Chapter 7: Shinigami
Yusei froze. "Dad?!"
The thugs screamed in disbelief. "Ghost!"
All of Yusei's friends' jaws dropped as well when they saw Dr. Fudo. Kalin suddenly stood up, surrounded in light purple energy and his eyes were glowing.
"Do you guys see what I see?" cried Carly.
"Incredible! Kalin's true powers have awakened..." gasped Akiza.
"You mean the powers of the Death Gods?!" exclaimed Jack.
Radley wavered, stunned to see Dr. Fudo, but even more stunned to see Kalin. "Kalin?!"
The thugs were cowering now. Portman, on the other hand, looked even more excited. "He can summon spirits?! Incredible!"
"Kalin," Yusei whispered in amazement.
The Bunch was shocked too.
"Kalin, this is epic!" Scotch exclaimed.
"Whoa! He looks mad!" shouted Leo.
Kalin glared at Dr. Portman with an emotionless look on his face. He pointed at her and boomed.
"Dr. Portman. Your days are over. I am the Death God, and it's time for you face your judgment."
"Hey, Antinomy, have you ever heard of anyone doing this before?" asked Crow.
"Intriguing. He has a god complex," Portman said.
"I've heard of people summoning spirits. But acting like Kalin is? No," Antinomy said.
Radley left the vortex open but approached Kalin. How had he changed attitudes so completely so fast? Was he possessed? "Kalin?"
Yusei was still staring at his father, who was standing by Kalin. "Dad ..."
"What's he or whatever that is, going to do?" asked Luna.
Kalin waved his hands up in the air and opened a portal. In the portal, was a vision of the events that took place before Zero Reverse.
"Dr. Portman, relieve the horror that was the old Ener-D reactor!" boomed Kalin.
"I don't know!" Leo stared with wide eyes.
Portman looked, just more fascinated all the time. "How are you doing this?"
Radley was still very confused, and a little worried. He was glad if it was just Kalin figuring out his powers more, but he wasn't sure it was only that.
"I'll allow Dr. Fudo to speak now. Speak at how much of a failure you are," said Kalin.
Carly was trying to take photos of the entire event. However, the energy radiating from Kalin made the footage blurry.
"How dare you call yourself a doctor?!" Dr. Fudo boomed. "Doctors are supposed to help, not hurt! Yet you have never done anything but hurt."
Portman was just focusing on the fact of a spirit being present, rather than what he was saying.
"Don't waste time talking to her!" Jack said. "She doesn't get it and she never will!"
"Dr. Fudo!" pleaded Luna. "Please! She is too focused! You must show her the errors of her ways! Perhaps then you can finally rest!"
"How's he supposed to make her get that she's wrong?!" Scotch exclaimed.
"Some people never do get it," Radley frowned.
"Then Dr. Fudo and I shall invite you to death!" yelled Kalin. He then raised a hand which began to glow.
"... Wait! Kalin, what?!" Radley stared at him. "I was going to dump all of them in the Shadow Realm!" Portman certainly deserved death, but if Kalin killed her, with the police right here watching ... what would happen to him?
Kalin ignored his friend. "Any last words before your demise, Dr. Portman?" asked Kalin mockingly.
"No, go right ahead and try," Portman sneered.
"Kalin!" Radley grabbed Kalin's shoulders. "Is this really you in there? Do you recognize me?"
Yusei looked to Dr. Fudo again. "Dad? Do you know what's going on here? I don't think Kalin is himself!" He looked worriedly to Kalin.
A large sarcastic grin spread on Kalin's face. "You will now experience the nightmare of Zero Reverse over and over until the end of time! Sweet dreams!"
He aimed his pointer finger at the mad scientist and fired an energy beam at Dr. Portman.
Portman leaped out of the way. "Nice try! I won't stand still for that!"
"Kalin?!" Radley gripped tighter. "Who are you?! Where's Kalin?!"
"Is Kalin really coming into his powers like you said if he's not even in control?!" Leo exclaimed to Akiza. "Then it wouldn't even be him doing this stuff!"
Kalin wasn't fazed by her and continued to walk towards the mad doctor.
"Hmm, in that case, say hello to my little friend! I call forth Infernity Destroyer!"
"I'm...not sure..." stated Akiza. Seeing Kalin like this reminded her of her 'Black Rose Witch' persona.
Radley was very upset to just be completely ignored. He chased after Kalin. "Kalin, are you so focused on murder you can't think of anything else? You can't even see or hear me? I know the real Kalin wouldn't do this. Not after everything we've been through together!"
Yusei wasn't sure what to do. "Kalin, where are you?!"
Kalin looked back at Radley and glared at him. "Silence you fool! I'm in control of your friend now! And we are so close to stopping Dr. Portman! Now, Infernity Destroyer! Attack her!"
Radley flinched, but only got angrier. "How dare you!" He stepped closer. "Kalin has been working so hard to get control of his powers so HE could use them! Not so some arrogant judge, jury, and executioner could take him over!"
"Kalin, no!" Yusei exclaimed. Could Kalin really not get back in control? Yusei ran over, debating with himself. This was risky, but ... maybe it would save Kalin... He ran in between the monster and Portman. "You'll have to blast me first."
"Yusei!" cried Jack, Crow, Akiza, Leo, and Luna.
"What the heck are you doing? He'll kill you!" yelled Jack.
"How dare you get in my way, Yusei!" yelled the Shinigami. "Portman is my prey and I won't her escape!"
"I believe in Kalin," Yusei said. "He won't let me get hurt."
"Your prey?" Radley mocked. "You're not the one who's been dealing with her all this time and being tortured by her! Why should you suddenly step in and use our friend's body for your little game? This isn't just about bringing in game, like you're nothing more than a hunter! This is serious! ... Alright then. Yusei has a good idea. I'm going to do the same thing." He walked over next to Yusei and folded his arms.
"Radley, no!" Billy cried.
"Kalin's looney right now!" Virgil added.
"That isn't Kalin," Radley said. "I don't know who or what it is, but I know Kalin won't let us be hurt." This really was risky. He would be terrified if he didn't have faith in Kalin. He did tremble a bit regardless, but he gripped his arms and stayed firm.
"We have to do something to stop this, or else Portman will get away free! But what?" cried Luna.
The Shinigami was inching closer to Yusei and Radley, arms raised. Until he suddenly stopped in its tracks and started to tremble. Kalin dropped to his knees and clutched his head.
"Yu...sei, Radley...? What am I doing?" gasped Kalin.
Portman was glued to the scene, definitely not about to leave. She had to know what would happen.
"I'll see to Portman," Dr. Fudo said.
Relief swept over Yusei. "Kalin! Something's taken over your body! You have to fight it!"
"You made it back," Radley smiled. "I know you can fully reclaim your body and kick that whatever it is out!"
"Thank you, Dr. Fudo," nodded Akiza.
"I...won't let you control meeee!" screamed Kalin to the Shinigami. The purple aura violently dissipated as the creature faded away back to the Netherworld.
Yusei and Radley both ran over to Kalin.
"Oh Kalin ...!" Radley hugged him close.
Yusei did too.
"And now for you," Dr. Fudo said to Portman. He struck her with a paralysis beam and stepped back. "She's all yours," he said to Crow.
"Radley? Yusei?" asked Kalin weakly. "What happened? Where am I? Where's Portman."
"Thank you, Dr. Fudo," smiled Crow. He then turned to the mad doctor and slapped handcuffs on her.
"You're under arrest, Dr. Portman!" he said sternly.
"Everything's alright now," Yusei said. "Portman's being arrested."
"Something possessed you," Radley said. "We're not sure what. But you fought it off!"
Portman just sneered at Crow. "This isn't over."
"She is? Thank goodness..." said Kalin.
"We'll make sure to keep a close eye on you," frowned Antinomy to the doctor. The police were arresting Portman's thugs.
"Yeah. Everything's okay." Radley hugged Kalin again. Why had that whatever it was possessed him? Could it have been a past victim? No, he didn't sound like that. He had claimed to be a Death God. Radley frowned. Could Kalin have attracted it by sometimes saying he was one?
The thugs were very sullen and didn't protest as they were walked to the vans. Everyone gathered around them to celebrate their victory.
"We did it! We stopped Dr. Portman!" cheered Leo.
"Yes!" Scotch exclaimed. "And we're all okay!"
Radley pulled back from Kalin in concern. Was he still disoriented? "Kalin, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm ok," smiled Kalin.
"You know what?" Now that Portman's been dealt with, we must celebrate the King's birthday!" said Jack.
"I'm glad," Radley said.
"Me too," Yusei said.
"Yes! Party!" Scotch grinned.
"This is going to be a story for the ages!" stated Carly.
"Wait, hold on, let me talk to Dr. Fudo first," said Kalin.
Dr. Fudo looked to Kalin. "Yes?"
Yusei certainly wanted to talk to him too. He hoped they would have a chance now that everyone was safe.
"Thank you for helping us defeat Portman. I was hoping to use my powers to stop her, but I could not control the Shinigami," Kalin looked at Dr. Fudo with regret.
Radley was surprised that now Kalin remembered.
"Yes, that was a very dangerous thing that happened to you," Dr. Fudo frowned. "Your powers can be used for good, but you must take care that you don't summon other entities into your body."
"I understand sir," nodded Kalin. "I promise I'll continue to train. Would there be anything you would like to say to my friends?"
"I would like to talk to Yusei alone for a few minutes," Dr. Fudo said. He smiled. "You have some very devoted friends, Kalin, including my son. He and Radley were very brave to challenge the Shinigami to save you."
"Thank you, sir, I'm glad to have met them. Alright, we're going to celebrate someone's birthday," smiled back Kalin. He turned towards Radley.
Yusei smiled too, laying a hand on Kalin's shoulder before walking off ahead with his dad.
Radley smiled at Kalin. "You remember now?" He was glad in one way, yet he hoped it wouldn't weigh Kalin down.
"Yeah, my head's a bit light, but I remember."
"How do you feel? Aside from the lightheadedness," Radley asked.
"I feel fine. Let's go eat. I'm starving after that battle."