【15 - Fall of the DMA... A City in Peril! Another Lieutenant Strikes!】


An impossible scene of destruction. The DMA once standing so tall, crumpled before their eyes. Its strong walls were breached, the spaceship had used itself as the battering ram and shot full speed into it from the sky. If anyone had been flying it they were surely dead. The beautiful gardens, fountains and statues swept away by an avalanche of rubble. Plaster smoke and dust wafted in clouds. Glass, metal, sparking wires. There were fires burning.

When the back-up generator switched the power back on an emergency alarm rang through the dome.

"Everyone proceed to the emergency evacuation zone immediately!" A teacher cupped his mouth to shout.

There were screams, tears and yelling as all the students and workers got up in a hustle, eager to leave the unsafe area.

"Single file down the stairs! No shoving! Everyone make your way out calmly and quickly! No panicking!"

A few of the students were staring frozen at the destruction and Heidi was one of them. Hands pulled her from the podium and she could see her sister, Narciel and the disciples talking quickly while the crowds of white-uniformed teenagers flooded out of the arena behind them. Urobach had said the Academy would be dealt with, is this what he meant?

"One thing's for sure, that was not some everyday technological malfunction." Narciel was saying when Heidi finally started hearing the conversation.

"We need the security team checking with the emergency department for any survivors!" Timothy was saying.

"We need them to be keeping an eye out for lieutenants. They could be waiting for us to evacuate the premises." His leader replied.

"Wait lieutenants?" Tailee spoke up in a panic "Somebody is attacking the school on purpose?"

"We have to go now. Come on!" Narciel turned and they scrambled after him, Heidi scooping up all her cards before racing to catch up.

Everyone was rushing through the far exit, away from the scene of destruction. The sound of running feet echoed along the bottom-level floor like a stampede. The back doors were open and they were the last ones out, running into sunshine and moving away. Across gravel and across the grass and flowers. There was urgency in all the panicked voices; a kid nearby inhaling an asthma puffer. They all strode collectively away from their unsafe fortress, a mass of moving people trekking to the far end of the school's fencing. Firetrucks, ambulances and police cars were speeding along the street. The property was large enough that the city was unharmed, but nobody wanted another explosion.

When everyone was gathered together the teachers yelled over the noise, organizing the teens into classes and taking the roll to make sure no one had been left behind. Heidi was breathing out her mouth with eyes bloated like everyone else. She felt a hand on her shoulder and it was Tailee.

"Heidi, seeing you defeat the strongest duelist in the academy was incredible." The woman admitted "But I had no idea being the chosen fire duelist would be this dangerous!"

"It is…" she confessed, thinking about how hopeless they were against the current threat to Aurellia. The situation Engyo had described to them a week ago "I'm sorry Tailee… this isn't just a usual threat the newest heroes were chosen to fight. This isn't even your regular supervillain trying to take over the world! The people we're up against now come from another dimension and Aurellia is just another small conquest to them. The chosens aren't even united against it, the other four are scattered across the continent, one of them is on the other side of the world!"

Tailee stared "The other chosens…? Is that why they separated… is it really hopeless?"

Her older sister looked faint and Heidi realized she'd just told her the world was coming to an end. But it was probably true.

"I'm sorry…"

Narciel and his three followers were listening in with grim expressions.

Heidi lowered her gaze to her sneakers "…and the general said he'd destroy the academy because Engyo was messing with his plans. If most everyone hadn't been gathered in the arena to watch me duel Tsukumo there would've been so much more casualties. We're so lucky… but I can't stay here or anywhere if I'm going to fight this threat. If the DMA isn't safe then nowhere is."

"You still want to play hero…" Tailee replied with emotion, eyes glistening.

"We're going to help you fight Urobach and keep Aurellia safe." Timothy promised and the other three seemed to share his determination.

Heidi turned and saw a man standing across the street in a simple white kimono, face hidden beneath a straw hat. In his sash he had a katana that was as long as he was tall. Reaching up he raised his hat and Heidi could see an Asian man with white irises. Staring at her neutrally. The Samurai, the one who found and recruited Penelope.

Heidi didn't think – she ran. She sprinted toward the tall fence not with a sense of hero duty but vengeance. Haven't these lieutenants done enough to innocent people?

"Heidi!" Narciel and the others watched her go. Running and running until… she sprang up with impressive agility, clinging to the metal. Tugging herself up and being careful not to spear herself on the pointed tips. She threw her legs over, slid down again and landed in a heavy crouch. She charged across the road, the samurai dipped his hat and then took off the other way. Heidi pursued him into the city.

"He's baiting her!" Timothy yelled and Tailee clutched a hand to her head. The lab-coated woman looked like she might faint.

"Let's follow!" Narciel ordered "This isn't about Heidi. We also need to stop that lieutenant if he was responsible for this! There's a side-gate exit, let's go!" The four of them ran off and Tailee watched them go. She hadn't left her house with her Duel Masters deck in years. Now she felt powerless and wished she had.

"Please save my sister!" the woman shouted after them, her arms fell limply to her sides amidst the frightened crowd "Please…"

The Dawn of the Phoenix members unbolted the side-gate and ran to the street. There was commotion outside as people gathered to witness. Of course Heidi and the samurai were gone from view, the four determinedly sped off in the direction they'd seen them go. Pedestrians leaned out of the way as they charged through, Narciel was quick enough to keep up and was leading them. They ran several blocks and looked down each corner and alleyway. No sign of either of them. The four finally stopped to catch their breath, news crew and more emergency vehicles speeding by.

Narciel leaned against a street-side tree "Someone call her… I specifically made sure she had a phone in case something like this happened again…"

Timothy pulled out a phone and started ringing, holding it to his ear and worriedly pacing the curb.

"Timothy!" Heidi was standing between two high-rise apartment complex buildings. With her phone to her ear she kept looking around, panting as well "I lost him! I can't find him anywhere! It's like he vanished!"

"He lured you out Heidi! You have to think before you run off like that!"

"Hey!" she scowled into the receiver "If they wanted to lure me out again Urobach would've never let me go in the first place!"

"Maybe…" he answered through the line "but these lieutenants often act on their own motives as well. Maybe he wants to duel you himself, cause you're the chosen fire duelist?"

"Well he's not here anyway… I don't know where I am." She could feel his exasperation in the moment of silence.

"Are you around any buildings?"

"Uh… yeah." She looked up at the tall buildings, too indistinguishable for her to describe.

"Try to find a street sign!"

Heidi started running again, further down the street. Turning her head and seeing dumpsters and parking lots, then…

"Oh! I can see the ocean!"

"I'm coming Heidi! I don't like you being on your own! Wait for me okay!" he hung up.

As the teen pocketed his phone the other three were watching him.

"If Heidi isn't with the lieutenant we need to double back so we can find him." Narciel interjected.

"I'm going after Heidi. If he didn't lure her away to duel there must be another reason!"

As Timothy turned Narciel raised his voice, causing the boy to stop "I gave you an order Timothy! The inter-dimensional terrorists are the priority!"

"…sorry Narciel." The brown-haired boy didn't turn "I'm disobeying." He sprinted off and left his teammates flabbergasted.

"Timothy!" Iwate called after him.

"What do we do?" Soroban turned to their leader, frightened.

Narciel scowled after him while thinking "If we get separated we'll be picked off… Soroban you go after Timothy; I'll demote him later." The girl nodded. "Iwate you come with me."

"Yes, Sir." The dark-skinned boy replied and followed the bearded man as they ran back the way they came and turned around the next corner. The dark-haired girl ran in pursuit of her fellow disciple, he was already quite far ahead of her and she strained to catch up.

Iwate felt nervous at their separation as he followed his boss. They ran through side-streets, Narciel turning his head before continuing to run in his white phoenix robes. Iwate was wearing casual clothes, a grey top and black trousers with sneakers. After a couple more turns it looked like they were heading into downtown and although there was no lieutenant in sight Narciel still seemed confident. He turned to an old factory building and made his way over.

"Boss…" Iwate panted "Are you sure… you know where we're going?"

"This will be a shortcut! If we can't see him… on the next street over we'll have to call the others… and head back!" Narciel panted as he ran up steel stairs to the side of the building, barging through a door and heading into the blackness. Iwate followed and that's when something blunt and hard hit him, his vision failing, his body down without him registering the fall. He was disoriented, trying to stay conscious and barely able to make out snippets of a murmured conversation.

"…wasn't part of the plan…"

"…duelist. He…"

"…could've been killed! I…"

The room shifted and when Iwate finally blinked himself back to alertness he saw a metal door slide shut. A man stood in the room with him, facing away. White kimono, straw hat and long scabbard.

Forcing himself to roll across the grated metal walkway, Iwate flung his leg beneath the railing, lowered himself and then dropped onto a stationary conveyer belt. His landing rattled and he let out a grunt, forcing himself back up on shaky legs. He hopped off and looked around, trying to spot the samurai but couldn't. As he faced the exit doors the lieutenant flew, landing on the big compressor machine and sliding down, landing so as to block his way out.

"You criminals destroyed the academy! What have you done with Narciel?!"

Straightening, the man tossed his straw hat aside, hand on the hilt of his enormous weapon and watching with white eyes. That handle was probably what struck Iwate. The samurai's straight black hair was tied at the nape of his neck.

"You are one of the Dawn of the Phoenix's disciples." He murmured. "I am lieutenant Dojo Iarumas. Your talent would be better served working with us."

"There's no way I'd ever work for the likes of you! And I don't know why you're blocking the exit, I'm not the one who should be running!" he whipped out his deck, hand glowing eerily purple.

"In the coming months much more than Duel Masters Academy will be destroyed at the hands of us, foolish boy." He answered "Your best bet of survival is joining."

"Never!"

"Then Kettou da! Do you accept my challenge?"

"Yoshi, you're not getting away! You're gonna tell me where Narciel is!"

"Good. Running away wouldn't be honorable." He dipped his head, hand igniting with red energy. Two dark tables appeared on the concrete within the factory.

Iwate swallowed nervously as he thought to himself, I'm really about to duel a lieutenant now… one of the guys who killed Wembley. They all duel with future cards we've never seen before… but they're not unbeatable! If I can hold him off until the others get here… I need to figure out where Narciel is! Both duelists took their marks.

"Ikuzo!"

"Koi!"

Ten panels sprang up between them and the duel was underway.

"I charge light mana and summon Ferrosaturn, Spectral Knight!" A mechanical upper-body trailing a wreath of rainbow fabric rose forth. A blocker with 2000 power.

"Rainbow phantoms huh?" Iwate drew "I charge darkness mana and summon Tyrant Worm!" The wrinkly yellow beast reared up with a guttural squeal, also on 2000.

"I draw and charge fire mana!" Dojo's movements were swift, his hand a blur as he organized his cards "I cast Solar Ray to tap your creature." He revealed the card and it shone with yellow. An orb of light expanded forth and Iwate's worm squealed and shrunk back, its card turned sideways. "Ferrosaturn ike! Kamikaze destroy yourself and the worm!" he turned the card and under orders his phantom breezed forward, brandishing a rainbow shield and laser sword. The yellow mutant resisted, lashed back and then both were slain. A card flicked off each table.

Iwate drew "I charge nature mana and summon Essence Elf!" the twisted tree folk with butterfly webbing sprouted up with a measly 1000 power.

Dojo's hand blurred to his deck "I charge light mana and end."

"I charge mana and thanks to Essence Elf my spells cost one less! Snake Attack!" he revealed the dark spell as it emitted an eerie glow "I burn one shield to make one of my creatures a double-breaker! Essence Elf ike!" he raised his fist determinedly for the strike. The tree folk leapt out of the ground, red vipers wrapping around and leaping off to strike more shields. Glass shattered and Dojo raised an arm. His sleeve tore and when he lowered it there was a cut to the side of his face, blood running down and dripping to the floor. As his shield reassembled he turned over a single shield trigger.

"Bad luck. Samurai Decapitation Sword destroys Essence Elf."

"What card is that?" Iwate exclaimed as a purple dragonoid lowered a giant ornate katana, removing the plant's head and severing its body. Both images fizzled out afterward.

"A spell from the DM-27." With a neutral expression he clutched his ruined sleeve and tore, the fabric coming loose and exposing his left arm up to his elbow. His hand blurred to his deck "I charge fire mana and end."

DM-27? Heidi only just managed to get DM-14 cards into her deck… Iwate snapped himself out of it and drew. The aqua-haired boy looked at the three cards in his hand, he added darkness mana then ended as well.

"I charge then summon Samurai Lupia!" A black fire bird in shogun armor rose forth, its whole figure alight with flames. It had 2000 power and lacked the playfulness of the chosen fire duelist's fire birds.

Iwate drew and charged "Horrid Worm!" A decaying, lumpy worm with its brain exposed wriggled forth on 2000 power.

"I charge then summon Cyclolink, Spectral Knight!" A warped, silver phantom with rings around its body and a rainbow funnel beneath leered across with 3000 power. Dojo's hand blurred "Samurai Lupia break his shield, ike!" Under the serious command his fire bird jumped, slashing its own katana and splintering one of Iwate's far shields. Then the bird flew back, as quick as its master. They were both even with three shields each. But not for much longer, Iwate thought confidently.

He drew and charged more nature mana "I evolve Horrid Worm into Ultracide Worm!" six cards tapped and he slapped his evolution creature on top. The entire factory trembled, mechanical hooks and levers swung from the roof. The enormous 11,000 parasite worm expanded from the space of Iwate's smaller creature. The roof buckled and cement cracked, the two-headed worm strained and squealed, finally tearing into the upper storey until it had enough room. Iwate grunted and clung to his table. The samurai's eyes were up as he stepped away from falling rocks that bounced off the machinery and rolled past him. Iwate took a moment to recollect himself before his hand returned to the card; his coiled giant worm took up most of the vast room behind him "Ike! Destroy Samurai Lupia!"

A feral squeal and more cement pieces fell, debris scattering as a head with a million tiny teeth devoured the fire bird whole.

"A hideously impressive monster…" Dojo admitted, whipping a card from his deck. He held two cards "I charge then summon Grand Cross 'Iron Cleaver' Dragon!" Another giant arose and the factory building was damaged further, bricks forced out and onto the street. Terror filled Iwate as he worried about being buried alive amidst all this destruction. Dojo's armored dragon was like nothing he'd ever seen before, it wore shogun armour and had three heads and wielded three swords. "A 6000-power double-breaker… Now Cyclolink Spectral Knight ike!" the funnel-bodied phantom swept forward and scratched a shield to pieces with its clawed hand.

When Iwate saw the pieces reforming he eagerly reached out to snag the card from mid-air "I'm not waiting around to find out what your future dragon can do! Shield trigger, Terror Pit!" A hundred shadowy arms extended from below, the dragon roared as it was pulled down into a portal of blackness.

Dojo scowled as his card flew off the table, then he reached for his deck "If Cyclolink attacks you and isn't blocked I get to take any spell from my deck and add it to my hand." He revealed the fire card "Peacock Breath, from the DM-35."

"That's so far ahead!" Iwate exclaimed as his opponent shuffled his deck and set it down again. Of course the disciple had no idea what the spell did.

"Turn end."

Iwate drew "I cast a second Terror Pit and destroy Cyclolink! Now you have no creatures!" the haunting hands returned, gently but unavoidably pulling the silver phantom to its doom. "Ultracide Worm double-break his shields! Ike!" A squeal and lunge, one of its heads swept through two shields and caved a hole through the wall beside it. Dojo added the cards to his hand as the building shook again, the injury on the side of his face still dripping blood and staining his white, ruined kimono. Iwate looked up nervously again.

"I charge then summon Ferrosaturn Spectral Knight! I then evolve it into Oracion Mysterious Samurai! It's also a double-breaker with 6000 power." It was centaur in shape but appeared to be composed entirely of multi-coloured jewels, behind its back was a body-sized halo of rainbow light, its twin blades also seemed to be composed of rainbows. It tromped forward, one shining hoof stomping onto the broken conveyer belt.

Iwate drew, he only had the one card "I summon Coiling Vines!" the red-tipped plant curved outward onto the field with 3000 power, growing amongst the fallen rubble. "Ultracide Worm break his last shield, ike! You're done for!" Iwate's loyal mutant gave a guttural screech before slamming its head upon the final shield, forcing Dojo to step back and raise his arms in defense. A few more pieces of debris fell, the hanging equipment swaying. As the shield reassembled he turned the card before peering out.

"Hell's Scrapper destroys Coiling Vines." An orange compressor machine rose up, sparking yellow as it unleashed a chain that dragged over Iwate's plant and crushed it. The card was hit by a flash of red and flew from the table. Dojo drew and the emotionless man revealed a small smile at the card, his unnatural white eyes flicked over sinisterly. "I cast my spell Peacock Breath." Four mana cards tapped and he turned the glowing red card "Since there's an evolution creature in play Oracion Mysterious Samurai gets 6000 power and is a triple-breaker for the turn."

"He planned this!" The aqua-haired boy trembled.

"Oracian ike! Destroy Ultracide Worm!" The dazzling centaur reared up before charging. It was smaller but leapt up and cleaved through both of Ultracide's long necks with its twin rainbow sabres. There was a heavy crash, machinery and parts squashed under the monster's weight before it faded out. Slowly the evolved rainbow phantom clopped back to Dojo's side before turning around. The glow from its extra power faded when Dojo ended his turn "Your move, disciple."

Iwate's hand shook as he reached for his deck. "No. I can do this. I still have two shields and he has none."

"It's good you're still willing to fight. Better to lose one's life than one's honor."

"You criminals have no honor!" Iwate yelled back and whipped out his card "I cast Natural Snare and send Oracion Mysterious Samurai to your mana zone!" Vines and twisting branches sprung forth and though it struggled it was pulled down into the earth. A green flash flew from Iwate's tabletop to Dojo's, his card stack flew up and the two cards landed separately as mana.

Dojo drew and continued with little reaction, studying his cards "Eight mana, so I can use both of these cards. Firstly I will show you my signature card: Bolmeteus Samurai Dragon!" six cards tapped and another armored dragon appeared, spreading its wings and breaking the grimy windows, it emitted a fearsome roar that hurt Iwate's ears. It was white in colour and slim-bodied, its steel armor was shogun-styled, its claws metallic and pointed. "Yet another 6000-power double-breaker, but with a much more useful ability… Next I cast the spell Jet Cyclone!" Red beams of light shot upward and then crossed themselves onto Bolmeteus, the great dragon roaring as it burned red "It's now a speed attacker! Ike, double break!" Dojo twisted his card and red light rippled outward. Blue electric energy charged up in the beast's mouth before firing. Iwate cringed beneath his table from the heat, his last two panels fragmented then broke into dust. No triggers, he added the cards to his hand then watched as Dojo's spell bounced off his table and he caught it "Cyclone spells are DM-19, they return to your hand after use so long as you played a creature prior to using them. Though I'm not too sure why I'm telling you this, since it's very likely you'll soon die."

"Destroying my Coiling Vines also gave me extra mana!" Iwate yelled as his cards tapped "So I can play this! Death Cruzer, the Annihilator!" he slapped a card down, the ghostly purple glow was brighter than his other darkness cards. More afternoon sunlight was revealed when the floating skeletal battleship emerged, tearing apart the wide factory even more. Gas steam started gushing from a cylinder across the room, machinery torn apart and the second storey tearing down entirely. Death Cruzer was the strongest creature yet with 13,000 power. Its skull-head eyed its enemy with hollow sockets, its many bony limbs tipped with blades that further carved their surroundings apart. The two duelists stood with no shields beneath a demon command and armored dragon.

"Impressive display but not enough. Isn't it disappointing when your efforts just aren't enough?" the lieutenant mocked emotionlessly, drawing and starting his turn. Although Iwate was still standing firm he was shaking and crying.

Dojo drew and studied his card "Nothing that could spare you a devastating defeat against my Bolmeteus. I cast Barrier Cyclone!" the light spell glowed yellow as five cards tapped "I add Jet Cyclone from my hand to my shields." As a single glass panel rebuilt itself his cold white eyes regarded his enemy "An honorable duel. But without future cards you could never hope to defeat one of us. Bolmeteus Samurai Dragon ike todomeda!"

As the white armored beast opened its mouth and generated its electric blue shot Iwate was speechless. He couldn't hope to find his voice or run for cover. The searing energy rushed at him, blinding light and hideous consuming pain before the trauma made him lose consciousness. The blue light dimmed and Dojo was left standing, his dragon and the demon command faded from view. The factory building was ruined from their cataclysmic showdown. The white-robed man wiped his bleeding face with his sleeveless forearm, strolling over to inspect the damage.

Iwate, fallen in battle, lay on his back with the material from his clothes seared apart and his skin melted. There were third degree burns on his body. The samurai stared and eventually he saw the young man's chest raise slightly, weakly. Still clinging to life.

"The rehabilitation, the mending, the lifelong suffering will be pointless if Urobach wipes you out along with this city anyway. For that reason… I will spare you." Dojo reached for the handle of his weapon, he slowly withdrew the long blade and had to push his scabbard so it slid off the long end and clattered amongst the rubble. In two hands he held the human sized katana, lifting it up and pointing down. Driving the end into Iwate's chest. Blood spilt out onto his burnt, ruined skin and the weak breaths stopped. Dojo let go of his sword and left it sticking out of his victim. Going back to his table he gathered up his cards and then tried to find his straw hat.

"Hello?" someone from the street called and Dojo straightened. The front-facing wall had completely toppled from the duel. The building was concrete and sturdy for the most part and was still standing even after having its second storey demolished and holes throughout its walls. "Is anyone here?" A teenager with tousled brown hair entered the factory, climbing over the broken slabs of building. When he saw the inhabitants his dark eyes widened.

Timothy stared at the white-eyed white-robed lieutenant. He stared out at his fellow disciple. The tables had vanished and Iwate could be seen lying on his back, spread-eagled amongst the debris with a humongous sword sticking out of his chest. He froze, the colour draining from his face as he took in the sight before him. Dojo strolled back to his weapon and worked to prize it free from the corpse's chest, turning back and holding the long weapon aloft. He could see the boy was alone.

"It's good the human authorities are so busy focusing on the destruction of the academy. Nobody's noticed what's happened to this one little factory."

"What have you done!?" Timothy screeched, his hands shook and eyes glistened.

"You're one of the disciples Kaido identified. I suppose you want to avenge your friend?"

Timothy's hands stopped shaking after he clenched them into fists, intention set and murderous.


AN: Oowah! I have three new reviews from Acumashindorballomu to comment on! I'm glad you're catching up again and it sucks that you've been so sick lately! I'm glad everything was so heart-warming for you... only to become a gut-wrenching stab in the feels afterwards. Penelope is an interesting and unique character. Too bad she fuckn ded (he hasn't read that part yet). Yes romance is something I did want to get into. And as per prior critiques I want to keep things as unpredictable as I can, though I think in some instances people can see where I'm going with certain things. As long as it was fun getting there right? Anyway it's a shame that Iwate died but the show must go on and he was slaughtered *Shaun of the Dead voice*: "for the greater good..."