【57 - A Rejection of Destiny! Those Who Try to Defy the Odds!】


YouTube: Rainforest sound 11 hours. Rainforest Reverie, natural sound of a rainforest for relaxation


Denaris came to the end of his trail, the bubbling river of lava. There was no sign that she'd turned around and left, so did she fall in? The Hunter stopped by a tree, crouching down and taking a whiff. He looked up at the long branch over the lava, then studied the trees on the other side. He doubted someone of her stature could've made that jump. Did she try to? His crimson eyes squinted and he rubbed his chin. If Mars had enabled her to survive an atomic bomb while within the lethal radius, could he allow her to survive in lava too? That would mean she was heat-proof, although it was a little more than that. To survive such intense radiation she must be able to repell all types of energy waves. Denaris stood, still spinning his knife like he did whenever trying to get in the mind of his prey.

He was convinced that Heidi made it to the other side of the lava. Slipping the knife back into his harnass he ran for the half-destroyed building. With trained athleticism he scaled the side, using cracks and window ledges to throw himself up and over. Then he backed up on the slanted roof, crouched and bolted like a champion runner. He sprang off the edge without fear, hurtling through air and snagging a thick vine in the next tree. He swung in a long curve then let go, flinging himself to a tall branch and landing in a crouch. Now across the lava he turned and peered with scrutinizing eyes, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. It looked far-off, but down stream of the lava there was something he could barely make out. A person-sized scorch mark in the grass?

This could mean he was onto something with his theory. Denaris slid down the bark of his tree, carefully dodging a hornet's nest. Once down he raced off to pick back up on her trail.

Heidi was cutting across the slope when she saw a figure emerge ahead of her. Of course she was out in the open here, and anyone by the fringe could simply look up and see her. It was another Anemeon, but unlike the others this one seemed to be alone. Heidi fished out her deck and went to meet him, her hand catching red energy as she clenched her cards. The man and her stopped when they were at dueling distance, then they circled until they were level on the slope. Losing their footing could mean taking a tumble down the drop, so Heidi had the knee of her higher leg bent. Once green energy ignited on her opponent's hand the tables shimmered into view, sticking upright so they still had a flat surface to play on.

"How come you're by yourself?" Heidi broke their silence to ask.

"I am a lone head-hunter. Even back on my island. Then Denaris found me."

"He's the lieutenant right?" Heidi said while setting out her hyperspatial pile. "Well I can understand a fighter who sticks to herself."

"I have hunted and slain many men in my time." Around his waist was a loincloth and there dangled what looked like at least three shrunken human heads.

"...well isn't that a coincedence, cause I've killed lots of your tribesman today too." She didn't get a responce to that remark. "Let's duel." Heidi charged fire while her opponent charged nature. "I summon Topgear, Start Dash!" Her opening creature sprang into play, forging its archery bow with blue fire. "Turn end."

The Anemeon charged light-water wordlessly before passing it back to her.

"Here comes the rush!" Heidi declared "I summon Magnum, Shortshot!" The cowboy plushie rode into play with pistols raised. "Now any creature you play on my turns gets destroyed. Topgear, shield break!" A flaming arrow was released, tearing through the glass of a far shield.

"I cast Secret and Splendid Kaitai. Show me your hand." The light-darkness spell shimmered and she turned over what she was holding. "I send Hibiki to your shield zone. Done." The card flashed and Heidi was forced to put it on the table, a sixth panel appearing.

Heidi was running out of hand options. She had Moel, Love Sniper but because it had the ability to destroy an opponent's creature with under 4000 power she wanted to save it in case her opponent played a blocker or something else with an annoying effect.

"Magnum, break his shield!" A volley of bullets made the glass pieces crash right down.

"Strikeback effect. I discard this darkness Babelginus to cast Will's Order and put a seal on Magnum."

"A seal?" Heidi murmured as a shrine gate fell from the air and crashed on top of her puppet. Then chains and symbols had it completely bound as well.

"You put the top card of your deck on top of it upside-down, and now that card is excluded from the game unless you can unseal it." He spoke neutrally.

"I see. Well now, Topgear shield break!" A flaming blue arrow took out his third shield. "Haha! Turn end!"

"I summon Rousseau Montes and discard Completely Unidentified. You must discard your last card." The purple four-armed fiend appeared on 1000 power. Heidi cursed and dropped the Moel she'd been saving.

Heidi drew another Moel and after a quick deliberation used it for mana. "Topgear, shield break!" His fourth shield was taken out. So far so good.

"I cast Inferno Sign. I can revive a darkness creature that costs 7 or less so I choose Babelginus, Demonic Dragon." Two purple rings orbited the battlezone and then a four-armed darkness creature emerged with only 1000 power. "Whenever Babelginus enters play I have the option to immediately destroy him, so I will do so."

"What!?" Heidi felt like something was coming, and she didn't like it at all. His new creature blackened and came apart into ash.

"In his place I can revive any creature in my graveyard. Arise, Completely Unidentified!" Purple energy traced the outline of a giant. The glow turned blue revealing a water civilization creature. It was round like a sapphire gem. But by its landing legs and the broad wings that doubled as cybernetic eyes, it was clearly a spaceship of some kind. Hovering around it were smaller orbs that hummed as they activated, lighting up with orange as they took aim across battlezones. "It has 16,000 power and triple breaker. But what's more, every time you charge mana or play a card on your turns, the rest of your turn is skipped."

"No way!"

"And if you attack me, afterwards your turn is immediately skipped as well."


+ Mad Max: Fury Road | Water


Heidi looked up at the intimidating machine, its shiny surface gleaming under the sun. He'd locked her down. So long as that thing stays in play she could only do one thing each turn before it gets ended automatically. It had a mana cost of 11 and it wasn't a blocker… Heidi wasn't sure she had anything that could destroy it.

The tribesman pointed "Rousseau dies with your topgear!" His darkness creature lunged and both struggled before they dissolved into lights. "I'm done."

"I… I summon Royal Islay, Explosive Passion. I discard and draw 2." As the pink-haired samurai girl jumped in the towering machine flashed blue, its edges pulling on the space around it.

"Your turn ends here." He drew. "I cast another Secret and Splendid Kaitai. Your hand." The cards were turned over with a grimace. "Hibiki goes to your shields again."

Heidi gained her seventh shield and screamed internally. Even if Hibiki couldn't attack, she figured getting out Zantetsu Big Horn and attacking his monster with Supernova Apollonus Dragerion was the only chance she had. Her opponent was being cautious and ended his turn, Heidi drew and it wasn't the phoenix she was hoping for. Supernova Mars Disaster was there, in her mind she could see him giving her the side-eye. He was still unhappy she was moving away from Kanoa.

"Royal Islay breaks your last shield!" The samurai sprang and split the glass in two with her katana before it broke away.

"I cast Assault, Onifuda Kingdom! to destroy Royal Islay." The darkness-fire spell shone and a demonic hand reached out, crushing Heidi's warrior under a heavy mace. "I'm done."

"I charge mana…"

"And you turn ends. I cast Dondon Shower Now, boost 2 mana then return Dante Future Ball to my hand. I'm done."

"I summon Topgear, Start Dash!"

"Your turn ends." His Completely Unidentified shimmered blue, warping time with its ability. "I summon Dante, Future Ball and with its effect I return a spell from the graveyard to my hand." A 4000 light blocker emerged with four wings and halos around each. "The spell I return is Secret and Splendid Kaitai which I cast again." He waited as Heidi lifted her arm with reluctance. "Your chosen phoenix goes to your shield zone." She now had eight panels but didn't feel safe at all, she needed to take back control of this duel. "I am done."

"I charge mana!" She yelled as her turn was once more taken from her prematurely.

"I summon Holyend, Destiny Dragon Armored. Your creature is tapped and I draw." A blue blocker on 9500 emerged, pointing with its sword as Topgear crouched down. "Completely Unidentified attacks it." The machine-humming intensified and its lasers burned downwards with a sci-fi noise. The ground shook and the orange lights went out to reveal nothing behind. "I'm done."

"I summon Royal Islay…" The sense of being cornered was beginning to rise.

"I summon Stegoro Kaiser, Struggling Battlekind!" The purple dinosaur joined his line of huge attackers with 9000 power. "He's a mach fighter meaning he can attack untapped creatures on the turn he's summoned. I attack Royal Islay, boost and return a mana card to my hand." Once more his removal abilities were too strong. Heidi was losing creatures before she could attack with them, and not even using a speed attacker could help her. The ground shook under the dinosaur's trampling. "Done."

"This is bad… this is really bad, I'm not sure what could help me." She drew "I summon Glenmalt, Dragon Edge and equip him with Proto Gigaheart, Invincible Sword. At least this should keep him safe from any removals…" Her human champion raised his arm and electric chains brought out an electric blue sword from hyperspace.

"I summon Emotional Hardcare, Sacred Dragon." Yet another blocker on 9500. It was a white giant with a gold sword and a rotating magic circle for a shield by its other hand. "Glenmalt's effects are now negated and I end my turn."

He had four giants in play, excluding the smaller blocker. While Dante couldn't attack players the others could break multiple shields, meaning he was aiming to take her out in one hit. Probably on his next turn. Heidi felt anger - this was not how she liked dueling. She wanted to see powerful monsters battling and feel a thrill. She hated her turns being stopped before she could attack, and she hated waiting while this guy just slowly built up his army. As she reached for her deck she felt a jolt of fear, but she pulled and it was exactly what she needed.

"I cast Super Explosive Duel Fire!" The spell shone red. "All blockers are destroyed!" A cannon appeared and fired streams of green that burned away three of her opponent's creatures. There were monstrous shrieks and sizzling. When the tribesman lowered his arm he saw only Completely Unidentified and Stegoro Kaiser had survived.

"A good card… since I have no shields you could've attacked with Glenmalt and won the game… yet Completely Unidentified is still on the field so your turn ends here." He drew and Heidi clenched her fists. "I summon Dante, Future Ball and return Will's Order from my graveyard. I cast it and seal Glenmalt as well!" Another falling gate hit her hero's shoulder and forced him to take a knee, then he was sealed in chains and symbols. He was beside the trapped Magnum, two of her creatures now sealed.

"I can't even use dragsolution like I was supposed to…"

"No," her opponent agreed.

Heidi set a card on her creature upside-down and then started her turn "I summon another Glenmalt and equip him with Gaial Leader Dragon Sword and force battle with Dante!" A jagged dragon blade was caught and her fighter sliced through his only blocker, this time before Completely Unidentified could end her turn.

"Whenever Dante is destroyed it returns to the top of my deck. Time to finish you. I summon Dorago the Great, Dragon World and with its effect force Glenmalt to battle Completely Unidentified." At the emergence of a pure-red dragon on 13,000 Heidi's only creature lunged straight into the path of orange laserfire. "From now on, any non-dragon creatures that are put in the battlezone are immediately destroyed. You have the spirit of a warrior, but this is over now."

He splayed his hand "Completely Unidentified, break three shields!" Heidi curled up and stumbled back against the relentless orange lasers. Her shields disintegrated, he'd purposely aimed for the three he'd placed so she didn't get any triggers. He continued "Stegoro Kaiser, double break!" The dinosaur charged, heat-butting through another two panels.

"Shield trigger! Hero Mystery, Burning Galaxy! With mana arms 7 I can destroy a creature that costs less than 12, so I choose Completely Unidentified!" She held the card high in the air and the spell erupted from it, a blaze leaping across and purging the game of his troublesome machine. The warping noises dragged out, there were a few twangs like loose springs and then the machine sank into the fire and vanished. "My turn!"

"Don't forget you cannot summon anything that's not a dragon! And all your dragons are draghearts, we've been told, meaning you need a draguner to bring them out first! And you cannot do that!"

Heidi drew and turned over the card with a smirk "I cast another Hero Mystery, Burning Galaxy! This time I destroy Dorago the Great!" His ruby-red dragon fell next, sinking into the blaze. "Then I summon B-Boy, the Explosive!" The human in mechanized armor jumped into the fray, raising a fist.

"I summon Dante then return and re-use Secret Splendid Kaitai," he looked at her hand. "Hibiki again. Now Stegoro, double break!" Heidi gained a shield then lost two more. After the dinosaur stomped back to his field she lowered her arms with a smirk.

"Trying to keep me from speed attackers… you've run out of blockers huh? Well there's another way to attack you other than just speed attacking… I summon Royal Islay! I discard and draw 2, now all I need is another human." She retrieved the cards and turned over another B-Boy the Explosive. "I summon him! With 2 out that means fire evolution creatures cost 2 less! Galaxy Vortex Evolution! I fuse my 3 humans into Supernova Mars Disaster!" They each ignited and twirled upward. Red energy rushed to shroud them, the air warped with heat like the inside of an oven. With celestial spheres in its clawed hands and steaming white eyes, Mars lifted his head and emitted a songbird cry. It was the shout of a warrior.

Her opponent was looking up, realising what this meant.

"Yes. Meteorburn can destroy Dante before you can even block with it, meaning I've won this duel. You fought well too. It wasn't the kind of fight I wanted, but you challenged me at least… Mars, todomeda!"

The tribesman closed his eyes and raised his arms… but no attack came.

Heidi blinked in shock, her head snapping up to see her phoenix once more giving her that side-eye stare. "You… you're going to do what Jupiter did to Kanoa, huh? You're going to reject me now, after everything we've been through together! I did everything you wanted me to do!" At her shouts the phoenix shrieked back, snapping his beak. "If we don't finish him now I'm going to die. Then I won't be able to help you anyway! So make up your mind!" The phoenix faced forward, glaring down at their foe. He unleashed another cry and then swept his wings, generating an invisible heat-wave that melted the gold blocker. Then Mars shot a stream of fire that swallowed the headhunter and stifled his screams. Once the fires passed he was only ash.

Heidi panted. She'd held her breath without realising. Mars gave her one last backwards glance before vanishing with the other creatures. The surrounding red energy dispersed. Heidi packed her cards. She put her deck away, safe for Mars. Holding up her chosen card she stepped out to face the slope, slanting down far to the jungle.

"...you're not going to let me go against my chosen duty, are you?" She asked and saw Mars in her mind's eye. If expressions showed on the bird's face he'd be wearing a definite frown. "Well the last thing I need is a dodgey card. Something that only works half the time? No thanks. You're not even that strong, really. Now that we have all the future cards you're obselete. So... guess this is goodbye." And she tossed the card.

It flew off and caught wind, sailing far away from the volcano. Breezing out to the jungle. Heidi turned away, not even watching where it fell.

Instead she stepped over to where her opponent was staining the ground. Some of his cards had burnt up as well, but Heidi dug through them until she found Dorago the Great. It was a fire creature that also had 13,000 power. It'd have to do. She wiped off the ash and unzipped her pouch, putting the card with her deck and closing it back up. Then she continued on her way.

The bronze flying saucer came in hot, dropping from basically the stratosphere to get right into Urobach's blocked perimeter. It had to pull up fast and the two humans on board almost passed out from the intense drop in altitude. Thankfully the one flying the ship wasn't human and anxiously beeped, the screen of its face becoming a frowning emoticon.

"Oh dear, oh dear." Magnum Unit 006's chipper voice conveyed his fear. "Please wake up, you two. It seems that the General is sending one of his airships after us." Beep. "I calculate our best chances of survival are the cave systems to the south. I will park us inside while you both take the turbo runner." It jerked the controls, swerving them in an arc and then dropping further to ocean level. They slowed with AI-calculated precision, swerving into the wide mouth of the tunnel. They followed it along until they were inside a big cavern filled with water like an underground lake. Beep "There will be a slight drop, I cannot land here."

The younger recruit snapped out of it first, undoing his safety belt and rushing to the grey-haired older man and shaking his shoulder "Hey, Engyo. Wake up. It's time to go, we don't have long."

He raised his head off the panel wearily, then he hurried to undo his belt "Yes… we have to find the chosens and hope we're not too late." He stood on wobbly legs and the other steadied him.

"I'll drive the turbo runner."

"Tsukumo, no-"

"You're not actually my principal anymore, you know? Seeing as the DMA went up in smoke. And it's not like we're a government organization either." The handsome blonde was stern "I'm driving."

The robot turned in its seat "according to my observational analysis your hand-eye coordination has been somewhat impaired by our sharp descent. As such Tsukumo is likely to be the better driver. However, there is a 100% likelihood we will all die if you don't get your butts off this ship and get moving." Its screen-face briefly flashed into the troll emoji before changing to a neutral emoticon.

"Good luck." From a screen was the chosen water duelist, still a darkened anonymous shape. "All of Aurellia is depending on your victory."

Engyo just nodded and followed Tsukumo to a futuristic motorbike. It was wide with big traction wheels; they slipped on their helmets as they hopped on. The doorway opened and ramp descended, the saucer was shaky in mid-air but they were aimed at the rocky edge. Tsukumo fired up the engines and they shot off, flying from the ramp, bouncing and then racing around. They swerved past boulders, Engyo holding onto his former top-student from the passenger seat behind. Just as they turned into the main tunnel, behind them the saucer landed on one of the tall oval boulders.

Outside the airforce flyer had followed its target to the caves and was circling, reluctant to enter. They saw a bulky motorbike shoot out and turn, bouncing along the rocks but making its way determinedly for the jungle. The flyer zoomed around and locked on with its turrets, spraying bullets down below. The motorbike reached the white sand and those bulky wheels sped through with ease. Sand blasted high under the barrage of bullets, chasing the pair but they vanished into the jungle.

While Tsukumo had to slow down so they could swerve past all the trees they did have the canopy shielding them from view. Engyo reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a transmitter that showed their location on a map of the island.

"What have you got for us, M-006?" Tsukumo asked into the com-links of their helmets.

"I've analyzed the photos we took from our descent and am running infrared analysis. Kaijudo energy signatures are present in over a dozen locations."

"Why doesn't that surprise me…"

Beep "However I believe I can make out what appears to be a large group of people, it seems they're climbing the west side of that mountain with the craggy peak."

"Let's go there." Engyo began. "Most likely the chosens are there, or at least someone who might know where they are."

"Woah." Tsukumo hit the breaks suddenly, skidding and throwing up sand.

By the swaying palm trees Dominic emerged, blinking at them in shock.

Tsukumo pulled off his helmet "have you seen Heidi or Kanoa?"

"Heidi split up from me about an hour ago. I haven't seen Kanoa since last night."

"Good enough, hop on."

Dominic hesitated, but recognizing these guys as help he ran over and got on behind Engyo and held on tight. The vehicle could carry a maximum of three. Tsukumo hit the throttle and then they were racing off once more, winding through trees and blowing back sand behind them.

They ripped along, tearing through huge leaves and ferns. An anxious herd of antelopes scattered, some galloping alongside the runner before turning away. The air started to get smoky and Dominic buried his face against Engyo's shoulders. Soon they were getting up an incline and bobbing along, jostling in their seats. With M-006's infrared snapshot displayed on the screens inside their helmets, Engyo checked their position on his handheld device and nudged Tsukumo to direct him. It took them a little more time, but then they were driving up beside the moving throng of people.

Tsukumo got close then breaked, pulling off his helmet. The tribespeople gathered around. Dominic stepped off and stumbled as the blood flowed back into his legs. Chief Tenakoto made his way through, stopping to regard them.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"I'm sorry we have to meet again in these unfortunate circumstances, Mr Tenakoto." The old man removed his helmet as well.

"Principal Engyo…?"

"It's just Engyo now, I'm afraid. We've landed here, very dangerously, to take the two chosens somewhere safe and we don't have much time."

Sione moved to the front and Kaleo climbed off his back, stepping over to them. "I'm afraid neither Heidi nor Kanoa are with their tribe at the current moment." The old woman said.

"Dominic, where have you been?" The chief asked.

"I was with Heidi and Kanoa last night, we freed your son from the Anemeons but they chased us and we got split up."

"Where is my son?"

"He was hit with one of their paralyzing darts. I… I was carrying him but while running I slipped and fell down a muddy ditch. I dragged Luano to this cave and I hid him as best I could… then I ran. They were still searching and I just wanted to get away… I'm sorry…"

The chief was quiet, his expression very stern.

Engyo took a breath and spoke regretfully "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this… but the reason why no help has come is because Urobach has used the military to make a sea and air blockade around your island."

"Are you saying… nobody is coming to help us?" An elder spoke and fearful murmurings spread throughout the people.

"I'm sorry. I wish it weren't this way… but maybe if we could just find Kanoa and Heidi, and get them off this island they will leave you alone." Even as Engyo said it he didn't believe it, Tsukumo also lowered his eyes.

"Unfortunately the last time I saw either of the chosens was early last night. They could be anywhere on this island, or they might already be dead." Tenakoto answered them.

Dominic raised his head "Last time I saw Heidi she was walking by herself, and she was trying to get to the temple ruins in the thickest part of the jungle. She wanted to duel the lieutenant there. Crazy, I know. But she's not in her right mind."

"Then I'll go get her." Tsukumo said. "Hop off, Engyo."

"Excuse me?"

"I can't get Heidi and Kanoa back here if you come with me. Besides, for all we know they might be trying to get back to the tribe now. And I'm the better duelist."

The old man sighed as he climbed off and handed Tsukumo his transmitter. "Listen to me, Tsukumo. If there's any danger, I want you to call M-006 and have him fly to you. Take the chosens and leave me behind, you understand?"

"I do. And same goes for you. If they get back without me, call in and just go. There's too much on the line here." When Tsukumo received a nod he slipped his helmet back on, kicked on the motorbike and swerved around, speeding off to complete the rescue mission.

Heidi stomped through the jungle. She was finally on her way and knew nothing was going to stop her. She was walking through dense jungle, the ground started to get swampy and she took it as encouragement. More bugs were zipping around, and various poisonous spiders were spinning webs overhead. She took some extra caution, paying attention to where she was walking but also on the lookout for enemies. It was easier in daylight. Then finally. Finally, finally. She made it to the temple ruins.

Heidi grinned and then ran. She could tell something was off. For one, nobody was here. She'd come to face the situation head-on, challenge the lieutenant and end this herself. She slowed when she got to the yellowed steps.

"Hello!" she shouted. Heidi walked up the collapsed stairs "you gotta be kidding me." She cupped her mouth "Hello!"

She couldn't believe it, but everyone was long gone. She ran up to the entry, desperate to check inside and didn't notice the snake until it was too late.

In the afternoon, and without any people nearby making noise, the spotted reptile had wanted to bake on the hot stone. When it saw Heidi's foot land close it hissed and struck. Heidi cried out and ducked down, grabbing her ankle where its fangs had pierced. It slithered off for the jungle and she blinked, already feeling the effects of its venom. She sat, tried to will away the panic and lifted her leg, tried to see if she could suck it out and spit like they did on the movies. But it was no use - she was a goner.

Heidi lay back as her head began to pound, the sky growing foggy. She'd given up on being a chosen, even thrown away Mars. She'd got herself back here only to find the hideout abandoned. And now she was dying. Even when she gave up on everything she still couldn't seem to win. Just as her vision was about to leave her she saw the lieutenant leaning over and peering down. Denaris blinked his crimson eyes and then smiled. It was the last thing she saw before blackness.


AN: Did I just...? Yes I just did. I mean for a story that will go for a hundred chapters of course all those threads would eventually get tied back together. Is that the expression... loose ends? Anyway, we have not seen characters like Engyo, Tsukumo and M-006 since the original fire arc. What has happened in all this time? Who else will become a casualty in this warzone? And who - if anyone - will survive? The clock is ticking, and we don't just have that one remaining lieutenant to be wary of, but also the imminent tsunami as well. Unless it could somehow be stopped... I wish I had more reviews. I mean I don't blame any of my fellow writers because we're all busy and have our own lives and stuff. But I have been out scoping for more Duel Masters writers and am using the Review Games as well. Arigatou!