Foreword: I'm broke after spending my pocket money on cards and games. I don't think I'll be spending much for the next one-and-a-half year.
Once again, comments and suggestions are always welcome!
Touhou Duel Masters Café
Chapter 8 – To bury everything of yours in Darkness
"Sanctuary Extinction!" An explosion erupted from where The First's opponent was standing as he gave the order for the final attack, rocking the area and sending flocks of animals scuttling even further than they were during the duel.
"Hah…Hah…" The First panted, brushing off the dark hair that screened in front of his eyes. He surveyed his surroundings. There stood multiple figures, black and disproportioned, vegetation decaying around their feet. They groaned, almost like zombies, as another one of them reached towards him with its deck.
"Kuh…" Gritting his teeth, The First expanded his blue crystalline shields for the fourth time. The fourth time he has to deal to with corrupted replicas of his lost friends. The Pleiades, The First and The Second's most trusted and beloved friends, even more so than Subaru, a fellow Constellation.
Now, with his power, Shangri-La has replicated their souls into enemies, like he did with Subaru. It was not them, The First and Second knew. They were gone. Forever. They can't come back. These are just mere copies, illusions, fakes. But even so, to fight to the death with their friends was not an idea they enjoyed.
He felled Karma, Levia and Three's counterfeits from the very start, so that his emotions would calm down, even in the slightest. And to save The Second from the same pain lest he sees his situation.
The process was not even half done. Now, to deal to with his fourth opponent. The replication of Artorigus. The one person with the most intense sense of Justice among them all. And to top that, he ranks among the top three of the Pleiades.
But The First will not back down. Until they have been defeated. All of them. And then Shangri-La, so that even as copies, they will not feel pain and sadness anymore. He sincerely hoped that they have achieved Heaven, to enjoy the bliss that the Lord had promised. But for now, he has to focus on the task at hand.
"Duema, Start."
BGM: Battlefield - The Hidden One (7th Dragon 2020 OST)
"Come forth, the sword of Friendship! The materialization of the bonds made through the millennium! Guide me to the light of Victory! Outlaw Caliber, Katsuking MAX!" The Second summoned one of his aces, and the sword-wielding dragonoid Outrage MAX materialized, slashing Volg Thunder into two. "With his Come Into Play effect I destroy Volg Thunder, which has less than 8000 power!"
As the Demon Command dissipated into light, Subaru started his turn. "…Draw…"
"I cast…Death Gate…" As Katsuking MAX was destroyed by the snaring tentacles, Subaru put Taiganitoro, Explosive Devil into his battle zone.
"I won't let you have your way that easily!" The Second shouted. "Doron Go! Katsuking MAX! With his ability I destroy Taiganitoro!" The Funky Nightmare was easily cut into light with the power of Katsuking's sword, who appeared on the battle zone once more.
"…Turn…End…"
"I'll make sure I put you down for a longer period this time! So endure this until we get rid of Shangri-La!" The Second promised the replication. "I summon Codeking Number Nine!"
The yellow King Command Dragon roared, his sword emitting the power of spell suppression, forbidding Subaru from casting any spells.
"Battle! Katsuking MAX! Double Break!" He ordered, and the Outrage MAX obeyed, slashing away two of Subaru's shields.
"Shield…Trigger…Necrodragon Odol Needle…" The Dragon Zombie rose from the ground.
"Chi…! Turn End." The Second bit his lip.
"I summon…Necrodragon Abayo Shabayo…and destroy him…"
"…I destroy Katsuking MAX."
Both creatures were engulfed in explosions and disappeared from the battle zone.
"I summon…Zabi Barrel…"
"…" The Second was already handless, so to him that was only a mere blocker. "My turn."
"I cast Seventh Tower. With its Metamorph, I put three cards into my mana zone instead of one."
The top three cards of The Second's deck did so. "Turn End."
"I…summon…Dead Ryusei, Eternal Demon Dragon…" Subaru summoned the Demon Command Dragon, and with a blast sent Number Nine into oblivion. "Since a creature is destroyed…I draw a card…"
"…My turn. I summon Codeking Wilhelm!" The Second top-decked his next creature. "I destroy Dead Ryusei and burn Bone Dance Charger in your mana zone!"
The King Command Dragon appeared, and with his lance speared through the Demon Command Dragon, while blasting another card from Subaru's mana zone into his graveyard. The top two cards of The Second's deck went into his mana zone.
Now we've done something about that Ryusei…but I don't have any hands right now…Top decking isn't gonna help me in the long term…
"Turn End."
"My…turn… I cast Hyperspatial Romanoff Hole…"
"Ugh…" The Second watched as Codeking Wilhelm was invited off the field just after one turn.
"I put Diabolos Double Zeta, Temporal Demon Dragon…into the battle zone…"From the Hyperspace, the Diabolos Double Zeta emerged, wielding his lances of destruction.
"Kuh…Double Zeta…"
"Turn…End…"
"My turn…!" The Second stared at his drawn card. "Dammit…!"
He charged Faerie Miracle into his mana zone. "Turn End…"
Just one turn more and I'll be a goner…
"Draw… I summon Ryusei In The Dark…Turn End…" The second Darkness Ryusei appeared on the battlezone, his pitch-black body emitting a chaotic aura.
"…" The Second closed his eyes.
This is most probably my last turn. There is almost nothing that can turn this situation around…
But there is still hope… As long I still have a draw remaining…!
His hand reached for his deck. The one card for this duel…!
BGM: Duel of Friendship (YGO ZeXal Sound Duel 3)
"Ore no! Taaaaaaan!" His hand glowing a bright white, The Second snatched the top card off his deck, as the shockwave of this draw rocked the forest, sending the animals fleeing once more.
"…!" The Second peeked at his drawn card. "…I cast Intense Vacuuming Twist!"
The top five cards revealed themselves to him. Snatching one of them, he declared, "I add Victory Rush, Onimaru Head to my hand! Since he's a fire card, I bounce Ryusei In The Dark back to your hand!"
The Demon Command Dragon dispersed into particles as he was returned to Subaru's hand. "…"
"I summon Onimaru Head! Battle! I attack your shields! And Gachinko Judge!"
Both players' top deck revealed themselves. Subaru's card was Jenny, Suicide Doll while The Second revealed Faerie Miracle.
"I win! So I get another turn after this!" The Second said. "Triple Break!"
"I block…with Zabi Barrel…"
As Onimaru charged with full ferocity at Subaru's shields, the Death Puppet stood in his way, and the Humanoid, with the Dragon at his back, severed the opposing creature in two with his blade of flames.
"My extra turn!" The Second declared, as all his cards untapped. "I summon Riot, 5000GT! With his effect I destroy all Psychic creatures and all creatures with 5000 power or less!"
The Outrage destroyed Diabolos Double Zeta with his raging chainsaw on his left arm, and the fragments that dispersed over the field from the explosion that occurred hit Odol Needle, destroying the Dragon Zombie in the process.
"Battle! Onimaru! Gachinko Judge!"
This time, Subaru revealed Grateful Dead while The Second's revealed itself as Katsuking MAX.
"…Thanks, partner!" He nodded as the card was sent to the bottom, receiving a strong "Hm" in reply.
"Triple Break!" This time, with nothing to stop him, Onimaru slashed away one shield and Musou Kaiser charged through the remaining two.
"…Shield Trigger…Death Gate… I destroy 5000GT and put Dead Ryusei into my battle zone…" Subaru's replica moaned, and cast the spell, destroying the Outrage and bringing out the Demon Command Dragon once more. "I destroy Onimaru Head…and draw one card…"
"It's useless now! Nothing can stop this relentless rush of Victory! My turn! Draw! I summon Cyber N World!"
The Cyber Command materialized, and with a flash, five new cards replaced each player's hand, along with the disappearance of all cards from their graveyards.
"I summon Bolbalzark Ex! With his ability I untap all cards in my battle zone!" The Dragon that had inherited the name of Bolbalzark roared, as all cards in The Second's mana zone untapped.
"I haven't finished yet! I summon Katsuking MAX! Partner! Let's get this done with!"
The creature nodded as he appeared on the battle zone. "With my ability, I destroy a creature with 8000 power or less! Begone! Dead Ryusei!" With that declaration, Dead Ryusei vanished from the battle zone, while Subaru drew another card.
"This is the last! Subaru! I'll end it with this!" The Second said, clenching his fists. "Bolbalzark Ex! Direct Attack!"
"Ninja Strike 7…Hanzou…"
"…Kuh…" The Second gripped his cards as the Armored Dragon was sliced apart by the Shinobi in humanoid form, and disappeared in an explosion. "Turn End…" The Shinobi Demon Command vanished from the field as he was sent back to Subaru's deck bottom.
"Draw…" Subaru's twisted voice reached his ears. "I cast Romanoff Hole…"
"…I destroy Cyber N World." The Second said as the blue Cyber Command was sucked into the whirlpool of destruction and was promptly destroyed.
"I bring out…Diabolos Double Zeta… Then I summon Zabi Barrel…"
The Death Puppet appeared along with the Diabolos, shooting Spellcyclica out of The Second's hand with his revolvers.
"Chi...my turn! I cast Hyperspatial Dravita Hole! I put Galaxy, Temporal Immortal into my battle zone!"
"…Subaru…This time, it really is the end! With Katsuking MAX's effect, I can summon a creature from my mana zone once per turn! Evolution! I evolve Galaxy into this guy! The Holy Dragon of the Heavens! End all with this one last strike!"
The Second's Galaxy encased himself in the cocoon of evolution, and a bright holy light burst out, and from it, the ace to victory emerged.
"Holy Dragon Bolshack Ulpheus!" The Armored Dragon and Angel Command Hybrid emerged, wielding his sword of holy flames.
"Hmph…Bolshack Ulpheus… Good to see you again!" Katsuking nodded at his companion, and the Dragon nodded in return.
"Let's end this! With my effect, I cast Last Violence for no cost!" Bolshack Ulpheus boomed. "I destroy Double Zeta!"
The door to the end of battles opened, shooting an array of weapons that impaled and destroyed the Demon Command Dragon, while two cards from Subaru's mana zone were burned to his graveyard, and the top deck of The Second's deck became a new shield.
"With Last Violence's effect, I add Romanesk from my deck to my hand!"
"Battle! Bolshack Ulpheus! Direct Attack!
"Zabi Barrel… Block…" The Angel Command ignored the barrage of bullets from the Death Puppet, slicing him apart with ease as Zabi Barrel vanished into light. There was nothing between The Second's last creature and Subaru now.
"This is the real end! Katsuking MAX! Todomeda!"
As The Second fell on his back, panting and sweating from the heated duel and dragging his fatigued body back to the beacon, he caught the sound of rustling bushes behind him. Turning quickly and tensing his tired muscles, he found The First stumbling out, clothes scratched and torn and covered with mud and leaves, and on the verge of toppling over.
He rushed over to his friend to stop him from falling onto the ground.
"You all right?"
"Somehow…yeah…" The First replied between breaths, eyes almost without light and energy.
"Calm yourself man. You'll pass out like this."
"Ha…ha…"
"What happened?"
"Just…took care of stuff like Subaru…"
"I see…"
"You?"
"Same."
Time passed in silence as they rested. All was quiet, save for the sounds of various curious animals that surrounded them. Darkness enshrouded them, as the barrier continued to cut off the outside world, further cutting off sunlight from the already-dark forest.
Reimu pressed her palm against the barrier. The further she pushed, the harder it resisted, and it threatened to bounce her back as her whole body leaned on it.
She frowned. There weren't many who could actually make a barrier like this in Gensokyo.
They stood on the outside of a small forest to the south of the Human Village, and despite some youkai residents, was relatively harmless and peaceful.
"Gap hag, come out this instant." She almost ordered.
There was no response, as the sun continued to beam its scorching rays onto the ground.
"Yukari…" Reimu's temper was rising, her voice getting dangerous.
As if responding to her anger, a gap opened beside her.
"What's the meaning of this?" Reimu questioned threateningly.
"Something that I would rather you not have yourself involved in." Yukari replied nonchalantly. "It's more of some…private business, after all."
"Is there anything that I should not be involved in at this point, where everything is on the brink of destruction?" Reimu gripped her deck.
"It is your duty to maintain the balance of Gensokyo, after all." Yukari, as she leaned on her gap. "However…there are personal matters that you cannot handle…nor you have any say in those issues. It is natural for people to take care of their matters, you know?"
Reimu glared at the Gap Youkai, and in response the Youkai Sage opened her fan and covered half of her face.
"Chi…I'll let this slide this one time." Reimu broke her gaze. "But tell me. Why are you setting up this barrier? Who is inside?"
Yukari closed her eyes, but did not answer.
"…It's those two, isn't it? I could feel it before…You're definitely hiding something from us. Something about them, and Shangri-La." The shrine maiden accused.
"Sa~?" Yukari did not refute those claims. "Whatever you believe to be."
"…Then a duel." Reimu reached for her deck again. "If I win, tell me everything you know."
"Hey, Reimu…" Marisa tried to reason with her, but Reimu ignored the magician.
"…Are you sure about this?" Yukari squinted at her, her golden hair swaying ever so slightly. "Challenging me might not be a good idea right now…"
"Yeah, Reimu, we can't be so rash…"
"With Gaiginga with me, we can do anything! Yukari, duel with me!"
"…If that is what you wish." Yukari took out her deck. "Then expect no mercy this time."
"Bring it on!" Reimu's deck glowed a fiery red. "I am not afraid of anything, any more!"
"…Now, I shall bury everything of yours in darkness." Yukari's deck glowed in the same fashion, albeit in a color of jet black.
"Duema, Start!"
Satori trudged along the streets of Old Hell, taking in all the thoughts around her, which mainly consisted of gambling, drinking, fighting and boasting. Typical behavior of the oni. But she's gotten used to it. She continued along the busy streets, searching for someone.
Stopping short in front of a table, her thoughts resonated in the mind of her target, "Yuugi, I have some business to discuss with you. Come with me."
The long-haired blonde oni with turned to Satori, her cheeks red from consuming large quantities of sake. "Oh…Satori…nice to see you here…What's up?"
"I have some…private matters to discuss with you. It is quite important." She transferred her thoughts to Yuugi's mind, her face devoid of any emotion. "Would you mind?"
"…Sure. If you're coming to me personally… Then it must be pretty urgent." Yuugi stood up from the table, and waved goodbye to her fellow oni, who waved back in return cheerfully, and continued with their game of drinking shortly thereafter.
"Yuugi… It would be better not to talk aloud. Just think, and I'll be able to hear." Satori "said."
"…I don't know what's going on, but this seems pretty serious." Yuugi thought. "What kind of help do you need?"
"Okuu and Orin…" Satori told her friend. "They've been held in captivity."
"…Who?"
"Seiga…Kaku Seiga. She's an evil hermit." Satori grit her teeth. "She's holding them hostage and bending me to her will…"
"…You want me to beat her up? I'd have no problem with that." Yuugi grind her palm and fists together.
"…Not now." Satori shook her head. "I need you to go and fetch these two people here…" She transferred the images to Yuugi.
"Hm… Then why didn't you tell Reimu earlier? I saw her here some moments ago…"
"Seiga was watching…any suspicious movement would alarm her… And given Reimu's personality, she might just cause a large fuss if I told her…"
"I see. I'll help you out then. Be careful yourself."
Nodding, Satori retreated to her own mansion, as she watched Yuugi leave for the exit to the ground.
"…" Watching the busy streets from the windows of her room, Satori pondered about her sister, and her favorite pets.
Marisa watched, jaws wide open, as Yukari delivered her final attack. Reimu had barely any time to recover from the relentless barrage of Yukari's assault starting on turn 3. She couldn't do anything against the Youkai Sage.
Reimu lay sprawled on the floor, a look of disbelief on her face after being soundly defeated by Yukari.
"That teaches you, Reimu, to not be overconfident of yourself." Yukari left this sentence, and subsequently disappeared inside her gap.
"That was…" Marisa couldn't even describe what she just saw. Was it just pure luck? Or something else? The smooth actions of Yukari's deck were almost out of this world. Just how small was the chance of all of that happening? And abilities were supposed to be suppressed during duels….
Damn…she's too strong!
"…So, Reimu… What are we going to do now?"
"We wait. As long as this barrier is here, there must be something inside… I can feel it." Reimu sat up and replied, as if nothing had happened. "Once it drops…"
She hid under a tree for protection against the afternoon sun. "Then we'll grab them and choke out what they know. Yukari can't stop us from doing this."
"O, oh…"
Marisa wanted to say that this might actually be a diversion, but finally decided against that and kept her mouth shut, resting in the shades along with Reimu.
"So Marisa and Reimu are out there finding those two people right now?" Alice asked.
Patchouli affirmed by nodding her head.
"Huff…those two…can't blame them really." The puppeteer sighed, setting her grimoire on the table. Shanghai perched on her shoulder, looking around in mild boredom.
"Sakuya, go and have a look at what they're doing." Remilia ordered. "Help them out if you have to."
The silver-haired maid bowed, and with a click of her fingers, vanished from the library.
"Are you sure they'll be fine, Remy?" Patchouli ever so slightly looked up from her giant book.
"Of course, Patchy. Those who have defeated me aren't going to fall that easily." The vampire smiled in response. "And Sakuya is my trusted servant. She'll take care of matters in no time."
"…Hm." The Great Unmoving Library resumed her reading in silence.
Alice had wandered off in search of some books, and the library became quiet once again, except for the sound of Koakuma organizing books, and the footsteps of Alice resonating through the giant room.
The First and The Second, having rested for an hour, finally restored enough stamina to continue on their quest. With a little magic, they patched themselves up and started on their mission once again.
This time, they made sure they were together.
After all, this time might be the real deal…
The pair walked around, searching high and low for the card of Shangri-La.
Thank God this area is small…thought the First. Or else we might spend an eternity trying to find him.
Finally, they reached the center of the forest, after searching every other corner of the area.
"…There he is." The Second muttered, as he and his companion looked up.
Floating in front of a large tree, was the glowing card of Shangri-La.
"…You dare come and face me again…?" He boomed, emotionless and ruthless.
"We'll take you down no matter what it takes or how many times we need to do so." The Second spat. "As long as place remains as it is…!"
"…Then be it…!"
A white light emitted from his card, and enveloped The First and The Second as they shielded their eyes.
"Kuh…!"
Then everything became pure white.
"…!" Reimu's eyes widened, and she turned to the forest.
"Wha…" Marisa felt it too, as she stood up from the ground.
A sudden fluctuation of energy that pulsated and broke through the barrier… It is only a split second, but they both felt it.
"What was that…" Marisa asked.
"I don't know…" Reimu shook her head. "But I'm sure that is not a good thing…"
"So even you don't know huh…" A voice rose up behind Marisa, causing her almost jump out of her skin.
"Sakuya!? What are you doing here?"
"From the orders of my mistress, I am here to support you." Sakuya answered Marisa's question.
"Oh…" Marisa sighed and shrugged. "Well, as you can see, we can't do anything about this barrier here as long as Yukari doesn't take it down… Even Reimu can't go past it."
"I see…" The maid folded her arms and stared at the forest. "This is tricky then…"
They stood there, waiting, as moments pass without anything of interest happens.
Marisa was yawning when the earth shook abruptly.
"!?"
A great pillar of light shot through the think blanket of trees and even the barrier itself, shaking the ground and blasting apart the few clouds in the sky.
"Wha…!"
The beam penetrated the barrier, and it quickly fell apart as the structure decomposed.
"…Now!" Starting from Reimu, the trio sped into the forest, now back to one with Gensokyo.
They stopped short, breathing in surprise as they surveyed what was in front of them.
The center of the forest was cleared, all surrounding vegetation reduced to ash. A large circle took the place of the trees that were once there, as sunlight poured down on to the unconscious bodies of the two Café masters.
"…!" Marisa fists clenched in disbelief. "They…lost?"
"Against Shangri-La…?" Reimu guessed. "Just how strong is he, to be able to defeat these two…"
Sakuya moved towards The First and The Second.
"In any case…we should take them back and see what they know and what happened."
Reimu and Marisa nodded in agreement, and started to follow Sakuya when a voice interrupted them.
"Heh…sorry to interrupt. But I will be the one taking those guys."
"…!"
The three turned to see a figure walking out of the perimeter of the cleared circle, and they recognized the sudden intruder at first glance.
"Hoshiguma…Yuugi!"
The oni smiled in response and waved.
"Yo."
Decks:
The Second: 5C Big Mana (5色ビマナ)
Subaru: Mono Black Control (黒単コントロール)
Yukari:? (One can guess if you look closely enough)
Would be surprised if you hadn't guessed The First and The Second's identity by now.
