Author's note. As you can see, I changed the name of this chapter; why? Well, there's been some changes in the plot, due to this project being, well, rather monumental. As in, I had to divide what was supposed to take place in one chapter over several.
Suffice to say, a lot of what happened in this encounter was hard, and not just the duel. (I had to "fave" a site with info on Italian obscenities, of all things.) I'd like to take the time now to thank my beta Metal Overlord 2.0 and also 7th Librarian and Mei111 for their help.
But don't worry, unlike a former associate of mine, I always finish what I start.
I'm afraid this time I can't offer a new Shadowchaser File, but don't worry, it will be back next time.
So, without further ado…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
If you were to ask Hank what he thought his chances were right now, he'd say he was "cautiously optimistic". Which means, in a nutshell, he had not given up. Yet.
Indeed, it looked bleak. He had been forced into a two-on-two duel with a partner he, in the nicest possible terms, didn't trust completely. His deck and that of Uomo's were almost completely incompatible with each other. The duel was being conducted with electrode collars that would likely kill them if they lost. Their opponents – who had an excellent strategy with decks that seemed perfectly synchronized – consisted of a cold-blooded murderer and someone who seemed only too willing to do anything at all she told him to.
The one thing that kept Hank from giving up now was something Jalal had given him, a preparation that had been made before meeting with Uomo in case this had been a set up. For now, this one thing kept him "cautiously optimistic".
At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
0-0-0-0-0
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Chapter Thirty-Five
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Burning Gold
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
0-0-0-0-0
Outside the college, campus security was trying to keep order as the paramedics did a check and the fire department inside the buildings did a thorough check. Amid the crowd, a man with a Duel Disk was sitting at a safe distance, the communicator on.
"You want the good news or the bad news first," he said, quietly.
"In order of importance, Mr. Belmont," said Jabels' voice.
"Well, let's see," said Jeb. He turned his view to the building. "First off, we have a force-field or force-dome or something covering the promenade, where Hank supposedly went."
"Force field?" asked Jabels.
"I'm no magician, but I don't know what else to call it," said Jeb. "All I know is, nobody here can crack it. The explosion wasn't as bad as it looked, and was caused by a supply of fireworks being ignited."
"Seeing as you neglected to use the word 'accidentally', I assume this was arson."
"They think so. That's the bad news. Good news is, everyone they know was in the complex is accounted for."
"Which doesn't include Mr. Richards. Wonderful."
"You think this is a setup by Fanciullo?" asked Hank. "I don't ARRGH!"
He stopped as a very strong arm locked around his neck. At the same time, the Duel Disk was yanked away.
"Don't… scream," warned Tormento's voice.
"Mr. Belmont, what's going on?" shouted Jabels. "What the bloody hell – "
"I'll field your question, Mr. Jabels," said Fanciullo. "Let him go, Tormento."
Tormento dropped Hank, who gasped for air. Fanciullo took the Disk from Uccisore and spoke into it: "Just to make sure we're on the same page here before anyone does anything stupid…"
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Okay, let's take a look here, thought Hank.
(Hank/Uomo: 1,600) - - - - - - - - - - (Bonnie/Horatio: 11,050)
They've got their Crimson Vampire Knight Bram, Vampire Vamp – holding my monster – and that, uhm, Vampire Druid.
(2,500 ATK), (4,400 ATK), (1,600 ATK)
I've got my Condemned Maiden here, he thought, (100 ATK)
Uomo has his Infernoid Patrulea and Infernoid Attondel – unfortunately Attondel is holding their monster, but not by choice.
(1,800 ATK x2)
Uomo still has his set cards and his Well of Regrets, but…
"YARGH!"
The scream had come from both him and Uomo as the electrode collars turned on.
"Pay attention!" demanded Bonnie.
"I despise you," cursed Uomo.
"I can live with that," she answered. She made her draw quickly. "Especially since I have what I need to end this duel now. You see, because I have an Xyz Monster that is equipped with Vampire Mirror, I can sacrifice him and pay 2,000 Life Points."
Bram smiled a toothy grin, then disappeared into a crimson red mist.
"In return, for every Overlay Unit he had, I can take a Vampire from my deck, and summon both. So I'll bring out Vampire's Curse and Dark Vampire Beast."
The first summoned monster was familiar, a tall, pale-skinned vampire with white hair, armor, and leathery wings worn like a cape. (2,000 ATK) The other, however, was anything but. It was a savage-looking creature with huge muscles, plainly visible on its shirtless torso, hunched over slightly, its hands large and thick-fingered. It had wild, unkempt, tangled hair, and a face twisted into a feral snarl. (2,600 ATK)
"That's a vampire?" said Uomo, a clear tone of disbelief. "He looks more like someone the Lycans would know."
"Who asked you?" she snapped. "I can't use their effects or summon any other monsters this turn, but I don't need to. Your Life Points are at only 1,600, and I have monsters with 2,000, 2,600, and 3,500 Attack Points. Do the math.
"Destroy his Condemned Maiden, Vampire's Curse!"
Right now, Condemned Maiden herself looked far more confident than Uomo was; He had done the math, and he had no idea how this could be anything but a lethal blow. Damn, Hank, you'd better know what you're doing! he thought.
"I use my Maiden's effect!" shouted Hank. "I can only use this once, but it's potent. With her in play, I can use one Quickplay Spell this turn, from my hand. The one I choose is, Reconfigure Reborn!"
Bonnie stopped, as Curse halted. "Reconfigure Reborn? What does that do?"
Condemned Maiden closed her eyes and stretched her arms and wings outward. Light started flowing into her from above and the sides. She started to strain and groan.
"If memory serves," said Horatio, "it lets him destroy a Light-Attribute monster to summon one from his Graveyard, of up to one Level higher. So that means – "
"Exactly!" said Hank. "I do take damage equal to Condemned Maiden's Attack Score, but she only has 100 of them, so it's no big deal." The Fairy shattered into little bits. "So once again, Artifact Moralltach appears."
Once again, the pure white man-shaped figure and claymore sword as big as him appeared, flashing with light of the same color. (2,100 ATK) Bonnie giggled a little.
"That one again, huh?" she chuckled.
"I'm glad you remember it," he replied. Then he pointed at Vampire Vamp, and an even more intense storm of electricity blasted than before, hitting her solidly. She let our a soft sob, and vanished into dark, smoky haze.
Bonnie laughed even louder. "Didn't learn, did we?" asked Bonnie. "Because she had a monster equipped to her – "
"You can bring her back, right?" interrupted Uomo. "Sorry, no dice. "I use the effect of my Infernoid Patrulea, and sacrifice my now-powerless Infernoid Attondel to eradicate your Vamp before she comes back."
Bonnie stopped laughing quickly, and gasped as Vamp's card appeared and spun away as Attondel disappeared in a shower of incendiary sparks .
"Nice save," said Hank.
Bonnie was clearly very angry, but she cleared her throat and went on. "Clever. Nonetheless, Vampire Curse can still attack, which it will do to Artifact Moralltach."
The vampire let out a hiss, and lunged at the huge sword. The weapon gave off a piercing, blinding light, slicing through the vampire and pulverizing him.
"We'll get back to him, in the meantime, Dark Vampire Beast…" The savage creature looked at Infernoid Patrulea with its very long fangs, drooling.
"Uhm, on second thought, I don't think so." It grumbled and straightened up; Bonnie choose a new card and placed it in her Disk.
Lovely, thought Hank. By holding off her attack, that means Patrulea lives one more turn, but it also means Uomo has 9 Levels of monsters here.
(Hank/Uomo: 1,500) - - - - - - - - - - (Bonnie/Horatio: 10,950)
"Your move, flyboy," she said. "Hope getting rid of that was worth it."
"Worth getting rid of my monster to keep from dying, you mean?" asked Uomo.
As he drew, Bonnie looked a little befuddled, unable to reply to that.
"Yeah, yeah," he said, "heard it before. And I can remedy this by the way. Some people say rules are made to be manipulated. He tilted his Duel Disk upward. "Remember that Trap Card your Grace made me discard? Well, it was a special Trap called The Savage Void. By banishing it and one of my Infernoids on the field or my hand, I can lower the Levels of all my other monsters on the field by that of the banished monster.
"Of course, should this bring a monster to a Level of zero or lower, well, it's bad. But this time, it simply brings Artifact Moralltach's Level down to Level 1."
As Patrulea disappeared, images of several cards, the monsters in his Graveyard, lined up beside him. "That means Patrulea is gone too, so I have a lot to work with. I'll summon Infernoid Sjette from my Graveyard first, by banishing two other Infernoids."
He tapped three of the cards, and again, a strange mechanical demon appeared in burning flames, one with the overall shape of a diabolical bird of prey. (2,400 ATK)
"Next, because I've banished my own Infernoids at least three times, I can use my Well of Regrets, and get rid of it recover one of those banished Infernoids and take a specific Spell Card from my deck."
He snapped his fingers, causing the two cards to appear between his index finger and thumb as the Trap Card disappeared.
"Hey, not bad!" exclaimed Hank.
"I'm just warming up," said Uomo. He straightened his pants, quickly, then turned to the other two Vampires. "I've got someone else to summon, and I think you'll remember him."
He pocketed two more cards as a looming shadow appeared behind him. Attondel appeared again, roaring in rage. (2,800 ATK)
"Infernoid Sjette, incinerate Vampire Druid!"
The potent smell of gasoline filled the large courtyard as the mechanical bird-Fiend belched a mixture of oil-fueled flame at the veiled vampire. As she burst, flaming pieces of paper fluttered down before turning to ash.
"Warming up?" asked Hank. "I'd say you're on fire!"
They and Infernoid Attondel looked at Dark Vampire Beast, who made a low growl.
"Meh," said Uomo. The much larger Infernoid blasted super-hot flame, striking the muscular Zombie, blowing it to triangles.
"You vile bas – " started Bonnie, but was cut off as Attondel's second attack slammed into her. Her attempt to roll with the hit was clearly fudged, and she tumbled three times before falling on her face.
"That was for Tranello," he said.
(H/U: 1,500) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 7,950)
"Seriously Uomo?" said Bonnie. She stood up coughed once, and dusted herself off. "If you cared so much for him, maybe you guys should have fed him more. I mean, come on. I've seen folks living in famines who were healthier."
You little… thought Uomo.
"His diet probably would have killed him before I did," she continued. "I mean, I would have suggested turning him in. They'd have fed him better in the big house. Not like he was helping you guys much. Or you were helping him."
Uomo was about to explode, but then he heard Hank shout to him, "STOP!" sternly.
"Uomo, most of the time my reasoning would be, 'she isn't worth it'," he said. "This time, however, some would argue, but still –" He tapped the shock collar he was wearing.
"Right, right," he said. His hand now consisted of four cards, and he couldn't use the two he had gotten using Well of Regrets this turn. He took another and fit it onto the Spell Zone of his Disk, reversed, next to the other one.
"I'll set this card, and end my turn. Go on, you."
Hope this works, he thought. Hopefully, next turn, I can summon Infernoid Seitsemas and dish out some serious hurt.
He pointed to Horatio as he said it, and the tall, strange man drew a card. "It's now my Standby Phase," he said, "so the effect of Vampire's Curse activates, and…"
"That's far enough!" interrupted Uomo. "I use the effect of my Infernoid Sjette!"
"Uomo, use my Artifact!" called Hank. "Not like I can use it much now."
The mobster nodded, and Artifact Moralltach dissolved into golden glittery dust. "Again, I'll send that monster to the Graveyard to banish your Curse before it gets here."
"I'm afraid this time I can't allow that," replied Horatio. Then his set card flipped up. "I use Vampiric Alliance."
"Say what?" asked Uomo.
"It works like Divine Wrath, but with an extra twist," said Bonnie, cutting in. "It negates your monster's attack, but you get to keep it. Bad news is, you lose the other one."
"Non mi rompere I coglioni," growled Uomo. He clenched his first, and a dark, cold shadow poured from the Trap Card, seeping over Attondel and quickly consuming it before sloughing off onto the ground.
"Ahem, as I was saying," continued Horatio, "I'll pay 500 Life Points to summon Vampire's Curse back to the field with a few more Attack Points."
The ground broke open, and the tall vampire lord crawled out, the dust and dirt crumbling off as it stood up looking at them with evil eyes. It spread its wings and stretched like a man yawning. (2,500 ATK)
"Now then, destroy Infernoid Sjette!" commanded Horatio.
There was a pulsating bolt of darkness and a sound like the shattering of glass, right before Sjette was sent to follow Attondel. The electrode collars started to burn even fiercer now, even Uomo struggling to still stand.
"Now that I've done that," continued Horatio, "I'll use the Trap Card my partner recovered." Again, a set card opened, and their two opponents remembered this one.
"Side Effect," sighed Uomo. "Figures." He made three draws, never taking his eyes off Bonnie, although this time, Horatio was the one getting the two draws from Appropriate.
It's almost as if, he thought. Wait. You don't suppose…
He turned to Horatio and looked into his eyes closely, or rather tried to. His helmet seemed to shade them from view.
He turned to the three new cards he had drawn. Let's hope I get a chance to use them later.
"I'll set one more card, and then end my turn," said Horatio. "Because I used Vampiric Alliance now, I have to discard a card now, and I knew this one would be of use later."
He slipped Vampire Blood Scout into his Graveyard slot, then nodded towards Hank.
(H/U: 1,400) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 10,450)
"Okay, here we go," said Hank.
"Come on, fellah," said Uomo. He watched Hank as he drew, and the look on the Shadowchaser's face was not one of confidence. "Aren't you chimps always supposed to have some good ideas?"
"I'm trying here!" insisted Hank. "I set three cards, then summon Cardcar D."
He threw the four cards on his Disk, and the fast, bright blue, incredibly flat speedster tore across the field before screeching to a halt, as three set cards appeared in its wake. (800 ATK) He stopped for a minute, closed his eyes, and then drew twice as Cardcar D disappeared. But he didn't look at them. Or even open them.
My turn automatically ends because I used that card, he thought. All up to fate now…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
When one thinks of the organized crime caused by Prohibition, the city that usually comes to mind is Chicago. Al Capone ruled the illegal liquor trade with an iron fist in those days, thanks in part to his partnership with the openly criminal mayor "Big Bill" Thomson, who had gained his position via blatantly unlawful actions like the "pineapple primary", so named because it consisted of, among other things, Capone's men throwing hand grenades at polling places to disrupt voting. (Even worse, while Capone eventually went to jail, Thompson was never arrested or convicted for anything.)
With all the notoriety Chicago had, one would think it was the only town that had bootleggers and speakeasies, which was nonsense. Still, few ever think of Butte, Montana as a crime-ridden town, because while it was easy to get the stuff there, it was much safer.
You see, Butte had a thriving beer industry for decades, and ignored prohibition completely. No secret speakeasies supplied by makeshift gin mills; the taverns and bars never closed. The FBI knew about it, including the field office in the town itself, but they let them be. And while members of the mobs from Chicago and other parts of the east made several attempts to take over the town, none went anywhere. The locals simply told them to leave with some subtle threats, and they did.
What few know, of course, is that Shadowkind bootleggers were powerful during Prohibition too. As previously stated, one thing that unites Shadows is their love of good drink. (Ever try to tell a dwarf to give up ale? Convincing a mountain to move is easier than getting them to change their ways.)
In many ways, Shadow whiskey dealers were even worse than Capone's mob, seeing as skills in alchemy could be used in diabolical ways when combined with alcohol. For a brief time, cults of Lolth had come very close to achieving doctrines once thought to be only symbolic, such as enslaving their surface counterparts and the dwarven clans, doing it through dependence on trade rather than force. (Their flaw, of course, was devoting no resources to keeping Prohibition alive in the government.)
Again, Butte was a place where these dealers had little power, and the dealers were more approachable and amiable. This made the town one of the few places that was – technically – a safe haven for Shadow and human criminals, of a specific type.
And the symbolic nature was the only reason Red Feather could think of for why Philip had wanted to meet here. Fortunately, Penelope had come too.
"So, uh, what else did he say?" she asked.
Red wasn't listening much, looking around at the décor in the diner they were in, which wasn't all-too busy now, the breakfast rush having just ended. A bran muffin she had barely touched was in front of her.
"Never been in a greasy spoon, I take it?" asked Penelope. Red turned suddenly and looked at the silverware. "It's just an expression," added Penelope, with a small giggle.
Red changed the subject. "All this talk about government conspiracy is one thing I've never understood about humans," she said. "Parents tell children 'honesty is the best policy', then tell them how they get warts by picking their noses."
"Red, my parents said that," said Penelope, rolling her eyes.
"And after they tell them not to lie, they vote for politicians who do," sighed Red. "Why all the… dishonesty?"
"Want to know a secret, Red?" asked Penelope. "Humans say a lot of things they don't mean. It's human nature. And that's not always a bad thing. Here, let me show you something. Seeing as you likely aren't going to eat this –"
Red made no objections, so Penelope pulled the muffin in front of her. Then she tore a piece off her napkin, rolled it up like a homemade cigarette, and then stuck it in the center of the muffin.
"Say this is your birthday cake, and you have a wish," she said, "And – "
"You want me to wish someone couldn't lie, right?" asked Red. "And you'll explain how, when my wish comes true, that person will get into a world of trouble because of it?"
Penelope thought for a minute. "Okay, how about this," she said. "Wish that you could, instead, tell whenever anyone else is lying. Maybe that would be better. Go on."
That seemed interesting to Red, given her expression. She smiled a little, and made a slight puff at the phony candle
"Okay, happy birthday, wish granted," said Penelope. She pushed the muffin aside. "Now, at first this would seem like a great gift, especially someone in our business. Not only can't a suspect lie to you and get away with it, but you aren't fooled by illusion, invisibility, and other magical deceit.
"If you ever want to buy a used car, you can tell if the dealer is pulling a fast one on you. You listen to a speech and can tell whether the speaker truly means what he says. A clerk tells you that the food he sells is kosher, you know whether or not it's really kosher, and if a man flatters you, you can tell if he's being sincere, or just wants to get in your pants.
"But then, you realize, this gift has a downside."
She stopped to see if Red was listening, and she clearly was.
"When you get a bad haircut, and someone tells you it looks nice, realize he's lying to make you feel better. Every compliment said to console you starts to sound like sarcasm. You finally do meet a man you love, and eventually your heart is broken by his dishonesty.
"You can't even enjoy reading fiction novels and movies, because you have no suspension of disbelief. You find such works unreadable. You try to amuse yourself with nonfiction and books of history and mathematics, telling yourself it's enough. But it isn't, and you don't even believe the lies you tell yourself."
There was dead quiet for a minute or two. "I see your point," she said.
"And eventually you simply can't trust anyone at all," said a voice.
They turned their heads, and saw Philip leaning against the bar.
"You say that knowing the truth isn't always good?" he said. "Maybe, but so much distrust that you willingly believing everyone lies is even worse. It leads to false truths."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"I'd like to say this has all been a lot of fun," said Bonnie, "but to tell the truth, it hasn't." She drew a card, then pointed. "I'lluse Call of the Haunted to give Curse a playmate."
One of her cards lifted, and a large, stone coffin rose from below. There was a loud crack as a fist punched itself through the top. Hank didn't need to watch to know it was Dark Vampire Beast, and loud howl confirmed it. (2,600 ATK)
"Okay, let's try this again," said Bonnie. "Attack them directly, Dark Vampire Beast!"
Hank still didn't open his eyes; in fact, he was closing them tighter now.
"I use Dicephoon!" shouted Uomo.
"Now what?" yelled Bonnie.
Hank's eyes snapped open and Picchiare's set Quickplay Spell lifted. "Here's how it's gonna work," he said. "I get a two, three, or four, I get to destroy one Spell or Trap Card. A five, and I destroy two. I get a one or a six, well, that's craps. Roll!" A die was launched out of the card, and tumbled onto the field, skipping and bouncing. "C'mon, baby needs a new crate!"
It came to a halt – four.
"Bingo!" he shouted, making a pump with his fist. "I'll destroy…" His finger moved from Appropriate, to Horatio's set card, and then he spun, and pointed to one of Hank's cards. "That!"
The card shattered, and as it did, like before, a humanoid being of solid light, rust-red this time, appeared holding a weapon as big as he was, in this case a sword covered by red streaks. (2,100 DEF)
"You catch on fast!" exclaimed Hank.
"Thank you!" replied Uomo. "And Artifact Beagalltach has an effect which destroys two more of my, uhm, sorry, our set cards."
Both of Hanks other reversed cards shattered, and the red being was joined by a pale green one with a huge bow and a violet one with a giant axe. (1,600 DEF, 1,000 DEF)
"And, when Artifact Failnaught is summoned this way, I get to take another Artifact from our Graveyard, and place it in my Spell Zone."
"Well, seems you've got the whole pronoun thing down pat," said Bonnie, sarcastically. She crossed her arms and watched as he placed the new card. "Well, I guess I can't finish you this turn, so I think I'll have my monster call off his attack–"
Dark Vampire Beast did not seem happy at this at all, but Bonnie just glanced at it with a look that made it cower.
"Since both these guys are Level 6, I'll build the Overlay Network again."
The two monsters turned to orbs of shadow as the spiraling black hole opened. Then there was a piercing, shrieking cackle, and a very different undead being floated from below. It was a gaunt, impossibly thin grim reaper with a sunken, sallow face, holding a scythe bigger than itself, floating about a foot above the ground.
"Oh, we are so screwed," said Hank.
"Trite, but accurate," answered Bonnie. "Pilgrim Reaper's Points are 200 times the number of Dark monsters in both Graveyards. Currently, that number adds up to nine, but because I used Dark Vampire Beast to Xyz Summon another Zombie, all banished cards are returned to the Graveyards."
Eleven cards, all three Sorcerers, Grace, Lord, Vamp, Shadow, Duke, Blood Scout, Lady, and Crimson Knight rushed behind her quickly and then flew and shrank, flying upwards into Pilgrim Reaper's scythe as they were absorbed. (2,000 ATK)
"But why stop there?" asked Bonnie. "I'll use his effect, and give up an Overlay Unit, which means each of us discards the top five cards from our deck. Be glad that only includes you and me, Hank."
Hank gulped a little as his Disk beeped, and then five cards flew off of it and dissolved. Meanwhile, Bonnie discarded Spirit Reaper, Overpowering Eye, Pain Painter, Call of the Mummy, and Instant Fusion.
"That's 2,400 Attack Points," said Uomo, stammering a little.
"No, 2,600," she corrected. "Curse is Dark too." She placed three more of her cards, setting them in her Spell Zone. "I end my turn, and it seems you're worse off than before."
She's right, thought the mobster. Now I have fifteen Levels. It don't think Seitsemas can do the job now.
He drew, and almost hit himself in frustration when he saw what it was. Most of the time Infernoid Onuncu would win the duel for him, but this was not the time.
Damn, this is no good either. Wait, wait, let's see here. I've got this, Void Schism and –"
Then he stopped. Not even those bandages could hide his smirk now.
"I activate Mischief of the Gnomes!" he shouted. One of his set cards lifted, and a deep, throaty laugh echoed over the yard. This Trap reduces the Levels of the cards in each players' hands by two."
Bonnie was a little surprised by this. She looked at her hand of cards, down at her Mystic Tomato, and sure enough, two of the four red star icons disappeared.
"And how will that help you?" she asked.
"I'm getting to that," he said. "The Trap reduced the Level of my Infernoid Seitsemas from 7 to 5. What's more, now that Mischief of the Gnomes is in my Graveyard, I can banish it to downgrade a monster in my hand one more Level. So I'll further reduce it, to Level 4."
"Figures a yo-yo like you would have monsters that raise and lower their Levels so much," said Bonnie, closing her eyes with a sly smile. .
"Uomo, you think the security cameras around here are still working?" asked Hank. "I'm pretty sure I could make it look like an accident if – "
Then he screamed again as the collar went off.
"Just try it," she dared.
"I'll handle this," said Uomo, lifting his hand, quickly snatching another Spell. Then he turned back to Bonnie. "I use the effect of my Savage Void again."
"Wait, you already," said Bonnie. Then she stopped. Hank tried – and failed – to stifle a laugh.
"Yes, your Dark Vampire Beast sent it there again," replied Uomo. "Now all three of the Artifacts are Level 4! So I'll build the Overlay Network…"
The galactic tunnel opened only briefly, and all three Artifacts disappeared before the Network did. Gentle, serene music from a flute and string instrument started to play as cherry blossoms fell from above.
A woman in a kimono appeared, with her back to Bonnie and Horatio…
"What's going – " started Bonnie.
Then, the music turned fiercer and more energetic, as the woman spun around, throwing off her kimono and sprouting wings. Under the robe was an armored battle-skirt and a mask over her face. She looked at the assassin, and a sword appeared in her hand, glowing with radiant power. (2,600 ATK)
"That's Bujinki Amaterasu!" exclaimed Horatio.
"Exactly!" replied Uomo. "And now that I've replaced my three Level 4 monsters with one Rank 4 one, I can easily summon…"
As Uomo threw the card on his Duel Disk, the ground cracked and split around him in a ring, the smoky brimstone venting thickly. As it cleared, flames erupted from the cracks and rapidly morphed into boiling magma. It churned and thrashed like it was alive as it formed a small oasis around Uomo. Then the ground began to rumble, heralding a towering pillar of magma to erupt behind him. It began to write and twist into an elongated shape, a pair of eyes rapidly becoming visible. Brimstone was pulled towards it, forming into wings as the magma cooled into a nightmarish shape that was combined a dragon and a gargantuan insect. It cracked, crumbled and flaked off to reveal it had become an armored, scaled carapace. With a shriek that was the voice of the legion, the monster vented what sounded like a never-ending rage. (2,900 ATK)
"Well," said Uomo, looking at Bonnie. "You seem awfully speechless all of a sudden."
She didn't answer, except to look at the huge thing as it looked down at her and roared.
"Now for Infernoid Onuncu to really strut his stuff! Blazing apocalypse!"
Bonnie screamed as flames wafted across the field, in a blast so intense it seemed she was burning in hellfire, which indeed, was the case. Pilgrim Reaper was nuked, and to her shock, so was Bujinki Amaterasu.
"What, what, what," she said, slowly.
"His effect destroys every monster except himself," said Uomo.
"Good work," said Horatio, sarcastically turning towards Bonnie, his tone sounding annoyed now. "Seems sparing those Artifacts actually made it worse."
"Who asked you, you overgrown calculator?" she yelled back.
"Okay, that's a unique insult," replied Uomo. "I've been waiting for this all day, attack directly!"
Bonnie screamed even louder…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
In a dark control room, the dark figure whom Bonnie had reported to watched over a monitor. Beside him, two digital counters still kept time, ticking down, second by second the time Bonnie and BW had remaining on the Meleager Timepiece. That was not an issue now. The duel, on the other hand, was.
This will not do, he thought. He placed his hand on the panel, and the binary script changed, with a download bar quickly forming. I tried hard to accommodate your need for retribution, Bonnie, but now that need has jeopardized the greater goal.
Therefore, as of now, your assistant's programming is changed.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"We got her on the ropes," said Hank.
"Yep," said Uomo.
(H/U: 1,400) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 7,550)
Bonnie said something incomprehensible as she started to get up. Nobody noticed Horatio adjust something on his wrist that looked like a watch.
"So now comes the threats, right?" asked Hank. "The old bad guy blah-blah-blah where she tells us it isn't over."
"Pride makes people do funny things," said Uomo.
"Funny?" screamed Bonnie. "Oh, if you think that's funny, I can – "
"Bonnie, I suggest you lower your voice," said Horatio. "I got tired of your inane ranting a while ago."
"What?" she said, turning to him. "What did you –"
"I said, be quiet!" he ordered.
And then, the most violent shock of all came, but it was on Bonnie's collar. Again, she screamed, louder than any expression of pain Uomo had ever seen from her.
Uomo and Hank were taken by surprise by this, and now by the sudden change of expressions by their two opponents. Bonnie was bowing her head slightly, the bangs of her hair covering her eyes. Horatio's grim look hadn't subsided with his slightly deeper tone, even as he started to take the helmet off.
Now that they could see his full face, he looked very familiar.
"Wait, you're that, that," said Hank. "Aren't you that Domino guy, the Duelbot who was in London last week?"
"Yes and no," said the android. His eyes changed color, turning bright purple as he spoke. "I'm the same model as that Duelbot, with a few appropriate upgrades. And because B.B. Hood's lust for revenge has put the mission in serious jeopardy, it seems my programming has been upgraded further."
He yanked the electrode collar off with a single swift pull, tossing what was left on the floor. As the dumbfounded Shadowchaser and gangster watched, he moved towards Bonnie, lifting her chin and looking into her eyes, which were now the same hue.
"Indeed, that's one advantage we have over humans. Machines adapt easily, and can be altered and adjusted quickly to fit the situation. With humans and Shadows, it's harder. Such unpredictable creatures, yet often so stubborn and hard to control." They couldn't help but listen as he turned back to them; as much as this was to take in, they knew they needed to.
"You need to use diplomacy, negotiation, coercion, persuasion, intimidation, and sometimes other methods."
"O-kay, Uomo," said Hank. "Seems we don't have to deal with Damien anymore. Problem is, we have a full-grown Hannibal Lector to deal with now."
"I'm not sure that's an improvement," said Uomo, not taking his eyes off the android.
"Surrender the journal," demanded Horatio. "Or I'll take it from you."
"Yeah, we'd like to see you try it, tin man," said Uomo. He and Hank took a step back on a stance and lifted their Duel Disks. Horatio turned to Bonnie, and she lifted her head, spoke nothing, and resumed her own stance.
"Very well," said Horatio, "but with my sudden promotion from assistant to overseer, I assure you that there will be no more mistakes on her part. Now then, if I remember correctly, Mr. Uomo, it was still your turn."
"In that case," said Uomo. He fit another card into his Disk, giving him and Hank four set ones total in their combined Spell Zones. "Done. Let's see what you've got."
"Before I draw," answered Horatio, "I will activate this Trap Card." One of Bonnie's three set cards lifted, producing a card that, of all the new ones Hank had seen them use, he liked the least.
"Dark Kiss," continued the android. "Because we took damage from your monster this turn, I can now Special Summon an Xyz monster from my Graveyard with a lower Rank than your monster's Level."
As he used the card, a tome similar to the Book of Life, but with a black cover, appeared overhead. A spectral snake coiled around it, hissing at Hank and Uomo, before Crimson Knight appeared out of the haze. (2,500 ATK)
Then he drew, far more confidently, but far less enthusiastically. "I use the Spell Card, Overlay Evolution."
The Shadowchasers were now somewhat familiar with this one, but it made little sense to Hank, even as Crimson Knight vanished, replaced quickly by a second Pilgrim Reaper. (2,800 ATK)
"Wait a minute, why didn't you just use Dark Kiss to summon Pilgrim Reaper in the first place?" asked Uomo. "If you did and used the effect –"
"Then, barring some really bad luck, it would have been stronger than Onuncu," noted Hank. He stopped and looked at Pilgrim Reaper for a moment or two. "Uomo? I don't think that was a mistake."
"It was not," replied Horatio. "You see, the monster I'm about to summon is a special one. Because both Vampire Grail and Vampire Mirror have been activated and are in my Graveyard, I can banish both and pay half my Life Points to evolve my Xyz monster a second time! I use Dictum - Dark Embrace!"
He slammed the Spell into his Disk, and there was a powerful crack of unholy power surging through the ground, as moans of the dead echoed through the pavilion. Pilgrim Reaper's robes rotted away, its scythe dropping with a clatter, and its bones falling apart and turning to dust. Then, the dust was covered by a bubbling, pulsating, pool of blood.
"Pota de Cristo!" shouted Uomo.
Who's bright idea was this? thought Hank.
Slowly, an armored, humanoid figure rose from the pool. It looked like Bram, but far darker grim then before. This time, the armor, which was well crafted and ornate, but still evil-looking was not even a dark imitation of a holy symbol. The torso was shaped like a large, fanged mouth, shoulder guards shaped like uni-horned skulls and unpleasant looking backward-pointing blades on the elbow and knee guards.
He lifted a sword, and it was worst of all. There was an eye in the center of the hilt, a reptilian, bloodshot one and it moved. The sword itself was made of black metal and covered with scarlet runes that seemed to flicker like fire did. (2,500 ATK)
"Gaze upon Crimson Knight Chevalier Requiem," said Horatio.
"Believe me, I'm not gonna take my eyes off of him!" answered Hank.
"Funny," said the droid. "Gaze upon his effect too."
The Vampire knight held his weapon threateningly, and powerful blasts of lightning darted from it, striking the ground. Again, it broke open, and Infernoid Attondel was yanked from it, situating itself on Horatio's side of the field. Well, sort of. It looked more like a fossilized statue of Attondel (if metal could fossilize) rather than a real one.
"How'd you do that?" shouted Uomo. "Infernoids are NOMIs."
"But that doesn't keep me using your monster as an Overlay Unit," replied Horatio. Requiem lifted his sword, and as the statue turned into thick, tarry liquid, drew it into the weapon.
"Normally, that would be all, but Requiem is a monster specially designed to be summoned via the Axiomatic magic inherent in that Spell Card, meaning it now gains another effect. If you declare an attack or use an effect with a monster that has the same Type and Attribute as one of the monsters that Requiem is using as such, but different than Requiem himself, he can detach and Overlay Unit to banish your monster, plus deal damage equal to your monster's Score."
"But that means," said Uomo. He looked at Onuncu. "Mannaggia!"
"Given what my internal translator says," replied Horatio, "I would say you get the point. exactly. It's your move, Shadowchaser."
(H/U: 1,400) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 3,725)
Hank knew what the word meant too, and it wasn't a nice one. He started his turn by drawing, then looked over at his partner.
"Uomo, I think we can do this, but I can't do it alone," he said. "You with me?"
Uomo stopped in the middle of starting to speak, but then just nodded. Hank nodded back.
He was probably going to answer with sarcasm but changed his mind, thought Hank. Good sign there.
"All right, I'll set two more cards, then summon Star Drawing."
There was a girlish giggle and shower of fairy dust, as a young girl with a pink dress, cape, yellow helmet, and a beret, and a toy wand stepped out in front of Hank. Her happy expression turned pouty quickly when she saw Requiem. (1,600 ATK)
"I'll end my turn," he said, looking back at Bonnie.
Acting rigidly and less human even than Horatio, ironically, Bonnie's hand drew a card. Without even looking at it, she placed it on her Disk. "I summon Vampire Druid," she said in slow monotone.
"I kind of liked her better when she was giving us the dumb banter," said Uomo.
The odd vampire woman appeared again, this time her quiet, veiled face somehow showing more expression than Bonnie. (1,600 ATK)
"So, uh, just what is that one's story?" asked Uomo.
"An elven vampire," mumbled Hank. "Vampirism is worse for them, it causes their faces to become marred and deformed. And that means they have to –" He stopped quickly. "No offense."
"None taken."
"I then use the Equip Spell, Symbol of Heritage," said Bonnie, as if nothing had happened, "to summon Vampire Sorcerer to the field."
The stranger variation of the resurrection symbol appeared, along with the dark wizard Vampire. Then, as they expected, Druid pointed her staff, and Sorcerer flew into Infernoid Onuncu's chest. The fire demon quivered, shaking and wavering. (1,400 ATK)
Druid leveled her shillelagh at the beast, and a powerful bolt of blackflame piercing through the center of the fiend and leaving a gapping hole straight through it.
(H/U: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 3,725)
"I activate the Trap Card, Void Schism!" shouted Uomo. One of his two cards lifted up, and a small black hole opened, sucking the broken remains of Infernoid Onuncu through it. "Now, because I took damage from my Infernoid's destruction, I can get a banished Infernoid back in exchange for it."
A card drifted out of the wormhole, meandering up towards Uomo's hand. He caught it as the portal closed. "It has to be a lower Level, of course, but Onuncu was Level 10, so there's no problem."
"I proceed to Main Phase 2," said Bonnie, still speaking in the monotone. "I banish Necro Defender from my Graveyard."
As she placed the card in her dress, a weird looking Fiend appeared beside her, like a black boulder shaped like a skull with a smaller horned skull for a head, and two huge arms which it used for legs. It disappeared as an angry-looking version of the same skull appeared on Requiem's shield.
"Until the end of your next turn," she said, addressing Uomo, "its effect renders Crimson Knight Chevalier Requiem impervious to destruction by battle. I'll set one card, and it is your move."
Uomo looked at her new set card. Then he was about to draw, but he stopped. Under his bandaged face, he closed his eyes.
He wasn't worried about what he would draw. This next move – he was pretty sure he knew what Hank had in mind, and if he was right, the two of them would have to time it perfectly.
He made his draw.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
As Emily and Ferdinand went over the piles of magazines, books, and tapes, Oswald sat in a chair watching, slowly sipping coffee.
"Well, this is out," said Ferdinand. He tossed another one on the reject pile.
"Okay," said Emily. She glumly looked at the list of requirements again, and what they had ruled out, seriously wanting to chuck it. She hadn't even been able to change out of this vampire costume yet, and everyone was getting tired. "What does that leave us with?"
"How about that one?" asked Oswald, his tone a lot different than before.
Ferdinand looked at what he was pointing to, an open magazine. Then he stood up as he picked it up.
"Oswald, you are a genius!" he exclaimed.
"So what am I?" asked Oswald, "a genius or a creep?"
"You're a creepy genius!" exclaimed Ferd. He read the profile on the old magazine carefully. "Yeah, this will work! Hi five!"
He held up his hand, and Oswald responded the usual way. Emily leaned back in her chair and let a long breath out.
"You're a lifesaver, Oswald," she said.
"Well, if you really want to thank me," he started.
"Don't push your luck," she added.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"From my Graveyard," announced Uomo, "I banish three more Infernoids to summon Infernoid Devyaty!"
There wasn't as much of a show this time, even though the Fiend was clearly just as large as the last one. It simple loomed upward a dark shape looking downward, before revealing itself fully. It had the same general shape as Onuncu, serpentine, draconic, and demonic, but slimmer, more graceful, and lithe. (2,900 ATK)
"This monster is Onuncu's counterpart, but while he destroys monsters, this one destroys all Spell and Trap Cards on the field."
"Wait, you're actually going to," started Horatio.
Devyaty's optic sensors started to glow with the same hellish light he had seen in the previous one; clearly, the answer there was "yes".
"So impulsive," said Horatio, shaking his head. "I activate Requiem's effect!"
"Actually, you won't," replied Hank. "From my hand, I sacrifice Artifact Lancea."
"Wait, what?" said Horatio. There was a flash of cyan, with one of those odd humanoid figures again, this time holding a huge spear with a wide blade on the end.
"I'll tell you what," said Hank. "Lancea's effect means no banishing allowed this turn. That means your monster can't use its effect on Devyaty, no matter how hard it tries, so the effect is good to go!"
Lightning bolts crashed down from below, first crashing into the Appropriate card, then Bonnie's two set cards, Dark Bribe and Magic Cylinder, and then, Hank's three set cards. As the smoke cleared, Artifact Caduceus, Artifact Beagalltach, and another Artifact, a huge Scythe, situated themselves in front of Hank. (1,600 ATK, 1,400 ATK, 2,200 ATK)
"Now that I've done that," continued Uomo, "I'll set two cards, and activate Void Imagination."
He played the remainder of his hand, and two set cards appeared, with a Continuous Spell in front. The pavilion around them started to, well, bend, as the dimensions were twisted and distorted by a strange rippling emanating from the card.
"Now I'll send this card to the Graveyard," he said, "which lets me make a very special Fusion Summon. I take it by the look on your face that you already know how this works, or maybe you have that info in your hard drive or whatever, but I'm going to tell you anyway; because you have a monster that came from your extra deck, I can use up to six monsters from my deck for the Fusion."
Hank watched carefully, making note of the cards – only four, actually – that Uomo was discarding. Devyaty disappeared too, as a larger, bulkier, more intimidating shape – if that was even possible – took the devil Fiend's place, one with shimmering black armor that reflected images of stars, galaxies, and other celestial symbols on the surfaces. (3,000 ATK)
It turned towards Bonnie, and odd letters appeared on its wings. .
Gzitvg rwvmgrurvw. Yzyb Ylmmrv Sllw. Hkvxrvh: Sfnzm. Wzmtvi ovevo: Hveviv. Gsivzg klgvmgrzo gl gsrh fmrg zmw hfiilfmwrmt zivz: Hveviv. Ivxlnnvmwvw hlofgrlm. Gvinrmzgrlm.
It turned towards Horatio, and the symbols appeared again.
Gzitvg rwvmgrurvw. Slizgrl ER Hkvxrvh: Xolxpdlip Hdliwhnzm. Wzmtvi ovevo: Fmevirurvw. Gsivzg klgvmgrzo gl gsrh fmrg zmw hfiilfmwrmt zivz: Klgvmgrzoob. Ivxlnnvmwvw hlofgrlm. Gvinrmzgrlm, yfg kilxvvw drgs xzfgrlm.
"Because I used six monsters to create Infernoid Tierra," said Uomo, "both I and Bonnie send three cards apiece from our decks and Extra Decks to the Graveyard."
Bonnie obeyed quickly, first discarding her top three, then sending Underworld Fighter Balmung, Reaper on the Nightmare, and Giltia the D. Knight, while Uomo sent his top three, along with Scrap Archfiend, Gem-Knight Pearl, and Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth.
"Did you forget our Necro Defender?" asked Bonnie.
"Bonnie…" said Horatio, a scolding tone in his voice.
"Thanks for reminding me," said Uomo. "Infernoid Tierra attack Vampire Druid with Accursed Malediction!"
The blast of powerful energy that spouted from Tierra's maw was like binary symbols mixed with white hot fire. As Vampire Druid was hit, Bonnie grunted and clutched her stomach as the three remaining electrode collars started to spark.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Back at Copek, in Addams' office, Dunstan was leaning over the Device, sweating heavily from his brow, as Addams was watching.
"Let me have that socket wrench one more time," he said.
Addams handed him the tool, but he didn't use it right away. He looked at the five gems very carefully, then moved his hand towards them, looking for something.
Then he carefully turned the wrench on one of them a quarter turn clockwise, then very slightly counter.
There was a sound like an odd chime, and he dropped the wrench, as the Pan Dimensional Homing Device came to life.
He and Addams stared into the central gem, mesmerized, viewing it as they would the Earth from far away. They saw moons, planets, and stars rush by, then saw a galaxy within the gem, which grew distant, joined by more galaxies. The whole cosmos was stretched out before them in a vast display that would put Imax to shame.
Dunstan shook his head to get the fog out of it. "Wonder if I'll ever get used to that," he mumbled. "Still –" He collapsed on the chair behind him. "It's done. Well, I'm done with it."
"Then you can take the rest of the day off," said Addams. He cracked his knuckles outward as he stood up. "Let's hope five years in mothballs hasn't made it too rusty."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Crap, what hit me?" asked Bonnie. She shook her head and yanked at the collar, which crumbled like a stale cracker. "Horatio, what's the score?"
Damn, thought Horatio. He looked That blast seems to have not only shorted out the collars, but the feedback to the nanos in her bloodstream have been compromised. Going to have to finish here before she realizes it.
(H/U: 1,200) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 2,325)
"Your move, Johnny Moronic," said Uomo.
"This is such a bore," said Horatio.
"What's going on?" asked Bonnie. "What is that thing?"
"Quiet!" ordered the android. He drew a card, then used it. "Again, I'll use Requiem's effect, and because I learned from last time, I'll take Artifact Durendal this time. What this means is, by the way, I can use Requiem's effect against a Fire Attribute Fiend and a Light Attribute Fairy."
"And I thought we were screwed before," said Uomo.
"And if you think that technological monstrosity of yours is safe simply because it has more Attack Points," added Horatio. He flipped around the Spell Card he had drawn. "I use Power Within, Power Without. All I have to do, is detach one of the monsters Requiem is using as an Overlay Unit, and its Attack Score is added to his."
He slid the normal Crimson Knight's card out from under Requiem's card. Uomo's finger tensed. (5,000 ATK)
"Five Ks?" he stammered.
"Yes, that is enough to defeat Infernoid Tierra," replied Horatio. "But then, I'm not a fool. That's another benefit computers have. We have no need of the foolish ego that most duelists would have that would compel them to strike at such a target." Then he turned towards Star Drawing. "…nor the morals that would keep us from striking at an enemy's weakest point."
The monster turned to Star Drawing, and the young Spellcaster squeaked.
"Attack that urchin!" ordered Horatio.
"I activate Nutrient Z!" yelled Uomo. As the vampire knight lunged, the Trap opened.
There was a crash of thunder and a ring of steel-on-steel as the blade sliced Star Drawing cutting her in half down the middle. She dissolved, her wand falling to the floor in two pieces. The two reluctant partners felt pain for a moment but it slowly went away.
(H/U: 1,800) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 2,325)
"You two think you're so clever?" said Horatio. "Well I can be clever too."
He used another card, and the Swords of Revealing Light shot across the field, creating a cage between the two teams.
"You call that clever?" asked Bonnie. Despite an apparent headache, given how she held her forehead, she seemed to have recovered. "It's the oldest trick in the game."
"Will you shut up?" snapped Horatio. "It's your move, Shadowchaser."
"Good thinking there, Uomo," said Hank. "We're not screwed yet."
Still, there was a quiver in his voice, and his hand shook a little as he drew his card. He had been hoping to use Star Drawing's effect to Xyz Summon – as she was safe from that thing's effect, but he had thought ahead.
The one card he had, he couldn't even summon, and even if he could, it wouldn't help much against that thing; it was a Light Fairy.
He made a draw, and his face fell. Okay, now we're screwed, he thought. That one was even worse. Damn it, Jalal, what were you thinking telling me to –
No, no, can't blame Jalal, he and Dolores meant well. They couldn't have known.
Then he stopped as Uomo interrupted. "Well? "I thought you had a plan. Don't tell me all archaeologists are like that?"
"I did, kind of," replied Hank, "but – " He stopped, suddenly.
"We're waiting," said Bonnie.
"Uomo, don't breathe," said Hank. He pointed at Uomo's final Trap Card, and it lifted up, Call of the Haunted. Silently, Artifact Lancea appeared in place. (1,700 ATK)
"I draw once due to the effect of Artifact Caduceus," he said. He slowly slid the top card off of his deck.
"Aw, shit," he said.
"Figures," laughed Bonnie. "Bad draw, huh? Don't you two get it?"
Here we go again, thought Horatio, shaking his head.
"Oil and vinegar!" she laughed. "Nitro and glycerin! Ketchup and donuts!"
"Hey, I like them that way!" snapped Uomo.
"Figures," said Bonnie. "You just don't see it do you? The whole reason we led you into this duel was because –"
"Uh, Bonnie?" said Hank. The assassin stopped and looked at him.
"Just kidding…" he added.
Before she could question that, he used the card he had drawn, a Spell she had never seen. "Oath of Honor?" she asked.
To everyone's surprise except Hank's, Caduceus, Lancea, and Tierra turned into orbs of light and darkness that formed a spiraling column of stars reaching towards the heavens.
"What are you doing?" screamed Hood.
"Winning this duel?" replied Hank. "I know what you've been saying, Horatio, how computers tend to analyze the best paths and take the ones that lead to the best chance of success." He fit the card into his Disk. "But don't think so lowly of us organic lifeforms who use creativity and effort to explore new alternatives and options. Risky, yes, but without doing so, all the circuits in that rusty box you use for a brain may not have been invented. Nor would Jalal have come up with this card, which will be available for the whole organization soon.
"It's an alternative for Shadowchasers whose decks just aren't designed to use a Synchro, but it works pretty well for team duels too. By sacrificing ten Levels of monsters comprising of at least two Types and Attributes, I can summon someone special from my Extra Deck! Of course, this particular Synchro monster would usually have some specific requirements to summon, so I have to pay 1,000 Life Points. Still, nothing is free these days. So once again –"
"Heir to a legacy of a lord of Shadows! Prince and founder with a great destiny! Come to lead your troops into battle once again!"
There wasn't as much furor and glory this time as Dragonprince Jalal appeared, but it was still him, appearing stern-faced, and maybe angry too as he stared down Bonnie. (2,500 ATK)
"Wait, if you summoned him that way," said Horatio, "it would mean he can't use his effect."
"Someone did the research, it seems," said Hank. "True, he can't use his effect, but he can, for this turn only, use the effect of any monster in my, uhm, our Graveyard of dissimilar Type and Attribute that isn't a higher Level than himself, so long as I banish it."
He waved his hand, and several holographic Infernoid cards situated themselves in front of him. "But his remains Warrior and Light, so he can get around that effect of yours. So –"
He started to point to Attondel, but then his hand was grabbed.
"Hold it!" demanded the Uomo. "NO."
Hank looked at him. "Uomo?"
"Wrong one…" whispered the gangster. "Allow me…" He moved Hank's hand to another one.
"Oh, good choice," whispered Hank, nodding, with a diabolical smile.
Not a good sign, thought Horatio. He looked at the pulverized remains of the electrode collars. And with my only means of control over our human pawn smashed, it's time to cut my losses.
"The card I'm banishing is Infernoid Antra," continued Hank. "That means I can use its effect to send one of your cards to your hand, like Swords of Revealing Light."
Jalal pointed, and the holy blades disappeared with the card. Horatio said nothing.
"And you left out one thing about that Power Within, Power Without card. True, it can potentially give an Xyz monster an incredible boost of power, but only on your Battle Phase. On mine, the bonus turns into a penalty. See, I learn this stuff, it's another advantage humanshave."
"Can you just ice him already?" prompted Uomo.
"My pleasure," replied Hank.
Jalal ran his hand over his blade, and eldritch runes encircled it, as Crimson Knight Chevalier Requiem's Score fell to nothing, he smote the abomination through the chest, running him through.
Requiem fell to his knees, his sword and shield falling with two clatters… Then he shattered.
(H/U: 800) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 0)
Hank let out the breath he had been holding as the barrier surrounding the pavilion started to crack, then collapsed himself, falling to his own knees.
"Yo," said Uomo's voice.
Hank looked up. Uomo was lending his hand. Slowly, Hank took it.
"Nice job, Shadowchaser," he said, "just don't start thinking this makes us roomies, okay?"
"Wouldn't think of it," replied Hank.
"Hey, check it out," said Uomo, pointing. "Looks like the genius just blew a fuse!"
Hank looked, and Horatio was crumpled on the floor in a heap, an arm having fallen off and his face expressionless.
Or maybe he shut himself down, thought Hank. That Dictum card...
Then there was a crash as the door behind them was kicked open. "It was unlocked, stupid!" shouted a voice.
"Lovely," said Uomo. He crossed his arms as Drago and Tormento ran into the courtyard. "What took you two dingbats so –"
Then he stopped. Hank heard a nervous tick in what he had said. He turned his head as Fanciullo walked in.
As he looked around, Jeb walked in too, with Dante and Ophelia behind him.
"Hey, boss," called Drago. "Think this heap still has those cool cards he used?"
Fanciullo turned to see him and Tormento leaning over Horatio's remains. "Even if he does, I doubt it still works," he answered, "but see what you can find." He turned to Hank. "Well, that could have gone better. Where's Bonnie?"
Then Hank and Uomo spun around. They had forgotten about her.
"Don't tell me she's gone again?" moaned Tormento.
"Let her go," said Fanciullo. "Hopefully whoever is behind this whole deal will get rid of her for us. At least you two won." He looked at Hank. "That was close."
Hank nodded. Then he glanced at the two cards he didn't use, Sky Scourges Enrise and The Puppet Master of Dark Ruler. He wiped away sweat before quickly tucking them into his pocket. Next time we look up a mobster's deck and find out he uses Fiends, he thought, we'll double-check again on the specifics.
As he withdrew his hand, the odd journal came with it. "I think this is what she's after?"
The don nodded, and Hank went on. "Then its time we figured out just why…"
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
WELL OF REGRETS (Spell Card)
Continuous Spell
Image: Kozaky collapsing by the side of a well in a dark forest surrounded by twisted, dead trees, the broken remains of Woodborg Inpachi and Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand in front of him. Behind him, a very large, dark figure looms over the trees.
Effect: When 1 or more "Infernoid" monsters you control are banished from your Graveyard, place 1 Infernoid Counter on this card (Max. 3). You may send this card and 3 Infernoid Counters to the Graveyard to select 1 of your banished "Infernoid" monsters and 1 "Void Imagination" from your deck; add both selected monsters to your hand. You may not summon the selected monster or activate or set the selected Void Imagination the same turn. You may only control 1 "Well of Regrets"
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
VOID SCHISM (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: The Dimensional Fissure opening on a Mountain Field as Infernoid Attondel and Infernoid Piaty watch in the foreground.
Effect: Activate when an "Infernoid" monster you control is destroyed by battle and you take Battle Damage; select 1 of your banished "Infernoid" monsters and add it to your hand.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
THE SAVAGE VOID (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: Infernoid Onuncu howling as it crashes through a burning forest; a volcano erupts in the background.
Effect: If this card is in your Graveyard, you may banish it and one "Infernoid" monster you control or from your hand to use this card's effect; Reduce the Levels of all monsters you control by the Level of the banished monster. If a monster would be reduced to a Level lower to 1 by this effect, destroy it and inflict damage to your Life Points equal to the destroyed monster's ATK.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
VAMPIRE MIRROR (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: A mirror showing Celtic Guardian peering at his reflection at a sideways glance, and Vampire Lady in the background with a smug smile; he clearly doesn't notice her.
Effect: Equip to an Xyz monster you control; you may Tribute the equipped Xyz monster and pay 1,000 Life Points for every Xyz Material it has to special Summon 1 DARK, Zombie-Type "Vampire" monster for every Xyz Material it has. If you do, you may not Normal Summon, set, or Special Summon any other monsters this turn.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
DARK VAMPIRE BEAST (Monster Card)
Zombie/Dark/Effect/Lvl6/2,600/1,800
Effect: Cannot be Special Summoned from the deck. If this card is used as an Xyz Material for a Zombie-Type Xyz monster, return all banished monsters to their respective owners' Graveyards.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
CRIMSON KNIGHT CHEVALIER REQUIEM (Monster Card)
Zombie/Dark/Xyz/Effect/Rank6/2,500/2,800
3 Level 6 DARK Zombie-Type monsters
Effect: Once per turn, you may select 1 monster from your opponent's Graveyard and attach it to this card as an Xyz Material. If this card was Xyz Summoned via the effect of a "Dictum" Spell Card, it gains the following effect: If an opposing monster with the same Type and Attribute as a monster equipped to this card attacks or activates an effect, you may detach 1 Xyz Material to negate the attack or effect and banish that monster, then inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's base ATK. You can only control 1 "Crimson Knight Cavalier Requiem."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
DARK KISS (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: Vampire Lady holding Celtic Guardian in what looks like a typical seductive vampiric embrace, her fangs bared, yet pausing, glancing slightly over her shoulder with a slightly worried look, suggesting something caught her attention right before she was about to strike.
Effect: Activate during your opponent's turn if you take damage during your opponent's Battle Phase via a direct attack with a monster that has a Level. Select 1 DARK Zombie-Type Xyz monster with a lower Rank than the Level of the monster who's direct attack you took damage from and Special Summon it.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
VAMPIRIC ALLIANCE (Trap Card)
Counter Trap
Image: A female figure with long, green hair and a brown dress, seen from behind on the balcony in "Vampire Takeover", watching as a Totem Bird and a Bitleon fly towards her.
Effect: When a monster effect is activated and you control at least 1 face-up DARK, Zombie-Type monster: negate the effect, and then select 1 monster except the monster whose effect was negated. Destroy the selected monster.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
DICTUM – DARK EMBRACE (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A scene a few seconds after "Dark Kiss", from another angle, with Vampire Lady more confident now, her fangs much closer to her still unresisting victim's neck.
Effect: Pay half your Life Points to activate this 1 Xyz monster you control, then banish 1 "Vampire Mirror" and 1 "Vampire Grail" from your Graveyard that had been activated previously. Select 1 Xyz DARK Zombie-Type monster from your Extra Deck that is 1 Rank higher than the selected Xyz monster and Xyz Summon it using the selected Xyz monster as an Xyz material. (Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials on a monster summoned with this card.)
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
POWER WITHIN, POWER WITHOUT (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: A dramatic scene with Queen Dragun Djinn casting a mighty spell at a Tyrant Dragon; behind her, Lord of D and Gagaga Caesar are cowering.
Effect: Equip to an Xyz monster you control. During your Battle Phase, you can detach an Xyz Material from the equipped monster; if the detached Xyz monster is a monster card, the equipped monster gains ATK equal to the ATK listed on the detached monster's card while attacking an opposing monster for the damage step of that Battle Phase only. At the End Phase of your turn, reduce the ATK of the Equipped monster by the same amount until your next Standby Phase.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
OATH OF HONOR (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: Two warriors – one clearly Jalal, the other an elf-like man with cat ears and a jerkin – storming through a fortress door as an armored trope of orcs scatter.
Effect: Activate when you control at least 2 Level 5 or higher face-up monsters; Tribute every monster you control to summon 1 "Dragonprince Jalal" from your deck (this is considered a Synchro Summon) with its effect negated. Then, you may banish 1 Level 5 or higher non-Warrior, non-LIGHT monster from your Graveyard for the Special Summoned monster to gain the banished monsters effect until End Phase of your opponent's turn. At the End Phase of your opponent's next turn, destroy the monster Special Summoned by this card.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Next: It had run into an unexpected snag, but it seemed the meeting with Fanciullo was a success – and then some. Indeed, it would seem Bonnie, despite having escaped, had made a rather amateur move with would cost her. An agreement between Jalal and the mob boss that had once been distrustful at best could quickly be cemented into an alliance, now that a common – and very dangerous – enemy was known.
Still, the danger had not yet passed, as the only thing now preventing a brutal murder of an injured Shadowkind and possibly dozens of civilians was a rookie Shadowchaser whose mentor had been having trouble with.
And while next chapter will indeed have the conclusion of this duel, it's high time you, my loyal readers, along with Red Feather and Penelope, found out just what Philip was hiding.
"The Cold Hard Facts of Life" is next.