Chapter Fourteen: Dual Duel
The drill testing had begun minutes after Blackheart left Sera's house. There were a few tremors, but nothing too noticeable. Jeff didn't care. He wasn't really measuring any seismic disturbances. Zander was still at the Chemical Plant, standing outside by his car. He completed the report, and was trying to get ahold of Sera to make sure she was alright.
"Come on Sera... Pick up!" He rattled the phone. "Blackheart... He must have picked up on my location awhile ago. That's why he called..." Zander's heart started to sink. He dialed another number on his cell phone.
"This is Blackheart... What?" said Blackheart, his voice muffled by the receiver.
"It's Zander. I've completed the report and I'll head back to HQ as soon as I can."
"It won't be necessary. Come directly to the Spire. I'll be making another announcement to the city concerning the qualifying Duelists for the Finals."
"I see, and I'll need to be present correct?"
"Yes. Your data has been inputted into the database by Hunter, but you'll need to be there to execute your part of the program."
"Understood, I'll get to the Spire ASAP. How did the drilling go? I felt some tremors a few minutes ago."
"Nothing too concerning. Some old pipe systems were ruptured and cracked, but nothing flows through them anymore. No one should suspect a thing. The Spire is an area closed off to the public, so no one outside of my organization has any knowledge of what lies within, nor the existence of my giant drill."
There was a chill that passed over Zander. Then he heard a voice.
"ZANDER! Please help me!"
"Sera!" he blurted out.
"What was that Zander? Something about Sera?"
"Nothing. I'm on my way to the Spire."
"Good. I want to know the condition of that plant, as it should be a part of my next project once we're done with uncovering what is beneath." He hung up.
"Sera... You're being held by Blackheart now?! I sense you fading away... I'll be damned if I follow another order from that madman... I'll cause a little madness of my own for once!"
Zander swiftly re-entered the chemical plant, passing the security gates without even bothering to show his identification. He made his way into a central control room, where Blackheart had made some special functions available to his higher ranking employees.
"If Blackheart wants to finish his insane ambitions, he'll have to get past me first!"
He swiped his ID card in a slot, which opened up a control panel. He flipped several switches around, then sealed off the control panel.
"This should cause some trouble..." Zander let out a short snort, then rushed to get to the Spire.
---
::::SPECIAL NEWS REPORT!::::
"Hey... what's this?" Tony said. "They were in the ninth inning too..." He was disappointed.
"Geez Tony, for all you know, it could be the end of the world, and you're only worried about baseball." Nick reclined in his chair.
They kept watching, wondering what the report was about.
"There have been several reported earthquakes in the past hour, but they are not of any dangerous magnitude. However, it has also been reported that several pipelines have ruptured in various points around New Mephisto City. These pipes have been spewing out a thick black sludge. Should you come in contact with it, we suggest you contact a hazardous material team and seek medical attention. There have already been several reported cases of people falling ill to this strange substance. It's speculated that this substance was used by the Blackheart Corporation in certain research and development projects, and was being dumped in the unused plumbing systems beneath the city. This is currently under investigation. We'll have more news on this story as it develops. And now we return you to your regularly scheduled programming." The news studio faded to a generic logo of the television station.
Tony and Nick were staring at each other, eye to eye.
"Black sludge... Dark Matter...! Tony, where's the info you found on that stuff!?"
"Over there on the table..." Tony pointed it out.
Nick picked up the stack of papers and read to himself.
"The people of this ancient civilization would use this black sludge-like potion to conduct rituals of black magic and illusion... It is said that it was a form of poison and hallucinogen. If this is the same substance as Dark Matter... than everyone in this city is in danger!"
"Tony, did my Aunt say where she went?"
"I think she went over to your house to pick up some clothes or something... Should we go get her?"
Nick was shaking in frustration. "I don't know! We can't risk being out there with Dark Matter pouring all over the city, but there are thousands of innocent people out there right now..."
The phone rang. They both stared at it nerviously. Tony's dad walked came back from the bathroom.
"Hey what happened? Did they score another homerun? What did I miss?" Tony's dad asked. The phone rang again, and he picked it up. His expression changed.
"Nick... your Aunt... she's in the hospital..."
---
Tony's father drove Nick, along with Tony, Laurna, and Ace to the hospital to see the condition of his Aunt. They were directed to a room where she was being monitored by several machines. The doctor spoke briefly to them.
"The chemical substance that is spreading all over this city has gotten to her too... It appears she is violently allergic to it, and has fallen into a coma. We have no idea to treat it... I'm afraid there's not much we can do for her right now. The substance is very poisonous and has gotten several people sick just by coming into contact with it. We don't know enough about the sickness to treat it... I'm sorry... We're full of cases like this... We've gotten hundreds come in with similar symptoms."
They entered the room, and were all completely silent. No one said a word. They just looked at Deborah as she lay there, lifeless and barely breathing. They left and sat back down in the waiting area.
"I can't see her like that... I just can't..." Nick had his head in his hands.
Suddenly, the Decoder Devices they were all carrying with them started glowing a bright blue light. The small LCD screen on them displayed the message "ALL DUELISTS WHO POSSESS FOUR REPORT TO THE BLACKHEART SPIRE IMMEDIATELY."
Nick looked at it. "No...not now! I can't go now!"
Tony's father turned to Nick. "Nick, be strong. It's what your Aunt would've wanted. I'll stay here with her. You guys have something to do."
Nick was reminded of his intent. He had to do this for his family. He had to be strong.
---
Nick, Tony, Laurna, and Ace carefully made their way to the Spire. They walked a few blocks from the hospital, avoiding streets that were covered in Dark Matter. The city was full of panic. Police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and hazardous material teams were rushing all over the city, closing off certain streets and areas of the city, bringing people to the hospital, and cleaning up the poisonous Dark Matter. Finally, they reached the place that Nick was a little too familiar with, the Blackheart Spire. It looked different from the way Nick remembered. Weeks ago it had merely been a construction site. Now it was a huge tower, each level built slightly smaller than the previous one.
"So this is where our destinies await... Sends shivers down your spine doesn't it?" Ace said, trying to lighten the situation.
"Well... what happens now? It doesn't look like we just walk in through those doors." Nick said, as he looked up at the tower extending towards the sky.
"Well, we were called over here... Maybe all of the Duelists who collected four Decoder Devices need to be here before anything happens." Laurna was looking around, trying to see if there was any other people who had arrived. She was eager to see if the other Duelists were anyone she knew.
The doors to the Spire slowly opened. This caught everyone's attention. Three people emerged. They were three of Blackheart's henchmen, Siefer Gambianni, Sumga Hong, and Manuel Figo. Siefer stepped forward first.
"Mr. Blackheart is making several last minute preparations for your arrival. Mr. Blackheart also requests that all Duelists be present before they enter the Spire, so we have provided a challenge for those of you who are currently present. Sumga Hong, and Manuel Figo, fellow Eliminators, wish to duel any two of you who accept their challenge in a two versus two match. There will also be the standard rare card ante rule in effect, so this may be your last chance to improve your deck before facing the trials which await you in the Spire."
"You seem awfully polite today Siefer... Did Blackheart get you a new leash?" Ace taunted.
"Don't test me, you punk!" Siefer sneered, then turned around and re-entered the Spire.
Sumga and Manuel were less threatening and did not possess an ominous presense like Jeff Blackheart or Siefer, but they were still Blackheart's Eliminators, and they were familiar with what they were capable of. Sumga was a large man, six feet seven inches tall, wearing a plain white shirt with a long blue coat and black pants. His hair was dyed a deep red, and he wore a navy blue headband. Manuel was a small man, wearing a crimson red business suit. His hair was slicked back and barely reached his neck. This was not the first time Nick or Ace had seen these two. Nick had first seen them at the Commencement which seemed so long ago, and Ace had many run-ins with them in the past. They decided to accept the challenge.
"Well Nick, it looks like for now we'll be working as a team!"
"These guys won't stand a chance against us... Thanks to me!" The fire in Nick's eyes was ignited once again.
Sumga and Manuel were already wearing their Duel Disks, and were ready to go.
"Once you are done preparing for battle, prepare yourselves for defeat!" Sumga called out to them.
"We are the two most skilled duelists you two shall ever meet!" Manuel said.
"Now I hope the two of you won't be talking in rhyme this whole time. That's just about as annoying as a wind chime, or a sour lime, or a talking mime..." Ace mocked them.
"No Ace, it was just a coincidence. Now are you ready to begin or not?" Manuel was indignant.
"Whatever, you work for Blackheart, so I guess you don't know what a joke or humor is... So Nick, are you ready?"
"Whenever you are, Ace." He strapped on his Duel Disk and activated it.
"We will crush both of you with our superior decks and skills. Don't be too surprised if you have to give up your rarest cards to us!" Sumga said.
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 4000
Manuel: 4000 Nick: 4000
---
"I take first turn, then Ace, then Manuel and Nick is last. Now, begin! I draw. I summon Kaizer Seahorse in attack mode, place one card facedown in magic and trap zone. Turn end."
"Okay then, I'll start with Graceful Charity." Ace said.
"I'll use trap, Imperial Order. It can stop the effect of magic."
"I'll chain with the magic card, Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy it. Now I'll draw my three cards thanks to Graceful Charity."
"That's the advantage of going first... You'll be the first one who can counter anyone's move... Good thing Ace got past that trap card... Otherwise, I'd probably have some trouble during my first turn." Nick thought.
"I discard my Sword Hunter and Dark Blade. Now I use Monster Reborn on my Sword Hunter, and summon Gearfried the Iron Knight. One card facedown, and I end my turn."
"Right, my turn. I summon Witch of the Black Forest in attack mode, then I play the magic card, Tribute Doll. I sacrifice Witch of the Black Forest to special summon a level seven or higher monster. I summon Serpent Night Dragon. I take Lord of Dragons from my deck. I end my turn."
"Okay..." Nick drew, then frowned. "I'll set a card in my magic and trap zone, then one monster in facedown defense mode. Then, I'll play Swords of Revealing Light, preventing you and Manuel from attacking for three turns. End my turn."
Sumga smiled. "I use Harpie's Feather Duster. It will wipe the field of Nick and Ace's magic and trap card."
"You destroyed my Warrior Returning Alive magic card, not much of a loss." Ace said.
"My Skull Lair and Swords of Revealing Light are sent to the graveyard."
"Now, activate Descent of White Dragon, and offer Neo the Magical Swordsman. This summons my Paladin of White Dragon!"
A warrior riding a small white dragon flew onto the field. The little dragon snarled in Nick's face.
"Next, my Kaizer Seahorse is sacrificed to summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack Sword Hunter, Burst Stream attack!"
Ace's Sword Hunter screamed in pain as the force of the Blue-Eyes obliterated it. Ace felt the shockwaves that resulted, and felt his lifepoints take a hit.
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 3450
Manuel: 4000 Nick: 4000
"Paladin of White Dragon, attack facedown monster of Nick!"
The dragon flew into the sky, and landed on top of the image of Nick's facedown monster. The Paladin shot a wave of light from its sword, and Nick's facedown card was destroyed.
"Paladin of White Dragon have special power to destroy facedown monster. Heh heh heh."
"You destroyed my Sangan, I'll use it to take Lord of Dragons from my deck."
"Turn end."
"Time for a change Sumga, I'll play Change of Heart on Blue-Eyes White Dragon! I'll have it attack... Manuel's Serpent Night Dragon!"
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 3450
Manuel: 3350 Nick: 4000
"Next, Gearfried attack Manuel directly!"
Gearfried slashed at Manuel with the blade on his arm, causing Manuel to buckle back a bit.
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 3450
Manuel: 1550 Nick: 4000
"Then, before I end my turn, I'll set one card facedown, and sacrifice your Blue-Eyes for Freed the Matchless General!"
"I counter summon with Bottomless Trap Hole! Matchless General removed from play!"
"Don't think I'll let you get away with that attack, Ace! I'll summon my Lord of Dragons in attack mode then play Flute of Summoning Dragon!"
"Ha, think again, I'll play Imperial Order!" Ace said.
"Hmph. I'll just have my Lord of Dragons attack Nick directly!"
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 3450
Manuel: 1550 Nick: 2800
"Hm, I'll summon Sapphire Dragon in attack mode and attack Manuel's Lord of Dragons!"
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 3450
Manuel: 0850 Nick: 2800
Sumga and Manuel were unaware of this, but Nick and Ace had planned ahead to take them down one at a time.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn."
"You will not win. I will sacrifice Paladin of White Dragon. Summons new Blue-Eyes White Dragon from inside deck! Summon Kaizer Seahorse in attack mode. Set one more card, end turn."
"I draw, then choose not to pay for Imperial Order, sending it to the grave. I summon Marauding Captain, and use his effect to summon my Hayabusa Knight! Then I equip Hayabusa Knight with United We Stand, raising his attack power to 3400! Hayabusa Knight attacks Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"No, I protect partner's lifepoints, not like you Ace! Holy Barrier - Mirror Force!"
"Damn it!" Ace watched as his Hayabusa Knight, Marauding Captain and Gearfried were destroyed. "I'll set one card down then end my turn."
"I'll use Monster Reborn on my Lord of Dragons, then play Flute of Summoning Dragons to summon Tyrant Dragon and Blackland Fire Dragon! Then I'll sacrifice Blackland Fire Dragon for Demon King of the Underworld Hades!"
Ace gasped quietly. This could be it for them if he unleashed all his monsters on either of them.
"I'll activate Call of the Haunted! Revive Sword Hunter from the graveyard!"
"Hm... a useless move." Manuel said. "Tyrant Dragon attack Sword Hunter!"
Ace's Sword Hunter was incinerated in a blaze of fire. All Ace could see was the glimmer of the swords before he was turned into ash.
"Now, Tyrant Dragon, attack Nick's Sapphire Dragon!"
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 3000
Manuel: 0850 Nick: 1800
"Next, Hades, attack Ace directly!"
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 0550
Manuel: 0850 Nick: 1800
"Lord of Dragons, attack Ace directly!"
The sorcerer dressed in a dragon-like robe began chanting a spell, and a ball of energy formed in front of him.
"Sorry Nick, looks like I'm out of this one... You're on your own." Ace feintly smiled.
Lord of Dragons launched the attack at Ace, bringing his lifepoints to zero.
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 0000
Manuel: 0850 Nick: 1800
"It looks like Ace is going to have to give up a rare card... Unles of course you take the win for your team Nick. I'll end my turn."
Nick drew a card from his deck. "I'll use my magic card Dark Hole! All your monsters are destroyed! Then I use Graceful Charity, drawing three cards from my deck... And I discard Dragon's Rage and Grey Wing. Then I use Monster Reborn to revive my Grey Wing, and summon another in attack mode! Grey Wing, attack Manuel directly!"
Sumga: 4000 Ace: 0000
Manuel: 0000 Nick: 1800
"Ugh...No..."
"Now, Grey Wing, attacks you Sumga, then my other Grey Wing attacks you twice!"
Sumga: 0100 Ace: 0000
Manuel: 0000 Nick: 1800
"I set the last card in my hand and end my turn."
"Duel not over yet, Nick. I have turn now. Draw." Sumga smiled. "Activate Raigeki. Destroy all Nick's monster!"
"Summon Kaizer Seahorse. Attach card Bright Castle, raise power 700 points!"
"I'll chain with my facedown card, Mystical Space Typhoon! Destroy Bright Castle!"
"Fine. Attack Nick! Shining Lance attack!"
"Counter with my next facedown card, Mirror Force!"
"Open my hidden card, Trap Jammer! Cancel trap activated in Battle Phase!"
Sumga's Kaizer Seahorse lunged at Nick with it's lance, poking a hole in the remainder of his lifepoints.
Sumga: 0100 Ace: 0000
Manuel: 0000 Nick: 0100
"Score is even now. End turn."
"C'mon Nick! Only 100 points to go! You can win this!" Ace called out to Nick.
Nick drew nervously once again. "Ah! I play Pot of Greed! I draw two cards. One monster facedown, and one set card. End."
"Foolish boy! One monster cannot protect you! Summon Zolga! Zolga attack facedown monster!"
Zolga's cape caused a bright light which revealed the facedown card as Troop Dragon, which was destroyed by the beams of light.
"I'll summon another Troop Dragon from my deck to protect my life points! And since you destroyed my mosnter, I'll play Michizure to destroy Kaizer Seahorse, and prevent you from attacking me any further this turn!"
"I am done."
"I draw... Then activate the magic card I just drew! Offerings to the Doomed!'
As the magic card materialized on the field, it grasped Zolga with bandages like a mummy. It was dragged into a pit by the bandages.
"I would have to skip my Draw Phase during my next turn, but there won't be one! Troop Dragon, deliver the finishing blow!"
The tiny dragon drew its sword and slashed at Sumga, dropping his lifepoints to zero.
Sumga: 0000 Ace: 0000
Manuel: 0000 Nick: 0100
"You did it Nick!" Ace wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead.
"Well played boys..." Manuel said. "Well, claim your prize. Here is my Tyrant Dragon."
"Nick, you should take that one."
"No argument here..." Nick took it from Manuel.
"Ace. Take this cards, Paladin of White Dragon and Descent of White Dragon!"
"Hmm... fair enough. So when do we enter the Spire?"
"When the two others arrive. I suppose that should be them now." Manuel said as he peered past Ace and the others.
"Well now, look who it is Nick!" Tony said.
"I'll be damned..." Nick said as two other duelists arrived.
Walking toward them were two of their friends from school... Jason Langdon and Manny Hung. They were all surprised and beaming to see such familiar faces.
"What is this? A school reunion?" Jason said. "Glad to see you guys. With all the crazy crap that's been going down lately, it'll be nice to know I'm around people I can trust."
"It's also good to know that you got here on your own, right Jason?" Laurna said, referring to his attempt to get Decoder Devices through Hunter.
"Yeah, I got here 100% legit. I also took Manny here as my apprentice... I guess you could say. He's a much more accomplished Duelist than he was in the past. Under my teaching, he managed to get four Decoders as well."
"Yup... Thought at first I didn't wanna come here. It seemed pretty dangerous." Manny said.
"So who's this guy in the red suit?"
"Oh..." Nick said as they all turned around. "A minute ago, there was another guy who we just dueled, Sumga Hong, an Eliminator. He must have gone back in. That's Manuel Figo, another Eliminator."
"Okay, so now that everyone is here, you'll be splitting up." Manuel pressed a button on a small remote he held in his hand. A platform rose out of the ground. "On this platform, there is an input port for each of you to insert each of your Decoder Devices, and you will have to enter the password assigned to you at the start of the tournament. Afterwards, you will then be authorized to enter through a door on the side of the Spire. Each of you will enter through a different door, and each is labeled with a color, and that color is given to you once your password is entered correctly. I advise you to be abrupt." He turned and re-entered the Spire from the front entrance.
"Well guys, this is it..." Nick said, as he stared down at the Decoder Devices in his hand.