Chapter 4: The Endless Light
"I open the Castle Gate! Skull Guardian, attack his soul! You will not survive this!"
"No… he knew my life was already low. My soul hadn't had time to recover from the battles to the castle… I… lose…"
Just as Skull Guardian's blade came down upon Bann's throat, Queen's Knight jumped into action. Pulling her sword into action, she narrowly stopped Skull Guardian's onslaught.
"What?"
"I… can't let you lose. I will pro…tect you master. Awaken… Circle of Enchantment!"
"You… can talk? But how?"
But Queen's Knight said no more. The Circle she invoked protected him from the damage of Skull Guardian.
"You… you still stand?"
"Yes. I'm not as easy to get rid of as you think."
"So, this is the secret entrance to the castle? Hmm…" a dark figure dressed in hooded robes stepped through a crack in the wall. A stoic in his own right, he surveyed castle he had just entered. 'There is something not right here. The castle seems to have changed. I sense a dark presence at work.' "Hmm?"
Out of the walls, shadow creatures formed. They were fast and impossibly agile. These things circled the figure.
"Do you think you frighten me? I live to torture N00bs. Your pathetic Shadow Beasts don't scare me. I shall engulf you all in darkness. DARK HOLE!"
"Do you think that Bann made it to the inside of the castle?"
"No clue. I saw him heading off, but… right now I have other things to worry about."
Morgen fought side-by-side with Recks. They were confronted by what seemed was an army of N00bs.
"Where do these things keep coming from?" asked a frustrated Morgen.
"Gee, I don't know. Where do all N00bs come from?"
"Never mind. Getsu Fuhma, attack the 13th Grave."
Getsu Fuhma, a longhaired samurai, leapt into action. Using his Wave Sword, he sliced the zombie in two. However, more of these zombies kept coming.
"This is bullsht. Leave it to fcking N00bs to completely screw with us."
"Enough of this. I combine the power of my Dinosaurs! Unleash your wrath on the N00bs, Tyranno Infinity."
Arising from the earth, an enormous Dinosaur fossil broke free from its eternal prison. Absorbing the power of all of Recks' fallen Dinos, it revived itself.
"RROOOAARRAOOORRRRR!" the reptile screamed as it gnashed through a few zombies and stomped on a few more.
"Guys, wait up. Dark Magician, aid them," Zakei told his Cree as he entered the scene. "I just met up with Bann. He should have entered the castle by now. He looked pretty beat though… SHT! I was supposed to give him this." Zakei pulled out a vile containing an amber liquid that seemed to glow in the little light that still shined. "It's an Elixir of Life. It revitalizes the soul. I have to get it to him or he may die… or worse".
All three shuttered at what that meant. They knew what would happen to one who lost a Dark Duel. They had all witnessed N00bs ripping at their flesh as if they were burning alive. It was the ultimate torture.
"How you holdin' up there, Jigen?"
"Good, and you, Tiamat?"
"I'm fine. Lemme just clear the field. Armed Dragon, Genocide Cutter!"
Tiamat's Armed Dragon, a ferocious dragon that destroyed everything in its path, attacked every monster that was set before them. It was a black and red color, with blades and spikes covering its body.
"Right, now D.D. Crazy Beast, I call you forth from the Different Dimension to punish the N00bs before you."
A vast hole erupted on the field, warping space and time. Out of it came a strange creature, red in color, and seemingly mechanical. It was of nothing on this earth. It attacked all who it could, dragging them back into the twilight zone, leaving them stranded for eternity.
"V3ry 600d, b0+# 0f j00." A man speaking N00bspeak walked toward them.
"Wait, you aren't a N00b. Why do you speak that tongue?" demanded Jigen
"Because I can. + cn b3 v3ry !rr!ng +0 n 0pp0n3n+. I feel it gives me an advantage."
"Who are you?" yelled an annoyed Tiamat.
"I am a Reckah. You can call me Dismay. I shall be your opponent."
"Reckah? But… you can't be," Jigen stated. "Lady Janime the 8th banished you from the kingdom hundreds of years ago. You were barbarians who lived to destroy and cause trouble. We refuse your challenge."
"I'm afraid you cannot do that, for this duel has already begun."
"Now its my move. I summon King's Knight, and with Queen's Knight on the field, I can now summon Jack's Knight. I think I have figured out something about your Castle Gate. With it opened, you are unprotected. You can attack me… and I can attack you! Now my three knights, attack him directly! You lose!"
"You wish. You may have weakened me, but you must have realized that I am no ordinary N00b. My power is much greater. I am the immortal Fortris!"
"No way. Alright, I cast two spells and end my turn. Attack, but beware."
"Your Spells don't scare me. Now I summon Death Calibre Knight."
A dark knight on horseback entered the field. He trotted through the Castle Gate, ready for battle.
"Now my knight, attack his Queen's Knight."
Death Calibre Knight's horse sped forward. The dark knight's lance was held ready for battle. He struck Queen's Knight, who held up her shield.
"I won't let you kill her. Activate Knight's Shield. This shield does to same to my Knight as she did for me. Now I shall defend her from your attack."
Queen's Knight's shield began to glow. Death Calibre Knight's attack weakened and at last, he was thrown backwards from the force of the shield.
"Fine, keep your knights. I can still attack you directly. Now go Death Calibre Knight!"
Once again, Fortris' knight sped out of the Castle Gate straight toward Bann. He knew he wouldn't be able to defend this time.
"ARRGGHHH!" Bann screamed as Death Calibre Knight struck him in the heart. He coughed up blood and fell too his knees as the dark knight faded away. 'Of course, his monsters die after their attack. But I'm only hanging on by a thread. How do I beat him?'
"Now, to protect my Life Points, I shall close the Castle Gate." Just like before, the mysterious hand appeared to close the gate of the castle.
"My cough move. cough Now, I summon… cough Gilford the Lightning to strike down your castle!" In a burst of Lightning, the three knights before him vanished, replaced by a large Warrior wielding a heavy sword. Gilford attacked the castle with another burst of Lightning.
"Not so fast! I shall use the power of the heavens. Divine Wrath!" Another burst of lightning shot down from the sky, this time, striking Gilford. "Muhahahahahaha! You are know match for the Castle of the Gods!"
"No…" Bann collapsed. He could no longer continue this duel.
"Now, DIE! Swordstalker, attack this filthy Anim directly."
"You can't. Swordstalker is too powerful to be summoned."
"I do what I want."
"And…I… won't… LET YOU! Reveal Spell! Gather the Round Table. Now I shall summon my own dark knight. Arise Dark Flare Knight. Attack his Swordstalker."
"Not so fast. Activate Invincible Strike. Now, my Swordstalker will destroy your Knight, but I will take the damage."
Swordstalker fought off Dark Flare Knight's attack, destroying him with a clean sweep.
"I told you, I am the Invincible Fortris!"
"Ha ha ha. You fool. For destroying the darkness, you have left only the light, and that light shall be your doom."
As Bann spoke the words, the Shadow that surrounded the dying Knight changed into a brightening light. Appearing where Dark Flare Knight once stood, a new golden knight took its place.
"Now, I call forth the Legendary Castle of Light!" The castle erupted, leaving a castle of pure light where it once stood. The Light was so bright, even the Dark Beast perched on top was forced to move away for the time, taking to the sky on its mighty wings.
"My… my spell. My control over the castle is broken. What have you done?"
"I have converted the entire castle to my control. Now I shall use its power upon my knight. Mirage Knight, attack!"
Mirage Knight leapt into action, unleashing his giant sickle upon Swordstalker. The Light emanating from him and the castle laid terrible punishment to the warrior, wiping him, and his master, from existence.
When the smoke cleared, Fortris lay on the ground, writhing in pain.
"How? I am the invincible Fortris. You cannot defeat me."
"It seems that the powers of light hidden within the castle are more powerful than your spell of darkness. The Fortris has fallen."
"Ha! My soul cough may be shredded, but your soul is in just as bad shape. You will not cough last cough three min cough in there cough… My brethren are strong…cough me cough beat cough you…"
"We shall see." The castle lost its shimmer and returned to its natural state. The beast atop settled down and regained its seat upon the tallest tower. Bann walked through the castle gate and headed for the stairs, where he collapsed.
Next time on City of Fire: The Desperate Duel of Darkness