【05 - Arrival! The Duel Masters Academy's Finest...】


The helicopter ride was awful. Heidi sat in the hanger part beside Iwate, opposite Timothy and Soroban. These weird disciple guys had been risking their own safety to escort her and Narciel. She hadn't realized, and maybe neither had they, sitting now with haunted looks on their lowered faces, replaying that duel in their minds. All three of them were like frightened sheep, the Dawn of the Phoenix were a strange bunch of individuals. Heidi was still shaking with furious outrage, the corners of her eyes brimming. She couldn't believe Kaido had got away.

She was game for their fight. She wanted things to go exactly like it had last time, only this time she would finish him off with her Astrocomet Dragon, or better yet her new Supernova Mars Disaster. The pure satisfaction she'd get from seeing that murderous sadist burning in as much fire as she could bring, just like he'd done to poor Wembley after humiliating him, making him beg for his life just to kill him anyway.

The journey took them a little under twenty minutes. From below the rooves of tall buildings dragged by, cars like insects shuttling along the criss-crossing strips of road. Whatever that festival had been it seemed to be isolated to that one part of town. Being up here was so different, a new perspective on everything. The trees and birds. While the Starbolt Cruiser, the UFO-shaped spaceship of gold had been faster it'd travelled above the clouds so as not to distress the civilians below. It also wasn't as easy to turn your head and gaze directly down. They flew over a busy metropolis, something Heidi had mostly only seen in movies. Her continent Duextra, the only other significant landmass on Aurellia didn't have any cities as tightly packed as this one.

"We're arriving at the Academy now." The co-pilot eventually turned in his seat to say. None of the passengers looked up. Their thoughts were still on Wembley.

The sound of the propellers was deafening, Heidi glanced through the windscreen to see Duel Masters Academy. It had four defensive walls of concrete and steel, like a modern-day castle. In the centre was a huge glass dome composed of triangle panels. It shimmered light-blue under the sun as the helicopter descended into the area.

They came to a rest on a landing bay inside, meticulously cut hedges and grass shook from the buffeting wind. A group of people were approaching from a cobblestone path, an inner arch entry. Leading them was a thin old man with a diamond-pattern vest and brown slacks – the old man with the twinkling eyes, Principal Engyo. Beside him was Tsukumo wearing the white clothes that must be school uniform, white-robed Narciel too, also security and members of the previous aircraft personnel.

The co-pilot slid the door open for them and they disembarked. The bearded cult-leader stayed back with a grim expression. It was the principal who stepped forward, shouting to be heard over the whirring blades.

"Thank God you're alright!" He said to Heidi and the others. "Follow me!"

The crowd walked away from the chopper, following the path to the building's entrance. The blonde Tsukumo slowed so he was walking beside her.

"You guys shouldn't have run off like that! You all could've died!" he scolded and it made Heidi furious. She couldn't believe she'd been taken by his charms when they'd met. Pointedly she stepped away from him to walk beside Timothy and Soroban.

"How come there's no students around?" Heidi asked her companions but it was the principal who turned to answer.

"This is my private zone in the school, inside the staff area. The students are currently attending class in the south side of the school."

The halls were of arching polished wood, marble-tiles of large diamond patterns on the floor. Heidi knew that the DMA housed only three-hundred students, the top-ranking students in all of Aurellia. People moved countries if it meant they were eligible to study here. The organization also sponsored many tournaments and promotional events. Heidi had just assumed the environment wasn't for her, it was top-edge and competitive; probably took all the fun from the game.

They walked the empty halls around a few bends before reaching an old-style wooden door with a glistening coat. Principal Engyo unlocked it with an old brass key before letting everyone inside, it was a very scholarly room of dark leather upholstery, more lacquered wood, bookshelves and even a long fish-tank. Colourful flat creatures swift-turning in the water, over tiny white pebbles, fake seaweed and a sea-castle. Heidi watched them as everyone filed into the room, Principal Engyo moving to sit behind his desk – the same place he'd been sitting when they talked via hologram.

"I'm sorry I couldn't fly you directly here," he said tiredly, massaging whiskery eyebrows. "As an organization we do have a lot of money and resources, but are still entangled in the bureaucracies of international laws. The political regulations about flying change all the time… We are very limited in the instances of which we're allowed to fly in heavily populated areas. Not many cities in your country, are they?"

"No it's mostly country-side and rural towns." Heidi admitted "Especially down the south coast where I'm from."

Principal Engyo nodded sagely and Narciel stepped over with a stern expression "What exactly happened after we separated?"

"Kaido Felgrass and Urusai Torcan were there." Timothy answered tonelessly "Kaido and Wembley had a Kaijudo duel. Wembley lost…"

"How unfortunate."

"Two of the lieutenants sighted together. Within this city no less." The principal murmured. He then went on to explain for Heidi's benefit "As far as we know there are as many as nine lieutenants, probably more. Working in a hierarchy of individuals who have some degree of dimension-travelling powers. They possess decks with cards that shouldn't exist. It doesn't seem possible for anyone to fake a card that can still access the creature dimension, so the only explanation seems to be that they are what they claim to be. Successive attacks on prominent duelists and dueling locations have occurred around the world but it still isn't clear what these individuals are after. No demands have been made, we've received limited information, only names and photos they've used to infiltrate society. The people working under the lieutenants seem to be regular people that've been recruited."

He raised his elbows to the table "What's most disturbing is what Duel Masters groups and other experts have been energetically sensing from the creature world. The appearance of the phoenix cards, for example, emitting powerful frequencies and seeking out chosens like has been mentioned in the ancient prophesies. It was probably what first drew you and Kaido Felgrass together."

"What is being done to find those two?" Heidi stepped forward furiously.

"The authorities are on the case, it's being classed as homicide. In the meantime, we can find a place for you here-"

"The authorities can't help us!" Heidi took another step closer to the desk, her anger surprising everyone else in the room. "They're not using the resources you have! They can't sense things like the Dawn of the Phoenix can!" Her accusing eyes flickered to Narciel before returning to the man in front of her. His fingers knotted but now leaning back in his chair.

"We all share your frustrations Heidi, but those two low-level lieutenants are not the ones we need to be focusing our efforts on. They're not the priority."

"Coward!"

"Heidi you're not thinking straight." Timothy grabbed her shoulder as if to snap her out of it. Everyone's eyes were on her. She shook him off.

"How vulgar…" Tsukumo remarked, drawing Heidi's burning black eyes off the principal and onto him. He stood aside, arms crossed next to an antique globe of Aurellia.

"What was that?"

"Stop getting so swept away all the time. It's selfish. I was supposed to get my extra credit by accompanying you back but I couldn't do that after you ran off in a busy city!"

"And you're calling me selfish? Who cares about your extra credit! Wembley died!" she waved her arm as she shouted.

"He wouldn't have died if you'd stayed put." Tsukumo's voice was mad but level.

"If I hadn't gone after her Soroban would have died! I understand why the older guys might not have been able to keep up, but you stayed behind like a coward!"

"Enough!" Principal Engyo was hunched forward, clenching his hands together while glaring at the table-top. Everyone went quiet, Tsukumo and Heidi were locked in a hateful stare-down. After a long pause he turned to the door and huffed.

"I can't believe you're the chosen fire duelist. I take back what I said before, neither of those other four were as much of an immature, sorry sight as you."

"Oh yeah? Let's fight then, you wimpy rich wuss! Right now! I'll smack that smirk off your face!" she turned with fists raised as he was making his way out the room.

"Heidi!" Narciel's deep baritone filled the room "I get that you're mad but you need to focus that on the people responsible, we need to make level-headed judgement calls that make sense!"

Tsukumo opened the old door with its brass knocker and stopped by the hall.

"Sounds like a vulgar immature kid such as yourself could do with learning a lesson or two." His clear blue eyes whipped back at her "Kettou da." The adults gasped in shock while Heidi blinked. "It's clear we're not going to get along as friends if you do enroll here. So I may as well use you to test my skills against instead."

"You're on! Yoshi!" Heidi's fire returned and she accepted impulsively.

"A Kaijudo duel?" Soroban mouthed.

"Sure doesn't look like it'll be a friendly one." Iwate added.

"Heidi please…" Timothy was shocked by her animosity, his request fell on deaf ears.

Narciel shook his head "We needed to improve her skills with Kaijudo dueling while she was here but this wasn't what I had in mind." He eyed the principal who was still frowning at the tabletop. He didn't try to stop them.

"Let's go." Tsukumo headed out and Heidi stomped off after him.

"Don't follow them," Narciel could be heard speaking to his disciples. "We have other work to do."

All of Heidi's frustration was now directly channeled at the blonde boy strolling ahead of her. Damn prat, how dare he treat me like a kid? Despite her size she felt she'd stand a decent chance in a fight against him, he looked too snooty and soft to fight well. In Heidi's mind she often felt like she had a good chance against enemies much bigger than her in a physical fight, it often didn't go well when she got caught up in the heat of the moment. She had energy and her fists were small and fast. She'd done karate since she was six-years-old, but that didn't guarantee her a win in every fight.

They walked back the way they'd come, outside the larger arched door and out onto the evenly-cut grass beyond the cobblestone path. Heidi looked around at the cube-cut hedges bordering the pillars and stone walls of the school. They were beneath the open sky, the air just wasn't as fresh here as it was on the south coast of her home country…

Tsukumo had walked straight, spun around in the grass and revealed the back of his glowing white hand. Wisps spiraling slowly upward. His expression serious and set. Heidi directed her anger down and her hand burst with red light, flickering energy. It's just like Timothy said, she thought to herself. For all his talk about being mature he only cares about himself. His extra credit, his reputation of being friends with the chosen fire duelist, his getting something out of agreeing to help me. He's self-motivated, patronizing, and he's going down! No matter how stupidly perfect-looking he happens to be. His attractiveness only served to further piss her off now, Heidi reached for her deck.

The tables ghosted into view and Tsukumo swept his arm back "Ikuzo." The shields chimed as they flashed into place one-by-one.

"Koi!" Heidi was obviously still enraged by her voice. Her shields assembled, mirroring her opponent's field.

He drew his hand and began "I charge light mana." His profile lit up briefly from the yellow glow.

Heidi drew with more intensity than necessary, slapping a card down "Fire!" A red glow to match his.

Tsukumo raised his chin, drawing and studying his hand, rearranging his cards "More light mana and then I summon Pharzi, the Oracle!" A creature reminiscent of a gold brooch floated upward, adorned with a pretty pink bow.

"Pff." She whipped out another card with excessive force "I charge more fire mana and summon Choya the Unheeding!" the orange-suited humanoid bounded up on its spring-shoes. The two 1000-point creatures facing off.

"You shouldn't judge my creatures for looking graceful rather than vicious."

"You shouldn't judge me based on appearances either!"

"Appearances are important." He combed a hand through his hair.

"Just go already! Hurry up!"

"I charge fire mana and summon Rikabu the Dismantler!" Tsukumo suddenly began, a small orange creature with four robotic arms swung into view, each arm holding a power-tool. "I trust as a fire duelist you understand speed attackers? Rikabu break her shield, ike!" the small enemy darted forward, aiming a mechanical mallet that smashed her far shield into the grass. "Pharzi, the Oracle ike! Break another!" The light bringer hummed and zipped over, spinning into a blur and shattering the other far shield.

Heidi winced and the two 1000-point creatures returned to their marks. The blonde boy crossed his arms "Need I remind you that you're dueling the top-ranking student of the DMA? You need to step it up, chosen fire duelist."

"Alright bring it!" Her inner flames roared hotter than ever, she drew and studied the seven cards in her hand. Not enough mana to summon them all yet… "I charge and bring out Brawler Zyler!" The cannon-armed zombie swung itself onto the field, landing with a battle-cry. "Choya, the Unheeding show him! Ike, break a shield!" her other humanoid bounced a few times to gain momentum before springing across, kicking one of Tsukumo's centre shields across the grounds.

He added the card to his hand and drew, re-organised them again before shooting her a devious smirk. "Okay… I charge then cast Full Defensor! Until the start of my next turn all my creatures have blocker!" Electric-blue shields expanded to life in front of Tsukumo's two creatures. "Then I tap again to summon Yuluk, the Oracle!" Another light bringer entered the battle-zone, this one pale, round-shaped and ringed. A blue shield inflated before it as well.

"A 2500 creature that costs one?"

"He can only be summoned after I cast a spell."

"I see…" And now it and his other creatures are all blockers, Heidi scowled.

"Pharzi, the Oracle ike! Suicide with Choya, the Unheeding!" His first oracle spun and whizzed across to the opposite field once more, Choya springing up to meet him with his leg out-stretched. He kicked them apart and they both exploded. "When Pharzi goes to the graveyard I can return a spell to my hand." He added Full Defensor back to his arsenal. "Rikabu, the Dismantler ike! Attack her again." Armed with his new shield the machine eater ducked before sprinting over, its mechanical arms throwing it upward before it slashed with a wrench. Heidi jumped aside as glass littered the ground beside her.

"Dammit he's ahead…" she grumbled. Heidi summoned her determination and reached for her deck "but I just need a little more mana then I can bombard him with all the cards in my hand… I charge! And summon Explosive Dude Joe!" A red-armored humanoid skidded into view, swinging a burning bladed yoyo. "Brawler Zyler gun down that Rikabu, ike!" She watched with glee as her monster dived closer before firing bullets at its meddlesome foe. It hissed and died, Tsukumo unfazed as he drew from his deck.

"Alright, I can start one of my better strategies," the blonde mumbled before looking up. "This will let me beat you even if you get that phoenix of yours onto the field! I charge and summon Nariel, the Oracle!" A gold orb with a halo of blue energy rose up and popped open.

"Nariel… where've I heard that before…"

"So long as it's in play creatures with 3000 or more power can't attack."

"Shit!" It came flooding back to her. One of her sisters, Tailee used to play with lockdown strategies. They tripped her up every time. She looked down at her strongest creature which would now be incapable of attacking.

"Yuluk, the Oracle ike! Wipe out Brawler Zyler, it's payback time!" The other floating artefact vibrated with loud energy, hovering close and zapping the humanoid to death with its lightning. A card flew past Heidi's glowering face. "Your style is too direct, and you lack any real strategy."

"Shut up bastard!" she flashed another card out and surveyed her options. "I can't attack… but I can finally play more creatures. I charge! Then I summon Totto Pipicchi and Kooc Pollon!" Two 1000-point fire birds spun out of the resultant glow, one a flaming sparrow with goggles and another a chicklet in armor. Kooc Pollon can't be attacked, so long as he doesn't play blockers I can beat at his shields one by one!

"They'll do you no good. I summon Hypersprint Warrior Uzesol!" An orange human-shaped armorloid descended slowly with rocket-wings. "Another speed attacker and although he's weak enough to be unaffected by Nariel he has 5000 power when attacking! I also cast Solar Trap to tap Totto Pipicchi!" A white sphere of light sparked and expanded, focusing on the little sparrow who winced against the brightness and lowered its body. "Hypersprint Warrior Uzesol ike! Take out Totto! Yuluk, the Oracle ike! Break another shield!"

He'd used the last two cards in his hand; Heidi watched as her firebird was handed a rocket-powered slap, sending it spinning out of play with a frightened cheep. Her fourth shield was zapped to pieces.

"I'm not gonna lose…" Heidi hissed behind her arms.

"You are."

"No! I'm not!" Her hand blazed furiously with the red energy again "Shield trigger! Burst Shot! Wipe out every creature with 2000 power or less, now it doesn't pay to be one of the weaklings!" A big red robot wheeled upward, raising cannon fingertips and unleashing a barrage of bullets on everything in play. Nariel the Oracle, Kooc Pollon and Hypersprint Warror Uzesol all met their ends, sagging under the gunfire. Only Yuluk and Explosive Dude Joe managed to dodge.

Heidi's flaming hand whooshed over her deck as she started her turn, she charged mana "Finally got enough! I summon Bolzard Dragon!" Lava swirled and her 5000-power armored dragon emerged with a searing roar. "Explosive Dude Joe ike! Break a shield!"

That whizzing yoyo shattered a panel, glass scratching up Tsukumo's arm but he didn't let it slow him "Shield trigger!" the card reformed in his hand, flashing cyan to red "Ten-Ton Crunch!" Another big robot appeared in shogun armor, karate-chopping her humanoid to death.

"Tch!"

Tsukumo drew a card and decided to play it, his five mana cards turning "Mist Rias, Sonic Guardian!" A gold X-shaped flyer zoomed onto the scene. He can draw whenever another creature is summoned now! "Yuluk, the Oracle break her last shield! Ike!"

The orb-being charged up, flying close before zapping yet another shield to pieces. This really isn't looking good. Dammit, where is Supernova Mars Disaster when I need it!? Heidi drew and quickly added mana as her turn started "I summon Baby Zoppe and Mini Titan Gett!" An angry baby bird wearing the bottom-half of its shell jumped forth, skating after it was Heidi's trusted roller-bladed humanoid. "Bolzard Dragon ike! You lose mana and I destroy that oracle finally!"

The silver-plated dragon stretched its impressive wingspan, tips almost touching the surrounding walls. It reared back and spewed lava, melting apart the ringed light creature. One of Tsukumo's mana cards flicked off the table. A thin line of blood was dripping off his forearm but he ignored it. Drawing and then arranging the three cards in his hand which he had thanks to the effect of his guardian.

"…I still have three shields, you really think you have me on the ropes?"

"I don't care if you can draw! Bolzard's gonna burn out your mana zone and destroy every creature you summon!"

"I still have all the mana I need, but just in case…" there was a yellow glow as he charged more light mana, then three of the cards turned "I summon another Rikabu, the Dismantler!" The small orange figure with the mechanical arms returned. Heidi gaped. "Speed attacker, you know what that means right? You're done. Rikabu, the Dismantler todomeda!"

The fire duelist looked up with wide eyes at the running creature. It was happening too fast for her to register. A mechanical arm flexed back then back-handed her in the chest.

"Oof!" she was winded, bruised, flying through the air and tumbling over in the grass. Blinking painfully up at the sky as the creatures faded. "…w-what the hell…?" Did I just lose?

The attack had come from a 1000-point creature, and although it hurt like a bitch she seemed to be fine. No serious injuries. After a moment she sat up, several paces away in the grass Tsukumo stood looking serious but satisfied. He'd still had three shields left, she hadn't even got close to beating him! Tears of shame welled up before she slammed her fist into the ground "Dammit!"

Struggling forward she quickly gathered her cards while he watched her, getting shakily to her feet and turning away.

"Where are you going?" he called, none too concerned. She didn't respond, instead she ran, running furiously back inside and down the gleaming corridors. It took her a little longer than most being unfamiliar with the place, but Heidi burst through an exit and ran past the long gardens and water fountains, out the tall gated border and away. When she reached the street she slowed to a walk, panting and burning with shame.

I can't believe I lost to him! She punched a street-side tree. Kicked a mail-dispenser box when passing a post office. She stormed the sidewalk with hackles raised, not paying any attention to the people she passed.

While Heidi Hirazumi was generally a happy and kind girl she did have an issue with her temper. She hated feeling like a kid or like people were looking down on her, not acknowledging her, and unfortunately her fiery temper that resulted only further made her seem like a tantrum-throwing child. This wasn't about just feeling small. This was about the guilt of losing Wembley mere hours before, wanting to be the hero but being unable to save him. She'd not been strong enough so he'd tried to shelter her, he'd fought her battle and ultimately died.

She hadn't known the guy well but he'd been devoted to his organisation's mission. Devoted to helping her.

The minutes passed and they kept passing and soon she'd been gone for an hour. Wandering around in some foreign city far from home. This isn't the adventure she'd imagined. Obviously they'd not yet told her everything, they admitted to it. They had no idea what they were facing. The gatekeepers of the outer path. When she'd first said that only Narciel acted like he'd heard what these dimension-travelling bad guys were actually called. They had lieutenants. What else did they have? Do they have a particular goal, or are they here to destroy Aurellia and nothing more?

The sky burned evening and Heidi still wasn't ready to go back. Sitting at benches and pacing. Working herself up then collapsing back into a guilty blob of defeat again. Were they looking for her?

"Why haven't I met the other chosens? Why are we spread apart? What happened to the light and darkness duelists…?"

"I thought I recognized you."

Heidi snapped up, expecting it to be someone from the academy but instead it was a woman in a bow-tie and vest. Glowing eyes over a wicked smile, straw-coloured hair flowing over her shoulders. It was Urusai.

The fury went from spark to inferno in a second, Heidi lunging up with a punch that the woman jumped away from. There weren't many people on this street, not so many close-by. A bus passed and Heidi resumed her glaring at the enemy lieutenant.

"Where's Kaido?" she asked murderously.

"Oh I'm not sure, we split. The two of us don't really get along. Still I'm glad that I'm the one who gets to beat you and take you back to General Urobach."

"After I beat you I'm pummeling you with my own fists until you tell me where that top-hatted freak is!"

Urusai giggled "You're so fired up! Truly an appropriate choice for the fire civilization!" she wagged her wrist girlishly. "But fiiiirst… you'll have to catch me!" Giggling she turned and ran, Heidi's vision flashed red.

"You're not getting away!" Jumping up onto her bench before launching off and after the giggling madwoman, shoes slapping against concrete as she made jump-grabs for her clothes, her hair. Urusai laughing louder and keeping just out of reach.

Heidi remained in furious pursuit, pushing her body to the limit to keep up. Pedestrians stopping to observe the strange chase. The smaller teen's face was red with fury and exertion. Urusai turned down an alley and jumped, hooking onto the top of a chain-link fence and throwing herself over with weightless ease. Heidi threw herself at the adjacent wall, grunting with the effort of hurling her body over but desperate not to lose the strange enemy. Hitting the dirt with a grunt and stumbling but keeping up the chase.

Urusai had swung herself up the fire escape staircase on the side of an apartment building. Likewise Heidi launched her smaller body up with the help of a drain-pipe, pulling and struggling. Racing up those zig-zagging metal stairs without thinking, all the way until she burst up and over. A breeze rustled her chin-length hair, the two of them atop the roof and overlooking the city.

Urusai stood in the middle. It was empty up here besides an air vent, little locked doorway and fire hose reel. The woman's expression was now strangely serious, the high altitude wind billowing her hair over her shoulders.

"Nowhere to go…" she stated quietly, a mysterious change to her character.

"I could say the same to you!" Heidi pointed, trying to catch her breath. The woman giggled but this time it sounded evil.

"Then what are we waiting for… let's start."


AN: Look at me go! How does he do it? Well it's simple, you'd write too if you had exams fast approaching next week and are looking for any excuse not to look at a textbook and study for it. Though in my case they're powerpoint slides but regardless! Acumashindorballomu has left me some really awesome reviews! I actually couldn't be happier with what I've got. Most people and certainly myself up until now aren't blessed to have such long, constructive and reactive reviews on their story! Anyway I do hope this chapter addresses the opinions on character and world building, descriptiveness, as well as revealing some more info on these "bad guys". Things both Acumashindorballomu and Shuriken16 have asked for. Domo Arigatou ~