Author's Note: There is a slight Star Wars vibe to parts of this story. I thank the works of Cyber Commander, Man Called True, and other writers who love Yu-Gi-Oh! for their inspiration. This site needs more stories set in the worlds of the cards themselves.
Prologue: The New Abyssal Designator
The tall, massive, horned man steeled himself as he approached the throne room of the Palace of the Abyss. All of his carefully cultivated plans bore down to this day. If anything went wrong, there would be no second chances. His soul for be forfeit, condemned to everlasting torment and humiliation. He expanded his awareness, making a last minute check to see if his agents were in place and ready. They were. Excellent. Today is the day I seize my destiny!
As he came to the doors, the two Abyss Soldiers, humanoid manta rays, who were standing guard leveled their spears at him. These strange creatures were Water-aligned, not Dark-aligned, but they made excellent mercenaries and the soon to be ex-ruler liked the coincidence that their species name fit the theme.
"Halt!" One of them declared. "What are you doing back here so soon? You couldn't possibly have completed your mission to assassinate that do-gooder hero, Freed, The Brave Wanderer, so quickly."
The man chuckled. He swiftly sprayed them both with a dose of Paralyzing Potion. Within seconds, they slumped to the floor, unable to move, unable to speak.
"Do not worry. I really admire your work. You will go far, under new management." Deciding to make his entrance with style, he powered up an energy blast, then blew the doors open. He marched confidently inside.
The figure on the throne stood up in outrage.
"Ha Des!? What is the meaning of this, Apprentice!?" He roared in fury.
Ha Des stood his ground against the figure, a titanic, humanoid dragon with: a third eye on his forehead, purple and grey scales, and terrifying spikes and blades protruding from every joint.
"The time has come, Master. I have learned all you can possibly teach me. I have observed your reign, and you have grown complacent and careless. I am no longer your apprentice, for I have already surpassed you. On this day, Diablos, King of the Abyss, falls, as I replace you, the way the Rule of Two dictates."
"What madness leads you to believe I will not incinerate you and turn your soul into a toy for my amusement?" Diablos grunted with barely repressed anger. He unleashed a torrent of pitch-black flame from his mouth.
Ha Des grunted as he called upon the technique of Draining Shield. Concentrating, he erected a force field to protect himself. After a tense standoff, Ha Des felt strength flowing into him as the barrier absorbed the flames instead of simply blocking them. Diablos cut his flame-breath off, panting.
"See? You are already tired! You are unworthy of being the Master of the Abyss!" Taunted Ha Des.
"You are wrong! Guards! To me!" Diablos commanded. Nothing happened.
"Even as we speak, my allies are subduing yours. I told you, you have grown careless. You did not even notice me winning about half of the guards and servants to my side. Also, many of your most powerful creatures are away on missions of their own."
"Hmm, impressive. No matter. You cannot defeat me!" Diablos swept his tail, but Ha Des dodged the strike with a barrel roll. While the apprentice gathered his bearings, his opponent pulled a hidden lever.
Ha Des looked up, eager to continue the battle, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a phantom resembling a living flame approaching him. Before it could attack, he grabbed it.
"Soul Demolition!" He roared. Giving up a tiny fraction of his own life force, he crushed it into oblivion.
"How could you possibly know that hidden technique!? I kept that knowledge to myself!" The demonic dragon backed off in fear.
"I told you, I have surpassed you. And seriously, a Possessed Dark Soul? Your secret line of defense? It would not have worked on me anyway, I have developed all the way up to Level 6."
Ha Des advanced. "Riyoku!" An energy tendril extended from his hand to his opponent. Diablos tried to avoid it, but failed. He collapsed in agony as a major fraction of his life force was drained, then redirected to Ha Des. The victor yelled in triumph as his muscles bulged with newfound power, the power of the Ruler of the Abyss. He extended his influence throughout the Kingdom. Soon, all recognized him as the new Master, and the fighting ceased.
He walked up to his fallen master. "I uncovered your greatest secret: that is not your true form. You used your powers to mutate into a dragon, so that your subjects would have a real reason to fear and worship you. I have your power now, but I have no need to transform, I am perfect the way I am. Diablos, I have no interest in claiming your soul, the fate I have planned is much worse." He pulled a golden chalice, encrusted with gems, from his sleeve.
"No! The Prohibited Chalice!?" All three of Diablos' eyes bugged out. He tried desperately to rise, but Ha Des grabbed his head and easily held it in place. The dragon stopped from exhaustion.
"Oh yes. I raided this from the Sanctuary in the Sky during one of my missions. I see you know what it does: All who drink from it gain a slight energy boost and heal, but at the cost of losing any augmentations and special abilities they may possess. Down the hatch."
"Nooooo!"
Ha Des force-fed him, then stepped back. Diablos racked with convulsions, as he began to shrink and change shape. He became a scrawny little man. His three eyes, claws, and pointed ears were the only evidence that he was Diablos. He looked down on himself, then at Ha Des with fear. He tried to run, but was easily cornered.
"I will not kill you. I will enjoy your humiliation as I exile you to the deepest edge of the Abyss! Bottomless Trap Hole!"
Diablos screamed as a hole formed under him, and he plummeted. The hole soon closed.
"Ha ha ha! I claim the throne of the Abyss! I am now Dark Ruler Ha Des!"
The Next Day…
As the Dark Ruler reclined on his throne, a squad of Abyss Soldiers and Opticlops, Cyclops with massive horns on their foreheads, entered. They dragged a horned, purple demon in a lab coat with them.
"Report!" The Dark Ruler shouted.
"We have finished our rounds of inspecting the Kingdom." Replied one of the Abyss Soldiers. "We executed all who still oppose your rule, but we had a feeling you would want to deal with this guy, personally."
"You are correct. Hello there, Kozaky. I remember you, you annoying little geek. Diablos' top scientist, always trying to worm your way into his favor. And always calling me 'an uncultured brute'."
"Ahhh! Please! Spare me! All my research, all my projects are yours! Just don't hurt me! I beg of you!" Kozaky exclaimed while struggling in an Opticlops' arms.
"Shut up, coward. Although, you do bring up a valid point. Take us to your laboratory!"
Kozaky led them to a hidden building. Inside, were some of the most bizarre devices they had ever seen.
"Soldiers! Gather all the notes and equipment! Take care not to damage anything!"
As his minions set about their task, Ha Des turned to Kozaky.
"Heh, I am much more intelligent than you believed. I can easily understand and continue your research. Which means… I don't need you anymore. Good bye."
As he charged an energy blast, Kozaky dropped something from his pocket. It burst, filling the room with smoke.
"A Smoke Grenade of the Thief!?" The Dark Ruler yelled, as he and his minions clawed through the smoke.
"Mark my words, you'll be sorry you threatened me. I swear it." Kozaky vowed as he ran to a pod marked "Interdimensional Matter Transporter". Before they could reach him, he entered it, and it vanished.
"Damn. I recognize that effect, he has traveled to the Different Dimension. He is beyond our reach." Ha Des grumbled. "Oh well, continue collecting his technology!"
As they continued, he entered the chamber in the back. He gasped. Floating in a pod of vile fluid was a naked baby boy. Tubes invaded his orifices, feeding him air and food while taking away his wastes.
The Dark Ruler noticed a folder marked Subject: 6072 and examined it. It spoke of how Kozaky had abducted an infant from a village of the Warrior type. He theorized that by infusing him with Fiend's blood, Dark Energy, and other substances to strengthen him, and using various techniques to condition his mind, in time, he could convert the child into a super-soldier, loyal only to him.
Ha Des carefully freed the baby from the pod. As he held him, he examined him. The baby showed no fear. Out of curiosity, he grabbed one of Ha Des' horns, and tugged.
What a grip! His strength is unreal! The Dark Ruler broke free, then used Mesmeric Control to put the baby to sleep.
"The Rule of Two must be obeyed. There must be a Master and an Apprentice. The Apprentice will eventually take the Master's place, then the cycle will begin anew. That is the Law of the Abyss. I see great potential in you. I will rename you, Gorz. From this day forth, you shall become Apprentice of Dark Ruler Ha Des." He wrapped the baby in a blanket and returned to his palace.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: There is a bit of fan speculation that the card Diablos, King of the Abyss was Dark King of the Abyss before Ha Des overthrew him. I'm not sure if Diablos' illustration has three eyes, but oh well.
Yeah, above is my theory about why Gorz looks human even though he is a Fiend. Try to guess why I had Kozaky designate him as 6072. Gorz The Emissary of Darkness' Japanese name is Messenger of Ha Des - Gorz. The manga describes him as Dark Ruler Ha Des' right-hand man.
In Star Wars, since Palpatine was pretty much the only Sith Lord who did not want to be replaced, I figure the Rule of Two is too sacred to ignore.
I hope I can update this soon, but I've got college to worry about. Please review.