Disclaimer: I do not own Magic: The Gathering
KHELL! GET YOUR ASS ON ROL AND POST!
CHAPTER 28-In the halls of the goblin king
"This should be quick," said Numa "I play one Swamp and summon Blood Pet(1/1). End turn." A small Thrull appeared on the field.
"I play Faerie Conclave," said Chiburuu "End turn."
"I play a Plains," said Erik "And I summon Devoted Retainer." The mana began to shape itself into the creature, but it never materialized. The raw man remained on the field, pulsating.
What's happening?
Since you haven't accepted me, our spiritual connection is not strong enough for me to summon through you. You'll have to summon yourself; I can only provide the mana.
But I don't know how!
Great. Time for a crash course in summoning. Look, it's not enough to just play the cards. You need to bring them to life.
What?
Your cards are alive. What did you think the ghell was talking about when he mentioned that "Hear of the Cards" crap?
Look, just tell me how to do it!
Visualize the creature in your mind; how it would look if it were alive.
Erik closed his eyes and concentrated on his creature. Slowly, the samurai materialized on the field, wielding a long pike (1/1, Bushido 1). Erik nearly collapsed from the mental effort it had taken.
"End..turn…"he gasped.
;This is not good. If Erik can barely summon, we'll be hard-pressed to defend him against Numa;
"I play a Mountain," said Numa "Now I'll summon Goblin Turncoat(2/1)!" A goblin wearing a black cloak appeared on the field, grinning. "End turn."
"Draw!" said Chiburuu "I play an Island and summon Cloud of Faeries (1/1, Flying)!" A small group of faeries appeared hovering above the field. "Since I played Cloud of Faeries from my hand, its special ability activates: I untap up to two lands. I'll summon another Cloud of Faeries (1/1, Flying) and end my turn." A second group of faeries appeared.
"Plains," said Erik "And I summon Suntail Hawk (1/1, Flying)." When the hawk finally appeared, Erik fell to his knees, panting.
It's taking me every ounce of strength to summon these weak creatures. How am I going to summon something bigger?
Well, if you'd let me take over…
Never!
"Attack with Devoted Retainer!" The samurai charged forward.
"I block with Goblin Turncoat," said Numa. The goblin withdrew a dagger from its cloak. The two creatures crashed together and exploded into mana.
"End turn."
"Mountain," announced Numa "And I summon Skirk Prospector (1/1)." A goblin with a pickaxe appeared on the field. "Next, I summon Goblin Turncoat (2/1). End turn."
"I play an Island and summon Man-o'-War (2/2)!" A blue jellyfish appeared on the field. "Send his Turncoat back to his hand!" The jellyfish extended its filaments and wrapped them around the goblin, squeezing the creature until it disappeared.
"Now I attack with both my Cloud of Faeries!" The two clusters of faeries flew over to Numa and buzzed around his head, slashing at him with their tiny claws.
NUMA:18
CHUBURUU:20
ERIK:20
"End turn."
"One Plains," said Erik "And I end my turn."
"Swamp," said Numa "And I summon Goblin Sharpshooter (1/1)." A goblin with a crossbow appeared on the field. "End turn."
"I cast Accumulated Knowledge," said Chiburuu "Drawing one card. I play Mishra's Factory/" A small mechanical contraption appeared on the field. "Next, I attack with my Cloud of Faeries!"
NUMA:
16
CHIBURUU:
20
ERIK:
20
"End turn."
"I summon Tundra Wolves (1/1, First Strike)," said Erik. The white wolf appeared on the field with a howl and bared it teeth at Numa. Erik's legs were shaking so bad, he had to sit down to recover. "Attack…Suntail Hawk…End…turn…" The hawk dove at Numa, raking his face with its talons.
NUMA:
15
CHIBURUU:
20
ERIK:
20
"You'll pay for that!" said Numa "I play Goblin Burrows. Next, I tap Goblin Sharpshooter to deal one damage to your Wolves." The goblin loaded a bolt into its crossbow and shot at the wolf, the creature exploding into white mana. "When a creature goes into the graveyard, Sharpshooter untaps," said Numa "So I'll tap him again to kill off your Cloud of Faeries." The Sharpshooter fired off at the cluster of Faeries, making it explode into blue mana. "I'll untap Sharpshooter and kill your other Cloud of Faeries." The last Cloud of Faeries exploded as well.
"Now," said Numa "I sack my Blood Pet to add one mana to my mana pool." The Thrull game a squeak and exploded into black mana that flowed into Numa's body. "I kill off your hawk with Sharpshooter, untap Sharpshooter and tap him again to deal one damage to your Man-o'-War. Then, I'll sack my Prospector to add one red mana to my mana pool, untap Sharpshooter and kill your Man-o'-War." The jellyfish exploded into blue mana. "Finally, I tap out and cast Fireball!" Numa cupped his hands and a small ball of fire appeared between them. It grew larger and larger until it was almost as large as Numa. The duellists could feel the intense heat radiating from it. The Fireball sped towards Erik, engulfing him in flames. Erik screamed and rolled on the ground, trying to put out his flaming clothes. When the flames subsided, Erik got up, his clothes singed and sooty.
"And for the kicker," said Numa "I tap Sharpshooter to deal one damage to the Keeper of Blue Mana!" Chiburuu winced as the bolt penetrated his shoulder. (A/N: I actually did flip three coins and won the three flips)
NUMA: 15CHIBURUU: 19
ERIK: 14
"End turn."
;That Sharpshooter is annoying, but I can deal with it easily;
"I play Snap, bouncing your creature back to your hand," said Chiburuu, snapping his fingers. The Sharpshooter vanished from the field. "As with Cloud of Faeries, this spell lets me untap the lands I used to cast it. Next, I'll turn Mishra's Factory into a 2/2 artifact Assembly-Worker and attack with it." The machine transformed into its artifact alter-ego and charged at Numa.
NUMA: 13
CHIBURUU: 19
ERIK: 14
"End turn!"
;Let's see him try to summon next turn. There's a Counterspell with his name on it;
"I summon Paladin en-Vec (2/2 Pro Red, Pro Black, First Strike)," said Erik. A man dressed in blue robes wielding a staff and wooden shield appeared in play, but the mental strain had been too great for the duellist and he fell unconscious to the floor.
"Pity," said Numa "It would have been much more satisfying to defeat the Keeper of White Mana if he'd put up more of a fight."
"He's not out yet," said Chiburuu "His lifepoints haven't hit zero and he still has a creature in play!" Effectively, the Paladin was still standing in front of his fallen master.
"Well, since he is obviously done," said Numa "It's my turn! I summon Goblin Sharpshooter (1/1)."
"Not so fast!" said Chiburuu "Counterspell!" The forming creature exploded into red mana.
"End turn," said Numa.
"I Boomerang one of your Mountains to your hand and I turn my Factory into a Worker and attack!"
NUMA: 11
CHIBURUU: 19
ERIK: 14
"Come on, Erik," said Chiburuu, shaking the fallen Keeper "Wake up."
"This is pathetic," said Numa "My turn. I play a Mountain and now I play Cover of Darkness!" From Numa's card burst a dark cloud that settled over the field. Chiburuu couldn't make out Numa across the field. "Heh, heh. Nightfall is the perfect time for my goblins to strike. All goblins now have fear! You won't even see them coming until it is too late. I play a morph (2/2) and end my turn."
"I will not fall to your darkness," said Chiburuu "I play an Island and summon Cloud of Faeries (1/1, Flying). I turn my Faerie Conclave into a 2/1 creature with flying and attack!"
NUMA: 9
CHIBURUU: 19
ERIK: 14
"Ah, but now the game really begins," said Numa "I summon Goblin Warchief (2/2)!" A roar was heard from the darkness as the unseen goblin appeared. "This creature gives my goblins Haste. Next, I summon Cabal Slaver (2/1) and attack with everything."
Chiburuu braced himself for the attack. He suddenly felt a claw slashing into his shoulder. A few seconds later, fireworks exploded in his head as a club struck him.
NUMA: 9
CHIBURUU: 13
ERIK: 14
"As well, whenever a goblin deals you damage, you discard a card thanks to Cabal Slaver."
"Then before I do, I'll play Accumulated Knowledge to draw two cards," said Chiburuu, drawing. He frowned: both lands. He slipped his Leviathan and a land into his graveyard.
"End turn," said Numa's voice from the darkness.
"All right, Numa. You want to play?" asked Chiburuu "Try this: I play and Island. Now, come out, Palinchron (4/5, Flying)!" A brown winged creature appeared on Chiburuu's field. "Palinchron allows me to untap seven lands! I'll turn my Factory into a Worker (2/2) and my Conclave into a 2/1! Now I attack with my Assembly-Worker and Faerie Conclave!"
NUMA: 5
CHIBURUU: 13
ERIK: 14
"It's over, Numa," said Chiburuu "With Palinchron out, you have no chance!"
"Well, I am in a bit of trouble," said Numa "But let's see what my deck has for me." Numa chuckled softly as he drew his next card. "Here it is, the card that will save my ass: Fiery Gambit!"
"You're putting your life in the hands of fate?" asked Chiburuu.
"Exactly," said Numa "I flip a coin until I loose. I cn stop flipping any time I wish, but if I should loose a flip, nothing happens. If I win one flip, Fiery Gambit deals three damage to a creature. If I win two, it deals six damage to each opponent, and if I win three, I draw nine cards and untap all my lands."
"None of this will happen," said Chiburuu "I cast Counterspell!"
"You think you're the only one who can use counters?" asked Numa "Burnout says otherwise. It counters a blue spell and allows me to draw a card. Now I'll begin flipping. I say Heads!"
Chiburuu head the metallic ping of a coin being flipped, followed by laugh.
"And It's Heads!" said Numa "Three damage to your Palinchron!" A ring of fire appeared around the creature, encircling it in its burning grasp. "Next flip. I say Tails! Again, I win! Take six damage!"
Chiburuu screamed in pain as a ring of fire tightened around his body, burning his flesh.
NUMA: 5
CHIBURUU: 7
ERIK: 8
"Here it goes," said Numa "Double or nothing! Heads!"
;Please be Tails;
When Chiburuu heard Numa's maniacal laughter, he knew the Planeswalker had won his flip.
"Now I draw nine cards and untap my lands!" said Numa "I'll summon Goblin King (2/2), giving all goblins +1+1, Goblin Sledder (2/2), and Raging Goblin (2/2). I'll Lightning Bolt your Palinchron to finish it off." The creature exploded into blue mana as a bolt of electricity pierced it. "Now die!"
;So this is how it ends…
Suddenly, a golden light shone from Erik's deck, illuminating the field. The attacking goblins, blinded by the light, stopped their attack and returned to their master."
"Holy Day. Now, I believe it is Chiburuu's turn," said a voice "But first, I'll play Disenchant on that pesky enchantment." A ray of light pieced the darkness, ripping it apart and dispelling it. Erik was not on his feet, the symbol of white mana burning brightly on his forehead.
"A coward like you who hides in the darkness doesn't deserve to live," said the other Erik, glaring at Numa.
"The Keeper of White Mana?" said Numa, surprised "Well, I get two for the price of one!"
"About time you showed up!" said Chiburuu "Cutting it a bit close, aren't we?"
"Quiet. You're no good to me dead. Just play."
"I Boomerang your Goblin King," said Chiburuu "And I end my turn."
"Since it's my turn," said the other Erik "I'll play a Plains and end my turn."
"Let's see you stand up to this!" said Numa "I summon Raging Goblin (2/2), Sparksmith (2/2), Warbreak Trumpeter (2/2) and Skirk Marauder (3/2). I attack the Keeper of White Mana with Raging Goblin, Goblin Warchief, Sparksmith, and Warbreak Trumpeter!"
"Fool," said the Keeper "Holy Day."
"You can't run forever!' said Numa as his goblins stopped their attack "I outnumber you in creatures. It will only be a matter of time until my goblins overrun you! End turn."
"I summon Man-o'-War (2/2), returning your Warchief to your hand," said Chiburuu "End turn."
"Now," said Erik "Prepare to feel my wrath, the Wrath of God!" There was an enormous explosion that shook the building. Numa was thrown to the ground by the shockwave. When it was over, all the creatures on the field had been destroyed.
"Before it was obliterated, I returned my Palinchron to my hand," said Chiburuu, holding up the card.
"Why must you be so overdramatic?" asked Chiburuu, dusting himself off "At least it's good to see you haven't changed."
"End turn."
"Feh, I'm not done yet," said Numa "At least now I have a temporary defence. Wall of Stone (0/8)!" A giant wall burst through the ground in front of Numa. "End turn."
"Your wall can't protect you from fliers!" said Chiburuu "I turn my conclave into a 2/1 and attack!"
NUMA: 2
CHIBURUU: 7
ERIK: 8
"This ends now," said Erik "I play Breath of Life to return Akroma, Angel of Wrath (6/6 Flying, First Strike, Trample, Haste, Pro Black, Pro Red, Vigilance) to play!" A winged woman in armour appeared on the field, wielding a broadsword.
"Wait!" said Numa "How did that card get in your graveyard?"
"Even though my pathetic host fainted, cards were still added to his hand whenever his turn came. As his hand reached eight cards, he subconsciously started discarding cards. Akroma was one of these cards. Now, Akroma! Finish this!"
The angel flew over Numa's wall and dealt the killing blow with a swift stoke of her sword.
NUMA: 0
CHIBURUU: 7
ERIK: 8
To be continued…
Author's note: Yay! Another chapter squeezed in before I leave! Expect another soon because I've already gotten a lot written up. You're probably wondering, "If he's got this stuff written, how come he's not uploading it every day?" Well, this is the right time for me to introduce today's rant, or rather, writing workshop, Writing a chapter: the Arrathir way.
WRITING A CHAPTER: THE ARRATHIR WAY
Fist thing I do when writing a chapter, its make sure I have plenty of caffeine in my veins. Red Bull is my preferred source, but I have dwelled into such alternatives such as coffee and tea. Next, I usually write the chapter out by hand. This is usually done later at night (after 10 PM) in my bed while listening to my iPod.
I usually start off a writing session by listening to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen or "Back in Black" by AC/DC. I keep all my writings in a big binder where I also keep my decklists and tracking sheets. This binder's got a lot of old stuff in it, even some dating back to MTGvsYGO.
And that's about all there is to it. Once written, the hard part comes: typing it up. This actually helps, because I re-read and improve on my work.
Well, see you next time!
Khell chapter countdown: 2
John: You've learned well, my young padawan.
Techno: Join the "I don't understand a review SeraphSong has written" club.
MTDL: Oh, Chiburuu's gonna have a LOT of fun with Erik.
YM: Actually, the line comes from the Strong Bad e-mail. "Here, The Cheat, have a trophy." Firing raw mana is an attack any summoner can perform, except it burns up mana very quickly, while still doing a lot of damage. Also, there will be an artifact deck, eventually.
KoY: Excuse me? I believe I have said several times that, "THIS FIC WILL BE STRICTLY MAGIC: THE GATHERING." I may and have put in a few nods to my previous fic, but, and I'll only say it once more: THE YU-GI-OH! CAST WILL NOT BE PARTAKING IN THIS STORY! If you wnt a story about Yugi and Co., read "Magic: The Gathering vs. Yu-Gi-Oh!" or go into the "Anime" section and click on the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" link. You'll find about 5000 pages worth of stories featuring Yugi and his friends. You just go do that and stop asking if Yugi's gonna be in this story, OK?
ACS Dude: Feh, that's nothing. You should see what I'm gonna do when and if this hits 400 reviews, though based on the current 11.444444444444444444 reviews per chapter, it shouldn't be a problem to hit 400 reviews.