Chapter 16: Kageru vs Aria Pt1: Gishki; The Mysterious Clan
Maira watched as a huge crowd had formed around the two duelists. She silently laughed to herself, "These two sure spread the fire awfully quickly." Despite sounding confident, Maira could not hide her concern for her friend, feeling that an ill omen was about to befall in this match.
"Maira, you okay? You look a little worried.." Riski asked as she moved into Maira's line of view.
"Huh? Oh, it's just... she seems strong, and Kageru seems to over confident. If he doesn't play it safe and focus diligently on the game, he could mess up badly.." she tried to see any possible prediction of Kageru winning, however, like Kageru, she was unaware of Aria's deck or playstyle and could not help but depend on blind faith as she always had.
"Let's just hope lady luck smiles on Kageru today." she said seriously to herself and Riski as they spectated.
"Wow, even Maira's concerned." Said Riski to Kell who simply shrugged before replying bluntly "Well, to be honest, she does give off an air of superiority. She couldn't have gotten that off of lies, but of I'm kinda excited to see the little tike work up a sweat, hehe. might do him some good.. and besides, Maira can now see her enemy in the light. When they duel, there'll be no where for Aria to run that Maira can't see." Kell gave Maira a thumbs up, but Maira didn't even look at him, and he sorrowfuly pouted. "Man, she really is seriously worried... kinda wished she look at my duels that way.." he rubbed under his nose and looked at her from the corner of his eyes.
Riski nudged him and he quickly broke from his train of thought, "Now look here, Maira's not one to concern herself with other's affairs. If she's worried, we should be twice as worried. Kageru never takes things likely, whether they're victories or defeats. She's most likely wishing him the best but knowing the worst is coming..." the two stared at Maira, then back at the duel.
"M-Maira! Maira!"
Maira's thoughts suddenly stopped as she heard a familiar voice. "Sugar?" she looked around. Pushing through the crowd of students, Sugar was making her way through the crowd of people to meet up with her.
"Maira!" Sugar ran over to her and Maira happily, but still surprised, caught her in her arms and lifted her up. "What are you doing here?" she asked with surprise. "I wanted to see the duel! Everyone's been texting each other about it." Sugar climbed on Maira's shoulders, and then looked over her head like a child would with a parent. "Wow! the view's great up here! hehe~" she swung her legs in glee.
"Everyone?" asked Maira.
"EVERRRRYOOONEE~" Sugar chimed slowly, making it even more dramatic.
"Wow, and so the fire burns on." Maira chuckled nervously. "Kageru.. I hope you don't think the world's watching... cause it is."
"Yeah, he might be nervous or scared hehe~ Go, Kageru!...excuse me, mister, but your blocking my view." Sugar said to one of the basket ball players as he looked behind with an awkwardly surprised expression, She motioned with her hand for him to move, and he moved away.
"Thank you!" Maira looked down in embarrassment.
The crowd stood quietly, waiting anxiously for the 1st turn. It was quiet, and anxiety filled the air. Kageru stood with 5 cards in hand, while Aria with 5 projections floating in front of her. As much as Kageru wanted to take the first turn, he knew had no idea, what kind of deck Aria played, or what type of strategies she used. He felt best if he at least caught a glimpse of what she would do.
DUEL!
Kageru LP 8000
Aria LP 8000
"How bout you start us off Castelle?" said Kageru who allowed his opponent to take the first turn.
Aria stood agreed without question. "Very well. Before we begin however,will you allow me the privilege of asking you a question?"
"What do you need?" Kageru replied with curiousity.
Aria paused in thought and proceeded. "What do you wish to accomplish by entering the Red Nova Tournament?.. What exactly do you expect to gain from being part of the DT Grand Championships?"
"!?" Kageru paused in thought. He never actually gave too much time into thinking why exactly he aimed for by entering the tournament. He tried to come up with an quick answer. "I...I entered to show the world my strength! I'm gonna win it all and prove that I'm the best duelist in Termina! As far as I'm concerned, there is only one person standin in my way, and so I'm gonna get stronger and clobber that person someday!"
As sincere as Kageru's resolve was, Aria was not moved. "Hmph...Such an empty and shallow goal."
"! Grrrr.. What was that!?" Kageru's temper rose as Aria mocked him.
"A childish resolve and yet you call yourself a duelist? With a reason like that, you shouldn't even bother entering."
Kageru couldn't accept the way she mocked him. He wanted to hear what kind of answers she would give as a counter-statement. "Oh yeah? So what are your standards anyway? What do you wanna get by winnin the tournament rich girl?"
Aria stood quiet. She didn't seem willing enough to reveal her motives. She decided to respond with a vague answer. "My reasons for taking part of this event is something a shallow-minded individual like you could possibly understand. However, I will tell you this; The Castelle family has something very wonderful planned once I gain victory."
Kageru stood and wondered what Aria planned on and thought."...Erk..whatever." Kageru was eager too start and couldn't take anymore of Aria's puzzling words. "Enough chatter! Let's get started already! You got first go."
"Hmph...as impatient as always. I always knew that duelists from the Kurenai faction were this ill-tempered. Very well then." Aria touched a button on her disk and clicked on a set of menus projected in front of her. "Draw...I set one monster face down." She clicked on the word set that appeared as one of her options, she then proceeded to place another card on the field. "I'll place one card face down and end my turn. Your move."
Kageru in a way envied her attitude. Aria executed her plays calmly as if she already knew well what to do. Although he felt the need to be cautious, he decided to do what he did best; play on the offensive. "My turn! I'll draw...(awesome)" Kageru looked at his starting hand, and quickly decided to go with the most reliable monster he had on the first turn.
"I'm summonin Flamvell Firedog in Attack Mode!" The flaming hound leaped onto the field ready for battle.
Flamvell Firedog LV4 FIRE/Beast
ATK 1900 DEF 200
Aria simply stood without fear, observing the monster that her opponent had just summoned.
"Flamvell Firedog. The lead charger of the Flamvell tribe. It's known for its fierce and fast attacks and speed. One of the most crucial beings in the tribe's frontal assault. Its duty was to lead the front and sweep out and breakthrough the defense lines of the Worms and when a path was clear, it would then be followed by its companions who will then provide more strength in the assault. Such an obvious play."
"Huh?" Kageru wondered what knowledge did Aria just reveal before him. "What are you blabberin about?" he asked.
"I don't suppose that an ignorant simpleton like you would know the history of the great Terminal Wars."
"You mean those junk fantasies that we learn in history class? The same kind that I've been told as bed-time stories? What about them?" Kageru questioned what made Aria bring the subject up. He was always very pessimistic about the legends and lores contained within Duel Monsters.
"I thought as much just by looking at you. You're a reckless war-driven animal who knows nothing but violence. You lust for battle. You get yourself into such squabbles without even thinking why. How pathetic. Honestly, even your sister and father had at least some awareness of our history."
"You tryin to mess with my head? Or are you just flat out crazy? Duel Monsters is just a game. All that garbage or Worm-war and the clans or whatever stuff they kept drilling in your skull; It's worthless! It's all just myths, fables, stories, lies, and that's it! My old man was a kid stuck in his stupid fantasies! I don't know what your up too but you're not messing up that easy!"
Kageru couldn't stand taking her words. He was not willing to hear another lecture from her and quickly rushed on his turn.
"Since I have a Flamvell monster and you get less than three cards on your field, I can special summon Neo Flamvell Origin from my hand!" The blue-flaming infant cried and floated about on the field.
Neo Flamvell Origin LV2 FIRE/Pyro/Tuner
ATK 500 DEF 200
Kageru quickly brought out a tuner monster. It seemed he was prepared for a synchro summon, however he had something else in mind first.
"Get ready for my battle phase Aria! Firedog attack his facedown!" The flaming hound rushed on forward and pounced at Aria's monster, Aria however already knew exactly what he planned out.
"You have an utterly foolish confidence that my monster's DEF is no better than 1900; hoping that it will be destroyed, thus allowing you to call on another of your allies...particularly; Flamvell Grunika, and then you will attack with both those monsters and summon Uruquizas alongside your hound during your Mainphase 2."
Kageru was surprised that she calculated his battle plan so accurately and quickly. Still it was not enough to make his resolve to attack waver. "So you know huh? Well let's see if you got anything to do about it! Sick em boy!"
Aria's facedown monster was revealed. It appeared to be a young female sorceress with blue hair, wearing a wizard hat and cloak. It wielded a blue staff with a tip shaped like a water drop as its weapon.
"My facedown is; Gishki Ariel."
Gishki Ariel LV4 WATER/Spellcaster
DEF 1800
Kageru checked Ariel's stats and gladly proceeded on attacking "Heh. Only 1800 DEF? Get her Firedog!"
Firedog rushed in and pounced right on Ariel and tore her apart, however Aria already knew it would happen. "I activate Ariel's flip effect; She allows me the privilege of adding a "Gishki" monster from my deck to my hand." She searched her deck list for the right card.
DECK SCANNING...GISHKI SHADOW SELECTED...SHUFFLING.
"Hmph, anyways I'll activate Firedog's ability too; When he destroys a monster and sends it to the grave I can special summon a FIRE monster with 200 or less DEF from my deck. I special summon Flamvell Grunika!"
Kageru summoned forth a purple dragon-like creature with burning fists once again.
Flamvell Grunika LV4 FIRE/Dragon
ATK 1700 DEF 200
The students cheered on the sidelines dazzled by the match before them. Some cheered for one of the duelists while some cheered for the other.
"Get her Hinodama!"
"Come on Castelle!"
Kageru motioned his next monster to attack, readying to get the first strike on Aria's Lifepoints "Heh. alright Flamvell Grunika it's your turn to-"
"How rude." Aria interrupted. "If you be so kind as to allow me to activate my trap first. Aria tapped on her projected set card and activated it. "I shall counter your Firedog's effect with the Time Machine trap card. This trap allows me control the passage of time and bring back a monster that was destroyed by battle. In other words, my Ariel shall summoned once more facedown."
"Grrr." Kageru gave off a frustrated look. He already knew that Ariel's DEF stats were too much for his Grunika to take down.
"Wow she's good." Gai commented. "Not only did that trap stop Kageru's attacks, but because Ariel's been set again."
"She can use Ariel's flip effect a second time." Maira finished in.
Kageru was not too sure what else to do, other then set up his forces prepare for the next few turns. "Alright I'll end my Battle Phase for now."
MAINPHASE 2
"I'll tune my LV4 Grunika and LV2 Origin for a synchro summon!"
Kageru's selected monsters levitated onto the air, and turned into smallbright stars that formed rings. The stars and rings floated about and aligned themselves into a single constellation.
LV2+LV4=LV6
"Come on out Flamvell Uruquizas!" The Warrior with burning fists appeared for battle on kageru's side once again. It took its stance and positioned itself alongside Firedog.
Flamvell Uruquizas LV6/FIRE/Pyro/Synchro
ATK 2100 DEF 400
"I'll end my turn."
Aria observed Kageru's field; studying his monsters. "Uruquizas. One of the strongest of the Flamvell Warlords. Its powerful fists were used as a counter to the defensive and sly tactics used by the worms. A warrior with vigor comparable only to that of the hero Gottoms of the X-Sabers."
"?...You're still goin on about that?" Kageru was getting irritated. "I told you..those stupid legends are just legends."
"How naive you are.." Aria replied.
"What?"
"Have you not wondered were the ideas of Duel Monsters come from? Where their legends came about? What secrets they contained?...Have not even considered events that hvae occurred in the past? Why they happen?"
"What are you talkina bout now?" Kageru looked puzzled.
"Honestly If it isn't too much to ask, can you tell my at least an accurate synopsis of Termina's lores?"
"Urgh...Fine!.." Kageru's gave in with a disdained look as he went on to tell what he knew. About the clans. The wars and fights. The Worm invasion. Everything about the world from galaxies apart.
"Let's see. It was some planet nobody knew about. It had all kinds of living "monsters" I guess in it. The clans; The X-Sabers, Flamvells, Ice Barriers, Mist Valleys, and a whoel bunch of other clans were pretty sore at each other. They hated each others guts I guess. The planet...Everything was all about war, but there was also peace for the most part. There were so many groups and land, that some of the groups wanted it all to themselves. Some wanted to be in charge. Some wanted to take everything. And they were willin to fight and kill for it too..."
"Correct. Continue please."
"Then...There was this wierd-lookin meteor thingy."
"The W Nebula" Aria added in.
"Yeah...Then those things came...The Worms. These guys came into their home, and started takin over everything. A ton of guys died defendin the place. Then with all this nonsense, The clan; The X-Sabers and the Flamvells made the Allies of Justice to fight these things back. They had some pretty cool gadgets too."
"Excatly right. The AOJ were created by the clans and with it, they had their greatest engineers and generals create weapons that countered the strategies and strengths of the Worm invaders."
"And with that they kept fighting. Many died, and eventually they won. Am I right?"
Aria paused with uncertainty, but replied. "Yes...In a way you could say. However... It wasn't a victory you would call a 'happy ending'".
"What?"
"In case you didn't know, much has happened. Not only did the Worms themselves prove formidable, but there were also traitors among the tribes that secretly sided with the enemy. This made the AOJ forces almost uneffective. Many of the tribes were wiped out...including the Flamvells. After countless measures and trials, the clans were soon forced to unleash their greatest forces. Gottoms of the X-Sabers unleashed his true power, the Jurracs created a meteor in an attmpt to destroy the Worms. This then gave birth to the Neo Flamvells who rose from the grave with new powers that allowed them to summon their great Deity. The AOJ also unleashed their greatest weapon to finish off the Worms and their most vile creation...Even these attempts were not enough however."
"!? So...How did they win?" Kageru wondered.
"The Ice Barrier clan. The caln represented by the Aoi Faction. They also sacrificed their greatest generals to fight off the invaders. However, because the situation bacame so dire, their were forced to unleashed the Forbidden Triangle."
"Forbidden Triangle?"
"Yes. They were composed of three omnipotent beings that were capable of unimaginable power. Power beyond what the clans themselves could control. The Ice Barriers undid the seals of these three beings in order of strength depending on the situation. However their strength proved too much, and in the end the third and last one of the creatures destroyed the Worms once and for all...However, it also wiped out nearly everything on the planet."
"So what exactly are you tryin to say to me?" Kageru asked.
"Fortunately. Remnants of the clans remained. The survivors of the war took refuge and overtime they adapted,grew, and evolved. Despite this; their insatiable battle lust continued on, and wars began again. The new tribes that rose came from remants of the tribes. They are more evolved and superior than previous groups. I; Aria Castelle come before you in possession of one of these tribes. The Gishki clan. A clan that came from the lands once roamed by the Ice Barriers. Are you beginning to understand where I am getting at Hinodama Kageru?"
Kageru taught for a moment and tried to register the whole story into his mind. "So if these Gishki things came from the...YOU mean!?"
"Yes. Like my mother, I onced possessed the Ice Barrier clan. But now, my abilities have evolved. I have become far more superior than the primitive species, like the ones you and your father, sister, and the AOJ possessed. And alongside me there are others; others who are fighting and destined to compete in the DT Grand Championships. You Kageru Hinodama, possess a primitive race. Old, inferior, and outdated. The Flamvell clan no longer holds sway to the power I possess. That is why you who has not evolved will lose this duel."
"!" Kageru wondered if all that Aria was saying was really true, he kept on trying to deny it. "It can't be... This is all a lie...They're just stories."
"No...This is reality...Termina as who have remembered came from the legends of these wars. And it is because of the effect of the clan's influence that wars took place. Now that we have established the DT Grand Championships. These battles shall take place once more. Do you understand yet Hinodama Kageru? THIS IS MATCH SHALL REVEAL REALITY. THE TRUE NATURE OF DUEL MONSTERS!"