Original Yu-Gi-Oh Series
Parallel
Chapter 055
Originally Written: Monday, April 25, 2022 1100AM to 1139AM
. . . . .
Solomon took every blow Zorc ordered Amane's duel monsters to make. Again and again they slammed into another barrier, or an attack from Solomon. Exodia, the Forbidden One nearly reached the ceiling of the game shop, and threw any Duel Monster Solomon asked him to back outside the shop.
The dark clouds shifted through the store, nearly overtaking the electrical lights that lit up the store. Solomon laughed, glowing in the darkness of the clouds. He knelt behind Yugi and Bakura. Bakura who threw knives that came back to him, and Yugi who sat in the very front with his glowing red eyes and his hands clasped on his lap.
He had nearly permanent eye contact with Zorc, who stood for hours with his arms folded behind his back. If he didn't need to move, he didn't. If Yugi didn't need to move, he didn't. Bakura was as wild as Solomon told him the legendary King of Thieves was, and as silent too.
Zorc goaded him on the start of day four. "You are tired, Solomon."
He was. Yugi had told Zorc this by moving. Yugi switched styles of magic, and stood behind Solomon, his hands pressed against his back. Solomon shook his head. Amane's duel monster force dwindled to no one, but there was a reason Zorc stayed still. He walked up to the glowing barrier within the shop, and pressed it with just a finger. The barrier shattered into shards of glowing black and yellow.
Exodia stepped forward. The Duel Monster raised an arm. Zorc flew back out the store, pushed by a wide beam of light.
"Well, he's done." Bakura shoulders slumped in weariness.
Yugi stared, as did Solomon. Solomon grabbed a bag of easy to chew snacks sitting next to him on the floor. He chewed slowly. "Hm...I'm a bit jealous, Yugi."
"You're telling me." Yugi muttered. "That would have killed me."
"I intended that strike to kill him." Solomon handed Yugi the bag. Yugi took a handful, and handed the bag back.
As the smoke cleared, Zorc stood in the doorway of the game shop. His arms hung by his sides. The entire top of his shirt had been disintegrated by the beam, and the lower half of the trench coat he had been wearing dropped to the floor. His bare chest revealed a multitude of wounds that would have killed ninety-nine percent of the population.
"...That was point blank range." Bakura flipped a knife in the air. "That means he's either a healer or an immortal. But where the fuck would she even find one!?"
"You made the rules a bit too loose, Yugi Moto." Zorc flexed an arm to check for injuries. "But you needed to, for the off chance that someone like myself would appear." He waved his hand in a 'come here' motion. "Seto Kaiba's existence has forced you to widen your contingency plan options."
Bakura threw a knife at him. Zorc caught it, and threw it back to him, with the handle first, so it was facing Bakura.
Yugi stared, thinking. He wondered if Zorc could hear his mind whirling. When he told Solomon his initial plans, Solomon told him that with another item holder, a man like Zorc wouldn't be an issue. However, Yugi hadn't wanted to take the risk. Amane would have guessed that Bakura was with him. She wouldn't have played if she knew that three item holders were in the area against her.
"But more so for the chance that Amane herself would enter." Zorc stepped forward. "Don't waste your time with magic, Yugi Moto. I would rather dance."
Yugi slowly circled around the room, a pair of trench knives on his fists. "I can dance." He ignored the ache in back and shoulders from his Battle City wounds.
Zorc smiled. He smiled as Bakura joined in. He smiled as a Machine King duel monster's attack blew out the back walls of the game shop. As rubble crumbled over Solomon's form, trapping the man. Solomon laughed, muffled by the bricks and mortar. Exodia faded into wisps of glowing smoke. Yugi screamed in rage. Bakura growled. Zorc smiled as he grabbed Bakura's own knife and gutted him.
"You are too slow. Your injuries are healed, but you are seeing the repercussions of them now." Zorc looked at Yugi. His hand gripped Bakura's throat, as the boy struggled. Bakura's hands glowed, pressed against his wound. "He will run out of oxygen first."
Bakura's eyes widened, he stopped focusing on healing himself and grabbed at Zorc's hand and wrist. Zorc motioned to Yugi with his free hand. Come here.
Yugi couldn't think of anyone more annoying than a person who figured out how to cheat in a game. He wiped his tears of frustration and rage. He grinned and his eyes glowed red. He danced.
A/N: I will explain in a chapter or so why the Shadow Game doesn't consider Zorc helping Amane as cheating. Explaining it now, is a bit of a spoiler.