Disclaimer: I don't own Magic: The Gathering.
Well, here it is: The Sliver Duel! Enjoy!
"Like I really have a choice," said Arrathir "I accept your challenge!" He withdrew his deck.
"He won't be alone!" said Eva, getting up and taking out her deck "You're going down, bitch!"
"Eva, don't," said Arrathir.
"I have as much of a reason to duel her as you do!" snarled Eva.
"I believe I equally have a bone to pick with you," said Erik.
"Where'd you come from?" said Arrathir.
"I heard noise outside and I came up to investigate," shrugged Erik.
"Look," said Arrathir "I'm grateful that you two want to help me, but this is between the bitch and me! Plus, this is going to be a real mana duel! All combat damage you receive will be real and once your lifepoints hit zero…"
"You die?" asked Eva.
"Exactly," said Arrathir "It's me she's after! Don't throw away your life because of me!"
"Are you doubting my dueling abilities?" asked Eva "We're in this together!"
"I'm not letting you take all the credit for taking her down," said Erik.
"What fun!' said the Sliver summoner "Three for the price of one!"
"Before we begin," said Arrathir "Tell me who you are and why you are so intent on killing me."
"My name," said the Sliver summoner "Is Anima. As for why I'm going to kill you, that's for me to know!" She waved her hand and seven cards appeared in it. "Being the challenger, I'll go first! I play a Forest and play Mox Diamond!" A pendant with a diamond encrusted in it appeared on the field. "As per its effect, I discard a land card from my hand. Now, I summon Muscle Sliver (1/1)." A brown Sliver appeared on the field. "This creature gives all Slivers +1+1. End turn."
Shit, that was too fast! If we don't do something, she's gonna swarm the field with Slivers. However, I have most of the cards I need for my four-turn kill in my hand right now.
"Here goes!" said Arrathir, placing his deck on a patio table "I play a Swamp and summon Putrid Imp!" A small zombie appeared on the field "Now I discard one card to give him flying until end of turn." The zombie sprouted wings and hovered in mid-air. "End turn."
"That's fine for you," said Erik "But how are we supposed to play if we can't even summon?"
"Fair enough," said Anima "I can cast a spell to make your cards come to life." She closed her eyes and Eva and Erik's decks glowed briefly.
"All right!" said Eva, drawing her eighth card "I play a Mountain and summon Grim Lavamancer (1/1). End turn." A man in bright red robes appeared on the field.
"I play a Plains," said Erik "And summon Isamaru, Hound of Konda (2/2)!" A white hound appeared on the field. "End turn."
"Back to me," said Anima "I play an Island and summon Blade Sliver (3/3, taking into account the effect of Muscle Sliver)." A bright orange Sliver with particularly long talons appeared on the field. The Muscle Sliver's talons grew longer as the creature appeared. "This Sliver gives all Slivers +1+0. Now, I attack Eva with Muscle Sliver."
The Sliver launched itself at Eva, claws ready to strike. Eva was paralyzed with fear. At the last second, her Grim Lavamancer stepped in front of the Sliver and took the attack exploding into red mana.
"End turn," said Anima.
"I play a Swamp!" said Arrathir "And I play Exhume! We now each bring a creature from our graveyard back to play! I bring back Hypnox (8/8, flying)!" A creature with many arms appeared on the field.
"And I bring back Grim Lavamancer (1/1)," said Eva. The red-robed wizard reappeared on the field.
"Finally, I discard a card to give my Imp flying and attack you with it!" The Imp sprouted wings again and flew over to Anima, slashing her with its claws.
ANIMA: 19
ARRATHIR: 20
EVA: 20
ERIK: 20
"My turn!" said Eva "One Mountain and I summon Slith Firewalker (1/1, haste)! End turn."
"I play a Plains," said Erik "And I summon Savannah Lions (2/1). End turn." A lion appeared on the field.
"So, you think you can swarm me?" said Anima "Think again. I play Lotus Vale. This card requires me to sacrifice two lands, but then I can tap it for three many of any color."
Shit! By turn three she already has four mana at her disposal!
"I tap Mox Diamond to summon Birds of Paradise (0/1, flying)," A bird with rainbow plumage appeared on the field. "End turn."
If I know Sliver decks, I think I know what she has planned.
"I discard another card to give my Imp flying," said Arrathir "And I attack you with Putrid Imp and Hypnox!"
"I block your Hypnox with my Birds of Paradise," said Anima "And I'll take the one from your Imp."
ANIMA: 18
ARRATHIR: 20
EVA: 20
ERIK: 20
"I play Seal of Fire," said Eva "And I sack it to deal two damage to your Muscle Sliver!" A red disk appeared on the field and split down the middle, breaking into two halves. The halves flew to either side of the Muscle Sliver and exploded, killing it. "Now I attack you with Slith Firewalker!"
"I block with my Blade Sliver and your creature dies," said Anima.
"I just needed two cards in my graveyard to activate my Grim Lavamancer's effect!" said Eva "I pay one red and tap him to remove two cards from my graveyard from the game to deal two damage to your Blade Sliver!" The wizard crouched and cupped his hands, releasing a fireball at the creature, incinerating it.
"I play a Plains," said Erik "And I play Story Circle." A circle appeared around Erik. Lines sprouted from the edge of the circle and crisscrossed, forming a pentagram. "I name a color when this card comes into play, so I'll say black! Now I can pay one white to prevent all damage a black source would deal to me. Now I attack Anima with Isamaru and Savannah Lions." The hound and the lion ran forwards to the unprotected summoner. They scratched and bit her furiously, tearing at her robes.
ANIMA: 14
ARRATHIR: 20
EVA: 20
ERIK: 20
"Ah," said Anima, another card appearing in her hand "Here we go! I play Black Lotus!"
Everyone present gasped as a black flower appeared on the field.
Black Lotus: A zero-cost artifact with the ability to add three mana of any color to one's mana pool by sacking it. It was the card every Magic player dreamed of owning.
"Now I sack my lotus to add three mana to my mana pool," said Anima. The flower exploded into a shower of black petals "And I tap Lotus Vale to add three more mana to my mana pool. With all this mana, I summon Brood Sliver (3/3) and Heart Sliver (1/1)!" A large brown Sliver and a smaller silver Sliver appeared on the field, flexing their claws. "All Slivers now have haste, so I'll attack Eva with Brood Sliver and Heart Sliver!" The two creatures charged Eva and slashed at her with their claws, leaving two red lines on her face. Eva yelped in pain as the Slivers' talons cut into her skin, drawing blood.
ANIMA: 14
ARRATHIR: 20
EVA: 16
ERIK: 20
"Also, when a Sliver deals combat damage to a player, I can summon a Sliver token (1/1). End turn." Two small Slivers appeared on the field.
"Don't forget about me!" said Arrathir "Swamp! Now I attack with Hypnox!"
ANIMA: 6
ARRATHIR: 20
EVA: 16
ERIK: 20
"This one's almost in the bag!" said Eva "It's payback time, bitch! I Magma Jet your for two!" A jet of fire hit Anima, burning her severely. She was now bleeding from several wounds and her clothes were singed from the fire.
ANIMA: 4
ARRATHIR: 20
EVA: 16
ERIK: 20
"I summon Tundra Wolves (1/1, first strike)," said Erik "And I attack with Isamaru, Hound of Konda!"
"I block with one of my Sliver tokens," Anima coughed out. The hound mauled the Sliver, the creature exploding into mana.
"I play Shifting Sliver (2/2)," said Anima, coughing up blood "Now Slivers can only be blocked by other Slivers. I'll also play one Plains. Now I attack Erik with all my Slivers!" The four Slivers charged at Erik and cut him up badly.
ANIMA: 4
ARRATHIR: 20
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"I'll now put four Sliver tokens into play. End turn." Four more Slivers appeared on her field.
We've got to take her down fast! Now her Slivers are going to multiply at an exponential rate! If she keeps attacking with everything, the number of creatures she has will more than double each turn!
"I play Night's Whisper," said Arrathir "I draw two cards and loose two life!"
ANIMA: 4
ARRATHIR: 18
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"Time to end this!" said Arrathir "Hypnox, finish her!" The nightmare spread its arms and flailed wildly at Anima. Suddenly, a white light appeared from behind Anima and Hypnox stopped it attack.
"Holy Day!" said Anima.
"Shit. End turn," said Arrathir.
"I summon Mogg Fanatic (1/1)," said Eva "And I sack it to deal one damage to you!" The creature exploded. "Next, I use Grim Lavamancer to deal two more damage to you!" The mage threw a ball of fire at Anima.
ANIMA: 1
ARRATHIR: 18
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"I attack full out," said Erik.
"I block your attacks with my Sliver tokens," said Anima.
Good thinking! We can at least slow down her production of Sliver tokens. If only Eva could get another Magma Jet!
"This is going to feel good," said Anima "I play a Forest and summon Essence Sliver (3/3). Now whenever a Sliver deals combat damage to a player, I gain that much life. I attack Arrathir with everything!" The Slivers threw themselves at Arrathir, attacking mercilessly. At the same time, Anima's wounds started healing themselves and more Slivers appeared on her field.
ANIMA: 12
ARRATHIR: 7
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
Arrathir started is dismay at Anima's field. She had eight Sliver tokens, Essence Sliver, Brood Sliver, Heart Sliver, and Shifting Sliver. She could easily finish them off in a few turns.
Can't give up now! Trust the Heart of the Cards!
Arrathir peeked at the card he'd just drawn and started laughing. "Excellent!" he said "I play Zombify to return my Havoc Demon (5/5, flying) to play. Next, I play Cabal Therapy on myself and sack my Havoc Demon to flash it back. Clear the field!" The Havoc Demon exploded, letting out a powerful screech. All the creatures on the field exploded, save Hypnox.
"Now, Hypnox, finish her!" As the nightmare charged, a light mist crept onto the field. As the creature got closer to Anima, the mist grew thicker, until a thick cloud of fog had enveloped the field, hiding Anima from view. Hypnox came out of the fog on Arrathir's field. The fog dissipated and Arrathir could see Anima again.
"Fog," she said.
"End turn."
"I summon Jackal Pup (2/1)," said Eva. A small jackal appeared on the field "And I play another Mountain. End turn."
"I summon Paladin en-Vec (2/2, first strike, pro black, pro red)," said Erik. A man dressed in blue robes wielding a staff and a round wooden shield appeared on the field. "End turn."
"I summon Winged Sliver (1/1) and Toxin Sliver (3/3)," said Anima. A Sliver with wings appeared on the field. As soon as it did, all the other Slivers in play sprouted wings and hovered a few inches above the field. The second Sliver was a dark brown and some kind of goo dripped from its claws. All the other Slivers in play started secreting goo from their claws. "Whenever a Sliver deals combat damage to a creature, that creature is destroyed. Also, all Slivers have flying. End turn."
Damn! Now Hypnox is useless! Fine, she wants to play rough? Let's do this!
"I play Vampiric Tutor," said Arrathir, wincing as he lost two life. He put Zombify on top of his library. "End turn."
ANIMA: 12
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"Draw!" said Eva "I play a Mountain and summon Grim Lavamancer (1/1). End turn."
"I summon Kitsune Blademaster (2/2, bushido 1)," said Erik. A fox wielding a katana in one hand and a jitte in the other appeared on the field. "Now I attack you with Paladin en-Vec."
"I take it," said Anima.
ANIMA: 10
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"I play Coat of Arms," said Anima. A flag with a skull on it appeared on the field. "Each creature gets +1+1 for each other creature in play that shares a creature type with it. End turn."
Shit! That powers up her Slivers. Wait! It's a global effect so it would also power up our creatures. That's not too bad, except I haven't got that many similar creature types in my deck. I guess someone's going to have to sacrifice their creatures to take hers out.
"Take this!" said Arrathir "Zombify! I return my Havoc Demon (5/5, flying) to play!" The ground rumbled as the demon unearthed itself. "End turn."
"My move," said Eva "I summon Mogg Fanatic (1/1) and I deal you two damage with Grim Lavamancer. End turn."
ANIMA: 8
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"Draw!" said Erik "Now I play a Plains and summon Dawn Elemental (3/3, flying)!"
Yes! That'll slow her down! Since Dawn Elemental prevents all combat damage dealt to it, the effect of her Toxin Sliver won't work on it!
"Now I attack with Paladin en-Vec and Kitsune Blademaster!"
"I block Paladin en-Vec with Winged Sliver," said Anima. The kitsune slashed at her with his katana, sending a spray of blood onto the field.
ANIMA: 6
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"End turn."
"All right," said Anima "You've had your fun, but now it's time to get down to business! I play a Swamp and summon one of the most powerful creatures in my deck! Come forth, Sliver Queen (8/8, including Cot of Arms)!" The enormous Sliver appeared on the field, the other Sliver cowering in her presence.
Shit! Now she can breed a Sliver army! Nothing we have can bring that thing down!
"Next, I pay two mana to summon another Winged Sliver (3/3). End turn."
The tokens I can take care of with Havoc Demon. She's at six life, so I could attack to bring her down to one, but if Eva and Erik don't finish her off, she can take me out. I'll play defensively for now.
"I play a Swamp," said Arrathir "And I summon Putrid Imp (1/1). End turn."
"Mountain!" said Eva "And I summon Blistering Firecat (7/1, haste, trample)! I attack with it!"
"I block with Toxin Sliver (5/5)," said Anima.
ANIMA: 4
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
Almost there!
"I'll just attack with Paladin en-Vec," said Erik. Eva took the blow, the force of the attack knocking her back. She got up, coughing up blood.
ANIMA: 2
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 16
ERIK: 13
"I play an Island," said Anima "And I summon Essence Sliver (5/5). Now I attack Eva with Sliver Queen (9/9) and Winged Sliver (3/3)!" The two Slivers flew over to Eva. She screamed in pain as the Slivers' claws tore into her flesh. Eva was bleeding form several deep wounds. Arrathir knew if they didn't end the duel soon, she would faint from blood loss.
ANIMA: 14
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 4
ERIK: 13
"End turn."
To be continued…
Author's Note: The Sliver duel is under way! How will the duelists carry on against the might of Anima's Sliver army?
ACS Dude: Actually, I started calling Anima "Sliver bitch" back in chapter five.
Yawgmoth's Messenger: Yes, Slivers are annoying. Why do you think I chose them? ;-)
Demonlordalpha: I doubt the other Arrathor would let Arrathir die, mainly because he'd have to wait another thousand years or so for a new host.
MTDL: Between Joey and Arrathir, I would say Joey's more gluttenous.
And for you people who've scrolled this far down the page, a sneak peek at the next chapter!
Spirit, I'm so sorry.
Stop calling me "Spirit"! My name's...
YES! I AM EVIL! SAY IT! EVILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!