Chapter 26

My Body as a Shield

Altar of Despair

The card activated by Scorn, the despair-persona of Kagami, flickered again as another fiendish blast shot at Takumi.

[S: 4600 LP] [T: 2800 LP]

You talked about rescuing about my other self, but just look at the score! Your foolish denial of your hidden darkness means nothing to us. Just then, something clicked in the boy's head. My hidden darkness? You mentioned that many times, but what do you mean? Scorn realized she had said a word too much, and fell quiet.

I'll make you talk! Takumi activated his face-down Limit Reverse, summoning Cactus Dryad (500 ATK) to join the Leaf Medic (1400). The duo of monsters looked at the opposing filed, which had the robed Mysterious Puppeteer (1000 ATK) and a Copycat in the form of the medic (1400 ATK). He had a Web of Vines ready to stop one attack, but the opposing field contained Kishido Spirit, which prevented his suicide attacks, and Infernal White, which was dealing Takumi damage every turn.

I normal summon my Green Leaf Shooter (1100 ATK). As the gun-wielding nymph appeared, the Puppeteer waved his hand, and the puppet cast a spell of healing light on it's owner. [4600+500= 5100 LP] Next, I activate the Fury of the Forest, which activates multiple effects based on the number of Plants in control. Because I have 2, I can increase the level of Cactus Dryad by one. And because I have 3, I may draw a card. Then, Synchro Summon!

Leaf Medic (3) + Cactus Dryad (3)

Vine Slasher (2200 ATK) in attack mode! Then, my Green Leaf Shooter activates her effect, dealing you 200 damage whenever a Plant is removed from the field. [5100-400=4700 LP] The monster loaded its gun, blasting a volley of sharp leaves at the opponent. Takumi took this opportunity to use his powers to invade her mind.

I sense a field suppressing something, but that thing is trying to break free. Kagami is struggling against Scorn! He separated the two minds, and sent a vision of constant impaling to the mind of the possessor, activating it when the projectiles hit. The trick proved to be effective as Scorn screamed, collapsing to her knees holding her head. Then, the field begun to multiply in power, forcefully shutting the connection.

You are as tricky as expected, but that barrier does not break as easily as you think. After all, it was she who created it. As long as I have a reason to exist, I will! Takumi sighed I did not want to do this, but I attack with Green Leaf Shooter! The vines negated the attack, and the card was destroyed. Next, I banish Medic from my graveyard to allow Vine Slasher to attack twice with some extra points! (ATK 2200+400=2600] Sharp wings pierced the defending monsters, which had been weakened by the cactus spikes [S: 4700-2100-1900=700 LP]

Yet, after all the dealt damage, Scron was still ready to battle. As Takumi set his last card, he begun to see black lightning all around the Chosen of Despair. The girl drew a card, and vision got an explanation. First I activate my Morale Boost. Then, I send Morale Boost, Kishido Spirit and Infernal White to the graveyard in order to summon one of the Sangenma!

The golden dragon took the field and black lightning surged all around it. Everyone inside the room begun to feel weaker, as the monster took it's power from their life force. Takumi looked to his side, seeing that Lotus had collapsed and was slowly turning transparent. The Sangenma feed on spirits! Then, a bolt of thunder begun to form before Hamon. Black bolts were now all over Scorn as she commanded the beast. Rid the world of my opponent! Cerulean Skyfire!

A bolt lashed forward at a incredible speed, moving towards the Green Leaf Shooter. I activate the effect of Web of Vines to redirect the attack to my Vine Slasher! The bird flew in the way of the attack, and was burnt into dust by the power behind the attack. [T: 2800-1400=1400 LP] Hs7amon may ge a false god, but I still has powers of one! And now you take 1000 points of damage! The energy begun to build up, but suddenly a flash of pain overcame Takumi, as the lightning had been too fast to follow with eyes. [T: 1400-1000=400]

After some seconds, the world of pain ended. That could have been lethal, had I not hypnotized myself not to feel the pain. And still, it broke my vision and shields with it's energy. The boy noted that he could no longer feel his legs, and that his body was shaking from the aftereffect. Lotus turned to look at the boy. Master, why did you not play that Spell of Pain? You could have won the duel. She never got the answer, because Hamon extended it's head, swallowing her spirit form.

Hamon, do not assimilate his guardian. We need him alive. Scorn smiled at the monster, playing a card from her hand. I equip Vengeful Spirit on Hamon! If it is removed from the field by card effect, the controller loses 300 life times it's level, which is 3000 in this case! Draw your final card, it does not matter!

Takumi draw his card with shaking hands, ending his turn without looking at the card. You won. Enjoy your victory, Scorn. The opponent drew her card, So, you lost the hope you talked about. Are you ready to be defeated?

Then, she saw something weird in the vision Hamon was giving her. You had Spell of Pain set? Why would you not use it? Takumi smiled at the girl, giving his answer: Kagami is more important than the victory. I will rather spend the rest of my life as your slave than save myself by killing her.

Scorn was preparing to say something to mock those words, when something else begun to speak through her. Do you mean that? Takumi nodded, and said: I meant that. My life is yours, Kagami. in more ways than one.

Scorn begun to laugh, not in the mocking way like before, but this time from the bottom of her heart. I play the final spell of this duel, Offering to the Doomed! A curse filled Hamon, shattering the false god to shards. And now, the effect of my Vengeful Spirit. A ghost of the destroyed creature appeared, smashing a fist of thunder to the body of it's former master. A spirit of red mist jumped out of the body, drawing most of the power to itself. Did Scorn sacrifice herself to protect Kagami?

He came to a conclusion. She was created too short a time ago, and her orders were stronger than those of the general. They were something created by the subconsciousness of Kagami.Then, the dying spirit begun to shoot its bolts all over the room. Jolts of infernal electricity begun to break the walls. Then, the monster released an unstoppable burst. Takumi had begun to move towards the girl, but was now paralyzed when his mental shield begun to defend him against the blast. And then, he saw the blast reaching Kagami. The girl twitched from shock as she suffered the wrath of thunder. Takumi felt his vision clouding under the pressure, but drew more and more power, extending his will towards the ghost.

The Lord of Striking Thunder roared from hatred. It had finally been released from its shell, but the new master did not use it as a weapon, instead draining its power for her magic. The proud dragon had been reduced to a measly familiar, and now it's host had broken the bind keeping the spirit in this world. Soon, it would return to the eternity of imprisonment. Once more, it attacked the girl who had betrayed it, hitting her with a spell that launched her across the floor. It released another blast, but that one faded away. Hamon saw that all of its energy was trapped in invisible binds, under the curse of the young psychic. No matter what the dragon did, it was losing the battle of minds, and it was unable to release its power under the power that bound it. It turned to look at the boy, and saw his eyes.

For the first time in its life, Hamon felt fear. It was a dragon and a false god, and had never met its match before. But now, it knew instinctively that it was the prey and the boy was the hunter. The boy had an aura that was greater than Hamon during its greatest days. The enemy broke into the soul and mind of the dragon, reading the souls it had swallowed. It found one, and began to feed the power of the false god to that soul. The transfer of power ended and the dragon faded into nothingness.

Lotus emerged from inside the dead shell of the dragon. She looked around, seeking the reason of her rebirth. Master! What happened? She saw the boy knelt before the dying spirit of the girl that had opposed them. Where is Hamon? Did he escape? The boy turned to face her, and his face was finally visible. It had the scrawl all over it, and the eyes shined with a purple flame. It is gone. And you have returned. Lotus placed her hand on the sword, only to realize it was gone. I am on your side for now, for Takumi directs me.

The boy placed his hand atop the dying spirit and mumbled words in a language Takumi most certainly should not know. That is a spell! But humans should be unable to... The boy turned to look at Lotus I am not a human like the conduit. I have done all I can, and the contract is complete. One wish for the conduit, then the Separation will occur. The marks vanished, leaving a confused boy behind.

On the next step of the Journey:

Chiyo faces the Bodyguard.

What is happening at the Altar?

Chapter 27

Sage of Silence

Cards in this chapter:

Green Leaf Shooter

Level 3

Earth/Plant

1100 ATK/0 DEF

When a Plant is removed from your side of the field, this card deals 200 points of damage to the opponent.

Fury of the Forest

Continuous Spell

Once per turn, you may activate this card's effects based on the amount of Plants you control. Destroy this card if you control no Plants.

2 or more: Increase or decrease the level of a Tuner you control by 1.

3 or more: Draw 1 card

4 or more: Destroy a set card

5 or more: Add a Plant from your graveyard to your hand

Vengeful Spirit

Equip Spell

Equip only to a monster that destroyed a monster by battle this turn. If the equipped monster is removed from the field by card effect, the controller of that effect loses 300 life for each level the equipped monster has.