Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster GX Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkness of Destiny ❯ Blocked at Every Card ( Chapter 10 )

The Darkness of Destiny

 

Chapter 10

 

Blocked at Every Card

 

“Is he ready?” Alicia asked, lighting a cigarette. The Schroeder heiress was sitting in a private box overlooking the Kaiba Dome.

 

“I've spoken to Zane. He's prepared to taken Fiona down,” Shroud assured her.

“Good. From what I hear she's a formidable opponent,” Alicia chuckled. Below, the lights flashed on around the dome.

 

“Folks, it's been an intense week, but round three is about to begin! Tonight, live from the Kaiba Dome, Zane Truesdale faces off against Fiona Hoffman! And Thursday night, Mr. Jerry Collins will square off against Richard Pryce! And once the winners meet, the best of eight will go on to face Aster Phoenix for the championship crown!” The announcer called.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“In just one week we may be crowning a new champion!”

 

“We'll see about that,” Mr. Thunder muttered, turning off the TV and turning around. He picked the report he picked up at Kaiba Corp from the hotel table behind him, and flipped through to the highlighted section.

 

“With this knowledge, Zane's going down,” he said, picking up the Duel Disk from beside the report and sliding it onto his wrist.

 

“Enough planning. Time to get to work,” he scowled, marching out of the room.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“The match begins…do you think Zane will win?” Sartorius asked, looking up from his novel. Aster crossed his arms.

 

“Does it matter? I'll win in the end,” he replied. “Come on, Sartorius, I was destined to win the title, and I'm not going to lose it.”

 

“Yes…destiny…” Sartorius murmured. “After all this time, Aster, you should realize destiny is a fickle thing…”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Now entering the arena, the Dark Dominator of Dueling, Zane Truesdale!” the announcer yelled. Zane ignored the title as he opened the door to the arena and walked into the centre. He caught a glimpse of familiar white and blue to the right and gasped, spinning full around.

 

“What is she doing here?” he hissed, staring at Alexis. The girl in question gulped and averted his gaze. Zane gritted he teeth and regained his composure.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Aster narrowed his eyes at Zane's reaction, and the cameraman who panned up to show why.

 

“I'm going out,” he muttered, standing up. Sartorius nodded and smiled as Aster left the room.

 

“I always knew a girl would be his undoing someday,” he chuckled, turning the page of his book.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“And his opponent, from Philadelphia in the United States, the computer whiz who's the best in the biz, Fiona Hoffman!” Zane looked one as a teenage girl walked up to him. Fiona had long, straight brown hair and blue eyes. She wore a simple blue T-shirt and jeans.

 

“Nice clothes. You get those out of a bargain bin?” Zane sneered, holding out his deck. Fiona handed hers to him and started shuffling, staring at him blankly. Zane narrowed his eyes. For a kid who looked at least five years his junior, she was creeping him out.

 

“You are the duelist who plays the Machine deck of darkness,” Fiona stated, handing his deck back.

 

“Yeah, so?” Zane replied, giving her own cards back. Fiona nodded.

 

“I shall win,” she said, walking back into position. Zane snorted and followed suit.

 

“Life points set! Let the duel begin!” the announcer cried.

 

“Get ready for pain!” Zane roared, flinging out his Duel Disk. Fiona nodded and turned on her own.

 

-Zane LP: 4000, Fiona LP: 4000-

 

“My move,” Zane said, drawing. He looked at his hand and smirked. “Exploder Dragon and Cyberdark Keel. Combined, I can clear out her field and take out half her points on my next turn,” he thought. “I call `Exploder Dragon' (1000, 0000)!” A small black dragon with a round, yellow explosive appeared in front of Zane with a roar. “Your turn,” Zane finished. Fiona put a hand on her deck and closed her eyes, bowing her head. “Well, hurry up!” Zane snapped. Fiona was silent for several moments before lifting her head.

 

“When I attack, you will use Exploder Dragon's effect to destroy my monster. Then, you will a Cyberdark card, and use your fallen dragon to power it up and severely damage my Life Points,” she recited. Zane's eyes went wide as she drew. “However, potent as such a strategy is, it is also quite obvious, and I have the exact cards to nullify it. I summon `Nanobreaker' (1600, 1800).” A woman in bright violet armor appeared holding a glowing blue sword.

 

“An excellent play by Hoffman! Once again this genius' analytical powers prove unmatched!” the announcer cried.

 

“Nanobreaker, attack Exploder Dragon!” Fiona said. The woman nodded and dashed across the field.

 

“Like you said, I'll use my dragon's effect. Both our monsters are destroyed!” Zane roared. Exploder Dragon screeched and threw the explosive into Nanobreaker. There was a loud explosion as the woman was consumed in flame. “So much for your big plan,” Zane sneered. Fiona held up a hand and snapped her fingers. Suddenly, Nanobreaker dashed out of the fire and slashed apart Exploder Dragon with a cry. “What? How did your monster survive?” Zane demanded.

 

“It is quite simple. Nanobreaker's effect automatically destroys any monster she attacks that has three stars or less. And, as your dragon's power only activates when destroyed in battle, it cannot effect my Nanobreaker,” Fiona explained. “Now, I shall activate the Spell card `Metalsilver Armor'.” A shining suit of black metal appeared over Nanobreaker with a flowing red cape. “I shall now end my turn,” Fiona finished. Zane scowled as his drew.

 

“You overlooked a problem with your strategy! I still have `Cyberdark Keel' (800, 800)!” he cried. A black metal serpent with various loose circuits appeared with a roar. “And now, I'll use his special effect! He can go grave robbing, and steal the power of a fallen dragon! Exploder Dragon, revive!” Zane commanded. The loose circuits hanging from the machine rose into the air and floated towards Zane's Duel Disk. Fiona shook her hand and snapped her fingers.

 

“I am afraid I shall have to intervene,” she said in a monotone voice. A glowing blue barrier appeared over the Graveyard slot of Zane's Duel Disk. With a spark, the circuits changed course and zoomed across the field towards Nanobreaker. The woman slashed and sliced apart the wires as they neared, and Cyberdark Keel let out a roar of agony as the circuits cut loose from its body.

 

“What did you do?” Zane snarled, clenching his fist.

 

“It is quite simple. Your Cyberdark Keel targets a monster in the Graveyard. However, the effect of Metalsilver Armor redirects any card effect that targets a monster in the discard slot or the field to the monster wearing it. Thus, your Keel must target my Nanobreaker, but because it is not a dragon nor is it in the Grave, your monster's effect cannot harm it and is void,” Fiona explained. Zane gritted his teeth. “Upon starting this duel, you had approximately a forty-seven percent change of victory. Now, without your fallen dragons to empower your beasts, you have only a forty-one percent chance.”

 

“Shut up!” Zane sneered. “I place a card face down, and end my turn,” he muttered. Fiona nodded and drew.

 

“And with his offensive gone, Zane is forced on the defensive! It seems this pro may have finally met his match!” the announcer shouted. Zane scowled.

 

“Not if I can help it.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“It seems Zane is out of his league here,” Alicia muttered, pulling a cellphone from her pocket as it rang. “Yes?”

 

“Phoenix is on the move,” the caller said. Alicia nodded.

 

“Take him,” she replied, hanging up. Shroud gave her an odd look.

 

“Who was that?” he asked. Alicia smirked and crossed her arms.

 

“My insurance policy,” she whispered.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“I activate `Graceful Charity, allowing me to draw three cards,” she said, doing so. She looked at her hand and thought. “Now that his main offence is nullified, he will likely fall back to his secondary offences, his Cyber Dragons and other dragons,” she thought. “I discard `Fairy's Hand Mirror' and `Seven Tools of the Bandit',” she said. “Next, I summon `Helping Robo for Combat' (1600, 0000).” A gangly silver robot with a glowing yellow eye and a ray gun appeared. “Helping Robo, attack Cyberdark Keel,” Fiona said. The robot fired a blast of blue light. Keel thrashed in the ray before it exploded, sending a gust of wind past Zane. “Now, whenever Helping Robo destroys a monster, I can draw a card, and return a card from my hand to my deck,” Fiona said, doing so. “And, Nanobreaker, attack Zane directly.”

 

“Activate Trap!” Zane snapped. “It's called `Cyber Summon', and it activates whenever you attack me. Now I can play `Cyber Phoenix' (1200, 1600) in defense mode!” A shining silver and red bird appeared in front of Zane, wings folded in. Nanobreaker slashed and was thrown back in a blast of wind. Fiona pursed her lip.

 

“I shall set a card and end my turn,” she finished.

 

“He be cut off at every card, but Zane is holding on! Let's see if he can take advantage of this temporary upset!” the announcer said.

 

-Zane LP: 3200, Fiona LP: 4000-

 

“I'll show you upset! I sacrifice my Cyber Phoenix to summon `Hell Kaiser Dragon' (2400, 1500)!” A black serpent with large black wings and a glowing red jewel on its chest appeared with a roar. “I know he may not seem like much now, but just wait. I activate the Spell card `Quick Summon'. Now I can summon another monster! Actually, I think I'll just use my dragon's effect,” a purple aura spread over the Hell Kaiser Dragon as Zane held up his Spell card. “See, my dragon has a pretty special effect that lets me summon him twice, and since I summoned him twice, I might as use him to attack twice!” Zane laughed. The black dragon fired a blast of flame. Nanobreaker and Robo melted over and collapsed in the heat.

 

“Good move, but my Life Points are safe,” Fiona said. “I reveal my Trap card `Download'. It lets me download the attack data of a destroyed machine right to my Life Points. The battle damage you tried to inflict is 1600 points, exactly the amount my Nanobreaker has. Thus, the damage I take is void.” Zane scowled.

 

“Even on the defense, Fiona takes the lead! Can this genius be stopped?” the announcer asked.

 

“Allow me to show you,” Fiona replied, drawing. “I play `Pot of Greed', and draw two cards.” Fiona picked up her cards, and her eyes went wide slightly. “At last. When this card is activated, Zane's strategy shall finally be cracked!” she thought. “I summon `Flintlock' (1500, 800).” A white machine with a long, slender body, three wings and a large mouth appeared. “Next the Spell card `Flint',” Fiona continued. A grey piece of metal with three chains flew through the air. The metal hit Hell Kaiser Dragon on the head with a spark, the loose chains wrapping around its jaws as it roared in protest.

 

“What have you done?” Zane demanded.

 

“The monster equipped with Flint cannot attack, and also loses 300 points,” Fiona explained. “But not to worry. I also have the Spell card `Flint Attack'. Now the Flint piece on your monster forces it to attack itself.” Hell Kaiser Dragon fired its flames down, and exploded as the fire erupted around it. “Now that the monster it was equipped with Flint is gone, Flint seeks a new target.” The metal whirled out from the fire and slammed into Flintlock's mouth.

 

“Yeah, and now you can't attack either,” Zane sneered.

 

“You are incorrect, Mr. Truesdale. You see, Flintlock bonds with Flint, making it immune to Flint's effects,” Fiona replied. “Now, Flintlock, attack Zane directly!” Flintlock's wings moved as a rocket lit behind it, launching it into Zane's stomach. Zane doubled over and stumbled back as Flintlock flew back to Fiona.

 

-Zane LP: 1700, Fiona LP: 4000-

 

“I draw, and summon `Cyberdark Phoenix' (1600, 1200).” The new monster was made of black metal with four flaming red wings. “Dark Phoenix, attack!” Zane snapped. The Phoenix flew and tackled Flintlock.

 

“Not quite! Flintlock is immune to damage as long as it has Flint attached!” Fiona countered.

 

-Zane LP: 1700, Fiona LP: 3900-

 

“My turn. I use Flintlock's effect and launch its Flint at another card,” she said. “Dark Phoenix has only 1300 points now. Flintlock, take wing!” Fiona commanded. Flintlock's rocket launched into the metal bird, who caught fire and burned to a cinder. “Now Flint returns to my Flintlock, making him immune to battle again!”

 

-Zane LP: 1500, Fiona LP 3900-

 

“I have to confess, I haven't faced a challenge like this in a long time,” Zane admitted. “It seems I've finally found a worthy opponent.”

 

“I am afraid that I am more than worthy, Mr. Truesdale. You see, with proper analysis and preparation, any duelist can defeat any other, which is why I shall defeat you,” Fiona explained. “You currently have a thirty-seven percent chance of victory, not unfavourable, but not in your favor, either. That will change. Through study of your duels, I determined you have three main themes. Your Cyberdark cards, which I nullified through my Metalsilver Armor. Second, your Dragons, which are strong but lack adequate protection. But now it is time to deal with the third and most dangerous aspect of your deck - your Fusions.”

 

“Do you think you can stop me from fusing?” Zane laughed. “I have too many ways to stop them all!”

 

“Agreed, but I shall not stop you from fusing. Rather than stop the summon, I shall cut off your strategy at the source. Your victory percentage of thirty-seven shall soon take a rather steep plunge. It is what I do, what my cards do, and in fact, it is what my next card is named! I reveal the culmination of your defeat, Mr. Truesdale!” Fiona cried. “Activate Trap, `Success Probability 0%'!” Zane gasped. “This card randomly destroys two Fusion cards,” Fiona explained. A face down card appeared in the middle of the field.

 

“What shall be first?” Fiona asked. The card flipped over, and Zane shrugged. “Cyber Twin Dragon is destroyed. What shall be next?” the card flipped over again. Zane's eyes went wide.

 

“NO!”

 

“Zane!” Alexis cried. Around the arena, the crowd jumped to their feet as Fiona smiled.

 

“Cyberdark Dragon, begone!” she commanded. The card exploded, and Zane watched the holographic fragments scattered. “You have lost your best card! Your victory chance is down to merely thirteen percent, hardly goods odds! And as your dragon can only be summoned by a Fusion, you can no longer summon it in any way this duel!” Zane stepped back and gritted his teeth as Fiona crossed her arms.

 

“Your have lost your best cards, and more than half your Life Points, while I have nearly all of mine and a monster that cannot be destroyed! It as I said, Mr. Truesdale!” Fiona broke out into a grin.

 

“I shall win!”

 

Hell Kaiser Dragon is a real card in an up-coming set. It is classified as a “Dual” monster. Upon first being summoned it has no effect, but a “second” summoning gives it the power to attack twice in a turn. It is just one of many “Dual” monsters in the set. Plus, if you've watched the Japanese GX you know the card is just perfect for Ryo. For more info, Google “Tactical Evolution”, and click the first link. Flintlock and Flint Attack are also of this set.

 

Cyber Summon

Trap

Activate when your opponent attacks you directly. Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower “Cyber” or “Cyberdark” Machine-type monster from your deck, and make it the target of that attack.

 

Download

Trap

Select 1 Machine-type monster that was destroyed this turn and increase your Life Points by an amount equal to that monster's ATK and remove it from play.

 

Cyberdark Phoenix

4 Star DARK Machine

ATK: 1600

DEF: 1200

Your Dark-Attribute Machine cards are not destroyed by the effects of your opponent's Spell and Trap cards.