So sorry for this being later than usual. Life kept delaying me, and I wanted to try to get it right.
Now… Who's ready for some nightmares? Not Yuzu's group! Still, should be fun!
Yugioh: The Hope of Six
Chapter 19: Kaiba Arc – Part 9
Vivian's mood improved when she saw Yuzu and her group collapse in the rectangular room. "Hehe. Looks like it's nap time for everyone." Noah shared her glee.
"Yes, but no pleasant dreams for them. The compound they've just been injected with forces it's victims to experience what they fear most, manifested as nightmares. It was an old favorite of one my father's methods for the Death-T project, for interrogation purposes. The one downside was that the hallucinogen caused the infected person's heart rate to race beyond the human body's limitations. No one who was given it survived, which was one of the reasons the project got shut down. Unless they can be woken up soon, everyone in that maze will die."
"So you're saying that their own bad dreams can kill them?" Vivian asked.
"Yes. Of course, the dream itself is a factor into how long the process takes… but regardless, it is always fatal in the end." At this, Vivian smiled further.
"Sounds like we will finally some casualties. I for one want that Yuzu brat to die for calling me "sick"." She said with disdain. Noah glanced at her.
"Oh, she'll die. They all will if they don't regain consciousness." He assured her. Vivian eyed Yuzu while she was having her bad dream. She definitely seemed to be in a very bad place judging by her facial reactions.
"So she could kick the bucket before she can even reach her old man, eh? How tragic, but not nearly enough to get sympathy from me."
Noah chuckled. "You really hate her, don't you?" He questioned. Vivian snorted.
"Course I do! She insulted me!" She exclaimed while crossing her arms. "You said we could see inside their heads because of some kind of mini camera?" She inquired a second later. Noah nodded.
"The darts that injected the hallucinogen connect to the part of the brain that creates dreams in a person's subconsciousness. Upon contact, they transmit signals from their minds to our monitors. In a moment, we shall see what they fear more than anything." He then brought up five additional monitors alongside the first. Each one showed a different person's dreams… all except one.
The center right monitor, the one that was supposed to show Yuzu Hiragi's nightmare, didn't. All it showed was a bright pink background. Nothing else. "What's up with this one? Why can't we see inside Yuzu's little head?" Vivian complained. Noah narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"I'm not sure. Her transmitter seems to be functioning, but no images are coming back. Still, she appears to be suffering like the others. I suppose we'll just have to settle for four out of five."
Vivian groaned in disappointment, but at least she took comfort in the knowledge that the pink haired teen was having a dream she could potentially die from. With that thought, she watched alongside Noah the other nightmares being broadcasted to them…
/\/\/\/\/\/\
When she opened her eyes again, Mai found herself in a very familiar place. It was a place she never wanted to be in again. It was an ancient temple filled with stone carvings of people. The temple was dark, so she couldn't quite see the faces of those carvings. "This place. Why… Why am I back here?!" She nearly shouted in a panic.
"It is because you chose to be here… due to your sins." Mai quickly turned around to see a man all to familiar to her. His face had one yellow eye, one green eye and long light blue hair. He also wore light colored robes. She just about jumped out of her skin when she recognized him.
"Dartz?! But you can't be here!" Dartz smiled at the woman.
"Oh? Why can't I be, my child?" He asked politely. Mai sneered.
"I heard you took a trip to the afterlife after Yugi and the others stopped you!" Her former boss sighed.
"Not even death can rid you of me, Mai. After all, I was the one that gave you the power to be strong again. You should be welcoming me back with open arms." He then opened his arms wide in a very welcoming gesture. Mai didn't feel more of the opposite.
"That power cost me my friends!" She shouted in anger. Dartz was unperturbed by her reaction.
"The same friends that abandoned you during the lowest point of your life?" Mai tried not to recall how she felt after Battle City… after Marik. That was in the past now, just like Dartz was.
"Wrong! They never gave up on me, especially Joey! He saved me from you!" Dartz smirked.
"Of course… right before he left you again."
"What are you talking about?" She asked wearily. Dartz walked around and placed a hand on one of the stone carvings.
"The guilt you felt from your betrayal… it was too much for anyone to help you bear. You couldn't bring yourself to let your so called "friends" comfort you. No matter what they did or said, all you have done was push them away. And so they left, one by one. Joey was the first one to abandon you." The young woman shook her head, not wanting to believe any of it.
"Y-You're wrong. He's forgiven me." Mai said in a defensive way. Dartz turned back to her, still smiling.
"Abandonment comes in many forms, does it not?" He questioned before pointing at the stone in front of him. Suddenly, torches lit up around the temple, allowing Mai to see the carvings more clearly. She gasped in horror when she saw the full image before Dartz. It was Joey, who appeared to have been hit by an incoming car.
"Joey?! No! What the hell have you done?!" She yelled at the man before her.
"I have done nothing, child. It was you, and you alone. After the whole Noah debacle, you told your so called "friends" that they had no right to call you one of their own. You told them to forget about you and move on. Joey tried to persuade you otherwise. There was a heated argument between you about forgiving yourself. Things got a little out of hand. You pushed Joey in anger. Unfortunately for him, he ended up being pushed out into the middle of the road. And then…." Dartz gestured at the craving again. "He was gone." Mai appeared gravely shaken upon realizing what he was saying. Tears started to swell.
"No. I wouldn't… I couldn't! I don't remember any of that!" She murmured. Dartz interrupted, his smile now more pronounced.
"Oh, but you did. You don't remember due to how traumatized you were from that little "accident". After that, the others all left you, even your so called "love", Valon. And do you know why? It was because of your inability to forgive yourself for your mistakes. And now… you truly can't forgive yourself, can you?" Mai fell to her knees in sadness and shame.
"No…"
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Valon was so confused. One moment he was in a trap filled maze Mai and their friends. The next, he was back in one of the detention centers he grew up in. It was an seemingly empty room. "What is this, some freaky trip down memory lane?"
"Not really." Valon turned to the source of the voice, and was relieved it was his girlfriend.
"Mai! What's going on? Where are Yuzu and the others?" Strangely, Mai gave him a cold stare.
"Never mind them. We need to talk." Her tone was not a pleasant one.
"About what?" Valon asked, not seeing where this was going.
"Your stupid need to fight others. It's honestly a very big turn off for me." Valon was stunned by this.
"What do you mean "turn off"? I've always been a fighter and you've accepted that part about me. Where is all this coming from?" Mai glared at him while gesturing the area around them.
"Your problem is that you never know when to stop. This place is just one of the reminders of who you really are. One day you'll get into a fight you're not going to walk away from alive. To tell the truth, I don't plan to be waiting around for that day. I shouldn't be with someone who enjoys fighting for the sake of it." Valon is eyes widened with shock.
"Mai… not everyone's perfect. Hell, I sure ain't. But that doesn't mean we can't work past it. You gave me a chance…" he went on before Mai interrupted.
"Which was a mistake. I'm not interested in a reckless punk like you. Bottom line, Valon… you're just not good enough for me."
Valon couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Not good enough" were words he always dreaded to hear from Mai. He truly believed he earned Mai's respect, as well as her love. Now he was fearing he didn't earn anything after all.
"Mai… come on. You don't really mean that, right? Surely, you can't be serious about this?" Mai snorted.
"Do I look like I'm kidding around? You've never fit my standards, and you never will." With that, she turned and proceeded to walk away, through the door leading out.
"Mai! Wait! Where are you going?!" Mai didn't reply as she slammed the door behind her. Valon rushed after her at once. When he burst through the door, he was struck hard across the face by a powerful fist. The unexpected blow caused him to fall to the floor. "Damn, that hurt!" He said while rubbing his jaw.
"It should. You deserve it." The new voice sounded familiar. Valon looked up to see an old friend. A certain well muscled young man he used to work with.
"Raphael?! What the hell are you doing here?!" Valon asked, more stumped than ever as he got up again. "Where's Mai?" Raphael punched him again, this time in the gut. Valon gasped for air and nearly fell down once more.
"Don't speak her name again. You aren't worthy of a woman like her. You never were." The anger and disgust in Raphael's voice was stunning. The two of them always got along with in the past. Why would that change?
As Valon struggled to breathe, he finally saw Mai. She stood several feet away and her back was to him. "You heard him, Valon. It's over for us. Raphael is a man who's learned to know when to not fight when he doesn't have too. He is much better for me than a hotheaded loser like you. Goodbye Valon… and good riddance." Mai declared as started walking away.
Valon didn't have any clue what was going on. Mai and Raphael? When had that been a thing? Mai couldn't have meant any of those words she said. She just couldn't have. He started to feel desperate.
"Please. Stop. Don't go." Valon begged. He was barely able to speak. Raphael threw another fist at Valon. This time he just managed to dodge at the last second. He was about to retaliate when Raphael slammed his shoulder into him, ramming him against a wall. That knocked the wind out of him again.
"It didn't have to be this way, Valon. But I have no choice." Raphael said right before he he shoved Valon to the floor. After that, he went to kick him in the stomach.
Valon couldn't take it. Mai walking away, telling him he wasn't good enough for her. Those were the things he never wanted to occur. Now Raphael of all people was beating the crap out of him? For her sake? Like, what the hell he thought to himself. Mai's words had hurt him, and they especially hurt because he was afraid of what she thought of him…
Still, Valon didn't have time to ponder. He managed to roll away before Raphael could kick him again. Well, he sure as hell wasn't going to take it lying down. He breathe deeply as he got up again. Valon held up his fists and got into a shaky fighting stance.
"Alright, old pal. You want a fight? I'll give you one!" He yelled as he threw a punch at Raphael's face.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Miho had no idea how she came to be on the roof of Domino High. Yet, she was there. The sun was starting to set. This was odd, remembering that the sun should have set long before now since entering the Death-T Tower. She also saw no one else around. This made her curious and worried. "Yuzu? Mai? Anyone here?" She called out. No response. "What's happened to everyone?"
"They ain't here." Miho turned behind her and gasped when she saw Joey standing a few feet away. He wasn't looking at her, instead staring off at the distance.
"Joey?! I thought you were with Yugi and the others? Where are they? Are they okay?" Joey turned back to her, and Miho was surprised to see him giving her a not so friendly look.
"I got nothing to say to a hopeless fan girl like you." This stunned Miho.
"W-What?" She had to have misheard him. It wasn't like Joey to say something mean to her. Joey snarled at the girl.
"You heard me, Miho. Maybe you're as deaf as you are dumb." Miho shook her head, not believing what she was hearing.
"Joey, whats gotten into you? You've never said things like that before. You've always been nice and friendly to me..."
"That was before I learned you were the kind of girl I don't want to be with. You're chasing a fantasy that will never become reality. You really thought I'd ever hook up with you? I ain't that dumb. You've been nothing more than a waste of my time. My life would be so much better without you in it." Miho felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. She shut her eyes from the pain she experienced.
"How could you? How could you say something so… cruel?" Miho accused, a tear in her closed eye. Joey sneered.
"Go cry me a river." He said harshly. She couldn't take anymore. Miho covered her face with her hands, turned her back to him and ran to the other end of the roof, weeping the whole time.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Bakura was so bewildered. He recalled blacking out with the others in the maze. Now he was here… alone. He didn't like it one bit. "This place… I think I've been here before." He said to himself as he observed his new location. He seemed to be in a church. This particular church, however, seemed oddly familiar. "Where…?" He stopped when he heard an evil chuckle behind him.
"Of course you've been here before. We both have. The last time we were here was when I took control of your body and began my endgame for this world." Bakura stood stock still. He knew all too well who that voice belonged too, and he also knew there was no way he could be here. "Go on. Turn around and see your oldest friend." In what felt like a moment dragging by in eternity, the scared teen turned around and saw the one person he believed he would never see again.
"No… not you. You should be… gone." Bakura said in a very frightened tone. He was face to face with the ancient spirit that once resided in his Millennium Ring… a spirit that looked like an evil version of Bakura himself. He wore the same clothes the real Bakura did, except he wore a dark coat over them. He was once known as Bandit Thief Bakura in Ancient Egypt 5000 years ago. That same man caused the events that culminated in both his spirit and Pharaoh Atem's spirit to be sealed in two of the seven Millennium Items. Yami Bakura laughed.
"Yes, it is I! Back from the deepest depths of the Shadow Realm! Your worst nightmare reborn!" He proclaimed with pride. Bakura wanted to turn and run, but he somehow couldn't move his legs.
"But how?! How are you back?! You were destroyed!" Yami Bakura held up the Millennium Ring around his neck.
"Did you forget, Bakura? Your father gave you this very item, the moment where you became my unwilling vessel. Our connection was stronger than you ever imagined. The tiniest fragment of my soul still clung to you after the rest of me left for the Memory World. Since then, I have waited for the day I would reawaken. That time has come at last!" Bakura shook his head in denial. Sweat started to run down his face.
"No… you're lying!" He yelled in terror. His dark counterpart smiled widely.
"Oh, it gets better. Unlike before, where I simply possessed your body and locked your soul away, I intend to erase you completely! At this very moment, the dark nature of my soul is eating away yours like locusts feeding on blades of grass. Before long, you will become the very thing you fear the most: ME!" Yami Bakura laughed again at the horrified look on his good counterpart's face.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Noah and Vivian watched each nightmare with cruel amusement. "Who knew that observing bad dreams can be so much fun?" The woman asked.
"I can imagine it not being so fun for them." Noah said, sounding just as entertained. He then glanced up at the heart rates of each victim on their respective monitors. "Each of those fools are allowing their fears to push them to the brink. It won't be long before… Huh?" Noah stopped as saw something on the main monitor showing the unconscious group. Yuzu's bracelet gave a bright pink glow for a brief second before the girl herself woke up, appearing fine.
"What?! The brat didn't die?! How did she…?!" Vivian shouted, clearly pissed off.
Noah ribbed his chin, but said nothing. The duo then watched as Yuzu placed a hand over Mai and Valon's hands with the other over Bakura and Miho's. She closed her eyes and her bracelet started glowing again. This made him very curious. 'What are you doing, Yuzu Hiragi?'
/\/\/\/\/\
Valon's fight with Raphael was not going well. Valon himself was a great fighter, but the problem was that his opponent was physically much stronger than he was, plus he showed no restraint in his attacks. Raphael was pummeling the younger man into the ground with each blow.
At this point, Valon could barely keep standing. He was bloodied, bruised, and sported a black eye. Despite his disadvantages, he didn't back down. "Is that… all you got… eh?" The question irritated the older man.
"There you go again, not knowing when to stop fighting. Mai has left you because of your selfishness! This is why you are no good for her!" Valon spat some out blood, which ended up on Raphael's shirt.
"I ain't buying that load of crap." Valon said weakly. Despise all he heard, simply refused to accept any of it. Raphael growled.
"Mai doesn't want a fighter, you numbskull! She never did! She only saw you as little boy who refused to grow up!" He launched another roundhouse punch that decked Valon, falling right on his back.
His entire body ached. As he searched for the strength to get back up, Valon kept hearing Mai's and Raphael's words over and over in his mind. Despite his protests, he actually did start to feel some fear and doubt. He feared he would lose Mai because of the kind of person he was. "It's not true… none of it…" He said faintly, not wanting to give in.
"I've been brutally honest with you the whole time. You just needed to have the truth beaten into you just as brutally." Valon opened his uninjured eye to see Mai again, looking utterly disgusted.
"Mai…" Before he could utter another word, Mai kicked him hard in the face. This caused him to cough and spit out a loose tooth. Mai snorted.
"Absolutely pathetic." She then walked over to Raphel and held him. "You could never measure up to Raphael. Still don't believe it? How about this?" She held Raphael as they shared a kiss.
Valon stared at the pair, shocked. Seeing them making out with such passion broke whatever fighting spirit he still had. Valon truly felt then that he lost Mai… all because he wasn't what he thought he would be. He failed. After his kiss with Mai ended, Raphael went over to Valon and picked him up by the blood stained shirt. He did not retaliate, just hung limply.
"I can see it now in your eyes, Valon. You've got nothing left. You're choosing to give up, knowing you were wrong from the beginning." Raphael pulled his free fist back for the finishing blow. "Now it's time to finish this. I'm ending you now!" Valon closed his eyes again, awaiting the blow that would stop all the pain and torment.
However, just as Raphael threw his neck breaking punch, a pink barrier separated the two men. This surprised everyone. Valon didn't hit the floor this time, thanks to the unexpected arrival of Yuzu Hiragi. "Valon, it's okay! I got you!" Valon stared up blankly at her as she gently laid him down in front of her.
"Wha? Yuzu?" Valon asked, not understanding.
"Valon, I need you to wake up! What's happening to you isn't real! Noah is making you guys see your biggest fears! I barely just escaped from mine!"
"Seriously?" Valon barely managed to say. Yuzu nodded.
"Very seriously! You need to fight back and wake up from this nightmare! If you let it, your nightmare can kill you in the real world!" Suddenly, everything Valon heard from "Mai" and "Raphael" made sense. It really wasn't them he was talking to. It was all he was afraid he would hear one day if he messed up. From what Yuzu was saying, his own fears were trying to kill him.
To Yuzu's surprise, Valon let out a low, gurgled chuckle. "Damn. Talk about messing with people's heads." The two illusions were becoming really angry.
"That brat is spouting nonsense! You're worthless and you know it!" The Raphael imposter insisted.
"Don't cling to any hope, Valon! You will never…" The fake Mai started, but Valon interrupted as he sat up.
"Just shut it already, would ya? The real Mai and Raphael are way better people than you two are! They both accept me, faults and all! So do me a favor and get the hell outta my head!"
With that, Yuzu's bracelet glowed and shattered the illusions. Yuzu and Valon smiled at one another as the glow enveloped them and guided them out…
/\/\/\/\/\
Miho kept crying from all the terrible things Joey said to her. She still couldn't understand how he could turn so mean and awful. He wasn't anything like the Joey she knew, the one that Serenity always cared for and admired. All she knew was the he had hurt her in the worst possible way.
She lowered her hands and stared down to the ground from where she stood. Miho figured she was several stories high. If someone were to fall from up here, they would most likely not survive, if not suffer serious injury. She probably wouldn't live through it herself…
"If you're gonna jump, then just get it over with already! The sooner I'm rid of an insufferable crybaby like you, the better!" Joey yelled at her.
That last insult was the final nail in the coffin. Miho had made up her mind. She couldn't go on knowing how she completely misjudged Joey Wheeler. She would not deal with him anymore.
"Don't worry." The broken girl said softly as she stepped onto the very edge of the school roof. "You'll be rid of me now." With her eyes tightly shut and one final breath, Miho started to lean forward and begin her fall.
Just then, Miho felt someone grab her wrist, stopping her from making the plunge. "No Miho!" Miho opened her eyes to see Yuzu holding on to her, looking desperate.
"Yuzu?! How did you get here?" Miho asked, stunned to see her at a time like this.
"Miho, don't fall! You'll die of you do!" Yuzu said strongly to her friend. Miho turned away, her face scrunched up.
"That's what I was trying to do. Now let me go." Yuzu didn't release her grip.
"Listen to me! Everything you've heard was all lies! That "thing" over there is not Joey! He's not real! Nothing here is!" The other girl blinked in surprise.
"What do you…?" Miho tried to ask.
"Noah has trapped all of us in our worst fears, and they are trying their best to kill everyone! I got away from mine! Now you need to snap out of it and come back with me!" Yuzu strongly advised. Miho looked back over to "Joey", who still looked like he wanted to have nothing to do with her.
"Don't look at me! Just off yourself already!" Miho flinched.
"Miho, the Joey we know wouldn't act like that! We both know it!" Yuzu insisted. Miho stared down again, her face still wet from tears.
"Yuzu… even if this is all some very bad dream, it doesn't mean it can't happen in real life." She admitted.
"Meaning what?" Yuzu asked. Miho gave a sad smile.
"I've liked Joey for a long time. I like him a lot, but I never had the guts to tell him how I really feel. What if he rejects me? I don't know if I can take it." Yuzu gripped Miho's wrist tighter.
"Joey is a good guy, and you're a really nice girl. I like to think he would give you a chance. So give him a chance to know your real feelings and I'm sure he will return the favor." Miho felt the smallest shred of hope.
"You… really think he will?" She asked. Yuzu nodded with certainty.
"I know he will. If not, I'll give him a good whack from my fan." Miho actually made a faint chuckle from that. Yuzu always seemed like a good judge of character. She hoped she was right…
"Well?! Are ya gonna make your death leap or not?!" Both girls turned back to the Joey impersonator. With renewed determination, Miho leapt back onto the roof and gave a hard stare.
"The one that should jump is you! Now leave me alone and don't come back!"
One burst from the pink bracelet and the whole illusion was cast away, sending Yuzu and Miho back to where they came from.
/\/\/\/\/\
Mai knelt on the floor in a state of shock. Joey, dead? Because of her? No. She couldn't bring herself to believe it… to accept it. How could she? She still couldn't forgive herself for her past mistakes, but this? Mai knew there was no hope for her after what she did. Dartz stood above her, still wearing his confident grin.
"It hurts, doesn't it? The knowledge that you ended the life of someone close to you. It is… inescapable." Mai did not look up at him.
"I didn't…" She tried to defend herself, but stopped. How could she? She had no strength or will to protest. Dartz went on like he didn't hear her.
"There is no end for for your suffering, my child. At least… not in this life."
Mai finally tilted her head up, confused. "Meaning what?"
From seemingly out of nowhere, Dartz produced a dagger. It was the kind used for rituals… specifically, for sacrifices. Mai widened her eyes, mesmerized by it and it's implications.
"There is but one way to end your misery. The answer is right before you." Dartz told her as he held out the dagger before her. "There is no forgiveness for you in this life. This is the only solution to end your torment. Do you have the courage to do what you must? That is the question you, and you alone, can answer. What shall it be, Mai?"
Mai looked from the dagger to Dartz, then back again. It was true. She had suffered more than she should have and frankly… she was sick of it. She was tired of being pitied. She wanted it all to stop. But to actually take her own life? Would that really free her of all that? Before she knew what she was doing, Mai took the dagger from her former master. "I don't want to go through this anymore." She admitted in a painful voice. Dartz nodded.
"Then end it." He murmured. Mai held the weapon in both hands and readied herself, pointing the blade at her chest. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see what was coming. Her hands shook slightly but her grip was firm.
"Joey… Valon… everyone… I'm sorry." With that final admission, she thrust the dagger toward herself.
"Mai! STOP!" Suddenly, two small hands grabbed both of Mai's wrists and stopped her actions. Mai opened her eyes and saw with great surprise to see none other than...
"Yuzu?! What are you…?!" Yuzu stood above Mai, stopping the dagger short from plunging itself in the older woman's heart.
"Mai, listen to me! This is all a very bad dream! None of it is real! Noah did something to all of us!"
"What?" Mai barely registered what she was hearing.
"We're still in the maze! We were all hit from something that is making us see what we're afraid of the most! I just woke up from my nightmare, now you need to do the same! If you die in this dream, you will die for real! Don't do it!" Mai gasped.
"Don't listen to her, Mai. She is just trying to prolong your suffering." Dartz said, now looking annoyed.
Mai looked up at Yuzu, her face filled with grief. "But Joey…" Yuzu shook her head.
"Joey is fine! They all are! You've done nothing to them!" Mai's face was filled with great pain.
"No. I did hurt them… especially Joey." Yuzu looked confused.
"Huh?" Mai turned away. She had lowered the dagger to her knees.
"I went through a terrible experience during the Battle City tournament, and it left me weak and afraid. I didn't feel I was the Duelist I should've been. It was during that time I met Valon. He led me to Dartz, the man you see here. He promised to make me strong so I could never lose to anyone else again. He gave me a power that… changed me on the inside. I wanted nothing more than to be the best, and that power made me feel like I could. While I was working for him, I fought against Yugi, Joey, everyone. Ultimately, Joey was the one that fought the hardest to free me from Dartz's influence. During our last Duel, Joey showed me how mislead I was. He rescued me. But…" Mai paused briefly before finishing up. "I felt broken after all that. I needed to get away to fix what was wrong with me."
"Mai…" Yuzu whispered. Mai's lips quivered.
"After all that time, I still can't forgive myself for what I did. Joey and everyone else may have, but me…" She stopped, not wanting to go on. Yuzu knelt beside her, holding her shoulder.
"Why can't you forgive yourself?" She asked tenderly. Mai hesitated. It took her a second or two to reply.
"Because I don't feel I deserve to be forgiven… by anyone. I've done more harm than good in my life as far as I'm concerned. Maybe I'm… just not really a good person after all." Yuzu hardened her gaze.
"That isn't true." Mai turned to her, stunned. The younger girl went on. "Mai, I may not know much about your past, but I can tell you are a good person. You just made some bad choices. Everyone does that. What you shouldn't do is let those bad choices determine who you are, in here." Yuzu pointed right at Mai's heart. "Be the person you know you are and accept it. Maybe then you can forgive yourself and move on."
Mai thought over Yuzu's words. Sure, Mai herself hadn't always been a good girl, but she never did anything seriously wrong. That is, until she worked for Dartz. That had been a serious dumb move on her part. The Orichalcos blinded her from what was really important until Joey got through to her. He and all his friends held no grudges against her and welcomed her back into their lives. So why can't she do the same? Maybe Yuzu was right…
"That naïve child has no place to tell you what you should do! You came here to end your pathetic life, now do it!" Dartz demanded, losing all patience.
At that point, Mai made her choice. Still clutching the dagger in her hands, she held it back up… and tossed it right into Dartz's chest. Upon contact, the manifestation of her old enemy screamed and disintegrated into nothing.
Mai let out a breathe she didn't know she held and relaxed. "Boy, that sure felt good." She then smiled warmly at Yuzu. "Thanks Yuzu." The teen smiled back as her bracelet glowed and covered them both, taking them back to the real world.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
Bakura stood in absolute terror. He didn't want to believe a single word he was hearing. "I… I don't believe you!" He said in clear denial. The darker Bakura still smiled in cruel amusement.
"Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. The fact remains that I will take your place… with your pitiful soul erased! If you still doubt me, just look down." He suggested, pointing at Bakura's feet. The boy looked and was nearly breathless. A dark mist began to consume Bakura from the ground up. He started to panic.
"W-What is this?!" He shouted, scared more than ever.
"The beginning of your end… and my ultimate resurrection!" Yami Bakura laughed like the madman he was. He watched as his reincarnation slowly but surely being taken by the darkness.
Bakura started to suffocate, feeling nothing but helplessness and total despair. He didn't want this to be his end! Not when he just got a normal life again! "Help me! Someone help me! Please! HELP ME!" He screamed like his life depended on it. The malevolent spirit continued to laugh.
"Your cries for help are pitiful! With each passing second, your anguish just makes me stronger! Just accept your fate, Bakura! Only darkness awaits y… WHAT?!" He shouted in total surprise when he witnessed a bright pink glow emanating from behind Bakura. Like a fan, the glow blew away the dark mist covering him.
"Bakura! It's going to be okay! I'm right here!" Both versions of Bakura looked to see Yuzu.
"Yuzu?! How did you?!" The good Bakura asked in wonder. Yuzu smiled as she approached and took her friend's hand.
"Listen. Everything you see here is not real. It's your greatest fear being used against you. This is Noah's doing. If I hadn't come, you would have died in the real world, like I almost did." Bakura had a hard time believing that.
"Then he… isn't real?" Bakura asked, still shaken as he pointed at his darker self. Yuzu shook her head.
"Not one bit." Yami Bakura snarled.
"Wrong, you insignificant child! I AM real! My return shall not be denied by the likes of you!" He then spread out his arms and sent out a bigger cloud of darkness after the pair.
"Bakura, you have to listen! You need to wake up! It's the only to save yourself!" Yuzu advised.
"How?!" Bakura asked, still very much afraid.
"Convince yourself that this is all fake and accept it! And remember… you're not alone!" The teen answered with conviction. Looking in the pure determination in Yuzu's eyes, Bakura started believing her. He then closed his eyes and muttered the following sentence over and over. As he did, the glow of Yuzu's bracelet covered them both.
"None of this is real. None of this is real…"
/\/\/\/\/\/\
As soon as Yuzu opened her eyes, finding herself back in the maze, she saw that all he friends were waking up with her. "You guys okay?" Yuzu asked everyone.
"My head is killing me, but I think I'm alright." The moment Valon laid eyes on Mai, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "Mai… I'm glad you're still here… with me." Mai, though startled by her boyfriend's reaction, held him just as tight.
"I don't know what hellish nightmare you've had, but I'm glad you're here too." She whispered.
"I'll explain later." Valon told her.
"That was awful, what Noah put us through." Miho said, trying to shake off the wooziness. 'The things I heard from what I believed was Joey… it seemed so real.' In spite of her experience, she remembered that Joey, the real one, would never ever say such horrible things.
"I completely agree. The good news that it's over now, thanks to Yuzu." Bakura said as he and the others turned to their savior. Yuzu smiled back at them all. That is, until…
"It is not over, you fool. Not even close." Yuzu, Mai, Valon, Miho, and Bakura quickly turned to the source of the new voice. Bakura almost screamed again. Yami Bakura stood before everyone, grinning madly. "Did you honestly think you could escape so easily? You will never be rid of me, Bakura!"
Noah and Vivian stood stunned as they observed the incident. "What's going on now? Is that guy still in his nightmare?" The later demanded. Noah narrowed his eyes.
"No, Vivian. Bakura is definitely awake. But the fact that his hallucination has appeared in the real world and can be seen by everyone, including us, is something I can't explain. Although," he said as he slowly smiled once more. "This could work to our advantage."
Back in the maze, everyone stood in total confusion. "I don't understand. How can there be two Bakuras?" Miho asked, looking from one Bakura to the other.
"Noah really must've done a number on us if we're seeing other people's illusions." Valon commented. Mai shook her head, remembering something.
"I doubt it. I've seen that Bakura before, the one that just appeared. He dueled against Yugi during the Battle City tournament quarter-finals. He definitely gave off a psycho vibe. But what I don't get now is how he and the Bakura we know could be here at the same time."
"No. How?" Bakura muttered breathlessly, eyes widened in fear once more.
"You can't be here! You are not real!" Yuzu protested. Yami Bakura chuckled.
"On the contrary, I am as real as any of you. Like I just told my pathetic counterpart, a small fragment of my ancient soul attached itself to him via the Millennium Ring. Whatever rendered Bakura unconscious also caused me to reawaken. My Millennium Item may no longer be in my possession, but I intend to retrieve it and finish what I started."
"That still doesn't explain how you can be here in the real world!" Yuzu argued further. Yami Bakura smirked at her.
"I actually have you to thank for that, child." He then pointed at Yuzu's piece of jewelry. "I don't know what that bracelet is, but it seemed to have an unexpected effect on me…"
"It forced you out of Bakura when we woke up!" Yuzu realized. It was nearly the same way the evil Zarc's Standard soul fragment was exorcised from Yuya.
"Exactly. My plan did not go as expected, but no matter. I am finally reborn, strong again by feeding on the fear and doubt within my former host. Now then…" He then materialized and activated a Duel Disk on his arm with a Deck already inserted. "Who will be the first to take my place in the Shadow Realm? Perhaps I should start with…" He then eyed the real and still terrified Bakura. The others stood in front, protecting him.
"Forget it! We won't let you near him!" Yuzu said in defiance.
"I second that!" Mai added.
"You won't touch him!" Miho declared.
Bakura was overwhelmed by the protection his friends provided. He remembered how dangerous the ancient spirit was and he didn't want anyone to get hurt because of him. Even though his worst fear now stood before him in the real world, Bakura knew what he had to do to put it to rest for good…
"I'll knock your block off myself!" Valon declared. He didn't more than a few steps before he was stopped.
"No Valon… I'll face him." Everyone turned to Bakura in surprise.
"Bakura?" Yuzu questioned. Bakura looked a little less afraid now, but he still seem shaky.
"I don't really want to, but I feel I must. He is what I'm afraid of more than anything. He took control of me several times, forced me to hurt those around me. And all the while… I couldn't stop him. But…" He then strapped on his own Duel Disk before placing his Deck in it and activating it as well. "I'm not going to let him push me around anymore. If anyone has a right to defeat him, it is me. So please, let me do this."
Yuzu, Mai, Valon, and Miho seemed uncertain and worried about Bakura's choice. Yuzu placed a hand on his arm with his Disk attached. "I believe in you, Bakura. If you feel you need to do this, then do it." Neither of them noticed but a small amount of energy from Yuzu's bracelet transferred to Bakura's Deck. The Deck glowed gold faintly before fading within…
The others all nodded, agreeing with Yuzu. "Kick his butt, mate." Valon said.
"Don't hold back." Mai advised.
"Please be careful." Miho said. Bakura nodded at them all, appreciating their support. He then stepped forward and stopped a few feet from his evil counterpart.
"So, you choose to face me after all?" Yami Bakura taunted. Bakura breathed in and out before readying himself.
"You've done enough harm and I won't let you cause any more of it!" Yami Bakura seemed amused.
"I look forward to seeing you try." He replied as they started their battle.
"DUEL!"
(Bakura: 4000) (Yami Bakura: 4000)
"I'll make the first move. My turn! Draw!" Yami Bakura smiled at his hand. 'This looks promising.' "I play a Magic card called Unknown Defense. By discarding a card, I can Set a Monster in my hand to my Field facedown in Defense Mode, regardless of it's Level. Then I Set two cards facedown and end my turn."
"He's playing defense right from the get go?" Valon questioned.
"Probably not for long." Mai said. Yuzu and Miho had a bad feeling about what their new enemy was planning. Bakura had the same feeling, but he tried to not let that get to him.
"Alright then, now it's my turn! Draw!" Bakura saw a card that would give him an early upper-hand. For the past month, he put together a new Deck from some new cards that recently came out. He built it and had practiced it with Yugi in private sessions. He hoped he was ready to duel for real with it. "I play Card of Destruction! This forces both of us to discard all the cards in our hand and draw the same number of cards from our Decks!" They both then discarded their cards, with Bakura drawing five cards and Yami Bakura drawing only two. This didn't seem to bother his darker self.
'That's a lot of cards he just sent to his Graveyard. I hope Bakura knows what's doing.' Yuzu thought.
"Now from my hand, I Summon Naia the Abyssal Dreg! (DARK; Level 4; ATK: 0; DEF: 2000) Bakura's Monster appeared to be a two headed black cobra with gold armaments attached. "Naia's Monster Effect activates! When it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add an "Abyssal" Magic or Trap card from my Deck to my hand! I'll take a Magic card, Abyssal Snake Water Lily!" He declared as he added the card to his hand.
"So, playing with snakes now are we? They tend to bite and be quite venomous." Yami Bakura taunted.
"You're the one that should be afraid of them! Since I control an "Abyssal" Monster, I can Special Summon Null the Abyssal Dreg from my Graveyard!" (LIGHT; Level 4; ATK: 0; DEF: 0) Another cobra Monster emerged beside it's fellow reptile. This one was light colored with a pair of wings, wore gold ornaments behind it's head and nestled on a water lily. "Because Null was Special Summoned this way, it is banished when it leaves the Field. Also, while it is face-up on the Field, I can only Special Summon "Reptile" Monsters."
"I suppose you have another weak snake to unleash?" Yami Bakura questioned without care.
"This next one is anything but weak! I Sacrifice Naia and Null (the latter which is now banished) to Special Summon Amunesia the Abyssal Queen from my Graveyard! (DARK; Level 8; ATK: 2700; DEF: 2100) Bakura's new Monster definitely appeared more formidable. It was a half woman/half snake being wearing gold armor, a cobra head dress, and held a scepter with a cobra's head at the top.
"That's an improvement." Mai commented, actually liking the new female Monster's appearance.
"I'm still just warming up! Now I play Abyssal Snake Water Lily! First I send a "Reptile" Monster from my Deck to my Graveyard! I choose Ancient Lizard Warrior! Aside from him, there are four other "Reptiles" in my Graveyard: Naia the Abyssal Dreg, Aleth the Abyssal Dark, Phlogi the Abyssal Desert, and Aron the Abyssal King!"
"And your point?" Yami Bakura asked annoyingly.
"Since I have at least five "Reptile" Monsters with different names in my Graveyard, Water Lily can Special Summon one of them to my Field! I Special Summon Aron the Abyssal King! (LIGHT; Level 8; ATK: 2500; DEF: 2800) Now standing with it's queen was a gold wearing half man/half snake with huge legs and held a cobra scepter as well.
"Now our Bakura has two strong Monsters!" Miho said excitedly.
"Let's hope it will be enough." Valon said.
Yami Bakura smiled but said nothing. He didn't seem the least bit worried, which his counterpart was concerned about.
'I don't like how confident he looks. I have to try to end it here.' Bakura thought as his turn continued. "Battle! Amunesia the Abyssal Queen, attack that facedown Monster! Qerhet's Wrath!" One dark blast from the scepter and Yami Bakura's Monster was obliterated. Bakura's opponent smiled wildly.
"A grave mistake! The Monster you just destroyed was one of my aces in the hole: Dark Necrofear!"
Mai gasped. She recalled that very Monster being played in the Duel against Yugi, and she knew what happened because of it. 'If he's planning what I think he's planning, Bakura is going to be in serious trouble.' She was proven right.
"By destroying Dark Necrofear and sending it to the Graveyard, you have allowed me to activate a certain Field Magic card right out of my Deck! Behold, Dark Sanctuary!" The playing field was now being covered in a black purple mist with evil eyes everywhere, watching.
"This evil Bakura likes his horror stuff, doesn't he?" Valon asked. No one answered.
"Now your snakes can't touch me! My victory is all but guaranteed at this point, and I have you to thank for that!" Yami Bakura boasted to his former host.
"I don't believe you! You're just trying to get inside my head again, just like always! I'm not going to listen you!" His opponent chuckled as he spread out his arms wide.
"In that case, go ahead and attack me. I have no more Monsters to protect me, so go on. Strike me down if you dare!" Bakura planned to do just that.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Yuzu said.
"Bakura, don't!" Mai warned, but she was too late.
"Take this! Aron the Abyssal King, attack him directly! Qerh's Strike!" A yellow white blast from Aron's weapon streaked toward Yami Bakura, who couldn't be happier about the outcome.
"You really are a naïve fool, Bakura! By daring to attack, you activated the Effect of Dark Sanctuary! When it was activated, the Ghost that came with it can randomly possess one of your Monsters once per turn, and it just happens to be the one you're attacking me with!"
"What are you talking about?" Bakura asked, now worried he made a huge mistake.
"When the Monster being possessed by the Ghost of Dark Sanctuary attacks, I can negate that attack! What's more, you take damage equal to half your Monster's Attack Points, while my Life Points are increased by the same amount!" Yami Bakura declared as he laughed.
"What?!" The good Bakura exclaimed in shock as his Life Points took a hit.
(2500 / 2 = 1250)
(Bakura: 4000 - 1250 = 2750)
(Yami Bakura: 4000 + 1250 = 5250)
"He lost nearly half of his Life Points!" Yuzu said in a very worried voice.
"I knew that would happen. Yugi had to deal with that problem himself." Mai stated.
"But Bakura will find a way around it, right?" Miho asked.
"He'll have to if he has to have any chance of winning this thing." Valon said.
Bakura groaned. 'Darn it. I'll have to really pull out all the stops to beat him.' His darker self smirked.
"What's the matter? Starting to realize how pointless fighting me is? Why don't you just surrender and I just might lessen your suffering." Bakura gritted his teeth.
"Not a chance! I will never surrender to you, not now and never again! I play a Magic card, Outcast, to banish a Monster from my Deck! I banish my second Null! Then I Set two cards facedown and end my turn!" Bakura declared, finishing his move.
"I'm actually glad you refused surrendering. This will make my victory that much sweeter. My turn! Draw!" Yami Bakura said as started his next move. "I will play Pot of Greed, which gives me two more cards!" He was very pleased by what he drew. 'Now I have everything I need!'
"Not quite! Aron's Monster Effect activates! Once per turn, when my opponent adds cards to their hand except during their Draw Phase or Damage Step, one card must be discarded from their hand! That's one card less for you to work with!" Bakura declared happily, thinking he got a hit in.
Yami Bakura snorted as he sent a card to his Graveyard. "Like that will matter in the end." He taunted.
"Seriously, does nothing bother that guy?" Valon asked, annoyed that the darker Bakura hadn't once lost his smugness.
"He really must be confident in his strategy." Mai said.
"What could he be up to?" Yuzu questioned. She would find out very shortly.
"Now it is time to reveal my true objective! I activate Advanced Ritual Art! This card allows me to Ritual Summon any Ritual Monster in my hand, as long as I send Normal Monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard whose Levels are precisely that of the Monster I plan to Summon! By sending the Level 4 Normal Earthbound Spirit and Level 4 Normal The Portrait's Secret from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can Ritual Summon my most deadly creature! Behold, the Level 8 terror from the lowest pit of shadows: ZORC THE DARK MASTER!" (DARK; Level 8; ATK: 2700; DEF: 1500)
A well built humanoid demon now stood before it's controller. It had a gold strap over it's left shoulder, red wings, and had long green hair over a dark purple fanged face.
"That's the scariest Monster I've ever seen!" Miho squeaked, trembling at the thing's appearance.
"I've never seen him play that before." Mai said, now sounding a little unnerved.
Bakura, however, was feeling more than that. "Did you say… Zorc?" He asked incredulously.
"Indeed. He is a manifestation of my true self. Now he will be your end!" Yami Bakura said in glee. Bakura then shook his head, trying to keep himself focused.
"I activate the Effect of Amunesia! Once per turn, when my opponent sends Monsters from their hand or Deck to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a LIGHT or DARK "Reptile" Monster from my Graveyard! I choose to Special Summon Aleth the Abyssal Dark!" (DARK; Level 8; ATK: 2000; DEF: 800) A four legged reptilian in gold cobra armor emerged with it's two master snakes on the Field. "Now for Aleth's Monster Effect! When it is Special Summoned, I can return two of my banished Monsters, one a "Reptile", to my Graveyard! I return both copies of Null the Abyssal Dreg back to my Graveyard!"
Yami Bakura scoffed at him. "No matter how many of your serpents you call out, they will all fail you. My own Monster will see to that! I activate the Effect of Zorc the Dark Master! Once per turn, I can roll a six sided die that will determine our Monsters' fates! What number will I get and what will happen? Let us find out! Dark Dice Roll!" A black die rolled out onto the Field.
"Let's hope he gets a bad number." Valon said. The others were thinking the same. Bakura too hoped luck would be with him. And when he saw that the die had landed on a 1, he started to believe it meant a bad thing for his darker counterpart… until said counterpart laughed triumphantly.
"Today is just not your lucky day, old friend. Because I rolled a 1, all Monsters you control are destroyed! Zorc Inferno!"
"NO!" Bakura shouted in dismay as a burst of black fire erupted from Zorc's hand and incinerated all of Bakura's Monsters.
"Now he's wide open!" Miho said, afraid for her friend's life.
"It's not strong enough to defeat Bakura, so there's that." Mai stated.
"Wrong again mortal! I activate my facedown Sword of Dark Destruction and Equip it to Zorc! This card adds 400 Attack Points to my Monster, but takes away 200 of it's Defense Points! A small price for me to win this Duel in my personal opinion!" Yami Bakura revealed as his Ace grew stronger.
(Zorc the Dark Master's ATK: 2700 + 400 = 3100; DEF: 1500 - 200 = 1300)
"Oh no!" Yuzu yelled.
"Oh yes! Farewell my old host! Zorc the Dark Master, attack Bakura directly! DARK PHENOMENON!" With it's new blade in hand, Zorc charged straight at Bakura, intending to destroy him.
"Bakura!" Everyone yelled. Bakura, however, wasn't willing to give up just yet.
"It's not over yet! I activate a Trap, Nutrient Z! When I'm about to take 2000 points of damage or more, I can increase my Life Points by 4000 before taking damage!"
"You what?!" Yami Bakura shouted, stunned for the first time. He watched as his former vessel got slashed by Zorc's sword, but remained standing.
(Bakura: 2750 + 4000 = 6750; 6750 - 3100 = 3650)
"Woah, man! That was a close call for him." Valon commented as he wiped a bit of sweat from his brow. Yuzu and the other girls hoped Bakura would find a way to turn it around next turn.
However, Bakura did look like he was in pain from the blow. "Ouch. That really smart." He said to himself as he held a hand to his chest. 'Probably would've hurt a lot worse if my Trap card hadn't lessened the blow.' Yami Bakura sneered from this.
"So you've survived for another turn? Not what I expected, but it still won't matter. I activate a Trap of my own called Diabound's Revenge! By banishing Diabound Kernel from my Graveyard, this card can inflict the same damage to you if you were just attacked by a DARK Monster!" Bakura was then hit by an powerful burst of dark energy and made him scream and fall down hard to the ground.
(Bakura: 3650 - 3100 = 550)
"Bakura!" Yuzu yelled for her downed friend.
"That's cruel!" Miho shouted, disgusted by Yami Bakura's tactics. The fiend laughed his opponent's injuries.
"Accepting my challenge was your biggest mistake, as well as your last. Fortunately for you Bakura, I just have one more thing to do before ending my turn. I Summon Headless Knight!" (EARTH; Level 4; ATK: 1450; DEF: 1700) An armored knight missing a head appeared next to Zorc. "Now I end my turn. During my End Phases, I must Sacrifice a Monster or Dark Sanctuary will be destroyed. So I get rid of my knight to keep my Field card in play." His weaker Monster then vanished from sight, it's purpose fulfilled.
Bakura lay there, hurting badly from both Zorc's attack and the Effects of that devastating Trap card. His whole body felt like not moving anymore. How could he think he stood a chance against this madman? He was always the stronger of the two. Perhaps he did make a mistake after all…
"Bakura! Don't give up! You still have a chance!" Bakura looked over to see a fierce looking Yuzu cheering him on. "Yugi, Yuya, and everyone with him wouldn't want you to give up either! So get back up and win!" The others joined her.
"Come on, buddy! Don't throw in the towel now!" Valon encouraged.
"Prove to everyone here that you are strong enough to win this!" Mai ordered.
"We're still rooting for you!" Miho added enthusiastically.
Bakura stared at each and every one of them. They all wished for him to survive and win. This time, he let all his fear and doubt drain out of him. He had to win this fight. Plus, he promised he would do what he could to help stop Noah and free his prisoners. There was no way he could let any of them down. With a monumental effort, Bakura slowly but surly got back up. His friends all cheered from this. Not Yami Bakura though.
"You just don't know when to quit, do you?" Bakura shook his head.
"I guess not. I'm not about to lose to you! My next move will prove that. My turn! DRAW!" He saw something that could help. "I play Abyssal Gift! Since I have at least 6 "Reptile" Monsters in my Graveyard, I can draw three more cards!" Bakura's eyes lit up. There was a chance. "By discarding a card while Phlogi the Abyssal Desert is in my Graveyard, I can add Phlogi to my hand! Next, I play my Abyssal Calling Trap card! I can either Special Summon two Abyssal Tokens or, since I have 8 or more "Reptile" Monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon two "Reptile" Monsters with different names from my Graveyard! I choose the latter! Return, Aron the Abyssal King and Amunesia the Abyssal Queen!" Bakura's two strongest Monsters returned to help their master.
"Neither one of them stand a chance against my powered up Zorc! Even if you did have some way if taking it down, my Dark Sanctuary will protect it and myself from your pitiful comeback!" To his surprise, Bakura smiled back confidently.
"There's nothing pitiful about this! I play The Shallow Grave, which allows both of us to Special Summon a Monster from our Graveyards in Defense Mode! I'm reviving my Ancient Lizard Warrior!" (EARTH; Level 4; ATK: 1400; DEF: 1100) A green, humanoid reptilian with long purple claws appeared to aid it's fellow serpents in the Duel. Yami Bakura sneered.
'What are you planning?' Yami Bakura tried to guess his counterpart was thinking of, but he didn't think it could make any difference. "Fine then. I will Special Summon my Headless Knight back to the playing field!" The Monster he Sacrificed earlier reappeared.
Bakura smirked. "I was waiting for that! Now I activate the other Monster Effect of Amunesia! Once per turn, when my opponent Special Summons a Monster from their Graveyard, I can send one card my opponent controls to the Graveyard in it's place!"
Yami Bakura gasped, looking shocked now. "Wait! Don't tell me you're…?!"
"That's right! The card I'm getting rid of is your Dark Sanctuary!" One swipe from Amunesia's scepter and the Field card protecting the evil spirit instantly disintegrated, returning the area to normal.
"Damn you!" Yami Bakura shouted, clearly pissed off.
"Yes! Now that dumb Ghost won't interfere with his attacks anymore!" Miho said cheerfully.
"It matters not! My Monster is still far superior to any of yours!" The evil man protested. Bakura himself knew otherwise.
"Good thing I have something that can handle that problem too! By Sacrificing all three of my Monsters, I can Special Summon my true Ace Monster from my Graveyard!"
"Your what?!" Yami Bakura said disbelievingly.
"He's got something more powerful than those big snakes?" Valon questioned, eager to see what Bakura's big boss was like.
"I Sacrifice Aron the Abyssal King, Amunesia the Abyssal Queen, and Ancient Lizard Warrior to call forth the mighty serpent overlord: OGDOABYSS THE ABYSSAL GOD!" (LIGHT; Level 10; ATK: 3100; DEF: 2200) A ginormous, golden armored, black winged cobra came bursting out of the ground and stared down at it's master's enemy. It gave off a menacing hiss while baring it's fangs.
"That's one hell of a snake!" Valon said, clearly intimidated by Bakura's true Ace like everyone else.
"So this was your aim, was it? Attacking my Monster with yours would just result in destruction for them both." Yami Bakura said.
"That wasn't quite what I had in mind." Bakura replied, still grinning.
"Say what?" Muttered his opponent.
"I now activate the Effect of Ogdoabyss! Once, while he is face-up on the Field, I can send all Monsters on the Field to the Graveyard except for those face-up that were Special Summoned from the Graveyard! Ogdoabyss himself and your Headless Knight both came from the Graveyard… but your Dark Master didn't!" Bakura mentioned as he pointed at Yami Bakura's strongest Monster.
"NO!" He yelled. Quick as lightning, Ogdoabyss lunged forward and sunk it's fangs into Zorc, instantly vaporizing the evil beast.
"Nice one!" Valon cheered. Bakura's enemy seethed with anger.
"Next, I Normal Summon Phlogi the Abyssal Desert from my hand!" (LIGHT; Level 4; ATK: 1800; DEF: 1400) A new armored lizard appeared next to it's god. This one had a lighter shade of black to go with it's armor and twin blades it wielded. "Now I Equip Megamorph to Ogdoabyss, doubling it's Attack Points since my Life Points are lower than my opponent's!"
"This can't be!" The evil spirit cried out in disbelief as the giant snake gained the power it needed.
(Ogdoabyss the Abyssal God's ATK: 3100 x 2 = 6200)
"Now I'm all set to end this! Battle! Phlogi the Abyssal Desert, attack Headless Knight! Abyss Twin Slash!" Two quick swipes from the swords and Yami Bakura's remaining defense was eliminated.
"Now that bad Bakura has no Monsters left!" Miho exclaimed.
"Yes! One more attack and it's over for him!" Yuzu said with a smile.
"How dare you?! How can you do this to me?!" Yami Bakura couldn't believe his weak host had done this much. Bakura frowned.
"I dare because I'm finally not scared of you anymore! Thanks to my friends believing in me, I have found the strength to put you down for good! My fear no longer frightens me!" Bakura answered strongly before making his final attack. "It's time to finish you off! Ogdoabyss the Abyssal God, attack that dark spirit directly! WRATH OF THE ABYSS!"
Bakura's snake god charged up and fired a black and white energy beam from it's mouth with a hint of gold around it.
"NO! NOOOOO!" Yami Bakura screamed in agony as the attack struck and sent him back to the Shadow Realm where he belonged.
(Yami Bakura: 0)
To be continued.