Chapter Five
Keiji has always been a light sleeper, even the slightest disturbance in their surroundings was able to wake him up. But this time it seemed that he was wrong; the whole room was still just as quiet as when he went to sleep, the only sound coming from distant cars, the street lamps shining their blue light though the window.
Just as he was about to close his eyes again, he thought over that again.
Street lights weren't blue.
Keijis head shot to the window and he could catch a glimpse of a foot ascending up the fire escape. Without a second thought he jumped out of the bed and to the window.
He could possibly still catch up to the guy if he was fast enough. But what do? Wake up Yuito? Encountering that guy again would probably even bother him more, considering how dear he still held his father.
Deciding to handle this on his own, Keiji quietly took Yuitos Duel Disk from the table and climbed out of the window, and up the fire escape, to the roof where he could still see a glimpse of blue light.
The climb was actually pretty easy, but exhausting nonetheless, so Keiji was out of his breath when he reached the rooftop.
"Not quite the result I was hoping for," Keiji heard a voice from across the roof.
"Who are you and what do you want from Yuito?" Keiji asked the guy standing opposite of him. Strangely enough he was dressed like he was ripped from a medieval painting and carrying a lamp shining in blue light in his hand.
"I'm Tian," he replied, "just to keep this consistent."
"To keep this consistent?" Keiji asked, "is this a prank with a hidden camera?"
"Everything is seen. Always."
"What sect do you belong to?"
"I'd like to talk to Yuito, please."
"Not before you answer me," Keiji insisted, "Who are you and what do you want from Yuito?"
"I'm Tian," he replied, "and I know Yuitos father. Although he presumably already told you that much."
"Yes, he indeed did. So I know you're lying; His father's dead."
"If you say so."
"Now we had the 'who you are' part. Now tell me, what do you want?"
"I want to help him."
"Interesting. Too bad he seems to be getting along on his own quite well."
"If you say so."
"No, no. This is not gonna be a 'I was behind this single good day in his entire life all along' thing, do you understand? He did this on his own, and purely on his own."
"If you say so."
"Got any other lines?"
"Ideally, I'd be speaking with Yuito now, but as I don't think this is gonna be the case, I should just depart."
"Just one last thing before you go."
"Yes please?"
"Leave him alone. Leave both of us alone," Keiji said, "even if you're telling the truth and you might know his father who's not dead, his father didn't give a shit for the past years. Tell him that he can keep on being gone."
"I don't think that this is up to your discretion."
"I'm taking care of my friend, this is perfectly in my discretion."
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're going for."
"Then let me lighten you up a little more than you already are, lantern guy," Keiji moved closer towards Tian, trying to muster as much confidence as he could, "if I see you near Yuito again, I'm going to mess you up."
"This I'd like to see," Tian replied, putting his lantern on the ground in front of him. Just when Keiji thought that he was actually going to fist fight him, he pulled out a Duel Disk from underneath his coat.
"Show me what you're made of," he said, "and I'll consider your suggestion."
Taking a deep breath, Keiji put on Yuitos Duel Disk and replaced his friends deck with his own: "Alright then. If you wanna do it this way, lets do it this way."
"Oh, I want to do it this way alright," Tian replied, as the duel interface started up.
Tian: 4000 LP
Keiji: 4000 LP
"I think I'll take the lead here," Tian started, "You can follow suit if you wish to."
"Means it'll be over sooner than you think."
"If you say so," Tian replied as he took a card out of his hand, "I Normal Summon Netherfly – Luci the Guide." Tians monster which emerged from the card was a small firefly, its tail giving off a faint blue light.
Netherfly – Luci the Guide: FIRE / Insect / Level 4 / 1650 ATK / 0 DEF
"I then Set one card and end my turn."
"Oh come on," Keiji said as he drew his card, "that's the oldest trick in the book. Summon a weak monster and have your opponent run into a battle trap. It's so bad its not even funny. From my hand, I activate the Continuous Spell Card Force Conductor."
A large figure made of copper cables appeared behind Keiji, sparking with energy. "When activated, it allows me to add my good old Bullet Spark from my Deck to my hand."
As Keiji spoke, the Duel Disk slipped one card out of his deck which he subsequently added to his hand. "As long as I control a face-up Continuous Spell Card, I can Special Summon Bullet Spark from my hand." The monster that appeared on Keijis field darted across the rooftop a few times before it settled in front of him. The tiny bullet with eyes was glowing blue and sparking with electricity.
Bullet Spark: LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1200 DEF
"I then tribute Bullet Spark in order to Tribute Summon my powerful Boltedge Lightning Gunner." As fast as the tiny monster had appeared, it also disappeared again, only to be replaced by a humanoid figure appearing to be made of copper cable instead of flesh, bronze plating draped over its body while sparks of lightning ran along it. It carried a huge gun assembled of wires and diodes in his hands.
Boltedge Lightning Gunner: LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 8 / 2800 ATK / 1100 DEF
Tian looked onto Keijis monster with a mixture of surprise and displeasure. "A Tribute Summon? I cannot say that did not surprise me. Maybe you're not forsaken yet."
"My Gunman likes the presence of Spell Cards," Keiji continued unfaltered, "so much, that I can Tribute Summon him for one less tribute while I control one."
"It was either that or being able to use Thunder monsters as single tribute," Tian replied, "after all this was a valid move, was it?"
"I'm gonna make you swallow your cocky attitude," Keiji said, "I can banish one Thunder monster from my Grave for my Lightning Gunner to take a shot at one of your cards, while said shot will immediately destroy it."
Bullet Spark emerged from Keijis Graveyard while the gunman charged up his rifle to fire a bolt of lightning onto Tians Set card, which was blown to shreds.
"I like safety netting," he commented his choice.
"But you chose wrong," Tian replied, "I use the effect of the card you just destroyed. I activate Underground Sun as it was just sent to my grave. It allows me to send two FIRE monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard."
Keijis opponent took two cards from his deck and placed them in his Graveyard before he added: "Maybe it wasn't the oldest trick ever."
"Won't help you," Keiji retorted, "If my Bullet Spark is banished by a Thunder monsters effect, I can add it back to my hand."
After he had added his small monster back, Keiji went on: "Lightning Gunner, attack Luci the Guide!" The gunman readied its rifle and fired straight at the firefly, which was torn apart by the electric current.
Tian: 4000 LP → 2850 LP
"Your own fault. Whenever one of my Netherflies is destroyed, it calls a new guide for you from my deck. I Summon Netherfly – Dasher the Sonic." Tians monster was replaced with a dragonfly zipping around in the air in front of him, its wings apparently made of gleaming blue flames.
Netherfly – Dasher the Sonic: FIRE / Insect / Level 4 / 1350 ATK / 0 DEF
"Don't think this is over yet. My cards still have effects on their own," Keiji replied, as the statue behind him started to crack with lightning, "when a monster is destroyed by a Thunder monster, be it by battle or by its card effect, Force Conductor will inflict 1000 LP damage to you."
As if on command, a bolt of lightning came out of the conductor and struck Tian within a moments notice.
Tian: 2850 LP → 1850 LP
"Not bad. Really not bad. I see that you have the strength to walk the path that lies ahead of you."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Take it as one."
Keiji just scoffed at this remark, by setting one card face-down and ending his turn.
"I think I'll be going on then," Tian said as he drew, but Keiji interrupted him right after.
"I activate my face-down card Thunder of Ruler. During your Standby Phase I can use this to render you unable to conduct your Battle Phase this turn."
"A minor setback compared to what I have in store for you. From I hand I activate the Continuous Spell Card Ritual of Guidance. It allows me to perform a Ritual Summon, by one of two methods I can choose. The one that I will use allows me to use monsters in my grave as tributes for my Ritual Summon." As he spoke, a blue flame exited his Graveyard, forming into a brand new monster on his side of the field, "I banish Luci the Guide from my Graveyard! Ritual Summon! Become the guiding light that leads the condemned souls! Netherfly – Cypho the Signal!"
The flames eventually formed a large firefly, blue lines of energy running along its body, the light on its tail blinking like it was trying to send Keiji a message in morse code.
Netherfly – Cypho the Signal: FIRE / Insect / Ritual / Level 4 / 2050 ATK / 0 DEF
"I proceed with a Normal Summon, namely that of my Netherfly – Monarch the Mosaic." A butterfly with blue, flaming wings appeared on Tians side of the field.
Netherfly – Monarch the Mosaic: FIRE / Insect / Level 4 / 1750 ATK / 0 DEF
"Using Monarchs effect," Tian continued, "I can banish an Insect from my Graveyard in order to add a Ritual Spell Card from my deck to my hand. Due to the fact that I sent two there though your foolish effort of safety netting, I'll have plenty to choose from." Tians Duel Disk first spat out a card from the Graveyard, before doing the same for a card from his deck.
"Also, this effect will immediately trigger the effect of Cypho the Signal, as an Insect was banished from my Graveyard. It allows me to target and destroy one card on the field." The Ritual Monsters light flared up with such intensity that Keiji had to shield his eyes and when he could open them again, he found his Lightning Gunner was gone."
'That's bad,' Keiji thought to himself, 'his deck works in ways where each of his plays leads into a follow-up and so on. I need to find a way to break through that.'
"I immediately activate the card I just added, Inherited Guidance, which is both a Ritual and a Quick-Play Spell Card." Tian revealed one monster in his hand as he went on, "I use a second copy of my Luci the Guide as tribute. Ritual Summon! Brandish your flames and be my protective guide on this way! Netherfly – Libelle the Dragon!"
The Spell Card burned away in blue flame as a new monster emerged from it, a large dragonfly towering above Tians other monsters. Its wings consisted of wavering blue flames, with more fire running all along its body which was distinctively draconian in its features.
Netherfly – Libelle the Dragon: FIRE / Insect / Ritual / Level 4 / 2550 ATK / 0 DEF
"Due to the fact that I cannot conduct my Battle Phase, I will simply set one last card and then end my turn."
Keiji has never been more relieved to hear someone end his turn, with those four Insects staring him down over his empty field. Dueling with Solid Vision was sure something else.
"My turn," he said, "I draw."
"I object," Tian said, "I activate my face-down card Unexpected Crossroad. It allows me to choose one Normal Trap Card in your Graveyard and use its effect for my own. I choose to copy Thunder of Ruler to stop your Battle Phase this turn."
Keiji gritted his teeth as his opponent used his own Trap Card against him. This duel was starting to get on his nerves, every single move he made eventually lashed back at him.
"As I control a face-up Continuous Spell Card, I Special Summon Bullet Spark from my hand." The small thunderbolt once again took Keijis field.
Bullet Spark: LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1200 DEF
"I then tribute my Bullet Spark in order to Normal Summon my Boltedge Engineer." The small bullet disappeared and the monster that took its place was – contrary to Keijis other monsters – very distinctively human, wearing work clothes and carrying a toolbox for electricians in his hand.
Boltedge Engineer: LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 6 / 2400 ATK / 1100 DEF
"When Engineer is Normal Summoned, I can return one of my gunmen from my grave back to my hand. Like my Lightning Gunner." Keiji placed the card Yuitos Duel Disk spat out back in his hand before choosing another one to play: "I next activate the Continuous Spell Card Fuse Conductor. It allows me to perform an additional Normal Summon this turn, as long as I Summon a Thunder monster."
Another figure made of wires and copper appeared behind Keiji, cracking with lightning too.
"Using this effect, and the fact that I do now control two Continuous Spells, I Normal Summon my Lightning Gunner without tributes." Keijis gunman appeared on the field again, after being destroyed only one turn prior.
Boltedge Lightning Gunner: LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 8 / 2800 ATK / 1100 DEF
"You're repeating the same mistakes over and over. If you never leave your fixed paths, you can never find your true one."
"It's not a mistake if it will work," Keiji retorted, "I activate my Lightning Gunners effect by banishing Bullet Spark from my Graveyard."
Keijis gunman took aim at Tians monsters but right as he did, a ghostly veil of blue flames started to envelope the insects.
"What?" Keiji asked confused.
"As I said, repeating the same things won't work against me. You think I wouldn't take measures against what brought down over half of my Life Points? While Libelle is face-up, you cannot target Insect monsters I control for card effects."
"It protects your monsters," Keiji mused, "but your Ritual of Guidance is free to take a shot at."
Right on cue, Lightning Gunner charged its rifle and took a shot at the Ritual Spell on the opposing side of the field, shooting past the monsters it couldn't reach, while simultaneously Bullet Spark added itself back to Keijis hand.
"I cannot conduct my Battle Phase," Keiji carried on, "due to you messing with my own cards. I end my turn."
"Hmm," Tian mused after he drew his card, "so, looking at your Engineer, I cannot destroy your monsters by battle or by card effects. Well, good enough that won't be necessary. I banish the second copy of Luci the Guide from my grave to enable the effect of Dasher the Sonic. Until the End Phase, any Damage you receive will be capped at 1050, but my Insects will be able to attack you directly."
With this, Keijis hands fell to his sides. If Tian had four Insects and each of them did 1050 damage to him, this would be the last turn of this duel.
"It was fun while it lasted, but the fun ends now. My Netherflys, attack him directly with your Fires of Guidance!" The insects simultaneously unleashed fireblasts, attacking past Keijis monsters and knocking him off his feet.
Keiji: 4000 LP → 2950 LP → 1900 LP → 850 LP → 0 LP
"I think we're finished now," Tian said, "so much for you messing me up."
"So what, I couldn't this time," Keiji snapped back, "but it damn sure ain't gonna stop me from trying each and every time."
Tian remained silent for a while, Keiji assumed this opponent was musing to himself. When he thought that the lantern guy wouldn't say something again, he spoke up: "I solemnly swear you that I have no intention to harm Yuito, but I don't exert control over his fathers actions. The both of them meeting is what I cannot enable or prevent. To show my good will however, I agree to grant you a wish."
It was an understatement to say that Keiji was taken aback by this sudden change in tone. "Are you a genie in a bottle or something?"
"You are free to not believe me. After all, we both want Yuitos well-being. Although we apparently want that in different ways."
"He has a Combat Dueling contract now, what is all he would've ever wanted. What else could you give us?"
"I can make him famous. Just say the word."
"Make him famous? How would you do that?"
"The path is not definite, neither is the time, only the result."
"Okay, if you insist. Do it. I'm eager to see if you actually do anything or just come up and pretend it was you when Yuito got famous on his own."
"Oh I will make him famous. There will be nobody in this city not to know his name."
"I will remember your words. Can I take it you're not gonna bother Yuito anymore then?"
Tian took some time until he answered that question. "It appears that my presence will not change the path Yuito walks on. I shall not contact him again until he seeks me out by himself."
"I doubt he'll do that."
"He will. Remember my words." With that last sentence, Tians lantern flared in bright blue light and when it subsided, he had vanished.
As Keiji looked on to where his opponent has been standing just seconds ago, he saw that the sun was starting to rise on the horizon, and that Yuito would wake up soon.
Author-made cards:
Netherfly – Luci the Guide / FIRE / Insect / Level 4 / 1650 ATK / 0 DEF
Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can banish 1 Insect-Type monster from your Graveyard; all face-up Insect-Type Monsters gain 500 ATK until your opponent's next End Phase. If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by a card effect): Special Summon 1 "Netherfly" monster from your Deck, except "Netherfly - Luci the Guide".
Netherfly – Dasher the Sonic / FIRE / Insect / Level 4 / 1350 ATK / 0 DEF
Once per turn: You can banish 1 Insect-Type monster from your Graveyard; this turn, face-up Insect-Type monsters you control can attack your opponent directly, but if they do, any battle damage your opponent takes from those battles becomes 1050. If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by a card effect): Special Summon 1 "Netherfly" monster from your Deck, except "Netherfly - Dasher the Sonic".
Netherfly – Monarch the Mosaic / FIRE / Insect / Level 4 / 1750 ATK / 0 DEF
Once per turn: You can banish 1 Insect-Type monster from your hand or Graveyard; add 1 Ritual Spell Card or 1 Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand. If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by a card effect): Special Summon 1 "Netherfly" monster from your Deck, except "Netherfly - Monarch the Mosaic".
Netherfly – Cypho the Signal / FIRE / Insect / Ritual / Level 4 / 2050 ATK / 0 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Guidance" Ritual Spell Card. Once per turn, during either player's turn, if an Insect-Type monster in your Graveyard is banished: You can target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy it. If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by a card effect): You can target 2 of your banished Insect-Type monsters; return them to your Graveyard.
Netherfly – Libelle the Dragon / FIRE / Insect / Ritual / Level 4 / 2550 ATK / 0 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Guidance" Ritual Spell Card. Face-up Insect-Type monsters you control cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by a card effect): You can target 2 of your banished Insect-Type monsters; return them to your Graveyard.
Boltedge Lightning Gunner / LIGHT / Thunder-Type / Effect / Level 8 / 2800 ATK / 1100 DEF
You can Normal Summon this card for 1 less Tribute for each face-up Continuous Spell you control. Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can banish 1 Thunder monster from your GY; Destroy 1 card on the field.
Boltedge Engineer / LIGHT / Thunder / Effect / Level 6 / 2400 ATK / 1100 DEF
If this card is Tribute Summoned: You can target 1 Level 7 or higher "Boltedge" monster in your GY; Add it to your hand. While you control a face-up Continuous Spell Card, face-up Thunder Monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects.
Bullet Spark / LIGHT / Thunder-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1200 DEF
If you control a face-up Continuous Spell Card: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand). You cannot Special Summon monsters using this card as material, except LIGHT monsters. If this card is banished by a monster effect: You can return it to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Bullet Spark" once per turn.
Force Conductor / Continuous Spell Card
If this card is activated: You can add 1 Thunder monster from your Deck to your hand. Once per turn, if a face-up monster is destroyed by battle with a, or by the effect of a, Thunder monster: Inflict 1000 LP Damage to your opponent. You can only control 1 face-up "Force Conductor".
Fuse Conductor / Continuous Spell Card
During your Main Phase: You can Normal Summon 1 Thunder Monster in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.) You can only control 1 face-up "Fuse Conductor".
Underground Sun / Normal Spell Card
Discard 1 card; Send 1 FIRE monster from your Deck to the GY. If this card is sent to the GY by your opponents card effect: Send 2 FIRE monsters from your Deck to the GY.
Ritual of Guidance / Continuous Spell Card
(This card is also always treated as a Ritual Spell Card.)
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Netherfly" Ritual Monster. You can only use 1 of the following effects per turn and only once that turn.
● Tribute monsters from your hand or field, or banish monsters from your GY, then Ritual Summon 1 "Netherfly" Ritual Monster from your hand whose Level exactly equals the total Levels of those monsters.
● Tribute monsters from your hand or field, then Ritual Summon 1 "Netherfly" Ritual Monster from your Graveyard whose Level exactly equals the total Levels of those monsters.
Inherited Guidance / Quick-Play Spell Card
(This card is also always treated as a Ritual Spell Card.)
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Netherfly" Ritual Monster. Tribute monsters from your hand or field, then Ritual Summon 1 "Netherfly" Ritual Monster from your hand whose Level exactly equals the total Levels of those monsters.