【29 - A Planned Siege and an Evil Scheme Revealed! The Fate of the Coal Province!?】
A man in black military uniform with white trimming stalked across a surface of black glass. He'd just left his mirror, and with the telepathic messages conveyed he would soon be speaking face-to-face with his subordinates. He closed his eyes, lowered his scarred face and raised a hand. Black fire ignited the front of his glove. The outer darkness burst to life a metre from him, the void flames retracting to reveal a kneeling figure. He moved his hand, searching with his mind before summoning another from a pre-planned location, kneeling beside the first. He moved his hand to try a third time but nothing happened. The two subordinates looked at each other before their boss lowered his arm.
General Urobach opened his monochromatic amber eyes "…my lieutenants."
The edges of the pocket-dimension swirled black and purple. Before him was a young girl in outrageous Lolita clothes of the goth variety. She couldn't be much older than thirteen – Kurushi Glimmer. The other man was older than his superior, thin-bodied with a moustache and red cape. He looked like a magician – Genjin Bartos. They were supposed to be joined by their colleague, a young man with orange anime-style hair by the name of Magris Slade, but once again he hadn't joined them.
"We will begin the meeting then," Urobach put his hands behind his back "First of all, I'm impressed with the progress you've made. Each of you infiltrated your respective gangs and managed to seize power quickly. I've used my connection with the Augus Head of Defence to send you that cargo shipment of military-grade weapons. These triads are now fully equipped and waiting on my orders. They aren't just gangs anymore, now they're a criminal army."
"General…" the young Kurushi kept her head lowered "Not that I'm questioning you… but lieutenant Magris has been refusing to attend these meetings…"
"His obedience is my concern, not yours. Do you think you can avoid an execution because of your young age? I have killed a teenage girl before."
"No General, Sir!" her head snapped up. "I'm merely wondering how this will affect the plan! Magris is the Axe gang's leader now, and we still need his compliance… but he's probably going to be executed for defying you!"
"Magris is driven by an obsession," Urobach replied. "It is up to me to determine whether he remains useful. Whether he is to be directed according to my goals… or disposed of."
The girl quickly lowered her head and the boss turned his yellow gaze to the man.
"Genjin… you lost a duel to one of the chosen duellists." As he spoke the magician was sweating with fear. "While that also warrants death, fortunately the three of you have important jobs to do regarding your control over the three gangs. Our final phase is almost upon us. I will give you one more chance."
"Thank you, Sir!" he almost gasped "I've also secured the head position of the Sword gang, meaning that's two of them under our direct influence!" His words made Kurushi's head snap to him with anger.
"You gave your gang high-tech stuff so they would have an advantage over ours! This isn't a competition Genjin, we're supposed to be working together!"
"Of course I'd favour my own workers, same goes for my performers as well-"
"You two will not bicker in my presence!" Urobach shouted and they immediately lowered their heads once more. He turned and strolled to his black throne, cut from the huge onyx stalagmite. "I have an exceptional lack of patience for unproductivity… but this plan… my plan is a thing of beauty and though I can't afford to execute any of you yet, keep in mind…" he turned and sat, crossed his legs with a malevolent grin "you will want to be around to see my masterpiece when it starts."
。
That night the two chosen duellists stood on the roof overlooking the city. The high wind was cold as it blew loose strands of their hair. From up high the province was a curious sight: there were streetlights but it was a lot darker than a regular city, otherwise there were lit bonfires and the odd car headlights. Without a better nightlife the stars were more visible.
"My first break-up…" Heidi stated bleakly.
"Did you love him?" Amira asked, offering her sympathies.
"I think so… Like, I'd rather it not end but I understand that it had to."
"You two fought a lot," Amira nodded. "Like, a lot."
"I suppose we did… Timothy was good for me because we were both weirdos. I can't imagine dating anyone from back in Ikebukuro, my hometown. And even though I was more popular with boys in the DMA… I just don't think it would've worked. Timothy was…"
"…honest?" Amira offered.
"Yeah. I still care about him, Amira."
"I get that."
"I'm worried about him leaving the city and doing all that travel, alone."
"He needs time to deal with everything that's happened, and sort himself out." The hooded girl faced away from the view, leaning against the concrete barrier. Heidi also turned away – the view wasn't pretty, it was depressing. It was understandable that people got sick of it. Amira looked at her "Are you going to be okay?"
"Probably not," Heidi laughed "but not because of Timothy. With everything that's going on I don't have time to think about a relationship. The world is ending."
"Relationships are just a hassle," Amira remarked. "You're lucky your ex wasn't a psycho."
Heidi burst out a shocked laugh "That's right. My situation's a walk in the park compared to yours. How does a chosen and a lieutenant end up getting together anyway?"
"Kind of like a Romeo and Juliet situation… that went utterly wrong."
The two girls continued their talk on the roof until the cold became too much for them. They walked back to the elevator. Diego had warned them all that they weren't allowed on the penthouse level without someone accompanying them. They certainly didn't want to cause trouble for their host, and the rooftop was available to anyone who wanted fresher air or a duel. A few floors down the elevator took them to the infirmary. They walked along frayed carpet with some blood stains that weren't able to be properly cleaned. There were lots of little rooms that'd been converted into hospital stays, a few IV stands and some bulky machinery. They heard their friends up ahead, the space widened to a kitchenette. Lisa was leaning against a sink bench, Diego had hands in pockets and was standing by a broken microwave, and Simon was sitting at a round table with that wound-dressing stuck to his thin body.
"Heya Heidi, how're you holding up?" Simon asked and she could only give a tired grunt in response. "Well I am just super."
"Lisa was just explaining what happened that night," Diego said with a smile on his lips.
"The dog," she clarified, arms crossed and that dyed ponytail over her shoulder. "So we saw it coming in the side-light and I heard it barking. There was all this warehouse supply shit lying around, so I go to climb this big stack of planks and look back to see Simon freak out and run through them…"
"And then?" Diego prompted.
"And then he trips. So I jump down to grab a plank and just as the dog pounces, I swing and get its head like I'm swinging a baseball bat."
"Very nice." Amira nodded her approval.
Heidi had something more serious to discuss "And after blowing up the Sword gang's main hideout it turned out no one was there. If we're lucky we killed maybe a few guards and Genjin. Why haven't we been making plans to go after the other two gangs?"
"It's because the Swords mostly survived and were ready for us," Diego explained. "They still have all their men and probably their new firepower too. Grandma agrees that we should see what their next move is before we do anything else. After all, why make more enemies if the Swords might come after us now?"
"Yeah I suppose that makes sense." Heidi conceded.
"Hopefully they haven't figured out it was us," Simon stated.
"Unless the reason they weren't there is because someone tipped them off," Lisa interjected.
"I thought my Grandma was the one with all the spies, but it's not impossible" Diego replied. A smile lit up his face then and he reached into the back pocket of his jeans "So… something you guys may not know about me, who wants a game?" He pulled out a Duel Masters deck.
"You play?" Amira asked in surprise.
"Yep. I was big on strategy games for a while. I came first place in the local chess championship when I was ten. And that was okay, but it was chess you know? I tried my hand at Duel Masters a few years ago, practiced for months on end until I could do this…" he opened his palm and blue energy fizzled upwards. They raised their eyebrows and he smirked "so who wants a game?"
"I'm out," Amira was the first to decline.
"I'm injured." Simon stated.
"Uh, I would…" Heidi faltered "but with all the deck upgrades I have thanks to Mars, it's not going to be fair."
"Where's tall, dark and sulky when you need him?" Simon shook his head and received a glare from Amira.
"Kettou da," Lisa spoke up and they all looked at her in surprise. "That's how you say it, right?"
There was silence for a while before Heidi spoke up "You can duel?"
Lisa held out her hand and white flared up, a more impressive display than what Diego had managed. She explained "There wasn't much to do in Pello's hide-out when I wasn't helping injured gangsters recover. A few members of the Knife gang were duellists who got hurt in the underground circuit. I used to go through their decks and teach myself the game."
"And you have your own deck?" Diego asked and she nodded. "Well good enough for me. Yoshi. Let's go up and duel."
The five teens headed off and they were all curious about how the two played. As they ascended in the elevator Heidi turned to the taller nurse.
"You must know Destirio too then, since he's in your gang and also plays."
"I don't know him well at all. I've seen him, cause he's huge. But he only joined the Knives a few months ago."
"When Kurushi broke him out of prison… That bastard uses Bombazar. I'd love another chance to take him down." Heidi narrowed her eyes in thought.
"Bombazar?" Simon exclaimed.
Soon they were back on the roof and their talking ended, the two unexpected duellists walked out to take their marks. This was where Timothy got hurt but at least the pressure was off for this game. Their tables appeared and crystalline shields sprang forth.
"Ladies first, and don't go holding back just cause you have a soft spot for me," Diego called.
"So long as you don't let that crush throw your game," Lisa retaliated as she assessed her hand.
Simon cupped his mouth "less flirting and more duelling, you two!"
Lisa added light mana and passed the turn.
Diego added darkness mana and summoned "Marrow Ooze, the Twister!" The living dead spun up with its stretchable body.
Lisa added fire mana and passed the turn again.
"I summon Zepimeteus!" Another one-cost creature entered play, what looked like a bathtub toy with tentacles. "Marrow Ooze break her shield, ike!" He twisted his card competitively, a white limb stretched as his creature wound itself up then spun out and knocked a shield into pieces. Afterwards the creature shrank and died "Turn end."
"What is that, rush?"
"It's something," he answered with a mysterious wink.
Lisa raised an eyebrow then summoned her first creature "Yuliana, Channeler of Suns." A gold-blue mechanism in the shape of a butterfly emerged and started glowing from its centre. A 3000 blocker. "Turn end."
"I summon Aqua Hulcus and draw. Turn end." A water-being with long armguards landed in a crouch with fluid movements.
"I cast Lightning Charger to tap Aqua Hulcus," white lightning hit his creature and raced along its body. "Yuliana ike!"
"Zepimeteus blocks!" Blue rippled out, the coiling creature intercepted Lisa's aircraft. Its tentacles drooped to the ground before it vanished. Diego drew and added his fourth mana "Now the fun can start! I summon Daidalos, General of Fury!" A mighty 11,000 demon command grew from a shadow. It was a skeletal pterodactyl with turquoise bat-wings and skull-cannons on its arms. Its howl pierced the night.
"So it is rush," Lisa commented with a frown.
Heidi stared "An 11,000 creature that only costs four?"
"Every time it attacks he has to sacrifice a creature," Amira explained coolly with her arms crossed "That's why he has so many low-cost creatures in his deck. I bet his strategy is centred around Daidalos."
"We still haven't seen what Lisa can do yet," Simon remarked.
"I summon Punch Trooper Bronks!" A purple armoloid advanced with whirring steps. "The weakest creature in play gets destroyed, that's Aqua Hulcus!" As she pointed her robot started zapping all over with blue electricity, it launched with a power-punch that splattered Hulcus.
Diego drew his third card, added mana then cast "Brain Serum, I draw two!" Blue light shone and he added the cards to his hand "Next I summon Lone Tear, Shadow of Solitude! I sacrifice it so Daidalos can attack. Ike, double break!" His new ghost faded quickly after summoning, his giant demon command plunged its cannon-arm downward.
"Yuliana blocks!" Lisa turned her card, tabletop lighting up with a serene yellow. Her machine veered in and broke apart. The card flipped away and Lisa shook her wrist but continued "Nexus Charger!" A metallic pyramid rose forth "I add a card from my hand to my shields."
"We're both on five shields again, and another charger spell means more mana," Diego observed.
Lisa smirked "Punch Trooper Bronks break a shield, ike!" Her robot charged up again before launching, punching a panel into pieces. Shards flew far and made the onlookers wince back.
"I summon Zepimeteus and sacrifice it so Daidalos can break two of your shields! Ike!" At his command the monstrous beat-stick went for another attack, this time it wasn't blocked and Lisa turned away from the hail of cyan that tore holes in her woollen jumper. "You okay?"
"I'm not so delicate. I've tried to resuscitate people with serious injuries countless times," Lisa reminded him. "Blood isn't going to scare me. I summon Petrova, Channeler of Suns!" This creature was shaped like a long air-craft but with shining white strips for wings. "I choose one race to gain 4000 power, so I pick Armored Dragons! Punch Trooper Bronks go for another shield, ike!"
It'd seemed like Diego was going to ignore her creatures and try continuing with his rush. As another shield exploded against its fist the pieces froze in mid-air before winding back into place, becoming a card in Diego's hand.
"Shield trigger, Terror Pit!"
Heidi sighed "I am sick of darkness cards. I never want to see another Terror Pit ever again!"
"I choose Petrova!" Diego pointed but when nothing happened he looked confused.
Simon spoke up "Petrova can't be chosen for anything other than attacking or blocking. Yuliana had the same effect. It's a pesky ability."
"Really?" Heidi's eyes widened.
"Mm-hm. Definitely handy when you're playing against darkness," Simon answered her with eyes forward.
"Fine, I pick Punch Trooper Bronks instead." Diego declared, the pale hands rose forth to drag the robot into a pit that sealed shut. Then Diego drew "I summon another Marrow Ooze and sacrifice it to break another two shields! Ike!" With another low-cost creature tributed the giant demon howled and swept its cannon-limb once more. Two more shields obliterated and Lisa only had one remaining. A shield trigger, Ten-Ton Crunch went to her hand but without any weak creatures standing against her she couldn't play it. "My rush strategy's paying off now, huh?"
"Not anymore. I summon Bazagazeal Dragon!" A grey-blue dragon emerged, rivalling the height of Diego's monster. It had multiple arms with blue laser-swords. Its appearance particularly delighted the watching fire duellist.
"Bazagazeal!" Heidi exclaimed "It's an 8000 speed-attacker that can attack untapped creatures or double-break! It returns to your hand when your turn's over though…"
"But don't forget her Petrova's effect," Amira commented. "Bazagazeal has 12,000 power."
"More than Daidalos!" Heidi exclaimed. "You go, Lisa! Take him down!"
"Attack Daidalos, ike!" Scarlet blazed from her table, the dragon flexed its many limbs before eviscerating its target with a flurry of sword-swipes. Daidalos gave a weak howl as it died. "Petrova break his shield, ike!" Her light creature hummed forth and cut glass with its wings. Her dragon disappeared in a flash of red, its card popping off the table and snatched by Lisa.
Diego winced before starting his turn. He was down to two shields and had three cards in his hand. "So her light creatures can't be chosen by effects and her dragon disappears on my turns, huh? …I summon Lucky Ball and draw two." The spherical cyber virus flashed and Diego drew, getting another Daidalos, General of Fury. If I play it she'll destroy it immediately since Bazagazeal can attack untapped creatures… Diego looked at her and she raised an eyebrow in response "I summon another Zepimeteus and end." The weak blocker flexed its tentacles comfortably.
"I summon Kanesil, the Explorer." Instead of her dragon she opted for a 4000 blocker. The flat battleship loomed over her zone. "I cast Luna Charger so that Petrova untaps at the end of my turn. Petrova, ike!"
"Zepimeteus blocks…" Diego once more lost the sea hacker. Lisa's spell gave her even more mana, her creature untapped and the turn passed to him. He decided to empty his hand. "I summon Thrash Crawler and another Daidalos, General of Fury." A big 5000 sea-monster emerged with tentacle-pincers, but it was dwarfed by the reappearance of the demon command. Daidalos stretched its turquoise wings and let loose another screeching howl.
"I evolve Kanesil into Warlord Ailzonius!" Lisa declared, her battleship blazing with light before transforming into a big green idol on 8000. "Go, double break!"
"I block with Thrash Crawler!" Those pincers couldn't pierce metal, green light flashed and soon the air stank of fried fish.
"Petrova, ike!" Glass rolled up the shoulder of his patched jacket.
"Spiral Gate…"
"Petrova and Ailzonius can't be chosen for anything other than attacks or blocks."
"Heh, you're getting close to winning aren't you, little lady?" At the nervousness in Diego's voice she simply raised her eyebrow once more. It seemed like Diego wanted to impress her, he couldn't do that if he lost. "I summon Aqua Hulcus and draw…" the relief was plain on his face at the sight of another blocker. "Marrow Ooze the Twister. I sacrifice Hulcus so Daidalos attacks… Petrova! Ike!" That cannon fired a ghastly beam, flattening her pesky mecha del sol.
Lisa drew and her smile stretched wide at seeing another Petrova. Thanks to her charger spells she had eleven cards in her mana. "I summon Bazagazeal Dragon and attack you!" Those laser-swords were already swinging the moment it appeared.
"Marrow Ooze blocks!"
"Warlord Ailzonius takes out your last shield! This game is over, Diego!"
Her confident declaration was further emphasized by the chaos of creature-stomping and laser-fire. The dark-skinned teen lowered his head, guessing at his chances of drawing another blocker. The smoke cleared and he peeked at the card he drew. His shoulders slumped but then his eyes widened.
"Oh my god… I forgot I had this…"
Heidi yelled from the sidelines "What?" The onlookers were eager to see the result of the match.
"Gajirabute, Vile Centurion…" his voice was still numb with surprise as he slipped the card on his tabletop. A purple skull-demon stepped forth with sweeping wings and a soul-sword "…he automatically destroys your last shield."
"Wha…?" Heidi gaped.
Amira was also shocked "Now that Lisa's shieldless Diego can tribute Gajirabute to attack with Daidalos… he's won the game."
Lisa's pretty blue eyes were wide with surprise before she closed them with an accepting smile "You win. Nicely done, Diego."
He'd been sweating from nerves, he wiped his forehead with a laugh. They packed up their cards and the creatures faded. They all walked together, the two players getting congratulated on the impressive duel by their friends.
"So…" Diego stuck his hands in his pockets and swayed on his knees "reckon I should get a reward for winning. I don't know if you like going for drives, but we can take the impala…"
Lisa stepped over to interrupt the bashful boy, planting a warm kiss on his cheek. He froze with a blush.
"There's your prize," she smiled with pink cheeks, then made her way back to the elevator. They all turned to stare after her.
"Hey, I'm injured. Where's mine?" Simon called and Amira elbowed him in the ribs. "Oof! Now I'm even more injured!"
They went down to the floor with their rooms. Passing the array of quirky and creepy characters. Diego walked confidently on this lower level and it seemed he was recognized, but no one said anything. Blue drugs could be seen through the doorways, burnt in glass apparatuses or sniffed as powder. Cigarette smoke wafted through holes in the walls. The five entered the room Lisa and Simon were staying in, but instead of sleeping they sat and talked late into the night. They were good-natured, happy with the company as well as having beds and food. Amira didn't say much but she smiled more.
Heidi was feeling too dejected from her break-up to smile. She'd not been her friendly and sociable self since entering the city, that looming depression back to clouding the edges of her mind. From her time here her clothes were already getting faded and stretched. How long until she had holes and stitching like everyone else? Would she ever get out of this terrible city? It was full of poor people and every version of human degeneracy.
A sudden havoc could be heard outside, voices calling out and scrambling. The five were surprised. Even as suspicious as the inhabitants looked none of them seemed willing to upset their frightening land-lady, Ms Snaketail. Doors could be heard opening and closing. The teens sprang to their feet and got out, looking down the hall. Sure enough it wasn't a drug-fuelled fight. Suited henchmen were talking to the residents and a pair glimpsed Diego before making their way over.
"Sir, we're going to have to ask you come up with us to your grandmother in the penthouse."
"Why? What's happening?"
"The Sword gang has surrounded the building. They've started a shoot-out on the ground floor. It seems they're trying to force their way up."
They all paled. Simon asked "a siege!? Here, are they crazy?"
"We're under heavy artillery fire from military-grade weapons. They have machine guns, smoke grenades and who knows what else..."
"Then… it'll only be a matter of time before they get inside." Lisa stated and they all looked at each other.
Heidi frowned at the floor "…Genjin."
"No," Diego resolutely grabbed Lisa by the shoulders and she looked bewildered. "I only just got the courage to ask you out, we're not going to die here! Come on!" He pulled her after him.
They all hurried with the guards to the elevator. They had to wait while reinforcements from the upper levels went down to help against the ground assault. Once the elevator was clear they passed an anxious crowd to get in, the pair of henchmen pressing the top-level button. With a ding they left the residents behind and started their ascent. At the top level a multitude of suits and tough-guys with guns were waiting to descend. The teens got out while the guards remained, they were joined by the extra support heading down.
Up here workers were running around. Ms Snaketail was pacing by the shallow pool in her silk gown, anxiously gnawing at her thumb. A man beside her was hunched over, speaking quickly with an earpiece communicator.
"Grandma!" Diego called. She raised an arm and he rushed over to hug her.
"This is bad," Simon was saying "We have the elevator and emergency stairwell, but there's nowhere to run if they've surrounded the building."
"Better stay away from the windows, children." The scarred woman warned them, clenching Diego close in a comforting manner.
There was a muffled boom and the lights went off before flickering back on again.
"Ma'am…" the worker with the earpiece turned his head and they all looked at him "It seems they're using bazookas."
。
Thousands of kilometres away a middle-aged man in uniform with an array of important medals pinned to his chest walked the corridors of a high-tech military base. Everyone he passed nodded respectfully and greeted him with "Sir." He returned their nods importantly as he continued on.
The receptionist turned from her call to greet him "Good morning General, Sir."
"Hold all my calls until the afternoon," he told her while opening the door to his private office.
"Of course, Sir."
He went inside and leaned back to shut the door. It was dark in here; he closed his eyes and gulped, reaching up to loosen his collar.
"I will say that, General to General, those drapes don't quite match the carpet." A silhouette was at his desk, leaning back with legs up on the table. The nervous man flicked the switch beside him but nothing happened. Urobach reached over to touch the desk-lamp, dim light revealed the smile on his scarred face.
He'd already known who it was. The human General took a breath to steel himself but it was unconvincing even to himself "What do you want now?"
"I require the help of your scientists to build me a weapon."
"A weapon? What weapon?" the man blustered.
"It's curious to see the different kinds of technological advancements in each alternate universe we end up conquering… there's all sorts of differences in transport, health and… warfare. Aurellia has had its share of historical conquerors but with just the continent Augus and little Duextra, it didn't take much to completely unify your planet." He held up a small remote "I had a subordinate of mine put together this little video, I'd like you to watch it."
The man gulped, turning to see the projector screen already lowered. At a button-press the video started: a soundless simulation of a city. It zoomed all the way in to a square crossing, full of stationary figures that were meant to represent civilians.
"I want you to imagine," Urobach's voice took on a soft, story-telling quality as the video played "a bomb that upon activation creates a fireball as hot as your sun but expands to the size of eight-hundred metres, instantly vaporizing everyone inside. Within a two kilometre radius all buildings and structures are destroyed…" the room brightened orange and the man could only swallow, eyes glued to the display "This will instantly kill one-hundred-and-twenty thousand people… And now if we go beyond ground zero of the blast, within a radius of eleven kilometres radiant heat ignites clothing and causes third degree burns on exposed skin. Debris rips through buildings and streets, increasing the death toll by another five-hundred thousand. This may take a week to occur as radiation sickness and other factors take hold."
The video slowly zoomed out, showing unimaginable wreckage and harm. "In time dust and ash from ground zero, of which will be dangerously radioactive will become airborne. The impact of this fall-out will depend on wind and weather factors, but it will end up killing even more people over time, putting the final death toll to over a million people."
The man had to work his mouth before he could speak "a weapon… of instant death. Killing off… an entire city. How is it possible?"
"It's called an Atomic Bomb."
"…atom?"
"It turns out the smallest particles are the most powerful. This weapon would only be used as a last resort, to usurp a dangerous uprising before it could spread and infect the country, disrupting the balance of power. I've left the research notes on your desk and you will give it to your scientists tomorrow morning. I will be checking in on your progress every so often." With that Urobach gave him a parting smile, igniting with black fire and leaving an empty armchair.
The lone General leaned against the wall and threw his head back. For him to be complicit in building such a weapon… he was a traitor to his country, his people… a traitor to humanity. A minute's pause went by. With a heavy resignation he walked to his desk and the manila folder.
『AN: Ah yes, and what has my antagonist been up to? General Urobach, there he is! Up to dastardly mischief as we can expect. So first off I'd like to address an understandable mistake my reviewers keep making. The Gatekeepers of the Outer Path are the main bosses, and they aren't involved with Aurellia. They employ hundreds of Generals who work separately on different worlds. General Urobach is the only General on Aurellia. The other aliens are lieutenants in rank and work under him. There were thirteen of them but now there's only ten. I do greatly enjoy the reviews for the most part! Next chapter is the arc's half-way point!』
。
