Yu-Gi-Oh! The Termina Saga

Opening Theme: "One Unaffected by Hades" by Get in The Ring

Ending Theme: "Reincarnation" by Cordelia

The Hunters' Gathering Part II

The children cry out as they witness the merciless Hiitan soldiers pummel their guardians into the dust.

"Brother Toma! No!"

"Stop it! Please stop it!"

"Let Brudder go!"

Blood thirsty howls invigorate every iron swing to their heads, every crushing stomp to their limbs, and every clumps of dirt their muddied boots kick to their orifices.

Daido smirks at Toma who could do no more than flash a glare at him. "What a joke!" he says, feasibly lifting the Wynnian's built figure just to batter him with several hooks to the face. "Like the feather-brained idiots you are, you've given up a perfect chance to drop a good number of us. And for what, to spare these spineless brats? Where'd all that noble sense of sacrifice go?"

Lingering soreness heavily weighs down Toma's body, but his vigor refuses to let it end here, "Heh. These 'brats' at least have futures ahead of them." A weak grin follows his counter as he tries to stand. "That's plenty more than I can say about the rest of you cowards."

He can already tell that his few words are quickly angering his tormentor. "I mean look at you all… The supposed superior race of Termina, reduced to mere stragglers holding children by their necks to get what they want. What has become of your pride Hiitan?"

"Wow." The impressed Daido whistles. "To think you still have the gall to sass me." He throws a straight hook into Toma's lower stomach. The rocketing force of metal near makes him retch.

"So, you snuck a few lucky hits on our guys. Good for you," he adds, continuing the torture. "Thing is though, we had plenty of ways to go about tackling your little campsite. I and a few others thought it would be fun to incinerate this pile of hippie huts off the map."

His arms flail with enthusiastic gestures at the idea. "Pow! And whoosh! Like a fireworks display over a big, old bonfire with some cold ones. But, of course, our shot-caller ordered for a bit of 'negotiating' instead. Hoping to save the ammunition."

He knocks the Wynnian over with another hard boot to the chin. "And I guess she was right. Putting you tree huggers down had never been so easy."

The kicks that follow roll Toma over and over the dirt without an opportunity to recover. "Hell, even your fighting has gotten sloppy. I mean, those darts and knives y'all were throwing ain't even poison-laced."

Then without warning, the armored palms of a woman reach out from behind to twist and crunch Daido's knuckles. The bone crackling sounds of her handiwork writhe him as she snarls, "Quit! Screwing! Around! Get on with it!"

"Gaaah!" Daido's massive form looks back at his supposed female compatriot in pain. "What the hell Leiko! You almost caved out my finger! Crazy bitch!"

Unwelcoming of his attitude, she violently bends and yanks his fingers around, answering to him as he is screaming, "I'm going to in the next couple of seconds if you don't get your ass moving. The rest of the Wynnian trash here are probably scampering off. If so much as one of them escapes knowing who we are, we're going to have to the entire damn AOJ on our throats! I don't think we're ready for that kind of shitstorm, are you!?"

Upon her unpleasant release, Daido slams and stomps Toma down with malcontent, still desiring to break him further. He knows that this woman is not one to exaggerate her threats.

Leiko marches up. The trailing cape on her back embedded with the emblem of a phoenix is enough to rally the other Hiitans. The few new recruits who were only given rumors take to her ironclad figure. Her curves bore a formidable share of muscle and she stands shoulder to shoulder with even the tallest among their ranks. When she turns their way, her stern, smoldering green eyes and unevenly shortened bangs of similar tints to that of Daido sink them firm in position.

With the group in formation, she readies the order to march further in. "Let's get this over with."

"N-no! Don't you dare!" Toma weakly grabs at Daido's leg, struggling to drag it down. "Damned devils. Keep... away from my people!" But all his desperate attempt would reward him with is another hard blow to his temple.

Daido readies to beat him to death, only to be stopped again by Leiko. "Hold it," she says. "I think we could probably wring something out from this wingless chicken."

Her red, iron gloved hands lift him up with hardly a strain then pin him back to a tree. "Alright, big bird. I don't suppose you happen to know any secret tunnels, or any hot spots in this forest worth telling me about? It would certainly make hunting the rest of you vermin a lot easier on us."

Instead, Toma gives her a hard stare before spitting at her face. The men react with fear, but ironically it would be out of fear for his well-being. They know that the nonchalant look on her eyes as she wipes it off is about to escalate into the worst pain of his life.

Dallying no more, she lets out her intent: "Okay Wynnian. Before I crack your jaw into a dozen pieces, you're going to tell me what you know. You got two choices." With a raise of her arm, the bear handlers ready their beasts. The look of their fangs baring again at the children horrify Toma.

Leiko continues, "You and the munchkins can either crawl out of this with some scars to take home, OR instead, I turn you all into pet feed after reddening whatever remains of this raggedy settlement with your insides."

"No! Help!" the children plead, barely clinging on to their supposed hero out of hope.

"Save us! I… I don't wanna die!"

"Ah! P-please! Brudder Toma!"

But all Toma could do is waver in silence, cursing his powerlessness. No matter what he chooses, he would be betraying his own people.

Leiko's patience proves paper thin. With a firm hand sign, the riders unleash one of the bears to maul at the leg of the youngest boy.

Its teeth grinds and pierces his flesh without hindrance. "AH! BRUDDER! BRUDDER!" Desperate mewls of anguish burst away, and the sight of his bleeding limb a soul-shattering terror to the rest of the victims.

"Wha-what kind of monsters are you!?" Toma cries out. "Have you no shred of humanity!?" But the only answer he would receive from Leiko is a hard arm blow to the face.

"Devils," she answers snidely. "Like the ones you constantly associate us with all the time, right? In any case, your whining means squat to me. All of you, especially the ones cozying up in that joke of a city got no one to blame but your lack of common sense. The war between us was never over. You are the enemy. And we're just good soldiers here to finish our duty. Nothing more to it."

Her finger snaps, and the gnawing beast is put to a halt, but only for now. With their hunger gradually intensifying, one last signal from her and they would not be given another chance. "Last time, Wynnian scum. Clock is ticking."

As much as he is taking joy from the situation, Daido is hit in with an idea. "You know, sis, why don't we bring this questionnaire to the rest of the inner folk? I'm sure the good people will be better persuaded once they witness how we do executions."

She stretches out a grin. Oddly to her, the suggestion was not only sound, but likely enjoyable. "I should've thought of that. Maybe you got some brains cells worth using after all Daido."

By her command, the Order soldiers drag the Wynnians back into the settlement where they would greet their people with the sight of their brutality. They waste no time raiding each home and hut in the vicinity, beating down, and forcefully gathering elderly, adult, and children alike out the open to join them.

Once the settlement is well under her thumb, Leiko separates the troops, keeping only a handful by her side. The bulk of them move out to help secure the perimeter and catch any other stragglers who may have hidden amidst the trees. The shrieks and the fewer sounds of gunfire that pierce from the distance strongly suggests that the escapees did not make it very far, and that some were likely even killed.

Finally assured of their victory, Leiko turns to the whimpering folk to resume her questioning. "Now that you all get the memo, what's say you all start cooperating? If any of you brainless birds got any friends or lovers who decided to up and leave, now's the perfect time to share."

The Wynnians can only cower, knowing all too well the many stories of the fierce Hiitans. Among all the four nations, their pride is of unparalleled ferocity and arrogance. Born from their harsh volcanic marshes, they are a power-hungry people who tend to none but the most capable of their own. An outsider to them is considered tainted to their very blood and has no other fate than to be that of used goods.

Tears stream in the middle of their final prayers to Wynn, the benevolent Wind Priestess they looked to for guidance. Some mutter hopes of safety for their loved ones, while others demand for whatever curses the spirits could muster to inflict righteous retribution. One thing is for certain, the Order leader will not be given her answers.

Toma's heart wells with pride, for despite their quivering, his people are willing to bear the brunt of whatever suffering comes. Whoever among them has managed to escape or how many, he doesn't know, but if even one manages to let out a warning, it is at least a victory.

"So, you Wynnians still intend to waste my time." Leiko mutters, rolling and snapping her tongue. "Perhaps you forest lurking swine need someone to teach you about reality." She sets her arm behind the inner side of her cloak. The sound of multiples locks closing registers within all ears.

The half seconds of anticipation fill Daido with delight. "Oooh boy! Here come the fireworks!" What he is ecstatic for comes to form; the deadly device that is the DT Duel Disk.

INSTANT TERMINAL ZONE SET. EXPANDING LIMITED BARRIERS. AWAITING OPPONENT….

"Lesson number one. Like all things in life, my time isn't free." The field spreads out to contain ally and foe alike, but Leiko is not expecting any challengers. Instead, she calls out one of her own, "Kalam!"

The mop-haired Hiitan leading the squad of beast riders turns to her, saddle leash in arm with a face carrying an unpredictable, drunken-like mellowness. "Y-yeah general? Is it feeding time?"

Her voice heightens on reply for all to hear, "When I say it is! Start with the brats' legs. Have em scream and bleed around for a good two minutes before you put em out of their misery!"

The people's hearts sink, but it does not end there. "When you're through, start lighting up the place." As she says so, a few brandish their armed explosives to solidify the threat. "These Wynnians are going to put up a show for all our hard travels."

As the bears growl at their sniveling prey, Leiko finally reveals the purpose of the duel field. "Feel free to make all the noise you want. The only ones who can hear your pathetic squeals are the ones inside these boundaries." She and her men cackle as their victims break down further at the given fact.

Toma grips hard over the soil, having had enough. Like an enraged bull, he forces all his weight into tackling the Hiitan general with a piercing elbow to her chest. The blow is enough to knock her off both feet and back, but she instinctively handles the landing.

Upon standing, she finds that this daring Wynnian has also armed himself with an older DT disk model. "Face me!" he yells, choosing to rather use the remainder of his will to fight.

A final offense, and now she is very much eager to commence the suffering of the children. Still, she could not help but smile. "What's your deal big bird? You do know that nothing is going to change what's about to happen here right? You're either dead, or property at this point. Heh. Then again, I guess there isn't much of a difference."

"If that is to be our fates, then so be it. But I will not allow you to go instilling your cruelty upon my people so easily, not if I can make you bleed for it. As you said Hiitan, nothing in life is free."

She nods out of respect, "I think I'm beginning to like you, big bird. I'll admit, you and these swine have a bit of guts for a folk that's gone really soft since the last war." With that, she steps up to accept the duel. Now with an opponent worth acknowledging, all she wants is to incinerate that foe's will into dust. Her eyes turn, becoming not unlike a feral beast on the hunt, as she adds, "Best pray for any regrets you've had in this life, because I highly doubt you have any idea what you just got yourself into."

DUEL!

Leiko LP 4000

Toma LP 4000

Before beginning, Toma takes a glance at her duel disk to heed her threat. The work he did under Rusty was not only to help those in his home, but also to obtain this very model so that he may also one day, partake in the spoils of the DTGC tournament. He finally has a chance to see it for real, but like all others unaware of its capabilities, it still appears to be the same model used in every past event, likely with a few new add-ons.

Once ready, he draws his hand. "I play the spell, Dark Factory Sorting Machine! I pay 1000 of my life points!"

Toma LP 4000-1000=3000

"This allows me to rearrange my whole deck, however, I must place all LV4 or lower normal monsters to the top of it!"

All the Hiitans, aside from Leiko, Kalam, and Daido could only find him foolish for playing what seems like a terrible card.

However, Toma's people would cheer him on.

"Get her Toma!"

"Defeat that accursed Devil!"

"Show her nature's judgment!"

"Go Brudder!"

Fueled by their hopes, he proceeds with confidence. "Next, I activate the continuous spell, Solidarity! If there is only one monster type within my grave, all others on my field that share it gain 800 ATK!"

He takes another familiar key spell from his hand, "Now, I activate Enchanting Fitting Room! I pay 800 more!"

Toma LP 3000-800=2200

"I excavate the four top cards of my deck and special summon all LV3 and below normal monsters among them!" Thanks to his last spell, now it is a guarantee. Upon excavation, three copies of the blue crow appear to his side. "I special summon three Kurama!"

Kurama LV3 WIND/Winged Beast (x3)

ATK 800

DEF 600

Leiko keeps a silent watch, while the rest of the men are finally catching onto the setup.

"With two come one to create the overlay network! I Xyz summon Totem Bird!"

Totem Bird RK4 WIND/Winged Beast

ATK 1900

DEF 1300

"I'm not through just yet!" he continues. "I also activate Magical Stone Excavation! With this spell, I discard Prime Material Falcon and Barrier Statue of Storm Winds from my hand to add Enchanting Fitting Room back from my grave! And I'll waste no time activating it!"

Toma LP 2200-800=1400

This time his deck is shuffled, and he is unsure of how many monsters he will get this time. But he does know he has a good enough chance to get at least one more to perform a second Xyz summon.

He excavates again, smiling gratefully at his blessing to find that there is not only one, but three more monsters, "By mother Wynn's guidance! Let nature heed my call! I special summon Sonic Duck and two Dark Bats to my field!"

Sonic Duck LV3 WIND/Winged Beast

ATK 1700

DEF 700

Dark Bat LV3 WIND/Winged Beast (x2)

ATK 1000

DEF 1000

"I build the overlay network with all my normal monsters! I Xyz summon two more Totem Birds!"

The cheers of his people, and the look of utter defeat on the Hiitan soldiers fill his confidence. He now has three monsters that can stop her from activating spells or traps. Once more, the winged beasts he discarded earlier now provide the needs to unlock the effects of Solidarity. With it, all three Totem Birds caw fiercely in union over the granted boost.

(x3) Totem Bird ATK 1900+800=2700

Now it is Leiko's turn, "Draw." She launches a hologram card out. "I set one to the back and pass." An action that many of the spectators find shockingly underwhelming, for only Daido and Kalam are the ones reacting positive.

Toma draws again. Both this moment and his standby phase quickly end without so much as a response from her, even as she still stares down three monsters that are more than capable of wiping her out. He can draw no conclusion other than the usual fact that she does not know what his Xyz monsters even do. But this is likely what she wants him to think. Hiitans are not one to bluff out confidence when they have a play, a lesson he learned the hard way against Kageru.

The only way her set card could so much as do anything is if it is a spell speed 3 or 4. With the card he luckily drew, he acts. "I activate Parallel Twister! With this, I send my own Solidarity to the graveyard and destroy your set card!" The manifested force of wind rips out at the targets.

Now Leiko acts, "I chain my continuous trap, Blaze Accelerator Reload. This lets me pitch a Volcanic monster from my hand once per Main Phase to get a draw."

Whatever that draw would net her, he will not risk the chance, "I detach two overlay units from one of my Totem Birds! This negates your Blaze Accelerator Reload's activation and destroys it!"

And with that, her card falls to the grave. Toma and his people are certain of his victory as he enters his Battle Phase at the ready to finish the game. That is until Leiko pulls open her graveyard list, "You made this all too easy with all those payments you did last turn," she claims. "I activate the effect of Blaze Accelerator Reload from my graveyard and banish it for cost."

Toma's eyes shoot up, "The…. grave!?"

The floor before her opens a magmatic fissure, where the once destroyed artillery cannon rests. It sends out a stream of heated wires from its circuits, latching onto its owner's disk. "I send a Volcanic monster from my deck to the graveyard."

Having a bit of knowledge from past tournaments of the once highly played Volcanic archetype, Toma figures the perfect monster to send with such a card. And with that realization, he drops to his knees, knowing that he has lost.

"You catch on quick," Leiko comments. I'm dropping down Volcanic Scattershot." The red, projectile-like lizard tunnels through the created wires, following the weapon beckoning it from the depths. The fissure closes, only to immediately trigger an even more massive chain reaction.

"I activate the 1st effect of Scattershot and chain the 2nd effect to it. The first deals 500 points of damage to your life points if it hits the grave. The second one however is a lot more eventful. I pitch two more Scattershots from my hand/deck to blast away all those monsters off your field."

As if it isn't morale-crushing already, she also reveals the one copy of Scattershot in her hand just before sending it along with the other two from her deck. "Don't bother mewling about what-ifs. This was gonna happen any which way you slice it."

The ground erupts, firing out all three Scattershots. Upon making impact, Toma's monsters fall. Each bombardment brings an explosion of skin charring, teeth-gnashing burns that make every speck of nerves in him cry in unheard sounds. There is nothing even remotely shielding him from this pain as he is forcibly enduring it all to the last.

Toma LP 1400-500(3)=0

Such is the consequence when there is an uneven number of duelists in possession of the new disk. And as if it isn't enough, the ones to bear the brunt of that punishment are not just the duelists, but all who are trapped inside their arena. Even as the field dissipates to particles, the blazes still follow through, setting a fraction of the people near Toma's side aflame, causing their once peach complexions to blacken from outside in. It creates a domino effect of inferno that further alights some of the homes into a row of giant candles.

Of course, Leiko would not risk the damage spreading any further to the forest trees. Those who run loose, burning alive or not, instantly fall prey to the bullets and beasts of the armed Order soldiers. She then orders all the men outside the settlement to double down their hunt, sending a few more out before conjuring another field to trap the increasing noise of cries. Now only the smoke that came off the few flames outside are all that is left to be witnessed.

Over half an hour passes. The flames are soon put out, and the area is silent, having become a settlement of ruin. Carcasses of Wynnian people litter the soil, their blood seeping through the blades of grass and ashes scattering the winds. Those who somehow manage to survive with barely to no physical injury are but a broken shell of a person, frozen by the horrors of what just transpired.

Leiko and Daido look over the result of their actions. The former unfazed, while the latter completely roused with fulfillment as if he just had a portion of a finely prepared meal. "Doesn't look like they're showing up. Think we could've gone with a little bit more chaos?"

"I guess not," Leiko answers, walking over to her opponent who is somehow still alive, clawing through to the dirt in a pointless attempt to move. "But that just proves how wimpy those hypocrite Tribal Hunters are. That Rider guy was going on like a busted tape about justice for his people and all during the last time he slipped and took out some of our own."

She follows with a scoffing breath as she lifts Toma up by his tattered garments. "Clearly, they either don't give a damn, or aren't some omni- present group with the numbers they're trying fool everyone into thinking they have." And with that, she delivers her promise to the beaten Wynnian protector, shattering the jaw of his unrecognizable. seared face then dropping him without a care.

Toma's numbed pupils look across to find that the children he tried so hard to save as nothing more than leftovers for the bears. Neither the burns and bruises over him could compare to the shattering pieces of his heart. Fragments of his broken teeth are all over his gashed tongue. He can no longer speak, not even utter curses to the race of people he could not grow to hate anymore.

Leiko's looms over him, the jagged blade in her hand aiming his skull. But before she finalizes the deed, a soldier calls, "Commander! Help! They're here! They're- " A dying scream is the last thing she hears before the transmission is cut. Several more follow, either ending with mixed sounds of cutting steel, bullets, or ironically, even flames.

Before she can act, yet another barrier encases the area. In that instant, the last four soldiers and their beasts are cut down in a flash, leaving only Daido and Kalam who regroup to back her.

The pair of assailants finally face them, revealed to be none other than the Tribal Hunters. Beneath their cloaks come a man in white armor fashioned with the exterior of a dragon. At his side is a young woman in teal, her form like that of a bird. The latter is tightly gripping her fists at the sight of the massacre.

"You sure took your sweet time," Daido taunts. "I was wondering how much it was gonna take to trigger y'all."

"I take it you're Rider?" Leiko asks.

The altered voice of the man answers, "No. Rider is out on the field, granting judgment to your pawns."

"Well, your tephranium armor does look fancier than I remember. Which means, you're the one actually leading this pack then."

"I am called Meister among my peers. But, don't worry too much about the confusion." Surprisingly, he takes off his mask, revealing the man they most certainly recognize.

"W-what?!" Daido is aghast. "Albus Aldebrand?!"

Leiko grins at the sight, "Well. Well. Well. The bastard child decides to show his face."

"Surprised to see you as well, Commander Ikari," Albus replies in his usual calm, cold tone. "It is a rare chance to see you on the field with your lackeys. How is Kurenai faring under Blaine's continued incompetence? Quite a disaster over there I'm sure."

"I don't care for smack talk coming from a dirty half-breed. How about you try hurling all that to your old man?" She notices the female hunter looking at her superior, clearly disturbed by this information. "You didn't know? That traitor isn't just some no-name Hiitan. He's the son of Blaine McGee, Kurenai's very own legion lord."

"Revealing that doesn't exactly fare your situation any better," Albus retaliates. "There are plenty who have accepted me despite my heritage. I merely showed my face considering you are somewhat of an old acquaintance, and I wanted to have the satisfaction of punishing your evils myself." The two of them ready their duel disks. "So, who dies first?"

"You talk of evil, when your band of costumed freaks have been going off, murdering not just our ranks, but even your own people too?" she scoffs. "Kalam. You can entertain the half-breed prince. I've had my fill of dueling today."

"Y-you sure about that commander? I've watched all his tourneys as much you have, you know. I'm just gonna end up blowing his brains out, just saying."

"If they lose to you, then they were clearly just mosquitoes to swat. The chief could care less," Daido adds. "I've been wanting to get a closer look at this famous Jurrac archetype myself."

"Go ahead and show me what you've learned." She taps him on the back. "It's high time they answered for the trouble they've been causing us. No one crosses with the Order."

"Alright then…" At that moment, Kalam's smile widens like that of a crazed jester, as if his very persona changed. "Let's play!"

The female hunter is eager to take him, but she is stopped. "Tamer," Albus addresses his partner softly, startling her, "you have done plenty for your first mission. I shall deal with this one."

"But, Meister! I-"

"Believe me when I say, I am just as furious as you are if not more."

"Good! Good! I've been wanting to have a shot at the champion! You can have the first move." A sinister cackle escapes Kalam's breath. Once in position, their game commences.

DUEL!

Albus LP 4000

Kalam LP 4000

Albus fires out his hand, "I call Jurrac Guaiba to attack position." A blue-headed fire dinosaur rises forth.

Jurrac Guaiba LV4 FIRE/Dinosaur

ATK 1700

DEF 400

"I then activate the continuous spell, Mark of Ransom. The activation is half my life points. However, if this remains on my field, all other costs pertaining to life points are reduced to zero." Veins in his disk side arm protrude as a peculiar mark sears over his upper hand.

Albus LP 4000→2000

"Next, I activate the spell, Visceral Draw. I pay life points so that I only have 1000 left to draw three cards. Placing them on the field at any point in time requires me to pay 1000 life points per card, but of course, my previous spell removes that downside." He proceeds to set three cards to his back row. "I end my turn."

Daido and Leiko's faces grow serious. These cards aren't anything they have seen him use before.

"You're not gonna like this, champion! On your End Phase, I discard and activate the effect of Fire Cracker in my hand! Now you're about to suck up 1000 points of damage! Ahahaha!"

"You insult me," Albus replies, throwing a spell card out his hand. "I chain the quick-play spell, Called by the Grave. This banishes that monster from your graveyard and negates the effects of it and all other cards that share its name until the next turn's end."

"I just need to shave him down," Kalam thought, trying to keep his composure. "Draw! I discard and activate Twin Twisters!"

The wild duo of winds blows, but Albus is already prepared, sprinting towards his back row to activate one of the sets. "I chain the counter trap, Solemn Judgment. Twin Twisters' activation is negated."

"Foolish Burial!" Kalam throws another card in play, only getting further annoyed at the lack of successful resolutions. "I send Guerilla Kite to my graveyard!" This time, there is no response.

His next card is a monster., "Alright. I summon Xyz-Raypierce in attack mode!"

"I activate Solemn Warning," Albus retaliates. "The summon of Raypierce is negated. And since it never touched the field, it's effect to deal damage upon touching the graveyard does not apply."

Now there is only one more set and one monster left on Albus's side.

"It's over," Leiko declares.

"That freak of nature actually has this," adds Daido.

Kalam smirks, seeing victory at hand. His eyes now burning with an aura. At the same time, a pulsating energy beats from his chest, revealing the same fiery symbol carried by all Hiitan subjects from Project Possessor. "You've done messed up now champion! All that negation to stop me from getting anything on board, when in the end, all you've done is help me get started!" He flashes the last card in his hand, revealing a familiar spell that draws a look of regret on Albus's face.

"I activate the ultimate spell, Rekindling! I revive all the fire monsters with 200 defense you've been making me drop! It's all coming down on you!" Yet another cackle bursts out of him.

Then Albus heads over with one last response, "I chain my remaining trap, Solemn Scolding."

"You what!?" Kalam is flabbergasted. "No!" He watches helplessly as the negated spell shatters like the rest. Now there is no cards left in his hand.

"You Hiitans willingly discard what little humanity you possess for the empty promises that project claims to bring, and yet this is the best you can do? Pathetic." He draws, summoning another monster. "I call Jurrac Velo to attack position." Out comes a red-skulled tyrannosaur.

Jurrac Velo LV4 FIRE/Dinosaur

ATK 1700

DEF 1000

Now comes his next move. The summon that will finish this duel. "With level four Guaiba and level four Velo, I construct the overlay network!"

"The what!? I thought this was a synchro deck!" Daido exclaims.

Leiko could not believe it either. "A Jurrac Xyz?"

The two dinosaurs converge into a vortex, their fiery essences bursting their combined energies, becoming that of a green flame. From it comes a white dragon. "Arise my white fang of burning evolution. Erase and extinguish thine foe. I Xyz summon Evolzar Laggia!"

Evolzar Laggia RK4 FIRE/Dragon

ATK 2400

DEF 2000

"I enter Battle Phase, and direct attack with Laggia!" Upon declaration, the form of his Xyz monster vanishes, taking his place completely. With a mighty cry, the empowered creature charges its green flame.

The enlarging sphere alarms Leiko. "Mooooove!" But while her warning registers quick, the attack is too fast for Kalam to evade. With no cards to reinforce himself, the fireball hits at full force, burning through the layered vest he is wearing underneath.

Kalam LP 4000-2400- 1600

The intense heat immobilizes him to tears. His tongue stutters, drooling in place, unable to make out a word from the broad third degree burn now marking his abdomen.

Once his attack his over, Laggia flashes again to separate it from Albus. "Do not stress yourself over the next turn," he then adds. "Evolzar Laggia's effect allows it to negate the summon of a monster, or the activation of a spell or trap card at the cost of its two overlay units. You have one draw to fill your hand. I'm sure you know how this is going to end."

Even if Kalam attempted to, his mind could no longer handle it. Every part of him is putting all its focus on the critical wound he just received. There is no recovery. After a brief minute without making a move, the disk in his arm forces its draw, eventually ending the turn on its own.

Albus draws one last time. "Evolzar Laggia, end this duel!" They merge again in spirit, and his victim could only watch in despair as another focused blast of flame burns a hole through him, incinerating his beast amount as well.

Kalam LP 1600-2400-0

His eyes freeze and fade to grey, marking the end of his life as he falls with a heavy thud.

Daido for some reason begins to snicker. "Hehehehe. Your rep is well-earned half-breed! It's been hard imagining anyone other than me, or the commander beating Kalam. Yes. I think I wanna take you on now!"

Tamer can only find his lack of care appalling. "Did the life of your subordinate mean that little to you?"

As she figures, he is clearly unfazed. "Huh!? What do you mean? The guy did his part, giving us a bit of detail on how your boss over here plays. Other than that, he was awkward to be around. Always keeping to the animals as if he had a weird thing for 'em. Not to mention he was always a bit of a nut job on the inside."

"We have no time to waste mourning," Leiko adds. "It does nothing but bring morale down when there are battles to fight and victories to earn. Far more productive ways to create meaning off their deaths."

"I suppose you're right. There is no reason to mourn," says Albus as he charges his disk to prepare resetting the field that is beginning to dissipate. "The men that we have slain here, and the rest of you who share that evil mark of flame will be joining him anyway."

"I don't know about that," Leiko answers, covertly signaling Daido. "The Chief still has a lot of work for us to fulfill. And I for one have no intention of ending my legacy over this backwater settlement." She then pulls out a remote. "You win this round Albus Aldebrand."

Identifying it as a detonator, Albus, tries to conjure the field to prevent them from further moves, but it is too late. The bomb she planted over Kalam's back unleashes its blast, covering the area in smoke. Though their armor manages to tank it with significant damage, the field fails to imprison their two targets and they escape. The handful of grenades they set off keep him and Tamer at bay.

Still recovering from the shocks, Albus pulls up his radio. "Urgh! Rider! Valier! The Hiitan commanders are on the move! Pursue them quickly! Carrier, return to the craft and resume scanning!"

They begin to walk out of the blast radius. Tamer, who has managed to stand, offers her shoulder. "Are you alright, Meister?"

"Don't worry. That was nothing more than a distraction. We need to go assist the others."

As they begin to move, a pair of hands reach to grab hold of Albus's leg. Tamer's heart panics, ready to stomp them away. But then, she realizes that the hands are from one of the victims. The one who has suffered the most among them all; Toma.

Tamer steps back, and the two of them can only stare at the shadow of a once healthy human being. Before them is a charred, legless creature with a broken jaw no longer capable of speech. It can only utter desperate mumbles that they can only make out to be begging for their help.

Albus draws out a blade, ready to end his misery. "I'm sorry. I really am." But as he lowers his hands, Toma instead grips them away.

"So, you do not wish to die just yet," Albus asks in mumbles. His answer from the Wynnian is a hard stare of fury from his veiny eyes, brimming for vengeance. The conviction is undeniable, unshakable. And so he lowers his weapon. "Alright then."

He radios in again. "Carrier. Move on to our position. We have a survivor in dire need of medical attention. Move here quickly."

"Are you sure about this? He's suffering," Tamer reiterates. "It's cruel to let him go through all this any more than he should. He belongs with his people, his family."

"The man still has a wish to fulfill it. It would be nothing short of cruel to take it away from him."

With that, she falls silent. Still, the sight of the littering bodies and ruined homes weigh her heart down. If only they had arrived sooner, then maybe. Just maybe, they could have done more for the man, saved more lives even.

Albus places a gentle hand on her. "We'll give them a proper burial if that is your concern. I know this is your first time in a battlefield, but this is only a taste of what is to come. And should we squander our duty, many more lives will end in shambles like this."

"Y-yes…" Finding strength in his words, she steadies her emotions. "For the sake of this land's future."

An early sunrise blankets a warm greeting over a remote hilltop mansion found north of Doriado City. The area is a windy seaside populated only by the few wealthy Erians who own the numerous ports and resort spots there.

From the double doors exits the mistress, Adelia Castelle in a navy one piece with a black skirt. With a pair escorts by her side, she makes her away towards the middle of a blue bricked path where the security gates can be seen ahead.

The gates open and two more guards accompany her entering visitor.

She extends her hand with a welcoming smile, "Mr. Hinodama. A pleasant surprise. I was not expecting to have our chat so early. Welcome to my humble abode."

Kageru tries to return a hand out of politeness but cannot help shivering as he does.

"Is it really that cold?" she asks. "I did note that it might be rather chilly in this part of the city.

"Y-yeah. Chilly," he replies, emphasizing that he is wearing a dark brown sweater over. "You d-didn't mention it being f-f-f-frikin Winter Wonderland over here!"

She fails to hold a chuckle. "Is that so? I did not think it would be that bad. The temperatures are far lower in my homeland. We best go inside then. Would not want you freezing to death."

"D-don't even j-j-joke about that…"

The inside of the mansion is like an aquarium, as exotic pet fish and other sea life in large tanks decorate the corners of the guest room. Potted plants beautify each well-crafted pillar, and expensive furniture covers much of the space.

The two are seated on couches across from each other, where Castelle's servants would offer them hot drinks and refreshments. Settled down, they begin their chat.

"You seem to have recovered well from your injuries," says Adelia as she sips her tea. "How's Mr. Karaka by the way?"

He keeps his gaze away from her, occupying himself with admiring the inner mansion. "He's healing up fine, still needs to rest a bit more. He wanted me to say thanks for the compensation money and the repairs to the shop. Doesn't seem like anyone else in our town witnessed that duel either. Everyone kinda figures that their jumbled memories have something to do with the weather." He takes a sip of his tea.

"You're welcome of course, I'm glad I could-"

"I said, he was grateful. Not me," he snaps with a clear hint of lingering bitterness.

"Oh, dear me." Her tone is as teasing as usual. "Still, doubtful of my intentions Mr. Hinodama?"

"I'd start getting used to it if I were you," he replies coldly before a longer sip.

"Well, I hope to earn at least some of your trust once this talk of ours clears things up."

"Whatever gets it over with." He then sets his cup and china down over the table. Straightening up with a now intense look of eagerness, he asks, "So then, what's the job?"

(AN: Whoopee! Finally got this chapter down! Did y'all miss me? XD This sadly took longer than I was hoping and I do apologize for the overdue update. As usual, life is as unexpectedly hectic as ever. Not to mention this chapter was going through so many changes that it was really difficult to finalize what I wanted to include. I'll get to that in a bit. Schedule on my end was rough and time and ideas was getting scarce for a while, but I wasn't about to let this wonderful year of 2018 pass without at least getting this out. And of course, I am not satisfied with that either as I am also pushing through to get the actual Chapter 7 out finally. Thanks again to TheLoneAvenger beta-ing, I am able to plow down through a good chunk of editing. I also apologize for those whom I have not replied to in the past months as that was due to my absence from FF and I wasn't touching on them until I got my quota fulfilled. Rest assured, I do take your inputs into deep consideration and will likely apply them as time and my perseverance wills me to do so.

Now yes, this is probably the most violent entry in the story yet. Good lord, I can feel the edge just cutting me down from typing it all. I figured that the racism issue in this world likely wasn't fleshed out enough for some of the readers to care/understand as of yet, and years ago, I initially was planning to sell home why the people of Termina hate the Hiitans so much through Kageru's past life as a former Kurenai soldier and his first meeting with Akane. In fact, the meeting with Adelia and Kageru was to come first. But, all of what I just mentioned was likely going to take much too long to sink feels in, so I decided to go through and show more insight towards the world issues in CH6.

At the same time, this marks the introduction of many antagonists, including Aldebrand, and the Order of the High Avatar commanders, as well as one of the few other Tribal Hunters. I wanted to instill some fear by showcasing the power and authority of the head figures firsthand, so having Albus duel was a must. However, towards the end I was thinking that I ought to not waste time showing Leiko Ikari's ability as duelist either, and was this closely to stuffing 3 full duels in the chapter. Tamer was initially supposed to duel, and sadly I spoiled the surprise for TLA during my several edits regarding her deck, but no harm I guess. The chapter was getting over bloated so I decided to cut her performance short, as she is going to have a bit more spotlight in the coming chapters.

So, yeah. This was quite a lot of characters and scenes I had to juggle. I'm still trying to get a solid grasp on background characters like the children. Deciding to add more or not to flesh out the structure of the settlement, then mixing that in alongside all the action and dialogue was making things that much harder. Hopefully I'm doing alright in that regard. I'd say I'm pretty proud how this turned out so far.

That's all I got in mind. Super special awesome thanks again to TLA again for being my only beta at this point. He's been helping make sure that I stay on top of this story, which I do promise to keep at. The edits are a massive improvement and I'm beginning to catch on to more of my mistakes. Also all the Potter jokes are coincidentally rubbing on me, as for some reason I just manage to draw more parallels to that series than I honestly was expecting to have. Thanks a lot TLA. Thanks a lot. XP

Also, a late thanks to ThePLOThand for his suggestions on adding BG music. I do actually find the idea intriguing and the tracks he put for the last chapter are pretty good picks. I love me some Ace Attorney. Of course, it will likely take time to add those in as I actually have to find the tracks myself, that stuff will likely be added in due time on edits here and there. If any of you enjoy additions of said tracks, let me know and don't hesitate to share some music with me.

And again, I do hope to hear some more reviews from my readers. Feel free to ask questions, and put any critique you so wish. Love y'all! Stay awesome, and Merry LAte Christmas! Heres to hoping chapter 7 comes before the next years' end or so.)