We got our progress reports just a short while back. Nothing interesting in mine. Atticus, he had great scores of course.
In alchemy class Banner went on a lecture on the history of Duel Monsters. "…Duel Monsters is actually a game that was played over 5,000 years ago. The game was played for things such as power over people and land."
Finally something interesting that doesn't involve explosive liquids.
Banner continued. "Now on this island there's an ancient site, it's believed to have held one of the oldest locations for Duel Monsters." Atticus raised his hand.
"Yeah, Prof' if um that's one of the oldest places existing and it's on this island, I think that's unrealistic. I mean I've read about that site and-"
Banner interrupted him. "Now you see Atticus, carbon-dating the artifacts from the site say that the site has been there ever since Duel Monsters started. If you still have any questions I can answer them on our field trip."
I guess Banner expected some kind of enthusiasm. No one seemed interested. I looked to my side and Atticus was fiddling with his notebook binding.
The bell rung. Everyone packed up their bags. Atticus was breathing in a non-existent food smell, "Wow, I'm very hungry. Let's hurry Zane." I had just barely closed the top of my bag before Atticus was dragging me down the steps.
Steamed rice and Teriyaki laid before us. Atticus snapped his chopsticks. "Dig in!" and that's what he just did. Just when Atticus was almost done with his food he noticed I was barely eating. "Zane, the chicken is pretty good."
"Atticus, about what Banner said last period."
"Hm? Yeah what about it?"
"You'd think that whoever invented Duel Monsters was a really good duelist, someone who can actually beat me." Atticus swallowed the rest of his food and gave me a good look.
"Oh, you're looking for a challenge, eh Zane? Well to be honest with you I think whoever invented Duel Monsters is dead."
"I know that. But I mean, it's a game. There has to be something more."
"Yeah I'm sure, are you going to eat your food?" I pushed my bowl towards him and with a word of thanks Atticus dug in.
We awoke early the next morning for our 'field trip'. It was going to take up the whole day which means I won't be seeing Crowler or Cornelius. Someone knocked on my door, I answered it and it was Atticus. He had circles under his eyes. "What happened to you?" I asked.
Atticus stifled a yawn. "Just a late night duel with someone." I tilted an eyebrow.
"Okay… We should hurry now. Banner said to meet at the entrance of the main building." He nodded and we made our way.
Banner greeted us. "So Zane, Atticus you finally arrived huh?"
"Yeah," Atticus really needed some rest. He rubbed his eyes and said, "Where's the rest are we early?"
I checked my watch, "Nope, it's 8'o clock. Where is everyone?" Banner shook his head with a frown on his head. "Ah never mind, their grade will pay for it. Now shall we go boys? I hope you brought your lunches."
I did, I looked at Atticus. He had no cargo with him and I think he just noticed that. I tossed my bag at him. "I'm not hungry, you can have it Atticus." He raised his hand in thanks. The poor guy to tired.
The three of us walked through the dense bushes and trees. We had walked for 20 minutes when I realized Atticus was missing.
"Professor Banner, where's Atticus?" Banner didn't seem to know either. I looked behind me worried. I turned around to get a better look. I turned around to see if Atticus ran ahead when I wasn't looking. Atticus's upside down faced was just barely an inch from mine.
"Atticus, what are you doing?"
"Hanging around, you should try it sometime."
"No thanks, I think you should get down now." He grinned and made a huge swing before dropping on his feet. Just a while ago he was tired enough to be sleep walking. Weird.
"Well students let's continue walking, there's a clearing over ahead! We can stop for a lunch break."
Minutes later, The three of us sat down on the sandy ground. Atticus let out a breath of relief and unwrapped my lunch. I brought only a rice ball, and Atticus devoured it right away. "Drats I'm still hungry." Mean while Banner seemed to be digging into what seemed like a carry-on buffet.
"Hey teach' mind sharing some?"
"Nah, A teacher needs his energy to lead two kids like you."
It started to get cold and dark. I looked up. A storm is coming. A few drops of water hit us and that's when then the other two noticed.
"Students, we need to find shelter. I didn't expect a storm to come this early."
Atticus nodded and we all ran for a fallen column. Banner and I just reached it but Atticus was stalling. Oh my gosh.
"Atticus stop staring at whatever and get over here!" A lightning storm started. One hit the ground between Atticus and us then all was black.
I felt a dry heat before waking up. I could smell something musty. I looked up then down.
"Brilliant." I was wrapped up in bandages and stuffed in a coffin. Lovely. I tried my best to sit up to give my surroundings a better look but I was so tightly wrapped that I couldn't move at all. How did I get into this. Above me were two floating rocky platforms. I saw Atticus on one of them. He looked down and saw me.
"Zane, Professor Banner! Don't worry I'm going to get you out of there!"
"If you lose this duel, you and your friends get to be buried alive." I looked to my left. A man in Egyptian like robes readied what seemed like a duel disk.
"Buried alive? Isn't that a little too over the edge?" From here I could see Atticus sweating.
"Not in the shadow games. Now prepare to duel for your lives!"
Shadow games, duel for our lives? Great. It seems that during the storm we were transferred to a different dimension full of people who decide they want to bury us. Atticus better win.
"Atticus! Don't worry! Just remember our past duels, this is nothing different!"
Atticus nodded, "Alright."
(Yeah um, I am a big amateur with grave keepers so I'm just making up a lot of stuff okay peoples?)
(Atticus's P.O.V., I mean he's the one dueling and Zane's playing dress up as a mummy. XD)
Yeah, when Banner said something of a field trip, I really didn't expect this. But now I have to focus! My best friend and teacher and my lives are at stake!
"Okay, I'll start by summoning my Brown Warrior. I'll place a face-down and end my turn."
Gravekeeper's Chief drew. "Tell me, Atticus have you ever been in a shadow game?"
"Uh, no."
"Well then let me enlighten you on what it's like! I summon my Gravekeeper's Assailant! I'll have her attack your Brown Warrior!
Darn it! My life point meter lowered and then-
"Ah!" I held my stomach in pain. What the heck happened? I looked up at the Chief for an explanation.
"Atticus! Are you alright?" I heard Zane calling from below.
"This, my boy, is a shadow game. Every time you lose life points you feel pain."
"What's the point of that?"
"It's a shadow game."
Atticus- 3200
GC- 4000
"I think I'll end my turn."
(Yeah, I think Atticus's cards suck real bad so erm later I'm just going to make some up? Okays?)
I drew a card. "Okay I activate my Pot of Greed to draw two more cards." Monster Reincarnation and Abominable Warrior Lai-Lai. Okay this should work.
"Next, I discard my Fake Trap from my hand to re-summon my Brown Warrior! Next I sacrifice him for my Abominable Warrior Lai-Lai!" Okay, I got one of my strongest monsters on the field. "I'll have him attack your assailant!" The Gravekeeper's Chief flinched as his life points went down.
Atticus- 3200
GC- 2950 (Yes I know, awkward number)
"I'll place a face-down to end my turn. Face that for size!"
"I'll teach you your lesson, you ignorant boy!" Did he just call me an ignorant boy? I looked down at Zane and Banner. Was it just me are did those lids slide a little? Banner was trembling and Zane looked up determined at me.
"I play my Gravekeeper's curse, and on every one of my turns I get to inflict 800 points of damage to you!" I groaned as my life points went down. This was NOT good.
"I play my spell Raigeki to destroy your monster!"
"Okay, that's just wrong!" I said bracing myself as my Lai-Lai exploded in flame. "Now I attack you directly with my Grave Keeper's curse!" Not again.
Atticus- 2400
GC- 2950
I looked down and I was right! The lids did slowly close over Zane and Banner! Every time I lose life points too!
"Don't worry about us, Atticus! Just focus!" I heard Zane yell.
"I'm not done yet, I play the field spell Necrovalley!" A black fog appeared. "This field spell negates all effects having to do with the graveyard!"
Oh brilliant, now I can't re special summon Brown warrior.
"Yes, Now I'm done. Did I scare you?"
"Yeah technically, but to be honest I think it's your clothes, not the black foggy stuff. Okay I play the spell Scapegoat for four sheep tokens! Next I summon my Panther Warrior! I sacrifice one of my sheep tokens so my Panther can attack. Go and destroy that Gravekeeper's Curse!" I smirked, that monster won't be inflicting any damage anymore.
Atticus- 2400
GC- 750
"Oh yeah! Take that old man! I end my turn."
Yeah I could tell I just pissed that guy off.
"You are a very stupid boy." Gee, he needs to chill out. "I summon myself!"
Weirdo. "Uh yourself?"
He disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared on the field. Talking about freaky.
"Yes, I summoned Gravekeeper's Chief! I have a special ability, when I'm summoned I can call forth my faithful servants, Gravekeeper's Assailant, Guard, and two curses !"
"But Necrovalley-" I interjected.
"I also have another ability, Necrovalley's effect doesn't apply to me! I think all of us shall attack your tokens!"
Oh great not good!
I braced myself, I didn't have any monster beside my Panther Warrior. He can't attack.
"And you lose 1600 life points from my two Curses! I end my turn."
Atticus- 800
GC- 750
Okay this isn't good my Panther Warrior is helpless, Next turn he could destroy my Panther Warrior… I have Monster Reborn but because of that darn Necrovalley I can't use that. I have polymerization which is pretty useless right now and I have perfect stage clothes…
Atticus, Perfect Stage clothes is a really powerful card but it has a huge weakness, if you can find a way around it you'll almost be unstoppable.
And I hear Zane's voice in my head making remember his advice. That's it! I have it! Oh god Atticus you are so brilliant!
"Yeah I know how to get past your little Necrovalley." I started to grin.
"Oh?"
"Oh yeah! Now let me play a card I like to call Perfect Stage Clothes! In case you don't know Perfect Stage Clothes is a field spell so adios to your Necrovalley!" Necrovalley disintegrated, replaced by my field. It sure looks better too.
"No this can't be!" he panicked.
"Now this gives my Panther Warrior 3000 more attack points!"
"What?" the Chief stumbled.
"Go! Panther Warrior and destroy Gravekeeper's Curse!"
GC- 0000
"Hah I won!" I jumped in the air in delight. Teaches someone not to mess with me!
(Zane's P.O.V.)
The thick bandages around me split. My limbs ached as I sat up. Atticus won, he was really something. Across from me Banner sat up. I guess we won't have to worry about being buried alive.
We were guided outside the Gravekeeper's temple. I congratulated Atticus on his win.
"Yeah, thanks Zane. These Shadow games are pretty cool but I think I could be spared from 'friends about to die and you die' part." I nodded and was about to say something but who seemed like the assailant walked up to Atticus. I think I need to give them private time. I took some steps back. They were whispering something. Was Atticus blushing? Oh god, the idiot. This was no time to be flirting.
The Gravekeeper's Chief walked up and congratulated Atticus and handed him half a pendant.
"Oh thanks, what's this for?"
"It's half of a magical item, it'll help you later when you find the second half."
Atticus put the charm around his neck. "Okay, yeah can we go home now?"
The Chief pointed to a rites circle. "Run there quick and when the three suns meet, you'll be transported home." We nodded.
As the three of us ran Banner said, "Congratulations, Atticus. You passed the te-challenge!"
Atticus grinned. There was something suspicious but I didn't know what. Banner was always casting Atticus a strange look. What could he be thinking?
We reached the spot right in cue for we disappeared in a beam of light.
I woke up. Atticus and Banner were both lying unconscious on the ground. I woke them both up. "Uh rise and shine, Atticus, Professor. We should get back now." They agreed. Atticus was telling Banner the fine details of his duel. I wasn't listening, why do I keep on getting this strange feeling something is going to go terribly wrong?
(No Zane doesn't have super instincts xD It's just a 'what did I forget' feeling.)
-X-
Now I know that duel was really bad xD I was very unfamiliar with both decks but screw that. At least I explained how Atticus got his pendant. Send in reviews.
Next: The first Duel Monster's Spirit Day!