Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh

Demon Duelist Legacy-World Tour Arc

Chapter 19: Final Judgment

Ryu felt the fires from his land continue to burn around him. "I...will...kill you. Killing you in cold blood won't be enough though. I will defeat you in a duel." His duel disk clicked into place. "If I win, then you will die!"

"That's fine with me. If I win, then the same applies to you." Seren already had his five cards in his hand.

Ryu drew his five, the fires still blazing around his form. "In the name of the life you just took, I will kill you!"

"We shall see...we shall see." The crane demon's smile was completely confident.

Ryu felt his anger fade away beneath the countenance of a general. His mind cleared itself of all emotion. ("I cannot let my rage blind me...not yet.") "Since you're so sure that you will win, do you care if I go first?" His tone was impossibly calm.

"I don't care at all. By all means, go ahead and make the first play in the final battle of your life." Seren was still smiling calmly.

"Very well." Ryu drew and placed a card onto his duel disk. "I summon Gaius the Earth Dragon (500/2200) in defense mode." A dragon that looked more like a boulder than a living creature appeared on his field. "Also, I set two cards face-down on my field." The two cards in question shimmered into existence behind his monster. "End turn."

"The concept of defense doesn't fit you very well, Jourgen." Seren drew and placed down his card. "I summon Birdface (1600/1600) in defense mode. And I also set three cards face-down on my field." A hideous mixture of bird and human appeared on his field in a crouching position. "End turn. And just to let you know, I have been fated to duel Rikuo in the battle that will determine the master of the Purge. That means I cannot lose to you. Fate cannot be affected by you."

"Fate..." Ryu's calm face was slowly breaking back into its enraged form. "Is that why you killed him...because you think fate is on your side!?"

"The prophecy mentioned nothing of him at all. He was expendable. And with his death, Rikuo will be driven to give me his all in our duel." The crane demon explained this as if it was obvious.

Ryu felt his flames start to burn within his body. "Taking the life of an innocent being, all to follow some stupid prophecy. You...delusional fool!"

"Say what you wish, Jourgen. In the end, I will be the one who survives this battle. You, however, are going to be taking a long and painful trip to hell."

"The only being here who will feel the flame of hell is you!" Ryu drew. "Get ready, because if you want to see some hellfire and brimstone, I'll be glad to show it to you! Activate Polymerization, fusing Infernus the Pyro Dragon (2200/2000) from my hand with Gaius the Earth Dragon on my field!" There was a huge explosion and bits of ash rained down on the field. "Seren, meet Magmus the Lava Dragon!" From within the ash emerged a huge stone dragon, with veins of red-orange pulsing along its body. (2300/2200)

Seren wasn't impressed. "You think that creature can hurt me!? My monster is in defense, and I also have three cards face-down on my field. Would you really risk attacking me!?"

"Not quite yet. First I will reveal my face-down Silent Rebirth magic card, which will allow me to revive Gaius in defense mode." The boulder-like dragon reappeared on the field. "Then I sacrifice Gaius to summon Crystallis the Ice Dragon (2200/2000) in attack mode!" The boulder dragon disappeared and was replaced by a huge pillar of ice that looked like a dragon.

"One or two monsters won't affect my trap cards." Seren smirked and crossed his arms across his chest. "You're wasting your cards."

"I am not as dumb as you think. There is a reason that Crystallis is on the field. Reveal face-down magic card, Wingbeat of Giant Dragon! This requires that I send one level five or higher dragon on my field back to my hand." Crystallis glowed and then faded off the field. In its place was a huge dragon-like form in the air. It was made completely of flame. "Do you understand? Wingbeat of Giant Dragon will destroy all magic and trap cards on the field. Go Wingbeat!" The dragon form flapped its wings a couple of times and a huge wind storm picked up, destroying all of Seren's face-down cards.

Though all of his trap cards were destroyed in one blast, Seren still wasn't worried. ("Fate cannot be changed. I will battle Rikuo and the winner will decide the fate of the world. This cannot be my end.")

"Magmus, attack Birdface with Molten Flame!" The dragon roared and sprayed out a wave of thick magma that engulfed the bird creature, destroying it instantly. "And Magmus has a special ability that you should know about. When it destroys a monster, it deals that monster's attack in damage to its owner's life points.

Seren popped his deck out of his duel disk. "And you should know that when Birdface is destroyed, I may search my deck for any Harpy Lady (1300/1400) and place it into my hand." Grabbing the card he wanted, the crane demon placed it into his hand and re-inserted his deck into his disk. "As for the life point damage, it doesn't matter. I cannot lose to you."

Ryu- 8000

Seren- 6400

Ryu slid one card into his duel disk. "I set this card face-down and end my turn." The card appeared in front of him.

Seren drew. "Why are you wasting my time, Jourgen? I could be doing much more important things than playing these little games with you."

"Seren Teska......you have lost your sanity in the belief that this prophecy will help you fix the shattered pieces of your life. I'd pity you, but that would dishonor Daniel's death, and that is not something I am willing to do for your sake. So make your move." Ryu no longer felt any fear that he might lose.

Seren slid two cards into his duel disk. "I set these two cards face-down on my field. And then I summon Harpy Lady in attack mode!" A much more beautiful hybrid of bird and woman appeared on his field. "Now before I begin crushing you, why don't you tell me why you care so much about the boy's death. It's not like you had any kind of relationship with him."

Ryu closed his eyes, the phantom pain that accompanied Daniel's loss still burning in his heart. "It's because he was part of a bond that I share with the five Demon Lords who protected the world before and again. While each of the Demon Lords would normally keep to themselves, at one point in time the Wolf, Dog, Horse, Dragon and Tiger Demon Lords had to band together against a powerful evil force that had risen against the world. After they defeated it, a pact was made amongst them that they would forever be brothers. So, losing Daniel is like losing a member of my family...and that," his eyes were now a strange mix of crimson and silver. "Is unforgivable!"

"Jourgen, you're such an emotional creature. Oh well, it's your loss that you decided to challenge me." Seren slid the last card in his hand into his duel disk. "Activate the magic card Elegant Egotist! This will let me special summon the Harpy Lady Sisters (1950/1800) to the field!" The Harpy Lady on his field screeched and seemed to break apart into three separate colors of herself, which then formed into a trio of harpies with different colored hair. The three new harpies moved close to each other, as their strength pooled together.

"Then I reveal my face-down magic card, Rose Whip." A thorny whip appeared in the hands of the red-haired harpy lady sister. "This will raise the attack strength of my Harpy Lady Sisters by 500 points!" (2450/1800) "Attack Magmus, and open his defenses!" The trio charged forwards, their claws outstretched to tear through the rock dragon.

Tapping a button on his duel disk, Ryu smiled. "Reveal Dragon's Gathering!"

Seren grimaced at the sight of the trap card. ("Damn...")

Ryu removed his deck from his duel disk and pulled out a card. "Now I can special summon any dragon monster from my deck to the field, as long as it can fuse with my Magmus. And trust me; the dragon I am choosing can fuse with anything!" Grabbing the card he slapped it down onto his disk. A cloud of smoke sprayed across his field. "I summon Haze the Smoke Dragon (0/0) to the field!" A black shape appeared on his field. "And then I will fuse Haze and Magmus together to form the ultimate dragon monster!" The two forms were pulled into each other, creating a spinning vortex of fire, rock and shadow.

Seren had expected the Grand Emperor Dragon. ("What's he summoning!?")

Finally the vortex faded, revealing the new monster. It wasn't very big, but its body gave it the appearance of being a demon straight out of the pits of hell. Covering its form were spikes of black crystal, and its jet-black body had veins of orange-red magma pumping within its shell. "This is the true demon dragon that I can summon! Diablous-Envoy of Death (3300/2700) in attack mode!" The dragon roared into the air, spraying hunks of ash and soot everywhere with its roar.

Seren had no choice. "I switch my Harpy Lady Sisters and my Harpy Lady to defense mode." The four harpies fell to their knees and threw their feathered arms up in front of them. "End turn."

Ryu drew. "You're out of your league, Seren. I'm far too powerful for the likes of you. Diablous attack his Harpy Lady Sisters and wipe out a huge portion of his life points! Hell Fire Wave!" The dragon opened its jaws and sprayed out a red and black wave of fire.

"Reveal face-down trap card, Mirror Wall!" A crystalline wall sprang up between the two monsters. "This will cut the attack of your pitiful dragon in half!" The fire wave slammed into the wall and then the wall counter-attacked by spraying some of the fire over at Ryu. (1650/2700)

Ryu- 7850

Seren- 6400

Ryu frowned at the sight of his dragon stumbling sickly. "I set one card face-down. End turn."

Seren drew and slid his Harpy Lady into the graveyard. "Now I sacrifice the pitiful Harpy Lady and summon the much more powerful Harpy Priestess (2000/1500) in attack mode!" A harpy lady in priestly robes appeared on his field. "As long as she is in play, all Winged-beast monsters have their attack increased by 400 points!" (2400/1500) (2850/1800) "Harpy Lady Sisters, attack his Diablous!" The three harpies stood up and charged; their claws ready to try and rend the dragon piece by piece once again.

And once more, Ryu was prepared for it. "Reveal my face-down trap card, Negate Attack! This will stop all of your attacks this turn and leave my monster safe and sound!" A swirling vortex appeared and stopped the harpies in their attack.

Seren clenched his fists. "How long are you going to skip and dodge, Jourgen?"

"Only until next turn." The dragon demon smiled calmly. He was in control of this duel.

"Then I end my turn." Seren pointed at his opponent. "Keep in mind that you cannot win against me."

"I'll make a note of that." Ryu drew. "And you should keep in mind that I don't intend to lose! I play the magic card Pot of Greed!" Ryu drew two cards off the top of his deck. "Now I play the field magic card Fusion Gate, which will allow me to fuse any monsters on my field without having to use the Polymerization magic card!" A neon green grid lit up along the field.

Seren shrugged nonchalantly. "That's not really a worry. What's the worst you can do with that on the field?"

Ryu slid his other drawn card into his duel disk. "I'll show you right now! Activate Card of Demise! Now I draw cards until I hold five, but in five turns I must discard my entire hand." In one smooth motion the dragon demon pulled five cards off the top of his deck. "This duel is almost over! Now, I first fuse together Dragon of the Storms-Typherious (2900/4000) and Grand Emperor Dragon (2000/2500) together to create Grand Emperor Typherious-Emissary of the Sky!" (4000/7000) He slid the two cards into his graveyard slot and watched as the enormous fusion of his favorite monster and his storm dragon appeared on the field.

"It won't be enough," Seren smiled and waved his finger in the air. "I'm familiar with that creature's effect, and it won't make any difference in the end. My Mirror Wall trap card is already face-up on the field, and that means that it cannot be negated by Typherious' effect. Sorry Jourgen, but that plan won't work."

Ryu slid two more monsters into his graveyard. "I think you're getting a bit ahead of you. I don't intend to beat you with them alone. First though, I fuse Crystallis the Ice Dragon and Shine the Light Dragon (0/0) from my hand and create the third piece of my plan!" A huge diamond appeared on the field. It shuddered and then exploded, spraying pieces of crystal across the field. The creature that emerged from it looked like it was made up of glowing golden crystal. "Seren, behold my third super dragon! His name is Crystallis the Divine!" (2200/6000) The dragon screeched into the sky, its cries joined by the roars of the other two super dragons.

Seren laughed into the night sky. "Oh foolish Jourgen, don't you understand that with my Mirror Wall on the field, any attack you would throw is suicide?"

Ryu lowered his head to the ground, his golden hair completely obscuring his face. "It's time, my friends. Bring yourselves together..." His hair was blown back as his golden aura sprang up around him. "...and show him that fate is for the foolish!"

Crystallis the Divine, Grand Emperor Typherious-Emissary of the Sky, and Diablous-Envoy of Death launched into the air, disappearing into the night.

Seren felt his skin crawling. "Wait...what you are doing...."

Ryu nodded and looked up at the night sky, which was slowly being lit up with the impossibly bright light of an approaching form. "That's right...I'm summoning the creature that will bring you down."

The cloud cover was parted to reveal a huge silver form hurtling towards the field. It was surrounded by ribbons of golden wind, and its silver eyes burned with the intensity that only rage could produce. When it was a few feet from the ground, it snapped its wings open and came to a perfect stop. Its heavy wind blasted across the field and nearly threw Seren over the edge of the mountain. The dragon was crouched now, its body obscured by shadow.

Ryu, still lined by his golden aura, lifted his hand into the sky. "The final blow is here! Hear my call, my god!" His hand lowered and pointed at Seren, who was still having trouble regaining his footing. "This fool has struck down my brother in arms...for that; he has left me with no choice but to summon your wrath. Forgive my transgression, but I must ask you to strike him down!"

The dragon went silent, its impossibly large form too quiet for words.

Seren held his breath, unsure what was going on. Every question he tried to ask was unable to pass his lips though. It was like he was standing on trial for a crime. ("What crime have I committed!? I am only fulfilling my destiny!")

A rumbling shook the earth as the eyes of the dragon lit up with golden fire. The scariest thing to Seren wasn't that the dragon was moving, or that its eye was bigger than his whole body, but was that it seemed to have reacted to his thoughts.

Ryu was trembling in anger, the phantom pain of losing his brother in arms still burning in his chest. "Seren Teska, you have been judged by the dragon god. He has read you soul and seen the truth about your thoughts. They are clouded with hate, and your excuses of fate mean nothing to him."

Stretching its wings outward, the dragon pushed its bipedal form to its fullest height. It was even bigger than the mountain itself now. Yet somehow, even though it was out of range of the holographic projectors, every inch of the dragon god could be seen.

"Now," Ryu said with such finality that it was impossible to dispute, "Before you die, I will tell you the name of your executioner. He was your judge, your jury and now he is your end."

Raising its head in line with Seren's side of the mountain, the silver titan began to charge a glowing blue-white ball of energy within its jaws. With every passing second, the ball got bigger and brighter, until it was forcing the very night sky to fade away in the face of the sun that burned against it.

Seren couldn't understand. ("But I've been decreed by fate! I cannot die by his hands!!! Rikuo is my enemy!")

("Seren Teska...you have been far too easy to manipulate.")

("What are you talking about!?")

("Give you some writing on a piece of ancient-looking plaster, and you bow before it like it is your fate.")

("........You're lying!")

("Believe what you wish. Your fate, though, is nothing simpler than to herald my resurrection. Perhaps you should have learned to control your anger, and rein in your hatred. Oh well, it's too late now. Good-bye.")

Seren watched the sun get larger still, and his eyes were clouded over with tears as everything that he had accepted and believed crashed down around him. ("Mother...Father....the other me......I was wrong. Forgive me...") He fell to his knees, crying for the wasted years of his life, for the pain and death that he had inflicted....but most of all, he cried for the fact that his life had meant nothing. "Ryu!"

That single cry brought the dragon demon out of his anger, if only for a moment. "It's too late..."

"That's not it!" Seren leapt to his feet, his eyes blurred with tears. "I'm sorry......I do not expect forgiveness, for I do not deserve it. All I ask is that you stop him, whoever he is!"

Ryu was listening, but he couldn't hold back his monster any longer. "Seren, it's too late for you. Bahamut-King of Dragons; Lord of Judgment....Omega Flare!" (Instant Win) The dragon released the ball of energy, which instantly turned into a wave of power that was rocketing down towards Seren at impossible speeds.

The crane demon didn't flinch away, or rant about his destiny being ruined. He had nothing left to be angry about. All that was left...was sadness. ("I am ready to start making amends...let this be my first apology!") Throwing his hands out, he welcomed the blast with open arms.

And as the explosion consumed him, he could have sworn that he saw himself as a child. And the child was smiling at him. ("You've done the right thing...")

("I know....") And then the flare struck....

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Janeam saw it, but he couldn't believe it. "Look at the size of that thing!!"

Deondre, who was sitting next to him, nodded. "Yeah, that's insane. Even the Egyptian God Cards aren't that big!"

CJ and Allon nearly passed out at the sight of the thing.

Esmin, Jasmine and Siegfried couldn't hide their astonishment at the titanic dragon.

Then the shockwave from its attack hit the plane and they were all thrown about as the plane was threatened to be knocked out of the sky.

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Ryu never blinked during the whole thing. He turned to look up at Bahamut, and he smiled sadly. "My dear god, I thank you for your help."

Bahamut roared so loudly that the stone around him cracked. And then, like a mirage, he faded away.

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As soon as the darkness of the night reappeared, a loud clapping could be heard from within the smoking rubble that was all that remained of Seren's half of the mountain. "Jourgen, you're as powerful as ever, if not stronger."

Ryu spun around just in time to catch a blast of black energy right into his chest. He stumbled backwards, his eyes wide in surprise and pain. "You must be kidding me...."

"Don't you wish you were that lucky?" The smoke drifted apart and revealed a black and silver robed form. The tall figure stroked at his bone and flesh robes, a dark smile on his black bearded face.

"Garlin...." Ryu fell to one knee, the hole in his chest too painful to bear.

"Wrong...Giovan Garlin died long ago." The figure stepped out into the cold air of the night. "The King of Torture, Kilomet Sestros......walks the night again." His blood-red eyes glowed in the darkness. "And the world will soon know that, first-hand...."

To be continued...

Author's Notes:

To a neo okami named Wolfy: I don't normally reply to everyone's reviews, unless they have a question that needs answering.

To Darkstar71: Don't worry, you'll get explanations soon enough.

To thegymrat: Trust me, this is where the real battle gets started.