Quick Note: (Hey everyone, author BlazerZX here. Just wanted to apologize for such a long absence and a long while of not publishing anything. Me and my partner are college students as of this year, and have been very busy with that and life, just to let you know, so don't think I've quit or anything. Not a chance XD. Anyways, I'll start posting more chapters whenever I have the time and the enthusiasm to continue, and I can assure you i won't stop till the stories are done. Oh! And thanks to all my readers, old and new alike for the support and for reading my work, as wella s all the feedback and suggestions. I can assure you that those contributions are still being taken into consideration, and in the right time and chapter you will surely see them. So keep looking forward, reading, and of course dueling XD. BTW if anyone feels like dueling me, PM me and I'll try to go on or YGOPRO whenever I get the chance. Well enjoy the new chapter!)
Chapter 37: Rebirth by Fire Part 4: The Scarlet Soul Duelist Awakens, Lavals Unleashed
Kageru stood from beneath the colossal blazing creature before him. Unfortunately for him, it was only the beginning. "It seems the requirements have been met." said Noire, who seemed to be checking what looked like her graveyard.
Kageru froze at the thought of her next move. He knew the exact card she was preparing to play, but still could not accept it. "(She... she can't be serious!)"
"Rise from the depths of the grave, and illuminate this battlefield! I activate the spell; Rekindling!"
Upon activation, a large burst of fire erupted on Noire's field, bringing with it, her fallen monsters. It was the ace card of the Flamvell assault, a card that only Kageru and Akane were known to possess. Kageru could not help but be astonished as what was once the very essence of his victory, was now used against him. Through the effect of Rekindling, Noire revived Flamvells Firedog, Magician, Grunika, and Shaman alongside her Ancient Flamvell Deity, thus filling up her entire field for an attack.
Kageru stood his ground, bracing himself for Noire's upcoming assault. "What are you waiting for!? Bring it!" he yelled out from the other side of the arena.
"As you wish." replied Noire. "But first I think I'll get rid of one of your pesky set cards with the spell Night Beam. This allows me to target and destroy one set spell/trap card on your field, and also... the targeted card can't be used to chain as a response to this effect."
An orange crosshair aimed towards the set card on Kageru's field and shot a bright, yellow beam, which destroyed it instantly. With one set left on his field, Noire felt confident enough to attack. "Ancient Flamvell Deity... Turn Laval Cannon into ash. Meteor Impact!"
Deity raised both arms, and quickly gathered an enormous sphere of burning energy and debris. With great force, the creature hurled the immense sphere at Laval Cannon who was helplessly shielding itself with its arm cannon, only to be swallowed up by the fumes. The shock pushed Kageru further away out of the ring.
"Urgh! Grrr! Argh!"
Kageru LP 4250-1500=2750
Kageru got up once again, limping away from the edge of the field. The searing pain took a toll out of his body, and his consciousness slowly began to drift away.
Noire followed up her assault without hesitation. "This will end it... Attack my monsters!"
"Not so fast!" yelled Kageru. "I activate my trap; Deck Destruction Shield. During the turn I play this card while I have no monsters on my field. I can send one monster from my deck to the grave to negate that attack."
"However..." Noire followed. "You will also suffer 600 points of damage for each attack you negate. Fine by me. Continue your assault!"
A large mechanical shield with wires attached to Kageru's deck secured itself in front of him. The shield successfully protected Kageru from each of the other Flamvell's attacks through siphoning power from the monsters in his deck, but each one came with a painful price. The used power would often overload the shield, forcing it to release the remaining energy at its controller.
"Gaahhh! Urrk..."
Kageru LP 2750-(600x4 Attacks)= 350
Seeing no other alternative play, Noire ended her turn. "Your move... And unfortunately for me, my monsters now must pay the price for their sudden revival." With the energy on their flames all used up. The remaining Flamvells on Noire's field burnt away and were banished from the game.
The Laval Judgment Lord scoffed at the sight of Kageru's beaten state. "Pathetic... For years, I have sought a true warrior to take our tribe's mantle, and for me to be awoken from my sleep for this!? And here I almost believed that inner aura within you was a form of hidden strength, but by the looks of things, even that weak sibling of yours proved a better candidate!"
Blaine quickly reached out. "Kageru! This is your only chance to prove yourself. Your only chance to be a part of something great, a chance to possess a power that not many are fit to take hold of. Ask yourself... Why did you take part in this tournament? Why do seek to be Termina's champion? What is your drive?"
Kageru struggled to push himself up. His knees could barely hold him up. He thought deeply to himself, the answers to Blaine's questions, as his stamina recovered. "Why? Why did I enter?..." No reponse could come to mind. The searing pain on his body clouded even his thoughts. Still, he kept on wondering.
"Hey little brother..." A familiar voice began to echo in his mind. "I-I'm sorry I couldn't win it... But I'm sure... You.. could..." Kageru clenched his fist, having thought the last words Akane said to him before her passing.
Another voice suddenly flashed in, followed by the image of his friend Maira's beaten body. " You mumble on how you aim to become the strongest of Termina's duelists, and yet... this is all you can do? Don't make me laugh..." The images of both Akane and Maira began swaying back and forth over and over. The very memories that have tormented him all this time.
"Albus... Albus..." Kageru grinded his teeth the sound of his name. And at that moment, he was reminded of his inner goal. "Albus!" A sudden burst of aura encircled around him. "You're all gonna pay! Someday! But first... I'll start with this pretender over here! Draw! Hey Noire... How about I show you how to really use Rekindling!"
"! (So he drew it...)" Noire thought surprisingly.
"AAAHHH!" Kageru's body surged with a sudden spark of strength. Blaine and the Judgment Lord watched in fascination, seeing the potential that they had sought after. Pillars of flame shot up on Kageru's field, and through the power of the spell, he had revived the LV3 Kayenn, the Master Magma Blacksmith, LV4 Laval Magma Cannoneer, and the LV2 Tuner; Laval Forest Sprite. He was not finished however.
"I'll summon, the Soaring Eagle Above the Searing Land in attack mode!"
A red-winged, fiery-eyed eagle soared alongside Kageru's revived monsters. And it seemed that it was about to a part of a much more devastating play.
Soaring Eagle Above the Searing Land LV1 FIRE/Winged Beast/Tuner
ATK 100
DEF 0
"Hmmmm..." The Judgment Lord suddenly began to hear the call of his fellow subjects, crying out for battle. "Yes. You may aid him. Let us see if he can truly lead us."
"So it has finally awakened." said Blaine in fascination.
"Hmph. It seems that this boy has the potential to acquire Burning Soul afterall."
Kageru began to sense the presence of a three powerful monsters calling out to him, asking for their powers to be unleashed. "Alright then... I'll tune... my LV1 Eagle and LV4 Magma Cannoneer! Then! My LV2 Forest Sprite and LV3 Blacksmith!"
Each of Kageru's monsters rose onto the field, converting their heat-filled bodies into bright stars. With the help of the tuners, their bodies soon transformed into 2 larger beings. While in the process of tuning however, the tiny Forest Sprite turned an eye to her master, looking fearful and worried at the rage in Kageru's eyes.
"Blazing spirits of heated steel, brandish your weapons and lead me to victory. Make your presence the symbol of a true warrior's soul! Avenge the fallen, and bring painful justice to the guilty! I synchro summon... Lavalval Dragon and Laval Dual Slasher!"
Within a short moment, two new monsters bearing magma-encased bodies were formed. One was a molten dragon with lava soaked all over the edges on its body. The other, was red and blue armored warrior, with tall, agile, and strong body, wielding two razor-sharp blades laced with magma on each arm. Each creature proudly wore the crest of the Laval tribe branded on their bodies.
Laval Dual Slasher LV5 FIRE/Warrior/Synchro
ATK 2400
DEF 200
Lavalval Dragon LV5 FIRE/Dragon/Synchro
ATK 2000
DEF 1100
"Impressive..." Noire complimented. "However, your monsters still don't hold a candle towards my Deity."
"Hehehehehe... Really?..." Kageru chuckled eeriely. "I should probably tell you then. Forest Sprite has a special ability. When she's sent from my field to the graveyard, every Laval monster currently on my field gains 200 ATK for each Laval monster in my graveyard."
"What!?" Noire was stunned, and at that moment she knew, that by playing Deck Destruction Shield last turn, not only was Kageru able to protect his Lifepoints, but also fuel the grave once again for much more powerful effects, thus allowing him to undo the damage done to his set up last turn from Deity's special ability.
"Thanks to my trap last turn, I now have total of 7 Lavals in my graveyard."
The spirit of Laval Forest Sprite arose, and started to shoot and dance around the field. Her body soon converted into a spiritual flame, harnessed from every other Laval resting in Kageru's grave, which then ignited the fighting spirit of the two synchro monsters on the field.
Laval Dual Slasher ATK 2400+1400= 3800
Lavalval Dragon ATK 2000+1400= 3400
"I'm just getting started! From my graveyard, I'll banish Kayenn, the Master Magma Blacksmith to activate his effect. All Laval monsters on my field gain 400 more ATK!"
With Kageru's command, Kayenn raised its iron hammer, and smited the field below, the shockwave created energy that reinforced the armor of the Lavals on Kageru's field.
Laval Dual Slasher ATK 3800+400= 4200
Lavalval Dragon ATK 3400+400= 3800
"...Hmmm...(Still, even at this level of strength, he won't be able to deal enough damage to finish me. And I have more than enough in my hand to get rid of a mere 350 Lifepoints)." Noire thought confidently while she waited for Kageru to attack.
"I'm ending this now." Kageru declared.
"Really? How does he intend to do that?" Blaine asked with wonder.
Suddenly the Judgment Lord answered. " This battle is finished..."
"I activate Lavalval Dragon's special ability! I return two Laval monsters in my grave back into my deck to return a card on your field back to your hand! Now! Get out of my sight Deity! Volcanic Tempest!"
The molten dragon roared before gathering strength. Its wing began generating a powerful wingbeat that unleashed a strong wind of heat mixed with a rain of volcanic rocks that pelted and blew away the Ancient Flamvell Deity back into Noire's extra deck.
"Urngh!... (My monster... So.. this is the power of the Laval tribe...)" Noire thought, knowing that her defeat was now certain.
With a fit of rage, Kageru rushed on to attack. "Lavalval Dragon! Laval Dual Slahser! Direct attack! Turn her to ashes!"
With their combined, overwhelming might, the two monsters charged at Noire. Their attacks proved more than enough to reduce her Lifepoints to nothing in an instant. Admitting her defeat, Noire declared "You have passed... Kageru Hinodama... Congratulations...".
Noire LP 5700-4200-3800= 0
Match Winner: Kageru
"*pant*pant*pant* Ungh..." It was a shortlived victory, for within a few measly seconds, Kageru had passed out, his strength completely drained from the training. Still, he managed to pass out to the ground, with a satisfied smile.
"(Incredible... Well done Kageru... The first step in your road to power is finally finished..)" Blaine thought proudly. "What do you think, great Judgment Lord of the Laval tribe?"
"...Hmmm... It seems that this boy does indeed have the strong desire for battle." the spirit replied. "A heart that seeks only the strong... Yes... It looks he will do. However, this is only the beginning. There is still so much potential that I wish to see unlocked for our tribe to fully unleash its full strength."
"Of course." Blaine agreed. "And we shall see to it that he will serve as a strong representative of the Kurenai faction. "And we have fully unlocked the inner potential within his soul, then even the other duelists chosen by the neighboring factions will prove no harm at all. Especially the representative of the Miyabi Faction... Noire. Can you still stand?" he called out.
Noire acknowledged as she stood up in pain, as steam emitted from her body. "I'm fine... Do you have any further orders?"
"No. Not for a while my dear." Blaine looked over to her shadow covered face, a large crack was revealed on her mask, that gradually began to work its way across and chip the material off. "You should probably get that repaired. But other than that, I thank you for your service. I'll give you more orders within time, but for now... get some rest... Big things are going to happen soon."
"...Very well then..." Noire nodded before quickly vanishing away.
Blaine looked towards Kageru, feeling accomplished that he had made the right call choosing him "(The main event will begin soon. The very thought of it excites me. If only you were watching your son now Ken... He has definitely surpassed his sister. I'm sure you'd be proud. ANd I'm sure she would be too)".