Call of Darkness

XXXIII: Thunder Crash

Under our collective gaze, Yamada-san unrolled the map.

"We're here, five kilometres or so south of the castle," he pointed to a specific clearing. "The stream runs from the Mountain down through this valley to the seas, and the castle is around the Mountain. If there are Duelists waiting to ambush others, the best time to do so would be around night-time, at which we would have to enter the castle. Word is that only eight people are able to enter, and if we calculate that to include Eliminators, then our percentage margin of getting in is much, much lower."

"Erm..." I swallowed.

"Basically, we need to get there while it's still daylight and fast, because if we're competing with both contestants and Eliminators we might be run out of the competition early." Yuko interjected.

"It's a reasonable assumption," Hazuki-nee nodded. "True, with two former Queens of Queens there, and especially Setsuka-san, we might not be able to enter."

"Hmm..." Youkai glanced at his Duel Band. "Nakamura-san? You haven't spoken a word at all."

Nii-chan and Rex-nii both turned to the oldest member as well, the man having somehow managed to accumulate five star chips in a single night.

"I am thinking that by this time, at least half of the participants would have already been eliminated," Nakamura-san slowly said. "We know that these eliminators force Duels, and by doing so drain energy from us Duelists. We know that the defeated are taken away, possibly isolated. We know now, at least, that Missy is involved in all of this, and by extension Satsuki-san and Tenjouin-san."

"Thank you for the repeat," Ryuusuke asked. "How does that help us?"

"It helps me," Nakamura-san easily answered. "Because I have raised her, and so I know the ways in which her mind would work."

His eyes drifted to one of the tents, where Tenjouin-sensei, Kajiki-sensei, Jounochi-san and Uncle Crow were catching a nap. "Whatever our conclusions, we can only assume that our only way out would be to get out of the island. Under any other condition, I would imagine that to be impossible, but there are over a hundred famous Duelists on this island. Even Seto Kaiba cannot suppress them fully, not without crippling his own customer base in this modern age. Likewise, Missy would not approve of large-scale attacks unprecedented since Professor Cobra, if only because mass attacks draw too much attention. If we are guessing as to the intention of the masterminds without drawing public outcry, then I suppose that it is Missy's intention. As to why Missy is doing this at all, I can only imagine it to be the repayment for a debt."

"Debt?" Uzuki echoed in disbelief.

"Kaiba has placed a lot of trust and investments in the hands of Missy, and for that has increased the power of the Movement," Nakamura-san answered. "Missy owes him a debt of honour. It would not be beyond the pale for Missy to return the favour no matter what. After all, as Seika-ojou and the rest of you have pointed out, Missy has more than enough power and she is a fugitive from the law, and yet she is here. I can only imagine her direct involvement to be after all other options have been exhausted."

Promises must be kept, was Setsu-chan's voice. I nodded.

"So it's probably a debt that's the reason for Shimotsuki's presence," Nii-chan thoughtfully interjected. "If that's the-"

He paused, his head turning. "Michiru is about... two klicks away. Why is she projecting-"

I could almost feel it from here, the cold wave of power that seemed to accompany all eliminators.

"The only person that's not around is... Chase," Youkai's eyes widened. "Chase!"

All three of them stood as a figure burst through the trees. I met the wide eyes of Nikki-chan, who was sniffing. Her Duel Band glowed yellow, and she was shaking.

"H- Help me," she shivered as another crash came.

"Someone has to get Chase-nii," I whispered. "N- Nakamura-san-"

"I will remain to keep the camp and keep watch," Nakamura-san stoically nodded. "I shall also prepare the first-aid kit, Seika-ojou. I recommend that Ryuusei and Atlas-san secure their friend, and some of us follow Kurosagi-san to her camp."

Nikki-chan blinked. "H- How-"

"There was an explosion," Nakamura-san replied. "And explosions on an island are not a good thing."

Another explosion sounded behind us.

"Seika-chan!" Yuko-kun pulled out his DuelDisk as Nikki-chan screamed.

"What, it's you," I heard the voice laugh.

From the trees appeared a tiny young girl, her long hair silvered and matted, hanging loose to her waist. She was dressed in a neat, pleated dress of white, and her shoes shone black. Her hair was tied up in a blue ribbon, but otherwise her grey eyes were listless, devoid of life despite her smile. On her arm was a silver DuelDisk, and on her other arm was a bulky Duel Band set under a Duel Glove, the sides already nearly full.

"My star chips~! Don't run~!" she sang.

"Kannazuki-san!" Ryuusuke blocked me from the silver-haired girl.

She smiled as she lifted a card to play. A horn sounded before the orange mechanical winged creature rushed us.

"Harvest, Angel of Wisdom. She's a rogue!" Yuko shouted as Ryuusuke and he rushed the other.

"What? Harvest!" the monster picked her up and jumped back, dodging Ryuusuke and Yuko as the girl glared. "You, you really don't know your place, do you?"

Vines sprouted from the ground, and the Harvest jumped back some more.

"You're the one who came here first," Hazuki-nee sternly scolded. "I remember you... one of the missing Psychics, Yukina Suiren!"

The girl, Suiren, pouted. "So what, Titania?"

"T- That girl's one of the eliminators!" Nikki-chan shivered, pointing at Suiren. "She was with that really cold girl, their leader. N- Nearly all of DA Kings' students was defeated... by her..."

"Not just me," Suiren smirked. "Will you Duel, and face an honourable defeat? Or will you continue running, like the rest of the trash that Setsuka-sama is eliminating right now."

"E- Eliminating..." I frowned, before turning to Nikki-chan. "Nikki-chan, do you think they're still at the camp?"

"I- I think so," Nikki-chan hesitated. "I... I managed to escape with Marufuji-sensei, but he distracted a Shore Knight and a Familiar Knight so that I could get help. I actually wanted to find Shinamori-san, but... Kannazuki-san, I'm so glad I found you!"

Two Duel Bands beeped red. Ryuusuke and Suiren exchanged glances as they held theirs up.

"I have three star chips," Ryuusuke offered.

"I have seven, just as well," Suiren nodded. "Shall we make this an all-for-nothing battle?"

While they were distracted, Nikki-chan, Yuko, Yamada-san and Youkai left with me.

"What was that?" Kit asked.

"Maybe it's a Duel?" I looked around. The trees should have muffled any noise, meaning that it was close by-

From the trees he erupted. I recognised the man, blue hair reaching past his shoulders, teal eyes, a sharp face with cheekbones probably visible from the moon. Although on the surface Marufuji Ryou had not changed, I knew him as one of Duel Academia Kings's teachers.

"Marufuji-sensei?" I called.

Marufuji-sensei twitched, turning to me. "You're... Manjoume? No, Princeton... run!"

I had no time to ask when they erupted as well. An armoured Familiar Knight, clad in the shining armour and red cloak, carrying sword and shield, and wearing a full-face helm came from the trees. That sword looked awfully sharp.

At the same time, from the river itself, the warrior charged out, swinging sword and shield. I could see dark hair waving in a breeze as the Shore Knight stood, facing the Familiar Knight despite the blindfold around his eyes. A Water Attribute monster, and I knew only one person on the damn island who would use a Water Attribute Duel Spirit.

Rei gave a warning. Marufuji-sensei began running. The Familiar Knight began to move as I tugged at Kit's hand and the three of us began to run away.

"Move," I hissed as the sword of the Familiar Knight began to swing, and a well-timed tug was the only thing keeping his head on his neck. So much for hoping that it was a pantomime.

"What the-" Kit dodged to one side. "They're... Duel Monsters? But that's not real... right?"

I didn't want to answer, not while we were running for our lives, but my mouth apparently disagreed. "Well, try telling those imaginary monsters that."

A tree fell to the Familiar Knight. I muttered curses and invectives as I ran up river.

Kit tripped, nearly falling. The Familiar Knight was looming, sword drawn, and he brought it down.

Marufuji-sensei kicked it aside. I was really impressed; it took guts and a serious aim to do that. My opinion of Marufuji-sensei rose when he socked the Familiar Knight and lugged Kit to his feet as the Familiar Knight's form slumped. Marufuji-sensei: one, Familiar Knight: zero.

"Oh shit," he swore, teal eyes widening. "The kids."

Excuse me while I boggle. "Wait," I paused. "You brought DA Kings students here?"

On hindsight, it was a really stupid question. If Central students were here, it was a safe bet that the other schools were going to be sending representatives too. The GeneX would have accounted for quite a few testimonials, as would the subsequent inter-school tournaments.

Marufuji-sensei waved the Duel Band in my face. "The kids," he was breathing. "The kids. New... programme. Didn't know... Bio Bands. Dammit. The player-killers are here."

Player Killers. Known as Eliminators in most of the world, the term 'player-killer' was one I guessed was unique to Japan and Neo Domino. It was derived from the original Duelist Kingdom, where eighty star chips were issued but only four Duelists allowed into the castle. Rumours of Pegasus Crawford hiring actual killers to eliminate players after winning a Duel to retrieve the remaining forty star chips spread, and it became part of Tournament History (by all accounts a really boring module of Duel History, until we had Kaido teach it as a supplement class. Then we began to wonder why the heck do people actually teach these things to schoolchildren).

"Who?" Kit asked.

Marufuji-sensei stiffened. "M- Michiru..."

I thought so. If Shimotsuki was the Big Bad, then Michiru was the psycho-nut. Tenjouin Michiru was the type to live to pull the wings off flies.

A rush of a sword being swung, and a tree fell. The Shore Knight loomed over us, intimidating with his large sword and armour. It was pretty obvious, everything considered, that it had no intention of letting us get away. Behind us, we heard the sword again.

"Well, well," a laugh like tinkering glass bells spread. "Who do we have here, Ryou-san."

Michiru sat on a low-lying tree branch suspended about the Shore Knight. Her cardigan was worn loosely, showing her tight crop-top. Her smile was positively vulpine.

"Michiru," Marufuji-sensei acknowledged, struggling to even remain standing. "What are you doing?"

"Well, the other eliminators of the island are converging upon all the students on this island," Michiru giggled. It sounded as psychotic as I had heard last. "And I'm sending a signal out now, so if Summer realises that I am here, most likely someone will come soon to pick you guys up."

That gave me pause. Marufuji-sensei must have realised something as well, because his eyes widened. "What the hell are you people thinking of?"

Michiru's eyes widened comically. "You can't guess? Oh, Ryou-san, your placement on this island, the careful pruning of all other teachers of Duel Academia Kings on this island, was for a reason. All of this has to do with the Kaiba family."

"Kaiba?" Marufuji-sensei echoed, coughing. "W- What?"

"Duel Monsters attacking a camp of students?" Michiru scoffed. "Did you really think that we are so ruled by our instincts? There were only two, the knights that the Queen has commanded, and both distracted by only one man? For all your power, Ryou-san, you are only one. Winter are many, and Her Majesty has already determined so. Do you feel it? The pain in your chest, your labouring heart? Do you remember?"

"What did you do, Michiru?" Marufuji-sensei groaned.

Michiru gave a tinkering laugh that turned into a groan as a gout of fire narrowly missed her. The Shore Knight shielded the rest of the blast, but ultimately it fell and shattered, like a hologram.

Scowling as she landed, Michiru plucked the remains of a burnt card out of thin air. "What was that for?"

"I realised... that you were here," Ryuusei panted as he entered on our right with Rex. "Michiru..."

"Bitch!" Rex rushed her, and she lashed out quickly, jumping back to gain some space.

Rex might have the advantage in height and reach and strength, but Michiru was obviously more nimble on her feet. She could dance circles around Rex, laughing hysterically as she did. Rex, in his grey bomber jacket and blue shirt and grey slacks, pinched together with a grey belt, might as well be a pole she was dancing around.

Finally, as Rex was about to land a punch, both their Bands beeped.

They paused, eyeing it. Normal people might have just faced off, but those two were Duelists. Their instinct for the Duels was even stronger than their eye for strategy. I could almost see any violent instinct become lashed to the same identical desire to excel and Duel.

Duelists are very strange creatures, and I speak as one of them.

"I have two star chips," Rex informed her, letting his fist loose and stepping out of her lunge reach.

Michiru considered, grinning suddenly. "Sure. I can bet two. Shall we, then?"

They jumped, standing opposite each other as both held up their respective DuelDisks, one grey and one white, and the sun shone overhead.

"Duel!"

Rex: LP 8000

Michiru: LP 8000

Duel Field activated: Fairy Tale Second Chapter: The Mad Sun

"Draw!" Rex called. "I'll activate Allure of Darkness, drawing two cards and then banishing a Dark Attribute monster. Then, I'll summon Trance Archfiend [1500/500]. Once per turn, I can discard a card to have him gain five hundred attack power until my end phase [1500/500 → 2000/500]."

"Eh... but you can't attack on the first turn," Michiru noted.

"I discarded Broww, Huntsman of Dark World, hence I can draw a card," Rex called. "I'll set two cards and end my turn here [2000/500 → 1500/500]."

"Draw!" Michiru laughed. "I summon The Fabled Kokkator [1700/1500] to the field."

A giant green chicken, and I kid you not, appeared, gnashing its beak. "Kokkator, peck that Archfiend to death!"

"Continuous Trap, Escape from the Dark Dimension!" Rex declared. "Arise, Archfiend Empress [2900/2100]!" Rex's favourite monster appeared, smiling wanly.

"Heh... so, what?" Michiru snickered. "Kokkator, continue attacking that Trance Archfiend!"

"I use the effect of Archfiend Empress to banish Broww and protect Trance Archfiend!" Rex roared. "Dark Aegis!"

Rex: LP 8000 → LP 7600

Michiru: LP 8000

"What? Battle damage was doubled?" Rex shouted.

"In this field, Fairy Tale Second Chapter: The Mad Sun, the sun is very, very hot, hot enough to make even Duels tiring," Ryuusei answered him.

"Both players' battle damage doubles." Michiru agreed. "But, it looks like I've drawn first blood, if nothing else... I'll set two cards, turn end."

"Draw!" Rex called. "I activate the effect of Trance Archfiend, discarding a Fiend for it to gain five hundred attack power [1500/500 → 2000/500]. I discarded Ceruli, Guru of Dark World [100/300], so I can special summon it to your field in defence mode."

"What?" Michiru exclaimed as the squat monster in a blue cloak appeared.

"With that effect, when Ceruli is special summoned by the effect of a Dark World card, such as itself, I must discard one card," Rex's eyes twinkled. "I discard Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World [2300/1400], and its effect activates, special summoning it and then destroying two cards my opponent controls."

"Trap activate, Waboku!" Michiru snarled as the three priestesses appeared before her.

"I destroy Kokkator and Ceruli," Rex declared as her monsters imploded. "Turn end."

"Draw!" Michiru called. "I'll discard a Fabled monster to special summon The Fabled Nozoochee [1200/800], and then because of its own effect, I can special summon a level two or lower Fabled monster from my hand, so I summon The Fabled Cerburrel [1000/400]. I discarded Fabled Krus, allowing me to special summon The Fabled Kokkator from the graveyard. Now, I summon the tuner monster, Stygian Security [100/600] to the field. Tuning, level two Nozoochee to level two Cerburrel. Legends hidden under the veil of secrecy, finally lift the curtain to show the lies! Synchro summon! Come, The Fabled Kudabbi!"

As the Synchro rings died... there was a moo. It was a giant bull, wearing a gold-edged white veil over its head. Its saddle was a red carpet, and a red banner hung over its neck. On its back, a white imp cackled as it held onto the reins [2200/1100].

"... and I'm supposed to be scared, why?" Rex asked.

"Oh, you will," Michiru smirked. "Now, I tune the level four Kokkator to level one Stygian Security. When the darkness in my soul is revealed, a frozen demon appears within the shadows towards the light! Hearts grown cold with this terror of the ancient tales of winter! Synchro Summon! Freeze everything, Frozen Fitzgerald!"

It grew very cold. Even the intense sunlight seemed weaker in comparison, as if the sun itself were hardly enough to ward it off. The trees stood in absolute silence. Ice formed over the field, cracking as the monster appeared.

It looked like a humanoid figured, stuck in ice, arms stretched out and legs together like being nailed to a cross. Ice enveloped its arms and legs, chilling and weird. It carried a smile on its face, as if under a very tolerant joke no one else understood [2500/2500]. There was an intense sense about it, and I distantly thought... I felt... that Hundred Eyes Dragon knew it, and my dragon was screaming distantly...

"Frozen Fitzgerald was once a Dark Synchro monster," Michiru delightedly informed us.

"Dark Synchro monster?" Rex echoed. "I think... I've heard them before."

"The Dark Synchro monsters were seven monsters that were a tier below of the Earthbound Gods, servants of the Dark Signers and their servants," Michiru giggled. "There were only seven ever known, all contracted in the name of Darkness. As proof of my service to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Frozen Fitzgerald was awarded to me. Isn't it pretty?"

She raised a hand, just like I had seen Shimotsuki do. "Frozen Fitzgerald, attack Trance Archfiend with your Blizzard Strike! And then, when this card attacks, you can't activate Spells or Trap until the end of the damage step! Go...!"

Icy tendrils froze the Trance Archfiend in a parody of horror, before the statue shattered... and Trance Archfiend remained intact.

Rex: LP 7600 → LP 5600

Michiru: LP 8000

"Dark Aegis still works, on any other Dark Fiend I control," Rex panted.

Michiru smirked. "Kudabbi, attack that Archfiend Empress! And I activate my set card, Horn of the Phantom Beast [2200/1100 → 3000/1100]! Go, attack with Calamity Prediction!"

Kudabbi mooed loudly as it rammed into the dark monarch, who screamed in a horrible parody of pain as she shattered.

Rex: LP 5600 → LP 5400

Michiru: LP 8000

"You'll still take battle damage!" Michiru smirked, clapping. "And because of Horn, I get to draw a card. I set a card, and I end here." Her smile turned nasty. "You're not that lucky, punk."

"Draw!" Rex called. "Continuous Trap activate, Dark Smog. I discard a Fiend to banish a monster in your graveyard, and I think Fabled Cerburrel fits the bill. And then because I just don't like you, I discarded the boss of Goldd, Grapha, and his effect activates by having your Kudabbi go boom!"

"Does Rex remember that Michiru's hand is currently unfilled?" I muttered as Grapha tried to eat the cow, to no avail.

"The Veil of Secrets," Michiru chuckled. "When my hand is at zero, Kudabbi can't be destroyed by battle or card effect."

"Do I know it," I muttered, remembering all the pain went to getting rid of it.

"I return Goldd to my hand to special summon Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World [2700/1800]!" Rex called, clearly being unable to think straight from the sheer cold. "Grapha, attack that Frozen Fitzgerald!"

"Trap card," Michiru whispered, a finger to her lips. "Mirror Force."

Ryuusei and I winced for his sake as Grapha imploded.

Rex studied his hand, shivering. "I set a card. Turn end."

"Draw!" Michiru was all smiles, even thought it must be about nine degrees in the clearing. "Do you know the difference between you and me?"

"N- No..." Rex was still shivering.

"It's power," Michiru cocked her head. "Fall before the Claíomh Solais, Rex Atlas, and remember that it was I who defeated you. Kudabbi, attack him directly!"

"If he takes that... he'll lose!" Ryuusei and I exclaimed as the Kudabbi lowered its horns.

"Trap card, Red Screen!" Rex called. "For this turn, your monsters cannot declare an attack. Looks like your power was for nothing."

"Cheap tricks," Michiru sniffed. "Turn end."

"My turn, draw!" Rex declared. "I use the effect of Dark Smog, and discard Goldd to special summon him and banish The Fabled Nozoochee. When my opponent controls a face-up Synchro monster, I can special summon Synclone Resonator [100/100] from my hand. I play Card of Demise, allowing me to draw up to five cards, but in five turns I shall have to discard my entire hand. Now, I summon the tuner monster, Phantom Lord Hide Ride [1500/300]. Hide Ride can be treated as a non-tuner monster, so I tune level three Hide Ride to level one Synclone Resonator."

"Level four Synchro-" Michiru cut off.

"Soldier of the king, rise to defend! Our lives are protected by the great sword of this warrior of darkness! Synchro summon! The dark knight, Balmung, Fighter of the Demon World!"

The giant sword was swung, the blade sharp and promising... as the dark knight took the stand, silence was commanded [2100/800].

"It's weaker than my own monsters!" Michiru broke out in laughter. "What are you thinking about?"

"I'll set two cards and end my turn," Rex declared. "At the end phase of this turn, I must pay one thousand life points to keep Red Screen on the field."

Rex: LP 5400 → LP 4400

Michiru: LP 8000

"Draw!" Michiru snorted. "I'll pass. I want to see you struggle some more."

"Draw!" Rex called. "Turn end, and I pay the cost."

Rex: LP 4400 → LP 3400

Michiru: LP 8000

"What? Is that it?" Michiru sniffed. "I'll set a card, turn end."

"Draw!" Rex called. "I set a card, turn end. I shall pay the cost of Red Screen."

Rex: LP 3400 → LP 2400

Michiru: LP 8000

"Draw!" Michiru's nose wrinkled. "I'll set a card, turn end. The odds are really against you. Even though you have a lucky break for now, I have Kudabbi, who is indestructible should my hand be at zero, and Frozen Fitzgerald, which can prevent your activation of Spells or Traps when it attacks. And Setsuka promised me another card soon... but, anyway... if you can't manage it this turn, you'll be down to a paltry four hundred life points. You can't win."

"Tell me that when I'm dead," Rex snarled. "I will win. And, even if I were to lose, I'm not losing to a psychopathic megalomaniac like you! I draw!"

A sudden hush fell upon the field as Rex stared at the card.

"Yes!" Rex hooted. "I summon Dark Resonator [1300/300]! Tuning, level five Goldd to level three Dark Resonator. The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! The king's soul, Red Demon's Dragon!"

A grand fireball erupted upon the field. Pure power flooded the clearing. The temperature climbed from freezing to burning hot, and I saw a leaf on the ground catch fire. The dragon was horned. It was more muscled than any other dragon I knew, the largest of the Signer Dragons. Heavier than Stardust. Wider than Ancient Fairy. The reverse colours of Black Rose. More solid than Black Feather. More powerful than any of them. The ace monster of the World King, Jack Atlas... and one of the five legendary dragons that once saved the world, the Red Demon's Dragon [3000/2000].

If I have to describe it to you, obviously you've grown up under a rock.

It opened a lantern-jawed maw, tiny yellow eyes gleaming, baring teeth that were really too sharp to be comfortable, and let loose a single bellow that sent birds scattering around the clearing and teeth chattering from fright.

"Trap card, Dust Tornado," Rex's head was low as Horn of the Phantom Beast shattered [3000/1100 → 2200/1100]. "Another Trap card, Red Carpet. When I control a Dragon-Type Synchro monster, I can special summon Synclone Resonator and Dark Resonator from my graveyard once more."

"N- No way..." Michiru stuttered. "Y- You? Could you even summon it?"

"Let's face it..." Rex drawled. "Under normal circumstances, Scar-Red wouldn't give me the time of day. But Father's not here, and I'm probably fighting for my life here. I'm doing this in a really vague hope that Scar-Red would actually listen and not abandon me to some unknown fate. But, if two years travelling the world had taught me something..." and here his eyes gleamed. "It's how to beat down demons."

He raised a fist, from which wisps of what I realised to be power radiated from him. Rex's grey eyes widened, and I could distantly recall feeling what Rex had felt those two years ago. Desperation. Helplessness. Despair.

I could see spirits; I could keep tabs on Ryuusei. Rex was, for all intents and purposes, human. He was unable to cross that boundary between worlds, he did not have the technical intelligence to actually help, he had none of the skills beyond a slightly better mechanic skill set and more common sense and manners that Uncle Jack could have given him. Rex should have been dead or enslaved several times over for the past two years. Time is a funny thing, and Rex definitely inherited something from Jack Atlas; he was a stubborn son of a bitch (nothing about Carly-san here), and a resourceful one.

"This is my soul... Double Tuning!" Rex called. "I tune level eight Red Demon's Dragon to level three Dark Resonator and level one Synclone Resonator! Roll out the red carpet for the star of the show!"

"You can't..." Michiru choked. "You... can't..."

"The King and The Devil... here and now shall become as one." Rex's words were accompanied by a sudden tense silence. "A raging Spirit! Lift up the very cries of Creation itself! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Scar-Red Nova Dragon!"

Now it grew hotter, and Red Demon's Dragon gave an answering roar as the new monster appeared, bearing more plates of red and black. Its wings resembled metal plates hammered into shape and bent into wings. Its skeletal body stood out amidst the scarlet flames of its power, as if its body had been eroded away by the sheer power of the beast [3500/3000 → 5000/3500]. Around it, a thousand or more dancing scarlet flames leapt up, burning in defiance of Winter. I cowered back slightly as the heat threatened to roast any exposed skin. Ryuusei remained calm, but his eyes glittered that eerie blue-green as well in answer to overwhelming power.

"Phantom Lord Hide Ride is a tuner as well..." Ryuusei realised. "Rex must have been attempting this all along."

"Five thousand..." Michiru stared. "Immunity to destruction by spells or traps- oh shit. I activate the trap, Phoenix Wing Wind Blast!"

"Counter Trap, Dark Bribe," Rex pointed down. "And I activate Riryoku, targeting your Frozen Fitzgerald to decrease its attack power by half and add it to Balmung [2500/2500 → 1250/2500] [2100/800 → 3350/800]. Battle, Balmung, slay that unsightly frozen Popsicle with Demon's Sword!"

Balmung charged, and beheaded the fiend, who screamed and died in a shatter of ice shards.

Michiru: LP 8000 → LP 3800

Rex: LP 2400

"Scar-Red Nova Dragon... attack Kudabbi with Burning Soul!" Rex called as the dragon roared, made a fist, and punched.

"Quick-play Spell, Pandemic of Madness!" Michiru snarled. "Even if I take damage, twenty-five hundred damage should be enough to drive you off!"

Michiru: LP 3800 → LP 0

Rex: LP 2400 → LP 0

"We... drew..." Rex wobbled slightly as the heat and the holograms faded, trying to keep standing, anything.

Motes of light gathered in Michiru's hands, and she looked plenty pissed off. "You-"

She paused. Her eyes glazed over. She glanced at the skies as she gave a manic grin. "Oh. I see."

"EH?" We blinked as her DuelDisk folded back and she gave a sweet, sweet smile.

"It looks like Her Majesty needs help subduing the rest of the students from Kings and Queens," Michiru sweetly informed us, tipping her head as if she wore a hat. "So, arrivederci."

Between one footstep and the next, and one heartbeat and the next, Michiru disappeared in a shower of light-puffs. Poseur.

"The students!" Marufuji-sensei gasped, but then clutched at his heart, struggling.

"Where?" I demanded slowly. "I can get there."

Marufuji-sensei slowly nodded. "Mouth of the river. Some of them... wanted a beach vacation."

"Rex!" I turned. "Need-"

"Not now!" Rex snapped. He was a bit more hyper-alert, and I saw the tendons in his neck tighten. He was holding himself in check. "I... Adrenaline rush... a bit, just a while. I'll get Marufuji-sensei back to the camp with Ryuusei."

"We can take Marufuji-sensei back to the camp, and maybe I can see about getting first-aid or Nakamura-san," Ryuusei nodded. "Rex, I need some help moving Marufuji-sensei. Erm, I don't think I've gotten your name?"

"Kit, Kit Sakumo," Kit rapidly introduced himself, transfixed under the intense stare. If the situation wasn't currently an emergency, Rex would have leapt to defend Ryuusei immediately.

"I'm so sorry we've gotten you involved," Ryuusei murmured as Kit tagged along by me.

Between one heartbeat and the next, they were gone. I stared; obviously magic was at work, but Ryuusei...

I shook my head, before turning to jog back to the river and downstream with Kit tentatively following me. We needed to get there.

Pandemic of Madness
Type: Quick-Play Spell
Effect: Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack. Inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster's ATK at the same time you take Battle Damage.

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