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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
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Battle of Vengeance
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Erik versus Leroy, Round Two
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As the duel between Yumi and Sam and Marlon and Tucker was starting, the duel for the last spot in the finals was nearing its conclusion.
On one side was Nicholas. On the other was one of the Pros still in the running, the illustrious Baron von Drumer, known in the Pro League as the Red Baron. He truly played the part of his notorious namesake, wearing an aviator's outfit, complete with a scarf, helmet, and goggles.
Right now, Nicholas had the three Ojamas (0/1,000x3) and Ojama King (0/3,000) on his side of the field in Defense Mode, and three facedown cards. The facedown cards were only there for protection against Drumer's Monster: Simorgh, Bird of Divinity. (2,700/1,000). Drumer also had a facedown Monster and four facedown cards.
Nicholas had 2,500 Life Points left, and Drumer had 2,100. But it was Drumer's turn.
"I draw!" exclaimed Drumer.
He looked at the card.
"Time to take control of this duel," he said. "I flip my facedown Monster into Attack Mode… Reveal… Tornado Bird!"
The facedown card flipped, and a huge bird of prey with bright red feathers appeared where the card had been. (1,100/1,000)
"And that activates his effect…"
Tornado Bird flapped its wings, and a burst of wind blew two of Nicholas's facedown cards off the field. They reappeared in his hand.
"Next…" said the Baron, playing a Spell Card, "I play Winged Repayment. I pay 600 Life Points, and then get to draw one card for each Winged Beast I have on the field. However, I can't use those cards this turn."
His Life Points fell to 1,500, and he drew two cards.
"Now… Tornado Bird… Attack Ojama Black!"
The huge Bird flew at the small Beast, and crushed it in its talons.
"Simorgh, attack Ojama Yellow. Divine wind!"
Simorgh flapped its wings furiously. Ojama Yellow tried in vain to shield itself, but it shattered.
"And I'm not done…" said the Baron. "I activate… Icarus Attack!"
One of his facedown cards lifted.
"Now I can sacrifice a Winged Beast, and destroy two of your cards."
Tornado Bird erupted into flames, and flew towards Nicholas's side of the field. Ojama King and his last facedown card exploded in bursts of fire.
"And I'll follow up with Explosion Wing!" he shouted, as another facedown card lifted. "Now, you lose 500 Life Points for each card that was destroyed."
Two birds flew out of the card, carrying bombs in their talons. They flew over Nicholas, and dropped them…
They detonated on impact, and Nicholas staggered back and shielded himself with his forearm. He groaned as his Life Points fell to 1,500.
"I end my turn," said Drumer, "and as you know, since you have no Spell or Trap Cards on the field, Simorgh's effect costs you 1,000 Life Points."
Simorgh beat its wings again, causing a virtual hurricane. Nicholas strained and staggered against the wind, as his Life Points fell to 500.
Nicholas made some slow gasps.
"All right…" he muttered. "My draw…"
He drew a card.
"And I'm going to end this… Playing that Winged Repayment was a big mistake…"
He played a card.
"I play… Silent Doom. I'll bring back Ojama Yellow."
Ojama Yellow appeared, and crouched in defense. (0/1,000)
"Now I play… Polymerization."
"What?" said the Baron. "You only have two Ojamas! You can't summon your King again!"
"I'm not going to…" said Nicholas. "For this fusion, I only need two. I'm fusing Ojama Yellow and Ojama Green…"
The two Ojamas locked arms and spun around, fading into a blur…
"To form… Ojama Knight!"
A new creature appeared on the field. It was a chubby knight in shining armor, wearing the same shorts as the Ojamas over the armor. Ojama Yellow's eyestalks protruded through its helmet. It held a short sword and a shield. (0/2,500)
"HA!" laughed the Baron. "Only 2,500 Defense Points? Simorgh will destroy it easily."
"Who's defending?" asked Nicholas. "Look closer… I summoned this guy in Attack Mode."
"Say what?" said Drumer, startled.
Nicholas took the card he had just drawn.
"I play Shield and Sword," he said. "Now, the Attack and Defense of all Monsters on the field switch. It's a benefit for my Knight…
"But your Bird of Divinity isn't so lucky. Now my Knight can carve it up like a Christmas goose. And you're about to be shot down, Baron."
Ojama Knight changed to (2,500/0), while Simorgh changed to (1,000/2,700).
The Pro's eyes widened in horror, as Ojama Knight flew at Simorgh, and with one swipe of its blade, cleaved it in half. Drumer's Life Points fell to zero.
He fell to the ground sobbing.
"Good match…" said Nicholas, walking away, as his badge changed to Gold.
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After retiring from dueling long ago, Mako Tsunami had enlisted in the Japanese Navy. He had a long career before finally retiring at the rank of Commander. In his old age, he put most of his money into investments, many of which paid off rather well.
One of them was A Legendary Ocean, a seafood restaurant in Duelatopia that he owned seventy percent of.
Inside the comfortable place's dining room, the first thing folks noticed was a large mural depicting The Legendary Fisherman battling a giant squid. Folks could dine on the buffet while watching the hourly screenings on a large monitor: Mako's duels from the first Battle City. (A lot of folks didn't realize that Mako had won three duels in that competition before losing to Joey Wheeler. Folks were surprised when they saw the other three and realized how good he had been. Still, the duel between him and Joey was always the favorite.)
As the two-on-two duel was starting, Ren, Chelsea, and Erik were oblivious. Rasputin had been clever in sending them the coupons. He had included a note with a forged signature, presumably by Yumi, saying that Sheena had wanted to question her and Sam about the Ascenders. The three of them were a little miffed about not being included, but a free lunch more than made up for it.
"Take it easy, Erik," said Chelsea, as Erik came back with his third plate of grilled shrimp. "Sam made reservations at the big restaurant tonight, remember?"
"I'll be hungry again by then," replied Erik. "I have a real fast metabolism."
Ren looked at him.
"Erik…" he pondered. "How did you and Sam meet?"
Erik chewed a piece of shrimp for a minute in silence.
"Well…" he said, scratching his head. "I guess that all goes back to my dad, the illustrious Erik Matell Sr.
"See, he's the head of accounting for a computer firm in Tokyo… He makes good money. But being an accountant, no matter how much money you make, is… well, boring.
"See, dad insisted I find a hobby of some sort, since he couldn't offer me much himself. So I looked into Duel Monsters. I bought a bunch of booster packs, made a deck that I thought would work, and went to see who would want to duel at Kaibaland. I rented a Disk… I wasn't committed yet.
"As fate would have it, Sam accepted my challenge, and she beat me good. It was a slaughter.
"Then she asked if she could see my deck. I showed it to her, and she was brutally honest. She said the reason she beat me so badly was because my deck stank. She said she'd help me build a real one.
"She said the first thing I needed was a common thread… A theme. But I didn't have any idea what sort of one to use.
"She had an idea. She told me that sometimes, the deck picks the duelist. So she took out a large package of cards that had come in an order, and told me to pick one without looking. So I did…"
Erik took his deck and skimmed through it.
He held up a Toy Soldier.
"It was this little guy," he said.
"Whoa…" muttered Ren.
"So, we worked on the deck," continued Erik. "She helped a great deal… And before long I was asking her if she wanted to go out for sushi… It progressed to more pricy dinners and movies…"
He sighed.
"Sam was someone who made me feel special… And she felt the same way…"
"You realize…" said Chelsea, "the two of you are in the finals… What if you two have to duel each other?"
Erik paused.
"Well…" he said, "it will be a duel like none other…"
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As the three of them were walking out of the restaurant, Chelsea realized something.
"Did Yumi and Sam say when they'd be back?" she asked.
Ren stopped short.
"No…" he muttered.
"They won't be back," said a voice. "At least not in any shape to greet you."
They turned, and saw a familiar face in front of them… A tough-looking teenager with a ton of hairspray, smoking a cigarette.
"Leroy…" snarled Erik.
"That's right," replied Leroy. "Leroy Brown… Badder than old King Kong…"
"Oh, please…" said Erik. "You aren't even badder than Donkey Kong."
Leroy made a face, and then flicked the cigarette, hitting Erik in the chest.
"Say what you will," he said, "but you three have been played for suckers. While you were stuffing yourselves silly, your two friends have been getting the snot kicked out of them."
"Sam?" shouted Erik. "Where is she?"
"Not telling," replied Leroy.
"You're gonna tell me or I'll…" threatened Erik.
"Go on, slug me," said Leroy. "But I fully plan on slugging you back if you try."
Erik glared at him.
"Say…" said Leroy, "maybe we can cut a deal… You agree to duel me again with a wager… Say, that fancy necklace, and if you beat me again, I'll tell you where they are."
Erik stared at him.
He wants the Talisman of the Mind? he thought. I knew this guy was sleazy… But working for Rasputin?
Erik hit the button on his badge, and it turned off.
"Fine," he said. "But we duel unofficially. I beat you once before, how hard can it be to do so again?"
Very, very, hard, thought Leroy. You may think I'm dumb, but this time, I've really planned in advance…
Olga's face appeared in his mind.
I'll make you proud of me, babe! Wait for me… I'll take him down with no problem!
"Erik, be careful," said Chelsea. "I doubt this guy intends to play fair."
"Don't worry…" said Erik. "I didn't make it to Gold by being stupid…"
He and Leroy faced each other. The two Disks activated.
"Game on!" they both shouted.
(Erik: 8,000) -------------------- (Leroy: 8,000)
They both whipped five cards off their decks.
"I insist, you go first…" said Leroy.
Erik drew a sixth card.
"Buster…" he said. "You just made your first mistake…
"I summon… Toy Soldier."
He played the card, and Toy Soldier materialized, aiming his musket. (800/300)
"Now, I'll toss this facedown, and end my turn…"
A facedown card appeared.
Just as I expected… thought Leroy, making his first draw. He's fallen right into my trap…
"I play… Reinforcement of the Army. Now, I get to search my deck, and once I find a Warrior that's Level Four or less, I get to add it to my hand…"
He spread his cards out, and chose one.
"And now that he's in my hand, I'm gonna summon him… Zombyra the Dark!"
In an aura of shadow, the masked, caped superhero that Ren was so fond of using rose up on Leroy's side of the field. (2,100/500)
"No way!" shouted Ren. "He's using Zombyra?"
Three copies, actually… thought Leroy.
"I activate a Trap Card!" shouted Erik, as his facedown card lifted. "Zero Gravity. Now, both our Monsters move into Defense Mode."
Zombyra and Toy Soldier crouched down and shielded themselves.
You must think you're so clever, thought Leroy. Using that Trap to stop me from attacking… Well, joke's on you… I wasn't going to attack at all. Thanks for using up that Trap for me…
He fit a card into his Disk.
"I toss a card of my own facedown, and end my turn."
A facedown card appeared.
Erik drew a card.
"My Toy Soldier's effect activates…"
In two bursts of energy, two more Toy Soldiers appeared. (800/300 x2)
"I was hoping you'd do that, Erik!" laughed Leroy. "Trap activate!"
His facedown card lifted.
"Deck Devastation Virus!"
Erik stopped short…
"WHAT?" he shouted.
"That's right…" said Leroy, with an evil smile. "I simply have to sacrifice a Dark Monster with an Attack Score of 2,000 or more…"
Zombyra the Dark exploded into a cloud of vile, black, spores…
"And all Monsters on your side of the field with 1,500 Attack Points or less are destroyed!"
Erik watched in horror as the three Toy Soldiers started to warp and rot like decaying wood. Finally, they collapsed and shattered.
"And the same goes for all Monsters in your hand, and any that you draw for the next three rounds!" added Leroy.
Erik looked at his hand. He gasped as his Giant Rat and Spell Striker vanished.
"That was a dirty trick, Leroy!" shouted Erik.
"Tell it to someone who gives a damn!" replied Leroy. "You humiliated me, remember? So I'm gonna pay you back in spades!
"I swear on my mother's good name, this time, none of your pathetic excuses for Warriors will even get close to hurting one of the ones in my deck that are worthy of the name!"
Erik growled, and placed a card in his Disk. A facedown card appeared.
"I end my turn!" he shouted.
"What's he gonna do?" asked Chelsea.
"I'm afraid to say it, but he can't do much…" replied Ren. "The majority of the Monsters in his deck would fall victim to that accursed virus. We can only hope he manages to survive until it runs its course."
"My draw…" said Leroy.
He drew a card.
"I summon… Marauding Captain."
The aged veteran appeared on the field, holding aloft his two blades. (1,200/400)
"And I'll use his effect to summon… Warrior Lady of the Wasteland."
Marauding Captain made a whistle, and the female Warrior with an odd sense of fashion stepped out. (1,100/1,200)
"You want me?" dared Erik. "Well come and get me!"
"Get him!" shouted Leroy.
"Aw crap…" muttered Erik.
He screamed as Marauding Captain's sword slammed into him.
He barely had time to regain his footing before Warrior Lady stabbed him in the gut with her own sword. He fell to his knees.
(E: 5,700) -------------------- (L: 8,000)
"Heh, heh…" chuckled Leroy. "I've been wanting to do that all tournament!"
Sweat poured down Erik's forehead. He slowly got up…
"It's your move…" said Leroy. "So draw… Of course, I get to see what it is, and if it's another one of your wimps, it goes bye-bye."
Erik angrily drew a card.
"Sorry, Leroy," he said, showing him the Mirror Force, "but this certainly is not a Monster.
"I place one card facedown and end my turn…"
A facedown card appeared next to the other one.
Leroy drew a card.
"I play… Pot of Greed," he said, playing it. "Bet you wish you had this card, don't you?"
He drew two cards.
"Sorry, Erik, but like I said, I'm not dumb… I know that the facedown card you just set is the Mirror Force you just drew.
"So until I manage to get rid of it, I'll set two cards of my own facedown, and end my turn."
Two facedown cards appeared. Leroy grinned at Erik.
Erik drew a card. He looked at it.
"Still not a Monster, Leroy," he said, showing him the Rush Recklessly card.
Leroy frowned. Then he smiled.
"You may think I'm all bad," he said with a chuckle. "But I can be a nice guy when I want to be… I think I'm gonna help you out…"
One of his facedown cards lifted. It was a Trap Card with a very intimidating picture on it, of a demon confronting a king with a scroll.
"I activate Despised Treaty."
"Despised Treaty?" asked Erik. "What does that do?"
"I'll explain," replied Leroy. "Since I activated this card, you get to Special Summon a Monster from your deck that's Level Four or less, if you so choose.
"However, if you do, I get to draw two cards.
"If you choose not too, well then, I lose 1,000 Life Points.
"So… be careful before you decide…"
Erik glared at him. Leroy's eye turned towards his other facedown card.
What he doesn't know is, he thought, my other facedown card is Weed Out, a Trap that will destroy all Level Three Monsters on the field. It may cost me my Marauding Captain, but it's worth it to smash another one of his damn toys…
"I accept!" shouted Erik, taking his deck.
"Then I get two cards," said Leroy, drawing twice.
"Fine…" said Erik. "I summon… Toy Magician!"
In a flash of light, the colorful, elflike wizard made of plastic appeared on the field. (1,600/1,500)
"I activate…" shouted Leroy.
Then he stopped short.
"Wait a minute…" he said. "That's… That's Level Four…"
"Yes…" said Erik. "I distinctly heard you say, Level Four or less."
"NO!" screamed Leroy. "You can't! I won't let you…"
"I can, and try to stop me," replied Erik. "Toy Magician… Attack Marauding Captain with sparkle blast!"
Toy Magician thrust his scepter forward and shot a burst of glowing bolts at the Warrior. Leroy howled in anguish as the Captain exploded.
(E: 5,700) -------------------- (L: 7,600)
"I guess protecting your mother's good name doesn't mean that much to you," said Erik.
Leroy didn't respond at first. He was seething with rage.
"Curse you, Erik…" he growled. "Curse you to the darkest bowls of Hades!"
"I place a card facedown, and end my turn…" said Erik, as a facedown card appeared behind Toy Magician. "Make your move…"
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Yumi and Sam had finished their duel, and were now running through the streets of the city.
"We have to find him!" shouted Sam.
"Sam, Sam!" shouted Yumi, slowing down. "Hold up…"
"What?" shouted Sam, getting impatient. "My lover's in trouble!"
Yumi looked at her.
"Thanks, Sam," she muttered. "I was debating whether or not to come right out and ask you and Erik about that…"
Sam covered her face with her hand.
"Does your mom know about this?" asked Yumi.
"NO!" shouted Sam. "And if you tell her, so help me…
"Look, can we just find him before…"
"Hold up!" interrupted Yumi. "Did you even stop to think that we don't even know where we're going?"
Sam stopped short.
"Well, didn't they say some seafood restaurant?" she asked.
"Big help," replied Yumi. "There are a few, and they might have left by now…"
Then her Crown started to glow again.
"Huh?" she muttered. "Warrior Lady of the Wasteland… Toy Magician…"
She paused.
"Sam… I know where they are… Quick, follow me!"
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Rasputin wasn't watching the duel. He figured he'd best pack his suitcases ahead of time.
He smirked as he went through one that he had yet to even unpack. He always brought too many things while he was traveling.
He sorted through some leisure jackets and shirts…
Then his eye caught something metallic.
He slowly reached for it.
He lifted it out of the suitcase and stared at it. It was a crucifix made of metal, elaborately carved, with every minute detail. Even though it was only eight inches long, the craftsman had been complete, right down to the eyebrows under Christ's forehead.
Despite the detail, it looked like the craftsman had used second-rate materials. The metal was very dull, and full of impurities.
Now how did this get in there? he mused.
He stroked his beard.
I… I know this from somewhere…
He was startled as the mail alert rang on his computer.
By the time he got to his computer, he had almost forgotten about the crucifix…
…and he had no idea that he had placed it in the hidden pocket of his jacket…
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Leroy drew a card and looked over his hand.
"I set a card facedown, and move Warrior Lady to Defense Mode," he said.
A facedown card appeared on his side of the field, and Warrior Lady of the Wasteland knelt in Defense.
"So move already. My Virus still has one round left on it."
Erik drew. The card was Giant Rat.
He snarled, and discarded the card.
"Heh, I hope that was a good one," said Leroy, "and by the way…"
The facedown card he had just set lifted.
"Go, Dust Tornado! Say goodbye to that Mirror Force!"
The Tornado tore across the field…
"I activate Emergency Provisions!" shouted Erik, as another of his facedown cards lifted.
The Mirror Force card lifted up and disintegrated.
"So now, your Tornado has no target."
(E: 6,700) -------------------- (L: 7,600)
"And it's still my move… Toy Magician, kill his Warrior Lady!"
Toy Magician fired his sparkle blast, and Warrior Lady of the Wasteland was blown to gibbets.
"I activate her ability!" shouted Leroy. "Now I can summon an Earth Warrior with 1,500 Attack Points or less. So I summon… Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!"
In a flash of light, the elven Warrior appeared on the field, holding aloft his silver blade. (1,400/1,200)
"I end my turn…" muttered Erik. "At least your Virus won't destroy any more of my Monsters."
Leroy growled and drew a card.
"Then I'll just have to destroy them the old fashioned way…" he said. "I summon someone new… The Hunter with 7 Weapons."
In a shadowy blur, a grim figure appeared on his side of the field. It was a bald, eyepatched Warrior with a stern face, clothed in leather. Like his name suggested, he was armed to the teeth with weapons: swords, knives, axes, bows, and maces. (1,000/600)
"He may not seem very strong, but he gains a special ability when he's Normal Summoned. I get to name one Type of Monster, and he gains 1,000 Attack Points while battling that Type.
"And I name Spellcasters."
The Hunter considered his impressive arsenal, and then pulled a long dagger out of a sheath.
"Go!" shouted Leroy. "Attack his Toy Magician with specialized strike!"
The Hunter lunged at Toy Magician with his dagger. His Attack Score rose to 2,000…
"Did you forget I had this?" asked Erik, as his facedown card lifted.
It was Rush Recklessly.
Toy Magician rose to an Attack of 2,300. He cast his spell as the Hunter lunged, and the Warrior was blown to bits.
Leroy seethed with anger again.
"I place one card facedown, and move my Guardian to Defense Mode," he said.
A facedown card appeared, and Obnoxious Celtic Guardian knelt and shielded himself.
(E: 6,700) -------------------- (L: 7,300)
"All right…" said Ren. "Now that his nasty Virus is gone, Erik might have a better chance."
"Let's hope so…" replied Chelsea.
Erik drew a card.
"Well, what do you know?" he said, showing Leroy the card. "I just drew Pot of Avarice!"
He played the card, and the ridiculous pink jug appeared in front of him.
All three Toy Soldiers, Spell Striker, and one Giant Rat slipped out of his discard slot. He shuffled them into his deck, and then drew twice.
He looked at the two cards.
"I play… Heavy Storm!"
He held up the card, and a violent wind ripped over the field. Leroy's Weed Out and Call of the Haunted lifted up and were blown to pieces.
Leroy glared at him.
"Next…" said Erik. "I summon Toy Wind-Up."
The bulky tin soldier with his blunderbuss appeared next to Toy Magician. (1,000/700)
"Now, I attack your Guardian with Toy Magician!"
Toy Magician cast his spell once again, and Obnoxious Celtic Guardian exploded.
"All right!" shouted Erik. "Toy Wind-Up, attack him directly! Blunderbuss blast!"
The Machine aimed his weapon at Leroy and it fired with a huge blast. Leroy screamed.
"Now I activate his effect…" said Erik. "Now I'm able to summon a second Wind-Up…"
Another of the tin soldiers appeared. (1,000/700)
Erik pointed, and the second one fired at Leroy too.
Erik smiled, as a third Wind-Up appeared. (1,000/700) Again, a blunderbuss fired, sending Leroy to his knees.
"My turn is over…" said Erik. "Looks like your big plan was a big dud."
(E: 6,700) -------------------- (L: 4,300)
"Whoa…" muttered Chelsea. "I really hope I don't have to duel him…"
"Someone's gonna have to," replied Ren.
Leroy got up, clutching his chest. He drew a card.
"Heh, heh, heh…" he chuckled. "My patience has paid off, Erik…"
"I play the Spell Card, Bronze Knight.
"Now, for each card that I choose to toss, I get to summon a Bronze Knight Token."
He tossed three of his cards. In three bursts of energy, three knights in shining armor carrying shields and swords appeared in front of him. (500/500 x3)
"And just what are you gonna do with them?" asked Erik, rolling his eyes.
"I'll show you…" said Leroy, taking another card. "I sacrifice my three Knights…"
The Bronze Knights vanished… Thunder rolled…
"I summon… Gilford the Lightning!"
Lightning erupted on the field, and the mighty Gilford stepped out, electricity dancing all over his armor. (2,800/1,400)
Erik took a step back, as Gilford drew his mighty sword…
With an intense blast of lightning, his three Wind-Ups and Toy Magician were blasted to particles.
"Remember our first duel, Erik?" asked Leroy. "You said some dumb quote… I think it was… Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.
"Well, let me tell you the hard, cold fact. That's a lie that only optimists believe. This world is a cruel, cruel place, where only the strong survive, and weaklings are stepped on. That's how it is, and that's how it's always gonna be.
"Anyway, I'm not done… I Equip Gilford with Fusion Sword Murasame Blade."
He played his last card, and a sword appeared, and was absorbed into Gilford's Sword. His Attack went up to 3,600.
"Try walking away from this!" he shouted. "Gilford, attack him directly!"
Erik hollered as Gilford's sword slammed into him with the force of a hammer. He flew ten feet, and landed on his back.
"If you could get up, it would be your move…" said Leroy, with a laugh.
(E: 3,100) -------------------- (L: 4,300)
Erik tried to get up, but he could barely open his eyes. His mind was in a fog. He couldn't remember a time he had taken a hit that strong. Perhaps he never had.
I have to get up… he thought. I can't… I can't lose the Talisman… So many people are counting on me…
Sam… Where are you?
"Erik!" shouted a familiar voice. "Get up, baby!"
Erik's eyes flicked open.
"Sam?" he said.
He sat up, and looked up.
Sam and Yumi had just run up.
"You guys are okay!" exclaimed Chelsea.
"Yeah," said Yumi. "Rasputin's latest trick."
"So…" said Leroy, "the toy king's royal wench returns."
Erik slowly stood up.
"Erik, don't let this punk bully you!" shouted Sam. "Put him in his place like you did last time!"
Erik looked at her and nodded.
He drew a card.
He looked at it.
He placed a card on his Disk, and a defensive Monster appeared.
"Go ahead…" he said.
"That all?" asked Leroy. "Well, you aren't the only one who can draw a Monster…"
He made a draw.
He frowned.
"Didn't draw one, huh?" asked Erik, with a smile.
"No…" replied Leroy, "but I drew something that will make Gilford even stronger. I Equip him with Jeweled Sword."
He played the card, and another sword was absorbed into Gilford's blade. (3,900/1,400)
"Attack!" shouted Leroy.
Gilford swung his blade…
Giant Rat appeared on the card, and was eradicated.
"I activate Giant Rat's ability!" shouted Erik. "Toy Soldier, come on out!"
Toy Soldier appeared in a flash of light. (800/300)
"Humph, as if that worried me!" shouted Leroy. "I end my turn!"
Erik drew a card.
He gestured, and two more Toy Soldiers appeared. (800/300 x2)
Without saying a word, he placed a card in his Disk, and a facedown card appeared.
"Your move…" he said.
"HA!" laughed Erik, drawing a card. "I'm not going to fall for THAT, Erik!"
He looked at the card.
"So I'm just going to…"
"Well, why don't I activate it right now?" asked Erik. "Curse of Anubis!"
The Trap Card lifted, and the ghostly, spectral form of the jackal god Anubis appeared over the field.
"Now, all Effect Monsters move to Defense Mode, and their Defense Scores fall to zero for the rest of the round."
Anubis let out a ghostly howl, and all three Toy Soldiers and Gilford crouched in Defense Mode.
"And I'm afraid you can't move him back to Attack Mode until your next turn," continued Erik.
Leroy growled.
"Oh, just move…" he said.
Erik made a draw.
He grinned.
"Everyone, move back to Attack Mode," he said.
The Toy Soldiers stood up.
"Now, I'm sure you remember this card, Leroy," he said, playing a Spell Card. "Crowning of the Emperor. I sacrifice one Toy Soldier…"
The middle Soldier vanished in a burst of glowing, golden light…
A larger form rode out of the light. Toy Emperor had arrived. (2,300/800)
"Toy Emperor, attack Gilford!" shouted Erik. "Imperial charge!"
Toy Emperor galloped forward on his mount, and with one swipe of his sword, Gilford the Lightning exploded in a burst of luminous energy.
"Grrr…" growled Leroy. "You activated the effect of my Jeweled Sword. I get to draw one card now…"
He made a draw.
"And Toy Emperor's effect activates as well," said Erik, taking his deck. "I get to pull any Trap Card that I want."
He took the card he wanted, and reshuffled.
"And I'm not done with you… Toy Soldiers, attack him directly!"
The two Soldiers got down on one knee, and their muskets fired. Leroy cringed in pain.
(E: 3,100) -------------------- (L: 2,700)
He placed the card he had just searched for in his Disk, and it appeared facedown.
"My turn is over…" he said, stabbing his thumb down.
Leroy made another draw.
"Sorry, Erik," he said, "but Gilford is coming right back. I play Monster Reborn."
The glowing ankh appeared on the field, and Gilford rose again, holding his sword high. (2,800/1,400)
"Attack his Toy Emperor!" shouted Leroy.
Gilford charged, and smote the Toy Emperor in a fierce explosion. Erik cringed from the blow.
Leroy grinned, and placed a card in his Disk. A facedown card appeared.
He nodded to Erik.
(E: 2,600) -------------------- (L: 2,700)
My facedown card is Meteorain, he thought. He'll obviously shift his two weaklings to Defense Mode. And on my next turn, all I'll need to do is draw another Monster, and this duel is mine.
Erik drew a card.
He looked at the three cards in his hand, then at his two Toy Soldiers, and then at his facedown card.
He gestured, and his facedown card lifted, revealing Call of the Haunted. In a glowing light, Toy Emperor strode out again on his steed. (2,300/800)
"Humph," said Leroy. "I'll just smash him again."
"No you won't," said Erik. "Because I'm going to finish you now.
"I play… Double Spell. Now, I discard one other Spell Card…"
He discarded his Toy Memorial.
"And I can use one Spell Card in your Graveyard. And the one I have my eye on is your Fusion Sword Murasame Blade."
"You can't do that!" screamed Leroy.
"Yes I can," replied Erik. "No matter how much you deny it, my Emperor is no less a Warrior than your Monsters. Like it or lump it."
Toy Emperor's saber vanished, and was replaced by a larger, sharper sword. (3,100/800)
"I'll still live!" shouted Leroy.
"No you won't," said Erik. "Next, I play Fife and Drum Corp."
He played the last card in his hand, and the music of a marching band started. A parade of Toy Soldiers with flutes and drums marched into view. The two normal Toy Soldiers rose to an Attack of 1,600.
"Toy Emperor, attack Gilford again!"
Toy Emperor galloped forward, and with a slash of his new sword, Gilford the Lightning was vanquished.
"Toy Soldiers… End this!"
The two Toy Soldiers aimed their muskets. Leroy Brown screamed as the guns blasted, and he toppled to the ground.
(E: 2,600) -------------------- (L: 0)
"You were right, Leroy," muttered Erik. "In this world, the strong survive, and the weak are stepped on. And if you're a weak-minded bully like yourself who tries to pretend you're strong, you not only get stepped on, you get kicked, trampled, and thrown out like all the other trash…"
"Erik!" shouted Sam.
She ran up to him and hugged him. She planted a big kiss on his lips.
"I'm not letting go of you again for a long time…" she said.
Erik lifted her off the ground and kissed her back.
"Someone want to tell us what this was all about?" asked Ren.
"It was the same thing as it was with Felicia," said Yumi, with a sigh. "And unfortunately, we're gonna have to cure Leroy too, even if he doesn't deserve it."
She walked up to Leroy with Anastasia behind her.
"But we're good. Unless someone comes gunning for Chelsea, Rasputin won't bother us though minions again."
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Sheena walked into the bridge, having come back from her lunch break.
"Ms. Arachne!" said a technician. "We received our eighth Gold Alert… The eight finalists have been decided."
Sheena rubbed her chin.
"Well, you know what to do," she replied. "Compile all information on them, and forward them to me and everyone who needs the info."
"It's being done as we speak," said the technician.
Sheena watched as the faces of Yumi, Sam, Chelsea, Ren, Erik, Olga, Nicholas, and finally, Rasputin appeared on the screens. A worried look appeared on her face.
I have a feeling in my bones… she thought, that the tournament so far has just been a preamble…
The true war is about to begin… And it won't be pretty…
Rasputin's final unwitting assassin has been defeated. Our heroes have earned a short break, as nothing now stands between them and the finals. But when the finals do indeed come, it may be the toughest challenge thus far. The story is half over, and a new part is about to begin…
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WINGED REPAYMENT (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: The image on this card was not shown.
Card Description: Pay 600 Life Points. Draw one card from your deck for every Winged Beast-Type Monster face-up on your side of the field. The card(s) drawn by this effect cannot be summoned, set, or activated during the turn you use this card.
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EXPLOSION WING (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: A bird-like creature flying out of an explosion, carrying a bomb in its talons.
Card Description: You can activate this card when one or more of your opponent's cards are destroyed by one or more card effects during a round. Inflict 500 points of direct damage to your opponent's Life Points for each card destroyed by such effects.
Note: "Winged Repayment" and "Explosion Wing" were first used by Harpie's Brother in a third season episode of "Yu-Gi-Oh GX". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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DESPISED TREATY (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: A demon presenting a scroll to a king, who is being threatened by swords.
Card Description: This card can only be activated during your opponent's turn. Upon activation, your opponent has the option of Special Summoning one Monster that is Level Four or less from his deck. If your opponent uses this effect, draw two cards from your deck. If your opponent does not use this effect, inflict 1,000 points of direct damage to your Life Points at the End Phase of the turn.
Note: "Despised Treaty" was first used by Mad Dog in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "No Pain, No Game". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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BRONZE KNIGHT (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: A knight in shining armor holding a sword and shield.
Card Description: Discard any number of cards from your hand. For each card discarded in this manner, Special Summon one "Bronze Knight Token" (Warrior/Earth/Level One/ATK 500/DEF 500) in Attack Position.
Note: "Bronze Knight" was first used by Gurimo in the original anime episode "A New Evil (Part Two)". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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Yumi: The finals are only a day away… My Spellcasters are ready to go!
Sam: The Consort of Ha Des is ready to meet them!
Ren: My Dark Warriors are itching to fight…
Chelsea: My army of the undead hungers for blood…
Erik: My toy regiment is ready to march into battle.
Anastasia: Beware, children. You do not know yet who your opponents are. The finals will be a conflict, where the holders of the Shadow Charms will battle to the finish…
Coming up next, "Let the Finals Begin! Opening Ceremonies."
The Preliminary Arc is officially over. The Conflict Arc will now begin.