The Emissary Of Extinction

by Erebos Brando

Judai encounters a Duel monster spirit unlike any other he has faced before. A return to Duel Academia will reveal many secrets, before Judai and his friends are plunged into the darkest war they have ever known.

9. The Cursed Gateway: The Extinction Deck

Authors Notes: This chapter is for the fans who have stuck with this book thus far. Merry Christmas.

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The Emissary of Extinction

Chapter 8

The Cursed Gateway: The Extinction Deck

Ritan stopped laughing. "Now. The effect of my Gateway. When it's activated, I must select a certain monster from either my hand, deck or graveyard and remove it from the game." He pulled out his deck, spreading it. "I'm sure you can guess what I'm removing." He pulled out a card, raising it above his head. Showing only the back of it. "The Emissary of Extinction." He let go of the card as it flew from his hand, placing itself flat on the doors before suddenly fading, as if being absorbed by the Gateway. "When I meet a certain condition, I can open that Gate. Then Xiaolang, you will lose. Because the Emissary of Extinction shall be unleashed!"

"Mind telling me what that condition is?" "I need to stop it before he meets it. Somehow."

"Oh you'll see soon enough. Now. I summon a monster. Arise! Extinction Enforcer!" A mass of darkness appeared, before the monster itself formed. A creature wearing the same skill as the Emissary appeared, below that the creature's body was entirely it's own, with a huge, hulking body that had a chain wrapped around it's dark gold skin. Below the waist it was dressed in what might have once been some kind of robe, but time and tears had made it's former identity uncertain. (Attack mode. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Attack." The Enforcer ran forward. Pulling a fist back.

"With 0 attack points?"

The Enforcer punched the creature, which was revealed to be a three eyed, brown haired creature known as Sangan. (ATK/1000 DEF/600) It had blocked the punch with one of it's tiny claws, catching the fist easily.

Ritan suddenly discarded a card. "I activated my Enforcers effect, when it battles, I can discard a Dark Attribute monster from my hand. When I do, all battle damage is negated, and my Enforcer will not be killed off. Then my Enforcer takes a lash at you, inflicting damage to your life points equal to half of your monsters attack points." The Enforcer grabbed his chains, suddenly pulling them off and flailing them at Xiaolang.

Xiaolang almost lost his footing as the chain lashed across his face. (LP/3500)

Ritan continued. "The monster I discarded was Nightmare Eater. And it has an effect. When Nightmare Eater is sent to the graveyard, I can select and kill off a Dark attribute monster I control. when I do, Nightmare Eater is removed from the game and I can draw two cards."

A black blob appeared behind the Enforcer, a line opening across it. The line suddenly opened, revealing hundreds of teeth inside a mouth that devoured the monster before it. For the next few seconds Xiaolang watched as the creature chewed it's meal. The sounds of bone and metal being broken by teeth sending a chill down Xiaolang's spine. The devourer swallowed it's meal. Then faded.

Ritan drew two cards. He showed another one to his son. "I activate the effect of my Extinction Mage. During the turn when an 'Extinction' monster is killed off by a card effect, I can discard this card to revive it." He placed the card is his graveyard "Arise again, Extinction Enforcer!" The monster emerged roaring, flailing it's chains again. (Attack mode. ATK/0 DEF/0)

Ritan discarded another card. "I'll discard another monster." Xiaolang found himself being slapped by a chain again. (LP/3000) Ritan smiled. "Now. I activate the effect of the monster I just discarded. During the turn it's sent to the graveyard, I can tribute a card monster to revive it. So I'll offer my Enforcer, he's served his purpose. Now arise! Extinction Phoenix!" Black fire burst forth from Ritan's graveyard, forming a Phoenix unlike any Xiaolang had duelled before. The Phoenix had black feathers, which covered it's back, tail, wings and head. The rest of it's body was bone, literally. It's ribcage was the same as the Emissary's. (attack mode. ATK/2000 DEF/1000)

Ritan grinned. "Burn his only monster, Extinction Phoenix." The bird opened it's beak, unleashing a stream of violet fire, incinerating the tiny fiend as it screamed for mercy. That only coming when it finally turned to ash.

Xiaolang grabbed his deck when the fires died out. "When Sangan is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can move a monster with 1500 attack points from my deck to my hand. I move Marauding Captain."

"It wont do you any good. I'll set three cards and put you out of your misery. Make your move."

Judai frowned. "Ritan duels differently than I remember. Xiaolang, are you sure you want to see this through to the end?" His eyes gazed at the Gateway. "What does that mean? Be careful, Xiaolang. Ritan's up to something."

Xiaolang drew a card from his deck.

"Draw. I summon Marauding Captain." (Defence Mode. ATK/1200 DEF/400) The Capitan keeled, leaning on a sword. "And when he's normal summoned. I can summon another level 4 or below monster form my hand. I summon a second Marauding Captain!" (Defence mode ATK/1200 DEF/400) The second Captain mirrored the first.

But Ritan had plans of his own."Trap open! Call of Darkness! When you special summon a monster, I can special summon a Dark Attribute monster from with deck with 0 attack points." He grabbed a card from his deck. "I choose Extinction Guard." Like the creature before it, it wore the Emissary's skull. It also bore it's claws, but this seemed to be the only features this thing even had. These were attached to a huge, square, black stone. (Defence mode. ATK/0 DEF/2000)

"Dammit, he just keeps summoning monsters, but why..wait." He looked at the alter. The two top claws were dyed with dark energy. "What the hell is going on, Ritan?"

Ritan smirked. "You noticed. Don't worry about that...yet." He chuckled. "You'll understand soon enough."

"When did that start? I need to figure out how he's making that happen. And what does it mean?" "I'll set three cards-"

"Trap open! Destructive draw!" Ritan suddenly began to emit a golden glow. Power crackling from his body. He smiled.

"I end my turn." "What's he up to?"

Judai leaned against the wall of the cave. "Watching this, is so hard." "It would be Judai. When Kaiser fought, you knew in your heart that the right thing to do was to let him fight. But this time, there is nothing right about it." "Then why are we watching?" "Because this is what he wants. Even if it's not right you must respect it. Even though we know he cannot win."

Judai frowned, he was not enjoying this battle in the slightest.

Especially as it was Ritan's turn.

"I draw! And now I use Destructive Draws effect. When I have no cards in my hand at the start of my draw phase, I can draw one more card!" He pulled another card. He placed a card in his monster zone. "Arise! Extinction Martyr!" (Defence mode. ATK/0 DEF/0) The creature was human. But Xiaolang could make out very little of it's features. It wore the same Skull as the Emissary, but everything below that was hidden by the white cloak it wore. "Now I activate my face down card, Foolish Burial. I can send any monster from my deck to my graveyard. I send another Nightmare Eater. You know what's coming." The blob appeared again.

But it devoured the Phoenix. "His strongest monster?" For a few seconds the blob chewed on feathers and bone, before fading from the field.

Ritan drew two cards. "Now I kill off my Martyr to revive Phoenix! Arise again!" (Attack mode. ATK/2000 DEF/1000) The Phoenix burst from the graveyard again.

But this time Xiaolang had been watching the gateway. Two more claws had copied the the previous. He understood now. "That gateway feeds on the death of his monsters. How sickening." (Gateway/4)

Ritan had more to say. "Now, kid. When Martyr dies, it takes something with it." One of the Captains tried to slash at the figure who suddenly appeared, but was not fast enough to avoid what came for him. An arm suddenly shot out of the cloak, a knife held by it's hand. It stabbed the Captain in the chest, causing him to explode. It was then Xiaolang understood the name "Martyr".

That knife was not meant for enemies.

Ritan smiled. "It kills one monster under your control of my choosing. Now Extinction Phoenix will attack your remaining monster!"

"Trap open! A Hero Emerges! And since I only have one card I'll skip the bullshit. I summon The Creator!" (Defence mode. ATK/2300 DEF/3000) The would be god lit up the entire cave, for once the darkness was gone. It rose up behind Xiaolang. Who was smiling. "It's you against him, Ritan!"

"And it's my Phoenix against your captain." The river of violet fire burned the captain alive. Xiaolang grunted as the backlash of it bore into him.

"You won't be leaving me defenceless old man!"

"I don't need to. I'll set two cards face down. I end. Now. Normally my Destructive Draw takes some of my life points at the end of my turn, but my guard has one effect. When I would take damage, I can discard a Dark Attribute monster from my deck to the grave to stop it." He sent a card he did not bother to reveal. "Your move, boy."

"Draw. Now don't forget, because of your Destructive Draw I can draw a new card as well." He picked up the card, showing it immediately. "I activate Deceptive Deal! In order to activate this card, I must send 5 of 1 type of card from my deck to the graveyard. I choose to send 5 monsters. I send my last Marauding Captain, a Command Knight, Field Commander Rahz, Fortress Warrior, and my Morphing Jar." He shuffled his deck. "Now I can draw two cards, if one of the cards I draw is the same type as the cards I sent, I can keep both. If not, I must discard every card in my hand. Draw!" He showed Ritan one of the cards. "My Command Knight. Which I'll summon Right now!" The well dressed Knight took to the field with her sword drawn. (Attack mode. ATK/1200 DEF/1900) "And she boosts the attack points of all my warriors, including herself!" (ATK/1600) "Now I use the effect of my Creator! By discarding a card, I can special summon a monster from my graveyard of my selection. So I'll discard a card and summon another Command Knight!" The second knight appeared, sword drawn. (ATK boost, both knights. Both command knights ATK/2000) "I move my Creator to attack mode." (ATK/2300) "Creator! Attack that Phoenix! Bounds of Genesis!"

The Creator raised it's hands, dyeing the entire field in light.

Ritan grunted as light covered his field. Clearly in pain from the attack. His Phoenix shattering. (LP/3700 Gateway/5)

Xiaolang chuckled. "That felt good."

Ritan waved his hand, revealing a trap. "Well I'm about to feel better. Limit Reverse! I'll use it to revive my Martyr!" The sacrifice appeared again. (Attack mode. ATK/0 DEF/0) "And now I'll use it as a means to review the monster you just destroyed. Arise again! Extinction Phoenix!" (Attack mode. ATK/2000 DEF/1000) The Martyr burst into flames, the Phoenix rising out from them. "And when my Martyr is destroyed, I can kill one of your creatures, and since it's getting on my nerves-!"

The Martyr appeared again, slashing at The Creator. It exploded, the cave becoming darker again.

Ritan chuckled. "That's better." (Gateway/6)

"Not for long! Command Knight, slay that thing!" Command Knight jumped across the field, her sword prepared to strike.

Ritan showed a card in his hand. "Extinction Defender. When an Extinction monster fights another monster. I can discard this card to make it indestructible in battle for the turn."

Command Knight's sword struck down on the bird, only to snap. The Phoenix breathed fire on her, destroying her instantly.

"Damn!" "I'll set one card and end my turn." "Like I can do much else." (Command Knight ATK/1600)

Judai looked at the claws on the Gateway. "Ten. When all ten glow dark..."

Ritan smiled. "Draw! Destructive Draw!" He picked up another card. "I'll attack with Extinction Phoenix!"

"Trap open! Call of the Haunted! I can select and revive a monster from my Graveyard. I choose my Command Knight!" (Attack mode. Effect. Both Command Knights ATK/2000 DEF/1900)

Ritan shrugged. "I can't attack, so I'll just to my second main phase. I'll activate a spell card. Nihilistic Drawing Technique. I must tribute a monster I control. My Phoenix will be the sacrifice to this end." (Gateway/7) "Now I can draw two cards, but I can't play them this turn. I'll set the card that was already in my hand. Now I use my Extinction Phoenix's effect. My guard can go, and my Phoenix shall return. Arise!" (Attack mode. ATK/2000 DEF/1000. Gateway/8) "Now my Destructive Draw damages me." The glow he emitted turned red, causing him to grunt as it damaged him. (LP/3000) "Your turn, kid."

Xiaolang's hand hovered over his deck. "I have a feeling I'm almost out of time." "Draw! I activate The A. Forces!" (Command Knights ATK/2400 each) "Battle! Take out his Phoenix!"

Ritan smiled. "Reverse Card open! Depth Amulet!"

"Depth Amulet?"

Ritan discarded a card. "Every time you declare an attack, I can discard a card to negate that attack. And I can use this effect as many times as I can pay for it until your third end from now." Command Knight's attack hit an invisible wall. "You won't be killing my monsters, I prefer to have that pleasure."

Xiaolang clenched his fist. "I can't beat his Phoenix, but I can drain his hand." "Command Knight!" The second Knight attacked, meeting the same result as Ritan paid the cost. "I end my turn Ritan."

Ritan drew a card. "And now Destructive draw gives me another draw." He picked up a new card. "Well, well, I am in good fortune today. I summon Armageddon Knight!" (Attack mode. ATK/1400 DEF/1200) A black haired warrior appeared. Almost all of it's face was hidden by a scarf, which was so long that it spread down it's back. It's black armor had clearly seen many battles, laden with some scratches on it's left side and part of the armor slightly bent in places. It's sword of choice was a Rapier, with it's guard holding three large spikes.

Ritan pulled out his deck, spreading it. "When he is summoned, I can send 1 Dark Attribute monster from my deck to my graveyard. I send my last Nightmare Eater!" He discarded the card. "And here we go again."

The black blob appeared for the last time, to devour the same meal as before. It took only a few seconds to chew it's meal before swallowing. (Gateway/8) Ritan picked up two cards. "Now I'll revive it once more. My Knight shall be the offering." A burst of flame shot from the Knight's sacrifice, taking the field with it's wings crossed. (Defence mode ATK/2000 DEF/1000 Gateway/9) "I'll end my turn on that note." He glowed red as his own card attacked him once more. (LP/2300) "Your move kid."

Xiaolang said nothing as he drew his card. "I summon Command Knight!" (Attack mode. All ATK/3000) Like her sisters she had her sword drawn. "Battle! All of you!" All three of the empowered Soldiers ran in, all hitting an invisible wall as Ritan discarded his hand. Smiling and laughing to himself as he did.

"I thought you wanted to make me suffer. I have to say I haven't felt this good in a long time, boy."

"Just you wait you bastard! Make your damn move!"

"I draw. And I draw again! I play the spell card." He chuckled. "Share the Pain! By tributing a monster I control, you must destroy on of yours! I'll kill my only monster." The Phoenix burst into flame. "Now kill one of yours."

A Command Knight screamed as she faded away. (Each Command Knight ATK/2400)

Xiaolang looked up, all of the Gateway's claws were emitting darkness. Ritan was laughing.

"Now! I have the met the condition! I have slain enough of my own creatures to satisfy the Gateway! Now, my son! Bare whiteness to the creature of fear itself!"

The Gateway opened. Revealing nothing but darkness within. A card flew out, placing itself in Ritan's monster card zone. Ritan's hair blew in the wind that came from the dark power that had was emitting from the card that had just taken a place on his duel disk.

"I summon the creature from within the Gateway! Draygor, The Emissary of Extinction!"

Judai and Xiaolang watched as something walked out of the darkness. Slowly becoming visible to the world.

Darkness wrapped around the bones of what may have been a defeated foe. Taloned feet, clawed hands. A tail of bone that reached down to just above it's feet. With the skull that only brought fear to anyone who would look it in the face.

The Emissary of Extinction had come.

(Attack mode. ATK/4000 DEF/4000)

Draygor raised a clawed hand. "Begone."

A wave of darkness swept across Xiaolang's side of the field. Both Command Knights screamed.

They shattered. "What?"

Draygor laughed. "When I am summoned, all monsters in my opponent's control are destroyed. I cannot be affected by any effects controlled by my opponents. In other worlds, I am almost invincible. Now you die."

The creature began to roar, unleashing a primal scream that could chill even the most fearless of hearts.

The eye holes on the skull were hollow no more, glowing Golden orbs appeared in them. The darkness on his body began to quiver, before suddenly expanding in the blink of an eye. The darkness shot out, suddenly becoming transparent as it shot towards it's target.

For this brief moment Judai could see the creatures body. And at last understood. The skeleton was not of a defeated foe.

The skeleton was it's own.

Xiaolang screamed as the attack bared down on him, covering him in dark energy as it tried to destroy him. It took more then 10 seconds for the attack to fade.

Xiaolang collapsed to his knees, before falling forward. His life points dropping.

3000, 2500, 2000 1500, 1000, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 50, 25,10, 5, 1.

They didn't hit 0.

Ritan looked confused. "1?"

Judai removed himself from the wall. "Xiaolang!" He was about to run to the fallen child, but suddenly stopped.

Everyone could hear laughing. Weakened laughter, clearly coming from someone who was having trouble expressing his joy.

Everyone looked to see Xiaolang with his eyes open, chuckling softly to himself. He managed to force himself to his knees, using one hand to support himself, panting. "Oh man...I hope I never to through that again." He continued to raise himself, chuckling until he grunted, forcing himself to stand. Something he was clearly have trouble doing, he was struggling to keep his footing, but after a few seconds he managed to steady himself. His had to stop to breathe for a few seconds. "Judai...I'm not...finished...let me...finish this fight."

He pointed to a card that was face up in his spell and trap zone. Showing a Quick-play spell card.

"Narrow Save...I can use whenever my life points would become zero. I can play it from my hand...during your turn if I want, as...long as I discard any other...cards in...my hand." As he evidently had, given his now empty hand. "This card-" He shifted again, but stopped himself from falling. "...saves 1 life point for me. And I don't take any damage, nor to I have to pay any costs for the remainder of the turn. Looks like failed, Dray...Draygor. So much for...'The Emissary of Extinction'." He laughed softly to himself.

Ritan was not amused. "You're dead on your feet kid. It wont be long before you're buried. I'll end my turn. Can you survive yours I wonder?" Destruction draw took another bite out of his life points. (LP/1600)

Judai was conflicted. "I let him continue, and he might die!" "Judai!" Judai stopped himself from moving to stop the duel, biting his lip. "Don't!" Judai forced himself to step back.

He'd had to let Xiaolang finish.

Xiaolang stopped laughing, pulling a card from his deck. Looking at it. "Let's see. I use your card's effect to draw one more." He looked at it quickly. His face suddenly brightening. "I chain my face down card, Reckless Greed, then chain a card from my hand, Chain Summoning. I can normal summon...three times this turn." He picked up two more cards. And smiled. "If I'm to find my limit...this is how I want to find it." He grabbed two cards from his hand. "I activate two copies of The Warrior Returning Alive. To return two Command Knights back to my hand." He picked up the two cards that made their way out of his graveyard. "I activate my face down card, Warrior's last will. I can select a Warrior-type monster in my graveyard, and I can revive it in defence mode. I choose Command Knight, and summon two more from my hand." (All defence mode. ATK/3000 DEF/1900) "Now..." He stumbled again. Taking a few seconds to catch his breath. "I tribute them all..."

The monsters faded into masses of light, where were all absorbed by the card which was radiating a light which was starting to illuminate the cave. His duel disk beginning to glow with power. He slammed the card into a monster card zone.

"Oblivion!"

The golden glad knight appeared, it's sword already flowing with Golden fire. (Attack mode. ATK/9000. A forces boost. ATK/9200 DEF/0)

Judai watched with a smile. "He might do it. He might win!" "Don't get your hopes up too high, Judai. Anything can happen here."

Xiaolang looked up, despite his exhaustion, his eyes burned with fire brighter than that with emitted from Oblivions blade. He smiled. "Now I can see how strong I am. Let's see how far I've come!"

Judai watched, he could feel the power coming from Oblivion. He changed his eyes, gazing open the world with Yubel's eyes.

They widened.

The aura Oblivion emitted, was coming from Xiaolang as well. Judai's mouth opened in shock as he realized what he was seeing.

The power that Oblivion held, was Xiaolang's.

"His duel energy. It's-" "Strong."

Xiaolang clenched a tired first. "Judgement Blade!"

Oblivion slashed, sending a river of Golden Fire at his target.

"Ritan! Defend me!"

Ritan discarded his last card, the river crashed on the invisible shield, falling down the holes that were on each side of the bridge.

Xiaolang chuckled. "I knew...you'd do that...I've had...a fail safe ready since turn 1...Reverse card...open!"

The card stood up, revealing the name: Last Battle.

Xiaolang spoke, clearly on the verge of passing out. "I select...a warrior-type monster I control...and in exchange for it being destroyed at the...end of the turn..." He clenched his fists. Taking one last deep breath.

"It can attack attack one more time! Judgement Blade!"

Oblivion slashed again, setting free once more a river of golden fire. And this time Ritan had no cards to discard to stop it.

But he did have one face down card.

"Reverse card open. Extinction Curse. I can only play this card when your monster attacks. Now for every Dark Attribute monster I remove from my graveyard, your monster loses attack points equal to it's level times 100 points. Oblivion's level is five, and I remove..." A bunch of cards came out from his graveyard. He held them all up.

"Eleven."

(Oblivion ATK/3700)

"This is the end for you." Once more the darkness spread from it's body, becoming a river that washed the fire away. The winner of this battle was decided in an instant.

Oblivion shattered into a million pieces. Clearly not even it was strong enough to survive the power of The Emissary of Extinction.

Xiaolang screamed out one last time. Letting out one last roar as the power of Extinction bore itself upon him.

(LP/0)

Xiaolang's screaming stopped.

He fell back. His body limp as he made his way to the ground.

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End of Chapter

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Today's Strongest Card

Draygor The Emissary of Extinction

Monster

Dark

12

Fiend/Effect

ATK/4000 DEF/4000

This monster cannot be normal summoned or set. This monster can not be special summoned except by the effect of "Gateway to Extinction". When this monster is summoned, destroy every monster your opponent controls. This monster is unaffected by your opponent's card effects.

Commentary: Draygor

"Dare any stand against my might?"

Author's notes: Closing up shop till new years. Happy Holidays guys. And a good new year to you all.