Chapter 28 Yami

Hope LP 4000

Ys LP 4000

Hope

Hand: 6

Ys

Hand: 5

"I activate the continuous spell Frontline Base.", Hope.

Hope

Hand: 5

Frontline Base

(Continuous Spell)

Effect: Once per turn: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Union monster from your hand.

"With it's effect once per turn I can special summon one level 4 or lower union monster from my hand. I choose X-Head Cannon.", Hope said.

Hope

Hand: 4

"Then I will summon Y-Dragon Head.", Hope said.

Hope

Hand: 3

"I activate the effect of Y-Dragon Head to equip itself to X-Head Cannon. When I do it gains 400 attack and defense.", Hope said.

X-Head Cannon ATK 1800 400 = 2200

Ys looked extremely amused by all of this.

"Then I will set a card and end my turn.", Hope said.

Hope

Hand: 2

"You know it's quite amazing you've gone as far as you have with such weak cards.", Ys said.

"I beg your pardon?", Hope questioned as Ys continued to smile.

"We are similar in that way I suppose. All I have ever wanted was to even the playing field between me and those who are more privileged.", Ys replied.

"Is that why you released those prisoners and caused so many casualties?! You should know such things really don't matter in the end. Skill and practice will always prevail. Seems I will have to teach you that.", Hope replied.

This made Ys chuckle with amusement.

"You really are a special kind of fool! I draw!", Ys said.

Ys

Hand: 6

"I summon Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands! Using its effect to add one ritual monster to my hand!", Ys said, before revealing a monster called Herald of Ultimateness.

"I see you've really committed yourself to this. How long have you been again us Ys? How many souls did it take to create a level 12 ritual monster?", Hope questioned.

The commander chilled when he felt a wave of negative energy coming from the card despite its angelic appearance. Suddenly he could feel tens no countless souls crying out. Some of them were human and some monster.

"I activate my spell Advanced Ritual Art. It allows me to use normal monsters from my deck as material for my ritual summon. I choose Warrior of Zera and Gogiga Gagagigo. Now, bathe this battlefield in heavenly light! The trumpet of such an ultimate being shall trigger the end of this era! Descend! Ritual summon! Level 12! Herald of Ultimateness!", Ys said.

Ys

Hand: 4

Herald of Ultimateness

(FAIRY/LIGHT/RITUAL/EFFECT/ ATK 2000/ DEF 3000/ LV12)

Effect: You can Ritual Summon this card with "Oracle of the Herald". Must be Ritual Summoned. When your opponent would Special Summon a monster(s), OR activates a Spell/Trap Card, or a monster effect (Quick Effect): You can send 1 Fairy monster from your hand to the GY; negate the Special Summon or activation, and if you do, destroy that card.

The monster was set to defense mode. Despite this unparalleled power radiated off the ritual monster.

"I will now set a card and end my turn.", Ys said.

Ys

Hand: 3

With Flynn…

Flynn LP 4000

Nathan LP 4000

"I draw.", Nathan said as he smirked.

Nathan

Hand: 6

"I summon Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands. I will activate his effect upon being summoned allowing me to add one ritual monster or ritual spell to my hand. I choose Advanced Ritual Art.", Nathan said.

Flynn glared intensely at the ritual spell.

"Heh. I never knew you hated ritual summoning so much. There's no n-", Nathan was saying.

"Stop wasting my time and duel!", Flynn replied, harshly.

"Oh…Someone's mad.", Nathan said, with fake fright.

Rubbing Flynn's shoulder didn't seem to do anything to calm him down right now.

"I will activate the effect of Advanced Ritual Art allowing me to sacrifice normal monsters from my deck ! I choose Gil Garth and Mechanicalchaser! Accept my offerings, great lord of darkness! Your ultimate power shall crush all our enemies! Ritual summon! Level 8! Dark Master - Zorc!", Nathan chanted.

Nathan

Hand: 4

Dark energy descended on Nathan engulfing him. After it cleared he stood as Zorc.

"Not Zorc already!", Issachar said.

"Then I activate my continuous spell Dangerous Machine Type-6! During each of my standby phases depending on the number rolled an effect activates. Then I will end my turn.", Nathan said.

"I draw!", Flynn said as a wind kicked up making Issachar stumble.

Flynn

Hand: 6

Angered howling could be heard as Flynn drew his card.

"Already?!", Issachar questioned.

The ground rumbled like in the duel against Lord Damien. Except this time it was because they were enraged. The spirits of the undead were responding to their Lord's rage.

"Woah. Spooky…Do you really think you'll scare me with such tricks?", Nathan questioned.

"You will be…I activate Terraforming to add a field spell to my hand! I choose Zombie World!", Flynn said.

"Oh yeah…speaking of zombies do you want to know which card I sacrificed your loud mouthed mother to create?", Nathan said.

"What?!", Flynn questioned angrily.

"Oh…I'm afraid to tell you I already sacrificed your folks. How unfortunate….it seems this duel was for nothing.", Nathan replied.

Flynn felt the rage inside him boiling over as Issachar scrambled to calm him down. Nathan pulled out a card from his pocket showing it to Flynn. It was a level 3 vanilla monster. It was a skeleton head with an eyepatch and bat-like wings on the side of its head. In its mouth was a massive blue eye and it had floating grey claws. It was called Blue-Eyed Silver Zombie.

"I guess her soul really wasn't worth much. Just some ugly useless little normal monster. I have no use for this.", Nathan said, before he ripped the card in half before Flynn's eyes.

Nathan scattered the pieces of the card to the wind.

Flashback

Maria held the child Flynn closely and rubbed his head. Tears were on the edges of his eyes. He was shaking which gradually subsided.

"Don't worry you'll be alright, my little Flynn. Your mother's here and I will always protect you.", Maria cooed.

He turned around hugging his mother tightly.

"T-that dream was so scary! There were zombies everywhere!", Flynn replied.

"You're safe now, Flynn. It was just a dream.", Maria replied.

"Can you stay here…?", Flynn asked timidly and his mother nodded.

"Of course, my little Flynn.", Maria replied.

Flashback end

Flynn ended up yelling aloud in anguish and horror.

He growled, unable to contain his anger. Something within him completely snapped as the aura around him intensified. Issachar grew increasingly concerned for Flynn as Nathan smirked.

"Do not contain yourself any longer.", a voice that sounded really familiar to Flynn's right now said.

Next to him unseen by anyone else appeared himself covered in shadow covering most of his body including his face.

"Unleash your rage…Make him suffer.", the voice which belonged to the shadowy Flynn said.

The shadowy Flynn pointed at Nathan.

"Destroy him.", the shadowy Flynn said.

Flynn touched something on his gauntlet.

"Changing real solid vision from stun mode to kill mode. Are you sure about this, Master Flynn?", Burroughs said.

"Flynn! Snap out of it! You don't really want to do this!", Issachar pleaded, but Flynn completely ignored him, glaring at Nathan.

"Yes! I activate the continuous spell Call of the Mummy! When I possess no monsters I can special summon one zombie monster from my hand!", Flynn said.

Flynn

Hand: 5

"I activate its effect to special summon Mezuki!", Flynn said.

Flynn

Hand: 4

"Then I summon Plaguespreader Zombie and I'll activate Zombie World. It's effect turning everything on the field into zombie monsters.", Flynn said.

Flynn

Hand: 2

The area around them changed to the scenery of Zombie World.

"I still don't quite see the scary part.", Nathan said.

"I activate Marionette Mite, discarding it to take control of Zorc!", Flynn said as Nathan's eyes widened.

Flynn

Hand: 1

Zorc suddenly separated from him as the insect attacked itself to his head, his eyes glowing an eerie purple. Nathan was left behind in his human form.

"I tune Plaguespreader Zombie with Mezuki! From the dark depths of the grave arise, great dragon noble even in death! Your dreadful roar signals your enemies doom! Synchro summon! Level 6! Doomkaiser Dragon!", Flynn chanted.

Doomkaiser crawled out from the depths of zombie world. It roared and outstretched its wings casting a shadow over Nathan. It's inferno-like eyes bore into the struggling Nathan.

"H-hoy, I was just joking b-before! I don't actually know who got your folks' souls! T-the souls were sacrificed in mass! That was just a random card I found!", Nathan replied, but Flynn still glared at him uncaring.

"I activate the effect of Doomkaiser. I can special summon one zombie monster in your graveyard. I choose your Gil Garth! Roar of the Living Dead!", Flynn said.

Doomkaiser roared menacingly as the rusted mystic relic crawled to the surface with glowing purple eyes. As this was happening the prentices finally reached Flynn hearing the familiar roar.

"Flynn's dueling that guy from Kiccigiorgi.", Walter said.

"Why are they all the way down here though? Why was he led into a forbidden area? So, we wouldn't follow?", Jonathan questioned.

"Flynn's aura is giving off a very negative feeling right now…", Isabeau said.

Navarre was the last one to catch up and was completely drenched in sweat. He breathed heavily putting his hands on his knees.

"He must be pissed off as well. I saw his mother there.", Walter replied.

"She was?! That means just like Stella…Even still Flynn really needs to calm down.", Isabeau said, shaking for a moment struggling to keep her own cool.

Walter noted how the black aura shifted around Flynn and almost appeared like some sort of shadow. His eyes widened as he seemed to realize something.

"Flynn, j-just turn your gauntlet setting back! This isn't like you!", Issachar pleading.

With Hope…

"I will just have to show you how wrong you are! I draw!", Hope said as a wind kicked up.

Hope

Hand: 3

"I summon Z-Metal Tank then I'll activate my trap Formation Union. I will activate its second effect to unequip a union monster. I choose Y-Dragon Head.", Hope said.

Hope

Hand: 2

"I will remove them all from play, allowing them to combine! Now, unite my mystic relics! Your power can crush any foe together! Level 8! XYZ-Dragon Cannon!", Hope chanted.

The monsters all combined to form a familiar massive robot.

"It must be annoying to be stuck with such a monster.", Ys said.

"I beg your pardon? It seems you really seem intent on insulting all my monsters.", Hope questioned.

"That tin can was seriously all you inherited like me however I didn't even get so much as a fusion monster! I was stuck with a low leveled normal monster as a sacred card! Despite that I have done everything in my power to crawl up to this point.", Ys replied.

"Is that really an acceptable reason to sacrifice countless souls?", Hope questioned.

"It started with monster souls. They were like a gateway. I used them to evolve the weak monster I was saddled with into a much stronger monster. But, even then it was never quite enough. I needed something even more sacred…", Ys explained.

"So, you started with monsters and then moved onto sacrificing humans?", Hope questioned.

"What is more sacred than those chosen by God? I have had the desire for a while, but no idea how to accomplish it. The best I could hope for was sending spirits to do it for me. However, my first attempt went airy and the spirit was nearly killed.", Ys explained.

Hope's eyes widened at this before he narrowed it.

"Mazera DeVille.", Hope replied.

"After that failure many years later the ritual users appeared. They could harvest human souls in a human form. That way I could do it myself and much more discreetly. Now, I have finally found the power I was denied. After all that struggling and humiliation I had suffered from my fellow Samurai. I will finally rise above all of them as the new God!", Ys replied as he put up his arms theatrically.

"Not on my watch! I activate the effect of XYZ-Dragon Cannon! I can discard one card to destroy a monster you control! I choose your Herald of Ultimateness! XYZ Bomber!", Hope said.

Ys smirked devilishly as the fusion monster charged up its cannon.

"I activate the effect of my Herald of Ultimateness! When my opponent activates a spell, trap, or monster card's effect I can discard one card to negate and destroy it! Ultimate Heavenly Denial!", Ys countered, revealing Darklord Zerato which he discarded.

Ys

Hand: 2

"T-than can't be?! How can such a powerful effect exist?!", Hope questioned.

The herald up out it's hard stopping and crushing the blast. It then blasted the fusion monster with a wave of light annihilating it.

"My herald is unstoppable! The ultimate! The unmovable! Reigning supreme over both Heaven and Earth!", Ys said as the monster outstretched its wings.

"I end my turn…It's not over yet.", Hope said.

"I draw.", Ys said.

Ys

Hand: 3

"It was that very suffering that has led me here. My desire for power built till I could no longer contain my hunger any longer and I embraced the darkness. Apparently many other ritual users have had the same exact experience…", Ys said.

"Becoming so power hungry they lose their humanity?", Hope questioned.

"Before that turn every single one has seen another them. Almost like a dark version of themselves that they gave into. Then, it was like a snap and they suddenly had no inhibitions about pursuing their darkest desires. I have christened these dark counterparts…Yami.", Ys explained.

With Flynn…

"I activate the effect of Mezuki banishing it to special summon Plaguespreader Zombie!", Flynn said.

"H-Hoy Flynn! You already have enough attack to win! Remember your gauntlet is on kill mode!", Issachar replied.

Panic rose up within him as Flynn smirked, continuing his plays. The prentices started running over to them.

"I tune Plaguespreader Zombie with Gil Garth! Ruler of darkness slumbering within the depths! Rise up once more to reclaim your kingdom! Synchro summon! Level 6! Revived King Ha Des!", Flynn chanted.

The others gawked seeing the three powerful monsters on Flynn's field.

"Then I activate the effect of Plaguespreader Zombie returning a card from my hand to the top of my deck to special summon him. When he leaves the field he's banished.", Flynn said.

"H-Hoy Flynn, stop! You've won already!", Issachar pleaded.

"I attack you directly with Ha Des! Underworldly Tyranny!", Flynn declared.

Nathan screamed when he was blasted back harshly against the wall by Ha Des.

Nathan LP 4000 - 2450 = 1550

"It must be quite humiliating and pathetic to lose to your own ritual monster.", Flynn said as he looked down at Nathan who struggled up.

"Flynn stop! That's enough!", Isabeau called out.

"You just need to calm down.", Jonathan said.

"Y-yeah you should…listen to…them! Come on, that little…shy kid would…never do this!", Nathan begged.

"No! I will attack you directly with Zorc!", Flynn refused.

Nathan LP 1550 - 2700 = 0

Zorc blasted Nathan causing him to cough up blood.

"Okay, got it out of your system now-wait why aren't you turning your gauntlet off?", Walter said, suddenly sweating nervously as he raised his hands.

"I attack you directly with Plaguespreader Zombie!", Flynn declared.

"I-I…don't understand! You've a-already won…!", Nathan said as he struggled on the ground before the tuner hit him.

"You will understand…I attack you directly with Doomk-", Flynn was saying before Issachar grabbed him.

Flynn struggled within Issachar's grip growling angrily.

"I said stop, Flynn! This isn't the real you!", Issachar said.

"Shut up! Let me go!", Flynn barked back angrily.

He suddenly found himself surrounded by his fellow prentices drawing his attention. What he didn't expect was the sudden embrace by his fellows. It started with Isabeau, then Jonathan, then Walter and finally Navarre. Flynn froze squirming with the embrace before his struggling subsided. The dark aura around him shrank before disappearing along with the shadowy Flynn. Tears stung the edges of his eyes before he returned the embrace hugging his fellows back.

"I-I'm sorry…", Flynn said.

Suddenly they heard a loud rumble from the door in front of them. The prentices hurriedly moved away to see the door was blasted off revealing a room where Ys stood with his ritual monster and Mazera DeVille. The prentices looked to see their commander lying motionless. His eyes were soulless. They warily faced Ys raising their gauntlets. Ys seemed surprised to see them, but he wasn't very alarmed. Flynn was surprised when Ys pointed at him.

"It seems your fate has been set.", Ys said.

"What are you talking about?", Flynn questioned.

"T-that's Mazera!", Jonathan pointed out as the spirit smiled devilishly.

"Your that little brat from all those years ago aren't you?", Mazera said.

"It's the same for that one.", Ys said, before pointing at Walter.

Walter looked confused before glaring at Ys.

"Hoy, what are you on about? Why are you pointing at me and Flynn?", Walter questioned.

"You will seek power. Your desire will grow so strong eventually you won't be able to control it. Once you do I wonder if you will become a god or a devil. That's the two choices those with power are given. I've chosen to become a god. Those who refuse to become a god are less than scum. Who knows perhaps one of you will be useful one day?", Ys said.

"We'll never join you.", Flynn replied.

"You are no god! You have become a devil!", Jonathan replied angrily.

"We'll see…", Ys said.

He turned away from them entering the door. The prentices ran up to the door which read 'Those who serve God Almighty: Thou shalt not proceed beyond this door.'

Suddenly the official appeared on their gauntlets.

"You must proceed beyond this door and capture Ys. Also, when the guardian spirit is defeated, ask for the sacred deck.", the official said.

"What's that?", Walter questioned.

"You shall find out soon. Now, go on Samurai! Post haste!", the official said.

"I'll register that as a new quest.", Burroughs said.

They now had the quests 'Find Ys' and 'Retrieve the Sacred Deck'. Isabeau looked over to the door's carvings.

"'Those who serve God Almighty: Thou shalt not proceed beyond this door.' Is this not a warning from Aquila?", Isabeau questioned.

"I think he left it there for a reason.", Navarre said.

"I'm detecting a strong spirit ahead. Do you want to go on?", Burroughs asked.

"We have to stop him. If he goes to the Unclean One's country he can gain knowledge of even more black magic.", Flynn said.

He then pushed open the door and Jonathan grabbed Nathan putting him on his back. The young Samurai stepped

To be continued…

Next chapter is the long awaited finale!