Authors Notes: One thing I forgot to mention, that some people have found out anyway. Is that I do allow anonymous reviews on my work. So even if you don't have an FF account, feel free to tell me what you think. I do enjoy the feedback and I haven't got a negative review yet. I figure it's about time I open the doors to one.
After thinking on the matter further, I've decided to keep spelling Xiaolang's name as I have. I lied when I said I could go both ways, I'm too used to seeing it that way, and typing it out that way. Sorry to anyone who wanted a change, but I'm only human. And humans develop habits. I have mine. On the bright side, how I pronounce Xiaolang's name is now available for public reference.
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The Emissary of Extinction
Chapter 6
The Fearful Armor. Judai's Risk.
Xiaolang's pen snaked it's way across a piece of paper. But all the while some students were talking a row below.
"I took a look in the commons box, just seeing if they had any Mist Body cards there, then I found it. There were hundreds of them!"
Xiaolang dotted the end of his sentence "If you had even a hundred brain cells you'd be working."
"I pulled it out, I've never seen a card like it, look at the image! So I bought three of em, I can't wait to use them in a duel."
"Creepy name though isnt it?"
Xiaolang's hand stopped. Part of his love of Duel Monsters was some of the interesting names the cards had.
"Tell me about it. Who names a card-"
"SILENCE! Talk on your own time! Not mine!"
Xiaolang frowned. "Just as it was getting good."
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Alone, before of the small alter, Ritan sat. Completely alone as dark power surrounded him. His eyes were closed, his mind clearly in a state of deep meditation. "The power of the Armor. It is beginning to take more and more. My plan...was perfect." His face slipped into a smile. "Soon."
The darkness grew, reaching up to the ceiling. Spreading to the ground, flooding the holes...
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Yusuke and Judai looked at the small box Judai had placed on the desk. "The card is in there. I don't know what it's gonna do if we open it."
Yusuke grabbed the box, ready to remove the lid. "And we have to find out more about it. You know what to do."
Judai nodded, Yubel's replacing his own. "Open it." Yusuke opened the box, quickly moving his hand away. Honest and Yubel appeared.
Extinction Armor was the card that sat within. All four looked at the card before them.
"It just looks like a normal card, Judai."
Judai nodded. "Expect when it's used in a duel. Then it does...something. I'm not sure what."
Yusuke picked up the card, looking at the front and back of it, looking for something out of the ordinary. He turned it back to see the front. "What did you see when it was used?"
"I wasn't looking with Yubel's eyes, I didn't see much of anything. But I saw what it did to Sorano's Horus when he played it. The bones the Emissary wears, Horus was forced to wear them...after they grew out of it."
"Grew?"
Judai nodded. "The ribs burst out of it's front, and then the spine came. The skull grew to cover Horus's own head. Then it's tail rotted away."
Yusuke looked at the card more closely. "How morbid. Ritan has a sick sense of humor. Did it do anything else?"
"It gave Horus the Emissary's dark energy."
Yusuke placed the card back on the table. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary. "Did it change the way Hours acted at all?"
Judai closed his eyes for a second, thinking back. The creature opening it's mouth, dark fire gathering within as it roared. Judai nodded. "It acted like the Emissary."
'knock'
Judai and Yusuke turned to face the door. Yusuke picked up and hid the card. "Come in." The door opened. "Sorry to show up to suddenly Yusuke. But I'd heard Judai was here-don."
"Right here, Kenzan. Something wrong?"
Kenzan shook his head. "I just wanted to see if I could help with this whole mess."
It was then Judai was struck with an idea. He smiled.
"How about we have that rematch now?"
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Sorano shuffled his deck. "Can we make this quick? I want to enjoy the time off I got."
A fellow third year Obelisk shuffled his deck. "Oh don't worry, it will be."
"Duel!"
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"Duel!"
"Draw! I special summon Gilasaurus-sarus." (Attack mode. ATK/1400 DEF/400) The Dinosaur growled once. "I activate Big Evolution Pill-Don. For the next three turns I can normal summon any Dinosaur-type monster without tribute, as long as I tribute Gilasaurus." The monster roared as it faded away. "Now I normal summon Super Conductor Tyranno!" (Attack mode. ATK/3300 DEF/1400) The mechanized Dinosaur took to the field. Roaring as electricity shot out from it's body. "I'll set two cards face down. Turn end-don."
Judai smiled. "Still good at summoning." "Draw!" "On the first turn..." "I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman." (Defence mode. ATK/800 DEF/1200) The kneeling hero crossed his arms. "I control no other cards, so I can draw two more. I'll set three cards face down and end my turn."
"Draw! I summon Dark Driceratops!" (attack mode. ATK/2400 DEF/1500) The feathered Dinosaur stared down it's next meal. "Attack Bubbleman-sarus!" In short order the Dinosaur strode over, reaching down to bite it's prey. It clamped down hard, destroying the Elemental Hero. (Judai LP/2800)
"I forgot, Driceratops inflicts piercing damage." "I activate my face down card! N – Signal! When a monster I control is destroyed, I can special summon a 'Neo-Spacian' from my deck. I summon Neo-Spacian Grand Mole!" (Defence mode. ATK/900 DEF/300) The Neo Spacian drilled out of the ground, before parting it's drill and crossing it's arms. "I'm safe, Kenzan."
"Not quite, Judai-don. I active my own trap card. Hunting Instinct! When you special summon a monster, I can activate this card. It lets me special summon a Dinosaur-type monster from my hand. I summon Hyper Hammerhead." (Attack mode. ATK/1500 DEF/1200) "It will battle your Grand Mole!" The Hammer-headed dinosaur smashed it's Hammerhead onto the Mole, both suddenly began to glow gold, shrinking into masses of light.
"When Neo-Spacian Grand Mole battles, both monsters must return to their owners hand." As Judai said, both masses of light shot back to their owners hand, becoming the cards there were mere moments ago.
"I knew about that-sarus. Now my Super Conduction Tyranno can attack directly!" The creature threw it's head back, roaring as lightning came out of nowhere to strike it. It's mouth opened as a ball of energy began to gather inside it. "Conductor Force!" It's head lowered, unleashing a mighty blast.
"Kenzan...stronger than ever." He waved out an arm. "I activate my face down card. Spacia Rush! I have two effects I can choose from. I choose the first, I can summon a 'Neo-Spacian' from my hand. I summon Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab!" (Defence mode. ATK/500 DEF/500) The bug appeared just in time to be completely destroyed by the blast. Judai was forced to try and hide behind his duel disk from the sheer force that was created from the strike. "You keep getting better, Kenzan. Facing you is like facing an animal."
"Judai, you always have a way out." "I'll end my turn-sarus."
"Draw." "You got a lot stronger, Kenzan. Now let's see how far you've come." "I'll start with Convert Contact. By Discarding 1 'Neo-Spacian' monster from my hand, and sending another from my deck to the graveyard, I can draw 2 cards. I'll send Grand Mole from my hand, and Dark Panther from my deck." He drew two and looked at them, glancing at the cards he already had. "I'll set one card, then summon Dandylion." (Defence mode. ATK/300 DEF/300) Judai smiled as the monster of his own design took to the field, crossing it's leaves in an attempt to prepare to defend itself. "I'll end my turn."
"Draw. I'll set one card-don. And re-summon Hyper Hammerhead." (Attack mode. ATK/1500 DEF/1200) "Hyper Hammerhead will attack Dandylion!" The monster slammed down on the monster-like flower without mercy, leaving Judai without a defence.
Until..."When Dandylion is destroyed I must special summon 2 Fluff Tokens" (Both defence mode. ATK/0 DEF/0)
"My remaining Dinosaurs will destroy them-saurs!" Both Dinosaurs pounced on their prey, destroying them. (Judai LP/400)
"Turn end-don!"
"Draw! I activate Neo Space." The outside of the Obelisk Blue dorm was replaced by a world of color. Leaving Judai, Kenzan and Yusuke seemingly standing on air. "Now I activate Cocoon Party. For every 'Neo-Spacian' in my graveyard, I can special summon a Chrysalis monster from my deck. I have three in my graveyard. So I summon Chrysalis Chicky." (Defence mode. ATK/600 DEF/400) " Chrysalis Dolphin." (Defence mode. ATK/400 DEF/600) "And Chrysalis Pinny." (Defence mode. ATK/100 DEF/700) The three Neo Space young took to the field, looking intimidated by their opponent's. "I activate their effects. When Neo Space is the field in play, they can tribute themselves to summon their adult selves. So I summon Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird." (Defence mode. ATK/800 DEF/600) "Aqua Dolphin." (Defence mode. ATK/600 DEF/800) "And Glow Moss." (Defence mode. ATK/300 DEF/900) The adults, unlike the children, showed no fear of their foes. Judai picked up a card in his hand. "Are you sure about this, Neos?" "Yes Judai. I'm ready. No matter what happens."
"I tribute my Aqua Dolphin and Glow Moss. To summon Elemental Hero Neos!" (Attack mode. ATK/2500 DEF/2000. Neo Space Boost. ATK/3000) "Wanna guess what comes next, Kenzan?"
Kenzan blinked once. "Neos and Air Hummingbird...oh!"
"Elemental Hero Neos! Air Hummingbird! Contact Fusion!" Both Hero and Neo Spacian ascended into the hole to galaxy that appeared before them. They reached it, creating a blinding light. "Come forth! Elemental Hero – Air Neos!"
The winged hero descended onto the arena, a whirlwind emitting from it's body. (Attack mode. ATK/2500 DEF/2000. Neo Space Boost. ATK/3000) "Air Neos's effect activates now. When my life points are lower than yours, Air Neos gains attack equal to the difference." (ATK/6600) "Attack Hyper Hammerhead! Skyrip Wing!" The Hero spread it's wings.
"Trap open-don! Dinosaur's Rage!"
"Dinosaur's Rage?"
Kenzan nodded. "I can use it when you attack the Dinosaur monster with the lowest attack I control-sarus. If the original attack of you monster is lower than the Dinosaur i control with the highest attack then your monster is destroyed!" Super Conductor Tyranno suddenly unleashed it's attack, destroying Air Neos before it could do anything to respond.
Judai would not be caught off guard however. He grabbed the last card in his hand. "I activate Reverse of Neos!" Elemental Hero suddenly reappeared. (Attack mode. ATK/2500 DEF/2000. Neo Space boost. ATK/3000) "When a Neos fusion monster is destroyed, I can use Reverse of Neos to summon Elemental Hero Neos from my deck. Reverse of Neos also gives him 1000 more attack." (ATK/4000)
Kenzan nodded. "Dinosaur's Rage has one last effect. It lets me move a Dinosaur type monster from my deck to my hand that has attack points that are the same or lower than the monster it destroyed-sarus. I move my Sabersarus." (ATK/1900)
As Neos stood, waiting for an order to attack, Judai hesitated. He knew what he had the opportunity to do. "What if something goes wrong? What if-?" He clenched his fists, it was now or ever. His eyes changed to Yubel's. "I activate my Trap card. Extinction Armor!"
The spiked bones burst forth from Neo's chest, making the Hero scream out in pain. The bones already had a dark aura on them, which only grew stronger as they moved to form the rib cage.
"Neos! Say something!" After a second of screaming the Hero was able to respond. "It's agony, Judai! It's like this Armor is trying, to kill me! ARRGGGHHH!" The Spine burst out of his back, it too baring the aura as the tail formed, growing down the back of Neo's legs." "Judai! Don't hold back! We need to see what this armor-!" The skull began to form, quickly enveloping Neo's own face. "Don't hold back! Ju-!" The skull had formed, whatever Neos had to say now was muffled as long as that armor existed. With it on Judai could take a good look at what it was doing.
"It's absorbing the power around it. That's how it gets it's aura. And it's absorbing Neo's energy. I need to end this before it drains too much!" "Neos will attack Hyper Hammerhead!"
Neos growled. With a primal roar that he could not have possible made on his own. It took a step forward.
"Trap open-don! Ambush Instinct! It forces you to battle my strongest Dinosaur monster-sarus! Then I can discard a Dinosaur monster to add it's strength to my strongest Dinosaur for the battle! I discard Sabersarus!" (Super Conductor Tyranno ATK/5200)
Judai briefly considered letting Kenzan win that battle. And the duel with it. But something flashed before his minds eye.
A dragon screaming in agony as it was burned alive. "I wont let Neos endure that." "I activate my face down trap. Neos Union! When Elemental Hero Neos, or a monster that has Elemental Hero Neos as a fusion material attacks or is attacked, I can return every Neo-Spacian in my graveyard to my deck. Until the end of the turn Neos will gain their combined attack points, but during the end phase he'll be destroyed. I return Neo Spacians, Grand Mole," (ATK/900) "Glow Mos," (ATK/300) "Aqua Dolphin," (ATK/600) "Dark Panther," (ATK/1000) "and Air Hummingbird!" (ATK/800) "Now all their power will be given to Neos!" (ATK/6600) "Battle! Wrath of Neos!"
Neos roared, opening the mouth of it's skull before jumping towards it's enemy. Neos jumped on the Dinosaur's head, pulling at the two metal horns that were linked to it's eyes, tearing them both off. The Dinosaur screamed. But was still able to look up at the one who had hurt it. The last thing it saw were the sharp ends of it own horns...
Super Conductor Tyranno exploded. Neos walked right out of the explosion his wrath had created, walking right towards Judai.
"It's getting stronger. This armor...it feasts on the destruction of those it defeats."
(Kenzan LP/0)
The holograms began to fade. The armor included.
The Spirit of Neos fell to one knee. Panting. "Neos!" Judai ran to the fallen spirit, kneeling before his old friend. "Neos, are you OK?" Neos slowly turned his head up. "Judai...I am ok...I'm just so..tired...must rest. Can't remember anything after the skull blinded me. Must...rest..." Neos faded away. But Judai knew better than to worry. "That was a close call, if I had kept the duel up for too much longer..." He ended the train of thought.
A single question swept over the three in that moment.
Just how many people had Ritan given that card?
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Sorano stood with a smile. This duel was almost like target practice for him. His opponent was great with marks on tests. Actually duelling was another story.
Sorano's field. Monsters/1. Horus The Black Flame Dragon Level 8. Spells&Traps/1. A face down card. Cards in hand/2. LP/3600
Sorano's opponent. Monsters/0. Spells&Traps/3. All face down. Cards in hand/1. LP/1100.
It was his opponent's turn.
"I summon Bazoo the Soul-Eater." (attack mode. ATK/1600 DEF/900) The Purple-Haired, overgrown beast, appeared, holding an orb in it's hands. "Once per turn, I can remove from play up to three monsters in my graveyard. Bazoo will gain 300 attack points for each one until the turn of your next turn. I remove three." The beast bit into the orb it was holding, screams could be heard as Bazoo devoured the orb. (ATK/2500) "One of the monsters I remove was Dimension Medium. When it's removed from the game I can select a monster and have it gain 1000 attack points for as long as it remains on the field." (Bazoo ATK/3500)Sorano bit his lower lip. "3500 attack points."
"Battle! But before the attack hits I activate my trap! Extinction Armor!"
"Extinction Armor! I need to play my Royal-" He stopped, coming to terms with the mistake he'd made.
His face down was not Royal Decree. He didn't even use that card any more. "Oh no..."
Bones burst from the chest of the beast. It screamed as the armor grew over it, turning silent as the skull covered it's head. It's duellist smiled. "Lastly I play my other two face downs. More Extinctions Armors!" Bazoo's appearance did not change in the least as the armors activated, but the dark energy it emitted began to grow. "Now you're going to take eight times the battle damage from this attack. That's 4000 points!"
"I may not have Royal Decree, But I do have!" "I activate Metalmorph!" Hours suddenly turned to metal. (ATK/3300) "I'll make it through the turn. That's what matters."
Bazoo pounced on the dragon, pounding into it with all it's limbs, each punch breaking through the metal creature. After a few seconds it slammed both it's arms into Horus's metal next, digging it's claws in before pulling with all it's might.
The dragon's head came off, before it's body exploded. (Sorano LP/2000) Sorano fell to a knee.
"I'll end my turn, Sorano. But we both know I'm going to win."
Sorano found his way to his feet. "I stopped playing Royal Decree after Judai beat my lock-down strategy...was that the wrong move to make?" He looked at the cards in his hand. "My old deck would not have allowed that armor to be used. I became...so focused on overpowering my opponent's I forgot what I was good at."
"I activate Level Modulation. Draw 2 cards!" His opponent did. "Now I can summon any 'LV' monster from my graveyard. Summon Horus The Black Flame Dragon Level 6!" (attack mode. ATK/2300 DEF/1600) He grabbed another card. "Level up! From my deck I summon, Horus The Black Flame Dragon Level 8!" (attack mode. ATK/3000 DEF/1800) The mighty dragon returned, a new fire burning in it's eyes. "I had forgotten how I duel." "I activate Megamorph! If my life points are lower than yours, the equipped monster has it's original attack power doubled!"
"But your life points are higher than mine!" Sorano nodded. "When higher the monsters original attack is halved. And your Bazoo is to be the one to hold this card." (Bazoo ATK/2700) "Hours! Attack! Black Giga Flame!"
Bazoo was drowned by the torrent of fire that rained down on it, making it scream as it was burned alive. It's fur burned away almost instantly, revealing it's skin as it started to crack and burn. Seconds later the creature turned to ash, which fell out of the armor which still stood. (Obelisk student LP/0)
Sorano watched as his opponent fell to his knees. "From now on...I'll never forget my own strength, no matter if I win or lose."
He could not see the energy that shot to the sky, sending itself to rendezvous with the rest of it's power.
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Xiaolang walked into a crowded card shop. ""Didn't that new deck go on sale yesterday? What's the crowd doing here today?"
"Oh my god, this card's so awesome!"
"I can't believe we missed this in the old booster packs!"
"What card are they talking about?"
Suddenly a rushing student accidentally bumped into him. A fellow Osiris Red first year. "Kaoru, what's the damn rush?"
Kaoru picked up the cards she'd dropped. "You gotta check this out, Xiaolang! There's this awesome card in the commons box!"
"There's awesome cards in some starter decks too, what makes this one so important?" She handed one to him, the back of it facing him. "Check it out." He turned it around. "No..."
Kaoru mistook his shocked face for sheer awe. "There's still lots left. If you hurry up you might be able to get one."
"No." He dropped the card, running out of the shop. "It can't be. It cant-!" He suddenly stopped, looking out the window to see several random duels going on.
Each player had a monster wearing it.
"Dear god no!" Xiaolang stepped back, not able to stop himself until he hit the wall. "So quickly...what are you up to?"
He saw for a brief moment as dark energy passed by the window. "Duel Energy? But why?" His face suddenly turned to shock. He slid down the wall, the suddenly revelation too much for his balance. "He's going to gather power to open the gate...and if it gets out..."
For one moment the boy lost all hope.
But only for moment.
"There's still a chance."
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Across Duel Academia, the rumours of a powerful card, on sale for next to nothing, could be found in the card shop. A card that could make a powerful monster into a lethal one. Rumours were spread of how it drove it's monsters to pain as the armor grew out of them, and turned them into vicious creatures. Then people heard about how it actually caused some opponent's to lose conciousness.
Naturally, everyone wanted it.
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The darkness in the chamber grew stronger and stronger, whatever natural light that slipped into it being blotted out.
Ritan stood, laughing "More! More! More power!" His laughing became maniacal "Soon! Soon we shall be ready!" His arms spread as he absorbed more and more power. He grinned.
"Soon you shall face me!"
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End of Chapter
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Today's Strongest Card
Spacia Rush
Spell (Quick-play)
Activate 1 of the following effects.
● Special summon 1 "Neo-Spacian" monster from your hand.
● If there are no cards in your hand, special summon 1 "Neo-Spacian" monster from your deck.
Commentary: Judai
"My Neo Spacians. Always ready to pull me out of a pinch!"
Authors Notes: I don't think Judai used Neo Space to grow the Chrysalis monsters into adults once in the Anime.
Wonder if the writers knew they had that effect?