Episode 37: Bump in the Night

Yugi, Tori, Brutus, and Zenith are at the outskirts of Domino City. Brutus says, "This is hopeless. We've searched every single underground access point in this city. I'm beginning to think that that whole underground base thing was just a trick."

Tori says, "Well, I've avoiding saying this, but there is still one more place we haven't checked." Tori slowly points to a manhole cover.

Zenith says, "Awesome! I've always wanted to go down into one of those things!"

Yugi laughs and Brutus questions, "You want to go down there?"

Zenith says excitedly, "Of course I want to go down there! No one ever gets to go down there. It would be so awesome!"

Yugi states, "I don't want to go down that much, but Tori's right, it's the only underground place that we haven't checked yet."

Brutus says, "Alright, I'll go. I'm not afraid of any sewer."

Yugi says, "Alright than, let's go." Yugi lifts and removes the manhole cover.

Yugi, followed by Tori, lower themselves into the sewer. Brutus walks over to the edge of the hole, but then freezes up.

Yugi says, "What's wrong Brutus? Come on down."

Brutus says nervously, "I didn't realize it would be so dark down there."

Tori says, "Is something wrong with that? It is an underground sewer after all."

Brutus says, "Umm…it's just that if I go down there, I won't be able to see anything."

Yugi says, "I have a flashlight Brutus."

Brutus thinks nervously, Yeah, one that only lights up right in front of you. We'll still be surrounded by darkness. Brutus says aloud, "Why don't I just keep on looking up here. Maybe I'll find something we missed before."

Tori says, "Alright, that's a good idea. Hey Zenith, why don't you go with Brutus?"

Zenith says disappointedly, "But I wanted to go into the sewer."

Yugi says, "You'll get your chance. Just help Brutus for now though."

"Alright. Let's go Brutus."

As Brutus and Zenith walk off, Brutus breathes a sigh of relief.

Brutus and Zenith are back in the city. Zenith asks, "What's up Brutus? Why'd you have to bail like that before?"

Brutus says, "Oh…no reason. I just thought it would be better to spread out and search. You know instead of us all being in the same," Brutus gulps, "dark…dim…shadowy…abysmal…tunnel."

Zenith says, "That's it, isn't it? You're afraid of the dark."

Brutus looks nervous. "Of course I'm not! Why would I be afraid of the dark? That's absurd!"

Zenith shrugs and says, "Alright, whatever you say. Hey, let's go check over there."

While Zenith and Brutus walk off to continue their search, someone is revealed to be lurking in the shadows. The person says to his self, "How interesting. Yugi's weakness is his friends, and his friend's weakness is the dark. How perfect. It is time to set my trap."

Brutus and Zenith are still wandering through the streets. Brutus says, "We've been looking for hours now. I could really use a snack." Brutus walks right into Zenith, who has stopped walking in order to look at something in awe. Brutus says, "Hello, Earth to Zenith, Earth to Zenith. What is it?"

Zenith says slowly, "That." He points at a sign that reads, "Free all-you-can-eat buffet. Today only!"

Brutus assumes the same look that Zenith had. After a few seconds Brutus shouts, "Well what are we waiting for! Let's eat!"

Brutus and Zenith run into the building. Inside is an unfurnished, grey room. Brutus says, "Hey! What gives!? Where's all the food!?"

Suddenly the door behind them slams shut and barricades itself. A shadow appears in the center of the room, that rises out of the ground and forms into a person. It is a man in a Disciple of Darkness cloak with its hood down. Like the rest, he has a pale grey face, but it is mostly covered by his long black hair that conceals all but his left eye and the left side of his mouth. The man says, "Sorry to disappoint you, but there is no buffet. You have fallen into my trap."

Brutus says, "What!? No food! It's my worst nightmare!"

The man says, "No, the nightmare has yet to come. In fact nightmares are my specialty. I am Phantasm, and you are about to enter your worst nightmare. You will duel me, and when I banish your mind, Yugi will have no choice but to submit to me."

Brutus smiles. He say confidently, "Is that a challenge?"

Phantasm raises his Duel Gauntlet and says, "It's not a challenge. If it was a challenge, you would have a choice. I'm not giving you one."

Brutus says, "Then it's a good thing that I have no intentions of choosing otherwise."

Brutus and Phantasm activate their Duel Gauntlets. The Duel Computer says, "Official World of Duel Tournament duel now commencing. Brutus Marc: 1,233 points vs. Phantasm: 0 points. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling"

Phantasm draws. "I'll take the first move. I summon this monster in facedown attack mode."

Before the monster is played, Brutus objects, "Facedown attack mode!? What world do you live in? Because I'm pretty sure that here on Earth that that's against the rules."

Phantasm says, "Maybe normally, but no where in the rules does it says that an effect can't summon a monster in facedown attack mode, and my monster has that effect."

Brutus says, "Oh yeah…" Brutus pulls up a virtual version of the rule book and skims it. He looks disappointed and says, "I guess you're right. Fine, continue your move."

Phantasm continues, "Alright then, as I was saying, using its effect, I'll summon this card in facedown attack mode." A facedown card appears on the field. "A monster in facedown attack mode acts just like a monster in attack mode, it battles using its attack points and it can deal and take damage, the only difference is that it cannot declare an attack and you don't get to see its stats. You have now entered a nightmare, and it will only get worse from here (Phantasm's hand: 5)."

Brutus draws. He thinks, This sure is a strange development. I doubt anyone's ever heard of such monsters as these. I could play it safe, since I don't know what's down there, but then again, he didn't have to tribute anything to summon that monster, which means its attack is probably lower than my monster's attack. Let's go for it. Brutus says aloud, "I summon Giant Orc (Dark/Level 4/Fiend/Effect/ATK 2200/DEF 0). Go Giant Orc, attack his monster that hides in the shadows!" Giant Orc charges at the face down and hits it with its club.

Phantasm says, "Reveal facedown monster, Night Terror Fear Monger (Dark/Level 4/Fiend/Effect/ATK ?/DEF 0)!" The facedown card turns into a shadow, which wraps around Giant Orc's club in order to evade it. The shadow then changes into a formless mass of shadows with glowing, red eyes.

Brutus looks frightened. He has a flashback. A younger Brutus, probably about five or six years old, is laying in bed. He looks frightened and is trying to hide under his blanket. He is looking at his slightly opened closet, where he sees two glowing, red eyes in the shadows.

Brutus is suddenly brought back when Phantasm says, "When my Fear Monger is attacked while facedown, its attack becomes equal to the attack of the monster that attacked it, plus 100 until the end of the turn (ATK: 2300)." The shadowy beast wraps around the Giant Orc and constricts it until it is destroyed (Brutus' LP: 3900). Phantasm says, "And this is only the beginning."

Brutus shakes some sense into himself and says, "Alright, I'll just set this card and end my turn (Fear Monger ATK: 0) (Brutus' hand: 4)."

Phantasm says, "If you couldn't stand up against one of my monsters, I wonder how you'll do against two. I'll set another monster in facedown attack mode. I'll set a card facedown and then activate Return of the Nightmare. This card flips one of my Night Terror monsters into facedown attack mode. With that I end my turn (Phantasm's hand: 3). Are you scared yet?"

Brutus draws and says, "There's no way your scaring me! Since I control no monsters, I can special summon Solo-Soldier (Dark/Level 4/Warrior/Efect/ATK 2400/DEF 0)!" Brutus thinks, Alright, this guy seems to want me to attack his monsters. I'll just have to not attack at all.

Phantasm says, "I know what you're thinking, you're not going to declare an attack. That's why I'll activate this card, Midnight Panic! This card forces your monster to declare an attack."

A look of fear crosses Brutus' monster's face. It runs at Phantasm's second monster and slashes at it. Brutus shouts, "No, don't do it!"

Phantasm says, "Too late. You attacked my facedown Night Terror Phantom (Dark/Level 4/Fiend/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 0)!" The monster revealed looks like a ghostly figure made of shadows with glowing, red eyes. It appears out of nowhere and produces a shrieking sound. Brutus' monster is destroyed and Brutus' life points are reduced (Brutus' LP: 2700).

Brutus looks too afraid to say anything. Phantasm says, "When my facedown Night Terror Phantom is attacked, your attack is negated, your attacking monster is destroyed, and you take damage equal to half of your monster's attack points."

Brutus manages to say, "Since I just special summoned Solo-Soldier, I can still normal summon a monster. I'll summon Legendary Lancer (Light/Level 4/Warrior/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 0), set a card, and end my turn (Brutus' hand: 3)."

Phantasm draws and says, "It looks like you've seen a ghost. Oh wait, you have. I tribute my Night Terror Phantom, and my facedown Night Terror Fear Monger in order to summon Night Terror Archfiend (Dark/Level 7/Fiend/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2500)!" The new monster is a large demonic form of shadows with giant, haunting, red eyes.

Brutus looks absolutely horrified. He has another flashback. Young Brutus is tossing back and forth in bed. It is shown that he is having a nightmare. In the nightmare he sees a giant, shadowy creature, similar to Night Terror Archfiend. Young Brutus is running away from the monster, but it keeps on him, relentlessly chasing him. Brutus is brought back to reality, but he is still facing his nightmare.

Phantasm taunts, "It would appear that I have struck something in you. Very good. Night Terror Archfiend, attack Legendary Lancer!" Phantasm's monster moves in for the attack and Brutus stands where he is, frozen in fear.

On the sideline, Zenith shouts, "Come on Brutus! Activate your facedown card! I know you have to have something!"

Brutus, after a struggle, declares, "I…I activate Spirit Block. This card allows me to banish my Giant Orc from my grave in order to negate your attack."

Phantasm says, "So the scared little baby managed to stall a little. Alright, fine. The effect of Night Terror Archfiend allows it to flip itself into facedown attack position. I'll set another card and end my turn (Phantasm's hand: 2)."

Brutus starts to draw, but freezes up. He thinks, This is just too much. It's like all of my childhood nightmares wrapped up in one. I act all tough, but I'm still afraid of the dark, what am I supposed to do?

Zenith says, "Come on Brutus. Don't freeze up like that. You can do this, you're the toughest guy I know!"

Brutus takes a breath and thinks, Why did Zenith have to be here? I've got to suck it up, if only to keep my secret. I have to prove that I'm not afraid! Brutus draws. "I summon Goblin Attack Force (Earth/Level 4/Warrior/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 0). Then I'll activate Powermerization! This card allows me to fuse the two monsters on my field into Titanic Titan of Terror (Dark/Level 6/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/ATK 3000/DEF 0)! Also, any monster summoned by the effect of Powermerization gains 500 attack points (ATK: 3500)! In order to declare an attack, I must first banish a monster that was used in the fusion summon from my grave. I'll banish Goblin Attack Force. Now Titanic Titan of Terror, attack the facedown Night Terror Archfiend!" Brutus' monster raises its club and charges at the facedown monster.

Phantasm says, "Now you're just acting stupid. When my Night Terror Archfiend is attacked while in facedown attack mode, it isn't destroyed, and your monster is banished after the battle." Brutus' monster clubs Phantasm's monster (Phantasm's LP: 3000), but it isn't destroyed. After the battle, Titan of Terror vanishes into a void of darkness.

Brutus thinks, Shoot! I got too ahead of myself there. I was so concerned about protecting my image, I forgot about protecting my monster. I just can't catch a break today. Brutus says aloud, "Fine, I'll just set a card and end my turn (Brutus' hand: 1)."

Phantasm draws and says, "You don't look that scared. I'll have to change that. I evolve my Night Terror Archfiend into Night Terror Boogey Man (Dark/Level 8/Fiend/Evolution/ATK 2700/DEF 2700)!" The monster grows larger and more menacing. "Now I activate the field spell card, Cloak of Darkness!" A dark mist shrouds the field, covering all. You can hear the voice of Phantasm say, "This card covers the field in shadows. It automatically flips all of my monsters into facedown attack mode. Also, if you declare an attack, the attack target is chosen at random. Also, the stats of all of my monsters are kept hidden. In order to make things a little more interesting, I'll set another monster in facedown attack mode. Even though it's the end of my turn, my Boogey Man won't devolve, since it's facedown (Phantasm's hand: 1)."

Out of the shadows, Brutus can see two pairs of glowing, red eyes starring at him. He freezes up. He has another flashback. Once again he is in his bed, but it is too dark too see anything. All around young Brutus are glowing, red eyes. Back in the present Brutus thinks, I just can't do this! This is every nightmare I've ever had wrapped up all into one mega nightmare. Yuni would be ashamed of me. Brutus' look of fear is suddenly replaced by one of shock. Yuni! I've got to do this for Yuni. It doesn't matter how scared I am. I've got to do this. Brutus draws and says somewhat timidly aloud, "I activate my facedown card, Call of the Haunted and use it to bring back my Legendary Lancer, who I will now tribute in order to summon Brutal Massive Dragon (Earth/Level 6/Dragon/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 0)."

Phantasm says, "I Forgot to say before, another effect of my Cloak of Darkness, forces you to declare an attack if you can."

Brutus says, "Well then, I guess that it's a good thing that my dragon can only declare an attack if I first tribute a monster. Too bad. I'll just end my turn like that (Brutus' hand: 1)." Brutus thinks, It's taking all of my strength just to stop myself from freaking out at this darkness. I've got to end this duel soon.

Phantasm draws. "If that is all you can do, you're doomed. I flip my Night Terror Boogey Man face-up. I activate Corruption of Darkness!

Brutus looks even more horrified. No! that's the last thing I need right now, more darkness!

Phantasm says, "Prepare to enter a whole new world of darkness. I Darkness Evolve my Boogey Man. I summon Darkness Evolution: Ultimate Night Terror Grim Reaper (Unknown/Level Unknown/Unknown/Evolution/ATK Unknown/DEF Unknown)." The new monster can not be seen due to the darkness surrounding it. "You may not be able to see the strength of my monster, but I assure you, there is nothing you can do to beat it. In fact, I'll have it attack your monster now!" Out of the darkness, a beam of shadowy energy hits Brutal Massive Dragon and destroys it, but Brutus takes no damage. "I now activate the effect of Cloak of Darkness, in order to flip my Grim Reaper in to facedown attack mode and end my turn (Phantasm's hand: 1)."

Brutus is petrified by fear. He doesn't do a thing. Suddenly he sees a vision of Yuni standing in front of him. Brutus says, "I'm sorry Yuni, I've failed you."

The vision says, "No Brutus. It isn't over yet. Draw your card. You can do this."

"No, I just can't! I'm afraid of the dark! Okay, there, I said it!"

The vision of Yuni says as he starts to fade, "Draw you card Brutus…draw your card…" Yuni fades away.

Brutus thinks, Did I really just see Yuni? Or was that a fear induced hallucination? It doesn't matter, my hallucination was right, I need to do this. Brutus draws. He looks shocked at the card he drew. Yuni gave me this card the night before he disappeared!

A flash back starts. Yuni and Brutus are standing somewhere in Domino City. Yuni is handing Brutus a card. Brutus says, "What's this?"

Yuni says, "I want you to have this card Brutus. I know I've been putting you through a lot lately between the Society of Chaos and the Disciples of Darkness. You've been putting up with it very well, most people probably would be too frightened to do anything, but here you are by my side. I hope that his card can stand as a symbol of your bravery. If you ever start to doubt yourself, remember this card."

Brutus says, "Not that I'll ever need to, but thank you Yuni, I'll take good care of this card."

The flashback ends and Brutus thinks, It's almost as if Yuni knew this would happen. That's it. I've got to do this, I've got to stay strong! It's time to face my fears! Brutus' face turns from frightened to determined. He says, "I activate Power Draw! This card allows me to banish a level four or lower monster with 2000 or more attack from my grave, such as my Legendary Lancer, in order to draw to cards." Brutus thinks, Alright, the perfect draw. Brutus thinks for a second and then thinks, When he attacked my dragon, I didn't take any damage. That must mean some kind of effect came into play, and his monster probably has 2800 or less attack points. I think I can do this. Brutus says, "I activate Full Force! This spell allows me, since I control no monsters, to summon a monster from my grave. I'll bring back my Brutal Massive Dragon! Now the second effect of Full Force allows me to summon another monster, this one has to be banished and have less attack than the first monster I summoned. I'll bring back my Legendary Lancer! Now, I activate the effect of Brutal Massive Dragon! It allows me to tribute a monster I control and he gains attack equal to half of its attack, meaning my dragon gains 1200 attack points (ATK: 4000)!" Brutus thinks, Alright Yuni, it's time for your card. "Now I tribute my Brutal Massive Dragon in order to special summon Brutal Lord, the Dragon of Power (Earth/Level 8/Dragon/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 0)!" Brutus' ace monster is replaced by a similar monster. This one is much larger, and in addition to its normal collection of spikes, it is covered by several lethal looking razors and blades. "This monster can only be summoned by tributing a Brutal Massive Dragon, and it gains attack equal to the attack that my dragon had before I tributed it (ATK: 6800)."

Phantasm says, "So, it appears that you got over your fear of the dark, but it's too late. You can't do anything. You don't even know what my monsters can do."

Brutus says, "It doesn't matter. I have you beat anyways. It's time to break your cover of darkness. I equip my monster with Piercing Light!" A bright light starts to emanate from Brutal Lord. The light cuts through the darkness, revealing two facedown monsters, which then both flip. Night Terror Grim Reaper (Dark/Level 9/Fiend/Evolution/ATK 2800/DEF 2800) is revealed to be a skeletal figure made out of shadows also wearing a cloak of shadows and with glowing red eyes. The other monster is another copy of Night Terror Fear Monger.

Phantasm demands, "What happened!? Why have my monsters been revealed!?"

Brutus says, "Because I turned on the night light. When I activate Piercing Light, it negates the effects of all other face up spell and trap cards and flips all facedown monsters face up. Now that I can see, Brutal Lord, the Dragon of Power, attack Darkness Evolution: Ultimate Night Terror Grim Reaper with Brutal Wave of Destruction!" Brutus' monster launches a shockwave of energy at Phantasm's monster.

Phantasm says, "Sadly for you, if Grim Reaper battles another monster, it automatically destroys it."

Brutus says, "And sadly for you, when a monster equipped with Piercing Light battles another monster, that monster's effect is negated." The attack destroys Phantasm's monster (Phantasm's LP: 0).

The Duel Computer says, "Brutus Marc wins. For an advance final move, Brutus has been awarded with 601 points for a total of 1,834 points. For an advance strategy, Phantasm has been awarded with 112 points, for a total of 112 points."

Brutus jumps in joy and shouts, "I did it! I won!"

Zenith runs over to Brutus and starts jumping and cheering with Brutus.

Phantasm looks disappointed and angry. He says, "You have won this time, but darkness will always defeat light in the end. It is only a matter of time." Phantasm turns into a shadow and sinks into the ground. The locked door behind Brutus opens up.

Brutus says, "Alright, let's get out of here."

Zenith says, "That was a great duel Brutus. Oh yeah, and don't worry I won't tell anyone that you're afraid of the dark."

Brutus looks at Zenith, confused. "What are you talking about? I'm not afraid of the dark."

Brutus and Zenith break out into laughter at the same time and walk out of the building.