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CHAPTER TWELVE
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Legend of the Sorcerer Kings
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The Pathway Revealed!
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Yumi stood staring at the phantom in silence for a minute or two.
She remembered her worst duel ever, which she had faced when she was first learning how to use a Disk. Her opponent had Machine King, Mechanicalchaser, and Cyber Phoenix. All she had was Beta the Magnet Warrior in Defense Mode. Her opponent wanted her to lose badly, so he played Limiter Removal and attacked her Magnet Warrior with the Phoenix and attacked directly with the other two Monsters.
That's the bad part about a duel. If you can't stop a direct attack, you can't run and hide. All you can do is take it.
And now, no matter how much she wanted to run, she knew she couldn't.
Finally, she got enough courage to speak.
"Yeah…" she finally said. "My dad knew you… You tried to kill him…"
Anastasia's head drooped.
"Yes, Yumi, I did," she said, sadly. "But that was so long ago… I deserved to burn in Hell…
"And you know, I was prepared to all along. I didn't tell him this, but I had kept cyanide in my private quarters. If I had succeeded in killing him, the next thing I would have done would have been to swallow it, and then tell the devil to do his worst. I had been prepared for damnation ever since I… killed my father…
"But… your father… he saved me, gave me a second chance…"
"So I heard," said Yumi. "He told me you were rehabilitated and reformed.
"So how long have you been spying on me?"
Anastasia smiled.
"Yumi…" she said. "I haven't been spying on you. I've been watching you because it's my job. I've been with you all your life, since the day you took your first breath and made your first cry. And I expect to stay until you die, at which point I'll lead you to Heaven.
"I'm your guardian angel."
Yumi gave a look of shock.
"I know it's hard to believe," said Anastasia. "No wings at the moment… This isn't even my true form. You see now what I looked like when I was alive. When I was allowed into Heaven, I got a new body that's far more beautiful. Maybe I'll be allowed to show it to you eventually.
"But I can explain. Sit down…"
Yumi sat down on the bed, and the phantom sat beside her.
"You may think that in Heaven, the blessed souls just bask in the light of eternal bliss," said Anastasia, "maybe listening to angelic choirs and sampling nectar and ambrosia. But in reality, it isn't truly like that. Heaven is a journey of sorts. Each soul seeks perfection. They seek to master the secrets of the universe and the ways of all things. After years, often centuries, they grow in power, rising among the ranks of celestial hosts.
"The most ambitious souls seek to join the Archlords, and if someone told them that he wanted to join them, they wouldn't laugh at him – they'd encourage him, and tell him to try his hardest to do so. Angels of higher ranks always encourage the lower ones.
"The ultimate goal of every soul in Heaven is to achieve Glorious Union, where we become one with the Almighty, and ultimate perfection is achieved. It might take me thousands of years, but I have faith that I will achieve it someday."
She paused.
"All of us take different paths towards our goal. I wanted to be someone's guardian angel so much… To help someone after hurting so many in my life. So, in earthly terms, I went to a sort of… well, sort of a night school, if you will, and studied to be one, and I eventually got certification.
"When I found out that your mother had conceived you, I practically begged the ones in charge to let me take you as my first assignment. It would be my way of repaying your father. Everyone admitted it was an odd request, but there was no risk… I wasn't evil any more.
"So I got the assignment. I was there when you were born… When your father was holding your mother's hand when she was in the pains of labor, I was holding the other one, whispering as many gentle assurances as he was. I've been watching over you ever since. I've been your conscience, and your protector…
"Have you ever wanted to do something that seems easy, but you decide against it because of a nagging feeling that you might get hurt? I give you that nagging feeling, because I don't want you hurt. And when you're faced with a moral choice, I always try to urge you towards the right one.
"Because… If you ever fell into evil like I did, I'd have to leave you… Just like my guardian angel left me…"
"Really?" muttered Yumi.
Anastasia nodded.
"He had no choice…" she replied. "After the first murder, it was pretty much a certainty that I could no longer be saved, so he left. You can't guide an evil soul. But… Once I actually did get into Heaven, he was there to greet me again with hugs and congratulations. He said it didn't happen often, but he was glad that it did."
Yumi was hanging on to every word.
"So why show yourself to me now?" she asked.
"To help you, and him…" said Anastasia, pointing to the Puzzle. "I can help you set him free.
"Unfortunately, the plan reached a snag… Rasputin.
"I knew him well in my former life. He was a member of the board of directors of Industrial Illusions when I was only a little girl… before my dad fired him…"
"Your dad knew him?" asked Yumi. "When you were a little girl? Just how old is he?"
Anastasia sighed.
"Older than you may think," she replied.
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Sam trudged out of her hotel, angrily.
Who did this Maria think she was, a messenger? She had half a mind to throw the letter in a garbage can, and more than half a mind to break the seal and read it to see what the whole issue was.
She looked at the wax-stamped seal. Maybe she'd do just that…
Then she felt a chill… Did a cloud suddenly cover the sun?
Before she knew it, a tall form was standing in front of her…
It was a dark figure, dressed in a black cloak, his eyes obscured by the hood. He wore a Duel Disk on his arm.
Sam backed up and looked around. No Centurions in sight.
"And where do you think you're going?" said the cloaked man.
"To breakfast, as if it's any of your business," said Sam, annoyed.
"It is," said the man. "You'd best hand over that letter, if you want to live until lunch."
Sam sneered. Who did this jerk think he was threatening?
She looked at the letter. She didn't like Yumi, but deep inside, she knew that giving up this letter to this guy would be bad. On the other hand, he'd likely pester her until she did.
She noticed a badge tied to his belt, indicating Green status, one level below her.
"I see you're a duelist," she said.
"Of course," said the man.
"Do you have a name?" she asked.
"My name is my own," said the man, "and I don't share it. I'm a member of a group that works towards a cause bigger than you could imagine. We call ourselves… The League of Ascension."
"And that's supposed to impress me?" asked Sam crossing her arms. "You seem like nothing more than Rare Hunter wannabes."
He scowled.
"You can't begin to comprehend the goals that the League of Ascension is trying to achieve!" he exclaimed.
"Maybe not…" said Sam, "and I'm betting they don't tell grunts like you much about them either."
He gave another angry scowl. It was as if Sam had hit that one right on the head.
"Tell you what," said Sam, stuffing the letter in her pocket. "Buddy… I'll guess I should just call you an Ascender, huh?"
"Yes, that is the right term," he replied.
"Weird…" she muttered. "Makes you sound like some mountain climber… Anyway, you want the letter so badly, I'll duel you for it. But I'm upping the ante…
"The winner can punish the loser however he or she desires."
The Ascender paused at this…
Then he noticed that the one he was facing was a young and attractive eighteen-year-old…
"Heh, heh…" he chuckled. "Very well… It's a bet…"
Sam stepped back, and her Disk activated. Her opponent activated his own.
"Game on!" they both said at once.
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"From what I know, Yumi," said Anastasia, "Rasputin was born in Austria around the mid 1700th Century. He was born into wealth and nobility, when such things truly mattered in that part of the world.
"You see Yumi, his big problem is, he doesn't acknowledge any power greater than mankind. He might have once, but that time was long ago. Call him an atheist, and he'd take it as a compliment. He has no use for religion, thinking that anyone with such beliefs is deluded. Only the power of the mortal mind matters. If he worships anything, it is knowledge.
"It wasn't that he never believed in higher powers. On the contrary, he's always willing to listen to theories that they exist… But he thinks that if they do exist, they're all frauds and meddlers. Powerful, maybe, but he doesn't believe their power gives them any authority. He doesn't believe they have a right to interfere in the affairs of mankind. He has often asked why we were never given a chance to vote for their system, saying that it was forced upon us like some dictatorship.
"In his opinion, only mankind itself can control their affairs, and the so-called gods have no place in it.
"To Rasputin, humanity doesn't need God. And he'd laugh at you if you said it was a blasphemy. He's heard that hundreds of times. To him, the very word 'blasphemy' has no meaning, because there's nothing you can offend that you have to respect."
"That's awful…" muttered Yumi.
Anastasia nodded.
"Several people have told him he would be smote from above by lightning for some of the things he has said," replied Anastasia, "and he never gets tired of visiting those people to tell them that he's still around.
"Now, several such men harbor a secret – they fear death. With no faith in the higher powers, they think nothing waits for the deceased except oblivion. They think nothing exists beyond the grave but dust.
"Now, this particular view isn't exactly uncommon, of course. The world has always been full of agnostics and unbelievers. But Rasputin was different in that he actually did something about it. Determined never to face oblivion, he turned to alchemy, eventually developing a sort of… potion, for lack of a better term, that would stop him from aging if he took it regularly. He calls it an immortality serum. He's been taking it all these years, never growing older because of it.
"It has side effects, of course. He no longer sleeps, and the unnatural insomnia has affected him, having to be awake constantly. He needs much less food than most men, having to eat only one meal a day… But he drinks five martinis a day, a habit he's had for the past three centuries. Whether it affects him or not, I don't know. The potion has also rendered him sterile, unable to ever sire children. Despite all this, he considers these drawbacks small prices to pay in order to cheat the Reaper.
"But the potion doesn't truly make him immortal. It can't last forever. Originally, he only had to take it every five years to keep from growing older. Now he must do so once a month. And the ingredients, which were rare to begin with, keep getting scarcer. Soon, he won't be able to make it, his true age will catch up to him, and he'll be ashes. His time is almost up, and the fear of his mortality is becoming more and more prevalent.
"He's tried to find other ways to become immortal. To that end, he's become a big figure in the European underworld. Recently, he's become active in the world of Duel Monsters, forming a crime syndicate to achieve goals in that area.
"And he even faced your grandfather in one attempt."
"My grandfather?" said Yumi, shocked.
Anastasia nodded.
"Shortly after the KaibaCorp Grand Prix," she continued, "your great aunt Serenity's eyesight began to fail. Your grandfather Joey panicked, thinking that the surgery that had restored it was becoming undone.
"From out of nowhere, Rasputin appeared, and claimed he had a formula that would restore it again. I know now that he had caused the deterioration in the first place. Likely with a poison that he had bribed some restaurant employee to put in her food."
Yumi clenched her fists.
"Rasputin said he would only give up the formula if Yugi dueled him and wagered the three Egyptian God Cards against it. His goal was to find the secret of immortality from them. With no choice, Yugi agreed.
"The duel went slowly at first, with Rasputin only playing wall Monsters. Eventually, Yugi summoned Valkyrion, and destroyed one of his four defenses.
"Then Rasputin drew a key to his strategy – the same card that Kaiba had used to attempt to take Slifer from Yugi in Battle City."
"I've heard of that card," said Yumi. "Lullaby of Obedience. It lets you pay 1,000 Life Points to name a Monster that's Level Eight or more, and if your opponent has it in his deck, you get to take it."
"Yes," said Anastasia. "Not only did he believe he would use it to win the duel, but to prove to everyone, himself included, that he could control a god, and thus prove his superiority over them.
"Rasputin carefully considered his options, as he always did. He knew that he probably wouldn't be able to control Ra until he deciphered the Heretic Code on the card. Also, he realized that once he played that Spell Card, he'd have two cards left in his hand, so if he summoned Slifer, it wouldn't be strong enough to defeat Valkyrion.
"So he played it and named Obelisk. Once he had it, he sacrificed his three Monsters to summon it.
"At that point, he realized that he might have made a grievous error. As much as he denied the significance of the gods, Obelisk's power was incredible, and was straining even to his incredible will. He was clearly NOT a person that had been chosen to wield such power. Nonetheless, he mustered the strength to order an attack, and destroyed Valkyrion.
"But then Yugi activated his facedown Soul Rope, and Special Summoned Obnoxious Celtic Guardian. On his turn, he sacrificed him for Dark Magician Girl, and played the Sage's Stone to summon Dark Magician. He placed a facedown card, and told Rasputin to make his move.
"The only clear thing at this point about Rasputin was that he wasn't thinking clearly. In a mind full of fog, he thought it was a bluff – Traps didn't work on God Cards, after all. So he ordered an attack on Dark Magician… And Yumi activated a Trap that he had never used before then. Covering Fire. It added Dark Magician Girl's Attack Score to Dark Magician's, for a total of 4,500, enough to destroy Obelisk. It took Rasputin totally by surprise.
"Rasputin couldn't do anything else. He lost on Yugi's next turn. Joey threatened to break his legs unless he honored his side of the bargain, so he had no choice. Rasputin has always been a coward when threatened by actual violence. Like I said, he fears dying, and his potion does not make him impervious to harm – only ageless.
"I give you a fair warning, Yumi… Ever since then, Rasputin has blamed Dark Magician Girl for losing that duel, and ruining his chance of obtaining the God Cards. He hates her. Of course, he's only using her as a scapegoat. He had only himself to blame."
Yumi paused.
"Why did your dad fire him?" she asked.
Anastasia paused.
"Like I said, he wasn't just an employee," she replied. "He was on the board of directors. And he held a lot of power in the company.
"I was certain that he was plotting to seize control of Industrial Illusions… But, heh, I was eight years old at the time, so if I could figure that out, dad likely could, right?
"Anyway, there was no danger of dad losing his position as president of Industrial Illusions. As Seto Kaiba would tell you, in business, the magic number is 51. Own 51 of a company's stock, and you own the company.
"My dad was always on the safe side. He kept his personal share of the company stock at over 75, and if it ever went lower than that, he'd quickly move to correct it. Most of the other board members were loyal to him anyway…
"As to why Rasputin was fired…"
She shivered.
"Did your grandmother ever tell you about…" she said, nervously, "the temple? The one in his castle on Duelist Kingdom where he did… unholy rituals in shadow magic when he was wearing that awful Eye?"
Yumi shivered.
"Yeah…" she muttered. "She, Tristan, and Bakura caught him in the act by accident."
"He showed it to me once," muttered Anastasia. "He wanted to warn me never to succumb to evil like he did… A lot of good it did…
"After he lost his powers he kept meaning to have that place sealed up. But he kept procrastinating. In the meantime, he kept using the island as a resort and vacation spot, both for himself and his employees.
"Rasputin conned his way into a trip there just so he could break into that place and try to learn the secrets of Shadow Games. But dad's security caught him in the act. Dad realized beyond a doubt that Rasputin was a dangerous man, and since trespassing in an off-limits area was grounds for dismissal, he fired him at once.
"Fortunately, it made him stop procrastinating, and seal up that awful temple for good."
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(Sam: 8,000) -------------------- (Ascender: 8,000)
"I can't believe you're actually going though with this!" said the Ascender.
"Blah, blah, blah," said Sam. "Let's just get this over with…"
She drew her first card.
"I summon Gil Garth to the field," she said.
She played the card, and the robotic, armored Fiend appeared, brandishing his scimitar. (1,800/1,000)
"Now let's see what you've got."
"Indeed…" said the Ascender.
He drew a card.
"I place a Monster in Defense Mode, and one card facedown," he said.
Two facedown cards appeared, perpendicular to each other.
Standard opening move… thought Sam. Keeping your strategy secret…
She made a draw.
"I summon Archfiend Soldier," she replied.
In a burst of black flames, a hideous demon with mauve skin and ram-like horns, wearing a flowing cloak and holding a nasty sword appeared.
It snarled, and glared at the Ascender… (1,900/1,500)
"Archfiend Soldier…" she shouted. "Attack his facedown Monster! Sword of Perdition!"
The Soldier flew forward…
"I activate my Trap," said the Ascender, as his Trap Card lifted. "A powerful Trap Card called Waboku. It reduces the damage me or any of my Monsters would have received this turn to zero…
"But… the battle still occurs, so it still flips up…"
Archfiend Soldier's sword came down on the card, and an evil-looking treasure chest appeared on the card. The Soldier's sword was blocked by a dome of shimmering energy. (100/1,000)
"It's called a Dark Mimic LV 1," said the Ascender. "And due to its effect, I get to draw one card."
He made a draw.
Sam looked at her cards.
"I can't do anything else," she said. "Your move."
"Then I draw…" he said, drawing a card. "And I activate my Dark Mimic's effect, sacrificing its Level One form, for Dark Mimic LV 3, in Defense Mode."
The chest grew, and became even more fiendish. (1,000/1,000)
"I'll place one card facedown, and end my turn," he said.
A new facedown card appeared.
Sam drew a new card.
If I destroy his new Dark Mimic, she thought, he'll get to draw two more cards. But then again, I can't just do nothing…
"Gil Garth, attack his Dark Mimic!" she shouted.
Gil Garth flew forward, and slashed at the chest with his blade, slicing it in half like it were made of rubber foam. The pieces melted into goo.
"Thank you…" said the Ascender, drawing twice.
"Archfiend Soldier, attack…" started Sam.
"I activate… Threatening Roar!" shouted the Ascender.
His facedown card lifted, and a bellowing roar sent the two Fiends cowering.
"Afraid you can't attack me any more this turn," he said.
Sam growled. This was getting frustrating…
"Then it's your turn," she said.
"Then I draw…" he said.
He drew a card.
"Now the real fun starts!" he said with a laugh.
"First, I play the Spell Card, Level Limit Area B," he said, placing a card in his Disk. "This moves all Monsters that are Level Four or greater to Defense Mode."
Gil Garth and Archfiend Soldier knelt in Defense Mode.
"Then I place… three cards facedown."
He fit three cards into his Disk, and three facedown cards appeared.
"Next I play… Wave-Motion Cannon!"
He played the card, and a trapdoor on his side of the field opened. A large, fat cannon covered with tubes and gizmos rose out of it on a lift.
"When I decide to fire this, it will deal you 1,000 points of damage for every one of my Standby Phases that it was on the field.
"Next, a Monster in Defense Mode…"
He set a card, and a facedown Monster appeared.
"And finally…" he said, "the coup de grace…
"I sacrifice your two Monsters to summon the Lava Golem!"
Sam looked shocked as her two Monsters were consumed in fire…
And then, an iron cage formed around her, made only the more shocking by the fact that it was fastened around the neck of a gigantic, formless beast made of molten lava. (3,000/2,500)
"Heh, heh…" said the Ascender. "Your move…"
Lovely… thought Sam. A Burn Deck…
Also known as The True Coward's Deck…
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"So what does this all have to do with me, Anastasia?" asked Yumi.
She noticed that the Pharaoh was beside her, listening closely.
"Let me tell you another story, Yumi," said Anastasia. "Five thousand years ago, there were a group of eight individuals known as the Sorcerer Kings. Of course, the word 'King' is sort of a misnomer, because a few of them were women."
Yumi looked at the Pharaoh.
"Yes, I heard of them," he said. "But all that was known about them is that they were powerful magicians."
"Anyway," said Anastasia, "the Sorcerer Kings had beliefs not unlike Rasputin's, and believed that humans could obtain powers that only the gods could harness through mortal magic. And they tried to obtain it.
"Each of them had a… sympathetic object that was the key to their power. Collectively, these items are called the Shadow Charms. Only the Sorcerer Kings themselves could use them to their fullest potential, but in another's hands they had powerful abilities.
"One day, all the Sorcerer Kings disappeared. The most popular theory is that they had challenged the gods for ultimate power, and failed, and that to this day are being punished in some divine prison.
"But over the ages, the Shadow Charms have shown up in the hands of others. Very rarely has anyone had more than one at one time. And it is said that if anyone collected all eight, he or she would have ultimate power… Godlike power.
"Rasputin wants that power. He'd truly be immortal. And he wouldn't stop there. He'd be able to do pretty much whatever he wanted.
"But Yumi… The Shadow Charms could also be offered as a sacrifice to perform the ritual… The ritual that would restore the Pharaoh's memories and let him leave this world!"
Yumi paused.
"Where are they?" she asked, anxiously.
"Here…" said Anastasia. "The original Archlords hid the Mandate on this island because it was a well of powerful magic. Eldritch magic seeps from the core of this island, as it does in other places around the globe… like Stonehenge, for example. Over the years, when owners of the Charms died or somehow got rid of them, they eventually all hid themselves on this island!
"They know that someone wants to claim them now… And they'll show themselves when the time is right. You must find them before Rasputin does, because each Charm only recognizes one owner at a time.
"And if one of them is ever claimed… It can never be stolen or sold or even given away… It can only be won…
"Rasputin is already ahead of you. That talisman he won is a device that can locate the Shadow Charms once they make their presence known. Fortunately…
"I'm not too bad at locating them myself…"
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"You're going to have to draw a card sooner or later!" laughed the Ascender.
Okay, let's go over the situation… thought Sam.
I've got a Lava Golem on my side of the field, that's gonna cost me 1,000 Life Points per turn… I can't attack with it due to his Level Limit card, and even if I could, I have a feeling one of his other Traps would make that a bad idea.
He has Wave-Motion Cannon on his side of the field, which will get more dangerous with each of his turns.
My answer…
She quickly drew a card.
Bring it on.
She cringed as the cage around her glowed red-hot.
(S: 7,000) -------------------- (A: 8,000)
"I activate Mask of Restrict!" shouted the Ascender, as a Trap Card lifted. "Now that Golem is staying there."
Sam growled.
Typical… she thought.
"I play my Graceful Charity Spell Card," she said, holding the card up.
"Now I draw three times…"
She made three draws.
She gave an evil grin…
She discarded Pot of Avarice and Kuriboh.
"I'll place this facedown…" she said, "and that will be all…"
A facedown card appeared.
The Ascender drew a card. The Wave-Motion Cannon glowed with energy.
"I flip my facedown Monster into Attack Mode," he said. "Reveal… Des Koala!"
A large koala appeared, ready to pounce. (1,100/1,800)
"Now you lose 400 Life Points for each card in your hand. And I see six!"
Sam shrieked as she was struck by six bolts of lightning.
(S: 4,600) -------------------- (A: 8,000)
"Won't be long now…" he said. "I set a new Monster in Defense Mode, and end my turn."
A new facedown Monster appeared.
Sam drew a card. She cringed again.
"I activate my facedown card," she shouted. "Dust Tornado! Say bye-bye to your Wave-Motion Cannon!"
Her facedown card lifted.
"No," said the Ascender. "I activate Solemn Judgment."
One of his facedown cards lifted.
"It costs me half my Life Points, but your Trap is negated."
Sam's Trap shattered.
(S: 3,600) -------------------- (A: 4,000)
Then Sam burst out laughing.
"What?" asked the Ascender. "What's so funny?"
"I knew you'd do that," she said with a wicked smile. "Cowards like you who play Burn Decks think your opponents will never reach you, so what difference does it make if you cut your Life Points in half?"
"Shut up!" shouted the Ascender. "I am by no means a coward!"
"Yes you are!" snapped Sam. "You're afraid to actually attack, hiding behind Spells and Traps, and letting them do your opponent in. You're afraid to take risks, and God forbid ever take an attack.
"But you're going to have to face it now, because I knew you had Solemn Judgment set, and that Dust Tornado was only a decoy to fool you into wasting it. Since I'm almost certain that your last facedown card is either Magic Cylinder or Dimension Wall, you're now helpless to stop me from playing this…
"Heavy Storm!"
She played the card, and the Ascender watched in horror as the wind tore across the field and almost every part of his strategy – Wave-Motion Cannon, Level Limit Area B, Mask of Restrict, and Magic Cylinder (because that indeed was what it was) – was blown to pieces.
"How in the world…" he gasped. "You… you couldn't have…"
"You snooze, you lose," said Sam. "And I'm just starting. Now let's get rid of this overgrown, ugly excuse for a Fiend. I sacrifice it for Lesser Fiend."
She played the card, and in a swirl of red energy, Lava Golem vanished, and was replaced by a hulking, pale-skinned demon with four-arms. It growled and clenched its four fists. (2,100/1,000)
"No…" moaned the Ascender.
"I really don't know why he's called a 'lesser' Fiend," said Sam. "He looks pretty tough to me.
"But even so, he's not staying. Next I play the Spell Card… Metamorphosis. Now I can sacrifice my Lesser Fiend to summon a Monster from my Fusion Deck who's the same Level. And I think I'll summon my Fiend Skull Dragon."
Lesser Fiend vanished in a burst of energy, and a ferocious Dragon appeared. It stood upright, also had four arms, and huge, leathery wings. (2,000/1,200)
"Technically, he isn't a Fiend," said Sam. "But he's close. Fiend Skull Dragon, attack his facedown Monster! Vile wind!"
Fiend Skull Dragon breathed forth a blast of black smoke. Another Des Koala appeared on the card and let out a loud shriek. It shattered into bits.
"Ha!" laughed the Ascender. "Now you're gonna get it…"
"Hmm…" said Sam, shaking her head. "I don't seem to have lost any Life Points. Wonder why?
"Oh, I know why… Fiend Skull Dragon negates the flip-effects of any Monster he destroys.
"Now I'll place one card facedown…"
A facedown card appeared behind Fiend Skull Dragon.
"I'm done with my turn, so I'll turn it back to you."
The Ascender's hand shook as he drew.
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Yumi slipped her Duel Disk on her arm.
"The League of Ascension…" she muttered. "I get it… As in ascend to a higher state, as in equal to the gods. This is Battle City all over again…
"What about those two teenagers with him? Nicholas and Olga?"
Anastasia shook her head.
"Those two are a mystery," she said. "He is their legal guardian, but I'm not sure what their purpose is. The best guess is, he adopted them because he wanted heirs because he can't sire children of his own. But since his goal is to live forever, it doesn't make much sense. Perhaps he's promised them something when he gets ultimate power. At any rate, they're his chief henchmen, acting as his eyes and ears when he can't. And both of them are top-rate duelists."
Yumi sighed.
"I guess this isn't as bad as a demon trying to invade the Earth…"she said. "But I'll try my hardest… I'll get these Shadow Charms. And I'm sure Ren and Chelsea will help too…
"Although frankly, I don't know how I'm gonna explain this to them. Can you show yourself to them?"
Anastasia shook her head.
"In this reality, humans normally can't see angels," she said. "If it weren't for this special case, you wouldn't have seen me until you died and I had to lead you to the afterlife. I might be able to show myself to them eventually… It's hard to say."
"Well, I'll think of something…" said Yumi.
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The Ascender looked at the card he had drawn.
Another Lava Golem. All he needed was another good Trap Card and for her to summon another Monster, and he could still win.
"I shift my first Des Koala into Defense Mode…" he said.
Des Koala shielded itself in defense.
"Then I place a card facedown."
He placed his other card in his Disk, and another facedown card appeared.
"That's all for now."
Sam made a draw.
"I activate my facedown card!" shouted the Ascender. "Secret Barrel!"
His Trap lifted, and another trapdoor opened in the ground. A large cannon rose out of it.
"This weapon blasts you for 200 points for every card on your side of the field and in your hand – I see six total."
The cannon blasted a beam of energy, and Sam screamed as it hit her.
(S: 2,400) -------------------- (A: 4,000)
"You just made me mad…" she said, taking a card from her hand.
"I play Confiscation! I give up 1,000 Life Points, and you give up the last card in your hand."
The Ascender gasped as the Lava Golem in his hand vanished.
"Another Lava Golem?" asked Sam. "Good…
"Now I activate… Call of the Haunted."
Her facedown card lifted, and a stone coffin rose out of the ground. It opened, and Archfiend Soldier stepped out of it. (1,900/1,500)
"Send that Des Koala back to Australia!" shouted Sam. "Sword of Perdition!"
Archfiend Soldier roared in rage. He made one swipe with his blade, and Des Koala shattered into pixels.
"Fiend Skull Dragon…"
"No! Don't!" screamed the Ascender.
"Attack directly!" yelled Sam.
The Dragon breathed forth its foul breath, and the Ascender screamed, falling to his knees.
"Just as I thought…" said Sam. "You really don't like being hurt, don't you? Get used to it.
"I'll place a card facedown, and that ends my turn… Do your worst."
She fit a card into her Disk, and a facedown card appeared.
(S: 1,400) -------------------- (A: 2,000)
The Ascender sweat heavily as he drew a card.
"All right…" he muttered. "I play… Pot of Greed."
He played the card, and the evil jar appeared. He drew twice.
His eyes lit up…
Looks like Lady Luck is smiling on me! he thought. I just drew Ring of Destruction and Barrel Behind the Door!
I simply have to set both, and as soon as she draws… Boom… Her Monster explodes, she loses 2,000 Life Points, and my second Trap redirects the damage I would have taken to her…
I've won!
He fit the two cards into his Disk, and two facedown cards appeared.
He glared at Sam.
Sam drew a card…
"I activate Ring of Destruction!" he shouted.
His Trap Card lifted.
The familiar ring of grenades appeared around Fiend Skull Dragon's neck.
Sam was about to trigger her Trap…
Then she stopped.
Why bother? she thought.
Fiend Skull Dragon wasn't impressed. It simply tore the Ring off and tossed the pieces aside.
"WHAT?" shouted the Ascender. "HOW?"
"I didn't mention his other effect," said Sam. "Trap Cards that target… They don't work on him."
The Ascender's eyes widened in fear…
"I have a pretty good idea what that other Trap is," said Sam, "so…
"Fiend Skull Dragon, attack him directly!"
The Ascender screamed again, as the vile wind tore into him.
(S: 1,400) -------------------- (A: 0)
The Monsters vanished. Sam walked up to him as she looked at her Badge.
"Thanks for helping me reach Violet, by the way," she said.
"You lucked out…" he sneered. "I'd have won if I had used it on your Archfiend Soldier."
Sam paused, and then took the card out of her Spell/Trap Zone and looked at it.
Seven Tools of the Bandit.
She smirked.
"Yep, I lucked out," she said with a shrug. "But since I did, you lost. And we had a deal, remember?"
There was loud WHACK! followed by a scream as Sam's foot hit her target squarely, and the Ascender fell to his knees, wincing in pain. Sam started to walk away.
"Sam! Sam!" shouted Erik's voice.
Erik ran up.
"What happened?" he said, panting for breath.
"We have to find Yumi…" said Sam. "And then we gotta call my mom. As various characters in Star Wars have said, I've got a bad feeling about this."
When they were out of sight, the Ascender pulled a cell phone out of his cloak and hit the speed dial.
"Boss?" he moaned, talking into it. "Things didn't quite go as planned…"
In his penthouse suite, Rasputin listened. He scowled.
Then he hung up.
"I should have known better than to send that guy to deal with Arachne's kid…" he said. "He's the stupidest duelist I have…
"Better call someone more competent…"
He looked at a list on his computer, one that came from his flash drive.
"For this job, I need someone who's relentless, and vicious… one who will ignore any pleas for mercy and not listen to any bribes. One who won't be sidetracked by penny-ante wagers…
"I need…"
He looked at one name.
"…her… The one who is as relentless as the Field Spell she commands…"
He dialed a number.
"Holly?" he said, when it was answered. "Listen closely. I have a very important job and it can't be botched…
"Succeed, and you'll get a bonus. And you'll be allowed to keep one of the Charms until we get all of them…"
He chuckled as the one on the other end replied.
"Yes, thought you'd like that…"
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Yumi walked down to the lobby of the hotel, and saw Chelsea and Ren waiting. Ren was playing a tune on the guitar that was beautiful, but rather empty. He could play music, but when it came to composing it, he had yet to really find his inspiration.
"Hey, Yumi," said Chelsea. "What's new?"
Yumi looked over her shoulder and saw Anastasia standing there.
"Lots…" she said. "This is gonna be hard to explain guys, but…"
At that moment, Sam marched into the lobby, an angry look on her face.
"May I help you?" asked the doorman.
"NO!" shouted Sam, rudely, as she strode up to Yumi.
She stared her rival in the face, and held up the letter.
"I had to face a Lava Golem to get this to you…" she said with a growl, "so please never say I don't do you any favors… I don't know what trouble is about to start on this island, but I'm pretty sure it's all your fault."
Yumi took the letter and looked at it. She broke the seal with her finger, and slowly opened it.
She read the handwritten letter.
Dear Princess of Games,
By now, someone should have contacted you about what your goal is. My interference must be small, and infrequent, but I will help when I can.
I know where you can find a Shadow Charm that has revealed itself, but its power is so great, that only an attempt to locate it specifically will find it. Thus, Rasputin's talisman did not alert him, and whatever force is helping you likely could not either. But my ally and I were smarter.
Go to the beach where the barbecue pit with the mural of Battle Steer is. An old chest lies half buried in the sand next to the building. Open it, and you will find the Crown of Souls.
Be careful. Rasputin will stop at nothing to get it before you do. And if you must fight for it… May the powers of Good stand beside you.
Sincerely,
Maria
"The Crown of Souls…" muttered Anastasia. "The Charm crafted by Machius the Wise, the noblest of the Sorcerer Kings. What it does isn't known, but its power is said to be great…"
Yumi paused.
"Guys, come on!" she shouted. "We gotta find this Crown!"
Ren and Chelsea looked at each other with a confused look. Then they followed Yumi as she ran out of the hotel.
Sam put her hand on her hip.
"Hey you guys!" she shouted. "Wait for us! No way you're leaving us out of this!"
She grabbed Erik's arm and ran after them.
They didn't know that another figure in a cloak was watching them…
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
The five teenagers ran down the beach, where several guests who weren't in the dueling mood at the moment were sunning themselves.
"You gonna tell us what this is all about, Yumi?" asked Chelsea. "If I knew we were going to go to the beach, I would have brought my swimsuit."
"No time to swim," said Yumi. "Let's just say that things just got more complicated."
The barbecue pit they were looking for came into view. It wasn't open, seeing as no-one bought chicken and ribs at nine in the morning, so they could look without any distractions.
"Spread out…" said Yumi. "Look for a chest…"
Everyone started to circle the stand.
"Found it!" shouted Ren.
They all ran to where he was, and saw an old wooden chest half-buried in the sand.
"Gimme a hand, Ren…" said Yumi, gripping it.
They both pulled, and yanked it free from the sand.
They saw that it was closed with a rusty padlock.
Yumi looked around.
Her eyes fell on a crowbar on the ground.
"How lucky can you get?" she said with a laugh, as she picked it up.
She jammed the crowbar between the lock and the lock's bar, and with one heave, it snapped.
Yumi dropped the crowbar and was about to open the chest…
"Yumi, watch out!" shouted Erik.
Fortunately, Erik had been watching in case some hidden guardian of the chest showed up. And he saw the cloaked figure just as it lunged for Yumi.
But the figure was fast. It tackled Yumi to the ground.
"Thanks for finding the Crown," it said, in a female voice. "I'll take it from here!"
"Another one of those League of Ascension goons?" said Sam. "Guess they're equal opportunity employers."
"Get off of her!" shouted Ren.
The Ascender took a small flask out of her cloak, and hurled it, sending up a cloud of green smoke. Everyone except her and Yumi started coughing.
The Ascender proceeded to try to pin Yumi… Only to get a fist in the face. Yumi forced her off of her, and the two struggled.
"You can have it over my dead body…" sneered Yumi through her teeth.
"Okay…" said the Ascender, angrily. "I can arrange that…"
The sky started to darken… clouds started to gather…
"No…" screamed Anastasia. "Not this!"
Lightning flashed…
Yumi and the Ascender slowly let go of each other…
They stared at each other in silence…
The chest opened, and the artifact rose out. It was a golden crown, the golden band made to look like the wearer would be wearing two golden snakes. The snakes' mouths met in the front, where a single ruby was set.
The Crown of Souls started to glow as darkness covered the beach…
"It's started…" muttered Anastasia. "Only one thing can happen now…
"Good luck, Yumi…"
To be continued…
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0
Ren: What's happening? Who turned off the sun?
Chelsea: Look at Yumi… She isn't blinking… Something's happened to her…
Sam: What the devil is going on? What is this place?
Anastasia: The Shadow Charm has no owner yet, and when that is the case, fighting over it can only mean one thing…
Coming up next, "Yami no Oujou! Yumi's Challenge".
Heaven help us…