Hi guys, sorry I didn't update last weekend... I was tired and lazy and stuffs, so I didn't update. :S

Writer of Fate: Yeah, I liked that duel, too XD Although I like this duel and the next duel better

Katoma: It's getting better? Yay! Thx:-)

Vyser Dragoon: Yeah, but it gets kind of boring describing the same monsters over and over again, or describing cards that people know. Still, I'll keep that in mind when I write my other chapters.

AsukaTenjoin: You'll see what she saw in this chapter...

ForensicDuelist: You don't like cliffies? Well, don't worry. Once we get past episode 26, there won't be any cliffies for a while XD

Also, I have some bad news... I'm going to be really busy in the next few weekends, so I won't have time to update... so this is going on hiatus for a month... sorry... However, if I get a lot of reviews, I'll update sooner, so review! XD


Chapter 19: Super Junior Confrontation

It's morning, Chris observed, getting up from his bed.

'No kidding,' remarked Yami. 'Now hurry up and get the Millennium Puzzle back out. I don't have much energy left.'

'Oh, yeah,' Chris said, remembering he put away his puzzle. He got his key, opened his draw, and put on the Millennium Puzzle.

'Okay, now check Sam's bed for the fold,' Yami commanded. Chris checked Sam's bed, and the corner was folded like the night before. 'Sam didn't come during the night.'

'As expected,' said Yami. 'If he came during the night and we awoke, then… I doubt he would take that chance.'

'I guess you're right,' Chris sighed. 'So what do we do?'

'You just go on with your normal life,' Yami commanded. 'We'll figure out what exactly what to do during your break, and after classes today.'

'If you say so,' said Chris as he began to begin the day.


Déjà vu, Chris noticed. He was sitting through yet another of Mr. Lentay's lectures, and Sarah was missing. 'Sarah isn't here. Do you think Sam got her?'

'Maybe.' Yami suggested, 'She could just be sick.'

Sarah was just fine. Chris knew Sarah wasn't sick—Yami did too—and Yami only said that to help calm their feelings. 'I hope he didn't get Kengake,' sighed Chris, disregarding Yami's last statement.

'I hope so too,' Yami responded. 'We'll find out at lunch.'

'I don't want to wait that long,' Chris moaned, slinking down in his seat.

'Well, you have two options,' Yami sarcastically explained. 'Wait until lunch, or ditch class now, get expelled or suspended from the school, and lose your chance to help your friends.'

'Now is not a time for jokes,' Chris continued to moan.

'Who says I'm being sarcastic?' Yami smirked. 'Those are your two options. I think it's obvious which one you should choose.'

Chris sighed. 'I know which one to choose, but I wish I could choose the other, just so I could find out sooner. But I guess I can't…'


Chris had gotten his food and walked into the cafeteria, holding his tray, scouting the room for Kengake… and even Sarah; he did this despite he knew he wouldn't find her. Chris sighed in relief when he saw Kengake at one of the yellow tables, alone. Kengake was all right.

"Hi, Kengake," Chris said, sitting down at the table.

"Hey Chris," Kengake replied. "Have you seen Sam or Sarah today? They're usually here by now."

"I was just about to ask you the same thing!" Chris nervously laughed.

'You must really be nervous,' Yami noticed.

'Of course I am!' Chris exclaimed. 'One of my friends in being brainwashed, and another might be stuck in the Shadow Realm! Which of those gave it away?'

'Actually, it was how long it took for you to find Kengake,' Yami answered.

'How come?'

'Look around the cafeteria, Chris. Kengake is the only Obelisk here; there aren't even any Slifers. Blue among yellow is not that difficult to see.'

'Oh… I guess you're right,' Chris noticed, looking at all the other students. 'Sorry for yelling at you just now…'

'It's okay,' said Yami.

"I hope they're okay," Kengake sighed, distracting Chris from his conversation with Yami.

"Me too," Chris agreed. "Kengake, if you see Sam… get away."

"What?" Kengake asked, confused.

"Just… run away," Chris repeated. "No matter what, just run away; don't duel."

Kengake thought this over for a moment. Then he finally asked, "Why?"

"B-because…" Chris started to answering, thinking about his answer. If I tell him about Sam, I have to tell him about the shadow games… if I tell him about the shadow games, I have to tell him about Bakura… and if I tell him about Bakura, I have to tell him about Yami… I don't think I'm ready for that yet… "You just have to trust me. Don't do it."

"I can't take 'just trust me' as an answer. I might just duel Sam myself to find out why I shouldn't duel him."

"That makes no sense," Chris grumbled.

"That may be, but it seems to be the only way to get the answer," Kengake reasoned.

"Just don't duel!" Chris instantly yelled, standing up.

"Chris…" Kengake murmured.

"I… I'm sorry," Chris quietly apologized as he sat down and put his head in his hands. "I don't know what's come over me lately. I don't know what to do…"

"If you're getting so agitated over this, I guess I won't duel," sighed Kengake.

'Chris, visiting Sarah might calm your nerves,' Yami suggested.

'But we don't know where she is!' Chris objected.

'Her dorm room might be a good place to start,' Yami logically reasoned.

'Oh. Good point,' Chris agreed. 'But it's the girls' dorm… are we allowed?'

'Normally, I'd assume not, but this is an emergency.'

'Again, good point.' Chris checked his PDA: the time was 12:28. "Kengake, I'm going to check Sarah's dorm, to see if she's there. You want to come?"

"I do, but I can't," Kengake answered. "I'm going to work with one of my teachers on my deck; he's supposed to be a hero deck master! But… aren't you forbidden from the girls' dorm?"

"Well, if Sarah is in a coma or something, I'm sure they won't mind," Chris snorted.

"True," Kengake laughed, getting up from the table. "I know it seems kind of selfish, going to get help for my deck when Sarah can be in trouble, but I'm sure you can handle it! And if you can't, just message me on my PDA."

"Okay. See ya later!" Chris said as Kengake left the cafeteria. Chris quickly finished eating his lunch, and then followed suit. 'So, do you know where Sarah's dorm is?'

'No, I thought you knew,' answered Yami. Chris responded with a face-vault.

'How are we supposed to find her if we don't know where she is?!?' Chris exclaimed.

Yami thought for a minute. 'I believe she's in the same section as us: Truesdale. That means she's in the Obelisk dorm, which you should at least be a bit familiar with because of your duel with Takashi.'

'Just because I've been to the dorm once before doesn't mean I'll be able to find her room.'

'Touché.' Yami thought for another moment. 'That Obelisk dorm is pretty big, so I'm sure there are plenty of people. If we ask around, we will probably find someone who knows where her room is.'

'Well, we really have no other choice,' Chris sighed as he began to walk to the HTS tubes. He soon arrived at the Obelisk Truesdale dorm. Chris looked around and spotted an Obelisk girl with short red hair. She was facing the wall, scribbling into her PDA, which was resting on a small desk, with a stylus. Chris approached her and tapped on her shoulder. "Excuse me?" he asked.

"Oh! Um, yes?" The girl asked, quickly turning around and deactivating her PDA. Her red eyes were revealed, which almost perfected matched her hair, and she was the same height as Chris. "Oh, you're Chris!" The girl exclaimed before Chris could ask her about Sarah.

"Uh… yeah. I am," Chris slightly blushed. "How do you know me?"

"Sarah tells us about you all the time," The girl explained. "You, Sam, and Kengake, that is."

"So does that mean you're one of Sarah's friends?" Chris realized.

"Uh huh," The girl nodded. "I'm Amy. Has Sarah talked about me at all?"

"Well, I do remember her mentioning an 'Amy' once or twice…" Chris said, searching his memory banks.

"Oh, okay," Amy said. Chris couldn't tell whether she was hurt or not. "Anyway, you must've come here for a reason. So what do you need?"

"Do you know where her dorm room is?" questioned Chris.

"Of course!" replied Amy. "Why?"

"Well, I think she might be… in trouble," Chris answered. "She wasn't in her classes this morning, and I want to check on her."

"Okay," Amy sighed. I don't think I'm allowed to bring him into our dorms, but if Sarah's hurt… "Come to think of it, she was supposed to meet us for lunch, but she never came. C'mon, let's go," Amy said as she began to lead Chris further into the dorm. They went up to the second floor, where Chris found a dark blue and light blue door again. This time, however, Chris was lead through the light blue door.

"Sarah's dorm is right here," Amy told Chris, gesturing to a door about one third through the hall. "Sarah, you in there?" She asked, banging on the door. A girl with pale skin, devious dark eyes, and long dark hair opened the door.

"What?" The girl asked, obviously annoyed.

"Hey… you're not Sarah…" Amy said, confused.

"Oh, how nice of you to notice!" The girl sarcastically replied. "Sarah's dorm is over there!" She yelled, pointing to the door on the other side of the hallway.

"Oh… sorry," Amy apologized with a sweatdrop. The other girl responded by slamming her door shut. "I sometimes get dorms rooms mixed up," Amy told Chris as they crossed the hall to Sarah's dorm.

"I sure hope Sarah is there," Chris sighed as they began to bang on Sarah's dorm. "Sarah, you in there?" he yelled.

"Are you okay?"

"It's me, Chris!"

"And Amy!"

"C'mon, open up!"

"We're worried about you!"

"You're missing your classes!"

"You've got to come out!"

"I don't think this is working," Chris sighed. He turned around, leaned his back against the door, and slid down to the ground.

"Me neither," Amy sighed as she followed Chris' actions. "Oh wait, I almost forgot! We can just call the special emergency team!"

"Special emergency team?"

"Yeah," Amy explained. "It's a special team, and they help students with their emergencies."

"Yeah… I could kind of figure that out from their name," Chris said with a sweatdrop.

Amy took out her PDA, and began to push some buttons with her stylus. "Okay, it's sent," She said after a few moments. About five minutes later, a man in a black suit with sunglasses appeared. He wore the same outfit as the men who confronted Chris when Takashi framed Chris.

"Do you two have a problem?" He asked.

"Yes. Our friend, who lives in this dorm," Amy explained, "Hasn't been seen today, and we think she might be in trouble."

The man knocked on the door, and after a few moments of silence, took out a key and opened the door. The dorm room looked normal; there was no evidence of any struggle.

"Wow," Chris murmured. The dorm room was almost as lavish as his parents' mansion!

"Let's check the bedroom," The man grunted. The foyer of the dorm had two blue doors, excluding the door that lead to the balcony and the door to the hallway. The man walked to one door and opened it, stepping inside.

In the room was a queen-sized bed with light blue blankets. Sarah's head was poking out of the covers near the head of the bed, resting on a matching pillow.

"Sarah!" Amy exclaimed, rushing into the room. She pulled off the covers to reveal Sarah's blue nightgown. "Turn around while I check under the nightgown for injuries," Amy commanded.

"Oh… um, yes," The man said, slightly blushing as he turned around. Chris, who had walked into the room, did the same. After a few moments, Amy declared "No injuries. You two can turn around now."

Chris walked over to the bed and looked at Sarah. Her dark hair was spread out on the pillow, almost like a halo. Her millennium necklace, which was usually a luminous gold, was now just a dull shade of yellow.

The man pushed Chris aside, and took a small, black, rectangular gadget out of his pocket. It had several buttons on one side, and jutting out were two pieces of silver metal.

"What's that?" Chris asked.

"A taser," The man explained. "If Sarah is fine, and just sleeping, this should wake her up. Otherwise, she'll be taken to the infirmary." He pulled Sarah's sleeve up and put the pieces of silver metal against her bare arm. The man pressed a button, and a buzzing noise was heard for a moment. Sarah didn't move.

'She's… not alright…' Chris worriedly thought. 'Yami, can you feel anything in her? Her soul? Life energy? Anything?'

'Unfortunately, I cannot,' Yami replied.

"I need to take Sarah to the infirmary now," The man grunted, lifting Sarah up. He walked out of the bedroom, followed by a solemn Amy and Chris.

However, when the man was about halfway through the foyer, Sarah groaned. "Chris…" She murmured, stirring, but then fell limp again.

"Sarah? Sarah!" Amy yelled, instantly appeared by Sarah, shaking her. "Wake up!"

"What happened?!" Chris simultaneously exclaimed. "Use the taser!" He ordered the man.

"No!" The man shouted.

"Why not?! It might wake her up!"

"Or it could cause her permanent brain damage!" The man yelled, pacifying Chris. Even Amy stopped. "The best thing we can do right now is to take her to the doctors." Amy nodded and stepped out of the man's way as he left the room. Before he was just walking; now he was sprinting.

'I thought you said you didn't detect any life in her?!' Chris shouted at Yami.

'I didn't,' explained Yami. 'But her soul came back for that moment.'

"This is so strange," Chris sighed aloud. By now he and Amy were walking through the hall of the dorm.

"I know. I hope Sarah's alright," said Amy.

"I wonder how many times we've said that already," Chris snickered.

"Who knows?" Amy giggled. "Do you think we have time to go to the infirmary and see what the doctors say?"

Chris checked his PDA and sighed. "No, we have to get to our classes."

"Well, okay then. I guess I'll see you later!" Amy waved goodbye as the two teens entered the HTS building and went into their respective tubes.


Chris couldn't concentrate on his classes the rest of the day, because he was too concerned about Sarah.

'Yami,' Chris declared after his last class had ended and he began to head back to his dorm.

'Yes, Chris?'

'I've decided that you're right; I do need to work on my deck. I know my deck is good enough now, but… it needs to be better! Next time, when I face Bakura, it won't come down to chance, on my final draw. I'll beat him before that happens!'

'I'm glad you came to that conclusion,' Yami smiled. 'After all, your deck won't improve if you don't put your heart and soul into it while you change it.'

"I think I'll change my deck right now!" Chris declared as he entered his dorm room. He went over to the table and placed his deck on it.

"I don't think so," A voice from behind sneered. Chris spun around to see Sam leaning against the dorm door, in the same outfit as before, with his new black duel disk already activated.

"So you're here to challenge me again?"

"Of course. I'm also here to do this again," Sam replied as the dark sphere of mist began to encircle Sam and Chris. Chris grabbed his deck from the table before it dissipated into the darkness.

"Sam, you don't want to do this," Chris said. He would try to talk Sam out of this before the actual duel started. "You don't need to do this. We're friends."

"No, we're not."

"Well, since you attacked me twice, I think our relationship could use some work, but all in all—"

"Shut up!" Sam ordered. "Bakura told me what you were planning! He told me how you, Sarah, and Kengake were trying to steal my deck! And how you guys were also trying to get me expelled!"

"Sam… How could you think we would do that?" Chris asked, astounded. "We're your friends, we'd never do something like that!"

"That's just what you want me to think," Sam spat.

"Of course it is, because it's the truth!" Chris shouted, getting frustrated. "I guess if words won't convince you, maybe actions will!" Chris continued as his duel disk unfolded.

"Let's duel!"

Sam: 4000; Chris: 4000

"When I win, say hello to Sarah in the Shadow Realm for me," Sam snickered as he drew a card (6).

"What? You did that to her?!" Chris yelled. He had assumed it was Sam before, but now it was confirmed. Forget trying to convince him of anything! I'll take his soul from him, like he took Sarah's!

'Chris, calm down. He didn't take her soul,' Yami interjected.

'How do you know?'

'Remember when we visited Sarah?' Yami asked.


Chris walked over to the bed and looked at Sarah. Her dark hair was spread out on the pillow, almost like a halo. Her millennium necklace, which was usually a luminous gold, was now just a dull shade of yellow.
'If Sam had beaten in her a duel, I'm sure he would have taken her necklace,' Yami reasoned. 'Something else must have happened.'

'Fine, I won't just crush him in the duel. I'll try to convince him,' Chris sighed.

'Maybe I should due—'

'NO!' Chris shouted at Yami.

'Chris, you're angry. You won't be able to think straight.'

'I'm fine.' Chris took a deep breath. 'You only tied with him last time. It's my turn now.'

"Are you there, or have you already lost your soul?" Sam asked.

"Huh?" Chris stupidly asked, turning his attention back to Sam.

"It's your move!" Sam shouted at Chris. "If you are going to duel, at least pay attention to your demise!"

"Okay, okay," Chris said, drawing a card (6). Sam had apparently set a monster (5) and ended his turn. "I summon Blade Knight (5;1600/1000), and I'll have it attack your set monster!" The steel-armored knight materialized, and began charging at Sam's set monster. It flipped up to reveal a small, furry creature with three eyes that was quickly destroyed. "All right! That was your Sangan (1000/600), and you'd normally be able to use its effect, but since Blade Knight is my only monster, it's negated!"

"Don't you even know your own cards?" Sam sneered, pulling his deck out of his slot. "Blade Knight's effect only negates flip effects, not other effects, such as Sangan." Sam selected a card and placed it in his hand (6).

"I'll end my turn with a set trap (4)," Chris concluded.

"First, I draw a card (7)," Sam declared. "I'll summon Barrier Statue of the Abyss (6;1000/1000) in defense, and set a trap (5) and end my turn. As long as my Barrier Statue remains on the field only dark monsters can be special summoned!"

"I thought you'd have a longer turn," Chris said as he drew (5). He smirked when he saw what he drew. "I summon Mystic Swordsman LV2 (4;900/0)!"

"And since you summoned a monster, I'll summon one too! I activate Hidden Soldiers to special summon Newdoria (4;1200/800) from my hand! And obviously, he's a dark monster, or else my statue would prevent his summoning."

"Yeah, I know," Chris bluntly said as a creepy corpse arose onto Sam's field.

"Oh, and for the record, I'm summoning him in defense mode," Sam added.

Defense mode? Chris wondered. Why would he do that? If he summoned Newdoria in attack mode, I'd only be able to destroy one of his monsters. He must want me to destroy Newdoria! "Sam, I've figured out that you want me to destroy Newdoria," Chris sighed.

"And you're telling me this why?"

"Because," Chris explained, "I know that deep down you really want me to win. I know you really aren't evil-"

"Of course I'm not evil!" Sam laughed. "You are the corrupted one."

"If I'm the corrupted one then why did you start the Shadow Game?"

"So you'd get your just desserts," Sam answered.

"Anyway, I know that you truly don't want to send me to the Shadow Realm, so doing what you want will not result in any serious consequence! Blade Knight, attack the Barrier Statue of the Abyss!" The knight rushed forward and easily demolished the black statue. "Now, Mystic Swordsman, it's your turn!" The kid swordsman ran forward and chopped Sam's monster into pieces.

"Now you've activate Newdoria's effect!" Sam laughed. "So your Blade Knight is destroyed!" An enlarged version of Newdoria's hand rose out of the ground below Blade Knight, and then dragged the warrior into the ground.

"You should have destroy Mystic Swordsman LV2," Chris told Sam, "Because now he levels up to LV4 (1900/1600), who is stronger than my Blade Knight!"

"We'll see whether or not I made the right decision soon enough," Sam stated as he drew a card (5). I'll repeat my last turn, except this time I'll summon my monster face-down (3). Your move."

"Draw (5)! Mystic Swordsman LV4, attack!" Chris immediately commanded. Mystic Swordsman LV4 ran forward as fast as possible. He was about to destroy Sam's set monster, but it began to shine.

"I use my Lightspeed Revelation card!" declared Sam. "Now my set monster's effect is activated!" The card formed into a strange, gray creature. It looked like a brain with a pair of red wings, and a bloodshot eye. It dodged Mystic Swordsman's sword, and then somehow slipped into his head through the swordsman's ear.

"What is that thing?" Chris asked in disgust.

"It's my Brain Jacker (200/900), and it allows me to take control of your Mystic Swordsman," Sam laughed.

"I'll end my turn," Chris sighed.

"That's it?" Sam asked as he drew (4). "Mystic Swordsman LV4, attack Chris directly! Chris, you shall now fall by your own monster's sword!"

"You don't want to do that," Chris said. "And if you don't believe me, I'll convince you with my Negate Attack trap card!" Mystic Swordsman began to charge, but a vortex appeared in front of Chris and repelled the attack.

"I set a monster (3) and end my turn." One more card, Sam thought.

"My move!" Chris yelled (6).

"As long as Brain Jacker is controlling your monster, you gain some lifepoints during each of your turns," Sam explained as Chris' lifepoints increased.

Sam: 4000; Chris: 4500

"Thanks, but I'm destroying it this turn!" Chris declared. "I activate Level Down (5) to return Mystic Swordsman LV4 to my deck, and then to summon LV2 back from my graveyard!" Mystic Swordsman LV4 glowed, and became a child again. He then returned to Chris' field.

"Okay, so you got back your Mystic Swordsman; big deal!" Sam said. "You can also get back Mystic Swordsman LV4, but I'll just destroy it again!"

"Oh, I won't be getting back LV4," Chris smiled. "Mystic Swordsman, attack!" Chris' monster easily destroy Sam's set monster instantly. "Now, I'll activate Level Accelerator (4) by paying 1000 lifepoints! I end my turn, so Mystic Swordsman LV2 upgrades to LV4, but thanks to Level Accelerator he levels up again to LV6 (2300/1700)!"

Sam: 4000; Chris: 3500

'Chris,' Mystic Swordsman LV6 asked, appeared on the field, 'Isn't that your friend? Why are we fighting him?'

'Yes, he is my friend,' Chris answered. 'But he's just a little confused. We're fighting him to help him.'

'That's strange logic. Are you sure that will work?' Mystic Swordsman inquired.

'No,' Chris sighed, 'But it's the only thing we can do now.'

"Draw (4)!" Sam yelled. Yes! This is the card! "I remove Sangan, Barrier Statue of the Abyss, and Brain Jacker in my graveyard from play to special summon Dark Necrofear (3;2200/2800) in defense mode!"

I remember that monster… Bakura used it! Chris remembered as the strange blue woman appeared on Sam's field. She crouched in defense mode, holding her wield doll up for protection.

"I end my turn," Sam declared. "Just try to get past my monster."

"I know what it does," Chris stated as he drew (5). "I won't fall for its effect." This card could let me bypass Dark Necrofear's effect! I just need one more turn… "I set 2 spell/traps (3) and end my turn."

"I pass," Sam simply stated (4).

"You should have protected your Necrofear (4)!" Chris yelled. "I activate my first face-down, Enemy Controller! This will switch your Necrofear into attack mode!" A game controller appeared in front of Chris. It sent out a wire and plugged into Dark Necrofear, who slowly stood up. "Now I'll have my Mystic Swordsman LV6 attack your Dark Necrofear!" Chris' monster destroyed Dark Necrofear with a single slash of its sword, but Dark Necrofear's doll remained on the field.

Sam: 3900; Chris: 3500

"Now," Chris continued, "I know that normally Dark Necrofear would activate and control Mystic Swordsman LV6 during the end of this turn. However, now I'll activate my Interdimensional Matter Transporter to remove my Mystic Swordsman LV6 from play! During my end phase, your Dark Necrofear will try to activate. However, since I don't have any monsters, nothing will happen! Then my Mystic Swordsman LV6 will return unharmed!"

"Well, that is a good strategy!" Sam manically laughed. "Or at least it would be, had I been planning on using Dark Necofear's effect!"

"Wait, but then what are you doing?" Chris asked.

"Using a much more potent card!" Sam continued to laugh. "Since Dark Necrofear was sent to the graveyard I can activate my Dark Sanctuary (3)!" Dark Necrofear's doll was absorbed into the shadows. The spot in which it had disappeared turned blood red. The red started to spread throughout the entire sphere, almost like an infection. Once Sam and Chris were completely surrounded by the new color, several seams appeared. Someone of them opened up to reveal a large, bloodshot eye, while the rest were mouths with razor-sharp teeth.

"T-this is your Dark Sanctuary?" Chris asked. Sam nodded. "Is… is this what your mind is like? Is this how corrupted you've become?"

"Why not?" Sam laughed. "Considering how powerful my field spell is, I would be honored if my mind was like this!"

"If that's true…" Chris said, looking down. His hair created a shadow, covering his eyes. "If that's true, then forget it! That just means you're beyond redemption! Before I was dueling you to return you to normal, but now I'm going to duel you to seal you away so you can't hurt anyone else again!"

"I'd like to see you try," Sam smirked as Mystic Swordsman LV6 reappeared

'What a dark change of scenery,' Mystic Swordsman LV6 commented.

"My move (4)! Since my Dark Sanctuary requires a tribute each turn, I'll summon Malice Mannequin (3;500/400) and tribute it! To conclude my turn I'll activate The Dark Door (2), so now only one monster may attack per turn." A strange blue and green mannequin with a wicked grin materialized on Sam's field, but was devoured by one of the mouths of Dark Sanctuary.

Okay, so Dark Sanctuary has an upkeep cost, Chris thought as he drew (5). That means that it must have a powerful effect… but what is it? "Mystic Swordsman LV6, attack Sam directly!"

"You shouldn't be so naïve, thinking I'd give you a free shot!" Sam laughed. Mystic Swordsman didn't move, but a strange ghostly spirit floated out of it into Chris. The spirit then flew into Sam.

Sam: 5050; Chris: 2350

"Each turn I can possess one of your monsters with the Spirit of the Dark Sanctuary," Sam explained, "And if you happen to attack with that monster, then half its attack go to damaging you, and the rest of its attack is used to heal me!"

So that's its ability, Chris thought. "I end my turn." 'Why didn't you tell me you were possessed?' Chris asked his duel spirit.

'I was possessed; I couldn't speak!' Mystic Swordsman replied. 'From now on, you can't listen to anything I tell you during your turn, unless it's after your battle phase!'

'Right.'

"I draw (3)," Sam declared, "And since Malice Mannequin was tributed for a Field Spell I can re-summon it. However, I'll just tribute it, set a trap (2), and end my turn."

"Draw (6)!" Chris shouted. 'Hey, this card could help me destroy Dark Sanctuary!' "I set a trap (5), and then summon Mach Swordsman (4;1700/1200)!" Who should I attack with? Sam probably expects me to attack with Mach Swordsman, so I should attack with Mystic Swordsman LV6. Unless he knew I'd figure that out, so I should attack with Mach Swordsman! Of course, he could have known that I'd figure all this out, and—Oh, I'm confusing myself!' "Mystic Swordsman LV6, attack!"

"Wow, you made the same mistake twice!" Sam laughed as the spirit flew out of Mystic Swordsman LV6 into Chris.

Sam: 6200; Chris: 1200

"I'm beating you by 5000 lifepoints!" Sam laughed. "There's no way for you to win now!"

"We'll see," Chris sternly said. "Your move."

"First I draw a card (3), and then I special summon Malice Mannequin. I'll—"

"Not so fast!" Chris declared. "I'll activate my trap Celebration of Creation, so now your turn immediately ends! And since you can't tribute a monster for Dark Sanctuary, it is destroyed!"

"Not quite," Sam chuckled. "You see, since tributing for Dark Sanctuary is a cost, I am allowed to pay it at the end of my Main Phase, before it switches to my End Phase." Chris growled as Sam's monster was devoured by the mouth of Dark Sanctuary yet again.

"My move (5)! I summon Sangan (4;1000/600)!" Chris declared as his furry three-eyed creature appeared. Wait, does The Dark Door only allow me to attack once per turn, or with one monster per turn? I might be able to use Mach Swordsman's effect! This way, if he's infected, I won't lose as many lifepoints! "First I activate Mach Swordsman's effect! By halving his attack to 850, he can attack twice!" Mach Swordsman began to vibrate, and soon was vibrating so quickly he looked transparent. "Now, Mach Swordsman, attack Sam directly!"

"Not so fast!" Sam laughed. "I activate my trap Dark Spirit of the Silent! This will stop your Mach Swordsman's attack, and force your possessed Mystic Swordsman to attack!" The ghost flew out of Mach Swordsman into Mystic Swordsman, but then immediately flew out into Chris.

Sam: 7350; Chris: 50

"Now you must not have hope at all of winning!" Sam laughed. "You don't even have 100 lifepoints left!"

"Don't worry, Sam," Chris said. "As long as I'm still in this duel, I can still win. I'll set this trap (3) and then let you make your move."

"Thank you," Sam said as he drew a card (4). "First Malice Mannequin returns! Then I play the spell Lightning Vortex (2) to destroy all of your monsters!"

"Don't forget, I still get a monster from Sangan's effect!" Chris said as he searched his deck (4). "And you can't attack me directly with Malice Mannequin because you must tribute it for Dark Sanctuary!" Of course, he does have two cards in his hand, and either one of them could be a monster.

"Oh, don't worry about Dark Sanctuary," Sam said nonchalantly. "I'm growing tired of it anyway. That's why I'm playing Premature Burial (1). This will special summon Dark Necrofear from the graveyard, immediately destroying Dark Sanctuary." The red color of Dark Sanctuary began to condense, forming at the bottom of the sphere; the dark purple of the Shadow Realm reappeared. The red began to shape itself, until it finally reformed into the eerie blue woman.

Sam: 6550; Chris: 50

"Now, Dark Necrofear, attack Chris directly and end this duel!" Sam laughed.

Chris remembered when Bakura attacked him with Dark Necrofear. It only did mental damage, not physical damage. At least he'd die without pain, only anguish.

"Oh," Sam added, "And make it hurt."

Chris gulped as Dark Necrofear began to form a ball of dark energy in her hands. "This is what you get for betraying me!" Sam laughed.

"But… you're the one who betrayed me," Chris sighed, having already given up.

"W-what? N-no I wasn't! You betrayed me!" Sam stated, stamping his foot in frustration.

Chris' eyes widened; he had found a weak spot. However, he only had a few moments until Dark Necrofear attacked. "You attacked me and Sarah unprovoked," Chris listed quickly. "You call that not betraying us?"

Sam realized what he had done, and fell to his knees. "I'm sorry," He softly murmured, but then remembered Dark Necrofear was attacking. "Dark Necrofear, stop the attack!" He worriedly yelled. However, Dark Necrofear did not listen to her master, now that he was not under Bakura's influence. Dark Necrofear continued to charge its energy ball. "I'm sorry Chris," Sam said as tears began to well in his eyes. "I don't know what happened. I'm sorry it has to end this way."

"Wait Sam!" Chris yelled. "If we both surrender at the same time the duel will be a draw, and we will both come out unharmed! On three, okay?"

"Okay," Sam agreed.

"One…"

Dark Necrofear completed charging its energy ball.

"Two…"

Dark Necrofear launched the black energy at Chris.

"Three!" Chris yelled as the attack was about to hit him and both duelists' hands raced for their decks.

However, despite the two duelists' agreement, only one hand connected; the other stopped halfway.

There was no draw; one duelist had surrendered.


I'm sorry I'm going on hiatus with a cliffie like that... but if you want to see who surrendered sooner, then review!! XD


Card of the Day

Dark Sanctuary
Field Spell
This card can only be activated when your "Dark Necrofear" is destroyed and sent to the graveyard as a result of battle or by your opponent's card effect. Negate "Dark Necrofear's" effect. If that "Dark Necrofear" is removed from your graveyard, destroy this card. During the end of each of your Main Phase 1s, you must tribute a monster (this is not optional). If you do not, this card is destroyed. At the start of each of your opponent's Battle Phases, select one of your opponent's monsters. If that monster attacks, negate the attack. Then inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster's ATK and gain the same amount of Life Points.


Original Cards

Lightspeed Revelation; Trap; Flip one of your set monsters on the field into face-up defense mode. If it is has a flip effect, it is immediately activated.

Level Accelerator; Spell; Pay 1000 lifepoints. Select 1 "LV" monster on the field. When it special summons a monster by its effect, you may then tribute that monster to special summon the "LV" monster mentioned in its effect (ignoring summoning conditions).

Dark Sanctuary; Field Spell; This card can only be activated when your "Dark Necrofear" is destroyed and sent to the graveyard as a result of battle or by your opponent's card effect. Negate "Dark Necrofear's" effect. If that "Dark Necrofear" is removed from your graveyard, destroy this card. During the end of each of your Main Phase 1s, you must tribute a monster (this is not optional). If you do not, this card is destroyed. At the start of each of your opponent's Battle Phases, select one of your opponent's monsters. If that monster attacks, negate the attack. Then inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster's ATK and gain the same amount of Life Points.

Malice Mannequin; level 2; Fiend/Effect/DARK; 500/400; If this card is tributed for the cost or effect of a Field Spell, special summon this card during your next standby phase.

Mach Swordsman; level 4; Warrior/Effect/EARTH; 1700/1200; You may halve this card's ATK until the end of the turn to let this card attack twice during the battle phase. Once in the duel when this card would be destroyed in battle you may keep this card on the field.

Celebration of Creation; Trap; If your opponent special summons a monster, your opponent's turn immediately ends.


Next Time: Reaper of the Cards