Attention:
Now would be the time where the heroine would make a monologue to introduce the chapter. But Yumi isn't going to do that, because she doesn't want to.
You see, she's facing a foe who has made her life and the lives of her friends a living Hell for a very long time. From what she has learned, this enemy has been after her not only all her life, but for countless lives she has lived before now, for the past five-thousand years. For ages now, he has wished nothing less than to kill her and imprison her soul. She never volunteered for this, but she was never given a choice.
And now, at long last, after being reborn countless times, after surviving Daala's mad trap that was orchestrated by him, after giving up her very humanity because of the cursed Devil's Fruit, he's finally decided to show his face.
To say that Yumi is pissed at this moment would be the mother of all understatements. So let's leave it at this: She's too angry to say anything right now, and this age-old conflict is finally going to be settled.
But even if she loses, she'll likely take comfort in knowing that a long journey is finally at an end.
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CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
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Ritual
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"Pardon me for stating the obvious," said Yumi. "But you don't even have a Disk…"
"I have no need of such trinkets…" replied Shogarr.
He gestured, and in five flashes of light, the images of five cards, about four feet tall by two feet wide, with their backs to Yumi, appeared in front of him.
"Modern technology bores me," he said. "I prefer far more elaborate methods."
"Humph," said Atticus. "He calls it elaborate… I call it showing off."
"This from a duelist who wears a Hawaiian shirt and plays a ukulele," said Shogarr, with a chuckle.
"Beat the chrome off him, Yumi!" shouted Sam. "This guy is getting on my nerves, and my patience is wearing thin…"
Then Shogarr actually laughed.
"You're losing patience?" he asked. "Try waiting five millennia! I may be immortal, but this idiotic prophesy has grated on my nerves since the day I first heard it! I would have dismissed the prophet as a rambling lunatic if I didn't see the proof when Atropus spoke the same words in his dying breath."
"Who's Atropus?" asked Ren.
"An Elder Evil who was formed when the offspring of a god was delivered stillborn," replied Shogarr. "He was a colossal undead thing, who sought to drain the life from all that lived, and remake creation as a reality of walking dead."
"This is seriously creeping me out!" said Erik.
"But he held great secrets in his rotting form," continued Shogarr, "and when Orcus destroyed him, those secrets were exposed for all to hear. One of them confirmed the prophesy, giving me all the proof I needed that the mortal prophet who spoke it was not false."
Yumi glared at her enemy.
"Then no more talk…" she said. "It's just you against me…"
(Yumi: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Shogarr: 8,000)
"My move," snarled Yumi, drawing a card.
She looked over the six cards in her hand.
She placed two cards in her Disk, and a facedown card and a defensive Monster appeared.
"All right," she said, "let's see what you've got."
Shogarr gestured, and a sixth card materialized in front of him.
"I summon…" he said.
One of his cards spun around.
"…Stray Asmodian!"
The card burst into flame, and an ugly Monster appeared in its place. It was a limbless Fiend dressed in a black robe, with black, feathered wings on its back. Its head had three faces, colored red, blue, and green, and had a small smokestack on top. (1,300/1,700)
"Huh?" said Erik. "I kinda didn't expect a Fire Monster from the Lord of Chaos…"
Shogarr chuckled.
"You expected Light and Dark Monsters, right?" he asked. "Be prepared to be disappointed. My deck has only two Dark Monsters, other than my Deck Lord, and no Light ones. Light and Dark are not truly required for Chaos, despite what you may think…
"And speaking of which…"
Both Chaos Emperor Dragon and Stray Asmodian glowed with eerie energy, and Stray Asmodian rose to (1,600/2,000)
"What?" said Yumi.
"The First Circle of Chaos," said Shogarr. "The first of my Deck Lord's powers. My Monsters gain a 300-point boost for both attacking and defending. I doubt you can do the same for yours.
"Attack!"
Stray Asmodian breathed a stream of flames at Yumi's facedown Monster. Old Vindictive Magician appeared on the card.
"Gotcha!" laughed Yumi. "Seems it's curtains for your Monster!"
"Or so you'd like to believe…" replied Shogarr.
A red aura surrounded him, and Chaos Emperor Dragon roared. Old Vindictive Magician screamed, and then burst into pixels.
Yumi looked up, and saw that Stray Asmodian was unharmed.
"How…" she said.
"That was the Third Circle of Chaos," replied Shogarr. "By paying 500 Life Points, I can negate any effect that targets one of my Monsters. To me, Old Vindictive Magician was nothing more than what he appeared to be… A feeble old man."
Two of his cards vanished, and reappeared behind Stray Asmodian.
"I'll end my turn with two facedown cards," he said. "You saw what the First and Third Circles of Chaos did… Care to find out what the Second does?"
(Y: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,500)
Yumi drew a card and looked at it.
"I've got a feeling I'll find out soon enough," she growled. "I summon Gemini Elf!"
The two elf sisters appeared in front of her, holding hands. (1,900/900)
"Attack his Stray Asmodian!" she shouted.
The two elves started to cast a spell…
"But before that happens," she continued, "my facedown card activates…"
Her Trap Card flipped up.
"Magician's Circle! Now, we must each Special Summon a Spellcaster with 2,000 Attack Points or less."
"I'd happily oblige," replied Shogarr, "if I had one, which I don't."
"Then I will summon…" continued Yumi, "Magician's Valkyria!"
In a blast of light, Valkyria appeared next to Gemini Elf. (1,600/1,800)
"All right!" cheered Jesse. "Yumi has him outnumbered!"
Shogarr chuckled again.
"And she did just what I wanted her to do," he replied. "Activate Spell Card…"
One of his facedown cards lifted up.
"Demise of the Land. Since you Special Summoned a Monster, I can now activate a Field Spell from my deck…
"All of you… Prepare for a trip to one of the greatest sanctuaries of Chaos ever built. A structure whose name is synonymous with one of the greatest forces ever to plot universal destruction. He has been locked away where his tendrils cannot threaten the world, but I tap his power now…
"Take us to… The Temple of Elemental Evil!"
A dark shadow enveloped the field, and the whole arena changed, transforming into a sinister temple theme. It was dominated by a large altar made of black stone, covered with pulsating veins, surrounded by flaming braziers, incense burners, and large water basins.
"Where are we?" asked Ren, ominously.
"The grandest temple of the mad god Tharizdun," replied Shogarr, "known as the Temple of Elemental Evil. Home to four separate religions, each one worshipping the destructive side of one of the four basic elements, but each ultimately answering to him. It was here that a ritual of unspeakable evil was attempted, which had it been successful, would have freed Tharizdun from his prison to begin his plan of annihilation anew."
Yumi glared at him.
"I believe Gemini Elf was about to clean your Stray Asmodian's clock…" she said.
Gemini Elf blasted two bolts of lightning, and Stray Asmodian exploded into a cloud of fiery smoke.
"When Stray Asmodian falls in battle," said Shogarr, "both players gain 800 Life Points. Fire is a weapon of destruction, but it is also a tool of renewal."
The two of them glowed with golden energy.
"I'll give you destruction," said Yumi. "Valkyria, attack Shogarr directly!"
Valkyria flew at Shogarr.
"Not the wisest choice," he replied.
Then Chaos Emperor Dragon exhaled a blast of black fire at Valkyria. She didn't even have a chance to scream before she was reduced to ashes.
"WHAT?" shouted Yumi. "How…"
"You've discovered the Second Circle of Chaos," replied Shogarr. "I can pay 500 Life Points to strike down any of your Monsters who dares come near me."
"No… way…" replied Yumi.
She looked at her hand.
"I… have to end my turn…"
(Y: 8,800) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,500)
Sam went beside Joan.
"I think I see the common thread here," she said.
"Yes," said Joan, nodding. "And it isn't good. Chaos Emperor Dragon's powers came from consuming the six Duel Spirits that served Dartz. And as a result, it gained three powers that are more or less watered down versions of the three layers of the Orichalcos."
"That makes Yumi's usual strategy pretty worthless," replied Erik.
"Shogarr probably planned this all along!" shouted Chelsea. "He knew that Yumi's deck was beatdown!"
Shogarr gestured, and a new card appeared beside him.
"And is that a crime?" he asked. "You forget that I've been commanding troops in the Blood War for eons. Studying your enemy is the sign of a good commander.
"Those foolish devils think that just because we're chaotic, we can't plan. They think that demons can't think up any plan more complicated than 'scream and charge'. Well, if that was true, we'd have lost the War millennia ago…
"I set a Monster, and then play the Spell Card, Field Barrier."
A defensive Monster appeared, and then the Continuous Spell Card appeared.
"With Field Barrier in place, my Temple cannot be destroyed, and you cannot play new Field Spells. And with that, I end my turn…"
Yumi drew a card.
Why do I get the feeling that this Temple is an essential part of his strategy? she thought.
"I play… Graceful Charity," she said.
She played, the card, but no angel appeared this time. Perhaps she was afraid to come to this desecrated area. Nonetheless, Yumi quickly made three draws.
She thought for a minute, and then discarded Hand Control and Chaos Command Magician.
"I'll throw a card facedown," she said, as a facedown card appeared.
"Then I'll attack!"
Gemini Elf blasted their lightning bolts again…
Then they gasped, and they were thrown backwards by the backlash. Earthbound Spirit appeared on the card, shielding itself. (500/2,000) –) (800/2,300)
Weird, thought Yumi. I kind of expected more from this guy… All I've seen so far is this creepy Temple and a few second-rate Monsters… All he's doing so far is putting up a defense for some reason…
"I end my turn," she said.
(Y: 8,400) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,500)
Shogarr willed another card to his hand.
"I summon Avatar of the Pot," he said.
In a burst of light, the rocky genie with a head like the Pot of Greed appeared in front of him. (1,200/1,300)
Yumi gave it a look. Her eyes narrowed.
"Now," continued Shogarr, "I activate its effect."
A card in front of him turned around, revealing Pot of Greed.
"I send this to the Graveyard," he said, as it vanished, "to draw three times."
He waved his hand, and three more cards appeared in front of him.
"And that will be all…"
Why didn't Avatar of the Pot gain more points? thought Yumi.
She drew a card.
"I set a Monster," she said, as a Defensive Monster appeared.
"Then I attack Avatar of the Pot!"
Gemini Elf's lightning flashed, and the Avatar exploded into pebbles.
(Y: 8,400) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 6,800)
"All right!" shouted Ren. "Yumi's winning!"
"Don't jinx it!" said Chelsea, giving him a shove.
"Your move, buster," said Yumi. "I'm curious as to just what you intend to accomplish with this thing."
"Ever hear what curiosity did to the cat, Yumi?" asked Shogarr, as another card appeared in front of him.
"I play the Spell Card, Precious Cards from Beyond."
Yumi looked with shock as the Spell Card appeared.
Llymic used that, she thought. If Shogarr has it too…
Another card in Shogarr's hand revealed itself.
"Now, I play Monster Reborn," he said.
The ankh appeared, burning with fire, and Stray Asmodian appeared again. (1,300/1,700) –) (1,600/2,000)
"Then, I sacrifice both my Monsters…"
Stray Asmodian and Earthbound Spirit vanished, and the braziers in the Temple started to burn more fiercely. Then a bonfire appeared in the center of the field.
"I summon… Imix, Evil Elemental Lord of Fire!"
The flames took shape, into a form that was twenty feet tall. It looked like a man perfectly sculpted out of fire, towering over the whole field, and holding a flaming, two-handed sword. He let out a laugh that sounded like the roar of a forest fire. (2,500/2,000) –) (2,800/2,300)
"I knew you were up to something!" shouted Yumi.
"Something indeed," chuckled Shogarr. "I now get to draw twice due to Precious Cards from Beyond…"
Two more cards appeared in front of him.
"And as the spawn of Tharizdun and the uncontested ruler of all evil creatures with power over Fire, Imix has the ability to call his subjects to his aid. By simply discarding one card, I can summon two Fire Monsters from my deck that are Level Four or less.
"So I'll discard this…"
A card in his hand spun around (it was an Abyss Soldier) and it vanished.
"…and I'll call forth two Abaki."
In two bursts of fire, two nasty, horned demons with red skin and horns, holding spiked clubs appeared to either side of Imix. (1,700/1,100 x2) –) (2,000/1,400 x2)
"Ho boy…" muttered Yumi.
"Of course…" said Shogarr, "the effects of Monsters summoned this way are negated… But that hardly matters…
"First Abaki, destroy Gemini Elf!"
The first Abaki swung its club, and the elves screamed before they shattered into shards.
"Second Abaki, the facedown Monster!"
The second one swung its club at the hidden Monster. Crystal Seer appeared kneeling on the card, and was crushed.
"Hold it," said Yumi. "You activated her effect…"
She took two cards off the top of her deck. She quickly chose one, and put the other at the bottom.
"If you've made up your mind," continued Shogarr, "Imix… Attack directly with flaming ruin!"
Imix's huge sword blazed furiously…
Okay, decision time! thought Yumi. If I trigger my Trap, I'll block a direct attack… But I'd probably give up my only chance to take down this thing…
She grit her teeth as the sword swung down at her…
And then she screamed as the burning blade seemed to slash right through her.
(Y: 5,500) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 6,800)
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"Yumi!" screamed Nicholas.
He got up with a start when he saw Yumi take the powerful hit. A large crowd had gathered around the big screen. The worst part was, most of them didn't understand what was happening, or how grave the stakes of this duel were. They saw someone in knight's armor, who wasn't using a Disk, dueling Dark Magician Girl. It was pretty bizarre to the average onlooker.
"She's hurt!" gasped Nicholas.
"Sit down!" urged Olga. "I know you're worried, but we can't help her!"
"We gotta do something, Olga!" screamed Nicholas. "She's in big trouble!"
"Nicholas…" replied Olga, "not to drive a point home, but if she can't turn it around, everyone is in big trouble…"
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"That's it, Yumi, on your knees," gloated Shogarr. "You aren't the first, and you won't be the last…"
Yumi slowly got up.
"Get used to disappointments, you bastard," she hissed. "It's my move…"
She drew a card.
"I activate Call of the Haunted!" she shouted.
Her facedown card flipped up, and a coffin appeared on her side of the field. It opened, and Chaos Command Magician stepped out. (2,400/1,900)
"Yeah, that's right…" she said. "I'm using someone who uses Chaos against you… You don't like it, do you?"
Shogarr didn't answer…
Yumi played a card from her hand.
"I play Rush Recklessly!" she shouted.
Chaos Command Magician glowed with energy, and rose to an Attack Score of 3,100.
"Time to put out this fire!" she shouted. "Attack Imix! Chaos Magic!"
Chaos Command Magician twirled his staff, and shot a blast of multicolored energy directly at the heart of the fiery titan. Imix groaned and fell on one knee, and then exploded into an eruption of soot and embers.
Everyone on Yumi's side of the field cheered.
Yumi placed another card on her Disk, and a facedown Monster appeared.
"Not bad," said Shogarr, "but can you deal with this?"
His facedown card lifted.
"The Trap Card, Shattered Axe! This will cause your Monster to lose 500 Attack Points during each of my Standby Phases.
"In other words, when it's my turn, he'll be weaker than Abaki…"
Yumi growled.
"I end my turn…" she muttered.
(Y: 5,500) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 6,500)
Shogarr gestured, and a new card appeared in front of him. The Shattered Axe card glowed with red energy, and Chaos Command Magician groaned as his Attack Score fell down to 1,900.
"Attack, my Abaki," he commanded.
One of the Abaki clobbered Chaos Command Magician with its axe, and he shattered into shards. The Shattered Axe card vanished. The other smashed at the facedown card. Magician of Faith appeared on the card, and burst.
The Rush Recklessly card slipped out of Yumi's discard slot, and she took it.
"That's all for now," said Shogarr, again in his icy voice.
(Y: 5,400) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 6,500)
Yumi quickly made a draw.
She looked at the five cards.
Are there limits to that thing's powers? she thought, looking at the Dragon. Time to find out…
"I set two cards," she said, as two facedown cards appeared. "Then, I summon my second Valkyria."
In a burst of light, another Valkyria appeared. (1,600/1,800)
"Next," she said, "I play Monster Reborn to bring back my first one!"
The ankh appeared on her side of the field, and Valkyria's twin appeared next to her. (1,600/1,800)
"All right!" cheered Jesse. "It's Yumi's Valkyria Lock!"
"It won't last for long, I promise you," growled Shogarr.
"We'll soon see," said Yumi. "I end my turn."
Shogarr willed another card in front of him. Despite the helmet covering his face, he was seemingly irked.
"Disappointed in your draw, Shogarr?" asked Yumi.
"What's it to you, Yumi?" he replied. "I move my two Monsters to Defense Mode, and then set another."
The two Abaki knelt and held their clubs in their laps, and then a facedown Monster appeared.
"It's your move," he said.
Yumi drew a card.
Her eyes opened when she saw who it was. She smiled, and then played it.
"I summon Ebon Magician Curran!" she shouted.
In a shower of shimmering motes, Curran appeared in front of her, now holding her trademark leather switch. (1,200/0)
"Hey, Yumi!" she beamed. "It's great to be working with you again! I feel so…"
Then she saw Shogarr.
"Oh… Then again…"
"Don't panic, Curran," said Yumi. "I need your help if I'm going to make any headway in this duel…"
Curran simply nodded. Shogarr growled.
"Valkyria!" ordered Yumi. "Destroy those two Abaki! Magic Illusion!"
The two Valkyria blasted their beams of pure light, and the two demons were blown into blasts of fire and soot.
"Good!" said Zane. "And since they were summoned using Imix's effect, Yumi doesn't lose any Life Points from destroying them!"
"I'll end my turn there, Shogarr," said Yumi. "Don't forget, my two Valkyria are protecting Curran just as much as they protect each other."
Shogarr gestured, and drew another card.
Two of his cards vanished, and a facedown Monster and a reversed card appeared on his side of the field.
"Not much to say, huh?" asked Yumi.
She drew a card.
Yes! she thought.
"Curran," she said, "you know what to do…"
Curran pointed at Shogarr, and a bolt of dark energy blasted at him, striking him in the chest.
"Due to her effect, you lose 600 Life Points, 300 for each Monster you have."
Shogarr hissed.
"This was my own fault…" he cursed. "I thought it was a good plan at the time… Recruit someone who my enemy once trusted and turn her against her… I should have known she'd have second thoughts!"
"Isn't retrospect great?" asked Chelsea, sarcastically.
"You gave Curran lies," said Ren. "Yumi gave her the truth. That's why she had second thought. Honesty, Shogarr. It's a concept that morons like you might benefit to learn about."
Shogarr turned to them with an icy stare.
"Valkyria," started Yumi, "attack…"
"I activate Threatening Roar!" exclaimed Shogarr, as his facedown card shot up.
A loud bellow echoed over the field.
"Fine," said Yumi.
She took the card she had just drawn, and placed it on her Disk. A facedown Monster appeared.
"I end my turn…"
(Y: 5,400) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 5,900)
"And I start mine," replied Shogarr, as another card appeared in front of him.
"I flip this facedown Monster into Attack Mode… The dreaded Jowls of Dark Demise."
His facedown card flipped up, and a horrid Monster appeared. It looked like a specter made of purple haze, shaped into a pair of bestial jaws, with a pair of eyes inside them. (200/100) –) (500/400)
One of Yumi's two Valkyria's eyes glazed over, and she looked hypnotized.
"My Jowls allows me to turn one of your Monsters into my servant," continued Shogarr.
Valkyria was pulled over to Shogarr's side of the field, and she turned to face Yumi.
"Oh, no…" said Aster. "He broke the lock…"
"Not only that," added Zane. "Jowls of Dark Demise gives the controlled Monster the ability to attack directly."
"Indeed," replied Shogarr. "Valkyria, attack Yumi directly!"
The captured Valkyria flew at Yumi.
"I activate Rush Recklessly!" shouted Yumi, as one of her facedown cards lifted.
"I'm attacking directly," said Shogarr. "That card is worthless if you use it on your Valkyria."
"I know," said Yumi. "I'm using it on yours."
"HUH?" shouted Atticus. "Is Yumi nuts?"
As Valkyria flew towards Yumi, her Attack Score rose to 2,300…
"Now, Draining Shield!" shouted Yumi.
Her other facedown card lifted, and Valkyria bounced off an invisible shield. Yumi stretched out, as energy flowed into her.
"I don't get it," said Ren. "Draining Shield is clearly a targeting effect. Why didn't Shogarr negate it?"
"Because, I found the limit of his Deck Lord's power," said Yumi. "His Avatar of the Pot wasn't affected by the First Circle of Chaos, and Valkyria wasn't either, so I assumed that only a certain variety of Monsters were. And I assumed that the same was true for the Third Circle."
"So you figured it out," replied Shogarr. "Yes, those two powers only work on Fiends, the Type of Monsters that the Orichalcos Monsters were.
"But my turn is far from over…
"I sacrifice my Jowls, and Valkyria…"
The two Monsters vanished in two bursts of dark flame. Then the altar of black rock started to glow, and then the ground in front of him burst open in an eruption of rocks and boulders.
"I summon… Ogremoch, Evil Elemental Lord of Earth!"
Another huge Monster rose on Shogarr's side of the field. It was just as big as Imix, but more hulking. It looked like an unfinished bipedal humanoid made of clay. Its eyes were deep, inset, and dark, its mouth was the same, and it had no apparent nose or ears. Its four limbs ended in unfinished hands and feet. It let out a massive bellow that sounded like an earthquake. (3,000/1,800) –) (3,300/2,100)
"Uh, Yumi…" said Curran, nervously. "In case you need to sacrifice a Monster… I volunteer…"
"Don't panic, Curran!" urged Yumi.
"I get to draw two cards, due to Precious Cards from Beyond," said Shogarr, as two cards appeared next to his others.
"Next, like his fiery brother, Ogremoch can summon his subjects to his side. Thus, I'll discard this card…"
One of his cards vanished.
"…and summon two Headless Knights."
Two Monsters rose out of the ground, two spectral knights in fancy armor, holding swords and shield, but naturally lacking heads. (1,450/1,700 x2) –) (1,750/2,000 x2)
"I'm finished…" he said.
(Y: 7,700) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 5,900)
"Well, Yumi's ahead on points," said Erik. "But I really don't like how this whole thing is going…"
Yumi made a draw.
"Thanks to Curran, you lose 1,200 Life Points this time!" she exclaimed.
Curran cast her spell, and Shogarr groaned.
"Next, I Flip-Summon my Morphing Jar!"
The Morphing Jar flipped up, and laughed at Shogarr.
Yumi discarded the one card in her hand, and drew five new ones. The three cards in front of Shogarr vanished, and five more appeared.
"Perfect!" said Yumi. "First, I summon Skilled Dark Magician!"
In a burst of darkness, Skilled Dark Magician appeared. (1,900/1,700)
A Spell Card appeared in front of her.
"Then, I play Magical Dimension! I'll sacrifice Morphing Jar, and summon Cosmo Queen to the field!"
Morphing Jar vanished into grains of light, and the mighty Cosmo Queen appeared. (2,900/2,450)
"Then, I'll use the second effect of Magical Dimension to destroy Ogremoch!"
The Evil Elemental Lord of Earth groaned, and then exploded into shards of rock.
"Yeah!" cheered Phyllis. "Two down, two to go!"
"You sure he has two more in his deck?" asked Ren.
"Well, I'm… kinda assuming…" replied Phyllis.
"Skilled Dark Magician," commanded Yumi. "Destroy one Headless Knight!"
Skilled Dark Magician blasted his scepter, and one Headless Knight groaned before being blasted into pixels.
"Cosmo Queen, Cosmic Nova!" she shouted.
Cosmo Queen blasted her mighty attack, and the second Headless Knight was blown into space dust. Shogarr shielded himself from the blast.
(Y: 7,700) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 2,600)
"I'll admit, Yumi…" growled the demon lord. "You are powerful… Much more so than I assumed when I first knew of your existence… But when you proved your resilience, I learned not to take anything for granted…"
"Do tell," said Yumi.
"Yes…" said Shogarr. "When you live as long as I have, you learn to be cautious. I knew that the Queen of Chaos's plan was likely a fool's game, so I refused to cooperate with it. What did her plan get her? Death for her, and near extinction for her whole race. When you come right down to it, there are really two types of demons… Smart ones, and dead ones.
"If you want to be a smart one, you have to plan for a long time, and take everything into consideration. I may have tried to avoid this confrontation, but that doesn't mean I got so full of myself that I made myself believe it would never happen."
"And now that it has?" asked Yumi.
"I must say it's rather… invigorating…" replied Shogarr. "Dueling you, I feel a thrill that I haven't felt since the days when the obyrith were a powerful race, and the Blood War was young…
"You know, once I had defeated you, I was going to lock you and the rest of your cohorts in soulgems… But maybe you all deserve a better fate…"
"Like what?" shouted Yumi.
"Don't know," replied Shogarr. "The Devil's Fruit is still inside you, and I still have the power to manipulate it. I can do so better than Dark Necrofear could… It can transform creatures into demons as well as Duel Spirits."
Chelsea started to cry. She held onto Ren and shivered.
Yumi stared at him. She had felt sorry for Daala… Maybe she had even felt a little sorry for Llymic, seeing as her grandfather had given him advice that had ultimately gone sour…
But this beast in front of her… He wasn't just her opponent. He was an enemy of man and everything decent that her race represented. He was a demonic being who wished to destroy existence. And he was mocking them while he did it. He didn't care in the least what his vile curse had done to them, and was threatening to make it worse.
He was different than Marik and Dartz and even Gozaburo in one big way: he had been born evil. All she felt towards this monster was hatred. There was nothing else to feel.
"Curran, move to Defense Mode," she said.
Curran knelt, and crossed her arms.
"It's your move, pal," she said.
Shogarr gestured, and drew a sixth card.
"I use the effect of my Field Spell," he said.
"Huh?" said Yumi. "I was wondering what it did…"
"Since I now have at least five Monsters in my Graveyard whose Attributes are not Light or Dark," continued Shogarr, "I can take five of them, and send them back to my deck…"
Images of five cards – both Abaki, one Headless Knight, and Abyss Soldier – appeared in front of him, and then vanished.
"Then, I also send my entire hand back to my deck…"
The six cards in front of him vanished.
"Then, I reshuffle…"
A deck appeared in front of him, and shuffled itself before vanishing again.
"Then, I draw cards equal to the number my hand consisted of, plus two!"
He waved his hand, and eight cards appeared in front of him in flashes of light.
"Good grief!" gasped Ren. "That's Pot of Avarice and Reload combined into one!"
Shogarr chuckled.
"It's a Field Spell, Reginald," he said. "Yumi is free to use the effect if she wants…"
"You creep…" said Sam. "You knew damn well that almost all of Yumi's Monsters are Light and Dark."
"And who's fault is that?" asked Shogarr. "I summon Abyss Soldier."
In a blue aura, a new creature appeared. It was clearly aquatic, and looked like a humanoid manta ray, holding a trident. (1,800/1,300)
"Oh, no!" gasped Mako. "That thing is bad news… If Shogarr tosses a Water Monster, he can bounce a card back to Yumi's hand."
"Fortunately for her, I don't have one right now," replied Shogarr. "But I do have this…"
His facedown Monster flipped up, revealing a second Stray Asmodian. (1,300/1,700) –) (1,600/2,000)
"Abyss Soldier, attack her Valkyria!" he commanded.
Abyss Soldier charged, and speared Valkyria in the belly with his weapon. She gasped, and then shattered.
"Stray Asmodian, punish that traitor!"
Stray Asmodian breathed a blast of flames at Curran. She screamed before she exploded into a fiery burst.
"CURRAN!" screamed Yumi.
"Such is the fate of all who betray me," grumbled Shogarr. "And of those who fail me after accepting my power…"
He glanced at Llymic and the members of Daala's inner circle, who had all been too scared to even speak since he had first appeared.
One of the cards in his hand vanished, and appeared facedown behind his two Monsters.
"That's all for me for now, Yumi," he said. "I'm still far from finished…"
(Y: 7,500) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 2,600)
Yumi looked at him in hate as she drew a card.
"Cosmo Queen!" she commanded, "attack his Stray Asmodian!"
Cosmo Queen powered up her Cosmic Nova.
"Not so fast, Yumi," replied Shogarr. "I have my own Draining Shield."
His facedown card lifted up, and the blast was absorbed by an energy shield. Yumi grunted.
"Skilled Dark Magician, attack his Abyss Soldier!"
Skilled Dark Magician pointed his weapon at the Aqua. Abyss Soldier looked at him with an expression that seemed to say "Huh?"
Then a blast of dark energy blew it away.
(Y: 7,500) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 5,400)
"My draw…" said Shogarr.
A new card appeared.
"I play Soul Exchange!" he exclaimed, as a Spell Card appeared.
"You're going to sacrifice one of my Monsters!" shouted Yumi.
"One of yours, and one of mine, actually," replied Shogarr.
Cosmo Queen gasped, and then vanished into grains of light. Then, Stray Asmodian also vanished.
The water basins in the Temple started to bubble, and overflow. Then a waterspout appeared in the center.
"I summon… Olhydra, Evil Elemental Lord of Water!"
The waterspout took shape, sort of. It looked like a giant wave of water, just as big as the previous two Lords, with no discernable features, and two glowing, evil eyes in the center. It let out a laugh that sounded like the crash of a tsunami. (2,500/2,000) –) (2,800/2,300)
"Olhydra…" muttered Mako. "All men who travel the sea know her name and fear her… The most bloodthirsty of pirates and buccaneers revere her as the goddess of the ocean's savagery…"
"At least Shogarr can't attack this round," said Zane, "since he played Soul Exchange…"
"But I still draw twice due to Precious Cards from Beyond," replied Shogarr.
Two new cards appeared in front of him.
"And like her two siblings, I can use Olhydra's effect to summon two Water Monsters."
One of his cards vanished, and two more Abyss Soldiers appeared to either side of Olhydra. (1,800/1,300 x2)
"Draw!" shouted Yumi, drawing a card.
"I play Pot of Greed!"
The evil jar appeared, and she made two draws.
"With three Spell Cards played since I summoned Skilled Dark Magician," she said, "I can sacrifice him…"
Skilled Dark Magician vanished.
"I summon my Dark Magician!"
In a mighty aura, Dark Magician appeared. (2,500/2,100)
"Olhydra will drown him," replied Shogarr.
"He isn't staying," replied Yumi. "I play Polymerization! I fuse him together, with Goddess With the Third Eye…"
The Goddess appeared on the field, and then the two Monsters combined into an aura of light.
In an explosion of energy, Dark Paladin appeared. (2,900/2,400)
Shogarr just glared at the fused Spellcaster.
"Attack!" ordered Yumi. "Fierce slashing wave!"
Dark Paladin swung his mighty sword, and Olhydra burst in an explosion of liquid. Then, a rain of water fell upon the temple, extinguishing the flaming braziers.
(Y: 7,500) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 5,300)
"All right!" cheered Jesse. "Not only did Yumi deep-six Olhydra, but now she can negate Shogarr's Spell Cards!"
"My move…" replied Shogarr.
He made a draw.
One of his cards vanished, and a facedown Monster appeared next to his Abyss Soldiers. Then, both Abyss Soldiers knelt in Defense Mode.
He growled again.
"Run out of insults?" asked Yumi, drawing a card.
"I set this," she said, as a facedown Monster appeared.
"Then my Paladin attacks!"
Dark Paladin fired his fierce slashing wave, and one of the Abyss Soldiers exploded.
"Fine…" muttered Shogarr. "My Life Points are untouched…"
"Just move…" said Yumi.
Another card appeared in front of Shogarr.
Then it vanished, and another facedown Monster appeared.
He's stalling… thought Yumi. I have to wipe out his side before he draws the fourth Elemental Lord….
He needs two sacrifices to summon it, and I can negate another Soul Exchange. I just have to wipe out his Monsters…
She drew a card.
"I summon my second Skilled Dark Magician!" she shouted.
Another Skilled Dark Magician appeared. (1,900/1,700)
"Dark Paladin, destroy the facedown Monster on the left!"
Dark Paladin cast his mighty spell again. Earthbound Spirit appeared on the card, and was blown into an explosion of dirt.
"Skilled Dark Magician, take out the other facedown Monster!"
Skilled Dark Magician fired at the other facedown card…
Then, Spirit Reaper appeared on the card, and the blast glanced off. (300/200)
"I told you my deck had two Dark Monsters in it," said Shogarr. "This is one of them."
Yumi sighed.
"All right…" she said. "I have to end my turn…"
Shogarr gestured, and another card appeared.
He chuckled.
"I think he got a good draw…" said Aster.
"I sacrifice both my Monsters…" said Shogarr.
"Here it comes…" muttered Atticus.
Spirit Reaper and Abyss Soldier vanished. The incense burners started to emit thick smoke, and wind started to blow through the temple.
"I summon Yan-C-Bin, Evil Elemental Lord of Wind!" laughed Shogarr.
The wind started to take form, turning into a giant whirlwind with a huge, gaping mouth at its center. It laughed with a voice that sounded like the roar of a hurricane. (3,000/1,800) –) (3,300/2,100)
"Let me guess…" sighed Yumi. "You can discard one card to Special Summon two Wind Monsters."
Shogarr chuckled, and one of the cards in his hand vanished. Then, two Slate Warriors appeared to either side of Yan-C-Bin. (1,900/400) –) (2,200/700)
"Yan-C-Bin," he commanded, "blow Dark Paladin away!"
A more ferocious wind than ever before blew through the Temple, and Dark Paladin tried in vain to resist it. He finally shattered under the onslaught.
The two Slate Warriors aimed their staffs. One shot a blast of green energy at Skilled Dark Magician, and he shattered. The other fired a blast at Yumi's facedown card. Blast Magician appeared on the card and was blown to bits.
A card in Shogarr's hand vanished, and appeared facedown in front of him.
"It's your move, Yumi," he said. "The footsteps to your doom draw ever closer…"
(Y: 6,800) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 5,300)
Yumi quickly drew a card.
Hey… she thought, looking at it. I drew Mirror Force!
This card doesn't target… It might be able to turn this whole thing around…
But I don't even need it to take out that big windbag…
"I toss down one facedown," she said, placing it in her Disk.
"Then, I summon Injection Fairy Lily!"
In a burst of stars and hearts, Lily appeared, holding her huge syringe. (400/1,500)
"Now, I'll drop 2,000 of my Life Points," she continued, "to boost her Attack Points by 3,000!"
Lily raised her weapon, and flew at Yan-C-Bin. Her Attack Score rose to 3,400, and she threw the huge needle straight into the heart of the storm. The monstrous cyclone groaned, and then dissipated.
(Y: 4,800) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 5,200)
Shogarr stared at Yumi, with a look that could best be described as disbelief.
"The great Yan-C-Bin…" he said, "whom the Sirens, Stormriders of Ryn, and fully half of all clans of Cloud Giants worship as a god was defeated by a mere nurse??
"You and your Spellcasters will pay for this indignity, Yumi!"
"Yeah, how?" asked Sam. "By my count, Shogarr, Yumi has taken out all four of your Elemental Lords!"
"And that was precisely what I wanted her to do…" said Shogarr, with a sinister tone.
"You see, you foolish mortals, the four Elemental Lords have a little condition attached to them. They cannot exist on the field unless my Field Spell is in play. And if they go to the Graveyard without being summoned to the field first, they are removed from play."
"He wanted those four Monsters in his Graveyard…" gasped Zane. "But the only way he could get them there was for Yumi to destroy them…"
"This has all been part of some bigger strategy…" added Aster.
"You know, it is kind of strange…" added Atticus. "Lord of Chaos? He hasn't played a single card yet that required removing anything from play…"
"My move…" replied Shogarr.
Another card appeared in front of him.
"I activate Reckless Greed," he said, as his facedown card flipped up. "I have to skip my next two Draw Phases, but I get two cards now…"
Two more cards appeared in front of him.
Then one of them spun around.
"I activate Giant Trunade."
A windstorm erupted over the field, and the Temple vanished, along with his Field Barrier and Precious Cards from Beyond. Yumi's Mirror Force appeared back in her hand.
No… thought Yumi, starting to sweat. If he summons his ace, I don't have enough Life Points to use Lily's effect three times…
"I move my two Slate Warriors to Defense Mode," said Shogarr, as his two Monsters knelt. "Then I play my Field Spell again."
One of his cards vanished, and the evil Temple appeared once more.
"Now, I activate its effect once more."
Both Abyss Soldiers, Stray Asmodian, Headless Knight, and Jowls of Dark Demise appeared in front of him. Then they and the seven cards in his hand vanished. His deck appeared in front of him, and reshuffled, and then nine new cards appeared in front of him.
"Three cards go facedown," he said, as three cards appeared in front of him.
"Then, my turn is complete."
Huh? thought Yumi.
She slowly drew a card.
"I summon Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer!" she shouted.
She played the card, and Kycoo appeared next to Lily. (1,800/700)
"Attack the Slate Warrior on the left!" she shouted. "Spell of banishment!"
Kycoo shot lightning at the Slate Warrior, and it exploded.
"Seems your Traps were just bluffs," she said. "I end my turn. Don't forget, you can't draw this turn due to Reckless Green."
Shogarr laughed out loud.
"Just bluffs?" he said. "Hardly! They are instrumental in my true plan…"
One of the cards in his hand spun around.
"I play Tribute to the Doomed, to destroy your Kycoo!"
Another of his cards vanished, and Kycoo screamed as energy hit him. He burst.
"Next," he said, as another card spun around, "I sacrifice my last Slate Warrior using Mystik Wok."
The Fiend vanished, and he glowed with energy.
"Now…" he said ominously, "I reveal the three heralds of He of Eternal Darkness, the one known as Tharizdun…"
One of his facedown cards lifted, revealing an image of a nuclear mushroom cloud exploding, while two evil-looking eyes loomed above.
"Doom…" he said.
Then the second one lifted, revealing the image of city being torn apart by a rampaging hurricane, while two evil-looking eyes loomed in the sky.
"Destruction…"
Then the third lifted, showing the image of a man rotting alive, collapsing to his knees, while two evil-looking eyes loomed above.
"And Decay.
"When all three of these Trap Cards are revealed, I can remove all four of my Evil Elemental Lords from play, to summon my ultimate beast!"
Then the whole Temple exploded in a blast that could best be compared to an erupting volcano. Lava spread quickly and all of reality seemed to come undone. Erik grabbed hold of Sam.
"Erik!" screamed Sam. "What are you doing?"
"The same thing you're doing!" shouted Erik. "Hanging on for dear life!"
A titanic form rose in the midst of the ruined Temple… It looked like a colossal giant, made of half-cooled magma, surrounded by clouds of thick smoke and scalding steam. (0/0)
"Meet the Elder Elemental Eye," said Shogarr. "The avatar of Tharizdun himself."
Yumi looked up at the titan, and took a step backwards…
"And I'm just starting," said Shogarr. "While it's on the field, I can activate the effect of one of my Trap Cards each round. For example, I can use the effect of Doom to destroy one Monster."
A blast of dark fire shot out of the Doom card. Lily screamed in agony, and exploded into shards.
"I know what you're thinking, Yumi… Zero Attack Points. Well, that's only when it isn't battling. When it battles a Monster, its Attack Score becomes 500 more than the Score of the Monster it's battling.
"Except when it attacks directly… Then it becomes 3,000.
"Attack directly."
The Elder Elemental Eye lifted its giant hand… Its Attack Score rose to 3,000…
"Activate… Mirror Force!" screamed Yumi, as her facedown card shot up.
And then she was shocked as it was blown to pieces.
And she was more shocked as the huge fist slammed into her.
(Y: 1,800) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,100)
"How?" groaned Yumi. "Why didn't it work?"
"It cannot be destroyed by card effects," said Shogarr, "so long as my three Trap Cards are on the field."
"This is not fair!" said Ren.
"I don't think playing fair was ever part of Shogarr's plan," said Chelsea.
"It's your move, Yumi…" said Shogarr.
Yumi slowly got up. She drew a card.
"I set a Monster," she said, as a hidden Monster appeared.
"Then, I play Double Spell. I'll toss this…"
She discarded Premature Burial.
"…so I can use your Monster Reborn."
The holy ankh appeared, and Valkyria appeared again, in Defense Mode. (1,600/1,800)
"That… That's all I can do…"
"Then it's my move," said Shogarr. "I still can't draw, but I think I'll activate the effect of Destruction this round, which lets my Monster attack twice."
The Eye lifted its hand, and its Attack Score rose to 2,300. It flattened Valkyria with a mighty smash.
Then it lifted it again, and Apprentice Magician appeared on the card. The Eye's Attack Score rose to 1,300, and it smashed her flat.
Yumi gestured, and another Monster appeared facedown.
"I end my turn," said Shogarr.
Yumi quickly drew a card.
"I play Pot of Avarice!" she shouted.
She played the card, and took Dark Magician, both Skilled Dark Magicians, and both Valkyria from her deck, and reshuffled.
She set another Monster, and then bowed her head.
Shogarr chuckled, as he drew another card.
"I use the effect of Destruction again," he said.
The Eye lunged forth, first destroying Apprentice Magician. Then it flattened Valkyria a second time.
"Why do you persist?" he said, as another facedown card appeared in front of him. "You cannot defeat the almighty power of Chaos!"
"Dunno," said Yumi. "Maybe I just want to go down fighting…"
She drew a card.
"HA!" she said with a laugh. "Say goodbye to your Trap Cards, Shogarr! I play Heavy Storm!"
She played the card, and a fierce wind blew through the fiery arena.
"Not so fast!" said Shogarr, in an angry tone.
His facedown card lifted.
"I activate Dark Bribe! Now, you draw once, but your Spell Card goes away…"
The wind quelled. Yumi bowed her head again, and drew a card.
Then she looked up, surprised, as she saw what it was.
It was that strange Equip Spell that had appeared in her deck after her duel with Curran.
Maybe… she thought. Just maybe… I can actually do this…
"All right, Shogarr," she said, "First, I set one card facedown…"
A reversed card appeared.
"Then, I'm using my Deck Lord power…
"And as hard as it is to believe, I finally figured out how to gain an Extraordinary Power of my own!"
"Say what?" shouted Llymic.
"Since I arrived on Xanadu," continued Yumi, "I defeated three duelists who had Deck Lords who were empowered by the Core. The first was Daala's. The second was Slade's. And the third was Curran herself. We may have ended the encounter peacefully, but the rules of Xanadu still stood. Third time was the charm, because I learned how to achieve one.
"I simply had to give up all my previous Deck Lord powers, and invest in one powerful one…
"Invigorating Soul Circle!
"Now, I get to draw until I have six cards, and with each card I draw, I gain 500 Life Points."
She quickly drew five cards. She looked them over.
"And I end my turn…"
(Y: 4,300) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,100)
"Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh," laughed Shogarr. "What a waste. Five extra cards, and all of them dead draws.
"I use the effect of Decay this round. It inflicts 1,000 points of damage to you directly!"
Yumi screamed as the dark flames roasted at her flesh.
"Now, attack her directly!"
The Elder Elemental Eye lifted its paw…
"I activate, A Hero Emerges!" shouted Yumi.
Her facedown card lifted up.
"I've used this card so often," said Yumi, "and so many times it's saved my skin. So how about once more for old time's sake, eh?"
"Err," growled Shogarr. "The middle card…"
Yumi smiled. She threw a card on her Disk, and a twin of herself appeared in front of her in Defense Mode. (2,000/1,700)
The Eye's Attack Score fell to 2,200. It made a smash with its fist, and Yumi's double was crushed.
"You're stalling and it won't work," said Shogarr.
"We'll see," said Yumi. "It's my move!"
She drew a card.
(Y: 3,300) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 7,100)
"I pay 1,000 Life Points," she said. "To summon myself to the field!"
She took five steps forward. (2,000/1,700)
Shogarr laughed out loud.
"Did you forget about my Doom card?" he asked. "You can't defeat my Monster in battle, and next round, it will slay you!"
"No it won't," said Yumi, holding up a Spell Card. "I play The Sage's Stone, to summon Dark Magician!"
The Spell Card appeared, and so did Dark Magician. (2,500/2,100)
"Next, I play Magical Stone Excavation. I toss two cards…"
She played the card, and discarded Dark Magician of Chaos and Dedication Through Light and Darkness.
"…and I get back my Monster Reborn."
The card slipped out of her discard slot.
"Now, I play it!"
The holy ankh appeared, and Cosmo Queen appeared again. (2,900/2,450)
"So what?" asked Shogarr. "How are you going to defeat me?"
"With this!" replied Yumi. "An Equip Spell!
"And in order to Equip it to myself, I have to take seven Spell Cards from my Graveyard, and send them to the bottom of my deck."
"What are you talking about?" asked Shogarr. "There's no such Equip Spell."
Yumi ignored him. Seven Spell Cards – Graceful Charity, Heavy Storm, Pot of Greed, Monster Reborn, Premature Burial, Hand Control, and Rush Recklessly – fell out of her discard slot, and she placed them underneath her deck.
Then, seven motes of light appeared above her. Each mote turned into a short rod…
Then, the short rods combined into a long, ornate rod. It lowered itself into Yumi's hands.
"It can't be…" gasped Shogarr.
Then he shouted in anger.
"You don't fool me, Yumi!" he screamed. "Every race on the planes has been searching for the Rod of Seven Parts for thousands of years, and they have yet to find even one piece! That thing you're holding is nothing but a replica!"
"Then why are you so scared?" asked Yumi. "Replica or not, this Equip Spell has a powerful effect that affects the whole field. All Chaos Monsters lose their effects."
"Chaos Monsters?" asked Jesse. "How do you define a 'Chaos Monster'?"
"It's defined as any Monster that involves removing cards from play as part of its cost or effect," replied Yumi. "And since your Elder Elemental Eye was summoned by removing four specific Monsters from play…"
"It's Attack Score will stay at zero when Yumi attacks it!" cheered Chelsea.
"You got it!" shouted Yumi.
"No…" gasped Shogarr.
"Dark Magician…" ordered Yumi. "Dark… Magic… Attack!"
Dark Magician twirled his scepter, and fired a mighty blast at the flaming goliath. The Elder Elemental Eye groaned as magical energy burned at its impure flesh, and then it collapsed on its knees. Then, it crumbled into shards of volcanic stone.
"ERGH!" screamed Shogarr.
(Y: 3,300) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 4,600)
"I'm not through yet, Yumi!" cursed Shogarr. "You still can't attack me directly, and…"
"Yes I can," interrupted Yumi. "ALL Chaos Monsters are affected, even Deck Lords."
Shogarr slowly looked at Chaos Emperor Dragon, who was clutching its chest in pain, and moaning.
"This can't be…" gasped Shogarr.
Then he screamed, as Cosmo Queen's Cosmic Nova struck him, blowing a hole in his breastplate.
Yumi leapt up, holding the Rod of Seven Parts over her head, and slammed it on the Dread Emperor's helmet, then on his shoulder, and then his chest, sending him falling to the ground.
He collapsed…
(Y: 2,300) - - - - - - - - - - (S: 0)
"Ahem," said Jaden, speaking up for the first time. "Well, you lost Shogarr, and I believe we had a deal."
Shogarr looked at Jaden with a look of rage.
"No we didn't," he said. "I certainly don't remember making any deal.
"And this isn't over, Yuki… If I have to send my armies to Neo-Space, pull Yubel out of you, and force the secrets of those cards from her very soul…"
"I hate to interrupt an evil rant," said Jaden, "but you are not weaseling out of this bet. You may not be able to attack us through this portal, but we can from this side."
Then, a majestic form flew out of the portal.
"Elemental Hero Neos!" cheered Jesse.
Neos flew straight for the Great Helm, and started striking it with his fists. The Helm started to shudder.
"Get away from there!" ordered Shogarr, getting up. "I won't…"
Then two other Monsters appeared and tackled him. Everyone saw that it was Cyber Angel Dakini and Dragonroid. Everyone looked at the portal, and saw Syrus and Alexis grinning.
Finally, Neos made one mighty blow, and Great Helm was smashed into bits of metal.
Shogarr screamed an inhuman scream. He fell to his knees, as a windstorm started to erupt in the Core…
"He's weakening!" shouted Jaden, turning his head. "Now's your chance…"
Then, everyone was startled as five figures appeared in the middle of the windstorm. It was three males, and two females. They were large beings, about seven feet tall, wearing scant clothing. Then had ebony skin, pure white hair, and huge, feathered wings.
They started to surround Shogarr.
"Are they angels?" asked Ren.
"No…" replied Joan. "Elemental beings… The Wind Dukes of Aaqa have arrived!"
Shogarr screamed as the Wind Dukes cast bolts of pure energy from their hands, and his armor started to crack. Yumi tried to watch, but her vision started to blur…
And then she passed out…
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yumi slowly came to.
She was lying in the center of the arena, and Sheena was holding her hand.
"Did I faint?" she asked.
"You all did," replied Sheena. "You are the last to wake up…"
Yumi looked up and saw Ren and Chelsea standing over her…
And they weren't Duel Spirits any more.
She gasped. She looked at herself, and she was Yumi again.
"We're cured!" she gasped.
"You can thank our friends for that," said Sam, who was standing nearby. "Apparently, Shogarr had been weakened enough for them to… well, obliterate him."
Yumi looked up, and saw only two of the Wind Dukes, one male and one female.
"Thanks…" she said.
The male spoke, in a deep tone.
"It was our duty," he said. "But we must know…
"The Rod of Seven Parts. Was it only a replica like he claimed? Or did it somehow come to life in your hands?"
Yumi looked at her Disk. The Spell Card was gone.
"Who knows?" said Joan, walking up to them. "The Rod is the most powerful weapon of Law. Maybe it cannot exist unless a mighty force of Chaos exists for it to combat. Perhaps that is the only way it can ever be whole.
"Gods forbid, if someday, another force of Chaos that is just as powerful rears its head, I'm certain that the Rod will come to the hero who rises to oppose it… Perhaps in another form…"
Yumi got up.
"So, Yumi," said Joan. "Are you all ready to go home?"
Yumi looked around.
She saw Phyllis, who was being guarded by Zane and Atticus, with her hands restrained by handcuffs.
"Phyllis…" she said. "What will you do?"
Phyllis sighed.
"I don't know, Yumi," she said. "My human body is gone… But whatever punishment Voltanis gives me, I'm sure it won't last forever…
"The universe is a big place… I'm sure someday, I'll find my place in it…"
Joan sighed. She gestured, and a portal opened beside her.
"I'll e-mail you all soon," she said. "We have a lot of work to do, getting this place up and running with a decent government… But we will succeed."
Yumi nodded.
She leapt through the portal, and Ren, Chelsea, Sam, Erik, and Sheena followed.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
As Yumi exited the portal in the VR lab in Kaibaland, Nicholas rushed up to her and hugged her tightly.
"Yumi!" he shouted, almost crying.
"Easy," said Yumi, as everyone else came out.
Olga appeared behind him.
"Your chauffer let us in the back way, Ms. Arachne," she said. "The outside is mobbed."
"Huh?" said Sheena.
She carefully opened the door.
A crowd had gathered outside, and they were cheering Yumi's name.
Yumi blushed, and unfortunately, that made it worse.
I guess there might be a reward in all this after all, she thought.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
THE TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL (Spell Card)
Field Spell
Image: A dark altar of black rock with blue veins on its surface, surrounded by demonic statues of all types, flanked by violet torches, water basins, and incense burners.
Card Description: When this card is removed from the field, remove from play all Monsters on the field with the words "Evil Elemental Lord" in their names. Once per turn, if a player has at least five FIRE, EARTH, WATER, and/or WIND Monsters in his/her Graveyard, he/she may send five such Monsters and every card in his hand back to his/her deck, reshuffle, and draw two cards plus the number that his/her hand consisted of before using this effect.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
IMIX, EVIL ELEMENTAL LORD OF FIRE (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type:
Fiend/Effect
Attribute:
Fire
Level:
8
ATK:
2,500
DEF:
2,000
Card Description: This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set unless "The Temple of Elemental Evil" is face-up on your side of the field. If this card is sent from a player's hand or deck to the Graveyard, remove it from play. Once per turn, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon two FIRE Monsters that are Level Four or less from your hand or deck. The effects of Monsters Special Summoned in this manner are negated.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
OGREMOCH, EVIL ELEMENTAL LORD OF EARTH (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type:
Fiend/Effect
Attribute:
Earth
Level:
8
ATK:
3,000
DEF:
1,800
Card Description: This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set unless "The Temple of Elemental Evil" is face-up on your side of the field. If this card is sent from a player's hand or deck to the Graveyard, remove it from play. Once per turn, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon two EARTH Monsters that are Level Four or less from your hand or deck. The effects of Monsters Special Summoned in this manner are negated.
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OLHYDRA, EVIL ELEMENTAL LORD OF WATER (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type:
Fiend/Effect
Attribute:
Water
Level:
8
ATK:
2,500
DEF:
2,000
Card Description: This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set unless "The Temple of Elemental Evil" is face-up on your side of the field. If this card is sent from a player's hand or deck to the Graveyard, remove it from play. Once per turn, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon two WATER Monsters that are Level Four or less from your hand or deck. The effects of Monsters Special Summoned in this manner are negated.
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YAN-C-BIN, EVIL ELEMENTAL LORD OF WIND (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type:
Fiend/Effect
Attribute:
Wind
Level:
8
ATK:
3,000
DEF:
1,800
Card Description: This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set unless "The Temple of Elemental Evil" is face-up on your side of the field. If this card is sent from a player's hand or deck to the Graveyard, remove it from play. Once per turn, you may discard one card from your hand to Special Summon two WIND Monsters that are Level Four or less from your hand or deck. The effects of Monsters Special Summoned in this manner are negated.
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DESTRUCTION (Trap Card)
Continuous Trap
Image: A city being torn apart by a rampaging hurricane, while two evil-looking eyes loom in the sky.
Card Description: You may not have more than one copy of this card face-up on the field at one time. You may use the effect of this card once per round, during your turn if "The Elder Elemental Eye" is face-up on your side of the field and "Decay" and "Doom" are active. You may not use the effect of this card during a round in which you use the effect of "Decay" or "Doom". "The Elder Elemental Eye" may attack twice during the Battle Phase of this round, so long as your opponent has Monsters on the field. If this card is destroyed, destroy "Decay" and "Doom".
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DECAY (Trap Card)
Continuous Trap
Image: A man rotting alive, collapsing to his knees, while two evil-looking eyes loom above.
Card Description: You may not have more than one copy of this card face-up on the field at one time. You may use the effect of this card once per round, during your turn if "The Elder Elemental Eye" is face-up on your side of the field and "Destruction" and "Doom" are active. You may not use the effect of this card during a round in which you use the effect of "Destruction" or "Doom". Inflict 1,000 points of direct damage to your opponent. If this card is destroyed, destroy "Destruction" and "Doom".
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DOOM (Trap Card)
Continuous Trap
Image: A nuclear mushroom cloud exploding, while two evil-looking eyes loom above.
Card Description: You may not have more than one copy of this card face-up on the field at one time. You may use the effect of this card once per round, during your turn if "The Elder Elemental Eye" is face-up on your side of the field and "Destruction" and "Decay" are active. You may not use the effect of this card during a round in which you use the effect of "Destruction" or "Decay". Destroy one face-up Monster your opponent controls. If this card is destroyed, destroy "Destruction" and "Decay".
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
THE ELDER ELEMENTAL EYE (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type:
Fiend/Effect
Attribute:
Dark
Level:
12
ATK:
0
DEF:
0
Card Description: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This card can only be Special Summoned if face-up "Destruction", "Decay", and "Doom" are the only cards on your side of the field, by removing four different Monsters with the words "Evil Elemental Lord" in your Graveyard from play. While this card is on the field, you cannot Normal Summon, set, or Special Summon. This card cannot be destroyed by card effects so long as "Destruction", "Decay", and "Doom" are face-up on your side of the field. If this card battles a Monster, its ATK becomes equal to that Monster's ATK (if the Monster is in Attack Position) or the Monster's DEF (if the target is in Defense Position) plus 500 during damage calculation only. If this card attacks directly, its ATK becomes 3,000.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
THE ROD OF SEVEN PARTS (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: Seven small, ornate, metal rods lying on the ground.
Card Description: Take seven Spell Cards from your Graveyard and place them at the bottom of your deck in any order to Equip a Monster with this card. This card cannot be Equipped to a Monster whose effects would be negated by this card's effect. While this card is Equipped to a Monster, all Monsters on the field and all Deck Lords that fit one or more of the following criteria have their effects (and Deck Lord powers) negated:
* Monsters who are summoned by removing cards from play as a cost.
* Monsters whose effects are dependent on cards that are removed from play.
* Monsters that remove cards from play as part of one or more of their effects.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yumi's Deck Lord: "Dark Magician Girl": "Invigorating Soul Circle": You may use this effect once per duel. Draw cards equal to the number of Monsters in your Graveyard, or until your hand consists of six cards. For each card drawn, increase your Life Points by 500. (Extraordinary Power)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shogarr's Deck Lord: "Chaos Emperor Dragon – Envoy of the End": "First Circle of Chaos": All face-up Fiend-Type Monsters on your side of the field gain 300 ATK and DEF. (Greater Power) "Second Circle of Chaos": If you are attacked directly, you may pay 500 Life Points to negate the attack and destroy the attacking Monster. (Extraordinary Power) "Third Circle of Chaos": You may pay 500 Life Points to negate the effect of a card that specifically targets a Fiend-Type Monster you control and destroy it. (Extraordinary Power)
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
EPILOGUE
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It took a very long time for Yumi and her friends to manage to go home. The crowd of fans she had gathered all had a million questions, many wanted autographs, and almost all of them hoped she would turn back into Dark Magician Girl. Kaibaland's security held them back for the most part, and Yumi set up a brief press conference before she managed to get away. She knew that the story was likely too farfetched to be told truthfully on the news, but she took heart in knowing that for at least one morning, her duel was the highest-rated program in the world.
The odd duel was speculated about for days afterwards. Some accused I2 of holding it as a publicity stunt for a promotion, and asked when Shogarr's cards would be available for public release. Exactly how every media device in the world was hijacked could not be explained; federal investigators whose belief in the supernatural wasn't even as good as Seto Kaiba's originally was looked into the matter, concerned over the dozens of laws that had been broken. They were frustrated upon finding nothing that could trace them to any source of the broadcast or any possible perpetrators. Yumi was questioned casually, but anyone could see that the girl who was dueling in the broadcast was simply not her, even if her name had been used. No prosecutor who wanted to keep his job was going to accuse someone of disguising herself by using demonic curses. Eventually, the case was simply filed under Unsolved.
It took several days for any of their parents to leave them alone. With the exception of Erik, most of them were let off with the, "I can't blame you since I did the same thing when I was your age" routine, and Erik's parents were too glad that he was okay to do much to him. Still, after five days, after school had started again, Nicholas finally had Yumi alone at her parents' apartment again.
"I thought I had lost you forever," he said, hugging her. "If I could have come after you, I would have…"
"You did pretty well out here, from what I heard…" she replied.
Yumi sighed.
"Nicholas…" she said. "Will you go in the kitchen and get some sodas? I'll have a surprise for you when I get back…"
Nicholas was a little surprised. Was Yumi going to take this farther than usual?
He quickly went into the kitchen and got two sodas.
When he got back to the room, he almost dropped them in shock.
Yumi had become Dark Magician Girl again.
"How?" he gasped.
Yumi chuckled.
"We've been able to do it for about two days now," she sighed. "We don't really know how but… Apparently, Nicholas, it wasn't really the Devil's Fruit that did it…"
She stood up.
"I guess there's a Duel Spirit inside every duelist… We just needed a push to let ours come out.
"So… Want to hug Dark Magician Girl?"
Nicholas didn't need to answer. They embraced.
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The next day, Yumi (now Yumi again) and her four friends walked into the main computer center of KaibaCorp, where Sheena was working at a screen.
"What's up, Ms. Arachne?" asked Erik. "News?"
"Big news," said Sheena. "I got that e-mail from Joan that she promised."
She typed up a command, and a long letter appeared on a screen.
My dear friends,
You'll be glad to know that our restoration of Xanadu is proceeding as scheduled. With Shogarr's influence gone, the land is growing lush and fertile. Daala's prisoners have been freed, and my forces are whole once again. The AI programs you worked with are the new governors of Xanadu, and the Duel Spirits who choose to remain are cooperating.
We searched the Tzimisce Woods from top to bottom. No trace of the Devil's Fruit remains. It likely was reduced to dust when Shogarr perished. This likely means that his curse upon Tyrexxus is lifted. Whether that means Tyrexxus will awaken, and what that might mean for the politics of Hell, I do not yet know.
The Wind Dukes have made an expedition into Shogarr's realm in the Abyss, which they expect to be in the middle of a power struggle. Their main goal now is to free the many prisoners he took over the ages so that they can finally rest in peace, and also hopefully to learn as much about the demonic armies that they can. Shogarr may be no more, but the realms of the Abyss are numerous, and Chaos will always be a threat.
Phyllis and Llymic, along with anyone who remained loyal to them, have been handed over to the courts of the Higher Plane. Take heart in knowing that this is far more than Shogarr would have ever offered you. I cannot say what their fates will be. I have done my job, and it is now out of my hands. I will say that I will make sure that the help Phyllis provided will be mentioned at her trial, and might make a difference.
This need not be the end of our interaction. In fact, I want to make an offer.
I know of KaibaCorp's virtual multiplayer online role playing game that you are about to test. I can offer to make it better. I can create portals that can link Xanadu to Dueltasia, making Xanadu an advanced level of your game that players can find if they desire. I have proposed the matter to my army, and they unanimously agree that it is a good idea. After all, they are no longer fighting, and need a reason to exist.
Whether you agree or not, know this… All of you will always be welcome in Xanadu and in all of the Twelve Dimensions.
Sincerely,
Guardian Angel Joan
Sheena looked at them.
"Ms. Arachne," said Yumi, "it sounds wonderful, but we gotta think about it first."
"Yeah," said Ren. "Why don't you get working on it. You have our numbers, eh?"
"See you at home, mom," said Sam.
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The five of them walked through the park, walking away from KaibaCorp.
"I wonder if everything will ever be the same again," said Ren.
"Dunno," said Chelsea. "We've seen some pretty serious stuff…"
As they walked past a hedge wall, they changed, and Dark Magician Girl, Shadow Tamer, Mataza the Zapper, Vampire Lady, and Warrior Dai Grepher took their places.
"Shogarr put us through the ringer," muttered Erik.
"Eh…" said Sam. "Maybe this will look good on a resume someday… But I guess the important part is, we survived, and we came out better for the experience."
"Know what the funny part is?" asked Chelsea.
"There's a funny part?" asked Ren.
"Well, not ha-ha funny," said Chelsea. "But more ironic-funny. Listen… We actually benefited a great deal from Shogarr and his attacks."
Everyone looked at her strangely.
"Hear me out," said Chelsea. "If Shogarr hadn't messed with Yumi at Duelatopia, she might not have collected all of the Shadow Charms, and might not have been able to do the ritual duel. The Pharaoh may never have been released.
"And if we had never gone to Xanadu, we wouldn't have become more powerful, or become more in touch with the worlds of Spirits. We would have lived our lives as nothing but ordinary duelists."
"It makes sense in a crazy way," muttered Erik. "Like how Spider-Man wouldn't have become a hero if his poor uncle hadn't been murdered."
Yumi sighed.
"Well, people…" she said. "Whatever the future may hold… Whatever we choose to do with these powers… We'll all be there as a team…"
She held her hand out. They put their hands together, in a five-way handshake.
Then they looked towards the KaibaCorp building above them…
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And what did the future hold?
Yumi and her four friends never attempted to return to Xanadu. For some years, they lived peacefully. All five finished school, and then college as well. They only assumed Duel Spirit form in secret during this time, not wanting to turn into outcasts.
Then, one by one, they each heard their calls. Their adventures were not over.
Sam was spending time with Erik one night, when the Spirit of Gors appeared before them. He begged for help, saying that Ha Des was in danger. Sam and Erik grabbed their Disks and ran through the portal that he created, assuming the forms of Shadow Tamer and Warrior Dai Grepher in the process.
They arrived in the Underworld, only to find that they were too late. Ha Des had been slain, and a mysterious usurper was occupying his throne. Even worse, Gors could not protect Sam when a Beast of Talwar, clearly sent by the usurper, led a mob against her, claiming that the Shadow Tamer would try to dominate the populace. Sam boldly stood up to the Beast, and a duel started. The crowd was awed when she played Ha Des's card – apparently, his soul still lived in her deck. Sam defeated the Fiend, and the mob started to side with her.
Then, a Zombie who called itself a Plaguespreader stepped forward. It claimed that another Plaguespreader had turned itself into a hideous beast called a Doomkaiser Dragon, and that it had slain Ha Des and assumed his throne. It also said it might know a way to restore Ha Des, if the Doomkaiser was first beaten.
Sam and Erik fought their way into Ha Des's palace. Along the way, Sam was confronted by an ally of the Doomkaiser – the real Zera the Mant. Sam defeated him, and with her powers growing, she stole his fiendish energy, and managed to evolve into a true version of Dark Queen Per Sephone, just as Ha Des said she might be able to. Sam took the Doomkaiser by surprise, and a lethal duel ensued. After a lengthy battle, the beast fell, defeated.
The Plaguespreader was indeed able to bring Ha Des back to life, but Ha Des was different than he was before. No longer a Fiend, he was a Zombie himself, a Revived King Ha Des. He reasoned he wasn't fit to rule a nation of Fiends anymore, and decided to retire, offering Sam the position as his heir. Sam was shocked, but she accepted, and Ha Des left for his private lands, trusting the last remnants of his true self with Sam.
As for Erik, he remained with Sam as her royal consort. Many of the population were worried for a while, remembering the choice that the first Warrior Dai Grepher had made. This concern was driven home when none other than Dark Lucius himself arrived to offer him the same choice, not willing to take no for an answer. Erik furiously rejected the Fiend, and a duel ensued. In one mighty blow, the Fiend that was once the first Warrior Dai Grepher was blasted out of existence.
And in defeating him, Erik gained knowledge. He found the path to the other choice, the one that his predecessor had rejected. Following it, he took a path to a realm of Dragons, and came back to the Underworld having evolved into Ryu Senshi.
Chelsea and Ren found their place in the Dimensions at around the same time. They were called by the Vampire Genesis, who was in a panic, claiming that an undead sorcerer was ravaging the land where Zombies called home. Chelsea and Ren took their Duel Spirit forms, and followed him.
They found the Dimension of Zombies a virtual anarchy. The only apparent rule was this sorcerer, who was crushing anyone who dared stand against him. Chelsea and Ren made their way to a mausoleum of bone where this sorcerer supposedly resided, and along the way, Chelsea defeated the Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon, a necromantic creation of the sorcerer. As her own power had grown, Chelsea grew stronger still, and evolved into a far stronger vampire than her previous form.
Chelsea confronted the sorcerer who turned out to be none other than Fushioh Richie, who had recently been freed from a long imprisonment. Chelsea dueled the powerful lich, and eventually defeated him, gaining even greater power.
But then, the true power behind Fushioh Richie appeared. The last member of the Dread Council, Dark General Freed, had come to this Dimension, along with Shadowpriestess of Ohm, hoping to find enough power to somehow resurrect his master.
At this time, Burgundy finally gained enough power to reform his physical body. He suggested to Ren that they take the two villains together. Telling Chelsea to rest, Ren took up a Disk, and both he and Burgundy dueled the evil general and his henchman. Dark Freed was eventually defeated a second time, this time for good, and the Shadowpriestess was rendered powerless. Power flowed into Ren, and he found he was actually able to evolve into a new Dark General Freed, albeit one with no connection to Shogarr.
The Zombie populace of the Dimension bowed before Chelsea, and as she was the most powerful resident now, the energy of the land bonded itself to her. She was nervous at first, but she decided to accept the responsibility, becoming queen. Her first act was to cast the Shadowpriestess into the prison under the mausoleum, where she went defiantly. Ren remained with her, ruling by her side, while Burgundy stayed as well, reassuming his role as the General of Total Defense, only for a much bigger armed force.
And what of Yumi?
After making a visit to the Underworld and the Dimension of Zombies to visit her friends, she heard her own call. Curran visited her, pleading with her for help. Nicholas and Olga insisted on coming this time, and followed Yumi and Curran to the Dimension where Spellcasters ruled.
Yumi was not even able to get close to Cosmo Queen's palace, which had been taken over by a mysterious force. She dueled some minions of the mysterious usurpers, but found that she could not draw Cosmo Queen's card, no matter how hard she tried.
Curran finally suggested the Library Arcane. Yumi made a beeline for it, and then went straight to the Dark Archive. Maiden of Macabre stepped aside, not asking for a fee, which surprised Yumi a great deal.
Yumi poured through the books in that private wing for a whole day, while Nicholas and Olga did the same. Olga found what she had wanted – the formula that would bestow Yumi's gift on her and Nicholas. They begged Yumi to cast it on them, wanting to have the same powers that she did. After checking and rechecking every possibility, Yumi did so, transforming Nicholas into Neo the Magic Swordsman, and Olga into Magician's Valkyria.
Eventually, Yumi found what she needed to transport into the Heart of the Arcane, where the magical power of the Dimension was centered. She figured Cosmo Queen was there, and she was right – the Queen was in chains, being held prisoner by both Ruin and Demise. The two apocalyptic beings were going to inflict the most sadistic revenge upon the Queen, by banishing her to the most remote realm of Carceri, but not before stripping her of every trace of her power.
With their powers enhanced by what they stole from Cosmo Queen, Ruin and Demise agreed to duel Yumi and her two allies two against three. Even so, the two Ritual Spirits held their own, but as the duel progressed, they spent more and more of their energy, and got weaker and weaker. Finally, Yumi defeated them in one mighty blow, banishing them to dimensional limbo.
Cosmo Queen recovered, but so much of her energy had been stolen, and could not be recovered. Incapable of ruling, she decided to step down, and granted her crown to Yumi. Nicholas remained as Yumi's consort, and the Six Samurai took form, heading an army that strengthened the security of the land. Olga remained as well, her power over Fairies forming a bridge to the Higher Plane, enlightening the Spellcaster Dimension.
With Yumi and her friends ruling these three Dimensions, and the three nations thus allied, a power triangle was formed. Soon, other Dimensions formed treaties, and a dimensional alliance was formed.
And did they live happily ever after? Who knew? But in a universe of possibilities, there are never truly endings…
There are only new beginnings.
Finis
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I hope you have enjoyed "Yu-Gi-Oh! Soul of Silicon".
I'm going to be taking a break from YGO writing for a few weeks. I've certainly earned it.
But do not fear, I have decided to take my YGO writing into the Fifth Dimension!
Enjoy Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. And then, on New Year's Day, be here for the premier of "Yu-Gi-Oh! Shadowchasers", my 5D fic. I'm taking it into hyperdrive, and I want you all to be here.