"After that, I told myself that I would never make friends again. But not before getting a little payback on that asshole Frost and his pals."
"That's not what I expected to hear," Jasmine sighed. "So, what then? You were a gopher?"
"Not for long," he replied. "Do I look like the type who'd have fun playing lapdog?"
"More like a hentai protagonist," she said, shrugging her shoulders and sighing.
"What did you say?"
She laughed. "Nothing! It's just I understand you more now. Or at least why you ended up acting like this. But are you sure this is fine? I mean, sure, Sartorius told you a fortune that was way off, but it sounds to me like he wanted to help! Are you sure you can't reconcile?"
"Hmph! And waste my time listening to him drone on about fate and misfortune? Yeah, right. He had his chance! And he blew it when I ran into Frost! Then again..." he frowned, studying Jasmine, "we're friends, right? Considering everything that's happened here, maybe he wasn't far off."
"Eh?"
"Forget it. It isn't important."
"Sounds to me like it is!" Jasmine huffed. A small smile pulled at her lips. "You're finally opening up. Did you ever stop to think that maybe that's why you've been so prickly all the time? Balling things up isn't healthy, you know? You've gotta let stuff like this out!"
"Just because I don't open up doesn't mean I have trouble expressing myself," he complained. "And I'll have you know that I have plenty of ways of dealing with my pent-up emotions!"
Jasmine cringed.
"Not like that!"
"Uh-huh. Sure it's not," she replied. She sighed and folded her arms across her chest as a dry look formed on her face. "Laughing maniacally while dueling someone isn't what I'd call 'dealing,' Konami. It's more like, I don't know, going crazy? But hey, you do you."
"Huh? That's what you meant?" he asked. "I mean, whatever! I will!"
"Maybe you should start by not getting suspended? You're on enough thin ice as is. And don't forget this new task force, too. They're bound to be keeping eyes on you. If you don't start getting your act together-"
"Ugh, you're worse than my mom! Look, Sartorius and his little goons can try whatever they want to. As long as I don't get caught, it's fine."
"Wait, you're still planning something?!" she shrieked.
"Hardly," he scoffed, rolling his eyes while dropping his chin in his hand. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I probably won't be scheming as much from now on. I've already gotten what I want, remember? That livestream gave me publicity."
"Bad publicity, maybe," she snarked.
"Which means I'd make for a great heel. You might not know this, Jasmine, but there was a reason I teamed up with Kami."
"You mean other than her being your type?" she joked, though the words came out with a scowl.
"She's a sponsor," he said, continuing as if he'd never even heard her, "which means she's imperative to reach my dream of joining the Pro Leagues one day."
"Ugh."
"I know you two don't get along, and I don't expect you to, either," he pressed. "With everything that happened with Mindy..." he trailed off, quietly averting his eyes.
"I'll never forgive her for that," she said. "And I'm still mad at you for ignoring it!"
"I know," he said. "Which is why I won't ask you to try and get along with her. That being said, she's sponsoring me. Or at least, her company will be. Which means to keep up appearances, I'll have to deal with her quite a bit. Hmhmhm, I guess me thrashing Dimitri worked out, after all."
"You shouldn't brag about getting praised for doing the wrong thing, you know?" Jasmine huffed. "But I think I understand what you're getting at here. You want me to play nice, is that it?"
"No," he said, surprising her. "Feel free to hate her all you want. But, in regards to her sponsoring me, do you think you could let that much slide?"
"Tch," she clicked her teeth and turned away, huffing at Konami's request. "Why did you have to start crushing on her? Of all the people for you to like!" she complained.
"Hey, the heart wants what the heart wants," he chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly. "But if it means anything to you, don't worry about her joining our little group. I'll be sure to keep business and pleasure separate, at least in this case, alright?"
"Stop! I don't want to think about that!" she groaned, cradling her head. "The image of you and her getting it on is just-! Ugh! Way too gross!"
A chuckle burst from his Konami's lips.
"Alright, I'll leave things there. I've still got a bunch of chores I've gotta do, or my mom's gonna kill me tonight. Besides, I'm pretty sure you still need rest. Just keep me updated, okay?"
"Y-Yeah," she agreed. "I'll let you know if Alexis does anything crazy. Here's hoping she doesn't go off the deep end. She just needs to open her mind!"
"Good luck with that. I know she's your friend, but emotions can make people rabid. Just look at Kami."
"Yeah, yeah. I think you've said enough about her."
Unbeknownst to the pair, the blue-haired Obelisk had just gotten back to her room, her mind ablaze with a vicious fury as she went over all that she'd learned.
Spirits?
Comas?
Black-colored cards?
'What's that commoner doing?!' she thought. She knew he liked the attention, but there was a limit to bad publicity! What on earth was he trying to do this time? Drown her in even more scandals?!
She took a deep breath and sat at her desk.
'No. I have to calm down!'
The last thing she wanted was to start a riot like Alexis had during class. It was bad enough that the blonde became Queen, but now, she was yelling at teachers.
'If it had been Crowler-!'
She shook her head, driving the stray thought away. She didn't have time to ponder what-ifs. Her only concern was the truth. She reached for her phone and dialed her father. Surely, he would know what to do!
"Hmph. You called me to ask about that?" the man asked a few minutes later. "Did you really think I would give the okay without looking into him myself?"
"So, it's a lie?" she asked, a warm relief blossoming in her chest.
"Not at all," her father replied. "Konami Kodo was indeed expelled."
"What?" she breathed.
"What of it?" he asked.
"W-What of it?" she echoed.
"Did you think I was unaware?" he pressed. "Did you think me so foolish as to offer my hand without so much as running his background? Foolish child. You have much to learn if you're to sit in my seat one day."
Kami's face flushed. Of course, her father had looked into their sponsorship candidates! But since he had, it raised another question that she simply didn't understand.
"If you knew about this, then why didn't you say anything?! Why'd you allow it?!"
"Doctor Collector."
Her eyes flashed. "What did you say?"
"You heard me. Doctor Collector. The criminal scum who's allowed to duel in the Pro League. Despite his crimes, he's done quite well for himself over these past few years. Rumor has it that he'll soon be capable of challenging the D himself."
"But what does that have to do with Konami?!"
"Everything, you dumb girl," he said. "Despite the Collector's infamy, his Duels are always sold out in a week. Do you know why that is?"
Kami pursed her lips. "N-No. I don't."
"Because people want to see him fail," he said. "They want to see the man lose. Like Weevil Underwood and Rex Raptor, the man makes for a great heel."
"Heel?" she asked.
"A term from American Wrestling I've grown quite fond of. It refers to those who act in dishonorable, disgusting, and callous ways."
"Dishonorable? Callous?!"
'But that fits Konami down to a T!' she thought. "So, you intend to make him a heel?"
"Everyone loves a good villain," he said. "And the Pro League is full of 'faces' as is. Joey Wheeler, for instance. What I desire is to raise someone who the audience can love to hate. To make someone who they'll pay to watch fail. Someone like Doctor Collector."
"That's all well and good," she pressed, "but that doesn't explain that talk about comas! It's one thing if Konami's playing a role, but this is something far more serious!"
"Is it?" he asked. "I'm currently in talks with the relatives of his 'victim.' They have agreed to leave things be so long as he passes our test."
"Test?" she asked.
Her father smiled. "As you say, he's a 'criminal.' What better way of ensuring he's worthy than by having him face his own kind?"
"Wha-" she paused. "What do you mean?"
"I'm going to call in a favor," he smirked, "and issue a challenge to ensure Konami is worthy of joining our ranks. If he succeeds, we will be free to continue just as we've planned."
"And if he loses?" Kami asked in worry.
Her father's lips curled at the words. "Then the man I'll hire will ensure he'll never try to raise a Duel Disk again."
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: LEARNING TO DUEL
LESSON THIRTY-SIX
ENCORE! THE SECOND ARRIVAL OF THE DARK DUEL! KONAMI, FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!
"I know you said there wasn't much info out there about this Ka business, but I didn't think it'd be this hard to dig something up," Konami grumbled.
After ending the call with Jasmine, he'd thrown himself headfirst into research, surfing the internet's obscure sites for any sign of the word. While he found some who brought up the term while researching Egyptian mythology, none of them mentioned Duel Monsters.
"What did you expect, my lord?" Yae asked. "A millennia have passed since the golden era. Very few would know of the truth."
"Figures as much. It doesn't help that I don't understand these hieroglyphs," he grimaced while glancing at the photos on the screen, displaying a massive stone tablet. "What this from, anyway? The glass cases make it look like an exhibit?"
"That's because it was an exhibit!" Yae gasped, pointing past him to the tag. "It says it was held here in Domino City over a decade ago!"
"A decade ago?" Konami sighed. "That means it's useless to us."
"I'm not so sure," Yae said. "This says it was held by Egypt itself! The… Supreme Council…?"
"Hmph. What are they, supervillains?"
"No, my lord. The Supreme Council of Antiquities! It's right here!" Yae sighed. She pointed further down the article, drawing Konami's gaze to the words. "It says they're in charge of protecting Egyptian heritage throughout all the ages! If anyone's bound to have knowledge about Duel Monster Ka, it'd be them!"
"I doubt they'd be willing to take a phone call from a suspended academy student," he griped. Still, he turned his focus to the screen, eager to learn what he could. "What's it say about the exhibit, then? Anything about Duel Monsters?"
"No…" Yae sighed. "I'm afraid this seems to be based around Egypt in general. Although…"
"Hm? What is it?"
She frowned. "One of the photos. If you look in the back, there's another tablet, but I can't make out what it shows."
"Another tablet?" Konami frowned and tried to zoom in on the image.
"Yes, that's it! That one there!"
Yae pointed to the stone in the corner. It wasn't on display like the rest of them were. In fact, it was being moved. Several workers were carrying its display, leading down toward the basement.
But despite the obstructions, one image immediately caught them off-guard.
That of a spiky-haired boy on its surface, wearing an upside-down triangle.
Konami grabbed the screen with both hands.
"W-What is this?! It can't be!"
"Yugi Muto?!" Yae exclaimed. "What's he doing on a hieroglyph?!"
"It's gotta be a coincidence, right? But that thing he's wearing… the Millennium Puzzle?! And there's something above him, too!"
"T-The Dark Magician!"
His eyes widened.
"So, what you were saying was the truth, after all. Egyptians really did play Duel Monsters… But wait, was Yugi possessed?!"
All those times the spiky-haired boy spoke about Egyptian Pharaohs… Konami had laughed like everyone else as a child, but it was true?!
'Why am I so surprised?' he wondered, staring at his trembling hands. 'I already knew that spirits were real! It's why I'm doing this in the first place!'
But Duel Monster spirits were vastly different from human souls, weren't they? Did this mean the afterlife was real, too?
'If it is, then I'm probably screwed,' he thought.
Didn't the Egyptians weigh the dead's hearts against a feather or something? If that was the trial he'd face after death, then there was no way he would pass!
"Heh…" he slumped into his chair. "Ha. Hahahaha… Well, then… That's really something. What am I supposed to do now?"
"My lord," Yae said, ignorant of the boy's crisis, "there's more, look!"
She gestured back to the article.
"The Ancient Egyptians heavily believed in the concept of Ba and… Ka!" he read. "Hey, this is it! Great work, Yae!"
"Thank you," the spirit replied.
Konami read on.
"I see… So they treated it as part of the body itself. A vital force, or double… it lives on even after I die?" He grimaced and set his chin in his palm. "It doesn't help me summon it, though. Hey, Yae. I don't suppose you'd have any idea how things like this work?"
"You could always try screaming its name," she suggested. "Like on those shows you used to watch! Kamehameha! Spirit Gun! Oh, and my favorite! RASENGAN!"
"S-Shut up!" he winced. "There's no way I could do something so embarrassing!"
"Eeeeeh?" she asked, looking unimpressed. "You used to do it all the time, though?"
"That's enough, Yae!" he complained through his growing blush. "I'm being serious! If you're just going to make dumb jokes like that, you're better off back in the deck!"
"Konami?" the voice of his mother inquired. "What are you doing up there? Turn whatever game you're playing off and come down! It's time for dinner!"
"Dinner?" he glanced at the clock in surprise. "Damn, it's already that late? Alright, mom, be right there! Yae, back in the deck!"
"Mmmm!" she pouted, folding her arms but vanishing as he'd commanded.
He shut his laptop and climbed to his feet before making his way downstairs. Nataly was already seated, slurping her way through of bowl of fresh ramen.
"Ugh. We're having ramen?" he cringed. "Don't tell me this is all you've been eating?"
"Mhm!" she smiled. "Nothing like a bowl of hot ramen to wash down your fears!"
'Fears?' he thought. 'And just what does a person like you have to fear, huh, mom?'
"Speaking of which, I heard yelling up there. Um, are you alright?" she asked.
"What?" he frowned, taking his seat. "Yeah. It was nothing important."
"Nothing important? Wait, you haven't been bullying anyone, have you?! Konami, you can't do it here, too! What if they prolong your suspension?!"
He rolled his eyes. "I haven't been bullying anyone, so you can relax. If anything, I was the one getting bullied…"
"What?! Who's hurting my baby?!" she screamed.
"N-No one! Calm down! I was just joking, that's all."
"Humph! Your bullies better hope you are! No one can challenge these fists!"
"Bet they could challenge your cooking, though. Is there even anything in the fridge?"
"Ahaha…" she scratched the back of her neck.
He sighed. "I knew it. You're giving me ramen on my first day back? Mom, let's pull it together. I'll go get us some groceries, okay? There's still time to make a good meal."
"H-Huh?! But it's already late! I don't want you getting in trouble!"
"We're not that far from the grocery store, and they don't even close until nine. If I move quickly, I can get there and back and still have plenty of time to spare! Is there anything you need? And don't say chips."
"B…ger…" she mumbled.
"What was that?"
"A burger…" she said. "I wanna sink my teeth in some meat!"
"Meat, huh? I should've known," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "In that case, I'd better buy vegetables, too, or you're gonna get fat."
"H-Hey!" she jumped to her feet. "Just who are you calling fat, huh?!"
Konami grimaced. "It's honestly amazing she's lasted as long as she has… Is her metabolism just that incredibly strong, or does she work out or something?"
Nataly huffed. "Teaching children is a lot harder than you might think! I immediately work off anything I eat while playing with them during recess! Bet you didn't know your mom could do that! Hmhm, aren't I amazing?!"
"Yeah, that's one way of putting it," he sighed. "Alright, I'll get you some meat. Just don't go expecting any steak, alright? With what I have on me, the most I can do is a couple of patties, at best."
"Huh? Do you need some money?"
"Relax, it's fine. Let me get this for ya. It's the least I can do after causing you trouble."
"Oh, my baby does care!" she cried.
He bit back a sigh as Nataly hugged him, suffocating him with her chest.
"Don't worry, Kokkun! Momma will love you forever and ever, for sure!"
-GX-
"Uwaaaaaaa!" a frightened Duelist screamed from the back of an alley. "Okay, okay! You won! Just- Just take whatever you want!"
"What I want," the masked Duelist across from him said with a scowl, "is your soul."
The frightened Duelist clutched at his chest in shock. An eerie glow shone from the pendant clasped in the masked man's hands, illuminating the alley as well as the eye of Wdjat housed within.
"No, please!" the Duelist gasped. "Please! Show me some mercy!"
The glow brightened.
"Mercy?" the masked man asked. "What is that?"
The Duelist screamed as the light grew brighter, illuminating him completely. Seconds later, he fell to the ground, silent.
"Rest in peace."
As he approached his victim, a sudden chime rang from the masked man's pocket. He pulled out his phone and glared at the ID.
"Speak," he said upon answering.
"Titan. I trust you received the funds?'
"Hmph. Oh, it's you," he said. "I received them. How soon do you want this problem dealt with?"
"Tonight," the caller replied. "How far away are you from Domino City?"
"Domino City? I'm here now," he said. "Working a job."
"I'll forward you the coordinates. The boy who lives there needs a good scare. Make sure he won't raise a Duel Disk again."
"None of my victims do," Titan growled.
The caller hung up, leaving Titan alone with his latest victim.
"Looks like you'll have some company in the next realm," he chuckled darkly.
-GX-
"Thank you for your purchase. Please come again," the receptionist said to Konami.
"Thanks," Konami sighed, adjusting the grip on his bags as he walked out the door. "All things considered, this was a lot cheaper than I thought it would be. I still have a few funds left over, too… Maybe I should buy a new game?"
It wasn't like he'd been able to see anything new while attending Duel Academy. For all of the island's state-of-the-art tech, they played the "isolation" role well.
'Not like I have to rush things, though. I am still here for a while,' he thought. 'Might be best to relax for a bit, at least until I'm called for that meeting.'
Now that he thought about it, shouldn't someone have reached him by now? Had Kami held off on requesting the meeting?
'I guess I could give her a call…' he thought.
He was just about to reach for his phone when its familiar chime filled the air. He blinked in surprise as he checked the caller.
'Speak of the devil.'
"Kami?"
"Konami," she hissed, "there's a lot of things we need to talk about, you and I. But right now, it'll have to wait. My father's sent someone to hurt you!"
"What?" he asked. "Is this a joke?"
"I assure you, I'm not kidding. It turns out he ran a background check on you, another thing we'll have to discuss."
"Hang on a second. Background check?"
"That's right. I know everything. About your stint as the King of the North, and… Yusuke Fujiwara."
His breath caught.
"I understand why you'd try and hide it from me. But you had to know it would come out, no? Especially after Dimitri. What were you thinking?! Don't answer that. I already know that you weren't. But what's even worse is that I had to learn this from Alexis Rhodes, of all things! How is it she came to know something that I, your sponsor, did not?! This isn't something you should've hidden from me! And certainly not my father!"
"...Alexis told you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "What did she say?"
"That, along with some other things. Nonsense like spirits and demons. You should have heard her! Ranting about how you cooked up a scheme with that dumb club! I would have laughed if I wasn't so shocked! You should've let me help bring her down. If I'd known you were planning to turn Jasmine against her, I would have helped! But all this nonsense about those black cards; is that why you wanted a meeting?"
Konami exhaled.
'Damn. Alexis really went and spilled everything.'
"That's right," he replied. "And… it wasn't a scheme. It was all real."
"You can't possibly expect me to believe that, can you? What you're suggesting is madness!"
"And that's not all. About what happened with Yusuke…"
"I don't want to hear it," she said. "Whatever happened, whatever lies you've come up with to try and deceive me, it doesn't matter. My father has - he's taken things out of my hands, which brings me back to the point of this call. He's hired an assassin to duel you! Y-You're in danger, Konami! He intends to make you disappear!"
'An assassin?' He tightened his grip on his phone.
"Is that right? Then why are you calling? If you know the truth, I'm sure you'd love for me to vanish, wouldn't you, Kami? After all, I've done nothing but cause you trouble since the first day we met. Say all you want about respecting me - about appreciating my dueling, but I'm sure those feelings didn't just go away. So, why would you warn me?"
"You think I'm leading you into a trap?! Of all the stupid-!"
"It's possible."
"But it doesn't make sense! In the first place, why would I do it like this?!" she inquired. "We were on good terms, and you were waiting to hear back from me soon, weren't you? If I wanted to lure you into a trap, I'd have called you in for your 'meeting!' I wouldn't have told you I laid a trap! That would be counterproductive!"
She had a point.
Konami exhaled. "Then what's this about an assassin? Do you know who they are? When they'll come?"
"I'm afraid not," she replied. "I only know that they weren't hired yet, at least not when I spoke to my father. But that obviously could have changed since then. You should be careful, just in case. And… there's something else you should know. It's regarding your victim's relatives."
"Relatives?"
"The Fujiwara. My father's been in contact with them. If the person he hired is a part of their group, then they might not stop at defeating you!"
"..."
His breath hitched.
The Fujiwara…?" he muttered.
No. No, it couldn't be. They wouldn't send one of their own. He knew them. Or at least those who'd shown up for his expulsion hearing. They hadn't given a damn about Yusuke then, so would they try and act now?
'An eye for an eye…'
His eyes widened.
"Wait. Mom!" he shouted.
"What?"
"My mom," he spat. "Damn it! I left her alone at the house! If the Fujiwara are behind this mess, then there's a chance they're coming for her!"
"Konami, wait-!"
He slid the phone into his pocket.
'They better not touch her!'
Dropping his groceries, Konami hissed as he took off down the dark street. Yae materialized behind him, worried.
"My lord?" she asked. "What's wrong?!"
"Kami's father's a bastard, that's what!" he shouted. "Get me back home! Use the shortest route possible, Yae! Mom's in danger right now!"
Usually, the girl would have chastised him for ordering her so brazenly, but the look on his face showed how upset he was.
"Y-Yes! Follow me!" she said.
She hovered before him, quickly darting through the bushes of one of the residents. She guided him over the fence, across the street, and through some more bushes.
"Are you sure it's alright to be working this hard?" she asked. "You're still hurt, aren't you?!"
"Like I give a damn about that right now!" he hissed. "Just get me back home!"
He turned the corner, laying eyes on his house-
The door was wide open.
"No… Mom!"
He rushed inside, speeding into the living room.
No one was there.
"Mom? Mom!" he shouted. "Come on! Get out here!"
"My lord, look!" Yae said, pointing over his shoulder at the dinner table. A single note laid upon its surface.
Domino Pier, it read. Come.
-GX-
He went.
Abandoning the logic that told him to tell the authorities, he readied his deck, grabbed his Duel Disk, and made his way to the pier.
By the time he finally arrived, the crews had already left for the night. Or maybe they'd all simply been paid off. The Fujiwara were rich. But not even money would save them from the wrath he planned to deliver. If even a hair on her head had been scratched-!
"...?! Mom!" he shouted.
His thoughts fell short as he gazed upon her sleeping inside a stone coffin. The object was hanging above the ocean, held in place by a crane.
"Mom, I'm coming!"
He raced forward.
"Stop right there," a voice said. A dark mist swirled into view before him, blocking his vision and path.
"Ngh…! Who's there?!"
"Titan," the voice replied. "Your worst nightmare."
Konami grimaced as he laid eyes upon him.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!"
Dark trenchcoat.
Iron mask.
Even an obnoxious hat!
"Yeah, you just scream assassin," he glowered. "Let my mom go! It's me you want, right? Leave her out of this and come and get me!"
"Oh, I will," Titan replied. "In a Shadow Game!"
"...?!"
Memories of his Duel with Jinzo raced through Konami's head.
"A Shadow Duel, you say…?" he asked. "You don't know what you're talking about! Let my mom go right now, or you're gonna pay, you hear me, Titan?! I already know about Umino and the Fujiwara! You're already finished!"
"Oh?" the masked Duelist smirked. "I didn't realize you knew my client. Be that as it may, it doesn't change anything. Your death's already decided! The only way I will free your mother is if you defeat me in a Duel! But if you lose, she will join you in the shadows after drowning to death!"
"M-My lord!" Yae warned.
Konami grimaced and clenched his fist. "You're… threatening my family…?! Ugh, fine! Bring it on!"
Titan chuckled. "Such bravado. Let's see how long it lasts. You'll find that this Duel is unlike any you've ever encountered before!"
He raised his Duel Disk, his silver gauntlet growing a bat-like wing. Konami raised his own in response.
'You have no idea how wrong you are!'
"LET'S DUEL!"
"My turn! Prepare yourself for the shadows!" roared Titan. "And no one's better at calling the shadows than this! Armageddon Knight!"
A howling wind swept through the pier as a great darkness roared into being. A rusted warrior in a red scarf revealed himself from its depths. An old cutlass was clasped in his hands, trembling with each step he took, and his dark hair shook in the wind like a tree resisting a hurricane.
Armageddon Knight - LV4 - DARK - Warrior - (1400/1200)
"When Armageddon Knight is summoned, I can send a DARK monster in my deck to the Graveyard," said Titan. He grinned as he revealed the Summoned Skull.
Konami scowled.
'So, that's his ace?!'
"I'll set two cards and end my turn. It's your move, boy."
"You're gonna wish you never gave me one," Konami glowered. "Now, I draw!"
He tore a card off the top of his deck and glared at it.
'Perfect!' he thought with a snarl. "I summon Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo! Let's put this knight in his place!"
Beckoning forward by his master, the black-clad ninja sprang to the field. Landing like a true shadow in the night, he prepared his katana for battle.
Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo - LV4 - DARK - Warrior - (1800/1000)
"Hanzo has an effect of his own," Konami continued, sneering. "When he's Normal Summoned, I can add one 'Ninjitsu Art' from my deck to my hand! The card I choose to add is this: Ninjitsu Art of Transformation! I'll set it face-down with another card… and have Hanzo attack your Knight!"
The ninja's eyes flashed, and, hearing Konami's decree, he leaped to his feet. As if expecting the assault, Armageddon Knight raised his weapon to parry. Hanzo's blade clashed against the knight's own as he fell from the dark skies above. The two warriors grunted, pressing each other to push their advantage, and although the Armageddon Knight knew how to fight, Hanzo knew even more. Uttering a grunt, the proud shinobi twisted in the air mid-clash, flipping over Armageddon Knight and bringing his blade down across the man's back.
"Ugk!"
A black mist sprayed through the air as the Armageddon Knight fell. Hanzo swung his blade free of the splatter before teleporting to Konami's side.
KONAMI - 4000 LP
TITAN - 3600 LP
If Konami had hoped taking first blood would have dissuaded Titan's crusade, he was sadly mistaken. If anything, the masked Duelist seemed pleased by the blow.
'Oh, great,' Konami thought. 'There's only one thing that smirk of his means!'
"I activate my Trap card!" Titan laughed. "Call of the Archfiend!"
The purple-colored card shone with a sinister aura as it flipped upright.
"That symbol… A Continuous Trap?!"
"That's right," Titan said cruelly. "While it's active, I can target a Level Five or higher Fiend-type in my Graveyard; discard another Fiend from my hand, and summon the target to the field!"
"A Fiend-type? Oh, no…"
"I choose to discard my Archfiend Heiress and, by doing so, revive the mightiest Fiend of all: Summoned Skull!"
A bolt of lightning fell from the sky, illuminating the field. The surface rumbled as a bulking, winged, red demon rose from the ground. Loosing a terrible screech that forced Konami to cover his ears, the monstrous fiend spread its wings and called even more lightning down. The accompanying thunder roared high above the clouds, foretelling disaster, and the demon hissed as it held out its hand, summoning a scythe to its side.
Summoned Skull - LV6 - DARK - Fiend - (2500/1200)
"Damn it! On the second turn?"
"And I'm only just getting started," Titan laughed, "because my Archfiend Heiress's ability activated upon arrival in the Graveyard! If she's sent there due to battle or by being sent via effect, then I can add one 'Archfiend' card directly from my deck to my hand. I add the Field Spell, Archfiend Palabyrinth!"
He revealed the green card, smirking as he placed it into his hand.
Konami glowered.
'He's building his combo, and I can't do anything to stop it!'
He glanced at his own field and scowled.
'Will what I have be enough?'
He'd set Transformation down, along with another surprise.
'I'll just have to have some faith in my cards.'
"I'll end my turn! …Your move."
Titan smirked. "That's all? I expected more from a Tyrant."
"What did you say?!"
"Oh, yes. I know all about your dark past," Titan smirked. "How you ruled North Academy with an iron first, hurting all who opposed you. It's no surprise how things ended there. Nor how we came to stand here. Criminals always get their just desserts. Even if it might take a few years."
"Heh, glad to hear," Konami smirked. "'Cause that means you're going down, right?"
"With the cards I just drew," Titan said with a smirk, "You'll find that I'm the exception. And I'll prove it to you by activating the Field, Archfiend Palabyrinth!"
The mist swirling around them broke, shattering with their surroundings. The city behind them gave way to a mighty tower standing in the distance. Gone were the skies of Domino City, replaced by a sea of dark clouds. A pale light shone behind them, but it was a light of justice.
Sensing the change, the Summoned Skull released an angry hiss, emitting a crimson aura that seemed to cover Titan's entire field. Hanzo grunted at the sight and raised his blade with renewed vigor. And yet, he knew it would be no use.
The Summoned Skull had doubled in size.
Summoned Skull - LV6 - DARK - FIend - (3000/1200)
"It gained Attack?" Konami inquired.
"Not just him," Titan chuckled, "but any Fiend monster I summon will now gain an additional five hundred Attack Points. In fact, why don't I demonstrate? Come out, Archfiend Cavalry!"
The sound of galloping filled the air as Konami spun on his heel, barely avoiding the bony lance that raced through where he just stood. Grasping its hilt was an armored skeleton riding a dark blue horse. It cackled as it ran to Titan's side, then turned its horse around to face them.
Archfiend Cavalry - LV4 - DARK - Fiend - (2400/0)
"That thing's almost as strong as the Summoned Skull!"
"Well, don't get too attached," Titan said. "He won't be here for long. Not after I use Palabyrinth's effect."
"It has another one?"
"Surprised? The shadows have many ways of claiming its victims. And you're about to see yet another!" he raised his hand into the air. "Archfiend Palaybrinth's effect allows me to target one Fiend I control, banish another from my Field, and Special Summon one with the target's Level! Of course, I target my Summoned Skull, and banish my Archfiend Cavalry!"
The horse-riding knight chattered in shock as it suddenly burst into pieces.
Konami grimaced. "You targeted the Summoned Skull, which can only mean…!"
"Yes," Titan grinned. "I call another Summoned Skull to the field!"
A second bolt of lightning crashed down on Cavalry's remains, reforging the disassembled bones and dust into the white form of Yugi's old ace. Standing alongside its crimson brother, the second Skull let out a snarl, towering over Konami and Hanzo while preparing to spread further darkness.
Summoned Skull - LV6 - DARK - FIend - (3000/1200)
"Heh… Heh heh heh… Two three thousand Attack Monsters? Who am I dueling? Seto Kaiba…?"
"You'll wish I was Kaiba, fool," Titan grinned. "But just like Yugi, I possess the power to control the shadows! A power I'll soon use to send you and your mother into the depths of despair!"
Konami clenched his fist. "Why, you…!"
"Battle Phase!" Titan shouted. "Summoned Skull, attack Hanzo! Dark Lightning Attack!"
The bony white devil raised its arm, and the world vanished in blinding light.
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: LEARNING TO DUEL
LESSON THIRTY-SIX
END
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