt Eagle appeared. (1,400/800)
"Your Cobalt Eagle!" shouted Balter.
"That's right," said the Eagle. "Would you believe I have less than 1,500 Attack Points?"
"That's the idea," said Jesse. "And so does Emerald Tortoise."
Emerald Tortoise moved into Attack Mode.
Cobalt Eagle flew at Gear Golem, and dive-bombed it with its talons. It sparked, and then exploded into scrap.
Then, the same blades flew out of Emerald Tortoise, striking Balter directly. He groaned as his Life Points fell further, to 1,700.
"Do something, boss!" shouted one of the Battle Steer.
"I'm trying!" screamed Balter.
"Psst," said Jesse to Emerald Tortoise. "Better move back to Defense Mode, just in case."
The Crystal Beast nodded, and retreated into his shell.
Balter seethed with anger, and drew a card.
"Okay, Jesse," he growled. "I was hoping I didn't have to do this…
"I pay 100 Life Points to keep Messenger of Peace.
"Then I set one Monster, and then play Swords of Revealing Light."
A facedown Monster appeared, and then a blizzard of Swords shot at Jesse, forming a cage around him and his Monsters.
Balter chuckled.
By the time those wear off, he thought, my Stealth Bird will have drained all of his Life Points.
"Your move."
Jesse drew a card.
"Aw," he said.
"Got a bad draw?" said Balter with a laugh.
"Naw," said Jesse. "I got the best draw I could possibly get. I'm just sorry this has to end… I was having so much fun.
"I summon Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus!"
A brilliant Sapphire appeared on the field. It burst, and the gorgeous Pegasus appeared. (1,800/1,200)
"Big deal!" shouted Balter. "It can't bust though my two layers of protection!"
"You know, Balter," said Jesse, "your deck kinda came as a surprise to me. I always thought of you as an up-front and personal kind of guy. The lockdown direct damage thing just didn't seem to fit.
"But anyway…
"When Sapphire Pegasus is summoned, I get to take a Crystal Beast from my hand, deck, or Graveyard, and place it in my Spell Zone. And I'm going with Topaz Tiger."
A large topaz appeared in front of him.
"Now, my facedown card," he said, as his other facedown card lifted. "Beast Soul Swap. This lets me return a Beast-Type Monster to my hand. Then I get to Special Summon one from my hand that's the same Level.
"So Sapphire Pegasus, come back here."
Sapphire Pegasus vanished.
"He's Level Four, by the way. So now I gotta Special Summon a Level Four Beast from my hand. Heck, I think I'll summon Sapphire Pegasus right back."
In a burst of light, Sapphire Pegasus reappeared.
"Now, what I just did may seem pointless, but…"
"But you get to use its effect again…" muttered Balter.
"Bingo!" said Jesse. "So I'll bring up Ruby Carbuncle."
A red ruby appeared next to the topaz.
"And now… I play Take Flight!"
He played a Spell Card, and Sapphire Pegasus glowed with eldritch energy. Lightning flashed.
"What's happening?" shouted Balter.
"Take Flight lets me return every Crystal Beast except him to my hand. Everyone, come on back!"
Emerald Tortoise, Cobalt Eagle, Topaz Tiger, and Ruby Carbuncle vanished. They appeared in Jesse's hand along with Amber Mammoth.
"And now…" said Jesse, playing his last card, "I play GEM Burst!
"I'll ditch G-Force, E-Force, and M-Force…"
The three cards slipped out of his discard slot.
"And then I can bring this duel home!"
He threw all five of the Crystal Beasts into his Disk, and five gems – red, orange, yellow, green, and blue – appeared behind Sapphire Pegasus.
"All together, everyone!" shouted Jesse. "Five gem flare flash!"
The five gems glowed, and so did Sapphire Pegasus's horn. It fired a bolt of rainbow-colored energy straight at Dark Balter the Terrible. The Fiend screamed, and then erupted in an explosion of energy. His Life Points fell to nothing.
When his men looked, there was nothing left of their leader but a burned-out Duel Disk.
Jesse turned to them.
"Okay, who's next?" he said.
One of the Krokodilus shoved the Warwolf.
"You're second-in-command," he said, frantically, "you handle him!"
"Me?" shouted the Warwolf, just as frantically. "What's wrong with you?"
"We give up!" shouted a Goblin, throwing his hands in the air.
"Yeah," said a Battle Steer, dropping his trident. "I never liked Daala much anyway…"
Well, thought Jesse, three fortresses down, one more to go… Best handle it, and with any luck, I'll be back before dawn…
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Seven AM. The sun started to rise over Nexus, and all seemed quiet there for now.
Unlike yesterday morning, Yumi was the first one up. She yawned a little as she walked into the common room of the temple.
"Wow," she thought. "That Spell Card was a good idea. My head's never felt clearer."
A delicious smell came to her nose. There were eggs and bacon cooking.
"Well, look who's up with the sun," said a voice.
"Jesse?" said Yumi.
"Yep," said the young man in front of her. "Come on, Joan has everything ready. Hope you're hungry…"
"Don't you guys ever sleep?" asked Yumi.
"Only when we want to," said Jesse. "Sometimes we do want to, because even an AI needs rest every once in a while."
"Heh," chuckled Yumi. "Philip K. Dick once asked the question, 'Do computers dream of electric sheep?' It was interesting…
"Which leads me to a question… DO computers dream of electric sheep?"
Jesse chuckled.
"No more than anyone else does," he said.
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The fact that Joan was there to see them off was much more reassuring. They all felt a little guilty eating in front of her and Jesse, seeing as they didn't choose to eat with them, but they eventually got over it.
They went over their decks one last time, and then took another path from the temple, and as the odd spatial effect occurred again, the temperature took a sudden shift to hot and dry. The grassy knolls faded away, and were replaced by barren sand dunes.
"Hot…" said Erik.
He looked over the scorched and arid desert that was called the Burnt Paradise. The sands seemed to go on forever.
"Yeah," said Jesse. "That's usually the first impression of one who comes here."
"It must be a hundred degrees in the shade," muttered Chelsea.
"And there is no shade," said Ren. "Sam, do you think you could use those ice powers of yours to make snow cones?"
"Won't work, Ren," said Sam. "I've been practicing, and my ice turns right into vapor when it melts. It isn't good for quenching thirst. I have a feeling that it's actually dry ice."
"Makes sense," said Erik. "I doubt that these powers would ever let anyone create water."
"I suppose I could make ice cream if I had the ingredients…" said Sam.
"Eh, forget it," muttered Ren, wiping his brow. "Man, if this is the Realm of Light, I'd hate to see the Realm of Fire."
"Haven't been there myself," said Jesse. "Atticus is in charge of that place."
"Atticus?" said Yumi, somewhat shocked. "Atticus Rhodes?"
Jesse nodded.
"The Flaming Peaks is a dangerous place," said Jesse. "Folks have compared it to depictions of Hell itself. Atticus has Monsters that are known for raw power, so he's in charge of there."
"Swell," said Chelsea. "Can't wait to go there myself… If we survive that long…"
Then she stopped short.
They had come upon a huge skeleton, half-buried in the sand, one that looked like that of a thirty-foot tall dinosaur, the bones picked clean.
"I'd hate to see what that was," said Sam.
"I'd hate to see what killed it!" shouted Ren.
"Calm down everyone!" said Yumi. "Across the desert lies the promised land, as Willy Wonka once said, and we've got to get there."
"Willy Wonka?" said Sam.
Yumi sighed.
"When I was a kid, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was my favorite book," she said. "But we can't let this desert get to us. Everyone got their canteens?"
Everyone nodded.
"Do NOT drink it all at once, because we don't know when we'll be able to refill."
"Times like this I'm glad I don't have to drink," said Jesse.
"Yeah, Jesse, we know," said Yumi. "Now let's go…"
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After about half an hour, the sand dunes gave way to some rocky terrain. Some odd rock formations came into view.
"Hmm…" said Jesse. "Look sharp people…"
Then the ground started to tremble.
"What's that?" shouted Sam, turning to Jesse.
"Am I supposed to know everything?" asked Jesse. "I think there might be something underground…"
Then the ground started to shake violently.
"There must be a million things down there!" shouted Erik.
And then a titanic form burst through the surface in an explosion of rock shards and dirt. It looked like a millipede the size of a subway train, with huge mandibles and a dull, red carapace. (2,800/2,600)
"No…" said Chelsea. "Only one…"
"That's a Doom Dozer!" shouted Sam. "My mom has one in her deck… And once she manages to summon it, she's practically won the duel!"
The giant Insect looked at them and drooled. All of them drew six cards off their decks.
"Anyone?" asked Yumi.
Everyone shook their heads.
"You got a plan, Jesse?" asked Yumi. "We don't have many options…"
"Yeah…" he replied. "Run as fast as possible!"
The six duelists fled, but the huge beast gave chase.
"Ah, we'll never outrun it!" shouted Erik. "It's got a hundred legs and we only have two apiece!"
Sam and Chelsea turned to face the huge creature. They pointed, and blasts of fire and ice hit the huge thing on the underbelly. The Doom Dozer roared.
"Great," said Chelsea. "I think we made it mad."
The thing glared at them.
Then Ren stepped forward. He held his temples with his palms and closed his eyes. He started to glow with a golden light…
Then, four spires of rock shot up from the ground. The Doom Dozer looked confused.
Then it bellowed, as the rock started wrapping around it.
"I don't know what you're doing, Ren," said Chelsea, "but keep doing it!"
The Doom Dozer struggled, but Ren continued, and layers of stone wrapped around it, forming a rocky straightjacket.
Ren stopped to catch his breath. The huge Insect growled, but it wasn't struggling any more.
"So, uh, it gave you the ability to control stone?" asked Erik.
"Seems that way," said Ren. "Now let's skedaddle before it breaks free."
That was the best idea they had heard yet, so they all ran past it, the way they were going.
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"Okay, let's see…" said Erik. "I get visions of the future… Chelsea is pyrotechnic… Sam can create ice… And Ren can shape stone.
"Seems that the Devil's Fruit has delivered in spades for everyone… Except Yumi…"
Yumi sighed.
"I'm sure something will come to me soon," she said. "We'll just have to wait for the right time."
Then came something they didn't expect. Piano music started playing from ahead.
"Sounds like someone's playing 'Oh, Susana'," said Erik.
Like a shimmering mirage, the pianist appeared. He was playing a very old-fashioned piano, and a table was next to him.
He looked like a well-dressed and handsome gentleman, wearing a formal vest, shirt, slacks, and bow tie. He had a haircut that could best be described as outdated, but still formal.
He stopped playing and looked at them. He took a coin out of his pocket and started flipping it.
"You seem out of your territory, buddy," said Sam.
"Why no," said the strange man, standing up. "This desert makes me feel right at home…"
"Wait…" said Yumi. "I recognize this guy… I saw the card in a binder once… Sand Gambler, right?"
The Duel Spirit chuckled, and pocketed the coin. He took out a deck of cards (Yumi saw that they were ordinary playing cards, not Duel Monsters cards) and started to shuffle.
"You like Duel Monsters, Yumi," he said. "How good would you be at other card games, I wonder?
"Just for fun, let's see what hand you'd be dealt if you were in a poker game…"
He tossed five cards on the table, and they landed faces down.
Yumi looked him in the eye.
"Go on," said Sand Gambler. "They don't bite."
Yumi slowly picked them up.
The five cards were two aces, of clubs and spades, two eights, also of clubs and spades, and a nine of diamonds.
"Very funny," she said, turning them around.
Sand Gambler chuckled.
"I assume you know the historic significance of that combination," he said. "Aces and Eights… The hand that Wild Bill Hickok was holding right before he was murdered.
"The Dead Man's Hand."
"I'm not Wild Bill, and this isn't Deadwood!" shouted Yumi, throwing the cards down. "What's your deal?"
Sand Gambler leaned casually against the piano.
"Now why do we have to argue, Yumi?" he asked. "After all… You like Spellcasters… I'm a Spellcaster. You have a grandfather who liked to gamble. Heck, I love to gamble.
"In fact Yumi… I believe both sides of your family were good at games of chance…"
Yumi looked at him.
"True…" she said. "Solomon Mouto was one of the best gamblers of his time. After he excelled in every game of chance he knew existed, he made a bet with himself, stating that if he ever lost a game, he would retire, open a store, and wear overalls for the rest of his life…
"We can assume that he eventually lost."
Sand Gambler looked her in the eye.
"Yes, but it's your closer grandfather I remember more," he said. "Him and me… We didn't part on good terms…"
Yumi just looked at him.
"What?" she said.
"I'm a Duel Spirit, Yumi," he said, with a hint of annoyance. "And like so many, a card that bore my image was once my vessel in your world. And Joey Wheeler once owned it."
"That's crazy!" said Sam. "He used a lot of gamble cards, sure, but never yours."
"Not in an official duel," said Sand Gambler. "He got my card shortly after Battle City. He looked at it, and thought the effect was promising. And when he held it, I felt in him the soul of a true gambler… The type of human I admired the most…"
He tossed his coin again.
"But when he tried my card out in tabletop duels, it all went wrong. He could never succeed at making all three coin tosses. He eventually decided that my card wasn't worth it.
"So he traded my card… For Maximum Six.
"Give me a break! Look at me! Aren't I a lot handsomer than that brutal, six-armed ogre?"
"Maybe," said Ren. "But I saw the tape of the KaibaCorp Grand Prix. He had a lot more luck when he used him. He rolled a six, making his Attack Score 3,100."
Sand Gambler growled and crossed his arms.
"The one he traded me to was a spoiled rich grade school student named Pierre," he muttered. "He had the potential to be a great gambler, but he never became more than someone who pretended to be one. He cheated at cards… I'm surprised folks actually believed he was being honest when he was able to draw a Royal Straight Flush. That's almost impossible.
"When he became a serious duelist, his Gamble Deck, if you could call it that, would never have succeeded without his Second Coin Toss, a card that a true gambler does NOT need.
"To make things worse, once he had used his one use of Second Coin Toss for a round, he was too scared to take another chance until he could use it again the next round. He was pathetic.
"Joey was a real gambler… He could have succeeded… If he just gave me a chance."
"Maybe you're just bad luck," said Chelsea.
Sand Gambler glared at her.
"Okay, little lady," he said with a sneer. "Once I'm done with Yumi, you're next!"
He picked up a Duel Disk and slipped it on his left arm.
"Oh, good grief," said Yumi. "You want to duel me just because my grandfather traded your card? You have serious issues, pal. It's a trading card game, Sand Gambler! If he hadn't been willing to trade, he'd never have gotten his Shield and Sword!"
"That Spell Card saved his butt more than once," said Erik.
"Yumi, you don't have to, you know," said Jesse.
"That's okay, Jesse," said Yumi. "I have a feeling that Daala is pulling his strings, and the more of her men we take down, the better."
Sand Gambler started to shuffle his deck.
"I'm watching you, pal!" said Yumi.
"Oh, please," said Sand Gambler. "I'm not some charlatan like that fool Arkana. I'm a Duel Spirit. Do you think I'd actually resort to card tricks?"
Yumi just stared at him.
"I dunno, would you?" she asked.
"Here," he said, handing her his deck. "Shuffle it yourself if you aren't convinced."
"I think I'll do just that," said Yumi, taking it.
"Not the first time I had a hard time with a Gamble Deck," she muttered, as she shuffled. "I remember Cassandra's Arcana Force Monsters quite plainly…"
Sand Gambler smirked.
She thinks I'm playing a Gamble Deck, he thought. Won't she be surprised… True, I am a gambler… But some things are just too important to leave to luck…
Yumi handed the deck back, and then walked to her position.
"Time to stop beating around the bush, Yumi," said Sand Gambler. "As so many gunfighters would say in the days of the Old West…
"Draw."
(Yumi: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Sand Gambler: 8,000)
"I'm gonna drop you like a bad habit," said Yumi.
"Oh, does that mean to say gambling is a bad habit?" said Sand Gambler, drawing his first card. "You're a barrel of laughs…
"I summon Warrior Lady of the Wasteland."
He played a card, and a feminine figure materialized. She was dressed in a halter and short skirt, with high boots, and a wide-brimmed hat with a feather in it, along with a tattered cape. She held a longsword and carried a revolver slung to her side. (1,100/1,200)
"That's all."
"You call that an opening move?" asked Yumi. "I can do better than that…
"I summon Magician's Valkyria!"
She played the card, and Valkyria appeared in a burst of light. (1,600/1,800)
"Well, hi there," said Sand Gambler.
Valkyria looked at him. Then she blushed a little.
"Oh, for heaven's sake!" shouted Yumi. "Snap out of it!"
Valkyria shook her head a little.
"What can I say?" asked Sand Gambler. "I have a way with the ladies…"
"Attack!" shouted Yumi. "Destroy his Warrior Lady!"
Magician's Valkyria cast her burning beam of light, and Warrior Lady screamed before she was blown away.
"If there's one thing I don't need," said Yumi, "it's my Monsters getting crushes on my opponent!"
Valkyria sighed, and hung her head.
"Humph, too bad," said Sand Gambler. "But at least I get something for my troubles… I get to summon an Earth Warrior with 1,500 Attack Points or less. Like Marauding Captain."
In a burst of energy, the battle-worn Warrior appeared, holding his two swords. (1,200/400)
Yumi took a card from her hand.
"I'll set this, and that will be all," she said.
A facedown card appeared.
(Y: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 7,500)
Sand Gambler drew a card.
"Hmm…" he said. "Moving Marauding Captain to Defense Mode…"
The Captain sheathed his swords, and knelt in defense.
"Then, I summon another lovely lady… Command Knight."
He played the card, and a new female Warrior appeared. She had orange and brown ceremonial armor and a beret over her long hair, and held a longsword and a shield. (1,200/1,900)
"And she can…"
"I know her effect," said Yumi. "Everyone who uses Warriors has at least one. She increases the Attack Scores of all your Warriors by 400 points, and I can't attack her so long as you have at least one other Monster."
Command Knight and Marauding Captain both rose to Attack Scores of 1,600.
"Weird," said Ren. "This guy seems to have nothing more than a Toolbox Warrior Deck. Yumi will take him down without breaking a sweat."
How little you know, thought Sand Gambler, as he took another card from his hand.
He placed it in his Field Slot.
"I play… Dodge City!"
As was the case with all Field Spells, the whole terrain changed, but no-one expected this. Buildings rose on both sides of them… Very old-fashioned buildings, suggesting a prospecting town of the Old West.
A tumbleweed blew between them.
"Ah, yes, Dodge City," said Sand Gambler. "Once, it was the pure definition of the West… The beginning of the Santa Fe Trail.
"You know Yumi, back then, this town had an odd law. You weren't allowed to wear or carry a gun north of the 'deadline', which was the railroad tracks that ran through the center of town. On the south side, it was a place where anything goes.
"As you can see from the tracks behind me and the position of the sun, we're on the south side right now."
"Stuff a sock in it, Sand Gambler!" shouted Yumi. "What does your Field Spell do?"
It gives two bonuses to all Warrior-Type Monsters of the Fire Attribute," said Sand Gambler. "One, they can dodge Spells, Traps, and Monster effects that target. Two, if they're attacked while in Attack Mode, they can retreat into Defense Mode."
"Uh, Sam?" asked Erik. "Exactly how many Fire Warriors are there?"
Sam looked dumbfounded.
"That one," she said, pointing to Command Knight, "Ultimate Baseball Kid, and uhm… uh…
"Well, the only other one I can think of is an incredibly powerful card that I doubt this guy could ever use… It's one of those Sing… Cinch…
"Synchros?" asked Ren.
"Yeah," said Ren. "Not the kind of card you see every day. This is weird…"
Sand Gambler smirked.
You'd be surprised, Sam, he thought.
Yumi looked at her hand, which included Old Vindictive Magician.
Whatever he's planning, she thought, my plan to get rid of Command Knight with this guy is ruined.
"I end my turn," said Sand Gambler.
Yumi drew a card slowly.
"I, uh… I summon Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer," she said.
She played the card, and Kycoo appeared in a burst of energy. (1,800/700)
"Valkyria, attack Marauding Captain!"
Valkyria cast her Magic Illusion, and the Captain was blown to shards.
"Kycoo, attack…"
She stopped short.
"Uh, on second thought, never mind," she said. "I end my turn."
Have to be careful, she thought. He'd have clearly used the effect of the Field Spell if I had attacked.
Sand Gambler drew a card.
"Okay, missy…" he said. "Now I'll show you my true strategy…
"I summon Twin-Gun Fighter!"
In a burst of flame, a new Warrior appeared, one who truly seemed at home in the Dodge City Field Spell. It was a young, ragged cowboy, dressed in a leather buckskin and matching hat, holding two Colt Peacemaker revolvers. (1,600/1,000) –) (2,000/1,000)
"What the…" said Yumi. "A cowboy Monster?"
"Yep," said Sand Gambler. "And since he and his ilk use firearms as weapons, Fire is their Attribute. So they benefit from the Field Spell. Not to mention the added bonus that Command Knight helps them, and she's right at home here too.
"Anyway… Twin-Gun Fighter, plug her Magician's Valkyria."
Valkyria looked at Sand Gambler in shock…
Twin-Gun Fighter fired two shots at the female mage. Valkyria clutched her chest, and fell to her knees. Then she shattered into shards.
"Whoa, talk about cruel," said Ren.
Then Twin-Gun Fighter aimed his gun at Yumi and fired again. Yumi screamed.
"How?" she shouted, clutching her stomach. "How did he manage to attack directly?"
"Technically, he didn't," said Sand Gambler. "See, due to his effect, when he destroys one of your Monsters, you take damage equal to his Attack Score."
"Good lord," said Chelsea. "That means Yumi will lose Life Points 2,000 at a time, if she's lucky!"
"You know how when kids ask for BB guns, their mothers' usual excuse for not letting them have one is 'you'll shoot your eye out'?" said Sand Gambler. "Well let me tell you… Mothers think too small. Let a kid have a gun, he can do far more damage than THAT.
"And I'm not done... I play Mirage."
He played a Spell Card, and the air around him started to turn blurry and hazy.
"What does that do?" asked Yumi.
"It stays on my side of the field for three full turns," said Sand Gambler. "During that time, you can only use attacks or Spells on my Monsters. You won't be able to reach me with them.
"And I end my turn."
(Y: 5,600) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 7,500)
Yumi drew a card.
"Okay…" she said. "I play… Pot of Greed."
She played the card, and drew two cards, and looked at them.
"I'll toss two cards facedown," she said.
Two facedown cards appeared.
"Then I'll move Kycoo to Defense Mode, and set a new Monster in Defense Mode."
Kycoo knelt and crossed his arms. Then a facedown Monster appeared.
"That's all."
Sand Gambler drew a card.
"I'll summon another fine lady," he said. "Meet my Pierce Musketeer."
He played another card, and another Monster that matched the Old West theme appeared. It was a woman dressed in a low cut, country Victorian-style dress with a fancy hat. She held a long rifle. (1,700/1,000) –) (2,100/1,000)
"Considering the stunt you just pulled," said Yumi, "I'm surprised she even listens to you."
"Life is full of mysteries," said Sand Gambler. "Twin-Gun Fighter, take care of Kycoo."
The gunfighter aimed his two Colts.
"Activate, Draining Shield!" shouted Yumi.
As Twin-Gun Fighter fired, Yumi's Trap Card lifted, and the bullets were absorbed by an invisible shield.
"Well, ain't that a shame," said Sand Gambler. "But I still have Pierce Musketeer, and she has a special ability of her own. When she attacks a Monster in Defense Mode, and her Attack Score is higher than that Monster's Defense Score, the difference is taken out of your Life Points.
"Why don't you show her, honey?"
Pierce Musketeer aimed her rifle.
"No!" shouted Chelsea. "Kycoo has a weak Defense!"
Pierce Musketeer fired, and the Ghost Destroyer was blown to shards. Yumi clutched her chest in pain.
"All right, Command Knight, attack her last Monster."
Command Knight raised her Sword, and rushed at the facedown Monster. Blast Magician appeared on the card. (1,400/1,700) He parried the Warrior's blow with his staff, and then pushed her back.
"Ah, well," said Sand Gambler. "I'll get him next time…"
(Y: 6,200) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 7,400)
Yumi drew a card.
"Time to turn this around!" she shouted.
One of her two facedown cards lifted.
"I activate Call of the Haunted!"
A coffin appeared on her side of the field, and Magician's Valkyria stepped out of it. (1,600/1,800)
She gave an angry sneer at Sand Gambler.
"Next," she said, "I summon Old Vindictive Magician."
She played the card, and the old, wizened witch doctor in colorful clothes appeared. (450/600)
"Huh?" said Sand Gambler. "You summoned him? But why?"
"I'll show you," said Yumi, "I play Magical Dimension. So I sacrifice him…"
Old Vindictive Magician vanished into sparkles of light.
"And there's a new sheriff in town! Come on out, Dark Magician!"
In a burst of energy, Dark Magician leapt onto the field. (2,500/2,100)
"Aw, crud…" said Sand Gambler.
"Magical Dimension also lets me destroy one Monster," said Yumi. "And this Spell doesn't target, by the way."
Command Knight shattered into pixels. Both Twin-Gun Fighter and Pierce Musketeer lost 400 Attack Points.
"I move Blast Magician into Attack Mode," she continued, as the crimson-robed mage stood up.
"Dark Magician, send Twin-Gun Fighter to Boot Hill!"
"Forget?" said Sand Gambler, as Dark Magician aimed his staff. "Due to my Field Spell, he gets to move into Defense Mode."
Twin-Gun Fighter put away his revolvers and then crouched down.
"Then why don't I activate this," said Yumi, as her other facedown card lifted. "Magician's Circle! Now, we each must summon to the field in Attack Mode, a Spellcaster that has 2,000 Attack Points or less."
Sand Gambler growled.
"All right…" he muttered, taking a card from his deck, "I'll summon this one… Gambler of Legend."
In a dark shadow, a new figure appeared. He was also dressed in a buckskin, with a bandana around his neck and a black cowboy hat. He casually tossed a coin. (500/1,400)
Dark Magician Girl appeared next to Dark Magician in a flash of light. (2,000/1,700)
"Whoa!" shouted Sand Gambler. "Now there's a lady I'd really like to get to know!"
"You wish," said Yumi. "And that triggered a replay, by the way… And your Gambler is no Fire Warrior."
"Dark Magician, switch your target to Gambler of Legend!"
Dark Magician aimed his staff at Gambler of Legend, and he was blown to pieces in a mighty blast.
"ERGH!" shouted Sand Gambler.
"Dark Magician Girl, you take care of Twin-Gun Fighter! Dark burning attack!"
Dark Magician Girl aimed her staff. The gunslinger was blown to pieces.
Yumi sighed.
"I end my turn," she said.
(Y: 6,200) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 5,400)
"Strange," said Erik. "You'd think he would have used his own card…"
"He was smart, Erik," said Sam. "Sand Gambler has only 300 Attack Points. If this guy even has his own card in his deck, summoning Gambler of Legend cost him less Life Points. An extra 200 can make a difference in the long run."
Sand Gambler smiled at Dark Magician Girl as he drew. She crossed her arms and turned her head from him with an audible "Humph!"
"Sand Gambler!" said Daala's voice in his head.
He stopped short.
"Uh, yes milady?" he replied.
"You're reputation as a lady's man is well known," said Daala's voice. "But know this well… Being distracted by Dark Magician Girl is a sure way to lose.
"She is closer to Yumi than any other card in her deck. Crushing her may well be the key to victory.
"Is that understood?"
"Yes, milady," he whispered.
"Good," she replied. "Now prove your loyalty to me and kill her."
Sand Gambler sighed, and drew a card.
"I switch Pierce Musketeer to Defense Mode," he said.
Pierce Musketeer lifted up her dress and knelt down, holding her rifle in her lap.
"I set a facedown, and that will be all."
A facedown card appeared in front of him.
"Remember," he said, "Mirage is still in play until my next Standby Phase. Until then, you can't touch me."
Yumi drew a card.
"Dark Magician Girl," she said, "destroy Pierce Musketeer!"
Dark Magician Girl's aimed her staff at the Musketeer, and her spell blasted her to atoms.
"In that case, I'll set this in Defense Mode, and end my turn," she said.
A facedown Monster appeared.
Sand Gambler drew a card. The Mirage card shattered, and the shimmering mist cleared up.
He chuckled.
"I'll play Premature Burial," he said. "So I'll pay 800 Life Points to bring Twin-Gun Fighter back."
He glowed with a red aura, and Twin-Gun Fighter appeared once more. (1,600/1,000)
"Next up, I play The Warrior Returning Alive. So I can get Pierce Musketeer back too, and summon her."
A card slipped out of his discard slot. He played it, and Pierce Musketeer appeared. (1,700/1,000)
He threw a Spell Card into his Disk.
"Next, I play Double Summon. This Spell gives me a second Normal Summon for the round. So I'll summon Grenader as well."
"Huh?" said Yumi. "Grenader?"
A new Monster to fit the theme appeared. It was a man in a black overcoat and top hat, holding an old-fashioned hand-mortar. (1,500/1,100)
"Time for a real showdown," said Sand Gambler. "Pierce Musketeer, destroy Valkyria."
The Musketeer fired her rifle, and Valkyria exploded into shards.
"Grenader, attack Blast Magician!"
Grenader pointed his weapon, and launched an explosive from it. Blast Magician was blown to bits, and not only did Yumi cringe, but so did Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl.
"Grenader has a special effect as well," said Sand Gambler. "When he destroys a Monster, your other Monsters lose 500 Attack Points."
Dark Magician fell to an Attack of 2,000, while Dark Magician Girl fell to an Attack of 1,500.
Sand Gambler sighed again. He pointed. Twin-Gun Fighter aimed his gun at Dark Magician Girl…
No… thought Yumi.
The shot rang out, and Dark Magician Girl fell to her knees with a bullet in her breast…
She looked at Yumi weakly. Yumi reached out with her hand, and she tried to reach it with hers, but she dissolved into pixilated remains before they reached each other.
A tear fell down Yumi's cheek. She couldn't react when she was struck by the shot from Twin-Gun Fighter's weapon. She fell to her knees herself.
(Y: 4,300) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 4,600)
"Get up, Yumi!" shouted Chelsea.
"Yeah, don't let that bastard beat you!" shouted Sam.
Yumi closed her eyes tight. Then they opened, showing great anger.
"He won't beat me…" she whispered.
She stood up.
"You know Sand Gambler," she said. "I almost felt sorry for you a while ago… But I think you just destroyed her to make yourself feel big, not as part of any real strategy…"
Sand Gambler paused. He looked at his facedown card.
"You, my friend, are going to regret this," said Yumi. "You're going to regret it bad…"
She drew a card.
"First I set this," she said, as a facedown card appeared. "Then I flip my Morphing Jar into Attack Mode."
Her facedown Monster flipped up, and the vase with the one-eyed shadowy creature appeared. (700/600)
"How odd," said Sand Gambler, as he drew five cards. "I thought you hated me…"
"Don't take it the wrong way!" shouted Yumi, looking at her new hand. "It was either do that or lose.
"Now I play Dedication Through Light and Darkness! I sacrifice Dark Magician to summon someone better!"
Dark Magician vanished, and the mighty Dark Magician of Chaos appeared an explosion of dark energy. (2,800/2,300)
"And just by summoning him, I get to take a Spell Card back from my Graveyard."
A card slipped out of her discard slot.
"Now I'll play it… Pot of Greed!"
She played the card, and drew two cards.
She frowned, and added them to her hand.
"Attack his Twin-Gun Fighter!" shouted Yumi. "Scepter strike!"
Dark Magician of Chaos prepared to cast a mighty spell…
"I activate a Trap!" shouted Sand Gambler, as his facedown card flipped up. "Grazing Bullet!"
Twin-Gun Fighter fired his weapon at Dark Magician of Chaos, and the bullet nicked his ear, knocking him over.
"Dark Magician of Chaos…" said Yumi. "Are you…"
And then she groaned in pain.
"Grazing Bullet stops him from attacking this round," muttered Sand Gambler, "and inflicts damage to both players equal to his Attack Score. Powerful Trap Card, wouldn't you say?"
"Ring of Destruction would have been better," muttered Sam. "If they hadn't outlawed it…"
"Sam…" muttered Erik, holding her shoulders. "You gotta let it go sometime…"
"I end my turn…" muttered Yumi.
(Y: 1,500) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 1,800)
Sand Gambler drew a card.
Seems this duel is as good as mine, he thought. All I have to do is attack Morphing Jar with Twin-Gun Fighter, and Yumi will lose all her Life Points…
Then Yumi's facedown card lifted.
"Threatening Roar!" she shouted.
A bellowing roar echoed over the field.
"Or… maybe not…" muttered Sand Gambler.
He turned the cards on his Disk. His three Monsters knelt and crouched in Defense Mode. Then he placed a card on his Disk, and another defensive Monster appeared.
"Your move…" he said.
Yumi drew a card.
"I move Morphing Jar to Defense Mode," she said.
The creature retreated into its vase.
"Then I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior."
Breaker appeared, holding his sword menacingly. (1,600/1,000) –) (1,900/1,000)
"Breaker has the power to destroy one Spell or Trap Card," said Yumi, "so it's time to get out of Dodge."
Breaker's shield glowed with energy, and the buildings around them crumbled into dust and disintegrated. The arena turned back to the rocky desert that it started as.
"Big deal," said Sand Gambler. "My Monsters are already in Defense Mode. And you can't take them all out in one round."
"Want a bet?" said Yumi, playing a card.
"I play Diffusion-Wave Motion! Now, for the cost of 1,000 Life Points, my Dark Magician of Chaos can attack every Monster on your side of the field!"
Dark Magician of Chaos glowed with incredible energy…
He fired four powerful blasts, and Twin-Gun Fighter, Pierce Musketeer, Grenader, and the facedown Monster, revealed to be another Twin-Gun Fighter, were all blown to bits.
Yumi placed a card in her Disk, and a facedown card appeared.
"Your move…" she muttered.
(Y: 500) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 1,800)
Sand Gambler's hand shook as he drew a card.
"Okay, Yumi…" he muttered. "I hoped I wouldn't have to do this…
"First, I set a facedown…"
A facedown card appeared in front of him.
"Then… remember my Gambler of Legend? Well, I packed another one…"
He played a card, and another of the buckskin-wearing gamblers appeared. (500/1,400)
"Now, listen up," he said, "because this gets complicated. To use his effect, I toss a coin three times…"
A gold coin appeared in his hand.
"This is heads…"
He showed a side that had the Eye of Wdjat on it.
"…this is tails."
He flipped it around, showing a blank side.
"Now, if I get three heads, my Gambler can destroy all your Monsters. Two heads, and you lose one card in your hand. One head, and I have to destroy one of my cards on the field. No heads, and I lose every card in my hand.
"You get all that?"
"Yeah," muttered Yumi.
"I hope she did," said Ren, "because I sure didn't."
Sand Gambler tossed the coin. He slapped it on his wrist.
It was heads.
"That's one," he said. "Again…"
He tossed it again. He slapped it again.
It was heads again.
"Third time's the charm…" he said, tossing it again.
He slapped it on his wrist again.
Everyone was horrified to see that it was heads again.
"Did someone actually say I was unlucky?" he laughed, as Gambler of Legend started to glow with a ghostly, dark aura.
Yumi's Dark Magician of Chaos, Breaker, and Morphing Jar exploded into pixels.
"No!" screamed Chelsea. "That guy only has 500 Attack Points, but that's just enough to end this duel!"
"You're right," said Sand Gambler. "Gambler of Legend, attack directly."
Gambler of Legend shrugged. He made a rush towards Yumi…
"Go, Trap Card!" shouted Yumi. "A Hero Emerges!"
"Huh?" said Sand Gambler, as her facedown card lifted.
"Here's the deal, Sand Gambler," said Yumi, holding up her hand of four cards. "You gotta pick a card in my hand. If it's a Monster, I get to Special Summon it.
"Time to see who's luck is really better."
Sand Gambler stared at her. It was clear that Yumi was visibly nervous.
"Far left…" he said.
Yumi sighed in relief, and placed the card on her Disk.
"Injection Fairy Lily, Defense Mode," she said.
In a burst of light, the cute, winged Spellcaster dressed like a nurse, holding a huge syringe appeared. She knelt down, and held the syringe in her lap. (400/1,500)
"In that case…" said Sand Gambler, "I call off my attack, and end my turn."
"How the mighty have fallen," muttered Sam.
"What?" said Erik.
"Normally, Lily would have been one of Yumi's strongest Monsters," said Sam. "But now, she's only good as a shield. Yumi's Life Points aren't even close to being high enough to use her effect. And her Attack Points fall just short of being able to beat that Gambler."
Yumi drew a card.
She looked at the Monster on the card.
She set it on her Disk, and a facedown Monster appeared next to Lily.
"Go ahead…" she said.
Sand Gambler drew a card.
"By the way," he said, taking the coin, "I can use his effect every round…"
He tossed it once, and slapped it on his wrist.
It was heads. He grinned.
He tossed it again.
"Huh?" he said, when he saw it.
It was tails.
He frowned, and tossed it a third time. He slapped it on his wrist again.
It was another tails.
"HA!" laughed Erik. "You gotta destroy one of your cards now, fellah!"
Sand Gambler gestured, and his facedown card lifted, and shattered. Yumi's eyes opened wide.
"Another Grazing Bullet?" she said.
"The only protection I had at the time," said Sand Gambler, as Gambler of Legend moved to Defense Mode.
"But… If I had attacked with someone who had 1,800 Attack Points or higher…" said Yumi.
"I know, I know!" said Sand Gambler. "The duel would have ended in a draw. But that beats losing, right?"
"Uh, Jesse?" asked Ren. "What happens in Xanadu when a duel ends in a draw? As far as Daala is concerned?"
"Well, in a draw, technically, neither player loses," said Jesse. "So Daala really can't do anything. It's the equivalent of getting off on a technicality."
"Well," said Yumi. "Here goes…"
She drew a card. Her eyes narrowed.
"I Flip-Summon my facedown Monster!" she shouted. "The Crystal Seer!"
Her facedown card flipped, up, and a new Spellcaster appeared. It was a gypsy wearing expensive, silken clothing, a turban, cape, and a veil. She held her hands out, and a glowing, crystal sphere hovered between her hands. (100/100)
"When she's flipped, I get to look at the top two cards on my deck," said Yumi. "I add one to my hand, and put the other at the bottom of my deck.
"So let's see…"
She took the top two cards off her deck.
She smirked.
She slid one of them under her deck.
"Now I play it… Monster Reborn!"
In a flash of light, the holy ankh appeared.
Then, Dark Magician Girl appeared in a burst of energy.
Her eyes fixed on Sand Gambler, burning with fury. (2,000/1,700) –) (2,300/1,700)
"Oh no…" muttered Sand Gambler.
"It's only gonna get worse," said Yumi, taking the card she had actually drawn. "You fancy yourself a real ladies man, Sand Gambler… Although I think that Dark Magician Girl was repulsed by you. Maybe that made you all the more anxious to attack her…
"Well, here's a woman who isn't going to be fooled by your charms either… I sacrifice my Seer and Lily…"
The two Spellcasters vanished into grains of light…
"…to summon Cosmo Queen!"
In an explosion of magical power, the mighty Queen of the Galaxy appeared, glowing with an aura of eldritch energy. (2,900/2,450)
"No…" gasped Sand Gambler. "Empress…"
Cosmo Queen looked at him with a look of incredible anger.
"I didn't know you were…" stammered Sand Gambler. "I didn't mean to…"
"Save it!" shouted Yumi. "Dark Magician Girl, wipe out Gambler of Legend!"
Dark Magician Girl cast her dark burning attack, and Gambler of Legend was blown to pieces.
"Cosmo Queen…" said Yumi. "Attack directly with cosmic nova!"
Cosmo Queen's eyes glowed. She put her hands together, and conjured up a mass of dark matter, which she hurled at Sand Gambler. He screamed in agony…
(Y: 500) - - - - - - - - - - (SG: 0)
Sand Gambler fell to his knees, still glowing with dark energy from the attack… And then he simply vanished, as he was seemingly overcome by it.
Cosmo Queen looked at Yumi. She gave a slight smile before she and Dark Magician Girl slowly disappeared.
"That was… strange…" said Yumi.
"Jesse…" said Chelsea. "He really freaked out when Cosmo Queen appeared. And he called her 'Empress'. What did he mean?"
"Yeah…" said Ren. "Isn't Daala the empress of Xanadu?"
"Dunno," said Jesse, shrugging his shoulders. "Everyone I know addresses Daala as 'milady', and she calls herself a queen. I have no idea why he reacted like that…"
Yumi looked at the Cosmo Queen card.
She had a few ideas about what it meant. But to find out, she had to use her against more opponents who were Duel Spirits. It depended on which ones acted that way.
Until she found out, one thing was clear: She had someone with some authority in her deck.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
None of them knew that Daala and Skull Knight had been watching the whole time, Daala with a scowl on her face.
"Ah, well…" she muttered. "At least he managed to hurt Yumi a little before she did him in."
She felt a soft, warm creature rubbing against her foot. She smiled, and picked up her pet Catnipped Kitty that was purring against her leg.
"Aren't cats adorable?" she asked.
"Uhm, yeah…" said Skull Knight.
He wasn't going to say it out loud, but he personally preferred dogs.
Then a dark, flaming portal appeared in front of her. Skull Knight looked startled, while Daala looked downright annoyed.
Daala turned to Skull Knight.
"LEAVE," she ordered.
Skull Knight didn't question. He was gone in a minute.
Once Daala heard the door close, she turned to the portal.
"What do you want?" she asked. "I have until Sunday night, you know…"
"I just have an update, and it's bad news," said a voice from the portal. "The mission to Neo-Space has thus far been a failure."
"So, Phoebe and Pollux couldn't cut the mustard, huh?" muttered Daala.
"So it seems," said the voice. "Phoebe was so drunk with power with the Eraser, she not only challenged Jaden, but challenged him and Chazz simultaneously, and lost. Pollux had a little more sense. He tried to defeat Alexis to take her as a hostage. But she was too much for him, it seemed.
"They're both in prison now, and the Eraser and the Avatar have been confiscated."
"What about Damocles?" asked Daala.
"He hasn't been detected yet," said the voice. "But if he's caught as well, I'll have to destroy the portal to Neo-Space and leave them to their fates."
"So what now, oh great wise one?" said Daala, sarcastically.
"You know the answer to that, Daala," said the voice. "Continue the plan, and don't stray from it. One of them must have the Key. It's essential that you get it.
"Joan is the most dire threat to our plans at this point. Our efforts to capture her so far have been abysmal at best. Nothing seems to be able to get into that temple. Not teleportation, astral travel, ethereal jaunt… You even tried breaking down its gates with the Ram Stone."
"Technically, it wasn't the Ram Stone," said Daala, nervously. "Technically, it was a lesser version of the true Ram Stone made from the same tablet that the true one had been made from."
"Well it technically didn't work!" shouted the voice. "I'm beginning to think that not even the real one can do it.
"This rebellion simply can't continue. Joan must be stopped. I don't care if you have to sacrifice all six Realms before you find that Key, but we simply must find it. Either scan them, or capture them!
"And you'll come here Sunday night, and you won't be late. We had a bargain, in case you forgot…"
"How could I ever forget…" muttered Daala. "You just remind me every time we talk to each other."
"You'd best not," said the voice. "If you aren't here, I'm going to come and get you."
The dark portal vanished. Daala sighed.
"Pushy son of a…" she muttered.
She stroked the cat for a minute. Then she waved her hand, and the channel changed.
"Are you there?" she said.
"Of course," said a deep voice. "I'm always here. It's not like I have anywhere to go."
"Listen closely," she said. "The Burnt Paradise is the Realm of Light. Do you know what that means?"
"Uhm," said the voice. "It contains the power source for all Light Monsters in Xanadu, meaning…"
"I'll tell you what it means!" she interrupted. "Light is Joan's Attribute, not to mention the Attribute of almost all her fellow Fairies in the Higher Plane. If she takes control of that Realm away from you, her grip on it will be incredibly tight. The only way we'd ever get it back is by taking her out.
"If they get to your fortress, I need the scan done… But should you lose…"
"I won't lose!" said the voice, nervously. "Trust me. My strategy has been analyzed to deal with any opposition that I might have to deal with. I'm not as incompetent as those two fools Gansley and Krump."
"See to it," said Daala. "You don't want to be in their shoes right now…
"In the meantime, tell the guy at the Colosseum to keep an eye out for them. He has to slow them down so you can be ready for them. And tell that guy you have working the quarry to be vigilant. Why you put such a worthless Duel Spirit in charge, I'll never know."
"He's an excellent duelist," said the voice. "Even if he isn't much of a Monster. He's been adequate defense of that project so far."
"Make sure," said Daala. "Because if that location is taken out, I'm recycling him for scrap.
"Over and out."
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
The Burnt Paradise was the Realm of Light.
On the other side of Xanadu was Darkspire, the Realm of Dark.
Darkspire was a city realm, polluted by smoke and soot that obscured the sky. This place was cursed not only by evil magic, but by the pollution spewed by the many factories that catered to Daala's whim, building infernal devices that only she and a select few others knew the ultimate purpose for.
Most Duel Spirits didn't like this place. The only ones who lived here on a permanent basis were ones who couldn't get sick from the constant smog – mostly Zombies and Machines. Machines benefited from Darkspire, because this was the industrial center of Xanadu, and they never wanted for work here.
One would think that bars and taverns didn't exist in such a place, but there were a few. One place stood at a main thoroughfare. The place didn't have a name, but Machine Duel Spirits knew to go there. Inside, several of them were consuming odd formulas and smoking from strange hookah-like devices – the purpose of each of these was known only to Machines.
The door opened.
A Warrior stepped in. He was a tall, powerful-looking man, dressed in fancy plate armor with a sword strapped to his back and a Duel Disk on his left arm. He had long, blonde hair that fell neatly to his shoulders, and a moustache.
A nervous-looking Command Knight was behind him.
Every optic sensor in the place turned to him.
"I need information about Guardian Angel Joan," said the Warrior. "Does anyone have it?"
The Machines looked at each other. Two Pendulum Machines got up.
"Calm down," said the Warrior. "I always prefer to talk over a situation before resorting to brawn! Perhaps we can discuss this over some Earl Grey tea?"
Then a Dice Armadillo and a Slot Machine also stood up.
"Oh-kay…" said the Warrior, narrowing his eyes. "I guess you folks don't care for tea…"
He quickly drew his sword from the sheath on his back. Runes on the blade glowed with mystical power.
"How about four feet of cold steel?"
The Command Knight dove for cover as the Machines rushed for him. The first Pendulum Machine swung its blade at him, but he deftly cut it in twain and the creature was blown to pixels. The Dice Armadillo rushed at him, but the Warrior stabbed it through the center, and it burst.
The Slot Machine fired a blast from the laser cannon on its arm. The Warrior dodged, and the blast blew a table into splinters.
"GENERAL!" screamed the Command Knight. "It's getting a little too hot to handle!"
The Warrior slashed with his sword, cleaving the Slot Machine down the middle.
"Eh, you're right…" he said. "These things aren't worth me dulling my sword on… We'll have to find Joan some other way…"
As he started to run for the door, Command Knight activated her Disk, and drew a card.
"Jigen Bakudan!" she shouted, playing it.
The explosive Pyro appeared in the middle of the bar, ticking…
As the two Warriors fled, the bar exploded from the inside, and went up in flames.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TWIN GUN FIGHTER (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Fire
Level: 4
ATK: 1,600
DEF: 1,000
Card Description: When this card destroys an opposing Monster as a result of battle, after damage calculation, inflict direct damage to your opponent's Life Points equal to the ATK of this card.
0
0
0
MIRAGE (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A shimmering mirage in the desert.
Card Description: This card remains on the field until your third Standby Phase after it is played. During the time this card is on the field, negate the effects of any Spell or Trap Cards that target a player, and you cannot be attacked directly.
Note: "Twin Gun Fighter" and "Mirage" were first used by Richie Merced in the "Yu-Gi-Oh R" issue "Starts Richie's Battle!!". Creative credit goes to the writers of that issue.
0
0
0
PIERCE MUSKETEER (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Fire
Level: 4
ATK: 1,700
DEF: 1,000
Card Description: When this card attacks a Defense Position monster with a DEF lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as battle damage to your opponent's Life Points.
0
0
0
GRENADER (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Fire
Level: 4
ATK: 1,500
DEF: 1,100
Card Description: When this card destroys an opposing Monster as a result of battle, after damage calculation, decrease the ATK of all face-up Monsters on your opponent's side of the field by 500 points.
Note: "Pierce Musketeer" and "Grenader" were first used by Richie Merced in the "Yu-Gi-Oh R" issue "Pegasus's Minion!!". Creative credit goes to the writers of that issue.
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GRAZING BULLET (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: Grenader shooting at a man, the bullet flying past his ear.
Card Description: Activate only during your opponent's Battle Phase. Target one face-up Monster on your opponent's side of the field. The targeted Monster cannot attack during this Battle Phase. Inflict direct damage to both players equal to the ATK of the targeted Monster.
Note: "Grazing Bullet" was first used by Richie Merced in the "Yu-Gi-Oh R" issue "Respective Battle!!". Creative credit goes to the writers of that issue.
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DODGE CITY (Spell Card)
Field Spell
Image: The street of an Old West style town with tumbleweeds blowing through the street.
Card Description: All FIRE-Attribute Warrior-Type Monsters gain the following effects.
- They are not affected by Spell Cards, Trap Cards, and Monster effects that target a specific Monster.
- If one is attacked while in Attack Position, the controller can shift it to Defense Position. The controller chooses the timing for this effect.
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G-FORCE (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: A letter G made of amber.
Card Description: You can activate this card when your opponent declares an attack. Select one "Crystal Beast" Monster in your hand. The attacking Monster conducts battle with the selected Monster, treating the selected Monster as being in Attack Position. The results of the battle and Damage Calculation are treated as they would for a normal battle.
Note: "G-Force" was first used by Jesse in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "Trapper Keeper (Part One)". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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E-FORCE (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: A letter E made of ruby.
Card Description: Select one "Crystal Beast" Monster in your Spell/Trap Zone and Special Summon it.
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M-FORCE (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: A letter M made of emerald.
Card Description: Increase the ATK of a face-up "Crystal Beast" Monster that you control by 500. When that Monster attacks a Defense Position Monster with an ATK greater than the target's DEF, inflict the difference as battle damage to Life Points of the attack target's controller. Both effects last until the End Phase of the current turn.
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TAKE FLIGHT (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: The image on this card was not clear.
Card Description: You may activate this card when you have a "Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus" face-up on your side of the field. Return all "Crystal Beast" Monsters on the field except for "Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus" to their owner's hands.
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GEM BURST (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: The word "GEM" in purple, red, and green letters.
Card Description: Remove one "G-Force", one "E-Force" and one "M-Force" in your Graveyard from play to activate this card. After the activation of this card, place as many "Crystal Beast" Monsters from your hand as possible in your Spell/Trap Zone. For each "Crystal Beast" Monster placed in your Spell/Trap Zone via this effect, inflict 500 points of direct damage to your opponent,
Note: "E-Force", "M-Force", "Take Flight", and "GEM Burst" were first used by Jesse in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "Trapper Keeper (Part Two)". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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Coming up next, the team continues its trek into the Burnt Paradise. Sam faces an opponent who…
Well, I can't say much. I'm so proud of being able to write the duel that follows, I don't want to ruin it by giving any clues. But I will say that Sam will finally get to use that card that her mother gave her in the Prologue.
Will it be enough to defeat this new foe? Only time will tell.
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Name that Card!
Or rather, cards. And you may have to be a "Where's Waldo" expert to do this one.
"The Big March of Animals" has nineteen Monsters on its artwork. Can you identify them all? Good luck. And PM me if you want to try, so we won't clutter the replies board.