Chapter 22: Nessus
'Great, I'm defenseless again. I have Mephistopheles staring me down with nothing on the field to protect myself. And even if I could protect myself, I can't attack. Damn it. I don't have enough life to protect myself. Next turn, he can attack with Dispater. What the hell am I supposed to do?'
"Lose…"
"What was that?"
"You are supposed to lose Bann…"
"You… you can…"
"Read your thoughts? At times…"
"That's how you knew I would summon Joker's Knight. Every perfect counter."
"Dark perfection… the will of Baalzebul, but he can't help me anymore," Judis laughed again and fell to his knees.
'So… he… he knew this whole time.' "But I must have been doing something right if I've beaten so many Lords."
"He wanted you to destroy them so he could come back, bathed in their blood. He didn't let me know all your secrets. Just those that would deal you the most harm."
"Who is 'he'?"
"I can't tell you that, but you will learn. I understand now, master. I will help you, but you must… NO, anything but that!"
'He's crazy. I better just start my move.' "I use a Alter of Resurrection to return one card I used to my mind. I then have to destroy two creatures in my Creepool. I then activate Gather the Round Table once again to summon Dark Flare Knight."
Dark Flare Knight appeared on the field in his black and red armor. He lifted his shield and stared at the two lords. Then his body froze in the cold and he too became encased in a block of ice.
"I end my turn."
"You… think that will… save you? Mephistopheles, destroy him now."
Mephistopheles released another earthquake which destroyed Dark Flare Knight.
"Now, attack directly, Dispater…"
Dispater attacked, but was blocked by a shining new knight.
"What?"
"Meet my Mirage Knight, you son of a bitch! Strike him down!"
Mirage Knight lifted his scythe and struck Dispater.
"This is it!"
Mirage Knight vanished as Dispater exploded.
"What? You should have lost."
"Dispater… he takes no damage when he is destroyed…"
'Shit! That was my last idea. What the heck am I going to do now?'
"Time to lose, Bann."
"Not yet. I will never give up. Never! My turn. I activate Reflect Kingdom."
A large mirrored castle rose behind Bann.
"By sacrificing Curse of Dragon and Dark Knight Soul, I can summon Mirror Knights Calling."
The castle shattered, revealing a large blue crystalline object, floating behind Bann.
"What will that do? It has no attack or defense!"
"I'll show you what it does. Now, I call fourth three Mirror Knights."
The crystal shined in a deep blue light that bathed the area. In a flash of white, three knights rode down from the heavens.
"Meet my Mirror Knights. Each one has infinite attack strength, more that enough to beat Mephistopheles."
The Mirror Knights lifted their swords and mirror shields. They were each covered in brilliant, silver armor from head to toe. Their swords also were a stainless silver and their shields reflected whatever they were cast upon. The ice then froze each of them.
"I cast one spell and end my turn."
"I see I have no way of destroying your knights, but as long as I don't attack, I am safe. I end my turn. I will soon find a way to destroy them."
"I doubt that because it is you who is about to be destroyed. I reveal my trap, Return to Nature. I never thought this would come in handy, but I guess I will tell you what it does. For one turn, your field is negated, so my knights can attack."
The entire field went black. They were standing on the tower of the castle again.
"We're back."
"Only temporarily. Brace yourselves. Once this turn is over, right back to hell we go."
"Ah… so they have returned to this plane. Bann hasn't won yet, I see. Mephistopheles, you old fool. You are controlling this N00b. Well, I assure you, this will be the last time you see the surface. Prepare to be sent back to hell."
"Mirror Knight, attack Mephistopheles!"
The Mirror Knight lifted his shield. Reflected in its mirror lay the image of Mephistopheles. The Mirror Knight jumped into the air and struck the devil king, cutting him clear in half.
"Since you take no damage from my knights' attacks, I end my turn."
The world changed again, bringing them back to the frozen lands of Cania.
"I… I am free. Oh thank heavens. I am finally free!"
'You will never be free, boy. Mephistopheles was a fool. Now that he is dead, I can rise to claim my ultimate victory.'
"No… no, the deal."
'I am altering our deal, boy.'
Bann placed his left hand to his head. He could hear a voice echoing to his brain, speaking to Judis. Was this the great evil he had been talking too? What was going on?
"I… no… I mean… yes master. I activate the Reckoning Failed. This Special Summons three Hell Soldiers to the field from the grave.
"I cast two spells and end my turn."
"Then… I bring you to Nessus."
The ground beneath them shook. The ice broke apart. They fell down into a pit of endless darkness.
"Now, I activate the power of Nessus."
The Mirror Knights and Mirror Knight's Calling all shattered. Bann was defenseless.
"Then…" Judis hesitated to make his next move.
'DO IT!'
"Yes… I summon… I… I summon…"
A great black shadow rose from behind Judis, grabbed him by the head, lifted him up until blood ran down his clasped head, and threw him across the field. He lay motionless far from the others.
"I am the Lord of the Ninth… Asmodeus!" yelled the shadow.
The three Hell Soldiers broke down and fed the shadow, giving him a physical body. He was enormous bluish giant with great black wings, claws, and a black goatee. Black hair flowed down his head and great red horns grew out of his forehead. His eyes were made of fire. He stepped forward laughed maniacally.
"Only darkness survives here. You… you lose."
Asmodeus lifted his great claw and slammed it down on Bann, knocking him into the air.
"BANN!" the Bashers yelled at their unmoving friend.
"This Dark Duel is over. You lose. Behold the awakening of Erebus."
"I'm not done yet, Asmodeus…"
"What!"
"Before you were summoned… I activated Angel Shield. It protected me from half the damage I would have taken this turn. I still have some life left in me."
"Damn you. I will see to your death in the next turn."
Next time on City of Fire: Heaven's Wrath. Behold the Knights of Glory