Thank you CuddlyChristina for helping me write this chapter. My coworker brought his son into work, I thought it was just he was on leave and visited like my coworker friend visiting me at work on my birthday despite his leave, but then I saw that same worker in the workplace. Oh well, that's more interesting than fiction.
XXX
Even gods need a place to look up and absorb the tranquility of the sky. Aethba's place was in a land far away from New Domino City. As he returned to his throne, he could only let out a small, victorious grin.
"Humans think gods were made to give to them. All we want though is to take what they should give us, their lives." He told himself as he looked down onto the Earth.
"I'll get back at that young detective later. As of now, my best action is to topple the most grounded skyscraper in this quaint Tokyo city...KaibaCorp. Ooh, how cliche of me,"
XXX
Meanwhile...
Nuo was looming over Seto Kaiba while he worked in his office. Seto was working for his company while Nuo was reviewing a letter the CEO received.
"So let's see..." Nuo said to himself as he began to read the letter in question.
"Humans have always felt they have been at the top of the food chain, but they are greedy and lack compassion. You exemplify this, Mr. Kaiba. That is why Detective Nuo will be your ranger in the future esponge of your fortune while people suckle on what's left of your livelihood."
"Go on, Detective Nuo. Find out who sent this letter." Kaiba ordered.
"I'm Detective Nuo doesn't mean I'm some noir-esque chain smoker who needs to read a dictionary and ends my life walking through a black and white alley with my hand in my pocket."
"Then I suppose you should do things your way." Kaiba told him.
"Sounds reasonable enough." Nuo replied.
Nuo was sure it was the god who reveals the souls of duel monsters in animals that was sending this letter. It had some asceticism a god would write.
"Aethba..." he said to himself.
"Who's this Aethba fellow?" Kaiba asked.
"This so-called 'god' of chaos...I've tried to stop him, but failed thanks to a draw. What I wouldn't give to defeat him for real." Nuo replied.
"If he does challenge you to a duel where life and death is on the line I'll allow you to reduel him, but if that isn't the case and if he is the one sending the letters, my security detail can deal with him."
Nuo crossed his arms and said, "That's fine."
Nuo spent three hours in Kaiba's office before he sprung to his feet and yelled "I got it!"
Kaiba noticed and asked, "What is it that you have in mind?"
"I am going to convince the pupil he speaks about to turn around before he kidnabs someone."
"Kidnab?"
Kaiba was a bit perplexed by this new word Nuo had said. "What is 'kidnab' exactly?"
"Well Kidnapping is an asinine way of saying to take someone. Sounds like something a babysitter should get paid to do. While kidnabbing means yanking someone away."
"Don't rant with me, freelance detective. I didn't make up that word."
"I probably might have, but I think it's a bit more fitting that 'kidnapping'." Nuo told him.
"Whatever." Kaiba replied.
"The point is need to leave so I can find out who Aethba is after now."
"Fair enough. Do be careful, though." Kaiba said.
"You bet I will." Nuo replied with a grin.
Nuo pondered his choice of action in finding Aethba. It seemed like he would be targeting Mokuba, but really it was the child looking one: Yugi Mutou. He needed to talk to someone who knew Yugi, so that he can find out where the boy is, and have the chance to converse with him over the Aethba matter.
Shouldn't be too hard with how many people surround the twerp.
Eventually, he located Yugi with Jounoichi, Anzu and Honda at a nearby cafe. They were in the middle of eating lunch and talking about recent news concerning Domino City.
"Fancy seeing you again." Nuo said, which caused Yugi and the others to notice.
"Hey Nuo." Anzu said. "Aren't you usually at work at this hour?"
"I was but I'm now a bodyguard for your good friend Yugi Mutou. I hope you realize how much I want to protect him...I'm missing television playing the Donald Trump pizza commercials."
Anzu and the others laughed, and surprisingly, so did Nuo. Yugi then asked, "So what brought you here for?"
"I need your help with dealing with this being named Aethba." Nuo replied.
"Aethba?" Everyone asked in unison, except Honda.
"Aeth...oh-okay."
"A classmate of mine tried looking him up in the library. It seemed he, too, was just as curious as you are." Honda said.
"Not interested, just find him to be an enormous pain in my ass. If it was up to me than that classmate would be taking care of him, not me."
"Really? Then maybe I can introduce you to him." Honda suggested.
Nuo raised an eyebrow, and Yugi was even intrigued by the Aethba situation. "Sounds good; does he have a name?" Nuo asked.
"Yeah. It's Reo Dakashi." Jounochi answered.
With Reo in mind, Nuo would allow Honda to locate him, and before long, they'd find him outside a library, having borrowed his latest book. "Oh, hey, Honda. Is this a friend of yours?"
Honda replied, "Yeah, his name's Nuo, and lately he's been going after a being named Aethba."
"Nice meeting you, Nuo." Reo said, shaking Nuo's hand.
"Likewise. Although Aethba is a dangerous god, he is a slow god so maybe you can tell me here what you know about him or someplace you like more." Nuo replied.
"Wait...you really believe you can just find Aethba? I thought he was just mythology not non-fiction."
"Well I didn't preen myself just to squabble about mythology. I hate that stuff."
"All I know is that I found someone who had balls to summon him, and she seemed pretty guilty about being one of his followers." Nuo told him.
"Not only that, but he is intent on destroying the human race." he added.
"The human race?!" Reo asked as he and Honda were shocked.
"Yeah. Apparently animals have the souls of Duel monsters making them better innate to the world and better at protecting themselves so he plans to release them."
"Holy crap!" Honda exclaimed.
"I suggest I contact the woman and-" Nuo said.
"I think the woman's name is Miyabi." Reo told him.
"That's the name I was looking for! Where could she possibly be?" Nuo asked.
"I wouldn't know. I search gods and history not real life people. It's best to just go back to where you were with her yesterday." Reo explained.
Nuo nodded, and it didn't take long for him to remember where she was the last time he saw her.
"If one of you will kindly follow me, we need to be where the clues are got. Get it? It's like money, but it's clues."
Reo and Honda nodded.
Soon, Nuo was able to find Miyabi, who was out on the streets reading a newspaper. "Hey, you!" he called out.
Miyabi was quick to notice, hearing his voice as she got up. Once she walked over to him, she asked, "Are you that boy from yesterday that tried to annihilate Aethba?"
"Of course I am, do you have short-term memory or something? Anyways, here's a boy whose been studying your false god."
"I'm Reo. Nice to meet you." Reo replied, shaking Miyabi's hand. She smiled, as she replied, "I actually never had the chance to fully introduce myself. My name's Miyabi."
Those two were hitting it off like a cheerleader and a jock in an eighties slasher movie. Nuo was the only one not being affable around them.
"Look, can we get past the introductions? We need to explain to Miyabi about Aethba, and maybe learn of her involvement with him." Nuo asked.
Reo looked over at him and nodded. "Okay, sure." he simply replied.
"Your wasting your time. Aethba has shown he wants nothing to do with humans, all involvement I had in his plan was a pawn in a chess board." Miyabi said.
"Except he wants to meet me again to settle our duel." Nuo said. "Maybe he will return to the places he made you visit. Any places come to mind?"
This prompted Miyabi to blink in surprise, before she sighed and said, "Fine. I'll give you certain locations."
Nuo loved it when he used his demands to get what he wants.
"So, sock it to me." he simply said.
"Most of them are in cons and idol concerts. Doesn't seem like a good day to visit those."
"Unless they aren't busy." Nuo added.
"I see that...well, better late than never, I guess." Miyabi replied while shrugging.
So Nuo used his only source: the phone number to the only idol he knew. He at first wanted the other two to check out any idol place so he could call her while they were distracted.
Indeed, it was Ruria that was quick enough to answer him. "Hi, Nuo! What's up?" she asked.
"Same thing that's always up. I finish a case only to have another stab me in my leg to finish it. I have a question for you on this one though. Which cons or events are open involving models or actors?"
"Well, there's an event featuring popular magazine models, even new and up and coming ones." Ruria replied.
"Sounds like a good one to me." Nuo said with a small smile.
"So do you want to go together. Make it a...playdate?" She asked, eagerly.
"Sorry, not this time. I'm going for a case. But thanks for the offer."
"Alright then. Be sure to be careful, okay?" Ruria said.
"Don't worry; I will." Nuo replied.
Nuo hanged up. Now he just needed to gather the curious associates then strut his way to the open event, his enemy not knowing he was on his way. While he made it to the destination, Ruria was on her way home from visiting the library. She was in a different disguise from the masks she wears, she put on a black wig and wore glasses no one could tell were fake unless they wore it themselves.
Though it was clear that trouble was brewing before her. Ruria didn't know what it was, but she would soon find out. In fact, Aethba's presence would soon materialize before her.
"Although she only said his name once, talking to Nuo means she's his friend. I guess that makes her my next test."
Once she was close to home, Ruria suddenly noticed a strange, fairly large figure emerge in front of her. "You're...You're Aethba, aren't you?" she asked.
"Yes. The god of chaos and also the god of non-confabulation as you can see, people can see I'm able to walk and breath. I give you my conciliatory heads up, but I'm here before you because I challenge you to a duel."
Ruria's eyes squinted as she possessed a fearless look. "A duel? If that's what you want, then be my guest!" she exclaimed before bringing out her duel disk.
Aethba figured she would ignore his explain about himself and just listen to his challenge. He activated his duel disk.
"Let's duel!"
Ruria: 4000
Aethba: 4000
Aethba drew the first card.
"I summon Malasyian Cyber-Tech Alligator (?/1600)."
He summoned a salamander with a long scar through its side. Ruria watched until he finished his turn.
"I'll set two card facedown and end my turn."
Ruria drew for her turn. It seemed suspicious how he had a monster with no attack on his field in attack mode.
After taking a close look into her deck, she made her decision.
"I summon Spined Gilman (1300/0)."
Spined Gilman, a fish creature with a spiny backside, appeared at her beck and call.
"And while he's face-up on the field, all my fish and sea serpent monsters gain 400 ATK. (1700). And I think I'll tribute my Gillman to special summon Sharkraken in Attack Mode (2400/2100)."
Sharkraken was a hybrid of a large shark and kraken, its fangs gleaming as it arrived on the deck.
"Now I activate Monster Reborn. This card will special summon the only monster in the graveyard, Spined Gilman. And I'll chain to his summon by activating the quick play card Inferno Reckless summon. When a 1500 ATK or less monster is special summoned from the graveyard, I can special summon as many more copies of that monster, but first you target a monster you control and special summon as many more copies of that monster."
"I cannot, there's only one different Malaysian in my deck."
"What? What do you mean?" Ruria asked confusedly.
"I mean no more than one monster will be on my field while you can keep those three pufferfish."
Ruria grimaced briefly, before she resumed her turn.
"Sharkraken, attack his monster!"
The large shark kraken flew forward and slashed through the alligator with its fin. But then, Aethba reacted with a trap.
"I activate Malasyian Gentle Backlash. I take no battle damage from that attack, but your monster gets to attack me directly. But before the attack hits, I get to draw a card. If I draw a Malasyian, let's say I'll be saved."
He then proceeded to draw a card from his deck. What he drew he placed in his monster zone. Soon, a silverfish appeared on his field on top of a big barrel. The shark-kraken raised its fin and clobbered the tiny insect.
"I activate Malasyian Special Hurricane. When this monster is destroyed, all special summoned monsters are destroyed too...which is every monster on your field!"
'Shit,' Ruria thought to herself.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn.
It wouldn't take long for Ruria to start her next turn.
Aethba drew for his turn.
"I summon Malaysian Serpent Night Dragon (?)/2400)."
Ruria expected a strong monster and instead stood before a monster with zero attack. Seemed strange he would summon that when she was wide open.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn."
Ruria drew a card. Both were monsters.
"I activate my facedown card, Metaverse. This card allows me to activate a field spell directly from my deck. I activate The Legendary Ocean."
The Legendary Ocean appeared, as deep blue and sparkling as it was.
"And since it's on my field, all water monsters in each of our hands level decrease by one. I now banish one Spined Gillman to summon Aqua Spirit (1600+200=1800)."
An undine woman with moss green skin and dark blue eyes with flowing long blue hair appeared on Ruria's field.
"Now, I summon Sea Lancer (1300/1000 +200=1500)." A fishman with a red lance and a copper trident with a red sphere appeared on Ruria's field. "Usually this monster requires a tribute to summon, but with Legendary Ocean his level is reduced by one making him level four. And once while he's on the field, I can equip a banished monster to him so he can gain 1000. I equip Spined Gillman (2500). Sea Lancer, attack his monster."
Sea Lancer nodded, before charging towards Aethba's monsters, piercing through them with his lance a few times.
"From my hand I activate the effect of Malasyian Giant Bat! When a Malasyian would be destroyed by battle, I can draw the top card. If it's a Malasyian, I take no damage and get to special summon it full points and all."
Serpent Night Dragon was destroyed. Aethba drew and showed the card he drew.
"I summon Malasyian Millenium Shield."
The large device emerged, to Ruria's chagrin.
"I end my turn."
Aethba drew. There was a strong gust of wind around him from his draw.
"I activate Soul Charge. I pay 1000 life points for each monster I want to special summon and special summon them, but cannot enter my battle phase this turn. I summon Malaysian Serpent Night Dragon and Maladysian Silverfish."
"No one summons two monsters at the cost of half their life points...unless—"
Aethba smirked. "Unless that person intends to tribute them. I tribute all three of my monsters to summon Malaysian Slifer the Sky Dragon (?/?)!"
All three monsters were struck by lighting before exploding into pixels. From the ground, hot magma created a crevice and from the crevice a large serpentine creature appeared. This body turned out to only be a silhouette as what appeared was a missile.
This missile-like appearance would give way to the emergence of Slifer the Sky Dragon, a tall, silver dragon with blue streaks.
"And since Malaysian Silverfish left the field, all your special summoned monsters are destroyed. Goodbye, Aqua Spirit."
The green skin undine screeched exploding into pixels.
Ruria closed her eyes and thought to herself, trying to think of which monsters to bring out on her next turn.
"But that's not all. My monster gains 800 ATK for every Malasyian in my graveyard (4000). I end my turn."
Ruria picked up her card that would be her last if she didn't get something good. Thankfully for her, she did.
"I activate Pot of Desires. I banish the top ten cards from my deck facedown so I can draw two cards after using it."
True to her words, those aforementioned ten cards would be banished, before she proceeded to draw the two cards in question.
She drew a spell and a monster.
"I summon Drill Barnacle in Attack Mode 300-500/300-500)."
Drill Barnacle, a sea creature with drills, soon charged right after Aethba's monsters.
"I activate Gift of the Martyr. By tributing Sea Lancer my Drill Barnacle gains his attack (3200). And since Drill Barnacle can attack directly, I attack you with Drill Barnacle!"
Drill Barnacle's drills swiftly cut through the enemy monsters, dealing plenty of damage.
Aethba: 0
"Although your monster is strong, you made your life points weak." Ruria remarked with her victory.
Aethba grimaced in disappointment. "To think that I have lost to a mere piece of meat such as yourself." he muttered under his breath.
Ruria didn't smile at her victory; instead she was just about as curious about him as Nuo was. "But why do you target us humans for?" she asked.
"Other than gods not having enough numbers to reproduce on Earth, I only go after the humans who are good at this soon to be lifestyle."
Ruria almost flinched at his statement, but still kept her cool.
She pulled out her cellphone. In the brief seconds it took to dial up the number she was calling, Aethba was gone. Now all Ruria had was a surprised face and a beeping phone.
Reluctantly, she quickly answered. "Um...hello?" she asked.
"Hey Ruria it's Nuo. Thank you for the location of this event, but doesn't seem like Aethba is showing up. If you want to take off your disguise and give these fans a real model to root for, I'll be here until it closes."
"Oh...okay, sure!" Ruria replied. "Just so you know, I had encountered Aethba, and that I also won a battle with him, too." she added.
"Are you serious?" Nuo asked.
"Definitely." she said. "We'll probably talk more when I get there."
After finishing up her call, Ruria went back to change into some more appropriate clothes for the event. When she was finished, she had decided to travel to the event that Nuo was at.
She was being ogled by the fans of the idols when she was making her appearance. Not only were boys and a few girls looking at her like a deity, but one of the idols with the longest strands of blond hair that look like belts glared at her. This wasn't her event, so showing up unannounced got her rival peeved.
The rival, Akatsuki, scoffed at her presence, as Ruria had quickly signed autographs for the fans. When Nuo was quick to spot her, he was shocked at how completely different she truly looked.
Ruria saw him too, a quick perk of her head with her eyes fully glued on him, but that was only seven seconds and immediately after seeing him her eyes were down on her dvds, magazines, and action figures neets who spend all day going on their computer to watch/read hentai have-all signed by her.
"Hey, you said we wanted to talk, right?" she heard Nuo call out to her. She wasn't sure if she would either stop and speak with him, or continue looking at her catalogue.
Remembering what Nuo told her on the phone, she had chosen to take a break from what she was doing and rendezvous with him. "Wow; you certainly look a lot different than what you've usually worn." he told her.
"Thanks...I knew you'd appreciate what my little secret was." Ruria replied with a smile.
"Right. Here is the healthiest food the food court has." Nuo handed her a stick of meat and vegetables on it. Ruria took it, before he asked, "Did Aethba hurt you?"
"No, but he challenged me to a duel, and I ended up winning, to his shock." she told him.
Nuo was also shocked she won against the opponent he couldn't beat.
"I know it may sound surprising to you, but that defeat pretty much added fuel to Aethba's fire; meaning, he'll still be after us." Ruria added.
'But if he went after her after dueling me it means he's testing all those close to me. That means his next target could be...Camille.'
Ruria's mouth went slightly agape. "I think she needs to be reminded of such a threat." she told him.
This conversation was interrupted by Akatsuki storming between them and holding out her hand, her nails moving up in Nuo's face.
"Hey Ruria, can I talk to this fan your having so much fun with?"
"Uh, Akatsuki...what are you doing here? Nuo and I were talking about something very important." Ruria asked.
"Important?! Hmph!" Akatsuki replied, rolling her eyes.
"I'm her private detective, so buzz off and maybe I'll buy two of your merchandise next time." Nuo told her.
Akatsuki scoffed, before she left, allowing Nuo and Ruria to converse with each other again.
"Anyways, I think it's best I look for Camille. Have fun here and know that the octoballs here are To. Die. For."
Ruria chuckled at his statement, before telling him, "Great; take care and be careful, okay?"
"I will." Nuo replied with a nod.
Nuo didn't forget about the two amateur detectives who traveled with him. They decided to work alone. As of now, he had to figure out as to where Camille was as he searched the city.
Turns out she was in a bank...attempting to rob it with her friends with a mask on her face and a pistol in her hand.
"You ready for this?" she asked her friends.
"Yeah, but we're a little worried that we might screw this up." one of them replied.
Within seconds, Camille and her group burst into the bank, prompting the people and workers inside to panic. "Alright, time to score us some money from you bankers!" she called out.
Some of the bankers were genuinely scared, but had no other to choice to comply.
On the other hand, a groveling female customer wept while her head was buried in her hands. Camille watched her but kept her pistol away from her.
"C'mon, c'mon." She said in a weird slur making the bank manager hesitant. Than she pistol whipped the counter in a thunderous down. "C'mon, give me your key to your bank!"
"O-Okay. Just don't kill me, miss!" the manager replied, biting his lip as his fidgety hands brought her the bank key.
