Chapter 34: The Return of the Prince
"Where are they? Come on! I'll take all of you on! I'm not afraid of you! Get out here and face me!" Jesi yelled as he jumped around in front of the group.
The rest of the Bashers watched Jesi's act, sweat dropping.
'Oy vey,' Bann thought.
'What and idiot,' Zakei thought.
"Hey, what's that?" Jesi yelled, jumping into the bushes. He grabbed a rabbit by the ears and lifted it into the air. "Ah hah! Couldn't fool me! I know this is your Cree. Come on out, Reckah!"
"Grrr…" Tiamat lifted his fist and BAM
"Ow, what the hell did you do that for, Tiamat!"
"Stop acting like a damn idiot! We've had two days of peace and two days of you talking non-stop! Shut the hell up!"
"I'm just keeping an active guard. You didn't have to hit me! You wanna fight? I'll kick your ass!"
"…"
"Lunch?" asked Recks.
About an hour later, the Bashers had settled down for a rest. They were finished with their lunch and decided it would be best for all if they rested for the rest of the day, starting out again in the morning. It had been two days since Migome and Bann dueled the two Reckah, Glaca and Blaze. Since then, not a single Reckah had crossed their path.
The theory they had come up with is that the Reckah were weary, now that the three Legendary Dragons were around and their boss had learned that the Dragons had broken the Seal. Since the Dragons were so powerful together, the first thing he would do would take out Bann, Tiamat, or Zakei, but they were so powerful with their Dragons that he hadn't figured a way to do so yet.
"Well, I think it's time for my shift. I'll go switch with Jesi. You two should get some rest," Bann told Tiamat and Zakei.
The three had been talking for what seemed like hours. Bann got up and walked out the cave door. There, on a rock, overlooking the cliffs below, Jesi sat, about to pass out.
"Jesi, your shift is over. Go get some rest."
"Seriously? Finally. Yawn" He stretched his arms and began to get up.
"Hey, wait. You got a moment?"
"Huh? Yeah Bann, what's up?"
"Well, I know you've been wanting to fight lately, but take it from me. You don't want to be in there," Bann said, hinting to the Orichalcos. "It's hard to explain, but your opponent becomes not only the enemy you see in front of you, but your own fears. You are confronted with everything from your past, present, and future. Not even a Dragon can save you."
"Good thing I'm not scared of anything."
"Don't be cocky. I'm telling you for your own good. Please, be more careful when you pick your fights."
"Is that all? I really want to go to bed."
"Huh? Oh, sorry. One last thing. I've been wondering, since I've never seen you duel. What kind of strategy do you use?"
"Me? Just call me Jesi the Storm."
"Thunder huh?"
"Yeah."
"Then here. Take this."
Bann closed his eyes and concentrated. The image of a fierce warrior with a mighty sword appeared in his mind and swept across the path like a shadow, entering the soul of Jesi.
"Huh? What… what is this?"
"Consider it a gift. I figure a spirit like yours… well, let's just say he might come in handy one day."
"Um… thanks Bann," Jesi responded, turning and walking into the cave.
"It's time. I will enact my revenge on you, Tiamat. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" laughed a small shadowy figure. He watched the Bashers through the bushes as they walked through the morning haze.
"Huh? I know you're out there!" Jesi yelled.
'Not this again. Dammit, shut up,' thought a half-awake Tiamat.
"Jesi, you continue to act like this and I'm going to duel you myself," Zakei threatened.
"No, I'm serious, guys. Don't you get the feeling that we're being watched? I know I heard something in the bushes," Jesi replied.
"Sure, and that person is going to be right here when I pull him by the hair," Migome said as she reached into the bush.
She tugged on a branch and pulled it up to reveal the head of a boy.
"See, just leaves."
"Yes, leaves-for-brains. That's you."
Migome looked at what was in her hand and screamed. She jumped into the air and landed right on Recks.
"You!"
"Me? Oh, you!"
"Shut up, Donorlen."
"How, how the hell did you… You sentenced yourself to a life of torment in the shadows. What the hell are you doing here!"
"Never count the Prince of the N00bs out. Nothing could keep me in that pit of darkness. Finally, my intense hatred for you, Tiamat, was answered by the one true god."
"Huh? Erebus?"
"Please. Erebus is no match for the powers of Aether."
"Aether of Kahlos, the Sky God. He saw my power and gave me a second chance. Now, I am back to defeat you, Tiamat, and feed your soul to him."
"Fine, then I'll…" Tiamat started.
"I'll duel you!" Jesi finished.
"Huh?" everyone said.
"I don't want to duel you! With my new powers, you wouldn't stand a chance. Then again, you would make the perfect first sacrifice. I stick to my guns. I accept your challenge. Once I defeat you, I will duel Tiamat."
"That's only if you get the chance."
"Duel! I summon Jirai Gumo. Then, cast a Spell. Your turn, Anim."
"The name is Jesi, Jesi the Storm, and I will summon Mirage Dragon. Then I'll have him attack with Stamping Destruction, an attack that targets you Spell. I'll cast my own Spell, and end my turn."
The two now faced off with a giant spider and a glowing dragon.
"Too bad this will end so quickly. Prepare to feel the full force my bugs…"
"Shut up you insect. Stop being so overdramatic and just duel!"
"Grrrrr… I activate the Ritual, Javelin Beetle Pact. This allows me to summon Javelin Beetle by sacrificing Jirai Gumo and Skull-Mark Ladybug. Also, before I complete my summon, I would like you to know that my Ladybug gives me more life…"
"You are a lady, bug. I don't care. Just finish your fucking move."
"Fine. I summon Javelin Beetle. Attack Mirage Dragon!"
"Activate Raigeki Break!"
Jesi lifted his hand into the air. A ball of electricity formed, which shot into the air and struck Javelin Beetle like a huge lightning rod. The large bug burst into flame and disintegrated.
"I told you, I don't care. You're little bug was no match for the power of nature's ultimate force, lightning."
"I activate Contract Fulfillment. This allows me to give up some of my life to return Javelin Beetle to the field. Go, damn it."
"Gladly. I sacrifice Mirage Dragon for Des Voltsgalph. Since he is too weak to attack your bug, I'll just cast a few Spells and end my turn."
"Big mistake in not attacking my Javelin Beetle, but what more could I suspect from such a weak duelist. I attack your Des Voltsgalph!"
"You N00b. Forget my sets. I activate Scapegoat and combo it with Emergency Provisions, summoning four Sheep to the field and giving my life a boost."
"You did nothing but a bunch of life and monster gain. Your dragon is still nothing to me!"
Javelin Beetle attacked, but Des Voltsgalph countered, unleashing a thunderball that incinerated the bug for a second time.
"What!"
"Each time a Spell is cast, Voltsgalph gains some attack. Also, when he destroys your monster, you take additional damage."
The thunderball shot straight through the vanishing insect and hit Donorlen who screamed in pain.
"…set… monster…"
"Now, I activate my Thunder Crash Spell!"
The four sheep and dragon all disappeared. A dark cloud formed in the sky overhead, launching a wave of lightning down on Donorlen, who screamed again from the intense voltage that ran through his body.
"Heh heh, and they say lightning never strikes twice. Ah, my favorite monster. I'll give you a little break from this thunderstorm. I summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon!"
A small, chicken-like griffin appeared. Its silvery body glimmered in light.
"Heh, now we get to see Jesi's true power."
"What do you mean, Tiamat?" asked Bann.
"You'll see soon enough. I promise. If Donny keeps playing like he is, this duel should be over in three turns."
"Now, attack that shadow monster!"
Horus spread its wings and flapped into the air. Releasing a small black fireball, it uncovered the shadow monster to be none other than… Man-Eater Bug!
"Oh no. Jesi's prized monster!"
Man-Eater Bug lashed out at Horus.
"No! I activate Thunder Shield!"
Another spark of thunder shot down from the clouds above, stopping the bug just before it attacked Horus. Horus countered with another fireball, destroying the insect.
"This nifty trap protects all my monsters from monster effects for a turn. However, it comes with a price. You gain some life, and if the monster I'm protecting isn't a Thunder-Type, some of mine taken away…"
Another bolt of lightning shot Jesi, who took the blast like it was nothing.
"That will end my turn. Oh, and since Horus destroyed your bug, lemme show you a neat trick of his."
Horus began to grow, changing into a more falcon-like griffin. It screeched at the air and looked down on Donorlen.
"No… it… it can do it to?" Don looked terrified, remembering the power of Armed Dragon as it unleashed its Genocide Cutter on his Insect Queen and Great Moth, finishing with a blow from its mighty fist.
"Oh, I see. Like Armed Dragon, Jesi's Horus evolves each turn. So in a few more turns, Don will be facing a fully evolved Horus the Black Flame Dragon."
"Yeah, and he won't stand a chance."
'I'll show them.' "It is time to show you the full extent of the power of Aether, God of the Sky, who sent to this world stones from his heavenly home of Kahlos, 700 years ago, judging the human race."
"Wait… Aether of Kahlos? I know that name."
"Vaila, what is it?"
"In ancient Reckah tongue… Aether was pronounce Orith… Orith of Kahlcos… Stones of Orichalcos."
"No… Jesi! Get out there!"
"No. I need to beat him. I can. I'm not afraid."
"You will be. I activate the Seal of Aether of Kahlos… Orichalcos!"
Donorlen lifted the small green rock he was holding in his palm. The rock glowed as the Seal appeared, trapping Jesi and himself within.
"Now do you see the power of Aether? Lord Darsus used it to bring me back. He can break through the shadows. Nothing can stop him."
"You poor fool."
"Huh?"
Jesi stared down at the Seal and looked up at Donorlen. "Don't you see? The Reckah haven't attacked us for three days. They are afraid of our power. So scared that they sent you as a pawn so they would have to waste any of their own men. Darsus is a coward."
"You… you're wrong. Lord Darsus has given me the Orichalcos. He has faith in my power."
"The only thing he has done is told you a bunch of lies, giving you that rock so by some chance, if you won, your soul would feed this Beast that Darsus wants to revive."
"You know nothing, and I will prove it to you. I'll set a monster and a spell, ending my turn. Your move, you pathetic Anim."
"I'm sorry Don, but you're about to lose your soul. I summon Lightning Dragon, who will attack your shadow monster."
Lightning Dragon shot across the field, but was stopped by a large parasitic worm now on the field.
"What the hell is that?"
"Parasite Worm, infect his life!"
The worm swallowed Lightning Dragon and attacked Jesi, exploding. Jesi screamed in agony from this sneak attack.
"Ah… I… still have one… dragon left. Horus, attack his monster!"
"When Horus destroys that thing, he'll level up again."
Horus attacked the shadow monster, but instead of destroying it, the thing latched onto Horus' metallic body.
"Ha! Now my Kiseitai leech will suck on your monster's soul, feeding my life even more!"
"That's what you think. Look again."
Kiseitai was unable to latch onto Horus. Without any food, it shriveled and died.
"So much for him. I…" 'Damn, since he wasn't destroyed in battle, Horus won't level up. I guess I'll just have to…' "…end my turn."
"Ah, I think I have the perfect solution for my dragon problem. I summon Ultimate Insect. This little larvae might not seem like much, but just wait. I activate Level Up!"
"Oh no. That thing also is a Level Monster."
The larvae encased itself into a cocoon, changing into a chrysalis-encased bug and attached itself to a nearby tree.
"Attack Horus! Oh, and if you were wondering, the two have equal attack, or did until the Seal powered him up!"
Ultimate Insect shot a thread around Horus, squeezing him until he shattered.
"Cast a Spell. End turn."
"I set a monster and a spell. You're move."
'Oh man, without Horus, he's stuck on the defensive. Come on Jesi.'
"Pathetic. Before I have Ultimate Insect attack, I'll level him up to his most powerful form!"
A giant cicada broke out of the chrysalis. It let out a strange noise and started blowing gusts of wind over the field.
"Before I have him attack, I would like to tell you his special ability. You see, he is covering the field with a poisonous dust that weakens all of your monster's attacks. Add that to his already high attack with the Orichalcos… well, you get the picture."
"Lucky my monster is in defense."
"Not for long. I activate Shadow Swarm. These little bugs are about to eat away at the shadows that surround your creature."
A swarm of light bugs covered the shadow monster. When the vanished, Masked Dragon stood in attack. Its attack was cut in half from the dust on the field.
"Masked… Dragon…"
"Attack!"
Ultimate Insect attacked the little dragon, sending him flying into Jesi. The bug then landed on Jesi and started attacking him, cutting his life almost in half as Jesi screamed in agony and fear.
"… You forget my… Dragon's ability…" Jesi said as he slowly got up, short of breath. "I Special Summon Element Dragon. My turn. See you in Hell, Donny. I activate Level Tuning, summoning Horus back to the field. In addition, I can use Level Up!"
Horus transformed into a larger griffin. He was now complete. The two Level Monsters were now about to battle at full power.
"Now, Horus, attack!"
Next time on City of Fire: Bug Zapper