Alright, everyone, this is it! The final Duel of this story is here. The Virtual Saga is just about complete!
Now, after this chapter, there will be a small epilogue chapter, which will be posted at the same time as this one. Yes, you're all getting a one-two combo here. I hope you all enjoy this final Duel.
Now, there was only one major reader comment this time.
Unidentified Guest: Thanks for explaining the reasons you do not like the virtual Duels. However, I'm confused as to why you are specifically noting things I try to make entertaining in the story (I try to be descriptive in the Monster designs, and also try to make the Duels entertaining, especially with the custom Decks I have created here). No matter, though, I understand my writing isn't for everyone.
Now, let's place the usual DISCLAIMER: The author of this story does not own the card games Yugioh and Android: Netrunner, nor does he own the companies Konami and Fantasy Flight Games. The author does own his OC, Duel Runner and Duel deck.
Onward to the Chapter!
I open my eyes without hearing any sound. I stand up amid the ruins of a once-towering skyscraper. Only two stories of the building remain, the windows busted and the top jagged and broken. Every step I make against the ground as I walk, my hands in my pockets, makes barely any sound; are my ears catching no sounds at all?
The sky is as black as ever, but the lightning and thunder are gone. Now, it's just a black cloud that hangs like a stagnant plague over the broken, dead city. Actually, is the city actually 'dead' to me, now? Considering all the violence that's been going on here, has everyone on this entire Earth-like planet upped and left?
I slowly walk down the streets, all the fires from before snuffed out, the only source of light coming from flood lamps and rotating searchlights from other buildings that haven't been completely torn down. I walk towards it; Delta's got to be there. However, I only walk a block towards my target before a familiar white hovering sports car lands sharply in front of me. I recognize Rick, his hair now even more matted, and his coat ripped at the edges, as he steps out of the vehicle. He doesn't have his rocket launcher, surprisingly; did he lose that in another conflict?
"Rick? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to bring you to Delta," Rick calmly says. "Mona's driving, but I think she's just come along for the ride, to be fair." I raise an eyebrow at this, and take a look in the car's tinted windows.
"Mona doesn't want to come out," Rick explains after I notice him crack his shoulders from the corner of my eye. "She won't say anything, actually; I think it's nerves."
"Are you sure about that?" I ask. "She was quite enthusiastic when she drove us to the Citadel. Something bad happened to her, didn't it?" I turn to Rick as I finish asking this, and he shrugs his shoulders. That gets me on edge. Mona's an independent driver, not connected to any of my brother's megacorporations. What, then, brought her to such a low mood?
"Come on," Rick says with a push on my back. "We need to get to Delta." I move over to the car, and get inside the front seat. Mona is at the driver's seat, her expression weary, her blond hair now pale and disheveled. She looks to me, and I see something dark and empty in her eyes. Rick clambers into the back seat, and the car takes off as the doors close automatically.
Mona keeps her eyes forward as we drive over the ruins of the city. Very few structures remain standing amid the rubble. The bioroid carcasses from Beta's server are gone, but the Rex Unit carcass is still there, albeit more rusted than before. Rick looks out the backseat window, a distant expression on his face, calmer than Mona's look.
"Mona," I quietly ask as we move by the Citadel blast crater. "I can see you're acting differently. What happened?" Mona is silent for a long time as no other creature or machine passes by us in the sky.
"Do ya know what it feels like to die inside?" Mona asks this to me, her voice unyielding and sharp.
"What do you mean?" I ask back. "Is this death by organ failure, brain damage, or something else?" Mona looks at me like I've said the most idiotic thing ever spoken; her gaze reminds me too much of Aki's anger against me.
"I had friends and family in this city—folks I cared about. When the Surge first struck, I lost contact with a bunch of them for several days. Then, when I saw them again, they were… changed. They all had ideas as to why this happened, blaming each other for their problems. Ya'll saw the Bioroid Rebellion, but that was only the start.
"After the Jinteki Path's Priest was killed, there was a genocide of all so-called 'inhumans'. Anyone who wasn't a fully natural human was captured like cattle and murdered in cold blood. The clones were the first to go, and then the cybernetically augmented, and finally, anyone who was genetically modified. They all died. Died!"
I notice Mona's knuckles turn white from how strongly she's gripping the wheel. She presses her foot down on what I assume is the accelerator, making the car rocket forwards at what feels like its top speed. I see Rick stumble a bit in the back, the words, "Damn woman," coming through the speakers. Mona pays it no heed as we fly over several blocks in seconds.
Eventually, we see another standing building, this one having the recognizable steeple of a church. Several small roadways connect to it, some looking like they go underground. The walls are dust-covered, several blast marks along the roof indicating that some big confrontation had occurred here.
"That's the Path's former church," Rick says when I ask him about this. "I'm amazed it's still standing; the Advocates of that religion really ruined the place when they turned its halls into execution chambers." My stomach twists in disgust at the thought of the prayer halls and peaceful-looking corridors being used to murder 'inhumans'. We fly on before I can ask anything else about the fate of the place, or the people who were once inside.
The next big thing to get my attention is a constant shimmering on the horizon, the distant air shifting every few seconds. I haven't seen anything like it before, but a name for this phenomenon almost comes to me when I wonder what it is.
"That's Delta's final defense for the city," Rick comments when I, once again, ask him about this thing I don't understand. "Beyond that barrier is some kind of all-consuming Nothing. It started to spread across the globe soon after we heard that Gamma had been killed. Without him, so Delta says, his server deleted itself, and then began deleting other servers like it. Delta doesn't want that to happen until his own plans are complete."
I don't ask what those plans are, exactly, as I look back to where we are going. I think I'll discover them at some point; Delta's probably going to tell me them, himself, or reveal them in some dramatic fashion. From what I recall of the businessman's persona, he understood how the everyday man or woman's mind worked, and he was willing to present big ideas to people, so he should have some reason for holding back Gamma's spreading corruption.
Mona soon descends from the clouds towards a building equal to the Citadel in height, its top going through the clouds. However, this building is much smaller in width. It's more like a giant elevator reaching from a well-supported base to some unseen height. Mona steers towards this structure, landing at a modified helipad without any helicopters or other floating vehicles. The helipad also has the logo of a 'W' with each section of the letter launching into the air like a rocket. I see a businessman in a green suit coat stand at the helipad's edge, his gaze on the horizon as we land behind him. He doesn't turn around as Mona turns off the engine and unlocks the doors for us to get out.
"Delta," Rick says as he walks in front of me slightly. "I've brought Epsilon, like you said."
"Good," Delta replies, his voice angry, but still focused on something. "Now, leave us. You've done your deeds, both of you; you'll be compensated as planned."
"Yes, sir." Rick gives me a firm pat on the back and a smile that doesn't reach his eyes before he walks back to the car. I then jump as Mona hugs me from behind, her body shaking as she crushes my chest with wild strength.
"I didn't want this for ya'll," she whispers into my ear. "I'm so sorry." She pulls back, and races over to her ride as I turn around and start to say her name. She gets into her car with Rick, starts it up, and rockets off across the city. I am left with wide eyes and countless questions.
"Don't worry about them, Epsilon," Delta loudly says. "We have bigger problems ahead."
"Delta," I say as confidently as I can as I turn towards him and take a step forwards. "I'm here to Duel you."
"Yes, yes, I know," Delta replies with a bored tone without turning to face me. "It's why I called you here, after all. You don't need to bore me with the details. After all, I'm the last brother you have to face, right? If you defeat me in a Duel, then Godwin gets his precious Crimson Dragon, and our Duel energies will be combined into one body, just like our source material was."
"I see you've done your research," I comment, to which Delta shrugs his shoulders, still looking over the horizon. The ends of his suit flap in a light breeze that drifts over the helipad and cools some of my fears.
"Well?" I ask as I ready my Duel Disk. "Let's get started."
Delta raises a hand with the words, "Just a moment, Epsilon. Take a look, first, at what this city has become." I walk to the edge of the helipad, a few feet away from Delta, and do as he asks. I don't see much of a difference from when I looked out of Mona's window a few minutes ago; black sky, empty streets, crumbling buildings. The scene reminds me very much of Satellite, which makes sense because both places have experienced terrible disasters, and bear the scars everywhere I look. The big difference is that, in Satellite, there were people who survived as best they could. Here, there was no one else to chat with, or fight against.
"Here's the deal, Epsilon," Delta suddenly announces. "I've noticed our brothers placing special conditions on each of their Duels against you, and I like the idea of making our match more entertaining. I propose a time limit on our Duel, one that I know you'll know when it starts. If you manage to defeat me within that time, then I'll grant you special insight into my plans for this city, and this world. If you defeat me after the time limit, then you'll be left with your victory. I promise you, I won't be holding back in this battle; I'm your final obstacle, and you aren't going to get through me easily."
"What happens if I lose?" I ask as I turn towards Delta.
His eyes hold a predatory gleam as he says, "You'll get a front-row seat to the oncoming destruction. You've no doubt seen my barrier against Gamma's corruption." Delta points to the closest section of the shimmering horizon, and I then see what looks like waves of blackness pounding against the 'barrier', relentlessly trying to get inside.
"Alpha and Beta's servers have already fallen to that," Delta explains. "I was able to salvage this barrier from scrap technology driven by several small power sources across the city. Of course, those sources won't last forever, and I intend to complete my plan before the barrier falls. All that matters beyond my plan is you and this Duel. So, let's get started."
Delta draws a dark green and white Duel Disk from within his suit coat, a Deck already inside. I take several steps back from the edge and swallow down my fears of what could possibly happen should I lose. I've come this far, already; I can't back down, now.
"DUEL!"
[DUEL BEGINS] [Epsilon: 100 LP/Delta: 4000 LP]
"Business before pleasure," Delta says as he draws for his turn. I shake my head at the phrase before Delta says, "Looks like a full turn for me."
[TURN 1: Delta] [CARDS IN HAND: 6]
"I play the Field Spell Weyland Consortium, Building a Better World." The helipad floor projects the old Weyland Consortium logo beneath our feet [CARDS IN HAND: 5]. "Next, I play the Spell Beanstalk Royalties, which gives me 300 Life Points for every card in my hand. My Field Spell's ability triggers; whenever I gain Life Points through a card effect, I gain an additional 400 Points. In total, that's 1600 points."
An elevator car shoots up and above the helipad, a line of green energy giving Delta more Life Points the farther up it goes (Delta: 4000-5600 LP) [CARDS IN HAND: 4].
"I now play the Spell Posted Bounty Agenda." A small beep next to my right ear makes me turn, but I see nothing there. It's only when I turn back that I notice a red dot on my chest, like I'm about to be shot. Delta's Spell shows a woman looking through a tactical visor at a trench coat and top hat-wearing individual amongst a crowd [CARDS IN HAND: 3].
"I Normal Summon Ice Wall in Attack Mode, and activate the Spell Shipment from Kaguya." Said Monster, simply enough, is just a giant, curved wall of ice, shaded by the darkness around us (DARK, Program, 1300 ATK/1500 DEF, LVL 3). The Spell shows a black-suited worker pushing a hovering cart containing two large black boxes with no identification [CARDS IN HAND: 1]
"This Spell allows me to place an Advancement Counter on two different cards that can host them. I choose Posted Bounty and Ice Wall." I stare in surprise as the wall of frozen water grows slightly larger, and then feel a warmth on my chest as I notice the dot on my chest grow larger, as well (Posted Bounty and Ice Wall: 1 Advancement Counter).
"Surprised?" Delta's sarcasm is obvious. "Did you think I wouldn't develop any special strategies based on your Duels with our other brothers? I haven't been twiddling my thumbs, like they would have you believe; a true businessman doesn't sit idly while the world changes around them. So, too, with Dueling! But, you may need more time to fully understand; I place one card in my back row and end my turn." [CARDS IN HAND: 0]
He's set up a lot of stuff, I think as I draw for my turn. What's he got planned, besides the fact that he's apparently prepared for this Duel by watching Alpha, Beta, and Gamma's servers?
[TURN 2: Epsilon] [CARDS IN HAND: 6].
Not good. I don't have many early game options in this hand, or ways to get them. I need to be really careful as to what I do; I've only got 100 Life Points left from Gamma's Duel. Messing up is not an option!
"I Normal Summon Pipeline in Attack Mode!" The green wires emerge onto the helipad, moving in a crisscross pattern into the air (ATK: 1700) [CARDS IN HAND: 5]. "Attack Ice Wall with Multilateral Meltdown!" The lines move in midair towards the ice, but it suddenly splits in two, one half moving to the front and blocking the attack with itself.
"I've planned for your aggression," Delta taunts as Pipeline returns to my field. "Ice Wall's Advanced Block ability lets me remove an Advancement Counter from it to block one attack per turn." Ice Wall's size returns to when I first saw it as Delta says this, solidifying Delta's statement (Ice Wall: 1-0 Advancement Counters).
"Fine," I say with a grunt of annoyance. "I Set two cards in my back row, and end—"
"You're not done yet! I activate my Security Subcontract Continuous Trap!" Delta shouts this as his Set card flips up, showing a cylindrical building with the words 'NAPD' written over and over across the top. A hovering police car with the same letters printed on its door rises to the helipad's level.
"During any player's End Phase, this Trap lets me Tribute one Monster I control and gain 400 Life Points for each Level it has. I Tribute Ice Wall, and gain 1200 Points, plus another 400 from my Field Spell, for another 1600 Points!" Ice Wall crumbles into fragments that the hover car flies over and collects into its open trunk, while Delta's body glows a dark green (Delta: 5600-7200 LP).
[CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 3].
Delta draws his card, and then loudly proclaims, "The countdown begins!"
[ROUND 2] [Epsilon: 100 LP] [Delta: 7200 LP]
[TURN 3: Delta] [CARDS IN HAND: 1]
"I advance Posted Bounty two more times, which activates its Trigger ability. I can use this power while it is in the Graveyard, but I won't show you it until the time is right." Delta's Life Points drop slightly as I see the woman from his Agenda Spell step out from behind the man, a grin on her face as she points a sniper rifle at my chest. The woman vanishes before she takes a shot, but I still feel the warmth on my chest (Delta: 7200-6400 LP).
"Since I've activated an Agenda Spell's Trigger ability," Delta continues, "I can activate the Spell Aggressive Negotiations. This lets me search my Deck for any one card, and add it to my hand." The Spell shows an older businessman forced to sign a contract while a gun is pointed to his head; I feel a similar sense of dread as Delta quickly takes what he wants from his Deck, his Disk shuffling the rest of it (CARDS IN HAND: 1).
"Time to get some more options. I play Hedge Fund!" I grit my teeth in frustration as Delta takes the Spell's effects; I should have known he'd take that card! (Delta: 6400-4400 LP) [CARDS IN HAND: 5]
"Time to play the Agenda Spell that'll decide your fate, Epsilon; a fitting one, considering my work as a businessman. Go, Government Takeover!" The Spell shows a parade or a rally celebrating a fleet of futuristic aircraft and their pilots. One such pilot is shown accepting a blue flower from a small child, the atmosphere of the image pleasant and uplifting [CARDS IN HAND: 4].
Distant rumbles direct my attention to several ruined buildings across the city suddenly opening up and rising like box lids to underground chambers. Debris falls onto the streets, adding further to the ruin. However, the large spaceships that rise several stories tall quickly draw my attention. Six black ships rise up, each ship looking similar to the 'Project Atlas' design I remember working on with Delta in my memories.
"What… What is all this?!" I turn to Delta in shock, but my brother just laughs like a madman as the ships finish rising from the ground. None of them take off, but they look like they're about to.
"This is my great plan, Epsilon! The Surge made me realize our priorities aren't in the right place. We've been trying to build this world too much, when there are so many other worlds to explore, and take over for ourselves! You've seen how quickly this world fell apart, I presume; there isn't much hope left here. This world is doomed!"
"You're abandoning the planet?" I can't hold back anger from creeping into my question, but Delta responds without any anger of his own.
"I'm moving what remains of us forward, Epsilon. This world has nothing left, because we've destroyed it all. What I hope to do is to use these colony ships, based on the Project Atlas design you helped me present to the old Weyland Board so long ago, to populate our cities on the Moon and Mars. We've recently terraformed parts of those worlds, and we'll bring the technology for more progress with us. We'll make a new Earth while this Earth either repairs itself, or is destroyed!"
"Wait, wait," I raise a hand, my mind reeling from Delta's plan. "You are leaving this planet to make another planet just like this one? Can't you just repair this planet, and save the expenses of space travel and resettling?"
"You weren't here when the Surge occurred!" Delta suddenly turns aggressive, slashing the air in front of him with his hand. "Gamma's clips of the disaster don't mean shit! I've seen every stock, bond, proxy, vault, firm, asset, upgrade, and contract I've made here be destroyed. My entire life's work has gone up in actual flames, with no chance to recover it. I've seen the worst of humanity, as every inhuman was murdered like a Death Row criminal. This disaster the closest thing I can imagine to Hell, and I will not leave our species to die when we have any possible chance of survival!"
Delta takes several breaths, his body hunched over slightly from the effort he put into that verbal assault. My own anger threatens to boil over in retaliation, but common sense makes me remember that Delta's mind has probably been corrupted by the Surge. Like Gamma's plan to preserve the past at any cost, Delta seems like he's taking the wildest and most dangerous option to keep the future alive, so I keep my mouth shut and motion to Delta to continue with his turn.
"I play the Continuous Spell Off the Grid," Delta says as he plays said Spell from his hand. "This targets one Agenda Spell on my field, and prevents Advancement Counters on it from being removed via Battle Damage. However, I can only place one Advancement Counter on it during my turns via paying Life Points, rather than paying any amount on my turn. I'll place the first one now. Colony Ship A, launch!"
Delta raises his hands to the black sky as the farthest colony ship from where we are slowly rises from the ground with the roar of several rocket engines, and then quickly picks up speed, punching through the cloud layer, and Delta's barrier, and into the stars beyond (Delta: 4400-4000) (Government Takeover: 1 Advancement Counter). Delta has a wild smile on his face, like what Aki had when she knew she was fully in control of my fate.
"You won't succeed with this, Delta," I say with a shaky voice.
Delta just grins, and then continues his turn with the words, "I'll succeed, no matter what you send my way. I Normal Summon Wall of Static in Attack Mode!" This Monster is a simple sphere of flickering static that stands between Delta and I (DARK, Program, 1600 ATK/DEF, LVL 4) [CARDS IN HAND: 3]
"I now place two cards in my back row, and end my turn." I try to calm myself down as Delta's cards appear in Solid Vision; he's obviously building up that Agenda Spell for a bigger reason than just showing me his plan. From what I recall in his memories, he always had control over things, whether that be lower-level workers, or presenting a project to higher-level executives. Problem is, I didn't expect that strength to be used against me [CARDS IN HAND: 1].
"My turn," I announce as I draw my card. I look over my options, realizing that I now have a potential chance to do a combo play I've never really done before. What's more, I can use an old favorite I knew I had, but have never used since Satellite.
[TURN 4: Epsilon] [CARDS IN HAND: 4]
"I activate the Spell Early Bird! This lets one Monster I control—Pipeline, in this case—attack twice this Battle Phase. In addition, the first attack is a Direct Attack!" Pipeline's wires glow white as they move twice as fast as before. Delta frowns at this, which I take as a sign that he didn't plan for this kind of play [CARDS IN HAND: 3].
"Pipeline, attack Delta directly! Multilateral Meltdown!" The lines inject themselves into the helipad, moving like snakes towards Delta, and then lancing through his Duel Disk like spears. Delta tugs his arm to break their grasp, but Pipeline holds tightly until the Battle Damage is dealt (Delta: 4000-2300 LP).
"Now, Pipeline attacks Wall of Static," I command. "Multilateral Meltdown!" The green lines now move towards the sphere of static and pierce it clean through; the sphere melts into gray liquid that coats the helipad (Delta: 2300-2200 LP). However, one of Delta's Set cards activates, showing two identical female clones with brown mohawks and wearing brown sleeveless shirts, working in tandem in front of a virtual screen while sitting on a hotel bed.
"I activate the Continuous Trap, The Twins," Delta announces as the same two women walk onto the field from thin air. "They let me Special Summon one Monster that was destroyed in Battle, as long as I banish one Monster of equal or higher Level from my Graveyard. I banish Ice Wall to Special Summon back Wall of Static!" One of the women projects an image of Ice Wall, to which the other woman nods and projects an image of Wall of Static. Ice Wall vanishes as the melted Wall of Static on Delta's field reforms itself before my eyes.
"That's fine with me," I comment as I continue with my plan. "During my Main Phase 2, I Normal Summon the Tuner Cerberus H1, aka 'Lady', and then Tune it with my Level 4 Pipeline!" The Cocker Spaniel joyfully barks as it races onto the field, and then jumps into the air as Pipeline's parts swirl together like a lance. 'Lady' turns into four green rings as Pipeline turns into four white stars as I speak the chant for a familiar Synchro Monster [CARDS IN HAND: 2].
"Utau, saibasupessu no subete! Mugen no heiwa no furagmento ga tanjou! Shinkuro Shokan! Kouka, Eden Shaado!"
(Sing, all of cyberspace! A fragment of infinite peace is born! Synchro Summon! Descend, Eden Shard!)
Eden Shard's angelic cry makes my heart soar as it literally descends from the black skies. Its body glows in the darkness, lighting up the arena slightly with blue and green energy. The dust that trails behind it is pleasant to the touch; I smile as the Shard's angels move quickly around their crystal home to keep it stable (ATK: 2500, LVL 8).
"Cerberus H1's Rapid Restoration," I announce as 'Lady' remerges from Eden Shard's body. "Since it was used in a Synchro Summon, I gain Life Points equal to Eden Shard's Attack Points. I then Chain Eden Shard's ability; if it is Synchro Summoned during the same turn I inflicted Battle Damage to an opponent, I gain Life Points equal to the highest single amount of damage. Go, Lifeborn Shardstorm!"
Eden Shard's angels fly into the Synchro Monster just before the Monster splits into several smaller pieces that shatter around me. However, each piece releases a shining white liquid that fills me with new strength, the angel inside it emerging and flying back into the air to reform Eden Shard once again. 'Lady' then licks my hand as the liquid seeps into my skin, her eyes wide and affectionate before she vanishes from the field. I stand tall and smile with confidence at Delta, who has an amused expression (Epsilon: 100-4300 LP).
"You've certainly learned how to invest into big things," he then comments with a nod. "That was an impressive combo play you did. However, it won't change who's going to win in this Duel. I use Security Subcontract and Tribute Wall of Static to regain, with my Field Spell adding in, another 2000 Points." My confidence deflates as Wall of Static is acquired by the hovering police car, Delta's Life Points rising again (Delta: 2200-4200 LP).
"I end my turn," I say, Eden Shard floating over me like a sentinel. Delta draws his card and nods to himself as he looks at it.
[ROUND 3] [Epsilon: 4300 LP/Delta: 4200 LP]
[TURN 5: Delta] [CARDS IN HAND: 4]
"I advance Government Takeover during Main Phase 1. Colony Ship B, launch!" The second-farthest ship launches into space in the same manner as the first, only the closer proximity to where we are makes the helipad tremble ever so slightly from the shaking ground (Delta: 4200-3800 LP).
"Now, for some aggression. I banish Posted Bounty from my Graveyard to activate its effect, which 'tags' one card in your hand. What's more, that tag will stay on the card if it ever goes on the field. I'll tag the card on your left." That card, which is Rielle Peddler, glows a bright orange to indicate the marking.
"Now that you're tagged," Delta continues as he quickly plays a card from his hand, "I can play a Spell I designed to wipe out threats like you. Go, Scorched Earth! Since a card in your hand is tagged, I can destroy one card on your field for every card in your hand. You hold 2 cards, so I'll make Eden Shard and your left Set card go up in flames!"
A crack from above makes me look up to the clouds… and then jump back with a scream as a huge chunk of the elevator from higher up explodes and falls onto the field! Eden Shard and my Set Forged Activation Order are crushed by the burning piece of metal, which then punches through the helipad like it wasn't there at all. The wind whistles from the hole as I scramble further back to avoid falling to my death. Luckily, the hole is repaired after a few seconds, but my heart isn't slowing down any time soon as I walk back to my former position [CARDS IN HAND: 3].
"You're wide open, now," Delta notes, "but let's not forget that you can bring in bigger threats. I Tribute Wall of Static to Advance Summon Fire Wall!" The static sphere disappears, and is replaced by a literal wall of flame that wraps around Delta's position, as opposed to right in front of him (FIRE, Program, 2000 ATK/DEF, LVL 5) [CARDS IN HAND: 2]
"I now Advance Fire Wall once, which gives it 200 extra Attack and Defense Points. I won't let that 'weapon' of yours destroy this Monster!" Fire Wall glows a little bit brighter, and its heat becomes a little bit stronger (Delta: 3800-3400 LP) (ATK/DEF: 2000-2200). I frown at Delta's implications; how much does he know about my Deck?
"Fire Wall attacks you directly," Delta then commands. "Flame Surge!" A wave of fire bursts from the Wall and heads towards me, but I activate my Set card in response. The attack stops as a giant blue humanoid appears, its hands surrounding the field as it emits waves of blue energy onto Fire Wall.
"Go, Running Interference!" I shout. "This forces you to pay double the amount of Battle Damage you're about to deal me—4400, in this case—or your attack is negated. Your Life Points are too low for you to pay it, so I don't take any harm!" Delta curses as the blue humanoid closes its hands around the red wave, crushing it to red dust. The being then vanishes without a word.
"How lucky," Delta says. "I had wondered whether the supposed 'summoning' of your Deck when you Dueled Alpha was true, or not. It looks like you instinctively gathered all the best bits of your Deck together. I'd normally call that a terrible strategy, but I'll make an exception, here, on account of how synergized your cards really are." I blink at the comment as Delta motions for me to take my turn, confused by his positive words.
I draw my card; it's my trusty Rabbit Hole, appearing just when I needed it to. Then, is what Delta just said true; is my Deck really that synergized, that gathering an assortment of cards from it will help me in the end? Could this be my Psychic Dueling abilities working to aid me in the Duel, or is this some power of the Crimson Dragon? Does the Dragon believe my cause is right, or does it just want to be brought into this world, like Godwin wants it to?
[TURN 6: Epsilon] [CARDS IN HAND: 3]
I leave these questions for another time as I quickly plan for the worst. "I Set a Monster, and one card in my back row. That's it." [CARDS IN HAND: 1]
"That's all you can do," Delta says as he draws his card; it apparently gives him great delight, based on the grin that sprouts on his face. I take a brief note that he doesn't use Security Subcontract this time.
[ROUND 4] [Epsilon: 4300 LP /Delta: 3400 LP]
[TURN 7: Delta] [CARDS IN HAND: 2]
"This Duel is taking too long, Epsilon; it's time I advance things along. I activate a new Spell that my brothers haven't heard of; Dedication Ceremony. This places three Advancement Tokens on one card I control that can host them, but I can't activate that card's Trigger ability or advance it via Life Points this turn. I place three Advancement Tokens on Government Takeover, launching Colony Ships C, D, and E!"
I fall to the helipad as the entire elevator rumbles from the force of three spaceships taking off at the same time. The sound of cheering crowds reaches my ears as Delta's Spell rapidly advances his big plan (Government Takeover: 5 Advancement Counters) [CARDS IN HAND: 1]. I slowly get back up, Delta actually waiting for me to return to a ready state for what comes next.
"Fire Wall attacks your Set Monster with Flame Surge!" The wave of fire immolates my Set Rabbit Hole, which quickly burns through (DEF: 200).
The digital rabbit hops over to a clear space on my field as I call out, "Spiraling Replication activates!" Delta clicks his tongue in annoyance as I draw my card and Set another Rabbit Hole from my Deck; he probably recognizes the card from my previous Duels. [CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 2]
"Your defenses won't help you, here," Delta then taunts. "My plan is almost complete, and once it's done, nothing in your Deck will save you. I'll Summon my last card; the Tuner Monster Asteroid Belt!" This Monster appears as a large ring of asteroids that orbit the helipad, none of them hitting anything around us (DARK, Program/Tuner, 1200 ATK/1400 DEF, LVL 4). [CARDS IN HAND (Delta): 0]
"I tune my Level 4 Asteroid Belt with my Level 5 Fire Wall, and bring forth a being of the cosmos that will crush you into oblivion!" The asteroids rise into the air as Fire Wall turns into a fire comet that floats in the center of the belt. The asteroids then turn into four green rings as Fire Wall becomes five white stars; green energy fills the rings as Delta shouts out a chant to the heavens.
"Hoshiga seiretsu! Watshino unmei ga jistugenshi mashi ta! Go ha, watashino tekino hakai desu! Watshino imi wo shimesu! Shinkuro Shokan! Uchuu hanta, Orion!"
(The stars have aligned! My destiny has been realized! All that remains is the destruction of my enemies! Show my meaning! Synchro Summon! The cosmic hunter, Orion!)
The black clouds are pushed aside as a giant wormhole appears over the city, as black as the unrelenting blackness outside Delta's barrier, and looking like it can swallow the planet whole, but making no audible sound. I stare in awe as a male being, seemingly almost the size of the planet, itself, emerges from the hole, only his head and upper body revealed to me. His skin, composed of countless stars, is pale white, his hair flowing like a nebula with small black wisps at the end. His left hand and upper arm are mostly broken apart, but his right ones are fully formed and look like they could crush a continent, or more, with a single punch.
The being then creates a bow about its own size, the string and limbs seemingly composed of a purple cosmic gas. Small asteroids float around the bow like they're waiting to be used. The being shifts forwards slightly, and I then notice the toga he wears, as if he is a god. Then again, he looks like he has enough power to be a god (DARK, Program/Synchro, 3600 ATK/DEF, LVL 9).
"Asteroid Belt's Collision Empowerment," Delta announces as the asteroids suddenly begin to glow red. "When it is used for a successful Synchro Summon, the Synchro Monster gains 400 Attack and Defense Points for each Advancement Counter on the non-Tuner Monsters that I had. I had one on Fire Wall, so it gains 400 more Points." The asteroids now orbit the bow like comets, making the scene all the more amazing to look at (Orion ATK/DEF: 3600-4000).
"This is it, Epsilon!" Delta shouts at me as the air rumbles with Orion's power. "You've got one chance—one turn—to show me how much faith you actually have in your Deck. On my next turn, Government Takeover will be completed, and Orion will end any hope you have of victory. Show me what kind of brother you really are!"
Ok, Deck, I think as I place my fingers on the top card. I know we've been through a lot. We've had victories and defeats, rises and falls. You've all spoken to me in some way in my Duels, especially in my recent matches. I've modified you, changed you, removed certain parts of you, and now called you through the Network in this final gauntlet.
I've asked for your help before, but I need you now more than ever. This probably sounds so clichéd, but I need to win here so that we can all survive. If you trust me after all I've done for you, then please lend me your power in exchange for my peace of mind.
I breathe in as I draw the top card, and then breathe out without looking at it. It's only after I finish my breath that I look at the card.
[TURN 8: Epsilon] [CARDS IN HAND: 3]
"I Flip Summon Rabbit Hole to draw an extra card through Spiraling Replication." I draw the extra card as the small piece of hardware appears, my Signer Mark pulsing just once as I see that the pieces have come together. It seems that my Deck does trust me, after all the hell I've put it through [CARDS IN HAND: 4].
"I activate the Spell Test Run! I'll Special Summon Snowball from my Deck, though its effects are negated and it can't attack." My digital weapon flies onto the field after I type in its name onto the same orange keyboard from my previous use of this card (ATK: 2200) [CARDS IN HAND: 3]
"Next, I Normal Summon the Tuner Monster Cerberus H2, aka 'Rex'!" The blue pitbull shakes itself wildly after it races onto the field, and then looks at me with excited eyes (ATK/DEF: 1300, LVL 3) [CARDS IN HAND: 2].
"I Tune my Level 3 Cerberus H2 with my Level 5 Snowball!" Rex is silent as it leaps into the air, turning into three green rings that overlap the five white stars Snowball turns into. The familiar chant rises from within me as I feel determination run through me.
'Deeta ha me ni mie nai nettowaku no geeto wo toote nagare masu. Soshite ima, karerea ha subete issho ni kono saibanetikku juu no katachiwo keisei suru maaji! Shinkuro Shokan! Jibun jishin wo akiraka, Tera Tsubasaichisan Doragon!'
(Data flows through the gate of the invisible network, and now, they all merge together to form the shape of this cybernetic beast! Synchro Summon! Reveal yourself, Tera-Wing Netrunner Dragon!)
My Signer dragon roars as it appears from the Synchro Rings, looping around the massive elevator behind me before floating over my field. It looks up at Orion without fear, the hunter raising his bow at Tera-Wing as a form of intimidation (2500 ATK, LVL 8).
"That won't do you any good alone, you know," Delta comments, though his expression is grim, like he knows that something big is about to happen.
"Oh, I know," I reply. "That's why I'm betting it all on this turn, this play, this chance you've given me from the uncorrupted self that I know is somewhere inside of you. I'm going to make you see that what you're doing isn't right. It may seem right to abandon this place, but you haven't thought everything through; you're just going to go with the best-sounding option, without any consideration for problems that may arise.
"The Delta I knew, who I worked on Project Atlas with, was someone who knew what he was doing every step of the way. Even when things didn't seem to go as planned, he kept his cool and focused on getting back on his feet. The Delta I see now is a shadow of that man—something I plan to change. If I have to hurt you to make you see the error of your ways, then I'll do it! I will not hold back in saving my family!
"I activate Sure Gamble, drawing five cards and paying 2000 Life Points. Tera-Wing's Lifebound Strength activates, giving me 2000 Life Points and adding 2000 Attack Points to his total for the turn!" The Spell's black aura turns white as I add new cards to my hand. I see several familiar faces, human and digital, my Deck coming to support me in this final battle. (Epsilon: 4300-6300-4300 LP) (Tera-Wing ATK: 2500-4500) [CARDS IN HAND: 7]
"Battle Phase! I activate the Trap Queen's Gambit, forcing our Synchro Monsters to do battle!"
"No!" Delta shouts this out as Orion creates an arrow made of red cosmic dust and pulls it taut on his bow's string. "I use Orion's Cosmic Insight ability; any cards that target him are negated and destroyed! Your tricks are useless against a force of the universe!" Orion fires the red arrow, forcing me to jump away from my Trap's destruction to avoid getting skewered. However, the hole this arrow creates causes the entire helipad to shake like it's going to break apart.
"I still have a plan!" I shout back at Delta. "One that relies on my own strength, rather than on others. I've had too many people tell me what I can and can't do in my time away from you and our brothers, including our creator. Now, it's time you saw my truepower, just like Alpha, Beta, and Gamma have seen!
"Tera-Wing attacks Orion, and I activate my Planned Assault Trap during the Damage Step, revealing Gabriel Santiago in my hand, paying 2000 Life Points, and adding 2100 Attack Points to Tera-Wing's total! Go, end this Duel with the power of my Deck! SOUL REFORMATION!"
Tera-Wing's body glows orange as I feel my gut throb with pain, its entire body growing and growing until its body wraps around the entire city. Gabriel leaps from the card in my hand with the words, "Let's do this!" and jumps onto one of Tera-Wing's wings as the dragon flies into space (Epsilon: 4300-2300 LP) (Tera-Wing ATK: 4500-6600 ATK).
"I activate my Trap, Bad Times!" Delta's words make me turn away from the epic confrontation to see the image of a human in an x-ray screaming in silent agony. "This cuts your Monster's original Attack Points in half as long as you are tagged. You still have that tagged card in your hand, so your big plan has gone to waste!"
"No, it hasn't," I counter. "Cerberus H2's Codex Crusher! During the turn Tera-Wing is Summoned, I can permanently reduce its original Attack Points by 400 to negate and destroy any card you activate! This Duel is over!" Rex charges from my field and rips Delta's Trap apart with his teeth, the dog glowing white from Tera-Wing's energies (Tera-Wing ATK: 6600-6200). Delta and I both turn to look at the cosmic battle that is about to happen.
Tera-Wing charges towards Orion, who creates a massive black arrow from the red asteroids orbiting its bow, the space rock's color changing as they fuse together. The hunter fires the projectile, and it is able to lance Tera-Wing right in its single eye. However, the dragon keeps going with an angry roar, the pain fueling its energy as it swiftly coils around Orion before it can fire again. Tera-Wing's wounded eye now glows like a star, lighting up the blackness around Delta's barrier as Orion tries to break free.
Then, a beam of white energy burns Orion's body away, the hunter giving a piercing cry of agony as it, and the wormhole behind it, are covered with white flames that utterly consume them. My eyes burn from the brightness, but I can't look away as I hear Delta scream from the Battle Damage (Delta: 3400-800 LP).
I turn back to Delta to find him on his knees, his face frozen in shock, horror, or amazement; maybe it's all three at once. However, I notice he still has Life Points left after the attack; the Duel still isn't over, yet. Tera-Wing returns to the planet; Orion's arrow is gone, but its eye now has a hole slightly above the pupil. I look to my dragon, who seems to understand exactly what I'm thinking as in inclines its head once.
"Main Phase 2," I announce, my voice sounding quite small to my ears. "I activate the final Spell of the Duel; Notoriety. Since I inflicted at least 2000 points of Battle Damage to you this turn, I can choose one of three effects. I'll choose the final one, which deals you damage equal to the single highest amount of Battle Damage you took this turn. I win."
A red beam of energy fires from the card as I go through the same procedure as when I last used it in Satellite, so long ago. Delta's body slides to the helipad's edge from the force of the impact; he shows no reaction to this, or his Life Points reaching zero. (DELTA: 800-0 LP) [DUEL ENDS]
My Signer Mark burns greater than ever before as I try to run to Delta's position, the Solid Vision fading away as I do so. Unfortunately, the pain beats my determination as the helipad shakes violently. Then, to my horror, it shatters into pieces. Delta's body falls limply through the air as I desperately reach out for him. A piercing noise in my ears makes me stretch as far as I can; I manage to touch Delta's fingers before I am forced out of the server…
I land heavily on the ground, my right arm still burning with ever-growing pain. That pain soon spreads to the rest of my body, which makes me writhe on the ground in agony. Moans and gasps are the only sounds that escape my mouth as I hear laughter from nearby.
"Yes! YES!" Godwin's exultant voice reaches my ears; I crack my eyes open and can clearly see him standing close to me, his arms raised to the sky above. "It is time! Come forth, Crimson Dragon, and save this world from destruction!" The air shudders, the ground shakes, and my body feels like it's being pulled apart piece by piece, my screams reaching volumes I didn't know I could achieve.
Then, a cry I heard back in Satellite—a cross between a wolf and a cat—makes my eyes snap open and ignore everything else. A red dragon fills the sky, its tail shaped like an Aztec mask, and its claws and wings razor sharp. Its body consists of red flames with golden streams, its maw a deep red, and its two eyes are golden orbs filled with power. I can't believe it's really here—that Godwin's plan actually worked.
The Crimson Dragon cries again as it locks eyes with me, Godwin's triumphant laughter barely registering in my mind. I feel a presence slip into the back of my mind, images I can't understand playing in the deity's eyes.
Satellite being consumed by purple flames that shape into a giant spider…
Five humans, each with a piece of the Crimson Dragon on their arms, standing against a greater number of humans with purple markings of various animals…
Those same animals bursting from the ground into Neo Domino, trampling the city underfoot as their bodies glow with differently-colored markings…
Hundreds of people screaming as they turn into purple motes of light that fuel a giant, beating heart in the sky…
The entire Earth being consumed by purple fire, turning into a nightmarish version of itself that nothing can stop…
My soul screams as I am overwhelmed by these images, my eyes burning with the greatest pain I've ever felt in my life. Then, suddenly, the pain changes into a dull numbness that spreads over my eyes and makes them sharper, clearer, better. I am able to see the Crimson Dragon's body vanish like stars being snuffed out from the sky.
"No!" Godwin cries out, his voice fading as I feel myself drifting. "Where are you going?! Come back! I still need you here! I used Signer Marks and everything! Why aren't you satisfied?! Come back!"
My mind shuts down as I feel my body being lifted like a child out into fresh air…
Alright, that's a wrap! The Epilogue will come up with this chapter, so don't leave just yet!
As usual, please review, comment, and constructively criticize as you wish. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Draconos is taking off!