Chapter 7
Meza felt really uncomfortable. There were so many humans in these streets, he had no idea where they all came from. Sometimes, he even had trouble walking in the crowd. This city was really strange. From what he saw so far, this city of Paris must have had more inhabitants than the Barian World. Well, of course more than it had now, he remembered with sorrow, as most of them were dead and he even killed some by himself. But this was secondary now, he had to collect a Legendary Number. He never thought of the Number cards to be something special, he possessed 'Number 102: Infinite Giver' ever since he could remember. The longer he thought of it, the weirder it got, as he had no idea how he acquired his Number, or why it did fit his Deck that perfectly.
But again, it was not the time for such thinking, he had enough time for that when he had found the Number and was on his way back to the meeting point.
Then again, finding the Number was not a problem for him. He had no idea why, but he knew exactly where it was located. It led him to a place that left behind all the skyscrapers and modern houses and led them to a place where all the buildings looked way older than in the rest of the city. It was like they would have traveled through time. Well almost, if there weren't all these people around, as the place was as crowded as the rest of the city.
Meza took a look back, to the three soldiers that had followed him since they split from the other Emperors. They had discarded their armor, as did Meza, when they had an uncomfortable encounter in the outskirts of the giant city, in favor of normal clothing they stole somewhere. Now, they looked like every other human around. If they would get lost, they would most likely never find each other again.
Mezas senses led the group of four to a very old-looking house, one of the oldest he could see around. The Legendary Number had to be in there, there was now doubt at all. Or, more exactly, it had to be underneath the house, in its basement. But when Meza tried to open the front door, he found it to be locked. 'It must be inhabited!' he thought. That was making things more difficult. Maybe breaking in was an option, but this place was so crowded that they would be most likely seen.
It would have been the best to leave and return later, with a plan and maybe at night, when the streets were empty. There was just one problem: Meza couldn't he couldn't leave that place, even if he tried the hardest he had. He needed to get into there, he needed to get to the Legendary Number as quick as possible. Normally, such feelings would have frightened him, but with this need in his head, there was no room for fear.
So he found himself climbing over a fence and breaking a basement window with a stone that lay near it and jumping inside. He wasn't even paying attention anymore to the soldiers which may or may not have followed him into the basement, however, he assumed that they were still standing in front of the house.
The basement itself was basically a large room with multiple storing places, separated by grilles and packed with uncountable items, many of which Meza did not recognize. On the other hand, he hadn't too, since the only thing he had to retrieve from here was the legendary Number, and a card that powerful wouldn't be lying between an old dinghy and some garden chairs. No, the Number was guarded, as Telgu wrote in his Last Will, so to say. The Numbers Guardian must be somewhere near.
First, Meza had no idea why a Number would be in a place like this, but then he found out that the basement was sure pretty old, with the stones already cracking a little and the uncomfortable smell of old buildings lying over everything. But soon Meza realized, he decided that he does not care that much, since he came here for an entire different task, so he spoke calmly into the empty room: "I know you are here, so why not show yourself."
"Still were straightforward, my friend, you haven't changed a bit," a slightly amused voice said from the corner behind Meza: "It's a shame that we meet again in a place like this."
When Meza turned around, he found a man stepping out of the shadows. He was dressed in a black suit with a tie and was wearing a black silk hat. All of his clothing looked very elegant and expensive, but in the same way old, as if the figure was ripped out of an almost forgotten photography, that a grandfather used to hand to his grandchildren to show them how he looked like when he was young.
"What? Have you lost your tongue in this rubbishy basement? I apologize for leading you here, this isn't quite my style, but I couldn't change the place I was summoned. I would have preferred something like the Palace of Versailles. If your visit takes longer than a few hours and you should survive the next one, what is pretty unlikely though, you should spent some time there. It is French genius in architecture. It's really breathtaking what our countryman managed to build there. How do we sing it? 'Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs. Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs!'"
'Sacred love of France, Lead, support our avenging arms! Liberty, beloved Liberty, Fight with your defenders!' Meza thought to himself while the guy kept on talking and talking, until he realized that he had no idea what language that was. He just translated it, without actually knowing. But Meza shook that thoughts off again, he wasn't here for friendly conversation, so he cut the man off in his words and said: "You must be the Numbers Guardian. First of all, I think you are confusing me. I am not from this country, I am from..." Meza remembered Telgus map and spoke out the first other country that came to his mind: "...Norway. Also, I never met you before, so no reason for you to call me friend. I'm here for a duel." While speaking, Meza put on his D-Pad, reading his Deck.
"Ah, so it's true. You have no memory. Not that this is very surprising, I was told that it would be this way, but I wanted to see it by myself to believe it. But, oh well, I think I have to beat you now. Oh, since you do not remember, my name is Alain."
While Mezas thoughts were still spinning around 'no memory' and 'I was told that', Alain also put a D-Pad onto his arm, being golden and decorated with rubys, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and other jewels and crystals Meza could not name.
When he screamed: "Are you ready?" he ripped Meza out of his state of confusion and put him into a duel-ready mind.
"DUEL!"
Meza: 4000 LP
Alain: 4000 LP
"Since you came all the way from 'Norway', why won't you take the start?" Alain said, with Meza nodding in agreement as he drew his first card.
"I start of with 'Rain of Mercy'! This card grants us both 1000 Life Points." A light rain started to fall on the duelists, coming out of nowhere.
Meza: 4000 LP → 5000 LP
Alain: 4000 LP → 5000 LP
"Next, I set one Monster, along with another card. Turn end." Mezas cards appeared in front of him, when Alain took his first turn.
"I Normal Summon 'The Bistro Butcher' in Attack Position." A demonic chef with a blue face, long ears and a knife in his hand appeared on Alains side of the field.
The Bistro Butcher / Effect / Level 4 / DARK / Fiend-Type / 1800 ATK / 1000 DEF
"I immediately use it to attack your face-down Monster." The chef darted forward and sliced Mezas face-down Monster, which turned out to be a three-faced fiend. with its knife.
Stray Asmodean / Effect / Level 4 / FIRE / Fiend-Type / 1300 ATK / 1700 DEF
"Since 'Stray Asmodean' was destroyed, both players gain 800 Life Points now." Shortly after the Monster had vanished from existence, a red glow enveloped both players.
Meza: 5000 LP → 5800 LP
Alain: 5000 LP → 5800 LP
"Well, my friend, that's are very unique deck you are running there. But mine isn't that common, either. I place two cards face-down and end my turn." His face-down cards appeared on his side of the field.
"My turn again. I draw, then I activate my Spell Card 'Life Alms'. It is a very special Spell Card that does three things at once. First, I have to give up on 2000 Life Points, then you get the same amount and lastly, I get to draw two cards," Meza explained, before he was engulfed by a red glow and Alain by a blue one.
Meza: 5800 LP → 3800 LP
Alain: 5800 LP → 7800 LP
After Meza had added the cards to his hand, he continued. "I Normal Summon 'Saambell the Summoner', and use her effect to Special Summon the Level 2 'Desperate Giver' from my hand." A young girl appeared on the field, followed by a small gray crystal.
Saambell, the Summoner / Effect / Level 2 / WIND / Spellcaster-Type / 600 ATK / 400 DEF
Desperate Giver / Effect / Level 2 / LIGHT / Psychic-Type / 800 ATK / 800 DEF
"Unfortunately, when 'Desperate Giver' ends up being Special Summoned, you gain Life Points equal to the sum of all Monsters DEF on the field." The crystal started to glow lightly, then the glow enveloped Alain too.
Alain: 7800 LP → 10000 LP
'I am not going to fool around with this guy, like I did with Yild. He has 10000 Life Points now, and mine are 3800. Thats a 6200 point difference, enough for my Giver to take record on. Also, it will most likely change to my favor during the next turns, so there is not need to let him wait,' Meza reasoned, before shouting: "I overlay my Level 2 'Desperate Giver' and 'Saambell, the Summoner'! Xyz Summon!"
Both Monsters turned fully green and yellow respectively and shot into a galaxy-shaped portal. "Let's show this guardian the whole beauty of the light and kindness of the Barian World! Xyz Summon! Arise, 'Number 102: Infinite Giver'!"
The portal exploded and a huge crystal emerged from it, and settled behind Meza. It had a golden ring around it, with the Number 102 written on it. Two yellow Xyz Materials cycled it.
Number 102: Infinite Giver / Rank 2 / Xyz / LIGHT / Psychic-Type / 0 ATK / 0 DEF / 2 Xyz Materials
"I place 2 more cards face-down and then, that's it for now," Meza concluded his turn, waiting for his opponent to make his move.
And he did: "During your End Phase, I activate my set Trap Cards! 'Greed' and 'Imperial Custom', the latter preventing the formers destruction. Now, during every End Phase, all players will take Damage equal to the number of cards they drew due to card effects this turn 500 times. And since you drew two, due to the effect of 'Life Alms', my card burns you by 1000 Life Points."
As Alain finished his explanations, the card shot a wave of Gold Coins towards Meza, what knocked him backwards.
Meza: 3800 LP → 2800 LP
'Oh no...,' Meza thought to himself, 'My face-down 'Life Force' only protects me from Battle Damage, not effect Damage. This is bad.'
Meanwhile, Alain started his turn: "I draw."
In the right moment, Meza snapped out of his thoughts: "I detach 1 Xyz Material from 'Number 102: Infinite Giver' to protect it from any destruction during this turn." One of the crystals yellow Xyz Materials broke orbit and was absorbed into its ring.
Number 102: Infinite Giver: 2 Xyz Materials → 1 Xyz Material
"May I resume my turn now? I Normal Summon 'Chainsaw Insect', a formidable beater with 2400 ATK." A beetle with huge claws, well, in fact they were a mixture of chainsaws and claws, emerged onto Alains side of the field.
Chainsaw Insect / Effect / Level 4 / EARTH / Insect-Type / 2400 ATK / 0 DEF
"I think I will use it to attack your Number. Do it, 'Chainsaw Insect'!" The beetle dashed forward, but did not manage to harm the giant crystal, however, 'Number 102: Infinite Givers' effect resolved, engulfing Alain into light and giving him Life Points equal to 'Chainsaw Insects' ATK.
Alain: 10000 LP → 12400 LP
"You know, power always comes with a price. Thus, 'Chainsaw Insect' lets you draw one card, every time it battles. But, as long as 'Greed' is in play, this is more of a Drawback for you," Alain said, while Meza drew his card.
"This makes 500 Life Points Damage during the End Phase. But oh no, that is not enough. I can do much more," while he spoke, his voice gained much volume: "I overlay my Level 4 'Bistro Butcher' and 'Chainsaw Insect'! Xyz Summon!"
His Monsters turned fully purple and orange and shot into a portal. A galaxy-shaped portal. This was the arrival of the Legendary Number of Paris.
"Number 98! Sic semper tyrannis! Sic semper avarus! Arise, 'Attone of Greed'!"
When the portal exploded, a giant golden coin emerged from it. After it settled behind Alain, it changed its form in a whimper, into a man with grey skin in a suit similar to Alains, however, its hair was all white and its face was carrying a demonic, malice grin.
Number 98: Attone of Greed / Rank 4 / Xyz / LIGHT / Fiend-Type / 1800 ATK / 2500 DEF / 2 Xyz Materials
Meza glared in awe at the Monster Alain just summoned, while his opponent kept on going, without any sign of emotion to it: "First of all, upon 'Attone of Greeds' Summon, it shuts down all Xyz Monsters. In English, this means that it detaches all Xyz Materials from all other face-up Xyz Monsters, however, it still lets you draw equal to their combined Ranks."
Infinite Givers last Xyz Material just popped into nowhere, while Meza drew two additional cards. Now, he was down to 1500 Life Points Damage during the End Phase.
Number 102: Infinite Giver: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Material
"I am far from finished old friend. By detaching 1 Xyz Material from 'Attone of Greed' during my Main Phase 2, while I control no other Monsters at all, I can force us both to banish all cards in our hands, face-down, then we draw two more cards. But we are both forced to banish one of these cards face-down again." One of the mans Xyz Materials was absorbed into its tie.
Number 98: Attone of Greed: 2 Xyz Materials → 1 Xyz Material
Both of them now put their entire hands away, Meza doing so with unbelievable shock in his face, then they draw two more card. Alain didn't take long to settle on the card he should choose and put the other one away again.
Then, there was Mezas turn to pick one. 'Necromancy' or 'Upstart Goblin'. He ran a single copy of 'Necromancy' in his Deck, because it meant an enormous Life Points gain for the opponent if he used it with 'Battle Mania', which was fortunately one of Mezas face-down cards. During all other duels, Meza would have favored the deck-thinning and less situational 'Upstart Goblin' over 'Necromancy', but this duel not like any duel he had ever played, so he banished 'Upstart Goblin'.
Then, Alain ended his turn and Meza was again attacked by the gold coins of his 'Greed' card, knocking him backwards again. However, with the Legendary Number and his Over-Hundred Number in sight, things were different this time, Mezas vision started to blur, before he completely blacked out.
Meza: 2800 LP → 300 LP
Author-made cards:
Desperate Giver / Effect / Level 2 / LIGHT / Psychic-Type / 800 ATK / 800 DEF
Can be Special Summoned (from your hand) if any player controls a face-up Monster. If this card is Special Summoned, your opponent gains Life Points equal to the combined DEF of all face-up Monsters on the field.
Number 102: Infinite Giver / Rank 2 / Xyz / LIGHT / Psychic-Type / 0 ATK / 0 DEF
2 Level 2 Monsters
Once per duel, during your Main Phase, if this card has no Xyz Materials: Your opponents Life Points become equal to your Life Points, then this card gains ATK equal to the Life Points your opponent lost (if any). During your opponents Standby Phase, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then this card gains the following effects until the End Phase: ● This card cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card battles a Monster, your opponent gains Life Points equal to that Monsters ATK after the Damage Calculation. ● This card cannot be destroyed by card effects. If this card is targeted by a card effect, your opponent gains 2000 Life Points.
Number 98: Attone of Greed / Rank 4 / Xyz / LIGHT / Fiend-Type / 1800 ATK / 2500 DEF
2 Xyz Materials
Cannot be destroyed by battle, except with a "Number" Monster. This card cannot attack. This cards effects can only be applied/resolved if this card is the only Monster you control. If this card is Special Summoned: Detach all Xyz Materials from all other face-up Xyz Monsters, then your opponent draws cards equal to the combined Ranks of all Monsters affected by this effect. During your Main Phase 2: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Both players banish all cards in their hand, face-down. Then, both players draw 2 cards, and if they do, they banish 1 card from their hand, face-down.
Life Alms / Normal Spell Card
Pay 2000 Life Points. Your opponent gains 2000 Life Points, and if they do, draw 2 cards. You can only activate 1 "Life Alms" per turn.
This chapter took me quite some time to finish, both because of family and personal issues, but I will be more frequent on updates from now on.
So, Mezas Number Hunt began, Flashback will be next chapter. The short french phrase Alain used is a part of the French National Anthem, the Latin of his summoning chant means: thus, always, to tyrants. Thus, always, to the greedy. If you are from Virginia, you might know the first part already.
Also, might take a guess what card Alain kept in his hand. It is no Author-made card and one of the most trolly ones ever made.