How pitiful, how boring this was! The last batch had barely made it through a turn for all their bravado and even the military seemed to have gotten tired of throwing missiles and bombs at him and his army.

Not that there would be a difference but they offered a distraction.

This is what he wanted didn't he? To make the world pay for his and his friends suffering, to lay waste at the world who had used him for …entertainment.

"Is this all you pitiful humans have to offer as a challenge?!" No answer, not even screams for help or mercy, "Then it is time we finish this spectacle!" His roar rumbled through the wasteland.

Still nothing.

'If we have come to this…' He thought harnessing his power and calling dragons' power again, ready for the last act ….

That's right, if the world had nothing left to offer to its new god then he would destroy everything,

Even himself.

"You want a challenge?! I'll give you one!" A voice called ahead of him, standing tall and proud.

'Finally… a distraction' He could feel his mouth twisting into a grin, his claws trembling for a new challenge…

Or at least it did until he saw his so-called opponent, a girl no older than himself – no, not himself, not anymore – her hair flowing with the gush of his wings as he landed in front of her.

Such a pitiful last sacrifice.

"You! A naïve little girl like you thinks you can challenge me who has become a god?!" He sneered but she still didn't back away.

"First, that's Ray for you!" She simple said yelling above his rumbling voice activating her duel disk.

"Ray? How fitting for the last shimmer of hope to be you, feel honored for if you give a good fight I, the Supreme King Zarc, will make sure to remember your name-" His speech was brought to a halt when he heard her laughter.

Her laughter…

'That's right didn't you want to make people smile?...'

That's right, that girl was mocking him! Looking at him with her head held upright! Did she not know who her new God was?

"Second, please, A King? A God?! Gods left this world a long time ago, we killed them when we refused to worship them…."

'She can hear me!?'

"You dare-" It was not just the laughter now, he felt something tugging at him, deep down, something he thought he had squashed down.

'…I'm a monster now, that's why she can hear me…'

"…Just as I'm about to do with you, you monster! That's all you'll ever be!"

'Nobody ever heard me when I told them it hurt… But she…'

"Shut it! I'll make you kneel and regret those words!" Zarc yelled, to Ray, to … him, everyone to keep quiet.

"…How pitiful monster you are, I can hear you cries from here!" She yelled, her voice losing some edge and her derisive smile turning sad now.

'Why now? Why couldn't anyone hear me before? Why couldn't you find me before?!'

Pity, he didn't want her pity, he wanted no one's pity or tears, that's why…

"That's why you made yourself a monster? So you could laugh at the pain? So you wouldn't shed anymore tears?"

Zarc felt …he didn't knew what he felt, all he knew was that something… someone was banging at his mind now, yelling, crying, begging.

"…I will never forgive you!"

"…None of us had any luck did we? I could've become like you too…"

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First meetings are funny aren't they?

Sometimes you bump into a stranger on some public place like the subway, the park, the bus or just on the street; others you are introduced to them by some other person at a party or just at friends hang out, other you met them through your job – which in their line of work it means dueling on an arena and make the other bit the dust –

Sometimes you barely pay attention to them, you say hi to them or apologize or say 'Good duel' and forget about them by the next day.

Zarc strived for the stars, he always admired them from his lonely room on the orphanage and his dreams were as big as they were far away; but it was only after a card named 'Astrograph Magician' fell into his hands that he felt like he could actually reach them.

Ray Akaba was always told by her father that she was meant for great things, and she never had reasons to doubt it, any challenge presented was always faced with a smile and a raised up fist, and if you were not ready to deal with the consequences then you weren't fit to play in the first place.

Both of them with a special gift only seen or heard off in legends, both of them lost in a world that could never understand them.

It is then only poetic that two people like them had their would be on the battlefield, with the fate of the world at stake.

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'All I wanted was to make people happy'

'…You can still do it…

'…Ray…'

'Hey you remembered! ….Nice to meet you Zarc.'

So I wanted to give a shot to the "Out of order" narration and this was born as a result of the First Meetings Prompt, hope you enjoy it!