Chapter 15: Final Foe: Shrine Arena
The elevator ride was longer than the previous ones, and it gave the group time to think back: all the duels, all the time spent constructing their decks…it had all led up to something much big than themselves. Their good friend, Baxter, and many other had been taken hostage, and they had defeated duelists in order to save them. Now, the ultimate trial lay ahead.
The group stepped out, headed by Shadow as they entered a room with Ionic pillars lining the walls, streams along either side with swimming carp, and fountains spread out across the room.
"What do you think of the final arena?" A sinister voice boomed out from the other side of the room. The group looked to see Ryu-Yami walking casually down a marble staircase; a golden duel disk was on his left arm and he was wearing a white tuxedo, complete with a black cummerbund.
"It's overdone and worthless, like you," Shadow replied coldly. "Just get to the duel."
"Shadow, do you ever just die?" Ryu-Yami growled. "I thought for sure Zho had finished you off."
"You thought wrong, the idiot let me live and only destroyed my deck, but I have constructed a new and better one, a deck that will destroy you." Shadow answered.
"I'd like to see you try," Ryu-Yami said coldly, stepping into the metal ring in the center of the room as Shadow did the same. "Welcome to the Shrine Arena, or Shrine Stage if you'd rather call it that. This is a personal dueling arena I use for special occasions, and after I defeat you, it will be where Seto Kaiba will come to duel me."
"You wish," Shadow muttered. "Get on with the explanation."
"This, the final Arena, has the most powerful effects," Ryu-Yami continued as he gestured around at the room. "Every time one of your monsters attacks, a ten sided die will be rolled, and that monster will lose 100 attack points multiplied by the number rolled. And questions?"
"You bastard! That gives you a highly unfair advantage!" Shadow roared, pointing at Ryu-Yami menacingly. "I will still beat you, and it will be all the sweeter when your corpse is lying at my feet."
"Ah, that reminds me," Ryu-Yami continued, "the loser will die in a more…simple way than the others. Here, when you lose," while saying this, the walls opened to reveal the implements that would cause the death, "these machine guns will empty their clips in your body."
Shadow turned nervously to notice the weapons to his left and right, while noticing the same was true of Ryu-Yami. "Let's get on with it, then." Shadow said.
Ryu-Yami8000/Shadow 8000
"I'll start simply by summoning my Sangan in attack mode," 1000/600. The small, orange furred creature with three eyes, and green arms and legs stood in front of Ryu-Yami. "Now I set one card and it's your turn."
Shadow sighed. "The old Sangan trick again; I assume this means you are trying to pull out that cliché Exodia of yours. A pity that your plan won't work this time as I play Cost Down, and discard my worthless Jinzo #7 in order to play Lesser Fiend without having to tribute!" 2100/1000. A six armed, golden skinned demon with a bear's head and large muscles flexed as it stood in the Shrine Arena. "When Lesser Fiend destroys a monster, it is removed from play, so your Sangan won't be able to use his effect! Now Lesser Fiend, attack his Sangan!" The ten sided holographic die appeared and rolled, coming up a 10. "Even though my monster has lost 1000 attack points (1100/1000), it is still enough to kill your Sangan!" A ray of light hit the Lesser Fiend, and it slowed down before delivering a weak, yet effective, punch to Sangan. The three-eyed monster then fell into a pit that opened below it as it was removed from play. "Your turn." As Shadow's turn ended, the attack of his Lesser Fiend stayed low.
Ryu-Yami 7900/Shadow 8000
"What?" The spectators questioned simultaneously upon seeing this.
"Did I forget to mention that the attack point reduction is permanent?" Ryu-Yami stated, laughing manically. "Now for my turn, I summon Mystic Tomato in attack mode!" 1400/1100. An oversized, bright red tomato with a demonic face and long, sharp teeth appeared and grinned at Ryu-Yami. "Now my Tomato, destroy his Lesser Fiend!" The fruit (A/N: Yes, as much as some may argue, it is a fruit…) rushed at the fiend and swallowed it in one large gulp. "I then set two cards and end my turn."
Ryu-Yami 7900/Shadow 7700
"You think some worthless plant is enough to bother me?" Shadow said, offering an uncharacteristic chuckle to Ryu-Yami. "I know the effect of your Tomato very well; when it is destroyed in battle you will just summon another to defend you in its place. You are trying to cut down the number of cards in your deck to increase the chance of drawing Exodia."
"You're only half right," Ryu-Yami said, "and you still don't realize my true plan."
"It doesn't matter," Shadow shook his head. "I will defeat you long before you can start this 'master plan' of yours. I draw," Shadow glanced at the field, and then pondered his hand before playing a card. "I summon Mechanical Chaser in attack mode!" 1850/800. A small, spherical machine with green wings and plating landed on the field. As it did so, compartments on its sides opened to reveal all manner of melee weapons. "Now attack and destroy his worthless vegetable!"
"Two things, Shadow," Ryu-Yami smiled as he saw the machine rush forward. "First, tomatoes are fruits. Second, look at the die roll." The die appeared on a 5, making the Mechanical Chaser have only 1350 attack points. The tomato again consumed Shadow's monster much to the chagrin of the machine duelist.
"If it weren't for your cheap rules, you'd be begging for my mercy," Shadow muttered. "I set two cards and end my turn."
"Good, now I activate my set card, Solemn Wishes. From now on, every time I draw I gain 500 life points." Ryu-Yami said.
"Why didn't he activate it last turn?" Nikki said to the others.
"No clue," Ryu-Hikari said, "but I'm guessing that he was thinking to use it as a bluff to defend his monster if necessary."
"That or he just forgot," Jack offered.
"Either way, things will only get harder for Shadow," Izumi pointed out.
"Continuing with my turn," Ryu-Yami said, "I summon my Shining Angel in attack mode!" 1400/800. An angel with blond hair and long, white wings stood beside the Mystic Tomato on Ryu-Yami's field. "Now my Tomato and Angel, attack him directly!"
"Go Negate Attack!" Shadow declared, as the invisible wall blocked the attack.
"Damn that overused card," Ryu-Yami said, "despite the fact I have one of my own. Oh well, your turn then."
"Perfect, prepare for some pain," Shadow stated. "I set a monster and discard a card in order to play Lightning Vortex!" A blast of electricity rippled across the Tomato and Angel, but Ryu-Yami shook his head.
"I activate Magic Jammer, by discarding one card I can negate and destroy your Lightning Vortex," Ryu-Yami countered, causing the lightning to dissipate.
"Then I'll set a monster and end my turn," Shadow declared scornfully.
"My move," Ryu-Yami quivered with delight upon seeing what he drew, as mystic rain from Solemn Wishes fell on him. "I sacrifice my two monsters to summon Tri-Horned Dragon!" 2850/2350. A blue, wingless dragon with a red underbelly and keen, golden claws and horns roared as it took the place of the Angel and Tomato. "Now, for my next card, it's one you might remember. I remove a Light monster, my Shining Angel, and a Dark Monster, my Mystic Tomato, from the graveyard in order to special summon my Chaos Emperor Dragon: Envoy of the End!" 3000/2500. The mighty blue and silver dragon with its long neck and orange mane emerged from a fusion of light and darkness from the graveyard. This dragon roared even louder than the Tri-Horned Dragon, and stomped its feet eagerly, anticipating combat.
"CHAOS EMPEROR DRAGON!" Everyone, save Ryu-Yami (obviously), yelled in surprise upon seeing the monster they thought he had given to Ryu-Hikari. Ryu-Hikari immediately examined his deck, and sure enough the card was still there!
"You didn't think there was only one in the world did you?" Ryu-Yami guffawed. "Rare as they are, my vast wealth and resources made acquiring a second one very simple."
"I don't care how many you have; I will crush them all the same!" Shadow challenged.
"You can try," Ryu-Yami pointed his thumb to the ceiling before inverting his hand so it faced the floor, "but I will bring you down. Now Tri-Horned Dragon, attack his set monster!" The dragon charged and gored the monster on its horns.
"By destroying my Witch of the Black Forest (1100/1200), I can add one monster with 1500 or less defense points to my hand from my deck," Shadow declared, finding a suitable monster before Ryu-Yami continued his onslaught.
"No monster you have will defeat my beasts! Attack him directly Chaos Emperor Dragon!" The mighty royal dragon breathed a jet of flame that burned Shadow, leading him to drop to his knees and need to regain his breath before standing. "I end my turn."
Ryu-Yami 8400/Shadow 4700
"Looks like you are going for a more direct approach," Shadow said. "No Exodia, eh?"
"I never said that," Ryu-Yami answered. "I might as well have several ways to defeat you, and from where I'm standing I won't need Exodia."
"Don't be so sure," Shadow replied, drawing a card. "I've realized now that attacking is rather futile, since my attack will be reduced so greatly. Luckily, there are other ways to win a duel than just attacks." Shadow scanned his hand and inserted a card into his duel disk. "Graceful Charity lets me draw three cards, and discard two. Next, I set three cards face down and it's your turn."
Ryu-Yami reached for his card, but as he did so Shadow activated a set card. "BAD REACTION TO SIMOCHI!"
After Ryu-Yami drew, a dark, acid rain fell on him from Solemn Wishes, decreasing rather than augmenting his life points. "Clever move," Ryu-Yami said, "but it won't be enough. Attack…" Before Ryu-Yami could finish, Shadow activated his second card.
"I activate Threatening Roar!" Shadow said, as a golden falcon-like creature appeared and roared, causing the two dragons to quiver, too fearful of attacking.
"Bah, I end my turn, though you only delay your defeat," Ryu-Yami muttered.
Ryu-Yami 7900/Shadow 4700
"Or so you think, but you will be the one to die here," Shadow shot back. "I set another card and end my turn."
As Ryu-Yami drew, more acid rain fell on him and he shuddered slightly, though shook it off quickly. "I summon my Luster Dragon!" 1900/1600. The shimmering purple dragon took its place beside its stronger kin. "Now my monsters, attack directly!"
"Go Gravity Bind!" Shadow declared, causing a large force of gravity to pull all of Ryu-Yami's monsters to the ground, stopping them from attacking.
"Your traps are really getting on my nerves," Ryu-Yami growled. "I end my turn."
Ryu-Yami 7400/Shadow 4700
All I have to do is delay him for another fifteen turns for my Bad Reaction to Simochi to defeat him, Shadow thought. That is a long time, and he will have many chances to get past it…I may have to rethink this plan. "I summon my Balloon Lizard in attack mode!" 500/1900. A small, tan lizard began to hover in front of Shadow. "I end my turn."
More acid rain struck Ryu-Yami, as he passed his turn with no moves to make.
Ryu-Yami 6900/Shadow 4700
Shadow's Balloon Lizard swelled after he drew a card. "Every turn my Balloon Lizard will expand, and when he is destroyed, you take damage as a multiple of how many turns have passed. Now I switch my lizard to defense mode and end my turn."
Ryu-Yami cursed again, as another turn passed in which he could make no other moves.
Ryu-Yami 6400/Shadow 4700
The Balloon Lizard swelled for the second time, as Shadow passed his turn also.
"This duel is turning boring really fast," Jack mumbled, "one of them needs to do SOMETHING interesting…"
"I agree with your death-obsessed friend over there," Ryu-Yami said, shaking off more acid rain which fell on him after he drew a card. "Finally I can get rid of your blasted Gravity Bind! I play Mystical Space Typhoon!" A bolt of lightning destroyed the large Gravity Bind card, and the three Dragons now were able to stand and flap their wings, their eyes filled with rage as they looked at Shadow. "Now attack his Balloon Lizard, Tri-Horned Dragon!" As the lizard was punctured by the dragon, it exploded, causing two small flames to hit Ryu-Yami, dealing him 800 points of damage. "That won't be enough to defeat me!"
Shadow did his trademark wicked grin as he activated his only set card. "When you destroy one of my monsters, I can activate Michizure!" A large fissure opened where the Balloon Lizard had been, and the Chaos Emperor Dragon was pulled in by a pair of claw hands. "Your strongest monster is destroyed."
"Good work," Ryu-Yami clapped sarcastically, "attack directly Luster Dragon!" A gout of shimmering energy hit Shadow, leading him to fall to his knees and cough slightly. "I end my turn."
Ryu-Yami 5100/Shadow 2800
"I play Card of Sanctity, so we can each draw until we hold six cards," Shadow declared as they both drew. Shadow sighed as he looked at his hand. "I set four cards, and it's your turn." Ryu-Yami looked at Shadow's magic/trap zone warily.
"I might as well give this a shot, attack Tri-Horned Dragon!" After the acid rain fell on Ryu-Yami, the dragon raced forward, though it became frozen, as did the Luster Dragon.
"My Frozen Soul skips your battle phase since my life points are more than 2000 lower than your life points." Shadow said, revealing one of his traps.
"Fine, I end my turn," Ryu-Yami shot back, gruffly.
Ryu-Yami 4600/Shadow 2800
Three cards set, Shadow thought as he saw what he drew, and no options to stop him. I can't win, he will attack and defeat me next turn, and my only option is…a draw… "I play Mind Control!" Marionette strings shot out of the card and grabbed Tri-Horned Dragon, pulling it over to Shadow's field.
"Odd choice," Nikki noted, "Mind Control makes it so that the controlled monster cannot attack nor be tributed."
"He must have some plan, unless he is getting desperate and bluffing," Raijouta said. "Though I lean towards the former choice."
"Now I activate DNA Surgery to turn our monsters into machines!" Shadow declared as the surgeons appeared and fitted metallic plates to the dragons. "And now I activate Limiter Removal, to double the attack of my machine: The Tri-Horned Dragon!" 5700/2350. The metallic dragon now swelled in size, becoming larger, as gauges on its sides went to the highest degree.
"What's the point? You can't attack! What an idiotic move!" Ryu-Yami laughed upon seeing Shadow's play.
"Wrong, Ryu-Yami." Shadow answered. "I can't win, but I can cause us both to lose. I'd rather not have to die, but ridding the world of scum like you is worth it. I activate my final set card, Ring of Destruction, to destroy the Tri-Horned Dragon!" A ring covered with grenades attacked itself to the dragon's neck. The grenades detonated, and the two duelists were engulfed in the blast. As it happened, the spectators called out for Shadow, but he only answered with a sad smile. The machine guns opened fire, and so ended the life of Ryu-Yami and Shadow.
As this happened, panels in the wall opened up to reveal the hostages. Everyone rushed over to explain the events, and usher them to the elevator. The group grinned upon seeing Baxter, and everyone embraced him and told him how worried they were. The hostages had been freed, and the evil of Ryu-Yami ended…but at the cost of several lives.
Aftermath, a brief explanation of what happened to all the characters involved:
Nikki returned to her home with her friends where the discussed the solemn events. Jack did not attend, saying it was important business that he bring Mark back to the temple. Raijouta had to return to America, making no mention that he and Ryu-Hikari needed to finish some business in Egypt first. Izumi went with the duo, saying she needed to "keep and eye on them."
Oddly, Shadow's Millennium Spear was nowhere to be found at the scene, even after several hours of searching by Ryu-Hikari, Raijouta, and Izumi. They finally gave up, not realizing that a "friend" now had it.
Baxter was helpful in explaining the situation to the authorities, and also aided in turning the Level Tower into a public park of sorts, for any duelists wishing to attend (after removing the death-dealing aspects, of course).
And so ends The Shadow Falls, though the story of Nikki and her friends goes on…
HES: Well all, so ends my story, thanks for all your support along the way! I hope you all can review and give me your opinions! It has been a long, hard road, but I finished the story as I promised! I do plan to write more stories about Nikki and company, probably some one-shot stories about each character that are put together under a single fic, though this idea won't be a reality for some time now. Thanks again for all the support and I hope you enjoyed the story!