Author's note: Again, I've tried to minimize exhibition on the specific effects of some cards used in this chapter, done for sake of dialogue. Questions should be posed via PM.
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Jemorille: They say war and politics make strange bedfellows, and throughout history, the saying has been tested and challenged many times. It may well be one of the oldest tactics used by mortal beings, who learned it from the gods themselves. Seducing an enemy to bring him down is something members of every society in existence has either attempted or exploited.
It wasn't exactly something Francis - a tough guy with a knack for D-Wheel Turbo Dueling - had ever expected to face.
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Chapter 53
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One Way or Another
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What in the world? thought Francis. Okay, retrace steps here...
He last remembered that Duel Puzzle, and solving it… He had felt like someone had yanked him by his collar and pulled him through liquid. Fizzy liquid, like liquid static.
He was on his feet now, and was in a hallway that seemed to be made of glass.
Well, the walls looked sort of like glass. Translucent surfaces glowing with soft light. A doorway was on the left side in front of him, and about fifteen feet beyond that, another doorway on the right.
A maze? he thought.
He looked up, and only saw blackness. But -
"Coin detected in pocket!"
"WHO?" he shouted. Instinctively, he reached for his pocket, and looked behind him.
The voice didn't sound human, more like "robot-talk". He turned to face front and backed up, as a large, lumbering android tromped out from the side doorway on the right. It aimed a laser blaster mounted on its wrist.
"Terrific," he said.
"Stop the humanoid," said the voice. "Stop the intruder!"
Unfortunately, that one came from behind him. He reached for his sword - which thankfully, was there - and swung, cleaving through the one about to ambush from behind.
"The humanoid must not escape!" shouted the one in front, but Francis wasn't about to deal with him, dodging the laser blast. Of course, another one was coming at him from that way, and he swung the weapon again, causing it to explode into familiar-looking pixels.
"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" they shouted.
"Oh shit!" he shouted, starting to recognize this set-up. He saw a door ahead, and made a dash for it.
"Chicken!" they shouted after him. Not that he cared. The door slid open, and he rushed through it.
"Okay, got out of that one," he thought.
Of course, now he was in what he barely made out as a cemetery, with creepy, dead trees and gates with torches. "Barely", seeing as it looked like the type you'd see in some old 8-bit video game.
As ghostly zombies started lumbering towards him with claws outreached, he considered going back to face the robots…
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"How in the world did he download an old copy of Berserk?" thought Nitro.
As he was watching the screen, he saw the sudden shift of scenery from another angle, but for some reason, only saw the zombies.
He faintly heard something that sounded like the Shadowchaser's voice. He moved to adjust the volume of the speaker… Then changed his mind. He pulled his briefcase up from under the desk and opened it.
Of course, he knew it would be a lot smarter to run and not be caught here by another Shadowchaser. He was tempted to try sabotaging the computer; he was savvy enough to know it probably wouldn't harm Francis, but also savvy enough to theorize it might cut off his way back.
Still, as it was obvious that a technomancy portal had been created by whatever the Shadowchaser had done, he was far too curious to flee.
He hooked the headset up to the speaker, hoping to listen in.
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Francis' sword cleaved through the huge bat, causing it to burst into six small fireballs.
"Okay, I'll tell you one thing," he shouted, "if a big monkey throwing barrels shows up, I am so out of here."
The crudely drawn dungeon around him started to change, "clearing up" into a normal-looking wine cellar.
"Now what?" he demanded.
"Will I do?" asked a voice he remembered.
Sheeva was there, casually leaning against a beer keg, and she had changed her outfit to one with a lot more modesty. It was a sleeveless leather top with a skirt made of stiffer leather, dyed crimson, worn over tight slacks. Topping off the ensemble was a simple gold tiara.
"Nice outfit," he said.
"Shokan ceremonial armor, human," she replied. "Contrary to what you may think, we don't always dress like showgirls."
She took a mug from a rack above her and started to fill it using the spigot.
"Sheeva, listen, what happened in the forest -" he started.
"Regrettable, human," she answered. She smirked at him. "Rather invigorating, I admit, but regrettable. It certainly wasn't what I expected."
"Believe me, I didn't come planning to knock boots with some seven-foot-tall, four-armed warrior girl either," he answered. Then he smirked. "I could think of worse things that could have happened, though. I mean, if you're free on Saturday we could -" She looked at him sternly, and he decided to shut it.
"...but seeing as it happened," she continued, "I hoped you'd be convinced to come here." She put the mug to her lips, draining it in three long gulps. "I need closure."
"You want to fight again?" he asked. "You clearly didn't come with an ambush in mind."
"I'm capable of negotiating like a grown adult," she replied. "As you pointed out, I'm older than entire nations on your world, and they say wisdom is supposed to come with age."
She downed the last of the glass and turned the spigot again to refill it. "Where is this place anyway?" asked Francis.
"A nexus area in a place you call the 'World Wide Web'," she answered. "A virtual dimension that can be physically entered, created by some tech… techner…"
"Technomage?" asked Francis.
She nodded and went on. "Antisthenes and his henchmen use this system to access worlds and realities where he has interests, including Earth. When I found a way to enter, I'd hoped I could use it to go back to my own. No such luck."
"You, uh, don't like it here?" asked Francis.
Sheeva started drinking slower now. "Where I came from, your world is called Earthrealm, and it looks like yours, but mostly in ruins. Raiden was only partially successful in preventing Armageddon, and the Outworld suffered too. This intact version… I see why one could enjoy living here, but… It has an effect on me Earthrealm didn't, one I can't place… One I don't like."
"Well, if you're homesick, then," started Francis.
Sheeva's voice when she interrupted was angry and frustrated. "See this human?" she lifted her lower-left arm, revealing an ornate bracelet. "It's a special charm given to a female Shokan by her mate at the ceremony where they become bonded as such."
"Like a wedding ring?" asked a very surprised Francis. "You were married?"
Of course, he quickly realized it would hardly be a surprise if she hadn't gotten close to some male Shokan in her incredibly long life.
"I think his name was Konar," she answered.
"Think?" exclaimed Francis. "You can't remember your husband?"
"That's the whole point, human!" she exclaimed. "Your world has some… effect on me I can't explain."
She started to fill the glass again. "Whoa, take it easy there," he warned, knowing how fierce she was even when sober.
"When you mentioned how I should have thousands of victories under my belt and killed so many, I thought about it and tried to remember. I can remember fighting so many of the Earthrealm warriors, alongside Baraka and D'Vorah. But never among other Shokan. I remember fighting those cyber ninjas when Shao Kahn told us to deliver the message that the contract was cancelled. I remember Motaro and those accursed Centaurians…" Her fist clenched as she said that name. "But oddly, it seems a sparse and selective memory.
"When you told me that a Shokan of my age must have bested so many, it made sense. So why are almost all of them complete blanks?" She turned to look at him. "WHY can I remember what happened with YOU but have so much trouble even picturing the man I swore to love forever!"
"Wait, wait, hold on," said Francis. "I think I see the problem. Can you remember your parents?"
"Vaguely," she replied, the angry tone turning into a sad one.
"Can you remember who taught you to fight?" Sheeva sadly shook her head. "Can you remember what foods you liked before you came here? How about movies?"
"I… glanced at a few of Johnny Cage's movies," she replied. "I think… Kano had a few DVDs."
"You can't recall any other actor's work? What about books? You can read, right? The Outworld had libraries, I assume. Can you remember any of them?
"That ceremonial armor you have, can you remember the last event you wore it too?" He watched as she emptied the glass again. "Can you remember having a drink at a bar with other Shokan?"
Francis truly felt sorry for her now. If the storyline of a video game ever delved into a character's past, it focused on the important things that pertained to the overall plot, rarely delving very far into the personal lives. This was the only history Sheeva had that could be recalled clearly by residents of this world. Even by her.
"All I can remember are the facts," sighed Sheeva. "The things a biography would list. All the important parts of my life are just footnotes in the plotline of some stupid video game."
"I'm sorry," said Francis.
"I don't want pity!" she shouted. "I'm still a Shokan, and if my memory is so sparse, then it's time to build on it."
For a second, Francis thought she was drawing a sword from her back, but to his surprise, it was a the bandoleer part of an academia-style faculty Duel Disk, her motion attaching it to the front of her chestplate with a loud click and turning it into an armored version of a Duel Coat.
"Let me tell you this, human, when I said that pervert made me reconsider, I meant the method. I can fight you your way without compromising my own methods."
"Uh, fraid I don't have my Duel Disk with me," he said, holding his open hands.
Finally, she smiled, showing small fangs, then pointed to a stairway going up. "Think you'll find something good up there. One condition, however. I win this duel, then you belong to me."
"Gee, how could I say no?" he asked with a shrug.
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"Jabels, what the devil is going on?"
The voice of the Shadowchaser leader was both comforting and frightening at the same time. Everyone in the control room was glad he was finally calling in, but he didn't seem pleased. Jabels picked up the receiver to answer.
"We've got about ten emergencies right now, Jalal, and I think the Pan Dimensional Homing Device is the only explanation. Spatial and temporal abnormalities have sprung up in a dozen locations, globally. Most of them in high population centers."
Outside the Green Bay Mall, very close, in fact, to where Douglas had first met Emily, the Taco Bell had been completely destroyed, and two crosstown buses had been upended. Jalal was looking over the bodies of twelve very ugly aliens. Their heads seemed like huge, exposed brains with skull-like faces on the front with beedy, evil-looking eyes. All of them wore green space-suits with glass, dome-like helmets and had nasty-looking weapons.
Unfortunately for them, Jalal's now-stained sword made it clear they had chosen the wrong Earthling to pick a fight with.
"Yeah, I noticed," he replied.
"Thus far, it doesn't seem like these creatures are working towards any common goal," continued Jabels, "nor does it seem like they are cooperating in any way, but that just makes it harder on our end. We've had to use Wikipedia simply to identify most of them."
"Might be a good idea, actually, but try more specialized databases," replied Jalal.
"Do not run, we are your friends," said a creepy synthesised voice behind him.
Jalal moved his head a foot to the left to avoid the ray gun's blast, then threw a punch at the Martian, smashing the helmet and the face underneath it.
"Sorry about that," he said. "Yes, pretty sure there's some fictional 'villains' database somewhere, and that should be an easier way to do it. Give priority to the ones known to possess the most raw power, and do not send any Shadowchasers to deal with them alone."
A weird sound made him turn his head. Five of the Martians were starting to assemble a much larger weapon.
"I'll call you back," he said. "Earth is about to Counter-Attack."
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Francis had expected the stairs to open into some sort of house or public building. However, the door he opened instead led to… a parking lot.
Or maybe a rest area. All he knew is, he was in the middle of a vast, barren desert with a highway going past.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed, seeing what was in front of him.
It was a D-Wheel, of a design he had never seen. It was D-Wheel mono-cycle, having only one wheel, the frame made of bronze and vaguely shaped like a small dragon.
Slowly he approached it, the console lighting up as he did. A deck appeared out of pixels in the proper place, a helmet appearing the same way.
"Like it?" asked Sheeva's slightly friendlier voice. "Wasn't easy to get a D-Wheel in these parts."
She was hovering over and behind him, on an odd contraption, one which he would compare to a hovering cross between a skateboard and surfboard, streamlined, and shaped like a fierce bird of prey. The strangest part was, the hull seemed to be made of ceramic.
If it's a D-Wheel, pretty sure I can drive it, he thought. He swung his leg over it and took the helmet. "Fine, Sheeva, I'll duel you, but if I'm going to make such a wager, I'll ante one. I win, you tell me exactly where you and the others are coming from."
"Copek Industries," she answered.
Francis almost fell off the D-Wheel in surprise.
"Want me to draw a map?" asked the Shokan. "They have the last Memory Crystal too."
"You're just going to give them up like that?" he gasped.
"I'm a warrior, human, this obsession your kind has with technology and computers turns my guts to water." She stroked the odd bandoleer and sparks started to course over her skin. "You're welcome to those fools, they can rot for all I care."
Then armor made from the same odd ceramics started covering her to replace the ceremonial set, a sharp, flared chestpiece, greaves, spauldings, and sabatons, with a sleek winged helmet, the wings being bat-like and sinister.
"Catch me if you can," dared Francis.
The D-Wheel roared to life, as the Speed World 2 backdrop activated.
"For the Shokan!" cried Sheeva. The strange board's wings sprouted nasty blades, and shot after the D-Wheel in pursuit, leaving a flaming wake.
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Nitro was having a terrible time in his attempt to eavesdrop; his skill as a Shadowjack had been enough to only hear bits and pieces of Sheeva and Francis' conversation.
But of those pieces, he had heard a very vital piece.
The boss is gonna flip his shit when he hears this! he thought.
He got up, ripping the paper free he'd been writing on, and tripped as he tried to rush off.
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The odd desert area sped past Francis as he darted down the highway, strange rock formations and dry, dusty plateaus.
"You make the first move, human!" dared Sheeva. "I much prefer a fight like this where I can attack first."
"Thanks, I think," he replied.
As the counters set, five cards from his deck slid into position on the dashboard, and he shifted into third gear.
(Francis: 8,000, 0 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (Sheeva: 8,000, 0 SPCs)
Think I've got the hang of this, he thought.
He drew a sixth card, throwing it on the console. A short, blocky robot, almost wider than it was tall formed in front of him, with steam blowing from tubes on its head. (600 ATK)
"I'll back Steam Synchron up with one set card, and I'm done. Let's see what you've got."
The Shokan tapped her chestpiece, and the Solid Vision produced six holographic cards, floating in front of her. With her lower left hand, she tapped one of them. "I'll arm myself with Fire Hand," she said.
Okay, this is new, thought Francis.
While he was able to see Sheeva's monster card on his console, he didn't see the Solid Vision of it. He did, however, notice a change in Sheeva herself, the glove over her upper right hand becoming shrouded with fire. (1,600 ATK)
"The glove is your monster? I don't know what your game is, lady, but I'll use Dragon Mystery."
His Trap spun 180, causing a glowing, sparkling, radiant… egg to emerge. (0 ATK)
"This card is a Trap and a monster, gaining the Level, Type, and Attribute of my other monster. And speaking of which, by using Steam Synchron's effect, I can use it to Tune itself and Dragon Mystery together now!"
From the rotting remains of creatures that perished in the depths,
A powerful guardian rises more valuable than any treasure the surface could conceive!
(*3 + *3 = *6)
"Synchro Summon… Coral Dragon!"
This was an unlikely Dragon to put it mildly. In place of rear legs, it had a long, serpentine fish tail, and in place of front legs it had limbs that were a strange cross between draconic wings and huge fins. Its hide was studded with sharp shells resembling horns. (2,400 ATK)
Sheeva backed off, and touched two more of the cards in front of her. "I'll bolster myself with Prominence Hand," she said.
Like before, there was no visible monster, but Sheeva's lower-left glove turned the color and texture of smoldering coal. (2,000 ATK) The facedown card that followed, however, he recognized.
The desert plain started to go downhill, the road narrowing and taking the two into a canyon floor. Francis drew a card, causing his bike to edge a little faster.
"I'll use Coral Dragon's effect, discarding this card to destroy Fire Hand!"
"Not a very hot idea," replied Sheeva.
Then she did the unthinkable. As the gauntleted hand started burning white-hot, she leapt from her perch, somersaulted, and propelled herself off the canyon wall, slamming her fist into Coral Dragon. It roared, and was blasted into little pieces.
"What just happened?" he asked.
Sheeva landed back on her board, lifting her upper right again as a different type of energy surrounded freezing the glove in an icy sheath. (1,400 ATK)
"Simpleton" she replied, "With these cards, I'm the duelist and the monsters! Double the threat! When you destroyed Fire Hand, was able to counter and destroy your Dragon, plus replace Fire Hand with Ice Hand."
"Well thank you," he said, "because Coral Dragon's death gives me another draw. Then I'll discard a card to summon Dragon Ice."
After discarding a second card, the large, muscular Dragon with the skull-like face materialized in front of him. (1,800 ATK)
"He looks kinda lonely, so why don't we bring out Draconic Prophet of Ben Hadir too?"
The dry desert was briefly cooled by a chilling wind, heralding the arrival of the fourth of his Draconic Prophets. This one was female, and unlike Chan's Prophet, had short hair, colored blue, to accompany a shorter dress. Like the other Prophets, she hid her face with a blank, featureless mask. (1,800 ATK)
"Then I'll banish Coral Dragon and Steam Synchron to summon… Drum roll please…"
Waterspouts surged upward around his bike to the sound of a ferocious roar that reminded one of the sound made by angry waves crashing against a rocky shore. Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls, had come. (2,600 ATK)
"Interesting technique," Sheeva commented.
Draconic Prophet of Ben Hadir produced a long staff tipped with an aquamarine, and backflipped, landing on Tidal's shoulders and stradling them. They flew towards the Shokan warrior, who lifted her upper right and lower left hands with her palms outstretched to meet the two powerful blows.
Francis kept one eye on the screen, and indeed, both Ice Hand and Prominence Hand had been cleared from the field, meaning…
"Lets see you block this," he dared.
Dragon Ice spouted a concentrated bolt of super-cold ice at its foe, hitting Sheeva directly...
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"All right, Ferdinand, time to make history!"
The mul was startled twice over, once from Emily's sudden bursting into the room, and again by the sight of her. She looked like someone who had just jogged twenty miles through the Everglades. The sexy pirate wench costume she had yet to change out of was soiled and ripped far worse than any lab coat she had ever used, the gunk also staining her now unkempt hair.
"Okay, now you're scaring me," he said.
"Behold!" she said. She brandished a tube containing what seemed like simple green liquid. "This may have improved the original ermordenung formula to tenfold potency Ferd! Those roots you brought must have gotten some enchanted growth augmentation.
Ferd cast an eye over at the safe where he had stashed the sack holding Memory Crystal Gamma. I hope you're happy now, he thought.
"Come here, lover," she said. "I want to kiss you before I drink it. No telling how long it will be afterwards before I can touch someone safely."
Ferd shrugged a little and complied. As he embraced her, he briefly considered trying to grab the bottle from her, maybe spill it and claim later it was an accident.
The reason he didn't? Partially because he feared what might happen if any of it spilled on him, but mostly because of what she'd do to him if he told such a lie.
"Okay!" she said, as he let go. She lifted the bottle. "The moment of truth…"
"Emily, you sure about this?" he said. "Do you really have to test it on yourself right now?"
She looked smug as she answered. "Well, maybe not," she said in a musing tone, "I guess we could do this the old fashioned way, which would require putting in an application with the MHPRA, waiting for approval, doing some animal testing on rats and primates where we'd assess the major organ toxicity in the specimens, then monitoring them for carcinogenic effects and reproductive complications…"
"Okay, okay, I get the idea!" he replied. "Good luck, Emily…"
You're gonna need it, he thought. As he watched her down the liquid, that old movie Hollow Man was in the front of his mind...
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"Kind of refreshing, actually," said Sheeva.
(F: 8,000, 2 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 5,800, 2 SPCs)
"I activate… Damage Condenser!"
She pointed to another of her cards as the Trap opened, and the indicated card disappeared. This time the gauntlet on her upper left hand was altered, turning into a bronze one with studded knuckles.
"Saambel's Gauntlet should do the job this time." (1,000 ATK)
"Then it's your move," replied Francis, reluctantly looking forward to what was coming next.
"You kind of helped me too, human," replied Sheeva. Another card was drawn, and then a large monster card appeared beside her, depicting a hand made of stone. The card crumbled, and Fire Hand's flames surrounded her upper right hand again. "By banishing the Gauntlet of Cyttorak I discarded, I can re-use Fire Hand with 500 more points!" (2,100 ATK)
Then her Trap Card opened. "And using Fury Rush lets me use it to annihilate two of your monsters in one blow!"
Ho, brother, thought Francis.
Sheeva leapt from her ride again, her vicious kicks slamming into Dragon Ice and Prophet on the way down. Before they even collapsed, she backflipped again, landing on her board again.
(F: 7,700, 3 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 5,800, 3 SPCs)
Sweat was beading on her forehead, but she was smiling now. "I confess, human, as fine-to-do it is to discuss things like adults, I really do better when it comes to hitting things! By the way, watch your head."
He turned quickly, seeing the road they were on was about to lead them to a cave entrance. A rather low one. He ducked as much as he could, speeding into a cavern.
The road continued on through a vast and cavernous grotto.
"Never took a warmongering barbarian girl for a sense of humor," grumbled Francis. "I'm using Dragonic Prophet's effect to summon Coral Dragon back to the field!"
The shimmering Different Dimension Gate appeared behind him, and Coral Dragon emerged, roaring even louder. (2,400 ATK)
"I'm ending," said Sheeva. She stabbed her lower-right hand's thumb down. "Which means that guy goes to your hand."
She pointed at Tidal, and Francis nodded, taking the card, causing the watery Dragon to disappear. "Someone's done her homework," he said, "but maybe he can help again later. For now…" He drew. "...I have enough now to use Speed Spell - Dasher Snatcher! I draw three times!"
With a soft whir, three cards appeared in mid-air, which Sheeva could clearly see as Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos, Keeper of the Shrine, and Dragon's Rebirth.
"I can't use them this turn, however, but this one I can." Using one of the other cards, Eclipse Wyvern appeared next to Coral Dragon. (1,600 ATK)
"I might not have mentioned this the first time, but Coral Dragon is both a Synchro and a Tuner! Like you, he's double the threat!"
"No, frankly you didn't mention it," growled Sheeva.
"So I'll Tune together my Level 6 Coral Dragon and my Level 4 Eclipse Wyvern!"
"The glories of Heaven and the mysterious flux of the Astral Plane create the perfect synchronization of the cosmic spiral! Ride the spinning wheel of Fate and descend from the Higher Plane!"
(*6 + *4 = *10)
"I Synchro Summon Ascension Sky Dragon!"
Crackling thunder echoed through the cavern, and a massive Oriental Dragon with scales that seemed to radiate soft, pure light.
"This monster has 800 Attack Points for each card in my hand, and as you can see, I have four right now." (3,200 ATK)
Images of five cards, each one a very powerful Light or Dark Dragon, appeared to his side. "Because I sent Eclipse Wyvern to the Graveyard just then, I can banish one of these." He touched Soul Drain Dragon, and it vanished, the other four retreating back to the deck.
"Now to the matter at hand. Attack! Aim for the Fire Hand!"
"Not a very fast learner, are you?" asked Sheeva. As the huge Dragon spewed a wide stream of fire, she casually blocked with her wrist.
(F: 7,400, 4 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 4,700, 4 SPCs)
"I use Fire Hand's effect to replace it with Ice Hand, and destroy Ascension Sky Dragon!"
Much like before, the giant Dragon shattered, and Sheeva's gauntlet iced over. (1,600 DEF)
"Actually, I'm a very fast learner," replied Francis. "You know those two monsters I used to summon Sky Dragon? Look behind you."
Sheeva quickly turned her craft in time to see Coral Dragon and Eclipse Wyvern - both looking rather pissed - chasing her.
She quickly blocked with her upper right and lower left as a beam of light and volley of sharp shell fragments caremed towards her, shattering Ice Hand and Saambel's Gauntlet.
"I gotta admit, Sheeva, I love fighting things too!"
(F: 7,700, 4 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 3,300, 4 SPCs)
Sheeva didn't answer, but clenched her lower left hand into a fist, causing the gauntlet to become stony and grey. (2,500 DEF)
"Again?" remarked Francis.
"Saambel's effect now brings back my banished Gauntlet of Cyttorak," explained Sheeva. She made a new draw, and both Duelists started to speed through an uphill tunnel. "And now I can banish Fire Hand and Ice Hand and use these the Blazing and Kori Gauntlets!"
She held up both her hands, and powerful elemental energy covered them, sheathing her right in white hot fire, and the left in a fist of blocky, sculpted ice. (2,100 ATK x2)
"This gonna get worse before it gets better," sighed Francis.
Then Sheeva lifted her lower right arm, and a new, golden gauntlet with a studded wrist and knuckles appeared on it. (1,000 ATK)
Really gotta stop saying that, he thought.
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"You gotta be kidding," said Penelope.
She and Greg had grappled down into the Bell Centre from the ceiling, tipped off that the true reason for tonight's Montreal Canadien's game being cancelled was not the sewage problem they had claimed. Rather, it seemed the circus had taken over the place.
Well, A circus, that is. The place had been commandeered by the ugliest clowns she had ever seen, demonic things with huge teeth, wrinkled skin, and fiendish eyes, wearing colorful clothing with big, floppy shoes, big red noses, and painted-on smiles. The hockey arena had indeed been redecorated into a circus theme, but dark and brooding.
The two Shadowchasers had managed to conceal themselves in the bleachers, and were watching with binoculars.
"No joke here," said Greg, "these guys are Killer Klowns."
"Well I can see that," she commented.
"No, no, not just killer clowns, these are THE Killer Klowns," he verified, "they were from some old B-movie from the 80s. Evil aliens who look like clowns."
"Huh?" she asked, flatly.
"Well, uh," he said, sounding nervous, the "nerd tone" in his explanation obvious, "the movie worked on some assumption that the entire concept of clowns, circuses, popcorn, and all that stuff was inspired by previous visits by these monsters." Noting Penelope's odd expression, he added, "It was sort of a shoestring sleeper. But I doubt it's all very funny to them."
He pointed to one end of the large arena, where a half-dozen man-sized cocoons made of cotton candy were hanging next to weird machinery.
"Dear… God," said Penelope. "Are they alive?"
Greg drew his weapon. "Maybe, we're gonna have to deal with them and hope for -"
A loud hiss cut him off. Penelope spun around and aimed a kick at the fat Klown behind them. He fell over with a big "OOP!"
Then they heard a sound like a loud cash register and organ music started to play. The guffawing chuckling monsters started to flip, somersault, and cartwheel towards them.
"Ah yes, Merry-Go-Round Broke Down," said Penelope. "Get 'em!"
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"What are you doing?" shouted Francis.
The cloud of frost from the icy Gauntlet was surrounding Coral Dragon, causing it to groan and shiver. (1,200 ATK)
"Coral Dragon has a higher Attack Score than Kori Gauntlet," replied Sheeva, "so it can cut its Attack Score in half. And since it was Special Summoned, my Gauntlet of Ajira can hit it with double the power!"
She leapt again, cupping her lower hands together, bringing them down fiercely on the Synchro. It crashed to the cavern floor before shattering. She turned to Eclipse Wyvern, darted towards it, and slugged it with her burning upper right fist.
As it shattered, she spun around 360 on her odd conveyance, flying backwards as they emerged into open air again, this time onto a forest path with huge trees.
(F: 6,400, 5 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 3,300, 5 SPCs)
Francis hit the card icon on his console to use Eclipse Wyvern's effect again; there were four to choose from now, and he hit a Dark monster this time.
"My move," said Francis, "and this is where the side effect of Dasher Snatcher comes in." He drew one card looked at it quickly, then discarded Tidal, Blaster, and Keeper.
"Easy come, easy go," he said, "but easy come again, because I can banish Eclipse Wyvern and Ascension Sky Dragon to summon Tidal again!"
The surging Ruler of Waterfalls flew behind him again, now with far less fanfare. (2,600 ATK) The card he had banished last turn with Wyvern's effect appeared alongside the two in his hand he had left.
"Aim for that Kori Gauntlet!" he ordered.
As he watched on the monitor, however, Tidal's aim was a little off. "Not that one!" he shouted.
Sheeva blocked with Gauntlet of Cyttorak, and while the watery blast shattered it, the Kori Gauntlet was protected.
"Sorry human, Gauntlet of Cyttorak intercepted your attack."
"It can't anymore, at least," growled Francis. He set two cards in his Spell Zone. "There."
The two sped out of a forest, into another desert, this one without any roads at all. Where have I seen this place before? He thought.
Sheeva drew as her SPC increased to 7. A Speed Spell, she thought.
She spread all four arms, and Speed Spell - Shift Down activated. "Sorry to lag behind a little, but as they say, all power has a price."
She conjured up two more cards. While Francis couldn't see much of her face due to the helmet, the smile told him she had gotten some very good draws. She extended her palm towards Tidal, using its freezing effect this time on him. (1,300 ATK)
She fiercely clapped her upper arms together while holding her lower ones apart, and two more gauntlets appeared on the lower ones. One was a made of black, impure iron, the other a withered, ragged leather glove. (1,700 ATK, 2,200 ATK)
"By banishing two Gauntlets apiece, Gauntlet of Kas and Gauntlet of Acererak are added to my arsenal, I can really dish out some pain!"
She lunged at Tidal this time, a lithe David challenging a draconic Goliath, her powerful blow with the Gauntlet of Ajira knocking the giant Dragon down and crashing like liquid onto the desert floor.
"Keeper of the Shrine, appear!" shouted Francis. As he held out his hand, a statue of a bearded man with wings on his back with scaly armor and a horned helmet rose in front of him. (2,100 DEF) "Try getting past him."
"I'll deal with him later," said Sheeva. She gestured with the hand covered by the Gauntlet of Acererak, and cursed runes spun around her wrist like a dark ribbon. There was a low, anguished moan and a familiar monster appeared next to Francis. (1,300 ATK)
"You summoned Tidal again?" shouted the Shadowchaser.
"Don't get too attached," replied Sheeva. She thrust her hand forward, and rippling, dark waves from the Gauntlet of Kas bombarded Tidal. Both it and Francis screamed before it burst…
(F: 3,100, 7 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 3,300, 1 SPCs)
"Behold the Shokan's ultimate combo!" laughed Sheeva, as she held all four arms high. "Kori Gauntlet weakens my enemy, leaving it easy prey to Gauntlet of Ajira's power. Gauntlet of Acererak returns a defeated foe from the grave, only to be hit harder with the Gauntlet of Kas!"
"A chain's only as strong as it's weakest link, Sheeva," he answered.
"True, but this chain defends that link, as Gauntlet of Ajira keeps all Special Summoned monsters from attacking it, so long as I have another Gauntlet."
Which means a Normal Summoned monster could break it, thought Francis, but what then?
"Now, my turn is over, and there's one reprieve. Due to Gauntlet of Acererak's effect, you draw once."
Better hope this one does the trick, he thought.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The two Canadian Shadowchasers were beat. They expected getting caramel and taffy on their clothes after going to a circus or carnival, and wouldn't be surprised if such a trip required washing sweat or vomit out of them either. This was clearly, however, the first time alien clown blood was added to that list of residue.
"Jabels, we think we've got the place secured," said Greg into his device. "We have four survivors with injuries, one seriously, and I'd recommend trauma counselors. I would not recommend anyone known for using of Patch Adam's methods here."
"Understood," replied Jabels.
"Send some detox guys too, and," he started.
"Greg, look out!" screamed Penelope.
Greg turned around. "Jesus Christ… Jabels, I'll call you back!"
It was more than three times as big as any of the other clowns and about ten times as ugly, descending from the ceiling like some horrific marionette.
"I hate clowns," said Greg. "Really hate 'em…" They both lifted their swords again as the abomination let out the most horrible guffaw they'd ever heard…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"You were lucky to have that statue to protect you," goaded Sheeva, "but next turn I'm letting you have it."
"It can do more than protect, Sheeva, it can also count as two sacrifices if I use it to summon a Dragon."
"Wait, but that," started Sheeva.
Violent winds started to blow the desert sands around them into a storm, as a voice like that of howling gale and the shrill winds of a tornado roared over them. Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms had come. (2,400 ATK)
"You got it, this guy's a Normal Summon, meaning he can attack Gauntlet of Ajira. But before I do…"
Tempest bellowed, and its lightning-charged breath struck Sheeva, causing the Kori Gauntlet to shatter.
"Fool," she remarked, "I still have the Gauntlet of Ajira, and you can't attack twice with that thing."
"Oh no?" he asked.
One of his two Traps turned up and turned around, and Tempest hissed while eyeing Sheeva. "Desperate Battle, it lets my monster attack a second time so long as I take 1,000 points off its Attack Score."
Its second blow wasn't quite as fierce as the first, but as he said, it honed in on her lower-right arm, blowing the golden gauntlet to small shards.
(F: 3,100, 8 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 2,600, 2 SPCs)
"So what are you gonna do now?" He set one more card, then signaled his End Phase.
"Alright, you asked for it," she answered.
She pointed to take another card. "I activate Speed Spell Vision Wind to recover Saambell's Gauntlet!" A powerful vortex of wind surrounded Sheeva, and the bronze, studded gauntlet appeared on her lower left arm again. (1,000 ATK)
"Summoning this monster from the Graveyard lowers the Levels of my other two Gauntlets by one Level apiece, so I'll Tune it with my Gauntlet of Kas and my Gauntlet of Acererak!"
"That's a Level 10 Tune!" shouted Francis.
She crossed her arms over her chest in a crossed pose, chanting in her own, strange language as the Synchro rings started to surround her.
(*2 + *4 + *4 = 10)
What the devil is she summoning?
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"This is boring," said Oswald.
Dunstan was about to fall asleep too, watching the two screens in the lab showing Jalal laying waste to Martians and Greg and Penelope fighting the clowns.
"I suppose Mars Attacks is far more entertaining when the Earthlings are incompetent," sighed Beatrice. "You guys can go, I doubt I'll need you here in the intermediate future."
"Call if something interesting happens," sighed Oswald. He yawned and stretched and stood up.
Men, thought Beatrice. She picked up another DVD from the pile. Hey, haven't watch this one in years…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
As previously stated, the gods of Shokan mythology had odd combinations of their areas of expertise.
All except their goddess of Death.
Supposedly, she was both a warrior and an assassin, a brutal killer who was cruel even by Outworld standards. But as far as skill went, she was clearly not the best; like most Shokan gods, she was eventually bested by another, falling in battle.
But… When Death came to claim her, she would not go willingly. She fought back against the Pale Horseman, wrestling him into submission and slaying him with his own Ebon Blade. Unfortunately, such an act is rarely without consequences, as by slaying the embodiment of Death, she was required to take the position herself.
Whether Sheeva had turned herself into an avatar of this being or simply hidden herself somewhere after summoning the card, it was hard to say. The Synchro monster modelled after her, whom he'd later learn was called Lady Shahrazad the Cruel, loomed over and in front of him, a titanic, giant Shokan about forty feet tall. Her outfit was neither as revealing as the old one nor as modest as the new one; Francis had seen the "metal bustier and matching breechcloth" design rather often, but this time, the unusual design accented something he felt more concern over: She had the Gauntlets of Kas, Acererak, Ajira, and Cyttorak. Not to mention a wicked-looking sword in each one. (3,000 ATK)
"You know, Sheeva, you can only take a theme so far before it becomes a tired old cliche."
"Oh, I'm anything but tired, human. For each Gauntlet I used to summon this form other than the Tuner, I gain 1,000 Life Points."
(F: 3,100, 9 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 4,600, 3 SPCs)
She might have said something else after that, but he had to swerve his D-Wheel as her giant foot tried to crush him.
"You'll note, I have four of my Gauntlets, and because one of them is the Gauntlet of Kas, I'm even stronger!"
(4,000 ATK)
Francis noticed some large statues coming up through the haze as the surface below him changed to man-made. He shifted again, making for the odd structure, the statues quickly becoming clearer, like Moai heads on tall, warriors' bodies.
"Come back here!" she ordered. As Francis sped through the odd gallery, she swung those horrible swords,crashing through one of the statues. Francis had to swerve again to avoid being crushed by its plummeting Moai head.
And she was still coming! Tempest roared, rushing to interpose himself between her and his master. He was cut down quickly, but the Shadowchaser was safe…
(F: 1,500, 9 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 4,600, 3 SPCs)
...for now… he thought. He peered ahead further and saw a much larger structure beyond the statues.
"Don't think you can summon it as easy as you do the others," she said, her voice now tainted with rage. She lifted her upper left hand, showing the Gauntlet of Ajira. "Because of this, it goes to your deck."
"But it went to the Graveyard first," he replied, "Meaning I can, again, summon this guy again!"
Thrusting his palm forward, Keeper of the Shrine appeared in Defense Mode again. (2,100 DEF)
He drew. then he touched his screen, causing the Speed World icon to appear. He swallowed hard, not wanting to slow down with her in his rear view mirror.
Just have to think of it like one of those video games where the bosses are so huge, he thought.
He peered ahead hit the card and his Speed Counters sank to 2. He drew another card. He set it quickly, then grabbed two of the cards on his sleeve.
"I'm sending Redox and Golem Dragon from my hand to the Graveyard, and summoning Twin-Headed Behemoth."
"Fool, it seems half your monsters are just fuel for the other half," stated Sheeva.
"That's the idea," he replied. He tossed the two cards, causing the double-Dragon to appear, flying with its wings broadly spread. (1,200 DEF)
"Then I'll use him to Special Summon this big fellah, Destrudo the Lost Dragon's Fission."
There was a soft, sobbing moan, and a Dragon appeared that looked almost anorexic. Only slightly larger than his bike, it looked gaunt to the point of skeletal, with black, molting scales on its wrinkled skin. (1,000 ATK)
"This guy is Level 7, but I subtract from that the Level of my other Monster, meaning now it's a Level 4."
He took his last card, trying very hard to ignore Sheeva's thundering footsteps as she chased after him. He played it, and Divine Dragon Apocralyph appeared in all its flaming, majestic glory. (1,000 ATK)
Then one of his set cards lifted. "Dragoncarnation!" he announced. An orb of light floated from the Trap, turning into the very card he had banished the first time he had used Eclipse Wyvern's effect.
"I'll discard this," he said, slipping it into his discard slot, "to use Divine Dragon's effect and swap it for another from the Graveyard."
"Now I'll use the Overlay Network!"
Sheeva paused mid-stride, moving her head slightly to avoid Prophet and Destrudo as they soared past her into the vortex. A portal opened in front of Francis to the sound of lyre music, as Queen Dragun floated out. (1,200 DEF)
Queen Dragun closed her eyes, playing her lyre while chanting an ominous, haunting melody. As Francis discarded Destrudo's card, Soul Drain Dragon burst from the ground behind him in an earth-shattering clamor. (4,000 ATK)
"I can't attack with him this turn, so it's your move."
(F: 750, 2 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 4,900, 3 SPCs)
Sheeva was almost drunk with the thrill as she continued to pursue him, the ground trembling as she did. She vaguely saw what her card was - Karma Cut - but barely cared. She casually tossed the four swords aside - causing them to embed themselves in the ground, quivering - then lifted her two upper arms, causing a much bigger, flaming two-handed sword to appear in them. As she charged towards Francis, aiming for Twin-Headed Behemoth, the blazing light from the sword was easy to see - she was nearly blocking out the sun.
"Back off!" he responded. "I activate Baton of the Hero!"
The Trap Card shimmered in the dim light, and Soul Drain Dragon roared louder in a wordless challenge to Sheeva, who eagerly obliged.
Queen Dragun prevents my Dragons from being destroyed in battle, he mused, so this should work…
A very loud CRACK and a flash of lightning accompanied the two titans colliding. The giant sword fell to the ground, in two pieces…
Sheeva, however, was still standing, and still in the massive body of the death-goddess. At least the battle had calmed and possibly hurt her a little, as she came to a halt, rubbing her mid-torso.
"Not bad, human," she said, "but this" she lifted her lower left arm, emphasizing Gauntlet of Cyttorak, "protects me once per turn. Want to know what this one does?"
"I'd rather not," he answered, keeping his eyes on the ziggurat - clearly what the structure was - ahead.
"Too bad, I'm going to show you anyway!" To prove it, spouted flames from her lips, hitting Queen Dragun, who screamed as flames started to surround her.
While he didn't lose any Life Points, seeing her shatter this time hit him hard.
"Since she had less Attack Points than the monster I actually battled, she's toast, and so are you!"
She deftly grabbed her smaller swords, and continued chasing after him.
And that's just swell, sighed Francis.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Dunstan slammed the door as he entered the employee lounge.
"Shh!" said Ferdinand.
He pointed to Emily, who was fast asleep on the couch next to him.
"Given the mess here, I assume she's been trying something new?" asked Dunstan.
"Yeah, and I assumed it worked," said Ferd with a nod. "Maybe better than last time."
This was an educated guess on his part. Most times when she changed the formula, she took a ten minute nap while her system adjusted. Checking his watch, this nap had lasted about thirty minutes, and she was still snoring heavily.
Something was different now…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Francis sped to the base of the ziggurat, and swerved at the steps going up, turning to face Sheeva. He drew one card.
"Speed Spell - Half -Seize!" he shouted.
Finally, the giantess stumbled, and stopped. "What are you doing?" she screamed.
"Taking you down," he replied. Sheeva clutched her chest, dropping the swords again. (2,000 ATK)
"I'll banish four of my Dragons!" he yelled.
(F: 2,750, 3 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 4,900, 4 SPCs)
The cards belonging to Destrudo, Apocralyph, Golem Dragon, and Keeper of the Shrine all appeared and were consumed by surges of fire and ice, as two mighty Dragon Lords, Blaster and Tidal, appeared to either side of the Shadowchaser. (2,800 ATK, 2,600 ATK)
Tidal struck first, his powerful streams of high-pressure water soaking the giantess. "YAH!" she screamed, lightning crashing and striking Twin-Headed Behemoth, atomizing it.
"Those are two useful effects, but now you've used both," said Francis, "so Blaster can strike impeded! Infernal Cataclysm Blast!"
The giant volcanic Dragon spread its wings and glided over Sheeva, its breath erupting in a downward cascade of burning magma. Shahrazad was vanquished by the impact, her host falling from the larger form and landing on her shoulder, her Shokan armor charred and broken.
(F: 2,750, 3 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 3,500, 4 SPCs)
"Soul Drain Dragon..." he started.
"WAIT," snapped Sheeva.
The Dragon paused, and Francis stopped.
Now what? he thought.
"Can you at least let me stand up?" she asked.
Francis didn't respond verbally, just looked her directly in the eye. Sheeva pushed herself to her feet, then looked at the huge Dragon.
"Take your best shot," she dared.
Francis was happy to comply. "Crushing Vortex Wave!" he ordered.
The overwhelming brilliance from its breath almost blinded him. He saw Sheeva reaching outward with all four arms, and a soft smile right before the direct attack hit…
(F: 2,750, 3 SPCs) - - - - - - - - (S: 0, 4 SPCs)
"Huh?" he said. "Where?"
The desert had disappeared. He was in that dark wine cellar again.
He couldn't help but be a little disappointed, having wanted to find some way to keep that D-Wheel.
Then he saw it. Another note was pinned to that keg she had been leaning against.
He grabbed it right away and read:
Francis,
Since you're reading this, I assume it's "Game Over" for my side, so to speak. I want to thank you for what I can only assume was an honorable and exciting battle, and that whether I survived or not, I hold no grudge.
I want to assure you, I never found my desire for closure some mad lust for revenge or retribution. I do not walk that route, and to be honest, I'm not even sure why I was so obsessed. Maybe it was all scripted by some greater power.
Assuming I still live, my goal now might be trying to figure that out. Hopefully I can find a greater purpose on your world that is just as "invigorating".
Sheeva
"Invigorating?" he mused. Then he thought a minute, then sighed loudly. He crumpled up the note and tossed it away.
A doorway opened in the middle of the room. He assumed that was his way back, but even without such assumptions, taking it was the best option for an exhausted Shadowchaser.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The last Martian collapsed, its helmet shattered and its weapon broken. Jalal checked a counter on the Google glass.
"Four, three, two…" he looked towards the flying saucer on the other side of the street. "One…"
He covered his head with his arm as it exploded into fiery debris.
"Rust in peace," he grumbled.
To his surprise, a special signal on his Disk started ringing. The private line only two other contacts knew about.
"Maskent?" he said.
"Thank goodness I finally got through," said the archmage. "I was starting to wonder if the Weave itself had been damaged."
"That's a possibility," replied Jalal. "Maskent, if this is about the staff we recovered in Bitterroot, this isn't exactly the right - "
"It is, but not for the reason you assume.
"I think that device might be a way you can combat Antisthenes. It's far from simple but… Just keep it safe, I'll explain when I get there."
"Of course,"replied Jalal. He turned it off. Meanwhile, I'll start working on how to explain this to the press and the Green Bay police.
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Desperate Battle (Normal Trap)
Image: A little kid wearing boxing gear standing up to a tough-looking adult boxer.
Card Description: Activate only during your Battle Phase. Select 1 Monster you control that has declared an attack this turn. Reduce that Monster's ATK by 1,000 until the end of the Battle Phase; it may attack 1 more time this Battle Phase.
First appeared in "Yu-Gi-Oh GX episode 167.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
SPEED SPELL – VISION WIND (Normal Speed Spell Card)
Image: Speed Warrior surrounded by the vortex of Speed World.
Card Description: You can only activate this card when you have 2 or more Speed Counters. Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Monster from your Graveyard. The Monster Special Summoned by this effect is destroyed at the End Phase of your turn.
First appeared in Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds episode 001
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
SPEED SPELL – SHIFT DOWN (Normal Speed Spell Card)
Image: The image on this card was not shown.
Card Description: You can only activate this card when you have 6 or more Speed Counters. Remove 6 of your Speed Counters and draw two cards.
First appeared in Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds episode 017.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
SPEED SPELL – Half Seize (Normal Speed Spell Card)
Image: A glowing, pulsating, green orb.
Card Description: Activate only while you have 3 or more Speed Counters. Select 1 face-up monster on the field. Halve that monster's ATK, and gain an equal amount of Life Points.
First appeared in Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds episode 058.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
BATON OF THE HERO (Normal Trap Card)
Image: Freed the Brave Wanderer at the forefront a battalion of soldiers, who include Marauding Captain, Gaia the Fierce Knight, and Warrior Lady of the Wasteland.
Card Description: Activate only during your opponent's Battle Phase when your opponent declares an attack. Select one Monster you control. The selected Monster becomes the target of that attack.
Note: "Baton of the Hero" was first used by Yusei in the "Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's" episode "A Score to Settle (Part 2)". Creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Kori Gauntlet (Effect Monster)
Aqua/Water/Lvl5/2,100/1,000
Effect: Once per turn, you may Special Summon this card by Tributing 1 "Ice Hand" you control. Once per turn, you may select a face-up monster and reduce its ATK by half; this card cannot attack that turn.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Blazing Gauntlet (Effect Monster)
Pyro/Fire/Lvl5/2,100/1,200
Effect: Once per turn, you may Special Summon this card by Tributing 1 "Fire Hand" you control. Once per turn, this card is not destroyed by battle. If this card battles a monster with higher ATK than this card, after Damage Calculation, reduce that monster's ATK by the amount of damage you took.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Gauntlet of Ajira (Effect Monster)
Rock/Earth/Lvl5/1,000/1,800
Effect: If this card attacks a Special Summoned monster, its ATK is doubled until the end of the Damage Step. If you control a "Gauntlet" monster other than "Gauntlet of Ajira", Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls cannot attack "Gauntlet of Ajira".
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Gauntlet of Acererak (Effect Monster)
Zombie/Dark/Lvl5/2,200/1,200
Effect: You may Special Summon this card by banishing 2 "Hand" and/or "Gauntlet" monsters from your Graveyard. If a "Gauntlet" monster you control destroys a monster (via battle or card effect) you may use the effect of this card to Special Summon that monster to your opponent's side of the field in Attack Position. A monster summoned via this method has its ATK reduced by half and cannot use its effect. This card cannot attack on a turn you use this effect.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Gauntlet of Kas (Effect Monster)
Fiend/Dark/Lvl5/1,700/1,200
Effect: You may Special Summon this card by banishing 2 "Hand" and/or "Gauntlet" monsters from your Graveyard. If a "Gauntlet" If this card destroys a Special Summoned monster via battle, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the base ATK of that monster. Your opponent then draws 1 card.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Gauntlet of Cyttorak (Effect Monster)
Rock/Earth/Lvl5/200/2,500
Effect: If this card is in your Graveyard, you may banish it to Special Summon a "Hand" monster from your Graveyard; if you do, increase the ATK of that monster by 500. If a "Gauntlet" monster you control is destroyed by your opponent, you may Special Summon this banished card; if this card would then be sent to the GY, banish it instead. An effect of "Gauntlet of Cyttorak," may only be used once per turn and only 1 effect of "Gauntlet of Cyttorak" may be used during a turn.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Saambel's Gauntlet (Effect Tuner Monster)
Rock/Light/Lvl2/1,000/0
Effect: if this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, decrease the Levels of all non-Tuner "Gauntlet" monsters you control by 1; if you Synchro Summon using this card, increase your Life Points by 1,000 times the number of non-Tuner "Gauntlet" monsters used in the Synchro Summon.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Lady Shahrazad the Cruel.(Synchro Monster)
Fiend/Earth/Lvl10/2,000/1,800
"Saambell's Gauntlet" + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Effect: This card gains the following effects depending on the number of non-Tuner "Gauntlet" monsters with different names in your Graveyard.
1: Monsters destroyed by battle by this card and sent to the Graveyard are returned to the owner's deck
2: The ATK of this card becomes 4,000
3: Once per turn, this card is not destroyed by a Spell or Trap Card's effect.
4: Once per turn, this card is not destroyed by Battle.
5 or more: If this card battles a monster but does not destroy it, select 1 face-up monster with an ATK lower than the ATK of the battled monster; destroy the selected monster.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Fury Rush (Normal Trap)
Image: A warrior with a red headband, covering his eyes and glancing upwards, a darker, bestial warrior leaping down from above.
Effect: Activate when a "Gauntlet" monster you control destroys an opposing monster; select a face-up monster with less ATK than the destroyed monster and destroy it with this card's effect. A player may only use 1 "Fury Rush" per turn.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Speed Spell - Dasher Snatcher (Normal Speed Spell)
Image: Chick the Yellow driving a D-Wheel across the floor of a desert canyon, Meanae the Thorn holding on behind him hanging onto a sack of loot, spilling much of it. Behind them, a looming, angry Granmarg the Mega Monarch is in pursuit.
Effect: Activate when you have 4 or more Speed Counters. Draw 3 cards; cards drawn via this effect cannot be set, summoned, or activated this turn. During your next Standby Phase, either discard 3 cards from your hand OR reduce your SPC by 3.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Dragon Mystery (Continuous Trap Card)
Image: A golden egg slowly cracking; behind it is a dark, dragon-shaped shadow.
Effect: Upon activation, select 1 face-up monster you control; Special Summon this card as a Normal Monster in Attack Position with the same Type, Attribute, and Level as the selected monster with 0 ATK and 0 DEF. (This card is also still a Trap Card.) This card cannot be used as a Synchro or Xyz monster except to summon Dragon-Type monsters; you cannot Normal Summon during the turn you use this card. You may only activate 1 "Dragon Mystery" per turn.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Draconic Prophet of Ben Hadir (Monster Card)
Spellcaster/Water/Effect/Lvl4/1,800ATK/900DEF
Effect: This card is considered a Dragon-Type monster if face-up on the field. Once per turn, you may discard 1 WATER monster from your hand to add 1 Dragon-Type monster from your Graveyard to your hand. If this card is destroyed by your opponent (either through battle or via card effect) select 1 of your banished Dragon-Type monsters and Special Summon it in Defense Mode.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Jemorille: Jalal's concern was valid, because it seemed the Veil - which had, up to now, concealed these new threats much as they did Shadows - was starting to slip in consistency. Jalal had at times considered that whatever abducted Shadowkind from their world had a malevolent goal, and that a full-scale invasion from the World of Shadow was possible.
In these recent attacks done in quick succession, Mundanes who tried to pay too much attention were starting to glimpse past the Veil, seeing the Martians and Killer Klowns for what they were. Almost as if the Veil was starting to fray and tear.
Jalal knew that times in the past where this had happened (like the war between humans and vampires) had come close to ripping it to pieces, but it always seemed to repair itself when a lull occurred. Hopefully, there would be such a lull soon.
Problem was, he had a hunch that the damage to it now was intentional.
"The Man in Black" is coming soon.