I wanted to post this arc on the first day of the New Year. Happy New Year everyone!
Apparently, I can't post responses to reviews anymore. If I can find another way to remark on them, I will. Until then, know that I'm reading and treasuring every one I get!
Chapter 2: Reacquainting
Hope: 8000
Max: 8000
"Who should go first?" Max inquired.
Hope looked over at Brandi. "Could you pick a number between one and ten?"
"Sure… ok, I have one," Brandi said.
"Seven," Hope guessed.
Max shrugged. "Six."
"It was three, so Max goes first," Brandi stated.
"Fine. I summon Deathcalibur Knight (1900/1800) and lay a card face down. It is your turn," Max said.
Hope thought for a moment, and then said, "I'll summon Troop Commander. (1200/400) You should know what his effect is."
"That's why I won't let you use it," Max stated. "My Deathcalibur Knight's effect is activated. By sacrificing him, your monster's effect is negated and the monster is destroyed."
"What?" Hope watched in disbelief as the Deathcalibur Knight threw his sword at Troop Commander, he and his horse turning into dark energy that surrounded it as he did so. The pulsing sword plunged into the Troop Commander, causing it to vanish instantly. As Hope saw that, she remembered that Max had seen her duel many times, and would accordingly know how to counter many of her plays. His playing style might have altered over time though, so she wouldn't have that same advantage. She could tell this was going to be a rough duel for her.
"Are you going to do anything else?" Max asked.
"Oh, um, yes…" Hope managed to say. "I'll just put one card down before ending."
"I place one monster in defense mode and another card," Max said.
"I'll summon Surprising Matasa," Hope stated. (1300/800)
"In response, I activate my trap card, Ambush," Max retorted. "I'll special summon Giant Orc." (2200/0)
"I'm still going to attack your defense monster," Hope said.
"You've destroyed my Mimic of Darkness Lv 1. (100/1000) His reverse effect lets me draw a card." Max did so. "If you're done, I'll start my turn by activating my other trap card, Deck Destruction Virus of Magic."
"What does that do?" Hope asked.
"It's a pretty brutal card," Brandi said from the sidelines. "He has to sacrifice a Dark Main-Type with over 2000 attack to activate it. It destroys all monsters on your field and in your hand with 1500 attack or less. For the next three turns, you have to show the cards you draw, and if they have 1500 attack or less, they're destroyed as well."
"So it's like Deck Destruction Virus of Death, but much worse for my type of deck…" Hope said tensely.
"Yeah. I sacrifice Giant Orc for the cost," Max said. "Your Surprising Matasa is destroyed. Then I need to see your hand."
Hope showed him it. "I lose Mystic Swordsman Lv 2 and Initiate Troops." Besides those, she has Mystic Swordsman Lv 6 and Calling Reinforcements in her hand.
"Ok. I will now summon Goblin Elite Force," Max stated. (2200/1500)
"Those are new," Hope remarked.
"I have a specific reason for using them, but it won't apply here. They attack directly. Then I discard End of Anubis from my hand for Tenma's Deck Master ability. Goblin Elite Force attacks again, doing half the battle damage they normally would," Max said. "They have to switch to defense mode at the end of the battle phase though. Once that has happened, I end my turn."
Hope: 4700
Max: 8000
Hope slowly drew her next card. "…It's Emissary of Harmony. I lay it face down and end my turn."
"I summon Demon Soldier," (1900/1500) Max said.
"In response, I activate Tidal Wave!" Hope countered. "Your Demon Soldier and Goblin Elite Force are destroyed."
"I'm not very concerned," Max stated. "I play Early Burial to special summon End of Anubis. (2500/0)
Hope: 4700
Max: 7200
"He attacks directly."
"I'll stop him with Emissary of Harmony," Hope said.
"All right. It's your turn," Max concluded.
"I draw… Command Knight…" Hope said regretfully as she slid it into her Cemetery. "I play Calling Reinforcements for Twilight Zone Female Warrior and lay her in defense mode. I'm done."
"I summon Dweller of Darkness Shadow Killer. (1400/200) Since you have only defense monsters on the field, he can attack directly, so I will have him do that," Max said. "I end my turn after that."
Hope: 3300
Max: 7200
"I draw Goblin Strike Team," Hope said in relief. "I summon them and attack Shadow Killer. They go to defense mode afterwards. That's it."
Hope: 3300
Max: 6300
"I summon Newt (1900/400) and attack your Twilight Zone Female Warrior with him," Max stated.
"I'll use her effect to remove both," Hope said.
"Fine. End of Anubis destroys your Goblin Strike Team. I'll discard Rebirth of the Dead to attack you directly with him. Then I'm done," Max finished.
Hope: 2050
Max: 6300
"Deck Destruction Virus of Magic is gone now, right?" Hope asked.
"It should be," Gaston said.
"Well, it won't matter this turn anyway," Hope stated. "I activate Cyclone to destroy Early Burial, which takes End of Anubis along with it. I have nothing else to do."
"Hm… this will require a change of plans. I lay a monster in defense mode," Max said.
"I summon Retrained Elven Swordsman (1400/1200) and attack your monster," Hope declared.
"You've destroyed Mimic of Darkness Lv 3. (1000/1000) Since he was slain in battle, I draw a card," Max informed her.
"All right. I'm done," Hope said.
"I place another defense monster and a card down," Max stated.
As Hope drew, Max said, "I'm going to activate my trap card, Menacing Roar. None of your monsters can attack this turn."
"Fine. I lay a card down," Hope said.
"I flip summon a second Newt, raising his stats by 500. (2400/900) Then I sacrifice him for Great Demon Gaazetto." (4800/0)
"I activate Curse of Darkness on him," Hope stated. (4100/0)
Max shrugged. "Go ahead."
"I play Hammer Shoot to destroy Gaazetto," Hope said. "Then Retrained Elven Swordsman attacks directly! I cannot do anything else."
Hope: 2050
Max: 4900
Max looked at his card and shook his head. "I only have one way around this… I'll bring out Tenma." His Soul Monster stepped out obediently. (2500/0) "He attacks your Retrained Elven Swordsman."
Tenma savagely tore into the Retrained Elven Swordsman, but he remained standing due to his effect.
Hope: 950
Max: 4900
"You didn't have any other monsters?" Hope asked.
"No, I got a bad draw," Max stated.
"I'll switch Retrained Elven Swordsman to defense mode and end my turn," Hope said, looking at her hand nervously.
"…I pass," Max sighed, shaking his head at what he had drawn.
Hope's was much better. "I play Jar of Greed, to draw two more cards," Hope stated as she did so. "…And with this, I think I've won." She showed Gaston her hand. "You want to?"
"Sure, why not?" Gaston went onto the field. (1400/1200)
"I'll play Warrior Returns for Command Knight, and summon her. She raises all of my Warrior Sub-Types attacks by 400. (1600/1900) (1800/1200) (1800/1200) Then I equip Gaston with The Fused Sword, Murasame Blade, to raise his attack by another 800! (2600/1200) Gaston attacks Tenma!"
With his old and new blades, Gaston leapt forward, cleaving into Tenma. He fell back with a snarl, collapsing off the battle field.
Hope: 950
Max: Deck Master Defeated
"Damn, I played that badly," Max stated as he shut off his Duel Disk.
"I honestly can't believe I won, especially after what happened with Chasity," Hope said, finally relaxing.
"It looks like you're starting to slack, Max," Brandi commented as she went over to them.
"I just slipped up near the end," Max said with a shrug. "And Hope managed to recover from the position I'd put her in."
"At least this means I haven't lost all of my dueling skills," Hope said.
By this time, Tenma had gotten back up and seemed in fine condition. Seeing this, Brandi said, "Well, shall we continue on?"
"I think we're ready now," Gaston agreed.
As they began heading towards the lake shore again, Hope said, "Hector said he had seen everyone but Miles. Where has he been?"
Brandi sighed. "We don't know. He should have been here before you, but none of us have been contacted by him or been able to find him."
"Did something happen to him?" Hope asked worriedly. "Last time he secluded himself… things did not turn out well…"
"Yeah, but that might not be the case this time," Brandi said. "Honestly, there's no telling. Until we have a lead, or he shows himself, or luck plays out in our favor, we won't have any idea on where he is."
"I guess you're right," Hope admitted. Then she said, still to Brandi, "So what have you been up to for the past few years?"
"Hm… well… I'd say the largest thing for me has been my gymnastics career," Brandi replied.
"Gymnastics?" Gaston said.
"Yes. It's been a childhood dream of mine, to take gymnastics, and I finally have been able to," Brandi answered. "My dad paid for lessons, and although I started at an older age than most, I still became pretty good at it. After practicing for some time, I was actually invited into the American Olympic team in 2104."
"Whoa! Really?" Hope said in awe.
"Yep. I managed to help us win a gold medal in the team competition, another one in floor exercise, and a silver medal in balance beam and vault," Brandi said with a hint of pride in her voice. "Once I had done that, I began teaching other students in my own school, and that's what I'm still doing today."
"Sounds like you've had a fun time," Gaston commented.
"I'd say so," Brandi agreed.
By this time, they were approaching the slope to the lake shore at a different angle from where Hope and Gaston had previously been. As they did, a sudden, high-pitched, excited yelp tore through the air. Before Hope could react, a brown blur of fur went speeding up the slope and slammed into her, barking happily as he eagerly continued to jump at her.
"Malon!" Hope said, trying to get over her shock from the abrupt greeting as she picked him up. "Talk about a welcoming party…"
Malon wagged his tail with his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he gave her an innocent look.
"That must mean they're around here somewhere…" Hope said as she put Malon down.
"Hope!" Before Hope could react, Larka came running over to her, giving her a friendly embrace. "Oh, it's so good to see you again!"
"Larka!" Hope said in shock when they separated. "Your appearance… you haven't changed at all!"
Larka laughed at that, but what Hope had said was true. She looked as though she had not aged a day from when they had last seen each other. She still wore a white short-sleeved shirt, white pants, and matching shoes, but they looked much better made than her previous ones. Her silver hair fell to the exact same location as before, and her yellow eyes shone vividly against her pale skin.
"No, I haven't," Larka answered. "It seems to be another side effect from what Viken has done. From what I know of it, I won't age any more physically, but I'll still eventually die of old age. It's kind of hard to explain."
"That's all right, I think I understand," Hope said. "Where is Zack?"
"Here," she heard him say as he came over the slope. "I just took my time coming."
Like Larka, there was no change in Zack's appearance either, although that did not surprise Hope as much. The machine parts he had seemed unchanged, and he wore similar navy blue and gray clothes to the ones he had had before. His short blonde hair was unaltered as well, causing his blue eyes to still stand out.
"It's great to see you too," Hope said.
"Same here," Zack replied. "Although I almost didn't recognize you at first."
"I had the completely opposite reaction," Hope remarked. "Both of you seem identical to when we parted."
"I sometimes call them the eternally youthful couple," Max commented. "It's hard to not envy them at times."
Hope laughed softly as Larka turned a bit red while Zack just shook his head. She had to admit that Max had a point though. Both of her friends seemed much happier than they had ever been when she had known them. Spending four years together had obviously had a beneficial effect on both.
"So, how is Fell doing?" Hope asked Larka.
"Well," Larka replied. "He's still training to grasp onto the powers he has. According to Sarius, Fell is an omnihuman. That's why he wanted Fell to come with him."
"An omnihuman?" Hope said, her voice reflecting her amazement.
"Yes. But he isn't very strong yet due to his lack of training," Larka said. "He'll continue to get more powerful though. And while he was there… he finally seemed at peace. I'm glad he can feel that way at last."
"You miss him though," Hope noted.
"That is true," Larka admitted. "He is better off where he is now though, and I am happier with knowing that then I would be if he was still here. Besides, he still comes to visit. It is not like we can never see each other again."
Malon gave a small whimper, his tail drooping. It seemed obvious that he deeply missed Daine. Trying to get them off that depressing subject, Hope said, "How about Sarius and everyone else?"
"They're also doing fine," Larka answered. "Maybe you and Hope will be able to see them when they come by."
"What about the second Limiter?" Gaston inquired. "Sarius said he wanted to look for him when they returned here, right?"
"Oh, right, I need to tell you about that!" Larka said. "Before going to Teknisk Wereld, we went to the real world and returned to the location where we had originally found Julian. But when we got there, the house was completely deserted."
"Nobody was there?" Hope said.
"Yeah. Sarius got inside and looked around, but it was completely deserted," Larka said. "We helped him look. But what we found… it was…" Larka shivered as she recalled the scene. "In the basement of the house, there were old bloodstains. I don't know how they got there, but that could mean that Julian and his family are… well…"
"…Possibly dead?" Gaston said grimly.
"Possibly, although I hope that isn't the case," Larka said sadly. "I liked Julian from what I saw of him… even if I didn't get to talk with him for very long, I don't want to think of him as dead."
"We have thought of other possibilities as well, but none of them are very plausible," Zack stated. "There was the possibility that they moved, but the bloodstains make that unlikely. Another problem is that, apparently, the house had everything it normally would."
"You mean like possessions?" Hope asked.
Larka nodded. "Yes. But everything was covered in dust. Whatever happened occurred a while ago."
"There is also something that Will told me when he returned to Teknisk Wereld," Zack said.
"Will? What did he say?" Hope inquired.
"He had seen visions of things that had occurred during the trials, the fight with Despair, and when the officials were carrying out our sentences," Zack explained. "But according to him, he also saw another the first year he was banned. It was of a boy that was lying in snow. What was disturbing to him was that he thought the boy looked similar to Julian."
"And that means… things really don't look good when it comes to him being alive," Gaston said with regret.
"I'm afraid so," Larka sighed. "But I'm not going to give up on him yet. Will's vision might mean he also got away from whatever happened. Either way, Sarius concluded that the Limiter's powers might have shifted to another person, which means he would have to spend a long time looking for that new person. Since this world is in no danger of being taken by Juno, he decided he'd continue to look whenever Fell wanted to come here but not go out of his way to do it."
"That makes sense," Hope said. "So, what else have you two been doing?"
"Shortly after we were banned, I was approached by Captain Roman again and offered a job," Zack stated.
"You mean the woman who was in charge of the group that found us?" Hope asked.
"Yes," Zack confirmed. "She said I would have trouble acquiring one elsewhere, which was in truth one of my greatest worries. They also helped me acquire a place to live, which I am grateful for as well. I was hoping to be able to have enough money to support Larka along with myself by the time she returned."
"And he did," Larka said with a smile. "I was surprised to find out what he had accomplished while I was gone. When I came back, the officials said I could work for them as well."
"What do you two do?" Gaston inquired.
"I am an expert in mechanical matters," Zack stated. "Becoming a cyborg made my expertise in that field even greater. I have not learned enough to do anything beyond intermediate skills though. Teknisk Wereld is easily the most complex technological thing I have seen, so it is taking a long time to get used to it. I can also work as an enforcer due to being above average in fighting."
"I work more as an enforcer. My skills help me there, even though I dislike fighting. Luckily, there hasn't been a reason for me to do anything of the sort yet," Larka said. "Due to that, I have to check sections of Teknisk Wereld at certain times. I've gotten used to it by now, so it doesn't take as much time as it did at first."
"That's good to hear," Hope said. "How are you both doing when it comes to dueling?"
"We're improving," Larka replied. "Zack had more time to practice while I was gone, and he taught me some things when I returned."
"Want to demonstrate for Hope and Gaston?" Brandi asked.
"Who would be dueling, me or Zack?" Larka inquired.
"Both of you. Try dueling each other," Brandi said with a grin.
Zack and Larka blinked, and then looked at each other awkwardly.
"But… we've never… dueled each other…" Larka stammered.
"So why not do it now?" Brandi pointed out.
"Well…" Zack just shook his head, not knowing what to say.
"Exactly. It's not like the loser's going to hate the winner or something," Brandi said. "Go ahead and do it."
Neither Zack or Larka could really think of a response to that, so after another moment of hesitation, they stepped apart and faced each other.
Zack: 8000
Larka: 8000
"Um… you can go first, if you wish to," Zack said.
"Oh, no, I don't mind either way," Larka replied. "Do you want to?"
"I also lack a preference, go ahead," Zack stated.
"But I don't want to decide…" Larka said.
Brandi slapped her hand against her forehead. "Geez, you two can't even make a decision on who goes first. Fine, I'll choose a number between one and ten… again."
"Again?" Larka asked.
"Max and Hope dueled a short time ago," Brandi explained. "Hope barely won."
"Oh, I see… three," Larka said.
"Five," Zack decided.
"It was actually three exact," Brandi told them. "Larka goes first."
"Um… all right… I lay a monster in defense mode and end my turn…" Larka said.
"Hm… I also place a monster," Zack stated.
"I'll set another monster and be done…" Larka decided.
"I will do the same," Zack said as he put it on his Duel Disk.
By this time, the onlookers were a bit disturbed by the lackluster performance of both players. Hope and Gaston looked over at Brandi, who shrugged helplessly. Malon gave a small whine.
"…Um… er… another defense monster…" Larka stammered.
"I… act likewise," Zack muttered.
"Ah… I… I'll put a fourth one down…" Larka said hesitatingly.
"I do so as well…" Zack stated.
"I… guess I will… play another…" Larka trailed off as she set it.
"And I… mimic that… to completely fill the field…" Zack said.
"Then… um… I'll pass…" Larka said after a moment of thought.
"…As will I…" Zack stated.
Larka slowly drew her next card. Before she could say anything though, Brandi suddenly exclaimed, "For the love of God, start attacking each other! You're not actually going to hurt each other you know! There's nothing wrong with trying to win a duel!"
"…Oh," both of them said at the same time. Malon made a noise that sounded like a sigh of exasperation.
"Did they actually forget that they can attack each other?" Gaston asked.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Brandi muttered.
"…I'm sorry… but…" Larka trailed off.
"No, go ahead. I want you to attack first," Zack said.
"All right then… I flip summon Mirage Dragon (1600/600), Blade Knight (1600/1000), Wandering Hero, Freed (1700/1200), Dunamis Valkyria (1800/1050), and Volt Girl. (1900/800) Mirage Dragon attacks your first defense monster," Larka said.
"You've run into Sphere Bomb. (1400/1400) You must know his effect by now," Zack stated.
"Yes. Blade Knight attacks your second defense monster," Larka decided.
"Bowgunian in destroyed." (1300/1000)
"Freed attacks your third one…"
"Cannon Soldier." (1400/1300)
"Then Dunamis Valkyria will go for the fourth…"
"Roulette Bomber actually survives." (1000/2000)
"And Volt Girl attacks the last one."
"Air Guard Gear Golem also makes it." (800/2200)
Zack: 8000
Larka: 7500
"I lay two cards and end my turn," Larka concluded.
As Zack drew, Larka flipped over one of her cards. "I activate Solar Ray to do 600 damage for each of my Light Main-Type monsters. Since I have five… that's 3000…"
All five monsters began to glow, and then each one shot out a beam of light. The five beams hit Zack, causing him to be temporarily blinded.
Zack: 5000
Larka: 7500
Larka covered her mouth with her hand upon seeing the aftereffects. "Oh, sorry!"
"No, it's fine," Zack said, straightening up. "Don't worry about that. I will use Roulette Bomber's effect now."
The two dice landed on the field, revealing a three and a four.
"I choose to have Freed be destroyed," Zack stated as Roulette Bomber blew him up. "Then I sacrifice Roulette Bomber for Machine King. (2400/2000) He attacks Volt Girl."
"In response, I activate Emissary of Harmony," Larka said.
"Very well. I lay one card down, and am done," Zack told her.
After Larka drew, the Sphere Bomb on Mirage Dragon exploded, killing Mirage Dragon along with it and connecting with Larka.
Zack: 5000
Larka: 5900
"Ah… sorry… I should not have played that…" Zack said awkwardly.
"I don't mind," Larka assured, still looking embarrassed. "I sacrifice all three of my monsters for Gilford the Lightning. (2800/1400) That destroys your Machine King and Gear Golem. Then I… attack you directly… I guess…"
"In response, I activate Magic Cylinder," Zack stated. The lightning attack went through one cylinder and out the other, striking Larka.
Zack: 5000
Larka: 3100
"If you're thinking of apologizing, don't," Brandi growled as Zack started to say something. "Same to you, Larka. It's just a damn game!"
Zack and Larka looked away sheepishly before Larka said, "I'm done."
"…I'm… um…" Zack coughed slightly to avoid Brandi's wrath by covering up another apology. "I play Early Burial to special summon Machine King."
Zack: 4200
Larka: 3100
"Then I summon Drillago. (1600/1100) I equip Machine King with 7 Card to raise his attack by 700. (3100/2000) After that, I activate Enemy Controller to switch Gilford to defense mode. Drillago attacks Gilford, and Machine King… attacks directly…" Zack couldn't hide his guilty expression as the Machine King's fists crashed into Larka.
Zack: 4200
Larka: 0
Larka recovered from the blow swiftly and turned off her Duel Disk before going back over to Zack. "Um…"
"I'm sorry… er, I mean…" Zack said.
"It's fine… I'm sorry to have made you do that…" Larka replied.
"…I think that duel was the most painful thing I have ever watched," Gaston commented on the sidelines. Malon, who had trotted over, gave a disgusted growl of agreement.
"They said they've never dueled each other before?" Hope asked.
"Yeah. Now I can see why," Brandi said in exasperation.
"And hopefully, they never will again," Max muttered.
By this time, Zack and Larka had come over, both still looking slightly embarrassed. "I guess that wasn't a very good demonstration," Larka said.
"Afraid not," Gaston replied. "But it's all right. I'm sure both of you would do a lot better against any other opponent."
"We'll probably get to see that later," Hope assured.
"I'm sure you will," Larka said, looking a bit happier. "So where are we going next?"
"Do you know where anyone is off the top of your head?" Brandi asked.
"No," Zack answered.
Brandi sighed. "Then we'll just have to look around until we find-"
"LOOK OUT BELOW!" they suddenly heard someone shout. Before anyone could react though, a blurred form crashed into Brandi, sending them both to the ground.
To be continued…
