Chapter IX: Zant gets the upper hand
All three duelists glared with an intensity that could melt glaciers. Link glanced at Midna with admiration. Such cunning, such strategy he thought. Link than glared at Zant and declared boldly "Make your move, Zant!"
The usurper king lightly trembled in fear of the advantage that Midna had gained. Then he clenched his fists and screamed "This duel is far from over, Midna. I draw." The king then drew his card and smirked. "Midna," he declared, "I can turn this duel around with the card I just drew."
"Fat chance" declared Midna. "You're up against my 2 spellcasters with each having an attack power of 2000 or more. It would take a miracle to turn the duel around."
Zant merely laughed and said "You're wrong; watch and learn." "I sacrifice my Ryu-Kishin Powered to summon my Summoned Skull!"
Midna and Link watched as a giant skeleton rose up on the field and reached the same height as Midna's Dark Magician. Midna looked at the attack meter and exclaimed "2500? That makes it even with my Magician."
Zant smirked. "Correct, Midna. But I'm not done." Zant then placed another card in his back row and declared "Next I activate the magic card Makiu, the Magical Mist."
"But what will that do?" Midna asked.
"I'm glad you asked, Midna. At the cost of giving up my battle phase this turn, my Summoned Skull instantly destroys all enemy monsters whose defensive value is less than or equal to his attack value."
Link and Midna could only watch as lightning destroyed their every monster. "He just wiped out our defense" exclaimed Link.
Zant smiled wickedly and said "I'm afraid the worst is yet to come. Next I play the magic card Polymerization!"
"What does that do?" asked Link.
"If I have 2 or more fusion-compatible monsters in my hand, on the field, or a combination, I can fuse them together to form a stronger monster." Link and Midna gasped in shock; they had enough to deal with without a stronger monster. "So now I fuse the Summoned Skull on my field with the Red Eyes Black Dragon in my hand to summon the Black Skull Dragon!"
Link and Midna watched with horror as the Skeleton was replaced with a skeleton in the shape of a dragon. Link read the attack meter and exclaimed "3200?"
"Exactly, hero" Zant replied with malice. "And finally, I activate the magic card Quick Attack. This card makes it so that my fusion monster can attack during my main phase, and you have no monsters to defend either of you. But which one should I choose to attack?" Zant's eyes darted between the duo until his eyes settled on Midna. "I think it's high time I paid back you for destroying my twilight spell, Midna."
No, not Midna thought Link. She stands the best chance of defeating Zant; without her I can't stand a ghost of a chance.
"Now then, my beast, attack Midna directly!" declared Zant. He smirked as Midna braced herself for the impact.
Finally, Link spoke up. "I won't let you harm her Zant." Zant and Midna looked to Link. "I'll protect her with my face-down card. I activate Draining Shield!" Zant gasped in shock as a barrier of light formed around Midna, protecting her from the attack. Link smirked as he said "Now your attack is negated and Midna gains Life Points equal to your dragon's attack points." Everyone except Link gasped as Midna's Life Points climbed to 11,200.
Zant growled and yelled "Curse you, Link. You'll pay for that!"
Midna looked to Link and said "Thanks, Link".
Link gave her a thumbs up and replied "Anytime, Midna. We're a team, remember? And I'll always be there for you!"
Midna smiled and replied "Same here, Link. Now, let's crush Zant once and for all!"
Link nodded and declared "Alright, Zant, it's my turn now. I draw." Link drew a card and smiled. "I activate the magic card, Swords of Revealing Light!" Zant gasped in fear as swords make of pure light surrounded him. "This card makes it so that you can't attack with anything for 3 turns. Next, I summon Vorse Raider in attack mode and end my turn. Back to you, my Princess."
Midna blushed momentarily and then became serious again. "Alright, time for me to continue what Link started." She drew a card and said "I set a monster in defense mode and set one card face down. That ends my turn."
Zant growled. "Alright, you may have saved yourselves for now, but my dragon is still waiting to destroy you! And you have nothing strong enough to take it down!" Zant then laughed manaically as the duo stared him down.