The Emissary of Extinction
Chapter 28
A Chalice of Ash
The fires finally died out.
"Gale Neos has 6000 attack points, more than most can deal with. Good thing I'm not using a deck most would use." He moved his hand to hover over the first card he would play for the turn. "I have a very bad feeling about this..." He grasped it.
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For the first few seconds of this memory all Xiaolang could see was smoke, only when it cleared could any sense be made of it. It was the championship match once more, Ritan was now completely out of monsters, but clearly Hell Guardian had been around to protect him from the worst of it (LP/4000). A defenceless Ritan was far from a finished one, Xiaolang had seen enough of his father's duels to know that, and that rule applied on this day as well.
He'd watched this match many times. The duel was approaching it's end. Remi would fight valiantly for a few more turns, but would be finished off like everyone else who'd come before the Demonic Warlords. "You managed to kill off my monster. I'd call it impressive if I had more than one. But as it is I'm not. Now to revive it! Spell card activate!"
This was all Xiaolang saw.
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He continued from where the memory left off. "Blazing Rebirth! I can revive any Demonic Warlord, but at the turns end it will be destroyed and I will receive damage equal to it's attack points. I revive the one I just lost!" A geyser of pure flame was almost as frightening as the growl which sounded this Warlord's return. The Demon already held new chains upon it's rebirth, death was not something the beast had accepted well. (Attack position. ATK/1600) "I tribute my monster to tribute summon another." He grasped another darkness covered card in his hand...
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Once again Xiaolang found himself in Ritan's personal study. His safe's door was ajar as he removed a deck from it, one Xiaolang had a feeling he was using right now. Ritan placed it inside of his suit's pocket. Now there was only one thing left in the safe, the only thing Ritan Kentai would leave behind on this day. One thing he would not see again for many years.
"Oblivion."
Ritan looked down at the card with an expression Xiaolang could not see, but his words formed the mental picture of his expression. "Use this weapon well, boy. Use it and grow strong. Strong enough to serve your life's purpose." He turned from the safe, walking away from it, walking out of the door, walking out the lives of his family.
He would never again return to that home.
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Xiaolang stopped his move. "He left Oblivion to me on purpose?" He shook his head. "I'll worry about this later." "I summon Demonic Warlord Punishment Beast."
This was the first Demonic Warlord Judai could not recognize, possibly because he'd avoided watching a number of Ritan's duels, maybe because Ritan had simply not played it at a profession match. Either way this was the first time Judai had seen it, and it was not a welcome first introduction.
It came onto the field flailing wildly, thrashing against the bonds it had been wrapped in. Chains bound this creature's arms to it's chest in an attempt to keep it from moving, but it's legs were free to carry the rest of their body.
Like the warlord before it, this monster also had horns, but these horns were much less interesting to gaze upon. There were only two, each upon the creature's head, directly above it's eyes. The creature also shared it's sacrifice's skin tone.
The creature's face was almost canine-like in nature. It's sharp, shifting gold eyes taking in it's surroundings in rapid succession, not that it's mind was capable of understanding the situation beyond the fact it was trapped. It's long, large and fang-filled mouth was currently trying to grasp the chains that bound it's face, said face moving back and forth to assist in the struggle when at last the fangs found steel, escape was imminent. With it's two mighty horns pointing out from the top of it's head, and the Demon's facial features, this beast could be mistaken as a cross-breed between Dog and Bull. It's viciousness however could raise the question if the cross-breed possibly originated from more violent creatures, or perhaps being a Demonic creature simply made one more vicious by nature.
The beasts chest was, aside from bound by chains, covered by deep crimson fur. It's powerful chest thrashed against the binds around it without relent, without pause. There was no way the beast was going to stop until it was free. It's equally muscular, but fur-less arms struggled as well, the many, many small bone spikes in it's arm screeching against the steel, it's powerful claws however unable to reach the chains. A 'clink' made the beast stop for a moment, it'd had heard it, even in the thrashing it had heard the quiet click, it had perhaps realized...
It scale covered legs shifted into a more steady stance, it would need great strength for this. It's pawed feet dug their nails into the ground, it was time.
With a ferocious growl the beast gave one last great thrash, ripping off the chains with it's arm and jaw strength like they were mere string now. It discarded the chains before sniffing at the air with it's canine snout. It found Plasma Vice by scent and growled. It had decided that the Hero was to blame for it's previous predicament, and soon it would enact it's revenge. (Attack position. ATK/2300 DEF/1900)
"Now a little more of Ritan's strength will turn against him." "Judai! I hope you're prepared! Go my Warlord! Attack Gale Neos!"
The beast growled, before throwing it's head to the heavens to scream like the mindless beast it was. The screech that rebounded off the walls held no soul, no true mind of it's own. It's deep and powerful nature held nothing but mindless savagery. This was a beast of punishment, as very few things were more brutal than that which did not understand what it meant to stop. It ceased it's screaming, glancing across at it's foe with burning eyes. It was time, it's two front appendages struck the ground as it moved forward with one powerful push. In it's madness it could not understand that this was not a fight it could win.
Alone. "Reverse Trap Open! Inferno Rage! During this turn, any time a Demonic Warlord monster attacks another monster that has greater attack power than itself, it gains attack points equal half of it's targets attack power." The beast was ignited, covered completely in a veil of flame, yet the fire did not stop or even distract it. (ATK/5300) Xiaolang bit down on his lip, the world was getting hazy, but this time, this time he would not go into the memories. He would not allow it. Even with all of his will, he could not quite silence the voice. "So this is the gate. The seal of the Six is strong. It will not be easy to break, but I have my plan in play." Xiaolang released his lip. "Demonic Warlord Punishment Beast Effect Activate! When it attacks, it gains attack points equal to it's target times 100 points." The Demon roared once more, the blaze of it's body burning just that bit brighter. (ATK/6100) Once more Xiaolang heard the voice. "Kill it!"
The Warlord threw itself upon Gale Neos, grasping at the Hero's face with both of it's mighty, burning claws. There was no time to react as the beast opened it's jaws, setting them open the face of it's victim and igniting both.
"AHHH!" Judai was thrown to the ground as Gale Neos was devoured by the blaze. He slammed into the ground. On better days he'd be up instantly with a grin on his face, but today he lacked the energy and will, but he did notice something. Something not even Xiaolang had noticed... "Why did he say 'kill it'?" He forced himself to sit up. "Is that deck messing with his mind?" A voice penetrated his thoughts, one even more unwelcome than the original owner of the deck he was fighting. "Yes."Judai gripped the ground with great anger. "Begone, Haou!" "You asked a question, I answered since no one else would. There is something upon that deck and it plays with the boy's mind. He is too inexperienced in such things to properly resist. Your cowardice has placed his sanity in danger. You should simply surrender your body to me." "Never. Never again." "So be it, coward. But remember, your actions have cost quite enough already. Continue and it will only cost more." Judai found his feet, he was not in the mood to deal with the king, no matter much truth there was to his words. He had to end this duel. "I can't let someone else suffer." (LP/700. Altar/6)
Xiaolang blinked. "He's going to fight, but why? It can't have been the attack alone." He shifted his jaw. "Why are my teeth clenched? I didn't do that..." He looked down. "It cant be." He gulped down the lump in his throat. "This deck is influencing me." He reached out and touched the next card, once more willing his mind to stay in the now, but the voice would not be completely silenced. "I must wait. My plan is not ready." "Turn end." "What was his plan?"
"I have to try and end this." "Draw! I activate Polymerization! I fuse Elemental Hero Sparkman and Elemental Hero Bladedge! I fusion summon Elemental Hero Plasma Vice!" For the second time, Judai summoned the golden armored, golden powered Hero. The fused creature clenched it's mighty hands, there would be no holding back from here. (Attack position. ATK/2800 DEF/2300) "Plasma Vice effect activate! By discarding a card, I can destroy an attack position monster you control." Judai picked up his last card, placing it in his graveyard. An empty hand was a price few would pay, and Judai was one of those few. "I destroy your warlord!" Plasma Voice raised a hand, blasting a mighty bolt at it's target. Xiaolang was about to be down a monster.
From one point of view anyway. "Reverse Trap Open! Hate Vein! I must tribute my Warlord to activate it!" His monster faded before the bolt could touch it. The Hero had shot and missed. "Now I can summon a Demonic Warlord from my hand. It gains attack points equal to the monster I tributed to activate Hate Vein." He grasped the card, the memories seeping in again. He could feel his mouth trying to move, and before he could stop it. "Arise, Demonic Warlord Magma Golem!"
This monster was completely different from it's allies, while they could be called some kind of flesh-based life form, this one was far from such a thing. The demon glowed with the magma that composed it's very body. Almost it's entire made was made of a bright yellow liquid inferno, at least on it's surface. What was beneath that was shown only on some parts of the thing's body. Stone slates adorned it's chest, the same kind of stone that made up the monster's three horns. Two horns occupied where the monster's eyes would have been, the third was positioned rather strangely, in the monster's right hand, in the very palm. This was a monster that being made of stone, could mix and match it's appearance it would seem. The monster was, like the other of it's archetype, physically large, but this monster had dedicated it's physique mainly to sheer bulk, which with this monster was an extremely bad thing. It walked upon feet made of stone, but held many cracks which revealed the magma within, leaking some of it as well. This Warlord could quite accurately be described as a hulking mass of moving magma. (ATK/1800 DEF/800. Altar/7) "Now my Hate Vein raises it's attack power!" (ATK/4100) "Damn. If he can't get out of this then I've won."
"Turn end."
"Shit!" "Draw! I set a card." This time his defences failed him, clearly this memory was much more potent than the last, Xiaolang was to be enlightened as to why.
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No Traps. No Spells. No Monsters. This is the sight Xiaolang was greeted with from Ritan's eyes. It was exactly as Xiaolang could remember this duel. Remi had fought valiantly, but Ritan had quickly reduced her best strategies to graveyard filler. Xiaolang didn't need to wonder what Monster Ritan has prepare for the final attack. A big event like this, nothing short of his ace was going to fulfil the role. Ritan glanced at the card he had just drawn, the one Xiaoang had just set. Ritan spoke.
"You have no defences left. No strategies. I'm done with you." He raised a card, pointing at his opponent. "Finish her, my reaper."
The Scythe-weilding demonic warlord briefly vanished, before reappearing behind Remi, it struck.
Remi was admirably silent as the attack struck her. (LP/0) She fell to her knees, utterly defeated. Ritan had won.
The champion had been crowned. "Another phase completed. Excellent."
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Back in reality Xiaolang was faced with the possibility that if he attacked, he might win. Today, he had to take that possibility, and only today was it a burden. He put from mind the last thoughts he had just heard, they were the past, this was here and now.
"Magma Golem, attack Plasma Vice!"
The Warlord ran forward, pulling back it's mighty third horn as it's almost featureless body spilled it's essence upon the ground. It thrust it's weapon forward, the force of it causing much of the magma on it's hands to propel forward along with the impaling weapon. Now two things were reaching out to destroy the Hero.
Two things that would never reach their target. Instead metal armor blocked their way.
Judai's graveyard was glowing, his quick manurer ejecting itself. "Necro Gardna effect activate! By remove it from play, I can negate your attack."
"Nice save, Judai. But can you turn this around and win?" "Turn end."
"I knew Ritan's deck was strong, but when facing it down myself...no wonder I had nightmares because of this deck." "Draw!" He discarded the card almost instantly. "Plasma Vice effect activate. I destroy your Warlord now." Another bolt blasted off, this time there would be no attempt by Xiaolang to evade it. The blast struck hard, instantly detonating it's target. In seconds Judai's foe had nothing he could call a defence.
Xiaolang nodded. "He's getting there. Maybe a couple of turns and he'll finish this. I can hope."
"Plasma Vice! Direct attack! Plasma Pulsation!"
Xiaolang would not permit this to happen. "Forget it Judai! You're not reaching me! Reverse Trap Open! Pyre Wall!" "He is ready. It is time for me to put my plan in motion." I can negate your attack and end this battle phase by sending a Demonic Warlord from my deck to the graveyard that has the same level. You know which one I'm sending, Judai!"
Judai gulped. "Yeah..."
Xiaolang had already parted his deck, placing the ace monster of Ritan Kentai into the graveyard, this memory was rather weak, manifesting only as a voice. "He has failed me!" Xiaolang grinned. He had a guess as to who the 'he' in the sentence was. His grin was dim next to the sudden fires that rose up in front of him. A wall wall of fire, as wide and as high as the cave protected him from the incoming voltage that sought to reduce his life points. The crimson blazes shined with a light that could blind any that would stare into it for too long. Judai had failed in his attack, and now the Altar was only to gain from it. Another monster's ashes fell into it's mixture. The contents were now blackened by the still hot ash, matching the black smoke emitting from it. (Altar/9)
Judai could do no more. "Turn end."
"Draw..." He glanced at the drawn card. "Target practice for Plasma Vice." He turned an eye to behind him. "There's only one real logical move here." He frowned. "Shit. Well it's all or nothing now!" "I activate the effect of my altar! Once per turn, I can remove any number of Martyr counters from it. If I do, I cannot Normal, Special summon or set any new monsters this turn. In exchange I get to summon a Demonic Warlord from my graveyard whose level is equal to the number of cards removed. I will remove eight." (Altar/1)
The black smoke suddenly grew, creating a sphere that sat atop of the cauldron. The darkness turned, rotating around the surface as the pentagram's fires rose, launching themselves right into the sphere of smoke. Both Judai and Xiaolang looked up in a sense of morbid wonder as the process continued. The sphere was starting to change, the fires were starting to ignite the smoke, what started as smoke became a ball of perfectly still golden fire. Xiaolang continued.
"You know what's coming now!" He grasped the Warlord that came from his graveyard, hearing his father's voice once more. "He comes. And he comes for me. Now I will use him to open the gate. Everything has fallen into place. No matter the outcome, I am prepared." "I summon Ritan's ace monster. Demonic Warlord Malicious Reaper!"
The sphere burst, it's golden blazes descending down to the world below like water. It covered the walkway separating Xiaolang and Judai, much of it spilling down to either side, falling into the depths that's ends were unknown. Judai looked up to the creature that had been summoned, not that he required any reminder as to the appearance of the creature that had been called forth.
The Reaper of the Demonic Warlords was the only one thus far that wore an article of clothing. The reaper was draped in a black cloak. From over it's head to it's feet this giant of a monster was laden by it. Despite it's clothing, much of this Warlord's body structural features could be made out.
The monster's face, if it even was it's own face was nothing but bone. Like a certain other creature Ritan had involved itself with this creature's used a skull as it's own face. This skull was of a creature that Judai could not begin to identify, even after all the years he'd known of this Warlord. In all honestly, Judai was not even sure if it was ever a skull. The skull was Gray, so he had no idea if the skull was actually even a skull, or a very morbid and creepy helmet.
The Skull was very large, several times the size of a human skull, and bore no resemblance to a creature Judai could name. It was the first Warlord not to have a horn upon it's head, the cloak's hood lying upon the top of this 'head' undisturbed, even though the head's surface was more of a square-like structure. Down the sides of the face there were no features, just a smooth, flat surface. The bottom of this Demon's 'face' was almost blank too, it had no mouth or nose on it's mask. However, this face was far from featureless. The Demon had eyes carved into the mask, large circular eyes with were intricate in their detail. The details were carved in a mixture of holes, and where the steel had been undisturbed. The carver of this mask was extremely clever, as it gave one who would look into them the impression that real eyes were looking back. The most notable feature of the eyes was the circular array of diamonds that made the center, which alone would have only been pretty jewellery, but with the most unnerving thing about the Reaper's head they became so much more.
The skull glowed from within, a bright and strong glow like fire itself was housed behind the eyes. The fire shown in the Diamonds, making the 'eyes' of the reaper glow with a very befitting light. Between the monster's eyes red was painted into the steel, first starting as two small lines that came from each eye, but meeting to grow as a rectangle of red that steadily grew wider as it ran down the mask. The reaper that cried blood, was a description that Xiaolang had given the face in his younger days, and only added to his nightmares of the creature as a result. Whatever face lay under the skull was something very few would even wish to see. Neither Judai or Xiaolang were among that few. The skull itself was so large that it was partly supported by the monster's shoulders, carvings made for the shoulders to fit in.
The Reaper's chest was somewhat exposed, given that there was a hole in the cloak. The hole was in the top left of the monster's chest, where in one could see a fire glowing from underneath. Judai glanced at it for a moment, feeling his own heart stop briefly when the light flashed bright for far less than a second. The fire he could see was the Reaper's heart. This Demon housed a heart of pure fire. For some unknown reason, a number of bones were sewn to the cloak around the chest. Each of a different shape and size, one an actual human skull. No one knew where they originated from, and no one was asking.
The Demon's right hand was currently grasped around it's weapon of choice, it's hands were large, each of it's long fingers narrow like claws. Being a "Reaper" one could ask if this monster even had flesh upon it's hands, but to examine the appendages would be quite near impossible. The hands were so bright that they could hurt the eyes that gazed at them too long. Xiaolang was almost certain that the brightness of the monster's hands came from within, something under the hands gave off an incredible amount of heat and light. Xiaolang expected it had something to do with the monster's blazing heart.
The scythe was among the most dull features of the demon. The Grim Reaper needed very little to make it's scythe terrifying, neither did this Reaper. The handle was made of some kind of black steel, and the entire weapon's proportions were more befitted to it's user's size. No markings or feature's marked the handle, and nothing was at the base of the handle, which was lengthy enough to reach it's user's feet. The blade was the work of art, or so Ritan had claimed so in his lifetime. The blade was, very oddly, white as snow. Somehow the blade even managed to give off it's own gentle light, but in the hands of this creature, the massive blade was far from a pretty. From the very tip of the blade something was dripping, a bright drop of liquid fire fell from the blade every few seconds. It would take a close look, but if one was brave enough to take the time, the red trim on the edges of the blade, as well as the line that ran along the center of the blade would show that firsts appearances were very deceiving in this Warlord's case.
It's legs were mostly covered by the cloak, but from the monster's feet, Judai had a suspicion they were nothing more than bone. It's feet were bone, human as well. This Warlord may have in fact been at least partly Human, but, Judai once thought with a shudder, what Human would set the bones of their feet ablaze. The monster's feet glowed with a gentle flame, no harm seemed to be coming to the bones they burned but one would be foolish to touch the deep orange fire.
This was Demonic Warlord Malicious Reaper. Ritan's ace creature, one many upon many more had learned to fear, Judai being no exception. (Attack position. ATK/3000 DEF/2200)
"My god!...it's..." He stepped back. He was actually scared. "It's still as frightening as I remember it. Ritan was...very strong."
Just how strong was something Judai was about to discover. "Attack!"
The Demon gripped it's scythe with both of it's mighty, clawed and seemingly burning hands. It raised it's weapon from the ground, raising it high, ready to strike. Xiaolang knew what could only be coming now.
The Reaper vanished, like it had never been there to begin with it vanished from Xiaolang's side of the field. He did not even need to turn his head to find where the Reaper had gone to.
Plasma Vice was completely unaware of the monster that now stood behind him, with it's scythe prepared and it's target selected, death had come to claim it's next victim today. It struck, ramming it's blade right through the quickly screaming Hero. This brutal act alone would not suffice however. The demonic Reaper picked up the skewered Hero, flipping him right over it's own body and slamming it directly onto Judai.
The Hero ignited.
Xiaolang frowned as he heard Judai scream. This may have been by far the closest he'd ever come to defeating Judai, which is exactly why he wasn't pleased. This was not his deck, or his might. This was the strength of another, one who even after death was able to damage the world. By now the blaze had faded, revealing Judai to be slightly dazed, but still standing. (Judai LP/500) "I've pushed you as far as I think this deck can, at least under my control. It's now or never Judai." His ears caught the sound of crackling. "What?"
He turned around, the altar was now dyed in red light as the cauldron glowed with it's own crimson light. Xiaolang felt a sudden chill run down his spine. "What the hell's going on!" Another chalice appeared, another death meant another round of ash to collect. "All of this over the death of Plasma Vice?" The chalice descended, travelling to collect a round of ash.
Not that of the fallen Hero. The crimson cup dipped itself into blood-dyed ash. "What?" Xiaolang jumped, reaching out to try and grasp the chalice in his hand. He missed, creating a cloud with the remaining ash that had not been collected. He quickly found himself back on his feet, too late to stop what was happening.
The bloodied ash hit the liquid below. The ashes of humanity were left to mix with the ashes of so many fallen creatures. The center of the liquid became red, before the color bled out amongst the rest of the fluid, making it like itself. The cauldron boiled, creating smoke and steam from whatever was being created. The smoke crackled with power, dark streaks of lightening decorating the surface of the emissions. The Pentagram rose once more, throwing itself into the smoke will great force and speed, it vanished as the smoke grew and grew before suddenly igniting. The ceiling of the cave was suddenly alive with a crimson blaze. Just when the worst seemed just about the come the fire suddenly retreated, wrapping around the altar, cauldron to block. Now all there remained was a pillar of fire. It turned in blaze, a cylinder of pure flame, turning in place faster and faster until Xiaolang was forced to block his face with his hands. His feet skidded across the ground as he roared from sheer effort, but against this phenomenon his physical strength was nothing. Through the chaos he could hear a voice.
"What are you doing, Xiaolang!"
"This isn't me, Judai!" He finally stopped struggling, the fire was slowing down. It stopped, a turning tower of fire simply...stopped. Xiaolang could only take in what he saw for a moment before, like a candle before the strong breeze the fire was going out. Only the Cauldron remained, and it was smoking. The surface of it's contents was now completely obscured by the smoke tha]t now emitted from it. Xiaolang felt a chill run through him, something had to have been coming from the cauldron now. "It used Ritan's ash, but that's...no that cant be possible..." He watched the surface of the smoke begin to shift.
The creation was rising.
First it's head rose up, still almost completely obscured by the steam and smoke. It was human, so very human. Xiaolang felt a weight land in his very soul, somehow...somehow he knew. Somehow he knew exactly what was behind the smoke, even if it has not revealed itself. He saw the smoked figure being clothed in garments quite like the monster Xiaolang had last summoned.
Then the smoke started to part, and had Xiaolang been foolish enough to have any doubts, they were erased.
The creation smiled, then broke into laughter. It parted it's arms to declare itself to the world even louder than when it had started. That day a great darkness had found it's way into the world once more. A great evil once again drew breath. At once so much became clear, and so much more became that much more vague. One thing however, was completely clear. An undeniable truth. A fact none could escape.
Ritan Kentai had been reborn.
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End of Chapter
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Today's Strongest Card
Altar of the Fallen
Spell (Continuous)
Each time a "Demonic Warlord" monster is sent to the graveyard or destroys a monster by battle, place 1 Martyr Counter on this card. Once per turn, during your main phase, you can remove any number of Martyr counters from this card to special summon 1 "Demonic Warlord" monster from your graveyard whose level is equal to the number of counters removed. You cannot Normal/Special summon or set another monster during the turn you summon a monster with this card's effect.
Commentary: Ritan
"Where life and death are united. Where even the dead can rise to life again!"
Authors notes: Happy Halloween! This year's theme: Necromancy.
(Yes, I know this chapter (like the last) was short but you got two chapters in under a month, that's the trade off.)
To answer what you're likely wondering; no. I'm far from done with plot twists. I wonder if I can pull off anything that's actually unexpected though.