Two chapters in one day? No way!
Small bit of trivia. Last chapter was the first chapter in I don't know how long to have less than 3,000 words. This one barely broke that barrier. Next chapter should be longer though.
Chapter Twenty: Emotionless
The trip to the city through the plains had little conversation. The group was on their guard for any ambushes the Judges might have. After all of the attacks they had endured, their caution made perfect sense.
Only one exception had come up, which was when Rue had said, "We're in trouble without our support cards. Think there's any way to fix our Duel Disks?"
"Until we speak with the one who locked them, probably not," Will said.
"I am more concerned about being unable to log off," Kazel stated. "If Teknisk Wereld starts to be deleted again and we cannot get out…"
This grim fact kept them silent until they reached the halfway point of their destination. With no cover on the plains, they instantly saw the person standing there, apparently watching them.
"Everyone else see that?" Draken said.
"Yeah. How should we proceed? It has to be a Judge," Neo pointed out.
"Yet we have not been attacked yet. All of the other Judges did so," Will reminded him.
"It's strange, but we should probably see who it is," Gaston said. "If it's a Judge, we would have to face him or her anyway. If not, we can ask what he or she is doing here."
"Sounds good to me," Miles said.
They cautiously approached the person, who did not move. As they did, they could see it was a girl. She was clothed in a gray long-sleeved shirt and black pants and had brown hair that barely brushed her shoulders. Her eyes were blue, but an unusual shade that was close to gray. Although she had a Duel Disk, unlike the Judges, she had no card at the ready to attack with.
Encouraged by this, Larka whispered to Angela, "Don't attack yet, okay? We might be able to talk this out."
"Affirmative," Angela responded, as usual.
Halting a safe distance away from her, Hope said, "Are you a Judge?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice tone surprisingly similar to Angela's in flatness. "My name is Toyah, and I was ordered to stop your group if you came this way."
"Are you going to try?" Draken asked.
"Possibly. It depends on whether you accept or decline my offer," Toyah stated.
"At least you seem more reasonable than the other Judges," Brandi said. "What's your offer?"
Toyah lifted her hand, pointing it towards Zack. "I wish to duel you."
Whatever they had been expecting, this was not it, especially in Zack's case. Clearly confused, he said, "Why me?"
"It is a personal matter," Toyah said, although her emotionless tone did not very much endorse her statement. "I merely wish for a death match against you. The loser dies. Either way, I will not impede the rest of your group's progress afterwards."
"Sounds a lot better than what most of the other ones have said," Max remarked.
"What do you think, Zack?" Larka asked. "It's your decision."
Zack nodded. "I'll do it. I do not plan on losing either way, but it makes me feel more at ease to be placing only my life on the line."
"Very well. We shall begin." Toyah brought out a Soul Card, and beside her appeared a slightly-taller, humanoid monster. Many of his body parts were silver metal, although his face, right arm, and chest were tanned skin and clearly well-muscled body parts. On each of his shoulders was a big, golden gear, as well as a smaller one on the left side of his helmet, one that covered his eyes. Over his right shoulder was a green rocket launcher, one he held at the ready. "Tollen will assist me. He is a Gadget Soldier."
"All right. I have no Soul Monster," Zack said, turning on his Duel Disk. Toyah followed suit.
Zack: 8000
Toyah: 8000
"I was the challenger. You may go first," Toyah said.
"If you do not mind," Zack responded. "I summon Drillago (1600/1100) and lay a card face down."
"I start by summoning Green Gadget. (1400/600) Its effect activates when summoned or special summoned successfully, allowing me to take a Red Gadget from my deck and put it into my hand." Toyah did so, shuffling her deck afterwards. "I place two cards and end."
"Let's see how this works," Zack said. "I summon Cannon Soldier. (1400/1300) Then I will attack Green Gadget with Drillago."
"I activate an instant magic card in response called Charge," Toyah stated. "It raises my monster's attack by 700 for this turn." (2100/600)
"Good try, but Drillago won't go down without him," Zack declared, flipping over a card. "My trap card, Raremetal Conversion, Magic Reflex Armor, raises Drillago's attack by 500. (2100/1100) That means they destroy each other."
As he said, the monsters collided, exploding. Once the field had cleared, Toyah said, "This means Tollen's Deck Master ability activates. When one of my Gadget monsters is destroyed in battle, it is shuffled into my deck instead of going to the Cemetery."
Zack did not appear concerned at that. "Very well. Cannon Soldier attacks directly."
"I still have another card," Toyah said. "This is a trap card called Mobile Fortress Strong Hold. It acts as a monster, which is special summoned to my monster zone in defense mode. (0/2000) Do you want to continue your attack?"
"No, I will call it off and end my turn," Zack decided.
"I lay one monster in defense mode and a card down," Toyah said.
Zack considered her field briefly. "I also place a monster, and attack your face-down one with Cannon Soldier."
"It is Red Gadget." (1300/1500) A small amount of the recoil from the attack hit Zack, injuring him slightly.
Zack: 7900
Toyah: 8000
"I suppose I am done," Zack said.
Toyah slid the card she drew onto her Duel Disk at once. "I summon Startup Soldier Dead Revolver. (0/2000) When I have a face-up monster with Gadget in its name, his attack increases by 2000. (2000/2000) I switch Red Gadget to attack mode. Dead Revolver attacks Cannon Soldier, and Red Gadget attacks directly."
These attacks were certainly worse than the deflection damage that had previously occurred, but Zack still stood strong once they were done.
Zack: 6000
Toyah: 8000
"I lay a card down, ending my turn," Toyah concluded.
"Not bad, but I can handle it," Zack said. "I summon Magic Reflector Reflect Bounder. (1700/1000) I equip him with 7 Card, choosing to raise his attack by 700. (2400/1000) I lay a card down and attack Dead Revolver, which ends my turn."
Zack: 6000
Toyah: 7600
Toyah did not react to the little damage she had taken. "I summon Yellow Gadget. (1200/1200) When summoned or special summoned, I can get a Green Gadget from my deck. I activate my permanent trap card, Compensation of Blood. By paying 500 Life Points, I can normal summon another monster. I pay 500 for Green Gadget, whose effect lets me get a Red Gadget. I pay for Red Gadget, who lets me get a Yellow Gadget from my deck."
Zack: 6000
Toyah: 6600
"Ouch, she has a full field," Draken said, grimacing.
"When you take into account her Deck Master ability and her Gadgets' effects, she has quite a combo going," Max said.
"My Mobile Fortress' effect is triggered. When I have Green Gadget, Red Gadget, and Yellow Gadget on the field, its attack increases by 3000. (3000/2000) As for your monsters, I know what Reflect Bounder's effect is," Toyah stated. "So I attack it with Red Gadget. Although Reflect Bounder destroys it, its effect causes it to be destroyed as well."
"After you take Life Point damage equal to your attack," Zack confirmed as both monsters met their end.
"Mobile Fortress attacks your defense monster," Toyah continued once she had shuffled the Red Gadget into her deck.
The Fortress gunned down his monster swiftly, leaving Zack to say, "You destroyed my Roulette Bomber." (1000/2000)
"Green Gadget, Red Gadget, and Yellow Gadget attack directly," Toyah finished.
The triple direct attack had a devastating effect on Zack. He barely managed to stay upright at the painful strikes, but he did somehow.
Zack: 2100
Toyah: 4200
"Z-Zack…" Larka said worriedly.
"That must have been brutal," Miles remarked, wincing.
"I hope he has a way to deal with all of those monsters," Gaston said, clearly concerned.
Zack tried to not let his agony show as he drew. He glanced over his hand, and then looked up. "Is it all right if I ask something? If I do not do so now, I may not get the chance later."
"Go ahead," Toyah answered.
"Why did you want to duel me? As far as I know, we have never met before," Zack stated.
Toyah paused, as though she was unsure of how to respond. Then she said, "You are the cyborg that was hired as a mercenary. The victim did not matter to you so long as you had a target to kill. One of those targets was my father."
"Ah…" Zack trailed off, shaking his head. "I assume it will not help matters much for you, since my words cannot change what has happened, but I truly am sorry…"
"…I see," was all Toyah said.
"Talk about our pasts coming to haunt us," Brandi said.
"These Judges are making me think back to the actions I took before," Draken said, looking away. "Fitting name they carry, huh?"
"That's one way to look at it," Hope answered, not knowing what else to say.
"To continue the duel… I summon Sphere Bomb. (1400/1400) Then I activate Cry of the Living Dead for Drillago," Zack said. "Drillago attacks Green Gadget. That should reduce your Mobile Fortress' attack to zero, so Sphere Bomb attacks it."
Zack's assumption proved to be true. Both of the monsters fell without a problem, leaving Toyah staggering.
Zack: 2100
Toyah: 2600
"You may go," Zack said.
Toyah straightened, and after she had replaced the Green Gadget into her deck, said, "I summon Yellow Gadget. Its effect gets me Green Gadget, which I pay 500 Life Points to summon. I get Red Gadget and pay 500 more to summon it, getting a Yellow Gadget to keep in my hand. Then I activate a magic card, Union Attack. I choose a face-up monster, and its attack will be increased by the amount of attack all of my other attack mode monsters have during my battle phase. However, no battle damage can be done by that monster, and none of my other monsters can attack during that battle phase."
"Whew. For a second there, I thought Zack was screwed," Rue commented.
"I choose to do this for Green Gadget. It attacks your Drillago. (6400/600) I lay one card down to end my turn," Toyah said.
Zack: 2100
Toyah: 1600
"This constant amount of monsters is troublesome," Zack said. "Thankfully, I believe I can do something about it now. I sacrifice my Sphere Bomb for Immense Battleship Tetoran. (1800/2300) Tetoran comes with three counters, and by removing one, I can destroy a magic or trap card on the field. I can only do this once per turn, so I remove one to destroy your face-down card."
"It is Rising Energy. I will not chain it," Toyah said, watching the Tetoran warily.
"I lay a card down, and Tetoran attacks your Yellow Gadget," Zack stated.
The laser blasts caught Toyah as well. While she was still standing, she looked about ready to drop.
Zack: 2100
Toyah: 1000
"I lost another counter by being in battle, leaving Tetoran with one," Zack said. "When Tetoran has zero counters and battles, it is destroyed at the damage step. You may go."
"I summon Yellow Gadget and get a Green Gadget to put into my hand," Toyah said. "Judging by what you said, two attacks will be enough to leave you open. I attack with Green Gadget to make Tetoran lose a counter."
"I can't afford to let that happen," Zack responded. "I activate Attack Nullification to negate your attack and end the battle phase."
Toyah gazed at her hand with dimming eyes. "There is nothing else I can do…"
"Then I have won," Zack stated. "I summon another Cannon Soldier and activate his effect. By sacrificing a monster on my field, you lose 500 Life Points. I sacrifice Tetoran, and then Cannon Soldier himself."
The Cannon Soldier blasted Toyah once, and then became energy itself to fire upon her. The second attack caused her to fall to her knees.
Zack: 2100
Toyah: 0
"Thank goodness…" Larka said, clearly relieved. Malon yipped happily in agreement.
"Now what?" Rue said.
Zack approached Toyah, who did not respond, and kneeled to bring himself to her eye level. "You said this was to be a death duel. I never enjoyed killing, nor did I ever get used to it. I do not mind if you live, so long as you do not interfere with what we are doing."
Toyah slowly shook her head. "I have lost. It is only right that I die."
"Is that truly how you feel?" Zack asked.
"…I was dead since the day my father died," Toyah said softly. "He was the only person who loved me. Without him, I had nothing. The only reason I have continued to exist is to meet his murderer. I thought I could feel hatred towards that person, and with that, regain part of myself. That proved impossible though, because you were not a person I could hate."
Guilt showing in his expression, Zack said, "Is there anything I can do to help? If I cannot take back my previous actions, let me do something to assist you at least."
"Before I say that, let me tell you something," Toyah said. "Seiryu gave me specific orders to go to the forest to report. The time that I was supposed to report is near. You might find him there." She closed her eyes. "As for how you can help, I wish to be with my father. Kill me the exact same way as you killed him. Please."
"…You are sure that is what you want?" Zack asked.
Toyah's response was firm. "Yes."
Zack glanced back at the spectators, who did not respond. Tollen did not either, as if he were a lifeless machine. Then he turned back to her, his switchblade coming out of his arm. "Very well. I pray I am doing the right thing, if there is a right thing to do in this situation."
One slash across her throat was all it took, as Zack mimicked the exact technique he had used on most of the people he had killed in his mercenary years, which probably included her father. Her body fell to the ground. As it did, for one fleeting moment, he thought he saw Toyah smile. If she had, it was gone a second later, as she went still.
Tollen fell to his knees at Toyah's death, clearly pained. Zack hesitated until Neo said, "It'd be better if you finished him off too. I remember when Will died, and it was unbearable agony for me to continue living. A Soul Monster cannot live long without their partner."
"Very well." Zack took the Soul Card out and tore it, causing Tollen to vanish. He swiped his switchblade across the grass and stood, letting it slide back into his arm. Facing the group, he said, "I hope none of you think less of me for that."
"You did what you thought was best," Larka said, trying to smile at him. Although it wavered, it was still a comforting sight for Zack.
"At least you gave her what she wanted," Hope said. "She really didn't seem happy, or sad, or… anything. I think you freed her from an emotionless life."
"It is times like this that I am grateful for avoiding that fate myself," Zack stated.
These words caused Larka to glance at Angela, whose gaze was locked straight ahead. Larka forced herself to turn back to Zack and say, "What about her body?"
"Normally I would bury her, but our support cards are banned," Zack said. "As much as I regret to say it, I do not think it is possible."
"Burial is possible," Angela stated.
Everyone turned to look at her while Zack said, "How so?"
"I can manipulate the data in the ground and her body to transport it down a short distance," Angela answered.
"Would you?" Larka asked, hardly able to believe that Angela had even brought this up.
"If that is what you wish." Angela went next to Toyah's body and had her hair extend, wrapping around it until it was covered. Then the bundle sank into the ground, the hair soon emerging and returning to its usual length.
"I never thought Angela would do something like that," Mana said in awe.
Angela heard her, and said, "I am following the orders of the substitute."
"Still, you brought up the fact that you could without any of us asking you!" Larka said. "That's an improvement, Angela. I think you really are starting to gain emotions."
"I am not programmed to have emotions," Angela replied. "However, you may believe as you wish."
"Oh, and Angela? You don't have to call me 'substitute'," Larka added. "You've heard everyone else calling me Larka, right? That's my name, after all. You can call me that too."
"As you wish, Larka," Angela stated.
"While this is nice and all, don't you guys think we should get moving?" Miles said. "Toyah gave us the information we needed. We should get to the forest right away."
"Right," Hope said. "Are we all ready?"
Everyone except Angela nodded; her response was to start walking towards the forest. The group quickly fell into step with her.
…
Inside the building where the head Judges often met, Seiryu was watching through an eye formed by the trap card Eye of Truth. What it showed him caused him to glare, furious at the sight as he was.
"This is getting absolutely ridiculous." He stood up, wrenching the card from his Duel Disk. "Fine, no more playing around. It is time I sent my oldest friend to finish them off."
To be continued…