Authors notes: Wayyyyy past the deadline I promised I know, but there was hell of a lot more work that had to be put into this chapter than I originally thought. As a result the chapter is also longer than any of my other chapters.

Well enough of my excuses, your waiting is over. Enjoy.

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The Emissary of Extinction

Chapter 25

First Strike

Kenji looked down at his opponent, who had simply turned around to look back at the sea after his victory. "'Weakened'? No, Draygor. Judai Yuki is just no longer an opponent who will fight against us. We can move ahead regardless of him. Though..." He turned to face his allies, Sosuke of which was clearly not in the mood one would be wise to provoke. "His strength still remains of a calibre very few could hope to defeat." He turned around. "Come on. We're finished here."

They all turned, Sosuke still clearly in a rage from the defeat he had been handed. He would not defy his leader however. He followed the other three, leaving their former target behind.

They had no idea they were being watched.

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Xiaolang watched as the four left, taking a route that was far from the tree he was hiding himself behind. He had not seen all the duel of course, but his eyes had gazed upon the four monsters that had become the signature cards of their users. "Draygor's given them power, but there's something else about them as well. Another power I cant...wait." His mind flashed back, to a moment in which he was blinded. A flash from the sky. "So that's it. Draygor gave them that light. Is that light the Light of Ruin?"

He rushed down, his feet kicking up a very small cloud of dust as he did. "I need answers. Only one person I know might have them." He skidded to a stop, then slowly walked to the very edge of the cliff before him to look down at a rock he had occupied in what was now like a distant memory. He recognized the pose the occupant was in as well. He knew all too well what it meant, even if he did not understand why Judai was in his current state. "Shit!" He had no idea how to bring someone out of a slump like this, normally it was a 'Do it yourself' thing for him. "Cant Yubel do something?"

His thoughts were penetrated by the sound of footsteps, very fast footsteps. Much faster than normal footsteps.

Much smaller too. "Pharaoh?" The intelligent feline sat down next to Xiaolang, before opening it's mouth. It was only Xiaolang's recent experience that kept him from giving a shout of fright. An orb emerged from the felines mouth. The entity rose to eye level with the boy, yet he got the impression that this light had it's attention on something else. "This is very bad."

Xiaolang blinked, trying to force himself from what might have been a dream. When that didn't work he was forced to conclude that the ball next to him had indeed spoken. "Beyond very bad. This is the worst possible time for him to end up like this." He took a moment to think on something, and decided he might as well..."Sorry if this isn't the best time to ask, but who are you?"

"Daitokuji, I used to be the dorm head-nya."

Xiaolang remembered that name, it was something known to the older students of his dorm. "I thought you'd...died."

"My body did. What you see is what's left of me. Pharaoh takes care of me now. Though he has a habit of eating me. I've been in his belly since we got back to the island-nya. I've sensed...terrible things."

Xiaolang nodded. "Well right now we need to fix the worst of them. We cant leave Judai like this. But I have no idea how to fix him. Any ideas?"

"I think a good scare might work. Judai responds well to pressure. But we need something to scare him with. Something that can shake him enough to see sense."

Xiaolang was silent, but his mind was processing that information, drawing a conclusion almost instantly. "He better have brought it with him."

He just hoped the solution he thought of was not going to be necessary.

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The four of them continued to walk, one of them muttering something under his breath. Kenji quickly found his patience for it weaning. "Sosuke, knock it off. We lost. Deal with it."

"How can you say that? You saw how easily he took us out!"

Kenji, while not exactly in the mood, decided to answer. "Yes I did. But unlike you I was watching him. Did none of you notice?"

"I was a bit preoccupied with that flying fur ball in case you didn't notice! I'm gonna burn that little bastards wings!"

Yuuka laughed. "I can see why Draygor made you 'War'. You're nothing but a brute."

"And like a virus you come in when you're not wanted. Draygor named your well."

She shrugged. "Viruses adapt. So do I. And I know how we can adapt to this problem."

"Will someone tell me just what the hell I'm missing here?"

Jinn shook his head. "Judai is by far the strongest The others are weaker, but still strong none the less. And since Judai is not interested in fighting us, we can defeat the others and he wont raise a finger." He smiled, turning to look up at his ally. "You can get your revenge on Xiaolang. How many times has he mopped the floor with your now?"

"He wont beat me again." Sosuke gritted his teeth. "Never."

Kenji spoke once more, attempting to defuse the situation. "We shall report back to our master. I don't think our defeat will come as much of a surprise to him. But prepare for new orders, the Dawn of Extinction has passed. Soon the world shall know the might of the Emissary."

And with that thought their defeat was ancient history to their minds.

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Kaiser Ryo sat, a bowl of sake in his hand. Perhaps it was a little early for him in the day to drink, but alas it was a personal vice of his a former sponsor had helped him pick up after his first pro-league victory. A little sake and his own company. It gave him time to think. Once upon a time it was thinking about the duel that had past, about what he could have learned from that day. Then it was plagued with chaos and confusion, to the point his little vice was almost abandoned. Then it became thoughts of who his final opponent might be.

Now new confusion and questions found him. With a smirk he thought of how he had arrived in his current situation. He truly had wanted to retire after his return from the other world and it became clear he would live. Yet retirement clearly didn't welcome him yet "Death really would have simplified things." He thought with another smirk. Not that he was ungrateful to be alive, on the contrary he appreciated life more now. "Yet that fight with the Psycho Style..." Seeing his little brother defeat an opponent that he, Hell Kaiser, well, formally Hell Kaiser Ryo would have fallen against. It sparked a new flare inside of him. Yet something wasn't right.

His eyes turned to a deck lying on a table next to him. A deck completed the night before. Well, "completed" may have been incorrect. There was always room for improvement. Cards to remove, cards to add. Strategies not yet thought of. However, at his current level of skill, experience and knowledge it was complete.

"But it's not time. It's not time for me to fight." He frowned. He'd never faced anything quite like this before. His instincts were telling him to wait. Wait for the right moment. The right opponent. "Who would it be?" The list of people who would make suitable opponents was short indeed.

His thoughts flashed back to a very long time ago. Back to when he was a student. Back when he fought a first year with a lot of attitude and a Hero deck. He recalled that one unforgeable, almost magical moment when he was at his peak against Judai Yuki. If he had to pick from his list of opponents, Judai would be that opponent. The nature of his and Judai's unique rivalry was strange indeed. Normally rivals would challenge one another at every single opportunity life would give them. He and Judai were different from that, almost above it. Their battles were...well in a way they felt sacred. Like a script of destiny which pre-ordained their meetings in battle. Their last brief match was but a prelude, a prelude to their real battle. A battle Kaiser vowed he would live to join.

His mind moved forward, to another young punk with attitude and Heroes. Heroes that brought him, his Cyber End, and his career crashing down. Kaiser had the honor to admit that that match was his first true loss. No excuses. Edo had defeated him. What had transpired afterwards was better off forgotten. Kaiser would face down Edo again if the opportunity arose. Even though he knew Edo could not give Kaiser the feeling, the kind of pressure Judai could apply on him, Edo would make for a true test of his skill. Whether or not he would feel fulfilled after the battle was another story, but the battle would be something for the pages of time.

His third choice, was the one other who could push him the way Judai could. Johan Anderson and the Gem Beasts were by far the most interesting opponents he had ever faced. His battle with the possessed Johan was the one he had thought would be his very last. In a way it would be fitting for Johan to be the one who started his duelling career up again. Plus it would give him a chance to set Rainbow Dragon up against his Cyber End once more. He grinned to himself. That one turn struggle between the dragons was something special, each trying desperately to shift the balance of power in their favour. With a grin he remembered, even though he had not been able to attack and win, he sure as hell won the struggle for power. Johan would be a grand opponent indeed.

His next visions, well he was somewhat surprised at himself for thinking. After some more thought it was surprisingly logical. He knew very little about the Golden-Eyed King, but there was no denying that Haou was exceedingly powerful, very skilled, cunning and ruthless. One who would gladly challenge Kaisers talent for increasing his monsters fire-power.

There was one more however, one last considerable opponent. Kaiser didn't see himself as the hero sought by any means, but he would not deny the thought of a certain monster as an opponent interested him. The creature was shrouded in mystery, and the more his learned the more questions it seemed to raise. Perhaps a battle with that creature would answer much, without creating new mysteries.

He polished off his Sake. "Only time will tell when I will fight again."

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Whatever expression composed the features of the Emissary of Extinction was a mystery to Kenji and his team. They had returned to give account of their failure and been met with silence. A minute had passed and still the Emissary had not spoke.

Another minute passed. "You have failed me. However, there is good news in your failure. If the shell that houses the King refuses to fight then our search for my bones, and our battle against those which oppose us will be easier."

Kenji felt a wave of relief wash over him. He'd wondered for a moment if Draygor was going to try and kill them, but if he felt pleased then they were safe. "We have the element of surprise then." He had the sudden feeling that Draygor was shaking his head, despite the fact that he lacked anything resembling a face at present.

"Ritan's offspring will know of you by now. Young as he is, he is are perceptive like his father and many times more irritating. He will take measures against us. Make no mistake, Death. That boy and the allies he will recruit are not to be underestimated."

Kenji nodded. He knew that all too well. "What are your next orders?"

Another moment of silence came, unlike the last there was no tension within this one. The beast pondered his options, it would only be so long before his opponents would go on the offensive against him, even in this location. Even if their strongest fighter was useless to them. It would be a fight Draygor knew he could not win in his current state.

If nothing else, the Emissary of Extinction was skilled in manipulating humans. In fact, all living creatures in his favour. Those that lived would often do anything to survive, and humans were an oddly unified species, even by the standards the Emissary had seen in it's history. There was one glaring weakness in human union, their opinions had to be matched, they had to agree with one another, and their union had to have strong leadership. With this fact about humanity noted, he had a plan.

"Attack the dorm heads. Render the authorities useless and the underlings will crumble into chaos. Go now. Go and do my will."

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Sho strolled down the path with Kenzan, reminiscing some of the good old days with the Ra Yellow. His miniature "Hell Kaiser" outfit having so very long it seemed, replaced his Obelisk blue coat. A year ago he'd have never wore it, now he wondered if he'd ever duel without it. They were the colors of the Cyber Style Reverse deck. A deck that was now his. "Though I wonder what brother will wear next?"

Back on the outside world however, another one of the good old days was being recalled. "The look on Edos face when Flare Neos beat his Hero. I think that was one of best big brothers best ever duels."

Sho nodded. "By far. They never did have another rematch did they?"

Kenzan shook his head. "No-don. But I'd want to see it-sarus."

"I'd like to face him again one day."

"Really?"

Sho nodded. "We've not dulled in a very long time, I want to see how far I've come, against him."

Kenzan nodded, looking up to the sky. "Judai is a marker a lot of us test ourselves against, isn't he-don?"

"Yeah..."

A great truth, known only to the subconscious of them before then was now known. Judai had not only brought most of what was now his group together, he had acted as their inspiration, their goal. Later he would wonder if that was a success, or a burden. Inspiring many, but having the many make the one who inspired them the very person they wanted to fight.

Then Sho would remember, such was the pride of a duellist.

"Sho! Kenzan!"

Their pondering was interrupted for a moment as a quickly becoming familiar first year was running towards them. Xiaolang stopped before them, leaning down to rest his weight on his knees as he caught his breath. Once he was done, it took him only a few words to shatter the peace that had begun to form.

"Draygor's got new pawns."

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Sosuke walked up to the school, slowly, considering who to make his first target. "Who do I defeat?" He suddenly stopped, spotting a figure walking out of the main building of his school. "I owe you a beating." He walked forwards, his target. He grinned, a gray aura covering his body. In seconds the aura had formed a cloak of gray, covering his body almost from head to toe, his new hood over his head. There was nothing special about this cloak in terms of fashion features, just a dull Gray cloak. Such a fashion accessory the boy hoped to make feared very soon. The aura covered his face beneath his hood, something else was forming. Something formed over his face, obscuring it.

It began as a blank mass of pure gold, covering Sosukes face like a mask completely, but then the mask began to form features of it's own. First holes opened for eyes, showing Sosukes to the world, but somehow the mask was able to change what the world could see were it to look into the wearers eyes. Gone were the eyes of a first year student, now in their place were the eyes of someone much older, ages older. Ages more violent, more furious. Eyes like the pits of an inferno that sought to burn everything before them in the embers of their crimson glow. The "mouth" of the mask was formed, being nothing more than set of impossibly sharp gold teeth with red tips. The nose formed, nothing more than a mould based on the wearers nose, with a small sword engraved upon it. The handle of the blade was red, with a streak of it running down the center of the blade. Two more symbols were being engraved into the cheeks of the mask, on the right an axe, and the other a hammer. The offensive sections of these tools dyed red, their handles gold though engraved with greater details. Crimson and Gold. Blood and Glory. The colors some would say represented the two sides of war. Sosuke sure would. To him this was the mask of War.

He walked on, stopping suddenly before his target.

"Chronos-sensei."

The Obelisk Blue head raised his head, being dragged out of his thoughts by the strangely dressed figure before him.

Sosuke pulled his deckless academia duel disk off of his arm, before throwing it at his chosen foe. "Pull out your deck. We're going to duel. Well, me or the next person I run into, likely a student."

Chronos pulled out his deck from inside his coat. He placed it in the disk disk he had been given. Despite being used to using his duel coat, he knew how to use the standard disks as well. "Very well. But if I win you'll tell me what Draygor is planning na-no-ne."

Soskue grinned under his mask, he raised the arm that should have held his duel disk, the gray aura forming something.

First a huge, curved blade formed, connected by the aura that was still forming. It was a very large, black blade, undoubtedly based on a axe blade. The width of the blade was the same as a duel disk, but was twice as big. Despite it's size and thickness (almost as thick as Sosukes arm), it's weight seemed not to bother Sosuke. Ten sections of Gray energy gathered, forming ten rectangular formations before retreating. Now there were ten card zones upon the blade, five gold, five red. Their formations were identical, with the red zones standing behind the gold. Their formation was simple, one zone was ahead of the others, with one on either side slightly higher up on the disk. This was then repeated with the last two zones, with them slightly behind the ones that came before. Gold Zones were monster zones, Red was for Spell and Traps. With the blade formed, the rest of this tool was formed. Sosukes wrist was covered by the black steel, as if fused to his arm and keeping the disk in place. Several formations of steel began to rise from the steel, one just a hollow cube, with one of it's four sides removed, a deck zone. Atop of the deck slot was another zone, this one also red, but with a teal outline. The last zone formed, a slot behind the middle Monster/Spell/Trap zones, at it's angle it would lead under the rest of the zones.

The Duel Disk of War had been formed. A blade of Duel Monsters had been created, and Chronos would be the first to feel it's sting. "If you win."

"Duel!"

(Both LP/4000)

Chronos placed his hand on his deck, pausing to think for a moment before drawing. "There's something different about this one. He's not like the other students were when they were possessed. What is the meaning of this?" Time would not allow him enough of itself to ponder it any further. This was a duel, a battle.

His opponent would even say it was a war. "Draw." Chronos checked his hand, deciding on a move almost instantaneously. "I set one monster na-no-ne. Turn end." As the holographic image of the hidden monster appeared Sosuke smiled under his mask.

"Looks like he wants to give me target practice." "Draw!" He grinned. "I'll show him what happens to targets." He played his first card. "I activate Temporary Incarnation! I can special summon a Titan monster from my hand, but it will be destroyed at the end phase." He moved his hand to another card in his hand. "I summon Titan – Oceanus." For the second time that day, the Titan clothed in the sea itself appeared. The surface of it's armor glistened in the sun, like the sea itself upon a bright day. (Attack position. ATK/2600 DEF/2300)

Chronos took an involuntary step back as he bore witness to the monster before him. "Incredible..." His mind was forced back to times long past, back to other duels he had witnessed with monsters that towered over their duellists. He saw the Phantom Demons, Cyber End, the Rainbow Dragon. "I have seen some incredible monsters in my time."

Sosuke was far from finished, he had one more card to play before he would go on the offensive. The Titan he summoned had one inexcusable, and unpreventable weakness. Avoidable was another story; "Spell Card Activate! Monster Gate!" Oceanus was suddenly vanishing, becoming a tribute for Sosuke's next move. "Monster Gate tributes a monster I control, then I can pick up cards from my deck until I find another monster I can normal summon, then special summon it. All other cards are sent to the graveyard." He picked up one, discarding it right away. Chronos could see it was a spell card, but it was gone too quickly to identify it. On the second card Sosuke grinned. "I summon my next monster. Titan – Rhea!"

Sosukes next Titan made it's first appearance to the world. The first female to be shown from Sosukes deck. Like the others, she appeared behind Sosuke. Unlike the other Titans that had been shown, she wore no armor, and seemed to carry no weapon of her own. Her choice of clothing was many wraps of golden cloth. Shoulder to feet she was wrapped in their soft, golden cloth, which seemed to glow even independently of the light of the sun shining upon it, unlike her auburn hair which somehow seemed to reflect no light at all. Her face and figure spoke of many things, kindness, gentleness, a quiet and undeniable strength. Her soft smile could not have contrasted any further than it already did with Sosukes mask. Her eyes however was slightly closer, even if it was still far from a mirror of Sosukes. They were a gentle grey, but they spoke that crossing her would not be the actions of one wishing to be called wise. Perhaps the single most interesting thing about this Titan was her choice of jewellery. On the wrists of each of her hands were bracelets, with each dangling a small lion that seemed to be made of glass that glowed orange from within. (ATK/2500 DEF/2500)

With the mighty Titan standing behind him, Sosuke smiled. He was ready. "Rhea! Battle!" Rhea lightly tapped the Lion bracelets together, and in an instant the meaning of them became clear, from their connection came a light, which birthed dozens of Lions of burning red light. The Lions wasted no time, rushing along the field to hunt their pray, which flipped itself up before the Lions even reached it.

The monster was revealed to be rather small for an Ancient Gear monster, it's hight only slightly above that of it's user, though it's physique was considerably more intimidating. It held a large hammer in it's hand, along with the various tools that somehow managed to stick to it's back. It wore a helmet on it's head, made of the same metal that composed it's body. (ATK/1000 DEF/1000) It's time on the field however was about to be cut short. The first Lion to reach it slammed the Gear creature to the ground before clamping at it's neck as the others pounced upon their pray.

The Ancient Gear creature exploded.

Chronos smiled for the split second before the attack struck, but the smile was knocked from his face by the backlash of the powerful strike. The moment the backlash had died down, Chronos was holding up the card. "The effect of my Ancient Gear Builder activates now. When it's destroyed by battle, I can move a level 4 or lower Ancient Gear to my hand from my deck." He moved the monster to it's correct place, before pulling out his deck to search for his target, the latest addition to his deck. He smiled, he'd found it. "I choose Ancient Gear Statue."

Souke shrugged. Such weak monsters were nothing to him. "Don't suppose you have anything stronger, do you?" As he finished speaking the Lions called by his Titan turned before walking back to their creator before fading away. They were lions made of light, and no light shines forever.

Chronos frowned. Sosukes words reminded him of his own attitude from not long enough ago. "Attack strength does not define a monsters power."

Sosuke shrugged, picking up the three remaining cards. "I'll show you what defines power. I set three cards. Turn end."

Chronos frowned. "Draw!" He smiled. He was about to teach Sosuke a thing or two.

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Yuuka grinned. She knew who her target was going to be.

"I've seen her handle injuries, but how will she fair against disease?"

Like Sosuke before her, she too had formed a cloak upon herself. As grey as her allies, almost identical, different only in size. She smiled as she too began to form a mask of her own. This mask was quite unlike Sosukes. To those who would eventually see each of the individual masks, it would become clear the masks were made to represent their namesakes.

At first the mask was a face of a human. A young woman who's face radiated beauty. The face was a vision of health. This vision was to be quickly changed into it's opposite. The skin became pale, and sickly, before black blotches were starting to appear in random places. The eyes of the mask became yellow and bloodshot. The last of the changes to this once vision of beauty were forming, the area to the sides and below the mouth became red, stained red. To those that had not seen the mask form, it would appear that this poor soul bled from the mouth regularly, but how it stained the skin would be a mystery.

The mask of Pestilence was now formed. She followed her target down the hallway, until they were quite out of the range of any other people.

"Ayukawa-sensei?"

Emi turned around, just in time to catch the duel disk that had been thrown to her.

Yuuka was grinning under her mask. "From here on out...you are patient zero." Her new duel disk was already forming. In seconds Gray duel academia duel disk had formed, indistinguishable from the ones used by the students until the switch the previous year, but she wasn't finished, her aura was digging into the duel disk, changing it. Emi found the only way she could think to describe the aura was like an infection, because the disk was starting to show signs of some kind of disease. The gem in the center of the monster zones suddenly seemed to collapsed, before crumbling away like it was rotting away. In it's place was a gap, where the circular section that once surrounded it starting to shrivel around it, closing the gap. The shrivelled section was suddenly rusted, which spread out across the rest of the disk like a plague. In seconds the entire disk had been lost to the rust virus, but the worst was yet to come. Part of the disk were starting to crack, the blade after the monster zone furthest from the disk slot was the one to suffer, it started to crumble breaking away until all that remained were a few fragments hanging on to the very edge.

Next to suffer change was the holster for the the section of the disk that had just partly crumbled away. It cracked, but it wasn't going to break away like the last. Something was growing under it, eating it from the inside. It was a deep violet entity, and sucking in the rusted disk around it like a heavy object upon water. The growth continued, reaching across the disk, reaching around the gem and devouring it too. What remained of Yuukas disk now was a deck zone, graveyard and card zones. The rest had been claimed captive by a disgusting, formless growth. The disk had become infected by something, but Yuuka was pleased. A sickened disk was her disk. "Prepare yourself. Or should I find myself a couple of students?"

Emi armed the disk with her deck. She had faced down evil twice before, and the first time come out on top (until her stamina had failed her). She was confident in herself. "I'll end this quickly."

"Duel!"

(Both LP/4000)

Emi didn't waste a moment. "Draw!" A single glance showed her what she had to to. "I summon Nurse Reficule the Fallen One!" A twisted cross between a mummy and an angel appeared, with two sets of bladed wings hanging upon it's back. The blades beat once against the air, the blades reflecting the light that fell upon them. A seventh blade adorned the head of the angel, as well the the tips of the angels hair that formed into six smaller blades. The Angels clothing was simple to explain. Bandages, almost completely from head to toe the angel was wrapped in bandages. The only other clothing all seemed to be some kind of fashion accessories. A bright blue shackle with a blue diamond engraved inside of it adorned each of her limbs. The last item was a belt she wore, which was oddly simple in design. A black belt with a piece of purple metal attached to it in the shape of what seemed to be a bat. The look on her face, even if all one could see was a single eye was one very few patients would wish to see. It would be fair to doubt this monsters title of "nurse". (Attack position. ATK/1400 DEF/600) "I set three cards." She picked up another card, she had altered her deck somewhat since her defeat against Judai, and later her defeat at the hands of the entity known as "Trueman". Now she preferred to deliver her venomous medicine in a more direct manner when possible. She smiled as she prepared her move. "I activate Upstart Goblin. I can draw a card, but you gain 1000 life points."

"So we both gain something from it."

Emi's smile darkened. "Reficule effect activate. As long as she remains on the field, all life point gains you would gain will instead become damage."

"What?" Emi pulled a card from her deck as Yuuka grunted, a purple aura that outlined her form taking a chunk out of her life points. (LP/3000)

Emi nodded, her every possible move for the turn used up. "Turn end."

Yuuka was laughing to herself. "Turning a cure into sickness. Oh I'm going to enjoy this so much." She placed a hand on her deck. "Now let's see how many plagues you can face at once. Draw!" She grasped three cards in her hand. "I set three cards." She picked up what would be her first summon from her hand. "I summon Plague Crow."

Like every other monster Yuuka had played, this monster was sick. The creature itself was a small, black crow. In terms of physical appearance, there was very little physical signs of sickness. Whatever burdened this creature was under the skin it would seem, but it affected the monsters posture. The bird was quivering, and for some reason was flapping it's wings at random intervals. It's eyes were almost closed, perhaps out of tiredness, or pain. Emi couldn't tell, even with her medical training. (Defence position. ATK/500 DEF/500)

Emi was ready for this. "Reverse card open! Dark Cure! As long as this card remains, every time you summon one or more monsters, I can select one of them and you gain life points equal to half it's attack points."

Yuuka frowned under her mask. "Which your Nurse will change into damage." Emi nodded. "You should have been Pestilence." (LP/2750) "Turn end."

"Draw!" Emi glanced at her drawn card. "This match is over." She had drawn Magical Stone Excavation, and she had the perfect cards to discard for it. "I activate Magical Stone Excavation! By discarding two cards, I can return a Spell from my graveyard to my hand." She picked up her payment for this privilege. "I discard two Burning Algae." She discarded them. "Their effects activate now! When sent to the graveyard, a Burning Algae gives you 1000 life points."

Yuuka didn't have to be reminded. "Dammit." No sooner than her curse had left her mouth Yuuka knew the Algae had risen on either side of her. The burning trees suddenly exploded, placing Yuuka in a spinning pillar of fire. Despite the severity of the attack, she failed to scream. (LP/750)

Emi placed a hand by her graveyard, her only possible target ejecting itself. "I choose to add back my Upstart Goblin." She was a single move from victory. "This is the end. I activate Upstart Goblin."

Only now did Yuuka act. "Reverse Card Open! Sacrificial Infection! I can activate this when you activate a non-continuous Spell or Trap, and I control a 'Plague' monster. The effect of your card is forced to change. Now your cards effect reads 'Destroy a monster your opponent controls then draw one card.'. You have only one target." Yuukas Crow exploded, but the smoke that were caused by it's explosion was a very thin purple mist. "Plague effect activate. When it's destroyed, a monster of my choice gains a Plague counter. I choose the only monster in on the field, yours."

The mist moved across the field, covering the angel for an instant before vanishing. Where it vanished too became clear very quickly. The Angel fell to a knee, panting. Yuuka grinned, lightly chucking to herself. "Now your Nurse is infected. She's the first. Your other monsters are next, then I'll infect you. I warned you that you'll be patient zero, I didn't lie. Now be afraid, very afraid. Monsters can be destroyed, Spells and Traps can be overcome, but sickness is something else. Something you can't deal with. So fear disease, fear my deck, and above all fear me!"

Against her will, against her better judgement, Emi felt a chill crawl down her spine. She wondered just what this infection, and any more infections to come, would mean.

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Jinn watched as his dorm head was gathering up supplies just outside the yellow dorm, among them a giant pot. It was that time again, every two weeks Kabayama would could a giant pot of curry for the entire dorm (and anyone else who showed up). Apparently this tradition had started a couple of years back, though Jinn was unsure why it had even been started. "Not that it matters very much now." He had already formed his cloak, but was in thought about something else. He nodded, his aura covering his face. Like the two before him, he would don a mask.

His mask was much less intricate and detailed than the two formed before it. This mask was simple, but it's representation was very clear. It was a very hollow mask, or at least appeared to be hollow. A hollow, jaded face. The face of one that knew famine.

He strolled over to Kabayama, who was checking he had all the ingredients he was going to need today. He was just checking the meat he was going to use was still fresh when he heard the crunch of gravel behind him. He turned around to see someone was approaching, carrying a Gray duel disk, which (most) of the staff still used. It was a visual way to differentiate between the staff and students in duels, but the Ra head thought it was rather pointless, surely the students would realize who the staff members were. Well...until a few years ago they would not have known in his case. His bi-weekly event had helped his popularity.

Jinn threw the disk he was carrying at his dorm head, who caught it just before it hit him in the face. He pulled out the deck inside, realizing it was his own. He looked back up to his new arrival. "What's this about?"

Jinn raised an arm, his aura starting to form his own duel disk. First, what would become his deck slot and graveyard formed. It was made of wood, thin, dead wood. It was if the wood had been cut from a very ill tree, one which had not grown well. First the graveyard formed, a part of the base of the duel disk, a slab of wood with an opening with a small bridge acting as the grave. The wood formed strong, if dead wood. Despite it's appearance it kept a firm grip to it's owner. Branches began to grown from the small block, creating a small cube like formation with a gap for a deck. Many small branches began to grow along the bottom of it, creating a stronger surface to sit the deck upon, despite being made of wood, would be soft and trimmed enough not to scratch whatever was placed upon it.

The last part of the duel disk to form was what would be the main zones of the game, branches began to sprout out from the base, shooting and growing in seemingly random formations before it became clear what it had formed. A hollow duel disk structure, with ten zones. Five for monsters, and five zones directly below for the Spell/Trap zones. The zones had no bases, the edges of the zones would act as rests for the cards that would placed upon them. The last to form was the field spell zone, taking it's place where the "traditional" field spell zone would have gone, but unlike the others, which would have a compartment slide out, this disk grew a section which the field spell would be placed into a slot. The angle of the slot made it so the field spell would be parallel with any defence position monster Jinn would summon. This thin, frail, but workable duel disk was what the Horsemen of Famine would use, and he would not be denied his target. "Either you face me or the other students do."

Kabayama nodded, he had no desire to subject his students to any more danger. He placed this disk on his arm before shuffling his deck and placing it in. "But why has he come for me?"

"Duel"

Kabayama would waste no time in this duel. He may not have known much of the details, but he had been informed the island was threatened. "Draw." He glanced at the card briefly, before smiling. "I play the continuous Spell card, Curry Pot."

Suddenly a giant pot appeared not far from Kabayama, already sizzling with whatever was cooking inside of it. Whatever it was, there was enough of it to feed many, one could easily drown in it.

Jinn blinked, realizing a very interesting fact. "I am the most befitting opponent for him." He smiled. "This is going to be interesting."

Kabayama, not seeing his opponents expression or reading his thoughts, continued. "I set one card." The hologram of a mystery card appeared. "Now I summon Master Chef Maestro." For a monster, this creature was oddly human. A Chef with a symbol of fire upon his hat and apron. The only odd thing about the chef was the chopping knife it carried. It was a bit too large to call a "knife". "Sword" would have been a better description. (Defence position. ATK/1000 DEF/1800) "Turn end."

Jinn drew a card without declaring it, glancing it at briefly before, "I activate a spell card, Sacrifice to the Earth. For every 500 life points I pay, I can summon one Sacrifice token. I pay 1500 life points." (LP/2500) The ground before Jinn cracked, the cracks quickly forming the outline for three humanoids that rose from it. Whether or not they were extremely thin and sickly humans, or exceedingly detailed if morbid and animate stone carvings was anyone's guess. Whatever they were, they were clothed in plain white rags, but the intricate carvings (or drawings) that formed many symbols across their skin were clearly ritualistic. Perhaps the sacrifice spoken in the cards very name used these symbols, but were the creatures that stood now the sacrifices, or the results of the sacrifice? Perhaps Jinn knew, but he would not be saying. (All Defence position. EARTH, Level 1 ATK/0 DEF/0) "My spell forbids me to perform another special summon again this turn. And the tokens can only be offered as tributes in a tribute summon of an Earth attribute monster." He grasped at another card in his hand. "I tribute one of my tokens." One of the sacrifices vanished, becoming an offering for the summon of a monster of Jinns own creation. Famine was his name now, and this monster would be one that would embody that name. "I summon Curse of Gaia - Dying Earth!"

The ground before Jinn turned black, as if something under it was leaking a black substance to the surface. The darkness gathered, creating a circle where the creature would emerge. The darkness became a hole, and stones began to rise, formless, shapeless, covered in darkness. A dark sphere of blackened earth at their center, like a black hole drawing them in. The stones started to crack, breaking apart in seemingly random ways. Only when the stones were connected did the breakages make sense.

What formed could truly be called a monster. It was very tall, more than twice the hight of it's current opponent. The monster was humanoid in how it stood, but it's similarities to it's summoner ended there.

It's face was almost completely bare, the most notable thing about it was the way it was shaped. The stone had been carved so it was shaped like a triangle, with the only facial feature being it's eyes. A black that somehow seemed to shine in the sun, like black diamond, which it very likely was. The eyes were large, and shaped in such a way that the creature was obviously looking at it's opponent, it's gaze promising wrath.

Below it's neck came it's chest, which aside from one feature was somewhat bland. In the center of it's chest was a hole, showing the sphere of black earth in the center. From this hole lines spread across the surface of the creatures body, engraved into the very structure of it. If the core of black earth was the heart, then these were the pathways it's blood would travel across. It's arms hung stiffly at it's side, it's surface unsafe to touch with the formation the stones had taken upon it, making it a serrated and extremely sharp. It's hands were oddly lacking in any kind of features. They were long, narrow, and hollow with holes at the ends of them. It's legs were different from it's arms. The legs were not made for attack, just defence. They were very thick and apparently very strong. The oddest thing were it's feet, they were not really feet. The base of each of them were perfectly flat, but everything above that made it seem like the this beast had slammed it's legs into wet earth and wait for results. As a result they were wider then the legs they were attached to, but looked like multiple layers of the earth had lapped up against it like waves, getting steadily lower each time. Despite the oddity of it's feet, they were completely identical. One thing remained to be done for this creature to become complete; the creatures lines were still empty.

The core pulsed, like a heart beat. In a second every line of the monsters body flowed with the river of rotten earth. Dying Earth. This monster bore it's namesake at it's very core, and was it's very blood. (Attack position. ATK/2000 DEF/1800)

Kabayama felt his blood run cold. Never had he seen something quite like this..."What kind of creature is that?"

"You may see food one of the greatest things the planet provides, but what will you do when the very world denies you that very thing? What will you do when the planet itself turns against you? Dying Earth, battle! Decayed Soil!" Dying Earth raised a hand silently, showing five holes in each of it's fingers. They were filled to the brim with it's blood.

It released it, each stream shooting with a geyser. It hit the target, covering it in it's 'blood'. The soil formed a puddle under the chef. The Earth sucked in it's target, dragging it down to the neck. Then the real attack revealed itself, the monsters face became hollow, pale...sickly. This monster was dying.

It exploded.

Kabayama, having managed to work through the shock on what he had witnessed, picked up the card that had been destroyed and placed it into his deck box. "Curry Pot removes from the game any monsters that are sent to the graveyard." He grasped onto his deck. "Also, when Master Chef is destroyed by battle, it's effect activates." He pulled out his deck, parting it before revealing two cards to his opponent. "I can send two plant-type normal monsters from my deck to the graveyard. I choose Potatoman and Carrotman. Though my Curry Pot will remove them from play."

Jinns eyes turned to see something appear out of the air above the Curry Pot. A carrot, a Potato and a sizeable chunk of meat. Kabayama explained. "This pot represents the monsters it removed from play." The three food items dropped into the pot below, becoming ingredients in whatever meal was cooking.

Jinn gave a very brief laugh. "Resorting to cannibalism. I would have expected this much later." He grabbed the last card he would play this turn. "I set one card, turn end."

Kabayama took a moment to think, looking at the monster his opponent had paid so heavily to summon. "He hasn't used it's effect. What is he waiting for, or has the timing not come?" He placed a hand on his deck. "Draw!"

Kabayamas' question was now to be answered. "Curse of Gaia effect activate! All cards we draw we must reveal. So show me what you drew."

Kabayama revealed the card, worried about the next step of the effect. "Onionman."

Jinn nodded. "My Curse of Gaia's second effect activates, monsters drawn cannot be played on the turn they are drawn. Unless my Curse were to be removed from the field or have it's effect negated."

Kabayama felt his face rearrange itself to show his shock, that was one heavy hitting effect to a lot of duellists. His only solace was a single fact; "We're both affected by it." With that one fact he could fight on without extreme burden. I summon Green Pepperman." Like most of Kabayamas monsters, this monster was an anthropomorphic food item. In this case it was a fat green pepper. It's garb traditional of this strange archetype; white gloves and red boots. (Defence position. ATK/800 DEF/800) "Turn end."

Jinn drew a card, revealing it. "Curse of Gaia – Empty Sky. I cannot play it." He placed it in his hand. "I have another Curse, however. I tribute a token." Like the token before it, the second vanished. "Curse of Gaia – Foul Wind!"

Kabayama grasped onto the cards on his hand with a tighter grip as the wind started to pick up, first as a light breeze before becoming violent. Something was coming. The wind began to recede from the duellists, before gathering into a single spot, the area that would become the monster zone for this curse of Gaia. The wind suddenly became sharp, slashing at the ground beneath it in seemingly random places. The cuts were deep, because in seconds large and thick slabs of earth levitated from the ground to rise into the mysterious wind. The wind continued to slash at the slabs, the next curse was being created by the very wind itself. In a moment the creature had formed, the second Curse of Gaia was ready to bare itself upon the world.

This Curses face was more human than the last, but clearly had not been carved with very much detail so it was a little misshapen. Like the other curse, it bore only one facial feature. Unlike the last however, it's feature was not anything humans would come to expect in a face. On each of where it's cheeks should have been were four holes, in a square formation. Kabayama wondered if this creature was even aware of the world around it.

In sheer contrast to the previous "Curse"; it's most notable features were on it's back. Six large and long spikes adorned them. They were symmetrical to one another, three on either side of it's back. What purpose they served would be revealed in time. It's arms were odd, because they were not really arms. They were long thick tubes of stone, with nothing at the ends of them. It's legs were unusual too The think stone that they were made of were riddled with holes. The holes stopped at it's feet, which were almost taloned, three claws at the front, two at the back. Each foot was currently gripping into the earth with impressive strength, the ground around them was cracked.

Now it was time for this curse to demonstrate what it's features were for. Suddenly the duel was filled with the sound of air being released, it took a second for Kabayama to understand, but it became clear that the sound was coming from the holes that adorned this curses body. In a few seconds the sound quietened to the point it was unnoticeable, but the source of it's eventual attacks had been identified. Foul Wind, a name it would soon demonstrate it's right to bare. (Attack position. ATK/2000 DEF/1800) "The effect of this curse is the same as the last, except this one shall affect Trap cards that are drawn. But for now that means nothing. Dying Earth, battle. Attack Green Pepper man!"

Like the chef before it, the plant quickly found itself lodged into blackened earth, it's own form rotting quickly. In seconds it too had exploded, leaving it's owner with a problem.

Kabayama was defenceless, but that would quickly change. "Reverse card open! Counter Spice Cumin! I can special summon a level 4 or lower monster form my hand in attack position! I summon Red Pepper man!" Aside from it's color, it was indistinguishable from it's Green counterpart. (Attack position. ATK/800 DEF/800) This defence had one slight, and dangerous flaw. One Jinn was ready to exploit.

"Foul Wind, battle! Foreboding Gale!" The spikes on the creatures back suddenly howled out to the world as they emitted the attack, a certain food item was about to suffer a terrible fate. A wind laced with some kind of black substance soared over to the red pepper, wrapping itself around the vegetable in a second. The wind did not seem to want to attack, but the effects of it's presence were clear. The Pepper was starting to rot, first only a little, before it continued. In moments all that remained as a shrivelled and rotten Pepper unfit to eat, the pepper faded into nothing, reappearing in it's full glory as a vegetable above the curry pot before leaving the sights of the duellists for the last time.

Kabayama was thankfully spared from any kind of backlash from his monsters destruction, but his life points were a completely different story. (LP/2800)

Jinn was almost finished. "I set one card. Turn end."

XXXXXXXXXX

Kenji frowned, his chin resting between his index finger and thumb. He was pondering something. "Anyone who falls before me..." He was the leader of the Horsemen, and soon his team would reveal the meaning behind their names, the unique curses and power Draygor had given their titles, their new names. Kenjis deemed his the most terrible. Now he didn't want to duel. Draygor had revealed it just before they had left his presence last.

"If we had beaten Judai..."

He held out a hand in front of him, his aura forming something in his hand. In a moment a mask was staring back at him. This mask was the simplest of the four, the single most simple and clear.

A mask of a Skull, somehow the holes representing facial features showed nothing beyond them, their holes somehow preventing light passing through them. The skull was moulded perfectly for the face it would be put upon. The skull had no mouth or teeth, leaving it nothing but blank below the nose. He raised it, placing it upon his face. It affixed itself to him perfectly.

"I am Death. All who fall before me shall know the meaning of the word."

He rose to his feet, he had his own target.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had taken a while, but a gathering of a sought had been reached, Xiaolang had relayed what he had seen to the people before him, and now there was only silence.

Kaiser broke it. "Were you able to identify Draygors new pawns?"

Xiaolang shook his head. "Too far away from me to see clearly. All I could make out was two Ras, one Obelisk and an Osiris. I only caught the end, but they each were controlling a monster which all looked similar to the others. I think Draygor created them, I could sense traces of his power."

Edo was next to speak, him and Manjoume having finished their little session with the fans. "Where's Judai now? He should be giving us the full account of what happened."

Xiaolang sighed. "He's useless to us. After his duel with Johan he went into withdraw. Doesn't look like he's coming out of it anytime soon."

The young pro raised an eyebrow. "They duelled?"

The first year nodded. "Don't ask me who won, I have no idea. I only showed up for what I guess was the last attack, I couldn't see a damn thing through it though. All I really saw was them both walking off after the match."

Jim nodded. "Johan's not in good shape either. Though I'm not sure if he's as bad as Judai is right now."

Austin stood up. "Why they're in the condition they are is not important. But the fact of the matter is two of our best are not fighting any more, so we have to. We need to prepare. We need to keep the students as safe as we can, and find out where Draygor is hiding now. We're on the defensive too much."

"But where do we start looking?" Was Manjoumes' first input in the conversation.

Fubuki spoke up. "This island is huge, we'll need to form plans if we want to find Draygor."

"But is that even a good idea right now?" Were the vocalized thoughts of Asuka.

"We cant just sit around waiting for the next attack."

Xiaolang watched as the discussion continued, keeping himself silent. Speaking his thoughts now would not be productive or helpful. He did not doubt the strength or skill of those in front of him. In fact, he was humble enough to know that he'd be defeated in a match against most of them. Even with that, the truth was unavoidable.

"Their leader, their symbol, cannot fight. Without Judai they don't have the willpower they'll need." With a nod to himself he walked out of the room, it's remaining occupants conversing amongst themselves. Xiaolang left with one certainty. The only one he thought he was likely to have for a while.

"Judai cannot be left as he is. There's only one thing that might fix him."

He walked out of the dorm, letting the sun rain it's light down upon him. As he looked to the sky the face of another past in front of his minds eye. One long gone, but with one legacy that was yet to be tapped.

"Ritan. You better have brought it with you."

XXXXXXXXXX

End of Chapter

XXXXXXXXXX

Today's Strongest Card

Grandmaster of the Six Samurai

Monster

Earth

5

Warrior/Effect

You can only control 1 "Grandmaster of the Six Samurai" monster. While you control a face-up "Six Samurai" monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. When this card is destroyed by your opponent's card effect, add 1 "Six Samurai" monster from your Graveyard to your hand.

Commentary: Xiaolang

"Helps activate Six Samurai effects, special summons himself, and he can add a samurai from my grave to my hand! He's the master of the Six alright."

Authors Notes: What is the legacy of Ritan? Well it's going to be a special treat for certain fans. You'll know who you are. The current duels will be concluded in the next chapter, as well as an extra one. Any guesses on who Death's gonna go after?

Hint: He's duelled a grand total of three times in the animé. Only two of which were shown on-screen.

About the Hiatus: It's over, somewhat. I might have lacked the time and energy to write, but my mind was working. Once I get into the flow of things again I should have something of a consistent chapter upload cycle again. It all depends on the content of the chapters; monster descriptions are a bitch sometimes and I've needed a stiff drink or two while studying diseases to use as inspirations for effects and appearances of the Plague archetype.

WHY? WHY do so many articles about diseases have to provide PICTURES! Expect slow updates on any chapters that involve the Plague deck duelling. I should have gone with a different interpretation of the Four Horsemen myth. Conquest would have been a more pleasant thing to make a deck around, yet alas I have a habit of doing the things that make story writing harder.

The next chapter is already in the making. I just hope I manage to aim away from my laptop if I end up finding more than I bargain for during research.