Chapter 12: The Battle for the Tower Door: Leader of the Bashers

"Armed Dragon attack with Armed Punisher!"

Armed Dragon struck Donorlen with a mighty fist, knocking him down and draining his remaining soul. However, even though Don was defeated, Tiamat still suffered from the battle as well.

"Tiamat! Zakei, we gotta help him! Tiamat!" Bann yelled. He and Zakei tried to help their fallen friend. Unable to do anything at the moment, Bann walked to the end of the corridor and spoke to his fellow bashers, "There is no telling how much damage Tiamat suffered at the hands of that kid. Damn them. Damn them all. Zakei, you stay here with Morgen and take care of Tiamat. Recks, you and Jigen follow me. I'm heading up to the turrets to finish this once and for all!"

Bann ran through the doorway and Recks and Jigen followed. They headed up three flights of stairs, meeting little trouble, save the occasional broken step.

"We are getting closer to the tower. You'd expect the N00bs would have more security. Do you think Don could really have been their strongest guard?" asked Recks.

"I doubt it, but it's still strange," answered his brother.

"There, there is the top. We head down through that door and down the corridor. Another door leads to the tower," Jigen informed them. He had worked in the castle his whole life as a seer and knew his way around quite well. His ability to sense shadow magic was a great asset to the team.

Recks and Bann followed Jigen's words and headed down the hallway to the door.

"Stop."

"Stop? Why?"

"Try the door. You shall see."

Bann grabbed the handle with both hands but couldn't budge it open. After a few failed attempts he said, "It's no use. I can't get through it."

"I sense powerful shadow magic keeping this door locked."

"N00bian?" asked Recks.

"No… I sense Chaos…"

"So, something has turned this into a Chaos Gate. Leave this to me. I summon Dark Blade and Gold Knight. Attack the Chaos Gate!"

A dark and light knight appeared and attacked the doorway.

"If I can generate enough Dark and Light Energy, I may be able to make a Chaos Miasma with enough power to break open the lock."

"You won't open it that way. I assure you…" said a hooded man walking toward them down the hallway.

"Dark Blade, Gold Knight!"

The two knights turned from the door and aimed their swords at the hooded man who continued to walk toward them.

"You turn your weapons toward me? Fine, let's see how far your knights make it before being obliterated."

Both knights rushed at the hooded man, who evade both attacks from the knights, jumped backwards, and threw off his cloak, revealing an endless hole of darkness, which sucked both warriors in, where they vanished. The three boys covered their eyes and held onto whatever they could so as to not get sucked in themselves. As the wind pulling them in subsided, the three looked at the man who had cast the Dark Hole.

"Roo… Rooko!"

"Rooko? Teacher? What are you doing here?"

"Am I not a Basher as well? Look at you all. You are all wrecks… and reckless. If I hadn't come now, you probably would all be dead. Where are the others?"

"Zakei suffered wounds while battling a powerful N00b alchemist. He isn't hurt now, but he is tending to Tiamat's wounds. He almost lost to an even more powerful N00b. Morgen is guarding them both."

"Pfft… there is no such thing as a powerful N00b. Have I taught you all nothing! You are weak if you could be injured by…"

"We aren't making this up!" Bann yelled at Rooko.

"You dare interrupt me?"

"Yes, yes I do. The N00bs that have taken the tower are different. Surely you have seen the Cree that sits perched atop the tower. It is no ordinary Cree, and I believe it may be giving the N00bs even more power."

"…" Rooko glowered at his student.

"You said that there was something different about this gate. Why couldn't we open it?"

"It is true that Light and Darkness is the key… but it requires a battle, a duel."

"A duel to open the Chaos Gate?"

"Yes, it was a trap set for me. I am sorry that you are caught up in this. WRAITH!"

"So, you knew I was here."

"Yes I did. I have been pondering your words since we last met.

"You should, for we are connected. Think of me as your brother, Old Man."

"You speak our tongue?"

"I speak many languages when I want. We shall meet again on the aerie, Old Man, but until then, I leave you with this parting gift." The wraith vanished. Water began to fill the room.

"You are my shadow. I am a creature born of my own darkness. You are a Sinwraith."

"Yes, you truly are remarkable. I am your Sinwraith. Your heart created chaos when the N00bs slayed your family. A heart so pure as yours was quickly tainted by darkness. Since Light and Darkness cannot be together at once, chaos forced me into existence and through me out of your heart. I have been waiting for the day to take my revenge. Sinwraiths hate their existence and have only the wish to destroy their creators to they can destroy themselves."

"So you set up a situation where I would be forced to duel you. If I win, since we share one soul, you die and bring me down with you. If you win, we both die. Sounds like fun. I accept your challenge. I will start by summoning a shadow monster and casting two spells."

"It seems we think alike. This will make our last moments interesting. I summon a shadow monster as well and cast two spells. Go."

"Alright. I summon my Agent of Creation, Venus. I now use her Special Ability to Special Summon three Mystical Shine Balls. Then I have my Shine Balls attack with Delta Strike!"

The golden angel appeared and brought three small orbs of light with her. The three orbs shot off beams of light that struck the wraith. Both suffered equal damage.

"Now I will have Venus attack your shadow monster."

Venus struck the monster, but was thrown back by a mysterious force.

"You didn't think I wouldn't give you some sport, did you? I activate Archfiend's Grasp!"

A monstrous hand rose up and grabbed Venus, pulling her down into the shadows. Vilepawn Archfiend appeared behind it next to the shadow monster.

"Now do you see? I truly am your darkness. I have a Creepool filled with Archfiend Monsters that completely counteract your Archlords! It is time for your soul to feel my pain and anguish!"

Next time on City of Fire: Open the Chaos Gate!