Episode 40: Game of Darkness

A dark room is shown. On one side of the room, Oblivion sits on a throne. In front of him, a cloaked figure kneels. Oblivion says, "It is vital that we retrieve this artifact. It is very important that we please our…benefactor. Since you are our history expert, this should be an easy task for you. If you succeed, you will be rewarded. If you fail me however…let's just say that you know what happens when one fails me."

The cloaked figure stands up. A female voice says, "It will be done my lord. The Shadow Drive will be yours." The figure turns into shadow and dashes away.

Yugi and friends are walking through the city at sunset. Yugi says, "I hate to say it guys, but it's getting pretty late. We've been searching for any sign of the Disciples of Darkness' secret base for hours now. I think it's about time to call it a day."

Brutus sighs. "Yeah. It sucks, but you're right."

Zenith yawns and says, "Alright, guess I'm going to go hit the hay then. I'll catch you guys later!" Zenith runs off.

Yugi turns to Tori and asks, "Are you going to go home also?"

Tori says, "Actually, I've been thinking a little about all of that Yugoha stuff. Originally, our goal was to figure out what that was all about, but Yuni disappearing has gotten us a little sidetracked. Not that getting back Yuni isn't important, but I'm still curious about Yugoha. I think before I turn in, I'll go and see if I can ask Professor Jones a couple more things about it."

Yugi nods and says, "Alright, that's a good idea. We shouldn't throw aside our search for what Yugoha was. Make sure you tell us everything tomorrow."

Tori nods. "Of course."

The remaining three say good night and head off in different directions.

Tori is walking through the halls of the DADH. She approaches Professor Jones room, but stops in her tracks. Lying in front of the professor's office is the security guard from before. He is unconscious. Tori walks up to him and waves her hand in front of his face and questions, "Sir? Hello, sir?" Nothing.

Suddenly from the other side of the door, voices can be heard. Professor Jones says in a panicked voice, "Please no! I swear, I have no idea where it is! They took it from me, I don't have it any more!"

Another voice, the one of the female Disciple of Darkness, says, "You can't fool me old man. I know you have it. Tell me where it is!"

Tori rips open the door and run in. Upon entering, she sees the professor pinned up against the wall by an unknown force and a cloaked Disciple of Darkness standing before him. Tori demands, "Let Professor Jones go now!"

Jones says in surprise, "Tori!?"

The Disciple turns towards Tori. She says with a hint of amusement, "I know who you are. Your that Rekishi girl. The one who's friends with Yuni Oha."

Tori says, "That's me. What do you want with the professor?"

"The Disciples of Darkness desire the Atlantian artifact known as the Shadow Drive. And what we desire, we get."

"Well you're wasting your time. The government confiscated the Shadow Drive. I don't think you'll be getting it from them anytime soon."

The Disciple looks up at Jones, who is still pinned against the wall. She says, "I don't believe that for a second. However, I have a proposal for you."

Tori says, "Oh yeah, what's that?"

The Disciple lowers her hood. Like the other Disciples, she has pale, grey skin. She has long, jet-black hair that falls behind her back. She says, "I am Omen and I am the historical expert of the Disciples of Darkness. I have heard that you consider yourself a historical expert as well."

Tori says, "Yes. What does that matter to you?"

"I suggest a battle of wits. You win, I'll release the old man. However, if I win, you tell me where the Shadow Drive really is, or else I'll take both yours and the old man's minds."

Tori says, "I'm up for anything you can throw at me. How do you propose we go about this battle of wits?"

Omen says, "We have a duel, but not just any duel. We play with special rules. In these rules, in order to declare an attack in a turn, you must first answer a historical trivia question. If you get it right, you can attack. If you get it wrong, you can't enter your battle phase at all."

Tori questions, "Is that even legal? It sounds like custom dueling rules to me."

Omen laughs. "Ha! You're just a goody two shoes, aren't you? You'll be pleased to know that it is one of the 53 excepted rule sets of the World of Duel Tournament." Omen thinks, Of course that number used to be 52 before I had a Disciple hacker insert those rules.

Tori says, "Alright, you're on. No one beats me when it comes to history or dueling!"

Omen says, "What a coincidence. No one beats me at history or dueling. Let's do this."

Tori and Omen activate their Duel Gauntlets. The Duel Computer says, "Official World of Duel Tournament duel now commencing. Tori Rekishi: 1,154 points vs. Omen: 0 points. Specialized duel rules set number 53. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

Omen says, "I didn't mention this before, but I have somewhat of gift. I can see future events. Do you know what I see now? I see you losing! I am perfectly in tune with both the past and the future."

Tori draws a card. She laughs. "Ha! You expect me to believe that!? You're insane. And I'll prove it by defeating you. Since it's the first turn, and no other cards have been played, I can special summon my Lithic Mystic Stone (Earth/Level 4/Rock/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 2200) in defense mode!" A large chunk of some kind of black rock appears on the field. "When I special summon Mystic Stone, it allows me to summon another copy of Mystic Stone straight from my deck!" Another Mystic Stone appears on the field. "Now I tribute my first Mythic Stone in order to carve out Monolithic Moai (Earth/Level 5/Rock/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 2700) in defense mode!" Mystic Stone begins to glow and flash different colors rapidly. It then turns to a normal stone grey color and begins to carve away into the shape of an Easter Island Head. "That's not all! When I tribute a Lithic Mystic Stone for the summon of a Lithic monster, I can get an extra normal summon! So I'll tribute my second Mystic Stone in order to summon Monolithic Olmec Head (Earth/Level 6/Rock/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 200)!" The second Mystic Stone goes through the same process and carves into a giant head. "Let's see if you can beat this historical force. I end my turn (Tori's hand: 3)."

Omen draws. "I have respect for your deck. It is a truly historical one. But that does not change the fact that it is inferior to mine. I summon Prophetic Shaman (Dark/Level 4/Psychic/Effect/ATK 1500/DEF 2000) in defense mode." The monster that appears is dressed in black and purple robes and wears a cryptic mask. It holds a wooden rod with feathers on its tip. "Since I control a Prophetic monster, I can special summon Prophetic Seer (Dark/Level 6/Psychic/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 0) from my hand." The next monster is in similar robes and wears a different mask. It is hunched over a table with a crystal ball on it. "Now I am ready to attack. Bring on the trivia question."

The Duel Computer says, "What is the first recorded Shadow Duel in ancient Egyptian history?"

Omen scoffs, "Must it be so easy? The answer is the Pharaoh Aknamkanon against the dark force, Ottomenon."

The Duel Computer responds, "That answer…is correct. You may now enter your battle phase."

"Perfect. Prophetic Seer, attack Tori's Olmec Head now."

Tori begins to say, "Don't get ahead of yourself-"

Omen interrupts, "I already know what your going to say. The effect of your Moai allows you to redirect my attack. Well, just as I was able to predict that you'd do that, my Prophetic Shaman was able to predict it as well, and negated your monsters effect. Now continue your attack Seer!" Prophetic Seer moves its hands around the crystal ball and a beam of energy shoots out of it and hits Monolithic Olmec head. It is crushed into ruble (Tori's LP: 3900). "I'll just set a card and end my turn (Omen's hand: 3)."

Tori draws and thinks, This girl's the real deal. If she could answer that question about Aknamkanon she really does know her history. And she got around my defenses. She's a pretty good duelist as well. I never faced a Disciple of Darkness before. I hope I can do this. "I activate the field spell, Ancient City - Lithicopolis!" The surroundings around the two transform into the ruins of an ancient stone city. "This card allows me one extra summon per turn, as long that summon is a tribute summon that tributes a Lithic monster. Also, whenever I tribute summon a Lithic monster, I can draw a card. Now I summon Lithic Boulder (Earth/Level 4/Rock/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 2100), which I will immediately use my extra summon to tribute it to summon Monolithic Stone of the Sun (Earth/Level 6/Rock/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 2500)!" Lithic Boulder carves away into what looks like the Aztec Calendar. "First I get to draw a card thanks to the effect of Lithicopolis. I activate the effect of Stone of the Sun, which allows me to once per turn, place one Sol Counter on it. It gains 500 attack for every Sol Counter on it (ATK: 2500)." A third of the calendar begins to glow. "Alright, bring up the question. I'm ready to attack."

The computer asks, "Who was the first King of Atlantis?"

Omen snickers and thinks, Perfect. Just as planned.

Tori looks terrified. She demands, "What's this!? Atlantian history is not advanced enough to know the answer to that question! The first king has only been alluded to, but never named!"

Omen mocks, "Well, isn't that just too bad. I guess you're not the history expert you think you are."

Tori complains, "No one could answer that question! No one knows the answer! I doubt you could answer it!"

"Well, I'm not the one being asked that question, am I?"

Tori resentfully says, "Fine. I don't know the answer."

The computer says, "Sorry, that response is incorrect. You may not enter the battle phase."

Tori looks annoyed. "Fine, I set a card and end my turn (Tori's hand: 3)."

Omen draws. "Too bad. I guess that some of us just aren't as much of a history expert as others. I tribute my two Prophetic monsters in order to summon Prophetic Oracle (Dark/Level 8/Psychic/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 2900)!" Another monster with purple and black robes appears. It is a tall monster, with another cryptic mask, and holding wooden cane. "When I summon Oracle, it looks into the future and allows me to see all of your facedown cards! Now Oracle, use your Mystic Seeing ability!" A pulse of dark energy emerges from the monster and hits Tori's facedown card. It flips face up. Omen says, "That card is the trap, Lithic Sharpening. You can activate it if I attack one of your Lithic monsters. It would cause my monster to be destroyed, and I would take damage equal to my monsters attack. Too bad for you, I know your only line of defense. And now I can adapt to it. I activate my Facedown card, Prophecy of Destruction, allowing me to destroy one spell or trap card on the field. I'll destroy your facedown Lithic Sharpening." A shockwave is sent out that destroys Tori's card.

Tori thinks, No! I needed that!

Omen continues, "Now I'm free to attack. Bring on the question."

The computer says, "Who was the first duelist to defeat Maxamillion Pegasus in a duel?"

"Looks like I lucked out on that one. It was Yugi Muto."

The computer says, "That is correct. You may now enter your battle phase."

"Perfect. Prophetic Oracle, since I already know that she'll redirect my attack, attack Monolithic Moai now!" Prophetic Oracle holds up its cane with both hands and then slams it to the floor. Out of the cane comes shockwaves that hit and destroy Monolithic Moai. "I'll set another card and end my turn (Omen's hand: 2)."

Tori draws. "First off, I'll add another Sol Counter to Monolithic Stone of the Sun." Another third of the face of Tori's monster lights up (ATK: 3000). "Now I summon Lithic Granite Slab (Earth/Level 4/Rock/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 2200) and tribute it to summon Monolithic Ramesseum (Earth/Level 6/Rock/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 3000)!" A massive statue of an Egyptian Pharaoh gets carved out of the Granite Slab. "I can only summon this card by tributing a Lithic Granite Slab. First I'll draw a card thanks to Lithicopolis. Now, let's get that question."

The Computer says, "Who was the victor of the Lost Duel Championships of 3240?"

Tori cries out, "What!? There's a reason that that tournament is called the Lost Duel Championships! Because it's lost! There are no existing records of anything having to do that entire year of dueling! This is rigged!"

Omen shakes her head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Tori, as a fellow student of history, you should know that sometimes there are unanswered questions in history, that doesn't make them invalid questions."

Tori gives Omen a look of extreme hatred. "Fine. I don't have an answer."

The computer says, "That answer is incorrect. You may not enter your battle phase."

Tori sighs. "I activate the effect of Ramesseum, which allows it to flip itself into facedown defense mode, set two cards, and end my turn (Tori's hand: 1). I should warn you, if my Ramesseum flips face up, it will destroy up to two cards on the field."

Omen draws. "I can tell you are desperate. Maybe you are not the history master you thought you were. You are going to lose very soon."

Tori objects, "I'm not out yet! I activate Lithic Endurance! Just as my Lithic monuments can withstand the test of time, this trap makes it so they can withstand your attacks and not be destroyed by battle this turn!"

"Looks pretty desperate to me. Do what you wish. It makes no difference. I'll begin my move now. I evolve my Prophetic Oracle!" Omen's monster begins to glow. "I Evolution Summon Prophetic Doomsday Oracle (Dark/Level 9/Psychic/Evolution/ATK 3100/DEF 3300)!" When the light dies down, it leaves behind a new monster. The monster is almost twice the size, its robes are primarily black, instead of purple, and its mask has odd hieroglyphic figures on it. "When I summon Doomsday Oracle, I can place one Doomsday Counter on each monster on your field." Doomsday Oracle raises its staff and a strange, glowing, red hieroglyph appears on Tori's Monolithic Stone of the Sun and on top of her facedown monster. "Now, at the end of your next turn after a Doomsday Counter is placed on your monsters, all monsters with a Doomsday Counter are destroyed and you take damage equal to their combined attack."

A look of surprise crosses Tori's face. "But…that would mean…"

"That would mean that you will lose in less than two turns. Your future has been predicted, and it is not bright. Even though your defeat is inevitable, I won't stop there. I activate Corruption of Darkness!"

Tori looks even more horrified. She thinks, No! Not that card! I don't know if I can stand up against a Darkness Evolution!

Omen looks pleased. "I see that you are already acquainted with this card. Very good. Let's get to it then. Go, Darkness Evolution!" Omen's monster becomes cloaked in shadows and starts to change. "I call upon my ultimate monster! Come forth, Darkness Evolution: Prophetic Lord Nostradamus (Dark/Level 9/Psychic/Evolution/ATK 3500/DEF 3800)!" The shadows part to reveal the new monster. Its black and purple robes have turned to purple and black armor with a gold trim, and the glyphs on its mask glow purple. "Now, let's speed up your destruction! When Nostradamus is summoned, he can automatically destroy all cards on the field that have Doomsday Counters, and inflict damage to you equal to their total attack! You lose now!"

Tori objects, "No I don't! I activate Lithic Sealing Ceremony! This trap negates the effect of your monster as long as it remains face up on the field!" The ground rumbles and out from it raises Stonehenge around Omen's monster. A mystic energy emanates from it and surrounds Nostradamus. "This card may destroy itself if I don't control a Lithic monster, but it's enough to allow me to survive one more turn!"

Omen laughs. "You think you have bought yourself the needed time to win. It doesn't matter. Might I remind you that at the end of your next turn, those Doomsday Counters will destroy your monsters anyways. You still won't survive another turn. Since you're preventing me from destroying your monsters, it's pointless for me to attack. So I'll just set a card and end my turn (Omen's hand: 1). You're done for."

Tori begins to draw and thinks, Alright. I'm not out yet. I still have a way I could win, but it's risky. It all depends on whether or not I can answer the next question, and I've had such a wonderful track record with those. Why am I doubting myself!? I am an expert in all things history! I can do this! Tori draws. "You may think you have me in a corner, but you don't! I activate the effect of Monolithic Stone of the Sun and give it another Sol Counter!" The third portion of it lights up (ATK: 3500). "Tell me, did your all mighty prophet of doomsday see this? All this time, my Stone of the Sun has been using its ability, Countdown to Armageddon! When it has three Sol Counters on it, time's up! I can remove all Sol Counters from it in order to destroy all cards on the field! And that's not all! You take 400 points of damage for each card destroyed!"

Omen looks panicked. "How did I not foresee this!?" Omen does some quick calculations and says, "Wait a second. That's only 2800 points of damage. That's not enough to defeat me." She then thinks, Of course you could declare a direct attack…if you could actually answer a question.

Tori says, "We'll see about that. Go Monolithic Stone of the Sun! Countdown to Armageddon!" Tori's monster starts to violently glow all different colors. It then first implodes and then explodes in a burst of blinding light. When the light goes away, all of the cards on the field are destroyed, including the field spell around them (Omen's LP: 1200). "Now, by banishing four Lithic monster from my grave, I'm, allowed to special summon Megalithic Carnac Golem (Earth/Level 9/Rock/Effect/ATK 3300/DEF 2500)!" Four of Tori's Lithic monsters, her two Lithic Mystic Stones, her Lithic Boulder, and her Lithic Granite Slab, all appear on the field and shatter into pieces. These pieces form dozens of upright standing boulders resembling the Carnac Stones. Those stones then begin to glow and move. They all levitate off the ground and begin to clump together. They combine into the shape of a giant golem. "It's time to enter the battle phase! Bring on the question!"

The Duel Computer asks, "What is the name of the Nameless Pharaoh?"

Omen starts to laugh hard. "Ha! There goes that chance! No one knows the answer to that one!"

Tori smiles smugly. She says with confidence, "Atem."

Omen stops laughing. She says dumbfounded, "What did you say?"

"The name of the Nameless Pharaoh is Atem."

The computer says, "That answer is correct. You may now enter the battle phase."

Omen is completely speechless. She manages to say, "But…but how!? How could you know the name!?"

"Because I'm friends with Yugi Muto. The greatest expert ever known of the Nameless Pharaoh. Too bad for you. Now, Megalithic Carnac Golem, attack Omen directly!"

"I may not have anticipated that you'd answer the question, but I always have a backup plan! One of the cards you destroyed earlier was called Future Visions. If it's in my graveyard, I can banish it to negate an attack!"

"I don't think so! The effect of Carnac Golem protects him from card effects while he's attacking! This duel is over!" Tori's monster launches a horde of boulders directly at Omen (Omen's LP: 0).

The Duel Computer announces, "Tori Rekishi wins. For a one turn victory, Tori has been awarded with 471 points for a total of 1,625 points. For controlling the duel until the end, Omen has been awarded with 112 points for a total of 112 points."

Omen looks at Tori with a look of intense hatred. She says, "You may have stopped me, but you got lucky. I assure you, it would never happen again!" Omen turns into a shadow and sinks into the ground. She dashes off.

The noise of something falling and a grunt sounds. Tori turns around and sees Professor Jones getting up to his feet and brushing himself off. He says, "Tori, my girl, that was a great duel. Thank you, you got me out of a tough position there."

Tori says, "It's no problem at all."

Jones says, "I'm sure that I can guess why you're here, but I must apologize. It is late and it has been an eventful evening. I must get to bed."

Tori nods. "I understand."

Jones says, "Please though, come back anytime you'd like."

Tori says, "I'll make sure I do. Good night Professor." Tori exits.

Omen is kneeling in the Disciple of Darkness' HQ in front of Oblivion. She begs, "Please forgive me sir, there were unforeseen complications."

Oblivion says in a booming voice, "I do not take failure lightly! You have failed me and you will pay. Your mind is mine."

Omen begs, "No, please! You can't! I am your loyal servant! Please!"

Oblivion raises his hand and opens his palm towards Omen. "Your time serving me is through."

"No! Please! No! You can't!"

A length of shadow emerges from Oblivion's hand and wraps around Omen. After fully entangling her, her body falls limp to the ground. Two Disciples walk in, pick up the body, and exit with it. Oblivion says, "Let Omen be a warning to all of you. I will no longer take failure lightly. We must destroy Yugi Muto. There will be no more failure."