【65 - Desert Shockwave! The Battle Between Chosens Continues...?】

While the white impaired her vision, Amira could see blackness struggling against it.

Silence.

Before she could make out anything around her, she was grabbed and thrown to the ground. But she fell into sand instead of concrete. While lying on her stomach she looked up at a man in grey uniform. Urobach had his arms behind his back, staring off at something in the distance. Amira sat up and blinked at a rising pillar of smoke, wider than it was tall but quickly reaching up to cloud level. She climbed unsteadily to her feet. They were standing in empty desert.

"Is that… Solvus City?" Amira pointed.

"No," Urobach's voice was clipped. He looked at her "While I could've just let you kill yourself, I'm mad enough to not deny myself the pleasure of killing you with my own hands." He held her deck, extracting Dormageddon X with a finger. "This card came from my deck. How did you take it?"

"I didn't."

"Don't lie to me." He rounded on her, his scarred face twisting uglier. "If any of my lieutenants gave me a fraction of the disrespect you do I'd have them executed. Slowly."

Amira couldn't stop looking between him and the rising column. The sheer scale of it was transfixing.

Suddenly wind blasted them. Sand flying with a loud bang. Amira cried out and stumbled against it. Urobach remained still and eventually the fierce wind weakened into a breeze.

"That was… the shockwave!"

"Dormageddon X has just annihilated one-hundred square kilometres of empty desert. That's over ten times stronger than the atomic bomb set off in Coal Province City." Urobach lowered his head. "That shockwave will reach Solvus City in another few seconds. And after that, impending sandstorms you triggered, no doubt."

"I didn't know it would be so powerful."

"Because you haven't had any training with it, unlike me. You were given Zeron to master and that's what you must stick to. Without the control that comes with training, attacking with powerful creatures will also end up throwing its duelist back, every time. Or in this instance, wiping out a huge chunk of landmass."

"…You teleported Dormageddon X away while it was in the middle of its attack." Amira surmised, looking at him. "But I know you don't like working with me. Why didn't you just let me die and take out three chosens along with me? Then you'd only have the water one left."

Urobach smirked "To your first statement: yes, my three lieutenants in Solvus City are also working as my eyes. When they reported Forbidden Star's field I waited to see if you'd lose before I acted." He looked up "As for why I saved the chosens, I've planned and caused various disasters and I'll be damned if the chosens all die out in your accidental moment of stupidity. So yes, aside from the fact I didn't want to lose Dormageddon X's cards, I also want the chosens to die in the ways I've planned. Bringing down Aurellia and its heroes is my masterpiece, I won't have anyone else take that satisfaction from me."

"We all get our kicks somehow, I suppose."

"You dare mock me?"

"You can keep your Dormageddon and I'll stick to Zeron - lesson learned." Amira faced away from him. "I only made that half-ass deck to psyche her out and break her resolve, but I failed... You can have the other chosens, but I'm going to take out Heidi."

"Amira, wait!" Urobach could tell she was about to leave. "…how did you manage to take Dormageddon X from my deck?"

"Like I said – I didn't. Your boss gave it to me."

"Gatekeeper Pluto!?" Urobach was shocked. Then Amira burnt up in seconds and left him to his contemplations.

A violent wave of air hit Solvus City, knocking pedestrians about and shaking parked vehicles. Then a warning siren blared as a massive sandstorm was visible building up on the horizon.

Heidi, Kanoa and Sinan were still on the roof of the building. Amira and her cards were gone.

Heidi didn't know what to do, or think. Despite the fact she'd thrown Mars away it was clear her phoenix was willing to forgive her, and he'd even tried to reunite. That meant she was still the chosen fire duelist. However Mars and Pluto were in Amira's possession and she was working for the Gatekeepers. Was there even a point to capturing Sinan anymore? Even if they succeeded they were still two chosens and three phoenixes down from having a complete team.

"Heidi, you try making contact with Engyo and the others." Kanoa said and stepped forward. "I'll take care of Sinan."

"But…"

"I don't know what just happened now. But Sinan is still here in front of us. So I'm completing the mission."

Sinan was facing away from them and hunched over, but then he turned around with a glare. A strong wind was blowing their hair and clothes, twisting and howling.

"You'll take care of me? Is that so, you filthy infidel?" Sinan remarked.

"You're coming back with us." Kanoa declared.

This time the two chosen boys were facing off. Kanoa became cloaked in green energy, tangling like roots. Sinan was shrouded in yellow, pulsing like a star. Their phoenixes were syncing with each other, but the opponents looked far from connected. Tables became solid and shields expanded with a gleam.

Heidi checked her mobile and saw several missed calls from their comrades. She pressed Engyo's number and he quickly answered. Below was the sound of panic as people evacuated to their homes, that looming sandstorm now blocking out a third of the sky.

After explaining that Amira had been the cause of their separation, Engyo was understandably speechless. The revelation that she now had the same powers as Urobach was disturbing. She'd successfully been recruited by the enemy, and with no way to get Pluto from her their slim chances of beating Urobach dropped even more drastically.

"Listen," Heidi tried to snap him out of it. "Kanoa is getting ready to duel Sinan now. We can still grab him."

"I was going to say – the sandstorm."

"I know, we need to find cover soon-"

"No Heidi, the sandstorm is the perfect cover." Engyo corrected.

"Huh?"

"To escape. Flying the Carmen's Comet into Solvus would be impossible with their military stationed outside. An escape plan was supposed to take days, with Hillary's disciples helping us from the inside. But if we act now we can use the cover of the sandstorm to get to the city walls and escape with Sinan – today!"

Heidi turned, facing the monstrous cloud of sand that was making its advance.

"Isn't this a huge risk?"

"Unequivocally so."

"Alright. Well, I still don't know how we're supposed to find each other."

"You said you were on a roof. Can you try to spot some landmarks for us?"

Heidi ran to the building's edge to get a better look.

Meanwhile the duel was underway. Sinan had angrily gone first, Kanoa was staying cool and calm. On his second turn he summoned.

"Deathmatch Beetle!" A giant insect on 13,000 power loomed over them. "It can't attack, but it has Guardman and will force battle all creatures you play for no cost on your turns! Done."

"I cast Justice Shaper!" The twinpact shone blue. Three cards slid off his deck and floated: Rainbow Spark, Kirazeus Savark and Miracle Star Time Caster. "All are light and all are added to my hand! Turn end!"

"I cast Let's Goichigo and boost mana!" One of his new draguners flipped over from his top-deck. "Done."

"I cast Justice Shaper again!" This time two Kernel, Stagnation Dragon Elementals and Dragon Sign went to his hand. "End!"

"I summon Marinyan, Dragon Edge!" His trusty cat-girl gave an enthusiastic cheer as she landed. Quickly her paws directed electric chains that opened up a portal to hyperspace "I call out Bluenika, Dragon Soul Fortress!" A cybernetic building landed heavily behind the islander teen, allowing him to draw his third card.

"Bluenika?" Sinan stared at the water dragheart.

"That's right."

"Are you really using that?"

"I'm done with my turn." Kanoa evaded.

Sinan growled as he drew "I bet you think you're clever, outsider scum! You're betting that Venus will take your side over mine in this duel? Well you're mistaken! While you were both distracted I removed Venus and its evo baits from my deck - so she can't help you!"

"That's fine. I'm not using Jupiter in my deck either."

"You're not?" Sinan was surprised. "But he's your partner?"

"He is my partner, and I carry him with me even if he's not in my deck. But now I have a brand new finisher. That's all I need to defeat you."

"Bastard! I'm going to beat you with the future cards you brought into this world!" Sinan charged then "I cast Dragon's Sign to summon Kirazeus Savark! Deathblade Beetle is sent to your shield zone!" At the emergence of the gold amethyst dragon the giant insect shrunk down into a hieroglyph on Kanoa's shield. "Ha!"

"I summon a second Marinyan, Dragon Edge! This time she brings out Whitey, Dragon Soul Church! Kirazeus taps and won't untap next turn!" A white building landed beside the blue one. "First Marinyan attacks and invasion! I evolve both Marinyans into Deadman=the=Origin, Dragon Edge Dragon!" They flashed and fused into a green axe-swinging barbarian. "Super Infinite Evolution! Deadman now brings out Greene, Dragon Soul Ruins and Blacko, Dragon Soul Palace!" Green and black buildings fell beside the others. "I boost mana and you must discard a card in your hand!"

"Tch..." Sinan was regretting not using Kirazeus's power on Bluenika when he had the chance, seeing as Kanoa was only one more dragheart away from his goal. He'd wanted removal resistance and figured Kanoa wouldn't progress as fast as he had. Fast, especially for a nature duelist. "I discard Miracle Star, Time Caster! Because of its effect I get to add Dragon's Sign and Justice Shaper from my graveyard back to my hand!"

Finally the attack proceeded, the axe slashing apart two shields. No triggers.

"I'm done." Kanoa said.

Sinan drew and glared across the zone. With Kirazeus not untapping he couldn't revolution change. Even Shinpas with its Neo Evolution and Sympathy couldn't attack for him this turn. He'd have to stall.

"I summon Kernel, Blue Stagnation Dragon Elemental!" A smaller six-winged dragon clutching a bell manifested. "Deadman can't attack or block next turn!"

"I cast Hell Utopia's Trap Revelation to send Kirazeus to your mana zone!" A chrysalis-looking hand rose up but the dragon flexed its wings and it broke like fragile glass.

"I burn Deathmatch Beetle from your shields so it remains!"

"I'm done..."

"Ha! You only needed one more draguner but you're too late! I summon Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge and bring out Reddull, Dragon Soul Castle to make it a speed attacker! Now Kirazeus double breaks and I put two cards onto my shields face-up!" Depictions of Mixel and Rosia appeared. The dragon spun, its tail clearing out the left-most panels and giving Kanoa cuts.

"Shield trigger! Leledy Ba Gooba battles Heaven's Rosia!" A 9000 insect fighter flew out.

"I burn Mixel from my shields so it remains! You won't stop me rev changing twice and winning this game!" Sinan grinned while Kanoa scowled. "Rosia attacks and becomes Miradante Twelve, Time Pope!" Light hissed and replacing Heaven's Rosia was a four-legged dragon with feathered wings, a blonde mane and twelve roman numerals circling its head like a clockface. Another of his triple breakers; 12,000 power. "I can cast Dragon's Sign for free and bring out another Kernel to freeze Deadman again! And thanks to final revolution you can't summon creatures that cost seven or less until the end of your next turn!" Sinan took another moment to look smug. Kanoa stared at the Lightfang Falconer he'd been holding since his starting hand, now useless. "Break his final shields!"

The numbers spun as Miradante Twelve spewed a photon cannon. Kanoa tried bracing but was knocked off his feet, skinning his elbow and ripping his threads against the ground.

A pair of glowing green cards levitated and Kanoa snagged them as he sat up "Natural Trap and another Hell Utopia's Trap Revelation! You only have one other creature that can attack."

Sinan hesitated "I won't use Kirazeus's effect to save Kernel."

A snail-shaped tank blasted it from the battle zone. The card popped up and landed upside-down as mana.

"That's smart of you to want removal resistance while I'm shieldless, before I bring out my finisher." Kanoa got back to his feet and his table. "But Hell Utopia can be used on a creature or shield so I send the shield with Rosia on it to your mana zone as well!" This time the gold hand reached up and crunched his panel.

Sinan literally spat by his feet. "Turn end."

"I summon Sasoris Rage, Terror Dragon Edge! That's right, a draguner that costs eight!" A new varient of the masked green squirrel joined the match, allowing Kanoa to boost more mana. "Now Reddull comes out, the final piece of All Over The World, Supreme True Dragon Soul!"

Loud alien noises filled the air, a techno grinding as the fortresses transformed and combined. Needless to say the new creature was massive. A world command dragon with 50,000 power. All cards in the battle zone, graveyard and hand started to glow fiercely white before flying into their owner's decks. The cards floated up, shuffled and set themselves back down. All either player had now was their mana, with All Over The World being the only creature in play.

"...what a beast." Sinan couldn't help remarking.

"All Over The World has world breaker, so it breaks all shields! Ike!" Five lasers the colour of each civilization wiped out Sinan's remaining two shields.

Sinan flew back even further than Kanoa had. Due to his practicing Kanoa was able to attack without causing damage to himself or the field.

Heidi had left a small crater in the roof by attacking with 30,000 power. She admired the control Kanoa displayed with 50,000.

Sinan was similarly bleeding as he made his way back to his table. His two shields were both Emeralda, Pitch Dragon Elemental. He drew Rosia, Final Dragon Edge. With a blocker that could rebuild a shield with the shield trigger draguner in his hand, it seemed his victory was assured.

"I summon Emeralda and rebuild a shield!" The musical dragon blocker weaved its piano staff like it was orchestrating a melody.

"My go. At the start of my turns I have the option of returning Dangerdeon from my mana zone to my hand." He was now holding two cards. "If you recall, Dangerdeon is the twinpact creature side of Hell Utopia's Trap Revelation! So I cast it and send that shield to your mana zone! All Over The World, todomeda!"

"Emeralda blocks!" Sinan yelled urgently. The five beams combined into a white pillar that shot through the dragon and flew far across the city.

"I'm done."

Sinan drew Mixel. This was his last chance.

"I summon another Emeralda and rebuild a shield! Turn end!"

"Stegoro Kaiser, Struggling Battlekind has mach fighter so attacks Emeralda!" The purple stegosaurus made its way with heavy stomps, tearing apart Sinan's last hope. "All Over The World, shield break!" After another heavy blast Kanoa relaxed upon realising it wasn't a trigger.

Sinan chanced one more draw and it was a dud. Kanoa could tell from his face, but instead of being afraid Sinan never lost his defiance. His expression showed only hate, a willingness to fight even to his last breath.

Kanoa stared him down "Come quietly Sinan, you have a bigger duty than just your people."

"We have faith in the holiest Solvus! But I wouldn't expect a degenerate heathen to understand!"

"The fate of Aurellia involves your city too!"

"Our god is mightier than all other powers! We fear nothing!"

"Sinan! These cards are real! Gatekeeper powers are real! We know because we saw them! Your god is just a story to keep everyone in this city controlled!"

"Godless fucking scum-!" His eyes bulged.

"We're on the same side!" At Kanoa's desperate plea for understanding Sinan stopped and gave a small smile.

"Don't be so sure... Who's to say that when Urobach makes his final play, Solvus won't become capital of the New World?"

Heidi jumped on his back then. Sinan wrestled against her but the epipen was shot into his neck. He went droopy and Heidi jumped off. He swiped for her before collapsing.

"Definitely a good idea to kidnap this asshole." Heidi said. "Come on."

After kicking down a door with some difficulty, Kanoa carried the unconscious Sinan on his back and they raced down into an empty office building. Nobody had come into work yet, or they'd all evacuated home. They ran around looking for a stairwell and took it all the way down to the bottom floor. Heidi was back on the line with Engyo. The last door was locked, but the one above led to stationary escalators that took them to the foyer. Heidi and Kanoa stopped halfway-down when they saw outside through the glass doors.

The usually spotless city had sand violently blowing through it.

They pressed on. The doors wouldn't open automatically, but an emergency switch at the top corner let them out. Sand lashed their faces along with harsh winds.

"We're facing North!" Heidi shouted. "So, three blocks that way! Come on!"

They ran out but soon had to slow to a walk. Piles of sand were sweeping together on the footpath and roads. It was hard to see but Heidi led them forward, trying to shield her eyes. The speed of the sand hitting their skin stung. Lights they passed were flickering, telegraph wires shaking like jump-ropes. It seemed to take ages before they reached the spire building Heidi had pointed out. They walked around to its entrance and nobody was there. All they could do was huddle against the vague cover the building afforded and wait several more minutes until they saw a group struggling along.

"It's them!" Heidi pointed. They moved to join up with Engyo, Tsukumo and Jayden. A bicycle flew by somewhere to their right, the winds were so extreme.

"Thank goodness!" Engyo could barely be heard. Together they crossed to a three-walled bus station that allowed better protection.

"Is M-006 going to be able to fly through this?" Jayden yelled.

"With maximum thrust power to the booster engines it shouldn't pose too much of a problem." Engyo said back. "Now that we're together all we can do is wait."

The terrible storm triggered by Dormageddon's attack turned out to be a miracle in disguise. The Carmen's Comet hovered steadily over the city unseen, following the tracker to their location and finally lowering onto the middle of the street. The door opened and the ramp tried to descend but jammed a few feet off the ground, buffering against the wind. They were able to climb aboard, pulling the older Engyo and unsconscious Sinan after them. Once boarded the saucer made a shaky ascent, various warning signals buzzing.

"Nothing to worry about." M-006 explained in his chirpy voice. "Just a lot of turbulence and sand clogging the pipes. Off we go!"

They were severely windswept and covered in sand, standing together nervously as the robot directed them off the ground. Then they moved off and away from the city.

Once they returned to Summer's excavation team the sandstorm had decreased in intensity. It was still fiercely blowing the tents, everyone having retreated to within the old tomb. As the ship touched down the alarms were finally shut off with the engine.

Trying to peg down the tarp covering was fruitless. The Carmen's Comet would instead remain exposed outside the tomb entrance, to the winds and sand. They'd have to wait until the storm well and truly passed and until then, trust that the poor visibility would keep it hidden and that too much sand wouldn't get where it shouldn't be.

The crew of seven fought their way out and to the entry, then descended sandstone steps. Kanoa was the biggest, but he handed over the immobile Sinan to Jayden, who offered to carry him the rest of the way. Tsukumo helped him steady their captive and stayed close as they waltzed down the dim passage, lit by torches in brackets.

"All that sand is a nightmare for my wiring." M-006 was saying, his jerky movements made him the slowest to get under cover. "How I envy the human skin."

"You gonna be alright?" Heidi asked.

Engyo supported himself against the wall as he climbed down. Ahead were shadows running up to greet them.

"I don't believe it. Her prediction came true!" It was Summer, she was astounded. "Heidi? You guys finished your mission already?"

"While the mission was indeed a success I'm afraid there's no cause for celebration." Engyo stated. "We have some disturbing revelations to discuss."

Summer went to hug her sister and they descended together. A few other archaelogists had come up to check the newcomers and among them was a girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Something about her was different but Heidi and Kanoa couldn't put their finger on it.

"You're here, at last. When did you arrive, Hillary?" Engyo asked.

"A day after you left, but I knew we'd be united soon enough."

She was supposed to be the leader of some important movement, but she looked the same age as Jayden. Only a year or so older than the chosens.

"I guess you can call me a believer now," Summer said. "But didn't you also say there'd be yelling and fighting when everyone came back?"

"Let's wait for them to settle in first and tell us what they need to." Hillary answered in a voice as melodious as birdsong.

The tunnel curved before eventually reaching an underground chamber. A pile of sand blocked off the far-end of the room, and by pillars rested pickaxes and other digging equipment. There was thin bedding, supplies gathered together, and the rest of the workers in Summer's team looked up. They all stood and gathered round as the arrivals stepped into the room.

"First things first. We need a place to keep the prisoner." Engyo stated.

"We found just the room for that." A man led Jayden back down tunnel.

Engyo faced back and sighed, suddenly looking years older.

"So what's the disturbing revelation?" A man handed him a water tankard and another pushed a stretcher chair over for him.

"The darkness chosen Amira has joined forces with our enemy." Engyo sat and a silence befell them.

"...At least, we know where she is finally?" Summer tried. "That's good, right?"

"No. It is not. In all likelihood Pluto's card has already been destroyed. The Aurellian phoenixes are vulnerable: if their cards go, they go. And if all five phoenixes and five chosens can't be united, they'll never achieve their destined full power."

"Oh… That does suck." Summer answered.

"After capturing Sinan our plan had been to do the same to Amira, then hope the water chosen would finally join us. Granted, while knowing Amira is here helps us, having the same teleportation powers as Urobach will make it near impossible to capture her. And if Pluto is destroyed already, it's pointless to unite the chosens anyway."

Another low silence filled the chamber before Summer spoke up again.

She looked at Hillary "The bad news is bad, but I still don't see any screaming or fighting."

Just at that moment, they heard screaming and fighting from down the hall.

Hillary raised her eyebrows then various people jumped up.

"What's going on?" Kanoa demanded, sticking his head out into the tunnel.

Sinan flew past him, racing up.

Jayden was leaning against the wall, grabbing his bleeding neck "He fucking bit me!"

"The toxin wore off." Kanoa realised as Tsukumo pushed past him.

The blonde ran up the stairs, his training displayed through his speed. He caught up and kicked the back of Sinan's legs, making him fall. The light chosen thrashed but Tsukumo got him in a lock, holding tight under his arm and head, legs around his middle. Sinan wouldn't give up, snarling and wriggling as other men ran to help Tsukumo. Someone walked to Jayden and inspected the wound, then helped him back into the room so they could find a first-aid kit.

Sinan was carried back with the help of three men, thrown into an old cell and locked up. They left the furious teen while he spat threats and curses, shaking the bars and having a total meltdown.

"Fuck!" Jayden grit his teeth against the alcohol that was poured over his wound. "Is it gonna need stitches?"

"I'm afraid so."

"That Sinan's a right piece of work." Jayden scathed then reached for the booze flask and took a sip.

"So he was just pretending to be unconscious?" Kanoa asked.

"Seems like it." Tsukumo dusted his hands as he rejoined them. "How come there's a working prison cell in here anyways?"

"Well," Summer immediately brightened, her childlike enthusiasm showed her passion for history. "The ancient civilization that built this tomb lived over three thousand years ago! This is where they buried their kings and royal guard. The royal guard were specifically trained in how to summon from the creature dimension because they had the ability to master kaijudo energy!"

"Okay... so the working prison cell?"

"Uh, a few decades ago a nomad tribe of bandits found this place. Then it got buried in sand again and forgotten."

"Ah."

"Maybe there's still hope for Supernova Pluto." Heidi said suddenly, standing with everyone else away from Jayden's corner.

"Why do you think that, Heidi?" Engyo asked.

"She kept Mars. I mean, ah…" Everyone around her looked confused while Kanoa rolled his eyes to the floor. "What I mean to say is…"

"Amira has Mars?" Tsukumo stepped forward in anger. "Since when?"

"Since the island." She admitted and various people gasped.

"Heidi…" Engyo murmured.

After a few seconds the shock on Tsukumo's face turned to rage.

"You lost Mars! You saw Amira on the island-!"

"No." Kanoa came to her defence, stepping between Heidi and an increasingly furious Tsukumo. "We didn't know Amira had Mars. Only that Heidi lost him that day."

'Lost' is a misleading statement… Heidi thought as she lowered her eyes.

"You knew too?" Tsukumo demanded of Kanoa.

"That's right, I did." He stood protective and firm. "Both Heidi and I lost precious things on that day. But we did the best we could!"

Heidi looked up again at all the betrayed and disappointed faces. Even Summer lowered her gaze sadly. Tsukumo glared at Kanoa for a few seconds more before whipping out to the exit.

"I need some goddamn space…"

Just like that, things had become more grim.

『AN: I got this done early to make up for the cliffhanger. But before we step into the next quartile I have an assignment to do. But then... two weeks holiday coming up! I'll try to get at least a few chapters done then, because my calculations were totally wrong. How could I get twenty chapters done by uploading one a week when a Uni semester is like, thirteen weeks. Not only that, but a lot of that time I'll be preparing for exams. What a doltz I am. Maybe past Zoicite was thinking I'll get half the arc done then go crazy speedster and finish the other half in my first fortnight of freedom, like I did before. But future Zoicite is just confused. Anyway, thanks to past reviewers for reviewing and hello to their present selves here too.』

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