Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh GX. I just own arbitrary stuff, whatever that means.

The Infinity Chronicles; Hero's Life Arc

Chapter 54: Limited Vitality

The V2 looked down at its hand sadly. ("Even this deck is a constant reminder that for all my power, I am destined to die.") Then it drew and added the card to its hand. "If I have no cards on my field, I can special summon this monster from my hand to the field. Emerge now, God of Limited Vitality!" A giant grey-winged demon appeared on his field, its bright red eyes glowing in contrast against its grey-scaled skin. (5000/5000)

"5000 attack points?" All four of the Saviors said at once in disbelief.

"Also, when God of Limited Vitality is in play, I can special summon Avatar of Limited Vitality from my hand to the field!" The V2 pointed at its field as a mix of human and the same kind of demon that the God of Limited Vitality was appeared on the field. (3500/3500)

"A 3500 as well?" Vortex Savior stared at the two monsters in fear. ("What kind of insane rush deck is this thing running?")

"This is the power of a creature with a three hour limit on its life! This is my hatred for you all, those who birthed me and those who I was created to destroy! I hate you all!" It grabbed another card from its hand. "From my hand I summon Soldier of Limiter Vitality in attack mode!" (2000/2000) A grey-armored warrior holding a battle-axe appeared in play. "In this one battle phase I will crush you in the duel, and then I'll slaughter you all!"

("A 5000, 3500, and a 2000 monster is on this guy's field in his first turn.") Starlight Savior wished she had gone now. ("I'm not sure that the Planetary Aspects would have lasted longer, but Adriel was caught off-guard. He's going to get demolished in this turn!")

"Are you ready, Savior?" The V2 pointed at Vortex's Twilight Golem. "God of Limited Vitality, attack his Golem now!" The giant demon howled and launched across the field, crashing through the crystal monster and then blowing past Vortex Savior with enough force to nearly throw him off his feet. "When God of Limited Vitality battles with a defense mode monster and that monster's defense points are lower than its attack, you take the difference in battle damage!"

Vortex Savior- 1000

V2- 4000

"It deals damage through defense?" Valor Savior's eyes widened. "There's nothing even remotely fair about that kind of power!"

"It's not a problem!" Vortex Savior pointed at one of his set cards. "I reveal Twilight Moment! This trap card activates after one of the enemy's attacks. This card restores my monsters and life points to how they were before the attack!" His Twilight Golem appeared in play once more.

Vortex Savior- 4000

V2- 4000

The V2 growled and pointed at the Golem. "Avatar of Limited Vitality, attack his monster now!" The combination of man and demon flew across the field and crashed through the crystal monster and then through Vortex Savior. "And like the monster it is born from, the Avatar of Limited Vitality deals damage through defense!"

Vortex Savior- 2500

V2- 4000

Fantasy Savior pulled Starlight's cape in front of her and shivered. "That's scary…"

"Soldier of Limited Vitality, attack his life points directly!" The V2 sneered as the grey warrior slammed its battle-axe through the Savior's body with enough force to leave a dent in the ground.

Vortex Savior- 500

V2- 4000

"Adri…" Starlight Savior's eyes widened as she noticed the look in her rival's eyes. "Never mind, you're ready."

"That's right, I am!" Vortex's other face-down card flipped up. "I reveal the trap card Afterglow! This trap card can only be activated during the end of a battle phase in which I took battle damage. I gain back half of all the damage I have taken from battle during this battle phase in life points!"

Vortex Savior- 3250

V2- 4000

"Hmmm, so you survived with a good number of life points remaining." The creature looked upon its monsters sadly. "There is a reason that my monsters are called of Limited Vitality. During the end phase of the turn they are summoned they destroy themselves and all cards on my field and hand."

"They do?" Vortex Savior smirked slightly. "I see, so that's why you're allowed to rush like that. Well then, are you ready to end your turn and leave it to me to take that opportunity to tear you apart?"

"You will not belittle their deaths, Savior!" The V2 slammed a card into its disk. "I activate the magic card Treasure of Apocalypse. This card allows me, during my next standby phase, to draw cards equal to the number of cards that were destroyed by the effect of one card that I select at this time. I choose God of Limited Vitality." A golden light surrounded the demon. "And then I play the magic card Explosion of Vitality. During my end phase for every of Limited Vitality monster on my field that is destroyed by the effect of a of Limited Vitality monster you take 1000 points of damage! I place one card face-down on my field and end my turn!" The God of Limited Vitality shuddered and exploded, shattering everything on the creature's field.

Vortex Savior- 250

V2- 7000

"Why did your life points increase?" The spiky-haired hero stared wide-eyed at the life point counter for a moment, and then he figured it out. "Your face-down card had to have been…"

"That's correct." The V2 held up the trap card it had set face-down. "My trap was Love of Destruction. When this trap card is destroyed by a mass destruction effect, for every card destroyed by that same card's effect I gain 1000 life points."

("Amazing,") thought Vortex Savior before looking at his hand. ("Every card that thing was holding allowed it to set up for the next turn.") "Draw!" He snapped the top card off of his deck and added it to his hand. "From my hand I activate the magic card Cost Down! By discarding one card from my hand I can lower the level of all monsters in my hand by two for the turn! Now I summon Nexus Glider!" (2300/2000) A gold-streaked black metal dragon appeared on his field in a blast of fire. "Attack his life points directly! Dark Zone Burst Stream!" An explosion of golden fire launched from the monster's jaws and engulfed the V2's field.

Vortex Savior- 250

V2- 4700

The V2 barely noticed the hit. "You are on your last legs and it's only three turns into the duel. Can you really say you're safe with that low power monster on your field?"

"From my hand I activate the equipment magic card Dark Armor." A Dark Crystal formed around the Nexus Glider's body. "With this card equipped to a dark monster on my field, that monster switches into defense mode and has its defense increased by 1000 points. End turn!" (2300/3000)

The V2 drew. "During my standby phase Treasure of Apocalypse lets me draw four cards." Adding four more cards to its hand, the electric creature looked upon Vortex's defense mode Nexus Glider with disdain. "Pitiful…"

"What did you say?" Eyes narrowed, the dark hero pointed at the V2. "Take a look at yourself first before saying that!"

"Shut your face!" The creature tossed a card onto its disk. "I special summon another God of Limited Vitality!" (5000/5000) Another grey-winged demon appeared in play with a blast of red fire surrounding it. "Also I special summon another Avatar of Limited Vitality!" A copy of its last hybrid demon-human appeared in play. (3500/3500)

Valor Savior frowned at the field situation. ("This is ridiculous, Zaytel is completely on the defensive and he has no cards in his hand. During this turn he will lose…") His eyes widened at Vortex Savior's stance. ("Wait a moment, he doesn't seem worried. It must be that Dark Armor's card effect. What could it be though?")

The V2 tossed a card down. "I summon Soldier of Limited Vitality!" (2000/2000) Another battle-axe grey warrior appeared on its field. "With this I will end you! God of Limited Vitality, attack Nexus Dragon!" The demon hurled a ball of red fire across the field and burned the crystal-encased monster into ash. "You lose."

"Not quite." Vortex Savior smirked and held up Dark Armor. "When the monster equipped with Dark Armor enters combat all battle damage to me is zero. Also, when Dark Armor and the equipped monster are sent to the graveyard all battle damage to me for the rest of the turn is zero."

Starlight smirked as well. ("I sense it now, that spark of his. It's the thing that puts Adriel above even me. The supreme pride and spirit of a dragon…")

The V2 inserted two cards into its disk. "I place two cards face-down. End turn." Its entire field exploded in a violent burst of red fire. "My first face-down trap was Love of Destruction, and the second was Love of Annihilation. First Love of Destruction lets me gain 4000 life points, as four other cards besides itself were destroyed by the effect of God of Limited Vitality."

Vortex Savior- 250

V2- 8700

"And then Love of Annihilation, during my next standby phase, lets me draw one card from my deck for every card besides itself destroyed by my God's effect." The creature nodded its head to Vortex. "Alright, it's your turn."

"He's got no cards in his hand," Fantasy Savior looked over at Starlight Savior and Valor. "Do you think…" Her eyes widened at the looks on their faces. They looked confident. "I guess so…"

Vortex Savior drew. "I place one card face-down on my field and end my turn."

The V2 drew. "The effect of Love of Annihilation lets me draw four extra cards!" Taking the last card it had drawn, the creature flipped it over. "I activate the magic card Pot of Avarice. First I shuffle my two Gods of Limited Vitality, Avatars of Limited of Vitality, and Soldier of Limited Vitality from my graveyard back into my deck and then I draw two cards." Fanning out its six card hand, a deep sigh escape its throat. "You are capable of escaping my wrath numerous times, but this time the duel will be mine. I summon another Soldier of Limited Vitality!" (2000/2000) The third grey-armored warrior appeared on the field.

"And then I destroy it to special summon Arc Blaster of Limited Vitality!" A large metallic grey slug with a giant red electric generator on its back appeared in play. (4000/2500) "Though this card cannot attack I can destroy it and all magic and trap cards on my field to deal you 2000 points of damage per sacrificed card." Three cards appeared in its magic and trap card zone. "I place three cards face-down and activate Arc Blaster's effect!"

"Reverse card open!" Vortex Savior's set card flipped up. "I activate the trap card Dark Zone Detour, which triggers when the opponent activates an effect that deals effect damage to me. That damage is negated and for every 2000 points I would take I may draw one card!"

The slug rumbled and lightning shot from its generator into the hero's trap card, right before it exploded in a blast of fire. The three set cards on the V2's field went with it.

"Also, for every 2000 points negated by my trap card I gain 1000 life points!" Vortex Savior smirked and drew three cards from his deck.

Vortex Savior- 3250

V2- 8700

"From my hand I activate the magic card Hell's Cradle!" The V2 looked down at its graveyard slot. "This card can only be activated after a card effect has destroyed four or more cards on my field through one effect. At this time I draw six card and your life points decrease by half!"

"What?" Vortex Savior gasped as his life point counter beeped and plummeted.

Vortex Savior- 1625

V2-8700

"Also at this time I trigger the effect of the three trap cards I sent to the graveyard!" The creature pulled one of the cards out of its graveyard and held it up. "Limited Torture can be activated at any time while it is in my graveyard after being destroyed by a card effect while face-down on the field. Once per game I may deal you 500 points of damage. All three of the cards I destroyed were Limited Tortures, so take your punishment!"

An explosion swallowed up the Savior, the fire from the blast stretching high into the sky. It swelled up larger and larger, the flames expanding to engulf the nearest trees. And then in one concussive blast it threw the other three Saviors backwards into the surrounding greenery.

Vortex Savior- 125

V2- 8700

The smoke cleared to reveal Adriel barely standing, a simple gold ring on his finger where the Infinity Heart had been. "Great…now's just the perfect time to lose my powers." He reached for his deck. "Regardless, I still am going to…"

"Who ever said my turn was done?" The V2 held up a magic card. "I activate Card Destruction!"

"Fine, have it your way." Both he and the creature discarded their hands into the graveyard and drew new hands.

"You continue to act like you can walk away from this duel the winner. Haven't you realized yet that it's still my first main phase?" The V2 tossed a card onto its disk. "I special summon God of Limited Vitality!" For a third time the giant demon god appeared on the field. (5000/5000) "Also I special summon Avatar of Limited Vitality!" (3500/3500) Its rush was set to strike. "This is the end. You have no cards on your field to protect yourself, and all it will take is one attack to obliterate you."

"……" Letting out a wordless sound of frustration, the half dragon demon glanced behind him. He was alone. ("Pilkington, Corben, and Chris…it looks like I can't win this duel. Sorry.") He closed his eyes and waited for that killer strike to come.

"God of Limited Vitality, attack his life points directly!" Red fire pooled around the demon's fist and it wound up for the finishing throw. "This will be the death toll for you, listen well Saviors! I will slaughter all of you, and then I'll kill all those you care about! This entire island will be a blood bath!" The V2 punched its fist forward, lightning crackling along the appendage. "Burning Fist of Limit!"

Adriel closed his eyes, preparing for the end.

The God of Limited Vitality threw the fireball…and then howled in surprise as a blast of overwhelmingly golden light appeared between its target and the attack. That light grew stronger and dissipated the fireball, burning the God of Limited Vitality to scraps of its former self.

"What?" The V2 stared at the golden ball of light that had appeared.

Adriel's eyes opened, and he stared at the ball as well. ("What? I was saved?") The glowing object, which was the size of a baseball, floated to his hand and waited patiently for him to take it. He grasped it, and a purple glow came from his ring as the Infinity Heart was restored.

Picking some twigs out of her hair, Starlight Savior fell out of a nearby bush. "What happened?" The golden glow washed over her and another zodiac symbol lit up on her chestplate. "Huh?"

Fantasy Savior dropped with a crash from a tree branch. "Ow!" Standing up, she gaped at the beautiful light that Adriel was holding in his hand. "How pretty…"

Valor Savior shoved the rock that had fallen on him out of the way and stood up just in time to watch his armor shatter. ("Impossible…") Just as quickly as the Infinity Duty on his ring had shattered though, it reformed looking much more finely cut and ornate. "What's going on?"

Adriel watched the ball of light slowly condense and flatten, and it took the shape of a card. Then he heard it. It was the sound of an angelic voice singing in his mind. ("Who are you? How are you doing this?") The card formed its picture and words. Its title and picture were so heavily foiled it was nearly blinding to look at it when it was reflecting light.

"Why aren't you dead?" The V2 roared angrily.

"Because," The half dragon demon held up the card. "The equipment magic card Seraph Scepter protected me." He flipped the card over to reveal a picture of a completely golden and ridiculously ornate scepter, bright light shining from it. "This card triggers from my deck when you declare a direct attack against me. This card is added to my hand and for the rest of the turn all battle damage is zero. Also, the monster which declared the attack against me is destroyed."

"Seraph…Scepter?" Starlight Savior looked down at the zodiac symbol glowing on her chest, and then at the card. "Wait, the shine's like the card I found when we were trapped! But the picture is different…."

"Regardless," Adriel folded his now four card hand up and inserted it into his back pocket. "Hey Corben, it looks like its showtime!"

"That it does," The Russian boy held up his hand. "Emerge Dutiful Soul!"

"Emerge Void Soul!" Adriel snapped his hand upwards and then both of them disappeared within their respective orbs.

To be continued…