Sorry readers for the long wait, but we're back! I've been busy with my other stories. Thanks for everyone who reviewed the last chapter and for pointing out some mistakes.
- In response to HunterHQ's review:
"I'm not sure which negate ability you're talking about since Grangadez never negated stuff, he only became unaffected by them. In his evolved form his effect to be unaffected becomes a continuous effect, hence why he only has one other effect to gain ATK/DEF."
- In response to Lightning's review:
"That's a very tough question I seriously can't answer. I love every OC I make..."
- In response to Lindia Fullmoon's review:
"Ai's VA voiced Suzaku Kururugi and McGillis Fareed as well, his voice is a legend. Thanks for the ideas you suggested!"
- In response to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC's review:
"Glad to see you finally made it! I realized the same thing about Creepers after Season 1, but I guess they differ from Rokkets in some aspects, and I didn't give Hex Welchia its restriction for a reason you'll see in the Tower of Hanoi arc (but I believe you can already figure it out). Fun fact: Andal's name was inspired by Gladiator Beast Andal, no wonder you thought of that connection. I'm sorry about the dinosaur-matter; since cards like Petiteranodon are Dinosaurs, I made my own of the same Type without a second thought. I'm sure you'll spot some other mistakes as you go on, so sorry in advance... I was still a beginner then. More and more ruling related elements will appear throughout the story, especially in Season 2 onward. And, no surprise, Nightingale was somewhat based off of Ruri's ace Monster (name wise, effect wise was Rio)."
- In response to Guest's review:
"Thanks for the suggestions."
- In response to PhotonBlade2000's review:
"Both Sedna and Ai will Duel in this season, more than once, and I'll write his Duels against the KoH that the anime didn't give us. I already had a Link 8 ready, sorry you had to make that for nothing."
(Season 3)
Extra Turn 6:
Puppets and their Ruler
Fourth day after Bohman's defeat...
Kenji Trinitas truly had interesting tastes when it came to literature. The new book King was reading from the human's collection was proof of such: The Prince, a masterpiece, a treatise of Niccolò Machiavelli.
King never bothered wasting his time reading or transferring into his brain, which was very faster than reading, these pieces of sheets filled with words written by human hands. But following his defeat by that wretched son of Dr. Kogami and his witness of a tyrant's downfall, King reflected on the risk that comes with fragility and weakness: defeat.
An unavoidable and shameful defeat is what fragility and weakness give birth to.
But King will have none of that. He isn't fragile and weak. He won't be defeated. He must learn more about these monkeys called humans in order to anticipate future dilemmas they would throw his way. A good start is learning from their little compositions. Only then he will rise—
*crunch*
...Only then he will rise victo—
*crunch crunch crunch crunch*
"Would you mind," King emphasized the last word, staring at the person who decided to devour ice cubes beside him. "Stopping that?"
The person in question gave a loud groan and rolled their eyes. It was a tall young man with olive skin, a physically toned body, rainbow-colored irises, short and unkempt spiky red hair, and wearing a cyber grape hoodie with an exposed chest area and black drawstrings, burgundy pants, and sand-colored sandals.
"If I'd be allowed to stay at the Trinitas residence and eat what's in their fridge, ice cubes wouldn't be necessary, would they?" the red-haired male pointed out, gulping down the ice cubes.
"You know I cannot let you stay there, Nahum." King closed The Prince. "Leaving the crime scene is a must."
"But you could've had let me take their fridge at least...!" a vein throbbed on Nahum's forehead.
"Stop thinking with your stomach."
"But I'm hungry!" Nahum snapped, earning a glare from King. That caused him to scoff and fold his arms, taking a deep sigh to calm his nerves. "I planned on eating out somewhere so I won't hurt your sensitive ears, but you wished to see me. What's on your mind, boss?"
King is unable to compute this Star Relic's appetite. Why is he always hungry? Where does this primal need come from? Will it ever cease? King is sore of these questions because he can't answer them.
And let's not even mention Nahum's anger issues, which are as irritating as his gluttony. There are already enough behavior issues in this group to consider, starting from Kisskill's lust for Mirg's Incarnation to Tormentor's quietness.
"I have a mission for you," King explained. "Release the Slave of Agony in Papua New Guinea and bring it to me. Its rage will be a great asset to exploit against whom sides with Mirg."
"Eeeh!?" Nahum scowled. "I'm not an outdoor enthusiast who travels to remote islands! You want me to starve to death!?"
"I knew you'll say such trivial things, hence why I prepared this in advance." King snapped his fingers, summoning a live feed of Earth from space. "In this mission, you'll be paired with Tormentor."
Nahum said nothing. He didn't dislike Tormentor, in fact, in his opinion, it's a good thing he isn't chatty like the other Star Relics; Kisskill and Deva always tick the red-haired male off with their loud mouths.
"Your mission starts here." King pointed at the feed, which zoomed on Mount Hagen. "Tormentor has finished all arrangements to leave the network through a gate in this city. Once you're in IRL, you may head to the 'The Sweet Spot' restaurant where I booked a table for you."
The only restaurant in the area and it has a 4.6 out of a five-star rating. If he can eat to his heart's content, Nahum can live with the fact he has to complete such an annoying mission. He also likes it when people bribe him with food: it means they're desperate of his strength, and as Deva would say, it swells his pride.
"With this detour out of the way," King continued. "You'll head to Slave of Agony's temple."
"What are the other Star Relics doing?" Nahum suddenly inquired. "Am I the only one who's available?"
"Yes, you are." King said flatly. "Akabane Yokuto had a nightmare, so I sent Deva to soothe him. I put Kisskill on tracking duty, perhaps she can pinpoint the Dark Ignis's location, and lastly, Miranda is going to stay with me as I require her assistance in my own mission."
The gods have to synchronize with their Servants, so obviously they don't give a damn about helping. Nahum thought, clearly irritated. "Tch, let's start so we can get this over with."
"Get Tormentor and you may leave." King told, and Nahum vanished. With that out of his way, King has to wait for Miranda to wake up and the two of them can start their own mission.
Normally, King would personally march up to someone's bed and wake them from their slumber so his time isn't wasted, but Miranda is a different story: her Precognition only activates during sleep after all—for some strange reason which even Star Relics can't comprehend. But it isn't always guaranteed she'll have one.
King returned his attention to The Prince, leafing through its pages before stopping where he left off. Niccolò Machiavelli...what an interesting human, King thought, what a great mind lost in the shackles of time. Machiavelli wrote The Prince must know how to seize the opportunities given by luck with their knowledge; how right he is.
That's exactly what King will do in his mission.
An avatar materialized beside the chair he was sitting in. "Slept well?" King asked.
"Yes..." a dozy, female voice replied. Melinda, a slim young woman, one head shorter than King, with dark skin, rainbow-colored eyes lacking pupils, short dark orange hair that had curly ends, and wearing a leopard cardigan over a black scoop neck shirt tucked into a pair of light jeans and black ankle boots, stretched her arms and noticed The Prince. "Were you...reading...?"
"Yes, I was." King nodded while he closed the book.
"Why...?" Melinda's eyebrows furrowed. "Can't you transfer...all this data...over instantly?"
"Perhaps, but trying a different approach from time to time can expand one's horizons." King said. "By reading a word in the wrong way or driven by specific emotions, you get a different idea from what's written, which, in turn, can give birth to a false understanding and unique opinion. This cannot happen if you simply transfer data."
But that's the positive aspect of transferring data... Melinda thought but decided not to dig further into the subject. She'll keep transferring data because it's faster, which means more time to sleep. "I had a Precognition..."
"Hm?" King glanced at her.
"Our mission...the end result will be the same...but you'll make...a last-second edition to it."
"Enlightening." he stood up. The book and chair vanished. "We have an appointment, let's not delay it."
King moved his hand to his right, opening a blue portal. The two stepped through it and found themselves on a skyscraper's rooftop, emerging from a large TV laid on the ground, placed there by Tormentor on his yesterday mission. Another object left there by the "Star Lance" was the key to open the locked door to the roof, which Miranda locked back before she and King left together with the key.
They didn't have to worry about KaibaCorp's satellites spotting them or the TV on the roof: Tormentor's stealth program they're equipped with makes them invisible in their recordings. The appearance of the two Star Relics are changed to casual humans in any security camera footage as well thanks to that program. In other words, they're untrackable through the net.
The citizens of Wales went on with their ordinary lives whilst King and Miranda headed to a company entitled "B.O.N.T." where they'll carry out their mission. They were greeted by the automatic sliding doors, which opened to let them in and they walked to the reception.
[—Builders Of New Technology, B.O.N.T.,] a PA system using a female voice was speaking in the background. [The company which specializes in the construction of Duel Disks for beginners and professionals, technological schools and universities for future masterminds, driverless cars and trains for society's comfort, and research facilities to discover the unknown. B.O.N.T. is the milestone which—]
Which signs the end of humanity's freedom. King thought, ignoring the PA system. He's going to take control of B.O.N.T. and use it to erect facilities over the globe; this is an important step for his master plan, and that's why they're here today.
"Good morning," the receptionist greeted them with a smile. She was speaking Welsh. "How may I help you?"
"We have an appointment with Mister Rees." King replied with the same language and fluently. "I'm Gruffydd Lloyd, and this is my assistant Rebecca Lloyd."
"Lloyd," the receptionist typed the surname into her computer. Her smile widen. "Yes, here it is. Mister Rees is waiting for you in his office, I'll have my colleague escort you there."
As she was making a call with the landline phone on her deck, Miranda turned to her leader.
"Gruffydd, Rebecca, Lloyd..." she whispered. "You chose them on purpose..."
"Just because they're fake, it doesn't mean they cannot be accurate." King stated.
Gruffydd, from the Old Welsh name Griphiud, is composed of two parts: the first being of uncertain meaning but possibly cryf, meaning "strong", the second part deriving from the Welsh udd, "lord" or "prince". King, who plans to become a ruler, has a fake name: "the strong lord."
Rebecca is a feminine name of Hebrew origin and is taken to mean "captivating". The Star Relic which always dresses fashionably, Miranda, was dubbed "the captivating one." Their Duel Monster forms glow with different colors of the rainbow spectrum, namely blue and orange, which mixed together form brown; not for nothing Lloyd can translate to "brown."
King's accurate decisions are what Miranda admires in him as a leader, like the beauty she admires in fashion.
"Please, this way." a young man in a black suit, sunglasses, and earpiece addressed them.
They took an elevator to the company's top floor and entered an office in the hall's other end. A man in his forties with fair skin, short, brown hair, gray eyes, and wearing a black suit was already waiting for them inside, sitting in a wing chair with two free ones opposite to him.
"Lewis Rees." the man got up and extended a hand. The two Star Relics introduced themselves and shook hands with him, and they all sat down. "Unfortunately we only have five minutes, so let us get started."
King rested his chin onto his right knuckle as Lewis spoke, scrutinizing the human. His posture and tone say he thinks high of himself and that he's confident, there's nothing on his ring finger, which means he doesn't have a wife, and his eyes glint with the satisfaction of a victory.
...What victory?
"My assistant and I came with an offer." King said. That gave him enough time to dig into Mr. Rees's web account and discover something rather interesting: nine days ago, with the help of a hacker, he blamed a person for murder when he did it himself, and today's the last day of the court trial.
So this human thinks he won the battle. Disgusting. How does he dare stare at King, a future, omnipotent ruler, with such eyes? He'd take control of this human's mind and force him to suicide if it wasn't for the fact he would escape his long and required punishment.
"Nine days ago," King continued, scowling. "A staff member of B.O.N.T. called Jac Thomas killed his female colleague, Alys Morgan, in the company's parking lot at night and in front of the security cameras; it's believed he killed her out of revenge since she ended their four-month-long intimate relationship through a breakup. Our offer is to make your former employee, Mister Thomas, innocent."
Miranda glanced at him in confusion. But our plan...was to buy the company...or take control of Lewis Rees... she thought.
"Make him innocent?" Mr. Rees asked in a monotone, his eyes now dangerously narrowed.
"It isn't good PR for your former employee to have been a murderer," King explained. "Not only it hurts your company's reputation, but SOL Technologies' own with whom you have a contract. There's a chance they'll even break the contract."
Mr. Rees shook his head. "I can't accept your offer." he smirked, causing King's right eye to twitch. "If the security footage shows Jac Thomas, he's guilty without a doubt. I would be wasting each other's time and my money by accepting. Was that all you came for?"
King stood up. "Yes." Mr. Rees said nothing as he left, followed by Miranda.
"It's true my Precognition...said you'll edit the plan..." she remarked. "But...why?"
"Those who underestimate their opponents always lose." King told. When he challenged Kogami Ryoken to a Duel, he thought 'I won' instead of 'I will win' and, no surprise, he lost. "That worm believes he can look at me with condescending eyes and call it a day, but he's dearly mistaken. I will personally show him the consequences that come with underrating a Star Relic."
They entered the elevator and King continued.
"As your Precognition said, the end result won't change. I'm going to expose that worm's crime, causing B.O.N.T.'s stocks to decrease. Then, I'll buy this company as Gruffydd Lloyd at a rock-bottom price, assuring myself a haven unbeknownst to Almark and Kaiba and the next step to complete my cause. From the office to the elevator I tracked down the hacker, we'll pay him a visit."
Miranda sighed. She wanted to sleep some more...bummer. She can't understand why King is taking the long path instead of the much shorter one; a matter of pride and money? Maybe.
"However, there are bad news. The hacker, Geun Yoon, doesn't have any hardware which we could change into a gate, and he lives in Korea. We're going to travel through his neighbor's hardware instead." King announced. "We have to finish this inconvenience before the court trial."
"So we're in a hurry..." Miranda finished for him, vexed. She doesn't like being in a haste at all.
10 minutes later - IRL: in Korea
A person took a sip from a mug which contained a steaming brown liquid and gave a happy hum. "Ahh, hot chocolate, my good old friend..."
It was a male in his early twenties with fair skin, pale gray hair, a thin ponytail and bangs swept over his right eye, and olive green eyes, wearing a green zip-up jumper with its sleeves rolled up, blue jeans, also rolled up, and gray socks with horizontal black stripes.
Geun sat down on his couch opposite to the kitchen. His apartment was rather small, with only two rooms, one of which was the bathroom, but he liked it nonetheless. The silence that came with living alone was also soothing. He was about to take another sip from his mug when his doorbell rang, interrupting him.
If there's one thing Geun hates, it's when he hears the doorbell ring and he isn't waiting for any guests. It could be a friend or his parents paying him a visit, sure, but what if it's the police? Or an old client? A shady person? All of which are there present to arrest or blackmail him for discovering his life as a hacker?
What he does in a situation like this is to ask who's behind the door before opening. He did so, and a male voice answered.
"Delivery, sir."
"Of what, exactly?" Geun isn't taking any risks.
"It says here it's a headset, black with red highlights."
"Yes, that's the one..." Geun muttered. He did order that... "Can you leave it by the door, please?"
"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but I require you to sign this."
Geun inhaled before unlocking the door, and he slowly opened it by a tiny little bit to see if it really was a delivery man. How wrong he was.
"Control Over." those words accompanied by the snap of fingers marked Geun's end. His body froze- hypothetical speaking- and he could only stare as the so-thought delivery man fully opened the door and let himself in, followed by a female who snatched his mug.
"M-My body!" Geun started hyperventilating. "What have you done!?"
"Lower your voice or you'll die." King silenced him. He took hold of the young man by his jumper's collar, dragged him to the couch, and threw him onto it. Miranda locked the door, cleaned the mug by its rim, and started drinking the hot chocolate, much to Geun's piling agony. "You're quite wary for a human, Geun Yoon. I applaud you."
"Are you a supervillain...? An alien...?" those are the only theories Geun has for his frozen body.
"This is an interrogation. You have no right to speak." King silenced him again. He placed his hands behind his back. "Let us start. Following your studies of information technologies, you found a suited job in this city and came to live here, alone in this apartment. In this past year, you committed a crime: you hacked into SOL Technologies to get a free sample of Magical Meltdown. What a trivial choice has led you to this moment."
For f***'s sake! Geun shouted in his mind. That came to bite me back!? That!? A flipping Duel Monsters card!?
"SOL's Data Bank has better protection over strong and popular cards. You picked a common gem to steal." King's eyes narrowed coldly. "From there, you partook the destiny of a hacker. At reasonable prices, you offered service to your clients—just like in LR's case."
Geun's eyes widen in realization.
"I'm delighted you know who I'm talking about." King said. "I could care less for the card you stole. What I want to hear are the details regarding LR's, whose real identity is Lewis Rees, case. Be cooperative, human: we're in a hurry. I believe you understand we don't want to waste time."
Miranda made a face as she stared at King. Why would he ask for this type of info when he can just enter the chats between Lees and Geun? He's scheming something...
"I-I-I—" Geun stuttered, but when King shot him a glare, he gulped. "I-I don't know much about Rees, I swear! Look at the chats! That man didn't go into detail and I sure wasn't interested in them! Th-The money I get from hacking is good...but I don't want to feel guilty by knowing what I'm hacking for."
"So...ignorance is bliss..." Miranda interrupted, sitting on a stool in the kitchen. Geun grimaced but said nothing. Is this what King wanted to know?
"Is that so?" King intoned, referring to what Geun said. "Miranda, a word."
"A word...?" her eyebrows furrowed as her leader walked over. "For what?" she whispered. "Why haven't you taken control...of this human's mind yet...? He can't give us...any sort of new intel..."
"But he can pledge his royalty to us." King reasoned. "If I were to take control, he'd become my mindless puppet devoted of free will, of please in feeling hope, and the power called 'element of surprise'. In other words, he'd lose all unique attributes akin to humans."
"You're saying...he can be useful to us...while sane?" Miranda inquired. "That ignorance of his... You'll use it, right...?"
"Obviously." King nodded. "We can give him a remoted, soundproof avatar husk to play with, a SOLtiS for example, and unbeknownst to him, he'd be Dueling our opposing forces. I don't necessarily require the use of my powers to sway a human over to our side or to expose a human of his crimes."
"I'm aware of that...but a human...?" Miranda eyed Geun with a half-lid stare. "The creation...of Dueling A.I.s using a Star Relic's intelligence...is not an option as the codings we create...cause the A.I.s to malfunction... Giving control of a SOLtiS...to Geun Yoon...would be advantageous, but...what if he revolts...?"
"He won't revolt if he has a reason to depend on us." King's lips curved into a grin, but only for a second. He returned to stand before the frozen Geun. "Listen carefully, human: you helped Lewis Rees escape judgment for killing an employee of his by blaming it on a different individual."
"What?" Geun's voice cracked. How... How will he go to sleep or look at someone in the eye knowing he helped a criminal escape? By blaming it on an innocent to boot!
"Truth is cruel." King rested his arms to his sides. "I cannot overlook your illegal activities, Geun Yoon. But I can leave your destiny in your own two hands." he gestured at the perplexed Geun with a hand. "We shall Duel. If the Duel ends in my victory, we're going to hand you over to the police and delete your entire web identity, thus you won't be able to reverse what you've done. However, if you win, I'm going to personally expose Rees's crime to the world and shield your identity in exchange for your assistance."
"A-Assistance?" Geun muttered.
"I won't help you for free." King remarked. "If Rees mentions your existence, the entire world will hunt you down, and believe me, they'll find you. If you don't wish to land in jail, you have to accept my offer. You know who are the Knights of Hanoi, right? They're my enemy, and you'll help me by Dueling them through remoted A.I.s."
Geun is forced to accept. No, he must make this deal with the devil. If his web identity is deleted, he can't prove to anyone what Lewis Rees has done. He's also sure this man would change his programming to make it stronger, make it harder to notice Rees murdered a person. Geun couldn't live bearing such a high level of guilt! And if he goes to jail, who will help his parents?
"If I decline...you'd leave me here, stuck like this, and let Rees get away with it..." Geun assumed. King nodded with a sly smile, prompting him to frown. "...I must accept."
"Good." King loved how this human danced in his palm. "SOL Technologies closed LINK VRAINS in light of the recent accident, but I can easily create a Dueling field for us. Equip your Duel Disk and show me your strength, human."
King snapped his fingers to undo Control Over, and Geun sighed in relief as he finally got back control of his body. His Duel Disk was beside his laptop on the kitchen countertop, a New Model type, white with a diamond shape and a gray wristband that bears a red stripe.
"Into the VRAINS!" a blue orb surrounded each Duelist as Geun's Duel Disk's screen and King's eyes glowed in unison. Miranda placed her hand on the laptop and made its screen flash orange, revealing live footage of the two Duelists in the desolated VRAINS.
...
With Central Station behind them and a camouflage dome around them, King and Geun stood several meters apart from each other. Instead of Geun, a male of his age with fair skin, light gray eyes, long green hair kept in a spiked bun with a strand falling over the middle of his face and reaching his shoulder, wearing a dark, short-sleeved v-neck under a long white cloak with a hood and pale yellow frayed trims, black trousers, black heeled boots with pale yellow soles, and a white mask that covered his nose and mouth stood before King.
User of an Invoked deck, Crowley. King scrutinized his opponent, his mind analyzing every card in the mentioned archetype. His eyes flashed blue when he finished.
"DUEL!" they shouted in unison.
Crowley: LP 4000
VS
King: LP 4000
(The Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.)
"Watashi no turn!" Crowley declared and his starting hand appeared. "Since I control no Monsters, I can summon this card from my hand. Appear, Inspector Boarder!"
A humanoid machine riding a hoverboard with sirens attached to various parts of its body and holding a sparking baton appeared with a battle cry in the Middle Main Monster Zone.
Inspector Boarder: Light / Machine / Effect / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 4
"While this Monster is on the field," Crowley explained. "Neither player can activate a Monster Effect unless the number of Monster Effects that player has previously activated that turn is less than the number of Monster Card types currently on the field- which are Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum, and Link!"
"In other words, as none of the listed Card types are currently on the field, neither of us can activate Monster Effects." King said, his eyes narrowed. That's a thorny effect indeed, but he has ways to overcome it.
"I set one card face-down and end my turn." Crowley was sporting a hellbent look—for now, at least. If he falls prey to despair, what expression will he wear?
"Ware no turn. Draw." King began his turn. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Emergency Teleport, whose effect permits me to Special Summon one Level 3 or lower Psychic Monster from my hand or Deck, at pact it's banished during the End Phase of this turn if it's still on my field. From my Deck, I evoke the Level 3 Chosen by the Star Chalice."
The male human partially clad in futuristic armor and holding a sword leaped out of a portal that appeared in front of the Quick-Play Spell.
Chosen by the Star Chalice: ATK 1600 / DEF 0 / LV: 3
"Kengen seyo. Mirai no ō no sākitto." King was surrounded by a blue aura, which then shot into the sky and conjured a Link Portal (Translation: Manifest. The future king's Circuit.). "The summoning condition is one Level 3 or lower non-Token Normal Monster. I set Chosen in the Link Marker."
The said Monster turned into a blue beam and launched into a Link Marker.
"Link Summon. Link 1. Holy Grail of the King."
Emerging from the portal was the inanimate, giant, golden chalice with numerous gems decorating it. It landed in the Extra Monster Zone on King's right.
Holy Grail of the King: ATK 500 / Link 1: Bottom
"With a Link Monster on the field, due to Inspector Boarder's effect, we can now both activate one Monster Effect per turn..." Crowley said begrudgingly.
"If Holy Grail is Link Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone, I can activate its effect." King stated as the Link 1 gained a yellow aura. "I target the Link Material used for its summon and Special Summon it to a zone it points to. Resurrect, my Chosen warrior."
A GY Portal opened in the Grail, from which the Normal Monster emerged.
"Kengen seyo. Mirai no ō no sākitto." another Link Portal appeared. "The summoning conditions are two or more Monsters with different Types and Attributes. I set Holy Grail and Chosen. Link Summon. Link 2. Eve the Star Chalice Kagura."
The Link Monster which resembled Priestess Who Drinks from the Star Chalice appeared in the Extra Monster Zone on King's right.
Eve the Star Chalice Kagura: ATK 1800 / Link 2: Left, Right
A Link Monster with Left and Right Markers in the Extra Monster Zone... Crowley thought in solace. Since they don't point to his field, he can't summon from the Extra Deck to the Main Monster Zones. For now, at least... 1800 Attack isn't enough to destroy my Inspector Boarder.
"I activate the Field Spell Star Relic Chance Meeting." King stated. "By its effect, all "Star Chalice" Monsters on the field gain 300 Attack and Defense."
(Eve: 1800→2100 ATK)
"If Monster Effects are sealed, I'll resort to Spell and Traps." King said, and Crowley gritted his teeth. "Battle. Eve the Star Chalice Kagura, attack Inspector Boarder."
"By targeting your face-up Eve, I activate the Continuous Trap Crackdown!" Crowley abruptly stated. "I take control of the targeted Monster!"
"It won't work." King remarked. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Battle for the Star Relics. I banish one face-up Monster I control until the End Phase, then I target one Monster my opponent controls. That target loses Attack and Defense equal to the original Attack and Defense of the banished Monster. I banish Eve and target your Inspector Boarder."
The Link 2 turned into energy, which then washed over the opposing Monster.
"Eve had 1800 Attack, therefore, your toy loses that said amount."
(Inspector Boarder: ATK 2000→200)
"Dammit..." Crowley muttered. "Since the Monster targeted by Crackdown left the field, it is destroyed."
"I set one card face-down and end my turn." King concluded. "At the End Phase, the banished Eve returns to my field."
The said Monster reappeared in his Middle Main Monster Zone.
"Watashi no turn!" Crowley drew his card. His eyes focused on a different card in his hand: Aleister the Invoker. I always thought of you as my ace Monster, Aleister. You were the first card I obtained when I started playing Duel Monsters...you were by my side, in my deck, since the very beginning. Give me the strength...to make things right! "I summon Aleister the Invoker!"
A mage clad in a white robe with pale yellow trims and holding a grimoire and staff appeared.
Aleister the Invoker: Dark / Spellcaster / Effect / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 4
"Areisutā no kōka hatsudō!" Crowley stated. "If this card is Normal Summoned or flipped face-up, I can add the Spell Card Invocation from my Deck to my hand! Then, I use Inspector Boarder and Aleister to Link Summon! Come forth, Link 2! Aleister the Invoker of Madness!"
Landing in the Extra Monster Zone on Crowley's left was a Monster that resembled Aleister but possessed demonic features and had a staff protruding from its back.
Aleister the Invoker of Madness: Dark / Spellcaster / Effect / ATK: 1800 / Link 2: Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right
"I activate the Spell Card Invocation!" Crowley yelled. "Through its effect, I can Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck by using Monsters from my hand as material, and if I'm summoning an "Invoked" Fusion Monster this way, I can also banish Monsters from my field and/or from either player's Graveyard as materials!"
King remained silent as Crowley gestured towards him. "I banish the Fire-Attribute Chosen by the Star Chalice from your Graveyard and Aleister the Invoker from mine and Fusion Summon!"
The spectral images of Chosen and Aleister appeared on the field, which then swirled together into a whirlpool.
"Prime mover of forgotten magical arts! With fire as your mana, open the gates to a supernatural plane and free the new beast which will rule these lands! Fusion Summon! Come, Level 7! Invoked Purgatrio!"
A twister of purple wind erupted from the whirlpool and was dispersed once a Monster which consisted of a demonic trio emerged from it. The largest of the three was an overweight, humanoid being with a single eye, wearing a white mask, having paw-like hands and feet, and a staff protruding from its arm; the tallest of the three was also the most human-like, with long nails and spikes jutting from its arms and legs, wearing a white mask, and a staff protruding from its chest; the smallest was a minion, sporting bat wings, a crazy grin, and a staff protruding from its head. The trio landed under Aleister's Bottom-Left Marker.
Invoked Purgatrio: Fire / Fiend / Fusion / Effect / ATK: 2300 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 7
"I activate the effect of Aleister the Invoker of Madness!" Crowley stated. "If a monster is Fusion Summoned while I control this Monster, I can discard one card to add one copy of Invocation or The Book of the Law from my Deck to my hand. I discard a card to search The Book of the Law! Then here's Purgatrio's effect! This Monster gains 200 Attack for each card you control!"
"I currently control three cards." King pointed out as Purgatrio gained a fiery aura.
(Purgatrio: ATK 2300→2900)
"I activate Invocation's effect in my Graveyard, shuffling it into my Deck and return the banished Aleister the Invoker to my hand." Crowley told. He then pointed forward. "Battle! Invoked Purgatrio attacks Eve the Star Chalice Kagura! Cleansing Inferno!"
The trio gave pained moans as they raised their hands towards the sky and the fiery aura which surrounded them concentrated into a flaming whirlpool above their heads. It shot a stream of fire at Eve, making it scream in pain before exploding, and King used his arms to shield his face from the shock waves.
King: LP 4000 - 800 = 3200
(Purgatrio: ATK 2900→2700)
"But now I can activate Eve's effect since it was sent from the field to the Graveyard." King revealed. "I can Special Summon one Star Chalice from my hand, and it will be Lees the Star Chalice Fairy, in defense mode."
The holographic fairy projected by four cubes appeared with a giggle beside its user.
Lees the Star Chalice Fairy: ATK 100 / DEF 2000 / LV: 2
"Star Relic Chance Meeting increases the Attack and Defense of all "Star Chalice" Monsters on the field by 300." King reminded his opponent. "Of course, your Purgatrio gains 200 Attack as I control an additional card."
(Lees: ATK 100→400, DEF 2000→2300; Purgatrio: ATK 2700→2900)
"I activate Lees's effect." King said. "If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one "Star Chalice" Monster from my Deck to my hand. I choose Star Relic - "Star Chalice"."
"Thanks to its effect, Purgatrio can attack all Monsters my opponent controls once each." Crowley declared. "Battle! I attack Lees with Purgatrio! If Purgatrio attacks a Defense Position Monster, my opponent takes piercing battle damage!"
"Torappu hatsudō: Security Advance." a card, which depicted Big Shield Gardna emerging from a portal to block Vorse Raider's axe from reaching a Duelist, appeared. "During damage calculation, I have to reveal one Monster in my hand to end the Battle Phase when the current battle ends. I reveal Star Chalice. Security Advance is sent to the Graveyard as its effect resolved, meaning Purgatrio's Attack is lowered."
(Purgatrio: ATK 2900→2700)
The trio unleashed a second Cleansing Inferno, destroying Lees.
King: LP 3200 - 400 = 2800
(Purgatrio: ATK 2700→2500)
"The Battle Phase ends." King narrowed his eyes, and Crowley gritted his teeth. "Security Advance then lets me Normal Summon the revealed Monster, and I can choose not to release Monsters to Advance Summon it if it's a Level 5 or higher monster, but I cannot attack while it's face-up on the field. The holy relic created by the gods which will lead us to a new future: Star Relic - "Star Chalice" descends!"
King's shadow visibly extended as the giant, chalice-shaped Monster emerged from it, the orb in its center glowing an intense blue as it towered over the entire field.
Star Relic - "Star Chalice": ATK 0→300 / DEF 0→300 / LV: 5
"I also activate Star Relic Chance Meeting's other effect." King gestured to his field. "Once per turn, if my face-up "World Chalice" Monster is destroyed by battle or leaves the field because of your card effect, I can target one World Chalice in my Graveyard to Special Summon it in defense mode. Resurrect, my Fairy."
Lees emerged from a GY Portal at those words with a giggle.
(Purgatrio: ATK 2500→2900)
"He has more Monsters than when the Battle started...!?" Crowley's eyes widen in disbelief.
"I applaud you for the one-turn-kill stunt you failed to pull." King placed his hands behind his back. "You schemed to destroy all my Monsters with Purgatrio, a Monster which can attack multiple times and inflict piercing damage, then attack directly with Aleister. My Life Points would have decreased severely, setting off your coup de grâce: Fusion Summon Invoked Mechaba through The Book of the Law's effect, the card you fetched earlier."
"H-How did you..." Crowley took a step back.
"I'm unquestionably a non-human, but not something trivial like a supervillain or an alien." King closed his eyes. "I am a being which overhauls rational thought, which can become something humans cannot, which can guide humans. I'm capable of accessing any information through the network without the need for hardware and in few seconds; in other words, before we even started this Duel, I studied an Invoked deck's composition and calculated my counterstrategies."
King smiled, which honestly sparked fear inside Crowley more than anything, and his eyes started giving a faint glow.
"He who controls information becomes king. Appropriate, yes? Your Invoked Mechaba can, once per turn, negate the activation of a Spell, Trap, or Monster Effect by sending a card of the same type from your hand to the Graveyard and banish it. I ended your Battle Phase before you could summon it and end me; the cards in your hand are three, which are Aleister, The Book of the Law and an unknown. If we theorize that unknown is a Trap...then you could've negated Security Advance through Mechaba's effect...and defeat me."
He read me. He completely read me. Crowley thought as he started hyperventilating. How can he win against something which isn't a human!?
No!
Crowley grasped the front of his cloak and tried to regulate his breathing. He isn't a human, but they're Dueling: he can win if he plays his cards right. It didn't matter what his opponent is or if he knew his entire deck! With his deck's strength, he can win! "I set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
"So my hunch may be correct." King teased, followed by a cruel chuckle. "Let me show you how a king Duels. Ware no turn. Draw."
"I don't care what you are!" Crowley abruptly shouted. "I just need to win and make things right! I activate the Quick-Play Spell The Book of the Law, releasing Invoked Purgatrio to Special Summon one "Invoked" Monster from my Extra Deck with a different original Attribute from that Monster's and by treating this Special Summon a Fusion Summon! Come, Invoked Mechaba!"
Purgatrio vanished from the field as particles, which then took the form of a mechanical knight carrying a sword and a shield and riding a beast fused to a chariot under Aleister's Bottom-Left Marker.
Invoked Mechaba: Light / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2100 / LV: 9
"Futile delay." King remarked. "Kengen seyo. Mirai no ō no sākitto. The summoning conditions are two "Star Chalice" Monsters. I set Lees and Star Chalice. Link Summon. Link 2. Auram the Star Chalice Swordsman."
The Link Monster that resembled Chosen by the Star Chalice appeared in the Extra Monster Zone on its user's left.
Auram the Star Chalice Swordsman: ATK 2000→2300 / Link 2: Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right
"That Monster...is a Cyberse...?" Crowley mumbled as he read the card's text. He knows Bloody Talker and Playmaker, two Duelists who use Cyberse cards, once fought against the Knights of Hanoi. If he has one as well...that means he wasn't lying when he said the Knights of Hanoi are his enemy.
"I activate Star Chalice's effect." King stated. "If the face-up Normal Summoned or Set Star Chalice leaves the field, I can Special Summon two "Star Chalice" Monsters from my Deck, except another Star Chalice."
"Invoked Mechaba's effect!" Crowley exclaimed. "I send Aleister the Invoker from my hand to the Graveyard to negate Star Chalice's effect and banish it!"
When humans struggle, their fates are nailed down to two outcomes. The first: success and prosperity. The second: self-destruction and failure. Can your struggle be useful to me, Geun Yoon? King thought before he continued. "Whichever effect you resort to is already within my expectations. Behold true power! I activate the Ritual Spell Star Relic's Holy Advent from my hand!"
A card, which depicted the silhouette of Star Relic - "Star Chalice" seemingly changing shape and with the orb in its center glowing brightly, appeared.
"By releasing Monsters from my hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed the Level of the Ritual Monster I wish to Ritual Summon, or by shuffling Star Relic - "Star Chalice" from my Graveyard or Banish Zone into my Deck, this card permits to Ritual Summon my avatar's evolved self from my hand—or Deck."
"A Ritual Summon from the Deck!?" Crowley cried out in shock. "I never heard of anything like it...!"
"I told you. I am a being which overhauls rational thought." King reminded his opponent. "I shuffle the banished Star Relic - "Star Chalice" into my Deck and perform my Ritual Summon. Surpass your creators, o holy relic. Become the beacon that unites our will to evolve! Ultra Ritual. Level 5. Star Relic - Holy Chalice."
Star Chalice emerged from King's shadow again and its orb released a blue aura as a magic circle of the same color appeared above and under it. Blue circuits suddenly flashed on the orb's container and it retracted into the mechanism from which it hung, which then partially opened assuming feathered wings to reveal a mechanized statue of a female human with long hair and a featureless face inside it, whose waist was attached to the mechanism and its arms were outstretched, holding a glowing orb. The great Relic towered over the field behind Auram's Bottom-Right Marker.
Star Relic - Holy Chalice: Dark / Machine / Ritual / Effect / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 5
"Ultra...Ritual..." Crowley muttered. So this was the power of a non-human...
"Holy Chalice is always treated as a "Star Chalice" Monster, therefore, Star Relic Chance Meeting's effect can affect it." King stated.
(Holy Chalice: ATK 2000→2300, DEF 2000→2300)
"I activate Holy Chalice's effect." King went on. "If this card is Ritual Summoned, I can draw one card if only "Star Chalice" Monsters were used to summon it, but if only Star Relic - "Star Chalice" was used, I can draw two cards instead. Then, I activate Auram's effect to release Holy Chalice next to its link." the Ritual Monster vanished. "I target Eve the Star Chalice Kagura in my Graveyard to Special Summon it a zone Auram points to. Resurrect, Eve."
A GY Portal opened where Holy Chalice was seconds ago, and Eve emerged from it with its boosted 2100 ATK.
"Per its continuous effect, Auram gains 300 Attack for each "Star Relic" Monster in my Graveyard with a different name." King told. "With Holy Chalice in there, it gains 300 Attack."
(Auram: ATK 2300→2600)
"I activate Holy Chalice's other effect." King declared. "If this face-up Ritual Summoned card leaves the field, I can Special Summon one "Star Chalice" Monster from my Graveyard or Banish Zone, except another Holy Chalice. Return from the dead once again, my Fairy."
Lees emerged from a GY Portal at those words.
"I activate Lees's effect upon its summon, allowing me to add Priestess Who Drinks from the Star Chalice from my Deck to my hand." a blue circle formed around his left wrist, from which a card emerged. King took hold of it and revealed it before it vanished. "I summon it."
The female human wearing robes and holding an oddly-shaped staff appeared.
Priestess Who Drinks from the Star Chalice: ATK 0→300 / DEF 2100→2400 / LV: 2
"Mirai no ō no sākitto." another Link Portal appeared. "The summoning conditions are two Monsters with different names. I set Lees and Priestess. Link Summon. Link 2. Troymare Phoenix."
A phoenix-shaped Monster composed of red energy and random, mechanical parts attached to its body emerged from the portal with a screech and landed on Eve's left.
Troymare Phoenix: Fire / Fiend / Effect / ATK: 1900 / Link 2: Top, Right
"As it was Link Summoned, I can activate Phoenix's effect." King stated. "I discard one card from my hand, then target one Spell or Trap Card you control and destroy it. You only have one Set card on your field, so my choice is obvious."
"In that case, I chain its activation to your Monster's effect!" Crowley exclaimed. "Trap Card Lingering Will! This turn, "Invoke" Monsters I control can't be destroyed by my opponent and all damage I would take involving them is halved!"
A magic circle formed in front of Crowley's Monsters at those words.
"Since it was co-linked when its effect was activated, Phoenix's effect lets me draw one card." King told as he drew. He then viewed the cards in his hand. With these cards, I could complete an Extra Link and destroy all hope in this human's soul. But that won't do: no hope means no will to retaliate, and in order to discover if he's fit for the job or not I must see that will's performance. "I activate the Continuous Spell Star Relic's United Efforts."
A card, which depicted Eve surrounded by a blue aura which was washing over Auram and Imbuk who were fighting mechanical insects, appeared.
"Battle. Auram attacks Aleister the Invoker of Madness." King gestured towards his opponent. "If my Monster declares an attack, I can activate United Efforts' effect: I target one "Star Chalice" Monster linked to the attacking Monster to have it gain Attack equal to half the original Attack of that target until the end of the Battle Phase. Monsters targeted with this effect cannot attack this turn. I target Eve."
Like in the scene depicted on United Efforts, Eve was surrounded by an aura that washed over Auram.
(Auram: ATK 2600→3500)
Auram charged forward, swinging its sword at the magic circle sheltering Aleister.
"Due to Lingering Will's effect...!" Crowley grunted in pain by the shock waves created from the sword's and the magic circle's contact. "My Monster won't be destroyed!"
"But you still take the damage." King pointed out.
Crowley: LP 4000 - 850 = 3150
"Battle. Phoenix attacks Aleister. I activate United Efforts' effect, targeting Eve with it for the second time."
Following King's words, Phoenix gained Eve's aura.
(Phoenix: ATK 1900→2800)
The mythical beast's wings ignited as it dived at Aleister but struck the magic circle, releasing embers that rained over Crowley and made him hiss by the heat.
Crowley: LP 3150 - 500 = 2650
"With the Battle Phase's end, my Monsters' Attack Points return to normal," King explained. "I also activate United Efforts' other effect: at the end of a Battle Phase in which I activated this card's first effect, I can send it to the Graveyard to draw cards times the total number of attacks I declared this turn. I declared two attacks, thus I draw twice."
(Auram: ATK 3500→2600; Phoenix: ATK 2800→1900)
"I activate the Spell Card Arrow Sparks." a card, which depicted three arrows with flaming Link Marker shaped ends flying at the viewer, appeared. "My opponent takes 100 damage times the total sum of Link Ratings on my field, in this case 600."
Six of those arrows shot from the Spell Card, raining over Crowley and making him gasp in pain.
Crowley: LP 2650 - 600 = 2050
"I set one card face-down and end my turn." King concluded. "You're free to continue, but if this is all you're capable of, I believe it's safe to assume you'll lose."
"I mustn't throw the towel yet... I can still...fight!" Crowley moaned out. Did the arrows have to be on flames? It felt like needles poked his skin. "Watashi no turn, draw! I banish Lingering Will from my Graveyard to activate its other effect, which lets me add one Invocation from my Deck to my hand, and I activate it! I banish Aleister the Invoker from my Graveyard and Invoked Mechaba on my field and Fusion Summon!"
As the two Monsters swirled together in a whirlpool, Crowley chanted.
"Prime mover of forgotten magical arts! With the forbidden beast's power as your mana, open the gates to a supernatural plane and free the new beast which will rule these lands! Fusion Summon! Come, Level 8! Invoked Augoeides!"
A twister of purple wind erupted from the whirlpool and was dispersed once a humanoid Monster whose body was trapped in a dress-shaped contraption and a staff protruded from its chest emerged from it, landing under Aleister's Bottom-Left Marker.
Invoked Augoeides: Light / Fairy / Fusion / Effect / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 2300 / LV: 8
"Augoeidesu no kōka hatsudō!" Crowley threw an arm to the side, before thrusting it back forward. "If this Monster is Special Summoned or Monsters are Special Summoned to my opponent's field, I can target one Monster my opponent controls to destroy it! My target is Troymare Phoenix! Luminous Smite!"
The Fusion Monster spread its arms wide and conjured a sphere of light above its head, which fell onto Phoenix and destroyed it.
Due to Phoenix's effect, my co-linked Monsters cannot be destroyed by battle. Of course you'd want to take it out of the picture. King thought.
"I activate Augoeides' other effect!" Crowley shouted. "Once per turn, I can banish one Fusion Monster from my Graveyard to have this Monster gain its Attack until the end of my opponent's turn! I banish Invoked Purgatrio for this effect!"
The ghostly image of Purgatrio appeared in front of Augoeides and was sucked into its chest.
(Augoeides: ATK 2000→4300)
"Then, I activate the Equip Spell Beastly Arithmos and equip it to Aleister!" a card, which depicted the silhouette of Invoked Caliga with glowing red eyes and an eerie grin and a purple aura surrounding its body, appeared. "I can only equip this card to an "Invoke" Monster, which gains 600 Attack and Defense, also, if it attacks an opponent's monster, that Monster returns to your hand after damage calculation. Lastly, if I control Monsters other than Aleister, you can't target it for attacks!"
(Aleister the Invoker of Madness: ATK 1800→2400)
"Which means I can only attack the 4300-Attack Augoeides." King noted.
"That's right!" Crowley confirmed. "I activate Invocation's effect in my Graveyard, shuffling it into my Deck and return the banished Aleister the Invoker to my hand. Battle! Invoked Augoeides attacks Auram the Star Chalice Swordsman! Cosmo Shower!"
"Your charade ends here." King interjected. "Torappu hatsudō: Empress's Staff. This card negates a Monster's attack and ends the Battle Phase, along with inflicting 500 damage to the player whose Monster's attack was negated."
Eight spheres of light materialized around Augoeides and launched at Auram, but an empress emerged from the Trap and conjured a transparent barrier with its staff, reflecting the eight spheres at Crowley, exploding before making contact and knocking him to the ground.
Crowley: LP 2050 - 500 = 1550
"F-For the love of...!" Crowley gritted his teeth as he slowly stood up. He can't attack and the cards in his hand are Aleister and a Spell that was useless in this situation. Lady Luck wasn't favoring him today at all. "I...end my turn."
"You do have the right spirit, but not enough power." King admitted. "Ware no turn. Draw. I activate the Equip Spell Star Relic's True Intent. I target a "Star Chalice" Monster in my hand or Graveyard and Special Summon it by equipping it to this card. I reinvoke Lees from my Graveyard. Its effect activates as it was summoned, allowing me to add Star Chalice Guardragon from my Deck to my hand. Kengen seyo, mirai no ō no sākitto."
A Link Portal appeared. "The summoning condition is one non-Token Normal Monster. Due to Star Relic's True Intent, the equipped Lees is treated as a Normal Monster during a Link Summon of a Star Chalice, so I set it in the Link Marker. Link Summon. Imduk the Star Chalice Dragon."
The winged dragon with green scales and white feathers emerged and on Eve's left.
Imduk the Star Chalice Dragon: ATK 800→1100 / Link 1: Top
"True Intent is sent to my Graveyard because the equipped Monster left the field, therefore, its final effect triggers, letting me draw a card." King stated. "Kengen seyo, mirai no ō no sākitto. The summoning conditions are two or more Link Monsters. I set Imduk and the Link 2 Eve. Link Summon. Link 3. Ningirsu the Star Chalice Warrior."
A male warrior clad in futuristic armor with blue highlights, a long scarf, and holding a spear in its hands landed under Auram's Bottom-Right Marker with a battle cry.
Ningirsu the Star Chalice Warrior: Earth / Warrior / Effect / ATK: 2500→2800 / Link 3: Left, Top, Right
"Allow me to reveal you this new Monster's effect." King's eyes narrowed. "Once per turn, I can send one card from each player's field to the Graveyards. The cards I plan to immolate are my Field Spell Star Relic Chance Meeting and your Invoked Augoeides. Without my Field Spell, my Monsters lose 300 Attack...however..."
"2300 and 2500 Attack and I only control Aleister with 2400 Attack...!" Crowley continued for his opponent. "With nothing to defend my Life Points, I would lose... But don't forget I have Augoeides' effect! Since a Monster was Special Summoned to my opponent's field, I can target one Monster you control and destroy it!"
"Why do you choose to resist to the bitter end?" King asked, faking irritation.
"I know...hacking is a crime," Crowley explained. He then frowned. "But I've been hacking for a year because I needed that money to maintain my parents. I come from a poor family...hence why I studied IT: I thought it would grant me the money to help my folks, but I found out it wasn't enough... I can't keep myself and them alive in unison! This world continuously strips you of your money, so I had to hack and Duel to earn more!"
"I see." King had to place a hand over his mouth to hide his grin. Crowley wants to make things right and he doesn't want to be arrested, or else nobody would support his parents; King can take control of this human's life so easily, he doesn't need his powers at all. King's grin vanished when he lowered his hand. "When my opponent activates a Monster Effect, if I control a Star Chalice, I can banish Star Relic's Holy Advent from my Graveyard to activate its effect and negate that effect's activation!"
"What!?" Crowley cried out as Augoeides' Luminous Smite dissipated. He fell to his knees and stared at the ground: he...he lost. Lewis Rees escaped his judgment, his parents will be left alone to rot, he failed. "Darn it to heck...!" he punched the ground in frustration, some tears falling from his eyes seconds later. "Mom, dad..."
"You passed the entrance exam. Lift your head, for I am praising you." Crowley slowly raised his head in confusion as King spoke. "Your prowess as a Duelist is pathetic, but your spirit overflows with resolve when you fight. You could prove of use to me."
"B-But the conditions..." Crowley started in incredulousness.
"I set them, thus I'm free to change them as I see fit." King remarked. "With my help, you'll become a good soldier." and puppet, he thought but not said.
"I...I...th-thank you!" Crowley quickly bowed his head, not wanting to anger his new boss and change his ideas. He knew he shouldn't accept the deal with the devil, he knew this was a horrible idea! But...Lewis Rees's crime...his parents...did he have a choice in the first place? What a mess.
Crowley surrenders: LP 1550→0
Winner: King!
...
The blue orb that surrounded each Duelist vanished as Geun and King returned to the real world. Miranda was peacefully asleep, her head in her arms on the countertop, but stirred awake when King called out to her.
"Are you done...?" she asked, rubbing her left eye.
"Yes, we're leaving." King stated. He then addressed Geun. "For now, you're free to spend your time as you wish, but when I contact you, you'll do exactly as I say regardless of the day and hour. I'm also going to keep track of your web history for safe measures. Are we clear?"
"Y-Yes!" Geun hastily nodded.
"Look forward to news regarding Lewis Rees." was all King said before he and Miranda left the apartment.
In the afternoon - IRL: in Wales
Mr. Rees left the courtroom with his hands in his pockets and a big smile on his face. Everything was going smoothly: given the evidence presented, the jury had no other choice than to believe Jac Thomas was responsible for murdering Alys Morgan and thus there were no grounds for clemency. Fifteen minutes until the jury concludes a recess and announces their verdict. Mr. Rees's victory is set in stone!
He spotted a person in the desolated corridor up ahead, the fool which wanted to make Mr. Thomas innocent. Mr. Rees didn't care about B.O.N.T.'s PR or SOL Technologies in the slightest: he can afford some minor backlash, what's important is concealing the truth.
"Gruffydd Lloyd, was it?" Mr. Rees stopped in front of him. "As you can see, and as I told you, if the security footage shows Jac Thomas, he's guilty without a doubt. I didn't accept your offer and you didn't make any profit today, but I'm certain you can understand I didn't wish to waste my money and time."
King closed his eyes and mimicked Mr. Rees's smile as he slowly extracted a folded sheet from his coat's interior. He then waved it in his gloved hand, causing Mr. Rees to raise an eyebrow in confusion.
"What's that?" he inquired, but King remained silent. Annoyed by the man's behavior, he yanked the sheet out of his hand and opened it—his face paled. It was a printed copy of the chat between him and Crowley.
"You killed your own employee and blamed it on someone else with the help of a hacker." King spoke up. "You paid them to create a backdoor which, when installed in a security system, can automatically replace the face of someone in the footage with someone else's. Your plan was to have sexual intercourse with Alys Morgan, but in case she would decline and threaten you- which she did- you would kill her and replace your face with Jac Thomas's. I'm sure both governments and criminal organizations would spend a lot of money for that program, and you would continue to harass your female employees. You're so human—what an abhorrent worm."
"What do you want from me...!?" Mr. Rees's eyes were now trembling in anger and fear.
"Give me 500,000 Yen."
"M-Money?"
"Your money is your only feature useful to me." King replied to the other's question.
A-Alright, I can afford that. I'm still safe! Mr. Rees thought, confident again. "Very well." he then wrote a check and handed it and the chat back to King. "We have a deal."
"A deal?" King placed the papers away inside his coat. His eyes flashed blue. "Oh no, we have a misunderstanding: the money you donated me just now will be used to buy your own company once you're in jail. I've already sent an anonymous message to the jurors containing the chat between you and Crowley and the original footage of you assaulting Alys Morgan."
"W-What!?" Mr. Rees gasped. "Are you going to throw away good money for your petty sense of justice!?"
"Justice?" King snorted. "No, my aim isn't justice but the future where I become humanity's ruler."
"Why you! Go to Hell!" Mr. Rees exclaimed and threw a punch at King, but his fist stopped inches before his target's face. "My body...! I-I can't move it!"
"It won't be easy living in jail at your age. I suggest you prepare yourself mentally." King said as he walked off, leaving a shouting Mr. Rees behind. He undid Control Over when two guards restrained Mr. Rees, stating he was under arrest, and King grinned: keikaku doori.
Fan-made Cards/Skills:
King:
Security Advance
Normal Trap
During damage calculation, reveal 1 monster in your hand, and if you do, when that battle ends, end the Battle Phase, then, Normal Summon that monster. You can choose not to Tribute monsters to Normal Summon it if it is a Level 5 or higher monster, also, you cannot attack while it's face-up on the field. You can only activate 1 "Security Advance" per turn.
Star Relic's Holy Advent
Ritual Spell
This card can be used to Ritual Summon "Star Relic - Holy Chalice" from your hand or Deck. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed the Level of the Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon or shuffle 1 "Star Relic - "Star Chalice"" from your GY or Banish Zone into the Deck. During this Ritual Summon, you can also Tribute "Star Chalice" Link Monsters by treating them as Level 3 monsters x their Link Rating. When your opponent activates a monster effect, if you control a "Star Chalice" monster (Quick Effect): You can banish this card from your GY; negate that activation. You can only use this effect of "Star Relic's Holy Advent" once per turn.
Star Relic - Holy Chalice (Dark/Machine/Ritual/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 2000/LV: 5)
(This card's always treated as a "Star Chalice" card.)
You can Ritual Summon this card with "Star Relic's Holy Advent". You can only use each of the following effects of "Star Relic - Holy Chalice" once per turn.
- You can reveal this card from your hand, and if you do, shuffle it into the Deck and add 1 "Star Relic's Holy Advent" from your Deck or GY to your hand.
- If this card is Ritual Summoned: You can draw 1 card if only "Star Chalice" monsters were used to summon it, but if only "Star Relic - "Star Chalice"" was used, you can draw 2 cards instead.
- If this face-up Ritual Summoned card leaves the field: You can Special Summon 1 "Star Chalice" monster from your GY or Banish Zone, except "Star Relic - Holy Chalice".
Star Relic's United Efforts
Continuous Spell
If your monster declares an attack: You can target 1 "Star Chalice" monster linked to it; it gains ATK equal to half the original ATK of that target until the end of this Battle Phase. Monsters targeted with this effect cannot attack for that turn. At the end of a Battle Phase in which you activated this card's first effect: You can send it to the GY, and if you do, draw cards x the total number of attacks you declared this turn. You can only use this effect of "Star Relic's United Efforts" once per turn.
Arrow Sparks
Normal Spell
Inflict 100 damage to your opponent x the total sum of Link Ratings on your field. If this card is in your GY and you control an Extra Link: You can add it to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Arrow Sparks" once per turn.
Crowley:
Lingering Will
Normal Trap
This turn, "Invoke" monsters you control cannot be destroyed by your opponent and all damage you would take involving them is halved. If this card is in your GY: You can activate this effect; banish this card, and if you do, add 1 "Invocation" from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate 1 "Lingering Will" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
[Trivia: this card's name is a reference to "True Will", a term found in the mystical system of Thelema.]
Beastly Arithmos
Equip Spell
Equip only to an "Invoke" monster. The equipped monster gains 600 ATK/DEF, also, if it attacks an opponent's monster, return that monster to your opponent's hand after damage calculation. If you control monsters other than the equipped monster, your opponent cannot target the equipped monster for attacks.
[Trivia: this card's name is a reference to the "number of the beast" (Greek: Arithmos tou Thēriou), also known as The devil's number.]
This chapter introduces us to two features Season 4 is going to have: villain focused chapters and planet Earth. The latter will be the main feature to boot; since the anime never took us outside of Den City, we'll travel around the globe in Season 4! I find villain focused chapters very interesting, as they give us a particular breather and we get to see how the enemy's faring in a story.
Regarding this chapter, we meet some new faces like...
Nahum: this greedy fellow's hair color gives his true identity away, which is Star Relic - "Star Armor". His name is another way to address the demon Amon and means "who induces to eagerness" (thanks to HunterHQ and scififan599 who helped me find this name).
Miranda: she who loves fashion and has the Precognition ability. Her name means "admirable, wonderful" in Latin and her true identity is Star Relic - "Star Shield" (herself stated her Duel Monster form's color is orange, and her hair is a clear giveaway).
I'm going to update my profile page as new info was revealed about the Star Relics, so look forward to that. Thank you to Erik and scififan599 who helped me with Ultra Ritual's name (since Phantom Ritual/Synchro is a thing, I wanted this special kind of Ritual to have a unique name as well) and to HunterHQ and scififan599 regarding the Duel.
There's a clear difference in strength between King and Geun, but mainly because King's deck contains stronger cards and combos. I did this on purpose, not just to highlight the strength of the Star Relic's leader (and a Star Relic in general), but because a random OC who appears out of nowhere to have the same level of strength as the main villain would be of bad image for the evil guys. At the end of the day, Geun put up a decent fight and he'll get a major power-up in the future. I also hope I made King's and Geun's decisions rational and clear.
As my last notes, B.O.N.T. (short for Builders Of New Technology) translates to "bridge" in Welsh, a reference to the role it plays in King's plan (it's the bridge that will help him complete his plan), and don't forget about Akabane Yokuto (he was only mentioned in the chapter, but boy oh boy he's an important and special character).
Reviews really make my day and it's a great way to communicate with you readers, and maybe find out errors I can avoid making. Please review, and with that said, I'll see you all next time!
QOTC: What do you think of villain focused chapters?