A Light In The Darkness...
7
The crowd had gathered at the randevouz point...chatter had begun to scatter around about all the famous names who had made it to the Island.
Weevil Underwood...
Rex Raptor...
Mako Tsunami...
Mai Valentine...
And to Shizuka's surprise she had heard a familiar name in the crowd.
"Yugi Muto?" she blinked curiously, "From school? He's here?" she had turned to Bakura curiously.
"Wait, really?" he blinked, "Well...I had heard he had beat Seto Kaiba but..."
"Seto Kaiba...isn't he in our class too?" she asked, "He has that fancy company he runs as well. doesn't he?"
"Yeah." Bakura nodded, "But...did you say that Yugi was here?"
"Well I don't see him, but-"
The chatter had all come to a grinding halt when the guar started to speak once again.
"ATTENTION!" he called to the crowd, "Please gather around...your benevolent host is Anxious to greet you all!"
Up on the balcomy...high on the podium stood an almost regal man...long silver hair draped down over half of his face, dressed sharply in a red suit and addressing the crowd.
"Greetings Duelists! I...am Maximillion Pegasus!"
Shizuka's eyes went wide.
"Wow...it's the man himself, the one you said who invented this game right?"
"Mmhm." Bakura nodded, shifting his attention from his female companion back to the man above them, with a growing tension sort of look.
It had Shizuka curious...but she didn't bother to ask.
She still didn't know Bakura all that well yet...and didn't want to prod too much into any private matters he may have...
"It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome you all to the Duelist Kingdom." he said "You stand before me, the world's greatest Duelists- but come Tournament's end...only One shall be crowned King Of Games."
Shizuka gulped.
The world's greatest Duelists...
Shizuka thought to herself.
I'm just a Beginner if I even classify as that...
She sighed eyes looking down.
Could I possibly have a chance at all in a tournament like this...?
"I implore you all to assemble your dueling decks with care...with creativity...and with cunning." he stated, "For this competition will test your skills like never before" he declared, "To track your progress you have each been giving a dueling glove...you've also been given two precious star chips."
Yeah...except I have no dueling glove- and only one star chip-
She gulped glancing over at Bakura who had the other.
"You must wager these star chips on each duel you compete in. To advance to the final level of competition for a chance at the 3 million dollar prize- you must win 10 star chips!" he said with a grin, "Ten Starchips will admit you into my castle, where you will face me in one final duel!"
I see...
Shizuka thought to herself as she glanced down to the single star chip Bakura had loaned her.
So in order to win...one must defeat the Game Inventor himself...
"This will be a tournament unlike anything you have ever experienced." he stated, "State of the art Dueling Arenas cover thid entire island... and intrigueing new dueling rules will be in effect." he stated.
Wait...new rules?
Shizuka gulped.
She had gone through a lot of trouble to learn the original ones...
I wonder what kind of new rules he's talking about...
"I could tell you what these new rules are...but what fun would that be?"
Great...thanks a lot Pegasus...
"You'll discover them as you compete- or you won't last very long..."
Well THAT certainly wasn't very encouraging either...
"Remember- play boldly- think strategically- and Duel mercilessly!" he grinned, "You have one full hour to prepare...both your cards- and yourselves." he stated, "When the skies light up with fireworks...the duels will begin!"
The crowd started cheering as that speech came to an end, and Maximillion Pegasus walked away...
The Duelists have arrived...
he thought to himself.
Yugi has taken the bait...and the games are about to begin.
He grinned.
...Everything goes according to plan...
"So for a shot at the prize money...I've got to win my way into that castle..." Shizuka said softly as she and Bakura wandered around the island.
"That's right." he said top her, "No one said it would be easy..."
"I knew that much." Shizuka stated, "But I didn't expect my first tournament ever to be so advanced..." she sighed, "I'm not sure if I will even have a shot to win this thing." she admitted, "Maybe it would be best if you take your starchip back, Bakura-kun."
"Nonsense, - you've come so far already." he stated, "Besides, I doubt that I am any stronger than you are-"
"But you still have more experience than I do." she stated.
"The only way to gain experience is by trying." he stated back, "So you should keep it." he smiled, "Tobi needs that money...it would be best if you were the one to try for it..."
"Bakura-kun..." she sighed softly and smiled, "...Thank you."
"You're welcome." he nodded, "We will just steer clear of the more experienced duelists for now." he said softly, "That way, it will only be a matter of working our way up."
"Your right." said Shizuka, "And with Tobi's health on the line...I don't have any room for mistakes."
Bakura smiled warmly and gave a soft gasp, glancing upward as the sky began to fill with clouds of color.
"The fireworks!" he pointed out.
"It's starting..." said Shizuka.
"So it is..." he smiled, "Come on, " he said to her offering his hand, "Let's do our best!"
To Be Continued...