Shadowchasers: Conspiracy

by 0ccam's Razor

A fanfic of the Shadowchasers by Cyber Commander. Odd things are happening, and Shadowchasers all over the world are encountering criminals with strange and peculiar goals. Is a conspiracy afoot, or is some deeper plot in the works?

45. Joyride

Hey everyone!

Things have been hectic lately, moving to a new apartment is taking a lot of my time, but I still have time to write, and finally got a new one out.

Now, for sake of space this time, I will only detail fanmade cards. If you see one you don't recognize as real, it's likely anime-only.

I must again give credit where credit is due. The new Dark World cards that appear here are from Rocket Knight 777 while the File is from 7th Librarian.

So… Onward.

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Monte Carlo is a city that to some is hard to understand, but to others is understood too well. If you're proud to be Moroccan, belonging to a family who has lived there for centuries, the city may well be your source of income, but NOT a place you can enjoy yourself much.

The city, and indeed all of Monaco, is all about one thing, money. As in, other people's money. Their healthy and prosperous economy comes from persuading rich folks from other nations to spend it until they're broke. Citizens are forbidden from entering the lavish and fancy casinos (even the royal family isn't allowed there) so as not to jeopardize its reputation as a primo tourist destination. (Or "tourist trap", as some would say.) It's a practical tax haven, has more millionaires and billionaires per capita than any other country, and the lowest poverty rate in the world.

In other words, it is a society based on Greed. A successful one.

Usually it is accepted that love of money for its own sake is a shallow and selfish way to act, but oddly enough, it works. If anything, a city like Monte Carlo can throw the beliefs of a pious man off and lead him to question the benefits of his beliefs.

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Chapter 42

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Joyride

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"Nice place," said Eden.

Of course, if by "nice" she meant gaudy, tacky, and downright loud (in more ways than one), she was right. This was the first time Wells had ever been in a hotel casino where the lobby had D-Wheel access.

The place was twice the size of the typical ones in the states and seemed to combine the feel of Kaibaland with a dragon's horde. Marble pillars with gold trim, carpets of an uncomfortable red color, and colorful gemstones were everywhere, clearly just paste, but still shiny to the point of blinding. Weird looking statuettes were a common theme too, resembling, as Wells later described, a fat, laughing genie made of gold. Many of the slot machines were modeled after the same odd genie. The waitresses and blackjack dealers wore gold fabric too, although the outfits were, well, possibly obtained at the same place the Harpie Lady Sisters might have shopped.

It wasn't just the bling. A fountain in the center had water that sparkled, with holographic "statues" of that same laughing genie and scantily clad sylphs who occasionally winked and waved at anyone who walked by.

In fact, only the very loud and distinctive noise confirmed to Wells he hadn't entered the lair of the most materialistic dragon that ever existed.

"Okay, we're here," he said to Eden. "Now what?"

"He's already here," she said. "We just have to get him to show himself."

She motioned over to a set of pinball-like slots, clearly the ones for high-rollers with big - but chancy - payouts. The one Eden pointed to looked rather grandiose, a weird… thing on the top.

"You know, that seems… familiar," said Wells. He looked at the ugly, smiling jar, which was even more disturbing than the Pot of Avarice.

"Beatrice called it the Pot of Riches," answered Eden. She started digging through her pocket.

"There's an urban legend among high-rollers that slot machines produced by the Wingizmo Novelty Company can be used as a prismatic roulette should you use the right combination of coins." She tapped the side of it, where the name of the name of the designer - Wingizmo Novelty Company - was printed on a small plaque.

"And I assume you're going to play it," asked Wells.

He had heard of 'prismatic roulette', a dangerous wizard's version of Russian roulette. The game required a device enchanted with six potent curses or magical afflictions (how dangerous or deadly depended on the whim of the maker) and one benign one, always the violet beam. When the game was activated, each player would be hit by one of the beams, the one getting violet winning. It seemed like a seven to one gamble, but the device also gave each player two counter-curses, also randomly chosen and kept secret from each player. (So, if nothing happened, you were safe, but would start the next round with one remaining. The game would typically be played until someone won or all players had been struck dead, turned to stone, banished to another dimension, or eradicated by one of the seven hexes.)

She nodded. "No idea if the legend is true, but I do know that something happens when you use a specific coin combination."

She placed four coins - a 2 Euro coin, a 100-yen coin, an American quarter, and a British pound sterling into the second, fourth, first, and third slots in that order. Then she grabbed the handle and yanked it.

"Be ready," she said.

The Pot's teeth flashed with multicolored light, and then its eyes turned violet.

"Okay, come out wherever you are," she said.

Around them, the room started to turn hazy and misty, but not from mist. Wells had seen this before, it was powerful time-altering magic.

The Tempus Fugit effect, he thought. Advanced acceleration…

This incredibly powerful magic was something even Rayearth would hesitate to try. The spell was cast upon one subject or a small number of them, and in layman's terms, the subject would move so fast for the spell's duration that everything else seemed to stop cold by his point of view.

"Well, what do you expect a quarut to do?" asked Eden.

"The slot machine does it, right?" he asked.

She nodded, and he started to visually scan the room with his hand on his weapon. If he built it, I hope it's working better than he is,

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Elsewhere.

Karen had woken up a few times, though only long enough to confirm this all wasn't just some continuation of the horrible nightmare.

Eventually, however, she woke up enough to stand up, and survey her situation a little more thoroughly. Beatrice hadn't lied; she remembered no dreams, and felt a little empty and hollow, even if she was well-rested.

She was in a cellblock that looked like the ones in the Shadowchasers facility, a large, circular room with four cells, including hers, and all were occupied. One cell contained a gnome (likely a svirfneblin, given his big nose and lack of hair) the second a verbeeg, a large, muscular brute with tusks and no hair. Each had the same body-lock she had, clearly adjusted for size.

She felt the bars. Solid, but not much of a barrier. She could likely squeeze out if she tried. Not that she was going to try. She had seen some movies about nanomachines, how they could invade a victim's bloodstream and then…

Dear God, she thought. The idea of an army of microscopic robots in her veins was rather unsettling, which was likely why so little research had been done on it. Got to focus...

She looked at the third cell, which had the most startling occupant. It looked like a troll, only half-again as big, with four arms (one growing from its chest), three legs, and two heads, one of which lacked eyes. The body-lock on it was also shackled to the wall with thick chains, and its only other clothing - other that an extra-large version of the pendant she had - was a dirty and torn pair of trousers. It was asleep, with saliva dribbling from its mouth as it snored.

As she was looking at it, she noticed something on the wall above the cell, A bright green gemstone about the size of a fist. If it was an emerald, it was likely worth a king's ransom.

Then she noticed a red one above the gnome's cell, and a brown one above the verbeeg's. Something occurred to her, and she started to examine the bars again, looking for an opening big enough to poke her head through.

"It's blue," said a high-pitched voice. "Trust me."

Karen turned and saw that it came from the gnome prisoner, who had just stood up. "Blue, you know, an Elysium blue crystal, one with a Water enchantment. Oh, where are my manners? Fezzel Gingersnap at your service. But call me Fezz."

"Here we go," grumbled the verbeeg, who seemed annoyed at the gnome's enthusiasm.

Karen looked closely at her pendant, which was set with a green stone, presumably a smaller version of the one over the troll's cell. "So how -" she started.

"There's one on your back too," said Fezz. "Here, look." He turned around, showing a smaller red gem on the back of his. He adjusted his glasses and continued. "Ever hear of the Xing Zen Hu Dragon Cards?"

"Should have warned you kid," sighed the verbeeg. "This guy's mouth has no off-switch."

"Will you clam up, Berger?" snapped the gnome. "Not like I've got anything else to do."

Karen had indeed known quite a few gnomes who were boastful know-it-alls, but this one did seem to be onto something. She had indeed "heard of" that dangerous magic item and the deadly Shadow Game it could create - it was usually number three or four on the list of cursed items the Chasers were looking for. She just nodded and said, "Mmm-hmm."

"See, Beatrice figured that if one element can defeat another on the old rock-paper-scissors chart, she could strengthen the same element using the odd one. It's a system that links to these things." He lifted his arms, indicating the body-lock. "Water strengthens wind, which defeats earth."

"Meaning we're out of luck," sighed Karen.

"More than you know," replied Fezz. "She even has the four large ones enhancing each other in a continual chain." He pointed to the top of his cell, then to hers, then Berger's, then the troll's, then his again. "I tried to study it a little, but…"

"- as in, fucked up completely," interrupted Berger.

"You stay out of this," snapped Fezz.

"He managed to swipe a screwdriver and tried to take his collar apart," said Berger, turning to Karen. "That's when we found out about the other security in this place."

Karen changed the subject quickly. "What's his story?" She pointed to the troll.

"Most miserable case I've seen," sighed Berger. "Ms. Center of Attention was experimenting on regeneration, and did, uhm, something to this guy. This is what she got, a mutant who was stronger and even dumber than a troll is to begin with."

"Poor devil," said Fezz, nodding. "Every week or so she comes in here with a special droid programmed to do vivisection techniques."

The formal-sounding word was one of the most horrific ones a Shadowchaser was likely to hear when dealing with criminals. Vivisection was like dissection, with one big difference - it was done when the subject still lived. For a while, at least. Practitioners rarely used anesthetic.

"They drain his blood and then yank out his liver, or eyes, or a kidney, or something else. Then he starts to regenerate. Takes a few days for him to recover, and then they do it again. But he always regenerates wrong, and gets uglier each time."

The worst part was, as sick and cruel as that sounded, it made sense. Troll blood had often been a key ingredient in potions that healed or granted strength.

"A living organ bank," she sighed with another shiver. She tried the bars again, shaking them a little. "Looks like some relative of mithril here."

"Yeah, you'd be the expert on that too, huh?" said Berger, looking back towards Fezz.

"Will you be quiet?" snapped the gnome.

Abbott and Costello live, thought Karen.

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Wells looked around. Everything was frozen. The slot machines with players had halted in mid-spin along with said players, and the bartender who had been mixing drinks had stopped mid-pour. It all looked like a movie that had been hit with a freeze frame, just not a movie.

Eden smirked slyly, then turned to a waitress and took a plate of crab puffs from her tray.

"This is nuts," said Wells.

"Tell me about it," said Eden, with her mouth full. "Was kinda hoping for some tartar sauce here."

"Same old Eden," said a familiar voice. "Always with the wrong priorities."

Wells' hand tensed on his weapon as he saw Domino, holding a hostage, someone who, at first glance, looked like Karen, albeit with her eyes and mouth covered with duct tape and her hands bound.

"What do you expect, Domino?" she asked, again with her mouth full. "I've had a limited budget the past year because of the conditions of that bargain."

"NOT my concern!" he replied. "I believe this is the one you wanted, Mr. Wells."

The hostage whimpered sadly through the tape. Still, this didn't seem to persuade the effect in Wells that Domino intended. "Mmm, that's not her, you realize," muttered Eden to him, as she continued to munch on the crab puffs.

Of course, Wells did know that, mostly because Karen wouldn't be so quick to give up, as this one had. Still, it seemed to be a real human woman, so it was very, very likely she was a real hostage.

"Strange how she's barely putting up a fight," answered Wells. "Tell me something, Domino, how can you even be here when there's a bunch of broken metal gears and plating in our evidence locker that used to be you?"

"It helps to be prepared, Mr. Wells," said Domino. He tapped the side of his head with his free hand. "This replacement was built long before the old one was destroyed, and downloading my memory into it was a simple matter. Rest assured, I'll remember every little minute detail of that duel the next time your leader's heir becomes a problem. And that is far from the only improvement the new model has."

"Mmm, you work on a cloaking program?" asked Eden. "Offhand, I'd say Horatio's new model needs to work on that."

As she ate the last crab puff, she spun around, kicking Horatio - who had, indeed, been sneaking up on them - in the face, knocking his head clean off.

Wells drew his weapon there turning on Domino, a powerful swipe cutting through the arm holding the hostage, and a second bisecting the torso. He jabbed the point into the floor and caught the deceptively heavy woman - actually a mannequin, it seemed - before the pieces of Domino's body even hit the floor.

"Should have figured he was pulling a double cross," he said. "Talk about a dummy."

"Two down," said Eden. "And here comes the third!"

She was pointing up, just as Baroq pounced from the balcony above. Wells yanked his sword free in time to block the snarling android's claws.

"You guys were faster the first time," the old Shadowchaser grunted. "What happened?"

Wells got no answer, not that he needed one. He pushed his foe off him and then stabbed with the blade, running him through.

"Used to be more talkative too. These guys are supposed to be improvements?"

It sure didn't look that way. The three androids who had been such trouble before were now broken even worse than the ones in the evidence locker.

"No," said a far-more familiar voice. "They were nothing more than cast off shells."

"Diogenes," said both Wells and Eden.

The far more imposing android, this time undisguised, was in front of them, clearly having stood there the whole time, unseen. It seemed a cloaking device had been installed.

"As you implied," he said, "making improvements on an upgraded model is difficult, thus the reason Domino, Horatio, and Baroq exist. They are simply three extensions of the will of one singular entity, used to gather, store, and eventually transmit the information needed for the actual upgraded model."

"And I suppose that's you?" asked Wells.

Diogenes sighed (well, it sort of sounded sort of like a sigh) before simply saying, "Concepts like these are wasted on humans. Surrender the gautiere now."

"Over my dead body," threatened Wells. He leveled his sword as he made eye-contact with the droid...

...and in the next second, there was a blur as it rushed towards him, and a loud CRACK as the blade shattered into pieces.

I really gotta stop saying that, thought Wells.

"Yo, bolt brain! CATCH!" shouted Eden.

Wells almost screamed when he saw exactly what she was throwing at him - the slot machine. Indeed, Diogenes' eyes - or what passed for them - seemed to widen a little as she lifted it above her head with both hands and hurled it.

"You stupid mortal!" screamed Diogenes. He dove for the device and struggled to catch it, falling flat on his face but managing to do so.

The biggest irony there is, while Wells had heard such a phrase many times before (implying that mortal beings lacked intelligence or common sense), this was the first time he agreed with it. He seized Eden by the hand and pulled her as he made a rush for his D-Wheel.

"You have any idea what would have happened if that broke?" he scolded.

"The advanced acceleration effect would have been disrupted prematurely," replied Eden, "potentially causing a rift to tear in the fabric of reality and risking a cataclysm that, worst case scenario, might cause the universe to implode? Yeah, but I was hoping he'd try to prevent it."

Wells mounted his bike as the very angry platonic behind them started to get up. "Might have actually brought some competent platonics here too."

"Just get on and hold on!" he ordered.

He hit the ignition and tore out of the showroom, taking the first off-ramp they passed, going up, over the building, and over the city, as they felt the odd sensation of the Tempus Fugit effect passing. Wells breathed a sigh of relief as Monte Carlo started to move again.

"We've got company, Wells!" shouted Eden.

To the Shadowchaser's utter and complete shock, Diogenes was chasing after them on foot. To his even greater shock, he was gaining.

"Looks like my hunch about a teleport lock is true," he said, "problem is, we can't leave that way either." He turned slightly. "Yo, canner! You want this kid so bad? I'll play you for her!"

Diogenes eyes flashed with raw fury, and Wells' control panel buzzed, the Duel Mode system coming on by itself with the city route being plotted already.

"Okay, I'll take that as a yes," he said.

The platonic's optics turned violet, and as it sped after Wells, the void of Speed World 2 formed around it. The time for negotiations was over. His deck swung into position as five cards slid off and affixed themselves to the side.

DUEL START!

(Wells: 8,000 SPC: 0) - - - - - - - - - - (Diogenes: 8,000 SPC: 0)

Diogenes slid towards the side of Wells' Runner, skidding as he slowed to keep pace. "To make it fair, we'll play by tournament rules. The first to the next bend gets the first turn."

"Fine, that's fine with -" started Wells.

Before he could finish it, Diogenes accelerated to twice the speed he had been going, and turned the bend, rotating slightly to look at Wells while moving backwards.

"Figures," shouted Eden, "the only reason you guys want rules is so you can exploit them."

"I see no problem with that," replied Diogenes. As he continued his backwards movement, six holographic cards appeared in front of his face, the backs to Wells. "After all, Laws control how the universe works, and thus, learning how to master and exploit them makes one the master of everything. Whoever masters every law becomes the Prime Mover and moves the cosmos to his own whim."

"Is he always like this?" asked Wells.

"Uh-huh," said Eden with a nod.

"I summon Brron, Mad King of Dark World," announced Diogenes.

There was a horrible, cackling laugh, and the demonic king landed from the sky, stumbling as he landed, his poor balance evident from the straightjacket he wore. Which he quickly tore apart while laughing maniacally, revealing a muscular, well-toned torso with grey, pebbly skin. He hissed and lifted his claw menacingly as he faced Wells. (1,800 ATK)

Oh, we are so screwed, thought Wells, clearly realizing what sort of deck his foe was using.

Diogenes pointed to another of its card, and it turned to a set one behind the Mad King. "I end my turn, human," it said.

"Eden," said Wells, "not gonna lie here, my deck isn't exactly, uh, how do I put this… Kaiba-ish, so…"

"Understood," she said with a nod.

"I summon Kuribon," he continued.

He flipped a card on his dash and a cute little Kuriboh with feminine eyes and a long tail topped with a red ribbon floated in front. (300 ATK)

As he set three reversed cards, Diogenes looked closely at the small Fairy, and within the enchanted machinations that made up his brain, a quick scan followed by a quick search brought up an image of the actual card. He read it quickly, and two pairs of numbers calculated. A red one, which measured 12%, and a blue one which measured 85%.

"Your move, bolt brain," said Wells.

"Humans and their childish insults," said Diogenes with a shrug. "It's so… undignified." He nodded, and a fifth card appeared. "I summon Karnaysha, Wicked Queen of Dark World."

With the new card came a fierce, female version of Brron, which, while more lucid, looked just as evil. Her talons were even longer than those of her spouse, and she had long, wavy, pink hair, and a pink dress that, while elegant, was ragged and torn. (1,500 ATK)

"Attack the Kuribon," he said, pointing.

As the Wicked Queen pounced, Wells tapped the card, and it slid from the console. "Kuribon's effect lets it escape the field!" he yelled.

"Much less a benefit to its master than it is to whoever opposes him," replied Diogenes, "as I gain Life Points equal to my monsters Attack Score. Attack the human directly, Mad King."

As often as he did this, Brron's rather savage leap took him by shock, the horrid Fiend grasping the windshield and hissing as rather realistic-looking saliva dripped.

"BEAT IT!" cursed Wells. His fist slammed into Brron's face, but the King merely backflipped away, giggling evilly as he skidded backwards in front of them.

Brother, thought Wells. I hate Shadow Games.

(W: 6,200 SPC: 2) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 9,500 SPC: 2)

"Not only can I know discard a card via Brron's effect," continued Diogenes, "I can discard a second via Karnaysha's, and that second discard is treated as if discarded via your effect." Two cards from his hand turned forward and increased in size. "Thus, I use Brron's effect to discard Snoww, Unlit of Dark World, and Karnaysha's to discard Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World."

The two cards dissolved, and a new one appeared with the others. "I gain one Dark World card due to Snoww's effect, and Lucent's effect summons itself."

"Hold on tight," warned Wells.

He swerved as hellfire erupted from the street in front of him, then maneuvered around two more bursts, before a bulky, ugly demon ripped through it, a horned, winged beast with a skull-like face, its armor seemingly made partially of bone and partially of reptilian scales. The armor was shiny and reflective. (2,400 ATK)

"And this demon's effect calls out Vilot, Musician of Dark World."

The summoning was less destructive, but no less dramatic. The highway darkened, and spotlights shown from above, with a cloaked figure in the center. As the light came back, it threw the cloak aside, revealing a Dark World Fiend in a sharp-looking tuxedo. (Well, as sharp as a demonic foot-soldier from Hell could possibly look.) (1,250 ATK)

"Its effect raises the Attack Scores of all Dark World monsters by 300 points," continued the android. (Vilot: 1,550, Brron: 2,100, Karnaysha: 1,800, Lucent: 2,700)

"I stand corrected," muttered Wells, "now we're screwed."

"So, let's proceed with the onslaught," he said.

Vilot waved its baton, casting a dark magical spell shaped like a musical scale on ribbons, darting towards Wells with horrid, off-key music.

(W: 4,650 SPC: 2) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 9,500 SPC: 2)

Then, Lucent spread its bat-like wings, pointing at him as he flew overhead. "Okay, ENOUGH!" he shouted. "I activate Counter Gate!"

As Lucent's fiery whammy shot towards him, the Trap expunged a portal that absorbed it, but continued to glow. "This Trap forces Lucent to back off, and then I draw once. If it's a monster, then I can summon it." He drew, then smirked before slamming it on his dash. "Marshmacaron!"

A small, pink dollop of jelly flew out of the portal, a pair of curious, black eyes appearing in the center of it. (200 ATK)

"You stopped one attack," said Diogenes, "but seeing as it's in Attack Mode, it's a weak effort against what I'm summoning with this Trap Card." It opened, and Vilot and the stands of music-ribbons encircled Vilot as he flew upwards to join Lucent, the strands entangling both.

"With Urgent Tuning, I combine them," he said, pointing upwards and directing the two Fiends flying through the glowing Synchro rings.

"The primal energies contained within these monsters combines to spawn eldritch Evil blackest than the darkest Shadow…"

(*3 + *6 = *9)

"Synchro Summon, Taion, Defender of Dark World."

There was a crash that shook the whole highway as a Fiend twice as large as Lucent crashed down from above. Not twice the size as far as height was concerned. It was only slightly taller, but almost as wide as it was tall. It wore metal, dun-colored armor and fatigues, and a bandoleer over his chest with knives, hooks, cleavers, and other unsavory blades. (2,800 ATK)

"Hate to beat a dead horse here about deciding just when we're screwed, but," said Wells.

"Trite, but accurate," answered Diogenes. "By summoning this beast, I discard one more card, and I do so with Broww, Hunter of Dark World, which enables me one more draw." As he tossed the card and gained a replacement, Taion crouched on one knee (even while flying backwards along with its controller, an odd sight to say the least) and lifted a huge rocket launcher with a skull on its muzzle, aiming for the trembling Marshmacaron.

"Eradicate the Marshmacaron," ordered the platonic.

"I discard my regular Kuriboh!" answered Wells. He discarded the card, and there was a popping noise as a dozen Kuribohs floated forward and positioned themselves between him and Marshmacaron. As the blast hit and the tiny fairy splattered, the Kuribohs burst, shielding Wells from the blast.

"Troubling," surmised Diogenes.

"How about double trouble?" asked Wells. Two globs of jelly landed in front of him, quickly turning into two Marshmacarons. (200 DEF)

Diogenes didn't answer for a few seconds, then simply nodded. "Taion's effect moves it to Defense Mode." (3,100 DEF) "And for now, my turn is done."

"Well, I have a couple of things to do before I start," replied Wells. His other cards turned up and around. "Card of Sacrifice gives me two draws, as the combined Attack Scores of my two monsters is less than yours. While the other one…"

"Kuriboh Piper?" exclaimed Diogenes, looking at the card, his tone expressing a What the fuck? implication at the sight of it.

Wells smirked, then made the two draws. "I can use this card at the end of your turn and any of your turns," said Wells, "to summon one of these little guys from my deck for every Level 1 Fiend and Fairy monster that was sent to the Graveyard that turn. It costs 400 apiece, but worth it, now that I have Relinkuriboh and Clear Kuriboh,"

(W: 3,850 SPC: 3) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 9,500 SPC: 3)

A Kuriboh with darker fur and sharp, metal claws floated out and chirped. The second was even stranger; it looked like a toy plastic Kuriboh, but then split in two, a shell-like covering opening to reveal a second, then a second shell opening, revealing a purple Kuriboh. (300 ATK x2)

"Finally," he said. He made his regular draw as the counters went up to three apiece. "First, I'll set two cards, and Overlay the two Marshmacarons to build the Overlay Network and summon Slacker Magician!"

The two facedown cards appeared briefly, then like before, the lazy sorceress appeared, hardly as impressive as most Xyz summons. Even though there was nothing for her to recline on, Slacker Magician was asleep when she appeared, curled up on some unseen surface that somehow moved with the D-Wheel. (2,000 DEF)

"Now I'll sacrifice my two Kuribohs, to summon Arisen Knight Gaia."

The two tiny Fiends chirped again, then turned to black orbs and dissolved. There was a whiny of a horse and a loud gallop, and a monster as contradictory to Slacker Magician as night was to day charged from behind on a fierce mount. The powerful armored Knight looked fiercer than ever before, his lances pointed forward at the defending Fiend. His armor was different than the older Gaia, sleeker and streamlined, plus not as full, a gap under the chest and bare limbs showing a muscular torso. (2,300 ATK)

"Impressive," replied Diogenes, "though still insufficient."

"You want sufficient? How about Speed Spell - Emergency Assistance?"

The card appeared, and sirens started flashing all around Wells and over the highway. Eden winced a little at the loud noise, though she still heard Wells order, "Attack Taion with Spiral Spear Strike!"

"What?" replied Diogenes.

Gaia charged, his lances aimed at the Defender's gizzard. Unfortunately, the weapons barely dented its tough hide.

(W: 3,050 SPC: 3) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 9,500 SPC: 3)

"Perhaps your stills in basic arithmetic are lacking, human," said Diogenes with a smarmy tone.

"Uh-uh," said Wells, "it was exactly what I wanted. See, this is where Emergency Assistance comes in. The call takes a while to respond to, as in, the whole Battle Phase, but now that it's Main Phase 2, I can Overlay Slacker Magician." He turned to her. "Wake up!"

Indeed, neither the siren nor the noise made by Gaia had caused her to stir, but via that shout, slacker Magician's eyes opened…

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"Hate just doing nothing," mumbled Francis.

"Well, we can at least dig a little deeper," replied Karl. "Philp may well have been onto something here."

He was typing again at a laptop in the Chicago penthouse, going over every website archives, while Sal flipped through others on her own screen. Currently, he was reading a newspaper (it seemed) with the headline, "98 Homosexual-Recruitment Drive Nearing Goal".

Francis looked over his shoulder. "What's that, MAD magazine?" he asked.

"No, The Onion," replied Karl. "Everything this magazine prints are satire, but it's scary how often people believe such stuff is true. Here's another one." He clicked, and the article changed to one that said "Planned Parenthood Opens $3 billion Abortionplex Compound".

"They call it Poe's Law. Some people want to believe something is real, or they're so terrified of it happening, that even an article meant as satire of the desired or feared subject can often be taken as fact, Here, look at this."

He switched screens, and profile came up with links, titled The Report from Iron Mountain.

"Isn't that Amazon?" asked Francis.

"Yep, the book was written in 1962," replied Karl, "and now it's in paperback and Kindle. It was written in the format of a heavily footnoted government report detailing an experiment by operatives who studied the effects a lasting state of world peace might have. They concluded that such a situation would be detrimental to the economy, and not only advised that peace efforts be halted, but slavery be reinstated, and that violent blood sports be introduced to encourage violence."

Seeing the look on his friend's face, Karl went on. "Of course, it was all complete fiction, and despite the author being a well-known political satirist, many influential folks believed it was true."

"You'd have to be pretty stupid…" started Francis.

"Would you consider President Lyndon B. Johnson 'stupid'?" asked SAL. "Supposedly, even he was fooled by it."

"Get outta here!" shouted Francis.

"No joke," affirmed Karl, "his aids claimed he 'hit the roof' when he read it. And if a complete fabrication can fool him, imagine what -"

He was interrupted by a loud rumbling sound. He turned to look at Francis, then rolled his eyes.

"Eh, sorry, haven't eaten much since the deal with Sheeva," he said.

Karl resumed typing. "Now that you mention it, I'm hungry too," he mentioned. "We have any of that cake left?"

"I think -" started Francis. Then something hit him. "Hold that thought."

He rushed into the other room, an idea having hit him along with the realization he should have seen it before…

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Slacker Magician stood up and stretched, drinking in the energy radiated from the Overlay Network. (2,100 ATK)

"Overlaying Slacker Magician causes her to become Downerd Magician, and gain 300 points per Overlay Unit," continued Wells. (2,700 ATK) "And due to my Emergency Assistance Spell, she can resume the battle for one powerful attack."

Downerd Magician cupped her palms together, and then made an underhand hurl, throwing a bolt of green plasma at the Mad King of Dark World. There was a gurgling shout, and he burst.

(W: 3,050 SPC: 3) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 8,600 SPC: 3)

"All right, Downerd Magician has to give up one Unit, and I have to end there because of that spell, so it's your go." (2,500 ATK)

As Diogenes produced another card, his eyes focused at the two set cards, the images of dozens of Trap Cards flashing before him, each with a calculated percentage next to it, as he tried to analyze what they likely were.

This human is… Unusual, he thought,

"I summon Diceclops," he said.

Like a particle beam branching down from the sky, a hulking battle droid with curved horns on the shoulders and steam shooting out of pipes on its arms. Its head was a cube with a single red optic on it. (1,800 ATK)

"This Machine's effect chooses one number at random. A roll of one discards a card from your hand, a roll of six discards all of them, while any other result discards one from mine."

"A celestial steward of Law using a dice card," sighed Wells. "Will wonders never cease?"

"True, the roll of a die depends mostly on chance," replied the platonic, "but seeing as my cards are Dark World, every result in this case is a benefit."

The cube-head turned red, then started to spin rapidly on the robot's shoulders, coming up on a side with three of the glowing optics. "Very well, I send this card to the Graveyard," said Diogenes, pointing to one, causing it to disappear. "When Graii, inventor of Dark World is discarded such, it is not only summoned, it becomes a Tuner Monster."

There was a maniacal cackling, and a small Fiend leapt in front of Taion, a creepy wicked-looking imp with a glass dome replacing the upper half of its head. (100 ATK)

"Now I Tune Graii, and Taion together," he said, the two demons launching themselves above the racetrack, diving into ten points of starry light.

(*1 + *9 = *10)

"I Synchro Summon Blak, Executioner of Dark World!"

"You want to reconsider that part last time about how much we were screwed?" asked Eden.

The gigantic Fiend with coal-black skin towered over them, the ugly-looking axe it held bigger alone than Wells' D-Wheel. He had heard Penelope and Red Feather talk about this thing, and not with pleasant words.

(3,300 ATK)

"Just hold on!" he urged to his passenger.

"I am holding on!" she replied.

"Then hold on harder!"

"Typical," said Diogenes. "Via Blak's effect, I discard both my remaining two cards."

The cards - Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World and a second Broww - revealed themselves before disappearing, and then Beiige appeared again, an ugly demon foot-soldier with a metal band over his eyes and a spear. (1,600 ATK)

"I draw one card because of my Huntsman," said Diogenes. He drew, then used it immediately. "Not the best, but Zure, Knight of Dark World is sufficient."

An even uglier demon appeared, with boney scaled armor, a cape, shark-like teeth, and horns oddly situated on his temples (1,800 ATK)

"So, what are you gonna do with those guys?" asked wells.

"Uh, Wells, you do know he's got four monsters that are all the same Level, right?" mentioned Eden.

"Dark World Xyzs?" he exclaimed. Then he stopped, and said, "Eh, should have figured."

Karnaysha, Beiige, and Zure turned into dark shadows combining as they spiraled into the Network.

"I Xyz Summon Klaatu, Bounty Hunter of Dark World."

There was a mumbling, incoherent sound, a monster appearing with it that looked like a muscular Fiend wearing a gas mask and camouflage fatigues. At second glance, however, it was clear that he was wearing little but a pair of trousers, the camouflage color being the shade of his scaly skin. Half the forearm of his right hand had been replaced by an odd-looking twin-barreled laser rifle. (2,050 ATK)

"You're creative, I'll give you that," said Wells, "but that's all I'll give you."

"Wells, know how Sword Breaker works?" asked Eden. "This guy does the same thing, but without attacking."

"Indeed," said Diogenes. "By naming Spellcasters and removing an Overlay Unit, Klaatu can eradicate one such monster."

The Bounty Hunter aimed at Downerd, and red crosshairs slowly started to center on the mage…

"ONE SIDE, BUB!" shouted a voice, breaking the concentration and causing the Xyz to stumble. The interruption had come from the most unlikely of sources, a goblin driving what looked like a bumper car designed as a taxi.

"Want a piece a'me, big guy?" dared the goblin. Despite facing an enemy driving such a ridiculous get up, Klaatu yielded, lowering its weapon.

"What?" said Diogenes, flatly.

Wells smirked again, indicating the Continuous Trap that the angry driver had come from. "My Goblin Cabbie isn't someone you want to mess with," he said. "Once per turn, he can block an attack or a monster's effect."

"Hey, I ain't runnin' a carpool here, fellah," it quipped.

"I was getting to that." replied Wells. "Each time I use this, you draw once."

Diogenes gestured, a new card appearing in the air in front of him. "It matters not, as my regular attacks can still suffice."

Blak lifted its axe, seeming to grow as Downerd started to cower. Wells' other Trap lifted, creating a dome of multicolored force covered Downerd.

"It's called Rainbow Barrier," said Wells. "Again, you draw once, but this card summons a Kuriboh from my deck and draws your monster's attack to him."

There was a small squeak, and Winged Kuriboh flopped up in front of Downerd. (200 DEF) Blak looked puzzled, but gave a swat, knocking it away.

"I admire your determination," said the platonic. "Ironic, however, that these two facedown cards," he set the two cards in his hand, "are both the result of those efforts. And I can still use the effect of my Bounty Hunter next turn,"

"So, that mean those two cards are the type that blocks an attack?" asked Wells.

Diogenes didn't reply right away, but even though his face was inhuman and mechanical, Wells could swear it turned white. "It is your move," he finally said.

"By the way, I can use Kuriboh Piper again, and pay 400 more Life Points to summon Kurivolt."

The crackling sound of static caused a decidedly different kind of Kuriboh to appear, it was spherical, with red circuitry on its back and a jagged lightning bolt above the eyes. (300 ATK)

"It gets the job done," said Wells. "My move…" He drew a card, the Speed Counters clicking up as he shifted the gear, speeding past Diogenes and skidding in a half-circle. Kurivolt started to crackle and spark.

(W: 2,650 SPC: 5) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 8,600 SPC: 5)

"What's going on?" demanded the platonic.

"Ain't it obvious?" asked Wells. Electricity surged from the little guy, and two cards were yanked from Klaatu's chest, Beiige, and Zure. "Let's see him do it without those, and by the way -" The two cards shrank and turned into a second and third Kurivolt, alighting above him. (300 ATK x2)

"Now I'll Overlay all three Kurivolt into Mira the Star Bearer!"

Lighting cracked again, and the three Thunder monsters turned to golden dust, flying through the Network. A tall, fat alien with a long robe, brown shoes, a small, horned helmet, and a very large, red, sunburst on its chest landed next to Downerd. It had a pudgy face and big nose, and lengthy, blue hair. (1,000 DEF)

Then he played another card, and another Kuriboh, dressed with a bandana and an eyepatch, appeared with it. (1,000 ATK)

"A Kuriboh pirate?" asked Eden.

"Aye, matey!" replied Wells. "Downerd, show no quarter to that sniveling sea slime!"

Downerd giggled a little, then pointed and sent a powerful blast towards the Bounty Hunter of Dark world, blowing a hole right through it.

As the Fiend shattered, Gaia charged towards Diceclops, a lance impaling it through the torso; the Machine sizzled, sparked, and exploded.

(W: 2,650 SPC: 5) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 7,650 SPC: 5)

Wells shifted and took off down the racetrack again, even as Downerd fell to 2,300 Attack Points.

As surprised as Diogenes seemed, Eden could barely believe what she was seeing.

Could he possibly WIN? she thought.

"You're on, big guy." Then tone lowered. "Just stay focused, Eden, just keep telling yourself we're gonna make it." He slammed a card on the console, and it appeared set. "I'll drag us both out of here on foot if I have to."

"Then he spoke up. "I sacrifice Kuribandit," said Wells, "so it can plunder the sea chest. See, I get to take the five cards off my deck, and if any are Spells or Traps, I get to keep one and send the rest to the Graveyard."

The tiny Fiend disappeared, and the Solid Visions showed five cards to him, two of which were Spells. One of them clearly not a Speed Spell. He pointed to the other one, and it formed next to his others, the three monsters and the inappropriate Spell disappearing.

"Your move," he goaded. "Still coming, big guy?"

"Big is subjective, as my Executioner is bigger still," replied Diogenes. He drew, then pointed, with Blak responding to the gesture. "While your Trap is still an issue, I can at least benefit from it. Attack Downerd Magician with Chaos Rend."

"I'm not going to do that this time," said Wells, especially because I have the Trap Card, High Half!" The facedown card lifted, and Blak gasped. "This Trap can only be activated when a monster with 2,000 Attack Points of more attacks, and your Blak has over three thousand. Thus, well, as the name suggests…"

Blak's score tumbled to 1,650, and Downerd responded, a swift kick below the waist causing the Executioner to drop its weapon with a painful groan before it shattered.

(W: 2,650 SPC: 5) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 7,000 SPC: 5)

Before Diogenes could even react or say anything, cheers started to erupt around them. He turned his head to see that everyone in the casino below and indeed, most of the city was watching, due in part to the duel being broadcast on huge screens over Monte Carlo.

"Listen to that, big guy, seems our duel is a hit," said Wells, the sarcasm rather clear. "Of course, Downerd Magician loses another Overlay Unit, but at least that big lug is gone." (2,100 ATK)

Ugh, this is embarrassing, thought the platonic. "Just take your turn, I'm done with this one!"

"Gladly," said Wells. He made a draw, then used one, causing a jovial harlequin to leap in front of him via somersault. (0 ATK) It produced a long pipe and started to play on it. "Now you're really gonna pay the piper, because Mystic Piper's effect lets me sacrifice him to draw once." He drew, then turned the card forward, showing that it was Sphere Kuriboh. "And because this is a monster, I get another."

He drew again, and as he arranged it on the holder, Gaia lifted his weapons and Downerd started casting her incantation. A long, metal staff with a wide tip appeared in Mira's hands as it moved to Attack Mode. (1,100 ATK)

This is unreal, thought Eden. She watched closely as the three monsters went to charge the android, and she felt her heart beat faster… A feeling she hadn't felt in a very long time, one she barely knew she was capable of feeling, was welling up in it.

She put her hand over her heart, to make sure it was there, and it was. The feeling.

It wasn't hope. No, she never truly lost that, although the only thing she ever hoped for was closure. Maybe not importance either, but she seemed to know it was the feeling that could grow into both.

The feeling she had was something she had believed from birth was simply not there, a common feeling for the gautiere.

As Downerd and Gaia's attacked slammed into Diogenes, causing him to stumble and stagger, showing Eden finally felt worth. She finally felt like her existence mattered…

For the first time in her life, she felt purpose.

Not a purpose, that was an easy thing to gain. She felt a twinge now that seemed like purpose in general. Like how being a predator towards insects was a frog's purpose in the ecosystem. It now was something she felt like she had been deprived of and starved for a long time, despite never having wanted it before.

Of course, it was clear that the only feeling Diogenes had was anger. Before Wells could order his final attack, he used one of his Trap Cards. "Damage Gate summons Brron back from my Graveyard," he commanded.

The giggling Mad King appeared a second time, the bonds holding him again. (1,800 ATK)

"I'll set one more card facedown," replied Wells. "And it's your move."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Look, Hans, the thing is…" started Bartholomew. He was talking on the phone held in place with his shoulder while reading from a book on the counter, while slicing carrots. "The deal was we could… GUH, gotta run."

"Bartholomew, who was that?" asked Francis, whose sudden appearance in the kitchen was the reason he hung up.

"Nobody, it was, uhm, wrong number," said the brownie, quickly, and started chopping the carrots more thoroughly.

"Isn't 'Hans' your brother's name?" asked Francis. "As in, the guy who owns that bakery I got the cake from? That was the guy I wanted to talk to you about."

"Look, he knows as much about the gadget as I do," protested Bartholomew. "He does what they want, and no questions asked. Uh, you think Karl would prefer this stuff medium or well-done?"

"You're making antipasto, Bartholomew, I'm pretty sure everyone prefers it raw, now who are 'they'? He looked at the brownie sternly, even though Bartholomew was trying to avoid eye contact.

"Tell your brother I'm on my way, I want to place another 'order'."

Bartholomew squealed a little, cutting himself on the finger with the knife, which he put aside as he hopped off his stool."Francis, you're serious?"

"Deadly serious," replied Francis. "Band-Aids are in the cupboard.

The brownie didn't expect that. "You're nuts," he shouted, "you can't just waltz the Fey Realm uninvited! They'll know you're there before you are!"

"Try to stop me," replied Francis. He pushed past him and opened the refrigerator and grabbing a sports bottle.

"They control everything there!" shouted Bartholomew. "The food isn't safe! Even the water can curse you! It's magical Montezuma's revenge!"

The young Shadowchaser didn't answer. He opened the cupboards above and grabbed the granola bars and beef jerky that was there.

"You think you can survive there with a few trail rations?" asked a now nervous Bartholomew. "That stuff won't do you much good if they stop you from leaving. And even if they do, you won't be all-too popular around here with a donkey's head."

"Better than the alternative," replied Francis. "I'm not sitting around doing nothing waiting to see what these high and mighty time-space-authority aliens do next."

As he slung his pack over his shoulder, the brownie's tone changed.

"Francis," he said, "you didn't hear this from me, but…" He stopped as the human turned around to listen. Bartholomew twitched nervously for a minute.

"The part where it says 'circle widdershins four stones more' activates a mild curse that activates the phantasm."

"Phantasm?" asked Francis.

"Yeah, see, the illusion in the Feywild doesn't cover the place itself, it affects you, it makes your mind see things that ain't there. So, if you see a beautiful garden with a grand feast, piles of gold, and two gorgeous nymphs who are coming on to you, it's probably not real. You may be at a checkpoint where the nymphs are armed guards who are about to jab a knife in your ribs if you give them trouble.

"The little ritual you have to do to enter the place includes a curse built into it, but you can avoid it. Before you do that part, blow on your left thumb twice, then close your fist around it, and you'll enter the Feywild the 'normal' way, you'll see everything there for what it really is."

Francis smirked. "Now it that hard to tell me that?" he asked.

"Just keep in mind, they really hate being spied on by mortals who can see them for real, a lot more than they hate trespassers.

"So be careful."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Uh, Wells, on the off-chance you win, what exactly do you intend to do?" asked Eden.

"Hopefully we can get him off our tail long enough to take an exit out of the city," replied Wells, "the teleport lock must have a boundary somewhere. If worse comes to worst, I don't think he's likely to commit a federal offense while the whole city is watching."

"They ever find the guy who killed Tupac Shakur?" asked Eden with a sigh.

"Eh, good point," replied Wells, even though it didn't do much to assure him.

As the Speed Counters clicked up again, the pale green light underneath Diogenes' armor turned crimson.

(W: 2,650 SPC: 7) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 2,600 SPC: 7)

Ho boy, thought Wells.

"I summon Oosse, Vengeful Spirit of Dark World," said the platonic. He used the card, and a spooky-looking phantom drifted from behind him, its face concealed behind a puce-covered robe and hood. (0 ATK)

"Doesn't look so impressive," said Wells.

"Indeed, but by using its effect, I can fuse it with Brron," added Diogenes. "To bring about a new monarch of Dark World."

Brron stopped laughing now, the Vengeful Spirit diving into him from behind. The Mad King's eyes turned savage and primal, and he strained and sweat as his muscles started to expand, the straightjacket starting to tear…

Hope he doesn't turn green, thought Wells.

Tearing through the restraints, Bronn was now eight feet tall, a muscular build, and long, start white, tangled hair. He snarled and looked upon Wells, producing a long club with sharp spikes on the business end. (2,600 ATK)

"I have transformed Brron into his former self, that of Tutoan, Twisted King of Dark World."

"Well, at least we know he's always been a lunatic," replied Wells.

"Possibly, but insanity does not always equate with inefficiency," replied Diogenes. "Attack Mira the Star Bearer, Twisted King."

"Goblin Cabbie, now!" shouted Wells.

There was the sound of a blaring car horn, and the cabbie darted out as Tutoan rushed towards Mira. "You want a piece'a this?" quipped the miniature driver. For the second time, the monster yielded, retreating from the angry cabbie.

"Unfortunate, but I get to draw once," said Diogenes. He pointed, causing a new card to appear, then set it, and nodded to Wells.

Wells drew a card, then checked the Speed World odometer, which was moving up to eight. Good, he thought.

"I activate, Speed Spell - Speed Energy!"

As he used the card, red orbs flew into Downerd Magician, and she howled in glee, flexing her muscles as she did so. "Speed becomes strength, raising her by 200 for each Speed Counter I have!"

(3,700 ATK)

"Yes, humans do tend to equivalate such concepts," said Diogenes, "much like the associate drunken stupor with pleasure."

"You should try it sometime," answered Wells. Downerd flew towards Tutoan, with her fists blazing purple flames.

"I activate Chaos Barrier Field," said Diogenes. The Trap he had set lifted, and a spiral of eerie, colored light struck Downerd. She stopped and teetered, moaning a little. Then she made an about face, flying towards Mira.

"Wha," started Wells.

"This Trap compels your strongest monster to attack your weakest one," answered Diogenes. "Of course, since it counts as an attack upon your monster, you can prevent it using your Trap Card, but the cost remains the same."

"Well, since the alternative is losing, fine," replied Wells.

"Outta the way, coming' through!" shouted the Cabbie. Downerd snapped back sober again, and backed off with a look of disgust.

"Nice use of a loophole there, fellah," said Wells, his tone reflecting Downerd's expression.

Diogenes pointed, and gained a new card. "As I said before, knowledge of the laws enables one to manipulate them."

"Or exploit them," added Eden.

"You make it sound so… negative," replied Diogenes.

"Yea, yeah, heard it all before, fellah," said Wells. He threw another set card into his Spell Zone. "Just move."

As the android drew a card, the percentages were flashing in front of him again, superimposed over the Speed World 2 card and the Wells' two monsters and opened Trap Cards. A 56% rating was next to the Field Spell's first effect (the one available with 4), with a 73% next to the second, which due to his own counters rising past 10 was now available.

"I activate the effect of Speed World 2," he said. "I reduce my Speed Counters by 7, to destroy your Goblin Cabbie!"

"Here's where I get off, bub!" shouted the cabbie. He pushed his shift past the fifth setting, to a sixth marked with a red E, and then hit a button on the top. "So long, chumps!" he laughed. A burst of rocket power blasted the seat upwards, taking him with it, right before the cab itself spun out of control and crashed into the guardrail.

"I was getting tired of him anyway," said Wells. He paused as a second explosion behind them indicated the cabbie hadn't made an all-too smooth landing. "And because you destroyed the Trap after I used it twice, I get to draw twice."

As he did so, Diogenes used one of his Trap Cards. "I activate Dark Scheme. This card causes both players to draw twice, then discard twice."

"Yeah, right," said Wells. He grabbed one of his cards from the ones he had. "I can counter that Trap if I make one discard, and I'm not about to let you -"

Suddenly, he felt Eden's grip on him become noticeably tighter. He made a slight turn of his view, looking at her in the rearview mirror, her expression transmitting a wordless "No".

"Uh, on second thought, check that," he said. He took another of his cards, and discarded both as Diogenes pointed to his hand of five, causing them to disappear.

"Should I discard a Dark World monster while Tutoan is present, you also discard a card."

"You're not gonna get away with this you big pile of," said Wells under his breath. He cut the last word short, then discarded a Kuribon.

"One card I discarded was Kahkki, Guerilla of Dark World, and its effect now destroys one monster."

A ghostly Fiend with an egg-shaped body, no neck, and stubby arms appeared behind Gaia. It pulled a long knife from a scabbard, but as it tried to strike, Gaia shattered, and it missed, tumbling backwards and behind them.

"Good thing I had Destruct Potion there," added Wells.

(W: 4,950 SPC: 11) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 2,600 SPC: 11)

Diogenes barely seemed to care. "The other card I discarded was Emmrrod, Pontifex of Dark World, and by doing so, it is summoned in Defense Mode."

Wells kept his eyes on his foe even as they veered a new curve and up a slope. This time, he couldn't help but be nervous, as the monster that appeared had a disturbing resemblance to an illithid, the same squid-like tentacles draping from its lower face on a bald, elongated head. It wore bright green robes decorated with odd sigils. (1,150 DEF)

"I cannot Synchro Summon this turn because I summoned it this way, but that hardly matters now."

Tutoan roared again, and Downerd shrieked, the huge club smashing into her causing her to tumble past Wells before shattering.

(W: 4,250 SPC: 11) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 2,600 SPC: 0)

Dammit, Eden, hope you know this guy better than I do.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

In Raleigh…

Sofia was showering, the spigot set to the hot water. So why did the steam from it chill her like misty fog?

Much like Karen, the idea of the nanomachines in her blood was unsettling, making her more frightened than she had led on. The first time she had ever heard of the idea of "nano-surgery" was a short story included in a science magazine to explain what they were, calling them "microbots" then. The protagonist of the story was receiving treatment for heart disease, and the nanomachines were supposed to destroy the cholesterol buildup from within. The patient was worrying, and having nightmares that…

She stopped. She opened her eyes, then adjusted the spigot of the shower. Then she chuckled a little. She remembered how Philip had suggested renting the film version of Stephen King's It, and she had been terrified when that scene came on where Pennywise came through the floor of the shower, she had almost jumped into his arms, and had often wondered if that had been his intent.

Now that…

"Sofia?" said Philip's voice.

She stopped. She closed her eyes again. Then she opened the door to the shower.

He held her in his arms again, and somehow, the water didn't chill her now…

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Three face-down cards appeared in front of Diogenes, and the colored light around his innards faded back to green. "Your move, mortal."

"I have a name, you know," said Wells. "And before I draw, I'll use 400 Life Points again to use my Kuriboh Piper." The shrill tune played, and another Kuriboh appeared. (300 ATK)

As he made a draw, flames flew from his exhaust as the odometer hit 12 counters, and he skidded past the platonic, turning to face him as he did so

He drew a card, then looked closely at the defending Pontifex of Dark World, as it was pretty obvious what the guy's purpose was. But he had to get rid of the Fusion Monster.

He used one of his cards, causing a regular Kuriboh to appear next to it. (300 ATK) Then a Speed Spell followed. "I use High Speed Crash!"

The Kuriboh furiously glared at Tutoan, then darted at the Twisted King, leaving a trail of fire, and blowing a smoldering gap through its chest. The Fiend's eyes glazed over and rolled upward before it fell and shattered.

He shifted Kuribo's card, moving it to Defense Mode. (200 DEF) Then Mira held up its right arm and a long, silver staff topped with a discus-shaped sunburst. She aimed the defending Fiend, and felt a small twinge as the blast glanced off.

(W: 3,800 SPC: 12) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 2,600 SPC: 1)

"You're being repetitive human," said the platonic. "I use Call of the Haunted to again, summon Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World."

Wells couldn't help but be a little amused, seeing the hulking, horned demon emerge again. (2,400 ATK) "Well, it's time to ditch Mira anyway," he said. The Star Bearer held its staff vertically, and the Overlay Network appeared over them again. Mira held its staff vertically to the side and was consumed by it. "Remember Downerd Magician? She's back?"

She certainly was, leaping out of the network with fury in her eyes and more pep than ever before. (2,900 ATK)

"I'll set these," he said, placing two more face-down cards, "then use the effect of Kuriboh Piper to summon a second Relinkuriboh."

"Kuri, Kuri!" the little Fiend squeaked as it floated out of the card. (300 ATK) The other Kuriboh replied to it, and again, Diogenes couldn't quite hide how annoyed he was.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

As this was going on, Jables was watching the duel unfold from the command area of headquarters, preparing to give one of several orders depending on what happened.

"Mr. Jabels?" said Delores' voice. "We have an issue here… We just received an email."

Jabels tapped his console without looking down. "That's hardly an issue," he replied, "and we're sort of busy."

"Well, it's from Wells," she replied.

Jables lifted an eyebrow, and then looked down as he sat down. "That's impossible, Wells is in the middle of a Riding Duel right now."

"That's what's odd," she replied. "It seems this was sent ninety minutes ago, from Wells' email account, but we received it right now…"

Jables rubbed his chin as he thought about this. He wasn't exactly computer savvy, but he didn't think it was possible to send a time-delay email, and ninety minutes ago…

That was when we were discussing things in Jalal's office, he thought. He left his laptop…

"Give it a thorough search for malware and viruses, then forward it here," he told her. "Something weird is happening…"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"I activate The Forces of Darkness," announced Diogenes, "a Trap that returns two Dark World Fiends from the Graveyard to my hand."

The two cards arranged themselves, then he pointed to another, causing the Tour Guide from the Underworld to appear, giggling and slyly winking at Wells. (1,000 ATK)

"Via this one's effect, I bring Fiendish Warrior Rhino from my deck in Defense Mode."

The monster's name described it completely, a well-built humanoid with a rhinoceros head and a crooked, rusty sword. (900 DEF)

Wells knew what it did, but he was still a little worried about the Pontifex at the moment, even more so when it stood up and started to chant, a magical, glowing rope extending from its hands and encircling Tour Guide. The two monsters flew as the triple rings formed around them.

I knew it, thought Wells. The thing is a Tuner.

(*3 + *4 = *7)

"I Synchro Summon Maruu, High Bishop of Dark World," announced Diogenes.

Wells looked suspiciously at the monster that appeared, a Dark World Fiend dressed in tattered and torn priestly vestments, and a bishop's hat, all of it blood-red. It carried a staff designed to resemble a snake coiling up a shaft, clutching a ruby in its fangs. (2,100 ATK)

"Does Darkbishop Archfiend know that guy swiped his style?" asked Eden.

"I activate its effect," said Diogenes, ignoring the wisecrack, "to summon a high-level Dark World monster from my Graveyard."

The Bishop cackled, and exuded shadowy darkness that shaped into a large, black claw, yanking a blob of shiny light from the ground that formed into Latinum, Netherlord of Dark World. (2,400 ATK)

"While it cannot attack this turn, I can discard one card from my hand for every three Levels it has. But before I do," another of his Traps lifted, "I use Regalia of Dark World, which means, for this turn only, that effect counts as your effect."

"Um," said Wells.

"It means he gets the stronger effect," muttered Eden. "And that we're really screwed now."

"I discard the two cards I recovered with The Forces of Darkness, my two copies of Broww, and as your companion said, I get to draw twice for each." The two cards disappeared, and were replaced by four.

"Your mage may be powerful, but now that your Star Bearer is gone, your Kuriboh is but an antiquated relic of this game."

"I gotta admit, bolt-brain," said Wells, "I never heard that one before. I activate Urgent Ritual Art!" His Trap opened, and Relinkuriboh disappeared. "The old sacrifice-dodge trick is, like Kuribohs, one of the oldest tricks in the book, but as good as it's always been. By using this Trap, I can banish a Ritual Spell Card in my Graveyard, and then Ritual Summon using this card, and because Arisen Gaia is in my Graveyard, it can be part of the cost, so long as Relinkuriboh is the rest. And don't forget, by sacrificing Relinkuriboh, I draw once."

Thunder started to flash above the cloverleaf highway, and Eden noticed something, something that surprised her more than it did in decades.

The platonics are known to be cold, emotionless, unfeeling machines, at least to most mortals. They knew how emotions worked, and how to manipulate them, but emotions just got in the way. Still, Eden was the type who had learned how to sense emotion in others, and she had discovered that it was possible for platonics to occasionally develop them.

It wasn't common, of course, and they almost never showed positive emotion. Negative ones were only slightly more common, and 99% of the time, it seemed, the only emotion they seemed capable of was anger.

Now, Eden could tell that Diogenes was feeling something other than anger. It wasn't fear or hate, but twinges of doubt and possibly concern. And even that small twinge was, in her eyes, monumental.

A shining, glowing, armored man half again as tall and broad as Wells was leapt from the heavens, swinging a crescent-shaped sword almost as big.

"The Black Luster Soldier - Super Soldier!" (3,000 ATK)

Diogenes hesitated more than he had all duel before doing anything. His inner eyes studied the new card carefully, registering an 85% this time, which turned red. Then he pointed to four of his cards, and they set themselves two to each side of him. "It is your move," he said, his volume seemingly turned down.

He turned the card over to look at it. Speed Spell, he thought. Sweet. He veered his D-Wheel 180 degrees, screeching to a stop with burnt rubber.

(W: 3,400 SPC: 12) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 2,600 SPC: 3)

"Amusing, but while you may have superior speed, power of my cards is still of superior strength," said Diogenes

"No problem!" exclaimed the Shadowchaser. He grabbed the other Spell from his hand, then thrust both forward. "Cause I've got two Speed Spells and 12 Speed Counters, tin man, and the speed is all it takes to run you off the road!"

His Counters dropped to 8, and a flaming bolt of heat slammed into the platonic from the front of the bike. The qarut seemed to shudder a little from the impact.

"Now I'll use it a second time!" added Wells.

"I beg to differ!" replied Diogenes. "I activate Damage Eraser!" The Trap opened, and the fires changed from red to blue. "Rather than losing that 1,600 Life Points, I gain an equal amount."

Wells stopped for a minute. Four counters left, he thought.

He couldn't finish the guy off using them a third time, and with zero counters, the Spells themselves would be worthless. He put them aside and turned to Downerd. With a "Sic em!" he pointed, and she flew towards Fiendish Rhino, her spell crackling with power.

"I activate Altar for Tribute," responded Diogenes. With his Trap sprung, Rhino disappeared, and its life force started to flow into him.

(W: 3,400 SPC: 4) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 4,000 SPC: 3)

"No matter how many times you knock us down, we will rise back up," said Diogenes.

"You guys always were a bunch of yo-yos, Diogenes," added Eden.

"Should have saved that one fellah," replied Wells, "cause my Soldier is about to go to town on your Bishop! Attack with Luster Blade!"

"Indeed, your Soldier would cause 900 points of Battle Damage and 2,100 Effect Damage. However, it is far more of an advantage to save this Trap for now, King's Synchro."

The Trap opened, and Luster Soldier halted as Maruu dissolved into seven stars. They started circling him, with three other stars flying from below and joining. "By banishing Maruu and Emmrrod from my Graveyard, I can Synchro Summon the most lethal beast my deck can create."

Well, old man, you certainly put your foot in it this time, thought Wells

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Wells was reading the odd email for the second time, wondering what to make of it.

To Whom it may concern,

I apologize for what has happened, and didn't mean to drag you all into this. If he still lives, tell Wells I'm sorry.

Keep the journal safe, and should you manage to decipher it in full, burn it. I doubt they'll kill Karen unless they have it intact. Hopefully, I can manage to get her away from them.

Eden

Jabels looked at his screen, which was showing the Turbo Duel now, and was clearly not a recording.

Then it hit him. He slammed his fist on the intercom switch

"JALAL!" he yelled.

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"The Seed of Evil planted deep within the Elemental Chaos gives life to a Dark Force that defies the boundaries of Reality."

(*3 + *7 = *10)

"Synchro Summon Liedskoap, Manipulative Monarch of Dark World."

Diogenes hadn't been lying, this abomination looming over them was nastier than any he had seen yet, a demon resembling Reign-Beaux with four arms, a serrated scimitar in each hand, and while his skin was coal black, his armor was hued every color of the spectrum, flashing and shimmering with brightness that made him hard to look at. (3,200 ATK)

"O-kay," said Wells. He shifted the gear of his ride, and took off down the lane, setting two cards and turning Kuriboh's card, causing it to defend. (200 ATK) Even as he did, however, the cloverleaf shook as the monstrous demon trudged after them.

"Catch us if you can, ugly!" he shouted. Eden put a capper on that for him, with a specific gesture aimed at Diogenes and his monster as they sped away.

"Can and will," replied Diogenes, "and it starts now." He drew as he followed, his own Speed rising to 6 Counters. "Especially because I have Speed Spell - Dead End."

"Dead End?" cursed Eden. "Dammit, Diogenes, you thief! That's my card!"

"Calm down, Eden," urged Wells. "I'll try to get it back, I promise."

"Wells, that's only part of the overall problem," she added, "think Final Attack Orders, but in Spell form."

"Indeed," replied Diogenes, "and now I can use my Urgent Ritual Art."

"What?" gasped Wells. Lines of blue fire blasted across the road, crisscrossing each other into a disturbing pattern, a five-pointed star.

"Correct, I have one too," replied Diogenes, "and by sacrificing Lucent on the field and Beiige from my hand, I can bring about Fullvoss, Palletian of Dark World."

The monster emerged from the road in front of Wells, its roar causing him to serve again. It was Goldd, but without armor, and more muscular, with dull, yellow skin. His hands had been replaced, the right one with a huge axe and the left by a pike. Both weapons were made of bone. (1,800 ATK)

"I'd ask why nearly doubling his Level gave him less Attack Points," started Wells, "but…"

"Silence!" demanded Diogenes. "Liedskoap, slay Black Luster Soldier!"

Liedskoap roared even louder, and charged at the Spellcaster, but Wells slammed his fist on the console to use his Trap. "Time for A Major Upset, and that's just what this card is called! I'll sacrifice my Kuriboh, and all Level 7 or greater monsters return to the owners' hands."

Diogenes watched as Kuriboh disappeared, then shook his head. "A valiant effort," said Diogenes, "but ineffective. Liedskoap's ability allows it, once per turn, to change the effect of a Spell or Trap into one that requires the opponent to discard."

"You mean it's a Dark Deal with legs?" shouted Wells.

"Precisely," replied the robot. "So, your Major Upset has become a wasted effort, as the only card I have now is this one, Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World."

As his last card vanished, another bellow accompanied a golden orb of light that burst into the smaller, original form of Goldd. (2,300 ATK) Wells started searching his memory to recall just what it's second effect was, but was answered as Downerd made a weak cry and then shattered.

"And with that effect done, because I discarded a Dark World monster, Fullvoss gets stronger." (2,300 ATK) "Now, where were we? Ah, yes, Liedskoap was about to eviscerate your Soldier."

There wasn't anything to stop it this time, and the four swords flashed, cutting the Warrior into fragments.

"I still have one effect to use," replied Wells, "and can summon the regular Gaia the Fierce Knight."

There was another loud whinny, and the real - or rather original - horseman galloped onto the field and aimed its two spears at the much bigger Fiends. (2,300 ATK)

"You mortals are so predictable," said Diogenes with a sigh. "Fullvoss, attack the Fierce Knight."

This one took Wells completely by surprise, as he had expected a mutual-kill move, but from Goldd. Still, to his shock, the two monsters made a rush for each other, and there was a tremendous blast shaking the highway as both were annihilated.

"It may have left me a monster short, but due to Fullvoss gaining Attack Points once via its effect, I can take any Dark World monster I like from my deck." A single card appeared, and he turned to Goldd. "Direct attack," he commanded.

The city below was cheering again, and Wells knew those cheers weren't for him this time. At least this free show we're giving them is making the new project a big success, he thought. He had one shot left here, and it was time to use it. "I activate the effect of Kuribohm in my Graveyard," he said, sullenly. "By banishing it, I can, well, I'll let them explain it."

There was a cacophony of the tiny squeaks, and Kuriboh, Winged Kuriboh, Relinkuriboh, and Sphere Kuriboh all popped up in front of him. (300 ATK x5)

"They may have to come in Attack Mode, but -" He was cut off as Goldd's axe severed the Winged Kuriboh in two.

(W: 2,100 SPC: 4) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 4,000 SPC: 3)

"I end my turn, human," he said, "and to use a trite human phrase, your number is almost up."

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At Copek, Oswald was in Addams office, his attention alternating between three things. One a magazine he had brought in, two, the Pan Dimensional Homing Device, and three, the door to the room, in case anyone came in.

Emily had been right, the Ringwraths had been a big mistake, and this time, he would -

"OSWALD!" said a loud voice.

Of course, as he seemed to forget, watching the door wouldn't do much to warn you about someone who had no reason to conceal his entrance.

As he walked in, Sylvester slammed the door and looked at his. "Now what, Oswald?" he demanded.

"Uh, I was, I was just," stammered the smaller man.

Sylvester snatched the magazine from him, then looked at it. "I was just," he continued.

Sylvester's annoyed expression changed suddenly, turning to bemused. "Quite an odd choice," he said. He tossed it back to him. "Proceed, but with one change."

"Wait, you mean I can -"

"Just change the location you send them," ordered Sylvester. "I have something specific in mind."

"You like it?" beamed Oswald. "You know, I have some other ideas we could -"

"Don't push your luck," snapped Sylvester.

Oswald nodded, and pulled the switch that started the device.

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"I draw!" shouted Wells.

He nodded to Eden, and it was all the proof she needed that he had drawn a good one.

"I banish four Xyzs from my Graveyard," he said, the cards belonging to Mira, Slacker Magician, and both Downerd Magicians appeared, and started rotating around his bike quickly, as all four shattered.

Lightning flashed again, loudly, and a dark shape started to descend from the clouds…

"The Dark Magician of Chaos!" exclaimed Eden.

Well, not exactly, seeing as the monster on that card was clearly male. This female Spellcaster seemed to be a counterpart, an outfit that was made of black, form-fitting material with several leather bands looped around each limb. Her skin was the same pale color, and her jet-black hair, under a slimmer version of the Chaos Mage's hat, was long and ragged. Her large, violet eyes had a potent expression.

"The Dark Chaos Arcanist!" exclaimed Wells

The crowd cheered again even louder, and the four Kuribohs were hopping and squeaking with joy. The mage sized up Liedskope and produced her long staff.

"And that's supposed to impress me?" asked Diogenes. (2,800 ATK)

"Well, let's see if we can help her out, I use Speed Spell - Half Seize!"

"Predictable again," sighed Diogenes. "I use the effect of Liedskope again, to -"

The reason he stopped was because the four Kuribohs started to take issue with this, they were squeaking and squealing much louder, and then, all four made a rush for Liedskope, followed by four more Kuribohs of varying types. Then four more, and four more, and four more…

"What is happening?" yelled the droid.

"You're the one who's predictable now, lead-head," said Wells. The furry little guys were clinging to the giant Fiend, who was grunting and struggling as more and more latched onto it. "I used my Counter Trap Card, Kuri-Buster, which in exchange for sacrificing those Kuribohs, negated Liedskoap's effect."

"Stop it!" ordered Diogenes. "STOP IT!" They didn't stop. More and more and more of them mobbed the huge Monarch. "I refuse to be beaten by these vermin!"

"But that's not the only thing it does," said Wells, disregarding the panicked command entirely. "Kuribohs have an explosive personality."

The literal metaphor was lost on Diogenes, even as the multiple Kuribohs started to explode, first one at a time, then in clusters, the Manipulative Monarch flailing its arms and screaming…

Then, it fell to one knee and dropped its weapons with its arms dangling, smoke rising from its colorful armor, which was now broken and ruined. (0 ATK)

Dark Chaos Arcanist started to chant as she aimed her staff. "Did I mention this gal has an effect too? I used Xyz monsters to summon her, and because your monster is not an Xyz but still from the Extra Deck, her Attack Score is doubled which is just enough.

"Chaos Death Ultima!"

Flaming lighting blasted from the sky, and Dark Chaos Arcanist spun her staff dramatically, sending a surge of burning power at the abomination.

"Unbelievable…" said Eden, softly, watching the blast tear it apart. The backlash slammed into Diogenes and, due to the shock and possibly actual damage, his levitation mechanism failed, causing him to collapse on the pavement, tumble, and skid forward before coming to a stop on the side of the road.

(W: 2,100 SPC: 6) - - - - - - - - - - (D: 0 SPC: 0)

"You won…" said Eden.

Diogenes was dented and scratched, rubbing his head and saying something in a language Wells couldn't understand. A flashing light on his console indicated to Wells that it had worked, and the teleport lock was gone.

"I know, now before he gets up we can -"

"I'm so sorry," interrupted Eden.

Then it happened. She slammed the flat of her hand into his shoulder, startling him and knocking the D-Wheel over. She leapt off, and ran towards Diogenes.

"Eden, wait!" he shouted.

Diogenes lifted his head, and a blast of blue energy flashed from his palms. Wells heard Eden scream…

They were gone.

Ugh, is that the communicator or is my head still ringing? he thought.

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Falagar: Eden never believed Wells - or anyone - could truly defeat Diogenes at anything. Some would have called her pessimistic, but she preferred realistic. Her offer to surrender had been genuine, and her time-release email was her way of apologizing in advance for a grim fate she was almost certain awaited her protector.

But to her utmost and complete shock, Wells had won, and shown her beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the platonic was not unbeatable nor indestructible.

Thus, an emergency change of her plan had ensued, and while it wasn't as well thought out, she now had an end goal in mind with far less sacrifice involved.

Revelations come next chapter, as the shadows of the Conspiracy are pierced by the Light of Truth.

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For sake of space, only fan-made original cards will be posted here. For info on anime-only cards, PM me.

Vilot, Musician of Dark World (Tuner Effect Monster Card)

Fiend/Dark/Lvl3/1,250/900

Effect: If this card is used as a Synchro Material Monster, the non-Tuner Monsters must all be "Dark World" Monsters. This card cannot be used to Synchro Summon any Synchro Monster except a "Dark World" monster. If this card is discarded from your hand to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect, increase the ATK of all "Dark World"monsters by 300

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Taion, Defender of Dark World (Synchro Effect Monster Card)

Fiend/Dark/Lvl9/2,800/3,100

Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner ""Dark World" Monsters

Effect: When this card is successfully Synchro Summoned, discard 1 card from your hand. During the End Phase of a turn where this card attacked an opposing Monster, switch it to face-up Defense Position. While this card is in Defense Position, your opponent cannot attack any monster except for "Taion, Defender of Dark World".

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Graii, Inventor of Dark World (Tuner Effect Monster Card)

Fiend/Dark/Lvl1/300/100

Effect: If this card is discarded from your hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, Special Summon it; if this card is summoned in this manner, it is then considered a Tuner Monster. If this card is discarded from your hand to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect, add 1 Trap Card from your Graveyard to your hand.

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Blak, Executioner of Dark World (Synchro Effect Monster Card)

Fiend/Dark/Synchro/Effect/Lvl10/3,300/2,700

Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner ""Dark World"" Monsters

Effect: When this card is successfully Synchro Summoned, discard 2 cards from your hand. When this card battles an opposing monster, battle damage inflicted to your opponent is doubled.

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Karnaysha, Wicked Queen of Dark World (Effect Monster Card)

Fiend/Dark/Lvl4/1,500/1,100

Effect: If you control at least 1 face-up "Brron, Mad King of Dark World", you may Special Summon this card from your hand. When the effect of a "Brron, Mad King of Dark World" you control is activated, you may discard 1 card from your hand via this card's effect. A card discarded via this card's effect is considered to have been discarded via the effect of your opponent's Spell, Trap, or Monster effect. You can only control 1 "Karnaysha, Wicked Queen of Dark World".

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Maru, High Bishop of Dark World

Fiend/Dark/Synchro/Effect/Level6/2,100/1,100

1 "Dark World" Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

Effect: Once per turn, you may Special Summon 1 Level 6 or lower "Dark World" monster in your Graveyard to your side of the field; its effect is negated. Discard one card from your hand for every three Levels the Special Summoned Monster has.

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Oosse Vengeful Spirit of Dark World (Monster Card)

Fiend/Dark/Effect/Lvl2/0/0

Effect: If this card was discarded by a card effect, you can Special Summon this card in Attack Position. Once per turn, you can select 1 Fusion Monster from your extra Deck that lists this card as a Fusion Material monster; send monsters you control listed as Fusion Material for that monster (including this card) to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon the selected monster. (You do not use "Polymerization".),

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Fullvoss, Palletian of Dark World (Ritual Effect Monster Card)

Fiend/Dark/Level9/1,800/2,000

Effect: Can only be Ritual Summoned with "Dark Ritual of Dark World". Once per turn, during either player's turn, the first time you discard a 'Dark World' monster, you can place one 'Dark Spectrum' counter on this card. This card gains 500 ATK and DEF for each 'Dark spectrum' counter it has. When this card on the field is destroyed, and sent to the graveyard, draw 1 card for each 'Dark Spectrum' counter on this card. When this card is in the graveyard, except during the turn it was sent there, you can banish this card; add one 'Dark World' monster from your Graveyard to your hand.

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Tutoan, Twisted King of Dark World (Fusion Effect Monster)

Fiend/Dark/Level8/2,600/2,100

"Oosse, Vengeful Spirit of Dark World" + 1 "Dark World Monster"

Effect: Once per turn, if you discard a 'Dark World' card, you can randomly discard one card from your opponent's hand. If your opponent discards a card from their hand (except via the effect of this card), you can discard an equal number of cards from your hand. If you have more cards in your hand than your opponent, you cannot discard cards from your hand.

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Liedskoap, Manipulating Monarch of Dark World (Synchro Effect Monster)

1 "Dark World" Tuner monster + 2 or more "Dark World" Monsters.

Fiend/Dark/Lvl10/3,200/1,000

Effect: When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can add up to 2 of the non-Tuner Dark World Monster used to summon this card to your Hand. Once per turn, during either players' turn, when your opponent activates a Spell or Trap card, you can activate the following effect: Discard one card; the effect of that activated Spell or Trap card becomes: "Your opponent discards one card from their hand of their choice."

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Regalia of Dark World (Normal Trap Card)

Image: Reign-Beaux, Overlord of Dark World wearing a crown made of rusty iron with sharp edges, his face covered by eerie fog. In his right hand, he holds a long, iron bar with a chain coiled around it, and in his left one an iron sphere wrapped in a similar chain.

Effect: During the turn this card is activated, if you discard a card from your hand because of a "Dark World" monster, that effect is treated as an effect of your opponent's card.

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Kuriboh Piper (Continuous Trap)

Image: Mystic Piper sitting cross legged and playing the Flute of Summoning Kuriboh, with a Kuriboh, Winged Kuriboh, Kuribon, and Rainbow Kuriboh hovering overhead and listening.

Effect: During the End Phase of each turn, select a number of "Kuri" Monsters from your Deck equal to the number of "Kuri" monsters that were sent to the Graveyard that turn. For every 400 Life Points you pay, you may Special Summon one of the selected monsters.

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Goblin Cabbie (Continuous Trap)

Image: A shot of the inside of a taxi cab from the front, with Goblin of Greed as driver, dressed as a cabbie and smoking a cigar. Witch of the Black Forest and Magician of Faith are passengers, both clinging to each other to brace themselves. The view out the windows shows Overdrive and Oni Tank T-34 in pursuit.

Effect: Destroy this card if your Speed Counters are not 3 or more. Once per turn, if 1 (exactly) monster you control would be destroyed by battle or by card effect, you may use the effect of this card by placing a "Fare Counter" on it. (Max 3) If you do, your monster is not destroyed, and your opponent draws 1 card. If this card is destroyed (except via its own effect) draw 1 card for every Fare counter it had when it was destroyed.

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Rainbow Barrier (Normal Trap)

Image:

Effect: Activate when your opponent declares an attack. Special Summon a Level 1 "Kuri" monster from your hand or deck; the Special Summoned "Kuri" monster then becomes the target of that attack. Your opponent may draw 1 card.

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Speed Spell - Emergency Backup (Normal Speed Spell)

Image: A Sector Security Duel Chaser racing down the vortex of Speed World with a siren blazing, Goyo Guardian and Gonogo following behind.

Effect: Activate during your second Main Phase of a turn where none of the monsters you control inflicts Battle Damage or destroys an opposing monster during your Battle Phase. You may conduct the Battle Phase of the turn a second time; during this second Battle Phase, you may only attack with 1 monster that was Summoned during your second Main Phase. At the conclusion of this second Battle Phase, it becomes the End Phase of the turn.

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Kuri-Buster (Normal Trap Card)

Image: Magician of Black Chaos in front of Thousand Eyes Restrict, the latter monster screaming as a swarm of Kuribohs explode around it. (The image suggests the second-to-last turn of the final duel of Duelist Kingdom, right before Yugi's winning blow.)

Effect: Banish any number of "Kuri" monsters you control of in your hand and select any number of opposing monsters. For each monster banished, you may reduce the ATK of a selected monster by 1,000. If a monster's ATK is reduced by 2,000 points or more via this effect, it's effect is negated.

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Dark Chaos Arcanist (Effect Monster)

Spellcaster/Dark/Lvl8/2,800ATK/2,000DEF

Effect: You may Special Summon this card by banishing 3 LIGHT or DARK Fusion, Ritual, Synchro, Xyz, or Pendulum monsters from your graveyard; if you do, and the 3 banished monsters are of the same type (Fusion, Ritual, Synchro, Xyz, or Pendulum), this card's ATK is doubled when battling a type other than the type banished to summon this card.

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Shadowchaser File

Shub-Internet

NOTE: This Shadowchaser File is to be considered a reference at best. All recorded knowledge of Shub-Internet and our methods to identify its influences, combat it and more are never to be listed digitally, spoken over the phone or broadcast in any method that is not pen and paper. The entity seems to be aware of when its name(s) are used in great concentrations and will actively seek out such instances. As such, we cannot heedlessly endanger the lives of Shadowchasers by drawing its attentions via modern communications. Should you require more information or believe you have had an encounter with Shub-Internet, please report to Shadowchaser HQ immediately.

Avatar of Line Noise, Eater of Characters, Beast of a Thousand Processes, The Blue-Screen Reaper and more are among the many titles this fantastical entity possesses. If the modern age worships the Internet for its apparently limitless power to connection us across the globe, record all of humanity's information and more, this being may very well be the Devil to their god.

Origin: Shub's origins are not certain, but what has been gleamed from encounters with the being suggest that at one point, it started as a man. This man was a telegraph operator who was held up one night and killed during a robbery at the train station. He telegraphed 'send help', but died before any arrived. The only notable instance of this was that a report showed that the telegraph was still clicking away even though the man was dead.

Now, cases of murder victims becoming restless and vengeful spirits is more common than one might believe, and if not for the unique conditions of how he died, this one might have never become more powerful than a typical poltergeist. But it is also known that ghosts become stronger with age, especially if their anger and resentment is never slaked. This was long before even telephones because commonplace, and thus, there where was no visible signs of this being until several decades of police reports and statements were looked back upon with new evidence in mind. Several individuals were recorded to have died, but were found on the phone and 911 records showed that they had been called by the deceased's phone numbers. One survivor mentioned that there was a constant, heavy wet breathing and static noises, along with the name 'Shub…. Shub' over and over again instead of the 911 operator.

It is believed that the man who died had his spirit entombed in his telegraph and, born out of the frustration of his death despite aid being available, traveled the wires to block calls for help or send mocking messages to the dying for its own satisfaction. When the telephone was invented, this spirit jumped over to them and then… encountered something beyond this universe. It was now more malevolent, harassing those who were dying and calling them to warn them they were going to die. Only a chance encounter with HQ telephone line alerted us to the being's presence, as Jalal Stormbringer is immortal and isn't prone to dying anytime soon. Still, he was wary enough to realize it wasn't just the average crank caller who had gained his office phone number.

Status: Shub-Internet currently is entombed in the Pentagon, far underneath the structure's foundation. As communication technology grew, as did its malevolent activities, those officials who knew of the creature were rightfully concerned it may be able to interact with the material world. As the Pentagon was first constructed, they lured the creature into what appeared to be a great communications hub of then-top-tier technology and then sealed cut the lines once they were sure it was inside. But attempts to destroy its new home proved fruitless- the devices could only be damaged so far, rendering complete destruction impossible.

The Internet, however, proved to be a key to its escape. As new communications methods grew in leaps and bounds, vague warnings from Shub's psychic jailers were ignored by higher officials and so Shub gained an Internet connection as wireless communications were implemented in the Pentagon. But it had gain material life and weight and was unable simply flee through the cracks in its prison. Only to move some of itself at a time, endlessly reaching tendrils.

Story Ideas: Shub-Internet is a cosmic horror show. While its soul and spirit once belonged to a mortal human, it has disregarded that part of its past entirely, regarding itself as superior. Blue Screens of Death, prank videos showing people dying, spam mail, dropped calls or broken Internet connections, lag, even things like Creepypastas may be a spawn of this creature's influence or more. And as everything grows more interconnected, it may start resulting in things like malfunctioning Duel Disks, satellites plummeting from orbit and more. And if the 'hard light reality' ideas (as seen in ZeXal, Arc-V and even The Dark Side of Dimensions) come to fruition, it could start thinking it could gain a new body…

Using Shub-Internet as an antagonist will, naturally, result in whomever is dealing with him to deal with the Internet and communication as a whole. Things listed above are viable scenarios or even things like it starts learning how to disrupt magic as Shadowjacks cast their spells through the Internet. It could even start posing as human through e-mails and more, creating a corporation (or assuming control of an existing one) or luring people to a location where a scenario like the Virtual World Arcs could take place.

To put in perspective how dangerous a villain this could be, consider how Kaiba could have extended his influence had he been truly evil, with a near unlimited budget and access to the best computer technology made by man. Then multiply it by a hundred. Those who compare Shub-Internet to entities of divine power aren't far off. The one limitation in place is simply being unable to survive without humanity (much like true gods, in fact) but whether it is a reluctantly benign symbiont or deadly parasite depends on the situation.

Counteracting Shub-Internet will probably require a Shadowjack or Technomage, such as Karl Hudson from Chicago or Kenshin from Backwater. (It's even possible both heroes have already dealt with it in some way without realizing it.) Since it can duel with avatars, it can create nearly any deck to use for its own, even going so far as to use unique cards owned by certain individuals. (But as a twist, if it uses cards that are dangerous in nature like the God Cards, those deities might take offense…) It could even use its 'superior' intellect to 'metadeck' and create decks like TeleDaD or more, forcing the Shadowchasers to fight more creatively than normal to counter it.

A physical confrontation is difficult, as even Jalal cannot just ring the Pentagon to allow his agents inside. The US Government is careful about even letting people know that Shub has a physical form. But if they can get inside, it will a fight for the ages. Shub-Internet is a giant mass of communications technology from all eras, piled together in one big jumbled mass. Tentacles and other things stem from the cracks and damages it took while monitors show nothing but static, yet appendages slip through them from another world. It is not something one can confront with a sword or magic and hope to prevail. Even if it was killed, it's still technically an undead spirit, and such things are not so easy to destroy.

A twist could be the heroes having to protect Shub-Internet as its existence as drawn attention from someone with the intention and ability to exploit it. Mister Monster is one possible villain who would, as are the forces for Hell and the Abyss, each of whom have been known to lay waste to whole worlds in their efforts to fight over powerful weapons. The Beloved (mentioned in a previous File) would be eager to gain such an ally as a means of achieving their blood tithes faster via a medium that is already second nature to them. It is even possible for an actual cult of worshippers to form under it. (Think Scientology but less focus on Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman and more on the orchestrators of their "Fair Game Law".)

Shub-Internet is, ultimately, malevolent and dangerous, but its biggest goal is to satisfy itself by watching humans die and causing pain on an individual scale. Causing large-scales disasters isn't part of its MO so singling out targets a handful at a time is more appropriate. Woe betide any team of Shadowchasers who draw its attention to them…

For inspiration on how to use a villain like this, works of fiction who use the theme include the movies White Noise, The Lawnmower Man and The Ring, several novels by Stephen King (particularly "Cell"), many episodes of The X-Files ("Kill Switch" and "Ghost in the Machine" are good ones) and the animated series Code Lyoko.