(A/N: Sooooo, I need to do a bit of a minor retcon to chapter 63. Remember when Chiaki quoted Infinity War? Well, the line now reads: Chiaki opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the light completely faded from her eyes and she went slack. Why did I do this? Well, I sort of forgot this chapter was a thing when I wrote that line…soooo, I'm moving that reference to this chapter. You'll understand why as we get closer to the end. Let's just say, it's far more appropriate here. Or maybe it's not appropriate at all. You make the call! Now I could give a warning of what's to come, but…nah. I'm expecting a table flip or two. Just remember, I love each and every Danganronpa character equally…except Toko, Hiyoko, Junko and Kokichi. Fuck 'em. Now let's begin).
Shortly after Nekomaru's departure, Akane's stomach wouldn't stop knotting. Even after accessing a school computer, looking up duel monsters, using some found yen coins to get a card pack out of the school vending machine and trying to understand the game, she still felt miserable. Even Teruteru's food wasn't cheering her up. Something…was wrong. And for Akane's simple mind, she felt she only had one course of action.
"Hey! You!" she shouted down the hall at poor Hajime who was just mildly coming out of the men's room.
"Huh? Oh. You're Akane, right? Did you need something?"
Glaring at Hajime like he'd shot her dog in front of her, Akane declared, "Teach me!"
"Teach…you?"
"Teach me how to duel!" she shouted.
"Teach you…how to duel?" Was she serious? This sounded like a joke almost.
"You're the Ultimate Duelist, right? Nekomaru's gone because I don't understand this game! Hiyoko said she hated it, but then she supposedly took Mahiru's soul with it! I don't know what I'm supposed to do, Hajime! I want to help…but all of my usual methods feel like their useless. I can't punch a hologram! Please! I'll do anything. You can take me behind the school and have your way with me for all I care. I need HELP!"
"Okay, first, calm down," Hajime said. "If you're panicking and agitated, you won't learn a thing."
"Dammit! I'm not agitated! I'm calm! Don't you see how calm I am?"
Hajime tapped his finger to Akane's forehead. "Relax. Just…relax."
Akane felt the tension in her body just go slack. She took a deep breath and now looked less angry and more upset. "Hajime…please…with Chiaki and Nekomaru gone…you're the only one I can rely on." Akane was fighting tears, as if their emergence would cripple her pride.
Hajime smiled. "Then rely on me," he said, clenching a fist and holding it by his shoulder. "Like my dad always said, the Hinata Family might not be good for much financially, but we're as reliable as they come. Let's go up to the game room. I can teach you the basics."
Akane smiled. "Thanks, Hajime."
As the two walked down the hall, footsteps pounded onto the floor until the massive presence of Juuzo Sakakura stood in front of them. "Hey! Have either of you seen Ibuki Mioda anywhere?"
"Ibuki?" Akane asked. "No. I haven't seen her today…at least I don't think."
Juuzo growled. "Dammit. Not again."
"What's wrong?" Hajime asked.
Sakakura encouraged the two students to huddle up. "Listen to me, word cannot get out about this, but that girl has been sneaking off campus for who knows what reason? I've been trying to keep tabs on her, but she keeps violating the lockdown." Sakakura sighed. "If word gets out that she's moving about freely, I could lose my job. If either of you see her, could you please send her straight to me so Yukizome and I can set her straight."
Yeah, good luck with that Gordian Knot, Alexander, Hajime thought. "We'll send her your way if we see her."
"Same," Akane said.
"Thanks, kids," Sakakura said and then broke the huddle. "You two stay out of trouble. And Akane."
"Yes?"
"You're a good kid." Sakakura then walked away.
"Huh? I wonder what he meant by that."
Hajime knew. Akane could be…problematic, but at least she was following the rules and staying on campus. Sure, she'd threatened the school's board multiple times and broke the Headmaster's desk until they agreed to give her siblings food and shelter, but at least she was staying put. And even with all of her outlandish antics, she never did something so asinine as what Ibuki could find herself getting caught up into.
"Let's go to the game room. Come on," Hajime encouraged. And the two headed off.
As for where Ibuki was, that would be at a non-descript garage on the other side of town. Why was she there? Well…
"One! Two! Three! Four!" Joey exclaimed as he smacked a pair of drumsticks together, firing up a resounding blast of symphonic noise from Tristain's garage. After caving into Ibuki's demands, he, Miho, Téa, Mai, and Tristan had forged a band together with Ibuki. They called it Lords of the Duel!
After Joey's declaration, Ibuki fired up the lead guitar, relieving Mai and Téa of the lead in vocals and piano respectively momentarily. Tristan came in behind Ibuki, playing the bass guitar to keep the beat. After a few seconds, Téa followed in behind with the piano.
Since this was the overture, Mai had a minimal role, but after 3 minutes in, joined Tristan on a duet between her vocals and his bass guitar. The duet was later broken by Miho on a mixing keyboard, which she was currently using to replicate Xylophone sounds.
As the overture came to its conclusion at 5:10 with one last riff of the lead guitar and a smack of the drums, Mai smiled. It's so loud in here, but look at them all. She looked at the teenagers she was hanging out with. So this is what it's like to have good friends. …It's nice.
"Woohoo! Take five everyone!" Ibuki exclaimed. "We'll start practicing up with Battle For Your Last Few Life Points after a water break. Ibuki wants to nail it today!" she exclaimed, a twinkle in her eye.
"This is so much fun!" Miho exclaimed.
"I know right. Ibuki's a good band leader," Téa agreed with a smile.
"Aww, shucks you two," Ibuki said, rubbing the back of her head, smiling. "It's nothing, really. I accept symbols of your affection in chocolates and hugs!"
Mai continued to stare at the three of them, smiling and slowly drifted off into her own little world. The night before to her had been…strange. She'd gone to take the trash out and some weird guy with a cockney accent had tried to convince her that looking out for number one was the best thing for her.
"I've got this thing called friends. You should try it some time. Beat it, before I call the cops."
"Aw, c'mon Mai. You really think a bunch of teenagers are your friends. Can you really say they understand your problems?"
"They don't have to understand my problems. I enjoy hanging out with them and they look up to me a little. It's nice to be wanted."
"Sure, if you feel like babysittin'. Just saying—"
"Look, save your speech, limey. You're about two tournaments too late for that one. If you'd gotten to me before Duelist Kingdom, you might've had a point there." Mai pulled out her cell phone. "Now scram, or you're going to jail."
Mai was jarred from last night's meeting by a hand suddenly being put on her shoulder. "You all right, Mai?"
Mai jumped, but only for a second. She turned towards Joey and smiled. "Don't worry about it," she said. "If I feel like telling you, you're the first person I'll alert, Joey."
Joey smiled.
After the water break, just as Ibuki was about to gather everyone for their first stretch of practice, a blonde teenager came into view along the sidewalk from Tristan's garage.
Ibuki gasped happily and ran towards her. "Natsumi-chan!"
Ibuki was bear hugging the poor girl before she'd even had time to react.
"Who's this?" Joey asked. "Wait a sec, you look familiar."
"Somebody get her off me!" Natsumi snapped.
After prying Ibuki off of Natsumi, the blonde had a chance to breathe. When she looked up, she seemed to instantly recognize Joey. "Oh my, my, my, isn't this a blast from the past. Joey Wheeler, is that you?"
". . ." After a few seconds of staring, Joey seemed to recall the girl in front of him. "Wait, Natsumi?"
"You know her, Joey?" Tristan asked.
"Yeah, uh…how do I explain this?" Joey asked.
"I used to be his girlfriend," Natsumi said.
"Oh I see," Tristan said nodding. "Wait. WHAT?!"
"Don't get bent out of shape, I was barely in middle school. It was puppy love. Nothing serious."
"Barely in middle school. Wait, but you were in a gang during that time. When did you have time for a girlfriend?"
"Uh, hello, full-fledged Yakuza standing right here," Natsumi said.
"It's as she says," Joey said with a shrug.
Ibuki winked. "Sorry Natsumi, but Joey's mine now. Well, not mine mine, buuuuut, he is part of my band."
Natsumi gave a condescending smile, "Oh please, I have no interest in my own sloppy seconds. When Joey and I parted ways, the boy could barely tie his own shoes together. Now look at him, Battle City finalist from what I hear. My how the underdogs have grown."
"What do you want? I'm pretty sure it wasn't just ta make fun a me," Joey said.
"Actually, I couldn't give less of a crap right now about you, Joey. Oh, but I suppose now is a good a time as any to let you know that my brother doesn't hold a grudge for what you did to him in Battle City."
"Huh? What are you talking abou…" It took Joey a minute to connect the dots. "Wait, so that shrimp with the buzz cut is—"
"That's right! I'm Natsumi Kuzuryu, eldest daughter of the Kuzuryu Family."
Miho instantly hid behind Tristan for protection.
"Okay, so if you're not here for me, who are you here for?" Joey asked.
"Meoooooooow~!" Ibuki cooed.
"Oh. Right."
"How did you even know Ibuki was here?" Téa asked.
"I just followed the noise to what sounded like a bulldozer making love to an old, beat up Toyota."
"Hey, come on, our music's not that bad," Joey said.
"Yeah, what Joey said. It's okay if metal ain't your thing, but don't insult it just cause it sounds like noise. After all, one person's classic rock is someone else's smooth jazz!" Ibuki declared.
"That…doesn't even make sense," Tristan said with a glazed look.
"Urgh, getting off topic," Natsumi said. "Ibuki!" She pointed directly at her. "I'm here to collect on a debt. It's high time I pay you back for Battle City."
"Oooh! Oooh! A rematch! Right now! Yahoooooo! I have my own rival! This is awesome."
"But what about band practice?" Joey asked.
"It can wait. Besides, you can't have Lords of a Duel without a duel." Ibuki darted into the garage and fished out her duel disk. Yes. She took it everywhere, along with her deck.
"Let's go, Natsumi-chan! Iiiiiiiii'm Ready!"
Natsumi whipped out her new Atlantean duel disk.
"Neat duel disk. That from the black market?" Joey asked.
"Sort of," Natsumi said.
"Huh. Ibuki feels like she's supposed to know something about that duel disk," Ibuki poked her forehead and thought about it for a minute. "…Nope. Can't think of anything. Let's do this! It's showtime! Here we go! Mic check! Mic check! Testing! Testing! One! Two! Three!"
"Oh, let's just get one with this!" Natsumi snapped.
"Okie-dokie then!"
"Let's duel!" Ibuki and Natsumi exclaimed simultaneously as their duel disks activated.
"I'll go first," Natsumi said and drew the top card of her deck. "And I summon this monster: Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak!" Natsumi declared as a tall, terrifying titanic warrior of troubling proportions stood on the field with a faceless, white mask with red eye holes, two, sinister looking longswords and a dangerous 2000 attack points. It only had 200 defense points though.
"I've never seen that monster before!" Téa exclaimed. "It's so strong."
"Must be from the new expansion," Mai pointed out.
"I now activate Graceful Charity," Natsumi stated. "Now I can draw 3 cards as long as I discard 2." She drew the cards and sent two to the graveyard. Perfect, she thought, looking at her hand. "Since it's the end of my turn, I have to reveal another Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak in my hand or the one on the field gets destroyed," Natsumi said, showing her monster off to Ibuki.
"She has another one of those things?" Joey gasped.
"Well, you are allowed up to 3 of the same monster in your deck," Mai said.
"Don't worry. Ibuki's got this covered. Stand back!" Ibuki exclaimed as she drew the top card of her deck. "Introducing Ibuki's long-time favorite Twin-Barrel dragon!" The half-dragon half-cannon headed monstrosity took to Ibuki's side of the field. "All right Twin-Barrel dragon, blast her Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak to smithereens! Twin Cannot Blast!"
Ibuki's luck seemed to start off well as Twin-Barrel dragon blasted Natsumi's monster, blowing it up.
"And now," Ibuki exclaimed. "Direct attack!"
Twin Barrel dragon charged up its cannons and blasted Natsumi directly. The blonde took serious damage, life points descending to 2300.
"Man, direct attack and it's only the first turn," Joey commented.
"Grr, lucky shot," Natsumi pointed out. "My turn." She drew the top card of her deck. "I think I'll summon a monster you're all too familiar with by now. Say hello again to Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak!" Another angry blue warrior screamed in battle-hungry rage as it was summoned to the field.
"Hello! Nice to have met ya!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"Make your jokes while you can because your monster is about to be scrap metal. I activate this continuous spell card: Core Overclock! Now, all of my Koa'ki Meiru monsters gain 500 extra attack points. And that's not all," Natsumi said, opening the field spell slot of her duel disk. "Behold, the Seal of Orichalcos!"
"Seal of what now?" Joey asked, freaking out.
"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this."
Ibuki's body tingled as the magic circle descended from the sky and Natsumi's forehead lit aglow with the symbol of the Orichalcos. Her eyes also gained a reddish tint to them.
"Holy crap! Natsumi's gone full Satsui no Hado on us! Quick! Someone toss me my backpack!"
"It's the Seal of Orichalcos, you nimrod!" Natsumi shouted. "Gods, it's like you make jokes just because it's endearing and want people to pay attention to you. You make me sick!" Natsumi pointed at Ibuki rudely. "You make me sick!"
"H-hey…th-that's a little personal…" Ibuki said, tapping her fingers together, smiling nervously, doing her best not to show just how deeply Natsumi's words cut.
"Ibuki! Are you okay?" Joey asked, pounding on the Seal of Orichalcos' barrier.
"Joey! What are you doing? This is no time for mime practice," Ibuki said.
"I'm afraid he's not practicing," Natsumi chuckled. "I've raised the stakes on this duel. The loser will now forfeit their soul to the power of the Orichalcos."
"Holy crap! Ibuki's playing a shadow game!"
"That's right!" Natsumi exclaimed. "But not just any shadow game. This shadow game is from the power of Atlantis, born from the power of the Great Leviathan!"
"Did she just say Atlantis?" Tristan asked.
"It's like that exhibit at the museum," Téa said.
"Wait…Natsumi…don't tell me you were the one who took Sato's soul," Ibuki said.
"Ah, so there is a brain in your empty head after all," Natsumi chuckled. "How fortunate. I might even be able to use big words."
"Hey! Words hurt more than you think," Ibuki pouted. "What's the matter? You didn't seem like this last time when we dueled."
"You're right. Master Dartz opened my eyes. He showed me that even a pathetic weakling like me can become stronger than any Ultimate. And when I'm done, the only elites in this world will be those following the banner of the Great Leviathan!"
"You've completely lost your mind!" Joey exclaimed.
"I'm quite sane, thank you," Natsumi smiled.
Mai suddenly felt a chill go down her spine. If she had listened to that weird cockney guy from the night before, would she be talking like this? Would she be dueling to steal people's souls right about now? The very idea terrified her and made her put a hand on Joey's shoulder for reassurance.
"Natsumi, if you felt ostracized, why didn't you talk to your brother? It's a big brother's job to help his little sis out."
"Don't talk as if you know how I feel!" Natsumi shouted angrily. "Fuyuhiko…" she said, balling her fists. "Fuyuhiko…Fuyuhiko got to be an Ultimate. And now he's about to get way ahead of me. I'll be left behind. I don't want that! I have to be at his level! At all costs!"
"But this isn't the way, Natsumi! Come on, let's call this whole thing off! It's not too late. Feel the power of love inside you! Fluffy kittens, sugar hearts and rainbows!"
"Not happening," Natsumi said, holding her hand out at her side. "I have to destroy everything in my way to the top, starting with you, Ibuki!"
"These Orichalcos folk and this Dartz guy sound like real lunatics. Can't you see? They've twisted your own desires and turned you into a maniac!"
"They saved me! I didn't have a choice! You don't know what it's like to shake off the mortal coil! To take a lump to the head and feel like it's all going to be over! I could be dead right now and I made a choice! And I'm going to live it to its fullest! So shut your mouth Joey Wheeler, before I rip the teeth out of it!"
"Jeez, no need to get violent. What the hell is wrong with this chick?" Tristan mused.
"A few things, but they were never this bad," Joey pointed out.
"It must be nice to have the friends you want, to have your dreams handed to you," Natsumi said to Ibuki. "I might've stopped at just that bitch Sato, but then Hiyoko stole my prey, so I guess I'll have to settle for sacrificing you."
"Your prey? What the heck do you have against Mahiru? She's so nice! She wouldn't harm a fly!" Ibuki exclaimed, horrified.
"The same thing I have against you and all Ultimates. But don't worry, once I'm done picking you off one by one, there won't be any Ultimates to get in my way and I will truly be superior to all Ultimates. Now! Bergzak! Use the power of the Orichalcos and become even stronger!"
Bergzak let out an enraged yell as its power ascended to 3,000.
"That monster's as strong as Kaiba's Blue-Eyes!" Téa exclaimed worried.
"Don't worry Téa, it'll only be 1300 points of damage. Ibuki can handle it," Ibuki reassured her.
Natsumi laughed cruelly. "Oh, you poor naïve thing. Bergzak, attack! Destroy Twin-Barrel Dragon!"
Bergzak slashed forward, cutting Ibuki's monster down to size. It was completely vaporized from the attack, leaving Ibuki with 2,700 life points.
"And now attack again!" Natsumi exclaimed.
"What?!" Ibuki exclaimed.
Bergzak's neck cracked and it glared at Ibuki eyes flashing before bringing its twin swords down to annihilate all of her life points.
"Ibuki!" Téa exclaimed, but Ibuki was suddenly saved as a bunch of Kuriboh swarmed to the field. However, they looked different from normal Kuriboh.
"Phew," Ibuki said, looking at her duel disk as these rounded Kuribohs continued to swarm Bergzak until it was forced onto one knee, swords crossed over each other, signifying that it had gone to defense mode with its pitiful 200 defense points.
"What the—Hey! What did you do?"
"Teeheehee!" Ibuki exclaimed. "Ibuki just discarded her Sphere Kuriboh from her hand. This monster lets Ibuki swap a monster attacking her into defense mode." She cooed. "Betcha don't have another Bergzak in your hand to keep the one on your field."
"I don't have to," Natsumi said. "Instead I have this!" She sent a spell card to her graveyard. "Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru!" The card appeared on the battlefield and then quickly faded. "By sending this magic card to my graveyard, I can keep a Koa'ki Meiru monster on the field for one turn longer. And, I can also return it to my hand during my turn instead of drawing a card. It's a brilliant strategy.
"Maximillian Pegasus certainly knew what he was doing when he created the Koa'ki Meiru golems. Powerful monsters that require constant maintenance to keep up, but they utterly flatten whatever comes in their path. Why have multiple, weak monsters on the field when I can have one monster that simply doesn't die."
"Well your monster's only got 200 defense points and it's going nowhere except the graveyard fast," Ibuki pointed out.
"I have others," Natsumi said. "You'll see next turn."
"Okie-dokie then! Ibuki's draw! So let's rock! Literally." Ibuki drew the top card of her deck. "I choose you! Rockstone Warrior! Er, I mean, I play Rockstone Warrior in attack mode!" Ibuki played a grumbly, gravely looking monster with orange eyes and a humanoid build with 1800 attack points and 1600 defense points. "And now, Rockstone Warrior, attack! Destroy Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak!"
Rockstone Warrior swung its fist forward and pounded Natsumi's Bergzak in the chest, knocking it over and sending it to the graveyard.
"Now Ibuki's setting this card face-down and ending her turn," Ibuki said.
"My move and it will be your last!" Natsumi exclaimed. "First, Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru returns to my hand. Next, I send it straight back to the graveyard to special summon this powerful monster. Behold the strongest monster in my deck, Koa'ki Meiru Maximus!" A long necked, chrome dragon appeared on the battlefield, head lowered. It was gigantic, several times Natsumi's size. Steam shot out of its teeth as it brandished the Koa'ki Meiru brand on its forehead and had a massive 3,000 attack points.
"I think Ridley Scott needs to have a word with the Ancient Egyptians," Ibuki said.
"Ugh, I'll be so much happier when you're soulless," Natsumi grumbled.
"Hey! Hang on! How can she summon a monster that powerful just by discardin' a magic card?" Joey asked.
"I told you. The Koa'ki Meiru need constant maintenance, but they're among the most powerful monsters in Duel Monsters. So now, I'm going to destroy your monster and all of your life points."
"No, you won't! Rockstone Warrior's special ability will save me."
"No, it won't," Natsumi smiled.
"Yes, it will!" Ibuki argued with a bright smile.
"No!" Natsumi declared. "It won't! I activate Koa'ki Meiru Maximus' special ability! Once per turn, during my turn, before or after battle, I can select and destroy any card on the field. So say goodbye to your Rockstone Warrior. Koa'ki Meiru Maximus! Destroy it. Brain Core Blaster!" Natsumi's monster unleashed a beam from its forehead, which seemed to completely laser Ibuki's monster and blew it up.
"Oh, and let's not forget that my monster gains 500 attack points each from the Seal of Orichalcos and My Core Overclock!" Natsumi exclaimed. "Even if your life points were still in peak physical form, this duel would be over now! Koa'ki Meiru Maximus! Attack!"
"Sorry, but Ibuki's prepared this time! Nutrient-Z! Go!"
Ibuki's trap card flipped up just as she got blasted by a laser from the throat of Natsumi's monster. Sure, she got thrown against the wall of the Orichalcos, but her life points didn't budge. The 4,000 points she would gain from her trap card were neutralized instantly by Natsumi's monster.
"Ibuki! You okay?" Joey asked.
"Ibuki's fine!" Ibuki exclaimed, turning around to wave at Joey. "She's fallen out of trees before, so this is nothing."
"I don't know whether to be fortunate she's okay, or shake my head at her statement," Mai said.
"You can be like me and do both," Téa said, shaking her head sadly.
Natsumi looked at her hand. Shit. I don't have another core to keep my monster on the field. She looked at a trap card in her hand. But I'm not out of options yet. "I set one trap card onto the field," she said, as the face-down trap card appeared. "And since I don't have a monster or a core to keep Maximus in play, it unfortunately gets destroyed." Maximus' core flickered and then the dragon blew up, sending dust everywhere. Ibuki and Natsumi raised their arms and grunted to shield their eyes from the explosion.
"Wheeee! Do that again!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"Take your turn, Ibuki! I am not in the mood!" Natsumi shouted.
"Sheesh, tough crowd," Ibuki said. "Fine. Here goes. My draw!" Ibuki looked at the cards in her hand. She didn't have very many options. So, she would just have to take the direct attack in front of her and hope for the best. She still had 2,700 life points. What was the worst that could happen? "Ibuki summons this monster: Diskblade Rider!" A motorbike riding fiend carrying a sawtoothed chakram was summoned on Ibuki's side of the field, engine revving. "Ooh! Ooh! And since Ibuki has a trap card in her graveyard, she can banish it and this lets her raise Diskblade Rider's attack power by 500 points until the end of your turn, Natsumi!" Ibuki put on her stern game face, index finger pointed at the sky. "Yeah! Ibuki's all fired up! Let's go! Diskblade Rider! Attack! Take her down!"
Diskblade Rider revved up its motorcycle and sped towards Natsumi in an attempt to rend her down to 100 life points.
"Nice try, but that's not going to work," Natsumi said, throwing an arm out at her side. "Reveal face-down card: Core Reinforcement! This trap card lets me revive one Koa'ki Meiru monster from my graveyard and I choose one of my Koa'ki Meiru Bergzaks!" Ibuki's monster returned to the field looking as enraged as ever.
"Eeek!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"Bergzak! Attack! Destroy her Diskblade Rider!" Natsumi shouted. Her monster stopped Diskblade Rider's ride with the palm of its hand and then cut the rider down to size before slashing the bike in half with the other hand.
Ibuki's life points fell to 1,900.
"Ibuki!" Joey exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Joey! Ibuki has a plan. I set one card face-down onto the field and end my turn!"
"That's it? Just a face-down?" Natsumi grinned, feeling as if she'd already won. "Well, I suppose it is the best you can do after I destroyed your monster. My draw."
"Huh? Arentcha gonna bring back your Koa'ki Meiru core from the graveyard?"
"Why would I do that?" Natsumi asked. "This duel is already over!"
"Whatchoo talkin bout Natsumi?" Ibuki pouted.
"I activate the special summoning conditions of this monster: Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord! By tributing only one Koa'ki Meiru monster, I can summon it even though it's a level 7 monster."
Natsumi's Bergzak disappeared and out came a blue monster that looked like it was caught somewhere between a being made of gears and an anthropomorphized car. Her monster 2800 attack points.
"Okay, so you summoned a big monster. Big deal." Ibuki said.
"It is a big deal," Natsumi smirked. "Because when my monster is summoned to the field, I can destroy up to any two cards my opponent controls."
Shocked faces went all around, including Ibuki, who gulped.
"Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord! Koa'ki Meiru Salvo!" Natsumi's monster launched 8 missiles from its shoulders in order to destroy Ibuki's face-down, leaving her defenseless. "It's game over. Don't forget, my monster still gets 1,000 more points in attack power and you have nothing to protect you. It's over."
"No way!" Joey exclaimed, clenching a fist and looking indignant. "Ibuki's gonna—"
"Hey, Joey," Ibuki cut him off calmly.
"What's up, Ibuki? Need help with your strategy?"
"Ibuki had lots of fun being in a band with you."
"Yeah. I know. It's a great band and we're going to help you with your practical. We've been over this," Joey said with a smile.
Ibuki turned her head and looked at Joey, giving him her best smile. "Take care of the band, okay Joey?"
Joey's heart sank. No. It couldn't be possible. Surely she had something in her hand. Something. Another Sphere Kuriboh! A regular Kuriboh! Anything!
"Bye, Joey," Ibuki said with a pleasant smile. "It's been real," she gave him the piece sign.
"IBUKIIIIIIIII!"
Joey watched Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord charge forward and swat Ibuki to the ground with a hard punch. She bounced off the wall of the Orichalcos barrier and hit the ground as her life points ticked down to zero.
With this, the Seal of Orichalcos began to zoom in on Ibuki, much to Natsumi's delight and everyone else's horror.
"Ibuki!" Joey darted towards Ibuki and lifted her arm, turning her over in his arms.
Ibuki coughed, still conscious. She was a little banged up, but she still seemed like she was in reasonably good condition. "I screwed up," she said with a smile.
"It's all right, Ibuki," Joey said. "We'll get you to that Mikan chick. She'll fix you right up."
Ibuki smiled widely, grasping Joey's hand. Her hand was clammy cold. "You're so sweet, Joey. Really. Thank you for being a friend."
Joey gripped Ibuki's hand. He took a deep breath and started to sing. Ibuki had once said that if something bad ever happened to her, she always wanted to go out in song. "When they met she was fifteen, like a black rose blooming wild and she already knew she was gonna die."
Ibuki picked up her line. "What's tomorrow without you?" she asked as the green light of the Orichalcos completely surrounded her, her sense of being fading fast. "Is this our last goodbye?"
"Ibuki…" Téa looked over at her. Nobody deserved this, least of all Ibuki.
"Hey, Joey," Ibuki said as her strength faded.
"Yeah?"
Ibuki nuzzled her head against his chest and neck, mustering the most she could for a smile, eyes open. "You're warm." A single tear rolled down her right cheek.
"Ibuki…please hang on…"
"Joey…I don't feel so good," Ibuki said. Her voice then went up about three octaves like a shrill gasp as Ibuki seemed to stop moving. Her eyes were cold and dead. Her soul was gone.
"Ibuki!" Joey screamed at the sky. He put her down and stepped over her soulless body. He didn't care if Natsumi was a girl. Nobody did that to one of his friends.
However, as his fist came in a bamboo sword suddenly blocked it.
"You!" Joey shouted. His eyes met the glasses and red eyes of Peko Pekoyama.
A horn honked down at the end of the block. Fuyuhiko had the window rolled down. "Natsumi! Get in the car!" Fuyuhiko shouted.
"Big brother?" Natsumi was surprised to see him. He looked furious.
"I said get in the car! NOW! Dad has been worried sick about you, now get in! Peko! Take her by force if you have to!"
"Hey! Where do you think you're going mafia boy?" Joey ran towards the limo, but Mai grabbed his shoulder.
"We need to look after Ibuki first," Mai told him.
"But…"
"Joey! We don't know what's going on? Do you want to end up like her next?" Mai asked, pointing at the soulless Ibuki.
No. Joey had to admit it. No he did not.
Natsumi followed Peko, but Joey wasn't quite done with her yet. "Natsumi! I'm gonna kick your ass! You're gonna pay for what you did to Ibuki! You hear me! Next time you play that Seal of Oricalico card of whatever the hell it's called, I'm making sure you're the one that loses next time! You hear me?"
Natsumi gave him no response. She just glared at him as her window rolled up and the limo drove away.
As it drove, Fuyuhiko yelled at her some more. "All right, sis. I'm only going to ask this once." He cleared his throat and grit his teeth. "What the FUCK is going on?"
"Oh don't worry about Natsumi," a rather fiendish voice called from the driver's seat.
"Huh?" Fuyuhiko looked at the driver. He had short red hair and greyish eyes.
"Hey! You're not my limo driver!"
"Shoulda noticed the switcheroo when you had the chance, squirt," the red head said. "Master Dartz wants a word with you, punk?"
"Nobody gets away with calling me a squirt or a punk! You stop this car right now or I'm going to be outfitting you for cement shoes."
"Big brother, you said you wanted to know what was going on," Natsumi said. "Well, Master Dartz can answer any questions you may have." She looked at the driver. "Right, Alister?"
Alister turned back to put his eyes on the road. "Right."
Alister kept driving down the city road until he took a turn down an unrecognizable street and there was a bright flash of light. And suddenly, the roads and the atmosphere and the people on the sidewalks all seemed to change.
"What the heck? Where are we?" Fuyuhiko looked at one of the road side and didn't recognize the street sign. "Huh?"
"Welcome to the west, hope you brought your passport," Alister said as he drove up to a gigantic, fancy, conglomerate building.
"We crossed the ocean?" Peko wondered aloud. "This is the United States? But how?"
"With the power of the Orichalcos."
Peko and Fuyuhiko looked at her.
"Trust me, it doesn't make much sense to me either, but these guys can do things that ordinary humans can't. They have magical powers from the lost city of Atlantis. That's all I understand."
"Atlantis is a fairy tale!" Fuyuhiko snapped.
"Well this fairy tale," Alister said as he turned down a ramp and headed into a parking garage, "Is very real. I assure you. After all, I managed to make something of myself because of this fairy tale."
"Explain!" Fuyuhiko snapped.
"I don't have to," Alister smirked. "Master Dartz will do all the explaining for me."
"This is a fine mess you've gotten us into, Natsumi. When we get home, I will personally chop off your finger myself if I have to!"
"Wake up and smell the tea, big brother! This is the future! This is mankind's destiny!"
"Shut up!" Fuyuhiko exclaimed. "Last thing I want to hear is you spouting some occult bullshit! Three of my classmates are now in comas and one of them is because of you! Shut your mouth!"
Natsumi swallowed and averted her eyes from Fuyuhiko's gaze.
Alister parked the car and the four rode up an elevator to a high rising floor and then walked down the hall into a conference room. All of the walls were white and the floor was marble. An expensive looking wooden conference table, surrounded by leather chairs was the centerpiece of the room. Fuyuhko and Peko looked around. There were several familiar faces in here, yet also unfamiliar ones as well.
"Well, well, well," Gundham, who was in the room, was almost bristling with joy to see Fuyuhiko and Peko. "I did not expect you two would be recruited. Welcome to our humble abode."
"Gundham, so this is where you wound up you slimy piece of trash."
"Slimy piece of trash, huh?" Neither Fuyuhiko nor Peko could mistake Hiyoko's shrill voice. "Sure you aren't talking about yourself."
"I see you haven't changed a bit," Peko said offhandedly.
"See ya made it back, mate," a young man with brown hair shaped like an avocado mold said to Natsumi.
Natsumi smiled at him, twirling a lock of her hair. "It was easy. A sub-par duelist like Ibuki Mioda is no match for me now."
"Hey, asshole! Who are you and how do you know my sister?" Fuyuhiko snapped.
"How do I know 'er?" the guy asked. "I taught er, ya bloke. Name's Valon." He jerked a thumb at himself. "And I'm the guy what turned your little sis 'ere into a bonafide pro duelist."
"You turned her into a lunatic!" Fuyuhiko exclaimed.
"Now. Now. Let's not argue and be civil."
A chill ran down Fuyuhiko's spine as a presence that had been in his blind spot called out behind him. Although Dartz looked unintimidating in his purple suit and turquoise hair, Fuyuhiko could sense the cold, unfeeling darkness within this man. Somehow, he could just tell this guy was bad news and his blood was running colder than a snake's in a snowstorm.
"Young Kuzuryu. Thank you so much for accepting Alister's invitation," Dartz said.
"Invitation nothing, you practically kidnapped me!" Fuyuhiko shouted.
"Kidnapped is such an ugly word," Dartz said. "I prefer unscheduled meeting with destiny."
"Call a spade a spade, you girly haired bastard. What the fuck do you want with me?"
"Master Dartz has chosen to speak with you directly," an older gentleman with a monocle and a chinstrap beard spoke sternly at Fuyuhiko, "You will show him some respect!"
"It's fine Gurimo. I know Fuyuhiko is short on temper and on patience. It is a poor host who responds poorly to his guests' ill behavior. Can I get you something to drink Fuyuhiko? Tea? Coffee?" Dartz took a pause and then asked, "Milk?"
Fuyuhiko squinted one eye and then pounded the desk with his fist. "I'll kill you if you say that one more time! Say Milk one more fucking time, I dare you!" The heir to the Kuzuryu family was at the end of his rope right now.
"Poor, young Kuzuryu, so concerned with your image. So concerned with your future. I can help you there."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Master Dartz wants you to join us, big brother," Natsumi said. "He's already started buying up most of dad's contacts. We should join him. It's for the better future of the Kuzuryu clan. The Yakuza can be a feared term again. We can become what we were always meant to be."
"Oh I get it," Fuyuhiko said with a shit eating grin. "You want to broker a deal? Is that it?"
"That's precisely it. I believe we can come to an arrangement, young Kuzuryu. Your cooperation to help me summon the Great Leviathan, and, in return, you can become the man you have always wanted. Men and women would fear you and grovel at your feet. You could become one of the most powerful men on the face of the planet. Money, fame, women, drug cartels, they could all be yours, if you sign on the metaphorical dotted line.
"You know," Fuyuhiko said, grinning and nodding his head. "That's a good deal. And what happens if I say no?"
"Then you will become a worthy sacrifice for the Great Leviathan and I'll inherit the Kuzuryu Family," Natsumi said with a smile.
Fuyuhiko nodded, arms folded. "I see. I see. Right then. Well, here's my counteroffer." Fuyuhiko took a deep breath, flipped Dartz off and shouted, "GO FUCKING POUND SALT INTO A RAT'S ASSHOLE YOU HETEROCHROMATIC SUIT!"
The entire room went quiet. It was hard to tell who among the people in the room, including Peko, was the most disturbed by Fuyuhiko's shout. Sure, Peko had expected Fuyuhiko to say no, but the wording was a bit strong.
"I see," Dartz said, piercing the silence. "So that is your answer. And you, Miss Pekoyama, what will you do?"
"I shall not leave the young master's side, no matter what," Peko said, her eyes reflecting that of a killer awaiting its target.
"Tragic. I had hoped you could become a bodyguard for Miss Natsumi, but it seems you both will only be useful as snacks."
"Bring it, asshole!" Fuyuhiko shouted. He reached inside his suit and pulled out a small caliber pistol, pointing it at Dartz. "I don't even see a piece on your frilly suit."
"Now, now, there's no need for toys of that nature. Wouldn't you rather play a game?"
"I'm already playing one! It's called you're all fuckin' dead!" Fuyuhiko went to fire the gun, but the clicking noise was not to his liking. "Crap! Seriously? Jammed now of all times!"
"Ah, that's probably my bad," Nagito said, making his presence known. "Besides, Master Dartz is right. You should work for your freedom Fuyuhiko. Our hope versus your hope. I wonder which is stronger."
"Shut your mouth, Nagito! No one asked your opinion!" Fuyuhiko shouted.
"Perhaps not, but I believe young Komaeda's suggestion has merit," Dartz chuckled. "Gurimo. Please duel young master Kuzuryu and Miss Pekoyama."
"Sure thing," Gurimo said with a smile.
"Are you all right with this, Miss Kuzuryu?" Dartz asked Natsumi.
"Natsumi, I swear, if you fucking turn your back on me, Dad is not going to let you off easy."
Fuyuhiko did not like the look in Natsumi's eyes when she looked at him then. Those were not the eyes of the sister he loved, and the sister that loved him back. They were cold and empty. Spiteful, and unfeeling. He watched her, and it nearly broke his heart to watch her stand next to Dartz.
"We aren't family. If you can't see the merit in the power of the Orichalcos," Natsumi said, speaking in monotone. "I don't need a brother like that."
"Khh!" Fuyuhiko was both boiling with rage and choking back on tears. He would've completely lost it if Peko hadn't put a hand on his shoulder.
"Young master, perhaps it would be best if we focus on our own safety for now. We can recover Lady Natsumi once we have won our own freedom from this place."
"Fine," Fuyuhiko said. Luckily for him, he never left the house without three things, a gun, a sai or a knife, and his duel disk and deck. Some people would count that as four things. Fuyuhiko didn't fucking care. Some people also thought mayonnaise and raspberries tasted good together. Those people, to Fuyuhiko, could also go pound salt into a rat's asshole.
Gurimo activated his special duel disk and prepared to take Peko and Fuyuhiko on in a triangle duel. He chuckled, grinning. "This shant take long."
"That's what you think, asshole!" Fuyuhiko shouted as he and Peko both activated their duel disks. "You're going down!"
"Let's Duel!" All three participants declared at once.
"Since I have home field advantage, allow me to go first," Gurimo stated. "I start by activating The Seal of Orichalcos!"
Peko, Fuyuhiko and Gurimo became trapped inside the seal.
"Heh, you're gonna regret that," Fuyuhiko smirked. "Cause the only one walking away without a soul is you."
"We shall see about that. I now place two cards face-down," Gurimo said as the face-down card appeared as a hologram. "And next, I summon this monster: Element Soldier to the field!" A gilded soldier carrying a lance appeared on the field. He had 1500 attack points and 1200 defense points. "And thanks to the Seal of Orichalcos, my monster's power increases by 500 points." Element Soldier's eyes glowed as its attack power became 2,000. "Your move, girl," Gurimo said to Peko.
"Very well. I draw." She looked at her hand. "I choose this monster: Masaki the Legendary Swordsman! In attack mode!" Peko declared as an ever familiar Samurai appeared on her side of the field, clad all in green with 1,100 attack and defense points each.
"Wow, I thought glasses were supposed to improve your intelligence. You just played a weak monster," Hiyoko stated.
Peko ignored her. "Next, I shall set two cards face-down. My turn is complete."
"And it's my turn now," Fuyuhiko said. "I summon my Dark Crusader!" A skull masked warrior clad in all black, carrying a slab of iron that could barely be called a sword appeared on the field. "And next, I activate his special ability. By discarding a dark attribute monster from my hand, my monster permanently gains 400 attack points." Fuyuhiko's monster jumped in power to 2,000. "That puts him even with your monster. Now, I'll place one card face-down and end my turn." The face-down hologram appeared.
"How decisively unimpressive," Gurimo chuckled. "I draw." He looked at his hand. "And now I summon Element Doom in attack mode!" A brown fiend with large wings appeared. It had 1500 attack points and 1200 defense points. Its attack power then boosted to 2,000 from the Seal of Orichalcos. And I shall equip it with this magic card: Dark Energy! This increases my monster's attack and defense points by 300 each." As Gurimo activated the magic card and dropped down to only one card in his hand, his monster's power increased to 2,300 attack and 1,500 defense points. "Next, Element Doom, destroy Dark Crusader!"
"Not happening! Kunai with Chain!" Peko exclaimed, revealing her trap card. Masaki sprang to action, ensnaring Element Doom and putting it into defense mode.
"What?" Gurimo gasped.
Peko gave a condescending smirk. "I shall always protect the young master. You fell into my true trap."
"Oh, I get it. Peko played a weaker monster to make Fuyuhiko seem more threatening," Valon said. "Gurimo forgot all bout her face-downs."
"I didn't forget. That's why I have two monsters," Gurimo said. "And now, Element Soldier, destroy Masaki the Legendary Swordsman."
Element Soldier sprang forth and impaled Masaki through its armor, destroying it as its hologram exploded. Peko's life points fell to 3,600 as a result.
"You just activated my other trap card, Business Deal!" Peko exclaimed, revealing it. "Now, whenever a monster you control destroys a monster I control, I get to draw a card and you lose 500 life points."
"That's less a business deal and more a shakedown," Valon chuckled.
"Well, they are Yakuza," Alister pointed out.
"Hmph, I suppose I'll end my turn for now," Gurimo stated. "Your move, Peko Pekoyama."
"Gladly," Peko said and drew the top card of her deck. "Since Element Doom is still in defense position thanks to my trap card, I will summon this Beautiful Headhuntress!" A dark haired woman in a powder blue robe stood on the battlefield. She was carrying a gigantic meat cleaver and had 1600 attack points and 800 defense points. "Beautiful Headhuntress attack! Destroy Element Doom!" Darting forward, Beautiful Headhuntress swung her massive cleaver and decapitated Element Doom, sending it to the graveyard. "My turn is now complete. Go, young master! Take the lead!"
"Right!" Fuyuhiko exclaimed. "I discard one monster from my hand to power up my Dark Crusader. This lets it now become strong enough to destroy your Element Soldier. But first, I activate my face-down card: Call of the Haunted. Now I can select Zoa from my graveyard and bring him back to the field, in attack mode!"
The blue demon appeared on the battlefield at 2,600 attack points strong.
"Now go, Dark Crusader, attack!"
Dark Crusader charged forward and clashed sword to spear with Element Soldier. Although Element Soldier was able to parry the first blow, it failed to stop the second powerful strike from cutting into its neck and cutting its head off. As a result, Gurimo lost 400 life points, making his life total 3,600, even with Peko's.
"And now, Zoa, attack his life points directly! Let him feel the pain of what happens when you mess with my family!"
Gurimo chuckled. "Sorry to say, but my life points are safe this turn! I activate this trap card Hidden Soldiers! Now I can put a dark attribute monster from my hand onto the battlefield to intercept your attack. Say hello to Obsidian Dragon, in defense mode!" A purple gem encrusted dinosaur looking dragon appeared, crouching with 2100 defense points.
"A poor defense for my Zoa. Your hand is now empty and this duel will soon be over." Zoa blasted Obsidian Dragon into oblivion with its soul beam breath attack, crumbling Gurimo's monster as the hologram exploded.
Gurimo then started laughing. "Fools! You've played right into my hands."
"What the hell are you on about, you old geezer?" Fuyuhiko asked.
"I'm talking about my turn!" Gurimo exclaimed. "First, I draw!" He grinned at the card in his hand. "Next, I activate the spell card Card of Demise, allowing me to draw 5 cards as long as I discard my entire hand five turns later. Next, I activate this magic card, Soul Charge. At the cost of 500 life points per monster, I can summon back all the monsters you've destroyed this duel." Gurimo's monsters appeared on the battlefield in defense mode. His life points then fell to 2,100.
"And what is the point of that exactly?" Peko wondered. "The monsters you summon with Soul Charge can't attack the turn their brought back."
"To true, but they can still be sacrificed to summon a new monster that can more than annihilate either one of you! Now! I sacrifice all of my monsters to bring out this unstoppable creature! Behold the power of one of the fell gods of Ancient Egypt! Wicked Eraser!"
A gigantic fiend with its tail making up most of its body appeared on the battlefield, practically taking up the whole office space. Its head was touching the ceiling, encased inside an exoskeletal skull that was shaped like a dragon's. Its chest looked Cybernetic and its attack and defense points were 0 each.
"Heh. Seems like a waste. Your monster doesn't have any attack points."
Gurimo chuckled. "At first, but Wicked Eraser gets 1000 attack and defense points for every card my opponents control! And I count five! That means my monster now has 5,000 attack and defense points!"
Everyone watched as Gurimo's monster skyrocketed in power, making it the deadliest thing Fuyuhiko and Peko had ever witnessed firsthand.
"F-Five thousand?" Peko sweated.
"And thanks to the Seal of the Orichalcos, my monster gets even more power!" Gurimo exclaimed. Wicked Eraser's attack power increased further to 5,500 points.
"And now that my monster is the strongest monster on the field, I can activate my remaining face-down card: the continuous spell card Blood Sacrifice! First, I am not allowed to play any more monsters while I control a monster with 3,000 attack points or more. Second, if the strongest monster I control destroys a monster by battle, I can pay 500 life points and have it attack again as long as its next attack target is another monster. Of course, by using this effect, only that monster can attack this turn. But I control an unstoppable creature that will wipe all of you out!"
Wicked Eraser unleashed its furious power upon Dark Crusader first, annihilating it and bringing Fuyuhiko down to 900 life points.
"Young Master!" Peko shouted.
Gurimo's life points fell to 1,600 as Wicked Eraser's eyes glowed blood red. Though its attack power was only 4,500 now, that was more than enough to finish Fuyuhiko off by blowing up Zoa.
"YOUNG MASTER!" Peko shouted.
She watched Fuyuhiko slump on the ground. She rushed to his side and checked upon him. He was breathing, but his eyes were dead and cold. He had lost all of his life points after all. His souls was already gone.
"Don't worry, my dear," Gurimo said as his life points fell to 1,100 and Wicked Eraser's attack power descended to 2,500. "I'll be sending you to join him soon!"
In the corner, Nagito's eyes lit up. Could Peko's hope overcome the despair of Fuyuhiko's soul being taken. The anticipation made his heart pound in excitement.
Wicked Eraser unleashed its fury upon Peko's monster, destroying it and inflicting 900 points of damage. Peko's life points fell to 2,700.
"Heh, heh heh heh. HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Peko exclaimed, standing up, stomping her foot. "You have made a fatal error. I only control one card now and it's business deal. That means you lose 500 more life points."
"Perhaps, but I can also activate this magic card, Emergency Provisions!" Gurimo exclaimed, slapping the Quick Spell card into the reader from his hand. "So I'll gain 1,000 life points for a net gain of 500." Gurimo's life points were now at 1,600 and he still had Wicked Eraser on the field with 1,500 attack points.
"It's your move, girl. Make it count," Gurimo told her.
"You will regret the decision to let me live! I will make you sorely regret it!" Peko exclaimed with her smile twisted and contorted to look like that of an axe murderer. She drew two cards from her deck, one for her Business Deal activation and one for her draw for the turn. "I will end this duel for the sake of the young master! HE WILL BE AVENGED!" Peko screamed. "I summon—"
"Oh, and what will you summon?" Gurimo asked, "The moment you summon a monster, my monster will gain 1,000 attack points. In the end, you're defenseless!"
"No!" Peko exclaimed, looking at her hand. "There has to be something that I can…" She looked at all the cards in her hand. Something…anything in her hand had to be useful, something capable of taking Wicked Eraser down. Her rage, her anger, and her sorrow seemed as if they'd cave into despair. And then, Peko spoke. "Yes, there is still something I can do."
Reaching behind her back, Peko drew her shinai and crossed the battlefield, smacking Gurimo in the chest with it, sending him flying back into the wall of the seal, startling everyone.
"I don't have to play your game," Peko said with a crazed look in her eye. "I can take your life and escape!"
"She's nuts!" Alister exclaimed.
Gurimo chuckled and reached up for Peko's sword, crushing the shinai with his fist, exposing the blade underneath. "Little girl, you seem to misunderstand." Gurimo pushed Peko back. His hand wasn't even bleeding. "The power of the Orichalcos is far beyond your understanding. Even if your so-called master had managed to shoot Master Dartz, it would have done nothing."
"Huh?" Peko was at a loss for words.
"The power of the Orichalcos makes one immune to earthly weapons like fists, blades and bullets," Gundham explained, head turned away from the duel. "While normally only his majesty, the King, is immune to such at all times, upon activating the seal's power, our bodies are blessed with the spirit of the Great Leviathan, thus making us invulnerable to all but the demon beasts of ancient times."
"But that's..."
"Man, grow up," Hiyoko stated. "Jeez, what are you, five? You're not getting your way so you resort to violence?"
You're not exactly one to talk, Rafael thought, recalling what Hiyoko had done to her own family.
"I..."
"Your only way out is to win the duel," Gurimo said with a sinister grin. "Too bad."
Peko bit her lip and staggered back to her place in the battlefield. And then, just like that, everything she knew, everything she stood for, felt meaningless. Her crazed look caved. She dropped her sword and fell into despair.
Looks like she doesn't have what it takes, Nagito sighed. How disappointing.
"I place a monster face-down in defense position," Peko stated pitifully.
Gurimo grinned. "It's all right my dear. You won't have to suffer for much longer." He looked at the card he'd drawn. "I now activate this magic card, Fairy Meteor Crush. This allows my monster to deal damage to your life points as though it were in attack position. Next, I activate Shallow Grave, this forces both of us to place a monster on our side of the field from our graveyard." Since Peko's strongest defense monster was Masaki, she was forced to summon it in defense mode. Now that she had another monster on the field, Wicked Eraser's attack was 3,500.
"And now, I shall seal your fate with this equip spell: Sword of Dark Destruction, increasing Wicked Eraser's power by another 400 points." This brought its attack total to 3,900.
No one had to even listen to what happened next. As a tear rolled down Peko's cheek, Wicked Eraser's attack came in and completed obliterated Masaki the Legendary swordsman, dealing 2,800 points of damage.
Young master…I'm sorry, Peko thought as her soul was extracted from her body and she collapsed on the ground, her back atop his back.
"Excellent, two more souls for the Great Leviathan. You serve me well, Gurimo," Dartz said to him.
"Of course, Master Dartz. I do what I can for your greatness," Gurimo said with a smirk.
From the far corner of the room where no one had been focusing on, a door opened and the sound of slow clapping could be heard. "Bravo! Bravo indeed. A plus! Gold star!"
Everyone looked over to where a young woman with blonde hair and a model like figure stepped into the room, having observed the entire duel from the computer terminal in the room she'd just been in. She was followed by a girl of the exact same height, but a much smaller chest, dressed like she was ready for combat. She was wearing camouflage, a bullet proof vest and combat boots and she had dark hair.
Dartz looked over to the two young women coming out of the side office. "Ah, Miss Enoshima, so nice of you to finally join us."
Across the room, Nagito felt a chill run up his spine just from looking at Junko. Something about her seemed…off, but he couldn't place his finger on as to what was wrong.
"Who's this cow-titted skank?" Hiyoko asked.
"Junko's the name," Junko said with a big smile, brushing off Hiyoko's insult and giving the V for Victory sign with her hand.
"Have I convinced you that my power is real, Miss Enoshima?" Dartz asked her.
"Oh yes, Dartz," Junko said tenting her fingers and smiling. "I'd be more than happy to join your cult."
Dartz handed Junko a stone. "Yours, Miss Enoshima."
Bingo! Junko exclaimed.
With nary a hesitance in her grasp, nor the stone's reaction, Junko swiped the Stone of Orichalcos out of Dartz's palm. Instead of the usual flair Dartz normally expected from his acolytes, Junko just seemed to yawn and stretch, stone in her hand, the emblem on her forehead fading just as quickly as it had appeared.
Then, gunfire rang out, pelting the ceiling with bullets. The intent was just to cause all parties in the area to cower, sans Dartz. Mukuro was, of course, the source of the noise as she continued to fire the assault rifle everywhere, intentionally missing all parties in the area, per Junko's orders. After all, it was more interesting if everyone remained alive.
The two twins made for the nearest window and jumped out, ejecting parachutes upon their backs, emblazoned with Fenrir's emblem.
"What the hell was that all about? Father Dartz! Send me out now! I'm going to steal their souls right now! Nobody shoots at you and gets away with it!" Hiyoko shouted.
"Calm yourself, my child," Dartz said to her. "We can let them go."
"You gotta be nuts, Dartz," Valon said. "Let them go?"
"I don't know what Miss Enoshima's intentions are, but nevertheless, the power of the Orichalcos chose her and quite easily too."
"It's as Master Dartz says," the jacked blond guy in the room said.
"What do you mean, Rafael?" Gundham asked him.
"No matter how much Junko Enoshima tries to run or hide, the power of the Orichalcos will follow her. She cannot escape its grasp, or its pull. Soon, her true side will be revealed, just as it has been revealed in all of us," Rafael said.
What Rafael didn't know of course, what none of them knew, was that Junko's true nature was already revealed, they had just failed to notice it.
And, shortly after landing, Junko was already riding sidecar on Mukuro's motorcycle back to the airport they landed in.
"Back to Japan now, sister?" Mukuro asked.
"Indeed," Junko said as fast dry glued the Orichalcos stone to a hairclip and clipped it to her hair. "Things are going to get interesting." She looked at her copy of the Seal of Orichalcos, which had previously been a blank card. She then opened an old looking book, the same book she'd been carrying around since taking over the Tombkeepers. She then placed the seal into the page she'd opened to, using it as a bookmark to the book. Instantly the runes on the book flashed and a green emblem glowed on the back of the book." Junko took a fountain pen out of her skirt pocket and licked the tip. Then, she began drawing a little bear face in the margin of the page she was open to. All according to plan, Junko thought with a smile so wide, the Cheshire Cat would be jealous.
(A/N: Yes. That is a book from ancient times…and Junko is scribbling in it. Why? Because she can and it's free. And yes, Junko just did pull a fast one over Dartz. She is the Wild Card of this arc, but she's also the true evil. I actually wasn't planning on revealing Junko this chapter, but I felt the dread of her arrival into the story would just tighten the grip I already have over your chests.
And yet, it's ironic. Just as Junko is entering the fold, next chapter finally begins the heroes' turnaround. We will finally, finally get some good news. And I hope to have that turnaround for you all very soon. I've been looking forward to next chapter for a while. And don't worry, Junko won't be returning to the story for two whole chapters. We get a break from her demented madness for two chapters. And then…unfortunately, she sticks to this arc like a blood sucking parasite, refusing to leave until her babies have been lain in the corpse of her enemies. On the bright side, at least Mai's staying on our side. Poor Ibuki, Peko and Fuyuhiko though, am I right?
Anyway, until next time, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)