Hello, all! Here is the next chapter, with a Duel between Epsilon and Seria!
Before we get started, I need to tell you that I will be traveling for the upcoming holidays. Therefore, it will be a while before the next chapter comes up; that's one reason why this chapter has come up now.
Another reason concerns the lack of Duels so far in this story. I know Duels are a big factor in 'Yu-Gi-Oh!', and I want to make sure every Duel is entertaining for you to read. I hope this Duel is entertaining for you.
Just so you know, Seria will be using this official Deck she has under the Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia page for the 'Reverse of Arcadia' game. I was surprised once I found what kind of Deck it was... and then was intrigued to work it into the overall story. I think you'll see what I mean when you get into the Duel.
Now, some of the readers have suggested ideas for future chapters in their reviews and comments. I have noted them for the future, and will notify when (and if) they are used. Remember, this story is still in the initial stages. I'm sorry if some of your suggestions aren't coming up as soon as you want them to.
Alright, here's the list of Japanese to English names:
Divine = Sayer
Now for the DISCLAIMER: The author does not own the characters of the 'Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's' anime, or the Yugioh card game. The author does own the character Epsilon/Samuel, the Collective faction, and all custom cards/elements they choose to introduce into the story.
Onward to the Chapter!
"DUEL!"
[DUEL BEGINS] [ROUND 1] [Epsilon: 4000 LP/Seria: 4000 LP]
I don't expect Seria to say, "You may take the first turn, Epsilon," instantly after we draw our initial hands. Why would she willingly give me the first turn? Does this connect with her Deck's strategy?
"Alright," I say after a few silent moments, "I'll do that." I draw my card as Seria doesn't say a word. What's with this sudden change in her tone?!
[TURN 1: Epsilon] [CARDS IN HAND: 6]
This hand isn't so bad. I see two Monsters of the same Type, which will help them stay on the field for longer than one turn. I don't have a copy of 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru', but only a few of the six cards I hold need that Spell in my hand. I'd better prepare the best I can, since I can't attack on this turn.
"For my first move, I Normal Summon Koa'ki Meiru Wall." (CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 5)
This Monster is literally a human-shaped creature made up of many stone blocks. These blocks are colored a dull yellow, and are riddled with small holes. A broken chain hangs from the center of its body, but doesn't get in the way of its feet. It hands are large and blocky, but they clench and act like human hands.
Its eyes shine a golden-yellow, the same color as the 'Iron Core' emblems on its shoulders. Its face doesn't have a mouth, but the way it stares at me says it is glad to see me. It towers over the field, a literal 'wall' against my opponent (EARTH, Rock, 1900 ATK/1200 DEF, LVL 4).
"I'll Set two cards in my backrow," I say as my Monster turns to face Seria. "During the End Phase, Wall's maintenance cost activates." The stone creature begins to crack as its 'Iron Core' emblems leech the color from its body. (CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 3)
"I reveal the Rock-Type Monster Koa'ki Meiru Guardian in my hand, to keep Koa'ki Meiru Wall on the field, because it is also a Rock-Type Monster." I show the Monster in my hand to Seria, which glows the same golden-yellow as the Wall. The cracks on my Monster fade away, and it stands upright again in its normal color.
"It's my turn. I draw." Seria doesn't seem intimidated by my Monster as she begins her turn. Then again, she's probably done a lot more Duels than me, so she better understands how Solid Vision works. What I'm more worried about is where her earlier happiness went.
[TURN 2: Seria] [CARDS IN HAND: 6]
"I activate the Spell Card Destruction." The image shows a dark-blue hand in an old robe reaching for some cards as they tumble into a black abyss. I instantly realize what the Spell does, somehow, and I don't want it to go off (CARDS IN HAND (Seria): 5).
A picture pops in my head. It shows someone else, dressed in dirty clothing and with a wild hairdo, activating this same Spell. I think he looks like a punk. Another person sits by the field, his lips swollen from bruises. I want to help the person that's not by the field, but I'm also in the middle of a Duel. I turn back to my opponent and activate a Counter Trap on my field in response to the Spell.
I come back to my senses a moment later. That Spell must not activate. Luckily, I have a way to get rid of it.
"Koa'ki Meiru Wall's effect!" I shout out. "When my opponent activates a Spell Card, I can Tribute Wall to negate that card's activation, and destroy it. I Tribute Wall to negate, and destroy, Card Destruction!"
My Monster's 'Iron Core' emblems flash, and then its body breaks apart into separate blocks. These blocks fly across the field and surround Seria's Spell before it activates. The Spell, and Wall's pieces, vanish a second later.
"Not bad," Seria says as she looks over her hand. "But, you've Tributed your only Monster. This leaves you open to a direct attack on your Life Points."
"You don't know that for sure," I respond, despite knowing that she is technically correct. She just doesn't know what cards I have Set in my backrow.
"We'll see soon enough. I now activate the Continuous Spell, Gravekeeper's Servant." (CARDS IN HAND (Seria): 4)
This Spell shows a small blue demon with bat-like wings, and holding a scythe, flying over a cemetery. The full moon glows an eerie yellow and provides light to the area. As the Spell activates, the same demon from the card flies out onto the field. It looks at me without much interest.
"As long as this Spell is activated," Seria explains, "you have to send the top card of your Deck to your Graveyard each time you declare an attack. Keep this in mind for future turns. I Set one Monster facedown, and one card in my backrow." (CARDS IN HAND (Seria): 2)
Seria carries out her action with smooth movements. The digitized card backs appear in their proper places as she looks up at me. The cold from before is still there, but I now sense something else alongside it. I can't describe it, but it seems comforting.
"It's your move, Epsilon," Seria announces. "I'm not attacking you, because I want to see you solve this new puzzle. Show me what your Deck is capable of."
"As you wish, Seria," I say as I draw my card. She seems more focused on the Duel, now that she's set up her defenses. Let's see how she likes this next move.
[ROUND 2] [Epsilon: 4000 LP/Seria: 4000 LP]
[TURN 3: Epsilon] [CARDS IN HAND: 4]
"I reveal my Set Continuous Spell, Core Transport Unit! I'll use its effect right now!" The Spell flips up to show the 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' inside a bright blue containment chamber. The Core floats in the middle of the chamber, apparently by its own power.
"Once during each of my turns," I explain, "this Spell lets me discard a card, and then add a copy of 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from my Deck into my hand. I'll discard the Monster Koa'ki Meiru Guardian to add the Core into my hand."
I discard the Monster from my hand, which causes the Core inside the chamber to glow with a golden light that the chamber can't block. A single card in my Deck glows with the same light as it juts out from the rest of the cards. I take that card into my hand, and the glow fades away as my Disk shuffles my Deck (CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 4).
"Now that I've got the Core," I continue, "I'll Normal Summon Koa'ki Meiru Urnight!" (CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 3)
This Monster is a four-legged horse-man with dark-blue skin covered with golden armor. It charges onto the field with a large golden shield in one hand, and an oddly-shaped sword in the other. The shield has an orange 'Iron Core' emblem, while the sword has two blue spheres inside it that glow with their own light.
Its white hair flows behind it as it rears up onto its hind legs, and lets out a harsh whinny. Its face is almost completely covered by a carefully-carved golden helmet, save for its blue mouth and single orange eye. The upper part of its armor has spikes, and black lines, along the shoulder platers, and the chest plates overlap with each other in curving patterns. The 'Iron Core' emblem also appears in black on the left side of its chest.
As I note these details, Urnight lowers itself back onto all fours. It glances at me for a second, and then turns to face Seria. The little demon from 'Gravekeeper's Servant' raises its scythe, but that doesn't really stand against my Monster's presence (EARTH, Beast-Warrior, 2000 ATK/1500 DEF, LVL 4).
"I use Urnight's effect! Once during my turn, I can reveal an 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from my hand in order to Special Summon one LVL 4 or lower 'Koa'ki Meiru' Monster from my Deck."
I reveal the Spell card in question from my hand, which makes the emblem on Urnight's shield burn with orange fire. Urnight raises that shield with a loud cry as I quickly pull out my Deck, select the Monster I want, and place the Deck back to be shuffled.
"I Special Summon Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand!" Though I saw this Monster already on the image of 'Urgent Synthesis', its full appearance is more intimidating. It appears to the right of Urnight with a small set of whirling blades around its body, none of these blades harming me or my other cards.
Its body is made up of several black or yellow machine segments. Most of the yellow segments form a giant plate of armor around its chest, where the 'Iron Core' emblem is painted in black. Its right hand is a giant drill, while its left is human-like with drill-shaped knuckle spikes. More drills jut out from both of its arms, along its waist, and on its back. Even its head is drill-shaped, oddly enough. Its eyes are also odd, a dark pink providing a sharp contrast to its other colors.
The blades around Powerhand's body slow down as it fully appears, and a few of its drills spin together as it takes a step forward. Urnight moves to the side and raises its shield in defense, which makes me wonder how much power Powerhand actually has contained inside it (EARTH, Machine, 2100 ATK/1600 DEF, LVL 4).
"Battle," I call out. "Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand attacks—"
"Stop." Seria raises a hand towards me as her command makes me pause. "You're missing one element of Duel Monsters that Divine-sama knows can enhance Psychic Dueling powers."
"What… you… why are you giving me a lecture?!" Anger flows through my muscles as I point an accusing finger at Seria. "This is an actual Duel, not a Duel Puzzle! Let me make my move!"
"You aren't making the best move that you can," Seria replies. I think her eyes glint with some emotion, but that could be a trick of the light. "Dueling a human opponent is different than a computer opponent. For one, a computer isn't programmed to make you angry, and lose your cool."
Oh, that scheming little…! I clamp my lips shut and try my best not to look at her, but I shoot a few angry glances before I can calm myself down.
"Fine," I eventually get out as I face her again. "What 'element' am I missing?"
"Many famous Duelists today are known by some of their iconic Monsters, their 'ace' cards," Seria explains. "These Monsters are usually brought out to finish off an opponent, and also earn appreciation from the audience for their Dueling skull. They have their abilities and attacks named, to add emphasis to their every action."
"Why would that help," I ask with a tilt of my head. "If naming that Monster's actions makes them more powerful, and everyone more emotionally charged, that's the opposite of controlling your emotions. You said we had to be careful of how we acted, in order to not harm anyone."
"Naming the actions of your Monsters does not harm people," Seria swiftly answers. "Rather, it energizes everyone involved in the Duel. The crowd recognizes a powerful Monster because the Duelist that uses them has made it his or her own. They've given a unique identity to that Monster through these names. A computer doesn't do that, doesn't have that emotion.
"Psychic Duelists like us can practice our emotional limit by naming these attacks and effects. We can tap into our Monster's actions, and enhance them. If it gets too difficult to handle, you can just pull your power back and focus on the strategy. That's the beauty of this aspect of Dueling; the emotional factor."
"Maybe you haven't noticed, Seria," I comment as I place my left hand onto my chest, "but I'm not the best at controlling my emotions. That's why I'm here, and why you're here—to learn control so we can use our powers for good."
"Just try it for yourself, Epsilon.," Seria urges me with a cold look. "Even if it's only for one Monster. Divine-sama is certain your emotions are tied to your Deck, and tapping into that power will make you a better Duelist in his eyes. He does want to see you at your best, after all."
'This'll really make me a better Duelist? But, it seems like a waste of time. Why would Divine want to see this in his Duelists?' I look to my Monsters, and they stand at the ready. They're waiting for my orders. But, would they wait like this for any other Duelist? Is this how Solid Vision has programmed them to act?
A message flashes from my metal eye that offers its own input: [The most logical action would be to test this out one time, and see the results. If you do not like it, you can stop doing it].
"Alright," I mutter as I look to Powerhand and try to figure out a name for its attack, "let's try this out." For an instant, I think Powerhand nods back to me.
Once I have a name, I turn to Seria and announce, "Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand attacks your Set Monster! Power Drill!"
Powerhand's drill-hand starts to spin like an actual drill, but the small demon on Seria's field catches my attention when I suddenly see it by me. It grabs the top card of my Deck, looks at it, chuckles, and then drops it into the Graveyard. The card turns out to be the Continuous Spell 'Core Overclock'. That doesn't upset me too much.
Powerhand charges across the field, and Seria's Set Monster reveals itself. It's a small, pink worm with needle-sharp spikes across its body. I see Powerhand's drill-hand carve through the worm, and shatter it to pixels, due to the insect's weaker defense (DEF: 600). However, some of the spikes on the worm's body fly towards my Duel Disk. They just bounce off, but I think their impact means something.
"When Needle Worm is flipped face-up," Seria explains a second later, "it's effect activates; Leeching Needle. You must send the top 5 cards of your Deck to your Graveyard." I do as Seria says, and flinch as a copy of 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' is among the cards sent. I can't see the other cards because the image of that same punk Duelist fills my vision for a moment.
"Koa'ki Meiru Urnight attacks you directly," I command to keep myself in the Duel. Then, I add in another name for its attack: "Swift Charge!"
The demon from 'Gravekeeper's Servant' picks up, and drops off, a Trap called 'Negaton Core Panel' as I call out my attack. Urnight then gallops forward, sword raised high to slash at Seria's body. I try to hold my anger back in this attack, to not let Seria be hurt.
However, Seria seems prepared when she presses a button on her Disk and announces, "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Book of Moon when you declare your attack. This lets me Set one face-up Monster in the field. I Set Koa'ki Meiru Urnight, so it won't attack this turn."
Another image appears in my head, with the same people as before. This time, the punk uses this Spell during his own turn, to flip a Monster called 'Morphing Jar' facedown.
The book has a dark-blue cover, with twin etchings of a jackal-headed man each facing a golden moon and orange eye. A large silver eye with orange pupil, and feathered wings, hangs above the moon. Orange runes at the book's bottom glow with power.
My eye flashes a notification: [The jackal-headed man is Anubis, Egyptian God of embalmment and protector of the dead]. This comes as Urnight halts in its tracks, and then turns into a holographic Set card on my field.
'This isn't good,' I think. 'Seria seems to want to hold me back from attacking her at any cost. Is she trying to accomplish some secret objective?' I get some version of an answer when my eye gives me a message.
[Attempting to analyze Deck objective from cards seen so far. Please wait a moment…]
I quietly gasp as all the cards Seria has played appear within my vision. They cycle around each other, each one getting its own brief comment. They move up and down in severity, or so the data says, until they all vanish at the same time. Another message
[Analysis complete. Based on current data, your opponent's cards focus on sending cards in your Deck to your Graveyard. Remember, you lose the Duel if you are unable to draw a card from your Deck. A keyword for this type of strategy is 'Deck Destruction'; a more common term is 'Mill'.]
Deck… Destruction? That sounds so familiar to me. I must have faced it in a Duel. But, when did that Duel happen? Does it connect to those images of that punk Duelist? Actually, when did that Duel happen? Is this some kind of memory trying to get out? Why can't I remember any of this?!
My head throbs as I try to pull myself away from my broken memories. These images cling to me, desperately try to stay onto my current thoughts. But, I finally pull away with a sharp mental tug. I look over to Seria and see no change in her expression. Did she even see what happened back there?
My eye flashes another message as I look over my hand: [You currently have 24 cards remaining in your Deck. 'Koa'ki Meiru Urnight' cannot be Flip Summoned this turn, since it was Normal Summoned earlier this turn.] I keep that in mind as I plan out what to do next.
I do have one Set card left on my field, but it can't be used just yet. Even so, Powerhand has 2100 Attack Points, which seems very strong for a Level 4 Monster. Maybe I can hold out for one turn? I do have two Traps in my hand, but each of them require the 'Iron Core' to activate. Which one do I Set?
"I Set one card in my backrow," I announce, "and I move to my End Phase. Powerhand's maintenance cost triggers: I have to discard one 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru', or reveal a Normal Trap in my hand." As I say this, Powerhand's body stats to shake itself apart, the energy too strong to contain. (CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 2)
"I reveal the Normal Trap Automatic Laser to keep Powerhand in play." I reveal the card, and Powerhand's parts join back together. It gives its hand-drill a brief spin as I say, "I don't need to pay for Urnight's cost, since it isn't currently face-up on the field. My turn is done."
"My turn." Seria stares at her hand for a long moment after she draws her card. What is she planning?
[TURN 4: Seria] [CARDS IN HAND: 3]
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Hand Destruction. We both discard 2 cards, and then draw 2 cards." (CARDS IN HAND (Seria): 2)
The Spell shows a small, orange-skinned warrior with no visible mouth sending four Duel Monsters cards flying with a swing of his sword. I have nothing out to negate the Spell, so we both comply with its demands.
[You now have 22 cards in your Deck.] This message automatically appears, and I glance at it for just a moment before Seria continues her move.
"I activate the Spell the Shallow Grave. This lets us both Special Summon one Monster from our Graveyards in facedown Defense Position." (CARDS IN HAND (Seria): 1)
The Monsters in our Graveyard pop out for us to look through. However, my attention is caught by a man wearing the skin of a blue zombie climbs out of a gravestone I'm sure wasn't there before.
This man hisses at me when he sees me, and then raises both his hands up. I quickly look through the Monsters I've lost, and pick one that I think will help me against Seria's cards. I Set it down on a Monster Card Zone as Seria does the same. We both then place the remaining Monsters back in our Graveyards, and the Spell fades away.
"I Set the last card in my hand in Defense Mode," Seria concludes. "My turn is finished." (CARDS IN HAND (Seria): 0)
'Darn it! The Trap I set won't do anything, now. She's got nothing but that 'Gravekeeper's Servant' card, and I can't get rid of that with these cards. I need to draw something good right now!'
"It's my move!" I draw my card with the hopes that it will change the outcome of this Duel. I know I could get that copy of 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from my Graveyard by its own effect, but I want to see if my Deck can get me out of this jam.
[ROUND 3] [Epsilon: 4000 LP/Seria: 4000 LP]
[TURN 5: Epsilon] [CARDS IN HAND: 3] [CARDS IN DECK: 21]
'This card… it looks like it's one of this Deck's 'ace' cards. Does that mean I should name its actions? I think I started to do that automatically, actually. Well, I do have this other card I should probably use, first.'
"Is something wrong, Epsilon," I hear Seria ask me. "Are you having trouble making a move?"
"No," I reply, "I'm just trying to figure out what kind of move I want to make. But, I think I've got it. I'll start with the Spell Urgent Synthesis. I can shuffle an 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' from my Graveyard into my Deck, and then Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Koa'ki Meiru' Monster from my hand or Graveyard." (CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon) 2)
I shuffle the 'Iron Core' back into my Deck as the same black rings from before appear over my field. I fetch a Monster from my Graveyard as the notification [You have 22 cards in your Deck] gives me some sense of relief.
"Through Urgent Synthesis, I Special Summon Koa'ki Meiru Guardian from the Graveyard." This Monster is a warrior made of polished white stone, carved in the likeness of a large man. He, or it, wields a large sword shaped like the one 'Warrior Dai Grepher' had, and its other hand is covered in a stone shell. Both objects are carved from the same stone that makes up its body.
The 'Iron Core' emblem glows orange on its chest, shield, and left forearm. A pair of stone horns curve up and forward on either side of its head. Two glints of white seem to be its eyes, but I can't see any more of its face beneath its helmet. It stands almost as tall as 'Koa'ki Meiru Wall' did, and it seems just as able to fight (EARTH, Rock, 1900 ATK/1200 DEF, LVL 4).
"Now, I Flip Summon Koa'ki Meiru Urnight. I'll use its effect, too: Battle Cry!" Urnight emerges with a brief shout, and clashes its sword against its shield (ATK: 2000). It then raises that shield up and cries out like it did before, and I reveal the 'Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru' still in my hand. I then look through my Deck, and find a familiar Monster that I can use.
"I Special Summon Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak!" The dark-skinned warrior answers Urnight's cry with its own, deeper, cry. It spins its twin swords around in a display of its own power, and joins the rank of my assembled Monsters (ATK: 2000). The notification [You have 21 cards in your Deck] doesn't stop the sense of power that I experienced last Duel from coming back.
Urnight, Powerhand, Guardian, and Bergzak. Four 'Koa'ki Meiru' Monsters, each with at least 1900 ATK, all able to attack this turn. All Seria has is the 'Gravekeeper's Servant' Spell, and two Set Monsters, one of which she brought back via 'The Shallow Grave'. I feel the same power as when I commanded 'Koa'ki Meiru Rooklord' against the computer pulse through me once again.
The big difference is that this time, I'm facing a living opponent. I don't want to hurt Seria, no matter how I feel in this Duel. I don't want her to hate me when this is done! But, I also want to be the best Duelist I can. How much power do I have to use in order to please Divine?
I look at the new Monster in my hand, one of the 'ace' Monsters in my Deck. I do trust what Divine says, right? If he says I can be a better Duelist, then I should just do that. The consequences don't really matter, if Seria is also a Psychic Duelist like me.
"Seria," I say. "I don't want you to hate me after this Duel is over. I don't want you hurt by my powers."
"This is a test, Epsilon," Seria responds. "You don't need to worry so much about the end result. Do what you think is correct." I sigh—she's right, no matter what I think against it. I really should just make my move, and finish this Duel.
"In that case," I say as I take the new Monster from my hand, "I activate the first effect of 'Koa'ki Meiru Valafar' from my hand. Even though it is a Level 8 Monster, I can Advance Summon it by Releasing one 'Koa'ki Meiru' Monster. I choose Urnight as the tribute." (CARDS IN HAND (Epsilon): 1)
I feel the card grow hot as I place it on my Disk. Urnight's body glows dark red, until it is completely covered in it. Its form then grows and changes into a two-legged creature. As it changes, I feel a heat grow in my chest as my heart beat even faster. But, I don't feel any pain from this heat. It just fills me with power, power I want to use.
I let this power flow through my body as this red form grows as tall as 'Koa'ki Meiru Guardian'. Cracks appear across the form as the heat quickly moves into my hands. I clench my hands into fists and draw them back. My actions echo the actions of whatever is inside the red form, the source of this heat. My hands feel like they're on fire, but I suspect my psychic powers are making me feel this way.
I pound my burning fists together as I cry out, "Show yourself, Valafar!"
The red form breaks apart in a storm of fire and stone. A huge winged demon appears from within the storm, several lines of molten lava inside its blue-gray skin. Its legs, feet, and forearms are covered with a layer of red stone, more lines of lava breaking through the rock. A pair of red wings burn holographic fire as the demon flaps them once, and then twice.
The 'Iron Core' emblem appears on its knees, forearms, and chest. However, these emblems seem to be carved deeper than the skin. The headpiece of solid magma around its face makes its gaze even more fearsome. Its eyes shine a deep orange, its expression a constant angry glare that doesn't lessen as it looks around the battlefield.
When I meet Valafar's eyes, something kicks in my chest. The power I felt when Valafar was Summoned comes back with twice the force. I nearly fall to my knees, but the desire to prove myself to Divine as a Duelist keeps me standing. Valafar turns away after a moment, apparently content with my presence. It then clenches a fist as the heat from its wings fills the area around me with warmth, and barely-contained anger (FIRE, Fiend, 3000 ATK/2100 DEF, LVL 8).
Valafar's wings give a flap, and the 'Iron Core' emblems on its body pulse a deep orange. The anger around me grows very strong. In fact, it's kind of hard to breathe right now. It's like Valafar's anger is so powerful, it sucks up all the air in this room. That sends a spike of fear through me, but I force my worries down as I plan out my next move.
"Battle," I call out. "I'm sorry, Seria, but I need to complete this test. Please don't hate me after this."
She gives no response, no emotion, as if she has no emotion inside her to give. For a reason I can't describe, that makes me angry.
This may be Seria's body Dueling me, but it doesn't have her emotions, her energy. She's just some lifeless shell that spits out information that Divine wants me to hear. I shouldn't feel any sort of compassion against this person; no, this machine!
"Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak attacks your left Set Monster," I angrily shout as the words for new attacks and effects spring out of my lips. "Vicious Slash!"
The demon from 'Gravekeeper's Servant' takes a card I don't look at into my Graveyard as the rage-filled warrior charges forward. His target reveals itself as Needle Worm, who launches some of its spikes just before Bergzak reaches it. Once he gets there, he slices the bug into two writhing halves.
The notification [You have 16 card in your Deck] pops up, but I ignore it as I call out, "Bergzak's Berserker Rage activates because he destroyed a Monster in battle. Now, he attacks once again in a row! Take out her other Set Monster with Frenzied Slash!"
Bergzak cries out as he swings at Seria's other defense, and another card from my Deck goes to the Graveyard. Seria's last defense reveals itself as a large white ceramic jar with white lines etched on the surface. A single eye, and a grinning set of teeth, are inside the jar. The teeth are surrounded by thick purple gums, while the eye has a bright-green sclera, orange iris, and pitch-black pupil.
The punk Duelist comes back in one final image. I'm screaming at the sight of this same jar as it appears on the punk's field. The sight of this creature is too terrifying for me to withstand. The fear only grows when its face pops out from within the confines of its jar. It lolls its tongue out, which melts several digital constructs on my field into slimy goop.
Seria words break through this image, and cement my fears: "I activate the effect of Morphing Jar #2—"
"NO!" I scream back as blood roars in my ears. "I use Koa'ki Meiru Guardian's effect: Swift Defense! When my opponent activates a Monster effect, I can Tribute Guardian to negate, and destroy, that Monster! That damn jar won't be harming anyone!"
The jar-creature looks to Guardian as the stone human leaps at it with raised sword. The face emerges from the jar and opens its mouth very, very wide. It grows so wide that it swallows Guardian whole in one gulp. Then, it's pupil shrinks to the size of a dot as it shrieks through its still-grinning mouth. I cover my eyes as I hear its body violently explode.
I only lower my hands when a notification pops up in my right eye: [A Replay Event has been triggered. Please choose the next action for 'Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak'.] I look to my field and see Bergzak frozen in place. I can tell it's confused by the way it looks at me. It wants me to give it an order, a target to attack. There's only one target left.
"Bergzak," I command, "attack Seria directly. Frenzied Slash!" I give a silent prayer that this attack won't really hurt Seria, even though Valafar's rage still flows through me. 'Gravekeeper's Servant' activates, but I don't worry about what card was lost. Bergzak spins around to gain extra power in his strike, and Seria doesn't get out of the way.
To my surprise, Bergzak's sword doesn't actually hit Seria's body. Instead, it impacts some kind of sphere around her, invisible to my eyes except when it is struck. The sphere's energies hold against Bergzak's swing, and he moves back after a tense moment. However, Seria's Life Points drop as normal (Seria: 4000-2000 LP).
"This is it, Seria! Koa'ki Meiru Valafar attacks you directly! Reinforced Inferno!"
I try to breathe, and fail, as Valafar's gauntlets burn with red fire. His hands ignite with orange-red fire, and he rises into the air with several beats of his wings. I place a hand to my rapidly-beating heart as Valafar launches twin streams of fire from his fists. I don't look at the card sent by 'Gravekeeper's Servant', or at the notification that says [You have 13 cards left in your Deck.] What I focus on is this shell of Seria, as Valafar's flames surge towards her position.
Just as with Bergzak, the attack doesn't actually damage her body. Instead, the flames spread around the same protective sphere. This must be her Psychic Dueling powers at work, protecting her from my Monster's attack. However, the sphere doesn't hold out for very long. When it finally breaks, a wave of force knocks Seria back against the Arena wall. She stands there as the flames race toward her exposed body.
She doesn't move away in time. Her body catches fire. She screams as the flames cover her completely.
This time, her voice is the real Seria's, the one who's helped me along my training. Her emotions come out from whatever cage they were trapped in as her body burns in front of my eyes. Her Life Points run out as she crumples to the floor. She gives a few twitches, and then lies still.
(Seria: 2000-0 LP) [DUEL ENDS] [VICTOR: Epsilon]
I race across the field as the Solid Vision, and the fire, fade away. But, there's still a small line of black marks across Seria's Duel Field. A wisp of smoke rises from her robe, as if it was on fire for the slightest moment. As I get closer, I see red marks across her skin that weren't there before. I reach to pick her up, and then stop as I don't actually want to touch her.
I caused this to happen. My powers, my abilities, did this to a friend. Why did I ever think that this power was helpful? Now, one of my only friends is hurt, maybe even dead! If only I could control my emotions better than this!
I finally gather the courage to touch her skin. It feels too warm, too raw, to be normal. Tears spring to my eyes as I try to lift her off the ground. The power from before is gone, replaced by a cold that makes me too weak to move her an inch. I search around the Arena for anyone who could help me, but no one else is here.
"Divine!" My voice bounces off the Arena walls, to no effect. "Anyone! Seria's hurt! She needs help! Is anyone—?!"
My voice, and legs, give out as more of the same images flash before my eyes. Seria's body slides from my grasp as I roll over onto my back, my hands at my head as it throbs over and over again. I look at the Arena walls, just as a shade of red fire moves up countless wires and cords beneath the wall's padding. An entire forest of wires reveals itself; it must be the Arena's electrical system.
The energy spreads out beyond the Arena, and I rise out of my body to follow it. I see other rooms on the same floor, and then other floors, all connected to the same network. It looks like this building uses one single network to run itself, with several backup generators ready in case the power shuts down.
No corner of the Arcadia Movement headquarters hides itself from this energy, and I just follow along for the ride. But, two spaces glow with their own light.
One room, on the upper levels, carries a purple human form inside. This form reacts to the energy, channels some of it into itself. It sprouts eyes, and looks around in surprise. I get pulled away by the energy before I can see any more of this being.
The second space is deep below the surface, in a room accessible only by a device my mind calls an 'elevator'. This space is filled with white light that blends with the red fire I travel on. When it reaches me, it fills my ears with loud noise. I make out a few voices talking over each other; voices I should know, but don't.
A hand places itself on my forehead, and I pop back to the Arena as the red fire moves farther than I can track it. Divine is above me, and he looks angrily down at me. Someone else shuffles at the edge of my vision, probably helping Seria out.
"He's still alive," I hear Divine say to this other person without looking away from me, "but, he needs reconditioning. Prepare the pod for another session."
Divine then sends a pulse through my body, the same force that the person who entered my quarters while I was sleeping used. I twitch once, and then fall limp as my mind leaves my body…
[3rd PERSON POV]
The Neo Domino Network pulses with a surge of energy. Countless other energy surges also echo through cyberspace, their contents dispersing across a seemingly-infinite amount of servers. This energy joins them all, but still remains unique enough to stand out among the collective consciousness.
The energy passes over countless digital worlds, each one unique in some way. It doesn't regard any one of these worlds with particular importance. Likewise, each world it crosses over doesn't react in a special way to its passing. The Network continues to function as its original creators intended it to; this energy is just another piece.
Eventually, one world that the energy enters reacts differently. It drains the energy into itself, which appears as a wasteland of red-and-black soil, rock, and towering tentacles. This new energy gives the land new life. The tentacles writhe as the sky changes from a midnight-black to a lighter shade.
Something stirs inside this wasteland. A single orange-red eye opens, bathes the land in a fiery red glow. A second later, the eye speaks with a force that makes the land, its land, shudder.
"P̴͠RI̸̧M̷A̵R҉͘Y҉ ̵͞T̸̷AR̢͝G̨E͟T̕͢ ҉Í̢D̷͘͝È̷̡NT͏Į̴FÌ͏E̢D̕."
Alright, that's all for now. A bit of a cliffhanger, I know, but I hope it was entertaining to read through.
As usual, any reviews, comments, and constructive criticisim are well appreciated. The next chapter will be delayed in posting because of my traveling, but I hope you will stay tuned for what is to come. I also hope you are all enjoying the winter season.
Draconos is taking off!