Suddenly Chris' PDA began beeping, indicating his opponent for the midterm had been selected. 'Are you sure I can beat anyone with my new deck?' Chris asked when he saw his opponent.


Okay, new chapter!! I think you will all like this duel... I think the custom cards are pretty kool XD

Writer of Fate: Yep, F-Heroes are fun :D

Vyser Dragoon: Well, that didn't really comment on chapter 23, but whatever... oh, and I'm already using the void cards for a duel:-)

Ninja Wolf 25: Yeah, I figured as much. Lol, can't just have Chris and Yami duel every chapter for the plot...

ForensicDuelist4137: Yes. Yes I did. Plus, I also had to do a D-Hero duelist!! (he comes in later)

Anyway, RER!!


Chapter 24: Dark King of the Abyss

'After all, Shadow is the top duelist in the school,' Chris finished.

'Well, since I haven't seen him duel, I really have no idea how you'll do,' Yami reasoned. 'But if he's on Brianiac's and Sachi's level… Just be glad we made those changes to your deck.'

'Yeah, he's supposed to be stronger than them,' Chris said softly, becoming even more nervous about his upcoming match. It didn't help at all when he thought of how well Sachi planned out his moves, or how easily Brainiac was able to develop that Magic Thorn lock.

'It doesn't matter how strong Shadow is!' Chris decided, trying to calm his nerves. 'No matter how strong he is, I'll try my hardest, and get a good grade, even if I lose the match!'

'That's the spirit,' Yami smiled. 'I'm assuming this means your not going to let me duel.'

'Of course not,' explained Chris. 'This is meant to test my dueling skills, not yours. Besides, who do you think would win: the top student of the academy, or the top duelist of all time?'

'Good point. In that case, have fun and do your best. Oh, and if you don't leave soon, you won't be there in time and will instantly fail.'

'Ack, you're right!' Chris noticed as he grabbed his deck and rushed out of his dorm.


Chris entered into the Cathedral's Main Dueling Arena, and again was almost deafened. The arena was the second largest in the school, second only to the Dueling Coliseum. Every single seat in the arena was filled, and the combined shouts and cheers of the students was louder than almost anything Chris had heard.

Shadow was already in the arena, his black duel disk activated, with his deck in the proper slot. His clothes, hair, and eyes were all black; the only part that wasn't black was his face, which was his only skin that was showing, and his cards.

Chris got onto the dueling platform, activated his duel disk, and took out his deck.

"Attention students," The proctor announced into a microphone. "I know you all are eager to see Shadow duel," Chris sighed at his lack of attention, "But if you make this much noise, I doubt the duelists will be able to concentrate. If you'll all quiet down, the duel can begin." Almost immediately, the giant room was silent.

Now that he could think clearly Chris looked around the arena and saw Sarah in one of the first rows. She seemed sad, but as soon as their eyes met, Sarah smiled and waved. Chris smiled back as the proctor said, "Shadow and Chris, you may shuffle each other's deck and then begin." Shadow and Chris silently walked to the center of the arena, swapped decks for a moment, and then walked back to their respective sides.

"Let's duel!" They announced in unison as they drew their opening hands.

Shadow: 4000; Chris: 4000

"I start (6)," Shadow plainly announced in his grim monotone voice. "One monster face-down (5), another face-down (4), end."

"That's all?" Chris asked as he drew (6). Shadow didn't respond, his face completely emotionless. "Well then, looks like I'll have to bring in the action! I summon Mach Swordsman (5;1700/1200) in attack mode! Now, attack Shadow's set monster with Sonic Slash!"

"Activate trap, Sword of Piercing Light," Shadow countered. "Now one set card on the field is revealed. If it is a trap or dark monster, it is destroyed."

"Wait, but the only set card on the field is your monster, and you run dark monsters…. So why would you do that?" Chris asked.

"You'll see," Shadow answered. A shining white sword materialized over Shadow's set monster. The light revealed the monster to be a cliché red demon with small horns. The sword cut through the demon down the center, but instead of bursting into pixels, each half of the demon regenerated into a new monster. "When Double Demon (1300/800) is destroyed two more are summoned from the deck, and then their attack is increased by 500."

"But that means my Mach Swordsman can't destroy them!" Chris realized as Shadow's monsters' attack rose to 1800. "Anyway, I'll set this (4) and end my turn."

"Draw (5)," Shadow unenthusiastically said. "My first Double Demon attacks Mach Swordsman." The demon jumped forward and slashed at Mach Swordsman, but Mach Swordsman jumped out of the way at the last second.

"Once per duel, Mach Swordsman isn't destroyed in battle," Chris explained as his lifepoints slightly decreased.

Shadow: 4000; Chris: 3900

"I see. Your monster's special effect greatly decreased the amount of damage you would have taken," Shadow said. "In that case, my second Double Demon attacks Mach Swordsman."

Shadow: 4000; Chris: 3800

"I end my turn by activating the continuous spell card Forbidden Barrier (4)."

"Now I draw (5)!" Chris shouted. "The card I drew is Reinforcement of the Army. I'll play it now (4), so I can add Marauding Captain (5;1200/400) to my hand. Then I'll summon him (4), also allowing me to summon Mystic Swordsman LV4 (3;1900/1600)! Finally, I activate Rush Recklessly (2), increasing Marauding Captain's attack to 1900 for this turn only!"

"That's a good move," Shadow commented. "Now you'll be able to destroy my monsters, bring out your key monster, and protect him from battle."

"You got that right!" Chris shouted. "Marauding Captain and Mystic Swordsman LV4, attack!" The two warriors destroyed the demons with their swords. Then both rushed at Shadow, but an invisible barrier stopped their attacks.

"By sending a certain card from my deck to the grave, Forbidden Barrier can negate any battle damage to my lifepoints," Shadow explained as he quickly searched his deck for two cards and placed them in his graveyard slot.

'Why would he do that just to negate 200 damage?' Chris wondered.

'It's probably part of his strategy,' Yami suggested.

'Yeah, I have to be careful.' "I end my turn, so Marauding Captain's attack goes back down to 1200, but my swordsman levels up to Mystic Swordsman LV6 (2300/1700)!" Mystic Swordsman LV4 grew taller and his sword split in two, becoming Chris' duel spirit.

'Hello again, Chris!' He happily greeted. 'Oh my, he seems powerful,' Mystic Swordsman said, noticing Shadow.

'Yeah, he is,' Chris agreed. 'Be prepared for the worst…'

Shadow silently drew a card (6). "I set a monster (5) and end."

"That's… it?" Chris asked, a little puzzled at Shadow's simple move, drawing a card (3). "Anyway, I'll summon Blade Knight (2;1600/1000)! Now I attack your set monster with Mystic Swordsman! Mystic Sealing Slash!" Chris' duel spirit leapt forward and instantly swiped his swords through the card backing. "Oh, and thanks to Mystic Swordsman's effect, your monster returns to the top of your deck!"

"I know," Shadow emotionlessly said as he placed the card on top of his deck.

"Next Blade Knight and Marauding Captain attack your lifepoints directly!" The two warriors rushed forward, but the invisible barrier stopped their attacks again.

"Two more cards from my deck to the graveyard," Shadow grunted.

"That card is getting really annoying," growled Chris.

"There are only five cards in my deck that I can send to the graveyard with its effect," Shadow explained. "Since I've already sent four of them to the grave, I can only negate the damage once more."

"I'll just end my turn, then."

"I draw (6), set a monster (5), set a spell or trap (4), and end."

'Chris, be careful,' Yami warned as Chris drew (3). 'He's planning something, I can tell. Execute your next moves carefully!'

'Thanks, I will,' Chris replied. "I activate Nobleman of Crossout (2), so now your monster is removed from play!" The knight in shining armor slashed his sword through Shadow's monster's holographic card backing.

"Barrier Statue of the Abyss (1000/1000) has no flip effect, so no cards in our decks are removed," Shadow grunted, placing his card on the underside of his duel disk.

"And now my monsters are free to attack! This duel is over!" Chris shouted as his three monsters simultaneously launched themselves at Shadow.

"Not quite," Shadow replied without reacting at all. "I send the fifth card from my deck to my grave to negate your first attack, and then use Negate Attack to stop your other attacks."

'Wait, why didn't he just use Negate Attack to stop all my monsters' attacks?' Chris wondered. 'He's definitely planning something, and it must involve Forbidden Barrier.' "I end my turn."

"I draw (5)," Shadow declared. "I summon Tiki Curser (4;1900/800) and attack Marauding Captain." A man wearing tribal clothes and a giant purple man appeared, chanting a strange incantation. Marauding Captain quickly developed a strange dark aura, and then shattered.

Shadow: 4000; Chris: 3100

'Now my other monsters are open to attacks again,' Chris silently groaned.

"Since I've sent five cards to the graveyard via Forbidden Barrier, I can send Forbidden Barrier to the graveyard to add a certain spell card in my deck to my hand (5)," Shadow explained as a card popped out of his deck into his hand. However, since I cannot activate that card this turn, I will end."

'What is he planning?' Chris furiously thought to himself as he drew (3). 'He's probably going to execute it next turn with that spell card! And why did he leave his Tiki Curser open to attacks?' Chris inspected his hand, and thought about his course of action. "This is probably what you want me to do, but oh well! Mystic Swordsman LV6, attack Tiki Curser!"

'Are you sure, Chris?' Mystic Swordsman asked. 'He looks a little… freaky.'

'No, I'm not completely sure, but I want you to attack anyway,' Chris replied. Chris' monster jumped forth and slashed through the tribal man. However, a dark aura appeared around him, decreasing his attack to 1800.

Shadow: 3600; Chris: 3100

"When Tiki Curser is destroyed in battle, your monster loses 500 attack points," Shadow explained.

"Well, you're going to lose a lot more points than that!" Chris yelled. "Blade Knight, attack!" The metallic knight ran forward and swiped at Shadow. However, Shadow didn't flinch, or react to the attack in any way; he didn't even blink. He just kept on staring at Chris with his grim gaze….

Shadow: 2000; Chris: 3100

"I end my turn with that!" Chris declared. "Now do your worst!"

"You are going to regret asking for that," Shadow informed Chris as he drew (6).

"And why is that?" Chris taunted.

"Because," Shadow explained, "The five monsters that I sent to the graveyard for Forbidden Barrier were Left Leg of the Forbidden One (200/300), Right Leg of the Forbidden One (200/300), Left Arm of the Forbidden One (200/300), Right Arm of the Forbidden One (200/300), and Exodia the Forbidden One (1000/1000)."

"What?" Chris' eyes widened. "But why would you just dump the pieces of Exodia to the graveyard?"

"Because the spell card I was able to retrieve was Contract with Exodia," Shadow explained, his voice becoming darker with each syllable. "And now that I have all the pieces of Exodia in the graveyard, I can play Contract with Exodia (5). And under that contract, from my hand I can summon Exodia Necross (4;1800/0)!" A pentacle appeared on Shadow's side of the field. On each corner a part of Exodia appeared, and then they fused into the completed being. However, his skin turned pitch black, and his eyes glowed blood red.

"All that to summon a monster… and only 1800 attack?" Chris asked. "He must have an extremely powerful effect."

"He does," Shadow simply replied. "Now Exodia Necross will attack Mystic Swordsman LV6."

"Ha, I activate Blast with Chain! Now Mystic Swordsman's attack increases back up to 2300!" With his newfound power, Mystic Swordsman attacked the dark being and created an explosion, also thanks to his new power. However, when the smoke cleared, the field was unchanged.

Shadow: 1500; Chris: 3100

"Part of Exodia Necross' effect protects him battle," Shadow quickly explained. "I guess I'll have to destroy Mystic Swordsman LV6 next turn. I end."

Chris silently drew (4), and smiled when he saw his new card. "Your monster's effect may protect him from battle, but can it protect him from this? I play Smashing Ground (3)!" Chris waited for Exodia Necross to be destroyed, but nothing happened.

"Actually, yes," Shadow replied in a bored tone.

"Then I'll just switch Blade Knight to defense mode, set this (2), and attack with Mystic Swordsman LV6, and end." Chris' monster attacked Exodia Necross again, and again it wasn't destroyed.

Shadow: 1000; Chris: 3100

"That is the last time you'll damage me," Shadow stated. "I draw (5), and now Exodia Necross' attack increases by 500 due to his effect," said Shadow as Exodia Necross' power became equal to Mystic Swordsman LV6 once again. "Now Exodia Necross will attack Mystic Swordsman LV6 once more."

"Not so fast! Mirror Force will destroy Exodia Necross!" Chris desperately played.

"You just don't learn, do you?" Shadow asked as the attack continued as normal and Mystic Swordsman LV6 was destroyed. "Exodia Necross cannot be destroyed by battle, spells, or traps. Your move again."

'Mystic Swordsman… I'm sorry…' Chris apologized to himself as he drew (3). "I set a monster (2) and that's it," Chris helplessly played.

"To be honest, I thought you'd be better than this," Shadow snorted as he drew (6) and Exodia Necross' attack increased to 2800. "I equip Exodia Necross with Fairy Meteor Crush (5), giving him the pierce ability. Now he attacks your Blade Knight, and deals you damage." Exodia Necross punched the crouching Blade Knight with his dark-glowing fist, and then attacked Chris himself.

Shadow: 1000; Chris: 1300

"That… was powerful," Chris coughed, clutching his stomach.

"I end," Shadow said, ignoring Chris' statement.

"I d-draw (3)," Chris stuttered. "I set this card face-down (2), and that's all I can do."

"Now Exodia Necross' attack increases to 3200," Shadow declared as he drew (6). "Exodia Necross attacks your set monster. If your set monster has 1900 or less defense you will lose. You can't stop this attack because of Exodia Necross' immunity effect."

"Exodia Necross isn't destroyed by traps, but he's still affected by them, so I can stop your attack!" Chris countered. Exodia Necross glowed white as he approached the set monster, and disappeared in the light. "D.D. Rift will remove Exodia Necross from play until the end of the turn!"

"I see," Shadow said. "That will destroy Fairy Meteor Crush and reset Exodia Necross' effect back to 1800. Good move." Shadow set a card (5) and ended his turn, Exodia Necross reappearing with its base attack.

"Draw (3)," Chris weakly said. "Okay!" Chris shouted, once he saw what he drew. "I may not be able to win now, but I'm going to take a good chunk out of your lifepoints! I tribute my set monster to bring out Giant Sword Knight (2;2600/100)! Now attack Exodia Necross and reduce Shadow's lifepoints to 200!" The knight ran forward and slashed at Exodia Necross, but Shadow's lifepoints remained constant.

"Spirit Barrier will negate the damage," He said.

'Uh oh, this makes things a lot more difficult…However, I still have a few cards left in my deck that I can use to win,' Chris thought. "I end my turn."

Shadow silently drew (6), and then slid a card into his duel disk as his monster's attack increased to 2300. "I equip Exodia Necross with the spell Shadow Cross (5)." A black cross appeared in one of Exodia Necross' hands. It absorbed the cross, and black sparks began to flow around its body with the new power. "With this new spell, Exodia Necross is completely unaffected by any of your effects that don't target."

'Well, that just made things much harder,' Chris angrily thought to himself. 'That really cuts down my possibilities.'

For the first time in the duel, Shadow showed emotion, smirking darkly. "Exodia Necross can only be destroyed by targeting monster effects, but of course I have cards to stop that. He's not destroyed by targeting spells or traps, and he's completely unaffected by any effects that don't target. Every turn Exodia Necross gets stronger, and even if you summon a monster more powerful than him, I will not take any battle damage from him, or any other monster I summon. You cannot stop me."

'Wait…' Yami said, taking control of Chris' body.


"Atem," Yami's eyes widened at hearing his true name. "I think you know who I am. And I just want to warn you: this time, you cannot
"Ba… kura?" Yami murmured.

"Oh, it seems you've finally figured it out! It took you long enough! And now, since you know, I assume that you won't mind if I take this to the Shadow Realm!" 'Bakura' cackled as the purple fog began to shroud the two spirits.

To be continued…


How do u like that? It wasn't Shadow, it was Bakura!! Whee!!!

RER!!!!


Card of the Day

Forbidden Barrier
Continuous Spell
Whenever you would take battle damage, you may send a "Forbidden One" monster in your deck to your graveyard to negate the damage. When there are 5 "Forbidden One" monsters in your graveyard, you may send this card to the graveyard to add one "Contract with Exodia" in your deck to your hand. You cannot activate that "Contract with Exodia" during that turn.


Original Cards

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.

Sword of Piercing Light; Trap; Flip 1 set card on the field face-up (flip effects are not activated at this time). If it is a trap card or a DARK monster, flip it face-down and destroy it. Otherwise, return it to its original position.

Double Demon; level 4; Fiend/Effect/DARK; 1300/800; If this set card is destroyed, special summon two "Double Demon" from your deck. If this card is special summoned by the effect of "Double Demon", increase the ATK of this card by 500.

Forbidden Barrier; Continuous Spell; Whenever you would take battle damage, you may send a "Forbidden One" monster in your deck to your graveyard to negate the damage. When there are 5 "Forbidden One" monsters in your graveyard, you may send this card to the graveyard to add one "Contract with Exodia" in your deck to your hand. You cannot activate that "Contract with Exodia" during that turn.

Tiki Curser; level 4; Fiend/Effect/DARK; 1900/800; When this card is destroyed in battle, decrease the ATK of the monster that destroyed this card by 500.

D.D. Rift; Trap; Remove 1 monster from play until the end of this turn. You cannot conduct your battle phase during the turn you activate this turn.

Giant Sword Knight; level 6; Warrior/EARTH; 2600/100

Shadow Cross; Equip Spell; Only equip to "Exodia Necross". The equipped monster is unaffected by your opponent's non-targeting effects.


Next Chapter: Possessed Dark Soul