Five and a half day weekend! What more could I ask for? I hope to get several chapters done with all this free time.
Chapter Nineteen: Unexpected
As agreed, everyone arrived at the canyon area at nine. The ones who got there early were given the pleasure of watching Draken pursuing Rue and Miles with murderous intent.
"Should I ask?" Hope muttered when she saw it.
"Best not," Max said.
Malon thought of it as a game and eventually managed to latch onto Draken's jacket, distracting him enough for Rue and Miles to duck behind the other group members for safety. Once Larka had lightly chastised her overly-eager Soul Monster and the trio called a temporary truce, they began to discuss what to do next.
"Should we just search randomly? Or would it be better to have Angela track a member again?" Brandi asked.
Larka looked at Angela thoughtfully. "We would have a lead that way…"
"After being attacked in that location twice out of the two times you have been there, I am firmly against that idea," Zack stated. "I never liked it in the first place, but now there is evidence to back that dislike up."
"He's got a point," Draken concurred. "We'd best stick together to take a lesser risk."
"The Judges appear to be after us either way," Gen noted. "They will find us if that is the case."
"Very perceptive!"
They only had enough time to register those two words before a yellow, transparent pyramid sprang up, encasing them inside it. Malon was the first to react, and he did so by leaping at one of the walls. Judging by the painful-sounding smack that resulted from it, it was a solid structure. Whining and pawing the wall, Malon further proved it was not about to budge.
"What the heck is this supposed to be?" Miles said, warily putting a hand to the wall by him.
"It is called Pyramid Power." A man walked out from behind a nearby rock at this. He had a light brown shirt and dark brown pants with short, dark-blonde hair. A golden mask covered his face, one that had an Egyptian appearance, which only exposed his green eyes. They glittered gleefully as he continued, "There are no entrances or exits. Basically, you're trapped!"
"Enemy detected," Angela said flatly, being the only one to not react emotionally to the man's statement.
"Great, another Egyptian freak," Rue grumbled.
"How long do you expect that to work?" Max said, sliding a card into his Duel Disk. To his surprise, it ejected almost instantly. "What?"
"That's the problem about going against someone who was able to delete part of Teknisk Wereld," the man said maliciously. "That person would probably be able to do something about your silly support cards, wouldn't you think? Your Duel Disks are as good as locked except for dueling purposes now."
"Not again!" Mana complained. "This guy must be Ian's cousin second removed!"
"He is right though. Without support cards, we are trapped," Will said distractedly. He was apparently busy trying to think of an alternative method.
"Changing position for clear line of attack." Eyes now focused, Angela began to walk towards the Pyramid Power's wall that the man stood on the other side of.
"Oh this is rich!" the man said with a laugh. "I'm assuming she's the Guardian, but even she can't get through my Pyramid-"
The man's arrogant speech cut off at what Angela did next. Rather than stopping at the wall, she continued through it, as if the wall was not even there. He was not the only stunned one though.
"H-how did she…?" Kisara said.
"Is that wall defective or something?" Rue smacked it with his fist. "OW!"
"Guess that's a no," Draken said dryly.
"Angela, how did you do that?" Larka asked, finishing the question Kisara had been unable to.
"To further my efficiency, I have been programmed to not be affected by any support cards," Angela stated. Her hair rose. "Will commence attack."
"Oh no you don't!" the man said, placing a card to his Duel Disk. "You may not be affected by them, but your trapped buddies will be!" If his face could be seen, it would have most likely been in a smirk as Angela's hair lowered. "That's what I thought! Now, if maybe you could duel or something, I'd place some stakes that would allow you to kill me, but since you can't…"
Angela held out her left arm. "Preparing proper protocols. Preparation complete. Forming materials necessary to duel… complete." A Duel Disk formed on her arm, a deck already inserted.
"WHAT?" several people chorused, including the man.
"Angela can duel?" Rue said in shock.
"Apparently," Neo answered.
"It shouldn't be that much of a surprise," Will said. "Teknisk Wereld revolves around cards, so it would make sense to program its core, the Guardian, to know how to use them."
"State your conditions," Angela said.
"Um…" The man hesitated, but coughed a few times and stood straight in a more confident manner. "On my name of Ramses, if you win, you can kill me! But if I win, you come with me quietly, as do your little friends!"
"Negative. I have no friends," Angela stated.
"Thanks a lot!" Rue and Miles chorused.
"Fine, they come with me," Ramses said, pointing at the group.
"Agreed." Angela's Duel Disk activated.
"I don't know if a freak like you would have a Soul Monster, but I do!" At this, he brought out a Soul Card, causing his Soul Monster to appear. Mostly wrapped in red bandages, the spectators could see that the rotted skin beneath them was blue in the small areas it showed. He held a brass ornament of sorts in his right hand and had only one eye uncovered, which gleamed white. It made a ghastly appearance, especially with his sharp-toothed grin. "Meet Sanies!"
"Analyzing… confirmed to be a Poison Mummy. Preparing counter measures." Angela drew five cards, not intimidated in the least.
"For our sakes, I pray Angela's a good duelist," Draken remarked.
"With her mind, you would think she would be," Gen said.
"Hopefully…" Larka said nervously.
"Wild guess here, but I'm betting Ramses uses Egyptian cards," Miles said. "Don't ask how I came up with that idea."
"It will be interesting to see what cards Angela has though," Gaston added.
Angela: 8000
Ramses: 8000
"If you're as emotionless as you act, I doubt you'll care if I go first!" Ramses said. "I lay a card down and summon Murder Circus Zombie!" (1350/0)
Hope shuddered at the monster's appearance. "Clowns are bad enough, but undead clowns are even worse!"
"That monster doesn't have an effect," Will noted.
"Really? Then it's a pretty weak monster to be using," Rue said. "What's he playing at?"
"Your turn," Ramses said.
"Entering draw phase." Angela drew a card. "Ending draw phase. Entering standby phase. Ending standby phase. Entering main phase one. I summon Birdman." (1800/600)
"Don't tell me it's a Beatdown deck," Rue groaned in reaction to the monster appearing.
"I doubt it," Draken said. "Let's keep watching."
"Ending main phase one. Entering battle phase. Attack with Birdman," Angela continued. He flew forward to do so.
"I'm going to chain to that attack with my trap card, First Coffin!" Ramses declared. The coffin burst out of the ground to float in midair. "I'll explain what this does shortly. For now, your attack goes through." He did not seem concerned by the Birdman ripping apart his Murder Circus Zombie.
Angela: 8000
Ramses: 7550
"Ending battle phase. Entering main phase two. I lay one card down in the magic and trap card zone. Ending main phase two. Entering end phase."
"That's the cue for my First Coffin's effect!" Ramses announced. "I search my deck for a magic card called Second Coffin and play it." Another coffin rose to float by the first one. "My turn now?"
"Ending end phase. Turn complete," Angela stated.
"Geez, you're more of a robot than I thought," Ramses grumbled, drawing. "Can someone tell her to shut up about her phases?"
"We could, but if it annoys you, we won't," Draken said, grinning.
"But it annoys me too," Rue muttered.
"And that's a bad thing?" Miles joked.
"Fine! I lay a monster in defense mode and two cards down!" Ramses said. "Go!"
"Entering draw phase." Angela put her hand to her deck.
"Angela? You don't have to announce your phases like that," Larka said, taking pity on the irritated members of the group. "Just say what cards you're playing."
"As you wish," Angela said. "I summon Burning Bird." (1000/800)
"You're kidding," Rue said, staring at her two monsters. "Birds?"
"An odd theme," Max remarked. "And not one many people use. I know Harpy decks can be effective, but a Bird Sub-Type deck is not easy to run."
"Why those though?" Hope wondered.
"Birdman attacks your defense monster," Angela stated.
"That was my Pharaoh's Servant." (900/0)
"Burning Bird attacks directly."
Ramses winced at the scorching attack, but said, "At this time, I'll activate my trap card, Destiny Destroy! I discard the top three cards on my deck and lose 1000 Life Points for any magic or trap cards that are in them." He looked at the top three. "Bah, I had one, Delta Attack. But I also had Restless Dead and Pharaohic Guardian, so it served its purpose. Done?"
Angela: 8000
Ramses: 5550
"Yes," Angela said.
"Good! On your end phase, my First Coffin's effect activates again, getting me Third Coffin!" A third coffin appeared. "That means I can remove them from my field to special summon Spirit of the Pharaoh from my deck!"
The three coffins opened, fog pouring from them. It solidified to form a figure in a gold outfit, his mask similar to Ramses'.
"He can only be special summoned that way, but when he is, I can also special summon as many as four normal Undead monsters that are level two or lower from my Cemetery!" Ramses placed four more cards on his Duel Disk. "That means I get all of the ones in there! In addition, Sanies' Deck Master ability activates! Each time I special summon an Undead Sub-Type, you lose 500 Life Points!"
Although the poisonous gas Sanies unleashed certainly seemed deadly, Angela did not react to inhaling it or to her Life Point counter going down.
Angela: 5500
Ramses: 5550
"That explains the mask," Darche said.
Ramses caught the comment. "To be more specific, it explains the design. The mask itself I wear for another reason. Want to see?" He did not wait for a response, instead ripping it off to reveal his face, if it could be called that. There were so many scars crisscrossing over it that the only thing intact were his two eyes; how they had survived was beyond anyone's guess. He replaced it, saying, "See why I fight against Teknisk Wereld now? Wild monsters tore my face apart when it was said that you couldn't be harmed in it! I'm taking vengeance on this world, and you won't stop me!"
"That could have happened in real life too," Brandi pointed out. "Mistakes happen and are corrected. You shouldn't blame the whole world on that."
"Who asked you?" Ramses spat. "I'm going to end this duel now! Any resistance you have will be gone with this trap card, Death With Honor! By sacrificing a normal monster that's level two or lower, I can destroy up to two magic or trap cards, so I sacrifice my Restless Dead to do so!"
"Activate chaining," Angela said. "Emissary of Harmony activated. No damage will be taken for the rest of this turn. God Bird Attack activated. It requires sacrificing a Bird Sub-Type to destroy two cards on the field. I sacrifice Burning Bird to destroy Spirit of the Pharaoh and Murder Circus Zombie."
"Basically, you used a better version of my card," Ramses said in disgust, watching his monsters go up in flames. "And with that Emissary of Harmony, I can't hurt you this turn. Looks like Thousand Energy's no good for now. I'll summon another Restless Dead (800/600) and lay a card down. Your turn."
"I summon The Guiding Hand of Nefutisu. (600/600) I sacrifice Birdman and The Guiding Hand of Nefutisu to activate its effect. I special summon Phoenix God of Nefutisu from my deck." (2400/1600)
The spectators watched in awe as the glowing, golden bird with a blue jewel at its neck descended in a fiery blaze from the sky. Oddly, it had a torso and two golden arms, although these were not very noticeable due to its large wings. It let out a piercing shriek, causing Ramses to clap his hands over his ears. Angela did not react to the cry, with not even a spark of triumph anywhere to be seen when looking at her. She merely said, "Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks Restless Dead."
Ramses snapped out of his state to say, "I activate my trap, First Coffin! Not that that'll save my Restless Dead…"
The Phoenix flapped its wings together, and a stream of fire came from them, reducing the Restless Dead to ashes.
Angela: 5500
Ramses: 3950
"So that's what her theme is," Draken said. "Birds are there, but it centers on Phoenix, I'm guessing."
"There are stronger monsters though," Mana pointed out. "Why choose this one? Unless it has an effect I'm not aware of."
"Done," Angela said.
"I get Second Coffin on your end phase." Ramses looked at his next card and laughed. "I was a bit worried about your Phoenix at first, but this'll take care of it. I play an instant magic card, Strike Order! By sacrificing a normal monster, one of your monsters is destroyed! I'll give up my Pharaoic Servant to eliminate your Phoenix! Then I summon Hands of the Dead (600/600) and play Thousand Energy! All of my level two or lower normal monsters have their attacks raised by 1000! (1900/0) (1600/0) My Pharaoic Guardian and Hands of the Dead attack directly!"
Although the two monsters struck Angela with powered-up attacks, she reacted as a statue would, not moving in the slightest or showing any sign of pain.
Angela: 2000
Ramses: 3950
"At the end of my turn, my monsters are destroyed due to Thousand Energy," Ramses said, watching them explode. "No problem though, seeing as my Coffins will get me more once you end your turn. Hurry up and let me win!"
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu's effect activates," Angela said as it appeared on her field with an echoing cry.
"What? How?" Ramses said, shocked at the Phoenix's sudden appearance.
"When destroyed by a card effect, it is special summoned on my next standby phase. It destroys all magic and trap cards on the field." To prove her words true, it screeched and flapped its wings, washing flames over both sides of the field. Angela had no cards on her side, but Ramses had his two Coffins, which burned away instantly.
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks directly." Ramses barely had time to throw his hands up in front of himself defensively before being blasted by fire.
Angela: 2000
Ramses: 1550
"Done," Angela said.
"That answer your question?" Neo said to Mana.
"Sure does," Mana said, wide-eyed.
"She uses a truly powerful monster," Kazel stated.
Hope nodded. "Still, I wonder if there's another reason that one was chosen."
Ramses was shaking slightly as he drew. "This is the end of me… I lay a monster in defense mode and end my turn…"
"I summon Eagle Eye. (1300/1200) Eagle Eye attacks your monster."
"That was my Pharaoic Guardian…" (900/0)
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks directly."
With that statement, the flames consumed Ramses, along with his Soul Monster. They heard a final scream from him, soon drowned out by the roaring fire. When they cleared, only ashes remained, ones that were soon blown away by the wind.
Angela: 2000
Ramses: 0
The Pyramid Power vanished with the destruction of Ramses' Duel Disk. Despite their newfound freedom, the group remained still, watching Angela. She deactivated her Duel Disk, causing the Phoenix to vanish, and held out her arm. The Duel Disk disappeared, similar to how it had first come to her. Turning to the group, she said, "Target eliminated. Awaiting new orders."
"You… did well, Angela," Larka said warily. "Stand down for now."
"Affirmative."
"That was interesting, to say the least," Draken said.
"We oughta let her duel more often," Miles commented.
"Maybe, but we agreed to help Teknisk Wereld too," Hope said.
"We should not put Angela in danger," Kisara said quietly. "What if she was defeated?"
"Then Teknisk Wereld goes down with her," Will said. "I see your point."
"Looks like we're still handling most of the duels." Brandi shrugged. "Not much we can do to help that. Where should we go now?"
"How about we check out the town?" Gen suggested. "The Judges might be meeting there."
"Why do you say that?" Hope asked.
"They found us there quickly yesterday, and with so many empty buildings, it would be easy to find a good meeting point," Zack stated. "I think Gen is right."
"Let's head there then," Max said. "We don't know how long we have before the Judges manage to find a way to delete the rest of Teknisk Wereld, so we'd better hurry."
"Agreed," Will said as they started walking, away from the canyons and towards the plains outside of the town.
To be continued…