Episode 44: The Brains and the Brawn Part 1

Back with Yugi and friends, they are still standing in front of the wrecked building. Zenith says, "That Chronos is one amazing card. This is the second time I've seen it, and I still can't believe what it can do. How the heck does it cause real damage like this!?"

Yugi shakes his head and says, "I wish I could answer that question. We're still trying to figure that out for ourselves." The four start to turn around to leave when they suddenly hear sirens.

Brutus says, "Hmm…I wonder what the cops are doing."

Tori says urgently, "Isn't it obvious Brutus? This building just collapsed! And I'll bet that there were some reports of a real monster! We have to get out of here!"

They start to leave, but it's too late, three black and white hover cars with alarm lights and sirens sounding approach them. The cars land and several people in police uniforms step out. Yugi whispers, "All right guys, just act natural. We can't let them know about Chronos. They wouldn't understand."

The officers start to rope off the area with police tape, and two officers, a male and a female, walk up to the group. The man says, "Good morning kids. I presume that you're all competitors in the World of Duel Tournament."

Tori nods and says, "Good morning officer. Yes, we're duelists."

The female officer says, "We are here investigating reports of a real-live Duel Monster destroying this building. Have you seen anything that matches the description?"

Zenith starts to say, "It was so amazing, Yugi summoned-!"

Tori grabs Zenith and covers his mouth with her hands. She says, "I'm sorry about my friend. He's still a little excited from a duel he just had with my other friend here." She beckons towards Yugi. "But no, we haven't seen anything like that." Zenith starts to squirm as if he's choking.

The male officer says, "Alright, well if that's the case, then why are you here?"

Tori answers, "We heard the rumble of the building falling off in the distance, and we decided to check it out. We just made it here, right before you arrived. Whoever caused it is already gone." Zenith, still being held by Tori, is starting to go purple-faced from lack of oxygen.

The male officer sighs and says, "Alright, you kids get home. If you ever see something like this again, stay clear. You could have gotten hurt."

Tori says, "Thank you sir. I promise we won't go near anything like this again." Zenith is struggling to get out of Tori's grip. Tori let's go of him and he falls to the ground and pants. The four friends walk away from the police.

Once out of earshot of them, Tori says to Zenith, "Hey, I'm sorry I had to do that. You almost told them about Chronos."

Zenith scratches the back of his head and says, "Yeah…I'm sorry about that. I was still kind of excited about it though. I couldn't contain myself." Suddenly he cries out, "Agh!" He falls to the ground and holds his leg.

Yugi says, "Zenith! What's wrong?"

"My leg. I guess it's still pretty beat up from when we were getting out of that building. It hurts pretty bad."

Yugi says, "Alright, how about I take you to the hospital. They should be able to help."

A look of horror crosses Zenith's face. "Oh no! I'm not going to that wretched place! I've managed to stay out of it all my life! I'm not going there now! Besides, it's not that bad." Zenith tries to stand, but quickly falls back down and cries out in pain.

Brutus says, "You're afraid of the hospital? Come on man, that's weak."

Tori says, "It's not that bad. They have machines that could heal you within minutes. Go on."

Zenith tries to stand again and says, "No, I'm not going- Agh!" He falls back down. "Alright…fine. We'll go."

Yugi bends down and puts Zenith's arm over his shoulder and helps him stand up. He looks at Brutus and Tori, and says, "Why don't you guys continue our search for more Disciples of Darkness? Try to look for their base. Just don't try to duel them. I don't want anything to happen to you guys."

Brutus says, "Don't worry Yugi, we'll track down those good for nothing Disciples."

Tori adds, "Yeah, you can count on us."

Yugi says, "Thanks guys. Alright Zenith. Let's go."

Zenith sighs and mutters to himself, "I feel like I'm marching to my doom." Yugi and Zenith head off and out of sight.

Brutus shouts, "Alright! Come on Tori, let's do this!" Brutus runs off and Tori tries to keep up.

Brutus and Tori are in a nature park area of the city. Tori says, "Alright, this is one of the only places we haven't searched yet. Maybe we can find the entrance to their base here."

Brutus says, "We better find that base. I want to get my hands on one of those darn Disciples. It's pay back time."

Tori looks at Brutus and says, "But Brutus, don't you remember? Yugi asked us not to face any Disciples."

Brutus responds, "I don't see any harm in bashing a couple low lives. It's time that they pay for taking Yuni."

Tori says, "Have you already forgotten what happened last time you got overconfident and fought a Disciple? You lost. You lost Brutus! You're lucky that you still have your mind! You can't just go charging in to face them. We at least need a plan."

Brutus says, "I don't need a plan. Plans are for wimps. Who needs a plan when you have pure power?"

Tori stop in her tracks and says, "You can't really think that Brutus? Can you?"

"Of course I think that! There's no purpose in having a plan, if you know you can win anything thrown at you."

Tori sounds a little angry. "But you can't! You just lost, not even two hours ago!"

Brutus says arrogantly, "That was just a fluke. I don't do losing."

Tori says angrily, "You are so impossible! I can't believe you! You are just a big, brutish, oaf!"

Brutus says, a little annoyed, "Oh yeah, well you're just a…just a…you're just a big…planner!"

"You can't even come up with a proper insult! I can't believe I'm friends with you! This is unbelievable!"

"Oh yeah, well I can't believe that I'm friends with you!"

"So, I guess that's the end of our friendship then!"

"Like there ever was one!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Tori and Brutus turn away from each other and start to stomp off. But before they get too far, a voice says, "Excuse me, but are we interrupting anything?"

Tori and Brutus swivel around and look back and forth, trying to identify the source of the voice. Then, two figures step out from behind some trees. Both clad in Disciple of Darkness robes.

Tori asks, "Who are you?"

The two lower their hoods to reveal their faces. Like all Disciples, they both have pale grey skin. One, who is shorter and skinnier, has black hair that is neat and combed back smoothly. The other, who is taller and larger, also has black hair, except it is messy and unkempt. The short one says with a calm and refined voice, "I am Enigma, the philosopher of the Disciples of Darkness."

The other one says with a loud, deep, masculine voice, "And they call me Savage. I'm the warrior of the Disciples."

Brutus demands, "Why are you here?"

Enigma says, "Why is it not obvious? To duel you and to eliminate two of Yugi's greatest allies in one swoop."

Savage says, "We've come to completely destroy you!"

Enigma says, "So you shall both duel my associate and I in a tag duel."

Brutus and Tori look at each other and then quickly look away. Brutus says, "I'm afraid we can't do that."

Savage says, "Well that's just to bad." Suddenly a wave of darkness and shadows emerges from him and surrounds them all. "No one is leaving this area until the duel is over."

Tori sighs, and says, "Brutus, it looks like we have no other choice. Let's at least do this for Yugi."

Brutus also sighs. "Alright. Fine. For Yugi! Let's duel!"

The four activate their Duel Gauntlets. The Duel Computer says, "World of Duel Tournament official duel now commencing. Brutus Marc: 1,235 points and Tori Rekishi: 1,625 points vs. Enigma: 0 points and Savage: 0 points. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

Yugi, still supporting Zenith, approaches a large, towering building. On the front of the building is a large, red cross. It's the hospital. Upon taking in the sight, Zenith starts to turn away and says, "Well, what do you know? I'm feeling better already. This hospital place can work wonders. Let's go back." As he's turning away, he grunts in pain and grabs his leg.

Yugi grabs hold of him and stops him. He laughs and says, "I'm sorry, but I don't think it works that way. We've got to go inside."

Zenith gulps. "Do we have to?"

"Come on Zenith, it's not that bad. I promise. Nothing will happen to you."

Zenith sighs. "Alright. But one condition."

Yugi cocks his head. "And what would that be?"

"I refuse to take a," he shivers, "medical scan."

"Why is that?"

Zenith hesitates. After a few seconds, he says, "I don't know. I guess it's just the idea of them seeing everything there is to know about my body. I don't like that idea."

Yugi considers, and then says, "We'll see what we can do about that. I don't know too much about modern day medical treatments, but I don't think you'll need a scan. Come on, let's go."

Zenith gulps again. "Alright. Fine. Let's go." Yugi and Zenith walk on, Zenith as if he is moving towards his doom.

Back with Tori and Brutus, Enigma states, "Due to the fact that I am the most intelligent here, I shall take the first turn." He draws.

Tori objects, "Hey!"

Enigma acts as if he hadn't heard and says, "I set a card and then bring forth Cryptic Locke (Dark/Level 4/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 0)." The monster is an older man, with graying hair. He holds a quill in one hand, and a parchment in the other. "I believe that is all I intend to do this turn (Enigma's hand: 4)"

Tori draws and says, "If we're going decide turn order based off of intelligence, then I should have gone first, but I'll settle for second. I summon Lithic Basalt (Earth/Level 4/Rock/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 1900)." A large chunk of dark-grey rock appears on the field. On it is the pattern of a face. "The turn I summon Lithic Basalt, I'm allowed to get an extra normal summon, so I'll carve it away into Monolithic Moai (Earth/Level 5/Rock/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 2700) in defense mode!" The chunk of rock gradually carves away into an Easter Island Head. "That's all for now (Tori's hand: 4)."

Savage draws, and says, "Which means that it's my turn! I will destroy you both! I summon Barbarous Garggl (Dark/Level 4/Beast-Warrior/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 0)!" The creature is a monstrous humanoid, tiger-like, beast. It wears some light armor and a loin cloth. It holds a large club. "Garggl will destroy the two of you. He's all I need on the field (Savage's hand: 5)."

Brutus draws and says, "And that leaves me. You made a big mistake. You allowed me to have the last turn, and that means that I'm the first that can attack! I summon Goblin Attack Force (Earth/Level 4/Warrior/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 0)!" Brutus looks directly at Enigma and says, "And you made an even worse mistake. You left a defenseless monster out on your field in attack position!"

Tori jerks her head at Brutus upon hearing what he said.

Brutus continues, "Goblin Attack Force, attack Cryptic Locke!"

Just as Brutus declares the attack, Tori shouts, "Don't you dare Brutus! Don't be stupid!" But it's too late. Brutus turns and looks at Tori questioningly.

Enigma mocks, "You really are an ignoramus, aren't you. You should know that a well versed duelist would never fall for this trap, it's the most basic in the rule book. I activate the effect of Cryptic Locke! I can activate this effect only when my monster takes the offensive or the defensive. I can increase his attack by 600 for every monster on the field, of which there are four (ATK: 2400)."

Brutus says, "Hey, no fair!"

"It is perfectly fair. It is not my problem that you fell for such obvious deceit. Counterattack now." Brutus' monster charges in, but a strange barrier stops it, and then destroys it (Brutus' LP: 3900). Enigma adds, "I'll now activate my facedown card, Philosophical Debate. When I inflict damage to an opponent with a Cryptic monster, I can inflict 500 points of damage to my opponent, which would be the two of you." Enigma's monster looks as if it is making a speech, and then a beam of energy shoots from it to both Brutus and Tori (Brutus' LP: 3400) (Tori's LP: 3500).

Tori shouts at Brutus, "Why did you have to go and attack like that! It was such an obvious trap that even the most basic of duelists could have spotted it! And now because of your stupidity, I've taken the damage! It's one thing to jeopardize this duel by making a stupid move and damaging yourself, but I'm the only one who can win this duel, and you've gone and damaged me!"

Brutus shouts back, "Well at least I'm summoning monsters that could win this duel! Your stupid monster can't even declare a decent attack! It obvious that I'm going to have to be the muscle on this team!"

"It's not all about power! Sometimes a duel is about refinement!"

"Refinement!? Ha! You win a duel by reducing the opponent's life points to zero! The best way to do that is to attack your opponent! How does refinement help you do that!?"

"You are so hopelessly infuriating! How have you won a single duel!?"

"I've won because of my power!"

"No! You've won because of your luck! You've just gotten lucky that no one has managed to beat you before this! Oh wait! Someone has! You lost to Tyrant! You shouldn't even be here right now! But once again, you got lucky! It was only luck that allowed Yugi to come and save your pathetic mind! Well you know what!? We all would have been better of if Yugi arrived just five minutes latter!"

Brutus gasps. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"Well you better, because I meant it!"

On the other side of the duel field, Savage and Enigma look at each other and nod. Enigma thinks, Perfect. The Field of Darkness is functioning exactly as it should. It is an ingenious plan after all. The barrier that keeps them trapped here, also emits an energy that amplifies the inner rage and demons of all who enter it. They will never be able to overcome this adversity. They will destroy each other before they destroy us. Enigma grins evilly, and meanwhile in the background, Tori and Brutus are still arguing.