Chapter 45

Kiba loudly growled as he drew his card, saying "I'll finish you this turn…"

Smirking, Illidan interrupted and said "Not before my Mirage of Nightmare kicks in. I get to now draw four new cards to my hand." With a simple motion, he picked up four more cards, seeing that the four were Snatch Steal, Change of Heart, D.D. Survivor, and Waboku.

Still growling, Kiba said "Just don't forget, you will lose those cards on your next Standby Phase."

With a light laugh, Illidan replied "Oh really? Well, I think I'll fix that then. I play my face down spell card, Emergency Provisions! Now by sacrificing one spell or trap on the field, I can add 1000 life points to my total, so I'll get rid of Mirage of Nightmare, and gain 1000 life points!" That said, the spell card image vanished as Illidan's life points climbed.

Furious now, Kiba said "You'll pay dearly for this Illidan! First I'll play the spell card Spell Reproduction! By discarding two spell cards, I can now add one spell card back from my Graveyard to my hand. I now send Double Spell and Monster Reincarnation to the Graveyard in order to bring the Seal of Orichalcos to my hand!"

Illidan just gasped as the two spell cards were sent to the Graveyard and the other spell card returned to Kiba's hand. Kiba only started laughing evilly as he said "I'll now show you how this card is truly used Illidan! I play the Seal of Orichalcos!"

That said, his field spell card slot opened and he roughly jammed the card into the slot. His Duel Disk glowed green and a powerful beam of light was shot into the sky. Slowly, a circle with strange symbols etched into it's outer rim slowly descended towards the ground. Finally, it landed, sending out a powerful gust of dark energy. A six pointed star then began to form on the inside and glowed brighter once finished. Kiba let out a small growl as his forehead glowed green. Moments later, the same symbol that was on the field was now on his forehead, and his sky blue eyes became a mixture of sky blue and red.

With an evil laugh, Kiba said "You're now trapped Illidan! You were a fool to throw this card away! Now I'll destroy you with the very card you refused to play!"

Sighing and sadly shaking his head, Illidan replied "I thought if I got rid of that card, you'd duel me honorably. I can see now I was wrong."

Growling loudly, Kiba angrily spat "What would you know of honor!? You don't even know why I duel, so shut up!"

Curious, Illidan asked "Why do you duel then? For me, I duel to save the ones I care about, and especially for the woman I love, and to keep the world safe. Those are my reasons, what are yours?"

"None of your business!" replied a snarling Kiba.

Shrugging, Illidan said "You don't have to tell me, but I think you should think about who or what you're dueling for if you want to beat me."

Growling again, Kiba spat "You know nothing of what I've had to suffer through! All three of these years, waiting for this moment so I can finally help open Paradise!"

Then in a softer tone, Kiba said "Once Paradise is open, she will return. Then my life will be completed once more."

Now a bit curious, Illidan asked "Who will return?"

Closing his eyes, Kiba softly said "The woman I loved, known as Cheza. She was taken from me a little over three years ago. Her soul, stolen by some ancient curse, that said once Paradise was opened, the curse would be lifted. So, with that in mind, I searched out how to open Paradise. Little did I know, someone else was looking to open Paradise as well for similar reasons. I soon met him, and we realized both of us wanted the same thing. So, he asked me to join him in opening Paradise. He knew a way, but I had to prepare for it. I agreed, seeing how I had nothing to lose."

Looking upward at the sky, Kiba opened his eyes once more and continued saying "So, we began my training. Slowly, we gathered up a group, and we were labeled as the Wolf Pack over time, due that we stuck together, through thick and thin. If one of our group was hurt, the others would protect and help that one. We were so happy in those times. The four of us then became five last year. Finally, we received our orders this week on who we were to hunt down and take out in order to open Paradise."

Now looking back at Illidan, Kiba's tone changed back to rough, saying "You and your friends are the ones who will open Paradise. Once you are all defeated, our mission will be completed, and Paradise shall open! That is my true wish, to open Paradise and return to Cheza once more!"

With a loud sigh, Illidan replied "Kiba, you would sacrifice innocent souls to save Cheza's life? That is wrong, and I believe that she wouldn't want you to do that to someone. Please, stop this duel before you lose more than just your soul."

Evil laughter filled the air instead, as Kiba yelled "Foolishness won't save you. Now, on with this duel. I summon Giant Rat (1400 + 500 1900/1450) in defense mode." A rat with blue-grey fur with yellow eyes and a human skull in it's right hand appeared on the field. It's eyes then changed to red as the green seal appeared on it's forehead.

"Next I'll place two cards face down and end my move." (Kiba 9900, Illidan 1400)

Illidan drew his next card, seeing it was one he could truly use. Before he could say anything though, Kiba called out "I play a trap card, Call of the Haunted! Now I can resurrect one monster from my Graveyard to the field in attack mode, so I bring back Manticore of Darkness (2300 + 500 2800/1000)!" The winged monster like creature reappeared as it's forehead glowed green.

Smirking, Illidan said "That was your worst mistake yet. I now play two spell cards! The first, Change of Heart, taking control of your Manticore of Darkness! The next spell card is Snatch Steal, taking control of your Giant Rat!" Both of Kiba's monsters then let out a soft growl and leapt across the field, losing both their bonuses (2300/1000) (1400/1450).

"Now I'm about to introduce you to a monster that means a lot to me. This monster reminds me what I'm fighting for! It is the monster that will also help me finish you off. I sacrifice both your monsters in order to summon Tyrant Dragon (2900/2500) in attack mode!" A large dark orange, almost brown dragon, with massive wings, wing like ears on it's face, and a large body with powerful front and back legs appeared on the field. It let out a horrifying roar, showing it's power over all monsters on the field.

"I say it's time we get right down to business now. Tyrant Dragon, attack him directly with Tyrant Flame!" The large dragon lifted it's head up a little bit higher and then sent a stream of fire flaming towards Kiba.

As the attack nears, Kiba sneered and said "Not so fast Illidan, I activate a trap. It's known as Widespread Ruin! When this trap is activated, I can destroy your strongest monster on the field, so say farewell to Marie's pathetic dragon!" The trap then glowed, but shattered instead when it tried to take out the dragon.

"Impossible!" Kiba gasped. "Why didn't it work!?"

Chuckling lightly, Illidan replied "Because of Tyrant Dragon's effect. You see, he's unaffected by trap cards that specifically target him. Since your trap is specifically targeting the strongest monster on the field, and he happens to be it, your trap is negated."

Kiba only gasped at this as he was struck hard by the flames. He slid backwards, but remained standing.

"Now Armed Dragon, attack with Dragon Talon Terror!" The large orange skinned dragon with dull grey armor roared and pulled back it's large clawed hand. It then sent it's large right arm flying back at Kiba, striking him hard and pushing him backwards. Kiba somehow remained standing, but was slightly shaking.

"Tribe-Infecting Virus, your turn! Attack with Infecting Staff Strike!" The iguana creature holding the staff in it's hand quickly leapt across the field and struck Kiba hard with it, knocking him to one knee.

"I'll now place one card face down and call it a turn." (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)

"Very nice Illidan. You've managed to come back from the brink of destruction. That is impressive." Ryou thought to himself quietly.

Kiba only growled loudly as he drew his card, and said "I play the spell card known as Card of Demise! I get to now draw till I hold five cards in my hand, but in five turns I must discard my entire hand."

After drawing his next four cards, he only began to laugh sinisterly. He then broke out into an uncontrollable evil fit of laughter. Finally regaining some control, he said "You're finished! I play the spell card Polymerization, fusing together from my hand Big Koala (2700/2000) and Des Kangaroo (1500/1700) to form Master of Oz (4200 + 500 4700/3700) in attack mode!" A large blue koala and a green kangaroo with a purple vest, red boxing gloves, and red boots both appeared on the field. The two then swirled together, forming a large green koala that had a large green kangaroo tail and pouch, along with red boxing gloves and red shoes, and what looked like a golden championship belt in his pouch. He smacked his gloves together and let out a small cry as the seal powered him up even further.

"You're finished! I play the spell card Heavy Storm, destroying all spell and trap cards on the field, so farewell!" A powerful storm then brew up and began to move towards Illidan's spell and trap cards.

Seeing his cards were doomed, Illidan called out "I play the trap card Waboku! Now during this turn, any attacks you make are reduced to zero!" Three female mages in blue cloaks then appeared on the field and held out their hands, seemingly setting up some kind of barrier to protect Illidan. While this happened, the storm raged on and took out the other face down card, which was flipped up to reveal as Covering Fire.

Growling with frustration, Kiba said "I'll play the spell card Fissure then. Now I can destroy your weakest monster, so say farewell to those iguanas!" A single hand then popped out of the ground and grabbed hold of the weaker iguanas, and easily crushed them.

"At that, I'll end my move." (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)

Letting out a sigh of relief that he was still alive at the least, Illidan drew his next card and glanced at it. "I summon D.D. Survivor (1800/200) in defense mode." A warrior wrapped up in many white strips of clothing with some brown on the ends, and a sword in his arms, then took a one kneed position on the field.

"Next, I'll switch my remaining two monsters to defense mode. Lastly, I'll place one card face down. That's it for me." (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)

Kiba drew again and called out "Master of Oz, obliterate that pathetic D.D. Survivor with Outback Jab!" The large green monster moved forward and punched the smaller warrior with it's right hand. Easily, the warrior was crushed and vanished from the field.

"I think I'll leave things at that." (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)

Nodding, Illidan drew his next card and said "I play the spell card Fusion Recovery! Now I can return one Polymerization card and one fusion material monster that I used in a fusion earlier to my hand. So now I return Cyber Dragon and Polymerization to my hand." Both of the two cards then slid out from the Graveyard slot and Illidan picked both up and placed them in his hand.

"Next, I'll reveal my face down spell card, Monster Reincarnation. Now I can discard one card from my hand and place a monster back in my hand, so I discard Polymerization and return another Cyber Dragon. That shall do it for me." (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)

Slightly chuckling as he drew, Kiba said "That was foolish Illidan. What is the point of returning those two creatures to your hand? They're too weak when fused together to make a difference, so why bother? No matter though, I'll still destroy you. But first, Master of Oz, attack that pathetic Armed Dragon LV7 with Outback Jab!" The large green monster stepped forward and struck the large orange skinned dragon with a hard right hand, instantly blowing the mighty dragon away.

"That will do it for my turn." (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)

Nodding, Illidan drew his next card and said "I play the spell card Pot of Avarice. Now I can add five monsters from my Graveyard to my deck, then shuffle and draw two new cards. The five monsters shall be Armed Dragon LV7, Armed Dragon LV5, Armed Dragon LV3, Luster Dragon, and Tribe-Infecting Virus." All five monsters then slowly shot out of Illidan's Graveyard, each stacked on one another. Taking all five in his spare hand, he then placed them on top of his deck and began to shuffle it. Finally done, he drew two new cards.

With a small smile on his face, Illidan said "I think I'll end my turn at that." (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)

Kiba drew his next card and slightly growled, saying "Very well, then the destruction shall continue! Master of Oz, finish off that pathetic Tyrant Dragon with Outback Jab!" The large green monster pulled back it's gloved right hand and then punched the large orange dragon hard, making it howl in pain as it blew up.

Illidan slightly cringed at the sight, saying "I'm sorry Tyrant Dragon, your sacrifice won't be in vain though."

This only made Kiba laugh, as he said "You'd better be more worried about next turn. Then is when you shall lose. I end my move, so go ahead and think about your pending defeat!" (Kiba 2600, Illidan 1400)