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CHAPTER FIFTY
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Vampiric Technology
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Yumi versus Chelsea
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As Descartes rallied his troops, Aisha breathed the fresh night air at the beach.
The sea air blowing across the island invigorated her so much…
She was about to cast her clothes aside and dive into the surf, when she heard a chuckling behind her.
"Who's there?" she said nervously, turning around.
Behind her was Icarus, and he clearly wasn't himself. The cloak he had worn as an Ascender had been traded in for the prison jumpsuit they had given him in the brig, but he had stolen back his deck and his Disk when he had escaped.
"Well, look at this," he said with a chuckle. "A young, innocent maiden with a pretty face… Just what our group is looking for…"
Aisha was even more nervous now. Did he mean as a member or as a sacrifice?
"I don't want anything to do with your group," she said.
Icarus raised his Disk.
"It won't matter," he said. "Once I defeat you, you'll come with me via your free will."
Aisha shivered. She didn't think she could outrun him…
She picked her Disk up.
"Okay…" she said. "I've held my own against Yumi, after all…"
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," said Icarus, "but so have I…"
"Game on!" they shouted.
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In the first floor of Clock Tower Prison…
At the end of the dark hallway past the foyer was a large sign over an archway.
DUELATOPIA WAX MUSEUM
"Yumi!" said Ren with a shudder.
"What?" she asked.
"Uh…" he stammered. "Remember last October when the three of us went to that American horror classics film festival?"
"Vaguely," she said.
"I remember it," he muttered. "Most of those old black and white films were rather tame by today's standards…
"But one that really creeped me out was House of Wax. Boy, Vincent Price sure was a guy who could scare you…"
Yumi sighed. Just fifteen minutes ago, this guy was commanding an Egyptian God Card, and now he was scared of a wax museum…
"And I'm sure Mr. Price would appreciate you for saying that," she said. "Posthumously…
"Look… If that film scares you so much, think of him in his less scary roles. Let me see… you ever watch the old, campy, 60's Batman series?"
Ren nodded.
"Okay," said Yumi. "Price played the villain Egghead on that series. Just think of that, and you won't be so scared of House of Wax.
"Now let's go get Chelsea out of there…"
They walked in…
They were shocked by the sight of the three giant demonic forms that stood to greet them.
Standing in the entrance hall were wax statues of three famous Monsters, not nearly life-size, but very life like. About ten feet tall, they depicted the three Sacred Beasts: Uria, Lord of Searing Flames, Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, and Raviel, Lord of Phantasms.
Ren got nervous again.
"Rasputin managed to steal the duplicate of a God Card," he muttered. "You don't suppose…"
"Calm down…" said Yumi. "The Sacred Beasts were lost in some other dimension. I doubt Chelsea has one of them."
"Nope, I don't," said Chelsea's voice.
Ren and Yumi looked up.
"Where are you, Chelsea?" asked Yumi.
"I'm hiding," said Chelsea. "Come and find me, Yumi. Give you a little hint… Find the statue in this museum that's wrong."
The two of them walked past the Sacred Beasts, down a hallway flanked by frightening dioramas containing statues of famous duelists – most of them ones that had meant bad news in the past.
There was Taniya with her pet tiger. Titan the Shadow Duelist. Abidos the Third.
Yumi stopped short at one statue.
It was a statue of a lady vampire in a brown dress and green hair, with a sinister smile, holding a golden Duel Disk.
"Camula…" muttered Yumi, shaking her head. "Far too obvious…"
They moved towards another wing.
The sign above them said "Universal Studio's Monsters".
Yumi shrugged. What wax museum would be complete without them?
They walked down the hallway, past statues of Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera, Bela Lugosi's Dracula, Boris Karloff's Frankenstein, Lon Chaney Jr.'s Wolfman, and the Creature From the Black Lagoon…
Yumi and Ren walked into a large, circular room, where a statue of Maximillion Pegasus was standing on a pedestal. A very large mural painting of Toon World with the various Toon Monsters flying out of it was on the wall behind him.
"It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack," said Ren.
Yumi looked at the statue.
"No…" she said. "Ren, look! This statue is wrong!"
She pointed to it.
"This statue's hair is covering the right half of his face… The real Pegasus had it covering the left half.
"Come out here right now, Chelsea! I'm tired of this hide and seek!"
With a whir, the statue retracted into the floor…
Then, with another whir, a platform rose, and Chelsea appeared on the pedestal.
Yumi didn't like the look of her at all. Like Ren had been, her skin was pale, and her eyes were cold. In fact, she almost looked like a vampire herself now.
"Good job," she said with an evil smile. "For the record, that flawed statue was holding the spot until a much better statue of Pegasus could be made."
"Chelsea, please!" shouted Ren. "It doesn't have to go down like this… Can't you see I…"
"Shut up, Ren!" shouted Chelsea. "Once I take out Yumi, I'm taking you out too!
"I'll admit that you were… Enjoyable… But once you finish a treat, you throw away the wrapper."
This was apparently too much for Ren to take. He fell down and started to cry.
"Chelsea, I know you don't mean that," said Yumi.
"And what if I do?" asked Chelsea. "Think you can prove that I don't?"
"I can," said Yumi, placing a deck in her Disk.
"Let's duel then," said Chelsea. "My Sword of Tsunami against your Crown of Souls."
She wiggled her hip a little, where the Sword was strapped to.
"I've been waiting a long time for this, Yumi…"
"Oh, I'll just bet you have…" said Yumi.
Chelsea heard Rasputin's voice in the microphone in her ear.
"Chelsea, listen closely," he said. "The rightful owner of the special cards I gave you for your deck wouldn't sell them… Not for any price. We had to steal them. And he's currently got both Interpol and a private investigator looking for them.
"So for pete's sake, try not to lose!
"And don't forget that card I told you to add at the last minute."
"It's as good as done… master…" whispered Chelsea.
"Game on!" shouted both of them.
(Yumi: 8,000) -------------------- (Chelsea: 8,000)
"Let's start this, shall we?" asked Chelsea, drawing her first card.
She added it to her hand, and chose another one.
"I'll have this defend me for now."
A facedown Monster appeared in front of her.
I can already see a difference, thought Yumi, as she made her first draw. Chels never defends on her first move…
She looked over her cards… Chelsea's true cards…
"I play this," she said, placing a card in her Disk. "Call of the Mummy."
The Continuous Spell Card appeared.
"And I'll use it to summon Vampire Lord!"
In a burst of energy, the powerful vampire appeared in front of her. He looked somberly at Chelsea. (2,000/1,500)
"Next…" she said, "I'll Normal Summon Vampire Lady!"
She played another card, and Vampire Lady appeared next to the stronger vampire. (1,550/1,550)
"Now I'm gonna knock some sense into you! Vampire Lady, attack her facedown Monster!"
Vampire Lady flew at the facedown card. A small Dragon with a metallic, red and bronze hide, wearing a mask over its face appeared, and was smashed to pieces under her claw.
"A Masked Dragon?" asked Yumi.
"Yep," said Chelsea. "And now I get to Special Summon another weak Dragon. So I'll bring out a second Masked Dragon in Defense Mode."
In a burst of flames, a second of the small Dragons appeared. (1,400/1,100)
Okay… thought Yumi. It's a Dragon Deck… I can handle a Dragon Deck…
"Vampire Lord, attack the second one."
Vampire Lord lifted his cape, and a swarm of bats flew at the Masked Dragon, blowing it to bits.
"Nice try," said Chelsea. "But no-one ever uses Masked Dragon in a deck without packing three of them."
Yet another Masked Dragon appeared. (1,400/1,100)
Yumi sighed.
"I have to end my turn…" she said.
Chelsea drew a card.
She placed a card on her Disk, and another defensive Monster appeared.
She nodded.
"That all?" asked Yumi, drawing a card.
She looked at it.
"I throw one card facedown, and then summon Zombie Werewolf!"
A facedown card appeared, and then the vicious Werewolf appeared, and howled. (1,200/1,200)
"Zombie Werewolf, destroy the Masked Dragon! Terror claw!"
The Werewolf lunged at the Dragon, and with one slash, it shattered into pieces.
"Well…" said Yumi. "That was your last Masked Dragon…"
"Then I'll use its effect to summon Troop Dragon in Defense Mode," said Chelsea.
A short, stocky lizard man holding an axe appeared, and knelt in Defense Mode. (700/800)
Crud… thought Yumi.
"Vampire Lady!" she shouted.
Vampire Lady leapt at the Troop Dragon, and she slashed with her claw, smashing it to pieces.
A second Troop Dragon appeared in a burst of energy.
"Vampire Lord!" screamed Yumi.
The swarm of bats flew at the second Troop Dragon, and it exploded into pixels.
As Yumi expected, a third Troop Dragon appeared.
"All right…" growled Yumi. "I have to end my turn…"
Chelsea drew a card.
"I set another Monster in Defense Mode, and end my turn," she said.
Another set Monster appeared next to the other one.
"Chelsea," said Yumi, "if you expect to win this duel, you're going to have to make an offensive move eventually. So what are you waiting for?"
Chelsea just glared at her.
"Have it your way," said Yumi, drawing a card.
"I summon… Blood Sucker!"
In a burst of darkness, Blood Sucker appeared. (1,300/1,500)
"Yumi, please!" shouted Ren. "Be easy on her…"
"I don't need your pity, Ren," said Chelsea with a scowl.
"Blood Sucker, attack!" shouted Yumi.
Blood Sucker lunged at the final Troop Dragon, and it shattered to bits.
"Vampire Lady, you next."
Vampire Lady flew towards the facedown card. A Grey Wing appeared on the card, and was blasted to pieces.
"Zombie Werewolf!"
Zombie Werewolf flew towards the card. The Dragon that appeared this time was a smallish Dragon with blades on its limbs and jaw, with a toothy mouth. The Werewolf's claw slashed it to pieces.
"A Hunter Dragon?" asked Yumi, putting her hand on her hip. "Not exactly the type of Dragon one uses in most Dragon Decks, Chelsea."
"Maybe my strategy is too complex for your feeble mind to comprehend," said Chelsea.
"Yeah?" said Yumi. "Well comprehend this… You have no more Monsters to protect you! Vampire Lord… Attack her directly!"
Chelsea shielded herself with her arm as the swarm of bats plowed into her, and she took a step backwards.
She panted for breath…
(Y: 8,000) -------------------- (C: 6,000)
"Don't forget Vampire Lord's effect, Chels," said Yumi. "Since you taught me that Spell Cards were the safest option, that's what I'm going to declare."
Chelsea looked at her with a wicked grin.
She took her deck and looked through it.
"Actually, Yumi," she said, "it would be my pleasure!
"Because the Spell Card I choose to discard is a special one, called Hound of Hecate!"
She tossed it in her discard slot.
"That fool Edan was a misogynist and a pervert, but he had some good ideas when it came to cards. When this Spell Card goes to the Graveyard from my hand or deck, I get to take any Dark Monster from my deck and add it to my hand."
She got what she wanted, and slowly reshuffled.
"So, is that your turn?"
"Uh…" said Yumi, looking at her hand.
"Yeah, I guess so…"
Does she have the false soul right now? she thought.
Chelsea drew a card, and quickly added it to her hand.
"I summon Cyberdark Keel!" she shouted.
She played the card, and in a burst of dark shadow, a large Machine made of black metal appeared. It looked like a large, mechanical, segmented serpent with a robotic dragon's head, and a blade on its tail. (800/800)
"Yumi!" shouted Anastasia. "I remember the Cyberdark Monsters… They were the headliners of the dreaded Cyber Tails Deck…
"They were last used by Zane Truesdale after he descended into a state where he wanted to win at all costs…
"But these cards come with a string attached. They're like an addictive drug, and they slowly sap the health and strength of the user, eventually endangering his life if he continues to use them.
"Poor Zane… He was strong at first, but these cards slowly weakened him. He thought he was in control, but his health deteriorated badly. He was lucky to survive.
"Trust me… Those cards are evil."
Yumi paused. She looked at Chelsea.
Chelsea was a strong duelist, but she doubted that she had either the stamina or willpower that Truesdale had…
Finally, she spoke up.
"It doesn't look so tough," she said.
"Appearances can deceive," said Chelsea. "Cyberdark Keel has the ability to dig up a Dragon-Type Monster from my Graveyard that's Level Three or less. Then it can feed on that Dragon's energy, taking every Attack Point.
"I'll demonstrate…"
The Hunter Dragon appeared in front of Cyberdark Keel. It screeched as it was bound by metal ribbons, and then wires were driven into it. Cyberdark Keel rose to (2,500/800)
"Good lord…" muttered Yumi.
"Get the picture?" said Chelsea. "This creature is a vampire too, and it's much better than my old ones.
"And I'm going to prove it right now! Cyberdark Keel, attack Vampire Lord with dark pierce!"
Cyberdark Keel lashed its tail forward, and Vampire Lord groaned before exploding into shards.
"And Cyberdark Keel has another ability," continued Chelsea. "When it destroys a Monster, you lose an extra 300 Life Points."
Yumi strained as a dark aura surrounded her…
(Y: 7,200) -------------------- (C: 6,000)
"I'm not done," said Chelsea. "Next I'll play… Card Destruction. You know what that means."
She played the card. Yumi frowned, and they both discarded their hands. Yumi drew two new cards, and Chelsea drew five.
"I'll end my turn there."
Yumi drew a third card.
Hmm, she thought, Widespread Ruin…
"I set one Monster in Defense Mode, and move everyone else to Defense Mode," she said.
A facedown Monster appeared, and Vampire Lady, Blood Sucker, and Zombie Werewolf all knelt in defense.
"Now I place a card facedown, and activate Mirage of Nightmare.
A facedown card appeared next to her other one, and Mirage of Nightmare appeared.
Let's hope I can do this trick as easy as Chelsea can, she thought.
"I end my turn."
"Then I draw!" shouted Chelsea.
"And I get to draw four cards," said Yumi.
She drew four cards.
"Now I activate… Emergency Provisions!"
Her first facedown card lifted, and Mirage of Nightmare and Call of the Mummy were consumed.
"You like that, Chelsea?" said Yumi. "I did your trick perfectly!"
Chelsea blinked. Her eyes opened wide.
"Yeah…" she said. "That was pretty good… I…"
"Chelsea!" shouted Rasputin's voice in her ear. "She's trying to trick you. Concentrate on the duel, or you will be punished severely once it is over."
Chelsea shook her head.
"Yes, master…" she said.
She played another card.
"I play Mystical Space Typhoon!" she shouted. "There goes your Trap Card."
The cyclone tore across the field, blowing Widespread Ruin to shards.
"Now I summon… Cyberdark Horn."
She played the card, and another terrible Machine appeared. This one was hard to describe. It sort of resembled a cross between a dragon and a wasp, with blade-like wings and a head like a demonic skull. (800/800)
"Like its brother, Horn can feed off the energy of a Dragon in my Graveyard. Good thing you destroyed so many of them when this duel started, huh?"
A Masked Dragon appeared in front of Cyberdark Horn. It was grabbed by metal claws, and wires were driven into it. (2,200/800)
"This is sick…" muttered Yumi.
"And Cyberdark Horn has an impressive ability too," said Chelsea. "When it attacks a Monster in Defense Mode, the difference between its Attack Points and that Monster's Defense Points are taken out of your Life Points.
"Cyberdark Horn, attack Blood Sucker with dark wind!"
Cyberdark Horn threw its wings forward, and a gust of foul wind blew towards Blood Sucker. The Zombie strained, and was blasted apart. Yumi groaned.
"Cyberdark Keel, attack her Vampire Lady!"
Keel lashed with its tail, again, and Vampire Lady screamed as she was impaled, and then blown to bits.
"And once again, you lose 300 more Life Points."
(Y: 8,200) -------------------- (C: 6,000)
Yumi bowed her head.
Then she looked at Chelsea.
"Bring it," she said.
She drew a card.
She placed a card on her Disk, and a facedown Monster appeared next to her other one.
"That's all," she muttered.
"Really?" asked Chelsea, drawing a card. "I expected more from you, Yumi…
"I summon Cyberdark Edge!"
"Just how many of these Cyberdark things are there?" shouted Ren.
A new Machine appeared. This one was neither more nor less a bug, with huge wings that looked like swords. (800/800)
"I'm guessing this one can Equip itself with a Dragon from your Graveyard too," said Yumi.
Another Masked Dragon appeared, and it screamed as it was grabbed by the infernal device. (2,200/800)
"And wait until you hear about Edge's ability," said Chelsea. "If I cut its Attack Score in half, it can attack you directly.
"And that's just what I'm gonna do…
"Cyberdark Edge, attack Yumi directly with dark spear!"
Cyberdark Edge folded its wings. Its Attack Score fell to 1,100, and a burst of shadowy energy shot towards Yumi. Yumi screamed as it felt like the moisture was being leeched from her skin.
Chelsea pointed, and Cyberdark Horn blasted its dark wind at one of the facedown Monsters. Sangan appeared on the card, and was blown to bits.
Yumi started to sweat even more as she looked through her deck. She got what she wanted, and put it back.
Chelsea grinned, and Cyberdark Keel shot its tail towards the other facedown Monster…
A second Zombie Werewolf appeared on the card, and was blown to pieces.
"I use its effect," said Yumi. "I'm sure you know how it works.
A third Zombie Werewolf appeared, also crouching in Defense Mode. (1,700/1,200)
(Y: 5,200) -------------------- (C: 6,000)
"That's all, Yumi," said Chelsea. "So what will you pull out your hat next?"
Yumi drew a card.
"I play Pot of Greed!" she shouted.
The jar appeared, and she drew two cards.
She smirked as she looked at one of them.
"Your Cyberdark Monsters may be powerful, Chelsea," she said, "But I think I know their weakness…"
Chelsea's eyebrow lifted.
"Take away those Dragons that are powering them up, and they'd be weaklings…
"And since those Dragons are Equipped to them like Equip Spells, any card that would destroy Spells would render them powerless.
"Let's see if I'm right… I play Heavy Storm!"
Chelsea cursed as a storm blew over the field, and the three Dragons bonded to the Cyberdark Machines were blown into pixels. Each one fell to its base Attack Score of 800.
"Yeah, you were right," muttered Chelsea. "Congratulations…"
"I'm far from done…" said Yumi, taking another card. "I play Monster Reincarnation."
She tossed her Rush Recklessly, and Vampire Lord slipped out of her discard slot.
"Now, I'll sacrifice my weaker Zombie Werewolf, to summon Vampire Lord again."
The 1,200-point Werewolf vanished, and Vampire Lord appeared, now somewhat angry. (2,000/1,500)
"Next, I remove him from play, to summon Vampire Genesis!"
Vampire Lord vanished into grains of light, and in a burst of energy, the mighty vampire deity appeared. (3,000/2,100)
"Now, I'll move my other Zombie Werewolf to Attack Mode…"
Zombie Werewolf stood up.
"Vampire Genesis, attack Cyberdark Edge! Crimson Shroud!"
Genesis's eyes glowed with fiery embers. It burst into the blood-red cloud, and flew at the infernal Machine. Chelsea cringed as it exploded into slag.
"Zombie Werewolf, attack Cyberdark Horn!"
Zombie Werewolf leapt at the much bigger Monster, and slashed at it with his claw. Sparks flew from Cyberdark Horn's torso, and it exploded into scrap.
(Y: 5,200) -------------------- (C: 2,900)
I've managed to take control of this duel, thought Yumi. Chelsea will have no choice but to bring out the false soul… I only hope I can summon Penelope in time, and bring it down…
"I end my turn," she said.
Chelsea drew a card.
"I play my own Pot of Greed…" she said.
She played the card, and drew twice.
She shuddered when she saw what one of the cards was.
I… I don't want to… she thought. But Rasputin insisted…
She placed a card in her Disk.
"I play, Level Bane," she said.
A Continuous Spell Card appeared on her side of the field.
"It works like this. This Spell Card costs me 300 Life Points for each round that I want to keep it. However, I get to name one number. Then, if either of us draws a Monster of a Level equal to that number, that Monster is removed from play.
"I name… Seven."
No! thought Ren, sitting up. She's trying to get rid of Penelope before Yumi can even try to play her! What's Yumi gonna do?
"Next…" said Chelsea, "I sacrifice Cyberdark Keel to summon Luster Dragon."
The last Cyberdark Monster vanished, and the beautiful emerald Dragon appeared. (2,400/1,400)
"Giving up on your Cyberdarks so soon?" asked Yumi.
"Not by a long shot," said Chelsea, playing a Spell Card. "I play… Cyberdark Impact!
"To play this card, I have to take from my hand, field, and Graveyard, one Cyberdark Keel, one Cyberdark Horn, and one Cyberdark Edge, and shuffle all three back into my deck…"
The three Monsters slipped out of her discard slot. She quickly shuffled them into her deck.
"What's the point, you may ask?" she continued. "I now get to Fusion Summon my ultimate Monster…
"Presenting… The Cyberdark Dragon!"
A monstrous shape loomed over Chelsea. It looked like a machine that a demon would have designed. Clearly, this was indeed a combination of all three Cyberdark Monsters… It looked like someone had wielded them together in a chaotic jumble that vaguely resembled a dragon, with vast wings that looked like huge swords. (1,000/1,000)
"I'm guessing this thing also has the ability to assimilate one of your Dragons," said Yumi.
"You guessed right," replied Chelsea. "But there's one major difference. In this case, it can be a Dragon of any Level. Including the Level Eight Tyrant Dragon that I tossed when I played Card Destruction."
Tyrant Dragon appeared in front of Cyberdark Dragon. It roared as huge metal clamps grabbed it, and secured it to the metal monstrosity.
"And my Cyberdark Dragon has one other ability," said Chelsea. "For every Monster remaining in my Graveyard, it gains 100 more Attack Points. In addition to what you've seen so far, I tossed a Cave Dragon, an Exploder Dragon, and a Sangan when I played Card Destruction, giving this guy a total of… Well, see for yourself…"
(5,000/1,000)
There was a long pause.
"So what do you think, Yumi?" asked Chelsea, with a laugh. "Now I have the greatest predator! The ultimate vampire is now mine!"
There was a long pause.
"It isn't a vampire, Chelsea," said Yumi, shaking her head. "What it is really is a graverobbing ghoul. Vampires are true predators… That thing is nothing more than a scavenger."
Chelsea glared at her.
"I'll teach you to call my Monster a scavenger!" she shouted. "Cyberdark Dragon… Destroy Vampire Genesis with Ultimate Darkness Burst!"
The whole room seemed to turn black as midnight, as the horrible Machine fired a blast of negative energy, and Vampire Genesis exploded into gibbets. Yumi fell down on her behind.
"Could a scavenger have done that?" asked Chelsea.
"Sure," gasped Yumi, trying to sound more confident than she really was. "Tyrannosaurus Rex was more than likely a scavenger, but it was still able to hold its own in a fight."
Chelsea glared at her in rage.
"Luster Dragon, take out Zombie Werewolf!" she shouted. "Emerald flame!"
Luster Dragon shot a blast of green fire, and Zombie Werewolf screamed as he was burned to a cinder.
(Y: 2,400) -------------------- (C: 2,900)
"I end my turn, Yumi," said Chelsea, with a smug smile. "Next round, it's all over…"
Yumi paused. She looked at her hand.
She might be right… she thought. Unless I draw what I need right now, I won't be able to avoid a direct attack from that thing…
Oh, why couldn't Chelsea have included a Spirit Reaper in this deck?
She paused, and touched the Horn of Chance at her hip. She hoped that it had gotten adjusted to a new owner in the forty minutes since she had won it…
She drew a card.
"Hold it, Yumi," said Chelsea. "With Level Bane on the field, I get to check what you draw for Level Seven Monsters."
"Take a look," said Yumi, turning the card around. "A Polymerization card is certainly not a Level Seven Monster.
"And since I have it, I'm gonna use it. You like triple-fusions, huh?
"Well, I'm gonna fuse together Soul-Absorbing Bone Tower, Castle of Dark Illusions, and Pumpking the King of Ghosts…"
The two Zombies and one Fiend appeared on the field, and were consumed in dark energy. Lightning flashed…
Nosferatu the Lich Lord had come again. (1,900/2,000)
"HA!" laughed Chelsea. "He's not even a match for my Luster Dragon!"
"I know," said Yumi. "That's why I summoned him in Defense Mode."
"Defense Mode?" shouted Chelsea.
Chelsea looked. Nosferatu was indeed kneeling, and holding its staff in its lap in a defensive position.
"Don't you remember how your own Monsters work?" asked Yumi. "This guy can't be destroyed in battle. So unless Cyberdark Dragon also has a trampling effect, he'll be an effective shield."
Chelsea growled.
"It doesn't…" she muttered.
"Then it's your move…" said Yumi.
I'm safe for now, she thought. But I used up every card in my hand. Now, it's all a matter of fate…
"I draw…" said Chelsea, drawing. "And I pay 300 Life Points to keep Level Bane…"
"Slow down, Chelsea!" snapped Yumi. "That Level Bane card works both ways, you know. I get to check the cards you draw."
Chelsea growled, and turned the card around. It was Spear Dragon.
"Think I'll summon it while I'm at it…" she said.
She played the card, and the small Dragon that looked vaguely like a pterodactyl appeared in front of her. (1,900/0)
If I can wait her out, I can win, she thought. Once I draw my De-Fusion, I can send Nosferatu back to her Fusion Deck, and it will be all over for Yumi…
"I end my turn…"
(Y: 2,400) -------------------- (C: 2,600)
Yumi drew a card.
She showed it to Chelsea. It was Red Ghost Moon.
Darn it… thought Chelsea. I can't keep paying for this card forever…
Yumi looked at the Trap Card. It was a powerful Trap, but unfortunately, it was the only card in her hand. With no Zombies to discard, it was worthless right now.
"I have to pass…" she muttered.
"Then I draw…" muttered Chelsea. "And I pay 300 more Life Points for Level Bane…"
She showed Yumi the card, which was her own Polymerization.
She chose another one from her hand.
"I play Dragon's Heart," she said, as a Spell Card appeared on her side of the field. "When I play this card, I'm not allowed to summon a Monster during the same round…"
She took her deck from the holder.
"…but I am allowed to toss three Dragons from my deck, in order to increase the Attack Score of one on the field by 1,000."
She threw two Hunter Dragons and an Attachment Dragon into her Graveyard, and Spear Dragon rose to an Attack of 2,900. Cyberdark Dragon rose to 5,300.
"Nosferatu may not be destroyed by this attack, but due to Spear Dragon's effect, your Life Points will still take a hit.
"Spear Dragon, attack Nosferatu with cyclone blast!"
Spear Dragon opened its beak, and exhaled a forceful gust of wind at the Lich Lord. Yumi held her chest in pain…
(Y: 1,500) -------------------- (C: 2,300)
Chelsea sighed.
"Spear Dragon moves into Defense Mode…" she muttered.
The Dragon folded its wings and landed.
"…and I end my turn…"
Is she getting tired? thought Yumi.
She looked at her deck – Chelsea's deck.
I hope she is, because I'm not exactly springtime fresh myself. I'd best draw the card I need now…
She drew a card.
It shone in the dim light.
"I drew Book of Life, Chelsea!" she shouted, showing it to her. "And it's time to use it!"
The card appeared on her side of the field.
"I'll remove the Exploder Dragon in your grave from play…"
The card slipped out of Chelsea's discard slot, and Cyberdark Dragon fell slightly, to 5,200 Attack Points.
"And I'll summon back your old friend…
"Come back, Penelope!"
In a burst of light, Penelope, Lady of the Night appeared on Yumi's side of the field. (1,000/200)
"What?" shouted Chelsea. "No fair! She was never in your Graveyard!"
"Do you remember something called Card Destruction?" asked Yumi. "I wasn't about to tell you this, but your Level Bane was worthless.
"You should have known more than anyone, Chelsea… With the Monsters in your deck, they don't die so easily.
"But your Cyberdark Dragon is more mortal than ever now, because now all Spells and Traps on the field are destroyed, including the Tyrant Dragon that's Equipped to it."
The Level Bane card burst, and then the Tyrant Dragon exploded into shards. Cyberdark Dragon started to spark and sputter, as its Attack Score plummeted to 2,300.
"And let's not forget Penelope's other effect," said Yumi. "For every Zombie in my Graveyard, eight, she gains 400 more Attack Points."
(4,200/200)
"Now, I'll switch Nosferatu to Attack Mode…"
The Lich Lord stood up.
"Nosferatu, wipe out Spear Dragon with unholy blight!"
The Lich Lord raised its staff, and fired a blast of dark lightning, eradicating the small Dragon.
"Penelope… destroy her Cyberdark Dragon with Light of Vengeance!"
Penelope's staff glowed with golden fire. Chelsea covered her eyes, as explosions rocked over the hide of the infernal Machine, and it shattered into pieces of broken metal.
Chelsea hung her head…
(Y: 1,400) -------------------- (C: 400)
"Humph…" muttered Yumi. "One more Zombie, and I would have won right there…
"Due to Nosferatu's ability, Spear Dragon is Special Summoned to my side of the field, although its Type becomes Zombie and it loses its effect. Although in its case, that may be somewhat of a benefit."
Spear Dragon appeared on Yumi's side of the field, a decaying, rotting undead version of its former self, with exposed bones in its chest and glowing red eyes. (1,900/0)
"And I end my turn," said Yumi.
Chelsea's hand trembled. She drew a card.
She looked at it…
Then she dropped it.
She slowly turned the card on her Disk, and Luster Dragon moved to Defense Mode.
"Penelope…" she said, with tears forming in her eyes. "Finish it… Please…"
She moved her Dragon to Defense Mode… thought Yumi, drawing a card. That means she wants me to…
Well, okay Chelsea…
"Nosferatu, wipe out her Dragon!"
The Lich Lord cast his blight, and Luster Dragon was blown to atoms.
"Penelope, take this home!"
Penelope flew towards Chelsea, glowing with a blinding light. Chelsea closed her eyes as the blast hit her.
(Y: 1,500) -------------------- (C: 0)
Chelsea started to collapse. Then, to everyone's surprise, Penelope caught her before she fell over. The Lady of the Night gently set her down.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chelsea was in darkness.
She shivered in cold, and in fear…
Then, she felt two warm arms reach from behind and embrace her. She closed her eyes.
Penelope was hugging her as a mother would a child, trying hard to comfort her.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chelsea didn't know it, but the one who was really holding her was Ren.
Yumi took some deep breaths. She noticed that the Sword of Tsunami was strapped to her waist, on the opposite side from the Horn of Chance.
She was amassing an impressive collection, but how much further could she go on?
Ren turned his head, and noticed the card that Chelsea had dropped. The last card she had drawn.
He picked it up and looked at it.
Premature Burial.
He grinned.
"Hey, Rasputin, you listening?" he said to the ceiling. "This was the card Chelsea drew on her last turn. If she had played it, she'd have won…
"All she'd have had to do was sacrifice Luster Dragon to summon Tyrant Dragon from her Graveyard. Then it could have attacked Spear Dragon and Nosferatu, Yumi would have lost 2,000 Life Points, and game over.
"But she couldn't have played it. Know why?
"Because… Since she had paid her Life Points to keep Level Bane, she didn't have enough Life Points to play it.
"Ironic, isn't it? Your strategy to keep Yumi from summoning Penelope didn't even work, and it cost you… Big time."
Chelsea's eyes slowly opened.
"Yumi… Ren?" she muttered.
"Welcome back," said Yumi.
"Oh, Yumi…" muttered Chelsea.
"You want this back?" asked Yumi, holding her deck forward.
Chelsea slowly took back her deck.
She shook her head.
"Yumi…" she said. "I strongly suggest we try to save ourselves and leave Sam and Erik to their fates."
"Heh," chuckled Yumi. "I'll admit, it is tempting. But getting them out of here is the right thing to do, Chelsea.
"Besides…
"There is no way in Hell I'm going to let Sam weasel out of the wager she lost earlier today!"
Chelsea giggled and got up.
"And there is no way Erik is going to get out of paying me that twenty dollars he owes me," said Ren.
"Then we have to get to the fifth floor," said Chelsea. "Supernatural history exhibit."
"Then let's go!" shouted Yumi. "Uhm, I don't suppose the elevator is working?"
"Uhm…" said Chelsea.
"What am I saying, of course it isn't…" muttered Yumi. "That would be too easy…"
As she opened the door, Chelsea looked at the three normal Cyberdark Monsters and the Cyberdark Dragon.
I wonder if anyone is offering a reward for the return of these cards? she thought.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Back at the duel between Icarus and Aisha, it was pretty much a standoff.
Icarus now had Candellado, the Beast of Light (with 8,000 Attack Points) on his side of the field, along with Gaea the Agent of Plenty (0/3,000), both in Attack Mode, plus Chain Energy, Infinite Cards, Solemn Wishes, Vow of Peace, and a facedown card. He had 7,300 Life Points remaining. Aisha, on the other hand, had three Cloudian – Nimbusman, each with four Fog Counters (2,000/1,000 x2), a Continuous Spell called Cloudian Squall, Spirit Barrier, and one facedown card. She had only 2,000 Life Points remaining.
"You're only delaying the inevitable," said Icarus.
"We'll soon see…" she said, drawing a card.
"First…" she said, "my Cloudian Squall adds a Fog Counter to every Cloudian on my side of the field."
The three Nimbusman rose to Attacks of 2,500.
"Then, I summon Cloudian – Acid Cloud."
She groaned as she was shocked by a jolt from the Chain Energy card, and a Cloudian made of green gas with a halo around its head appeared next to the others. (500/0)
"Since I have four Cloudians, it gains four Fog Counters. And I can remove two of them to destroy one of your Spell Cards. Like your Chain Energy."
Acid Cloud breathed a spray of corrosive mist, and Chain Energy dissolved into sludge.
"Now I'll remove the other two, to destroy your Vow of Peace."
It breathed its acid spray again, and Vow of Peace melted.
"Nimbusman, attack Gaea! Gale blast!"
"Wait a minute…" said Icarus.
The Nimbusman on the right breathed a chilling wind. Gaea screamed before she was frozen solid, and shattered into shards. Icarus cringed in pain.
"Next…" said Aisha, as her facedown card lifted. "I activate my facedown card, Updraft. Now I can remove all the Fog Counters from my Monsters, and deal you 300 Points of damage for each one."
Icarus screamed as an arctic wind chilled him to the bones. All three Nimbusman fell to Attack Scores of 1,000, and his Life Points fell down to 300.
"I end my turn…" she said.
Icarus snarled. He went to draw a card, before remembering that he couldn't draw.
He looked at his hand.
"I activate my Trap Card," he said, as his facedown card lifted up. "Reckless Greed. I have to skip two Draw Phases now, but since I'm skipping them anyway, the point is moot.
"Now I get to draw two cards."
He drew twice. The Solemn Wishes card glowed, and his Life Points went up to 800.
Candellado grew to an Attack of 10,000, as he looked at his hand.
"I set them both facedown, and summon Shining Angel."
Two facedown cards appeared, and the radiant man in a toga with feathered wings appeared. (1,400/800) Candellado fell to an Attack of 7,000.
"I end my turn," he said.
Aisha raised an eyebrow.
She drew a card.
"Activate… Dust Tornado!" shouted Icarus.
One of his facedown cards lifted, and the Spirit Barrier card was swept up into the air. It never came down.
"Heh, heh, heh," he chuckled. "You're down to your last card, and your Cloudians can't defend…
"And, even if your last card is a Monster you can defend with, your Monsters have zero Defense Points… It will be no problem for Shining Angel to destroy it…"
Aisha looked at his other facedown card.
And that facedown card is clearly deadly, she thought.
She looked at the one card in her hand. She shivered in fear.
Looks like I have no choice… she thought.
She played the card.
"I play Wonder Cloud," she said.
"Listen closely. When I play this card, I have to remove from play every card on my side of the field, and in my hand."
Her four Monsters and Cloudian Squall vanished.
"Then, I get to draw one card for each card on your side of the field. Then, the rest of my deck is removed from play.
"But, I do get one other advantage… The effects of any cards you might activate during this turn from this point on, are negated. So your facedown card, whatever it is, is worthless.
"You get that?"
"Yes, I got that," said Icarus, with a chuckle. "And I think it's silly. You're risking your freedom on the off-chance that the top five cards on your deck right now might have the cards you need to beat me in one turn?"
"Well," said Aisha with a sigh. "When faced with a choice between taking a risk and certain defeat, I'd rather take the risk."
She closed her eyes and drew five cards.
Then she reluctantly took the rest of her deck, and placed it inside her parka.
She nervously opened her eyes and looked at her five cards.
"I play… Premature Burial!" she shouted, playing another card. "I'll bring back someone you might remember… Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon!"
Her Life Points fell to 700, as the winds started to pick up. The huge, living storm cloud with a single eye appeared above her. (3,000/1,000)
"Ooh, 3,000 Attack Points!" laughed Icarus. "I'm so scared… That is, I would be… If I didn't also remember its effect. When it attacks, my Monsters switch Modes. So my Shining Angel will move to Defense Mode, and I'll take no damage at all!"
"I'm not going to attack with it," said Aisha. "I only summoned it to sacrifice it for someone who is going to attack…
"I sacrifice my Monster…"
The huge Cloudian dissolved into formless white mist. A spooky, misty fog started to rise on the beach…
"…in order to summon… King Mist!"
A haunting laughter echoed over the beach, and a ghostly form appeared over the waves behind Aisha. It was a knight-like creature, in glowing, ghostly, white armor and a flowing cape, with pupiless, silver eyes, surrounded by wispy mist, and holding a shining, silver sword. (0/0)
"What?" said Icarus. "Your King has no points!"
"He starts out at zero," said Aisha, "but his Attack Score becomes that of the combined Attack Scores of the Monsters I sacrificed to summon him."
(3,000/0)
"King Mist… Attack Shining Angel with royal blade of mist!"
King Mist's laughter echoed over the beach again, and he flew at the Fairy. Icarus was about to activate his Mirror Force… But then he remembered the effect of Wonder Cloud…
"Oh no…" he muttered.
Shining Angel screamed, just before he was struck down by King Mist's sword. Icarus screamed too, as his Life Points fell to zero.
He collapsed, and the Beast of Light vanished.
Aisha breathed a sigh of relief…
Then she was startled, as she saw a dark shadow fly out of Icarus's body. It glared at her in anger, and then dissipated into darkness.
"Maybe…" she muttered. "Maybe I'd better… find a Centurion…"
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Half a mile off the cost of Duelatopia, hovering about four-thousand feet in the air, was a temple that seemed to be made entirely of glass.
None of the tracking equipment that the Centurions used could see it. The owner of this temple, like Rasputin, was no stranger to alchemy, but he was also skilled in actual magic. His spells masked the temple's presence.
Inside, in a large chamber, where everything was also apparently made of glass, he sat on a cushioned chair. He was a tall man, dressed in a tight robe, cloak, and hood, all colored midnight-blue.
As Aisha struck the final blow against Icarus, he roused from his meditation. He lowered his hood, revealing a handsome face with sky-blue eyes, and long, raven-black hair tied in a ponytail.
"Hmm…" he mused, rubbing his chin.
"The end phase has begun…"
Chelsea has been freed from the wicked influence of the Rod of the Ancients, and Yumi continues to scale Clock Tower Prison. But a new threat is on the loose, as a group of apparently possessed Ascenders are stalking Duelatopia, looking for victims. Aisha was triumphant, but will others be as lucky? Yumi may have to stop the problem at the source… If she can find out what it is…
0
0
0
KING MIST (Monster Card)
Card Specs
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Water
Level: 7
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
Card Description: When you Normal Summon this card, you may do so by Tributing only one Monster, or no Monsters at all. The base ATK of this card becomes equal to the combined ATK of the Monster(s) used as Tribute(s) to summon it. When this card is face-up on the field, neither player can offer any Monster as Tributes under any circumstances.
Note: "King Mist" is a Japanese card that has not yet been released in the United States. (Note that its real effect is not the same as its anime effect.)
0
0
0
HOUND OF HECATE (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A grim woman, dressed in furs, holding two vicious dogs by leashes, standing under the full moon.
Card Description: This card is activated when it is sent from your hand or deck to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect. Search your deck for one DARK Monster and add it to your hand.
0
0
0
DRAGON'S HEART (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: A classic-looking dragon with a glowing, red ruby over its chest where its heart would be.
Card Description: You may not Normal Summon a Monster during the turn in which you use this card. Select three Dragon-Type Monsters in your deck and send them to your Graveyard. Then, increase the ATK of one Dragon-Type Monster on your side of the field by 1,000 until the End Phase of the current turn.
Note: "Dragon's Heart" was used by Atticus (as Nightshroud) in the "Yu-Gi-Oh GX" episode "The Darkness Within". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
0
0
0
LEVEL BANE (Spell Card)
Continuous Spell
Image: Invader of Darkness, Dark Necrofear, and Cosmo Queen falling into a dark abyss.
Card Description: Pay 300 Life Points during each of your Standby Phases. If you do not, this card is destroyed. State one number at the time this card is played. If either player draws a Monster of a Level matching the stated number while this card is active on the field, destroy this card and remove the drawn Monster from play.
0
0
0
Chelsea: Yumi… You're tired… You can't keep this up forever…
Ren: And even if you manage to release Sam and Erik, then what? You'll never be in good enough shape to take down Rasputin.
Yumi: I know Ren… It looks bleak… I have no idea what he has waiting for us either above… Or below…
Anastasia: Don't lose faith Yumi. Having faith saved you before, and it may save you again. You have more allies in this struggle than you may think…
Coming up next: "A Beacon Lights the Night; An Ally Returns".
Don't fear, Yumi… On the streets of Duelatopia, help is on the way…