Alexis timidly unlocked and opened her front door. She heard the rapid thumping of Atticus' feet as he raced down the stairs to confront her. "You're late…" He said, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Sorry Atti," she said, hanging her coat on the rack, "We just lost track of time, I guess I wasn't paying attention." She shrugged. Atticus sighed. "Just don't do it again." Alexis nodded.
He's acting really concerned and paranoid. I guess I can't blame him. Earlier today, it was kind of a bigger shock to all of us… She fingered in her pocket and pulled out her special card. A pale maiden stood in the center of the picture, holding out a pale violet orb of light. Six white wings were spread around her. A silver half-mask hid part of her face, sharp eyes staring back at Alexis. The symbol to the right read: WIND
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"Why does she have to make me worry like that?" Atticus asked himself, seating his body at his bedroom desk. A lamp dimly lit the room. The blinds were shut tightly. He pulled out his Data Key and card. The name box remained blank, a sign of hopelessness. The monster's portrait pictured a dark gray dragon with crystal-like wings of black. Four yellow eyes stared fiercely; its jaws wide open revealing a dark tunnel, as if preparing to unleash a powerful attack. Three long, armored tails, surrounded it, giving off a dark, powerful feeling. Atticus narrowed his eyes. When I know its name… Will it be too late? His eyes shifted to the attribute: DARK.
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Chazz toyed with the dangling, silicon-constructed key. Its small screen reflected the light constantly as it twirled. A bored look was drawn onto his face. "So all we can do is just wait… How fun." He set the key down and pulled out his blank card. Out of pure boredom he stared at the illustration. It was a reptile-like creature with scales of various stones and rising spikes. The gold eyes looked so lifelike. The monster had a ferocious and raging feeling. Its gray teeth were barred in a frozen snarl. Chazz moved his gave to the upper right corner to view its attribute: EARTH.
"Okay, if one of those guys find me and challenge me to a duel I'll just whoop their rears to next week… But Kaiba said avoid conflict! Man, what kind of advice is that!? Damn, damn, damn!"
He rumpled his hair in frustration as his three Ojamas actually floated silently beside him, switching weird expressions between each other.
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"And I play a spell card!" Jaden called out enthusiastically. Flashing a green-based card, grinning widely. Syrus sat on the side and sighed at his friend's imaginary duel. "You're getting too excited, Jay'."
Jaden shuffled his cards back into his deck. "So…" He turned to Syrus. He pulled out the card that was recently given to him. A tall, dark red monster was portrayed. A golden flame surrounded it as two salamander-like heads guarded each arm. Large, mahogany wings were perched onto its red, armored back. Jaden could almost feel an exciting, exhilarating aura radiating from it. His eyes darted to the element: FIRE.
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Zane sat at the foot of his mattress. The Data key wrapped tightly around his palm and fingers holding onto his card. He observed the long, metallic serpent. Large, magnificent wings were spread out. Deep sky blue gems adorned its wings, shoulders, center, and eyes. Its almost never-ending tail curled in the background, giving it a superior and strong feeling. Zane closed his teal eyes in silent concentration. You were such a moron letting her go home alone. You knew better! I should call her… make sure she's all right. Damn it, Atticus is probably after my blood. He opened his eyes to grab his cell phone from the bedside table.
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Aster tapped continuously on the surface of his card, the key lying a short distance away. It was getting extremely late, he knew. I dare those idiots to come after me… I mean what's the worse they can do? You know what I think? A little overreaction, that's what.
To help him think, he studied the unique card. A dark blue plated knight brandished a silver trident, baring its three sharp prongs. Four fin-like wings separated the ocean in the background giving off an aura of commandment. He observed the Attribute again: WATER
Suddenly, the lamplight that was illuminating Aster's face flickered before dieing out completely. Aster whirled around startled and opened his curtains to see he had missed a storm of some sort. The street lights nearby his living quarters were extinguished as well. Aster quickly grabbed the wired phone off his desk and dialed his butler's number. A few seconds and he picked up.
""May I help you, Master Phoenix?" Came Aleworth's voice.
"Uh yeah, is there a power outage?" He asked, sounding impatient for an answer. (AP has a special phone line in his mansion, just in case of blackouts etc.)
"Hold on, Master Phoenix," he said but shortly after he stopped talking, the line was cut.
"Shit!" Aster swore and kicked the table in frustration. He snapped back his attention to the phone when he heard a feminine voice.
"Ooh, temper, eh Mr. Phoenix?" The unknown lady purred. Aster's eyes twitched, something was wrong.
"How the hell did you get this number!?" Aster almost roared into the speaker. It was a secret, private line only accessible from inside the Phoenix Manor! Oh shit, that means-
"your security is pretty low, Mr. Phoenix!" The voice on the other line snickered before going on. "If you don't want me to ruin your precious house you better hand over that Data key. Your secret is not very much of a secret is it?"
Aster fumed and panicked at the same time. Where the hell do these people come from!? There was no denying it. "Where… Do you want to meet?" He said, keeping his voice calm as if in a defeated manner.
The voice giggled. "Wonderful. I'd like to see you in the main room, right below you I believe… And by the way, you can call me Arial!" Arial hung up. Aster's hand was shaking in plain annoyance as he set the phone down. He thrust open his nearby drawer a little harder than he intended. He grabbed the duel disk in it and rushed down the hall and down the staircase. It was a first when Aster actually cursed on how long the steps were.
He jumped the last four steps and pushed open the French doors, revealing the dim, circular room, lit by only the moonlight, shining through the glass roof. His blue eyes stared, alert at the faint purple haze that was slowly fading away in front of him.
A teen stood before him, she seemed just a few years older than him. Arial noticed the Duel disk on Aster's arm and he noticed the same to her.
A mocking pout crossed her face. "Aw, I though we were going to do this the easy way. I'll ask you again, just hand over your data key and card." She held out a manicured hand expecting Aster to forfeit his items. Aster snorted. "How pathetic. What makes you think I'm just going to hand this over?" He dangled the key, as if teasing Arial. With that, he slipped it around his neck.
Her violet hair bristled angrily, green eyes flashing. "Fine! I gave you a chance! Now I guess I'm going to have to beat you, kiddo!" She pressed a small switch on her wristband. Aster flinched as he heard the heavy French doors click.
"How the hell did you hack into my system!?" He roared.
Arial smirked as she shrugged. "I have secrets, so are we going to duel of not?" Aster's brow wrinkled as he wordlessly slipped his deck in to the Duel Disk.
"If I win," he started. "I keep my Data Key and card and you have to leave all key holders alone."
"Fine," she agreed. "But if I win, I get your key and card, but also I get to keep your soul as a hostage." Aster's eyes narrowed.
"I agree," he said.
"Duel!" They both shouted.
Aster- 4000
Arial- 4000
"I think I'll start with Enigmatic Rose bud! (0/1000)" Arial declared, setting a monster card down. A large, red bud appeared, black thorns littered its stem.
"I place a face-down and that's it."
Aster drew. "I summon E-hero Avian in defense mode! I lay two face downs and end my turn."
Arial drew. "I summon another rosebud and I sacrifice them both for my Dark Forest Nymph! (2100/2000)" A green skinned fairy in pale robes flapped her butterfly-like wings, giggling slightly cracking a thorn whip.
"Go, Dark Forest Nymph and destroy that Avian!" The monster sent it's weapon to attack Avian but Aster flipped over one of his traps. "I activate Hero Shield! By discarding E-hero Clayman from my hand I negate your attack." The whip was flung back by a golden force field. Arial laughed. "My Dark Forest Nymph has effect when every time a trap card is activated during my battle phase, 1000 life points is deducted from you!"
Aster braced himself as sharp, long thorns grazed his skin. He felt the stinging pain and opened his eyes to see a bright red cut, which sealed up instantly before spilling any blood. His blue eyes shrunk in horror as he let out a gasp of pain.
Aster- 3000
Arial- 4000
All that happened in less than a second.
Arial chuckled. "I know what you're thinking. This isn't a shadow game. Ever heard of a Corruption duel? It's worse, damage is inflicted physically but the players regenerate quickly. However, further into a duel sometimes one can't take the pain anymore and their regeneration weakens right until the person dies." Aster growled angrily. "What the hell? That is sick! What the hell is the point of that?"
Arial flashed a black marking on her wrist; it was in the shape of a twisted flower. "Pain is used to seduce our victims into surrender. This special power can only be activated by the permission of the Lord."
A surprised look crossed his face. "The Lord?" He asked. Arial touched her lips with her finger. "Aw nuts, I've said too much. Let's see who falls first! I end my turn."
Aster drew. This is so screwed up. "I activate Polymerization to fuse my Avian on the field and Burstinatrix from my hand to form E-hero Phoenix Enforcer! Attack that Forest Nymph, Phoenix Enforcer!" Aster commanded. His monster let out a bright beam of cyan light, engulfing and destroying Arial's Dark Forest Nymph. She screamed in the explosion. "Wait… That-"
As the smoke cleared, her obvious burns left. "Hold on," Aster pointed, "his special ability prevents him from being destroyed, so it doesn't matter whether their attacks match equally.
Aster- 3000
Arial- 4000
Arial grinned, Aster flinched, "shame we just started this duel and I already have to reveal my more merciless side. First, I activate my facedown, Ruthless Suffering! For every card in my graveyard, you lose 500 lifepoints. This is a continuous trap. Every turn I don't have a monster on my field, you lose 500 more lifepoints. Of course, there's catch. I have to remove one card in my graveyard from the game."
Aster let out a cry of pain as deep cuts were embedded into his limbs, this time the wounds didn't heal so instantly. A few drops of blood were spilt before they sealed up. Aster bit back a curse.
Aster- 1500
Arial- 4000
"I'm not done! I activate Soul Exchange and sacrifice your E-hero Phoenix Enforcer to summon Sorceress of the Red Thorns- Sureil (2300/1200). Due to Soul Exchange's set back, I can't attack but you just wait. I end my turn."
Now Aster was stuck.
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Alexis picked up. "Hello?" She answered.
"Hey, 'Lexi it's Zane. You're fine right?"
Alexis sighed. "Hi. Yeah, of course I am, why shouldn't I?" Silence on the other end. "I'm just making sure. That's all."
"Well, okay, thanks. You?"
"Me? Yeah, I'm fine. Listen up, Alexis. I'm just worried for you and all the rest. I just don't want…." She heard a stressful sigh. "Never mind, just look out for yourself, okay?"
Alexis bit back a retort. Zane sounded a little tired; she didn't want to make things worse for him. "Yeah, sure."
"Bye."
"Bye."
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Some turns later"I activate my Sorceress's effect again to remove her from play just this turn and inflict another 500 points of damage!" Aster spit out another globule of blood as the attack passed.
Aster- 500
Arial- 4000
Trembling, Aster drew a card. Raw scratches could be seen all over his face and hands. His clothes were torn here and there. He clenched his eyes in hopelessness before looking at the card he drew. It was that special blank card. His eyes widened. This can be my only hope, but it's completely useless without the name…
He placed the card in his hand. If I destroy that monster, I'll lose the next turn. If I let it be, she'll remove it from play again and I'll lose the game anyways.
"Don't give up, Aster…" He heard a strange voice.
What? Who's there?
"Never mind that. Destroy that monster and I'll take care of the rest. If you want to know my name, you have to trust me."
His eyes widened. "I can win…" He whispered.
Arial grinned. "Are you that hopeless now? You could've just given me the key from the beginning you know, now no matter what, I'll win in this duel!"
"You're wrong!" Aster shouted, Arial only grinned wider. "Whatever you say."
"I know!" Aster scanned his hand. "I activate Instant Call and summon my D-Hero Dasher! Now attack her Sorceress!"
"Man, you are such a moron for trying, I'll win anyways!" Her monster shattered under the hit and she flinched as the shards cut her.
And then Aster's hand started glowing. "Look closer." He heard it again and slowly yet surely, the name began to spell itself across the top.
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Shiyo almost upset her mug of coffee as her tracker system began beeping wildly. "What? Someone already activated their card already?" She squinted at the name. "Aster Phoenix, my God, that was fast." She pressed the button on her nearby speaker, sending out voice messages to the other five. "Okay listen up, your friend, Aster is currently being attacked. I don't now-"
She was interrupted by Alexis' startled voice soon joined by the others. "What, where!? Aster?"
Shiyo sighed, realizing she made a really dumb mistake. "I'm not telling the location, you all might just blow your cover. Right now he's still alive and-"
"STILL ALIVE!?" Jaden shouted on the other end. "You're sounding like he might die any sec-"
"Well he is-"
Zane's voice went on before Jaden could interrupt. "Shiyo can you keep track on him for us?"
"Yeah, of course. That's what I'm here for… The good news is he activated that special card so he should have a good chance at winning."
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"I summon my Data Guardian- Yele!" A torrent of green aura swirled around him, shifting around his silver bangs. The powerful monster brandished its blade in all his glory. Aster grinned and crossed his arms while Arial took a step back in horror.
"No, you couldn't have just summoned him!" She gasped.
"It's time to end this! Sure it took me some time to figure up a strategy but now it's all over for you, Go Yele and diminish the rest of her lifepoints!"
His monster let loose a blast of green light, absorbing his opponent. The deafening sound drowned out everything else and when the smoke and light finally cleared, a coin fell from where she was standing. The holograms faded, Aster held up the card. The name and effect faded away again.
He walked over to where Arial was standing and picked up the rusty, silver coin. Carved onto its surface was the same twisted rose except it blurred before taking a new image. Before his eyes, the same symbol from his data key carved itself onto the smooth surface.
That was close.
-X-
Man, Im sorry for not updating in such a long time, I have math placement tests and all that crap. I spent three hours on this chapter and 6 hours on a picture of Zane's monster. (Heheh, Zane always goes first in my world) Visit my profile to get the link. Review!
Fifth Data Guardian- Yele
Level 10
4500/1000
Warrior/Water
Effect- This monster can only be summoned when monsters
in the player's graveyard have attack points summed to under
4500. Negate all spell, trap, and monster effects onthe turn this
card is summoned.