Chapter 9
Monster Reincarnation
Only few can join the ranks of the Chosen of Despair. There were nine of them, but the weakest has been culled from the ranks. Luckily, there is one warrior who can replace the defeated weakling.
This was not like any of the earlier places he had seen in his dreams. From the moment his mind had been noticed by the General, his dreams had been filled with strangeness. At first, he had dismissed them, but then the visions had grown more and more vivid. They had began to make more and more sense, and finally he had deserted the waking world for the General's corruption. Now, he had one more trial to overcome. Find a certain beast in this abandoned city, and destroy it. Then, he would have his Guardian, and would be the true warrior Despair needed.
Although the city had breathable air, it was still in a dome, surrounded by water and great darkness. All the light came from lanterns burning with strange purplish flames, ones that could be seen on the walls of every building. But no matter where you were in the city, you couldn't see the central area because it was completely light-less. But that was exactly where he had gone. And in the exact middle point of the city, there was a grand temple. It had been as dark as the others from the outside, but the insides were brightly lit.
Inside that temple, there is a coffin. Knock on it and issue a challenge to begin your trial. Those were the last steps of his mission, so he would do it now. He walked down to the simple wooden coffin and knocked on it once. Then twice, and shouted: I am Hawk, and I seek the power of Despair. Come out, whatever you are!
The coffin slowly opened, and Hawk did not know what to expect. But as the thing emerged, all the lights expect the one above him suddenly went out and all he could see was a vaguely humanoid shape. I accept your challenge, seeker Hawk. As the challenged one, I allow you to make the first move.
[Hawk: 4000 LP] [Creature: 4000 LP]
I shall set a monster and a trap card, then pass. Hawk had no idea what this creature would be doing. Heck, he had no idea what the thing was other than the description: beast. Thus, he let the unseen thing start its turn. I summon Kick Man in attack mode, and boost it with Black Pendant and Ribbon of Rebirth. (1800 ATK). A pillar of light filled the room, revealing the zombie, now wearing the dark item and a cute ribbon, as it leaped at the face-down card. You destroyed my Slate Warrior, which saps 500 points from that creature of yours. (1800-500=1300 ATK)
The monster ended its turn with no reversed cards and thus Hawk was ready to start his strategy. First I set a card, then I summon Bistro Butcher (1800 ATK) and activate my face-down card, Greed. Then, my monster hits yours! The butcher killed the defending zombie [C: 4000-500=3500], which returned to the field, reattaching the pendant to itself. [H: 4000-500=3500 LP] And because you took damage from the butcher, you must draw two cards. The opponent did, and Hawk ended his turn to let the opponent be pelted by coins. [C: 3500-1000=2500]
I summon my D.D. Survivor (1800 ATK), and then activate the normal spell, Release Process. I banish one monster and one equip spell I control to summon a "Hollowed" fusion monster from my extra deck. I select Survivor and Black Pendant. Both cards vanished into a vortex, and out came a creature of wood, carved to resemble a human but left faceless. All over the creature there were holes, and smoke was pouring out of all of them. Behold, Hollowed Pendant-Spirit. And with its special effect, upon being summoned, it can be equipped with a banished equip spell such as Black Pendant. (2000+500=2500 ATK)
The spirit pointed at the Butcher, covering it it a blast of smoke. As the smoke faded, only a skeleton remained of the creature. [H: 3500-700=2800 LP]. Then, my zombie attacks as well! The monster made a jump kick, but Hawk activated his trap: I use Call of the Haunted to bring my Butcher back to life! As the skeleton turned back to the original monster, the jumping zombie stopped mid-flight and returned to the original position. Well defended, challenger. Now, I set three cards and end my turn, thus returning my Survivor to play. And at the same time, Hollowed Pendant-Spirit deals you 500 points of damage!
Hawk coughed as the smoke surrounded him, blocking the little he could see of the surroundings. The darkness was suffocating, and he gasped for breath. I can't die here! I can't! As his desperation peaked he felt something snap and the spell vanished. [H: 2800-500=2300 LP] Then he noticed that a card he had never seen before had appeared in his hand. My Guardian..thank you. Now, I will win!
I attack with my Butcher, destroying your Zombie! The monster was destroyed, and a pile of coins formed above the opponent. [C: 2500-500=2000 LP]
Now, I summon Jutte Fighter and use it effect to switch your D.D. Survivor over to defense. Then, I Synchro Summon using my two monsters!
Bistro Butcher (4) + Jutte Fighter (2)
Flaws of the soul, gifts of the mind
all shall be made equal by Despair
Synchro Summon!
Bring us balance, Herald of Neutrality
As the chant completed, a strange angelic being descended from the skies. It had four wings, all covered in frost, and wielded a large crystal sword. The face of the creature was also covered by a visor of ice that was now dripping to the floor of the temple. (2100 ATK) This is my Guardian! No matter what you are, you are going down!
Interesting. I sense much power from that spirit. More than I would have expected from you. The monster spoke with its booming voice. I have to apologize for underestimating you, seeker Hawk. But now, I will fight seriously. Hawk quickly read through the new effect box and saw an opportunity. If you like equip spells that much, I will equip your Hollow with Big Bang Shot. Then, I use the effect of my Guardian, sending one card I control to the graveyard. The equip spell vanished, and with it also the equipped monster. Of course, that activates Black Pendant [H: 2300-500=1800 LP] but I can take it.
Because now I get to look at your hand and banish a card from it. Spell of Pain, Broken Bamboo Blade and Dimensional Prison appeared above the creature, their light revealing more of it. It was a mass of skin bound together by strings of energy that looked somewhat like stitches. The body parts were not fully fitting together, and behind the knits one could see a dark reddish glow. Unlike the rest of the body, one of its legs was not a mockery of human flesh, but instead consisted of black, oily substance that was constantly flowing, creating the image of a hoof. You are ugly. But now, I banish Spell of Pain, but don't you worry. In exchange, you get to draw a card.
Another, smaller pile of coins was now above the monstrosity. That's three cards drawn, but then I use the second effect of my Guardian! I pay 800 life points [H:1800-800=1000 LP] to banish one card on your side of the field, but you get to draw a card. One of the three reverse cards vanished, revealing itself as Soul Rope as it did. Should have done those in the opposite order, really. But no matter, because he is taking damage equal to his life points now. Thus, Hawk ended his turn and the enemy was buried under a mass of falling coins. Well done, Seeker was the last thing the beast said before it vanished into the pile.
Elsewhere
Night had fallen, but the sinful man was still awake. Evil never sleeps, but Justice is aware of it. Gust had used the same spell as earlier, distorting air around his partner in order to make the duo invisible. Thus, entering the building had been simple, and so had been locating the target. Now, all that was left was deciding how to begin the execution. No flashy things, partner. I will just fuel your strength, and you will snap his neck before he has any chance to react. Then, I just gate the corpse away. The planars suggestion sounded wise, but Justice had other ideas. We can't just kill him out of nowhere! He needs to at least know he has suffered divine punishment. That is my responsibility as a hero.
The main problem with this suggestion was the woman somewhere in the apartment. If she were to see the hero at his work, they would be forced to kill her as well. Thus, Justice was now struggling between efficiency and his work ethic, and thus barely noticed her entering the room. That's her. Don't panic, no one can see us. The hunter had taken some panicked steps back, but now he was chiding himself of stupidity. If he had bumped into something, it would have been clearly noticeable and would have endangered the entire mission.
The he noticed that she was staring at the exact spot he was standing in. I think I heard something over there. She stopped for a while, and the duo moved quietly away from the point they had been in. Something is wrong. She is following our movements, even if she is trying not to stare. And her stance is all prepared for combat. Who is she...no! Justice had no idea what happened, but all out of the sudden both of them turned visible. DIE!, shouted the angry planar, and his partner felt multiple wind blades escape his surroundings and fly towards the woman. But before any of them could reach the target, a dragon appeared in front of her, blocking all the shots.
The surprise had been lost, and the hunter was now visible. Are you with Despair? The opponent asked him, and he quickly answered, seeing the opportunity: I am Justice! I am the blade that strikes down evil! With the messenger of heaven by my side, no one can oppose me! He then took a step towards the woman, still unaware what to do. Who was she? You are not..Wait! You are the last planar! Now, he realized: You are one of those who call themselves Hope! How dare you do so while your hands are filled with the blood of heavenly beings. Gust, here we go!
The woman looked confused: Heavenly? What...?, but the young man interrupted: You are my enemy. I don't need to know anything else! As he said that, he rushed forwards,augmenting his speed and strength with the planar's power. His first strike was launched with incredible skill, but it was slowed down by a strange barrier and deflected by the woman. That also happened to the following three strikes, and as they missed, the opponent used the opening to land a hit of their own. The fist connected with the shield of wind Gust had quickly formed, but surprisingly, the man was launched backwards.
Needles emerged from your hand the moment you struck. If I hadn't used the wind to propel Justice away, his chest would have been pierced. But it seems like the powers of your Guardian work the same way as mine, augmenting from the inside. Suddenly, the door slammed as Gorou rushed out of the room. Justice was still focusing on the opponent, but her concentration was broken by the sudden sound. Thus, the man used the opportunity to focus his energies and release a ball of still air. Before the Chosen could dodge, she was already bound inside a ball of air.
Keep her in. I will get the target. Justice felt part of his power vanish as Gust slipped outside his body and flew to the top of the sphere in the form of a blurred image. That spell steals the air surrounding her. To matter what she does, it won't help. But as he touched the door, a sudden sound alerted him.Watch out, partner! Like Gust and Justice had done,the enemy Guardian had also separated from the master, and the dragonic form had just released a volley of spikes where Justice stood. As the spikes pierced the sphere, air filled it and the master could get a breath in before Gust could close it again.
But for one moving with the speed of the wind, this attack was slow. Justce vaulted over the attack by kicking speed from the vault,and landed next to the prison sphere. He quickly linked his powers to it, allowing Gust to go free. And the planar did, by charging at the Guardian and smashing it to the other side of the room. Nice try. But villains never win. The barrier was lot more unstable now that Gust wasn't holding it, but Justice kept it tightly around the woman's face. She was struggling to press through the boundary, but it held strong even though it had to be made smaller and smaller. Both of the two were so focused to the desperate struggle that the sound of the spirits on the other side of the room went unheard.
Finally, the enemy collapsed inside the boundary. Justice still felt her life force, and knew that it wasn't over. She was merely focusing on the final attempt. Which came almost immediately, as she flipped up and dashed towards the boundary. But Justice would not allow that, and blasted her feet with a small tornado. She fell to the ground again, the sphere still firmly against her head. But now, she lifted a bandaged hand towards the man, pushing it out of the sphere. What? Justice reacted quickly, forming a barrier between them, but the flame that shout out of the hand simply passed through it.
My face! Jutice felt his connection to the barrier fade and the opponent take quick breaths. He also felt that the energy he was sending at the flames was not extinguishing them, although he was keeping the fire from touching his skin. But despite his force keeping the fire away, it still felt like the heat was cooking him. Then, a surge of power hit him and the flames vanished. He finally opened his eyes, and saw that Gust had formed a similar field of stale air around him. These flames...they belong to my brother! That thief not only killed him, but also stole his powers!
Justice realized that he had collapsed during his mental struggle, and sluggishly got up to his feet. Where did they go? The enemies had used the opportunity to escape the room.
Temple
Well done, but not well enough! Hawk heard a sound behind his back and turned to see the opponent still standing. My Damage Translation halves all effect damage [B: 2000-500-250-250=1000 LP] and I receive a token for each hit affected this way! Three phantoms now accompanied the Survivor.
I summon level 3 Tuner Comrade Swordsman of Landstar, and initiate a Synchro Summon!
Comrade Swordsman of Landstar (3) + D.D. Survivor (4) + Ghost token (1)
Power means nothing in face of Despair
Weakness is a bliss to be embraced
Synchro Summon!
Emerge, Devourer
Energy surrounded the beast as I pushed its hands against its head. Then, in a single move it ripped of its face, pushing it to the energy flow. (100 ATK) I banish my final trap card to set your monster to 0 attack, and then I finish this! The separated face smashed against the opposing guardian, disintegrating it on impact. As the monster faded away, Hawk also collapsed, sharing the loss it had suffered. [H: 1000-100-2100=0 LP] Thank you, seeker. With your life force, my body is finally prepared.
On the next step of the Journey:
Gust enraged versus Silver re-powered!
Hope makes its move...finally!
Chaper 10- Burst Impact
Cards in this chapter:
Release Process
Spell card
Fusion Summon 1 "Hollowed" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck by banishing monsters and equip spells on your side of the field as Fusion Materials.
A new way of summoning. Cool, but why does it have to be in the hands of our enemies?
Hollowed Pendant-Spirit
Level 6
Earth/Machine/Fusion
2000 ATK/1100 DEF
Black Pendant + LVL 4 or higher monster
When this card is Fusion Summoned, you may equip it with a banished Equip Spell. During your end phase, inflict 500 damage to your opponent.
This card can burn your points pretty fast, especially if it grabs its namesake equip. And judging from the name, there are more Hollowed!
Herald of Neutrality
Level 6
Water/Fairy/Synchro
2100 ATK/1000 DEF
Once per turn, you may discard a card to look at the opponent's hand. Banish a card from it, and the opponent draws a card.
Once per turn, you may pay 800 LP to select a card on the opponent's side of the field. Banish it, and the opponent draws a card.
Well, it is certainly neutral, giving draws to the opponent. Bt getting rid of their best cards on hand and field is worth that, and in a Greed deck, this angel is evil. Good luck we won't be facing this.
