Disclaimer/Author's Note
Introducing the second avatar, Sean! Sean controls fiends just like Adriel controls dragons.
YuGiOh: Hallowed Darkness
Fear of Demons
Adriel flew throughout the city and sensed varying levels of purity, but none of which belonged to someone who could be an avatar. "This is hopeless..." he muttered. A light breeze blew past him, and the faintest trace of something similar to the avatars called itself to his attention. "Maybe there is something here..." Adriel pointed himself in the direction of the scent and he flew towards it, still just a dark cloud to the eyes of the people.
As he got closer, Adriel discerned several other details; He's...evil? No, that can't be, all the avatars are good. Maybe he runs fiends. But that means he's dueling. Or that he's having one of those weird battles like back in that tower...I'd better hurry up. Adriel quickened his pace.
A few moments later and Adriel touched down in front of a dark construction site. "Well, I should've expected something weird like this..." He walked boldly into the steel jungle, trying to find his target. Within a few minutes, Adriel found what he was looking for. In the darkness, a single figure was being confronted by two others. "Gotta be him..." Adriel muttered, walking forward.
"So you're gonna give us your cards, right?" asked one of the punks who were ganging up on the other boy.
"Not a chance," replied the teen, ducking to the side and rolling out of danger.
"Wrong answer!" replied the other thug, throwing a punch. Adriel stepped in and blocked his new opponent's arm, taking the awkward moment to elbow the other man in the gut.
"Who're you?" asked the target of the gang-up.
"Adriel. Hurry up and call out your soul card." Adriel replied calmly, tossing the second thug over his shoulder and into his charging comrade.
"Uhh...I don't know what you're talking about..." feigned Adriel's counterpart avatar.
"Yes you do. Don't fake it," Adriel replied as he reactivated his own card, morphing into the Gold-Eyes Chaos Dragon. The other boy, secret exposed, transformed into a demon. Sharp fangs glinted in the faint light and long claws of the same color replaced his nails. His hair, once black and spiky like Adriel's, paled and lengthened, succumbing to gravity and falling into a straight mess. The avatar's eyes turned deeply indigo and he growled dangerously. His skin became black and took on the abrasive texture of sharkskin. Two dark gray, angular horns burst out of his skull. Finally, a pair Adriel watched as his teammate's muscles bulged, straining at the confines of his shirt under his jacket.
"Wha...wha...AAH!" shouted the punk that Adriel had roughly thrown to the ground. He turned to run, ignoring his friend who was backed up against the wall.
The unknown avatar lunged at the fleeing figure, but Adriel stopped him. "No...we duel." Adriel said gruffly, holding up his hand with his DuelDisk attached.
"Right..." growled the other teen with a voice that was barely human.
"But...but...I don't have...a deck..." stuttered the guy on the ground.
"Yes you do, don't lie. Everyone in this city has some sort of deck." Adriel said.
"But...a two on one isn't fair!" The punk didn't realize the irony of his statement. However, Adriel sighed and took flight. A half minute later, he was back with the other punk under his arm. Adriel dropped the boy to the ground.
"Now it's a two on two. If you don't duel us, we'll kill you." Adriel said matter-of-factly.
"...Okay...we'll duel...but if we win then you have to leave us alone forever!" shouted the man who had been dropped a few seconds ago.
"Deal," replied Adriel, activating his disk. The feral figure of his partner did the same.
What's your name? asked Adriel telepathically, although he didn't understand how.
Sean. Replied the other avatar. Adriel mused on how someone who turned into that would have such a simple name. But in the end, it didn't matter, and Adriel watched as the two shaking punks activated their disks, which were lying on the ground behind them.
"What're your names," asked Adriel calmly, drawing his first five cards.
"Why does it matter?" replied the first boy, fearfully watching Sean nearly rip the cards out of his own disk, which was identical to that of Adriel's, except with the image of his own avatar engraved in the left disk, rather than the Gold-Eyes Chaos Dragon.
"Because I don't want to have to point at you every time I attack." Adriel responded.
"Uhh...I'm Brody and my friend is Chad." said the boy. Adriel could tell that he was lying.
"Fine. I'll go first... 'Brody.'" Adriel said as he drew. "I set a monster as well as two facedown cards. Your move." Adriel said.
Brody drew. "I summon a monster face down as well, and I end my turn by setting one card face down."
Sean drew without a word. "I'll summon Devil's Fear LV4 in attack mode," (1600/1400) A monster that looked like a demonic priest appeared on the field with a thin-looking staff. "Then I set a card face down and end my turn."
Chad was stunned speechless by everything that happened, but managed to muster a few statements. "Uhh...I...I activate Necrovalley." The area around the duelists warped and took on the appearance of an arid valley with large walls of rock and a setting sun for effect. It seemed as if this field comforted its owner. "I now summon Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier in attack mode." (1500500/1000500) "End turn." he said.
Adriel drew again. "I summon Gemini Dragon Wings in defense mode." (1900/2200) "Then, I set another card and end my turn." Adriel discarded a card from his deck to the graveyard, as per effect of his monster.
Brody drew, wondering what Adriel's facedown monster was. "I flip summon my facedown card, Needle Worm! Now both my opponents must discard 5 cards from the top of their decks to their graveyards."
He watched as Adriel and Sean did this, Adriel visibly blanching as he took a quick glance at his cards. "In response, I'll activate my facedown Attraction of Shards. This allows me to special summon a fusion material monster from my deck, and I'll choose Swarm of Dragon Scales in defense mode." (1500/2500)
"I activate the spell card Book of Moon to return my Needle Worm to face down defense position. I then summon Don Zaloog to the field in attack mode!" (1400/1500) Adriel wondered why Brody summoned his monster in attack mode, but decided not to question the play. "End turn," Brody declared.
Sean drew again. "Such a weak monster. I attack Don Zaloog with Devil's Fear." he said, thrusting his arm at Brody. Adriel was taken aback by this bold move.
"Wrong! I reveal Magic Cylinder!" shouted Brody, but Sean's monster shot a beam of energy from its staff and incinerated the tubes.
"Devil's Judgment negates a card and levels my monster up," said Sean as he revealed his facedown card and his monster grew to level 6. (2300/1600) Its staff became thicker and three thin wires loosely twirled around its exterior, stopping at the jewel on its top. The priest also grew a little bit. It fired off a beam of black and red energy at Don Zaloog, disintegrating the monster in an instant. Brody lost 900 life points. "End turn," Sean said as his monster grew again. Its staff grew even larger, and the wires grew thicker, blooming around the orb-sized jewel. The robes on its body became more flowing and it looked as if it had aged a little. (2900/2000) "A monster is special summoned from my graveyard as well." Sean added.
Chad grinned. "Not quite. Necrovalley negates all effects that target monsters in the graveyard." he explained. Sean growled, and Chad's mirthful expression evaporated.
Chad quickly drew again. "I summon a monster in defense mode and attack your facedown monster, Adriel."
Adriel smiled as his monster was eliminated by the spear soldier and he lost 900 life points, tying him with Brody. "Activate Propagation of Effect!" shouted Adriel as a red dragon plated with white scales burst apart.
What does that do? Adriel heard Sean ask telepathically.
Oh, right... Adriel replied before publically announcing; "This card allows me to choose the effect of one monster that I have and use it again. I choose Masked Dragon to summon Child of the Grand and Dragon Demon Soldier, both in defense mode." (1000/1000 1400/1200)
"End turn." replied Chad, noting silently that Adriel now had four defense monsters, one of which was a powerful 1900-attack point monster.
Adriel drew again. "I'll set a card and end my turn," he said. His dragon scales tore through the set card as his two dragon wings sliced into his deck, destroying the top card.
Brody drew as well. "I'll save this little number for later." He ended his turn.
"Draw." said Sean darkly. "Activate effect of Devil's Fear LV8 to special summon Devil's Fear LV6 to the field." (2300/1600) Sean's larger monster chanted a few demonic spells and out of its staff shot a black mist. This mist coagulated into the form of the younger and less experience Devil's Fear LV6. "Attack Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier with Devil's fear LV8!" he commanded bluntly.
Chad realized too late that he had no spell or trap cards to save him. He braced himself for impact as he lost 900 life points, leaving Sean the only duelist with more than 3100 left. "Attack facedown monster with Level 6." Chad again wished that he had packed his deck with attack negating cards as his other monster was eliminated, but he did find some solace.
"You destroyed Gravekeeper's Spy. Its effect lets me special summon another of its kind to the field. I choose a second spear soldier." (1500500/1000500)
"End turn." said Sean, grinning maliciously as his LV6 grew to another LV8. (2900/2000)
Chad drew and immediately placed a monster on his side of the field. "I summon Gravekeeper's Guard in defense mode and attack Child of the Grand with my soldier!" Adriel did nothing to stop Chad's attack as a spear tore through his monster. It was instantly replaced with a shining golden dragon.
"You allowed me to summon Grand Emperor Dragon to the field by destroying my monster." (2000/2500) "Now it's my move." Adriel continued, drawing his card.
I summon Team of Dragon Claws in attack mode and set this card." (2000/1800) "Now I attack your Spear Soldier with my Grand Emperor Dragon as retribution for destroying its child!" Adriel shouted.
A beam of pure energy shot forth from Adriel's monster as Chad's soldier flung its spear. The energy burned through the spear and annihilated the soldier as Chad lost 500 life points. "How?!" shouted Chad.
"Whenever a dragon monster is special summoned to the field, my Grand Emperor Dragon gains 500 attack points for the remainder of the duel." he said. "Finally, I attack your guard with my team of dragon claws."
Adriel's ten dragon claws shot together, points out, forming a lethal razor disk. It shot towards Chad's monster and collided with its stomach, tearing right through and destroying the monster. Chad lost 100 life points from the overflow damage. "I end my turn, and must bid farewell to my dragon scales, as don't wish to feed them." Adriel's scales shot back into their card, which exploded. However, his Gemini wings eliminated a card from his deck and his new team of claws attacked a card in his graveyard, removing it from play.
"My move!" shouted Brody, angry that neither he nor his partner had spells or traps, and that he had no attackers while Chad had no monsters.. "Flip summon Needle Worm," Adriel and Sean discarded five cards, "And sacrifice it for Vampire Lord!" (2000/1500) Brody's tiny worm shattered and was replaced by a blue-haired vampire. "I set the rest of my hand and attack Dragon Demon Soldier!" he shouted. The vampire flew over to Adriel's crouching soldier and bit into its neck, sucking its life essence away. The dragon monster crumbled into a pile of dust...from which a regal-looking dragon warrior arose.
"Due to the effect of my destroyed monster, you just allowed me to special summon Dragon Demon Lord to the field." (2400/1000)
Brody snarled. "End turn!" he shouted.
Sean drew. He took a quick survey of the field. Adriel had Grand Emperor Dragon, Dragon Demon Lord, Team of Dragon Claws, and Gemini Dragon Wings on his side of the field with no spell or trap cards. His life points were at 3100. Sean himself had two Devil's Fear LV8 monsters but no spell or traps either and a full 4000 life points. Brody had Vampire Lord and three facedown cards with 3100 life points. Finally, Chad had no monsters thanks to Adriel's last onslaught, and throughout the duel, the only non-monster card he had ever played was his Necrovalley, which was still on the field. He had 3000 life points remaining.
"Activate the effect of both my monsters to summon Dark Ruler Ha Des and End of Anubis to the field in attack mode." (2450/1600 2500/0) "Now I special summon Perfect Chaos by removing from play my two newest monsters." (3600/2400)
Adriel caught a glimpse of Sean's card. It was black. He smiled as Perfect Chaos appeared on the field. It was huge with glowing indigo eyes and a body that was too big to be completely visible. Shadows wrapped around it protectively, only letting the deep purplish flame that enveloped its body show. Its entire body was plated with a supple yet durable carapace which glowed with indigo fire. Two horns crowned its skull, a dull, almost silver color which contrasted regally with the purple fire that coarsed over most of its surface. "I eliminate Chad with a direct attack from my soul monster!"
"Defend with Negate Attack!" shouted Brody.
"End turn," said Sean, unperturbed by this event.
Chad drew, giving himself one last chance to turn things around. He grinned. "I summon Spirit Reaper in defense mode!" (300/200)
"What's that going to do for you?" asked Adriel as Chad ended his turn.
"You'll see..." replied the other duelist.
Adriel drew. "I'll get rid of all your monsters as well as one of you two in one turn. I switch Gemini Dragon Wings and Team of Dragon Claws into attack mode. I then attack Vampire Lord with Dragon Demon Lord!"
Adriel's warrior monster raised its blade and charged the other Lord on the field. However, its attack was halted. "Activate Waboku!" shouted Brody. Adriel grimaced and ended his turn. One card was lost from his deck as another was removed from play.
"Draw!" Brody shouted. "I set a monster card and attack Gemini Dragon Wings with Vampire Lord!" Adriel's monster was destroyed by Brody's creature. "Now the effect of Vampire Lord activates. I declare that you must discard a spell card from your deck to your graveyard!"
Adriel looked in shock as his deck glowed and all his spells shot out of his disk. "Choose one." said Brody mockingly. Adriel pointed at one, which flew into his graveyard as the rest went back into his deck. "End turn." he said.
Sean drew. "I attack Vampire Lord with Perfect Chaos!" Sean's monster attempted to again destroy something, but it was again blocked.
"Another Waboku," said Brody, flashing the trap card.
"End turn." said Sean, getting more bored than annoyed.
"My move." said Chad. "I summon a second Spirit Reaper to the field and end my turn."
Adriel drew. "This is getting boring. I summon Spear Dragon to the field!" (1900/0) "Now if you don't mind, I'll attack both your Spirit Reapers with Spear Dragon and Team of Dragon Claws!"
Adriel's two monsters rushed Chad, but this time Brody had no cards to save him. The two reapers were not destroyed, but Chad lost a hefty amount of life points; 1700 from Spear Dragon's attack and 1800 from Team of Dragon Claws. "Sorry, Brody..." said Chad sadly as his cards vanished from the field.
Brody gritted his teeth. He was now facing the two on one that he had feared.
"I'm not done yet! I attack Vampire Lord with Dragon Demon Lord!" Brody watched as his monster was destroyed and he lost 400 life points. "Now I'll finish you. Grand Emperor Dragon, Gemini Dragon Wings, attack!"
The wings clasped together, forming a lethal boomerang. Adriel's dragon grasped it in its maw and began to charge energy, firing off the wings as well as a stream of energy. "Activate Final Twilight! This card prevents me from losing my very last life point, and it is immediately my turn." Brody said as Adriel's attack collided.
"I play the spell card Energy Infusion!" shouted Brody. A ring appeared on his field with 100or so stars around its rim. Adriel's and Sean's monsters both began to glow a pale tone of one shade or another. Those auras flew into the center of Brody's ring. "Watch as my card's effect takes place."
The ball of multicolored energy in the center of the ring began to pulse, and 48 of the 100 stars absorbed that energy. "I can now fill my field with monsters whose levels do not exceed the total number of stars that my ring possesses."
Adriel and Sean both cursed to themselves. "What's more, I can ignore any summoning requirements if need be." Brody continued. "That's why I carry my fusion deck," he said, grinning. The ring rose into the air and began to spin. Bolts of energy began to shoot between points on the ring and a vortex was created.
"I know just what to play against you two!" Brody shouted as monsters began to emerge. Adriel recognized the monsters, one of which he had contemplated using, one of which he actually was using, and the other of which was one of his worst enemies. "I summon two XYZ-Dragon Cannons, two Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragons, and a Dark Paladin!" Brody shouted. (2800/2600 2800/2600 4500/3800 4500/3800 2900/2400)
"I don't even have to ask if you know the effect of Dark Paladin, Adriel. But I'll explain it for Sean, who might not be as versed in dragon warfare. Dark Paladin gains 500 attack points for every dragon monster on the field and in the graveyard of all players. Adriel runs a dragon deck, so let's just see how high this total gets." Dark Paladin's attack began to rise rapidly, finally stopping at an astronomical 8400. "One direct attack will finish either of you." said Brody.
Adriel glanced at his Grand Emperor Dragon. Even if Brody didn't notice that its attack had climbed to 4000, it still wasn't enough to cushion the blast that Brody's monster would inflict. He then glanced at his one facedown card. Brody...I only have one facedown card. I can't protect us both. It'll redirect the attack at Perfect Chaos. Unless you have your own secret defense, there's nothing I can do for you. he said a bit regretfully.
I wouldn't worry about that. replied Sean.
"Go ahead," said Adriel.
"I will." replied Brody resolutely. "Dark Paladin, attack Adriel's Dragon Demon Lord!"
Dark Paladin rushed Adriel's monster in a blind rage, its blade glowing fiercely behind it.
"Activate Star Collapse!" Adriel shouted. His monster materialized behind Sean's Perfect Chaos and exploded, a vacuum sucking all of Brody's monsters in. Adriel's and Sean's monsters were seemingly immune. "This card destroys the target of your attack and switches it to the highest level monster on our side of the field. That would be Perfect Chaos. Then, all of the other monsters on your field must attack that monster as well." he finished.
"What's the point of that? Perfect Chaos won't even be able to stand up to my first attack!" Brody shouted as Dark Paladin drew closer. However, his monster was blocked by a stone ring with stars engraved on its edges. "My spell!" shouted Brody.
"That's right." replied Sean. "Perfect Chaos' effect lets me, once per duel, remove all fiends in my graveyard to use a spell or trap in your graveyard. I chose Energy Infusion." he said. However, instead of the original 48 stars, this ring had 96.
"Thanks again for summoning such strong monsters. Now then, Perfect Chaos' other effect activates. Whenever I summon a monster by any means, I can immediately sacrifice it to give my monster 100 more attack points per level star of that monster. Then, that monster is returned to the bottom of my deck." Sean explained.
"Meaning that you can keep summoning monsters until all 96 stars have been used up, because your monsters leave the field as soon as they hit it." continued Adriel, thinking out loud.
"Exactly." replied Sean as spectral monsters appeared, only to be consumed by Perfect Chaos. This brutal pattern continued until the ring collapsed, all of its energy spent. Perfect Chaos stood with a gargantuan attack power of 132,000.
"No! Stop!" shouted Brody, but it was too late. Perfect Chaos finally got an attack in, shooting out two beams of indigo energy from its eyes and vaporizing Dark Paladin. Brody's last life point was snuffed out.
"We win." Sean said as the holograms shut off. Perfect Chaos, however, continued to tower over the four duelists.
"Why isn't that hologram going away?" asked Chad in pure terror.
"Because Perfect Chaos isn't a card. It's a demon. And your punishment is death..."
Two screams echoed through the city that night, and Adriel Touchstone and Sean Kishore retreated back to their sovereigns.