Feast and Famine
By: Basketballdude51
(I don't own Yugioh.)
SIX YEARS AGO
"Lumen where are you taking me?" Akroma whined. "It's nearly impossible to hike up a mountain in these boots!"
Lumen chuckled. "You're such a cry baby. If it was that painful you would actually wear something functional."
"Some of us actually like to look good Lumen!" Akroma replied testily, tossing her blonde hair.
"If I had a choice between looking good or being alive I choose the latter," Lumen said, as he ducked under a tree branch.
The two Shadow Hunters made it to the top of the mountain, leading Akroma to gasp at the view. Below them was the forest which they had spent hours getting through, its colors and lushness providing a contrast to the blue sky and white clouds that were overhead. Hundreds of birds flew overhead, while the wind rustled the grass on the ground. The sun beamed down on Akroma and she giggled. "Is this where you take all of the girls you want to impress?"
"You're the first one to make it up here actually," Lumen chortled. "High heeled boots and all."
"Well you are my teacher Lumen, and I trust you enough to do anything you ask," Akroma admitted. "Although to be fair I expected this to be some sort of training exercise with shadow duelists attacking us or something."
"Far from it Akroma. You see this view is one of many pure things on this world. It hasn't been altered in any way, no people, no buildings, no destruction, just pure natural beauty. From your reaction I can see you appreciate its value too."
Akroma nodded. "Yes, it's breathtaking."
"Every time I need to clear my head I come here, and this view always reminds me of what I'm fighting for." Lumen said. "So even when everything seems to be at its darkest, I still have a reason to fight. To protect this world and its great potential."
The female Shadow Hunter looked at Lumen. Then she placed a hand on his shoulder. "And I'll always be fighting by your side, no matter what the circumstances."
"You possess many great qualities Akroma; loyalty, honesty, strength, courage, heart, I couldn't have asked for a better student." Lumen acknowledged.
"Aw Lumen, you're making me blush under this mask," Akroma laughed, playfully punching him.
"Nice to see you two flirting up here," Masque said, as he appeared in front of them.
"WE COULD'VE TELEPORTED UP HERE?" Akroma roared, turning to Lumen, who started to back away slowly. "YOU MADE ME WALK THROUGH A FORREST AND HALF A MOUNTAIN FOR HALF A DAY WHEN WE COULD'VE MADE IT HERE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS?"
"To be fair…walking up here adds to the magic," Lumen stuttered, still retreating from the fuming Akroma.
"Akroma don't kill him, after all he is one of the most powerful Hunters," Masque chuckled. "Anyways there's been a level 9 alert; we have intel that the Lightbringers are trying to open a portal to Grixis, to summon something. We don't know what, but anything from that place is something we don't need on Earth. The position is heavily fortified, and protected by anti-magic barriers so teleporting is not an option. The cultists are considered to be highly dangerous threats and you have authorization to terminate them with extreme prejudice. Except for Karona…take her alive we need to know how she managed to get enough power to open a portal of that magnitude."
"I like killing everyone," Lumen sighed. "Taking people alive is so much more annoying, especially when it's the leader of the Lightbringers."
"Who's on our team?" Akroma asked, calming down.
"Rakdos, Frost, Cassius, Gabriel and Famine are already being prepped." Masque answered.
"Sitting this out Masque?" Lumen taunted.
"You know protocol Lumen; only up to two of the top five Shadow Hunters are deployed unless it is absolutely necessary. No need for excess collateral damage. But if you and Rakdos mess this up don't worry I'll clean it up," Masque retorted.
Lumen sighed. "When have Rakdos and I ever messed up?"
"There's a first time for everything."
ONE HOUR LATER, IN A FORREST SOMEWHERE IN GERMANY
"Alright here's the plan," Lumen instructed to the assembled Shadow Hunters. "Frost you provide over watch until we've made it inside."
Frost nodded, a sniper rifle in his hands.
"Cassius and Famine, you two are in charge of the direct assault…I know you two are good at that."
Famine and the other Shadow Hunter chuckled, with the latter wearing a mask made out of gold with diamonds, rubies and other precious gems embedded in his mask, only his light blue eyes were visible through eye holes. Famine's hands glowed and a scimitar that had a putrid green aura appeared, with flies hovering around it and a putrid odor accompanying it. Cassius drew two katanas from two sheathes on his back, revealing the blades to be made of diamonds and the hilts to be made of gold.
"I demand a partner change, Famine always smells like rotting flesh," Cassius joked, as he swatted one of the flies away.
"I'm heartbroken Cassius," Famine sobbed dramatically.
"You'll survive Cassius," Lumen said amusedly. "Gabriel and Rakdos will be responsible for shutting down the portal, and Akroma and I will apprehend Karona."
"Sounds good," Rakdos said, a wicked looking chain made of black metal and surrounded with flames appearing in his left hand while his hellish looking sword appeared in his right hand. "So can we kill stuff now?"
"Let's bring an end to the Lightbringers," Akroma nodded, taking her two daggers out.
Lumen's gloved hands glowed white and the sword made of light appeared in his hands. "I'm so taking a holiday after this."
The others laughed. Then Famine and Cassius, weapons in tow headed straight towards the military base, completely ignoring the sirens and spotlights even as people dressed in white robes ran out of the buildings and attacked them!
One of the cultists threw a ball of white light at Famine, who caught it in his hand and crushed it, completely ignoring the explosion that it caused. Famine then ran and slashed the robed man, wounding him in the arm. Famine then turned to his next opponent, completely ignoring the first cultist as suddenly the man fell to his knees coughing, and then finally vomiting for what seemed like an eternity before falling dead.
Cassius was engaged in a sword fight with three Lightbringers, all of which had swords made of light. The Shadow Hunter parried the attacks skillfully, countering with lightning fast speed and impaling two of the cultists before beheading the last one.
Frost was watching the scene unfold through the scope of his rifle. "I think you four can go in now."
Immediately the four Shadow Hunters left their hiding spot and started running through the ensuing melee. Akroma leapt on two Lightbringers, stabbing them both simultaneously in the face with her daggers. Gabriel fired a blast of gold energy from his hands, obliterating a group of 5 cultists that has just run out. Rakdos's chain was wrapped around a man's neck, setting the man on fire while it was choking the man, and with his sword hand Rakdos was blocking the attack of another Lightbringer's sword. Lumen created a barrier of light just in time to block the blasts of energy fired at him, his mask glowed and then suddenly beams of light shot from the sky and hit all of the cultists, incinerating them completely!
"Showoff," Rakdos grumbled, as the Hunters stopped in front of the entrance.
"This is where we part ways temporarily," Lumen said, nodding to his comrades.
"Try not to die," Famine laughed as Cassius and him went and engaged a fresh group of cultists.
"He's such a downer," Gabriel sighed.
"I heard that," Famine shouted, as he decapitated a cultist.
"Head for the portal," Lumen commanded. "Akroma, with me."
Rakdos and Gabriel nodded, heading into the main building, a dreary looking structure made of brick.
"Alright now for Karona," Lumen said, suddenly side stepping a giant blast of energy that came from nowhere!
"Nice to see your reflexes are still sharp Lumen," a girl said, causing both Shadow Hunters to turn to the sound of her voice. She was dressed in a stunning white dress, which had a slit down one side revealing one of her legs. Her blonde hair was so light to the point of almost being white, and a white aura was around her.
"It ends tonight Karona!" Lumen shouted, his hand gripping tightly on his sword. "I don't know what you're trying to summon but you are dealing with things beyond your control!"
"No Lumen, it is you dealing with things beyond your control! You can't hope to stop me!" Karona sneered. "And once that summoning is complete the forces of light will take over this pathetic world and illuminate the darkness!"
"You fool, light and darkness are supposed to exist in harmony together," Lumen spat.
Karona laughed. "You are the highest ranked Shadow Hunter with the powers of light. You should be on my side, not against me!"
"I'm against the side that will harm innocents," Lumen replied.
"So be it," Karona shrugged, as eight men in white robes appeared next to her, each of them holding a broadsword with a blade made of white light.
"I'll take care of these eight chumps," Akroma said, twirling her daggers. "You take care of the pageant queen over there."
Lumen chuckled, his sword glowing and another blade light protruded out of the opposite end of the hilt, resulting in his weapon having two blades. "Done."
With that he ran at Karona, whose hands glowed, causing a white scepter with gold trim to appear in her hands. She fired a blast of energy at Lumen, who sliced through it with his weapon. Then he swung one end of his weapon at her, causing her to block it with her scepter. She hit Lumen with it, somehow sending him flying backwards. The Shadow Hunter landed on his feet, creating a barrier of light to block Karona's next blast of energy.
Meanwhile Akroma ducked under an attack by one of the robed men, countering by thrusting her daggers into the man's torso. Quickly withdrawing them from the man's body, she used the daggers to block a slash by another cultist behind her, without even turning around. Two of the cultists tried to take advantage of Akroma exposed front to run at her, only for her to swing her legs upwards and flip over the Lightbringer behind her. Instantly she slit the man's throat and in a smooth motion she threw her two daggers at the two men, hitting them exactly through their throats. Another Lightbringer slashed Akroma in the shoulder, causing her to stagger back. Sensing weakness the man attacked again, only for Akroma to dodge the sword and slash him twice in the face with her claws. Then she grabbed his sword and stabbed him through the chest with it. One of the remaining two cultists jumped forwards, only to get impaled by a giant icicle that came from nowhere!
The other cultist turned in time to get stabbed by both Frost's sword, and his hidden wrist blade, with the sword going through his stomach and the blade going through his temple.
"I had that taken care of you know," Akroma said, pulling her daggers out of the two corpses.
"I was getting antsy back there, not enough action," Frost chuckled. Then he turned to Lumen, who was still fighting Karona. "Shall we help Lumen?"
Akroma was already running into the fight. She threw one of her daggers at Karona, who dodged it, only to receive a blast of light from Lumen, sending her to the ground. She quickly got up, barely sidestepping an icicle that Frost threw at her. Frost's hands glowed, and suddenly Karona's lower body was frozen to the ground in a block of ice! Her eyes glowed white, and the ice melted, and she ran at the three Shadow Hunters, her scepter turning into a broadsword now. Karona swung her sword downwards towards Frost, who blocked the attack. Suddenly an icicle appeared behind Karona and flew at her, only for her to jump at the last minute, causing the icicle to impale Frost instead! Akroma tried to claw at Karona, but the Lightbringer grabbed her arm. Karona was about to stab Akroma, only for Lumen's sword to block her. The Pure One quickly placed his free hand on Karona's forehead, his hand glowing white. For a moment Karona stood still, as her white aura seemed to get drawn into Lumen's hand, and then it was gone! With a moan Karona's eyes rolled back into her head and she crumpled to the ground.
"You alright Frost?" Lumen asked, the aura around his hand disappearing as well.
Frost got up gingerly, pulling the icicle out of his abdomen. "Better than Karona," he replied, looking at the unconscious cultist. "I'm assuming you took her powers then?"
"Masque said we wanted her alive, so as much as I'd like to execute her…that isn't an option right now." Lumen answered, his sword disappearing.
Cassius and Famine walked out of one of the buildings, their swords covered in blood. Eyeing the fallen Karona Famine said disappointedly, "Ah so you did get her. I was hoping that all of you died so I could be the one to apprehend her."
"You're such a good comrade," Cassius said sarcastically. "Where are Rakdos and Gabriel?"
"Closing a portal shouldn't be that difficult for those two, unless something went wrong," Lumen acknowledged.
Suddenly one of the buildings exploded, and Rakdos and Gabriel flew out from the explosion, landing in front of the assembled Shadow Hunters.
"We may have a problem," Rakdos coughed, getting up gingerly.
From the rubble of the building a hideous four armed zombie like creature came out. It's body was completely decomposed, with grey flesh hanging loosely from its body. The upper two arms of this monster wielded cleavers, while the lower two arms held rusty hooks. Covering its face was a grey cowl.
The monster stepped forwards, analyzing the Shadow Hunters. "Prey…" It murmured.
"Who are you?" Lumen demanded, his hands glowing dangerously.
"I am Ichorid…humble servant of the Cryak," the abomination hissed.
"Stand down, or we will be forced to use any means necessary to contain you, Ichorid," Rakdos stated.
"I like it when my prey fight back, it makes the killing more enjoyable." And with that Ichorid leapt forwards, all four of its arms swinging at Cassius. Cassius blocked the creature's attacks at first, only to finally get slashed in the leg. Suddenly the Shadow Hunter dropped down to the ground, screaming in agony.
Famine, Frost and Gabriel drew their swords and ran at Ichorid, only for grey tentacles to burst out of its stomach, spearing through all three of the Shadow Hunters. The tentacles receded, leaving the two hunters on the ground yelling in excruciating pain.
"What have you done?" Akroma cried, watching her four comrades quivering on the ground.
"Inside every sentient creature, there is evil. Every day you have to fight the temptations of your darker side, a conflict which always occurs no matter how much good you have in you. I have simply magnified the conflict to the point where it causes great anguish." Ichorid hissed.
With superhuman strength Akroma jumped onto Ichorid, bringing her claws into its helmet and ripping it off, as well as some flesh, revealing only a gaping leechlike mouth. A tentacle shot out of Ichorid's mouth, stabbing Akroma through the shoulder! Ichorid then slashed at her with all four of his arms, finally throwing her backwards.
"Akroma!" Lumen cried, running over to her.
"I'm…alright…" Akroma spluttered, weakly getting up, deep lacerations visible on her shoulder, chest and torso.
"How are you not affected by my power?" Ichorid asked. "You should be suffering right now!"
Akroma laughed, gingerly putting her hand on the wound on her torso, which was profusely bleeding. "You said every sentient being had darkness in them…you were wrong."
Ichorid looked at her. "You are a rare breed then."
"Akroma, let Rakdos and I handle this monstrosity," Lumen said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You've taken enough damage already."
"With all due respect Lumen, I want to stop this thing." Akroma answered, turning to face him.
"Akroma I forbid that!" Lumen protested. "This Ichorid is too powerful, it incapacitated four Shadow Hunters!"
"Lumen, you told me that when everything it at its darkest, you remember the reason your fighting for." Akroma said soothingly. "Well I know full well what we're all fighting for, and I won't let this freak destroy it!"
"Let her do this," Rakdos nodded.
Lumen regarded Akroma slowly. Then he chuckled. "You remind me of someone else I know. I'm sure the two of you would've been great friends if not for…circumstances. I believe in you."
Akroma bowed to him, then she turned back to Ichorid. "Ready for round two?"
"Such a touching exchange, I can see how you lack inner darkness," Ichorid murmured, brandishing his weapons.
Akroma sprinted at Ichorid, dodging the tentacles that burst out of its stomach with a combination of cartwheels and flips. She thrust a dagger into Ichorid's stomach, stopping the tentacles. She avoided his arms, cutting off one of them with her dagger. Quickly, she picked up its dropped hook and jammed it into the monster's neck, causing it to yelp in pain. Using one of its remaining arms Ichorid impaled Akroma in the thigh with a hook, but the Shadow Hunter was seemingly unaffected as her claws glowed white, leading her to dig them into the incision on Ichorid's neck. With freakish strength she slowly ripped the horror in half by the neck, even as Ichorid kept on stabbing her with its three arms. Finally she split the monstrosity in half, throwing the halves to the ground and Ichorid was no more.
Suddenly a ray of sunlight shone on Akroma, a white feather falling in front of her, which she caught.
Lumen and Rakdos walked up to her. "Impressive Akroma, maybe we should promote you." Rakdos chuckled.
"I had a good teacher," she replied, looking at Lumen. Suddenly she fell forwards into Lumen's arms.
"Akroma are you alright?" Lumen asked, as Akroma's wounds started to bleed even more heavily.
"That Ichorid did a number on me," Akroma said shakily, trying to stand on her own, only to crumple to the ground.
"She's really weak right now," Rakdos commented, kneeling down beside the fallen Shadow Hunter. "It's probably a good time for you to use one of your many talents right now Lumen."
Lumen's hands glowed, and a ray of sunlight shone down on Akroma. Slowly a sphere of white energy floated down the ray of light and into Akroma's chest. Suddenly all of her wounds started to close up and heal almost instantly! Within a few moments Akroma's body was back to normal.
"One day you really have to show me that trick," Rakdos said.
Lumen carefully picked up Akroma in his arms, as the other Shadow Hunters started to get up. "If I did that I might as well take my mask off in front of you too."
Rakdos chuckled. "Touché."
PRESENT DAY, UNKNOWN LOCATION
"Penny for your thoughts?" Famine asked, walking past Akroma, who was meditating on the ground.
"You always lacked manners Famine," Akroma replied.
"You're still thinking about Lumen after all of this time, how sweet." Famine chuckled.
"Don't tell me you didn't lose people you cared about during your time as a Shadow Hunter Famine," Akroma shot back testily.
Famine sighed. "We can't undo the past Akroma."
"Sorry, sometimes I forget what happened to you." Akroma apologized.
"If you live long enough, you're bound to suffer eventually." Famine shrugged.
"Do you think…Lumen would approve of what we're doing right now?" Akroma inquired her voice almost at a whisper.
"I wish he could be here to answer that question himself my friend," Famine responded, as he turned and walked away, leaving Akroma to her thoughts.
ROYAL PARADISE HOTEL, SUITE 208
Matt was in a white dress shirt and black tie, complete with black dress pants. "Anthony does this look good?"
"Why are you asking me this?" Anthony asked. "Do I look like a hot French girl to you?"
"You're all I have okay!" Matt wailed. "By order of the friend code you need to help me with my girl problems!"
Anthony smacked his forehead. "I don't see any problem here. You're going on a date. Talk to her, eat, and pay for it. What else is there to it?"
"This is why you're so oblivious to Isabella," Matt sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Anthony raised his eyebrows.
"AHEM!" Isabella coughed loudly, walking into the room. "Why Matt you look quite dashing. I hope your date turns out well!"
"Thank you Isabella," Matt smiled. "See Anthony, that's how you support your friend in his time of need."
"Yes, because a Pro League duelist with millions of fan girls needs dating advice." Anthony rolled his eyes.
"Don't be such a party pooper Anthony!" Isabella smiled, hitting him playfully. "Maybe you should go on a date too! That way Matt and yourself could double date later!"
"But then I'd have to find a girl and that's too hard." Anthony replied obliviously.
Both Isabella and Matt smacked their heads. "I'm taking that as my cue to leave for my date," Matt sighed.
SUITE 209
"That Famine guy is going down!" Jaden declared. "He almost killed you Aster!"
"Jaden he's a lot stronger than you think," Aster frowned. "He has that Earthbound Immortal, as well as the Seal of Orichalcos. Combined with his plague deck, Famine has the ability to break through any kind of defense."
"What worries me is that he's only the second Shadow Hunter they sent," Alexis said. "That means the ones remaining after him are even stronger."
"We'll still kick their butts! Just like we beat the Shadow Riders, The Society of Light, and Darkness!" Jaden grinned, pumping his fist.
"Well Famine isn't going to wait long until he strikes again. And we have no idea who his next target is. We better keep our guard up." Zane warned.
"After what he put Aster through I want to be the one to duel him. You here that Famine? I'm coming for you!" Jaden exclaimed.
Suddenly a dark portal appeared underneath Jaden, Alexis, Zane and Jesse, causing them to fall through and disappear!
"This isn't good," Aster gulped.
SHADOW REALM
"Ugh where are we?" Jaden asked, as he slowly got up.
"This looks a lot like the Shadow Realm," Zane said, as he looked around, only seeing darkness surrounding the four duelists.
"How very observant," Famine chuckled, as he stepped out from the shadows.
"Famine, it's time to end this! I challenge you to a duel!" Jaden yelled. "I won't let you hurt anymore of my friends!"
"On the contrary Jaden, I'm about to hurt the one you care about most." Famine cackled, as chains burst from the ground, grabbing Jaden, Zane and Jesse by their wrists and ankles!
"Release them right now Famine!" Alexis demanded angrily, fury in her eyes.
"Oh I will, under the condition that you duel me. If I win I get your Eye of the Cryak, and if you win I'll be on my way." Famine answered casually.
"What about your Shadow Game?" Alexis asked.
"That pest in the cloak will probably just interfere again. So we'll do this the old fashioned way where the attacks are…quite real. Losing this duel will most likely kill you unless you have durability that I didn't give you credit for."
"Alexis don't do it!" Jaden screamed. "This guy is a monster! He'll kill you!"
Instantly the chains started to pull on Jaden, causing his body to stretch painfully, and the Elemental Hero duelist to wince.
"If you do not choose to accept my challenge, then I'm afraid you'll have to bury your friends…in pieces," Famine stated calmly.
"Alexis you don't have to do this! We can find another way out of this!" Jaden said desperately.
"Jaden…I have to, otherwise all four of you will die." Alexis shook her head, determination on her face. "There's no other option, and anyways I know I can take this freak down!"
Jaden's face softened. "Alright Lex, I believe in you too. Even though I'm chained up like this, that doesn't mean I'm not behind you 100%! Go kick this Shadow Hunter's butt!"
"We're all supporting you Alexis," Zane smiled, even as the chains tugged him slightly.
"No way are you going to lose to this guy!" Jesse flashed a thumbs up as best as he could.
"Thanks guys…all of you. And Jaden?"
"Yes Alexis?" Jaden asked.
Alexis blushed, trying to think of a way to say her true feelings to him, only to shake her head. "Never mind it can wait until after this duel."
"Finally, I thought all this sappy talk would never end," Famine sighed, activating his rotting duel disk.
"You seem eager to lose," Alexis narrowed her eyes, as she activated her duel disk as well.
Alexis: 8000 LP Famine: 8000 LP
A holographic coin appeared above their heads. "I call heads!" Famine declared, as the coin landed on heads.
Famine drew a card. "I summon Plague Carrier (ATK 800, DEF 0) in attack mode!"
The diseased man appeared on the field, moaning.
"Next I'll set two cards face down to finish my turn. Your move guardian."
"Get ready to lose Shadow Hunter!" Alexis said, swiftly getting a card from the top of her deck. "I play Machine Angel Ritual! Now by offering the level 4 Etoile Cyber (ATK 1200, DEF 1600) and the level 4 Blade Skater (ATK 1400, DEF 1500) from my hand I can ritual summon…Cyber Angel Dakini (ATK 2700, DEF 2400)!"
A blue light appeared on Alexis's side of the field, and a magnificent blue skinned woman stepped out. She had four arms, two of which wielded swords, while the lower two held one staff together.
"Since Cyber Angel Dakini was ritual summoned successfully, you have to choose one monster on your side of the field to get destroyed, but you don't have much of a choice there," Alexis grinned as Plague Carrier exploded.
"And since Plague Carrier didn't attack, its effect isn't activated! You go Lex!" Jaden cheered.
"Now you're open for a direct attack, so Cyber Angel Dakini, attack Famine directly with Cyber Slash Attack!" Alexis commanded.
The monster jumped forwards, slashing the Shadow Hunter with both of its swords, before firing a blast of blue energy from its staff right at Famine, who shrugged it off, even as his leg and shoulder started to bleed from the attack.
Alexis: 8000 LP Famine: 5300 LP
"I'll end my turn with that." The former Queen of Obelisk concluded, crossing her arms.
Zane looked at the field. Something isn't right, Famine had two facedown cards and he didn't activate them. There must be more to his strategy.
"Not bad Miss Rhodes. I summon Diseased Vermin (ATK 1400, DEF 0) in attack mode. And I'll end my turn with that." Famine said, as a giant fat rat arose in front of him, its skin tinted green and tumors all over its body.
"What kind of move is that?" Alexis questioned. "Leaving it in attack mode means your life points are open!"
"I'm no fool Miss Rhodes, I know your monster has a trampling effect. And since my Vermin's defense is zero I might as well just let you attack me directly again," Famine responded.
Alexis narrowed her eyes as she drew a card. "I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards!"
Alexis looked at the cards she just drew. "I play the spell card Fusion from Beyond! This lets me banish the Blade Skater and Etoile Cyber in my graveyard to summon Cyber Blader (ATK 2100, DEF 800) to the field!"
A blue haired woman wearing a red and purple body suit appeared on the field, with a visor over her eyes and skates on her feet.
"Since that was a fusion summon, I can still normal summon Cyber Tutu (ATK 1000, DEF 800) in attack mode!"
A young girl dressed in a teal and red body suit and a blue tutu materialized beside the Blade Skater.
"Alexis totally has this in the bag!" Jesse exclaimed.
Zane frowned. There must be something we're missing. This guy beat Aster without breaking a sweat; he must have something up his sleeve to let himself get behind Alexis so far.
"Cyber Blader, attack that overgrown rat!"
The skater kicked Diseased Vermin, using its skates to cut the rat in half.
Alexis: 8000 LP Famine 4600 LP
"When Diseased Vermin is destroyed I get to search my deck for any card and put it in my graveyard," Famine explained, as he looked through his deck. "And the card I choose is…Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu (ATK 3000, DEF 2500)."
"Wait that's not the Earthbound Immortal you used against Aster! And why would you send it to the graveyard?" Alexis asked.
"Who said Uru was the only Earthbound Immortal I had? As for why I chose to put it in my graveyard…you'll find out soon enough." Famine replied.
"Fine it doesn't matter! Cyber Tutu, Dakini…attack Famine directly!"
The ballerina kicked Famine in the gut, causing him to grunt. Then the four armed woman stabbed Famine in the chest with both of her swords. Famine put his hand to his chest, which now had two deep wounds in them.
Alexis: 8000 LP Famine 900 LP
"Great moves Lex! One more attack like that and you got this duel in the bag!" Jaden smiled.
Famine started to laugh. "You fool I activate my trap card Derelich's Disease!"
One of Famine's facedown cards came up, revealing a trap card depicting a city completely destroyed, with rotting corpses strewn everywhere. An ominous shadow loomed over the fallen city.
All of the sudden the same shadow loomed over the field and an enormous rotting black hand burst through the ground! The ground rumbled, as a mammoth being erupted from beneath the field! It resembled a Cyclops, made out of some black substance. It had grey lines all over its body and an evil looking green eye. Its flesh seemed to drip off, as though the being was somehow decomposing.
"What is that thing?" Alexis gasped, taking a step backwards.
"Allow me to explain Miss Rhodes. Derelich's Disease can only be activated when I lose 3000 or more life points, as well as have an eight star or higher monster sent to my grave in the same turn. Since You definitely did 3000 points of damage to me, and Ccapac Apu is a ten star monster…well the conditions were obviously met."
"That still doesn't explain how you have that thing!" Alexis stammered, looking up at the colossal titan.
"I'm getting to that. This trap lets me summon a monster known as Derelich, Reveler of Rot (ATK ?, DEF ?) to the field, which is the monster you see before you. Now since Derelich loves corpses so much, he possesses the monster that was sent to the grave to fulfill the terms of using Derelich's Disease, but with some…improvements. Which is why you see a modified version of Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu. In game terms, Derelich has attack and defense points equal to the monster it is possessing…but it also gains 1000 attack and defense points for each monster card in both of our graveyards. If my count is right we have five monsters in total, giving Derelich a 5000 point boost." Famine explained, as a black aura appeared around Derelich (ATK 8000, DEF 7500).
"No way that thing has 8000 attack points!" Zane gasped.
"Oh another thing. Derelich gains any special effects from the monster it is possessing that I want. In this case I want it to take Ccapac Apu's immunity to your spell and trap cards…as well as its ability to attack directly!" Famine said, triumph in his voice.
"But that means…NO ALEXIS!" Jaden screamed.
"It's been a pleasure Miss Rhodes, but it's time for me to claim your Eye of the Cryak. And just so you know, I've been baiting you this entire duel to lead up to this moment. On the off chance you could've done 900 extra points of damage to me last turn my second facedown card was a Negate Attack. Now finish your turn so I can destroy you."
"Can you give me a second," Alexis asked, her hair overshadowing her eyes.
"Of course, I'm not completely heartless after all," Famine shrugged.
Alexis turned and walked over to Jaden. "Lex…" Jaden whispered, tears falling from his eyes.
The blonde girl looked right into his eyes, her gold ones staring into his tear filled brown ones. "Jaden…even though I've lost…I don't want you or the others to give up. You guys can stop these Shadow Hunters. And even though I may not be there in body anymore…I'll always be with you."
Alexis gulped for a second. She took a deep breath and finally said, "And Jaden…I want you to know that for a while now I've harbored feelings for you. When you saved me from Titan it was the first of many times where you demonstrated how truly heroic you are. You've done so much for the world Jaden, time after time you fought, and giving it everything you had to save it even when you didn't have too. Each time you did that it made me become more and more attached to you. After the Tag Duel tournament I couldn't muster up the courage to say this to you…but now I can…Jaden Yuki…I love you."
And with that Alexis turned around, leaving a speechless Jaden. "It's your turn Famine."
"That was quite touching," Famine said. "But don't worry, soon you and Jaden can see each other in the afterlife. "Derelich…finish her."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Jaden screamed, as a giant black ball of energy appeared in Derelich's hands. The ball flew at Alexis, exploding magnificently and obscuring everyone's view as Famine laughed.
Alexis: 0 LP Famine: 900 LP
The smoke cleared, revealing Alexis on the ground, her clothes in tatters, blood running down her mouth, unmoving and her eyes closed.
"Alexis…" Jaden sobbed.
"She's…gone," Zane gasped.
"But…that can't be…" Jesse shook his head in disbelief.
Famine walked over to Alexis's body and ripped the string holding the Eye of the Cryak off her neck. "Well that was fun. Don't worry you three, you'll get your turn shortly."
Famine started to walk away, until Jaden shouted with fury in his voice, "FAMINE!"
The Shadow Hunter stopped walking.
Jaden was panting, his face livid. "Next time you duel, it'll be against me you hear? And I will make sure you pay for what you did to Alexis! All this time I've heard about how Shadow Hunters are unstoppable and superhuman…well after I'm done with you you'll know the true meaning of suffering!"
Famine chuckled. "As you wish Jaden Yuki. You will be my next target. Let's see if the stories about you are true after all…Supreme King." And with that Famine vanished, and the three duelists found themselves unchained back in their suite, Alexis' body with them.
Jaden quickly ran over to Alexis, cradling her in his arms. "Lex…please…say something," he wept.
Zane put his hand on Jaden's shoulder as Aster, Anthony, Isabella, Yugi, Harrison and Julian burst in the room to find Jaden crying on Alexis, the lifeless girl not responding to anything no matter how much Jaden begged.
Basketballdude51: Well that was a very depressing ending wasn't it? I just came back from vacation so that was why I took a while to update. I'm thinking of putting some more flashbacks involving the Shadow Hunters into my chapters as to give all of you another perspective of them, as well as foreshadowing for later in this story.
Is Alexis gone forever? In the next chapter Jaden tries to stop Famine's rampage, however his anger towards Famine may cloud his judgment, a mistake that Aster and Alexis made which cost them their Eyes of the Cryak. Also, while Jaden is dueling Matt goes on a date with Celeste…which scares him more than any Shadow Duel.