「Shishima Chronicles Arc: Daiyoukai Spawns. 012 - The Tragedy of Rainbow Bird!」


When it rains it pours: This is a human saying which means that when tragedy strikes it's usually multiple bad things at once. Youkai have a similar saying. A long series of misfortune can feel like a curse, but in a realm where magic is an everyday occurrence, many enchantments can be seen, most can be sensed and once detected enemy magic can be countered. A series of tragedies spanning decades therefore could not be the result of even the most well-hidden curse. Then could it be fate? While spoken arbitrarily to describe one-off events of strange luck, either good or bad, youkai do not believe in other-other spirits invisibly pulling strings to make events happen for mysterious reasons. No, the Twilight Kingdom is already a spiritual dimension. So when neither curses nor fate are the answer to an extraordinary series of misfortune, they must attribute it to coincidence and simply say to themselves: I've had bad luck as of late.

Still, as Nijidori found himself in the midst of the worst bad luck in his immortal life, he couldn't help but question his sanity. He was a lower-class youkai but not the poorest, living in a sculpted home with family on the palace's thirtieth level. He was a bird with brilliantly coloured feathers and to him this was another indicator that he was born to perform instead of continuing on with the family's blacksmithing business. The hard-toiling lower class led much simpler lives, but were still impacted by the rampart back-stabbing and danger. In such a dark life something like a passion close to Nijidori's heart burned with the brightest light, clawing to burst free from within. He couldn't fight it, he had to live his most authentic self. Right?

But while each step of outward expression made him feel rare joy and like he could throw off constricting expectations and breathe for the first time, it was immediately met with terrible misfortune. So if it felt so good to do what he loved but kept leading to such awful consequences, what was the lesson? Did all of existence simply operate this way? When youkai feel a fire inside because they're compelled to express artistry, they're supposed to merely stay silent and burn with it? If neither curses nor fate were the cause, and luck seemed more improbable by the day, he was left with no other alternative but to question his own perception of reality. His brain felt like it was swelling and contracting, trying to shake itself loose, trying to make him lose his centre.

"It all started then…" the bird reflected, perched on a sill and drinking booze. While he was in view of all passing by he was shameless, and most knew and pitied him. Nijidori cried as he drank. The past century he'd shed enough tears to fill an ocean. "Forgive me, mother… father..."

One century prior…

Nijidori was flying above the other commoners, between the simple buildings of their indoor-city. In his talons was a sack full of metal he'd found in the scrapyard. By now his keen eyes could spot good metal from bad, even if others couldn't. It might be hidden under rust and dirt, but he could test its malleability with a claw, then a few good pecks told him all he needed to know. He was getting good at what he did, he admitted with reluctance. Abruptly a paper flew into his face and he tried not to panic, swerving to an alley and landing instead. No metal had slipped out and injured anyone, so that was a relief.

Then with curiosity he picked up the paper and a hollow spot in his chest ached. It was an advertisement, these tended to be hand-written then mass-produced through a replication spell. It depicted a singing jester who to Nijidori looked both joyous and free. Not at all like a caged bird. This was for an opera theatre performance on the next level, looking for actors. 'Let your voice be heard' it said. A sign? No, this was not orchestrated by a higher power but mere coincidence, yet one that struck a cord inside him.

He discarded the paper sadly and took off for home once more.

"Good work, Nijidori." His father said in their house while inspecting the find. He was a mostly-green bird and his wife was mostly-red, their son inherited all their brilliant colours equally. Nijidori's father was standing by the glowing-hot smelter with apron on, beside him was the anvil where he spent many long hours hammering away at pieces of metal. A frequent pounding throughout the house that Nijidori hated but after all this time got familiar with. "We'll make fine weapons out of this, and when the commander comes back from the battlefront he'll be pleased with what we make."

"Sounds wonderful father…" Nijidori sounded depressed as he left for the stairs. His father and mother shared a look of concern.

The family business was important. They, among other blacksmith families, made quality weapons for the army warring at Purgatory's borders. In a way it was like they were contributing to the fighting without actually being there. But ever since he was a young goofball, all Nijidori wanted was to perform. Now he was just beyond his fourth millennium of life, he was young compared to many but he wasn't that young. And still he'd never grown out of what his parents always said would be a phase. What made it harder was that Nijidori had talent.

Over his life he'd performed on the street, and even though he wasn't busking sometimes people would leave him money. He stole the attention from more than a few passers-by, and for a few decades the entire neighborhood had praised his singing voice. He dreamed of running away all the time, but his family needed him and the commander's soldiers would likely punish him. If he'd been born into a wealthier family he could follow his dreams, as it was he was doomed to keep his head down, beak burrowing through the scrapyard forever.

But in the next decade he'd find more signs. Whether it was a painting on the side of a building, overhearing conversations or finding more flyers from before at opportune moments. He absolutely had to break free. Over the decade a few new faces moved to the area. It was something a youkai tended to notice after growing familiar with everyone in the area over centuries. There was a new local governor, business owner and streetside guard. They gave Nijidori no trouble and actually approached with compliments when overhearing him singing. Youkai were not nice for no reason, and since these people weren't trying to get something out of him, it must mean the compliments were truthful. Given because sheer enjoyment of his talent inspired them to. Then when the governor approached him with a request that he perform in a play as entertainment for an official luncheon, Nijidori agreed before he even got the sentence out.

And somehow, his folks were okay with it. The play-script was dynamic, the other actors were pleasant. Not one seemed the least bitter that Nijidori was given the star role. Rehearsals went for two heavenly weeks, and as the bird lay back on his bed after memorizing his lines for hours into the night, he would shed the first of countless tears that century. But these were tears of joy and relief. He'd been working less, and somehow the commander was okay with it, agreeing to a lower shipment of weapons when collections came around.

On the night of the play the entertainment portion overshadowed everything else. It went perfectly and Nijidori was once again assured that he was born to do this. Even more heartwarming was that his mother came to watch him perform for the first time ever. His father was busy working, but it was enough to make tears of gratitude well in his eyes as he took a bow to a jumping and applauding crowd. His mother smiled with pride, and he realised he might get to live the life he'd always yearned for after all. Then the building collapsed and everyone in the audience died.

Presently…

Nijidori lifted the bottle to his mouth for another swig. No amount of alcohol truly numbed the pain, not until it was enough for him to black out. While those events traumatised him, others would always push him back to his calling. And every time he tried to take a tentative step forward, it was met with wonderful satisfaction and then awful tragedy. Companions died, and always in ways somehow related to his performing, in a way that resembled a curse or cruel fate. But since neither option was possible, Nijidori was only further gaslit into believing he was going insane, shedding feathers, losing his looks, his peace, his capacity to feel positive emotions, the favour of everyone in his life.

He tried to keep his performances to himself, thinking maybe it would be okay if nobody was around to see them, and then his father died - crushed by the piano he was learning to practice and sing along to. Everybody was bewildered by Nijidori's surreal bad luck, and no one had an answer to it. Once a respectable member of society, he began to publicly crumble, fall apart and spiral in the eyes of everyone. Many sadistic youkai took absolute joy in his downfall, thinking Nijidori's life was his most entertaining show yet. Then things kept coming one after the other without stopping: higher taxes, failed relationships, abuse from guards, people taunting him with flyers like the ones he'd found. He was out of his mind with grief, having long since accepted his role as a laughing stock. Completely humbled in the eyes of all, he no longer wanted any dignity restored, he only wanted the misfortune to end.

He climbed back inside to fetch one of his father's weapons then flew back to the sill and shouted theatrically for all.

"This-" belch "-will be the last performance of the great public fool- Nijidori. Your favourite disgrace, the one- who pleases the whole town with his public pain and failures…"

Some passers-by did stop and watch with grinning expressions. Others found his pain and humiliation uncomfortable, thinking his suffering had gone too far and was bizarre enough to be spooky even, they looked away. The mere thought of Nijidori was enough to make most grin. The drunken bird cast his watery gaze upward one last time, believing life was simply something that utterly defeats you in every way. He was beyond humiliation at that point, and broken enough to give everyone one last laugh. He impaled himself with the sword, and as he came apart into ash, the weapon clattered down the building before rattling by the road.

Some snickered. Some were genuinely saddened by their own pity. But none were surprised. Everyone would then continue on with their lives and occasionally retell the story, the tragedy of rainbow bird.

"Aha-ahahaha…"

"I don't understand…" A goblin child said. On the lower levels were a few poverty-stricken youkai, dirty and gathered around a bonfire. He looked at the old devil before them, who while just as ragged in appearance as everyone else had likely lived millions of years. "How is it possible that all those awful coincidences happened to rainbow bird?"

"Some likely came to the same conclusion I did after a while…" the old man rumbled. "If it were somehow intentional, it would've taken an enormous amount of patience, expertise, resources, planning and wealth."

"Someone did all that to him?" Another goblin child gasped. "Surely not."

"Perhaps he is simply one of the least fortunate youkai who ever lived. But what I do know in my years of travel… is that something like this happens in unassuming places at different levels of middle-to-poor class society. Every century or so a life simply gets destroyed and bewilders everyone around them. There are other tragedies… Kurage… Hisuikame… ordinary youkai who fall prey to some kind of terrible poetry, all of them pushed to the point where their life ends, typically by their own hands…"

Sazansho wrote with an elaborate, jewel-encrusted quill in his nubby lizard hands, penning down the last of his recount of the tale. With a satisfied smile he closed both sides of the folder, intending to magically float the letters into a nice book in his library once he returned home. While reaching the stunning conclusions to his tragedies always left him giddy and high, he had to focus his attention on the task his queen gave him. It was an important task, a chance like this was what Koushishi's confidants had all been waiting for. So he was setting out today. His desk was being organized into three piles of notes: one to be sent to the local governor, one to be sent to the second-in-command of his sealing corps while he was away, and the third to be transported back to his personal quarters. As he went to set the folder down he was interrupted.

"Stinky boat flicks licks an accordion."

"What?" That kind of nonsense could've come from only one person.

Sazansho peered over his desk to the small three-legged black crow. He was a common breed of youkai known as a yatagarasu.

"Bupkis is boot-licked but butter nickel and a sandwich."

"Kotarin!" Sazansho yelled. "As amusing as I may find your ridiculous antics on most days now is not the time for nonsense! I have a very important job given to me by the queen, we are on the edge of a breakthrough!"

"Yes, my lord." He swept his wing and gave a bow, seemingly done with his ridiculous word salad.

"Now, speak plainly and say what it is you have to tell me." The senator enunciated.

"I have delivered all the letters you gave me this morning as your loyal personal messenger. Now I require treats."

Sazansho sighed "Fine, but as always first you must dance for me…" He reached into a drawer for a jar. As he threw crumbs on Kotarin he began an awkward jig, jumping and turning on the spot. "Yes. Yes like that. Aha! Dance, birdy. Aha-ahahaha!" After throwing the final handfull he screwed back the cap. "Now get out of my sight, you pest."

"Yes, my liege." After pecking up his snacks the bird flew out the door.

Kotarin was the only victim of Sazansho's mind games that he'd decided to keep alive. Almost a millenia ago he was a perfectly normal youkai before Sazansho mentally broke him into the pathetic being he was now. But after deciding he'd like to keep Kotarin around as a trophy of his handiwork, he decided to get him special training. Now Kotarin was completely obedient and also, potentially one of the fastest messengers in the entire kingdom. He could also perform arrests with machine-like proficiency, capable of martial and aerial combat. In short, he'd become a surprisingly valuable asset. However, while his stupidity was usually entertaining it did get annoying at times.

Sazansho reflected. Peasants exist as mere toys for the upper-class. It was the rightful way. Just as it was the rightful way that their glorious queen should become the sole ruler and revert their society to its truer demonic state. Peasants were dirty, worthless and exist to toil. His latest tragedy had a moral. The play he'd weaved Nijidori's life into since the first time Sazansho's scouts followed his script, making that paper magically land in his face mid-flight. For the bird that dared to dream... Culture and arts is reserved for the upper-class. Happiness is only for the privileged.

Because Kotarin's unusual scrambling of words had distracted him, leading to this train of thought, Sazansho didn't realize he placed the folder down on the wrong pile atop his desk…

From what Amira had gathered, youkai in general were not to be trusted. However the prince wasn't due to return to the palace for a while, and her unlikely accomplices were being true to their word. They were going to help her sneak into a vault of magical knowledge owned by the sealing corps. This organization was an elite group who were trained in all kinds of ritual and symbol magic. Generally they did security installation, but also odd jobs and secret missions known only by the highest chain of command. They would have an abundance of forbidden knowledge locked away, and it was very likely to include how to open portals to other worlds.

As Hyouma and her two companions travelled to the vault's location, Amira lay back on the ridge hidden inside Rasenkara's shell. With her legs crossed and hands behind her head she blinked at the darkness above.

The lieutenants had gifted her a card of enormous promise. Zeron, king of the abyss. And yet her first duel with him she'd stuffed up and lost the game against another OCG deck, even when the shuffle had been entirely on her side. In the days after that she'd reflected on her plays and how she could've done better. Waiting before throwing out her hand sounded better, then she could utilize Zeron's power to destroy her opponent's creatures instead of simply rushing to awaken as fast as possible. She also discovered that she could've returned Hayabusamaru to her hand using the effect of her final ceremony. It wouldn't have changed the outcome, but she couldn't allow herself to make such reckless mistakes. Even if she was new to the OCG, she needed to learn quickly.

Amira turned onto her side in the dark. Then there was the case of those familiar names… Not just Nekohana the night-time gardener, but even Prince Shishima sounded strangely familiar, though she'd not said anything about it. Why did she think certain youkai were familiar? Why did she feel like somehow this wasn't her first time meeting beings like these? She pondered on until overhearing conversation outside.

Hyouma found a guard on patrol who said she wasn't meant to be there and she immediately threatened him. Her father, important daiyoukai senator Yoruma, was once in the sealing corps. She said her friends were just passing through and spun a brief but convincing tale as to why no one could know they were there. When he blubbered about escorting her she threatened him more and so he continued along to the next corner with a mind not to tell anyone he saw them.

"That guard looked really scared." Senhari commented.

"He doesn't want to get in trouble with his superiors or with my family," Hyouma sighed. "But we need to do this for our plan. Take her out."

Amira stood and the tendril appeared, poking around for her and then pulling Amira out into a hallway lit by torches along the walls. She had to rub her eyes against the sudden brightness

"We'll need you for this part, Amira." Rasenkara said.

"I'll stand guard out here." Hyouma said.

"Leaving the risky work to us, I see." Senhari remarked in a prickly manner. "We're not even close to the vault yet."

"My reputation is more important than yours." Hyouma bit back and crossed her arms.

"Yes and don't forget, we're doing this for you." Senhari retaliated.

"Guys! Please!" Rasenkara interrupted. She was always anxious whenever they bickered. "We should focus on the plan…"

Hyouma took a breath and tried to be diplomatic "I'm the one who might be queen one day, and I'm the one who can get you both out of the most trouble. It's not about me valuing my reputation over yours, it just makes sense. Trust me."

Senhari was a good companion, though she did get argumentative from time to time. Hyouma preferred to use reason instead of simply yelling. After more thought the echidna conceded to the logic.

"Alright let's go, Rasenkara." The two underlings continued down the hall while Hyouma took up post and waited. They were all wearing the enchanted earrings that would allow them to remain in contact.

Soon they reached a wooden door and Senhari was able to use one of her spikes to pick the lock. They went through and closed it behind them, it grew cold as they descended steps and passageways until coming to yet another door along a walkway, but this one had no keyhole.

Senhari sighed "this one is sealed by magic. It's as far as I can go."

"I reckon I could fit under there…" Amira said. She teleported to the ground and knelt down, definitely seeing a space she could crawl through.

"Good luck Amira, everything you need should be in there." Senhari said.

Amira gave a thumbs up then crawled under the crack of the door. Once she was back on her feet she looked around a circular room with an eerie purple glow, centered around a giant floating crystal. Bookshelves were built into the walls, filled with colourful tomes without labels on their spines.

"Okay, now my turn…" Rasenkara said from behind the door. "Please watch my shell."

Then blue ooze squeezed its way through the slim gaps at each side of the door. Amira stepped back as slime leaked through, clumping together and reforming into Rasenkara without her shell. She was notably smaller without it, sprouting new tentacle-eyes and then a mouth.

"How did you do that?" Amira gasped.

"It's my personal discipline of magic. I can self-liquify to fit through spaces and make myself immune to physical attacks, but it has drawbacks, and I haven't mastered it to the point I can take my shell with me."

"Cool…" Amira stated.

"Please let us hurry," Rasenkara slid like a slug to the bookshelves, tendrils slithering out and investigating the tomes.

Ten minutes of rifling through pages went by. Amira ran over covers to read them but wasn't sure what they were looking for. Rasenkara was making a pile of what seemed useful. She stopped when she heard her friend's voice.

"Damn!" Senhari began. "Get back here, someone's coming!"

"Nobody has gone past me?" Hyouma stated through the earrings.

"Well somebody's down here. I have nowhere to hide, Rasenkara."

"Don't stay too long, Amira. I cannot lose my shell!" She slithered over to the door and began to melt her way through.

Outside she'd just managed to crawl back inside her shell before a youkai carrying a torch in the dark corridor turned the corner. He was wearing a special uniform: knee-length trousers and a military tunic with a stiff linen collar. Red phoenixes and blue serpents were embroidered along it.

The hairy fellow grinned at their fearful expressions "What fortunate timing, our leader hasn't left on his business trip yet so he can deal with you himself."

The two were escorted to a large fancy office full of ornaments and glass cases. Other agents from the sealing corps waited with the trespassers until the door flung open and Sazansho waltzed through, the nubby fingers of his four arms tapping together thoughtfully. His uniform was purple and tufty at the edges, reminiscent of his theatre shows. At first glance he wasn't a threatening youkai. He lacked claws and spikes, even the smooth yellow skin of his salamander body looked soft. But he was among the most sadistic of his kin, and the mastering of his chosen discipline made him formidable. His legendary anti-magic fire could cancel out any barrier, enchantment and even the magic of others. While it didn't burn physically it could thwart any other magical skill.

As he breezed by to the desk, wisps of the blue fire spiralled between them, circling the girls from head-to-toe. It killed the enchantment in their earrings and any other spell they might be hiding, before fizzling out. He turned to face them.

"Now what might young nobles such as yourselves be doing in my secret passages?" He asked.

"W-we wanted to join your ranks one day Sir, so-"

"You'd make a terrible actress, Miss Senhari." Sazansho remarked then turned away to pace. Both girls lowered their heads. "You two were snooping. I know how it is to be young… the call of delinquency, the desire to be reckless and push boundaries." He stopped while facing away, arms behind his back. "But our kind especially needs a system of order."

"We found them by the entrance to the arcane vault, Sir." One of his underlings said and Sazansho's head whipped around in a lizardy manner.

"Was it open?"

"No. The entry was still sealed, Sir."

He squinted at the nervous pair before him and walked back.

"Then how about this: as punishment for your trespass I'll have you duel for your freedom. Should you fail I'll report this crime to your families." He gave a sinister grin.

"Fine." Senhari spoke up to her companion's surprise.

While Rasenkara was terrified into silence, the echidna was growing more and more annoyed by a situation they'd been forced into. Senhari could take a scolding when needed, but inside she was much more rebellious at heart. She didn't like anyone imposing authority on her, even a senator like Sazansho. The two stepped down to the middle of the room and summoned tables for their match.

As Senhari set up she placed a card on her table with long claws. Six others from her deck slid on top as seals. Dokindam X appeared above as a skeletal figure crucified to a large stone, with gold halberds hanging from its neck. Six red crosses floated around it, representing the seals that would need to be removed before the impulse could enter play.


Bishop of Hexen - The Somber Grounds of Truth


Sazansho charged water. Senhari charged fire-light and passed back.

"Team Bomber, you are a young daiyoukai after all. But even those of privilege must be taught respect so they don't overstep their bounds…" he drew with a flourish then grinned. "I cast Senbatsu! Bikkuri MAX to peep the top two cards of my deck! Now this goes to my hand, and this goes to the bottom of my deck. Turn end."

Senhari charged another fire-light "End."

"I fortify my shield with the lovely Submarine Fortress Lair!" A cybernetic tower built up from one of his shields. "Then to end I'll cast another Senbatsu! Bikkuri MAX."

Senhari clenched her jaw as he slipped away the rejected card. His start is much better than mine! She charged another fire-light and ended.

"My move," As Sazansho drew the lights of his tower brightened underwater-blue. "Now you draw, aren't I generous? But then, I draw again. Now I proceed with my turn, I summon Onikamas Strange Flow!" The anthropomorphic shark crossed dual tridents. On her turns it would prevent Senhari from bringing out creatures in any way other than summoning. "Now I cast Brain Storm!" A book opened and magical equations spilled out "I draw three and put two cards back onto my deck in any order!"

This is where Vividraw starts… I have to make a move! Even if all it accomplishes is taking out that one fortress shield! Senhari's multitude of spikes tensed as she drew.

"Bad Action Dynamite! With this effect I can reduce the cost of G.W.D. Rumble Machine but it gets destroyed at the end of the turn!" A stylized cross between a racing cart and tank skidded out. Senhari hesitated, realizing that she couldn't use its effect to force-battle Onikamas. Another effect that made his shark mutant such trouble was that it wouldn't let itself be chosen by effects. "Attack the shield his submarine fortress lair is attached to!" As it tore through the glass Sazansho scowled. The tower collapsed into wiring and parts. "You won't be drawing two cards next turn, so I hope you put that Vividraw on the top."

"You think you're quite clever, don't you?" He scathed. Her rumble machine exploded and Sazansho drew, just the one. "But it's already too late to make a difference! Vividraw!" He turned over the card "I cast Celebrate! The Final Curtain of this Story! This spell lets me draw one then summon a water or fire creature that costs 7 or less. It gets speed attacker, then at the end of my turn gets sent to the top of my deck. Meaning, I can use Vividraw all over again!" The growing brightness was forcing his opponent to squint. "Here is the debut of the Bikkuri kingdom's leader! Meteorshower Auroratheater!"

The phoenix had a mask-face with a long tongue and mane of colourful feathers. There were wriggling serpents and scattering petals. Even its appearance resounded with clashing cymbals and drums. Appropriately for its kingdom, it made quite the entrance.

The pompous lizard threw his head back "Aha! Ahahaha! I draw three! And now, triple-break her shields!" It moved like a parade paper-dragon, slashing three shields that blew into pieces.

"No… triggers…"

"Then I end my turn and Auroratheater will make another fabulous entry next turn, when I finish you." It was sucked back, scattering a few of the remaining petals.

"I summon Varivarius, Lightning Dragon!" A dragon with jet-like armor swung its head back with a roar on 11,000 power. "When I have no creatures it costs three less! I attack and activate Magibomber 7!" It was the keyword ability of her Bomber kingdom "I draw and play a creature that costs 7 or less! U.S.A. Porisu!" A hamster in blue uniform touched down. "And then, revolution change! I replace Varivarius with Katsuking Jr, Kung Fu Generation!" Her dragon turned and high-fived a red one that took its place, the former returning to her hand. "When played I regain a shield and one of yours gets broken!" It spun around nunchucks and knocked a panel clear.

"Shield trigger! I use Senbatsu! Bukkuri MAX's other effect to destroy U.S.A. Porisu. And since I still have Onikamas your other creature is bounced back to your hand now that all 'come into play' effects have resolved!" Pink stage-lights became lasers and eviscerated her weaker creature; the shark mutant generated a typhoon that splashed her dragon up and off the field.

Senhari peered up at Dokindam and saw one of its seals was gone from her finally bringing out a Command race creature. I don't think I'll be able to free him in time, either way this goes…

Sazansho drew and presented the card once more for Vividraw "In the end you accomplished so little with that… but with Vividraw all things are possible! Emerge again, my greatest performer! Meteorshower Auroratheater!" Once more the phoenix gave its over-the-top and attention-grabbing display. "Break her last three shields!" Cymbals clashed with the beating of drums, and it shattered her remaining panels.

"No triggers…"

"Really?" Sazansho spoke with mirthful disbelief. "Did I out-rush you? How weak." Then with a chuckle he pointed a nubby finger "Onikamas attacks and since it's my second attack I can also summon speed attacker Valchuris, Dragon Armored!" A trio of weasels wearing reptile skulls readied their hammers just in case. "Onikamas, todomeda!" As the shark swam forth Senhari started to grin.

"I activate… four Revolution Zero triggers!" She turned the cards over and they shone. Sazansho lost his confidence in a heartbeat.

"Four…!" An agent exclaimed.

"For real?" Another added.

"My deck isn't weak and neither am I! Or were you really so stupid as to underestimate your opponent?" At her words he clenched his fangs. Hyouma would've been more tactful, but Senhari lacked her masterful patience. In comparison she was rather quick to be annoyed. Her spikes jostled "In this order: Miracle Miradante, two Bolshack Dogiragons then Fist of Revolution! Let's see what my next card is…" She turned it over "Star Pippi! Miradante is successfully summoned, gains blocker and stops Onikamas. Block!" A brilliant winged serpent-dragon weaved down and used a claw to stomp out the smaller creature.

She continued "Next card is… G.W.D. Rumble Machine! Dogiragon is successfully summoned, but first G.W.D. force battles Valchuris and I draw a card, then Dogiragon suicides with Meteorshower Auroratheater!" Mass explosions rattled all the stands and ornaments in the room.

"I-impossible!" Sazansho gasped as his field was cleared.

"Another seal is removed from Dokindam." Another floating red X vanished. "Third card... U.S.A. Porisu, my second Dogiragon comes out and removes Dokindam's third seal! Lastly Iron Fist of Revolution no longer has a target to destroy, but here's the top four cards of my deck..." She flashed them.

"Little wench..." The senator seethed.

"Now it's my turn! Miracle Miradante breaks your final shields!" It swiped three panels at once and the senator was shocked to see no more triggers. "Bolshack Dogiragon todomeda!" The mech dragon threw a punch and Sazansho was knocked back into his sealing corps who rushed to steady him.

"Unhand me!" The furious salamander pushed them away once fury replaced his dizziness. He glowered at his young opponent hatefully. She was lacking the king master card of Team Bomber, and she'd failed to unseal Dokindam, but Senhari was not weak. She overcompensated having less defense by filling her deck with Revolution Zero triggers, something that would give most faster decks a false sense of security. She'd also been lucky. "Fine. Escort these two troublemakers out! And let this be a warning to you both, but especially you! If you ever speak of this I will have your reputations destroyed! Don't ever expect a favour from me! And you'll do well to stay out of my sight! Go!" At his orders both youkai were marched from the room.


⟨author's note⟩

Another lengthy installment of the Twilight Kingdom! I won't lock anything in but I reckon this could go for twelve chapters. Thanks to Acuma for the great reviews!