Yu-Gi-Oh! The Termina Saga
Opening Theme: "One Unaffected by Hades" by Get in The Ring
Ending Theme: "Reincarnation" by Cordelia
The Trixters' Snare
The squad of Erian guards accompanying Ivy narrowly escape from the expanding duel sphere that erupts out from the café area with their hostage, Tetsu, in hand. Once they reach a safe enough distance to spectate without worry of being caught in a brutal crossfire, the leader of the squad radios for the other parties that are still operating throughout the small town.
"Second and third companies, you have less than five minutes before the field covers your area. Evacuate from there now."
"Affirmative. Residents sedated on our end, and we're ready to rendezvous at the nearby intersection."
"Good. Get a move on. This is looking to be a match none of you would want to miss. Not even one turn."
"You don't say. We've been wondering how the doll's dueling skill stacked up against Lady Adelia."
"I've caught glimpses of her few matches. As it stands, there is hardly any comparison between them."
"Oh? I expected a bit more considering how she is. Nothing more than smoke and mirrors-"
"Sorry. Let me rephrase that. Until Lady Adelia manages to get all the pieces of that deck of hers, I doubt anyone less than Aldebrand or a legion lord rep could stand up to that lab monster."
"Even the young mistress?! Bested by a freak Wynnian girl with no title or bearing? Maybe it's just that deck of hers."
"You're half right about that. The cards she has were specially made by the group that used to own her. As far as we can tell, it's some sort of stun-based archetype, and one that she seems to tweak on each assignment."
"Stun based huh? It doesn't sound like this duel will be all that exciting now. There's no chance that some aggression-focused Hiitan would fare well without a good deal of luck."
"Indeed. I also figured that it was likely going to end up rather one-sided, but the mistress insists that we get a bit more data on him nevertheless. No harm. I for one have been wanting to see what this supposed full potential of the Flamvells is supposed to be."
"Against the likes of her though, I'd be impressed if he even manages to summon a monster at all."
The whole squad gathers beside the edge of the duel field that lies between intersecting roads. They anticipatingly look to the two duelists standing over the grass with few old and worn buildings around them in the barrier. It is as if they are viewing a gladiatorial match about to take place.
From inside, Kageru could only fear for Tetsu's safety. Ivy's warning claims that the toxins would take his life within an hour. But, with the way his friend's body grows paler by the minute, protruding with veins and shivering as if he were in ice water, he is right to assume that this interval is dangerously far shorter. This is a duel putting both themselves on the line. He needs to win and direly needs to do so quickly.
Just then, his divided focus is broken by a needle that zips past his head. The thrower's identity is obvious.
"Eyes on me sweetie," says Ivy with a lustful intent that draws out the furious stare she wanted from him. "I know you're stuck in Worry World right now, but your bed sick roomy over there is the least of your problems. After all, don't you have anything to say about the lovely sandbox I've set up for us to play in?"
Aware that she is referring to the largely prepared field, he meets it with uncertainty. The girl is undoubtedly deranged, but hardly seems the type who would crave an audience. Remembering that his face-off against Castelle being nowhere close to such a colossal scale causes questions of this field's practicality to bounce in his thoughts.
What was the point of all the hassle? Only the two remain as its occupants, so why all the seemingly unnecessary space, including even distanced buildings? If they did not wish to involve bystanders and witnesses in their dangerous game, which already carries the risk of leaving traces, why expand the zone's area of effect?
"I've left a few audio speakers for the group," adds Ivy. "But other than that, no one else outside this field can hear what's happening. We have all the privacy we need until our little intimate moment is over. So, how about we get on with the fun and decide turns? Well, hot lips?"
It is clear from her carefree attitude that she is not about to give away other critical details regarding the field. He figures that it may be far safer and straightforward to get these answers from her own dueling.
"Your funeral. You start."
With a catty grin she agrees. Much to her opponent's surprise however, she proceeds to swipe out a card hologram, not from her main deck, but her extra deck barrel instead. Eerily she whispers, "Now… Engage Spirit Drive Option." A card is immediately played after.
This would easily be perceived as an illegal move, but Kageru continues to observe nonetheless. For a moment, Ivy's summoned monster is no more than an orb of light. On its arrival, three menu options open before her with the labels Familiar and Embody. Once her palm gently sways across the former option the orb configures its shape. It turns out to be a shadowy silhouette of a giant enclosed flower.
"The game barely started," Kageru complains. "What kind of under-handed bull crap are you trying to pull here?"
"Sorry Mr. Short Fuse. I'm all for sharing, but as of now, you're my mortal enemy here. You can't expect your mortal enemy to tell you anything, silly boy."
She sticks her tongue out to mock him and giggles. "Don't worry though. This shadowy partner of mine is nothing but a cosmetic little preview for the time being. Technically it won't even affect our game. Frail ole me might just need a bit of a helping hand compared to such a tough, lean, hoot cake like yourself is all."
"Hmph. Whatever. I'll figure out your gimmicks soon enough. Let's get this this over with."
"Ab-so-lutely!"
Kageru LP 4000
Ivy LP 4000
Ivy peers at her hand for only a second, "I'll start our night's game by summoning Traptrix Mantis!" A large orchid grows over her monster zone that carried a young, plant-like girl decorated with flowers.
Traptrix Mantis LV4 EARTH/Insect
ATK 1500
DEF 1300
"Isn't she a dear? What's more, my helpful sweet can lend me one of her fellow Traptrix sisters that are deep in my deck."
An alluring pheromone released by Mantis seethes into her disk. A blank card for her to name appears to submissively join her hand, "Traptrix Myrmeleo."
She then flashes the card to her opponent. "Bet you're curious about what she does right? No worries, because the next card I'm playing is Double Summon."
Kageru is disgruntled with impatience at her already solid start, "This movie again. It's a searcher too isn't it?"
"Good gracious you're clever! Absolutely right on the mark!" Next comes an ill-tempered, antlion girl in a wildly patterned dress.
Traptrix Myrmeleo LV4 EARTH/Insect
ATK 1600
DEF 1200
"Time for Myrmeleo to strut her stuff. She can add any 'Hole' normal trap and add it to my hand," she gives a googly smile to her new monster. "What do you say Myrmyr dear? Let's go with good old Bottomless Trap Hole."
But instead, the insect girl turns away with puffed cheeks as if she was being hassled with a chore.
Ivy playfully pouts back, "Aww don't be like that. I promise to feed you a tasty treat in just a moment if follow my simple little favor okay?"
Still proving to be stubborn, the monster's face reddens. Finally, she complies.
Kageru tries not to expect little of her childish display, as the card she grabbed is unquestionably potent. Any monster(s) he summons with 1500 or more attack points would be banished on arrival. And like Adelia's Gishki deck, his disk bears no data on this peculiarly new archetype. With only the declared effects to go by, would be dangerous to assume that these monsters did nothing else, but search cards that are already odd choices to begin with. The more he tries to read her, the more apparent her potential threat began to be.
"Hm. You don't seem all that frightened," she comments while twirling another holographic card on her pointer finger. "We're going to have to change that. I activate Ties of the Brethren!" An energy sparked from the armlets of her device. Her body violently bent up stiff as if she had been impaled in the back.
Ivy LP 4000-2000
It was surely painful, but she shrugs it off like it was nothing more than an overstressed muscle. The sight of her opponent biting his lip is an instant remedy that draws her grin back, "I'll pick my Traptrix Myrmeleo for this, so I get two different-named, LV4, earth-attribute insects to join their soul sister!"
A scanning aura from the spell envelops Myrmeleo before it split into two separate cards of similar size. "Come on out Desert Protector and Traptrix Atrax!"
The first monster is a brown desert spider with six long legs. Parallel to its zone blooms a purple flower coated with webs carrying a Traptrix girl in black camisole with spider-like pins worn on her hair.
Desert Protector LV4 EARTH/Insect
ATK 800
DEF 1000
Traptrix Atrax LV4 EARTH/Insect
ATK 1800
DEF 1000
She jitters with excitement. Her advantage in this first turn grows more and more clear in dominance, "It's a shame these lovely ladies can't get even a nibble out of you right now. They all seem to find you quite tasty looking-too."
And like so, her monsters disturbingly all gaze at him as if he were a main course, "Urgh. Just shut up and finish your turn."
She giggles again, "See girls. Sir Hinodama is longing for your company too."
Her turn ends with two additional set cards she tosses to her backrow, "By the way. Desert Protector gains 300 defense points for every spell or trap on my field and can take a blow should one of my darling insect Traptrix would be destroyed."
Desert Protector DEF 1000+600=1600
"Finishing touches done and we're ready to play! Your turn!"
"About time." Kageru fires out his card then takes a moment to think. Her current field is formidable. As she said earlier however, the summoned shadow behind her seems to be no more than a living, oversized decoration.
Of course, only a fool would simply go along with that facade. Anyone allied with Castelle ought to have been studying his last duel to a tee. Judging from how they figured he normally plays, the shadow is likely to act the moment he would attack her. No optimal choice left but to approach it safe and force the tilt of her hand.
"I'll set a monster and two face-downs along with it," he does so, pitching his chosen cards without another doubt. "That'll be it for now. How about you show me what those beetle-brained bimbos are made of."
"Oh, come on silly boy," she taunts, drawing another card. "Don't be so shy. No lady likes a man without some sort of backbone."
Her next immediate play proves to be an even worse surprise for her foe, "Time to overlay level 4s Traptrix Myrmeleo and Desert Protector!"
"You're kidding! Xyz summon?!"
"And to think Lia fawned over you so much. I can't believe how slow you were on that."
And with that said, the two sisters converge into the established overlay network. A massive spread of vines arose from its burst that all of which stemmed from the arisen cocooned flower's center.
"Feast your eyes and give a warm greeting to Traptrix Rafflesia!"
The flower uncurls its five petals to unveil the orchid haired queen crowned with the very plant fitting her name. A smile and twirl complimenting her revealing garments motions the bloomed throne to elevate both her and her sisters to a higher plane.
Traptrix Rafflesia RANK4 EARTH/Plant
ATK 300
DEF 2500
Kageru sees that she has summoned it in attack position, clarifying that she is ready to do whatever it takes to end this duel quickly.
"Not satisfied with the harem I set up for you?" The vivacious sisters all giggle along with her teasing question. "Here. Let me broaden your choices with the spell, Overlay Reconversion. I'll borrow one of Rafflesia's overlay units, and special summon it."
She impishly tethered her head to think, but her decision came very shortly with a finger snap, "Let's call back our impatient sweetheart Myrmeleo."
Rafflesia elegantly captures the chosen material and kisses it before its release. A flustered Myrmeleo is summoned again, her face reddens bothered from the experience of being tossed around the field.
Traptrix Myrmeleo LV4 EARTH/Insect
ATK 1600
DEF 1000
"Her special services don't come free of course. Myrmyr has being working hard for the turn. So, for her treat she gets to pick off one of your troublesome spell or traps on special summon. Come and get it!"
A giant antlion tunnels the ground via her command. This alerts Kageru to back away from his rear zone as its powerful pincers erupt to tear his defenseless trap into bits.
As an added kick Ivy is already aware of the demolished target's identity, "Flamvell Counter. Nothing to worry about after all. I bet that didn't exactly tickle your tongue, did it Myrmyr?"
Her monster shakes her head like a child that had just spat out a spoonful of greens.
The stoic composure he held is at its breaking point, for only one set and one monster are left defending him.
"Dinner tiiiiime! Ms. Rafflesia, how about you lead and make an appetizer of the Flamvell Poun he's hiding there?"
The vines from the queen's flowery throne lash and pull up the now revealed fire ape before strangling it to death.
The ashes of its remnant fire energy transfers to Kageru's disk, "Not too shabby. But, since you went and destroyed him in battle anyways I get to add a monster with 200 defense points from my deck. I'll add the tuner, Flamvell Baby to my hand!" Immediately after, he prepares himself to run.
"As if it matters. The feasting has only just started. Okay Myrmyr! Your turn as promised!"
The command sparks the Traptrix girl's eyes with gluttony. Mounting upon her antlion pet, she rips through the concrete soil with its razor talons. Her prey sprints ahead towards his responding card, only guarding himself from the dirt and pebbles that scatter his way.
"You actually have a trap? Cute."
But, to Ivy it didn't matter. Before he is even half close to reaching, her monster catches up to bring him down.
"Urgh! Damn it!"
The attack is too fast to react to. He is momentarily confused as to how her monster moves so quick. Then the answer comes from the sight of protruding roots under the insect that are all coming from Rafflesia herself.
But, before he could piece it all together Myrmeleo catches up. She then wraps her arms around his upper torso in a tightening embrace.
"Let! Argh! Me… Go!"
His eyes freeze terrified, forced into watching helpless as her wide, salivated mouth chomps at his neck. Cries of unbridled anguish screech from his lungs as he desperately squirms for his freedom.
Kageru LP 4000-1600=2400
The antlion in tandem clamps at his legs, then proceeds to ram his whole frame smashing at nearby wall. Its pincers release with the female rider going on to savor the blood she licks around her cheeks.
Kageru's arms clench over the acid-mucked wounds that burned to seemingly no end. He wants to keep to his knees, but had to stand quickly, ready to move. The ordeal is still two attacks short of being over.
Ivy signals the second attack, "Mantis sweetie, the next bite is yours!"
Again, Rafflesia summon her vines to assist another of her sisters, but not before chaining the target duelist down with them. Her prey attempts to tug himself out only to be dragged around and slammed head-first over the scattered debris.
With carapace blades summoned and ready, Mantis moves in with the same face of gluttony as Myrmeleo.
Kageru's hearing was already buzzing, and the impact that hits only nauseates him more. It is made worse with his previous wounds starting to open again.
"Be a good dear and behave, won't you?" taunts Ivy. "The rest of you, get ready to dig in!"
He is close to vomiting, but musters everything in his gut to tear every limb free from the botanical shackles. He needs to reach the set card but is still so far. Bit by bit did every portion of his muscle beg to cave in.
Suppressed tiny tear drops of dread fell over his face. The thought to surrender to this deplorable end seems to be the only real way to be free from such pain. But, surrendering would only lead to a far worse outcome.
"Damn it! I'm gonna lose again. Tetsu's gonna die because of my screw up!"
Then Akane's voice echoed in alarm. "Get up… Hurry." The flash of her death followed as a grim reminder. "No! Not again!"
He chokes. But, then the urge to survive sparks some of his persistence to fight.
"I… can't… lose!"
He evades quickly before Mantis's scythe-like blow lands to damage his life points. Upon looking down he finds several broken shards from the café windows he smashed earlier. Even as the vines puncture his palms and slash joints he persists. This is his chance.
"I won't!"
He feels his bones being bent and near-crushed just to be free. But, his efforts would be rewarded for he manages to slip past an arm and reaches for one of the shards at his feet. Immediately upon obtaining it, he hacks away his shackles. His hands are cut all over, but they are a pain worth the exchange of keeping himself alive.
"Screw… Off!"
At last he is loose. With a frenzied war cry he charges ahead for his set card again.
But, Ivy would not simply sit by and allow her remaining attacks to go to waste, "Oh no you don't! Hop to it ladies!"
Mantis rushes in with Atrax following closely for her coming turn. The joint attack of vines and blades strike, as their foe makes for the last stretch to his safety. Narrowly, they fail to land.
"I've had just about enough of these freaking insects!" One rock tightened grip of his fist finally smashes over the ground to trigger the trap. "Nabbed you like the pest you all are! Blazing Mirror Force light up these overfertilized skanks!"
Just in the nick of time, the summoned solid barrier of wildfire holds its ground against the sisters' onslaught of prickles. It then erupts back in a fuming vengeance, returning all received punishment with an equal justice of destructive bombardments.
The viewing guards watch the storm of dancing flames blaze through, all impressed and in shock, "No way! Did she just?"
"I think the Hiitan actually did it."
"Damn. Guess she wasn't as good as you all thought."
With the mere miniscule shred of will he has, Tetsu peeks at the ongoing destruction. Knowing it came from his friend gave him at least some peace of mind. "H-heh. You show them who's daddy Hinodama."
Not even a single inch of Ivy's zone is spared.
Still within the barrier, Kageru puffs a breath of success before slumping down from exhaustion, "That should do it." The assurance of his victory finally culls his temper. With that, he simply waits for the aftermath of fumes and smoke to subside.
His Blazing Mirror Force trap packs an added effect that inflicts damage to both players equal to half the combined attack of the monsters it destroys. While the user is first to suffer its wrath, it wouldn't matter. He had a few more points to spare. Only Ivy would be left as the only real victim.
He could not help but smile in the face of victory, having bested a rather unpredictable, and difficult opponent, "How do you like me now you prick?"
More seconds of clearing gray pass.
Now there must be surely something off. By this time, he should've been forced into enduring some sort of damaging shockwave from the blast. It was already for certain that this field amplifies pain to a near realistic level, a level he prepared for.
He looks to his life point gauge only to find that not a single point had dropped from this effect. Once the barrier dissipates, he lifts his focus back to the other end.
From the blown away smoke stands Ivy, and though her monsters are all gone, she too is unscathed from what should've been a devastating incineration. Following their locked eyes is her grim-toothed smile.
His heart throba again, "Don't tell me…" He quickly scans over her monster zone to find several burrowed holes, confirming that the lack of after effects is no glitch within the terminal space. The unfortunate fact is that trap had inflicted no such harm to her monsters at all.
From underneath where he stands, the ground quakes. Accompanying the tremors are tunneling sounds that are closing in at a rapid pace.
"No… Shit!" His reaction is too late. From the divided surface springs, a frenzy of roots and vines that again imprison him with their thorny chains. The Traptrix sisters reveal themselves ever viciously.
Ivy lets out a demented cackle with her monsters. She witnesses his spirit to persist on until it finally spikes on a peak, only to trample over completely in the end. All of it is nothing short of a comical farce.
Finally calming her laughter, she speaks, "You're so heartless. After all that hard work I went through, you would just up and try to cop out our sweet little moment of intimacy with a cheap burn effect like that?"
Like a flipped switch, her creeping smile drops, replaced with that of an unsated predator, "How inconsiderate."
As if in control by a hive mind, Rafflesia's vines twist and grip Kageru tighter until they force out another scream.
"No need to fret," adds Ivy. "Rafflesia protects all her sisters from trap effects."
A thought to taunt him with occurs to her once she says this, "That's right. A sibling who can protect another of hers. An act so simple, yet even you couldn't do a thing about it. Akane Hinodama ought to be ashamed to have such a weak, worthless brother."
Her words are no less than a heated blade that pierces and flares that painful image of loss in his head, angering him further.
The Traptrix sisters close in like a flock of witches and chortle at their freshly caught prey with nothing else to bar them other than Ivy's orderly commands.
"It's been a teeny bit fun," says Ivy. "But, I think I'm just about bored now. Mantis! Atrax! You know what to do!" And the sisters continue their assault.
However, Kageru is not through just yet.
"Kuriblaze!" He activates and tosses the desperately called monster card over. Out comes the angry fire ball-shaped creature.
Kuriblaze LV1/FIRE/Pyro
ATK 300
DEF 200
"Hmph. A minor nuisance! Go ahead and chew down that pestering smoke bulb!"
"Kurriii!" The little pyro cries out as it is mercilessly crushed by the giant arachnid's fangs. Explosive chunks from it scatter at the two duelists. Aware this would happen, Ivy forwards the few cards in her hand to armor through the debris.
Kageru LP 2400-800=1600
Ivy LP 2000-800=1200
"Give him one last tender hug Atrax!"
"As if! I'm still in this game!" Kageru answers aloud, banishing Kuriblaze and Flamvell Poun from the graveyard. The monsters' spirits rocketed back to shield him to their attack stats' depletable limits.
(-300) + (-300) =-600
Though penetrated through easily, the explosion the effect shield casts is enough to weaken Atrax's blow below what could have been a game-ender.
Kageru LP 1600-1200=400
"Oh poo." Ivy's cheeks puff up, "Such a pest."
With the stream of attacks over, he takes the opportunity to finally regain his breath and composure. It is almost hard for him to believe that it is still the third turn.
"I have to say, these disks are pretty amazing, aren't they?" Ivy suddenly asks.
The ebb and flow of pain from his many wounds continue to take their toll, and he could only return a strained glare to her crazed reaction over all this savagery.
"Myrmyr could probably snap your leg clean off. And yet, somehow the visceral barriers emitted by these disks put in the work needed to keep you in one piece. Whoever the eggheads that worked on these disks were, they must've really put in the effort. How could I not be impressed?"
"Hate to be the popular opinion here, but… Argh!" Both of his hardened fists pound at his own tightened gut. "These damn things shouldn't even exist."
Her head tilts down questioningly, "Shouldn't exist? Why so? This silly little card game has never been more exciting. Solid vision was impressive, that's true. But, this…" She begins to twirl as if being in an exhilarated trance, "It's like we're in an actual battlefield. Don't you just miss those fun-filled days even just a little bit?"
His scoff at the question is one that is abhorring. The fact that she looks to Termina's bloody history as something to be proud and excited over further clarifies that she and Castelle are the very image of lying scum from the land's upper hierarchy.
"You're sick in the head," he scowls.
She giggles, "I never thought I'd hear that from a Hiitan soldier. You can go on pretending as if that sister of yours desensitized you into some hypocrite humanitarian, but…" She wiggles a finger at him, "You. Can't. Fool. Me."
"Erk… Keep your deranged fetishes to yourself," he scowls with a hard grip finally managing to keep the stimuli of pains in check. "What I fight for is all personal. It has nothing to with some proclaimed greater good. Unlike you, I'm just through being some exploited test freak. That's all."
With a one hard stretch of his arm, he readies to make his next move and was only impatiently waiting for her turn to finish, "Besides, you're not off the hook just yet… So, quit yammering. The only thing that you should worrying about right now is how much begging and crying you'll be going through when I'm finished!"
"Oooh. Sound's exciting! I'll just end my turn then."
But, he would not simply let it stop there. This is his chance to fight back, "Activating Twin Twisters! I discard Neo-Flamvell Sabre and I'm cleaning out those two traps you're sitting on!" Two sets of raging winds gust out from his trap.
Ivy's glare sharpens aware, "How mean. In that case, I'll chain my Mantis's effect."
Before both her targeted cards are blown to bits, Mantis summons out the roots of her own plants and saves one of the set targets back to her owner's hand.
"As long as they stay gone, it's the same thing to me!" Kageru draws. "I'll be speeding things up with Pot of Desires!" A humongous ceramic with miscreant grins on both its dual sides sucks up ten cards off his disk before trading back two in return.
"I summon Neo-Flamvell Sabre!" The fire haired swordsman leaps onto battle.
Neo Flamvell Sabre LV4 FIRE/Pyro
ATK 1500
DEF 200
She grins, aware of its ability to get stronger while she has four or less cards in the grave, "Might wanna calm down hot head!"
"Huh?" Furthering his surprise, Rafflesia raises its vines to strike at her owner's face down. It was unquestionably faster than any duelist he has ever witnessed going for the trigger. But, there is no time to wrap his mind on it. The timely triggered trap comes to sabotage his play.
"Bottomless Trap Hole. Bye bye Mr. Sabre!" Ivy and her monsters cackle as fiendish hands reach out from the ground to drag the fire warrior into their infernal red void.
A slight pause, but she would find Kageru still plenty confident, "I activate Filtered Coffin from a Different Dimension! I discard the pyro-type Flamvell Baby to get back all banished monsters that share this type!"
This time she is speechless. Just the response he has been wanting to draw out, "About time you dropped that irritating smug."
"Why is he so concerned about preserving his graveyard?" One of the guard asks. "He can use Kuriblaze again to buy himself more time, and then what next?"
"Even the mistress was making sure to shut that down during their game. Is it really worth the resource?"
One finally answers, "She and high lady Noel mentioned this to me back at our northern homeland. Supposedly those Flamvells were a race who took pride in their unrelenting tenacity."
"Tenacity?"
"Their molten bodies could barely survive by defending, but they were very potent at inflicting torturous harm to their foes. According to much of the researched lore, many of them fell as quick as the victims they incinerated in battle."
"They don't exactly seem all that threatening from the sound of it either."
"Let me finish. See, when invasion persisted upon their soil, the heated souls that burned within each of them would spark them back to life for one last effort until their physical forms expired into nothing but ash. Those who faced them would find themselves standing upon on hundreds of their corpses, only to find that they almost never truly stayed dead. Not until they have been completely and utterly wiped from existence."
As if to embody the legend spoken of, the duelist that Ivy has been trampling over awakens the destructive, merciless titan within his soul from its slumber. All the fury he and that of his fallen warriors gather their aura upon the ultimate spell card within his hand.
With the emblem on his face and his other eye ablaze again he calls out the spell's name, "I activate Rekindling!"
All watch as a towering hurricane of golden fire erupts from his monster zone and looms over their them like a tsunami. Fueled by its solar immensity, the cries of the Kageru's once fallen monsters shriek as they rise with a fiery wrath that is unlike anything before.
But, Ivy did not see a reason to fear it. Or rather, she is not about to let him have this mass advantage gain alone, "Interesting! I activate Maxx C!" The level two roach flashes out her hand, then buzzes over to sneak inside his duel disk. "I get a draw for every single special summon action you take, if you don't mind!"
It bothers him not one bit. All he needs to focus on is his commitment to this turn, "I summon Kuriblaze, Flamvell Poun, Flamvell Baby, and Neo Flamvell Sabre to my field!"
(Poun LV1/Pyro 300/200)
(Baby LV1/Pyro/Tuner/800/200)
(Kuriblaze LV1/Pyro/300/200)
(Sabre LV1/Pyro/1500/200)
Their eyes and bodies all burn intensely with an enraged glow that could likely melt anything that comes too close. However, at the same time their forms also begin to expire at a rapid pace.
The frightened guards' feet tremble in place.
"F-four monsters!? Just like that!?"
"This… This is why the mistress wants him so badly…"
Tetsu struggles to lift another look but is confident with joy nonetheless. "Heh… Act. That pretty lady is in for a burn now… Get her buddy."
"Everything I summoned with this spell gets banished when this turn is over," Kageru explains. "Sadly, for you that's all I'm gonna need. I tune my LV4 Sabre, LV1 Kuriblaze, and LV1 Poun, with the level one Pyro tuner, Flamvell Baby!"
All four monsters convert into burning, yellow stars. Their combined strength that explodes with their shared cries now calls out for the ultimate Flamvell monster.
LV1+LV1+LV4+LV1=LV7
"Embody my rage and alight a merciless funeral pyre for your enemies! Let the voices they last shriek be ones of their destruction! I synchro summon the level seven synchro monster, Ancient Flamvell Deity!"
A pyroclastic blast marks the advent of the titled red colossus made up of clustered blazing souls.
Ancient Flamvell Deity LV7/Pyro/Synchro
ATK 2500
DEF 200
"When Deity is synchro summoned, I get to banish as many cards in your graveyard as you have in your hand! And for each one he gets 200 attack points!"
Still, Ivy would have an answer. No matter how large the creature, it is all nothing short of prey to her snares. Everything she has forced him to bring out is all under her allure, whatever reason they hold for appearing before her. And they will all fall just the same.
"Thanks for all the free cards... I've drawn just what I needed."
She flashes out another monster. This time a hand trap, "I reveal the Traptrix Drosera in my hand with my Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare! Once I pitch her to my grave, I can now activate said trap from my hand!"
"What!?"
"Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare negates the activated effect of a monster special summoned this turn and destroys it! Bye-bye!"
That response admittedly frightens him, but luckily, he has one more card left in his hand to defend his push, "I chain the spell, My Body as a Shield! Ack!"
His disk fizzles with a voltage that takes in all the energy from her trap to instead, inflict their potency unto himself.
Kageru LP 1600-1500=100
Another adds to his agonizing pain. But, at this point all of it feels the same, "This… Negates the activation of any monster destruction effect and destroys that card instead! Now finish up your effect, Deity!"
With a concentrated raise of its arm, Deity unleashes its soul incinerating command. What little it could banish would still prove plenty to power itself up.
Ancient Flamvell Deity
ATK 2500+(200x2) = 2900
"I equip Deity with Megamorph! And since my Life points are lower, his original attack doubles!"
As if it were not devastating enough, the powerful synchro monster enlarges to twice its already gargantuan size. The amplified fire that emanates from its limbs roars beyond control.
(AFD ATK 2900-5400)
"Attack Traptrix Rafflesia and finish her!"
With energies of the souls gathered from its body, the colossal pyro forms a miniature sun and hurls it at its target.
Should it hit, the massive 5100 points of damage would undoubtedly incinerate her to ash. His fury would soon be sate by her blood. However.
Ivy lets out laughing uncontrollably, "You. Heeheeheehee… Hahahahaha! Incredible! You actually forced me to use my darling Rafflesia's special ability!"
"Special… Ability!?"
"You seriously didn't think that those overlay units were just for style, did you!? Show him!"
Grinning ever so fiendishly, the Traptrix queen summons its roots to spread from under to chain down the red giant.
"Now I get to apply any "Hole" normal trap's effect as her own." Her expression grows even more vampiric and her tone gently murderous, "What's say we go with Trap Hole of Spikes?" The named card soars over.
With already no hope of escape, the Flamvell lord is painfully crumpled into waste by the thousands of needles that mutate from the protruding appendages.
"And now half your big, red lug's attack points are dealt to you! Suffer!"
Upon its destruction the summoned fissure erupts and spits out a shower of asteroid-like chunks at the fallen synchro's former master.
"I… No…." Still disbelieved, he barely avoids being too late in responding to the pounding of miniature craters, "I activate Kuriblaze's effect! I banish him and Sabre from the graveyard!"
But in the end, all his play could do is delay this unwinnable situation.
Kageru LP 100 – (1250-300-1500) = 100
"Impressive Kageru," Ivy compliments. "So, what else do you have in store for me? That card in your hand wouldn't happen to be another Rekindling, would it?"
No answer. The spell he has played is his one and only copy, a card used for one sure-fire push to victory. But, this last-ditch effort falls over like child's play.
He stares frozen at the one card in his hand, floating in front of him. He tries to think every scenario that he should've resorted to, but in each one he would have been still at a massive loss. Her extra draws and unknown Xyz plays would surely finish the job next turn. Complete an utter failure is the only result left. And now, not only he, but even his best friend is about to pay the price for his arrogance.
She watches his fingers dig into ground, "Attaboy. Now you finally understand. The way it stands, you're just a shiny speck compared to Aldebrand and all the other legion lords' allies. And a speck ought to not expect anything but to be washed off and forgotten. You never had any real power, and this proves it."
Even without her stating this, deep down he already realizes it. It was naïve to even think that all his time in underground duels facing off against even hundreds of nameless opponents would compare to the wealth, given support, might, and greater sought purpose of duelists like her and Castelle. Even if he never knew his reasons, he knows that even Albus Aldebrand one such person.
In shame, he looks across the barrier to Tetsu, who is now horrifically pale, covered with sweat, and gasping for air.
It would only take a matter of minutes before he succumbs to the toxin. Now, he is sure that this is to be his end, even so, he beams one last smile to his Hiitan friend, mouthing "It's not your fault. Fight on. For Akane."
But, he couldn't simply let it pass like this. He finally thinks more on just how alone he really is. His own race has long been a reduced scatter of people clinging to a purpose he no longer serves, caring little for the well-being of others. Even in this utopia called Doriado City, the multitude of other races despise his kind for the crimes they have committed to them in the past. Without Akane, or any parents to turn to, all he has left are Gai and Tetsu, the only ones he can truly call friends. Should Tetsu fall, it would only further hollow the gap in his already fractured heart. He would be more of nothing. Unloved, uncared, unliving.
Then comes his answer, the only other that would give him even some form of chance to save them both, "I surrender…"
"Huh!?" Ivy hears it well enough, but wants a firmer answer, "What was that I just heard?"
"I'm done! I'm scooping it! You win alright!?"
As he were that same despairing child that grim day Akane perished, his eyes gush out with the desperate tears he has been holding back. If he couldn't even reach Albus, at the very least he doesn't want to lose another person dear to him.
"I can't beat you! I can't win against any of you! You can have this good for nothing deck! Just give him the damned antidote already!"
But, the gesture that Ivy answers with is one of refusal, "I don't think you seem to understand your situation here. I won, you lost. I honestly don't see the point of you surrendering, so I'm afraid that's a no go."
His heart crackles, splits, and sinks. That is an answer he can't and won't accept, "No. Don't. P-please don't."
She presses a button on her disk connecting to her guardsmen's speakers, "Alrighty team! The wimpy Hiitan admits his surrender. No reason to keep that handsome manager as deadweight any longer. Finish the job, won't you?"
He turns back to the outside of the field where the Erians prepare to finish the job. A pair hold the near lifeless Tetsu by the arms, while one points a large syringe gun loaded with a colored liquid to the nape of his neck. Each of their faces appear apologetic over this act, but they do not hesitate.
"Sorry about all this. You're Hiitan friend did what he could."
"Orders are orders. He was a fool to not take our mistress's side."
"This is the only way he's going to learn." The needle inches.
"No… NOOO!" Kageru charges over in attempts to stop them, only to be held down by Rafflesia's vines just the same.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS! STOP! PLEASE!"
It pierces through, and all that is left is the trigger.
"STOOOOP!"
"That's enough!" The firm command of a familiar female voice bursts from Ivy's speakers, "It's already over Ivy. Cease this pointless game at once. You've clearly already won."
Ivy pouts disappointed, "Oh Lia, I was just teasing him a little bit. Just harmless fun is all."
Adelia's tone keeps volume, though her intent is firmer, "What did I say about making me repeat myself?"
Her cheeks puff again, "Fine. Fine. Geez." With her outstretched hand, she absorbs back every card hologram back inside her disk.
The sphere around them shatter and vanish in sequence, leaving nothing but the traces of destruction over the landscape.
Once it is all over, a navy-blue limousine arrives. Stepping out in arrival with her silver-lined coat is Adelia Castelle once again. This time, she appears very much distraught. Marching towards Ivy, she then asks, "Just what in heavens did you say to Mr. Hinodama?"
"Oh nothing," No trace of guilt is even in her voice. "All I said was that we'd just go and put his old buddy out of his misery. Just a little prank."
She palms herself sighing, "By the marine blue. I swear. This unpredictability of yours will end up causing an unamendable issue one of these days. It could mean your life or mine if you aren't careful."
"Oh, come on Lia! You did say to make it as believable as possible, and to do what I need to. I'm just doing my job. You needed results. I got them. Aren't you proud of me?"
Her look shifts to that of a concerned older sister, "You know I always am. Just reminding you that you ought to control yourself and try not to make things more complicated on my end."
The answer from Ivy is no less than that of an ashamed child's silence as she walks off mumbling.
With nothing more to add, Adelia turns to Kageru.
"Pleasure to see you again Mr. Hinodama."
As expected, Kageru glares, worrying more about his friend and his own injuries. "What the hell is going on?"
Adelia gives a courteous bow for pardon, "Patience. Look. I apologize for my subordinate. As you have already witnessed, she can be quite the mischievous one. Rest assured. What my men have given to Mr. Karaka is unmistakably the antidote."
Now, he doesn't know what to think, but it is all slowly sounding more and more like a close miracle, "Y-you mean Tetsu's…"
Ivy bursts out laughing, drawing another hateful stare from the Hiitan.
"Yes." To confirm it, Adelia orders the handling guards to show his friend, who is now knocked cold. This time his condition appears healthier. The paleness and veins were gradually subsiding away.
"Tetsu!"
"He is fine," she further explains. "Just sedated is all. He should wake up within half a day's passing or so."
His heart finds some degree of peace, but then another part of him grows beyond furious by the fact that he has been treated like an utter complete fool playing an act.
"An inconceivable brand of deceit. I know," Adelia adds agreeing. "But you need to understand. If Ivy here were one of those assailants, those Tribal Hunters, that you encountered with me last night…. Well, let's just say it wouldn't even be a mere tasteless jest."
"What does all of this have to do with me, huh?" he asks demandingly. "Why do they want me dead? I'm not on your side! -"
"Whether you were on my side or not, the Hunters will nevertheless have chosen to eliminate you. Anyone with the potential to command any of the legendary tribes is a target on their list. You, being the current and last among the candidate Flamvell wielders means you fit their criteria, like it or not."
He all continues to perplex him, "Excuse me if I don't follow. What is all this legend and tribe crap you keep bringing up? As far as I know, I'm just using a deck my sister used to-… Wait."
A realization that churns his gut hits. Finally, some of all this information terrifyingly begins to make sense to him, "Don't tell me that that my sister was-"
"A target?" Ivy merrily finishes in.
Adelia nods, "Yes, and this only supports the fact that the man you're hunting down is allied with them."
It stuns him cold. He couldn't even begin to accept it, but it is to some extent a start towards his answers as to why Akane had to die. The man he has been hoping to one day confront himself is already taking steps to put him down in advance.
"It'll be a lot to swallow for one with only the knowledge of the common folk," Adelia adds. "All of it traces back to Termina's decades of history. I'll start with clearing all the confusion that has been haunting you. That is… if you are finally willing to hear me out."
"Urgh. Fine." The returning sting of his wounds force out a grimace, "I'll bite. But don't take this as if I still committed to anything. I still don't trust you, especially that thing." His eyes refer clearly to Ivy who merely smiles back.
"Of course. Like I've been saying all along, I do not desire you harm. The point of all these duels was to show you, to convince you of the danger we face. Besides, I'd rather those who ally with me choose do so out of their own volition and with their trust."
"Yeah. Yeah.… Sure. If you… say so. Argh." Try as he does to keep steady, he can hardly muster the will to remain standing. The world starts to seemingly turn.
Adelia turns to order her men, "Tend to these two gentlemen this instant! Prioritize them! The rest of our wounded are still healthy and can be taken cared off back at the manor!"
Trembling in obedience, they all abide.
"Y-YES! R-RIGHT AWAY, YOUNG LADY HIGHNESS!"
They settle back inside the cafe. Thanks to the royal guards' covering all the labor, nearly all the cluttered damages around the shop are clear, as if the worst that had happened in the establishment was an in indoor fight leaving the glass windows broken. Kageru and Tetsu are given swift and ample treatment. The latter is laid to rest in his quarters afterwards.
With the rest of her orders to keep evidence out and restore order being underway, Adelia meets with the Hiitan for a quick discussion of plans. She finds him under treatment, sitting on one of the tables. It impresses her that he is managing to keep conscious. In fact, what is keeping him up is his wariness towards her subordinate, who is freely occupying herself with a bottled drink she likely took from the café fridge and a horror film playing on her tablet.
"Feeling a little better Mr. Hinodama?" she finally asks.
"Yeah," The sarcasm in his answer is unsurprisingly bitter, "I'm pretty freaking peachy."
She inward breath is not without worry, "If of course you do happen to end up working with us, I would suggest you two starting to get along. It'd be better for the both of our interest in the long run."
His fiery eyes shoot quickly to her, "Again, with you assuming crap. I didn't say I agreed to anything yet. Not until you tell me what's going around in this madhouse of a city, and what this death game involving forbidden duel disk tech is all for."
His hand aims to Ivy again, "First impressions Lady Castelle. The fact that you have this psychopath in your ranks, and taking last night in to account, that makes it TWO times in TWO consecutives that you have gotten me killed! Not off to a good start."
"It was two nights ago that happened," Adelia corrects. "And I wasn't trying to kill you, that was the fault of- "
"Whatever! Besides the damn point! I! Almost! Died! Twice!"
Out comes a giggle from both her and Ivy.
"I'm aware," Adelia replies. "I apologize for being so rough in my approach. But, you need not concern yourself with Ivy. She is only to feared if you're truly her enemy."
He scoffs smirking, "Cool. Wonderful. That's REALLY reassuring."
She notes his hard breaths, figuring that he is likely too exhausted and frustrated to even continue, "Perhaps we shall talk more at my manor once you've healed and rested properly. If you'd like, we would be more than willing to accommodate your stay."
Enticing as it near sounds, he quickly shoots down the proposal, "Sorry, but no. I'd prefer to clear my head here in the comfort of my home for bit, thank you very much."
This bit of inconvenience disappoints her, but it is to be expected, "I should have figured as much. Understandable. I do now recall having some official and familial matters to tend to for the following days. The point of importance is that we all get plenty of sleep before piling over more issues to stress over already."
"Finally! Something we can agree on," He rolls his eyes. "So, am I expecting your call in the next few days? What happens before that time? If am the last of these, tribe-wielders you've been chirping about, and these hunters are up on my alley, what then? You at least got some sort of advice to hold them off? Rather not be a prisoner in my four walls knowing they are out there."
"That is another matter that we've also come here to address." She pulls out and hands over a peculiar, hand-sized, metal box from within her coat pocket, "This is for you."
He looks at her astonished for a moment, not sure what to expect of it. Still, it is clearly a gift being offered to him. He'd be even lesser than an idiot to not accept any sort of it at this point.
"What's inside?" he asks.
"No need to delay," she answers, handing him a key. "Go ahead and open it."
And he does so. A quick, simple insert and twist snaps the box open. Inside is a finely secured set of rare cards rested over a leather casing. He did not look through them all, but there were clearly plenty that he could already see being placed in his deck within a heartbeat.
His heart churns, only for once is it from excitement, "Upstart Goblins! Ash Blossoms! Forbidden Lances…" All are cards in bulk that he did not expect to obtain even half of in a matter of even months with his current earnings and minimal available shops to freely purchase from.
Few of such rare cards like his only copy of the Pot of Desires spell, come from underground gamble matches and are nevertheless, very rare occasions that cards of high level caliber are available. It is all a boon that normally only sponsors and higher officials within the legions can commonly make use of.
"Castelle. This is- "
"You're very welcome," she interrupts with a smile. "I'm confident at least in your deck building ability being enough to keep you steady. Surely, Ivy can attest more to your performance as well."
"I had fun!" Ivy chimes from afar before happily going back to her movie.
"The fact that you've managed to force her hand even a bit is rather commendable. Nevertheless, these Hunters are not common duelists to be underestimated. These cards alone will not be enough for you to stand up to the best of their agents. If possible, avoid confronting them. Is that clear?"
He didn't like the thought of avoiding such a serious problem, but at his current level, he knows he has no choice, "Fine. Thanks, I guess."
She nods satisfied with his small display of humility, "Good. Then we are at an agreement."
With that, the Erian company ready their leave. A handful of the royal guard remain on their posts to keep watch over the small civilian populace as they continue covering up the incident of the duel.
Before they depart, Adelia decides it the time to impart one more piece of information, "The box I gave you. There are three special cards stowed in the bottom compartment. Left with them is a written set of instructions I've written myself. I suggest for when you next begin deck editing that you put them into heavy consideration. The rest is left for you to decide."
"Er… Alright."
"An agent of mine will contact you when the time comes for our long private chat. Be ready. We'll be serving refreshments as well. Until we meet again."
Ivy winks a farewell from over her window, "Tata! Thanks for playing with me Kageru! I'd love to go again. But before we do, make sure you get a better deck by then, kay?"
Naturally, he tries to ignore her.
With that, Adelia's escort rolls off with the rest of the squad vehicles following behind. He keeps watch until they no longer appear visible within the view of the valley roads afar.
Though the night was still young, he finds himself unable to sleep. Anxiety, physical pain, and bitterness over his recent losses prove a mixture far too overbearing.
He goes on to spend the next hours by Tetsu's bedside, looking at one of the few important people he could have lost tonight. The thought of his powerlessness shames him. Like the two girls mentioned, he has not even one confident solution in dealing with a sudden Hunter attack. Two losses in a row against legion elite level duelists are plenty a taste of what sort of opponents he should now expect.
As much as he despises the thought of collaborating with individuals like Castelle, he is ever more convinced that he needs her. A royal with the wealth, surpluses of rare and powerful cards, and access to information on reputed duelists, officials, and their secrets are easily an ideal backer. Of course, he knows that what he decides will depend greatly on the answers he gets from her. Answers that won't come to light for the next few days. Until then, he must survive against a possible ambush on his own.
Another hour passes.
Still unable to find even a bit of comfort to sleep, he goes back into his own room to sit over his desk. All the cards in his deck lay out in order with the package of brand new ones he had just received in a stack. He remembers Adelia's instruction to fiddle through until he has found the special ones that he is supposed to prioritize. The cards he sees in the main stack are indeed potent, but at the most, they are standard thrown in staples long seen and used by many pro league duelists featured in the media.
Not one of the cards he has fits this idea of a special card, so he decides to check the package again. Peering inside, he notices a thin crack on the side of the leather framing.
Using a small coin, he levers it out to find that there are three more cards tightly secured in bindings. With only a peek at the designs, he already knows he has never seen them before.
"Huh. Burner, the Dragon Ruler of Sparks… Then the older one. Blaster, the Dragon Ruler of Infernos…"
Once he flips over the third and last card, he finds something beyond boggling.
"The hell? It's mostly just a bunch of question marks."
The only thing he manages to confirm is that the card is a fire attribute monster. The frame color itself gleams like a prism, unable to decide whether it would remain black, violet, or white. It's attack, defense, level stats, image, and card effect are also non-existent.
The first two Dragon Rulers already flood him with ideas on their uses. They are surely a very complimentary and powerful pair that work well in just about any fire attribute deck. But, the third is just an odd inclusion that he could not pinpoint as to what one can even use it for. So far, all he sees is a token-at-best piece of cardboard meant to be sold to some collector for a sizable amount of cash.
He decides to check the casing again. Inside, he finds a small note with words that are recognizably Adelia's. They read:
The unknown card is an extension of the ruler's dominance over its element. Place it in your extra deck. When the time comes to call for it, the ruler shall manifest it as proof of your inheritance over that very dominance. Good luck, and may it keep you safe. I look forward to working with you...
He sighs, "Dominance huh? Cryptic pain in the ass as usual."
A few more hours of tweaking and editing came. Though still aching from his injuries, he feels a least some degree of peace. With each change, he could only feel his deck's performance expanding. He still could not believe how much he has gotten in just the few days of dealing with the cold young mistress of Aoi.
Temptation to finally join her begins to fill, but the distrust he has over such a people keeps hold. As he expected, joining her means stepping foot onto a battlefield. Something he wishes he would never go back to since his time as a Kurenai soldier. It doesn't help that he has hardly a knowledge of the woman's cause.
But, now he is aware that Albus is on the opposing side, the side that cares little even should he remain neutral and alone. Whether he trusts Castelle or not does not change that these Tribal Hunters will strike unknowingly from here on out.
He looks to the picture of Akane again, and wonders what she would do, what she would tell him. The aching in his heart from even thinking of it exhaust him further. With no control left, he drops head first onto the desk and falls asleep.
AN: It's finally a new year. figured it was time to showcase what the DT disks can really do to both the readers, and of course the MC himself. A big ole taste of the type of showdowns we'll be seeing more off soon. Admittedly I wasn't planning to make this duel hyper interactive, but we're 5 chapters in already, so I didn't want to hold out on the main attraction of the games any further. Just to further clear it up again, like Adelia mentioned in her match, the realism effects and fully introduced Spirit Drive Option don't affect the game board/card game rules, but rather affect the duelists physically. So painful directs, tanking them, and manual back row triggering are the focus. Basically, like the Arc V action duels, but without the BS action cards (personally really hated those).
The clock ticked in this duel for the two besties just as we get a Traptrix vs. Flamvell match. Kageru is motivated to kick ass, but Ivy has him pinned with her unfair turn 1 setup. The duel was fun to write. I always liked those little mini engine, splash able archetypes (except Zoo. Zoo was just overly too cancer). The Traptrix have some nice art, and I have a soft spot for them since they were one of those that had some potential, but weren't exactly "finished" as an archetype. We need more good insects besides inzektors anyway.
Our hero loses an important duel… again sadly. But, now is a turning point and he's gotta start getting his hands dirty again, and the rest of the chess pieces will be on the move to keep him doing so. A sign of the times, and he will have to adapt soon, since the current format and power creep is kicking him off the ladder. Time for a new deck Xp. Also, yes dragon rulers are officially a thing. NO MoA I DID NOT TAKE IT OFF YOUR RECENT AWESOMELY SPANKING CHAPTER. I've been planning on using these busted af lizards for a while now, but more as separate individual cards instead of the full deck, so yeah Kageru gets one. Speaking of which, since I'm feeling jolly and generous here is just another little something something to look forward to. A spoiler tease at his soon to be ace monster:
Blazell, Dragon Ruler of Kindlings
LV8 Dragon/FIRE/Synchro
ATK 3000
DEF 200
You'll find out what it can do eventually, but that's all for now. I can consider effect ideas for the new set of rulers coming as well so I haven't given them that much thought atm. So, feel free to drop that by especially if you have a fave among the four main archetypes and characters that will have them. With that here is the OC cards of the day used by the lovely, sadistic beotch of the past two chapters.
Overlay Reconversion
Spell/Quick-Play
Effect: Target one Xyz monster on the field that has Xyz material that was originally a monster; Apply one of these effects:
-Special summon that monster
-Add that monster to your hand
-Shuffle that monster into your deck and draw one card
Traptrix Drosera
LV2 EARTH/Plant/Tuner
ATK 900
DEF 1900
Effect: During either player's turn when a monster(s) is summoned on the field, you can reveal this card and one normal "Hole" card in your hand; Send this card to the graveyard and activate the revealed trap from your hand, ignoring its conditions.
Lastly, I'm taking request for anyone up to the task of beta-reading for me. I could especially use someone who's pretty solid with doing setting, since that art still baffles me a bit. Any help of course is welcome, and it would definitely help with getting these chapters out more frequently. And then, shouts again to the same old MoA for extensive feedback and TLA.
If nothing else, that's all I have. Thanks for reading! Please, please, please leave your reviews/PMs. I'll answer any questions, take in any praise/critique, and whatever in a heartbeat. See you all next time on the Saga!
-Last Revised July 31, 2018-