Last day of my break, but I am using it to its fullest potential!
Chapter Twenty-Six: Cause
Nothing had changed inside the dark temple from what those who had been there before could see. The light provided by the torches on the walls showed the chess designs as usual, with the demons doing battle on the walls. The group barely spared them a glance though, for the sole occupant of the temple was what had their undivided attention.
"It has been a while since I last saw you," Kai commented, facing them from across the room. "How did you like weeding out the pathetic Judges to get this far?"
"Unlike you, we're not sadistic murderers!" Draken said.
"The way your group has nearly succeeded in completely wiping out the Judges could have fooled me," Kai replied.
"They set the conditions, not us," Brandi said.
"It's not like we were just going to surrender and let them kill us!" Rue said.
"Yet you were the ones who, in the end, slew them. You cannot deny that." Kai's gaze turned to Larka. "I should also ask if you enjoyed the treatment Crucio gave you. It was my idea, after all."
Larka tried to respond, but found her voice locked from fear. Zack had no such problems, for he responded by snarling, "You were the one who did that?"
"Naturally. Seeing as she was the one who slew my brother, I only thought it fair that I make her suffer," Kai stated. "I knew Crucio would be the right one to have do it. He was once an official, you know, but he got fired for carrying out experiments that were apparently too cruel. That should tell you why he was even in our group in the first place. When it came to the mind, he was top-notch at torturing, so it was clearly the best choice for making her suffer."
"You…!" Zack started to say.
Although Hope was angry enough herself, she knew they would get nowhere by being riled by him. She quickly cut off Zack to say, "Why did you do all of this? Why have us kill other Judges?"
"The vast majority of the Judges you killed were useless and weak, ones I did not wish to deal with myself," Kai explained. "I wanted them to be dealt with before I returned to the group to claim leadership. I suppose you deserve thanks for making my work easier, even when it came to Seiryu."
Hope's eyes narrowed at that. "You went on this whole mission for Teknisk Wereld just to seize Seiryu's position?"
"Not only that," Kai responded. "Other than wanting leadership and desiring revenge against a certain individual in your group, I have indeed been working towards Sarov's goals this entire time." He paused, looking up thoughtfully. "Oh, did I say something I shouldn't have? Maybe you didn't know who was responsible for this deletion!"
"We knew," Will said shortly. "Seiryu told us."
"Ah, good. I would have… hated… to spoil it for you," Kai said sarcastically. "But yes, I was in this to assist with his goals. Now it time I fulfilled my part of the bargain." His hand shot up, pointing at Angela. "Guardian, I challenge you to a duel!"
"What? He knows Angela can duel?" Neo said in surprise.
"Sarov probably told him," Will answered.
"But why Angela?" Larka asked nervously, which summed up what everyone else basically wanted to know.
"I think it only fair that Angela herself duels to preserve her life, if you can call it a life," Kai said. "As for my payment… let's just say I'll take that later." He coldly eyed Larka, who shrank back fearfully, and then Max, who returned it steadfastly. Returning his gaze to Angela, he said, "Do you accept?"
"Yes," Angela said, stepping forward. She stretched out her left arm, and her Duel Disk formed on it.
Seeing her do this caused Larka's fright to be overridden by concern. She said, "Angela, wait! You don't have to do this!"
"The target is an enemy," Angela stated. "He must be eliminated."
"I must say, it is convenient that Angela's mind is programmed in such a simple way," Kai said. "The duel conditions will be as follows. If I win, I will be taking Angela to be deleted by Sarov. If I lose, I will tell you where Sarov is so that you can stop him, and I will turn myself into the proper authorities."
Catching the glint in Kai's eye, Gen said, "How do we know you will carry through with that?"
"You don't," Kai said, his smirk widening. "All you have is my word."
"Which is hardly any good," Kazel snorted.
"It's the best chance we have to deal with him though," Rue said. "Guess we'll have to hope that Angela wins."
"Angela…" Larka said worriedly.
"As for my Soul Monster…" Kai snapped his fingers, and from the wall came a green creature. Only its upper torso showed, the rest of its body being in the wall. Each of its limbs sported three silver claws, ones that were clearly very sharp. Black hair coursed down its back, and its entire body was covered with red eyes. Seeing the group, it let out a horrifying screech.
"What the hell is that?" Rue exclaimed.
"A Wall Shadow," Max answered grimly. "Now we know what killed Seiryu."
"Ritsuzen is his name, and he will be assisting me in this duel. I believe it to be important enough to have a Deck Master," Kai said.
The spectator's tension was easy to identify at this, but Angela showed no such qualms herself. She kept her flat gaze locked on Kai as she drew her opening hand.
Angela: 8000
Kai: 8000
"Seeing as you have no Soul Monster, I will give you an advantage by allowing you to go first," Kai offered.
"Confirmed. I summon Flame Ruler (1500/1600) and place two cards. Turn over," Angela stated.
"I have a feeling that monster will prove to be problematic if left alone," Kai remarked. "I summon Artemis of Harvest (1600/1700) and attack Flame Ruler."
"Countermeasures activating," Angela said. "Destruction Ring destroys your monster. We lose Life Points equal to its attack."
"I'm not going to let that happen," Kai said. "Ritsuzen's Deck Master ability activates!"
Ritsuzen went into the wall and then popped out next to the Destruction Ring and slashed it apart. Kai removed a card from his deck to place in the Cemetery while saying, "By discarding a copy of the same trap card from my deck, I negate and destroy yours. My attack goes through!"
Angela: 7900
Kai: 8000
Seeing that Angela was unharmed by the attack, Miles said, "It's about time we dueled someone who doesn't have Life Point conditions."
"I would prefer that we both remain in good health," Kai said dryly. "I lay two cards down to end."
"I activate Cry of the Living Dead to special summon Flame Ruler," Angela said.
Kai shook his head, flipping over a card. "You should really learn to give up on the Flame Ruler. My trap card, Ascending Black Horn, negates the special summon of a monster and destroys it. Since it is a counter trap, Artemis allows me to draw a card."
"Is he using a trap card deck?" Draken asked.
"Looks that way," Max said. "It's a bit different than the one I used though."
"You used a trap deck?" Kisara said.
"For a little while," Max answered. "I'll explain some other time."
"I summon Birdman (1800/600) and attack Artemis," Angela said.
This attack went through, to the slight surprise of the spectators. Due to Kai abusing trap cards, they would never be able to breathe easily so long as he had a card down.
Angela: 7900
Kai: 7800
"Turn over," Angela concluded.
"All I'm going to do is lay another two cards down," Kai said.
"I activate Cyclone on the center card," Angela said.
"It's Magic Drain, and I activate it." Kai shrugged. "It's gone either way, but if you discard a magic card, you can negate its effect."
"I will not," Angela stated.
Kai smirked. "Exactly what I was hoping for. Since my counter trap negated your card effect, I can special summon Dark King Dragon Vandalgion from my hand!" (2800/2500)
"Whoa! I think we found his deck theme!" Neo said at the sight of the huge dragon.
"Depending on what type of effect I counter for his special summoning, one of three effects of Vandalgion's occurs," Kai continued. "For negating a magic card, you lose 1500 Life Points."
The Vandalgion slashed Angela brutally, yet there was no trace of damage physically as her Life Point counter decreased.
Angela: 6400
Kai: 7800
Angela went on with her turn, unfazed. "I place a monster in face-down defense mode and activate Iron Cage of Nightmares."
Kai watched as two domes of steel bars enclosed them. "If I recall correctly, that means neither of us can attack for two turns?"
"Correct. Turn over."
Considering what had happened, Kai shrugged. "I suppose all I can do is lay one card down."
Angela barely glanced at her card before making use of the one she had held in her hand for the duel thus far. "I sacrifice Birdman and Sonic Shooter (1300/600) for Phoenix God of Nefutisu." (2400/1600)
Strangely, the sight of the Phoenix did not appear to alarm Kai in the slightest. He merely said, "I was expecting that. Watching other duels really does help plan things out in advance. At least Ramses served a decent purpose at that."
"He was watching us?" Brandi said in disgust.
Rue was confused at Kai's reaction. "Don't you have any idea of how screwed you are? You rely on traps, which Phoenix is geared towards destroying!"
"That does not mean it will always succeed," Kai said. "I will not be destroying Phoenix with card effects unless the situation is right."
Angela did not respond to this, instead choosing to make her next play. "I activate Thunder Crush. All monsters on my field are destroyed, and you lose 300 Life Points for each."
The Phoenix became a lightning bolt to strike Kai, who shook his head to clear it from the blast.
Angela: 6400
Kai: 7500
"So you are going to trigger the Phoenix's effect yourself," Kai inferred. "I assume you're done, seeing as you have no cards in your hand? As a matter of fact, I am too. I pass."
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu returns to the field," Angela stated. The Phoenix did so, and sent waves of fire over the magic and trap zones with a screech. The Iron Cage of Nightmares exploded, as did Kai's two cards.
"Those were Dead Spirit Zoma and Cyber Shadow Guardna," Kai said without a trace of concern. "Now what will you do about my Vandalgion? He is stronger than your Phoenix."
"I activate Force," Angela said. "Vandalgion's attack is cut in half, and Phoenix God of Nefutisu increases by the amount lost for this turn. (1400/2500) (3800/1600) Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks."
The Vandalgion let out a loud roar that echoed painfully for the spectators as it burned away.
Angela: 6400
Kai: 5100
"Turn over," Angela ended.
Kai considered the cards in his hand before saying, "This'll work well. I lay a monster down and set two cards. Go ahead."
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks," Angela said.
"You've destroyed my Mask of Darkness." (900/400) Kai reached into his Cemetery and pulled out his Destruction Ring to show her. "His reverse effect allows me to take a trap card from the Cemetery and put it into my hand. Done?"
"Turn over," Angela confirmed.
"Then all I'm going to do is lay a card down," Kai said.
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks," Angela stated.
"You must have seen this coming," Kai said, flipping over Destruction Ring. "Say goodbye to your Phoenix!"
The resulting explosion caused the spectators to be temporarily blinded. Once they could see again, they realized that despite Kai's Life Points being lower, he was still highly confident.
Angela: 4000
Kai: 2700
"That was stupid!" Rue said. "The Phoenix will come back and destroy his cards!"
"Don't be so sure on that," Will replied. "Kai is anything but stupid. He wouldn't have done that without a reason."
"I activate Feather of the Phoenix God," Angela said. "It requires a card to be discarded. I discard Tornado Bird. A card from my Cemetery is put on top of my deck. Cry of the Living Dead is my choice. Turn over."
"I hadn't expected that, but not much can be done about it," Kai commented. "I activate my trap card, Avatar of Apophis. It acts as a monster. (1600/1800) I'll have Avatar attack you directly!"
As usual, Angela did not react to the attack, taking the sword slice unfalteringly.
Angela: 2400
Kai: 2700
"Your turn, but don't start going on about how your Phoenix is coming back," Kai advised. "When it tries to return on your standby phase, I activate a counter trap, Heavenly Punishment! By discarding Emergency Rations from my hand, a monster using an effect has its effect negated and is destroyed!"
"See what I meant?" Will said to Rue, who looked annoyed.
"I place one card down. Turn over," Angela said, saying nothing of her strongest monster's demise.
"At least you don't complain about how 'unfair' some of my moves are," Kai said. "Unlike some people. Avatar attacks you directly."
"Countermeasures activating. Cry of the Living Dead special summons Phoenix God of Nefutisu," Angela responded.
"Doesn't surprise me in the slightest," Kai said. "I call off the attack and switch Avatar to defense. I'll lay a card down and end my turn."
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks Avatar of Apophis." Once the Avatar had been burned away, Angela ended by saying, "I place one card down. Turn over."
"Only thing I'm going to do this turn is lay a card down," Kai said.
"Phoenix God of Nefutisu attacks directly," Angela stated.
"I'm not letting you get away with that!" Kai retorted. "I activate a trap card, Metal Reflect Slime! It becomes a defense mode monster, one you're not about to pierce through." (0/3000)
"I chain with God Bird Attack," Angela said. "I sacrifice Phoenix God of Nefutisu to destroy two cards on your field."
"If you had ended your battle phase, that would have worked perfectly," Kai told her, smirking. "Too bad you didn't! I activate a counter trap, Trap Jammer, to negate and destroy your trap! That allows me to special summon another Vandalgion from my hand! Since I negated a trap card, Vandalgion's effect allows him to destroy one card on your field. Guess which one I choose?"
The Vandalgion instantly tore apart the Phoenix. A single golden feather floated to the floor before dissolving with the rest of it.
There was a stunned silence from the counter, with two final words breaking them. "Turn over."
"No cards on your field, no cards in your hand, I'd say it looks like you're finished," Kai declared. "Vandalgion attacks directly!"
One slash from the Vandalgion brought the duel to its conclusion.
Angela: 0
Kai: 2700
"No way…" Mana said, her voice surprisingly soft. "Angela… lost?"
"That means…" Miles trailed off, letting Kai finish what he was saying.
"Since I am the victor, she is going to accompany me." Kai stepped towards Angela, whose Duel Disk had disappeared instantly after the duel. She did not react to him approaching, merely watching as he held out his hand. "Come, Angela. Together we will gaze down upon this world before your existence ends."
Angela gazed at him silently, and then lifted her own arm, taking his hand. "Acknowledged."
"Angela!" Larka cried, worry causing her speak despite knowing these were the set conditions. "You can't let yourself die, Angela!"
"My self-preservation protocol is intact," Angela stated. "In meeting with the creator, Sarov Yggdrasill, I will have a chance to end his life. That will protect Teknisk Wereld."
Kai shrugged. "Look at it in whatever light you want, so long as you're agreeing to this." Wrapping his arm around Angela's arm so that he could keep a grip on her while using a card, he brought out a Receding Circuit. "As for the rest of you, I'll deal with you soon enough."
"Wait!" Larka exclaimed, running towards them. She was too late though. Kai inserted the card, causing him and Angela to instantly vanish. Larka barely managed to halt in front of where they had stood.
"What? How'd he manage to do that?" Miles said in disbelief. "Angela said she couldn't be affected by support cards!"
"I'm not sure, but the point is that it worked," Draken said. "And now we have no idea on where they are."
"On the contrary, Kai gave away his location," Will stated.
Everyone turned to him, Brandi asking, "What do you mean?"
"Where else can they gaze down on this world?" Will inquired. "There is only one area that allows that: the Sky Temple."
"Hooray for Will figuring out word puzzles again!" Rue said. "Now we just have to go there!"
"So we are going to interfere?" Neo said.
"Obviously!" Rue said. "It's that or let Teknisk Wereld be destroyed!"
"Technically, we have all the right to go," Gen pointed out. "Kai's conditions were merely to take her there. He never said we could not interfere."
"He might be expecting us," Kazel noted. "I doubt he would have given away their location like that otherwise."
"Probably not," Will agreed. "We'll have to be on our guard."
"But we're still going!" Hope said. "We have to!"
"For the sake of this world… and for Angela," Larka said, placing a hand to her bandaged arm.
"The only problem is how we'll get there," Gaston said. "Without support cards or having Blue Eyes White Dragons available, I don't see how we can get up there."
"There is another way," Zack recalled. "Larka and I used a tablet to transport there. It was in the plains between the town and the lake."
"Oh, right, you said that was why you couldn't get back down from the Sky Temple," Draken said. "That'll work then."
"We have to hurry," Larka said anxiously as the group exited the Demon Temple. "Otherwise, by the time we find them, it'll be… too late."
Once they had all left the Demon Temple and begun descending the mountain, it appeared that there was nobody else there. Then something emerged from the doorway of the dark building. Out slipped a black cat, its eyes gleaming red. It meowed once, looking oddly smug, and then it trotted away.
…
The clouds, previously receiving no visitors since the deletion had begun, were now occupied by two people that appeared. Kai glanced at the surroundings, and was satisfied to see nobody else was there.
He looked at Angela next, who merely stared straight ahead, at the temple before them. Although he had been told by Sarov that she did not have any emotions, he could not help but smirk and make a comment to her. "Now, now, Angela, don't be scared. It's time to meet your maker."
To be continued…