Clash in the Coliseum Part III

'Your Egyptian God Card is no match for mine, Yugi,' Kaiba declared.

'We'll see about that, Kaiba,' the Pharaoh responded. 'Your Obelisk may be more powerful than my Slifer right now, but that can all change.'

Kaiba laughed. 'Please, Yugi! Once your monster crosses paths with the mighty fist of Obelisk the Tormentor, it's history.'

YGO

The heart monitor beeped rhythmically.

'Don't give up, Joey,' Serenity said. 'We're all right here.'

Tristan suddenly ran in. 'Hey, guys!'

Téa lifted her head. 'Tristan!'

Tristan came to a stop by Joey's bed. 'We finally got through. They're sending a chopper for Joey!'

Serenity stood up, quickly and sweltering relief. 'Thank you so much, Tristan.'

Tristan smiled and leaned over. 'Hey, buddy,' he said to Joey, 'we're talking you to a real hospital now.'

Duke suddenly made a sound of alarm. 'Oh, man.' He pointed. 'Guys, out there!'

Everyone turned and looked.

'Aren't those two of the three Egyptian God Cards?' Tristan asked.

'They are,' Sharee answered.

'And it looks like they're about to brawl,' Duke added. 'Let's just hope Yugi's is stronger.'

'Come on,' Téa murmured.

YGO

Over their heads, the two Egyptian God Monsters roared.

'It's time for me to send Slifer the Sky Dragon to the graveyard, Yugi,' Kaiba said. 'Last I checked, you were only holding two cards, which means Slifer only has 2,000 attack points – half of what Obelisk has. Your so-called Egyptian God Card is powerless against mine.'

The Pharaoh huffed. 'You seem to have overlooked Slifer the Sky Dragon's Special Ability. Now watch, as my Egyptian God Card weakens yours with the incredible power of its second mouth!'

Kaiba ground his teeth.

'Slifer, activate your special ability now!' As the Pharaoh gave the order, Slifer opened his mouth. 'Next time you'll think twice about summoning a monster in Slifer's presence.'

Slifer let the blast fly and it hit Obelisk with full force. Obelisk's attack power dropped to 2,000.

'Now what was that you were saying about your Egyptian God Card being stronger than mine? Take a close look, Kaiba. Our monsters are even now.'

'Too bad your monster's effect is only temporary, Yugi,' Kaiba retorted. 'Once this is over, Obelisk will have all of his power back.'

'Perhaps, but I've still prevented you from attacking me this turn, Kaiba.'

Kaiba ground his teeth and growled. 'Stalling for time is a sign of weakness, Yugi! You're obviously desperate! Now it's my move so stand back!' He took two cards from his hand and he set them on the field. 'I play two cards, both face down! That ends my turn.'

'Very well. It's my move.' The Pharaoh drew. 'Sorry, Kaiba but since I'm now holding three cards, Slifer's attack points now rise up to 3,000.' Just that happened.

Kaiba smirked and chuckled. 'But now that the turn is over, Obelisk regains its full strength.' Obelisk's attack points returned to 4,000. 'So your monster is weaker again.'

'Not quite, Kaiba. Observe my face down card.' The Pharaoh activated the card and it flipped up. 'Pot of Greed!'

The smirk fell from Kaiba's face, in favour of annoyance.

The Pharaoh smirked himself. 'Thanks to the effect of this magic card, I can now draw two more cards from my deck.' He took the cards. 'Slifer's attack points now rise up to 5,000.' Slifer roared as his power grew. 'More than enough to take down your Obelisk, and wipe out half your life points, Kaiba.'

Kaiba growled.

The Pharaoh gave the order. 'Now, my Dragon, attack!' Slifer began to charge up his attack.

'Hold on, Yugi!' Kaiba activated one of his two face-down cards. 'Now I activate Command Silencer!'

The card's effect resonated across the field, echoing out a high-pitched signal.

'What is that?' the Pharaoh demanded, covering his ears.

'My Command Silencer has deafened your Sky Dragon with its extremely powerful shriek,' Kaiba answered. 'And since your monster couldn't hear your command, I'm afraid your attack is cancelled out.' The sound faded out. 'Nice try, Yugi.' The Silencer vanished. 'Next, I get to draw one card from my deck.' He did so. 'Now finish your turn so I can end this.'

The Pharaoh smirked. 'My Egyptian God Card is still more powerful than yours.'

'That may be the case,' Kaiba said. 'But you're forgetting one thing: I have a card face-down on the field.'

He's right, Yugi said. And if that card's what I think it is, it can lower my Slifer's attack points, making it weak enough to destroy. What should I do?

There was only one thing to do.

'Obelisk is losing his patience, Yugi,' Kaiba taunted him. 'So finish your move!'

The Pharaoh narrowed his eyes. 'All right.' He set his cards. 'I place two cards face-down on the field and end my turn.' Slifer's attack points dropped back down to 3,000. 'Now, feel free to attack me, Kaiba.'

Kaiba glared across the field at him.

'What's wrong, Kaiba?' the Pharaoh demanded. 'Are you afraid of my two face-down cards?'

Kaiba ignored him. 'It's my move.' He drew.

'Hold on, Kaiba,' the Pharaoh said. 'I activate my magic card, Card Destruction!' The card in question flipped up. 'Now we must both discard every card in our hand.' He did exactly that. 'But that's not all. Next, we must replenish our hands…' he drew three new cards, '…with the same number of cards.'

Kaiba ground his teeth as he discarded his current hand and took a new hand. 'Fine!' He glared darkly at him.

'Next I'll reveal my trap card, Disgraceful Charity!' The card flipped up on the field in front of him. The card sprite appeared on the field with a screech. Her hands glowed red and both of their duel disks reacted.

'Hm?' Kaiba looked down curiously.

'Kaiba, now we must redraw the cards we just threw out,' the Pharaoh said. He took the cards from his graveyard. 'Giving me a total of six cards in my hand.' Slifer's attack points shot up to 6,000.

'Oh, no!' Kaiba cried out, even as he retrieved his own cards. 'This can't be!'

'I think you know what happens now,' the Pharaoh said. 'My Slifer gained 3,000 points for a total of 6,000.'

'Impressive move, Yugi,' Kaiba said, though he looked like he was sucking a lemon. 'But you'll have to do better than that to defeat me! Because that little stunt you just pulled with your face-down cards helped me out as well. By giving me just the cards I needed to win this duel.'

'Explain!' the Pharaoh snapped.

'Well, thanks to you I was able to draw this magic card.' Kaiba took it from his hand and held it up. He played it. 'Thirst for Compensation! It lets me summon two monsters from my hand directly to the field.' He took the cards and set them on the duel disk. 'Observe!' The two monsters appeared. 'I play Sword of Soul, and Blade Knight.'

'You're wasting your time,' the Pharaoh said. 'Those monsters are too weak to survive. Slifer automatically strikes every monster you summon. Now, Slifer, attack!'

With a roar, Slifer opened his second mouth and let loose a blast.

'I'm afraid that won't work!' Kaiba took a card and slapped it down. 'I activate Card Guard!' The card appeared on the field and flipped up. A shield appeared in front of his two monsters.

'No!' the Pharaoh cried out.

'Yes,' Kaiba said. 'Now I can discard two cards from my hand, which means Card Guard protects them both.' He did just that.

Slifer's blast hit the shield and fizzled out. Then it vanished.

'I'm not impressed,' the Pharaoh said. 'They're still too weak to be useful.'

'That's what you think,' Kaiba said as Obelisk leaned over and took a hold of both monsters. 'Yugi, have you forgotten that Obelisk has a special ability as well? And just as soon as I activate it, you're finished.'

'Just try it!' the Pharaoh snapped.

'Very well,' Kaiba responded. 'But you'll regret those words.' Obelisk began to glow brightly. 'I sacrifice my two monsters to trigger the special ability of my Egyptian God Card!'

The Pharaoh narrowed his eyes.

'Are you aware of what happens now?' Kaiba asked. 'Allow me to explain, you fool. These two sacrifices allow Obelisk to storm the field, dealing 4,000 points of damage to everything in its path!'

Obelisk roared.

'And when I say everything, Yugi,' Kaiba's eyes narrowed, 'that includes your life points! So prepare to be wiped out!'

'This can't be!' the Pharaoh exclaimed.

Kaiba gave the order. 'Obelisk the Tormentor, deplete his life points right now!'

Obelisk roared and struck.

'Hold on!' The Pharaoh put his hand over the duel disk and a barrier appeared around him. 'My wall of Kuriboh's will protect me.'

That was what Obelisk's fist collided with.

'Nothing can stop the wrath of Obelisk!' Kaiba declared as smoke was thrown up. 'Finally…Yugi lost to me!' He chuckled at his perceived victory.

'Oh, really?' the Pharaoh asked as the smoke cleared. He, and Slifer, were still standing.

'Yugi?' Kaiba demanded. 'But how?'

'What's wrong, Kaiba?' the Pharaoh asked. 'Were you expecting me to go somewhere? Don't you know that discarding Kuriboh from my hand protects my life points?' He looked down with a smile. 'Kuriboh…I would have lose this duel without you.' He practically heard Kuriboh's delighted jitter.

'You mock me?' Kaiba demanded, drawing his attention back. 'How dare you defy the might of Obelisk with that puny Kuriboh?! This is not over, Yugi.'

'It will be soon enough,' the Pharaoh responded.

Kaiba ground his teeth and then played a card. 'I place one card face-down on the field and that ends my turn.' The card appeared.

'Very well. My move.' The Pharaoh drew. 'Sorry, Kaiba, but since I've drawn a card, Slifer's attack points increase to 6,000.' Slifer's attack points flew up. 'Slifer, destroy his Obelisk!'

Slifer moved into position to attack, coiling around Obelisk with a roar.

'Now, end this!' the Pharaoh commanded.

'Sorry to disappoint you, Yugi!' Kaiba crowed.

'Huh?'

'You triggered my trap card!' The card in question flipped up. 'Power Balance!'

The card's effect activate and Obelisk broke free. He immediately grabbed Slifer and started pushing him away.

'What's that?' the Pharaoh demanded. 'Kaiba, what's going on?'

'Ha!' Kaiba smirked deeply. 'Thanks to my Power Balance trap, you have to discard half of the cards in your hand.'

'Oh, no!' the Pharaoh exclaimed.

'I'm afraid so,' Kaiba said. 'And since you lose three cards, Slifer's attack points reduce by 3,000. So let's go. I don't have all day. Throw out your three cards!'

The Pharaoh looked down at his hand. 'Very well, Kaiba.' He took the three cards from his hand and discarded them.

'As a secondary effect, I get to draw three cards,' Kaiba said as he took them. 'So it looks like my Obelisk is stronger than your Slifer once again, Yugi!'

Slifer's attack points dropped again.

'Time to return the favour,' Kaiba crowed. 'Now, then, go. Show Yugi some real power!'

'Hold on, Kaiba!' The Pharaoh cut him off. 'Slifer's not going anywhere! I happen to have a magic card that will turn things around. Now I activate my Necromancy card! Observe!' He played the card and it appeared on the field. Slifer's attack strength dropped to 2,000 as the card was used. 'Kaiba, you may want to keep a close eye on your duel disk.'

A light shot out of the card and hit Kaiba's duel disk.

Kaiba cried out in alarm. 'What's this?' Two monsters exploded out of his duel disk. 'Blade Knight?! Sword of Souls?!' Then more and more followed. 'What's going on?! All of my monsters are returning to the field.'

'Necromancy restores four monsters from the graveyard, and they each return to the field in defence mode,' the Pharaoh explained.

'Yugi!' Kaiba snapped. 'Why would you waste your time giving me more monsters to attack you with?'

'I'm glad that you asked, Kaiba,' the Pharaoh responded. 'My card has an unfortunate side effect too.'

Kaiba growled.

'If any of these cards are destroyed, my Necromancy will weaken your remaining beasts – by 600 points, Kaiba!'

Kaiba made a sound of worry as his eyes widened. He knew what was coming.

'And since monsters have been played on your side of the field, my Slifer's special effect has been triggered! Activate Lightning Blast!' Over the Pharaoh's head, Slifer powered up the attack of its second mouth and fired.

The blast hit and Kaiba grunted as he covered his face. When the smoke cleared, he demanded, 'What have you done?'

'Since Slifer destroyed your four new monsters, my Necromancy magic card weakens your one remaining monster. So Obelisk loses 2400 attack points!'

Kaiba glared at him. 'Yugi, I never thought you'd take such a cheap shot at my Egyptian God Card.' Even as he said it, Obelisk's attack points dropped to 1600.

The Pharaoh was only amused at the attempt. 'The tables have turned once again and your monster's strength pales in comparison to mine.' He lifted his head and called out the order. 'Slifer, destroy Obelisk now!'

Slifer began to attack.

'Not quite, Yugi!' Kaiba declared as Obelisk powered up to an attack strength of 2600.

The Pharaoh drew back with a gasp. 'What have you done, Kaiba?'

Kaiba smirked. 'Who, me? It has nothing to do with what I've done. It's what you've done. By using your Egyptian God Card to destroy me Sword of Souls, which allows me to add 1,000 life points to any monster I choose. And I choose my Obelisk!' With that, Kaiba gave his own order. 'Now, Obelisk, destroy his Slifer.' Obelisk roared and attacked. 'It's over! Your Egyptian God Card is ancient history.'

The blast of Obelisk's impact…blew Obelisk backwards.

'What?' Kaiba demanded. 'Your Slifer should have been destroyed!'

'Well, it would have been had I not stopped Obelisk from attacking, Kaiba,' the Pharaoh retorted.

'What?'

'And I have you to thank you for giving me the ability to protect my Egyptian God Card from yours, for that was only possible thanks to a trap card that you played.'

Kaiba stared at him with a blank glare.

The Pharaoh explained. 'When you activated your Power Balance card, I had to place three cards in my graveyard.' He lifted his duel disk and the card slid out. 'Including this.' He took it and held it up. 'Recognise it? It's a useful monster card known as Electromagnetic Turtle, and it has quite a unique special ability. When this monster is sent to the graveyard, it leaves a small electrode attached to one of my monsters – in this case, Slifer.'

From the look on Kaiba's face, he was beginning to get it. 'And it lets you stop our battle before Slifer was unlucky enough to collide with Obelisk.'

'Well, I see you did your homework, Kaiba.' The Pharaoh returned the card to his graveyard and took another from his hand. 'Now, I place this card, face down.' He set the card and Slifer's attack points dropped to 1,000.

Then, of all things, Kaiba began to laugh. He lifted a shaking fist. Then he ground his teeth and glared across the field. The Pharaoh had no idea what was going through his head.

'All right, Yugi! My Move! You ready?' He drew. 'Now, then, you only have one card in your hand. That means Slifer's attack points are 1,000. So let's see you escape now.'

The Pharaoh knew what was coming.

'It's time to show the world that I'm superior to you!' Kaiba gave the order. 'Go, Obelisk! Annihilate his Slifer with your Fist of Fate!'

Obelisk growled.

'Guess again! Reveal the magic card, Spell Textbook!' The card in front of the Pharaoh flipped up. 'Now, I must discard every card in my hand. And, in exchange, I can draw one new card. I can then play the card immediately, but only if I draw a magic card.' He discarded his last remaining card.

Slifer's attack points dropped to 0.

Kaiba sneered. 'Now that Slifer's attack points are zero, you'll lose the duel.' He, again, ordered the attack. 'Obelisk, wipe out his life points!'

Obelisk roared and prepared to attack.

The Pharaoh looked down at his deck. This is it. If I don't draw the card now, I'll lose to Kaiba and be eliminated from the tournament. The Pharaoh shut his eyes. Come on, Joey, guide me! I need your help to save the world.

The Pharaoh drew. And immediately, he turned it. 'I activate this magic card!'

And Kaiba's eyes widened as he saw it. 'What's that?'

'Card of Sanctity! It requires both of us to draw until each one of us is holding six cards!'

The effect of the card came down from the sky and hit the Pharaoh's duel disk.

'Oh, no!' Kaiba cried out. 'That's means his Egyptian God card increases in strength.'

The Pharaoh drew his six cards. 'That's right and now Slifer has 6,000 attack points.' Slifer's attack points flew up. Immediately, Slifer began powering up his own attack. 'You're about to lose this duel, Kaiba.'

'Hold on. I activate my final trap card, Life Shaver!' The card he'd taken from the Pharaoh's hand flipped up. 'It shaves 2,000 attack points off your Egyptian God Card!'

As the Pharaoh was forced to discard two cards.

But that was okay.

It wasn't the end of the world.

It meant that two equally-matched Egyptian God Monsters were simply attacking each other.

…And the effect of that was a powerful, blinding blast that covered the whole field.

But…there was something weird.

What's going on? Yugi wondered.

YGO

In the city, every single screen showing the duel…exploded.

'Those are some powerful Duel Monsters,' Mr. Moto remarked.

'All the more reason to protect them from dishonest duellists,' Dennis agreed. 'Do you want me to call my man now or wait until you know if Yugi's brining home those cards?'

YGO

In the medical ward on the KaibaCorp blimp, everyone stood either around Joey's bed or by the window as the lights shone in. Sharee was the exception. She stood right at the back of the ward with her hand over her closed eyes.

'I don't know what the deal is, but this doesn't look good,' Tristan said.

'Yugi,' Téa worried. 'What could be going on, you guys?'

Tristan and Téa, to their detriment, learned not to stand near bright lights.

'I can't see a thing out there!' Tristan complained.

YGO

Across the blimp, only Ishizu sat calmly.

The true power of Ancient Egypt is beginning to reveal itself. And I fear for us all!

AN: As I put in the summary of this fic, I am NOT accepting art or comic requests for this fic. Think about the implications of me repeatedly having to say it. I am actually seriously considering pulling my fics because of them.