Chapter 3 – Kaibaman!
Their flight over the land boiled with turbulence once they passed the mountains; Dragon Seekers from the Resistance forces clustered the airspace of the Dragons and attacked without warning. Instantly Gema balanced herself atop her Dragon with flamberge in full swing; when the Dragon ducked from a besieging attack, Gema slashed at the attacker from below and obliterating it on sight. "Who knew the Resistance was large enough to accommodate airspace?" she commented while bringing another Seeker down. Mokuba and Kaiba dodged and attacked the Seekers on opportunity with the White Lightning, and Miranda exploded into raging dogfights and threw punches hard enough to break through the Dragon Seekers' gloating hides.
"It was rumored previously that Dragon Seekers would wear the scales of Dragons they slain throughout their lives." Marthis said while desperately trying to avoid the Seekers himself, he still had damage to his armor décor from the night previous, though no one has seen his face if he ever took the armor off. "You, Black Dragon! I demand assistance!" Miranda nailed a kick to a proceeding Dragon Seeker and shattered it like glass without getting as much as a "thank you." "Stay and protect your commanding officer!" Marthis commanded rudely.
Sorry, next time I'll actually hit my target. Miranda thought and going with Marthis' orders, she faked an obedient nod. "Yes sir!" She replied and darted back to Kaiba, knocking off Dragon Seekers with one hit at a time.
"Not that commanding officer!" Marthis objected before barely dodging another Seeker.
All of them kept blasting out Seekers only to have more come at them. Finally Miranda's last nerve broke. Her fingers curled in front of her and a manifest of red energy converged in her grasp, crackling into fire. Out of sheer concentration, the energy gathered to the size of a basketball. Everyone watched in amazement in the standstill as the Dragon Seekers saw the emerging threat and darted in her direction. Gema cried to try and warn her friend, "Miranda! Incoming!"
The mass of swirling fire seemed complete and Miranda bolted straight up with the red sphere of flames still in her hands, making the gather of ten Dragon Seekers below her and threw the fireball wildly, calling her attack. "Inferno Fire Blast!" She called and the sphere of flames exploded in pure fury. Raining fire struck down every Dragon Seeker and shattered in a dimming hellion, all to nothing. The Blue-Eyes White Dragons and the Sky Dragon all hovered in the skies, waiting for anymore Dragon Seekers to ambush them, and staring at Miranda in awe-some more than others.
Mokuba broke the silence first, "Miranda…did that?" He asked, still shocked from the final flame attack. Gema nodded in answer.
"Miranda's one that's really hard to temper. But when you get her mad, it's a short-lived massive explosion." She said while she returned the flamberge over her back and asked in the process of turning to Marthis, whose Dragon flapped its wings just trying to stay on the current. "It should be smooth sailing from here, how far is our next mission, Marthis?"
"Enno is not that far, our fortress is the first castle we see." Marthis replied, throttling up and down while Sky Dragon worked hard to keep up.
Fall, fall, fall, fall… Was the chant calling inside the girls' heads as the Sky Dragon climbed the current.
"I see it…" Kaiba said, pointing ahead to a territory built by towers of stone, each only apart by one or two miles. He hinted descent to his dragon and the rest followed suit, quickly all of them landed and entered into the fortress's secure walls. There was no variation: the fortress of Enno was the exact same structure as Maryah-Denn. Kaiba dismounted his dragon and walked past Gema and Miranda to stare down Marthis. "I want this over with soon, what do you have for me?"
"Ou-our," Marthis stammered at the frightful news, "Our ground forces were overrun while we were in the skies in the fight of our own. I'm afraid we're all that's left of the Imperial Guard here in Enno and we're outnumbered 2 to 1!" Everyone stared at Marthis from the news and Kaiba rushed up the external spiral staircase to one of the two towers. Gema followed at his heels and Miranda drifted to one of the tower's four posts, sitting perfectly like a bird on a perch.
"Whoever ambushed us knew that we couldn't cover the skies and the ground. They must have made a full frontal assault on the ground unit after Miranda blasted the Seekers." Kaiba muttered to himself, "I would want to know just who is responsible." Mokuba climbed up with Marthis crawling up the stairs right behind him.
"Seto! The enemy forces are already on the move!" Mokuba alerted.
Marthis continued, "They already claimed Phostenn to the west of us, and Nyuagulla southwest of us." Kaiba winced in frustration and watched as the two invaded fortresses threw up flags belonging to the enemy. Mere sheets of burgundy, a color Kaiba was well too familiar with.
"Seto-sama? Is something wrong other than the fact we're at a disadvantage?" Gema asked after tugging the sash off of her mouth.
"If those flags belong to whom I think…" Kaiba murmured; Gema tilted her head in slight confusion.
"Um, Kaiba? Somebody's waving to us in that distant castle next to the river." Miranda pointed out, Marthis noted the stronghold immediately.
"That's Nua-Tua…and that's Pegasus! What is he doing on the side of the Resistance!" Marthis sounded outraged, Kaiba and Mokuba could only gasp in shock while Gema and Miranda looked at all three of them in confusion.
"You mean Maximillion Pegasus, CEO of Industrial Illusions who retired not too long ago?" Miranda questioned. A translucent image of a head appeared in front of Kaiba when he stepped back. He was a man just under his thirties with silvery hair draped to his shoulders and half of his face-hidden in his strands.
"The one and only Maximillion Pegasus!" He introduced with a grin only half-visible, "It's been a while, hasn't it Kaiba-boy?"
"Not long enough…" Kaiba cursed under-breath. Marthis insisted himself in front of the screen.
"Pegasus! What are you doing! You serve the empire as a royal family!" Marthis exclaimed.
"Tsk tsk tsk, still the emperor's pet, Marthis, you haven't changed at all. Except for those nasty nicks on your shoulders." Pegasus playfully insulted before becoming serious again, "But I no longer served the empire when Haysheen ascended the throne, he has done too much damage to remain. So I revolted, simple as that." He finished.
"Figures, you just want back at me for taking your company out of business." Kaiba smirked.
"My dear old rival, Industrial Illusions created the card game and all its cards to the game. Ever since I retired, I have yet to see any original cards come from Kaiba Corp. I'm actually quite surprised you're still marketing." Pegasus explained.
"Enough of the small talk, my mission here is clear that you have to be thrown out of Nua-Tua!" Kaiba claimed, "So unless you want to be beaten down to a pulp I suggest you run with your tail between your legs." Gema couldn't help but fanfare over Kaiba's announcement.
"Now that won't be simple. Just look about, two of my freelance forces are drawing closer to Enno, and we all know that Tiger Axes or Giant Stone Soldiers aren't the best monsters to content with here. Tata!" With that, the image vanished, and Miranda watched from over the ridge two teams of monsters.
"Is it my turn?" Miranda asked to the people below her stoop.
"Take out those two approaching us." Kaiba commanded and turned to Gema, "Gema, take care of Phostenn, we're going to need more than one stronghold for this one." Both girls nodded and took off to their orders.
Miranda leaped off her post of the tower, at least sixty feet from the ground, and flipped through the air once to a graceful landing in front of the gates. Her sights first landed on a trio of a green-armored female warrior with long, brown hair, carrying a sword and shield; behind her two wildcat-humans with large battleaxes; and a soldier being the marshal of the three monsters.
"Joy, Kanon the Swordsmistress and two Tiger Axes," Miranda mumbled, "This will be fun." She held out her cards straight and her monsters stood in formation before her. The approaching team stopped in their tracks and no words exchanged before the battle was ready to go. It was evident that the Amazoness Tiger standing in the lead of the other Amazoness had the initiative, and Miranda knew exactly what to do. "Kin, use Battle Roar!" She commanded and the Tiger unleashed an explosive roar, signaling the beginning of the attack.
First the Amazoness Paladin held her sword high with her battle cry and sped up to Kanon with her sword ready. Her allies being part of her clan gave her enough strength to make a clean swipe, but only scathed Kanon's shield, doing little damage. Amazoness Paladin leaped back into ranks and gave way for the more muscular warrior. Amazoness Sword Woman let out a deeper cry and charged headlong towards Kanon as well. Her attack completely shattered Kanon's shield and the metal disappeared; Kanon's only response was a shake of her head to get her mind set back to the fight.
Now it was the opponent's turn, Miranda knew that. She was told that monsters who use their special abilities, or were involved in the special ability, have to skip a turn of battle. Her Amazoness Tiger used its special ability of Battle Roar, and her other two Amazoness warriors have followed through on the Roar.
First was one of the Tiger Axes, its powerful legs launched it forward and struck down on the Amazoness Tiger. The axe sank into Kin's back and Kin growled in resistance. Miranda saw that the card rules applied in her as well, for the Amazoness Tiger can be the only Amazoness target, but the Amazoness Tiger's power increases with each Amazoness ally.
Kin ducked from the axe after a standstill moment and snapped its jaws below the blade; one good thrust nailed the hilt into the Tiger Axe's stomach and the beast-warrior limped back. He wrapped his arms around his stomach, slightly indisposed as the Marshal stared in shock.
"Tiger Axe! Kanon! Guard!" He commanded as the other two monsters held protective poses, giving turn back to Miranda after he repeated his call to keep guarding for all three of them.
Crap, if they keep guarding, my monsters will tucker out. Miranda thought desperate to end this quickly.
Gema led her team quickly to the fortress of Phostenn after Miranda dived off the tower's pinnacle. She, too, took a death-defying leap off the tower and over the guarding wall. It was a short sprint to the fortress to the right wall of Enno and another team instantly greeted her. A large man with fairly dark skin had his arms crossed over customary designed armor and skin dye trailing his bald head. Before him stood three creatures: Shadow Ghoul, a wicked green fiend with multiples of red boils all over its body down to five legs; to its left was a samurai wearing red armor, Zanki; and to its right was a large, orange worm with a gaping mouth filled with fangs and green eyes just around the teeth.
Gema's eyes widened while looking at the Shadow Ghoul and Dungeon Worm, hardly any attention to the Samurai that just made a sneak attack upon Lora. Her shriek called Gema's focus and her eyes narrowed with lethal aura. "Guardian Angel Joan, activate Halo's Gift!" She commanded. Joan raised her hands and light rings broke into showers of lights around all three of Gema's monsters. They all began to glow with a white aura but still their figures were visible. "When I use Guardian Angel Joan's special ability, all the damage my monsters inflict become health points for them. So go Lora, strike Zanki with Light Arrow!"
Lora posed with hand gestures like she was holding a bow and arrow ready to fire, instantly a bow and arrow made from light appeared in her hands. She released and the light spear blasted through Zanki; particles scattered from his body where the shot landed and became absorbed by Lora, restoring her injuries.
The marshal stood back, shocked. Gema continued her assault, "Kachua! Magic Ray! Finish off Zanki!" She commanded. The second of the Gemini Elf produced a violet sphere of magic and threw the blast to end the first monster of three.
After Gema's attacks, it was the marshal's turn, with only a Shadow Ghoul and Dungeon Worm left. "Shadow Ghoul, focus your attack! Attack the purple Gemini Elf with Split Maze!" He commanded, the grossly fiend lunged forward using all five of its legs and the claws struck down with great force, almost a severing hit. Gema growled lowly, but the Marshal wasn't finished. "Dungeon, attack with Worm Blaze, your target is the same Elf!" The large worm was next, and spat acidic mucus on Kachua, poisoning her and nearly sending her hit points to zero.
Gema winced. Come on! I have to win this for Kaiba! She thought with determination, finally seeing that Lora was on the rebound again. "Lora, trigger it! Double Gemini Radiation!" Gema gave the command and the elves snapped into action. Both of them charged their spells and threw the attacks on the two remaining monsters. The Dungeon Worm and Shadow Ghoul collapsed, fading away when their HP hit zero. Kachua looked free from the toxins and the aura from Joan's special ability faded.
The ninja marshal breathed heavily with relief of victory. "Kaiba, Phostenn is claimed." She reported under breath and the four marched into the village. These monsters are truly powerful…nothing like the card game where points matter the one-hit-kill…
Kaiba watched from a tower as the radiation blast exploded in front of Phostenn. Mokuba was close by and Marthis admired Gema claiming the village. "The Resistance is truly weak Lord Kaiba."
"Which is why I'm going to handle this now," Kaiba retorted and was looking on a holographic menu that popped up on his mental command. "I'm installing anti-ground cannon that will be operational in one hour, just in case anymore wandering units want to play. When Miranda is done with the freelancer troops, call her back to Enno. I'm going to have a little chat with Pegasus."
"Seto?" Mokuba wondered.
"Mokuba, you'll stay here, I know you'll see that Enno runs smoothly. Marthis, give us another stronghold." Kaiba commanded and called his White Dragons, he leaped off the ledge and mounted on one of them before taking off, and bypassing the other controlled fortresses.
Mokuba looked at Marthis, "You heard Seto, move out!" Marthis grumbled as he took his leave. Mokuba glanced over the ledge again and saw units coming at Miranda, two on one. "Hope, Miranda can handle herself. Another pair of Tiger Axes and Kanon, and a Giant Stone Soldier with two Hitosu-me Giants…" He heard the Amazoness Tiger bellow a massive roar and the others went ballistic, especially the Swords Woman.
Miranda sagged with a heavy sigh of relief, "First trio…was fun… That…was not fun." She looked up to Kaiba going overhead.
"Miranda! You're called back to Enno!" Mokuba cried and Miranda's wing beats pounded the earth before she came back over the fortress walls.
It only took a half-hour's flight before he reached Nua-Tua, Pegasus' stronghold. Pegasus waited on the exterior level of the fortress with his arms folded, and a battalion of Toons monster behind him. Pegasus smirked, "Patience my little friends, the party will begin in just a moment."
Kaiba dismounted when his dragons landed on the other side of the level. His eyes instantly caught a small but almost rabid white dragon, thrashing about with excitement. The true Blue-Eyes White Dragons growled. "You still have that thing Pegasus? Don't you ever get annoyed by these things like normal people?"
"Annoyed?" Pegasus only sounded offended, "Kaiba-boy, my Toons bring smiles to faces by any means necessary, by laughter or by carving one right on your face." He had a smug look on his face briefly, the audience of cartoon creatures looked ready to pounce.
"Let's just get this over with Pegasus. Blue-Eyes, assemble!" Kaiba commanded and the dragons took their positions in front of him. "The sooner I deal with you, the sooner I can deal with Gozaburo and end this game. I have a tournament in progress and I will not let a dead man screw it up."
"Fine by me, I call to the field Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon," Pegasus named off his team, his first being the twisted white dragon himself, "Toon Dark Magician Girl," to his right a child levitated into place with blonde curls and clothing that looked like a Halloween costume, "and finally Manga Ryu-ran!" His third creature was another dragon, an obese reptile that still had its eggshell on the lower half of its body. The remaining Toon monsters supported as audience. "And it appears my Toon Dragon is ready for combat! Attack with White Lightning!" Pegasus made the opening move. The Toon Dragon inhaled deeply, inflating its body like a balloon, and launched a sphere of lightning just as big as the bloated beast.
Its target was Ibris to Kaiba's right, and the target was dead-on. However…
Kaiba smirked, "Pitiful, just as I figured." The Dragon still stood with small scratches on its left wing. "But Ibris has a bit more endurance than that. Now it's your turn. Kisara! Counter attack, White Lightning! Destroy…the Toon Dark Magician Girl!" At the command, the middle dragon sparked its own white lightning, looking more professional on the attack than the Toon Dragon, and a beam slammed directly on the Toon Dark Magician Girl. When the attack ended, the cartoon comically shook off the charcoal singe from the electricity burnout, she still had at least a quarter of her HP left. "Azrael! Finish off that excuse of a Duel Monster!" The remaining Dragon spat another beam of White Lightning and knocked out the first creature completely.
The Toon Dark Magician Girl slid to the ground, everything about her black except for her shocked eyes. Then as the vacuum of her body ended, she was reduced to a pile of ashes. Pegasus gasped, "How dare you Kaiba!"
The CEO shrugged, "As a cartoon stereotype, your Toon will reform in the next episode. But I'm going to cancel your show! Ibris, final attack! Aim for the Manga Ryu-ran!" Kaiba announced his latest attack at the obese Dragon stuck in his eggshell. The cartoon dragon rolled back on the bottom half of his shell and rose back up on the same momentum like an inflatable freestanding toy. It just giggled hideously.
Now it was Pegasus' turn, "My Manga Ryu-ran also has endurance. And since you've done your attacks, I'll do mine. Manga Ryu-ran, attack the Dragon on Kaiba's right!"
Again? Kaiba thought to himself as a wave of fire impaled his damaged dragon. A critical hit and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon staggered to stand. Darnit, my Blue-Eyes White Dragon has to survive another attack!
"Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon, for the win! White Lightning!" Pegasus restarted the round of attack and the Toon Dragon inflated for another attack. It released and the sphere of lightning came down. "So much for the attempt of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon." He taunted as the White Lightning exploded in Ibris' position.
Kaiba smirked. "I think that counts as a miss." The Marshals looked up and saw the White Dragon flying overhead of the blast, landing when it ended.
"I had no idea attacks could miss! None of my attacks had ever missed its target before!"
"First time for everything." Kaiba replied. "Kisara! Attack Manga Ryu-ran!" He commanded and the dragon followed, another beam of lightning began to crack the shell hardly called for defense.
Pegasus just watched, with the mask expression of despair but smiling with confidence inside. This is just fine and dandy and all, hopefully this will humor Haysheen so I can have a word with Kaiba afterwards. He must know something about the virtualizations. Those pop-ups were from Kaiba Corp.
"Azrael! Finish off Manga Ryu-ran!" Kaiba announced his second attack. The dragon on his left hammered Manga Ryu-ran just as he raised the White Flag. The Dragon bloated with lard rolled back one more time, a pair of swirls replacing his eyes. "Two down."
Pegasus huffed. "Can't possibly defeat my Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon in one blow, and your own dragon is on the verge of knockout."
Kaiba shook his head, "Should have known better, I know why you focused your attacks on one Dragon in particular. Because I need all three of my Blue-Eyes for the fusion; on top of that, one of them must have the action to pull it off. Since two of my Dragons attacked, I'll leave the fusion command to the Dragon you tried to destroy." Kaiba boasted. "Ibris, use Polymerization!"
The final Dragon roared and called for the Fusion Summon, all three flew straight up and warped data to merge. Even the fortresses in the distance watched the phenomenon.
Gema watched from the center tower of Phostenn, her eyes glazed with fandom. "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon…I wish I had a camera." She smiled after pulling down her sash.
On Enno, Mokuba and Miranda watched from the other side of the region, yet the Dragons' ability could be seen from of afar. Mokuba cheered, "Yes! Pegasus is toast!"
"I definitely don't want to challenge the Blue-Eyes Ultimate, or the Blue-Eyes White for that matter." Miranda commented.
"This is what Pegasus gets for betraying the imperial court!" Marthis declared.
There was a silence between Mokuba and Miranda until she finally asked, "Mokuba, do you think Kaiba's order of execution for pleasure still stands? He was supposed to stay at his stronghold."
Marthis huffed proudly, "The forces began to retreat after Lord Kaiba flew to Nua-Tua, I saw no problem coming back to Enno."
"Was there merchant selling equipment?" Mokuba asked, Marthis didn't answer. Miranda refrained from making him crushed under his armor like a soda can.
What was once three dragons became one with three heads. The new Dragon was almost three times the size of the Blue-Eyes White Dragons and looking more intimidating by the new appearance. Kaiba had a smug look of victory with his Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon hovering over him.
"You've wasted your action Kaiba-boy!" Pegasus objected.
"On the contrary, I have one additional action." Kaiba corrected, "You see this would be considered a Special Summon, and a special summoned monster can attack on the spot, doesn't even matter if it's fusion or not. And this Dragon is powerful enough to knock off your parody like a milk bottle at a carnival game! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon attack, Neutron Blast!" The three heads each charged a sphere of energy individually, but aimed so precise to impact the Toon Dragon all at once. Pegasus and the demented lookalike both had the faces of panic and the Neutron Blast exploded.
The impact was too much, and the entire fortress of Nua-Tua exploded. The supporting strongholds gasped as the opposing fortress's eruption. "Seto!" Mokuba and Gema cried. Miranda watched in support, Marthis just standing next to the other two Marshals, his expression indescribable under the mask.
Miranda saw a stray line of smoke blast from the fallen fortress, "Kaiba's alright, he escaped with the Blue-Eyes Ultimate!" The smoke peeled away from the Dragon's scales and Kaiba, riding on the center head.
"Mission complete, going back to Enno." Kaiba reported, mostly to himself, "There better be some point to all this." The Ultimate Dragon flew in quickly back to the castle and fell back to three dragons upon landing.
The light from the blast faded, showing the true time of dusk and everyone regrouped at Enno. Gema stretched her arms while walking towards the half-open gates with her team, the flamberge strapped to her back. "Well, that appeared successful."
"Outstanding, not only was the enemy defeated but you obliterated the fortress. WMD much?" Miranda said with a small joke. "Never doubted the Blue-Eyes White Dragons at all."
Kaiba took an examination among the group. "To the success today this is how we'll go about things for the later missions. Mokuba: while I'm away from the main stronghold, you take charge, feel free to support the base with what equipment we can buy.
"Got it Seto." Mokuba acknowledged.
"Marthis: once we arrive at our stronghold you'll give us the information of what we're up against. If there's more than two Marshals in each fortress, one will leave to reclaim a fortress we take. You better be right.
"Gema: you'll give us supporting strongholds. As needed you'll be sent to strongholds to challenge the enemy, the Gemini Elves and Guardian Angel Joan have high success rates of victory, but not nearly as high as the Blue-Eyes. As we gather more Marshals, they will follow you as you take the next stronghold."
Gema agreed, "Will do no problem."
Kaiba continued, "Miranda: you'll challenge the freelancer Marshals approaching the main stronghold. The Amazoness has tactical advantages in non-structural environments."
Miranda nodded, "Understood." Seeming satisfied, Kaiba then address the Marshals to set up camp in front of Enno's main gates.
Night fell quickly in the virtual world as Gema already created a bonfire; despite it being all computers, they could still feel the blaze's heat. All of their monsters were returned to their cards except for the Amazoness Tiger Kin, assigned to night watch. In absence were Miranda and Marthis, looking for rations in the fortress; leaving Kaiba, Mokuba and Gema outside around the fire.
A faint sound made Kin and Gema look towards the other direction, out into the plains. Avoiding the watchtowers of the other fortresses, Pegasus approached the light of the fire to revealing himself alone. "Greeting Kaiba." Pegasus said. Gema readied her flamberge that was strapped to her back and the Amazoness Tiger growled with warning.
"So what was with the cowardly run Pegasus?" Kaiba questioned, earning Gema rights to look confused but keep her stance.
"Ah, you saw through my false retreat. I expected nothing less of you." Pegasus complimented. "Actually I was hoping I could have a word with you, per haps a pact."
"Uninterested." Kaiba said sharply and was about to order Pegasus' dismissal by force.
"Please reconsider, I want you to lead my unit of the Resistance." Pegasus offered, "After your display of power, I knew there was something about you that was leadership material."
"We were enemies on the battlefield just this afternoon Pegasus, you expect me to take up on your offer after insulting me with that demented dragon?" Kaiba stated coldly.
"Well, you know what I say, 'Yesterday's enemy is tomorrow's friend.' I hope that you'd think over my offer so we can overthrow Haysheen and restore peace to Rondeval." Pegasus briefed; Kaiba still had the glare of ice. "Actually Kaiba, I was hoping if you knew something about this whole virtualizations ordeal."
Kaiba raised a brow, "So you're not a twisted program lookalike, but you're still twisted."
"True, I'm not like normal people. So, do you know anything about this?"
"As if I'll tell you willingly. Ge—"
"If you know, I'll be more than happy than give up my unit's monsters."
"I'm not behind this, this is all the idea of my half-wit stepfather who yanked this from his own son."
"Gozaburo has a son?" Pegasus wondered.
"Had. I'm through having this chat session. Gema, escort him out of our anti-ground cannon's range." Kaiba ordered. Gema readied her flamberge.
"Please, Kaiba. Allow me to ask for an answer." Pegasus tried to plea.
"Lord Kaiba? What is going on Lord Kai-BA!" Marthis' voice was heard from inside the fortress, and ceased after a crash of metal. Miranda walked out of the fortress, shaking off her right hand with a sac slung over her shoulder and cursing to herself. She had just caught sight of Pegasus and hid her wings behind her back.
"If it was all right, I just knocked out Marthis." She said.
Kaiba grumbled, "Not against my orders." His eyes fell back on Pegasus. "If it satisfies you, you can leave all but your wacko-toons at Phostenn for Imperial custody. All I know is that my stepfather is behind his and it's going to leave a major dent on Kaiba Corp.'s reputation if it isn't resolved and soon, I have a tournament to run and a couple of God Cards to claim."
"Then allow me to help. The more to offer, the faster it gets done." Pegasus suggested.
"And the more dead weight to drag, the more effort is wasted to achieve result." Kaiba retaliated.
"How about when all this is done I make a card in your name?"
"And insult me further? What can you possibly do to make up for that excuse of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" Kaiba asked with skepticism in his voice.
Pegasus dug around his pocket and pulled out what looked like a card on progress. "Kaibaman!"
Kaiba paused. Then said, "You don't know how long I've been waiting to do this…this is for that Toon Dragon!"
WHAM!
Kaiba didn't even look twice at the image imprinted on the card. His left fist had already flown into Pegasus' diaphragm. Miranda, Gema, and Mokuba stood dumbfounded, seeing the first blow without warning. Kaiba looked like he was going to go for another blow and Gema jammed her flamberge into the ground in front of Mokuba. "Going for the face, not going to be pretty," she mumbled.
CRACK!
Kaiba's opposite fist rocketed into Pegasus' left half of his head. Momentum forced Pegasus to turn, and his hair revealed the secret of his face. Miranda's jaw dropped; all the episodes of CSI did not prepare her for what Pegasus had hidden. She thought she could gag. Is that an empty eye-socket! Miranda's thoughts shrilled. Gema's skin colored matched her shirt for the moment as Pegasus sprawled on the ground, winded.
Kaiba brushed his hands off, "And that…is for not asking me before promoting a card that is hardly my likeness with my name." Kaiba concluded, looking at the fallen card: practically a rip-off of Power Rangers. "We're reporting back to Sygh-Varths, now recall your teams and mount the Blue-Eyes… And where is Marthis?" Miranda turned around towards the fortress; Marthis had vanished from his place on the ground. Following her gaze, Kaiba took command again, "Nevermind, we'll leave without him. Mokuba, Gema, we move now."
"Yes, Seto!" Both of them chimed in high, admirable voices and followed the CEO.
Miranda took one final glance at Pegasus, who appeared to have some sort of adverting effect on his left shoulder. He was shaking to get up, apparently something else to say. "I don't think…I've seen a Marshal…half-a-Duel Monster." He wheezed.
"I'm guessing it's a side effect of these raw virtualizations." Miranda said lowly, trying not to let her officer know she was conversing with the enemy.
"I've seen another one…like you… His name is Devil Hunter…or at least that's what…he refers himself to." Pegasus described, "He has…outrageous abilities…for a corrupted character."
"A corrupted character?" Miranda repeated, trying to get the better end of understanding.
"I ran into him…and I've got a graze of what he can do…" As Pegasus looked up, she was thankful that his hair covered his face again. "I could only guess that he was one that was most flawed in the virtualization. Your dragon attribute is not part of the normal program that I'm aware of. You might run into him, but be careful when he warps the data."
"What?"
"Miranda!" Kaiba roared as his three dragons hovered above the fortress. Miranda took it as they-were-leaving and could only give Pegasus a wish of good luck before darting off with the others.
Devil Hunter can warp data…is that what happened to Pegasus? Miranda through while tailing behind Kisara in formation back to Sygh-Varths.
