Episode 25: Relics Part 1

Yuni and his friends are exiting Domino Square after the announcement of the World of Duel tournament. They are in the middle of a conversation. Tori says, "Yuni, I'm so sorry. It must be even harder since you just got Apep back in your life."

Yuni responds, "Yeah, it really sucks. I thought that maybe once he finished damage control from all the trouble he caused, we might be able to catch-up. Looks like that chance is gone."

Brutus says, "That really stinks, first your parents, and now Apep."

Yuni stops and looks towards the floor. Tori asks, "What is it Yuni?"

"About my parents. I know what happened to them…Oblivion happened."

Brutus says, "Wait, you mean…" Yuni nods his head. Brutus then says in a fury, "Why if I ever get my hands on that guy, it's going to end badly for him!"

At the thought of Brutus fighting Oblivion, Yuni smiles a little. Yuni then quickly looks up, he catches a glimpse of a man wearing a full body cloak and hood. On the front of the cloak is a strange emblem with the Japanese symbol for darkness on it. The cloaked man runs off into an alleyway.

Yuni shouts, "That man! He's wearing the same cloak that Oblivion wore!" Yuni runs off towards the alley that the man ran through.

Brutus and Tori look at each other and then run after him.

Yuni is runs through a maze of alleyways, always turning a corner just in time to see the cloaked man turn the next. Yuni thinks, What's up with this guy? He's not just running away from me, it almost seems as if he knows where he's going.

Yugi then exclaims, That's it! He does! It's a trap, don't go any farther!

But it's too late, Yuni runs into an alleyway and sees the man standing on the other side, as if he's waiting. As soon as Yuni enters the alley, the entrances and exits are blocked off by a cage. Yuni, breathing deeply from the run, shouts, "What is this!? Who are you!?"

The man lowers his hood. Revealing a pale grey face with no hair, that has skin that appears to be sucked into the bone , giving the appearance of a skull for a face. He says, "I am Ruin, second in command of the Disciples of Darkness. As for this, I had to make sure you wouldn't turn down my challenge to duel."

Yuni raises his Duel Gauntlet and says, "If it's a duel you want, all you had to do was ask."

Just then, Tori and Brutus catch up and are trapped outside the cage. Tori says, "Hey Yuni, what's happening? Are you okay?"

Yuni says, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Ruin and I were about to have a duel."

Ruin gives a grim smile and says, "I am so glad that you are so willing to accept, something tells me you won't be in a little."

Yuni states, "Enough chat, let's start this duel." Yuni activates his duel gauntlet and Ruin does the same.

The duel computer states, "World of Duel tournament duel now commencing. Yuni Oha: 0 points, vs. Ruin: 0 points. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

Yuni draws a card for his first turn and shouts, "Duel on!"

Seto is walking through the warehouse sector of Domino City. He thinks to himself, Well, that message was right about something, the World of Duel tournament, what a spectacle. Now here I am at the Domino Warehouse. Where is that mysterious person?

Suddenly cage walls come out of the ground and surround Seto. A man in a black cloak with the same emblem as before jumps down from the roof of the warehouse and lands in front of Seto.

Seto demands, "Who do you think you are!? I'll have you know that I am the CEO of the most powerful company in the world!"

The man lowers his hood and reveals another pale face. On his face are several black and dark purple markings. The man says in an innocent voice, "Don't you recognize me Seto?" His voice becomes menacing. "We are business partners after all."

A look of horror crosses Seto's face. He has a flashback of before he went to the Duel Sanctuary tournament. He's sitting in his office looking at a hologram of a silhouette. Seto is shouting at the hologram, "Don't you dare turn this around to me! You kidnapped him and made him seem dead! This is all your fault!"

The hologram returns, "Such harsh words. Come on Seto, we're business partners now. We work together, and I'm sure if you continue to follow my plans, we'll find one eventually that you can pull off." The flashback ends.

Seto says in a fury, "You! You're the one who kidnapped my brother! You're the one whose been forcing me to do your dirty work! I'll make you pay!"

The man shakes his head and says, "Seto, Seto, Seto. This isn't how business partners should act. Why I don't even think you know my name. Let's start over, my name is Scourge."

Seto says, still angrily, "I don't care what your name is!"

Scourge says, "Alright, fine. How about we settle things like civilized men. Let's have a duel."

Seto says, "Now you're speaking my language. Let's duel."

Seto and Scourge activate their Duel Gauntlets. The computer states, "World of Duel tournament duel now commencing. Seto Ossius: 0 points vs. Scourge: 0 points. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

Seto draws a card and shouts, "You're going to pay for what you've done!"

Yuni thinks to himself, I don't know what's up with this guy, but maybe if I beat him I can learn something. Yuni then says out loud, "I'll start things off by summoning my Cyber-Tech Automaton (Water/Level 4/Machine/Normal/ATK 2000/DEF 0)!" Yuni summons a crude looking, steam-punk robot. "I'll also play my continuous spell card, Cyber Guard! As long as I control this card, I can discard a card to negate an attack against a machine type monster. I'll end my turn now (Yuni's hand: 4)."

Ruin says, "I expected more from a reincarnate of one of the princes of Yugoha."

Yuni demands, "What does that even mean!?"

Ruin chuckles. "You mean you don't know of your heritage? How interesting. This is not the time for you to learn. As for the duel," Ruin draws a card, "I summon Lich Summoner (Dark/Level 4/Zombie/Effect/ATK 1500/DEF 0)." The monster Ruin summons is a rotting zombie wearing a red cloak and holding a staff. "When Lich Summoner is summoned I can send two Zombie type monsters from my deck to the graveyard. Now I'll activate Lich Summoner's second ability, allowing me to discard a Zombie type monster in order special summon another level four or lower zombie from my graveyard. I'll special summon Lich Servant (Dark/Level 4/Zombie/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 0)." Lich Summoner raises its staff and another zombie raises from its grave. "When I summon Lich Servant from the grave, I can draw a card. Now I overlay my two monsters in order to build the Overlay Network and Xyz summon Lich Emperor (Dark/Rank 4/Zombie/Xyz/ATK 2100/DEF 0)!" Emerging from the Overlay Network comes a large Zombie wearing regal purple robes and a crown. "Lich Emperor has two effects I can choose from. Either I can send a Zombie type monster from my deck to the graveyard, or I can special summon one Zombie from my graveyard, which I will do now. I remove an overlay unit in order to special summon Lich General from my graveyard (Dark/Level 6/Zombie/Effect/ATK 2200/DEF 0)." Ruin summons a zombie wearing army-like clothes and gear. "Now Lich Emperor, attack Yuni's Automaton!"

Yuni objects, "Don't you remember my Cyber Guard? I discard a card to negate your attack!"

"Yes, but I can at least make you discard a card if I attack. Luckily for you, my Lich General is not allowed to declare an attack on the turn it is summoned from the grave. Due to that, I will set a card and end my turn (Ruin's hand: 5)."

Seto has just drawn his card to start his turn. Seto says, "It's time for you to lose. I summon Plasma Spawn (Light/Level 1/Thunder/Effect/ATK ?/DEF 0)!" A glowing, amorphous orb of plasma appears on Seto's field. "When I summon this monster, its level becomes equal to the amount of cards in my hand (Level 5), also its attack is equal to its level times 400 (ATK 2000). Now I set a card and end my turn (Seto's hand: 4)."

Scourge says playfully, "Why Seto, I thought you were a big time duel champion. That wasn't that fancy of a move. Is something wrong?"

Seto says with annoyance, "The only thing wrong here is you. Take your move already so I can crush you."

Scourge draws a card. "I summon Phantom Nebula - Crab (Dark/Level 1/Aqua/Tuner/ATK 500/DEF 1400)." Scourge summons a monster that looks just like its name suggests, a crab shaped nebula. "When this card is summoned, I can special summon one Phantom Nebula Token in defense mode (Dark/Level 1/Fairy/Token/ATK 0/DEF 0)." A small circular nebula appears on Scourge's field. "Now since I control a Phantom Nebula Token, I can special summon Phantom Nebula - Cat's Eye from my hand (Dark/Level 6/Beast/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1300)." The monster summoned looks like a nebula in the shape of a giant eye. "Now I have my level one Crab tune my level one Phantom Nebula Token and level six Cat's Eye in order to Synchro Summon Phantom Nebula - Medusa (Dark/Level 8/Fiend/Synchro/ATK 2700/DEF 2500)." This monster, once again, looks like Medusa, except made out of a Nebula. "Since I used Cat's Eye in a Synchro Summon, I can special summon one Phantom Nebula Token in defense mode. Which, by the way, as long as I control a Phantom Nebula Token, you can't destroy my Medusa. Now I activate Phantom Guard! This card makes it so that you can't destroy my Phantom Nebula Tokens by battle. Now that we have all of this figured out, Phantom Nebula - Medusa, attack his Plasma Spawn, Petrifying Beauty!" Medusa launches a stream of cosmic dust at Plasma Spawn.

Seto announces, "I activate my trap, Cosmic Calling! With this card I can reduce all damage I take and add one Cosmic Plasma Dragon to my hand!"

Scourge says playfully, "But Seto, your monster will still be destroyed. What a shame, what a shame." Plasma Spawn is destroyed.

Seto says, "Not a shame at all, in fact a blessing! When Plasma Spawn is destroyed, I can special summon two Plasma Spawn Tokens (Light/Level 5/Thunder/Token/ATK 0/DEF 0)!"

"You play your cards well Seto. This is fun. I'll end my turn (Scourge's hand: 3)."

Yuni draws a card. "I am going to make your society pay for everything they've done to me! I activate the effect of Cyber-Tech Breaker in my hand. By destroying the a face-up spell card on my field, I can special summon Breaker from my hand (Dark/Level 1/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 400/DEF 1000). Now I tribute my Cyber-Tech Automaton and Breaker in order to summon Cyber-Tech Magician (Dark/Level 7/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2100)!" Yuni's ace magician appears on the field.

Ruin looks intrigued. "Well, if it isn't one of the Legendary Magicians. Just as much a relic of the past as you are."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"You are merely a relic of a bygone era. The era of Yugoha is over, and so is yours."

"I still have no idea what all of this talk of Yugoha is supposed to mean, but you know what, I don't care. I'll still beat you! Cyber-Tech Magician, attack Lich General, Cyber Magic Attack!"

Ruin states, "I'm sorry to disappoint, but if I control another Lich monster, you can't destroy Lich General by battle."

Yuni returns, "And I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if Cyber-Tech Magician attacks a monster, it negates that monster's effect. Go, Effect Sealing Magic!" Cyber-Tech Magician first holds up its hand and Lich General turns black and white. "Now, continue your attack!" Cyber-Tech Magician launches an orb of dark energy and destroys Lich General.

"My Lich Emperor prevents me from taking battle damage from battles involving a Lich monster."

"Fine. I set a card and end my turn (Yuni's hand: 1)."

Ruin draws a card. "Now it is time to seal your fate."

Yuni asks, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that once I defeat you, I will banish your mind, so you will not hinder the Master's plan."

"What!? You're going to take my mind away!?"

"Yes. And I believe that you have already seen this happen before, haven't you?"

Yuni mutters under his breath, "Apep."

"Yes, exactly. Now of course, I can only do that if I beat you in a duel first. I evolve my Lich Emperor." Lich Emperor becomes cloaked in light. "I evolve it into Lich Lord the Master (Dark/Level 8/Zombie/Evolution/ATK 2500/DEF 0)." Out of the light emerges a large zombie with more rot and bones showing than the others. It wears a rotted red cloak and holds a rusted scepter. "I can evolve any Lich Xyz monster into this card. When it is summoned, I can summon a Zombie monster from my graveyard, such as my Lich Servant. Which means I can draw a card. Also my Lich Lord has a second effect, I can tribute a Lich monster I control in order to add a spell from my deck to my hand. I tribute Lich Servant in order to add Corruption of Darkness to my hand, which I will now play." As soon as Ruin plays the card, the entire field turns pitch black for several moments. When the light returns Yuni and Ruin are surrounded by swirling shadows.

Yuni demands, "What is this!?"

"This is your doom!"

Seto draws a card. "I will beat you and figure out what happened to my little brother! Since my two Spawn Tokens are each level five, I can tribute them both in order to special summon Cosmic Plasma Dragon (Light/Level 8/Dragon/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2500)! This dragon is the destroyer of planets! And now it will destroy you! I equip my dragon with Plasma Scorcher. When equipped with this card, if my monster attacks yours, and it's not destroyed, I can destroy your monster with this card. Go Cosmic Plasma Dragon, attack with Plasma Stream of Destruction!" Cosmic Plasma Dragon unleashes a breath of plasma at Phantom Nebula Medusa.

Ruin says, "As long as I control a Phantom Nebula Token, Phantom Guard prevents me from taking battle damage."

"I don't care, thanks to my Plasma Scorcher, your monster is still destroyed!"

"If Medusa is destroyed, I can tribute a Phantom Nebula Token I control in order to special summon it from the graveyard!" Phantom Nebula - Medusa returns to the field.

A scowl crosses Seto's face. "Fine. I set a card and end my turn (Seto's hand: 2)."

Scourge draws a card. "And that means its my turn. This is going to be such a fun turn. I evolve my Phantom Nebula - Medusa and Evolution summon Phantom Nebula - Orion the Hunter (Dark/Level 9/Warrior/Evolution/ATK 3000/DEF 2400)!" The monster that appears is a nebula in the form of a fierce hunter holding a club and shield. "When I summon Orion, I can summon a Phantom Nebula Token. Also, I can tribute a Phantom Nebula Token in order to add a spell card from my deck to my hand. I add Corruption of Darkness to my hand and play it." The same thing that happened to Yuni and Ruin happens here.

Seto demands, "What kind of card is this!?"

"Oh Seto, this card is the card that will spell out your doom."

Ruin says, "Allow me to explain my card. Corruption of Darkness allows me to do something special. It allows me to perform a Darkness Evolution."

Yuni objects, "What's a Darkness Evolution? I have never heard of such a thing."

"Allow me to demonstrate. Go, Darkness Evolution!" Shadows from the surroundings gather around Lich Lord the Master and cover it completely. "I Evolve my Lich Lord the Master into Darkness Evolution: Over Lich Lord the Supreme (Dark/Level 9/Zombie/Evolution/ATK 2900/DEF 0)." The monster that emerges from the shadows is a bigger, more powerful looking version of the previous monster. It cloak appears to be made out of shadows.

Yuni looks shocked and says, "That's Impossible. You can't Evolve an Evolution monster!"

Scourge says, "And now let's put my new card to use. Go, Darkness Evolution!" Phantom Nebula - Orion the Hunter becomes cloaked in shadows. "I evolve Phantom Nebula - Orion the Hunter into Darkness Evolution: Dark Phantom Nebula - Osiris the King (Dark/Level 10/Spellcaster/Evolution/ATK 3300/DEF 2600)!" The monster that emerges from the shadows has taken the form of an Egyptian Pharaoh instead of a hunter, and has an overall darker appearance.

Seto says angrily, "What is this madness!?"