Zephyr: Back pretty soon!
To Generalhyna: Thank you! Haven't even thought of it, but getting OCs to join the fight could be a cool idea. The whole gang is going to join the fight eventually, so why not OCs? I'm willing to hear your idea.
And now, everyone, enjoy chapter 3!
Final Fantasy GX
Chapter 3: Hard Climbs
"What is that place we're heading to?" Judai asked.
"You didn't even study the map of the city?!" Asuka screamed.
"Well, no! Why should I?!"
Asuka shook her head, and made an exasperated sigh.
"That is the tower of Dice, isn't it?" Kenzan asked.
"Very good, Kenzan. I see you know how to use the PDA," Asuka said.
"We're way off," Sui said.
"We'll pass with flying colors once they see what we accomplished. Come on," Asuka said.
They subtly followed the soldiers until the tower was in sight, taking a road circling a hill behind the city. There were absolutely no buildings around, just nature in the wild. They found a top of a slope from where they could observe the entrance of the tower.
"Tell the Lord we'll have it up and running in no time," one soldier saluted another and left.
"Why would soldiers be heading to the abandoned tower? It's been sealed for ages, if memory serves," Sui said.
"That's what we're going to find out," Asuka said. "Hush."
They all hid behind the trees until the soldiers cleared the area. One of them had left; the others had gone up the tower.
"We need to stop them before they manage to accomplish whatever they are trying," Asuka said. "The battles are going to be intense now."
"I'm totally up for it!" Judai cheered.
"Bring it on-don!" Kenzan said.
"…" Sui said nothing.
"What is it? You scared?" Asuka teased.
Sui looked away. "…I don't know. I try not to think about it."
"There's no way to be scared. Battles are great. The way I see them, with each of them I win, I am one step closer to fulfilling my goal," Asuka said.
"What? Your goal?!" Sui grimaced.
"You have them too, right?"
"…" Sui looked away again.
"Hey! What? What goal?" Judai asked.
Asuka ignored him and walked away.
"H-hey…?!" Kenzan gawked.
"Oh! There you are!" a voice said. And then a scream.
And next thing Sui knew, she was lying under a very handsome boy. Just like some hours earlier.
"Haha! It's kinda… we are supposed to be this way," Johan smiled.
Wh-what?! Sui blushed a beet red.
"Sorry! I tripped when climbing the rocks… But it wasn't so bad, was it? Hehehehe," Johan quickly stood up.
Is he doing this on purpose…? Sui stared at the boy.
"Oh, that's right! I almost forgot… I have a message for the squad leader Asuka… where is she?"
Sui looked around and pointed to the very far away figure of Asuka, who was already dueling some West Academia soldier. A large space and an eight-yards tall slope separated them now.
"Sigh… This sure is tough… Squad leader Asukaaaaaaaaa! I have a message for you!" Johan jumped down the eight-yards slope.
"Whoah!" Sui screamed.
"We have to follow! Yeah!" Judai jumped down as well.
"Geronimooooo!" Kenzan followed.
"…" Sui remained in place, frozen.
"What are you waiting for, Sui? Come on!" Judai waved.
"…" Sui graciously walked around the cliff, following the path to the tower. It took her a minute, but it irked her companions.
"What a wuss you are!" Kenzan said.
"Yeah! Jumping down is much quicker!" Judai said.
"Yeah, and a much quicker way to get a sprain," Sui nodded.
"I don't want to hear that from someone who gets into fist fights every day," Judai looked away.
"Hah! He got you good," Kenzan guffawed.
"Whatever," Sui said.
"The leader already entered the tower. We have to follow!" Johan said.
"Actually, we were not given any order," Sui said.
"I got a priority order. So you better follow me," Johan said.
"Fine," Sui said. "Let's go."
The inner structure of the tower was a metallic skeleton featuring an elevator that ran all the way up to the top. It looked like all the operations were conducted there. Asuka was nowhere to be seen.
Swallowing a gulp, Sui rode the perilous elevator with her companions, trying not to show her fear.
"Wait a sec… I just remembered something!" Sui frowned.
"Hm, yeah? What?" Johan asked.
"This tower… Wasn't it an abandoned project by Kaiba Corporation? Their idea of making another Kaiba Tower here in Dice City?"
"I kinda remember something like that, yeah," Judai said.
"Then why wasn't this completed?"
But her companions were none the wiser.
"Thinking about it… It is quite possible this tower has means of communication with the actual Kaiba Tower in Domino City."
Her companions hadn't thought so far ahead. Sui sighed. Out of her classmates, only Asuka was a match for her when it came to thinking. Sui mulled about this thought briefly as the elevator finished its climb.
"Whoah, we're sooooo high up!" Judai said, looking around.
Sui's cheeks turned red, and she diverted her attention to somewhere above her. The place they had arrived to was at least half mile above ground level, just a metallic structure in the open air. One strong gust and they could all be swept away!
"Bring me more cable, bitch!" a voice said. It was a large man in some uniform that appeared to show a high rank.
"Yes, sir," the bitch said, and walked to some tiny tool hut built near the elevator.
"What a way to treat your subordinates," Sui said.
The man startled and turned around. "Who the hell are you!"
Judai raised a fist. "We're Duel Academia Soldiers, here to fight for justice!"
"And where the hell are you from?" Sui narrowed her eyes.
"Eh?" Judai turned to her. "Of course, he's a West Academia sold—Ah!" he startled, noticing the unfamiliar uniform—uniform that didn't belong to any of the five Academias. "Where the hell are you from, indeed!"
"Bitch! Give me a hand with these-!" the man screamed.
"Skeeeee!"
A phenomenal scream froze everyone. The slow, painful batting of wings—large wings—broke the monotone of winds blowing.
They gawked as they looked up. A creature descended on them, making such gusts with its wings that threatened to sweep them off the structure.
"Aaaaaaaaargh!" the man in the strange uniform was swept off the structure and to the open air.
"Ah!" Sui said, as she was swept back. She managed to tangle her feet on one of the bars that surrounded the elevator.
"H-help!" Judai said, desperately trying to grasp on the floor.
"W-we'll be blown away!" Kenzan cried.
"Argh!" with all his might, Johan made a leap forward. "Stop doing this! I'll duel you!"
"Why not," the creature landed on the metallic floor. "Either way, you'll pay for entering my territory."
"Argh!" Johan crouched as a strong wind blew from his left side.
Dammit, Sui thought. "J-Johan! I'm the only one who has a secure position. Let me battle it!"
"It's okay. It's not a strong monster. I'll be done in a couple turns."
"J-Johan!" Sui cried. W-we'll die if we don't win… "Let me lend you my strength too!"
"All right. Let's get rid of this beast together!"
"Duel!"
Duel Start!
Harpie Queen: 4000 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 4000 Life Points
"My turn. Draw!" Sui said. "I set two cards. Turn end."
"My turn. Draw!"
Turn 2
Harpie Queen: 4000 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 4000 Life Points
"From my hand, here's a Field Spell! Harpies' Hunting Ground!" the field was assaulted with winds from everywhere as the Field Spell took place.
"Argh!" Johan said, starting to lose ground.
"Johan! Take my hand-!" Sui said, stretching from her position. Johan stumbled back, landing against her.
"Uh… sorry," he said, cheeks red.
"No… Hold onto me if you don't wanna fall," Sui said, cheeks equally red.
"My bad," he said, turning his head away as Sui locked him in place with her limbs.
She blushed. Uh… he looks quite thin, but he feels… really muscular, she thought, face red.
"I set two cards, and end my turn," she said, but Sui interrupted her.
"Before your turn ends, I activate my Continuous Trap: Skull Zoma! I Special Summon Skull Zoma to the field, but it needs to be in Defense Mode for now."
The cadaverous bird took place in Sui's field. (DEF 500)
"My turn," Johan said, holding onto Sui with just his legs so he could play. "Draw!"
Turn 3
Harpie Queen: 4000 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 4000 Life Points
"I summon Sapphire Pegasus in Attack Mode," Johan said.
A beautiful white pegasus took place at the side of the black bird. (ATK 1800)
"I activate its effect. I can place one Gem Beast on the Spells and Traps zone. I choose Topaz Tiger. And I switch Skull Zoma to Attack Mode as well."
The bird stood up, defiantly dangerous. (ATK 1800)
"Battle! Direct Attack!"
Both black and white monsters attacked Harpy Queen directly.
"Arrrrgh!" (Harpy Queen's Life Points 4000 - 400)
"Yes! Go, guys!" Judai said.
"You got this in the bag!" Kenzan said.
No… In my experience, a Harpie deck can easily survive many turns with as low as 100 Life Points… No letting our guard down now! Sui thought.
"Turn end!"
"My turn. Draw!"
Turn 4
Harpie Queen: 400 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 4000 Life Points
"I summon Harpie Queen in Attack Mode. This card's name can be treated as 'Harpie Lady'."
A green haired harpy descended on the field, exact replica of the player (ATK 1900)
"That lets me activate Harpie's Hunting Ground's effect: when a Harpie Lady is summoned, I can destroy one Trap or Spell. Begone, Skull Zoma! The air belongs to us Harpies!"
"Shit…" Sui mused as Skull Zoma vanished from the field.
"And thanks to the Field Spell, its attack raises by 200 points!" (Harpy Queen's ATK 1900 - 2100)
"Let us attain supremacy over the air! Harpie Queen, obliterate that winged beast!"
"Damn,"(Johan and Sui's Life Points: 4000 - 3700) Johan said as Sapphire Pegasus returned to a pure blue crystallized form. "I activate its effect! It remains as a gem in my Traps and Spells zone!"
"I set one card, and end my turn."
And so it begins, Sui thought. Harpie decks' nightmare: everything one plays or sets in the Spells and Traps zone will be promptly destroyed. "My turn," Sui said, needing to release Johan to play. "Draw!"
Turn 5
Harpie Queen: 400 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 3700 Life Points
"Ah!" another gust of wind made Johan stumble back, grabbing Sui with all his might. The proximity of his warm body made it even harder to think for her.
Sui stared at her hand. Damn… Nothing to beat that twenty-one hundred attack monster… I really don't want to play defensive in such a situation… I need to win, and win fast!
She looked up, finding Johan a couple inches from her face. He looked at her, and made a mischievous smile. And next, he kissed her ear.
"H-hey? What are you doing…?" Kenzan gawked.
"Hey, stop doing that," Harpie Queen said. "If you're going to make out, then share!"
W-what a slut… "Never mind, I got it," Sui said, in a composed voice. "I set a monster and a card face down, and end my turn."
"My turn. Draw!"
Turn 6
Harpie Queen: 400 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 3700 Life Points
"I summon Harpie Lady 1, in Attack Mode." A fuchsia-haired harpie appeared in the field. (ATK 1300 - 1500) "All Wind monsters gain 300 Attack Points." (Harpie Queen's Attack Points 2100 - 2400) (Harpie Lady 1's Attack Points 1500 - 1800) And the Field Spell effect: one of your Traps and Spells gets destroyed. Blow up the card you lastly set!"
"No!" Sui screamed. "I activate Solemn Judgment: by paying half of my Life Points (Johan & Sui's Life Points: 3700 - 1850) I negate the activation of that card and destroy it!" Harpies' Hunting Ground disappeared, much to all the humans' relief.
Sui narrowed her eyes. "With this, the harpies' attack go down as well."
"Hmph. Why go so far to protect that set card? Anyway, don't think it's the only card of that kind I have. I send Harpie Queen from my hand to the cemetery to add Harpie's Hunting Ground to my hand. And now to the field!"
"Arrrgh!" Sui gawked as the accursed Field Spell returned to the field, also restoring the harpies' attack.
"Harpie Queen, attack her face-down monster!"
The card was flipped and revealed Soul-Absorbing Bone Tower (DEF 1500), which was promptly defeated.
"Harpie Lady 1! Direct Attack!"
"Argh!" (Johan and Sui's Life Points: 1850 - 50)
"Phew… lucky…" Johan sighed.
"Haha, only a little more," Harpie Queen smiled. "Turn end."
"Phew… I did it… Johan… it's up to you now…" Sui muttered.
"Leave it to me," Johan said. "My turn. Draw!"
Turn 7
Harpie Queen: 400 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 50 Life Points
"Let us show you who is the true master of the winds," Sui said.
"Huh? What? Don't make me laugh. What can you even do?" Harpie Queen smirked.
"Now's the time to show you some real power of the wind," Johan said. "Here's what we fought with all our might to protect, and it's going to blow on you!"
A hurricane blew all over Harpie Queen's field, sweeping all her Spells and Traps away. (Harpie Queen's Attack Points: 2400 - 2200) (Harpie Lady 1's Attack Points 1800 - 1600)
"Wh-what?"
"Giant Trunade—her card, guarded by my Solemn Judgment, and your demise!"
"Haha, so what? You may have blown away my cards, but I'll play them again next turn. Just see in front of your eyes: you got two Harpies to beat before you get to me."
"That's what you think," Johan said.
"Wha—"
"I summon Gem Beast – Amethyst Cat, in Attack Mode!"
A large mountain cat in some iridescent pink fur appeared in the field, her collar gleaming. (ATK 1200)
"A little short on attack, isn't she?" Harpie Queen smirked.
"Is that so? Maybe, if it wasn't for her special effect."
Her smile disappeared from her face. "What…?"
"By halving her Attack Points (Amethyst Cat's Attack Points: 1200 600) I can attack you directly."
"Oh, no…!" Harpie Queen made a step back.
"Amethyst Cat! Finish her off! AMETHYST NAIL!"
The pink feline jumped over the Queen, wildly scratching her at her leisure.
Harpie Queen: 0 Life Points
Johan & Sui: 50 Life Points
"Yeeeees! Well done!" Judai cheered.
"It was… quite close-don."
"We did it!" Johan said.
Sui sighed. "Lucky I managed to hear your whisper in my ear…" She took a glance at the field. Amethyst Cat gave her some sharp look that clearly meant "Aren't you feeling up Johan a little too much?" before disappearing.
"'Grats… Though you looked like you really had fun," Kenzan said, face quite somber.
"Ehehehehe," Johan scratched the nape of his neck.
"Whatever," Sui said.
"What the hell are you doing here?" a voice said. They turned to the elevator as Asuka climbed out of it.
"Ah! Aren't you squad leader Asuka? I am a messenger, and have a priority order," Johan said.
"Yes?"
Johan lifted a finger as he recited, All Duel Soldiers and Duel Soldier candidates are to withdraw at 1900 and assemble at the shore.
"1900?" Sui asked.
"But we're not finished here!" Asuka said.
"Didn't Misawa-senpai say withdraw orders take priority?" Sui asked.
"That's thirty minutes from now!" Asuka said. "Only thirty minutes to reach the shore! Well, jump in the elevator," she said, pushing the "down" button.
"Ah! Wait!" Sui said, trying to untangle her feet as Judai and Kenzan stood upright again. The elevator was well on its way before they reached it.
"Piece of shit…" Sui mused. "She's awful. She's an awful person!"
"No, she's not," Judai said. "Not her fault we were all a mess here."
Sui dedicated him a look of contempt. Judai was so naïve sometimes.
A couple of minutes later, the elevator went up again. All four candidates took it, ready to rush to safety.
"Argh…" the strangely clad soldier that had been blown from the tower's last floor by the Harpie Queen slowly climbed up the metallic structure. "Damn that monster… and damn those kids… this will not end like this…" he reached a control remote and pushed a button. "Go, Cyberdark Dragon!"
To be continued!