Ruby Dragon Gaming Shop/Standard Dimension
Tel. XIII - Year 18 4AOS
The hour was getting late. Yuri waited outside the Ruby Dragon for Sergei to come out. He checked his watch multiple times to see check to time and winced at how fast the time remaining before school started was ticking away. "Come on!" he said, urging time to go faster.
"Morning, Yuri!" Darla said approaching him.
"Darla," Yuri said. "Fancy seeing you here. What's up?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just came to see how you were doing. And I was hoping to get a pack or two from the new Crimson Dragon Slayers set but it looks like you're closing up shop."
Yuri shrugged apologetically. "Yeah, the shop doesn't open until ten," he said. "Come by after school. We'll have what you need."
"I would have but I have so much homework to do," Darla said. "Got to maintain the priorities. You know, I still can't stop thinking about all those horrible things Brett said to you at the club yesterday."
"I got over it."
"You shouldn't let him slide so easily. You're the son of the founder of this island. Besides Brett is nothing. I heard from Ren that all he does is play gangster with his friends with his uncle's unused clothes and stuff."
"That's all it is pretty much. But it's still unwise to cross him. Just let it off your chest and get on with your life. That's what I always do when he gives me a bad day."
"Alright, just be careful, Yuri." Darla noticed Patty walking down the street with Nick, Tyson, and Carter, heading for the Ruby Dragon. "Hmph. Well, I'll talk to you later, Yuri."
"See you, Darla." After she walked away, Yuri waited for his friends and greeted them. "Morning, guys."
"Hey, Yuri!" Tyson said. "What's going on? Why are you outside the shop?"
"It's Sergei," Yuri replied. "He's...kinda pissed off this morning."
"He's pissed off this morning?" Patty asked. "Why?"
"I'll tell you why!?" Sergei shouted. He just appeared out of nowhere, causing Patty to jump up and scream. "That!" he pointed at a skyscraper looming over a few business buildings and the Phobos Corp mall.
"Oh, it's that new building," said Carter. "They finished it?"
"Yes, they did. And it's a game shop of all things!" Sergei grumbled. "How dare they!? How dare they!? Building a game shop just across the street from mine? It's war, I tell you, war!"
"Wow, dude," said Nick. "That's a game shop? It's bigger than your store, Sergei."
"No need for the details, Nick!" Sergei said. "Augh! I work hard my whole life and this happens! I fought in Afghanistan! I was mauled by a grizzly bear but nothing compares to this! A game shop! A game shop! A new game shop! Why? How could they do this to me!? Yuri...everyone. I want you all to promise me not to enter that game shop! Vow to me with all your hearts and souls that you will not go!"
They promised but obviously, none of them kept their word. A new game shop. How exciting. Patty didn't seem to think so, though.
"Yuri, Uncle Sergei is going to be mad if he finds out you've been here."
"I'm not actually going into the shop," said Yuri. "I just want to do a little window shopping."
Tyson looked all the way up at the six-story tower in confusion. "I don't get it. Sergei has the best gaming store on Aquarius. He's got all the latest games in his place. Why would anybody need to build a place here?"
"Because Paradise Gaming offers something the Ruby Dragon doesn't have," said a girl working for the store. She handed them a flier advertising the games that were sold there. "Paradise Gaming uses the new state-of-the-art Solid Vision Technology used at the Duel Dome for an affordable price. In fact, all the best games on the market can utilize this technology. Magic the Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Duel Masters, Cardfight Vanguard, WiXoss, and so much more."
"Wow," Patty said. "A game shop that utilizes Solid Vision Technology. Now that's impressive."
"And off limits to the likes of you!" an arrogant teenager said. He approached the group with his friends, all of them were wearing white and gold school uniforms with fancy shield-shaped emblems, scarves, and honor ribbons pinned to their chests.
The group was from Delphina Academy, another school located on Alejandra Island. Because it was built by a man from a company that competed with Yuri's father, it became known as St. Augustus's rival school. Some took this very seriously. Students from Delphina High School would come to St. Augustus and spray paint the walls, hack the school's security systems, play crude songs on the intercom, and there was an incident where some boys installed camera's in the girl's locker room, a terrible prank that was pulled to honor the infamous scene from the movie Revenge of the Nerds.
"Well, well, well," said Nick. "Look here, guys. It's those Delphina Academy dweebs."
"Tough talk coming from a weak Duelist like you, Rogers!" one of the students remarked. "You shouldn't even be up here, to begin with."
"Yeah, you should be under the city eating rats like the rest of your kind!" said another.
"Why you!"
"Stop it, Nick!" Yuri held him back as best he could. "Come on, they're just trying to get to you."
"Hang on," said Patty. "Why are you guys so hostile? Why aren't we allowed in this game shop?"
"Because it was built by Cornelius Landow, the class president of our esteemed academy. He built the shop with his fellow students in mind. You St. Augustus plebs have your Ruby Dragon, we've got our shop now. Now get lost."
"Wow, touchy," said Yuri. "Some guys take the term competition a little too seriously. Come on, guys."
Yuri and his friends turned and left, not wanting to start any trouble with the students from their rival school. From his office on the fifth floor, Cornelius Landow, the boy the Delphina Academy students so highly spoke of watched Yuri and his friends making their way across the bridge and into the forest where they disappeared from sight.
"So that's James Vincent Montgomery," Cornelius said. "Or should I call him Yuri like the others?"
"Call him whatever you want," said Brett. "He's still the same old loser."
"So why the hit if he's such a loser?" Cornelius asked. "Why call me to challenge him if he's no threat to you as you claim he is?"
"He is no threat. But it annoys me how he thinks he's starting to become a pro just because he beat two Duelists I personally trained. Well, if he wants to believe he's a pro, he's going to start facing pros. Thanks to my bounty, every Duel Gang in the city will be on the lookout for him. Yuri won't be able to walk the city streets without getting approached by them. They're going to overwhelm him. Destroy him. Piece by painful piece. Then he'll realize Duel Monsters was never a game for him."
"I see," Cornelius said, sliding his fingers down his bleach-blonde hair. "Well, I suppose I'll do what I can, seeing as how we can't rely on the Duel Gangs anymore. Someone's been taking them out one by one."
"There have been reports of some guy they call the Red Sparrow running around out there beating Duel Gangs up and leaving them for the cops," said Brett. "And there's talk of another guy with a flaming monster called Volcanic Doomfire. That's one rare card so I heard. Not that it matters. My boys are now going to the streets to look for these guys." Brett laughed. "Wow, vigilantes playing with cards. Not even a comic book artist can come up with something so lame. Guess we're just going got have to show those guys what happens when they play the hero."
Brett's phone rang. "Yyyy-ellow," he said. "Ah, good. I've been waiting for you guys." He hung up and stuffed his phone in the pocket of his blazer. "Come on, Cornelius. Your new cards have arrived."
As Brett and Cornelius walked out of the office, they too were being watched. In a building many blocks away, Axel Brodie and his Lancer squad, Regal Squad, were watching them with high-powered binoculars. "So that's Brett Martinetti," Axel said. "Man, I just looked at the guy and already I hate him."
"I can take him on," said a boy with messy hair named Saxton. "Let me at him, Axel, he doesn't look so tough!"
"Don't go challenging him to any Duels. He's bad news," said the team's tech expert, a girl with pink hair tied into a braid, her name was Clover. She was sitting against the wall reading Brett's profile on her laptop. "He's the nephew of a mafia crime lord and he's surrounded at all times by his own private security force. Getting to him will be no easy task."
"Dealing with Brett is not for us," said Axel. "He's Yuri's problem. Declan says to let Yuri handle him. Our job is to make sure any of this asshole's plans get stopped. Yuri is starting to become a threat to him. And Brett is a coward. Instead of wanting to deal with these threats himself, he sends others to do his dirty work. And if I'm right about him, we're about to see just who are the ones who supply him with all those rare cards."
They continued watching Brett, monitoring his every move with ease since their scopes allowed them to see through walls. He went into the loading dock at the back of the store where a group of six individuals was waiting for him.
"I knew it!" said Axel.
"The Hyenas of 116th Street," said Clover. "You were right boss. The Duel Gangs do answer to Brett."
"Hang on," said Axel. He pressed a button on his scope. He was now able to pick up their conversation.
"Brett!" said one of the Hyenas, a dirty boy with a green jacket. "Good to see you. And Cornelius. Congratulations on the opening of your new store. I understand you need some new cards for your deck. Well, we have just the right stuff for you." He opened a steel briefcase and showed off a vast collection of rare and precious cards he and his friends stole from Duelists who unfortunately fell prey to them.
"If I may say something," another Hyena said, "Cornelius, you're the owner of a brand new game store. Why would you need us to find cards for you?"
"Because cases full of cards have become expensive," said Cornelius. "Also, I don't want to waste a lot of time opening hundreds of packs for the cards I need. And I don't intend on giving my hard-earned money to scalpers on the internet. I want my cards now and for a price that doesn't force me to waste too much money." He picked up a few cards protected in clear plastic card cases. "That's why we have you, gentlemen, searching the streets for good prizes. Yes, these are very nice."
"That rotten bastard!" said the boy with red hair.
"So Brett's paying Duel Gangs after all," said Axel. "They hunt down the cards he needs and he buys them from these clowns for a cheap affordable price."
As Cornelius searched for cards in the briefcase, Brett walked towards a very chubby man wearing a RAPTOR security outfit. He was standing in the corner, shaking and convulsing nervously.
"It's okay, there's nothing to worry about...officer," Brett said. "Nobody knows we're here. Good work informing the Hyenas of the routes your comrades take. Because of you, business has been smooth."
"G-g-good to hear," said the security officer. He handed them a flash drive containing the routes for tonight's patrol. "Here," he said. "This should make things go a little smoother tonight. And uh...I followed Yuri and his friends like you asked."
"And?"
"I was able to pinpoint their favorite hangouts on the island. Your Duel Gang buddies should have no problem hunting them down if they're up for the challenge. Now, uh, where's my money?"
Brett scoffed and handed him a black leather cylinder filled with Aquarian gold coins.
"Check it out," said Clover. "A dirty cop."
"Yeah, and he's giving Brett the locations of all the places Yuri and his friends hang out. This is bad. Clover, send a team to the Ferris Wheel where Patty hangs out at the end of each day. Keep an eye on her at all times. Make a clean sweep of the area, see to it that they don't go near her."
"You got it."
"Rico, you lead another group to the park where Yuri takes his walks. Squash anybody who gets in your way."
"You got it, sir!" said Rico. "Come on, guys. It's party time."
Prince Marcel - The Kingdom of Akuuda/Termnnia
Tel. XIII -Year 184AOS
Prince Marcel and his brother Kayode
His name is Rashidi Anikulapo-Kuti, Crown Prince of Akuuda; Land of the Golden Sun; and Heir to the Platinum Throne and the Dynasty of the Black Dragon. Of course, he changed his name when he left the country to do business with the Heroes of the East, for Akuudans believed their names were sacred and holy, and should only be uttered in their homeland. Therefore, he was addressed as Marcel, the name given to him by his mother, who was a fair maiden from the Kingdom of Emboldor,
He observed the vast golden fields in front of him, zooming by like a blur as he rode atop Anansi, his Dark Zebra mount.
The animal's heavy hooves clopped loudly on the dirt and sent clouds of dust trailing behind them. He looked over his shoulder, spotting his brother, Kayode, who was not too far behind him atop his own Dark Zebra. The horn growing from the creature's forehead was so close, he could see the sun's light glistening on the glossy golden surface. Marcel stopped to survey the land, and so that his brother could catch up with him.
"What is it? Why have you stopped?"
"Anansi needs a rest," Marcel replied.
"We should be on the move," Kayode insisted. "Mad Sword Beasts appear when you least expect it."
"You worry too much."
"And you don't worry enough. You think because you're one of Zane Truesdale's Kingsblade members that you are strong? That you don't need the armor."
"You think I should have brought the Armor of the Dragoon?" Marcel asked.
"Yes. You should have. It would have made the hunt much easier."
"Easier?"
"Yes, I said easier. We've been out here for hours and there's no sign of the beast. My legs are beginning to grow raw." He looked at his fingernails. "Ugh. I'm badly in need of a manicure."
"Oh, listen to yourself," said Marcel. He mocked him in a girlish voice, placing his hands gingerly over his golden chestplate. "I am badly in need of a manicure."
"Why you..."
"Do you wish to say something?" Marcel asked sarcastically, cupping his hand over his ear.
Kayode grinned at his brother. "Yes, I am going to be the one who presents that beast's head to father." He kicked his Dark Zebra to quicken its speed. The Dark Zebra whinnied and then gave a heavy snort as it obeyed its master and gathered more speed.
Marcel saw this. He leaned forward and whistled into Ananzi's ear. His mount's ear gave a twitch. Amazingly, it started to spring forward like the wind, leaving Kayode in the dust. Kayode peered at his brother's mount just in time to see a flash of gold at all four of its heels.
Cheater, he thought. Marcel had put enchanted anklets on his mount. Two increased his speed, the other pair boosted his stamina. Anansi was running at speeds to match those flying ships from the City of Domino. This did not surprise him. Marcel must have noticed that the ornamentation around his own mount's neck had a gem that could boost his Dark Zebra's speed. He thought the dark metal armor he equipped his mount with would conceal the enchanted gem, but Marcel had the keen eyes of a young wyvern.
Despite this, the brothers were almost neck and neck. They were finding their race to be too much fun to worry about who was playing fair or not. Both young Sunbornes shouted at the joy of their race.
"Yee! Yee! Yee! Yee! Yee!" They both called out, feeling an incredible rush of adrenaline as the horses started pushing 90 miles per hour. The wind blasted ferociously against their faces. The dreads of Marcel's undercut hairstyle shivered in the air as he gained speed.
There was great danger in their stunt. At these speeds, one wrong move could cause them to fall and kill them. But the idea that they were cheating death merely excited them. It was not often they could have time alone.
Customarily on a day like this, they would be at the palace, standing on both sides of their father while entertaining the hundreds of politicians who came to bore them with pressing matters. And by pressing matters, it meant squabbles for land, royal engagements, bounties for pestersome monsters, Duels for land (Which they rather enjoyed, for who doesn't enjoy a good Duel?), and, occasionally, bribes for Marcel's most prized possession.
"Here it comes!" Kayode shouted.
Marcel looked behind him. A hulking hill of gray flesh and armor and spikes was heading straight toward them at great speed. The behemoth howled wildly; its eyes burning red like rubies in the light of a hearth, and steam billowing from its nostrils. The creature chasing them was known as the Mad Sword Beast.
Usually, the sight of the creature just napping in the grasslands would make a normal man wet himself out of fear. But for Marcel and Kayode, it was a regular day in Akuuda. They had been trained since birth to be fearless of pain and of death. So well-trained were the two princes that they would find ways to risk their lives out of boredom.
Today, they were going to be paid two hundred Ruppas for the extermination of the monster chasing them down.
Black spears with gold designs were lodged deep in the monster's flesh, signs of Marcel and Kayode's earlier attempts to take the Mad Sword Beast down. But they were quite content with the monster not showing signs of letting up. It would not have been good sport if they brought him down too quickly. They felt the monster's will to stay alive and skewer them with its massive nose horn, shaped like a large, curved sword, was a well-earned reward.
"Yee! Yee! Yee! Yee! Yee!" Marcel shrieked, kicking Ananzai into a faster run, but the Dark Zebra was already going as fast as its legs could carry it.
Despite having a boosted dose of stamina, it would be depleted if pushed too far. That would be disastrous, especially with the Mad Sword Beast coming ever so closer toward them.
Kayode pulled a carbine from a holster on the saddle. He peered through the red dot sight and peppered the Mad Sword Beast with powerful armor-piercing rounds.
They staggered the monster but did not stop him. It winced as dark red blood poured down its face. It gave out a loud howl.
"You just made it even madder!" shouted Marcel. "At this rate, we'll never reach the trap. We have him where we want him. Just maintain your current pace and the plan will succeed."
"We can take him down now!" Kayode shouted. "We can take him!"
"He is the matriarch of the herd," Marcel replied. "Look at the scars on his body. That Kagudu (old-timer) has fought far greater challenges than the two of us. Besides, if we stay and fight, our mounts will be harmed."
Kayode grew impatient. "You cannot be serious? We can get new mounts. I say we take him down with our guns!"
"Don't be a fool, Kayode! Stick to the plan!"
Kayode knew he had to stick a dagger into his pride and listen to his brother. The armor-piercing rounds proved ineffective against the monster's thick armor and skin. The two princes rode towards a log not too far ahead.
Once they got close, Marcel and Kayode kicked their Dark Zebras into a powerful jump. Their mounts soared over a spiked pit. The Mad Sword Beast did not see the trap, for it was blinded in its fury. With a desperate howl, it fell into the hole and was impaled on the spikes. The creature did not suffer. A spike through the head ended all his troubles in five seconds flat.
Marcel and Kayode screamed victoriously and bumped fists with one another. Their Dark Zebras panted heavily. They shook their heads and purred.
"Well, that's the last of him," said Marcel.
They heard laughter, followed by eccentric clapping coming from behind them. Marcel looked at Kayode, grinning as he bobbed his head up and down. The small, square-shaped diamond earring twinkled in the light of the high sun.
The short dreads on the top of his head waved in the wind. He made a clicking sound with his tongue and pulled the reins leftward to face their guest, who was no mystery to the two princes. Marcel -having a keen sense of smell- could pick up the scent of the cheap aftershave he presented him every name day since he started growing hair on his chin.
Okechuku waved at his cousins, then kicked his black Akuudan mare into a steady trot. He bore red and gold armor decorated with gold thread and concealed under a colorful blanket. He wore a headdress of crimson and gold made from the feathers of a Crimson Sunbird and a gold nose ring. A necklace of Krokodilus teeth hung over his thin neck. His face was painted in elaborate designs of his tribe from the Zu' Kuldoc Mountains to the northeast where his father ruled the lands around the River Jakande.
When he was at the right distance, he bumped his fist with theirs. Their jewelry of gold, dragon bone, and colorful stones jingled with each movement they made.
"Kayode, Rashidi! Why did you not tell me you would be out hunting? I was looking all over for you two bastards."
Kayode smiled, brushing his long dreads off his face and over his ear and shoulder.
"Well, that's what you get for being so late all the time, Chidife (Cousin). How was your journey to the capital? Comfortable I presume?"
Marcel let out a hearty laugh and slapped Kayode on the shoulder. "Oh, when you have those rose bearers sitting alongside you, any journey is comfortable," he said referring to the beautiful maidens whose duty it was to throw flowers before the footsteps of their masters. "I can only wish Naku (Father) would allow us to have such a necessity."
Okechuku bared his white teeth and gave a shriek of a laugh. "Chidife, after what you and Kayode did to them during our last visit, I don't think that is going to be an option for you. I still cannot believe you bedded all of them and didn't invite me."
Kayode patted his Dark Zebra's neck. "Well, what can we say? You probably wouldn't have caught up with us. And I guess that's what having a Red-Eyes Black Dragon will do to a woman, eh, Rashidi? The moment they saw you riding that beast, they could not keep their eyes off you."
Marcel grinned mischievously and stroked his beard. "Well, now that our cousin is at the ripe age of sixteen, I guess we can show him what we know. Ah, that also means you're old enough to pick an egg from The Cave of the Black Dragon. That will mean there won't be a woman in all Akuuda who will be able to resist him now."
"Do you really think so, cousin?" Okechuku asked curiously.
"I know so," said Marcel. "Show your Kontar (Dragon) much love, and it will grow big and strong. It will be rideable before you know it."
Okechuku sat up on the saddle, puffing out his chest triumphantly, showing off the carved golden lion head on his breastplate. "Well, I may become a Red-Eyes Rider, but I'm sure it has nothing against a Royal Knight of the Termnnian Table."
Marcel nodded, but Kayode's face dropped into a frown. He scoffed and rode away from them.
Okechuku asked him what was wrong, but his cousin kept on walking.
"Oh? Was it something I said?"
Marcel tugged the reins. Anansi whinnied and followed Kayode's mount. "No, Okechuku, it was nothing you said. He's just upset that it was I whom Master Yu-Gi-Oh chose to sit alongside the new High King and not he."
"But, why?" Okechuku asked. "He is the oldest."
"But he is not of royal blood," said Marcel. "Or have you forgotten?"
Okechuku shook his head.
Marcel nodded back. "Well, there you have it. Therefore I was the one Yugi chose for this alliance. I am the true heir of the Platinum Throne of Falanta. Kayode may be older and stronger, but he is not the son of the king."
"Who left him there at the doorstep of the palace, I wonder?" Okechuku asked.
"Perhaps we'll never know," Marcel replied. "That mystery has been plaguing us for years. No one cares anymore. He's family and that's all there is to it."
Kayode shouted from far ahead. "Fire!" he called. There's a fire to the east!" He kicked his Dark Zebra into a sprint toward the smoke, rising like a giant black column into the sky.
Marcel saw carrion flying overhead. "Oh no," he whispered. The direction of the smoke was exactly at the spot where a tribe of Dayozizi -The Grass Men- had made their home. He kicked Anansi into a swift sprint as well. Okechuku followed him. Once they reached the village, they came upon a horrible sight.
The straw huts were set ablaze. The livestock lay across the ground, dead. Pottery was smashed, and pots and pans littered the ground, muddied and puddled with blood. The scavengers squawked above them, circling over a pile of dead bodies.
Standing in front of the bodies, with torches in hand, Naralian soldiers sniggered and sang with glee at their easy victory. Their tactical armor and capes were colored tan, red, and forest green to match the environment of the Akuudan wilderness.
Pouches, bandoliers, backpacks, and holsters of leather were layered over their steel armor plating.
One man stood out from the rest of the soldiers. On his back was a weapon that sent chills down the spines of the princes and their cousin. A tactical rifle colored tan with a hi-tech scope mounted on the carry handle. A grenade launcher was mounted to the bottom, and rails allowed him to fit a laser sight and flashlight on the sides.
Marcel noticed the rooster in front of a royal escutcheon engraved on the shield-shaped plate.
The young man was not an ordinary Naralian military soldier. He was a mercenary, one possibly viewed in high regard in the eyes of King Forrest if he was leading royal troops. The golden stars clipped to folds of the cape over the neck signified he was a general. Yes, no doubt this man was good at killing the foes of King Forrest to be given such a promotion as a soldier of fortune.
The man smiled when he realized who Marcel and his brother were. He chewed his gum even louder and more obnoxiously. The mercenary bowed, but not out of respect. "Your majesties," he said. "Wot an unexpected surprise. We didn't expect to find Akuudan royalty in these parts. Allow me to introduce myself. I am General Baldric Atzwig of the Royal Naralian Expeditionary Forces."
"We know who you are," Marcel replied, pointing at him. "They call you the Red Snake."
Baldric smacked his gum around in his mouth. He nodded while keeping his smug grin, feeling rather content that he had gained a name for himself in these parts. His forces were mostly contained in the southern parts of the country. Or so Marcel thought. No doubt the ferocity and skill in battle this man had were true if they could feel emboldened to attack a village so close to the capital city.
"What is this!?" shouted Kayode. "What did you do?"
General Baldric grinned, teeth placed firmly on his chewing gum. He turned to look at the bodies of the villagers. Then, slowly, and mockingly, he looked back at the boys. "Oh, them?" he said. "These heretics refused to convert to the true faith."
"Yeyunists!" shouted Okechuku. "Cousins, these men are the Yeyunist dogs who have invaded our lands to the south."
"What are you doing this far?" Marcel said, cautiously, so as not to provoke a fight. "Why did you feel the need to kill these people for not accepting your faith?"
"Because I'm paid to do so," Baldric answered. "And I get paid double if I exterminate those who refuse to convert to the Covenant of Yeyu."
"And did these people refuse?" Kayode asked, gripping the dagger he made from a dragon's tooth under his black coat. "Did they refuse you?"
Baldric saw the anger making Kayode's face shiver and his lips twitch open and shut, revealing pale-white teeth clamped together. The sight pleased him. He grinned at the prince while gently taking the cigar out of his mouth. "Maybe they did. Maybe they didn't. Why don't' chu go ask them yourself?"
"You white demons!" Kayode shouted, brandishing a mithril spear from the saddle. He stopped moving once he heard the clicking of crossbows aiming for his body. The thick stretching of bows, and the sliding swish of swords being pulled from their sheaths. Marcel held out his hand, ordering his brother to keep still and keep his weapon down. Kayode looked around. The Naralians were poised to strike him down. One wrong move and the king would be left without sons and heirs.
General Baldric did not reach for the sword or the dagger at his hips. Just as Marcel had feared, he went for the rifle on his back.
"Now," he said, "take it easy, fellas. We don't want 'chu to be joining these here peasants now, would we? High and mighty princes such as yourselves deserve to be in a fancy crypt surrounded by gold and all your priceless possessions, so gentlemen of fortune such as ourselves can come by and pillage the place later, eh?"
His soldiers laughed. Click! Click! Click! His thumb pushed the safety of the rifle off. He held the weapon high.
"We do not want any trouble!" said Okechuku. "Please, please, let us go!"
Baldric smacked his gum around with his teeth. "I'm afraid I can't do that." He snapped his fingers. Out of nowhere not one but two Desperado Barrel Dragons appeared by his side. Marcel, Kayode, and Okechuku stepped back in fear and put their hands up.
"What are you doing!?" Marcel shouted.
Baldric smiled his wide smile again and still smacked his gum around to make that annoying chewing sound to further bother the princes. "Prince Kayode just raised his weapon against a superior officer of King Forrest's royal army. That, my friends, is a declaration of war."
"You invaded our lands!" Okechuku shouted. "You slaughter our people for refusing to partake in your beliefs! We are already at war with you and your king!"
"We are just here to cleanse your people of the false testaments of the heretic witches or some garbage like that. I really don't care for all that Yeyu crap honestly. I just expect to get paid for coming here and killin' all you Sunborne mongrels. And I'm sure the Hierarch of the Church will pay me big for bringing in your royal skulls. Then, I'm after that prized dragon everyone's talkin' about. The legendary beast of the Battle of Ruby Bay. I suppose that was you, right? Marcel? Future Knight of the Termnnian Table."
"Yes."
"Good. I'll mount your dragon's skull in me bathroom next to the tub. The girls will love it. Nothing turns a wench on more than a dragon slayer."
"I had to do it!" shouted Marcel. "Your navy had no place in our waters."
"Well, that's where you're wrong, yer highness. The coast is full of precious gemstones that the mighty King Forrest has now claimed for himself. And there's more. But you savages can never learn to share — always, wanna do things the hard way. Now, which one of you is going to be first?"
The first Desperado Barrel Dragon aimed its barrels at Marcel. "The heir to the Platinum Throne?" The second one swung its barrels towards Kayode. "Or the poor sap who got dumped on the doorstep of the palace by his mother?"
"Leave them alone!" shouted Okechuku. "These boys are the son of the king! They-"
A blast that sounded like thunder erupted and echoed across the grasslands. The Dark Zebras shook their heads and shrieked. Marcel flinched and then froze. He felt his cheek get splattered by something warm and wet. A drop of the liquid dripped into his mouth. He tasted it. A harsh flavor of iron assaulted his tongue.
It was blood.
The world seemed to stand still for a moment. The bang of the rifle still rang loudly in his ears. When it faded, he heard a hard sickening thud on the ground. The riderless stallion whinnied and reared up on its hind legs out of fear. Baldric aimed his revolver at the horse and fired a well-aimed shot without looking even through his scope, shooting the animal dead. It fell to the ground next to Okechuku's lifeless body.
"Any of you move, and you'll be next!" Baldric shouted. "You two men, bring the body to me."
The two soldiers gleefully accepted his orders. They walked by Marcel and Kayode, sneering and taunting them. The men seized Okechuku by the legs and dragged him to Baldric's feet as he drew a curved dagger from its sheath. Marcel and Kayode could only watch in horror as Baldric knelt down and carved their cousin's head off. The process was long and agonizing. The sounds. Those horrible sounds. Marcel wanted to heave. There was no way this was real. How could this be happening? Baldric waved the head in his grip to taunt the two princes and placed it in a burlap sack.
"Okay, boys," Baldric ordered, wiping his sword with his sleeve. "Give a message to your king. We are just the tip of the spear. More will be coming. Your defensive wall to the south has failed to stop us. We're coming to eradicate you vile heathens from the world. Tell your father to send us your strongest armies."
He whistled, signaling the troops to proceed with their orders. They laughed as they tossed their torches on the pile of bodies. The flames quickly spread, consuming the corpses. The air became perfumed with the horrid stench of burning flesh.
"You killed him," Kayode said through his teeth. "You killed all these people."
"We're all killers," Baldric replied, sheathing his dagger. "Those scars you have dotting your chests and your arms. Come on, boys, I know you blokes apply scarification on yourselves for every kill you make. And from where I'm standin' you've got a lot of kills on ya."
"We killed for the defense of our people," said Marcel. "Not like you. You don't kill for your country. You kill for sport. And anger. And hate. And satisfaction. Know this. When the fighting starts, and believe me, it has. I. Will. Kill you."
Baldric took a bold step forward, grinning. "I'd like to see you try, you damn dirty ape." He and Marcel locked intense gazes at one another before Baldric winked and laughed. "Move out!" he said.
The troops laughed and sang songs of victory as they marched away from the burning village.
Yuri - St. Augustus Senior High School, Aquarius/Standard Dimension
"So did you guys hear the news?" Yuri asked, sitting with his friends in the cafeteria after school had ended.
"What news?" Patty asked.
"There's been a string of robberies going on involving Duelists. Somebody's been beating their opponents senseless and stealing their rare cards."
"Do you think it's that Red Sparrow everyone's talking about?" Natalya asked.
"It can't be," said Sabrina. "The Red Sparrow has been helping the police find Duel Gangs. Whoever this guy is, he's a crook."
"And get this," said Yuri. "Whoever he is, he's been using Exodia the Forbidden One to beat his opponents."
"EXODIA!" his friends shouted together, all except for Sabrina.
"What's Exodia?" she asked.
"Only the rarest monster in the game of Duel Monsters," said Nick. "He's so powerful that you need to have five specific cards to unlock his power."
"How does that work?" Sabrina asked.
"Like this," said Patty. "There are five pieces of Exodia. His head, his right arm, his left arm, his left leg, and his right leg. If you are lucky enough to have all five of these pieces in your deck, and you have them assembled in your hand, you automatically win the Duel."
Sabrina's eyes widened as she gasped. "No way! An automatic win!?"
"Good luck trying to pull that off," said Yuri. "My dad can't find those cards and he invented the game. Those pieces he has in display in his office are just replicas. The real ones are so rare that just having one piece is impossible. Because of how rare each individual card is, nobody's ever been able to summon him. Ever."
"Well, at least until this mystery Duelist came along," said Tyson. "If he's beaten all those Duelists with Exodia, it means he summoned him multiple times already."
"That's insane!" said Nick. He made that sick sneer and greedily rubbed his hands together. "What set can these super-rare Exodia cards be found in?"
"Don't even think about it," said Tyson. "They came out in the first-ever Duel Monsters set, Metal Raiders — [A/N: I know LOB was the first but Blue-Eyes White Dragon doesn't exist in the Standard Dimension!] — and those sets are ancient. They came out before any of us were even born and a display box can sell for five hundred grand."
"You serious!?" Nick cried out. "So expensive?"
"Yeah," said Patty. "A pack of Metal Raiders sells for 10,000 a pack. That's more than a hundred gold Aquarian coins."
"Sheesh, collectors sure do know how to make trivial things seem more than they're worth," said Sabrina.
"Wow," said Nick. "Exodia the Forbidden One. If I had that monster in my deck, I'd be unstoppable! So do you guys know anyone who has an Exodia piece?"
Tyson smiled and his eyes mischievously darted from side to side, telling everyone he was hiding a dirty little secret. "Well..." he took off his backpack.
"Tyson no," Yuri said in disbelief. "You can't..."
"Oh, but I do. Yeah. My dad told me to never bring this baby out in public. But I think it's high time I showed you guys the prize of my collection." He opened his backpack and took out a leather case with a key lock. Tyson took off his pendant and opened it, revealing it had a key to the case's lock. He opened it and revealed his greatest treasure. "Here it is!" he said holding up the card, protected in a clear plastic case.
"WHOA!" his friends shouted at once.
"T-T-Tyson," Natalya babbled. "Th-th-that's..."
"Damn right, you guys. Behold the rarest card you'll ever see. The Left Arm of the Forbidden One."
"Oh my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" Natalya squeaked, waving her hands around like crazy. "Tyson! That's incredible! Oh, shit! My blood pressure just doubled from the awesomeness! This is amazing!"
"Uh huh," Tyson said bobbing his head up and down. "I showed it to Sergei to see if it was legit and he says it is. It's got its code, the rare Phobos Corp Starlight Rare finish, and the microchip so it can be rendered in 3D. According to Sergei, it's the only Exodia piece on Aquarius."
Patty took her backpack off and fished out her grimoire binder. She opened it and unlocked a secret compartment inside one of the covers to reveal her own treasure. "Bam!" she said holding up the card.
"OOOOOOH!" the gang all shouted at once upon seeing that Patty owned the head of the monster, Exodia the Forbidden One.
"Are you serious right now!" Tyson shouted.
"Uh-huh, so I guess that means there are —" she held up two fingers with her free hand — "TWO Exodia pieces on Aquarius. Uncle Sergei confirmed it's real, too."
"That's cool and all but how come Sergei didn't tell me you had a piece of Exodia, Patty?" Tyson asked.
"You know, Tyson, he never told me you had one either. The Left arm you have is a surprise to me."
"I'm not surprised Sergei didn't reveal your cards to each other," said Yuri. "With the Duel Gang epidemic going around, it probably would have been a good idea to keep those a secret."
"Wow, I love our group!" Nick said, arms stretching toward the ceiling. "We have two of the legendary pieces of Exodia!"
"This is incredible," Yuri agreed. "I'm really happy for you guys. I really am. This just makes the Misfits of St. Augustus even more epic. Fuck the Duel King title, we have members with Exodia cards."
"Yeaaaah!" they all cheered.
Tyson stood up. "Well, I don't know about the rest of y'all but I think it's high time we got going. The Ruby Dragon awaits."
"I'm game," Yuri said.
"Wish I could, but I've got to work," said Sabrina. "Hope you guys have a good time though."
"Aww that sucks," said Patty. "When are you free again? It's been a while since we've seen you Duel."
"I'm free to hang out this weekend. So I'll definitely drop by and kick some ass with Cosmo Queen. Yuri, you and me on Saturday, alright? I want to see how well Cosmo Queen stacks up against your Black Tyranno."
"We'll be ready," Yuri said, more than happy to accept her challenge.
Sabrina said goodbye to the group one last time and left the school, afterwards, Yuri and his friends picked up their things and left the cafeteria. Once they got outside, Yuri saw Andre standing by the fountain reading texts on his phone.
"Andre?" Yuri said. He told his friends to go on without him and then approached him. "Hey, Andre."
"Oh, hey Yuri."
"Hey," Yuri rubbed the back of his head. "Uh, hey look. About what I said to you the other day..."
Andre laughed. "No, it's alright. Forget it. You were right. I don't know him, he doesn't know me. I shouldn't have heckled him the way I did. I'm the one who should be sorry."
"Still," Yuri said, "I shouldn't have snapped at you the way I did. I'll make it up to you some time."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean what do you want? What would you like?'
"Nothing really. How about a Duel?"
"That's it? A Duel?"
"It's all I ever wanted ever since I learned about your Black Tyranno, Yuri."
"Let me guess. You want to see how you stand against him, too, huh?"
"Well, yeah." Andre chuckled. "I mean, I am your school's newest Duel King."
Yuri scratched his chin. "So quickly? I mean, you managed to beat the other three kings? And in so little time?"
"Yeah, it was no big deal. Hey, just between you and me, those guys aren't as tough as they hype themselves up to be."
Yuri could only shrug. "I don't know and I don't care. I think the whole concept of a Duel King is just stupid. To be honest, it was my friends who were pushing me to beat them and become one."
"Why did they do that? I mean...no offense, Yuri, but before Black Tyranno came along, you...well..."
Yuri scoffed. "Go on, say it."
"You weren't really good."
"And I still am not," said Yuri. "You really think I would have beaten Randal Lawson without him? I used all my best cards against him and he was still dominating the match. Even with the Gagagigo cards that Crystal gave me, I don't think I would have been able to pull off my victory."
"Yeah, of that I'm sure. But I heard you got a lot of new cards since then. Your deck is pretty strong and I'd like to test out its strength myself some time. And for goodness sake, don't quit the game when you're about to lose. If you can do that for me, Yuri, we can call it even. Deal?"
"All right. Deal. Care to join us at the Ruby Dragon, Andre?"
"Sure!" Andre then remembered...he was working with the Lancers tonight. "Uh, actually, I can't. I have a lot of homework to do. I fell behind you see."
"Ha! Well, that's what happens when you make Duel Monsters a priority. There's more to life than Dueling, Andre." Yuri patted Andre's shoulder and walked off as he said goodbye.
"More to life than Dueling?" Andre said. "Not where you're going, Yuri. Not where you're going."
Yuri caught up with his friends down the street and they took the bus downtown on Phobos Island to play some games at the Ruby Dragon as they always did. Since Sam was now playing soccer in the afternoons at school, there was no need to pick him up as often, and Patty was especially happy about that.
"Hey, Yuri," Patty said as they entered the store. "Since everyone wants to take on that Black Tyranno of yours, won't you let me have a go at him?"
"Sure, I'd like to finally play you without me having to worry about getting my ass kicked," Yuri said.
Patty smiled at him and slapped him on his back. "Oh, trust me, you're still going to get your ass kicked, but at least this time you're going to put up a fight. And if you don't mind, I'd like to head to the Duel Dome and fight with real monsters."
"Might as well play there if you want to play in those immersive Duels," said Tyson. "Seeing as those Delphina Academy asswipes pretty much own that new game shop down the street."
"May I advise you all not to speak of that new place," said Natalya. "Uncle Sergei's pissed. So try to keep any talk about the place on the down low."
"Sure thing," said Tyson.
They heard girls screaming from the Duel Tables in the shop's Dueling Room. Girls from every school in Aquarius were there. St. Augustus, Phobos Academy, Landon-Baxter High School, Mrs. Anderson's School for Girls, and even female students from Delphina Academy joined the huddle. Yuri and his friends had to push and weave their way through the throng of girls to see what was the matter. To Yuri's surprise, it was Cornelius Landow, the owner of the new game shop, Paradise Gaming.
He was in the middle of a Duel against a Duel King from Landon Baxter High School, a player who was believed to be really good, but Cornelius was playing him like a fool. He picked up some golden dice and shook them in his fist. "Keep your eyes on me, ladies," he said suavely, and he tossed some golden dice on the field to boost the power of a very strong monster to attack and finish the game. The girls cheered and jumped for joy.
"I...I lost," the Duel King said. "But...but I'm one of my school's Duel Kings! I...I can't lose!"
"No? So what happened then? I just summoned a pretty monster out for display or something."
"Wow, you're good."
"I wish I could say the same for you," Cornelius replied obnoxiously.
"What was that?" the defeated Duel King asked.
Cornelius chuckled. "Nothing. You were...mildly entertaining. Ah! Now there's an opponent worthy of my talents. Yuri Montgomery! I thought I'd find you here."
Patty crossed her arms and scoffed. "Well, duh. Everyone knows Yuri comes to the Ruby Dragon after school."
Cornelius looked at Patty and grinned, studying Patty from head to toe. "Ah, and I see he keeps fine company with him. My, you are a pretty one, Pamela McKnight. So you're the Daughter of RAPTOR's Commander. Oh, and I believe you have a popular nickname amongst the plebians who have fallen victim to your deck. The Grim Reaper of Aquarius. I understand they call you that because you run a very terrifying Fiend and Zombie Occult Deck."
Tyson put his arm over Patty's shoulders. "Yeah, that's right. Only the toughest and scariest creatures of the dark lurk in her deck. Patty's the best player in our group, just ask the one-hundred and two Duelists she's defeated."
"One hundred and two victories?"
"Well, not counting the hundred times I've beaten Nick's ass," Patty added.
Cornelius's grin grew even wider as an expression of greed masked his face. "So she has skills in Duel Monsters as well as beauty," Cornelius said lustfully. He stood up and walked to Patty so he could look her right in the eyes. "Pamela, you're a very interesting specimen indeed. You're much prettier than your pictures online."
Patty rolled her eyes. "Nice breath you got there. Minty fresh. But, uh, sorry. Flattery won't get you anywhere, my dude."
"But of course, it won't," Cornelius said with a laugh. "I wasn't expecting this to be easy. If it was, I would have had no interest in you."
"Me?"
"Yes." He slid his hands over her fingers and rubbed them. "I must have you, Pamela. Long have I been your greatest admirer." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a rose. "Here. I heard you would be here at the Ruby Dragon. So I got you this."
"Really?" Patty said. "Aww, how sweet." She took the rose, sniffed it, and then...she savagely ripped a dozen petals off at once with her teeth and spit them out. She then tossed the rest of the rose over her shoulder. "Sorry, I don't do roses. Roses are what my bastard ex got me before he split for Dubai."
But that bit of theatre just further excited Cornelius. "Oh ho, ho, ho, I love you more and more, Pamela. May I treat you to dinner sometime? Please say yes. I can take you anywhere you want."
"Awwww!" the fangirls whined, wishing he would be asking them instead of her.
"No thanks," said Patty. "Listen, a second ago you were gloating about how you wanted to see Yuri. Now you're drooling over me like everyone else around here. So, let me guess. You want to challenge him to a match?"
Cornelius looked over his shoulder at Yuri. "Ah, yes. Yuri. I do have some business with you. And that Black Tyranno of yours. But...now that I've seen the lovely Pamela McKnight I would love to see her 'creatures of the night' in action sometime."
Patty grinned and then placed her hands on her hips. "Okay, lover boy. How about this? You beat my buddy Yuri in a Duel, and you and I can have our match."
"Perfect," Cornelius said at once. "And why don't we make things interesting by adding some...conditions?"
"Sure, how about this If Yuri beats your ass, you give him a payload of all your rarest cards."
"Heh, sure. I've got more than a few cards for him lying around. But that's if he wins, which he won't. Let's get back to the stakes of our Duel."
"Fine. If I win, you STILL have to give Yuri a payload of all the rarest cards you have in your store. You win..." Her smile grew. "Well, I'll do whatever you want if you win."
"Ooooooh!" everyone hooted.
Cornelius bowed. "Forgive these simple-minded folk. I would never take advantage of your terms like that, Pamela. So let's just have dinner instead. Deal?"
"Deal. But that's only if you beat Yuri."
"Yuri, I've been looking forward to meeting you ever since I heard you defeated Randall Lawson at the Duel Dome's grand opening. Very well, we'll have our Duel tomorrow afternoon after school at my game shop."
"That's going to be hard to do," said Tyson. "We were just there this morning and some of your fellow classmates kicked us out."
"Don't worry about them. I'll see to that problem at once. They uh...take their competition with your school a little too seriously. I bid you all adieu, my friends. See you tomorrow. And Yuri, best of luck. You're going to need it against me."
He walked out of the store, leaving Yuri and his friends quite baffled.
"Roses," laughed Natalya. "What a loser."
"I'll say," said Patty. "I have a feeling Yuri's going to teach him a lesson tomorrow, won't you, buddy?"
"Well, I uh...I'll do what I can."
Nick tapped his foot on the ground feeling a challenge of his own welling up inside. So this guy thinks he can waltz into our favorite store and force us to play on his terms huh? Well, two can play at that game. Don't worry, Yuri...Patty. I'll take care of you him for you guys tomorrow.
Sitting in the new garden area of the Ruby Dragon, a skinny, tall, and shady individual was watching the group of teens from his table. He sipped his tea victoriously and chuckled as his long, bony fingers typed away at the keyboard of his laptop. "Excellent, my hunt is successful," he said, viewing the bios of the group in his database.
Tyson Washington Age: 17 Sex: Male Skill Level: 4
Pamela McKnight Age: 17 Sex: Female Skill Level: 5
Natalya Darkova Sex: Female Age: 18 Skill Level: 4
James 'Yuri' Vincent Montgomery Sex: Male Age 17 Skill Level: 3
Carter Kim Sex: Male Age: 18 Skill Level 3
Nick Rogers Age: 18 Sex: Male Skill Level: Too Low to be of Importance
The man continued to type and sipped his tea. "These youngsters' rare cards will make perfect additions to my master's collection." He set his cup down on the saucer, smiling. "The question is...which one of their rare cards to I acquire first?"
Yami Yugi and Yugi - Falanta, Captial City of the Kingdom of Akuuda/Termnnia
"I forgot how hot it was here," Yugi said, standing beside Yami in spectral form as he walked out of the Wayshrine. He found himself in a market bazaar, dusty and dry from the dirt road. After taking a few short steps forward, he was swarmed by little Sunborne children. They recognized the great hero and held their arms up, eagerly waiting for him to pick them up. Yami was tired, but he used his magic to conjure a Dark Magician's hat, and from it, he pulled out candies and little toys to gift the children with. Soon all the women in the bazaar stopped what they were doing and clapped their hands and started singing. Yami waved at them all and proceeded toward the capital city of Akuuda, known as Falanta.
The city had been highly influenced by trade with the Eredasi of Domino City and had even raised tall skyscrapers their own, lighting up the twilight with their glittering windows and neon lights. Over the years, the Ivory Palace had many additions built into it, gifts from the House of Dalton for the contributions to the city. The palace rested on the top of a mountain overlooking the city. Towers of white with golden domes reached high into the sky with banners depicting the black dragon of House Walston, roaring on a crimson field with a flaming shield behind it. Mixed in with the traditional architecture, there were structures of glass and steel and white concrete with blue neon trim. Towers acting as giant cauldrons with decorative kinetic structures were glowing beautifully against the dark blue sky.
Luvia and the Twins were already starting to glow brightly in the Void.
"It's still quite beautiful," Yami said. "But I do admit, it's rather stifling here. The Sunborne are quite a hardy folk, aren't they?"
"One of many," chuckled Yugi. "They love the heat and the Berja love the cold. Uh, speaking of Berja, I'm sure he would have been very happy to know he's going to attend the university after Yuri's return."
"We have known Jon since he was just a boy," said Yami. "I know deep down in my heart he will answer our call to gather south for our meeting to discuss the alliance and their involvement with Prince Daveed." He chuckled. "Or Yuri as he has been called recently."
"I like it," said Yugi. "It matches my name. I'm telling you spirit, I can't wait to meet him so we can teach him about Duel Monsters ourselves."
Yami looked down at the boy and smiled. "I have no doubt you will be a fine teacher for Yuri."
Yami stopped at one of the vendors and bought himself a roasted fish on a stick from a shack beside the water. He added salt to the snack and doused it with lemon, then paid the man with a ruby before walking into town. Soon, more children saw him and called out to their friends; immediately recognizing him from his spiky tri-colored hair. They ran to him and surrounded him, pushing and shoving one another for the privilege to shake his hand and rub his Millenium Puzzle for good luck.
Some even took their decks out and waved them in the air challenging him to a quick game of Duel Monsters, to which he politely refused them. But the children would not take no for an answer. Before long, two soldiers from the palace guard arrived. They let out war cries, waved their spears, and shook their oval-shaped shields layered with ox hide. The children ran away, finally leaving Yami in peace.
"Master Yu-Gi-Oh," said one of the guards. "King T'Xenku is expecting you in the main audience chamber. His son is on his way back from a hunt."
"Perfect timing, then?" said Yami. "Lead me to him, please."
Yami followed the guards all the way through the city where the Akuudan people gave him a warm welcome. They cheered and shrieked ceremoniously as he passed by. Men quickly dashed into their houses and brought out drums where they played merry songs as he walked down the street. Women sang and clapped their hands as they danced at the side of the road where he walked. Yami formed a huge smile and waved at the friendly folk. Yes, Akuudans welcomed all with warm and thankful hearts. They were a very friendly and proud people. A little girl approached him with a flower, which he happily took and tucked it into one of the folds of his cape. After walking through the palace gates, the friendly cries of the folk turned to wails of agony. A crowd was forming behind Yami. The people screeched and hollered as Prince Marcel and Prince Kayode rode sadly through the city streets, up the winding path, and to the palace gates. Yami called for Marcel, but the prince did not listen. His Dark Zebra was dragging something behind it. A corpse, covered in a blanket. The upper portion was soaked with blood.
The two boys also looked like they had taken a ride through Zorc's domain. They were dirty, their clothes were torn, and blood oozed down their faces. At the top of the stairs towards the entrance of the palace, trumpets rang and drums thundered, announcing to all to make way for the king.
"What happened?" Yugi asked. "Spirit? Who is that?"
"I don't know," said Yami. He pushed and shoved past the crowd. The palace guard hurried to catch up with him and walk in front of him to let his passage through the crowd of grieving people much easier.
A skinny man wearing a cheetah-skin cape draped over brown enameled armor ran down the steps. "Okechuku!" he cried, for he recognized the blanket that was wrapped around the corpse. The dead person's feet were sticking out from the other side, caked in mud and dust. "Okechuku!" the man shouted again. He knelt beside the corpse, pulling the blanket off to reveal the body was without a head.
The man babbled in sorrow, rocking the headless corpse as if he was trying to lull it to sleep. He raised his head high and shouted: "MY SON! MY SON!" In the language of the rock people from the River States. An old woman, whom Yami recognized as Okechuku's grandmother, fell to her knees and held out her arms chanting something in her language. She was cursing the Spirit of Luck, for he chose to abandon her son. She held out one hand, which had two fingers missing. Then with the other hand, she took out a dagger and placed her index finger on the ground, still muttering her curses at the spirit. She raised the knife high and cut off her finger. She screamed and shouted more curses at the spirits for cursing her with the death of another one of her sons.
King T'Xenku hurried down the steps, dressed sharply in a black suit, shirt, and tie. A brooch of gold and diamond crafted in the form of his House's sigil was pinned to the collar of the blazer. A golden circlet with red enchanted rubies that could shoot fireballs with a thought glistened on his thick brow. Fastened around the man's expensive suit was a cape of black silk with gold chains. He looked down at Okechuku's headless corpse and gazed up at his sons.
"Who did this?" he asked. "What happened?"
Kayode looked at his father. "Baku, we finished hunting the Mad Sword Beast when..."
"I demand the story from the mouth of my son!" King T'Xenku replied sternly at Kayode. "Marcel, what happened?"
Marcel looked down at his lord father with a nasty glare. "Like Kayode was just telling you, Baku. We were successful in hunting the Mad Sword Beast whom the Grassmen wanted dead. Okechuku followed us without us even knowing. As we were on our way home, we saw smoke coming from the village and went to investigate. There were men there-"
"White Demons!" spat Kayode. "They were not men!"
"Naralian Soldiers," Marcel continued despite the interruption.
The crowd gasped. Many warriors raised their spears and shouted curses and chants for war. Women shrieked and shook about.
"You are sure?" Yami said, coming out of the crowd.
"Master! You're here!" Marcel said.
Kayode looked down at him so fast, his long dreads whipped behind him. "You? So here you are. Master Yu-Gi-Oh. You told us this alliance would keep our people safe. Instead, the Naralians now pour into our lands, slaughtering our people; burning as they go."
"We are sure of this, Master," said Marcel, holding up his hand to silence Kayode. "We hunted a group of soldiers from a recon team looking to hunt one of the sacred white oxen from the M'bakana Plains. Soldiers bearing the bear of the Fat King."
He threw a shield at the ground. The sigil of King Forrest's grizzly bear was painted on it.
Kayode spat on the shield. "The leader of the group who killed Okechuku gave us all a warning. He said that there would be more troops coming to take our lands away from us. They will kill our people if we do not accept the religion of the false god. Baku, we must go to war!"
"There will be no need for that," said Yami. "We can hold back the Naralians through diplomacy if we can work together."
Kayode narrowed his eyes at Yami and bared his teeth. "You call THIS diplomacy!" he shouted, pointing at Okechuku's corpse, his body shaking with fury. "This is no time for diplomacy! This is a time for justice! For war." He looked around, eyeing each of the people one by one. He held up his curved sword. "O'sekech! Okozi zu ana! Mamasiki Oka! Meo'tolla! Kaki Kalku!" Many of the warriors shouted with him. "Eho teyo!" Kayode continued to shout. "Eyo meya ehe! Kaki Kalku!"
King T'Xenku looked at Kayode, shaking his head. "That is why Marcel is going to sit with High King Yuri, and you are not."
Kayode did not care for those words and glared at his father. "We do not need to have of our own bending to the will of the western men!" he shouted then pointed at Yami. "You let this man brainwash my brother. Your son! He forced him to accept the ideologies of the West."
"We have been doing that since Tiberius Pendragon gave us permission to be part of this continent," said Marcel.
"We do not need them anymore!" shouted Kayode. "We have one thing that many of the western men don't have, and that is dragons! We control the all-powerful Red-Eyes Black Dragon. You wield the mount that was used by our ancestor Monique in the Dance of the Dragon Queens. Thousands of years of power, ever-evolving, and at our fingertips. Your dragon is a far greater weapon than any sword or gun the western men have."
"There is no need for any of this. We must hold back the Naralians with words, not dragon fire."
Kayode shook his head, looking at his brother in great shame. "For the white man...words are swords and blood! And now — they're his bullets!"
He turned and rode away to take his Dark Zebra back to the stables. Marcel got off his mount and shook Yami's hand. The guards were quickly taking care of his cousin's body. "Master, I am so sorry you had to see this."
"It's all right," said Yami. "I'm so sorry."
"No, it's not, alright," Marcel insisted, placing a hand on his master's shoulder. "This is not how I expected your welcome in Akuuda to be. There was so much we needed to discuss, but I fear we have found ourselves in a very grim conundrum at the moment. I'm going to need help from the other Princes. Can you call them to help my cause?"
"I would that I could, son. But they have their hands tied with King Forrest as well. Prince Jon most of all. For some reason, Forrest has amassed a huge army in Riftgaard. Prince Jaeyoung of Uzumé has already traveled there to aid him. And Prince Stas will be there shortly. If you require their help, you must help them first. They could use the Dragoon of Red Eyes."
Marcel nodded. "And they shall have him. With all of us fighting together, King Forrest won't stand a chance up there. And then we'll come here to kick him out of my kingdom. But first, my friends and I must let off a little steam on a small Naralian base by the river."
Yami smiled back at the boy with a twinkled in his eye. He, too, placed a hand on Marcel's shoulder. "I know exactly what you intend to do. I can wait until morning to discuss my terms with your father. In the meantime, you have Naralians to take care of. See to it that they suffer for what they have done to your cousin. You have my condolences."
"Thank you, Master," Marcel said, embracing Yami in a hug. "I knew you would bring light to this situation. I promise that tomorrow we will discuss every detail of the alliance with my father for as long as it takes. And please, do not mind my brother. His hate for the westerners is no doubt strong, but know that he greatly appreciates your presence. We needed a little wisdom in these dark moments."
"All little wisdom is something we all need," said Yami. "Now go, son. May the Stars of Entuli guide your path."
"And may Norman the Conqueror bless us with his strength," Marcel added. He bowed and walked away into the palace.