Chapter 8: The Philosopher's Stone and the Philosopher Mage
'These Revival Jam are really starting to piss me off. I need to wipe them out completely, but how?' "I've got it! I summon the Agent of Destruction, Neptune. Neptune, attack with Triton Rush."
Neptune exploded in a tidal storm. The entire corridor filled with clear, blue liquid. As the water drained, the soaked man stood up to find the hall empty.
"That's more like it. No more slime." He turned and ran.
"There's the castle," Jigen yelled at Tiamat as they neared the walls of the garden.
"I see it," Tiamat yelled back.
Both ran through the outer gate and headed for the inner gate.
"Stop," Jigen told Tiamat before they stepped inside.
"Why?"
"Can you not feel it? A hidden Dark Duel lurks beyond this door. If we enter, we will break the rules of the game and our souls will be ripped from our bodies."
"Can you tell who is dueling?"
"I'm not certain. The duelist's soul seems to scattered to tell, but I believe I may sense the presence of a powerful magician."
"Zakei…"
"It seems that way."
"But… you said his soul was scattered. What kind of N00b could do that to Zakei?"
"A strong one…"
Meanwhile, within the Dark Duel, Zakei fought on in the far reaches of space. His only monster was Silent Magician, and even she, powered up far beyond her original limitations, was no match for the Helios Trios Magistos of Avicenna.
"Now that I have the Philosopher's Stone, I am unbeatable! There is nothing I can't accomplish. I thank you Zakei for allowing me the time and energy to forge it! Now, I activate the power of the Philosopher's Stone."
Avicenna held out the stone of untold power. It began to glow in his hands. However, this power seemed to come with a price, halving the also diminishing life of the beholder.
"Now, I activate Tribute to the Doomed. Your magician is gone and I will attack directly with Helios for the kill."
Bandages shot out of the ground at Silent Magician. They wrapped around her arms and legs as she struggled to break free of their tightening grip and drag her down into the earth.
"No you don't. Your stone is no match for the power of my magician. Silent Magician, you can destroy those bandages. Do it now!"
Sure enough, at Zakei's call, Silent Magician's staff ignited, burning the bandages surrounding her.
"You may have an almighty weapon, but its magic holds no power over my magician."
"Then it seems I will have to destroy her the old fashion way. Helios attack!"
The three attacked with another prominence phoenix, striking Silent Magician, but inflicting little damage.
"I promise you, I won't let that stop me," Zakei made his bold statement, but had nothing to back it up. At the moment, his mind was empty of any Cree or Spell that could help him. Silent Magician was his strongest monster, and even that was no match for Helios. 'I have to go on the defensive again. Wait, this is a new Cree. I might as well try it out.' "Now I combine the powers of Light and Darkness, fusing my Silent Magician and Witch of the Black Forest to form the ultimate Chaos Sorcerer. Now Chaos Sorcerer, Black Light Blast!"
The newly summoned sorcerer, a creature of both light and dark powers, swept the field wielding both elements in his hands. The combination of both created an enormous vortex in space, pulling all three suns into it, obliterating Helios Trios Megistos.
"Your monster is gone. You lose Avicenna."
"I am far from being defeated Zakei. I activate the powers of the Philosopher's Stone again, using its power to activate Chaos End."
Space twisted above them, ripping a hole in the fabric of the universe, sucking everything in, including Chaos Sorcerer.
"Then I summon Homunculus the Alchemic Being…"
A red and black man-like creature appeared in the infinite blackness. He had no eyes and brownish hair. He looked as if he was made incorrectly, as his limbs didn't seem to fit quite well.
"… and attack you directly."
Homunculus directly attacked Zakei. Chaos reigned supreme over the field. The Philosopher's Stone held too much power.
"Your final turn Zakei. End it quickly. I haven't got all day."
"I summon… Apprentice Magician. Attack him directly."
"I activate the Spiritual Wind Art, MIYABI!"
Homunculus slowly withered away, transforming into air that swept across the field, pulling Apprentice Magician along with it.
"But… Homunculus is a Light monster, not… a… Wind monster…"
"My Homunculus can change his element and form at will, making him the ultimate creature of Alchemy. More powerful than a mere human, but lacking a soul, giving it no conscience of right or wrong. It knows only seven deadly sins. And now, without anything to protect you, you shall die."
"I'm not beaten yet. I activate Monster Reborn, allowing me to Special Summon my White Magician Pikeru. I end my turn."
"Fine. I still have you right where I want you. I use the Philosopher's Stone once again, summoning Homunculus back to the field using the power of Dimension Distortion."
Sure enough, Homunculus appeared on the field, traveling through the hole of light that still hung above them. He was now wrapped in fire.
"Meet Homunculus newest element. Even if you manage to destroy him, the intense heat will destroy you."
"No he won't. I activate Dark Renewal, allowing me to sacrifice both Pikeru and your Homunculus to summon Dark Magician Girl back to the field."
A coffin, similar to the one used to summon Dark Magician earlier with Dimension Magic, appeared on the field. It opened up, launching chains at Pikeru and Homunculus, dragging both inside and locking itself. Then it opened again to reveal a dazzling Dark Magician Girl who promptly leapt out of the coffin.
"Now who is wide open?"
"Hmm… I shall cast a spell to protect myself. Your turn," stated a grumpy Avicenna. He was infuriated that he didn't defeat Zakei and managed to lose his Homunculus twice. But something far worse was bothering him now. Something to do with the stone that he held in his hand.
"Fine." 'Ah! The… that spell! It's time to see who is the real Alchemist' "I activate Monster Reincarnation, adding Dark Magician back to mind, allowing me to use him again, and now it's time to summon him. I activate my philosopher's stone, the Sage's Stone!"
A bluish stone appeared on the field. It shined with a blinding light and landed in the hands of Dark Magician Girl.
"Now my magician, use the power of the stone to call forth your master!"
Dark Magician Girl began to pray on the stone, holding it to her heart. A hexagram appeared on the field in front of Zakei. Rising out of the starlit circle rose the greatest wizard of all time, the Dark Magician.
"Now, Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, finish this!"
Both mages crossed their staffs, sending out a blast of magical energy at Avicenna. However, before hitting its target, it was absorbed by the hole of light above them.
"How did you stop my attack? You should have died."
"I was able to negate it. I told you I cast a spell. My turn. I summon another Homunculus the Alchemic Being. Then I use the final ability of the Philosopher's Stone. It is time to find who truly is the more powerful Alchemist and who has made the more perfect stone. Homunculus, fuse with the Philosopher's Stone to become completely human!"
"But I thought you said that your Homunculus was stronger than any human."
"Only a human can surpass his limitations, and that is what my monster is about to do. Homunculus, attack Dark Magician!"
"No… activate… Magician's Defense! With two magicians on the field, I can negate any attack, including your Homunculus'. I can now sacrifice my two magicians to summon Sorcerer or Dark Magic."
"You… you stopped me. I guess you are truly the greater alchemist. Sorcerer of Dark Magic! Attack me and end this duel! I accept my fate. No trap I set can help me now. I lose."
Sorcerer of Dark Magic, who looked like Dark Magician robed all in black, attacked Homunculus and Avicenna, wiping out what little life the alchemist N00b had left in his body. The three boys returned to the castle entrance hall. However, Avicenna's corpse was nowhere to be seen.
He had suffered his own penalty and his lifeless body was sentenced to float in space for all of eternity, as it imploded from lack of pressure, resulting in a gruesome scene of bulging eyes, blood and bodily fluids, and guts releasing from the morbid flesh. However, no one was around to witness this horrid ending.
Next time on City of Fire: The Undying Soul