Nightmare Troubador
By 7th Librarian
A/N:Welcome to the sequel to 'Heirs of Fate'. Many thanks to all of my reviewers from the previous fic and welcome to all the newcomers who thought this worth your time. I hope you all leave reviews and know that you'll all enjoy it.
Chapter 1: There's No Such Thing As Bad Publicity
Sumire Ishtar-Pegasus found there was a savage satisfaction in what she was about to do. In the three months since she had taken over Industrial Illusions, it had been clear to her that the company's rise in popularity - and the resultant Duel Monsters sales increase - had been from her new family's victory in the Bride Tournament. But now, through painstaking effort, sleepless nights and screwing every smile into place for every single dreaded interview, she was about to make history through nothing but her own hard work.
There was just one more hurdle to overcome.
"I am not wearing this." Sumire declared, holding out the offending garment as if it were the corpse of her mortal enemy. "It is too reminiscent of Seto Kaiba and his shadow reaches over me enough as it is. This is my triumph, not his."
"I'd argue that you are celebrating two family triumphs with this, heralding a new era of Duel Monsters with Synchro and Xyz and the grand opening of Kaibaland Tokyo. Which, I might add, Seto never managed, let alone build it atop the bones of Disneyland Tokyo. That's an achievement right there-"
"Uncle Mokuba!" Sumire shoved the pearly white trenchcoat in the older man's face, its electric blue accents not nearly as sharp as her blue eyes. "I am not wearing it. Our family struggles enough as it is in the eyes of the public, why would anyone want to reinforce an outdated cliche?"
"It's not about a cliche, it's about making a statement and creating an identity." Mokuba held up the edge of his own rose blue coat. "You need to stand out and be memorable, give something for people to talk about. You're a major public figure now, Sumire and people will talk about everything from the clothes you wear to the curl of your eyelashes."
"As true as it, Uncle," Sumire held up the coat again, her tone firm, "Why must I persist in this archetype? I am a modern business woman; business apparel will suffice."
Mokuba leaned back in the desk chair lifting a single finger. "One, you're a Kaiba. That coat is brand recognition and familiar to the public. It's also a simple design of two colors that compliment your very dark skin tone well and can be embellished as time goes to generate your own identity."
A second finger rose to join the first. "Two. You're also a Pegasus now, Sumire. Flamboyant, exaggeration and uniqueness are expected of you. In your last four public appearances, nearly all of the reviews commented that your serious attitude and dress were very much at odds with the Pegasus family reputation and Duel Monsters in general, that you seem to see more as a business and numbers game. Not an entire industry that people dedicate whole lives and careers and more to."
A third finger. "Your grand opening starts in forty minutes, you aren't going to set a good tone if you show up dressed for a funeral and there's not time to go out and get you anything else."
Sumire glowered at him, lips thinning. He raised good points and as part of her Board of Directors for Industrial Illusions, it was her uncle's job to advise her and ensure she did not tarnish the company's image. And as her uncle, she knew he only wanted her to succeed and put her best foot forwards.
And loathe as she was to admit it, she was struggling. She thought it would have been hard to deal with a world that knew her as Seto Kaiba's daughter, but it was harder than even that to be Sumire Pegasus. Everyone expected smiles, jokes, clever witticisms and open friendliness. Things she was possessing so very little of. She wore her business attire like armor, professionalism like a shield, directness like a sword. It was what led her to come so far in the last three months.
But it was rapidly becoming apparent that it wasn't going to carry her much further. This grand opening of Kaibaland Tokyo was a triumph in so many ways on paper and future investment, but publicly, it was a hit-or-miss that seemed to be leaning towards 'miss'. They hadn't been able to garner any major dueling names for the occasion, the media had noticed and several people asked for commentary on that had made remarks in the vein of 'our lifelong love becoming her business' and 'ice queens don't have a warm setting'.
The trenchcoat was a step in the right direction, not even a major change. Just wear simple, smart clothing underneath and slip it on when out in public, take off when not. As her uncle had said, it was branding and the start of an identity, something to give people something to talk about. From that perspective, it was simple.
But from her perspective, it wasn't. She had lived her life in fear of being known only as 'Seto Kaiba's daughter', always trying to forget that the bastard had donated the sperm that had let her mother give birth to her and had such a long, deep shadow that could swallow her up in a blink.
Putting on the coat would be an acknowledgment, however slight and partial, of her acceptance as that man's child, that she was part of his mixed legacy. Having it in her hands now was unsettling for the thought it drew out of her brain.
Had she spent so long running from being Seto Kaiba's daughter that she had forgotten to figure out who she was?
She looked at her Uncle. A man who knew all too well what it felt like to be in Seto's shadow. Who had had to fight just as hard to shrug off the mantle of 'kid brother' and be seen as a capable head. She wondered how he had figured it out.
But there was no time to ask. Just as there was no time to reject the coat. She was on stage in forty minutes. In fact now she thought about it, he had almost certainly waited until now for that exact reason. Cunning...I wonder how fast he learned that after Seto disappeared.
With a scowl, she shrugged the garment on. Mokuba's professional sternness melted into a smile of satisfaction.
"Thank you."
Sumire just glowered politely as she could. Which, as a Kaiba, was capable of scaring small children.
Mokuba just smiled.
Her thoughts of revenge were interrupted as a voice called in from outside. "Is it safe, Mokuba? Has she exploded? Challenged you to a duel atop a death tower? Or tried to fly away in her Blue-Eyes Jet?"
Sumire let out a breath, her sour mood lessening at the playful, familiar tones. "No, my husband. I have done none of those things. You are all spared my wrath, so please come in."
"That's kind of a pity. Being a Pegasus, you're supposed to throw, unique silly fits of pique. Like flying off in a mechanical dragon, only to swoop in right on time for the opening in front of a stunned crowd." The door opened, admitting a lilac-haired man in a wheelchair being pushed by a fashionable-dressed white-haired woman. The man was smiling in amusement. "Though that kind of blurs the line between Pegasus and Kaiba, I suppose."
"It would do wonders for my image, I imagine, but my jet is still at the airfield, Bellerophon." Sumire informed him with a shake of her head. "And it is more hassle than I wish right now. This coat will have to do."
"I think it doesn't do enough," Lero said, his smiling growing when she and Mokuba gave him confused looks. "It's a step in the right direction, but also too familiar for it to make an impact."
Sumire raised her eyebrow, indicating Lero's double-breasted suit, ruffled sleeves and silver ascot. "I do not fit your apparel, Bellerophon, as I am too 'serious'."
"No, but there's a middle ground that is much more you, Sumire." Lero's smile grew in time with her curiosity. "Rosemary?"
The white-haired woman nodded and let go of his chair, vanishing back out the door and returning with a garment draped over her arms. "Here you are, dear."
Sumire took it, holding it up. It was another trenchcoat, but was dark emerald green. Unlike the offerings from her uncle, this one was double breasted with an amber-coloured military braiding looping around the buttons. It was fitted at the top before flaring out around her hips in a way that would provide a suitable but not over-the-top level of drama.
"See? Business on top, party on the bottom," Lero was beaming to such a degree that Sumire wondered if they should call a doctor. "Designed to your exacting tastes."
It was, she could just tell by the feel of it. The tight lines, the sturdy fabric, the neat weave of the braiding. She had never ever considered anything like this before, but immediately knew it was her. She took off the current coat, discarding it over a chair and pulled the new one on. Feeling it settle into place on her body drew a smile out. "It fits perfectly, Bellerophon."
"You can thank Verthandi for that. She threw her heart into making it." Lero admitted with a casual smile and shrug. "I just came up with the design."
Hearing that suddenly warmed her heart in an indescribable way. "You designed this?" Seeing him nod, Sumire felt her smile take on a new dimension. "Thank you, Bellerophon. This is a lovely gift."
"Hey, you're the one in the spotlight. Might as well make sure you look your best, right?"
Rosie was nodding, but Sumire detected a stiffness in her jaw and realised it was perfunctory. The British model had made her feelings on the marriage very clear right from the start. Seeing the judgement in the back of her eyes, raised hackles that the CEO hadn't even been aware she possessed. She is just pushing my buttons…
Straightening the collar, she ran both hands down the sides of her body, feeling the fabric conform to her curves. There were no mirrors in the Kaibaland executive offices, but she didn't need them to know that this was her battle armour.
"Okay. You are right." She didn't mind admitting such things to Lero. She might be the CEO, but she was aware of her shortcomings, and appreciated the help to fill them in. "Will you both join me downstairs for the speech?"
"Naw, this is your moment to shine and I haven't been in the public eye since the tournament." Lero said with a casual wave of his hand. "We'll watch from here."
"We should head downstairs for the briefing," Mokuba interjected. He was still smiling - he had lost the battle of the trenchcoats, but he'd still won the war. "And let make up pat you down again."
"I do not require more make up, and I do not understand everyone's obsession with it. Seto Kaiba never had to wear make up."
"...you'd be surprised what CEOs have to do for television - even Seto."
TTTTTTT
The gate to the new Kaibaland had kept Seto Kaiba's design thematic, the gate's arch two larger than life Blue-Eyes White Dragon roaring at each other, wings flared and tails curling down dynamically to become the gate's handles. A single pristine, white ribbon bound them shut.
Drones floated above the crowd, two of them focused on the man speaking in front of a podium. A minister in one from the Japanese government who'd been involved in all the dealings Industrial Illusions and Disney had had to sell the land, then to expand it and build. Giving a speech about this would herald new changes and benefits for all involved, how happy the Japanese government was to have such an illustrious symbol built in their capital and so on and so forth.
No admission of the Bride Tournament three months ago, which Sumire expected. The tournament had come about because two long-standing marriage contracts betrothing her to both the firstborn of the Pegasus family, Bellerophon and Yoshito Decrall of Ironwrought Industries. The latter, being a weapons manufacturing company, had used their ties to the Japanese Special Defense Force to pressure the Japanese government into forcing the 'Bride Tournament' to happen - a best-of-five tourney meant to be an alternative to the drawn-out legal battle over deciding whose marriage contract was legal since Sumire could not be married to two people at once.
But that tournament had backfired, Bellerophon's friends triumphing over Yoshito's Pros. The Japanese Government had collectively decided to ignore the issue and let Ironwrought suffer the heat from it all. Given how bad the damage was and seemed to be only getting worse for Ironwrought, the fear of that backlash spreading was probably why the Japanese Government had been so accommodating when Sumire had asked for permission to expand the park and so on.
That was fine with her. It had been one less obstacle that way. Now, in less than three minutes, she was going to go out there and unveil her work to the world at large.
Her speech rolled through her mind for the umpteenth time in the last week. Thank the audience for coming, highlight how innovative and fun this new mostly-holographic themepark would be, demonstrate the Bleeding Edge system again, promise a new now that KaibaCorp and Industrial Illusions had finished merging and so on. Rote things that were easy to memorize and were expected, but never quite seemed enough against that sea of eager, gazing faces.
The weight of her new coat was more reassuring, like she was wearing armor and it settled comfortably on her as if she'd been wearing it for years. It was such a surprising and thoughtful gift from Bellerophon. And she felt a twinge of shame at not having gotten anything for him since the Bride Tournament. If anything, she'd taken more by claiming ownership and CEO of Industrial Illusions and becoming the new public face. Sometimes the company felt like it was stolen, even if she and Bellerophon had agreed it was the smart play. Both to capitalize on her newfound popularity and he was rapidly becoming unable to perform his duties.
That caused more than a twinge of shame, more of a hard lump of frustrated regret. Bellerophon had been cursed years ago by Ra for daring to use a false copy of the god's card and now that curse was stripping his life from him. In three months, he'd gone from walking to needing a cane to having a wheelchair, his body becoming stiff and claylike as the Sun God's wrath burned the water of life from him.
She had promised to help him, to find a cure, to do something, yet nothing had happened. As Lero had told her, 'running a trillion dollar company takes two trillion hours of work' and those prophetic words had kept her busy.
The frustrated regret melted into resolve. Sumire was going to do something to help him more directly now, her mother's side of the family knew more about curses and Egypt than anyone else. And the company could handle itself while she focused her efforts on her husband's wellbeing. She had a few ideas already...perhaps one of the Millenium Items could help, if they could find them...or she could build him an exo-suit, now that the Bleeding Edge technology allowed one to directly command it from their brainpower…
Yes, that was what she would do. After today, she was going to avoid any grand projects and announcements and devote herself to Bellerophon's cure. He deserved no less.
A tone sounded in her earpiece and she saw the doors out to the audience begin to open as a voice spoke. "Mrs Pegasus, you are on in five...four...three…"
TTTTTTT
"That's it...calm, confident...more welcoming...I think she's got it." Lero would have bounced in his seat were he capable. He and Rosie were seated in one of the Kaibaland office's, watching Sumire's speech on a projector display. Kaibaland was Sumire's baby and it wouldn't do for him to steal any attention. Not that he was in any position or mood to deal with the media. A cane was easily explainable as an eccentric whim, a wheelchair was harder to deal with when your answer to why you couldn't walk was because 'An Egyptian God cursed me for playing a card game'.
Rosemary made a non committal noise in the back of her throat, leaning forward in her seat, her eyes narrowed in a calculating fashion at the screen. Lero blinked.
"What? Do you see something I missed?" The British girl was more used to being in the spotlight - literally - than he and Sumire, having been a model from her early teen years.
Sighing softly, Rosie shook her head sitting back into her seat. "No no. She's doing well. She clearly listened to you. To Jessie. To her uncle and the other board members. She's nailing it...as usual, she's the perfect CEO…"
Despite her words, she did not take her eyes off the screen for a second.
"Running the company is her job, Rosie. You can't hold it against her for doing it well. And I've only known her for three months - she doesn't have to be sprawled out in veils on my bed every night. Paper marriage, remember?" Lero reached out and squeezed her arm. "Besides, being snuggly, adorable and adorably snuggly is your job now."
She blushed. "I'm not snuggly…"
"Yes you are."
"Just because you say it, doesn't make it law."
"...I'm not going to say 'that's not what you said last night' because that's just the kind of classy guy I am…"
Red-faced, Rosie huffed and crawled into his lap. "It's not my job, Lero. It's my privilege. I still can't believe…" she squirmed against him. "...even after all this time...I feel like I don't deserve this kind of luck…"
"Well you do."
"And so do you," she glanced at the screen again, before locking eyes with him. "You deserve someone who understands that being married to you is a privilege, not a job. And I'm disappointed that I'm not seeing it with her yet."
Lero bit back a sigh. This was a conversation he had with his girlfriend more than once. "She is doing an amazing job running I2 which left me suffering stress burnouts and panic attacks. She's trained in caring for someone with my...condition...and helps with everything she can. She is learning to play Duel Monsters and always asks my opinions and thoughts when she has to make a decision concerning it. She's a good person and I'm lucky to have her in my corner."
Seeing Rosie wasn't moved, he let out that sigh. "Rosie, just what do you want her to do? Sleep in the same bed as us? Kiss me? Have sex? Wear a wedding ring? Is that the kind of acknowledgement you want her to do? 'Cause if it is, I feel like you're trying to make yourself jealous. Or spice up the relationship for tabloids."
Rosemary sighed. "I don't want any of that. I just...want her to care about you because you're worthy of being cared about. Not because a piece of paper is telling her to do it."
"Maybe this shows how she cares about me." Lero suggested. "And she's even started reading some of my favorite books and shows so she can talk to me about them. And she's doing a brilliant job of hiding our relationship from the press. She flat-out told you that when we started dating, she'd back us up to the hilt because you make me happy."
When she didn't respond, he poked her in the side. "You know what I think, Miss Posh? I think you're just a little bit jelly that she's able to pull off being professionally formal and polite like a second skin and you had to train that Dorset out of your voice."
A pout crossed Rosie's face and she pointed a finger at him. "Don't you mock my Dorset." The last word came out with a hard 'o' and a slight slur on the 'e' and Lero beamed.
"Heh. I made it come out!" He let out a squeak as she poked him in the side. "Point is, cut her and yourself some slack? You're both amazing, in different ways. Give her more time. And try to get to know her better? If nothing else, we have enough problems still brewing from the beginning of the marriage, without adding more now."
At that, all of Rosie's sulk vanished into a hard, fierce look. She, like all of the competitors, had been following the investigation into the mastermind behind Yoshito, Nitemare and the inception of the Bride Tournament, but after three months there were no leads, and most of their avenues were going cold. It had left everyone distinctly uncomfortable - nobody liked feeling that they had been played.
He pulled Rosie closer and rubbed noses with her. "We're going to get through this. But we're not going to do it if we're sniping at each other."
She sighed again, but there was no heart in it now. "Alright. I'll try…"
"That's my girl." He gave her a kiss on the top of her head as she leaned against his shoulder, eyes closed, features still. His eyes drifted back to the TV - Sumire was wrapping up her speech, and introducing the local mayor for the ribbon cutting. There was a warmth to the ceremony that hadn't been present at any of her other public speaking engagements.
She is a great wife...Lero found himself thinking, stroking Rosie's hair and smiling at the TV. She just needs more time to prove it…
And between his curse and their unknown adversary, he had a feeling she would have all the time she needed.
"...you do appreciate the irony that you, my girlfriend, are actively encouraging me to have a relationship with another woman?"
"Tell me you've never dreamed of that?"
Lero managed to look straight ahead and avoid that smirk on his girlfriend's face. "I'm a classy guy...I won't answer that…"
"Silence speaks volumes."
OOO
"Thank you, sir," Sumire gave her most formal bow to the district mayor before turning back to the podium. "I2 is most grateful for all the help and support from the Japanese Government and yourself."
She was privately pleased at how sincere she sounded. The mayor was pleasant enough, but her anger at the Japanese Government still seethed beneath her skin. She had practiced with Plato for weeks, making sure that nothing showed either in her face or voice.
The mayor and the officials offered polite nods of acknowledgement. Public events were a lot like hand-to-hand combat, Sumire had realised. A trade of blows, feints in a dance that required skill and experience. She lacked both. But she could not let it show, and she did not believe she had. The crowd had an intense energy, which was unlike anything she had ever felt, and most of them were smiling. That could only be a good sign. She just had to wrap it up, and hope that all the lessons and her image were finally paying off.
"As CEO, it is my greatest pleasure to-"
"Some CEO!"
The voice was loud, and had chosen just the right break in her speech to make itself heard. Every head swung to the press pool, cameras and reporters backing away to reveal the speaker - a short Japanese male in an oversized raincoat. Not one of the major press, and if Sumire were to guess, not in fact press at all, judging that while he did have a press pass, he had no camera, no mic, and not even a phone out to record the speech on. Her eyes darted to the edge of the crowd where security staff were already trying to wade through the journalists to remove him.
"You're all thinking it!" He told the crowd. "She's a girl - barely old enough to drink, let alone run a legacy! We've all heard the stories - she doesn't even know how to duel! What sort of Duel Monsters representative can't even play the game?"
Security were there now, wrestling the man away. Several of the journalists were taking pictures of the spectacle, and a murmur of discontent was swelling in the crowd - most of them were looking at the man in disgust, but there were a number peppered through the faces who were nodding softly to themselves.
She'd never win them over, Sumire realised. Not with words, better personal branding, or any amount of warmth and welcome she put into her speech. Some people would always be determined to dislike and dismiss her - either because she was a woman, a person of colour, young, inexperienced, or Seto Kaiba's daughter. There were a million reasons.
But in that moment she realised that she could make them all go away with a single move.
She held up a hand toward the security team. "Wait! Bring him here."
Out the corner of her eye, she could see Plato watching, his whole body tense at her command. She knew what he was thinking - the smart decision would have been to ignore the outburst, let the man be removed, and carry on. Sumire imagined that somewhere behind the scenes, her uncle was having a similar fit of horror. But she couldn't think about that. Instead she squared herself against the podium as the journalist was pulled up before her.
"I take all complaints very seriously, as any sensible CEO should do," that prompted some nervous laughter from the crowd. "So I am of course concerned to hear that this gentleman, and perhaps more of you out there, believe that I am unfit because I cannot play the game." She straightened her back and looked out at the crowd. "Allow me to reassure you. I believe it is only fitting that the opening of a Duel Monsters theme park should be with a duel, would you all agree?"
The roar of approval from the crowd was deafening, and Sumire caught the flicker of a smile crossing the journalist's face. This was what he had been hoping for.
Very well. I am no stranger to dancing over traps…
As the enthusiasm quietened in the crowd, Sumire continued. "Perhaps this gentleman - forgive me, what was your name, sir?"
"It's Takura Moyatsu!"
"Mr Takura, perhaps you would agree to be my opponent - allow me to address your concerns directly." Sumire was glad Plato was quick on the uptake - he was already coming over to her with a briefcase. She popped the and pulled out her reinvented version of the Bleeding Edge Duel Disk. A mix of dark purples and blues, it was more angular than Seto Kaiba's smooth, sci-fi originals. Comparing the two was like comparing an unsheathed blade to a wooden staff.
And Sumire felt like she was unsheathing a weapon as she fitted it to her arm and detached the eyepiece from the back. Fitting it into place, she stepped around the podium and descended. "How about it? A chance to prove your claims about my suitability to the world at large like a man instead of shouting them from the safety of a crowd."
"I'll take you on!" Moyatsu tugged himself free from security and then yanked the Duel Disk he was offered out of the man's hands. It was the current standard model and he shoved it onto his arm, the device's blade snapping out of its docks into a ready position. "This is going to be the biggest scoop of my career!" (MLP: 8000)
"Your 'scoop' is my footnote, Mr. Takura." Sumire let a bit of a smile show as the man gave off a growl; she'd pegged him right. A lot of aggression and ego, but little sense. She held up her own Duel Disk and unlike his, a single thin rod extended out of the side. Then the rod parted, stretching blue light between the two halves and forming the tray portion where she would play her cards. The eyepiece expanded in the same to generate a small holo-lense over her eye. "Now - let's duel" (SLP: 8000)
Her hand slid over the deck slot and the sensor triggered, feeding five cards for her opening hand into her grasp. Then it beeped and slid a sixth card. "As the challenged party, Mr. Takura, I go first."
She grabbed a card from her hand. "I activate the field spell Posedia Magmus!" Unlike a traditional Duel Disk, whose field slot was built into the tray, hers was a slot near the top of the arm piece. As she shoved the card into it, the device glowed and then from under her feet, a ring of light erupted. It swelled until it was broad enough to engulf the crowd and she heard gasps of amazement as the pavement became an island of dark craggy stone.
Waters swallowed up Tokyo around them and behind her, Kaibaland became a volcano. Magma poured down off it, oozing like blood into the ocean around them. "Welcome to a primordial part of the world, Mr. Takura."
"Tch." Takura didn't look nearly as impressed as the crowd. "You think a volcano compares to where I've been, girl?"
Sumire filed his odd comment away for later. Now was the time to duel. She pulled another card free of her hand. "I set one monster in defense mode and one set card behind it." Countless little holographic cubes filtered in out of the ether to become the two brown-backed cards in front of her. "End of turn."
"My move!" Takura drew and flipped his card around. "Reinforcement of the Army! I add a level four or lower warrior monster to my hand!"
His deck spat out the card and he grabbed it, adding it to his hand. "Your little nature special doesn't amount to jack! Why don't I show you something really impressive? I activate the field spell Goblin Fortress!"
The crowd behind spread out as with a rumble, a building rose up behind him. It was made of layers of plates bolted together, bristling with rusty spears, lances and swords and spikes jutting out of the bottom.
Sumire regarded the structure with a raised eyebrow. "That is indeed impressive." A pointed pause. "What is it compensating for?"
Takura started, the crowd rippling with chuckles and then he growled. "Yuck it up, girl! You won't be laughing soon! I summon Goblin Lancer Squad in attack mode!" The fortress gates rumbled open, admitting a troop of armored goblins through. They marched in brisk formation and the steel tips of their lances gleamed in the sunlight. (2100/0)
"How appropriate. You blend right in."
"You can't save yourself with a sense of humor now!" Takura punched his fist at Sumire. "Go skewer her monster, boys!"
The goblins lowered their weapons in perfect synch and charged, weapons piercing through Sumire's set monster and shattering it into dust. She shielded her face with an arm as the pieces washed over and Takura laughed. "And my boys toys aren't just for show - they deal piercing damage! And looks like your monster had squat for defense points!" (SLP: 8000-6100)
"I activate my reverse card!" Sumire's card flipped up, revealing it to be a trap card. At the same time, the ground in front of her cracked open and steam billowed out. "Ocean Vent activates when you destroy an Ammophibian monster I own! I summon another one from my deck! Ammophibian - Exploding Eel!"
A figure shot free of the vent, landing in front of her with a hiss. It was an eel, but its body was mottled red and orange and its fins pulsed with color rhythmically as if it was building up to something. (1000/200)
"What the frick is that?" Takura demanded.
"It is an Ammophibian. A monster that has evolved to survive in super-hot water generated by this volcano." Sumire informed him, lips lifting slightly. "I assure you, it lives up to its name."
"We'll see about that. Since my Goblins attacked, they go to defense mode!" Takura watched as his goblins all dropped into a sitting position, leaning on their spears and yawning. Behind him, a signal fire was lit on the fortress' wall. "And that puts one Goblin Counter on my Fortress!"
He shoved a card into his disk. "Then I set this and call it a turn! Now try and keep up!"
"I have no intention of doing that, Mr. Takura. Why would I want to keep pace when I can outclass you?" Sumire tugged her card free. "As I have one fire monster in the graveyard, Posedia Magmus allows me to summon Sea Serpent, Aqua and Fish monsters without tribute. I summon my Orca Artillery Rampart!"
The water near her erupted as a massive shape burst free, prompting the crowd to reflexively shield themselves from the spray. It was a massive killer whale, but coral had grown over its body like armor. Anemones sprouted from its back like missile banks, while tubes had formed to either side of its face like gills and as it opened its mouth to roar, steam billowed out from between razor-sharp teeth. (2400/1000)
"That's a monster that evolved to live here?" Takura gaped at the whale, his goblins suddenly scrambling backwards and clutching their weapons. "That's a warship!"
"You should see what it hunts." Sumire lifted a hand. "I activate the effect of Orca! By tributing my Exploding Eel, I can destroy one monster you control! Fire!"
Her Eel jumped into her Orca's mouth and then with a sharp boom, it came flying out of one of the tubes on the whale's side. It crashed into the goblins' formations and they stared at it as it flopped for a moment. Then the Eel's hissing noise stopped and it began to glow. The goblins all panicked before it exploded violently and left only a crater behind.
"The effect of Ocean Vent activates!" Sumire watched as a new monster lept from the crack in the ground. It was a lamprey, its colors radioactive greens and blues as its sucker-like mouth flexed in desperation to attach to something. "Ammophibian Limpet Lamprey! It attacks you directly!" (1000/200)
"I got a trap card!" Takura pressed a button on his disk and it flipped up, a horn echoing from his fortress. "Goblin Ambush summons a Goblin from my hand to take your attack! Scrounging Goblin in defense mode!" (1000/2000)
A goblin dressed in tattered finery and holding up a Pot of Generosity appeared in front of him, the creature's expression desperate. Lamprey launched forwards and the goblin shrieked in fear, swatting it away with the Pot in desperation. Takura laughed as Sumire's monster went slithering back to her field. "And since my monster dealt you damage, I can search out another Goblin card from my deck!" (SLP: 5900-4900)
"Very well. My battle phase is concluded." Sumire watched as Takura searched his deck for a new card while Scrounging Goblin vanished. "And to conclude my turn, I set this card face-down."
"My move, girlie!" Takura snapped up his card and then slid another one into his disk. A continuous spell card appeared, its image depicting Goblin Lancer Force scrambling away as Marauding Captain chased them, Goblin Attack Force hiding in some bushes in preparation to ambush him. "This card is Goblin Tactics and it's going to help me and the boys show the world what you're really made of!"
Sumire just watched him levelly and his expression twisted in annoyance when he realized she was rising to the bait. "What's the matter, Ms. Pegasus? Is a little friendly banter too much for you? You're really doing the family name a shame here!"
Her expression didn't move and he growled, grabbing a card from his hand. "I activate Cost Down! I reveal one monster in my hand and lower its level by two! But since I'm summoning it, why bother! Meet Goblin Commander!"
The new monster was corpulent, his golden armor not doing quite enough to hide his bulk. Though the armor itself was a brilliant distraction, the shade of gold gaudy and clearly false while gemstones of various sizes decorated the edges and thick rings clacked against each other as the goblin harrumphed and fumbled with his sword. (0/0)
"Oh, just relax, big man! You're the guy in charge, so delegate to the right people!" Takura snickered and pointed at his monster, who breathed a sigh of relief and pulled out a plush chair to squeeze himself into. "I can move Goblin Commander to defense mode and summon any other Goblin I want from the deck! So here's a good distraction! Goblin Decoy Squad!"
A small cacophony of horns, drums and rattles echoed as a quintet of goblins tromped out of the fortress to the front line. Smaller than the ones from before, they nevertheless looked smart in their camo uniforms and saluted at the Goblin Commander. The Commander in turn, just waved at them and made some half-hearted noises that Sumire reasoned was to be some kind of inspiring speech. (1000/0)
Takura was smirking. "He's got a way with words, like any good politician! And I've got a way with dirty tricks! I activate the spell Inferno Reckless Summon from my hand since I just summoned a wimpy monster to my field! Now we both pick one monster we have and summon all copies of it!"
Sumire nodded and caught the cards her deck slid out, slipping them onto the holographic duel tray deftly. "I summon two more Limpet Lamprey from my deck." Two more suckered glowing monsters jointed the others, all of them circling around her Orca like hungry scavengers waiting for a signal. (1000/200x2)
"And I gots two more Decoy Squads!" Ten more goblins came sprinting out of the Fortress behind him, armed with more noisemakers and trying very hard to be threatening with them. "Which now means my Goblin Tactics cards comes into play! My goblins can hit you directly even if you have monsters! Make some noise, boys!"
Sumire braced herself as the goblins all surged forwards amidst an array of angry horn honks and rattles. Upon seeing her Orca bare its fangs at them and rumble a warning, they all skidded to a halt, looked at one another and then shrugged. All fifteen reached into their pockets and then Sumire was barraged with rubber ducks, squeaky toys, whoopee cushions and even a laser pointer. "Oh no. How fearsome. Truly, this wound is one from which my pride will never recover." (SLP: 4900-3400)
She enjoyed watching as Takura's grin slid off his face at her next words. "Much like how your career will not recover from you throwing a man-sized tantrum at the sight of a woman in charge."
"Don't bet on it! The world seeing the real you is going to the scoop of the decade! You can't stop big media and you can't stop me! My Goblin Tactics may have reduced the damage my Goblins did to five hundred, but each time a Decoy Squad deals you damage, I draw one card!" Takura snarled and drew three more cards. "Not only that, but my Goblins go to defense mode and that gives Goblin Fortress three more counters!"
All of his Goblins dropped to their knees as the fortress behind gained three more pennants billowing from the top. "Then I set one card face-down and call it a turn! Now and come get me!"
"I intend to." Sumire drew for her turn and then pointed a finger at her Orca. "I use the effect of Orca Artillery Rampart! By tributing a Limpet Lamprey, I can negate the effect of one card on the field!"
The lamprey swam into her whale's mouth and then with a boom, came launching out of one of the anemone. It crashed into the fortress, splattering itself over the wall in a radioactively-colored tye-dye modern art project. But then the mess began to hiss and sizzle, spreading like oil until the whole structure was creaking and rusting away as the pennants above all snapped off and went sailing away into the breeze. "And since your field spell has been negated, all of its counters are removed!"
Her Duel Disk beeped and spat out another card that she slapped down. "Via the effect of my Posedia Magmus field spell, I not only search my deck for a high level monster, I summon it free of charge. Catapult Turtle!" The waters in front of her bubbled and then a metallic turtle rose out of it, perched on an island of cooling magma and a powerful catapult mounted on the back of its segmented shell. (1000/2000)
"Catapult Turtle's ability allows me to launch monsters and deal you half of their attack as damage! I fire my two remaining Lampreys!" The two monsters became orbs of light that floated up and over to Catapult Turtle and mounted themselves at the base of the catapult. The turtle let out a rumble and braced itself, the launcher's kickback making it rock as it fired two spheres of light.
"Fricking- '' Takura was cut off as the spheres shot between his goblins and crashed hard into his midsection one another the other. He staggered, clutching at his stomach and glaring as his life points ticked down. "Cheap shot!" (MLP: 8000-7000)
"I find, Mr. Moyatsu, that people like you calling tactics like mine cheap is often the result of the fact you simply don't like losing. So here, allow me to help you get used to the feeling. I activate Tri-Wright. As all of my Ammophibians are level two or lower normal monsters, I can summon them all from the graveyard! Exploding Eel, Limpet Lamprey and Cannonade Crustacean!" Sumire held up the spell card and it glowed, three shadows appearing under the water's surface. Then they all breached one another other, revealing the pulsating eel, the radioactive-looking lamprey and a hermit crab whose shell was pearly and dripping black inchor while the crab itself seemed to be breathing fire. (1000x3)
Sumire allowed herself a slight smile as his goblins all panicked and the reporter glanced between them and her monsters with a growing worry. "Let me do the math for you - you only have four monsters and I have five. All of whom are more powerful than yours. I enter the battle phase and my Ammophibians all destroy a Goblin Decoy Squad!"
The monsters all vanished under the water and swam towards the goblins. They all began to stamp around in a vain attempt to quash the attackers, but it was too late. The eel's targets all had time to honk their horns sadly before they exploded in a fountain of water and energy. The lamprey's group all clutched their throats as their green skin took on a sickly, rotten hue and they just topped backwards to sink helplessly beneath the waves. The last group saw the fates of the other two, clung to each other cartoonishly and held their breaths.
Nothing happened.
They just had time to be relieved when they all heard the slight 'chink chink' noise of someone trying to get a lighter to ignite. And looked down to see the water dark with the leaking oil from the crab's shell...and the crab clashing its claws together, causing sparks like a flint and tinder.
Then they all vanished in a gout of roiled red flames.
The Commander took notice that all his minions were gone, rising from his chair and glancing around in growing worry. He clutched at his face, whimpering in fear as Catapult Turtle's weapon leveled itself at him. "Now that your Commander has to fight alone, he switches back to attack mode. Catapult Turtle, fire!"
Takura swore as the energy ball smashed into Commander so fast he didn't even see. Just one moment, the goblin had a head and the next, the headless body was exploding into pixels. "Like I said, cheap shot! One lucky turn won't be enough to beat me!" (MLP: 7000-6000)
"Luck had nothing to do with it, Mr. Moyatsu. Only the difference in skill between us and that is as great as zero and infinity! Orca Artillery Rampart attacks you directly!" The whale bellowed, all of its organic weapons ports opening up and bombarding Takura with energy that left him howling and covered in soot. (MLP: 6000-3600)
Sumire felt her smile grow, knowing that now was the time not to relent. "My battle phase is over, but you are not safe! By the effect of Catapult Turtle, I launch all three Ammophibians at you for fifteen hundred damage!"
Three more energy balls slammed into Takura, staggering him again and he growled angrily as he glared at her from out under the brim of his hat. "Dammit…!" (MLP: 3600-2100)
"The effect of Ocean Vent activates, I summon another Ammophibian from the deck!" Another Exploding Eel appeared in a flash of light, already mounted on Catapult Turtle. Orca rumbled, transforming into a sphere of light itself and landing alongside it. "Now I tribute it and Orca to deal you seventeen hundred more damage! Fire!"
Takura went stumbling back as the two shots hit, leaving him flailing for balance and smoking. "No, no, not like this! I'm not going out like this!" (MLP: 2100-400)
"You're right, you are not. You are going out like the weak fool you really are - pride first! Catapult Turtle launches itself for five hundred damage!" Sumire watched as the turtle became one last orb of light that screamed towards her opponent. "This duel is over!"
"This exclusive isn't even near done! I reveal my trap Hyper Burning! Your hit will crash my life points to zero, so I pay half of them instead to keep it from happening!" Takura's trap flipped up, catching the energy ball before it could hit him. But both attack and trap exploded, shrouding his field in smoke and energy, his ball cap sailing out of it. (MLP: 200)
"So you will provide me a challenge after all, then…" Sumire started, but her expression drew tight as the smoke cleared and Takura's face became visible. "What happened to you?"
"I went to hell, you know? And it's not all fire and smoke. It's cold and dark…" Takura chuckled inanely, his head tilting awkwardly to the side for a minute. His eye sockets were sunken and hollow, the eyes within vibrant with a burning, unspoken desire. "And I'm going to drag you back with me, girlie! You and everyone else who looked down on me! Who called me guttertrash for just doing my damn job the fun way!"
"You are raving." Sumire informed him curtly, but inwardly, she could feel her guard going up. The man's unsettling appearance was startling and his words weren't helping. Part of her wanted to just pull out a knife and have done with it, but she couldn't with so many people watching. And reacting to him in any way but disdain would just cue the crowd into the fact something had shifted. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."
"I draw." Takura tugged the card free, flipping it around the moment he saw it. "I activate Pot of Greed! And what does it do? It gives me two more cards!" Drawing them, his eyes widened in dark delight at the sight of one and he swept it into his disk. "Time to ink down a story in blood! I activate the continuous spell card Wicked Canticle!"
With a soft rumble, a stone plinth rose up out of the water near him. And resting atop the column was a thick book, bound in leather and metal. Of its own accord, it opened to a random page. "Don't worry, we'll get to the good stuff in a minute! For now, I summon Scrounging Goblin and have it attack you directly!"
His begging goblin reappeared in a flash, holding out the Pot of Generosity again. But seeing Sumire wasn't giving him anything, he growled and hurled it at her violently. (1000/2000)
"Reverse card open - Call of the Atlanteans! I revive three Ammophbians from my graveyard because they are less than level three and of the Aqua type!" Sumire snapped her fingers, the card exploding into light that resolved into the forms of two Cannonade Crustacean and one Exploding Eel.
"So what?! Goblin Tactics lets Scrounging Goblins hit you directly for five hundred anyway!" Takura laughed as the Pot shattered against Sumire's head, his deck whirring as it slid out his new card. "That's just how the media works! No matter what you do, we'll always find a way to smear your name with mud!" (SLP: 3400-2900)
He plugged two cards into his disk and they appeared to either side of his Goblin Tactics. "Now I set these and call it a turn, girlie!"
"My move." Sumire drew and held out her hand as her deck churned. "By the effect of Posedia Magma, I search out another Orca Artillery Rampart and then summon it attack mode!" The water near her erupted as the whale breached the surface, arching over her Free Willy-style before crashing back down. (2400/1000)
TTTTTT
"Sumire, why? You could have just finished him off!" Lero sighed as he watched Sumire's move, rubbing his face.
"Hmm? How so?" Rosemary asked curiously. "She's playing well. Her deck is simple, but that's really working for her here - she just about finished him off in one turn!"
"But it's also the problem. Her deck is simple, but that means she's also trained too hard on its strategies and combinations. They've become a reflex because they're the most 'logical'." Lero explained, settling back in his chair with a sigh. "She went with Orca Artillery Rampart because it's 'meant' to be what you use with Posiedia Magmus and Ammophibians. But she forgot that she has more than one copy of Catapult Turtle in there. She could have just searched it out and summoned it, then fired off any of her monsters. Moyatsu got lucky with Hyper Burning, but effect damage isn't something a lot of decks have counters for. Instead, she's just dragging it out."
"Is that a bad thing, though?" Rosemary nodded at the screen when Lero gave her a frustrated grunt. "Look at the crowd, Lero. They're enraptured and probably so are the millions of people watching through the cameras. This is a spectacle, remember and you don't want to have a sad climax after all the build-up. If she defeats him in glorious fashion, then people will remember it more."
"I guess…" Lero admitted, but he didn't feel convinced. "And she is just learning, so I shouldn't be so nit-picky. I'm just worried."
"I know. If she loses, this gamble is going to cost her image and her pride a lot." Rosemary said knowingly.
"It's more than that." Lero tapped a buton his chair and a small window popped up in the corner of the screen. In it was an image of the Wicked Canticle card, but there was nothing on it save the picture of the book and the card's name. "That spell card he played. I have never heard of it and a database search didn't turn anything up, either. But the Duel Disks accepted it, which means its legal."
Rosemary's face became serious. "Lero, in my experience, that kind of thing only occurs because someone's cheating. Or something magical is going on."
"That's what I'm afraid of it. And Sumire is caught right in the middle of it." Lero dug his fingers into his chair's arms. Be safe, Sumire. You need to finish him now before that card does something bad!
TTTTTT
"The effect of Orca Artillery Rampart! I tribute Cannonade Crustacean to destroy your set card!" Sumire snapped her fingers and the crab vanished into her Orca's mouth before booming out in a streak towards the card.
"I'll just activate it! Goblin Reinforcements!" Takura pushed a button on the card and it lifted, spewing out a troop of goblins armed with clubs. "I summon Goblin Attack Force from my deck in defense mode!" (2300/0)
"I tribute my other Cannonade Crustacean!" Sumire snapped her fingers and the Orca fired again, the blast shattering the remaining set card. Meanwhile, a third Crustacean breached the surface of the water nearby. "Ocean Vent summons another one and I will use this one to destroy Goblin Tactics!"
Another finger snap and another launched crab that blew the continuous spell to pieces. Takura just smirked and flung out his hand. "Are you even bothering to read my cards or what? When you nuke Goblin Tactics, I can switch the modes of any Goblins I got! So Scrounging Goblin goes to defense and Goblin Attack Force moves to attack!" The begging goblin dropped to his knees while the club-wielding monsters all stood up and took formation.
"I know what your cards did, I just do not care! I activate the continuous spell Boiling Pot!" Sumire swept the card into her disk and her Orca rumbled as the water around began to steam angrily. "I banish one level three or lower fire monster in my graveyard to empower a water monster on my field by one thousand points! Orca - destroy his Goblin Attack Force and the last of his life points!" (2400-3400)
The reporter threw up an arm to shield his face as Orca opened fire, the shots ripping through his Goblin Attack Force like paper and dropping them to bloody graves beneath the waves. "Don't get cocky! I activate the effect of Wicked Canticle!"
The book glowed, fluttering through its pages again and landed on a new set of blank ones. They didn't remain so for long, however, as ink began to pour down the top of the page like rain down a window pane. Most of it just vanished as it hit the bottom, but some remained in the shape of a rune. It hissed like it was alive and the air curled with thin bits of acrid smoke and the scent of burning ink as it seared itself into the book. "By sending a Sinister Doctrine -Anger to the graveyard, I don't take any damage from our monsters' fight!"
"Then I will ensure you have no monsters with which to fight! I tribute Exploding Eel!" Sumire snapped her fingers and the Orcan fired. Scrounging Goblin bleated in terror as the Eel soared towards it, holding up his pot desperately. But it was in vain as the Eel smashed into it and detonated, eliminating them both. "End of turn!"
"Draw!" Takura snapped up his card and then slapped it down. A new troop of goblins appeared, dressed in simple robes and most of them bearing banners instead of weapons while the one in the lead held a thick scroll. "Goblin Heraldry Force! Go on and attack her Orca!" (1500/0)
Sumire frowned as the Goblins all began to move forwards, only for her Orca to fire two shots that shattered them into pieces before they could even take a few steps. And in response, the ink poured down the pages of Wicked Canticle and burned into another Sinister Doctrine - Anger. That card has to do something he wants and I do not like it. It does not seem like a card a Goblin deck would have.
She tapped her head piece gently with a finger, snapping a single picture of the pages of Wicked Canticle. Then she spoke, softly and her lips barely moving. "Plato. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, Mrs. Pegasus." The manservant's voice came back. He was still standing off to the side, but well away from the crowd or any point of attention like a good aide should. "I've already begun a search on those Sinister Doctrines. The moment I know, you will, too."
"Thank you." Sumire allowed herself a faint smile at the fact of her help being so competent and then returned her attention to the dueling field where another Goblin Heraldry Force was appearing in front of Takura. "Planning on throwing monsters at me until I get bored and surrender, Mr. Moyatsu?"
"Not on your life. When Heraldry Force bites it, I can summon another set of Goblins from the deck! And once again, they're going for your Orca!" Takura's grin didn't fade as her Orca's retaliatory attack blew his monsters into pieces once more. "Now I summon a third Heraldry Force and send the last Sinister Doctrine- Anger to the graveyard!"
Wicked Canticle flipped to a new page, ink already pouring down it and burning into a new rune while a new troop of goblins appeared in front of him. "Now that I've used up all three Sinister Doctrines, I activate the quick effect of Wicked Canticle! I tribute my last Heraldry Force to summon a fusion monster that requires 'Isfet' as a material! Don't you love loopholes?"
"Isfet?" Sumire frowned, then it became a startled look as a large shape burst free of the water behind Takura. The crowd shrieked in surprise and amazement as it crashed down so hard, the ground seemed to shake. It was an ape mixed with a crocodile, tens of feet tall. Furs and scale alike were bulging with corded muscles and dagger-like claws unsheathed from its hands. Froth flew from its mouth as it beat its chest, screaming in a pure instinctual fury that seemed like it was angry at everything else for just existing around it. "What did you summon!?" (0/3200)
"This is Lyssian Avatar, a monster of pure power and pure rage!" Takura jabbed a finger at her Orca. "Go show her what that means! Promethean Fury!"
Lyssian Avatar bounded forwards on all four limbs, screaming again and ignoring the barrage of shots Orca Artillery Rampart was landing on it like one might ignore flies on a windshield. It slammed shoulder-first into the whale so hard it kicked up a ring of water and actually threw the bigger monster back. Screaming again, it beat its chest and roared in triumph as Orca crashed back down and instantly dove under the water. "When my monster battles, all I gotta do is give up eight hundred defense points and not only do I take no damage, he gains two thousand atack!" (0/3200 - 2000/2400)
"And I'm assuming it doesn't suffer defeat in a battle." Sumire's eyes narrowed at the sight of the fusion, her lips moving gently again. "Plato-"
"That monster's name is derived from Lyssa, the Greek spirit of rage, frenzy and rabies." Plato said before she could get the words out. "That card doesn't exist in our databases and I don't know why it requires 'Isfet' as a material monster - that world is Ancient Egpytian for 'Evil'. We should call off-"
"No. If I do that now, then everything I've been trying to do will go to waste." Sumire cut him off, her gaze settling on Takura. He was grinning, fist clenched in delight as his monster roared again, his sunken eyes wild and his breathing intense. "And something is wrong with my opponent. He and that monster are connected somehow. Look into him while I deal with his monstrosity."
"Very well." Plato didn't sound unhappy, but she could sense the professional frustration in his tone anyway. That was irrelevant, however - her focus needed to be the problem in front of her.
"I draw!" Sumire did so and then held up the card. "I activate Dark Factory of Mass Production, adding two more Normal Monsters from my graveyard to my hand!" She held up two copies of Exploding Eel. "Then, thanks to Posedia Magma, I can normal summon Ammophibians twice in a turn. I summon both of these monsters in defense mode!"
The two eels appeared in front of her, Orca resurfacing behind her and growling with purpose. "Now I sacrifice one of my Eels to destroy your Avatar! Fire!"
Takura just laughed again as the eel swam into her monster's mouth and was launched across the field. It slammed into his monster, exploding violently and shrouding it in a wall of evaporated water...that quickly scattered when Lyssian Avatar roared and beat its chest again. "Haven't you ever seen a monster movie, girlie? You can't kill them with weapons! It just pisses them off more!"
"Tch." Sumire grit her teeth and slid Orca's card to a horizontal position on her disk. "I switch Orca to defense mode and end my turn!"
"I draw!" Takura drew, but didn't look at it. "I can't summon anything else with Lyssian Avatar in play, but I don't need it! Go maul her monster with another Promeathen Fury!" Lyssian Avatar charged again, leaping up and bringing down both clenched fists in a hammer blow that splattered her eel into paste like a hammer on a grape. "And guess what? My monster deals damage through defense! So suck it!"
Sumire staggered as Lyssian Avatar whirled, its massive arms letting it claw her on the chest even from so far away. Pain racked through her body and she gave up another few steps of ground, hands folding around her chest. That settles it - that monster is magical! Even Bleeding Edge disks don't hurt like this! (SLP: 1100)
"What's wrong, huh? Aren't you supposed to be a duelist? Taking on an invincible monster shouldn't be a problem for a real Pegasus!" Takura jeered, his tone harsh and accusing even as his Avatar's effect kicked and its muscles bulged even further. "Come on, get up and fight me!" (2000/2400-4000/1600)
"Calling this a 'fight' would do you a far greater service than you deserve, Mr. Moyatsu!" Sumire drew for her turn. "I activate Dark Hole! All monsters in play are destroyed!"
"That just means only yours, idiot!" Takura snapped as Orca blew apart, Lyssian Avatar just screaming yet again. "Avatar can't be hurt by anything you throw at it!"
"But can the same be said for you?" Sumire slapped down a card and a new monster erupted out of the water. It was a scaled, armored fishman riding a massive seahorse that had fangs and a sharp, jagged horn. "I summon Atlantean Dragoons in attack mode and then activate another Call of the Atlanteans to summon all three of my Exploding Eels!" (1800/0)
The Eels all reappeared, hissing in eagerness even as Dragoon pulled out a conch shell and leveled his trident at Takura. The fishman blew a long note on the shell and the Eels all surged forwards, deftly weaving around Lyssian Avatar's savage claw swipes. "With my Dragoons in play, all Sea Serpent monsters I have can attack you directly!"
"That does nothing!" Takura laughed as Avatar punched the water so hard it kicked up a wave that threw all three Eels back to her field. "As long as Lyssian Avatar is in play, I can't be hurt, either! Rage is a hell of a drug!"
Sumire frowned, ignoring the crowd's mutterings at both how unfair Lyssian Avatar was and how she was running out of options. "I activate Monster Recovery, shuffling all four of my monsters and my hand back into my deck, then drawing five new cards."
Her monsters sank beneath the waves as she shuffled the cards back into her deck and drew a fresh set. "I set this one card face-down and end my turn."
"Eh? That's it?" Takura stared at her uncomprehendingly, then his face twisted in anger when his disk beeped for the start of his turn. "What the hell was that? You're running scared already, huh? Huh!? You're so big and powerful, why don't you stand and fight me already?!"
"You are raving again, Mr. Moyatsu." Sumire noted calmly, but her mind was whirring. Ever since he'd summoned Lyssian Avatar, the reporter had been getting wilder with his words and gestures, amping himself up with whatever long, pent-up rage he had within him. Or his monster was generating in him. Mother always told me anger was a weakness waiting to happen. So perhaps I can exploit that. "But then, considering how this duel is going and how terrible your reporting career was, I can imagine raving is the only thing you're competent at. And even that is being...generous…"
"You smartmouth bitch! Don't you talk down to me like a coward!" Takura roared and ripped his next card free, teeth bared in a snarl. "Lyssian Avatar! Go mess up her face for the cameras!"
Sumire watched as the Avatar charged for her, froth flying as it roared loudly and exposed the massive, sword-like fangs that it was going to use when that massive head chomped down on her head. "Reverse card open - Poseidon Wave! Your attack is negated!"
The trap lifted, spewing out a geyser of water that shoved the Avatar back. The monster dug in its heels, however and surged forwards with great lumbering steps. The water intensified in return and the two almost seemed evenly matched before the trap exploded with a torrent that sent Avatar tumbling backwards past Takura and washing him under the sea.
"That won't stop us!" Takura snapped and Lyssian Avatar exploded out of the water with an angry roar, its body bulging with so much muscle it looked its skin was about to burst from the effort to contain it. (4000/2400-6000/1600)
"We shall see." Sumire's Duel Disk beeped and she drew for her turn. She tapped her headpiece, an image of Lyssian Avatar's card appearing in front of her. The text was blurred, then straightened into something legible and a smile lifted the corner of her lips. "From my hand, I summon Deep Sea Diva!" (200/400)
A merwoman, clad in radiant pink sink scales and having the lower half of a dolphin, appeared in front of her and began to sing melodically. Not even batting an eye or breaking a note when Lyssian Avatar screamed a challenge at it. "And when I normal summon this monster, I can summon a level three or lower Sea Serpent from my deck. Such as my Exploding Eel."
The explosive Eel surfaced again and Sumire lifted a hand. Diva's singing increased and then both monsters fell under the water's surface again. "Deep Sea Diva is a tuner and now I tune her and my eel together to synchro summon the level four Flamvell Heatcuff!"
The waters parted to reveal her monster standing a rocky, volcanic piece of land. He was a red-skinned man with bronze hair. Boxing gloves made of pure fire decorated his fists and gave off a shower of sparks as he clashed them together. "Battle! Attack Lyssian Avatar!" (2200/200)
"That puny punk can't even scratch us!" Takura mocked as her monster charged forwards, skpping across the water and drawing his fist back as the flames of his gloves swelled and tripled it in size. Then his eyes widened as chains flew out of the water and snared Lyssian Avatar tightly, binding it's limbs together. "What? My monster went to defense mode?"
"When Heatcuff attacks, I can change the mode of any monster on the field and then he deals damage through defense." Sumire watched as her monster's blow slammed into Lyssian Avatar, actually knocking the giant ape-crocodile's head to the side and making it roar in an angry pin. "Of course, you take no damage from this fight and your monster's effect triggers again." (6000-8000/800-0)
Heatcuff jumped back to her field, clashing his fists again and throwing a few jabs into the air, clearly eager for another round. But Sumire just turned around and started walking towards the Kaibaland gates. "I end my turn."
"What? Don't you turn your back on me! Don't you ignore me! Don't you treat me like scum!" Takura yelled at her retreating back. "Or are you such a shit duelist you can't even admit it to the public, just running away like a coward! I told you people! I told you! When we started! She's the worst person to trust with Duel Monsters!"
Sumire stopped, then twisted her head just enough to look at him with a single, sharp, blue eye. "Mr. Moyatsu, I have no need to defeat you myself. You have already done that for me with your blind accusations and foolish rages. Or have you not read your monsters' effect?"
"My monster's effect…" Takura growled at her, but it faltered when Avatar gave off a new kind of roar. A tired, broken one. He stared up at his giant fusion, gaping as he saw it sagging in the chains. Steam was pouring off the body, the bulging veins of raw power now glowing white-hot. A glow that was spreading to the entirety of his monster's body. "What - what's going on? Go on and attack her!"
"And that is why you lose. Your rage has consumed you." Sumire turned away again, a smirk spreading on her face as Lyssian Avatar snapped out of the chains and lunged for her, claws spread wide and mouth even wider to rend her to ribbons. "Your monster's final effect. When you declare an attack with it and it has no defense points, its anger destroys itself. And takes eight thousand of your life points with it."
Avatar was mere feet from her, mouth over her head and claws beginning to encircle her. She just lifted her hand and snapped her fingers. "You. Lose."
The explosion was colorful and blinding, sending her coat billowing and leaving the audience screaming in a mix of surprise, wonder and excitement. Sumire watched as the dueling field faded away and the projectors in the front of the entrance kicked on, displaying a giant-sized image of her face and the words 'SUMIRE WINS!' alongside.
She allowed herself a smile as the crowd's cheering intensified and some began to chant her name. That was...fun.
The smile quickly faded as Plato hurried up to her, leaning in so only she could hear. "We didn't get anything on him or his monster. And he's already gone."
Sumire started and then twisted to look. Her opponent was indeed gone, not a trace of him or his monster remaining. She could see security, both overt and plainclothed, scanning the area and meandering through the crowd carefully to find him. "Did the cameras get anything? Or the drones?"
"No." Plato's lips thinned in worry. "He might have used the explosion for cover. Should we disperse the crowd and call in more security?"
"No." Sumire shook her head. "Let's continue with the event. Ruining the celebratory mood will only hurt things. We will look for Takura Moyatsu later. And I have a feeling that this event is only the start of something more."
"That is what I'm afraid of." Plato agreed quietly, but he was already guiding her towards the gates amidst the cheering crowd and roaring fans as her Uncle approached with a giant pair of novelty scissors. "But that was a good duel, Mrs. Pegasus. And a brilliant show. You make your family proud with that."
"That is my goal in life, Plato." Sumire said as her eyepiece beeped and a little message tab flashed in the corner. She tapped it and it opened to reveal a short message.
"Congrats on the win, Sumire! Dad would be happy with how fast you've learned the game! And Rosie's already asking if she can set up an exhibition duel with you! Good job! I'm glad you're safe. Now cut the ribbon already and come home for a real celebration!" -Lero.
That celebration, she knew, would be cake, ice cream and bad jokes. Hardly much at all compared to the small feast and such they had planned for this event.
And yet, she was already looking forwards to it more than she ever had for her grand opening.
TTTTTT
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" Takura's clenched fist slammed into the alleyway wall, the pain barely registering through his anger. "That wasn't supposed to go like that! I was going to take her down! Take them all down! Make my name big again!"
He snarled and kicked an empty can so hard it bounced off the wall and then a dumpster, startling a cat that went scurrying around the corner in a panic. "I'll get her! I'll dig up every sorry secret she has and air them like dirty laundry! By the time I'm done reporting on her, her name will be mud! And then...and then...and then…I'll do something!"
Another kick sent a beer bottle flying this time and it exploded against the dumpster, prompting a yelp of panic from a window above. He glanced up, glaring at the little blonde head poking over an apartment railing and then a concerned hand grabbing them and yanking them back. It was followed by a door sliding shut and locking but not before he heard the words 'angry crazy man' and 'trouble'.
Scowling, he tugged down the brim of his cap and shoved his hands into his pockets, stalking away from the alley and down the mostly-empty street. The last thing he needed was trouble, not when he was so close.
So close to what again? He couldn't recall exactly how he'd wound up in Tokyo or had gone to the Kaibaland opening after he'd seen the flyer. He couldn't even tell himself exactly why he'd antagonized the Pegasus girl, except that it had been the right thing to do. He'd seen her and had been filled with anger. Not over any particular reason, just a raw kind of anger that made him seethe. The rich and the powerful, thinking themselves squeaky clean and not a one of those other reporters having the balls to take them on. To turn them into a real story and entertain the masses of sheeple. They didn't want the truth, they didn't want the reality, they wanted to be entertained and shown that everyone else was just as bad as the sheeple told themselves they weren't.
The angry steps had carried him to a bench and a vending machine and he dug around in his pocket, pulling out a couple of yen notes and cramming them into the slot. The anger was still simmering inside him, making his throat raw with bile. "Gotta cool down...gotta relax and just take a minute. There's plenty of other fish in the sea to catch…"
He fed the last of the notes into the machine and pressed the buttons for what he wanted. Only for the vending machine to beep at him and flash 'Insufficient Funds' at him. "Freaking hell! Really, you stupid hunk of junk!?"
A few kicks made the machine rock and rattled the plastic covering, but did nothing else except make his foot hurt. His fingers jammed on the refund button, only for another beep to sound. "Dammit! Dammit!"
"Easy there, friend. I'll spot you the rest." A voice soothed, delicate hand already sliding a yen note. The machine beeped again and then promptly dropped off the cold coffee Takura had wanted. "No need to go beating up on this thing. It's a waste of good anger."
"Who asked you, brat?" Takura barked, whirling to face the newcomer. But oddly, his anger seemed to waver at the sight of him with those beatific features, disarming soft pink eyes and gentle smile.
"You didn't ask, no, but I saw you needed help and it was just spare change, anyway." The young man said, seemingly unbothered by the spurt of anger from Takura as he clasped his hands in front of him. "You should have your coffee before it gets warm."
"Uh..yeah, right." Takura grabbed the can from the dispenser and stalked over to the bench, seating himself on it and popping the tab. He took a swig, watching as the other man inserted a few more notes into the machine and got himself what looked like juice.
He noticed the look and held up his can, tilting his head and smiling apologetically. "I'm afraid I can't have anything as strong as you're having. Coffee smells great, but the taste really doesn't agree with me."
"Like I care." Takura grunted and took another drink.
The young man hummed to himself as he opened his drink and leaned back against the machine, taking a few sips from it. Takura watched him from the corner of his eye, but nothing changed even as he finished off his coffee. Seeing the other man's calmness sparked another spurt of anger in him and he crushed the can in his grip, hurling it across the way towards a trash can. "What're you so happy about, huh?"
"Life in general, I suppose." The man offered with a light smile, even as he strolled over to pick up the can from where it had missed and deposited it in the bin. "I assume that's the same reason why you're just so angry, Mr. Moyatsu. Life in general."
"Tch, I don't need a life lesson, brat." Takura grunted.
"I suppose it would be a waste of my time, giving you. After all, the last one you got hasn't seemed to have stuck very well. Your own arrogance undid you in that dice game and did it here. I mean, you went off and challenged the world's most public figure to a duel in a very public way and thought that would revitalize your career?" The young man tsk'd and shook his head. " 'Bull-headed' doesn't begin to describe it."
"Hey, what did you say to me?!" Takura stomped to his feet, fingers curling into a fist...and then he froze as the other man turned to face him. And in his hand was an open, familiar book. "That's...that's the Wicked Canticle…!"
"And it's time, Mr. Moyatsu, for you to add your parable to its pages. A warning against the arrogance that is empowered by raw anger and how blinded it can make you." The young man's gentle smile grew as he tilted his head, his pale pink eyes almost emitting a soft light of their own as the pages began to rustle. "I do hope your coffee was delicious."
A flash of cold, bleak light and then there was nothing but the crisp rustling of the Canticle's pages as they fluttered despite the lack of wind. The young man watched as they settled on Takura Moyatsu's angry face, the shadows of his ball cap brim doing little to hide the sheer rage in his eyes. And emblazoned next to that picture on the opposite page was the Sinister Doctrine - Anger. He ran a finger over it, smiling as it lit up with sharp red light at his touch. "How satisfactory. Right, Doctor Irving?"
From another alley, a man in a labcoat stepped into view sheepishly alongside his two similar-clad assistants. His smartly trimmed beard and hair were streaked with varying shades of gray, accenting the lines of worry in his face as he approached. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean for him or the others to escape. There wasn't any need to involve yourself."
"On the contrary, there was every need. Mr. Moyatsu and the others are the key to my plan and they must be in the throes of their Sinister Doctrine for my Canticle to take their souls. I cannot simply wait on you to retrieve them. After all, if they're all going to be as public as Mr. Moyatsu, we risk losing one or more to the authorities. So our plans simply must be sped up." The young man's tone was casual, easy, but he gave Irving a sharp look. "I trust you understand this does not let you off the hook for your failure, Scott."
"No, sir!" Scott and his two assistants bowed quickly. "I promise you, I will correct this error! I've already managed to locate several of the other subjects! It seems our theories were correct and they are being driven towards targets they knew previously in life or blame for their situations!"
"Which means Mr. Moyatsu was simply the oddball, given how Mrs. Pegasus has no real connection to him. But then again, anger is rather blinding." The young man stowed the book under his arm and strolled past the three men. "Let's carry on, then, Dr. Irving. Where is our next subject?"
"It will be Hatred, sir." Dr. Irving said as he fell into step besides him. "He's heading towards a ramen shop that the Wheeler family are known to frequent."
"Like a dog with a bone, that man really doesn't know when to let go." The young man said in amusement. "Still, it is close to lunch and I am rather hungry. And I haven't come all this way to Japan to not try some real ramen. And we'll catch a show, too. On your dime, Scott, by the way."
"Yes, of course, Mr. Pegasus."
TTTTT
A/N: Yay! First chapter completed! This story will be updating regularly, but will be every two weeks as it alternates with mine and Mei1105's other ongoing fic - Yaunfen! So, you know go read that one for more duel and magic action and review it, too! They might make the chapters come faster!
Next Chapter: The past comes crawling out of the woodwork to harass Jessiebelle Wheeler-Valentine and her parents, but Joey Wheeler doesn't tolerate anyone harassing his little girl and just because he's semi-retired, that doesn't mean the Godfather of Games is a slouch in Duel Monsters! But against this opponent, can even his legendary luck hold out?
See it all in 'Family Bonding Activity!'
CREATED CARDS:
Posiedia Magmus
Field Spell Card
Effect: (This card is always treated as 'Umi'.)
Once per turn, depending on the number of FIRE monsters in your graveyard, apply the following effect in sequence. All 'Ammophibian' monsters are also treated as WATER monsters on the field and in the graveyard while 'Umi' is face-up on the field.
1+: You can Normal Summon Sea Serpent, Aqua and Fish monsters without tributing.
2+: Once per turn, you can add one Level 5 or higher Sea Serpent, Aqua or Fish monster from your Deck to your Hand.
3+ You can Normal Summon a FIRE Sea Serpent, Aqua or Fish monster in addition to your Normal Summon once pe tun.
4+: Once per turn, for the effect of 'Orca Artillery Rampart', you can tribute 'Ammophibian' monsters in your hand.
Orca Artillery Rampart
FIRE
5 stars
Sea Serpent/Effect
2400/1000
Effect: (This card is always treated as an 'Ammophibian' card.) You can tribute one 'Ammophibian - Limpet Lamprey, negate the effects of one face-up card on the field until the End Phase. You can tribute 'Ammophibian - Cannonade Crustacean' send one Spell/Trap card to the graveyard. You can tribute one 'Ammophibian -Explosive Eel', destroy one monster on the field.
Ammophibian - Limpet Lamprey
FIRE
2 stars
Sea Serpent/Effect
1000/200
Effect: A unique monster who has evolved in a harsh environment by working together with others for survival. It's venoms melted the internals of its prey to allow for its fellow Ammophibians to eat almost anything.
Ammophibian - Cannonade Crustacean
FIRE
2 stars
Sea Serpent
1000/200
Effect: A unique monster who has evolved in a harsh environment by working together with others for survival. The oil it leaks from its shell is flammable and it routinely roasts up a delicious meal for its fellow Ammophibians!
Ammophibian - Exploding Eel
FIRE
2 stars
Sea Serpent
1000/200
Effect: A unique monster who has evolved in a harsh environment by working together with others for survival. The force of its explosive power can crack open the shells of even Turtle Dragons!
Flamvell Heatcuff
FIRE
4 stars
Pyro/Synchro/Effect
2200/200
Effect: 1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters.
When a 'Flamvell' Synchro monster declares an attack, you can target one monster on the field and change its Battle Position. This card deals piercing damage.
Ocean Vent
Continuous Trap Card
Effect: Once per turn, if 'Umi' is face-up on the field and an 'Ammophibian' monster is sent to the graveyard, you can Special Summon one 'Ammophibian' Normal Monster from your deck. If this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, Special Summon one 'Ammophibian' monster from your graveyard. You may only use this effect of 'Ocean Vent' once per turn.
Note: The Goblin Cards will appear in a later chapter, so I'll list them all then for propriety's sake.