What Monster's flavor test had the first ever mention of Dark World? If you said "Dark Blade", you were successfully able to Name that Card!
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As far back as I can remember, I've been able to see the restless spirits of the dead. They never scared me… Annoyed me at times, maybe, but I could deal with them. They hung out around me all the time, many of them seemingly glad that they could speak to a living human, seeing as almost none of them were bound to the world via their free will.
In Duelatopia, I defeated the Midnight Caller, a duelist who claimed to be an honest-to-goodness vampire. I'm not sure if I believe that or not, but his powers over the supernatural could not be denied. He rewarded me by increasing my powers, letting me see the secrets behind each ghost, and letting me tell them what they needed to do in order to rest. It made them come to me even more, and it felt satisfying to know that I could help these lost souls after watching them suffer for so long.
Now… I'm trapped in a realm of Duel Spirits, and if they spawn ghosts at all, they either won't or can't speak to me. With my powers apparently shut down, I feel an emptiness inside me that I haven't felt all my life.
But in a world full of enemies, an ally has appeared who will help open my eyes… So long as I win this duel…
Time to get my game on…
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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
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These Shattered Senses
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Sheena leaned back in her swivel chair. She had been trying for hours, and she was no closer than she had been last night.
She sighed.
On a whim, she opened up the deck case on the desk, which held her own deck – she was never far from it – and took it out. She picked up the top card.
Skull-Mark Ladybug.
She looked closely at the Monster on the card.
That's not a ladybug, she thought. That's a tick with six legs!
Only someone who had studied entomology, as she had, would have noticed something like that. And she was surprised she hadn't noticed it sooner.
Her cell phone rang. She picked it up.
"Any luck, Ms. Arachne?" asked Nicholas's voice.
"I'm trying," said Sheena. "But this Edwin Ting is a guy who apparently likes his privacy. His phone number and address aren't listed in any public registry, and trying to hack through the unlisted registry is getting me nowhere fast.
"I tried asking the record keeper at the Pro League, but apparently, the files on him are classified. I suppose I could eventually get permission to look at them, seeing as my company supplies their equipment, but cutting through the red tape could take days."
"Bureaucrats…" muttered Nicholas.
"It may well be possible, you know," said Sheena, "that he no longer lives in Domino… Or even in Japan for that matter. For all we know, he may not even be alive any more."
"We have to keep our fingers crossed," said Nicholas. "Right now, he's the only lead we have as far as Xanadu is concerned."
"I know…" muttered Sheena.
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Following Heraklinos, the six duelists made their way though the pathway he had opened in the sandstorm, which was strangely like a tunnel that cut through the dangerous winds.
"Uh, Yumi?" asked Ren. "He can lead us to the other side… But what about the way back?"
"I'm hoping that if we defeat the Realm Lord, this barrier will disappear," said Yumi. "Let's just hope one of us can do it."
Eventually, the tunnel opened, and the party exited on the top of a short hill.
They looked down, and saw a large cliffside to the north. Built into its wall was a large temple, whose design was clearly Egyptian. Very large statues depicting the jackal-headed god Anubis and the ibis-headed Thoth flanked a large entrance.
There… thought Chelsea. Whatever is calling me is in there…
"This is as far as I go, humans," said Heraklinos. "Follow the path due west, and you should get to the place you seek in a few hours."
"Hey, pal," said Chelsea. "What's down there in that temple?"
A look of fear appeared on the Beast-Warrior's face.
"I don't know," he said. "All I know is, I daren't go near that building.
"Good luck…"
He turned, and walked back into the sandstorm.
"Well…" said Sam.
"Let's check out that temple, guys," said Chelsea, starting to walk down the path.
Everyone looked at each other.
"Uhm, hello?" shouted Erik. "Chelsea, Heraklinos is a Level Eight Monster with 3,000 Attack Points! And he's afraid to go near that temple! So why do you want to go there instead of going in the opposite direction as fast as possible?"
"Okay, Erik…" said Chelsea. "Uhm… I know this sounds strange, but… Ever since we left the Colosseum, something has been calling me…
"And it's in there."
Everyone looked at her.
"Ho boy…" said Sam. "Chelsea, you're WAY too trusting. How do you know that it isn't some hungry dragon who does that to attract tender young maidens?"
"Hey, why not?" said Jesse. "Let's go down there."
They all turned to him.
"If it is a trap, I'll deal with it personally," he said. "But you gotta remember, anything that might help is welcome."
"Okay…" said Yumi. "We'll check it out… But everyone be ready to summon a Monster in case this is an ambush."
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It took about ten minutes to get to the entrance of the temple, which at first seemed a difficult access. Between Anubis and Thoth were a set of iron doors, each one fifteen feet high.
"How the heck are we gonna get in?" asked Sam. "Knock?"
"Eh, I don't think even Amber Mammoth could force those doors down," said Jesse.
Then, the two doors slowly opened inward.
"Problem solved," said Chelsea.
They slowly walked in, into a large, torch-lit chamber. Hieroglyphics were painted on the walls, and more statues were in each corner. Yumi looked at them. They depicted the four gods of the fourth generation of the Egyptian pantheon, Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys.
She looked at the ceiling. Painted on the ceiling was a mural depicting the higher parts of the celestial hierarchy. At the lowest part of the mural were their parents of the four gods depicted in the statues, Geb and Nut; above them were Shu and Tefnut. At the highest point was a radiant form which was clearly supposed to depict Re himself.
Another set of doors was at the far end of the otherwise empty chamber.
"Anyone home?" shouted Chelsea.
Then the doors opened.
A man walked out of the two doors. The first thing you noticed about him was his helmet, which was shaped like a jackal's head and covered the whole upper half of his face. He wore a golden shirt, a black jacket, a blue scarf, brown pantaloons, and sandals. He held a long staff with a gold tip, shaped like a cobra.
"Eh?" said Chelsea. "Gravekeeper's Commandant?"
The Duel Spirit silently looked at the assembled duelists for a few seconds.
"A Gravekeeper?" asked Yumi. "How can there be Gravekeepers here? There are no graves to protect. All the Spirits who die go poof."
The Spellcaster silently looked them over for a few more seconds.
"Which of you is the one who holds the power of the Lady of the Night?" he finally asked.
There was a long pause.
"You mean Penelope?" asked Chelsea. "Well, that's me, I guess."
The Gravekeeper looked at her.
"Yes…" he said, tucking the staff under his shoulder.
He looked her over.
"I'm guessing this guy is the strong, silent type," said Ren.
"I see you have the power to speak to the deceased," said the Commandant.
"Huh?" said Chelsea. "Well, yes… But none of them have shown up for a while. I don't know why… I'm guessing that Duel Spirits have no afterlife…"
The Gravekeeper smirked.
"Oh, but they do," he said. "Good ones have their rewards, evil ones have their punishments… And like you humans, some can't pass on for one reason or another… But for humans, reaching out to deceased Duel Spirits is no easy task. Usually, only other Duel Spirits with this gift can do so. Ones such as myself…"
"Can you see any now?" asked Chelsea.
The Commandant nodded.
"I was put here to protect a part of Penelope's legacy that I'm certain you don't know about yet," he said. "It lies in the other room. It is something of great power… A holy force that symbolizes the end of her dark curse, and her true reward.
"Penelope is the card that lies closest to you. There is a symbiosis between the two of you. Once you have the power that is within that room, Penelope's power will be complete. I daresay, if that doesn't make your own power complete, nothing will."
"Uhm…" said Chelsea. "I assume you aren't just going to give it to me…"
The Commandant nodded. He lifted something up.
It was a deck of cards.
"Ho boy…" said Chelsea, holding her head.
"What's Chelsea worried about?" asked Sam. "Is she suddenly afraid to duel?"
"Uhm, Sam, this guy is a Gravekeeper," said Ren. "He more than likely plays a Gravekeeper Deck.
"And Chelsea dueled a guy who used one before.
"She, uhm… She lost."
"Do you work for Daala?" asked Yumi.
"No," said the Commandant, bluntly.
"Guys," said Jesse, "this guy definitely doesn't work for Joan. If he doesn't work for her or Daala, I have no idea who he answers to."
"You needn't worry about Daala," said the Commandant. "Joan's temple is not the only safe house in Xanadu. This temple is protected by spiritual magic of a special type that masks its presence from everyone's senses. No-one, not Daala, not Joan, not anyone can spy upon this sacred ground.
"As for who I answer too, let's just say that there are higher powers in the dimensional realms, ones that are only known to a select few."
Yumi went up to Chelsea and took hold of her shoulders.
"Chelsea," she said, "that duel was last year! You've gotten better since then! You were a Duelatopia finalist! Keep telling yourself that!"
Chelsea sighed.
"Okay, buddy," she said. "I accept…"
She took her deck out of the holder and looked through it until she found Penelope.
I won't fail you, she thought.
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Daala grumbled as she walked down a hallway in a special part of her palace.
This was her prison, a place for residents of Xanadu who had defied or otherwise displeased her. Most captured members of the rebellion weren't here, or at least didn't stay here long – they were brainwashed and made into slave labor, a more ironic punishment. But others were kept in this place, located beneath her palace.
The prison was divided into two major wings – one for Duel Spirits and one for other creatures, such as humans. The latter resembled a typical prison. The one for Duel Spirits was somewhat different, as Duel Spirits couldn't be held in simple cells. They were slippery creatures.
A special device was needed to hold a Duel Spirit prisoner. It was a capsule-like device, which, naturally, needed to be large enough to hold the Spirit, and needed to be set to the Spirit's Type and Attribute. Jesse would have remembered these devices – his old nemesis who specialized in hunting such creatures used them as part of his equipment. Daala had a great number of prisoners interred in these things.
And right now, she was interested in one who was under extra security.
She approached a metal door which was guarded by two Shadow Tamers. Not the strongest Warriors, but ones who were trained in the best ways to subdue this particular type of prisoner if he somehow got free.
"Open it up," said Daala.
The Tamers didn't question. One of them slid a keycard into a slot next to the door, and it slowly opened.
A chamber inside was dark. Daala pulled a switch down, and a dim light came on.
A capsule was in the center of the room, and inside it was a fiendish creature. He had branchlike growths growing from his scalp instead of hair, and course, gray skin. His skull-like face had cold, green eyes with no pupils, and his sharp teeth looked like they had been built more for fright value than for the ability to eat. His hands and feet were clawed. A straightjacket restrained him – which was as much to keep him from hurting himself as it was to keep him from hurting anyone else.
He let out a chuckle that clearly wasn't lucid.
"Why Daala," he said. "To what do I owe this visit?"
"You know why, Brron," said Daala. "My excavators still haven't found it."
"Pity…" said the Fiend, leaning back. "Guess they'll have to try harder…"
"Listen to me, Brron!" shouted Daala. "If I were you, I would cooperate. It wasn't easy for me to bring you back from that Hell that Jaden sent you to. And if you ask me, the fact that you lost that duel was your own fault.
"You might have been able to finish the Super Polymerization card and summon Colorless… If you had only been able to count to five!"
"I know how to count!" said Brron, with a sneer. "It was Sillva and Goldd's fault, not mine. If I had won that duel, I would have had them drawn and quartered."
Daala glared at him.
"I'd say you owe me a lot, Mr. Mad King of Dark World," she whispered. "And your life is gonna be a whole lot more pleasant if you just tell me where it is."
"What makes you think I even know where it is?" asked Brron. "I don't keep track of every card that appears in Xanadu. I hardly keep track of my own cards. I never play with a full deck!"
"Very funny," said Daala. "I know you know because it's a Spirit that was spawned from the very essence of Dark World, Brron. As the ruler of Dark World in the Supreme King's absence, your senses regarding such Spirits, especially such powerful ones, are acute. You likely were able to pinpoint its exact location the minute it landed. It would have cried out to you."
Brron chuckled again.
"Another voice in my head?" he chuckled. "That's all I need.
"Well… I might know where it is… I might not…
"But I may be crazy, Daala, but I'm not stupid. I know you'll never let me out of here, no matter what I tell you. You're more of a Fiend than any native of Dark World… A pity, really… We could have been allies in another place and time…"
"Brron…" said Daala. "In case you forgot, the Higher Plane still regards you as a fugitive for the atrocities committed while you were ruler of Dark World. I could deposit you on Voltanis's doorstep at any time."
"Oh, but you won't," chuckled Brron. "I know that you won't risk sending anyone to the Higher Plane, because he also has several outstanding warrants for your arrest! That's why Joan came here in the first place, remember?"
Daala looked at him and crossed her arms. He was right, of course…
"I will say this…" said Brron. "What you're looking for is a treasure that can't be dug up using picks and shovels. X simply doesn't mark the spot. What you're looking for is still a Duel Monster…
"You're going to have to find it the way a duelist does."
"What do you mean?" asked Daala. "Who would I have to duel? You?"
Brron threw back his head and laughed hysterically.
"Is that an offer?" he asked. "Let me out of this thing, hand me a Disk, and I'll show you who the better monarch is!"
Daala looked at him. Then she smirked.
She turned to the two Shadow Tamers.
"You," she said, pointing to one of them. "Unlock his capsule. You… Give him your Disk."
"Milady…" said one of the Tamers. "Are you certain that's wise?"
"NOW!" ordered Daala.
One of the Tamers quickly punched in a code in the controls in the capsule, and it opened. Brron stepped out.
He stretched to get the stiffness out of his legs. Then, he deftly threw his arms up, tearing the straightjacket apart.
The other Tamer shivered. She removed her deck from her Disk, and then handed the Disk to Brron. He snatched it.
A deck appeared in Brron's hand, and he placed it in the Disk. Daala activated her own.
"Game on!" they both shouted.
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Chelsea nervously sipped from her canteen as the Commandant shuffled his deck.
Then he removed his helmet, and placed it in an alcove behind him. He was a handsome young man, with long, raven black hair that fell neatly to his shoulders.
He gestured, and a Duel Disk with a tray resembling the elongated head of a jackal appeared on his arm.
"Before I forget, Chelsea," he said, "we'll be using Deck Lords in this duel. So bring yours out now."
"Oh…" said Chelsea.
Her deck glowed, and Vampire Genesis appeared in a burst of dark energy.
"Fine," said the Commandant. "And as you may have already guessed, I will be my own Deck Lord."
"Then let's stop beating around the bush," said Chelsea.
"Game on!" they both shouted.
(Chelsea: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Gravekeeper's Commandant: 8,000)
"Don't choke, Chelsea!" shouted Ren from behind her. "You can beat this guy!"
"We'll soon see," said the Commandant, making his first draw.
He chose a card from his hand.
"I will set one Monster in Defense Mode, and that will be all for now…"
A facedown Monster appeared in front of him.
"Okay, I draw…" said Chelsea.
She drew a card, and looked at her hand.
"I summon Vampire Lady," she said.
She played the card, and the sultry vampiress appeared. (1,550/1,550)
"Now I'll…"
Then she stopped short.
"Yes?" said the Commandant.
If he's playing a Gravekeeper Deck, thought Chelsea, his facedown Monster is likely Gravekeeper's Spy… And her Defense Score is too much for Vampire Lady…Not to mention the fact that her Flip-Effect is hard to handle.
"I, uh," she said. "I end my turn."
Commandant made a draw.
"I Flip-Summon my Monster," he said. "Gravekeeper's Guard."
His facedown Monster flipped, and a bulky, bald man appeared, dressed in a loose robe and pantaloons. He carried a spear. (1,000/1,900)
It wasn't a Spy? thought Chelsea, nervously.
"His effect sends your Monster back to your hand," said Commandant.
The Guard pointed his spear, and Vampire Lady vanished in a ripple of light. Her card appeared back in Chelsea's hand.
"Next," said Commandant, "I summon Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier."
He played another card, and another Gravekeeper appeared, this one holding a long, ornate spear. (1,500/1,000)
Chelsea gulped.
"Go!" shouted Commandant. "Attack her directly!"
Gravekeeper's Guard rushed at Chelsea and jabbed his spear into her torso. She fell over on her behind.
She slowly got up. Then she screamed as the Spear Soldier stabbed her with his own weapon. She fell over again.
(C: 5,500) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 8,000)
"Chelsea's off to a rough start," said Sam, shaking her head.
"Don't worry," said Ren. "Our girl can handle it."
"I'll set one card facedown," said Commandant, as a facedown card appeared, "and my turn concludes."
Chelsea took some deep breaths.
Then Vampire Genesis put his hand on her shoulder.
"I know, I know," she muttered. "I'm all right…"
She drew a card.
All right! she thought.
She played it.
"I play… Call of the Mummy!" she shouted, as it appeared. "Now I'll use it to summon… Ryu Kokki!"
In an explosion of dust and dirt, the huge ogre made entirely of bones and skulls burst out of the floor. (2,400/1,000)
"Next," she said, "I'll summon Vampire Lady again."
In a dark shadow, Vampire Lady appeared once more. (1,550/1,550)
"Ryu Kokki, attack Gravekeeper's Guard!"
The Bone Dragon Ogre lumbered over and slammed its fist down. Gravekeeper's Guard was thrown backwards, and shattered into pixels.
"Vampire Lady, attack the Spear Soldier!"
Vampire Lady flew at the other Gravekeeper, and made a slash with her claw. He dropped his weapon and shattered into shards.
"Yes!" shouted Ren.
"Now I activate her effect," said Chelsea. "I declare Spell Card."
The Commandant made a slight smirk. A card slipped out of his deck, and he discarded it.
Huh? thought Chelsea. It was almost as if he wanted me to do that…
"I uh…" she said. "I end my turn…"
(C: 5,500) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)
The Commandant drew a card.
He chuckled.
"Well…" he said. "I just drew my favorite card…"
He showed it to her.
"Your own card?" asked Chelsea.
"Indeed," he replied. "But it isn't a Monster that you summon…"
He discarded the card.
"By sending my namesake to the Graveyard, I get to take a specific Spell Card from my deck…"
"Don't tell me…" said Chelsea.
The Commandant took a card from his deck. Then he opened his Field slot and placed the card in it.
"I call forth Necrovalley!" he shouted.
The walls of the room faded, and fell away. In the next instant, they were transported to a large, rocky canyon under the desert sun. A dusty wind blew through the ominous place.
"As you know," said the Commandant, "this place negates the effects of all cards that must reach into the Graveyards to function. And all Gravekeepers are strengthened, gaining 500 points for both attacking and defending.
"To conclude my turn, I'll set a Monster in Defense Mode."
A facedown Monster appeared in front of him.
Chelsea drew a card.
It was Heavy Storm.
HA! she thought. How lucky can you get?
"Chelsea, beware," said Vampire Genesis. "He has a facedown card. It may well be a Counter Trap. Maybe even Judgment of Anubis."
"Well, then why would he have set it a round before he had Necrovalley?" asked Chelsea.
"Mmm, good point," said Genesis.
"I play Heavy Storm!" shouted Chelsea.
She played the card, and the wind started to pick up…
"Not so fast!" shouted the Commandant.
He took a card from his hand (it was Hieroglyph Lithograph) and discarded it. The Heavy Storm card was blown to pieces, and the wind died.
"Huh?" said Chelsea.
"You forget that we're using Deck Lords," said the Commandant, "and my power is potent. If you use a card effect whose effect would destroy or counter one or more of my Spell or Trap Cards, I can discard one card to negate that effect."
"Crud…" muttered Chelsea.
She looked over the field. Then she looked at the cards in her hand.
I have Penelope, she thought, but I have no way to summon her right now…
Wait…
"I use one of my Deck Lord abilities," she said. "It's called Zombie Swap. I send one Zombie in my hand back to my deck…"
She placed Penelope back in her deck.
"Then I get to search for another one, that's of an equal or lower Level."
She took a card from her deck. Then she reshuffled.
"Now I summon him… Zombie Werewolf."
The undead wolfman appeared, and let out a howl. (1,200/1,200)
"Ryu Kokki, attack his Monster!"
Ryu Kokki lunged at the facedown Monster. A woman wearing a dark robe appeared on the card, kneeling down. (1,200/2,000) –) (1,700/2,500)
Eh? said Chelsea. THAT one WAS the Spy.
The Spy gave Ryu Kokki a shove, and the Zombie fell backwards. But then she screamed and exploded into pixels.
"What?" said the Commandant. "My Spy had a stronger Defense!"
"But you forgot about Ryu Kokki's effect," said Chelsea. "It automatically destroys any Spellcaster it battles."
"Hmm…" said the Commandant. "Nonetheless, I can still use my Spy's Flip-Effect, and Special Summon another Gravekeeper. I'll summon a second Spy, in Defense Mode."
A second of the female Spellcasters appeared, kneeling and shielding herself. (1,200/2,000) –) (1,700/2,500)
"I'll throw two cards facedown, and then play Mirage of Nightmare," said Chelsea.
Two facedown cards appeared, followed by the Mirage card.
(C: 5,400) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)
"Chelsea's in a fix," muttered Sam.
"How so?" asked Erik.
"Think about it," said Sam. "Zombies specialize in Special Summoning themselves from the Graveyard. But with that Field Spell, that advantage is shut down. Chelsea lost a big edge against this guy."
The Commandant made a draw.
"I activate the effect of Mirage of Nightmare," said Chelsea.
She quickly drew four cards.
"Now, I send it and my other facedown card to the Graveyard with Emergency Provisions!"
Her facedown card lifted up, revealed to be Symbol of Heritage, right before a huge mouth devoured it and the Mirage card.
"So be it," said the Commandant. "I call forth Gravekeeper's Assailant!"
He played the card, and a woman dressed in a dark assassin's cloak, hood, and mask appeared. She held a long dagger with a curved blade. (1,500/1,500) –) (2,000/2,000)
Oh no… thought Chelsea. I definitely remember her. She can move Ryu Kokki to Defense Mode…
"Attack Ryu Kokki!" shouted Commandant.
Assailant's eyes glowed with silvery light, and Ryu Kokki knelt and shielded itself. Assailant leapt at the ogre with her dagger.
"Forget?" asked Chelsea. "It'll take her with it!"
Assailant stabbed with her dagger, and Ryu Kokki burst in an explosion of shrapnel that obliterated both Monsters.
"Perhaps," said Commandant, "but she'll be coming right back…"
His facedown card lifted.
"I activate Rite of Spirit! Now, despite Necrovalley, I can raise Assailant from my Graveyard."
Assailant appeared again, and formed a fighting stance. (1,500/1,500) –) (2,000/2,000)
"Now, slay her Werewolf!"
Assailant leapt at Zombie Werewolf and stabbed him through the chest. Zombie Werewolf howled, and shattered.
"I activate his effect!" shouted Chelsea. "I get to summon another one from my deck. And Necrovalley can't prevent card effects that activate when a card is sent to the Graveyard."
"Someone's done her homework," said the Commandant.
A second Zombie Werewolf appeared in a burst of energy. (1,700/1,200)
"I'll set one card facedown," said the Commandant.
A facedown card appeared in front of him.
"And my turn is now over."
(C: 6,600) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)
Chelsea looked at the four cards she had drawn with Mirage. She couldn't believe how bad her luck had suddenly gotten.
She drew a fifth card.
Nuts, she thought, looking at it. Without being able to take cards out of my Graveyard, this guy is almost worthless.
She chose another card.
"I set one Monster in Defense Mode," she said.
A facedown Monster appeared.
"Then I attack your Assailant with Zombie Werewolf!"
"Huh?" said Commandant.
Zombie Werewolf leapt at Assailant. She gave him a swift kick in the groin, and he shattered. Chelsea cringed.
"Now I get to summon a third one," said Chelsea, "and this one will be even stronger."
A third Werewolf appeared. (2,200/1,200)
"Now you attack," ordered Chelsea.
The third Werewolf leapt at the assassin.
"I activate… Eye of Wdjat!" shouted the Commandant, as his facedown card flew up.
Chelsea had never seen this Trap Card before. It bore the picture of an Egyptian eye, surrounded by hieroglyphics.
Zombie Werewolf roared, as a glowing golden eye appeared on its forehead.
"The mystical powers of the sacred Eye of Wdjat allow me to control your Werewolf's mind," said Commandant, and force him to attack his ally!"
Zombie Werewolf turned around in mid-leap, and flew at Vampire Lady. She screamed as he tore her in two.
The Eye vanished from Zombie Werewolf's forehead, and he glared at the Gravekeeper in anger.
Chelsea sighed.
"I end my turn…" she muttered.
(C: 5,650) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)
The Gravekeeper drew a card.
"I sacrifice my Spy…" said the Gravekeeper.
Gravekeeper's Spy vanished.
"To call forth Gravekeeper's Chief!"
In a burst of energy, a more powerful Spellcaster appeared. He was dressed in white and black priestly robes, and held a golden staff topped with a golden cobra and hawk. (1,900/1,200) –) (2,400/1,700)
"With him on the field," continued Commandant, "my Graveyard is no longer sealed by Necrovalley. In addition, by summoning him, I can bring another Gravekeeper back from my Graveyard…"
Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier appeared again. (1,500/1,000) –) (2,000/1,000)
This is gonna sting… thought Chelsea.
"Assailant," he exclaimed. "Annihilate that cur!"
Gravekeeper's Assailant leapt at Zombie Werewolf, and he knelt in Defense Mode. She jabbed the dagger between his shoulder blades, and he shattered.
"Spear Soldier, attack with soul piece!"
Spear Solider lunged at the facedown Monster. Blood Sucker appeared on the card and was skewered. Chelsea groaned in pain as it the piercing attack stabbed into her.
"Gravekeeper's Chief… Doomsday purge."
The Chief formed a glowing ball of magical energy in his palm, and then hurled it at Chelsea, striking her in the chest. She shrieked and fell over.
She slowly got up, panting heavily.
(C: 2,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 6,550)
"I'm not done," said the Commandant, playing the last card in his hand. "I play the Spell Card, Royal Tribute. With Necrovalley on the field, this sends every Monster in each players' hands to the Graveyard."
The one Monster in Chelsea's hand vanished.
Well, so much for that, she thought.
"It's your move," he said.
Chelsea looked at the three cards left in her hand, which were Monster Reborn, Axe of Despair, and Interdimensional Matter Transporter. None of them were any good right now.
She made a draw.
This is the last chance… she thought.
"I play Graceful Charity!" she shouted.
She played the card, and it glowed with golden light. She drew three cards.
She looked at them.
Hey… she thought. I got an idea…
She discarded Dust Tornado and Axe of Despair.
"All right, fellah," she said. "I use the effect of Call of the Mummy to Special Summon Vampire's Curse!"
She played the card, and a new vampire appeared in front of her. He was older than Vampire Lord, was dressed in blue armor, and had batlike wings on his back. (2,000/800)
"Eh?" said Commandant.
"I'm not done," she said. "I play Monster Reborn."
"You can't," said Commandant. "My Field Spell…"
"…isn't affecting your Graveyard, thanks to your Chief," interrupted Chelsea. "So I'm using it to summon a Monster from there. Gravekeeper's Spy, in Defense Mode!"
Gravekeeper's Spy appeared in a burst of dark energy. She knelt and crossed her arms. (1,200/2,000) –) (1,700/2,500)
"Now, my Vampire attacks your Assailant."
Vampire's Curse leapt at Assailant. She leapt at him with her dagger drawn. The two Monsters collided in mid-air, and exploded.
"Now I activate his effect," she said. "I pay 500 Life Points, and next round, he'll be back, and he'll be even stronger than before. Since his effect activates in the Graveyard, Necrovalley can't stop that either."
"That will be all for now," she said
(C: 2,250) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 4,550)
Commandant nervously drew a card.
He quickly played it.
"I summon Gravekeeper's Curse," he said.
He played the card, and a new Gravekeeper appeared, this one wearing dark mystic robes and holding a long staff topped with an ankh design. (800/800) –) (1,300/1,300)
"Just by summoning him, he inflicts 500 points of damage to you."
The Curse was surrounded by a dark aura, and Chelsea cringed in pain as the same aura surrounded her.
"Hang tight, Chelsea!" shouted Ren. "It's not over yet!"
"We'll soon see," said Commandant. "That will be all for now."
(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 4,550)
Chelsea quickly drew.
"As promised, Vampire's Curse returns," she said.
The Curse appeared in an aura of dark energy. (2,500/800)
"Next, I summon Zombie Master!"
She played another card, and Zombie Master burst out of the ground. (1,800/0)
"Next up, I play a Spell Card. Overpowering Eyes. This lets me choose a Zombie that has 2,000 Attack Points or less, and gives it the ability to attack directly this turn.
"So, Zombie Master… Attack directly with wrath of the undead!"
Zombie Master cast bolts of lightning at the Commandant, and he was hollered as they hit him. He tumbled over.
"Vampire's Curse, attack his Curse with night shade!"
Vampire's Curse formed a ball of blackness in his hands, and hurled it at Gravekeeper's Curse. The Gravekeeper was blown to bits.
"URGH!" shouted Commandant.
"I'll set a facedown, and that will be all," said Chelsea, setting her last card.
A facedown card appeared behind her Monsters.
(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 1,550)
The Gravekeeper drew a card.
"Chief…" he ordered, "attack Zombie Master!"
Gravekeeper's Chief prepared to cast his lethal spell…
"Gotcha!" shouted Chelsea as her facedown card shot up. "Go, Rush Recklessly!"
Zombie Master shot up to an Attack Score of 2,500. Gravekeeper's Chief cast his spell, but Zombie Master cast one of his own. The two bursts of magic collided in the center of the arena, and the Chief was thrown backwards.
He slowly vanished into pixilated remains.
"Uh…" said Commandant. "I set one card facedown, move Spear Soldier to Defense Mode, and end my turn."
Spear Soldier knelt, and held his weapon in his lap as a facedown card appeared.
(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 1,450)
Chelsea drew a card.
"I move Gravekeeper's Spy to Attack Mode," she said.
The Spy stood up and drew a dagger from her robe.
"You…" she said, pointing to Zombie Master, "attack the Spear Soldier! Wrath of the undead!"
Zombie Master shot bolts of lightning at the Gravekeeper, and he screamed before being blown to pieces.
"Yes!" shouted Ren. "If both these attacks go through, she wins!"
"Vampire's Curse, Gravekeeper's Spy, attack directly!"
Vampire's Curse hurled a ball of inky blackness at the Commandant, while Gravekeeper's Spy leapt at him with her dagger…
"Not so fast!" shouted the Commandant. "I activate Dark Wall of Wind!"
His facedown Quickplay shot up, and a tornado of dark wind formed around him, completely concealing him. The Spy was thrown backwards, and Curse's night shade glanced off.
"Darn…" muttered Chelsea.
She looked at the last card in her hand. It was Monster Reincarnation, which she couldn't use, due to the Field Spell.
"I have to end my turn…" she muttered.
"I draw one card," said Commandant.
He drew and looked at the card.
Ironically, it was Pot of Avarice, which he couldn't use right now since the Chief was gone.
But he did have one other option…
"Well, it's about that time," he said.
"Time for what?" asked Chelsea.
"Remember when you forced me to discard a Spell Card using Vampire Lady's effect?" he replied. "I was prepared for that. The Spell Card I discarded was called Tomb Treasury.
"You obviously know that the kings of Egypt were a possessive group, and they didn't believe in the phrase 'You can't take it with you'. Thus, they had all their possessions interred with them upon death, and their tombs were troves of wealth.
"When this card is in my Graveyard, and the only card I have on the field is Necrovalley, I can remove it from play to draw two cards."
The Treasury card slipped out of his discard slot, and then he made two draws.
He looked at them.
He threw one of them into his Disk.
"I play Lightning Vortex!" he shouted.
He discarded Pot of Avarice, and lighting flashed over Necrovalley. A bolt came crashing down, and Vampire's Curse, Zombie Master, and Gravekeeper's Spy were incinerated.
"NO!" screamed Ren. "She's defenseless! If that other card he drew is a Monster…"
Commandant grinned.
Then he took the card and placed it in his Disk. A facedown card appeared.
"It's your move, Chelsea," he said. "I guess it's all up to fate now…"
He got that right, thought Chelsea.
She had no cards in her hand that she could use, nothing on the field, and she couldn't even use her Deck Lord ability because of Necrovalley…
And that facedown card… What was it?
Then it hit her…
He said he had prepared…
What if that facedown card was one of the few Traps she knew of that could take a Zombie out for good?
She drew a card.
She chuckled when she saw what it was.
"What?" said the Commandant.
"You know…" she said. "If this duel were to have a mythic ending, the card I just drew would have been Pot of Greed, and I'd use it to draw two cards that I could use to combo with that I'd beat you with…"
She looked at the card.
"A bad draw?" he asked.
"No, I'm still going to beat you," she said. "It's just not going to mythic. It's going to be… Ironic."
"Ironic?" he said.
"Yes. I play Mystical Space Typhoon! And I'm tearing this valley down!"
She played the card, and the savage cyclone tore across the field. The rocky cliffsides of Necrovalley started to crumble, and fell into dust.
"See," she said, "I remembered you had to discard a card to use that Deck Lord ability of yours. But since you have no cards in your hand…"
The cliffs faded away, returning them to the chamber.
"Now, I use my one of my own Deck Lord's abilities," she said, as Vampire Genesis started to glow. "I remove two Zombies in my Graveyard from play to summon another Zombie from it…"
Vampire Lady and Zombie Master fell out of her discard slot.
"Let's all welcome… The Kick Man!"
A new Zombie burst out of the floor. It was a pug-faced Zombie with a sloping forehead and purple skin, wearing jeans and no shirt. He had the words "I Luv Kick" printed on his forehead. (1,300/300)
"The Kick Man?" shouted Commandant.
"Yeah, I figured out what your facedown card is," said Chelsea. "Bottomless Trap Hole, one of the few cards that can make sure a Zombie doesn't come back after you get rid of it. However, Kick Man has less than 1,500 Attack Points, so he's immune to it.
"But he's gonna get stronger in a second…
"Okay, Kick Man, show him how you get your kicks!"
The Kick Man leapt up, and stomped on the floor. The Axe of Despair flew out of the ground, and he caught it.
"See, when The Kick Man is Special Summoned, he gets to dig up an Equip Spell from my Graveyard."
(2,300/300)
"Attack him directly! Quick stick kick!"
The Kick Man rushed at Gravekeeper's Commandant, and made a leap, kicking him in the teeth. The Gravekeeper fell backwards ten feet and fell over.
(C: 1,750) - - - - - - - - - - (GC: 0)
"Ouch…" he muttered sitting up.
Chelsea wiped sweat off of her forehead as The Kick Man vanished.
"Well?" she asked. "Aren't I supposed to get something?"
The Commandant got up. He smirked.
"Of course," he said. "I have to admit, Chelsea, that was a brilliant deduction.
"But first, as per the rules of Xanadu…"
He gestured, and Vampire Genesis glowed with a dark aura.
"My powers as Deck Lord are granted to yours."
As he did this, he started to turn translucent, as if he was fading.
"What's happening to you?" asked Chelsea.
"My work here is almost complete," said the Commandant. "It will soon be time for me to leave…
"But first…"
He gestured, and the doors behind him opened.
"Go on… You have earned it…"
Chelsea walked through the doors. Inside the dimly lit room was a pedestal, and on it was a single card.
Her eyes narrowed.
She picked it up, and as she did, visions came to her mind. She saw Penelope at various times in her life, as a pious holy woman… Her death at the hands of a cruel vampire… Her period of despair as she rose as one of the undead… Her triumphs as a crusader against the creatures of darkness… And the release, as a warm hand reached down from above to take her to her just reward.
Then she saw a new chapter added that she didn't know existed…
She read the text on the card.
"What?" she said. "But… How am I supposed to use it? My deck doesn't have what it needs…"
"Penelope was resourceful, and you are too," said the Commandant. "You will find out how to use it when the need is great enough…
"Before I leave, a warning… Chelsea… My faith is an ally to the forces that aided Penelope… But I know that she also has an enemy in Xanadu. I recently sensed it.'
"An enemy?" asked Chelsea. "Who?"
"I do not know this creature's identity," he replied. "But whoever it is will strike eventually. And since you control Penelope's power, this enemy will strike at her through you.
"Do all you can to strengthen yourself before this enemy strikes, for I predict, it will not be easy…
"Farwell…"
And then he vanished.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
In Daala's prison.
Brron, the Fiend formerly known as the Mad King of Dark World, screamed as he was hit by a tremendous bolt of dark energy.
He fell flat on his face.
"Thanks, Brron, that was fun," said Daala, as her Disk deactivated.
She turned to the two Shadow Tamers.
"Get another straightjacket and put him back," she ordered. "If he breaks that one too, then start sedating him. Use Paralyzing Potions if you have to.
"It's clear to me that this psychopath is never going to tell us anything… But we'll find it sooner or later. There are just so many places that a Spirit as powerful as that one can hide…"
"Milady," said one of the Tamers, "if a lowly guard can make a suggestion, I think that keeping him alive is a bad idea. He's dangerous, and you just said he's never going to give you what you want…"
"A valid concern," said Daala, "but he still has one other use to me alive…
"And when it comes time for that use to come into play, he's not gonna have a choice."
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
"So, Chelsea," said Jesse, as they left the building. "Are you sure you're okay? That was a tough duel…"
Chelsea let out a pleasant sigh.
"I'm okay, Jesse…" she said. "In fact, I feel a lot better now…"
She was the only one who saw the phantoms of a Fire Sorcerer, Hibikime, and Rhaimundos of the Red Sword following behind her. She turned to them and smiled.
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EYE OF WDJAT (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: An Egyptian eye surrounded by hieroglyphics.
Card Description: Activate when your opponent declares an attack. Change the attack target to a Monster your opponent controls, other than the attacking Monster.
Note: "Eye of Wdjat" was first used by Odion in the original anime episode "Awakening of Evil (Part One)" Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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DARK WALL OF WIND (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: A cloaked, hooded man in the center of a dark fog.
Card Description: Activate only during your opponent's Battle Phase. Damage deal to you by direct attacks is reduced to zero.
Note: "Dark Wall of Wind" was first used by Marik in the original anime episode "The Darkness Returns (Part Two)". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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OVERPOWERING EYES (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A gentlemanly vampire with two sinister eyes behind him.
Card Description: Select one Zombie-Type Monster you control with an ATK of 2,000 or less. The selected Monster may attack directly this round.
Note: "Overpowering Eyes" is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States.
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TOMB TREASURY (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A golden sarcophagus surrounded by golden artifacts and tomb treasures.
Card Description: You may activate this card when it is in your Graveyard and the only card on your side of the field is "Necrovalley". Disregard the effect of "Necrovalley" to remove this card from play. Then draw two cards from your deck.
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Chelsea's Deck Lord: "Vampire Genesis": "Zombie Swap": You may shuffle one Zombie-Type Monster from your hand into your deck to search your deck for a Zombie-Type Monster that is an equal or lower Level than the one you sent back to your deck. You may use this effect once per round. (Intermediate Power) "Vampire Regeneration": When a Monster with the word "Vampire" in its name is destroyed as a result of battle, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon it from the Graveyard in face-up Defense Mode. (Minor Power) "Graveyard Sacrifice": You may remove two Zombies in your Graveyard from play to Special Summon one Zombie from your Graveyard. This effect may be used a total of three times, once per turn. (Minor Power)
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Gravekeeper's Commandant's Deck Lord: "Defiler Barrier": If your opponent activates a card effect whose effect includes destroying or countering one or more of your Spell or Trap Cards, you may discard one card from your hand to negate the activation of the card and destroy it. (Greater Power)
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Coming up next:
Yugi Mouto had a lot of philosophies. One of them was the one that said no card is without value. But if you study the history of the game, you have to wonder if he was right. It's hard to see the value of some cards.
Some cards are of limited use. Some cards are downright useless. And with some cards, you wonder what the heck the guy who designed it was thinking, and you wonder even more about the guy who approved it.
In the dimensions were Duel Spirits live, even Monsters whom no sane duelist would use spawn Spirits. And Spirits of worthless cards have a lot of pent-up aggression towards the world.
Coming up next, Erik is challenged by one such Spirit, and while it may look like a joke, its strategy is deadly serious.
"Perceptions" is coming soon.
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Name that Card!
Like Gigobyte, this Monster went through several evolutions, three in fact. With its first evolution, its Type and Attribute changed. With its second evolution, its Level changed. With its third evolution, it regained its original Type, but again changed its Level. What was it originally? Can you name it?