While Jack fights for Timaeus and his soul, I fight for a girl and a few poor kids.
The Duelist I face now is an Exterminator, the style of Deck he uses isn't uncommon but a real problem for my Gemini Deck.
Chapter 12.
Skill Drain.
Scroll Cards:
Jack: 3
Leo: 4
Juliet: 3
Juliet looked back at Jack once, then Leo softly pushed her away from the scene.
'He'll do fine.' He said in a comforting voice.
'You're probably right, if he really is at the place were Timaeus is, nothing can go wrong.'
What they didn't saw was that someone was looking at them through the bushes.
'Timaeus ey? Drake would love to hear that.' Of course this was Don.
Don took a smart phone out of his pocket and dialed in a number.
'Yo Drake.' He said when the phone was answered.
'What? Michelle? Why do you pick it up?'
'Uh huh.' Don mumbled. 'Of course I figured that out, that if you pick up Drake was not there...'
Don listened for a bit. 'When is Drake back?' He asked.
'Now.' Don suddenly heard next to him he turned around and saw Drake.
'You're a pain you know.' Drake said grinning.
'I'm a pain? What's so funny?'
'This.' Drake said showing Don a device.
'It changes my voice.' Drake spoke in the device his voice sounding like Michelle's.
'It was quite a test run actually.' The voice of the real Michelle sounded next to Don.
'Why are you guys here?' Don asked dumbfounded.
'A Daedric Price shows up after a Orichalcos Duel has been played and now Timaeus probably shows up, now the two others head straight to one of the Exterminators who has a hint for another Dragon.' Michelle explained.
Don slowly scratched his head.
'So what?' He asked.
'We are told to follow them and see whether they get the Legendary Dragons or not.' Drake said.
'James's orders?' Don asked.
'Yeah.' Drake sighted. 'But I will make James Black happy, I'll challenge Jack and I'll take Timaeus.' Michelle looked shocked at Drake.
'Our orders were to follow.' She said.
'Indeed,' Drake replied. 'They were to follow, did James ever said what to do after we followed them?'
Michelle slowly shook her head.
After fifteen minutes walking Juliet and Leo finally reached Cheydinhal.
Cheydinhal was quite different from Kvatch.
You could see this was a uxorious town, many big houses and mansion, a shopping mall laid the center of town.
'Just like any other ordinary city.' Juliet muttered.
'I guess this is where the people live who help build up this island.' Leo noticed.
They both looked at the screen to see if there was an Exterminator, suddenly it turned on.
'Looks like we have to avoid this place for now.' Leo said.
Juliet turned around when a scream was heard from the city they rushed in without thinking.
'There!' Juliet shouted.
On the street a young girl was kneeling next to two boys.
The girl wore a dark green leotard and the same colored knee-high boots, she also had a light-green long-sleeved jacket with fur at the edge of the sleeves and collar.
She didn't wear the jacket now, she hold it around the two boys to keep them both warm.
Her long black hair was tied in two tails hanging from the back of her head over her shoulders.
The two boys were only kids, they both wore ragged dirty shirts and ragged brown pants, their hair was a mess and it was covered in dirt, they had no shoes only dirty socks.
'I told you one of them is sick, he needs help!' The girl shouted.
'And I told you I don't care, you crossed the path of an Exterminator refuse the Duel and you lose your position in the tournament.'
'Here you have your stinking Scroll Cards!' The girl shouted and she threw four Scroll Cards on the ground.
'Heh heh heh nice girl.' The Exterminator said, he was dressed in a hooded cloak.
'Don't.' Leo said stepping to the front he took away the Scroll Cards before the Exterminator could grab them.
'What the hell?' The Exterminator gasped.
'What's going on here?' Leo asked.
'See these kids?' The girl asked. 'Well they have a little brother, he is sick but this Exterminator here locked the door to their home, they live in the bad side of Cheydinhal, they are beggars, their only home is one abandoned shack where they all live in.'
'How many are there?' Leo asked.
'Well...' The girl said. '...these two who came to warn me, their brother four other kids and a hand full of adults.'
'And why are they locked?' Leo asked he looked straight at the Exterminator.
'Because I can.' He said. 'Hell yeah I wanted to do that, they deserve it they are the eyes and the ears of the Circle.'
The girl stood up. 'Yeah the beggars were always protected by the Thieves Guild but they were hunted so the Circle a notable group of warriors took over the duties of the Thieves Guild and I am one of their members Jennifer is the name.'
Leo turned around to face Jennifer.
'Wait here.' He said and he walked to the closed-door.
'This will be easy.' He said taking a lockpick a few seconds later the door swung open.
'Go.' Leo said. 'Go help the kids I'll deal with him.'
The Exterminator laughed.
'Predictable indeed.' He laughed.
'O how I wanted to face you Leo.' He threw off his hood, his face was covered in many scars, his left ear was missing and his nose had been broken a few times.
'I should know you?' Leo asked.
'Not yet, but my name is Alvin.'
'Okay Alvin you are a Thalmor?'
Alvin laughed. 'I was hired by them so yeah I consider myself a Thalmor yes.'
'Then it's on.' Leo said.
(Alvin: 8000) - (Leo: 8000)
(Ante: 1 Scroll card) - (Ante: 4 Scroll cards)
'Why bother with these kids I wonder?' Alvin said with a smug face.
'Before we start what happened to your face?' Leo asked.
Alvin got a look of madness on his face.
'Some people didn't like it I didn't feed the beggars, so they got me good, those savages attacked me clawing at my face, one actually ripped off my ear, I bet they ate it.'
'You swine.' Jennifer muttered.
'But enough talking I'll start.' Alvin looked over his card he gritted his teeth.
'Bad hand?' Leo sneered.
'Yeah in fact I summon this one Panther Warrior in attack mode!'
The Beast-Warrior Joey Wheeler had used many times appeared, holding aloft his blades. (2000 ATK)
Leo looked at Alvin 'You know Panther Warrior is a bit of an outdated card, that would only work well in a...' There Leo stopped short as the truth washed over him.
'Seems you figured me out, but don't worry I don't have it, that is why I play Reload.' Alvin played the Spell card his four cards were shuffled in his Deck then he drew four new ones.
'Won't do.' The Exterminator muttered.
'Hand Destruction then.' He said playing a new card, both discarded two cards and drew two new ones.
'One facedown card, turn over.' Alvin said and a reversed card appeared.
'Then its my draw!' Leo shouted drawing his card.
'I summon Future Samurai!' He shouted and the female samurai leaped onto the field. (1600 ATK)
'Next I use Double Summon to Gemini Summon her.'
Future Samurai started to glow but it was stopped short when Alvin's Trap card spun around.
It was the thing Leo had feared.
'I pay 1000 Life Points for Skill Drain!' Alvin shouted.
(Alvin: 7000) - (Leo: 8000)
Damn I'm in trouble Gemini heavily ride on their effects. 'I'll throw this out and end my turn.' Leo said as a reversed card appeared on the field.
'I guess it is my turn.' Alvin said casually drawing his card.
'I normal summon Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast!' A huge red dragon-shaped tank appeared, it was equipped with several laser guns. (2800 ATK)
'If I hadn't Skill Drain his Attack was now halved, but it isn't and so my Panther Warrior destroy his Future Samurai!'
Panther Warrior charged in.
'Negate Attack!' Leo shouted the barrier appeared and Panther Warrior bounced off.
Leo drew his card he bit his lip.
'One facedown card.' He said and a reversed monster appeared.
'Next I change my Future Samurai to defense.' Future Samurai knelt. (1200 DEF)
Alvin drew his card he looked at it for a moment.
'I play the Spell card Card of Sanctity.' The card appeared and both players drew until they had six cards.
'I summon the Goblin Attack Force!'
A group of goblins appeared on the field they carried clubs. (2300 ATK)
'Panther Warrior destroy that facedown monster!' Alvin shouted.
Panther Warrior leaped at the monster Dark Valkyria appeared she was cut in half by the Panther.
'Goblins your move destroy Future Samurai!' The Goblins charged in clubbing the samurai.
'Fusilier direct attack!'
The Dual-Mode Beast charged his attack and fired Leo gasped for breath as the lasers hit him.
(Alvin: 7000) - (Leo: 5200)
'Make your move if you dare.' Alvin sneered.
'One thing.' Leo gasped.
'You use this Deck to counter my Deck?'
Alvin laughed.
'O yes I did, I was specifically asked to Duel you, I knew you would try to pick that lock so that the girl could help these children.'
'Okay Alvin, if that is true and you knew I would Duel you, you could have asked if I wanted to Duel you.'
Alvin thought for a moment. 'I took that into consideration, but I am an Exterminator and I have to behave like one, and besides I saw you coming I knew you could not resist to help this girl, I knew you wanted to be the hero and I was right all along.'
Leo glared at Alvin but still made his draw.
'In case you want to defend I don't like that I'll activate Final Attack Orders!' Alvin shouted and his Trap card spun around.
'I wasn't planning on defending I activate Polymerization!' Leo shouted I fuse my two Gemini Monsters together.' Tuned Magician and Gemini Lancer appeared on the field they swirled together.
'I Fusion Summon Superalloy Beast Raptinus!' With a crash the huge dragon landed on the field. (2200 ATK)
'A good load of use he is.' Alvin said.
'O yes he is.' Leo replied he showed Alvin a card.
'I use this card United We Stand!' Leo shouted and the Attack Score of Raptinus rose to 3000.
'Now attack his Fusilier!' Superalloy Beast charged his attack and fired, Fusilier started to smoke it buzzed loudly before it exploded.
(Alvin: 6800) - (Leo: 5200)
'My next monster will be familiar for you.' Alvin said after he had drawn his card, he didn't seem to care his monster was blown to pieces.
'I summon Beast King Barbaros!' With a bellowing roar Jack's monster appeared on the field. (3000 ATK)
'Your Raptinus has three-thousand Attack Points so I commit suicide with Barbaros!' Alvin shouted Barbaros charged in but Raptinus caught the attack Barbaros pierced the dragon with his lance and Raptinus beheaded Barbaros with the last of his strength.
'Panther Warrior and my Goblins he is yours!'
Panther Warrior slashed at Leo with his scimitars the Goblins clobbered him, Leo was forced on his knees.
(Alvin: 6800) - (Leo: 900)
'Kneel into the dust where you belong.' Alvin sneered he loomed over Leo who looked up at the Exterminator.
'I'd better give up, there is no way I can break through.' Leo muttered.
'Come on, you'd give up?' When Leo looked up he saw Jennifer standing above him.
'You opened that door like it was nothing, you step in to give me a chance to help the children.'
Leo looked at Juliet she was standing in the back, she had decided to let Jennifer do the talking.
'Yes but the situation is helpless, I can't use Monster Effects and I need those.' Leo whimpered.
'One minute, if you make no move in a minute I win.' Alvin said.
His whole strategy is formed around Skill Drain, he had no cards to negate other Trap cards, nor does he has something that block out Spell cards, he plays with raw power, aiming to take his opponent out in a few turns, if I break his Skill Drain...
Leo stood up, slowly he drew his card.
...Yeah thats more like it. Leo thought.
'I summon Dark Valkyria!' Leo shouted and the fallen angel appeared. (1800 ATK)
'Next I add a Spell card Symbols of Duty, I sacrifice a Normal monster like my Dark Valkyria in order to summon any monster from either Graveyard.
A look of fear appeared on Alvin's face as his Beast King Barbaros appeared on Leo's side. (3000 ATK)
'Barbaros take down that Goblin Attack Force!' Leo shouted the Goblins tried to escape but Barbaros took down all of them.
(Alvin: 6100) - (Leo: 900)
'Now I play two cards facedown...' Leo said and the two reversed cards appeared. '...turn end.'
'A little annoyance, but the Duel is over, I Summon Giant Kozaky.'
Jack and Jill were now vastly approaching Cheydinhal, Mr. Greybeard was far behind them.
'Come on Leo hang on...' Jack whispered.
'Alvin laughed as a tank-like machine appeared, it looked like the crazy professor Kozaky. (2500 ATK)
'And with these two cards I'll finish you.' Alvin said, he showed Giant Trunade and Creature Swap.
'No.' Juliet gasped.
'Leo!' Someone shouted and Jack approached them followed by Jill, they both were gasping for breath.
'Leo, I know what he wants!' Juliet shouted. 'Alvin will use Creature Swap to give you Giant Kozaky, then he uses Giant Trunade so his Skill Drain is not on the field anymore, without the regular Kozaky the Giant Kozaky will explode, that is his effect.'
'No way.' Jack gasped.
'The girl is right!' Alvin laughed.
'In that case I'll gladly oblige by getting rid of your Skill Drain.' Leo said and his Trap card spun around.
'Dust Tornado!' Alvin gasped the tornado blew away Skill Drain, the moment Skill Drain was gone Giant Kozaky started to smoke.
'O...crud...' Alvin muttered as Giant Kozaky exploded in his face.
(Alvin: 3600) - (Leo: 900)
Jennifer was laughing out loud, Alvin's face was covered in ashes when the smoke cleared, he glared angry at Leo.
'That did it.' He hissed.
'I'll activate my Giant Trunade!' Symbols of Duty and Leo's facedown Call of the Haunted disappeared.
Beast King Barbaros roared and also disappeared because Symbols of Duty was gone.
'So I cannot attack now, and if I had used Creature Swap I would have won the Duel but I took no chances with that facedown card of yours.'
'Next I reset my Final Attack Orders.' Alvin said and the card appeared reversed.
'Turn over.'
Leo quickly drew his card.
'I also set my card again.' Leo stated and his reversed card appeared.
'Now I activate Swing of Memories.' He added and Dark Valkyria reappeared. (1800 ATK)
'Next a trick you know.' Leo said and he played Symbols of Duty again, Beast King Barbaros reappeared on his side of the field. (3000 ATK)
'Take down his Panther Warrior!'
Alvin looked away as Barbaros pierced right through Panther Warrior.
(Alvin: 2600) - (Leo: 900)
'Forget it I'll end it now!' Alvin shouted.
'I summon The Unfriendly Amazon!' He shouted and a fierce warrior lady appeared, she angry glared at Leo. (2000 ATK)
'Now I activate my Creature Swap!' He shouted playing his Spell card.
'I'll Chain my own card!' Leo shouted. 'Call of the Haunted!'
Dark Valkyria appeared on the field again. (1800 ATK)
'No way!' Alvin shouted as Dark Valkyria walked over to his side, Unfriendly Amazon walked over to Leo's side.
'Darn it I'll end my turn!' Alvin cursed.
Leo drew his card.
'The effect of my Amazon activates you must Tribute a monster now.' Leo shrugged he gestured and Beast King Barbaros disappeared.
'I'll end it now with Monster Reborn.' Leo said.
'His second Dark Valkyria appeared on the field. (1800 ATK)
'I'll activate her effect to give her a Spell Counter, then I'll use the Counter to destroy your Dark Valkyria!'
Alvin gasped as his Dark Valkyria exploded.
'Okay girls he is yours.'
'No please no!' Alvin screamed when the two monsters charged at him his scream was heard as he was toppled over.
(Alvin: 0) - (Leo: 900)
'So what happy now?' Alvin sneered.
'You are an Exterminator right?' Leo casually asked.
'Yeah now you gonna say I am Exterminated?' Alvin asked in a childish voice.
'No but you live here in this town?'
'Yeah what is it to you?' Alvin asked.
'As an Exterminator you have to give me the things I want.'
'Get it over with!' Alvin shouted.
'First of all I want your Deck.' Alvin scoffed, but he handed over his Deck.
'Next I want your clothes, you can keep your underwear.'
'WHAT?' Alvin shouted.
'Give it, all of your clothes including all the things in your pockets.'
'Thats...' Alvin started.
'The rules, now hand them over.' Alvin undressed himself he stood there on the streets angry only wearing his underwear.
'Lets see.' Leo mumbled searching the pockets.
'Ah here it is my Scroll Card.' Leo pocketed the Scroll Card.
'And some more cards Dark Scorpions and they are damaged like the cards we got from the first Exterminator.'
Leo also pocketed the cards.
'And a house key.'
He turned his attention toward Jennifer. 'Here.' He said giving the house key to her.
'I don't know where he lives but you probably do, seems he has good clothes for the kids and adults that live here.'
Leo gave the rest of the clothes to the boys they were happy with them.
'You'll pay for this you know?' Alvin said.
'Ehm Leo why the Deck?' Juliet asked.
'I think he has more cards in his house so that the kids can start Dueling and maybe get some money out of it.'
Alvin stared at Leo.
'I hate you, I seriously hate you.' He muttered.
'You better run away from here right now, the kids don't look to happy with you.
'Walk to hell.' Alvin scowled and he left Cheydinhal.
Alvin was cursing loud when he walked off-road so that nobody would see him.
'Well look at you.' Alvin turned around there he saw Drake sitting on a rock.
'You.' Alvin scowled he felt something behind him and turned around, there stood Don and Michelle Don had a knife in his hand.
'You lost.' Drake said.
'So what many Exterminators lose you don't threaten them do you?'
Drake shook his head, you are different, you needed to win, they now have a clue to find The Claw of Hermos.'
A green light shot from Drake's pendant.
'Now Don.' He said Alvin screamed as the road became drenched with blood.
Drake looked at Michelle.
'It is time.' He said.
'Time for what?' Michelle asked.
'Time to face the keeper of Timaeus.'
Jack and Juliet were looking at Leo and Jennifer, Leo was shaking Jennifer's hand.
'So you are Leo's friends?' She asked looking at Jack and Juliet.
'Yep.' Leo said. 'Jack and Juliet.'
'I see.' Jennifer said with a skeptic look at Juliet.
'Whoever your boyfriend is, he must have a lot of nerve walking around with you.'
'What?' Juliet immediately replied. 'What does that mean?'
'Come on.' Jennifer sneered. 'Look at you, a typical girl, who of these two protects you?'
'I do.' Jack said and he placed his arm around Juliet.
'I'm not protecting her, she can do that perfectly self, but I am her boyfriend and I am not ashamed.'
Jennifer laughed turned around and walked away.
'Bitch.' Juliet muttered under her breath, she was blushing.
'Well ehm...' Jill started at that moment Jurgen Greybeard arrived.
'Ah good.' He said. 'The Exterminator is gone, did he gave you something?'
Leo took the Dark Scorpion cards out of his pocket.
'Hmm.' Mr. Greybeard mumbled.
'Last time you faced Sheogorath to get permission to enter a forbidden zone.' Mr. Greybeard was now more talking to himself.
'I've got it.' He said.
'The next Daedric Lord you have to face will be Nocturnal Daedric Prince of Darkness.'
'That doesn't sound nice at all.' Leo sighted.
'Nothing wrong with her.' Jill quickly said.
'Nocturnal in the old age was the patron of the Thieves Guild.'
'Thieves Guild? Those criminals had their own guild?'
'There you are wrong.' Jill said to Leo. 'Yes they were thieves, but they had honor, they did not kill, they did not steal from the poor or their own members, they lived by a code.'
'Stealing from the rich is still stealing.
'Then let me say this, is it a crime to pick open a door with a lockpick, then take someones clothes and give some beggars his house key so they can take his clothes?'
'That's dif...' Leo started.
'...The same.' Jill interrupted him.
'But...' Leo stammered.
'Look.' Mr Greybeard said. 'When that disaster struck wiping out Tamriel and the rest of that era some people were close at the impact, at the time of the impact the magic was still strong, it seems that some gifts of the old time has been given to this next generation.'
Juliet and Leo were now quite Jack was nervous.
'Nobody knew when those gifts surfaced but it seems you three has a gift.'
'What is our gift?' Juliet asked.
'Jack can tell his own gift.' Jill said.
'Leo can guess.' She continued.
'But yours Juliet, we weren't able to figure it out, your gift strongly points to you being a Mage, but is also points at different other things, yet you showed no sign of any power just yet, we have to wait to find out which Daedric Prince you face.'
'Well my gift ehm...' Leo muttered.
'Leo, you helped the poor children, you were good at stealth back on the cruise ship, you pick open locks like it is nothing and you have to face the patron of the Thieves Guild!' Jill almost shouted.
'I am no thief!' Leo shouted.
'No, but you have the honor of the Thieves Guild.' Jill casually said.
'I am no thief!' Leo shouted again.
'If I may.' Jack suddenly interrupted.
He cleared his throat.
'Juliet and I faced Sheogorath, we couldn't find out why, but none of the Daedric Princes has a connection to me, seems Sheogorath wanted to have some fun.'
'But what are you?' Juliet asked.
'I am Dovahkiin the Dragonborn.'
'Well well well, now that that cat is out of the bag...'
All five turned around.
'Drake.' Jack gritted through his teeth.
'Heh heh heh Mr. Dovahkiin, Lord of an ancient died out race, you must feel pretty important now is it?' Drake sneered.
Jack growled something.
'You have Timaeus, and Timaeus belongs to me.' Drake said suddenly he was all serious.
'He will be mine.' He activated a Chaos Duel Disk.
'Wait what? You want to Duel here? We have you outnumbered!' Leo shouted.
'Like I care Mr. Pickpocket.'
'Watch it...' Leo growled.
'Now Jack you hereby accept my challenge...'
Two screams made Jack look at his friends, Michelle had grabbed Juliet, she held a knife at Juliet's throat.
Don did the same with Leo.
Don also had a gun aimed at Jill.
'You two stay out, this is no matter of Blades.' Drake said.
'Look we stand down.' Mr. Greybeard said and he and Jill backed off.
Next time:
Drake versus Jack, Orichalcos versus Legendary Dragons!
Or not, something seems wrong as the Duel is well underway Drake shows no signs of using the Seal of Orichalcos.
Is he afraid or is there more behind it?
Find out next time. 'Invader of Darkness' coming soon.
