Yu-Gi-Oh! The Termina Saga
Opening Theme: "One Unaffected by Hades" by Get in The Ring
Ending Theme: "Desirable Dream" by Get in The Ring
The Spiteful Hawk, and the Snow-White Heiress
The faint moon of the midnight hour fast approaches Doriado City. Lampposts and headlights illuminate an abandoned lot, where partying jocks and bikers with pumped fists and beer bottles rave on to the heavy metal music that plays. The grand event of the evening is packed to the brim with duelists placing bountiful sums of cash on the line, eager in partaking the heated competition. What's more, the duels to come involve a very enticing privilege in using unlawful usage of high-end duel equipment that is supposed to be strictly sanctioned only within the DTGC.
Upon arrival, Kageru aloofly marches over to the open desk of the event host. As he would normally expect, however, the casual stroll of a few steps turns into a hailstorm of dirt, trash, and spit aimed his person. He keeps his uncaring demeanor, only rolling glimpses around the ravenous crowd out of curiosity to even the tiniest minority's response to his presence. But, not even one is welcoming nor indifferent with the intent of saving face. Every person in the vicinity despises him.
"Stop right there!"A broad-shouldered male moves through from the hateful mob to cut off his path. His peach-toned face is cross as he looks down on him. "Not another step from you Hiitan."
His burning scarlet eyes boldly locks back against his buckskin-clothed obstructer, "Why don't you step aside before I throttle your ass, Wynnian."
He shows no concern that the man was a foot taller, and several years older than he was. No matter who the person, if they are to grant him unwarranted disrespect, he would gladly earn it with brute force if need be. Such an occurrence is nothing new, and something he always expects on his rare ventures out to the open public. And this is more likely in this southern district, a commonplace for scum.
"I'm here for the man in charge, aka the one you guys call Rusty around here," Kageru adds. "I don't have time to babysit his over-toned, pet bird."
From the wooden desk and crate just in front of a pickup truck, sits Rusty in his psychedelic shades and biker suit. Up until a minute, he had been keeping a mindful eye of the brief stare down, all the while with two scantily clad women draping him for pleasure.
"Hey now! Ease up there Toma!" He calls out with a southern accent, casually lighting up a cigar, "Ain't no need to be so rash. Surely, this youngin here wouldn't be crazed enough to start something on our turf outta the blue. Certainly not on one of our special nights."
"Many pardons Mr. Rusty. And do know that Mother Wynn's people are taught to be sibling-like in their patience towards all men," Toma replies. "However, if history has taught us anything, it's that nothing ever pleasant comes in dealing with these hell-spawned savages."
"You know I'm kinda with him," one of the girls next to Rusty comments. She leads their focus towards the bandaged third degree burns over the Hiitan's face. "Just look at him babe. Can't convince me that he don't look the type aching to tear some heads off."
The other girl butts in with nothing less than a hateful snarl "Calling them savages is an understatement."
The complaints didn't stop there, however. Constant muttering and demands to boot him away were breaking out from the crowd, and it seems like a fight with Toma is just about erupting. It isn't long before all of it begins to get on Rusty's nerves. Finally prompted to start handling it himself, he then rises from his crate throne and confronts the Hiitan.
The crowd immediately quiets themselves, now putting all focus on the two. Rusty, with his cigar still live, gradually inches his way closer. He then silently sizes up his , as soon as the two are now face-to-face, he deliberately shoots out a large cloud of nicotine directly at his eyes. The daring gesture stirs all but the victim with laughter. He furthers this vulgar prank, pushing the sizzling butt of the used roll into his chest before flicking it at his face.
"I deeply apologize for the rough first impression," Rusty then says with a scum-toothed smirk. "A lot of the gang here as you've probably noticed, have had some bad juju with your race. Big guy Toma here especially. The good bird's a pure blood Wynnian straight outta Miyabi, and most of his folks served in the war for some time fighting against the likes of y'all. Lost a lot of good men. Just saying."
Kageru with a cocks eye and nods. As much as he wants to sympathize, Toma has already gotten at his nerves. As for Rusty, he is practically begging for him to knock his ashy, yellow teeth out senseless. Still, he holds back to hear what else he wishes to add.
"Look, I'm sure you and I don't want this escalatin any further," Rusty adds. "If I were in your lava-loaded ass, I'd make it jiffy and start statin your business for intruding upon our humble shindig. Or well…. Better yet. Start high-tailing outta here, and pretend we never met."
He gives him another wide-eyed, daring stare. "Well? What's it gonna be Hiitan scum?"
Kageru finally answers, "Seriously guys. I'm just here to play a couple of games or so, and hopefully win a few big bucks to pay some dues I got. I ain't here with any intention to get in some trouble. I mean. I'm just as much as a resident in the city, like it or not. But, that's beside the point." He flips his bag over, taking out a sizable tin filled with cash. "I got here, a good fifteen grand, and I'd be more than happy to wager it."
"Ha!" The laugh is from Rusty, which the crowd follows. "That so? This ain't no typical weekend locals for scrubs at the comic store, just so you know. You really sure you got what it takes here?"
"Oh, don't worry about it gramps. I'm well-versed in how the DTGC runs things. Only reason I haven't broken your arms in two for screwing with my clothes is because I really would prefer for this shindig to go well for me tonight." He then faces the rest. "If ANY of you got any other personal issues to bitch to me about, go on! I could care less whether it's you or your cards that end on the bottom of my foot! So. What'll it be?!"
They remain silent, and simply answer back with their glares.
Rusty turns back to Toma, who nods, clarifying his agreement to duel him instead, "Looks like we got our main event of the night boys! Whose up for some good ole Hiitan wrecking!?"
The cheers are in unison. "WOOOHOOOO!"
"Place your bets, and let's get this party on!"
The two duelists take positions over the lot. The surrounding audience all chant Toma's name, with Rusty laid back, drinking with a smug expression. After a quick shot, he calls for the start.
"EVERYBODY! WITH ME NOW! COME ON!"
"3! 2! 1!"
"DUEL!"
Kageru LP 4000
Toma LP 4000
Toma is the first to act. "Let us begin. I will call forth the Hunter Owl to attack position!" A muscular grey owl armed with a two-pronged hook comes out.
ATK: 1000
"I now activate my Ties of the Brethren spell card! With the mere cost of 2000 life points, I choose my Hunter Owl."
Toma LP 4000-2000=2000
"Now I can special summon two more monsters from my deck that share my it's level, type, and attribute. Go Sonic Shooter, and Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds!" A purple-sheened birdman, and a green, winged statue appear.
Sonic Shooter – LV4/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK: 1300
Barrier Statue of the Storm Winds – LV4/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK: 1000
"I'll take back the life points I lost with Supremacy Berry! If I activate this, while my life points are lower, I gain 2000 life points!" A white bird, carrying a glowing berry, flew from the spell . The released berry is magical enters the Wynnian's chest, healing him.
Toma LP 2000+2000=4000
"I set one more card in place before ending my turn. Now, come and face me, scum."
"Challenge accepted." Kageru draws his card,"I'll start this turn with the Herculean Power continuous spell card! Since you're the only one with monsters, I can use this once a turn to special summon a 'gemini' monster from my hand."
Toma smirks, "Fool. Your card is but a waste. The Barrier Statue of Stormwinds constant effect forbids you from special summoning all but WIND-."
"I'm aware of what the Barrier statue series does. Don't sweat yourself. The monster I'm summoning meets your criteria just fine."
"What!?"
"You heard me. I special summon Tuned Magician in attack mode!" Out, came a green and white, robed magician.
Tuned Magician – LV4/WIND/Spellcaster/Gemini
ATK: 1800
"And for my normal summon this turn, I'm going with Evocator Chevalier!" The next monster is a red-armored warrior with a flame sword.
Evocator Chevalier – LV4/FIRE/Warrior/Gemini
ATK: 1900
"If you don't have a response, I'll be equipping my warrior with Supervise. This will allow him to switch to effect mode. Of course, I won't need that for the time being. I'll enter my Battle Phase right now!" The phase shift flashes a confirmation before its declarer. "Now, I think I'll start by having my Chevalier cut down your Barrier Statue!"
Toma is surprised, "You didn't use the effect of Chevalier to destroy a card? Amateur. I reveal my trap, Icarus attack! I offer Sonic Shooter as tribute, and strike down your Herculean Power spell, and your Chevalier!"
"You Wynnians are so predictable," Kageru remarks.
"Ah!?"
"I chain the quick-play spell, Gemini Spark! I'll tribute my gemini monster, Chevalier, and use him to take out your Statue!" A bolt of thunder flashes from within the red knight. His continuous spell is struck down, but Toma's other monster then shares a similar end.
"Since that went through, my spell also lets me draw a card. But, I'm not through with you yet. Supervise just got sent to my graveyard, and it seems to me, you know what that means."
The Wynnian is nervous, as he confirms it, "You can summon a gemini from your graveyard."
"Exactly. Let's go, Evocator Chevalier!" The red knight rises again. "And since you just lost two wind attributes, well.. You know."
Hunter Owl ATK: 2500-1000=1500
"He sure doesn't look so good now. Chevalier will attack your Hunter Owl!"
With one flaming slash, another monster bites the dust.
Toma LP 4000-400=3600
"Now, it's my magician's turn! Direct attack!" A thunder-charged smack of the spellcasters's rod strikes the Wynnian with a bruising blow to the cheek that knocks him back.
Toma LP 3600-1800=1800
"Stings doesn't it?" taunts Kageru. "I'll set one more card, and pass."
The crowd and Rusty begin to grow dissatisfied. They further their vocal support, chanting against at the Hiitan, while they edge their champion back up to speed.
"Come on Toma!" Rusty yells out. "Don't let that ash-breathing jackass get to ya!" He stands facing the audience again for their needed support. "Everybody with me!"
"TOMA! TOMA! TOMA!"
Empowered and enraged, Toma tightens his body core before drawing again. "I activate, Pot of Desires! By banishing 10 cards from the top of my deck, I draw 2 cards!" The ten cards transfer to a respective banish slot. "Next, I summon Kurama to the field!"
Kurama – LV3/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK: 800
Kageru is unimpressed, "Another worthless vanilla? Cool."
Toma scoffs, "You Hiitans always were narrow-minded when it comes to the forms of strength. Watch closely as I finish you with the true strength of numbers. I activate Enchanted Fitting Room!"
Toma LP 1800-800=1000
"Sure, it will cost me 800 life points, but now I am able to excavate the top 4 cards of my deck. Then, I special summon any level 3 or lower normal monsters among them!"
A magical dresser appears, enchanting the top of the owner's deck. The four cards reveal themselves to spark Toma's confident grin, for three are usable, "I special summon a 2nd Kurama, and with it, 2 Sonic Ducks!" Two green ducks quack in a frenzy, joining alongside the two cawing blue crows.
Kurama – LV3/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK: 800
2x Sonic Duck - LV3/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK: 1700
"Now, prepare. I overlay two of my level 3 Kurama!" The crows let out a deeper cry, as their bodies convert into beaming orbs. The objects converge into a grounded spacial vortex. The vortex bursts shortly after, and from it comes a dusky black totem pole with a red-beaked condor perching over it.
"With this overlay network, I call forth the Rank 3, Totem Bird!"
Totem Bird RK 3/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK 1900
"I now activate the continuous spell, Solidarity! If I have but one type of monster in my graveyard, all others that share that type gain 800 attack points. As you can see, they are all winged beast, which means-"
Kageru sighs, "I get it! I get it! Just hurry up!"
2x Sonic Duck ATK: 1700+800=2500
Totem Bird ATK: 1900+800=2700
"Now we battle! Totem Bird, destroy Evocator Chevalier!"
But, his opponent has a response,"Sorry. Us Hiitans, don't take too kindly to being out-muscled!" He quickly rushes to the face-down at the front of his divided side then taps it. "I activate the trap, Fiery Fervor. I equip this to Chevalier and he gets to double his attack points if you have a monster with a higher attack than its original stats!"
"Useless! I chain the effect of Totem Bird! I detach two overlay units to negate the activation of a spell or trap, and destroy it!"
"It does what!?"
The condor devours two of the materials revolving around the totem pole. It then emits a raging dust storm, that shuts down the activated trap.
"My Totem bird loses 300 attack points when it has no materials, but the boost it gains from his brethren's lingering spirits will pull through! Continue your attack!"
Totem Bird ATK: 2700-300=2400
Another strike from the bird fires and shreds the red knight instantly.
Kageru LP 4000-500=3500
"Now my two Sonic Ducks will tear you down! The first one attacks Tuned Magician!"
The two, rabbid ducks flap about angrily. In a zipping instance, their targets are struck with a feathery head butt. Tuned Magician is the first to fall.
Kageru LP 3500-700=2800
"Sonic Duck number two!"
Kageru LP 2800-2500=300
Pushed from the blow, Kageru forced to grind his hand against the ground to break momentum.
"Stings, does it not?" Toma calls back using his opponent's earlier taunt.
Impressed, Kageru grins out of sheer enjoyment, "Ha! Now, we're talking."
"Heh. Do not think you are out of my grasp just yet, devil. I enter Main Phase 2 and overlay my two Sonic Ducks!
"Crap. Another one?!"
"That's right! I Xyz summon another Totem Bird to the field!"
Totem Bird RK 3/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK 1900+800=2700
Kageru drew. All he could do, however, was set a card. "One monster. That'll do it for me."
"Draw. I sacrifice my used Totem Bird to Advance Summon Prime Material Falcon!" A giant, four-winged creature swoops down to his field.
Prime Material Falcon LV5/WIND/Winged Beast
ATK: 2200+800=3000
"Now any attempt to destroy my back row is useless!"
The chants are wilder, now that the Hiitan is completely defenseless. Any spell or trap he drops would be negated once, and with Solidarity face-up and shielded with just a discard per cost, Toma's monsters were undoubtedly the ones with battle advantage.
"Go my Totem Bird! Cut through his monster!" The revealing monster, a violet-robed, LV2 spellcaster is effortlessly torn asunder.
Still, Kageru stands his ground. "I activate Apprentice Magician's special ability! I get to special a LV2 or lower spellcaster from my deck face down."
"Stalling me will get you nowhere!" Prime Material Falcon attacks next, tearing through whatever monster he had just summoned.
"Since you just destroyed my Featherizer, I get to send a gemini from my deck to the graveyard. I'll send my Phoenix Gearfried, and, I get to draw an extra card."
"Hmph. I'll end my turn."
"I draw. Here goes. I summon another Evocator Chevalier!" Out, came another copy of the red warrior.
Evocator Chevalier – LV4/FIRE/Warrior/Gemini
ATK: 1900
"I think I'll also play my own Pot of Desires!" Ten cards are banished for cost, as he awaited Toma's response.
"A bait?" he wonders. The Hiitan still has a hand, and previously dropped Phoenix Gearfried to the grave. It is no-brainer that his plan is to revive it with the use of another Supervise combo. If his Falcon is struck, then he will be wide open to both possible monsters, "Go ahead."
Kageru smiles with his two draws, "Much obliged." His next move is just as the Wynnian figures, "I activate another copy of Supervise!"
Toma's eyes immediately spark. This is his final hurdle to a surefire victory next turn, "It seems, you haven't learned! I activate Totem Bird's effect to negate the activation, and destroy it!"
Totem Bird
ATK 2700-300=2400
"It's over," Toma declares. "Even if just a little, I have regained some honor for my fellow brethren. The devil is bested!" He laughed in triumph.
But, for some reason, his opponent is still smiling. "You're right about that." He flashed another spell. "I equip Chevalier with Megamorph!"
Toma sinks down in shock, "No!" His cards drop before the red knight who enlarges in size, and power.
Moist-faced Rusty chokes on his drink. His panicking head twitches in a frenzy thinking, "That bird-obsessed moron is gonna make me lose everything!" His spasms lead the uneasy girls to sneak out of his side.
Evocator Chevalier
ATK 1900x2=3800
The Hiitan pockets his hands in triumph before giving the order, "Attack Totem Bird, and end this." The knight proudly does so, slamming its ginormous fire blade at the tiny, wide-eyed condor. The shock wave sends loser tumbling across the ground.
Toma LP 1000-1300=0
The arena is silent.
With his attention out the game, the victorious Hiitanlooks around to savor the disbelieved reactions. "So, who's next?" he asks with a confident smirk.
The defeated duelist's body is flat on the ground. His humble gaze points up to the sky. "He's strong," he ponders.
"Huh?" Just then, a pair of headlights are flash towards Kageru's way. The sound of a throttling engine follows with surprised gasps from the crowd.
"Son of a bitch," he snarls and rushes over, seeing that Rusty is now preparing to get away with his truck. "Hey! Don't you dare!"
"Later scrubs!" Rusty yells, honking his horn just as loudly. His angered predator attempts to catch him, but he the would show no concern about hitting a living being.
Barely, did Kageru avoid being struck by the hunk of rusted metal. He watches the punk Aussian mock him from his seat with his pierced tongue. He would meet him back with a hard glare and a neck slitting gesture to reassure him that this is far from over.
Figuring that he might know, Kageru turns back to the grounded Toma, "You mind telling me where'd he go?"
Finally able to stand, he answers, "His hideout is just a few blocks from here. Head east. It's one of the old motels. You can't miss it."
"Thanks." He readies to leave.
"Wait!"
"What?"
"Are you actually going to just trust my words Hiitan?"H
He takes a few seconds at his question before answering, "A buddy of mine used to tell me that Wynnians with a code don't lie. And you seem to be the type of guy with at least a principle. Just my hunch."
Toma's mouth is slightly agape.
The Hiitan follows his with a raised eye, "If you do happen to be lying though, I'll hunt you down first, and break your limbs in place of the jackass's, for screwing with my clothes and my earnings. I'll ask again. You telling me the truth?"
He confirms it with a calm nod.
"Well. Then, we're cool. Good game by the way."
Toma would stop him once more for a final word, "Just so you are aware, this does not change what I think of your putrid kind."
"I got what I wanted out of you. As far as that's concerned, that's your problem, not mine."
But, before he would leave, a number of the remaining gang members started to surround him, each with a mix of duel disks, knives, sticks, and chains. With their boss still on the run, they bore no intention of giving him the chance to pursue.
"Of course, if you wanna make it personal to me, go ahead and try," Kageru adds, still directing the words to Toma. "I'll make sure you regret it."
His disk activates again. Then readies with a crack of his neck and pound his fists. Any encounter they throw, he'll take on just the same.
Toma knows of these grunts' minuscule abilities. Compared to the Hiitan, they hold no chance. He watches, as the obvious outcome takes its course, all the while thinking over at his exchange with the young man.
His victory occurs in a matter of minutes. Brutally bruised faces, and scattered cards are what remain in the aftermath.
Free to speak again, Toma then asks, "Your name. Do you mind telling me, Hiitan?"
Out of the bit respect from their match, he answers, "Kageru."
After he is through, he rushes ahead to finally give the chase. The conniving thief is not to escape, not with the earnings he fairly, and rightly deserves. Payback is in order, and he is more than determined to dish it out.
One hour later
"End it. Direct attack."
The stoic-voiced command is from none other than Kageru. In response to the given order, the hulking, magmatic figure of a warrior with glowing golden eyes, prepared its fists to strike. The scrawny thug it was after, slumped in terror against the bricked alley wall.
"S-surrender! I Surrender!" he cried with a shriveling face dripping in sweat. "Please! Mercy!"
But the monster would continue its gradual approach, illuminating the night with its intense bodily candle.
The target duelist's eyes turn to the charred, cracked cement floor, littered with the cards and battered figures of his comrades. Never has he experienced the reality striking effects of enhanced Solid Vision to such a degree that it would inflict even such physical harm. He has no doubt that a single punch from the opposing creature would effortlessly fracture the thin, fragile bones of his skinny figure.
Powerless and without escape, he continues to beg, "The guys! Rusty woulda throttled me if I didn't! I'm telling ya man! I had nothin to do with this! I-I only joined them cuz I needed the cash! P-please! I-I'm sorry!"
But, plead as he might, there is only one thing that the duelist preying him has come for. Finally accepting that his well-being holds no bargaining worth, he frantically reaches into his pocket to toss over a few rolls of Zent and hopes.
"T-that's what you wanted right? See? It's all yours, no more trouble... Just p-please lemme go man."
Then his heart sinks. The creature looms over his whimpering shadow to finish him off. With a growl of its battle cry, the warrior delivers judgment.
"NO! NO! DON'T-"
A pillar of flame erupts from the alleyway and sparks across the midnight sky in a bright orange light. With it rides his echoing cries of defeat.
LP 1900-2100=0
The field of holograms vanish from the area. From behind the dissipating particles, stands the undefeated Hiitan. "Your fault for making this harder than it should've been," he mutters with a calm stare of contempt at his unconscious foe before powering his duel disk off.
He picks up the rolls of cash and rummages through each bill. The unsatisfying amount draws an irritated groan, and he figures that the rest of his former muggers are hiding the rest of what they rightfully owe him. Rusty is no where to be so it is likely that he has received word of his arrival. Before running off, he would prepare this trap, ready to spring when he came, leaving the rest of these clueless henchmen as fodder.
In the least, he confirms that the Wynnian's words are no lie, and scratches the thought of getting back at him out of his mind for the time being.
The idea of ending the day empty-handed still irks him sick, however. He spends a few minutes to pick the pockets of the remaining defeated, even going as far as to check for rare cards. Unfortunately, they leave him with nothing of value.
With no other reason to linger, he decides that it time to get home for at least a proper night's rest. He ends the sour note of this evening with a nose breaking stomp at the last person he was on, "Lousy cheapskates."
But, the brief seconds of silence do not last long. His departure comes to a halt upon hearing the approaching sounds of clapping, and multiple footsteps that force him back on full alert. Someone is was witnessing the act. As he set his sights towards the now blocked, shaded exit before him, he is greeted by the alluring voice of a young woman.
"Wonderful! A marvelous display!"
She crosses through the darkness of the alleyway, and there, her thin figure emerged in clear view, garbed in a navy-blue coat with silver linings that were fashioned into the shapes of ice dragons. Velvet red hair flows from her smooth Erian complexion, bearing a chilling smile and a fascinated gaze aiming at the one standing triumphantly at the center of his beaten foes.
"It seems the strength of the Hiitan race was no mere rumor after all," she praised.
He exchanges an urgent, disdainful glance, knowing that this woman is not alone and that her sudden presence surely means trouble. He hastily scours the area, looking over for any fence to climb over, any door to force through, but it is already too late. Groups of men in azure blue suits march in arrival to seal every path.
With nowhere to run, he clenches both teeth and fists, now conflicted with his last two options; to remain where he stands, or fight his way out. And though tethering towards the latter, a brief sizing up, makes it certain that these uniformed guards vastly outnumber him. To top it off, they more than likely possess great skill in hand-to-hand combat. He further curses in his breath at the realization that he is completely under her mercy.
The young woman, on the other hand giggles like a child that has just won a game of cat and mouse.
"Please relax. If you behave, you may consider yourself in good hands."
With a lift of her regal skirt, she introduces herself with a mannerly bow, "My name is Adelia Castelle. It is a pleasure to finally meet you… Mr. Kageru Hinodama."
"Castelle? So you're the north's little princess I take it?" He asks while eyeing her closely.
"Indeed, I am the daughter of the Aoi region's current legion lord. And on High Lady Noel's behalf, I have come here to Doriado City in hopes of making an offer with you."
His suspicion breaks with laughter, "Offer? For what? I thought it was pretty common sense, that our kind ain't the cooperating type. Already, you're sounding pretty sketchy there princess."
"Now, now. Would you at least care to listen to my proposal before jumping to suspicion?" She pulls out a small tablet out from her coat pocket containing his profile in detail. In it, are a lengthy list of past crime records.
"You have quite a lovely background here," she adds with clear sarcasm. "And I must say, I'm a little shocked and appalled. A family dedicated to fighting the injustice of our continent's wars, takes you in as their own, but, somehow you still turn up no different from the rest of your Kurenai populace; Power hungry, and out for blood. 'A typical Hiitan' as they say."
"You threatening me? Or are you here, wasting every important minute of my time, to nag me about the same, tired, old news?"
She chuckles, handing off the tablet to one of her men. "Rest assured. That was not my intention at all. I just find it all intriguing. You, doing all this for the sake of fulfilling your vendetta towards that man."
He scoffs. "That what you figured? Or are you just making retarded guesses?"
She raises her eye with another smile, having fully translated his question as saying Prove it.
"I know that for a Hiitan, you are were decent man Sir Kageru. That is why I find this all so baffling. The DTGC is a supposed to be an event with the opportunity to raise one's standing for their sided nation. A chance to support it through hard-fought battle. A chance to prove ones worth in relation to their people. But, from what I heard, you believe that this grand contest of ours is-"
"All an act. Just a minor panacea. The DTGC, if anything, is just a substitute for the damn war you bastards haven't gotten over."
"Yes. You think exactly that. You desire to have no part in our continent's years of conflict any longer. So, why join?"
He does not answer. The hardened look on his face slightly begins to crack.
"Your stance towards this suddenly changed, supposedly after the tragic passing of your older sister. Five years ago, I believe?" She glanced back towards the helpless duelists on the ground. "In addition, you participate in juvenile, tasteless underground matches like this in search of increasing your record, and profits for the new model disk. You do so, while in possession of an illegally obtained older frame. With all that said, do tell me, because I fail to see how my 'retarded guesses' are in any way far-fetched."
Her snarky rebuttal forces his impressed grin. He yields with a nod that there is no fooling her. All of the claims are true.
"You're something else," he compliments.
Still, the question of her motives remains unanswered.
"So, tell me. You actually dropped all that time and money, to move thousands of miles out here, and for what? To play vigilante detective with some random Hiitan? A guy who just smuggled a fancy, yet outdated duel disk off the black market? From that cocky attitude, it sounds like your another spoon-fed sheep who's either full of yourself, bored as hell, or both."
Just the same, she finds the delivery of his response rather humorous, "As I've told you, I do not intend to apprehend you in whatever sort. In fact, you'd be glad to know that I deeply sympathize with your goals. What I wish to do is to make an honest offer. A way to make it all the simpler for you to achieve."
"Sympathize my ass," he scoffs, eyes now cross. "You want something big from me Erian, and you clearly know a lot about my story. If you really want me to cooperate, then how about you start sharing?"
Looking all over, she starts pacing side to side, trying to take her mind off the putrid odor emanating the dampened area."Personally, I'd prefer to have our official discussion of details in a less dreary, and more secure setting." She faced him again. "But, before I answer your question, first, I'd like to fully confirm something."
After a brief pause, she follows with another question, "Tell me honestly. Does the name, Project Possessor, mean anything at all to you?"
The term strikes him frozen. His hands begin to quake. The sight of blood, suddenly coating the inches of their surface, flashes in his mind. The images of his body being pierced with multiple syringes, steamed over with pounds of hot coal, engraved with iron, and finally planted in a test tube, follow in an instant sequence. It all culminates with a gun in his hand.
Having mustered to push it all off, he bares his teeth to the Erian, "If you're here to make me another tool for your damn nation, you can forget it."
Adelia sighs out of sympathy, "I apologize for having to bring up something so unpleasant. However, what I am asking of you is not to fight solely for Aoi's benefit. In fact, I want you to join me in helping to serve the entire continent's future. A collaborator towards our peace, just as your dear sister, Ms. Akane once was."
She offers her hand.
He briefly looks down to the ground. A collaborator to peace? The benefit of all the nations? There is just no way. With that, his answer is a snicker that builds into another laughter of mockery.
"Wow! I've heard nothin but a bunch of hate propaganda in my time… But, damn! That is definitely the first time someone tried selling me that pitch. Is that what you plan on using in your coming inauguration princess?"
Clearly, she is not amused, "I'm all for a bit of humor, but please understand. This is no jest. The coming of a major threat looms over us this very moment. The safety of our lands, our people, our still infantile unity, could wind in great peril. We must act swiftly, and cooperate. Please consider-"
"Spare me from all your crap. You know damn well just as I do that all the four nations have had nothin but a history of bad blood. Since the last decade, the only 'looming threat' we've been having, is all you greedy, self-entitled, ass hats trying suck out whatever resources you can get for yourselves… I want no part of it, and that's that."
"I understand your skepticism… It is true, that radicals continue to be a problem on the path to true peace. But, it is because of that, that I ask much of you. Do you not wish to lend your talents just as that remarkable woman once did so?"
She his expression remaining unchanged over his refusal, "Would you rather watch, as all her hard-fought efforts crumble to waste towards another long, foolish war of attrition? Think about it Mr. Hinodama. This could be a chance for the people to see you in a light, as they saw hers. A chance to fulfill her tragic, shortened legacy. For you, and others like you, to finally be accepted by all."
But, all of it sounds to him as nothing short of a farce. Unable to listen any further, he marches up with a sickened face, "Perhaps I wasn't blunt enough."
Now, ever so closely eye-to-eye, and with a menacing scowl, he hisses, "Let me make this very clear to you one more time Miss Royal Erian Bitch… I. Don't. Give a damn. Take your cause, shove it, and deal with it yourselves. I never asked for your help. Never wanted it. I never needed it. Doesn't matter if its Aoi or Kurenai, or any other. My days as a lapdog are over. End of story."
She is silent, now in assurance that this Hiitan could not be persuaded by words.
"Since we're done here, if you could please excuse me Lady Castelle. I still got some preparation to work on before the DTGC. And I'd prefer it if your babysitters weren't standing in my way." He brashly passed through her shoulder, ever more the readier to leave.
The flare and arrogance in his response puts a masochistic grin on her face. The firmness in his conviction to stand with none, and the scars that bore their story, were things she wants to know more about. But, even as she accepts this interest, this peculiar adoration of him, there is no changing the fact, that his answer is nevertheless naive.
"With the way you are now, you will surely fail in your endeavors," she eerily comments behind his back.
"That so? And just what am I lacking exactly?"
He follows back with a taunting hand gesture, daring her to answer again, "Well? Go on. I'll be certain to take her majesty's words of wisdom to heart."
"You should've realized long by now, that Sir Albus has beyond surpassed the late woman, aptly named 'The Scarlet Haze', those years ago. Even the legendary Flamvells in your possession have grown obsolete at the face of this new age's power. If that antique of a clan proved powerless to save her, just how exactly do you believe that you will fare any better?"
He scoffs back, "The bastard surpassed a talented half-breed. Big deal. I'll just show him what a real full-fledged duelist from Kurenai can really do. Besides, I've kept tabs on all his fancy little tricks for a long ass time. When I'm through with him, he'll be sorry he ever even crossed with me and my sister."
Upon attempting to leave her again, a number of the suited guards proceed to bar his path.
"As for you guys. You're all… really really beginning to piss me off," he growls violently and readied. It seems, that fighting through his only choice after all.
But, before it would lead to that, one of the men hands their mistress a small, black, elliptical-shaped device. The familiar sound of clicking as she latches it onto her arm would draw the Hiitan's attention again.
"Seems that aside from your strength, the rash, hard-hardheadedness of you Hiitans were no exaggeration either," she remarks. "So be it. I figured this a possibility."
Her arm raises with the device to challenge him, "As the Castelle family always believed; Stubbornness is a vice best cured through sheer-cold, painful humiliation. That said Mr. Hinodama, how about I display the proof of your inferiority firsthand?"
He inwardly breathes, seeing no better solution coming to mind, "So that's how it's gonna be huh?" A smirk hinting with excitement follows, "Well, I guess since you asked so nicely... Fine. It's not every day I get a chance to kick the shit out of you pompous Erians in a duel. Just be sure to give me at least a decent warm-up, kay darlin?
She smiles, firing back a rebuttal, "Oh rest assured love. I'll grant you much more than that."
On her hand is second similar device with a white and orange sheen which she tosses over to him.
The caught gadget's appearance is all too familiar to Kageru. It is no heavier than a handgun. Like other tournament model disks used in Termina, it is composed of only a small pad with a slot that held the user's deck. Hanging over said slot is a thick cover with a microphone and a screen protector that also displays life points. The arm holster is set at the bottom. Duelists new to its design are often dumbstruck by the fact that there are no additional pads or slots that would normally contain all the different card zones used in Duel Monsters. Instead, a long, thin gap fitting the thickness of cards surrounds the edge.
"It's quite clear that you know how to handle DTGC styled duels after your earlier performance," Adelia remarks. "However, I should warn you that the coming days will demand far more endurance and willpower. I suppose this would be a perfect time to test your aptitude with these newly enhanced devices. Will you be alright with these conditions?"
"Only if you don't start crying after a few sore muscles, princess," he answers with his disk is readily strapped on.
She laughs again, "Very well then. Now, if you would please follow me. These new disks require a far broader playing field. I hope you're ready."
AN: here, we get to see the shadier parts of the city, and of course, it's hardly the same for our protagonist, other than the fact, that he has much more free roam to kick ass, and play card games, and get money... And he's all out of money... Terrible joke, I know. And yes, Kageru isn't that much of an asshole, just that people seem to really ask for it ;D Adelia at this point, is a mystery, and I very much enjoyed writing her.
Also tried as much (not too much) as I could to showcase how the disks used here to be a bit more dangerous, while also being tame enough to be used for a continent-wide sport. Hopefully that went well. A demo of the concept disks im using will be in the following chapter.
Anyways, let me know all about that feedback, as always. See you next time on the Saga.
-Last Revised on July 31, 2018-