Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Lady of Dragons ❯ Shadi, Spirit of Vengence ( Chapter 18 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Shadi, Spirit of Vengeance





"She was an odd case, I'll tell you that. We're glad she didn't choke to
death; if that rock was any bigger?"

"Shhh, she's coming to."


Ishizu opened her eyes, but that was about it. She was alive, and that was
all the Kaiba mother cared about. The woman was still in yesterday's clothes and
lying with a thin sheet covering most of her body. In a normal case, she
would have been awake hours before, but shadow magic has always been anything but
normal. The woman didn't even understand the meaning of the words that both
hospital staff were saying; all she wanted to do was go back to sleep.

"Fine then, but... we need to discuss this." Both people quickly walked from
the room.

"Mr. Kaiba won't be returning for another day or two, and he will be furious
if he isn't told about the situation." The aging physician was paler then she
had ever been in her first four months of working at a major hospital. "This
could have easily been attempted murder."

Her coworker nodded, but there was nothing he could do about it. The fact was
that without promise of payment all they could do was keep the woman alive.

It had taken just over five minutes to remove the small shard of obsidian
black stone from Ishizu's trachea. What made the situation all the worse was the
Kaiba family had just announced they were expecting. That long without air?
There were tests needed to be sure but it seemed very likely that Ishizu Kaiba
had irreversible brain damage. Even if she survived, what hope was there for a
child? Little.

Ishizu was fighting the fatiguing magic running through her body. Without her
necklace with her she was battling with strength of the human spirit alone.
Before sinking back into the oblivion of unconsciousness, the last feelings she
felt was love for the unborn Kuraio, and the foreboding that her dreams would
not be pleasant today.


Thoth didn't have a clear idea of what to expect upon stepping out on the
dueling platform, but the piercing gazes of almost every everyone present wasn't
it. "Why do I have the feeling that I did something wrong?"

"Oh, you didn't," Kaiba told him calmly. "It's just a game, right? This
tournament is all about having fun, improving your skill, stealing innocent souls,
that kind of thing..."

"Seto," Shadi warned, ignoring the curl in Kaiba's lip at hearing his first
name.

Thoth cracked a large smile at that point. "Believe me, very few were
innocent," he said, his voice becoming its original icy self.

"So you admit it," Kaiba started, just as Bakura and Marik sprinted from the
VIP entrance right behind Kaiba.

"Every word." Seskera turned around, staring into his former master's eyes.
"Marik, oh, how the years have changed you? not for the better, but still?"
The Tomb-Keeper tore the dagger from his millennium rod and had it at the
duelist's throat at a speed that a less-skilled man would have overshot at.

Making sure that their eyes were locked against each other's, Marik made his
threat. "If I were a lesser man than I am now, yours would be the second death
before noon. However, I believe in letting justice take its course, and I
happen to know that your opponent has an excellent law degree."

"I am somewhat flattered," Shadi stated before pulling a flashing object from
his robes. "However, I have an alternate solution in mind." With a flash of
golden light he was gone.


Shadi seemed to know what to expect even before he entered the sorcerer's
mental lair. Large museum style cases lined the walls, with parchment and stone
sealed behind a lair of glass. The room itself was a large stone temple, almost
an arena, with only colors of red, gray, and tan visible in the décor.

Shadi started foreword before feeling a sensation he had not felt in so long:
pain. Powers of lightning and darkness combined clawed at the spirit's body
from the inside out, then left the guardian powerless on the floor. Seskera's
mental self had ambushed the item bearer by calling on the blackness of the
shadows that dwelled in his very soul.

The mental attire that Seskera was adorned in was a deep and rotting purple,
complete with golden thread sewn into the pattern of the seven treasures Shadi
had sworn his very existence to protect.

"I have been the target of `Master' Marik's powers before, guardian." Seskera
punctuated the point by kicking the spirit quite roughly in the abdomen. "And
I have shadow power of my own. It lives in my very skin and bone. Ra himself
chose me to carry out his orders. I will be ruler of the shadows, and the
Egyptian Gods will reward me beyond any mortal's dreams." The attacker grabbed
Shadi and dragged him to his feet, before landing a right hook that sent Shadi
rolling twice across the floor within his bindings.

Far from intimidated Shadi bellowed from the floor, "That scar you bear is
the mark of rage. The Winged Dragon wants nothing from you but your life?" He
paused as he witnessed the reaction across Seskera's face. "You fear him, don't
you." It was not a question; it was a statement of incontradictable
knowledge. Seskera's wrath brought another beating to his body, but his spirit stayed
unharmed in finding this new truth.

"I fear no mortal, nor god under the sky. I have more power than any mere
mortal possesses. Including you, oh guardian." Marik and Odion had both known of
this figure now trespassing in Seskera's mind, and the Ammitite had long been
awaiting his arrival. In this place, Seskera was in complete control. He had
been preparing, but it seemed now that all of the time he had spent meditating
and training with his magic could have been better spent stealing more soul
energy. "I will have my duel, guardian, for I know that no physical card is
tangible in this place. No," Seskera reconsidered, "better. I'll wager that
necklace of yours against my Claw of Typhonis. What do you think? Oh why bother; by
the time I get through with you, your soul won't have enough energy left worth
using. I appreciate the meeting, guardian, but now I'm afraid you won't get a
chance to say goodbye."

When the madness and certainty in his cause passed through Seskera's eyes,
Shadi knew that it was no use. The attempt at convincing this mortal was folly.
Seskera's mind was too far-gone now, and beyond even the millennium item's
power to heal.

"Redi a'nekhek en wi...," Seskera began.

Shadi seized the moment of distraction for one last desperate hope. Mentally
calling on the powers of the Millennium Key, he pulled the nearest door open,
barely registering what he was doing. Seskera's pupils shrank as he heard the
creak of the heavy door, and the roar that came from within it.

Shadi could not believe what he saw. The Winged Dragon of Ra itself, bound in
black chains and pulsing with a black aura. Shadi realized now: that door was
Seskera's mental way of keeping his ultimate fear at bay. Ra clawed and
stretched at the chains, and when it found it could not break free, the dragon
flared to life in Phoenix Mode. The mental projection of Seskera threw his full
power at the Egyptian God, unconsciously loosening his grip on the tomb keeper.
Shadi took the moment of distraction to finally break free into the living
world once more.


The whole battle had taken only a few seconds, but Bakura and Marik had time
to pull the two apart. Shadi opened his physical eyes and saw his opponent as
he had never seen another. He had been beaten out of a soul room, a new
experience, but there was no doubt that he had touched a nerve. Seskera was sweating
so hard he looked like an icy bucket had doused his face.

Kaiba took the opportunity to smirk before addressing the sorcerer in
question. "You are lucky I bind myself to my own rules or I would drop you where you
stand right here, or at least let an old friend have some words."


Marik, meanwhile, smacked the Millennium Rod on his palm in a threatening
way. "You face a magician like yourself now, and I hope I may say it plain, I
hope you lose before Shadi here loses a single point. My family is not something
I take lightly..."

"Sir?" Shadi interrupted. "He made the offer of a wager, my Key for his own
item of darkness. If you would permit, I am most eager to accept." Seskera was
still catching his breath and unable to protest.

"Very well," Kaiba agreed, not even hiding the fact that he was pleased.
"Present Deck Masters?"


Looking out into the midmorning sky, Yugi gathered his thoughts. Both he and
his partner felt that strong pulse of history being written. Marik and Bakura
felt it, Kaiba too. Even Ishizu would have, had she been conscious. Like so
many he had fought himself, a life-changing duel had begun. Now Yugi was forced
to wait, not even to witness. Every duel so far had been for sport, now the
danger was beginning. Correction, Yami told him, it has begun.


"I call upon the Millenium Shield to act as my Deck Master," Shadi announced,
setting the card in the appropriate slot. The shield came into being behind
his shoulder.

Seskera, meanwhile, spent a minute going through his deck, muttering under
his breath, before picking one card. "Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands will be
mine," he said, just as the bizarre, blue-skinned monstrosity appeared behind
him.

With a rush of air being split, a dome of shadow descended over the two
duelists. The Shadow Game had begun.

Sh - 8000 Sk - 8000

As the Shield had no attack points compared to Manju's 1400, the first move
was Shadi's. The spirit drew his opening hand, and wasted little time in
making his move. "I set one monster in facedown Defense Mode," he said, "and call
forth a facedown card. It is your move, vile one." The cards appeared as he
played them.

"Honestly, Shadi, flattery will get you nowhere," the leader of the Order of
Ammit mocked as he drew his last opening card. "Now..." Glancing at his
hand, he smiled and thought, First moves don't get better than this. "I activate
my Ritual Magic Card, Doriado's Blessing. Normally, I would have to make a
sacrifice, but Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands lets me pay 200 Life Points for
each level star I would have to tribute. For this monster, that's 600." The
statue's hands flashed around Seskera, slashing at his skin three times and
making him wince.

Sh - 8000 Sk - 7400

Once the procedure was done, Seskera continued, "This will be well worth it.
Behold my Elemental Mistress Doriado, in Defense Mode!" A gust of wind
circled around him, before turning into a gout of fire, and then a stream of water,
before finally becoming a heap of rock. The elements struck the ground, and
from them emerged a beautiful young woman, arms held out before her.
(1200/1400) "And to ensure her safety," he added, "I equip her with the Heart of
Clear Water!'" The woman's body became slightly translucent, as a gemstone
appeared at her neck. "And that will end my turn."

Drawing a fifth card to his hand, Shadi reached down and pressed a button on
his Duel Disk, saying, "I turn my Gravekeeper's Spy to Attack Mode." The
facedown monster card turned over, and a man in Egyptian attire rose to his feet.
(1200/2000) "And when he is flipped," Shadi added, "he can call upon another
member of the Gravekeeper clan to come forth, provided its attack power is
less than or equal to 1500..." The Spy snapped his fingers, and another man
appeared, this one wielding a very large spear. "Come forward, Gravekeeper's
Spear Soldier!" (1500/1000)

Seskera's eyes narrowed, and he glanced again to his hand, regretting not
having set anything facedown. He braced himself.

Shadi's expression was unreadable as he studied Seskera, before commenting,
"It would seem you know my Spear Soldier's power. The Heart of Clear Water
makes your Doriado indestructable in battle, but my Spear Soldier can inflict
damage from battling monsters in Defense Mode... as he will now do.
Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier, attack the Elemental Mistress with Keeper's Spear!" The
Spear Soldier nodded, and then heft his spear before throwing it at Doriado. It
passed right through her body and struck Seskera in the foot, causing him to
grunt.

Sh - 8000 Sk - 7300

Lifting his foot, Seskera rubbed at it, glaring at Shadi. The spirit did not
change his expression, instead announcing, "That will end my turn."

Drawing his hand up to four, Seskera looked angrily at his cards before
declaring, "I activate my Pot of Greed." He quickly drew two more cards, and then
took one of them. "I will now show you the power of the four elements," he
said, playing the card. "Element Valkyrie, in Attack Mode!" The winged young
woman descended from the sky, weapon in hand. (1500/1200) He further
explained, "The Element Valkyrie is in tune with the elements of fire and water -
fighting alongside a monster of fire raises her power, and a monster of water will
ensure her loyalty..."

Shadi interrupted, "That does you little good. You have no monster of either
Attribute on your field, and all Gravekeepers are of the Dark Attribute."

In response, Seskera gestured to the Elemental Mistress Doriado, who had
begun to glow. "Perhaps," he said. "But Doriado is the Mistress of the Elements
- she counts as a monster of all elements except Dark!" Fire and water spun
around the Element Valkyrie, and she smiled as power infused her. (2000/1200)
"Now, Element Valkyrie, destroy the Gravekeeper's Spy!" Nodding, she charged
forward and brought her blade down on the Gravekeeper's neck, slicing him
almost in two.

Sh - 7200 Sk - 7300

"I set one card facedown," Seskera finished, "and end my turn." The card
appeared before him.

Sweat appeared on the spirit's face as he drew, looking again at Doriado. He
welcomed what he drew, playing it and announcing, "I bring this duel to
Necrovalley!" In a flash, they stood in the center of a vast desert, surrounded by
the ruins of what was once a great city. Caves abounded, leading, Seskera
thought, into the tombs of the dead pharaohs. "Here, in the place they truly
belong, the Gravekeepers gain 500 Attack and Defense Points," Shadi continued.
"In addition, this place's power prevents the dead from being disturbed -
cards that affect the Graveyard, including bringing monsters back, are useless
here!" The Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier raised his spear and cried out to the
heavens. (2000/1500)

Glancing about him, Seskera shook a bit, feeling his old fears welling up in
the pit of his stomach. Why, of all the Field Magic in the game, did Shadi
have to play that card?

"I set one monster in Defense Mode," Shadi continued, "and now, Gravekeeper's
Spear Soldier, attack Doriado again!" The Spear Soldier took aim, and threw
another spear at the woman. This one passed through her as well, striking
Seskera in the mid-thigh. With that, Shadi ended his turn.

Sh - 7200 Sk - 6700

The Ammitite leader's face twinged as he drew his next card, but he managed
to hide his fear as he played it. "I summon Element Saurus, in Attack Mode!"
The bizarre dinosaur trampled its way onto the field, roaring loudly. A wave
of fire and a cracking of earth emerged from Doriado, causing the dinosaur to
grow in power. (1500/1200 - 2000/1200) That done, Seskera glanced to his
facedown card, and then said, "That will be all."

His fourth card in hand, Shadi pressed another button on his Duel Disk,
announcing, "I turn my Gravekeeper's Guard to Attack Mode!" The facedown monster
card flipped, and the Guard stood up, about to raise his own spear. "He can
send any one monster in play back to your hand when he is invoked..."

"That would be true," Seskera interrupted, activating his facedown card, "if
it weren't for my Divine Wrath trap. By discarding one card from my hand, I
can negate and destroy an Effect Monster!" He took one card from his hand and
discarded it. The sky turned black above them, and suddenly a bolt of
lightning shot down, obliterating the Gravekeeper's Guard.

Shadi's eyes narrowed, and he resumed his turn. "Very well. I summon
Gravekeeper's Assailant, in Attack Mode!" From one of the many tombs in
Necrovalley, a man with his face concealed in cloth wrappings emerged, turning a dagger
over and over in his hand. The power of Necrovalley entered him, and he
laughed. (1500/1500 - 2000/2000) Shadi continued, "And when the Gravekeeper's
Assailant attacks, he can switch the battle position of one monster on your field.
Assailant! Switch and attack the Element Saurus!"

Taking an odd powder from a pouch on his side, the Assailant blew it towards
the dinosaur. It inhaled the powder, and then staggered, sinking to its knees
as it entered Defense Mode. The Gravekeeper's Assailant licked his knife,
and then charged, slitting the Element Saurus's throat with one swipe and making
it explode into shards.

"Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier," Shadi further ordered, "strike at Doriado once
more!" For the third time, the Spear Soldier hurled his spear at Doriado.
Once again, it passed right through her and struck Seskera's leg. That ended
Shadi's turn.

Sh - 7200 Sk - 6100

With only three cards in his hand, Seskera found himself in trouble. His
Element monsters had one glaring weakness - they only gained attack power from
their abilities, never defense. The Assailant could bring any of them down at
will. He had to act. "I summon Homunculus the Alchemic Being!" An odd,
nearly human figure staggered into view, his body covered in patches of
different-colored skin. (1800/1600) "And next," Seskera added, "I equip him with my
Malevolent Nuzzler!" A demonic woman appeared and kissed Homunculus on the
cheek, making his muscles bulge out and his eyes burn red. "This raises his Attack
by 700 points!" (2500/1600)

Shadi placed one finger over his facedown card, thinking to himself, I know
which monster he'll go after. My Rite of Spirit will make his attack
pointless.

Noticing Shadi's action, Seskera grinned, saying, "I set one card facedown.
Now... Technically, homunculi can't perform alchemy. But Homunculus is
really a chimeric creature, so he's perfectly capable of it. Homunculus the
Alchemic Being, destroy Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier with Alchemy of Light!"

The spirit's eyes went wide. I can't waste Rite of Spirit on that one! he
thought.

Clapping his hands, Homunculus placed them to the ground. A circle of light
surrounded the Spear Soldier, and then it exploded, destroying him.

"And my turn is done," Seskera announced.

Sh - 6700 Sk - 6100

A number of suspicions passed through Shadi's head as he stared across the
field at his opponent. Taking one card from his hand, he was about to set it on
his Duel Disk, but then put it back in his hand, shaking his head. "Not
yet," he said. "Instead, Gravekeeper's Assailant, switch and attack Homunculus
the Alchemic Being!"

The Assailant took another handful of powder and blew it towards the chimeric
man. Homunculus's knees weakened, and he sank to the ground. The Assailant
charged...

"Activate Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan!" Seskera shouted, as his facedown card lifted. The
Gravekeeper's Assailant stopped in his tracks as fire, water, earth, and wind
floated into being around Seskera. The head of the Order smirked and
explained, "To use this trap, I need one each of Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind
monsters. Doriado counts as all four. Now, I may choose one of four blessings... I
choose the Blessing of Fire, to destroy all monsters you have in play!"

The other three elements vanished, and the fire orbited around Seskera. It
spun faster and faster, and then launched out, rushing over the Gravekeeper's
Assailant in a wave. The monster screamed as he was burned to ashes, and then
there was nothing left.

Relieved that he hadn't played a monster yet, Shadi announced, "I set one
card facedown, and one monster in Defense Mode. Make your move, vile one."

"If you're going to keep insulting me, learn to inflect," came Seskera's
retort as he drew, stuck to whatever his deck gave him. Examing the card he had
drawn, he considered a moment, and then made his move. "I set a card facedown
for now, and switch Homunculus back to Attack Mode. Element Valkyrie, attack
his defense monster!"

Rising into the sky, the Vakyrie swooped in and swung down her blade... and
impaled a withered old man. He muttered a harsh last word before breaking
apart, and darkness swarmed over Elemental Mistress Doriado. She screamed, and
then the darkness vanished, taking her with it.

Shadi said, "Never lay hands on a scholar, Seskera. The Old Vindicative
Magician you just destroyed has taken out his wrath on your Elemental Mistress
Doriado with his Final Curse. It destroys any one monster if it is flipped, and
thus has sealed your four elements."

Fire and water fell from the Element Valkyrie, and she drooped as if robbed
of power... until Seskera announced, "Homunculus, become Fire." The Alchemic
Being concentrated, and his skin turned a deep, dark red. Once again, fire
swirled around the Element Valkyrie, and her attack score did not change.

"Surprised?" Seskera said, in reaction to Shadi's confused stare. "Once per
each of my turns, Homunculus can change his Attribute. By making him Fire, I
have prevented the loss of Doriado from having full effect. Now, Homunculus,
attack directly with Alchemy of Fire!"

Again, the chimeric man clapped his hands and pressed them to the ground. A
circle of flames built up around Shadi, and then it exploded, scorching the
spirit and causing him to cry out in pain.

Sh - 4200 Sk - 6100

Seskera nodded, ending his turn.

Shadi's hand moved up to four cards, and he stared down at his field. He had
to act now. "I activate Rite of Spirit!" he announced, flipping his facedown
card. "I can bring back any one Gravekeeper from my Graveyard... and because
the Gravekeepers are the masters of Necrovalley, its power does nothing to
stop it! Return, my Gravekeeper's Guard, in Defense Mode!"

A resounding chant came from all of the caves in Necrovalley. As Seskera's
forehead beaded with sweat, a flash of purple light filled the air, and the
Guard stood before him, kneeling with his staff across his chest. (1000/1900 -
1500/2400)

"I also set one monster in Defense Mode," Shadi continued, "and set one card
facedown. Take your turn."

Seskera drew his next card, still frustrated at only having a single card in
his hand. "Homunculus, attack the Gravekeeper's Guard! Alchemy of Fire!"
Clapping his hands, Homunculus slapped them to the ground, sending a current of
fire across the ground to the Guard...

"Activate Charm of Shabti!" Shadi cried, discarding it from his hand. A
small doll in his image fell in front of the current, absorbing the heat and then
exploding. "By invoking this power, I protect the bodies of my monsters with
an ushebti in my image. However, the damage they would take is transferred to
me... and since the Guard was in Defense Mode, I took none."

"I end my turn, then," Seskera said, grunting.

The contents of Shadi's next draw amazed him. Perfect! he thought. "I offer
my Gravekeeper's Guard as a Tribute to summon forth the Gravekeeper's Chief!"
he declared. The Guard vanished, and in his place, a tall, wild-eyed priest
strode down from the caves, spinning a staff in one hand. (1900/1200 -
2400/1700) "As the high priest of the sacred Necrovalley, he negates its effect for
me. Next, I turn the Gravekeeper's Spy to Attack Mode..." The Spy stood up,
dusting off. (1200/2000 - 1700/2500)

Seskera cut him off, hissing, "I know his effect. Make your Special Summon!"

"In that case, I summon Gravekeeper's Cannonholder in Defense Mode," Shadi
said with less enthusiasm. From another cave came a man with a giant cannon on
his back. He sank to his knees, cannon at the ready. (1400/1200 - 1900/1700)

Seskera braced himself, holding his hand before his face as if not wanting to
see what was about to happen.

Shadi smiled grimly. "Can you see what is about to happen? Gravekeeper's
Chief, attack the Element Valkyrie with Power of the Grave!" The Chief raised
his staff, and chanting wildly, he pointed at the Valkyrie. A stream of
spirits burst up from the ground, and they tore her to shreds. Seskera began to
breath heavily, clutching his stomach.

Sh - 4200 Sk - 5700

"I end my battle phase," Shadi continued, "and invoke the power of my
Gravekeeper's Cannonholder. By making a sacrifice of one of my Gravekeepers, I can
deal you 700 points of damage. Gravekeeper's Spy, your sacrifice will be
remembered." The Spy drew a short sword from his robes, walked to stand before the
Cannonholder, and swung the sword around in a high arc...

Seskera shut his eyes, refusing to watch what was happening. But when the
Spy's severed head rammed into his stomach, he let out a short, loud scream.

Sh - 4200 Sk - 5000


From outside of the shadows, all three of the onlookers - Seto Kaiba, Marik,
and Bakura - heard the scream.

"Sounds like Seskera," Kaiba noted dryly. "I wonder what frightened him?"

Marik looked thoughtful for a moment, before snapping his fingers. "I just
remembered one of Seskera's stranger traits. He was morbidly afraid of death -
even getting too close to a mummy could send him into a panic!"

Bakura glanced to his partner before commenting, "I wouldn't be surprised if
Shadi's taking advantage of that. I would..."


"I activate The Shallow Grave," Shadi finished, playing his second card and
leaving his hand at one, "and bring back my Gravekeeper's Spy in Defense Mode
again. You would be able to summon a monster as well, but Necrovalley forbids
it. That ends my turn." Even as the Spy returned, head intact, Necrovalley
pulsed, sending a wave of energy through Seskera's body that sickened him.

It took a moment before Seskera drew. He had to catch his breath, one hand
wiping the sweat from his brow and his heart beating rapidly. Once recovered,
he drew his next card, and then smiled. And then he laughed, holding up his
current draw. "I've always hated Necrovalley," he said. "Reminds me too much
of my days as a Rare Hunter. Time for a change of venue... to the Luminous
Spark!"

A beam of light shattered the sands of Necrovalley, causing the Gravekeepers
to recoil in fear. The tombs exploded into heaps of rubble, the ruins of the
city boiled away, and soon they were standing on an endless field of light...
a field that caused the Gravekeepers to shrink back in fear, their attack and
defense scores returning to their original values.

"It is a terrible shame that a place so full of light is in the deck of a
madman like you," Shadi said, his tone dripping with hatred.

Seskera ignored it, instead ordering, "Homunculus, become Light once more."
The chimeric man returned to his normal self, and soon he glowed with a new
burst of power as the light of Luminous Spark entered him. (2500/1600 -
3000/1200) "Now I set one monster in Defense Mode. Homunculus! Dispose of the
Gravekeeper's Cannonholder with Alchemy of Light!"

Homunculus clasped his hands once more, and sent the circle of light around
the Cannonholder. It exploded, wiping him away. Seskera waved a hand to
Shadi, handing the turn to him.

The flow of the duel had drastically changed, and Shadi knew it. He drew his
next card, and then stared at it. It was the second Gravekeeper's Assailant.
By playing this card, he thought, I can bring down his Homunculus and clear
his field of monsters in a single turn. But... I don't have Necrovalley, and
he's powerless without it! Best take a different tack...

"I switch my Gravekeeper's Chief to Defense Mode," he announced. "In
addition, I set one monster in Defense Mode. That will end my turn."

Making his next draw, Seskera reached down and flipped his facedown monster.
"I switch Pixie Knight to Attack Mode!" The young woman on the broomstick
shimmered into appearance, waving contently at Shadi, before light infused her.
(1300/200 - 1800/0)

What on Earth is he playing such a weak monster for? Shadi pondered.

"Now, Homunculus, become Earth," Seskera ordered. The chimeric man's skin
turned brown and rocky, and his stats reverted. (3000/1200 - 2500/1600)

And what did he do that for? Shadi scratched his head. Is he trying to lure
me into a trap? And if so, why?

Seskera ordered, "Pixie Knight, attack his facedown monster!" The pixie
gathered dust in her hands and blew them at the facedown card. It exploded,
briefly looking like a group of beetles before shattering. "Too bad you couldn't
use the Swarm of Scarabs. Homunculus, Alchemy of Earth on the Spy!"
Homunculus clapped and released, and the earth shattered under the Gravekeeper's Spy,
impaling him on a spike of stone. "My turn ends."

Shadi drew, and then played the card he'd drawn. "I play my Pot of Greed!"
He took two cards, and paused a moment. "Now," he continued, "I offer my
Gravekeeper's Chief as a tribute to call forth the Millenium Scorpion!"

The Chief stood up and dissipated into sand, which was caught by the wind and
propelled through the air around them. The sand reformed into a gigantic
black scorpion, each arm ending in four claws, the Eye of Horus shining in the
center of its back. Its stinger twitched in anticipation. (2000/1500)

"Millenium Scorpion," Shadi ordered, "consume the Pixie Knight!" The
Scorpion lurched forward, and its stinger launched out, running the pixie through.
She struggled, but this was brought to a swift halt as the Scorpion swallowed
her whole. A glimmering sheen covered the back of its body as it absorbed her
power. (2000/1500 - 2500/1500) "When it devours an enemy," Shadi added, "it
gains 500 Attack Points."

Sh - 4200 Sk - 4700

"Very good," Seskera said, and then chuckled before saying, "But killing my
Pixie Knight activated her effect. Choose one Magic Card in my Graveyard, so I
may place it on top of my deck."

The spirit paused, and ran what he knew of Seskera's graveyard through his
head. I don't want him bringing back Doriado, he thought, so I shouldn't send
back the Blessing. The Heart of Clear Water could aid him if he got out
another Doriado... "I choose the Pot of Greed," Shadi announced.

Taking that card from his Graveyard, Seskera placed it on top of his deck,
asking, "Anything else?"

"That ends my turn," Shadi said.

Drawing the Pot of Greed, Seskera held up a very unusual card. The picture
showed a screaming man in the center of a cemetary, surrounded by screaming
heads poking themselves out of the graves. "This, Shadi, is the card I had
Pegasus make for me. Behold my Screams From The Beyond!" He placed the card on
his Duel Disk, and suddenly, Shadi could feel a wave of power smashing into him
from around Seskera's feet. "For every card in my Graveyard, you suffer 100
points of damage. Nine cards, 900 points of damage."

Sh - 3300 Sk - 4700

"There is a downside," Seskera continued as he took his Graveyard pile out of
the disk, adding the Screams From the Beyond card to it. "The card removes
itself and my Graveyard from play after I've used it. At least I retrieved my
Pot of Greed beforehand, hmm?" He smirked to his opponent.

Shadi's heart sank. That's why he weakened Homunculus, the spirit realized.
He lured me into a sense of false security so that I would destroy his Pixie
Knight, allowing him to retrieve a card before he used the Screams...

"Unfortunately, I can't attack when I use that card," the leader of the Order
finished. "Instead, I'll turn Homunculus to Light and end my turn." The
chimeric man returned to his original appearence, regaining the power of the
Spark

Shadi drew, and cursed under his breath. "I set one monster in Defense Mode,
and one card facedown," he said. "My turn ends."

The instant Seskera drew, his smile grew wide. "I play Chaos Greed!" he
announced, playing it. The air rippled around him, and two cards fell from
nowhere into his hand. "I can only play this card if I have four or more cards
removed from play, and if my Graveyard is empty. My Screams From the Beyond
accomplished both tasks. Now I draw two cards!" Doing so, he studied his hand.
"Now I summon Element Soldier, in Attack Mode!" The soldier appeared from
nowhere, spinning his sword in one hand. (1500/1200)

Such a weak monster, Shadi thought. Even if Homunculus can boost it by
becoming Fire, it's easy prey for my Scorpion. Why play it?

"Homunculus, become Water," Seskera ordered. The chimeric man rippled, and
his skin turned gelatinous, his body becoming blue. The Element Soldier looked
down his blade and smiled. "Element Soldier, attack his facedown monster!"
Pulling back his sword, the Soldier swung, blasting a tremendous furrow of
earth towards Shadi's monster. An owl briefly appeared (300/500), but was
crushed under debris.

Shadi laughed and declared, "You've destroyed An Owl of Luck, allowing me
to-"

"It doesn't allow you to do anything!" Seskera cut him off. "When a creature
of Earth shares the field with my Element Soldier, he negates the effects of
Effect Monsters he slays. I would have turned Homunculus to Earth, but your
Millennium Scorpion did the job perfectly well..."

The spirit turned pale, realizing he'd inadverantly foiled his own plan.

"I set one card facedown," Seskera finished, "and my turn ends."

Closing his eyes, Shadi called upon every reserve of hope left within him,
and drew his next card. Staring at it for a second, he then held it out for
Seskera to see before placing it on his Disk. "I play Terraforming, allowing me
to add any one Field Magic Card to my hand - and you can guess what I choose!"

Seskera swallowed hard.

"I choose Necrovalley," the spirit continued, "and now I play it! Let us
return to Necrovalley!" The light turned cold, and then shattered into a
thousand glittering shards, before the familiar sands and ruins once again surrounded
the duelists. "Now I call forth another of the Gravekeeper's Assailants, in
Attack Mode!" From a nearby cave, one of the Gravekeeper clan swept by Shadi,
standing alongside the Millenium Scorpion. As before, he laughed as
Necrovalley strengthened him. (1500/1500 - 2000/2000) "Next, I activate my facedown
card, Pyramid Power!" Far in the distance, a pyramid sent out two beams of
light, which fell upon Shadi's monsters. He continued, "This card lets me
choose whether to raise all my monster's Attack Points by 200 for the turn, or
their Defense by 500. I choose to raise their Attack!"

Seskera whispered, "Oh, damn," as the Millenium Scorpion and the
Gravekeeper's Assailant swelled with the added power. (Scorpion: 2500/1500 - 2700/1500
Assailant: 2000/2000 - 2200/2000)

"Millennium Scorpion," Shadi announced, "Devour Homunculus!" The beast
skittered across the desert sand, pulling back its stinger.

Turning his attention to his Duel Disk, Seskera tried to activate his
facedown card. But his nervous sweat made his finger slick, and it slipped, missing
the button. He stamped his foot in frustration, even as the Scorpion impaled
and devoured the chimeric man.

Sh - 3300 Sk - 4500

Once the gruesome meal finished, patches of different-colored skin sprouted
over the Millennium Scorpion. (2700/1500 - 3200/1500) "Gravekeeper's
Assailant," Shadi continued, "do not bother with your ability - slay the Element
Soldier!" The Assailant licked his knife, and then sprang at the Soldier...

"Activate Mirror Force!" Seskera finally declared, wiping his finger off and
hitting the button. The shell of light cut off the Assailant's attack, and
both he and the Scorpion were burned away by the light.

Shadi sighed, briefly studying his field. "I end my turn," he finally said.

Seskera drew, and slid the card into his hand. "Element Soldier, direct
attack!" he shouted. The Soldier charged...

...and was thrown backwards when he ran into an invisible wall. "My Negate
Attack was waiting for him," Shadi said.

"My turn ends, then," Seskera muttered.

Shadi drew, and then declared, "I activate my facedown card, Rite of Spirit,
to bring back the Gravekeeper's Assailant!" The chant reverberated throughout
the caverns of Necrovalley, and with a flash of light, the Assailant was
restored to life. "But now, I offer him as a tribute to call forth my own created
card - the Gravekeeper's Mummy!"

The Assailant was suddenly struck by a bandage, which wrapped around his
wrist. He struggled with it, even as other bandages latched onto him and his
flesh began to wither. Soon, he was covered in bandages, and gold funeral relics
appeared on his body. What was the Assailant stood proud, now the
Gravekeeper's Mummy. Its eyes shone with Necrovalley's gift. (2000/0 - 2500/500)

Seskera gasped, and tried to back away, running into the Shadow Game barrier.

"Frightened?" Shadi asked, voice dripping with sarcasm. "This mummy was once
the leader of the Gravekeepers. After his death, they mummified him to
preserve his power, and made him Necrovalley's guardian. Now he shall serve to
protect those he once led! Gravekeeper's Mummy, attack the Element Soldier!"
The mummy staggered forward, grabbing the soldier's throat. Its thumbs pressed
inward, and it strangled him to death.

Sh - 3300 Sk - 3500

As the Element Soldier's corpse shattered, the ground on Shadi's field
cracked open, and a creature that looked like a withered Element Soldier rose up.
"When the Gravekeeper's Mummy kills an intruder," Shadi added, "they become a
Servant Token under my control." (1000/1000) He then stared at the shaking
Ammitite. "Is something wrong?"

Seskera's only response was to grab his head, plummet to his knees, and
scream at the top of his lungs.


Outside of the Shadow Game, the three spectators heard the scream.

Marik shook his head, saying, "I recognize the sound. When Seskera was
around the dead too long, he screamed just like that. There's a name for what he
goes through."

Kaiba snorted and asked, "What would that be?"

"A panic attack," Marik said simply.


"Get a hold of yourself!" Shadi shouted as Seskera continued to writh. "One
such as you, who plans to send the entire world into darkness, has no purpose
being so frightened!"

Finally recovering, Seskera stood up, shaking a bit. "You have a point," he
admitted. "But the fear has followed me since childhood. Is that your turn?"

"I end it here," Shadi said, hissing a little.

Drawing his next card, Seskera played it immediately. "I play Card of
Demise!" A guillotine erupted from the ground behind him, and he drew five cards.
"I may draw five cards now, but when the turn ends, I lose everything I
gained. Now, I play Pot of Greed!" He drew two more cards, and played one of them.
"And since this place sickens me, I move us to the Mystic Plasma Zone!"

A bolt of darkness slammed into the field, shattering the tombs of
Necrovalley. Soon, both of them stood on a swirling vortex, black lightning striking
the ground around them. The Gravekeeper's Mummy's eyes shone with a different
light.

"If you plan to summon a powerful monster," Shadi warned his opponent, "I
must warn you of the Millennium Shield's effect. Once per game, I may negate an
attack and send its force back on the owner. In addition, my Gravekeeper's
Mummy is still stronger than anything you may have!"

"Now why would I do that?" Seskera asked calmly. "First, I invoke the power
of Fire - specifically, Tremendous Fire, which takes 500 Life Points from me
and 1000 from you!" Fire burned through Seskera's body, washing over Shadi's.

Sh - 2300 Sk - 3000

"Now..." Seskera paused, taking a few deep breaths. "You may have noticed
that, although my monsters rely on the power of the elements, they're all Light
or Dark. This is because the most powerful monster in my deck requires one
of each to summon. Light and Darkness combine, and as they do, they become
something I'm very akin to..."

The implication hit Shadi, and he sank to his knees, whispering, "Chaos..."

Smiling grimly, Seskera reached into his Graveyard. "This is why I moved us
from Necrovalley. I remove Homunculus the Alchemic Being and the Element
Soldier from my Graveyard... to call forth Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the
End!"

The two creatures appeared for a moment, and then their energies merged
together. From this fused energy came a black and gold dragon, its every step
causing the light to fragment on its scales. It glared at the spirit before it.
(3000/2500 - 3500/2100)

"I activate its special ability," Seskera continued. "By paying 1000 of my
Life Points, I can destroy everything on the field and in our hands - and
between the five cards in my hand, my facedown Soul Release, and all three of our
monsters, the game is over." Losing his control, the leader of the Order
screamed, "Now DIE!"

Raising its head, the Chaos Emperor Dragon let out one long roar, and then
exploded. Shadi was hurled backwards as the chaotic power struck him, slamming
him against the Shadow Game's barrier.

Sh - 0 Sk - 2000


Peter looked up from his television program for the briefest moment, and then
a strong tug at his heart forced the boy to get up. The object that had given
him twin scars across his cheeks was in use, and though he didn't know why
yet, he was forced to watch. Maybe this time it would all be over. He hoped that
was true.

Outside, Marik and Bakura were both trying to bring the dark cloud under
their control. The duel arbitor had no idea how to call this, but Kaiba had told
him to wait patiently. The winner would be obvious enough.

Peter climbed up the stairs just as the duel was drawing to a close. "What do
you think you're doing here?" Kaiba bellowed. "This area is restricted. Do
you want to be disqualified for having an unfa?"

In an instant, the dome of darkness burst apart like a balloon, sending a
strong stink of iron everywhere. To everyone's horror, Seskera was the one that
stood victorious, dragging a bettered and bruised Shadi by the rope of his
Millennium Key. Taking note of his spectators, Seskera lifted the gold object to
his eyes.

"You know," the Ammitite hissed, rubbing a thumb on the Key, "normally, a
person's spirit would be accessed through their favorite card, and their body
left an empty shell." Shadi, barely breathing, left his eyes closed as everyone
stood back. "You, on the other hand, are pure spirit, and I think your soul
lies in something a bit more valuable." Marik and Bakura cowered as they foresaw
the fate of their ally, and knew it would be pointless to attempt to help. A
pact made in shadow must be adhered to. Seskera held the Millennium Key in a
tight grip before reciting:

"Redi a'nekhek en wi, a'a ka a'q mesha', dewa-netje Ra dewaw kheftey sedjer,
ger a'a'ew djet kem gerehwey!"

The millennium key gave a great shutter and a blinding flash of light before
shattering in Seskera's hand. Waves of purple aftershock roared fiercely
across the arena floor. Far below, five pillars of black magic rose, and each
connected like a thread to the crystal in Seskera's hand. Shadi was already gone,
and all this would take was one strong mental tug.


Odion felt it like a burn across his face. Time had run out, there was no
time to be careful so he pushed with all his mental might. "A'qwey," he bellowed,
using up a great deal of power and blowing the door off of its hinges. He
slipped out and hid in the nearest alcove, hoping he'd be strong enough to bring
this to an end.


For a moment, Seskera thought he had it, and then he grumbled as he descended
the steps to the lower levels. The soul energy in the crystal should have
been enough by now, but perhaps Hasker had drained more then he feared.

"All right," Kaiba took charge. "The duels are over for the morning, so take
the rest of the day off and get some rest. The duelists wll need it for
tommorow." With that he walked away, not even seeming to care.

Peter fell to the floor in shock at what he had seen, and Marik tried to
comfort him. "Don't worry, it's over. Now I promise that that man will never hurt
anyone again, do you believe me?" But that wasn't the reason he was crying.
That burst of wind had sent a single card plummeting to the streets of Domino.
Peter's "Moonlight Dragon" was gone.


The rest of the day passed in silence. The adults gathered in one room,
trying to find some way to stop Seskera's plan and failing.

Derik sat in his own room, finalizing his deck. It's me against him
tomorrow, he thought. I can't afford to fail.

Isis calmly shuffled, turning over the top card of her deck. It was the Lady
of Dragons. She smiled.

Peter was curled up in his room, his cards scattered around him. Both scars
throbbed agonizingly.

And Seskera knelt in front of the Claw of Typhonis, its point resting on one
card, "A Man With Wdjat". His own soul card was that of a man who had
foolishly tried to control a far greater power... Seskera shook his head. He hated
irony.