"Another Rare Hunter?" Aster asked. "I should have known, vermin always travel in packs."
"Quiet." Arlen snapped, his cape flickering behind him, armor gleaming in the moonlight. He focused his eyes on his opponent, sword flickering as he powered it up with dark magic. "No one hurts my family."
The pro duelist held up his hand. "All criminals must face their destiny…and their destines are all the same!" The Shining Phoenix Enforcer rose back up, summoning white fire to coat his arms. "And no one can escape their destiny!"
Dashing forward, the Enforcer raised both its fists, aiming to take down the new Hunter in a single blow. The Guardian sprang back, and in a flash, was gone. It took a moment for the two to figure out what had happened, looking up in the sky to see Arlen and Nessa hanging there, looking down. Ghostly black demon wings appeared behind him, flapping slightly to keep him suspended. Arlen held up his hand, summoning a dark vortex, and lovingly set Nessa inside, but keeping it open. He looked back down at the two, sword raised.
"Coward." Arlen spat. "I won't do you the honor of using my deck against you." He raised his blade. "Let me show you how it is done!"
Bringing his arm down, the Guardian fired the sword at the Enforcer, the weapon singing as it ripped the sky apart. It pierced the armor of the Enforcer, sending it stumbling back, clutching at the new wound. Arlen screamed, shadow magic blasting out of him as he fell to the earth, a missile locked on and ready. The Enforcer called its own white flames to act as a shield, sending it up to block the act.
Racing in a spiral, the Hunter broke the shield like glass, his descent never slowly.
Into the Enforcer he struck, smiting him like bolt from heaven. The earth heaved under Aster, the young man barely keeping his balance as the Guardian stood up, glaring at him.
"And that…"
The Enforcer rose up, flaming balls of energy twisting in his hands as he went to clap them against Arlen's skull…
SLICE!
Arlen blade drove through the duel monster, returning to its master's hand.
"…is how it is done." The Guardian said.
"Impressive." Aster said. The hair rose on the back of Arlen's neck, and he twisted just as the blade struck down. "Very impressive." The pro duelist said as Destiny Hero Dogma appeared in full.
"Another one?" Arlen hissed in surprise. He'd never heard of someone summoning 2 spirits outside a shadow duel. He had thought it was impossible: You could bond to your spirit, you could command them…but to summon a second after your first was defeated? "How?"
"Trade secret. But I think it is time I show you how its done: Dogma, destroy him!"
Arlen raising his saber, clashing it against the thick edge of Dogma's broadsword. The two of them began to move about the clearing, weapons clanging. Grimacing, Arlen began a series of flurries, trying to out-think the monstrous Hero. But Dogma was a skilled warrior, and was proving an apt match for the Guardian of Hunters.
Managing to back away, Arlen focusing on his saber, channeling more energy into it before he let it fly from his hand, spinning like a blade of death right at Dogma's head. The hero deflected the attack, but it gave Arlen enough time to leap once more into the air.
"Maybe this is more to your liking!" He cried out, hands glowing. He chanted in Latin, a second vortex appearing in the sky above him. Throwing his hands forward, he sent a beam of shadow energy right at Dogma.
"Move!" Aster cried out, Dogma leaping away just as the blast struck, tearing a deep gash into the earth where he had stood. Arlen cackled as he snapped his fingers, bits of rock rising from the blast site.
"I wanted to hit the ground, you idiot. Shadow Possession, The Earth!"
Dogma's eyes widened as spikes began to stab outward, moving towards him like a shark towards its prey. Feet digging into the Earth, the Hero launched himself as Arlen, blade raised and slicing at his throat. The Rare Hunter pushed back, now on the defensive as he danced about the sky.
Aster panted, watching as his monster did its best to eliminate the Guardian. Never had he faced a threat like this from the darkness. All the criminals he had dealt with had been mortal, easily defeated and scared senseless.
But this…Hunter…he had absorbed the darkness, made it his ally. He wielded it like a concert cellist manipulated their instrument. Arlen Lockehart was doing things Aster had never even considered possible for a wielder of darkness.
And yet…here he was.
Arlen grinned as he just barely avoided another attack. Dogma was closing the gap, and without his blade, he stood no chance of defeating him.
The Duel Spirit paused.
His weapon.
The Rare Hunter chuckled. "Now you figure it out, huh?" His eyes glowed black. "You can strike me down…but are you willing to bet that my sword won't reach Aster's throat while you do so?"
The Spirit, realizing his folly, dove down. The moment Arlen had thrown the sword, he had been luring Aster and him into a trap. Drawing the two away, separating them…leaving the strongest with the Hunter, and the weakest near the blade. The Earth Possession had not been his finisher…it had been the cheese, to force the spirit to take him on.
Arlen's blade rose, beginning to spin.
Dogma folded his wings, rocketing towards Aster. But he was too far…the blade too fast…there was no time…
'Not for me…' He thought as he disappeared.
Arlen raised an eyebrow, wondering what sort of trick this was…
…only to watch Destiny Hero Dasher grab Aster, yanking him away just as the blade was to strike true.
"NO!" Arlen roared, diving down.
Meanwhile, Aster looked at the sword embedded in the tree in shock, then at Dasher, the Hero holding him like a bride.
RING
Grabbed his phone, Aster flicked it open…only one man would call him at this moment.
"Satorious…" Aster said…
"End this now!" Satorious cried out. "The tide has turned, you must go."
Aster licked his lips. "There is nothing I can do to turn the tide?"
"What?" Satorious asked, confused. He had called to stop Aster from facing the Rare Hunters, fearing he had lost. The gods…Anarchy and Sola…had changed everything once more. 'The fools tricked me…they changed fate! I must hurry, or all is lost.' He spoke quickly to Aster. "No…no you must leave now."
"Consider it done." Aster said, nodding to Dasher. The hero blasted into the forest as Arlen landed, saber flying into his hand. He looked around, but knew even he wasn't fast enough to catch them.
"AAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR!" He roared. He panted, teeth gritted. "You will pay…I swear to God, I will make you pay." He held out his hand, bringing Nessa back to him. "Nevermind…" He corrected. "God will have nothing to do with this."
&&&
(The Other Side of the Island)
"Is this where you took your last breath?"
Doctor Kevin Allen knelt down, running his fingers through the grass that surrounded the lake. His hand glided over the ground, head bowed as he continued to speak to himself.
"No…no…out there, that's where you fell." He said softly, looking out over the water. His eyes glimmered in the moonlight as he watched the lake quietly splash against the shore. It was the only sound, save his voice, to break the silence that hung all about the area.
He sat down on the lake shore, legs stretched out, as he looked at the stars that shone above him. While his body may have been at the academy, his mind, his complex, scheming, crafty, intricate mind, was in the past, centuries ago.
He thought of the war, between man and vampires, of how the two species, once neighbors (if a bit uneasy around each other), had turned into bitter enemies. Castles were burnt to the ground, villages painted with blood, lives lost on all sides.
But, despite their power, despite their strength…the vampires lost. Their kingdom destroyed, they fled…and slowly became the monsters humans claimed they were. How could they not be? They had watched their mates turn to dust, children tortured, their lives left to ruin. It was enough to drive any being, human or immortal, to go mad…and so it had happened with the vampires.
It didn't help that already within the ranks of the great families, some of the younger vamps had wanted the race to act less like vampires and more like gods. For some reason, they got it in their heads that being able to defy gravity and turn into bats made them divine…or, at least, at that level.
'Maybe that's why the war began.' He thought dully.
It was towards the end of the war when it had happened. The Church had found a way to use magic against the immortal vampires. Using a summoning stone, humans could force their value system onto a vampire, make them see they did. Then, once the vampire had the new outlook, they would send them off to hunt down other vampires. Many vampires were experimented on, each one having the gem slammed into their spine.
All died.
Till the church managed a coup the likes of which the war had never seen. They had stormed the castle of Camula, one of the great Vampire King Dracula's brides, and there found her and her children. The first, a young boy, they had killed, left to turn to dust in his mother's arms. But the other two, a brother and sister, were captured as they fought to protect their family.
Brought in, the strength of their blood allowed them to at last survive the process.
Their world reshaped, they had hunted down their own kind, slaughtering them with ease. But the church…the church had made a grave mistake. Vampires all drew from a sort of 'well of power'. Each one had the same draw from this well, this mystical gathering of darkness, and as such, each were mystically the same. But, when a vampire was born, they would steal a tiny bit of power from all the others, to keep the balance. Likewise, when one died, its power went back to all the survivors.
It was how one USED their power that made them appear stronger or weaker.
And so, as the brother and sister killed off their kind, they became stronger. As did their prey. And each kill became worth more, the jolt higher and higher.
And worse then that, each kill raised their rank within the vampire world. When the brother was 173, his sister 176, that they at last fell their own father in battle. It was with this kill that the two achieved the ranks of Master Vampires. 100 years later, they would kill off enough vampires to rise in the rankings once more, to take the titles of Vampire Lord and Lady, granting them control of ancient magic. Only the titles of King and Queen remained
The church by now had learned of their power increase, and feared them. Rightly so. If they were to become a King and a Queen, there would be no stopping them. And should their gems be removed by another source…
The church had sent their agents to capture them, to find a way to steal their power from them, then send them on the hunt.
It was not to be.
The brother and sister had killed enough vampires that they now possessed magic that no vampire had ever held. They, and the remaining few vampires left in the world…could walk in the sun.
And when the agents arrived in the day, hoping to find them asleep, they found the siblings in the forest, battling another vampire…and killing him.
It was enough.
They achieved the rank of Vampire King and Vampire Queen, which granted them a new power, the ability to take on their true form: Batlike demons.
The agents were torn to shreds by their talons.
That was the last the church heard of the two. Daywalkers, vampire royalty…out in the world, gathering power. None knew what would happen when they ran out of evil to kill…none wanted to know.
'But I know' Doc K thought. He bowed his head. 'Did you think they were gone, Camula? Did you think your children had been turned to dust? Did you know what truly happened…how they searched for you, longed for you to help them? To save them from their fate?'
He knew what had happened to them: The brother and sister in hiding, till the church forgot of them. Of their time in Britain, staying there and assimilating, adopting the accents and new names. Their coming to America…and rising in the ranks of the new government agency…the MIB.
"Its me, mother." He whispered. "Its Adrian." Adrian Kratos, the Vampire King, known to the world now as Doctor Kevin Allen, looked out over the water. His back shifted, leathery wings burst from his flesh, as he slowly flew to the spot where he could feel his mother's ashes laid. "I'm alright. Me and Anna are alright. We…we looked for you, mother. We looked for you so hard…we needed your help, we needed to see you again…and they stole you from us." His eyes flashed red, electricity dancing along his fingers. "I swear on our bloodline, of the Line of the Dragon, that I will avenge you mother. I don't know how, I don't know when…but I after I deal with the Rare Hunters…I will find Jaden Yuki…and he will die for taking you from us. You have my word, mother…I will kill them all."
&&&
"I can't do it…""Yes you can, just focus."
The young boy nodded, gritting his teeth, pulling on the line, raising he sail, There were a few moment when it appeared that the fabric would fall, but after a few moments, the sail was raised and catching the wind.
"See, I knew you could do it." The man said, smiling softly as the boy cheered. "Now, just as we practiced, lead us into port."
Nodding, the kid began to turn the boat, getting it into position and sailing towards the docks. The man watched on, not interfering but ready to jump in should anything go wrong. But, like his gut had told him, the child had everything under control. Watching on with approval, the man allowed the boy to safely dock the sailboat, clapping softly as they cam to a stop.
"Now, we'll just tie up…"
"No need."
The boy and man turned, watching as two new people, a man and a woman, walked forward. Their white hair glistened in the sun, their eyes eerily white. Both were dressed in light clothing, and they made their way over to the boat with ease. The man, grabbing the line, tied the boat up.
"Go on Jeffery." His instructor said. "Go inside and get some lunch. I'll be with you in a moment." The child nodded, fearfully looking at the two strangers, before darting off towards the large estate. "Who are you?"
"Look at you, Rafael." The female said. "Reduced to being a teacher." She clicked her tongue. "As for who we are? I am Sola, and this…is Anarchy."
Rafael, former swordsman for the Doma Organization, glared at the two. He stood up tall, challenge written in his eyes. "I find it rather fulfilling. Now tell me, why are you here? These are private grounds."
"Ah yes, private." Anarchy said. "Not that much of a bother for us." He paused, looking over at the mansion. "For a moment, I had thought you had done well for yourself…but I see you have changed since I last saw you."
"What does that mean?" Rafael asked.
Sola looked over at her brother. "He doesn't remember us…I'm hurt."
"Reincarnation will do that to ya." Anarchy replied.
"Reincarnation…what is wrong with you people?!"
Anarchy's eyes flashed, the Rafael felt himself being lifted into the air. "You ask too many questions." He paused, in thought. "So I guess I will answer then!" He began to laugh, just a little of kilter. Sola glared at him, and he finally settled down. "I'm sorry…a bit nutty, I am." He chuckled for a moment before speaking. "We have known each other in a past life, Rafael. Though, for us, this is still the same life, but whatever."
"Anarchy…" Sola warned.
"Sorry sis." He said, continuing his tale. "Long ago, we were known by different names. I was Anarkayis, God of the Moon. My sister her was Solaris, Goddess of the Sun. Forever were we in the sky, watching over the earth while the other gods ruled. Forced to be witness…never to participate. We were formless, wraiths that held no substance, yet always thought.
"This went one, for countless millennia…till we could take no more. We bid our time, till at last we crossed paths…a Lunar Eclipse. I took some of Solaris' power, and waited. Then, a Solar Eclipse, and Solaris took some of my own power. A blend of light and darkness…enough to finally give us form.
"We broke free from the sky, falling to the Earth. There, we took the form of the mortals, as our sibling gods and goddess have. No longer were we of the Moon and Sun, but we were of light and darkness…the God and Goddess of Chaos.
"Oh, we wrought our anger upon the Earth and Heavens, avenged the wrongs committed against us. They had imprisoned us, made us slaves…but no longer…no longer could they control us. Oh, the Heavens were coated with ichor, but that was not enough for us…oh no…we wanted more.
"So we found 3 angels, and a swordsman, and we gave to them our power. Crafted them, changed them, into beings of strength and skill the likes of which the world never saw. They were…our Horsemen. 2 of light, under Sola, 2 of darkness, under my command. With them, we cut through the forces of Heaven and Earth…until he arrived…the Medji." Anarchy paused, his hands balled into fists. After several moments, he regained composure, and finished his tale. "You, Rafael, in another life, were my Horsemen of Death…Dreadscythe the Guardian. And now…you will be so again."
"You're insane…I'd never be with you!" Rafael shouted.
"Let's see how that is once I refresh your memories!" Holding out his hand, Anarchy summoned the chaos magic too him. "Awaken, Dreadscythe!"
Rafael covered his face as the blast headed towards him, the light and darkness blinding him and forcing him back as it zeroed in….
"WHAT?!" Anarchy shouted.
Rafael looked up, staring in amazement. From his take, two ghostly angelic wings had spread, shielding him from the gods.
"He was reincarnated, alright…" Sola hissed. "But as his original form…the Guardian Angel Eatos!"
Rafael's eyes darted to his right and left, as when his when his wings folded, Guardian Grarl and Kay'est appeared at his side, ready to do battle with the chaos gods.
"Anarchy…" Sola warned. "We have just awoken…we lack the strength for this type of battle."
Frowning, Anarchy nodded his consent. "Another time, Eatos. You will always be my Horsemen, and I will have you back at my side soon enough!"
And with that, the two were gone.
Next Time of G/X: Hunters-
After Arlen's attack on Aster, his views are shaken. It is possible to command more then one Ka outside a duel. Thus, he begins his search to find the next creature he will claim as his ally. In New York, Anarchy finds that taking heaven will be a lot harder then he thought. Meanwhile, Doc K is challenged by a new student, and it is time for the academy to see the true power of Vampire King. And while this goes on, Satorious, falling back on plan b, sees about hiring two new duelists to aid the White Association. Two…who have been to the academy before.
Chapter 56- Membership Drive