The Trials and Tribulations of a Duelist
by Tails9095
Chapter 3: The Four-Headed Horror
Field Count: Kaji Osimaru has three monsters on the field and one card face down. Katsuo, at the moment, has only 1 monster on the field.
The Chaos Quad Beast, a four-headed creature, stared down at their new opponent. It had the head of a lion, a serpent, a deer and a bird. It's body was one of a huge black dog. The animal pawed at the ground as each head took a different approach to the situation. The three of the heads looked ready to fight, but the fourth, the deer, looked more like it was trying to get away. "I pity you, I truly do. So I will do something I don't usually do," a cocky Katsuo Osimaru called to the young novice Kaji Sumaro. "I will inform you of the Chaos Quad Beast's special abilities," Katsuo started to explain the monster's stats and effects:
Chaos Quad Beast – Bringer of the Apocalypse
Beast/0/0/0 Stars/X Attribute
This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 WATER, 1 EARTH and 1 FIRE on your side of the field, and 1 LIGHT and 1 DARK monster in your Graveyard from play. When this monster is Special Summoned, send this and all card in your hand and field out of play. Then Special Summon a "Lion of Nemea-head (6/3000/3000)" Token, a "Hydra of the Swamps-head (3/1000/1000)" Token, a "
Cerynitis of the Mountains-head (2/200/200)" Token, a "Stymphalian Bird of the Lake-head (4/1500/800)" Token, and a "Cerberus of the Underworld-body (5/2500/2000)" Token. The turn this creature hits the field, you may not activate any monster effects or Declare an attack. While this card is out of play, you do not draw during your draw phase.
"So this is the rumored Five Trials of the Beast," Replied a nervous Kaji, cheers could be heard from the crowd. "and I also know you are holding out on me" He knew that there was way more to the card than that. Each token has it's own effect and he would slowly find out what they did. Hopefully sooner than later. This is because of the rumors that as soon as this creature would hit the field, Katsuo would win in only three short turns.
"Well, I do believe it is your turn," Said a smiling Katsuo as he pushed his hand into the 'out of play zone'. The holograms started to project the horrible smell emanating from the gigantic creature as it watched it's owner.
"Fine! I don't care how big or powerful your card is! I will defeat it!" Kaji shouted triumphantly as he drew into his card. "I hope" He glanced down at his hand and then up at his opponent. "I will activate the effect of my White Magician Pikeru!" Pikeru raised her staff into, Kaji's life points increased by 400 for every creature he controlled. His total amount went up to 6100.
"Alright, that card is becoming a thorn in my side..." Katsuo exclaimed coldly as he stared at the small magic caster. Then he slammed his fist into his palm and said "I'll be sure it doesn't last the turn. I promise you that!"
"Fine. If you want to play that game, I will play Decree of the Free!" Osimaru then played a spell card that appeared onto the field. "This spell allows me to choose the target of my opponent's attacks!" Then Kaji realized something and announced it to his opponent "You forgot that you left two of your monsters wide open for an attack!" Then Kaji pointed to the giant serpent "White Magician Pikeru attack his Hydra of the Swamps!" Then his spell caster raised her staff and pointed it into the air. She unleashed a blast of pink magic into the water creature, the attack hit dead on, and the creature's head pretty much exploded. Katsuo's life points drained down to 3900. "What do you have to say about that!?" Shouted Kaji happily as he watched his opponent.
"Let me ask you something... Do you like snakes?" Questioned the elder duelist, the stump that once held the Hydra started to shake. Then another head of the Hydra appeared on the neck, but it wasn't alone. There were now two Hydra heads instead of one, the both stared down at the frightened duelist. "Well then, how do you like that?"
"Wait! The heads can multiply!?" Shouted Kaji as he watched the pair of heads act like one. The now five-headed creature waited to start fighting.
"More or less. Actually only the Hydra head can multiply. I will tell you the cards effect" Katsuo then started to explain the monsters abilities:
Hydra of the Swamps
Serpent/1000/1000/3 Stars/Water
When this card is sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon this card onto the field, along with a 'Hydra of the Swamps token' that is a clone of "Hydra of the Swamps". This token does not count towards the 5 monster limit.
"So that means..." Kaji started to say, then was cut off by Katsuo.
"That means that I can have an unlimited amount of creatures at my disposal" Katsuo told his opponent as he started his turn. "Now it's time to start activating effects!" He called as his beast let out a defining roar as it started. "First, I will activate the special ability of Stymphalian Birds of the Lake"
Stymphalian Birds of the Lake
Winged Beast/1500/800/4 Stars/Fire
Once during your turn, you may inflict 1000 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points. This card cannot declare an attack.
"Go my birds!" Shouted a Katsuo gleefully as the sky above the two duelists turned dark. From the dark came a single bird. But after a moment, the bird was followed by a second, then a third. Soon Kaji was surrounded as they flew in to peck at him painfully. Once they cleared, Kaji's lifepoints drained down to 5100."Painful? I hope so, but it's only the beginning-"
"You monster" Kaji growled as he held his arm from a peck wound.
"No, that would be him" Katsuo responded and pointed straight up at the Chaos Quad Beast, it acknowledged his master's words with a defying roars. "Not to forget, I will now activate another effect of my monster. Go body of Cerberus!"
Cerberus of the Underworld
Beast/2500/2000/5 Stars/Dark
Once during your turn, you may destroy 1 card on your opponent's side of the field. This card cannot declare an attack.
"Remember that Decree of the Free you needed to protect you? Well, watch this!" Katsuo told him with a laugh, the creature tilted up onto three legs as one went into the air. It paused for a few moments before slamming down onto the ground with a huge 'BOOM'" This created a crack in the air, it went straight for Kaji's face-up spell. The spell fell down into the crack and shattered. This seemed to be Kaji's last defense.
"This can't end well..." Kaji mumbled, his head dropped slightly as he looked up into the air. He watched the monster as it prepared for a strike.
"Now, let's take out that creature you were relying on so greatly" Katsuo told his opponent as he pointed at White Magician Pikeru "I will attack your Pikeru with my Lion of Nemea!" The lion head stared down at the small magician, she looked up to meet the creature's eyes. On her way to meet it's gaze she fell back from looking up.
Lion of Nemea
Beast/4000/4000/6 stars/Light
This card cannot attack unless you Tribute 1 monster on your side of the field.
When this card attacks with an ATK higher than the DEF of your opponent's Defense Position monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points. Any damage this card does in battle is resolved as Effect Damage. At the start of your turn, You may also pay all of your life points down to 100 and it gets the following effect: This monster may attack your opponent's life points directly. If this effect is activated, you must automatically go to your battle phase and to this monster's attack. Then after this monster attacks you must end your turn.
"The lion requires a tribute of one of my monsters to attack this turn" The controller of the beast explained to Kaji, the lion turned and violently ripped off one of the Hydra heads. A gasp echoed through the crowed, the attack was so sudden and horrible. After consuming the head it had the energy to attack. Along with the death of a head, the stump that once held a snake, then split and two more heads erupted in it's spot.
"Oh god. That's right, he can do that" mumbled a shocked Kaji as the lion flew down to strike Pikeru. The lion seemed to slow, everything seemed to have come full circle for Kaji "That's right... I forgot about you..." He thought to himself, glancing down at one of his monsters, then smiled. "I will activate my monster's special effect!" Announced the now happy duelist "Kamikaze Soldier! Activate your special power!" Kaji then proceeded to explain the monster's effect. "My creature's power is the following: for sacrificing my monster out of play, then I am able to save my Pikeru from the attack and end your battle phase!" The combat medic appeared from the nowhere place he was hiding and jumped out to get blasted instead of Pikeru. The pink monster bowed her head for a moment in respect.
"That's lucky of you" mumbled Katsuo as his turn ended over to Kaji. Then he raised his fist into the air, then extended three fingers and smiled."Well that's one turn down. Two turns to go" He told Katsuo, one of the three fingers fell.
"Luck is as luck does" Responded a smiling Kaji, then drew his card. Then he looked down at his field, Pikeru and a face-down sat on the field. Also there was a face-down card on his field. "I will activate my White Magician Pikeru's special effect!" He announced as his monster raised her wand once again, his life points increased to 5900. "This hand doesn't help me... I have to go into defense" He thought to himself, his monster raised her staff to block herself. He set another spell/trap as his turn ended.
"My my my, is that all you can do?" Katsuo asked with a laugh and started to activate his effects again, the birds beginning to flock again. Kaji raised his hands as he was swarmed again by the birds. His life went down to 4900 as he fell to his knees.
"D-damn... that's painful..." He mumbled, even thought they were holograms, it hurt. He glanced down at one of the wounds on his arm, was this real? How can virtual birds hurt me so bad? He found himself standing back up, then he was cut off, his opponent continued.
"Now, Cerberus, destroy his face-down!" Commanded Katsuo as the monster raised it's leg into the air again. After a moment it slammed it's forepaw into the ground again, destroying Kaji's face-down creature. So, the only monster that separated Kaji and Katsuo, was White Magician Pikeru. "Now, Lion of Nemea, I shall tribute another head of Hydra for you." The audience gasped again, the cannibal lion went on to consume another head of the Hydra. This was followed by the creation of two new heads. The number of Hydra heads was up to four. The lion roared as it flew down at Kaji's creature. Kaji looked away as the lion took out the defending Pikeru, he couldn't bear to watch. Then his life drained down to a messily 900.
"It had trample..." Muttered Kaji as he fell to his knees once again. With the Hydra heads, that would be game... Could he win...?
"Well Kaji Osimaru, it's been fun, but now it's time to end this" Katsuo called as he pointed at the weakened duelist "Hydra of the Swamps! All of you, attack and finish this game!" announced Katsuo cheerfully as the snakes flew at Kaji. "That's game Kaji"
"NOT YET!" Shouted Kaji as he stood and raised his arm into the air, a trap activating. "I will activate Last Charge of the Samurai!" The trap started to glow pink as Pikeru reappeared onto the field, her staff had changed to a samurai sword and she stood ready to fight. "Last Charge of the Samurai can only be activated if I have less than 1000 life points. It allows me to choose a monster on my graveyard and bring it back to the field. Then I double the monster's attack points for the turn. After that, I am able to make a charged attack to as many of your monsters as I want!" He called happily, Pikeru charged. She sliced upwards and slash one of the Hydra heads, letting it copy itself as Katsuo's life dropped down to 2500
"Very nice. I commend you on your wise tactic... But the game is going to end." Katsuo cut in, his eyes closed as he said these words. Then when Pikeru went in for another attack, the head that hadn't moved before activated. The deer head flew out and took the attack that Pikeru gave out, it didn't even flinch. Pikeru went to attack another Hydra, the deer blocked again.
"Why can't I finish you off?" Kaji growled, his hands balled into fists. "What is that deer's power?"
"It's actually quite powerful, despite it's small and weak appearance. But you, of all people, should know that the weakest monsters have the best abilities." Katsuo explained as the effect listed off:
Cerynitis of the Mountains
Beast/200/200/2 Stars/Earth
Each time a monster on your opponent's side of the field attacks a monster on your side of the field and you have "Cerynitis" face-up on the field, you can change the attack target to "Cerynitis".
This monster is not destroyed as a result of battle at any time, and damage calculation is not applied.
"What? That means" Kaji said weakly as Pikeru's sword turned back to a staff as Katsuo's turn started to end.
"Your attack is null and void, now, as I said before" He told Kaji as his fist went back into the air. But this time, instead of three fingers, only two came up. Then one of them dropped, leaving a single finger. "Two down Kaji, this is your last turn" The cocky player explained as Kai's turn came.
"Now, let's pull myself out of this hole..." Kaji told himself, Pikeru's effect raising his life points to 1300. He looked down at his deck and took a small sigh, can he do this? Then something odd happened, the deck started to glow again. That hasn't happened since he drew... He pulled the next card out of his deck and stared at it, he was right. "I set one card face down..." He said gloomily as his turn passed.
"Then that means, I win" Katsuo called as his arm raised to the air "I will activate my Lion of Nemea's special ability! For the cost of all my life points down to 100, I go to my battle phase and the Lion attacks. But for this hefty cost, I get to attack you directly!" Explained the winning duelist, his life dropping to 100.
"Then it's over, for real this time?" Asked Kaji, Pikeru looked down as the duel was about to finish. A cheer echoed through the crowed as the Lion attacked.
" Lion of Nemea! Attack Kaji directly!" the lion was flew right at Kai. Then Kaji froze as something in his memory stood out, it was from the Lion's effect: 'Any damage this card does in battle is resolved as Effect Damage.'. Does that mean? Of course, he can use it!
"Katsuo!" Kaji shouted, moving to activate another card "Your attempt to finish me off has failed, again. Your own greed with be the end of you!"
"What are you talking about?" Katsuo growled as he watched Kaji's actions.
"Activate trap card Pikeru's Circle of Enchantment" Kaji shouted as his hand rose to the air, Pikeru stood and raised her staff. She smiled and started to move the staff ahead of her, he quickly drew out a symbol in the air. The symbol made the lion freeze in it's place, it completely blocked the Lion's attack on Kaji's life.
"You... You lucky son of a-" Katsuo shouted in anger, his hands balled into fists. "How dare you trick me!?"
"I'm not the one who told you to activate the lions effect, was I? Hey look, it's my forth turn" Kaji chuckled as he drew. The crowd let out a small laugh too. Though no one said anything, it was assumed that it seems like Kaji would now win this. "Now, let's finish him off..." He mumbled and looked at the card he drew. As soon as he did, he stopped then he looked back up to Katsuo. Another memory flashed through his mind as he thought about something Yugi said before this duel.
-Flashback mode-
"Deal!" Kaji replied joyfully as he took the deck, putting it into his deck box on his belt. He smiled and bowed again to the kind duelist. Kaji then turned to leave until he heard the employee call him back.
"Wait! I almost forgot the key card for the deck" He called to Kaji as he reached down udner the counter for a small box. He pulled it out and placed it down onto the counter and opened it. Inside was a single card, pretty important too because the box was lined with some sort of silk-like fabric.
"What card is it?" Kaji asked as he stared at the card, not recognizing it.
"This is a very rare and powerful card" The worker explained as he pulled it out and handed it over tenderly. Kaji glanced down at the card and read the name of the card that he just received
"White Magician Pikeru..." He whispered, the card gave off a strange pink aurora when he took possession of it.
-Flashback mode ends-
"So, this is what you meant Yugi. Thank you." He said to himself, noticing Pikeru side glancing him from the dueling platform. He looked up at his duel spirit made real, then they nodded at each other.
"What are you planning?" Katsuo asked, watching his opponent very carefully.
"I'm planning on winning this game..." Kaji replied, smiling as he held out the card he just drew. "You know Katsuo, life is full of choices. You make choices as do I make choices, but rarely do duel monsters ever make choices. But Pikeru is more than a duel monster, so I will activate the spell Pikeru's Choice!"
"Pikeru's Choice?" The duelists mumbled as he took a step back, afraid of what the card might do. He didn't know that this card had so many other supports.
Pikeru's Choice
Quick-play Spell
This card can only be activated if a monster with 'Pikeru' in it's name is on your side of the field. Any life-points gained from a monster with 'Pikeru' on your side of the field can be negated and your opponent takes damage equal to the amount you would have gained.
"Then that means..." Katsuo mumbled, his hands raised in a defensive stance, getting ready to take the inevitable.
"That means, I win" announced Kaji, raising his fist into the air triumphantly. Pikeru raised her staff into the air, her outfit started to turn from white to a dark gray. Her staff turned to that of dark magic. Her eyes then went blood red as she charged Katsuo and the beast. She jumped into the air, jumping so high she was looking down on the Quad Beast. She pointed the staff downwards and blasted Kaji's opponent and his chaos monster with a dark spell. The Chaos Quad Beast let out a roar as soon as it was hit, then it it shattered. At the same time, Katsuo's life dropped to 0. Pikeru then fell from the sky and landed on the ground. Just as quickly as her outfit changed, it changed back. She glanced around curiously for a moment, curious of what just happened. Then she disappeared when the Holographic projectors turned off. The audience was silent for a few moments, watching how this duel just finished so shockingly. Then there was a huge roar of excitement from the crowd, cheering for the underdog. The champion glared up at his opponent, pure hatred in those eyes. Kaji was soon swarmed by the crowd. It was the group that was supporting Katsuo just a few moments ago. Kaji could hear people congratulating him on a job well done and 'dethroning' the cocky professional. Then one person in particular walked right in front of him.
"Can we see it?" asked the duelist, he seemed to be the same age as Kaji.
"See what?" Kaji asked back curiously as he looked back to the duelist.
" The Chaos Quad Beast" the guy replied, now looking at him suspiciously. "You... did take it right?"
"Was I supposed to?" Kaji said in a confused tone, glancing around at the other people as an annoyed sigh passed through the crowd.
"You obviously don't know the rules." The person mumbled then explained what he was talking about. "When you beat a duelist, not only are they out of the tournament, you get to take their rarest card."
"What?" His jaw dropped as he stood on his tip-toes to look for Katsuo, but he was gone. Katsuo realized that Kaji didn't know the rules and bailed before he lost that monster from his deck.
"Pfft. Loser" This remark went through the crowd as it quickly dispersed. They obviously didn't care who beat who, they just cared about who held the card...
"At least we won..." Pikeru muttered, the duel spirit was now back at his side.
"I guess that's something to be glad about..." Kaji replied with a small sigh and walked off.
As soon as the round was over, the duelists had a half-hour intermission for different things. At the same time, the duelists who last in the previous round had either left or joined the audience to watch. Kaji decided to go talk to go talk to Yugi before the next round. While they walked, Pikeru noticed Kaji had an odd expression.
"Something wrong?" Pikeru asked as they walked through the halls "You seem to have something on your mind..."
"No, I was just wondering" Kaji replied, glancing down at the spirit as they walked. "If I lose any duel today, wouldn't they take your card? You are the rarest card in my deck. If this happened, what would happen to your spirit?"
"I was wondering the same thing..." She replied, looping her hands back behind her head and glancing at the ceiling above her. "I decided it would be best not to think about it."
"But, the only way for me not to lose you, is to win the tournament." He responded as he looked forward also, they weren't far from Yugi's card store.
"Then we just won't lose" Pikeru stated with a small smile, glancing up at him "We'll win the tournament!"
"I hope so..." Kaji replied, then after a moment he smiled himself "Yea. We will win"
Kaji entered the store to find Yugi behind the counter, reading a magazine. His face was hidden, but his hair was clearly visible. "I watched your match" Called Yugi from behind the publication. "Congratulations"
"Thanks" Kaji replied with a smile as he scratched the back of his head. "Yugi, I wanted to know if you would-"
"I know exactly what your going to say" Yugi cut him off, holding his hand out for the deck. Kaji then gently placed it in the creator's palm. "I'll be right back" After that, he disappeared in the back room.
"What were you asking?" Pikeru asked, glancing up at him with a confused look.
"Just, fixing the deck" Kaji replied with a smile, Yugi then returned.
"All done Kaji. I added in all the appropriate things" Yugi told him with a grin, giving the deck back to Kaji,
"Thank you. Yugi" Kaji told him with a bow.
"It's no problem, really. Just don't lose, I couldn't replace that Pikeru" Yugi told him with a wink. Then the announcer's voice came through the speaker. Announcing the pairings for round 2.
"I won't!" Kaji called, turning to run off. A new round, a new opponent but also another chance to lost.
To Be Continued...
In the next chapter of The Trials and Tribulations of a Duelist:
With Yugi working on my deck, I should be able to dominate, I hope.
Now it's round 2! It's another chance to prove i'm not some lucky scrub!
But whose my next opponent? He's an insect duelist? Well that shouldn't be to hard... right?
Chapter 4: The Force of the Spider's Web
Cya next time!