.............ooooooooooo............
The pharaoh ascended the stairs in an almost daze-like state, feeling an unusual sense of calm within him. His fingers gently caressed the puzzle with the reassuring touch of a lover, feeling the claim of power he held within it.
The puzzle's warmth against his bare skin had cleared his cluttered mind from all other distractions and helped him focus on the impending battle ahead. His resolve had never been more focused and he took this as a good sign. His father must have loved the warmth as well; perhaps, he thought, the item wasn't such a curse to the family after all.
A cool blast of early morning air welcomed Atemu as he emerged from the underground into the empty corridor. The sun had risen in a semi circle just above the horizon, giving the sky a soft ting of purple-pink and lighting the golden sands beneath it. Somewhere nearby, the light chirping of an early bird added to the blooming life around him, soon joined with the crows and squawks of others.
It was mornings like these, when he had the time to himself to simply enjoy the quiet scenery of the palace, that he loved most. Of course rising with the sun wasn't always an easy or pleasant task for the pharaoh but at least he wasn't bothered with palace protocols or the noisiness of people around him.
It was always short-lived, as all good things seemed to be, but this morning was different. Usually he'd hear the sounds of people rising from their chambers, scurrying around an tending to their day's business like fowl with their heads cut off. Today, with the warning of the pharaoh's battle, all doors remained firmly closed and locked with no one daring to utter a word.
Atemu inwardly smiled at something he remembered the other day from a young slave child. She was relating to a friend a description of the thief, scaring the boy so badly that the he urinated onto the very floor he was cleaning and raced out of the room only to crash into a young woman carrying a tray of fruit. The girl ended up cleaning his mess.
He rounded a corner and stepped back in surprise to see Shimon waiting for him with the usual solemn expression in his eyes. The man gave a curt nod and turned to lead the way but Atemu grabbed his arm, holding him back.
"I don't want you getting involved in this. It is my battle to fight." He said gently.
The man pulled his arm away from the pharaoh's grasp and headed in the intended direction, completely ignoring the question. Atemu stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"I said I will do this myself. Do you hear me?"
Shimon stood his ground and replied in a stern tone, "You don't know what you're doing so I am going with you."
"Of course I know what I'm doing," Atemu retorted, interpreting the comment as an insult to his intelligence, "And I have the puzzle to aid me."
"You don't even know how to properly handle the puzzle much less face an enemy that has mastered his own item."
Atemu folded his arms, "I've learned to handle the puzzle well enough, I trust in it and it trusts me."
The old man scoffed, "Just as I thought, you don't know the danger you are putting yourself into. That carefree attitude will not serve you well."
"I know what I'm up against, but no one can know for sure until the time comes."
"That may be true but you cannot afford that chance."
Atemu felt his anger rise, his pride suddenly clouding his thoughts, "Well worrying too much into the matter isn't going to solve anything, it's what I do that's more important!"
"And what are you going to do? That ka of his....."
"If you are referring to Diabound," Atemu's tone sharpened to a point, halting the priest, "I have a plan."
"Mahaado does not stand a chance."
Atemu's eyes widened and he unfolded his arms, "H-how did you know....?"
"That you were invoking the powers of the late priest? You should be able to answer that question yourself." Shimon sigh, "I understand your determination but that isn't always enough. The puzzle's powers are great, but until you learn to fully tap into them, you are at a strong disadvantage."
"I'm sure I can do it. You yourself say the puzzle has great powers."
"And you think it will all be laid down at your feet to use whenever you want?" Shimon could not believe he had to explain this, "It takes time to discover and develop your abilities and become familiar with the inner most parts of the item. I warned you about that in the beginning but you refused to even acknowledge the puzzle's existence until yesterday. How do you think that'll serve you?" It was rare to see the usually calm and collected priest so worked up but he was practically screaming through the blue veil over his face.
Atemu turned his gaze away from the man. Shimon was right, he wasn't sure of anything. All he had going into battle was a strong gut feeling. "It's warm Shimon, very warm and comforting." He finally replied softly.
Shimon opened his mouth to speak but said nothing. He was infuriated at the young ruler's but there was nothing he could do in the little time they had. The pharaoh did seem to have a strong inner feeling but all he had to show for it was an unusual sereneness and some sort of warmth. Shimon doubted this was enough but hoped the young sovereign knew, at least partly, what he was getting himself into. Nevertheless, he decided to follow along anyways, this time receiving no complaint from the pharaoh as long as he promised not to interfere without it being incredibly necessary.
Shimon turned his gaze away from the monarch and agreed.
.............ooooooooooo............
As the two entered the throne room, Atemu's eyes quickly caught sight of the figure standing in front of the battered doorway. He wore a simple pure- white kilt that matched perfectly against the pallid tresses running in plated layers down his back. His skin was smooth and sleek with a thin coating of oil that shone in the sunlight. His body was that of a wild cat, slim and agile without the slightest bit of excess body fat to weigh him down. Around his neck hung the flawless Millennium Ring, glinting arrogantly against its master's body, the only piece of jewelry he thought worthy enough for him to wear.
Bakura stood still as a statue, arms folded with a look of boredom in his countenance. His posture, despite the attitude, was perfect and even held a hint of elegance to it. His eyes caught onto Atemu as soon as he entered the room and he smirked, keeping his gaze on the young pharaoh as he walked across the room. Atemu purposely kept his eyes away from the thief until he stood directly across from him.
"Ah, great Egypt, it is truly and honour! I trust you had a pleasant rest?" Bakura spoke with a false light-heartedness, giving a shallow bow.
Atemu remained silent, staring at the man across from him with a neutral expression. Responding any other way would demean him.
Bakura's face faulted, "Oh of course, the mighty pharaoh-god would never bother to address a sub-ordinary street cur like me. Oh how foolish of myself."
The pharaoh kept his stance, inwardly scowling and cursing the man to the depths of the underworld. Shimon felt his discomfort and sent a calming wave of magic through the ruler's mind, reminding him to stay composed.
Bakura blinked and grinned, running a hand through his white locks, "Perhaps I have something that would be of interest to his highness," he slipped the cord over his head and held the Ring up high, "I believe you recognize this?"
"Mahaado's Millennium Ring." Atemu answered grimly, unfazed by the sight of the item.
"Well that's partially correct," He let the cord fall around his neck and dropped it against his chest with a 'clink,' "But this item is mine."
The pharaoh scowled.
"And I would have taken the Necklace from the woman as well had it not been for the meddling old crone over there," Bakura said matter-of-factly, gesturing to Shimon, "No, matter, the puzzle will have to do."
Atemu's throat tensed and his fingers curled into a fist, "You will never take the puzzle."
Bakura wiped his nose with a finger and laughed, "So that's why you sent a bitch to do the master's job, you need others to wipe your arse for you. But I'm a bit disappointed that you have such low regard for me. Pharaoh is so difficult to impress."
"Enough of this! Tell me what you want." The ruler's voice raised an octave, annoyed by the other's impudence
Bakura straightened up, "Why what's mine of course."
"Nothing here is yours."
"Come now pharaoh, you know exactly what I mean. Those items your father created are drenched in my people's blood. I've simply come to reclaim what's rightfully mine."
Deep down Atemu felt some sympathy for the thief even if it wasn't his place to do so. He had his own cause to fight for, but it wasn't as strong as Bakura's."Then you will have to duel me for them." His voice was strong and commanding
Bakura smirked, "Last words, pharaoh."
.............ooooooooooo............
The pitter-patter of little feet rang in the hallway as Yuugi rounded a corner, heading towards the sound of a large 'bang' he'd heard earlier. While Anzu was caught up in this 'intruder' business, he decided to locate the source of the sound and, while on his way, find out what an 'intruder' really was.
The halls were now light enough for him to see where he was going but he still had trouble navigating through the labyrinth of corridors. His pace quickened as he heard the sounds of footsteps chasing after him and, with a quick glace over his shoulder, noticed it was Anzu. He made a swift left turn, accidentally tripping over his own feet and landing on the hard ground with an 'oomph'.
Strong hands immediately seized him under the armpits and lifted him off the ground, swinging him over a shoulder like a sack of flour and carting him back in the direction from which he came. Yuugi screamed, thumping his fists against the man's back and kicking him in the torso but the tight grip on him held firm.
"Lemme go, lemme go!"
"Sorry prince, but you're coming with me."
"But I have ta see......"
"You may not like it, but it's for your own safety."
"But, but....."
"No buts, your father specifically ordered me to keep you in your chamber so that's where you're going to be, understood?"
Yuugi whimpered, continuing to struggle in the man's arms. He eventually tired and fell limp against the man's body, watching the ground move beneath him helplessly. From somewhere down the hall, rapid footsteps approached them; it was obvious who it was.
"Gods Yuugi, what do I have to do, get you a harness?" The girls panted, reaching out to take the child from the man's shoulders.
He felt himself being taken gently from the man's sturdy muscular arms into softer, more feminine ones. He hated being treated like cargo and frown cutely at the girl whose arms were wrapped around him.
Anzu sighed, looking up gratefully at the soldier, "Thank you Honda, I don't know what I would've done without you."
Honda's cheeks tinged pink and he scratched the back of his head, "Oh, it was nothing, just part of my duty is all."
She glanced at Yuugi, who was still sulking, "Well thank you, I can't seem to handle this little one on my own."
"No problem at all, but hey I have to go search for my men. They've all scattered when the news came, useless cowards, if you need any thing....."
A loud noise akin to a thunder strike resonated through the palace, cutting through her words like a knife.
Honda's hand shot to the wall and he braced himself, "What was that?"
"I don't know, but it came from that way." Anzu pointed down a corridor.
"That way?" Honda gulped, "But that leads to the throne room, the pharaoh's there."
Yuugi's eyes widened "Fada? Oh no fada! Lemme down!"
Anzu gave a yelp as the little one gave her a swift kick in the thigh and leapt out of her arms, immediately on his feet and dashing towards the throne room.
"Not again, Yuugi, come back!" Having no time to nurse her leg, Anzu hobbled painfully behind him with Honda slightly ahead of her.
"Wait Anzu, why don't you go this way and I'll cut him off on the other end. He's too quick for both of us to be trailing him like this." At those last words, Honda wondered to himself how a toddler could possibly be faster than he and Anzu combined. However, that was apparently the case.
Anzu nodded, watching the soldier whirling around and taking a right turn. She rubbed her thigh and straightened up before using the impeccable speed of being Yuugi's nurse to dash down the corridor.
"I swear; I will die a very, very young woman." She thought to herself, mentally preparing to spank the child in case the situation came to that.
"Fada, fada where are you?" Yuugi cried as he made his way down the hall, panting heavily and close to tears. The sounds started happening more frequently, each time more powerful than the last.
He began to regret leaving the safety of Anzu's arms but didn't think it was fair that he was safe and his father probably wasn't. Yuugi felt the ground beneath him shake with every step and leaned his hands against the wall to steady himself.
Yuugi moved steadily, making good time despite the unsteady ground. He was about to enter a new corridor when a figure jumped out, causing him to scream and reel back in surprise. Wasting no time, Honda scooped the boy up in his arms, holding him in a Heimlich maneuver position while the boy struggled.
"Stop Yuugi, you have to listen to me." Honda said harshly into his ear.
"No! Fada, I want fada now!"
"Your father said you have to stay in your room, he wants you to be safe Yuugi," Honda grunted, locking his arms tightly around the hysterical child.
"Nooooo! Nooooo!" Yuugi howled at the top of his lungs, flailing his arms and kicking wildly.
"Everything will be okay, don't worry."
"Fada, where are you, fada?!"
"Please Yuugi, calm down, I'll give you anything you want, sweets, cakes, toys, anything!"
"I don't want toys I want fada, fadaaaaaaa!" Yuugi's face turned bright red and he burst into tears.
"Shhh, you're a good boy and very good boy."
The crying grew louder and Yuugi's words were no longer intelligible. Honda began losing patience.
"Shhh Yuugi everything will be alright, I'll just take you back to your chamber and we'll play fun games, how about horsy or chariot or a board game?" The soldier's words came out desperately, his inexperience with children more salient than ever, "It'll be great and then after that, your father will come and take you outside to visit the bazaars, he'll buy you anything you want, anything."
"'Ate you.........haaaaaaate you! Waaaaaa!"
"No, don't say that, you're going to make me sad. How about we go somewhere else to play?" Honda gushed, hoping the dry nurse would come and liberate him.
"Nahahahahahahaaa....."
"I'll be a camel and you can ride me, bleehehehe."
"'Me go lemme gohohohohohoh........"
"You can ride Anzu like a donkey then." His mouth suddenly took a life of its own.
"NOhohohohohohh......."
"I-I let you climb on the roof of the palace and jump off!"
"Fadaaahahahahahah......"
"Look, someone's standing over there and he's staring at you, how embarrassing."
Yuugi stopped for one second but caught the bluff right away. "Want fadahahaha, want fadaaaaaa!"
"No. We. Are. Going. Back. Now, NOW!"
"Nohohohohohohohohoooooo."
"YES!"
"Nahahahahahaaaaa....."
"I'm warning you Yuugi........."
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............."
"SHUT UP CHILD OR I'LL SPANK YOU!"
Yuugi abruptly stopped, stunned at the words. He turned his tear-stained face up to Honda with a look of innocent bewilderment. Honda felt the guilt seeping through him like a thick mist.
"Well," He said stiffly, the words 'pharaoh's son' echoing through his mind, "Do you want a spanking?"
The boy shook his head.
"Then you will go back and later I'll tell your father what a good boy you were."
Again he shook his head.
"We either go or I'll spank you." Honda released his right arm from around the boy and raised his hand high, causing Yuugi to flinch.
"See, this is what you'll get if you don't listen to m.........AUCKukuk!"
Honda dropped the child and grunted as a sharp, almost unbearable pain shot through his body. He fell to the ground in a foetal position, gripping his crotch tightly. Through teary eyes, he saw Yuugi standing above him giggling softly.
"Augh.....Yuu.....gi......" He managed.
"Stop there, don't move a muscle Yuugi." Anzu came running up to them looking like a ragged pheasant, leaning against the wall to catch her breath.
"Huhuhuh.....I...huhuhuhuh.......found.......huhuhuhuh....you.........just.......huhuhuh........please...... stay......please......." She caught her breath, "Hey what happened to you, Honda?"
Honda gave out a high pitched squeak and turned his gaze up painfully at the boy in front of him.
Yuugi looked at Anzu for a split second like a rabbit being cornered by a jackal before pushing past her, and once again, running down the hallway.
"Oh no you don't!"
Anzu saw the light from the throne room just ahead of them as she dashed after Yuugi, the boy being mere meters ahead her. Gathering up speed, she leaped off her feet and did a flying tackle, pinning the child down with her bodyweight. She felt him writhe and wriggle under her but she was determined not to let the boy escape again.
She carefully got off the boy and lifted him up into a sitting position with one arm around his waist and the other over his mouth as if he was some sort of hostage. She held him firmly against her body, letting herself recover from the fall.
"A-re you alright, prince?" She asked at last.
Yuugi gave no answer but stared straight ahead, wide-eyed.
Anzu followed his gaze and gasped, "Sweet mother of Isis........"
The pharaoh stood at one end of the room, panting heavily with beads of sweat dripping down his face. His slightly parted legs were bent at the knees, holding the ruler firmly on his feet as if he was about to collapse at any given moment. The usually noble and calm countenance of the monarch held stress and pain, marring his handsome features. Both arms hung wearily at his sides, shoulders heaving up and down with every breath.
Ahead of him stood a figure clad in violet robes and armour. He stood tall, with an expressionless face that was partially hidden by his pointed helmet. The bright green staff in his right hand was pointed directly at the opponent, ready to launch an attack. Anzu recognized this figure the pharaoh referred to as the 'Dark Magician' but couldn't quite figure out as to why.
The priest Shimon stood far off in a corner with his hands clasped tightly in agitation. His plum eyes were glued onto the man across the room, awaiting his next move. Although no one could see his face, she was sure he was deeply concerned for the pharaoh.
A male she assumed to be Bakura stood at the far end of the room looking as fresh as the living Nile. A dark smile played on his lips as he gazed at the haggard pharaoh with amusement. One hand rested casually on his hip while the other hung at his side. The Ring against his chest glowed bright like the afternoon sun. In front of him stood a malicious-looking creature, completely bald and bathed in dark colours. Its eyes were piercing, evil slits, the most noticeable feature on the navy blue face. In one arm held a broken doll. Dark Necrofere.
Anzu pressed her hand over Yuugi's mouth to keep him from crying out and disturbing the pharaoh. She was glad he hadn't noticed their presence but it broke her heart to see him in such disarray.
"I believe that was a good enough warm-up," Bakura ran a hand through his hair, "Now let's begin the duel."
The Dark Magician gripped the staff until his knuckles turned white. He could feel the strain of his master through their magical link and tried his best to hold firm his stance. The pharaoh's strength was fading quickly whereas Bakura was barely fazed.
"Perhaps you'd like a small rest first?" Bakura inquired.
Atemu stumbled a bit but said nothing. He tried his best to straighten up, gripping onto the puzzle desperately for support.
"Master, you are weakening, we must stop."
"I know, but we can still win, just trust me, Mahaado."
Bakura shrugged, "Alright then, as you wish," He turned to his monster, "Dark Necrofere."
Yuugi screamed through Anzu's hand and squirmed in her arm as he saw the hideous monster advancing towards the Dark Magician. He slipped his jaw under her hand and bit down on her pinkie with all his might, receiving a shriek from the girl. That caught Atemu's attention and he watched in horror as the toddler broke free from the nurse's embrace and began running towards him.
"Fada, fada, I'm comin!"
"WHAT?! NO YUUGI, GET BACK, GET BACK!" He screamed, waving an arm frantically at Yuugi.
Bakura watched in surprise at the small child running right into their battle. He glanced up at his monster with a sly grin and nodded.
"Why not, it will still be nothing in comparison to what I had to witness my family go through and besides, the pharaoh should know better than to let others meddle in our business."
The creature nodded and turned his attention to Yuugi, who immediately stopped dead in his tracks.
Atemu's eyes widened, "No.....don't you dare, I'm warning you."
The Dark Magician readied himself to counterattack but his timing was off by a hair.
Dark Necrofere's eyes opened up wide, shooting out two concentrated beams of light. Yuugi clenched his eyes shut, waiting for the rays to strike him but felt nothing. He suddenly fell back as a heavy weight knocked him to the ground followed by an agonized cry so loud it echoed throughout the room.
Yuugi felt suffocated and tried to push the mass off of him but he was too weak. The person got to his knees slowly, groaning in terrible pain and grabbed Yuugi in a desperate embrace.
Atemu's eyes stung with tears as he held his son close to his heart, unable to stop his laboured breathing, "A....are....you alright Yuugi?"
The boy whimpered and nodded. Atemu squeezed him tighter, crushing the boy against his sweaty body."Why son, why did you leave your chamber?" He whispered.
"I-I was afaid fada, dere were sounds and I was afaid." He buried his face in the nape of the pharaoh's neck and cried softly.
"Shh, it's alright," Atemu rubbed gentle circles around the boy's bare back, "I'm right here, I won't let anything hurt you."
Yuugi slid his little arms around his father's back in a hug, feeling the pharaoh wince under his touch. The skin on his back felt strangely rough and wet as if it was made of a tattered piece of leather.
"Did it hurt lots fada?" Yuugi asked tenderly, continuing to feel around the pharaoh's back, unaware of how much worst he was making it.
"N-no I-I- augh fine, don't worry."
"It's cause of me, right? Are you angwy?"
"No son, it wasn't your fault. I'm just so glad that you are safe." He gave Yuugi a kiss on the forehead, keeping his lips lingering there, knowing it may be his last chance to do so.
Bakura growled, watching his opponent tend to the child and not paying any attention to him "Pharaoh! What in the name of Horus are you doing? Get back here now and duel me you worthless excuse for a king."
Atemu ignored him, causing Bakura's rage to flare. "Alright then, if that's how you want it than I will destroy both you and your pup with one attack!" He closed his eyes and knitted his eyebrows together, concentrating on channeling his energy through the Ring. It lifted off his chest on its own and slowly began to glow brighter until the item radiated a blinding white light. A thin beam shot out from the ring like an arrow and flew up towards the ceiling, hitting its target and showering beams of light down on Bakura like a spring rain.
"Atemu! You must hurry, Bakura's summoning his Ka, he's calling forth Diabound!" The pharaoh heard Shimon holler from somewhere in the room.
Atemu looked down at the shaking child in his arms but couldn't find the heart to leave his son when he needed him most. That and the fact that his injury hampered his ability to fight.
"Yuugi....."
"No pease fada, don't leave me. C'mon, let's go get a healer and den you'll get better, c'mon lets go." Yuugi tried to break free but Atemu held onto him tightly.
"No son, I can't go." He said gently, turning the little's one's chin up to meet his remorseful gaze.
Yuugi clung tightly to him, unsure of the reliability of his source of comfort, "Well why not? Is it cause of the bad man?"
"Yes it's because of him that I have to stay here."
"Den make him go away."
"I'm afraid it's not that easy." Atemu looked into those large, unknowing eyes. If only his son knew the extent of those words.
"L-like the bat?"
He ran his hand through the boy's messy hair, "No, this is much more difficult."
Yuugi's gaze fell to the ground, "You're da pharow."
Atemu could feel another wave of tears coming. His son was right on that one but if he couldn't fulfill the wish of his own child, than what kind of pharaoh was he?
A sudden, deafening roar sounded in the room, causing Yuugi to jump back into his father's arms. Diabound was taking form and it was only a matter of time before the beast was fully summoned and ready to destroy. Atemu turned around and watched helplessly as the beast emerged from the depths of Bakura's soul.
"Make it go away, fada. It's so loud." Tears streamed down his face and his voice was muffled from being closely pressed to his father.
"Don't worry son, I won't let it hurt you."
"Atemu, you have to do something, it's about to attack!" Shimon shouted.
"Fada help me, I'm so afaid!" Yuugi started bawling and buried his face in the pharaoh's chest.
He wrapped his arms around the boy tightly, trying to stifle the cries. The ruler could feel the heat emanating from the creature's energy as it prepared to attack and he braced himself.
"I'm so sorry, Yuugi." He clenched his eyes shut.
A thunderous explosion sounded in the room followed by something that almost sounded like shattering glass. The force of the attack was like a sandstorm, nearly knocking Atemu over and onto his son. Be braced himself against the wind, gripping onto the child with all his might to keep him steady. After an eternity, the wind slowly receded and then all was silent.
"Was that it? It couldn't have been Diabound's attack. Something must be wrong"
Clutching the boy to his chest, he turned to see a clear barrier divided down the width of the room. A Mirror Wall.
"Old man? Shimon!"
The priest stood in front of the pair, using the power of the Millennium Ankh to sustain the wall. Diabound had concentrated most of its energy into the blast, almost shattering the Mirror Wall Shimon erected. The barrier was weakened by the attack so the beast took the opportunity to pound at it with its physical strength.
Atemu could see the edges of the wall beginning to form spidery cracks and knew it couldn't sustain for long. The magus's body was strained, taxing his energy and draining the magical abilities of the pharaoh pulled his son out of the embraced and gripped onto his shoulders, meeting the child's eyes.
"Yuugi you have to listen to me and do as I say, understand?"
The toddler sniffled and nodded slowly.
"Good, because I need you to be brave for me, can you that?"
"Yes."
Atemu wiped away a bit of mucus running from the boy's nose, "Listen carefully, I want you to go with Anzu and – "
"Nooo!" Yuugi jumped back into his father's arms and began to sob.
Atemu sighed and rubbed the child's back, "You agreed to do as I said, remember?"
Yuugi ignored the question and kept on crying.
"You're going to make me sad if you don't listen to me, son. Do you want me to be sad?"
"No." The child whispered.
"Than you must do as I say and go with her."
"No I don wanna."
"Do you love me?"
"Lots."
"Than why aren't you listening to me?"
Yuugi lifted his head, "I want to be here, I won't get in the way, promise."
"You want me to be sad, don't you?" Atemu caressed a chubby cheek, his son's tear soliding onto his calloused finger.
"No, but...."
"But nothing, you're a brave boy and I know you can do this for me," He signaled for Anzu and the terrified girl hurried over.
Yuugi reached for his father's face but Atemu pushed the small hand away, "You're gonna be happy right?"
"Yes, that'll make me happy," Atemu hugged the child and kissed him in the hair, "Be good for me, son I love you very much"
Anzu hesitated but bent down and hoisted Yuugi onto one of her hips. "You're gonna come lata, right?"
"Y-yes, I'll come later."
Anzu turned to walk away and Yuugi looked back over her shoulder, "You promise fada?"
"I promise."
Through blurry eyes, Yuugi watched as his father staggered to his feet and straighten up. Somewhere down the hall, he heard he clear and confident voice of the pharaoh rang out over all the noise and confusion.
"Shadow duel!"