77 Dartz
"What..." I stepped backwards in shock, and I couldn't believe what I had just heard."
"Are you surprised?" Dartz chuckled. "I was, too, to think there's a whole other world out there, one that is much different from our own, and your soul may be the key for me to access it."
My body trembled in fright, and I felt my legs giving out: "How..." I managed to muster a single word, and Dartz smiled diabolically while reaching for his Duel Disk.
Slowly, he revealed the Seal of Orichalcos from his Duel Disk and staring at the card, I could feel the aura even more ominous and disgusting than before...
"Every time when the Seal of Orichalcos is played, the two people's souls will be connected with the power of the Great Leviathan. This meant our great God is always watching... Listening. Our thoughts, memories, and even our deepest darkest desires will be revealed."
"Should I say that it's thanks to Rafael and Alister that I was able to take a glimpse into this other world?" Dartz continued.
"Thanks to them, I was able to find powerful Duel Monster spirits that have never been seen before, and with the Great Leviathan, I was able to harness their power and make the impossible possible!!!"
'I see now...' I glared at Dartz with anger. That's how they all have these insane decks that were never seen in the story.
To Dartz, my mind was like a massive Yugioh encyclopedia with tons of information worth diving into. Just the thought of him going through my memories made me want to vomit.
"Which was why I will take your soul now. With the knowledge, even the Pharaoh won't be able to stop me!"
"I'd like to see you try!"L et's duel!" I snapped,
"Very well," He smiled calmly: "I always welcome a challenge."
[Dartz: 4000 LP]
[Yuna Sano: 4000 LP]
"I shall begin." Dartz said: "I will start my turn by activating the Seal of Orichalcos!!"
Immediately, the disgusting and ominous sensation washed over me, and I scowled deeply as the green seal formed beneath my feet.
"Next, I will pay five hundred life points and summon Orichalcos Kyutora from my hand!!" He declared, and a small creature covered in spikes appeared on the field. The monster resembled a green sea urchin. Dozens of long, thin legs protruded out of every direction of its body, and in the centre was a massive red eye.
[Orichalcos Kyutora: 500 Attack]
[Orichalcos Kyutora: 500 -> 1000 Attack]
"Finally, I will set two cards and a monster face down, ending my turn," Dartz spoke mysteriously, and my mind raced, unable to grasp his strategy.
'What was it going to be? Is he going to stick with the Orichalcos Deck, or will he pair it with something else?' I squinted, deep in thought, while hesitantly drawing a card.
"It's my turn!" I declared: "I will play my spell card, Card Destruction! We will both discard our entire hands before drawing the same number of cards we have discarded!"
Dumping all our cards into the graveyard, we began to draw, and I stared at Dartz warily: 'Now... What would it be? Will you finally show me what you're hiding?' However, nothing had prepared me for what came next...
"First, I will activate Eclipse Wyvern in my graveyard to banish Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon from my deck! Any response?"
"Hmm," Dartz rubbed his chin with a slight smirk: "Indeed, I will activate the effect of Shaddoll Beast in my graveyard to draw one card!"
Me: !!!
"Sh*t..." I quietly cursed in displeasure: "Out of all the decks... It just has to be Shaddoll?"
This might be one of the worst matchups for me. While my deck's strategy was to flood the field with my powerful dragons, Dartz's Shaddoll consists of setting monsters face down while having various flip and graveyard effects that can severely hinder his opponent. Let's not even talk about the number of powerful fusion monsters!
Forcing myself to stay calm, I continued to play: "Next, I will activate Lightpulsar Dragon's effect in my hand to banish Eclipse Wyvern and Keeper of the Shrine in my graveyard to summon it onto my field!"
[Lightpuslar Dragon: 2500 Attack]
"With Eclipse Wyvern's ability, when it is banished, I can add a banished dragon monster back to my hand. I will choose my Red Eyes-Darkness Metal Dragon."
"Now I will battle! Lightpulsar Dragon, attack that face-down monster!!"
Lightpulsar Dragon lunged, swinging its arms and tearing a significant mark on the card while it flipped upwards. This revealed a puppet shaped like a golden gecko, and the creature squealed as its pupils shined a purple hue.
"You have triggered the effect of my Shaddoll Squamata," Dartz explained with a wry smile. When this card is flipped, I can target you, Lightpulsar Dragon and destroy it!"
Shaddoll Squamata screeched, and the strings protruding from its body pierced the white dragon's scales, causing the two monsters to burst into black, shadowy particles.
"When Lightpulsar Dragon is sent to the graveyard, I summon one level five or higher Dark Monster from the grave! I will choose my Crescent Dragon!"
[Crescent Dragon: 2200 Attack]
"Crescent Dragon, continue to battle; attack Orichalcos Kyutora!" With my order, Crescent Dragon charged and swung its blade, cleaving the sea urchin in half.
"While on the field, Orichalcos Kyutora can reduce any damage I've taken to zero. Additionally, once it was destroyed, I will be able to bring out my second Orichalcos Monster, Orichalcos Shunoros!!"
*RUMBLE*
The floor bursts open, and a massive green arm emerges from underground. Pulling itself up, the monster reveals its entire appearance: a gigantic golem made of purplish and green metal. The monster stands motionless like a statue while its narrowed eyes cast an eerie glow.
[Orichalcos Shunoros: ? Defence]
"While Orichalcos Shunoros is on the field, it will gain attack and defence equal to the damage reduced to zero by Orichalcos Kyutora's effect."
[Orichalcos Shunoros: ? -> 1200 Defence]
"Also, when Orichalcos Shunoros is summoned, I can special summon Orichalcos Dexia and Orichalcos Aristeros!!"
Lifting its head, Orichalcos's Shunoros groaned, and its arms suddenly detached from its body, acting independently from itself.
[Orichalcos Dexia: ? Defence]
[Orichalcos Aisteros: ? Defence]
"Tsk..." I clicked my teeth. I would activate Crescent Dragon's effect to discard Arkbrave Dragon in my hand and add a second of Crescent Dragon from my deck," I said with a grimace. I set one card face down and ended my turn.
"Then, during your end phase," Dartz continued: "I will activate my trap card, Resh Shaddoll Incarnation, to target my Shaddoll Beast and special summon the monster in a face-down defence position; any problems?"
"None..." I growled at his teasing.
"Then I will draw," Dartz said, and I hurriedly interrupted him: "During the standby Phase, Arkbrave Dragon's effect has been activated, and I will summon Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand from the graveyard!!!"
*ROARRRRRR*
A furious roar resounded behind me, and I smiled instinctively. With a loud booming sound, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand landed and flexed its majestic wings while glaring at Dartz with anger.
[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 Attack]
"When Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand is summoned from the graveyard, I can target one monster on your field or graveyard and banish it! Then, it could gain attack and defence equal to the monster's level multiplied by one hundred!"
With a smirk, I pointed at Dartz: "I choose you, Orichalcos Shunoros!"
Opening its jaw, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand fired a bright beam, striking the statue. Unable to endure the attack, Orichalcos Shunoros exploded, sending stone shards flying in every direction.
[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 -> 3800 Attack]
"Since Orichalcos Shunoros have left the field, Orichalcos Aisteros and Orichalcos Dexia will be destroyed along with it!" I declared, and the two limbs were also caught in the explosion.
"Well played," Dartz commented and glanced at the new card in his hand: "Let me continue. I will first play the spell card Card of Sanctity, and we will both draw until we have six cards in our hands."
"Next, I will activate the field spell, Orichalcos Deuteros!!"
*WHOOOSH*
The Seal of Oricchalcos expanded, and I shivered as the sensation intensified. It was like someone was tightly gripping my heart, making it difficult to breathe...
"This sensation... Can you feel it?" Dartz chuckled and spread his arms: "The Great Leviathan is watching over us."
"You're insane..." I swore and coughed in discomfort.
"Soon, you will understand. For now, you need to be obedient." He shrugged and tapped on the button on his Duel Disk: "I will flip-summon my Shaddoll Beast!"
[Shaddoll Beast: 2200 Attack]
[Shaddoll Beast: 2200 -> 2700 Attack]
"When Shaddoll Beast is flip-summoned to draw two cards and then discard one card from my hand," Dartz explained and showed me his card: "I will discard my Shaddoll Core and, with its effect, add back the Shaddoll Fusion I have sent to the graveyard earlier..."
"Now, I will activate Shaddoll Fusion!! I will fuse Orichalcos Kyutora and Shaddoll Hedgehog to summon the fusion summon, El Shaddoll Construct!!"
A dark portal manifested in the air, and a slim woman arrived through the blackish hole. Her complexion was completely pale, and her movements were stiff like a doll. Her body was not that of a human, with parts wholly made out of metal and dressed similarly to a nun.
Fixing its nonexistent eyes towards me, El Shaddoll Construct tilted her head as various pink strings emerged from her back. They tethered her against the walls, lifting her off the ground.
[El Shaddoll Construct: 2800 Attack]
[El Shaddoll Construct: 2800 -> 3300 Attack]
I will activate the effect of El Shaddoll Construct and Shaddoll Hedgehog." Darz said: "El Shaddoll Construct allows me to send one Shaddoll Monster from my deck to the graveyard, and Shaddoll Hedgehog allows me to add one Shaddoll Monster from my deck to my hand."
"I will send Shaddoll Dragon from the deck to the graveyard and proceed to activate its effect," He spoke while pointing at my set card: "When Shaddoll Dragon is sent to the graveyard, I can target one spell or trap card on the field to destroy it."
"Then I will activate the trap you're targeting, Waboku!!" I shouted, and my face-down card revealed itself: "This turn, I will take no battle damage, and my monsters can't be destroyed by battle this turn!"
"I won't let that happen. I will activate my trap card, WireTap, to negate your Waboku's effect!!" Dartz smirked. Now, I will set one monster face down and banish the Resh Shaddoll Incarnation in my graveyard to flip that monster face-up to reveal Shaddoll Squamata!"
[Shaddoll Squamata: 1800 Attack]
[Shaddoll Squamata: 1800 -> 2300 Attack]
"With Shaddoll Squamata, I can target your Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand and destroy it!!"
"In response, I will banish the Return of the Dragon Lords in the grave, and Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand won't be destroyed!"
"Then I will battle!" Dartz shouted back: "El Shaddoll Construct, attack Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand! Since Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand is a special-summoned monster, I can destroy it instead!"
Raising one of her limbs, strings shoot out of El Shaddoll Construct's fingertips, piercing Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand, and my monster fell helplessly to the ground.
"Shaddoll Beast, tear that Crescent Dragon to shreds!" Dartz commanded, and the monster fearlessly lunged. Crescent Dragon was overwhelmed by the creature's sheer strength.
[Yuna Sano: 4000 LP -> 3500 LP]
"Shaddoll Squamata, attack her life points directly!!"
*BANG*
I was knocked off my feet, and I was sent flying, my body crashing against the wall, "Guh..." I groaned in pain and collapsed on all fours.
Covering my mouth, I coughed and felt the blood staining my palm. Enduring the stinging sensation along my back, I glanced at my life points, which had dropped alarmingly low.
[Yuna Sano: 3500 LP -> 1200 LP]
"Stand up," Dartz stared at me coldly: "I never told you that this duel ended."
Glaring at the religious lunatic, I used the wall to support myself: "Don't mind me, just tripped..." I spat and wiped my mouth with my sleeve.
*Bzzzz*
Suddenly, I felt a slight vibration in my back pocket, and I instinctively reached for my phone. The screen was cracked in several places due to the fall, but the message displayed on the distorted glass instantly lifted my mood.
Kaiba: I'm on my way. Be careful.
"It looks like Rafael has failed," Dartz commented thoughtfully: "That was to be expected. He was always so stubborn about keeping true to his cards. That means he must have lost his soul."
"Aren't you even feeling remotely upset?" I growled: "Rafael was very loyal to you."
"Loyal, yes," Dartz agreed: "Nonetheless, he has fulfilled his purpose, and his soul will fuel the great God."
"This b*stard..." I cussed at him unhesitantly: "Enough with the babbling and keep playing."
"Then I shall. After the Battle phase, I will activate the effect of Orichalcos Deuteros and gain five hundred life points for every monster I control."
[Dartz: 3500 LP -> 5000 LP]
"Finally, I will set three cards and end my turn. It's your move, Yuna Sano."
I bit my lips, my gazes alternating between the cards in my hand and the phone. Sighing, I quietly apologised to Kaiba in my head. It looks like this duel might be finished before then...
"But..." My eyes turned fierce, and I tightly held my cards, feeling the texture rubbing against my fingertips: "That doesn't mean I won't go down without a fight!"
"I will draw!!" I declared and Dartz reacts by activating one the set card on the field.
"During your draw phase, I will activate my spell card, El Shaddoll Fusion!! I Will Use Reeshaddoll Wendi in my hand and Shaddoll Beast on the field to summon El Shaddoll Winda!!"
*Growl*
Appearing out of another portal was a giant mechanical dragon coated in purple. The monster unnaturally tilted its head and eagerly snapped its jaw as its pupilless eyes zoned in on me. Standing on top of the dragon's back was a short girl built from parts. Her neon green hair shook wildly as she waved her long staff in the air.
[El Shaddoll Winda: 2200 Attack]
[El Shaddoll Winda: 2200 -> 2700 Attack]
"While El Shaddoll Winda is on the field, we can only special summon once per turn." Dartz explained with a wry smile: "Now, I will also activate the effect of Reeshaddoll Wendi and Shaddoll Beast."
"Shaddoll Beast allows me to draw one additional card, and Reeshaddoll Wendi allows me to summon Shaddoll Hedgehog from the graveyard in a face-down position."
Frowning, I stared at El Shaddoll Winda with annoyance: "Then I will play Return of the Dragon Lords and summon back my Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand!!"
[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 Attack]
"I will activate Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand's effect to banish El Shaddoll Winda! With El Shaddoll Winda gone, the restriction has also been removed!"
[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 -> 3300 Attack]
"Next, I will summon Dark End Evaporation Dragon by banishing Starving Venom Fusion Dragon from my extra deck!"
A tall dragon with scales as black as obsidian appeared beside Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand. It had sharp claws, giant bat-like wings, and horns on both sides of its head. However, the most noticeable feature was the demon's face on its chest. [1]
[Dark End Evaporation Dragon: 2600 Attack]
"When Dark End Evaporation Dragon is summoned, I can also summon Knight Armed Dragon from my hand!"
[Knight Armed Dragon: 1600 Attack]
"Using Knight Armed Dragon, I will banish that monster to summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon from my hand!"
[Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon: 2800 Attack]
"I will activate Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon's effect to summon Arkbrave Dragon from my graveyard!"
[Arkbrave Dragon: 2400 Attack]
"With Arkbrave Dragon's effect, I can banish all face-up spells or traps on the field!!" I shouted: "That means the Orichalcos Deuterous will be removed from play!"
*BOOOOM*
The temple rumbled as Arkbrave Dragon generated an explosion that consumed the field. Instantly, I felt the seal's power weaken, and the Orichalcos symbol on his monsters' heads disappeared.
[Shadoll Squamata: 2300 -> 1800 Attack]
[El Shaddoll Construct: 3300 -> 2800 Attack]
However, just before I could relax, the Seal of Orichalcos burst forth, and the energy intensified: "What..." I mumbled in shock: "I thought I had destroyed it..."
"Fool..." Dartz sneered: "Do you genuinely believe that the Seal could be destroyed that easily? The card was merely a formality, but your fate was closed as soon as this duel began."
"No way... Was this a Shadow Game all along?" I questioned, and Dartz confirmed my worst suspicion with a nod.
"Indeed." He smiled: "Aren't you excited when everything is on the line?"
"Shut up!" I snapped.
I won't lose here; I will not die!
"Dartz!" My shout travelled through the chambers: "This battle will end! Right here, right now!!"
Raising my hand into the air, I gathered my breath and felt my body heat up as I began to chant...
"Almighty protector of the sun and sky, I beg of thee, please heed my cry!"
"Transform thyself from orb of light and bring me victory in this fight!"
I beseech thee, grace our humble game!"
But first I shall...call out thy name, Winged Dragon of Ra!"
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Arkbrave Dragon, and Dark End Evaporation Dragon all burst into light as they slowly merge into a larger being. When the light dispersed, a gold dragon stood in the centre, its size reaching the ceiling, and the monster shrieked in sheer rage.
[Winged Dragon of Ra: 8000 Attack]
"Now, Winged Dragon of Ra, attack El Shaddoll Construct and end this duel!!" I demanded, and the god responded to my cry.
"Not so fast!" Dartz shouted: "I will reveal my quick-play spell, Book of Moon and flip my El Shaddoll Construct facedown!!"
*BOOOOM*
Before the attack could reach her, El Shaddoll Construct hurriedly hid. The attack devasted where she stood, and the trace of the face-down card was utterly destroyed. When the smoke covered my vision, I anxiously gritted my teeth, knowing the result of the confrontation. However, despite the massive advantage, my instincts were screaming at me, telling my brain that something had gone terribly wrong...
Suddenly, I dodged as a long figure emerged from the smoke, its humongous body calling across the walls.
"Mu ha ha... MU HA HA!" Dartz's laughter echoed deeply as the beast revealed its proper form: a massive serpent with hideous features and green scales. Standing on top of the monster was Dartz, his eyes bloodshot as he giggled with ecstasy.
"I truly have to congratulate you. I had not expected someone like you to summon an Egyptian God Card during the duel. But you're right; it's truly over."
"When my El Shaddoll Construct is destroyed, I will pay all of my life points and bring out my strongest monster in my deck, Divine Serpent Geh!!!" [2]
[Dartz: 5000 LP -> 0 LP]
[Divine Serpent Geh: ∞ Attack]
"As long as this card is on the field, I cannot lose the duel, regardless of condition," Dartz announced. "During my main phase, I can send ten cards from my deck to the graveyard and attack!"
"This is the end!!" Dartz shouted. I will activate my trap card, Maytr's Curse!! Target your Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand and Divine Serpent Geh to battle, and you cannot activate the monster effect in response to this card!!"
"No!!" I yelled in horror as Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand howled in pain.
No matter how much I shouted, my dragon groaned, ignoring my voice. Its pupil darkened and fearlessly charged at the deadly beast. Watching everything in slow motion, I felt my heart freeze as the two monsters collided... Ending the duel once and for all...
*BOOOOOOOM*
[Yuna Sano: 1200 LP -> 0 LP]
---------------------------------------
I hope you enjoy it
[1] Dark Evaporation Dragon is an ocg card that still hasn't been released, but it's cool, so it was used.
[2] It was decided that Divine Serpent Geh's effect was a combination of the anime and real-life versions. Since the anime version was so difficult to summon, it would be better this way.
