「Kaijudo Generation Arc: Team Zeta. 007 - Jeremy Scrivener」
Green then purple lights shot skyward almost simultaneously. Yomi faded from view as the domed layers rolled against each other, energy crackling as the boys were sealed inside. Then they closed up their hands and took their marks as the tables became solid. Behind the forcefield the nightlights of New York City twinkled away, unaware that its survival could very well depend on this duel's outcome.
Karon took the first turn and charged mana before passing it to Jeremy.
"I summon Sniper Mosquito!" The one-cost giant bug landed between them with the weight of a small car. Its green side-long jaws snapped open and shut.
Sniper Mosquito
Civilization: Nature
Power: 2000
Karon was reminded of Jeremy's mana-to-hand strategy as well as the dangers of a true duel. He charged again and so did his opponent. This would in fact be the most dangerous duel Karon had ever played, with a very slim chance of him surviving if he lost to Jeremy in the guy's juiced up state. But all of NYC was at risk, and Karon had to do whatever he could. He was no fully-fledged agent, but he was all the DCA had at the moment. Overhead Star-Cry Dragon and other creatures were circling their duel field, undoubtedly all of them silently rooting for Karon's victory.
Karon drew and it seemed his hand was mostly full of removal spells and high-cost creatures. He charged and passed again. Jeremy charged and still wasn't attacking. The moment he did Sniper Mosquito would start bouncing his own mana and he wanted to save that for later game. The glowing green orbs in Jeremy's face raised back to Karon who tried not to be spooked as he drew.
Dark Epic Music -Reaper of Souls-
"I summon Propeller Mutant." There was a splutter then whir as the hedrian aeroplane arced around the space within their dome.
Propeller Mutant
Civilization: Darkness
Power: 1000
"I cast Faerie Life." The spell shone much too brightly. A card bounced from Jeremy's deck into mana. "I end my turn."
"I summon Vile Mulder, Wing of the Void!" Karon announced and his first demon command entered the fray. A fiend of bone and muscle, spreading leathery wings.
Vile Mulder, Wing of the Void
Civilization: Darkness
Power: 7000
"Propeller Mutant breaks a shield!" He twisted his card, a purple flash rippling out. The plane swooped down with a whirr, firing little missiles that punctured a panel of glass.
Jeremy
Shields: 5-4
The pieces froze in mid-air before rewinding into place, into Jeremy's outstretched hand.
With a smile he turned it over "Mana Crisis." A huge dinosaur head chomped into Karon's table, a mana card flinging into his graveyard.
"Go." Karon rebutted coolly.
"I summon Tangle Fist, the Weaver."
Tangle Fist, the Weaver
Civilization: Nature
Power: 2000
There it was, the shamanistic beast folk that would allow Jeremy to add up to three cards from his hand to mana. It was also what Karon had been waiting for.
"Sniper Mosquito attacks Propeller Mutant and I return Brood Shell to my hand." A mana card popped off the table in a green flash and Jeremy caught it. The bug tensed before launching, catching the plane in mid-air and as they both spun it ripped into its prey with those jaws.
Sniper Mosquito: 2000
Propeller Mutant: 1000
A random card in Jeremy's hand shone purple and from his outraged look it was the last one he wanted to lose. With disgust he dropped his signature Stratosphere Giant into the grave. The triple-breaker that had helped him win against CJ.
"A shame to lose your strongest creature to a discard." Karon said.
"He'll be back, don't you worry about that." That ominous statement made Karon's eyes narrow.
"I think I know why someone like you chose giants to be your deck's main finishers. You wanted to be a big guy and stomp on everyone else, but things didn't turn out that way."
Jeremy laughed, and after all his torment there was a touch of insanity to it. He waved an arm over the city "Look at everything I've done so far. I am the giant. Even you, the DCA's resident reaper, are scared of me."
"Not scared. Wary. You're a ticking time bomb that could go off at any minute."
Jeremy laughed again and this time it was pure insanity.
Yomi appeared in miniature over Karon's shoulder "I'm here. Let's show him what a duelist who's synced with a creature can do."
"Right, partner." Karon fiercely drew "We're not letting you get close to that World Tree! I cast Death Smoke to destroy Tangled Fist, the Weaver!" A black cloud descended on the shaman, its ghastly face smiled and after dispersing the beast folk came apart into an ashy pile. Jeremy looked outraged and Karon pressed on "Vile Mulder, double break!"
"Ergh!" He shielded his face as glass pieces burst into a storm. Then the demon command rotted away as per its effect.
Jeremy
Shields: 4-2
"Shield trigger, again! Mana Crisis!" Another huge jaw clamped over Karon's table and shook the rooftop. His mana was whittled back down to four again.
Not good, Karon thought. I'm slowing him a bit, but once he has enough mana for his giants he'll start swarming me with the creatures in his mana too!
Jeremy charged his sixth mana "I summon Earthstomp Giant!" It shrunk to fit inside the dome. The white behemoth crouched with small legs and long arms, a groan escaping its gaunt mouth and making everything shudder. Jeremy was abruptly laughing again, like a maniac.
Tomb Raider Kazakhstan - Train Chase
Earthstomp Giant
Civilization: Nature
Power: 8000
"My turn then, I take it?" Karon was trying to keep calm. Jeremy had not attacked again with his Sniper Mosquito, so something else was coming. Karon stared at the card he drew.
"Using that card will be taking a huge risk." Yomi commented from Karon's shoulder. "I'm surprised you added it to your deck."
"I don't have a choice. I'm running out of mana and cards in hand. Jeremy won't attack my shields until he's set himself up to win, so we're going to have to try something a little unorthodox." At Karon's words Jeremy grew curious.
"As you wish…" Yomi conceded.
"I cast Ghastly Drain! I choose any number of my shields and add them to my hand!" It shone purple and Karon eyed the five cards laid out before him. Since Jeremy had a double-breaker and another creature, Karon could only afford to take two shields. He picked them up and the panels dissolved before him.
Karon
Shields: 5-3
He turned them over, praying he hadn't just removed a Terror Pit from his defenses. "...alright, I end my turn."
"Hmph. I cast Enchanted Soil!" Lush grass began to sprout from the surrounding concrete. "I add two creatures in my graveyard to my mana zone. Told you my Stratosphere Giant was coming back."
"No!" Karon's teeth clenched.
"Then I cast Faerie Life and Sniper Mosquito breaks a shield!" It launched again, wings humming and Karon turned as glass cut into the material of his hoodie.
Karon
Shields: 3-2
Jeremy's mana boosted to ten before Stratosphere went to his hand. Instead of clearing the last of Karon's shields he was waiting until next turn, where everything would be lined up for Stratosphere's entrance.
"I summon Bloody Squito and cast Venom Charger!" Karon yelled.
Bloody Squito
Civilization: Darkness
Power: 4000
The blocker landed on wiry legs, neon insides lighting up within its glass body. It shimmered purple as Karon's spell made it a slayer.
"That only lasts the turn? You're that desperate for more mana?" Jeremy taunted before drawing to start his turn. "It's time! I summon Stratosphere Giant!"
Stratosphere Giant
Civilization: Nature
Power: 13,000
A dull-faced colossus with mountainous spikes across its body crouched down, sharing space with Earthstomp Giant in Jeremy's half of the dome. The K-waves radiating from the two took Karon's breath away but he dropped the lone card he was holding onto the table.
Vashuna Sword Dancer
Civilization: Darkness
Power: 7000
"What!?" Jeremy exclaimed at the sight of the six-armed demon wreathed in red, its golden blades gleaming.
"Did you forget your trump also lets me summon up to two creatures as well?"
"Ugh, whatever! Sniper Mosquito attack!" A spell bounced up into Jeremy's hand.
Karon
Shields: 2-1
Glass flew. No trigger.
"Earthstomp Giant, attack!" At his order the card tapped itself and every remaining card in Jeremy's mana zone bounced to his hand, one after the other, leaving nothing. A huge white fist lifted up.
"Bloody Squito, block!" Karon turned his card manually. The brain jacker sprung and got punched down, the impact tearing a wide hole, slabs of cement toppling down into the level below.
Earthstomp Giant: 8000
Bloody Squito: 4000
Karon shuddered to imagine if that attack had reached his table instead. Not even a Terror Pit could do much to save him at this point. Karon stilled himself and took a breath, then he drew his signature card.
"Yes!" Yomi exclaimed.
"Master of the night, I call upon you. Allow your howl of terror to instill fear upon your enemies!" Karon dropped his eighth mana down and they all tapped "I evolve Vashuna into Ballom, Master of Death!" The blue-skinned goat demon flexed raven wings, feathers orbiting about the battlezone.
Ballom, Master of Death
Civilization: Darkness
Power: 12000
He levitated in the lotus position, smaller than both giants and weaker than Stratosphere, but nothing in play could resist his unstoppable ability.
Karon pointed as his eyes flashed purple "All non-darkness creatures are destroyed!"
The giants slowly extended their arms but Ballom peacefully raised his hand. Earthstomp and Stratosphere howled as they were drained of colour, breaking apart into ash. Jeremy turned, shocked and disbelieving.
Karon wasn't done "Break his final shields, Yomi!"
A purple sphere crackled between clawed hands, then it was expelled and glass exploded. Jeremy was blown off his feet and onto his stomach. He looked up, his body still protected by a layer of that warping energy. There were no triggers this time. He had no creatures or mana, staring up at Karon who stood determined beneath his greatest creature.
Jeremy
Shields: 2-0
"How…" he climbed back onto his feet. "I was so powerful now, finally. How did you beat me…?"
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what your idiot uncle did to you. But you've killed people and you have to be stopped."
Jeremy blinked, and for a moment he seemed to sober, an understanding coming back to those glowy eyeballs of his. He drew a card and did nothing.
"Just get it over with."
Karon nodded. He also drew without looking "End this duel, Yomi. Direct attack!"
Another energy ball charged up and Jeremy closed his eyes as it was flung toward him.
BOOM. Dust clouds and brittle spewed out. More chunks of roof toppled down, that hole widening further.
Karon stood peering and then a green lightning bolt hit his chest and he flew backwards, crashing into a metal air-conditioning vent. The forcefield around them receded and Yomi whipped around to his partner, then a larger bolt of green got him as well. The demon command tensed up, grunting as he fought to resist the electricity racing across his body. It grew too much and he stopped levitating, his hands and knees touching the ground, which in turn reacted to the energy. Giant tree roots shot up and wrapped around his body, sealing him in place.
Jeremy floated off the building and started drifting back to Times Square, jittery with green sparks shooting across his body. He'd lost all control of the power inside him. The watching agents began to swoop in, Star-Cry Dragon joined by an angel command, giant insect and others. Jeremy stiffened - that green lightning leapt from his mouth, arms and legs. Buildings were struck, roads were carved through. The airborne creatures folded up as they were blown away, voices over intercoms yelling for everyone to fall back.
On the ground a layer of road vaporized and wafted up, stinking like ozone. CJ slowly opened his eyes, then blinked at Heidi in surprise who was facing him, his mother and the others of Team KG.
"You're glowing."
"I am?" Heidi turned over her arms. She was shrouded head-to-toe in red energy. Whatever it was had absorbed the passing lightning bolt and kept all of them alive. "This is Mars! My phoenix can shield me from energy!"
CJ turned to the dead bodies in view then glared up at Jeremy who was still spewing enormous volumes of green lightning. Nobody else was able to get close.
"Heidi, let's go!" He whipped out his card and in a green flash Tsume was back. CJ and Heidi nodded at each other and ran, climbing up the beast folk's arms.
"Noo!" Catharine yelled and ran too but Tsume sprang away. Jamie, Jake and Dylan watched on with daunted expressions.
Tsume landed beneath Jeremy who was floating a hundred meters above, continuously shooting that intense energy in five directions. Heidi and CJ climbed up onto his shoulders at the same time.
"Woah..." Tsume raised his cat-like head at the lightning show above.
"We have to get up there! It might be the city's only chance!" CJ yelled.
"Alright... hang on."
Tsume sprang up to a building, lodging into place before launching up higher with his powerful muscles. Heidi held onto the edge of his tunic, trying with all her might to expand the red aura as much as she could. Tsume jumped between skyscrapers, climbing higher. Stray bolts of green separated from the streams but got absorbed by the swirling red mass around Heidi. The blurry face of her phoenix took shape in the aura and unleashed a bird-cry. Tsume looked over his shoulder and then jumped.
They sailed through the air toward Jeremy. One of Tsume's giant hands closed around the floating boy. He grunted as electricity coursed through his body, then he tossed Jeremy down to the street. He flew head over heels several times before colliding with the ground. The streams of energy went out.
Tsume hit the lower section of a building, taking hold and breaking glass, gouging down brick and mortar before releasing himself and landing with a thud on an empty street. CJ saw one of his four hands was badly burned, the one he'd used to throw Jeremy. Tsume was panting and hissing breaths.
CJ put his hand against the furr of his neck "You alright, big guy?"
"I will be..." Tsume answered.
Heidi started to crawl down from him and CJ did too.
The K-waves around Jeremy seemed to be gone. They couldn't be sensed anymore and with some trepidation the agents landed their flying creatures nearby, climbed off and approached the downed boy.
Atop a nearby building Yomi grunted with effort before tearing himself free from his wooden prison. He turned to his duelist partner who was leaning against that air-conditioner vent, massaging his shoulder.
"Are you alright then, Karon?"
"Yeah, somehow..." he rolled his neck, working out the kinks.
As Nate and the others leaned over to inspect the crater they saw Jeremy's eyes were wide and unseeing, back to their original state. He lay spread-eagled and dead. The crisis was averted, New York was safe.
。
New York would have to be put back together, and a lot of overtime was going to be required to deal with the public. CJ and Heidi were questioned on the scene, DCA paramedics checking their vitals and giving them a once-over for any injuries. They felt fine, but it was more to calm the nerves of the hysteric Catherine. After that CJ's parents drove them back in the SUV, dropping them off at the apartment complex's parking lot, then whipping around for the long meeting back at headquarters. It made CJ glad he was still in training as he and Heidi took the elevator up, then walked the hall back to their number.
CJ slid the key in the lock. Opened the door and flicked on the lights. Only now could they shower off the dirt, and change out of their damn pyjamas into some proper clothes.
As CJ walked back into the kitchen he saw the jug was boiled and Heidi had helped herself to the hot chocolate. At least she'd put a mug out on the counter for him. During her time here she'd become something of an annoying little sister. He was surprised to realise he'd actually miss her, to some extent. She was huddled up sideways in a sofa chair, facing the window view of city lights spanning out towards the Hudson. CJ made himself tea and then stepped over, sipping and staring out at it as well.
"I know it could've been a lot worse… but we saw some horrible things tonight." CJ started.
"Yeah… my memories might be blurry, but something tells me that wasn't the first time I've seen horrible death."
"Oh… really?"
"Mhm. But I also have this feeling that we can't save everyone. We just got to do the best we can." Heidi sipped her chocolate.
CJ's deck case flashed and then Tsume's little hologram was projected onto the coffee table "And my hand feels fine, thanks for asking."
"How could we forget you? The real hero who stopped Jeremy and saved New York City." CJ joked.
"Actually I believe that honour goes to Karon this time. If he'd not defeated Jeremy in that duel he might've been pulled toward the World Tree in Madison Square Garden and gone nuclear."
"Director Roman might send him a big gift basket."
Suddenly a gap opened in the living room and a blonde woman emerged, dressed in purple and soft pink. She wore a bonnet; a parasol rested lightly over her shoulder. CJ dropped his mug and tea spilled onto the carpet.
"Yukari?" Heidi turned and jumped up.
"Oh dear. Sorry to startle you." She wore frills, bows and had elbow-length white gloves. Her hair was very long and the ends were tied in little ribbons. Her legs were crossed and she appeared to be sitting in mid-air, along the edge of her strange black portal.
"N-no worries…" CJ managed.
"Is it done? Did we do what you sent me here for?" Heidi asked.
"Yes," Yukari answered after a small laugh like bell chimes. "The danger has passed. You can come home now. I'll return your memories once we're back in Gensokyo."
Heidi looked at CJ and then back again "but… it's still not over yet. There's still one member of Team Zeta out there. She's got to be stopped before she hurts more people."
"Oh?" Yukari said.
"Yeah, Tafiya Damji." CJ added.
"I see. Then ready your decks and yourselves. I'll find her and take you both straight to her once I do." With that she slipped back into her gap and it closed up.
CJ stared at Heidi who chugged the rest of her drink.
"Well there's something you don't see every day." Tsume commented.
。
Tafiya emerged from a street corner, clutching the strap of her school bag with eyes up looking for cameras. She was worried about getting caught, but not enough to try any harder to conceal herself. It was occurring to her only now how bad her situation was, considering Collin had once more got himself captured. She was a pregnant teenager by herself with nobody else to take care of her.
She had a pocket full of dangerous creatures and a Dimension Gate that'd let her pop up anywhere in the world, sure. But if she used magical creatures and spells to get by the DCA were sure to find her eventually. Not only that… but Tafiya didn't want to lay low in some squatter's den somewhere. She missed her fluffy heated blanket, her parent's flat-screen TV and she even missed her stupid boyfriend. She'd left her home for just a few hours and anxiety was already creeping in as she started to realise she might not be able to do this.
Her insecurity was at an all-time high as she rounded a cobbled, city-side walking path. She saw a young couple embracing under a lamp-post. They were just a year or so older than her, faces close together. Tafiya felt like shrinking into herself. She was fat and pregnant, dressed in a sweater, carrying a backpack like some homeless kid - which she was. And they would be looking at her. Tafiya was sure they were staring, so she turned to stare first. Eyes now fixed to the pair and looking for the slightest glance her way. When she could tell the girl was quite pretty it made her pulse race and blood boil.
They'd already looked then looked away. Now they were gazing back into each other's eyes. Tafiya kept staring as she went, silently daring one of them to face her again. And then she saw the girl's mouth curl up into a smile and she read spite into it. Tafiya stopped. Then she walked toward the pair until they noticed her.
"Hello?" the guy said.
"What the fuck do you think you're looking at?" Tafiya demanded.
"Excuse me?" The girl said.
"You heard me bitch. You looking for a fight?" Tafiya challenged, bristling at her edges.
"Psycho!" The guy put his arm around his girlfriend and began to steer her away "Let's just go."
Tafiya was already pulling out her deck. There was a flash of blue and Aqua Jolter appeared, it responded to Tafiya's will and lunged at the couple who panicked and screamed. The girl tripped in her heels and fell. The guy shouted and sprinted up the street while Aqua Jolter chased him. Tafiya dropped her bag and went to the girl, using her foot to turn her onto her back, then wrestling with her hands. Using her knees to pin down her arms then wrapping her hands around that slim throat, thumbs jamming into the windpipe.
Strangulation was an up-close and personal kind of murder. It allowed Tafiya to have all the control as she unleashed her rage, like watching death in slow motion. Tafiya's eyes blazed as her mouth contorted into a feral snarl. The girl's eyes bulged and she clucked, her attractive features were just infuriating. It turned out that after killing before out of necessity, and trying to kill Jamie that time in her apartment, trying it again came rather easy.
Once it was finished Tafiya got up off the other girl, brushed her frizzy hair back into place. She walked to her bag and picked it back up then started walking away. Her mind was already off the murder and back on that pretty pink dress she'd seen at the mall. It looked so good without straps, and the ruffles that might hide her pregnancy until she can give birth to the damn kid and go back to being nice and skinny. Maybe she also needed some nice shoes to go with it. Some good flats, or maybe wedges with a soft-pink colour that'd accentuate the dress really well...
She took herself around the block with these mundane thoughts before a gap opened in front of her. She stopped. A short girl with chin-length black hair stepped out, followed by CJ Henderson from school. They wore grave and disgusted expressions, and she was sure they somehow knew about the murder she'd just comitted.
"Great..." with a sigh she reached for her pocket. Not the side with her deck, she stuck her hand in looking for her Dimension Gate then padded around. From the black portal the card she was searching for flicked out and came to rest on the ground.
Three pairs of fists clenched then, emitting sparks of red, blue and green.
⟨author's note⟩
Will random updates ever cease? No, they will continue to be haphazard and random. Look at me, bouncing between my digi-fic, AUrellia and then going on to update this one as well. I'd reread my arc of nature, so far, then went ahead and reread this fic again and got inspired. I suppose if anyone is reading this after AUrellia's completion in 2 years time they'll be confused by these author's notes. Gomennasai ~
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