I will plan to keep on churning out these chapters on the regular, but there will be gaps sometimes. Anyway, here's Chapter Three. Enjoy!
Chapter 3 – The Grand Order
"So you're from another planet," Tanion said, shaking his head in disbelief. "That's pretty far fetched, lady."
"It's true," Elise continued. "Can you explain our disks any other way?"
"Well, no," Tanion admitted. "But you can't be serious. There's no way you're from another world."
"Dimension, technically," Elise corrected.
"What?" Tanion exclaimed. "This is ridiculous."
"Just shut up and listen," Elise demanded. "You've heard of the infinite universe theory, right? That since one exists, surely there are others. The truth is more complex than that. Your world, this world, is the original universe, and every universe created within this one then becomes a very real, separate reality."
"Wait, how does that make any sense?" Tanion asked.
"We don't know how it works, we just know that it is the truth," Elise said. "Every book you read, every television series, they were all created by people from this world. In doing so, they create a universe in which their worlds are reality."
"So you're saying that you and Darrien are from the Yu-Gi-Oh world?" Tanion asked, with disbelieving. "With Yugi and all them?"
"It's not quite like that," Elise answered. "In your shows, the Duel Monsters card game is used for everything. The stories of each series does not exist, but their locations do. In my world, Domino City, Duel Academy, New Domino City, they all exist. And they way that we summon our monsters is through our connection with Duel Energy, just like was shown in the show your people called 5D's."
"I don't understand," Tanion butted in. "If somehow all you're saying is true, then Synchro Summoning must surely exist on your world. So why was Darrien so amazed by it?"
"Each summoning method can only be used by people gifted with the ability to do so," Elise explained. "Ritual, Fusion and Synchro Summoning all fall into this category."
"What about XYZ?" Tanion asked. "Or Pendulum?"
"They do not exist in our universe," Elise said. "The creators in this world put XYZ and Pendulum Summoning in separate universes, and so the same applied to our worlds. Thus, our world does not have access to such summoning methods."
"And so if all of this is somehow true, why are you here?" Tanion asked. "Why come to 'our world' at all?"
"Darrien and I were sent on a mission to recruit someone who could use our technology to Synchro Summon," Elise answered. "Although this summoning method is commonplace in this world, it is sacred and very rare in ours, and is the only weapon we have against the Grand Order."
"And that is?"
"We are at war, Tanion. The Coalition is one of many resistance groups fighting against the Grand Order, but it is a battle we are slowly losing. Synchro Summoning has been lost, the Order killing any who possessed the ability to do so. There are a rare few remaining, but they fall by the day. That's why we were sent here, to recruit someone from the original world who could fight for us. Your summoning strength far surpasses any of ours because you are from this world."
"So let me get this straight," Tanion said, putting one hand on his hip. "You came here to drag me into a war taking place in another universe just because I'm somehow able to use Duel Energy? And you expecting me to agree to go with you despite the fact that all other Synchro users like myself have been killed for being who they are?"
"Yes," Elise said, keeping a straight face. "We're desperate, Tanion. If we don't get help soon, the Grand Order will wipe out any remaining resistance there is, and our world will be lost."
"Why can't you just teleport everyone here like you two did?" Tanion asked. "Would that not be easier?"
"It's impossible," Elise said sadly. "The technology is utilised by harnessing the Duel Energy of a Synchro user in order to 'synchronise' our world with yours and send us through. With so little left, it'd be impossible to do so."
"And how do you plan on getting back?"
"We were given devices capable our returning us to our world," Elise answered. "Darrien used his at the end of your duel. Mine is in my pocket, and here is one for you."
Elise pulled out a stone from within her satchel and handed it to Tanion. It was oval in shape, and seemed to have dark, red veins running throughout the stone. Just looking at it sent a shiver up Tanion's spine.
"We need your help," Elise said, looking him directly in the eye.
"I'm sorry, but I really can't," Tanion said. "I'm not ditching my life just to go run off with a stranger to help fight and most likely die on another world. Sorry, not doing it."
Elise nodded. "I understand. I shall let you go now, but if I may? I'd hold onto the duel disk if I were you."
"What? Why?" Tanion asked, perplexed.
"We aren't the only ones looking for you."
She disappeared. Tanion's head sat back and he blinked twice, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Looking down at his left arm, the duel disk attached to it was still there, his cards slotted neatly into the deck and extra deck slots. This is crazy, he thought to himself. I have a real, working duel disk. This is incredible.
He frowned. That girl had seemed to have been sincere in what she had said, but Tanion was struggling to believe it. Could it really be true? Could the world of the anime actually be real, somewhere out there in space? The concept seemed so alien to him. Shaking his head in frustration, he wandered back to his car and drove home.
"Wake up."
The voice woke Tanion with a start, sweat dripping from his body. He looked around the room from his seated position and found nothing. The duel disk lay on the floor next to his bed, his deck still at the ready. He reached over and switched on his bedside lamp, but the light showed him nothing new. He looked at his phone. 12.48 AM. It also had a message:
Come outside if you want your parents to live.
The number was unknown. Who the hell is this? How did they get my number? His eyes once again came to rest upon his deck, almost as if it had drawn his gaze from his phone.
"Is this the person that Elise chick was talking about?" Tanion wondered to himself.
He had to find out. His parents knew nothing of the events of the day, and the duel in the shipping centre had gone completely unnoticed by everyone else. He couldn't risk whoever sent the text following through on his threat, as he couldn't allow them to fall in harm's way just because of him. Get dressed warmly in a jacket and jeans, he slipped the disk onto his arm and quietly made his way out of the front door.
"You're late."
The voice came from across the road, the softness of it's tone coming into direct contradiction with how easily it carried to Tanion. Despite the fact that is was almost summer, a cool breeze blew down the street and Tanion rubbed his hands together for warmth. The person that faced him, however, seemed unfazed by the air.
"You want to duel me?" Tanion asked.
"By the decree of the Grand Order, I am placing you under custody," the stranger said. "Come with me quietly, and your family lives."
"I don't think so," Tanion said. "I challenge you to a duel, and if I win, you leave my family and I alone."
"If you lose, then I take you with me," the stranger said.
Tanion watched as the world seemed to slow down around him. They seem to able to manipulate time so that the duel only affects those taking part in it, Tanion thought. Another bit of technology that came from their world, no doubt. Nonetheless, Tanion readied his duel disk and the stranger did the same.
DUEL!
"I'll start," Tanion said. "I summon Lancer Knight! (Lvl:4/ATK:1500). Next, if I control only one 'Knight' monster one my field, I can special summon this guy from my hand. Come forth, the Tuner monster Jester Knight! (Lvl:1/ATK:0/DEF:0). I tune my Level 4 Lancer Knight to my Level 1 Jester Knight! Go, Synchro Summon! Appear before us now, Defender of the Knight! (Lvl:5/ATK:1100/DEF:2300)."
"Synchro Summon..." the man muttered. "Using the tool that the Grand Order knew you would."
I have no idea what this guy is going to throw at me, but I can't afford to let him chip away at me early. By having Defender in defence position, I should be able to hold out even with only 4000 LP. I'll just have to make my attack next turn, Tanion thought to himself. For now, I'll simply have to be quick on my feet.
"I place one card face-down, and that end's my turn," he said.
Tanion – 4000 LP
Grand Order Servant – 4000 LP
"You must understand, Tanion, the Order cannot allow the Coalition to recruit a Synchro user from this dimension," the man said calmly. "One with power such as yours could prove... problematic."
"I don't want anything to do with your war," Tanion said. "So how about we call this duel off and forget I exist. We both win."
"The Order needs someone with your power to complete their objective," the man said. "Therefore, I will be taking custody of you."
"They want me to help defeat the Coalition?" Tanion asked, confused.
"You'll find out soon enough. My turn," the man said, drawing. "I activate the Field Spell, Toll of the Vanquished. Now, every time you summon a monster from your Extra Deck, you take 400 points of damage."
"Now that's hardly fair," Tanion complained.
"Additionally, during the turn player's Standby Phase, you must choose to either take another 400 points of damage, or destroy one of your Extra Deck monsters. This effect takes place for every monster on you field that has been summoned from the extra deck."
"I see," Tanion said disapprovingly. "So if I had two Synchro monsters out during my Standby Phase, I would have to choose twice."
"Precisely," the man said. "Next I summon Double Cannon to the field. (Lvl:4/ATK:1600/DEF:1600). By his effect, I can destroy one monster on your side of the field, and if it is an Extra Deck monster, you take 800 points of damage. Go, Double Cannon!"
"I activate my face-down card, Knight Bulwark!" Tanion countered. "This turn, 'Knight' monsters I control cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects."
"Hmph," the man said as Double Cannons bullets bounced harmlessly off of Defender's shield. "I activate the Spell Card Ookazi! I deal you 800 points of damage!"
"Wow you really are playing a burn deck, aren't you?" Tanion noted, almost laughing. "Defender's effect activates! Once while this card is on the field, I can negate an instance of damage to myself. Therefore, Ookazi's effect is nullified."
"You ingrate..." the man muttered. "I place one card face down. Turn over."
Tanion – 4000 LP
Grand Order Servant – 4000 LP
"I can understand running Ookazi since it takes out a fifth of your opponents life points, but your going to have to do better than that," Tanion said. "Burn decks just don't cut it any more unless your playing the Monarch FTK, but I doubt you know what that means."
"Stop blabbering and duel," the man grunted. "I do not have the patience."
"Fine then. My turn," Tanion said, drawing. "First, I take the 400 damage from Toll's effect, and then I activate the Spell Card Cavalry of the Knight! Once per turn, I can special summon one Level 4 or lower 'Knight' monster from my deck, but it cannot attack the opponent this turn. Appear before us, Soldier of the Knight! (Lvl:4/ATK:1300). Next, from my hand, I summon Knight's Squire (Lvl:3/ATK:1000) and activate it's effect, increasing his Level to 4. I now tune my Level 4 Soldier with my now Level 4 Squire! Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 8! Royal Knight! (ATK:2500)."
"Toll of the Vanquished effect activates!" the man said. "You take another 400 points of damage!"
"It matters little," Tanion said. "I activate Royal Knight's ability! I destroy Double Cannon and inflict half its ATK to you as damage. Go, Royal Knight!"
"I activate my face down card, Order's Stand!" the main said, revealing the card. "I negate Double Cannon's destruction and destroy Defender of the Knight since it has the lowest attack on the field, and inflict his ATK to you as damage!"
Tanion flinched as Defender was brought down by a missile fired from Double Cannon's barrel, his life points lowering to 2100. That did not go as planned, Tanion muttered to himself. I can't afford to take too much more burn damage. With only 4000 LP to start with, this is much trickier than a usual duel.
"Royal Knight! Attack his Double Cannon with Sacred Blade!"
"I banish Order's Stand from my graveyard to activate it's effect!" the man said. "This turn, monsters I control cannot be destroyed in battle."
"But you'll still take the damage!" Tanion said as Royal Knight's blade bounced off of Double Cannon. "I end my turn here."
Tanion – 2100 LP
Grand Order Servant – 3100 LP
"You should've beaten my while you had the chance," the man said, a small grin etching itself onto his face.
"I don't want to fight you," Tanion pleaded. "Your war and your world has nothing to do with me. Can't you just leave me alone?"
"I have my mission. The Grand Order does not tolerate failure. My turn," the man said, drawing a card. "Double Cannon counts as two Tributes when being used for a Tribute Summon. Therefore, I release Double Cannon, and call War Machine Omega to the field. Come forth, my machine! (Lvl:8/ATK:3000/DEF:3000)."
Tanion watched as a huge mechanical humanoid rose from the earth behind the Grand Order servant, its presence causing a wave of uneasiness to wash over Tanion. He felt powerless before the epic monster.
"I activate the two cards in my hand, Molten Armoury and Titanium Casing!" the man said. "Not only does Omega now gains an additional 1000 ATK, it also can deal piercing battle damage, and is no longer able to be targeted by your effects!"
"Would you look at that, another big beater," Tanion noted. "Is that all you lot fight with? Big beaters and burn damage?"
"We use what is necessary to win," the man said. "War Machine Omega! Attack Royal Knight! Molten Judgement!"
Tanion braced himself as cannons fired from Omega's shoulders, and missiles rained down from above, throwing him from his feet and careening into Royal Knight. However, as the dust cleared, Tanion noted that Royal Knight was still on the field.
"Omega's effect means that your monster is not destroyed, but its effects are now negated," the man said, seeing the confusion on Tanion's face. "With that, I end my turn."
Tanion – 600 LP
Grand Order Servant – 3100 LP
"I would give up now if I were you," the man said. "I do not wish to bring back a beaten man before my masters."
"You won't, because I'm not going any where. My turn," Tanion said drawing.
He gasped as looked at the card he drew. This is impossible... he thought. Was that Elise chick really telling the truth? Could there be more to drawing the card you need at the right time than luck? No, that's impossible. That's just not possible...
"After keeping Royal Knight on the field, I activate the card I just drew, Divine Blade Garnix!" Tanion exclaimed. "By discarding one card, I can equip this card to a 'Knight' monster on my side of the field. However, during the End Phase, I take damage equal to Royal Knight's original attack."
The man laughed. "Are you mad? You only have 200 LP left. You can't afford to pay that cost!"
"I don't intend to," Tanion said, smirking. "Royal Knight, attack War Machine Omega!"
"What are you doing? You'll only succeed in destroying your own monster!"
"Divine Blade Garnix's effect activates!" Tanion said. "During the Damage Step, Garnix doubles Royal Knight's attack, and if it destroys a monster in that battle, you take damage equal to that monster's attack!"
"What did you say?"
Royal Knight raised Garnix high above his head, and brought it down over War Machine Omega, the blade slicing him in two. Tanion watched on as Omega fell to pieces behind the man, who had been knocked on his stomach his the shock-waves produced by the battle.
"I won fair and square," Tanion said. "Now leave my family and I alone. We have no business with your world."
The man just laughed. "I may be defeated, but there are thousands more that can be sent in my place. You cannot defeat us all, Synchro user. We will be back for you."
And then he was gone, and time began to move forward once again, Tanion feeling the wind hit his back in a cold blast, causing him to instantly shiver. He rushed inside quickly, and after making sure his parents were okay, jumped into bed and under the blankets.
"This is just crazy," he said aloud. "Can't they just leave us alone?"
His phone went off. Picking it up, he knew immediately who had sent the text. At this time of night, it could only be one person. The message simply read:
We can protect you. Hyden Park. 9.30. Help us, and we help you. E.