Sorry guys, this chapter is slightly shorter, compared to previous ones. I blame school. Don't worry, I'll be striving to make my future ones longer! Promise!
Once again, please R&R! Suggestions always welcome!
Touhou Duel Masters Café
Chapter 5 – Investigation
The black haired duelist licked his lips as he surveyed the preys before him. A wolf-like creature stood beside him, and let out of howl. Some backed away in terror, and others snarled at him in rage. With a wave of his hand, a horde of demons materialized out of thin air, scanning the other duelists like their master.
The black haired duelist let out a laugh that sounded more like a low hiss. Pointing at one of those staring at him, he said, "She's mine. The others…are yours. Feel free to do whatever you want with them."
He clicked his fingers.
"Now…hunt!"
The teenager ran as fast as he could. His weak body wasn't helping him much. As he staggered and tripped over a pebble, he grit his teeth as the demons closed up on him.
"What are you doing! Stand up!" A voice yelled. A hand subsequently pulled him to his feet, surprising him. Looking back, the teenager saw his friend looking at him with firm eyes.
"We've got to survive this. Now fight! For our lives!"
Nodding, the teenager pulled out his deck and faced the advancing demons with his companion by his side.
"Duema Start!"
Everything was is in ruins. The high tower. The playground. The gym. Homes. Cars. Street lamps. Nothing was left in a complete state. The air was still. Hot, humid temperature. Dark clouds blanketed the sky. There was no light, save for the diminishing, cold artificial light generated by the street lamps, which only a few remain functioning. Barely. Debris and other trash littered the streets. Signs, car wheels. Left to decompose. How long will that take?
Mangled bodies lay everywhere. Eaten, thrown onto the streets like garbage. Torn and broken. Not even flies dared to feast on the carcasses. There were the remains of a female. Her lifeless eyes stared upon the dark heavens. She just lay there, unmoving, long yellow hair sprawled messily on the pavement, red blouse dotted with spots of deep brown. Beside her, there was a severed left arm. Chewed away by crude teeth from the body. On its cold fingers lay some cards of Nature. Somewhere further, a male whose blue shirt was stained with red lay face down on the ground. Drying blood pooled around him, already ceasing to flow from the wound in his abdomen.
As a maniacal, crazed laughter echoed throughout the empty streets along with a high pitched howl, the air started to flow. A low rumbling resonated from above the skies. The debris started to tremble. Blasting away the thick clouds, a large Guardian emerged from the heavens.
The next instant, everything was covered in white.
The First bounced up from his bed, panting heavily and sweating all over.
"Ha…ha…ha…" He tried to ease his beating heart and calm his breathing.
Looking to his right, The Second was sound asleep in his own bed.
Massaging his head, The First glanced out the room's large window.
Night has fallen, stars littered across the night sky and the vast galaxy, illuminating the darkness with their light. He stared at the beautiful scene, relieving his breath and admiring the creation of the Creator.
Then he started to think.
In less than a week, Shangri-La will be restored to his former strength. They only have a few days. Five? Maybe four or less. It's a race against time.
Shangri-La must be defeated. For the better of this world and multiple universes. For their fallen comrades.
Just how much sacrifice would be needed this time?
Is victory worthy of any sacrifice it asks for?
Or is there nothing more illusional than a victory requiring great loss?
The First doesn't know.
Then again, defeating Shangri-La is impossible without sacrifices.
They have learned that first-hand.
The total destruction of their world, the numerous lives that were lost.
The nightmares that haunt them, day by day.
Would they ever stop following them?
The First stepped out of the room quietly, and poured himself a cup of coffee.
And he sat there alone, passing the time in silence.
Was there any meaning to fight? The First only knew that he wanted to protect this place.
To stop any further destruction from happening, they put their lives on the line once again.
What was a person's life, compared to peace? If such a low price can redeem everlasting peace, it is worth it.
No, they've died once already. A revived life with even lower worth. One that can be cast away easily without regrets. They were supposed to be dead anyways.
There was only the tick-tocking of the clock on the wall, and the occasional sipping of coffee.
Eventually, the sound of the clock was the only noise that was left in the room.
The Second opened his eyes as The First walked out of the bedroom. He slowly say up, massaging his eyes and temples gently. He sighed, as the moonlight illuminated the small room, staining it a faint haze of blue. The First probably had the same dream as him, again. The last day that their world still stood, even if in shambles. And they abandoned it in the end. The scene still haunts them after ten years, never fading away.
Their only purpose is to defeat Shangri-La now. With everything they've got. To stop him, this time for sure. They have the power now, even if at the cost of their own lives.
Balling up his fists, The Second swore in his heart. To rid the universe of the Climax of Cruelty.
He put on his blanket, and was once again swept into the sea of dreams.
"So we gotta find Seiga too…" Marisa muttered. "She must know something. Given her attitude, she might even have brought Shangri-La here…"
"…But why here?"
The Misty Lake, the largest body of water in Gensokyo. It is noon now, as the thick blanket of mist covers the lake, restricting vision severely.
The girls decided that it would be better to part ways to find information. "More efficiency", they said. And they just had to draw lots to see who would investigate a certain area.
"Whatever…" Marisa grumbled, still resenting the fact that she was assigned to investigate the lake. She was never fond of it. Too wet for her tastes.
Along with the fact that a certain fairy resides here…
"Well, no use complaining…" Putting on her hat, she started to patrol the area.
Was it her imagination? The mist was getting thicker with every step.
"Chi…" Marisa clicked her tongue to express her annoyance at the loss of vision.
Her steps became wary, and her walking speed decreased. You never know what's going to come out of the blue. The mud under her boots squished with a disgusting sound, and Marisa thought of just flying overhead instead of walking on the ground like an idiot.
And the temperature dropped drastically.
Marisa shuddered, and rubbed her arms to generate some warmth, no matter how small it is.
"Brr… Cirno… I'll just beat her up later for some warm-up exercise after this…" She muttered while thinking of revenge against the generator of this sudden cold.
Then an explosion in the middle of the lake shook the whole area, and the waters rippled from the blast. The loud noise nearly pierced Marisa's ears as she lost her balance and fell over.
"What the…" Marisa regained her footing, and promptly riding on her broom, she instantly rushed to the origin of the impact, where the temperature was becoming even colder, to the point of freezing. She now simply stopped rubbing herself and used a simple magic to keep herself warm.
As the magician finally reached the center of the lake against the augmenting frigidity, she suddenly realized that there was no mist here, in contrast to the outer perimeters of the water. It was like the eye of a typhoon. Calm and beautiful. A single small island was located among the waters, with some vegetation and a tree growing on it.
For a brief moment, Marisa forgot why she came here as she admired the scene. She had never really surveyed the Misty Lake on a clear afternoon. She was captivated by the calmness of the atmosphere, and the windless air. Marisa had never seen anything quite like it. Her mind was left blank.
That is, until another explosion nearly knocked her off her broom.
"Woah…!" Getting off her broom, she grabbed on to her hat to temporarily stabilize herself.
Not bothering to ride on her broom again, she opted to fly normally, and leered towards where the explosion erupted.
On another small island, stood the generator of this cold. Cirno, the Ice Fairy, her small blue dress charred, slightly panting from apparent exhaustion. Alongside the fairy was her parent-figure, Daiyousei, the Great Fairy, looking on worriedly. Behind them, there were a few unconscious bodies that Marisa couldn't identify clearly…
Looking closely, Marisa could see that Cirno had crystalline shields in front of her, signalizing that she was currently in a duel. Was that Geo Bronze Arm Tribe beside her?
Finally, she saw who Cirno's opponent was as she looked towards where the blue-haired fairy was staring at. A face she had not expected to see here.
Mystia, the bird youkai, wings flapping lightly as she stayed aloft the lake. She, too, had her shields rotating around her slowly. Her eyes, hollow, stared blankly at Cirno. No sadness, happiness nor rage, no fear, no emotion.
Then, alongside Mystia, were her creatures.
Bolshack NEX, Genji Aini and two Cocco Lupias. Dragon and Fire Bird, one of the most powerful synergies and bonds even in the whole of Duel Masters.
"What is this situation…" Marisa frowned at the scene. This did not feel like a happy duel that occurs between friends, with laughs and taunts. It feels…dangerous.
"Cirno!" Marisa called out to the fairy. "What is happening here?"
"Explanations after this." Came the curt reply.
BGM: Cornered Duelist (YGO Arc-V Sound Duel 1)
"My (watashi) turn." The Ice Fairy declared. "I cast Hyperspatial Bolshack Hole. With its first effect I destroy Cocco Lupia."
"I…?" Marisa pondered. "I thought she referred to herself as Eye… Am I dreaming?"
Mystia didn't even bat an eye when the Fire Bird was engulfed and flames and sent to her graveyard.
"With its second effect, I bring out Victorious Gaial Kaiser." From the depths of the Hyperspace, the Hunter Dragon sprung out, slashing the air with his blades.
"Battle! During the turn he is put out only, Victorious Gaial Kaiser can attack untapped creatures. I attack Cocco Lupia!"
Rushing at the Cocco Lupia, Victorious Gaial Kaiser sliced the creature in two, and Cocco Lupia vanished with a small boom as Gaial Kaiser won the battle.
"…My turn. I summon Come On Pipi. With his effect I bring out Victorious Ryuusei Kaiser from my Hyperspatial Zone…"
As Ryuusei emerged from the Hyperspace, Mystia declared, "Battle. With Genji Aini's Tap Ability, I destroy Come On Pipi, and from my hand, I put a Fire Bird of Dragon that costs 1 more or less than the destroyed creature. From my hand, I put Bolshack NEX into my battle zone."
The second Bolshack NEX materialized, his roar shaking the waters of the lake.
"I recruit a creature with the name Lupia in my deck with his effect…" Bolshack NEX's body glowed with a fiery red aura as his effect activated. "I evolve Genji Aini into Valkyrie Lupia."
As Genji Aini transformed into the Armored Dragon and Fire Bird hybrid, Mystia continued, "With Valkyrie Lupia's effect, I search a Dragon from my deck and add it to my hand."
She grabbed a card that flew straight out of her deck with two fingers and showed it to Cirno.
"I add Uberdragon Bajula to my hand…"
"…!" A drop of sweat slid down Cirno's cheek, dripping onto the humid grass as she realized she was in a grave situation.
Bajula, the zenith of Armored Dragons. Burning away two mana every turn, he was considered too strong and was restricted to one by the hall of fame. A deadly lock that is near impossible to break through once activated. The wrath of the Super Dragon, Bajula, that exterminates all before him.
"I attack Victorious Gaial Kaiser with Bolshack NEX…"
As the Red Command Dragon tried to defend himself, his actions proved futile when Bolshack NEX's fists of flaming rage smashed him back to the Hyperspace, and Gaial Kaiser was swallowed by the portal and disappeared from the battle field.
"Turn…End." Mystia's eyes remain dead and devoid of light. "Hurry up and fall already…I do not have the time to deal with the likes of you…" Her voice was monotone too, one that Marisa didn't like at all now. Something is definitely wrong with her…
"..." Cirno scanned Mystia's battle zone. Three Armored Dragons, one Victorious Ryuusei… It wasn't a cheerful situation for her. If Mystia draws Valkerios Dragon or Valkerious G Kaiser next turn… Cirno shook the thought away. This turn is what's important. Let's turn this around!
"I cast Hyperspatial Gallows Hole. I return Valkyrie Lupia to your hand. Then I put Black Ganveet into my battle zone. With his effect, I destroy the tapped Bolshack NEX!"
Cirno let out a small sigh of reliedf as two creatures were removed. But she dare not let her guard down. Two more turns, and the king of Dragons will reign over the battlefield…
"Turn End."
"My turn." Mystia said. "I charge a mana. Battle. Bolshack NEX, Double Break."
The Armored Dragon rushed at Cirno, slamming his fists on to the island with great force, threatening to sink it whole as two of her shields shattered.
"Kuh… No triggers…"
"Victorious Ryuusei Kaiser, Double Break."
Daiyousei nearly yelped in horror as the Red Command Dragon vanquished Cirno's last two shields.
BGM: Rua's Awakening (YGO 5Ds Sound Duel 3)
"…!" One of the shields glowed as it reformed in Cirno's hand. "Shield Trigger! Intense Vacuuming Twist!"
The top five cards of her deck presented themselves to her, and snatching one of them, Cirno showed the card to Mystia.
"I add Sanctuary of the Mother into my hand. Since it is a Nature card, I return Victorious Ryuusei to your hand."
"…Psychic creatures are returned to the Hyperspatial Zone when they leave the battle zone…" Mystia murmured as her creature was returned to the Hyperspace.
"My turn. I summon Dragment Symbol JJ, Avarspela. With his effect I look at the top five cards of my deck and choose a spell from among them and add it to my hand."
Cirno summoned the Crystal Command Dragon as he rose from the waters, and one of the five cards revealed itself to Mystia. "I add Gallows Hole to my hand."
"Here comes my last combo! I cast Sanctuary of Mother, and send Geo Bronze Arm Tribe to my mana zone. Then from my mana zone, I call this one out!" Cirno exclaimed as Avarspela submerged into the water, ready to unleash Cirno's true power. Under the water, a blinding light flashed as Avarspela started to evolve.
"The Dragon of Brilliance, fill the battle zone with your power and grant me over-limit intelligence at the cost of my own!" Cirno chanted as her ace card finally descended upon the battle zone. "First Model Dragon Emperor, Kiriko Cubic!"
The evolved Crystal Command Dragon burst out from the lake, cerulean armor gleaming in the sunlight, showering everyone present with water as he howled at the sky and brandished his weapons of super high technology. Cirno's hand was returned to the bottom of her deck as the creature spoke.
"Cirno! Let's end this!" He rumbled. "With my power!"
"Wha… Another talking creature!?" Marisa gasped at this sudden revelation.
"Yeah, even if you're not telling me that! With Kiriko Cubic's effect, I reveal my deck until three spells have been revealed this way and cast them for no cost!"
"Geo Bronze Arm Tribe! Jasmine! Bolshack Hole! Energy Hole! Avarspela! Energy Hole! Three spells!" She counted as the cards revealed themselves one by one. "I shuffle the rest of the cards into my deck. Then I cast the three Hyperspatial Spells!"
"First is Bolshack Hole! The removal effect has no target. I put Victorious Gaial Kaiser into the battle zone!"
"Second spell, Energy Hole! I draw a card and put Victorious Ryuusei Kaiser into the battle zone!"
"Last spell! Energy Hole! I draw one card and put Victorious Prin Prin into my battle zone!"
"With Prin Prin's effect, Bolshack NEX cannot attack or block until my next turn!" Cirno said as her creature cast a binding ring around the Armored Dragon, rendering him powerless.
"Psychic Link! When these three creatures are in the battle zone, I link them to form a Super Psychic Creature!"
As the three creatures started to merge into one, a violent wind swept up, dispersing all the mist around the lake.
"Behold!" Cirno cried as the Super Psychic Creature descended upon Gensokyo. "Gaial Ore Dragon, the Vainglory!"
The Dragon, boasting immense size, shadowed the sky overhead, almost rivaling that of Shangri-La's. One roar sent the waters reclining, washing up onto the shore with great splashes. The Five colored creature spewed a great breath of flaming light as Cirno commanded in a voice with so much charisma that Marisa never imagined she would have, "I'll wake you up with this, Mystia! Battle! Gaial Ore Dragon, World Break!"
As the light devoured the whole lake, enveloping the lake and island with its extraordinary power, Mystia's shields cracked with a sickening sound, shattering one by one and being added to her hand. Marisa even had to use magic stop herself from being blown away by the sheer power of the attack, and she was glad not to be on the receiving end.
"…" Mystia remained silent as she looked at her broken shields, making no indication that there were triggers in her shields.
"There seems to be no triggers to save you. Kiriko Cubic, todomeda!" Cirno gave the order for the final attack.
With nowhere to run and nothing for defense, Mystia stood idly as the Crystal Command Dragon aimed his cannon at her. With a short burst, the bird youkai was incapacitated.
Daiyousei quickly rushed over to stop the unconscious Mystia from falling into the water and drowning herself, carrying her back to the safety of the island and setting her gently on the ground, alongside the three other fallen figures. Sunny Milk, Star Sapphire and Luna Child, Marisa realized when she took a closer look at them.
As her creatures vanished back into her deck, Cirno turned to Marisa, whose jaws was still wide open in awe from Kiriko Cubic's effect and the actual appearance of Gaial Ore Dragon right in front of her eyes.
"Then, let's get to business, shall we?"
"Damn all this…"Marisa slapped her cheeks and shook her head, hoping that this was all a dream. "So Shangri-La is now brainwashing everyone… That bastard…"
Cirno nodded at the fairies and Mystia. "I had to take care of them before they hurt anyone or themselves. Otherwise…" She shook her head at the thought.
"Hey… Can you tell me why you're acting so different today while we're at this? I mean, you're calling yourself I and not Eye like usual, and you seem…more intelligent? It's like you're a different person." The magician questioned.
"…" Cirno went quiet for a moment. "A few days ago, when I woke up, I found Kiriko Cubic talking to me. I was thrilled, being able to talk with my own creature. And as we conversed, there was some strange energy that he transferred to me. It's hard to describe it… Knowledge? Wisdom? Something along the lines of that. And now, I have become like this. I am not like I was before."
She breathed. She stared as her outstretched palms opened and closed, grasping the air in front of her.
"I am…different." The ice fairy giggled a bit after that. "But after all, I AM the strongest."
Marisa arched her eyebrows. "That part of you never changes huh." She could almost swear that she heard a small "Hmph…" from Cirno's deck.
"Of course, it's the truth." Cirno cocked her head with a smile. "Anyways… Shouldn't we be going now?"
"Huh? Go where?" Marisa was puzzled by this question, feeling that her brain not winding fast enough to keep up with Cirno now.
"The Scarlet Devil Mansion, of course. That's where all of you hold meetings, no?" Cirno started to float towards the distant shore, her clothes fluttering in the light wind that had just picked up. "It's the most probable place to report to after investigations. There's not much left to explore here anyway."
"Dai-chan." She called to Daiyousei, who was still tending to the still unconscious fairies and Mystia. "Make sure to take care of them, okay? And take care of yourself too."
Daiyousei nodded in response. "You take care of yourself too! Don't get hurt!"
Waving as she turned, Cirno accelerated and sped towards the Scarlet Devil Mansion. "Hurry up, Marisa!"
"Chi…" Marisa grumbled as she secured her hat and climbed onto her broom. "Why is she taking the lead now?"
And she took off after the Cirno, leaving the few figures on the small island as she sped off into the distance.
"Even Miko doesn't know where Seiga is now…" Reimu looked left and right, trying to find any signs of the evil hermit. "That coward…"
She stood in front of the entrance to the underground. Although she's been here a few times, she really doesn't like the unnerving atmosphere. Plus, it's dark down there. But… There's no choice.
That Seiga... She's bound to be connected to this incident. Once she finds her, she'll beat her up fast in a duel. Just like last time.
Actions first, questions later.
Taking a deep breath, she started to walk inside.
And the darkness swallowed her.
Decks:
Cirno: Theta Kiriko Cubic (HS Type) （シータキリコキュービック（超次元呪文型））
Mystia: FL Bolshack NEX（赤白ボルシャックNEX）