Chapter four: The Story of Evil
After his conversation with Allen, Sateriasis went to leave the hospital and go back home to his apartment but not before taking a look into his own sister's room, doing so brought back painful, oh so painful memories.
(Flashback) (Three years ago)
"Gumina…Please…Please don't leave me." Sateriasis begged, holding his barely conscious sister's hand, his tears were streaming down his face.
With seemingly her last ounce of strength, Gumina weakly turned to her distraught brother "Sati," she said using her nickname for him "don't ever forget the promise we made."
Sateriasis couldn't handle this, he had already watched his father die before his eyes and here was the only person he had left about to fall comatose and possibly never awake from it. "I-I w-won't-t."
Gumina just about managed a smile before it faded away and she shut her eyes, leaving Sateriasis alone and by himself.
He would cry long into the night.
(Flashback end)
'I swear on my life I'll find a way to make the Cyberse pay for what it did to you. That is one promise I can fulfil.' Sateriasis thought in a mixture of anger and sadness, he walked away and back home to his apartment, hands in his pockets.
In another part of the hospital, Akira was staring into Aoi's room when two doctors approached him.
"How's my sister doing?" He asked.
"She's still in a coma."
"Why did this happen?"
"She has no external wounds. I think the problem is with her brain. Even with the latest equipment, we couldn't pinpoint the cause. Unfortunately, we don't know when she'll wake up."
"No… Aoi…"
In a hollow metal room, Akira stood on the end of a walkway as three huge white virtual chess pieces came into being. A rook on the left, a knight on the right and a bishop in the centre of it all.
The bishop piece glowed blue as a voice spoke out of it "Zaizen, you know why we called you."
"You didn't tell us about your sister." The rook glowed blue.
"That's…" Akira looked down.
"But let's put that to the side," the knight spoke "It's a problem you can't control your family, but that's not the main issue."
"That's right." The glow returned to the bishop "The problem is your sister had a Hanoi card."
"We found a Hanoi program in the duel records. Your sister was in contact with the knights of Hanoi." The rook stated matter-of-factly.
"If Blue Angel was secretly communicating with Hanoi, you betrayed our company." The knight finished off.
"Can I make a statement?" Akira said.
"What is it?" Bishop questioned.
"I believe Playmaker tricked my sister."
"Your sister is currently unconscious. So we can't confirm the truth. We're not naïve, so we won't simply accept your statement. We must rethink your value." Bishop responded.
"Be prepared for that. Any objections?" Knight asked
Akira bowed "No. None at all." The VR dissipated around him as he finished speaking.
Upon a motorcycle a woman rode to a predetermined location. She had long pink hair with lavender bangs and pink eyes. She wore a violet outfit with a pink t-shirt underneath with purple strip going across her body and a black belt at the waistline. She also wore a black choker and black and purple boots and sported a black fingerless gloves on both of her hands. Her name was Emma Bessho.
Once the guarded black car came into view, she slowed to a stop and removed her helmet.
The guard opened the back door and out stepped Akira, who was followed closely by Colt whom was trying his best not to look displeased and annoyed.
"What do you want to talk about?" She asked. "If it's about Playmaker, I don't have any info yet. I've checked many things, but he left no traces in Link VRAINS. Playmaker is a skilled hacker."
Akira and Colt approached "I need your help." Akira said.
"Oh my. Another favour? Wow. You know what I did, right?"
"About Aoi?"
"Why did SOL Technologies' top executives know that Blue Angel was your sister? How did they know she was hospitalised?" She said almost provocatively.
"I don't care about that. I know I'm not the only one who's hired you." Akira replied.
"Oh? And you still called me? You must be out of options."
"I don't care what you think. I'm in a fix, I'll be fired after the next executive meeting."
"Oh. And?"
"I don't care about myself. The problem is Aoi. Aoi still hasn't woken up. The only one who knows what happened to Aoi is Playmaker." Akira explained.
"You're right."
"But if I'm fired, they'll stop chasing Playmaker for a while. If something happens to Aoi during that time…I must resolve this situation before then. I will capture Playmaker, no matter what."
He turned to Colt behind him and then to Emma "You two are my only allies."
"I'm willing to go along with whatever you have planned. I was hired to do a job and that's what I will accomplish." Colt said, still looking like he didn't want to be there.
"Since I'm partially responsible, you're threatening me to help."
"That's right, I'll never forgive Playmaker for hurting Aoi!" Akira returned back to the car, leaving just Colt and Emma to converse.
Colt shot Emma a dirty look "I don't think this needs to be said but, I really don't like you."
Emma lent on her motorcycle "My, I didn't know you thought that way about me Shaytan."
Colt refused to look Emma in the eye "Don't misunderstand me, I only hate your modus operandi."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't hate you as a person," he said heading back to Akira's car "I have no reason to, I only hate the way you go about your business. Selling yourself off to other people when under contract with someone else, that is just wrong."
(Hanoi)
"It seems it went well." The voice belonged to Kiyoshi Kogami, founder of the Knights of Hanoi.
"Yes. Now Playmaker will have to comply with our demands." Revolver replied.
"Ignis must be eliminated from this world." Kogami said, his back still turned.
"Does that hurt?" Revolver asked
"It's the same as killing your own child."
"I know how important it is to eliminate Ignis and the Cyberse." Revolver said, Kogami then left just as someone else came into the picture, looking rather pleased with themselves.
"Sorry if I'm dropping in unannounced, it won't happen again but I've got something to say." Mammon said, with a half formed black card hovering above his index finger.
Revolver smirked "And what exactly would that be?"
Mammon grinned "I have a feeling on who Playmaker could possibly be."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The card above Mammon formed into one as he threw it to Revolver "The suspect's name is Yusaku Fujiki. This card contains the data I have been able to collect on him."
Revolver looked at the card in question then returned his gaze expectantly to Mammon.
"I expect you want to know why I suspect him. Well to follow your line of logic I have three reasons." Mammon raised his right hand, not caring to hide his mark "One: During the Blue Angel experiment I noticed that both Aoi Zaizen and Yusaku were missing from the class, after the end of the duel I went to the hospital and overheard a conversation that led me to believe Yusaku was already aware of Aoi's predicament. Second: In real life he has a deck that is so poorly constructed that anyone with a brain would consider him a complete amateur, but since it is so badly built it becomes obvious it was built solely to be bad. And finally, third: His disk and Playmaker's are both older models and I am yet to meet someone who also has an older disk. It is for those three reasons that I suspect him."
For a moment the leader stood there in silence, he then let out a short dry laugh.
(Next Day)
"Y'know Sat, for someone who complains about his lack of sleep, you don't do yourself any favours by staying up to four in the morning." Allen said, commenting on the dishevelled appearance of Sateriasis as the two of them were sat outside a café.
"I was doing research." He dismissively waved off Allen's concerns, instead he simply drank from his cup of coffee. "Do you have any proof that he was involved?" He then asked Allen referring to Colt's apparent victim status in Inferno.
There was a momentary pause while Allen cleared his mouth from what he was eating "Yeah. I wasn't so sure of it myself so I phoned my dad to see if he had seen the real life him, turns out that he is indeed marked. That along with his knowledge of the event and his ownership of that card all but confirms it." Allen finished resolutely.
Sateriasis was about to speak again but he was interrupted by a beeping noise coming from his tablet, when the feed came to it was in the process of an announcement, the announcement itself didn't pose any problems however the issue came from the person that delivered it. 'Blue Angel?' He thought, completely baffled 'How? I saw her comatose the other day! This has to be a trap. Hopefully Playmaker isn't an idiot.'
"Wait, I thought you said Blue Angel was in hospital. Playmaker must know that if I know it, meaning this is a trap for him." Allen said.
Nearly simultaneously with Allen's comment Playmaker appeared and with it greatly lowered Sateriasis' opinion of him.
Soon after Playmaker's arrival the person posing as Blue Angel dropped the façade revealing themselves to be Ghost Girl, a mercenary duelist and hacker for hire, who used the Link VR to trap Playmaker. Preventing anyone from logging in or out.
"Heh." Sateriasis laughed as he got up from the table "She just doesn't know when to quit, does she?"
(VRAINS inside the church)
"If you don't talk soon, your body will be torn apart!" Akira shouted as he tightened the grip of his hand, causing the strange hand holding Playmaker to also tighten and make him roar in pain.
"Akira, aren't you going a little overboard?" Ghost Girl inquired, seeming concerned for Playmaker's safety. "You want him to be alive to answer your questions."
"I won't patronize my enemy!" Akira shouted, making Ghost Girl roll her eyes. "Everybody who hurts my sister becomes my enemy! Now, tell me what you did Playmaker!" He went to tighten the hand trap further.
However the opposite effect happened, baffling Akira before he became aware of why when a voice spoke up "I figured you'd do something like this Zaizen," out of his hiding place stepped Zitor with a smug grin "which is why I can't allow it to go on." Upon a closer inspection Akira could see Zitor's right hand glowing a bright green. "Playmaker here is indeed telling the truth. The duel records show that in your sister's possession was a Hanoi program but I'm unaware of whether she had it of her own volition." He took a position to the side of Playmaker
"I already said it, lying won't work!" Akira shouted while Zitor just shook his head.
"The truth hurts doesn't it Zaizen? Now it's time for me to fulfil my duty." Zitor flicked his wrist, once again loosening Playmaker's prison further.
Right as the trap was about to be undone, a bolt of lightning struck the floor of the church, making everyone shield their eyes. Emerging from the ball came the presence of Revolver stunning everyone in the room.
'He's…' Ai began.
"Revolver!" Playmaker finished as said person stared him dead in the eyes
"Revolver?" Ghost Girl asked.
"A knight of Hanoi!" Akira said still boiling with rage.
Zitor was the only one to remain silent, simply observing the scene unfold.
"Let Playmaker go." Revolver said bluntly
"What?"
"I'll be the one to face him." Revolver answered.
"I can't allow that!" Akira stated matter-of-factly.
"I see." Revolver turned to face Akira "You underestimate my power." He held his hand up to the sky, causing a data storm to spool and surround him before he sent it crashing through the wall and onto the system beyond.
"Who is this guy?" Ghost Girl asked stunned by Revolver's ability "He can control the data storm!"
"I can easily destroy Link VRAINS. But I don't care about that. I only have one objective. Playmaker's Ai."
"You think we'll just give it to you?" Akira said in disbelief.
"You'll give it to me. We put a computer virus into your sister, Blue Angel." Revolver admitted.
"Huh?"
"Only we can remove the virus."
"Why my sister?"
"For hostage."
"Hostage?"
"It could've been anyone. As long as it inflamed Playmaker's sense of justice and drew him out. But a no-name wouldn't be effective. That's why we used Blue Angel."
"Used Aoi? Handover the removal program!"
"That'll depend on you. SOL Technologies' security manager, Akira Zaizen. Your job is to retrieve Ignis. If you retrieve Ignis, you'll fulfil your job for SOL technologies. But your sister won't wake up from the darkness for the rest of her life. If playmaker defeats me in a duel, I'll give you the removal program."
"No way! Entrust my sister's future to people who I don't know?"
"There's only one path. Now choose your sister's future!"
"Akira…" Ghost Girl muttered sadly.
"My sister's life is irreplaceable." The purple glow dissipated from Akira's hand as too did the green glow from Zitor's. The trap disintegrated into black particles and Playmaker touched down on the ground.
'That was horrible.' Ai complained.
Revolver smirked then laughed slightly "I'll be waiting for you, Playmaker." He was then lifted away by a small portion of the data storm.
'Are you going? He's an even more powerful foe than Mammon.' Ai questioned the hero of VRAINS.
"I've come this far in order to battle him." Playmaker said before rushing off.
Akira called out to him "Playmaker. I can trust you, right?" He sounded rather unsure of himself. This only got worse when Playmaker didn't respond "What I did to you was horrible. But for my sister, you'll still… You'll still fight for me even though you should hate me?"
Playmaker kept his back turned "I don't hate you. I only hate the knights of Hanoi." He left then after.
Soon enough both Playmaker and Revolver were in the midst of a Speed duel "Playmaker, you've interfered with us many times."
"Revolver, my only desire is to battle the Knights of Hanoi. When I win this duel, I'll uncover all of your identities!" Playmaker said in return.
"I don't care who you are." Revolver replied dryly "There are many in this world who hate us. And you're just another one. We only have one goal. To retrieve the Ignis!"
"Ignis?" Playmaker asked, while Ai did the mechanical equivalent of giving Revolver the middle finger.
"You acquired that AI without knowing what it is?"
Ai narrowed its eye 'Don't worry about me. When Playmaker wins, I'll eat your program! And get my body back!'
Revolver looked at Ai in just barely contained disgust "Fine. But if I win, you're mine. Okay, Playmaker?"
"Yeah."
"The winner acquires everything, the loser loses everything. That's competition."
'Looks like you didn't bring your support Ai.' Ai pointed out.
"I don't trust Ai. The internet world is a fiction. What's important are the breath and heartbeat of life. But people are misled by fake user-friendliness and bonds, entrusting their souls to this fiction. Not realizing this folly will destroy the world!"
Ai's eye was wide 'What's with him? He's a hacker, but he criticizes the internet? Is he anti-modern?'
"Ignis will lead us to destruction!" Revolver continued passionately "Since you are helping him, you're also guilty! Sorry, but I need you gone."
Revolver then smirked "I'll create a fitting stage for our battle!" At the flick of his wrist the world around them began to crack and soon it looked like the very gates of hell.
"Here we go! The hellish duel begins now!"
"Let's go!"
'Seize the wind Playmaker!'
"Speed Duel!"
Back inside the church, Ghost girl began to move "I'll go after them."
Akira turned agreed to this "Ghost Girl, send visual footage."
"Understood." She like Playmaker ran off and within seconds she was on her D-board following the action.
Soon she had her own cameras set up, sending a live feed of the duel to the two SOL employees on the ground.
"I question that validity of hiring Ghost Girl, Zaizen." Zitor said, sounding bored. "You already have that Colt character under your thumb, so why go and hire another hunter? One with considerably less moral scruples at that."
Akira shot Zitor a dirty look, before sighing and looking at Aoi's body "I'll do anything to protect Aoi's life and if that means reverting to dirty tactics like hiring hunters, then so be it."
'Playmaker, Aoi's fate depends on your duel.' Akira thought.
Vrains wasn't the only place of commotion, back in the real world people were gathered around the screens in the city centre.
"What's going on?"
"I can't see a thing!"
"Playmaker and Hanoi's duel!"
They were some of the comments coming from the crowd. Allen too was in the crowd, although he was very much bored and unconcerned, he sighed as he muttered "Everyday same old shit. At least dad and Sat have it under control."
Inside the hot dog truck not too far behind the crowd Shoichi's mood was far different to Allen's. The screens that made up the back of the truck were all drowned in static. Shoichi worked desperately in order to get even some feedback.
"Why now?" He complained, just then one of the screens flickered into life and then another one came online. The reason for this was because Ghost girl had activated her recording devices allowing for the connection to be made. "Is this her camera?" He asked before realizing "She works for SOL Technologies…"
Unbeknownst to the three onlookers and Ghost girl herself, she wasn't the only person trailing behind the duel, it didn't take very long for that person made their presence known. When the camera feed on the ground suddenly became corrupted and the miniature cameras themselves started short circuiting it was all too obvious who it was "Hello there, Ghost Girl. I'm sorry but you won't be interfering in any way."
The addition of another voice shocked Ghost Girl, when she turned to see Mammon coasting behind her, her attitude was one of annoyance "Mammon, how did you get here? My trap should've prevented anyone from logging on."
Mammon grinned "Friends in high places." He said cryptically whilst doing what had become his trademark hand gesture. "Such friends have tasked me to jump in if I saw anything that could possibly interfere with their plans, low and behold you showed up under the veil of Blue Angel."
"So what? Are you just going to stand there and yap like usual or are we going to duel?" Ghost girl asked, very cleared irritated.
Mammon wagged his finger condescendingly "Of course! What's the point of me being here if not to do such? Just thought I'd let you know why before I pummel you for a second time."
"Speed Duel!" The two of them declared simultaneously.
Mammon's LP: 4000 Ghost Girl's LP: 4000 Cards x4
Turn 1
"Since I'm in front, I'll be taking the first move!" Ghost girl declared emphatically.
Mammon shrugged and smirked "Fine by me, even if you take the first move, you will never be able to beat me. Because when it really matters you just crumble and turn into a pathetic excuse for a hunter."
Ghost girl appeared at face value to ignore the comment but was mentally raging, a rage that included multiple curse words "To begin I summon Altergeist Marionetter from my hand!" A decrypt hybrid of a ghost, marionette and machine took the field beside Ghost girl.
Altergeist Marionetter, Level 4, Spellcaster, effect, LIGHT (1600/1700)
Mammon let out a short laugh "Come now, I've seen you do this strategy a million times, I guess nothing much has changed. Then again I wouldn't expect you to do so."
Ghost girl stayed silent throughout, however she thought differently 'If that bastard thinks he can cause me to lose focus again, he's in for a rude awakening.'
"When Marionetter is summoned, I can select an Altergeist trap card in my deck and set it." She cycled through the options in front of her, finally settling on one after a while. "Then I set another card face down. I end my turn."
Ghost girl's hand x2
Turn 2
"My turn, I draw. To begin with using its effect, I special summon Greedy Corruption Demon from my hand." The demon appeared looking as maniacal as ever.
Greedy Corruption Demon Level 5, fiend, effect, DARK (2500/1300)
"You're taunting me Mammon," Ghost girl said just barely hiding her annoyance. Mammon on the other hand feigned innocence and shrugged "I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about, I don't taunt my opponents, that's not my modus operandi."
"Stop playing dumb, I know you too well, I've spent too much time researching your style, whenever you summon that monster first there is always an alternative way to get it out at full power." Ghost girl said.
Mammon smirked "Well, I guess you figured me out on that one." He admitted "Yes, I do indeed have another way of summoning GCD, one that would've allowed me to summon it at full strength. But in this case summoning him this way is my best move."
The last statement threw Ghost girl for a bit of a loop 'What does he mean 'best move', summoning him this way makes him weaker than all of my monsters…'
"Watch and you will see why I'm the superior duelist! I activate the spell card Cesspool of Corruption!" This card's art depicted a murky looking swamp area that had some repulsive black oozing substance slowly seeping its way out of a pit.
"This card allows me to search out two corruption monsters from my deck and add them to my hand, but as a cost for this I must send one card in my hand to the graveyard." The two cards Mammon selected replaced the discarded card in his hand.
"Next I summon Corruption Marionpet!" An even more demented puppet came onto the field. Its face was broken in half and coming from the other side, you could see from the eye that there was a toxic looking black liquid pouring out of it, the stings holding the puppet in place were close to being severed.
Corruption Marionpet, Level 2, Fiend, Effect, DARK (0/0)
"Marionpet's effect! During the turn that it is summoned, I can select one Corruption monster in my graveyard and summon it to the field, provided I render the monster's effect and attack points, null and void." The puppet cackled as a pair of strings dipped into the vortex behind Mammon. "I revive my previously discarded monster Paladin of Corruption!"
Paladin of Corruption was pulled out attached to the same half worn strings as Marionpet.
Mammon's mocking grin turned feral as his pupils shrunk "Now! Appear the corrupted circuit that destroys all!" The link square appeared below "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more Corruption monsters with less than 2000 attack points! Crush all that oppose us! Link 3! Corruption Grimdead!"
This new Corruption monster was somewhere in between Corruption Dragon and Allen's Shining Dragon in terms of size. It wore a long black hooded cloak that covered all of its body and most of its face bar the unnatural glowing silver eyes. In the monster's right hand there was a long double edged scythe which it wielded with expert precision.
Corruption Grimdead, Link 3, Fiend, Effect, DARK (2000)
Ghost girl turned back and looked at the monster in disdain "You criticised me for preforming the same moves and yet you've gone and done the same thing too!"
"My, you really haven't recovered from then, have you?"
Ghost girl's eye twitched with anger as she replied "You betrayed me! We were partners! And you intentionally led me into an ambush! It took all of my skills to get out of there!"
Mammon shrugged and smiled mockingly "You make it sound like such a big issue. All I did was follow the orders that were given to me that day. I did it for the money in layman's terms. Nothing less, nothing more."
Ghost girl fumed for while after but then suddenly settled down and returned to her calm, playful demeanour "Oh, but I bet that wasn't the only reason." She said knowingly.
Mammon became confused "What are you talking about?"
"I know your other motive, one other your greed." Once the answer clicked into place in Mammon's head, he became enraged and his usually insane, mocking attitude became much more like his real life personality.
"Don't you dare! I see where you're going with this! Leave her out of this matter, she has nothing to do with why I joined Hanoi or why I betrayed you!" Mammon became so enraged that for a second his real voice bled through.
Ghost girl realized that she had in effect hit the jackpot and continued down this path "I wonder what that person would think seeing you. I reco-"
"SHUT UP!" Mammon roared at the top of lungs "I'll make you pay for bringing her up! I activate Grimdead's effect! Once per turn I can send one corruption monster to my hand to the graveyard then Grimdead gains half that monster's attack points until the end of your next turn! There is only one monster left in my hand, I send Corruption Gungnir to the graveyard." A corrupted, corroded version of the monster Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier appeared on the field before being cut clean in two by Grimdead's scythe with the other Corruption monster absorbing the energy.
Grimdead's ATK: 2000 – 3000
"Battle! Grimdead attack Altergeist Marionetter! Reaping Knell!" Grimdead vanished temporarily, it reappeared directly behind the Altergeist monster and swung its scythe. However…
"I activate Altergeist Kunquery's effect from my hand!" Ghost girl interrupted.
"What?!"
"I can special summon this card and use it to negate your attack!" Just as Grimdead's scythe was about to make contact, the ghostly mechanical horse monster came into being, blocking the attack from going through.
Ghost girl then giggled "When the special summoned Kunquery is on my field, I can negate the effect of one of the cards on your field!" Grimdead was enveloped in a silver hue rendering its effects and presence all but useless.
Grimdead's ATK: 3000 - 2000
"Why you…" Mammon shook with unbridled rage "I place two cards face down and my turn!"
Mammon's cards x0
"You may have surprised me on that move but rest assured I will once more prove myself superior!"
Turn 3
"My turn, I draw! If you think that's all then you're dead wrong, I'm only getting started! I summon my second Altergeist Marionetter!" Another copy of the monster appeared next to its double.
Altergeist Marionetter, Level 4, Spellcaster, effect, LIGHT (1600/1700)
"Due to Marionetter's effect, I select one Altergeist trap card in my deck and set it!" This trap led to her spell and trap zones along with the monster zones becoming full.
"Three monsters and three set cards." Mammon pointed out, recognising her full field "I won't deny saying that it's a solid formation."
"That's not all as well!" Ghost girl declared "Here comes the next phase of my plan!" She closed her eyes and crossed her hands "Open before me! The circuit that connects to the unknown parallel universe!" She opened her eyes and pulled her hands apart, for a moment a set of virtual strings appeared in between before dissipating, beneath Ghost girl the link square came into being.
"Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least two Altergeist monsters!" She winked playfully as she continued "I set two Marionetters and Kunquery in the link markers!" The three monsters turned into colourful spiralling burst of wind. Two green and one orange. "Circuit combine! Link summon! Appear, Link 3 Altergeist Primebanshee!"
Ghost girl's link monster was a ghostly red snake like monster that laughed as it appeared on the field.
Altergeist Primebanshee, Link 3, Spellcaster, Effect, DARK (2100) Link markers: Bottom, Bottom right, Right
"I activate the trap card, Altergeist Materialization! I special summon Marionetter from my graveyard!" Marionetter reappeared out of the purple vortex "I'm not done." She stated matter-of-factly "I activate continuous trap, Altergeist Protocol! The due to Altergeist Marionetter's effect, I send Altergeist Protocol to the graveyard. Resurrect, Altergeist Marionetter!" Once again two Marionetters lined Ghost girl's field.
"I tribute Marionetter to activate Primebanshee's effect! Once during each of our turns, I special summon an Altergeist from my deck next to its link. Appear! Altergeist Meluseek!"
Mammon had kept quiet, in fact he wasn't even fully paying attention to the duel instead he lost focus when he heard the rush of a powerful fly past him. Looking past Ghost girl and further into the distance, he could see the spooling of a particularly powerful data storm. 'Playmaker… It's a real shame that I can't be the one deal you your first defeat but I'm sure that when Revolver's through with you, it take long for that dream to become a reality.'
"I set one card facedown!" That statement brought Mammon back to the real world.
During the past two turns, Shoichi had been working frantically to re-establish the connection. He'd managed to get into the feed of the network but he faced a daunting task, the virus Sateriasis had unleashed was one of the most devastating he'd ever laid eyes upon. "This virus… This is unnatural…" Every attempted to rid it only ended up strengthening the corruption "I can't give up now." Finally he found a breakthrough. During the reconstruction there was slight frame of time where one could possibly eradicate it. Shoichi put one final effort into exploiting this hole in the programming.
It worked and soon the feed came back but this time it was two way. One screen showed Revolver and Playmaker's duel, the other showed the ensuing fight between Mammon and Ghost girl.
The feed also returned in the same manner to the two managers in the church.
"Mammon!" Akira shouted.
Zitor raised his hand "Zaizen, how about toning it down a bit, I like the use of my eardrums."
Akira didn't respond to Zitor, instead his eyes were locked firmly on the two duels playing out in front of him.
Mammon took a moment to survey the field and came to a defiant conclusion "Looks like in your rush to beat me, you made a massive miscalculation. None of your monsters have enough attack points to drop my life points to 0!"
"Are you sure about that…?" Ghost girl said, confusing Mammon.
"What are you on? There is no possible way for you to do so!"
"Here's the thing. Altergeist Meluseek can attack you directly even if there are other monsters on your field."
"And that changes what exactly?"
"Why not find out for yourself? Battle! Meluseek attacks you directly!" Meluseek gathered then shot out a beam of bright blue energy that hit Mammon square in the chest.
Mammon's LP: 4000 – 3500
Mammon simply brushed off the attack "That was only 500 damage, I fail to see your point here."
Ghost girl turned and mimicked Mammon's finger wag "Meluseek's additional effect. When it deals you battle damage, one card on your field goes to the graveyard!" She winked playfully as she picked the unfortunate card "Cya, Corruption Grimdead!"
"So that's what you're getting at!" Mammon said, shocked as Grimdead dissolved into particles and vanished.
"I assume you can do maths." Ghost girl said, taunting Hanoi's hunter. "The remaining attack of my two monsters total 3800, you only have 3500 life points. How does this make you feel, Mammon?"
Despite Mammon's shock he wasn't overly impressed "I know what you are trying to get at, and no I don't have any regrets for what I did."
"Is that so? Altergeist Marionetter attacks you directly!" Another beam struck Mammon, this one had enough strength to rock his board.
Mammon's LP: 3500 – 1800
"Finally, I'll surpass you! Right here! Right now! Altergeist Primebanshee direct attack!" Ghost girl declared 'I did it! I beat Mammon!'
"Not so fast! I activate my trap card! Corruption Hellfire!" This card depicted what looked to be the very depths of hell itself. In the background three of Mammon's monsters were seen running through the flames, the gate was guarded on end by Grimdead and on the other end there was Corruption Dragon lying in wait.
"Corruption Hellfire's effect splits the damage between the two of us!" Primebanshee's attack was absorbed into the card which then struck both duelists.
Mammon's LP: 1800 – 750
Ghost girl's LP: 4000 – 2950
"Next I activate my other trap card! Seeking Corruption! During the turn I take damage from a direct attack, I can activate this card which allows me to summon one link monster from my extra deck that has attack points equal to or less than the damage I've received this turn."
Ghost girl's eyes went wide 'Oh god no…'
"You know what that means!" Mammon shouted maniacally "The monster I select is no other than my ace! Essence of Greed - Corruption Dragon!" Corruption Dragon screeched as it flapped its wings, causing a gust of wind powerful enough to rock Ghost girl on her board.
In the other duel, almost simultaneously with Mammon's ace dragon being summoned another powerful dragon was being summoned. One by the name of Topologic Bomber Dragon barred down on Playmaker.
Turn 4
"My turn, I draw!" Mammon said "I hope you enjoy your last few moments, Ghost girl. Because this will be the final turn."
Ghost girl rolled her eyes "Oh please, Mammon. I have three monsters on my field and more life points than you, I don't see how you can turn this around. 'Hanoi's Hunter'." She put particular emphasize on the last words.
Mammon then quickly reverted back to his real world personality "Hanoi's Hunter? I won't deny that is indeed what I am and what I intend to be for as long it is required. Earlier, you said you wanted to know why I betrayed you and why I've devoted myself to Hanoi and its goals."
Ghost girl couldn't believe her ears and so she remained quite as Mammon continued "Let me ask you something, have you ever lost someone in your life?"
Once again Ghost girl remained silent, "If so you know exactly how I felt when my father was killed by SOL. That was the first strike. Imagine what that was like, I saw him die right before my own two eyes. Those wretches infected him with a computer virus, effectively poisoning him. They did this because he had found something, something they were unwilling to let him get away with."
"R-really?" Ghost girl said, slightly perturbed.
Mammon seemingly ignored Ghost girl's comment, continuing as if she hadn't spoken at all "The second strike came when that certain person you brought up earlier was admitted to hospital. It left me all by myself, you will never know how that felt, to have your last remaining family member ripped away from you."
Ghost girl was about to speak up but Mammon cut her off "But it was then in my moment of desperation and loneliness, he came to me."
"And who would that be?"
"In the three years I've been by myself, I became desperate for money to help my sister's condition so I offered my services out to anyone who was willing to hire me. However, no one would take me on and thus my desperation grew by the day. But then I received a call from a mysterious person, he told me to meet him at predetermined location. There I first met with the person I now owe my life to." Mammon paused, letting Ghost girl take in all the information "That person was the leader of Hanoi, Revolver himself!" Mammon answered loyally "Technically in Layman's terms I joined Hanoi that day and since I never looked back."
"I see…" Ghost was about to say something else but the words died in her throat.
"But let's cut the reminiscing there! We're dueling here and I'm about to prove to you my victory is guaranteed! For a start, Corruption Dragon gains attack points equal to the level of a monster this card's link markers point to x200! The monster this card points to is your Marionetter, which means it'll be gaining 800 attack points.
Corruption Dragon's ATK: 2400 - 3200
"Next I activate the effect of Corruption Injector from my hand." A small creature that was holding a comically large syringe appeared on the field "By sending this card in my hand to the graveyard, one of the monsters on my field gains the attack of the most powerful monster on your field! Primebanshee is now my prime target!" Injector inserted the syringe into Primebanshee's back slowly sucking the monster dry, it then move over and injected Corruption Dragon with the stolen power.
Corruption Dragon's ATK: 3200 – 5300
Ghost girl still somewhat jaded from Mammon's speech, only now realised the trouble she was in but remained confident, 'Still, I can survive for this turn.'
"As you can see, any monster I attack now with Corruption Dragon will drop your life points to zero if it hits." Mammon explained whilst waging his finger, signifying his persona's return.
"Now Corruption Dragon! Finish this right here and now! Attack Altergeist Primebanshee! Judgment of Corruption!" The black flames spooled in Corruption Dragon's mouth before being unleashed at Primebanshee.
"Trap activat-" Ghost girl tried to use her face down however it just wasn't to be.
"I don't think so! I activate the effect of Corruption Gungnir in my graveyard!"
"What?!" Ghost girl exclaimed.
"By paying 500 life points and banishing one more Corruption monster from my graveyard, I can negate the activation of your pathetic trap card!"
With her trap now gone, Ghost girl had no line of defence against Mammon's barrage. The flames dealt the finishing blow to Mammon's former partner.
Ghost girl's LP: 2950 – 0
Mammon: Win!
Akira stood wide eyed as he watched the result of the two duels in front of him, the Playmaker and Revolver duel had resulted in Revolver forcing the match to end in a draw via Topologic's destruction effect. He couldn't believe the result of Ghost girl and Mammon's match.
Instead Zitor whom up until now had no absolutely no interest, all of a sudden decided to way in "Y'know I was always taught that, if you want something done Zaizen you should do it yourself."
Akira didn't respond instead he stood with his eyes bolted shut, Zitor spoke some more to try and irk a response "Look on the bright side Zaizen, Playmaker hasn't lost. If you want me to put that in layman's terms, your sister still has a chance of waking up."
This time Akira did respond but he sounded exasperated "I just wanted to keep her safe…"
"Zaizen," Zitor put on the most commanding voice he could, almost sounding like one of the executives "if you would be so gracious as to learn one thing from me. It would be that being overbearing and controlling leads to more undisciplined behaviour," even when he was trying to be considerate Zitor couldn't help but be smug in some facet.
Akira sighed, then clicked his fingers, soon after his other 'business partner' appeared "Colt…"
Colt looked to Aoi's body and removed his mask, in contrast to usually lay underneath his face was one of sorrow "What is required of me?" Although his tone still remained as flat as ever.
"I need you to go and find Ghost girl, Mammon beat her…" Akira muttered.
"Understood."
Standing on top of a roof top not too far away from where the duel ended, Mammon stood victoriously over the top of a worn out Ghost girl. "Do you see now? Not only once but twice I have proven myself to be the superior duelist."
Ghost girl looked limply as a purple card materialised into Mammon's hand, he raised it and fully embraced his insane side with a look of pure malice and twisted glee "However, that doesn't mean you can't be of use to Hanoi." Mammon threw the corrupted card at Ghost girl just as the female huntress passed out. "Sleep well, Ghost girl."
He then returned to his D-board, dropping his façade he neared the raging data storm 'If this is still at full strength that means Revolver and Playmaker are still dueling.' When he came within striking distance, the powerful gust nearly ripped him from his board 'Damnit! I can't get anywhere like this!' Refusing to give up, he circled around again "Wait."Mammon realised something and kicked mentally for not knowing sooner "This storm is a Hanoi program. I should be able to get in by exploiting the gaps in the code." Quickly he took to scan the program. The code flowed down the screen of his disk "There!" Instantly he attack the gap and before him a pathway appeared.
Mammon rushed inside and soon found himself gently descending to a floating stone platform. "Playmaker and Revolver! I was right!" He looked to the field. Playmaker had two of his code talker monsters out, while Revolver on the opposite side was stood on top of a long dragon monster while another mechanical link dragon was there too. Encasing the entire field was a huge cage that projected an aura of foreboding.
"It is such a shame isn't it? That there isn't a full audience to witness Playmaker's defeat." He witnessed the continuation of the duel with anticipation.
A/N: So, there are a few reasons why this took longer than I wanted it too.
I was busy at School and only finished last Friday
In addition to that, I took a four day trip to Krakow, Poland where I couldn't bring my laptop because of the luggage constraints.
I'd like to ask you readers a question. Despite my disdain for music, I do have a few tracks I like, mainly tracks from the Evillious chronicles. I want to know what you think the music would be for each OC character. I honestly want to know what you think would be the best.
Finally. Thank you all for reading, reviewing, following and putting this on your favourites list. I really appreciate it.