After collecting the Legend Medal that Candace left behind, Takashi and Enji were left sitting on a rock by the river. Both were silent, still shaken from the battle.
Takashi's powers had never manifested in that way. They had always been related to anger and dueling, but now they were actually bringing themselves out?
"We can't sit here forever, you know," said Lucas finally.
Takashi didn't respond.
"Come on, Takashi! If we don't keep going, we're going to be left behind!"
"Lucas, do you think I care anymore!?" shouted Takashi. "This whole tournament seems like a sham to me now! Right now, all I wanna do is go home and forget all of it.
"What am I?"
"Haven't you been told time and time again?" A voice said.
Takashi stood up and got into a combat stance. Lucas got behind him, hoping it wouldn't be another "Guardian."
Without warning, a portal opened, and another boy stepped out of it.
"Who are you?" asked Takashi.
The newcomer eyed him with a smile. "No need for fisticuffs. I'm here as a friend. My name is Christian."
Takashi lowered his fists, but remained suspicious.
"You just fought Candace, right?"
"Yeah. How did you know about her?"
"Because I'm a duelist in Mason's company. I believe you've met him as well."
"That geezer." Takashi snorted.
"Please be respectful." Christian continued. "Your powers are changing."
"Changing?"
"Yes. Before now there was never any real need to defend yourself. Now your powers are evolving to suit the situation.
"You mentioned that you would like to 'go home,' right? Unfortunately, such will not be so."
Christian paced to the side, looking into the sky.
"Mason wasn't kidding when he said that Vigo was holding this island nation captive. He's not doing it by military force. It's by his own hand that no one will ever leave, and that includes you. After all, Takashi. YOU are his target."
"Right. Because I'm a Child or Keeper of Darkness or whatever."
"Don't take it lightly!" Christian exclaimed. "A great burden is on your shoulders, and the fate of the world is in your hands! For if Vigo does defeat you, then nothing will stand in his way to world domination."
Takashi frowned. "Well...I'm not too sure about all this cosmic significance, but I do know that world domination is never good."
"Will you at least join us to prevent that?"
The Black Flare had to think for a little while. He did not answer.
"Okay then," began Christian before looking to the child. "What about you? Why are you here?"
"I was hoping Takashi would give me dueling tips, but now I don't know what to do." said Lucas. "My brother's probably mad at me for stowing away on the plane, and my parents are probably mad at both of us."
Christian frowned before stooping to eye level. He placed a hand on Lucas' shoulder. "I promise, you'll see them again."
Lucas looked up and smiled.
"So, did you come here just to talk to us, or what?" asked Takashi.
Christian rose up. "Actually, I came to see your skills for myself. But since the Sage already did that, I'd like to see how good the boy is in a duel."
"What?!" shouted Lucas.
"You're here, Lucas. And as long as you're on Genisus Island, you're constantly in danger. You need to be ready to face those dangers." He latched a Disk to his arm. A green energy blade extended.
"Fine..." Lucas did the same.
"You wanna use some of my cards, Lucas?" Takashi asked.
"No thanks." The kid replied. "I prefer my own deck, no matter how bad people think it is."
"That's a good mindset," smiled Christian. "You can have the first move."
Christian-4000 Lp.
Lucas-4000 Lp.
"Okay, my turn." Lucas said, drawing a card. "I summon Gazelle, the King of Mythical Beasts!" A mighty horned lion appeared with a roar. Level 4/EARTH/Beast/1500atk/1200def. "Next I'll play one card face down. Turn end."
"Good move, but a lot of people would normally pull out a bigger card." Christian noted, drawing. "I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn." A facedown sideways card appeared in front of him.
'Hmm...five other cards in his hand, and that's all he does?' thought Lucas as he made a draw. 'I guess it doesn't matter.'
"I summon Giant Rat!" A mad bipedal vermin appeared on his field, clutching a skull. Level 4/EARTH/Beast/Effect/1400atk/1450def.
"Gazelle, attack that facedown monster!" The lion pounced on the enemy's card, which flipped up, revealing a dark skinned man, swathed in black and purple robes, wearing golden ornaments. Level 4/Dark/Warrior/Flip/Effect/1200atk/2000def. With a quick thrust, he pushed the lion away from him, causing Lucas' Life Points to hit 3500.
"Meet Gravekeeper's Spy," said Christian, taking a new card from his deck. "And I believe his Flip Effect lets me summon another Gravekeeper from my deck." He placed the card on his Disk, and another defending Spy appeared. (2000def)
"Darn it...your move." Lucas said.
"Gravekeepers?" began Takashi. "That's something I haven't seen in a while."
"They're one of the game's oldest archetypes next to Archfiends, sure, but I believe they can still roll with the best of them," chuckled Christian, drawing a card. "For instance, I now hold two Level 4 monsters."
The two Spies turned into purple orbs of energy that spiraled into a red spiral that bore heiroglyphics.
"Oh beast of judgement, come forth and punish the wicked!" Chrisitan chanted. "Xyz Summon! Roar, Gravekeeper's Ancestral Beast Ammit!'
Out of the Overlay Network erupted a large black crocodile with a blood red lion's mane. Golden armor covered it's body. Rank 4/DARK/Reptile/Xyz/Effect/2600atk/1400def/2 OLU.
"What the hell's an 'Ammit?'" asked Takashi.
"A chimera hybrid of lion and crocodile, that appears in Egyptian mythology. When Anubis judged your heart against Ma'at's feather after you died, and it turned out to be heavier than the feather, you'd be tossed into Ammit's hungry gut. And trust me, that's NO way to spend an afterlife."
Beads of sweat rolled of Lucas's forhead. 'It's okay...after all...' He gulped. 'I'm not dead yet...'
"And now, I'll use Ammit's special ability! By consuming an Overlay Unit, he can chomp into one of your monsters, and gain it's attack points!"
The chimera bore down on Gazelle, who growled in pain as the crocodile painfully devoured him. 2600-4000 atk.
"And now, go Ammit! Pass judgement on Giant Rat! Judgement Bite!" The beast charged in at the huge rat, and killed it with one bite, shattering it.
Lucas' Life fell all the way to 800.
"Eh...my Rat lets me summon an EARTH monster from my deck, so..." He slapped a new card on his Disk's blade, and Nimble Momonga appeared with a squeak. Level 2/EARTH/Beast/Effect/1000atk/100def.
"Fair enough." Christian said, as he put a card facedown. "Your turn."
"I draw..." Lucas didn't know what to do. If Christian used his monster's effect again, Nimble Momonga's effect couldn't activate and he would lose.
"I set a monster in defense mode and play one more card facedown." Lucas said, before switching his Nimble Momonga to defense mode. (100def)
"Your turn."
"And now Ammit's attack points return to normal." 4100-2600atk. Christian drew his next card.
"Just a question, Christian." Takashi began. "Do you not use Necrovalley?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, Necrovalley is a staple card to most Gravekeeper decks, most users keep three copies of them as well as plenty of ways to replenish, or add it to their hand."
Christian smiled. "I see no reason to restrict another Duelist's strategies.
"Now where was I? Oh right. I summon Gravekeeper's Assailant!" A robed assassin appeared on Christian's field, carrying a dagger. Level 4/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect/1500atk/1500def.
"Assailant will assassinate your facedown monster." With a slash, the female, yes, female, assassin cut the card in two, and the concealed Dancing Elf with it(200def).
"And I believe I'll let you use Momonga's effect. Ammit attack!" The crocodile beast roared, breathing a hellish flame on the little rodent.
Lucas Life Points rose back up to 1800 as two more concealed cards appeared on his field. (100defx2)
"Your turn."
"I activate my Trap Card!" Lucas began as one of his facedowns lifted up. It bore an image of the legendary Elemental HERO Neos breaking through the ground, radiating a glowing aura. "Situation Excel!"
"Fascinating. Just what does it do?"
"During the End Phase, when at least two of my monsters were destroyed by battle, and I have fewer Life Points than my opponent, I can place one Monster on the top of my deck!"
"Alright, Lucas!" cheered Takashi. 'But from what I saw, that Odd-Eyes is the strongest monster he's got...and that...thing has a hundred more attack points...'
"My turn, right? Draw," said Lucas, taking the card from his deck. "I Tribute my two Momongas..." The two reversed cards disappeared. "For my best card! Go, Odd-Eyes Dragon!"
A rust-red wingless dragon with red and green eyes and a blue orb in the center of it's body appeared. Level 7/DARK/Dragon/Effect/2500atk/2000def.
Christian's jaw gaped. "Odd-Eyes-?"
Lucas felt concerned for his opponent, who seemed to be in a trance. "Are you okay?"
'Could this be...' thought Christian, 'The Fabled Dragon?'
"Well, I'm gonna go ahead with my turn," said the boy. "I'll equip Odd-Eyes with an old Spell called Malevolent Nuzzler." The dragon glowed with dark energy. 2500-3200atk.
"Odd-Eyes attack Ammit! Spiral Flame!" Odd-Eyes Dragon channeled power into it's mouth and shot a spiraling stream of fire at the mythical chimera.
Fortunately, Christian managed to hit a command on his disk. His facedown card, Negate Attack flipped up, absorbing the blast. "Darn!"
"Is it my move?" His opponent asked, coming back to reality.
"Sure, go ahead."
"I draw..." Christian said. "Now I summon Gravekeeper's Spirit in attack mode." A golden ghostly figure appeared, carrying a lute. Level 3/DARK/Spellcaster/Tuner/0atk/1200def.
"A tuner?!" Lucas gasped.
"That's right. So Level 3 Spirit tunes Level 4 Assailant!" The two Gravekeepers formed the Synchro Rings and stars.
"Guardian of the house of Osiris, awaken from your tomb, and live to serve again!" Christian chanted again. "Synchro Summon! Appear, Gravekeeper's Ancestral Beast, Bast!"
An enormous humanoid lioness with golden jewelry and pristine white robes appeared on the field. Unlike Ammit, this creature exuded a holy aura. Level 7/LIGHT/Beast/Synchro/Effect/2300atk/2900def.
"A Synchro...and an Xyz on the field at once..." Takashi marvelled.
"I'm not done, Lucas. Ammit's effect activates!" The lion-crocodile absorbed another Overlay Unit and challenged Odd-Eyes Dragon, bringing it down and sinking it's fangs in. 2600-5100atk.
Lucas was about to cry at the sight of the two tremendous Beasts bearing down on him.
And then, they vanished!
Christian removed his Duel Disk. "Let's just call that a game. I don't want to cause too much emotional damage.
"I was partially enthused at the sight of your Odd-Eyes. But it seems my enthusiasm was slightly out of place."
Lucas frowned as Takashi walked in front of him. "So what? You're just gonna dismiss him like that?"
"As sad as it seems," Christian began. "The boy cannot survive the 'True Genisus Tournament.' His skills aren't enough to beat this deck, which I'll admit, is just for practice, so he wouldn't be good enough to beat one of Vigo's servants. Granted, he did fare well against Benjamin, but only because you were there to help him, Takashi."
"Then let me take his place!" Takashi demanded. "I'll use his deck, with the card he had on the field, in the graveyard, and in his hand, and we'll pick up from where you were during your turn!"
Christian raised an eyebrow. "Okay."
Takashi activated his Disk. "Lucas, can I see your cards?" The boy nodded, tearfully, but with tinges of determination.
In a flash, Christian's Ancestral Beasts, and Lucas's facedown card reappeared.
Takashi-1800 Lp.
Christian-4000 Lp.
"Alright, let's get this over with. Ammit attack directly!" The massive beast charged in at Takashi.
"Trap Card activate!" Takashi declared. "Force Break Invocation!"
The crocodile hit an invisible wall, being forced back, as five figures appeared on Takashi's field.
In a flash, Atlantean Pikeman, Beaver Warrior, Lunar Queen Elzam, Ice Water, and Wretched Ghost of the Attic appeared. (1400atk)(1200atk)(750atk)(1150atk)(550atk)
"What the-!? How'd you summon five monsters at once!?" gasped Christian.
"The Trap Card I activated lets me do this. When my opponent attacks me directly with a monster with more attack points than my Life Points, I can special summon monsters from my deck, so long as their combined attack points are less than that monster's current total!"
"Just fifty points short..." Christian noted.
"These monsters are destroyed during the End Phase of my next turn, and they can't attack," said Takashi.
"Oh well. Let's see what you can do with them."
"Fine by me. I draw!" exclaimed Takashi. He looked at the card. Polymerization. Confused, he looked to Lucas. "You...have a Fusion Monster?"
Lucas shrugged his shoulders, opening the Extra Deck chamber of his own Disk. Surprisingly, a card fell out.
Examining it, he smiled widely. "Here! Take it!" He threw it to Takashi, who grabbed it.
"Okay then...let's see what it can do! I activate Polymerization!"
The five monsters on his field morphed and swirled together in a vortex of energy.
"What on Earth are you going to summon with those five random monsters!?" Christian asked.
"This!" Takashi slammed the new card on the disk. "I combine these monsters into Buster Rookie-Knight of Potential!"
Out of the swirling vortex, a young boy with blond hair dressed in ragged leather fashions that seemed to be from mideval times leapt onto the field. He looked like he might have been a squire of sorts. Level 1/Light/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/0atk/0def.
"A monster summoned like that must have some powerful effect to compensate for having no points..." groaned Christian.
"That he does. When he's Fusion Summoned, I can banish all the Monsters used to summon him from my graveyard, and then he gains their combined attack and defense points," described Takashi.
The ghostly specters of Atlantean Pikeman, Eizam, Beaver Warrior, Ice Water, and Wretched Ghost appeared. Buster Rookie drew his longsword and absorbed them. As he did so, he matured into a handsome young adult. 0-5050atk.
"Alright, let's cause some damage! Attack Gravekeeper's Ancestral Beast Ammit!" The young knight dashed to the monster, aiming for the kill.
However, then he stopped, as he felt his sword drawing him another way. Feeling no other choice, he slashed Bast instead, causing it to shatter.
Christian's Life Points fell to 2750.
"Okay, what was all that about?" asked Takashi.
"When you declare an attack against a Gravekeeper monster, Ancestral Beast Bast draws the attack in," replied Christian. "Still, I don't think I'll be able to overcome that card."
"Whatever. Make your move."
Christian made a draw. "I summon Gravekeeper's Descendant!" A blond haired Gravekeeper wearing black and white robes appeared. He bore a crazed facial expression. Level 4/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect/1500atk/1200def.
"And I'm sure you know what this guy does." With a shriek, Ammit disappeared, and Descendant cast a curse at Buster Rookie. However, he didn't even shrink back from it. "Huh!?"
Takashi smirked. "This dude lets me send two Normal Monsters from my deck to the graveyard to keep him from being destroyed by card effects!" He took two cards from the deck- Bean Soldier and Baby Dragon-and slipped them into his graveyard.
"But as a consequence, his attack points are cut in half, and he can't use that effect again." 5050-2525atk.
"Well, he's just full of surprises isn't he?" mused Christian. He placed one card from his hand into his Spell & Trap card Zone. "End turn."
Takashi drew a card. "Looks like this game's over. I activate Monster Reborn." The holy feathered sword appeared, and Odd-Eyes rose back to the field. (2500atk)
"Odd-Eyes attacks Gravekeeper's Descendant with Spiral Flame!" The dragon reared it's head back and spat the stream of fire at the mad Spellcaster, roasting him alive.
Christian's Life Points fell to 1750.
"And Odd-Eyes' effect blasts away Life Points equal to your buddy's attack points!" Odd-Eyes' eyes lit up and shot twin rays of light at Christian, shrinking his Life down to 250.
"I activate...my Trap Card." Christian said. "Ring of Destruction!" A ring of grenades appeared around Odd-Eyes' neck. They violently exploded, striking both Christian and Takashi with the shrapnel.
Takashi-0 Lp
Christian-0 Lp.
"A tie? Really?" Takashi queried. "Was it not obvious to you that if you used it on Odd-Eyes before he attacked, you would've won?"
"Oh I knew," countered Christian. "But like I said, I wanted to gauge Lucas's strength, not yours. I already know what you're capable of, but I suppose as long as the little man's with you, he'll be fine.
"Unfortunately, because I'm not registered in the tournament, I have no Legend Medals to offer. Forgive me."
Takashi crossed his arms.
"Fine I guess."
Christian reached into his pocket, and threw what looked like powder on the ground. "Farewell for now." As he did so, the powder erupted into green flame!
The Red-Eyes and Odd-Eyes users gasped in unison. "Dude!"
"Don't worry. It's a magic powder used for quick transport. I'm not being burned."
The flames disappeared as soon as they were spawned, taking Christian with them.
"That was...new," mused Lucas.
"Yeah..." added Takashi. "Well, we can't sit around moping forever." Giving Lucas back his cards, he started walking. "Come on. I suppose we've gotta keep going."
"Hey Takashi?"
"Yeah?"
"What if we keep going, and we keep being attacked by those people?"
"Kid...before Candace, I didn't believe a damned word Mason said." He thought of when he blocked Candace's fire with a barrier that he had somehow subconsciously created. "But now...I suppose I'll have to start believing now."
"So what happens when we get to the end?"
"Then I guess we'll meet that Vigo cat, and I'll have to duel him or something."
"Well, you won't fight him alone!" Lucas chirped, eyeing his Odd-Eyes Dragon and Buster Rookie cards. "With these, I'm sure I can help!"
"Where did you get those two anyway? I've never even heard of them."
"Well...my dad gave them to me."
"Really?"
"Yeah," said Lucas. "My family isn't the richest, which is why most of my cards are hand-me-down Normal Monsters. Still, he was traveling all around the country, and he got Odd-Eyes Dragon from some strange travelling vendor. He also got Buster Rookie when he was a kid, and gave it to me when I turned six. He said it kind of looked like me."
"Cool. Still, don't rely too much on them. Remember, every card in your deck is important." said Takashi. "Because it's what makes a duelist a duelist!"
"Is that true?"
"Well, determination and heart are another thing. I remember an old saying called the...Heart of the...something or other...from way back."
"Cards?"
"That's it! Heart of the Cards." recalled Takashi. "Remember that, and you're not just a duelist. You're a REAL duelist."
"I will, Mr. Enji!"
"What did I tell you about calling me Mr.?"
"Fine, Takashi."
The two continued their walk. Unbeknownst to them, Vigo's eyes were watching them. Altan Vipa was at his side.
"I looked into Odd-Eyes Dragon and Buster Rookie-Knight of Potential for you in the I2 database." Vipa said.
"Anything?"
"No. Nothing about them." Vipa shrugged his shoulders. "It's as if someone just up and created cards out of thin air. Can you believe people actually screw the system like that? Just like how Dr. Faker got away with creating Kite Tenjo's Photon and Galaxy cards. True, he had done so using interdimensional energy, but still, the nerve of that guy!"
"Odd-Eyes worries me a little." Vigo frowned.
"Why? Is it a relative of Blue-Eyes and Red-Eyes?"
"Yes, but very, very distant. Are you aware of the saying that Blue-Eyes brings victory, but Red-Eyes only brings the potential for victory?"
"Of course milord. "
"Well, there's a legend behind Odd-Eyes."
"Oh, so it is a real card?"
"Yes. The legend is as thus." began Vigo. "When the first fragment of four holds his head high and roars in the name of hope, the Dragon of Twin-Eyes will invoke a miracle, and alter destiny."
"So he brings miracles?" asked Vipa. "And I take it that little Lucas is this fragment?"
"I am not sure. Despite my power, my vision is limited to only this island, and to the worlds within the Light's domain."
"Well then, I'll be sure to keep an eye on him for you."
As Vipa strolled away, Vigo kept his inner sight focused on the two of them. 'This Lucas is a rouge element...as minimal as his threat would be, I should have him dealt with.
'Then Takashi Enji will be dealt with.'
0
It seems Vigo has set his sights on Lucas! The danger is mounting on this quest.
Emili DeVine may have parted ways with Takashi and Lucas, but will that mean she is out of the spotlight? Certainly not~! Next chapter, she fights a duelist with a familiar deck type that backs her into a corner? Will she be pull of another win, or at the end of the day will SHE be giving up one of her Medals?
Next chapter: Stalwart Shield, coming soon!
-Card Index-
Gravekeeper's Ancestral Beast Ammit
Rank 4/DARK/Reptile/Xyz/Effect/2600atk/1400def
2 or more(Max 3) Level 4 "Gravekeeper's" Monsters
Once per turn, you can detach one Xyz Material from this card, and target one monster your opponent controls; destroy it, then this card gains ATK equal to that monster's current ATK until the end of the turn.
Gravekeeper's Ancestral Beast Bast
Level 7/LIGHT/Beast/Synchro/Effect/2300atk/2900def
1 DARK Spellcaster-Type Non-Tuner Monster + 1 or more "Gravekeeper's" Non-Tuner Monsters
When a "Gravekeeper's" Monster you control is targeted for an attack, you can change the attack target to this card, then perform damage calculation.
Situation Excel
Normal Trap Card
Activate this card only during your End Phase, and at least 2 Monsters you controlled were destroyed by battle this turn, and your Life Points are lower than your opponent's. Place one Monster card from your deck to the top of your deck. You can only activate this effect if the Monsters destroyed were yours originally.
Force Break Invocation
Normal Trap Card
When your opponent declares a direct attack with a Monster whose ATK is higher than your current Life Points; target the attacking monster, negate the attack, end the Battle Phase, and Special Summon any number of Normal Monsters from your deck so long as their combined ATK is lower than the ATK of the target.
Gravekeeper's Spirit
Level 3/DARK/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect/0atk/1200def
This monster cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card is destroyed by a card effect, Special Summon one "Gravekeeper's" Monster from your deck or graveyard, ignoring summoning conditions, or Necrovalley.
Buster Rookie-Knight of Potential
Level 1/LIGHT/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/0atk/0def
2 or more Normal Monsters on the field.
Must be Fusion Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. When this card is Fusion Summoned, target the Monsters used for this card's Fusion Summon in the graveyard; banish them, then this card's ATK and DEF become equal to the combined ATK and DEF of the banished Monsters. If this card would be destroyed, you can send two Normal Monsters from your deck to the graveyard; this card cannot be destroyed by card effects this turn. This effect of Buster Rookie-Knight of Potential can only be used once per duel.