Author's Notes: Dalin has fallen, and now without their strongest warrior the final three, the last chances of mankind against Eikyuu...will have to face their greatest challenge yet. The questions remains: can Eikyuu be stopped?
Chapter Forty-Four: The Resounding Horn of God
A bell tolled somewhere far away, and then Osiris shrieked as its body began to fade away. The vanishing started from the tail and traveled upwards, until nothing was left of the once mighty god. "Saint Dragon Osiris is gone, but I am still here. So far your words are just words, and they can do nothing against the power of a god. Heavenly Falcon of Isis prevents you from attacking with more than one monster while Osiris is in the grave."
Silence reigned for several moments, and then Eikyuu lifted one arm and pointed at Dalin. "God of Death(16800/16100), that is your target. Eliminate him utterly!"
The god that was death incarnate swooped down towards Heavenly Falcon of Isis, and each of them waited with baited breath. They knew that it wasn't over, because Dalin was always prepared. He always had the card he needed, even if it was in the cemetery. 'Dalin can't be beaten, he's invincible.'
There was a terrible noise that was then followed by a terrible silence. Then, for the first time since Eikyuu had been released, Dalin smiled.
DLP: 0
Dalin's body crumpled lifeless to the ground. Not a word was said. The chill that had been running up Takuya's spine was now gone, indicating that the terrible event he had felt coming had passed. Dalin Imaki Sumatin, their last, best chance to defeat Eikyuu...was gone. "It's impossible..."
Eikyuu lowered the arm that had been pointing at Dalin, letting it drop to his side. "Nothing is impossible. This is the natural order of things, and this one was able to understand that. He knew that he would fall, he knew that all of you would fall. So let the end begin."
The god's head snapped around as red energy began to blossom around Kirani's body. She turned her gaze upon Eikyuu, and snapped a card off her deck. "This isn't the end, because Dalin knew more than that! And now that he's gone I understand exactly what I have to do!"
She glanced at the new card, and then took two different cards from her hand and slid them onto her duel disk. "I set two cards face down. Then I activate Emergency Provisions, sacrificing my four set cards to gain one thousand life points for each!" (KLP: 6500)
Kirani immediately flipped another card around from her hand, and the sky above boiled with clouds. "Go, Enter the Storm! By paying one thousand life points I can summon Gilford the Lightning to the field!"
Two lightning bolts shrieked down from above, one crashing down on Kirani's side of the field, and the other splattering uselessly against the gods on Eikyuu's field. Then the light faded, and Gilford the Lightning(2800/1400) appeared in all his glory. "During this turn Gilford the Lightning cannot attack." (KLP: 5500)
Eikyuu frowned, realizing that the effect of her magic card would prevent his trap from forcing Kirani's monster to attack. "Nevertheless, your monster's effect is considered an attempt to destroy my monsters. Barrier of the Immortal One will deal one thousand damage to you during the end phase."
Her blue eyes narrowed and a very Drake-like smirk appeared on her face. "Only if it's in play during the end phase, and I have no intention of letting that happen. So it's time to unleash the biggest gun I've got in my entire deck. Go, Roar of Thunder!"
Lightning began to stream out of the very skin of Gilford, and his body was consumed by blue lightning bolts. "In order to activate this magic card I must sacrifice one Gilford the Lightning on the field. I've done so, which means you'll meet the god of my deck!"
A card shot out of her deck and she caught it, then slammed it down onto her duel disk. "This monster may not be able to defeat yours in combat, but he can certainly deal with the trouble of your magic and trap cards. Meet Gilford, Deity of Lightning and Thunder(3600/2400)!"
Now standing in place of Gilford the Lightning was a warrior that stood roughly twelve feet in height, and whose entire body crackled with lightning. He wore golden armor that was identical to the armor that his previous self wore and had a sword sheathed on his back. "Much like his counterpart, this mighty creature has an ability that activates upon his summoning. So Gilford, draw your blade!"
The powerful deity unsheathed his sword, and instead of a regular blade it held one that looked to be forged of pure lightning. "Go, Shattering Strike!"
Gilford swung his sword and arcs of lightning shot out of it, piercing into Eikyuu's three face up cards. Wrath of the Almighty generated a barrier that fended off the lightning strike, but the other two cards shattered into nothing. "When summoned I can have this Gilford destroy all monsters on your field and in your hand, or all magic and trap cards on your field and in your hand. I chose magic and traps."
Despite their sudden success in eliminating Eikyuu's killer combo, none of them looked happy. The knowledge that their best chance at winning was gone still weighed heavily on their hearts. Kirani continued to smirk, and cast a brief glance up at the sky. 'Drake, I hope you're watching, because you made what I'll do next possible. Thank you.'
"Alright Eikyuu, I've got just one more move to make before my turn is done. That would be this last card in my hand being placed face down on the field!" She slid the card onto her duel disk, and then she folded her arms across her chest. Her smirk settled into a grim smile, the smile of one who knew something bad was going to happen but accepted it.
Takuya took a deep breath, and then glanced over at Kirani. She offered him a brief nod of the head, and he began to understand what she was doing. 'So that's what my part is then? So be it. I'll give this everything I've got!'
He pulled up his next card and held it up in front of his face. He lowered it to just below his eyes, and he smiled. "Eikyuu, you've shown us the power of your gods. Dalin responded by showing us that the only way to fight back was with gods of our own. Kirani has unleashed hers...and now it's my turn!"
Kirani and Hikari shot him surprised looks, and Takuya got the impression that Eikyuu was surprised as well. "The Trials were important factors in our lives, they were used to grant us the power to fight back against you and be immune to your manipulative powers. But that's not all that happened."
A look of dawning comprehension appeared on Kirani's face, and she smirked. It was she who continued where Takuya had left off. "Roar of Thunder and Gilford, Deity of Lightning and Thunder both appeared in my deck after the Trials. He's a divine type, so he was created to combat you. I assume that each of us got something like that."
Takuya smirked and raised the drawn card over his head, and it began to shine. "She's right about that, this card became mine after the Trials. Now to summon it I can only sacrifice monsters with 'knight' in their title, so I sacrifice all five of my monsters to summon the god of my deck and soul!"
He plucked the five monsters off his duel pod and then slid them into the cemetery, finally he threw his card down onto the disk. "Come forth, Knight of God(5000/5000)!" A towering knight in golden armor descended from the sky, holding a blade forged from the sun itself.
"Knight of God is unique amongst most other divine monsters in that it can be summoned without a tribute yet is a level ten anyways. For each monster with 'knight' in its title that I sacrifice Knight of God gains one thousand attack and defense points. Since I sacrifice five he has a total of five thousand points in each stat." Knight of God snapped the blade around, and saluted Takuya with it.
"Of course Knight of God still isn't enough to defeat God of Death, but he doesn't need to be. Reveal trap card, Death by Poker! This continuous trap makes it so that whenever one of my monsters combats one of yours, you lose two hundred life points!" One of his two set cards flipped up, revealing itself.
Eikyuu didn't even seem bothered. "An attack upon any of my monsters would be fruitless. Goddess of Immortality cannot be destroyed, God of Might is always too powerful, and Goddess of Creation cannot be attacked as long as I have another divine type in play. You are powerless."
"Powerless? I doubt it. Knight of God attack Goddess of Immortality!" The knight swung his fiery sword and a stream of divine flame slammed into the goddess' barrier and dissipated. The knight seemed to frown and then lifted its blade above its head. (ELP: 9300)
"Knight of God, special ability number two activates! As long as you have a monster in play Knight of God can keep attacking. Since I can't kill Goddess of Immortality I can attack an infinite number of times, and that means your life points are gone!" Knight of God swung his sword again, and another stream of divine flame crashed into the barrier. (ELP: 9100)
Knight of God raised its blade to attack again, and Eikyuu held up a card. Light blaze out of the card and Knight of God stumbled backwards and dropped into a crouch. "By removing Holy Awe from my cemetery I can switch one opposing monster into defense mode. Your plan has failed."
Takuya grimaced and felt his hands shake. He understood what was coming, understood that his best chance to eliminate Eikyuu once and for all was gone. He should have known that if Dalin couldn't do it, then neither could he. 'Dalin...your sacrifice won't be in vain. I'll figure out what you intended, just like Kirani has! Then I'll know the way to defeat Eikyuu, I'll know his weakness!'
"I set one card face down and conclude my turn. Hikari, it's back to you." He smiled at the older girl, hoping that his false confidence would instill some confidence in her. But from what he could see, it wasn't helping very much.
Hikari's hand shook as she drew, but the sight of the card she had drawn helped her gain a bit of her courage back. Now wasn't the time to be cowering behind negative thoughts. "My own god is here! I have to sacrifice a high level monster with 'mythical', 'legendary', or 'sacred' in it's name to summon it, which I have. So Nephtys fades away to give birth to Legendary Hero Hercules(3200/2800)!"
The phoenix was instantly replaced by a tall and handsome human who was incredibly muscular, and wore older Greek styled clothing. "Hercules has three special abilities, and the first is that he can attack the opposing player directly if only to reduce the damage by half. So Hercules, attack!"
The demi-god raced right past Eikyuu's other gods and smashed his fist into the god's face. Eikyuu slid backwards by about four feet, and a tiny hairline fracture appeared in his mask as his life points took a dip. "Score one for the home team." (ELP: 7500)
Eikyuu lifted up one hand and slid it down that fracture. His eyes flared black for a moment, and then returned to normal. "That was a mistake."
Hikari shivered at the tone of his voice, but tried not to let it stop her from continuing her move. Slowly she slid a card from her hand onto her duel disk. "One card face down. I'm done."
The God of Order allowed another card to appear in his hand, and then he snapped his fingers. Knight of God grasped at his throat and then shattered into a million pieces. "Knight of God's power is appreciated. Now, God of Death(24800/24100) is strong enough to eliminate any foe."
Kirani snapped her fingers, and motioned to Eikyuu. "If it's so strong, why don't you come and try it out on me? I don't get the feeling that your monster is as tough as you say it is."
Eikyuu tilted his head to the side and then they heard an odd noise from him. It took them a second to realize that he was chuckling. "How very intriguing. You want me to attack you, but only because you don't wish for me to attack either of these others. But which one is it?"
The female duelist tensed up as Eikyuu began to look back and forth between Takuya and Hikari. "You're wrong! I'm the one you want Eikyuu, the other two, they aren't the challenge! I'm the only duelist besides Dalin in this group capable of harming you!"
Eikyuu chuckled again, and then raised his arm. "You are lying. As a matter of fact, the one to have just hurt me...that will be my target. God of Death, eliminate that fool." His finger was pointing directly at Hikari.
Hikari jerked back in surprise, and shot a look down at her face down card. Her hand fumbled towards her duel disk, fear making it harder to take action. She had to defend herself, or it was the end for her. 'This can't be happening!'
Kirani's body blazed with the same crimson energy from before as she extended her hand out over her field. Her face down card flipped up, and that same red energy expanded around the field. A red symbol in Kanji appeared on her forehead, depicting the word 'Love'. "Go set card, Heart of Love!"
Eikyuu's gaze was immediately drawn to her as her Heart card activated its power. Now his focus was completely on her. "Good to see I've got your attention. Now, I sacrifice my monster in order to remove your battle phase for the next three turns!"
Gilford, Deity of Lightning and Thunder closed his eyes and was instantly consumed by the power of her Heart card. A red glow settled over Eikyuu's field, preventing him from attacking at all. "You also have made a foolish mistake in using your Heart of Man."
"Really? You think so? Well I don't! Special ability number two activate! The sacrificed monster's attack points are now added to each of our life points except for yours!" Three red beams of light shot out of her card and slammed down on each of them in turn. Kirani felt relief flow through her as her life points shot up. (KLP: 9100)
Takuya sighed as his life points were restored. He knew it was only a temporary form of relief, but every little bit would could. 'Let's just hope we can keep our life points long enough to figure out how to beat Eikyuu.' (TLP: 4450)
Hikari placed a hand against her stomach, feeling the bruises there fading as Kirani's special card worked its magic and restored her with further life energy and further life points. 'Thank you Kirani, I desperately needed that. And thank you for saving me.' (HLP: 4700)
The prismatic eyes of the God of Order once again turned black, but now they were focused specifically on Kirani. "You are an insolent fool, a gnat who must be swatted. Your interference will be removed, and the power of your Heart of Man will bother me no longer. Activate magic card!"
He held out one of the two cards in his hand, and the other one vanished as he did so. "By discarding one card from my hand I can use the power of Damnation of the Unfaithful. This magic card will inflict half the attack points of one divine monster in play as damage to the opponent. I choose God of Death, and I choose you Kirani Kajika. Die!"
A huge pillar of dark energy shot out of the magic card, and Kirani braced herself. She flashed a smile to the other two duelists, and then she was swept off her feet. The dark energy carried her into the air, and then arched down and slammed her against the ground. When it dissipated she was lying limp and lifeless. (KLP: 0)
Since Eikyuu had no more cards in his hand, Takuya knew that it was his turn. 'Kirani sacrificed herself to save Hikari...but the question is why? Is it because she's Drake's sister, or did she just not expect Eikyuu to have a card like Damnation of the Unfaithful? Damn it...I still don't understand!'
He picked up another card, and a red energy glow surrounded him. The explanation came moments later, planted into his mind as if by instinct. "Since Heart of Love is in the cemetery, during each standby phase it will increase my life points and Hikari's by one thousand!" (TLP: 5450)
Hikari gasped in amazement as more life energy flooded into her, further reinforcing her with life points. "Wow...that feels wonderful!" (HLP: 5700)
"There's little else I can do right now, so I set one monster face down and end my turn." His new monster that was set on the field was no replacement for Knight of God, but it was the best he could do with what he had.
Hikari drew, and once again the two of them were flooded with life points and life energy. 'Kirani's Heart card is still protecting us, but even in the turns that we'll have before Eikyuu can attack again won't be enough to give us the needed life points to survive his assaults, not with God of Death at that level of power.' (TLP: 6450, HLP: 6700)
"You may not have a battle phase, but I do have one! Hercules, activate your special ability and attack Eikyuu directly!" The mighty half-god charged straight at Eikyuu and delivered a powerful uppercut right to god's chin. Eikyuu was once again staggered by the blow, and a hairline fracture appeared at the bottom of his mask. (ELP: 5900)
"You test my patience girl. When I once more have a battle phase, you will fall to my power." She shivered in fear, understanding that what Eikyuu had said was true. The worst part was, she probably wouldn't get another chance to attack with Legendary Hero Hercules.
Eikyuu's eyes were black flames as he gestured to Hercules. "That monster has done enough damage. God of Death will crush it. Death Ending Slash!"
Hercules was blown apart by God of Death, and it's energy surged into the mighty and so far unbeatable God of Death. "God of Death(28000/26900) cannot attack yet, so my turn is ended."
Takuya drew, and as the energy of the Heart of Love was infused into him, he felt something different. Something strange. 'That warmth...it's like it's trying to reassure me of something. And...I think I know what that is.' (TLP: 7450, HLP: 7700)
"Hikari, I want you to know my honest opinion about this duel. I don't think that we can win against Eikyuu." Hikari dropped her head, having felt the same thing deep in her heart. But she was surprised when Takuya placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm not done. I don't think we can win the duel itself, but I feel that somehow, in the end...the answer will reveal itself. Dalin knew, he knew exactly what had to happen for Eikyuu to fall, and Kirani figured it out as well. We'll figure it out, I know we will. But until that moment, despite how hopeless it seems, I intend to keep fighting!" He clenched his right hand into a fist, and his eyes seemed to burn with his desire to fight.
Hikari felt herself caught up in that gaze, and she barely realized she had nodded until seconds after it was done. "Yes...yes I'll fight with you! To the end of it all, I swear to you that I'll keep fighting with whatever strength I have in my body!"
Takuya turned back to Eikyuu and shoved a card into his duel pod. "You hear that Eikyuu? We're not going to bow down and let you walk all over us! If you want mankind's free will gone then you're going to have to fight for it every inch of the way!"
Hikari responded by drawing her own card, and then instantly sliding it into position. "You won't gain anything from us without a big fight. And we'll be preparing for your assault that will come in just a few turns. So get ready, because we're going to bring you down!" (TLP: 8450, HLP: 8700)
A new card materialized in Eikyuu's hand, and the god chuckled for the third time in the duel. "What a childish and naive sentiment. Fighting will accomplish nothing. It is your purpose to lose, just as it is my purpose to win. We cannot fight our purpose, we are purpose embodied. Without purpose, we are nothing."
The god motioned to his continuous magic card, which started glowing. "I forfeit one thousand life points to special summon Deity of Empowerment(1000/1000) from my deck to the field in defense mode. I'm certain you remember this monster." (ELP: 4900)
The energy being appeared in front of him, completing his load out of divine creatures. It was frightening just to think about the fact that he had five deadly divine monsters in play at that very moment. "Now I activate this familiar continuous magic card. Prayer Blessings."
Hikari and Takuya gritted their teeth, realizing that their efforts at reducing Eikyuu's life points were once again going to be undone in a mere second. "Before activating these two card's effects, I use God of Death to destroy Shinomori's set monster."
Takuya frowned and picked his monster up off his duel pod and then slid it into the cemetery. "Knight to the Third Power(1700/1200) is destroyed. So go ahead and gain its power."
"And so I shall. Now with God of Death(29700/28100) at a more suitable level of power, I initiate the effects of Deity of Empowerment and Prayer Blessings." Blue light flowed from the two cards and into Eikyuu, reinforcing his life points in a way that no other cards in the entire game of Duel Monsters possibly could. (ELP: 22750)
The moment that Takuya drew, both he and Hikari gained an additional boost in life points. He glanced at his new card, and he began to smile. Then he threw back his head and laughed. "So this is how it's going to be? Then I'll just go with the flow." (TLP: 9450, HLP: 9700)
Hikari looked at him strangely, but he just flashed her a smile. "It's okay Hikari, I think I finally understand. Not just about Eikyuu's weakness, but about myself. You see, I'm just a regular guy, no matter what else is granted to me I'm nobody special."
She frowned, not quite understanding where he was going with this. Eikyuu merely waited patiently for him to continue his move. "I don't understand...what do you mean?"
"Hikari, it's special people who change the world. I've known since the moment I saw you that you were special, even D'harim couldn't deny that. Even when I was beneath all that hatred that was D'harim I was still drawn to you, because I somehow knew you were special." Hikari felt her face flush bright red at his words, still not knowing how to take them.
"In moments we'll know the answer to that question, I can guarantee it. And I know that you'll be the one to make sure that the answer is the right one." Hikari stared at him in shock, speechless at first.
"But...how can you know that? How can you possibly know?" Takuya smiled and took her hand in his, and then squeezed it lightly.
"Because I have faith in you, that's why. Now, let's get this duel back underway so we can stop Eikyuu, right?" He released her hand and then turned back to Eikyuu. He fanned out the three cards in his hand, and then immediately took action with them.
"Eikyuu! Let's get this show on the road shall we? You have just one more turn where you can't attack, and then we'll know how to beat you. Till then, I set two cards face down and play a monster in defense mode. End turn!" Now he had one defensive monster, and five magic or trap cards to be used.
Hikari drew, but despite the warmth granted to her by Kirani's Heart of Love she still couldn't see the answer that Takuya was talking about. Nor could she see how he could know. 'He has faith in me...he thinks I'm special. But...am I really?' (TLP: 10450, HLP: 10700)
"I...I end my turn." She had no monster to summon, and she already had five cards face down. She just had to hope that her boosted life points and her five set cards would be able to defend her against Eikyuu's power when the time came.
Eikyuu seemed to sneer at them as he gained a new card to use. "This is the last turn that you are both safe. Now, God of Death annihilates Takuya's set monster." The monster was instantly blown apart.
"Nine Card Don(1300/0) was the sacrifice, fodder to your god. Take its power if you want, it's not like it will make a difference in the end. The answer is coming." Eikyuu tilted his head slightly to the side, but he still didn't seem bothered by Takuya's confidence.
"You are equally as confident and foolish as your previous companions. Yet despite their confidence, despite their utter certainty that they could not fail, they have all fallen. The two spirits, Kirani, and your mightiest warrior Dalin. And every other member of your foolhardy group has fallen in the past to myself or to my worshipers. In the end, you have nothing." Hikari felt herself shrink under Eikyuu's words, but Takuya stood proud and strong.
"Deity of Empowerment and Prayer Blessings activate their special effects, vastly increasing my life points." Further energy surged into his body, placing him high above them in terms of life points. (ELP: 41250)
"Now I activate Divine Power. This magic card allows me to activate the effect of one divine monster on my field an extra time during this turn. So I activate the effect of Deity of Empowerment again." More life point flooded into him, raising his life points up to a ludicrous amount. (ELP: 57250)
"My turn ends now, therefor ending the effect of Heart of Love that stops me from having a battle phase. Your chances to prepare yourself are nearly ended. On my next turn, you will fall." He folded his arms over his chest, shifting his gaze between the two of them.
Takuya snapped a card off his deck, and life points flooded into him and Hikari. He flashed her a smile, and then nodded for her to take her turn. 'We're down to the wire. But I know that in the end she'll understand. All I have to do is...' (TLP: 11450, HLP: 11700)
Hikari grimaced despite the further life points that they received. She had every card at her disposal that she was going to have, but she knew that they wouldn't help. All he had to do was draw another card like the one that had finished Kirani, or Wingbeat of God. 'There's no way we can beat him, he's just too strong!' (TLP: 12450, HLP: 12700)
She let her head drop, avoiding Takuya's gaze. "My turn is over. It's your move Eikyuu."
Eikyuu unfolded his arms and pointed to Deity of Empowerment. "My monster activates its special ability, enforcing my life points with an additional eighteen thousand five hundred life points." (ELP: 75750)
The god turned his gaze on Hikari and held up another card from his hand. "You are the one that Kajika wished to protect, so I will eliminate you for that and for the damage your creature caused my face. Activate magic card!"
Blue bonds of light settled over Hikari's five face down cards, and she gasped in shock. "The magic card Divine Right is similar to the trap version, only it is less powerful. The targeted player cannot activate magic or trap cards during this turn. This is the end for you."
God of Death readied itself, turning to face her directly. She blanched at being faced with the god that was death incarnate, knowing that she had no way to defend herself. "God of Death(31000/28100) will attack you directly. Death Ending Slash!"
"Hold it Eikyuu! I won't let that happen, because she's special and she's going to be the one to make sure the answer is true! Go face down card, Emergency Provisions!" His quick-play magic card flipped up and his four other face down cards began to shudder.
Hikari and Eikyuu both glanced at him, uncertain exactly what he was intending. "I'm using this card to gain four thousand life points, but one of the cards I'm sending to the grave I'm also going to activate. It's called Tilt, and it lets me use an effect of one card in the cemetery!" (TLP: 16450)
The four cards shattered, and his life points shot up. Then a red glow emerged around him, as Heart of Love revealed itself. "Heart of Love is what I've brought back, and it's telling me exactly what to do. In this situation...it knows the power it can use. Go, Love's Last Gift!"
The red glow that surrounded him shot directly at Hikari and slammed into her, filling her with an amazing warmth. She felt her body surging with energy as it pumped power into her body, power and life energy. "Love's Last Gift requires me to sacrifice all of my life points, but then those life points are added to Hikari's life points which are immediately doubled!" (HLP: 58300)
Hikari whipped around to face Takuya, and the other duelist offered her one final smile. "I know it's you. Because you're special." (TLP: 0)
With that said, he collapsed. Hikari tried to call out to him, but dark energy struck her body and hurled her backwards. She hit the snow and slid backwards, the ice cutting up her back. She cried out in pain, and was certain she heard something crack. The only reason she wasn't killed was because of the power she had been granted. (HLP: 27300)
"This is simple foolishness. I have Deity of Empowerment attack you directly for additional damage." The being of energy fired an energy ball at her, just as she was standing up. The attack hit her in the shoulder and knocked her down onto her back once again. (HLP: 26300)
She shuddered, and with the warmth of love flowing through her veins was able to struggle back up to her feet. Eikyuu's eyes flashed black and he snapped his fingers. In an instant three of his monsters vanished. "I sacrifice Goddess of Creation, Deity of Empowerment, and Goddess of Immortality to summon the supreme god."
The three named monsters vanished in a flash, and what replaced them shocked her utterly. It was about nine feet tall, wore scarlet robes, and had a mask for a face. It was utterly identical to Eikyuu. "This is Supreme God of Order(?). This is my avatar, the creature that will destroy you utterly."
"It...it's you?" Eikyuu nodded, and then pointed at her. His other self nodded in return and raised one hand. A beam of blue light shot out of his palm and slammed into her chest, but unlike the others it didn't seem to cause any physical or life point damage.
"Supreme God of Order can attack regardless of the circumstances, even though it is my Main Phase 2. All rules are bent to his will, and his order replaces all others when he completes a direct attack. After doing so all cards on the opponent's field, in their hand, and in their cemetery are removed from the game." Hikari stared in shock as the cards she had left vanished in a flash, leaving her utterly defenseless.
"There is nothing left for you to do. End turn." He stood waiting for her to make her move, and she simply sat there.
'He said I was special, but what I can do that can defeat a god? Why am I the one who's supposed to find the answer to stopping him? Why is it my purpose to stop him? Just because some guy I've known for about a day says he has faith in me?' A tear slid down her cheek as she struggled to find the answer.
Her eyes snapped open, and she blinked several times. 'Purpose? Faith? That's it! That's the answer, that's the true answer! That's Eikyuu's weakness! I understand!'
With renewed vigor she rose to her feet and placed two fingers on the top of her deck. "Eikyuu! I have the answer now, the answer to defeating you! You gave it to me, so I thank you for that! Prepare to find out what mankind's free will is truly capable of!"
She snatched up the card and instantly her body was bathed in golden light. She breathed deep and threw the card down onto her disk. "I activate Heart of Faith!"
A golden symbol of faith appeared on her forehead, and her glow pushed back the darkness of God of Death. Eikyuu tilted his head to the side, not having expected the appearance of another Heart of Man. "Perhaps I should have anticipated this. Daisuke Ihachi had such power, so his sister would as well."
"You misunderstand it all Eikyuu, this isn't my power, it's the power of all of mankind! Mankind's faith is what gave birth to you, and it's what's going to end you! Activate special ability, Resounding Horn of God!" A single beautiful note filled the air, and Eikyuu's gods shuddered and disappeared.
If Eikyuu had normal eyes, they would have widened at what he suddenly saw. One by one his fallen opponents rose to their feet, and everything was changing. "Resounding Horn of God revives each of your opponents and resets their life at normal levels, and your life is reset as well." (HLP: 4000, DLP: 4000, TLP: 4000, MLP: 4000, ALP: 4000, KLP: 4000, ELP: 4000)
The five revived duelists looked over at Hikari and smiled, knowing that she had come to understand exactly what was needed. "Next every player removes their deck from play except for seven cards of their choice. From now on there is no draw phase!"
Each player selected their seven cards, and then set aside their decks. Eikyuu seemed to frown, uncertain as to what was going to happen next. "Now that everything is set in place, Resounding Horn of God instantly ends my turn. So Eikyuu, it's all you."
Eikyuu snapped his seven card hand into full size, and then he began to laugh outright. "Your power, your power is nothing. Your purpose is null and void, you are meaningless shells. It is my purpose to win, and I have everything needed to do so. Do you really think that the faith of mankind can defeat the ultimate purpose of the Supreme God of Order?"
As one the six duelists gave their answer. "Absolutely."
"So be it then, you shall all die!"
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Author's Notes: The final segment of the battle against Eikyuu commences as the faith of mankind is pitted against Eikyuu's absolute purpose. The only question left to be answered is which one is stronger.
Next Time: The Last Will and Testament of Mankind
Review Response
G.O.T. Nick: Once again I say: Doomed sounds about right.
The White Mage: Yes, he lost.
WolfGeneral: Nope. We're screwed.
VoidTemplar: Dalin was gone, and in the next chapter you'll find out exactly whether or not they can win at all.
Original Cards(If I put a TM next to a card, that means it was created by Time Mage who created Kai, if it has WG next to it, it was created by WolfGeneral)
Kirani: Enter the Storm, Roar of Thunder, Gilford: Deity of Lightning and Thunder, Heart of Love
Takuya: Knight of God, Death by Poker, Knight to the Third Power, Nine Card Don, Tilt
Hikari: Legendary Hero Hercules, Heart of Faith
Eikyuu: Damnation of the Unfaithful, Deity of Empowerment, Prayer Blessings, Divine Right, Supreme God of Order
