Soul of a Duelist
Turn 7: Contract Forged from Steel: Null and Void
(Vincent: 8000 Aegis: 8000)
"I'm going first, Hallow!" Vincent shouted fiercely as he whipped a card off his deck. "Hallow…I used to look up to you as a kid. But now I know the truth, you're weak!" Aegis flinched at the insult, for some reason being called weak bothered him more than every other insult Vincent threw at him in the 15 minutes after they met.
"I'm playing the spell card Solitary Swordsman! I can summon any warrior from my hand or deck to the field, so I summon Wandering Swordsman – Sonaris in defence mode! (0/2000)" In front of Vincent a tattered tan colored cloak appeared in the air, swirled around and then was whipped away into oblivion by a hand that came from within the folds of the material.
Standing at seven feet tall a warrior clad in deep blue armor emerged from the cloak. The armor itself was cracked and began to fade away in some parts, becoming lighter and bordering gray in some areas. The design of the suit made the man look like he came from a science fiction novel, the armor being rather blocky and formed from separate metal segments. The man had a long face whose features resembled a wolf with a thin nose and two slit ruby red eyes. Adding to the wild appearance of the warrior was immensely long black hair that branched off into long strands at the front with a single ponytail that fell down to his waist.
"I can't summon any other monsters if I have my swordsman on the field, but it doesn't affect me, my swordsman is my only monster!" Vincent's declaration was almost boastful, Aegis found it strange how he was so confident with only a single monster in an entire deck. Vincent noticed the confused expression on the man and laughed coldly.
"After you abandoned us, I learned the truth of this world. And that truth is that you can't depend on anyone! So I spent all these years relying on my own strength, I don't need anyone to try and help me, and neither does my swordsman!" Aegis tried his best not to wince at the explanation. Deep down in his heart he felt the bitterness of having it confirmed that it was his fault that Vincent was so hateful. It troubled him deeply, to the point that he wanted to fall down to his knees and beg for forgiveness; but that would be impossible.
"I'm activating Sonaris' effect! If I discard a card I can place a Swordsmanship Counter on him. For every counter my monster gains 1000 attack points! (1000/2000)" A sheathed katana materialized on the back of Vincent's swordsman. Then he slammed two more cards into his duel-disk with enough force to crack the casing of the device. "Two cards facedown, try and make it past the first turn, Hallow!"
Silently Aegis pulled the top card off his deck, his soul chilling as he saw it: Endless Night. The trap card that invoked the shadows and Death itself. Aegis' fear was starting to overtake his hand, the limb trembling. However he recalled what was on the line, losing would destroy his only chance at his dream! A chance to compete in the Millennium Tournament! "Not anymore…This card, Death won't terrorize me! I won't hesitate to use this card and end this if I have to! Sorry, Vincent, but this means too much to me!"
"I summon Occult Cultist in attack mode (1500/1800). With his effect I'll add the field card, Sacred Burial Grounds into my hand, and then play it immediately!" As a dark blue cloaked hunchback appeared on the field, so did the entire floor's structure change. Fog rolled in from all directions and covered the entire floor in a gray haze, the ground below turning into a stimulated dirt cemetery.
"I'll set a facedown card and end my turn." Aegis eyed the card he set as it materialized in the air. He was worried about how well he could duel with so much emotional stress on him. The move screamed that it was a trap, Vincent probably wouldn't fall for it, but if he did it would destroy his monster and allow Aegis to unleash a spiritual bombardment.
"I'm throwing out another card to give my swordsman a second counter, next I'll switch him into attack mode (2000/2000)." Aegis was surprised to see Vincent's move; it was too foolish. Aegis' setup was obvious to all watching the duel yet it didn't bother Vincent. "He has something planned…"
A second sheathed sword appeared on the back to Sonaris, Vincent smirking as the weapon adhered itself to his back. "For each counter my monster also gains special abilities! With one my monster can deal you piercing damage, with two anything it destroys has its effect negated! Sonaris (2000/2000), cleave apart Occult Cultist with Fatal Strike!"
The blue swordsman gripped one of the weapons on his back and drew the silver blade, the instrument glowing in the mist. Then it charged for the robed figure on Aegis' field. At that moment Aegis' soul ignited, the move seemed to be a sign of inexperience. In the recesses of his mind he felt like it would be possible to bury the past by the end of the duel.
"I activate Spirit Light! By discarding Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi I can give all 2800 of his attack points to my Occult Cultist! (4300/1800)" Aegis' trap was sprung, and the sight of a monster with such high attack power had caused the audience to clap; a rather dignified variant of cheering he would receive in a stadium for the same move. The robed figure produced a silver chain with a metal hexagram attached to it, then shook the metal and created a shockwave in the air that honed in on the swordsman.
"It doesn't matter how strong a loser is, they're still a loser!" Vincent roared at Aegis, the hatred was evident and rattled Aegis' bones. "I activate my trap card, Metalmorph! Now my swordsman gains 300 points, as well as half the attack power of any monster it attacks! (4450/2000)" Aegis was stunned at the turnabout, his sense of confidence leaving him and being replaced by worry.
The swordsman slashed the air apart, the shockwave being dissipated in an instant. Then with his sword arm rotating, the warrior wound up and sliced diagonally through the cultist. Two halves of the robe drifting apart in the air before breaking apart into light.
(Vincent: 8000 Aegis: 7850)
"So where's your cheerleader, that Noah kid who always follows you around?" Vincent exchanged his loud tones for low growls. Aegis tightened his fist when Vincent mentioned Noah, he could feel a burning heat bubbling up inside of his soul.
"He's dead." Aegis hissed. Vincent laughed and rolled his shoulders, rage starting to blind Aegis. It took a substantial exercise of self-control to keep from lashing out against Vincent; somehow his guilt wasn't bothering him very much anymore.
"I won't have you disrespecting Noah like that!" Aegis found that his grating voice had turned into a thunderous blast; Vincent appeared momentarily stunned by the outburst. Aegis took the chance to fire off his cards without having to deal with the verbal back and forth for a moment.
"I activate Spirit's Gift! By sending Inaba White Rabbit from my deck to the graveyard I'm drawing two more cards!" Aegis glanced at what he drew and sneered at Vincent. The second he had disrespected Noah, Aegis felt no obligations to the past, or the messenger that came from it.
"Now I play Binding Ritual to summon Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi from my graveyard! (2800/2900)" From the green spell card massive black chain links shot into the earth and pulled an enormous dark-skinned man from the soil. The spirit only wore a purple cloth around his waste to cover himself, the rest of his muscular body was in plain sight. Atop of the spirit's head there was no hair but instead an inferno which lit and parted the mist on Aegis' field.
"Because I have a spirit monster on the field I can special summon Heroic Spirit Freya in attack mode! (2300/0) And then with my normal summon I summon The White Lady! (1800/400)" Aegis' field quickly populated itself as a haunting white silk dress seemingly drifted into place, a parasol in her hands which covered the face of the beauty. Then a crimson clad knight with large white feathered wings descended from above to land next to Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi.
Vincent scowled at the army, disgusted by the numbers. Still Aegis continued and inserted a final card into his duel-disk. "Because I control at least two spirit monsters I can also special summon my Spirit-Binding Construct in defence mode! (0/2000)" Behind the three spirits a massive bronze suit of armor materialized. The suit of armor had nothing holding it together but instead was almost possessed by something as all of the appropriate pieces floated into place to stand up as a soldier.
"Like your swordsman, my construct gains abilities depending on how many spirit monsters are on my field! With three on my field I can draw an extra card from my deck!" As if to add insult to injury Aegis was even restoring his resources after making such an impressive counterattack. His spirit army had even made Mayor Winston clap, chuckling to himself.
"Understand two things, Vincent! The past is the past, even if it's you I won't let you steal my dream away!" Aegis spun the situation around and suddenly it was him that was on the offence and barraging Vincent with a vocal onslaught. After letting out so much of his fury he could feel the storm within him calming down. It was for the best as his voice was going hoarse from shouting. With his usual quiet and gritty voice he continued speaking.
"The second is that I will never allow someone to dismiss a man as great as Noah! It's time I made you understand that with his cards! With this deck! With his soul!" Aegis threw his left arm out and pointed accusingly at Vincent's swordsman.
"Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi (2800/2900) destroy Wandering Swordsman – Sonaris (2300/2000) with Inferno Punch!" The chains binding Aegis' behemoth of a spirit loosened and allowed him to fire through the air with his left fist igniting in bright flames.
"For someone that should be so good, I don't know why you'd do something so stupid! Mirror Force, activate!" Vincent's facedown card rose and revealed the mighty trap card. A reflective dome appearing around him and his swordsman. Aegis smirked and shook his head at Vincent, wagging his finger side to side with amusement.
"I activate my construct's ability again! If I have at least two spirit monsters, I can tribute one to negate a spell or trap card!" With a firm voice, Aegis stated his reasoning and smirked as Vincent began to growl. "I send The White Lady to the graveyard, and now you will be defenceless!" The ghostly woman faded into nothingness, the bronze construct raising an arm and releasing chains from its fingers. The metal links pierced Vincent's defence and wrapped around his trap card, constricting around it until it shattered.
With the path clear, Aegis' monster was unimpeded in its charge. The swordsman, Sonaris drew a single blade and parried the earth-splitting punch, but in the process the sword he had used to defend with shattered into fictitious metal shards.
(Vincent: 7500 Aegis: 7850)
"By removing a swordsmanship counter I can prevent the destruction of my swordsman! (1300/2000)" Vincent appeared frustrated to have his plan foiled. However the crowd of politicians and businessmen were impressed with such a masterful play by Aegis; they approved of sending him to the Millennium Tournament to represent Spirare.
"It won't be enough! Heroic Spirit Freya (2300/0) attack Sonaris (1300/2000)! Divine Wrath!" Unfolding her wings the valkyrie glided through the air and jousted at the swordsman with a massive silver spear. The swordsman drew his final blade and halted the weapon's progress with the cutting edge of his sword. The two paused in time for a moment, and then Freya bounced back after the second blade shattered.
(Vincent: 6500 Aegis: 7850)
"Because of my construct Freya will remain on the field! However, since you were struck by Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi you discard your hand before you draw!" Aegis felt a strange gratitude in reminding his opponent of the fact, another round of applause at such a well calculated move.
Vincent haphazardly tossed away the single card left in his hand without any regard, then pulled a new card off the top of his deck. "I was right about you, Hallow. You're nothing without someone to hold you up! Pathetic! I'll show you how powerful I am without having to rely on some maniac!" Aegis wanted to slam his fist into Vincent's face, but he knew that would only result in arrests and charges flying left and right.
"I play the spell card, Sword Forging! With it I can add two equip spell cards from my deck to my hand and I'll add Katana Ying and Katana Yang to my hand! But I can only activate one of them this turn so I'll equip Katana Ying to my swordsman!" A black sheathed katana appeared on the swordsman's back, the warrior drawing the blade immediately, the weapon was similar to its predecessors but its blade was formed from a beam of light.
"While equipped with Katana Ying, my swordsman gains 500 more attack points, as well as the ability to double attack! It even supplies my swordsman with a counter every turn when it doesn't have one! (1800/2000)" Aegis narrowed his eyes, he had to admit that Vincent could put up an impressive fight with a single monster.
"Since my swordsman is still equipped with Metalmorph I can easily overpower your Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi! (2800/2900) Now attack (3200/2000) with Fatal Strike!" In the blink of an eye Vincent's swordsman covered the distance between itself and Aegis' spirit. Halting for a split second to spin the katana around in his hand, the warrior cleaved straight up and right through the hulking spirit.
(Vincent: 6500 Aegis: 7250)
Vincent smirked and then pointed at defending bronze armor. "Don't forget! Sonaris can attack once more and pierce right through your defences and slash apart your life points!" With an arrogance the swordsman flicked his wrist and slashed through the bronze armor without any effort, Aegis swearing he saw a thin smirk on the swordsman.
(Vincent: 6500 Aegis: 6950)
A dangerous whispering crept through the audience, all of them suspecting Aegis' inevitable end. Vincent rebelled in the backlash Aegis received, empowered by the turning tides. "You will always be weak, Hallow! Even now I bet you're still using some poor soul for a crutch! Unable to walk with your two legs, you're absolutely worthless!" Aegis faltered at the attack, his fighting spirit crumbling. He couldn't help but look sideways at Maria who stood near the duelists, partly concealed by an ivory pillar. Vincent noticed the direction of Aegis' eyes and laughed harshly.
"I'm right, aren't I, Hallow? Is she more damaged goods like that loser Noah? Just finding worthless people so you can feel like a big man, isn't that right, Hallow?!" Vincent's latest accusation had intensified the whispering around them. People wondered about the implication of the statement, who was this Noah anyway?
"That's enough!" Aegis struggled to keep his voice calm, though it came out as nothing more than a childish whimper. "Leave Maria out of this!" Almost on command, Aegis' mind was starting to be overwhelmed by the less favourable memories of Noah he had locked away. There was an inclination of truth to what Vincent said, but Aegis felt so repulsed at finding pieces of himself believing it.
"It's my turn! I'll draw!" It was becoming difficult to hold back the hesitation that was tearing at his resolve. Aegis' hands were starting to tremble, more so in his right arm than anywhere else.
He looked at the card that came from the deck, feeling as if his loyalty to his deceased friend had paid off. In his hand he held Orpheus, and wasted no time in placing the card into his duel-disk (1900/1600). "I told you to stop talking about Noah like that! I'll make you regret it now!" Knowing the spirit of his friend was materializing in the form of a silver mechanical body, Aegis found himself able to fight back again. Vincent however appeared unimpressed, only laughing.
"You're just proving how weak you are! Always depending on those cards from dear old Noah. What happened to your own deck, Hallow? Worthless! Always using someone else's strength as your own is pathetic!" Vincent succeeded in squashing Aegis' comeback. His spirit definitively smashed to pieces.
Aegis' tremors had intensified as thoughts of doubt and self-pity began to swirl in his chest. "He's…Right…I've never been able to do anything without Noah…I…I…" The thoughts were ripping him apart from the inside. Aegis could feel his body tingling painfully, his heart was being clawed at by a demon.
"I…Won't let you do this to me!" Aegis' defiant roar had been reduced to a desperate cry. His body was going limp, his own incompetence starting to overtake him. Aegis had never realized it, but he had spent an entire life relying on Noah. His heart would give out soon, the protection that his dependence had provided evaporated when Aegis became aware of its source. It was difficult to block out all of the torment in his mind as it was smashing apart any attempt at logical thought. Dueling Vincent had suddenly become terrifying.
"I activate…I activate Celestial Blessing!" A beacon of light opened up from high above, illuminating Orpheus' silver body in its light. "While I control a spirit monster, I can activate this card! One monster I select will gain immunity from all effects for the turn. When the monster attacks all your spell and trap cards are destroyed as well!" Aegis struggled to produce a voice stronger than a quivering. His mind ached from the opposing forces that bided for control of him; as a result his brain felt like it was turning to stone from the weight of the thoughts.
"Orpheus (1900/1600), attack Sonaris! (1800/2000)" Orpheus took his instrument off of his back, strumming the strings and shattering the swordsman's augmentations (1000/2000). Then a jolt of lightning split the air apart, coming down upon the swordsman. With the remnants of the sword he had, the warrior parried the bolt of lightning before the weapon vanished. But the warrior stood his ground triumphantly, only losing the sword in the exchange (0/2000).
(Vincent: 6500 Aegis: 7950)
"For each card destroyed any damage you take is reduced by 500 points, but instead I gain 500 life points." Aegis had lost his confidence, and it was far too evident. Mayor Winston appeared disappointed by Aegis' conduct, seeing such a weak side of the man far too many times. "I'll end my turn…"
"So you've finally realized just how much of a loser you are, Hallow. But you know, I think that the rest of our audience should know about Noah!" Vincent was relentless in his assault, dealing another crippling blow to Aegis. What did he actually know?!
"Don't look so surprised! I decided to look into both of your pasts when you abandoned us, Aegis Hallow." Vincent enjoyed emphasizing Aegis' name, as each time he did so it made Aegis wince.
"That Noah was a maniac! How many times did he nearly blow up a city block with his crazy experiments?! How many people actually died because you didn't stop him, Hallow?!" Aegis' legs gave out; Vincent was full of glee watching Aegis' fragile mentality to pieces. Noah was…Reckless. He paid no attention to anything in the world, just his goal.
Aegis had struggled many times against Noah's will. Despite his best efforts Noah would still conduct dangerous experiments, often trying to break through the planes of existence. Aegis remembered how once, Noah had intentionally sent Aegis off on a pointless errand so he could conduct a test. When Aegis realized it was far too late and their home had been reduced to a crater.
One clear summer afternoon Noah attempted at another breaching of the planes of existence. What resulted was a powerful explosion that levelled the block, Noah only escaping because he could see the early signs of something catastrophic. The inferno that resulted engulfed the entire block was overtaking the other buildings, screaming voices deafening the ears. Aegis found Noah bleeding, he had not made it away totally unscathed. His right arm was heavily damaged and lay limp by his side. Noah was also bleeding from his forehead, the red liquid soaking into his white clothing.
"Heh…You're…Not very happy right now are you, Aegis?" Noah tried his best to smirk and make light of the situation. But the screaming and terror that rang out in the air was slicing Aegis' heart to ribbons. He spun around to find panicked mothers trying to carry their children out of burning homes, fathers racing back into a pillar of fire to save the tattered remains of their life. And there, in a heap at his feet was the perpetrator.
"Noah…Why?! You failed so many times! Why did you try this again?!" Aegis grabbed onto the blood y collar of Noah's jacket, wanting to hurl him into the air, but only propping him up against a wall.
"Aegis…I was close! Next time I think I can do it! Aegis, I'm almost there!" Noah was delirious from blood loss and shock. His eyes were deranged, glazed over and reflecting the obsession he held in his heart. There were many nights that Aegis lay awake afraid that Noah would try a test when he was sleeping soundly. How did he fall for such a simple ploy? Just out to get some groceries for that night's dinner and now there was nothing left of a dinner table to enjoy it.
A demon within his body began to rip at his heart, pull at his mind and try to stir a sea of turmoil in Aegis' body all at once. The flames were spreading their reach to other homes, burning through them with unholy fury. More screaming, more torment, more agony, Aegis could hear it all. Each voice shouting to the heavens, asking why? Why did this happen to them? What had they done? Nothing.
Noah began to chuckle quietly to himself, Aegis looking at him desperately for the reason why he would do something so cruel. "I'm so close…Aegis…My soul…It will burn brighter than anyone else…" Aegis was dumbstruck by such words, his insides wrenching. The silver eye poked out through his hair, the organ scrunching up as his entire face contorted in pain.
"NOAH! Why did you do this?! How many people have you killed like this?! Noah! My own parents…They died like this! Why?! WHY!?" The suffering was too much. Aegis wanted to squeeze the life out of Noah while he could. There would be a next time, and more people would suffer. He could end it. The agony and suffering would cease, it would only be his to bear.
Yet…He couldn't. Aegis' bloodied hands finally let go of Noah, letting him slump over. He could have stopped everything, but there was a greater fear that overcame him. Not even the prospect of the many lives that would be destroyed could overcome Aegis' greatest fear.
Being alone.
Aegis lifted up the tainted saint, putting him on his back and began to walk. Slowly, surely, he made his way with the still bleeding Noah on his back. Blood flowing down Aegis' body, covering his face and his hands in it. Noah's sin had become his own.
Men and women raced past him into the epicentre of the inferno, frantic and terrified that they would not save their loved ones. The screaming continued, the cries of torment, and all Aegis could do was cry. He could protect no one, all he did that day was to ensure there would be a next time.
Next time.
"Heh…You should be arrested, Hallow. But lucky for you no one could ever point the smoking gun at you or Noah. Probably because of your reputation or paying off the cops. Well, doesn't matter, I can see the blood on your hands." Vincent's voice only added to the torture Aegis felt. With all of his willpower Aegis halted the flow of tears that wanted to gush out. Too many memories. Too much pain. In the end he did kill Noah, but it was far too late for it to matter.
"Alright, time I finished this." Vincent seemed satisfied with himself. He tore Aegis apart mentally; it was time for him to deal with his reputation. "I'm equipping Katana Yang to Sonaris, giving him one extra Swordsmanship Counter and 500 more attack points! (1500/2000)" A second blade materialized in the right hand of the swordsman, the weapon's blade a pitch-black that let off a flickering of black fire.
"Pay attention, Hallow! I'm playing the spell card, Armory! By removing the Katana Yang on my field and the Katana Ying in my graveyard from the game I can draw three new cards, how do you like that, Hallow?!" Vincent's boasting had earned him the swaying opinions of the businessmen and politicians watching. Aegis' stature was plummeting fast; he was being colored as a criminal and as incompetent.
"I can't stand people like you, Hallow! Always clinging onto other people for support! Not only that you're clinging onto the ghost of a psychopath! I don't know what I hate more actually!" Aegis remained silent, his left arm clutching at his chest which felt like it was on fire. The constant battering he received from Vincent was manifesting as physical pain in his body, the truth was simply too agonizing.
"Time you understood the strength that I have! The power that I have in my two hands, the power that I have depending only on myself! Hallow! You're pathetic!" Vincent made sure to squeeze one more insult that appeared to strike a blow to Aegis' left ankle, knocking him back down to the ground as he struggled to stand.
"I'm playing Vagabond Cloak! By paying out 2000 life points I can instantly give my swordsman three Swordsmanship Counters! (3000/2000)" Two additional sheathed blades appeared on the back of the blue warrior.
(Vincent: 4500 Aegis: 7950)
"Now it's time you meet my ultimate monster! By sacrificing my swordsman while he has three Swordsmanship Counters I can summon Wandering Swordsman – Vagabond! (3000/2000)" No sooner had the swordsman gained his equipment, did he fade away into nothingness.
However the solitary spot on Vincent's field would be occupied by a new warrior that appeared to be the same swordsman after a number of years had passed. The long black hair had grown out and was wildly hanging out in all directions with a life of its own. The chiselled face had three blue markings on it, two triangles on each cheek and a three point star on his nose, augmenting the glare of his crimson eyes.
The armor that the warrior's previous form wore was no more, only pieces of it remaining on his right shoulder and legs, the majority of the swordsman's armor was formed from random steel and gold plates. The right forearm was covered entirely by a silver steel wolf head with clear slit eyes. Vagabond's upper body was uncovered except for the single piece of armor on his right shoulder, revealing a battle carved physique. However a tattered piece of long brown cloth was draped around his neck, hanging off in two long tails that flapped in the wind.
"For a former dueling prodigy you didn't put up much of a fight, Hallow. Your moves were sloppy and weak! Lucky for you by using my Vagabond Cloak I can't attack this turn. So I'll just finish by setting a card and equipping my Vagabond with Crossbearer Blade!" By Vincent's command a ten foot long, meter wide solid steel sword appeared in the left hand of the Vagabond. The weapon was inhumanly large, only a small cloth bounded handle to hold onto it. But despite being a mass of solid steel the Vagabond easily swung it around and rested it against his bare shoulder, the two-ton sword being nothing more than a toothpick to him.
"With Crossbearer Blade equipped, Vagabond gains an additional 1500 attack points, making him one of the strongest cards in all of Duel Monsters! (4500/2000)" Vincent laughed as he looked upon Aegis' tormented face, the muscles frozen in an expression of suffering.
Aegis was in rough shape. He could barely get back to his feet after one more repressed memory came out of the depths of his soul. Remembering Noah in such a horrid light…After being his murderer there was sin in the act itself. Sweat was rolling down his face, body still screaming in protest and fighting against every motion he made. Against Iris he was able to beat her trump card, but against Vincent he had to beat a horde of inner demons that were eager to rip Aegis apart from the confines of his own mind.
"I…Was this too much for me? I thought I could face my past but…Somehow I…I never realized it…But…I've never done something without need Noah in mind…Now I'm going to lose everything…No! I have to keep trying! I can win! I have to! I…I can do this by myself!" Aegis grit his teeth and forced his left arm to grab a card off the top of his deck.
Aegis glanced at his field, with his field card out but no tokens to power it, it was no good. Heroic Spirit Freya was too weak to take on the Vagabond. There was nothing in his hand that could overpower the Vagabond, however Orpheus had an interesting ability that Aegis had yet to use. Noah's deck had once again repaid his loyalty by giving Aegis a critical card, and for a moment the pain in his chest loosened.
"I'll activate the second ability of Orpheus!" Aegis' sudden announcement seemed to prelude a turnabout, however Vincent did not appeared very worried. His smug grin unwavering. "By paying half of my life points I can gain control of one of your monsters, so I'll take control of your Vagabond!" Orpheus rearmed his harp and plucked the strings, gentle melodies playing out and enticing even the audience with the efficiency of the Pied Piper.
(Vincent: 4500 Aegis: 3975)
"Wrong! My Vagabond only follows himself, he doesn't want, or need to listen to anyone else! Therefore control of my Vagabond can't change!" Vincent's smirk only increased as Aegis flinched. The whispering had picked up again, Aegis lost his very significant lead and wasted his move. If he was a dueling prodigy, no one would believe it from how Aegis was performing, and he knew it. His head fell to the side, arms collapsing and legs nearly giving out, his body barely catching himself in time before hitting the marble floor. "What's…Wrong with me?! I can't fight back anymore! No…One more! I have one more try! And even if it fails I still have Noah's ultimate card, Endless Night!" Aegis' thoughts were distorted, falling apart, they dripped through his fingers.
Like a puppet on strings, Aegis was very unnatural looking as he brought himself back up. "First I'll switch Orpheus and Heroic Spirit Freya into defence mode." Aegis' trembling hand moving to select the card he had just drawn. A twitching hand placing it into his duel-disk slowly. "Next I summon my Poltergeist! (300/0)"
A tiny gray wisp formed in the air. Two knobs for hands and a small blinking eye for a face. After being summoned a black opening appeared on the body, a long red tongue rolling out and swinging back and forth at Vincent's Vagabond.
"When Poltergeist is summoned the positions of all cards on the field are switched. Orpheus and Freya will go back into attack mode while your Vagabond and my Poltergeist go into defence mode. Now Freya (2300/0) can destroy your Vagabond! (4500/2000)" Aegis' confidence began to swell. Despite all of Vincent's beatings and Aegis' sins he had somehow overcame it all. He had done it. He had survived. The pain in his body began to fade and he found it easier to move, the muscles in his body no longer fighting against him.
"Now, Heroic Spirit Freya, attack with Divine Wrath!" The valkyrie unfolded her wings and soared towards the kneeling warrior. Vincent shook his head disappointedly and sighed wearily. "As if."
Freya's lance struck the Vagabond in his chest, a direct hit! However the warrior was not vanquished by the attack, instead grunting and swinging Freya away with his massive sword.
(Vincent: 4200 Aegis: 3975)
"My Vagabond's power has been honed over years of training! He cannot be destroyed in battle! I told you! You're weak, Hallow! You could never overcome the strength I have! A weakling that can only fight with others at his side is absolutely pathetic alone!" The damage Vincent sustained was laughable, and yet another failed attempt that left Aegis wide open. The brief wave of confidence was crushed, but the effects of the confidence had left his body in better shape. Aegis was able to remain standing and capable of holding back the dark thoughts in his mind.
"I'll set the last card in my hand. I end my turn." Aegis voice was deathly quiet as he dictated his move. More whispering darted through the crowd like electricity. Mayor Winston's opinion of Aegis suddenly flipped, he was sure that the card was the almighty Endless Night. He was amused to see the Grim Reaper in action, only hearing of how it devastated James Raven so easily.
Vincent snorted, he too was aware of what would be coming it seemed. He folded his arms defiantly and spat at the ground towards Aegis. "I'm activating the effect of Vagabond! By skipping my draw phase a Swordsmanship Counter is placed on my Vagabond. While equipped with Crossbearer Blade he gains another counter!" If Vincent was aware of what Aegis had laid he clearly didn't show it, or possibly he didn't care about it. His livid voice continued without any caution.
"With one counter Vagabond can piece your defences and inflict damage. With two counters all monsters destroyed by my Vagabond have their effects negated. And for every two counters monster can attack one more time." Vincent's swordsman had impressed the crowd. They were impressed that a single monster had so much versatility, however they knew it wouldn't be able to stand up to Aegis' trump card.
"Vagabond (4500/2000), attack Heroic Spirit Freya! (2300/0) Heaven-Shattering Slash!" Vincent's Vagabond moved with incredible speed despite his large build and even more massive weapon. Vincent smirked at Aegis who was confused at the arbitrary selection of target. Attacking his Poltergeist would deplete his life points, yet Vincent went straight for Freya instead.
Vincent laughed and thrust his right arm forward. "While equipped with Crossbearer Blade whenever my Vagabond attacks, all monsters adjacent to the target are struck as well!" The Vagabond swung his weapon around and raised it over his head, smashing Freya apart with a devastating downward swing, holographic smoke and rock hurling into the air.
(Vincent: 4200 Aegis: 1775)
In a fluid motion the Vagabond then spun clockwise and bisected both Orpheus and Aegis' Poltergeist, both monsters exploding in shards of light. Vincent sneered just as Vagabond followed through with his swing and brought the blade upwards through Aegis' body. The massive weapon's presence making Aegis jump back out of reflex, he forgot that it was nothing but lights and not real metal.
(Vincent: 4200 Aegis: 0)
"Endless Night activates!" Aegis' declaration was no surprise for the audience, or Vincent it seemed as he simply tapped his foot impatiently. From Aegis' position ribbons of the night sky burst outward, spreading so far and wide that they covered the entire building, surrounding everyone in the eternal night sky. The darkness was only lit by dim stars that appeared so distant that it gave a sense of drifting in oblivion, nothing was larger than a spec and only served to make one feel insignificant in an endless universe of darkness.
(Vincent: 4200 Aegis: Endless Night)
"Because you depleted my life points your turn ends and now play shifts to me!" Aegis' hand was empty and so was his field. However he could almost hear a moaning coming from a small compartment within his duel-disk; there was one more card he could play. A dull ache began to plague his right eye, the pain shaking Aegis' vision dramatically.
"I…When I summon a monster, as long as it remains on the field I won't lose the game. So…" Aegis clutched at his eye desperately to try and ease the pain. "Again?! Using Endless Night keeps doing this to me…Argh…It doesn't matter now…I'll beat Vincent with this final card!" Aegis took note that his mind had reset itself. Feeling rather ashamed he knew it was because he was able to deny the painful truths again. Running away forever.
"I remove Orpheus and the five spirit monsters in my graveyard!" A massive black pentagram formed around the empty monster zones on Aegis' field. A supernatural blue flame lighting up to mark each point of the satanic symbol. "Come forth, Death! (0/0)"
The pentagram glowed dimly and broke apart into fragments of light. Replacing them a tall dark figure wearing a cloak of never-ending darkness appeared; its presence freezing the building and chilling even the Mayor. Aegis stumbled as the spectre appeared, the pain intensifying for a moment before subsiding enough to let him recollect himself.
"This ends here Vincent! I won't let you take away everything I've worked for! Attack Vagabond! The End!" Nothing appeared to happen, but for someone with keen eyes they could notice that the void which marked the presence of the reaper had been filled with stars; Death was on the move.
Vincent noticed it first, the Grim Reaper seeming to teleport in front of his Vagabond. The folds of its cloak parting to allow a skeletal arm to reach out at Vagabond slowly. Aegis clenched his fist tightly as he watched the scene. "The monster that Death battles with will be destroyed automatically. Damage equal to its attack power and the damage I would have taken are sent back at the opponent. Vincent will take a total of 9000 points of damage and then this game will be over!"
"Negate Attack!" Vincent's last stand caused a collective double take from Aegis and all of the refined spectators. Death's hand stopped its approach just inches short of Vagabond's face, the air rippling like water; the attack was stopped. Death drifted back onto Aegis' field with simple motions; somehow someone had avoided their inevitable end and Aegis was amazed by it.
"That deck isn't yours, Hallow. It will never win you anything more than trivial duels with no meaning! When it comes down to it, you will always fail! So it's my turn now! Let me show you the true power of my own soul!" Vincent's fighting spirit had redoubled and with it he roared the last sentence. Aegis felt like a nail had just been slammed into his right eye, blood about to flow out at any point.
"By skipping my draw phase this time, Vagabond gains two more Swordsmanship Counters, giving him the maximum number of four!" Vincent laughed and took a step forward, throwing his arm forward dramatically. "By removing four Swordsmanship Counters from Vagabond I can activate his ultimate technique, Crucifixion!" Aegis looked at Vincent with a newfound terror. In the back of his mind he wondered if this was how Noah felt when…Aegis' mind shut itself down before it could complete that thought and locked up all of his joints and muscles to turn him into a statue. His mind had betrayed his body to protect himself from more turmoil.
Vagabond swung his massive sword back and forth for second lines of light coursed through the weapon which outlined where the blade would break apart suddenly. The gigantic weapon then became a single ten-foot long blade, as thin as the handle. The rest of the sword had broken into smaller metal fragments, which broke apart further until there were twelve shards of steel drifting in the air slowly.
Each of the twelve pieces began to glow white, spinning in midair so fast that they became twelve glowing discs. Vincent shut his eyes and lowered his face, only his wide grin peaking through. "Death? That's nothing to me!"
Vagabond charged forward as the discs also began to soar through the air in large arcs, before converging on the black figure of Death. And before Aegis could think to act surprised the discs slashed through the reaper, Death itself was destroyed.
"When Crucifixion is used all cards on your side of the field are destroyed! And…You take 4500 points of damage. Game over, Hallow!" Aegis looked up only to find himself staring at the battle-hardened face of Vagabond as he closed in on his weakened body, single long blade pointed straight at him. In the blink of an eye and with the efficiency of a samurai the weapon was sent straight through his chest, exactly where his heart would have been. Aegis' breathing stopped, he looked down at the hologram that was projecting through his body. For some reason it felt like a part of him was slain right there. An emptiness where his heart should have been. The pain in his right eye began to fade away slowly as the fake night sky disappeared and was replaced with artificial light from the lamps.
(Vincent: 4200 Aegis: 0)
"Like I said, a loser is always a loser. Just go back to hiding, Hallow. The world is better off without you or Noah." The holograms faded, the game was over and Vincent had won. Aegis' body broke down, his body being reduced to a heap of blue cloth on the floor, head buried in his collar.
Smugly Vincent looked up into the shocked face of the mayor, stunned that Aegis' trump card was so easily countered. "You can't be serious! Sending a loser like that to the Millennium Tournament!" The mockingly musical voice of Vincent made the mayor cringe, the audience agreeing with the sentiment loudly.
"…No, you're right." Mayor Winston appeared to have recollected himself. Then he pointed a finger down at Vincent, face warming up to the youth. "Instead Spirare will send you. I will even look over those highway plans and see if I can strike a favourable compromise. How is that, Mister Vesarius?" The mayor's swaying opinion had finally settled, and from the way he was addressing the former delinquent it was obvious who had won his favour.
"I see you're finally coming to your senses! You keep that nursing home open and I'll bring home the title to Spirare!" Vincent's opinion of the mayor also swayed at the announcement. His face showed the excitement he felt, the features hinting at a devious pleasure in knowing he had taken the chance from Aegis.
Maria had flown to Aegis' side after the duel ended, trying to help him back up, but his body refused to lift itself off of the ground. Aegis' mind had wiped itself clean along with his dream of going to the Millennium Tournament; there was nothing left but the husk of a man he thought he was.
"It's…Over…"
