Alex had made it back to his castle and returned to his room. He dissolved his armor and collapsed into his chair, breathing hard.
Nightshroud: I warned you not to use my deck yet. Your body is still young, and is not yet used to controlling so much power.
Alex: I didn't think it would take such a toll on me.
Nightshroud: We share a body, so I know what you can and cannot withstand, whether you yourself do or not.
Alex heard a knock at his door.
Alex: Not know. I can't let anyone see me like this.
Jinzo: My lord, I came to give you a report on the army's progress today.
Alex: Fine, you may enter.
Out of all his soldiers, he knew Jinzo was his most loyal. Jinzo entered and saw Alex was breathing hard.
Jinzo: Are you alright my lord?
Alex: Just a little winded. Status report?
Jinzo: Yes my lord. I'm afraid the citizens are fighting back. We defeated many duelists, but the more skilled duelists have banned together to form a resistance, and eliminated an entire squadron of soldiers.
Alex: This is troubling. A large enough resistance may halt our progress entirely. Do we know where the resistance's base of operations is located?
Jinzo: Not yet my lord. Vampire Lord is searching for them.
Alex: Vampire Lord? This could end well or poorly.
Jinzo: What do you mean my lord?
Alex rose from his chair and stepped out onto his balcony.
Alex: I may have chosen poorly with making Vampire Lord one of my generals. He's loyal to a fault, but his cravings may make him difficult to control as time passes. I want you to keep an eye on him, and report any suspicious activity.
Jinzo: Yes my lord. Do you want me to pass this information on to Dark Crusader and Lord of Dragons as well?
Alex: No. I want this to stay between us for now. The fewer people who know that I'm keeping him under surveillance, the less likely he is to find out and betray me out of spite.
Jinzo: I understand my lord. Do you require anything else?
Alex: No. You may leave.
Jinzo left and Alex returned to his thoughts.
Alex: Vampire Lord. He's a fairly powerful spirit, and he's not a bad duelist, but he puts his hunger above most everything else. Whether that hunger is for blood, or for power. Lord of Dragons is overly ambitious as well. It seems my most loyal generals are Jinzo and Dark Crusader.
He went back inside and sat back down in his chair.
Alex: It may be easier and better in the long run to do away with them both now as opposed to later.
Nightshroud: Maybe, but now would not be the best time
Alex: And why would that be?
Nightshroud: If you dispose of them without them having done anything, your soldiers may grow to distrust you, which could threaten our agenda.
Alex: You make a good point. I'll just have to ensure I keep a close eye on them for now, and deal with them swiftly if they step out of line.
Nightshroud: By the way, I noticed you absorbing duel energy from that man earlier.
Alex: What of it?
Nightshroud: For what reason would you need to collect it?
Alex pulled out two blank cards.
Alex: To complete these. Once they're finished, no duelist shall be able to stand against me. But with the power these cards will hold, I require a great deal of duel energy to finish them. Fortunately, even though Tanner was defeated swiftly, his intense spirit was able to generate a large amount of energy, but not nearly enough to complete even one.
Nightshroud: I see. So what will the cards become once they are complete?
Alex: Two Evil Heroes, monsters so powerful I've never been able to unlock their power, but that will change soon enough.
Nightshroud: I see. You seem weary.
Alex: I'm just tired, but it will all be worth it when I get my parents back and the Dark Signers are defeated.
Nightshroud: So what do you plan to do from here?
Alex: Once Vampire Lord hunts down the resistance, we ride out to bring them down, and the duel energy released should allow me to finish these cards.
Nightshroud: And then what?
Alex: Then we defeat Yusei and the rest of the Signers, crush the Dark Signers, and after that, we send the entire world to ours.
Nightshroud: You should address your soldiers. A present king is a respected king.
Alex: Wise words. The men did well, congratulating them would boost their confidence and help this ordeal end swiftly.
He materialized his armor and went to the main hall. He arrived and his three present generals got the army's attention for him.
Alex: My loyal soldiers. I understand that a resistance has been formed by the citizens of New Domino City, and that we lost an entire squadron of warriors. In spite of this, you have all served well today. Tonight we hold a banquet in honor of today's victory and in honor of our fallen comrades.
He was met with a standing ovation from his soldiers. A few hours later, the banquet was held, and the army was enjoying themselves. Alex sat at a table with Lord of Dragons, Jinzo, and Dark Crusader.
Crusader: That was an excellent speech earlier my lord, you really inspired the men.
Alex: High morale generates high performance. And now they have a reason to fight even harder tomorrow.
That's when Vampire Lord returned, and his outfit was slightly stained in what everyone assumed to be blood. He sat down at the table in the chair between Alex and Jinzo.
Alex: Report.
Vampire Lord: Nice to see you as well your highness.
Jinzo: The king asked for a report, not backtalk.
Alex raised his hand to stop him before a fight broke out.
Alex: Vampire Lord, did you find the rebel base?
Vampire Lord: Yes my king, most of them have made a base in the stadium where the Fortune Cup was held. And the Signers are holed up in the hospital.
Alex: Why is there blood on your clothes?
Vampire Lord: I just had a little drink on the way back before I sent them to the other world.
Alex: I told you not to feed on anyone without my permission.
Vampire Lord: Apologies my lord, it couldn't be helped. They were alone, and I haven't had a decent meal since you summoned us.
Alex: I shall overlook this transgression, but do not disobey my orders again.
Vampire Lord: As you command my king. We'll see who's in charge for long around here, your majesty.
Alex stood and called for the soldiers' attention.
Alex: I have an announcement to make. We have discovered the location of the rebel base. Tomorrow we will storm their base and avenge our fallen comrades. I want them rounded up, and I shall duel them myself.
The army cheered and continued to eat.
Nightshroud: Vampire Lord is planning something.
Alex: As expected. It appears someone has outgrown their fangs, as well as their usefulness.
Nightshroud: How shall you dispose of him?
Alex: We'll make an example out of him as a message for any who would think of betraying me.
After the banquet concluded, Alex pulled Jinzo aside and told him their suspicions of Vampire Lord had been confirmed.
Jinzo: Shall we eliminate him now my lord?
Alex: No, I have a better idea. Gather a few guards. I want him taken alive so I can make an example of him as a warning to anyone else who would think of betraying me.
Jinzo: I see. So what is your plan?
Alex told the spirit what he had in mind and when he finished, Jinzo left him to prepare. Meanwhile, Alex retired to his room to wait for when Vampire Lord acted. He set his deck on the nightstand and slipped into bed and faked being asleep as he waited for Vampire Lord to arrive. He didn't have to wait long as a bat landed on his balcony before turning into Vampire Lord. He walked into Alex's room and came up next to the bed.
Vampire Lord: I can't believe everyone is content with taking orders from a mere child. Nevertheless, he is a powerful duelist, so I'll gladly take his deck before I finish him.
He reached for Alex's deck but a wave of darkness came from it and slammed into Vampire Lord, knocking him against the wall before pinning him there.
Vampire Lord: What's going on?
Alex: And I thought you were intelligent. These cards will only obey me. You could never hope to wield even a fraction of their power.
Vampire Lord: How did you know?
Alex: I've known since the beginning that you wanted to overthrow me and take command of the army for yourself, but I had hoped you would come to your senses before I had to dispose of you, but it appears you didn't.
Some of the soldiers came in and restrained Vampire Lord.
Soldier: What shall we do with him my lord?
Alex: Bring him to the arena, and wake the men. I want them all to know how traitors are dealt with around here.
Soldier: As you command my king.
Jinzo then walked in and stood beside Alex.
Jinzo: That went better than we planned.
Alex: Indeed. It's good to know that most of my soldiers are loyal.
Jinzo: One question my lord, why not dispose of him now?
Alex: In addition to making an example out of him, I want his energy to aid in the completion of these.
He pulled out the blank cards he showed Nightshroud earlier that day and showed them to Jinzo.
Jinzo: Duel cards?
Alex: Indeed. Two powerful cards that will allow me to end this ordeal swiftly, and once I defeat Vampire Lord, their completion will be that much closer.
Jinzo: I see. So that is why you want to duel the rebel army yourself?
Alex: Jinzo, you are truly my most loyal and intelligent servant. I promise that your loyalty will be rewarded.
Jinzo: Thank you my lord.
Alex: It's time to show the men that betrayal will not be tolerated.
Nightshroud: So what deck shall you use to defeat him?
Alex: The very one he attempted to steal.
Alex arrived at the arena and saw that the army was gathered in the stands.
Alex: I'm sure many of you are wondering why you are here at this hour. Vampire Lord has attempted to overthrow me and take command of the army himself. You are here to see what happens to traitors. Vampire Lord, if you are able to win this duel, you shall be allowed to return to the spirit world.
Vampire Lord: And if I should lose?
Alex: Then you will wander in between worlds for eternity, and your duel energy will be taken by me.
Vampire Lord: What?!
Alex: That is the fate that befalls traitors in my army, now prepare yourself.
Vampire Lord started his duel disk, and Alex manifested the same disk his father used as the Supreme King.
Both: Duel!
Alex: 4000 LP
Vampire Lord: 4000 LP
Alex: So what are you waiting for? Make a move.
Vampire Lord: Thanks your highness. I play the spell Graceful Charity. Now I draw 3 cards and discard two.
Alex: No matter what card he plays, this duel will end in his defeat.
Vampire Lord: And now I play the spell Monster Reborn to resurrect myself, Vampire Lord!
Level 5/Dark/Zombie
ATK 2000/DEF 1500
Vampire Lord: And now by removing my doppelganger from play, I can summon Vampire Genesis!
Level 8/Dark/Zombie
ATK 3000/DEF 2100
Vamprie Lord: And now I use his special ability. By discarding a zombie type monster, I can summon one with a lower level from my graveyard, so I discard the level 8 Despair from the Dark to summon the level 6 Ryu Kokki.
Level 6/Dark/Zombie
ATK 2400/DEF 2000
Vampire Lord: I end my turn. I have Overpowering Eye and Gift of the Martyr in my hand. Next turn, I can sacrifice Ryu Kokki and give his attack points to my Vampire Genesis, and then I can use Overpowering Eye to allow him to attack directly, dealing 5400 points of damage, winning me the duel.
Alex: I draw. And I activate the Dark Fusion spell card. I fuse Flare Mage and Sky Slash to summon Evil HERO Inferno Wing.
Level 6/Fire/Fiend
ATK 2100/DEF 1200
Alex: And due to the effect of Flare Mage, you now take damage equal to Inferno Wing's level times 100, so you take 600 points of damage.
Vampire Lord: 3400 LP
Vampire Lord: But she's too weak to beat my monsters.
Alex: You assume this is the end of my strategy, when in fact, it is merely a midpoint of my true goal. I activate another Dark Fusion, and merge Inferno Wing with Evil HERO Voltage.
Vampire Lord: What?!
Alex: Say hello to Evil HERO Dark Inferno.
Level 8/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2500/DEF 2100
Vampire Lord: But with only 2500 attack points, you still can't beat me.
Alex: Are you sure about that?
Vampire Lord: What are you talking about?
Alex: Due to Dark Inferno's special ability, she gains 300 attack points for every Elemental HERO and Evil HERO in my graveyard. Since there's 4, she gains 1200 attack points.
Dark Inferno: 2500-3700 ATK
Vampire Lord: 3700 attack points?!
Alex: And due to her other special ability, when she destroys your monster in battle, you take damage equal to your monster's original attack or defense points, whichever are higher.
Vampire Lord: What?!
Alex could tell that the army was afraid of him.
Alex: Good. Once this duel is over, none of them will think of betraying me. Now Dark Inferno, attack Vampire Genesis with Flaming Shadow Strike!
His monster charged a ball of darkness in her hands before it became wreathed in red and purple flames.
Vampire Lord: Please my king, have mercy!
Alex: I'm afraid mercy is one thing I'm not known for.
Upon his words, Dark Inferno launched her attack at Vampire Genesis, and when it made contact, it exploded into a vortex of darkness and fire.
Vampire Lord: 2700 LP
Alex: And now Dark Inferno's effect activates, so since your Vampire Genesis had 3000 attack points, you now suffer 3000 points of direct damage. Dark Inferno, end this duel with Infernal Fire Storm.
A vortex of red and purple flames sprung up around Vampire Lord, and he could be heard screaming in pain.
Vampire Lord: 0 LP
Winner: Alex
Vampire Lord collapsed to the ground.
Alex: And now you shall pay the price of treachery.
Vampire Lord dissolved into darkness before flying to Alex, pouring into one of the blank cards.
Alex: Almost there. Just a little more and the first card shall be completed. Now you all know the price of deceit. Those who follow orders will be rewarded for their loyalty, while those who seek to betray me shall pay dearly. Return to your quarters for the night. Tomorrow we ride for the resistance.
The army dispersed and returned to their quarters for the night. Alex returned to his room and settled into bed for the night. Little did he know that Yubel had been watching him since he got back to his room. Once she was sure he was sound asleep, she assumed a physical form and sat down on the edge of his bed, stroking his hair as he slept. While she was doing this, Alex started crying in his sleep.
Yubel: Alex, I can see the pain in your heart. You blame yourself for what happened to your parents, but I know the real you is in there. No matter what it takes, I promise we'll get you back.
She wiped his tears away before she flew off.
Hey everyone. Vampire Lord lost quickly. And just to clear something up, Vampire Lord was using the manga version of Overpowering Eye, which is a continuous spell that lets Vampire monsters attack directly. And in case everyone is wondering, the other GX character I mentioned in the previous chapter finally makes their appearance in the next one. Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, and I'll see you in the next one.