Hmm…most interesting…
…The strings of fate have intertwined with each other, creating quite an interesting scenario…
Most of the time, I am the one who holds the strings in our acts, only to find myself dangled by the strings of the man I called my father. I always hated that…
…but, for all that he's done in the past for me, do I really have a right to complain in this manner? Do I deserve to stand before you all?
…as a handsome duelist with twelve different fan clubs…all who have a different fascination with my body (kinda creepy, but then again, I'm creepy myself).
The young man before him…from what I've heard and read about him, he's a skilled duelist…in retrospect I should've studied up on him a little more before taking this challenge…
…Then I would be the one who held the strings in this duel…
But…where's the fun in that?
The one thing I find disappointing…is when I heard of this duelist, I would've expected him to be…of a much better stature…
//-/--/-//--//-/
Chapter 23
Cut Strings
//--/-/-//--/-/-/
An early morning mist…
…the ominous churn of the open sea against the concrete dock…
…the two shadowed figures silhouetted in the early morning's descending moon over the sea's horizon standing only a few from each other…
"ACHOO! Damn it! If I get a cold from this, I'm kicking your ass Mustang!"
Mustang combed his hair back in his hand as he smirked down at Cain. "It's your own fault for not dressing for this morning…"
"We live on a tropical island," Cain muttered turning his head back to the sea, waiting for something to reappear on the sea. "You'd think that we wouldn't need something like warm clothes or worry about colds…"
"Hmm…well, this place is usually weird like that…." Mustang admitted rubbing his chin through his scarf.
It had only been hours since Mustang and Cain sent the message to a familiar former headmaster about the plan that was given to the two blue students by one Zodiac duelist. Why he had given them the information, well, that wasn't the matter at hand.
"Oi, did you hear about that blood red moon that occurred last night?" Mustang brought up breaking the momentary silence.
"Blood red moon?" Cain questioned raising an eyebrow to Mustang's weird question. That was physically impossible for something like that to happen…but then again, Cain used to think that duel monsters was just a children's card game, he learned the hard way that many times that fact was false.
His right arm was proof enough for that matter, he hated his arm however…his right arm always caused him pain every now and then, but it was the emotional stress that got him every time. Cain ever since last year, the Alchemic Duelist never showed anyone his arm, nor did he ever be seen without a long sleeved shirt or gloves…
"…that's just stupid Mustang…"
"Heh…I guess I should've expected that from you Cain," Mustang chuckled placing his arms behind his head. He couldn't help but to look at Cain's right arm, Mustang could still recount the memories of that day…but shaking it off, Mustang just turned back to the short companion. "But…the Blood Red Moon was directly located over the Atlantic Duel academy…"
"Now that doesn't even make any sense at all," Cain growled slapping his forehead with his left hand. "But let me guess…you know how it was caused."
"Well, from what I can tell," Mustang hummed slightly rubbing his chin. "My sources told me that there was a guy who had this fetish for dressing in weird outfits, created a weird rune in it that was blood red. It was some kind of ritual to rid the guy of some kind of disease or something. The aura from the rune seemed to seep directly into the moon, thus creating the red moon…"
"Damn you're long winded," Cain moaned shaking his head. "Weird outfits…that's just weird…"
"Sshh," Mustang advised lifting his finger up to his mouth. "Something's coming…"
"Why do we have to be quiet?" Cain asked as a large light began to pierce the morning mist from the sea. "I mean…it's just a boat…"
"Quiet!" Mustang growled slapping his hand over Cain's mouth, cutting the short duelist off. "We can't let anyone know we're here!"
Mustang kept his hands over the now struggling to breathe Cain as a large boat began to dock at the pier. Slowly, after the long board from the boat connected to the dock, a familiar figure (who actually looked a little thinner and was sporting a full head of hair) walked from the boat and stood in front of the two Obelisk Blue students. "Ha, ha, nice to see you two boys again…you're looking well as usual…"
"Ah! Mr. Daigo! It's nice to see you as well!" Mustang announced, not removing his hand from Cain's mouth. "I actually can see that you've lost some weight and got some hair back…"
"Yes, I say that this little vacation of mine was the very best for me," Daigo chuckled watching as Cain broke free from Mustang's suffocating grasp.
"AAAAHHH!" Cain gasped trying to grasp at his air. As soon as the color reappeared on his face, Cain narrowed his eyes at Mustang and clenched his right fist. "YOU DUMBASS! DID YOU THINK I COULD BREATHE!?!?"
That's when Cain slammed his right fist into Mustang's face, making the Die Hard Kaiser fall backwards. "Take that you Die Hard bastard!"
"…Hmm…oh my," Daigo stated covering his mouth with his hand with a worried look on his face. "Is he alright?"
"Eh? Ah, he's used to it sir," Cain growled fixing his hair back again.
"…used to it?" Daigo questioned with a question mark over his head.
"Ah, never mind sir," Cain said rubbing the back of his head. "Now then, I think its time we discuss our plans…"
"Agreed," Daigo replied lifting his duffel bag over his shoulder. "But, what about the Kaiser, shouldn't we help him up?"
"Like I said," Cain sighed walking away from Daigo and Mustang as he slipped his hands into his pockets. "Mustang's used to it…besides he'll be up as soon as a mini skirt wearing girl walks by."
"Hmm…I see," Daigo muttered sending a weird look at Mustang while he walked after Cain.
//-/--//-/--//-/
"Heh, heh, heh…"
"Cut, cut, slice, slice…" Zaku hummed loudly lifting a small carving knife up before bringing it down onto his target. "Carve out death, to bring a new life…"
All around the room that Zaku had claimed his room, the walls were covered with multiple puppets and ventriloquist dolls, each of them representing a familiar character from a variety of anime, video games, and manga.
"Sand, sand, fix, fix," Zaku continued on his little project, even in the darkness of his room. "Make a new doll; give the kids some kicks…"
Despite his high duelist level, Zaku was actually known for other things other than his ability and handsome looks. He was known as a generous and popular man, especially for kids. Whenever he was in a major or small city, Zaku always looked up orphanages and delivered food and toys…
…but not only that, Zaku also delivered entertainment to the children. Even though it wasn't one of his more desirable traits, Zaku was a masterful ventriloquist and entertained the kids with the many pop cultured jokes and cute puppets that he created.
Sure, Zaku enjoyed doing the experience, but he did it for a few reasons…despite the free publicity, let's just say that it reminded him of a certain face in his past.
"Hey Zaku!" Tao announced opening the door to enter in without another thought. "Have you seen…As…hton?"
The Muscular duelist was stopped cold in his tracks by the sight of the many puppets and dolls that lined the walls, all of their lifeless eyes looking like they were starring directly into his very soul. "C-creepy…"
"Tao…what do you want?" Zaku asked putting the finishing touches on his newest creation…a small puppet that had white hair and a black cloak with silver trim on it.
"D-didn't I ask you to stop making these dolls?" Tao stuttered with a dark look over his shoulders, his eyes trailing over the many dolls and puppets seemed to follow his movements.
"…Yes…but, you can't expect me to just stop cold turkey," Zaku replied standing up placing his newest puppet on the desk in front of him. "Besides…these aren't my dolls…their for my fans…you know that as well as I do…"
"I don't know where you find the time to do these things…" Tao admitted shaking his head, trying to remember why he came to Zaku's creepy dark room. "…but…but anyway…have you seen Ashton around?"
"I can't say that I have…" Zaku answered bluntly turning his back to Tao and looking up at the walls. "…What is the cause of this concern?"
"W-well, he hasn't shown up since his duel with that little ninja freak," Tao replied rubbing his chin in deep thought. "I-I just thought…"
That's when one of the puppets flew down from the shelves and cackled in front of Tao, freaking the large duelist out. "We don't know where Ashton is…heh, heh, heh…"
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!" Tao screamed before falling backwards, his eyes dulled over and his mouth gapping open.
With a loud chuckle, Zaku pulled his hand back, revealing a large amount of strings to pull back on the puppet that freaked Tao out to his hand. "Hmm….I've still got that touch…good."
A few minutes later, and a cold splash of water later…
"Stop doing that…" Tao breathed a few times wiping the water off his brow and glaring daggers at Zaku who was putting the puppet back onto the shelf. "This is serious…"
"…I quite agree my friend," Zaku sighed turning back to his teammate with a calm smile on his face. "…just trying to get a lighter mood into the room, mind you. You see, I don't know what Ashton is doing, or where he is anyway."
"Then, what are we supposed to do?" Tao asked crossing his arms over his chest and sent a serious look towards Zaku. "I mean…this is like the first time anyone's ever tied with him…"
"True…but its not the first he's been defeated," Zaku pointed out sitting back down into his chair and lifting his feet onto his desk. "Remember, he lost to our boss…and that just scares me that old man was able to perform such a task…"
"Yeah…who knew that the old coot was able to do that…?" Tao shuddered at him losing to Kurro…and those, weird emotionless cards.
"Heh…he's not that tough…"
Tao shook his head and glared daggers at Zaku. "Zaku, stop trying to scare me…for crying out loud you didn't even do it in a scary voice…"
"B-But, I didn't say a thing," Zaku answered back with his eyebrows raised slightly.
"…Correct, I was the one who spoke…"
Moving their heads to the right, the two members of Team Legendz were met with a shark toothed, greased back haired man who merely stood next to the various dolls. Oblivious to the fact that the man was standing in front of the two for a while, the dark man raised his hand up and waved a few times. "Heh…and here I was thinking you two were legally blind and deaf…"
"W-Who are you?" Tao stuttered, even though he was bigger than the man, there was just a certain aura around him…something that seemed to make the big man tremble slightly.
"Your boss's former boss..." The man answered crossing his arms over his chest. "…and hopefully to become your newest boss. For now, you can call me Big Boss…"
"Nice name," Zaku chuckled shaking his hair from his sight.
"Thanks…" Big Boss chuckled turning his head to the side; apparently he was oblivious to sarcasm. "Anyway…I'm sure you've noticed a change in your boss's attitude…"
That little comment actually got both Tao and Zaku to raise their eyebrows at Big Boss. It was Zaku who actually answered for the two. "…what do you want?"
"Heh," Big Boss snickered lifting up a card. "…just ten minutes of your time gentlemen…I've got a proposition for ya…"
//--//-//-///-///-
"Ah! I feel great!" Garu announced stretching his arms over his head. He was feeling pretty good right now, not only did he managed to hold his own in a duel against a pro, but there was a large amount of Ramen Noodles that were all for him. "Just take a whiff of those noodles…"
"…and here I thought that you'd actually be more hung up on yourself for your victory," Yae sighed placing down her bowl of ramen noodles. Even she had to admit, the ramen noodles were good form the Red Dorm kitchen.
"Well…I don't want to get a big head," Garu admitted turning his head up and towards the right. "But…I suppose that I should feel a little proud of my accomplishment…"
Yae could actually see Garu's head swelling. "…You only got lucky…"
Stammering slightly, Garu was stabbed in the back by a rhetorical Kunai, making his head shrink slightly. But Yae's assault wasn't done by a long shot… "In fact, if it wasn't for Cain and that weird guy with that nice cloak, you probably wouldn't be standing here…"
This blow wasn't a kunai; it was twelve shuriken that drove themselves into Garu's back, making him starting to show that he was deeply wounded. "Hell…I'm surprised that you're still standing at this academy…I would've thought by now, you'd be kicked off for some prank or by Kurro's Duel Out Program…"
A long silver katana stabbed directly through Garu's forehead, making the ninja duelist fall from his seat with a defeated look on his face. "NO!"
"…what are you doing?" Yae asked sweat dropping at Garu's action before he quickly sat back up in his seat.
"Uh…nothing," Garu answered with a slight blush on his face.
"Anyway…you shouldn't get so full of yourself…" Yae sighed before raising an eyebrow. "Say…doesn't it seem like we've had this conversation before?"
"Yeah…Déjà vu…" Garu gasped slightly reaching for a bowl of ramen noodles…
…before a slightly blue blur snatched the bowl right before Garu could even lay a finger on it. "What the?!?"
Standing next to the two reds that had sweatdropped at the sight of the character to the side of them, Mustang quietly slurped the noodles, trying to ignore the fact that he had a large black eye. "…Uh…Mustang?"
"Get off my back…" Mustang muttered before continuing his stolen noodles with a large blood vessel appearing on his forehead. "Stupid midget…damn him and his fist…"
"You okay?" Yae asked, before Mustang took a seat next to her.
"Well…I'm okay now that you're here," Mustang chuckled sliding up next to Yae.
"I'd watch yourself Mustang," Garu sighed lifting up another bowl of ramen noodles up from the table. "That kitten has claws…"
That's when another bowl of ramen noodles flew directly into Garu's face, making the ninja duelist fall backwards with the remains of the bowl and noodles covering his face. "Urghe…"
"…don't insult someone who usually kicks your ass on a daily basis," Yae growled cracking her hand slightly as she sat back down and crossed her arms.
Blinking a few times, Mustang could only stare in disbelief at Yae. "Wow…you know, you really remind me of an old friend of mine…in fact, you two could be good friends if you two met."
"Really?" Rena asked raising an eyebrow at Mustang's comment. "She good at physical combat?"
"Actually…yeah," Mustang replied as Garu slowly crawled up back into his seat, his hair full of noodles and shattered pieces of the broken bowl.
"M-Mustang…what the hell are you doing here?" Garu moaned slamming his chin onto the table. That ramen bowl attack took a lot out of him.
"Well, I enjoy talking to my favorite red students…" Mustang replied shrugging his shoulders.
"Bull…" Garu growled with a dulled look.
"…was it that obvious?" Mustang asked before slurping up the remainder of the noodles. "I guess the noodles are actually good here…"
"Do you really think we're that dull headed?" Yae asked narrowing her eyes at Mustang, lifting a fist up. "You want a matching pair of black eyes?"
"N-No thanks!" Mustang shouted lifting his hands up in a defensive manner. "I-I'd actually like you guys to come with me for a few minutes…"
"Both of us?" Garu asked pointing at Yae…before his finger was grabbed by Yae and began to push it back. "Ow! Ow! Ow!"
"Its rude to point…" Yae growled slightly putting more pressure on Garu's finger.
"Will you guys hurry up?" Mustang asked, this time it was his turn to sweatdrop at his friends' actions.
/-//-/-/-/-/-///-/
There was an eerie silence that flowed through the air in Kurro's office…
Sitting at the desk was Kurro himself, his fingers interlocked with each other and his eyes were narrowed down at the two who were standing before him…
One was Daigo, lifting up a large briefcase in front of his chest…whatever was in the case; Kurro could tell that it was probably going to be a pain in the ass for him…
While standing next to Daigo, was none other than Cain, his arms crossed and his head lowered down a little annoyed about a few things. The first, the fact that Mustang didn't show up at the right time, the second, the fact that since he was in the room, he'd probably be bothered a little…
"…I must apologize, you coot," Kurro snickered standing up and slamming his palm onto his desk. "But…what was your little proposal again?"
"Simple," Daigo replied walking towards the desk, and then slammed the case on the wooden top. Then spinning the case around, Daigo opened it up to reveal a large amount of money lined in the case. "I hold here quite a large amount of money…more than enough to purchase half of the stock…now; we could continue this game of cat and mouse…"
"…or, we get this out of the way immediately," Kurro sighed closing the case and pushing it slightly back. "…what makes you think I'd even accept a wager that includes the fate of this academy?"
"I think its obvious…" Cain groaned taking a step forward. "Time and the fact you're pride's on the line."
"Oh…how do you figure?" Kurro asked curious to Cain's assertion.
Closing his eyes, Cain remembered the words that a familiar Star Duelist told him. "…You're a man when you have a challenge in front of you; you'd rather pulverize your opponent than take the easy way out. Your pride would grow with your opponent's fall…"
"And with Daigo here…well then, you'd just have another chance to humiliate him as well as a majority of the students that have been studying here…"
That point actually struck a chord in Kurro's head, making the headmaster raise an eyebrow at the proposal. "Touché, little man…but, if we're going to do this then we're doing it my way…"
"Then how will this go down?" Daigo asked closing the brief case and took it back.
"…before anyone of your foolish former students can take me on," Kurro started intertwining his fingers again. "They'll have to face off against four of my employees…"
"Four? Don't you mean five?" Cain asked raising an eyebrow at the comment.
"No…Ashton's gone missing," Kurro answered bluntly closing his eyes with a large blood vessel appearing on the back of his head. "So…my other four employed duelists will be the ones who will face off against those students that you choose…"
"So, who are you choosing to face against my duelists?"
"Well…we've currently only got Cain here…" Daigo answered turning towards Cain who blinked in confusion.
"Huh?" Cain questioned slightly.
"Then, I suppose that he'll have to duel against all four duelists," Kurro stated with a dark smile appearing on his face. "Should he win against three of the four, then he'll be able to face me…so we'll have our little wager during that."
"Huh? Huh?" Cain questioned some more.
"I think we'll have your little duelist face against Zaku first," Kurro chuckled walking over to the confused Cain. "Hope you can handle against him, you little freak show…"
"…little?" Cain snarled snapping his fist into his hand, cracking his knuckles. "Bring on your freaky four! And I'll be able to finish them all in a matter of seconds and I'll pummel you into the ground!"
"That's the spirit," Kurro chuckled scratching the side of his face. "Now then…we just need to find a proper arena for your four duels…"
"HOLD ON!"
The door slammed opened, allowing Mustang, Garu and Yae, all of them catching their breaths. "Geez, you guys couldn't even wait ten minutes for us?"
"Here are the rest of our duelists!" Daigo shouted gesturing towards the three that just entered.
"…did I miss something?" Garu asked with a large question mark appearing over his head.
/-//--//--/-//-/
"…and that's my proposal…" Big Boss wrapped up leaning back on the wall.
"And you're including dental with all that?" Tao asked with a quizzical look on his face.
"Sounds like your deal is pretty good…" Zaku sighed before a creepy ringtone began to fill the room. "Excuse me…"
Both Tao and Big Boss looked at Zaku who answered the call with his black cell phone. "…yes…I see…Tao…we're leaving, we've got a job to do…"
"Please, at least think about my offer you two," Big Boss suggested while Tao and Zaku headed towards the door.
"We'll see…" Zaku replied opening the door while lifting up his duel disk.
"Remember you two…Kurro won't be around here forever," Big Boss stated before disappearing into the shadows.
/-//-//-/-/-/-//
Standing at the center of a large dueling platform that had a blue undertone to it, were Cain and Zaku, both shuffling each other's decks. With the explanation given to all the duelists, confusion among the group was all gone…
"…Why do I have to duel here?" Yae asked turning towards Mustang and Daigo who just turned away from her gaze.
…scratch that last statement…
"S-sorry, my apologies, you were the only one we could find on short notice," Daigo answered rubbing the back of his head slightly.
"You could've gotten Vergil," Yae answered back making Mustang sweatdrop.
"W-well…maybe I could find him," Mustang suggested before he leapt from his seat and ran off towards the hall.
"Man…he's fast," Garu stated with a raised eyebrow.
"True…and here I thought that he was only that fast when he saw a short skirt," Vergil stated taking a seat next to the three.
"ACK!!" Garu, Yae and Daigo shouted as Taylor and Rox sat next to Vergil.
"V-Vergil?!? What in the world are you doing here?" Garu stuttered trying to catch his breath.
"Well…I'm here to watch the duel of course, not everyday that you can see Team Legendz dueling…especially against Sonryu," Vergil stated rubbing his chin.
"Is shorty that good?" Garu asked remembering his duel with Cain, the fact that he was actually beaten by Cain was enough to make him think that he had some skill…but was he really that good?
"Of course! Brother is very good!" Ami announced appearing in the seat behind the group along with Kazica.
"Ah!" Garu gasped jumping from his seat. "Where do you all keep coming from!?!"
"Hmm…maybe you're just getting rusty?" Yae suggested with a smirk on her face.
"Hey!" Garu snapped narrowing his eyes at Yae.
"Anyway, what Miss Sonryu says is true," Daigo stated with his eyes closed. "Last year, our school was involved in a very serious tournament. I don't want to go into too many details, but at the end of the tournament, it was down to the president that ran the company sponsoring the tournament…"
"…and Mr. Sonryu himself. From the official files that I've read, his opponent, one Leon Arch…had three extremely powerful monsters that couldn't be defeated by other means…and yet Cain was able to do so at the last minute and turn the duel around…"
"While only having twenty-five life points left…"
'Too bad only anyone who was there actually knew what was going on…' Ami thought twirling some of her hair in her fingers.
"I just wonder if he'll show that power today again," Daigo muttered as both duelists on the platform slowly walked away from each other.
At the duel platform…
"Out of curiosity, were you really going to face all four of us before your allies appeared?" Zaku asked placing his cards into his duel disk.
"I had the drive to do so," Cain responded narrowing his eyes at Zaku. "Now let's get this over with…"
"Not so yet…" Zaku chuckled lifting his hand up to stop Cain. "I have a question to ask ya…"
"And what would that be?" Cain asked raising an eyebrow at Zaku.
"I'd like to make a puppet in your image and use your attitude for it," Zaku requested making Cain blink a few times. "With your anger issues and short size, you'd be perfect for an act for the kids…"
"What the hell!?!" Cain shouted with a fiery aura appearing over his body. "You ask a stupid question like that!?!"
'Heh, he doesn't see my strategy…' Zaku thought snapping off his top six cards. "Don't worry about…you should consider this duel instead…" (ZLP: 8000)
"Fine," Cain growled lifting his five cards. "Ready…set…duel!" (CLP: 8000)
"Please…allow me to begin," Zaku requested lifting up one of the cards from his hand up. "Hmm…I think I'll begin with…Scarecrow!"
Popping up from the platform, a small makeshift scarecrow danced about with a large straw hat and blue vest (1000/1000). Cain just sweatdropped at the sight of the monster dancing about. "…That's what you've got?"
"Along with two face down cards," Zaku chuckled with the two card backs appearing behind his Scarecrow. "And yes, that's all I got…"
"Heh…then this duel won't last long at all!" Cain shouted snapping his sixth card up from his duel disk, then immediately he took the card from his hand and slapped it onto his duel disk. "I summon Strong Arm Alchemist!"
Shattering the platform, a large muscular man with a blonde mustache and a curl of hair on his developed face erupted onto the field. His chest was bare to show off his extremely developed muscles while his only clothes were his baggy blue pants, black boots and spiked gauntlets with transmutation circles on them. Flexing his muscles, the alchemist raised his fists up, ready to pummel his opponent (2000/1000).
"Now then….Strong Arm Alchemist! Attack that Scarecrow!" Cain shouted as the Strong Arm Alchemist charged towards the small scarecrow, stomping on the platform lowering his fist. Then, with a great heave, the Alchemist slammed his gauntlet covered fist into the Scarecrow's head, sending it flying into the stands…
…however, Zaku stood up straight with a crooked smile on his face while raising his duel disk up. "I hate to tell you this…but your attack was meaningless…" (ZLP: 8000)
"I'm guessing that your Scarecrow negates all damage to your life points," Cain growled as his Alchemist spun back to his side of the field with a large sparkle of pink dust around him.
"Yes…but there's more," Zaku chuckled as many threads from the roof began to land on top of the confused Strong Arm Alchemist. "The monster that destroyed my Scarecrow gains a Strings Counter…but you don't need to worry about that now…"
"Fine…to end my turn, I'll set one card face down," Cain huffed fitting his next card into his duel disk. "And let it go back to you Puppet master…"
"I prefer puppeteer," Zaku sighed slowly drawing his next card into his hand. "…but now, I'll activate the spell card Fancy Burial!"
In a dark shadow, Zaku's spell card emerged onto the field, showing a king and queen sleeping in a pair of fancy coffins. "Now…here's how this spell works, we both get to select any number of monsters from our respective decks up to five monsters and send them to the graveyard."
"Hmm…seems like a useless card," Cain stated raising an eyebrow. "I won't choose any…"
"Actually, you don't get a choice," Zaku sighed shaking his head snapping his fingers over one of his face down cards, making it flip up to showing a young boy crying as an older woman is reaching for a toy. "I chain my spell's effect with my trap card, Forced Selection!"
"And what pray tell does that do?" Cain asked raising an eyebrow.
"Simple, listen up shorty, this trap card can only be activated when a card effect that involves a choice is activated," Zaku explained shaking his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. "By giving up one thousand life points, I can make the choice for you." (ZLP: 7000)
"What?" Cain questioned narrowing his eyes down at Zaku. "…Fine, make me discard five cards…"
"Actually, you're going to discard four monsters," Zaku correct lifting a finger up and wagging it at Cain. "But you get the choice of what they are…"
"Very well, I'll select…" Cain muttered fanning out his deck while looking over the cards. "…Wandering Alchemist, Rouge Alchemist, Black Swartz Alchemist, and Ash Alchemist!"
"Then all four of them go to your graveyard, rookie," Zaku finished as Cain slipped all four of the cards into his duel disk graveyard.
'Well that was pointless…all he did was make it easier for me to get to my cards,' Cain thought to himself looking at his duel disk.
"As for me…I'll select one monster from my deck," Zaku said fitting his card into his graveyard. "And now…I'll activate my continuous trap card Webbed Clockwork…"
With his other trap card flipping up, this one showed a large broken down clock being pulled apart by many threads. "Whenever a monster on your side of the field is special summoned, your monsters receive Strings Counters."
"…again, another pointless move," Cain sighed rubbing the back of his head a little confused.
"Everything has a meaning punk…" Zaku chuckled fitting another card from his hand into his duel disk. "All of it leading up to this! I activate the spell card, Necromancy!"
"N-Necromancy?" Cain questioned as four dark shadows appeared in front of Cain…all of them starting to form into the four monsters he had sent to the graveyard. "W-what's happening here!??"
"My spell card allows me to special summon up to four monsters from my opponent's graveyard in defense mode," Zaku explained as the shadows began to creep off of Cain's monsters. "However, should any of those monsters be destroyed, then all remaining monsters on your side of the field lose four hundred attack points."
The shadows were finally dripped off, showing the true form of Cain's monsters, one was the red overcoat Wandering Alchemist crouching down (1500/1300).
The next alchemist was a young grayish brown haired man wearing a brown jacket over a white baggy shirt. Around his blue pants is a small belt connected to a large sheathe and sword that was slung over his shoulder while he crossed his arms (1900/1000). "Meet Rouge Alchemist!"
The next shadow revealed an alchemist dressed in coal black armor with a pair of chains in his hands, his shaggy black hair flowing over his eyes (200/500). "Black Swartz Alchemist!"
While the final shadow revealed another alchemist, this one a handsome, spiky white haired man wearing a dark blue overcoat, a black shirt and white pants. At his back were two thin swords in sheathes, him scowling as he crouched down (1500/1500). "And…Ash Alchemist…"
"And since all of them were special summoned," Zaku yawned placing his hands behind his head. "All of them gain Strings Counters…"
With all of the threads wrapping around all four of the alchemists, making them all glare daggers at Zaku. "Why is this important?"
"Hmm…if you'd seen my duels before, then you'd know that I'm a generous man," Zaku sighed spinning the next card in his hand into his duel disk. "First I'll set this one card face down…and now…for the final card in my hand, I sacrifice all five monsters on your side of the field!"
All of the strings wrapped around all five of Cain's monsters began to be pulled into the air, before shattering into pixels of darkness that wrapped together into a huge daunting form that crashed into the area behind Cain.
Slowly turning around, Cain's eyes widened at the sight of the monster behind him. "O-Obelisk the Tormentor?!?!"
"No…" Zaku chuckled snapping his fingers and the lights snapped on, showing the monster's true form. While indeed the monster did look like the famous Egyptian God, it clearly was not the monster. For one thing the monster was made completely out of wood, the right side of its face completely rotten and its wings were replaced with a large black cloak. All over the monster's body were a large amount of strings that held the creature up (3000/2500). "…it's the Puppet Golem! And thanks to my trap card and its effect, that monster now has six Strings Counters on it!"
"Yeah…but you forget one thing," Cain snarled pulling his next card. "I can sacrifice your monster…"
"You can't," Zaku replied pointing his finger at Cain in a show off manner. "My puppet's effect prevents you from sacrificing it…But then again, you get a three thousand attacker for free…and all it cost, was five of your monsters…"
"Yeah, well it's about to cost you even more," Cain snarled looking over his hand as he drew his next card. 'Damn…only tribute monsters and a few situational cards…I could attack him with his golem…but that face down card worries me…'
"I…I pass my turn," Cain growled narrowing his eyes at Zaku who playfully drew his next card.
"Hmm…typical newbie mistake…" Zaku chuckled looking at his newest card, immediately slipping the card into his duel disk. "I will set one card face down and end my turn."
"Draw," Cain muttered slowly drawing his next card…another useless card. "…I'll set one card face down and call it a turn."
"My draw…" Zaku snickered lifting his next card up. "…Hmm, I think I'll end my turn with that as well."
Meanwhile in the stands…
"Man, this is boring…" Garu sighed shaking his head. "Come on already! He's wide open!"
"Mr. Honzou was it?" Daigo asked getting a nod from Garu as an answer. "You must be patient…right now the two are at a dead set…if one of them makes the wrong move, then that could determine the match."
"Hmm…yeah well this is getting so boring…" Garu groaned sitting back in his seat.
"Just get a hold of yourself," Yae sighed shaking her head. "…for once…"
Back to the duel…
"Draw!" Cain announced nearly ripping his next card from his duel disk, only to see that it was another spell card. "Damn…I have to skip…"
"Wrong! Trap card open!" Zaku interrupted as his face down card to the right flipped up, this one showing two large steel fists being manipulated by the mysterious puppeteer. "Puppeteer's Commands now activates!"
"…and what does that card do, pray tell?" Cain asked as Zaku lifted his hands, revealing that two large silver gauntlets were covering his hands.
"Just as it says…any monster with Strings Counters has to follow the puppeteer's orders…" Zaku explained lifting his arms up, and the Puppet Golem did the same. "And as the puppeteer, I can command your puppet to attack me!"
"What!?!" Cain shouted completely surprised as his large Puppet Golem pulled its large wooden fist back, then with an amazing speed, launched its fist towards Zaku.
"And since a monster's attacking…" Zaku stated calmly as the fist came closer and closer towards him. As the fist was about to make contact with the puppet duelist, it suddenly just stopped, struggling to get closer and closer to Zaku. "My trap card can activate, so go Web of Threads."
The many threads around the Puppet Golem began to lift the large monster over the field, pulling the large monster over the Puppet Master Duelist. "You see, when you attack with a monster with at least two 'Strings Counters' on it, I can take control of the monster and equip my trap to the attacking monster…"
"Now I see your strategy," Cain snarled narrowing his eyes at his set cards. "You're right, you were generous…but then you get your own generosity back. In a matter of speaking you're a modern day Robin Hood…"
Clapping his hands, Zaku and the large Puppet Golem clapped loudly at Cain's assessment at his strategy. "Bravo, bravo little man…of course…there's always a few other strategies I've got in stored for you…but now…if you're done, I think I'll be taking my turn…"
"Go right ahead…" Cain growled closing his eyes.
"Then I'll just draw…" Zaku chuckled pulling his next card and then pointed his finger towards Cain, making his large Puppet Golem's strings shatter slightly. "Unfortunately, my trap has a side effect…during each of our stand by phases, one of the Strings Counters breaks and when there are no more left, the monster will return to your side of the field."
"Good to know…" Cain sighed shaking his head a few times. "Enough stalling! Just attack if you're going to!"
"I could…but then I should be cautious just like you kiddo," Zaku said spinning another card from his hand up, and slipping it into his duel disk. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon! Now the card to your right is automatically destroyed!"
A powerful twister of air emerged from the ceiling, and crashed into the set card to the right of Cain. 'Crap! My Negate Attack…'
"And since you're dead set on me attacking," Zaku snickered slamming his fists together, and his Puppet Golem followed suit. "Puppet Golem! Grant his wish!"
Raising its fist up, the large golem threw its speeding fist towards the Alchemic Duelist…Bashing it into Cain's body, crushing the duelist into platform. (CLP: 5000)
"Brother!" Ami shouted from the stands as the Puppet Golem pulled its fist back from Cain's slightly bruised body.
"Heh…how do like that technique?" Zaku asked looking at his two cards back in his hand as Cain slowly stood up slightly.
"I-I've had worse…" Cain panted pushing some hair from his eyes.
"I see…well, I'll set one card from my hand face down and end my turn," Zaku sighed slightly disappointed that his opponent didn't seem fazed by his last attack.
"Draw…" Cain moaned as another string snapped over the Puppet Golem…only four more turns then that monstrosity would be his again. "…I set a monster on the defensive and end my turn…your move Puppet Boy…"
"Heh…trying to draw out the clock?" Zaku chuckled drawing his next card and another string snapped over his Puppet Golem. "…too bad I won't give you a chance…I summon Puppet Beast!"
Falling from the ceiling, a large wooden wolf landed on the platform with a large fake roar (1500/1300) while being lifted up by the strings from the ceiling. "Now then…Puppet Beast! Attack his face down monster! Puppet Pounce!"
Cain's eyes widened as the large puppet wolf leapt into the face down monster, making it reveal itself as a young silver haired man with a golden mask on his face being sliced to ribbons (1500/1300). However, in a quick flash, both monsters were gone.
"W-what just happened?" Zaku asked tilting his head to the side.
"That monster was Sync Alchemist," Cain growled moving his head to the side. "When destroyed as a result of battle, the monster that destroyed it gets removed from play along with it."
"I see…you were planning on having my Golem removed from play," Zaku chuckled pulling his fists back, along with his Puppet Golem's fists. "Too bad, shorty! Now! Puppet Golem! Attack him directly again!"
"Oh no!" Cain shouted before the large wooden fist slammed into him again, forcing him to the platform once more. "…ow…" (CLP: 2000)
"Heh…who do you think you were kid?" Zaku asked combing back some of his hair with a crooked smile on his face. "I'm a member of the Duelist League…did you honestly think that you could defeat me?"
As the fist pulled away, Zaku just smiled at himself at the fact that Cain was standing up, breathing hard and reaching for his deck. "Still planning on fighting me? You've got more tenacity than I first thought…"
"Oh, just shut up," Cain snarled looking at his newest card, sending a silver spark of light in his eyes…a surge pulsed through Cain's veins…
'This…this feeling. I haven't felt this in a long time…it feels like my blood is on fire!'
"Are you going to move shorty?" Garu shouted from the seat receiving a cold, silver glare from Cain's eyes. "Whoa!!"
At the sight of Cain's eyes, Ami fell back into her seat, holding her forehead. 'B-Brother? T-That look, it reminds me…'
"Ami? Are you okay?" Kazica asked placing a hand on Ami's shoulder.
"U-uh, yeah," Ami stuttered as Cain lifted his next card up.
"I activate the spell card…The Phoenix Seal!" Cain shouted as a powerful bird of fire erupted from behind him, then immediately turned a dark blood red color. "Now…by removing Wandering Alchemist, Ash Alchemist, and Black Swartz Alchemist from my graveyard…I can fusion summon a powerful being!"
"You know…this is the first time Cain ever Alchemic Fused three monsters at once," Kazica stated rubbing her chin. "All he's done was fuse two of them before…"
"I've heard about three fusion Alchemists…." Vergil stated watching as the dark phoenix began to fly around stage before crashing into the platform. "I assumed that only the Kaisaris at the Atlantic Duel Academy held onto those cards…"
"Someone else uses those cards other than the shorty?" Garu asked tilting his head to the side. "And here I thought that he had one redeeming feature to him."
"I heard that!" Cain shouted through the powerful flames as they began to subside, allowing a large daunting form to step forward.
The form raised his head up high, revealing a tall, handsome white haired man with a large tuff of black hair streaming from the front of his face and past his shoulders. Covering his slightly muscular body was a blood red overcoat with blue jewels all over the overcoat as well as a black plated shirt and silver pants with black boots. Covering his fists were a pair of bracers with a wolf style artwork and matching silver greaves (2900/2700) that the young man lifted his fists up. "Now then, by fusing the monsters from my graveyard, allow me to introduce Dark Radiance Alchemist…"
That's when a large amount strings snapped onto the annoyed Dark Radiance Alchemist, however, the Alchemist didn't show any other emotion other than annoyance. "Heh…I guess you forgot to check that my Webbed Clockwork is still out. So your Alchemist gains a Strings Counter…and don't forget my Puppeteer Commands trap is still out…so your monster will still have to attack my Puppet Golem!"
"…So what?" Cain asked lifting his hand up towards the Puppet Golem. "I was planning to attack! Dark Radiance Alchemist! Attack the Puppet Golem!"
"What?!?" Zaku shouted as the Dark Radiance Alchemist disappeared in a red blur, only to reappear in front of the roaring Puppet Golem. "Puppet Golem! Counter attack! Fist of the False!"
"…spell card…activate," Cain muttered as both monsters charged towards each other.
Both monster's threw their fists towards each other, the Puppet Golem's fist coming faster than the Dark Radiance Alchemist's fist. At the same time, both fists collided with each other, creating a powerful force of dark energy between both of the monsters that spread rapidly in the air.
Everyone covered their faces from the powerful blast of dark energy, none of them seeing the powerful explosion that rocked the entire platform and room.
When everyone lowered their arms, only the Puppet Golem was standing, smoke dancing around the entire arena. While Cain was covered with the smoke, Zaku was standing tall with a large crooked smile on his face. "Heh…Bad move shorty…you should've taken in account of my monster's strength…"
"There was always a level of difference between us, you were a mere student and I'm a champion…one of the best…so shorty…how does it feel to face the dirt?"
"…I don't know…" Cain responded from the smoke, a silver glint appearing through the smoky haze. "You tell me…"
"Heh…still acting cocky?" Zaku asked before something fell in front of his eyes. "Huh?"
Looking down at his feet, Zaku's eyes widened at the sight that was before him. Amongst the ground near his feet, were many splinters of wood, more and more gathering around him…
…his breath starting to become labored at the very sight of what was happening to his monster…
The Puppet Golem was beginning to crack! Shards of wood splinting off the monster in rapid succession, the puppet screaming in pain until it exploded into a large flurry of splintered wood. With this sight in his mind, Zaku slowly fell to his knees with a surprised look on his face. "H-How…?" (ZLP: 6400)
When the smoke finally dissipated, Zaku's eyes widened at the sight of the Dark Radiance Alchemist (3600/2700) standing in front of Cain…both standing dramatically with their overcoats blowing in an imaginary wind. "My spell card…Rush Recklessly that's how! My Alchemist gained seven hundred attack points until the end phase…"
Lowering his head, Zaku allowed his hair to fall in front of his eyes…slowly, a small laugh began to fill the air as Zaku began to get to his feet. "Heh, heh…hehhehhee…HAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
With his stern look still on his face, Cain kept his eyes on Zaku. "I-Interesting…INTERESTING! You've managed to defeat one of my masterpieces Cain Sonryu! But the question is…can you keep it up?"
Only the silver glow of Cain's eyes answered Zaku as a set card appeared behind the Dark Radiance Alchemist (2900/2700). "Your move…you wash up…"
"Pretty big talk…" Zaku chuckled pulling his next card and immediately sliding his other one into his duel disk. "For a little guy! I activate the spell card, Emergency Provisions! Now, by getting rid of my Puppeteer Commands, I can increase my life points by one thousand!" (ZLP: 7400)
"Man…And here I thought the shorty was going to make a comeback," Garu sighed lowering his head. "This is starting off good…"
"What did I tell you about patience young man?" Daigo asked narrowing his eyes at the match. "This match is still going strong!"
"Next…" Zaku chuckled fitting his final card into his duel disk. "I activate the spell card, Card of Demise! Now…I get to draw five cards from my deck! However, in five turns, I lose all cards in my hand…but this duel will be long gone when I get through with you, loser!"
"…fourteen…" Cain muttered as Zaku drew all five of his cards.
"Huh? Fourteen?" Zaku questioned raising an eyebrow.
"Fourteen times you've insulted me since we began this duel…" Cain snarled glaring silver daggers at Zaku. "…trash talk only shows weakness…"
"This coming from a boy who's shorter than his sister," Zaku chuckled shaking his head. "From what I heard, you don't even want to be at this academy…why would someone like you want to protect this place?"
"…fifteen…" Cain growled keeping a straight face of anger. "…Now…I'm fifteen hundred times stronger…"
"Is that a fact?" Zaku asked activating his field card slot, and slipping a card into his duel disk. "Then allow me to test that! I activate the field spell card, Mausoleum of the Emperor!"
The ground all around the dueling platform began to mold upwards, forming into an ancient palace with multiple stone statues of soldiers standing towards Cain…all of them raising their weapons up. "Now then…both of us can pay life points to tribute summon monsters as long as this card is out! Of course, since I've got almost all of my life points this is an advantage…however, if you use it, you'll only be aiding me!"
"…" Cain remained silent, as well as his Dark Radiance Alchemist stayed silent, both sending glares towards the puppet wielding duelist.
"Since you're not saying anything…" Zaku chuckled as a stone soldier floated up into the air before shattering into shards. "I can tribute summon one thousand life points to summon Dark Puppeteer!" (ZLP: 6400)
Falling from the darkened holographic sky, a muscular man wearing a black outfit with multiple puppets attached to the back of his outfit landed on the ground standing up with an evil cackling laughter (0/0). "And in case you were wondering…when my puppeteer is tribute summoned, like he was now, all monsters with Strings Counters are destroyed! And my monster gains attack points equal to half of the total summon of all monsters destroyed!"
Laughing even louder, the Dark Puppeteer leapt into the sky, spinning at a powerful rate sending many strings heading towards the Dark Radiance Alchemist. "Say goodbye to the academy! Destroy his Alchemist!"
All of the strings began to wrap around the Dark Radiance Alchemist, and began to pull the warrior towards the dark blur that was the Dark Puppeteer…
…A sinister smile crept onto Zaku's face as the Alchemist was almost fully drawn in…
"Dark Radiant Barrier! Activate!"
Just as the Dark Radiance Alchemist was about to be pulled into the Dark Puppeteer, the Alchemist began to spin at a high velocity, making the Dark Puppeteer stop his spin and shatter by the blood red blur that was the Dark Radiance Alchemist.
Once again, Zaku's eyes widened as the Dark Radiance Alchemist slammed into the ground, creating divots where he stood. "A-Again?!? Wh-what keeps happening?"
"Don't even try…" Cain snarled raising his head and narrowing his eyes at Zaku. "I told you…I'm fifteen hundred times stronger now…my Alchemist's ability allows me to once per duel negate an attack or monster effect that targets him and negate it…then he destroys all monsters on your side of the field."
'N-no! I'm wide open during his next turn!' Zaku thought to himself looking over the last three cards in his hand. "I-I'll set two cards face down…and end my turn!"
Slowly lifting his next card up, Cain closed his eyes and threw his right fist over his face down card to the right. "People hold grudges when you insult them…That counter was for the short comments! And this…Forced Ceasefire!"
Discarding the card he had just drawn, two spikes erupted fro the ground keeping both of Zaku's face down cards pinned to the ground. "This move…this is for questioning my reasons to be here! Dark Radiance Alchemist! Attack him directly!"
In a dark blood red blur, the Dark Radiance Alchemist appeared in front of the surprised Zaku, only to deliver a harsh roundhouse kick to the Puppet Duelist's chest, sending him skidding backwards, clutching his painful chest. (ZLP: 3500)
'I-Impossible! Where…where did this strength come from?!?' Zaku thought raising his head up to meet Cain's sight.
"My reason here…" Cain snarled taking another card from his hand and sliding it into his duel disk, creating a spell card that showed two monsters defusing in a transmutation circle. "Alchemic De-Fusion…is for the companions and loved ones that reside here! I won't allow a tyrant like Kurro to ruin this paradise for them…all for his selfish goals!"
That's when the Dark Radiance Alchemist disappeared into a powerful transmutation circle, forming into the Wandering Alchemist (1500/1300), Black Swartz Alchemist (200/500) and the Ash Alchemist (1500/1500). All three of them with pissed of looks on their faces…
With all three alchemists appearing on the field, Cain's other face down card flipped up, forming into Call of the Haunted and forming into the Rouge Alchemist (1900/1000). "I can take insults…I can take personal attacks on myself…but when you try to interfere with the happiness with those I care about…I will obliterate you!"
"W-Wait! L-Let's talk about this for a second!" Zaku pleaded falling onto his back waving his arms up in front of him.
"How dare you…" Cain snarled lifting his right fist up. "With this last attack…This is finished!"
The Wandering Alchemist, the Black Swartz Alchemist and the Rogue Alchemist all leapt into the air…all of them raising their regarded weapons into the air. The Rogue Alchemist attacked first, bringing his swords across Zaku's chest, making the puppet duelist scream out in pain. (ZLP: 1600)
Followed up, many chains from the Black Swartz Alchemist shot out from his cloak and slammed into Zaku's arm, making his grunts of pain even worse. (ZLP: 1400)
And to finish, the Wandering Alchemist landed on the ground and delivered a powerful uppercut to Zaku's chin, making the Team Legendz's duelist to faint backwards from the shock. (ZLP: 0)
'I…I…I lost…'
With all the holograms disappearing into the air, everyone near Daigo began to cheer loudly as Cain lowered his head down, allowing his hair to cover his eyes. Then when Cain lifted his head back up, his eyes were back to normal but still filled with rage. '…its back…I haven't felt this since I faced against…him…'
Meanwhile from the stands across from Cain, Kurro began to rub his chin expectantly. 'Most interesting…I may have to keep an eye on this Cain kid…he may be small, but his power is large…'
Meanwhile…
"Hey! Vergil!" Mustang shouted through out the halls of the academy running fast. 'I have to find Vergil! Maybe all three of us can win a match, we can at least get a chance at Kurro!'
//-/--//-/-/-/-/
Necromancy / Spell / Effect: When this card is activated, special summon the top four level four or lower monsters in your opponent's graveyard to your opponent's side of the field. Each time one of the special summoned monsters is destroyed, lower the attack and defense of all remaining monsters on your opponent's side of the field by 400 points.
Image: Many corpses rising from a moonlit graveyard
This card was used by Yugi in the original series.
Fancy Burial / Spell / Effect: Both players may select from their decks for up to five monster cards and put those cards in their graveyard. If a player does so, they then shuffle their deck. All monsters sent to the graveyard this way are considered tributed. During the turn this card is activated, you cannot perform your battle phase.
Image: A king and queen sleeping in a pair of fancy coffins
Rouge Alchemist / Earth / LV. 4 / ATK: 1900 / DEF: 1000 / Warrior: A young man who actually failed his state alchemist license exam. As a result, he practices alchemy on his weapons hoping to become a famous alchemist.
Description: A young grayish brown haired man wearing a brown jacket over a white baggy shirt. Around his blue pants is a small belt connected to a large sheathe and sword.
Black Swartz Alchemist / Dark / LV. 4 / ATK: 200 / DEF: 500 / Warrior/Effect: This card cannot be destroyed as a result of battle. This card cannot be tributed for one of your monsters.
Description: An alchemist dressed in coal black armor with a pair of chains in his hands.
The Phoenix Seal / Spell / Effect: Remove from play from your side of the field or your graveyard, fusion material monsters that are listed on a fusion monster card with 'Alchemist' in the card's name and special summon that one fusion monster from your fusion deck. (This special summon is treated as a fusion summon)
Image: A large flame erupting from a beautiful blood red seal on the ground.
Alchemic De-Fusion / Instant Spell / Effect: Return one fusion monster on the field. Then special summon all removed from play fusion material monsters written on the card.
Image: Two monster defusing in front of a transmutation circle.
Dark Radiance Alchemist / Dark / LV. 9 / ATK: 2900 / DEF: 2700 / Warrior/Fusion/Effect: [Wandering Alchemist + Ash Alchemist + Black Swartz Alchemist You can Fusion summon this monster by removing from play the above monsters from your side of the field. Once per duel, when this card is attacked or the target of a card effect controlled by your opponent, negate the attack or the activation and effect of that card and destroy all monsters your opponent controls.
Description: A tall handsome white haired man with a large tuff of black hair streaming from the front of his face and past his shoulders. Covering his slightly muscular body is a blood red overcoat with blue jewels all over the overcoat. His body is covered with a black plated shirt and silver pants with black boots. Cover his fists are a pair of bracers with a wolf style artwork and matching silver greaves.
Scarecrow / Dark / LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Fiend/Effect: When this card is destroyed as a result of battle, negate any battle damage. Place one 'Strings Counter' on the monster that destroyed this card.
Description: A makeshift scarecrow with a straw hat and a blue vest.
Dark Puppeteer / Dark / LV. 6 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / Warrior/Effect: When this card is successfully tribute summoned, destroy all monsters with 'Strings Counter's on them. Increase the attack and defense of this card by half of the original attack of the destroyed monsters.
Description: A muscular man wearing a black outfit with multiple puppets attached to the back of his outfit.
Puppet Beast / Dark / LV. 4 / ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1300 / Fiend/Effect: When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, select one monster in your opponent's graveyard, special summon the selected monster in defense mode and equip it with this card. If this card is destroyed, the equipped monster returns to your opponent's side of the field.
Description: A wooden wolf with multiple strings attached to it.
Puppet Golem / Dark / LV. 10 / ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 / Fiend/Effect: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned to your opponent's side of the field by sacrificing two or more monsters with 'Strings Counters' on them. When this card is special summoned this way, place 'Strings Counters' on this card equal to the number of monsters that were sacrificed for this card. If you Special Summon this monster, you cannot Normal Summon or Set a monster during the same turn. This card cannot be used for a tribute.
Descpription: A large wooden puppet in the shape of Obelisk the Tormentor with a few rotted parts of his face with a large black cloak in place of his wings.
Web of Threads / Trap / Effect: This card can only be activated when your opponent declares an attack against you. Negate the attack. If the attacking monster has two or more 'Strings Counters' on it, then treat this card and equip it to the attacking monster. A monster equipped with this card is automatically moved to your side of the field. During each players' standby phase, remove one 'Strings Counter' from the equipped monster. If there are no more 'Strings Counters' on the equipped monster, destroy this card.
Image: To marionettes getting their lines tangled with each other.
Puppeteer's Commands / Continuous Trap / Effect: During your opponent's main phase, select one face up monster on your opponent's side of the field with 'Strings Counters' on it. The selected monster must attack this turn.
Image: Two large steel fists being manipulated by the mysterious puppeteer
Webbed Clockwork / Continuous Trap / Effect: Whenever a monster(s) is special summoned to your opponent's side of the field, place one 'Strings Counter' on the special summoned monster(s) for every two stars on the summoned monsters.
Image: A large broken down clock being pulled by many threads.
//-/--/--//-/
Tao: Heh…I'm up next! And you're my target!
Kurro: Don't fail me Tao…Zaku might have failed, but you must pick up the slack…
Tao: Why me?
Yae: I'm supposed to ask that!
Tao: Uh…okay, why you?
Stone Fist versus the Trained Fist…Yae Against the Emperor of the Earth! – Chapter 24: Earth Shatter Strike!
Yae: …you're serious? I have to face this guy?