Author's note: As a little celebration for my Geo teacher postponing the test today, I've decided to post this chapter a day early. Enjoy.
When you're a duelist from Las Vegas, you tend to get asked a simple, yet infuriating question. Especially after you win a duel against another duelist…
'How come you don't use a gamble deck?'
To tell the truth, I don't mind the question at all since you've seen a few types of deck already seen in Las Vegas – Anya's three Guardian Deck, that Theordore kid's Naturia deck, and my deck filled to the brim with Yokai.
And I'll share a little secret with you, only half of the members that I work with locally originate from Las Vegas – And I know for a fact that neither of them use gamble decks either.
And since I don't use gamble cards that just leaves the last member, and our newest. You'd probably think that they would be the one using the gamble deck…
… Once again, wrong. When a duelist makes a deck of their own, they put a piece of their soul amongst the cards… Or that's what people told me when I started playing this game.
And the other Shadowchaser who doesn't originate from Las Vegas… Well, let's just say that the deck they use is practically a pure representation of their soul.
0-0-0
Draw 3
Master and Expert
0-0-0
Time: 8:57 a.m.
Making sure that his D-Wheel was properly locked up in a nearby garage, Hyde was simply leaning up against one of the walls of a large penthouse just barely on the outskirts of the Las Vegas Strip…
… Taking a long drag on his cigarette.
Normally, Hyde would've entered the penthouse as soon as he parked his D-Wheel… But he knew that if he stepped a foot into the building, he was likely going to be yelled at.
No, not for being late…
Not for the failure of capturing the Envie…
But rather for smoking.
Hyde already knew the risks, and he already knew it was a terrible habit… But it was his choice.
But that still didn't give him enough courage to attempt to smoke indoors at the penthouse base. It wasn't fear of losing his job; it was actually the fear of…
"Hey! Hyde!"
'Speak of the devil,' Hyde thought pulling his cigarette from his mouth and throwing it to the ground.
Just at the moment he stomped his foot into cigarette, Hyde turned his head to the entrance way to see the owner of the voice and already he groaned loudly. "Morning…"
"Don't give me that!"
And already Hyde had to wince at the slightly shorter woman in front of him, but mostly because of the leer that he was getting behind her small framed glasses. Other than that, when he looked at this woman, it wasn't like he would get scared from the slightly tied up black hair with a few long strands falling around her serious face.
And even though she was wearing a short sleeved black leather jacket, the black Chinese dress with several silver trinkets and zippers adorned on her well toned figure kinda made it hard to think of her as a threat. "You know what smoking can do to you, right?"
"Faye, I doubt I'd have to worry about my height," Hyde sighed loudly turning his gaze to the side, just so he wouldn't have to look his co-worker in the eyes. "I've been in the best shape of my life since I joined up, and I'm not inside the base so I can't possibly…"
Hyde never got a chance to finish is explanation, "OW! OW! OW!"
Faye pulled Hyde's right ear, making the larger man wince and moan in pain, "I don't wanna hear your excuses! Now, how many packs did you purchase today?"
"Urk! I was just burning out the last pack I had!" Hyde yelped, barring his teeth in pain.
Of course, Hyde was lying.
But there was no way Faye knew that, so with a sigh she released Hyde's ear, "If I see you with another cigarette…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill," Hyde sighed waving his hand over his slightly stinging ear. "You say that every time you catch me with a cig, but I'm still here…"
"Do you really want to push your luck?" Faye asked walking back towards the doors with Hyde following.
"… I suppose I don't," Hyde mumbled under his breath.
0-0-0
Inside the penthouse, as one would imagine, it was quite large and lavish with a rather impressive décor – Although some of it was quite questionable, depicting some rather weird creatures (that would probably pop up in some fairy tale) on the fabric and in the design.
And although it was quite spacious, only a handful of people actually took residence in the building…
… And some of them were seated in the living room's coffee table.
"You going to start harping on me drinking coffee now?" Hyde asked before he took a sip from the coffee mug.
"Nah, I may be a tea drinker," Faye sighed lifting up a small cup of herbal tea. "But I too can appreciate people who need coffee."
But instead of sipping the tea cup, Faye immediately lowered it back to the table. "So, what's bugging you?"
Taking a few more sips, Hyde placed the mug down, "Faye, you've been at this game longer than I was… You ever face against an Envie before?"
"An Envie?" Faye questioned.
"Yeah, an Envious Malevolence," Hyde pointed out, tightening his grip around the mug.
"Personally? In my years as a Shadowchaser," Faye said crossing her arms. "No. But I have read reports concerning others dealing with them. It's not like they like to be known about…"
"Then again, what shadow race does?" Hyde retorted lifting his mug up again. "They walk the streets with humans, hidden behind their masks – That veil that haunts the normal human mind…"
"I didn't realize you were so poetic," Faye interrupted.
"I'm not," replied Hyde. "I just wonder sometimes why I was made to see this truth when I spent most of my life just assuming the façade of common sense. I wonder how many times I ran into a street punk that wasn't really an orc. How many people who I arrested for drug charges that were actually shadows?"
"Don't go emo on me Hyde," Faye sighed pushing her glasses up. "For all you know, they could've been human. But that's in the past, you're a Shadowchaser now, you can see the truth before you now."
"Awares. Sensitives. And mundanes," Hyde listed off, counting on his fingers. "Those were the levels of humans' right?"
"Hyde, you're starting to mumble," Faye pointed out. "Is something the matter?"
Hyde pushed the mug of coffee to the side, allowing him to hold his hands together, "I fought against an Envie today… And the kid who was being used by it. Unfortunately, the two managed to get away with an illusion or something like that…"
Faye shook her head. "I see," She said turning her head towards the window. "I don't actually know that much about Envies myself."
"Oh…" Hyde muttered.
"But, you should ask Diego," Faye suggested placing a hand on her chin. "I remember him telling me one time or another when he first became a Shadowchaser, his final initiation challenge was concerning an Envious Malevolence. You should ask him…"
"… Great idea," Hyde mumbled with a slap to his head. "Only one thing's wrong with that plan… He's halfway across the country and he doesn't like to make reports unless he feels the need to do so. And even then, we can't contact him cause some how, he managed to learn how to turn of his com device."
"Well, I guess you'll just have to wait until he calls back or gets back," Faye muttered pulling up her cup of tea. "Of course, you're more than welcomed to dive into the records and look for yourself."
"Thanks… But I'd rather get some sleep instead," Hyde moaned pushing himself out of his seat. "I might hit the text books after I sleep."
Faye wasn't going to ask how he was going to try to sleep after downing that coffee…
"Alright," Faye sighed as Hyde began to walk away. "By the way… Did you happen to see Ace's D-Wheel when you parked yours?"
"… Nah," Hyde yawned throwing his arms up into the air.
"… Great… Ace's loose again," Faye groaned with a slap to her forehead.
0-0-0-0
Now, who was Ace you may be wondering?
Quite simply, Ace was another Shadowchaser, one of the newest amongst the LVSC group having been with the group. After being with Hyde and Faye for roughly half a year since the initiation, Ace was still a little unpredictable to the group.
Being the youngest of the group, Ace was enjoying the thrill of youth. Often skipping shifts and getting into a few less-than-desirable situations that either Hyde or Faye would have to deal with in the end…
Of course, that brings us to one of the places where Ace normally hid out from the scout shifts…
Although it was still morning, Sin City would never sleep, although some of the cafés and coffee shops would operate at hours that would be considered regular hours amongst a majority of the country.
And the Mirage Oasis was one of those few places in Vegas that were quite calm and oriented to be family friendly by the request of the owner... At least before late night. Despite the fact that it was set on the edge of the Las Vegas Strip, it was still quite a popular place for people to spend the hot days and afford a rather enjoyable non-alcoholic beverage (once again, not until late night).
It was especially enjoyable thanks to the atmosphere it offered – Air conditioned, a western desert theme, and the usual music that was played by some up-and-coming artists on the stage that was built into it.
In fact, there was only one thing that really stuck out in the place, and that was the person on the other side of the bar, casually flipping through the pages of a magazine he bought earlier.
Even though he had opened the restaurant/café/bar right on time, the young man couldn't help but sigh loudly, adjusting the small smoking pipe that pended in his mouth. As mentioned before, he stuck out of place thanks to his choice of clothing that consisted of a white kimono and black hakama. Of course, his bleached sleek hair would get him a few stares as well…
… Not that he really minded the attention.
Five minutes passed since he opened the place up, and still no customers…
Not like it was like this every morning when he opened the place up. The help wouldn't be here for a good half hour, and the band he scheduled today wouldn't be here till then as well.
Any morning customers that came in he was assured he could handle on his own…
DING! DING! DING!
Perking his ears up, the man pulled his attention away from the magazine and to the door, his mouth curling up into a large smile, "Well, well, well! If it isn't Alice!"
Standing in front of the closing door, the apparent 'Alice' sighed loudly as she placed a hand on her sandy blonde hair that reached her shoulders. "Kyon… I thought we discussed this… Stop calling me that!"
Kyon couldn't help but smirk as 'Alice' walked up to the bar area, taking note of the black jumpsuit (that was definitely made for someone of the opposite gender) and white jacket that had the sleeves rolled up to show her tanned arms, with her right arm covered with a compact duel disk. She also had what appeared to be a small velvet case with a silver strap attached to her jacket. "You never got my case when I used to call you that… Besides, Ace doesn't really suit you...
"Makes you sound like a guy…"
"That's kinda the point," Ace sighed taking a seat at the bar, placing her gloved hands on the wooden bar.
"And last time I checked," Kyon mumbled, the smoke pipe bobbing up and down a few times in symmetry with him talking. "You weren't a guy."
"I know," Ace groaned lowering her head again. "But come on Kyon…"
Kyon couldn't help but smirk slightly, his face curling up a little more…
Now, if you could see through Ace's eyes, then you'd realize that Kyon stuck out more than he would through a mundane's eyes. His body seemed to be a bit sleeker and his long white hair was longer than it appeared to be, and he seemed to have a thin layer of white fur covering his body as it normally would for a man of his age. And while his hair normally looked to cover his ears, they poked out from the sides of his hair.
"Heh, sorry my dear Alice," Kyon chuckled plucking the pipe from his mouth. "But you know how I am… Stubborn like a mule…"
"And sneaky like weasel," Ace growled rolling her eyes. "I've always wondered why you seemed different, now that I know that you're a Weasel Lycan…"
"Hey, hey, hey," Kyon stated waving his hands up. "I'm only a Shadow-touched, thank you very much. Besides, I prefer the term Were-Ermine… It's a little classier."
"Yeah, you're just a step up from being a Were-Rat," Ace chuckled, earning herself a small glare from Kyon through his squinting eyes.
Were-Ermines hated to be compared with Were-Rats… For several reasons…
"I'll have you know that I take pride in fine grooming," Kyon huffed pinching a few of his strands of hair, rubbing it a few times. "And I spend at least once a week grooming and shampooing my hair and fur coat, and I make sure that…"
"Kyon, I didn't come here to learn about your bathing habits," Ace muttered with a smirk growing on her face. "I'll have the usual."
"Skipping out on your shift then?" Kyon sighed pulling up a small glass and a bottle of tomato juice from under the counter. "Well enjoy yourself… I've got some help coming in thirty minutes and a band too, so just relax."
0-0-0-0
"Ugh… I hate all-nighters…"
Back at the office of the Devil's Full House Casino, the only one who was actually working lifted his arms up into the air yawning loudly as he stretched his tired arms up. It wasn't so much the work that was getting to him, but rather the fact that his boss and boss's body guard had left over an hour ago…
'Just relax Vergil,' the typist thought to himself before he went into a typing fury, his eyes trailing over the data that was quickly being flashed over the screen before he opened another window to do the same. 'Not like you haven't been forced to do this before…
'I just wish that the boss would learn the meaning of Spell-check. I don't mind the fact that he knows how to write his own speeches, but you'd have to have been born in the dark ages to not know how to use a simple application…'
He wasn't the most stand out guy, with his light brown hair that wasn't considered short but didn't even reach the middle of his neck and his sly dark suit was wrinkled and in serious need of a good ironing.
An average Joe.
Taking a quick moment to push up his glasses, Vergil stopped slightly, taking note of the flashing symbol in the corner of the computer screen – Flashing the words 'YOU'VE GOT MAIL!'
Dragging the mouse over the symbol, he simply double clicked to bring up the familiar cybernetic inbox.
One new message…
By simply reading the name of the sender, Vergil slowly began to smile, "Well… This is just perfect. I get more work – Gee, thanks a lot, Volk."
Picking up the nearby desk phone, Vergil immediately dialed a number.
"… Sir… I," Vergil started.
"We're sorry; the wireless caller you have dialed is not at his phone. Please try your call again."
"Grr…" he growled slamming the phone back into the receiver. "Damn it! He asks me to call him when I hear from Volk and he doesn't bother to keep his cell phone on…"
Vergil slapped his forehead.
"I never thought I'd say this," Vergil groaned pushing the sleep command into the computer. "But I need a drink."
And he knew just the place to go this early in the day.
0-0-0-0
Time: 9:49 a.m.
"So, how's it been since you became a Shadowchaser?" Kyon asked pouring the fourth glass of tomato juice for Ace. Now that the help was here, Kyon was able to stay behind the bar and spend some more time with Ace while the waiters and waitresses dealt with the three other customers.
"Eh, ya know the usual," Ace sighed waving her hand up. "Deal with Shadows, rather physical or on the duel field… I also have to deal with Hyde's smoking and that's just every girl's dream to deal with."
"You're a confusing young lass you know that, right?" Kyon chuckled pushing the glass of red liquid towards Ace. "You talk about being treated as a lady, and yet you want a manly name like Ace…"
"Har, har, har," Ace grumbled lifting up the glass. "Anyway, didn't you say you had a band coming here or something?"
"Oh, one of the waitresses told me earlier," Kyon replied throwing his thumb over his shoulder. "The band's unloading their equipment out back…"
"I was sitting here when she told ya," Ace pointed out swirling the remainder of her tomato juice. "And does it normally take fifteen minutes for the band to unload?"
"Well… I know for a fact there were only a keyboarder and a guitarist in the group," Kyon replied as he walked up away from the bar. "Hold on a sec, I'll be right back. I'm going to check to see if those guys are out there…"
Ace nodded, raising an eyebrow about Kyon mumbling about something that went along with the lines of hiring an elfin band.
Shrugging it off, Ace merely took a sip of her tomato juice.
Ever since she came out to Las Vegas about a year ago, she never expected she'd be recruited into an organization like the Shadowchasers… Nor did she expect to learn how to ride a D-Wheel in that amount of time.
Still though, it was quite the experience so far…
Through Hyde's smoking habits and Faye's constant nagging, well, Ace was glad she had met Kyon before she met those two…
"AAAAH!"
Ace's eyes widened as that scream erupted from outside, gathering all the attention of all of customers inside, but it wasn't until a loud smashing sound that echoed through the air that prompted Ace to jump from her seat and head for the backdoor.
0-0-0
In the employee parking lot, Kyon groaned loudly as he pushed off some of the remains of some crates he had stacked up over time, his kimono ripped and his torso a few small cuts in four matching lines - giving his kimono a slight red tint.
At other parts of the parking lot were the ruins of a bass guitar and keyboard, their owners groaning loudly in pain not too far away, both of them slim humans with long blond hair dressed in casual wear. But unlike normal people, they had pointed ears poking out from their hair.
Elves…
But, what really made Kyon cough out greatly, was the fact that there was one more person standing over him. A large burly goon, with wild purple hair (obviously dyed) that covered the right half of his face, while being dressed in a leather jacket and tattered jeans over his muscular physique.
"Ya just had to but in," The man growled, barring his teeth down at Kyon. "Stupid weasel!"
Kyon weakly opened his eyes, leering at the tall brutish man that loomed over him, seeing that like him, this man was no mere man… His face was filled with beastly features – Small sharp fangs, a black stout nose and black fur covering his face and every other part of him that exposed through his clothes. His hands were larger than before and ended in long claws that had been the culprits for Kyon's ruined clothing and wounds.
However, the most daunting point was the fact that the beastly man had his two red beady eyes glaring down at Kyon. He had two eyes on the left side of his face, vertically centered, and more than likely had another pair underneath his hair.
Kyon knew exactly what this man was – A bugbear, a creature that was related to hobgoblins, but tended to be much more beastly in appearance, nature, and how they worked.
"I told ya," The bugbear snarled using his claws to pull Kyon from the remains of the crates, holding the Were-Ermine a foot off the ground and roughly two feet away from the bugbear's torso. "I was trying to be a nice guy… Especially since yer a damn Ermine – If'an ya had kept yer nose out of my business, I woulda been willing to let ya go."
The bugbear turned its head back slightly, looking at the two elves that were trying to get to their feet – And yet were failing at the same time. "These little punks owe a lot o' money to my boss, and the collection was due at precisely at nine o'clock this morning…"
"A-And I was just trying to point out," Kyon sputtered raising his hands up slightly. "That they have a gig here! They would've been able to pay you at the end of the day!"
Licking his teeth, the bugbear only lifted his free clawed hand up, "Ya just don't know when to keep that yap of yers shut, don't ya?" He asked. "My boss always says – Win through compromise – We've been compromising with these lowlifes for two months now. And their deadline was this morning!
"But if'an ya wanted to get in the middle of this – Far be it from me to disagree with ya! Ya'll can pay for their debt with a few cuts and bruises of yer own!"
Kyon snapped his eyes shut as the free claw suddenly snapped towards him.
CLANK!
However, the claws never reached him, and slowly, Kyon peeked his eye open, seeing that there was a broad sword right in front of him that had blocked the claws. Slowly his eyes trailed down the blade and holding the hilt was none-other than Ace, holding it strong.
"W-What in tar nation?!" The bugbear snarled in confusion.
Taking advantage of the beastly Shadow's confusion, Ace slammed her foot into the bugbear's stomach, sending the bugbear skidding back slightly, dropping Kyon in the process.
"Oof!" Kyon yelped as he landed on the concrete ground. "Oooh, you could've been a little easier…"
"We're not exactly dealing with one of the most logic bound shadows here," Ace replied holding her sword up high in order to prepare for the bugbear to charge. "Can you help those elves inside?"
"And what are you going to do?" Kyon asked making his way to the two elves.
"My job!" Ace shouted.
Kyon only nodded and ran to the elves, helping them up to run into the restaurant.
"Wait a minute!" the bugbear roared turning towards the door… Only to be met with a loud clicking sound. "Grr…"
"In case you haven't noticed," Ace said, getting the bugbear's attention. "You're dealing with me now…"
"Great… A Shadowchaser," the bugbear growled as he slapped his forehead with his clawed hand. "Look, I'm just trying to do my job!"
"And does your job entail injuring your clients?" Ace asked, not lowering the sword.
"I'm in the debt collecting business," the bugbear retorted snapping his arm to the side. "My boss has been patient in trying to collect from them elves you just protected, even extending their collection date, not once… Not twice… But thrice!"
"Great, a loan shark," Ace moaned rolling her eyes.
"Hey, my boss is a good guy!" the bugbear growled holding his claws up. "But even good guys have their limits… 'sides, this is Vegas; debt collectors aren't that strange a sight…"
"No, but you hurt someone who didn't have a contract with your boss," Ace replied. "And besides, I'm a Shadowchaser; I can't really turn the other way when you hurt someone."
The bugbear growled, kicking some of the remains of the crate that was at his feet. He really didn't need to get on the Shadowchaser's bad side, especially if his boss found out that he screwed up twice in the same day, "Ya know what?"
"What?" Ace questioned raising an eyebrow.
The bugbear merely fluffed out his jacket, allowing a large device to fall from inside his leather jacket and into his clawed hands.
Ace was expecting a weapon…
But rather, it was a duel disk…
"We'll settle this in the ways written in your oh so precious treaty," the bugbear growled holding up the duel disk, that had a deck already loaded in the deck slot. "With a children's card game…"
"You don't seem that thrilled about it," Ace pointed out stabbing her sword into the ground next to her.
"Of course not!" the bugbear roared. "When compared with how my great grand-papi had to deal with Shadowchasers before this game was made, it was more suited for us kinds of shadows."
"And tell me, how'd that work out for him?" Ace asked pulling a deck of cards from her pocket.
"Er… Well," The bugbear grumbled before he shook his head. "It don't matter!"
"But what does matter is that I'm charging you with assault and battery," Ace replied pushing a button on the duel disk, shuffling the deck inside it. "But as the treaty states you win, we'll pretend this little skirmish never happened and you can collect your money… After all, they were going to be paid for a job in the restaurant…"
"Oh, no, not just that," the bugbear cackled cracking his neck a few times. "Ya see, for interrupting my business transaction, ya'll just got roped into the fray. Ya see, just like that little weasel, you butted into something that didn't concern ya… So it'll cost ya."
"Out of cash," Ace muttered.
"Then I'll take it out of your hide," the bugbear replied holding up the duel disk.
"F-Fine," Ace agreed, thinking that there might've been a little more than just face value in that line. "But if I win, then I get to decide what happens. And if you don't mind me asking, just how are you going to use that duel disk? I mean, you've got those claws…"
The bugbear only smirked as he held up both of his clawed hands, showing that the long claws were starting to be pulled into his hands, "Retractable claws are a must for us bugbears… After all, the jobs we do are pretty important."
"I didn't think being a goon was considered important," Ace pointed out.
"Grr…" The bugbear growled as he fitted the duel disk over his bulky arm, activating the device at the same time. "Otso…"
"Huh?" Ace questioned blinking a few times.
"It's my name," Otso replied as his duel disk beeped loudly, having five cards popping off the top of his deck. "Grand-papi always told me to give a name to a gal – Even if they happen to be a Shadowchaser." (OLP: 8000)
"Did he also teach you beat up innocent bystanders?" Ace questioned pulling her five card hand. (ALP: 8000)
"As a matter of fact," Otso cackled loudly as he licked his lips. "He did!"
"O-Kay…" Ace stated. "Well, anyway, since you were the one who technically challenged me, that means I get to go first."
"Knock yerself out," Otso yawned.
Ace leered at Otso… This was certainly an interesting case.
She made her first draw.
"Then I'll start this duel easy then," Ace announced, giving a small glance at the card. "I'll set a monster in defense mode."
Placing the card on her duel disk, a set card appeared in front of her. "And, I'll throw a pair of face down cards on the field."
Otso rolled his two uncovered eyes at the move. "I've seen more fight in the sushi I ate last night."
"I end my turn," Ace growled.
"Well, that was a waste of time," Otso sighed pulling his next card. "I'll be sure to fix that! Draw!"
Slipping the card into his large hand, the bugbear immediately lifted another card from his hand and placed it onto his duel disk. "I'll start by summoning – Killer Needle!"
A loud buzzing sound filled the air, signaling the arrival of Otso's first monster – A large, malformed bee that was as large as it's owner, it's long wings buzzing to keep it afloat over the concrete (1200/1000).
"Killer Needle?" Ace questioned raising an eyebrow at the bee monsters. "I thought people only had cards like that in the spokes of their bicycles."
"I'll have you know that this was the starting monster for a very infamous duelist," Otso stated holding his arms up. "In a very famous tournament many, many years ago."
"Oh, and who was that?" Ace inquired.
"Heh, just wait and see," Otso warned fitting another card into his duel disk. "But in the meantime, sure my overgrown bug isn't that much, but it has its charms. I'll show ya by playing a spell card…
"A continuous spell card called Beehive!"
The spell card popped next to the Killer Needle, depicting a large beehive with countless bees flying around it.
"For now it's just taking space," Otso explained looking over the other four cards in his hand. "But it'll soon change… I'll end my turn with a set card…"
"And you said my turn was a waste," Ace grumbled slowly plucking her next card. "I sacrifice my face down Prevent Rat…"
The face down monster on Ace's field transformed into a large orb of light that floated in front of her, growing and forming into its real form.
"Allowing me to summon Berfomet!"
The light shattered, allowing a large dull skinned demon to float over the field, the two pairs of arms that ended with claws and a pair of big feathered wings were the real eye-catchers for the monster (1400/1800).
"… Talk 'bout monsters that belong in the recycle bin," the bugbear scoffed. "A card with that weak stats and a tribute? Must be…"
"Quite useful," Ace interrupted as Berfomet roared loudly. "You really need to brush up on some dueling history, this was actually a famous card used by the King of Games himself – And he used a lot of cards that were looked down at first, but were seen to have much more than face value…
"And while Berfomet may not have the best stats, the fact that when summoned, he allows me to take a certain monster from my deck and place it in my hand."
"Humph, takes a lot to impress me," Otso spat. "So far you've only wasted time and breath."
"You won't be saying that for too long," Ace announced spinning around the card she received from Berfomet's effect and another card her hand. "Go! Polymerization!"
A powerful vortex appeared over Berfomet's head, allowing another form to appear alongside the demonic monster, this one a large horned beast that was a large lion. "This allows me take one part Berfomet and one part Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts…"
The two monsters were absorbed into the vortex, mixing together.
"And I can fusion summon… Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast!"
A loud roar erupted from vortex, shattering the sub-space. In its place stood a new monster, this one a large two headed beastly winged lion with a snake-tail that was raised up to hiss along with the two heads to roaring (2100/1800).
"Chimera!" Ace shouted as the combined beast slammed its claws into the ground. "Squash that bug!"
Using it's powerful legs, the chimera monster leapt through the air and pounced onto the bee, shattering the insect into millions of pixels. (OLP: 7100)
But Otso only licked his lips, "I activate my Beehive's effect!"
That's when a golden orb appeared around the Beehive spell card, floating abound the spell card. "Each time an insect monster is destroyed, it gains a 'Honeycomb Counter' to it."
"And what do these counters do?" Ace asked as Chimera stomped back over to her field, its claws tearing up some of the concrete.
"Absolutely nothing," Otso admitted with his arms crossed.
"What?" Ace questioned blinking a few times.
"Clean yer ears out," Otso cackled holding his arms up. "Alone, these counters are useless."
'Alone?' Ace thought looking at the two remaining cards in her hand. "I'll end my turn."
The bugbear slowly drew.
"Tell me something missy," Otso mused looking over the four cards in his hand. "You ever hear of the duelist – Insector Haga?"
Ace took a moment to think, her hand at her chin, "Insector Hakata? Isn't he that riding duelist in…"
"No! Not Hakata," Otso growled. "I'm talking about Insector Haga, once known at the Regional Champion of Japan several years ago, and a competitor in the Duelist Kingdom and Battle City tournaments…"
"Yeah, I've heard of that cheat," Ace moaned, having to look back in her memory about that duelist.
"That's what I expected ya to say," Otso said with a dark smile on his face. "Everyone considered him a cheater and a con man… But I think that his strategies were frowned upon wrongly."
"He stole rules for a tournament," Ace pointed out. "Tossed out several key cards for the King of Game's deck into the ocean, and even sabotaged another duelist's deck with a card that practically infected the strategy… And he still lost both times."
"True, his results didn't end in his favor," Otso scolded wagging a finger. "But his methods were nothing different from what other strategists have done before. Learning the land, cutting off your opponent's supplies, and trip up your opponent at every turn… All legit strategies used in the wars you humans have fought in the past."
Okay, Ace had to give that to him.
"But what I really found interesting about him," the bugbear continued slapping his next card onto his duel disk. "Was his signature move that won him his original title… I summon… This!"
As he played the card, a small green insect crept onto the field, revealing that it was nothing more than an enlarge grasshopper that had a cartoonish look to it (500/700) as it chirped loudly.
"… First an oversized bumble bee," Ace counted off as she looked at insect. "Now a low level insect?"
"Basic Insect," Otso corrected holding two of his three remaining cards up. "So allow me to show you the combo! I activate two equip cards – Insect Armor with Laser Cannon and Level 2 Power Boost!"
That's when a large light began to rain down on the Basic Insect, making the insectoid monster grow larger and gaudy and forming into a much more dangerous looking insect with red, blue and silver battle armor covering its body. The armor had a large cannon mounted on the Basic Insect's back along with two turbines that made the insect screech out loudly (500/700 + 700/0 + 1200/200).
Making Ace's eyes widen greatly.
"Still think my bug is something you can squish under your shoe?" Otso laughed as he threw his hand forward. "Basic Insect! Blast her monster!"
Without being told a second time, the empowered insect fired off a powerful blast of energy that flew through the air and crashed directly into Chimera's body, shattering the beast into countless of feathers that billowed through the air. (ALP: 7700)
"Sure, the damage was minimal," Otso cackled as his Basic Insect screeched in agreement. "But I got rid of that monstrosity…"
"You're not one to talk about monstrosities," Ace pointed out as a bright light appeared in front of her. "Besides, since you destroyed Chimera, I can special summon one of the monsters that was used for it's fusion…"
A loud roar blasted through the air, Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts (1500/1200) clawed his way back to the parking lot, snarling at Otso.
"Fat lot that'll do ya," Otso spat out looking at the last card in his hand. "But, I don't have anything else to do… So, I'll end my turn…"
"Not yet you don't!" Ace announced pushing a button on her duel disk, making the face down card flip up. "I activate my trap card – Ojama Trio!"
Three spotlights popped up at the empowered Basic Insect's side, allowing three clouds of smoke to pop up at the field. As the smoke disappeared, Otso blinked his two eyes at the three weird creatures that sat on his field…
"GIMME AN O!"
"GIMME A J!"
"GIMME AN AMA!"
"What's that spell?"
"OJAMA!"
The three creatures that had just wasted the bugbear's time were all different, one was yellow skinned with long eyestalks, another was green with a large eye, and the third was a black skinned beast with a bulbous nose. The only thing that really made the three similar were the sparkling red bikini briefs they wore (0/1000 x3).
"What…" Otso question. "The... Hell?"
"Now, it's my turn!" Ace announced, not bothering to answer the bugbear's question. "And, I think it's time we squash that overgrown cricket of yours…"
"It's a grasshopper!" Otso snapped.
"They both end up being squashed in the end," Ace replied slapping her next card onto her duel disk. "I summon Gyaku-Gire Panda!"
Leaping over her shoulder, Ace smirked at the large enraged panda that stomped into the concrete, snarling loudly as it flung its front paws into the air a few times (800/1600).
"… Are all yer monsters like this?" Otso asked blinking a few times.
"Wait till you see what my panda can do," Ace suggested before the panda roared loudly into the air, its body starting to grow larger and larger. "You see, for each monster you have on the field, my panda gains five hundred points…"
"And since I have four monsters," Otso mumbled as a few question marks popped over her head. "That's… That's… Um… Let's see, carry the two…"
"Don't break your brain," Ace sighed. "Four times five-hundred is two-thousand… And all of them are going to my Panda's attack points!"
The panda snarled loudly, slamming its hind paw into the ground (800/1600 + 2000/0).
The bugbear's revealed vertical eyes opened widely at the sight of the empowered panda in front of him.
"Gyaku-Gire… Attack the Basic Insect!" Ace commanded.
In a blur of black and white, the powerful beast flew through the air, slamming its hind leg up into the head of the Basic Insect's head, shattering the insect into millions of shards that destroyed the armor as well. (OLP: 6800)
"Urg…" Otso muttered taking a step back, not caring that a second Honeycomb Counter appeared around his Beehive continuous spell card.
"So much for your power combo," Ace stated holding her arm up. "Sure, my panda loses some attack points…"
The enraged panda breathed in deeply, snorting loudly as it shrunk slightly (2800/1600 – 500/0).
"But as long as you have those Ojama Tokens out on your field," Ace pointed out holding her fingers up. "My Panda will be a match for almost anything you'll dish out."
"So you're ending your turn?" Otso asked barring his teeth.
"I guess you could say so," Ace replied.
Otso drew.
And then lifted up the other card he had kept from his previous turn, "I activate the spell card – Honey Harvest!"
The two golden orbs shattered – Giving the bugbear a chance to pull off the top two cards from his deck, "This card can only be used when I got a Beehive on my field – And by removing two of the Honeycomb Counters, I can draw two cards from my deck.
"The downside is I can't normal summon or set any level three or four monsters this turn."
Looking at his three cards, the bugbear nodded to himself, "But, with what's in stored for ya'll… I won't be needing to do so."
"You know you're quite talkative for a bugbear," Ace pointed out with her arms crossed.
"So what?" Otso retorted looking at the cards. "That's a common misconception with bugbears; we can actually be quite the intelligent shadows if we try. We're not like orcs or ogres – We're a bit fiercer and more calm minded than them. Heck, we're able to hold down decent jobs for long periods of time…"
"And goon is considered a decent job?" Ace retorted.
"Puts bread on the table and scratch in my pocket," Otso chuckled slapping a card onto his duel disk. "And I'll put a monster in defense mode, and throw down a face down… Go ahead and attack me if you dare."
Ace stopped before she drew, sure, thanks to Otso's last move, her panda regained the five hundred attack point bonus (2800/1600). Sure, she would've attacked before she was a Shadowchaser, but she knew better than that.
"Draw," she announced pulling her card, giving her three cards.
She nodded to herself. "First, I'll switch Gazelle to defense mode."
The lion creature knelt down, snarling loudly.
"Then, I'll set another monster in defense mode."
"You about done yet?" Otso yawned as the set monster appeared in front of the Shadowchaser. "This is getting boring…"
"It's not boring," Ace mumbled with her eyes narrowed.
"Less talk more action!" Otso laughed loudly.
'He wants action?' Ace thought throwing her hand up into the air. "I'll give you action! Gyaku-Gire Panda! Attack his face down defense monster!"
With a bellowing roar, the powerful panda leapt through the air…
"Ya said it!"
The ground blasted upwards, unleashing several parasitic worms that were easily the size of Otso, all of them wrapping around the Gyaku-Gire Panda. "And thanks to that," the bugbear cackled, "I was able to activate my trap card – Parasite Worm! I get to destroy the attacking monster…"
The worms squeezed tighter, making the panda screech out loudly in pain before shattering into countless pixels. "And as an added bonus, ya get a little present…"
Ace blinked a few times before two more worms shot from the ground, latching onto her legs. Her eyes widened as she felt their teeth stab into her legs, making her wince.
"You take damage equal to the attack of the destroyed monster," Otso laughed as the worms continued to drain at Ace's legs.
"It… It's…" Ace muttered as the worms disappeared. (ALP: 4900)
"It's a Mirror Force rolled in with a Magic Cylinder," Otso chuckled with his tongue sticking out of his mouth. "It destroys and burns…"
"J… Just make your move," Ace growled getting back to her feet.
The bugbear smirked as reached for his deck. "If' an ya say so!"
0-0-0-0
The door to the Mirage Oasis opened up, allowing Vergil to waltz into the restaurant/café that he had spent the few mornings he actually had off.
The smiling staff…
The cooling atmosphere…
Or even the just the interesting drinks they had in stock…
Vergil didn't know which of those reasons kept dragging him back to the place, but it wasn't like he was going to complain about it.
Although, when he walked into the dinning room, his attention was drawn to Kyon and the two elves that were currently being bandaged up in the corner of the room…
'… Not really my concern,' Vergil thought as he took a seat at the bar, wondering what sort of drink he was interested in this day.
0-0-0-0-0
Otso slowly drew.
"Now, flip my face down monster," he announced.
The card turned over, revealing a small gray, yet living diabolic treasure chest that had a pair of eyes made into it (100/1000). "Meet the Dark Mimic LV 1! And when flipped up, I can draw a new card…"
And so he did.
"Next, I'll sacrifice my Mimic, in order to summon Ultimate Insect LV 5!"
The mimic exploded into million of shards, and a rather intimidating large insect to materialize onto the field. Its large silver body with multiple legs curled underneath it spiky body, while having several hooked spikes to allow it to keep its torso a few feet off of the ground (2300/900) and with a loud hiss, the bug turned its attention towards Ace.
"Not good…" Ace mumbled at the sight of the monster.
"Ultimate Insect!" Otso commanded holding his free hand up. "Why not gorge yourself on that Gazelle?"
With an approving screech, the large insect stomped forward and stabbed its spiny legs into the King of Mythical Beasts' arms and legs.
Ace had to turn away just as the insect dug its teeth into Gazelle, ripping the monster into millions of shreds.
"Just be glad that your monster was in defense mode," Otso cackled as he cracked his neck slightly. "Hmm… I should duel more often… This is so much easier on my claws…"
"Yeah, yeah," Ace muttered. "You done with your turn yet?"
"Knock yerself out Shadowchaser," Otso yawed.
Slowly drawing, Ace looked over the card, blinking a few times at it. "… I choose to pass this turn."
"Of course you do," Otso said drawing.
That's when a powerful light flowed over the Ultimate Insect LV 5's body. "And, of course, thanks to my insect's effect… I get to trade him in for something a little tougher!"
The Ultimate Insect LV5's exoskeleton began to crack and chip away as the color began to fade. Then several wings erupted from its back, opening the back even further to allow a large, three tusked insect to fly over the field, its red and blue exoskeleton glimmering in the light (2600/1200). "…I'll evolve my Ultimate Insect into its greatest form…and just to let ya know, my Ultimate Insect LV7 will lower the attack and defense of all monsters on yer side of the field by seven hundred points."
The wings of the Ultimate Insect flapped several times, making several spores to fly over the field, "Since yer only monster is face down, it's safe for now from my monster's effect… But not from it's attack!
"Poison Spore Burst!"
With a loud screech, the insect snapped its wings greatly and sent a concentrated blast of its poisonous spores that crashed into the face down monster, making it reveal as a small white furred cat with a yellow construction hat that had its ears popping up (300/100).
The poor cat had no chance, shattering into countless pixels.
"Heh, next turn, yer next," Otso cackled.
"I don't think so," Ace stated slapping a card onto her duel disk. "Since a beast was destroyed, I can simply pay one thousand life points…" (ALP: 3900)
Otso blinked a few times taking note that nothing was happening… But when he craned his head up, his two exposed eyes widened as a large green and black form fell from the sky, crashing into the ground.
As soon as Otso rubbed his two eyes, he blinked at the creature that now stood in front of Ace, revealing that it was a black and green furred baboon, dressed with heavy armor that looked to be made out of wood. In the beast's left hand, the monster gripped onto a large wooden club that it flung over its head (2600/1800).
"Meet Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest!" Ace announced as the baboon roared loudly when its name was called out.
"Heh, and meet my Ultimate Insect LV7's effect… Again!" Otso snapped throwing his arm back as the poisonous spores floated over the concrete, making Green Baboon cough loudly in pain (2600/1800 – 700/700). "Now that a monster is face up, yer monsters lose six hundred attack points!"
Ace only smirked.
"I end my turn," Otso sighed waving his hand up into the air.
The tomboyish Shadowchaser drew.
"I hoped you enjoyed that turn," Ace mused with a cocky smile appearing on her face. "Cause I'm going to…"
"Blah, blah, blah!" Otso spat out. "Like my boss says, 'Time is money… And if yer wasting time, then yer wasting money!' Ya mind picking up the slack?"
"As you wish!" Ace announced slipping a card into her duel disk. "I activate the spell card – Wild Nature's Release!"
That's when the already wild fur of the Green Baboon began to stand on end, shattering some of the armor that was on its body (1900/1100 + 1100/0). "This card allows me to add the defense to the attack of my monster, just so long as it's a beastie!"
The bugbear's eyes almost bugged out of his head.
"Baboon do what you do best!" Ace commanded pumping her fist forward. "Bash 'n Smash!"
Using its powerful legs to propel itself through the air, the almighty baboon leapt towards the surprised Ultimate Insect, it's club held high over its head with both hands…
SMACK!
And was used to stuck the insect right between the eyes, allowing the large beast to use its weight to push the insect to the ground. And with a loud slam, the Green Baboon roared loudly before it used its blunt object to strike the bug several times until the bug broke in countless spores. (OLP: 6400)
"Ur… Urk…" Otso stumbled about slightly, barely remembering his Beehive's next Honeycomb counter appearing around it.
"Next, I'll set one monster in defense mode," Ace announced as the face down monster materialized in front of her. "And I'll call it a turn… This means I gotta say goodbye to my Green Baboon, thanks the effect of Wild Nature's Release."
And just like, the Defender of the Forest vanished in a flurry of leaves.
"Feel free to take your turn."
Otso shakily drew.
'Every time I get ahead,' He thought looking at the three cards in his hand, Pot of Avarice, a weird spell card and some odd monster card that his boss gave him recently. 'This little Shadow chasing punk keeps putting me down. Humph at least I've still got them tokens and set card…'
"I'll pass."
"Your loss," Ace replied pulling her next card. "I activate my face down trap card – Limit Reverse!"
While the trap card flipped up, a familiar form appeared in front of it…
"What the?" Otso questioned.
"MEOW!"
Scratching the back of its head underneath its yellow construction hat, the small white cat purred loudly (300/100).
"That's what yer going with?" Otso muttered. "Ya bust out big beasties like that Baboon, the overstuffed panda and the mixed creature… And now, yer leading with a cute kitty?"
"Don't knock the Rescue Cat," Ace said as the cat lowered its head, lifting up again to reveal the cat now had a whistle in its mouth. "You see, by sending my little kitty to the graveyard, I can special summon two more beasts from my deck!"
Blowing the whistle loudly, the Rescue Cat disappeared with two orbs of light appearing in front of Ace.
"So, give it up for…" Ace replied slapping the two cards from her deck onto her duel disk. "A second Gyaku-Gire Panda and Des Wombat!"
From the orbs of light, two beasts reappeared, one of them a copy of the Gyaku-Gire Panda that had appeared before (800/1600 + 1500/0) and the second was a browned furred rodent like creature (1600/300).
Both animals narrowed their eyes at the bugbear…
"… I'm not liking where this is going," Otso gulped taking a step back.
"Gyaku-Gire!" Ace announced. "Attack one of the Ojama Tokens!"
Like the last one, this panda leapt through the air, spinning around to slam its leg into the yellow Ojama Brother, sending the little monster flying through the air, tears streaming from its eyes.
"Ugh…" Otso started until a small explosion popped on his torso, making him stagger backwards. "URK!" (OLP: 5000)
"In case you were wondering," Ace explained as her panda leapt back to her side of the field (2300/1600 – 500/0). "When my Panda attacks a monster with lower defense than its attack, you take the difference. And when Ojama token is destroyed, you take three hundred points of damage."
"Nice effects," Otso snarled pushing a button on his duel disk. "Too bad yer not the only one with effects – I activate the trap card Pollen!"
With two more flashes, two more globes of golden energy flashed around the Beehive's card. "Since I took more than a thousand points of damage involving a level three or lower monster, I get two more Honeycomb Counters on the Beehive."
"Does that spell have any other uses besides collecting those counters?" Ace asked blinking at the card.
"Oh, every card has a use," Otso said. "Especially my cards."
"… Hmm…" Ace mused rubbing her chin. "Mind if I ask you something? Why are you using insects? I know you're a bugbear, but you guys are more related to hobgoblins, and not bugs…"
Otso sighed.
"You really wanna know why?" Otso growled crossing his arms. "Fine. Its because I can relate to the cards. Now-a-days, nobody takes them serious since they can't be used in Riding duels due to the lack of support cards. And nobody takes bugbears serious either!
"Before the technological age came in, my grand-papi told me that us bugbears could get jobs in factories, wood-yards, or as the such and had enough pay for us to get by. But when computers got into the work place, us bugbears had a hard time adapting as such – We're lucky to get jobs in junkyards now-a-days, and whatever job we get is usually with minimum wage."
"These things tend to happen," Ace replied. "My grandparents went through the same thing… But change happens whether you like it or not…"
Ace did see what Otso was getting at, and even sympathized with a person trying to get a chance to work for living…
"Yeah, yeah, all we can do is adapt to it," Otso growled. "That's why I managed to get my bugs to adapt to this new age of dueling and how I've managed to adapt to today's work requests – So that's why I'm here to collect debts, it may not be the prettiest job, but hey, it gets me what I need. Sides, I get to vent my anger out…
"Especially since I got to beat up that weasel."
Forget that last thought.
"Des Wombat!" Ace shouted.
Curling up into a large ball, the wombat immediately rolled forward, crushing the surprised green Ojama Token.
Otso stumbled as another explosion popped on his chest, "ACK!" (OLP: 4700)
"That weasel… No, that were-ermine is a good friend of mine," Ace warned as the wombat rolled back to her field.
Otso could only snarl back.
"This duel is still on," Ace said pulling off the Des Wombat and the Gyaku-Gire Panda cards from her duel disk. "I've yet to normal summon this turn. So I'll sacrifice both of my monsters I got with Rescue Cat…"
The two monsters transformed into orbs of light that flew into the air, combining together forming into a large purple orb that crashed into the ground, forming into a large purple beast with a mane of wild blue hair that ran down the beast's back (2700/1500), and with a loud roar, the beast revealed the sharp rows of teeth in its mouth.
"To summon Behemoth the King of All Animals!"
That's when two cards popped out of Ace's graveyard, allowing her to turn the cards around, "And when summoned like this, I can take two beasts from my graveyard and put them in my hand, I choose Rescue Cat and Green Baboon!"
"Heh, I like this new monster," Otso chuckled looking at his hand. 'Too bad I'll have to destroy it…'
Ace remained silent as she slipped another card into her duel disk, making the card appear behind her beast. "Yeah, well, the feeling's not mutual."
"Shame," the bugbear sighed looking at the monster card he just drew. "Heh…"
'Laughing in a duel is never a good sign…' Ace thought.
"I summon Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands!" Otso announced.
From a bright light, a new monster popped onto the field, a large statue like monsters that was composed out of almost countless steel arms and hands with a jagged face that had arms for hair and hands for ears (1400/1000).
"Before ya get to it," Otso said holding his hand up to his deck, catching a card into his hand. "Yeah, I know this ain't a bug… But it helps when I need to get the big guns out…"
'He hasn't brought out his big guns out yet?' Ace thought to herself.
"So, using his effect," Otso continued by showing the card he had taken, a spell card that depicted a large cloaked shadow standing behind a wall of enraged bees. "I can take a ritual spell or monster card from my deck… I already got the monster I need, so the spell's what I'm looking for!"
"Rituals sure are a rarity in duels today," Ace muttered.
"Look who yer talking to," Otso said fitting the card into his duel disk. "I activate the ritual spell – Succession in the Swarm!"
The remaining Ojama Token and Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands both shattered into countess bees that flew through the air, buzzing together as a large cloak made of red cloth. "Thanks for the token; it really acts well for the ritual I'm using… So allow me to show ya the Queen of my deck…"
The cloak flew slightly to the left, revealing that there was a form floating amongst the cloak, its black and yellow stripped body suggested a female monster. With long luxurious red hair with antennae sticking from her head, several wings popped out from underneath the red cloak that covered the monster's arms.
With a diabolic smile, the monster revealed a pair of arms that had black stingers at the finger tips, changing that smile into a ferocious roar (0/2000). "Royal Empress Bee!"
"… Monsters like that usually are more dangerous than meets the eye…" Ace muttered.
"Oh, ya better believe it," Otso replied as his Beehive spell began to glow. "Now I activate my spell's major effect – By removing two of the Honeycomb counters, I can special summon one of three monsters from my graveyard… So welcome back – Killer Needle!"
The two honeycomb counters shattered allowing the Killer Needle to reappear on the field, buzzing about (1200/1000)…
Allowing the Royal Empress Bee to cackle loudly (0/2000 + 1200/0).
"What the?" Ace questioned, blinking a few times at the empowered bee themed queen.
"But I'm not done yet," the bugbear cackled slipping another card into his duel disk. "Since I was able to special summon one Killer Needle with Beehive, I'm allowed to activate Swarm!"
Two more high pitched buzzing sounds echoed through the air, allowing two more Killer Needles (1200/1000 x2) flew next to the original. "So I can special summon two more Killer Needles from my deck! Don't worry though, my monsters can't attack or be tributed since they were special summoned this way. But, they're not the threat…"
Indeed, with more of the bees on the field, the Royal Empress Bee screeched loudly through the air (1200/2000 + 2400/0). "My Empress is! For each of her subordinates on the field, their attack points are her attack points!
"Still think rituals aren't useful in this day? Empress! Attack her Behemoth!"
Screeching loudly, the empress propelled herself towards the large purple beast.
Before the beast could react, the Royal Empress had already sunk her stinger claws into Behemoth's hide, allowing her to pull herself towards the beast, her mouth widening greatly…
Ace turned her head to the side as her beast shattered into countless pixels. (ALP: 2900)
"I pay one thousand life points!" Ace announced slapping one of the cards from her hand into her duel disk. (ALP: 1900)
And once more, Green Baboon roared back onto the field (2600/1800) waving its club up into the air.
"Heh, ya think that circus chimp is going to help ya?" Otso asked fitting a card into his duel disk. "I'll have ya know my empress can't be targeted for monster attacks or effects as long as I got another bug on the field."
"Turn end."
"Okay…" Ace said pulling off her next card. "Now you're asking for it!"
Pulling one card from her hand, Ace slapped the card onto her duel disk, making a familiar white furred cat to reappear onto the field, its yellow hardhat tilted to the side slightly (300/100). "I summon Rescue Cat again! And now I activate his effect!"
Blowing the whistle once more, the Rescue Cat disappeared, and in its place were a pair of familiar small beastly dogs with wild brown fur, both of them roaring loudly (300/250 x2).
"Um… What are those?" the bugbear questioned with his head tilted to the side.
"Milus Radiants," Ace explained with a smirk. "And they empower all Earth monsters by five hundred points…"
Both beasts roared loudly, making Green Baboon's fur (2600/1800 + 1000/0) along with the Milius Raidiants' fur (300/250 + 1000/0 x2) stand up. "… While weakening all Wind monsters by four hundred each!"
Otso's two exposed eyes widened as he took note of the three Killer Needles that slowly floated to the ground (1200/1000 – 800/0 x3)… But was more shocked that his Royal Empress Bee was panicking (3600/2000 – 2400/0 = 1200/2000 – 800/0). "N-No!"
"This is for Kyon!" Ace shouted throwing her fist up. "Milus Radiant one! Squash one of those bees!"
Pouncing from the ground, the powerful dog crushed the Killer Needle.
"Milus Radiant two! You're up!" Ace shouted.
The second Milus Radiant rushed over the field, slamming directly into the weakened bee.
"Ugh!" Otso yelped, not caring that his Beehive gained two more counters… But his Empress was weakened considerably (1200/2000 – 800/0). "W-Well! They were in defense mode! So, I'm still safe!"
"Yes… But you still have that other Killer Needle in attack mode," Ace pointed out…
Making Otso's eyes widened as the Green Baboon leapt high into the air, bringing its club down on the final Killer Needle.
"I… I activate my trap card!" Otso yelped as the face down card flipped up, absorbing the force of the attack. "Defense Draw protects my life points, and allows me to draw another card from my deck!"
Flicking off the top card from his deck, Otso turned the card over and nodded at the card art. 'Bladefly! Yes! Sure my queen has no attack points… But thanks to that last onslaught, I've got more than enough Honeycomb Counters to summon two of those Killer Needles back to the field! And thanks to this monster, I can lower her earth monsters like she lowered mine!'
"I activate my trap card!"
Otso's eyes widened greatly as the remaining face down card flipped up.
"Beast Soul Swap!" Ace announced plucking the Green Baboon card from her duel disk. "So, by returning Green Baboon back to my hand, I can special summon another beast that has the same level as my Baboon…
"Like my Baboon!"
Once more, the powerful Green Baboon roared onto the field (2600/1800 + 1000/0)…
… Making the Royal Empress Bee gasp loudly (0/2000).
"And since he's technically a new monster," Ace stated as the large baboon monster leapt through the air, spinning the club over head. "He can attack your Royal Empress Bee!"
Otso's eyes widened as the club slammed into his empress bee, shattering her into the millions of bees that had formed her in the first place. "N… NO!" (OLP: 1100)
"I end my turn with one card face down," Ace announced as the set card appeared behind her baboon. "And when I end my turn, my two Milus Radiants go bye, bye."
And just like that, the two dogs frizzled into the air, leaving only the set monster and Green Baboon (3600/1800 – 1000/0).
"If you wanna give up," Ace suggested with her arms crossed. "I won't hold it against you."
"Ya wish!" Otso snarled loudly pulling off his next card. "I still got life points! Ain't any way I'm going to give that easy!
"I activate the spell card – Pot of Avarice! So, by shuffling two of my Killer Needles, my Empress and my two Ultimate Insects into my deck, I can draw two more cards!"
Fitting the five cards into his deck, Otso snarled as his deck shuffled itself and then pulled two cards from his deck. "Next, I'll set one monster in defense mode… And one card face down!
"As long as I got a single point left, I ain't going to let some human get the heads up on me!
"Turn end!"
"Well, your loss," Ace said slowly drawing her next card. "I activate Spellbook Inside the Pot! Now, we both draw three cards..."
Otso was a little wary about drawing, but eventually he did so along with Ace...
"Next," Ace announced reaching for her duel disk, gesturing to the one monster she didn't flip up yet. "I flip my face down monster…"
The face down monster immediately flipped up, forming into an oddly large koala bear, simply munching on some leaves (1100/1800).
"Des Koala!" Ace announced as the cute monster leapt through the air. "And for each card in your hand, you take four hundred points of damage!"
"What?!" the bugbear yelped as the koala bear landed on the ground in front of him. "N-No! It can't end like this!"
"It just did!" Ace shouted as the Koala leapt once more…
Slamming directly into the bugbear's stomach, sending Otso skidding backwards, "URK!" (OLP: 0)
He fell to his knees.
"Damn it…" Otso snarled, slamming his fist into the ground. "Boss…"
That's when a small blue hue caught his eyes' attentions, seeing that Ace was dangling a small glowing sapphire.
"Humph, whatever," Otso scoffed. "Ya may have gotten me today… But at most, ya can only press assault and battery on me. A little time in the slammer and some bail and I'll be back on the streets."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that so many times," Ace said. "You're under arrest for assault and battery…
"Enjoy your stay."
The gem glowed brighter, making Otso wince slightly.
And then he was gone.
Pocketing the jewel, Ace sighed loudly. "Man, now I really need another glass of tomato juice…"
0-0-0
A few minutes later inside…
"So, what happened to talk, dark and gruesome?" Kyon asked placing a glass of tomato juice on the bar in front of Ace.
"My guess…" Ace sighed lifting up the glass of tomato juice. "Probably waiting in line for his one phone call."
She took a sip.
"So, how are those two elves?" she asked.
"Ah, well, other than a few bruises," Kyon replied rubbing his own bruised and slightly cut stomach. "We're all good… I gave them the money for the gig anyway so they can pay their debt. They just have to play here for free next few times I book them…"
"How nice of you," Ace said with sarcasm dripping from her tongue.
"Hey, cut me some slack Alice," Kyon sighed holding up a broken pipe, the same one that he had in his mouth earlier. "I lost my favorite pipe in the process. They're just paying it off."
"I didn't know you smoked," Ace sighed. "And don't call me Alice!"
"It's just for decoration," Kyon replied lowering his head. "Now I've got to order a new one!"
"… Kyon, everyone's giving you weird looks," Ace muttered.
While it was true that everyone was looking, only one was really interested…
'… Hmm… A Shadowchaser…'
But turning back to his drink, the average looking man only pushed up his glasses…
'What an interesting facet you found, Vergil…'
0-0-0-0
Card Stats
Berfomet / Dark / LV. 5 / ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1800 / Fiend/Effect: When this card is Summoned, you can add 1 "Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts" from your Deck to your hand.
Description: a large dull skinned demon with two pairs of arms that ended with claws and a pair of big feathered wings
Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast / LV. 6 / ATK: 2100 / 1800 / Beast/Fusion/Effect: [Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts" + "Berfomet] When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you may Special Summon either "Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts" or "Berfomet" from your Graveyard.
Description: a large two headed beastly winged lion with a snake-tail
Insect Armor with Laser Cannon / Equip Spell / Effect: Equip only to an Insect-Type monster. The equipped monster gains 700 ATK.
Image: A large red and blue spiked vest with a large cannon on it.
The previous three cards are Japanese cards that have not yet been brought to the United States.
Level 2 Power Boost / Equip Spell / Effect: You can only equip this card to an Insect-Type Monster. Increase the ATK of the equipped monster by 1200 and the DEF by 200.
Image: A large pair of turbines mounted on an insect's back.
Parasite Worm / Trap / Effect: Activate only when your opponent declares an attack. Destroy the attacking monster and inflict damage to your opponent's Life Points equal to the ATK of the destroyed monster.
Image: Several parasitic worms leaping form the forest.
The preceding cards were used by Insector Haga in the original Yu-Gi-Oh! DM anime.
Beehive / Continuous Spell / Effect: Each time an Insect-Type monster is destroyed as a result of battle, place one 'Honeycomb Counter' on this card. During your main phase, by removing three 'Honeycomb Counters' from this card, you may special one 'Killer Needle', 'Armored Bee', or 'Bee List Soldier' from your graveyard in face up attack position (A monster special summoned with this effect cannot be used in a tribute summon on the turn this effect was used).
Image: A large beehive with several Killer Needles buzzing about it.
Honey Harvest / Normal Spell / Effect: This card can only be activated while there is a face up 'Beehive' on your side of the field. Remove two 'Honeycomb Counters' from the 'Beehive' card. During the turn this card is used, you cannot normal summon or set level three or four monsters on your side of the field.
Image: A young man holding up a jar of honey
Pollen / Trap / Effect: This card can only be activated when you have 'Beehive' on your side of the field and you take 1000 or more points of battle damage involving a level three or lower monster. Place two 'Honeycomb Counters' on 'Beehive'.
Image: Several bees flying around a field of flowers
Swarm / Quick-play Spell / Effect: This card can only be activated when a 'Killer Needle' is successfully special summoned by the effect of 'Beehive'. Special summon all copies of 'Killer Needle' from your hand or deck. Monsters special summoned with this effect cannot attack or be used as a tribute.
Image: Several Killer Needles flying over a Command Knight
Succession in the Swarm / Ritual Spell / Effect: This card is used to Ritual Summon 'Royal Empress Bee'. You must also Tribute monsters whose total Levels equal 6 or more from the field or hand.
Image: Several bees swarming around a red cloaked figure.
Royal Empress Bee / Wind / LV. 6 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 2000 / Insect/Ritual/Effect: This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, 'Succession in the Swarm'. As long as you have another Insect-type monster on your side of the field, this card cannot be targeted for an attack or monster effect. This card's attack is the combined attack of all face up 'Killer Needle', 'Armored Bee', and 'Bee List Soldier' cards on the field.
Image: A black and yellow stripped body suggested a female monster. With long luxurious red hair with antennae sticking from her head, several wings popped out from underneath the red cloak that covered the monster's arms
0-0-0-0
Now we've met Alice… Er, Ace!
A rookie Shadowchaser with a deck filled to the brim with beasts. Of course, skipping out on her shift, someone has to take over her work…
… That leads us to Faye, the third local Shadowchaser to Sin City – Delving deeper into the shadows of the casino city… And learning that not every face is as it seems, even with Shadows.
Next time:
Draw 4: Mirage