Chapter 54: You know what's better than one god? Two!
[3rd POV]
On the field, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon dragged its sharp claws across the floor and hissed at the three duelists, green acid spewing from the gap of its teeth.
"Tsk... How troublesome..." Seto muttered as the dragon hissed at him.
"Indeed." Yami Yugi nodded and smiled: "One wrong move could destroy all of us." Turning
to Yuna, he spoke calmly: "From all the dragons that you summoned and sent to the graveyard, Buster Blader's attack will increase.
[Buster Blader: 4600 -> 6100 Attack, 2300 Defence]
"This is more fun than I have expected!" Yami Marik laughed: "What is your plan now, girl? It would be obvious that we're not simply going to let you do what you want."
"Of course," Yuna smiled wryly: "But I won't give up here."
"I will use Card of Sanctity to draw until I have six cards in my hand," She explained and refilled her entire hand with cards: "I will set two cards face down and end my turn."
"My turn..." Seto grumbled, glaring at Starving Venom Fusion Dragon with discontent before observing Yami Marik and Yami Yugi, who seemed to be sharing the same thoughts as him.
'Before I do anything, it's best if I deal with Starving Venom Fusion Dragon first...' Seto thought to himself, but in doing so, he would have to sacrifice his Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon...
"I will set a monster and a card face-down," Seto said while placing two of his cards onto the duel disk: "Then I end my turn."
Unable to bear the thought of using his Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon as cannon fodder, hd decided to be on the defensive and wait to see who should be the one to attack first.
"It's my turn." Yami Yugi said and drew a card.
Glancing at his Buster Blader, Yami Yugi felt a sense of confidence for having the most powerful monster on the field. But it doesn't mean much with all the set cards on the field, ready to be activated at a moment's notice.
'What should we do?' Yugi asked his partner, and Yami Yugi hummed, deep in thought.
Gradually, his pupils wandered to the Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 'As much as it bothers me, Sano's monster is too troublesome.
Slowly opening his eyes, Yami Yugi's face was full of resolve while gazing at the monster hissing at him: "I have made up my mind, Buster Blader, attack Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"
Seto/Yami Marik: !!!
The warrior charged and leapt into the air with the giant sword in his hand. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon roared maliciously, lunging at Buster Blader and coiling around his body.
*SLASH*
With his sword, Buster Blader separated the tail from the dragon's body before driving the weapon into the monster's chest. Starving Venom Fusion Dragon unleashed a shrill cry and collapsed as Buster Blader returned to Yami Yugi's field.
"The effect of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon has been activated." Yuna declared: "Now, all the special-summoned monsters on the field will be destroyed!"
As if on command, Buster Blader, The Cursed Beast and Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon collapsed. All the monsters have already absorbed the toxic pollen spread by the evil dragon, and they fell one by one.
"Additionally, you have triggered the effect of Keeper of the Shrine in my graveyard and allowed me to summon him in defence position." She explained as the elderly dragon returned.
[Keeper of the Shrine: 0 Attack, 2100 Defence]
"That is fine." Yami Yugi nodded: "Next, I will activate my trap card, Eternal Soul and with its effect, I can special-summon Dark Magician from my hand!"
Responding to Yami Yugi's chant, a portal manifested out of thin air, and a tall man dressed in purplish robe/armour emerged. The mage spun his green staff and raised it towards the sky. [Dark Magician: 2500 Attack, 2100 Defence]
"Now, Dark Magician, attack Marik directly!" Yami Yugi shouted.
The Dark Magician fired a beam of magic towards Yami Marik, and the man smirked: "I will activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow. When you declare an attack, I can negate it and reset this card instead of sending it to the graveyard."
As Yami Marik finished his explanation, a small totem made of metal rods and other various objects appeared, deflecting the magic attack. Disgruntled, Dark Magician crossed his arms and quietly returned to his master's side.
"I'm setting a card and ending my turn." Yami Yugi stated calmly.
"Finally, my move." Yami Marik exclaimed: "First, I will play Pot of Greed to draw two more cards."
Examining his hand, Yami Marik grinned: "Next, I will summon Dark Jeroid in defence position." He said as a grotesque monster appeared.
[Dark Jeroid: 1200 Attack, 1500 Defence]
"When Dark Jeroid is summoned, I can target one monster on the field, and it loses eight hundred attacks." Yami Marik then pointed at Yami Yugi: "I will pick your Dark Magician!"
"That won't work," Yami Yugi interjected: "While Eternal Soul is on the field, my Dark Magician won't be targeted for effects."
As Dark Jeroid launched a dark wisp towards the mage, the attack was soon dispelled, and Marik shrugged helplessly: "I will set two more cards and end my turn here. This is not even a real match, so there's no need for us to get so serious."
"Unless...." He smirked: "I noticed the three of you were trying very hard in this meaningless event. I assume you all have someone you're keen to duel?"
"Oh, let me guess, you wanted to duel me?" Yami Marik asked Yami Yugi: "And you, you wanted to duel her?" He then glanced at Seto.
Finally, his eyes wandered onto Yuna: "How about you? There wasn't really a reason for you to fight any of us."
Yuna glared at Yami Marik: "I wish to duel you."
"Oh?" Yami Marik laughed: "Don't you feel bad leaving the young president out of this? How about it, if I win, I will duel Kaiba so he won't be left out."
"p*ss off." Seto instantly growled as if he had chewed sh*t, inciting Yami Marik to laugh even
harder.
Unexpectedly, Seto found himself more irked by Yami Marik's comment than he had realised. Glancing at Yuna, a wave of disappointment struck him. Why doesn't she want to duel me?
"My turn." Yuna's voice brought his focus back onto the duel: "I will summon Paladin of Felgrand and activate his effect to equip Arkbrave Dragon to him."
[Paladin of Felgrand: 1700 Attack, 300 Defence]
"Then, with Paladin of Felgrand's effect, I will tribute him and Arkbrave Dragon to summon a dragon monster from my graveyard. Now, let's show them your power, Divine Dragon Lord
Felgrand! [1]"
*ROAR*
Instantly, a ferocious golden dragon arrived on the field. The Monster stood on two feet and spread its wings, unleashing a thunderous cry.
[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 Attack, 2800 Defence]
"When Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand was summoned from my graveyard, I could banish one monster in my opponent's graveyard, and it would gain power equal to the banished monster's level!" Yuna smiled and pointed at Yami Marik: "I target Marik's Winged Dragon of
Ra!"
Seto, Yami Marik and Yami Yugi expressed their surprise as they couldn't believe Yuna was banishing a god. As if following their thoughts, everyone heard a grateful screech as a golden bird appeared out of nowhere, flapping its wings wildly.
However, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand remained fearless and unleashed its power. Ra
screamed in pain as the god shrunk and was absorbed into the dragon's body, becoming a sustenance that fuels Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand's strength.
[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 -> 3800 Attack, 2800 -> 3800 Defence]
"Next, I will activate Monster Reborn, reviving my Arkbrave Dragon from the graveyard!"
[Arkbrave Dragon: 2400 Attack, 2000 Defence]
"When Arkbrave Dragon is special-summoned from the graveyard, I can banish all of my opponents' spell or trap cards, and Arkbrave Dragon will gain two hundred attacks and defence for each card banished!"
The three duelists' expressions indeed became grim; all of their traps were removed from play. With Yami Yugi's Eternal Soul and Magical Cylinder, Seto's Attack Guidance Armor and Yami Marik's Scrap-Iron Scarecrow and Malevolent Catastrophe.
[Arkbrave Dragon: 2400 -> 3400 Attack, 2000 -> 3000 Defence]
"Also, with Eternal Soul banished, Dark Magician will be destroyed." Yuna pointed out as
Yami Yugi's Dark Magician closed his eyes and disappeared into thin air.
"I'm entering my battle phase!" Yuna shouted: "Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand, attack Marik's
Dark Jeroid!"
Following her command, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand plummeted from the sky, landing before the demon and tearing the monster apart with its claws.
"Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand's effect has been activated and allows me to summon a level
seven or eight dragon monster from the graveyard. Return to me, Starving Venom Fusion
Dragon!
To everyone's horror, the Starving Venom Fusion Dragon that they sacrificed so many resources to remove has just been revived...
[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 Attack, 2000 Defence]
"Arkbrave Dragon, attack Yugi, and Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, attack Marik!"
The two dragons charged at the two defenceless duelists: "I will play the Kuriboh in my hand, and the damage taken by Arkbrave Dragon will be zero!" Yami Yugi yelled as a small fluffy
creature stood between the dragon and him.
Arkbrave bit down and devoured Kuriboh, saving Yami Yugi from the attack. While this was happening, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon lunged at Marik. With nothing to defend him, he sighed as the virtual claws of the monster slashed his body, bringing his life points to a
resounding zero.
[Marik Ishtar: 1000 LP -> 0 LP]
[Yuna's POV]
MU HA HA HA HA HA FEAR ME!!!!
I laughed like a supervillain while crushing Yami Marik under my might. The battle royale
mode may be the best type of duel I could ask for. Who cares if they all target me? They were all the same when my dragons destroyed them!!
Now, with Yami Yugi on the brink of death, Kaiba will need to attack him with one thousand
Starving Venom Fusion, Dragon howled, and its body began to transform. Flying into the air, my monster gradually merged a similar but more grotesque appearance of the Egyptian god. [Slifer the Sky Dragon (Starving Venom Fusion Dragon): 800 Attack, 2000 Defence] "You must be surprised," I explained to Yami Yugi: "Yes, Slifer the Sky Dragon is unaffected
by the monster's effect, but like my Waboku, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon only affects
itself, and the gods can still be targeted for effects!"
"Similar to your god, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon will have its attack and defence equal to
the number of cards I currently own." I showed them the number of cards in my hand: "I have four cards, so Starving Venom Fusion Dragon will have four thousand attacks!" "Since it's changing the attack entirely instead of gaining, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon
won't suffer from the penalty of losing two thousand attacks."
[Slifer the Sky Dragon (Starving Venom Fusion Dragon): 2800 -> 4000 Attack, 2000 -> 4000
Defence]
"Finally, I reveal my last set card, Castle of the Dragon Souls and with its effect, I will banish
Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand from my graveyard and give Starving Venom Fusion Dragon
seven hundred more attacks!"
[Slifer the Sky Dragon (Starving Venom Fusion Dragon): 4000 -> 4700 Attack, 4000 Defence]
"Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, attack Slifer the Sky Dragon!" I yelled. The god and its doppelganger clashed, a battle between a divine being and a demon. The
monsters used everything they had to kill each other, but eventually, it was my Starving
Venom Fusion Dragon that won, and the god card was destroyed... [Yugi Mutou: 1000 LP -> 300 LP]
"During the battle phase, I will activate my quick play spell, Twin Twisters and discard Ruins
of the Dragon Lord to destroy my own Castle of the Dragon Souls." I said and witnessed my card getting destroyed by a small tornado: "Once it's destroyed, I can activate Castle of the
Dragon Souls's effect to bring back one of my banished dragon monsters. Thus, fight for me
once more, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand!!" [Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 Attack, 2800 Defence] "Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand will banish the Dark Magician in the graveyard and attack
Yugi!"
[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 -> 3500 Attack, 2800 -> 3500 Defence] "Not so fast!" Yami Yugi shouted with desperation: "I will activate my last trap, Mirror Force
and destroy all of your monsters in attack position!!"
However, despite expecting my Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand to be destroyed, it didn't, and
the dragon continued its attack.
"I activate Return of the Dragon Lord from my graveyard. By banishing this spell, it can
protect Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand from being destroyed!"
With nothing to defend him, Yami Yugi sighed in defeat before chuckling to himself: "Not
even a god...."
BOOOOM
[Yugi Mutou: 300 LP -> 0 LP]
"Next, I will tribute my Starving Venom Fusion Dragon and Keeper of the Shrine to summon
Blue Eyes White Dragon in defence position." [Blue Eyes White Dragon: 3000 Attack, 2500 Defence]
I couldn't let Starving Venom Fusion Dragon stay on for the next turn, or else I wouldn't be
able to endure the hit: "Finally, I will set two cards face down and end my turn."
My heart was pounding with anticipation. As Kaiba observed my expression, a slight smirk
slowly formed on his face: "You can even defeat a god."
"Suprised?" I asked, and Kaiba chuckled. "No..." He shook his head: "That's what I expected from someone like you. But, can you
defeat two?"
was never an option for me, was there?"
"Probably not." Yuna admitted: "However, giving "Of course not." Seto confirmed: "I won't let you go this easily...."
As we stared at each other, I suddenly felt the urge to laugh. Unable to resist, I covered my
mouth and giggled while Kaiba also seemed to be quietly chuckling across from me. When we
finally calmed down, our expressions turned severe.
"Bring it."
Kaiba: "Say no more!"
"I will summon Saggi the Dark Clown!" He yelled, and a small, skinny clown appeared beside
the massive God.
[Saggi the Dark Clown: 600 Attack, 1500 Defence] "Then I'm able to activate Obelisk the Tormentor's effect. By tributing Saggi the Dark Clown
and the set monster from earlier, I will able to destroy all of your monsters and inflict four
thousand damage!"
"I won't let that happen!" I yelled: "I will activate my trap card, Hallowed Life Barrier, by
discarding one card. I will take no damage this turn!"
As Obelisk the Tormentor attacked with its fist, a blue barrier appeared before me, protecting
against the devasting punch. However, my dragons weren't within the shield and were
destroyed by the blast.
"I will set two cards and end my turn." Kaiba hummed: "I believe this match to be over."
"It's my turn," I muttered, unable to suppress the anxiety in my heart. I was correct, as Kaiba
instantly activated his trap card.
"I will play Ring of Destruction and target my Obelisk, the Tormentor!" Kaiba shouted as an iron shackle with grenades wrapped around the god's neck: "Ring of Destruction, allow me to
destroy my Obelisk the Tormentor, and we will take damage equal to its attack!" "I'm activating my second Hallowed Life Barrier!" I shouted and hurriedly revealed the trap.
As the blue barrier formed around my body, it suddenly cracked before dissipating into
nothingness.
"You have triggered my last trap's effect, Trap Jammer. By discarding a card, I will be able to
negate the effect of your Hallowed Life Barrier!"
"So we're both going to lose?!" I yelled in disbelief.
"Hmph," Kaiba smirked and revealed the final card in his hand: "I will play Ring of Defence;
reduce the effect damage of Ring of Destruction to zero!"
I gawked in shock as the collar around Obelisk exploded, casting a fiery explosion.
Instinctively, I raised my arms as the flames soared towards me... [Yuna Sano: 1000 LP-> 0 LP]
[3rd POV]
Seto sighed tiredly as he pressed the button on his duel disk, and the image of Obelisk the
Tormentor vanished. The final battle with Yuna was brutal as the two utilised every possible
resource they owned, and it was he who eventually came on top.
His heart was still pounding from the adrenaline as Roland's voice echoed: "Congratulations
on Seto Kaiba for winning this duel. As mentioned, who will be your opponent?" Seto's pupils swept through the three duelists standing before him: Yugi Mutou, Marik Ishtar
and finally, Yuna Sano. His gaze lingered on the girl, and Seto's leg instinctively stopped in
front of her.
Yuna lifted her head and smiled wryly: "You... won..." She muttered. However, Yuna soon
sighed and averted her gaze but didn't hide the painful tone in her voice. She gritted her teeth and lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes. Seto assumed that the disappointment she was feeling was immeasurable as he also knew what its like to work so
hard only to face defeat at the last moment.
Seto quietly stared at her with a complicated emotion. Despite the fact that he won, it doesn't
feel fair, and just like before, he hated the outcome. Yuna herself almost bested Seto and Yugi
even when they were controlling two Egyptian Gods. Doesn't he have shame?
"Sir... Seto Kaiba, what's your answer?" Roland urged as Seto clenched his fist.
"I pick..." He glanced at Yuna's face one last time: "I will pick Yugi Mutou as my opponent."
I hope you enjoy it!
[1] In battle city rules, equip monsters are still treated as monsters instead of cards