Chapter 2 CHAOS: Lichdom
With Walter…
"I draw!", Lucifer said.
Lucifer
Hand: 1
"I shall get rid of those weak little monsters of yours. Attack Grapha, Zerato!", Lucifer declared.
"I will activate my trap Threatening Roar to prevent you from attacking!", Walter countered.
"You're only delaying the inevitable. I shall end my turn.", Lucifer said.
"I'll show you! I draw!", Walter said as he could hear Flynn struggling again.
Walter
Hand: 2
He was focused on finishing the duel quickly so he didn't look back.
"Hoy, hang in there, Flynn! I will activate my field spell Supreme King's Castle!", Walter said.
Walter
Hand: 1
Supreme King's Castle
(Field Spell)
Effect: You can Fusion Summon Fusion Monsters that must be Special Summoned with "Dark Fusion", with effects other than "Dark Fusion". Once per turn, during damage calculation, if your Fiend monster battles an opponent's monster: You can send 1 "Evil HERO" monster from your Deck or Extra Deck to the GY; your monster gains ATK equal to the Level of the monster sent to the GY x 200, until the end of this turn (even if this card leaves the field).
"I will attack Zerato with Grapha sending Adusted Gold to the graveyard with the effect of my field spell! Overlord Inferno!", Walter declared.
Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World ATK 2200 (4x200) = 3000
Lucifer LP 4000 - 200 = 3800
"Tis a scratch.", Lucifer replied.
"Well what about this? I shall attack Nergal and send Malicious Edge! Agidyne!", Walter declared.
Evil HERO Malicious Bane ATK 2200 (7x200) = 3600
He blasted the fallen angel and burned away his flesh.
Lucifer LP 3800 - 900 = 2900
"Master Walter, I detect an apocalyptically strong spirit nearby! It's power is off the charts!", Burroughs warned, grabbing Walter's attention.
Walter looked over wide eyed as he saw a spirit in golden armor rise where Flynn previously was. Lucifer raised an eyebrow not seeming very confused.
"H-Hoy is that Z-ARC?!", Walter questioned.
The spirit was glaring intensely at Lucifer as his eyes glowed menacingly.
"No…That's not.", Lucifer replied.
"I'm back from Hell, Lucifer. You're going to pay for messing with us!", the spirit said, as his voice seemed vaguely familiar.
The power he gave off was overwhelming. Though he only seemed to be hostile towards Lucifer. It was the kind of power that made you want to grovel at his feet.
"You can't lose to him, Walter.", the spirit said.
"Flynn?!", Walter questioned, completely stunned.
Lucifer was suddenly wary as the power he felt actually seemed to be threatening to him.
"I end my turn…", Walter said as he tried to process this.
"I draw! It seems you've lost your humanity, Flynn. Tell me, how does it feel to walk as a lion among sheep?", Lucifer said as Flynn tightened his fists.
Lucifer
Hand: 2
"I won't forgive you…Ever Lucifer! I didn't want t-this!", Flynn replied as he gestured himself.
"Actually you did. You coveted power. Great power comes at a great cost and those with power rule.", Lucifer replied.
"This didn't happen because I wanted strength! I just wanted to save Doomkaiser!", Flynn replied, angrily practically snarling at Lucifer.
"I don't know why you're complaining. You've become immortal and obtained a level of perfect lichdom that many would envy.", Lucifer replied as Walter sweated.
"I'm sorry, Flynn…I was too slow. Now this has happened.", Walter apologized sincerely.
Flynn was suddenly taken aback as he calmed slightly.
"This is Lucifer's fault not yours. You need to steel your resolve and defeat him.", Flynn replied.
"But you…You're undead now. That means…", Walter said, feeling horrible.
"I said it's fine, Walter!", Flynn barked back coming out more hostile than he intended.
"Oh I see you're missing frivolous things like breathing or warm flesh. Or maybe that's not quite what you're really the most worried about…? I wonder how Isabeau would feel to see you like this-", Lucifer taunted before Flynn grabbed his throat and squeezed tightly.
"Shut up, you bastard! I'll kill you!", Flynn roared, sounding almost dragon-like.
Even as Flynn grasped Lucifer's throat he was chuckling. He could see the former human's eyes full of bloodlust. Rage flowed through Flynn like a raging tide he couldn't stand it both parts of him to be like this. Flynn never wanting to become inhuman and Doomkaiser not wanting to hurt Flynn. But, he was hurt deeply because he was not only a monster, but no longer a living being.
Tears fell from his eyes as he ripped Lucifer's throat out instantly ending the duel. Flynn looked down at his bloodied hands hating himself and hating this form.
"I'm…A monster…An abomination…", Flynn murmured, shakily.
"That's wrong, Flynn! You are not a monster!", Walter said as he transformed and grabbed Flynn's shoulders.
Their eyes met and Walter could see Flynn crying.
"I'm just like you and I'm with you, Flynn.", Walter replied.
Flynn was silent as he continued crying. Walter pulled him into a hug which deeply touched him.
Flynn wanted to put a bucket over his head permanently, but he supposed his helmet would have to do. He supposes he knows how his monsters feel now. It made him gain a newfound sympathy for their existences.
"Hoy, look on the bright side, Flynn. Your super strong now.", Walter said, trying to lighten the mood.
"…But, I can't turn back like you or Gina. And…Everyone will be scared of me.", Flynn replied.
"I'm sure you can. You just need to figure it out okay.", Walter replied, he looked over noticing no spirits dare approach them.
The spirits scurried away from them seeming very frightful of Flynn's mere presence.
"Huh, who are you?", one spirit said actually having the courage to approach Flynn.
It was a muscular spirit with silver skin and molten red armor. His armor had a bunch of spikes and his wings were like red flames. He had golden eyes and golden markings were along his body.
"…I…I don't know.", Flynn replied as the spirit looked over him.
"Oh…I see we're you just born?", the spirit asked.
"What do you mean?", Flynn asked.
"You were a human, right? You've become a spirit and now you're having an identity crisis. That tends to happen often. I was a human once to my name is Jimenez.", the spirit explained.
"That's right…This is just strange for me. I didn't want this to happen.", Flynn replied.
"Doesn't seem that bad though, right? I feel a lot of power coming off you. That power appeared not long before Lucifer kicked the bucket.", Jimenez replied.
The Samurai looked wary as he mentioned Lucifer.
"Don't worry about that I'm not exactly friends with him or anything. I am simply interested in a world of freedom and he was the strongest guy around interested in that.", Jimenez explained.
"What do you mean by freedom exactly? Freedom to do what?", Walter questioned.
"You know live as you want without all that bureaucracy or governance. Not being held back by something like the status you're born in and instead being able to do whatever you desire as long as you have the will.", Jimenez explained.
"You aren't referring to the freedom to harm others, correct? Simply the freedom to do as you want without harming others? If you desire the freedom to do evil deeds…", Flynn said as he narrowed his eyes.
"Hey, harming others isn't all bad. I don't mean harming guys for fun. I mean assholes who attack you.", Jimenez replied as Flynn calmed down.
"I see…I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions.", Flynn replied.
"If you're interested in pursuing freedom the first step would be to defeat those angel bastards.", Jimenez replied.
"Well, we were going to do that anyway. I didn't really think of it like that though. Once Mikado's free maybe we can start to make a few changes around here.", Walter said as he put his hands on his hips.
"That's all right with me. But, I…Want to make sure Isabeau, Jonathan and Gina are alright. We don't know where they are.", Flynn replied.
"I'll register that as a new quest to the list.", Burroughs said, adding the quest 'A World Shaped by the Strong'.
"That's right! We should definitely do that first! Gina's going to be so mad that it slipped my mind.", Walter replied.
They tensed as two other spirits approached them who were fallen angels. They were shocked to see them bow before Flynn's feet.
"You are the one who defeated Lucifer, yes? That means you are the strongest now.", spirit 1 said.
"Who are you guys?", Flynn questioned.
"I am Superbia and this is Desire.", spirit 2 replied.
"We've heard you want to defeat the angels. Please lead the spirits to victory against those tyrants!", Desire pleaded.
"Aren't you mad I killed Lucifer? How do I know this isn't some ploy?", Flynn questioned.
"The law of chaos dictates that the strong rule and Lucifer is no longer the strongest. You are…eh…", Superbia replied.
"Hoy, you can try looking at your card, Flynn. If you're confused you can choose the name on your card.", Walter said.
"My card…?!", Flynn questioned, finding the thought bizarre.
Flynn pulled out his deck and looked for himself.
Eldlich the Golden Lord
(ZOMBIE/LIGHT/EFFECT/ATK 2500/DEF 2800/LV10)
Effect: You can send this card and 1 Spell/Trap from your hand to the GY, then target 1 card on the field; send it to the GY. If this card is in your GY: You can send 1 Spell/Trap you control to the GY; add this card to your hand, then you can Special Summon 1 Zombie monster from your hand, and if you do, until the end of your opponent's turn, it gains 1000 ATK/DEF and cannot be destroyed by card effects. You can only use each effect of "Eldlich the Golden Lord" once per turn.
"Eldlich…The Golden Lord…?", Flynn questioned, wondering what exactly decided their card names.
"Well you still got the 'Lord' title.", Walter commented.
"What even is an Eldlich…?", Flynn questioned, incredulously.
"A lich refers to a corpse or dead body. Eldrich could be a pun of Eldritch which means otherworldly or ghostly.", Superbia explained leaving the Samurai stunned.
"So my name means otherworldly corpse?! What? I think I'll just stick with Flynn. That's way easier.", Flynn replied as from now on whenever he would hear that name he'd think 'otherworldly corpse'.
"Wait…I thought Eldritch was associated with that old dude's horror books?", Jimenez questioned, sounding confused.
"What…?", Flynn questioned, completely clueless.
"I never really read them, I just kinda knew of them. I think it was like cosmic horror or something.", Jimenez replied.
Walter had a funny look as he saw Flynn's deadpan expression. Flynn looked away as everything they said went completely over his head. All he understood was that there weren't very good associations with his name. After all, Flynn's never actually read a book in his life…
"Cosmic horror corpse…? What is the universe trying to say?", Flynn murmured.
Later…
Flynn and Walter continued looking for their fellows. They left Camp Ichigaya and were walking the streets. A Hunter that saw them froze before hastily hiding. This did not help Flynn's negative self image in the slightest. As they walked Hunters continued to run away from them with none daring to actually challenge him.
They found that Shinjuku had been torn up and was vacant of people. So, they continued to try and find someone who didn't instantly flee upon seeing them. Their attention was grabbed when they saw a bunch of defeated spirits. Isabeau was standing in front of Asahi as some sort of corrupted pegasus spirit faced them.
They all froze at just feeling Flynn's presence. It was practically like a physical miasma in the air with how powerful it was.
"Mistress Isabeau, there's an apocalyptically strong spirit nearby! It's power is off the charts!", Burroughs warned.
Isabeau looked stunned having never heard a warning like that before.
"That doesn't sound good!", Asahi said.
Flynn was silent as he approached. Isabeau tensed, raising her gauntlet protectively.
"Ooh…I've never seen you around before. You look absolutely stylish.", the pegasus spirit said.
"He's so strong it's unreal.", spirit 1 commented.
"Where did this guy come from?", spirit 2 questioned.
Isabeau's eyes widened when she noticed Walter by the spirit's side and was immensely confused.
"Leave her alone.", Flynn ordered the spirits much to their shock.
"What are you talking about?! This human has been a massive thorn in o-", the pegasus spirit was saying before Flynn glared making him shut up.
The pegasus spirit backed up warily as he sweated immensely. When Flynn glared his eyes seemed to glow red.
"I-I mean as you wish!", the pegasus spirit said , fearfully.
"Who's this spirit, Walter? Is he an ally?", Isabeau asked as Flynn's heart sunk.
"I'm no-", Flynn was saying.
"Hoy, what are you talking about, Flynn? Why were you about to say nobody?", Walter replied, obliviously as Flynn mentally face palmed.
Isabeau and Asahi looked completely shocked. Flynn looked away not wanting to hear what she thought at all. He just wanted to know she was safe not for her to see him like this.
"What…As in the Champion of Tokyo Flynn?", spirit 3 questioned.
"Woah…He's joined us cool!", spirit 4 said.
"Wrong! I only side with good spirits! Not evil spirits that devour the souls of humans!", Flynn replied as Isabeau's eyes widened.
"You really are…", Isabeau murmured as Flynn backed away.
Flynn looked away as Isabeau got closer to him. Isabeau used her spiritual powers to sense his soul. What she saw when she sensed it she saw Flynn and Doomkaiser. Both of them were together with neither dominating the other instead inhabiting the same form. She was touching his chest. The woman was already small compared to him as a human and she looked positively tiny now.
"Flynn…You're alive. I thought you were dead.", Isabeau said.
"I am dead. I am…A monster.", Flynn replied as he shrinked away from her touch.
"That's not what your heart reflects. I don't know what happened to your form, but judging by how you're acting I doubt you wanted it. With the power you currently possess you have no reason to be scared of me…Unless you're scared of how I'd react.", Isabeau replied.
"Hoy, I told you that you were being stupid, Flynn.", Walter said.
"He's really Flynn?! What happened to you?", Asahi questioned.
"It's hard to explain. I don't fully understand it myself.", Flynn replied.
"As long as you have the same kind heart as always that's all that matters.", Isabeau replied as Flynn lowered his gaze to see her.
"How can she still love me when I look like this? She should be scared of me…", Flynn thought.
The spirits had fully cleared away after Flynn's order.
"You need to bring her home, but…I can't come because I can't change back.", Flynn said.
"I understand. People won't recognize you and think you're trying to attack. But Flynn…After this I still want to stay by your side.", Isabeau replied as Flynn shook.
He could hardly think of words to respond. He didn't think he deserved her at all.
"Flynn, I'll make sure to let everyone back home know it's you.", Asahi said, with a bright smile.
"Really…?", Flynn questioned, feeling very emotional.
Isabeau returned Asahi to Kinischo and then returned.
"You guys were gone for over a week and spirits flooded in from the reactor. Me and Gina were trying to protect everyone. Kinischo got attacked and…Manabu and Nikkari didn't make it. I just barely arrived on time to save Asahi.", Isabeau explained.
Flynn and Walter tried to explain everything that happened after they got transported and leading up to this point.
"So, it happened on accident? You touched whatever strange stone brought Doomkaiser alive to begin with and became fused with him?", Isabeau said.
"That's the short of it. Even Doomkaiser doesn't know what this stone is. It's covered now. It felt painful…To feel my flesh melding and fusing…", Flynn said as he rubbed his chest.
"Please don't describe it, Flynn…", Walter said, looking freaked out.
"That must have been difficult to experience. But, like Walter, you were just trying to save your friend. You didn't even know what would happen when you touched the stone.", Isabeau replied.
"That's not how others will see it.", Flynn replied.
"Well who cares what they think. As long as your loved ones know the truth isn't that enough?", Isabeau replied.
She was taken off guard when Flynn scooped her up holding her close. Isabeau blushed intensely and Walter gasped.
"I don't deserve either of you…I'm so glad I have such great fellows.", Flynn replied as his voice cracked.
He didn't hold Isabeau too tightly because he was scared of hurting her. Isabeau smiled back at him which made his heart melt more. Even though he didn't have a heart anymore he could feel it fluttering.
"Now, we just have to find the others and beat back the angels then everything will be okay.", Walter said.
"What about the evil spirits?", Isabeau questioned.
"I'll make them listen to me. As you saw before they're scared of me so they'll listen. I'll try to get them all to stop attacking.", Flynn replied as he set her down.
Isabeau nodded seeing that seemed like the most bloodless option. They went around and had Flynn intimidate every evil spirit until they stopped attacking.
"Gina!", Walter called out when they finally spotted her.
"The quest is going well.", Burroughs said.
"There you guys are! Who's…This?", Gina replied as Flynn looked away.
"It's a long story but this guy is Flynn. He's been able to intimidate the other spirits into stopping their attacks.", Walter replied.
"That's a relief! That makes things much simpler.", Gina replied.
She then hit Walter over the head.
"Oww! What was that for?! I think you shattered my cranium!", Walter wined.
"That's for recklessly rushing in and getting yourself teleported to another dimension!", Gina said as the others' sweat dropped.
"I didn't know that was going to happen!", Walter complained.
Flynn found himself chuckling which made Isabeau smile. She was relieved that he could still laugh even now.
"Hoy, Flynn do you mind if I see?", Isabeau asked as Walter and Gina gasped.
Flynn looked completely oblivious as to why they were freaking out.
"See what?", Flynn questioned, cluelessly.
"Well, you have a helmet on. It feels weird to not see your face.", Isabeau replied.
"Oh…That's what you meant.", Walter replied as Isabeau gave him a funny look.
"What did you think I meant, Walter?", Isabeau questioned as she narrowed her eyes and Walter looked away.
"He was thinking dirty thoughts that's for sure.", Gina replied as she chuckled.
"…..", they turned to Flynn who was still silent.
He looked away still not feeling comfortable in his own skin.
"If…That's what you want. I probably look unholy…", Flynn replied.
"How can you say that when you don't even know what you look like, Flynn?", Isabeau questioned as Flynn blushed.
Flynn hesitantly touched the bottom of his helmet and lifted it up slowly. He was hunched over as if he didn't want many people to see him. They were all very curious now that Isabeau mentioned it. His skin or more accurately scales were the same color as Doomkaiser's. His four eyes like Doomkaiser's though they were shaped more like Flynn's and he had the same horns. His nose and mouth stayed rather humanoid though it was now full of rows of sharp teeth. He still had his human ears and dopey haircut. His chin was the same and various other facial features.
As soon as he lifted his helmet up he put it back down feeling self conscious. They noted his features distinctively seemed to blend both his and Doomkaiser's proving that they're souls had perfectly merged.
"That's enough of a scare for one day.", Flynn said.
"It's not that bad, Flynn! You look fine!", Isabeau assured.
"You're just saying that.", Flynn replied as Walter had a funny look.
"And you sound like a girl when you say that.", Walter replied.
"For a fusion with a non-humanoid spirit I expected it to be a lot worse. I'd say you're even still handsome.", Gina replied.
"You think Flynn's handsome?", Walter replied and Gina gave him a funny look.
They could not see Flynn's flushed cheeks under his helmet.
"I don't think dragons and people were supposed to merge. It just feels awkward from both sides. Like the Doomkaiser part of me is getting used to having hands and no wings.", Flynn replied.
"Yeah…How does Doomkaiser feel?", Isabeau questioned.
"It's…A bizarre experience. I mean I have human hands, thumbs, and feet. How do you people get by walking? The sensation is so strange and it's so slow. I prefer flying.", Flynn said as he sounded slightly different, a bit more gravelly.
"Oh god…This must be the weirdest thing for both of you. At least Dark Gaia was already humanoid.", Walter replied as he sweat dropped.
They noticed how when Doomkaiser was in control he stumbled while standing. He clearly wasn't used to the idea of the whole bipedal thing since he never had legs to begin with.
"I wonder if I can still fly somehow…? Though my wings are gone.", Doomkaiser said as he looked up into the sky.
The best he could do is jump; the mere sensation of jumping felt weird and foreign to him.
"It's not working…Flynn can do the walking. He's used to it. It's just too strange for me. If anything needs to be torn apart I can do that.", Doomkaiser replied.
"It's weird to think about how just unsettling this feels on both sides. Normally I would never think of walking or jumping as weird, but Doomkaiser has never had to do those things. I feel bad…I wish we still had wings. Somehow I miss flying despite having never done it myself.", Flynn said as his voice returned to normal.
"That's tough…", Gina commented.
"…No wonder you're being even more self loathing than usual. You both don't like it for like…Contradicting reasons.", Walter replied.
"It will be fine, Flynn, Doomkaiser. You will both simply have to get used to it.", Isabeau replied.
"Yeah…", Flynn replied.
They looked around for Jonathan, but didn't find him anywhere so they headed towards the sky tower.
To be continued…