The Emissary of Extinction

Chapter 21

Dawn of Extinction Part 4: Wrath Of The King

Haou glanced at his drawn card. He turned it to face Draygor. "O - Oversoul." A card ejected itself from his graveyard. "I revive Elemental Hero Clayman." Clayman was kneeling as he took to the field. (Defence Position. ATK/800 DEF/2000) "I tribute Clayman, to summon Evil Hero Malicious Edge." The Evil Bladedge grinned as it took Claymans place. It scraped it's claws together and created sparks. "When my opponent controls a monster, Malicious Edge can be summoned with one tribute." (Attack position ATK/2600 DEF/1800)

"2600? That means-!"

"You die this turn. I move Swamp Demon to attack position." (ATK/1900) "I activate Hell gainers effect. I can remove it from play to let a fiend-type monster I control attack twice this turn. I choose Malicious Edge." The hero chuckled as Hell Gainer removed itself from the game. Clearly it understood it's masters words. "Malicious Edge, attack Extinction Chimera. Needle Burst!" The Hero laughed before shooting it's claws at it's target. There was nothing much Draygor could do as the attack landed.

Draygor grunted against the explosion of his only monster (LP/3400. Gateway/6). "I wont die here!" "Reverse card open! Gateway Defence! As long as this trap remains active, I can remove an Extinction Counter from my Gateway to negate one of your attacks. I wont be hit again this turn!"

"Doesn't mean I wont try. Malicious Edge, direct attack. Needle Burst!" He was only too happy to attack again. It shot it's attack, aiming right for Haou's most hated enemy.

"Gateway Defence effect activate!" One of the claws upon the Gateway released the dark power it held, becoming a small wave of Darkness that blocked the incoming needles. (Gateway/5)

Haou was not phased by cowardice. "Swamp Demon! Direct Attack." The giant ran forward, every step shaking the ground under it as he tried to reach his target. Another claw unleashed it's power, putting all hopes of the Giant hitting his target to rest. (Gateway/4) Haou was done. If he was annoyed he wasn't showing it. "Turn end."

"You should have know I wasn't that easy to kill."

"I do..."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashback

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"Then I better kill you before we find out."

"You wont ev-"

Whatever Draygor was intending to say was lost as a darkness covered fist collided with his skull. He was sent flying though several walls before he was shot right out of the house. When he finally stopped skidding he forced himself back to his feet. "You damn human!"

"You killed-!" He slashed, only to have the sword blocked by an arm, he felt it crack slightly. He pulled the sword back to block an attack. "-a family!" He jumped back. "I'll kill you!"

Draygor suddenly stopped moving, he was just looking at Haou. "You're angry because I killed a few humans. Heh." His skull turned slightly, Haou got the sinking feeling that he was looking behind him. "Let me show you what you defend."

He turned around, opening his jaw as he shot out a ball of black energy. The blast covered the long distance between him and the retreating humans in seconds. It was heading right for a group of fleeing citizens.

It exploded. For a brief second all Haou could see was darkness before..."Oh by the gods...YOU MONSTER!"

Draygor turned around to face the king again. "You call me a monster. I don't understand. You have power that rivals my own. Why do you not kill them?"

"Why do you?"

"Because life must end."

"'Life must end'? That's your excuse? Just what the hell are you!"

Draygor looked like he was about to answer, but suddenly stopped, he turned to the sky. "The Emissary of Extinction. That is what I have chosen to be. What I am now, was born of a light in the sky. I still don't...I never will know what that light was. It started as a star but then..." The creature stopped speaking before shaking it's head. Whatever happened was not something it wanted to remember.

Draygor may have not then, and perhaps never would understand what that light was. The king however, did. "The Light of Ruin. This thing was born of that? But I don't sense the Light in him." He clenched his sword tighter. "It doesn't matter. If he was born of the light, then I have no regrets about doing this." He ran forward.

"Draygor!" Haou's aura blazed along with his eyes. "You seek to end life! I'll show you death!"

"You fool! I am death!"

The fighters closed the distance once more. Now Haou understood what the creature was, he would not dare hold back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashback End

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Xiaolang was running up the flights of stairs as fast as his legs would permit him to. "What the hell is that aura? It's stronger than anything else I've ever felt." He reached the top floor. "If Judai wont show up I can at least take a shot at stopping it myself." He cleared another flight of stairs and was about to advance even higher when... "Xiaolang!"

Xiaolang stopped and turned to see "Johan!" They met at the set of stairs that led to the roof, along with everyone else who was with Johan. Those being Kaiser, Jim, Austin and Sho. Xiaolang ran up the stairs first, shouting as he ran up. "Have any of you seen Judai?"

"No. We don't know what's going on either."

Xiaolang was nearly at the top. "We're on our own then!" He reached the roof, and saw the flowing darkness. "What is that?" After a few seconds of silence he turned around. "Guys?" He specially noticed Kaiser, Jim, Austin and Sho. "What is it?"

Sho was the first to bring himself out of his shock. "Haou..."

"Haou?"

Jim walked forward, walking right past Xiaolang and trying to see the roof. "We're...in trouble." Karins sudden fearful groan did nothing to settle any ones nerves.

"Is anyone gonna tell me just who or what the hell Haou is?" Xiaolang turned around to face the speaking Kaiser.

"We need to get up there."

Xiaolang moved. "There's a ladder to a door that opens on the roof. Come on!" In a few seconds Xiaolang turned into a small gap in the wall of the roof. "Good thing I took a look around the place." He grabbed on the ladder he could see in a hidden corner and started climbing, he looked up as he did so. "Oh good it's unlocked. Actually that's kinda dangerous." He could hear the others climbing under him as he reached the top. He pushed the door open with a thrust of his palm. "Whoh!"

Everyone under him looked up to see just what had startled the youngest among them, and were met with an unusual sight indeed. It was like a river of violet flowing above them, that somehow didn't flow into the hole in the river they had opened. Xiaolang raised his left hand to touch the river.

He pulled back right away. "Doesn't seem fatal or anything, but don't take any longer than you need to getting through it." With a deep breath he forced himself up into the dark.

Rage. Hatred. Wrath. These were the only things Xiaolang could feel as he forced his head into the river of violet. He felt his blood boil, his body harden with the sheer anger that flowed through him. Like a fire had been set alight in him, making him long to burn the world around him. A rage without end, without reason. Just pure, mindless anger. It would never end. never rest, it would burn and burn until everything around it was no more.

It vanished.

Xiaolang gasped in a breath of clean air as he finally got past the river. His legs found the roof as well and he quickly moved himself away from the hatch. "Holy shit! What...malice." His breathing was erratic. "I thought I hated Ritan. But not even that compared...to this. What do you have go through to hate like this?" He turned to see the duellists as his breathing returned to normal. "Draygor." He stood up, he would be ready to fight if need be. "But who's he fighting-what the-!" The figure turned to face him. "Judai? But those eyes...what the hell's going on?"

Haou spoke to the very confused first year. "You're the one Judai knows as Xiaolang. The one among you who knows nothing of me. I, am Haou."

"Haou? But you look like Judai." He turned to the people Xiaolang had brought with him. They too had felt the malice from the river and were catching their breath. "Is someone gonna tell me what the hell's going on!"

Haou spoke again. "They do not fully understand. So they can not explain." He brought his attention to the rest of the group. "I know you all know me, or know of me. Do not ask questions. Do not try to stop this. Just watch this battle if you wont leave." He turned to face his opponent. "Make your move, Draygor."

Jim frowned. He'd lost to the king before, and he'd admit he wasn't overly fond of him. "Judai. Why is Haou here? Were you overcome again?" He sub consciously raised a hand to touch the bandages on his face. "If I hadn't lost my Orichalcum eye."

Austin took a deep breath before even a slight tremble could sneak it's way from his soul. Memories of his last battle with the king. The brutal direct attacks. How nothing he didn't seem to shake the king. The last battle and how close he'd come to losing. How, even in the end, he could not truly win. "But who should I want win this fight?"

Sho would forever curse the day he had said the words that helped lead Judai to the monster in human skin before him. "Aniki..."

Johan was frowning. "So this is Haou. Judai...Please be alright." Haou was nothing like the friend Johan knew. Judai was kind, passionate. And played his duels with a childish passion. Yet the person in Judai's body was not kind. He was emotionless, yet Johan could sense malice in the darkness flowing at his feet. "Let this be over soon."

"Draw. I set one card, and one monster. Turn end."

"Draw. So this is all you can do now. So be it. Malicious Edge. Attack the set monster, needle burst!" The creature cackled madly as it attacked.

"Gateway Defence." The needles were stopped by the wave of darkness that appeared to block it. (Gateway/3)

Haou wasn't going to stop there. "Swamp Demon!" Swamp Demon bore it's wrath down on the monster that was revealed to be Nightmare Eater. It was stabbed before it had the chance to do much of anything. (gateway/4)

Nothing while alive that is. "Reverse card open! Limit Reverse! I can special summon one monster in my graveyard with 1000 or less attack points. I revive Extinction Martyr." (Attack position. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Nightmare Eater effect activate! I can tribute one monster I control now to draw two cards. I tribute Martyr!" The black blob appeared, and devoured the silent sacrifice in an instant. (Gateway/5) "You wont ever reach me."

Haou drew a card through Swamp Demons effect as the monster changed it's position. (DEF/3000) "I will."

"Not with your strongest monster! Extinction Martyr effect activate!" The Martyr appeared behind Malicious Edge, who did not notice it. Only when the knife found it's way into the monsters skin did Malicious Edge notice anything and by then it was too late. It exploded, taking it's killer with it.

Watching their strongest monster being destroyed would discourage some. Would force others to come up with a quick strategy to replace the monster. Haou however did what he did best: Remain absolutely calm and continue the duel. "I set one card and end my turn. You can delay this for as long as you wish, but I will reach you. I will strike you. I will kill you. You cannot stop me."

Jim and Austin were the most confused. "O'Brian. Do you have any idea why Haou is fighting Draygor? You fought him after I was killed."

Austin shook his head. "No. Though, how much do we really know about Haou?"

Kaiser shot his two cents into the conversation, making the situation clear to everyone there.

"We know nothing. Only the experiences we have had with him. Judai has not explained anything to us."

Xiaolang looked at Judai's body, looking at Judai, or at least as much as he could without Judai actually being there. "And you call these people your friends? Judai...just how much are you hiding from them and why?" He looked at Draygor. "Whatever Haou is, Draygor hates him." He smiled. "So maybe I should like him." Draygor placed a clawed hand on his deck. "Kill him, Haou."

"Draw! I summon Sangan." The tiny, three eyed critter had it's arms crossed as it appeared. (Defence position. ATK/1000 DEF/600) "I activate Monster Gate. I must tribute a monster I control. I chose Sangan. Now I must pick up cards from the top of my deck until i pick up a monster. And then I can summon it. All other cards I pick up must be sent to the graveyard. Now begone, Sangan!" (Gateway/6) The creature was no more. He picked up three cards before finally finding..."Extinction Phoenix!" The head dead Phoenix let out a mighty cry as it appeared on the field. A monster of death it may have been, but it was still a phoenix. A mythological creature of immortality. (Attack position. ATK/2000 DEF/1000). "Since I tributed Sangan, I can now add a monster with 1500 or less attack points from my deck to my hand." He pulled out and parted his deck. "I choose Extinction Mara." "Now I can finally hurt him." "Extinction Phoenix!"

Haou was not about to permit what he knew was coming "Reverse card open. Call of the Haunted. I can special summon a monster from my graveyard in attack position. I choose Malicious Edge." The sadistic Hero was laughing as it appeared on the field again. (Attack position. ATK/2600 DEF/1800)

"I can't attack. If I do he'll redirect it towards his Malicious Edge. My Phoenix would be killed in an instant. Dammit." "I remove Extinction Knight in my graveyard from play. To summon Extinction Mara!" Haou didn't bother looking at the creature he recognized by now. (Defence position. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Card set. Turn end." "My fights with you. No one ever fought me like you did."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashback

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

The ground shook as they clashed once more. The fighters had been in combat for what felt like forever now, they had broken through many buildings, and many people had gotten caught in the crossfire. By now both fighters had a sizeable amount of blood on them. Haou's was mostly on the chest portion of his armor. Draygor's was mostly on his skull, and if one looked closely enough, it became clear Draygor had blood dripping from his mouth. Clearly he'd been unable to restrain himself from snacking in the middle of this battle.

By now Haou had dropped his sword. It was hand to claw, energy to energy combat now. The violet power of the King clashed against the blackness of Extinction. Haou punched the Emissary's ribcage. Draygor skidded back from the force, but not before he opened his jaw again.

"Shi-!" Haou's thoughts were interrupted before he could finish. Draygor breathed out a wave of darkness. Haou was pushed back, skidding across the ground under him as the wave covered him. "What is this..." His eyelids began to falter. "I'm..." His eyes snapped open and flash. "NO!" He slammed his foot into the ground as hard as he could. "I." He forced himself to take a step forward. "Wont." He shrouded himself in his own power. "Die!" He started walking forward, one step at a time as the energy from the emissary tried so hard to destroy him, step after step, he felt the Emissary's power push against him. "I will...defend my kingdom." He was getting closer and closer, he felt his aura start to break but he didn't care. He didn't care as he felt Draygor's power lash against him. He kept walking forward. "I won't let..." He right in front of the beast, he clenched his fist. "...my people die!" He slammed his fist into an uppercut as hard as he possibly could.

Draygor roared mindlessly as he felt the worst sensation ever. Haou's fist had gone from under the bottom of his jaw to right through the top of his skull. Haou pulled his hand down and slammed his fist into one of Draygor's ribs, it cracked against his fist. He slammed another punch into Draygor before pulling his hand back to grab his sword once again. He slashed at the monster, making it scream as he cut the bone. "You will not harm my people!" He slashed again, and again, and again. Each slash made the monster in front of him scream. Haou slashed at the beasts face one last time before he felt himself grow tired. "Damn." He was...tired. "That blast..." Too late did he understand that walking though the creatures attack was a very bad idea.

Draygor was stepping back, the darkness one his body was trying to wrap itself around the wounds he endured. "You cursed human!" He stopped, and was as tired was Haou. "You cant kill me, but I've already killed you. You're dead already!"

Haou dropped his blade, Draygor was right. He was feeling tired. "I am king. I cannot. Will not...but I cant kill him. Nothing kills him. I can wound him, but why doesn't he die? I need to find...a way..."

The beast ran forward...

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashback End

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Haou placed a card on duel disk. "Draw." Haou's eyes turned to the monster that was suddenly appearing on his field. Hell Gainer was returning. "When Hell Gainer is removed from play by his own effect, he returns on my second standby phase after I use the effect." (Attack position. ATK/1600 DEF/0) "I activate Dark Calling. I can remove monsters from either my hand or graveyard that are listed as the fusion materiel of a monster that can only be special summoned with Dark Fusion and fusion summon it. I remove Sparkman from my hand. And Clayman from my graveyard. I summon Evil Hero Lightning Golem."

Lightning Golem was already crackling with power as it appeared. The orbs across it's body were the source of it's power it seemed. (Attack position. ATK/2400 DEF/1500) "Lightning Golem effect activate. Once per turn I can select one monster on the field and destroy it. I destroy your Phoenix. Voltic Ball" The Golem joined it's hands together, creating a black ball of power before throwing it at the undead bird. It screamed for the brief moment it was alive for before exploding. (Gateway/7)

"Extinction Phoenix effect activate. When it's destroyed, I can tribute a dark attribute monster to revive it" The Goblin burst into black flame, the Phoenix rising up from it. It reached the field and sat with it's wings crossed. (Defence position. ATK/2000 DEF/1000. Gateway/8)

Haou's eyes flashed. "You're as impossible to kill now as you were then. You have tried my patience for the last time." He picked up of the few remaining cards in his hand. "I tribute Evil Hero Hell Gainer and Evil Hero Lightning Golem." Both Heroes became masses of dark light, shooting themselves into the card Haou was about to place in his monster card zone. "Come forth, my mightiest Hero. Evil Hero Tyrant."

The creature was dressed in blackened armor from the neck down, with four tendrils that appeared to either be part of the armor, or actual part of the creatures armor shooting out of it's back. It's arms were bare of armor, but the serrated, very dark violet skin clearly made them more deadly than armor. It's human shaped hands were covered by metal gloves, made from the same metal as the rest of the armor. It was clearly very strong, baring the same physical build as another Hero used by the body the creature was set to serve. The monsters chest had three markings upon the chest. Each were gold in the shape of triangles, with each of the tops of them meeting. One had the bottom of it pointing to Tyrants head. The others were pointed at either of the Tyrants hands. The three triangles were in the inside of a red circular jewel. Other than these markings and the jewel, there was no other decorations on the creatures armor. The creatures face was mostly covered by a helmet. It completed covered the creatures head, and above it's eyes. The rest of it's face was exposed, and aside from the very dark violet skin, it could have been called human. It's eyes were completely red, and glowing. There were no pupils and irises. Just bright red, glowing sclera. It's the of it's helmet had a prostration shooting off it in the shape of a trident. It's expression mirrored Haous.

Malicious edge suddenly turned and bowed slightly to the creature. The Swamp demon kneeled just a little lower. Among the Evil Heroes, this monster was king. The Tyrant suddenly became to emit it's own energy. An aura that was the same color as Haous. (Attack position. ATK/2500 DEF/2000) The Tyrants fists suddenly clenched, and they began crackling with power. The same power that once radiated from Lightning Golem.

"What?"

Haou continued speaking. "Evil Hero Tyrant gains the effects of any Evil Hero monsters I tributed to tribute summon him. He has Lightning Golems powers with him. I use Lightning Golems absorbed effect to kill your Phoenix once more. Voltic Ball!" The tyrant created the ball with a single hand, but used it the same way the Golem once did. The bird was silent, this time. (Gateway/9)

"Reverse card open. Quick Summon. I can normal summon Extinction Enforcer from my hand." The masked hulk of a creature thrashed it's chains around when it appeared. It was clearly not happy with it's current predicament. (Defence position. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Now I tribute him to revive Extinction Phoenix!" The creature burst into flames, and once more the Phoenix came out of the fire. (Defence position. ATK/2000 DEF/1000. Gateway/10)

"Malicious Edge. Attack Extinction Phoenix." Malicious Edge tried to destroy it's target, but the barrage of needles was stopped by a wave of darkness. (Gateway/9)

"I'm not letting that thing touch my life points."

"Swamp Demon." The bird did attempt to scream, but Swamp Demon slammed it's fist down on it's head before it did so. Haou drew a card. "Swamp Demon changes it's position." (DEF/3000. Gateway/10) He revealed a quick-play spell card from his hand. "Vengeful Intent. When an "Evil Hero" monster I control has attacked, and you have taken no battle damage so far this turn, I can double the original attack points of an "Evil Hero" I control until the end phase. I choose Tyrant." (Tyrant ATK/5000) "Tyrant. Direct attack. Path To Genocide!" The creature was about to make it's move, ready to unleash it's attack that had earned such a name. Draygor had other plans, before the creature could move a blast of darkness shot itself at the Tyrant. The blast hit it's chest and dissipated into nothing, but the Hero would not be attacking.

"None of your Heroes will harm me." (Gateway/9)

"When fighting a coward like you, they don't have to. You can hide from me as long as you want. But I will get past your defences. I will break down everything you set against me. And in the end I'll wipe you from existence. Know Dyargor, that I am the one you should fear." Draygor watched as the darkness surrounding the king started to form something. In seconds he recognized exactly what it was making. The king's hair vanished as a helmet formed, then the rest of the king, too vanished. The king was garbed in the armor Draygor knew all too well.

The king was truly dressed like a king now. Just as Draygor remembered him. "Turn end." (Tyrant ATK/2500)

The spectators watched with hesitant breath. Though only a few recognized what they were seeing, most all of them understood it. Only one did not understand, but he did know something.

Xiaolang felt a chill run down his spine. "Holy hell...this is..." He clenched his fist in an attempt to stop himself from shaking. "Haou. What power you have. But what are you? Who are you? And where does Judai come in on all this?"

Johan could also sense the power in front of him. "Judai. Is this Haou's power or yours?" He looked at his friend, hoping..."Just be okay." Johan was almost tempted to jump in on this duel, to take on the opponent his friend's body was fighting. His body, not him. "That's not Judai. Haou. I've heard of the things you have done. I don't know which one of you I should hope to win. Which one of you is worse?"

Other than Xiaolang, no one else had picked a side by now. They all knew at least something about the king. Xiaolang did not. He just knew about Draygor. He turned his head up to the sky in an effort to try and clear his head a little. "That star. Did it get brighter? And bigger?" He shook his head and looked back down, there were bigger things to worry about.

Draygor's turn being one of them. "Draw! I activate Recurring Nightmare! I can select two dark attribute monsters with 0 defence in my graveyard and add them to my hand. I add Extinction Mara and Extinction Martyr. I remove an Extinction Knight in my graveyard from play to special summon Extinction Mara." (Defence position. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Now I normal summon Extinction Martyr." (Defence position. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Turn end."

"Draw. I activate Tyrant's effect. I use the power of the Lightning Golem I tributed for him to destroy Extinction Mara." Tyrant had already thrown the ball before Haou had finished, with it landing just as Haou was ready to give an order. (Gateway/10) "I activate Dark Revival. By discarding any Evil Hero in my hand, I can special summon any other Evil Hero from my graveyard. I discard Hell Brat. Revive! Phantom Guard!" (Attack positon ATK/1600 DEF/1800) "Malicious Edge. Attack Martyr."

"Gateway Defence will stop it!" It was almost becoming the way of the duel for Malicious Edge's attack to be blocked by a wave of darkness. (Gateway/9)

"Swamp Demon. Attack Martyr." Not for the first time, The Swamp monster destroyed the Martyr in it's hands. (gateway/10) "Draw. Swamp Demon changes it's battle position now." (DEF/3000)

"Extinction Martyr effect activate. I use Martyr to destroy edge."

Malicious Edge turned around this time, blocking the knife with his left hand before stabbing the Martyr in the stomach. He would be dying, but he would not be going down without a fight.

"Tyrant. Path To Genocide." Again, Tyrant was stopped by the blast of darkness that shot at him, but not before he struck it away. The Tyrant was growing impatient. (Gateway/9) "Phantom Guard!" The guard slipped into the shadow under it, quickly shooting across the field.

"I have to take this attack..." He looked down at the shadow, just waiting for it to..."ARGGHH!" (LP/1800)

Haou was out of attacks. "I told you I would reach you. Turn end."

"Draw. I activate the Beginning of the End. By removing five Dark monsters in my graveyard from play when I have seven or more, I can draw three cards. I remove Extinction Knight, Enforcer, Chimera. Sangan, and Extinction Mara." The five cards removed themselves from his graveyard, before fading away once they were exposed to the light of the moon. "Draw! I set one more monster and one card. Turn end." "He's too strong. I can't push him back no matter how hard I try. I have only one chance."

Haou's eyes were glowing like the inside of an inferno. The darkness was still growing, with the spectators almost up to their knees in the violet evil. "Prepare to die." He placed a hand on his deck." "Draw."

Draygor was ready for this. "Reverse card open! Thunder of Ruler! You cannot conduct your battle phase this turn. How befitting. You call yourself a king, and now it's by the order of another ruler has rendered you unable to battle."

Even this could not shake the king. "I can still destroy your monster. Tyrant! Voltic Ball." The monster didn't reveal itself as it's card image was destroyed. (Gateway/10) Haou looked at the card he had drawn. "This is it." "Card set. Turn end."

Jim and Austin thought the exact same thing. "That card...it's..."

They knew what was coming.

Xiaolang was matching with bated breath. To him, this match was beyond awe inspiring. "Draygor hasn't even touched him! Yet when I fought Draygor I came to the edge of defeat so many times." He clenched his fists. "I need to get much stronger. I can't do anything if I'm this weak." He turned to look at Haou. "Haou. The others don't trust you. I bet there's good reason for that. But if you want Draygor defeated even half as much as I do then I support you. Win Haou. Win and put an end to Draygor forever."

Draygor placed a hand on his deck. "Haou. You have brought this upon yourself." He drew a card. "There are ten counters on my Gateway now. I can summoning myself."

Haou nodded. "I suspected that was the effect of your gateway. One claw represents a counter needed. I want this to happen Draygor. So summon yourself. Summon yourself so I can end your existence. If I ever do one righteous thing in this lifetime it will be killing you."

Draygor started to laugh. His body was suddenly breaking down into a black mist, he continued to speak as his essence flowed into the gateway, seeping right through the doors. "You asked for it. Haou. After a thousand years of waiting for this day. I open the Gateway to Extinction!" The gates creaked open. The gate opened, showing nothing inside. Light would not penetrate the darkness inside. For a brief moment it looked like nothing would happen.

Then they heard it.

They could hear footsteps, for a brief moment before the winds came. The creature walked out of the gateway. The air was restless with wind as the creature walked out. The monster walked forward, no longer armed with a duel disk or a deck. It would fight on it's own power.

"I summon myself. Draygor The Emissary of Extinction." (Attack position. ATK/4000 DEF/4000) "Haou. When I am summoned, I destroy all of my opponent's monsters." He spread out his arms. "Time for you die once more." The darkness on his body began to shoot out rising up above him to become a wave of darkness. It came down, and it was about to crash on Haou's side of the field.

Haou would not let even this get the better of him. "I defy this! Reverse card open!" He discarded a card. "Super Fusion!"

"Super Fusion?"

The sky above them was suddenly in chaos. The clear sky, the moon, and the shining star were gone as the spiralling clouds formed. The world seemed to shake as power of Super Fusion was making itself known. Haou's eyes were glowing as he spoke out. "With this I can fuse any monsters on the field."

"Except me. I am unaffected by your card effects!"

"Why would I want a creature as weak as you? I fuse Evil Hero Tyrant with Evil Hero Phantom Guard." Both Heroes were shot up into the sky, becoming one with the center of the spiral. The spiral finished turning, and from it emerged a brand new creature.

It's huge black wings were the first noticeable thing about the creature, still as their owner floated down to the ground slowly. Two sets of them adorned the creatures back. Clawed feet found the ground, each blacker than night itself. It's clawed hands clenched and unclenched as it stared at the Emissary. Unlike before it's fusion, this Tyrant wore nothing in the way of head clothing. Instead it had a large mane of black hair that seemed to wave in the air like black fire. It's eyes were exactly the same as before, the glowing red eyes were no less sinister than before. The creatures chest was bare, but the black armor had apparently been fused with it because it was completely black and almost seemed metalic. It's arms and legs were odd, because it was almost as if they were not even there. There were thick masses of black substance that linked the appendages to the creatures main body. In the center of the creatures chest there was a dent filled of the same kind of substance as the substance that connected it's limbs. Perhaps this substance is what gave it the name 'Abyss'. "Evil Hero Abyss Tyrant!" (Attack position. ATK/2500 DEF/2000)

"My power is still in effect! Your hero will die!" True to his word, Draygor's power was still beneath the Heroes feet, it shot up and wrapped itself around the Hero. No one heard anything as the darkness did whatever it was doing, but eventually it faded. Swamp Demon had been forgotten and killed off by the power of Draygor. The monster that had stood by it's masters side for almost the entire duel was gone.

The Tyrant was still there.

"What?"

"Abyss Tyrant is immune to all monster effects of my opponents monsters. Even yours."

"Fine. But why did you leave him in attack position?"

"You still don't understand do you? I hate you Draygor. I hate you with the very essence of my being. I don't need to run from you. Not now. Not ever. I don't fear you. I will never fear you! Now let's see if you fear me!"

"NEVER! I'll destroy your Tyrant along with you! Bare witness to the Dawn of Extinction!" Draygor roared, the empty eye sockets suddenly became filled by golden orbs as the darkness spread from Draygors body to Evil Hero Abyss Tyrant.

They could not watch anymore, even if Haou was not Judai. Even if Haou was an enemy, him winning was better than Draygor. Perhaps, if they truly believed, Judai could break through the control of Haou. If only they had known the truth.

"JUDAI!"

The darkness reached Abyss Tyrant, but he was unaffected by it. Try as it might, the powers of Extinction could not harm this creature of Super Fusions creation. Haou spoke once more, and they were words that shook the Emissary to his very core.

"When Abyss Tyrant is attacked, it gains half of your monsters attack power for the battle." (ATK/4500)

"NO!"

"I'm not done Draygor." Haou's eyes were ablaze. "I'm going to make you feel the fear you felt as you slaughtered my people a thousand times over. You will forever rue the day you crossed paths with me." Haou's graveyard began to emit light.

Haou held up a card that was ejecting itself from his graveyard. "I activate Evil Hero Necro Mage's effect. When it is in my graveyard, and an Evil Hero I control is attacked, I can remove it from play to activate an effect. If I do, the Hero will be destroyed after the battle. But I would tear this world and all beyond it apart to kill you so this is nothing."

"But what...is the effect?"

Haou's graveyard began to glow. "For every Evil Hero in my graveyard, the attacked Hero gains 500 attack points." One by one, the images of Haou's fallen Heroes showed themselves. "Tyrant." (ATK/5000) "Swamp Demon." (ATK/5500) "Lightening Golem." (ATK/6000) "Hell Gainer" (ATK/6500) "Phantom Guard" (ATK/7000) "Malicious Edge" (ATK/7500) "Hell Brat." (ATK/8000)

Draygors orbs widened as his jaw dropped. "Eight...thousand..."

"Draygor. For all you have done to me. I repay it in your death. May you be forgotten. Abyss Tyrant, attack. Heart of Darkness." The darkness on the creatures chest suddenly expanded, like a ball suddenly increasing it's mass it instantly covered the Tyrants entire body. Then Haou. In seconds the entire dome roof had been covered, locked in a sphere of black that would cast no reflection.

Draygor's attack crumbled against the wall of darkness that lashed against it. Like glass it's power broke. Draygor could do nothing. Not even scream as the attack paved it's way towards him. The world went silent as the attack reached him, tearing though him. He felt it in every inch of himself. The attack was destroying him. (LP/0)

As he felt the power work it's way through him, Draygor remembered...

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashback

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"This is the end!"

Haou clenched his fists.

His aura exploded. Draygor felt the wall of violet collide with him. "I can't get though!" He watched as the king raised his hands.

"LEAVE MY WORLD!"

Draygor heard a 'crack' behind him. "What is..."

"I forbid you to ever return to my kingdom! May you be banished in another world for all time!" The crack in midair behind Draygor suddenly shattered like glass, the beast could see into it. It was a place outside this world. "NO! I will stay here! I MUST!"

"My Kingdom must survive!" Haou forced his energy to grow stronger. "You must leave! I condemn you to be banished from my world for all time!"

"NO! You don't understand! Life must end! It must! It-!" His body was thrown into the crack. "CURSE YOU! I'll come back for you!" He landed, looking the king in the eye for the brief moment before the gap in reality closed. "Damn you!" The crack shut.

"HAOUUUUUUUUU!" It became clear quickly that the king was beyond his reach. "He survives. They survive. THEY ALL SURVIVE!" Draygor threw his head to the heavens and roared.

From that day onwards, many monsters would come to know the roar that emitted from the Emissary in that moment. The empty sound that sought only to devour. The howl that froze the soul and erased all hope. The sound that spoke that the owner could not be reasoned with, bargained with, or understood. It would focus only on it's own need, and it's rage. Both all would one day know and fear.

In time they would know this roar to be the sound of death itself.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashback end

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"He stopped me...again."

The world found light, and sound once more. When it did everyone saw Draygor just...standing there. His body was completed limp, even standing up he looked like he was in slumber. As they all watched the creature, the once indescribable terror just standing there like a statue, as the wisps of darkness around him started to crack off and fade. It was then, and only then did everyone realize the truth. The truth they had been longing to witness.

The Emissary of Extinction had been defeated.

XXXXXXXXXX

End of Chapter

XXXXXXXXXX

Today's Strongest Card

Evil Hero Tyrant

Monster

7

Fiend/Effect

ATK/2500 DEF/2000

When this monster is tribute summoned, this card gains the effects of any "Evil Hero" monster(s) tributed to tribute summon this monster.

Commentary: Haou

"My strongest Hero. All other Heroes will bow to his might."

Author's notes: The Dawn of Extinction arc ends next chapter.