Merry Christmas everybody! I hope you all have safe and restful holidays.
A little explanation for all those who were confused as to why Arrathir couldn't use his Terror spell in the last chapter: The way I see it, a summoner can only cast a spell a certain number of times in battle equivalent to the number of copies of the spell they have in their deck. The whole "recharging" part is based on the fact you probably wouldn't pull all the copies of the spell on your first hand and would have to wait to draw them before playing them.
WARNING: This chapter contains graphic violence as well as gore.
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Suddenly, Arrathir's zombie fell to its knees as a brilliant light radiated from Faust. Its weapons dropped from its many gnarled hands, as it appeared to be in awe. Arrathir didn't need to ask what had happened. Holy Day. For one white mana, it prevented all combat damage that turn. The mighty Twisted Abomination had been stopped by the simplest spell in the white mage's repertoire.
"Well really now," said Faust "Did you think it would be that easy? You have much to learn. Now watch, as I trap your creatures!" With a wave of Faust's hand, a translucent wall appeared between Arrathir's zombie and the rest of the battlefield. It was greyish, almost as if made of fog, but it did not undulate in the strong, cold wind that whipped through the alley.
"Behold, the Ghostly Prison!" said Faust.
Arrathir groaned. Ghostly Prison: A white enchantment from the Champions of Kamigawa expansion that prevented creatures from attacking unless their controller paid two colourless mana for each creature attacking. The idea was to prevent your opponent from swamping the field with monsters and rushing you. It also cut back on available mana.
"Now," said Faust "Allow me to reintroduce an old friend." Faust charged his mana and summoned another Dawn Elemental.
Arrathir rolled his eyes. He had enough of this! He wasn't going to let Faust pull his Dawn Elemental-Pariah combo on him again. Charging his mana, he unleashed his Terror spell on the hapless elemental.
"Don't think I'm going down this easy, Faust," said Arrathir, summoning a spindly creature with wispy white hair. The Zombie Trailblazer was only a 4/3, but it had the ability to turn an opponents' land into swamps and giving zombies swampwalk. "Twisted Abomination, Undead Warchief, attack!" Arrathir channelled the necessary mana to overcome Ghostly Prison's effect.
Arrathir's zombies bellowed out a challenge and rushed at Faust. The 7/4 and the 3/2 had almost enough power combined to finish Faust off. The Twisted Abomination struck first, its cleaver tearing a long bloody gash down Faust's side. The summoner gasped in pain as the creature's weapon sliced through his flesh. Right behind was the Undead Warchief, teeth bared it tore into Faust's shoulder, taking a big chunk of flesh from it. As Arrathir's zombies retreated to his side of the field, now golden replicas of their former selves, he watched the bloodied Faust struggling to stand. Suddenly, the wounds caused by the attacks healed over.
"Blessed Reversal," said Faust "I gain three life for each creature attacking me."
Damn! That puts him back up to 11!
"Your creatures are very powerful," complimented Faust "However, I have an even more powerful creature." With those words, Faust gathered his mana and summoned his creature, the mana taking the shape of a humanoid with wings. Its head appeared to be wreathed in multi-coloured flames, white, blue, black, red, and green mixing together to form a radiant crown of light.
"What is that?" asked Arrathir, a sinking feeling in his stomach as he suspected the answer.
"Pristine Angel," Faust proudly announced.
Pristine Angel. The bane of all Magic players. A 4/4 flyer with protection from all colours, and from artifacts when untapped and with the ability to untap when its controller played a spell. Arrathir had encountered this creature in previous Magic games; he had not been victorious.
Fortunately, I have one flyer that can hold its ground against it.
Arrathir was hesitant. This creature could help him, but he didn't know if he could control it. Twisted Abomination was a powerful creature, but it paled in comparison to this one.
What the hell, I've got to gamble.
Arrathir closed his eyes and called upon his mana. Feeling the energy flow through him, he concentrated, bringing the creature to life. As his mana flowed through him, the creature took shape. Spikes shot out from its body, forming a protective barrier around its flesh. It roared out when its mouth had formed, exposing its twin row of razor-sharp teeth. Its yellow eyes opened, evil glaring from within.
Faust could scarcely believe his eyes. This child, this amateur had just summoned one of the most powerful demons in existence. Summoning a demon was not mean feat and could only be done by accomplished summoners who trained their entire life in this purpose. No, this was no ordinary challenger. To have summoned the Havoc Demon in battle meant he had underestimated this boy and would have to be more cautious.
Arrathir was struggling against the demon. He knew if the demon escaped him, it would rampage through the city and he'd have trouble stopping it. Sweat beading on his face, he focussed all his mental energy on keeping the demon under his control. The demon roared and lunged at Arrathir, who yelled in pain as the demon's claws tore into his shoulder.
Enough! I am your master! You will obey me!
The demon gave a final roar and calmed down.
Arrathir looked at his shoulder. The demon's claws had ripped several deep cuts that were bleeding profusely.
If this goes on, I'm going to faint from blood loss!
"Well," said Faust "I see you are more skilled than I first though. This will only make my victory more pleasant."
"Earth to Faust," said Arrathir "I've got a 5/5 flyer that will crush your Pristine Angel if you attack."
"Watch and learn," said Faust "First, I appease your demon," Arrathir's Havoc Demon suddenly fell to the ground and lay there. "Now your creature can't attack or block. Next I'll gain some life." Faust's creatures suddenly looked more fierce and determined. "Noble Purpose is an enchantment that allows me to gain life when my creatures deal combat damage." With those words, the Pristine Angel flew at Arrathir, past his Havoc Demon and, drawing its sword, hacked four more life from him.
Ow! That puts me down to 6! Havoc Demon did two since it wasn't fully independent and now his angel did four. Plus, he's back up to 15!
Arrathir racked his brain to find something that could help him get out of this jam.
"All right!" he said, firing a blast of black energy in the air. The energy gathered and swirled then exploded, creating a portal in mid-air. From the darkness of the swirling void eerie moan, like the dying breath of a creature.
"Call to the Grave," said Arrathir "At the beginning of each player's turn, they must sacrifice a non-zombie creature."
"You seem to have forgotten about my Tundra Wolves," said Faust "Your plan to make me sacrifice Pristine Angel has failed!"
Faust's Tundra Wolves gave a howl and was pulled into the portal.
"Now, watch as I finish you off! I play Stir the Pride, giving my creatures 2/2 until end of turn," said Faust as his Pristine Angel grew taller. The angel flew at Arrathir, preparing to deliver the final blow when it suddenly stopped, as if frozen. It gave a loud cry and a white mist flew from its mouth to Arrathir, entering his mouth. He suddenly felt much better and saw his wounds healing over.
"You fell for my Consume Spirit!" said Arrathir "It dealt six damage to your creature and I gained six life, putting me back to 12."
Faust growled.
At the beginning of Arrathir's turn, the Havoc Demon was pulled into the portal. As it went, it gave a piercing scream. All of Arrathir's zombies screamed in pain and exploded into black mana. As per to Havoc Demon's effect, all creatures got –5/-5 until end of turn when it went into the graveyard.
"That was a pointless move," said Faust "Now you've lost all your creatures!"
"Yes," said Arrathir "But I wanted them in my graveyard to summon this!" The earth rumbled as Arrathir charged his mana. Breaking through the soil to the surface, Soulless One appeared. Arrathir quickly calculated it was a 5/5. He knew he'd won. With Call to the Grave in play, Faust would not be able to summon anything for more than one turn, unless he had enchantment destruction.
"I win," he said.
Faust shook his head. "Idiot, did you really think I wouldn't be prepared for an enchantment? CLEAR!" A white beam shot from Faust's hands and entered the portal. As the beam intensified, the portal began to close before finally shutting. "And now to bring my rebuttal to your avatar." Faust's mana gathered and shaped into a man wearing blue robes and a tall hat. He sported a fabulous handlebar moustache and held a scroll in his hand.
Arrathir didn't know what the creature was, but he didn't like the look of it.
I need to stop him from summoning more stuff. Keep his hands tied...keep his hands tied!
Arrathir charged his mana and cast his spell. A black snake with a head at each end of its body appeared. It flew at Faust and one head sunk its teeth in his left hand. Meanwhile, the other head wound itself around his wrists, binding them together, the snake's body stretching. Finally, when Faust's hands were solidly bound, the snake sunk its teeth in Faust's right hand.
"What devilry is this?" asked Faust.
I never tire of the look on their face when I use this.
"Handcuffs," Arrathir proudly announced, "Your hands are bound unless you sacrifice three permanents in play. This makes it harder for you to gather mana and summon creatures."
"Why you little! You'll pay for this!" sputtered Faust.
"As if," said Arrathir, summoning a Boneknitter (1/1), "Soulless One, attack."
The zombie avatar lumbered forward and squeezed Faust's creature's head until it exploded like a ripe melon, brains and blood splattering the alley wall.
"Give up?" asked Arrathir.
"Never," said Faust, gathering his mana. As his creature formed, there was a sudden depression in the mana radiation and the forming creature was destroyed.
"No!" yelled Faust "I was going to obliterate you with that creature!"
"Too bad," said Arrathir, summoning another Carrion Feeder, pushing his Soulless One to 7/7. The zombie charged forward and smashed his fist into Faust's face, sending the mage flying into the alley wall. When he got up, his face was a bloodied mess. Arrathir guesses the blow must of broken his nose. To his astonishment, Faust was laughing. A ray of light came down from the stormy sky and obliterated Arrathir's creature.
"Retaliate!" laughed Faust "Destroys every creature that dealt me damage!"
Just then, Arrathir's Soulless One re-appeared from the ground with another earth-rattling crack. Faust was taken aback.
"Just shows how much you know about zombies," said Arrathir "Boneknitter allows me to regenerate any zombie for two mana."
"It's my turn!" yelled Faust "Watch as I summon the monster that will spell your end!" Faust successfully cast his spell. A giant iron torso appeared, covered in tubes emitting smoke. The torso was followed by arms and legs and finally, a small square head with two yellow eyes.
"DARKSTEEL COLOSSUS!" said a hysterical Faust.
Arrathir was terrified. Darksteel Colossus, an 11/11 indestructible artifact creature with trample that returned to its owner's library when put into the graveyard from anywhere.
I think I'm in trouble.
"Make your move," said Faust "It will be your last!"
Arrathir relaxed. Despite the present menace, he knew exactly what to do. He fired a black ball of energy at Faust. The mage looked himself over, and saw no damage had been done.
"What was the point of that?"
"Evil Presence," said Arrathir "Turns one of your lands into a swamp."
"So?" laughed Faust "Next turn I attack with Colossus and finish you off!"
"Next," said Arrathir, ignoring him "I summon Zombie Master (2/3). This gives all zombie swampwalk."
Faust was now pale. Staring him down was a 7/7 with swampwalk. More than enough to finish him off.
At Arrathir's silent command, the Soulless One ran forward to deliver the coup de grace. As he was about to finish Faust off, Faust fell to his knees, begging for his life.
"Please, spare me! I forfeit!"
Arrathir quickly sacrificed his Soulless One into his Carrion feeder before it killed Faust.
"Thank-you!" said Faust "I am in your debt!"
"Why did you attack me?"
"I was hired," said Faust.
"By whom?" asked Arrathir, already knowing the answer.
"A spiky-haired freak who possessed a great power. He promised to share his power if I defeated you."
Bingo! Yami Marik.
While they spoke, their creatures had exploded in a shower of colourful mana. Arrathir helped Faust get to his feet, the mage assuring him he'd be OK.
"I've had worse," he said.
Faust gave Arrathir direction to get back to the main street and Arrathir left.
"I am disappointed," said a voice in the shadows behind Faust. "I do not tolerate failure."
Faust turned to see Yami Marik behind him. He held the Millennium Rod in his hand. With a swift movement he pulled the shaft, revealing a sharp dagger concealed within the cylinder. In his weakened state, Faust could only stare as his killer came closer. His scream was cut short as his life was ended.
To be continued…
Author's note: There you go! Chapter 20. Hope you liked it!