Chapter 25: The Lightning Thief
A supposedly rare Duel Monsters card stolen from a 14-year-old boy who hoped to use it for his college education turned out to be a replica worth $10 at the most, investigators say.
The stolen card, thought to be the 2000 Slifer the Sky Dragon god card worth more than $1,000,000, lacked the Industrial Illusions stamp that would have shown it was an original, said Detective Phil White of the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department. "We determined the stolen card was not an original," White said.
The boy, who still hasn't recovered the stolen card, was shown a replica Tuesday and said it was "exactly the same card stolen from him," White said.
"Up until yesterday we had no way of determining if the card was authentic or a replica," White said. "We didn't even know a replica existed, not being specialists in that field. We had nothing to compare it with."
The difficulty with tracking down a missing god card was its fame. Everyone knew about Slifer the Sky Dragon. Everyone wanted it. As soon as it left Academy Island, it became a target for every thief from the garden variety school kid to the professional Rare Hunter. How the cards escaped Academy Island was the biggest mystery of all, but somehow Slifer ended up in the hands of a fourteen-year-old who made the mistake of showing it off during a duel with his friends. The very next day, his room was ransacked and the card was stolen.
Now investigators were coming to the conclusion that the card stolen from him was a fake. It easily could have been a fake, because the kid never played Slifer through electronic means, which was the only guaranteed way to verify its veracity. The special Industrial Illusions code in the card was the only code Kaiba Corp. technology responded to when forming a three-dimensional rendering of the famed Egyptian God monster.
But if that card wasn't the real one, then Cary was on to evaluate the next claim:
Some rare vintage Duel Monsters cards stolen from a home in upstate New York this winter remain missing and now a $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
New York State Police say the burglary occurred at a home in the town of Oneonta.
The homeowner who was victimized is offering the reward.
Calls to the NYSP public information officer weren't returned on Friday, but it's believed to be the same theft that was detailed here, and included a huge haul of very nice and very valuable cards including a near complete T206 set.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NY State Police.
Unfortunately, that one didn't sound like any of the missing god cards. Each of them was one-of-one, meaning they were worth far more than $10,000. The only reason not to report their true value was if they were obtained through illegal means. More likely was the report had nothing to do with the god cards. Even the chance of it being one of these new god cards Bryan sought was low.
Cary had been searching ever since Matt told her about the missing cards. Hundreds of cards were reported stolen each month, and that was just in the US. For the sake of her sanity, she felt forced to limit her initial searches to the US and Japan. When she ran dry on those leads, she'd move on to China and the UK, but the god cards had been missing for six months. There was no telling for certain how far they could have gotten in that amount of time.
Some coincidence nagged at her, and so she decided to play a hunch. She picked up her phone and did a quick web search to find the phone number for one of her professors: Roger Baker. He was one of the faculty advisors in charge of the Red Dorm introducing first-year students to the Duel Academy environment, but at the moment he was on emergency medical leave, visiting his parents after his father had a heart attack. Mr. Baker was still alive, but he was eighty-six and Mrs. Baker welcomed the extra help ensuring he was taken care of. Cary hated to interrupt that, but it didn't stop her.
"Professor Baker."
His response came back hesitantly. "Cary Strickland? Is that you?"
"It is, sir. How's your dad doing?"
"He's doing better every day, thanks. Why in the world are you calling me now? Isn't it about six in the morning there?"
"Yes, but it's about eight in the morning where you are, and I've been up all night. Do you have a few minutes for me to give you the rundown before you decide whether or not you can help?"
He hummed for just a moment as he ran through a mental checklist. "Yeah, I've got a few minutes. What's up? I figure it must be important for you to call me directly."
"It is, Sarge." She called him that to prime him for what she had to share. Before he joined Duel Academy's staff as a duel professor, he had been a police detective, and a good one. "First, I've been doing news searches to see any recent reports or sightings. There's a kid in Contra Costa County who reported a stolen Slifer the Sky Dragon. Authorities think his stolen card was a fake."
"Contra Costa County? It's no coincidence you called me while I'm nearby, then."
"You once told me there were no coincidences."
His smile could be heard over the phone. "Are you starting to come around?"
"Statistically speaking, I will never ignore the possibility of coincidence. This is probably nothing, but I also knew I couldn't just pass it up while you were nearby and just happen to have detective training."
Professor Baker sighed heavily through his nose. "Alright, Cary. Send me a link to the report and the kid's address. I've got a few things to take care of this morning, but I'll find time to head out and talk to the kid and the investigators."
"Done." Within fifteen seconds, everything Cary knew about the theft was transferred to Baker's phone.
"That's weird."
"What's weird?"
"The kid's address is just down the street from my dad's house."
"Seriously?" Cary froze for a moment while she uttered, "Uh… I refuse to accept that there are no coincidences, but…"
"Yes, Cary. This coincidence seems too good to be true. Even if I thought you were paranoid, now I'd have to check it out. Thanks for turning my personal trip into work."
She sighed amusedly. "Happy to help. At least now I don't feel like the only one trying to find these cards. Now, uh… I know I shouldn't have to say this, but be careful. Slifer is probably more high-end than anything you've ever investigated. People will go crazy to find or keep that card."
As if Roger Baker needed that reminder. Duel Academy had been his home for fourteen years, and eleven years of that included guarding the Egyptian God Cards and the Sacred Beasts from a distance. Threats against the Academy at the behest of collectors and enthusiasts had dwindled by the time he joined the team, but there were still instances when he had to display his police personality to fend off pushy, overzealous members of some rich guy's private security firm or some newbie to a governmental law enforcement body who thought the rumors surrounding playing cards made them worthy of government protection.
One burglary couldn't be too difficult.
It was a two-story Colonial Revival-style home. The details of the building were simple, yet elegant and with the appearance of wealth. The hipped roof of the second floor extended past the walls of the first to create a portico on all sides of the house, not unlike a skirt made of roofing tiles. Doors on the main entrance and the second-floor balcony were paneled, and each had sidelights. A post in the sidewalk garden advertised a national security firm, generally an indicator that said security firm monitored the house at all times. Coupled with that, the doors and windows along the ground floor showed few signs of being weatherworn let alone broken into. A closer look would help, but the same appeared to be true of the second floor. Gardens were along all sides of the house and were well tended. Nothing wilted or even leaned out of place. Flowerbeds hid no footprints.
Either the kid or his parents had to know something—possibly even who the burglar was. Whoever burgled the place knew exactly the prize to be found in that house. That much was obvious from the outside of the house. Without a single sign of forced entry, the culprit was more likely invited inside at some point. That meant someone living in the house had met their burglar. As far as former-detective Roger Baker was concerned, the probability of solving this crime skyrocketed.
"Excuse me," called a man's voice from the front door. He was dressed in black slacks and a buttoned shirt with a candy cane tie. The man was slightly heavyset and had a military-style haircut alongside a clean-shaven face. "Can I ask why you are walking around the outside of my house?"
"I would question your safety if you didn't," Baker replied. He was dressed in his black Duel Academy uniform, black being the color worn officially by faculty members during extracurricular functions and graduation ceremonies. His chest bore a prominent display of both the Kaiba Corp. and the Duel Academy logos. "My name is Roger Baker. I'm a former police officer and a current professor of duel studies at Duel Academy." He provided his school ID card as additional proof of his identity. "I came when I heard about your burglary."
"Errol Mann," the homeowner introduced himself. "Why would someone from the Duel Academy come all the way out here for a home invasion?" As if he realized the answer whilst asking the question, he added, "You know that Slifer card was a fake, right? You must know that since Kaiba Corp owns the real one."
Baker nodded. "Yes, sir, Kaiba Corp is the rightful owner of the real Slifer the Sky Dragon. What you don't know because the information was never leaked to the media was that the card was stolen from the campus a while back."
"Oh, really?" Errol looked both amazed and frustrated. "Boy, how cool it would have been if my son had found the real thing! But the cops already told us that his stolen card was a fake and there was little chance of ever getting it back."
"Odds are it was a fake," Baker agreed, "but with the real one missing, it's not a waste of my time to investigate, just in case. Since I used to be a detective, would you mind if I come in for just a few minutes and have a look around?"
With a shrug, Errol said, "No, I guess not. I don't need to leave for work for another thirty minutes. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"I'd love one." Baker followed Errol inside his home. The foyer opened into a rectangular center hall with a staircase just to the right side. A room to the right was decorated as a living room. Plush sofas were covered in throw pillows as if the pillows were the ones watching the giant television mounted on the wall. The newest gaming consoles were neatly wrapped up with dozens of games lining the shelves. Fichus plants sprang up from planters beside every window. A fireplace in the back looked like it was in regular use for this season. From the mantel dangled several gold medals with gold trophies standing above.
The room to the left was the dining room. The long, mahogany table awaited eight occupants, suggesting the house was usually fuller than the impression Baker had gotten. Cabinets displayed fine china and crystal glassware with the same prominence as those gold trophies. The doors on said cabinets were flawless, perhaps antique. Even the chandelier sparkled with crystals reflecting light like a disco ball.
The kitchen was straight back in between the dining room and the living room. The spoon resting beside the coffeemaker was ornate and looked to be real quality. The rest of the silverware still in the drawers matched. Many collectible plates lined the walls, some of them complete sets. The refrigerator was stainless steel and matched the other appliances as perfectly as if they were all made together in the factory. Baker followed Errol in and stood by the granite countertop while Errol poured fresh coffee into a mug with a Teletubby on the side. "It's my daughter's mug," he defended himself. "How do you take it?"
"Black, and any mug is fine. I appreciate your giving me some of your time."
"No problem at all. My son's always wanted to go to Duel Academy. He's only twelve right now, but in a few years, who knows? Maybe you can put in a good word for him."
Baker wasn't put off by the awkward position. "I'll keep an eye on him these next few years. Keep me posted on his achievements."
"I will. He's not here right now because the driver already took him and his sisters to school, but I can at least tell you the same things he told me."
"You only have the one son?"
"Yep. Poor Jethro has to deal with being the middle child and having five sisters. Tickles his mom to death that she got so many girls, but I least I wasn't left completely without a legacy, you know." Baker personally viewed his daughter as his legacy even though she wasn't a boy, but at least he understood the historical pressures men had to raise a son to carry on the family name.
"Is Jethro the only duelist?"
Errol nodded. "Pretty much. My oldest had a starter deck before she lost interest and my youngest seems ready to pick up the habit—but then, she's still four and doesn't understand the game, so we'll see if she sticks with it. She might abandon it when she learns about ballet or soccer or Tae Kwon Do like all the other girls did."
"You sound a bit disappointed."
"Aw, I was never very good at it, but I had my own dueling aspirations when I was younger. I spent a semester at Godwin Academy before they realized I had no talent and kicked me out. This was back before it became an accredited university. I was never good enough for Duel Academy, and getting kicked out of there was the day a piece of my dreams shattered. Part of me still hopes to see my kids become champion duelists and pick up where I was no good."
"Maybe your son will do just that even though your daughters lack interest."
"I sure hope so. It would thrill me to see him up on the international stage bringing fame and glory to himself."
"You don't seem to have done too badly for yourself. This house is gorgeous."
"Thanks. Pharmaceuticals is more lucrative than dueling is, I'll admit, but it lacks the excitement and the passion. I would trade it all for a shot at being world champ like Yugi Mutou or Seto Kaiba."
So would someone else, Baker thought to himself. He had only seen three rooms and they were all full of high-end items that would take no time at all to resell for some quick cash. None of those things disappeared during the theft. Somehow, the only thing of real value stolen was a Duel Monsters card. That did not fit the description of a typical burglary.
"Was the Slifer card the only thing stolen?"
Errol had to think for a second. "Some other things were stolen from the bedrooms, including the collectible lunchbox where I keep my cash. Police said it was unusual for a burglar to focus on the second floor of the house when the ground floor is easier to get into and out of, but that seems to be what happened."
"Basic burglary," Baker said. "Keep a short escape route. Bizarre things happen sometimes, though. Would you mind showing me where the card was when it was stolen?"
"Oh, sure. That's up in my son's room. We can sneak in for just a minute or so and he shouldn't notice."
Errol led Baker up the stairs in the foyer to the second floor, which comprised a circle of bedrooms for the whole family. The balcony would make for an easy escape had someone broken in, but Baker again saw no signs of a break-in. If the perpetrator didn't break in on either the ground floor or the second floor, then he must have been invited in. In that case, a quick exit might not even be necessary.
Jethro's room was the one farthest from the balcony. Errol's room was right beside the balcony because—according to Errol's rambling—he and his wife want to be able to hear the sliding glass doors anytime the kids try to go outside late at night. Each of the rooms where the door was open enough for Baker to take a look showed rooms that were colorful and filled with varying personality, but none resembled a crime scene. If the burglary only happened yesterday, someone cleaned quickly… or else there wasn't much to clean.
"What else was taken?" Baker asked.
"Just a box of dueling cards, my money box, and two crystal candelabras my daughters had in their rooms." He pointed to rooms on opposite points of the circle. For them to be targeted, the thief would have to go out of his way before escaping. That didn't fit the thieving ideology.
"Anything significant about the candelabras?"
"They belonged to my mother before she passed," said Errol. "They're tacky things that were horribly gaudy when they were brand new, but my mother wanted the girls to inherit them. I probably had to force them to keep the things through guilt. They really were ugly candelabras. We're better off without those."
"I see."
The candelabras couldn't be helped, and money could disappear almost instantly once stolen, but something like Slifer wouldn't stay hidden for long. Wherever it went, someone would soon try to make money off of it. Of course, a smart burglar would wait for the scene to go cold before trying to move such a high-end item. That meant odds were good the stolen Slifer card would stay put in its new home for a while.
Jethro's bedroom looked like any bedroom one would expect from a twelve-year-old whose parents had money. The bookshelves still had a few youth fiction books loved enough at one point in time to have the covers worn, plus there were a few schoolbooks in pristine condition as if they hadn't been touched since the school year started. Pretty impressive for the kid to get halfway through the year without completing a single reading assignment. But the rest of the shelves spilled over with video games for duplicate consoles. The reading desk had a powerful-looking desktop computer with a load of additional hard drives—likely filled with illegal downloads—and guides for working through online games. The twin-size bed was unmade and covered with clothing that never quite made it to the closet.
"You know kids," Errol said apologetically as he picked up a sweater and brushed some dandruff from it.
"This isn't a mess caused by the burglar?"
"You'd think so, right?" Errol said with a laugh. "But this is how Jethro leaves everything." He resumed folding the clothes.
"Do you mind if I take a look around?" asked Baker.
"Of course not. I hate to ask to keep it quick, though. I'll need to leave for work soon."
"I appreciate it."
Although the light from the open window was plenty for general living, it cast too many shadows along the furniture. To counter, Baker flipped on the light switch. Or he tried, at least. Nothing happened. He flipped the switch to the off position and back on again to verify the issue, but nothing happened.
"That's weird," Errol said. "I can't believe the light would be broken and Jethro wouldn't say anything."
"Maybe he uses the desk lamp primarily," Baker suggested as he stared at the light bulb directly over the bed. He thought about the dandruff on the clothing and wondered if it wasn't really dandruff. "Would you be willing to check the bulb right now?"
"You think the light's just out?"
"Never know until you take a closer look."
Errol pushed aside the clothes and climbed up on the bed. He reached for the light and commented, "You'd think a twelve-year-old could replace a burned-out bulb on his own." But as he touched the glass case, the socket cup slid out of place like a door and revealed a small hiding space within the ceiling. Errol shot Baker an unnerved look. "I knew nothing about this."
"I believe you. Your son is clever. What's up there?"
Fishing around with his hand, Errol's eyes widened as he produced a gold-plated lunchbox bearing the images of Duel Monsters characters on the front. "It's my money box," he uttered. He returned his arm to the hole and came back with a small box of cards. Aghast by the slow realization that Jethro lied about the robbery, Errol handed the box to Baker and resumed searching the space.
Baker opened the box and began shuffling through the cards inside. It looked like a full deck built around summoning Slifer the Sky Dragon. Lo and behold, the divine beast's red card stood out among its orange and yellow counterparts. The image never shimmered in his grasp, but just holding it was enough for Baker to feel its identity.
"I can't find the candelabras," Errol confessed.
"Don't look too hard," Baker suggested. "I might wager that your girls hated them so much they sold them already. They just used the burglary as an excuse not to have them displayed anywhere you can check on them."
"I can't believe it," Errol uttered.
"I understand his reasoning," Baker said. "He couldn't let anyone know he had it or else he would spend the rest of his life defending it. I believe he came by it honestly, but I would like your permission to take it back to Duel Academy." He made it sound like it was a voluntary confiscation, but he had no intention of leaving the choice up to Errol. He did hand back the deck box, however.
Suddenly Errol's arm shot forth and snatched Slifer before Baker could tuck it away. "You can't!" he retorted. His voice crackled all of a sudden as if it were a static transmission that got interrupted. His pitch dropped a few steps as he said, "This card stays here!"
Baker was taken aback. "Is the card talking to you?"
"It doesn't matter," Errol insisted. "It belongs to me!"
"Don't you mean it belongs to Jethro?"
As if ignoring the logic, Errol's distorted voice continued, "This card does not leave the premises!" Shadows began spilling from the card like a fog machine. They billowed and built on top of one another until they filled the room and smothered the two duelists. Errol's eyes shone red with Shadow possession. He retrieved the portable duel field from the nightstand and set it on top of the shadows as a makeshift table.
"I can't believe I didn't expect this," Baker muttered to himself. How long had Slifer been in this household with the seal of the Shadow Realm completely melted away? Every resident of that building was likely possessed to some extent, but especially in the two men with the connection to dueling. Reaching into his coat and producing a deck box, Baker withdrew his own deck. At least he came prepared.
Suddenly Baker's deck levitated in front of him, suspended not by strings but by a plume of shadow. The cards rapidly shifted positions, sliding around and tumbling over one another until the deck had sufficiently shuffled itself.
"I trust your shuffling hasn't stacked the deck against me," said Baker. But his opponent would not respond. "Fine. Let's begin the ritual." Still with no response, he drew his opening hand. "I summon Machina Gearframe (4/1800/0)." He laid the card gently upon the shadowy duel field and watched the humanoid machine spring to life. Reaching one claw-like hand back toward the deck, Gearframe retrieved a copy of Machina Fortress, showed it to Errol, and then thrust it back at Baker.
No matter how many Shadow Games he had heard about or experienced involving these god cards, Baker felt he would never grow accustomed to watching his cards move around like they were real. "That's all for my turn."
Errol—or rather, the shade possessing Errol—drew his opening and hand and first card with the intensity of a man directing deep-seated anger toward the deck. "I set one monster and end my turn," spoke the shadowy voice.
"I expected more from a shade," Baker goaded. "Then again, this works out well for me. The sooner this duel ends, the sooner I reclaim Slifer the Sky Dragon, even if I do have to duel a middle-aged pharmacist who hasn't played the game since before Synchro monsters."
Pushing his opponent without relenting, he declared, "I'll attack your monster." His orange robot thrust a hydraulic-powered punch into the shadowy card, forcing its reveal as the assault stopped cold—so abruptly, in fact, that the recoil shook Baker where he stood. He braced himself, took a deep breath, and then returned to his position near the board.
Churning his words through gnashed teeth, Errol said, "My monster is Dupe Frog (2/100/2000)." Contrary to its name, the tiny frog wore a graduation cap on its head. Perhaps the "dupe" here was Baker for attacking such a thick-skinned amphibian. "He may be small, but his defense power exceeds your machine's attack power."
"I noticed," said Baker. His Life Points dropped by the shortfall. "I set one card and end my turn."
Baker 8000 – 200 = 7800: Errol 8000.
"First blood is mine," Errol said. His voice was fading beneath the fog of shadows smothering him. "I will set another monster and end my turn."
When the shadow chuckled, it sounded like every childhood nightmare rolled into a single guffaw. "I already possess two monsters. Soon will the Egyptian God Card grace the field and purge your presence here. And with Dupe Frog drawing all attacks, you will be unable to destroy any of my other monsters."
"I know of a way," Baker said. "By discarding Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon from my hand, I can summon Machina Fortress (7/2500/1600) straight from my hand." The armored machine resembled a tri-tread tank resembling the shape of a kneeling man and supporting the weight of a massive particle cannon. "Machina Fortress has more firepower than needed to roast the Dupe Frog (2000)." With a single, obliterating blast, the purple frog disappeared into the shadows.
"With the defeat of Dupe Frog," said Errol, "I retrieve Swap Frog from my deck and add it to my hand."
Baker nodded an acknowledgement. "Gearframe (1800) attacks your other monster." The crushing power of Gearframe's punch met the frail form of Treeborn Frog (1/100/100). Now Errol's field was clear. "I end my turn."
Errol chortled as his turn began and the Treeborn Frog reappeared on the field, winged and angelic as a frog reborn from death. "For now, I activate Gold Sarcophagus and place one card from my deck inside." The card's name was apt: A coffin, or sarcophagus, molded from gold appeared on the field. Etched in the side, it bore the Eye of Wedjet. Baker did not doubt for one second that Slifer the Sky Dragon was hidden inside.
Baker felt reluctance to attack. Errol could have fortified his defenses with the Swap Frog he just retrieved. The fact that he kept it must mean he wanted its effect to ensure he had the right monsters ready to Tribute for Slifer. Further hesitation could not help. He would just have to attack.
"Gearframe will destroy Treeborn Frog (100) once more. That leaves your field open for an attack." Machina Fortress (2500) blasted its mounted laser cannon with a full charge. The blue beam pierced the darkness and sliced through Errol's body. Instantaneously the shadows filled the wound.
"I summon Tragoedia (10/+3600/+3600)!" Swamped with a blood-red aura, the creature emerging from the shadows appeared like a demon spider, but larger in magnitude even than Machina Fortress and roaring with all the might of the underworld. "Summoned when I suffer Battle Damage, Tragoedia gains 600 attack and defense points for each card I hold in my hand." Just like Slifer, if he were a spider demon. It was an excellent card for a deck focused on the sky dragon.
Baker told a step back. "I end my turn."
Baker 7800: Errol 8000 – 2500 = 5500.
Errol laughed as Treeborn Frog (100) revived itself again. It was a never-ending effect as long as he kept his Spell/Trap Zones clear during his Standby Phase. "Filled with the power of darkness, Tragoedia (+4200) will attack Machina Fortress (2500)!" Striking from all sides like a spider closing in on its miniscule prey, Tragoedia overwhelmed the machine cannon.
But the energy from the cannon erupted when the Fortress was damaged. It could no longer be confined within a broken container. With all of the surrounding space to emerge, the Fortress's cannon exploded in a fiery blast, consuming within the flames the body of the entity that destroyed it.
"Tragoedia was too large to escape that blast," Baker said. Again, he felt short of breath when his monster was struck, but it was nothing he wouldn't recover from. "We're both down one big monster."
"But I have my Gold Sarcophagus," countered Errol. He was right. The sarcophagus was still there, and next turn it would open.
Then again, Baker was still dueling against an amateur. All Errol knew how to do was play the biggest monster and go for Battle Damage. If it were possible for him to summon Slifer, he would probably think that card sufficient to win the duel. Odds were good that if Baker kept attacking, Errol would never be able to keep three monsters on the field long enough to sacrifice them.
Errol said, "I set one monster and end my turn."
Baker 7800 – 1700 = 6100: Errol 5500.
"For my turn, I switch Gearframe (0) to defense mode and set one card." But being tricky, he set the card in his Field Spell Zone. It was noticeable that he did not play a typical card. Would Errol see it and respond? "That's all."
The field flashed as the Gold Sarcophagus reappeared. With the sound of dragging cinderblock, the lid slid off of the coffin and revealed the shimmering red card inside. Errol's voice was beyond recognition when he spoke. "I discard a water monster to summon Swap Frog (2/1000/500) to the field, and then I send it with Treeborn Frog and Ronintoadin to the Graveyard to summon Slifer the Sky Dragon (10/+5000/+5000)!"
The shadows blooming on all sides became as storm clouds. Lightning filled the air, jolting brightly from one cloud to the next and illuminating the red scales donned on Errol's torso. When the Shadows retreated, Slifer the Sky Dragon announced his presence with a deafening roar. He was wrapped around Errol like a stole… or a puppeteer. A window straight into the Shadow Realm, dwelling inside a deck put together by a young child and controlling its own fate by possessing the body of the house authority figure.
"Slifer will destroy Gearframe!" The expansive jowls of the saint dragon were unnecessary for the machine's defeat. A simple breath attack carried enough electrical energy to disintegrate the machine with a touch. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."
Baker knew he was lucky he switched his monster to defense mode. An attack by Slifer as he was now would be devastating. Errol was surprisingly skilled at maintaining a strong hand presence. Whether that possessing shade was the spirit of Slifer himself didn't matter. The Shadow Realm knew the god's power well. The only way to defeat a monster of that power was to target its weak spot.
"I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy my own Geartown," Baker announced. "When Geartown is destroyed, I can summon Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon (8/3000/2000)." The clockwork dragon looked as ancient as its name, pieced together from parts found in a scrapyard. But it came with plenty of battle strength.
For the moment.
Errol's hideous chortling began again. "When you summon a monster, Slifer uses its second mouth to weaken that monster." The red dragon bared its mighty fangs, keeping its jaws closed as a second set of teeth revealed themselves from between the jaws and the snout. Two distinct, shattering attacks—two jaws to produce them.
"I teach at Duel Academy," said Baker. "I was prepared for this. You see, the theme of my deck is to negate the effects of monsters. I chain Forbidden Chalice and give it to Slifer!" A silver chalice appeared in the shadows. Water of the purest form lapped over the rim and fell to anoint its target. "First, Slifer will gain 400 attack points. Second, his effects will all be negated. Emphasis on all. His attack points will decline all the way back to where they started—zero!"
"They would," spoke Errol, "if I were not able to counter the effect. I play Forbidden Lance and give it also to Slifer." Although the dragon had relatively tiny arms, the clawed appendages were enough to wield the thin polearm provided by the Spell card. "If you focus on effect negation, then you surely know this card. Slifer loses 800 attack points for this turn, but he also achieves immunity to all other Spells and Traps." The Lance knocked aside the Chalice before any of the water could purify Slifer's body. "Your attempt to negate Slifer's effects has failed.
"Now where were we?" Slifer's second mouth opened fully and smothered Gadjiltron Dragon (-1000) in a white light. "Oh right. Your machine was losing almost all of its power! Lucky for you it held strong. Had it been 1000 points weaker, it would be destroyed on the spot. Do you feel lucky?"
Of course the answer was no. Baker had underestimated his opponent and was about to pay a severe price for it.
"I thought not," laughed Errol. "Slifer the Sky Dragon is all but invincible! Any monster you throw will instantly lose 2000 points, undoubtedly weakening the monster so far as to make a battle against Slifer a pipe dream. With unending attack point gains, his power is unreachable!" He pointed with such ferocity that Baker already felt the shadows responding as if he had attacked. "Slifer (+5000)! Attack Gadjiltron Dragon (1000)!" Attacking with the pure lightning produced within his primary jowls, Slifer launched an attack that obliterated Baker's monster in the blink of an eye.
Baker 6100 – 4000 = 2100: Errol 5500.
A moment passed in silence while Baker collected himself and waited for his pulse to slow. The trauma of suffering an attack by the Shadow Realm's energy caused him momentary pain not unlike early warning signs of a heart attack. Maybe he should have skipped the chewing tobacco when all his friends on the force offered him some.
"I need a card," Baker said, "so I'll play Pot of Duality." A large pot appeared on the field. The shining silver side appeared as a somber face. "I take three cards from the top of my deck…" The pot twirled so the face changed sides. Now the visible face was green and chubby, sticking a tongue out between yellowing teeth. "…and I choose just one of them to keep. My Graveyard demands the other two. I will now set one card and a monster in defense mode."
"With Slifer on the field, that's about all you can do! Meanwhile, I will summon Treeborn Frog (1/100/100) again, and when I banish Swap Frog from the Graveyard, I also revive Ronintoadin (2/100/2000)." His white tree frog appeared on the field alongside a chubby frog carrying a wakizashi along his hip. "My frogs will serve as Tribute to summon another Tragoedia (10/+3000/+3000)." With Slifer's massive form on the field, it was easier to gauge how large the spider demon Tragoedia really was as it occupied multiple Monster Zones.
"Slifer (5000) will attack your defenseless monster!"
"My face-down card is Skill Drain," Baker announced. "This is my deck's headliner. I pay 1000 Life Points so that the effects of all monsters on the field are negated." A yellow miasma engulfed the field like a wild fire made of mist or pollen. The very life force leaked from the cards on Errol's field and dissipated into the air. Slifer's (-0/-0) body wilted and withered alongside Tragoedia (-0/-0). "Both of your monsters gain their attack points through monster effects. Skill Drain negates those effects."
"It can't be!" Errol uttered. Even the shade in possession appeared to weaken by the card's effect. Errol's original voice began to break through the static. His expression turned to horror as he watched Slifer open his primary jaws and unleash a would-be devastating electrical attack. "Stop the attack!"
"It's too late for that," said Baker. "Your attack has already been declared." Slifer's attack fizzled out when it met the metallic, armored body of Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast (7/2800/2000). "Have you met Fusilier Dragon? I can summon it without Tributes as long as I cut its points in half. Except that Skill Drain negates that effect, so I end up summoning him without Tributes for no cost whatsoever."
Errol jolted as the attack reflected back at him. "Slifer the Sky Dragon is still on my field. The duel is not over yet. I set one card and end my turn."
Baker 2100 – 1000 = 1100: Errol 5500 – 2000 = 3500.
Baker drew. "You may still have Slifer, but he met his match as soon as Skill Drain activated. I summon Beast King Barbaros (8/3000/1200). Just like with Fusilier Dragon, this monster loses points in order to be summoned without Tributes. And again Skill Drain negates that effect so he retains all 3000 points. Lucky for me, Slifer can't reduce my attack points anymore."
"He doesn't need to," Errol said. "I play Enemy Controller." Tragoedia disappeared when a console controller with three buttons and a directional pad appeared on the field. With every button pressed, the massive chimera-like Barbaros moved, slowly encroaching on Errol's field. "By sacrificing one monster, I take control of one of yours."
"A desperate ploy," Baker said. "Fusilier Dragon (2800) can simply attack Slifer (0) instead."
"But I will hold fast to my Life Points and have one more turn to retaliate. My hand remains full, in case you forgot."
Baker frowned. "I definitely don't like that idea." Skill Drain was not a defended card. Even a simple Remove Trap card could defeat it, and then Slifer would be free to regain attack points. He would need to be summoned a second time for the effect to reactivate, but with a deck that so easily swarmed the field with frogs, that was hardly a difficult feat. Best to end the duel as soon as possible.
"If a dragon with two mouths is what threatens to send my soul to the Shadow Realm, then I'll have to fight back using a dragon with three mouths. I'll reach into my Extra Deck and banish a fusion monster in order to summon Malefic Cyber End Dragon (10/4000/2800)." A large, cybernetic dragon emerged onto the field. It was serpentine in appearance, much like Slifer, but its metallic scales gleamed bright white save the blackness of its wings. The torso split off to form three necks, each ending in a mechanical dragon head. Though the dragon did not measure up to Slifer in size, the power given to it within the game dwarfed the enfeebled Egyptian God.
"A Malefic monster! But they can't…" Errol's protestation ended when he realized the truth of the situation. Normally a Malefic monster cannot remain on the field unless a Field Spell is active. It would be destroyed if it tried. But Skill Drain blocked the negative effect from activating. Baker could hold his Malefic Cyber End Dragon without a single disadvantage. And it was so easy to play because the summoning effect wasn't negated!
"I'm sorry it came to this," Baker said, "but I'll be taking that card with me back to Duel Academy." Spread wide like the points of a triangle, the three heads of the Malefic Cyber End Dragon fired simultaneous bursts of black energy that met in a fantastic collision and merged into a single, overwhelming beam of darkness. The energy consumed the red dragon and the shadows spilling out of its card.
Just as quickly as the room had entered the Shadow Realm, the atmosphere faded and returned to its former state. Baker set the duel field down on the bed and helped lead Errol to rest himself on the mattress as well. He had passed out while the shadows withdrew. Baker feared he might never awaken, or at least not for some time. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the local authorities to send an ambulance.
While waiting, he retrieved Slifer the Sky Dragon. Even as a professor at Duel Academy, the card refused to shine in his hand.
"No question whether this is the real thing," he thought aloud.
I want to thank Titanic X for trying to help me put this duel together. I'm sorry it took so long, but I think the play-by-play came out rather exciting.
In the next chapter, Matt will finally locate a solid lead on the Key of Solomon. But the Key won't do any good until the other gods are found. With no word so far on a god as powerful as The Wicked Dreadroot, surely someone is hiding it. Who would do that?
Trivia: Shonen Jump screwed up with my subscription, and so Slifer is the only legal god card I don't have. And he's my favorite!