Disclaimer: I don't own the concept of the Yugioh card game, based off of Duel Monsters.
Song of Temarocia
Chapter 1: Duelist of Five Elements
Through the darkness he fell, his blue-black hair matted to his head by the blood coming from the gash inflicted upon it. Eyes closed, he looked nearly dead. A series of piercing wounds were inflicted to his chest, none of them in vital areas but altogether making a very painful looking experience.
"Trapped within the darkness, I summon forth the best monster for this dire situation. Please, come to my aid."
("What happened?") His eyes forced themselves open slowly, and one out of focus brown orb moved up just enough to look at the demolished Duel Disk attached to his arm. ("I remember it now…I was running late…")
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Just that morning…
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"I'm late!" Jason shouted loudly, his backpack dangling over his shoulders as he barreled down the streets of New York, through the neighborhoods he knew all too well. "Outta my way!"
Part of him knew it was his own fault. He shouldn't have stayed awake for so long last night. Also, he shouldn't have spent so long debating over what cards to put into his deck. Most of all though, he probably should have set his alarm. None of that mattered right now though. ("I've got a tournament I need to get to, and I've got to get there fast!")
His motor scooter bounced off an uneven section of pavement and he was launched a couple of feet into the air, managing to land atop the small vehicle and continue on his way without having to do anything more than adjust his seat. ("I know I should be careful, but there's no time to waste!")
The second uneven section of pavement he hit wasn't quite so easy to get around though, and suddenly he was hurtling forwards and crashing into a pile of garbage bags. ("Or I could practice safety and at least wear my helmet, I guess.")
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After actually taking the time to put his helmet on, Jason was quick to get on his way once again. Other than waving to some of the market sellers he had done odd jobs for at one point or another in the past, the guy was already running late and didn't have time to stop for anything. ("I'd better take a shortcut!")
Skidding around a corner, he rushed down the network of alleys that connected some of the buildings. About four streets down though, he was forced to come to a stop in front of a road block he didn't seem to be able to get around. It was a giant orb of pulsing black and purple energy that completely covered the alleyway in front of him. "Whoa…"
Grabbing a nearby stick, the young man reached out with it and poked the edge of the orb, wincing as the wooden object snapped almost instantly when a bolt of black lightning hit it. "Alright then, I guess I go around." Turning his scooter around, Jason was about to go back the way he had come from when the crackling sound of the orb suddenly died down.
"And so," A rather ghastly voice said, "You lose. Suffer the teeth of the Darkness Realm."
An electric tingle ran up his spine as he heard a scream of pain. Looking behind him, despite his better judgment, Jason was immediately assaulted by the sight of what seemed to be living shadow engulfing an already partially-destroyed man and tear him to bloodless shreds, the pieces fading into the darkness before the surreal and terrifying scene ended without a trace of the victim remaining. ("I've got to run…")
There was a loud click noise and Jason's motor scooter started sputtering as the engine decided right at that moment to stall. "Of all the times to break down, you choose now?" He shouted at the inanimate object, his attention not even directed towards the one who had been speaking before.
"I'm afraid you won't be leaving, kid." The speaker was a tall gaunt man wearing a long black overcoat, his eyes hidden behind a pair of black goggles and his long duster covering his bald head completely. "After what you just saw I've got no choice but to make sure that all witnesses are taken care of."
The gaunt man lifted one arm to reveal the black-colored Duel Disk there, the device activating once more. "My name is Xeno, and unfortunately for you I am a Shadow Duelist. The man you just witnessed getting torn to shreds was my target, and as such you must join him now. Prepare yourself." The shadows of the alleyway extended around them both, creating a pulsing sphere of darkness and purple energy intertwined.
"A Shadow Duelist?" The young man placed a finger under his chin and looked thoughtful for a few moments before he turned and ran, deciding that his life was far more important than his motor scooter. "Sorry, I don't have time to play!"
The stretched darkness energy of the orb shot out and struck him right in the chest, sending him crashing to his back. Xeno laughed and pointed up at the now-black sky. "There is no escape. This is a Darkness Game, and you, boy, have no choice but to battle me here. The game is Duel Monsters…do you have a deck, boy?"
"The name's not boy!" The young man rolled to his feet rather quickly and grabbed his backpack from where it had landed on the ground next to him. "I'm Jason Valerio, and it just so happens that I was actually on my way to a Duel Monsters tournament before my luck apparently turned sour."
Xeno snorted derisively. "If you're a duelist then show your pride and your deck to one such as myself. The elite ranks of Shadow Duelists are the best kinds of opponents for young duelists such as you, no?"
"You've got a really glass is half full kind of attitude, though I'm not sure whether that is a good thing or a bad thing yet." Removing his duel disk from his bag, Jason strapped it on and pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket. "Alright then, Xeno, I guess if I'm going to test out my deck against someone it might as well be somebody like you!"
"Duel!" They both shouted at the same time, drawing their opening hands of five cards as their life points appeared projected over their heads.
Xeno- 8000
Jason- 8000
"It's my turn first, draw!" Xeno added the drawn card to his hand and his lips curled up into a sneer. "Jason Valerio, an interesting name. The surname is Italian, correct?"
"Yeah, what about it?" Running a hand through his short black hair, Jason tried his hardest not to think about what this duel really was. ("Don't think about it like it's a Darkness Game. Treat it like it's a normal duel…except if you lose you die.") He silently ground his palm against his forehead. ("No, don't freak out! You just have to win the duel right? That's doable, right?")
Xeno shrugged his shoulders and grabbed a card from his hand. "I was just attempting to make small talk. You seem a bit tense…but then again I suppose that's to be expected when you're gambling with your life."
The selected card was tossed onto his duel disk and a face-down card appeared on his field. "I set one monster in defense mode." Another card appeared behind the monster. "I also set one card face-down and end my turn."
Jason placed his index and middle fingers on top of his deck and removed a card from it, adding the piece of cardboard to his hand before selecting a different one. ("It's time to see if the strategy I worked so hard to refine can succeed when put under fire.") "I summon Solar Flare Dragon in attack mode!" A pillar of fire erupted from his field and formed into a hissing serpent made of heat. (1500/1000)
His field magic card slot opened and he tossed a card down into it. "I also activate the field magic card Five Element Field!" The ground around his Solar Flare Dragon started to glow red. "Solar Flare Dragon, attack his set monster now! Flame Blast!" The snake creature exhaled a torrent of fire that enveloped the set monster.
"Now you've done it." Xeno snapped his hand up. "Spear Burst's reverse special ability activates now!"
"Special ability?" Jason's eyes widened as a sharpened shaft of bone exploded out of the flames and stabbed into his chest roughly before disappearing into thin air. "Ugh!" Dropping to one knee, he clutched at the bloody wound that had just been created in his flesh. ("So the rumors are true, anything that happens in a Darkness Game really happens to the duelist.")
"Spear Burst, when activated, deals you 500 points of damage." Xeno smirked as another bony spear exploded out of the smoke created by the Solar Flare Dragon's attack and stabbed into his chest. "Also, I may decrease my life points by 500 to draw one card."
Xeno- 7500
Jason- 7500
Struggling to get back on his feet, Jason winced and his chest muscles spasmed in pain. "That may be true, but the effect of Five Element Field activates now. When a fire attribute monster destroys a monster as a result of battle you take 300 points of damage."
Xeno laughed as an explosion of heat erupted underneath him. "Perhaps, but as you've noticed I have the power to easily resist the damage created by the Darkness Realm."
Xeno- 7200
Jason- 7500
"And just to remind you how hopeless this battle is, I open my face-down card." Xeno's set card flipped up and a face-down monster appeared on his field. "Reverse Revenge activates when a flip effect monster is destroyed as a result of battle. That monster is special summoned back to my field in face-down defense mode."
Finally managing to get back to a standing position, Jason slid a card into his duel disk. "I place one card face-down and end my turn." His Solar Flare Dragon hissed and started to glow brightly in front of Xeno. "At the end phase of my turn that Solar Flare Dragon is face-up in play my opponent takes 500 points of damage!"
Xeno- 6700
Jason- 7500
Brushing some smoke from his coat, the man's goggled eyes reflected the image of the injured young man within their endless depths. "This duel is a Darkness Game, so I'll praise you for trying to fight against me despite your lack of power." He drew and his sneer returned. "However, it is all for nothing. I flip summon Spear Burst!" A ball of white spiked bones appeared on his field. (400/500) "And then we both take 500 points of damage!"
His eyes widened in pain as another spear was launched out, puncturing a different section of his chest. Coughing up a few drops of blood, he tried to keep his balance as the piercing weapon disappeared. ("I won't fall…not yet. My deck has gotten too much work put into it for me to just roll over and die. And besides, I'm sure the others are still waiting for me patiently at the tournament.")
Xeno- 6200
Jason- 7000
Xeno drew another card from his deck and added it to his hand before motioning to his Spear Burst, which disappeared as it was sucked into the ground. "I offer my Spear Burst to summon Spear Striker!" A four-legged beast with numerous white bone spikes sticking out of its body appeared on his field. (1300/1500)
Trying his best to put on a strong bluff, Jason smiled and wiped some blood that was dribbling down the side of his mouth onto his shirt sleeve. "A monster with 1300 attack points isn't going to be strong enough to beat my Solar Flare Dragon."
The Shadow Duelist held up another card, this one pinched between two of his fingers and his thumb. "I equip my monster with Revive Spike." His Spear Striker started glowing. "Battle!"
Jason's smile faded as the beast fired a pair of spears, one stabbing through his Solar Flare Dragon and one stabbing through his chest. "That's…" His face twisted in pain and he dropped to one knee, reflexively grabbing the spear right before it faded away.
"When Spear Striker attacks an opponent's monster its attack rises by 700 points." (2000/1500) Xeno pointed to another section of his field. "And when the monster equipped with Revive Spike destroys a monster as a result of battle then I special summon one Spear monster from my graveyard." His Spear Burst appeared in play. (400/500) "Spear Burst, attack him directly!"
Jason screamed as another spear stabbed into his gut, legs giving out on him as he collapsed to his knees.
Xeno- 6200
Jason- 6100
"When Spear Burst attacks your life points directly, it switches to face-down defense mode." Xeno's smaller monster disappeared, replaced by a set monster card. "Also I place one card face-down and end my turn."
"Reverse card…" One hand over his stomach, Jason pointed at his set card. "Open!" The card flipped up and his Solar Flare Dragon reappeared. "I activate the continuous trap card Jewel of Five Elements. This card comes into play with five counters, and during the end phase of a turn where a monster of mine has been destroyed as a result of battle I can return it to play." (Counters: 4/Water/Wind/Earth/Light)
Xeno tilted his head to look at the holographic display on the card. "Why is it listing those attributes?"
"Jewel of Five Elements can only restore one attribute of monster once, with the only attribute excluded being dark. Now I can only revive an earth, wind, water, and light monster before it is destroyed." Jason stood up, his strength having returned. ("The damage I've suffered is really bad, but my life is on the line. I can't give up.")
"Your futile struggle won't amount to anything." Xeno shrugged his shoulders. "However, you're welcome to try as hard as you wish. I will commend you that most would have given up because of the damage to their body."
Eyes narrowed, the young man drew and added the card to his hand. "I activate the magic card Treasure of Five Elements. By discarding one monster from my hand that is the same attribute as a monster on my field I can draw one card." The card he held up was a Rigorous Reaper, which he slid into his graveyard before drawing a card from his deck and holding it up.
"If the card I draw is a monster that is a different attribute than the one I have in play, I draw one more card. I may repeat this effect two times at maximum, and cannot draw an additional card if the second card is a monster that is the same attribute as the first drawn monster." The card was Goblin Elite Force, an earth attribute monster. "I draw again." It was the wind attribute Spear Dragon. "And one more time." The final drawn card was added to his hand without showing it, since he couldn't use the effect of Treasure of Five Elements again.
Xeno chuckled and crossed his arms across his chest. "So now you've got a monster strong enough to beat my Spear Striker. Is it in your best interest to attack though?"
"Yeah, in this case it is." Doing his best to ignore the pain for now, Jason slammed a card onto his disk and a group of armored goblins appeared on his field. "I summon Goblin Elite Force in attack mode." (2200/1500) "Attack Spear Striker!"
Xeno's lips curled upwards and his set card flipped up. "Now you've done it. You activated my Spiked Defense continuous trap card. Whenever you attack a Spear monster on my field you lose 300 life points." He barely flinched as the goblins charged across the field and impaled his beast, shattering it at the same time as a spray of needle shot out of his trap and stabbed Jason repeatedly.
Xeno- 6000
Jason- 5800
"I've got no choice…" Jason, body shaking with pain, weakly pointed at the set monster. "Solar Flare Dragon, attack now!" Then he screamed as the face-down Spear Burst was attacked and destroyed, shooting another bony spear that pierced his arm roughly. ("I can't take much more…") His screaming intensified as Spiked Defense opened fire on him.
Xeno- 5500
Jason- 5000
Xeno drew a card from his deck. "Is that all?"
"Not yet!" Jason shouted, inwardly wincing as some blood shot from his mouth and landed on the ground between the two of them. "Five Elements Field activates now!"
Xeno- 5200
Jason- 5000
Then he pointed at his field. "At the end of my battle phase Goblin Elite Force switches to defense mode." The group of armored goblins all dropped down to their knees. "I also set two cards face-down and end my turn with the effect of Solar Flare Dragon."
Xeno- 4700
Jason- 5000
"Draw." Xeno added the card to his hand and shook his head sadly. "It's a shame that you probably think you can win this duel…when the honest truth is I'm holding back." His wrist rolled just enough so he could look at his wristwatch. "Hmm, I don't have the time to play around anymore. After all, I'm a busy man."
Jason shuddered as a black aura suddenly came to life around Xeno's body. ("What is this feeling coming off of him?") It was like he was standing in the path of an oncoming train.
"From my hand I activate the magic card Mystical Space Typhoon, blowing away one of your two set cards!" Xeno sneered as a blast of wind revealed Jason's set Negate Attack before shattering it. "That's a shame; it seems I got the one thing that might have saved you from some pain this turn."
Blood and sweat sliding down his face, the young man could feel that train about to run him down. ("I can't beat an opponent like this guy. This is a professional Shadow Duelist and I'm just a normal duelist from the Bronx…I can't win!")
"That's a nice look of despair on your face…you carry it well." Xeno threw a card onto his disk and a snarling humanoid monster covered with bony protrusions appeared on his field. "I summon Spear Stabber in attack mode." (1400/1600) "And then I activate its effect. By discarding one card from my hand I can destroy one attack mode monster in play and increase this monster's attack by 800 points." He pointed at the Solar Flare Dragon. "Disappear!"
Jason braced himself as his fire monster shattered.
(2200/1600) "And now my Spear Stabber destroys your Goblin Elite Force!" Xeno lifted one finger to point at the crouching goblins, which were promptly torn apart. "When Spear Stabber destroys a defense mode monster as a result of battle, you take 400 points of damage. Also, when Spear Stabber battles with a defense mode monster and its attack is higher than the opposing monster's defense, the difference is dealt to you in battle damage."
Jason coughed up another spray of blood as he was pin-cushioned by the spiked monster of his opponent. ("I…can't win…") Dropping to his knees, his back bent backwards as he felt his consciousness slipping away.
Xeno- 4700
Jason- 3900
"End turn." Xeno smirked as the Goblin Elite Force returned to play. (Counter: 3/Water/Wind/Light) "Ah yes, your Jewel trap card is still in play. It's not like it matters though." He glanced at his watch again. "If you bow to me and beg for a quick death then I can give you such a thing…"
"Beg?" Arms trembling, Jason slowly stumbled to his feet. "Guess what, scarecrow? I'm not bowing to you. I can admit I'm in a pinch and that my chances of winning this duel are close to nothing…"
He smiled, knees quivering as he forced himself to stand. "But bowing to you is something I won't do. I don't bow to anyone's will except my own…sorry, it's just a little stipulation I have…"
"That's fine." Xeno sneered. "Take your turn then, boy."
"The name isn't boy," He grabbed the top card of his deck. "It's Jason!" He drew and glanced at the card before throwing a different one onto his disk. "I summon Spear Dragon in attack mode!" A pointy-nosed blue dragon appeared in play on his field. (1900/0) "And then I play the magic card Contrasting Elements! This card can only be activated if I have a light and dark, earth and wind, or fire and water monster combo in play. The attack of both monsters rises by 1000 points for the turn!" (2900/0) (3200/1500)
Xeno stepped back. "Hmm, perhaps you're a bit better than I thought, boy."
Jason's right eye twitched and he pointed at the Spear Stabber. "You know, the more you call me boy the more I realize I really don't want to lose to you! Take this, go Spear Dragon!" His dragon opened its beak and released a piercing blast of green light that stabbed into the Spear Stabber and shattered.
"You triggered Spiked Defense." Xeno laughed as Jason was pierced again by another spray of needles. "If you keep this up, your body won't even make it to the end of this duel before you die."
Xeno- 4000
Jason- 3600
Blood dripping down his legs, Jason couldn't argue. ("I'm going to die here, but I'll take you with me!") "I activate the effect of Five Elements Field! When a wind attribute monster on my field destroys a monster on your field as a result of battle, one magic or trap card that is face-up on your field is destroyed!" A swirling blast of wind hit the Spiked Defense card and it exploded.
Spear Dragon folded its wings around itself. "When Spear Dragon's attack completes it goes to defense mode! Goblin Elite Force, attack his life points directly!" Jason smiled weakly as his monsters roared forward and pummeled the Shadow Duelist mercilessly before jogging back to his field and switching to defense mode. "I place one card face-down and end my turn."
Xeno- 800
Jason- 3600
Xeno drew, and after looking at the card emotionlessly he bowed slightly to the young man. "As much fun as this has been, and as strange as it has been to observe your very peculiar deck in action, I must end this duel now. From my hand I activate the magic card Blood Spike. By removing one Spear named monster from my graveyard I can deal you 1000 points of damage and gain 500 life points."
Jason threw up one arm just in time to block another bone spear, this one stabbing straight through the bone of his blocking arm and then through the connecting shoulder before it faded. He barely had the strength remaining to scream though, so all he could do was suck in his breath and try to ignore the warmth of his blood draining out of his body.
Xeno- 1300
Jason- 2600
"I then discard one card from my hand to activate the equipment magic card Hell Circulation." Xeno's field erupted into a forest of white bone spears. "This card lets me select one removed from play demon type monster and special summon it, equipping it with this card. The equipped monster can also attack through defense, and when it destroys a monster as a result of battle that monster's controller loses life points equal to the destroyed monster's attack power."
The forest of bony spears rose into the air, revealing that it was actually part of the massive tortoise-like creature which had been summoned. "This is my Spear King Tortoise, a deadly creature that has the ability to be unaffected by trap cards." (2500/3000)
"That's pretty scary," Jason admitted, trying to keep himself from showing it through his already badly scratched and cut face.
"Indeed, and without your traps you are as good as dead!" Xeno pointed at the Spear Dragon. "Spear King Tortoise, crush the boy and bring my victory! With this last attack, it ends!"
"At this time," Jason pointed at his Goblin Elite Force. "The effect of Five Elements Field activates now! When you attack I may redirect the attack to an earth attribute monster on my field! If I do this that monster's attack becomes zero for the turn!" (0/1500) Then he disappeared as his monster was struck by the charging giant Tortoise.
Xeno- 1300
Jason- 1600
Arms at his sides, Xeno frowned at the sudden turn of events. "So my killing attack was avoided? Very well, I'll end my turn there."
The dust created by the attacking monster cleared to reveal Jason, who was barely standing now. ("I survived for one more turn, but that doesn't matter here…") He looked directly at the Shadow Duelist. "I hope you didn't have any important appointments, because you won't be making them."
"Why would that be?" Xeno snickered. "Do you intend to survive for a bit longer?"
"No, I intend to die here…but I'm taking you with me!" Jason drew and one of his two set cards flipped up. "I activate the trap card Spirit of Solitude. From my graveyard two non-clashing attribute monsters will be special summoned." His Solar Flare Dragon and Goblin Elite Force appeared in play in defense mode. (1500/1000) (2200/1500) "They cannot attack or be sacrificed, so you don't have to worry about them. Then again, they're not the real threat…"
"If that's the case, what is the real threat?" Xeno motioned to the three monsters in play. "Your Solar Flare Dragon could have killed me with its effect, had you the ability to buy yourself two more turns. However thanks to my life gain effect you cannot defeat me that way."
"I don't intend to beat you in such a boring way." Jason pointed at his Jewel of the Five Elements. "I send one magic or trap card in play to my graveyard to special summon the water attribute Luminous Ocean Dragon!" A pillar of golden water rose from his field, forming into a hissing golden and translucent dragon. (2200/1800) "This monster counts as both a light and a water attribute monster, and therefore I've got all I need in play."
"You have nothing." Xeno thumbed at his monster. "If your set card is a trap then there's no way you can possibly affect my Tortoise with it!"
"I pay 1000 life points." Jason watched his life point counter tick down rapidly. "And then I activate the trap card Five Point Oblivion." His set card flipped up. "This card can only be activated when I've got an earth, wind, water, fire, and light attribute monster in play."
Xeno- 1300
Jason- 600
Xeno stepped back just a little bit more as the air around them both started to grow hazy. "What does your trap card do?"
Eyes closed, Jason smiled sadly as he suddenly realized that there was no way to tell his friends that he wasn't going to be able to join them. ("I'm sure that if either Rick or King were here, they'd give me some kind of smart-aleck comment about how I'm just trying to act cool. Or if Kim was here she'd call me an idiot…") "It seems that this is where I get to die…which really sucks. Oh well, I guess I get to go out like a hero. Five Point Oblivion allows me to do one of two things. Either I can destroy all cards on your field…or I can simply choose to end the duel by dealing myself any amount of damage and dealing you double that amount…either way is overkill…"
Xeno gasped and stepped back once more. "You're insane…you wouldn't…"
"Sorry, Shadow Duelist Xeno…" Jason lifted up one hand and smiled calmly, his regret gone. "I guess in the end I had what it takes, as did this deck. Not that it matters anymore…because I'm choosing infinite damage to myself to deal you just as much." Five points of light appeared around him, one green, one blue, one red, one yellow, and one golden. A calm wind started to uplift around him, blowing his hair up slightly and bathing them both in a powerful multi-colored light. "I hope that the explosion doesn't damage any of the surrounding buildings too much…"
"You can't seriously be planning on killing yourself just to defeat me, can you?" Xeno realized as the image of Jason's calmly smiling and bloodied face reflected in his goggles showed that the young man was ready to suicide. "You're out of your mind! Nothing will come from this except…"
"Except that the overwhelming damage from the trap will kill you without any doubt." Jason closed his eyes. "Five Point Oblivion, destroy it all!" Then everything disappeared within a burning torrent of heated light.
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Jason's eyes came into focus, and he somehow managed to move his head and look around the void that he was falling through. ("I guess I didn't win the duel, but then again I'm guessing that Xeno didn't win either. It wasn't exactly how I wanted to end my life…") He looked down at his badly damaged body. "Oh well…let it end however it wants to end…right?"
"Something's actually coming through it?"
Jason's nearly weightless fall into the depths suddenly ended as he crashed headfirst into a hardwood floor, the impact rattling his brain a little bit. "Ow!"
The last thing he remembered before his vision faded away was the out of focus image of someone running towards him rather rapidly. ("I guess the explosion hurled me pretty far into the air then…I gotta be sure to pay for the poor fella's roof, if I survive…") Then his wounds proved to be too much for him, and he passed out.
To be continued…
