Episode 35: It's Time to Duel! Part 2

Yugi, in control of Yuni's body, has just started to duel Ruin. Yugi declares, "It's time to duel!" Yugi looks at his hand and thinks, It's been 5,000 years since I've dueled. It feels nice to be back in the saddle. I just wish I could enjoy it, but there's too much on the line. Yugi takes a good look at the Duel Screen. Even after all of those duels with Yuni, I'm not that sure on how to work this thing. Let's just go for it. Yugi tries to use the Duel Screen to activate a card, and after a few attempts he manages to make it work. He says aloud, "I summon Cyber-Tech Automaton (Water/Level 4/Machine/Normal/ATK 2000/DEF 0)." The steam punk monster appears on the field. "I'll also set two cards and end my turn (Yugi's hand: 3)."

Ruin draws and says, "So you're the famous Yugi Muto, huh? I'm not going to even ask how you got into Yuni's body, because it doesn't matter. I'll still defeat you, and remove your mind from that body and make it a mindless husk. Unless that is, you have any other minds hidden in there."

Yugi says, "None that I know of."

Ruin says, "Good. I'll have you know, my powers aren't all that have grown since we last met, my deck is stronger too. You will now feel my wrath! I activate Lich Leech! This card allows me to send three Lich monsters straight to my grave. I'll send Lich Necromancer, Lich Charmer, and Lich Undead. When Lich Undead is sent to the graveyard from my deck, I can special summon it (Dark/Level 5/Zombie/Effect/ATK 1900/DEF 0)." The monster is a hideous, reanimated, corpse. "Lich Undead also allows me to discard a card in order to special summon a zombie type monster from my grave. I'll summon Lich Necromancer (Dark/Level 5/Zombie/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 0)." This monster is another zombie. It wears a black cloak and hood. "When Lich Necromancer is summoned from the grave, it can summon another zombie from it also. So I'll summon Lich Charmer (Dark/Level 5/Zombie/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 0). Now I use my three level five monsters in order build the Overlay Network! I Xyz summon Lich Champion (Dark/Rank 5/Zombie/Xyz/ATK 2800/DEF 0)!" This monster is armored in gladiator-like armor and holds a spear in one hand and a shield in the other.

Yugi thinks, Alright, if I've learned anything about these Exceed - no, Xyz monsters - it's that their effects take overlay units, so that's probably what he'll do now.

Ruin says, "I activate my Champion's effect. When it's summoned, I can destroy all monsters you control!"

Yugi objects, "What!? You can do that without any overlay units!? What kind of Xyz monster is this!?"

Ruin says, "I'm surprised you even know what an Xyz monster is. It doesn't matter. Not all Xyz monsters' effects take Overlay Units." Yugi's monster is destroyed. "Now luckily for you, Lich Champion can't declare an attack the turn it's summoned. So I'll just set a card and end my turn (Ruin's hand: 3)."

Yugi stumbles on drawing again, but manages. He thinks, It's weird to be in such an important duel, but have no one else in my mind. Whether it was Yuni or Atum, there was always someone with me. Now I'm all on my own. Yugi says aloud, "I activate a facedown card! Improvised Repair! This trap allows me to special summon a machine type monster from my grave, but its attack is reduced by 500. I'll repair my Cyber-Tech Automaton (ATK: 1500)." Yugi thinks, Alright, let's see if I've been around Yuni long enough to pick up some of these new age tricks. He says, "Now that I have my Automaton back, I'll evolve it. Go, Evolution Summon!" Cyber-Tech Automaton becomes cloaked in light. Its form slowly changes. its legs are replaced by treads, a large cannon appears on its back, and it grows over all more tank-like. "I evolve Cyber-Tech Automaton into Cyber-Tech Steam Punk Soldier (Water/Level 7/Machine/Evolution/ATK 3000/DEF 0)!"

Ruin mocks, "So you evolve a monster too? It would appear that you sharing a body with Yuni isn't a recent development."

Yugi says, "No, it isn't. My Steam Punk Soldier may not have any effects, but it has plenty of power. Now, attack Lich Champion with Steam Over-Drive!" Steam Punk Soldier activates its steam-powered cannon."

Ruin objects, "I activate Seal of the Lich! As long as I control this continuous trap card, a monster I select cannot declare an attack." A pentagram seal surrounds Steam Punk Soldier and its attack is cancelled.

Yugi says, "First I'll place a card in facedown defense mode and set another card. Now I believe that since it's the end of my turn, my Steam Punk Soldier devolves, and with that, your Seal of the Lich loses its target." Yugi's monster devolves.

Ruin says, "Actually, it doesn't. You see, when the target of Seal of the Lich leaves the field, I can target another monster. I'll target your Automaton."

Yugi says, "Alright, I'll just have to deal with it then (Yugi's hand: 2)."

Ruin draws. "I activate the effect of Lich Champion. By removing all three of its overlay units, I can special summon as many Lich monsters as possible from my graveyard, but their effects are negated."

Yugi objects, "But you don't have any monsters in the graveyard."

Ruin says, "I have my overlay units, which are sent to the grave upon being removed." Lich Champion absorbs all of its overlay units through its sword, which it holds up and Lich Necromancer, Lich Charmer, and Lich Undead rise from the grave. "My Lich Champion can't attack if it has no overlay units, so I'll recycle it by evolving it." Lich Champion becomes cloaked in light. "I evolve Lich Champion into Lich Lord the Indomitable (Dark/Level 8/Zombie/Evolution/ATK 3100/DEF 0)!" The new monster wears armor like before, but much more elegant and heavy armor. It also has a tattered red cape.

Yugi thinks, Alright, the only time I've seen a Disciple of Darkness perform an Evolution, they then follow it with a Darkness Evolution. I can't let that happen. He says aloud, "I activate my facedown card, Devolution! This card does exactly what you would think, and devolves a monster you control."

Ruin says, "Oh no you don't! I activate the effect of Lich Lord the Indomitable! By tributing a Lich monster I control, I can negate any effect that would target him. So I'll offer my Lich Undead as tribute. Nice try though. I will now have my Lich Charmer attack your facedown monster." Yuni's monster flips over to reveal Cyber-Tech Mystic (Water/Level 1/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 300/DEF 200), which is destroyed. "Now Lich Lord the Indomitable attacks your Cyber-Tech Automaton!" Lich Lord throws its sword at Yugi's monster. After destroying the monster, it returns to Lich Lord (Yugi's LP: 2900). "And finally I'll have Lich Necromancer attack you directly!"

Yugi declares, "No you don't! I discard Kuriborg from my hand in order to negate your attack!" Yugi thinks, You may have taken a different form, but you always come through for me, in any life. Thank you for your sacrifice my friend.

Ruin says, "Fine, stall all you want. I will end you and get that Another Hope card. Before I end my turn, my Lich Lord the Indomitable devolves (Ruin's hand: 4)."

Yugi draws. Yugi says, "I activate Gifts of Kuriboh! Since I discarded a Kuri- monster last turn, I can draw two cards." Kuriborg appears out of the grave and moves two card from Yugi's deck to his hand. "Now I'll activate this, Cyber-Tech Production Line! It allows me to special summon a level six or lower Cyber-Tech monster from my hand, since I control no monsters. I'll summon Cyber-Tech Dragoon (Fire/Level 5/Dragon/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1700)!" The cybernetic, serpent dragon appears on the field. "When I special summon this monster, I can add one Polymerization from my deck to my hand, which I will now use. I fuse my Cyber-Tech Dragoon with the Cyber-Tech Swordsman in my hand in order to summon Cyber-Tech Dragon Champion (Wind/Level 7/Dragon/Fusion/ATK 2600/DEF 2100)!" Cyber-Tech Swordsman loses its horse and mounts Cyber-Tech Dragoon. "Cyber-Tech Dragon Champion, attack Lich Necromancer!" Dragon Champion swoops down upon Ruin's monster and stabs it with its long sword (Ruin's LP: 3400). "Now I'll activate the effect of Dragon Champion, which allows me to tribute it in order to summon its fusion materials from the graveyard in defense mode." Cyber-Tech Dragoon and Cyber-Tech Swordsman (Earth/Level 6/Warrior/Normal/ATK 2400/DEF 2200) return to the field. "Since I special summoned Dragoon, I can add another Polymerization to my hand. Now I'll set a card and end my turn (Yugi's hand: 1)."

Ruin draws. "You are called one of the greatest duelists of all time, but you made a mistake. You left me with Lich Champion. A fatal error, because I activate Re-evolution! This spell allows me to evolve a monster I control, using an Evolution monster in my Devolved Zone. I'll re-evolve my Lich Champion into Lich Lord the Indomitable! He won't be sticking around that long, because I activate Corruption of Darkness!"

Yugi looks shocked. He thinks, No, not that card!

Ruin says, "Now, I'll perform a Darkness Evolution!" Ruin's monster is cloaked in shadows. "I evolve Lich Lord the Indomitable into Darkness Evolution: Lich Overlord the Invincible (Dark/Level 9/Zombie/Evolution/ATK 3500/DEF 0)!" The new monster has a shadowy aura around it. It's armor is grander than before and instead of a sword and shield, it has mace in one hand and a axe in the other. "The effect of Lich Overlord allows me to summon a Lich monster from my graveyard. I'll bring back my Lich Undead! Also, the effect of Lich Overlord allows one monster I control, besides him, to attack you directly. Go Lich Undead, attack Yugi directly!" The monster charges straight at Yugi (Yugi's LP: 1000). "Luckily for you, the effect of Lich Overlord stops him from attacking and destroys the monster that attacked directly." Ruin's monster goes away (Ruin's hand: 3).

Yugi begins to draw, but Ruin interrupts, "Also, you should know, For the first three of my turns that Lich Overlord is out, he can't be destroyed by battle, and I take no damage in battles involving him. Add on the fact that Darkness Evolution monsters can't be destroyed by card effects as long as I control Corruption of Darkness. Lich Overlord the Invincible is truly invincible!"

Yugi draws and thinks, He's right! That monster is practically invincible. Yugi looks at his hand. I've got nothing now, but I have one more chance. Yugi says aloud, "I'm not done yet! I activate Cyber-Tech Salvage! This card allows me to banish a Cyber-Tech monster in my grave, such as my Cyber-Tech Mystic, in order to draw two cards!" Yugi holds his hand over his deck. He thinks, This is it. It's all up to this draw. I know it has been 5,000 years, and this isn't my own deck, but I feel like it could be. Heart of the Cards, guide this draw. I believe in the Heart of the Cards! Yugi draws and he slowly smiles.

Ruin says, "You smile, but there is nothing you can do. Why is this?"

"No Ruin. There is something I can do! I activate Time Skip! This card advances the turn count by one! Now, both my Cyber-Tech Dragoon and Swordsman have been on the field for three turns each, a total of six. I tribute them both in order to summon Chronos, the Temporal Lord (Divine/Level 10/Divine-Beast/Effect/ATK X000/DEF X000)!" The ground starts to shake. Thunder is heard from outside the building. Suddenly the roof explodes from being hit by lightning. Chronos lowers into the room.

Ruin looks horrified. He shouts, "No! No, this wasn't supposed to happen again! How did you pull it off!? Why me!?"

Yugi says, "Because there is one major difference between us! I believe in the Heart of the Cards and you only use the cards as your servant of evil! That is why I could never lose to the likes of you! Chronos' attack becomes equal to the amount of my turns that have passed, times 1000, which is four (ATK: 4000)! But that's not all! I can activate the effect of Chronos in order to travel in time to one turn in the future (ATK: 5000)! Since we have now traveled two turns into the future, your Lich has now been on the field for three of your turns, meaning it loses its invincibility effect! Go Chronos, the Temporal Lord, attack Lich Overlord the Invincible with Temporal Force Attack!" Chronos unleashes a blast of silvery energy at Lich Overlord, which completely obliterates it (Ruin's LP: 1900). Yugi says, "I end my turn (Yugi's hand: 0)."

Ruin is still in a slight state of panic, but draws. "I…I activate Lich Necromancy! This card allows me to summon a Lich monster from my graveyard and than destroy a monster you control. I'll bring back my Lich Undead!"

Yugi says, "You made two mistakes there. First, you forgot about the effect of my Chronos from our last duel. If you special summon a monster, it is sent a turn into the future! Also, Chronos is too powerful to be removed from the field by card effects. Now go Chronos, Time Strike!" Chronos opens its second mouth and sends out a vortex that sucks up Lich Undead.

Ruin thinks, No! I've failed you Lord Oblivion. You trusted me with great powers and I failed you. He slowly says aloud, "I…end my turn (Ruin's hand: 3)."

Yugi draws and says, "Now that it's my standby phase, your monster returns to the field." Another vortex opens up and Lich Undead reappears. "Since another turn has passed, Chronos gains another 1000 attack points (ATK: 6000). Now Chronos, let's finish this up! One more time, attack Lich Undead with Temporal Force Attack!" Chronos unleashes its attack again and blows up half the room in the process (Ruin's LP: 0).

The Duel Computer says, "Yuni Oha wins. For making a comeback, Yuni has been awarded with 542 points for a total of 2,292 points. For pulling off several complex moves, Ruin has been awarded with 140 points for a total of 294 points."

While the computer is announcing the scores, Yugi runs over to Ruin, who was knocked back by the blast of the attack, and looks down at him. Once the computer ends its scoring, Yugi says angrily, "Give me back Yuni!"

Ruin looks startled at first, but then starts to laugh. "You really expected that I would give Yuni's mind back to you!? Ha! Why would I ever do that?"

Yugi looks confused. "Because I beat you in a duel maybe?"

"Maybe that was the case in your time, people went giving back minds and souls just because they lost a duel, but I'm not that stupid."

Brutus, looking very angry, stomps over, picks up Ruin by his cloak, and holds him in the air. Brutus says in anger, "You better give back Yuni, or I won't hold back!"

Yugi says, "No Brutus, let him go. Violence is never the answer."

Brutus looks dumbfounded at Yugi. "What!?"

Yugi says, "This isn't the solution." A tear runs down his eye.

Ruin smiles. "So not only are you stupid, but you're weak. I'll have no problem getting that card from you. Until next time, Yugi Muto." Ruin turns into shadows and fades away.

Tori and Zenith run up to them. Tori says, "Don't worry Yugi, we'll get back Yuni. I know we will."

Zenith says, "I have no clue what's going on here, but I'll do anything to help Yuni."

Brutus says, "Yeah we can do it."

Yugi, who is all out crying says, "Thank you guys. That means so much to me. I know that you don't know me, but I know you through Yuni, and I am glad to have such good friends beside me. And as long as we stay together, I know we can get Yuni back."

Brutus says, "And we'll be with you the entire time. Come on, let's get out of here. This place is creepy."

The group exits via a pile of ruble going through the hole in the roof made by Chronos. Once outside, they are on the outskirts of Kaiba Land and it is night. Tori says, "Well, it's pretty late. I guess we better all be getting home." She turns to Yugi. "We will get back Yuni, I promise. Good night Yugi." A tear goes down the side of her face and she turns around and walks off.

Zenith says, "This may sound kind of bad after everything that's happened, but this has been I pretty awesome day, I got to meet both Yuni Oha and Yugi Muto. If you don't mind, I would love to join your group and help you get back Yuni."

Yugi, who is still crying, slowly nods.

Zenith says, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, and I'll do everything I can to help." Zenith, for once, walks slowly off.

Brutus turns to Yugi and puts his hand on his shoulder. He says, "Yugi, if we had met under any other circumstance, I would be ecstatic. As much as I wanted to meet you, I'm sorry it had to be like this. I want you to know though, I will always be there for you. Don't you think that because Yuni isn't here, I won't be your friend. I hope you know that I will do anything for you, and consider you a friend, whether you're replacing a friend of mine or not."

Yugi manages to say, "Thank you Brutus. I am so glad to hear that. Good night Brutus."

"Good night Yugi." Brutus walks off.

Yugi takes a deep breath and walks away.

Yugi walks into Yuni's house. Yuni's grandpa is sitting in a chair watching holovision. The holovision says, "Today there have been two more sightings of the real monsters causing destruction to the city. One was on top of Domino Tower, the other nearby Kaiba Land. Duelists are cautioned to stay away from mysterious duelists, and report any sightings of these massive monsters."

Yuni's grandpa says, "Yuni! Welcome back. How was your day? Did you win any duels?"

Yugi cringes upon hearing this. He takes a deep breath and attempts to make his voice sound deeper, and closer to Yuni's, and says, "Nothing special. I won some duels, that's all."

Grandpa says, "I can have dinner ready whenever you want it."

"I'm sorry grandpa, I don't feel like eating, I'm just going to go to bed."

"Alright Yuni, good night."

Yugi doesn't respond. He goes up the escalator to Yuni's room, lies down on the bed, and cries.

Ruin is kneeling in a dimly lit room in front of a man on a throne. The man is Oblivion. Oblivion says angrily, "I gave you the once in a lifetime ability to take a mind without first dueling, and you wasted it!?"

Ruin says, "Forgive me my lord. I didn't necessarily fail, the circumstance just got…complicated."

"It was your job to figure out everything you could about Yuni Oha, and you didn't learn the single most important thing! He has two minds! How could you miss that!?"

"I…don't know my lord. I take full responsibility for my mistake."

"Then I should just banish your mind now."

Ruin panics, "No my lord, that's not what I meant. I promise you, I have not outlived my usefulness, just give me another chance. I'll get that Yugi Muto, and I'll get you the Another Hope card. I promise."

Oblivion thinks, and then says, "Fine, you caught me on a good day. I'll give you one more chance, but hear this. If you fail me again, I will not be so forgiving."

Ruin looks relieved. "Thank you my lord. I won't disappoint you again. I promise."

Oblivion says, "That is not enough though, I am not going to place all of my faith in you. Disciples of Darkness, now is your time. Go out and hunt down the one known as Yugi Muto!"

The scene zooms out to reveal several rows of people in black cloaks standing behind Ruin. All at once they say, "It will be done my lord."

Oblivion says to himself, "Yes, Yugi Muto will fall, and the ultimate power of Yugoha will be mine." Oblivion laughs maniacally.

Author's note: I have just created an Official Website for Yu-Gi-Oh! millennium. It will be full of many things, including news alerts, author reviews, and an in-depth reader's companion. Check it out! In order to see it, go to my profile page and click the link provided there. Thanks.