Chapter 13: Open the Chaos Gate!

"My monsters completely counteract yours. It is time for you to feel my pain and anguish!"

"Whatever. I end my turn. Go ahead and do your worst."

"Good. I lose some of my soul at the beginning of my turn, but I can transfer an equal amount of damage to you, leaving you Battle-Scarred. Now I reveal my Infernalqueen Archfiend. Then I sacrifice my pawn to summon Archfiend of Gilfer. Now it is time to bring you to the far reaches of hell! Pandemonium!"

The entire room changed. Everyone felt the sensation of falling, but they felt high in the air at the same time. A sense of flying fell through the room. The walls changed into black pillars of brimstone and the floor seeped with magma. The cries of a thousand demons echoed throughout the hellish lair.

"Welcome to my world, Rooko! The Lair of Ten-Thousand Demons!"

"Just get on with your turn. Your illusions don't frighten me."

"… Fine. Now I will have Archfiend of Gilfer attack Venus and my queen will attack your shining ball."

Gilfer flew into the air, glowing red as a phoenix and crashed down on Venus below. Then Infernalqueen shot a trail of fire at one of the glowing orbs, shattering it.

"Activate Dispersal Prism! This halves the damage I take this turn and inflicts that amount to you."

As the two attacks came at Rooko's soul, half of it flew back at Sinwraith, inflicting equal damage to both.

"You are doing well. We are completely evenly matched. I expected no less of you."

"My turn… I start by sacrificing one of my Mystical Shine Balls to summon the Agent of Judgment, Saturn."

Another angel appeared on the field, this one violet. She had violet wings and violet clothes, with bits of golden ornaments adorning her.

"Then I switch my Shine Ball to Defense Position and reveal my Agent of Wisdom, Mercury from the shadows."

A blue angel revealed himself from the shadows. He was adorned with silver and held a golden tome under his left arm.

"Then I use Ancient Wisdom to increase his Attack by his Defense. Now my monsters, attack!"

"Archfiend of Gilfer, use Sakuretsu Armor!"

Gilfer became covered in rock-hard spikes. As soon as Saturn touched it, she was immediately destroyed.

"Then I use Disarment to destroy your Ancient Wisdom."

Mercury's Attack dropped to nothing. He was easy kill for Infernalqueen.

"I use Triple Decree, reducing some of the damage I take and using it to increase your weakest monster's attack. Then I use Solar Ray."

Mystical Shine Ball began to glow in a blinding light, reducing more of Sinwraith's dark soul. The two continued to play on an equal plain. They had already caused each other to lose exactly the same amount of soul.

"This has to be the most evenly matched duel ever. Not once has the other taken advantage… well, as far as damage goes," Recks said but saw that his teacher would probably not survive the next attack from Sinwraith with a field of only one weak monster.

"You lose now, Rooko! Mu ha ha ha ha ha ha! I will finally be set free!"

"I am not out yet. I have my ace. DARK HOLE!"

Just like before, a hole of infinite darkness appeared on the field. It sucked everything in, letting nothing out. When the hole closed itself again, Mystical Shine Ball, Infernalqueen, and Gilfer were all gone.

'That is it. That is Rooko's true darkness. His Dark Hole is his soul's expression of what happened to Rooko's family. Teacher… you have to win."

"How is Tiamat?"

"He's fine now. I was able to seal his wounds, but he may end up with some nasty scars. I was also able to fix his innards. He will be fine, physically. He still needs to rest his soul."

click

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Show yourself, N00b!"

Another boy appeared in the room. He was short, dark, and had a raven perched on his shoulder.

"How did you know I was spying on you?"

"Did you think I couldn't smell your filth?"

The boy scowled at Morgen and said, "Well, at least I don't look like the bitch I am."

"Take that back you bastard or I will make you."

"Try me."

"Fine. I will summon my Masaki the Legendary Swordsman. Your move."

"It's time for I, the great Yata, to put you into the Yatalock! I fuse my Spirit Reaper and Nightmare Horse to summon Reaper on the Nightmare! Now attack him directly and destroy part of his mind and soul!"

"So, you have destroyed my monsters, but now you are even more defenseless. Ah! I have just the Cree to end this duel. A monster I am sure you are familiar with. The first one we ever summoned when we were a child, back when we were one."

"Go ahead. He isn't strong enough to defeat me."

"That has always been your greatest weakness. You hated that monster, so to trained yourself hard, developing "stronger" and "better" Cree. That is why you locked him up along with the other dark parts of your soul, so when I was born, I brought him with me. It was I who saw the potential in the warrior who you never gave a chance. It is I who unlocked that potential. And it is we who will destroy you. I summon Warrior of Zera."

A green and blue clad warrior rose from the hellfire and brimstone. He carried and sword and had two red horns on his helmet. He looked human… except his eyes began to glow red and he began to grow claws and wings. His body shifted from that of a human to that of a demon with enormous strength. Fangs grew in place of his teeth and two eyes formed on his chest. The horns on his head grew more distinguished.

"Wha… what have you done to him?"

"Not what I have done. This is what happens to someone who is shut up in the darkness for so long. They turn into a creature of darkness as well. Meet Mazera DeVille!"

Darkness enveloped the field, striking Rooko's mind hard, weakening him and leaving him defenseless. Mazera took its chance and flew in for the kill. Recks, Jigen, and Bann looked on in horror. This was it. Rooko was going to die.

"I'm not done yet. I use Negate Attack!"

Mazera's massive claw went right through Rooko, appearing on the other side of his body.

"You lose."

"Take a closer look at your monster."

Sinwraith looked at Mazera's claw. It hadn't even touched Rooko. In fact, Rooko had generated another hole in space that Mazera's arm went through and landed behind him. Rooko had managed to save himself.

"You've gotta be kidding me. Your puny Yata-Garasu can't beat me. I have broken your Yatalock. Now, Mataza and Getsu Fuhma, attack directly and get rid of this ridiculous N00b."

Both samurai struck Yata, slashing three large gashes into his body. Then Morgen jumped in for the kill, pulling out his own katana and stabbing the already dead N00b in the heart.

"There, we finally have some peace and quiet. That N00b so no trouble at all."

"My turn, and I start by casting the Spell, Pot of Greed. This allows me to add more Spells or Cree from my Creepool to my mind." 'I am sorry Zera. I didn't mean to do this to you. I need your strength now. I need to help those boys.' "I think it's about time for a change of scenery. We have seen hell, so now its time to head towards the Sanctuary in the Sky, heaven's gates."

The field changed again. They rose from the depths of hell and landed in the bright light above the clouds. Rooko stood in front of a large gate that guarded an enormous castle floating in the sky on a large rock. Sinwraith stood on a small floating rock. In front of him stood Mazera, covering its eyes from the purifying light of the sanctuary. Recks, Jigen, and Bann stood on another floating rock overlooking the battle.

"And now, I use Monster Reborn. This spell is quite special. It revives a monster that I had locked away long ago. Warrior of Zera, arise."

Warrior of Zera appeared on the field once again, standing on the huge stone next to Rooko. Once again he began to change, but this time, he took a less painful transformation. He grew two large angelic white wings. His sword became more slender and helm and armor became whiter. He had changed into a powerful seraph. He then took flight, hovering in front of the sanctuary, bathing in its glow.

"Meet the true Warrior of Zera, Archlord Zerato. Boys, this is where the duel ends. I prepare to make one final strike. As soon as these two monsters of Light and Darkness clash, the Chaos Gate will open. Go now."

"But Rooko, what will happen…"

"I said go. I will be fine. Zerato, attack Mazera now!"

Zerato and Mazera flew at each other, meeting halfway through the field. Their epic battle began. Mazera swiped at Zerato with his massive claws, while Zerato struck Mazera with his sword. Both exploded in a chaotic blast. The sanctuary, Rooko, Sinwraith, and their Cree were gone. Bann walked over to the gate and opened it.

"Let's go."

Next time on City of Fire: Fulfillment of Contract