Transcendent Wings
XX: Dark Deal
Storm clouds gathered about the Metro Tower, as within, the possessed Shayera Hol faced against Kiryu Kyosuke in a Duel of Darkness, isolated from rest of the Metro Tower by a ring of purple flames.
Kiryu: LP 4000
Shayera: LP 4000
"Draw." she studied her hand. "I set a monster in defence mode. I then set a card and end my turn."
"Too early to tell," Kiryu assessed. "But, if I'm right... draw. I summon Infernity Beast [1600/1200] in attack mode. Furthermore, I play the Continuous Spell, Infernity Launcher. Once per turn, I can discard an Infernity monster in my hand. I then set three cards. Now, Infernity Beast, attack the monster! When my hand is at zero, and Infernity Beast attacks, no Spells or Traps can be activated by you until the end of the damage step."
"What?" the not-Shayera blinked as the beast leapt and mauled the purple worm that appeared to oblivion, shielding herself as the monster blew up [750/600]. "But, the effect of Needle Worm applies. Now, discard the top five cards of your deck to the grave."
"I thought so..." Kiryu easily pulled the top five cards to discard. "Turn end."
"Draw," she glanced at the beast growling at her. "I summon Shield Worm [800/2000]. When Shield Worm is summoned, it is changed to defence mode. For each Insect Type monster I control you discard one card from the top of your deck to the grave. I set a card and end."
"I thought so..." Kiryu drawled. "It's that annoying deck. Draw! When this is the only card in my hand, Infernity Demon [1800/1200] is special summoned to the field."
The tall demon duly made its appearance on the field. "Furthermore, I can search out an Infernity card from my deck to add to my hand and I choose Infernity Necromancer [0/2000]. I summon Infernity Necromancer, and activate its effect: once per turn when I have no cards in hand I can summon one Infernity monster from the grave, and I choose the Infernity Destroyer [2300/1000] you milled just now!"
A truly ugly demon made its appearance, menacingly growling. "Battle!" Kiryu commanded. "Infernity Destroyer, attack the Shield Worm!" Kiryu ordered as the worm was shredded to ribbons. "When I have no cards in hand and Infernity Destroyer destroys a monster by battle, you get sixteen hundred damage!"
The demon roared, some miasma gathering about Shayera as it exploded, causing her to flinch.
Shayera: LP 4000 → LP 2400
Kiryu: LP 4000
"You're wide open! Infernity Beast, direct attack!" Kiryu called.
"This is a staple card, you know," she smirked as a large pendulum resembling a bell and a hammer appeared.
"Battle Fader [0/0]," Kiryu growled as he identified the card. "Turn end."
"Trap card, Call of the Haunted," she signalled as the Shield Worm appeared once more. "And, you mill another card. Draw!I play the Spell, Worm Bait, to special summon two Worm Tokens [0/0]. I release both Worm Tokens to summon Dark Tuner Chaos Rogue [0/0]!"
"I thought so..." Kiryu growled as a... thing that resembled a human being, partially melted, purple, and grinning madly with some air of malevolence about it.
"Dark Tuning, level four Shield Worm and level eight Dark Tuner Chaos Rogue!" the possessed heroine called. "When dark overlaps with dark, the doors of underworld will be opened to the world without light. Dark Synchro! Show yourself, Dark Diviner [2000/1000]!"
A gnarled staff rotated as the red-hooded grim creature arose, malevolence rolling off it in spades that even the group of heroes surrounding it stumbled back in shock.
"First, the effect of Dark Tuner Chaos Rogue," she spoke. "If this card is used in a Dark Synchro Summon and sent to the grave, then you must send five cards from the top of your deck to the grave."
"Fine," Kiryu closed his eyes as he discarded.
"Now, Dark Diviner attacks Infernity Destroyer!" She laughed. "When Dark Diviner declares an attack, the attack target turns equal to that of Dark Diviner [2300/1000 → 2000/1000]. Now, Dark Diviner, go! Dark Drag-down!"
"Trap open, Infernity Force!" Kiryu sounded bemused as the grim reaper-like creature combusted into flames and vanished, only leaving both controller and opponent to shield from the flames. "Sorry, there's only one Shinigami around her and that's not it."
She scoffed. "End."
"Furthermore, by effect of Infernity Force, I can special summon the tuner monster, Infernity Beetle [1200/0] from my grave," Kiryu called as a stag-horn beetle appeared. "It's my turn, draw. I set a card. Tuning, level three Infernity Necromancer and level three Infernity Beast to level two Infernity Beetle! The dead and the living... when they meet at zero, above the cage of eternity, the demonic dragon appears! Come forth, Infernity Death Dragon!"
Pincers clicking, torn leathery wings spread anew as many eyes blinked and the dragon roared by two of the strongest of the demons of Infernity [3000/2400].
"I'll tell you something," Kiryu drawled. "One of my set cards is Infernity Barrier, which will lock out your face-down card. And, judging from your face, you don't look like you have another Battle Fader. I think... Infernity Destroyer, attack Battle Fader!"
The demonic creature roared as it slashed the monster to shreds.
"And that's another sixteen hundred damage!" Kiryu called as the area around Shayera exploded.
Shayera: LP 2400 → LP 800
"Infernity Death Dragon, direct attack!" Kiryu ordered.
"Even if this woman will die, you're still going to attack?" the possessed Thanegarian taunted, causing the Green Lantern to freeze.
"Idiot, you forgot I was a Dark Signer," Kiryu growled, watching as her face fell. "I know every single one of your tricks. Death Fire Blast!"
"Shayera!" John yelled, even as dark miasma gathered and the whole field exploded.
"Dewloren!" The tiger king gave a roar at her command, freezing the miasma where the tiger stood, the toxic smoke of the dragon of death spreading out behind in the ruins of the monitor womb. In the centre of the crater, Hawkgirl fainted over, Kiryu still coolly standing as the Green Lantern rushed to her.
"And it's done," Kiryu spotted the spider exploding in a puff of shadows as he put together his deck, unlocked the DuelDisk back into a gun, and slotted its back into the holster. "If you'd excuse me, I'll be asleep."
"That... was... awesome...!" Flash was still staring at the cracked crater n the middle of the Metro Tower.
"Urgh..." the fallen Hawkgirl stirred. "What... happened?"
"Shayera? You're alright?" John asked.
"Er, yeah?" she blearily answered. "I... don't remember..."
"You were being controlled," J'onn replied. "By a very strong force. Luckily, Mr Kiryu interceded in time."
"I don't like that guy," the Lantern growled. "Why was he here anyway?"
"Batman," J'onn answered as their communications panel began to ring like crazy. "Considering the circumstances of their arrival, I do not think they had a choice in the matter."
"Was it necessary to intervene?" the Batman growled.
"Yes," Setsuka answered. "Any longer and the Tower would have been in danger. I do not think that they were expecting our presence, which meant that this was just a distraction and not a strike attempt. Which means-"
"That they're trying something again," Batman scowled. "Like what?"
"Hitting somewhere else?" Nightwing suggested. Almost immediately Setsuka had pulled her phone and begun dialling. "Moshi moshi?" A pause, and the girl sighed in relief before she hung up with a murmur of thanks. "Neo Domino and the Momentum is safe."
"Well, that leaves every major settlement on Earth," Nightwing sarcastically pointed out. "Shall we check which one went missing?"
"I just realised..." Setsuka blinked. "Batman San, when you used the Eye, was it as Batman or as Bruce Wayne?"
"Bruce Wayne." the Bat put the pieces together. "You think that, maybe...?"
"No," Setsuka shook her head. "Wayne's reputation precedes him. What I think... is that they're arranging for economic domination to cripple the support structure."
"And where better to start that Wayne Enterprises," Robin caught on. "I mean, even if it's not public everyone knows that it's a major contributor to League funding."
"Good job, Robin," Batman was already pacing and thinking. "Bruce will be going back to work now. Robin, I need you in the Cave, run down all financial records of Aldéric de Roy, please. Nightwing, I need you to pick up a bike and place an order for three new engines."
"What?" Nightwing blinked. "Why?"
The Batman coughed. "I have recently seen a motorcycle that can move up to two hundred miles an hour and runs on an altogether more efficient energy source."
"A D-Wheel?" Setsuka gave him a look. "Those are specialised, unless you build them yourselves, and even then it's a long-term job. Why are you-"
"The R-Cycle hasn't been fitted with emergency grapples."
This prompted stares from all four of them at him, before the two birds burst out laughing. "James Bond," Robin laughed loudly. "Has. Nothing. On. The goddamn Batman."
"Robin, language!"
The two birds continued laughing at this outbreak of Daddy Bats. Yes, they were going to pay for it when Batman took over the simulation, but it was well worth it, as the despair of the enemies having struck so close to the heart finally faded like the shadows before the sun.
Alaric glanced as the leg reappeared on his birthmark. "Kiryu, huh...?"
"Well, that's this city done with," Aldric sighed, the infrastructure of Star City eerily silent behind him. "I see you're done with Hub City."
"Yeah, yeah," Alaric shrugged. 'The Shinigami is here."
"Kiryu?" Aldric turned interested. "Oh? Now that's interesting."
Alaric shook his head. "Are you even taking this seriously?"
"Of course I am," Aldric pouted, extremely unusual in a man supposedly trying to end the world. "Since it's about to end, we might as well enjoy it, no?"
"Star City and Hub City," Question was currently assisting a very injured Green Arrow in walking out of the teleporter platform. "Don't ask."
"The Orichalcos?" J'onn inquired to the faceless vigilante. "I see. My condolences."
"Which two?" both vigilantes turned to regard the little girl who asked.
"Look, kid, why are you here?" Arrow recovered first.
The temperature dropped immediately. "Which. Two. Geoglyphs. Unless you don't want your cities back."
"The Spider," Question immediately responded.
"Condor," Arrow followed a second later. "What's it to you?"
"Aldric Kingsley himself is moving... then their goal is complete," the girl ignored them as she got up and ran. "Nightwing San!"
"What's with her?" Arrow shrugged.
"She knows," Question comprehended. "It looks like we will still have to help."
"Wait, so they staged the whole thing at the Metro Tower so that no one would notice Star City and Hub City disappearing?" Nightwing reasoned as he ran with both Duellists. "But Speedy's there."
"We can suppose that Speedy is... gone," the girl snapped in frustration. "Either way, the appearance of the Condor means that everything is about to come to an end. Possibly explosively. We don't even know their ultimate destination, considering how they all travel-"
"We do know one," Kiryu smirked. "Gotham."
"A few more documents, Mr Wayne."
Bruce concealed the snarl into a smile, turned to regard the woman... who smiled back at him... and looked down at the pen offered. "I think you have the wrong documents, Ms Hunter."
The woman's smile dropped into a mask just as the doors to his office locked with a remote-controlled click. "Indeed? How forward of you."
"Not as forward as you, Diana," Now the billionaire wore a scowl. "Hunter? Really?"
"I do not discuss your choice of pseudonyms, you do not discuss mine." The professional dress shifted, somehow becoming black robes edged in green once more. "Well, we are at an impasse."
"You distracted us to take control of the economy," Bruce realised. "The market's closing right now, but tomorrow you will be the world's richest woman."
"No," Diana shook her head. "I will not be, Mr Wayne. Do you know what is the ultimate aim of the Dark Signers? It is to reduce everything to nothing. That kind of world... is not the kind I wished."
Her hand shot out fast, clasping over his throat with the undead strength known only by a Dark Signer. "Bruce Wayne... no... Dark Knight. You have until sunrise tomorrow, for tomorrow is the evil forthwith."
"What-?" Bruce could hardly answer as he was flung, glass shattering about him as he realised that he was being thrown from the topmost floor of Wayne Enterprises.
"Everything will be revealed in time," her voice murmured in his ears like the winds whipping around him as he fell and wings of white spread. "I'm sorry."
One tiger, two Duellists and four vigilantes shimmered into a Gotham alleyway, shocking the loafers about there.
"Hey, got any cash?" their shady smiles faded as they realised that the Boy Wonder was there.
Nightwing gave them his best Bat-glare. "Scram."
They ran. Moments later, screams sounded as the loafers ran towards the heroes, chased by a gang of scary-looking fiendish creatures.
"The barriers between worlds are weakening," Setsuka realised. "Dewloren!"
The tiger roared and north winds howled as ice gathered about it, the gang of motorcycle demons scattering before the power of the Tiger King.
"Masters!" From the sky floated a single blonde figure, a stick in one hand and the other securing her conical cap as she tried to tidy her pink and blue clothings. "Masters have come to save the two worlds?"
"B- Black Magician Girl?" Kiryu blushed at the sight of one of the Duel Monsters' sex symbols. "What?"
"This is getting weird," Green Arrow commented, along with Nightwing.
"The barriers between the two worlds are fading," the Black Magician Girl sorrowfully related. "We Duel Spirits have found ourselves preyed upon by the Earthbound Gods and the Leviathan and scattered into the world of humans once more. More of us are being captured and fed to the Leviathan. I beg you, Masters! At this rate our worlds will be destroyed!"
"Duel Spirits?" Kiryu started to back away. "Two worlds?"
"The Dark Magician Girl..." Robin stared. "Flash is so gonna eat his boots."
"This whole mess is related somehow," the Question commented. "We have not a choice, either way."
"This is one of those save-the-world things, huh?" Green Arrow snorted. "Damn..."
"The last known sight of Black Magician Girl was with Yuugi Mutou," Setsuka demanded. "Where is he?"
The magician looked crestfallen. "Our master... is combating this threat from the spirit world. However, because the problem arose in the human world, the efforts Master can do is limited. He has sent me as the guide to the next holders of the Legendary Dragons. There are three Dark Signers in this very city, and each of them are strong!"
"Three... Arrow San, can you continue to fight?" Setsuka asked.
"Yeah, as long as I got my bow," the green vigilante nodded.
"Then... Kiryu San, you follow the Black Magician Girl with Robin San and Arrow San," Setsuka determined. "I will follow Nightwing San and Question San to the Wayne Enterprises building. If, by any chance, you are ambushed by a Dark Signer, protect the people. If not, the Earthbound Immortals may well destroy this whole city. Any questions?"
"Why are we following orders from a kid?" Arrow hissed to Question.
"Well, that is the question," came the enigmatic reply as he strolled over to the girl.
"Thank you, Masters!" the Black Magician Girl bowed as she floated towards Kiryu. "Let's go!"
"Ah, right!" So they parted ways, each seeking an enemy to fight, and yet never did they notice the crow overhead as its spread its wings and took flight.
Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. Draw.
Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. Draw.
Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. Draw.
"Yes, I know," Ryuu scowled at the Fabled Dianaira he had been consistently pulling. Gotham was dark, but it was especially shrouded in shadows as the presence of the Dark Signer wanted. "So the Shinigami is here... go corner him for me. I'm on my way."
The three were running, their feet echoing in the alleyways of Gotham before a white-shrouded creature stood in their way.
"Snoww," Kiryu cursed as the creature lifted its glowing staff. "Go back!"
"No chance!" Green Arrow let loose arrow after arrow into a gold-armoured creature.
"Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World," Robin identified, also looking up to see a silver-armoured creature falling down, slowed only by the sword dug into brickwork. "And Sillva, Warlord of Dark World."
"And give the robin a prize!" Booted feet clunked against the nearest fire escape as the dark-haired Ryuu landed before them, still with a death-eating smile as Green Arrow's fingers tightened. "Aww, you got help."
Kiryu hefted his own gun DuelDisk, pointing it. "You know... I really want to see if this works."
The Dark Signer grunted, staggering back as the orange blast that blossomed from the tip impacted on his chest.
"Heavy stun," Kiryu observed as he assembled his DuelDisk. "Damn, you're tough."
In answer, Ryuu just raised his right arm, the DuelDisk unfolding automatically. "You know, Selene's been teaching me a few tricks... like this! Shadow Spell!"
"Signal triggered," Green Arrow clicked his comm-piece for an emergency signal as chains shot out of nowhere to bind at both he and Robin. "Dammit!"
"Cyclone!" Kiryu called. Winds blew as the chains tugged by the winds shattered immediately, Ryuu bellowing in rage as his monsters leapt for the vigilantes. "You;ve already declared the game, haven't you?"
"You see, as we speak the forces of Dark World are let loose," Ryuu snickered at the horror-struck expressions both masked vigilantes took. "As long as I remain, you guys will have to fight the Dark World. Well?"
"Go ahead," Kiryu turned to the superheroes. "I'll just beat him."
"You can try," Ryuu growled.
"Duel!"
The Wayne Enterprises building was empty, a sinister air about it as both vigilantes debated on how to get to the top floor. Setsuka solved that dilemma by marching in. The building itself was secured by a security bank, the sole guard present having a dazed look in his chair and staring at nothing in particular.
All three ignored him as they rushed to the lift lobby, entering the first available one and clicking.
"Shouldn't we... take the stairs?" Nightwing asked. "I mean, this is a horribly cramped steel box with no escape."
"No point," Setsuka answered as she watched the lift's ascension. "Just get ready to hide by the sides. If I know Mother-"
The ding of the doors sliding open was heralded by a volley of gunshots and swords poking through.
"-She's a big fan of that," Setsuka finished, stepping forward and walking past the heavily armoured blue sorcerer. "Am I right?"
Perched on the hard-wood desk, an elegant hand with fingers drumming an impatient tattoo into the grain, Diana Hunter nodded her assent. "Oh, yes."
Nightwing marched in with the Question soon after. "Where's Bruce Wayne?"
"Unfortunately, he locked himself and I within this office," Diana pointed to the broken tall windows. "I had to resort to more unorthodox methods to... remove him."
Nightwing paled at the implication. "You-"
"Who knows," Diana shrugged, opening her arms. "Well, it cannot be helped. Destiny dictated that we have to fight, Setsuka."
"Mother," the girl stepped back, her own DuelDisk unfolding. "I... I don't want to fight you."
For a moment Diana's face flickered. "Neither do I. But, if I don't, Ccarayhua will take over and force me to fight anyway. That's why... Setsuka. For the world... for your father, for my husband, for our ideals... you have to choose."
"But I don't want to choose," the brunette girl shook her head.
"You will," the mother answered. "As we speak, the servants of the Orichalcos will be looking to attack those like Nightwing and Question behind you. Over the course of this duel... either you will fall and become one of us, thus dooming the world. Or... you win, I die, and the world is saved."
Diana Hunter closed her eyes. "It's time."
"Duel!" Mother and daughter declared, both aware that here, for all intents and purposes, was the last duel.
Please review! Stay tuned for the next turn: The Gates of Dark World! Duel, Acceleration!