The plan

"Just what are you planning," Carry asked. "No matter what, neither of those monsters hold a candle to my Succubus Knight."

"They don't need to," Dwain said. He then reached to his face-down card. "I activate, Two-Pronged Attack."

Two-Pronged Attack: Normal Trap Card

[Select and destroy two of your monsters and one of your opponent's monsters.]

The face-down card at the end of Dwain's field rose to stand vertically. Depicted on the card was two hands from seemingly two individuals reaching toward one another with a ball of energy between them.

Carry was still confused. Two-Pronged Attack was not a rare card and while its effect seemed good, players typically disregarded it. It allowed you to destroy an opponent's monster yes, but it came at the cost of two of your own. The worst part was, since it was specifically destroying them, according to the rules, you took damage equal to half your destroyed monsters' attack points. It was the consensus that only players who used weak monsters that offset that downside used the card. Dwain, however, was not weak.

Dwain pointed at the cards as he spoke, "Now, I choose Spirit of the Harp and Terra the Terrible on my side of the field and your Succubus Knight."

This was going to be a large blow to her, true, but Carry still did not understand and asked, "Just what are you trying to accomplish? From what I see, you stand to lose about as much as I do and you have less Life Points to lose."

"That's where you're wrong," Dwain said - smirk on his face. "You aren't taking into account that Terra the Terrible is your monster. So, you take the damage."

"WHAT," Carry exclaimed - realizing what this would mean.

Almost a repeat of Dwain's last Duel, Carry called for a judge to confirm if Dwain's play was correct. The judge that came over seemed annoyed at being called over, or more specifically, he seemed annoyed at being called over for the same Duelist twice in a row. After a moment of deliberation, the judge ruled in Dwain's favor.

Dwain let out a small breath of relief. When he first saw Change of Heart and Two-Pronged Attack and thought of this combo, he was going off the ruling he remembered from the anime. Specifically, at the end of Duelist Kingdom where Pegasus was going to use Jigen Bakudan to destroy his Relinquished. Since Relinquished had zero attack points, Pegasus would be unharmed, but the monster had absorbed Yugi's Dark Magician. It was explained that it would also be destroyed and since it was Yugi's monster, he would take the damage.

However, Dwain realized at the last moment it might not actually work out that way. That is why he chose Terra the Terrible to target with Change of Heart instead of Succubus Knight. If he was wrong or the judge ruled against him, he'd have lost the Duel. At least with Terra, if things did go against him, he'd still be in this with 250 Life Points.

After the judge's ruling, the Duel resumed.

On the holographic field, Two-Pronged Attack vanished and a pair of hands reached up to grab Spirit of the Harp and Terra the Terrible. Crushing them, both monsters scattered into innumerable holographic pieces.

Dwain Snyder: 1250 - 400 = 850

Carry Marie: 1450 - 600 = 850

It did not end there. Both hands then opened to reveal small balls of energy - one white and one purple. Both hands turned to face each other and the two balls of energy came together and became one. The hands then reared back before throwing the ball of energy at Succubus Knight who was destroyed on impact.

Dwain Snyder: 850

Carry Marie: 850 - 1175 = 0

Though disappointed at her loss, Carry still stood up and reached her hand out in a show of good sportsmanship. "Good game."

"Yeah," said Dwain who shook her hand.

The judge had not left since he walked over. He complimented them on their behavior before instructing them to get their cards and for Dwain to wait over by the side for the last Duel to finish.

Dwain did as instructed and approached some folding chairs set up off to the side where the two other semifinalists who had already finished their Duels were already waiting.

Taking a seat, the boy sitting beside Dwain turned to him. "I only got to see the last few moves, but that was a great Duel."

Dwain turned to the other boy. He had combed brown hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing a simple red tee-shirt over a long-sleeve, white shirt; a pair of black pants; and matching red, white, and black shoes. "Thanks…"

"Oh, my name's Norvel Schwartz. I'm the winner of Duel Area H and the second semifinalist after our friend there who I think was the winner of Duel Area B."

Dwain looked over to his left. Beside the empty seat next to him there was another boy who seemed to be ignoring that they were talking about him.

Norvel continued talking, "That was an impressive combo you pulled with Change of Heart and Two-Pronged Attack. I never really cared for those two cards, but if they can be used like that, then I'll have to remember that."

Dwain gave a generic reply and pretend to listen as Norvel kept talking. It was not that he had anything against making friends or characters not having to do with the main cast. He just did not care for being that interactive. Plus, chatty people like Norvel annoyed him.

XXXXXXXXXX

Before long, Dwain was called away (saved) from Norvel.

For the semifinals, Duels would not be held simultaneously. One pair would go first, then the other, and finally, there would be the finals. When not Dueling the semifinalists or finalist were to remain sitting at the side.

It was decided that the semifinalists would face each other in the order they finished with the last two semifinalists Dueling first. As the second to last to finish, this meant Dwain.

Dwain approached Duel Area C where his opponent was waiting. As he did, one of the people overseeing the competition - Dwain did not know if he was a judge, announcer, or what - began speaking into a microphone as he hyped up the Duel.

Dwain's face twitched as they called him 'the legal cheater, the Dueling lawyer'. Internally, he thought, "Yeah, that judge definitely doesn't like me."

As Dwain took his seat, his opponent began to speak, "Don't think I'm going to let you pull any of your tricks. I'll stomp you before you can even try. Name's Liaf Resol."

Dwain looked Liaf over. He had messy red hair and fierce brown eyes. His skin was lightly tanned and he wore a red shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his shoulders, brown shorts, and brown boots.

"I look forward to seeing you try," Dwain said before reaching a hand out.

Liaf took his hand and gave it one firm shake before letting go.

The two then proceeded to shuffle and have their Decks cut before putting them into their respective Deck Zones. Dwain additionally put two cards into his Extra Deck Zone.

"So, how do you want to decide who goes first," Liaf asks.

Dwain offhandedly said, "I'm good with whatever, you can choose."

Liaf seemed dumbfounded for a moment but then seemed halfway between happy and upset. "Be sure you don't regret that! I saw the start of your last two Duels. Since you seem to like going second and getting the first attack, I say you take the first move."

"Sure thing," Dwain said flatly - to Liaf's annoyance.

As this was going on and the man announcing everything gave some last words, Dwain was in thought, "Okay, we're at the semifinals. Win or lose this tournament, I need to make sure I carry out my plan to insert myself into the plot. This tournament is the best time for it. I've had my fun, but it's all meaningless if I don't pull this off."

"Alright, Duelists! Duel!"

Broken from his thoughts, Dwain quickly drew his five cards from his Deck and then one more. Looking over his cards, Dwain slowly said, "Since I'm going first, I'll Set this monster and end my turn."

Pulling a card from his hand and placing it face-down on the top row of the placemat, a copy of the card appeared on the projected field.

Liaf scoffed, "Lame. I'll show you how it's done." He then drew a card from his Deck and a big grin spread on his face. "Now that's what I'm talking about! I Summon Yamadron!"

Yamadron: Fire Attribute, Level 5, Dragon-Type, ATK/1600, DEF/1800

Appearing on the field was a metallic, spiked ball. From the front, a pair of reptilian arms extended outward like a turtle from its shell and planted firmly on the ground. A reptilian tail similarly emerged from the back of the ball. On top of the ball was three holes; from each of them emerged a small boney head atop a long scaly neck. Each head had razor sharp teeth and small horns on the back of their skull while their necks had spikes trailing down them. It let out a mighty roar - releasing fire from each of its twisting heads.

"I've never heard of that card before," Dwain said in mild surprise.

Liaf turned up his nose smugly. "I got it for placing third in a tournament hosted by Industrial Illusions. Far as I know, I'm the only one who has it - making it an ultra secret rare, one-of-a-kind card." He then looked confidently at Dwain and pulled a card from his hand. "And just so you don't get any ideas about trying to beat him, I activate Mountain!"

Mountain: Field Spell Card

[All Dragon, Winged Beast, and Thunder monsters on the field gain 200 ATK/DEF.]

The placemat that sat in front of either player had several areas. To the player's right was the Deck Zone where they were to place their Deck. Above that was the Graveyard where cards were to be placed after use or after being destroyed or discarded. In front of the player was two rows of five spaces each. Beside the Deck Zone was the bottom row consisting of five Spell & Trap Card Zones where these cards were to be put into play. Then, beside the Graveyard was the top row consisting of five Monster Card Zones where Monster Cards were to be played when Summoned or Set. To the player's left and opposite the Deck Zone was the Extra Deck Zone where Fusion Monsters kept separate from the main Deck were placed until Summoned. Finally, above the Extra Deck Zone and opposite the Graveyard was a special Spell & Trap Card Zone called the Field Spell Card Zone where the titular Field Spells were to be played.

Liaf placed his Field Spell into its designated zone and the holographic field underwent a transformation. Until now, it was a cool, black surface divided into separate spaces - six long and ten wide. The ten spaces directly in front of each player corresponded to one of the Monster or Spell & Trap Zones of the placemat in front of them with an additional two rows of spaces dividing them.

After activating the Mountain Field Spell, the entire field began to project a mountainous landscape lightly shrouded in mist. Once enveloped in this terrain, Yamadron let out another mighty roar.

Yamadron:

ATK/1600 -> 1800

DEF/1800 -> 2000

"Now, Yamadron, attack!"

Throwing its three heads forward, Yamadron let out three pillars of fire that washed over the field toward Dwain's face-down card.

The card flipped over and - in a display of light - revealed itself. What appeared was a centaur with the lower body of a light brown horse and the upper body of a muscular, blond-haired, fair-skinned man. In its hands, it wielded a large scythe. The monster was currently crouched down and holding its scythe defensively in front of it.

Mystic Horseman: Earth Attribute, Level 4, Beast-Type, ATK/1300, DEF/1550

Unable to withstand the torrent of flame, Dwain's Mystic Horseman was destroyed and scattered into innumerable holographic pieces.

"I'll let you off with that. Your turn."

Dwain did not immediately draw from his Deck to start his turn. The situation itself did not cause him that much worry. As far as he was concerned, he just had to keep playing monsters in Defense-Position and he would be fine. The rules limiting the number of monsters that could attack and outright forbidding direct attacks highly benefited defensive gameplay.

Internally, Dwain thought, "I maybe should have put a little more thought into how I was going to pull this off…Oh well, guess I'll just have to drag things out until I draw the card I need…"

Starting his turn, Dwain drew from his Deck. Looking at it, he stared blankly. "…Or I could make it my next draw…And, again, how conveniently convenient…Whatever," he thought with a vicious smirk.

"Are you just gonna stare at your cards all day or are you gonna play something," Liaf complained.

Turning his grin on Liaf - who flinched -, Dwain slowly said, "Alright, I'll play something." More vigorously, he declared, "I Summon-"

"I hope you're watching Kaiba."

"-the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"