Arata: Hey. You. Chapter Counter. Shut up. This is chapter seven. Not chapter eight.
Yugioh! - Unlimited Boundary Rewrite!
Chapter Seven - Solid Frozen
http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=1P73OQd2wsU
Morning Musume - Kanashimi Twilight
Got my line back :3
"Well... Here, Enzeru. I want you to have this, as my apology."
"Oh, no. I couldn't possibly..."
"No, please," Kouji insisted.
"What a dumb gift," Arata teased as I laid in bed, staring at the black card. Solid-Frozen Gantetsu.
"I kinda like it," I smiled. "I can see some good plays with this."
"Wasn't a total waste of a day," Arata threw on a tanktop and pajama bottoms, sitting cross-legged in her bed and playing around with a bunch of her extra cards. Every once in a while, she'd find one she really like, go to her deck, and spend just as long looking for a card to take out. It was fun to watch for a while, but whenever I managed to find a comfortable, painless position to sleep in, I got a very uneasy feeling in my stomach. I didn't understand why; it was the most comfortable bed I've ever laid in. Arata eventually noticed my rotating in bed, and suggested I took a walk or got some air.
"Yeah, maybe... I don't really want to change clothes again though."
"Then don't. It's like 11, no one's hanging around this late."
I had to talk myself into that one. Even if I was the last person on the island, walking around in my pink nightgown didn't feel right. But I was desperate for sleep... "Alright," I finally stood up and strapped my disk on out of habit.
I waved to Arata, flashed that I had my phone tucked away if she needed me, and I was out the door just like that. Hallways were clear, thankfully, but it didn't prevent me from running to each checkpoint like I would die if someone saw me. I got to the stairwell and decided going up would be easier than going down. I bet the view from the roof was something else.
When I got to the top and pushed at the metal door, the instant rush of frigid air made me have second thoughts. My hair stood on end and I grabbed my arms close to my chest, as if it would warm me. Holy shit, was all I managed to think. It was like bathing in ice.
Regrettably, I kept going, leading my steps to the tiled rooftop, outlined by an iron railing. It was a featureless plane, but it didn't need the detail. The surrounding sky was beautiful enough to bewilder me. I made it to the nearest railing and leaned against it, happy enough with my head on my arms that I could sit there all night. I could see everything from this height; the shoreline with a gorgeous beach, the miles of trained forest, and the miniature city the heart of the island formed. The three dorms, beautifully lit at night, seemed to be the biggest buildings on the island, but inside the diamond they formed with the main stadium there were several smaller buildings that looked like they could be businesses. The buildings that surrounded the stadium were where classes were held, and the stadium itself held the offices of the main staff. I found it odd that I learned all that before any actual classes.
And about that. Was this how my stay was going to be? I loved it so far, but why I was I even there, really? Spending all of my time getting involved in whatever Arata throws me into, while she means perfectly well, how much further is it going to go? Am I just never going to go to class? I might as well be on a vacation, in that case. Does Arata even go to class? It was all very confusing...
But she is one of the best friends I've ever made. No one's ever done so much for me. Makes it really easy to forgive anything she gets me involved in. Like she said before, what would it take for me to leave her? Is she just testing me?
Then there was Alek... A reoccurring nightmare I've been having. I'm dueling Alek, and we're having fun. He's got a sweet smile, a soft laugh, and the look of intimidation wiped clean from his face. I'm giggling like a little girl, hating myself inside for it, but allowing myself to enjoy the moment. For some reason, there are flowers. But then his smile fades away, his eyes light up in red, and whatever kind of field we're in becomes engulfed by fire. I see the eyes of Dark Armed Dragon for a moment. I see the gentle eyes on Alek, crying and reaching out to me. Then I just see blood, and wake up sweating.
Why do I care so much? Alek wasn't my problem... I didn't even really understand what his problem was. It was something out of my reach and out of my control. Yet every time I thought about him, I felt odd feelings. Feelings I haven't really allowed myself to think about very much. Complicated feelings... I didn't like him, I'm sure I didn't. I didn't know anything about him. Had like, an hours worth of time around him. But... it is a warm feeling. A feeling I like. A feeling that, I was sure, Arata felt a lot of the time.
I try to shut him out of my mind. But he keeps coming up. Like, suddenly the world revolved around him, and I was being sent a message that I'm meant to do... something about him. What was I supposed to do? Duel him again, maybe die this time if it wakes him up? The thought made me tremble. This was all happening so fast. I just wanted to go to school, learn to be as good as Arata some day, make a living at what I love the most in life. I seemed to be the only one who believed Alek was any good. Not including Arata. I don't know what she thinks. If anything, I should hate him the most. I'll be scarred, permanently damaged by what he did to me. He tried to kill me. I should hate him. I should want him dead. But, what I seem to want most, more than popularity, more than professional status, more than having fun, seemed to be his safety. I wanted him to be okay.
"Hey, Red," A man called behind me, and I almost jumped out of my skin. I threw myself around, but before I could speak, the man was pressed up against me, his hand over my mouth as I screamed at him, trying to fight off the tight grip he had on my arm. I struggled around, tried to bludgeon him with my duel disk, but he seemed to take every hit like he was numb to it and held me tighter. The more I looked at his face, the more I began to recognize him as the man I dueled on the boat ride here.
Embarrassingly, I didn't really understand what he was trying to do. He was so sloppy with his hands and how he was trying to hold me still and keep a free arm, that I simply couldn't tell that he was reaching for my nightgown until he actually got it. My heart stopped and I screamed much louder, actually feeling a sense that I was in some kind of danger. I struggled a lot harder, repeatedly bashing at his head with anything I could move until he finally let go, before the end of my gown got to my waist.
When he staggered back and I was set free, the only words that came to mouth were vulgar ones.
"Fucking shit!" I screamed, ready to just run at him and beat him to death. I was surprised at how much of Arata started to rub off on me. New thoughts didn't have time to enter my head by the time he was back, wrestling me in his arms and trying fruitlessly to lift my gown and throw me to the ground. He managed to knock me over, but I would rather him rip my arm off or I pry his eyes out with my nails before he could touch anything on me.
I got him in the face with my foot and managed to put distance between us, and once I was on my feet, I threw my arm out to give my duel disk room to activate. He just laughed.
"I'm not fucking with that this time," He glared, and continued to come at me. There was a brief moment where I thought time had frozen, or I fainted from hypothermia and was hallucinating the whole thing, but there was a flash of white and the man was on the ground, holding his face with screams of agony. The woman that had struck him pressed her wooden sandal into his face, threatening to crush his skull. But she stepped off and allowed him to stand, only to turn right around and strike him in the center of his chest, cracking ribs and mercilessly throwing him onto his back, not even a twitch from his motionless body.
The woman slowly turned her head to look at me; her eyes were only half open, like she had been woken up or coming down from a high. Her brunette ponytail whipped around in the wind around her head as she watched, and her bright, blue eyes stuck to my gaze. She was like something out of a movie. The white and black robed hakama, the sash around her waist, the thick sword on her hip, complete with the sandals that appropriately "clopped" every time she stepped and the chopsticks stabbed into her hair. She was legit... some kind of samurai.
She took a deep breath of the cold air and began to speak.
"Are you... okay?" She tried to smile, but her eyes began to linger to other things.
"Fine, I guess," I lied, desperately catching my breath and trying to shake off the feeling of violation... I got away just fine, but he still...
"Stress doesn't look good on you," She pointed out. "You... are not who I was hoping to find."
"What do you mean?" I asked, even more confused than before. Though, I was sure if she sat down and wrote it out for me, I still wouldn't get it. Nothing made sense right now... My mind was empty static. It was nothing I ever wanted to feel again. The worst feeling a girl can feel.
"You... have the same aura as he did," the woman looked to me. I was too shaken up and out of breath to even concentrate on her. "Your body... emanates that same darkness."
"What are you talking about..?" I managed to cough out, clinging to the rail to keep my balance once I started straightening out. Pretending like it didn't happen... that was the only way I could think to cope.
"Pardon me," Her voice suddenly softened. "You don't feel it then?"
"Feel what?" I asked again.
"Good, good," She motioned for me to stay still, as she begun to pace about the rooftop. "No knowledge, no feeling, no signs. All good. But... it's very strong. Not good. 'The force is strong in this one'," She smiled to herself. "No. Not a funny time. But funny reference. Expected, I'm sure. No surprise factor. No zing. Still, makes you smile."
"What are you...?"
"From the beginning," She told herself. She turned to me, and her body straightened perfectly, just watching me stand there for a solid minute. "I am... Hyoujinn. You could consider me an... exorcist, of sorts."
"An exorcist..?"
"An Alan Walker reference awaits. But... -Man is very obscure. Not very popular. Not a widely understood reference. Not worth mentioning," She shook her head. "But, yes, an exorcist. I have an odd gift, if you will, to connect with duel spirits. Surely you're aware via this institution?"
"Well, about that... I haven't exactly been to a class yet."
"Wha? Really?"
"Yeah, I know. It kinda sucks."
"Well. In short. There is no short method of explanation. It is, in fact, extremely complicated and it would take a very long time to explain. But, in short, cards are alive. Not so much the cards can walk around and animate, but the presence of what is represented in the cards is alive. But not alive to where it can walk around and animate either. At least, not that we can see. They could be walking around, animated, invisible, living parallel to us in a parallel version of the world, maybe going to school to learn how to be dueled with."
"You're not making a lot of sense, Hyoujinn... Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes, of course. Your concern is heartwarming. But your aura is so hard to ignore. How could you not feel it? It's like... everywhere you go. You leave a trail. Easy to follow. Honestly, thought you were him. It's overflowing from your body."
Oh, the images that brought up.
I had only looked away for a moment, but when I looked back, she was inches from my face. Staring at me. She put her hand on my stomach, and immediately I could feel the searing pain from the gashes. I jerked away from her but she stepped closer.
"You're in pain," She observed.
"Yeah..."
"What happened to you?"
"I was... attacked..." And suddenly, all of her nonsense clicked in my head. I felt a little humble as the words left my mouth. Kinda ashamed that it took me so long to stumble upon it. "...by a duel spirit."
Hyoujinn's face lit up, and she bounced back. "Yes. Yes, that is why. Your wounds, they glow with a black aura. It's not good for you. It does not match your eyes," she shook her head. "No, unimportant. I must apologize. When I get excited, my mind scatters a bit."
"No, no, you're fine. But, you know about this?"
"It's my life's work."
"Well then maybe you know something. You said I had the same aura as someone else..."
"Oh, yes, him. Not a very pleasant man. Sad. Tortured. The kind of wandering soul often sought after by dark spirits. His body did more than overflow. It was like the aura was the body and the body was the aura. No, that only makes sense in my head..."
"Was it Alek?" I asked her, even in knowing the answer.
"Yes, yes. Alek. That's the name he preferred. When I brought the aura to his attention, he changed. He preferred Alek no longer. Became angered by the word. We fought a glorious battle, however brief, and he locked himself into a room I could not enter," She then turned to the door. "But that doesn't mean you won! Coward!"
"You're... odd, Hyoujinn."
"It's a redeeming quality," Hyoujinn nodded. "But you wanted to know about the spirit, didn't you? Well... It's not an easy thing to describe."
"Of course not," I sighed.
"The spirit was... petrifying. One like I've never seen. One that I doubt I could've stopped had he turned and fought. The man, Alek, wasn't holding on very well."
"As hard as this is to grasp... I believe you, Hyoujinn. But I have so many questions. How'd it get there? How does it get out?"
"You take to the idea of duel spirits very well. Arguably the least skeptic response I've ever encountered, why are you so eager to believe me? Who is Alek to you?"
"Well, the spirit kinda messed me up. I saw it myself, it attacked me and burned me. I've been trying to make sense of it since it happened, maybe this is the only answer that fits," I wanted to hit my throbbing head into the wall, had there been one. "As for Alek, I don't know. I had a connection with him. A brief one, but we had one. Since then, I don't know. I can't seem to blame him for anything. I don't get mad when I think of him or what he did. Something in me wanted to make excuses for him, I don't want it to be his fault. Is there any way that he... wanted this?"
"At first, sure, maybe. That's what beckons the spirit. Your strong desire. If they deem you worth the contract, they'll propose an offer to you. An offer that, at first, may sound amazing to you. Everything you've ever wanted. Then, this could happen."
"What do you think about him right now? He can't control himself, right?"
"I would say so," Hyoujinn threw her arms together and turned her back to me. "I'm done answering your questions. I have questions of my own. Like, can you take him out if you had to? Are you even capable of beating him if you wanted? Can you stand up to duel spirits without your own?"
"I... I can't say," I felt like I knew where she was going with this. She slowly pulled the thick blade from her sash and turned to face me once more, pointing the tip into my chest. We stood there, silent, for a moment. Then my duel disk chimed, and I saw the blade of her sword widen and light up in sections to form the card spaces. My mouth hung open a little. Her sword was her disk.
"After seeing what I did to him, will you accept my challenge and stand up to me? If you can't beat me, you can't beat Alek. Do you deem this reasonable?"
"But... But it's cold..." I held my arms and shivered. "And I'm not really... properly dressed here. Can we postpone, or something?"
She shook her head.
"Ugh... Fine. I'll endure it for a little while longer," I raised my arm to push her blade away, and the slots of my disk shot out and activated from the bracer. My d-gazer... it wasn't really needed if there wasn't a crowd. I didn't think so. I didn't see Arata using hers, like ever. I waited for Hyoujinn to put hers on as she danced back to an appropriate distance, but she never reached for one. They were to help you see your monsters, their stats, your points, without having to look back and forth at your disk and the cards. It was something that I had a hard time getting used to, since I didn't have much experience playing with the holograms. After a moment of conflicting, I decided to put it on. It was dark, and maybe it would distract me from the hundred things going on right now.
"Prepare yourself," Hyoujinn warned, holding her sword horizontally and shoving her deck in through the hilt. "I want to see your best."
D-Gazer Set
Duel Disk Set
Duel
Enzeru - 4000
Hyoujinn - 4000
The coin was tossed on-screen, and I won.
"Fine. I'll... I'll start," I took a deep breath. In addition to being frozen and shaken up, I just wanted to go back to bed. But if beating Hyoujinn would give me the answers I needed...
Agent of Mystery - Earth, Celestial Transformation, Forbidden Chalice, Mirror Force, Archlord Kristya.
I smiled at the sight of Kristya. It wasn't something I got to see very often, but it wasn't forgotten about. There was still no thanking Arata enough.
"I draw for my turn," I announced, drawing Mystical Shine Ball. Dammit. "Whatever... I'll start by setting two face-down cards, and summoning my Agent of Mystery - Earth(1000/800, Light/Fairy/Tuner/Effect, Level 2) in attack position!" So the little fairy came forth, flying out from the monster zone and doing a twirl as she settled, hovering on the tips of her toes while her wings swung slowly, her beautiful robes dancing with the cold wind. She raised the small stave in her hand as I continued. "And with her effect, I can search The Agent of Creation - Venus to my hand."
The card ejected from my deck, and Earth swung her wand, joining the card into my hand. Hyoujinn didn't move.
"I'll then activate the spell card Celestial Transformation from my hand, allowing me to special summon my Venus to the field at the cost of half of her attack points," and once I played the card down, the golden woman surrounded by the dancing spheres appeared next to Earth, joining her in a hovering pose. The spheres shot off in different directions, and circled around to float in a line as my life points decreased.
Enzeru - 2500
Hyoujinn - 4000
"Using Venus' effect, I can special summon three Mystical Shine Balls(500/500, Light/Fairy, Level 2) from my deck or my hand. Unfortunately, I drew one... losing a card from my hand. But that's okay, as my field is now full of monsters."
Hyoujinn watched, still as stone.
"..." What to do now? I had massive field presence, which was great no matter how you look at it. But when you really dissect my field, what do I have? Venus will get destroyed, Earth can't really stand her own, and three shine balls. If I had a level 9 synchro monster, I could synchro summon and go into Kristya... That would be a guaranteed win. But... I don't. I have an 8 and a 7. I could make the 7, but it's effect certainly wouldn't help me after my Venus play. And I didn't even know what she was playing yet.
Well, there was Kouji's card.
"I guess then... I'll construct the overlay network!"
The wind suddenly picked up, and Hyoujinn might've twitched to it, but between us on the center field, the wind spiraled about and absorbed two of the Shine Balls.
"Overlaying two of my Mystical Shine Balls, forming my protective force! Exceed summon, Solid-Frozen Gantetsu!(500/1800, Earth/Rock/Exceed, Rank 2)"
From the dark spiral between us, the hulking figure slowly rose, its massive fists crashing into the ground to make the building shake. It slumped down to a kneel, and crossed both of its arms over its face in front of me.
"For each overlay unit attached to Gantetsu, monsters on my side of the field gain 200 points each to both their attack and defense, putting Gantetsu's defense at 2200, my Venus' attack at 2000, and Earth at 1400."
But I still had a shine ball. And Venus was getting destroyed... Extra defense, I suppose, wouldn't hurt. It would give me the chance to survey her deck.
"Then I'll tune my Agent Earth to my Agent Venus and my last Mystical Shine Ball!"
All three of them flew up into the air and danced gracefully around each other, Earth vanished into stars and lined with Venus and Shine Ball, forming the pillar of light on my field for the white dragon to slowly crawl out of, its arms stretched attached to its wings, and what seemed to be long, flowing, blonde hair danced with its serpent body. "Come out, my Ancient Sacred Wyvern! (2100/2000, Fairy/Synchro/Effect, Level 7)"
I was going to regret that. "I bring out my Wyvern in defense position. Her attack is determined by the difference in our life points, and since I have less than you, her attack points decrease by 1500. But her defense remains in tact, at 2400 with Gachi's boost. After that, I'm satisfied. I'll end my turn."
Hyoujinn, silently and dramatically, pulled her top card. She observed her hand for a moment, and went to her plays.
"A strong turn to leave on. But nothing will protect you from the onslaught," She sighed. "There will be opponent's much more merciless than I. Let's see how you handle it. I activate the continuous spell card, Gateway of the Six Samurai!"
From behind her, the tall structure began to form from a shower of cherry blossom petals, a wooden gate appearing at the base of a black building, with a huge symbol over the doors glowing in bright teal, with 12 lights spread apart the circle.
"Each time I summon a Six Samurai, two counters appear on this structure. Proceeding. Come forth, Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki!(200/2000, Earth/Warrior/Effect, Level 3) and follow, Kagemusha of the Six Samurai!" (200/1800, Earth/Warrior/Effect/Tuner, Level 2)"
It was then that the two soldiers were brought out at once, one of them had four arms, with four swords connected by lightning, and the other hid its entire body in armor, resting on the shaft of his spear. He vanished into light after only a glimpse.
"When Kageki is summoned, I can summon again. And when I bring together my two monsters, I can summon the ultimate warrior, untouched by any blade!" Kagemusha's stars surrounded Kageki, formed the pillar of light, and I watched as a pair of black wings came forth, followed by the white steel of a long katana. A man clad in dark orange armor stepped forth, both hands on his blade and ready to kill me at the sound of her command. Despite being a monster I had never seen before, this one was different in another way... "Synchro summon, Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En!(2500/1400, Dark/Warrior/Synchro/Effect, Level 5)"
"So far, I've summoned three Six Samurai creatures, adding six counters to my Gateway card. By removing four of them, I can add a Six Samurai card from my deck to my hand," so then, four of the lights shut down, leaving two remaining. "Grandmaster of the Six Samurai(2100/800, Earth/Warrior/Effect, Level 5), join your shogun on the field!"
An older man came forth next to Shi En, the white hair of age resting on his robes, his hands folded over the pommel of his katana. This one was different too. Two more lights lit up on Gateway.
"And while I control two or more Six Samurai creatures, I can special summon Great Shogun Shien(2500/2400, Fire/Warrior/Effect, Level 7) from my hand!"
"Fuck..." I sighed. I thought my turn was complex.
The crimson armored samurai stepped forth on the opposite side of Shi En. The three of them raised the katanas and armed for the battle phase.
"Four more counters get spent, leaving me with nothing on my Gateway. But with it, Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan(1800/500, Earth/Warrior/Effect, Level 4) joins my army!"
What I hoped was the last piece of this puzzle, a younger man with the same armor as Grandmaster pulled his sword free, and I watched his attack points rise to meet the stats of the older man. Two more lights lit up on Gateway.
"Attack, my soldiers!" Hyoujinn held her sword in the same manor as the rest of them. I started to think things I shouldn't have. Like, maybe she was like Alek. Maybe she had an aura I couldn't see. And maybe, what scared me the most, her monsters were real too...
Great Shogun stepped forward first. He leaned into his blade, and ran at my Wyvern. It was a move I expected; until he walked right through the hologram, freed a hand from the grip of his sword, and struck me so hard in my stomach, that I fell to the ground screaming. I would've been lucky if my wounds didn't tear back open, and I bled to death. I was on the ground, desperately trying to grab some form of breath, when I saw Wyvern shatter, and Shi En coming for Gantetsu. Was he coming for me? Would my monster stop it?
My Mirror Force flipped over, but it ceased to stop the march as Shi En brought its katana down on Gantetsu, whose arms took the full hit. I didn't have the ability to talk, but Hyoujinn explained.
"Shi En negates the effect of one spell or trap card per turn, so cards like Mirror Force cannot effect him."
"And... Whenever Gantetsu would be destroyed... One of its exceed materials gets absorbed instead..." I coughed, feeling blood run down my neck. "Reducing its defense to 2000..."
"Can't handle it, can you?" Hyoujinn asked. "You're suffering after one attack."
Grandmaster came next, slashing through Gantetsu and destroying another material and bringing its defense down even further. Finally, Kizan came to pierce through him, and in the same, solid motion, drive his metal boot against my head, bringing me to the ground, crying.
Enzeru - 2500
Hyoujinn - 4000
I didn't get up. I couldn't, for the moment. How was I supposed to win against this...?