Chapter 12
Intakas trip had been very boring. They mostly flew across water and although there wasn't much water in the Barian World, he had seen enough of it after the first few minutes. Unlike the soldiers that accompanied him, of course, who still looked down onto the shimmering blue surface like little children. Not so Intaka. He had to focus on the things that were to come. If Telgu had to supply them with the 'Rank-Up-Magics' he hated so much, then these Numbers Guardians had to be tough opponents. Not that he was afraid. He had seen Saphon and Nitak and if those two weren't afraid, then Intaka was neither. He wasn't allowed to be. Now, with Telgu gone and Meza as new leader, Intaka had suddenly turned into a second-in-command. And with holding this new position now, he couldn't be scared of this mission.
Once they had reached their destination, a giant island in the far southeast of this world, more specifically, a giant wetland on a giant island in the far southeast of this world, he decided to separate from the soldiers. Most likely, he would have some trouble defeating the Number Guardian, regardless of how well he was prepared and he did not want any of the soldiers to lose the respect again, that Meza influenced them when he annihilated Yild. Sure, it wasn't a pleasant thing to watch, but it had to be done. Lives were sacrificed for a greater purpose, the Legendary Numbers. If someone wasn't okay with this, then he had to, like Yild had said, remember that they were in a war. And losing lives wasn't something spectacular, it happened everyday. Sometimes, Intaka had thought about leaving the Emperors, running away, but this thoughts were scrapped as fast as they came up. There were nothing to run too, nowhere to hide. And he was given the responsibility of being a Leader, an Emperor and the Holder of Number 103. He could not go. His life was a battlefield and presumably, he would also die on one, but he has already gotten used to that fact.
Thinking about such stuff, he wandered through the wetlands. Somewhere here, the Number Guardian should life. A strange place for someone who was that important.
"You are here," he heard a voice say from behind him. A female voice, shaking lightly, but still sounding confident.
Intaka rapidly turned his head and saw that a young, slender woman had stepped out of a hole, hidden within the roots of a tree. He had walked past it and didn't notice it.
"You haven't changed a bit. Except for your clothing," the woman went on, when he wasn't responding. She wore a blue dress, although it was dirty and wet, her hair was red and tied to a braid, her face was pale. She continued to look at Intaka, a questioning look lay in her eyes, then she seemed to remember something, because she cleared her throat first, before going on with a much more confident voice: "I'm Kalia, I'm the Number Guardian of this place. If you want the Number then fight me."
"Fine," Intaka finally said his first word. When he thought of the Number Guardian, he had always thought of giant man and cloaks, not of someone who was almost still a girl. Out of courtesy, he added: "I'm Intaka."
"I know," the answer came, and before Intaka could wonder about that, a D-Pad materialized on Kalias arms, looking like a wooden shield.
Intaka let his own D-Pad, a silver-metallic adaption of the shell of some animals, mainly the armadillo, appear on his arm.
Kalia: 4000 LP
Intaka: 4000 LP
"I'm going to start," Kalia said, taking the top card of her Deck and examining it. At first, she seemed unsure at what to do, but then, she added the card to her hand and took another card out of it: "I Normal Summon 'Marauding Captain'." A Warrior in a silver armor, wielding two swords appeared on her side of the field.
Marauding Captain / Effect / Level 3 / EARTH / Warrior-Type / 1200 ATK / 800 DEF
"Next, I think I will activate its effect and I Special Summon 'Card Blocker' from my hand in Defense Position," she declared and placed another Monster on her D-Pad. Immediately, it appeared in front of her, as a small, but combat ready warrior, carrying a shield and a dagger.
Card Blocker / Effect / Level 3 / EARTH / Warrior-Type / 400 ATK / 400 DEF
"And finally," Kalia again took a questioning look at the cards in her hand and placed one face-down on the field, "I set this card. Turn end."
Intaka, however, was unsure what to think. This was a beginners turn. Summoning those two Monsters and not Xyz Summoning using them. Something like 'Wind-Up Zenmaines'. But instead, she left her field wide open for an attack, protected only by a face-down card, a fact that Intaka couldn't care less about.
"My turn," he started, "I Normal Summon 'Swamp Knight'!" A blue-scaled amphibian knight took place on Intakas side of the field, wearing a dirty, green armor.
Swamp Knight / Effect / Level 4 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 1600 ATK / 1200 DEF
"Whenever 'Swamp Knight' is Normal Summoned, I can add one Union Monster from my Deck to my hand." His Deck exited a copy of 'Metallizing Parasite – Steltite', which Intaka quickly added to his hand, before using another card: "I activate 'Terraforming', to add 'Harsh Wetlands' from my Deck to my hand." He took the card he wanted out of his Deck and the immediately activated it.
The field they were standing in did not change that much, the only notable difference was that various trees standing around the scene vanished and that it started to rain. Apart from that, the swamp they were standing in remained the same.
"I activate 'Harsh Wetlands' first effect," Intaka continued: "I can equip one Union Monster from my hand to a suitable target on the field, so I equip my 'Swamp Knight' with 'Steltite'." Intakas Union Monster materialized on the back of his Knight, who seemed to be overwhelmed by the leech on his back at first, but soon got used to it. "Also, if 'Swamp Knight' is equipped with a Union Monster, it will gain 600 ATK and become Level 7."
Swamp Knight: 1600 ATK → 2200 ATK / Level 4 → Level 7
"That was a really good turn, but I do still have my Defense," Kalia commented on Intakas moves, but he just shrugged: "If you are talking about your Trap Card, any Monster that is equipped with 'Steltite' is subsequently unaffected by any Trap Cards. So go for it 'Swamp Knight', attack her 'Marauding Captain'! 'Swamp Leech Blade'!" Intakas Monster drew its swords and jumped forward, onto
"Uhm, I will activate the effect of 'Card Blocker' to redirect the attack to itself, also, I send the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard to increase its DEF by 1500!" Kalia shouted and took the cards from her Deck, while her Monster jumped in front of 'Marauding Captain' and was sliced in parts by the blade, however, Kalias Life Points were save.
"You may tell me," Intaka asked, "Why you used 'Card Blockers' milling effect? That hasn't changed anything and you just lost cards."
"What?" she replied, "You mean, I made a mistake? Sorry, but I just started to play this game. In fact, this is my first duel ever."
Intaka just gazed at her with his mouth gaping open. She was a beginner? She was a Number Guardian! She was supposed to be a strong opponent! Although he wanted nothing more than winning, he felt somewhat fooled by this woman.
"Okay," he just replied, "I place one card face-down and end my turn."
"Then its my turn again," she drew her card and again examined her hand, before going on, "First, I switch 'Marauding Captain' into Defense Position and set another card in Defense Position. Then, I activate my face-down card 'Hand Destruction'. It forces us both to discard two cards, before we draw two new cards." Kalia and Intaka both did so, while Intaka again wondered on what goal she was trying to achieve.
At first, he had thought she ran a Warrior-Type Deck, but right now, he believed her Deck to be a complete mishmash of cards, with no real dedication.
"I end my turn." She said, to which Intaka added:"It's me again, draw."
Her last move, using 'Hand Destruction' had played into Intakas hands greatly, enabling him to discard 'Metallizing Parasite – Soltite'. "I Normal Summon 'Swamp Protector'. As long as it is on the field, Union Monsters cannot be destroyed, except by their own effects." Another blue-scaled amphibian warrior appeared on Intakas side of the field, this time, it held a giant shield.
Swamp Protector / Effect / Level 4 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 1200 ATK / 1900 DEF
"Next up," he continued, "I activate 'Roll Out!' Using this Trap Card, I can equip one Union Monster from my Graveyard to one Monster I control. So I equip 'Metallizing Parasite – Soltite' to 'Swamp Protecter'." Like with 'Swamp Knight', a giant metallic leech attached itself to Intakas Monsters back. "And as long as 'Swamp Protector' is equipped with a Union Monster, its ATK and DEF are exchanged, also, it becomes Level 7."
Swamp Protector: 1200 ATK → 1900 ATK / 1900 DEF → 1200 DEF / Level 4 → Level 7
"Time for battle!" Intaka yelled, "'Swamp Protector', attack her face-down Monster, 'Swamp Leech Tackle'!" The Monster armed with a shield threw itself at the face-down card, revealing it to be an insect that carried lots of different goods, crushing it.
Magical Merchant / Effect / Level 1 / LIGHT / Insect-Type / 200 ATK / 700 DEF
"When 'Magical Merchant' is flipped," Kalia explained, "I can take cards from the top of my Deck until I hit a Spell or Trap Card. That card then added to my hand." She did so, having to take four Monsters until she hit a Spell Card, 'Dark World Dealings'. The remeaning cards were sent to the Graveyard.
"If you are finished, we go forth, 'Swamp Knight' attack 'Marauding Captain', 'Swamp Leech Blade'!" This time, Intakas Knight was successful in slicing the Warrior on Kalias side of the field, something it could not do last turn.
Now, that her field was empty, Intaka locked eyes with Kalia, curious to find out what she was thinking. But what he found confused him even more. He saw a mixture of admiration, probably directed to him, sorrow, probably because of the destruction of her Monsters and mischievousness, from which he did not know to what is was directed.
However, this tiny piece of expression made him unsure if she truly had something planed for this duel so far, so he decided to play safe: "I overlay my Level 7 'Swamp Knight' and 'Swamp Protector'! With these two Monsters I build the Overlay Network." His two Monsters turned fully blue, before spiraling into the air, inside a galaxy-shaped portal, while Kalia observed it with awe. "Xyz Summon, 'Number 103'! Emerge the shady waters! 'Monarch of the Swamps'!"
When the portal exploded, a piece of shiny green armor emerged from it, being shaped like a drop of water. When it descended to the ground, it slowly unfolded, revealing blue-scaled skin, with golden highlights among them, until it resembled a humanoid amphibian being, wearing the green armor of its sealed form over a light blue tunic, its face partly covered by the same fabric, only glowing, blue eyes could be seen. It wielded a long staff, which it held in both hands. Two blue Xyz Materials cycled it.
Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps / Xyz / Rank 7 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 2700 ATK / 2000 DEF / 2 Xyz Materials
"I place one further card face-down," Intaka said, "And end my turn."
"Wow. This monster is so awesome," Kalia said breathlessly, "But I think I can come up with something equal threatening. Watch!" She drew her card, before she immediately picked out another card from her hand and smashed it onto the field: "I Normal Summon 'Crane Crane'. Upon its summon, it revives a Level 3 Monster from my Graveyard, like my 'Marauding Captain'." A strange crossover between a crane, the bird and a crane, the construction machine appeared on Kalias side of the field, before reaching into the Graveyard-Portal and pulling the same silver-armored Warrior out of it, that Intaka managed to destroy in the last turn.
Crane Crane / Effect / Level 3 / EARTH / Winged Beast-Type / 300 ATK / 900 DEF
Marauding Captain / Effect / Level 3 / EARTH / Warrior-Type / 1200 ATK / 800 DEF
Intaka was visibly irritated by her sudden change. Up until now, all of her moves were kinda uncertain and vary, but suddenly, she became very straightforward and confident.
"I overlay my Level 3 'Crane Crane' and 'Marauding Captain'!" Kalia cut Intakas thoughts off, while he realized in shock that a galaxy-shaped portal had opened in the sky.
"With these two Monsters I build the Overlay Network. Xyz Summon, 'Number 37'! In this world of men, I call upon the Woman that rules about trickery and treachery! Show yourself, 'Traitor Queen'!"
When the portal exploded, a cocoon of gray fabric descended onto the ground, slowly unfolding, to reveal a woman dressed in a cloak. She was completely covered in that fabric, the only thing visible of her skin was her lower face, her mouth was showing of a knowing grin. Intaka saw a short flash of something metallic underneath her cloak, assuming that she carried a dagger underneath it. Two orange Overlay Units orbited around the woman.
Number 37: Traitor Queen / Xyz / Rank 3 / EARTH / Warrior-Type / 1700 ATK / 800 DEF / 2 Xyz Materials
Author-made cards:
Swamp Knight / Effect / Level 4 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 1600 ATK / 1200 DEF
If this card is Normal Summoned: Add 1 Union Monster from your Deck to your hand. If this card is destroyed by battle: You can Special Summon 1 Union Monster from your hand or Graveyard. You can only activate 1 "Swamp Knight" Effect per turn and only once that turn. If this card is equipped with a Union Monster it gains 600 ATK, also, its Level becomes 7.
Swamp Protector / Effect / Level 4 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 1200 ATK / 1900 DEF
Face-Up Union Monsters in your Spell and Trap Card Zone cannot be destroyed by card effects, except by their own effects. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can Special Summon 1 Union Monster from your hand or Graveyard. If this card is equipped with a Union Monster: Switch its ATK and DEF, also, its Level becomes 7.
Metallizing Parasite – Steltite / Union / Level 7 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 1000 ATK / 500 ATK
Once per turn, you can either: Target 1 face-up monster you control; equip this card to that target, OR: Unequip this card and Special Summon it in face-up Attack Position. While equipped by this effect, the equipped monster is unaffected by Trap Effects. (A monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed by battle, destroy this card instead.)
Harsh Wetlands / Field Spell Card
Once per turn, the turn player can equip 1 Union Monster from their hand to an appropriate target on the field. Face-Up Union Monsters gain 700 ATK. If this card is destroyed by a card effect. Special Summon up to 2 Union Monsters from your hand or Graveyard. You can only use this effect of "Harsh Wetlands" once per turn.
Two Numbers shown, nothing revealed about them. Its all coming next chapter, although, maybe Intakas Number Hunt will also be expanded into three chapters rather than two. I will see once I am writing the next one.
Steltite (from lat. Stella = Star) is actually just a quick copy of Soltite (from lat. Sol = Sun) and Lunatite (from lat. Lunar = Moon), because those two seemed incomplete without someone to negate the Trap Effects.
Designing this duel so far was really difficult, as it is much harder than I thought writing a character to be visibly inferior to another, without making the other one seem overpowered. Well, [spoiler] this will become better next chapter.[/spoiler] See you then.