A Legacy of Souls: Terminate the Dream

by Medigo

The virtual world of dueling has survived many threats, but the worst has yet to come. New entities born from the minds of millions seek power to shape the destiny of living. Heroes will be turned against each other as it becomes impossible to trust anyone. And in the middle of it all, one duelist struggles to return to his friends to save them from the one who has stolen his life.

123. World 115: Or Forever Hold Your Peace

World 115: Or Forever Hold Your Peace

"No."

"No?" The Creator seemed to be taken aback. Charles Adami rejected his offer within a matter of seconds. "No. I will not accept this. This is not what we set out to do. We wanted to destroy the legacy items to return the world to normal. Not to change everything for everyone!" He did not even have to consider it, he would accept this much power. "I should have expected such a response, you with the most limited and common frame of mind. But I am sure your friends will not fear the potential of our future as much." He would not give up on his proposal until he got an answer from all of them.

"No. The boss has a point. This stuff is whack." Dharma quickly vocalized her own thoughts on the matter. "You can't control everyone, you shouldn't. Life has to be free, whether it leads to good or bad things. I am not saying the world we have right now is perfect. But there have to be million better ways to improve it than what you are saying!" As soon as she said her piece, Hydra let his own opinion be heard. "I quite agree. This world you speak of is the world you want. But you do not seem to care about what we want, what those beneath you want. All of this is for your own self glorification, your own legacy. I will not be a part of this, Creator."

"You just do not understand, you are too rooted in the old ways. But you, Aurora.. you know what I mean. You came closest of all to understanding my vision." The Creator extended his hand towards the weather duelist. That hand held a deck of cards. "Your vision?" She took the cards without thinking about it, discovering that they were the Mekk Knights.. "Yes, the vision of a world without pain and conflict. A world where people like you can be whatever they want to be. This is what you have been waiting for ever since you found the shield, this is the destiny you wanted for yourself!" He exclaimed with many jubilations and wanted to see her share in his revelry. "But.." She could not. "But it is not decided yet." She saw Echo and Continuum still battling each other in the black skies. The outcome of their endless duel would decide the fate for the Creator's new world as well. "How can you make a choice based on fate?" If Continuum won, the world would be robbed of all emotion.. she could not risk it. "Why do you not care?"

"I cared once. It led me to this place. I cannot let my own humanity tie me down, I am beyond that now. Only the test matters, only the scientific process." Said the Creator. "That is exactly why we cannot let you do this. You've detached yourself from everything, sheltered yourself from the world and watched everything from afar! How can you be the one to choose what everyone else can and cannot do? You say you're above us all, but you're just another megalomaniac like Static and Continuum." Charles still heard no reason to go along with any of His desires. "I am sheltered? What does that make you, Charles Adami? What makes you a better judge of humanity's future than I?" The Creator sounded deeply offended. "I dont know a lot of people, no. But the ones I do.. I know them better than you do! You just thought we would blindly follow you! But we have proven you wrong!" Charles did not particularly care how offended He got. "And that is why you 'cannot let me do this'. And how exactly are you going to stop me?"

"I guess there is only one way." Charles took a deep breath. "I will have to defeat you.. at your own game!" He activated his dueldisk. If this strange realm still counted as an extention of the network, then the Creator would also be tied to the rules of STHEREA. "Yeah! And I will help him!" Dharma stepped forward with her own cards to back her friend up. "And if they cannot succeed, I will try instead." Hydra acted likewise. "... Yes." And even Crescent Aurora knew what she wanted to do now. "This is how it is going to be." She prepared her deck and looked towards the Creator. "My destiny is to be with my friends, not with you."

"Hoho. This is excellent." The Creator, for his part, appeared to be exclusively enthused by their response. "One final battle to settle our own stories. Yes, that is the way it should be." He waved his hand around and conjured up a large throne of obsidian to sit in. The ground also shifted around to construct a dueling field with five columns and spell/trap/extra zones. Finally, he erected a set of walls to block the view of the world around them.. separating the four duelists from the other ongoing duels between the entities and the two Scarlets. "Let's make it four against one. You take one turn, and then I will follow. That should give everyone their closure and their chance to see my glory." A deck of cards appeared out of thin air, as well as a skill card.. He drew his four cards and waited for them to start their offense.

Creator's LP: 8000

"Four against one?" Charles only now noticed that Midsummer Nightmare had gone missing in the last few minutes. "Tch." They did not need him, he trusted the people currently with him more than enough. "Hey Boss. You're good to go then, right?" Dharma figured that with Charles being the challenger, he should take the first turn too. The others all took their positions around the field. "Yeah. We have to do this. This man has lost his mind. He cannot be allowed to have this much power." Charles drew his five cards. "Nobody should!"

Charles' LP: 8000

"So it begins with you. How very fitting. Everyone imagines themselves to be the hero of the story, but you may be the first one to take this long to realize it." The Creator laughed. "Are you telling me you planned for Static to invite me?" Charles asked him as he started drawing his cards. "I only gave my creations their instructions, who they chose to turn into their warriors was their own design. But you characterize me too harshly when you say that I do not care. I interfered when needed. I nudged the players in the right directions from time to time. Remember how you were conveniently collected by men who worked for Continuum's system? That was one of my ideas. I wanted to see what you would do, I felt it was too soon for you to leave the board despite Static's arrangements." He explained with a satisfied look on his face. "Board? Players? You keep treating this as just a game, even if you deny it. Meanwhile you did nothing to help my family, who did not ask for any of this! Creator, I hope you enjoyed all the duels we've had to do in your name. This will be the last one!"

-TURN 01-

Charles normal summoned the first monster: Draconnet(3/1400/200) [Zone 3]. The cyberwyrm special summoned one normal cyberse monster from his deck in defense mode: the tiny blue bit creature Protron(1/0/0) [Zone 2]. "I link summon Link Spider, who special summons one normal cyberse monster from my hand!" The cyberspider(1000/LINK 1) {Down} [Extra Zone 1] used a normal cyberse, Protron, as its link material. And it gave the field a bigger powerless bit in return: the cyberse Bitron(2/200/2000) [Zone 3]. "Then I link summon Splash Mage! Her effect allows me to special summon one cyberse monster from my graveyard, with its effects negated!" Bitron and Draconnet created the second link circuit which led to more humanoid cyberse(1100/LINK 2) {Downleft/Downright} [Zone 2]] with silver hair and white magician robes. The aquatic mage dragged Draconnet [Zone 1] back out of the graveyard as if the ground were made of water. "Now I activate Micro Coder from my hand! I can use it as a link material for any Code Talker and I choose Transcode Talker!" For the next link circuit, Splash Mage combined with the miniature decoder knight and link summoned the earthen Code gunman(2300/LINK 3) {Up/Down/Right} [Extra Zone 1].

"Ah but of course you choose the Transcoder. It is your favorite Code Talker, and your second favorite link monster after Linkuriboh. You've used it ten times now." The Creator claimed seemingly off the top of his head.

"Hmph. Maybe it is. But I prepared more than just my favorite tricks for this duel, Creator. When Micro Coder is used as a link material, I can add a Cynet trap or spell to my hand! I pick this one, Cynet Codec!" The card Charles chose was a continuous spell, and a rather good one. "Now, each time I link summon a Code Talker, I can add one cyberse with the same element from the deck to my hand!" Transcode Talker itself used the power of restructuring to special summon Splash Mage[Zone 4] back to a place where the two could link up. "I link summon Excode Talker! This time I will use a Code Generator in my hand as its third material!" The Mage dematerialized with another hand-link material: the pocket-sized transcoding Code Generator. Water and earth mixed together and formed the Code knight of wind: Excode Talker(2300/LINK 3) {Left/Up/Right} [Zone 3]. "Cynet Codec adds the wind cyberse Code Exporter to my hand!" Charles declared. Sending Code Generator to the grave as a link material also allowed Charles to send another cyberse (Latency) from his deck to the graveyard.

"Hang on. Are you gonna shoot for plan extra?" Dharma noticed that Excode started up a co-link with Transcode Talker (3300 atk) {Up/Down/Right} and also Link Spider {Down} which could blossom into something greater. Already Transcode added 500 attackpoints to all monsters in his co-link while Excode(2800 atk) added 500 attackpoints to all monsters it formed a link with. "I have to do something he has not seen yet, to stop him in his tracks!" Charles presumed his opponent would be attacking with mostly link monsters, which made him go for an extra link.. on the first turn.

"Code Transporter can also be turned into a Code Talker's link material from my hand! And if its sent to the graveyard, I add one cyberse monster from the graveyard to my hand!" His next move would set many objects in motion. Draconnet and the mini-excoder Transporter turned into the link materials for a Code Talker of LIGHT: Code Talker Inverted(1300/LINK 2) {Left/Right} [Zone 4]. Cynet Codec added the LIGHT cyberse Lady Debug to Charles' hand, Inverted's effect could special summon that same ladybug cyberse(4/1700/1400) [Zone 5] from his hand to the field in a linked position, and Lady Debug's effect added a level 3 or lower cyberse monster (Widget Kid) from the deck to the hand. Meanwhile the effect of Code Transporter returned Latency to the hand, and the hourglass latency cyberse(1/0/0) [Zone 1] could special summon herself after any effect moved her from the graveyard to the hand. "Now, one more element.." Lady Debug and Inverted Code Talker performed the last threeway link summon of the turn, coming together to release the aquatic archer Shootingcode Talker(2800/LINK 3) {Right/Up/Down} [Zone 4]

"One more link to go." Crescent saw the chain going from the first extra zone with the Link Spider, all the way to the second empty extra zone. Because they were all sharing the same field, the Creator would not be able to use it if Charles claimed it first. And he would. "Cynet Codec adds a water monster to my hand now, since Shootingcode has that attribute! I choose this card, Scrypton! I can special summon it by banishing one cyberse from the grave!" His newest monster took the form of an electric cyber-diver(5/1500/1500) [Zone 5] with a cape and fishbowl helmet. It used the card of Code Transporter to charge its own special summon, and quickly paired up with Latency to move towards that coveted zone. "My final link monster is Recovery Sorcerer! And when Scrypton goes to the graveyard, I can return one banished cyberse to my main deck!" Latency also let the player draw one card if she too turned into a link material after she managed to special summon herself. Essentially Charles switched the Code Transporter with a drawn card from the deck, while his recovering yellow-armored Sorcerer(1500/LINK 2) {Left/Down} formed the final piece.. of the Extra link.

"Heh. It has been a while. If you wanted to make a good impression, you have certainly managed that." The Creator said, looking more amused than concerned. "I am not in this for your approval. The only thing I want is to return everything back to the way it was." Charles placed one trap card down and let the turn come to an end. "Why would you want to end our fun so soon? I have barely begun. Now your actions will throw me a bit off script. But I do not mind. The whole story will be told one way or another."

-TURN 02-

"Story?" Crescent raised her head as that word got dropped. "Yes. You enjoyed the story, didn't you? Or at least, you felt a connection with it. That's how all of this started, I wanted to tell my own story to the world. I chose the most popular medium to bring it life.. the cards. I summon the World Legacy World Key!" The Creator summoned his first monster: a thin sword(1/0/0) [Zone 3] with a curved golden handle. "The Key? The eight item?" Crescent gasped. It looked exactly like the item that Scarlet Fever used to break into this dimension. "Yes. This is the one item above all others. "I was their builder after all. But they were also always parts of my story. .That which controls the fate of the stars and planets, and was left behind by god so that the world could be reshaped once more. In my story it would only show up at the end, when the old is done away with and a new tale begins. World Key sends one World Legacy card from my hand to the graveyard to give myself a second normal summon this turn!" The Creator discarded another Item, the World Legacy World Wand. That activated the effect of the Wand to special summon another World Legacy monster from the hand.

"The World Armor was one of the first items discovered in the story. Scattered across the lands and inhabited by the foul Krawlers. Just like the real Armor was one of the first items discovered by mankind. " He chose the giant pieces of the World Legacy World Armor(7/2500/2500) [Zone 3]. "It is a shame that Melyria could not be here. She and Ezra did far more with my gifts than any of you ever could dream of." The Armor's effect allowed the Creator to add yet another World Legacy card from his deck, World Legacy World Chalice, to his hand. "Those items drove them insane. Did you know that they would have that effect? Did you know that it would make them addicted to their power?" Hydra yelled. He himself had been a victim of the Armor after all. "That was the point. My legacy had to continue. It would be useless if people could feel the desire to throw the items away. Take the lance, with its power you could dream up any reality you desired. The fact that Ezra fell to his own nightmares however was due to his weakness, not mine. Let me show you how to properly wield this power. I activate my skill. The Throne of the World!"

Throne of the World: Crown Form, Skill Card
Take control of 1 monster your opponent controls that was summoned from the extra deck in a previous turn, that monster's effect is negated and it cannot attack.

"A control changer?" Charles could not believe it. The throne that the Creator sat in released a thin spear of light that impaled and claimed control of Excode Talker, dragging that monster[Zone 3] over to his side of the field and giving him new marked zones to play with. "But I am no cruel god. I knew the items could also fall in the wrong hands. That is why left one item with Exeter to begin with, so they could undo the damage if it ever got out of hand. Alas, Hansen corrupted it. Not everyone can be a hero." The callous creator in turn he sacrificed the World key to tribute summon the giant cup of World Legacy World Chalice(5/0/0) [Zone 2]. "But she can.. I link summon Lib the World Key Blademaster! Her materials are two monsters!" The Creator sent both World Legacy Armor and Chalice to the graveyard, and placed a monster on her field that resembled the blue-haired girl(2000/LINK 2) {Downleft/Down} [Zone 4] that Hansen once used when he dueled Hydra. But now she wielded the world key sword, and a blue outfit with golden bracers and boots.

"When Lib appears, I set one World Legacy card from the deck down on the field!" The Creator set one continuous spell card: The World Legacy. "Now I can truly start my tale." He flipped the set card face-up, covering the empty void with a star-filled night sky. "For some it all began at a hidden village protected by another item, the Chalice. Ib was the inheritor of its power, and she underwent a long journey to become the woman you see now." Sending the normal summoned World Legacy Chalice to the graveyard triggered its own effect to special summon two World Chalice monsters from the deck. "Ningirsu also was her brother." The Creator chose the tiny crystal fairy Lee(2/100/2000) [Zone 3] and the purple haired nomad lancer Beckoned By the World Chalice(4/1800/0) [Zone 2]. "Lee then showed up one day as as a messenger with a quest. The quest to find the items." Lee, just like in her last duel, used her effect to add one World Chalice card to the duelist's hand. He selected the third companion of Ib, World Chalice Guardragon. "For now you only need to know that even the Guardragons joined her on that quest."

"Oh right those guys." Blanche vaguely recognized the card that Beckoned turned into. The Creator used him as a normal monster link material for Imduk the green winged World Chalice Guardragon(800/LINK 1) {Up} {Zone 5], linking him with Recovery Sorcerer as well. "It's Hansen all over again." Hydra muttered. Just like before Imduk used its effect to normal summon another World Chalice card: its infant World Chalice Guardragon form(1/400/400) [Zone 2]. "But he cannot just be using his cards, can he?"

"We will get to the others later, Hydra. At least I am glad you made it here. You already know what happens when I release Ningirsu's true form." The Creator removed both Lib the Blademaster and World Chalice Guardragon, dividing them among the three corners of a link circuit to link summon Ningirsu the World Chalice Warrior(2500/LINK 3) {Left/Up/Right} [Zone 4]. "I draw one card for each World Chalice monster Ningirsu points to. Though it hardly feels right to call them monsters.. one of them at least." The more armored Ningirsu linked with both the dragon Imduk and the Fairy Lee, thus he drew two cards. "Lib also has one parting gift. When she leaves the field, one card is sent back to the hand. Thus your majestic extra link is finally broken, Charles." The Creator turned this effect against the Recovery Sorcerer, forcing her back into the extra deck. It would not take long for that vacant zone to find a new master. "And I still have one more to introduce as well: Ib's closest friend and partner." Lee and Imduk turned into the materials for a blonde shining knight Auram the World Chalice Blademaster(2000/LINK 2) {Downleft/Downright} [Extra Zone 2].

"Well don't mind if I cut in then." Hydra interacted with the duel at this point with a special summon effect of his own. "When a link monster is summoned, I can special summon Phantazmay the Fantastical Dragon from my hand!" One zone got claimed by the invisible duelist, where he placed his blue flame winged dragon knight(7/2400/1600) there in defense position. "Then I draw cards equal to the number of link monsters my opponent controls plus one. And I shuffle one card less than that number back into my deck." Auram, Ningirsu and Excode Talker plus one; 4 cards joined the 3 in his hand, and 3 cards joined the rest of his deck.

"You should not interrupt me, Hydra. It is not your turn yet. Now where was I? Oh yes.. Ib, Auram, Imduk and Ningirsu all gained new powers when they encountered Lee and made a pact with the World Chalice. And they used that power to set out on their journey. I will do the same, but first my party must be complete." The Creator banished the World Chalice Guardragon from his graveyard. In doing so he activated the card's effect to special summon another normal monster from the graveyard to a link-arrow marked zone. "We cannot have two Ningirsus after all. Auram gains three hundred attackpoints for each World Legacy monster in my graveyard. And he sacrifices one World Chalice monster to link with another monster in the graveyard!" Beckoned By The World Chalice [Zone 5] returned to life briefly, only to give up his his spot on the field to the World Chalice Armor [Zone 5]. "Then the link monster Ningirsu sends one card on each side of the field to the graveyard!" The Warrior chose himself for this effect, and targeted Charles' set card for the other half of this deadly event. "I am affraid your role in this story ends here, Charles."

"I don't plan on leaving the stage just yet, Creator!" Charles activated his quickplay spell card at the last possible second: Cynet Backdoor. "I banish one cyberse monster from my field for one turn, and add another one with less attackpoints from the deck to my hand! But I suppose I am not telling you anything new here!" Charles banished the Shootingcode Talker and used the backdoor to add the Prohibit Snake from his deck to his hand. "Ahahah. You got me. You held your spell back just in case I used my removal effects on it, eh?" This minor upset did not seem to be enough to discourage the good humored creator, he sent Auram in anyway. With the power of the Chalice, Key, Armor and Wand imbuing his sword: the World Chalice Warrior charged Transcode Talker. "I did. And now I can do this, I activate Prohibit Snake to return one monster that battles my cyberse link monster to hand!" The yellow code snake of prohibition coiled around the attacking Auram and deleted him on the spot: forcing him back into the extra deck.

"Of course. A hero does not know when to surrender. But you are not fighting a hero anymore." The Creator responded suddenly activated one of the spells in his hand. "I activate Guardragon Reincarnation! I can banish link monsters on the field or in the graveyard to fuse them together! I fusion summon World Chalice Guardragon Almarduke!" His quickplay spell banished the Excode Talker on his field, along with Lib and Imduk in the graveyard. "A fusion Guardragon? How come I didn't get that one!" Dharma cried out. "Because it is connects more with the story of the World Chalice heroes, Madam Blanche. Almarduke is the final evolution of Imduk." The Creator proselytized while his new majestic dragon(9/3000/2600) [Extra Zone 2] hovered above him. "The World Chalice Guardragon can now attack all monsters on the field!" Almarduke shimmered with a plumed hide of white and azure feathers. It released a song-like cry and released a beam of green light from its throat, sending the Link Spider far down into the graveyard and ending its co-link with Transcode Talker(2300 atk).

Charles' LP: 6000

"Then there is its other power. When it battles a link monster, he can banish one link monster from the graveyard with the same rating. And then the attacked link monster is destroyed before the damage step begins.. and you take damage equal to its attackpoints!" The previous attack left starlight specks trailing behind Almarduke as it circled back around to make a second attack. Instead of its azure flames, the Guardragon let the light of the stars strike down upon Transcode Talker and blasted part after part away from the earthen code gunner. This slow and methodical destruction hurt the cyberse duelist a lot more.

Charles LP: 3700

"But you are fortunate, you get to be with us for one more turn." Almarduke used its final attack to blast Fantazmay away. Now defenseless, Charles received a direct attack from the World Legacy Armor, which slamming down its large hollow gauntlet down next to him. "Ugh!" The impact shook the very foundations of the heavenly battlefield, sending Charles plummeting to the ground while his allies nearly lost their own footing. "And we enter the next chapter." The Creator placed two more cards down on his field and passed the turn to whomever dared to go next. "I am glad that you could be here for this at least. Though it still saddens me that we will have to part ways after this. It is unfortunate. I foresee that I will have to reshape the world with either Continuum or Echo alone. But this is what is meant to be. This.. is my destiny."

Charles' LP: 1200

(To Be Continued in World 116: Hero Of None)

New Cards used by Charles Adami
Scrypton

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Splash Mage

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Cynet Codec

New Cards used by THE CREATOR
World Legacy - "World Key"
World Legacy - "World Wand"
World Legacy - "World Armor"
World Legacy - "World Chalice"
Lee the World Chalice Fairy
Beckoned by the World Chalice
World Chalice Guardragon

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Lib the World Key Blademaster
Imduk the World Chalice Guardragon
Ningirsu the World Chalice Warrior
Auram the World Chalice Blademaster
World Chalice Guardragon Almarduke

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The World Legacy
Guardragon Reincarnation