Hmm…once again I stand here before a familiar opponent.
And if you were here the last time we met, then you probably figured out that he knew something about my past…
…and when you see me, I look like the kind of person who wouldn't have these kinds of problems that a lot of people experience.
But even I have a dark past behind my charming smile…
…the pendant around Kazin's neck is proof enough…
Watch this…a piece of Childsmen past…
/-//-///-/--/-///-/
Chapter 38
Faith or Fact
//--/--//-///--/-/-///
"Alright boys, I want a clean match," Maria asked wagging her finger at the two duelists. "No direct attack below the belt…but trash talking is optional!"
"No need to sully the ears of a beautiful teacher," Leo admitted fanning out his deck to look at his cards…
"…right Kazin?"
"…it's a cruel joke to hear those words come from your mouth," Kazin spat adjusting his glasses up.
"Do I detect a little anger?" Leo asked picking a single card from his dueling deck that he held up.
"Anger? Ha!" Kazin spat out, nearly ripping a card from his selection of cards. "Anger can't even begin to describe what I'm feeling at this very moment…nay, hatred, sorrow, anguish…and toss in a little anticipation and viola! You've got what I'm feeling!"
"Wow…and here I thought that you didn't obsess about anything," Leo stated slowly shuffling his deck back into his duel disk's deck slot.
"Just keep making jokes," Kazin snarled reaching for something around his neck, pulling out a small, silver pendant that had a red cross on it with a scar racing at its diagonal. "I'm sure she just loves the last joke you played on her…"
BA-DUM!
Leo's eyes slightly bulged, yet keeping his smile on his face, Leo grabbed his chest slightly. Shaking it off and breathing hard, Leo regained his composure. "…any chance would you be willing to listen to reason?"
"No…" Kazin flatly replied releasing the pendant and spinning one of the cards up. "…meet my deck master, Gagagigo!"
Landing on the ground, the infamous dark green reptile warrior stood up tall with a loud hissing noise echoing through the caves. Leo raised an eyebrow at the weird deck master as many feathers began to flow around his body. 'A reptile? Something tells me that he's not using her deck…'
From the feathers, the shy Airknight Librarian appeared behind Leo, blushing at her master calling her out as his deck master. With a reassuring smile on his face towards the Librarian, Leo rubbed the top of her purple hair. "Airknight Librarian will be my deck master…"
Kazin narrowed his eyes down at the Airknight Librarian, scaring the small angel. "…again? Do your insults know no limit?"
"..." Leo was silent, and his smile gave way for a nasty scowl that seemed to make him look as demented as Kazin.
"…Duel!"
/-/-//-///--///--/--//
"Fist Bruiser Army! Attack his Ojamas!"
Nine old styled gangsters (1500/0 1800/0 x9) leapt from the cave walls, all of them readying to deliver many powerful punches at their designated targets who were beginning to panic loudly. Powered up by the powerful spell card, The A. Forces, the bruiser's muscles were almost ripping through their jackets and already ripped jeans.
"Trap card open!"
That's when a powerful vortex appeared in front of all nine of the muscular Bruisers, forcing them all skidding backwards back in front of the enraged and familiar Obelisk Blue duelist.
"Tsk, tsk, Sheldon," Klein snickered wagging his finger at the enraged Bravo, a fiery aura appearing around Bravo's body. "Haven't you heard that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it?"
"Don't call me Sheldon!" Bravo roared loudly, making the caves rumble loudly.
As one could plainly see, Klein and Bravo had found each other quickly and due to both of their strategies being the rush style. Klein had his three Ojama brothers (0/1000 x3), the Ojamagician as his deck master and had used his Trap card, Negate Attack. And in his hand was a small hand of three cards. "Stress will only bite you in the butt…" (KLP: 5150)
"Yeah, yeah…" Bravo muttered fitting the card into his duel disk, making it appear behind his nine Fist Bruisers (3300/0 x9), while his Savage Bruiser stood beside him with a fanged smirk. "Just go you little piece of…" (BLP: 3100)
"No need for that language," Klein chuckled snapping his next card from the top of his deck. "But, there's a need for this! I activate Ojama Delta Hurricane!"
Bravo smirked wildly snapping his fingers over his face down card, making it flip upwards, and all nine of his Bruisers disappeared before the tri colored tornado crashed over his body shattering the other cards he had on his field. "Urk!"
"Now then…" Klein snickered as his three Ojamas landed in front of him, each with a large smirk on their faces. "I activate Shield and Sword!"
"Now who's not learning through the past…" Bravo asked as all three of Ojama Brothers (1000/0 x3) leapt towards Bravo.
Then with several kicks to his face, Bravo staggered backwards as his Savage Bruiser shot a dark glare at the three Ojamas. (BLP: 100)
"Why fix what's not broken?" Klein asked crossing his arms fitting another card into his duel disk.
"…you'll see…" Bravo snarled slowly standing straight up.
//--//-//-//-//--//-//--/
"I'll start off!" Kazin snarled snapping his sixth card into his hand, and a dark smirk appeared on his face. "Heh…and well, well, well, I never thought I'd draw this card so soon."
"Really? And what pray tell could this card be?" Leo asked keeping his narrowed eyes down at Kazin, somewhat scaring the Airknight Librarian now.
"You see…this deck that I use represents what I truly believe," Kazin stated lifting his duel disk up, activating the field spell card zone to open up. "Kind of ironic as you'll see in a few moments…I activate the field spell card, Test Lab!"
The ground began to rumble, allowing many different wires, machines and tubes to rise up around the two duelists, and lighting up the cave dramatically. The tubes seemed to be empty and dulled by the light.
Leo looked left and right, and then turned to the cowering Airknight Librarian. "Kazin…what is this place?"
"Behold the power of science!" Kazin laughed snapping his deck out of his deck slot. As he fanned the deck out, Kazin slowly looked through his cards, his finger tip feeling the top of the cards. "My Test Lab is the perfect example of my belief in the power of science! When it's activated, I must discard one monster card from my deck."
Tossing the card into the air, the single card shattered into multiple lights that flew into the many tubes, activating them. The lights died down, and floating in the tubes now were many small black lizards like monsters that were curled up. Leo's eyes narrowed even more as the Airknight Librarian snuck behind him, not able to take the sight of the monsters. "What are these things?"
"Oh…you'll find out," Kazin chuckled slowly tapping a card onto his duel disk, making it appear before him. "And to make sure that you find out, I activate the spell card, Field Barrier!"
"Great…" Leo muttered as a large aura appeared around all of the machines.
"And I'll end my turn," Kazin chuckled pushing his glasses up with his middle finger. "I couldn't help but notice…that your smile is gone…"
BA-DUM! BA-DUM!
Leo's eyes widened once more, there was something definitely wrong in his chest…but, what was it? Sensing his discomfort, the Airknight Librarian floated up to Leo and grabbed his arm. And with a smile appearing on his face, Leo rubbed the young angel's head once more. "Thank you for your concern…"
Sensing a cold glare, Leo slowly pulled his sixth card while keeping a smile towards the glaring Kazin. "I draw! And summon Airknight Vanguard!"
Many feathers floated through the air, allowing the pike wielding Airknight to land on the ground spinning the pike in his hands (1500/1350). "And now…attack Kazin's face down card please."
With a nod, the Vanguard flew forward stabbing the pike into the back of the card, making it turn into a small black lizard floating inside a large test tube (0/0) being stabbed by the pike before shattering.
"And since your monster appeared to have zero defense points," Leo stated as the Airknight Vanguard flew in front of Kazin, flapping his to throw several feathers into Kazin's body. "My Airknight will inflict the full damage to your life points." (KLP: 6500)
"Heh…and here I thought that angels were supposed to be calm and…and gentle," Kazin spat out stepping forward as the Airknight Vanguard flew back next to Leo.
"These angels are the guardians of the higher planes," Leo stated smiling over to the blushing Airknight Librarian. "They are known to fight to keep those who try to defeat the peace…"
Before Leo could continue, the Gagagigo ran in front of Leo, surprising the usually calm duelist.
WHAM!
"GACK!" Leo spat out as the Gagagigo re-tracked his scaled fist from Leo's stomach. (LLP: 7700)
"And now…allow me to show you Gagagigo's Master Ability," Kazin spat out rubbing his mouth as the Gagagigo slowly walked back to his side of the field. "Since Gagagigo was a fighter for justice, his special ability is known as Justified Reptilian Revenge. Since a reptile was destroyed as a result of battle, you take one hundred points of damage times the level of the destroyed monster…"
That when one of the test tubes shattered, allowing one of the larger black lizards to fall to the ground. As the beast hissed loudly, the lizard stood up tall showing it was a large black lizard-man, with large metallic limbs and blood red eyes that starred hungrily at the Airknight Librarian. The lower part of its jaw had a steel attachment with blood dribbling down his metallic chin as its long tongue slithered between its metallic teeth (1000/1000).
"Should I even ask what that atrocity is?" Leo asked still feeling the effects of the powerful punch. "And how it got here?"
"I'm still going to tell you," Kazin admitted adjusting his glasses once more. "The monster you destroyed was known as Blood Lizard – Test Subject, and when destroyed, I can special summon a Blood Lizard from my deck with a level to four or lower with a thousand attack or less…"
"The creature that I have out is known as Blood Lizard – Alpha. And he qualifies for my Test Subject's effect."
"…now I remember this monster…" Leo stated finally recovering the Gagagigo's low punch to his stomach.
"Then I assume that you fully remember then?" Kazin asked fingering the pendant that was still around his neck. "I assume you remember Lily?"
Once more, Leo turned towards the Airknight Librarian, and then with his eyes closed, Leo placed a hand on her shoulder…
//--/-/-/-/Five Years Ago--/--//---/--//-/
Three years ago, back when Leo was only a child of ten years old, he was just a young man with no cares. In fact, with his school finished, Leo just sat on the balcony that was attached to his room on the second on his family's mansion. A frown appeared on Leo's face as he watched the sun rise over the mansion.
Although he was younger, the only things that were different about Leo were his small ten year old thin body and slightly long black hair. And the exception of school, his social life wasn't all that great, and even at the school, he wasn't like the other private school kids…
… His room…his sanctuary, his own space…and his jail cell…
"Leo! Leo!"
Looking down from his balcony, Leo's face brightened up into a cute smile at the sight of his two first true friends. Surprisingly, the first was a thirteen year old Russell with messier sandy blonde hair with coke bottle framed glasses, wearing a dirty and small lab coat.
The second was a cute, young, short haired ten-year old girl wearing a simple white and blue sun dress with a book in her arms. Her eyes were covered with her dark sandy blonde hair, giving her a shy look. Around her neck was a silver pendant with a red cross on it.
"Russell! Lily!" Leo laughed with a bright smile on his face as he waved towards the two young friends.
"Hey, Leo, we're going to go check out that new duelist store," Russell shouted out waving to Leo. "You want to join us?
"S-Sure!" Leo shouted running back into his room.
Soon, after a little walk, the three youngsters were inside one of the most hyped up duelist store, with three large plasma screens on the walls showing a young duelist with a white Obelisk blue uniform overcoat with dark blue jutting down blue hair with a large three headed cybernetic dragon charging up an attack towards a young gray haired teen in a fancy light gray suit.
Flying in the air was a large green suited warrior with glowing armor over its body.
But, Leo was in awe with all the cards that seemed to line the walls, each of them gleaming with the light. "Sweet!"
Meanwhile…
"Aw come on, Lily," Russell sighed adjusting his large glasses, he and Lily were looking over the cards that were in the glass counters. "There has to be one card that you like."
"W-Well…" Lily stuttered turning to the side. Russell was just being a big brother figure to Lily, Russell being a few years older was already a rookie duelist with a deck of positively disgusting monsters that still seemed to show his love of science.
"Maybe this card?" Leo asked appearing behind the two siblings.
"ACK!" Russell and Lily shouted jumping up.
"L-Leo! Don't do that again!" Russell shouted pushing his glasses up once more, while Lily was trying to fix her hair over her eyes once more. "How'd you do that in the first place?"
"…I just walked behind you two," Leo answered holding up a card to Lily. "Anyway, I found a card that Lily might like."
The very card that Leo had in his hand was none other than the…Airknight Librarian. A small blush appeared on Lily's face as Leo placed the card in her hands. "T-Thanks L-Leo…"
"Aw…isn't that cute?" Russell chuckled crossing his arms looking at a simple card. "Oh, look at this…Fire Dragon…with a full set of Chemical dragon cards…"
/-/---//--//-/-///-/--//-/
"…Well, that was a blast from the past," Leo admitted shaking his head as he fitted a card into his duel disk, making it appear behind his Airknight Vanguard.
"Just you wait…" Kazin spat out, nearly ripping off his next card from the top of his dueling deck, tossing his card into his hand. "You'll be experiencing more and more memories as this duel goes on…"
"I don't know if you blocked it out intentionally…but trust me, you'll remember at the end of this duel…"
'Especially since the experimental portable Darkness Generator is active…and even though this is only a test run, I kinda wish he would disappear after this duel. However, it appears that the subject is able to see memories projected from his mind…but I could see them too…'
"Hey, does one of you mind explaining what I just saw?" Maria asked tilting her head slightly. More than likely, she too had seen the memory in Leo's past.
Kazin just sweatdropped at this new development and looked towards his hand. 'Okay…it affects bystanders as well. At least I can work that into the grand scheme of things…'
"Ahem! I activate the effect of Test Lab!"
Another one of the test tubes shattered, allowing another lizard to claw onto the field, this one resembling the Blood Lizard – Beta…only without the steel attachments with pure flesh and blood (1000/1000). "Since I was able to remove Blood Lizard – Alpha from my graveyard, I can summon a Blood Lizard – Alpha token to my side of the field."
"I assume that you're going to tribute it then," Leo came up with as the Airknight Librarian cowered behind him once more.
"Wrong," Kazin simply stated. "You see, my token can't attack or be used for a tribute summon."
"…then may I ask why?" Leo asked.
"Sure…I activate another spell card," Kazin announced as a large amount of blood began to surge around his body. "Known as Blood Shield!"
As soon as the barrier of blood appeared around his body, Kazin snapped his fingers, instantly destroying the Blood Lizard – Alpha Token with a loud screech. "You see, in order to keep my blood shield active, I need to destroy a monster with Blood in its name. And my token counts."
"…so your using your monsters as cannon fodder?" Leo asked narrowing his eyes down at Kazin.
"Please…I prefer the term, tactical pawns," Kazin corrected, fitting a card into his duel disk. "My turn's over with."
"Then my draw," Leo announced doing as he said. 'I wish I could remember these Blood Lizards…but, if I know Kazin…then he's got a strategy to work with them.'
"I set one monster face down," Leo announced as the face down card materialized on his field. "And now! Airknight Vanguard, attack his Blood Lizard – Beta!"
Flying forward, the angelic knight immediately stabbed the surprised Blood Lizard, making it hiss in pain. Then as the monster shattered backwards, the fountain around Kazin's feet spurted up, protecting the Scientific Yokai from being damaged. "That was just pathetic…my blood shield negates any battle damage that I take when I have at least one monster on the field."
"A spell version of the trap Spirit Barrier," Leo stated lifting his hand up. "Too bad you have no monsters on the field now."
"Yes…but don't forget about my deck master!" Kazin shouted as the Gagagigo leapt forward slamming his tail down into Leo's shoulder.
"…do unto others as they do unto you," Leo coughed recovering from the attack. "And I'll be sure to return that, plus interest." (LLP: 7300)
"Well, you've already used your normal summon…" Kazin replied smugly as the face down card on Leo's field flipped up to reveal many angels floating into the sky from many crying people.
"Yes, but I activate, Cry to the Heavens!" Leo announced as his Airknight Vanguard disappeared in a flurry of white feathers. "I have to return one Airknight from my field to my deck, but then, I'm allowed to special summon another from my hand immediately!"
"But that means…" Kazin gasped loudly before many more feathers erupted on the field.
When the feathers floated to the ground, a silver and yellow armored angel with a large silver feather on his helmet landed on the ground reaching for his belt that has a silver crossbow (1800/0). "Yes, that means my Airknight Brigadier can attack you directly!"
Before Kazin could say another word, many arrows were shot into his body, making him grunt and stagger backwards. "GRUGH!" (KLP: 4700)
"And, I'll end my turn with a face down card," Leo stated with the card appearing behind his Airknight.
BA-DUM! BA-DUM! BA-DUM!
"Urk!" Leo spat out, clutching his chest again. 'W-What's going on here?'
//--/--/-//-Three Years ago…/-/-//--////-/
"Well, well, well," Russell chuckled lifting up a large blue overcoat from a large box that Leo and Lily were looking into. "I guess I can take this as my acceptance into the Atlantic duel academy!"
"Congratulations Russell…" Lily stated with a cute smile appearing on her face.
"Thanks sis," Russell replied rubbing the back of his head before sitting on the couch. "…that exam was a breeze though…"
"I'm surprised that you were able to do so well," Leo admitted lifting up the uniform overcoat. "…aren't you going to an island?"
"Yeah," Kazin answered quickly adjusting his smaller glasses and cleaner hair (although it was slightly).
"Then why would they send you an overcoat that could bake you in a matter of minutes there?" Leo asked putting the overcoat over his slightly thin body and spinning around in it a few times.
"How should I know?" Russell retorted raising an eyebrow.
"L-Leo that l-looks good on you," Lily complimented placing her hands on each other.
"Yeah, now that she says it," Russell admitted rubbing his chin. "…almost as if you were destined to wear it."
"Aw come on, you're making me blush!" Leo laughed rubbing the back of his head before he slowly took off the Obelisk Blue Uniform overcoat.
"Heh, hey Leo," Russell muttered pulling Leo over to the side away from Lily who was busy looking over the uniform overcoat, even putting it on as well. "Listen I need you to make me a promise…"
//--/--///-/-/-/-/
"…I guess that promise wasn't kept," Kazin chuckled pulling his next card into his hand. Once more, the Test Lab began to activate, allowing a second Blood Lizard – Alpha Token (1000/1000) to appear in front of the science duelist. "And now I play the spell card, Pot of Greed!"
The large giggling pot appeared over Kazin, allowing the scientific duelist to draw his next two cards. "And now…I play the spell card, Double Cross Summon!"
Many particles warped around Kazin, slowly forming into the spell card that revealed a thief snapping away a few cards from a duelist's duel disk. Immediately a card popped out of Kazin's deck before he tossed it towards Leo. "You see…this spell card allows me summon a monster from my graveyard…and then I can special summon a monster from my hand!"
"Why would you want to help me?" Leo asked as he caught the card in his fingers to examine it.
"I help you, to help myself," Kazin stated lifting the last card in his hand up. "So please place the card on your duel disk so we can continue this duel…"
"Fine…" Leo replied placing the card on his duel disk, allowing a more live version of the Blood Lizard – Alpha to appear in front of him (500/500), hissing loudly. "What? When did this card get in the graveyard?"
"Remember, when my Test Lab was activated, I had to discard a monster card," Kazin explained taking the last card from his hand. "But if I were you, I'd worry about a few other things…like for example the monster I'm about to special summon…"
Slapping the card onto his duel disk, another one of the tubes shattered into millions of shards. Leaping on the ground, a third Blood Lizard appeared, with the black scales and red eyes as the previous few. Only this one resembled that of an iguana with a strange device implanted into its back (0/0). "…and it's known as Bomb Blood Lizard…"
"That's a unique monster," Leo admitted raising an eyebrow at the weird monster. "That and the unique way you summoned it."
"True…but then again," Kazin sighed shaking his head as his face down card shattered. "I couldn't activate my face down spell card unless I special summon a monster! Go! Blood Donor!"
Kazin's spell card reformed itself, this one showing a Blood Lizard biting into the arm of a screaming woman. "This spell card can only be activated when a monster has been special summoned to both of our fields in one turn. I select the monster with the lowest attack that was special summoned and then special summon all copies of the card to my side of the field!"
Two more tubes shattered into glass shards, allowing two more Bomb Blood Lizards (0/0 x2) to crawl next to the first one, all three of them screeching loudly. Leo somewhat grimaced, while trying to keep the smile on his face for his deck master. "I see…I think I know what your strategy is now…"
"Puh-lease!" Kazin spat out, lifting his hand up towards the middle Bomb Blood Lizard. "You couldn't see my strategy a mile away! Bomb Blood Lizard! Attack his Airknight Brigadier!"
"What?! But you'll take damage!" Leo exclaimed as the small lizard began to crawl towards the armored angel.
"No I won't," Kazin chuckled as the barrier of blood began to circulate around his body once more. "My Blood Shield will keep me from harm…too bad you don't have one of these…"
Just as Leo was about to speak, the Bomb Blood Lizard leapt into the air towards the angel's head, clamping down onto the Brigadier's helmet with its claws into the helmet. The lizard's body began pulsating wildly until a powerful explosion erupted, destroying both of the monsters in hellish fire. (LLP: 6900)
"W-What happened?" Leo stuttered before the Gagagigo appeared before him, slamming his fist into Leo's stomach once more. "URK!" (LLP: 6500)
"My Bomb Blood Lizard is more than just a name," Kazin explained as his Blood Lizard – Alpha Token shattered in order to keep the Blood Shield on the field. "When destroyed in battle, it destroys the monster that destroyed it and inflicts damage to your life points equal to the level of your monster."
"Sacrificing your monsters, treating them as experiments," Leo coughed as the Gagagigo leapt back to stand tall behind Kazin. "You sure know how to make a simple game into a massacre…"
"Oh, please…" Kazin scoffed crossing his arms to push up his glasses. "It's called strategy…Str-At-Egy! And my strategy is much better than yours, so why don't you just get on with your turn."
"..." Leo turned towards the Airknight Librarian and smiled his warmest smile. Then as Leo turned his head towards Kazin, his smiled disappeared into a dark scowl, as he drew his next card. "Very well…it would appear that I'll have to get a little more serious…"
As soon as Leo fitted the card into his hand, the Blood Lizard – Alpha turned towards him and snapped its teeth into Leo's arm. "Ack! What in the…" (LLP: 6000)
Soon, the Blood Lizard – Alpha pulled back, blood dripping from its teeth as it steadily grew bigger (500/500 500/500). "My Blood Lizard – Alpha is quite hungry…so thanks for supplying its favorite meal. When it devours five hundred points, it increases its attack and defense by five hundred points…"
"Geez…that's going to be a pain," Leo admitted with that smile still on his face. "But, I can just sacrifice it…"
"No you can't," Kazin chuckled as the Blood Lizard – Alpha laughed along with him. "His effect prevents him from being sacrificed for monsters."
"I see…" Leo muttered looking at his cards. "Then I guess I have no choice, I summon Airknight Lancer!"
Many feathers flew from behind Leo's body, forming into an older woman with dark hair tied back wearing flowing yellow and white robes with many golden wings on her back. While in her hands was a large silver lance that was aimed towards Kazin (1700/1200). "And next…I'll flip up my face down monster, go Airknight Priestess!"
In a second flurry of feathers, the pink haired Airknight appeared on the field, winking towards Kazin (0/0). "And by the way…since I flipped her up, I can special summon one Airknight from my deck, level four with fifteen hundred attack points or less."
More feathers filled the cave, allowing another Airknight to appear on the field, this one becoming a second Airknight Priestess winking at Kazin (0/0). Kazin on the other hand raised his eyebrow. "May I ask what you're planning?"
"…Priestess…I apologize," Leo stated getting a nod from both of the young angels who flew forward at the two Bomb Blood Lizards.
"Wait! What are you doing?!?" Kazin shouted before two large explosions rocked the caves, allowing his Blood Shield to arise over his field.
(LLP: 4800)
When the smoke cleared, Leo had his head lowered, he hated doing that…sacrificing his monsters. He was now no better than Kazin…
"…damn it…" Kazin spat out narrowing his eyes as the Blood Lizard – Alpha and Airknight Lancer appeared before him. "Oh…double damn it!"
With the silver lance and fangs piercing his body, Kazin shouted loudly as his own blood began to seep into the fabric of his overcoat…however, since the cave was dark, no one could see the blood. "M…my plans…" (KLP: 1000)
"Turn…" Leo started.
BA-DUM! BA-DUM! BA-DUM! BA-DUM!
"URK!" Leo spat out, kneeling forward…clutching his chest with both of his hands.
//--/-/--////-/--//Two Years Ago///----/-//-//-
"Lily! Lily!" Russell shouted running through the halls of the large hospital. He had just gotten back from the academy after his first year only a few minutes ago. The news reached him at the academy, and so he was off…
...he had run directly from the airport, speeding as fast as his thin legs could carry him.
And skidding in front of the defined room, Russell slammed the door open breathing hard…only to have it taken away from him. "LILY!"
Running to the hospital bed, Russell's glasses covered eyes began to water up at the sight of his younger sister Lily. Connected to the many life support machines, her face bruised, and her eyes closed tight. "L-Lily…"
"You must be her older brother…" The doctor stated grabbing Russell's attention.
"Doctor…what's going on? What happened?" Russell asked rubbing the tears from his eyes.
With his hand on his chin, the doctor shook his head. "In order…your sister is still alive, thanks to those machines. Currently she's in a coma, and has been stabilized for at least an hour."
"And secondly, apparently, she and her boyfriend were enjoying a date. Unfortunately, there was a drunk driver and hit both of them. Our guess is that the girls saw the car coming and managed to push the boyfriend at the last moment."
"Thankfully, both of them will make it. However, both of them suffered head trauma, the girl having a lot worse with a few broken bones. The boy, he's been knocked out ever since the accident, his right arm and leg are both fractured and he's currently resting as we speak."
"…so…how will my sis fare?" Russell asked standing up straight to the doctor.
"…" The doctor was silent when he dropped something into Russell's hands, and when the young duelist looked into his hands… "…perhaps you should hold onto that…"
It was the silver pendant that Lily normally had around her neck…and with tears welling up in his eyes; Russell clenched his hands around the pendant. "L…Lily…"
"Doctor! Doctor!" A nurse shouted into the room getting both Russell and the doctor's attentions. "That other boy! That boy's awake!"
"What!?" The doc questioned running after the nurse.
Alone in the room with his coma sister, Russell clenched the damaged pendant even more in his hands. "…Leo…"
//--/-/-/-/-///-/--/-/-/
"…t-that happened?" Leo coughed placing his hand on the ground, trying to keep his conciseness. The Airknight Librarian knelt next to him, tears forming in her eyes at Leo's pain.
"N-Now, you know, if it wasn't for you, Lily wouldn't be in that damn coma," Kazin spat as he slowly stood up, holding his bleeding stomach. "A-And since your turn is over…"
As soon as Kazin draw, the sharp stabbing pain struck him…but as his next Blood Lizard – Alpha Token appeared before him, growling loudly (1000/1000). "N-Now…I set a card face down in defense mode…and I'll end my turn…"
"D-Dra…" Leo sputtered till something snapped.
With his eyes dilating, Leo fell face first into the ground with a loud thud. The holograms began to disappear before the Airknight Librarian broke out into tears.
As soon as the holograms disappeared, Maria ran over to Leo who seemed to fall out of conciseness. "Mr. Childsman! Leonardo!"
"H-He's unconscious," Kazin spat out a little blood getting a little dizzy headed. "And since he's not able to continue…I…I win…"
"…that's correct," Maria sighed slinging Leo over her shoulder. "I don't know what happened, but can you continue while I get him to the nurse's ward?"
"Y-yeah…" Kazin coughed turning around, trying to make it look like he was perfectly okay. The blood stain however was getting bigger and bigger with each of his steps.
Before he could get too far, Kazin collapsed to the ground, making Maria's eyes widen. "What in the world? Russell Kazin!"
/-/--//-/-/--//--//-/--/
Meanwhile, back with Bravo and Klein…
Then with several kicks to his face, Bravo staggered backwards as his Savage Bruiser shot a dark glare at the three Ojamas. (BLP: 100)
"Why fix what's not broken?" Klein asked crossing his arms fitting another card into his duel disk.
"…you'll see…" Bravo snarled slowly standing straight up, rubbing some of the blood on his face. Wait…blood? Where did that come from?
That's when all three of the Fist Bruisers reappeared on the field, all three of the theme smirking widely (1500/0 x3). At the sight of all three of the fighters, Klein's face now had a look of pure surprise on his face. "What the heck?!? Where did those things come from?!?"
"It was my trap card…" Bravo explained as the trap card reappeared, this one showing many muscular men jumping up in front of many cute girls. "Known as Intimidating Muscles, when a card that would destroy my monsters would be activated, all monsters with Bruiser in their names are removed from play."
"And then, they're all special summoned at the end of the turn that spell was activated…"
"Damn it!" Klein shouted as Bravo pulled his next card off the top of his deck.
"Pay back time little man!" Bravo laughed slapping a card onto his duel disk. "I activate the spell card, Sacrificial Greed! Now, by sending one of my face up level four Fist Bruisers to the graveyard I can draw two cards!"
A large pike stabbed through the ground, piercing the back of one of the bruisers, making him scream loudly into the air. Then as the monster shattered into pixels, Bravo snapped off his next two cards from his deck. "Oh yeah! Comeback time for calling me Sheldon!"
"But it's your real name!" Klein shouted.
"Keep talking and you'll keep pissing me off!" Bravo laughed loudly slapping one of the cards from his four card hand onto his duel disk. "I summon, Bruiser in-Training!"
A powerful flame erupted on the field, making both of the remaining Fist Bruisers kneel down as if royalty was about to appear on the field. From the flame, a young skinny teenaged man walked forward cracking his knuckles. Along with a determined look on his face, the new bruiser had a scar racing across the bridge of his nose. His wild red hair flared over his head that resembles a flame (it was even moving as if it was on fire!). On the back of his black jacket were the four suits of playing cards that were exposed as he spun on his heel once to point his fingers at Klein as if they were guns (1400/1200).
"Another bruiser? How many of those do you have in your deck?" Klein asked raising an eyebrow.
"You'd be surprised," Bravo replied spinning another card from his hand, immediately fitting it into his duel disk. "But now, I activate the equip spell, Weight Shackles!"
Lifting his arms up, the Bruiser in-Training's wrists and ankles were immediately covered with very heavy training weights (1400/1200 – 600/0). And yet even though his attack points were lowered, the Bruiser in-Training's muscles seemed to grow with each passing second.
"And what pray tell was the point of that?" Klein asked tilting his head slightly to the right.
A smirk on his face appeared on Bravo and the Bruiser in-Trainer's faces, neither of them were looking good for Klein. "Watch and learn, little man…watch and learn, little man…"
A powerful flame erupted around the Bruiser in training, making him disappear in the flames. After a few seconds, the flames dispersed into the air…
…allowing a new form to stand tall where the flame once stood. Cracking his neck, a muscular man in his early twenties with multiple scars on his face smirked wildly at Klein, but his right eye was covered up by his long fiery red hair that went past his broad shoulders. His large black overcoat had the four card suites etched into the black fabric that seemed to be impervious to the flames that kept floating around his body (2800/2400). "My Bruiser in-Training had potential…and with his potential he became one of the two heads of the bruisers…"
"His name was heard through out the underworld as the Royal Flush Bruiser…being able to conquer any enemy that stood before him."
"Urk!" Klein gulped…
…all three of his Ojamas were in attack mode, and since there were three monsters on Bravo's field…he was in trouble and his face down card was useless.
"Now then…all three Bruisers! Attack!" Bravo shouted flexing his muscles as all three of his Bruisers did the same, each of them with goofy looks on their faces.
All three of the Bruisers charged forward, acting as if they were football players, slamming their shoulders into all three Ojamas. Even when the flattened Ojamas floated away, the three Bruisers tackled into Klein, forcing him skidding backwards… (KLP: 0)
…and then, a large hand slammed into Klein's neck, immediately clenching the tiny neck and slamming Klein's small body into the nearby rocky wall as the holographic Bruisers slowly began to disappear.
"Ha, ha, ha…" Bravo chuckled lifting Klein off the ground till his feet were dangling in the air over three feet off the ground…and that distance was growing faster and faster. "Ya know what…I win…you little jerk…"
"Great…" Klein coughed, trying to not give Bravo the satisfaction of fear.
"And remember our secondary bet?" Bravo snickered lifting his fist up. "If you won…then you get all of the money I have in my wallet…"
"But…the flipside to that coin was I get to beat you up for five minutes straight!"
…Not really the smartest bet in Klein's life…especially compared with the bet he had with Ganryu when Rena was dueling against Talo a few months back.
/-/--/--/-/-//-/--/
Card Stats
Blood Lizard – Alpha / Fire / LV. 3 / ATK: 500 / DEF: 500 / Reptile/Effect: This card cannot be used for a tribute summon. During your standby phase, decrease the controller of this card's life points by 500 points. Then increase this monster's attack and defense by 500 points.
Description: A small black lizard with blood red eyes, and little cuts on its body.
Blood Lizard – Beta / Fire / LV. 4 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Reptile/Effect: When this monster attacks another monster, after damage calculation, lower the attack and defense of the opposing monster's attack by 1000. This card cannot be destroyed by a monster with the same attack as this card as a result of battle.
Description: A large black lizard-man, with large metallic limbs and blood red eyes. The lower part of its jaw has a steel attachment with blood dribbling down his metallic chin.
Blood Lizard – Test Subject / Fire / LV. 3 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / Reptile/Effect: When this card is destroyed as a result of battle, you may special summon one level four or lower 'Blood Lizard' from your deck with 1000 or less attack to your side of the field.
Description: A small black lizard sitting inside a large test tube.
Bomb Blood Lizard / Fire / LV. 4 / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / Reptile/Effect: When this card is destroyed by battle, destroy the monster that destroyed it. Then, inflict 100 points of damage to your opponent's life points times the level of the destroyed monster.
Description: A small black scaled lizard with large blood red eyes with a bomb surgically implanted into its back.
Test Lab / Field Spell / Effect: When this card is activated, discard one monster card from your deck. As long as this card is on the field, you may special summon one '????? Tokens' (Fire/LV.3/ ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000) to your side of the field. The '????? Token's name is treated like the monster that was removed with this card's effect as well as its type. A '????? Token' cannot attack, or be used for a tribute summon.
Image: A large futuristic lab with many large tubes with dark beasts in them.
Blood Shield / Continuous Spell / Effect: As long as a monster(s) remain(s) on your side of the field, battle damage to the controller of this card becomes 0. During your turn, you must tribute one face up 'Blood Lizard' from your side of the field. If you do not, destroy this card during your opponent's Standby Phase.
Image: A Blood Lizard – Alpha cowering behind a blood drenched shield.
Double Cross Summon / Spell / Effect: Special summon one level four or lower monster from your graveyard to your opponent's side of the field. Special summon one level four or lower monster from your hand (The special summoned monster cannot be used for a tribute).
Image: A thief snapping away a few cards from a duelist's duel disk.
Airknight Lancer / Light / LV. 4 / ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1200 / Fairy/Effect: When this card is destroyed as a result of battle you may special summon one level four or lower monster with 1500 attack or less with 'Airknight' in its name from your deck.
Description: An older woman with dark hair tied back wearing flowing yellow and white robes. In her hands is a large silver lance.
Airknight Brigadier / Light / LV. 4 / ATK: 1800 / DEF: 0 / Fairy/Effect: When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard as a result of battle, add two "Airknight" monsters from your Graveyard to your hand, except this card.
Description: A silver and yellow armored angel with a large silver feather on his helmet. At his belt is a silver crossbow.
Cry to the Heavens / Trap / Effect: Return one face up 'Airknight' monster from your side of the field to your deck. Special summon one 'Airknight' from your hand with the same level as the returned monster.
Image: Many people crying to a group of angels.
Bruiser in-Training /Fire / LV. 4 / ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1200 / Warrior/Effect: When this card is equipped with 'Weight Shackles' you may tribute this card to special summon one 'Royal Flush Bruiser' from your hand or graveyard.
Description: A young skinny teen with a scar racing across the bridge of his nose. His wild red hair flares over his head that resembles a flame. On the back of his black jacket are the four suits of playing cards
Royal Flush Bruiser / Fire / LV. 8 / ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2400 / Warrior/Effect: This card cannot be normal summoned or set. This card cannot be special summoned except by the effect of 'Bruiser in-Training'. Whenever this card destroys a monster as a result of battle, increase this monster's attack by 100 points times the level of the destroyed monster. When this monster would be destroyed or removed from play, you lower this monster's attack by 800 points to keep this card on the field.
Description: A muscular man in his early twenties with multiple scars on his face, but his right eye is covered up by his long fiery red hair that went past his broad shoulders. On his large black overcoat are the four card suites.
Sacrificial Greed / Spell / Effect: Tribute one face up monster on your side of the field. For every three stars on the sacrificed monster, draw one card from your deck.
Image: A Pot of Greed on top of a pike.
Weight Shackles / Equip Spell / Effect: The equipped monster equipped with this card loses 600 attack and defense points.
Image: Many weights being added onto a skinny man's frame.
Intimidating Muscles / Counter Trap / Effect: This card can only be activated when your opponent activates a card effect that would destroy all monsters on your side of the field. Remove all monsters on your side of the field with 'Bruiser' in their name from play until the end phase this card was activated.
Image: Many muscular men jumping up in front of many cute girls.