Title: Attempt To Stop
Characters: Haou, Death Duelists, Maurading Captain
Chapters: 1-1||Words: 2,378
Genre: Drama||Rated: PG
Challenges: Diversity Writing: YGO GX: canon: E52, character fails a target; Word Count Set Boot Camp, YGO GX, #48, 2,378; GX Month 2021, #13, Polymerization
Notes: Okay, here I go getting caught up with my GX month fics! This takes place during Juudai's rule of Dark World.
Summary: Most people flee from Haou's approach. Some few make an attempt to make a stand - but defeating him isn't easy at all. Perhaps even impossible.
One single card. That would be all that it took. He regarded it carefully; it wasn't an invulnerable card, but it would lock Haou down to the point that other cards could be used to defeat him. It would all depend on what he drew - and if he drew it in time. Like any duel against Haou, it would risk the life of whoever tried it.
If I don't, then there's not going to be anything that can stop him. Haou needed to be stopped. He'd arrived in that world a scant handful of cycles of the comet earlier, and in that span of time, he'd established himself as a powerful warlord. He'd crushed the will of Brron's army and bent it to his own. Inhabitants of towns fled away from his approach and some of the more powerful warlords were considering pledging their loyalty to him - or so the rumors said.
"He's coming," a quiet voice spoke, and he looked up. "Are you going to fight or flee?"
"Fight." The one known as Marauding Captain to humans declared. "What about you?"
Slowly she shook her head. "I need to protect those who I can. If the others don't have someone to watch their back, then they're going to die."
He knew she was right. The warrior who defended others was no less of a warrior than the one who strode out onto the battlefield. He crossed over to embrace her gently. "Then I'll see you again - either afterwards or in the afterlife."
"If there is such a place for those who fall against him," she replied quietly, leaning her head against him, wings enfolding around him. "Be careful. Strike wisely, Tenoch."
He nodded slightly, enjoying the scent of her hair before she stepped aside. "Travel well, my old friend."
She turned, spread her wings, and leaped into the air, soaring quickly out of sight. He might have time enough to distract Haou's army, but he couldn't be certain. All he could do was try his very best.
Thud. Thud. Thud. The walls shattered under the assault of Haou's army, and the first few of his soldiers strode inside. Tenoch stood in the center of town, arms crossed over his chest, his duel disk on his wrist, eyes flicking from one warrior to another. He knew that Haou didn't always duel, so he would have to find a way to challenge him before one of the others struck at him.
He needn't have worried. Five strong monsters - these must have been the Death Duelists that he'd heard tell of - strode forward, each of them regarding him as if he weren't much more than a bug to be stepped on. He didn't know them personally but he'd seen their cards before over the years. Guardian Baou gave him a dismissive glance, turning back to look at something behind him. Chaos Sorcerer also turned back, and both of them bowed low and humbly.
"Haou-sama," Chaos Sorcerer declared, his voice clear and loud. "There is only one person left here. He does appear to be a warrior. But I can send a scout to find the others."
"Do so."
Tenoch shivered at the sound of that voice. Chills ratcheted through him and he rallied himself as he stepped forward one careful step at a time. "I might be the only person here, but you will not destroy what's been left behind. I will defeat you, Haou, and there's no one who can prevent this."
There was a single moment of absolute silence, then Guardian Baou snickered. "I could kill you in a moment," he declared. "What makes you think that you're worthy of standing against Haou-sama?"
"Because I have a card that's capable of halting Haou in his tracks," Tenoch assured them. "And I'm going to do it. I am Tenoch, defender of this town, and the one who is going to defeat Haou!"
Chaos Sorcerer and Skull Bishop both started to move forward, but stopped at a single gesture from Haou as he moved past them. "Let him make the attempt," Haou told them. "If he is capable then he will survive. If he is not -"
He didn't need to finish it. Tenoch knew what hadn't been said - that if he wasn't capable, then he would fall. He would be as dead as so many others.
Haou lifted his visor and cold golden eyes stared at him. His face was that of a young man, perhaps not yet twenty, but his demeanor that of someone who had killed often and ruthlessly. Tenoch knew about that from all the tales that floated around in regard to him.. That had done nothing to prepare him for seeing this in person.
Regardless, he started to shuffle his deck. He could only hope that his deck would answer his call and bring this reign of evil to an end.
Haou had to admit he was more than a little curious as to what this person thought he could do to stop him. He'd not at all be the first person that thought they could accomplish the task. He'd faced so many others, and every time they failed. He wasn't arrogant enough to think that he could never be defeated but he didn't think that this person was the one who could do it. But he would allow them the chance to try.
They shuffled and he allowed his opponent to take the first turn. This warrior - Marauding Captain - would need all the help that he could get. Haou watched as the other set a single card face-down and then summoned Spirit Reaper to defend himself. It wasn't a very powerful monster and Haou had any number of servants capable of dispatching it swiftly.
He regarded his own cards for a moment. The first breath of his strategy suggested itself. He wasn't going to use Adjused Gold right now, though the effect could be useful. But he already had Dark Fusion in his hand and he refused to rush matters.
"I activate Dark Fusion from my hand, fusing Elemental Hero Sparkman and Elemental hero Clayman to Fusion Summon Evil Hero Lightning Golem!" The plan was simple; he would use Lightning Golem's effect to destroy Spirit Reaper and then inflict twenty-four hundred points of damage. Not enough for a one-turn kill but it would certainly set the other back quite a bit.
If he summoned Adjused Gold, then he'd be able to finish the duel right then and there but he hadn't forgotten that his opponent had that face down card. Best not to risk too much, even against such a weak opponent.
He began to raise one hand to point to Spirit Reaper, but his opponent shook his head right away.
"Not going to let you do that. I activate Anti-Fusion Device! It destroys one Fusion monster on the field – and you're the only one who has any Fusion monsters!"
A sphere appeared on the field, glowing faintly. Energy swept out from it and wrapped around Lightning Golem, causing it to shimmer briefly before exploding into a spray of sparks and light.
His opponent smirked. "Not even your Fusion monsters can stand up to Anti-Fusion Device. Is there anything else that you can do?"
Haou wasn't fond of being taunted. He would finish this duel as quickly as possible for that alone. For a moment he was tempted to use Adjused Gold's effect, but he held back regardless. He wanted to see what else his opponent could manage.
"That's not the only card I have that can destroy your Fusions," the opponent warned him. "You're going to be defeated – and you're going to die."
Guardian Baou snorted. "If that's all you think you can do, then you're wrong. Haou-sama will win this duel."
Haou silenced his servant with a flick of one hand. He had two other monsters that he could summon, but he refused to do so right now. He held no fear that this opponent could defeat him before he had the chance to turn it all around.
"I end my turn." He declared, and watched to see what happened next. Tenoch drew his card for the turn, then nodded to himself.
"I won't let you Fusion Summon, but I can. I Fusion Summon Nightmare-Riding Ghost!"
From the whirl of Fusion there stepped a horse of cold blue flames, wrapped in bandages, and with a creature garbed in a violet robe on its back, wielding a scythe.
"Nightmare-Riding Ghost receives the effects of both Spirit Reaper and Nightmare Horse," Tenoch announced. "Not only can it attack directly, but when it does, you will discard a card randomly.
"But it only has eight hundred attack," Skull Bishop pointed out. "That's less than the effect of a pebble against our Haou-sama."
Tenoch sneered. "I'm not done yet. First I equip Amethyst to Nightmare-Riding Ghost - that increases the attack by three hundred points."
A warm violet glow enhanced the monster. Tenoch hadn't finished, though. He had two more cards in his hand. "I also equip Daemon's Axe to Nightmare-Riding Ghost, increasing the attack by a thousand!" Fierce, proud eyes gleamed sharply. "And lastly, I summon Immortal Ruler!"
Demon King of the Underworld, Ha Death himself knelt before Haou on a regular basis. This Immortal Ruler seemed to be kin to him. Haou made a mental note to speak to his servant about this once he returned to the castle. It was a powerful creature, that was for certain, but there seemed to be no awareness in its eyes. Whatever else this was, it didn't have the spirit of the monster in it.
"Now! Nightmare-Riding Ghost! Attack Haou directly! Immortal Ruler, you as well!"
Nightmare-Riding Ghost surged forward, slicing both ax and scythe. Perhaps if he hadn't worn his armor, it might have hurt a great deal more than it did. Immortal Ruler raised gray hands and blasted a twisted pool of energy from them, coursing all over Haou. When the attacks ended, Tenoch smirked.
"You only have a hundred life points, and my Nightmare-Riding Ghost can attack you directly no matter what you do. You're going to die on your next turn." He nodded smugly, arms crossed, pleased with himself. "Now, discard a card!"
Haou did so casually, a single flick of a particular card into his graveyard. Tenoch could not possibly have looked prouder of himself. I end my turn."
"Don't make promises that you can't keep," Skilled White Magician warned him. Haou focused on his duel; his servants knew better than to interfere beyond baseless words.
As he'd suspected, he had virtually everything in his hand ready to bring about his victory. It was time to end this – on his own terms and no others.
"Because of you, I now have Evil Hero Sinister Necrom in my graveyard," Haou said as he drew his card for the turn. "By Sinister Necrom's effect, I summon Evil Hero Malicious Edge to the field." Before him the monster appeared, laughing softly, long nails gleaming in the sapphire light of the comet. "Now, I discard Evil Hero Adjused Gold, and by doing so I add Dark Fusion from my deck to my hand."
With every word that he spoke, he could see fear mounting in his opponent's features. As well it should be. Then the other shook his head.
"But you don't have anything to Fuse with it. It's useless!"
"Nothing is useless in my deck," Haou countered calmly. "But you're also very wrong. First, I activate Dark Fusion, fusing Evil Hero Malicious Edge and Evil Hero Hell Brat - summoning Evil Hero Malicious Bane!"
Malicious Edge and Hell Brat wrapped around one another, and what emerged from the deep pool of shadows greatly resembled a much stronger Malicious Edge. This one, however, had sharp-edged wings, equally long and sharp claws mounted on the back of his hands, and a long scaled tail. As he appeared, Malicious Bane let out a fierce, earth-shaking roar, before bowing low to Haou.
He'd never summoned Malicious Bane before. It wasn't one that he found a use for often. But now was different. He'd never seen so much awareness in a monster's eyes – not since Neos.
But he didn't dwell on this. A duel needed to be finished. "By Malicious Bane's effect, all monsters on your side of the field whose attack is outstripped by Malicious Bane are now destroyed, and Malicious Bane gains two hundred more attack points for each one destroyed in this fashion!"
Malicious Bane roared even louder, long scaled tail lashing, and reached out with sharp clawed hands that closed around both opposing monsters, shattering them into nothingness. Another roar marked the increase in attack strength, and the opponent stepped back, fear rising even higher and deeper. Haou smiled a tiny pleased smile.
"That isn't all. I summon Evil Hero Hell Gainer." This was why he'd not used Hell Gainer for fodder for Malicious Bane. He wanted that strength of that monster at his side. "Now, Malicious Bane, Hell Gainer, finish this fool."
His opponent - Haou didn't even remember their name - didn't even have time to properly scream before it was all over. Haou almost regretted that. Those who strove so hard should at least be given the chance to regret their decisions when they fell. He'd fought very well and he'd done enough damage that under other circumstances, Haou might have worried over his chances of victory. But it hadn't been enough. Something like that would never be enough.
As the opponent faded away, Haou turned towards his waiting Death Duelists. "Find the ones that lived here. You know what to do."
All five of them bowed respectfully before him and dispersed to hunt down those who'd fled. Haou tucked his deck back into the holder, letting his armored fingers rest on it briefly before beginning to search the area himself for any sign of the Gem Beast deck. He didn't think that he would find anything here, but he searched, as he always did.
If you wanted something done right, you needed to do it yourself. Along with those servants that he would always trust the most – those who lived in his deck.
The End
Notes: Okay, I am so behind on my GX month fics but I am striving to get finished by the end of September. I do wish we had seen Malicious Bane in GX, but I don't think it existed then.