Malkator came to an abrupt halt. A woman had just walked into his field of vision. She looked at Malktor, then entered a fighting stance as she turned on her duel disk. She had on a determined expression, but her hands were shaking.
"What's she doing?" Hiroshi asked.
"I think she's challenging us," Malkator said.
"Then let's accept," Hiroshi said. "You go first."
"She's scared," Malktor said.
"No I'm not!" She snapped. "I'm going to bring you two down! At once if I have to! Whatever it takes!"
"Two on one?" Hiroshi asked.
"Alright," Malkator said. "What are your conditions?"
"You both start off with half life points," She said nervously. "And I'll get a turn for each of you. I'll go, then one of you will go, then me again, then the other of you, then me again."
"Sounds fair," Malkator said. "Let's go."
"Me first," The woman said. "I'll start with the field spell card Magical Citidel Of Endymion!"
They were all instantly surrounded by a new field. It was a palace brimming with magical energy.
"Each time a spell card is activated, I can place a spell counter on this card," she said. "Next, I summon Crusader Of Endymion!"
A spellcaster type monster appeared on her field. He wore blue plated armor. He was level 4 with 1900 attack points.
"Next, I use Spell Power Grasp!" She said. "This card lets me place a spell counter on my field, then add another Spell Power Grasp from my deck to my hand. But I can't activate it this turn. And since I activated a spell, I can place another counter on my field, adding up to 2 so far."
Her field now had two floating ruins in the sky above it.
"Then I play the spell card Ookazi, which deals 800 damage to one of you," She said, pointing at Malkator. "I choose you!"
Malkator was hit by a blast of fire, and his life dropped from 4000 to 3200. Another counter appeared on her field.
"I set one card and end my turn," She said.
"Okay," Malkator said. "I'll go next."
Malktor drew his card and looked at it. He thought back to his last duel, and how he had performed an xyz summon. He'd need multiple monsters with the same level for it to work. And if he couldn't get the same level monsters out, he'd need to change their levels with a card effect. Looking at his cards, he saw exactly how he could do that.
"I'll start by summoning Scion Youth in attack mode!" Malkator said.
A young child wearing cultist robes appeared on his field. He was level 1 with 600 attack.
"Next, I play the spell card Scion Appearance!" Malktor said. "This card lets me summon a Scion card by taking damage damage equal to its attack points!"
"Are you crazy!" Hiroshi said. "She's already brought your life down! You can't just spend life points carelessly!"
"Shut up," Malkator said. "I special summon Scion Cheapshot to the field!"
A man in a dusty western outfit, complete with a bandana, appeared on Malkator's field. He was level 4, with 500 attack points, and he had as cigar in his mouth and his thumbs in his pockets.
"Oh, I get it," Hiroshi said. "You summoned a monster with low attack power so you wouldn't take too much damage."
"Pretty much," Malkator said, as his life dropped to 2700.
"Since you used a spell card, my field gets another counter," the woman said, as a fourth floating ruin appeared.
"Okay," Malkator said. "I activate Scion Youth's effect. Now, his level becomes equal to Scion Cheapshot's level."
Scion Youth suddenly grew older, taking the appearance of a young man, in his early twenties.
"Now, I build the overlay network with these two level 4 monsters!" Malkator said. "I use them to xyz summon Scion Stratosphere!"
Malktor's monsters were pulled into a vortex, from which a new monsters emerged. He was dressed in dark clothing with an elegant, deep blue cloak. He was rank 4 with 2100 attack points and 1800 defense points.
"Now I use his effect," Malkator said. "By detaching an overlay unit, I can target one monster my opponent controls and deal you damage equal to its level times 300."
Scion Stratosphere drew a pistol from beneath his cloak and took aim.
"Your monster is level 4, so you take 1200 damage," Malkator said.
Stratosphere pulled the trigger, and a barrage of star-shaped bullets pelted the woman. her life dropped to 6800.
"Now, since I used my monster's effect, I'll take half the damage you took," Malkator said.
"What!?" Hiroshi snapped.
Stratosphere turned around and blasted Mlkator with another shot of stars, reducing Malkator to 2100.
"Stop wasting your life!" Hiroshi said angrily.
"Shut up," Malkator said. "I'll now have Stratosphere attack!"
"I use the trap card Barrier Of Endymion!" The woman said. "This card lets me negate an attack directed at a light spellcaster I control!"
Stratosphere's attack was cut short.
"Now, I can add a spell counter to one card I control," She said. "I choose my field spell card."
"Damn it," Hiroshi said.
"I set one card face down and end my turn," Malkator said. "You're turn, ma'am."
"My name is Cassandra," she said.
Meanwhile, Daniel wandered the Board, trying to decide what to do next. As he walked, a young girl bumped into him, almost knocking him over. She was frantic. For a moment, Daniel wondered why, but then he heard a voice.
"Come out, girly!" the voice called from a distance away. "I won't bite!"
"What's going on?" Daniel asked.
"He's trying to duel me," she said. "I don't want to risk it."
Daniel caught a glimpse of her chest. Only two glowing marks. She had been defeated once already. No wonder she was scared.
"Find a place to hide," Daniel said. "I'll handle this."
She fled around the corner of a building as a man came into view. He had dark black hair and was dressed in a beige coat. His dueldisk was shaped like a shield with a sword attached to it.
"Lookin' for someone?" Daniel asked casually.
"Yeah the man said. "Some little bitch."
"Well, why don't I fill her shoes?" Daniel said, switching his duel disk on.
"You wanna duel, huh?" the man asked. "Okay. Let's go!"
"I'll go first!" Daniel said, drawing.
He had switched to his fiend deck earlier. He didn't like using a single deck too often.
"I set on monster in defense mode, and one other card face down," Daniel said. "Your move."
"I draw!" the man said. "Then, I use Black Luster Ritual! With it, I tribute level 4 Dark Blade and Disciple Of The Forbidden Spell from my hand to ritual summon my level 8 Black Luster Soldier!"
A knight dressed in blue armor with a buster sword appeared. He had 3000 attack points.
"Next, I banish my dark attribute Dark Blade and my light attribute Disciple Of The Forbidden Spell to special summon Black Luster Soldier, Envoy Of The Beginning!" The man said.
Another warrior appeared. He looked like Black Luster Soldier, but with gold added to his armor. He also had 3000 attack.
"So, he's using a warrior type chaos deck," Daniel thought to himself.
"Next, I summon Gaia The White Knight!" the man said.
Another warrior showed up on his field. This one was level 4 with 1600 attack.
"Alright," Daniel said. "I can handle this."
"We'll see about that!" the man said. "It attack with Envoy Of The Beginning!"
"I activate the continuous trap Astral Barrier!" Daniel said. "Now, I can make any attack directed at one of my monsters into a direct attack!"
The attack went straight past his face down monster and hit him directly, dropping his life to 5000.
"I attack again with Black Luster Soldier!" the man said.
"I use Astral Barrier's effect!" Daniel said.
The attack hit Daniel directly, reducing him to 2000.
"I attack with Gaia this time!" the man said.
"I'll use Astral Barrier one last time!" Daniel said.
The attack reduced Daniel to 400 life points. But his monster was safe. That's what he was aiming for.
"Wasting all that life, huh?" the man said. "Pathetic."
"You can call it pathetic once I've made my move," Daniel said.
"Then go!" the man encouraged.
"I use the Board's effect!" Daniel said. "By paying 300 life points, I can guess what kind of card I'll draw. I guess monster!"
Daniel's life dropped to 100. He drew, revealing his Summoned Skull. Perfect.
"Now, I can draw one more time," Daniel said. "Then, I flip summon Skull Knight #2!"
A sword wielding skeletal warrior appeared. It was level 3 with 1000 attack.
"Now, I activate double summon!" Daniel said. "Now I can summon twice this turn! And I'll start by tributing Skull Knight to bring out my Summoned Skull!"
Daniel's Skull Knight was replaced by a hulking, winged skeleton. It was level 6 with 2500 attack points.
"And since Skull Knight #2 was tributed to bring out a fiend type monster, I can summon another Skull Knight #2 from my deck," Daniel said. "Then I'll tribute that one to bring out Dark Ruler Ha Des!"
A wicked demon appeared on Daniel's field. It held a goblet in its hand. It was level 6 with 2450 attack.
"And now Skull Knight's effect activates again," Daniel said. "Now I can bring out one more!"
Another Skull Knight appeared.
"What good will those do you?" the man asked.
"You're about to find out," Daniel said. "But first, who are you?"
"My name is Xander," the man said.
"I'm Daniel," Daniel said. "Now, prepare to see what happens when you harras girls. I play the spell card Lightning Vortex!"
"Shit!" Xander said.
"I discard Gren Maju Da Eiza to destroy every monster you control!" Daniel said.
The field erupted with lightning, obliterating every monster Xander had out.
"Damn it!" Xander exclaimed.
"I'm not finished yet!" Daniel said. "Next, I banish my two Skull Knights and the Gren Maju Da Eiza in my graveyard. By banishing these three fiend type monsters, I can special summon Dark Necrofear!"
An alien creature showed up on Daniel's field, with 2200 attack points.
"Now, let's end this!" Daniel said. "I attack directly with all four of my monsters!"
Skull Knight #2, Summoned Skull, Dark Ruler Ha Des, and Dark Necrofear all attacked. Their combined attack power was 8150, which brought Xander down to 0. One of his scars glowed brightly, and he shouted a few choice swear words before vanishing.
Back at the threeway duel, Cassandra took a deep breath.
"My turn," she said, drawing. "I use Spell Power Grasp to place a sixth counter on my field, then add a third Spell Power Grasp to my hand."
She added her card to her hand.
"And since I used a spell, my card gets yet another counter," she said. "Then, I play the continuous spell card Shard OF Greed."
A new spell appeared on her field, and an 8th counter was placed on her field spell.
"Next, since Crusader Of Endymion is a gemini monster, I can use my normal summon this turn to convert him into an effect monster," she said. "And using his effect, I place another counter on my field, and increase his attack by 600 until the end phase!"
Crusader's attack rose to 2500, and her field gained its 9th counter.
"Now, by removing 7 counters from my field, I can special summon Endymion, The Master Magician!"
A sorcerer with 2700 attack appeared on her field, with its staff held high.
"Since he was special summoned, I can return a spell card from my graveyard to my hand," she said. "I choose Ookazi. Then I use Ookazi to deal 800 damage to you!"
She pointed at Hiroshi this time, and as another counter appeared on her field, Hiroshi's life dropped to 3200.
"Now, I attack Scion Stratosphere with my Master Magician!" she declared.
"I play the trap card Vision Shield," Malkator said. "Now, Scion cards I control can't be destroyed this turn."
"You'll still take damage," she said.
The attack hit, reducing Malkator's life points to 1500.
"Then, I attack it again with Crusader!" she said.
Malaktor lost another 400 life points, bringing him down to 1100.
"I end my turn," Cassandra said.
"Good," Malkator chuckled. "Which means my monster's effect kicks in."
"What?" She asked.
"During my opponent's end phase, if Scion Stratosphere is face up on the field, I can inflict damage to my opponent's life points equal to the battle damage I've received this turn," Malkator said. "That adds up to 1000."
Cassandra's life dropped to 5800.
"Fine," she said. "I end my turn."
"Now I'll go," Hiroshi said, drawing. "I summon Matador Of The Wooden Girl!"
A man dressed in a matador costume appeared on Hiroshi's field. His body was pierced by multiple strings, which suspended him in the air. He was level 4 with 1000 attack points.
"When this card is summoned, I can reveal cards from the top of my deck until I reveal a monster with Wooden Girl in its name," Hiroshi said.
The first card he revealed was Stage Of The Wooden Girl. It was a spell card. The next card he revealed was Samurai Of The Wooden Girl.
"Now, I can special summon this monster in defense mode, and send every other card I revealed to the graveyard," Hiroshi said. "I summon Samurai Of The Wooden Girl!"
The monster he summoned looked exactly like Hiroshi, and wielded a 5 foot long samurai sword. He was level 6, with 2000 defense.
"Did you just summon yourself?" Malkator asked.
"I guess so," Hiroshi said. "Next, I discard Phantom Of The Wooden Girl from my hand, and with his effect, I can reduce my Samurai's level by 2."
The monster Hiroshi discarded resembled a cloaked man with a broken masquerade ball mask. Samurai's level dropped from 6 to 4. The same as Matador.
"Now, I overlay my two level 4 monsters to xyz summon Katana Master Of The Wooden Girl!" Hiroshi said.
His new monster had 2200 attack points, and held numerous blades.
"Now, I activate the effect of Malkator's Scion Stratosphere!" Hiroshi said. "I detach and overlay unit from it, then target your Master Magician and dish out damage equal to its level times 300."
Endymion was level 7, so Cassandra took 2100 damage. She was now at 3700.
"Now, I take half that damage," Hiroshi said.
Stratosphere turned his gun on Hiroshi, and his life dropped to 2150 when he was shot.
"You okay?" Malkator asked.
"Better than you," Hiroshi said. "Next, I use the effect of Katana Master. by using one of his overlay units, he gains 200 attack for each monster in my grave with Wooden Girl in its name!"
Hiroshi now had 2 Wooden Girl monsters in his graveyard, so his monster rose to 2600 attack.
"Now, attack her crusader!" he ordered.
His Katana Master cut down her Crusader.
"Katana Master can't deal any damage this turn, so I'll just set two cards and end my turn," Hiroshi said. "Your move."
"I'm getting real sick of you two," Cassandra said, drawing. "When I draw a card during the draw phase, I can place a Greed counter on shard Of Greed. Then I use my final Spell Power Grasp."
Due to Power Grasp's effect, a fourth counter was placed on her field, and since she had activated a spell card, a fifth counter was added.
"Next, I play the spell card Cup Of Ace," she said. "I toss a coin, and if it's heads, I draw two cards. If it's tails, one of you draws two cards."
She held her breath as she toss a coin, then let out a sigh of relief when it landed on heads. She drew two cards, and a sixth counter was placed on her field.
"Next, I activate One Day Of Peace!" she declared. "Now, each of us draws a card, and no one takes damage until my opponent's next end phase."
Everyone drew a card, and a seventh counter was placed on her Magical Citadel.
"Perfect," she said. "I remove seven counters from my field to summon another Endymion, The Master Magician!"
A second copy of her Magician appeared beside the first.
"Now, thanks to his effect, I can reuse my Ookazi yet again, but I'll save it for later. Time for you guys to see my ultimate monster!"
"You mean Endymion isn't your best card?" Hiroshi asked.
"Of course not!" she said. "By tributing my two level 6 or higher spellcasters, I special summon my ace card! come forth, Sorcerer Of Dark Magic!"
A sorcerer clad in dark black robes appeared on her field, twirling its staff skillfully. It was level 9, with 3200 attack and 2800 defense.
"Um, Hiroshi?" Malkator asked. "Are we screwed?"
"That is a distinct possibility," Hiroshi replied nervously.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
4 Fear
"Damn it," Daniel said. "And I just got rid of that thing!"
"I activate the effect of Wild Retribution!" Briant announced. "By paying 800 life points, I can increase my monster's attack power by 1500 until the end phase!"Briant's life points were reduced to 2250, and the Rake's power increased to 4000.
"Now, finish off his Giant Soldier Of Stone!" Briant demanded.
The Rake crawled forward and attacked Daniel's monster.
"I activate the trap card Negate Attack!" Daniel said. "Now, I can negate your attack and end the battle phase!"
"Damn it!" Briant said. "I should have seen that one coming. I end my turn."
"I draw!" Daniel said. "Then I summon Shining Abyss!"
A strange looking fairy appeared on Daniel's field. It was level 4 with 1600 attack points.
"Then, I use Buten's effect!" Daniel continued. "By banishing it from my graveyard, Shining Abyss becomes a tuner monster! Now, I tune level 4 Shining Abyss to level 3 Giant Soldier Of Stone!"
Both of Daniel's monsters dissappeared and were replaced by a large mechanical dragon with tools attached to its arms.
"I summon Power Tool Dragon!" Daniel said.
His new monster was level 7, with 2300 attack and 2500 defense.
"Now, I use Power Tool's effect" Daniel said. "I choose 3 equip spells from my deck, and you pick one at random."
Daniel selected three cards from his deck and held them up.
"I pick the one on the left," Briant said.
"Okay," Daniel said. "Now, I add it to my hand, and the other two return to my deck. Then I activate Malevolent Nuzzler!"
The equip card Daniel played increased Power Tool Dragon's attack points to 3000.
"Then I use my face down card, Scroll Of Bewitchment!" Daniel said. "This card will now equip to Power Tool Dragon and change its attribute to dark."
"Not too useful in this situation," Briant said. "Although, since Power Tool Dragon can survive battle by sacrificing equip spells, it may help you a bit after all."
"That's the plan!" Daniel said. "Now, attack!"
Power Tool Dragon drew back one its arms and rammed one of its tools into the Rake, reducing Briant's life points to 1750. The Rake managed to survive, thank's to its nature as a Fear.
"And with that, I end my turn," Daniel said.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi continued to follow Malkator as he walked through the Board.
"Why are you following me?" Malkator said.
"I was hoping we could team up?" Hiroshi replied.
"Why?" Malkator replied. "There can only be one winner, so any alliances will eventually fall apart. Besides, I'm no good at this game."
"You managed to ass the prelim, didn't you?" Hiroshi asked.
"I only managed to do that by copying that xyz thing that I saw the girl do earlier," Malkator said. "I know next to nothing about this game."
"All the more reason for you to team up with someone," Hiroshi said. "You might be able to learn a thing or two."
"And what happens when we have to face each other later?" Malkator asked.
"We can cross that bridge when we come to it," Hiroshi said.
Malkator set out a sighe. "Fine, have it your way."
Back where Daniel was dueling, a man appeared at the top of the bishop building and looked down at the duel. He was dressed in a long coat and a fedora, which was pulled down so that it cast a shadow over his features.
"I use the Board's effect!" Briant said, as his life points dropped to 1450. "I guess monster!"
He drew, revealing a monster card.
"I use the effect again!" he said, dropping down to 1150. "I guess spell card this time!"
He drew a spell card.
"Again!" he said, going down to 850. "I guess monster!"
The card he drew was another spell.
"Oh well, can't guess them all right," he saighed. "I summon Bad Rabbit!"
A level 4 black rabbit appeared on his field, with 1400 attack points.
"Now, by tributing him, I can allow an earth monster I control to attack an additional time this turn!" he said.
"Crap," Daniel said.
"But that's not all!" Briant said. "I use another effect of Wild Retribution! By sending the top 5 cards on my deck to the graveyard, the Rake gains yt another attack!"
"But that means he can attack three times this turn!" Daniel said.
"That's right," Briant said. "Next, I play the spell card Wild Doom! Since I control a beast-type monster, all cards sent to the grave this turn will be removed from play instead!"
"Shit!" Daniel said. "But that means-"
"That you can't use Malevolent Nuzzler's effect," he said. "Normally, you'd be able to pay 500 life points to return it to the top of your deck when it's destroyed, then you could use it with the Board's effect to help you draw. But if it's removed from the game instead of going to the graveyard, that won't work."
"Damn it all to hell!" Daniel said.
"Next I play the spell card Feast Of Souls, and equip it to the Rake!"
"What does that do?" Daniel asked.
"Once per turn, I can banish a monster from your graveyard and add attack power to the Rake equal to its level times 100 until the end phase," Briant said. "I think I'll chose that pesky Dark End Dragon!"
Dark End Dragon was banished from Daniel's graveyard. The Rake devoured its soul, increasing its power.
"Dark End Dragon was evel 8, so the Rake gains 800 attack," Briant said. "Now, attack Power Tool Dragon!"
"I sacrifice Scroll Of Bewitchment to protect my monster!" Daniel said.
Scroll Of Bewitchment was banished, and Power Tool Dragon survived. Daniel's life points were reduced to 1850.
"I'll have Rake attack again!" Briant declared.
"I sacrifice Malevolent Nuzzler!" Daniel said.
Daniel's life dropped to 1550, and Malevolent Nuzzler was banished. Power Tool Dragon's attack power was reduced to 2300.
"One more time!" Briant said.
The Rake attacked a third time, this time destroying Power Tool Dragon and reducing Daniel to 550 life points. Daniel fell over onto his back. His body ached from the damage he had taken.
"And with that, I'll end my turn," Briant said. "What's the matter? To close to death to do anything?"
Daniel raised himself up onto his elbows.
"You're about to lose your first life," Briant taunted. "Then you'll be that much closer to dying in this tournament."
Daniel heave himself up so that he was sitting.
"You scared?" Briant mocked.
The image of the Archangel popped up again in Daniel's head. The image of the afterlife itself. Daniel angrily got back to his feet, facing Briant.
"I'm not afraid to die," Daniel said. "What I'm afraid of is what comes next!"
Daniel was suddenly immersed in an aura of blackness, and Briant took a step back, frightened.
"So it's finally awakened, has it?" the man on the roof of the building said. "Good. Let's see how this plans out.
"I activate the Board's effect!" Daniel said, as his life dropped to 250. "I guess monster!"
Daniel drew, and glanced at his card. It was a new one. A card he had never had in his deck before. The card he was now holding was the Archangel.
"Very good," the man watching them said softly. The duelists had still not noticed his presence. "But you still need the means to summon it. I suppose I can lend a hand."
The man snapped his fingers.
"Since I guessed right, I can draw again!" Daniel said.
Daniel drew another card. It was new, just like the Archangel, but it was exactly what he needed.
"I play the spell card Revive Shift!" Daniel said. "This card allows me to revive a monster from either graveyard, as long as there's an attribute mentioned in its effect!"
"What?" Briant asked.
"Since Trojan Horse has the earth attribute in its effect, I'll bring it back to my field!" Daniel said.
The Trojan Horse in Briant's graveyard was special summoned to Daniel's field.
"What the hell?" Briant asked
"That was the revive part!" Daniel said. "Now comes the shift! Do to Revive Shift's effect, I can change any attribute in Trojan Horse's card text to a different attribute! I'll change the earth attribute in its effect to dark!"
"But that means...," Briant said.
"That if I summon a dark attribute monster, Trojan Horse will be used as two tributes instead of one," Daniel finished for him. "Now, I tribute Trojan Horse to summon Archangel! Lord Of The Fallen!"
A new being appeared on Daniel's field. It resembled a tall man, with dark clothing and a gas mask concealing his face. A pair of deep black angel winds sprouted from his back. He was level 8 with 2500 attack points, the same as the Rake.
"I activate the Archangel's effect!" Daniel said. "When it's summoned to the field, I can equip it with a monster from my graveyard! I choose Light End Dragon!"
An aura of light surrounded the Archangel as Daniel equipped his dragon to it.
"Now, attack!" Daniel ordered.
"But their attack points are the same!"Briant said.
"For now," Daniel said. "But Archangel gains the effects of the monster equipped to him. So by reducing his attack power by 500, I can reduce the Rake's attack power by 1500!"
The Archangel's attack power became 2000, and the Rake was reduced to 1000. The Archangel conjured a black scythe from nothingness, and cleaved the Rake in to. The scythe continued moving, hitting Briant and reducing his life points to 0. Suddenly, on of the wounds on his chest vanished.
"You son of a itch!" Briant said, as his body began fading. "I'll get you for this! This isn't over!"
He disappeared, leaving Daniel alone. He glanced at the Archangel's card.
"Where the hell did you come from?" he asked.
"I activate the effect of Wild Retribution!" Briant announced. "By paying 800 life points, I can increase my monster's attack power by 1500 until the end phase!"Briant's life points were reduced to 2250, and the Rake's power increased to 4000.
"Now, finish off his Giant Soldier Of Stone!" Briant demanded.
The Rake crawled forward and attacked Daniel's monster.
"I activate the trap card Negate Attack!" Daniel said. "Now, I can negate your attack and end the battle phase!"
"Damn it!" Briant said. "I should have seen that one coming. I end my turn."
"I draw!" Daniel said. "Then I summon Shining Abyss!"
A strange looking fairy appeared on Daniel's field. It was level 4 with 1600 attack points.
"Then, I use Buten's effect!" Daniel continued. "By banishing it from my graveyard, Shining Abyss becomes a tuner monster! Now, I tune level 4 Shining Abyss to level 3 Giant Soldier Of Stone!"
Both of Daniel's monsters dissappeared and were replaced by a large mechanical dragon with tools attached to its arms.
"I summon Power Tool Dragon!" Daniel said.
His new monster was level 7, with 2300 attack and 2500 defense.
"Now, I use Power Tool's effect" Daniel said. "I choose 3 equip spells from my deck, and you pick one at random."
Daniel selected three cards from his deck and held them up.
"I pick the one on the left," Briant said.
"Okay," Daniel said. "Now, I add it to my hand, and the other two return to my deck. Then I activate Malevolent Nuzzler!"
The equip card Daniel played increased Power Tool Dragon's attack points to 3000.
"Then I use my face down card, Scroll Of Bewitchment!" Daniel said. "This card will now equip to Power Tool Dragon and change its attribute to dark."
"Not too useful in this situation," Briant said. "Although, since Power Tool Dragon can survive battle by sacrificing equip spells, it may help you a bit after all."
"That's the plan!" Daniel said. "Now, attack!"
Power Tool Dragon drew back one its arms and rammed one of its tools into the Rake, reducing Briant's life points to 1750. The Rake managed to survive, thank's to its nature as a Fear.
"And with that, I end my turn," Daniel said.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi continued to follow Malkator as he walked through the Board.
"Why are you following me?" Malkator said.
"I was hoping we could team up?" Hiroshi replied.
"Why?" Malkator replied. "There can only be one winner, so any alliances will eventually fall apart. Besides, I'm no good at this game."
"You managed to ass the prelim, didn't you?" Hiroshi asked.
"I only managed to do that by copying that xyz thing that I saw the girl do earlier," Malkator said. "I know next to nothing about this game."
"All the more reason for you to team up with someone," Hiroshi said. "You might be able to learn a thing or two."
"And what happens when we have to face each other later?" Malkator asked.
"We can cross that bridge when we come to it," Hiroshi said.
Malkator set out a sighe. "Fine, have it your way."
Back where Daniel was dueling, a man appeared at the top of the bishop building and looked down at the duel. He was dressed in a long coat and a fedora, which was pulled down so that it cast a shadow over his features.
"I use the Board's effect!" Briant said, as his life points dropped to 1450. "I guess monster!"
He drew, revealing a monster card.
"I use the effect again!" he said, dropping down to 1150. "I guess spell card this time!"
He drew a spell card.
"Again!" he said, going down to 850. "I guess monster!"
The card he drew was another spell.
"Oh well, can't guess them all right," he saighed. "I summon Bad Rabbit!"
A level 4 black rabbit appeared on his field, with 1400 attack points.
"Now, by tributing him, I can allow an earth monster I control to attack an additional time this turn!" he said.
"Crap," Daniel said.
"But that's not all!" Briant said. "I use another effect of Wild Retribution! By sending the top 5 cards on my deck to the graveyard, the Rake gains yt another attack!"
"But that means he can attack three times this turn!" Daniel said.
"That's right," Briant said. "Next, I play the spell card Wild Doom! Since I control a beast-type monster, all cards sent to the grave this turn will be removed from play instead!"
"Shit!" Daniel said. "But that means-"
"That you can't use Malevolent Nuzzler's effect," he said. "Normally, you'd be able to pay 500 life points to return it to the top of your deck when it's destroyed, then you could use it with the Board's effect to help you draw. But if it's removed from the game instead of going to the graveyard, that won't work."
"Damn it all to hell!" Daniel said.
"Next I play the spell card Feast Of Souls, and equip it to the Rake!"
"What does that do?" Daniel asked.
"Once per turn, I can banish a monster from your graveyard and add attack power to the Rake equal to its level times 100 until the end phase," Briant said. "I think I'll chose that pesky Dark End Dragon!"
Dark End Dragon was banished from Daniel's graveyard. The Rake devoured its soul, increasing its power.
"Dark End Dragon was evel 8, so the Rake gains 800 attack," Briant said. "Now, attack Power Tool Dragon!"
"I sacrifice Scroll Of Bewitchment to protect my monster!" Daniel said.
Scroll Of Bewitchment was banished, and Power Tool Dragon survived. Daniel's life points were reduced to 1850.
"I'll have Rake attack again!" Briant declared.
"I sacrifice Malevolent Nuzzler!" Daniel said.
Daniel's life dropped to 1550, and Malevolent Nuzzler was banished. Power Tool Dragon's attack power was reduced to 2300.
"One more time!" Briant said.
The Rake attacked a third time, this time destroying Power Tool Dragon and reducing Daniel to 550 life points. Daniel fell over onto his back. His body ached from the damage he had taken.
"And with that, I'll end my turn," Briant said. "What's the matter? To close to death to do anything?"
Daniel raised himself up onto his elbows.
"You're about to lose your first life," Briant taunted. "Then you'll be that much closer to dying in this tournament."
Daniel heave himself up so that he was sitting.
"You scared?" Briant mocked.
The image of the Archangel popped up again in Daniel's head. The image of the afterlife itself. Daniel angrily got back to his feet, facing Briant.
"I'm not afraid to die," Daniel said. "What I'm afraid of is what comes next!"
Daniel was suddenly immersed in an aura of blackness, and Briant took a step back, frightened.
"So it's finally awakened, has it?" the man on the roof of the building said. "Good. Let's see how this plans out.
"I activate the Board's effect!" Daniel said, as his life dropped to 250. "I guess monster!"
Daniel drew, and glanced at his card. It was a new one. A card he had never had in his deck before. The card he was now holding was the Archangel.
"Very good," the man watching them said softly. The duelists had still not noticed his presence. "But you still need the means to summon it. I suppose I can lend a hand."
The man snapped his fingers.
"Since I guessed right, I can draw again!" Daniel said.
Daniel drew another card. It was new, just like the Archangel, but it was exactly what he needed.
"I play the spell card Revive Shift!" Daniel said. "This card allows me to revive a monster from either graveyard, as long as there's an attribute mentioned in its effect!"
"What?" Briant asked.
"Since Trojan Horse has the earth attribute in its effect, I'll bring it back to my field!" Daniel said.
The Trojan Horse in Briant's graveyard was special summoned to Daniel's field.
"What the hell?" Briant asked
"That was the revive part!" Daniel said. "Now comes the shift! Do to Revive Shift's effect, I can change any attribute in Trojan Horse's card text to a different attribute! I'll change the earth attribute in its effect to dark!"
"But that means...," Briant said.
"That if I summon a dark attribute monster, Trojan Horse will be used as two tributes instead of one," Daniel finished for him. "Now, I tribute Trojan Horse to summon Archangel! Lord Of The Fallen!"
A new being appeared on Daniel's field. It resembled a tall man, with dark clothing and a gas mask concealing his face. A pair of deep black angel winds sprouted from his back. He was level 8 with 2500 attack points, the same as the Rake.
"I activate the Archangel's effect!" Daniel said. "When it's summoned to the field, I can equip it with a monster from my graveyard! I choose Light End Dragon!"
An aura of light surrounded the Archangel as Daniel equipped his dragon to it.
"Now, attack!" Daniel ordered.
"But their attack points are the same!"Briant said.
"For now," Daniel said. "But Archangel gains the effects of the monster equipped to him. So by reducing his attack power by 500, I can reduce the Rake's attack power by 1500!"
The Archangel's attack power became 2000, and the Rake was reduced to 1000. The Archangel conjured a black scythe from nothingness, and cleaved the Rake in to. The scythe continued moving, hitting Briant and reducing his life points to 0. Suddenly, on of the wounds on his chest vanished.
"You son of a itch!" Briant said, as his body began fading. "I'll get you for this! This isn't over!"
He disappeared, leaving Daniel alone. He glanced at the Archangel's card.
"Where the hell did you come from?" he asked.
Friday, January 10, 2014
3 Animals
Malkator stopped and leaned against a nearby building.
"So, is that all?" he asked the talking bat, while rubbing the new, glowing wounds on his chest.
"Yes, pretty much," the bat said.
"God, next to France, this is probably the most bizarre thing that's ever happened to me," he said.
"I believe it," the bat said. "I'll be going now."
The bat flew off, leaving Malkator alone. He stayed leaning against the building for a while, trying to piece together everything that had just happened.
"Hey, Malkator!" a voice called, breaking him away from his thoughts.
He turned his head to see a man approaching him. He was a Japanese man in his late twenties, and was carrying a long samurai sword.
"Oh, great," Malkator said. "What do you want, Hiroshi?"
"I want to know what in hell is going on here," the man replied.
"Same here," Malkator said. "But I doubt I'll figure it out sticking around here."
Malkator got up, and began walking.
Meanwhile, on a different part of the Board, Daniel stood across from the bearded man, watching the Rake card.
"Well, this sucks," Daniel said, looking back at his dueldisk and the enlarged image of the card. In addition to its invulnerability, the Rake could also deal piercing damage. And if it went a turn without attacking, it could destroy a non-Fear monster easily.
"So are you gonna do anything else, or can I take my turn now?" the man asked.
"Hold on," Daniel said, setting a card on his field. "I set one card and end my turn."
As Daniel's turn ended, Light End Dragon's attack became 2100 and Rake's attack returned to 2500.
"Great!" the man said. "Time to teach you a lesson! I summon Beast King Barbaros!"
A large centaur like creature, with the head of a lion, and wielding a lance and a buckler. It was level 8.
"I can summon this monster without tributes, but if I do, its attack power becomes 1900," the man said. "Next, I activate the trap card Metalmorph! This card will now become an equip card for the Rake, increasing its attack power by 300!"
The Rake was coated in a layer of steel, and its attack power rose to 2800.
"Now, I attack Light End Dragon with the Rake!" the man said. "And do to Metalmorph's effect, the Rake will gain half of Light End Dragon's attack during damage calculation!"
The Rake's attack power rose to 3550, and it savagely ripped apart Daniel's Dragon. Daniel's life points were reduced to 6050.
"Now, I attack directly with Barbaros!" the man said. His beast prepared to strike Daniel with its spear.
"Not so fast!" Daniel said. "I activate the trap card A Rival Appears! Now, I can target one monster you control, then bring out a monster from my hand with the same level. Rake is a level 7, so I can bring out my level 7 Dark Magician!"
Daniel's Dark Magician appeared on the field.
"Since a new monster was brought out, I can cancel my attack," the man said. "Then I set a card face down and end my turn!"
"Alright," Daniel said, drawing. "So who are you, anyway?"
"My name is Briant," the man said. "Why do you care?"
"Because I'd like to know who's ass I'm kicking before I stomp them in to the ground," Daniel said, grinning.
"Ha!" the man laughed. "You think you have a chance against my Fear card?"
"Let me let you in on a little something," Daniel said. "This deck I'm using? It was customized to hold its own against a Five Headed Dragon."
"What!?" Briant exclaimed.
"You're Fear card was a bit intimidating at first, but I've gotten over it," Daniel said. "I can beat that thing. No sweat."
"Oh yeah," Briant growled. "Prove it!"
"I will!" Daniel said. "I summon Buten!"
A small, pig like fairy creature appeared on Daniel's field. It was level 1 with 200 attack points.
"Now, I tune my level 1 Buten to my level 7 Dark Magician!" Daniel said. "Come forth, Dark End Dragon!"
Daniel's monsters were replaced by a terrifying black dragon, with an extra face on its torso. It was level 8, with 2600 attack points.
"I attack Beast King Barbaros with Dark End Dragon!" Daniel said.
"I activate the trap card Half Unbreak!" Briant said. "This card prevents Barbaros from being destroyed in battle, and halves any damage I take."
Briant's life points were reduced to 6050, the same as Daniel.
"Oh well," Daniel said. "I activate Dark End Dragon's effect. Now, by permanently reducing its attack power by 500, I can destroy any monster you control. I'll chose Night Whisperer, Rake!"
Dark End Dragon opened its second mouth, and fired a bolt of energy that destroyed the Rake.
"Damn it!" Briant exclaimed.
"I end my turn with that," Daniel said.
"I draw!" Briant said. "Then, I activate the trap card Wild Return! This card revives a level 4 beast-type monster from my graveyard! I bring back Trojan Horse!"
The Trojan Horse reappeared on Briant's field.
"Now, I tribute my Beast King Barbaros, and my Trojan Horse treated as 2 tributes!" Briant said.
"Three tributes?" Daniel said. "Uh-oh..."
"I tribute summon another Beast King Barbaros!" Briant said. "And since he was summoned with three tributes, I can destroy every card you control!"
A second Barbaros appeared, with 3000 attack points. It swung its lance, destroying Daniel's Dark End Dragon.
"Now, attack him directly!" Briant demanded.
Beast King Barbaros stabbed forward with its lance, hitting Daniel. Daniel collapsed, clutching the area where it had hit. The was no wound, but the pain was still there. His life points dropped to 3050.
"I end my turn," Briant said.
Daniel looked at his hand. All he had was a Giant Soldier Of Stone. He could go on the defensive, but Briant's power deck could just break through it. He needed another plan. Some kind of Deus Ex Machina that could save him. He looked at the screen of his duel disk, trying to figure something out. That's when it occurred to him. He tapped the screen, and an image of a spell card appeared. He read its effect, and began chuckling.
"What's so funny?" Briant Demanded.
"Nothing much," Daniel said. "Just that I figured out how I might be able to make a comeback.
"What?" Briant asked.
"I activate the effect of The Board!" Daniel said.
The checkered tiles surrounding them began glowing.
"I pay 300 life points to guess what type of card I'm gonna draw!" Daniel said. "Then, if I guess right, I can draw again!"
Daniel's life dropped to 2750.
"I guess my next card will be a spell card!" Daniel said. He drew. "Looks like I lucked out and drew a spell! Which means I can draw again! And I think I'll use the Board's effect another time!"
Daniel's life was reduced to 2450.
"I guess trap card!" Daniel said, drawing again. "And it looks like that's exactly what I got! I use the Board's effect one more time!"
Daniel's life went down to 2150.
"This time, I guess monster!" He said. He drew another card, and looked at it. "Damn. Got a spell this time. Oh well. I summon Giant Soldier Of Stone!"
A warrior made of stone appeared on Daniel's field. It was level 3 with 1300 attack points.
"Next, I play the spell card Riryoku!" Daniel said. "Now, I can cut your monster's attack in half, and add it to my Soldier!"
Barbaros's attack was reduced to 1500, while Giant Soldier Of Stone rose to 2800.
"Now, I'll have my monster attack!" Daniel said.
Giant Soldier Of Stone attacked, destroying Beast King Barbaros and reducing Briant's life points to 4550.
"I set 2 cards face down and end my turn," Daniel said. "Looks like those dumb beast cards of yours aren't paying off too well, are they?"
Briant burst into laughter.
"You think they're dumb?" he chuckled. "Animals are far smarter than human's give them credit for. They are absolutely brilliant. A fact that scares the hell out of me."
Something wasn't right. There was a dark aura surrounding Briant now. Something Daniel had felt before, when in the presence of the Archangel. He gulped and tried to shove that memory to the back of his head while Briant drew his next card.
"I pay 1500 life points to activate the equip spell Wild Retribution!" Briant said. "This card allows me to revive a beast-type monster and equip it with this card! Return, Night Whisperer! Rake!"
The Rake reappeared on Briant's field. But it wasn't the same as before. It was more feral, and destructive looking. Daniel took a step back. For the first time since this duel had started, Daniel was legitimately terrified.
"So, is that all?" he asked the talking bat, while rubbing the new, glowing wounds on his chest.
"Yes, pretty much," the bat said.
"God, next to France, this is probably the most bizarre thing that's ever happened to me," he said.
"I believe it," the bat said. "I'll be going now."
The bat flew off, leaving Malkator alone. He stayed leaning against the building for a while, trying to piece together everything that had just happened.
"Hey, Malkator!" a voice called, breaking him away from his thoughts.
He turned his head to see a man approaching him. He was a Japanese man in his late twenties, and was carrying a long samurai sword.
"Oh, great," Malkator said. "What do you want, Hiroshi?"
"I want to know what in hell is going on here," the man replied.
"Same here," Malkator said. "But I doubt I'll figure it out sticking around here."
Malkator got up, and began walking.
Meanwhile, on a different part of the Board, Daniel stood across from the bearded man, watching the Rake card.
"Well, this sucks," Daniel said, looking back at his dueldisk and the enlarged image of the card. In addition to its invulnerability, the Rake could also deal piercing damage. And if it went a turn without attacking, it could destroy a non-Fear monster easily.
"So are you gonna do anything else, or can I take my turn now?" the man asked.
"Hold on," Daniel said, setting a card on his field. "I set one card and end my turn."
As Daniel's turn ended, Light End Dragon's attack became 2100 and Rake's attack returned to 2500.
"Great!" the man said. "Time to teach you a lesson! I summon Beast King Barbaros!"
A large centaur like creature, with the head of a lion, and wielding a lance and a buckler. It was level 8.
"I can summon this monster without tributes, but if I do, its attack power becomes 1900," the man said. "Next, I activate the trap card Metalmorph! This card will now become an equip card for the Rake, increasing its attack power by 300!"
The Rake was coated in a layer of steel, and its attack power rose to 2800.
"Now, I attack Light End Dragon with the Rake!" the man said. "And do to Metalmorph's effect, the Rake will gain half of Light End Dragon's attack during damage calculation!"
The Rake's attack power rose to 3550, and it savagely ripped apart Daniel's Dragon. Daniel's life points were reduced to 6050.
"Now, I attack directly with Barbaros!" the man said. His beast prepared to strike Daniel with its spear.
"Not so fast!" Daniel said. "I activate the trap card A Rival Appears! Now, I can target one monster you control, then bring out a monster from my hand with the same level. Rake is a level 7, so I can bring out my level 7 Dark Magician!"
Daniel's Dark Magician appeared on the field.
"Since a new monster was brought out, I can cancel my attack," the man said. "Then I set a card face down and end my turn!"
"Alright," Daniel said, drawing. "So who are you, anyway?"
"My name is Briant," the man said. "Why do you care?"
"Because I'd like to know who's ass I'm kicking before I stomp them in to the ground," Daniel said, grinning.
"Ha!" the man laughed. "You think you have a chance against my Fear card?"
"Let me let you in on a little something," Daniel said. "This deck I'm using? It was customized to hold its own against a Five Headed Dragon."
"What!?" Briant exclaimed.
"You're Fear card was a bit intimidating at first, but I've gotten over it," Daniel said. "I can beat that thing. No sweat."
"Oh yeah," Briant growled. "Prove it!"
"I will!" Daniel said. "I summon Buten!"
A small, pig like fairy creature appeared on Daniel's field. It was level 1 with 200 attack points.
"Now, I tune my level 1 Buten to my level 7 Dark Magician!" Daniel said. "Come forth, Dark End Dragon!"
Daniel's monsters were replaced by a terrifying black dragon, with an extra face on its torso. It was level 8, with 2600 attack points.
"I attack Beast King Barbaros with Dark End Dragon!" Daniel said.
"I activate the trap card Half Unbreak!" Briant said. "This card prevents Barbaros from being destroyed in battle, and halves any damage I take."
Briant's life points were reduced to 6050, the same as Daniel.
"Oh well," Daniel said. "I activate Dark End Dragon's effect. Now, by permanently reducing its attack power by 500, I can destroy any monster you control. I'll chose Night Whisperer, Rake!"
Dark End Dragon opened its second mouth, and fired a bolt of energy that destroyed the Rake.
"Damn it!" Briant exclaimed.
"I end my turn with that," Daniel said.
"I draw!" Briant said. "Then, I activate the trap card Wild Return! This card revives a level 4 beast-type monster from my graveyard! I bring back Trojan Horse!"
The Trojan Horse reappeared on Briant's field.
"Now, I tribute my Beast King Barbaros, and my Trojan Horse treated as 2 tributes!" Briant said.
"Three tributes?" Daniel said. "Uh-oh..."
"I tribute summon another Beast King Barbaros!" Briant said. "And since he was summoned with three tributes, I can destroy every card you control!"
A second Barbaros appeared, with 3000 attack points. It swung its lance, destroying Daniel's Dark End Dragon.
"Now, attack him directly!" Briant demanded.
Beast King Barbaros stabbed forward with its lance, hitting Daniel. Daniel collapsed, clutching the area where it had hit. The was no wound, but the pain was still there. His life points dropped to 3050.
"I end my turn," Briant said.
Daniel looked at his hand. All he had was a Giant Soldier Of Stone. He could go on the defensive, but Briant's power deck could just break through it. He needed another plan. Some kind of Deus Ex Machina that could save him. He looked at the screen of his duel disk, trying to figure something out. That's when it occurred to him. He tapped the screen, and an image of a spell card appeared. He read its effect, and began chuckling.
"What's so funny?" Briant Demanded.
"Nothing much," Daniel said. "Just that I figured out how I might be able to make a comeback.
"What?" Briant asked.
"I activate the effect of The Board!" Daniel said.
The checkered tiles surrounding them began glowing.
"I pay 300 life points to guess what type of card I'm gonna draw!" Daniel said. "Then, if I guess right, I can draw again!"
Daniel's life dropped to 2750.
"I guess my next card will be a spell card!" Daniel said. He drew. "Looks like I lucked out and drew a spell! Which means I can draw again! And I think I'll use the Board's effect another time!"
Daniel's life was reduced to 2450.
"I guess trap card!" Daniel said, drawing again. "And it looks like that's exactly what I got! I use the Board's effect one more time!"
Daniel's life went down to 2150.
"This time, I guess monster!" He said. He drew another card, and looked at it. "Damn. Got a spell this time. Oh well. I summon Giant Soldier Of Stone!"
A warrior made of stone appeared on Daniel's field. It was level 3 with 1300 attack points.
"Next, I play the spell card Riryoku!" Daniel said. "Now, I can cut your monster's attack in half, and add it to my Soldier!"
Barbaros's attack was reduced to 1500, while Giant Soldier Of Stone rose to 2800.
"Now, I'll have my monster attack!" Daniel said.
Giant Soldier Of Stone attacked, destroying Beast King Barbaros and reducing Briant's life points to 4550.
"I set 2 cards face down and end my turn," Daniel said. "Looks like those dumb beast cards of yours aren't paying off too well, are they?"
Briant burst into laughter.
"You think they're dumb?" he chuckled. "Animals are far smarter than human's give them credit for. They are absolutely brilliant. A fact that scares the hell out of me."
Something wasn't right. There was a dark aura surrounding Briant now. Something Daniel had felt before, when in the presence of the Archangel. He gulped and tried to shove that memory to the back of his head while Briant drew his next card.
"I pay 1500 life points to activate the equip spell Wild Retribution!" Briant said. "This card allows me to revive a beast-type monster and equip it with this card! Return, Night Whisperer! Rake!"
The Rake reappeared on Briant's field. But it wasn't the same as before. It was more feral, and destructive looking. Daniel took a step back. For the first time since this duel had started, Daniel was legitimately terrified.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)