So, FFN was refusing to upload anything yesterday, thus twenty-seven and twenty-eight could not be posted on Saturday. Completely annoying. At least you guys get more than one update now!
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Loyalty
As the group went farther up the stairs, they discovered that Hope had been wrong. There was still someone waiting for them, one in front of the temple doors. Surprised and tense at this, the group halted a few steps below where the man stood.
"Pariah," Brandi said, eyes narrowing.
"That's Pariah?" Draken said.
"Yep," Miles replied. "Big guy, isn't he?"
Pariah watched them calmly, stating, "To enter this temple, you will have to get through me."
Max glared at him. A combination of meeting the intimidating Judge and being sick of interruptions caused his temper to flare. "So you want to duel? Truth is, I'd rather fight!" He charged at Pariah without warning, and despite Hope's cry for him to wait, threw a punch at Pariah's chest.
The blow connected, yet had no effect. Without any sign of being hurt, Pariah grabbed Max by the neck, lifted him in the air, and returned the punch. This one caught the area where Max had been slashed by Duke, causing him to gasp in pain.
Infuriated by Max's pain, Tenma lunged forward with a roar. But before he could reach the two, an answering snarl was heard, and a large lion sprang out and pounced on Tenma. They clawed, bit, and spat at each other while rolling around on the upper platform, leaving the rest of the group utterly confused as to what was happening.
Pariah had taken advantage of the distraction to hit Max's wound several more times while tightening the grip on his throat. Max looked as if he was about to pass out, yet Pariah was not finished. He grabbed Max's right arm and began to pull on it, apparently with the intention of ripping it off.
"We have to help Max!" Larka cried, running up the steps at full speed. It barely took her a second to get to the top and slam into Pariah. The impact caused him to wrench Max's arm out of place, but he lost his grip on him shortly afterwards. Ignoring his downed opponent, Pariah delivered a swift uppercut to Larka, sending her sprawling to the tiled ground. He stomped on her ribcage and pressed down, with every intention of crushing her.
It was then that Zack was able to spur himself into action. He ran forward as well, yelling, "Stop!" But before he could make it to the top, the lion threw Tenma at him. They collided, and went flying down the steps, nearly hitting the rest of the group in the process.
Larka would have surely been finished if Max had not managed to stagger upright and punch Pariah's jaw with his left hand. Contrary to his previous blow, this one sent Pariah flying into a pillar. That got the lion to react. He ran towards where Pariah had landed, leaving everyone else to run to their fallen companions.
"Max! How badly are you hurt?" Hope said anxiously when she arrived beside him.
"The only thing stopping me from bleeding to death is Angela's make-shift tourniquet," Max said, wincing. "My right arm… I can't move it. I think it got pulled out by the joint. And I had to use the Genkai Kyuukei to damage him, which isn't helping…"
Tenma growled, not speaking. He had several shallow wounds covering his body, although none of it looked serious.
"Larka? Can you hear me?" Zack said, kneeling beside her.
"Z-Zack…" Larka managed to say, coughing several times afterwards.
"Mana!" Brandi said desperately over Malon's panicked barks. "What did he do to her? Please check!"
Mana gently pressed Larka's chest in a few places, receiving pained gasps in response. "I don't think her ribs are broken, thankfully, but I'd say a few might be cracked. She'll have trouble breathing is my guess. Nothing fatal though, which is definitely good."
"D-don't worry…" Larka said, slowly sitting up. "I'm n-not that easy to kill either…"
Brandi could not help but smile at that, even if it was shaky. "If you're throwing my own lines back at me, you must be in decent shape."
By this point, Pariah had risen. He spat some blood out of his mouth, but other than a few cuts and bruises, he appeared mostly unharmed. Looking at the stunned spectators, he said, "I suggest we settle this with a duel."
"Best freaking idea I've heard yet!" Miles said, eyes wide.
"Amen," Rue said, snickering.
Miles gave him an annoyed glare. "Could you insult my Christian ways at a more appropriate time?"
Pariah ignored them and turned on his Duel Disk. "This will be a duel without shields. The loser perishes from their wounds. Who will duel?"
"I had best volunteer," Will said, to the group's surprise. Catching their looks, he explained, "I'm the only one who has not dueled twice yet. It's only fair that I do so now."
"Fine by me. My Soul Monster, Nemean, is a Super War Lion. He will assist me," Pariah stated.
"Mine is a Legendary Flame Lord who goes by Neo," Will said. "Ready?"
"Yes," Pariah responded.
Will: 8000
Pariah: 8000
"As I was attacked first, I believe I should be allowed to take my turn first," Pariah stated. "I summon Beowulf. (1650/1000) Nemean's Deck Master ability activates. When I have a normal monster as the only one on my field, its attack doubles." (3300/1000)
"Why do all of the Judges have the cheapest Deck Master abilities on earth?" Rue exclaimed.
"Technically, we are in Teknisk Wereld," Draken pointed out.
"I place a card and play a permanent magic card, Two Man Cell Battle," Pariah said. "On a player's end phase, that player may special summon a level four normal monster. I end, and special summon Minotaur." (1700/1000) (1650/1000)
"That took away your attack advantage, but I'm not going to press my luck," Will said. "I lay a monster in defense mode and a card face down."
Pariah examined Will's field carefully before saying, "I sacrifice both my monsters for Garnetia Elephantes. (2400/2000) He is a normal type, so Nemean's Deck Master ability applies. (4800/2000) I activate a trap card, Meteor Rain. When attacking a defense monster, you take damage. Garnetia Elephantes attacks your monster."
The Elephantes used his sword to completely cleave through Will's defense monster, slashing him heavily. Grimacing as he felt blood pour from his wound, Will said, "You destroyed my Apprentice Magician. (400/800) When destroyed in battle, I can take another level two or lower Magic User Sub-Type from my deck and special summon it in defense mode. I do so."
Will: 4000
Pariah: 8000
"I am done," Pariah said.
"Ouch," Gaston said, wincing.
"That was a heavy blow, but Will's not out by a long shot," Max said,
"Formidable…" Will said. "I pass."
"I place a card and attack," Pariah said.
"You destroyed another Apprentice Magician. I lay a monster down from his effect," Will said.
Pariah nodded. "Done."
Will considered the card he had drawn, and asked, "Before we continue, might I inquire on something?" Prompted by another nod, Will said, "Why do you follow Kai?"
"Good question," Kazel remarked.
Pariah was silent in thought, and then he said, "Before Seiryu came, the Judges were merely a group of vigilantes who killed any person they were hired to. That changed twenty-five years ago, when I had just joined. Another new recruit, a Judge named Cadmus, challenged our previous leader, Byakko, for leadership. He killed Byakko, winning the title. Cadmus took the name Seiryu to tribute the founder of the Judges. He reformed them, having them only accept missions for people who had been wronged."
When he did not continue, Hope said, "That's interesting, but how does it answer Will's question?"
"Let me explain what my definition is of the word 'loyalty'. Loyalty is to who your leader is, without question of their character," Pariah stated. "Nobody is satisfied with a ruler, yet they still follow that ruler. That is loyalty, and I am a loyal person."
Will silently shook his head. "Your words ring true for others. However, if that is how you see it, then I am afraid the two of us will never agree. Let's continue. I flip over Tenacious Old Magician. (450/600) His reverse effect allows me to destroy a monster on the field. Your Garnetia Elephantes is my choice."
"I activate a trap card, Legitimate Bloodline," Pariah said. "A normal monster in my Cemetery is special summoned in attack mode. I choose Garnetia Elephantes."
"Problematic, but I have a way around it," Will said. "This will take a while to explain, but bear with me. First, I sacrifice Tenacious Old Magician for Darkred Enchanter. (1700/2200) When summoned, he receives two magic counters. Each counter raises his attack by 300. (2300/2200) Now, I play Toon Index. It allows me to get another card with the word 'Toon' in its name from my deck. I get another Toon Index, and play it for my third Toon Index, and use that one to get Toon Gemini Elf. For every magic card played, Darkred Enchanter gets another magic counter, so that gave him three. I activate my trap card, Black Power Stone, to receive three magic counters. I can transfer one per turn, so I give one to Darkred Enchanter. Next, I play Clarity of Mind, which allows me to get another from my deck. Then I play Mallet of Luck. This magic card allows me to shuffle any amount of cards from my hand into my deck that I wish, and I draw the same amount afterwards. I'll shuffle in two to draw two cards. Hm… I play Angel's Gift to draw three cards and discard two. I discard Magical Armor EXE and Magic Arm Shield. After that comes Cyclone, to destroy Two Man Cell Battle. Finally, I play Early Burial on Magical Armor EXE." (2400/1400) Will winced as he felt his energy leaving him from the card, but concluded, "I believe that is eleven counters he receives, at the cost of my entire hand." (5000/2200)
Will: 3200
Pariah: 8000
The spectators stared at Will in shock, before Rue, Draken, and Miles chorused, "HOLY MUFFINS!"
"Not exactly the term I would have used, but that was an impressive play," Zack remarked.
"Thanks," Will said. "Darkred Enchanter attacks Garnetia Elephantes."
The Darkred Enchanter held out his staff, letting out a highly powerful blast to consume the Elephantes and his master.
Will: 3200
Pariah: 7800
"I can also do something else with the magic counters," Will said. "Once per turn, I can remove two to force you to discard a random card in your hand. Get rid of the one to your left." (4400/2200)
"Ward of Absolute Magic Protection," Pariah said, discarding it.
"That is it. On your standby phase, I have to remove a magic counter on my field to keep Magical Armor EXE. I remove one from my Black Power Stone," Will said.
"Fine. I place a card and summon Genetic Werewolf. (2000/100) As my only monster, and a normal one, he is strong enough to handle this. (4000/100) He attacks Magical Armor EXE."
The powerful wolf monster slashed completely through the suit of armor, the screech of its claws causing the spectators to wince. Continuing through the monster, the Werewolf struck Will, leaving a gash across his chest that added to the pain his previous injury provided.
Will: 1600
Pariah: 7800
"I assume you're done," Will said. "In that case, I'll have Neo use his Deck Master ability."
"Sounds good!" Neo held out his staff, causing the Darkred Enchanter to be surrounded by fire.
"On my standby phase, he can give one of my compatible cards a magic counter," Will explained. "I move the last counter on Black Power Stone to Darkred Enchanter. (5000/2200) Darkred Enchanter attacks Genetic Werewolf!"
This time, the Darkred Enchanter's magic attack made contact with Pariah, leaving a significant injury.
Will: 1600
Pariah: 6800
"That's all, since you have no cards in your hand," Will finished.
"I place a card," Pariah said, shaking off the attack.
"Neo will give Darkred another counter. (5300/2200) I lay a card down and attack directly."
Pariah was hit full-force, nearly causing him to collapse from the damage he took.
Will: 1600
Pariah: 1500
"I also summon Toon Gemini Elf. (1900/900) She can't attack the turn I summon her, so it wouldn't have mattered when she came out," Will said. "Your turn."
Even though he was severely hurt, Pariah had a calm expression as he drew. "I play Angel's Gift, drawing three cards and discarding Blood Vors and Ninja Dog Wonder Dog. Then I activate Dark Assembly, to take two normal monsters from my Cemetery. I choose the ones I just discarded. Finally, I activate my face-down ritual card, Synthetic Sorcery, and discard my two monsters to bring out Lycan Thrope." (2400/1800)
Will eyed the mechanical wolf, who howled. "Does he have an effect?"
"For every normal monster in my Cemetery, you lose 200 Life Points when he damages you," Pariah said. "I have six, for 1200 extra damage. Lycan Thrope attacks Toon Gemini Elf."
"Thankfully, I can stop that," Will said. "I activate Attack Nullification to halt your attack and end the battle phase."
"That means I am finished." Pariah closed his eyes. "Deal the final blow."
Neo provided Darkred Enchanter with another magic counter as Will nodded. "Your magic cards only made my monster stronger. (6500/2200) Darkred Enchanter ends the duel."
Now powered up by sixteen magic counters, the Darkred Enchanter completely annihilated the Lycan Thrope to consume Pariah. His corpse hit the ground, barely recognizable.
Will: 1600
Pariah: 0
"It's too bad that we could not see… eye to eye…" Will swayed at this.
Neo quickly reached out and straightened him. "You're getting far too pale for my liking. Those attacks must have made you lose a lot of blood. Are you going to be all right?"
"Yeah," Will answered. "I'm not going to be able to help much in this condition, but I can go on."
"That's good," Hope said. "You dueled really well."
"She speaks the truth," Rue agreed. "I had no idea you could pull out that kind of a monster."
Will shrugged. "Rather than spend the day complimenting me, shouldn't we be going inside?"
"Right." Hope looked at Max. "Are you up for it?"
"So long as I don't have to fight," Max said, giving his right arm a bitter glance.
"What about you?" Zack asked Larka.
"I'm ready," Larka said, trying to stand and nearly falling in the process. Zack was quick to support her, and she was able to remain upright thanks to that.
"It's times like this that we realize how important support cards are," Draken said grimly.
"There is little that can be done about it," Kazel stated. "Kai is waiting inside, and Angela needs out help."
"Then let's go," Larka said. "I can only hope we're not too late…"
"We'll see shortly," Hope replied, heading for the doors. She put her hands to them, hesitated briefly, and then slowly pushed them open.
To be continued…