Hi all! Hiyuusha here with another chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force! This time, a chapter dedicated to Enzo! Will he be able to win a Duel? Find out now, and don't forget to leave me your thoughts!
Last time… on Yu-Gi-Oh: Tag Force!
Enzo frowned, "Hey! I'm not an idiot you know?! I'm just a little… slow on the uptake!"
"Heh, of course you are," Wisteria scowled, "only you could miss something like this!" the girl cried haughtily, holding up a file on Luna.
"Ah, yeah I was wondering about that." Konami frowned, "It has her listed as a psychic… but all she really does is claim to communicate with Duel Spirits. That's rare even among Psychic Duelists right?"
"Yeah." Wisteria frowned, "Besides, the only people I know who can communicate with Duel Spirits are a few of the slackers back at the Academy and…" she gave Konami a knowing look, prompting him to shrug unceremoniously.
"Okay, so we'll look into Luna too. Anyone else?"
"Well," Rathie frowned, "The rest of these guys look pretty basic… but we better take a look at the Luna girl's brother just in case… probably a few of the Duelists that make it further into the Cup as well."
"Alright," Konami nodded, "so Luna, Leo, the King, and anyone who gets past let's say… the third round?"
Wisteria nodded, "That sounds fair."
"Great. Then I think this part of the meeting is concluded!" Konami grinned, "I'll tell the ones I can get into contact with to be careful around Goodwin. Odds are that if I'm looking at them, he will be too."
They all nodded in agreement.
"Hey… Kon-kun," Wisteria smiled, "now that his dreary meeting's over how about you and I go for a nice walk through Tops? You know, just the two of us?"
"Eh? Heh…" Konami smiled, "Sorry Wisteria… but that's not happening, besides, we're not done yet."
"E-Eh?" the girl scowled, "but you said-"
"I said the first part of the meeting was concluded," Konami smirked, "for the next part… I want to build a Deck that'll teach Enzo how to Duel."
The boy's eyes went wide.
And now…
-Chapter Twenty-
From the Ashes
"Ohohohohohohoho! Ruin, Queen of Oblivion! Attack him directly and wipe out his Life Points!" the cocky voice of Wisteria demanded, "Go! Fairy Breaker!"
Enzo cried out in despair, falling on his back as his Life Points hit zero.
Konami sighed, "That makes it 3-0, Wisteria wins."
"Well of course," the girl huffed, tossing her hair to the side arrogantly, "You didn't honestly expect me to lose to this trash did you Kon-kun?"
"Hm… well, I didn't expect him to win, did think he'd do a little better though." Konami admitted.
"Aw man…" Enzo frowned, "I could have won!"
"Then why didn't you?" Wisteria asked superiorly, "Admit it, you're just no good at this, trash."
Enzo scowled, "Stop calling me trash, woman! I'll have you know that I'm a perfectly capable Duelist!"
"Oh please," the girl scoffed, "you? Capable? Don't be stupid! You haven't won a single Duel in all your time here!"
"Guh… that's beside the point!" Enzo grimaced, "Don't you know how to respect your opponent?! You shouldn't call anyone trash, no matter who it might be!"
"Oh? I thought we were talking about you here?" Wisteria smirked, "Seems you've gone and tried to turn it all around on me. I shouldn't be surprised. This is typical trash behavior after all."
Konami ran a hand through his hair, watching the two with a frown, "Settle down you two. There's no need for so much arguing."
"Hmph, I'm not arguing." Wisteria argued, "That's your pet monkey's job!"
"Pet- That's it!" Enzo shouted, tossing his hands up in defeat, "I've had it with you! I'm outta here!"
The boy scowled, slamming the door shut behind him as he gazed out into the moonlit sky. "Stupid Wisteria… stupid Konami… I'm nobodies pet!"
"Enzo!" a voice shouted out behind him, the boy turning back to see Konami running towards him, "Hold on, why'd you run off like that?"
"As if it isn't obvious!" Enzo scowled, "I'm tired of Wisteria always insulting my dueling skills! Sure, I know I'm not the best Duelist around or anything, but… I try, you know?"
"Do you really?" Konami asked slowly, raising a brow. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Enzo… but I've seen some really bad Duelists in my time. And I have to say… it takes real skill to lose a Duel every single time. Are you sure you're really trying… or is there something you're afraid of?"
"What…?" Enzo frowned, "What is it you're trying to say? Come on, spit it out! You think I'm afraid of winning or something? Is that it?"
Konami shrugged, "Well, are you?"
"Of… Of course not!" Enzo snapped, "The idea of being afraid of winning… it's ridiculous!" he laughed wryly, "Why can't you just accept that I'm a terrible Duelist?"
"Well…" Konami trailed off, reaching into his pocket for a small group of cards, "If you were just a terrible Duelist I could understand it… but," he held the cards up, scanning through each of them slowly, "with a hand like this, even a terrible Duelist would have been able to win that last Duel."
"!" Enzo swirled around, snatching the cards Konami held in his Hands before stuffing them back in his holster. "You went snooping around my Deck then?"
"I did." Konami confirmed, stuffing his hands back in his pockets, "and it confirmed my earlier thoughts. You're not as bad as a Duelist as you'd like everyone to think!"
"Heh…" Enzo chuckled, "Is this some kind of joke? I'm Enzo… the "pet monkey" remember?"
"You know," Konami started, "I've seen that ace card of yours." He mumbled, earning a stony look from the boy, "How long do you intend to keep burying yourself in the Darkness… instead of soaring out in the light? Come on, let me help-"
"I don't need your help!" Enzo cut him off, his eyes narrowing into slits, "You think belittling me… insulting me, will help make me a better Duelist?" he scoffed, "I'd be better off relying on one of those ridiculous Duel Tutors."
"Enzo…"
"Look," the boy frowned, "I don't know what you mean by running away, or burying myself in darkness… so I'll come back when I'm good and ready, alright?! Until then…" he turned his back to Konami, walking down the steps of the apartment, "Just leave me alone."
He disappeared into the darkness, and Konami didn't follow.
Turning back towards his apartment, Konami sighed. It seemed as though the most dangerous part was over. Opening the door back to his apartment, he slipped inside, only to find Rathie and Wisteria watching the television intently. The girl smiled at his arrival.
"Oh, so you're back already then?" she asked cheerfully, "Is it over then?"
"Yeah. He's gone." Konami sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Mmm… so I did good right?" Wisteria asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.
"Yeah, he looked pretty upset." Konami confirmed, prompting a grin from the girl, "Now would you two settle down for a moment? I need to make sure the others are ready."
He flipped open his Cell Phone, scrolling through the contacts until he landed on someone local. "…. Come on, pick up your phone already…. Ah! There you are. Hey, Mathew. Yeah, it's Konami. Is everything good to go on your end? Great, great… yeah, he'll be headed your way soon. Make sure you guys are good to go," he turned his attention back to the other two in the room, "as of this moment, Operation Enzo has officially begun."
-5D's-
Goodwin chuckled darkly, watching through the cameras as Lazar returned to the helicopter. The jester had done well in delivering Yusei the Ultimatum, and with what Goodwin knew of the man, there was no way he would refuse to participate in the tournament when his friends' lives were on the line.
"I do believe that is the last of them Director," Lazar stated as he entered the vehicle, slamming the door shut behind him.
"Indeed," Goodwin agreed, "with Yusei Fudo now in the tournament, all of the potential Signers are now involved. It seems the Fortune Cup will have quite the turnout."
"Shall I contact Jack?" Lazar asked, "Let him know that he might be getting that rematch he wanted after all?"
"If you see fit." Goodwin decided, "However, before you go and do anything on your own... get me in contact with Zigzix, I have heard rumors amongst the research division that he has something that may interest me."
"Right away sir." Lazar smiled in his clown-like manner.
Zigzix.
Head of the Reactor Research Division for Kaibacorp. The man was responsible for ensuring that all of Neo Domino received the energy it needed, but unbeknownst to many, he was also responsible for reporting back to Goodwin on any strange occurrences that may happen under his watch.
Recently, the man had taken to proposing new ways of utilizing energy, once such proposal including the creation of a brand new Ener-D machine, the very thing responsible for the Zero Reverse Incident.
Still, while dangerous, the Ener-D had its benefits, so Goodwin had agreed. It certainly didn't hurt that the energy source seemed to react around the Signers, information Goodwin had learned of only after a slight incident with the specimen hidden within his office.
It held… promise.
The man chuckled. Ener-D… the Crimson Dragon… the two seemed to be intertwined. If anyone could discover a way to connect the two through the use of a reactor, it would be Zigzix.
-5D's-
"That idiot… who the hell does he think he is, asking if I'm afraid of winning…" Enzo scowled, "Stupidest thing I ever heard…"
Frowning, the boy reached into his holster, withdrawing his 40-card Deck and glancing at it solemnly. "This Deck… really is heavy."
The sound of a helicopter passing overhead broke his thoughts.
"Someone's out flying this late at night…?" Enzo asked, squinting up at the small black dot in the sky, "Che… just a reminder that not everybody has it hard. Probably some rich kid from Tops…"
As he spoke the laughing image of a male Wisteria made its way into his head. He shivered, driving the thought from his mind as quickly as it came.
"Sheesh… as if one of them wasn't enough to deal with…" the boy sighed, turning onto a dark street. "Where the hell am I…? I wasn't really paying attention with how angry I was…." He frowned, "And this place is pretty dark… should I really have come down here this time of night?"
He stepped forward, following the dimly lit street lamps to what he hoped would be a brighter street. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. He wandered through the streets blindly, unaware of exactly where he was. What place in Neo Domino had so few lights that one could barely see?
His eyes widened in realization.
The Slums… the place closest to Satellite in terms of mugging and brutality, but without the Sector Security presence to prevent it from happening. Come to think of it… wasn't it the place where Konami was attacked?
Enzo frowned. He was in the Slums, at night. Gulping, He stumbled forward quickly, reaching for his Cell Phone. A Downtown kid like him, stuck in the Slums in the middle of the night? It was just a mugging waiting to happen! He swallowed, scrambling through his phone in hopes of getting a few bars. He needed to call someone to get him out of there!
Maybe… Maybe he didn't need to worry so much. He knew that Konami wasn't one to hold grudges right? Hell, he was talking about saving the very person who had used so much effort putting him in the hospital! Not to mention the teen was in good with that hot model Misty! Yeah, Konami would be able to get him out of there in no time!
He dialed the phone number, waiting for the smooth, welcoming voice that would be Konami's-
"We're sorry, but the number you have dialed has a voicemail box that has not been set up yet. Please try again later!"
Enzo's eyes bulged wide-open. Voicemail… Not… Set up yet?!
He wailed to the heavens, his scream no doubt attracting all sorts of attentions from less than savory individuals. The boy swallowed. There had to be something he could do…
The sound of nearing whistles and catcalls broke him from his thoughts. Just as he suspected, the hoodlums were coming. What would they do to him? Would they settle for beating him up? Would they steal his cards… leave him to rot on the side of the road…?
"One… Two… Rio's coming for you…" a slow, rhythmic voice called from the shadows, shaking Enzo to his boots.
"W-What was that?!" Enzo asked, "Who's out there?!"
"Three… Four… Better hit the floor…" the voice continued, prompting Enzo to begin backing away slowly.
"S-Stay back!" Enzo shouted, grabbing a small stick he'd nearly tripped over backing away. He gulped, thinking about bluffing the man, "I've… I've got a knife!"
"Five… Six… it's just a stick…"
Enzo's eyes widened. He had seen through the bluff?! He fell back, dropping the stick as he began to backpedal away.
"Seven… Eight… Now you made it break…" the voice sang, no doubt referring to the broken stick that now lay at Enzo's feet.
The teen gasped. If he could see the stick, then that meant-
"Nine… Ten…" the voice paused, stepping into view as two stoic green eyes glanced down towards Enzo. The man was dressed in a torn blue vest with an orange undershirt, and had forest green hair draping down across his ears. He smirked, "Time to kill you then…"
Enzo's mouth dropped open, and he made to say something, anything, but no sound would come out. Was this the end…? Was he destined to die here… in the Slums… alone?
"For JUUUUUSTICE!" a deep, heroic voice shouted down from the rooftops, a blinding white substance falling from the sky and planting a shining black boot into the would-be assailant's face.
The white substance flipped backwards spinning through the air rapidly before landing gracefully in front of Enzo, revealing itself to be nothing more than a white coat… that was, a white coat attached to something… or someone.
"W-What…?" the assailant, Rio, asked, gripping his face in pain, "Who…?"
A shining light seemed to illuminate the mystery man as he indulged himself in a heroic pose.
"I am a light to all those trapped in the darkness!" the man began, his white coat billowing in the nonexistent wind. "The one who destroys those that would deny the world peace!" his reddish-brown hair fell behind him gently, extending forth from the small break in his amazing helmet.
"I am the hunter in the night!" the man continued as Enzo's eyes widened in shock, "He who screws the rules and the rules alone!"
He smirked, setting a hand on hip as he drew up a card and held it just like in his many pictures. "I am… Kaibaman! Ally of Justice, Nightmare to you!"
"Kaibaman…?" Rio asked stoically, a hand gripping the face that the hero had kicked moments earlier, "So you're real then…"
Kaibaman ignored him, "Enzo the monkey. How long do you intend to lie in the dirt?"
"E-Eh…?"
"Stand, young Duelist." Kaibaman commanded authoritatively, "For it is time…" he flexed his muscle, "to flee!" he finished, grabbing the boy by the collar and disappearing around a nearby corner.
Rio watched the scene in shock. "They're… running away…?" he grinned, "Not today."
Enzo couldn't believe it.
Of all the things to happen, Kaibaman's appearance had to be the least expected. But to be honest, he wasn't sure what was more shocking, the fact that Kaibaman seemed to actually exist, or the fact that he was fleeing from a single criminal. Wasn't he supposed to be a bonafide badass, capable of taking out a thousand foes with a single click of his utility belt?
Enzo's eyes sharpened, and he took in the man's appearance as they began to slow. Just as he expected, he had the helmet, coat, and even the amazing forearm spikes inspired by that bat-like man from America. But the belt… it was missing!
"Kaibaman…" Enzo frowned, "Kaibaman!"
"What is it?" the man grunted, not at all humored by Enzo's nagging.
"Your utility belt… where is it?!"
"Not here, obviously." Kaibaman droned, kneeling in front of an abandoned building to pick the lock, "I suspect it's been stolen by my eternal foe, the Dark Magician."
Enzo gasped, "J-Just like in Episode 52… Revenge of the Sage?!"
"Yes," Kaibaman rolled his eyes beneath his helmet, "Just like in Episode 52." the door lock clicked open, "Hurry up and get inside! We need to get ready for when he shows up."
"E-Eh?" Enzo frowned, only just remembering that they were fleeing from some hoodlum in the Slums, "R-Right…"
Kaibaman sighed, slamming the door behind them as he took in the building's layout. "This will do nicely. Quick, get over there!"
Enzo nodded, heading behind the stone pillar that Kaibaman had directed him too. This… it was like a dream come true! To think that one of his common fights with Wisteria would lead to an encounter with Kaibaman…
What was he doing in Neo Domino anyway?!
The sound of a slamming door broke his thoughts.
Rio had followed them inside. Enzo's breath hitched, and he covered his mouth to avoid being found out. Kaibaman was nowhere to be seen, but that was normal. The man was an expert in stealth after all.
"One… Two…" Rio frowned, glancing around the area slowly, "Where the hell are you?"
"Here" Kaibaman replied from behind, prompting Rio to swivel his hand around blindly, only to hit nothing but air.
"W-What the hell…?" Rio frowned.
At his words, the lights of the building turned on, illuminating the room in a blinding light and revealing just what it was that was concealed within.
"A… Duel Arena…?" Rio asked, "Looks pretty antique to."
"That is correct." Kaibaman answered, appearing within one of the Duelist Squares, "You are a Duelist as well, aren't you? Shouldn't you resolve your differences this way?"
"Heh…hehehe…." Rio chuckled, "You challengin me to a Duel, Kaibaman?"
"That is correct. If I win, you turn yourself in to the proper authorities. If you win, well… you can do with us whatever you please."
Rio licked his lips, glancing around the room as he locked on to Enzo's position. "Kehehehe… and what's to stop me from just killing you all here and now, eh?"
Kaibaman smiled, holding up what appeared to be a small trigger. "I have rigged this building with enough C4 to level half the city. If you decline my request, then I set them off, killing us all in the process."
Rio scowled, "You're bluffing!"
Kaibaman continued to smile, shining a light on the doorway to reveal a small, blinking package. "Do you really want to risk the chance that I'm not?"
Rio raised a brow, staring at the package curiously. "C4 huh…? Interesting! And if I win I get to kill ya'll anyway! Heh, I'll do it! I'll take you on!"
"Good move." Kaibaman replied, setting the trigger down and reaching for his holster. He frowned. "Ah… that's right. The Dark Magician…" he turned to Enzo, "You there, come here!"
Enzo gulped, "H-Huh? Me…?"
"Did I stutter?"
Enzo shook his head rapidly, quickly climbing the stairs to stand by Kaibaman.
Rio scowled, "Whatcha doin? The deal wasn't for a two on one!"
"No, it was not. However, due to my… circumstances… I will not be able to duel you myself." Kaibaman explained, "As such, I'll be using this one here as my stand-in!"
"W-What?!" Enzo shouted, "You can't do that! I suck at Dueling! I'll get us all killed!"
"You'll be fine." Kaibaman shrugged him off, leaping off onto one of the side pillars holding the Duel Arena together, "I trust that will be satisfactory?"
Rio laughed, "Dueling this coward as opposed to you? Yeah, that'll be fine! It'll be all the easier to kill you this way."
"We shall see."
Enzo gulped. What was Kaibaman doing? Couldn't he see that this was going to get them all killed? He thought the guy was supposed to be a hero! A hero! Not an angel of death!
"Whatever complaints you have are now irrelevant," Kaibaman spoke, seeing the look on Enzo's face, "The time has come. Let the Duel… begin!"
DUEL
Enzo-8000 LP
Rio-8000 LP
"Well, since your pal seems to be so cowardly over there," Rio grinned, "I'll be going first! Draw!" he smirked, "I'll start by summoning Shining Angel to the Field in Attack Mode!"
He set the card on the Field as a man with flowing wings emerged.
Shining Angel-LV4-(1400/800)
"Then I'll set two cards down and end my turn!"
Enzo gulped, here he went… "My turn! Draw!"
He glanced down at his cards and smiled. "Alright! I have monsters that can take out that Shining Angel! Here we go!" "I summon Abyssal Kingshark to the Field in Attack Mode!"
A shark-like creature appeared halfway on the Field, its glowing head bobbing up and down in the floor as if it were swimming.
Abyssal Kingshark-LV4-(1700/600)
"And now, it's time for the Battle Phase!" he grinned, "Abyssal Kingshark, attack the Shining Angel!"
"Not so fast!" Rio smirked, "I'm activating an effect from my Hand, Honest!"
"Huh?" Enzo asked, "Honest?"
"Kyahahaha! It's a Fairy Monster with an effect that activates in my Hand! You see, by discarding this card to the Graveyard when a Light monster I control battles, that monster can gain Attack equal to the Attack of the opponent's monster it's battling until the End Phase!"
"Wait but then that means…"
"Yep!" Rio grins, "Your Abyssal Kingshark just attacked a monster that now has 3100 Attack Points!"
The Shining Angel flapped its wings boringly as the Kingshark leapt out at it, a small whirlwind blowing the Fish back, annihilating it completely.
Enzo winced, watching the battle in shock as his Life Points began to drop.
Enzo-6600 LP
Rio-8000 LP
"M-Man…" Enzo frowned, "That's why I didn't want to be the one Dueling…"
"It's no use, the Duel's only just getting started." Kaibaman told him, "Now, continue your turn!"
Enzo nodded, glancing back at his hand, "Is there anything else I can do…? Wait… these cards here… alright." "I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
"Heh, then it's time to show my skills!" Rio grinned, "Draw! Alright, I'm summoning Toy Magician in Attack Mode!"
A tiny figure with spiking red hair began to materialize, making itself known.
Toy Magician-LV4-(1600/1500)
"Not so fast!" Enzo shouted, "I'm activating my Trap Card! Solemn Judgment! It lets me negate your monster's summon and send it packing to the Graveyard by giving up half my Life Points!"
Enzo grit his teeth as his Life Points began to drop once more.
Enzo-3300 LP
Rio-8000 LP
"Heh, not so fast!" Rio laughed, "I'm activating my own Trap! Dark Bribe! It'll negate the activation of your Solemn Judgment, but the cost still goes!"
"W-What?!" Enzo spat.
"Unfortunately, you get to draw another card, but it won't matter."
Kaibaman frowned, "Hmph, this isn't good. The Duel's just started and he's already pretty far behind."
"Damn, damn, damn!" Enzo frowned, glancing at his next card, "What am I gonna do?!"
"Time to attack!" Rio laughed, "First, Toy Magician will have its fun!"
"Guh..! Not this time! I'm activating my Quick-Play! Enemy Controller!"
"Huh?!"
"Yeah, this card will let me change the position of one of your monsters! I'll be using it on your Toy Magician that decided to attack me!"
"Che…" Rio scowled, "That's fine, I can still get some damage in with my Shining Angel!"
Enzo grunted, covering his eyes as the Shining Angel released a blinding light to injure him.
Enzo-1900 LP
Rio- 8000 LP
"Heh! Look at that!" the man laughed, "You're already down so low and you haven't even touched me yet! Looks like Kaibaman put his faith in the wrong Duelist!"
Enzo shivered, "He's right! I knew I wasn't up for this! What was he thinking, choosing me to duel for him?! Guh… I need… I need to draw my next card…" He reached out towards his Deck and paused. "What… What is this?"
He stared down at his Deck, watching wide-eyed as black smoke seemed to erupt from its being, twisting and turning into a demonic visage.
"Is this really… my Deck?"
Kaibaman's eyes narrowed beneath his helmet, watching Enzo cautiously. "Did he see it?!"
Enzo's eyes bulged, staring in shock at the giant visage that seemed to be his Deck. "What the hell…? Is this some kind of trick?!"
"Oi, what's taking you so long?" Rio scowled, "Hurry up and make your move, or I'm going!"
The hoodlum's words seemed to ring a cord in Enzo, and he quickly drew his next card. "Magical Cylinder…? I might be able to buy some time with this… but what's this feeling…?" he glanced at his Deck once more, flinching back at the visage appeared once more. "This atmosphere… it's heavy. Is this what Konami meant… burying myself in darkness…?"
"Enzo! Pay attention!" Kaibaman shouted, prompting the boy back to action.
"G-Guh! R-Right!" Enzo shouted, turning back to his Hand. "I don't have anything that can defeat that Toy Magician… so for now I'll have to play it safe." "I'll play a monster face-down in Defense Mode, and finish it off with three set cards!"
"Keh… so that's it huh? Well in that case… my move!" Rio grinned, drawing, "Heh, I summon Honest to the Field in Attack Mode!"
The Fairy smiled blindingly as it made itself known, arriving on the Field in a flash of light.
Honest-LV4-(1100/1900)
"And then… after changing Toy Magician back to Attack Mode… I'll begin the Final Attacks!" Rio grinned, "Toy Magician, attack his Face-Down monster!"
"N-Not so fast!" Enzo shouted, "I have a Trap Card! Reveal, Magic Cylinder!"
"What?!"
"Yeah, it'll negate your monster's attack, and that's not all!" Enzo continued, quoting the person who once used it on him, "It'll also make you take damage equal to that monster's attack!"
"Guh!" Rio snarled, standing stoically as his Life Points dropped.
Enzo-1900 LP
Rio- 6400 LP
"Che.. so it won't be a perfect win after all," the hoodlum scowled, "but I'm not done yet! Shining Angel, attack that face-down monster!"
"Not this time, I'm showing off my other face-down, behold, my second Enemy Controller!"
"Again?!"
"Yeah, so your Shining Angel won't be getting me this time! It's getting turned back into Defense Mode!"
"Kuh… so you survived huh…?" Rio scowled, glancing at his third monster. "At this rate that face-down monster might be a trap… I better play it safe. Kuh!" "Fine, so you survived the turn. But now I'm activating Honest's second effect!"
"Huh?" Enzo asked.
"Once per turn, I can return this card to my Hand from the Field!" Rio explained.
"Darn… and since it's in his hand that means he'll be able to use its effect if I get a monster that can attack!" Enzo thought, clenching his hand.
Kaibaman smirked from the pillar, noticing the small telegraph. "So he's starting to think now… good."
"I'll set a card and end my turn." Rio finished.
"Then it's my move." Enzo nodded, frowning at his Deck, "Draw!" he frowned, "Exiled Force…? Wait a sec… I can use this!" "Alright, I'm summoning Exiled Force to the Field in Attack Mode!"
A small band of warriors appeared, each of them looking rather weak and tired.
Exiled Force-LV4-(1000/1000)
"That weak ass monster?" Rio asked, "What's it gonna do?"
"Thanks for asking!" Enzo grinned, "Because you see, this card has an effect!"
"Huh?" Rio scowled.
"Yeah! I can tribute this card to destroy a monster on the Field! And since the one that seems to be the most annoying right now is your Toy Magician… I'll have my Exiled Force beat it down!"
Rio scowled, watching the small Spellcaster disappearing under the weight of the Exiled Stampede. "So you got rid of it… No matter, I still have another monster on the Field!"
"That's true… so I can't do anything else this turn." Enzo sighed, closing his eyes, "I end."
"Then it's time to fix this!" Rio snarled, "Draw! I summon Defender the Magical Knight in Attack Mode!"
Defender-LV4-(1600/2000)
"Che…"
"And because it was Normal Summoned," Rio explained, "It gets a Spell Counter! But that's beside the point! With Shining Angel back in Attack Mode, I can go into the Battle Phase, and now… Attack!"
"Here we go…" Enzo thought, "Not so fast… I have another Trap Card!"
"!" Rio scowled.
"And this one won't need an explanation! Behold, Mirror Force!"
Rio smirked, "Mirror Force eh…? Well, you'll get rid of my Shining Angel… but I can activate my Defender's Special Effect!"
"Uh oh…"
"That's right, because my removing a Spell Counter, I can prevent it from being destroyed by your Trap Card, and because of that, its attack will still go through! Destroy that face-down Monster! Go!"
Enzo scowled, gripping his collar tightly as his face-down was flipped up, revealing Apprentice Magician.
"Ha! A weak card!" Rio laughed, watching Defender knock it away.
"Che…." Enzo frowned. "There go my defenses… I only have one card left… and it's not strong enough to defeat that Defender of his… not to mention, he still has Honest in his Hand!"
"Well Enzo," Kaibaman shouted, "What are you waiting for?! Apprentice Magician's effect activates!"
"H-Huh?!" Enzo blinked.
"It has an effect, fool!" he shouted, "When Apprentice Magician is destroyed, you can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Spellcaster-Type Monster from your Deck!"
"H-Huh… oh…." Enzo sweatdropped, "I didn't know that… let's see now…." He grabbed his Deck, shifting through the cards to see what he could summon. "Hmm… Apprentice Magician… Apprentice Magician… eh…? What's this card…?"
Enzo frowned, staring at the golden-clad woman in the card. "This card… it feels like it can help me somehow…. Better go with it."
He set the card face-down on the Field, earning a scowl from Rio.
"So you found one then? Che, I can't do anything else to you this turn, so it's your move."
"Great…" Enzo nodded, "Draw!" he looked down, "Another Exiled Force… I can get rid of the Defender… but he still has Honest in his hand! And that card I set won't be able to handle it… I need to think…." He sighed, "That card… what is its effect? I know it has one but…"
The visage of his Deck once beckoned to him, the dark energy all but suffocating him.
"I've seen that ace card of yours…" he remembered Konami saying to him, "How long do you intend to bury yourself in the darkness… instead of soaring out in the light?"
"My ace card…?" Enzo thought, glancing back at his Deck, "My ace card is Dark Nephthys, but what does that have to do with anything…?"
"How long will you bury yourself in the darkness…?" Konami's words rang through his ears once more.
"What is it...? What are you trying to say?"
"Instead of soaring out in the light?"
The Deck's black visage broke, and an overwhelming light enveloped Enzo. What was this? What was he experiencing…?
"I have been buried long enough, Herald." A blinding fire spoke to him, "It is time I let myself burn!"
Enzo's eyes widened. He knew now! He didn't know how but he did! And that was what mattered. He gazed back to the Field, he could come back now… win even! He just needed to be careful and-
"I summon Flame Ruler to the Field in Attack Mode!" Enzo began, throwing a card down easily, "And next, I'll flip the Hand of Nephthys face-up!"
The two monsters materialized side by side, neither having the power to stand up against Defender alone.
Flame Ruler-LV4-(1500/1600)
Hand of Nephthys-LV2-(600/600)
"Those two monsters?" Rio asked, "What're you plotting…?"
"This!" Enzo shouted, "I'm activating the Hand of Nephthys's effect! It lets me tribute it and another monster to Special Summon something new from my Hand or my Deck!"
"What…?"
Kaibaman smiled, "Finally."
"Smoldering ashes ignite into a raging inferno! Special Summon! Burn Bright, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
A torrent of flames roared around the Field, igniting the land below. In the air behind Enzo, a golden phoenix burst to life, screeching loudly throughout the building.
Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys-LV8-(2400/1600)
"Whoa…" Rio frowned, taking a step back, "Not bad, coward."
"Hmph… now we'll see who's on the run," Enzo started, "I think I'll go ahead and-" he paused. He was about to attack but a certain predicament entered his mind.
"That's right… he still has that Honest in his hand." He thought, remembering its first effect, "I'll go ahead and end my turn."
Rio scowled. "So you saw through it huh…? My turn!" he frowned, "Nothing… but as long as I have Honest and Defender he can't attack! So…" "I end my turn!"
"Then it's my move," Enzo grinned, "Draw!" he glanced down, "Abyssal Kingshark? I'll use you soon… but for now, time to destroy that Defender!" "I summon Exiled Force to the Field in Attack Mode, but he won't be around for long!"
"What? You had another one…?!" Rio grimaced, clenching his fist, "Tch…!"
"That's right! So say goodbye to your Defender! Exiled Force, wipe him out!"
The monster force nodded, charging the Magical Knight and dragging it off the Field in a final blaze of glory. Once again, Rio scowled.
"And now… you're wide open! Sacred Phoenix, Attack!"
Rio grimaced; covering his face as a torrent of flames suddenly erupted around him. "Tch… it's hot!"
Enzo-1900 LP
Rio-4000 LP
"I end my turn there." Enzo explained, standing tall.
"Not bad… Not bad at all!" Rio scowled, "Now let's see… Draw!" he grimaced, "Can't use Honest's ability… so," "I activate the Spell Card Monster Reborn, and I'll bring back your Abyssal Kingshark in Defense Mode! Then I'll end my turn…."
"Then it's my move again!" Enzo began, "Draw!" "Torrential Tribute…" "I summon my own Abyssal Kingshark to the Field in Attack Mode!"
The Fish monster once again took to the Field, roaming around as if it were a lake.
Abyssal Kingshark-LV4-(1700/600)
"And now, it's the Battle Phase!" Enzo explained, "Time to fight! Kingshark, attack your brethren! Abyssal Bite!"
The Fish leapt out across the Field, latching onto its traitorous counterpart and dragging it into the depths.
"And that leaves you wide open for my Phoenix to Attack you again!" Enzo began, "Go Sacred Phoenix!"
Rio scowled, once again reeling back as the phoenix fire engulfed him once more. "Pretty steamy…!"
Enzo-1900 LP
Rio-1600 LP
"It's finally an even match." Kaibaman remarked, watching the Duel from afar.
"I'll set one card and end my turn." Enzo decided, glancing at his empty hand. "Hm…"
"It's getting pretty hot in here…" Rio grimaced, "I better pull something good! Draw!" he glanced down at his hand. "Perfect! I activate Lightning Vortex! By discarding a card, it'll let me destroy all face-up monsters you control!"
"Heh…" Enzo closed his eyes, "So that's how it'll be huh…?"
Rio smirked, watching as a great storm descended upon the Field, lashing out at Enzo's monsters. In a fiery shriek the Sacred Phoenix dispersed, and the hoodlum smirked victoriously. Or at least, he did for a moment.
"Eh…? Your Kingshark… Why isn't it disappearing?!" Rio scowled.
"It has a special effect." Enzo explained with a grin, "Once a turn, if it would be destroyed by an effect that doesn't target it, it won't die! Pretty cool huh?"
"Guh…! That card…" Rio snarled, "I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
"Heh… then the best part's about to begin."
"Darn right it is…" Rio smirked inwardly, "The second you attack me… you'll wish you hadn't!"
"Final Turn!" Enzo began, "Draw!"
"Eh..?" Rio scowled, "That look… what does that mean?!"
"This Duel's over!" Enzo declared, raising his hand to the sky, "So make sure you don't forget our deal! Activating Effect from the Graveyard! Sacred Phoenix!"
"What…?! That thing had an effect?!" Rio asked.
"That's right!" Enzo shouted as flames began to erupt within the building, "When the Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys is destroyed by a card effect, during my next Standby Phase it resurrects itself! Just like the phoenix of legend, it rises from the ashes again and again! And that's not the best part!"
"W-What?!" Rio scowled, afraid to hear the answer.
"When it revives itself this way," Enzo began, "it destroys all Spell and Trap Cards on the Field with its flame!"
"W-What?!" Rio gasped.
"Sacred Phoenix!" Enzo beckoned, "Arise, and cleanse the earth with your Eternal Flames!"
The phoenix screeched in reply, its visage appearing behind Enzo and burning the Field to ash. Rio reeled back in despair, watching his two Traps melt and smolder under the heat of the phoenix's gaze.
"No… No way…."
Enzo smiled, "And don't forget… I still have my Battle Phase. Sacred Phoenix…" The Winged-Beast screeched, hovering slightly over Enzo as it gazed upon Rio, "Annihilate him and win me this Duel! Go! Illuminant Blaze!"
The phoenix roared out, raising its wings as flame pillars erupted all throughout the building. Rio's eyes went wide as the Phoenix put him in its crosshairs.
"I… I lost… impossible… impossible!"
The flames engulfed him, and he screamed out in denial.
Enzo-1900 LP
Rio-0 LP
The light of the Phoenix blinded the building as Rio fell to his knees, and then… all went black.
Kaibaman folded his arms smugly. "As I suspected… Enzo has won the duel." He descended from the stone pillar gracefully, landing directly in front of Rio as he lifted him off the floor, "Now, remember the deal. As promised, you will turn yourself in to the authorities, correct?"
There was no response.
It didn't matter, Kaibaman decided. He could already hear the sirens in the distance.
"Come, Enzo." he spoke quickly, dragging Rio off the platform, "It's time you see what justice is."
As they left the building, the sheer degree of siren lights was more than enough to blind the boy. He didn't see how Kaibaman could do it. Though, where Enzo was going in face-first, Kaibaman did have a snappy Blue-Eyes helmet to protect his eyes.
Mikage blinked in surprise, folding her arms as she watched the two approach. "That's… Enzo and… Kaibaman?!"
The officers around her all bulged in shock. Kaibaman was here? Impossible! They never even knew that the guy was real! And who was the perp he was dragging around…?
Mikage stepped forward, being the one who had received the anonymous tip in the first place, "Mr. Kaibaman… to what do we owe the…" she paused, looking for the right word, "pleasure?"
Kaibaman dropped the boy in front of Mikage, kicking him softly in the back to get him moving. "I was in the neighborhood doing a favor for a friend." He glanced back at Enzo and shrugged, "You should thank your friends pal…" he grunted, "Might've been dead without em…" he glanced up as a blinding light suddenly began to descend, sporting the visible Kaibaman symbol on its side.
"Hmph… there's my ride." He announced, leaping back onto the rooftops where he could reach his Blue Eyes White Jet. Before disappearing inside the machine, he drew a single card from his jacket, card-slinging it down into the concrete below.
"Remember," he said charismatically, "Only I can screw the rules!"
If nothing else shocked Mikage, it was the fact that so many people seemed to watch the Kaibaman series. The sheer number of cheering officers seemed to show just how popular the guy really was. As she tied Rio into her backseat, she sighed, looking back to catch another look of the esteemed hero.
But it was too late.
Kaibaman… was gone.
-5D's-
"So… how was it?" Mikage asked, driving through the alleys as she spoke to Rio in the backseat.
"Eh… it was an alright Duel." Mathew shrugged, removing the wig and contacts that had concealed his identity. "It was cool of Konami to call me like that. I had lots of fun, playing the villain. I didn't think he knew someone high up in Security like you though."
"I see…" Mikage laughed, "Well, don't expect to get too used to this. Konami had said this was a one-time thing."
"Really? He said the same to me." Mathew laughed, "Anyway, thanks for the ride home. I don't want Alice getting worried about her big bro being out so late."
"Ah… how cute."
"Heh, she'd hate it if you called her that." Mathew smiled.
The two laughed, carrying on into the silence as a stealthy white jet hovered above.
"Thanks for the ride, Chazz." "Kaibaman" stated, disappearing into the back rooms as the Princeton wrinkled his nose in disgust 5000 miles away.
"Whatever slacker," the voice in the speaker scowled, "you're just lucky that I had a resort nearby. What the hell did you need that thing for anyway?!"
"Ah you know… a few things here… a small Duel there…." Konami chuckled, removing the helmet and voice changer that had disguised his identity.
"Hmph! If you were so desperate for a Duel you should've just told me!" Chazz grimaced, "Do you know how much hell I'm gonna get from my brothers if they find out I sent that thing out to you?!"
"Ah, that's why they won't find out!" Konami laughed, "To be honest I was a bit more worried about Kaiba showing up than anything. I hear he's not too fond of people using replicas of his things."
"Che… whatever. The pilot has orders to drop you off at the Duel Stadium. Even you should be able to get home from there, slacker."
"Yeah, yeah. That'll be fine." Konami laughed, fluffing his Kaibaman costume gently. How long had it been since he was last able to wear the thing…? He would bet anything that the Kaibaman Duel Spirit was laughing at him right now.
"We're approaching the target." The pilot said stoically, not bothering to ask just why the teen behind him was wearing such a thing.
"Thanks, just bring it in close so I can make an entrance." Konami said, reattaching the helmet to his head.
"5…4…3…2…" the back hatch of the Blue Eyes White Jet opened, "1…Go!"
Konami jumped, his parachute opening as he disappeared into the Duel Stadium.
One thing was certain. The news would be good that morning.
-Chapter Twenty-
End