Chapter 2

It was just another day in the broken streets of Shotopia. Sun shine streamed through the ceiling of their secret lair in the name of Iron Will. A boy looked around. No one. Good. He took of his shoes and placed it onto the desk, laying back.

"Ricky! What did I tell you about your feet?"

"Crap!" Ricky tried to jump to his feet, then forgot that they were on the table top, result in a very nicely executed blackflip where his head landed first. There was a bone-cracking sound. "Ow..."

"See that's what happens when you do that." Someone else had entered the room.

"Elaina de Shora! Whenever you appear, something happens to me...you are like a sore in my ass."

"Don't you say that, Ricky Picky. Your shriveled brains must have neglected the fact we are on guard duty. All the Talon Class and above Duelists had came for the conference, and we are to watch out for any intruders!" The girl retorted. She wore green with a great big red button on a golden necklace.

"And what if any comes? This place was in ruins for the last five years for all I can remember. The god suckers never came close to it since it was them who made a pancake of this place. Anyway, if any did come, the alarm will..."

The alarm wailed. It shouted, screamed, like a baby who wanted his share of milk at the break of the morning. "Oh crap! I will take a look." Ricky jumped to his feet, now successfully land the flat of his soles, and charged off before Elaina got another word out.

Five minutes later, he dragged another boy, unconscious, thirteen or fourteen by the looks of his maturing face, which was about the same as the two here. "Found this rat sniffing around."

"You could;ve just dueled him and take care of him outside."

"Well, when I challenged him, he looked at me and asked what are you challenging me for."

"What? Liar, who would not know about Duel Masters?" Elaina squinted her eyes. A sign of contempt.

"Well, you ask him."

"He is unconscious. You tart." Elaina placed her hands on her waist.

"Great, then we can wait."

"Or we can just pour water on him and get this done with."

"Ok, fine. Where do we have water?"

"Don't know, perhaps you can urinate on him?"

"Good idea."

Elaina stared at Ricky. "Unbelievable. You are a moron aren't you?"

"I don't know, but you have called me that more than once."

"Then you probably are one."

"Thanks, pal."

Another siren interupted their little chat. The girl placed a hand over her ears. "Now what. You sure can't search thoroughly."

"Hm, well then, both of us can go and see what was messing with the alarms."

"Of course, and you can carry the boy with you."

"Oh right. Forgot about him."

Ricky shot a glance around a corner, nothing. He crept out carefully, slowly exposing himself to the sun. Because they were underground often, they usually do not have the luxury of the sun, thus the ghostly whiteness of both children's skin. Ricky's hair was blazing red, symbolizing the color of civilizations he like to use. Elaina's was green like the grass, her civilization easily indentified. The boy though, on Ricky's back had a somewhat whiter skin, and his hair...white? What civilization is that? The two had their questions, but their mission was at hand.

After some careful survey on their surrounding environment, they decided there were nothing. Only the shallow wind that kicked up the dust brought as much life to the ground, though there was always the glimmering mirage made by the raising of heated moisture.

"Well, I guess I owe you an apology then. There really was nothing. Even the sky empty of life and clouds."

"Ha told you." Ricky dropped the boy onto the ground as he searched a broken wall for a switch. An hatch opened while the earth grumbled. It dropped into a hole.

"Ah...my rear..." An unfamiliar voice appeared.

"Awakened at last!" "You are awake!" Came two exclaimations.

"Yes...I believe so as well. Though I had my doubts because I think I am in a dream. If I was in one, it would explain why I am seeing such a beautiful young lady with us."

"Oh you flatter me!" Elaina blushed.

"No, not you. The one behind you." The white haired boy pointed out.

"Behind!" Elaina and Ricky twisted around, just see four girls standing in the sun, reflecting its rays with great glory with their metallic capes.

"How...where did you come from?" Ricky got his tongue back first.

"Invisible Cape. Crossgear, water civilization. My Apprentice Transia happened to have it in her possession. But it was with luck we found and followed you to this hatch. Now, tell me, this shall lead somewhere?"

"I shall not answer your question! You follower of the gods!"

"Wait, Ricky, we must asked for their names first!"

"Indeed, I had forgotten to introduce myself. This here is Transia," One of the three nodded. She had longer hair, though she was the shortest. "Sagia." Short hair, golden eyes that burns. "Ultia." Tallest and smiling sweetly. "I am...call me Lady Most High." The one who spoke unhooded herself. White haired as well and fell to her ankle with grace of a shooting star and the scale of a cascade. Only a bit older then the others around her, but her presence was made known.

Both of the kids gasped while the stranger boy only murmured the title. "Lady Most High, huh..."

"Ricky, we are no match. She is a Regent!" Elaina nearly collapsed on her knees as she saw the crest that was clasped in the middle of her chest.

Ricky lowered his head. There was no alternative. If a Regent was here, the other must be warned. And she was Lady Most High, one of the very best, the very one who had leveled this city years ago. Known for benevolence to those who surrendered before they played, but destroyed all who opposed her. And she was...simply lucky.

"Elaina." Finally he raised his head. "Take the boy and run. Warn the others. I will stall."

"But!"

"Lady Most High! I challenge you!"

"And with great reluctance, I accept."

"My Lady!" "You don't need to!" "Why!" Her three Apprentice reponded to the reply of the Lady.

"Challenges that was made from pure courage must be accepted. He had made his decision, and I will honor it."

"Thanks Lady." Ricky snarled. "Elaina, go." He left her a wave.

Elaina took one last long look at the shillohette of Ricky and pulled the white haired boy into the hatch.

"Shall we begin then?" Lady Most High asked as she watched Elaina disappeared.

"Bring it on!" The remaining boy remarked and tore a deck of cards from a holder on his thigh.

The Lady Most High had this serenity about her as she graciously moved about. Somehow, somewhere from beneath the enormous sleeves of the robe came stretching a beautifully pale hand. From the other came the soft glow of a strange phenomenon that was called Duel Master's Spirit, and her deck emerged. It stood in a neat pile on the palm of her hand where it pulsed gently.

Ricky was impressed. He whistled and broke into a large grin.

"Well, let's see then if you can be faster than me Ricky Quicky." He tossed the dice. Six. "Perfecto." His grin was even larger.

A dice dropped from the white sleeves. "Six."

"Dang, too lucky. Five." He tossed the dice. The five dotted side faced up. "Not bad."

"Six." Another six. Ricky moaned. Two sixes in a row? Luck...Not good. "You first."

"Huh?"

"You first."

"I charge Mana." A red card slid into his Mana zone, and was immediately tapped. "Summon Deadly Fighter Braid!"

"A rush deck..." "So fast!" "Oh..." Silent exclamation arouse from the maids in service.

"I drew, then my Mana charged. You turn it is." A yellow and green god slid into the Mana zone.

"Then, my chance this is! I charge Mana, summon Rikabu, Screw driver! And break her shield, Fighter!"

One shield of the Lady shattered. She did not take a look at the broken shield, as though she knew what it was in it. "And so it is, Shield Trigger."

Rick's jaw dropped. The first shield? Terror Pit? Super spark? Natural Snare? Or is it...Hell's Scrapper?

"Heaven's Gate." The shields formed in the Lady's hands and she placed it gently into the graveyard. "Summon Milzam, Spirit of Miracles." Two pillars of light slammed into the ground in front of the Lady, and two golden glows formed on the battle zone. Magnificent creatures they were, perhaps the closest to perfection than any Angel Commands there were. "Use effect of Milzam." Cards from her deck formed two neat piles, five in each, and landed seperately on two of her other shields.

Ricky almost dropped to his knees, not in despair but more in awe. "Heard she was the luckiest women in the world, guess I learnt my lesson. End turn."

"Charge Mana, and use spell Faerie Life. My turn has ended."

"Why didn't you attack?" Rick's hand was held in a fist. He was been looked down upon.

"There wasn't the need to. The road to my victory had been paved."

"Screw that...Charge Mana! Use spell Strong Crush! Rikabu tap! Use effects and destroy both Milzams!" The two Angel Command perished in a mighty flash. The Lady's sleeves floated in the air, gently waving in the explosion. "Break shield! Braid!" A shield shattered. No, not the two shields that had the extra cards, but one of the other two."

"Shield Trigger it is. Faerie Life."

"What luck." Rick Spat. It was almost disgusting.

"Mana charged, summon Skysword, Vizier. Activate its effect, top card of deck to Mana, then next to the shield. My turn is ended."

"I charge Mana, and summon Pyrofighter Magnus! Pyrofighter! Break her shield!"

"Shield Trigger. Cyber brain, three cards I draw."

Rick cursed under his breath. "Braid break her shield!" Another shattered. Only two remained, though there were twelve cards within the remaining two. There will likely be a plethora of Shield Triggers.

"Shield Trigger. Heaven's Gate, and Milzam, Spirit of Miracles, arise. Romanesk, rise."

Ricky coughed. Romanesk? Armored Earth and Apollonia Dragon? Aren't all Dragons on the other side...? Only a few creatures had betrayed the Iron Will of the Dragons and joined the gods' conquest. The other's must be warned! He thought grimmly as he saw the top four cards enter the Lady's Mana zone and five cards landed on one of the two remaining shields. Two shields, total of 17 cards. Incredible.

"Rikabu tap, destroy Milzam! Pyrofighter back to my hand, end turn." That was his last effort. There were now ten Mana in the Lady's Mana zone. Plenty compared to his four.

"You turn has ended. Draw, Mana charged, cast Crest of Mother. Romanesk into Mana zone, and Zen, Transcendent, come." A giant, magnificent in both look and might, raised from the ground. A halo shone above its head and its eyes of red gazed down on the trembling creatures of Ricky's.

"Then, Earth Eternity Gate. Aku, the Ultimate, come. Join in arms with your brother in your loyal crusade. Godlink." Another came rising above. Blue and black smoke leaped forth in dark columns and bounded the giant to its side. "Aku Zen, the Ultimate Transcendent. Bring forth your fury. Attack Rikabu, effect destroy Fighter. My turn has ended, so ready yourselves, untap Aku Zen." Instantly Ricky's battle zone was emptied. Aku Zen link was indeed...more powerful then he imagined.

"I charge Mana, summon Pyrofighter Magnus and Rikabu's Screwdriver." It was useless. If he had the Mana and hand to summon 4 speed attackers, he had a chance. But not now, not like this. "Pyrofighter attack her shield!"

"Block" The Lady held on palm out. Aku Zen copied her motion and watched as the tiny red lizard smashed itself against it.

"T'is my turn then. Draw, summon Saga, the Almighty Creator." So it is. End of duel. "Break link of Aku Zen, the Ultimate Transcendent." The two giants ripped apart, standing now on two palms, facing each other. Between them, a furious red sun rose, took shape and Saga came forth. "Effect, cast God Bringer from my deck." A card levitated from her deck. A golden beam broke through the sky as clouds shatter in the presence of something enormous above. Ricky could only closed his eyes when the Saber of Light descended. Two cards entered the shield zone of the Lady, and all four shields came to the Lady's hands. She only took the slightest glance at it. "God Bringer allows me to summon all god creatures from the shields, so, from Shield, I summon my remaining gods. Zen, Zen, Zen, Aku, Aku, Aku." Shadows loomed over the boy. "Link, link, link, link." The Shadows formed a wall. "Bring him to his demise." Two pair attacked. All his shields vaporized. A Hell'scrapper, useless. Two pyrofighter, one Deadly Braid, useless. Chain deathmatch.

Ricky laughed. So it came. But...the duel was lost. There were still four shields in the Lady's shields, and there were still two pair ready to block.

"Great game, m'Lady. I have lost."

"As I see as well." The Lady spoke, gently. "Though in surrendering, your life is still to be taken. Now, die." She slashed down her hand. Aku Zen belched, and the building collapsed.

Dust settled slowly, but she already saw the buried boy. How did she knew he was buried? One of his hand still lay out in the opening, but it did not move.

"We shall continue. The lair is not emptied yet."

"Yes." "As you ordered." "After your lead."