Lightning fell.
Roaring from the sky in a white, blazing fury, the demonic bolt surged toward earth with a violent, thunderous boom. Konami screamed as it landed, shielding his eyes as it consumed Hanzo. A white-lit explosion followed soon after, showering his field with smoke.
"G-Gwuagh!" he cried, thrown back by the lightning's assault. Howling winds whipped past his skin as his Duel Disk's beeps filled the air.
TITAN - 3600 LP
KONAMI - 2800 LP
He crashed onto the ground, gasping in pain as his body smashed against the pavement. In front of him, a sea of smoke clouded the rest of the field. Despite the fog, he could still make out the three Summoned Skulls' eyes. They bore down on him, glowing red as Titan's laugh filled the air.
"Well?" the man asked. "How does it feel, knowing you'll soon join the shadows?"
Konami coughed as he rose to his feet. "I'm better off than you might think!"
"Better off?" Titan sneered. "Did my Skull's attack knock your brain loose? You have no monsters left and are seconds away from losing this Duel!"
"No monsters left…?" Konami echoed. "Heh… Are you sure about that?"
The smoke on the field faded, revealing Hanzo alive and well.
"What's this?!" Titan gasped, his eyes widening behind his mask.
"The effect of my Ninjitsu Art of Decoy!" Konami roared, pumping his fist. "I activated it when you attacked. It protects Hanzo from destruction! So long as it remains face-up on the field, the equipped monster won't die in battle!"
Titan growled.
"You might have spared your monster from falling in battle, but your Life Points show you'll still take damage whenever your ninja's attacked!" he raised his hand. "You'll survive this turn, but it won't matter after this one! The shadows will ensure you won't have the will to fight back! Go, Summoned Skull! Release your deadly Scythe Shocker! Show Konami what it means to try and stand up to the great darkness!"
Konami glanced up and grimaced as the red Summoned Skull swung its scythe downward, driving its blade through the pavement and creating a surging wave of red lightning. The crimson bolts tore through the ground and raced toward his position, only for Hanzo to leap forward and confront the blast head-on!
"Nnngh!" the shinobi grunted, straining as his weapons fought against the storm. Though he consumed much of the blast, strands of light scattered past him to Konami.
The boy screamed as they landed upon him, electrocuting his body. His Duel Disk rang out alongside his yells, echoing his pain with loss.
TITAN - 3600 LP
KONAMI - 1600 LP
Titan smiled.
"So," he asked, "still have the strength to keep dueling?"
Konami grimaced. "You really think… something like that'll stop me?! Who the hell do you think I am?! Konami Kodo's no weakling!"
"Brave words, but I've heard them before," Titan said, smirking back at him. "No one can win when it comes to the shadows, least of all someone like you."
"Someone like me?" Konami inquired.
"A child playing at grown-up. You have no clue what's really at stake, but you will learn soon enough." Titan reached into his pocket, smirking as he pulled out a golden pendant.
A gasp erupted from Konami's deck.
"My Lord, that's-!" Yae whispered.
"The item on that Egyptian tablet!" he gasped. "It looks just like Yugi's Puzzle!"
Titan chuckled. "And just like the Puzzle, this Pendant has amazing power!"
As he spoke, he held it up to the air, making the item glow brightly. Konami groaned and shielded his eyes as the item's light pierced the field.
"What's… happening…?!" he asked, squinting as his body grew heavy.
"The effects of this Game of Darkness begin!" Titan laughed. "Fall into despair!"
The item shone brighter, and Konami looked away, unable to bear the sight any longer. His arms and legs faded away, replaced by the darkness around him.
"My Lord, your limbs!" Yae gasped. "They've… They've vanished!"
"What?" he breathed, glancing down. His eyes widened in horror.
His right forearm had disappeared, along with his left knee downward! A gaping hole sat in his stomach, too, exposing the field behind him!
"W-What is this?!" he gasped.
"The power of my Millennium Item," Titan said. "With its might, I've claimed many souls, just as I'll soon claim yours."
Konami scowled.
"So," Titan asked, draping it over his neck, "do you still think you have what it takes to win?"
"Urgh…! We're gonna find out!" he spat.
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: LEARNING TO DUEL
LESSON THIRTY-SEVEN
TITAN! THE CHAPTER YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! VS THREE SUMMONED SKULLS!
"Here I go! Draw!" he shouted, sweating as he reached for his deck.
He drew his next card, praying that the spirits within gave him something useful. While his current hand could stall a few turns, he needed to make a quick comeback! Especially since failing to do so would mean the end of him and his mother!
'To think this guy would have something similar in power to a Millennium Item… Are the Fujiwara really behind this guy?! Damn it! I can't let mom down!' he grimaced and glanced at his newly drawn card. 'Magic Planter! Perfect!'
"I cast Magic Planter!" he declared, throwing the card on his Duel Disk. "And I'll send my Ninjitsu Art of Decoy to the Grave to draw two more cards!"
Titan chuckled. "Fool. Giving up your only shield already? Now my victory's all but assured!"
"Not with the cards I just drew," he replied. "But before we get into that, how about I cast some of my own magic? I activate my face-down card, Ninjitsu Art of Transformation! It'll turn my Level Four Hanzo into something up to three Levels higher, and I've got just the guy for the job! Come out, Red Dragon Ninja!"
Fire burst from within the shroud of the Ninja Grandmaster's armor, consuming him in a blazing heat that swiveled into a flame pillar. A bird-like shriek filled the air as it shattered in the sky above, briefly illuminating the dark clouds brought forth by the Archfiend Palabyrinth. As it faded, tiny embers descended upon the field, gathering into a sphere-like form that hovered where Hanzo once stood. As the last few embers fell inside, the sphere suddenly opened, revealing a pair of flaming wings that covered a red-dressed ninja. Garbed in similar clothes to the Crimson Ninja Konami loved using, the blonde shinobi smirked as he fell onto the field with a quiet grunt. The sphere's remains hovered behind him like an avatar of his will, taking on the form of a flaming bird that would scorch all their foes to ash.
Red Dragon Ninja - LV6 - FIRE - Winged Beast - (2400/1200)
"So, this is your Ninjitsu Art Technique," Titan said. "Very impressive, but it won't be enough to counter my Summoned Skulls!"
"Maybe not," bit Konami, "but he will be able to blast your face-down! I mean, why'd you think I summoned him? This guy's got an awesome effect!"
"What?!"
"When he's summoned, I banish a "Ninja" or "Ninjitsu Art" from my Graveyard, reveal a Set card that you control, then send it back to your deck! And thanks to my Magic Planter play, I've got the perfect target! That's right, the card I'll banish is none other than my Ninjitsu Art of Decoy!"
"Kuh!" Titan snarled. "So, you were aiming for this from the start?"
"That's right! And now, it's time to see what your face-down card is!" Konami smirked at pointed at it. "So? Is it a Mirror Force? Sakuretsu Armor? Magic Cylinder? What've you got for me, Titan?!"
The older man grunted. "My face-down card was this: Archfiend's Roar!"
"Archfiend's Roar?" Konami echoed, glancing at the card as it lifted. "Now, I see… A revival Trap? It's going to the bottom of your deck! Go, Red Dragon Ninja! Blast it with your Fireball Jutsu!"
"Yes!" the blonde ninja replied, swiftly clasping his hands together. His fingers raced through several hand signs as he leaned back and took a deep breath. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
The shinobi exhaled, releasing a blazing sea of flames from his lips. The fire flew across the field like a jet, engulfing the revealed Trap whole. Titan gasped as his card caught fire and raised his arm defensively. Before he could react any further, the card vanished into ash.
"And I'm not stopping there!" Konami pressed. "Because I've also got this! Alector, the Sovereign of Birds, whose effect I'm using right now! While you control two or more monsters belonging to the same attribute, I can Special Summon this guy to the field! Come on out, Alector!"
He slammed the card on his Duel Disk, and the clouds above parted in a gust of wind. Red feathers whipped to the ground in a spiral, scattering the second they landed. From their center, a red-winged beast revealed himself with a screech. He folded his arms and glared at the two Summoned Skulls barring his path.
Alector, Sovereign of Birds - LV6 - WIND - Winged Beast - (2400/2000)
"Alector's effect activates! Once per turn, he can negate the effect of a face-up card until the End Phase! I choose to negate your Field Spell!" Konami continued, throwing out his hand.
"Ugh! My Archfiend Palabyrinth?!"
Konami grinned and clenched his fist. "Yeah, that's right, bastard! And without its power fueling your cards, your Skulls are nothing to fear!"
The crimson aura around the two faded as Konami finished his speech, forcing the two great demons to return to their original forms.
Summoned Skullx2 - LV6 - DARK - Fiend - (2500/1200)
"A clever play," Titan admitted while tightening the grip on his cards, "but my Skulls are still the strongest cards on the field!"
"Not for long…" he replied.
Titan grunted as Konami lifted another card from his hand.
"With this card, you're about to learn what real power is, Titan! And you're gonna regret challenging me. And bringing my mother into this! To summon this card, I have to tribute at least one of my monsters, but I'll sacrifice both of them!"
He slammed the card onto his Duel Disk.
A steel jar rose from the earth and sucked his two monsters inside.
"Come forth, Tyrant Neptune!" he roared, a green glow in his eyes.
Darkness spilled from the jar's opening as Alector's scream filled the air, accompanied by the Red Dragon Ninja's own as their strengths coalesced into one. The cry of the Dragon Ninja faded deep into Alector's voice, and a second later, the red-winged sovereign broke free from the jar. Taking on the capsule's remains as armor covering his torso, he spread out his hands to reveal a deadly black scythe clasped in his grip.
Tyrant Neptune (Alector) - LV10 - WATER - Reptile - (4800/3200)
"Forty-eight hundred Attack?!" Titan gasped, staggering backward. "W-What sort of monster is this?!"
"It's the power of Kodoku, asshole! My Alector just devoured and took on the strength of the Red Dragon Ninja, doubling his power, and that's not even the best part, y'know? Since Alector's now become Tyrant Neptune, he's treated as a brand new monster, and you know what that means?"
"W-What?"
"He can reuse his effect!" he roared. "Tyrant Neptune- No, Alector! Negate his Call of the Archfiend!"
The blackened beast screeched in reply and swung his scythe at the card. A gust of wind followed the blade, flying across the field. As it crashed into Titan's Continuous Trap, the purple card turned to stone.
"No!" Titan growled.
"Payback time!" Konami hissed, glaring at the two Skulls. "Alector, do your thing! Darkness Feather Shot!"
Red eyes shone upon the bird's head as he lunged forward, his scythe poised to cleave the head from Titan's red Summoned Skull. Sensing the danger, the crimson devil raised his own scythe to defend himself, clashing its blade against Alector's in hopes of fending off the cruel beast. A shower of sparks scattered from their blades each time the weapons clashed, illuminating the dark field with a golden glow every few seconds.
For the briefest of seconds, Titan thought his monster might somehow survive. Alector's scream proved otherwise as he bit the Skull's scythe clean in half. Surprised by the sudden bestial assault, the red demon fell back, leaving himself wide open to Alector's following strike. The red-winged avian spun on his heel with a dark, sadistic howl and swung his scythe horizontally, cleaving the red Skull in half.
The crimson devil hovered in limbo as its black fluids spewed outward, then shattered into a million pieces in a fiery explosion of gold. Titan screamed and raised his arm, protecting himself from the blast. The cries of his dark Duel Disk registered the loss of his mightiest monster.
KONAMI - 1600 LP
TITAN - 1300 LP
"Not… bad," he growled, even as his body faded. Much like Konami's own, his arms and legs vanished from view.
'M-My Lord!' Yae whispered.
"I know. Looks like it's not just me," said Konami. He smirked. "Good. I'll make sure he suffers for bringing my family into this! I'll set one card and end my turn."
"Haaa… Hahaha…" Titan breathed. He rose to his feet as the smoke faded, grasping his pendant tightly. "Yesss… this is the feeling. The feeling of the encroaching shadows… Not even I am immune to their grasp… Truly, a Duel to the death!"
"Ugh, just shut up and take your turn!"
"Oh, I intend to," he laughed, "and don't think you're safe just because you've summoned a powerful card! Your new Alector is mighty, yes, but my shadows are even mightier."
He drew his next card.
"Like this one, for instance. I summon Archfiend Emperor!"
He placed the card on his Duel Disk and smirked as the ground itself tore apart, revealing a glowing abyss of darkness that howled with the souls of the damned. From its depths, a throne the size of a skyscraper rose upward, upon which sat a purple devil of great and terrible renown. Devilish skulls sat on his knees, of which one bore broken horns - proof of the emperor's lust for battle and willingness to endure. As he gazed upon the field below, a blade took shape in his pulsing hands, standing twice the size of a building.
He stabbed it into the earth.
"W-What is that?!" Konami gasped, eyes wide.
"This is the Archfiend Emperor," Titan replied. "The First Lord of Horror!"
Archfiend Emperor, the First Lord of Horror - LV8 - DARK - Fiend - (3000/2000)
"L-Level Eight?!" Konami barked. "Hang on. You didn't tribute!"
"I don't need to," Titan smirked. "It's part of his special effect. The emperor can Normal Summon without tributes if he wishes. All I have to do is cut his Attack and Defense Points in half, understand?
"In half?" Konami smirked at that. "Heh, in that case, he's no threat! He'll only have fifteen hundred Attack!"
"Actually, it's two thousand! Don't forget, your Alector's negation effects ended last turn, which means my Archfiend Palabyrinth increases my Fiends' Attack by five hundred!"
The crimson aura of the devilish land crept back onto the field, restoring the power increase to the remaining Summoned Skull and its king.
Summoned Skull - LV6 - DARK - Fiend - (3000/1200)
Archfiend Emperor - LV8 - DARK - Fiend - (2000/1000)
"Even so," Konami grunted, "it's not enough to beat Neptune!"
"Come now, do you think I'd have summoned this beast if I thought he could not?" Titan asked.
Konami grimaced.
"Of course, the Archfiend Emperor has an effect! By banishing an "Archfiend" from my Grave, he'll destroy one card on the field!"
"Ah! No!"
Titan grinned. "I banish the Archfiend Heiress! Go, Archfiend Emperor, destroy that overgrown bird!"
The Archfiend Emperor roared and, with a lazy swing of his hand, brought his blade down upon the field.
The earth itself erupted.
A mountain of rubble burst from the ground, scattering across the field. Konami gasped as the impossible number of fragments hurled toward him. The sheer scale of the Emperor's effect had him thinking a bomb had gone off! Duel or not, the odds of surviving such an attack were low.
As he raised his arms to defend himself, Alector took the initiative. The darkened bird sharpened its scythe and quickly tore through the debris. Swing after swing, Alector fought alone against the explosion, ripping and tearing and screaming at the wall-like congregation of fragments. Against all odds, the mountain of rubble was driven back by his swings, but it didn't matter…
For as big as it was, that rubble was just the distraction.
"...?!"
A second swing from the Emperor freed the black blade, ripping it out of the earth in an upward motion that cleaved through the field. Konami and Alector screamed as the blade tore through the center Monster Zones, and though it missed Summoned Skull completely, Alector wasn't as lucky. The black bird hovered as a shining light cut through its center, then exploded in a crimson sphere of blood that rained down on the field.
"No!" Konami hissed, wincing as several drops of blood fell upon him. They sizzled like steam upon contact, then quietly vanished into the night.
Titan smirked.
"And you'll find that your suffering won't end with just that," he said. "Now that my Emperor's served his role, it's time for him to depart! I'll use my Archfiend Palabyrinth to target my Summoned Skull once again! Now, by sending the Archfiend Emperor into the void, I can Special Summon another Level Six Fiend straight from my deck!"
"Ugh. Great…" Konami glowered.
"Yes," Titan purred, "it is, for I've chosen yet another familiar face! Behold, my third Summoned Skull!"
A thundering screech filled the air as yet another white demon fell from the sky, appearing in a flash of lightning and rising to stand alongside its twin.
Summoned Skull - LV6 - DARK - Fiend - (3000/1200)
"And it doesn't end there because I'm also activating Call of the Archfiend! By discarding a Fiend card from my hand, I can Special Summon one from my Grave!" Titan's grin grew. "And I'm sure you know just which one I'll bring back."
"Let me guess. The Summoned Skull?" Konami griped, clenching his fist.
Titan laughed as he discarded Archfiend Soldier to pay the Trap's cost. A red light burst from his Duel Disk soon after as the card slipped into the Grave. Shining down on the field, it projected an image of the red Skull. It solidified, and the scythe-bearing devil released a monstrous roar.
Summoned Skull - LV6 - DARK - Fiend - (3000/1200)
'Oh, man…!' Konami thought, scowling as he stared at the devils. 'As if two of these bastards weren't enough already! Now I've gotta face three?!'
His vision swam at the prospect. Just how was he supposed to win?! He shut his eyes, failing to fend off the headache encroaching on his mind.
"Hahaha… I hear the shadows crying out for a victim. Soon, you will be sacrificed to sate their desires!" roared Titan.
"Damn it…! You're the one who'll be sacrificed, you hear me?! All I've gotta do is win, and I am not giving up!"
He stamped his foot on the ground, steadying himself as he opened his eyes. A defiant glare twinkled within. Titan sneered at the sight.
"Even against my three Skulls, you still think you have a chance? Foolish child. You know nothing. My Skull's power has yet to peak!"
He grabbed the last card in his hand, quickly placing it onto Duel Disk.
"But it will now. Behold, the magic of my Dark World Accession!"
"Dark World… Accession?" Konami inquired as the card formed.
"Yes," Titan confirmed, smirking as his red Summoned Skull glowed brighter. "It's a Fusion Spell that lets me fuse using cards on my field and Graveyard. All I have to do is banish them to give birth to a powerful union, and nothing is as powerful as the fusion I have planned!"
The crimson aura surrounding the Skull grew even brighter than before, forcing Konami to shield his eyes before he went blind from the sight.
"I fuse my Summoned Skull with my slumbering Archfiend Soldier and fuse them into-!" Titan clenched his fist, "Archfiend's Manifestation!"
A storm of red lightning ripped from the bony mass of the red Skull, tearing across the earth and sky as Konami groaned in discomfort. The red Skull vanished inside the light as the Soldier's spirit rushed forth, merging in a blinding display of blood, lightning, and mind-numbing gore. Konami winced as its gallons of blood splattered across the earth, and as the light faded, he looked up to find a new Summoned Skull had appeared.
Like those beside it, the Skull stood as a white mass of bone and muscle, but a black gauntlet crackled with blue electricity in its right hand. The lightning bolts sparked across its field, mingling with the other Skulls, increasing their power even further as the new demon lord growled.
Summoned Skull (Manifestation) - LV6 - DARK - Fiend - (3500/1200)
"T-Thirty-five hundred Attack Points?! And not just it… but them, too?!" gasped Konami.
"My Archfiend Manifestation's effect," Titan explained with a grin. "He's treated as a Summoned Skull, and while he remains face-up on the field… all Summoned Skulls gain five hundred Attack Points! Hahaha!"
Summoned Skull(s) - LV6 - DARK - Fiend - (3500/1200)
"Ngh…!" Konami grimaced.
"That's the look. Let your despair consume you. You never stood a chance against me, boy. And you wanted to join the Pros? Ha! If you were smart, you would have stayed out of dueling. If you had, you and your mother wouldn't have suffered this fate."
Konami clenched his fist. "Titan! You…!"
Titan smirked. "Now, it's time for you to fall into darkness! Summoned Skulls, direct attack! End this with Lightning Strike!"
The three Skulls snarled as bolts of lightning leaped from their bodies, conjoining into a single sphere that stood three times the size of Konami. Its blue electricity crackled and sparked, ripping across the ground below, threatening to destroy anything and everything that dared try to stand in its way.
"M-My Lord!" Yae shouted. "Please, you have to do something!"
"Tch…!" he grunted.
"My Lord, no!"
"Summoned Skulls, attack!" Titan roared.
With one last snarl, the Skulls pushed, shooting the glowing sphere forward. Darkness gave way to a screaming light, and Titan's laugh filled the air.
Electricity surged across the field as the sphere exploded, burning the very earth beneath it and filling the dark world with smoke. Titan laughed victoriously and pumped his fist in success. A cold grin spread across his lips as he gazed into the abyss beyond.
All that was left now was wrapping things up. Indeed, it wouldn't take long. A bit of hypnosis went a long way, especially with his "Millennium Pendant." He'd purchased the pyrite knock-off online when he'd first become an assassin, yet it even managed to fool several Pros! What was one child to them?
"The stage is set for the shadows," he chuckled, grabbing his Pyrite Pendant. He lifted it into the air with a smirk as its "deadly" glow filled the air. "Now, begone, child! Feel the might of the shadows!"
Its eerie glow pushed through the smoke, revealing…
"What?!"
A shield?!
"Sorry… to disappoint you…" Konami breathed from behind its defenses, "...but I activated Negate Attack, which means your attack didn't work!"
"Tsk!" Titan grunted, glaring at the child as he lowered his pendant. "Negate Attack? At this point? Kuh, you just bought some time!"
"That's all I need," Konami replied, panting as the shield faded. "Now, finish your turn… if only so I can take mine…!"
Titan growled and reached into his hand, only to find nothing there.
'That's right,' he thought, albeit with a grimace. 'I already used all my cards!'
"I…" he snarled. "I end my turn. Take your last, you fool! And know that you and your mother are doomed once I draw my next card!"
Konami winced as he cast his gaze beyond Titan to the hanging coffin. His fists clenched.
"The only one who's gonna be doomed here is you!" he snarled.
Or so he hoped. The cards in his hand didn't bode well for his chances. Mutant Mindmaster and Reshef the Dark Being were the only monsters in his hand, and Monster Reincarnation was his last card! Things were not looking good.
'Even worse, I'm staring down three Summoned Skulls at that!' he thought. 'And they've all gained a thousand Attack! How am I supposed to beat that?!'
His vision swam, and his pained look earned a chuckle from Titan.
"Say whatever you wish, boy, but the field itself shows the truth! You don't stand a chance against me, much less of saving your mother! But if you surrender now, perhaps I'll show mercy and spare her your fate."
"Spare… her…?"
'Damn it all… am I… really gonna lose? Mom… Why do I… Why do I feel so weak…?'
He closed his fist, trying to gather what energy he still had left, but the battle had taken its toll on his body, or at least what he had left of one. A piercing pain shot through his mind every time he gazed at his figure. The empty holes where his limbs once sat, the trembling in his legs…
He was going to die.
He was going to die.
He was going to die.
Again!
He clutched his heart, his breath catching as he collapsed onto his knees.
"M-My Lord?!" Yae shrieked from his deck. "What's wrong?!"
He couldn't breathe.
His throat was burning.
Why couldn't he breathe?
'W-What's wrong with me?' he thought. 'Am I really that scared of losing this Duel? Come on, get it together!'
He closed his eyes and shook his head, attempting to fend off his headache. Titan's cruel laugh filled his ears.
"Give it up, boy. You're through!"
"No… I…" his words came out like a croak. Sweat dripped off his skin to the ground.
His throat.
It was burning so much.
He had to breathe.
Take in a breath.
Gasp.
Inhale.
Breathe.
He couldn't die!
Not to this!
Not to someone like Titan!
He wanted to win.
He needed to win!
.nosrep siht ruoved dna esir oT
!deniamer sehsa tub gnihton litnu trapa mih kaerb mih raet mih pir oT
Konami's heart stopped, and deep inside him, something stirred from its sleep. And the strange power he'd yet to understand decided to make itself known.
-GX-
"Hm?!"
Titan's breath hitched, and he suddenly took a step back.
He didn't know why.
Instinct, perhaps?
But no, that couldn't be right.
Retreating on instinct meant he feared some occurrence, which just wasn't possible.
So, why were his legs trembling? What was this danger he sensed?
"What is this?" he considered, glancing at his fingers as they shivered in place. "Am I-"
Afraid?
Surely, not.
Not of a child!
He pressed his lips into a thin line as a sweat bead dripped off his chin. Was it just him, or had it gotten hotter? He pulled at his collar and scowled.
'Heat. Of course,' he reasoned. 'I've just gotten hot, that's all.'
The one weakness of wearing a bulky trenchcoat like his every day. Though he'd been fine all evening, the Duel had started to wear out its welcome. And his adrenaline had surely started pumping; it was no surprise that sweat had formed.
He let out a breath.
'That's all it is. My body's rising temperature.'
He grimaced and pulled at his collar again.
"But why am I this hot?"
Across from him, his would-be victim suddenly let out a breath.
"Okay… I've got it. I'll… win this Duel…"
"What?" Titan inquired.
Konami exhaled and climbed to his feet.
Titan flinched as he did, shivering as the child lifted his gaze.
For within it, glowing like a pair of emeralds, burned the eyes of the Tyrant.
-GX-
The heat that consumed Titan wasn't something born from his body. On the contrary, it was Konami whose body had burst into flames. But unlike those of the Red Dragon Ninja now slumbering in his Graveyard, these flames weren't a physical manifestation.
They were spiritual.
Breathe.
His throat ached, demanding oxygen and release. But the THING inside had a terrible grip, and it wasn't about to let go.
"M-My Lord!" Yae gasped. "What's wrong? W-Why aren't you breathing?!"
Idiot girl.
Couldn't she see?
Couldn't she see he was trying?!
Fire had swelled in his chest, burning away at the nerves in his body.
Pain.
Pain.
PAIN erupted from within, bursting and screaming!
And with the screams came so much more. Something dark had awoken. Something foul and vicious, bearing down on him like a vice!
"This… is…"
The feeling he'd felt once before.
Only once.
That terrible night when he'd almost died facing Jinzo.
"KRWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
A booming roar howled from within, demanding he rise to face Titan. Insisting that he showed no weakness now, on the verge of a final defeat! Crimson flames trickled in from the edge of Konami's vision and, with them, a terrible weight pressed down upon his small back.
Claws gripped down upon his shoulders, digging deep into his skin. And above his head…
The gaping maw of the green-eyed dragon hung open.
Konami's eyes widened in shock.
'It's… It's going to eat me! Because I'm weak? Because I'm worthless? Because I couldn't fight 'till the end?!'
Hot steam leaped from the dragon's gaping mouth, blowing past Konami's face and filling the air with its heat.
There was no doubt.
This thing… It wasn't something he could control. It had come here to control him! To make sure he fought to the death!
'But I can't! These cards… they aren't enough to grasp victory!'
The Tyrant Dragon's claws dug deeper as if to say he was wrong.
"EKUS…" the dragon's breath came out as a warning growl, "...HIZU!"
'Ekushizu?' Konami inquired.
His eyes widened as he stared at his cards. Was… Was that the answer? To use the card that had felled him before to grasp victory in this Duel?!
But…!
"EKUSHIZU!" the dragon repeated.
"Okay… I've got it. I'll… win this Duel…"
The claws vanished, disappearing with the weight that had held him in his place. And in its place, the overwhelming urge to grasp victory made itself known.
Konami rose to his feet, feeling far calmer than he had before.
There was only one path to victory now.
He just had to reach out and grasp it.
'One way or another, this is it. This is my…'
"Final Turn!" he roared.
He snarled angrily as he drew his next card, a flicker of flame in his hand.
This one card would determine his fate.
He turned it over.
'Success!' he thought.
"I cast the restoration Spell, Monster Reincarnation!" he roared. "It lets me discard one card in my hand to get back a monster in my Grave. I discard Reshef the Dark Being to take hold of my ace, Alector!"
He revealed the card to Titan, then promptly threw the card on his Duel Disk.
"And with his effect, I'll Special Summon him since you control three Summoned Skulls!"
The red-winged sovereign screeched victoriously as it rose once again, gracing the field with its crimson feathers while turning to glare at the demons.
Alector, Sovereign of Birds - LV6 - WIND - Winged Beast - (2400/2000)
"Next, I'll use his effect to negate your Archfiend Palabyrinth! And you know what that means!"
"Urgh! My Summoned Skulls lose five hundred Attack!" Titan snarled.
"Just five hundred? No. I'm afraid I'm not letting you off that easily. Your monsters will lose all their buffs once I finish playing this card. I cast…" he reached into his hand, "the Spell, Mind Pollutant!"
"Mind Pollutant?" Titan echoed.
Konami smirked. "It's quite the rare one. With this card, I can discard any monster in my hand to the Grave, and if you control a monster of the same Level, then it becomes mine!"
"What?!"
He chuckled. "And wouldn't you know it? I have a Level Six monster. Gaze upon your defeat, Titan! I discard Mutant Mindmaster!"
As he discarded the purple-eyed mutant, an image of the card appeared on the field. Its ghost-like visage hovered above Titan's three Summoned Skulls.
"Since all of your monsters are the same Level, I have my pick of the litter! And I won't just take a mere Summoned Skull. I'll take the best one of them all!" Konami grinned as he pointed at the gauntlet-clad Archfiend's Manifestation. "That's right! Your ace is mine! Now, serve your new master!"
The ghostly image of Mutant Mindmaster vanished inside the white demon, making it scream in agony as it felt its agency fading away. Gripping its head in pain, it released a torrent of electrical energy, but it was no use, for how could it fight against something invading its mind?!
"My Archfiend!" Titan screamed as its arms suddenly fell limp. "You ignorant fool… What have you done?!"
"I already told you," he replied.
The Summoned Skull looked up, its eyes now purple like Mindmaster's own. In a zombie-like state, it staggered across the field and turned to face Titan.
Konami smirked.
"The stage is now set for the final boss. Think you have what it takes to win? Spoiler Alert: You don't!"
He raised his hand to the sky, "Spirits of old, hear my decree! I use these two Level Six Monsters to build the Overlay Network!"
A roaring wind swept through the field as the clouds above burst apart, revealing not the dark sky of the city but the stars of deep space itself.
"What did you say?!" Titan gasped, staggering as he gazed at the stars. "Overlay? Spirits of old? What is this nonsense, boy?!"
"This? This is the Overlay Network," he replied, echoing Jinzo. "A gateway between the past and present that houses the strongest Duel Monsters! By combining two monsters of equal Level, I can traverse this network myself! And in doing so, call forth a monster that even I couldn't defeat!"
He clenched his fist.
"Layered ruler, let your power flow! Emerge from the world of darkness and reclaim the might that you once possessed! Exshiuzu Summon! Rank Six! Rise, Jinzo - Layered!"
The two Level Sixes vanished into stars of light and shot into the sky. Swirling together among the stars above, their union shattered reality, giving birth to a screaming black hole that housed a single bright light. As winds whipped violently around the field, circling toward it, the lone light fell, crashing upon the surface with a thunderous boom!
Titan groaned and shielded his eyes as debris flew from the collision. And as he peered through the fading smoke, he saw the great machine menace.
Clad in a black robe, the monstrosity crackled with red electricity, protected by three sets of shoulder pads glowing with a crimson tint. Spiked gauntlets sat on both arms, threatening to pierce the being's skin, and he exhaled softly, breathing through the red-eyed mask on his face.
Jinzo - Layered - Rank 6 - DARK - Machine - (2400/1500)
"I don't know what game you're playing at, boy, but you just made a mistake!" Titan laughed. "By sending my Archfiend to the Graveyard, you just triggered his skill!"
"He's not in the Graveyard!" Konami retorted, smirking at Titan's shocked grunt. "Unlike a regular summon, Ekushimu Summons unite the sacrifices! They remain underneath the summoned monster, acting as 'Ekuzshi Materials!' But I get that's a little hard to pronounce, so let's call them Overlay Units."
"Overlay… Units…?" Titan repeated, glancing at the field. His lips curled into a frown. The boy was right - they were still there! Pressed underneath that strange black card…! "T-That card must be fake!"
"Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist," he replied. "Heh, so this is how Jinzo felt. I've gotta say… it feels great! But you know what'll make it feel even better? Using my Jinzo's effect! He can take control of a monster by detaching one of his Overlay Units!"
"What did you say?!" Titan gasped. "No, that can't be!"
"But it can be," Konami rejoiced, "and guess what, Titan? It is! I detach my Alector to take control of your Summoned Skull!"
"No!" Titan roared. "You can't! I… I declare this Duel invalid!"
But Jinzo - Layered didn't wait. Instead, he raised his hand, taking hold of the shining light representing Alector's soul. Curling his fist around it, he promptly aimed it toward the skull demon, shooting it deep into the monster's chest and infecting it with Alector's will!
"Aahh…!" Titan snarled as his second Skull walked across the field.
"Don't worry, I'll give him back. As a pile of rubble, that is. I activate Jinzo's second effect, and this one is all thanks to you."
"Thanks to me?"
"Yup. Or rather, your dependency on that Trap card. You see, Jinzo's archetype is all about stopping Traps, and Layered's effect can only be used while one's face-up on the field. If there is, I can tribute a monster I currently have… and use it to blast a face-up card you control into tiny pieces! I tribute the Summoned Skull I took control of just now, and I'll use his power to send your other Summoned Skull back to hell! Go, Jinzo - Layered, release your Ekushizu power! Destroy the last of Titan's monsters with your deadly Trap Equalizer!"
Snarling as he lifted his fist, Jinzo summoned his magic, creating a storm of crimson lightning that swallowed both sides of the field. Engulfing the controlled Summoned Skull first, it only grew in power, transforming into a spiraling typhoon of energy directed at Titan!
The masked man grunted and raised his arms to protect himself as it approached, only to find himself shielded by the presence of his last Summoned Skull. Crouching down around his master, it wrapped its wings around him, defending him from the storming waves that could turn any monster to ash.
"Summoned Skull!" Titan gasped as the monster shattered seconds later. The golden shards rained down upon him, basking him with their light. "Ah… What is this…?"
"Battle Phase!" hissed Konami.
"This isn't how it was supposed to go. I… I quit!" Titan roared. He reached into his pocket, grabbed a smoke bomb, and threw it onto the ground.
Or he tried to.
But just as he opened his palm, his body froze. Something… was holding him in place!
"W-What is this?!" he snarled. He gritted his teeth, attempting to move, but some unseen force held him back! He gazed angrily across the field.
Jinzo - Layered's eyes glowed.
"W-What are you?!" Titan gasped.
A monster.
The world shifted. Darkness unlike that of the Palaybrinth's crept in, bathing the world in a black mist that went far beyond his own skill.
"A Duel to the death," Konami said, glaring at Titan sternly. "Did you really think you could just run away after issuing a Game of Darkness?! And you had the nerve to call me naive! Ugh! It's over, Titan! You sought to take my soul, but these "shadows" seem to desire yours more! Let's go, Layered! End this Duel! Layered Energy Shock!"
The machine menace raised his hands to charge his final attack. Titan gazed upon the growing sphere in shock.
"But… But it's not real!" he screamed.
His words were lost in the howling winds.
"Now, Layered! Attack!"
"N-No! I'm just a fake! This can't be real! It can't be!"
The sphere flung forward, and Titan vanished inside of its crimson-red glow.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!" he screamed as the dark magic rippled across his body. "I'm fading. Fading! Tell my daughter I love her!"
Konami shielded his eyes and groaned as the sphere exploded violently, beating back the darkness of the abyss with its crimson light. Squinting past his arms, he could barely make out the world returning to normal, leaving nothing of Titan behind but his shining Millennium Pendant.
"Haaa… Haaaa…!" he collapsed onto one knee. "I did it… I won the Duel…! Mom… I saved you!"
He steadied himself.
'And… I think I understand now. Tyrant Dragon, you're… another part of me. Am I right? The part of me that doesn't want to lose. That wants to rise to the top. I still don't know how to control you yet, but maybe… this thing could help.'
He walked over to Titan's remains, or at least what he'd left behind.
The Millennium Pendant.
'This thing is bound to give me a clue!' he thought. 'And even if it doesn't, taking it's better than leaving it out for anyone.'
Once again, he'd learned how dangerous these Shadow Games really were. If this pendant fell into the wrong hands, who knew what kind of trouble it'd cause!
He lifted the object, finding himself surprised by its light weight. Another piece of magic, perhaps?
He draped it over his neck.
'Guess I'll consider this my Ante,' he thought, shaking his hand. "But it's time for my real reward…"
He glanced at the coffin above.
It took him some time to climb up the hanger, even with Yae's assistance, but at long last, he heaved the thing up.
"Mom!" he cried. "I'm right here!"
He opened the case, eager to rescue his mother so they could go home—
Only to find a picture of her face plastered upon its window.
"W-What?!" he shouted.
What was this?
Where was she?!
Had… Had Titan lied?!
He must have hidden her somewhere else!
But where? Where could she be?!
Where had they hidden Nataly?!
He glanced around the pier, looking for any sign of his kidnapped mother, but finding none.
"M-My Lord… Don't give up! There must be something!"
He clenched his fist. Of course, he wouldn't give up! This was his mother! He couldn't just leave her out here to die! He wasn't going home without her!
Bzzt! Bzzt!
His cell phone rang, and he quickly brought it to his ear.
"Kami, you'd better answer me now! What did they do with my-!"
"Kami?"
"Eh?"
Konami froze. That voice was…
"Mom?! What's going on? Where are you?!"
"Hi, honey! I forgot to say I'd be going drinking for a bit!" she laughed. "Funny story, but one of my student's parents dropped by when you left! Gave me a one-night all-you-can-drink coupon for the Rintama Bar! The deal ended tonight, though, and I didn't want it to go to waste. I thought I left a message saying as much? It was on the counter when I left.
"Bar? Drinking?!" he asked, "But that doesn't make sense!"
"Huh?" she slurred. "Makes sense to me! By the way, did you home?"
"Home…" he bit back a sigh. "Not yet. I'm heading back."
"Eh?! But it's already been several hours! The stores should be closed by now!"
"Yeah," he agreed. "Guess I'll be having ramen tonight after all."
"Ramen? As if I'd let my darling eat such a thing."
Konami's eyes widened. Those words…
They hadn't come from his mother.
He spun on his heel, adrenaline pumping as he sensed the danger behind him. And there, wearing a gentle smile,
"Let's talk," Wisteria said.
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: LEARNING TO DUEL
LESSON THIRTY-SEVEN
END