EPISODE 6: Duel of Shadows
Kai managed to stand after a short while, barely managing to will his body to respond to his movements. Whatever the woman did to the area wasn't natural. "Shadow…Hunter?" He let his question linger. He knew her type all to well. If they felt confident, then they'd spill their guts in a second. And this girl was one of the most arrogant sounding people he'd ever met.
The girl laughed a little before smiling her wicked smile once more. "Yes, my dear little man. I am a Shadow Hunter, and I make my business very simply. I find duelists that are strong and noble…then I rip their souls from their body!" She seemed very happy about that fact. Her joy sent shivers down Kai's spine. His friend Chris didn't dare to move, feeling the same chill from those words as well.
"So, you're the one that's been targeting the students here?" Kai had to pause again to catch his breath. This miasma in the air was really starting to get to him. He placed a hand on his deck pouch. I might need your help here, partner…
The deck seemed to glow in response, causing Kai to feel a warmth emanating all over his body. This seemed to go unnoticed by the girl as she continued her taunting. "Yes, that's right. I've been finding this academy to be quite fitting for my business. The duelists here are quite tasty…if you know what I mean."
Kai shook his head and glared at the hunter. "You're one fucked up bitch, ya know that?"
"Save your little insults. They won't matter once the shadows take your soul." Her cackling laughter filled the air as it seemed the mist surrounding Kai grew thicker and threatened to engulf his whole body.
Chris's eyes widened in horror as he watched his best friend vanish from sight. "Kai!" He didn't seem to get a response. A few eerie seconds followed as the girl turned to face him with an innocent looking smile.
"Now then, time for you. Prepare to die, little man." She started walking toward him. Chris was about ready to run away before suddenly a card flew in front of her, hitting against the ground.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Kai's voice echoed out as he emerged from the mist, looking just fine.
"Kai!" Chris was overjoyed at seeing his friend was alright. The woman on the other hand….
"How did you survive that?! That should have killed you!"
Kai smirked. "You really ought to get your eyes checked." He patted his hand against his deck. "Thanks to my partner, your little trick didn't do a single thing to me."
The woman growled. Her plan should have worked. She wasn't sure what he meant by "partner", but she didn't really care. "Is that so? Well, you must be a strong one then."
At this point Kai pulled his deck out of his pouch. "I am. What say we tussle instead? I'm sure you'd love to add me to your collection, right?" As Kai said this, Chris looked at him with concern. He couldn't be serious, right?
Laughter erupted from the woman this time. "My, oh my! You really are a tenacious one! Fine, then. You want a duel. We'll have a little duel. And when I win, I'll add you AND your friend's souls to my collection!"
Kai looked her dead in the eyes, wearing the same expressionless face that had become his trademark. "We'll see about that." He pulled the Duel Disk off the downed Obelisk Blue student and loaded his deck into it. The idea of using this disk didn't sit right with him, but if he was going to be honest, that guy didn't need it anymore, and he didn't have his own on him.
As if I was expecting to get sucked into some weird "Shadow Game" when I left the dorm tonight. He stepped over a little way away and motioned for Chris to join him. It didn't take long for the other boy to run over.
"Are you serious Kai?! You just watched this girl wipe the floor with that guy and you want to DUEL her?!" Chris was barely holding himself together. He knew they were getting way over their heads from the start, but now what his friend was saying was so far off the rails of sanity that he didn't know whether he was even talking to a real person anymore.
"It'll be fine Chris. I'm not going to lose." He turned on the disk confidently. If he was going to be honest with himself, he was nervous. The strategy she was using was almost a direct counter to the way his deck operated, meaning he'd have to play way differently from normal to be able to stand a chance against her. Good thing I'm not some amateur duelist who only relies on one strategy….
Chris did not seem convinced, but before he could say anything else, the woman had finished preparing her own duel disk. "I like a boy with confidence. It's a shame you've royally pissed me off, or I might have saved you as a boy toy."
Kai actually smirked. "Be a boy toy for you? Sorry…you're not my type." He saw her face twist into a snarl, showing signs of being extremely offended by that comment.
"I am going to ENJOY RIPPING YOU TO SHREDS!"
"LET'S DUEL!"
(A/N: I decided to change up the Duel Screen a bit. I feel like this new style will make it feel a little cleaner and more "anime". I also decided to include the deck counts so that if I ever decide to have a deck out happen, it can feel natural and you can see the cards be depleted from the deck as the duel goes on. So, please enjoy!)
DUEL START:
KAI VALENTINE
VS
SHADOW HUNTER
TURN 1: SHADOW HUNTER
SHADOW HUNTER
LP: 4000
Deck: 35
Hand: 5
Field:
KAI VALENTINE
LP: 4000
Deck: 35
Hand: 5
Field:
"I think I'll start things off, my dear little hero." She waited to see a reaction from Kai, but got nothing but a nod, making her more upset. But she chose to ignore it for now. I'll have this brat squirming plenty by the end of this…
"I'll start things off with summoning Darklord Nurse Reficule to my field in attack position!"
In a blinding flash of a light, a woman with large wings emerged. The wings themselves looked grotesque in nature, having bladed tops and an almost sickly green flesh on the inside. Her entire body was covered in bandages, even including most of her face. This actually gave the impression of a nurse's outfit on her body. Her hair was purple, and she had the same blades attached to the ends of her hair as well. She wore heels and still had even more blades attached to ankle bracelets she had on.
Darklord Nurse Reficule
Level 4 DARK Fairy
1400 ATK/600 DEF
Chris looked in disgust at the monster that was summoned to the field. "What the hell is that thing?! I've heard about bad hair days, but that's ridiculous."
The Hunter smiled. "Think what you want, but this nurse is quite nasty. You see, for as long as she's on my field…. any effect that would increase your life points is reversed instead."
Chris's eyes widened. "Wait, then…it's just like that reaction card you used before!"
"That's right! And now I can activate Upstart Goblin!" The spell card appeared in front of her, depicting a rather rich goblin demanding a payment from a helpless man begging at his feet.
"This card allows me to draw 1 card. Then, you would normally gain 1000 life points, but because of my nurse's effect…." She drew a card from her deck as she trailed off her sentence, allowing the effect to do the talking for her. A blue mist emerged from the goblin card, but as it passed the nurse it twisted into a shadowy mist, as if it had emerged from a demon instead.
The mist hit Kai and caused him to choke slightly as the effect took hold, though he kept himself resilient.
KAI LP: 4000 - 3000
Chris stomped his foot against the ground. "Hey, that's no fair! That's supposed to be a drawback to the card! You can't just do that!"
"Oh really? Cause I just did. This is my world, my dear little Obelisk. And my world plays by my rules."
Kai finished coughing and looked back at the woman. "You done yapping? Or are you already done with your turn?"
The girl shook her head, choosing not to let the comment get to her. "Patience my dear. The fun's only JUST beginning. I place 2 cards face-down to end my turn." The cards materialized at the back of her fiendish monster.
TURN 2: KAI VALENINE
SHADOW HUNTER
LP: 4000
Deck: 34
Hand: 2
Field:
Darklord Nurse Reficule
2 Face-Down Spell/Trap cards
KAI VALENTINE
LP: 3000
Deck: 34
Hand: 6
Field:
So I was definitely right. She plays a "Reverse Burn" deck. By using cards that increase my life points in combination with cards like Nurse and Bad Reaction she can burn away at me instead. And since most of my monsters require paying life points for me to activate, I should conserve as much of my life as possible.
"What's wrong?" Kai's thoughts were interrupted by the girl chuckling. "Has my strategy already destroyed your bravado?"
Kai shook his head. "No. I was just deciding what was the best way to defeat you. Only fools rush into things without a plan. And I got one! Let's kick things of with this! I summon Shadow Hunter – Joan of Arc to my field!"
Joan emerged from a brilliant ball of light before triumphantly raising her sword to the sky, allowing a light to gleam off it, despite the shadows around her.
Shadow Hunter – Joan of Arc
Level 4 LIGHT Warrior
1700 ATK/ 1300 DEF
"And while she's out, I can do this! From my hand, I special summon another monster! Come on out, Shadow Hunter – Hidden Sniper in defense mode!" A flash of light spawned in the nearby woods as a hooded female figure rushed the field, coming to a stop right next to Joan. She had long blond hair and wore an outfit very similar to Kai's "Robin Hood" monster. She looked very defiantly at the woman standing before her, before crouching down, the card appearing beneath her to signify her position.
Shadow Hunter – Hidden Sniper
Level 2 WIND Warrior
800 ATK/ 1600 DEF
The girl started laughing. "Shadow Hunters, huh? How beautifully ironic! I'll enjoy crushing these monsters of yours." She looked down at her traps confidently. I may not have drawn my combo yet, but it won't matter since you can't do anything to me, not while I have my traps face-down.
"At the start of my Battle Phase! I activate the quick-play spell, Anti-Magic Arrows!" A magical rain of arrows rained down and crashed against her face-down cards, embedding into them.
"What the heck is this?!" She screamed out in shock. The cards looked like they had been completely destroyed yet were still on the field.
"This card makes it so, until the End Phase, Spell and Trap cards CAN'T be activated at all!"
"WHAT?!"
"Joan of Arc! Destroy her Nurse! Divine Sword Strike!" Joan raised her sword into the air and after beginning to glow again, she swung it downward, launching a beam of light at the nurse, causing it to be destroyed instantly.
SHADOW HUNTER: 4000 LP - 3700
"The fun doesn't stop there for you! During my Main Phase 2, I activate the effect of Hidden Sniper! You take 300 damage for each Shadow Hunter monster I control!" The archer readied her bow, and fired 2 shots into the woman, causing her to reel back in pain.
SHADOW HUNTER 3700 LP - 3100
"I'll throw 2 face-downs of my own and end my turn."
TURN 3: SHADOW HUNTER
SHADOW HUNTER
LP: 3100
Deck: 32
Hand: 3
Field:
2 Face-Down Spell/Trap cards
KAI VALENTINE
LP: 3000
Deck: 34
Hand: 2
Field:
Shadow Hunter – Joan of Arc
Shadow Hunter – Hidden Sniper
2 face-down Spell/Trap cards
"You….little bitch." The girl snarled as she picked herself back up. "You think you can play with shadows, do you? Well unfortunately for you I was BORN in the shadows!" She drew a card from her deck, looking determined to crush Kai by any means necessary.
"I activate my face-down card! Call of the Haunted!" The card raised up, depicting a cemetery that appeared to have some magic affecting it. "This card allows me to bring one of my monsters back. So, come back out, Darklord Nurse Reficule!"
A portal opened in the ground as the nurse slowly seemed to float itself out of it, returning to the hunter's side of the field.
Darklord Nurse Reficule
Level 4 DARK Fairy
1400 ATK/ 600 DEF
"Next, I'll activate a card from my hand! Raigeki!" The same lightning bolt from before struck down against the field, decimating all of Kai's monsters. This caused the woman to laugh. "See?! This is what happens when you mess with true darkness, boy!"
Kai allowed the dust to settle before he stared very defiantly at her. "We'll see about that. You triggered my trap card!"
"Trap card?!" She was caught completely off guard. There was no way he had a counter to a powerful card like that.
"That's right! I knew you'd probably play something like that, so I added some insurance. Onslaught of Darkness activates!" The card raised into the air, showing an army of demon looking creatures covered in shadow crashing against an unseen force.
The girl looked confused. "I've never heard of that before. What does it do?"
Kai smirked. "Nothing special. You see, if you destroy a Shadow Hunter monster I control, I can inflict damage to you equal to its Original ATK. And I choose Joan to be my target!"
"Wait…it does…what?!" She saw Joan's sword still lingering in the air. After a moment, it crashed down against her, causing her to cry out as the sword struck.
SHADOW HUNTER 3100 LP - 1400
Chris looked a little concerned. "Hey Kai. You notice how violently she seems to be reacting to all this. I mean, these are just holograms, right?"
Kai looked to the woman as she picked herself back up. He had to admit, he had been noticing something strange during these duels. Her last opponent actually collapsed completely when he lost, and when Kai had lost life points earlier, it hurt a lot more than he was letting on. His thoughts were interrupted by the woman chuckling.
"So…you finally noticed, huh?" She just shook her head in amusement. "This isn't an ordinary duel, you know. This is a Shadow Game."
Kai looked at her with a serious look. "Shadow Game? What the hell is that?"
"Why it's nothing special…. just a duel were the monsters and damage are real. We're playing for more than just life points boy. And I am going to make sure you pay for that last attack."
Kai gasped. There was no way she was right. I mean, it had to be crazy right? Still, he had to admit. Whatever was going on wasn't natural, so maybe…
"Darklord Nurse! Strike his life points directly!"
Kai's thoughts were interrupted at the nurse charged forward. If he had doubts, they were cast aside when he felt the blades of the nurse strike against his body, physically feeling the sharp pain in his front and falling to the ground. "Gah!"
KAI VALENTINE 3000 LP - 1600
"Kai! Are you okay?!" Chris ran over to Kai and helped get him up. "There's no way this girl is telling the truth, right?"
Kai looked up at the woman. He wasn't sure himself. He definitely felt that. He looked down at his deck, seeming to get some sort of answer back as he stood back up.
"Oh? You still up are you? Well you won't be for long, I assure you. I activate another Upstart Goblin!"
Kai was once again choked out by the mist emanating from the card, feeling his lungs violently reacting. Chris was extremely concerned at this point, but Kai put a hand up at him, stopping him from speaking. "Don't worry Chris. I got this. It's me after all, right?"
KAI VALENTINE 1600 LP - 600
"Well yeah, but still man…" Chris rubbed the back of his head. He felt so useless right now, seeing his friend seemingly fighting for his actual life right now.
"Chris. What have I always said to you during our practice duels? Especially when you're talking about surrendering?" Kai looked his friend in the eyes, waiting for his answer.
Chris sighed. "You can't be serious man? That cheesy shit?"
"Say it Chris" Kai stood back up, waiting for the woman's next move.
Chris shook his head. "'A real duelist doesn't give up till the final card is played', right? Jeez man, you really should audition for a T.V. show with the stuff you spout out sometimes."
"It's true though. A duel is something that is decided when the first card is played. The spirit of the duelists is what's on the battlefield. And the one that gives up is the one who loses."
The woman let out a hearty laugh after that line was spoken. "Bravado will only get you so far. The way I see it…you've lost. My strategy is flawless you know. I've never lost a single duel."
Kai smirked. "Funny. Neither have I."
"We'll see about that. I place 1 card face-down to end my turn." The card materialized at her feet. She wasn't worried. That last goblin gave her the card she needed. She smiled evilly as she envisioned her next turn. No matter what you do, I'll simply chain my Gift Card to it, reducing your life points by 3000.
TURN 4: KAI VALENTINE
SHADOW HUNTER
LP: 1400
Deck: 32
Hand: 2
Field:
Darklord Nurse Reficule
Call of the Haunted
2 Face-Down Spell/Trap cards
KAI VALENTINE
LP: 600
Deck: 33
Hand: 3
Field:
1 face-down Spell/Trap card
Kai stared down the field in front of him. Despite his speech at Chris, he was having some doubts. This girl's strategy was impressive. He was having to throw everything he could at her just to make sure he wouldn't lose. And with only 600 life points left, there weren't a lot of avenues open for him. He had to…
A voice interrupted his voice. He looked down to his deck to see a small creature emerge from it. It looked to be a small girl, barely older than 8, who smiled up at him very warmly. We can win this Kai. You just gotta believe in me.
Kai smiled. "Of course. You know I always do, partner." He stared at the woman. "This duel is far from over, and I'll prove it right here and right now!" He drew his next card, ignoring the laughter from the woman.
"I'd like to see you try," she said with a very sly smirk.
Kai looked at his card and smiled. It was exactly what he needed right now. "This duel is over! It's time to end this!"
The girl looked shocked for a moment, before breaking into laughter again. "I've heard of boldly facing death, but this is ridiculous! You've lost boy, just accept it!"
Kai looked her dead in the eyes as he prepared himself. "A Valentine never gives up. Because we never lose!" He played a card while he finished that statement. "Mystical Space Typhoon!"
He pointed to the card she had used to revive the nurse. "Destroy Call of the Haunted!"
The girl started cackling as one of her cards flipped up. "Not so fast! I chain Gift Card! You won't get a chance to get rid of my nurse before your life points hit 0!"
Kai smiled. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Reveal face-down! Hallowed Life Barrier!" The card raised face-up, revealing an individual creating a barrier that seemed to protect him from various attacks. "By discarding a card from my hand, all damage I take this turn is reduced to 0!"
"What?!" The girl watched in horror as the barrier protected Kai from the mist emanating from the gift card. "You. You had that down from the beginning! Why didn't you use it earlier!?"
Kai shook his head at her. "That right there is why you're not a duelist. There's a big difference between playing a card and using a card. A true duelist knows when the right time to use a card is. Like right now! Mystical Space Typhoon destroy Call of the Haunted!"
The card was destroyed, taking the nurse with it. The girl was shocked beyond belief. This wasn't supposed to be how it went! She managed to collect herself and chuckle. "It doesn't matter. You still don't have a single monster out, meaning you can't beat me." And even if he does, Sakuretsu Armor will make sure it doesn't get far.
"I summon Shadow Hunter – Priestess of Shadow to my field!" A ball of light started to form on his field. As it finished, it showed the full form of the girl that spoke to him earlier. She had short red hair and wore a black priestess robe. She appeared to be slightly older than her first appearance, now seeming to be in her teenage years.
Shadow Hunter – Priestess of Shadow
Level 4 LIGHT Spellcaster
1200 ATK/ 1700 DEF
Chris looked confused. "Huh? Since when did you have that card? You've never used it before."
Kai smirked. "You ready Partner?" The girl turned around and nodded, giving Kai all the information he needed. "I activate the effect of Joan from my graveyard! Since I control another Shadow Hunter, I can special summon her to my side of the field at the cost of 500 life points!"
KAI VALENTINE 600 LP 100
Joan's form descended from the sky, looking like an angel as she reached the ground and unsheathed the sword again.
Shadow Hunter – Joan of Arc
Level 4 LIGHT Warrior
1700 ATK/ 1300 DEF
"It's over for you! Priestess, and Joan! Attack her life points directly!"
The girl laughed. "I won't let you! On your Joan I activate Sakuretsu Armor!" The card appeared, depicting a creature in armor that seemed to be getting disintegrated.
Kai smirked. "As if I'd let you. Priestess' effect activates! Once per turn, if you activate a Spell/Trap card that would destroy a Shadow Hunter monster…I can negate the activation!"
A look of horror emerged on the woman's face. "What?! But then…"
"Like I said…IT'S OVER FOR YOU!" The monsters struck against the woman, sending her flying backward into the woods.
SHADOW HUNTER 1600 LP - 0
KAI VALENTINE WINS!
Kai panted slightly before having to go down to a knee. "Shit. That was more intense than I thought it'd be."
Chris looked at his friend with the most "I told you so" face ever. "Gee, you think?"
The victor rose to his feet before looking into the woods. "Let's go check up on her. And get some answers while we're at it."
The boys walked forward, heading toward where the woman landed. Kai scanned the area, and quickly found the cloaked figure lying against the ground. "Alright chick. It's time for us to get some answers out of you." He turned her over and jumped back in surprise.
Chris walked over, looking confused. "What's wrong Kai let's just- YO, WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Staring back at them was not a woman, but a skeleton that already seemed to be crumbling away into dust. Kai watched in amazement as the entire body crumpled away, before the dust scattered off in the wind.
Looking between each other was about the best the two men could hope to do. Chris just shook his head and placed a hand on Kai's shoulder. "We're going back to the dorm. Before some more freaky shadow magic shit happens, OK?"
Kai nodded and started following him back, being sure to collect the duelist and his belongings. "We have to head to the Chancellor's office first."
Chris looked at him in surprise. "And why exactly would we do that? I just wanna go home!"
"Unless you wanna explain why we're lugging a guy around who seems to have lost his soul, I suggest we speak to Chancellor Rousenhall." Chris wanted to argue, but felt the words dying in his mouth. Without further complain, they made their way to the Chancellor's office.
As the two men made their way through the woods, Kai was deep in thought. That wasn't normal, was it partner?
"I'm afraid not. That woman had power over spirits. It's how she was conducting a Shadow Game like that."
Thought so. So, we're dealing with people like me then?
"I'm not sure. It seemed different from the power your family wields. Eviler in nature."
Well…that's just great then. Evil shadow magic. That's the last thing I needed to worry about.
The priestess chuckled before continuing. "Yet you chose this path yourself, did you not? You could have remained ignorant."
I guess so. I'm just a good guy like that, aren't I…
TO BE CONTINUED….
CARD DEBUTS:
Original Cards:
Shadow Hunter – Hidden Sniper
Level 2/Warrior/WIND
800 ATK/ 1600 DEF
Effect: If you control another face-up "Shadow Hunter" monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). You can inflict damage to your opponent equal to the number of face-up "Shadow Hunter" monsters you control x300. This card cannot attack the turn you activate this effect. You can only activate the effect of "Shadow Hunter- Hidden Sniper" once per turn.
Shadow Hunter – Priestess of Shadow
Level 4/Spellcaster/LIGHT
1200 ATK/ 1700 DEF
Effect: (Quick Effect): If your opponent activates a Spell/Trap card that would destroy a "Shadow Hunter" monster you control, you can negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it. If you control another "Shadow Hunter" monster, this card cannot be destroyed by card effects. You can only activate the effect of "Shadow Hunter – Priestess of Shadow" once per turn.
Onslaught of Darkness
Normal Trap Card
Effect: Activate this card only when a "Shadow Hunter" monster you control is destroyed by an opponent's card (by battle or card effect), Inflict damage to your opponent based on the Original ATK of the destroyed monster. You can only activate 1 "Onslaught of Darkness" per turn.
Real Cards:
Darklord Nurse Reficule
Level 4/Fairy/DARK
1400 ATK/ 600 DEF
Effect: Any effect that would make your opponent gain LP inflicts the same amount of damage to them, instead.
Upstart Goblin
Normal Spell Card
Effect: Draw 1 card, then your opponent gains 1000 Life Points.
Anti-Magic Arrows
Quick-play Spell Card
Effect: At the start of the Battle Phase: For the rest of this turn after this card resolves, Spell/Trap Cards, and their effects, cannot be activated. Cards and effects cannot be activated in response to this card's activation.
Call of the Haunted
Continuous Trap Card
Effect: Activate this card by targeting 1 monster in your GY; Special Summon that target in Attack Position. When this card leaves the field, destroy that target. When that target is destroyed, destroy this card.
Hallowed Life Barrier
Normal Trap Card
Effect: Discard 1 card. This turn, any damage you take from your opponent's cards and effects becomes 0.
Sakuretsu Armor
Normal Trap Card
Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; destroy that target.
(A/N: by the way, if anyone that reads this happens to use the site Dueling Book, almost all of my cards are all on there and available for public use! Just look them up in the Custom Cards, and you can play with any of these cards if you want!)
