Author's Note: After a number of years the time has come at last for the Dark Thief of the Desert to try his hand at vengeance once more.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Nikolas' Vendetta
Dalin rolled his body and came up in a crouch, facing the direction that the attack had come from. What he saw was another chunk of plaster hurtling towards him. This time was different however, because he was ready.
His muscles bunched and his arm reared back, readying it for the plaster to come in range. As soon as it was he threw the punch, breaking the plaster into tiny pieces. A shower of dust rained down upon him, but he remained unharmed. "Knight of Darkness...Knight of Air...so you would be the third knight. Come out Knight of Earth."
A white cloaked form emerged from the sand. The same knight that had confronted him on two different occasions. The first time when Kai dueled Kevin, and the second time when he had defeated Rose. "I wasn't expecting a direct attack this soon. But now I'm ready."
"Ready? The only thing you should be ready for is death!" The knight made a sweeping motion with his right hand, and as it went the ground beneath his arm began to break apart. A line of the broken earth extended outwards at great speed heading straight for Dalin.
Dalin's body was conditioned to great action, so he jumped forwards and used a broken piece of flooring as a stepping stone, hurling himself at the knight. "HAAAAA!"
He swung his fist down towards the knight, but the white robed form exploded into dust right before Dalin's fist could connect. Dalin spun on his heel, swinging with his left arm as he did so to give the blow more power. His guess proved correct as his opponent was forced to dodge the strike.
Dalin knew he had to keep his enemy from disappearing again, so thinking quickly he acted. With one powerful kick he hurled a floorboard at the knight. Just as he had expected a column of earth rose from the ground to block the board. 'That's my opening!'
Jumping towards the column of earth he wrapped his left arm around it, and used his momentum to swing him all the way around it. His sudden appearance caught the knight off guard, and his knuckles collided powerfully with the robed warrior's face.
The strength of the strike tossed the knight backwards. He bounced against the ground painfully, and when he did hit the ground again his hood fell away. Dalin stopped his advance on the warrior as he saw his suspicions confirmed. "One eye..."
His enemy picked himself up and took a hold of the top of his robe. In one motion he hurled it off, revealing his desert garb beneath. He sneered and with a flick of his wrist brought a knife into his hand. "What's wrong? Don't like your handiwork?"
"My handiwork? What are you talking about?" The thief sneered in response and placed a hand on the eye patch. He peeled it away, revealing a puckered and aged wound, with a scar running down from his brow to the middle of his cheek.
"You did this to me...you ruined everything! Now I Nikolas Selket will make you suffer for every person you have harmed! Prepare for death Sumatin!" Nikolas slammed his knife into the ground, burying it up the hilt. Now that his attention was on the knife his hand fell away from the eye patch, letting it cover up once again.
Dalin readied himself to move, drawing on some of the energies within his body. He had natural magic that he could use in this fight, and he also had the strength of the Icon of Osiris. "I don't know what you're talking about Selket."
Nick growled and pulled the knife up and up and up. The knife had become a sword, the minerals of the earth drawn into it to transform it. "LIAR! NOW DIE!"
Back in the present, nearly six years later, Dalin found himself in deep contemplation. His initial encounter with Nikolas Selket, Knight of Earth, had been far from a pleasant one. Nikolas had attempted to kill him, and failing that he had begun a deadly duel between the two.
"YOU! Back then you stripped away all that mattered to me and left me as an empty shell! In the years since I have filled myself with hatred for you. I'm steeped in it. Now that hatred will flow from me to you, and you will know the extent of my pain! I'll make you live out every second of it!"
The words were clear in his head as if it were just the other day. He had been in a number of battles within the past that he remembered, but something about that battle stood out to him the most. It was if no matter how far he came, no matter where he went or what he did that Nikolas Selket was someone who he was destined or cursed to face again.
"This is my power Dalin Imaki Sumatin! MY HATE FOR YOU!"
None of the others understood what heading to the home of Nikolas Selket actually meant. They hadn't understood the Puppeteer's words about the difficulty of getting his aid. None of them had been there when the two fated opponents met on the field of battle for the first time. They couldn't possible understand.
"Let me tell you, it's taking every bit of my will to resist the urge to slit your throat like you did to them."
It was only possible to comprehend what stood between them if you encountered it face to face as one of the two. Onlookers wouldn't understand the feelings of the two as they had stood face to face. The accuser and the accused, and no matter how much time had passed it was impossible for that hatred to have faded. Though the Universe itself might end, Dalin was certain that Nikolas Selket's desire to make him suffer and die would not change.
"I've been resisting the urge since I first saw you. But I decided I might give you a chance. A chance that you didn't give the ones closest to me. But I've decided against that."
"You've had your chance to live. Now, there's no escape. It took me a while to think of a way to make you pay for everything you've done to me. But now I've found one. I suppose I should do what they would do in Egypt. You know, they cut off your hand if you're caught stealing."
"Of course it wasn't your hand that did the killing. It was your black heart that did it. But I have so much more in store for you. There is no way I can make you feel the pain I have felt for over five years, but I'm sure I can get pretty close. It's just like the old saying."
"An eye for an eye."
Nikolas' desire of vengeance was incredibly powerful, and it drove him onwards. In addition he had a stronger bond with his own cards than any Dalin had ever experienced. In order to truly defeat Nikolas' Selket in a duel, a daunting task on its own, one had to defeat the army at his disposal.
"Ever since I began playing this game the Dark Scorpions have been with me, and by uniting with their strength my own is magnified! Working together we become an unstoppable force, and we will win!"
Most players considered the Dark Scorpions to be weak, worthless cards that were impossible to make work and be worth it. They were virtually never played by professional duelists. However, Nikolas' special connection allowed him to be very powerful with them. He had been strong when Dalin faced him, and in the past six years he was certain to have grown even stronger.
Nikolas' vengeance was…pure in its own way. It could not be stopped, could not be countered. It was impossible to talk him out of it; it was only possible to delay him temporarily. Whether through defeat or confusion, it didn't matter. Eventually, Nikolas would return to settle the score. Dalin had always known that.
"You...you act like you're innocent of any crime, but you're the wicked one here! You took everything I had from me and cast me into the abyss to flounder, grasping for a ray of hope!"
Dalin had attempted to tell Nikolas that he truly did not know if he was the one responsible for the tragedy that had befallen Nikolas, the tragedy of his parents' murder and the loss of his eye. He had tried to tell him that his past was hidden in shadow, so he couldn't know. But it hadn't mattered. Nikolas wouldn't listen.
"You say that, but I know it's just another lie! You're trying to make me doubt, but I know in my heart that it was you, I know no matter what that my target is Dalin Imaki Sumatin, the bastard who murdered my parents before my very eyes!"
Words asking for discretion had only proved to anger Nikolas. Dalin's own declaration that he served justice had been rebuked, and Nikolas had only been further enraged. It didn't matter that Nikolas knew Dalin wielded the Heart of Justice. He couldn't see the man he believed murdered his parents in any sort of positive light.
"You're no sending of justice! The justice to be dealt is mine, and I am its sending! I am a weapon of justice, sent to strike you down for the sins of your past! Now greet your forebears as you reach your deserved resting place. GO TO HELL!"
Nikolas was not untouchable however. He was human, and therefore vulnerable to all that other humans are vulnerable to. Shakespeare had once said 'conscience makes cowards of us all' and that was as true of Nikolas as it was for anyone else.
Ultimately in their duel Dalin had created a combo that assured victory. But instead of taking the sure path, he chose to leave the result of the duel up to Nikolas, hanging his fate upon Nikolas' conscience. Could Nikolas really convict someone easily who willingly gave their life to him? It was a question that had boggled Nikolas, and likely still did.
"I don't understand...you know I hate you, you know I despise all that you are. Why are you doing this?"
Confounded by his own conscience, Nikolas had made his choice. He couldn't make the choice that he wanted to at that time; he simply couldn't get past the fact that no matter how much hatred existed within him, he was still a human being with morals and values.
"I've made my choice and I choose….innocent. For now, I'll declare you innocent. But my hatred won't die, it can't die. Even if I wanted to destroy it, the only way to remove my hatred would be for one of the two of us to die. So for the moment, I'll let you go free. But know that we'll face each other again, and ultimately one of us must die. Enjoy what remains of your life Sumatin. Next time we meet, one of us will die."
That had been the last time that Dalin had seen Nikolas, and he knew as surely as he knew his own eye color that the hatred that Nikolas Selket had for him had not faded even one iota. He knew that after these past six years that man's hatred for him would be just as strong as ever.
Dalin stared out the window of the Boeing 747 as it made its way across the Atlantic towards Cairo. He watched the clouds below them, and contemplated the past and the confrontation that was coming in just a handful of hours. 'Nikolas…one way or another, you will have your conclusion.'
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Nikolas Selket, beyond being a magically imbued individual who hated Dalin Imaki Sumatin with every fiber of his being, was a thief. He was a very good thief in fact, and had never been caught, save once. It was likely that he was the best thief in the world, and he had earned the nickname 'Thief King of the Desert Sands'.
On his own will, after becoming the Knight of Earth, he changed that nickname. He declared himself to be the 'Dark Thief of the Desert', but the change of name didn't matter. He was infamous, even though his actual name wasn't known in most circles. Police hated him around the world, those with precious artifacts or supposedly state of the art security systems feared him.
It wasn't that they saw the terrifying darkness he was capable of. No, that was reserved specifically for Dalin Imaki Sumatin and no one else saw it. It was rather that no matter how high tech the security systems were made, no matter how hard the police tried…he just couldn't be caught.
Nikolas Selket, based on thieving skills alone, could have been one of the wealthiest men in the world. But he wasn't, despite his prodigious skill. He wasn't for two reasons. The first was the same reason he couldn't at first declare Dalin guilty. His conscience told him that stealing was wrong, that he had learned the trade to survive and that abusing it was wrong. So he had to struggle against those words.
The second reason confounded police and those who made state of the art security systems. Many times it would be discovered that after successfully stealing a particularly difficult to come across item he would return it. The reason was that he desired a challenge. He had grown so skilled at stealing that he couldn't stop himself, and he wanted the challenge.
All of these facts boiled down to one thing. Nikolas Selket was very good at what he did, and excellent thieves were not easy to find. That was why, after eight years of grand larceny, he was still walking the streets.
This is why Nikolas Selket was able to sit at home, casually eating a bowl of Cocoa Krispies, without a worry in the world that anyone would be walking right up to his house knowing exactly who he was. He particularly didn't expect to have breakfast interrupted by people wanting to recruit him into an effort to save the Universe from its destruction.
Least of all he had never expected to have his breakfast interrupted, to open the door, and find himself staring straight at the one person he hated to the core standing there.
And that was why people were currently fleeing the streets, running for their lives.
The outer wall of a small building exploded inwards, and the occupants screamed and tried to retreat, avoiding the booth that had literally been hurled through the wall. Dalin currently stood on the roof of the building, staring across the street at Nick, who was glaring up at him, having just using a wave of sand to hurl the booth at the taller man. "Damn….bastard, this time I'll cut you down!"
Dalin said nothing, merely stood there with his arms crossed and staring imperiously down at Nick. The blonde haired teen screamed in poor rage and thrust a hand out at Dalin. Immediately the desert sand collected on the street contracted into a ball and streamed straight at Dalin with speed and force enough to smash brick.
Instead of jumping upwards to avoid the shot like he had the last time he hopped to the right and allowed it to pass right by. Nick noticed immediately and forced the sand to swing at Dalin again. Despite his large size Dalin was able to duck and roll under it. He came up to his feet and leapt straight off the building, swooping down on Nick.
Nick narrowed his eyes and instantly the sand at his feet rose up to create a temporary wall. Dalin's fist slammed into the shield of sand and the impact smashed the sand apart, but the force of the blow was canceled out. 'Interesting…'
Almost immediately after the punch was stopped Nick's own arm darted out, knife in hand, aiming at Dalin's face. Dalin jerked his head to the side and then jerked it back down. Nick's eye went wide with shock, seeing that his hand was now effectively pinned by Dalin's head. "This isn't going to be settled like this. We need your assistance to save the…Universe."
Suddenly Dalin released the pressure his head had on Nick's arm and jumped to the left, rolling and coming up on his feet. He was just in time to avoid a bicycle that Nick had used his abilities to throw at Dalin's back. Nick protected himself with another shield of sand, and then pointed his arm at Dalin, sending the sand shooting at his enemy. "I won't be swayed by your words!"
Dalin frowned and shook his head. "I won't play with you any longer Nikolas….there is simply no time for it."
Instead of dodging the sand Dalin smashed it apart with a single sweep of his arm. Then he darted forwards and before Nick could shield himself grabbed the younger man's arm and bent it inwards so that the knife was centimeters from Nick's jugular vein. "If you must battle, then let it be a battle of little destruction. I will duel you, and should I win you will hear us out. If you win, then you may fight me again if that is what you want."
With that said Dalin released the other man's arm and hopped backwards. Nick stared at Dalin for a minute, and then tossed the knife into the dirt. "Fine….I'll play your game. Give me just a moment to get my deck and duel disk, and then I'll be back."
He shattered into sand and the sand was blown away, making them all lose sight of it. Then he returned as sand coalescing in the same point just a minute later. When he was corporeal once again he had his duel disk strapped to his arm, deck already in place. "Let's get this finished Sumatin, I'd like to get to killing you soon." (NLP: 4000)
Dalin said nothing and merely activated his duel disk. He had anticipated using this method and known exactly what he wanted to suggest ahead of time. Although Nick deserved the right to fight him, he couldn't give Nick that chance quite yet. "Let us begin." (DLP: 4000)
Nick and Dalin drew their six cards swiftly, Nick drawing six while Dalin drew five. The two duelists matched stares for several seconds. Just a handful of feet away, just out of harm's way, the others watched the tense staring match with great trepidation. They knew of the hatred that Nick held for Dalin, but they didn't understand its magnitude.
Finally Nick made his move, throwing a card onto his duel disk. "I'll begin with Dark Scorpion-Chick the Yellow(1000/1000) in attack mode!" A short and skinny mousy look teenager appeared, wearing black pants and proudly showing a tattoo of a black scorpion on his arm.
"He may be the youngest of the group, but he is stronger than he appears. I'll place two cards face down and end my turn there. Let me see what your angels have in store for the Dark Scorpions this day Sumatin!" Dalin didn't even blink; he just drew for the start of his turn.
Dalin scanned his hand only briefly before he chose his cards. "I will begin simply by setting a monster in defense mode and two cards face down. Then, if you have no actions to take, my turn will end."
Nick drew once, and then held up the new card. "I play Silent Thief of the Night. This sends the top two cards of your deck to the grave!"
His opponent complied, noting the cards that went to the grave as he placed them there. But he remained cautious, as he saw the look in Nick's lone eye. And Dalin proved to be right, because as soon as the cards hit the graveyard one of Nick's two set cards flipped up. "Let me show you my continuous trap card, Dark Scorpion Revelations!"
The trap card showed itself as the Dark Scorpions all gathered around a map, and Don Zaloog was pointing at something on it. "As long as this continuous trap is in play whenever one of you cards is discarded to the grave by one of my effects I get to view the top card of your deck. Then I can choose to replace it, or put it at the bottom of your deck. And I get to do this for one card per card sent to the grave."
Dalin picked up the top two cards of his deck and showed them to Nick. The thief looked at both of them carefully before making a decision. "Place them both at the bottom of your deck." Dalin followed the demand and slipped them into the very bottom of his deck, where they would be much harder to reach.
Once that action was completed Nick took one of the three remaining cards in his hand and slapped it onto his Duel Pod, the high tech device that only three of which had been made. "I summon Dark Scorpion-Cliff the Trap Remover(1200/1000)!"
His newest scorpion was taller and older than Chick, but was still very thin and seedy looking. Cliff wore the same outfit that Chick did, and also sported a tattoo of a black scorpion. "Now, let's see what your traps are as I activate Dark Scorpion Skill Test! Since it lets me activate a Dark Scorpion effect as if they dealt damage I'll use Cliff's effect to destroy both of your face down cards!"
Cliff smirked and whipped out a pair of knives and then crosses his arms over his chest, bunching his fledgling muscles. Then he releases, swinging his arms out and sending the knives flying at the face down cards. Each card shattered upon impact, and Dalin took them out of his duel disk and placed them in the grave. "Now since I sent a card to the grave with a Dark Scorpion effect my Dark Scorpion Revelations also activates, so show me your top two cards again."
Nick looked the cards over quickly, and then pointed to the card to the rightmost of the two. "Place that card back on top of your deck. The other one should go at the bottom of your deck."
Once Dalin had completed the action Nick was left to contemplate his next move. Dalin saw the choice that was there and understood exactly how the other man's thought process would go. Although both of Dalin's threatening set cards were gone, it was most likely that Dalin's defense monster either had a high defense, or some beneficial effect. The Dark Scorpions lacked brute force, so simply attacking straight off might not be the wisest choice. And Dalin knew which path Nick was going to take.
"Cliff the Trap Remover will…not attack. I'll finish up with a single card face down and end my turn." A small smirk was evident on Nick's face, and the others watching knew that it didn't bode well for Dalin. They were worried for him…or at least most of them were. Ihami was sitting on an upturned booth and grinning widely as she watched.
Dalin drew and immediately Nick's set card flipped up. "Reveal quick-play magic card, Spy Guesswork! This magic card lets me guess the name of one card, and if it's in your hand you must discard your entire hand and I draw half the cards you lost. I name Monster Reborn!"
Dalin flicked his green eyes down to see the card he had drawn, and then folded up his hand and slid it into the graveyard. Since it was four cards Nick drew two cards, replacing those he had used in his previous turn and leaving Dalin with nothing to work with. "And as you know, Dark Scorpion Revelations now lets me see the top four cards of your deck!"
On the sidelines Alice was feeling a mixture of worry and excitement. She was excited because her senpai was dueling right before her eyes against a powerful opponent, but worried because of the threat Nikolas posed. "How did Nikolas know that senpai had that card in his hand?"
Ihami glanced over at the blonde girl and snorted. "You're cute, but apparently not so bright. If you really paid attention you'd understand how it worked. First Nikolas used Dark Scorpion Skill Test with Cliff to destroy Dalin's set cards, right?"
Alice nodded, understanding that part fully. "Then Dark Scorpion Revelations allowed Nikolas to view the top two cards of Dalin's deck. While doing this he chooses one card to go to the bottom of Dalin's graveyard, and the other to be placed on top. That meant he knew exactly what Dalin was going to draw this turn, making it a perfect combo for use with Spy Guesswork. Get it now?"
She did, but that only served to make her opponent worry all the more. It meant that Nikolas was a very talented duelist to pull off a combination like that. It was a flawless move that let him destroy two cards, discard Dalin's hand, remove a potentially threatening card, and also draw two cards. 'He's…he's really good!'
Since Dalin couldn't do anything Nick reached for his deck, but was stopped as Dalin placed his fingers on his set monster card. "Do not get ahead of yourself Nikolas. I now flip summon my set monster, Ascended Man(1200/500)."
Nick's one eye immediately dropped to his field, which was now barren save his two Dark Scorpions and his continuous trap card. He gritted his teeth, understanding what was about to happen. "Damn…"
Dalin raised his right arm and pointed a finger directly at Cliff the Trap Remover. "Ascended Man, attack Cliff the Trap Remover!"
The brown robed man with white angel wings swooped in and struck Cliff bodily, hurling them both into the side of a building. Each monster shattered on impact, but seconds after Ascended Man was destroyed an identical figure formed on Dalin's field. "As you well know when Ascended Man goes to the grave I special summon another from my deck and draw one card."
Since Ascended Man's effect had come in during the battle phase and the second was also summoned during the battle phase that meant Dalin could continue his attack, and Nick knew he was going to feel it. "Ascended Man, destroy Chick the Yellow!"
This time Ascended Man's body check only sent Chick flying, and he too shattered against the building. "With that concluded, I place a card face down and end my turn." (NLP: 3800)
Alice pumped her fist into the air, grinning like an idiot. "Go senpai! Show that one-eyed thief who's the boss!"
Nick's eye twitched at the sound of her cheers, and he jerked around to face her. "There will be no cheerleading in this duel for either side! There will be no damned peanut gallery to get on our nerves! Just let us duel!"
The blonde girl rolled her eyes and leaned over to whisper in Ihami's ear. "He's a grumpy guy. A bit of a jerk if you ask me."
Ihami leaned in to whisper in Alice's ear in return. "I totally didn't."
With their peanut gallery comments finished Nick was free to start his own turn, and he was determined to repay Dalin's destruction of his two Dark Scorpions using the five cards in his hand. "First, I play Vase of Charity! This lets me draw four cards, provided I discarded two afterwards."
He picked up his top four cards, and then carefully selected two of them to discard. "I discarded Dying to Steal. When this card goes to the grave it lets me send two cards from your hand to the grave, or three from the top of your deck. I choose the second option of course."
Dalin registered the three cards and then discarded them to his graveyard. Immediately after he was done he picked up the top three cards of his deck and flipped them around for Nick to see. "According to your trap card's effect you may now see my top three cards."
Nick smirked, looking positively deadly as he fingered one of the cards in his hand, looking eager to use it. "Go ahead and put those three cards back on top of your deck."
Green eyes narrowed as Dalin replaced the three cards, the eyes contemplating exactly what Nikolas' intent was with that move. 'He returned my cards, and with the way he was looking it means he particularly wants them there. That card in his hand will work advantageously with his trap card.'
Nikolas took three of his cards, one of them being the one he was so eager to play, and placed them in the magic and trap slots of his Duel Pod. One by one the three cards materialized in holographic form at his feet. "I lay three cards down, and then I'll set a monster in defense mode. End."
When Dalin drew he saw that the card that had been placed on top of his deck would be somewhat worthless at the moment. It wasn't that he couldn't use it, but rather it would be pointless to do so. However, there was no reason not to. "I play Heaven's Glow to gain one thousand life points." (DLP: 5000)
He assessed the situation carefully, and looked up at Nick, seeing the look in the other man's lone eye. He understood exactly what the problem was. 'If his set monster is what I believe it is, attacking would merely play into his hands. So for the moment I must abstain.'
"End."
Nikolas drew, and then pointed to one of his three face down cards. "Dark Scorpion Revenge Theft is my choice of trap! For every Dark Scorpion in the graveyard you must discard one card from your deck at random. And since I discarded Gorg the Strong for Vase of Charity that makes three!"
Without a word Dalin fanned out his deck and plucked three cards from it, then he folded his deck up and returned it to its holder. Finally he discarded the three cards to his cemetery slot, and reached for his deck to show Nick his top three cards. "No Dalin, that's not how it works this time. If I have already seen a card using Dark Scorpion Revelations I'm allowed to skip over it, so show me the three cards beneath your top two."
Alice bit her lip, worrying even more about Dalin as he flashed Nick the three cards. Nick promptly grinned and patted the top of his deck. "Go ahead and replace them Sumatin. That's a good boy…"
When Dalin had returned the three cards to where they belonged he looked back up at Nikolas, curious as to the point behind the combo. It was obvious to him that Dark Scorpion Revenge Theft was not the card he had been eager to use. "Is that all?"
"No, in fact now it's the card that completes my vicious combo! The combo that will destroy your deck in just a handful of turns. The continuous trap card Dark Scorpion Insight!" His trap card showed the Dark Scorpions outside a stone vault, and Don Zaloog was carefully stepping over a stone. Below the stone there were wires of some sort for a trap.
"What does this trap card of yours do exactly?" Nick sneered and tapped a finger against the side of his head, looking almost feral as he prepared to reveal his apparently deadly combo.
"Dark Scorpion Insight is a once per turn card. You see, once during each of my turns I can name any number of cards in your hand or on top of your deck, and each one that's guessed incorrectly is discarded to the grave. Once I guess one wrong I have to stop. So, I guess that in order your top five cards are Jupiter the Angel of Life, Pot of Greed, Mercury the Angel of Wisdom, Hear No Evil, and last but not least is Pluto the Angel of Weakening." Dalin picked all five cards up and saw that they were indeed as Nikolas had named them. And since he had named them correctly Dalin was forced to discard them.
Dalin closed his eyes in understanding of the terrifying combo. "And because cards were sent to my graveyard by one of your effects you can now check the top five cards of my deck using Dark Scorpion Revelations. And next turn you can discard those that remain using Dark Scorpion Insight."
"That's right, and not just that but any additional cards I discard to your grave add onto that number. So I have the power to destroy your deck in just a handful of turns, like I said. It's a combo that can crush even you Dalin Imaki Sumatin!" Ihami whistled, impressed by the combo, while Rishid, Hikari, and Alice all began to worry about the fate of their number on duelist and ipso facto leader.
Dalin did the math and found that he currently had twenty-two cards in the grave thanks to Nikolas' efforts. Counting the Ascended Man he currently had on the field that meant he had used twenty-three cards out of his deck. 'It's a combo nearly without flaw since I have no hand. Any cards that he sees he can discard, and any that might immediately help me he can place at the bottom of my deck. He truly has improved.'
"You see Sumatin? I won't be defeated! And if you won't come for me, then I'll come for you! I play Dark Scorpion Poison Dart, which lets me discard one card from my hand to destroy any monster on the field and act is if it were battle. So…I'll discard Dark Scorpion-Maenae the Thorn(1000/1800) in order to destroy my set monster!" Dalin let himself smile slightly, having guessed the set monster correctly.
"My destroyed monster was Dark Scorpion(200/300) which lets me special summon a level four or lower Dark Scorpion from my deck to the field when destroyed in battle. So now I special summon the leader of the group, Don Zaloog(1400/1000)!" The leader of the bunch appeared, showing off by twirling a pair of guns in his hands. He had one eye covered by a patch, and wore rougher clothing than the rest of the scorpions, but like them he also had a tattoo of a black scorpion on his arm.
"Now, Don Zaloog will attack Ascended Man with Guns of the King!" Don Zaloog took aim and fired a single shot from each pistol, catching Ascended Man in the forehead. The angel crumpled and faded away, but was quickly replaced by another as Dalin drew from its effect. (DLP: 4800)
"And I'll have Don Zaloog's effect discard that card from your hand! And of course I'll use Dark Scorpion Revelations to see yet another card from your deck." Dalin frowned slightly as he discarded the newly drawn card, and then showed yet another card from his deck to Nick. Nick frowned, and motioned for him to place the card at the bottom of his deck.
Dalin made quick note of the used cards, bringing his total to twenty-five, twenty-four of them being in the graveyard. And in the next turn Nikolas could at least force him to discard four cards from his deck, as Dalin would now draw the top one that Nikolas knew. "Your combination is a powerful one…"
He paused as he drew, not yet bothering to look at it. "However, despite the power of your combination I cannot allow you to defeat me. Despite the strength of your convictions, I will not let you win. You deserve justice, however at this moment I cannot allow you to achieve it, the stakes are too high."
"And what do you think you can do about it? As long as my revenge is there, it is impossible for you to gain any sort of victory. And with this combo in play I'll win in just a few more turns as bit by bit I demolish your deck. What can you do but delay the inevitable?" Dalin sighed and shook his head before slowly sliding his drawn card into his disk. It formed in front of him, but he seemed to be ignoring its presence.
"Too often I have heard that said. 'This is impossible' or 'that is impossible'. If I believed that anything was truly impossible then I would not be attempting to stop the end of the Universe. It is my choice to deny the term impossible. One way or another there will be a conclusion to this vendetta, but that time is not now. For the moment…I deny you that right." Nick's right fist curled into a tight ball, his rage seething beneath the surface, just barely contained.
"Deny me my vendetta? Deny me my right of revenge! No…one way or another I will show you my wrath, and the wrath of the Dark Scorpions! Prepare yourself Dalin Imaki Sumatin for the true power of the Dark Scorpions!" He literally yanked another card off the top of his deck, and then pointed at Dalin fiercely.
"Saturn the Angel of Judgment, Energy Absorption, Song of Angels, and Mars the Angel of Power! Discard them all!" Dalin did so, sending the four cards on his deck to the grave and then showing the top next four to Nick.
He frowned and paused for a second, but then his rage got the better of him. "This part doesn't matter…place all four at the bottom of your deck."
Even before Dalin had completed the task Nick was already shoving his drawn card into his duel disk. "Dalin Imaki Sumatin, I've learned in the past that the power of the Dark Scorpions as they stood at the start of their career couldn't defeat you. But now, I'll show you how strong they become after two decades more experience!"
Nikolas' entire field started to glow and the forms of each of the other four Dark Scorpions appeared around Don Zaloog. All of them were bit by bit being covered by the glowing light. "I activate my magic card that unleashes their power…"
"Twenty Years Hence!"
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Author's Notes: Now, if I were truly evil I'd make you guys wait…but I'm not utterly a fiend. So next time we continue the duel.
Next Time: The full power of the Dark Scorpions is unleashed against Dalin, and the seemingly unbeatable Dalin is pushed into a corner by their might. Yet Dalin has declared that he will deny Nikolas of his vengeance, and to do so he must show Nikolas the power of true denial.
See it all in, Deny Me In Your Eyes!