"Analysing Duel Status...duelist 1 has 2500 life points, 3 cards on field, 1 set card and Solar Flare Dragon (1500/1000) on the field. Duelist 2 has 2000 life points, 1 set card and Element Saurus (1500/1200) powered up as Fire attribute is present on the field (1500/1200 - 2000/1200). Duel computer..."

"Oh for fu...YOU HAVE FULL LIFE POINTS, NO CARDS ON THE FIELD AND 3 CARDS IN YOUR HAND, SO DRAW YOUR BLOODY CARD AND MAKE YOUR MOVE!" Bryon gawped at Adela's outburst at the computer. If she was expecting any response, she would have been disappointed, as the Duel Computer recited its duel status over Adela's yells and drew its card.

"Draw 1 card. Summoning Archfiend Soldier (1900/1500) to the field." Bryon snorted.

"Pfft. What a monster. I'll deal with that no problem."

"Activating magic card," the Duel Computer continued. "Axe of Despair equipped to Archfiend Soldier boosting its attack by 1000 (1900/1500 - 2900/1500)."

"Umm..."

"Activating magic card Horn of the Unicorn. Equipping to Archfiend Soldier to increase its attack and defence by 700 (2900/1500 - 3600/2200)."

"Okay..." Bryon said while taking a step back. "You can stop now..."

"Activating magic card Mage Power. Equipping to Archfiend soldier. Mage Power increases equipped monster's attack by 500 for each magic or trap card on user's field. Calculating...1500 point increase to attack and defence (3600/2200 - 5100/3700). Attack Solar Flare Dragon."

"Shit." The Duel Computer's pumped up monster slashed at Solar Flare Dragon with tremendous force. Bryon was flung back and his Duel Disk shattered, scattering his cards all across the room as his life points hit 0.

D.C: 4000
Bryon: 0000
Adela: 2000

"BRYON!" Adela gazed at Bryon's limp form, then back at the incredibly powerful monster that she had to face alone.

Well this is a fine mess I'm in. Michael struggled to focus as he came to grips with the severity of his situation. I'm facing two opponents at the same time. If this keeps up I'll lose next turn and then...No! I have to beat one of them this turn. Now let's see... Michael surveyed the field. Alvaro has full life points, The Tricky (2000/1200) and a set card. Donovan also has 4000 life points, no set cards but two monsters: Chainsaw Insect (2400/0000) and Anteatereatingant (2000/0500). I have White Magician Pikeru (1200/0000) and Astral Barrier. Hmm...

"Are you done thinking or what? Keep this up and we'll skip your turn!" Donovan taunted. Michael's attention snapped back to reality and he drew his card.

"White Magician Pikeru's effect activates, so I gain 400 life points for every monster on my field!

Michael: 2000
Alvaro: 4000
Donovan: 4000

"So you're up a grand total of 400 points? Go you." Alvaro noted sarcastically.

"I'm not done. First I'll use Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Alvaro's face down. Then I play Advanced Ritual Art! This allows me to send normal monsters in my deck to my graveyard in order to summon from my hand a Ritual Monster whose stars are equal to the Ritual monster I want to summon. So I'll send 2 level 4 monsters to summon from my hand Reshef the Dark Being (2500/1500)!" Michael took a moment to marvel at his new monster. "My monster has an effect that allows me to take control of an opponent's monster for one turn by discarding a magic card from my hand. I'll use this effect to take control of The Tricky!" Michael discarded a card. Reshef started emitting a faint glow and directed it at The Tricky, which then moved over to Michael's side. "Now, Reshef! Attack Alvaro's life points directly!"

Michael: 2000
Alvaro: 1500
Donovan: 4000

"Urgh..." Alvaro winced from the attack.

"Now, The Tricky will wipe out the rest of your life points!" The Tricky moved towards Alvaro.

"Chainsaw Insect intercept!" Donovan's monster rushed to protect Alvaro's life points. The Tricky stopped.

"I'll have The Tricky attack Chainsaw Insect!" Michael shielded himself as shards of The Tricky flew past him.

Michael: 1600
Alvaro: 1500
Donovan: 4000

"Now I get to draw a card thanks to Chainsaw Insect's effect." Michael noted. "I'll set 2 card and finish there." Alvaro picked up a card.

"I'll summon Spear Dragon (1900/0000) to the field, and I'll attack your Pikeru!" Michael gave a small grin.

"It's over for you! I activate my 2 face downs, Staunch Defender and Shrink! Staunch Defender redirects all of my opponents monsters' attacks to a monster on my field which I choose, so I pick Reshef. Shrink cuts a monster's attack by half, and I'll choose Spear Dragon to receive that. So, say goodbye to the rest of your life points, Alvaro!" Spear Dragon shrunk in size as its attack points were reduced (1900/0000 - 0950/0000) and then rammed in to Reshef, screeching in pain as it was destroyed.

Michael: 1600
Alvaro: 0000
Donovan: 4000

Alvaro grimaced and sunk to his knees.

"Don't think you're exempt from Staunch Defender," Michael pointed out to Donovan. "Your monsters have to attack Reshef as well!" Both of Donovan's monsters collided with Reshef, causing them to explode. While Donovan's life points went down, Michael drew a card thanks to Chainsaw Insect attacking.

Michael: 1600
Alvaro: 0000
Donovan: 3400

"My move then," Donovan said as he drew. "Let's go back to the beginning, shall we? I activate Field Devolution! I can only activate this when there is at least 1 insect type in my graveyard. I then have to half my life points and bring yours back up to full. Also I cannot attack this turn. For all of this, every card on the field, graveyard, out of play zone and hand are returned to the deck, and then we each draw 3 cards." Both of them did so.

Michael: 4000
Alvaro: 0000
Donovan: 1700

"Next I'll summon my Chainsaw Insect again, and set 1 card face down. Your move."

"Are you ready to tell me yet?"

"Tell you what, Arlene?" Arlene bristled.

"Don't give me that. Why you think that you can decide people's fate!" Hamon mulled it over, then shook his head laughing.

"Sorry, Arlene, but you're losing! Maybe you should concentrate on getting yourself out of your predicament first, hmm?"

Arlene: 3000
Hamon: 2500

"You're only acting high and mighty because you think that with your DNA Surgery turning all my monsters to Earth attributes, that makes your Earth Incarnation (1500/1500 - 2500/2500) invincible."

"Well, I do have 4 cards in my hand as well while you're analysing the field."

"Fine. Watch as I turn this around. I activate Artificial Aura, paying 1000 life points to add 1 Light Aura to Gyunn, raising its attack (2000/1400 - 2400/1400)!"

Arlene: 2000
Hamon: 2500

"Next I'll reveal my face down, Aura Illusion, which doubles the amount of Auras my monsters on the field have until the end of this turn. Then I'll play Disrupting the Balance, which lets me sacrifice my Gyunn to fusion summon a monster whose requirements have been fulfilled by the tributed monster. Since Gyunn had 3 Light Auras, I can fusion summon Warrior of the Light Aura - Gyunn (3000/1400)!" Gyunn changed in shape, growing steadily larger while his tattered robes were replaced by shining silver armour. Hamon clapped appreciatively.

"Bravo! Looks like I can't counter that one!"

"Gyunn, destroy his Earth Incarnation!" Gyunn rushed towards Earth Incarnation, slashing it cleanly in two...before it joined itself back together!

Arlene: 2000
Hamon: 2000

"I take it Earth Incarnation can't be destroyed by Earth Attributes?" Arlene asked, trying to stay calm. Hamon simply nodded. "I'll set 2 cards face down and end my turn."

"And now mine begins! I'll summon Battle Ox (1700/1000) to the field, which brings up my Earth Incarnation's attack and defence by 500 (2500/2500 - 3000/3000). Now, Earth incarnation will attack Gyunn! Then Battle Ox will attack you directly!" Arlene activated her face downs.

"Don't think too far ahead. I activate Sacrifice for Aura, allowing me to discard 1 card from my hand to add 2 Light or Dark Auras to a monster, so I'll add 2 Light Auras to Gyunn. Even better, Gyunn receives double the amount of Auras from card effects, so it gains 4 Auras! For each Light Aura Gyunn has, its attack and defence goes up by 500, meaning Gyunn gets a 2000 point boost (3000/1400 - 5000/3400) so it's game over!"

"Or is it? I tribute Battle Ox to activate Earth Incarnation's effect! By sacrificing an Earth Monster, I can increase my life points by the attack points of the tributed monster, so it looks like I'm still in!" Gyunn and Earth Incarnation clashed, then moved back to their respective fields as Hamon's life points were raised then lowered.

Arlene: 2000
Hamon: 1200

"I wouldn't say that I was losing at this point, would you?" Arlene asked. Hamon shook his head and gave a booming laugh.

"Not at all, Arlene, not at all! Right, I think it's time to tell you more about these Fate cards."

New Cards...

Field Devolution
Normal Magic
Image: A large city shrinking.
Effect: You can only activate this card if there is at least 1 Insect Type monster in your graveyard. Half your life points and restore your opponent's life points to 8000. This effect cannot be negated or reversed to inflict damage to your opponent. Return all cards on the field, out of play zone, graveyard and players' hands back to the deck and shuffle, then both players draw 3 cards. You cannot attack this turn.

Aura Illusion
Normal Trap
Image: A Light Aura with two silhouettes of Light Auras behind it.
Effect: Double the amount of Auras monsters on the field have until the end of the turn.

Warrior of the Light Aura - Gyunn
ATK: 3000 DEF: 1400
Attribute: Light
Level: 8
Type: Warrior
Image: Balance Warrior Gyunn dressed in silver robes wearing gauntlets.
Fusion Requirements: Balance Warrior Gyunn with 3 Light Auras.
Effect: This card can only be fusion summoned by Disrupting the Balance. If Balance Warriors on your side of the field have no Light or Dark Auras, you may add 1 Light Aura to each Balance Warrior who meets this requirement. This card gains 2 Light Auras instead of one from card effects. This card cannot accumulate Dark Auras. This card gains 500 attack and defence points for each Light Aura it has. Remove 3 Light Auras to either attack your opponent's life points directly with this card or increase the attack of a monster on your side of the field by 1500 points.

Sacrifice For Aura
Normal Trap
Image: An altar where Light Auras and Dark Auras are circling.
Effect: Discard one card from your hand to add 2 Light or Dark Auras to a monster.