Nobody likes school, not even a goody two shoes like Suz. However St. Ludwik's holds a special place in my heart, the one reserved for those I hate the most. So the fact that we're here means either the universe hates me or this escapee somehow knows about my past. Either way I'm hoping this ends with an explosion
St. Ludwik's School for the Magical Arts
Suz and Carter stopped in front of what seemed like a large British manor. "Really? You went to school here?" There were young teenagers milling around the courtyard, either going from place to place or just relaxing napping in the midday sun. All of them wearing a school uniform
Carter made a grunting noise. "More or less. Listen we just need to find the escapee and get out of here alright. I don't want to deal with this places bullshit anymore then we have to."
Suz took a look at the nice surroundings and shrugged. "Whatever you say. Let's ask around for some information and meet up Ymir."
"Of course she would get a clear connection to Camelot when we need her." Suz laughed at Carter's annoyance and got them moving.
"You said you have a friend on the staff. Think we can ask him a few questions?" Suz asked.
"Yeah let's just hope he doesn't turn out to be evil." Carter said then marched on ahead.
Suz looked like she wanted to say something at the comment but just rubbed her tattooed arm before following him.
The hallways of the school were pretty basic, but when you looked closer it was anything but. The school was pretty much an Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters type place, although instead of mutant powers many of the students were using magic. Wherever Suz could look into classrooms they were pretty evenly split between regular high school classes and magical Hogwarts type stuff.
Eventually the two got to the main office of the school and Carter took the lead. "Hi ma'm." He said suddenly becoming incredibly polite as you can be when speaking with the secretary.
"Yes hon, how can I help you?" Suz was surprised to find that even out in England there were southern secretaries.
"My name is Carter Carlyle, I used to be a student here. I'm looking for an old friend of mine, Mike Brown. He's a teacher here now. Could you help direct me to his office?" Carter gave a big grin that made Suz shiver.
"Why of course, at this time of day he should be in his office. So you'll want to go up the stairs around the corner to the third floor and then take the first right, a left, and then his office should be the eighth door to the right."
"Thank you so much ma'm." Carter said, then the moment he turned around the smile completely disappeared and him and Suz made their way to the office.
The Middle of the Woods
Ymir bobbed up and down creating streaks of light with her glowing orb of a body and chanting in the ancient language of those who came before. The lights began to glow brighter and brighter until what looked to be a window into another world appeared in the air.
"This is Ymir the Returned reporting in. Do you hear me Camelot?"
Through the other side of the window was a foggy area and the silhouette of a figure with horns and glowing red eyes appeared
In a deep rumbling voice it spoke. "This is Xander the Infernal. It's good to hear from you again."
Ymir sighed in relief. "Glad to hear you too Infernal. It's been to long since I could get a message out Camelot. In fact I was actually trying to get the Eternal on the line."
"I could go get him if you'd like. I'm not that away from the base right now. Just doing patrols at the inner wall." Xander offered.
"No no. I don't know how long the connection will last so I'd like to give my report to you if that's fine."
"Of course Returned. I'll pass on the report to Eternal when I see him. Go ahead." The horned figure nodded.
"Alright. So we've managed to capture forty criminals already, however only two of those criminals were among those classified as high risk. So we still have most of those running around. Despite the best efforts of me and my team that I assembled here on Earth we can only be so many places at once, and with the threat of the high risk cases we can't take care of the smaller escapee's as fast as we should be able to. That's why I would like a proposal to be brought forward to bring another Immortal to earth and create another team of three in order to take care of the smaller threats. With of course precautions in order to prevent this from happening again." Ymir tried to motion to her energy based body but quickly realized she couldn't without arms.
"I'll tell Eternal all of this and I'll definitely bring this proposal up myself if he doesn't. Is there anything else you'd like to say?"
Ymir hesitated for a second before getting a pink tinge to her color. "If you could tell Eternity that I hope she is doing well that would be great."
The Infernal gave a laugh. "I'll let her know. Stay safe Returned."
"You as well Infernal." Ymir sighed as the window disappeared. All this time spent away from Camelot was getting to her. That and not having her body was a pain. Anyways it was time to make her way back to the others.
"Now how do I get back to the main road. Was it to left or right?" Ymir wondered aloud as she made her way into the woods.
ST. Ludwik's School for the Magical Arts
Suz and Carter had arrived at the office of Mike Brown. "So this friend of yours, anything I should know about before hand?"
Carter considered it for a second before answering. "Just don't mention his face and I'll do most of the talking." He said before opening the door. "Paging Dr. Brown, paging Dr. Brown."
The man in the office looked up and gave a big laugh. "I haven't heard that in years! Get in here Carter!" The man was pretty unassuming. He had an accent that Suz couldn't quite place, was African and was of average hight and features, except for the bottom half of his face. Suz had no idea what was under there, she couldn't tell because it was hidden under a giant muffler. He also looked more like a teacher then anybody that Suz had ever seen.
"It's been to long bro." Carter gave Mike a half bro hug. "This is Suz, I told you about her in my emails. Ymir isn't here but I'll introduce you to her later if we have time."
"So this isn't a social visit I take it?" Mike sighed.
"Sorry bro but no. We caught wind of an escapee around the area and we think he might've infiltrated the school. Have there been any new transfer students or faculty here. Changes in personality after a long break?"
"Or how about any odd rumors popping up. Strange noises at night or lights in the darkness?" Suz added.
"Hmm?" Mike started thinking and rubbing the part of the scarf where his chin should be. "There have been a few transfer students, but they have been from important magical families so I can't imagine them being imposters. However we did get a new groundsman a few weeks ago. He keeps to himself mostly but I've heard some of the students call him creepy."
"Perfect." Suz said. "Do you know where he might be right now?"
"This time of day, probably in his shed near the edge of the woods. You should remember where it is Carter, right where we used to sneak a few drinks in during finals weeks?"
"Yeah I remember." Carter said. "We'll check him out. If we're lucky this'll all be over soon and we can have drinks when you get off work."
"Sure thing man." Mike gave Carter another hug. "Good luck with everything."
"We don't need luck. But thanks anyways." Suz and Carter left the office. Once they were out of earshot Suz turned to Carter.
"You don't think it's actually the gardener do you?" Carter shook his head.
"Knowing us it'll probably be something completely unexpected with little to no clues."
"Ten bucks it has something to do with a snake."
Carter crunched his nose. "I hope not. Why would you think that?"
"I don't know. Just a feeling. Like we haven't faced a magic snake for a few months and it feels like we're about due."
"You know I really hate you. Now that you say that we're probably going to be eaten by a giant snake and have to cut our way out." Carter looked around at the hallway.
"That might be better then whatever it is we're stuck in." Suz commented as they stopped walking.
"You noticed too?" Carter asked looking at the night sky through the windows.
"The fact that this hallway seems to never end and the sun just disappeared? Yeah I noticed. That window open?" She asked.
Carter tried it and got nothing. "Nope. Completely locked. What do you think this is?"
"I'm not sure. But at the very least I know this has to be the work of our escapee. I can't think of any off the top of my head, you?"
"I can barely remember the ones that we catch. If Ymir was here she'd definitely know."
"And if we had eggs and cheese we could make some omelettes." Suz said sarcastically.
"Wow you are sassy today. And apparently fifty." Carter joked.
"Haha. Either way let's figure out what to do with what we have." Suz looked back at where she came from seeing nothing but darkness. "Don't see anything back there so we probably can't go back to Mike's office. Just go forward then?"
"Seems like it. Be prepared to fight incase there are any nasty surprises though." Carter said.
The two of them continued forward into the dark hallway trying to find a way out. As they went forward though the hallway began to change more and more. The lights got dimmer and the wall decorations became darker and more sinister. Eventually though they came upon a split in the road.
"We are not splitting up." Carter said looking at a picture on the wall of a puppy being dissected.
"Yeah I agree." Suz said. "I have an idea though." She put her hand on the left wall. "It's a trick Morgan taught me at the hay bale maze when I was younger." Suz paused for a second. "If we keep a hand on the left side of the maze we will always make it out."
"That's assuming it's a simply connected maze. Not even discounting magic to prevent us from getting out, or the idea that there might not be an exit, there is still the possibility that there are loops and walls unconnected to other walls or the outside of the maze." Carter said.
Suz groaned. "Fucking math nerd." And she materialized a sword in her hand and made an X on the wall of the left path. "There. We can also mark the path we take in case is isn't 'simply connected'. Does that make you feel better?"
Carter nodded and the two went down the left path. However unbeknownst to the two of them, as they walked away the wall where they made the X pulsed, and more wall seemed to grow over the X.
The Woods
"Okay, so I know for a fact that my sense of direction is not bad enough to send me this far deep into the dark and scary woods." Ymir said looking at her surroundings. The once friendly trees were now dark and imposing with sharp branches and crawling roots. Eyes seemed to be looking at her from the darkness in all directions.
"So is anybody there to try and attack me or are you just trying to keep me distracted and out of the way?" When nobody answered Ymir sighed. "Distracted it is. I hope the others realize I'm in trouble soon. This is actually quite scary." Ymir then continued on through the forest.
The Hallway
"This is getting frustrating." Carter said. "We've been using your left hand rule and haven't come across a single dead end. I don't think is a maze."
"Well it can't be a labyrinth since it has branching paths. I mean this place makes no sense. I think you were right when you said that there might be a way out."
"Well I hope I'm wrong because otherwise it means we're stuck here forever and you still need to eat food. If only we had eggs and cheese, then you could have omelettes." Carter joked.
"Very funny. Anyways we need to figure out exactly what this is before, wait!" Suz paused the moment she heard footsteps and she summoned her armor and Carter's purple cloak appeared on him. Suz readied her sword while a ball of what could only be described as solidified rotting death appeared in Carter's hands.
They lowered their weapons however when the source of the sound stepped out of the darkness revealing the scarfed form of Mike Brown. "Hey guys." He said with a friendly wave. "Glad I caught up with you."
"The hell are you doing here Mike!?" Carter shouted grabbing Mike by the collar of his tweed suit. "This is dangerous."
"I know that's why I came. I noticed a dimensional distortion when you left my office and when I went to warn you you had already fallen into it. So I let the administration know that I was taking the rest of the day off and went into the distortion after you guys." He looked out the nearest window to see a dark hellscape forest with a blood red moon hanging over it. "Although this isn't really what I thought would be on the other side."
Carter let go of Mike and sighed. "Fine so you came to get us out, can you do that?"
Mike smiled with his eyes and said. "Nope! This place is just about completely cut off from the real world and without finding the source I wouldn't be able to break back to our world. I kind of made a giant mistake doing this!" He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. Carter just made a strangled noise of frustration.
"Well at least you were able to follow out markings to get to us. Thank god we left those Xs." Suz said trying to defuse the tension.
"Xs?" Mike said. "I didn't see anything like that. I just used the left hand rule." He lifted his left hand up.
Carter and Suz looked at each other confused. "Are you sure? I've been marking the walls of this placate every turn we've taken." Carter said nothing but looked out the window to the right.
"Yeah positive, this place has been pretty much the same since I entered it."
"No fucking way." Carter said. "I've figured it out."
"Really! Nice one man." Mike gave him a high five. "What's the trick?"
"So you said this place didn't change the moment you got in here? It was always this really scary hell hallway?"
"Well yeah, was it different for you?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, we had a gradual shift between the original hallway of the school and it's current state. We had been assuming that we were progressing along a hallway until we reached this area, however you possibly discounted that theory. After all you were plopped right onto this style of hallway. Therefore I believe that there was an illusion on the walls when we first came in that slowly shifted to the final style of hallway which is probably the true hallway."
"Well that could be explained by the portal dropping him along farther into the hallway then it did us." Suz countered.
"That may be true but this is where the second part of my theory comes in." He pointed to the window to the right. "If we continued to turn left how come the window is always on the right. The curvature of the turns wouldn't be enough to keep us on the outside. Plus there's the fact that the view we're getting hasn't changed since we hit this level of creep."
Suz looked out the window and winced. "Yeah you're right, I can't believe that I missed that."
"You're brilliant Carter. I wouldn't have been able to figure that out myself." Mike said.
"Oh yes!" Carter said. "Feed that ego of mine. It's delicious."
"Don't be a creep and tell us what's happening." Suz said looking at him strangely.
"Well it's simple. If we keep getting the same view and we aren't actually progressing forward that means one thing. We are stuck in a single hallway looping around on itself."
"What?" Suz asked.
"So we were operating under the belief that there were several portions of hallway that were identical however I propose that there is actually one section of hallway enchanted to return us to the entrance no matter which way we go."
"If that was true then how come I had to catch up with you. Shouldn't I have just plopped right down on top of you guys?" Mike asked.
"Not if we were far enough way from the entrance. Basically we were unlucky enough be just out of reach of each other until Suz and I stopped before you reached us."
"So now that we know what this place is how do we get out?" Mike asked. "Like you guys are experts at this stuff by now right?"
"Well I have no idea." Carter said. "But it looks like Suz is onto something." He turned to Suz who was looking out the window.
"Yeah, So it might be true that we are stuck in a section of hallway but I think that's an effect of the hallway in a greater passage, not of this entire dimension. I mean look at the forest there." Suz pointed to the forest. "I can make out birds and bugs acting erratically. It's a mockery of a real ecosystem but the fact that they aren't static images or in looping patterns means that outside these walls there is an actual dimension. So if there is a way out we have to break out of this hall."
"Well how do you suggests we that?" Mike asked straining his eyes to try and see the animal life Suz had mentioned.
"With my sword. Get back." Suz grabbed Mike's collar and pushed him into Carter's arms. "I'm going to focus this body's magic powers into the tip of my sword and blast a hole into the wall. Then we can jump out easy peasy."
"Is that safe?" Mike asked.
"Nope." Carter said as he turned to cover Mike with his body. "But I'll keep you safe."
Meanwhile Suz was charging up energy in the tip of her sword.
"Wow okay that's really sweet Carter and sort of makes me want to act on my old crush on you but wait if there's a buildup of magical energies here wouldn't slicing the wall open cause a-"
The Forest
Ymir sighed as she looked up to the dark gothic castle. No matter what way she would try and do or whatever direction she would end up looking at the exact same view of the castle. "Where the hell are Suz and Carter. They'd be very useful here having real bodies and all."
That was when the side of the castle exploded. "Yeah that's probably them." Ymir said. Then she also caught sight of a figure flying towards her.
"Fuuuuuuuuuuck!" The figure said before landing next to her with a squish leaving a mess of bones and gore.
"Hey Carter." The remains began to come together and some bones began to rise up from the ground and helped create a new skeleton that rotting flesh began to form around. "So happy I found you Ymir. I missed your compassionate nature." Carter groaned as he popped an arm in place and began inspecting it. "Wow it is incredibly lucky there are so many bodies buried here. Well lucky for me, not so much for the bodies."
"So where are we and what's happening?" Ymir asked. "And don't answer with in a forest or on top of an ancient burial ground." Carter slowly closed his mouth thought for a moment then opened it again.
He quickly filled her in on what happened in the hallway.
"Aren't you worried about your friend?" Ymir asked.
"I protected him from the blast and I saw Suz falling towards him so he'll be fine. I'm more worried about what's over there." Carter pointed in the opposite direction of the castle. "While I was falling I saw a lake and a small village. We can probably find something if we head there."
"So abandoning our friends it is. I can probably break the spell, just lend me your body for a second."
"Think of it as letting them grow on their own. And I had figured, go right on ahead." Ymir flew her body into Carter and he began to glow with a soft purple light. "Begone illusion!" The combined being said and a pulse of dark purple magic shot out and an invisible barrier seemed to shatter around them. Ymir then left Carter's body.
"Well that was infinitely more effective then Suz. Onward." Carter pointed in the direction of the lake he had seen and they marched forward.
The Courtyard
Mike groaned as he sat up. "Thank you for not letting me die."
"No problem." Suz said from underneath Mike. She sat up as well once Mike was off of her and began looking around. They seemed to be in the courtyard of a large gothic castle. She looked up from where they fell and saw a large hole in the wall which quickly regrew. "Well that's disconcerting but not unexpected."
"Where's Carter?" Mike asked looking around.
"Who knows?" Suz shrugged dismissing her armor. "I think I saw him fly towards the forest."
"What!" Mike screamed. "He could be hurt!"
"He's a lich, he can't really be hurt. Besides this is good. If we're split up that means we can cover twice the ground as we could together! Divide and Conquer." She rolled her neck back and forth and rubbed her shoulders as she was speaking.
Mike sighed. "You do know that the phrase Divide and Conquer refers to pitting ones subordinates against one another to keep yourself in power? But either way I hope your right about Carter. I guess we go to the center of the castle, that'll probably be where the boss is right?"
"Fun fact; I didn't know that. And yeah that's probably right. Now we just have to figure out how to open those doors!" Suz pointed at the huge iron wrought doors that blocked of the castle proper from the courtyard.
"I don't suppose that you have another magic swing like that in you?" Mike asked.
"Actually I have about three. However a door that big, way too thick to cut all the way through, even ignoring any magical protections. So we probably can't force our way in."
"Well how do you suggest we get in?" Mike asked.
"From the looks of things we'll probably have a chance to get the key soon enough." Suz recalled her armor and put her hands behind her head.
"What? Why?"
"Because the universe is inherently biased towards helping the good guys win. Oh shit, what's that?" Suz pointed behind Mike who turned to see a portal of darkness appear and from it walk out a magnificent dark knight riding an ebony steed.
"Do you warriors wish to enter my lord's castle?" The knight asked in a deep booming voice.
Suz grinned and brought her duel disk to her arm. "And if I do?"
"The prepare yourself for combat." The armor on his arm unfolded and became a duel disk. "Are you amenable to combat via Duel Monsters?"
"Of course!"
"Wait hold on!" Mike put a hand on Suz's shoulder. "This guy looks like he's a powerful duelist, are you sure you can take him?"
Suz just gave a wide grin. "Don't worry, I can take this guy any day of the week." And she activated her duel disk.
The black knight got off of his horse and did the same. "I am Sir Medrawd, guardian of this castle's gates, the black knight of death, and the one who destroys all those who approach this castle. If you wish to reach my master and take Lady Elizabeth back to the village you must beat me in this game!"
Suz: 8000 Medrawd: 8000
"Wait what?" Suz said confused but was too late when Medrawd drew five cards and set one on the field.
"One monster to protect me and that shall be my turn. I hope you shall fight well."
"I'm sorry but can you explain what you meant by Lady Elizabeth. This is the first time I've heard of it."
The black knight seemed to falter. "Wait really?" He then seemed to gather his composure. "I mean, have you not heard of Lady Elizabeth and her being held prisoner in my lord's castle. Is that not the reason you and your friend have quested here?"
"Um no. We were brought here by a criminal we're chasing. I would ask if you knew where he was but I'm not even sure what he looks like. If we were brought here though he's probably living here as a guest of your boss. Any suspicious looking individuals come by lately."
"They only beings that occupy this castle are my lord, his loyal retainers, Lady Elizabeth, and I. The criminal you search for is nowhere to be found."
"Oh well, I guess we better just leave then." Suz said and began to turn around.
"Wait what!" Mike said. "Are you serious!"
Suz laughed. "Of course not! Polymerization fuses Shadow Mist and Heat to form Elemental Hero Nova Master!" Suz played the card as she turned around and the flaming hero appeared (ATK 2600). "Whether or or not our guy is here I'm not the type of person to leave things alone; so I'll let Carter track down the escapee and I'll rescue Elizabeth!"
She added a card to her hand from her deck. "And it starts with this! Shadow Mist let's me grab Elemental Hero Blazeman who I'll bring out right now!" A second figure appeared next the towering fire giant (ATK 1200) "Who gives me a second polymerization! Now Nova Master destroy that monster!" The fire based fusion sent a blast of fire incinerating the unknown monster. "Thanks to my fusion I get to draw a card and next Blazeman get's another shot at your life points!"
The second hero leapt forward and slammed his fist right into Medrawd's disk. "I set a card and that will be it!"
Suz: 8000 Medrawd: 6800
"I draw." Medrawd looked at the card in his hand. "I am impressed by your heroic spirit, but I cannot allow you to pass. I summon the Noble Knight known as Medraut." A knight with blond hair and white armor appeared on the field (ATK 1700).
"Noble Knights huh? Never gone up against them before." Suz said.
"Oh no! I've heard of those things! Once they start their combos it's almost impossible to stop!" Mike cried out.
"I now equip Medraut with Noble Arms - Arfeudutyr." A wicked looking blade with a black hilt and a red glowing blade appeared in his hand. "And by reducing the attack points of my knight I can destroy the card you have set!" Medraut pointed his new sword at Suz's card and a beam of purple light shot out of it.
"I chain! Fusion Reserve let's me recover my polymerization and grab Elemental Hero Woodsman by revealing Terra Firma!" Suz got two cards in her hand and Medraut slumped down tired (ATK 1700—1200). "Looks like you got rid of your attack points for nothing big guy." Suz said with a grin.
"I am afraid you are mistaken young warrior. I achieved my goal completely, my goal to pave the way for the greatest knight in the land! Medraut, use your ability. Knight's Summon!" Medraut pulled out a horn and let out a blasting note.
"While Medraut is the only knight on the field and he wields one of the holy blades he can summon a comrade to the field, so appear to me Ignoble Knight of Black Launsallyn!" before them a knight in black armor similar to that of Medrawd (ATK 2000). "Now I shall…" Medrawd trailed off as he reached towards his extra deck. "Now I activate Launsallyn's power! By tributing Medraut I can claim another blade from my deck!"
Medraut vanished and Medrawd drew a card from his deck. "Now I call upon the ancient power of the lake, be reborn Lady of the Lake!" With a splash a woman in a dress holding a sword appeared (ATK 200). "You destroyed this monster on your last battle, but by lowering the level of Launsallyn I can bring her back."
"So you wanted me destroy her then!" Suz cried out.
"Correct. And now that Launsallyn is reunited with the woman who raised him he can unleash his true power.
4 + 1 = 5
"Knight of the Lake, take the power that stands before you and unleash your rage! Synchro Summon, level five, Ignoble Knight of High Launsallyn!"
The Lady of the Lake disappeared and Launsallyn began to scream as red torn lines began to form on his armor. A dark aura began to flow out of him as he took a more bestial stance (ATK 2100). "Now my newly awakened monster can call upon a weapon from my armory! Draw forth the power of Noble Arms - Caliburn, and from my hand I arm him with Gallatin!"
Two swords appeared in the knights hands, one was a long thick broadsword with two red glowing lines across the blade, and the other was a thiner blade that glowed slightly with a red light (ATK 2100—3600).
"Well okay that looks like it could be a problem." Suz said. Mike was in the background panicking.
"With Gallatin being wielded by a Noble Knight I can give myself an extra five hundred points of life." Medrawd glowed.
"Now Launsallyn destroy her Nova Master." The black knight rushed forward and Nova master tried to retaliate with a punch but Launsallyn ducked under it and his blades struck true. "Now that it is the end of our battle I can call a Noble Knight to my hand thanks to my knights victory."
Medrawd placed a card in his disk. "A set card will be enough to end my turn."
Suz: 8000 Medrawd: 7300
Suz drew and gave a grin. 'My body as a Shield should protect my monsters from set trap card so I'm good to attack without worrying about that trap of his.'
"I use Blazeman's effect to send a second Shadow Mist to the graveyard and turn Blazeman into a dark monster while getting to use her effect to get Elemental Hero Voltic to my hand." Suz sent the cards where they needed to go and let out a big smile. "Now I use one of my Polymerizations to fuse Voltic and my dark attribute Blazeman to preform a fusion summon
"Light and darkness come together and become the lord of the dead! Fusion summon, Elemental Hero Escuridao!"
Shadows congealed in the courtyard and when they went away a thin wispy hero with wicked looking claws was standing there (ATK 2500—2900). "And this hero gains a hundred attack points for each hero in the grave! Now to use my second Polymerization to fuse Elemental Heroes Ocean and Sparkman in my to create new type of hero!
"The love of the people open up a new path, the light and the ocean are the way to the future! Fusion Summon, Vision Hero Adoration!"
This hero was very different from the last, he didn't seem to embody an element but instead just radiated strength. He was wearing a leather outfit with stripes coming out all over the place (ATK 2800). "And with two more heroes in the grave!" The shadows around Escuridao deepened (ATK 2900—3100).
"No! Neither of those monsters are strong enough to take on Launsallyn!" Mike cried out.
"Fool." Medrawd said. "Obviously she has a trick up her sleeve."
"Glad to see you aren't a fool. I use Adoration's effect to reduce Launsallyn's attack by that of Escuridao! Adoration Binding!" The leather stripes of Adoration's outfit shot forward and wrapped Launsallyn up restricting his movements (ATK 3600—500).
"And if that face down is a Mirror Force then don't think it's going to help you! Escuridao destroy Launsallyn with Dark Claw Strike!" Escuridao rushed at the imprisoned knight.
"Thank you young warrior. I activate Reverse Trap." Medrawd's facedown card flipped up and Launsallyn broke himself out of his prison.
"No! Escuridao!" Launsallyn's swords flashed and the dark hero was gone. "W-what happened?"
"Reverse Trap makes changes in attack points into their opposites, so instead of losing attack points…" Medrawd tried off.
"I took the full brunt of Launsallyn's thirty six hundred attack points." Suz grated her teeth as she looked at her useless My Body as a Shield. "Dammit."
Suz: 4400 Medrawd: 7300
Deeper in the Woods
Meanwhile Carter and Ymir had found a path leading to the village Carter had seen. "This is a bit suspicious don't you think?" Carter said. "I mean first whoever it is messing with us tries to keep us from moving around with that recursion spell, then once we break it he just let's us go? Are you sure you can't figure out who our target is?"
"I already told you Carter, there's way to many criminals with this type of capability. I won't be able to narrow it down until we get more data on this place. Get that through your thick head will you?" Ymir responded.
"At least I have a head."
"Why you!" Ymir was about to bull rush Carter when a scream rang out. "Let's go!" The two immediately ran down the road to the sound of the scream.
They came across the sight of a large pig like humanoid threatening what looked to be a medieval era villager holding what looked top be a broken pitchfork in his hand. They could tell it was a broken pitchfork because the forked end was being held menacingly in the pigman's hand. "Well well well, that didn't last long."
"Help! Somebody help!" The villager tried to crawl away but the creature lifted it's hand to bring down on the man's back, only to be blasted away by a wave of necrotic energy. "It's not nice to pick on people, at least not when there's witnesses." Carter said with a smirk.
"Well well well." The pig said throwing away his weapon. "It looks like we have a hero here. What's your name?"
"Carter Carlyle, and you better remember it because it's the last name you'll ever hear." He put on his duel disk.
"So you actually know how to fight then?" The pig's own disk materialized. "You should give me a decent challenge then. My name is Rosco, remember that for when the reaper asks."
"I am the reaper." They both drew five cards.
Carter: 8000 Rosco: 8000
The villager scrambled his way over to where Ymir was floating. "Y-your friend, do you think he can win? Rocco is a powerful servant of this land's lord, there is only one warrior I know who can defeat him."
"Don't worry, for all of Carter's faults being a bad duelist isn't one of them." Ymir said
"I go first!" Carter said. "And a defense position monster will be all for me."
"Well well well, and here I thought you would be a challenge. Time to show you what a real duelist can do! I use the spell card Advanced Ritual Art!" Rocco grabbed two card from his deck and sent them to the graveyard. "By using the normal monsters Zure, Knight of the Dark World and Dark Blade I can summon the level eight ritual monster! Come forth Dark Master Zorc!"
The monster that came forth was hideous, with a human like body it's face was monstrous and it had red devil like wings coming out of it's back (ATK 2700). "Now Zorc…" Rosco seemed like he was reaching for something then through better of it. "Attack and destroy his monster with Zorc flame!" The creature shot out a bolt of dark fire at the face down monster destroying it.
"Hm." Ymir said looking at Rosco. "Interesting."
"Sorry to burst your bubble but the monster you just destroyed was the Pyramid Turtle which allows me to summon another zombie from my deck, like Goblin Zombie." The monster that appeared on small and green (DEF 1050).
"I set a card and end my turn." Rosco said.
"Well then it's my turn and I summon the mighty Gozuki." A black furred bull man with a large hammer appeared (ATK 1700). "And with his effect I send one zombie to the graveyard." Carter sent the card to the grave. "Then I activate Everliving Underworld Cannon and that will be it." A cannon made of bones appeared.
"Such disappointment!" The pig laughed. "Do you really think that you can beat me like that!" Rosco played 2 cards. "I activate Demotion to lower the level of Zorc by two and then Ritual weapon to increase his attack!" A bluish crossbow appeared on Zorc's hand (ATK 2700—4200).
"No!" The villager cried out. "That monster is too strong!"
"Next I use Zorc's effect! Dark Master's Role!" A dice appeared in Zorc's hand who rolled it, it landed on a 3. "That means I get to destroy one of your monsters! So goodbye Goblin Zombie!" The green monster shattered.
"Sorry but that was a mistake, I get to grab another zombie from my deck due to my Goblin's effect!" Carter swiped a card from his deck.
"That card won't save you! Zorc! Destroy his Gozuki!" The monster shot a crossbow bolt shattering the demon.
"And now you've fallen into another trap, Gozuki's other effect activates. I banish Pyramid Turtle from my graveyard." Carter pocketed the card. "And now I can summon a zombie from my hand, like the other Gozuki that I got from Goblin Zombie." A second bull demon replaced the first.
The cannon of bones began to charge out and sent a blast of what seemed to be ghosts at Rosco. "Then of course there's the eight hundred damage my underworld cannon inflicts when I special summon a zombie."
"That matters not! You still lost that exchange!"
Carter: 5500 Rosco: 7200
"That doesn't matter though, since you're the one who will lose the duel." Carter said nonchalantly starting his turn. "And I'll play it safe by moving Gozuki to defense position and sending another zombie to my graveyard. Then one more set card will end my turn."
"Are you mocking me! Saying you will be victorious is nothing but a farce when you look at this field! I will activate the effect of Zorc once more!" The dice rolled and this time it landed on a six.
"Yes!" Ymir said. "When Zorc rolls a six he get's destroyed!"
"Not yet!" Rosco said. "For I activate-"
"That Six." Carter finished as the facedown card flipped up.
"What!" Rosco said. "How did you know?"
Carter gave a chuckle. "Truthfully it was embarrassingly easy to figure out that your face down was a die manipulator, especially because you didn't roll Zorc's effect that first turn. And if you wouldn't roll without a backup plan then Dice Re-Roll would be too weak for you. So the only option would be That Six. Your plan was far to simple to be any surprise the moment your first turn ended."
"That matters not! Because no matter what you guessed That Six still allows me to change a six into a one. So Gozuki is destroyed!" For the second time Gozuki left the field.
"I choose not to use his effect." Carter said.
"Then that means you're wide open! Attack directly Zorc!" The full brunt of four thousand two hundred points of damage sent Carter flying back.
"Gah!" He cried out.
"No!" The villager shouted. "There's no way he can recover from this!"
Ymir just floated there silently.
Carter: 1300 Rosco: 7200
"What now human?" Rosco asked.
"Now?" Carter said getting up. "Now I win. I summon Zombie Master in attack mode." A skeletal figure in a robe appeared (ATK 1800).
"And Zombie Master let's me discard a monster from my hand to resurrect one of my zombies, so say hello to the card I put in there last turn, Bone Crusher!" Zombie Master sent bolt of purple lightening into the ground and from it came what looked to be a viking skeleton (ATK 1800).
"And Bone Crusher let's me destroy one spell or trap card you control when he's summoned from the gave like this, so say goodbye ritual weapon." Bone Crusher slammed his hammer into the ground and a shockwave destroyed Rosco's card (ATK 4200—2700). "Plus the effect of my cannon takes away another eight hundred." Rosco was blasted again.
"Next I place a card in my hand on top of my deck." Carter placed the card. "And I can summon Plaguespreader Zombie from my graveyard." This time the monster was purple and grossly deformed (ATK 400). "Who happens to be a very powerful tuner monster in any zombie deck, so I tune my level four Bone Crusher and my level 2 Plaugespreader to bring out a level six synchro!" The two zombies turned into synchro rings and stars that glowed bright green.
4 + 2 = 6
"Clustering Bones become a new doom! Come out the bringer of destruction! Level six, Doomkaiser Dragon!"
The monster that came was horrific. It looked tangentially like a dragon, but it didn't have skin. Instead it had exposed bone and gray rotting muscle tissue (ATK 2400).
"What will that monster do! It can't defeat Zorc!" Rosco shouted, but he looked like he was getting nervous.
"Then I'll just have to upgrade him. I reveal my facedown card, Assault Mode Activate." Whirlwinds flared out blinding the participants, and when they looked back almost all were speechless.
Where Doomkaiser once stood was a different, larger monster. It had the same shape as Doomkaiser, but it's upper body tuned into a more humanoid shape and there was a grinning skeletal face on it's chest (ATK 2900).
"Dammit!" Rosco said.
"Doomkaiser Dragon/ Assault Mode! And when summoned I can use his effect, Death Beckon!" The face on Doomkaiser's chest roared and hands began to pop out of the ground. "I can call forth as many zombies from the grave as I want! So return my servants!" Two Gozuki's and Bone crusher rose from the dead.
"Can your friend actually be about to win this!?" The villager asked.
"Please, if he wasn't obsessed with showing off he could've won by now I'm sure." She replied.
"Now then Rosco let me tell you this. I'm sure when picking on cowering weaklings like that man over there you're hot shit, but you have no place on a real battle field. You showed that the moment you didn't take that one in six chance on your first turn, now die." All off Carter's monsters rushed Rosco with Doomkaiser easily destroying Zorc and the rest dragging Rosco down into the earth
Carter: 1300 Rosco: 0000
"What a weakling." Carter said before turning to the villager. "You what's your name?"
The villager quickly bowed to Carter. "Me oh great warrior? I am Billy, a humble farmer. Thank you so graciously for saving me from-"
"You're from the village here in the woods right? We're still a good deals away from the village and from the looks of Rosco it's dangerous for you to be out here at night. Why were you here though?"
"Dammit Carter." Ymir mumbled.
The question threw Billy for a loop. "Why I am out here? Well I have a good reason, and if you come to the village I'm sure the elder would be happy to tell you. I am positive that a mighty warrior like yourself would be pleased to here about this."
Carter stared off at one part of the woods before turning back to Billy. "Of course. I'm interested in meeting with your elder. Lead the way."
The Courtyard
Suz was still reeling from the blow that Medrawd had struck. "All I can do is end my turn."
"Then it is time for me to take my turn." Medrawd said drawing a card. "And the curse of Gallatin removes two hundred points of my Laundsallyn's attack points." (ATK 3600—3400).
"Now I will start my combo by summoning Noble Knight Bedwyr which upon his summon let's me send a Noble Arms to the card graveyard!" A white haired knight with a red cape appeared and Yawain sent a card to the grave and then held up Gallatin (ATK 1600). "Launsallyn attack her Vision Hero!"
Launsallyn slashed her hero in half and then threw one of his swords into the air (ATK 3400—2600). "Now Bedwyr uses his effect to reequip a Noble Arms from one knight to another!" The blond knight jumped into the air and caught the sword on the way down slashing at Suz (ATK 1600—2600).
"Gah!" Suz clutched her shoulder as blood began to seep out.
"Suz no!" Mike cried out. "Hang in there!"
"I use Laundsallyn's effect to add a blade to my hand and then Caliburn's to recover five hundred life points and end my turn.
Suz: 1200 Medrawd: 7800
Suz gritted her teeth and pulled up to her full hight. "I'm not out of this yet!" And drew her next card with all her might.
"It's time for a counter attack! I activate Fifth Hope! I return five heroes in order to draw two more cards! And now I use one of them right now, Legacy of a Hero! I return Nova Master and Escuridao to the extra deck to draw three more cards!"
"Amazing!" Mike said. "She turned a hand of two into six. Is this what Carter talked about when he mentioned the Legacy?"
"A facedown monster and spell or trap will be the rest of my turn!"
As Medrawd drew Bedwyr grew weaker(ATK 2600—2400).
"Then it is time to finish this. I use the Noble Arms of Destiny on Laundsallyn keeping him safe from any destruction effects." A shield appeared on the warriors arm.
"Now unless you have a Big Shield Gardna in your deck Bedwyr will destroy your face down monster." The blond knight rushed forward.
"Don't worry my monster can't hold a candle to your knight," Suz's monster flipped face up and a figure in a red cloak leapt backwards. "but then again he's not supposed to. Phantom Magician's purpose is to be defeated and need saving, and who better to do it then,"
Phantom Magician disappeared and in his place a large man made half out of wood came out of nowhere to block the sword (DEF 2000). "A hero!"
"What just happened! That monster could not have stopped Bedwyr's attack!" Wain looked taken aback.
"That's because he didn't. You see Phantom Magician was destroyed I was able to summon Woodsman out from my deck. For the guardian of this castle you aren't very bright are you?" Suz stuck her tongue out at Medrawd.
"I'll show you! Laundsallyn take hold of Gallatin once more and crush that hero!"Laundsallyn rose up to full power and charged at the wooden man, only to be stopped by a barrier.
"And now that I'm facing your strongest monster it seems like an opportune time to use Draining Shield. You should really control that temper of yours, it'll get the better of you one day." She wagged a finger at him.
"I heal myself with Caliburn and give the turn over to you."
Suz: 4800 Medrawd: 8300
"This is amazing. I thought this was over but she just changed the momentum completely." Mike stood there in awe.
"You haven't seen nothin yet." Suz said. "I get to grab a polymerization from my graveyard thanks to Woodsman and then I summon Elemental Hero Ocean to the field." A blue skinned hero wielding a staff stood next to Woodsman (ATK 1500). "Then two face down cards will end it for me.
"I will not lose this duel! Mystical Space Typhoon will destroy the card you just set on the left!" Medrawd set the card on his deck and a small tornado shot at Suz's card.
"I chain it to your card and activate Threatening Roar. No attacking for you." A large roar shook the area they were in and the knights looked worried.
"Calibrun restores even more life points and a set card will be my turn." A face down card appeared on his field. 'Come on, attack me if you dare. No matter what you summon Mirror Force will blow it away.
"Then it's my time to get rid of your field. Woodsman gives me another polymerization and Ocean let's me return Blazeman from my grave to my hand." Suz pumped up her hand even more. "Now I use the trap card Call of the Haunted! Revive my Shadow Mist!" The hero that appeared was female and radiated darkness from her black armor (ATK 1200).
"And when this hero appears I can add a certain type of quick-play spell to my hand." Suz took a card from her deck. "Now polymerization fuses Ocean and Shadow Mist!"
"From the dark depths of the sea comes the frigid hero! Fusion summon, Elemental Hero Absolute Zero!"
The area around them froze solid and a hero with snow white armored appeared (ATK 2500). Medrawd took a step back wary of this new hero.
"And since I now have a useless trap on the field I can use the effect of a special hero from my hand, one that let's me tribute traps as well as monsters!" Woodsman and the face up Call of the Haunted disappeared and in their place was a hero wearing what looked to be a patchwork witch's out fit and wielding a shotgun sword mix (ATK 2700).
"This is Vision Hero Witch Raider, and when she's summoned all your spell and trap cards are destroyed!" The Vision Hero aimed her shotgun at the Black Knights spell and trap zone and fired. Medrawd's face down card disappeared but his equip spells faded for a second before reappearing.
"Sorry but that failed to do a thing, Noble Arms can reequip themselves to monsters on the field the first time they're destroyed each turn." Medrawd let out a sigh of relief 'Although my Mirror Force is gone now'.
Suz grinned. "That's perfect because now I use the card that Shadow Mist gave me Mask Change! Absolute Zero, transformation summon!" Elemental Hero Absolute Zero began to glow with a golden light as armor appeared from nowhere and began to cover the hero.
In the end the man who stood there wore blue armor with a red chest piece and a gun in hand (ATK 2600). "And both my hero's effects work, Absolute Zero destroys all monsters when he leaves the field and Acid destroys all spells and traps when he enters it!"
A chill came across the field as all of Medrawd's monsters were frozen over and then Acid sent a blast of acid at them with his gun. "And since chains resolve in reverse your Noble Arms of Destiny can't protect your Laundsallyn!" The dust settled and every one of his monsters was gone.
"That means that his entire field has been wiped out!" Mike cheered.
"And now for the finishing touches, polymerization fuses together Elemental Heroes Blazeman and Sparkman in my hand to bring out the hero of light!
"Blaze brighter than the sun and extinguish all foes before you! Fusion Summon, Elemental Hero the Shining."
This hero was clad in all white armor and had golden metallic 'wings' on his back (ATK 2600). "Now all of my heroes, Elemental, Masked, and Vision attack him directly!" The force of the onslaught was so powerful it sent the heavily armored man flying back into a wall.
Suz: 4800 Medrawd: 900
"I set the last card in my hand and end my turn."
"T-this can't be happening." Medrawd clutched at his arm which was injured in the blast, his armor crumbling around him. "I can't fail Elizabeth again! I must protect her!"
"What?" Suz said confused. "Aren't I the one trying to free Elizabeth?"
"You don't get it! You don't stand a chance against the lord of the castle, and if I fail here will be the target of his anger!" Medrawd's helmet crumbled revealing eyes full of tears.
"You don't serve the lord of this castle do you?" Mike said softly. "Back when you were introducing yourself you described yourself separate from his loyal retainers."
"Who are you, really?" Suz asked.
The Village
"We lived in peace for many years in this village. It is not a glamorous life but it is a happy." The village elder explained to Carter and Ymir. "And there were two villagers here that were beloved above all others. The first was Elizabeth my daughter, a kind woman who loved all as if they were family, and Lancelin the captain of our guard, the greatest warrior in the land."
Carter looked bored siting on a straw mat taking a sip of tea. "And what does this have to do with the monster that attacked Billy?"
"I was getting to that young man." The elder said. "You see the woods have always been dangerous, but they monsters would keep to themselves and Lancelin would keep us safe if they did near the village. One day however, the sky turned blood red and a monster attack like no other occurred. The monsters swarmed us under the command of the new lord of the castle, and try as he might Lancelin was not strong enough to defend the village. That was when we discovered that the goal of the army was not our destruction, but rather to steal Lady Elizabeth from us.
"When Lancelin discovered this he went to the castle in order to rescue her, but we have not heard from him since."
The Castle Courtyard
"When I came to the castle I could not even make it to the lord of the castle's throne room before he used Elizabeth against me. I was given an offer, either fight knowing that Elizabeth would be condemned to a fate worse then death, or guard his gates to make her life easier. The longer I guard his castle the better he treats Elizabeth. So I took the name of the ancient traitor of legend and have stood by my post ever since"
"Wait." Mike said. "If he wanted to capture Elizabeth why would he use her life as leverage?"
"Because Elizabeth was never their only target was she?" Suz said.
"Correct. From what the lord has told me he requires the two of us as a pair, if one of us cannot fulfill the duty he wishes for us then the other is useless, and therefore disposable."
"Well then let us help! We can fight against the lord of the castle together!" Suz said.
"I have dedicated my entire life to protect lady Elizabeth, I will not risk her life for the pipe dream of some wannabe hero. It is my turn!" Lancelin drew a card.
"Lancelin listen to me, the more you let this lord of ours use you the harder it will be to ever get out from his thumb. We can help you save Elizabeth!"
"I summon Merlin the magician!" Lancelin said ignoring them. "And by using his effect I will break the seal I placed on myself!" An aged wizard appeared on the field and began to glow. "I swore to forsake this power when I pledged my allegiance to the darkness, but now to keep you from entering the castle I must use all my power."
"You mean he was holding back this entire time!" Mike cried out.
"By tributing Merlin I can bring out the king of my deck, Noble Knight Artorigus!" The wizard vanished with a flash of light and when it calmed down Lancelin was standing there in white armor lined with fur (ATK 1800). "I claim the right as king! And as such I special summon Gawayn from my hand using his effect!" A knight in golden armor appeared kneeling (DEF 500).
"Now grant me power! Xyz summon!" Gawayn turned into pure energy and entered Lancelin's armor which began to glow blue and expand (ATK 2000). "I have now taken the form of Artorigus, King of the Noble Knights, and my summon let's me equip three Noble Arms to myself from the grave." Gallatin, Caliburn and the Noble Arms of Destiny appeared on his arms (ATK 2000—3500).
"Now by detaching an XYZ material I can destroy spell and traps up to the number of equip spells I have on me." Lancelin waved a hand and destroyed Suz's my Body as a Shield.
"Time to slay your heroes, first Masked Hero Acid." A single slash was all it took.
"And before I end the battle phase I play a quick play from my hand, Rank-Up Magic of Noble Force!" Lancelin's armor opened up and blue energy began leaking out (ATK 3700).
"A Rank-Up!?" Suz was shocked.
"Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus! And Noble Force's second effect activates allowing me to equip myself with Noble Arms Excaliburn." A sword with blue lines of energy running down the blade and a golden hilt appeared in his hand and he cut The Shining in half.
"Now in my second main phase I can detach one Xyz material to destroy a monster on the field." Vision Hero Witch Raider shuddered for a moment before shattering.
He glowed with he light of Caliburn and extended a hand. "Now it is your turn."
Suz: 2800 Lancelin: 1400
"He just completely destroyed Suz's field and has no cards in her hand! It's over!"
"You know Mike you aren't being very helpful right now, at least say something positive like 'Don't worry Suz you can do it!' or 'Show this hunk of junk who's boss'. I thought having somebody other then Carter or Suz around would be nice but apparently you're just a Debby Downer."
"Stop stalling." Lancelin said. "And draw your last card."
Suz took the card from the top of her deck and let out a large laugh. "Hahahahaha! It looks like I'm not out of Miracles yet! I use the spell card Miracle Fusion!"
"A top deck like that! Now of all times!" Lancelin said looking concerned.
"And now I use it to banish Blazeman, Shadowmist, and Sparkman to summon one of the strongest heroes in my deck Elemental Hero Core!"
The hero's body was white armor with a red core in the center with lines radiating out of it (ATK 2700). "Why don't we just stop this now Lancelin? We're on the same side."
"You're just afraid that I will defeat you! And since you don't seem to want to attack I'll take my turn." He drew and Gallatin weakened him (ATK 3500). 'Dammit, she wouldn't just leave out that monster in attack mode if she didn't want me to attack it, but she knows I can blow up one more monster with my overlay unit. What do I do?' Lancelin thought, then he looked over to Suz and saw a smirk on her face. 'She's trying to trick me! Well I won't hesitate.'
"I use my last overlay unit to destroy Core!" Core shattered and the explosion kicked up a cloud of dust.
"Don't worry Lancelin, you really did choose right. If you attacked Core you would've lost at that moment, instead you just have to deal with this." The dust cleared and standing there was The Shining (ATK 2600—3500) "Core let's me summon a level eight or lower Elemental Hero from my grave no matter what their cards say, and with three banished monsters The Shining's abilities are at his strongest."
"Dammit! But don't forget that my Noble Arms of Destiny keeps me from being destroyed once per turn!" Lancelin charged right into The Shining ignoring a blast of brilliant light to destroy him.
"Remember I said abilities plural, because the Shining left the field I can add Blazeman and Shadowmist to my hand from beyond the grave." Suz added the two cards to her hand and smiled. "Thanks for the refresher."
"Dammit!" Lancelin said again, he'd played right into her hands, but he had one shot to stop Suz in her tracks. "A set card and Caliburn's effect will be all for now."
Suz: 2800 Lancelin: 1900
"I draw!"
"And I activate my facedown card! Lightforce Sword!" A blade appeared from his facedown and skewered one of Suz's cards. "Now one of your cards is banished for four turns! Try and fusion summon with only two cards!" 'I know I sounded tough, but if she still has her Blazeman I might still be in trouble.'
Suz gave a small clap. "Good job, the card you got rid of was my Elemental Hero Blazeman." Lancelin gave a sigh of relief. "However you missed the card that will defeat you."
"What!"
"I summon Vision Hero Vyon." A purple colored robotic hero with only one eye jumped out to the field (ATK 1000). "When Vyon is summoned I can send a hero to the graveyard like my second Shadow Mist which allows me to grab a hero from my deck."
"But you can't fuse without a fusion card! And without Blazeman you can't grab one from your deck!"
"Says who? I use Vyon's second effect, by banishing a hero from the grave I can retrieve my last polymerization!" Suz's hand now had three cards in it.
"The ability to constantly refresh your hand no matter how many resources you spend. A chain of heroes that never ends, the Immortal of Lineage, the Legacy!" Mike said shocked. "It's more impressive then I could ever imagine."
"It looks like Carter really did tell you everything, now it's time for a fusion!" Suz sent all of her remaining cards to the graveyard.
"Three that are one, the one that is three, cast your ever-present gaze upon this duel! Fusion Summon, Vision Hero Trinity!"
The red hero with a singular eye appeared the battlefield (ATK 2500—5000). "On the turn he's summoned Trinity's attack doubles! Now finish this!" Faster then the eye could see Vision Hero Trinity rushed Lancelin and uppercutted him into the air.
Suz: 2800 Lancelin: 400
"Gah! Nice try but I'm not out yet!" Lancelin said from the air, only to be shocked when he saw Trinity above him with both hands ready for a grand slam.
"Trinity can attack monsters three times each battle phase!" The hero smashed Lancelin to the floor before finishing with last of his life points.
Suz: 2800 Lancelin: 0000
"I-I lost." Lancelin said in disbelief. He groaned as he struggled to stand. "With such overwhelming power, could you, could you actually defeat the lord of this castle and free us?"
Suz have a thumbs up. "Of course I can!"
"For some reason I actually believe you." Lancelin gave a small chuckle. "Then let me help you, we shall take down the lord of the castle together." Suz smiled. "And to start I will share with you one of the things I learned in my time serving here, a secret that the lord keeps incredibly close to his chest. His name, for if any who rose against him would do so with that knowledge they would be able to strike him down. And that name is-" Lancelin stopped speaking with a grunt and fell forward, a dagger being stuck in his back.
"Lancelin!" Suz cried out.
"No!" Mike screamed. "He was just about to reveal the lord's name!"
"And that is why I could not allow him to speak, but do not worry he is not dead." A man wearing a black ninja outfit appeared over Lancelin. "Do not worry though he is alive, we still need him for the ceremony."
"Who are you!"
"Me? I am his majesties loyal ninja Kazekure! If I were a more honorable man I would wish you luck in your braving of the castle, but since I am not I shall leave with this!" Kazekure threw several smoke bombs at Suz and Mike and when the cleared Kazekure and Lancelin were gone.
"Dammit! What the hell is happening and what does it have to do with my escapee!?"
The Village
"So you explained what the deal with the red sky, the forbidding castle, and Rosco was so why exactly was Billy out there in the first place? The guy's as though as wet tissue paper yet he braved the forest."
"God damnit Carter." Ymir muttered under her breath. "I swear to god."
"Well, yes… You see after Lancelin disappeared we received a message from the Sage of the Lake, he told us that he held a holy weapon that could be used against the lord of the castle, but it could only be granted to those who braved the forest's dangers and reached him. Billy was attempting to do so when Rosco caught him. Thankfully such a powerful warrior like you was able to come in and save him." There was a glint in the elder's eye.
"Let me guess you want me to get this holy weapon and slay the lord of the castle?" Carter asked.
"Yes I beg of you! Lancelin was the only one among us that could possibly do so, but I sense great power in you. You could save us all!"
Carter seemed to mull it over in his head for a second. "Sure why not. I'll get started immediately. Which way is the Sage's place?"
"If you follow the road you came in from you should find yourself in the appropriate direction. Thank you so much Sir Carter! You truly are a great hero!"
"Whatever." Carter said and abruptly left a look of concentration on his face.
"Carter!" Ymir cried out in protest as she followed him. "Don't be so mean!"
"Shut up I'm thinking" Carter said distractedly. "Elizabeth, Lancelin, the Sage of the Lake and his sacred blade. Why does this all sound so familiar." Carter racked his brain trying to remember as he walked into the forest with Ymir trailing behind.
End of Chapter One
Original Cards
Rank-Up Magic of Noble Force
Quick-Play
Target 1 "Noble Knight" Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your extra deck, 1 "Noble Knight" monster that is 1 Rank higher then that target using that target as the Xyz Material(This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Materials attached to it also become Xyz Materials on the Summoned monster.) Then equip 1 "Noble Arms" Equip Spell from the deck to the Xyz Summoned monster