【59 - The Final Stretch and Hopes Become Dashed! Who Will Escape!?】


YouTube: D&D Ambience | Inside A Volcano | Magma, Searing Fire, Lava


From outside the perimeter helicopters were trying to get surveilance of the disaster since the military wouldn't let anyone through. For whatever reason they had the island blocked off in a wide circle and were to make sure nobody got by. Apparently it was for the public's safety but with another warning being broadcasted by the chosen water duelist the citizens of Aurellia were jumping to accuse the military and demanding an explanation. Camera footage showed the island with its smoking volcano, lava streaking down on all sides now and starting fires throughout the jungle. Many were concerned not just for the inhabitants but the ecosystem being threatened by what was reportedly the worst eruption recorded in decades.

The real culprit of course, didn't care how hard it was for those below his rank to deal with public relations. He didn't care what lie they were forced to come up with. So long as he succeeded in his second attack. The next big public disaster, going from an impoverished city to an island overseas and getting ever-closer in importance to the more populated cities. No doubt their destruction would turn the planet on its head, and in the widespread panic he would emerge as a new leader. The new leader of a new age.

Those on the island were still hoping to escape before things got any worse. And so a fair distance away from where Tsukumo was searching, a duel was being prepared amidst a wide flowing river of lava. Fires were burning in the surrounding tropical jungle. On an outcrop Meilani and Denaris approached their tables to duel. From beneath them Kanoa could hardly see and felt like he was losing his mind. This wasn't Meilani's first battle against a lieutenant but that prospect didn't make her any more confident. Kaijudo duels were dangerous but she was rising to the challenge, no matter how tempestuous the environment was around them.

Meilani charged Saizoumist Dolge for nature, light and water mana. Denaris copied her. He might be using a similar deck, she thought. Meilani charged light-water and he charged light, passing it back. On the third round neither of them summoned either, Meilani dropping another light-water card into mana while he charged a light twinpact.

"I cast Hakumai Danshaku!" A white bean with a tophat appeared in Meilani's battlezone, spinning a cane. "I boost my top card into mana and choose to not take any card to my hand. Done!"

Denaris simply charged again and waited "your move."

Meilani added her sixth mana "I cast Dragon's Sign and bring out Kirazeus Savark!" The gold dragon emerged mightily above them, the purple gems on its body shining as it roared. With no other creature in play to banish she'd have to wait until she could break shields before giving it removal resistance. "I'm done!"

"I cast Now or Never!" The water side of the twinpact spell shone. "I bring out Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge and he returns to my hand but not before bringing out Heaven's Heaven Heavenly Justice!" The fortress that dropped onto the lava was like a mix between a church and a military base. It was all armored in metal with light weapons and cannons. "Non-light spells cost 1 more and at the end of my turn I can put a light creature with blocker into play for free. I end."

He doesn't have a blocker…? Meilani drew "Then I also summon Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge and bring out Endless Heaven, True Holy Church! Now I get a shield every time a creature of mine is destroyed and with Heaven's Rosia I have his mana arms 5 protecting me as well." She allowed herself a moment to smile. This was her second time in a life-or-death battle and it seemed to be going her way. The bejewelled structure dropped from a hyperspace portal, falling beside them in the lava as well. It was a shimmering pearl with touches of gold, sapphire and emeralds.


+ Selector Infected WIXOSS OST - Culmination


Meilani pointed "Kirazeus double-breaks and I put two cards face-up on my shields!" They were both Jasmine, Mist Faeries and imprinted as gold hieroglyphs onto her panels. Her dragon sailed forth with a roar that warped the glass before he sailed through them. Denaris fell back and the dragon swerved over the lake of lava, flying around to his mistress's side. "I'm done with my turn and dragsolution! Neverend, True Destiny King!" The church transformed, straightening into the sword-wielding giant with 14,500 power and triple-breaker. "I'm going to make you regret that you ever messed with our home! You hear me!? You destroyed my village, ravaged my beautiful island, threatened my tribe and my soul flame! These people are my family and I can never forgive you!"

"Blah blah…" He got back onto his feet, went over to his table and assessed the situation. For some reason he wasn't bothered by his predicament. "I summon Rosia, Final Dragon Edge and equip him with Javeleon, Beast Lance." An alternate version of the draguner raised his staff, electric chains whipped upward and opened a warping portal. A gold lance-sword fell into his grip. This version of Rosia didn't have shield saver but it was a blocker. "As I end my turn, dragsolution! Javeleon becomes Leosaiyu, Beast Cathedral!" If his other church looked like a military base, this one was like a machine factory. Only instead of falling to the lava's surface it flew thanks to 6 giant heavenly wings. "Now whenever a light creature would leave the battlezone I can put a shield into my hand instead. Also, Heaven's Heaven activates and I put Dueangel, Nine Extremes into the battlezone!" It looked like a comically robotic angel, but it was a big triple-breaker blocker with 13,500 power. "Your turn."

Meilani drew determinedly "Neverend triple-breaks your final shields and with its effect I freeze Dueangel!" That colossal sword fell and instead of blocking Denaris only smiled.

Boom! Glass pieces flew and he was thrown off his feet. Kanoa stepped back as the cliff-face seemed to crack, brittle falling down. He couldn't properly see what was going on up there. He felt so powerless, choking in the heat. He turned to the wall and tried again to find purchase but the rockwall was virtually smooth, the bumps were too small to get a grip on.

"Shield trigger…" He stood up with blood running down his forehead, a glowing card in hand. "Now or Never! I bring out my own Kirazeus Savark!"

"Oh no!"

His version was a duller gold and the two dragons snarled and snapped at each other, almost like a reflection in a dark mirror.

"Yes! I send your Heaven's Rosia to your shields then burn it off to keep Kirazeus in play." At his words her gold soldier blew back, flattening into a hieroglyph that then dissolved into sparks.

Meilani grit her teeth, her hair stuck to her face from all the heat "Now my Kirazeus will attack and with Neverend's effect I freeze your last blocker! Todomeda!"

"Revolution zero trigger! Miracle Miradante!" He turned over the blazing yellow card in his hand. "When I have no shields and you attack I can use this. If the top card of my deck is a light creature Miradante will evolve on top of it and get blocker for the turn." He turned over his top card and he could tell by the drop in her features that it was what he needed. A 14,500 heavenly dragon appeared with feathered wings all along its serpentine body. "Block Kirazeus!" They clashed so violently that ripples of light flashed across the landscape.

"I burn off a Jasmine to keep my Kirazeus!" Meilani yelled. A hieroglyph dissolved into dust, leaving only one on her shields.

"Then it's my turn, and double dragsolution! Since I have less than 2 shields Leosaiyu 3D dragsolutions into Leo the World, Zenith Heavenly Saint!" As the floating fortress unlocked, a wave of fear washed out from it. Then it transformed into a bluish six-armed deity with double-ended laser swords. "It may have only 13,500 power but it's invincible. So long as I have no shields it cannot leave the battlezone. And so long as I have a non-dragheart creature in play, whenever I'm about to lose the game I can simply sacrifice it."

"Impossible…" Meilani's brow twitched. With that one card it seemed like he'd assured his victory. "...he wanted me to take an early lead and break all his shields."

"Leo the World is also a triple breaker and a blocker, which brings me to the second dragsolution. Since I have three blockers Heaven's Heaven also transforms!" The second church shuddered and rose up. Its creature-mode was quite similar to her Neverend as a white and gold giant, but it had green accents instead of blue. "Neverlast, Destiny Adoration! It's also a blocker and triple breaker, tied in strength to your Neverend but now my light creatures win all battles! Players can't cast non-light spells that cost 5 or less!"

"It's over…" Meilani fell to her knees with shock frozen on her face. She couldn't imagine how she could win. From below she could hear Kanoa shouting her name repeatedly.

"It is. You fell for my trap hook, line and sinker." He slapped another card down "I summon Emeralda, Pitch Dragon Elemental." A 5000 blocker appeared as a musical dragon. "Let's do this properly, Leo the World attacks Neverend!" It was weaker but it prevailed, invincible like Denaris had said. A fierce parry clashed like thunder across the land then Neverend's head was sliced clean off, ending their tussle. It sailed far before falling into lava. Then her giant dissolved into lights. "Miracle Miradante, triple-break!" It hissed then weaved forward with its undulating body. Three panels burst and the wind blew Meilani's hair back, but when she opened her eyes there were three shield triggers floating before her. She got back on her feet.

"Shield triggers! Faerie Life! Aegis Boost, Matchless Dragon Saint! And Memento Guardian Shrine, Prison Court of D!"

"Neverlast prevents Faerie Life from activating." Denaris quipped but could do nothing to stop the other two.

Aegis Boost slithered into play as a blocker, boosting her mana as well. Light beams twirled up as her D2 field expanded as a series of colourful posts.

"All my creatures get blocker now!" Meilani shouted.

"Neverlast, final break!" It swung down a giant staff.

"Aegis Boost blocks!" It didn't seem like the small creature should have any effect, but after exploding against its staff the attack stopped.

"Kirazeus Savark double break!" With his other creatures frozen or with summoning sickness he only had one attack left. Two shields expanded before him. The gold dragon's tail whipped through Meilani's final defenses. It was another two triggers.

"Hogan Blaster and Now or Never…"

"Both are non-light spells that cost 5 or less, so they can't be used. Your turn."

"I summon Holyend, Destiny Dragon Armored!" The blue swordsman blocker appeared and forced Emeralda to crouch down and stop its music playing. "Kirazeus breaks your shields and I gain 2 new ones!" Her dragon flew out and slashed with a claw. Glass cut the lieutenant as he shielded his face, no triggers.

"How pointless for you to keep attacking… don't you know it's impossible for me to lose?" He drew.

"Denjara Switch!" Meilani yelled. "I tap all your creatures in the battlezone!" Upon flipping her D2 field upside-down all his creatures knelt down in turn.

"I summon Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge and bring out Endless Heaven, True Holy Church." The gold fighter summoned a portal and the church fell down behind him. "Turn end."

Would Neverend join his two giants next? He'd not even bothered with a blocker because he was right, with Leo the World he could never lose if he simply sacrificed from the plethora of non-dragheart creatures filling his zone.

"I summon Lionel, Lion Zenith Dragon!" The tall bipedal lion stood proud with his six arms of rippling muscles. White fur and gold adornments, swinging swords of blue light. He roared ferociously. 12,000 power wasn't too impressive considering the state of the duel.

Kanoa had a sick feeling wash over him, that perhaps she'd only wanted to die with her prize monster out with her. He couldn't see the tears rolling down her face. Even if she had fallen for his trick and allowed for that invincible monster Leo the World to come out, she took comfort in knowing that Kanoa would know what was coming and how to defeat it. And if not, his spirit would soon join hers up in the stars. "...I'm done."

"No!" Kanoa yelled and in his desperation couldn't bring himself to stop.

"It's okay, love… it's okay…" But she had difficulty making her voice loud enough for him to hear.

"Miracle Miradante breaks your last two shields!"

Meilani closed her eyes and wind blew by, glass cutting her cheeks. She had 2 light creatures she could summon as triggers thanks to Lionel but after a quick look at them she closed her eyes again and didn't bother. They wouldn't save her this turn.

"Say bye bye to your lover, boy." Denaris said cruelly. "Leo the World todomeda!"

Time seemed to freeze from where Kanoa was standing, tears staining his face. An explosion signalled her death. Cracks spread throughout the entirety of the cliff-face and then the world turned. Kanoa ran and jumped as slabs of rock and bursts of lava flew into the air around him.

One of the islander children had wandered away from his parents while his people marched up the mountain. He was no older than 8 but braver than his friends who were all simpering in the arms of their parents, getting shushed after asking for too many verbal reassurances. In his hand he held a big shark tooth, which was his all-time favourite possession. Luckily when they first heard the angry boom of the volcano he'd been sitting down with his sister, playing with it. Then their mother ran in and yanked them both up by the arm. He'd not let it go, so at least he had something to play with during the boring climb. He'd never gone up this mountain before, but it didn't really look any different to the rest of the jungle.

He knew his village had been wiped out by lava. But now he just wanted help to come so they wouldn't have to keep walking. Every now and again they passed old human bones set up like scarecrows. They were ancient chiefs from long ago who were watching over this most sacred part of the island. It did feel a little more mystical here, even in his child mind he could tell. There was a reverence among his people even as they climbed higher for safety. He wanted to go over and touch the chieftain bones but knew it was tāpu - which in their culture means sacred or forbidden. Something not to be touched.

As he wandered over to the trees he ran the shark tooth over the grooves in the bark, bouncing it along from tree to tree. It was jagged and sharp on the pointy end so he cut little grooves as he went. Normally his parents or someone would yell at him when he'd go too far away, but people weren't looking at him so he was getting further and further from the group.

He kept cutting through tree bark but stopped when he saw something. That lump a few trunks over looked like a person. When dark eyes opened at him he screamed and dropped the shark tooth, running back to the tribe.

Strange whistling could be heard and then spears were thrown from the wilderness. The people were brought into a panic once more, like a scared flock being chased by wolves. It seemed the remaining Anemeons had found them and banded together to attack the whole tribe.

"What? What is going on?" Chief Tenakoto demanded.

"The invaders are here!" Someone screeched.

"Every able-bodied man is to fight!" He roared as the women, children and elderly ran past him. "Protect the others, and keep climbing!"

"Oh my…" Engyo was still tired from the physical effort, and now he felt sick.

Dominic clutched his spear and ran out to join the other men defending their brothers and sisters.

The enemy islanders creeped carefully through the shrubbery, many disguised head-to-toe in clay to blend in. It was hard to see them. Dominic turned from side-to-side, seeing his fellows stalking carefully. They were all scanning the forest, trying to spot their foes. There was strange whistling all around them. Bird-like but definitely human. They were communicating somehow, moving in secret while trying to find a way through. Dominic gulped and stepped to the right so he was holding the line, he had to make sure none got past him.

Suddenly a spear flew and impaled the tribesman to his left. Dominic's eyes widened and he saw eyes ahead, peering through ferns. His people roared and charged, a battle quickly underway. Spears and clubs clashed. An Anemeon opened his eyes, surprising a tribemate by camouflaging behind a tree and grabbing at his back. A boomerang sailed by and viciously clonked into an enemy's head. Dominic ran and swung his spear, when the other fighter knocked it away he jumped and they both tumbled against the forest floor. They rolled and Dominic ended up on top by chance, bashing his enemy's head against a root until he lost consciousness.

Unfortunately the line was broken and a few enemies slinked on by, not looking to fight other warriors but hoping to prey on the rest further up the mountain.

"I see one of them coming, down by the trees!" A woman yelled.

"Calm down, Noe!" The chief declared. "We have to make sure the children and elderly are safe."

"Good god this is terrible…" Engyo said, he'd been handed a flat-ended club and it was trembling in his grip. For someone who'd lived an institutional life in the capital city, to him this was particularly barbaric. Someone snatched the club from his shaking hand.

A tall and skinny tribesman covered in grey leered up, stomping over with his spear ready. There was a flash of anticipation in those empty eyes but once he passed a tree Kaleo stepped out with Engyo's club and got him in the back of the neck. His eyes rolled up and he fell forward, dead. She'd broken his cervical spine, a well-aimed hit at a vital spot.

"Women, and anyone who can still fight!" The crone yelled, her beads clacking. "Defend your children! Your nieces and nephews! And everyone else who can't fight!"

The remaining weapons were passed around and they could see at least two other enemies weaving behind trees as they approached. The children huddled together and cried. Heidi who was still unconscious, was set down with them. Everyone stepped forward as they prepared to protect what was most precious to them. Digging tools were held in wrinkled hands. Everyone's eyes searching for movement downhill. The next attacker.

"There!" An elder shouted and they saw both men running toward them.

Thankfully a band of strong tribesmen had come back and one threw a spear through an enemy's leg. He cried out in pain, twisting back and trying to tug it out. The other was forced to take cover and a few tribesmen ran to their group.

"Keep moving, we don't want more sneaking by."

The chief nodded and lifted up Heidi with some difficulty. The women, children and elderly took those injured and climbed further. The battle between tribes raged on. While the Anemeons were much fewer in number they were still determined to fight. Rest was not an option.

The flyer had been landed outside the cave and the pilot had gone with rifle in hand to peer into its dark mouth. The co-pilot stayed with the ship and communicated through his earpiece, he could hear the mic getting snatched from the other side and Urobach's voice shouting through.

"A cave? You said it flew into a cave!?"

"Yes, Sir. The isle caves at the south end."

"Well where does it go? Are you sure it's not a tunnel?"

"We're not sure, Sir."

There was yelling on the other side until Urobach came back to the call.

"No airship-sized tunnels were found in the analyses we took of the island's topography weeks ago. For your sake, you better hope it's just a cave."

"Sir?"

"Once you're sure there's no other way for them to get out I will launch a missile from our navy base and trap them. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I'd send the whole fleet, but for all we know it could simply be a decoy with more help on the way. Not that it matters since we're finally on the verge of locking out our hacker friend and taking back online control of our systems. In under 20 minutes I'll have my tsunami."

"When should we begin evacuating-?"

"That's for me to tell you."

"Yes, Sir." Static noise came from his controls.

His other radio started transmitting "This main tunnel here just curves round and round, but I don't see any other openings big enough for that saucer to fit through."

The co-pilot relayed this to his commander.

"Good," Urobach said. "Tell your pilot to get back to your ship and then I'm launching our strongest missile right into the mouth of that cave. You may want to get in the air." The call cut off and the co-pilot grabbed for his radio, telling his comrade to high-tail it back. They knew Urobach wasn't likely to give them much time.

Thankfully his fellow rushed back and they lifted off the ground, getting some distance before they saw the line of smoke jettison past and into the cave's mouth. The explosion still rocked their flyer, giving them some turbulence as they flew further away. A dust cloud blasted a hundred feet in the air before slowly dissipating. Brittle and rocks plinked as they rained down, some sploshing as they hit the water rushing in to fill the space. Whoever those dissidents were they weren't getting back to their ship. The passage was now sealed by a mass cave-in.

In order to quell his artificial anxiety, M-006 had put himself on standby. To be alerted by the next call or faintest change in his environment. The ground quaked viciously, smoke and fire blasting its way through the carvern's exit and making waves tear across the water's motionless surface. The saucer dragged across the boulder onto an angle and the robot fell out of his chair.

"Ay caramba!" He crawled back to the controls and fired up the engines so he could get himself level, running a systems check too while he was at it.

Everything seemed to be fine, but he was not getting out of here the same way he came in, that was for sure. With optic lenses scanning his surroundings he checked for light. He took notice of the cyan bioluminscent fungi around the water, then up to the roof which had been damaged from some earlier cave-in. Lightbeams streaked down from the gaps where giant roots had forced through them. One section above didn't look stable, and perhaps gunfire would be enough to open it up and allow for a way out. For now M-006 just set the saucer down flat again and waited. This was still the best place to hide from all the eyes in the air, he wouldn't be able to chance an escape until he was called. Based on the call he'd overheard between Engyo and the chosen water duelist they were almost out of time.

He started ringing Engyo to inform him of the situation.

"M-006?" the old man was out of breath. "I'm- I'm really not sure now is the best time."

"I know. But I wouldn't call if it wasn't important, boss. They caved-in our escape route."

"Oh."

"But I think I still have a chance to make it out. My scanners are picking up a lot of risidual Kaijudo energy. Due to the growth of the vegetation I'd say Jupiter was summoned here and released a lot of energy, breaking the integrity of the outer structure from within. By using rapid momentum shots I could displace-"

"Magnum."

Beep "Yes, boss?" The AI robot heard more wheezing from the other end.

"Your job, is to get that saucer to us when we say so. Understand? All the details on how to best do that are up to your judgement. If you think you can get out and complete the mission. Great. Just make it happen."

"Ah yes, boss. Of course-"

"LOOK OUT!" Engyo shouted and the call cut off.

The robot blinked his screen-face. If it weren't for the fact he was powered by an electrical circuitry system, he'd probably be oiling in his chair right now. All he could do was try to calm his nerves and wait for the call to action. The numbers were statistically against them, but he knew that before they even attempted this daring rescue. If it weren't for the fact that failure could mean the destruction of their planet, they wouldn't have attempted this at all. As things were, he waited on their call.

Kanoa landed on an unsteady surface. The outcrop Denaris was on had also broken free and he was holding onto his dueling table, which had yet to vanish. Meilani's of course had been destroyed along with her life. They were being carried along the lava, moving past the jungle on either side. A torrential hate seized Kanoa and he backed to the edge of his wobbly plateau, running and jumping across the hellish lava to the next rock. Blistering heat hurt Kanoa's feet and he crawled up quickly. Behind him the slab he'd been standing on broke apart. Kanoa faced forward and glared at Denaris who raised his arms.

"Wait! Don't do it you stupid-" despite his protests Kanoa ran and jumped.

When he landed the structure jerked and lava spilled up, the segment of rock began to crack apart. Denaris finished gathering his cards then started climbing. Kanoa joined him and the ground below was swallowed. The rock started to turn over backwards but they scrambled up and over just as it flipped. They stood on a craggly surface now facing each other.

Denaris snarled "stupid fucking kid, you could've killed us both."

"Who's the prey now?" Tears sprang from his hateful eyes. "I'll avenge her, you scum!"

They were still moving along in the molten current. Denaris didn't see that he had a choice. They faced each other and Kaijudo flames sprang to life from their hands.

From the forestry, Tsukumo had heard the explosion of the final attack and changed course, running quickly to the noise. After parting ferns he looked down to see that up ahead, pieces of a mountain had come loose and chunks were flowing down the lava stream. Even more incredibly, there seemed to be two people standing on one and preparing to duel.

"Now that's got to be a chosen duelist…" Tsukumo ran out, hoping he could somehow reach them.


AN: Okay this one was HARD to finish. Not cause of Meilani - god rest her soul. But trying to fill up that wordcount, man. I knew that everything here had to happen but I had to work to pump out those words. Honestly I've written this half of the arc so fast that looking back on their chapter names just makes my mind go blurry. But this is what I wanted, to finish this within the first 2 weeks of my uni holidays and I have. I mean, I will. With only the conclusion after this I'm sure I'll be excited to write it and this here was my final slog. Then in the future I may look back on this arc and consider if it needs any edits or better soundtracks. And don't think I'm a dick for killing Meilani. Honestly I could've made that death so much worse but with a 13,500 creature doing the final attack it was quick - fortunately for her.