YuGiOh 5D's: Kazuki Takahashi/Konami
Betas: Yami Zegadis/5-digits/BebePanda401
make sure to read and review.
Back to the barren wastelands of Satellite, Jason and Kenichi just woke up from the effects of David's shadow-duel. And they had a lot of knots to stretch out.
"Man, I felt I slept for like an eternity..." Jason sighed.
"Who would've known a single card would have that much effect on ya'," Kenichi groaned.
"I take it you two slept well..." the two turned to see David walking towards them.
"Oh, hey David." Jason greeted, "I guess you already finished your duel?"
"Too bad we missed it. I slept like a log!" Kenichi said; then he noticed that David's eyes were a bit red, raw and puffy, "I guess that means you decided to take you your lady friend, huh? Tough call." his only response is a hardened glare as he spun around and walked hastily off to his duel-runner.
"That was uncalled for, Kenichi..." Jason scolded as he walked passed Kenichi.
"...What?" Kenichi asked unfolded, following his two cohorts towards the back-up generator, "Wait! What'd I say?"
The generator was actually, a small battleship-grey pedestal with a small indent fit for a single card. It was engraved with the kanji symbol for 'water'.
"This must be the one that specializes water..." Jason pulled out his deck and separated Genex Undine from among the stack. He placed the card in the pedestal and watched it glow a bright blue color. The flash lessened a little as it stayed lit. Jason retrieved his card and rejoined his friends on his duel-runner. "That's one back-up down, only four more to activate. Let's go!" his friends nodded.
YuGiOh 5D's
Reverse of Arcadia
Ride 32: Coils of the Snake
Part 1: Fangs of the Serpent
The trio raced across the wasteland towards the next generator. After a long while of driving, Jason decided to strike up a little conversation with a certain magician duelist...
"So were you able to clear thing up with Mana?" he spoke through the intercom, "Was she able to forgive you for what happened?"
The magician duelist was not really wanting to discuss matters; his heart was still wounded and unlike the bloody scars on his body. They would not heal as easily, "To be fair with you, my mind is filled with more questions than when I went with you guys. She did claim to have forgiven me yes, but the truth is..." He cut off for a while. The pain was clear on his face now. "It's simple for one to forgive another, but can the one who committed the sin forgive himself?" Letting out a heavy sigh David wanted nothing more but to turn the monitor off and crawl into a hole. But deep down, he knew it wasn't that easy.
Jason could read the older man like a book now, with his experience in their duel he could tell that David was in more pain now than ever before. "That's up for you to find out. No one but you can find that answer; though tell me what exactly happened?"
"It was just one bad thing after another: I was beaten, slashed, mangled and blooded up. But all of that didn't matter to the emotional pain, the words Mana claimed to say, that I was nothing more than one of the criminals I help put away. That I had no right to live, and not to mention that it was my neglectful behaviour that forced her into dying. Yet..."
"Yet?"
"Yet I saw that the Mana that said those things was just the Dark powers of those Dark Signers. The real Mana my Mana, she forgave me but still..." David clenched his hand tighter around the accelerator, but didn't speed up. "I've still lost everything just now." Suddenly he stepped hard on the brake and stopped on purpose. His whole body shaking, he was choking back the tears once again. "I've not been entirely truthful with any of you. You see what Yusei and the others said may be right, maybe there is a way to make a Dark Signer back into a normal living person. But Mana, she...she...she was already dead. They simply made her a puppet. A reanimated puppet." He slammed his fist hard on the dashboard, and flung his head down not even looking back up at the other two. "AND FOR WHAT? WHY DID THEY DO IT? I'M NO SIGNER, I'M NO MAN OF DESTINY, AND I'M NO HERO! ALL I AM IS A FAILURE, SO GO AHEAD AND LAUGH AT ME! I KNOW YOU ALL THINK THE SAME!"
Jason stood by his Duel Runner. He didn't move towards David at the feeling of getting snapped at. Eventually Jason spoke, "No one sees you as a failure, and I don't know why they did either. Maybe we're all connected to this in one way or another, but you are not a failure and you need to see that. I may not have known her but I doubt Mana would like to see you like this. After all you were a hero to her."
David could barely breathe but he forced himself to talk. "But without her, where do I belong in this world? All I can do is fulfil her last wish and then...well, what then?"
"Her last wish? What was that?" Jason asked. He didn't really know what to make of the last words of the Spellcaster Duelist.
"She wanted me to help the people of this world, to stop the Dark Signers from winning this blood soaked war, and to help set the people of New Domino and Satellite free. But now I'm not too sure I can." David explained. He wasn't crying, but his voice had a sore feeling to it.
"She really thought a lot of you, but to say you can't isn't either right or wrong. You can do it, but I don't think you can do it alone. Not because you're a failure but because it's impossible for one person. I think Mana really wanted you to stop being so closed with others, and make peace with them and yourself. I mean, ok, maybe I'm reading too much into it, but you can't deny that maybe that is what you have to understand." Jason tried to comfort the lone wolf, as it clearly wasn't dangerous just confused.
"I simply can't just become friends with everyone easily."
"I understand that, but maybe you should try to open up with the others I mean you never really spoke with us, plus you are always by yourself. I mean, ok, you speak to me, but minus that you seem snappy with everyone. Heck, you even gave Rico a hard time for pointing out your outfit. Look, I understand. It's hard to understand others, but everyone is worried about you, just like they worry for the rest. So just try and open up more. You know it doesn't hurt to try." Jason gave a faint laugh as he turned on his Duel Runner.
David pondered for a moment then spoke once again. "Jason..."
"Yeah?"
"I appreciate your concern. But after this war is over, I may have to find my true self even if it means leaving the city for a while. Can I ask you one thing: will you all be willing to wait for me to return?" David spoke his tone was softer, though his voice was still deep.
Jason smiled back. "Sure we will all be there to welcome you back, besides despite what you may believe we are all friends. And not only that, we are family too." They both drove off towards the second generator and soon caught up to Kenichi once again.
"Family huh?" David smirked. "You lot are way too naive for your own good; but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way." Suddenly something threw itself in his path and he swerved to miss it. "What the?" He looked around, before noticing a letter attached to a shuriken. He drove over to it and picked it up.
'Seems you are slowly recovering, once your business is done, I will reveal myself to you and you will find your answers in the very flow of time itself.' Were the words used in the letter.
"Strange..." David thought but continued to drive on. He was soon to find out what the message meant, not that anyone could prepare him for it, as it would all seem hard to believe.
A shadowy figure loomed nearby, "Soon enough you will find out the truth, very soon." The figure smirked clearly observing the three riders. "Time waits for no man but the one that possess Dark Magician. You will soon learn his true cause in this life. But for now enjoy the fight."
As time progressed, Kenichi and the other two were slowly closing down on the generator. Suddenly the monitor on the all three Duel Runners flicked on and Kenichi spoke to the other two who had been up until now speaking privately, "Say you two, at this rate we will be taking forever to get there. So how's 'bout you two slow pokes keep up! First one there gets to play with the next Dark Signer!" Laughing, Kenichi sped up and roared away from the others.
"Wait, Ken, where are you going!" Jason screamed out as the flame duelist sped away.
"Idiot! He's going to get himself killed. Then again, once a fool always a fool," David sighed and then turned to Jason. "We better hurry up; if he gets too far ahead he'll probably crash or even get him killed by the next Dark Signer."
Jason sighed also, though he didn't agree with David calling Kenichi an idiot; he did have to admit he had a point. "Yes we best go Ken always has a flaming attitude, and that is what makes him so fiery I guess."
"Well maybe he should learn to cool down before he is extinguished." David grumbled and sped up, with Jason in tow. Both of them fearing for what will be around the corner after all they were just going further into the darkness.
Meanwhile...
Back in New Domino, Isis Kaiba had just gotten out of the car, and stood just outside Goodwin's manor. Having received a call from him, apparently it was something important. But she really wasn't happy about this sudden call. Especially with all of the important work which came with the 'missing citizens' of the city. Angered and frustrated, she went through the door where Goodwin awaited her.
"Ah, dear Isis. I'm so glad you could come." Goodwin said with his undoubted slimy kindness.
"Save it Goodwin. Why did you ask for me! Can't you see I'm busy as it is? And unless this is something really important like getting me that rematch I'm not really interested. So if you don't mind..." Isis was about to turn away and walk when Goodwin simply chuckled.
"Yes, of course I'm aware you're busy, as am I, Miss Kaiba. But this is important. After all, if you have your rematch, you had better hope Jason can survive the upcoming fight with the Dark Signers. After all, he's currently in Satellite fighting for the side of good, as well as the future of our world."
"Oh boy; this again, huh?" Isis mumbled until staring daggers at Goodwin. "Look Goodwin. I'm not interested in these fairy tales of good-and-evil, and that damn Crimson Dragon of yours. I've only come here for one thing; and if you can't provide it for me, then I guess I'll just leave."
"Now, now, calm down. There's still something I can show you. As I said, Jason is still out there. But I can at least show you where he is currently If you so wish for that rematch, you will be wanting to make sure your skills are sharp. Because believe it or not, in this war, Jason is growing ever more." Goodwin explained in his usual calm demeanor.
"Well, it does amaze me that he can improve, especially with his little tactics. But perhaps it couldn't hurt to see what the foolish fool is up too. Go on then I'll play your game Goodwin. So show me already." Isis replied impatiently whilst tapping her foot on the ground, clearly fed up by now.
"But of course." Goodwin clicked his fingers as a monitor appeared in front of Isis, which was now currently showing Jason's position in Satellite as he was racing towards the next generation, much faster than usual. "As you can see, Miss Kaiba, he is currently in pursuit of the five back-up generators that will stop the plans of the Dark Signers, thus solving the problem that has been giving your corporation so much trouble as of late."
"What are you going on about? Why would I care that he's in some rust-bucket island known as Satellite. To me this proves nothing at all. Now will you just get him back here already? I have business to take care of." Isis crossed her arms in displeasure at Goodwin's lack of cooperation.
"If I do that Isis, you won't have any business to go back to. You see, as I've said before, Jason, as well as the other Signers, are currently fighting a war, which will determine the fate of our world completely. If they are to lose, this world will be destroyed. And no matter what you believe, it's all true. So now please be patient and watch quietly. I'll be back shortly." Goodwin spoke calmly and simply shrugged off Isis's comments.
As Isis monitored the outlook of the situation, she still frowned as Goodwin left. "I still don't see the point in this, you pompous windbag. But if it gets me what I desire, I'll play your game for now. Still, let's see how this rodent from the slums will get on. I'll look forward to seeing what these Dark Signers make of you." Sitting down on the sofa Isis couldn't do much more but watch as the events transpired in front of her.
Back in Satellite...
Kenichi had successfully made it to the next generator, satisfied with himself he came screeching to a halt. Lifting his helmet he looked around and noticed that Jason and David were nowhere in sight. "Hey guys, where are you?" He searched around aimlessly, though knowing that the other two must have been a far bit behind he soon gave up. Smiling to himself, he stretched out and laughed.
"Heh looks like I won the race. Now I get to go and do some Dark Signer bashing. Besides, can't let them have all the fun. So let's see what we have here..." He walked over to the generator but yet there was no one around. "Hey! Hello Dark Signer! I know you're around here! C'mon, what's the matter? Scared of me because you know I'll kick your ass?" Kenichi continued to taunt as he walked around the generator, yet seeing no one but soon enough he was in for a rude awaken.
"I guess you guys aren't all you're cracked up to be. Looks like this generator's all mine to activate. In fact, since y'all easily beatable I don't see the point in fighting. I'll just activate the generator right n-" Suddenly purple flames arose around him. "Whoa!" coiling all around him the fires scorched into yet another familiar creature.
David had just seen the image in the air, and he knew all too well what it meant. "Jason, look. It appears we have trouble!"
Jason also looked up and noticed the particular image, that of one of the most deadly animals. "This can't be good. Why do I have a feeling that Ken is stuck in all of this? David, I think we better hurry. Otherwise I think we may be in deep water." He sped up even more as the looming shadow in the sky drew nearer.
David shook his head. That awkward feeling he had in his shadow-duel was creeping in his body. He shook slightly, but managed to control his emotions. "Look forward; there's no turning back." He calmly said to himself before following Jason in his own slipstream.
Kenichi on the other hand was now looking somewhat worried. "Where are you? Show yourself already!"
A duel-runner suddenly shot off a cliff overhead, crossing over the flames and landed a few yards in front of him. The bike's frame was a venom-purple, with several red blades jutting from the sides, especially two long ones from the front of the runner. A large hood stretched from the back of the runner and shadowed over it in the shape of a large cobra. The runner's pilot wore a rider-suit was a poisonous acid green along with its serpent-styled helmet which concealed its identity.
"You? You're the weakling who dares challenge me!" its feminine voice spat, "You couldn't even beat that weak excuse of a Magician! You really think you can defeat me? I was hoping for Hutchins but I'll settle for you as my warm-up!" the rider gripped the handles of her duel-runner and revved her engine, "Now feel the fangs of the serpent!"
Jason and David stopped on the edge of a cliff just in time to see the duel about to unfold.
"Oh no, we're too late!"
"Guess Kenichi may get his grand prize after all."
Suddenly a beeping signal went off on Jason's runner. He thought it was Kenichi calling, but when he answered, Goodwin's face was shown on the screen.
"Goodwin!" David gasped.
"Goodwin?" Jason repeated, "What are you doing on my channel?"
"It's good to see you too, Mr. Hutchins." Goodwin said, ignoring the Signer's question, "It seems you have reached the second generator. Has your opponent arrived yet?"
"I guess, but..." Jason looked over to the blazed battlefield, "I guess Kenichi already beat me to the punch."
"And you allowed him to go out to battle?" Goodwin inaudibly gasped, "...I would like a little talk with this Kanichi person." the screen suddenly went blank...
And then he reappeared on Kenichi's screen on his own runner, "Whoa! Director Goodwin? So, you called to cheer me on in my first real shadow-duel, huh!"
"I have called to request that you stand down and admit defeat before it's too late. Just leave the Dark Signers to the Signers alone."
Kenichi scoffed, "Yeah, well, sorry to disappoint you, but this is something I just can't turn my back to. Now if you'd excuse me..." he then turned his sights toward the Dark Signer, "Alright! You wanna go, then let's go!" the blaze-haired duelist pressed on revved his runner, the wheels spraying back dirt and sand before darting forward across the dark arena, with his opponent following.
"Mr. Matsuda, you do not know what you have gotten into! You simply don't have the talent to match a Dark Signer! Matsu-" Goodwin was cut off when Kenichi switched off the communication link.
"I'd take Goodwin's word if I were you!" the Dark Signer called, "You should have let the Signer handle this instead of just rushing into a turbo-duel you know you can't win!"
"Well, don't you have a way with words! Looks like I'm gonna have to put that deck of ours where your mouth is! I activate the Speed World field-spell!" Kenichi pressed a button on his runner and the field-spell program activated.
"DUEL-MODE ENGAGED." Speed World then pulled out throughout the battlefield.
Kenichi: 8000
?: 8000
"Tell you what, since you're the one who challenged me, I get to decide who goes first, right?" the Dark Signer said as they both passed the first corner, "Why don't you take the first turn. You'll need all the help you can get."
"Your too kind," Kenichi replied sarcastically as he drew his first card, "I may not be a Signer but I can still duel with the best of 'em! and I summon Charcoal Impachi(1/ATK: 100/DEF: 2100) in DEF mode!" a blue portal opened and released a wooden puppet-like creature whose hide as black as coal, "I throw down a face-down and end my turn!"
"It's my turn," the Dark Signer drew her sixth card, "I set one monster face-down and end my turn with three more." four reverse-cards appeared on the field.
"It's my turn!" Kenichi drew his next card, "I activate the speed-spell Double Summon! That means with at least 2 speed-counters I can summon an extra monster this turn! And with that, I summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4, and (1) Gaia Soul the Combustible Collective(4/ATK: 2000/DEF: 0)!" a silver avian-like dragon appeared on the field (ATK: 1600).
"I activate the trap Acceleration Zone!" the female Dark Signer revealed one of her reverse-cards, "Now that you played a speed-spell, I get 6 more speed counters!" with the added boost, she dashed forward past her opponent.
Kenichi: 8000 (3)
?: 8000 (9)
Accompanying it was what appeared to be a cluster of heated rock, barely hiding what seemed to be a living eyeball (ATK: 2000). "Now I activate Gaia Soul's ability! By releasing a monster on my field, my monster gains 1000 ATK points for each one! So I release Charcoal and Horus to double up Gaia Soul's power!" both of Kenichi's monsters were consumed by fire and were infused into the burning stone (ATK: 2000-4000), "And since there are FIRE monsters in my graveyard, I can remove then both from play to special-summon Inferno and (2) Spirit of Flames(4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 1000) straight from my hand!" a blazing embodiment of fire and a red-skinned demon appeared respectively on the field (ATK: 1100) (ATK: 1700), "Gaia Soul! Attack that face-down!" the golem rose into the sky before exploding, separating itself into several boulders of burning fire, all of them guided by the single eye that formed then, "By the way, when Gaia Soul attacks, you're not safe even with a monster in DEF mode! Now flush out whatever that Dark Signer's got hiding!" the reversed monster the Dark Signer had flipped over and revealed a red serpent with a steel cobra-like hide, known as Venom Cobra(4/ATK: 100/DEF: 2000). The boulders then dropped down in incredible speeds as they struck like meteors, crashing down into the earth as one smashed into the cobra.
Kenichi: 8000 (3)
?: 6000 (7)
"Now Inferno and Spirit of Flames, incinerate her life-points! And while we're at it, Spirit of Flames' ability activates, giving him 300 more ATK points during my battle-phase(ATK: 1700-2000)!" the two pyro-type monsters launched a twin barrage of fire at the Dark Signer, burning her life-points even further.
Kenichi: 8000 (3)
?: 2900 (4)
"But the fun's not over yet! I activate the trap card, Spiritual Fire Art-Kurenai! By releasing a FIRE monster on my field, its original ATK points are scorched out of your life-points!" Kenichi's reverse-card flipped over and called out Hiita the Fire Charmer. Gaia Soul then dissipated and then absorbed itself into Hiita's staff, only for her to expel it against the female Dark Signer before disappearing.
Kenichi: 8000 (3)
?: 900 (2)
Jason: "Whoa! Kenichi's on a role today! He took out over 7000 of her life-points in one move!"
David: "Because of Gaia Soul's overwhelming power in ATK points, it must be destroyed at the end of the turn. But its power can also be used in extent of another card..."
Jason: "By using its ATK power to boost one's life-points, or in his case, inflict massive damage to his opponent!"
The Dark Signer's runner lost its extra acceleration and slowed down, allowing Kenichi to catch up, "That's my turn! If you're smart then you'd quit!"
"I never quit! And I never let some third-rate duelist get the better of me! I activate the (5D's) Venom Road trap card!" when the second reverse-card opened, the road began to soften and smoothed the traction of both players' runners. They were soon riding across a swamp, "At the end of each turn, every monster on the field gets a venom-counter, taking 500 from their ATK points! And one their ATK points reach zero from that effect, they're automatically destroyed." then a couple of liquefied blue snakes shot out of the card, each of them latching onto a monster on the opposing field. Their venom coursed through them as they grew weaker.
Spirit of Flames: (ATK: 1200)
Inferno: (ATK: 600)
"My turn!" the Dark Signer drew her next card, "And my turn to deal some damage control on you! I activate the Snake Rain speed-spell! Since I have three speed-counters, I can send one card from my hand to the graveyard! Then I can select four reptile-type monsters from my deck and then toss them in as well!" she removed her deck and searched through them, removing the four cards she needed to the graveyard before returning her deck to her wrist dealer and allowing it to shuffle itself. "Next, I activate the trap, Limit Reverse! This allows me to select one monster from my grave with less that 1000 ATK points and summon it to the field! So rise, (3) Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes(8/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)!" her third face-down opened and formed a portal of light on the moving ground. A large shadow of dark-emerald scales rose from it and took form. The creature wore a golden vestment that covered its chest and over its head, put together by a pair of large green serpents. A large blood-crimson cape flowed from it over a navy-blue cloth, which covered a large green serpent's tail which spilled out of its vestments. The dress was fastened by a group of live, slithering snakes, with many more withering in coiling groups on either side of the larger serpent. Hidden under the large, golden cobra mask, beneath the cape's hood was a human head, its identity masked by an emerald snake's helmet with ruby optics for eyes. The new monster greeted its enemy with a montage of serpentine hisses (ATK: 0).
"A monster with 0 ATK points?" Kenichi laughed, "I'm supposed to be afraid of that?"
"This card has a special-ability; it's powers up by 500 ATK points for every reptile-type monster in my graveyard. And right now I have Venom Cobra, Venom Serpent, Venom Snake, Venom Boa and Gagagigo. That adds up to 2500!"
Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes: (ATK: 2500)
"Vennominon! Attack Kenichi's Spirit of Flames!" as on command, the poisonous monstrosity dove in and slithered across the field, its rough belly skidding on the swampy sludge. The Spirit of Flames turned around just in time to meet the business end of a scaly appendage as it was quickly squeezed to oblivion. Vennominon the slithered back to its master's side.
Kenichi: 6800 (3)
?: 900 (3)
"I place one card face-down, and end my turn." a reverse-card appeared. "And your Inferno gets another venom-counter. And because Vennominon is unaffected by Venom Road, he's safe from its effects."
Inferno: (ATK: 100)
"It's my turn!" Kenichi drew his next card, 'I only have one monster on the field now. One more turn and it's destroyed! Good thing it won't be around that long.' "I release Inferno and set a monster in DEF mode!" the living flame was replaced with a sideways reverse-card. "That's my turn!"
"Then I draw!" the Dark Signer started her turn, "I place one card face-down! Now let's see what you're hiding!" Vennominon slithered towards the opponent's card and whacked its tail against it, only to be blocked by a wooden dummy with metallic parts on tank trends.
"Woodborg Impachi(6/ATK: 500/DEF: 2500) has the same DEF points as Vennominon had ATK points. So your attack had no effect!"
"Then I'll let my Venom Road trap finish what he started! And since he only has 500 attack-points, Woodborg Impachi goes bye-bye!" a snake swooped in and bit on the machine, its venom rotting away the wood and rusting the metal until it was nothing but pixels.
Kenichi drew his next card, "I place a monster face-down. That's it for me."
"It's my turn then!" the Dark Signer drew her next card, "Vennominon, attack!" the reptile destroyed yet another monster, which was revealed to be a UFO Turtle.
"Since UFO Turtle was destroyed in battle, I can summon a Fire-Attribute monster directly from my deck in ATK mode! So I think I'll summon another UFO Turtle!" Kenichi explained as he summoned a copy of the same monster (ATK: 1400).
Jason: "Nice! Now even with Venom Road on the field, Flame Ruler can have enough ATK points to last through the next round!"
However, a dark smile curled across the Dark Signer's lips, "Amateur. You think you're safe just because you got an extra monster out, that you think this is the only monster I have to attack with? Think again! I activate the trap Destruct Potion!" another reverse-card flipped up, "By destroying a monster on my field, it's ATK points are added to my life-points!" at that point, the King of Poisonous Snakes shattered, and her life-points increased.
Kenichi: 6800 (7)
?: 3400 (7)
"Tough talk coming from someone who just sacrificed her own monster to save her own skin! But hey, whatever floats your boat." the fiery duelist boasted; but suddenly the swampy road he was riding on was being covered in a blanket of black fog.
"You are so dense!" the Dark Signer laughed, "Don't you know, when Vennominon is destroyed due to a card-effect, I'm allowed to activate this: the trap card known as Rise of the Snake Deity!" with a swift wave of her arm, her last reverse-card revealed itself, releasing a purple fog that mixed with the black smoke, creating a concoction of glowing purple light, "With the power of this trap card, I'm about to summon a monster with some serious bite!" a loud hissing sound can be heard as a mass of indigo-colored scales rose from the pool of haze. The beast rose to reveal itself as another monstrous serpentine. It lied on its massive snake-like belly, twisted in a large and loose knot right under a baby-blue woman's torso, its ample bosom was loosely held by a pair of red scaly cups. She wore a golden brace over around her neck and a headdress with an emerald snake-eye gem embedded in the middle to match. This headband held right over her clear ruby eyes, on a face with no mouth. Her long hair swayed around as if it were alive, for it was actually a mass of snakes' withering around. Her arms were coiled in spirals and ended with a pair of large vicious snake-heads, whose open mouths carried a smaller, one-eyed snake in each one (ATK: 0).
Kenichi took one look at this creature directly in her eyes, but once was all it took. He received many premonitions of carnage, massacre, and slaughter, all in a matter of a moment by peering into her wicked gaze. All this mental havoc caused him to nearly lose control of his duel-runner, as he tore himself from this monsters murderous sight. He coughed out that lump in his throat before taking another look at the snake-woman's monstrous form. "What the hell kind of monster is that?"
"This is (4) Vennominaga the Deity of Poisonous Snakes (10/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)," the Dark Signer introduced the snake-woman with a grin, "A monster so powerful it's immune to any and all card effects. And once more, just like its servant Vennominon, she gains 500 ATK points for every reptile in my grave. And with Vennominon joining the others, that's 500 points more (ATK: 3000)! And now Vennominaga is about to make bite into your life-points! Now attack!" the Snake Deity opened her left mouth and spewed out a blast of venom and wiped out the UFO Turtle. The aftershock from the destruction caused Kenichi's runner to wobble a bit before he gained control of it.
Kenichi: 5300 (6)
?: 3400 (7)
"UFO Turtle's ability activates, letting me summon another one straight from my deck!" another UFO Turtle appeared (ATK: 1400).
"Now for her special-ability of Vennominaga to kick in! Whenever she inflicts battle-damage, she's awarded one Hyper-Venom Counter!" the Dark Signer explained as the eyes of Vennominaga's left snake-head glowed (CTR: 1), "But here's the part of Vennominaga that I enjoy the most: she's in the same class with cards like Exodia and Destiny Board! So when she gains three Hyper-Venom Counters, in case you're too dense to figure it out, the player receives automatic victory, regardless of life-points! Whether you have 8000 or 8,000,000, once she haves all three, it'll be game over for you!"
Jason: "In the predicament he's in, Ken's not gonna last for more than 2 more rounds! David, isn't there a way he can stop that Snake Deity?"
David: "There was, but that option went right out the window the moment he decided to rush into the snake pit."
"Do the math, Kenichi!" the Dark Signer said, "At this rate I only need two more turns until my monster sinks her fangs into you and drag you to the Netherworld!" a venom-counter latched itself onto UFO Turtle (ATK: 900).
"Two turns sound more than enough time! In fact I can take out that Snake Deity in far less! It's my turn!" Kenichi drew his next card, "First I switch UFO Turtle from ATK to DEF mode!" the turtle then tucked itself inside its saucer-shaped shell (DEF: 1200), "Then I place 1 card face-down and end my turn!" another counter latched onto UFO Turtle (ATK: 400)
"Ha! That's the only move you have?" the Dark Signer laughed, "Weren't you listening when I said that Vennominaga is immune to all card-effects? You just don't learn, do ya'?" she then drew her next card, "You can't hope to cower behind a monster in DEF mode! And here's proof right here: I activate the Enemy Controller speed-spell! Since I have three-or-more speed-counters, that monster of yours is switched from DEF to ATK mode!" Kenichi's UFO Turtle came out of its steel shell (ATK: 400), "Now attack, Vennominaga! Go, Absolute Poison!"
"I activate my trap card, Fiend Comedian!" Kenichi revealed his reverse-card, which showed a pair comic demons. Then appeared an orange roulette with a table with one half green with a thumbs-up on it, and the other half violet with a thumbs-down, "As soon as this card's in play, this handy roulette appears and starts to spin. Then all I need to do is tell a simple joke; and if it lands on a thumbs-up, then every card in your graveyard is removed from play!" the arrow then began to spin.
However, the Dark Signer just smirked, "You do know what'll happen if it turns up thumbs-down, don't you?"
Jason: "Hey, what would happen if it lands on a thumbs-down?"
David: "Then Kenichi would have to discard as many cards from his deck equal to the number of cards in the opponent's graveyard."
"Alright, here goes!" Kenichi said as he looked over to Venominaga, "Hey, Dark Signer! What exactly is a Vennominaga monster anyway? Is it a snake, a woman, or yo' mama?" he couldn't help but snigger.
David face-faulted, "Seriously? That's the best he can come up with?"
The arrow began to slow down, but at a steady pace with no way of knowing where to stop. Kenichi's heart pounded a bit from the anxiety. This may determine whether or not he can hold his own against this Dark Signer. Suddenly, the pointer stopped, finally made its selection...
...However, the odds were not in his favor.
The female Dark Signer laughed, "Looks like you just got booed off the stage! Vennominaga, show him your criticism!" the Snake Deity aimed her right head and fired another spray of its corrosive poison.
UFO Turtle took the full front of the attack and exploded, causing Kenichi to lose control once more. The bike shifted and sheered on him as he had trouble stabilizing himself. He slammed the brakes, in hope to steady his runner, but that proved to be a fatal mistake as his wheels completely stopped and catapulted the fire-haired duelist out of his seat. He soon kissed the ground as his body skipped across the swampy field, before sliding to a stop with his duel-runner crashing right next to him, its back wheel utterly crushed.
Kenichi: 2700 (5)
?: 3400 (8)
Destroyed, defeated and broken. That was possibly the best way to explain the Duel Runner that was once upon a time Kenichi's. Not only was the wheel crushed, but the entire lower frame was destroyed also. To say the least, it would never run again.
The Dark Signer rode up and stopped at the very scene. "Is that it? All your big talk and now your precious little bicycle won't even work." She laughed, clearly amused at Kenichi's destroyed bike, and the figure that was now sprawled out over the floor. "You got nothing left, not like you would have won anyway. Now if you don't mind, why don't you simply give into the darkness, and let me duel a real opponent!"
Kenichi's mind was now whirling, no matter how much he thought about it. It wasn't simply possible. He now clearly thought he was no match; and even if he could stand up, which through the agony he was in, it wasn't possible. His Duel Runner was destroyed also. He could feel his eyes get heavier, was this really the sensation of dying? No, he was just drifting off to sleep, soon he would black out completely. "It's no g...good...I...I've lost." Was all he could muster.
On the cliff, David sighed. "I knew it. Ken got well ahead of himself; there's nothing more he can do. His Duel Runner is wreaked and he can barely stand up, not that I blame him; those Shadow Games are tough business. Guess this is our first lost."
Jason pondered for a minute, then suddenly something clicked in his head. It was the solution to sort out this hopeless mess out. "Come on, Dave. You can't give up that easily, besides what if I take his place?"
"Take his place? Wait, you aren't thinking of continuing with that much of a handicap, are you?"
"Why not? Besides, all I have to do is use my Duel Runner, and simply transverse Ken's playing field to mine as well as his deck. Sounds simple enough, right?" Jason explained to the older duelist.
For once David actually laughed lightly. "You really are something else, aren't ya? Well, I agree that is plausible. But are you sure you want to use that deck?"
Jason nodded. "Of course I do. Even if Ken can't ride anymore, I'll keep his burning spirit alive by using his cards. And by doing this we'll get through this together."
"Let me guess; as friends?" David smirked.
"Yep, as friends. So let's accelerate! See you after the battle is over, Dave." Jason sat back down and revved the engine back up. As he was about to charge in something big and metallic swooped into the area around Kenichi and the mysterious rider. It looked like what appeared to be a large mobile unit in the shape of a large emerald-green snake's head, with glowing red optics. It was almost like a sentient machine, an actual high-tech Artificial Intelligent machine.
"Stop this at once!" The machine called out to the Dark Signer, this stunned both Jason and David. "This isn't the person you are, mistress! You wouldn't go around harming such people, especially for such needs!"
"What the hell?" Kenichi suddenly shot his head back up, suddenly awake, "Did that thing just speak?"
The Dark Signer's eyes were slightly bewildered behind her visor. But then, she gave a small smirk as she turned away, "You came all this way just to see me? I'm touched." She wrapped her hands around her helmet and lift her helmet over her head. Locks of sandy-blond quills fell out and over her ears. Finally, she turned her head back forward to reveal her pale face with two fang-like triangles below her right eye. Her glare in question was as black as coal, the only color showing was her acid green pupils.
"Big mistake, Victor."
DUEL-MON DATABASE
(1) Gaia Soul the Collective Combustive
Stats: [Pyro/Effect] Level 4 ATK/2000 DEF/0
Attribute: FIRE
Description: You can tribute up to 2 Pyro-Type monsters. If you do this, this card gains ATK equal to the number of tributed monsters x 1000. During battle between this card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent. Destroy this card at the end of this turn.
(2) Spirit of Flames
Stats: [Pyro/Effect] Level 4 ATK/1700 DEF/1000
Attribute: FIRE
Description: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 FIRE monster in your Graveyard from play. Increase the ATK of this monster by 300 points during your Battle Phase.
(3) Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes
Stats: [Reptile/Effect] Level 10 ATK/0 DEF/0
Attribute: DARK
Description: Cannot be Special Summoned by another Effect Monster's effect. This card is unaffected by "Venom Swamp". This card gains 500 ATK for each Reptile-Type monster in your Graveyard. When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard: You can banish 1 other Reptile-Type monster from your Graveyard; Special Summon this card.
(4) Vennominaga the Deity of Poisonous Snakes
Stats: [Reptile/Effect] Level 10 ATK/0 DEF/800
Attribute: DARK
Description: Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. Must first be Special Summoned with "Rise of the Snake Deity" and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways except by its own effect. This card gains 500 ATK for each Reptile-Type monster in your Graveyard. This card cannot be targeted by, and is unaffected by, Spell/Trap effects and other Effect Monsters' effects. When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard: You can banish 1 other Reptile-Type monster from your Graveyard; Special Summon this card. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent: Place 1 Hyper-Venom Counter on it. When 3 Hyper-Venom Counters are on this card, you win the Duel.
Victor: "From the day I was created I have been always been by your side to keep you away from danger. But no matter what you always wanted to be in the middle of the action. And now look where that has got you. You are above this, Sarah; I know you are. And by chasing you through this duel, I will bring you back from whatever spell you were put under. Next Time on Reverse of Arcadia: Coils of the Snake: Part 2! I will bring you back, Sarah. As your guardian, that I promise you."
DUEL-MON TRIVIA-
Hey duelists! Did you know:
In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, "Nagas" are a race of divine beings which take the forms of serpents or snake-people.
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