Yu-Gi-Oh! DE, Book One; The Paths You Choose. TEMPORARY HIATUS

[senron]

Nice chapter. Does it get confusing having to write four duels at once? Is there some sort of relation between Zero and that girl Tucker rescued in the new special of DF? I mean, their decks are similar, their situations aree similar, and they each have to be rescued by the hothead of their group. If there isn't a relation, this is a pretty big coincidence. Oh, I can't wait to see Prof poke Brock with a proverbial stick. That'll be funny.

[legendhiro]

Nice chapter. Does it get confusing having to write four duels at once?

yes. actually that's the primary reason why i insist on writing out everything on paper before typing it. there is actually even one more step before that where i write out the duels in a simple form i call a duel map, i.e.:

 

Rocky-8000LP-hand:6-{cards played}

C.D.-8000LP-hand:6-{cards played}

and so on...

 

any breaks in the duel for story purposes, or any important story notes/details, are included here to make things easier when turning the duel map into story text later.

 

Is there some sort of relation between Zero and that girl Tucker rescued in the new special of DF? I mean, their decks are similar, their situations aree similar, and they each have to be rescued by the hothead of their group. If there isn't a relation, this is a pretty big coincidence.

no, there isn't, but the situation in the special was definitely inspired by this one as i wrote this duel first, way back when. the real difference between Zero and Frost is that, once the next installment of DF is released, Frost will be a recurring character. Zero will not appear again.

 

Oh, I can't wait to see Prof poke Brock with a proverbial stick. That'll be funny.

yes. yes it will. sadly i didn't really have time to do too much with it though. still, it will be good while it lasts.

[legendhiro]

the penultimate chapter in the four part Emperor's Four mini-arch is finally up! read to find out what happens, and don't hesitate to make guesses as to what might happen next.

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Chapter Fourteen]

 

The Emperor’s Four, Part Three of Four

 

 

Prof

 

 

Brock laughed at me. Like, really, truly laughed. It was pretty funny.

 

“You do realize that you still take damage, even though your monster can’t be destroyed, right?”

 

“Yep,” I answered, not sure where he was going with his line of questioning.

 

“And that my monster’s piercing effect lets him hit your Life even while your monster’s in defense mode?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Brock nodded, “Alright, your funeral. ‘Flame Ogre’ attacks ‘Kozaky’.”

 

The massive ‘Ogre’ threw a fiery fist at my demon scientist. The powerful punch was stopped by the barrier that was ‘Heart of Clear Water’, but the flames coming off of the monster’s fist curled around the barrier, scorching me (6150+700-3000=3850).

 

“I end my turn,” Brock concluded. He was sure of his monster and its power, even more so after seeing me end my turn once without doing anything. He thought himself unstoppable, just as I’d planned. “Hurry up, and try to actually do something this time. I’m getting bored.”

 

I drew my card, barely concealing a mischievous smile.

 

“I end my turn,” I said simply. I saw my opponent’s nostrils flare.

 

“Okay,” Brock announced, “this was funny at first, but now you’re just mocking me. I equip my ‘Ogre’ with ‘Dark Energy’, raising his power by three hundred (3000+300=3300), and I attack again!”

 

The ‘Ogre’’s fire turned dark, and he punched again. The flames curled around me, lapping at my coattails and sleeves. I raised my arms, protecting my face from being burned (3850+700-3300=1250).

 

“Take that!” my opponent cried, fuming.

 

I suppressed a chuckle, Okay, he’s had enough. Time to finish this.

 

 

Rachel

 

 

“Activate ‘Miracle Fusion’,” said Zero, “removing ‘Ice Edge’ and ‘Practitioner’ from play to Fusion Summon a second ‘Elemental Hero Absolute Zero’

 

A seven-foot-tall block of ice appeared. Bits of ice fell away until all that was left was the form of a second warrior in icy armor, identical to the first (ATK: 2500+500=3000). I steeled myself up in preparation for the skirmish to come.

 

“My monsters attack,” Zero commanded, and both ice warriors moved to strike. ‘Rock-Lizard’ came under attack first.

 

“I remove the final ‘Thunder-Pegasus’ from play to save my ‘Rock-Lizard’ from damage.”

 

The familiar wall of lightning appeared to deflect the blow meant for ‘Rock-Lizard’. The ‘Hero’ pressed his attack. Lightning glanced off of ‘Absolute Zero’’s armor, flashing alongside Zero’s face. In that moment, with his face alight, I saw a glint of expression in his eyes. I was getting through to him. I caught myself smiling and stopped.

 

My ‘Rock-Lizard’ was protected from its opponent’s attack, but ‘Chimera’ wasn’t so lucky. It was slashed in half. One half disappeared, but the other morphed back into the lion-like ‘Gazelle’, the half of ‘Chimera’ with the highest attack, ready for the counterattack I had planned for the following turn (DEF: 1200).

 

“When ‘Chimera’ is destroyed,” I explained, “I get to summon back one of his components.”

 

“I was ready for something like that,” Zero replied in a matter-of-fact tone. I activate ‘Dimension Explosion’. I return the second ‘Elemental Hero Absolute Zero’ to my Fusion Deck, and in exchange we each get to summon up to two of our monsters that have been removed from play. I de-fuse my monster.”

 

The small ice warrior, ‘Elemental Hero Ice Edge’, appeared alongside ‘Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier’ (800+500=1300/1300+500=1800).

 

“And I re-summon my two ‘Thunder-Pegasi’,” I countered, the two two-headed thunder beasts appearing side by side (DEF: 2000 (each)).

 

“I was ready for that too,” Zero explained. “Reveal ‘Chain Disappearance’. I can only activate this card when one or more monsters are summoned, but it removes from play every one of those monsters with one thousand Attack or less, as well as any monsters in your deck that share their name.”

 

A chain made of shadows pierced my two monsters, and they faded away. The third ‘Thunder-Pegasus’ ejected from my deck.

 

“The Attack power of ‘Absolute Zero’ rises for each Water monster on the field with a different name (ATK: 3000+1000=4000), but ‘Absolute Zero’ isn’t the ‘Hero’ that you really have to worry about right now. ‘Elemental Hero Ice Edge’, attack ‘Gazelle’!”

 

The small warrior, the least intimidating warrior I’d seen my opponent summon, cut my horned beast to pieces in an instant. I frowned, Maybe I should have focused on summoning the monster with the highest Defense instead.

 

Either way, it was my turn again, and I still had a plan.

 

“I draw, and I activate ‘Pot of Greed’ to draw again.”

 

After all more cards are never a bad thing.

 

“Next,” I continued, “I reveal the Trap card ‘Call of the Haunted’ to revive the monster I discarded earlier,” a centaur in armor, carrying a red-jeweled staff, appeared at my side (ATK: 1800). “I can discard any Spell to destroy any Spell or Trap you control using ‘Chiron’’s effect. So I discard ‘Heavy Storm’ to destroy ‘Umiiruka’.”

 

‘Chiron’ swirled his staff and then aimed at the hologram of Zero’s Field Spell. It shattered, and suddenly we were back in the tunnel that we had never actually left. I was feeling pretty good, so before I continued I decided to try again to get through to Zero.

 

“So, Zero, if you’re in the Duelists of the Order, then you must have experienced some kind of tragedy that drove you to it. Wanna tell me what it was?”

 

Zero ignored me.

 

Fine I thought. “If you won’t answer, I’ll play ‘Card of Sanctity’. We each draw until we hold six cards.”

 

I drew again, replenishing my hand. Zero did the same.

 

“Now that your Field is gone,” I said, “your monsters are weakened (ATK: 500/1300/3500). I play ‘Double Summon’, allowing me to summon ‘Machine Lord Ür’, a floating, red mechanical torso appeared (ATK: 1600), “and to tribute both ‘Chiron’ and ‘Rock-Lizard’ to summon my most powerful monster, the Great Spear, ‘Beast King Barbaros’!”

 

‘Rock-Lizard’ and ‘Chiron’ gave way for the black-lion-bodied warrior, his shield and spear in hand. He Let out a mighty roar (ATK: 3000).

 

“‘Machine Lord Ür’ may have low Attack,” I explained, “and he may not deal you damage when he attacks, but he can attack as many monsters as I want each turn. I play ‘Wild Nature’s Release’ on ‘Barbaros’,” the entire corridor shook as ‘Barbaros’’ power grew, radiating from his body in waves (ATK: 3000+1200=4200), “and I attack with ‘Machine Lord’!”

 

‘Machine Lord Ür’’s wing-like arms transformed into beam guns and he fired, sweeping the beams over both ‘Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier’ and ‘Elemental Hero Ice Edge’, destroying them both in an instant. With fewer Water monsters in play, the power of ‘Absolute Zero’ fell further (3500-1000=2500).

 

“’Barbaros’,” I commanded, “destroy the Hero with Deadly Legion!”

 

‘Barbaros’ lifted his lance, and the air shuttered. He thrust his lance, and reality seemed to ripple around him. The lance hit ‘Absolute Zero’ (7200+2500-4200=5500), and ‘Absolute Zero’ shattered into a cloud of shards that hung ominously over the field.

 

“When ‘Absolute Zero’ is destroyed, his special ability destroys every monster that you control,” Zero explained.

 

“Duh,” I replied. “Why do you think I waited so long to kill it? I was waiting until I was ready with the Trap card ‘Divine Wrath’.”

 

I discarded a card, and lightning fell from the sky and spread from one ice shard to the next, vaporizing them all. I placed my right hand on my hip and looked smugly at my opponent, “It’s all for the better anyway. A ’Hero’ monster doesn’t suite a villain like you.”

 

Zero’s face twitched, and his cheeks flushed red with anger. But it faded, and Zero was stoic once again.

 

I smiled, Well, it looks like I might have found the hot topic that will get me through that thick head of yours. This might be easier than I thought.

 

“I finish my turn,” I declared, “by removing the ‘Barbaros’ and ‘Machine Lord Ür’ cards from play, I combine my monsters together,” ‘Machine Lord Ür’ opened up, its weapon arms separating from its body. ‘Barbaros’ dropped his shield and weapon, and the ‘Machine Lord’’s body wrapped around ‘Barbaros’’ body like armor. He picked up one of ‘Machine Lord Ür’ weapons in each hand.

 

“Zero,” I said, “behold my ultimate card, ‘Beast Machine King Barbaros Ür’ (ATK: 3800)!”

 

 

Rocky

 

 

I drew to begin my turn, and another of the floating flames produced by ‘Final Countdown’ appeared overhead, making five flames total. That gave me another fifteen turns before I’d lose by default, burned up by those flames and fifteen more just like them. Fifteen turns at most. That was if my opponent did nothing else to accelerate the countdown.

 

The way C.D.’s playing, I thought, I give this duel another five turns, and that’s being conservative. I have to act fast.

 

“I set a monster,” I began, “and I reveal another ‘Rock Bombardment’.”

 

I sent another monster from my deck to the Graveyard, my ‘Stone Statue of the Aztecs’. The pieces of my monster appeared overhead and shattered. The shards pelted my opponent and his Life Points fell (3500-500=3000).

 

“You gave up a lot of Life Points to execute your combo,” I said, “and now you’re vulnerable. Depleting your Life Points will be easy.”

 

I was trying to sound more confident than I was, and C.D. saw through my façade.

 

“You don’t believe that,” said C.D. “You’re going to die today, in this tunnel, and you know it.”

 

“Don’t count me out yet,” I continued. “I play ‘The Shallow Grave’. We each take a monster from our Graveyard and set it on the field.”

 

We did, neither of us knowing what monster the other had chosen.

 

“Go.”

 

“That’s what I thought,” said C.D. He drew, and the sixth flame appeared, joining the others. I noticed that the flames were forming a ring surrounding the field of play.

 

“In my Standby Phase,” C.D. declared, “I reveal two copies of ‘Pyro Clock of Destiny’, moving the turn count forward by two.

 

Another two flames appeared.

 

“I also reveal my ‘Pyro Clock of the Future’. I discard two cards to accelerate the turn count by four.”

 

 

Four more flames appeared overhead, making a total of twelve.

 

I think I was wrong, I thought. I think I might only have one more turn.

 

“The cards I discarded were both ‘Clock Magician’,” C.D. explained. “I remove them from play, accelerating the turn count by another four!”

 

Ghostly images of the almost cartoonish magicians appeared, holding their clock-ended staves high. The hands of the clocks spun rapidly, and four more flames appeared in the sky, joining with the others. The magicians disappeared.

 

“My hand’s empty again,” said C.D., his wicked expression displayed in the light of sixteen flames, “so I’ll play another copy of ‘Card of Sanctity’.”

 

My opponent drew, and his face lit up.

 

“I was actually worried for a second that I might not draw what I needed. See, I have a reputation to uphold. I’m known for the fact that none of my opponents have ever lasted past my third turn, once ‘Final Countdown’ has been played. I thought for a second there that I wasn’t going to draw what I needed to make that happen. But I was wrong. I play ‘Dimensional Reversal’, discarding ‘Timeater’ to return ‘Clock Magician’ that was removed from play to my Graveyard,” an image of a spinning clock appeared and faded away, bathing the field in light, “and I remove it from play again the accelerate the turn count further!”

 

 

‘Clock Magician’ reappeared, summoning up more flames, making a total of eighteen.

 

“And now, just to play it safe, I discard my ‘Time Wizard’ to activate ‘Lightning Vortex’, destroying every one of your face-up monsters.”

 

I watched as my ‘Stone Statue’, ‘Gigantes’, and ‘Destroyer Golem’ were struck by lightning and vaporized before my eyes. A feeling of dread flowed through me. My entire offense was gone.

 

“When you draw again,” C.D. said, “the count will move to nineteen. When your turn ends, and my turn begins, the turn count will reach twenty and you will lose! You can’t attack me. You have already lost!”

 

I prepared to begin my final turn, looking over my hand of mostly useless cards, and wondered if my opponent was right.

 

 

Marco

 

 

“Nothing’s indestructible,” I said, “not even you ‘Gelen Duo’. I’ll find a way to get through them.”

 

I drew. I didn’t get what I wanted, but I did get something with the potential to be just as good.

 

“Activate ‘Pot of Greed’,” I declared, pulling my two newest cards. I couldn’t help but frown in disappointment.

 

Well, I’m gonna win, I thought, but I’ll have to rely on him again to do it.

 

I scowled, I don’t like it, but… “I set three cards and pass.”

 

“Then it’s time for me to get this show on the road!” said Spark. “I draw.”

 

He smiled.

 

“I play the ultimate symbol of my heavenly favor, ‘Card of Sanctity’.”

 

Long story short, we drew a bunch of cards. Not that it mattered much.

 

“Next,” Spark continued, “I play ‘Mystical Space Typhoon’ to destroy the troublesome crystal ‘Dragon’s Treasure’.”

 

A precise funnel of wind struck the crystal embedded in the armor of my ‘Dragonic Knight’’s chest. The crystal shattered (3100-300=2800).

 

“My ‘Gelen Duo’ is two monsters in one,” Spark explained, “so I can tribute if for a monster that would usually require two sacrifices. A monster like ‘Majestic Mech – Goryu’!”

 

Oh, well, I thought as the twin fairies were replaced by another of Spark’s trademark dragons, that’s just plain dandy.

 

“Next I play ‘Monster Reborn’,” Spark continued, “to revive the dragon destroyed earlier!”

 

There was a flash of red light and the dragon that I’d managed to destroy a few turns ago, the first ‘Goryu’, returned with vengeance in its eyes.

 

And that just makes everything sooo much better. This is gonna hurt.

 

“My original dragon attacks,” Spark declared, “destroying your ‘Knight’.”

 

The revived ‘Goryu’ blew a beam of light that engulfed my monster, burning him up (5800+2800-2900=5700).

 

“And the second dragon attacks directly.”

 

At its masters command, Spark’s newest monster attacked, bathing me in a deadly light (5700-2900=2800).

 

I was wrong, I thought, gasping. That hurt way worse than I thought.

 

 

Rachel

 

 

“My ‘Elemental Hero’ isn’t through with you yet,” said Zero. “I play ‘Polymerization’, fusing together two monsters in my hand: ‘Elemental Hero Ocean’ and ‘Blizzard Warrior’!”

 

‘Absolute Zero’ appeared in a swirl of light and icy air.

 

“Behold the return of my ultimate monster!” Zero exclaimed in dramatic fashion. “’Absolute Zero’, attack ‘Barbaros’!”

 

“My monster won’t roll over for your weak ‘Hero’,” I declared, once again focusing on the relationship between he and his monster, trying to reach the boy inside. ‘Beast Machine King Barbaros Ür’, destroy it now!”

 

My beast fired his beam guns, just as the icy warrior drew back to strike, blasting the warrior apart. He became shards of ice that hung above his conqueror.

 

“My ‘Hero’ takes your monster with him,” Zero explained, and the shards of his monster shot toward me, shredding him to pieces. My opponent’s turn completed, I drew to begin my own.

 

“I set a card, and I end my turn. Let’s see what else you’ve got.”

 

[spoiler=Card of the Day]

There are so many reasons why this card is awesome. It it can accelerate "Final Countdown", "Swords" or "Nightmare Steel Cage", and it can shorten the effects of the "Virus" cards. Oh how I wish it were real...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter The Emperor's Four, Part Four of Four (in case the naming pattern has somehow alluded you until now)

 

The four duels against the Emperor's Four conclude, some more tragically than others.

[legendhiro]

and here it is! the shocking conclusion to the four-part mini-arch!

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Chapter Fifteen]

 

The Emperor’s Four, Part Four of Four

 

I waited a few seconds, but my opponent didn’t seem ready to continue the duel. He seemed lost in thought.

 

“You okay,” I asked, “or do I need to call an ambulance?”

 

My opponent said nothing.

 

“You really shouldn’t feel bad about losing your ‘Hero’ again,” I said. “After all, you really are too evil to be using ‘Hero’ cards anyway.”

 

I smiled, proud of myself, as my opponent’s face flashed anger yet again, his fists shaking.

 

“Oh, what,” I asked, “don’t like hearing the truth? Well too bad! That’s the truth. You work for a villain, and that makes you a villain too. Villains don’t deserve to use ‘Hero’ monsters.”

 

And suddenly it was like something snapped. My opponent jerked his head, turning to look right at me. His hood fell away from his face. He was just a kid, probably no older than Marco.

 

“I am not a villain!” he cried. “I can’t help what he makes me do. He’s too str-.”

 

He stopped talking, and looked around.

 

“It’s gone,” he said. “The pressure in my mind that keeps me doing what Emperor wants me to do. It’s gone! He isn’t influencing my actions anymore!”

 

He smiled and looked around, testing his feet and hands, taking deep breaths through his nose and mouth. I watched him, and I felt something that I hadn’t felt since I was a kid. I felt excitement for someone else, and it made me happy. It took a few minutes, but finally Zero remembered that I was there.

 

“You did this, didn’t you?” Zero asked. “All of those things you said to make me mad, you said them to get me to break free.”

 

I smiled, “You could say that. After all, I know better than anybody that anger is a strong emotion, and it’s one of the hardest to keep bottled in. But mostly I just like to piss people off. Now what do you say you cancel this annoying Shadow Game so I can go and kick Emperor’s ass?”

 

Zero’s face grew solemn. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but I can’t. Emperor gives us our shadow powers by transmitting his magic through these crystals,” he removed a clear crystal necklace from its place behind his shirt.

 

“We don’t control the power,” Zero explained further, “we only direct it. I can’t end this Shadow Game. That means one of us is going to die today,” Zero’s expression grew dark, “and it’s not going to be me.”

 

He drew, “I play ‘Blizzard Warrior’, I set a card, and I attack.”

 

‘Blizzard Warrior’, his dual-ended blade in hand, appeared and slashed me with his weapon (7900-1400=6500).

 

I looked into my opponent’s eyes and thought, I wanted to save this kid, and all I did was make things worse. Maybe I’m the real villain here.

 

Without a word, I did the only thing I could do. I drew my next card.

 

 

Prof

 

 

“Sorry I waited so long to do anything,” I said, “but I was curious to see if you were smart enough to actually defeat me. In case you were wondering, you’re not.”

 

“Hey,” Brock roared, “I am too smart! I’m way more smarter than everyone, and I’m gonna prove it by crushin’ you next turn!”

 

“Sure you will, big guy,” I mocked, “sure you will. But in the mean time, I’m gonna kill your big stupid ass.

 

“I summon ‘Giant Kozaky’!” I declared, and the massive, tank-like, four-armed mech appeared. “But my mech won’t be under my control for long. I’m planning to hand it over to you. Don’t try to figure out why, it’ll just make your brain hurt.

 

“I play ‘Creature Swap’. I give you control of my ‘Giant Kozaky’, and in exchange I get control of your only monster, your ‘Flame Ogre’!”

 

“What?” Brock exclaimed. “Wait, no!”

 

“Oh yeah,” I replied as the two monsters switched sides. “I’m not done either,” I explained. “See, ‘Giant Kozaky’ can only exist if ‘Kozaky’ is around to maintain it. If my ‘Kozaky’ were to disappear, ‘Giant Kozaky’ would be destroyed. And when ‘Giant Kozaky’ is destroyed, its controller takes damage equal to its base Attack! I activate the Trap card ‘Spark Breaker’ to destroy ‘Kozaky’!”

 

 

A bolt of lightning struck ‘Kozaky’ and he was destroyed. It was a sacrifice for victory. One that my monster, like myself, was willing to make. As soon as ‘Kozaky’ was gone from the field, ‘Giant Kozaky’ exploded, blasting twenty-five hundred points worth of damaging fire over my opponent (6150-2500=3650).

 

“Now,” I said, “I equip ‘Flame Ogre’ with the Spell card ‘Megamorph’. Because I allowed you to drop my Life Points so low, this Spell double’s the ‘Ogre’’s Attack.”

 

A spell ring appeared at the ‘Ogre’’s feet, and the already large monster nearly doubled in size, his strength doubling with him (ATK: 3300->5700).

 

“I attack.”

 

The massive monster swung his fist, striking his stunned former master.

 

“No!” Brock cried. “No! Emperor said I’d win! He promised!”

 

I watched, sympathetic, as my simple-minded opponent was swallowed by the Shadows.

 

 

Marco

 

 

“Spark,” I said, “you’re a little bit crazy. I feel kinda bad for you, getttin’ mixed up with Emperor. But you’re in our way. I have to beat you, even if it means calling on him.

 

“Sorry for this,” I said. Well, not really.

 

I closed my eyes and allowed the darkness within me to bubble over, and the changes began.

 

 

Dark Marco

 

 

I opened my eyes and looked up at my opponent’s two monsters. I know I really should have been paying attention to Marco’s whole duel, but the kid just plain bores me, so this was the first time in a couple turns that I saw the state of the field.

 

I smiled.

 

“Dark One!” Spark cried, and immediately it clicked that this guy wasn’t quite right in the head.

 

“Yeah, yeah,” I said for the freaking umpteenth time in my lifetime (you don’t get a lot of people that recognize beings like me, but when you do, they all react in one way or another), “I’m Marco’s so called dark side. So what? I’m still gonna kick your ass, same as if I weren’t. Better even.

 

“Watch and learn,” I continued. “I begin by activating Marco’s face-down Trap card ‘Disappear’. This lets me remove one of Marco’s pitiful ‘Troop Dragons’ from play, making the number of monsters in our Graveyard exactly equal three. I follow up by paying one thousand Life Points to change the Attributes of those monsters to Dark (2800-1000=1800).”

 

My smile returned, even wider.

 

“Now, because I have exactly three Dark monsters in the Graveyard, I can summon my Spirit,” a swirling black fire rose up behind me, and the armored black dragon emerged from it, gnashing his teeth and flexing his claws, “the ‘Dark Armed Dragon’ (ATK: 2800)!”

 

I watched the fear spread across my opponent’s face. It made me giddy.

 

“I remove all three of the Dark monsters in our Graveyard from play to destroy your dragons and your sky temple.”

 

‘Dark Armed Dragon’ spun his arms in black fire and flung it in three bursts. The two ‘Goryu’ dragons shattered like glass, and the ‘Sanctuary in the Sky’ exploded. Within moments we were “back” in the corridor deep underground.

 

My opponent summoned up a bit of his absent courage. “still have all of my Life Points,” he declared. “I’ll survive because I’m destined to survive.”

 

“Yeah, right, and I’m destined to paint myself red and dance the naked mambo,” I snapped sardonically. “Really, guy, can you please not be a typical sore loser. It annoys me.”

 

I paused for a response, but Spark was too frozen in something between defiance and fear to respond.

 

“Well, anyway, on with the show. I reveal ‘Return from the Different Dimension’, paying half of my Life to summon Marco’s four monsters that have been removed from play.

 

The sky behind me opened up, and out stepped the three useless ‘Troop Dragons’, which fell into defense mode, and ‘Dragonic Knight’ (ATK: 2800).

 

Spark smiled, “It’s still not enough.”

 

“Oh,” I said, “yes it is. Because I equip my ‘Dark Armed Dragon’ with ‘United We Stand’.”

 

The dark dragon roared and his power grew (2800+(800x5)=6800).

 

“’Dragonic Knight’ attacks,” I commanded, and the armored warrior dragon slashed with his sword, carving a bloody gash across Spark’s chest, contributing to my good mood (8000-2800=5200).

 

“And the ‘Dark Armed Dragon’ finishes it.”

 

The black dragon wound his arms in black fire and swiped. Spark was ripped apart, becoming little more than wisps of smoke, his screams echoing in the darkness.

 

 

Rocky

 

 

I looked up at the eighteen flames hanging overhead. One more turn. After my Draw Phase, when the nineteenth flames appeared, I’d have just that one more turn before the twentieth would appear and I would die. I had a partial plan in place, but as low as my opponent’s Life Points were, I still needed a solid monster to finish him off. I had a monster in mind, and fortunately for me, it was the one monster in my deck that seemed to pop up whenever I needed it.

 

I steeled myself up and drew, and I didn’t even try to hide my excitement. Everything had fallen neatly into place, just as I’d planned it.

 

“This duel is over C.D.,” I said, “you lose.”

 

“Not possible,” C.D. replied dismissively.

 

“Sorry,” I replied, “but you’re wrong. See, there’s more than one way to remove monsters from the field. I flip-summon ‘Guardian Sphinx’!”

 

A massive sphinx appeared behind me, his eyes glowing red, his head scraping the high ceiling (ATK: 1700).

 

“When ‘Guardian Sphinx’ is flip-summoned,” I explained, “every monster my opponent controls is returned to my opponent’s hand.”

 

“No!” my opponent cried as the three sorceresses faded in a burst of light.

 

“Next,” I said, “I tribute ‘Guardian Sphinx’ to summon my Soul card,” The golden stone statue appeared in the place of the ‘Guardian’, “Exxod, Master of the Guard’ (ATK: 0). I also flip-summon the last face-down monster remaining on my field, my ‘Great Spirit’. And when a monster is flip-summoned, ‘Exxod’’s effect activates, dealing you one thousand damage.”

 

A muscular male monster appeared. He wore body paint and Native-American-style head dressings, and he had a ghostly tail like a genie (ATK: 500). ‘Exxod’’s eyes flashed, and C.D. was hit by a blast of red light, which was deflected by a barrier.

 

“You know,” C.D. said, “when you cleared the field of my monsters, I really expected you to attack. Lucky for me, you stuck to your effect damage strategy. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t have a way to counter an effect damage strategy? After all, it is the only kind of strategy that can hurt me.

 

“I discard ‘Hanewata’, preventing all effect damage that you would inflict on me this turn.”

 

“Who said I was planning to burn you to death?” I asked. “I plan to attack.”

 

“Not with those monsters you won’t.”

 

“Wrong,” I countered. “My ‘Great Spirit’ has an effect as well. When he’s flip-summoned, I can exchange the Attack and Defense of one of my monsters.”

 

An aura surrounded ‘Exxod’, and to my opponent’s unpleasant surprise, the massive statue came to life, flexing his massive arms (ATK: 0->4000).

 

“Well,” said C.D., “that’s pretty bad, huh?”

 

I nodded, “Yeah. ‘Exxod’, attack.”

 

‘Exxod’ swung his mighty fist, right toward my opponent. To C.D.’s credit, he didn’t flinch, he didn’t cry out, and he didn’t complain. The attack hit and C.D.’s Life Points plummeted (3000-4000=0). My monster retracted his fist and disappeared, the nineteen flames going with him, leaving nothing of C.D. behind, save a puff of smoke.

 

 

Rachel

 

 

I felt bad for my opponent, but I still had to win. Tim’s life was on the line, and there was nothing in the world that I cared more about than that.

 

“I play ‘Pot of Avarice’,” I declared, “shuffling ‘Cross-Wing’, ‘Rock-Lizard’, ‘Chimera’, ‘Berfamet’, and ‘Gazelle’ back into my deck to draw two cards.”

 

I shuffled and drew, carrying on with my turn without hesitation. “Next, I play ‘Monster Reborn’ to revive my ‘Machine King Barbaros’ in attack mode!”

 

A glowing red ankh appeared, blossoming into the mighty beast, his guns held high.

 

I can’t hesitate. After all, if I did, I might remember that I was trying to kill a kid.

 

“Normally my monster’s power prevents him from damaging your Life Points,” I explained, “but I play ‘Forbidden Chalice’. This Spell increases the Attack of my monster by four hundred (3800+400=4200) and cancels his effect for the remainder of the turn. I attack ‘Blizzard Warrior’,” ‘Barbaros’ took aim, “Flashing Destructive Bullet!”

 

‘Barbaros’ unleashed a hellfire of destructive beams, blowing the ‘Blizzard Warrior’ away in an instant and striking Zero himself with all of the extraneous blasts, nearly knocking him over (7500+1400-4200=4700). Zero steadied himself.

 

“Reveal,” I continued, “the Trap card ‘Lifeforce Exchange’. I trade the Level Eight Beast-Warrior-type ‘Machine King Barbaros’ on the field with the Level Eight Beast-Warrior-type ‘Beast King Barbaros’ in my Graveyard.”

 

 

‘Barbaros’’ metallic armor fell away from his body, and he dropped his beam guns, his lance and shield appearing in his hands (ATK: 3000).

 

“I attack again,” ‘Barbaros’ thrust his lance, “Deadly Legion!”

 

The air shook and zero was thrown backward through the air (4700-3000=1700). He rose to his feet again, a thoughtful look in his eyes. After a few minutes, Zero finally looked up at me, looking me in the eyes, and said, “I play ‘Fusion Sage’ to search my deck for ‘Polymerization’.”

 

He fanned out his deck and chose his card.

 

“And I play it,” Zero continued, “fusing once again into ‘Absolute Zero’.”

 

For the last time, the icy warrior appeared, his cape fluttering behind him.

 

“I attack,” said Zero, “and reveal ‘DNA Transplant’, transforming the Attribute of your monster to Water and boosting my ‘Hero’’s power. We’re equal.”

 

‘Barbaros’ struck with the full force of his lance, just as he was slashed in two by the ‘Hero’’s attack. They were both destroyed. I was shocked. Zero spoke calmly, “I end my turn.”

 

I stared at my opponent, confounded. “But why?” I asked. “If you’d defended you would have survived, and maybe even made a counterattack next turn.”

 

And that’s when I saw it. A single tear, running down my young opponent’s cheek. “Promise me,” he said. “Promise me that he’ll pay.”

 

He looked me in the eyes, “Promise me that Emperor will pay for all that he did to me. All that he made me do.”

 

I nodded, “I promise.”

 

Zero nodded back and smiled, and I smiled back at him sadly.

 

“I draw,” I declared, “and summon ‘Phantom Beast Wild-Horn’.” The deer-like beast warrior appeared, his blade raised high (ATK: 1700).

 

“I attack,” I commanded. My monster charged, and I looked away as he ran my opponent through. It took me a minute to realize that I was crying.

 

[spoiler=Card of the Day]

I just love this card. I mean look at it! It's a giant lion man with robot armor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter Timothy

 

Rocky helps Rachel deal with the aftermath of her duel, and then, finally, the team reaches its goal.

[senron]

Woohoo! Two chapters in as many days! They were top quality. I feel really sorry for Zero, he only wanted to be a hero. I feel kind of sorry for Spark and Brock. They weren't right in the head the first being insane, the other being stupid. I have to respect C.D, he kept his cool through to the end. I hope the Emporer suffers for all the pain he's caused. He deserves to get the same fate as the Shadow, demon thing in DA. Having to just float around for all eternity. He'd be so bored he'd want to kill himself but he couldn't. He'd be essentially dead too so, yeah. I think Timothy's gone turncoat/ been brainwashed.

[legendhiro]

senron! good to see you(r text in the thread)! interesting theory about tim. lucky for you the team reaches their goal in the next chapter, and we get to see what has become of him, so you will get to see if your theory holds ground.

 

emperor's fate is an interesting one, and one that could not be more fitting. you will see what i mean soon.

 

also, if anyone has been wondering what emperor's plan is, that will also be revealed shortly.

 

only five chapters remain!

[legendhiro]

the next chapter of DE is up! be ready for a huge shocker.

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Chapter Sixteen]

 

Timothy

 

 

Rocky

 

 

I stepped out of the corridor and looked around. Prof and Marco were standing nearby. Prof was yammering on about something while Marco tried desperately to pretend that he was somewhere else.

 

“Hey, Robert!” said Prof cheerfully as soon as he saw me. He turned and walked toward me, leaving Marco breathing a sigh of relief. “I met a member of Emperor’s Four in the corridor,” Prof began happily, “and after I beat him, I ended up here. I realized pretty quickly that all four corridors actually led right here. Their entire purpose is to do just what they did; separate intruders from one another and make them easier to defeat! Quite clever. I really expected Rachel to find her way out next, after me, so you can only imagine how surprised I was when Marco was the first to join me, followed by you! Pretty interesting, eh?”

 

“Oh yeah,” I said, feigning agreement, “just riveting.”

 

“You don’t sound very sincere,” said Prof.

 

“Hmmm,” I replied, “maybe that’s because I’m not.” I ignored Prof’s hurt look and asked, “So obviously you guys won. How strong were your opponents?”

 

“Mine was a more than decent player,” Marco answered. “Really good, actually. But he was freakin’ crazy, and it got in the way of his playing. In fact, he seemed to think he couldn’t lose because of some kind of destiny Emperor told him he had.”

 

“My opponent was also very strong," said Prof. "He used a dangerous fusion of Burn and Power strategies that would have been lethal if he hadn’t been so stupid. I mean, dirt stupid. He was so convinced of his power that I think Emperor must have coaxed him as well.”

 

“The opponent I battled almost beat me,” I told them, “but only because I let his combo sneak up on me, and because he wasn’t prepared for my more indirect offensives. All it took was a lucky draw and some creative thinking to ensure the win.”

 

Prof caught the direction of my train of thought, and his expression turned thoughtful, “It doesn’t sound like any of us fought against a Duelist strong enough to defeat a member of Team One. Which means-.”

 

“Which means,” Marco said, the revelation clicking for him as well, “that the Emperor’s Four could only have beaten Team One if someone told them how to ahead of time. Emperor probably observed Team One in the field, selected four Duelists who he thought would be suited against them, and then coached the Four on how to win. He probably coached them on how to beat those bodyguard guys too.”

 

“Marcus and Raphael,” Prof corrected. “Yes, my thoughts exactly.”

 

“If he took the time to coach his boys on how to beat the others, then why didn’t he coach them on how to beat us, too?” Marco wondered.

 

“There are two options,” I replied. “Either Emperor was careless, or a much more likely reason. The same reason Emperor basically teleported us here himself. Emperor didn’t really want us to lose. He just wanted us to think he did.”

 

“Wait a minute,” came a voice behind me. I turned to see Rachel emerging from the final corridor. “I only caught the end of that, but I got the gist. Do you really think that this entire defense was just Emperor’s attempt to lull us into a false sense of security? To get us to drop our guard as we draw closer to him? That he did all of this not because he wants us beaten, but because he wants us here for some unknown reason?”

 

“Yeah,” I answered, “I do.”

 

Rachel looked confused, “Why?”

 

“Only one possibility,” said Prof.

 

“Yeah,” I said. “Emperor must need one or more of us to complete whatever plan he’s cooked up. More specifically, he needs that one or more of us here to get whatever it is he needs.”

 

“So do we keep going then?” Marco asked Prof. I got the feeling that if the answer were no, that he wouldn’t be happy about it.

 

“Tim’s life is at stake here,” Rachel answered before anyone else could speak, turning toward the only path ahead. “We don’t have a choice.”

 

She started forward with conviction, and the rest of us followed.

 

 

Rachel

 

 

As we entered the next and, hopefully, the final corridor, I made note of the fact that it was easily as long as the others, but comparatively much brighter. I didn’t notice much else beyond that and the great amount of detail carved into everything from the walls to the torches hanging from them. I was too busy thinking about Zero, and about what I’d been forced to do to him. Even though I’d been the first into the corridor, I soon drifted absent-mindedly to the back of the group. Prof was too busy boring Marco with random observations to notice, and Marco was too busy being bored likewise. But Rocky wasn’t at all preoccupied, and is just an annoyingly observant person in general. He drifted back to walk by my side.

 

“Are you okay?” he asked. “You look like something’s on your mind.”

 

Out of habit I summoned up my anger: my greatest defense. The only real defense possessed by someone as offensive as me. I felt my face flush with anger, but then I remembered that Rocky had been the first to volunteer to come with me and rescue Tim. Whether I liked it or not, he deserved an answer to his question. He had to understand who he’d thrown in with. I sighed, the anger leaving my body with my breath, and replied, “Yeah, something is bothering me.”

 

I thought about how to proceed. What if Rocky didn’t understand? What if he thought I was a monster and he left, taking the others with him? Could I carry on alone?

 

But I did owe Rocky the truth. I liked that he was my friend, and I wanted him to remain my friend, so I had to be honest.

 

So I asked, “Did your opponent seem like he was being manipulated by Emperor? I mean, like, magically manipulated?”

 

“No,” he answered. “It was pretty apparent that he was genuinely bad, or at the very least that he was fighting me of his own accord. I don’t think Emperor would risk surrounding himself with an inner circle that didn’t share his views willingly.”

 

“You’re wrong,” I told him. “That’s what I thought too, but we were both wrong. Your opponent may have been acting of his own free will, but my opponent was clearly being manipulated by the Shadow Millennium Rod. I didn’t realize until after the Shadow Duel began. The Emperor’s Four weren’t dueling using their own magical items. They were using Emperor’s power focused through magic crystals. And because it was Emperor’s intension for the losers to die, well, you know. I thought I could stop the duel by breaking Emperor’s hold on Zero, but he still ended up dying.”

 

Rocky nodded slowly, frowning, but he wasn’t upset. He was nodding his understanding. For some reason, when I saw that Rocky wasn’t upset, that made me mad.”

 

“Don’t you get?” I demanded. “I killed an innocent boy! Even worse, I managed to snap him out of Emperor’s control first, and then I killed him!.”

 

“Yeah,” Rocky replied calmly, “I get it. But I understand why you did what you did. There is more than one life at stake here. Emperor can’t be allowed to gain the power he’s seeking. Plus, Emperor has Tim. You have to get Tim back, because you love him.”

 

I felt myself blush and I looked away. I couldn’t decide whether I was embarrassed, or if I was pissed that Rocky had so matter-of-factly said aloud what I’d never had the courage to admit to myself.

 

“There’s no reason to be embarrassed,” Rocky said with a bit of a smile. “No one can help whether or not they love someone.”

 

I wasn’t sure how to respond to what he was saying, or to what I was feeling. After all, I spend most of my time trying to hide my emotions. So I steeled myself up and nodded.

 

“Tim’s always been there for me,” I began, compelled to defend my feelings for him. “He knows what I’m like. How damaged I am. He knows all of it, but he sees right past it. When I need someone to take my pain and my anger out on, Tim is always there for me. He even taught me to fight so that I’d have an outlet for my frustration. Ever since I came to the Elite, I’ve been horrible, and he’s never once held it against me.”

 

“He sounds like a great guy,” said Rocky. He seemed about to say more, but he stopped suddenly. The way he spoke about love made me wonder if he was speaking from experience. I might have asked him, but our conversation was interrupted.

 

“Hey kids,” said Prof, calling back to us from several yards ahead, “it looks like we’re here.” As Rocky and I moved to join our allies, Prof gestured up at the end of the corridor. At the pair of massive stone, gold-inlaid doors that ended it, blocking our way.

 

Rocky walked up to the doors and touched them. His Soul flickered. He stepped back, “There are two rooms beyond here. One looks like some kind of throne room. The other is a large chamber with some kind of platform.”

 

“Can you make out any people?” Prof asked him.

 

Rocky shook his head, “Whatever power Emperor is using to cloud my powers is as strong here as ever. I’m lucky I can see what I can.”

 

“Tim’s close,” I said. I could feel it. “He’s here, somewhere behind those doors. This must be Emperor’s chamber. I’d bet money that Emperor’s waiting for us behind these doors, in the throne room.”

 

“Then let’s give Emperor what he’s been waiting,” said Rocky, suddenly determined. He cracked his knuckles and his Soul glowed bright. He gestured, and the immense doors swung open, revealing a huge, brightly lit room, ornately decorated with rows of colored hieroglyphs lines with gold, all depicting men hard at work, pouring metal into a massive mold. There was a smaller, single door opposite us. Next to the door someone had constructed a raised platform from blocks of stone. Atop the platform, seated upon an ornate throne, was a cloaked figure. The figure rose to his feet, clapping slowly.

 

I felt my familiar rage return, Emperor!

 

The four of us charged into the room. We were all there for our own reasons. I wanted to save Tim from his captor. Prof thought Tim too important to abandon. Marco and his other self wanted a shot at the leader of the Order. Rocky just wanted to save people. Different reasons, but they all boiled down to one common desire. We all wanted more than anything else to defeat Emperor.

 

I voiced my desire with a force equaling my rage, “Give us Timothy!”

 

“You four did very well getting this far,” said Emperor, ignoring us, arrogance tainting what would have otherwise been an attractive, husky-sounding voice. “You must think very highly of yourselves, having beaten my lieutenants.”

 

“We already figured out that this whole situation was rigged from the start to lull us here, and that those four were never supposed to defeat us,” Prof replied defiantly. “Let me guess. You told them that we were far weaker than Team One, Marcus and Raphael, and that they didn’t need any coaching to defeat us, all so that we’d lose and end up with a false sense of security?”

 

Emperor’s barely-visible mouth curled into a smile beneath his hood, “You’re smarter than I gave you credit for. Either way, my plan is a success. You are here. And the deaths of those four stooges saves me from the trouble of disposing of them myself.”

 

I felt my anger flare, and I cried out, “Enough talking! I know you have Tim locked away in that chamber. I said give him back!”

 

There was a pause. We stood facing off with Emperor in silence, until he began to laugh. I was horrified to realize that I recognized that laugh…

 

“I thought you’d have figured it out by now, Rachel,” said Emperor. “I can’t give you Timothy.”

 

He took down his hood, and the four of us gasped.

 

“I am Timothy!”

 

Everything seemed to slow down suddenly. I couldn’t breathe as I studied the face of my enemy. Studied the face of the man I loved. He was wearing his hair differently, so that his bangs fell over the left side of his face, but there was no mistaking him.

 

Timothy was Emperor.

 

He always had been, I realized. It was how Emperor knew about the weakness in Gregory’s security spell. It was how he could coach the Emperor’s four to defeat the Elite’s strongest members. It all made sense. The only thing I didn’t understand was why.

 

I felt something hot running down my cheeks, and my knees began to shake before finally giving in. I fell to my knees, and as I knelt there, unable to move, I hung my head and I cried.

 

 

Rocky

 

 

Emperor lowered his hood, and Rachel collapsed, falling to her knees, sobbing so hard that I worried she wasn’t getting enough air. I dropped to my knees beside her.

 

“Rachel,” I said as soothingly as I could, “come on. Come on, be strong. Please, we still need you.”

 

“Yes,” said Emperor sweetly, sounding more like Tim now, “get up Rachel. ‘We’ need you.”

 

“Why?” I demanded as I helped a trembling, still-sobbing Rachel to her feet, helping to support her. “Why did you do this?!”

 

“Don’t get so upset, Robert,” Tim answered.

 

“Why shouldn’t I be upset?!” I cried. “You betrayed everyone! You betrayed your team, you betrayed your brother, and you betrayed Rachel!”

 

“Of course I didn’t betray Rachel,” said Emperor, his calm faltering momentarily. “I did all of this for Rachel!”

 

I was taken aback, “What do you mean?”

 

“Rachel’s parents were killed in an attack on her home, over something as trivial as a home invasion,” Emperor explained. “Sure, the invaders were searching for a Shadow Item, which is a bit more serious than the typical theft, but really that makes my point even more valid. People everywhere break into homes, mug men and women on the street at night, rob convenience store owners at gunpoint. Men and women lose their jobs and their homes. They starve and die. They are betrayed daily by a corrupt government run by politicians who are only concerned with lining their own pockets. And that’s just the United States! There are even worse things happening everywhere, all across the planet, all because no one really cares enough to do something about all of the death and destruction throughout this world! There’s only one way to prevent these atrocities and make sure people stop hurting each other. Someone has to step up and take upon himself the burden of seizing and ruling this world! Of remolding it through force into a world with no pain. No anger! This is my only goal. I’ve had to make sacrifices. I knew Greg would never understand what I meant to do, so I removed him from the equation, permanently.”

 

“You’re crazy,” said Marco.

 

“And how,” Prof asked, “do you plan to ‘reshape’ the entire world?”

 

Emperor smiled, “Like this!” All in one motion Emperor threw off his cloak, the motion of it pushing his hair away from his face, and he drew two objects from his belt, holding them up in triumph. His left eye was gone, replaced by a black metalic ball with a silver Egyptian eye molded into it; the Shadow Millennium Eye. Around his neck he wore the Shadow Millennium Pendant and the Shadow Millennium Ring, along with a second, key-shaped pendant that I only assumed was the much sought-after Shadow Millennium Key. In his right hand he held a set of scales, and in his left hand he carried the short staff that could manipulate minds, the Shadow Millennium Rod, its silver eye glowing faintly.

 

Six items! I gasped.

 

“I see,” said Prof. “But why only six? Couldn’t little Timmy find all seven?”

 

Emperor’s smile widened, “That’s why you’re here. Well, more specifically, that’s why Rachel is here.” He looked the still-shocked Rachel in the eyes and said, “Poor Rachel. She never did understand the power she wields.”

 

“What does this have to do with Rachel?” I demanded.

 

“You see,” said Emperor, “the seven Shadow Millennium Items are most powerful when together, when their power is amplified through the Shadow Millennium Pendant. But their power has the potential to become even greater than that! When possession of the Shadow Millennium Items is passed to a single wielder in the temple where they were forged, and their powers are focused through the Pendant, they unlock a magical power so great that it is second only to the long-lost power of the Millennium Items. A power greater than the Duelist’s Souls. But there is a catch. At least one of the Items must change hands within the temple itself. That means that for my powers to be awakened, I must gain possession of seventh Item within the temple.”

 

Realization overcame Prof. He looked around at the paintings on the walls. The paintings of men pouring metal into a massive mold. “This is that place, isn’t it?” He asked. “The Shadow Millennium Items were forged here, in that room behind you.”

 

Emperor nodded. I ignored him, demanding once again, “What does this have to do with Rachel?!”

 

Emperor smiled arrogantly, looked right into my eyes and said, “The seventh and final Shadow Millennium Item is the Shadow Millennium Necklace.”

 

It took a second for the significance of Emperor’s statement to sink in, and everything fell into place. “Rachel’s necklace,” I said. “Her necklace is the final Item, isn’t it.”

 

Emperor only smiled. Then he looked Rachel in the eyes and said, “Now my dear, give me the Necklace, and we will rule this world together.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter Bonds, Part One

 

Rocky stands up to Emperor in defense of Rachel and his other friends. Does he have the power and the conviction to overcome Emperor's Shadow Millennium Items?

[senron]

Whoo, new chapter! It was awesome! There was character development and stuff! And I WAS RIGHT! I'M BACK BABY! I was worried I'd lost my mojo. Though, I had NO idea that Tim and the Emporer were one and the same. You did a great job with that. And, he's my favorite kind of villian: the one who becomes evil and plans to take control of everything to stop crime and suffering. It's always sad to see them go. I wonder what type of deck Tim uses?

[legendhiro]

he is one of my favorite types of villains as well, though my favorite types of villains are probably ones like Dark Marik or the Joker. ones who are just bats**t crazy and do what they want for no other reason than they want to.

 

as for his deck you already saw some of it against Greg. Tim/Emperor uses a monarch deck that allows him multiple summons, and therefore multiple monarch effects, each turn. his deck moves quickly (more quickly than it would in reality ;) ), and can remove almost any obstacle in only a few turns maximum. anyone who faces him will have to attack quickly, before Emperor can overpower them. it will be Rocky's unconventional offensive maneuvers that give him a chance, but it will take a miracle for him to win.

[Stigma_Horrizone]

can't wait for it

[legendhiro]

hey, jjack! good to see ya buddy. i guess it's stigma now, huh?

[Stigma_Horrizone]

hey, jjack! good to see ya buddy. i guess it's stigma now, huh?

yup^^

[legendhiro]

the final battle begins!

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Chapter Seventeen]

 

Bonds, Part One

 

 

Rachel

 

 

My head felt heavy, and everything seemed a little distant. But even through the confusion, I heard Tim’s beckoning voice, “Give me the Necklace.”

 

Before I knew what was happening, I was walking toward him. There was no other possible option. No other possible destination. I reached up and removed the Necklace, holding it out to him, a mere four steps away.

 

Step.

 

I was vaguely aware of Rocky calling out to me. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but for some reason I tried to hear him anyway.

 

Step.

 

Rocky called to me again. This time, through all of the fogginess, I heard a single word: Rod.

 

Step.

 

I looked over at the Shadow Rod in Tim’s hand. He set down the scales to receive my Item, but he kept the Rod firmly in his grasp. The Rod with its silver eye glowing.

 

Step.

 

Suddenly it was as if my mind had cleared and a whole new world had opened up for me. I understood. Everything became clear. I saw a vision of the day that Tim and I had met. Somehow I knew that the vision came from my Necklace. On that day, Tim had been interested in my necklace. He’d even offered to let me exchange it for another Shadow Item. One with fewer bad memories attached. But I’d told him that I would never give up the Necklace that my parents had died for. That I’d protect it with my life. Tim had stayed close to me after that, and every time I’d seen him since, he’d looked right at my Necklace.

 

I realized in that very moment why it was that Tim had really spent time me. Why he’d really gotten so close. He was after my Necklace the whole time, waiting for an opportunity to take it from me.

 

Suddenly everything was clear, the Rod’s spell broken by the strength of my revelation. Emperor reached out for the Necklace, his fingers mere inches from his objective. Just as his fingers brushed the chain, I pulled it back, holding it close against my chest.

 

“No,” I said. “You never really cared about me. You were just waiting for a chance to get the Necklace, and when you realized that I’d never let you have it, and that I’d never let you take it, you decided to go after the other Items first. To save mine for last.”

 

Emperor’s once welcoming expression turned vicious, and in a harsh voice he cried, “I will have that Necklace! If you won’t give it me, then I’ll use the power I already have to take it from you!”

 

The immense stone doors behind us swung violently shut. I took a step back from Emperor as he picked up the Shadow Scales. I pulse of light spread from the six Items, and I felt the power disappear from my Shadow Item disappear as Emperor prepared to strike.

 

Emperor lunged at me, reaching for my Shadow Millennium Necklace. I stepped back, but I was too slow. He was going to catch me. Then, suddenly, Prof and Rocky were there. Prof deflected Emperor’s hand up and then twisted to the side, out of the way, as Rocky came in low and drove up, meaning to deliver a powerful blow to Emperor’s jaw. But Emperor was quick. He leaned back, just out of Rocky’s reach and gripped the Shadow Scales and Shadow Rod more tightly in his hands. There was a flash of light from the six items and the three of us found ourselves slammed against the closed double doors. We were down, too stunned to rise. But Marco was still up. He stepped between me and Emperor, his hair standing up, color draining from it.

 

“You won’t get to the girl,” Marco announced in the harsh, confident voice of Dark Marco. There was a flash and the ‘Dark Armed Dragon’ appeared by his side. The dragon wound its arms in black fire and swiped its mighty claws at Emperor. He leaped out of the way, the claws leaving a three-foot-deep gash in the ground where he stood. The dragon struck again, and again Emperor narrowly avoided his would-be fate. He summoned up another pulse of light. From the light emerged a tall warrior in complete armor, colored black, wearing a tattered cape. The warrior summoned darkness into his hands and released it, engulfing the dragon. With his monster gone, Dark Marco was left open to Emperor’s next magical attack. He was thrown into the wall and knocked unconscious, his hair returning to normal. I looked up at Emperor. There was nothing left separating me from him.

 

I stood up and moved to meet Emperor head on. I threw punch after kick, but Emperor was able to counter each blow with ease, even with the Shadow Rod and Shadow Scales in his hands.

 

“Do you really expect to defeat me?” Emperor asked. “I’m the one who taught you to fight, and I have the Shadow Millennium Eye. I can see every choice that enters your mind as you make it!”

 

“I won’t give up!” I declared, and I made one final, desperate move, but before it could connect, I found myself flying through the air once again. I hit was wall and fell to the ground beside my friends yet again. I hit my head and felt my vision blur. I was too stunned to rise. I guess my last attack had been closer to its mark than I thought, though, because Emperor was shaken.

 

“If you insist on fighting me,” Emperor cried, his expression of frustration twisting into one of desperate rage, “then I’ll crush you and take the Necklace from your corpse!”

 

He raised his Shadow Rod toward the ceiling, and chunks of stone broke free and fell toward me. I threw up my arms in desperation, knowing all the while that me efforts were in vain, and waited for the end to come. But it never did. There was a flash of light, and as I watched from behind my arms, the falling stone became harmless sand. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and I looked over just in time to see Rocky rise to his feet. The look in his eyes made me afraid, until I remembered that he was my friend, and that all of that pain and emotion was directed at Emperor. The thought alone made me smile.

 

 

Rocky

 

 

I was angry. I was angrier than I ever remember feeling in my entire life. But even more than I was angry, I was determined. I knew that, one way or another, I would keep Emperor from harming my friends. Letting him by was not an option.

 

“You can’t beat me any more than the others can,” said Emperor confidently.

 

I smiled, “We’ll see.”

 

I lunged, swinging my leg up and dropping my heel hard, aiming right for Emperor’s collar bone. The blow would have broken the bone and brought Emperor forcefully, and painfully, to his knees. But Emperor was fast. All in one motion he returned the Rod and Scales to his belt, ducked to the side, spun, and launched a kick at my head. Letting my instincts guide my movements, I ducked under his foot and slid gracefully to the side, avoiding a follow-up knee strike.

 

I rolled in, punching high with my weaker left fist. Emperor caught the blow as I expected, and I used his grip on my hand as a hinge to swing my arm forcefully, making a blind strike with my elbow for Emperor’s solar plexus . He brought his palms together and caught me elbow, so I twisted into position and launched a backfist at his face.

 

Emperor ducked back out of the range of my blow. He was a good fighter, but he was even better at retreating. I stepped in close, negating his evasive motion, and thrust an elbow at his chest. I wanted to crush a few ribs. Emperor jumped backward like lightning and sailed into the air, aided by the power of his items. Without thinking, I swung my fist at him, and a chunk of stone tore loose from the floor and hurled toward my opponent.

 

Emperor summoned up another energy pulse that sent my stone attack spiraling away. He landed a moment later, only seven or so feet away. I axe kicked the ground, splitting stone, creating a growing crevice that lurched toward him. His Items flashed again, and he sailed twenty feet through the air, touching down gently atop his throne, where he stood calmly, facing me. He smiled as he reached behind his back. I barely noticed him pull a small blade from the handle of the Shadow Rod. There was a flash, and suddenly Emperor was on me, swinging his blade. I barely had time to react at all, but at the last second I managed to deflect the blade off of my Shield Disk, spin, and kick him right in the chest. He fell back, clutching his wound.

 

Emperor scowled and reconnected his blade with the Shadow Rod. He redrew the Rod and Scales from his belt and took a deep, focusing breath. Light arched from the other six Items to the Shadow Millennium Pendant, and the Pendant glowed brighter than the seven Items had glowed individually. I could have avoided Emperor’s desperation attack as it charged, but I’d had enough. I wanted this to end. This fight. This mission. Battles between the Elite and the Order. All of the heartbreaks and betrayals. All of it.

 

So when Emperor unleashed a blast of energy so powerful that it shook the entire the entire temple, I closed my eyes and called all of my energy together into my palm. I opened my eyes, and an array of light appeared before me. Emperor’s attack hit the array, and the array absorbed it and dispersed it harmlessly.

 

“That’s impossible,” said Emperor disbelievingly. “No one Duelist’s Soul can overcome the power of six Shadow Millennium Items!”

 

“Classic megalomaniacal attitude,” came a voice from behind me. Prof stepped up to my side, “You underestimated your foe. You assumed that you were the most powerful. In fact, you waited until you had six of the seven Shadow Millennium Items before you even attempted to take Rachel’s, because you wanted to be sure that you were the most powerful when you did. But despite all of your careful planning, you still managed to act rashly. You knew of my calculations. You knew what they predicted. That Rocky would be the one to defeat the new leader of the Order. But like your brother, you ignored them, because you believed yourself to be above such things. Thanks to your ego, you failed to take time and consider how Rocky might defeat you. Why the numbers predicted that he would.

 

“Rocky is why,” Prof continued, “and Rocky is how. Everything about him is geared toward being the perfect opposition to someone like you. Where you care for no one but yourself, Rocky gives of himself for the benefit of others. Every Soul draws its power from a particular trait of its wielder. The more prevalent that trait, the more powerful the Soul and its wielder become. The Soul of Earth is fueled by the trait of reliability. If its wielder wants to help people, he will have power. If he is willing to give of himself, his power grows. But if he reaches a point where he is willing to risk or even give his life to protect the lives of others, his power will become almost infinite. In other words, the longer he is willing to fight, the further he is willing to go, the stronger he becomes!”

 

I smiled, “And I don’t plan on rolling over and giving up any time soon.”

 

Emperor looked from me to Prof and then back to me. I saw fear flash in his scheming eyes, and he looked over his shoulder, turned, and ran toward the temple’s final room and, I assume, an alternate means of exiting the structure.

 

“No way,” I said, and my Soul flashed. Instantly Emperor found his way blocked by multiple arrays of light. Emperor scowled and turned slowly to face me.

 

“So it’s come to this,” he said. “Will you kill me, or will you give me a chance to win my freedom in a Shadow Duel?”

 

“I’m a fair man,” I said. “I’ll give you your chance, to win either your freedom, or your penalty.”

 

Emperor laughed as he took a duel disk from a holster on his back and slid it onto his wrist. He holstered his Rod and Scales in his belt and said, “Oh, Robert, you have finally made a mistake! You may be superior to me out of a duel, at least for now, but in a duel, there is no one superior to me.”

 

“I don’t care how ‘superior’ you are,” I replied. “I will defeat you. You will answer for your crimes.”

 

My Soul glowed, and the ground shook beneath my feet. I drew my opening hand and prepared to duel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter Bonds, Part Two

 

Rocky and Emperor begin their duel. Can Rocky overcome Emperor's powerful deck, able to summon virtually any one of his Monarchs whenever he wants?

[senron]

I liked the chapter, very actiony. That's all I can really say. But, the action was top quality. I could see the fight in my head and it was AWESOME!!!

[legendhiro]

that's what i was going for. my first non-yugioh/digimon fic will likely be a straight up action fic, so i'm trying to improve my description of action sequences. i'm hoping to actually do a manga for it, but i don't yet have enough confidence in my ability to draw manga.

[legendhiro]

Rocky faces down Emperor's strongest cards and doesn't flinch, but can his resolve hold?

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Chapter Eighteen]

 

Bonds, Part Two

 

 

“This should be fun,” said Emperor, his previous condescending attitude returning. “In fact, I’m excited that you’ll get to see my Deck of Royalty before you die. Let’s take it slowly, shall we. After all, I want to show off more than just a sampling of my deck.”

 

He drew six cards and continued, “I begin by summoning my ‘Emperor Sem’ in defense mode.”

 

A jackal-like spirit creature with bat-like wings and a ghostly tail making up the rear half of its body appeared at Emperor’s side. He scratched the creature behind the ear (DEF: 2200).

 

“This beast is an emperor over the dead,” Emperor explained, “and yet it is my servant. That is the height of my authority in this world, and in the Shadows.”

 

“I’m not impressed,” I told him. “Any Shadow Duelist can project their will on a creature and then claim to be that creature’s rightful ruler.”

 

Emperor’s only response was to glare at me. He was a bit more insecure than he let on, but that didn’t change the fact that he was strong enough to defeat Greg, a Duelist that everyone I’d talked to since joining the Elite had insisted was invincible. ‘Emperor Sem’ wasn’t a terribly threatening card, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had to be on guard against whatever additional card my opponent’s deck might contain. There was one type of card in particular that could be very effective when combined with ‘Sem’. A type of card that I was worried I couldn’t handle.

 

But I pressed forward. I’d made Emperor a promise, that he would answer for all that he’d done, and I meant it.

 

“I’ll show you how to mount a real defense. I play ‘Double Summon’, allowing me two Normal Summons this turn. I summon ‘Guardian Statue’,” a living statue with massive arms appeared, only to disappear a moment later in a swirling light, “and sacrifice it to summon the ‘Heiracosphinx’.”

 

An Egyptian Sphinx monster with the wings and head of a falcon appeared by my side, standing nearly ten feet tall (ATK: 2400).

 

“I give up my attack for the turn,” I continued, “to play ‘Gathering of the Sphinxes’.

 

 

This allows me to Special Summon ‘Criosphinx’ from my deck.”

 

Another Sphinx, this time with a humanoid torso topped with the head of a goat, appeared at my other side (DEF: 2400).

 

“Since I can’t attack, I simply set a card, and end my turn.”

 

“I thought you were going to show me something impressive,” Emperor mocked. “I guess I was wrong. Let me show you how childish your supposed ‘real defense’ really is, but shattering it.”

 

He drew, and I waited, anticipating his next move, “I play my ‘Double Summon’, summoning ‘Samsara Kaiser’, and tributing him to summon ‘Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch’!”

 

‘Samsara Kaiser’, a stout warrior in gray full body armor, a blue cape, and a helmet shaped like a thimble appeared and went the way of my ‘Guardian Statue’, replaced instantly by a ten-foot-tall warrior in red armor appeared, wreathed in fire (ATK: 2400).

 

“When ‘Thestalos’ is summoned,” Emperor explained, “he burns up the last card in your hand, and deals damage to you equal to the Level of that monster times one hundred.”

 

I discarded my ‘Stone Dragon’, and this time it was my turn to scowl as fire flickered around me, draining away my Life (8000-700=7300).

 

“When ‘Samsara Kaiser’ is tributed,” Emperor continued, “he’s returned to my hand afterward,” the sacrificial monster ejected from Emperor’s Graveyard and returned to his hand, “and whenever one of my monsters is Tribute Summoned, ‘Emperor Sem’ allows each of us to choose a card from our Graveyard and return it to the top of our deck, is we so desire.”

 

“I don’t have any card that I want to return,” I told him.

 

“I didn’t think so,” he replied. “Since I don’t have any cards in my Graveyard, neither do I. But I will set two cards before ending my turn. In mere moments your defenses will crumble.”

 

“I’d believe you,” I replied, “but so far I haven’t seen you play a single card that I can’t handle.

 

“I draw,” I declared, “and I play the card I just drew, the Spell card ‘Miracle Rupture’.

 

 

I send ‘Megarock Dragon’ from my deck to the Graveyard to draw one card.”

 

I did as the card suggested, and upon drawing my newest card, I smiled. I’d drawn just what I needed to complete my combination and retake control of the field. Now that I knew for sure that Emperor was using the rare and (to me at least) mostly unknown Monarch monsters, gaining control of the field was of utmost importance.

 

“Next,” I continued, “I activate the Spell card ‘Dragon’s Mirror’, fusing ‘Stone Dragon’ and ‘Megarock Dragon’ in my Graveyard together into one.”

 

The jagged-stone-armored ‘Stone Dragon’ and the massive, four-legged, wingless ‘Megarock Dragon’ appeared together on the field. They broke apart into individual stone pieces and then came together. The many pieces compressed together into a form a bit smaller than either of its components. The new monster was draconic, with a multi-segmented tail. His stone armor was swept back in curved shapes, and he had two curved horns protruding from the sides of his small head. In place of wings, long, curved blades swept up from his back, each blade inlaid with two bright blue sapphires. He held an additional sapphire in each hand.

 

 

“This is the ultimate evolution of the ‘Stone Dragon’,” I explained with pride, “the ‘Jewel-Stone Ryu’!”

 

My dragon roared (ATK: 2600).

 

“My monster attacks your ‘Monarch’,” I commanded. The two sapphires that the dragon held rose into the air at the dragon’s encouragement, shining blue light into the dragon’s open mouth. Light traveled down the dragon’s blade-like wings, coming from the top-most of the sapphires there, traveling up his neck, and joining with the light in his jaws. There was a flash, as the dragon prepared to fire.

 

“Reveal,” said Emperor, unconcerned by the imminent attack, “the Continuous Trap card ‘Ultimate Offering’. I give up five hundred Life (8000-500=7500) and tribute ‘Thestalos’ to summon ‘Raiza the Storm Monarch’!”

 

‘Thestalos’ was engulfed in a tremendous fire, and another armored warrior, its helm shaped vaguely like the head of a bird, appeared, its armor gleaming green. My dragon attacked, but ‘Raiza’ summoned up a magical wind so powerful that the dragon’s attack was dispersed and the dragon itself was blown clear off of the field.

 

“When ‘Raiza’ is Tribute Summoned,” Emperor explained, “his effect returns your ‘Ryu’ to the Fusion Deck.”

 

I took a deep calming breath. I thought I’d understood the power of the Monarchs before, but in that moment I realized that I’d underestimated them from the start. They literally gave their masters the power of strong monsters and strong Spells rolled into one, with their only weakness being that they needed a tribute to be summoned, and Emperor’s deck overcame that weakness with ease.

 

Emperor saw my distress and smiled, “I see that you’ve come to understand the situation you’re in. With this deck I can summon my Monarch monsters without hassle, giving me the freedom of complete field domination, just as a true emperor had complete dominion over his land and his people.

 

“Plus, I can do this. ‘Sem’ returns ‘Thestalos’ to the top of my deck. You’ll pass again, I believe.”

 

I grimaced. Emperor was leagues ahead of me, and there was little I could do about it.

 

But I wouldn’t give up. I couldn’t.

 

“I still have my ‘Sphinx’ cards,” I declared. “’Heiracosphinx’, attack ‘Sem’!”

 

“I activate the effect of ‘Ultimate Offering’ again,” Emperor explained (7500-500=7000), “to set one monster from my hand in face-down defense mode. And because the number of monsters on the defender’s field has changed, you must re-declare your attack.”

 

What should I do? I wondered, desperate. His set monster is probably just ‘Samsara Kaiser’, so attacking and destroying it wouldn’t harm me at all, but if I attack again, he’ll have another chance to tribute a monster for any Monarch that he might have on hand. But, if I don’t attack, he’ll have the same chance not only at the end of my Battle Phase, but during his own turn. If I force him to summon now, it will cost him more Life.

 

I looked from Emperor’s monsters to his remaining face-down card, Of course there’s always a chance that Emperor only summoned another monster to fulfill the requirements of a Trap, and that attacking now would be walking right into it.

 

I only have one choice, “I end my turn.”

 

To my surprise, or, I suppose, to my relief, Emperor did nothing as my Battle Phase ended.

 

“And that is why I’ll win,” said Emperor as he drew his next card. “You are so afraid of me that you can’t even call my bluffs. I tribute the face-down ‘Samsara Kaiser’ to summon ‘Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch’ back to the field, and to return ‘Kaiser’ to my hand.”

 

The fiery Monarch returned.

 

“Reveal,” Emperor declared, “the Continuous Trap card ‘By Order of the Emperor’. While I control this Trap, I can negate the effects of my Monarchs and draw one card instead.”

 

Emperor drew again, and his smile widened, “Activate ‘Pot of Greed’ to draw two more cards. And I tribute my ‘Emperor Sem’ (7000-500=6500) to summon ‘Kuraz the Light Monarch’!”

 

The demonic jackal faded into smoke, and a radiant golden Monarch appeared in its place, his arms raised.

 

“When ‘Kuraz’ is summoned,” Emperor explained, “instead of attacking, he can destroy any two cards on the field, and the owner of those cards gets to draw two cards.”

 

Beams of light shone from the Monarch’s hands, vaporizing my Sphinxes, and I drew two cards. A rather unfair deal if you ask me.

 

Emperor flashed me a wicked grin, “’Thestalos’ and ‘Raiza’ attack.”

 

The wind and fire Monarchs combined their powers into a fiery whirlwind that washed over me, scalding my skin and singing my cloths and hair. I couldn’t help but cry out (7300-4800=2500).

 

“That’s enough for now,” said Emperor, quite please with himself. “Go, and don’t feel bad if you want to surrender.”

 

I have to turn the tables now, I thought as I stared into the helmeted faces of three immensely powerful monsters, looming over me like an unpleasant omen.

 

If I don’t, I’ll die.

 

I looked over my field, at my one set card, and then back at the two cards in my hand, imagining Rachel, Prof and Marco standing behind me, depending on me, placing their futures in my hands.

 

If I die, Emperor will get Rachel’s Necklace, and he’ll control the world.

 

I felt my expression grow hard, I will not let that happen!

 

I drew, “Activate my ‘Pot of Greed’.” I drew my two cards, and everything began to fall into place, like a rock slide revealing a diamond in the rough.

 

“I play ‘Monster Reborn’,” I declared, “to revive my ‘Heiracosphinx’.”

 

The falcon-headed monster reappeared with a fierce squawk/roar (ATK: 2400).

 

“And I activate ‘A Shallow Grave’, allowing you to set you fallen ‘Emperor Sem’ onto the field, and allowing me to set any monster from my Graveyard in exchange.”

 

I chose a card to set on the field. Emperor did the same. I knew what his monster was, and I had no doubt that he knew that my monster was ‘Guardian Statue’.”

 

“Finally,” I concluded, “I set another monster, and I play ‘Shifting Shadows’, paying three hundred Life (2500-300=2200) to shroud my hidden monsters in deep shadows so that they can change places unseen, gaining a chance to avoid your attacks.”

 

Shadows covered my side of the field. They rolled like black smoke as my monsters moved within them.

 

“Plus,” I explained, “while I control ‘Heiracosphinx’, if you try to attack one of my face-down monsters, he’ll protect them. You can’t attack them, and thanks to ‘Shifting Shadows’ you don’t know which of my monsters to target with an effect. I end my turn.”

 

“This duel has gone on long enough,” said Emperor, fed up. “I wanted to show you my deck, a last courtesy before killing you all, but you’ve proved to be far too annoying to endure. I tribute ‘Emperor Sem’ to summon ‘Mobius the Frost Monarch’, a monster with the power to destroy not only ‘Shifting Shadows’ but you set card, the last obstacle to my attacks.”

 

A blue-armored Monarch with a helm like the head of a penguin joined the others, calling up a freezing wind that coated my cards in a deadly frost, making them brittle. They would shatter in moments.

 

I smiled.

 

“Reveal,” the ice around my face-down card didn’t prevent it from flipping up and into position, “the Trap card ‘Waboku’! Before it’s destroyed, my Trap summons the power of monks to protect my monsters from harm. Looks like you won’t be ending anything anytime soon.”

 

As a barrier formed around my monsters, Emperor angrily and reluctantly passed, helpless to attack, but still four Monarchs strong.

 

[spoiler=Card of the Day]

"Kuraz" is a powerful Monarch monster, with one of the most potent effects among his peers. Emperor uses the effect of "Kuraz" effectively, but Rocky is a top duelist able to abuse the Monarch's drawback to its fullest as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter Bonds, Part Three

 

Despite his best efforts, Rocky begins to fall behind, until his deck itself evolves before his eyes!

[senron]

Two chapters in as many days, I'm so happy! Can't wait 'till part three though, with Rocky probably summoning his favorite monster. He went to an effort to get both of the Sphinxes out, and he needs one to summon his soul card. Can't wait to see him again. He only got to show up for a couple of turns last time so this is gonna be fun to read.

[legendhiro]

rocky goes beyond summoning his Soul card. he also achieves a new level of his favorite monster, Giant Soldier of Stone. this next chapter will not only introduce more original cards than i've ever included in one of my main characters' decks, but an entirely new type of monster that i've decided will be the focus of my third mini-arch, Yu-Gi-Oh! DF Extra.

[senron]

So, basically you're saying Rocky gets to change his deck in the MIDDLE OF THE DUEL?! John's victory (in DF book 1) didn't count because he added ONE card THE NIGHT BEFORE the duel. Rocky is (theoretically) changing his ENTIRE deck DURING the duel. I think you're playing favorites Legend. But, I'm up for seeing a bunch of original cards and a new extra. Can't wait. (Even though Rocky's gonna cheat. *Shakes away in shame*.)

[legendhiro]

you misunderstand. he doesn't change his whole deck, but one card does appear, similar to how the majestic dragon tuner monster appears in the decks of yusei and jack atlas whenever they need to synchro summon majestic star or majestic red dragon. the original cards are just original cards. i made them for rocky's deck awhile ago and just didn't use them yet. they will, however, be instrumental in how rocky uses his "destined card" to win.

 

guess i didn't explain that too well ;)

[legendhiro]

the next chapter is up! rocky's duel with emperor reaches a surprising conclusion.

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Chapter Nineteen]

 

Bonds, Part Three

 

 

I’ve set myself up with a good defense, I thought, and I can even hurt him right now, but as things stand, I’m not going to be able to defeat Emperor. Not unless everything goes just right.

 

I’m going to need a lot of luck to pull off what I want to pull off, and with no cards in my hand, luck is pretty much all that I have.

 

It was then that it occurred to me that I had one other option. Any Duelist with enough experience and heart can shape the outcome of a duel to fit their subconscious will. But Duelists who control the Duelist’s Souls can go beyond that. Once per game we can use our magic to consciously shape the outcome of a duel. With this power, the power of Destiny Draw, I could draw literally any card in my deck.

 

The power of Destiny Draw was too powerful, too, well, immoral to use in any fair duel, against a normal person. But against someone like Emperor, it would be alright, wouldn’t it?

 

I nodded to myself, having made my decision. I gripped the top card of my deck and called out, “Destiny Draw!” I pulled the card, just as my Soul flashed bright. When I turned the card over, I wasn’t surprised to see that it was ‘Card of Sanctity’, just the card I needed.

 

“I activate ‘Card of Sanctity’,” I declared, playing my Spell. Letting Emperor draw five cards would be a risk just to draw six cards myself, but that’s where luck came into it. I looked over my newest cards and I knew right away that my risk had yielded the desired reward.

 

“I follow up,” I continued, “with ‘Magical Stone Excavation’,” I sent ‘Giant Soldier of Stone’ along with another monster to the Graveyard, and a Spell ejected from my Graveyard, “to return ‘Monster Reborn’ to my hand. I play ‘Monster Reborn’ right now to revive my ‘Criosphinx’.”

 

The goat-man sphinx returned, his arms crossed defensively (DEF: 2400).

 

“I tribute Heiracosphinx,” I declared, “to summon the form of my Duelist’s Soul, the god of defenders, ‘Exxod, Master of the Guard’!”

 

The falcon-headed lion disappeared, and from the stone floor behind me, between me and my friends, rose a golden statue resembling the legendary ‘Exodia’. The knuckles of his massive hands were held together and sealed in place. He stood there, unmoving (DEF: 4000).

 

“Additionally,” I said, “I play the Continuous Spell card ‘Curse of the Exiled’.

 

[spoiler=Curse of the Exiled]

 

 

For the next three turns, after a card is returned to your hand, that card is moved to the bottom of your deck. And any time you would have to discard a card as part of an effect, that card must be discarded at random. You know a lot about cards, and you know what cards I have in play, so I’m sure you know what this means.”

 

I smiled when I saw realization flash in Emperor’s eyes and sweat for on his brow. He did know, and he wasn’t happy about it.

 

“I flip-summon my two monsters,” I continued, “’Guardian Statue’ and ‘Golem Sentry’!”

 

The large-armed living statue appeared next to a massive living stone door with equally massive arms, carrying a staff in one hand.

 

“Both of my monsters share the same ability,” I explained, “to return one monster on the field to its owner’s hand when they are flip-summoned.”

 

‘Raiza’ and ‘Kuraz’ turned into orbs of green and golden light respectively, and they returned to their cards.

 

“The monsters that were returned to your hand are now sent to the bottom of your deck,” I said, “and because monsters were returned to your hand, The effect of ‘Criosphinx’ activates. You must discard two cards, and due to the secondary effect of ‘Curse of the Exiled’, those discards must be random.”

 

Wearing his familiar scowl, Emperor discarded two cards without looking; ‘Samsara Kaiser’ and a monster that he had obviously just drawn, ‘Zaborg the Thunder Monarch’.

 

“Each time I flip-summon a monster,” I explained further, “’Exxod’ deals you one thousand damage.”

 

‘Exxod’’s eyes flashed, and he fired twice from them, hitting Emperor with dual beams of light. The beams left Emperor’s chest smoking (6500-2000=4500). I thought that the tides had finally turned, and that Emperor was near defeat, but I was wrong. Emperor looked angrily at me and said, “I was trying to go easy on you, to make your inevitable death as painless as possible. I’m not a bad guy after all. But I see that I made a mistake. My mercy has run out!”

 

I smiled defiantly, “Your words mean nothing, because whatever it takes I will stop you here. Just like my next Spell will stop all of your monsters.

 

“I activate the secondary effects of my ‘Statue’ and my ‘Sentry’, returning them to the shadows of face-down defense mode, and I play ‘Swords of Revealing Light’! Your monsters will be unable to attack for three turns, leaving me free to reuse my monsters’ effects.”

 

Swords made of solid light rained from the sky, entombing Emperor’s monsters. Meanwhile ‘Guardian Statue’ and ‘Golem Sentry’ sunk back into the darkness, lying in wait.

 

“I end my turn.”

 

Emperor prepared to draw, having long since abandoned the façade of controversial hero. His expression showed nothing but hate.

 

“You aren’t the only person with the power to affect the outcome of a duel. I control six of the seven Shadow Millennium Items!”

 

Darkness built around the deck loaded into Emperor’s duel disk. He reached into it and pulled a single card, “Destiny Draw! I tribute ‘Mobius the Frost Monarch’ to summon my spirit, ‘Caius the Shadow Monarch’!”

 

The blue Monarch disappeared, and in its place appeared a black-armored Monarch wearing a devilish helm and a long, tattered black cape. Darkness clung to him (ATK: 2400).

 

“When ‘Caius’ is Tribute Summoned,” Emperor explained, “his ability activates, allowing him to remove one card on the field from play! ‘Caius’ removes the Spell card, ‘Swords of Revealing Light’.”

 

‘Caius’ summoned up a bolt of dark energy in his hands, and released it. It engulfed my Spell, and it and the swords of light were gone, swallowed into darkness.

 

“My monsters attack and destroy your face-down monsters,” Emperor declared. ‘Thestalos’ loosed a fireball on the ‘Guardian Statue’, who appeared just long enough to be burned to ash. ‘Caius’ summoned a bolt of dark lightning that struck the ‘Sentry’, shattering him and reducing him to rubble.

 

My impenetrable defense had failed.

 

“Go,” Emperor spat, “but know that by next turn, I will have found a way through your Guardian God as well, and you will be at my mercy.”

 

It would be a lie to say that I wasn’t afraid as I drew my next card, but I still had hope. That hope was what gave me the strength to begin my next turn.

 

“I pay five hundred Life,” I declared, “to maintain my Spell card, ‘Curse of the Exiled’ (2200-500=1700).

 

It was then that I actually looked at the card I’d just drawn. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

“I play ‘Bottom Draw’,” I declared, “to draw the bottom two cards of my deck.”

 

Two cards slid part way out from beneath my deck, waiting to be plucked up into my hand, but I found myself hesitant to take them.

 

What am I supposed to do? I wondered, my hands shaking. Looking at my hands, I saw that my skin was pale. I was more worried than I’d thought. Emperor was right! I may have power over Emperor outside of a duel, but in a duel, he’s the powerful one. In a duel, I’m powerless!

 

I was going to give up. It just felt like it would be so much easier than fighting. So much easier that it would really be worth it to die and let everyone down. But everything changed when I made the mistake of thinking about Kimi. Until then I felt like I could let everyone down, because I didn’t really have anyone besides myself in mind.

 

What am I doing? I demanded of myself. If I give up now, Emperor will gain power over everything! My friends, in the Elite and in the Duel Force, will all try to stop him, and they’ll all die. Who knows how many others Emperor will kill during the subsequent conquest!

 

No, I have to keep going. I have to fight.

 

I reached down and drew my cards, and as I did, there was a blinding flash, not from my Soul but from one of the cards I’d just drawn. I turned those cards over, and I noticed immediately that one of them was one that I’d never seen before. In that moment I knew everything about that card. I knew what it could do, and I knew that it would help me to win!

 

I smiled, “This duel is about to go a whole different direction. I remove my favorite card, the ‘Giant Soldier of Stone’, in my Graveyard from play to summon my monster in his ultimate form, the ‘Stone Soldier – Advanced’!”

 

“What?” Emperor wondered a bit fearfully.

 

Stones broke away from the ground beneath our feet and formed the massive ‘Stone Soldier’, his giant stone swords sheathed in their shoulder holsters. The stone making up the monster’s body began to crack, and he rose into the air. Light shone from the cracks, and finally his stone body exploded away, revealing a new figure beneath.

 

The new creature fell to the ground where he stood by my side. He stood nearly nine feet tall and had an almost human appearance, except that his skin looked like it was made of living stone. He wore animal hide clothing that one might expect to see on a barbarian or mountain warrior, and he carried a sword nearly as long as he was tall (ATK: 1300/DEF: 2000).

 

[spoiler=Stone Soldier - Advanced]

 

 

“Wow,” said Emperor mockingly, “for a second there I was almost worried.”

 

“And you’re about to worry again, because this monster is more dangerous than he looks. Once per turn I can send a Rock-type monster from my hand to the Graveyard to send any Earth monster from my deck to the Graveyard. I discard the weapon monster ‘Stone Sword’ from my hand to do just that.”

 

[spoiler=Stone Sword]

 

 

I fanned out my deck and selected a card, discarding it along with ‘Stone Sword’, bringing me one step closer to victory.

 

“I activate the effect of ‘Stone Sword’,” I declared. “By removing from play an Earth monster in my Graveyard, I can equip ‘Stone Sword’ to one of my Rock monsters as an equip Spell card and draw one card.”

 

A pillar of stone rose up from the ground before my ‘Soldier’. Bits and pieces fell away from the pillar until it formed a massive sword made of stone. ‘Stone Soldier’ sheathed his sword and took his new weapon in hand (ATK: 1300+900=2200).

 

“And I follow up with the effect of a monster discarded to pay the cost of ‘Magical Stone Excavation’. I remove another Earth monster from play to equip my ‘Soldier’ with ‘Stone Armor’.”

 

[spoiler=Stone Armor]

 

 

Plates of stone armor formed from chunks torn from the ground all around my monster. The armor came together over his arms, shoulders and chest (DEF: 2000+200=2200).

 

“While my monster is equipped with ‘Stone Armor’,” I explained, “he isn’t destroyed as a result of battle.

 

“Now, I follow up with the Spell card ‘Giant Strength’,” I declared. “I discard two random Rock monsters from my deck to increase the Attack of my ‘Stone Soldier’ by fifteen hundred until the end of this turn.”

 

‘Stone Soldier – Advanced’, including all of his new armor and weapons, grew to an immense size (2200+1500=3700).

 

“’Stone Soldier’,” I commanded firmly, “destroy ‘Caius’.”

 

‘Stone Soldier’ stomped, crushing the ‘Shadow Monarch’ beneath his feet (4500+2400-3700=3200).

 

“I end my turn,” I declared, and my monster returned to his original size.

 

“This isn’t over,” said Emperor, but his certainty had been shaken. My monster had changed things, and this duel was going to end soon, one way or another.

 

“Draw,” Emperor declared, “and I activate ‘Revival Summoning’, the only card in the game that allows me to Normal Summon from the Graveyard.” He smiled, “I pay five hundred Life and tribute ‘Thestalos’ to Tribute Summon ‘Caius’ back from the dead (3200-500=2700)!”

 

[spoiler=Revival Summoning]

 

 

A black vortex rose from the ground and swallowed up the fiery Monarch. From the vortex emerged ‘Caius’. He summoned a wave of darkness, ready to release it.

 

“’Caius’,” Emperor commanded triumphantly, “remove the pesky ‘Stone Soldier’ from play!”

 

‘Caius’ unleashed his special attack, but it was absorbed by a turtle-shell-shaped shield that formed from sand in my monsters free hand.

 

“I remove from play ‘Stone Shield’ in my Graveyard,” I explained, “to protect my Rock-type monster from one effect that targets.”

 

[spoiler=Stone Shield]

 

 

“Then ‘Caius’ attacks!” Emperor demanded, acting out of desperation.

 

“No thanks,” I told him. “I remove another card in my Graveyard from play, my ‘Stone Face-Mask’, increasing the Attack of my monster by seven hundred during the Damage Step.”

 

[spoiler=Stone Face-Mask]

 

 

Stones rose up and formed a mask over my monster’s face. He charged at ‘Caius’’ darkness attack, shouldering it and continued through, cleaving ‘Caius’ in two (2700+2400-2900=2200).

 

“This duel isn’t over,” Emperor insisted. “It won’t be over until I win! I set two cards before ending my turn.”

 

I drew, “In that case, I play ‘Giant Trunade’ to return every Spell and Trap on the field to the hand.”

 

My opponent’s Trap cards disappeared along with my monster’s weapon and armor.

 

“I discard ‘Stone Sword’,” I declared, “to send ‘Alpha the Magnet Warrior’ in my deck to the Graveyard, and I remove ‘Alpha’ from play to equip ‘Stone Sword’ to a monster I control.”

 

The stone re-formed, and my monster grasped it in his hand (1300+900=2200).

 

“My monster attacks!”

 

‘Stone Soldier’ charged forward, and everything seemed to slow down. I looked into Emperor’s eyes, and I saw real fear there. My monster grew closer, and I saw Emperor’s eyes dart as he surveyed his surroundings. He was preparing to run. But he would never get the chance.

 

The moment passed and reality returned to normal, and before the cowardly Emperor could even turn, he was slashed fiercely across the chest (2200-2200=0).

 

[spoiler=Card of the Day]

Rocky's newest card is one that is not only powerful, but is perfectly suited to his style of play. But where did this very useful card come from, and how did it get into Rocky's deck? Could it somehow be representative of some untapped power?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter Peace

 

Emperor is defeated, and now Rocky must decide his fate. Also, Rocky's journey to find his place comes to an end when he realizes where he actually belongs.

[Stigma_Horrizone]

sweetness, but hiro, what's an "advanced" Monster?

[legendhiro]

sweetness, but hiro, what's an "advanced" Monster?

it is a new archetype. think of advanced monsters as evolved forms of existing monsters.

[senron]

Nice chapter. I liked all the new monsters that equip from the graveyard and stuff. They're new. But, is Omegacyber an advanced? I would think it is, considering that it has similar summoning conditions to Stone Soldier-Advanced besides the advanced in his name, but calling him Omegacyber seems more fitting than just sticking a single word on him.

[Guest Supreme Gamesmaster]

So is this on hiatus or not? There's not much point in reviewing something on two-year-long temporary hiatus.