Chapter 25
Future Samurai
World inside the amulet
Where am I now? I won the duel, but everything looks blurry. Amane was trapped again in the conflux of different memories, trying to find out what was going on. At least I am back at the correct age. It would be..inconvenient if I returned ten years younger than I left. And then, as if responding to her thoughts, the conflux ended, leaving Amane even younger than before.
The scene in front of her was familiar to her. The remnants of the burnt house were scattered in front of her as she looked around, seeing nothing but devastation. This..is when I returned to see if anything remained of the house. We ran away from the hospital to see this place, but there was nothing here. Everything had been taken away. The, she was snapped out of her thoughts. Onee-chan, did you find anything?
Kyo was right there, leaning to crutches. It is so strange to see him so young. But if I remember correctly, we searched the place, found some small things the looters had not found and then were caught by the doctor. Then we were yelled at. A smile rose to her face, but as she turned to answer, the memory twisted from the original one. The image of the boy faded away, replaced by a strange shadowy outline. Then, the illusion of Kyo returned. It begun to speak with his voice, but it had a strange buzz.
How kind of you to return here, Amane. Your entire family died here, but did you care? No, no, no, you did not. You found someone else, and forgot all about us. And now that you lost your new mother, you return to us. The thing called a duel disk, ...you have been bad, very bad. I will have to punish you. Amane tried to reason with the thing: What are you saying? I never forgot you, I just continued my life. In response, the boy begun his dark laughter, Heard that line a hundred times. But tell me then, what was the name of our mother?
Amane wanted to say it, but no matter how much she thought, she could not remember. She couldn't even recall the face. You just blocked all memories of them. And now you did the same to me. You sent Kagami away so that you could hide in a safe little place. You disgust me! As the boy said this, he raised the Flametongue Witch in front of him. This thing first, then you. He then ripped the card in half.
[K: 4000 LP] [A: 4000 LP]
I shall play Fuuka, Daughter of Shien (400 ATK) in attack since I Normal Summoned her, I can summon a Six Samurai from my hand. So, I follow her up with Nisashi(1400 ATK). The duo of monsters appeared, the dual-wielding samurai kneeling in front of the female warrior. Next, I set two cards and end my turn. Amane started hers, playing a spell card. Cost Down allows me to discard one card from my hand to Normal Summon Arcanight Devil (2100 ATK) without tributes. Next, I attack Fuuka with Devil. The monster swung forwards the warrior, but was redirected. My Astral Shift allows me to draw a card, but your attack becomes a direct one. But since you made a direct attack, that triggers my Emergency Summon.
I check the top card of my deck and...oh, it's a spell. As the boy said this, the devil rammed into him, knocking him down [K: 4000-2100=1900 LP] Before he had the chance to recover, Amane had set a card and ended her turn. This place is just an illusion. No matter what happens, I can't let it get to my head. And then the boy rose to his feet. During my standby phase, Fuuka allows me to add one Samurai from my deck to my hand. And I pick Yaichi.
Next, I will initiate a Synchro Summon with the duo of my monsters.
Fuuka, Daughter of Shien (2) + The Six Samurai - Nisashi (4)
Come out Catastrophe! The armored cat released a battle-cry which was a strange mixture of meowing and roaring (1400 ATK). And I discard two cards from my hand to banish the duo of your monster and trap. Amane had no cards on her side of the field now, and the opponent had noticed the fact. I activate Sword Art-Hissatsu, discarding my entire hand to give my monster 500 attack points per card. (1400+2*500=2400 ATK)
The monster flashed forward, slashing Amane with the iron claws [A: 4000-2400=1600 LP]. And as the beatdown continued, the boy laughed maniacally. Do you have anything to say? Perhaps an apology? At this point, the girl rose to her feet. No. I will not apologize to you. You are just a insane fragment of my mind that has been given power. And apologizing to myself would just be stupid. Shadows surrounded one card in her hand, warping it. This world is inside my mind, and I control it! Pillars of black and white were created by Kaien (2400 ATK) and Gorz (2700 ATK) emerging.
You don't even have that card in your deck! But the boy was completely ignored as the duo of monsters first ripped apart his monster and then his last lifepoints. I ignored my past for so long, speeding forward so that it would not catch up with me. But now I will face myself. Tsubaki, come out! I know that you are doing this! And then the answer came in the form of another cosmic quake ripping the illusion away.
A familiar feeling of connection the filled Amane. Master, you are almost free. Only one more duel, and you will be free. The card of Atlas had returned back to it's slot, and the mage was floating beside her. One more step and we shall break this world. And she took the step, fifinshing the journey towards the truth. Tsubaki is not here. I am the Devourer! Amane was now standing atop a cliff, seeing only void around her. A massive black hole floated in the sky, sucking it the stars that formed in the sky. I never thought that you would overcome my mental assault, but I guess you were just that strong. I guess you now want an explanation?
Too bad I won't give you one. We are beyond talk now. So, shall we duel as your kind does? I have just the right cards for that purpose.
[Devourer: 4000 LP] [Amane: 4000 LP]
I start this duel by activating Trap Booster. One card emerged from inside the hole which was now pulsating strangely in tune with the voice. I discard one card from my "hand" and then play a trap from my hand. Light surged out for the hole, creating a constellation in the sky, forming a massive "F". And now I will set a monster face-down. Turn end!
Destiny Board! Well, if I lose in five turns, my life points will not matter. Go, Arcanight Wand [A:4000-1000=3000]. And then I will play Arcanight Emperor (1400 ATK) in attack mode. The man rushed at the reversed monster, but was stopped by a barrier. Necro Gardna can very easily hold your creatures at bay, girl. Do you have anything else to play? Two other cards appeared on the field, followed by "I" being created in the sky.
Soon, another reversed card floated in front of the girl, followed by one reversed card appearing aside the two letters. Three more turns. Amane drew a card, responding to the taunt I know how to count! By thanks to Wand, I may now add Arcanight Priestess to my hand. But in response to this, the sky was filled by the image of Drastic Drop Off. I know that Priestess can destroy itself to defeat a face-up Spell. But with this card, your savior enters the graveyard. The card was discarded, it's owner suprised. Well, that forces me to change plans. I just have to beat through his army!
I activate Allure of Darkness, banishing Arcanight Death to draw 2 cards. Next, I Normal Summon Chariot (1700 ATK) and attack your new reversed monster with it. She had got it right. Emperor had to be powerful enough to destroy the other monster, otherwise the opponent would not have bothered to use a card effect. And as the Chariot bashed into a Giant Germ [A: 3000-500=2500 LP], Amane saw an opportunity. Emperor, press the attack! Destroy the new one! The Germ had spilt into two new ones, one of which was now cut into shreds.
[D: 4000-1100=2900 LP] [A: 2500-500=2000 LP]
Amane set one more card, ending her turn with one card in hand."N" appeared and the Devourer "drew" a card. Now, I will show my true strategy! I activate Field Magic, Flipping the Table to destroy all other cards I control. The three letters and the two monsters vanished from sight, and then the spinning table crushed the entire opposing field. I cannot Normal Summon on the turn I do this, but since Doomsday Horror was destroyed, Necro Gardna and Arcanight Death return to the grave.
The risk of instant loss had vanished, but Amane now had nothing to play. My only monster is Level 8! And even if I got it in play, he would just stop the attack with Necro Gardna. She drew a card, seeing an answer. I Normal Summon EX Herald (0 ATK) from my hand! And with it's effect, I discard level 8 Sun to summon level 6 Death (2300 ATK) from my graveyard. [A: 2000-800=1200 LP] A scythe-wielding man popped out of darkness. He had no face, but his chest had a demonic mask. And now I will use his effect! I return all monsters from all graveyards to the corresponding decks, and each player loses 100 life points per card! Doomsday Horror, Necro Gardna, three Giant Germs, Priestess, Sun, Chariot, Emperor, so that's 900 points.
[D: 2900-900=2000 LP] [A: 1200-900=300 LP]
Of course, that means I cannot attack this turn. And that's why I will Synchro Summon both of my monsters to form Arcanight Atlas.
Wisdom as a shield, magic as a weapon.
The eternal magician accepts all challenges!
Synchro Summon!
The unmatched, Arcanight Atlas!
As the spirit emerged, the Devourer begun to roar in pain. Your guardian is too strong for me...I must retreat for now. Enjoy your victory! And with this declaration, the devourer faded away, releasing the stars the he had been eating. My memories. He has been manipulating my weaknesses all along. But not that his interference is over, I can free us. But as the guardian finished his line, Amane had already found the way.
A girl was lying on the floor, blood gushing from her mouth. Amane-san..you defeated the thing that possessed me. The girl was the one that had once defeated her, causing her soul to become corrupted. Tsubaki. Don't speak, you are wounded! The chosen of Hope kneeled in front of her enemy who had shared her soul for a long time. Stay still. My Guardian can heal you. Right, Atlas!
No, Amane-san. I have no body, I am just a lingering creature. Just like the deck I played. Please..let me rest. The girl had tears in her eyes as she said this. She tried to move, but the puddle below he grew as the wounds reopened. I was never happy. I inherited my title, I upheld the family tradition. But secretly I wished that something would happen to me. Something strange, unique. And it did happen. I met Quake, and after that I met you. She then screamed as something invisible hit her.
This world is rejecting her. She is fading away without support from the Devourer. Said the mage, who had sat down next to hisMaster. Can I release her? Amane did not know what to say. But Tsubaki knew You overcame all the other things the Devourer put you through. This is the last step. Let me pass away before I forget who I am. The General..he broke my mind. To this, the mage reacted: General? Did you meet the General? But the miko had fallen silent from another shock. Slowly, she raised her hand towards Amane. She took hold of it, feeling the cold grasp. The Devourer is...the third General. It told me...that it is a human..but also not a human.
Defeat her, Atlas. I don't want to see her in pain anymore. Amane wanted to close her eyes, but she did not. She watched the Guardian palce his hand on her chest, and release a warm light. And as the light faded away, so did the soul. And when the soul had faded out, that dream ended. She saw a unfamiliar room, and tried to move. She moved her numb body, trying to shake it to action. Where..am I. And the guardian answered: I forced the Labyrinth Master to send you where the other Chosen have gathered. They have been taking care of you for this time.
Master, you have been comatose for two days.
On the next set of the Journey:
Final preparations before the attack.
Unexpected help arrives...to both sides.
Chapter 26- Battle Mania
New cards in this Chapter:
Fuuka, Daughter of Shien
Level 2
Fire/Warrior/Tuner
400 ATK/500 DEF
When this card is Normal Summoned, you may Special Summon a Six Samurai from your hand. During your Standby Step, you may add one Six Samurai from your deck to your hand.
Sword Art-Hissatsu
Normal Spell
Send all cards in your hand to the graveyard. One monster on the field gains 500 ATK for each until the start of your next turn.
EX Herald
Level 2
Light/Fiend/Tuner
0 ATK/0 DEF
Once per turn, you may pay 800 life points and discard an "Arcanight" or "Arcana Force" monster to Special Summon an "Arcanight" or "Arcana Force" monster of lesser level from your graveyard.
Arcanight Death
Level 6
Dark/Fairy
2300 ATK/2300 DEF
If you have less life points than your opponent:
-Once per turn: Name a card type. Return all cards of that type from all graveyards to the respective decks. You lose 100 life points for each card returned this way. You cannot enter your battle step on the turn you used this effect.
If you have more life points than your opponent:
-When this card is removed from the field: Your opponent adds a random card from his graveyard to his hand.