Disclaimer: Like the bill at a restaurant, it ain't mine.
Anyway, the first chapter of Part 2 of the Force of Darkness, hear my cry saga had some very important aspects. First off, it intro'd the beginning of a very well laid out trap by Hiei's ghostly servant, which Yami is chasing into at this moment. Also, Yusuke ended his climactic duel with Shinobu Sensui, putting an end to the fight once and for all.
Chapter 2 speeds things up, as Enzeru prepares to demolish Bankotsu, whilst Yami attempts to find Kagome. But what secrets lie in the shadows of New Paradigm, and in Yami's own heart?
Chapter 2: A Bloodstained Dawn
Bankotsu vs. Enzeru
"It looks like you've just about had it, Guardian of Chaos, though I have to admit you put up a good fight."
With a look of outright horror blanching his expression, Enzeru beheld the latest activation in Bankotsu's lineup…and from what he had heard of the card it was likely to be the worst. Blader Baptismal had not been a card completely unknown to him, but insofar as he could tell noone had actually been able to obtain it or use it effectively…though he imagined that was about to end.
What stood behind the mercenary's army was essentially a marble fountain of similar design to that of Enzeru's; the chief difference was that the Blader Baptismal was hewn of black marble, and thick blood flowed in lieu of water. And even as they watched each of the Blader soldiers obtained a strange mark upon their head, a single red tomoe sign moving in a counterclockwise motion.
"I don't like playing too many Continuous Magic cards, Guardian; they hold up the field and prevent me from using my stronger combos. But for Blader Baptism I make an exception. You see, when I activate this card, the first thing it does is negate any and all Equipped items in play that do not result from the Baptism, your Counters included." With that said, the Magic counters still in play were shattered, sending their glittering fragments back to the Fount from which they came.
"Heh. It doesn't get much better for you. After destroying every Equip on the field, the Blader Baptism grants each of my monsters with Blader in their name an Anointment Mark, and at the standby phase of each of my turns they will get another one. And these Anointment Counters have very interesting effects of their own. In fact, what do you say we see one of them now? Escort Blader, attack and destroy his Guardian of Time!"
With a hearty roar, the Blader warrior charged against Enzeru's timekeeper and swung his warhammer so that it would collide with the Guardian's skull. But Enzeru made a motion of his own.
"I chain your attack with the effect of my Time of Peace Magic card, and as it is not a monster it is immune to your Baptism's effect. By discarding the turn counter I have placed on it I can negate your attack."
But even as the silver shield of the Time of Peace card activated, Bankotsu grinned in his own sick way. "I'm afraid that's not going to be enough, Guardian, or have you forgotten the effect of my Blader Baptism's counter? By discarding one card from the top of my deck I can negate the chaining of a card towards my Blader's attack, shutting down your little peace."
At that moment, the red tomoe began spinning wildly around the Escort's head, causing the shield to crack and shatter as the Guardian was decapitated by his hammer. (Enzeru: 5150/ Bankotsu: 1100)
"And it only gets worse from there. You see, the card I discarded from my deck was a monster, so I am allowed to activate the Quick-Play Magic card, Journey from Hell to the Grave, and revive him from the graveyard in my battle phase. And the monster I have chosen is none other than the Blader Mystic, who gains 500 attack points for each Magic card in play!" In an empty monster zone now emerged a new soldier, a wraith-like blader with blackish-gray armor and a massive stave with what looked like a chainsaw built into the top, which glowed with fresh power. (1500 + 1500 3000/1500)
"And since it's still my battle, this new monster can go for the throat! Blader Mystic, attack his life points directly!"
Enzeru's eyes narrowed as the deadly mage hurled his staff into his chest, causing him incredible pain as the saw's hologram ripped into his flesh and returned to its deranged master. (Enzeru: 2150/ Bankotsu: 1100) The situation had taken a sudden, horrific turn for the worst; only one turn ago he had been in complete control, but now…
"You're lucky that Buster Blader can't attack right now; heh, come to think of it I'm pretty lucky too. This would be no fun if it ended that quickly. Anyway, I'll just set a card face down and end my turn. And that reminds me, when I end my turn, I'm allowed to place a second Baptism Counter on my monsters, so good luck dealing with that."
As Enzeru watched yet another counter get added, he looked calmly towards his own hand and closed his eyes. Whether through previous knowledge through Hiei, or some trick of circumstance, Bankotsu had effectively shut down his counters, as each one would be destroyed before they could even resolve themselves…
The Guardian sighed to himself. He had hoped that it would not come to this.
"My draw, mercenary." Perfect. This could just play into my plan if I play this right. "I activate the Magic card, The Flickering of Time, which allows me to discard my hand and draw cards equal to the level of a monster destroyed in my last turn."
Enzeru, with a fresh hand and plan prepared, viewed Bankotsu with cold exactness. "I am sorry, leader of the Band of Seven, but this is where I must end this duel. I will set one monster, and a card, to end my turn."
Bankotsu's eyes widened. Had he heard him right? Had that been his big move?
"I don't know what you're planning, Guardian, but I'm starting to agree with you. We should wrap this up right here and now, so I'll activate my face down Magic card, Rapid-Fire Baptismal! When this card is activated, I can equip all monsters in play with one more Baptism token, and at the same time, all monsters on my side of the field, even those summoned after the fact, gain 1000 attack points. However, at the end of the turn I must pay 500 life points in offering." As he said this, each of the monsters gained a new counter.
"But that does not mean a thing…now that three monsters on my side of the field have three Baptism counters…I can sacrifice them and summon my strongest Blader! I sacrifice Blader Baptism, Buster Blader, Escort Blader, and Blader Mystic to summon Bishamonten, the Blader God!"
The Blader Baptism, once a calm and tranquil pool, now overflowed with fresh, crimson blood, spilling over each of the sacrificed monsters and swallowing them whole. The vortex of fresh ichor surged and splashed about, staining the entire field, and even Enzeru's fountain was not untainted.
But soon the storm ended, and in its place was a massive soldier, far greater than any of the others played so far. Towering over twenty feet above any other card in play, Bishamonten was a hulking beast of a warrior, enormous muscles bound beneath bright gold and silver armor. Emblazoned on the armor were various images of sunrise, war, and sunset, and crowning its Buster Blader-like helm was an emblem of the moon and sun. (4300/2000)
"Not too shabby for three monsters lost, eh? And it only gets better. See, when Bishamonten is summoned, not only do I get to draw two cards, but if one of them is a monster I can discard it to add half of its attack points to him! And don't forget Rapid-Fire Baptismal!" With a grim smirk, Bankotsu revealed the monster in question to be Blader King, a monster with 3400 attack points. (4300 + 1700 + 1000 7000/2000)
"And now, to finish you off. I equip Bishamonten with Big Bang Shot, increasing his attack by 400 points, and allowing him to deal damage to your lifepoints through any defense!" (7400/2000) "Now, Bishamonten, attack his face down monster with Godbreaker!"
Emitting a horrific war cry, the hulking beast leapt forward with astounding speed, aided by his Big Bang Shot equip, and swung his weapon, a mighty diamond claymore twice his height, upon the defense that Enzeru had built.
"Bye-bye."
But as the smoke cleared, Bankotsu realized that something was wrong; where there had been one single defense monster now stood four…and where a bested Enzeru should have stood was instead a surviving one. (Enzeru: 4300/ Bankotsu: 1100)
"I did not speak out of arrogance before, mercenary: there is no way you can defeat me. Only one will have that honor."
"Wha…what the hell?!"
"The monster you destroyed was called Atom Magician, and when he is destroyed I am allowed to summon four monsters: Electron Sorcerer, Proton Sorcerer, Neutron Sorcerer, and Quasar Sorcerer, to take his place. And as for how I managed to escape your damage, I activated a trap known as Time is My Enemy; should my life points drop to zero, I am allowed to increase my life points by a number equal to the total attack points of all monsters in my graveyard."
Bankotsu shivered, his eyes widening. There's no way…no way he could… (Enzeru: 4300/Bankotsu: 600)
"It's my turn."
With a shudder, Enzeru drew his final card. "This is your defeat, Bankotsu. I sacrifice my Neutron Magician to summon Time Mage to the field in attack mode!"
The small mage vanished with a flicker and a silver glow, to be replaced by a new, stronger spellcaster. Clad in bright silver armor with flowing white robes, the mage was equipped with a stave of solid crystal which glowed with the power of the Tower of Time, whose cerulean hue matched that of his left eye; the right was a deep hazel. (2400 + 600 3000/2500)
"And now, for the end. I activate Monster Reborn to revive Guardian of Time, and upon resurrecting him I will add two of the counters my Fountain of Dreams gained last turn to Time Mage."
"And what do you plan to do with those?!"
"Simple: I will activate Time Mage's effect: remove these two counters to remove one of your monsters from play, so long as Guardian of Time is alongside him!"
Placing their hands equate distances from each other, the twin mages began mumbling in a deep, sonorous Latin, swirling the ancient mystic energies of their order between them into a glowing sphere of silver and purple, which was then sent to hover above Bishamonten.
The attack did not kill the Blader God in the traditional sense; no, such brutal forms of combat were beneath these masters of time. But the result came about all the same, for even as the energy swirled above him Bishamonten began to collapse and weaken, even as his armor rusted and corroded, until eventually both crumbled into the eternal dust.
Enzeru's expression did not change once as he stared at the defeated monster, or his new target. "Time Mage, attack Bankotsu directly." You cannot defeat me, Bankotsu. Those bound by time cannot defeat me…only those who are unbound- the Timeless -only THEY will be able to defeat me.
The powerful wizard, with the same impassive look as Enzeru, gathered an orb of time energy in his hand, even as Bankotsu's dead eyes flared up, his fist clenching white. But none of his stares would stop what was coming, and thus his hate was useless against the sudden flash of light that blinded the field…
And when it was over, only Enzeru remained to count the tithings. (Enzeru: 4300/ Bankotsu: 0)
So, Hiei still has a use for this one yet. Perhaps we will meet again.
Enzeru did not care to pick up the discarded key or card; they had never been his targets. Now that Bankotsu was gone, his only true interest in the duel had faded completely.
Still, the match was not without success. At the least, I now know where things stand.
Enzeru's eyes closed as he walked away, to begin his hunt fresh. Be cautious, Pharaoh. Of all of us, you are the least likely to be defeated, but if what I have learned is right…
…then you have the most to lose if someone does.
………………………………...
New Paradigm Warehouse District
"That's the last of them…"
Yami's hand reached out to the warehouse wall, stabilizing his body if nothing else, as Shippo simply plopped to the concrete.
"Yami, we've been through every one of these warehouses! Are you sure that the shadow trail led you here?"
"Yes, Shippo. Of that much I am certain."
It had been an exhausting chase for the both of them, taking the Pharaoh and the fox across several miles of steel, concrete, and bleached billboards, tracking the thin trail of shadow material left in Akuren's wake. For over an hour they had traced the path, searching through alleys, bars, and slums, until finally arriving at a bleak warehouse compound at the edge of any livable conditions. Every warehouse looked to be the same dull shade of cement and metal, and there were dozens to be searched over that square mile of storage.
The images were starting to bleed into Yami's head now as he stood exhausted. The warehouses, the hotel…Kagome…it was all blending into one great blur that drew him in so tightly…
"We need to keep looking."
Yami staggered upwards once again, but immediately collapsed to the ground as he did so, his eyes starting to cloud.
Kagome…
"Yami, hurry up!"
His vision swam sickeningly in his head as the concrete changed to grass, the warehouses to palm trees, and the bleak sky into a beautiful blue heaven. A river flowed, just out of his vision, but he could hear it mumbling in its own tongue. Birds sang, and strange aromas filled his nostrils…
"Yami, come on!"
His eyes landed upon a kneeling figure, short, but taller than him, and slightly less thin, though still quite shapely. Her back was turned to him, but he could see she was dressed in an old school uniform, her sable hair streaming across her back…
"Yami…Yami…"
Her angelic voice called to him…he reached out…
"YAMI!!! WAKE UP!!!"
A high-pitched scream broke into his thoughts, and the illusion shattered. He was still at the warehouse district, his eyes tearing up and blinding him from that fact, with a concerned Shippo shaking him.
"Yami, you have to get a grip! There's this warehouse not far from here with a weird aura around it. That may be what we've been looking for."
Yami struggled to stand, his eyes cloudy but determined at this news. He had loved the illusion, though…
Once more he collapsed.
"Yami, you have got to stay with me! I can't defend you if Akuren or someone else comes to kill you, and you're already marked to die!"
The broken Game King only gurgled a response. His eyes were slowly dying…
"Yami, listen to me! If you don't save Kagome, who will? I don't have the power to do it myself; noone in this city does! She has to still be alive; otherwise Akuren would've gutted her then and there! You can't give up now, you can't! But if you won't stand…"
Shippo audibly gulped, the fear of what he was about to say invading his soul.
"…then I'll do it. I may not be able to, but at least I'll try to."
The little fox turned his back on Yami, cautiously treading forward into the steel and cement. His knees trembled, but his hands and eyes were calmer than they had ever been.
Yami, staring as the fox went onward to certain death, could feel something stir in him, but not enough to stir his flesh. It's too much…the burden is too much for me…the burden…of destiny…Kagome…
He could still smell her, feel the warmth of her body pressed against him, hear the delicate whisper of her voice against his ear…
A tear escaped his control, and others followed. For the first time in his life, Yami felt…empty. Truly, truly empty.
Destiny…what is my destiny? All I have believed was a lie…and all that I now believe is taken. Did it mean anything? Did…I mean anything?
Destiny…that single damnation upon his soul. That single constant hell he endured…
What is my destiny…?
And as though struck by lightning, Yami's eyes flashed upwards.
That was it, he realized. His destiny…that was it!
The once bleak eyes fired up again, and with a hearty laugh the Pharaoh stood once more.
"Shippo! Show me the warehouse!"
With shock, the demon turned back to face his king, confused, but not complaining.
"Alright…but what just happened to you?"
"A simple revelation, nothing more."
With that said, the two continued on, walking for another ten minutes until at last they reached the warehouse. Compared to the others it was massive, towering a full eight stories above them, and absolutely lifeless as far as they could tell.
But one thing Yami could tell for certain…the entire warehouse was covered in an aura of darkness, far beyond his understanding…but well within his memory.
His eyes closed only for a moment…and when he opened them again his eyes and voice were soft. "Shippo…stay out here. I know you do not like this, but this is a battle I must fight on my own. Kagome's life is already in danger, and I will not endanger you any further."
Shippo opened his mouth to protest, but seeing the look in Yami's eyes quieted him. "Alright. But Yami…don't lose."
"I do not plan to lose."
And with those words, Yami no Yuugi, eyes open at the last, forced open the doors to face the darkness within.
The Pharaoh, despite his bold words, was cautious upon entering the warehouse; the shadows hid many secrets, he knew, and he also knew that his situation had not gotten better with them. But what the shadows hid his other senses could discern; though he was not certain of much in this warehouse, he did notice that there was a heavy odor of half-molten metal in the air...as well as the bizarre scent of blood…
Beyond that, however, he could sense an aura of darkness, deep in the warehouse, that was far different from that of Akuren's. Whereas Akuren had possessed a violent aura befitting his personality, this new presence was more subtle, somehow more wicked than anything Akuren had produced.
And whatever had caused it, the aura was causing his skin to crawl in a way that the shadowshifter had failed to do.
Tentatively, Yami reached out with his mind past the darkness, attempting to detect Kagome in some form or other, but with each attempt he was rejected. At first the Pharaoh despaired at this, wondering if he had been wrong to follow the ninja. Had he misjudged Akuren, and was Kagome really…?
But then, like the dropping of a pebble in a great cave, Yami sensed it: a wiff of lilac aura, just barely sensed in the shadows.
"Kagome, where are you?!"
No answer, but it was as well as he expected. He had guessed Akuren would have drugged her to silence her from making commotion. But at the least he had a basic idea of where she was.
Caution was less evident in his steps as Yami quickly walked towards the aura. Dark though the warehouse was Yami could navigate his way through it to some extent thanks to his own years in the blackness. Nevertheless his eyes were wary, for fear of what lay beyond them.
After what seemed like an eternity Yami traced the aura to its source, a small alcove built into the far side of the warehouse. Though his eyes were blind, Yami could see the aura pouring outwards, and he knew that it could not be a trick as the aura was too precise to be replicated.
Caution gripping him again, the spirit of the Puzzle reached out his hand…he could feel the auras mingling…a warmth was drawing closer…
"Kagome?"
In that instant, something snapped, and Yami could feel the aura swiftly move up and away from him, a movement accompanied by the swift sound of retreating chains, as though something was being dragged up. At the same time, Yami was forced backwards by an invisible influence, even as a heavy set of shackles materialize around his legs, binding him and preventing his movement.
"Kagome!!!!"
So it had been a trap. Yami had counted on this, but he had not expected it to be so swiftly executed. Nevertheless the Pharaoh began beating at the chains with his hands; with any luck he could escape and see exactly what was going on…
A horrible chill ran up his spine unbidden, as if the cold finger of death had stroked his back.
What was that? It bears some similarities to the aura I sensed earlier, but this is more…concentrated…
Sweat, cold as ice, broke out upon his brow as he felt the aura gather and focus itself. It was from the Shadow Realm, one of its deeper regions, but it was unlike any aura he had felt before. It was sinister…almost angry, and as it gathered a putrid green light began to emerge in the warehouse.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Silence was his only answer, though the Pharaoh could detect a horrible spike in the presence that now gripped his mind.
"Answer me, demon! If Hiei sent you, I demand you to reveal yourself!"
The nightmarish silence continued, and it was soon after that Yami realized why the aura had been growing stronger. The vile illumination did not light much, but it did allow him to see that a thick, purple gas had formed a dome all about them…
…the dome of an A-Rank Shadow Game.
"Heh heh heh heh. Your bombast…has not lost its edge…my Pharaoh…"
The voice that spoke now was far beyond anything in Yami's experience. While the voice had a severe gurgling element to it, as if the speaker was inches from vomiting fresh blood, and heavy wheezes interrupted every few words, there was nevertheless a terrible sinister aspect hidden not far beneath it. The voice alone shook Yami to his very heart of hearts, and fear gripped his spirit.
Turning as far as he could, Yami screamed out, though his own voice was far from steady. "S…show yourself! Who are you, and what have you done with Kagome?!"
The voice offered a gruesome laugh, intertwined with several fits of hacking coughs that echoed in the infinite shadow. "Heh heh heh…Come now…Atem. It has…only been 5000 years…surely you could not have forgotten me…when you already remember so much? But then…your memory…was not…what it once. If it was…surely you would see… the full scope…of our situation?"
Yami could see nothing for a moment, but before his eyes a line of that sickly light had appeared in the darkness.
"Memory…wait, did you see…?"
The unknown being chuckled. "I have…much free time…in my purgatory, Atem. Many long years…to watch the Shadow Games…of others. Did you not think…that I would not witness…that debacle of a duel…between the miko…and the lunatic spirit? To say the least…it was…enjoyable…though I wish…both could have lost…"
A wicked clawed hand emerged from the line, withered and strained, but what species it was could not be told as it was covered in rusty armor. And soon the rest of the being followed: contained in thick, chitinous armor of the same corroded metal as the hand, the new being stood a foot beneath Yami's height, and yet was hunched over, as if inside was a frail creature who could barel stand under his own weight, let alone that of his raiments.
"Pharaoh…at the last…we meet again…and yet…you have forgotten…everything. How sad…that you fought…for your memories…only to recall…those which were…of the least…importance."
Yami's amethyst eyes cringed in horror of what he beheld, but moreso of what the beast before him spoke of. He knows so much of me…it's as if he has been watching me the entire time.
Yami did not dare believe it, but after what Yami no Marik had said…he had to be certain.
"Who are you?! What is your name, and how do you know me?!"
"My name…" The monster retched and hacked before continuing. "My name…means nothing…not anymore…and as for who I am…if you do not…remember me now…then you will soon…very soon…if you…are so lucky."
The demon outstretched his grisly arm, and from it sprouted a horrible Duel Disk, fashioned in the shape of a hideous mantis wing, as a beetle-like central component was attached to it.
Yami, for the first time in his life, could say nothing. For the first time, he was truly, legitimately…terrified.
"But for now…you may call me…Baalzebub."
To Be Continued
OH YEAH!!! Who's BACK?!!!
(I know it's different from my other chaps, but I'm experimenting with different writing styles.)
Anyway, next chap begins the duel between Yami and Baalzebub, and heats up the Kaiba and Joey duels. But what kind of evil is Hiei planning, what is his war, and what memories lie unbidden in Yami's mind?
Check it out…next chapter!
