Tournament of Tears
Chapter 45: Nightmare's reflection
Huge pillars rose up into the sky, and slowly a room took shape around them. Immediately a source-less light came from somewhere, revealing that the room they stood in was made almost entirely of smooth black marble, sending a strange reflection of light across everything. The only thing that stood out was a gigantic black-glassed mirror behind the Torture King, standing nearly ten times his height and ten times his width.
Starlight Savior's eyes were wide in amazement at this place. "What is this?"
"This is my ultimate field magic card." Sestros smirked. "Mirazetsumei; Jigoku no Seisatsu."
("Mirror-Death; Hell of Reflection?") Starlight Savior glanced at the giant mirror behind the Torture King and continued to grimace. ("Something about this place is wrong…")
Sestros crossed his arms across his chest. "End turn."
Starlight Savior looked down at his deck and then drew. "I don't know what your game is, but you're wide open this turn! Go Mercury, direct attack!" His Planetary Aspect unleashed a spray of ice knives which hurtled towards the Torture King…and then veered around him and into the mirror. "What happened?"
Sestros lifted up his hand and thumbed behind him. "Mirazetsumei prevents all battle damage to me while it is in play. Also, any battle damage I do take is added to a storage supply within the mirror's depths. The more stored power there is, the stronger the power of Mirazetsumei becomes." (Damage storage: 1200) A holographic of that appeared above the mirror.
Pointing at his Fire Soul Token that was in attack mode, earth's last hope snarled. "I switch my token to defense and end my turn."
Sestros drew. "Now then, it's time to show you the power of my ultimate soul." He inserted the card into his graveyard. "During the first turn since this card has been activated I may discard one card from my hand while the damage counter is at 7999 or less to special summon one level eight or lower normal monster in existence." The mirror's surface surged and a giant blue dragon emerged from it, roaring mightily at Starlight Savior's field. "Let's go with a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, shall we?" (3000/2500)
("H…he summoned a Blue-Eyes White Dragon?") Starlight Savior snapped one hand up and one of his set cards opened. "I activate the trap card Star Guard, switching one Planetary Aspect in play to defense mode. Also, Star Guard becomes an equip card that gives it an additional 1000 defense points!" Mercury dropped to one knee, glowing brightly. (1200/3000)
The Torture King pointed at Mercury. "Attack with Horrible Burst Stream!" Opening its jaws, the legendary dragon started to build up a powerful surge of energy that quickly exploded forth and enveloped the Planetary Aspect. When the blast died down it revealed Mercury unharmed. "At this time Mirazetsumei activates another effect. When one of my mirror reflections cannot defeat a monster after battling with it, I draw one card." Removing the top card of his deck, he smirked to Starlight Savior. "It's your turn."
Gritting his teeth in frustration, the young man drew. "I place one card face-down and end my turn." ("If only I had a way to destroy one of my tokens, it would deal him 500 points of damage and end the duel!")
Sestros drew. "Now that it is the second turn since my field card has been in play, its ability truly activates. During my standby phase Mirazetsumei discards one card at random from my hand and removes it from play." The card he had just drawn disappeared. "If that card is a monster card, I may special summon another normal monster reflection. If that card is a magic card, I may create a reflection of one normal magic card. If that card is a trap card, I may create a reflection of one normal trap card. The card discarded was a magic card, so I choose the magic card Shield Crush!" The image of a magic card with a picture of a shield being smashed by a blast of green energy appeared within the giant mirror behind him. "One defense monster in play will be destroyed!" A blast of green light exploded from the mirror and slammed into Mercury, shattering it. "End turn, since if I destroy one of your tokens I will lose. However, at the end phase of my turn starting from the second turn since Mirazetsumei came into play I must remove the top card of my graveyard from the game. When there are no more cards in my graveyard, it is removed from the game. I suppose that gives you some incentive to remove my cards from the game, eh hero?"
Starlight Savior drew slowly, doing a little math in his head. ("He should have twenty-four cards in his graveyard, meaning the chances of me destroying his field card that way is nearly impossible.") "During my next standby phase from when Mercury was destroyed and sent to the graveyard I may select one face-up magic or trap card in play and negate its effects for the turn. However, I assume the power of your field card is that it cannot be negated."
"Correct." Sestros tapped the side of his head. "You're thinking now, which is good. You'll need those thoughts to defeat me; despite the fact that such a thing is impossible."
"Shut up." Starlight Savior place a monster face-down on his field. "I place one monster face-down and end my turn."
Sestros drew. "Once more, another random card from my hand is removed." The card in his hand faded away, and the mirror behind him reflected green. "A magic card was what was removed, so I choose to copy the normal magic card Heavy Storm!" A powerful storm shook across the field and shattered all four of Starlight Savior's set cards. "It's such a shame that Mirazetsumei cannot be destroyed by magic, trap, or monster effects."
("This field card is ridiculous.") Glancing at the two cards in his hand, Starlight Savior felt the pressure piling down onto him. ("As long as he keeps losing magic cards, he'll keep demolishing everything I have.")
"I attack your set monster with Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Horrible Burst Stream!" Once more the massive dragon charged up another blast of intense power, burning the set monster to nothing.
"That was my Planetary Guardian Phobos." (900/1400) Starlight Savior flipped the monster card over to reveal a picture of a red-armored crow. "When this card is destroyed as a result of battle and sent to my graveyard, during my next standby phase I may destroy one monster in play. If I cannot destroy the targeted monster, its owner takes 500 points of damage!"
"Because a monster was defeated by one of my mirror reflections, I may add half the attack of the reflection to the total of Mirazetsumei." Pointing up at the holographic counter above the mirror, Sestros snickered as it ticked upwards. (Damage storage: 2700) "End turn." A card was spat out of his graveyard as it was removed from the game.
Starlight Savior snapped the top card off of his deck. "At this time Phobos activates its effect!" The Blue-Eyes White Dragon reflection exploded. "I place one card face-down on the field and end my turn."
Sestros laughed at how cautious his young foe was being now. "Are you afraid of my power? Don't worry; I cannot create the same card more than once." He drew and one of the cards in his hand faded. Behind him the mirror shimmered purple. "A trap this time, so I choose Secret Barrel! For every card on your field and in your hand, you take 200 points of damage!" The mirror belched out a blast of power that slammed into Starlight Savior and forced him to one knee. "That would be three cards, so you take 600 points of damage."
Sestros- 500
Starlight Savior- 700
The Torture King looked at the now kneeling hero with pity in his eyes. "Poor boy...perhaps it would be best to simply lie down and die already. You know at this rate I will win."
"Take your advice." Starlight Savior forced himself to his feet and drew. Looking at the drawn card, his eyes widened.
"Hmmm, draw something interesting?" Sestros blinked as his opponent started to laugh. "What's so funny?"
"I'm just realizing that hope isn't gone just yet!" Pointing at his two tokens, Starlight Savior smiled as an explosion of blue and green light shot out of the ground and reached high into the sky. "I tribute my two tokens to summon Planetary Aspect Earth!" A deep green and aqua blue humanoid wearing power armor of those colors appeared in play. (3000/2900) "For now I'll end my turn at that."
Sestros drew and one of the cards in his hand disappeared. "That was a monster." A scrawny skeleton appeared on his field. "I summon a reflection of Skull Servant in attack mode." (300/200) "Skull Servant, attack Planetary Aspect Earth!" The little creature got blasted into dust before it even realized it had been given an order. (Damage storage- 5400) "Also, I draw a card because my Skull Servant reflection could not defeat your monster. End turn."
("Crap, I'm feeding him…") Starlight Savior drew. "For now I'll just have to end turn."
Sestros drew and one of the three cards in his hand disappeared. Behind him the mirror flashed purple. "Another trap and my choice is Dust Tornado." A blast of dirty wind hit Starlight Savior's set card and shattered it. "End turn."
Starlight Savior drew. ("I can't hurt him in battle, so attacking him is pointless.") "I set another card face-down and end my turn."
The Torture King drew once more and as before one of his hand cards disappeared. A green glow bathed the room. "This time it is a magic card. Since Mirazetsumei doesn't allow me to play cards other than cards it creates, a magic card that allows me to draw extra cards would be useless. Instead, I'll choose Monster Reborn!" His Apocalypse Bringer reappeared in play. (400/200) "Attack now!" It leapt across the field and was back-handed by Earth, blown instantly into nothing. (Damage Storage: 8000) "And so the first limit is broken. Now I may also create effect monsters and continuous magic and trap cards. End turn."
Starlight Savior was more that angry now. ("There's nothing I can do but sit here and watch as he brings down the whole world?") He deck suddenly started to glow. ("No…I can win right now!") He drew, and as soon as he saw the card he had to smile. "Erian…your spirit is with me even now!"
"What are you talking about?" Sestros wondered for a moment is his opponent had lost his sanity, until he saw a being made of prismatic light appear in play. "That card is the one that defeated the Undefeated Sun Dragon!"
"That's right." Starlight Savior pointed at his newly summoned monster. "This is Infinity Traveler Null Entity." (100/200) "And his effect allows me to discard one card from my hand to negate one selected card in play for the turn!" Emptying one of the three cards in his hand, he smirked as the black mirrors of the room turned grey. "And as per normal, the power of the Infinity Travelers ignores immunities like your field card's ability. Planetary Aspect Earth, direct attack with Soul of Humanity!" His monster powered up a powerful ball of energy in its fists and hurled it across the field at the Torture King. "This is the end!"
"Not yet!" Flipping one of the cards in his hand over, Sestros sneered as a little furball appeared on his field just in time to get hit by the attack that would have finished him. "By discarding Kuriboh from my hand, all battle damage to me during this turn from Planetary Aspect Earth is zero!"
Clenching his fist, Starlight Savior punched at the air towards Sestros. "Null Entity, attack him directly!" The prismatic being hopped across the field and slapped the Torture King in the face before returning to its place on the field. "End turn."
Sestros- 400
Starlight Savior- 700
Sestros removed the top card of his deck slowly, a dark smile on his face. "This is where the real fun begins, my young enemy!" One of the cards in his hand disappeared and mirror started to pulse. "My choice for an effect monster will be Ancient Gear Golem!" A giant rusted clockwork golem stepped out of the mirror and onto his field. (3000/3000) "When this monster attacks you cannot activate magic or trap cards in response, meaning that when I attack your Null Entity you will lose! Ultimate Pound!" The huge metal humanoid made a few whining noises as it arched back its fist and punched right at the little prismatic creature. "Die!" His eyes widened as Planetary Aspect Earth leapt into the way of the fist and caught it. "What?"
"When Earth is in play and another monster on my field is attacked, I may redirect the attack to it!" Suddenly both the reflection and the Aspect exploded.
"Not bad…you saved yourself." (Damage storage: 9500) Sestros smiled coldly. "Since I cannot play cards because of the effect of my field card, I end my turn."
Starlight Savior looked down at his deck calmly. ("If I draw a monster with 300 or more attack points, I've won.") The top card of his deck was drawn, and he frowned at it. ("A trap…") "During my next standby phase after Earth's destruction I am able to boost the attack power of one Planetary Aspect monster in play by 3000 for the turn, but since I have no such monster in play I have bypass that effect. Instead I'll discard one card from my hand to negate your field card and attack with Null Entity once more!"
Sestros barely flinched as he got slapped again.
Sestros- 300
Starlight Savior- 700
Inserting a card into his disk, the young man felt the tension continuing to build. ("He used up the safest method of heavy attack power already, so if he does get a monster I wonder what he'll choose.") "I place one card face-down on my field and end my turn."
Sestros removed the top card of his deck and Mirazetsumei removed one at random from his hand. Behind him the giant mirror shimmered green. "I may choose one continuous or normal magic card and activate its powers. My choice will be the normal magic card Dian Keto the Cure Master." A golden light fell down over his head. "Therefore I gain 1000 life points. End turn."
"Hold on, I'm activating a trap in response to that effect." One of Starlight Savior's set cards flipped up. "Cosmic Healing activates when you gain life points by a magic effect. I gain that same number."
Sestros- 1300
Starlight Savior- 1700
Sestros shrugged. "Your monster only has 100 attack points, so there is no chance you can defeat me with just its power now. End turn."
Drawing, Starlight Savior felt it now. It was that spark that made duels truly interesting. He had felt it at the beginning, and now he felt it even stronger here. ("What did I draw to make me feel that way?") Flipping his drawn card up to in front of his face…he grinned. "Sestros…you lose."
"Don't bullshit me…"
"The thought never crossed my mind!" Snapping the card he was already holding up, Starlight Savior continued to grin. "Fake Hero special summons a monster from my hand to the field!" A single star of dark blue light appeared on his field. "You destroyed it before, but that cannot stop the power of the Infinity Mind!" The star exploded, revealing a suit of dark blue mobile with three indents in its frame that looked like something could be placed there. "Infinity Chaser is special summoned!" (2000/1000)
The eyes of the Torture King opened widely in fear. "Damn you…damn you!"
"Contact Fusion!" Pointing up at the sky, the young hero felt the building power around him. ("Negation Chaser can negate all the enemy's cards for the turn, and his attack is enough to finish off Sestros' life points!") That power build-up reached its peak…and then dissipated harmlessly. "Huh?"
Sestros suddenly smiled in realization. "Ah, so it is you, my little boy. Ichigo, I guess you don't understand how you managed to create that fusion before, do you?"
Considering the chance to save the world was being dangled in front of his face, the fact that his identity was apparently revealed didn't matter that much. "What are you talking about; it's just a mechanic I use…"
"You and that other boy were together when you last used that mighty monster. Consider the fact that he is unconscious and the rest should become clear." Sestros crossed his arms across his chest mockingly. "As long as he isn't awake to lend you his real power, you cannot infuse it into your Infinity Chaser. Therefore…"
"…I can't use Negation Chaser." Starlight Savior was shaking unconsciously now. ("Erian…your power is the best way to win. I need you, please wake up.")
To be continued…