Blind Revelations

by J. J. Wayne

Darkness has leaked its way onto the campus of Cardfight University, the most prestigious school of Cardfighters in the world. As the administration begins to be taken hostage, it is up to a group of students to band together and save their school... and ultimately: the world. This is their story as the five students learn to face their hardships together for a single cause.

4. Souls of the Strong

Chapter 4: Souls of the Strong

Platinum Club classroom.

"I thought you said Kat got out of class ten minutes ago," Penelope groans at Orlando. The two make unwanted eye contact and quickly look away from each other.

"She does," Orlando touches one of the posters of himself in the far corner. "She probably got held up doing something."

"Doing what exactly?" Penelope asks. "You told her not to go to class. With all the professors falling under this Dark Zone hypnosis it's not like she's going to actually learn anything."

"Kat has had perfect attendance since before I knew her. She's not about to ruin it now."

Penelope sighs. "I don't even know how I let her talk me into coming in this room."

Penelope looks over at the other side of the room at a glass case against the wall, containing a trophy easily bigger than her head. She walks over and runs her hand along the top of the case, staring down at the trophy with the plate "Alexandria Blake: World Champion" stamped into it.

Orlando notices Penelope eyeing the trophy and frowns.

"Your sister was going to have some competition this year," he says. "She and I were finally going to be in the same age group, so I'd be able to challenge her at Worlds."

"Don't talk about my sister."

"You know, you're not the only one who lost her. She was my teammate and one of my best friends."

"I said don't talk about her, Orlando."

Across the room, Lux and Isaac are playing a game.

"I sense some serious tension coming from those two," Lux mumbles.

"Penelope doesn't really get along with Team Undisputed, er, well, what's left of them."

"Team Undisputed?" Lux asks. "Orlando told me our team was called Team Platinum."

"Team Undisputed was their old team. It was Orlando, Kat, and Penelope's sister, Alexandria. She played Aqua Force. I watched their team play at several different events, and win some really big tournaments. They were a force to be reckoned with all over the country."

"Shh… they got quiet," Lux whispers. "Vanargandr attacks your vanguard for 26000."

Isaac discards a heal trigger from his hand and reaches for his G-Zone. "Denial Griffin's skill: I retire the attacking unit."

"You do know that doesn't work against a stride, right?" Lux shakes his head.

Just outside the Dark Zone Administration Building.

Kat walks down the sidewalk alongside of her professor.

"That was a nice lecture you gave us on the advantages of magia when playing against Dark Irregulars," Kat says. "The ability of getting rid of one's own rear-guards really helps when your opponent is playing strides that can boardwipe the field."

"Thank you," the professor replies. "I just wish the rest of my students could see what you do in those lectures. Recently, I've been feeling a bit detached, per se, from the students in my classes. It's almost as if I'm teaching them in a foreign language."

Kat squints. "Isn't that… strange… I have noticed that in a lot of my classes lately."

"Hmm… maybe I should do a little research into that," the professor nods. "If you'll excuse me, I must head to my next lecture."

Kat nods, and the professor walks away. Kat looks over at the Dark Zone building, then looks around before scurrying around the back.

"All right, Patrick," she mumbles. "Let's see what you people are up to in there."

Kat looks up the back wall of the building and looks around for anyone watching. Upon seeing the coast is clear, she pulls a pair of gloves out of her bookbag and puts them on. On the fingertips, the gloves retract small claws and she presses them into the wall, digging in to keep traction. She does so with each hand, and begins to climb up the side of the building.

Upon reaching the top window, she looks down and shivers before pushing open the window and crawling into a large empty hallway. She tiptoes across until she hears voices coming from a room. She presses her ear to the door.

"I could always lasso up some more professors," she hears. "I've been practicing my hog tying all week!"

"That's not going to do it," she remembers this voice as Patrick from the announcement. "The boss said kidnapping the Dean gave us the edge we needed over the staff, but we still haven't conquered the student base of the school."

"Then how do we do that?" asks an unfamiliar female voice.

"The same way we placed the staff under our spell," answers Patrick. "But this time… with students. We captured the most elite members of the staff in order to catch all of the weaker members within our spell, and now we must do so with the students."

"We can't just start kidnapping the most elite students to harvest their souls," the female replied. "The professors were already suspicious enough. But students…"

"Harvest their souls?" Kat whispers to herself.

"It's true," she hears another voice. "We did already have one near-death experience with Doctor Hewitt. If a student dies on campus, families will get involved…" the voice trails.

"We don't have a choice!" Adrian's voice pipes up. Kat remembers the voice from the cafeteria. "Patrick is right. We'll just have to take extra precautions to make sure our operations goes smoothly and safely."

"Right," Patrick agrees. "Besides, once the operation is over, everyone will be safe and sound. And everyone will be under our spell."

"Down with the others!" the female yells.

"Rise up, Dark Zone!" they all yell.

Kat backs away from the door and gasps quietly.

"I have to tell Orlando…" she whispers. She begins to pace down the hallway back toward the window, when she trips over a bump in the rug. She falls to her hands and knees, and before she has time to pick herself up, a hand reaches down to help her up.

"Thank you," Kat takes the hand and picks herself up. She looks up to see Adrian standing before her.

"You're welcome..." he answers, then looks at her crossly. "...spy."

Adrian gestures toward the open window behind him.

Platinum Club Classroom.

Orlando and Penelope remain silent. Penelope peers over to Lux and Isaac, who have just finished picking up their cards from their game.

"So, be honest," Isaac leans over to Lux. "Are you really blind?"

"You just played a game with me, and you still doubt it?"

"Well, I mean…" Isaac mutters. "Here, how many fingers am I holding up?" He holds up two fingers on his right hand in front of Lux's face.

"Two in front of you," Lux answers. "You also have three held up behind your back."

"What? No I-" Isaac moves the fingers on his left hand and realizes he has three fingers up in that hand. "You cheated. You can't even see that hand."
"I can't see either of your hands!"

"Guys," Orlando walks over to the two. "I still haven't gotten any messages from Kat.
We need to figure out where she is."

Isaac nods. He and Orlando look over to Penelope, who nods. Lux slumps in his seat and grabs his head with both hands before tucking his head between his knees.

"Lux, what is it?" Orlando asks.

"It's my head again," Lux answers. "My headache is…" He jumps back, raising up in his seat and his eyes pop open as they stare straight ahead.

"Lux, what's wrong?"

"I guess you thought you'd get away with this, didn't you? Snooping in here like you wouldn't be caught. That's all right. You can be our first student captive."

"I wasn't spying, honest!" Kat's voice yells. "Please, just let me go and I won't tell a soul."

"Speaking of souls… my friend Patrick needs yours for a while…"

Lux feels a tugging on his arm. He tries to pull his arm back, but he can't move it.

"Listen, here!" Kat yells. "If you want my soul, you're going to have to fight me for it!"

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Right here, right now. That way you'll already be in the Dark Zone Administration building so I can lead you away straight to Patrick."

Lux snaps back to his slump in his seat. He rubs his head a little, and his headache is almost gone.

"What happened?" Isaac leaps over. "Oh! Did you have a psychic 'revelation'?" He laughs and turns to Orlando and Penelope. "Get it? Because of what deck he plays?"

"I… I just did."

Orlando, Isaac, and Penelope rush over to Lux and kneel next to him.

"Seriously?" Penelope asks. "Or are you just screwing us?"

"No, I just had some sort of revelation," Lux answers. "But it's about Kat. She's in the Dark Zone building, and she needs help, and fast."

The others all look at each other.

"Kat told me not to do this, so she could go and steal all of my spotlight!?" Orlando throws his arms up. "That little-!"

"Or she was just curious about their plan and wanted to get more information," Lux answers. "She is a seeker of knowledge, after all."

"I can't believe her!" Orlando yells.

"Look, do you want to save your friend or not?" Penelope asks. "Because if so, we need to go now."

"Right," Orlando answers.

The four of them grab their bookbags and scurry toward the doorway. Lux grabs his stick on the way out.

"Hang on, guys, wait up!" he calls.

Dark Zone Administration Building.

Adrian leads Kat into a dark, empty classroom. The corners of the room are covered in spiderwebs, and the metal legs of the desks have decayed into rust. One table sits in the middle of the room, and Adrian and Kat make their way to opposite sides of it. Adrian pulls a small chain from the light above their heads to illuminate the room.

"How nice of you to lead me here to take my soul," Kat peers around the room in disgust.

"The university hasn't funded many of the Dark Zone's operations in a while," Adrian responds. "Patrick told me that. They say they already have too much on their hands to upgrade these run-down classrooms."

"Riiight," Kat answers.

Adrian pulls a deck box out of his jacket. "Let's just get this over with."

"The sooner, the better," Kat says.

"I couldn't agree more."

"Stand up, Vanguard!" they both yell.

"Amon's Follower, Barmaid Grace!" Adrian yells.

"Gifted Bear!"

Adrian draws a card. "I ride: Amon's Follower, Hell's Deal, pulling Barmaid Grace behind the vanguard. I pass my turn."

Kat draws. "Ride: Honorary Assistant, Mikesaburo. Gifted Bear forerunners behind my vanguard as well. Mikesaburo attacks, boosted for 12000."

"No guard."

"Drive check," Kat flips the top card of her deck. "Critical trigger. I give all effects to my vanguard."

"Damage check," Adrian moves the top card of his deck to damage. "No trigger, and a draw trigger. I give all effects to my vanguard and draw."

"I pass."

"Draw." Adrian places a card from his hand over his vanguard. "I ride: Amon's Follower, Hell's Nail. I call another Hell's Nail to my left; and Amon's Follower, Hell's Draw to my right. Hell's Draw's skill: I soulcharge two."

Kat nods intuitively.

"With Barmaid Grace's skill, I counterblast one and rest her to soulcharge two more. Then I give Hell's Draw the continuous skill of plus 1000 for every card in soul until end of turn. My left Hell's Nail attacks your vanguard. With her skill, I counterblast one and soulcharge three."

"You're building a soul awfully fast," Kat looks at Adrian's soul, which already contains eight cards. "I'll guard Hell's Nail with a 5000 shield."

"My vanguard attacks for 9000."

"No guard."

"Drive check: no trigger."

"Damage check: no trigger."
"Hell's Draw attacks your vanguard for 17000."

Kat mumbles to herself. "That would require 15000 shield to guard. Even though I can, it's not worth discarding two cards this early." She eyes her damage, only at one. "Eh, I need the damage anyway."

"No guard," she says aloud, taking her damage. "No trigger."

"I pass."

"Stand and draw. I ride: Binoculus Tiger. I call a Castanet Donkey, followed by a Coiling Duckbill behind Castanet. I target Castanet Donkey, then call Mikeasuro to my other front rearguard, targeting Castanet Donkey again."

"Castanet Donkey?" Adrian eyes her field. "That's a draw trigger!"

"I see you're aware. I rest Gifted Bear and reveal Honorary Professor, Chatsauvage from my hand. Then I search for Honorary Professor, Chatnoir from my deck and add it to hand. Then I'll discard that critical trigger I checked against you last turn." She discards Ruler Chameleon.

"Someone is getting a bit cocky," Adrian smirks. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

"I doubt you'll be able to do much against me anyway," Kat answers. "What happened? Did you throw away your Aqua Force because you were beaten by Alexandria Blake's sister?"

"I'll make you eat those words."

"Binoculus Tiger attacks your vanguard. With its skill, I give Castanet Donkey 4000 power, and Castanet Donkey will retire at the end of my turn."

"No guard."

"Drive check: heal trigger. I give all effects to Mikesaburo and heal a damage, since we're tied at two."

"Damage check: critical trigger. I give all effects to my vanguard, putting it at 14000."

"Mikeasburo attacks your rearguard Hell's Nail for 12000."

"Intercept!" Adrian moves Hell's Draw to his guard circle.

"You seem so angry," Kat looks at Adrian. "Why? Shouldn't the rest of us be angry at your group trying to take over the school?"

"Stop talking," Adrian says. "You're distracting me."

"I'm not responsible for your lack of focus," Kat answers. "Castanet Donkey attacks your rearguard for 15000 boosted."

Adrian groans. "I guard with 10000 shield. Stop swinging at my rearguards!"

Kat smiles. "Upon entering my end phase, I retire Castanet Donkey. I will search my deck for a grade 3, then draw a card. Also, Gifted Bear retires."

Kat searches her deck for Honorary Professor, Chatnoir and then draws a card.

"You have one counterblast," Kat eyes Adrian. "Use it wisely."

"I stand and draw," Adrian hesitates. "Ride, my new avatar: Amon's Eye, Agares! With its skill, I give itself and Hell's Nail +9000 power!"

Kat nods.

"I'll use Barmaid Grace's skill," Adrian eyes his one face up damage. "But what if…" he groans loudly.

Kat grins. "Frustrated?"

"No!" Adrian yells. "Hell's Nail attacks your vanguard! I'm using her skill!" He flips down the face up damage. "Now I have twelve cards in my soul."

"Interesting choice," Kat eyes her hand.

"So you're not going to tell me if it's right or wrong?" Adrian folds his eyebrows.

"That would take the fun out of the game," Kat answers. "The purpose is to learn from one's own mistakes, not have someone tell you with baby steps. No guard."

She flips the top card of her deck. "No trigger."

"Agares attacks your vanguard for 25000, boosted!"

"No guard."

"Twin drive: no trigger." He flips the second card. "Critical trigger! I give all effects to my vanguard."

"Two damage checks, then," Kat says. "No trigger. And… no trigger."

"I pass."

"Good," Kat answers as she stands and draws. "Then I'll ride my avatar: Honorary Professor, Chatnoir! I discard a second Chatnoir to stride: Omniscience Dragon, Cath Palug! You may be winning by one damage, but I intend to change that now."

"Is that so?" Adrian asks.

"I call: Crayon Tiger to my empty front row rearguard circle. Then, I slide back my Mikesaburo to call Treatise Panther in front of it. Cath Palug attacks your vanguard for 26000!"

"I…" Adrian hesitates. "Perfect guard! Amon's Follower, Vlad Specula!"

"Triple drive… critical trigger! I give all effects to Treatise Panther. Second check: heal trigger. I give all effects to Treatise Panther again and heal a damage. Third check…" she reveals Honorary Professor, Chatsauvage. "No trigger."

"Stop hitting heals!" Adrian yells.

"Treatise Panther attacks your vanguard. With Cath Palug's skill, I'll counterblast one and give it an additional 4000, putting it up to 23000 unboosted with an extra critical. Then I use Treatise Panther's skill to give Crayon Tiger 4000 power."

Adrian drops the critical trigger and moves Hell's Nail to guard circle. "Guard and intercept."

"Crayon Tiger attacks your vanguard. With its skill, I stand Treatise Panther. Cath Palug will give Crayon Tiger an additional 4000 power, making his attack 24000."

"Ugh… I can't guard it." Adrian takes his fourth damage. "No trigger."

"Treatise Panther attacks once more. I use Cath Palug's skill one more time on Treatise Panther, and boost. This time it'll attack for 38000, two critical!"

Adrian rolls his eyes. "No guard. Damage check… no trigger. Second… heal trigger!"

"You miracle healed?" Kat looks over at Adrian's heal trigger. "I can't believe it."

"I knew it," Adrian smiles slyly. "You can't beat me now that I'm a part of the dark side." He heals a damage before placing the heal trigger in his damage zone.

"My end phase," Kat picks up Crayon Tiger and Treatise Panther. "These two will both retire, and I'll draw four cards."

"Four?" Adrian asks.

Kat nods as she draws her cards. "I now have nine cards in hand to your two, and three damage to your five. I'll pass."

"Stand and draw," Adrian draws. "With Agares' skill, I choose to give Barmaid Grace 12000 power. Then, I stride: Amon's Red Eye, Forneus! Agares' skill soulcharges twelve."

"Twenty-four cards in soul?" Kat asks.

Adrian nods. "I call: Amon's Follower, Hell's Deal. With her skill, I soulcharge two cards."

"Twenty-six," Kat says. "You know you can stop anytime."

"I must collect as much soul as possible for the boss," Adrian answers, his voice grunting. "This is what he wants."

"He wants souls of students, not cards," Kat answers. "How do you intend on stealing my soul if you deck yourself out first?"

"So you know," Adrian's eyebrow lowers. "You were spying."

Kat smirks.

"I use Agares' skill," Adrian says. "By counterblasting one and moving Hell's Deal to the soul, you choose a rearguard and retire it."

Kat picks up Honorary Assistant, Mikesaburo and moves it to her drop zone.

"Forneus gains 25000 power! And a critical! Also, I'll retire your other rearguard!"

Kat looks down at her field, now empty of all rearguards.

"Well, I have to keep to my motto," Adrian looks down at the only card in his hand. "Play every turn as if it's my last." He smirks as he sets Demon World Marquis, Amon on his front right hand rearguard circle.

"Forneus attacks with a boost! 68000 with an extra critical!" Adrian yells. "It's time to end this!"

"No guard."

"Triple drive check: no trigger. Critical trigger! I give all it to my vanguard! Power to Amon!" Adrian grins as he flips the last card in his check. "It's… not a trigger."

"Maybe you should pay more attention to your soul next time," Kat grins. "You've soulcharged quite a lot of triggers."

She reaches for the top card of her deck and begins to take her damage. "No trigger. Draw trigger. I give all effects to my vanguard and draw a card. Third check: no trigger."

"Amon attacks your rearguard for 15000."

"Generation guard," Kat answers. "Sheltered Heiress, Spangled. I counterblast one and choose to target zero guardians."

"Wait… that's a flipping G-guard…"

Kat nods.

"But you're only using it to flip a guardian?"

Kat remains silent.

"I pass." Adrian stares at Kat in confusion.

Kat stands and draws. "You know," she says. "I was really hoping to stride my ace stride against you, but you wouldn't be able to even survive the turn."

"Oh? Is that what you think?"

"No," she answers. "I know. I ride: Honorary Professor, Chatsauvage!"

"But Chatnoir is a…"

"With Chatsauvage's skill, I discard a grade 3 from my hand, and stride!" Kat yells. She picks up Immortality Professor, Brahmananda from her G Zone and places it on her vanguard circle.

Then, Kat looks at Adrian and yells, "Break… Stride!"

A few floors below. Dark Zone Administration Lobby.

Orlando, Lux, Penelope, and Isaac rush into the lobby doors to find the secretary leaning down, pulling some papers from her desk.

"She's upstairs," Lux whispers to Orlando. "I can sense it."

"How do we get past her?" Orlando whispers.

"Maybe we can find an excuse?" Lux answers. He pulls the sunglasses from his bookbag and puts them on.

"What are those for?" Isaac asks.

"They look more official," Lux answers. "I have an idea."

Orlando pulls a pair of sunglasses from his jacket pocket.

"I'm in," he says.

Penelope shakes her head.

"Isaac and I will stay outside," Penelope turns around. "That way we can look for anything suspicious."

"I really don't want to be a part of this," Isaac sighs. "But I guess I go where you go."

Penelope and Isaac walk back out of the doorway.

"Well," Lux nudges Orlando. "Here goes nothing."

The two walk up to the secretary, and Orlando knocks on the desk. The secretary jumps, bumping her head before raising up to spot the two.

"Hello," she looks at the two suspiciously. "What are you two doing here?"

"I'm here to speak with Adrian," Lux answers. "I heard he might be here."
"Well, of course he's here," the secretary stares. "Might there be a reason for why you need to speak with him?" She looks over at Orlando cautiously.

"It's important. Family issues," Lux replies.

"Family…" the secretary nods suspiciously. She looks back at Lux for a minute without speaking, then she leans in closely. "Is everything okay?"

"I can assure you everything will be fine. I just need to speak with him."

"Of course," she shakes her head and presses a button. The elevator door begins to open. "They'll be on the top floor of the building. Let me know if there's anything else you need."

Lux and Orlando walk toward the elevator and board before the door closes back.

"That went better than expected," Lux whispers. Orlando gives a sincere nod as the elevator begins to lift the two upstairs.

Top floor. Kat and Adrian's game.

Adrian looks down at Kat's field, with a Treatis Panther on each front row rearguard circle and a Reader Pig behind each of them.

"Reader Pig's skill allows it to attack from the back row on the turn it is placed," Kat looks up and smiles. "My left hand Reader Pig attacks your vanguard for 11000, thanks to Chatnoir's break ride skill."

"Guard." Adrian places a 5000 shield onto the guardian circle.

"My right hand Reader Pig does the same."

"Guard."

"You kept your critical trigger in your hand," Kat looks at Adrian.

Adrian looks down at the last card in his hand and scoffs.

"Treatis Panther attacks your vanguard. With its skill, I give the other Treatis Panther 4000 power. The attacking rearguard attacks for 13000."

"You're not going to attack me with your vanguard?" Adrian asks.

"I would," Kat answers. "But I want to see if you're even worth making it that far."

"Fine," Adrian answers. "I'll guard with the trigger." He places the critical trigger into guardian circle.

"The other Treatis Panther attacks your vanguard for 17000."

"You're still not going to attack me with your vanguard?" Adrian raises his voice. "You know I have no cards in hand."

"You heard me."

"Fine, I guess I'm forced to take the attack." Adrian flips the top card of his deck to reveal his heal trigger. "Ha! I hit a heal! And now if I heal during your vanguard attack, you'll be finished, right?"

"I thought you knew me," Kat replies. "You said you paid attention to my team, right?"

Hallway just outside.

"I can hear her," Lux whispers. "She's in here."

Lux nudges the door open just enough for he and Orlando to peek in. They watch as Kat continues with her turn.

Back to the game.

Kat rests her vanguard. "Brahmananda attacks your vanguard. With its skill, I call three rearguards to the field from hand! I call: Binoculus Tiger and Coiling Duckbill to the front, and finally a Reader Pig behind the vanguard! With Coiling Duckbill's skill, I target my stood Reader Pig!"

"You called three more attackers?" Adrian's eyes widen.

"Triple drive, since you can't guard," Kat finishes. "First check: Critical trigger! I give the critical to my vanguard and the power to Binoculus Tiger. Second check: no trigger… third check: critical trigger! I give the power to Coiling Duckbill and the critical to the vanguard again!"

A small breeze blows in the room, and Adrian, still in shock, watches as the top card of his deck flips over and lands just above his deck. He stares at Amon's Eye, Agares as it stares back at him.

Kat picks up her deck and punches the table to get Adrian's attention.

"You think you need more souls?" Her stare pierces through Adrian. "Maybe you should get on our level before you ever challenge someone from Team Undisputed ever again!" She looks over at Orlando and Lux staring through the doorway in shock, then steps back quickly.

"I'm leaving now," she bumps Adrian as she walks toward the doorway. He continues to stand in shock for a few seconds before following her out.

"Wait!" Adrian yells. "I'm not finished with you yet!"

"I'm finished with you!" Kat yells back. She meets up with Lux and Orlando just outsdie in the hallway and whispers. "We need to get out of here."

Orlando and Kat grab Lux by the arms and the three begin to run down the hallway toward the elevator when Adrian chases them and yells, "Someone catch them!"

They scurry to the elevator and hit the button on the inside and the door shuts just before Adrian can reach them.

Upon reaching the bottom floor, they rush out of the elevator and through the lobby. They hear the secretary call, "Is there a problem?" but don't stop to answer.

As they make it outside, they get Penelope and Isaac's attention.

"Run," Kat says and the five run back toward the Platinum Club building together.

Platinum Club Classroom. Several minutes later.

"So, they're after souls…" Penelope nods.

Kat nods.

"They need to use the souls of strong cardfighters to fuel their spell over the university," Kat answers. "They captured faculty but they need students to get to the younger people on campus."

"They're going to come after you again, Kat," Lux says. "You've proven yourself even more by defeating Adrian."

"I know, but I had to do something. He cornered me," she answers.

"It looks like we're going to have to stick together," Orlando paces the room. "All five of us. We can keep an eye on each other for suspicious activity, such as falling under a spell, and we can help protect each other, should someone get challenged again."

The other four nod.
"I hate the idea of having to spend time with you," Penelope says to Orlando. "But I guess I don't have a choice."

"I go where you go," Isaac points to Penelope.

Lux stands up. "Also, this way I can tell you guys if I have any more of those strange…"

"Revelations…" Isaac finishes his sentence. "Get it? Because he plays…"

"We get it!" the other four yell.

Author's Note:

Hey everybody! Thank you so much for your patience! I know this chapter was posted later than I usually tend to upload, but I've been working on finals for school :/ anyway, you know the drill. Leave reviews or PM if you like, but most of all, thank you so much for reading my work!

Sincerely,

J. J. Wayne