Chapter 35: Bug Zapper
"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!"
Horus rose into the air, letting out a high-pitched scream. It opened its beak and let out a wave of black fire.
"You idiot! I'm the N00b? You Black Flame Dragon has much less attack than my Ultimate Insect. Insect, counter its attack!"
Ultimate Insect countered with a mighty gust of wind, pushing back Horus' black flames.
"See, you idiot?"
"I see… that your bug is goin' down! I activate Giant Storm!"
Heavy winds began to blow, countering Ultimate Insect's attack. Rain poured down over the battlefield, extinguishing Horus' flames. Lightning struck down over the field, hitting both monsters, leaving nothing but dust. Then, more lightning struck Jesi and Donorlen, throwing them both against the Seal's walls.
"Damn you. What did you do?"
"I activated my trap. You see, when I attack, I can use Giant Storm to take out both monsters, inflicting damage to our life equal to their attacks. Since you weakened my Black Flame Dragon's attack, I won't take nearly as much damage, but your powered up Ultimate Insect is about to take out most of what is left of yours… cough" Jesi explained as he hit the ground.
"Oh no!" Migome screamed.
"Jesi, you idiot," Tiamat yelled. 'He didn't have as much life as he thought. That attack on himself has drained almost all that is left of him…'
"Heh heh heh… you're in a bad way, Anim."
'Vision… blurry… gotta… make this count…' "I… cast… a Spell…" Jesi managed to say as he lay on the ground. His head lifted as he spoke, but it fell again with his last word.
"I believe that makes it my turn, and what a turn it will be. I'll start by summoning my Pinch Hopper. Then, by using Multiplication of Ants, I can sacrifice my Hopper to summon two Ant Tokens. Now my ants, feed on the power that has been given to you!"
"They still aren't strong enough to take on my Element Dragon."
"You're right, but she is."
"Who?" Vaila asked, but didn't wait long to have her question answered.
A bunch of insects swarm, shaping a humanoid body. They hardened into a chrysalis from which broke open to reveal an insectoid girl with four arms, bug eyes, two antennae, and butterfly wings.
"Meet Insect Princess!"
"Is that your girlfriend Donorlen?" Zakei asked.
"Very funny, Anim," Donorlen shot back, "but this delicate flower is about to win the duel for me. You see, since your friend is out cold, once I destroy that dragon, I will finish by attacking with my two ants, finishing off what is left of that whelp. Now, Insect Princess, attack."
The princess flew into the air to attack Element Dragon, who tried to fight back and defend his master.
"Oh, and I activate DNA Surgery, changing that Dragon into a Bug."
Element Dragon's body became more insect-like. The princess grabbed Element… Insect, opened her mouth, and took a big bite into the insect dragon. The rest of the bug vanished as Insect Princess grew and changed.
"Ha ha ha ha! Now, attack directly my two ants!"
The two Ant Tokens scurried across the field, heading for Jesi's body, but before they could strike, a large metallic spike ball. The bulbous thing used its liquid metallic body to create a shield that blocked the two ants from proceeding any further.
"What the hell is this?"
"Its my ultimate shield… the trap monster known as Metal Reflect Slime."
"Slime?"
"Yeah, and even your little princess is no match… cough"
"Well, if it's so powerful, then I'll have to use my Insect Barrier to protect myself."
A glowing barrier appeared in the middle of the field, stopping all insects on Jesi's side of the field from getting through.
"This is the same strategy… Donorlen pulled on me…" Tiamat blurted out.
"Yeah, I remember. That parasite wasn't a pretty sight."
"Don't remind me. I might still have some scars."
"I'm not afraid of a little barrier. I activate the power of my Thunder Dragon, multiplying him in two. Then I activate Polymerization, fusing my two Thunder Dragons together into Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon."
An odd red dragon appeared. It had two heads attached to long necks with a long horn on the nose of each head. Both heads stared up into the clouds as it stood on its hind legs. The heads roared and thunder crashed. Lightning struck all around the Seal. Then the body of the Dragon began to change, turning into an insect.
"Even your mighty Thunder Dragon is no match for my power."
"We'll see. I cast a Spell. Attack me if you dare."
"I will. You see, my Insect Princess draws your dragon into attack position. Since he is, you'll suffer damage when I attack. Then, my princess will have enough power to take on your Metal Reflect Slime, who is immune to my Princesses effect. Princess, attack!"
Insect Princess flew onto Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon and took a big bite out of the dragon's hide. Jesi took a little bit of damage and Insect Princess began to grow in power again.
"Not so fast. I activate Divine Wrath. Now that your Insect Princess is activating her effect…"
Lightning shot down from the dark clouds above and zapped the bug, blowing it into a million teeny particles.
"You… you destroyed Insect Princess…"
"I'm coming you after you… next…"
"That so? I activate Monster Reborn, reviving my princess. And, now that she is back, I activate the magic of Insect Imitation…"
A cocoon surrounded the insect, breaking open to reveal Insect Queen.
"…to make my princess a queen."
"Great… a bigger bug… Well, I cast a Spell. You can go."
"That's it? That's the power of the great Jesi the Storm? You Anim. I sacrifice my Ant Token so that my Insect Queen can attack."
Insect Queen chomped down on one of the Ant Tokens and attacked Metal Reflect Slime.
"Not… so fast. I activate… Spark Revive, bringing back my Thunder Dragon."
Insect Queen destroyed the metal slime, but Thunder Dragon still protected Jesi from harm.
'Pretty good, Jesi. You managed to protect yourself from any more damage. Too bad you're no match for Donorlen. He may be a N00b, but he's good. Soon, you'll be feeding your soul to the beast. I'll enjoy watching you squirm,' thought a strange figure hidden in the bushes behind them. He started to move to find a better spot to watch the finale.
'Huh? There's someone in the bushes behind us,' thought Bann. "It must be a Reckah sent to report the duel to Darsus. I'll let you go for now. No sense getting into another duel.' He turned back to watch Jaesai's next turn. 'Come on Jaesai. You can do this.'
"Well, you've protected yourself once again, but I'm not done yet. I summon Arsenal Bug. Also, I cast a Spell, and as I end my turn, my Insect Queen creates an Insect Egg Token."
'Great… more bugs.' "Alright… I summon…" 'Perfect!' "…Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!"
The large Monarch took Thunder Dragon's place on the field. Blue electricity surrounded his body, which was covered by a silvery armor. Pink claws zapped a current of electricity across each hand, which was fed by a large power generator on his back. A large, green bulb on his head served as a crown.
"With his special ability, I can instantly destroy one monster on the field… and I choose your Insect Queen."
"No! I activate Swarming Shield."
One of the Ant Tokens multiplied. The multiplied ants swarmed over Insect Queen's body like a protective armor. Zaborg's lightning hit the Queen, but only managed to zap off a few ants.
"Damn you. I was going to end my turn, but you leave me no choice. I activate Thunder Charge, which allows me to activate Makiu the Magical Mist."
A dense fog covered the field.
"Now Zaborg, attack!"
Zaborg let off a burst of electricity, which spread through the mist on the field, taking out all of Donorlen's monsters except the still protected Insect Queen.
"Cast Spell. Your move Donny. Make it count," Jesi mocked.
"Oh don't worry. I will. I cast two Spells. Then I summon Insect Knight, who I sacrifice for my Queen's attack!"
Insect Queen grabbed Insect Knight in her jaws and swallowed the strange cross between a grasshopper and a warrior. Zaborg was destroyed, leaving Jesi defenseless again. Jesi continued to lie on the ground in pain from his most recent hit.
"I cast a Spell…" Jesi started.
"I activate Return Swarming! This trap returns every monster you destroyed on your last turn. In other words, I get my Insect Egg Token and my Arsenal Bug back!"
"I end my turn…"
"No! Jesi. You've gotta do something! If you don't… you'll lose next turn!"
"I've done all I can do… Bann. You were right about the Seal. I am afraid. Very afraid."
Bann just stared. He was unable to speak. Donorlen would win.
"I would give you a hero's farewell, Anim, but I would rather see you suffer. I'll start by hatching my egg, summoning Armored Centipede. Then, I activate my trap Mind Swarming, bringing back two Insects that were sent to the Grave from something other than a Tribute Summon or by being destroyed, and I choose Insect Knight and Jirai Gumo."
Five gruesome bugs now swarmed the field.
"Jesi…"
"This is not cool man."
'Well, this is it. Jesi will give his soul to the beast. I can't wait.'
"NOW, ATTACK HIM! KILL HIM! TAKE HIS SOUL!"
All five bugs attacked Jesi directly, but were stopped by another metallic demon.
"I activate… Devil's Sanctuary, Special Summoning my Metal Devil Token."
"So? That thing is weak!"
"Look closely, Don."
Don looked at the devil, shocked that his face was reflected upon its head.
"Any damage he suffers is reflected, striking your life."
"STOP! I'm not fool enough that I would attack myself."
'Good, he protected himself, but if he keeps that token, his life will end next turn.'
"Now, let's end this. Since I can't keep my Devil Token, I'm defenseless again…" 'Sweet. This will end things for sure. Thank you Bann.' "I activate my Monster Reborn, summoning Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon."
"Is that your best? You dragon just adds to my queen's power."
"No, it isn't my best. Let me finish. I activate De-Fusion, breaking him down into two separate Thunder Dragons."
In place of the red dragon, two smaller green dragons took the field.
"Next, I activate a second Devil's Sanctuary, summoning another Metal Devil Token. Now that I have three monsters on the field, it's time to really end this duel. I sacrifice all three to summon…"
'Alright, Jesi. I knew you could do it!' Bann thought happily.
"…to summon Gilford the Lightning!"
Gilford took the field by storm, lifting his large sword into the air and releasing a shower of lightning from the sky. The lightning storm struck all of Donorlen's monsters, reducing them to ash and flame.
"Meet the Ultimate Bug Zapper, my man Gilford! And now that your field is empty, prepare for his ultimate attack!"
"You forget? My DNA Surgery and Insect Barrier combo blocks your attack."
"True… but only as long as Gilford stays part Insect, isn't that right, Gilford?"
"Exactly."
"WHAT! DID YOU JUST…"
"Did I just what?"
"Nevermind, N00b." 'Am I going crazy? Whatever.' "I activate Lightning Strike. This turns Gilford into pure electrical energy, which will be sent right into your soul!"
An aura of lightning surrounded Gilford, who flew at an undefended Donorlen.
"AHHHH!" Don screamed as the Seal enclosed him and sucked out his soul.
Jesi hit the ground but said, "Don't move me. I'm just kissing the ground beneath my feet."
"Well, at least you're okay."
Gilford vanished and the Bashers laughed at Jesi. Bann continued to look around.
'Whoever was out there still is. I don't want to alarm the others.'
"You sure that's a good idea?" Kia asked.
'Not really, but I want to keep on the lookout. Something strange is going on. First, Donorlen is used by the Reckah. Now someone is watching us. Kia. I want you to look around.'
"Okay, Lord Bann."
She turned and vanished.
'I'll get to the bottom of this. I'm coming for you, Darsus.'
The same figure who sat in the bushes was now under a tree, laughing. "Ha ha ha… that was perfect. Donorlen got what was coming to him. I have no idea what Darsus was thinking, sending that N00b out there. He should send and Anim next time. The strongest Anim, me."
"If that is what you want, Jundi, then do it."
"Oh, Garu. It's only you."
"Master Darsus wants you to duel the one named Bann."
"It would be my pleasure. You see, we go a long way back, and I have been waiting for my chance to take him out."
"Whatever. Is your arm healed?"
Jundi lifted his arm. "Why, yes it is. In fact, thanks to this stone, I am more than okay." He unwrapped the bandages on his arm a little. A faint green glow came out of the loosened linens. He then wrapped them up again and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I will cut your throat with my steel." Jundi laughed again, got up and walked off.
Next time on City of Fire: Rivalry