I LIVE! Yes, like the lost phoenix, I rise again from the ashes of lost computer memory! You see, I got started on this chapter a long time ago, but then I had all seven of my siblings at home for the holidays, and so I took a break. However, when I got back to my comp, something had happened and all my files were gone, and I had to crash hard drive. Then I spent a while restoring my list of original cards, which has taken some time. But I'm back, and feeling seriously inspired. So, let's go!
Advertisement: Seeker of the Soul, formerly known as thegymrat, has outdone himself once again with Shadowed Light of My Heart, sequel to What Was, What Is, and What Shall Be. The story does nothing but get better, and it's sad to think that it may end within the next ten to fifteen chapters. However, there's another sequel already in the works, so we need not fear! Go read it! Awesome Duels, incredible original cards, and a plot ten times more original than I could hope to produce.
Card of the Chapter:
Energy Reflector (Quick-Play Magic) Sacrifice 1 Monster on your Field and activate. The next attack by a Monster during the activated turn becomes a direct attack.
OK, so here we have another Anime card. Energy Reflector is pretty simple and yet so awesome! Sacrifice one of those weak monsters you don't have a use for anymore, or a token, or something else worthless, and attack directly. That's just cool! This could be the ultimate weapon in a burn deck. Get this going with a monster with a good number of attack points, and -BAM- blow up your opponent in one fell swipe. Not really a whole lot more to say about it.
Now, on with the chapter:
Chapter Thirteen: Victory on the Wings of Myth
Kai made his way around another corner in the streets of Domino. Nearly a whole hour had transpired since his Duel with Eric, and yet, somehow he felt refreshed already, despite the beating his body had taken. Glancing down at his Duel Disk, he was reminded of the fact that he still needed two Locator Cards if he was going to reach the ten he needed to enter the Battle City Finals.
Kai was snapped from these thoughts by a shrill scream nearby. On instinct, he bolted in the general direction of the shriek.
He came to a stop a block later, finding a man in a black sweater and jeans towering over a young woman about Kai's age, who was curled up on the ground.
"Listen, you stupid whore, just give me your Locator Cards and any rare cards you've got!" he shouted at her, raising his hand to smack her.
"But...But I won the Duel." she stammered. Not pleased by her response, the mans arm came down to strike, but was stopped by another hand tightly clenching his wrist. Looking up in surprise, he found himself staring into a set of multi-colored eyes.
"Who're you?"
"That doesn't matter." Kai responded, using the leverage he had over the man to throw him off of the girl. "What does matter is that I don't like men who abuse women because they feel superior. If you truly want her Locator Cards, then Duel me. I'll put up all eight of mine, plus every card I have on me, including..." Kai stopped himself and reached into his pack, retrieving a small black box, about the size of a deck. "This puzzle box, which holds the rarest cards my parents owned. And trust me, some of these cards are more rare than you could hope to imagine." At this declaration, the man in the sweater smirked, a foul glint in his eyes. Jumping back, he activated his Duel Disk.
"Fine kid. But understand, if you don't deliver after I crush you, you'll pay." Kai nodded and activated his own Duel Disk. "I'll even be a nice guy and let you go first, since you're putting so much on the line, I think you'll need all the preparation time you can get."
Kai-4000/Man-4000
"Very well" Kai responded, drawing six cards. "I summon Guardian of the Archives (1000/2200) in defense mode." A figure in scarlet robes and wielding an ebony staff appeared, chanting softly to generate a translucent barrier around himself. "I'll also set two cards face down and then I'll end my turn."
"Not bad kid, but not good enough. I play the magic card, Lightspeed Summoning, which allows me to special summon a second monster every turn, so long as I pay 500 Life Points during each of my end phases. So I summon Thunder Soldier (1600/1300) and then I'll sacrifice him for my Thunder Emperor, Zaborg (2400/1000), who will instantly destroy your monster when summoned!" First a man in silver armor with curled blades of electricity over his knuckles appeared, and was then promptly replaced by a large figure in white and gold armor with multiple rods on his back. Said rods then began to charge up electricity, which lanced through the air at Kai's guardian.
"I think not!" Kai declared, waving his hand to the side as one of his two face down cards flipped over. "I activate Spell Flash, which will instantly end the turn in which you target one of my magicians with a monster!" The man growled, but quickly regained his composure and relinquished his turn to Kai and also paying the cost for his Lightspeed Summoning card.
Kai-4000/Man-3500
"I summon Envoy of the Archives (1800/1900) in attack mode!" A figure in blue robes appeared, brandishing an iron staff with a curved blade at the end. "And now that the Envoy and Guardian are together on the field, I may summon the Master of the Archives (1900/1200) from my deck!" A third figure, this one in platinum robes and wielding a golden staff with a crescent moon blade at the head appeared. "Now I will gain 100 Life Points times the number of cards in my Graveyard. True, that's only one card, but it doesn't matter, because you wont even touch my Life Points!"
Kai-4100/Man-3500
"Punk," the man grumbled. "I summon Spark Soldier (1500/1000) and Lightning Drillman (1700/1400)!" A soldier in gold armor and a whip of electricity, and other in blue with a spiral of lighting for a right hand. "Now I'll play my Raigeki to destroy all of your monsters!" A bolt of lightning descended from the sky and consumed all three of Kai's monsters. However, when the flash was gone, all three magicians were still intact, all drawn together under the protective shield of the Guardian of the Archives. "But how?"
"My Guardian of the Archives protects all of my cards from your magic and trap cards, so your magic attack was fruitless." Kai explained.
"Fine, I'll set this card face down, and then I'll have my Zaborg attack your Envoy!" Again, the behemoth charged a bolt of electricity within its lightning rods, which it then directed at Kai's monsters.
"I activate my other face down card, Prismatic Reflection Seal!" Kai shouted as his quick-play magic card activated and barrier of irregularly shaped crystals appeared, absorbing the attack into it, which then his the mirror backing of the shield, causing the attack to reflect onto another surface, which reflected it inward again, where it was deflected again continuously until the on blast of lighting had become man smaller blasts. Finally, the concentration of energy became too much, and the blast suddenly exploded from the barrier in the form of many thin beams of light which struck and destroyed every card on the mans field, burning dozens of holes into each card before destroying them. "This card activates when you attack, negates your attack, and destroys all of your face up cards, and costs me 500 Life Points when the effect resolves!"
Kai-3600/Man-3500
"I'll set this card and end my turn." the man grumbled, setting his final card face down.
"And now it ends." Kai commented, drawing a fourth card. "I play Magical Interest, which forces me to discard the three cards in my hand and then draw two for each card I discarded!" he explained, slipping the cards into his Graveyard, and then drawing six new ones. "I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your set card!" he called as a spiral of wind lashed out and destroyed the one card on the mans field. "Next I'll switch my Guardian of the Archives to attack mode! Then I'll play Polymerization to fuse my Sonic Magician (1600/1800) with my Shockwave Magician (1900/1100) to create Transonic Magician (2500/2500)!" A man in black robes with white symbols all over him appeared. "Then I'll summon Quasar Magician (1800/1500) in attack mode!" A fifth magician appeared, this one in bright neon robes. "Now my magicians, attack his Life Points directly!" All five sorcerers crossed their staffs together, forming a single point of light which flashed multiple colors. Finally, they released the attack in the form of a torrential stream of power which blasted the man onto his back, scattering his cards across the street.
Shaking, the man came to his feet. Then, in a sudden fit of rage, he charged Kai! With ease, Kai sidestepped the attack, but was caught off guard by the mans swift pivot, bringing his fist to meet Kai in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Rolling to the left, Kai managed to avoid the mans stomp, and then managed to knock him off of his feet with a quick sweep attack, bringing his chin crashing against the concrete earth.
Kai was on his feet as quickly as he could, but was again surprised by his opponent tackling him to the earth, grabbing him by the throat and beginning to tighten his grip. Gasping for air, Kai tried to pry the older mans fingers off, but to no avail. Coughing and choking, Kai's breathes became weaker and weaker as he floundered under the man. In fact, he was nearly about to give in to death when a distinct sound reached his ears.
It was crying.
Twisting his head to the side slightly, Kai caught sight of the young woman this man had attacked. 'That's right. If I don't stop this guy, then others will suffer because of it. I failed my parents, I wont fail anyone else!'
Filled with new resolve, Kai's eyes snapped open, full of vigor, and a distinct fire burning within them. The girl looked up from his tears in awe as their attacker suddenly was the one gasping for air. He quickly released Kai's throat to reach for his own, all the while hacking and coughing, thrashing about where he stood. Then his eyes filled with fear as he saw Kai rise to his feet, a small aura of gold light all around him.
"Go away." Kai calmly stated, raising the Millennium Rod from behind his back. Struck to a new level of terror, the man nodded his head, eyes as wide as the possibly could. In a mad panic, still gasping for air, he bolted out of the area, finally regaining the ability to breath as he turned the corner, which was immediately followed by a scream.
Turning to face the girl he had rescued, Kai extended his hand, which she accepted. She then placed in his palm a small black box-the black puzzle box he had tempted the man with.
"You dropped this when he knocked you down." she explained.
"Are you alright?" Kai asked. She nodded, and then added a most unusual response to his question: she kissed him.
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"You!" Vaun shouted. "How dare you return!"
The man smirked and turned so that his full body was facing the boy samurai. His entire body was covered in the purple robes of a Rare Hunter, and his features were for the most part hidden. However, that cold smirk and the scar all along his left cheek was unmistakable to Vaun.
"Well, Vaun, it's been some time. I haven't seen you since the incident at the temple all those years ago."
"You lost then, and you'll lose now!" Vaun shouted, bringing his bokken into an attack stance.
"Oh, so you think you can finish was your parents and master could not?" the Rare Hunter chuckled, drawing a full length katana from within the folds of his robes. "I had hoped I'd meet you here in Battle City; I've been carrying this blade with me for just such an occasion. Now, come at me!"
Both fighters charged each other, weapons raised. They met in a flurry of lightning fast strikes, parrying each others blade, but never locking together. Sliding to a halt after being pushed back, Vaun tightened his grip and held his blade erect, waiting patiently for his opponent to move in.
Again, the Rare Hunter charged, this time his blade held to the side of his face with the tip facing forward-a thrusting stance. Pivoting on his front foot, Vaun dodged to the left. However, this move was expected, and his foe moved directly from the thrust to a right-handed sweep, which Vaun blocked by pressing his left forearm against the back of his sword.
"You're better than I remember, Takamori Mudo." Vaun admitted. "However, if you think that you can beat me with the same fighting techniques my ancestors created, then you're sadly mistaken!" And with that, he used his elbow to push his blade in a downward arc, catching Mudo's sword between the ground and his wooden edge. Then, with a quick thrust of his upper body, Vaun smashed his hilt into his enemies chin, knocking him into the air a few inches and back a few feet.
"Who are you to judge me?" Takamori challenged. "You never actually fought with me, only watched as I killed your parents and then the followers of the temple which took you in. However, today, I, Takamori Mudo, shall end the Hiten line, and with it, the bloodline of Hagime Saito and Okita Seta, the leaders of the Shinsengumi's third and first squadrons!"
"You fool!" Vaun shouted, charging in again, this time thrusting directly at Takamori's chest, only to have the attack pushed to the side, but managed to spin to avoid the counter slash. Using the momentum of his spin, Vaun managed to land a lightning fast strike to the larger mans back, doubling him over. "Don't you dare utter their names! Your family betrayed the Shogunate and the Shinsengumi!"
Vaun then found himself pressed down under the weight of his rival, who had, in the time of one second, risen to his full body length and swung upward, and then brought his metal sword crashing down on Vaun, who had barely managed to raise his wooden sword in defense. However, as the two warriors struggled, Vaun noticed the hairline cracks forming at the point of impact on his sword, about one foot from the base of the hilt. Springing from his legs, Vaun managed to throw the other man off of him, and then followed up with a slash directly down, which was cleanly blocked, causing another series of cracks to form closer to the tip, but quickly connecting to the first set of cracks.
"You're sword is weakening, samurai boy. Soon, you're weapon will be gone and you dead." Takamori taunted, slashing again, this time causing fragments of wood to splinter off and dart throughout the air. However, despite the force of the blow and the destruction of the bokken, his sword remained frozen at the point of impact, and was this time met with a metallic clang. "What?"
"I'm no fool, Mudo." Vaun responded, throwing the older man off, raising his own steel blade up to his eye level, and brushing off the last few inches of wood which had not been broken off. "These consealble swords may not be a sturdy as a normal katana, but they are less suspicious, and less dangerous, unless I need them to be otherwise."
"Very clever." Mudo consented. "However, you'll still die, and the war between our families will end. After three hundred years, I shall prove victorious!"
"No," Vaun challenged. "You will be dead." Again, he slashed, this time coming from bellow, but was blocked. However, without hesitation, he used the opposing force of the block to circle back down, up, and then cutting down, completing the circle, and drawing first blood as he caught his opponents right cheek. Sadly, there was no time for celebration, as the now enraged Rare Hunter attacked with a series of rapid slashes, each one blocked, but each time causing his opponents body to shake with the force.
"Die!" Takamori screamed, using a two-hand hold to bring his sword strait down on his opponent, who held his blade out horizontal to block the attack. The swords clanged as they met, followed by a snapping sound as the steel of Vaun's thin sword snapped, fillings of alloy striking his cheek and cutting into his flesh while the one foot of his sword which held the tip dropped to the ground.
Caught by surprise at the force of the blow, Vaun was easily knocked back a foot by a short kick to his ribs, followed by a spin which landed the hilt of the full-fledged katana in his cheek. Dropping what remained of his sword, Vaun gripped his side and rolled to avoid being split in two.
"It's hopeless for you now!" Mudo called as he was dodged yet again, Vaun this time coming to his feet via a kip-up, which he followed with a duck and roll under the next attack-a horizontal slash. The two stood about ten feet away from each other, one with a look of malice in his eyes and a sword of death in his grip the other with no such sword, but a jaw set with determination and honor.
Mudo charged.
Vaun raised his right arm behind his torso, and then snapped his elbow out, flinging the object he had retrieved from the ground at his would-be killer.
Mudo froze, the twelve inches of steel seeping into his left shoulder. The twelve inch fragment of Vaun's sword which he had broken off! Vaun had retrieved it when he rolled, and now he had seriously wounded Takamori!
"Well played Vaun. Now here we are. You without a weapon, and me with a wounded arm." he chuckled coldly. "However, your attempts to be a hero failed. We have the girl. My men escaped with her while you and I did battle." To emphasize this point, he waved his arm at the now nearly vacant alley, in which stood only the two combatants. "We will have to do battle again, and soon. Find Kaethan, and bring him with you. My men and I will be waiting for you both." And with that, he turned and fled. Of course, Vaun gave chase, but the prey had too much of a head start, and once he reached the end of the alley, a truck had come by and retrieved the man in purple robes.
"No!" Vaun shouted, dropping to his knees and pounding his fists on the ground. "I nearly had him! Vengeance which has been due for nearly three hundred years, and I let it escape me!" His tears of frustration fell to the earth, mixing with the drops of blood which fell from his cheeks. "Takamori Mudo, you will die! I swore this seven years ago, and today, I fulfill my vow!" Rising to his feet, he departed. He had preparations to make.
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Quickly, Kai broke the kiss, breathing in deeply, a look of shock and horror upon his face. The girl looked back at him, surprise and possible hurt in her eyes. True, Kai appreciated her thanks, but this was not what he expected, nor wanted. He had never been kissed before-had never had feelings for another of that sort. Now, suddenly, he had received his first kiss without his consent, and from a person he didn't even know the name of.
All of these thoughts rushed through the introverted duelists mind, and he found himself, for the first time in years, in an emotional stupor. He was befuddled by the single actions of a stranger, and it was making him extremely flustered.
"Why'd you do that?" she asked, obviously oblivious to Kai's intentions. "I thought we had a good thing going." Kai continued to stare, thunderstruck. "You...You think I'm ugly, don't you!" she screamed, tears forming in her eyes. Apparently, she had been traumatized by the experience of a few moments ago, and her rationality was gone.
"No, it's just, I've never kissed anyone before." Kai began, trying to re-master himself. "I mean, I don't believe my actions deserved such a reward."
"Liar!" she shouted back.
"Calm down, please." he pleaded. "I meant no offense."
"Don't toy with me!" she countered.
"Listen to me!" he raised his voice. "I risked everything I have for you. I didn't know you, and I expected nothing from you. I did it because it was right. If you truly think I was trying to take advantage of you, please reconsider. I am willing to forget this ever happened, and go my way, if you are willing to allow me."
"You're not going anywhere until you Duel me!" she shouted. "And after I beat you, you'll apologize, and give me all of your Locator Cards!" She raised her arm and her Duel Disk clicked into place, deck already set. Resigning himself to resolve what he had unwillingly begun, Kai nodded and activated his own Duel Disk.
Kai-4000/Girl-4000
"I go first!" she declared, drawing six cards. "And I'll summon a monster in defense mode, and set a card face down!"
"I'll also summon a monster in defense mode, and then I'll set two cards face down. End turn." The three cards appeared before Kai's field, a sturdy barrier against any attack she might throw against him.
"I sacrifice my face down Harpie Girl (500/500) for Berfomet (1400/1800) in attack mode!" First a small girl with a cute face and long blonde hair in an exceptionally revealing outfit (so much so that Kai turned away) and small pink wings appeared for a second before being replaced by a large red beast with four arms and curled golden horns. "And when I summon my Berfomet, I may instantly summon my Gazelle, King of Mythical Beasts (1500/1200) in attack mode!" A lion beast with a single horn appeared, hunching back in a stance of wait. "Next I'll play my Polymerization to fuse them together to create Chimera, the Flying Mythical Beast (2100/1800) in attack mode!" The two animal creatures were pulled into a twisting vortex, and reemerged as a single creature, lion-like in body, but it hosted two heads, each hosting horns. Stretching out of its back were two magnificent wings, and it's tail ended in the form of a vipers head. "Chimera, attack his monster!" The creature charged forward, ramming Kai's monster with it's three horns. What appeared was a young man in black robes with a black graduation cap on his head.
"You've destroyed my Learned Magister (400/500)." Kai explained, pulling his deck free. "His special ability allows me to take any level two or lower magician in my deck, and summon it to the field face down!" He slapped the new card onto his Duel Disk, and his field returned to the state it had been in seconds before.
"Fine, I'll set another card face down, and end my turn." the girl answered. "Soon, the winged creatures of Amber Mirthra will destroy you!"
"Amber, I wont lose." Kai declared, his eyes remaining cold and honest as ever. "I will pass this turn, so it's back to you."
"You're not so tough." she scoffed, glancing casually at her new card. "I summon Selene, the Silver Unicorn (1800/1200) in attack mode!" A silver stallion beast with a single horn and silver skin appeared, trotting around it's mistress. "Selene, attack his monster!" The silver creature galloped across the field, spearing the card with its horn, which revealed itself to be a man in white, who exploded, and was replaced by another horizontal card.
"I don't need to go on the attack to be 'tough'." Kai expounded. "The monster you just destroyed was my Immortal Magister (700/1000), who let me summon another Immortal Magister to the field, and also to draw a new card." he explained, adding a fifth card to his hand.
"Fine, Chimera, attacks now!" The hybrid beast flapped its wings and took flight, coming straight down on Kai's second Magister, who exploded before being replaced by the third from his deck, and a sixth card was added to his hand.
"Careful." Kai stated. "You're just giving me more monsters and cards to work with. So now, I'll summon another monster in defense mode, and end my turn."
"Don't tell me how to Duel!" Amber curtly responded. "I summon Penumbra Pegasus (1900/1100) in attack mode!" Her newest monster was another silver haired steed, this one having no horn, but it was equipped with two magnificent wings. "Selene, attack his last Immortal Magister!" she commanded. The unicorn once again rammed its horn through a white robed man, and Kai drew a card once again.
"Now that I have three Immortal Magisters in my Graveyard, they are instantly shuffled into my deck." Kai explained as he moved the three monsters from his Graveyard from his Graveyard to his deck and shuffled.
"Chimera, attack his face down monster!" The cat creature rushed across the field again, this time ramming through a man in gold robes. Instantly, Chimera exploded, and then Amber's other two monsters began to struggle with some unseen force, until they were both pulled to the ground in low crouches. "What's going on?"
"You just activated a flip effect monster of mine." Kai explained, turning the monster card around to show her. "My Mysterious Magister (300/300) instantly destroys one monster on your field and then changes the battle position of all other monsters you control for one turn."
"You've saved yourself for now." she growled, looking over her remaining three cards. "However, by destroying Chimera, you allow me to special summon one of its parts to the field, so I'll summon Berfoment (1400/1800) in defense mode. Go."
"As you wish." Kai responded, pulling a seventh card free. "Go Skilled Light Magician (1900/1700) in attack mode!" A man in white robes with a short staff appeared. "Then I'll play the magic card, Gathering of Magics, and then I'll choose the effect which allows me to paying 1000 Life Points to special summon two spellcasters from my deck to the field, so meet my Guardian of the Archives (1000/2200) in defense mode, and my Gravity Mage (1800/0) in attack mode!" The first monster to appear was the scarlet robed magician in his crouch, staff held up as a lasting barrier between it and its attackers. The second was a man in robes which seemed to change in color with the light, varying between different earth tones. At the same time, one of the jewels on Kai's Skilled Light Magician began to glow. "Next I'll play Charm Blast to switch my Gravity Magician to defense mode, destroying monsters on your field equal to half his level, so I'll destroy your Berfomet and Pegasus!" The two named monsters exploded simultaneously as Kai's monster changed to a crouching position. The second of the jewels on Kai's frist monster began to glow. "Now I'll play the magic card, Poison of the Old Man to raise my Life Points by 1200!"
Kai-5200/Amber-4000
"Now that I've played three magic cards, my Skilled Light Magician possess three magic counters. So now, I'll sacrifice him for my Light Magician (2500/2100) in attack mode!" The man in white shattered, being replaced by his mentor, also dressed in white, brandishing his gold staff. "Light Magician, attack her monster now!" The man raised his gold scepter, charging it with magical energies, which it released in a single explosion, obliterating Selene.
Kai-5200/Amber-3300
"Good move Kai." she smiled, drawing a third card, giving them equal hands. "No wonder I think I'm falling in love with you. But, I wont loose just because completely turned things around so quickly. You see, I can do the exact same thing!" she grinned, pulling on one of her cards. "I summon my Midnight Raven (2200/300) in attack mode!" A large raven of pure shadow materialized on the field, screeching into the air. "Next I'll use my Stealth Wings card to increase its attack by 200 times its level for one turn, so now she has 3000 attack points! But not only that, my Stealth Wings allow her to attack twice this turn. So first, I'll wipe out your Light Magician!" The bird of the night took flight and used its talons to rip through the flesh of Kai's magician, staining his white robes red. "Next I'll destroy your Guardian!" The scarlet robes, unlike the white, showed now signs of the red blood upon them before shattering. "And now, my Midnight Raven and any cards I played on it are returned to my deck!" she explained as the monster disappeared. "That ends my turn."
"I'll draw!" Kai began his turn with four cards. "I'll switch my Gravity Mage to attack mode, and then summon my Sorceress of the Blue Flames (1600/900)!" A woman in blue and red robes appeared with runes stitched into the edges of her robes. She placed her palms together and the runes began to shift and warp, casting the illusion of movement and seeming to come alight with blue fire. "When she is summoned, she instantly destroys one of your set cards!" The flames began to pull away from the sorceress's robes before bombarding the second card Amber had set.
"I don't think so." Amber called, extending her arm over the card, which flipped up, the flames impacting the ground where the cards edges had been seconds before. "Feather Darts allows me to discard a winged-beast from my hand to destroy three cards in your hand." As she slipped her final card into her Graveyard, three small darts seeming to be carved into the shape of feathers sprang from the trap, each arrow striking one of Kai's cards, which he then slipped into his Graveyard, leaving both players without any cards in their hand. "Also, I may draw one card for every monster you discarded. So, how many was that?" Kai held up a single card, which he flipped around to show her, displaying his Silent Magician (1000/1000). Satisfied, she drew one card.
"Even though I don't have any cards in my hand, I can still have both of my monsters attack your Life Points directly. Go!" he commanded as both magicians began to chant, the woman gathering a ball of blue fire, and the man forming a blast of invisible gravity waves, which were launched together, surging towards the young woman.
"I activate my final set card, Dark Wall of Air!" A sphere of black wind encompassed Amber, spinning rapidly and pushing the two attacks away. "This card protects me from direct attacks for one turn."
"I end my turn." Kai growled.
"I play Card of Sanctity!" Amber shouted, playing the card she had drawn by the effects of her Feather Darts, allowing her to draw five cards and Kai to draw six. "Next I'll play Spirt of the Phoenix!" An outline of a bird made of fire appeared on her field, which then soared into the air before charging directly into her Graveyard. "This will revive one random winged-beast in my Graveyard. And the chosen card is:" she paused while she pulled the card out, looked at it, smiled, and then turned it to show Kai. "Berfomet (1400/1800)! And now that he's been summoned, I can call a second Gazelle (1500/1200) from my deck, in defense mode! Then I'll sacrifice Gazelle to summon my Flash Phoenix (2400/2100) in attack mode." A bird of white flames appeared, flapping its wings and sending embers flickering through the air. "Attack his Sorceress!" The birds fires intensified until the sheer intensity forced Kai to turn his head away. Only the cries of pain form his monster told him that his monster was gone, and he turned back to the field as he heard his Life Points dropping.
Kai-4400/Amber-3300
"End turn."
"I switch Gravity Mage to defense mode." Kai began after having drawn his card. "Next I'll summon another monster in defense mode, and then set one card face down. End turn."
"I think it's time I dealt with any possible challenges to my monsters you may try." Amber smirked as she looked at her new card. "I sacrifice my Berfomet for Rekka-The Storm Empress (2400/1000)!" A tall figure in thick armor with four massive wings appeared. "When Rekka is summoned, I can destroy one face down card for every monster on the field. Since there are four monsters, I'll destroy your three face down cards and your face down monster!"
"No!" Kai gasped in horror.
"Yes! Rekka, use Karyu Strike to destroy his cards!" The behemoth flapped its mighty wings a few times, each time increasing in force exponentially. Finally, with one last gust, four individual surges of wind struck the earth, breaking up the ground as they went, slicing Kai's cards using the intense air pressure. "Now, Rekka, attack his Gravity Mage!"
"Gravity Mage, activate special ability!" Kai shouted as the man in earth tone robes began to suddenly twirl his wand, and with each rotation, an unseen force began to pull on the monster until it came to its knees with its arms and wings crossed over its chest and a horizontal card appeared underneath it, as if it were in defense mode. Then the card image moved to cover the monster completely. "By paying 200 Life Points when you attack, I can switch one card on your field face down."
Kai-4200/Amber-3300
"Then I suppose I'll end my turn." Amber grimaced, although she seemed to be for the most part calm.
"I summon Skilled White Magician (1700/1900) in defense mode, and then I'll switch my Gravity Mage to attack mode and I'll attack your face down Empress!" The man in brown robes rose to his feet and once again began to charge his gravity powers, which he launched at the horizontal card.
"I activate Providence of the Dead!" Amber shouted back as she slipped three of her four cards into her Graveyard. "I can activate this card from my hand when you attack, and end your attacks for this turn in exchange for two cards from my hand." As she explained, a ghostly figure appeared and blanketed her field, blocking the attack.
"Then I'll end my turn with another three cards face down, and end my turn." Kai conceded.
"Your face down cards wont stop me." Amber declared calmly. "I activate my rarest card, Harpies Feather Duster!"
"This can't be!" Kai shouted as a funnel of wind and feathers struck his face down cards, destroying them one at a time.
"Then I'll flip over Rekka (2400/1000), and summon Midnight Raven (2200/300) in attack mode. Flash Phoenix, attack hid White Magician!" Again, the intense flames scorched Kai's monster, leaving no traces. "Midnight Raven, attack his Gravity Mage!"
"Gravity Pulse!" Kai commanded as the black bird flip face down.
Kai-4000/Amber-3300
"You can go." Amber smiled.
"I summon Chaotic Magician (1600/2000) in defense mode, and switch my Gravity Mage to defense mode. End turn."
"I play Graceful Charity!" Amber began her turn, looking over the three cards she held, deciding which she would keep as he only card, and which two she would send to the Graveyard, finally deciding upon the third one she had pulled. "Now I'll play Spell Mirror, which will allow me to activate one magic card in my Graveyard at the cost of 500 Life Points! And I choose Card of Sanctity!"
Kai-4000/Amber-2800
"Fine, that lets me draw four cards." Kai accepted, once again holding six cards.
"Next I'll play my second Phoenix Spirit magic card to special summon a monster from my graveyard." On her field appeared Selene the Silver Unicorn, who neighed into the air upon its arrival. "Now I sacrifice my Raven and Selene for my ultimate monster!" she called, shoving the two cards into her Graveyard and then slapping one of her new ones onto her Duel Disk. What appeared was a large phoenix, its body wrapped in an exoskeleton which nearly seemed to be golden armor. "Say hello to my Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys (2400/1600)! Then I'll set two cards face down, and play Eye of the Storm, which will allow me to skip my battle phase to destroy all of your monsters, meaning I can bypass your Gravity Mage's effect!"
A swirl of clouds formed above Kai's field, with a single opening in the center. Quickly the clouds rotation increased in speed until the clouds began to funnel, stretching downwards until it covered both of his monsters, who disappeared behind a veil of water vapor, and were gone when the clouds dissipated.
"End turn."
"I play Polymerization to fuse together my Sonic Magician (1600/1800) and Shockwave Magician (1900/1100) to create Transonic Magician (2500/2500) in attack mode!" The black and white magician form his last Duel appeared, staff at the ready. "Next I'll play my Magicians Era magic card, and then I'll play Mystic Moon Dial, and select its ability to make three turns pass instantly, and allow us both to draw two cards!" Both players drew their new cards as a large slab of stone with a triangle in the center appeared, the shadow of the triangle circling the entire timepiece three time at super speeds. "Now my Transonic Magician gains three magic counters through its special ability, and then three more through the effects of Magicians Era." Six of the crystals in the staff of Kai's monster began to glow as he explained the effects of his cards. "Next I'll use his effect to sacrifice three magic counters to destroy every monster you control!"
Three of the lights faded away from the crystals along the shaft of the staff and the larger jewel at the head began to radiate a bright light, which was released in the form of a large crescent wave which crossed the field and dissolved each of her monsters.
"Transonic Magician, attack her Life Points directly!"
"Activate trap card, Zephyr Field!" Amber countered as one of her cards flipped over and a wall of wind sprang to life between her and the magician, knocking him backwards. "My trap stops your attack and lowers your monsters attack by 100 points times its level, so now he only has 1900 attack points. You're finished."
"What makes you say that?" Kai questioned.
"Let me take my turn, and I'll show you." Kai nodded, and so she drew a fourth card. "First off, my Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys (2400/1600) will return to the field in attack mode!" from her Grave slot exploded a burst of fire, which took the form of her holy creature. "Next, its special ability kicks in, destroying all magic and trap cards on the field!" The creatures wings began to glow, and it flapped them, each flap sending curved blades of light which destroyed her face down card, as well as Kai's Magician's Era.
"By destroying Magician's Era, you've activated its second ability, granting me 800 Life Points times the number of magic counters on the field, so I gain 2400 Life Points!"
Kai-6400/Amber-2800
"Doesn't matter." she responded, selecting a new card. "I play Reclaim, which will instantly activate one card of my choice in my Graveyard, after I discard one card from my hand." Quickly, she slipped her card into her Graveyard, and pulled her hand away, a new card in hand. "I've chosen the trap card, Tyrant Wings, which will give my Phoenix and extra 400 attack points, raising it to 2800!" The wings of the phoenix began to glow once again, and were increased in size to nearly double what they once were. "Sacred Phoenix, attack!" The large golden monster charged a ball of light in its jaws, which it used to incinerate Kai's monster.
Kai-5500/Amber-2800
"And my Tyrant Wings give my Phoenix another ability-it can attack you twice each turn!" Again, the bird opened its jaws, and released another ball of light, which knocked Kai onto his back.
Kai-2700/Amber-2800
Quickly, Kai pulled himself to his feet, his stare just as penetrating and yet calm as ever. "Do you end your turn." The calm in his voice seemed to catch Amber off guard, who's stopped giggling and simply nodded her head. "I must admit Amber, you surprised me. I thought I was the only Duelist who used a deck which has as a major part of its theme the ability to destroy magic and trap cards. However, I wont be caught off guard again. Now I'll end this Duel, here and now!" Looking his four cards, Kai began his turn. "I summon Alpha Sorcerer (1500/1100) in attack mode!" A small magician in midnight blue robes appeared, waving his staff about him. "Then I'll play Monster Reborn on Transonic Magician (2500/2500). Next I'll play Double Magic, discarding one card to play one of your magic cards, and the card I choose is Spell Mirror, and so I'll pay 500 Life Points to reactivate my Mystic Moon Dial, forcing three turns to pass, and each of us to draw two cards!"
Kai-2200/Amber-2800
"Now that three turns have passed, I can sacrifice my Alpha Sorcerer and his three new magic counters for Sigma Sorcerer (2400/2400) in attack mode!" The blue robes magician was replaced by and older version of himself, this one in black robes. "Then I'll play Spell Overlap to reactivate my most recently played magic card, Mystic Moon Dial, and so we each draw two more cards and three more turns pass!" Now the headband around Kai's monster was aglow with its magic counters, and looked at Kai, already aware of his plan. He nodded back. "I sacrifice my Sigma Sorcerer for my Omega Sorcerer (3300/2800) in attack mode!" Amber stared at the two dominating magicians on the field, the fear she felt nearly tangible.
"Transonic Magician, use your special ability to destroy her monster and trap card!" Again, the staff head began to glow and vibrate, generating great energy. Two crescent waves were then released, and Amber's field left empty. "Omega Sorcerer, attack directly!" The platinum and onyx robed magician raised his staff made entirely of crystal and charged his attack, which he released, striking Amber in the mid section, and causing her stumble and begin to fall as the holograms faded. Quickly, Kai bolted over to her and caught her before she hurt herself.
"You win." she admitted.
Kai-2200/Amber-0
"I'm sorry I can't return your feelings, Amber." Kai began. "It's just, I can't let anyone get close to me. I can't, and I wont. And I couldn't deal with the pain it would cause you to try and give me your devotion, and not have it returns. I'm sorry."
And with that, Kai rose to his feet and began to walk away. However, a pair of hands grabbing his stopped him. He turned to face Amber, tears in her eyes.
"You forgot this." she said, slipping a card into his hand: Harpies Feather Duster.
Smiling, Kai pocketed the magic card and her Locator Card, turned, and left, stopping at the end of the street because of the card he saw on the ground. It was a card that had fallen from the Duel Disk of the man who had attacked Amber. It was a powerful card, and since Kai had beaten him, he decided to pocket the card as a trophy. Tapping his pocket, Kai grinned ever so slightly.
'Just one more Locator Card. And you, Hell-Heaven, will help me.' he declared to himself, tapping the pocket once more.
To Be Continued...
Well, there you go. Again, sorry this took so long. But now I'm back, and going strong!
Also, for those who want to accuse me of stealing from Ruroni Kenshin in my little fight scene, understand that Hagime Saito and Okita Seta were real characters from Japanese history, even though Okita never got married because he died at a young age, and I don't know if Saito still has a bloodline, so it would be impossible for Vaun to ever really exist, but for my purposes, it works. Also, when I said that he is a decendant to both fighters, I meant that after several generations, Okita's many-greats-grandchild married that of Saito's. They were NOT gay (In fact, Saito killed a few gay people in power, being the xenophobic soldier he was).
Now, for the original cards:
Man- Thunder Soldier, Lightspeed Summoning, Lightning Drillman, Spark Soldier
Kai- Guardian of the Archives, Prismatic Reflection Seal, Spell Flash, Envoy of the Archives, Master of the Archives, Shockwave Magician, Sonic Magician, Transonic Magician, Quasar Magician, Learned Magister, Immortal Magister, Mysterious Magister, Skilled Light Magician (Property of Seeker of the Soul, even though I had already been toying with the idea, he was the first to write it down, so he gets credit.), Gathering of Magics, Gravity Mage, Sorceress of the Blue Flames, Chaotic Magician, Magicians Era, Alpha Sorcerer, Mystic Moon Dial, Sigma Sorcerer, Omega Sorcerer
Amber- Feather Darts, Selene the Silver Unicorn, Midnight Raven, Penumbra Pegasus, Stealth Flight, Spirit of the Phoenix, Rekka-The Storm Empress, Spell Mirror, Eye of the Storm, Zephyr Field, Flash Phoenix