Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh.
Vanguard Generations
Chapter 19: The Hunter
Airos cursed at under his breath as he ran down another of the car-less streets of the city. ("Where did Andrew get off to?") Right after they had gotten away from Shinsei, the boy had suddenly broken into a run, shouting something about his mother. And then when that huge explosion hit Airos had taken cover. Unfortunately, Andrew didn't stop at that time and now the air duelist was searching all over the city for him. ("At this rate I'm never going to be able to find him!")
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Andrew felt his heart pounding in his chest as he made a run for his mother's apartment. ("It's just a few seconds away, I'm almost there!") His arms up and holding his keys, he pounded up the stairs of the building, and upon reaching the second floor nearly kicked the staircase door in. Charging down the rows upon rows of other doors, he almost instantly recognized the door to the apartment he lived in. Pushing the key into the lock, he turned it once and then forced the normally rather sticky door-frame open. "Mom!"
As soon as he ran in, he realized that something was wrong. It was pitch black inside the small living room, and he could feel that someone was already inside. "Who's here? Mom, is that you?"
"No." The replying voice was strangely young, and very cold. "So you're the one who lives here then, with the sickly woman?"
"Where's my mother?" Andrew, despite his non-threatening appearance, tried to use the natural effects of the weak light coming in behind him to make himself appear more dangerous. If this guy was a burglar, then he might just be able to scare him off.
"She is in the bedroom, but for your own sake I will have to stop you from getting to her." The invisible voice in the darkness of the living room was moving towards him now, getting louder. "If you have anything to say about it, then make your case now."
Andrew knew his baseball bat was somewhere near the door, but for the life of him he couldn't remember the exact location. ("I just have to keep him distracted long enough to get my hands on it.") He started to feel around the door-frame carefully. "Why are you keeping me from my mother? If you're here to rob us then take what you want and go."
"Rob you?" The voice sounded rather surprised. "I suppose you're not wrong to make that assumption, but the fact of the matter is that you are completely incorrect. I have no interest in your petty items, and in fact almost find it insulting that your first idea was such a thing." The voice grew louder and a shadowed silhouette could be seen just outside the range of the meager light. "Considering all of the things that have been going on lately, would you immediately think I'm a burglar and not something more sinister?"
Andrew suddenly felt very afraid. Something about this person's voice reflected a deep mix of sorrow and anger that was beyond human. "Just go away!"
"I cannot do that." The speaker stepped into sight of the light, revealing a fluffy shock of fire-red hair and a pair of blood-red eyes. It was a boy no older than fifteen, and yet the way he carried himself made him seem much older. He wore a simple brown t-shirt and brown pants, and on his arm rested a black-toned duel disk. "You smell of my target."
"Your…target?" Andrew blinked in surprise and took a step back. "What are you talking about?"
"There is an energy signature around you similar to the power I was shown before, meaning you have been in contact with my target." The boy noticed the duel disk on Andrew's arm. "You will duel me. If you win, I shall go away. If I win…well, we'll decide upon the circumstances if that happens."
Andrew was about to say that he had no deck, but he remembered the deck that Shinsei had given him before they had parted. ("I don't have time for this, but at this rate I don't have a choice but to fight.") "Fine, I'll take you on!" He removed the stack of cards from his jacket pocket and slammed it into his deck slot, the device humming to life and clicking into place. "Let's…"
"Not here." The boy walked past him and pointed up at the ceiling. "The roof is the best place to hold our match."
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As the cold wind blew through Andrew's white hair, he felt oddly relaxed despite the fact that he knew almost nothing about the deck he had. ("Please be enough to help me beat this guy.")
"My name is Arrow." The red-haired duelist shuffled his deck and inserted it into his duel disk. "Now, show me your power! Duel!"
Arrow- 4000
Andrew- 4000
Arrow drew. "I shall begin then." Placing the drawn card onto his disk, he barely moved as a blond-haired female warrior holding a sword appeared on his field. "I summon Warrior Lady of the Wasteland (1100/1200) in attack mode. End turn."
Andrew took a shallow breath and drew a card. "I won't bend to you just because of your attitude. My mother needs me." Inserting the drawn card into his hand, he suddenly remembered watching Shinsei duel in their three-way duel. ("You're such an amazing duelist, Shinsei. I…I won't be as good as you are. But I can't give up either!") "I summon Mistress of the Elements!" (300/300) A female priest in prismatic robes appeared on his field.
"300 attack points? Is that all you can muster?" Arrow's expression didn't change at all. "Very well, then I suppose your resolve to see your mother is weak."
"So says you, but then again your opinion of me doesn't really matter in the long run." Andrew pointed at his field, where a pair of face-up continuous trap cards has appeared. "For each attribute of monster in play when this monster is summoned, I may play one continuous trap card from my hand. Since my Mistress is a light and your Lady is an earth, I played two cards!" Light rained down upon his field. "The first card is Heart of Elements. For every attribute in play, a different effect is activated. Because there is an earth in play, one monster on my field gains 500 defense points." (300/800) "And because there is a light in play I may gain half the defense of one monster on my field in life points once per turn."
Arrow- 4000
Andrew- 4400
Arrow shrugged those bonuses off as nothing. "All things considered, that is nothing."
"True, but the other card is the kicker. It's called Mother Nature's Blessing." Andrew smiled as his Mistress started to glow brightly. "For every face-up trap and magic card on my field, one target monster on my field gains 500 attack points!" (1300/800) "Go Mistress, Song of Nature!" His monster started to sing at the top of her lungs, sending shockwaves of power across the field to blow Arrow's Warrior Lady into nothingness. "Alright, first blood is mine!"
Arrow- 3800
Andrew- 4400
Arrow actually looked amused for a moment. "First blood doesn't mean you've won the fight. When Warrior Lady of the Wasteland is destroyed as a result of battle I may special summon an earth warrior type monster with 1500 or less attack points from my deck to my field in attack mode. Come out now, Marauding Captain." A green-armored warrior holding two swords appeared on his field. (1200/800)
Andrew frowned in realization that this meant his attack had helped his opponent set up the field. ("I'm not good enough to bet such important things on this game.") "End turn."
Arrow drew. "I play the magic card Reinforcements of the Army, selecting one level or four lower warrior type from my deck and adding it to my hand. My choice is another Marauding Captain, which I summon." A copy of his other monster appeared in play. "When Marauding Captain is normal summoned I may special summon a level four or lower monster from my hand. My choice is Command Knight." (1200/1900) A female knight in feathered armor appeared on the field next to the two Captains. "When Command Knight is in play, all warrior type monsters on my field gain 400 attack points." (1600/1900) (1600/800x2)
Andrew watched in horror as the Command Knight leapt across the field and slashed through his Mistress easily. "No…that means…" He bit back a yell of pain as he felt the swords of the two Marauding Captains slash his flesh.
Arrow- 3800
Andrew- 800
Arrow sighed. "I shouldn't have expected much more than that. I place two cards face-down on the field and end my turn." As two cards appeared behind his monsters, he crossed his arms across his chest and wondered exactly what this boy could do now. ("He can counter-attack, but somehow I doubt that he will be able to make it.")
Andrew slowly stood up, his gray eyes glimmering in the morning light. "It's my turn!" Sliding the top card off of his deck, he nodded at it. "Pot of Greed lets me draw two cards!" Holding up a new card, he smiled at Arrow in a strangely relaxed fashion. "Let's try this then, Giant Trunade!" A powerful hurricane swept across the field and their magic and trap cards disappeared. "All magic and trap cards in play are returned to their owner's hands." A blue-skinned humanoid dressed in hunter's clothing appeared in play. "I summon Elemental Hunter in attack mode!" (1700/500)
"You can't attack, thanks to the effects of my Marauding Captains…" Arrow widened his eyes slightly as he caught the confident glint in Andrew's own grey orbs. ("Interesting…he isn't worried at all.")
"Here I go! I play Lightning Vortex, discarding one card from my hand to destroy all face-up monsters on your field!" Andrew watched as lightning came crashing down and blew all three of Arrow's monsters into black marks on the rooftop. "Now I'll play Card Destruction! This card effect forces us both to discard our hands and draw cards equal to the number we discarded." He drew two new cards while Arrow drew four. "Hunter, direct attack!" The warrior strung an arrow and launched it across the field, the holographic weapon going through Arrow's body harmlessly.
Arrow- 2100
Andrew- 800
Andrew clenched his fist, his resolve strengthening. ("I can win this, mother! I'll be there soon…") "I place one card face-down on the field and end my turn."
Arrow drew, a slight smile on his face. "What an interesting opponent I have here. Your power is very strange, friend. It's like you're very existence is invisible to me…I can't sense any energy coming from you at all. Not even the most basic of life forces." Then his smile faded. "However, despite your impressive play I still do not believe that you can handle my true power. Therefore, let's see if you can last against this trash deck of mine. I summon Exiled Force!" (1000/1000) A ragged group of warriors appeared on his field. "By sacrificing this card, I can destroy one monster in play! Obviously my choice is your hunter!" Both monsters exploded. "I place two cards face-down and end my turn."
"Draw!" Andrew had no idea what this guy was talking about, but looking at the card in his hand he knew that this was his chance to push the offensive. "I activate the magic card Soul of Light, removing two light monsters from my graveyard and a card from my hand to special summon a level eight or lower light attribute monster card from my deck!" A golden griffin appeared on his field, screeching loudly. "Beast of Gold (?) activates its effect when it is special summoned from my deck by a card effect. I draw cards equal to the difference in our hand size. You have two more cards in your hand than I do, so I draw twice." Sliding two extra cards off of his deck, he pointed at his monster. "For every removed from play light monster I have, this monster gains 700 attack and defense points." (1400/1400) "Direct attack, Sunfire Burst!" His monster unleashed a burning torrent of fire that stopped a few inches from Arrow. "A trap?"
"Correct." Arrow motioned to his now face-up card. "Call of the Haunted allows me to special summon a monster from my graveyard. My choice is Command Knight." The female knight reappeared on his field, sword drawn. "And of course this triggers replay, meaning you may withdraw your attack if you wish." (1600/1900)
Andrew frowned and nodded slowly. "Yes, I will withdraw my attack and end my battle phase. I place one card face-down and end my turn."
Arrow drew. "Now's the time to test your mettle! I reveal Royal Decree! This continuous trap card, while face-up on the field, negates all trap cards activated. This is the moment of truth…can you activate a trap in response?" His now face-up trap card was glowing mildly, its full power not in effect until the chain was resolved. "Hurry, I have other things to do today."
Andrew suddenly smiled. "Reverse cards open! Divine Blaze and Big Burn!"
Arrow blinked in surprise at the combo that had just been revealed. "You…aren't kidding…are you?"
"No, I'm quite serious." Andrew pointed at his face-up Divine Breath. "Divine Breath lets me send one light monster from my deck to my graveyard. Afterwards, one card at random will be chosen from my graveyard. If it is a monster card, then I gain life points equal to the selected monster's attack points, but if it is a magic or trap card…then I take 1000 points of damage." He removed a card from his deck and inserted it into the graveyard. "I choose The Creator (2300/3000) and now Divine Breath activates! Go!" A stack of cards appeared in front of him and started to shuffle itself.
("He only has one monster in his graveyard…and nine magic and trap cards. His chances are one in ten, and yet he did it without a moment's regret.") His red eyes lit with a burning heat that reflected his suddenly ignited passion. "Show me then…your belief that you will succeed!"
"Very well!" Andrew suddenly grabbed one of the cards from the stack, and flipped it over. "The Creator!" His other card started to glow brightly. "Big Burn triggers when a monster card is chosen from any graveyard by an effect! All monsters in both player's graveyards are removed from the game!" His Creator card disappeared, and Arrow's graveyard whined as it spat out its collected warriors. "For every removed from the game light monster I have, my Beast gains 700 attack and defense!" (2100/2100)
Arrow- 2100
Andrew- 3100
Arrow laughed heartily. "Very well, I approve of your resolve to win this duel! For that…" Suddenly he grew deadly serious. "I will show you my true deck and my true power. Do not regret it." His field suddenly exploded into dust. "I activate the magic card Twist of Fate! All cards in my graveyard, removed from play pile, hand, and field all are removed from the duel and I select a new deck to take their place!"
Andrew blinked in surprise at this. "Amazing…"
"Don't worry, it has a cost that hurts. Half of my life points." Arrow removed a different deck from his pocket and replaced it with his warrior deck. "I draw four cards." His eyes looked deeply into Andrew's. "Look into my eyes, and see your fate!"
Andrew felt cold all over…because he was suddenly watching a new scene. It was his body, naked, standing before a giant door that was spewing mist everywhere. ("Where is this place? What's going on?")
"Welcome to the door of fate." A cold voice echoed across the grey void. "See into your past…and let us see your true self."
Suddenly Andrew was standing back on the rooftop, and Arrow was moving. But something seemed wrong with his movements. It was so slow…and yet Andrew felt even slower than the slow-motion movements that were coming from Arrow. ("What's the matter with me? What was that gate?")
"Now then, Andrew." Arrow placed a card onto his duel disk. "Let me show you the truth of destiny! Emerge from the flow of time and fate, D-Hero Devil Guy!" (600/800) A white-skinned humanoid wearing a grey and black suit that seemed to imitate a devil appeared on the field, its crimson cape flowing behind it. All around them, the sunlight was completely gone and replaced by deep grey mist. "This is my power…the Heroes of Destiny!"
Andrew just stared at the newly summoned monster in confusion. "D-Hero? Like Shinsei's E-Heroes?"
"Shinsei Zeru uses E-Heroes, does he?" Arrow snickered. "Well, we'll deal with that when we get there, right Devil Guy?" His superhero started to laugh darkly. "Now then, I activate the effect of Devil Guy! Destiny Lord!"
Andrew watched as Devil Guy launched up and punched his Beast right in the face. "Wha…" Then his monster disappeared. "How?"
"Devil Guy, at the cost of my battle phase, may remove one monster on your field by sending it forward in time by two of my turns. Meaning during my second standby phase since I activated the effect, your monster will return. Until then, I'll just end my turn." Arrow watched Andrew patiently, wondering what exactly he would do now. ("I have bared my true power to you…I wonder how long you will last.")
Hands shaking, Andrew drew the top card of his deck. "I won't give up…just because you got lucky." He threw the drawn card onto his duel disk. "Go Element Saurus!" (1500/1200) A large raptor-like dinosaur appeared on his field. "Go now, attack Devil Guy with Dino Flame!" His monster sprayed the dark hero with flame, burning it to a crisp. "I place one card face-down on my field and end my turn."
Arrow- 150
Andrew- 3100
Arrow sighed. "Already I can see I made a mistake. Draw." There was a loud laughing noise and Devil Guy reappeared on his field. "I activate the quickplay magic card Destiny Wheel, reviving one D-Hero from my graveyard." A card appeared behind his Devil Guy. "Now I play Devil's Blessing! When a monster is removed from your field and sent to the removed from play pile by the effect of a monster on my field, you take 700 points of damage! Destiny Lord!" His monster leapt across the field and punched the dinosaur in the face, forcing it forward two turns in time. "I place one card face-down on my field. Now then…stop playing before I break you."
Arrow- 150
Andrew- 2400
Andrew stared at his deck, body trembling now. ("What is this feeling? Why am I so afraid?")
Arrow frowned, and as soon as Andrew had drawn his face-down card flipped up. "I grow tired of your mental turmoil, so let's find out what the problem is, shall we? I activate the continuous trap card Archeologist of Memory! If I guess correctly what kind of card you have drawn, you discard that card and take damage equal to the attack of one level three or lower D-Hero I have in play! I call monster!"
Andrew numbly discarded the drawn Element Magician.
Arrow- 150
Andrew- 1800
Andrew collapsed to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes. ("What's the matter with me?") "End…turn."
Arrow watched his fallen opponent with momentary pity in his eyes. ("Perhaps I overdid it. It's been so long since I've dueled an opponent who could actually take my power without collapsing that I got ahead of myself.") Then he drew. "During this standby phase, your Beast of Gold is special summoned back to your field in attack mode!" (2800/2800) Andrew's griffin reappeared and roared at Devil Guy. "Not that it matters…from my hand I activate the magic card Misfortune! Now at the cost of my battle phase for this turn you take half of the original attack points of a monster you have in play! Beast of Gold, Sunfire Burst!" The monster turned to face Andrew and sprayed him with its burning flame.
Arrow- 150
Andrew- 400
Arrow watched the smoke rising from Andrew's body with sadness. "This is it. Devil's Blessing will finish you. The damage from my full power will break all but the most powerful resolves…prepare yourself! Devil Guy, Destiny Lord!" He watched as his hero leapt into the air above the roaring griffin. "I'll tell you something that will put your mind at ease. The apartment you went into was empty. No one had ever lived there. All that mother stuff you were babbling was pointless."
Andrew's eyes opened slightly. The sadness in his heart didn't argue with this. ("Why am I here then? What is the point?") Suddenly he couldn't recall anything about himself. ("Who am I?")
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"Why? Why did you do it?" Tears streamed down the face of his brother. "Why did you kill her?"
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Arrow blinked in surprise as Devil Guy stopped in mid-air, fist inches from the Beast of Gold. "What's the matter Devil Guy?"
Andrew slowly stumbled to his feet, his white hair slowly turning darker. "Honestly…did you think that weakling was the real reason you wanted to bring out your full power?" His lips twisted darkly. "Reverse card open." The face-down card on his field was now face-up. "Mirror of the Elements reflects one monster effect back at its owner. In other words…"
Arrow felt that passionate fire in his soul burn brightly as he watched his own Devil Guy suddenly punch itself in the self and disappear two turns forward into the duel. "You…who are you?"
"Me?" The now black-haired Andrew lifted his grey eyes to look right at Arrow's own red eyes. "My name is unimportant, as well as my purpose. To put it simply though, your target is mine. So now I offer you a choice. End this duel now, or during my next turn I crush your few remaining life points and banish your soul to eternal hellfire."
Arrow blinked at this. "Excuse me? You actually think I'm beaten because of that?" Inserting a card into his duel disk, he watched as it appeared face-down on his field. "That's where you're wrong…"
("Take his offer and escape.") A powerful voice spoke in Arrow's head. ("You are not strong enough to beat this one, Arrow.")
After a few moments, the red-haired boy snarled in displeasure. "This duel is a draw." His face-down card had been Sakuretsu Armor, which would have destroyed the Beast easily. However, he wasn't going to argue with that voice…it was far more wise than he was.
All around them the grey mist faded, leaving them standing in the mid-day sun. After a few more moments of looking at each other, Arrow turned and walked off.
Andrew drew the top card of his deck and snickered. ("Mystical Space Typhoon, as I sensed. That boy was planning on going through with it though, so his reason for stopping must have been outside advisement.") Turning, he walked over to the rooftop edge and looked down at the approaching form of Airos in the distance. "He's found me, eh?"
Glancing behind him, he started to walk towards the staircase. "You've done well in making it here, boy. Just as I knew you would for dear old 'mom." His head snapped back and he laughed crazily. "And now that I've safely arrived here, I need to find Shinsei Zeru before that fool does. I will have that boy's power…the power of the Prodigy of Mankind." His hair started to lighten. "Now then, it's time to let Andrew take over for a little while longer."
To be continued…