Chapter 15: Walking the Path

Yugi looked up and saw that Horus was extending his hand to him. Yugi reached out and took Horus's handshake. As Yugi got up, Horus smiled at him.
"Yugi; I hope you realize what you've just done." Horus said "You have just fought to a draw against me and this deck. You did great."
"You really think so?" Yugi asked

"Absolutely", Horus began "You do realize that you actually managed to destroy Horus the Black Flame Dragon Level 8!! That's something that only Dan and Sean have ever done before until now. Although it seems that every time one of those two actually does that, it comes back to haunt them later on, Right?"
"Uhhhhhhhh did you have to remind me about that one?" Maximus asked with little enthusiasm

"Yugi, I've been dueling against top level duelists for years now and they all probably WISH they could have fought to a draw against me and this deck." Horus began, "Do you remember that guy, oh what's his name…Bandit Keith?"
"Yeah, the cheating little creep." Yugi answered
"I played him some time ago; this was before I met up with Dan and Sean, and I pulverized him. The final score was Mathias Blackheart: 8000, Bandit Keith: 0. When he saw what Horus Level 8 could do, he just gave up and cried. The list goes on from there, I've fought countless duels against Regional Champs, State Champs, Continental Champs and even the occasional World Champion, as you saw against Kaiba. What do all of them have in common? I didn't just beat these guys; I humbled them. I made them look like absolute crap. And just now I go up against Yugi Moto, a former World Champion and he actually goes full-tilt with a man who has beaten so many champions before. Dan and Sean also have countless victories against high-level duelists and they too have humbled many a Champion. We define "Being the Best" as competing against the best competition out there and giving them our all. Yugi, you have just done that. You went up against one of the most dangerous duelists out there and gave him everything you had. You should be proud of yourself."

Yugi perked up a bit, "I didn't realize that I actually did all of that." He said, "I felt like I needed a big win in order to be able to hang with people of your caliber."
"This game is about more than winning, and you of all people should know that." Horus said, "Duel Monsters is about striving to become your very best. There's so much more to it than fame, glory and victory. Just look at your friend Joey. He duels for his sister, Serenity."
"He's right Yug," Joey chimed in. "Sure, I may enjoy winning duels, but it's not the main reason why I duel. I duel because of Serenity. She's been through a lot and someone needs to take care of her. And to do that, I just want to become the best that I can be."
"Well, I think that maybe I can do my part in taking down these guys and rescue Tea." Yugi said. He then looked back at Horus. "I'm sorry I was such a jerk to you. You've made me a better duelist and I am grateful."
"Don't you mention it." Horus replied, "But we really should get back to the task at hand here." Horus motioned everyone into a huddle. "Set and the rest of his band of freaks wait inside the Temple. The time has come to destroy them. It will not be easy, but trust in yourselves and your abilities and we shall emerge victorious."

"I said it before and I'll say it again, I'm right there with you guys!" Joey said
"I am fully ready to face whatever challenges they have in store for us." Yugi said, "I know in my heart that I can face them, and with my new friends I will have strength to do it. I'm here with you guys."
"That's the spirit. Yugi!" Horus said
"Well this is what we've prepared for and there's no going back now." Maximus added and he threw his and into the center of the huddle for a group handshake. "Let's get these sickos!"
"It's time to put an end to this, once and for all." Shinobi said as he threw his hand on top of Maximus's. Horus, Joey and Yugi all followed suit and in unison all 5 yelled out THE SAINTS!!! The huddle disbanded and the five all walked up the front steps side-by-side and slowly entered the dark torch-lit interior of the Temple.

The first room was a large, dimly lit entrance hallway with multiple different passageways leading in different directions. In one corner of the room there was a stairway leading to a catwalk with another passageway. There was no one else inside the hallway, or at least there was no one willing to come out and make an introduction.

"The place looks deserted." Yugi said, "Are sure they're even here?"
"They're here all right." Horus answered. "They're hiding. Waiting for us to fall into their clutches."
"Cowards. If they believe themselves to be so right and so powerful let them come out and confront us like warriors." Shinobi said
Horus raised up his hand signaling everyone to stop. He then looked around in every direction to examine the room. He noticed mostly that the floor had markings on it. At certain intervals there were round metal plates inside the stone floor. There were also round holes on all of the walls.
"Everybody watch your step." Horus said. "They've got the place booby trapped." Maximus was about to step forward onto one of the metal plates but Horus caught him in time. He calmly pushed Maximus back and reached forward with his foot to press on the plate. The plate sunk into the floor and a long spear flew out of a hole in the wall and embedded itself in the opposite side of the wall. The spear flew right through the spot where Maximus would have stood had he taken that step.

Maximus breathed a heavy sigh of relief "WHEW!!! Thanks Mathias, I almost got skewered."
Horus just looked at everyone; "Once again, watch your step. This place is full of booby traps." He said, just then Shinobi's voice rang out in everyone's head through his pendant.
"I suggest we keep our voices down to a whisper. And we'd better get moving. They could be on their way as we speak."
"Good Idea Sean," Horus whispered. He called everyone together for another huddle. "Ok We'd better split up." He said, "We can cover more ground that way, plus one trap won't be able to catch all of us. There's a series of tunnels in here. I'll go up to the Catwalk. Sean, take the one on the right. Dan, take the center path. Yugi, head for the tunnel in the corner by the back of the stairwell. Joey, go with Yugi. Be careful." Horus reached into his coat and pulled out a head cowl that looked like a Hawk's head and put it on. "Let's roll!"

Everyone went to their separate passageways, being careful not to step on any metal panels. As the group disappeared from each other's view Horus shouted "Good Luck" then everyone went their separate ways.

Maximus made his way through the dark torch lit passageway. It led into a long corridor that seemed to wander around in circles. He traversed the path slowly, making sure that whatever traps may have been set for him he did not spring. After about 15 minutes in this corridor he saw a patch of ground that looks discolored. Suspecting this was a trap; he carefully crouched down and extended his foot onto the discolored area. Sure enough, the ground gave away and revealed an open pit lined with sharp wooden sticks. Maximus then proceeded to walk around this hole. After he had safely reached the other side of the pit he took one step further and felt his foot catch on something. He looked down and saw his foot caught on a long, wire stretching across the hallway. Maximus froze, knowing he was nearly caught in a trap. "OK" he thought to himself. "I'm gonna have to just jump for dear life." Maximus removed his foot from the wire and at once a pair of trap doors flew open underneath him. Maximus fell through a long winding tunnel, ultimately landing feet-first in a room with no lights.
"This is bad!" Maximus said to himself. Just then an ominous voice rang out through the room.
"Well Well Well! At last we meet…Maximus!"