Chapter 12

"And now it's time for the matchups for the Final Eight!" Pegasus declared as the screen appeared again and shuffled the winners into a deck until said hands shuffled then in a fancy style.

The remaining duelists were curious and nervous about who would face whom until the cards were dealt on screen to reveal the next matchups.

Yugi Moto vs Fenris

Maximillion Pegasus vs Issei Hyoudou

Jasmine Pegasus vs Duke Devlin

Sona Sitri vs Vivian Wong.

The group was surprised by their new opponents until Yugi looked at Fenris, who was excited about this and looked right back at Yugi.

"Yugi Moto. I want to duel you, so leave your magic necklace and the Pharaoh out of this duel. I want to duel the real Yugi Moto, not some fake ones, so duel me with Slifer, the Sky Dragon. It won't be fun if you don't use your best cards." Fenris said before he walked away from a shocked Yugi.

Jasmine and Duke Develin were excited about their duel. It would be an interesting battle, as the daughter of the creator of Duel Monsters would battle the Champion of Luck and Fortune.

"I look forward to facing you in the arena."

"Likewise, and I have to hand it to you that your game for Dungeon Dice Monsters was amazing. It was certainly a fun game to play." Jasmine replied to Develin, who showed good sportsmanship during the tournament.

"I hope you're ready to lose, Miss Stick in the Mud," Vivian said, making Sona glare back at her.

"Tch. Just because you're my cousin doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you."

"Likewise. Since I'd be happy to show you just how good my skills are compared to yours, wannabe princess."

"Like you're one to talk since you're just full of hot air while I actually have skills to back up. Are you doing this to fill the hole in you since your father stripped you of your title of heiress when you couldn't use magic?" Sona asked, which made Vivian clench her fist since she was once again reminded why she was always left in the shadows of her cousins.

Serafall Leviathan and Sona Sitri were the proud members of the Sitri Family for many reasons since Serafall Leviathan was infamous for her ice magic and infamous in the Underworld as the Maou Leviathan.

Vivian Wong was a half-blood, part human, part Sitri, with enough magical heritage to feel connected to the Sitri family but not enough to earn a place among them. Her inability to manifest the magic that ran deep in the Sitri bloodline led to her being stripped of any claim to family titles. She was always in the shadow of her cousins—especially Sona, whose mastery and dedication to magic and tactics made her a favorite in both family and society. Vivian had spent her life trying to prove her worth, and even though dueling was not a place to settle family disputes, for Vivian, this match against Sona was personal.

Sona caught the faint glimmer of hurt in Vivian's eyes but steeled herself. "If you're here to prove a point, let your skills speak," she said. "But don't expect me to go easy on you just because we share blood."

As tensions rose between the cousins, Pegasus was enjoying the excitement building in the arena. "It looks like we have some family rivalries in our matchups!" he announced cheerily, oblivious to—or perhaps fully aware of—the tension it created. "Now then, duelists, I hope you're ready for tomorrow, for it shall be a day that will test not just your decks but also your spirit!"

Yugi, watching the matchups unfold, felt the weight of Fenris's challenge. Fenris had all but demanded he set aside the Pharaoh's power and his Millenium Puzzle, seeking a duel with only Yugi's abilities. It was a rare request, one that made Yugi pause.

The Millennium Puzzle was more than just a source of power—it was also a link to his friend and mentor, the Pharaoh. Accepting this duel without it meant facing Fenris on his own, without the protection and guidance that had helped him through so many battles.

But then, Yugi squared his shoulders. Fenris's challenge, however unnerving, also gave him an opportunity to show his strength on his terms. He nodded to himself, resolved to settle in.

"And I can't wait to duel you, Issei-boy. You've grown so much from the last time I saw you in the circuit." Pegasus said, which made Issei blush in embarrassment before thanking Pegasus.

"Thank you, sir, but I do want to ask a question about a certain God card," Issei said before Pegasus gestured for him to continue. "Do you want me to use it in our battle since I feel like it would be terribly unfair to you since you do not have an Egyptian God card in your deck?"

Pegasus smiled at the boy and patted his back.

"I thank you for asking. Granted, I don't have a card in my Toon Deck to counter Obelisk, but I still wouldn't mind facing an Egyptian God in a duel. However, I will leave it to you. Either way, I look forward to seeing what you can do and what Deck you choose tomorrow." Pegasus said, with Issei thanking him before leaving the room. He then headed to his room to rest up and think of his strategy, as did many of the others in their rooms for tomorrow's duel to defeat their opponents.

"If I'm facing Slifer the Sky Dragon, then I think it's time for a reunion of a friendly rivalry. Isn't that right, Fenrir?" Fenris asked as he saw the spirit of the Son of Loki appear and growl in anticipation to face the Sky Dragon once again after it was sealed away for who knows how long until Fenris found their decks and became the Champion of the Norse Faction.

Fenrir and Slifer had a rivalry akin to the ancient clashes between gods and mythical creatures of different pantheons.

Long ago, during a time of legends, the Norse beast and the Egyptian dragon had crossed paths in battle, each seeking to prove their supremacy.

Slifer's lightning-charged serpentine might be met with the ferocity of Fenrir, the monstrous wolf who said to one day bring about Ragnarok. Yet their conflict had been left unresolved; the two separated before one could emerge as the ultimate victor.

Now, as Fenris felt the spirit of Fenrir rise beside him, he knew this duel would give both the creature and himself a chance to finish what had begun ages ago.

Fenris clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the ancient rivalry as well as his desire to show his strength against Yugi and the might of Slifer. The massive wolf spoke to Fenrir in a low voice.

[We're stronger than we were before, and this time, we'll show Slifer and Yugi the power of the Norse.]

Fenrir's growl resonated through the room as if affirming his partner's words, his spectral form flickering with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

"Indeed we shall Fenrir. Now let's take down a God." Fenris said in excitement.

Yugi Moto's Room

Meanwhile, in his room, Yugi sat on the edge of his bed, deep in thought. He looked down at the Millennium Puzzle, running his fingers over its intricate carvings. It felt strange to consider dueling without the Pharaoh by his side, yet he understood that Fenris's challenge was about facing him as an individual, not as the vessel for an ancient spirit. Yugi took a steadying breath and resolved to rely on his skills and his trust in Slifer for this duel.

"Pharaoh," he murmured, "I hope you understand. This is something I need to do on my own."

He felt a faint warmth from the Puzzle as if the Pharaoh himself were offering silent encouragement. It gave Yugi the strength he needed to face the duel, knowing that the Pharaoh trusted him to handle this challenge independently.

However, the Pharaoh still hasn't told Yugi that his power and magic were the only reasons he won against Weevil in the contest.

This made Slifer growl at the former leader of the Egyptian Faction but let it go because the Sky Dragon was ecstatic about tomorrow's battle with its rival.

The other duelists, too, were preparing in their ways. Jasmine and Duke Devlin were polishing their decks, exchanging strategies in their minds as they looked forward to a friendly but fiercely competitive match. Duke, known for his skill and charisma, was intrigued by the chance to face Pegasus's daughter—a formidable duelist in her own right who shared her father's inventive genius.

Sona, meanwhile, was meditating, her mind focused on the strategy she would use against Vivian. She felt the weight of her family's expectations on her shoulders and, perhaps, a small tinge of pity for Vivian's struggles. But she pushed these thoughts aside, reminding herself that pity had no place in the duel arena. This was a test of skill, and Sona was determined to win.

Vivian, in contrast, was pacing back and forth in her room, clenching and unclenching her fists. Her duel with Sona was about more than just victory; it was a chance to prove herself to her family, to show that she had the skills to stand among them, even if she lacked their magical heritage. She would not let Sona belittle her, nor would she let her own insecurities hold her back.

Issei, on the other hand, looked over his Deck and then at the Obelisk before sighing at his decision.

"I know what I have to do," Issei said, pulling out his chosen Deck and smiling at his ace monster of said Deck.

"Let's do this, partner."

The Next Day.

As dawn broke, each duelist was ready, their minds sharpened, and their spirits steeled for the challenges ahead.

Pegasus took to the stage once more, his usual playful grin in place. "Ladies and gentlemen, duelists and fans alike, welcome to the quarterfinals of our tournament! Today, we'll see legends clash, family faces, and family and rivals meet head-on! Without further ado, let's begin!"

With a sweep of his arm, he gestured to the first arena. "For our opening duel, we have Yugi Moto facing Fenris! May both duelists bring their very best!"

Yugi stepped forward, the weight of his decision clear in his expression as he locked eyes with Fenris. Fenris smirked, the excitement burning in his eyes as he felt Fenrir's energy alongside him.

"Ready, Yugi?" Fenris called, his voice ringing across the arena. "Let's see if the legends about you hold."

Yugi nodded, his gaze steady. "I'll give it everything I have."

Pegasus smiled at this sportsmanship before explaining the rules.

"Both opponents will have 8000 life points, and the one who shall go first will be Fenris. Is that okay, gentlemen?" Pegasus asked before they replied.

"Fine by me."

"I accept Pegasus."

Fenris and Yugi Moto said in response before Pegasus left as the two drew their first five cards and narrowed their eyes at each other.

"Let's duel!"

Fenris and Yugi shouted before Fenris went first as he drew his sixth card.

"I draw and summon my Blaze Wold in attack mode," Fenris said as a world made of fire appeared and growled at Yugi.

Blaze Wolf

Type: Beast/Effect

Level: 4

ATK: 1600

DEF: 1300

Once per turn, when this card attacks, it gains 500 ATK until the end of this turn.

When this card destroys an opponent's monster, it can deal a hundred points of damage to the opponent times the destroyed monster's level.

"Then I activate the Continuous Spell: Call of the Pack, and this card is going to make things worse for you," Fenris said as he played the spell, which turned into a full moon, making Blaze Wold howl in the air.

"Thanks to my spell, whenever a Wolf monster is called to play, I can summon another Wolf from my deck to the field," Fenris said while looking through his Deck before summoning Frost Wolf, which was basically a wolf made of ice and snow in defense mode.

Frost Wolf

Type: Beast/Effect

Level: 4

ATK: 1200

DEF: 1500

Once per turn, when this card attacks an opponent monster, that monster loses a hundred attack points times their level.

When this monster is destroyed, it destroys the monster that destroyed it and negates any battle damage until the end of the turn in which this card was destroyed.

"Unfortunately, this continuous spell only works once per turn, so I'll just put two cards facedown and end my turn," Fenris said, which made Yugi sigh in relief at the condition of the spell card while drawing his sixth card and looking at his hand.

'I can use my king knight to summon Jack's Knight after I summon my queen knight to the field. I'll have to keep him on the defense for now.' Yugi said in his mind before making his move.

"First, I summon my Queens Knight to the field!" Yugi said, summoning the female knight before continuing his turn. "Then, I'll equip her with Royal Shield!"

Royal Shield

Equip Spell

Equip this card only to a Warrior or Beast-Warrior Monster. The equipped monster is then safe from spells, traps, and monster effects. Also, the total attack/defense is the combined stats of the monster it is equipped with.

Queen Knight's shield glowed as her power rose to even greater heights.

Queens Knight

ATK: 1500 plus 1600=3100

Fenris smiled as he saw this powerful knight while fanning himself with his remaining cards.

"Ooh! That's scary. Too bad that won't work, thanks to my trap card, Threatening Roar, which prevents you from entering the Battle Phase." Fenris said as a massive battle horn was blown toward Yugi's side. The horn made Queen sheathe her sword, which annoyed Yugi.

"In that case, I'll put one card facedown and end my turn," Yugi said before looking at his remaining hand.

'Thanks to Scapegoat, I'll still be able to summon Slifer and have an even stronger monster fighting alongside him.' Yugi said while looking at his three remaining cards: Kings Knight, Polymerization, and Slifer the Sky Dragon.

Fenris could tell something was up with Yugi, so he decided to have some fun with Yugi at his expense.

"I draw, and then I'll play Divine Seeking!" Fenris said before explaining the effects. "If my opponent has a Divine card in their hand, then I can summon Divine cards of my own that's the same level or lower as the revealed monster," Fenris said, shocking Yugi as he revealed Slifer in his hand.

"I see. So that's why you were confident and didn't care about the failed attack." Fenris said before continuing his turn. "And since Slifer is a level ten monster, that means I can look for monsters whose level adds up to ten or come close to it."

Fenris smiled while looking through his Deck before taking one out and summoning it.

"Come on out, Hati!" Fenris said as a loud howl was heard before a massive wolf emerged who seemed to have a more like tattoo on its forehead.

Hati, the Moon's Shadow

Type: Beast/Effect

Level: 8

ATK: 2000

DEF: 2400

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can target one face-up spell or trap card your opponent controls, negate its effects, and destroy it.

If this card is used as XYZ material for "Fenrir, the Unchained Alpha," that monster becomes immune to the effects of spells, traps, and monster effects controlled by your opponent.

"Allow me to introduce Hati, one of the sons of Fenrir, but he won't be alone since I'll activate his ability and destroy your little shield card," Fenris said as Yugi's Royal Shield was destroyed, making Queens Knights' attack points fall to nothing. This made Yugi bite his tongue until Hati continued his turn.

"I'll also use my Continuous Spell to summon another wolf, so come on out, Skoll!" Fenris said as the second son of Fenrir appeared and howled into the air.

Skoll, the Sun's Pursuer

Type: Beast/Effect

Level: 8

ATK: 2400

DEF: 2000

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can target one other "Wolf" monster you control; that monster gains double ATK and DEF until the end of the next turn. If this card is used as XYZ material for "Fenrir, the Unchained Alpha," that monster gains double ATK and DEF permanently.

"And now, I'll have Frost Wolf's defense double, thanks to Skoll. Then, since I haven't Normal Summoned yet, I'll still bring out my Lightning Wolf." Fenris slapped the wolf onto the field, who appeared in a thunderbolt and howled.

Storm Wolf, the Gale Conqueror

Type: Beast/Effect

Level: 4

ATK: 1300

DEF: 1300

When this card is Summoned, the opponent discards 1 card. Also, if this card is used as Fusion material, each opposing player loses Life Points equal to the number of cards they currently hold in hand times 200.

"And now I'll have Blaze Wolf attack first. Thanks to his ability, he gains five hundred attack points, making him stronger than your knight, so say goodbye to your Queen's Knight!" Fenris declared as Blaze Wolf howled and bit Queen's Knight's arm, shattering her into pixels and making Yugi wince as his life points fell.

Yugi Moto:8000-400=7600

"I activated Scapegoat, and thanks to this spell, I have four tokens, so I'm safe from your attacks since you only have three more," Yugi said, bracing himself for the attack until Fenris smiled as he skipped the rest of the battle and moved to his second Main Phase.

"You really think I want this to end so soon? I want you to see the difference between us since I don't know what this deal with the 'Heart of the Cards' is, but sadly, it won't help you since you are nothing without Pharaoh. Now let me show you since I'm overlaying my Level 8 Skoll and Hati!" Fenris declared as the two large wolves showed until they became balls of light and entered the sky.

"The Time of Ragnarok shall begin. Let the world know the God-Slayer has returned from slumber and is now ready to hunt down the gods and strike enemies down to their eternity doom! COME FORTH, MY FAITHFUL COMPANION! FENRIR!" Fenris shouted as the field started shaking uncontrollably with sounds of storms heard as a dark giant portal appeared behind the smirking Norse Duelist.

AWOOOO!

The sound of echoing howling of a wolf came within the portal, causing everyone to shiver up to their spine and gasp loudly as a giant black-furred wolf at a size almost thirty feet tall came out with red wicked crimson eyes and snarling in bloodlust down at very pale-skinned Yugi Moto.

Fenrir, the Unchained Alpha

Type: Beast-Warrior/XYZ/Effect

Rank: 8

2 Level 8 monsters

ATK: 2800

DEF: 2200

Once per turn, you can detach one material from this card, then target one face-up monster your opponent controls and destroy it. If this card is destroyed, you can Special Summon 1 "Fenrir Prowler" from your Deck.

"But he won't be alone since I activate his sons' abilities, which double his attack and defense points permanently and make him immune to spells, traps, and monster effects from the opponent's side," Fenris said as Fenrir howled, his power rose, and his sons joined him.

Fenrir, the Unchained Alpha

ATK: 2800*2=5600

DEF: 2200*2=4400

"And now I play Polymerization and fuse my Blaze Wolf and Storm Wolf to bring out my Infernal Storm Wolf!" Fenris declared as a massive wolf made of dire, and lightning appeared and growled at Yugi's Scapegoats.

Infernal Storm Wolf

Type: Beast/Fusion/Effect

Level: 7

ATK: 2700

DEF: 1900

"Blaze Wolf, the Inferno Hunter" "Storm Wolf, the Gale Conqueror"

per turn, you can destroy one monster on the field. If you do, this card can attack twice during the Battle Phase this turn.

This card inflicts battle damage to your opponent; your opponent discards 1 card.

"And now I'll use his ability to destroy one of your Scapegoats, but sadly, I skipped the rest of the Battle Phase, so now it's time to play Pot of Greed. It lets me draw two cards." Fenris said as he drew and smiled at his two new cards.

"I'll place two cards facedown and end my turn," Fenris said, making Yugi grit his teeth before drawing his fifth card.

"I'll sacrifice three of my tokens to bring out Slifer the Sky Dragon!" Yugi shouted as three goats were sacrificed in a massive thunderstorm above Yugi until the massive Egyptian God appeared, making Fenris smile.

"Thank you. Now I can play my Trap Fenrir's Chains!" Fenris said that the trap activated, causing chains to fly out and wrap around Slifer's mouth and body.

Fenrir's Chains

Equip Continuous Trap

When a Divine Monster is Summoned: Negate its effects, and if you do, choose one if it has multiple. If this card leaves the field, then the equipped monster is destroyed.

"Normally, when an Egyptian God card is summoned, it prevents all of my spells, traps, and monster effects from activating, but thanks to Fenrir's Chains, I can negate that effect. Sure, it can use its other abilities, but it's a good price to pay." Fenris said in excitement as Slifer's power rose to four thousand thanks to Yugi having four cards in hand.

Slifer the Sky Dragon

ATK: 4000

"I'll then play my Pot of Greed to add two more cards to my hand," Yugi said before looking at his hand and gasping, seeing the cards he needed. "And this will end you since I play Monster Reborn and summon my Queens Knight from the Graveyard and then use Polymerization to fuse my Jack and Kings Knight in my hand to fusion summon Arcana Knight Joker!"

Yugi declared that the massive warrior had appeared before Fenris laughed at him.

"I figured you'd do something like this, so not only did you weaken Slifer, but you also walked into my other trap!" Fenris said as he played his second trap.

"Say hello to my Bottomless Trap Hole, which means your Arcane Knight Joker goes bye-bye!" Fenris said as the Arcana Knight Joker was destroyed, which shocked Yugi.

"B-But the Heart of the Cards gave them to me, so I-"

"You thought wrong since not only did you waste your summon, but you also let your God Card get weak, so now Slifer is only at a thousand attack points. Heart of the Cards isn't real since this game requires some actual strategy, and since you have only one card in hand, I'll play my last facedown card, the trap known as Storm Reckoning! And by banishing Storm Wolf in my graveyard, I can force you to discard one card in hand." Fenris said as Yugi discarded his final card in hand, making Slifer weaker than a Skull Servant, and ended his turn.

"And now it's time to end this," Fenris said before smiling at the card in hand. And now, Fenrir! Attack Slifer the Sky Dragon and end him!"

Fenrir howled as he leaped at Slifer and sank his claws into the mighty Egyptian God, shattering it into pieces as its power dwindled to nothing. Yugi stumbled back in disbelief, his ace monster defeated by Fenris' relentless strategy.

Yugi Moto: 7600-5600=2000

"And now, with Slifer out of the way, it's time to finish you off!" Fenris declared, drawing his final card. "Infernal Storm Wolf, direct attack!" The beast charged forward, its fiery and gale-force energies merging into a devastating strike aimed directly at Yugi.

Yugi fell to one knee, his Life Points dropping to zero. Fenris stood tall, his arms crossed, a victorious smirk on his face.

"You relied too much on luck and not enough on planning, Yugi," Fenris said. "The Heart of the Cards may inspire you, but it won't always save you from a well-executed strategy."

Yugi looked up at Fenris, a determined expression crossing his face despite the loss. "You've bested me this time, Fenris, but the Heart of the Cards isn't just about luck. It's about trusting your Deck and the bond between duelist and monster. I'll remember this duel, and next time, I'll come back stronger."

"Whatever floats your boat, but know that the Heart of the Cards won't save you. If you'd actually recalled I had my facedown cards, then you would've been able to counter them and saved Slifer instead, possibly." Fenris said, shocking Yugi before Fenris began to walk away.

"Oh, and just know that Fenrir counts this as a win even though his duelist needs to build a better deck to suit him, so consider this a best two out of three since Fenrir wants to challenge you again when you build a better deck," Fenris said before waving at Yugi, who was shocked but then thanked him.

The crowd roared with excitement as the duel ended, and the two duelists locked eyes, a newfound respect forming between them. For Fenris, it wasn't just about victory—it was about proving that strategy and preparation could stand toe-to-toe with even the most legendary monsters.

"What an excellent and astounding duel, so let's see who shall join the Norse God user in the Final Four?" Pegasus said as the next match was being selected, and it landed on...

Scene!

It's time to see what you, the readers, think since the Final Four is almost here. Who will duel next for a spot there?

Place your vote in the reviews.

Ta-Ta!~