Episode 65: Dragons and Dungeons
Yuni and his friends are journeying through the interior of the castle of the Dragon King. It is dark and dismal in the design. Decorating the endless corridors are dragon statues and tapestries with ornate dragon designs on them. Tori comments, "We seem to have been traveling through this castle unimpeded, I doubt we're just going to be able to walk right up to this Dragon King. There's got to be some sort of challenge."
Yuni nods in agreement. "Yes, that would be-"
As if on cue, a roar is heard echoing through the halls. Brutus says, "Come on Tori, why'd you have to jinx us!?"
Tori shrugs. "How was I supposed to know?"
Around a nearby corner, another roar is heard. On the wall across from the corner, a sparkling light is projected.
Zenith says with awe, "Wow, that looks…so…so…pretty…"
Yuni says, "Something tells me that you won't feel that way for long."
Rounding the corner comes five monsters; Luster Dragon (Wind/Level 4/Dragon/Normal/ATK 1900/DEF 1600), Luster Dragon #2 (Wind/Level 6/Dragon/Normal/ATK 2400/DEF 1400), Hyozanryu (Light/Level 7/Dragon/Normal/ATK 2100/DEF 2800), Alexandrite Dragon (Light/Level 4/Dragon/Normal/ATK 2000/DEF 100), and Labradorite Dragon (Dark/Level 6/Dragon/Tuner/ATK 0/DEF 2400). The five monsters fill the room with a brilliant, sparkling light.
Tori observes, "It's the Gem Dragons! They may not have effects, but they're known for their power."
Brutus draws a card and says, "Duel now, dueling history lesson later. I summon Solo-Soldier (Dark/Level 4/Warrier/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 0)!"
Yuni draws and declares, "I'm in too. I summon Cyber-Tech Enforcer (Dark/Level 8/Warrior/Effect/ATK 2600/DEF 2000)!"
Tori shouts, "I'll add on the power of my Monolithic H Block Golem (Earth/Level 5/Rock/Effect/ATK 2200/DEF 1900)!"
Zenith adds, "And I'll call upon Alpha Invader (Dark/Level 8/Psychic/Effect/ATK 2700/DEF 2200)!"
Yuni commands, "Let's do this, Cyber-Tech Enforcer, attack the Luster Dragon with Cyber Bludgeon!"
At the same time, Brutus declares, "Solo-Soldier, attack the Alexandrite Dragon!"
Yuni's massive cyborg swings its hammer at the first Luster Dragon, and Brutus' battle-hardened knight slashes towards Alexandrite Dragon. As soon as each attack is about to make contact, the attacks are intercepted, Solo-Soldier's by Labradorite Dragon, and Enforcer's by Hyozanryu. Yuni takes some damage (Yuni's LP: 2700).
Tori observes, "Those two high-defense monsters are protecting the others!"
Yuni, shaking off the damage, says, "Alright then, looks like this won't be so straight forward after all."
Zenith says confidently, "Don't sweat it, I've got this! Alpha Invader, launch your Invasion Wave at Labradorite Dragon!"
Tori warns, "Zenith, don't!" But it's too late, the attack is already launched. Within seconds, Hyozanryu intercepts the attack (Zenith's LP: 4600). Tori asks, "Did you not see that coming!?"
Zenith, sounding slightly deflated, says, "No, I guess I should have."
Yuni says, "Come on guys, pull it together! Let's all attack at once, that way they can't defend each other!"
Brutus says, "Great idea! Solo-Soldier, attack Luster Dragon!"
Tori commands, "Pummel the Alexandrite Dragon, H Block Golem!"
Zenith shouts, "And you target the Labradorite Dragon again, Alpha Invader!"
Finally, Yuni commands, "And Cyber-Tech Enforcer, obliterate the Luster Dragon!"
The attacks are each sent on their way, but at the last minute, the Gem Dragons switch their positions. Solo-Soldier's attack now hits Labradorite Dragon, H Block Golem's hits Luster Dragon #2 (Tori's LP: 4100), and Alpha Invader's hits Hyozanryu again (Zenith's LP: 4500). However, Cyber-Tech Enforcer's attack ends up destroying its intended target.
Tori shouts, "Yeah, we got one!"
Zenith shouts, "Look out!"
An attack from Luster Dragon #2 is sent at Tori's monster. Yuni thinks fast and shouts, "Cyber-Tech Enforcer, protect her!" Yuni's monster moves in front of Tori's and uses its massive hammer to beat away the attack. The deflected attack flies back at it source and destroys the Luster Dragon #2.
Brutus says, "Let's see if we can chip away a little at their defenses!" He pulls out a card. "I activate Final Attack Orders! This card switches all monsters to attack mode, and keeps them that way!" Labradorite Dragon and Hyozanryu switch from defensive stances to offensive. "All right guys, we're in the clear! Let's finish these guys off!"
Tori congratulates, "Good thinking Brutus!"
All four of the friends declare, "Monsters, attack!" The dragons try to defend, but without their defensive dragons, they fall apart. Cyber-Tech Enforcer destroys Alexandrite Dragon, Solo-Soldier defeats Hyozanryu, H Block Golem crushes Labradorite Dragon, and Alpha Invader destroys Luster Dragon.
The four jump up in victory. Brutus and Zenith high-five. Brutus shouts, "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!"
Yuni beckons forward and says, "Alright, enough celebrating, let's get a move on." The four travel a few steps, when suddenly a trap door opens up below them, and they fall into it.
The group slides down a series of shafts, going deep down into the castles underground area. They are spit out of a hole in the roof of a dungeon cell. They land on the ground with a thump.
Zenith jumps up and cheers, "Woo hoo! That was awesome! Let's do it again! Let's do it again!"
Brutus gets up, rubbing his bottom where he landed and says, "You didn't find that the least bit uncomfortable?"
Zenith looks at him oddly, "Of course not, that was fun!"
Tori and Yuni get up. Tori walks over to the bars blocking them in where they are. She examines the door. She comments, "It looks pretty solid, I don't know how we're going to get out of here."
Brutus steps forward, "Come on Tori, have you already forgotten, we can summon our monsters to help us. Just stand back. I'll get us out of here." Everyone backs away. Brutus declares, "I summon Master Blaster (Fire/Level 4/Machine/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 0)! Blast those bars away Master Blaster!" Brutus' monster launches its rocket cannon at the bars, and they are immediately blown away. "See, piece of cake." Brutus' monster goes away.
Yuni says, "So now we've got to find a way out of here." He takes a few steps out of the cell.
Zenith steps out behind him, points, and says, "Problem solved. Look, stairs!"
The group travels towards the stairs. It's a small spiral staircase made of stone. They begin their way up. After a little while of climbing stairs, they make it to small chamber with nothing in it but a set of dull, grey double-doors.
Suddenly the room is lit up by a burst of fire. Out of the fire appears the Dragon Piper (Fire/Level 3/Pyro/Effect/ATK 200/DEF 1800).
The four instantly prepare for a fight, but the Dragon Piper, in a jester like voice, says, "I am not here for a fight, nor am I here for plight."
Yuni, looking confused asks, "Then why are you here?"
Dragon Piper responds, "I seek only to test your brains, which you must do to cast off your chains."
Tori asks, "So you mean we have to pass a test to get out of here?"
"If you wish to get out of this fiddle, then you must first answer my riddle!"
Tori smiles. "I'm good at riddles."
The Dragon Piper plays a short tune on its flute. "If you answer my riddle correct, you will surely show your intellect. However, if you answer wrong, you will have sung your last song. Are you ready for my question? I'm about to take action." It plays a few more notes on its flute and begins the riddle. "I am known to some as the Sun God, though some think of me as a fraud. I started life as a simple stone, but soon like the sun I had grown. In an orb I remained sealed, but in to my true form many yield. There are many who pray to the holy markings that I display. I can only be recruited, when my allies have been tributed. Now it is time to imply, what do you think am I?" It plays several more notes.
The four begins to think. Brutus' face lights up. He exclaims, "I've got it! I know what the answer is!" He begins to explain, "It's the Winged Dragon of Ra! It's the god of the sun, one of its forms is in the shape of an orb, and it takes three tributes to summon!"
The Dragon Piper states, "Despite what you expect, your answer is incorrect!" A couple more notes are played. Upon finishing the notes, a dragon made of fire appears behind the Dragon Piper. "Now that you have lost, prepare to play the cost!" The fiery dragon charges at Brutus, lowering his life points (Brutus' LP: 3350).
Brutus exclaims, "Hey, I just took 500 points of damage! What's the deal!?"
"You were warned not to fail, surely something must assail."
Yuni says, "Alright guys, we can't afford to give anymore wrong answers." He turns to Tori. "You're are best chance at getting out of here, do you have any ideas?"
Tori looks thoughtful. She says, "I too thought at first that it was the Winged Dragon of Ra, but that would not perfectly match the riddle. No one detests the fact that Ra is the Egyptian god of the sun. Also, I don't think that Ra started as a stone. You could also argue that Ra's Sphere Form is just another form of Ra, not necessarily an untrue form." She thinks for a couple more moments. "It is safe to assume that we'd be riddled on Duel Monsters cards, and not actual historic gods, since this is for a Duel Monsters tournament, and we can also guess that the answer will be related to dragons in some way, since this is the castle of the Dragon King, and we're talking to the Dragon Piper."
Yuni nods in agreement. "You're definitely right there, but still, nothing else comes to my mind."
Tori starts to think it over aloud. "Hmm…many pray to the holy markings I display…holy markings…like hieroglyphs…" A spark of realization crosses her face. She says, "The answer is the Hieratic Seal of the Sun Dragon Overlord. It like Ra, is known as a god of the sun, however some would say that Ra is the true god. According to its card lore, the Seal of the Sun Dragon Overlord started off as a simple stone, but it grew to have the power of the sun itself. Of course, it's the sealed form of the Hieratic Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis. The holy markings refer to the hieroglyph of the Eye of Ra engraved on its surface. Last, but not least, the Hieratic archetype summons a normal monster, such as the Seal, from the deck when their monsters are tributed!"
The Dragon Piper plays a short, but happy song. It announces, "You have passed the test, and also shown that you are the best. Continue on your journey, I wish the best of luck to thee." In a flash of fire, the Dragon Piper disappears. The doors swing open.
Where the Piper stood, a Dian Keto the Cure Master Appears. Yuni says, "I guess that that one belongs to you Tori."
Tori says, "No, I couldn't, you have the lowest life points out of any of us. You need it the most."
Yuni says, "No, I'm not taking it. You earned it."
"Look at it Yuni, I still have more than 4000 life points, I could get into a duel right now, but you only have 2700, you need it more."
"I will not take what is yours."
Tori starts to walk over to it. She says, "Alright, fine, be that way. How about a compromise?" She picks up the card, but before its effects activate, she rips it half and throws half at Yuni, both regain 500 life points (Tori's LP: 4600) (Yuni's LP: 3200).
Yuni glares at her. "I can't believe that worked."
Tori shrugged. "I had to try."
The four walk out the door. On the way out, Brutus says, "That was quite fun, but I'm afraid that we must run."
The other three sigh.
Seto Ossius is walking through the corridors of the castle of the Dragon King. He thinks, I can't believe that that Lord of D. thought that he could best me in a duel of dragons. None can defeat my Cosmic Plasma Dragon.
A familiar voice says, "You must be my next victim."
Seto turns around and sees himself staring straight at Seto Kaiba. He thinks, Hmm…he really does look a lot like me. This must be my next challenge. Seto smiles at the challenge.
Kaiba declares, "I summon the mighty Blue-Eyes White Dragon (Light/Level 8/Dragon/Normal/ATK 3000/DEF 2500)!" Kaiba's legendary dragon appears on the field before Seto. It cries a mighty roar.
Seto pulls out a card and says, "Well I summon the mighty Cosmic Plasma Dragon (Light/Level 8/Dragon/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2500)!" Seto's ace dragon appears. The two dragons react to each other, and each roars a challenge to the other.
Kaiba says, "A respectable monster, but nothing can compare to the power of my Blue-Eyes, especially when I do this!" He plays a spell. "I activate Polymerization, and fuse my Blue-Eyes with two more, in order to summon the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon (Light/Level 12/Dragon/Fusion/ATK 4500/DEF 3800)!" Kaiba's three dragons fuse into their ultimate form.
Seto responds, "Then I'll just have to upgrade my own monster! I activate two copies of Plasma Matter! These cards boost the level of my dragon by an amount equal to its original level, meaning my dragon gets a 16 level boost (Level 24)! Now that its level is three times that of its original, I can evolve it!" Cosmic Plasma Dragon begins to glow and change. "I evolve Cosmic Plasma Dragon into Cosmic Tri-Pulsar Dragon (Light/Level 12/Dragon/Evolution/ATK 4500/DEF 3800)!"
Kaiba says, "Another worthy monster, but not even it can handle the power of my Ultimate Dragon! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack with Neutron Blast Attack!"
"But that would destroy both our monsters! Counterattack, with Pulsar Blast Attack!"
Kaiba draws a card from his Duel Disk. "I activate Dragon Soul! This card prevents my Dragon type monster from being destroyed by battle!"
Seto pulls out a card of his own and says, "I also activate a copy of Dragon Soul!"
"That means neither of our monsters can be destroyed! This is a stalemate!"
"No, it's not! I activate the effect of Cosmic Tri-Pulsar Dragon, if it battles a monster, and that monster isn't destroyed, I can automatically destroy it!" The attack of Tri-Pulsar Dragon impacts the attack of Ultimate Dragon, and Tri-Pulsar's attack wins out, continuing at Kaiba's dragon, destroying it.
"So I have lost. It is not that often that that happens. You may continue." Kaiba disappears and leaves behind a Dian Keto the Cure Master, which Seto picks up (Seto's LP: 3800). Seto walks off.
Yuni, Tori, Brutus, and Zenith are standing before two massive, golden doors with a dragon emblem emblazoned on them. Brutus comments, "Alright, if this isn't the entrance to the throne room, I don't know what is." The others nod in agreement.
The voice of Seto says from behind, "Oh great, it's you losers."
The group turns around to see Seto approaching behind them. Brutus says sarcastically, "Great to see you too rich boy."
Zenith perks up and says, "Hey, would now be a good time for that autograph?"
Seto, ignoring Zenith, says, "I'll just comeback later."
He begins to turn around, when suddenly a voice booms out from nowhere, "You have reached the point of no return. None shall leave."
The golden doors open themselves and a bright light shines out. The five are sucked into the room and the doors close behind them.
Seto demands, "Who do you think you are!?"
A figure standing on a perch above them declares, "I am the Dragon King, lord of the most powerful of monsters and ruler of this land!" The figure jumps down, revealing himself. He is a tall, imposing figure. He wears red armor, that appears to be made out of scales and has draganoid features, and also a golden crown that's shaped like a serpentine dragon wrapped around his head.
Brutus shouts out, "We've been looking for you! We're going to defeat you once and for all!"
The Dragon King says, "Is that so? We'll see about that! Come to me, my dragon minions, Diabolos, King of the Abyss (Dark/Level 7/Dragon/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 1000), Montage Dragon (Earth/Level 8/Dragon/Effect/ATK ?/DEF 0), Tyrant Dragon (Fire/Level 8/Dragon/Effect/ATK 2900/DEF 2500), White Night Dragon (Water/Level 8/Dragon/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2500), and Armed Dragon LV10 (Wind/Level 10/Dragon/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2000)!" The five dragons appear in a circle around the Dragon King. "Now I activate the magic of the Dragon's Mirror and fuse my five dragons into the ultimate monster! I call upon the Five-Headed Dragon (Dark/Level 12/Dragon/Fusion/ATK 5000/DEF 5000)!" The five dragons fuse into the absolutely titanic dragon with five heads.
Tori exclaims, "That's one of the most powerful monsters to ever exist!"
Yuni says confidently, "Then we'll just have to beat it!" He pulls out a card. "I summon the Cyber-Tech Magician (Dark/Level 7/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2100)!" As soon as Cyber-Tech Magician appears on the field, it appears be shocked by electricity, and it goes into several convulsions. Yuni demands, "What happened!?"
The Dragon King responds, "I am the Dragon King, the only monsters worthy of fighting me are dragons! You insult me by trying to use anything else!"
Seto grins devilishly and pulls out a card. "You dare challenge me to a battle of dragons? Your mistake. I summon the Cosmic Plasma Dragon!" Seto's dragon appears before him again.
Brutus says, "Rich boy's not the only person with a dragon here, I summon the Brutal Massive Dragon (Earth/Level 6/Dragon/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 0)!"
Tori says, "It may not be a dragon type monster, but it's still a dragon! I banish the five Lithic monsters in my grave in order to summon Megalithic Serpent Mound Dragon (Earth/Level 10/Rock/Effect/ATK ?/DEF 0)!" Tori's new monster is a giant snake made out of ancient, weathered, moss-covered rocks and boulders. "My monster gains 700 attack points for each monster I banished (ATK: 3500)!"
Zenith also summons a card and says, "And I'll call upon my Draconic Invader (Dark/Level 7/Psychic/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 0)!" Zenith's monster is a dragon-shaped monster, but with the green, monstrous appearance of a alien.
Finally, Yuni declares, "And I'll activate Polymerization and fuse my Cyber-Tech Magician with Cyber-Tech Dragoon in order to summon Cyber-Tech Dracomancer (Dark/Level 9/Dragon/Fusion/ATK 3400/DEF 3000)!" Yuni's magician mounts his dragon, and recovers from whatever was affecting it earlier.
All five declare, "Dragons, attack!" The five dragons fly into the air and begin to fly around the Five-Headed Dragon. They weave in between the heads, circle, and dive below the massive dragon, performing advanced flight maneuvers. Cyber-Tech Dracomancer launches magical attacks, Cosmic Plasma Dragon fires plasma flares, Brutal Massive Dragon launches its spikes as missiles, Serpent Mound Dragon launches rocks, and Draconic Invader breathes dark energy bursts. The attacks all impact, but do absolutely nothing.
Zenith shouts, "It's no use! The Five-Headed Dragon is too powerful!"
The Dragon King laughs and says, "What did you expect? My dragon is almighty! Your pathetic excuses for dragons can do absolutely nothing. Five-Headed Dragon destroy those who resist us!" The Five-Headed Dragon begins to launch attacks. Each head launches a different attack, in accordance with what the head looks like. All of the dragons manage to weave up and down, left and right in order to avoid the attacks. Several of the dragons return fire, but still to no avail.
Brutus says, "We're getting nowhere like this, we need a serious power boost! I equip my dragon with Megamorph, and double its attack (ATK: 5600)! Now Brutal Massive Dragon, destroy that Five-Headed Dragon with Brutal Bombardment!" Brutus' dragon fires a massive volley of spike-missiles, but all merely hit the Five-Headed Dragon and bounce off. Brutus demands, "What just happened!? My monster should have pummeled that one!"
Seto scorns, "Do you know nothing!? The Five-Headed Dragon can only be destroyed by a Light attribute monster!"
The Dragon King says, "You are all fools! None can defeat me!"
Yuni shouts to Seto, "Seto, I have a card that can win this battle for us, but we have to work together!"
Seto looks at Yuni, as if he is suggesting much worse. He finally says, "Do what you must."
Yuni pulls out a card and declares, "I activate Accumulative Boost on Cosmic Plasma Dragon! This card boosts its attack by 1000 for every other monster on the field with the same type as it, including Five-Headed Dragon!" Energy flows from each of the dragons to Seto's dragon (ATK: 6000)
Seto declares, "Cosmic Plasma Dragon, attack with Plasma Stream of Destruction!"
The other four all declare, "Attack now!"
Cosmic Plasma Dragon launches a massive, shining plasma flare. The other monsters all launch their attacks, which merge and combine with the plasma attack. The attack hits the Five-Headed Dragon.
The Dragon King shouts in disbelief, "No! it can't be! I can't be defeated! I'm invincible!" As he's crying this last line, he fades out of existence. As the Five-Headed Dragon is destroyed, it explodes, and five cards fall to the ground.
Brutus jumps up and cheers, "We did it!"
Zenith walks over to the cards that fell and says, "Hey, there's five Dian Ketos here, one for each of us!" All of them walk up and retrieve a card (Yuni's LP: 4200) (Tori's LP: 5600) (Brutus' LP: 4350) (Zenith's LP: 5500) (Seto's LP: 4800).
Seto says, "I knew I couldn't be defeated in a battle of dragons."
The voice of the Minister of Dueling announces, "Congratulations, all five of you have completed the survival duel!"
There is a flash of light, and the next moment Yuni is waking up in the Virtual Pod. He gets out and sees on either side of him, the other four are getting out. The Minister of Dueling's hologram says, "You are all tied for second to make it out of the survival duel!" The hologram beckons to the side and continues, "Oblivion was the first, and he made it out without taking any damage. That's right, he'll be going into the first round duels with 8,000 life points!"