Chapter 13
It seemed that it all came down to Number versus Number right now. Although Intakas 'Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps' seemed to be stronger than Kalias 'Number 37: Traitor Queen' at the moment, the fact that she summoned it in this situation made Intaka think that it might be more powerful and threatening that it seemed at the moment. He had to get rid of it as fast as he could, possibly during his next turn.
"I activate the effect of my 'Traitor Queen' by detaching one Xyz Material from it!" Kalia declared, while the cloaked woman that was her Monster grabbed one of the orange Overlay Units that were cycling it and clutched it in her hand.
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 2 Xyz Materials → 1 Xyz Material
Intaka braced himself for whatever coming, however, it turned out different than he expected it, as Kalia continued: "I can send one card from my Deck to my Graveyard." She showed him the card 'Skill Successor' and inserted it into the Graveyard-Slot of her D-Pad. "Then I set one card and end my turn." Her face-down materialized right next to her Number.
"My turn, draw!" Intaka yelled. When he saw the card he had drawn, his heart dropped: 'Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force'. The card that Telgu gifted the Six Barian Emperors with his last effort. Despite this, Intaka hesitated to use it. He saw Astral Soldiers defeating so many of his Barian Comrades with their Rank-Up-Magics, he didn't want to do it the same way. He could defeat Kalia without using it.
"Battle! 'Monarch of the Swamps', attack 'Traitor Queen'!" The amphibian warrior darted forward, before it stopped mid-field when Intaka spoke up again: "I detach one Xyz Material from my Number to equip it with one suitable Union Monster from my Graveyard. I choose 'Metallizing Parasite – Steltite', so you can screw your face-down Trap!" Intakas Number absorbed one of the blue orbs into its Staff, before the Graveyard-Portal opened up again, revealing the leech from earlier in this duel, attaching itself to 'Monarch of the Swamps'' back.
Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps: 2 Xyz Materials → 1 Xyz Material
The Number drew its Staff back and resumed with its attack on 'Traitor Queen', until Kalia interrupted it: "I activate the effect of 'Necro Gardna', by banishing it from my Graveyard, I can negate your attack." A faint image of a fiendish Monster appeared in front of her Number, blocking the attack. "Also," she continued, "As a card effect was activated in the Graveyard, my Monsters secondary effect increases its ATK by 300!"
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 1700 ATK → 2000 ATK
And suddenly, all of Kalias moves in this duel so far made sense. She used 'Card Blocker', 'Magical Merchant' and 'Hand Destruction' to fuel 'Traitor Queens' effect. Intaka did not pay any attention to the cards she sent to the Graveyard by those effects, so he had no idea what other effects she could activate from there.
"Judging from your looking, I believe that you finally found out about my strategy. You were always kinda slow, you know, but you really surpassed yourself this time," Kalia said.
"Kinda slow?" Intaka replied, "I've never met you before, so please do not judge me. I do end my turn. Its yours, again."
"Fool," Kalia retorted while drawing her card, "I know you better than anyone else. Maybe even better than you know yourself."
Once again, Kalias Number reached for one of its Xyz Materials, clutching it between its hands. "I use 'Traitor Queens' effect, to send 'Outright Damage' from my Deck to the Graveyard."
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials
Then, she flipped the lone face-down card on her field face-up: "I activate 'Dark World Dealings'. I set it as a bluff last turn, you know? We both now draw one card, then we discard another one."
Intaka drew as he was supposed, 'Metallizing Parasite – Lunatite' and then reasoned about what card to send to the Graveyard. It was tempting to send 'Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force'. Destroying the possibility of ever activating it. Throwing this temptation away. But if he needed it? What if Kalia was stronger than he believed her to be? In a short decision, he put Barian's Force back and sent Lunatite to the Graveyard instead.
Kalia was quicker in her decision, it seemed that she did not have to think very long about it. "I activate the effect of 'Tackle Crusader' I just sent to the Graveyard! I can return one Spell Card you control back to your hand." A strange robot made of scrap appeared out of the Graveyard-Portal, before it threw itself at 'Monarch of the Swamps' knocking 'Metallizing Parasite – Steltite' back into Intakas hand. "And since a card effect was activated in the Graveyard, 'Number 37: Traitor Queen' gains 300 ATK."
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 2000 ATK → 2300 ATK
"I think it is time to get rid of that annoying, um, Frog? Toad? Nevermind, I activate the effect of 'Skill Successor' in my Graveyard, since it was sent there last turn. I banish it, to increase the ATK of 'Traitor Queen' by 800. And since it activates in the Graveyard, my Monster gains another boost of 300 ATK." While she spoke, the Graveyard-Portal opened up once again, red energy coming out of it and engulfing Kalias Number.
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 2300 ATK → 3100 ATK → 3400 ATK
Intaka gulped once. It was strong enough to defeat his Number in battle now. Although, he could still use his Monsters effect to equip it with a Union Monster from his Graveyard when it was attacked, to prevent its destruction. Well, unless Kalia had something else up her sleeve. Or, more accurate, in her Graveyard.
Unfortunately, she seemed to have: "I activate the effect of 'Breakthrough Skill' from my Graveyard. I banish it to negate the effects of 'Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps' until the End Phase. And because it activates in the Graveyard, my 'Traitor Queen' gains a little boost." Meanwhile, the Graveyard-Portal opened up again and sucked energy from Intakas Number into itself, causing the amphibian Monster to become colorless.
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 3400 ATK → 3700 ATK
"I told you," Kalia went on, "I know you. I know, that you wouldn't rely on a single protection measure and that you would always have a backup, so it was better to negate your Monsters effects overall."
"I don't know what you are talking about," Intaka responded, "And I don't know you. You must be mistaking me for somebody."
"Oh, I would never forget your face, Intaka. If I have to beat you to make you remember, then I will. I use the effect of 'Outright Damage' in my Graveyard! With it, one Monster I control inflicts twice as much Battle Damage as it would usually do. And don't forget, it activated in the Graveyard." While Kalia spoke, her Number was once again powered up.
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 3700 ATK → 4000 ATK
"Come on, 'Traitor Queen', eliminate his Number! 'Hidden Dagger Slash'!" The cloaked woman disappeared from her position in front of Kalia, before she reappeared seconds later behind a surprised 'Monarch of the Swamps', whom she knifed in the back merciless, causing an explosion that knocked Intaka backwards and cut down most of his Life Points.
Intaka: 4000 LP → 1400 LP
The Barian Emperor tried to get back onto his feet, however, he wasn't strong enough to get up and when he tried his vision started to blur, until he blacked out and fell back onto the ground.
This swamp has been his home for many years now. It was wet, it was muggy, it was remote and hell, it was his perfect home. No people around for nothing, no problems with cold winters and he always had water around him, some of which you could even drink. He was living this way now, since he deserted the army. This whole war for peace crap was impossible to listen too. Unfortunately, the army didn't like it if you just left them at night, so, Intaka was forced to hide. To be honest, it wasn't such a bad life. Actually, a pretty nice one.
This day however, when he was wandering through the swamps, searching for food, which wasn't a that difficult thing to do at all, he saw a woman, lying face-up in the swamps. She wore a torn blue dress and had messy, red hair, but the thing Intaka noticed at first was how skinny she was. She seemed to be starving.
"Hey you!" he yelled towards the woman, hoping she would hear him. She did and, just at the moment she saw Intaka, she let out an hysteric scream. Not that he was wondering about that. He wasn't expecting any people out here, so he wasn't taking any care of his looks, since he had nobody to look pretty for. As said, he usually was the only one around here and he didn't possess a mirror.
"Don't be afraid. I'm Intaka," he calmly spoke to the woman, "Are you hungry? I can get you some food."
"Y-yes, I am," she hesitantly answered, before adding: "My name's Kalia."
At this point, Intakas vision went black again and the Duel, the Legendary Number and, most importantly, Kalia as Number Guardian came back to his senses. What was this? This whole things in the swamps, it felt so real. Just like remembering something from your childhood that he had forgotten. But Intaka had always lived in the Barian World. How could this be possible? And with this thought, he drifted away again.
They have been living together for about two years now. Intaka found out that Kalia had been on the run from her husband who beat her, however, with no money and no job she could do, she couldn't survive in the city, so she went out on the country, in hope that she could find work and a place to live there. She had been unsuccessful and finally ended up in the swamps and thus, at Intakas. At first, he was hesitating to let a woman stay at his place, as he hadn't been in public for very long and was unsure, if she may would be driven off by the quirks he developed over time, but surprisingly, she found those stuff very amusing and made herself a home very quickly, not only in his house, but also in his heart. And now, two years only the two of them, they were about to become three.
"I'll have to go to the town," Kalia opened up one morning, "To gather some things for our child, before it becomes too ... difficult." She said the last thing by patting her stomach, which was already bulging quite notably. "And before you say something: No, you cannot go instead. They do not search for me, but for you, it's too dangerous. And don't worry, I'll be back before the sun sets."
Intaka just nodded when she was finished. That was how they usually conversed, Kalia, being very fond of talking, made a speech about what they had to do, or what they shouldn't do and Intaka responded. It was awkward at first, but it started to work fine for them.
He went on with his day as normal that day, however, he was always worrying for Kalia, although he was almost never stopped worrying about Kalia. This time, however, his fears were justified. Because that evening, Soldiers of the King came. So much that Intaka had no chance of fighting them off. They brought him to the city, where they were hanging him. In one of the last seconds of his life, he spotted Kalia in the audience, her face red from crying, her stomach flat and constantly murmuring something that Intaka assumed to be: "I'm Sorry."
With this, Intaka snapped back to the present time, where he found himself opposing Kalia in a duel for the Legendary Number she possessed.
While he got up to his feet, he asked slowly: "Did this really happen? Where we … a couple?"
Kalias eyes started to fill with tears, while she responded with a mixture of both joy and sadness: "Yes... I'm so sorry."
"You don't need to. It's past. This duel is present and I want to finish it, once I start thinking about stuff. I activate 'Torrential Reborn'," Intakas face-down Trap flipped face-up, "With it, I can revive 'Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps' and inflict 500 Life Points Damage to you." The Graveyard-Portal, a prominent guest in this duel, opened up again, water shooting out of it and hitting Kalia, before Intakas Number emerged from it once again.
Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps / Xyz / Rank 7 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 2700 ATK / 2000 DEF
Kalia: 4000 LP → 3500 LP
"Intaka listen, there's something else you should know..." Kalia started, but Intaka cut her off: "Later. Everything later. Do you end your turn?"
His opponent seemed like she wanted to say something else, but finally said: "Yes. Your turn. Pull your secret weapon. Defeat me. I know you can." With this, the ATK of 'Traitor Queen' fell, when the boost of 'Skill Successor' weared off.
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 4000 ATK → 3200 ATK
Intaka nodded and drew his card, however, he barely paid attention to it and took another card out of his hand. "I activate 'Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force'! And I use my ' Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps' to reconstruct the Overlay Network! Chaos Xyz Change!"
The galaxy-shaped portal opened up again and the amphibian Monster returned to its sealed form, before it descended into the portal again, while Intaka chanted: "'Chaos Number 103'! Oceans or lakes, swamps or icy lakes, your ruler is about to show his face! Appear, 'Wet World Overlord'!"
With this words, the portal exploded again and a golden, drop-shaped piece of armor descended back onto the battlefield, where it slowly unfolded, revealing an orange skinned, humanoid amphibian being. Like its previous form, parts of his body, most notably its face were obscured by light blue fabric. Its weapon of choice was a large scepter, with a stylized drop-shaped jewel on top of it. Once it touched to ground with its feet, the grass beneath it changed, until the Number was standing in water up unto its ankles. One Chaos Overlay Unit settled in front of it.
Chaos Number 103: Wet World Overlord / Xyz / Rank 8 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF / 1 Xyz Material
Although Intaka never intended to use Barian's Force, based on the new information he acquired, it was the only logic thing he could do and maybe his only left chance to beat Kalia . "Once this Monster is Summoned, it equips itself with as many Union Monsters as possible from my hand or Graveyard, also, it will gain 1000 ATK for each." With this words, all three of Intakas Metallizing Parasites attached themselves to his Number, while its ATK skyrocketed.
Chaos Number 103: Wet World Overlord: 3000 ATK → 6000 ATK
"'Wet World Overlord', attack 'Traitor Queen'! 'Rulers Tsunami'!" The jewel on the Numbers scepter glowed blue, when suddenly a giant wave appeared behind it, aiming to crush Kalias Number. However, it stopped midway when Intaka intervened: "I use the second effect of my Number! By detaching one Xyz Material from it, the original ATK of all of my opponents Monsters is restored and cannot be changed until the End Phase!" The amphibian Monster absorbed its lone Xyz Material into the jewel on its staff, while 'Traitor Queen' sank on one knee.
Chaos Number 103: Wet World Overlord: 1 Xyz Material → 0 Xyz Materials
Number 37: Traitor Queen: 3200 ATK → 1700 ATK
Then, the wave crashed, annihilating the Monster it aimed for and pushing Kalia back, ending up lying flat on her back, defeated.
Kalia: 3500 LP → 0 LP [LOSER]
Intaka, not caring about the cards on his D-Pad ran towards his downed opponent and kneed down beneath her: "So, what do you wanted to tell me?"
"It doesn't matter now," Kalia replied and Intaka noticed to his shock that she was sounding very weak. "Just two more things," she went on: "You know that I had … an … 'Electromagnetic Turtle' in … my Graveyard."
Horrified, Intaka realized what that would have meant, but he decided to shrug that off and instead said: "And the second thing?"
"I love you," was the last thing that Kalia could say, before she dispensed into light particles, leaving 'Number 37: Traitor Queen' behind for him.
Although he was alone now, he said: "I love you too," before he started to cry.
Author-made cards:
Number 37: Traitor Queen / Xyz / Rank 3 / EARTH / Warrior-Type / 1700 ATK / 800 DEF
2 Level 3 Monsters
Cannot be destroyed by battle, except with a "Number" Monster. Must be Xyz Summoned and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. If a card effect activates and/or resolves in the Graveyard, this card gains 300 ATK. Once per turn, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to send 1 card from your Deck to the Graveyard.
Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps / Xyz / Rank 7 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 2700 ATK / 2000 DEF
2 Level WATER 7 Monsters
Cannot be destroyed by battle, except with a "Number" Monster. If this card attacks or is attacked, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to equip it with an appropriate Union Monster from your Graveyard. If this card battles a Monster with an ATK different from its original ATK, this card gains 800 ATK.
Chaos Number 103: Wet World Overlord / Xyz / Rank 8 / WATER / Aqua-Type / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
3 Level 8 WATER Monsters
Cannot be destroyed by battle, except with a "Number" Monster. If this card is Xyz Summoned: Equip it with as many appropriate Union Monsters from your hand or Graveyard as possible. (This card can be equipped with any number of Union Monsters, ignoring their effects.) This card gains 1000 ATK for each Monster equipped to it. If this card has a "Number 103: Monarch of the Swamps" as Xyz Material, it gains the following effect: ● If this card attacks or is attacked, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Until the End Phase, the ATK of all Monsters your opponent controls become its original ATK, also, their ATK cannot be changed. You can only use this effect of „Chaos Number 103: Wet World Overlord" once per turn.
Outright Damage / Normal Trap Card
If this Set card is destroyed, you can target 1 face-up Monster you control; It gains 1000 ATK. During your Main Phase 1, you can banish this card (from your Graveyard) to target 1 face-up Monster you control; Until the End Phase, double any Battle Damage a player takes from battles involving it. You can only activate this effect of "Outright Damage" once per turn.
May I introduce you to Romance? She won't be a prominent guest in my stories (all of them, actually), since I'm pretty bad writing romantic, but at least she'll oversee the Intaka/Kalia plot. She and I may have plans for another appearance of hers, but that isn't set in stone right now.
Next one coming up is Malin's Number Hunt, then comes Intaka and then the seventh one.
Did anyone get the super-oblivious hint in the last sentence? No? Good. Yes? Also fine.
To the Don Thousand Game I introduced with the flashbacks: It's still there, he is just not present in person anymore. But maybe he had some bad influence on some people in the flashbacks...