Chapter 37: The plan is revealed
Zarc find his wife who is still and in shock and distraught, Ray just spoke this sentence, "She was hurt," Ray shookly said, "She think I finally lost my freedom to you." Zarc put a cocky smile on his face as he grabs his gloves from the couch. "I'm not apologizing." He said. The demon then puts his gloves on as he is ready to go. "Honey," He began, "Honey, are you ready for today?" From the look in his eyes, he seems excited for something. Ray is confused but shook head to get herself together to look at her husband. "Remind me what are we ready for?" She asked. Zarc chuckled at his clueless doll wife of his. "This is it!" Zarc answered in joy, "Today is the preliminary round of the world championship!" Once Zarc win such thing, he's Champion of the world. Ray then understood the answer. Only something is off about her. She felt sad now as she then looks at her pink duel disk, that is sitting on the surface of the dresser. Zarc recognized such feeling on her face. What is wrong with her. Is there something he said? Zarc had Ray to look at him so he can check what is wrong with her. "What's wrong?" He asked. He and Ray head to the couch so they can talk what is wrong. "I miss dueling." Ray admitted, "I had been watching you duel so much, I feel like I'm missing all the fun." Ray hugged herself gently, feeling homesick for dueling. "If only I can duel one last time." Zarc thinks about such offer. Yes, he did told her not to duel anymore but he wasn't REALLY expecting her not to feel home sick about it. So Zarc place his hand on her's once more then looks at her with a sigh. "I suppose it doesn't matter." The demon spoke in opinion, "Alright, once more... it'll be fine." Ray smiled warmly then hugs him tightly. "Oh thank you!" Ray spoke as she then released her husband, "Guess this means we'll both be dueling world champions if that's alright." Zarc looked at her with a confused look. "I thought you just wanted to duel once, not the whole tournament?" Ray and Zarc got up from the couch. "I do," Ray explained, "But I wanna duel when we get to the championships." Why didn't Ray mentioned that before?! Zarc doesn't know what to say. He thought up a reason why not and he thought it up quick. "You have to pass the preliminaries for that," Zarc put her hopes down gently, "And they've already passed the deadline." Zarc then got an idea, a crazy and awful idea. The Dracon Devil got a wonderful, Yet crazy and awful idea. "I know just what to do." Zarc stated to his wife. He then tells his doll that Zarc will have her featured in an exhibition match! He explains that before the big events start, they always have two duelist do a huge expedition match between two up and comers to get the crowd excited for the day. On that field today, one of them, will be Ray! "A gift from me to you!" Zarc declared. Ray's hope went up once more, squealing like a fangirl. "Oh great idea!" The wife reacted, "I'm so happy I had you." Zarc hugs her warmly, showing he cares for her. "We better get going then." he suggested, "Go get ready, I'll have the car set!"
Ray got herself ready quick for such even as she then grabs her duel disk and deck. The lyrilusc birds, including Star, watches their mistress frantically hurry as she gets ready for the day. Soon Ray goes to her monsters and tells them the news. Her monsters were excited that they get to fight once more. Ray brought out her deck for her monsters to get inside. Soon everyone zips into their cards and into their position. "I'm so excited!" Aria says as she is inside her card. Everyone is in their places...everyone except Schuberta. Since she fades away from Ray, she won't be able to help her mistress. Ray denies that Schuberta is gone. She tells herself Schuberta will returns like any other mother can. Sadly, only THIS time...Schuberta is not returning. Zarc goes to his wife to check if she's ready. "Ready to go?" He asked. Ray turned to her husband, who is waiting for his wife. "Schuberta hasn't returned yet." Ray stated the obvious. Zarc noticed she's going through a bit of grief. "We better hurry up honey." Zarc reminded, "We need to get there." Zarc then gently grabs her hand so he can take her. "You'll just have to hope she shows up." Ray looks at her husband who is a bit sensitive for time. "Very well Zarc." Ray spoke. With that said, the married couple left the apartment (a/n And I bet the last time they leave such penthouse.) Zarc has the car prepared and helps her in, as usual. "Thank you." She says as she gets into the car. Ray puts on her seat belt and they begins to take off. As Zarc drives, Ray thinks of her monster, hoping she's okay.
It's been a long drive to the stadium for the married couple. Ray is enjoying to breeze that went through her hair as she hopes for Schuberta to be returned. Zarc smiled blissfully as they finally arrived. "Today is going to be so good!" Zarc announced, "The today shall be my crowning achievement!" The car pulls into the stadium, where the duelists are let in. Zarc introduces Ray for the exhibition match, and then heads off to join the other competitors. "Make me proud Ray!" Zarc ordered, "Today is everything we've wanted!" Ray walks to the exhibition match as she waves Zarc good luck. Up stood at the field is announcer. He announced that the stadium hundreds of duelists the entire world over! However, only one of the could stand among them as the greatest in the world! He then announced before the true match, he introduces The Exhibition Duelist for today! The announcer then explained what is it; The Exhibition Duelist is involving two very unique individuals, both here to participate in one match to get you pumped up! But Why is that? What they do next someday? "Who knows!" The announcer answered to everyone's question they can think of, "One day, they may come back to this stadium for the next world championship!" Zarc Diablou, who stood with the crowd of competitors, grinned darkly as he listens to what is going on. "Audience!" The Announcer got the crowd's undivided attention, "Please welcome, Akaba Ray!" Coming to the field, is Ray who is waving with a smile. Of course she wishes for Schuberta more. Zarc sits among the duelists who are spectating. He smiles a little. Meanwhile, up in the high duel box, Leo Akaba, who has not seen his daughter in weeks, begins to sob with joy. Leo tries to call out Ray's name but the only thing in response is a glare from his daughter, followed by the middle finger. "OF COURSE AN APOLOGY WOULD BE NICE!" Ray yelled on the top of her lungs, speaking to her father. Soon the announcer calls in the second player. The field is open, the game begins, and the opponent takes his first turn.
It's a long battle and we find Ray winning. Something is about Ray thought, she looks like that she's going to cry. That is not what she has inside her mind. Because she is full of grief for her only monster who raised her, aside the others, she shook, summoning Aria, The Melodious Diva. Ray kept begging for Schuberta in her mind. Leo watched his daughter through the duel box as Zarc is smiling. Of course something is off about his smile. It isn't some warm smile...It's seems pretty dark. Ray started to elevated her breathing as she is going to cry more. "Schuberta..." Ray spoke the name, tearing up more. This is bad...this is VERY bad. Ray beginning to break down. Schuberta is in her mistress's deck, refusing to be played. "Ray..." Schuberta spoke, "Why do you keep calling me?" Ray summoned her spell card and the opponent is the first one who noticed how she is acting. "Hey Ray." He said in concern, "You okay?" This is it... Ray cried in hysteria. Tears came down from her face. Screams were heard through the speakers. Everyone covered their ears from such screech. Ray tries to speak in breaking down...Grief, pain, guilt, and hopelessness surrounded her mind. "NO I AM NOT OK!" Ray screamed, "I LOST MY FRIEND CAUSE SHE LOST FAITH IN ME!" Schuberta noticed that her mistress threw a temper tantrum. She knows that without Schuberta, Ray will scream in fear or in sadness. "You cry for loosing me?" Schuberta asked in accusation, "I cry because you lost yourself Ray." Aria noticed how Ray is feeling. The Melodious Diva even noticed that her aunt, is still in the deck. She goes to her aunt and pulls her out without even summoning the monster. "Now you listen here you stinking sour note," The angered monster began, " I will not have the mistress treated that way!" (a/n Oh boy...here comes the cat fight.) Schuberta got angry as she begins to speak in a stern voice. "Aria," She began, "It's clear you don't care for our master at all." Schuberta stood u to her niece, "You've fallen as far as she has." Ray watched as she has tears in her eyes, crying and hiccuping. "You can beg and cry and scream, but the answer is no."Aria was shocked from what Schuberta said, "And you should be ashamed of yourself for even trying." Schuberta accuse even more as she gets closer to the face. "Her lover disfigured my card, he abused her, locked her in a cage." Schuberta continued on with the stern tone, "He shows no remorse... and the end is nigh!" Aria couldn't hear it. Her aunt just called her niece an idea. Aria got her face close to Schuberta's as well. "Calling me an idiot eh?" Aria accuse, "Why you..." Aria punched her aunt in the face. Just like that, a cat fight broke out. Clear Wings watched the two melodious monsters fight in a very horrible manner. "I never seen a cat fight like that every since Yugi Muto." He said as he looks at Zarc. Zarc smirked as his plan is finally begins to reveal. "Oh well..." He spoke, "I guess now's as good a time as any..."
Zarc walks onto the field, breaking into the duel. He jumps up to Ray's platform to check on her. "There you are." He says. The announcer noticed what Zarc is doing, is illegal. "Hey," The announcer called, "You can't step into the duel, you'll be disqua- " Before he can say another word, Zarc slams his hand on the announcer's face and shoves him off the platform. A loud crack is heard, like the breaking of bone. Zarc grinned for this moment. Ray wiped away her tears to look at her husband. "Zarc!" She cried, "You shouldn't be on this area right now!" Ray then saw Zarc putting on his dueling disk. "What are you doing?!" Zarc activates his duel disk, taking a break in penalty. He keeps smiling, snatching Ray by the wrist. The audience noticed on what Zarc is doing. Some finding it surprising. Some finding it romantic. Zarc laughed darkly, showing his eyes glowed faintly. "Yes.." Zarc answered, "That is right..." The demon holds up his 4 dragons, playing them all. "I'm going to rescue her...Zarc declared, sounding like a true demon, "And only her." He grinned for such moment. Under his command, the dragons start blasting the audience. From such ruckus, Aria took notice as she had Schuberta by the throats strangling her (a/n It is Homer Simpson style btw.). "Whoa!" Aria cried in shock, "Did you see that Schuberta?" Schuberta escaped from the grip, falling. "You are foolish Aria." The Maestra spoke, lacked of oxygen, "We are done now... he has won.." With that said, Schuberta dies in disappearing. Zarc raises his arm high and joy, laughing as his monsters continue to destroy the audience, the stadium and EVERYTHING! Ray doesn't know what's going on. She looked around what is happening. "Zarc what are you doing?!" She asked in distress, "Why are you hurting people?!" Zarc's fangs begins to expose, showing he is victorious. "OF COURSE! IT'S ALL FINALLY HAPPENING! IT'S MY MASTER PLAN!" Zarc stated as he shows he finally lost his mind, "GO MY DRAGONS! BREAK IT ALL! KILL THEM ALL!" Under his command, the dragons attack everything and everyone. (a/n Well most everything, some just survived.) In shock and fear, she begins to black out. Zarc catches her in time as he noticed, "Swooning for me, darling?" He asked with a sinister smile, "You're too kind!" Zarc looked at the dragons in ordering them to destroy, "Keep going!" He ordered, "Chase them out of the stadium, kill anyone in your way." Zarc held his unconscious wife close to his body. "Meet me here again when you've had your fill of destruction." With that said, the dragons took off to do their fill of destruction. Scrap Eyes, who is in Zarc's deck, noticed that is happening. "So that's it!" The small dragon concluded, "You plan the apocalypse did you?!" Zarc looks down at Scrap, holding Ray. "This world of fake programs and useless people has served it's purpose." Zarc stated, "It rejected Ray and I, for our talents. It's pathetic." Zarc held Ray close more so she won't slip. "So, I'm going to rip it down, destroy it all!" Scrap Eyes were as shocked as Ray is. All these years..Zarc finally lost his mind...He really became a true, destructive, Dracon Devil. Scrap Eyes then tries to do a fisticuffs, running towards the duelist, having a score to settle. Zarc rolled his eyes at the small dragon's attempt. "Scraps," He began, "Do you know what happened to the last few people go in my way?" Scrap Eyes isn't afraid of Zarc. He know he can fight him off. With a jump, Scrap opened his maw and then bites zarc hard on the crotch. Of course, Zarc kicks the poor thing before he gets that far, slamming him into wall. Soon stadium is filled with the sound of crumbling rubble and screaming people, as the dragons rampage here and into the city. Leo however, managed to escape the building in shock and we find Scrap Eyes finding Leo to get help. Meanwhile, Zarc, who is smiling sinisterly, marched toward the stadium top box, carrying Ray. It's empty. He locks himself inside, and lays her gently on the couch. He looks out the window. Ahhh... He sighs as he watches a blast, "So beautiful." Ray stirred as she is waking up. "Where am I?" is the only question she asked. Zarc took notice then sits near Ray on the couch. "Hey Ray," He greeted, "Are you feeling better?" Ray looked at Zarc with her tired, purple eyes. "I had this crazy dream that you went mad and try to end creation." Zarc chuckled to what Ray said. "Mad?" He repeated, "I'm perfectly sane." Worried, Ray asked Zarc if he's sure he isn't. Zarc smiled at his wife. "Come," The demon gently ordered, "See my work." Zarc then takes a hand and guides her to the window. The world outside is filled with destruction. Buildings are crumbling to the ground, dead bodies litter the field, and the skies are lit with fire! Ray gasped in fear and since Zarc already made her lost her mind, she chuckled softly but with tears falling down her face. He really had done it...The war...had finally...begun.