【69 - Is this New Transformation an Ascension or Just Another Direction..?】


Sunset brought its usual relief and liveliness to the team. It was wordlessly agreed upon by all as the best time of day. A cool breeze rustled tents and sprayed sand along the plains. The edge of the sky burned orange. Amidst the dry rustling of sparse shrubs, was the gentle howl of wind, the flapping of tarp and distant laughter among the men.

Inside the tomb Jayden leant against the etched wall, sitting by strewn bags and a lantern. His expression was pensive as he stared at the deck of cards in his hand. Specifically Time Stopon, the spell he'd misused in his duel. He was seen and approached by Tsukumo, who could tell he needed reassurance. It was the first time the blonde and redhead spoke one-on-one in such a way. Tsukumo sat beside him and Jayden kept gazing at his card for several seconds before talking.

"...I made a judgment call. And it was the wrong one."

"It happens to the best of us." Tsukumo replied.

"It doesn't happen to you." At Jayden's remark the other boy hesitated.

"Experience plays an important factor as well. Many kaijudo duelists at the academy had a strong bond with their cards and the game. But I took my schoolwork very seriously. I've practiced so many scenarios with the cards that it sort of became muscle memory. In life-threatening situations I could rely on that ingrained knowledge. It helps when the stakes make believing in yourself too difficult."

"Card game muscle memory?" Jayden mused, still looking at his spell. "To rely on instead of choking."

"Sort of, yes." Tsukumo confirmed.

"Makes sense." Then he recited "Time Stopon on Chara Lupia. Henka wouldn't have been able to reduce the cost of Bolshack Cyberex. She wouldn't have been able to revolution change that turn."

Tsukumo nodded "and maybe she would've charged and passed turn. Or made a different move. You don't know what she was holding, and that's card games after all."

"Thanks for the pep talk." Jayden gave a slight smile. "The chosens have gone back to avoiding me…"

"They're like that to all of us, so I wouldn't take it personally. They've both lost people fairly recently. It's a pain like no other."

"That and they're spending a lot of time with Hillary now. What do you think about this New Age stuff?" Jayden turned now to ask him honestly.

"I don't want to think about it. I don't need distractions. But if it's helping Heidi and Kanoa, great."

"You know, something odd… I was keeping an eye on it when it was starting to make its way through celebrities and in a way, social politics. Every time a celebrity starts to get into it, their success drops off before plummeting." As Jayden noted this observation Tsukumo nodded thoughtfully but neither said anything more.

It had been another week.

Engyo took the steps down before entering Sinan's cell and sure enough the boy was quiet. He was kneeling by the bars, finally surrendering his foul temperament. The old man peered at him with a serious gaze.

"...is it true? You're finally ready to cooperate with us, Sinan?"

"...yes. I've had enough of the captivity. Please let me out."

"Manners sure are a startling change of pace." Engyo admitted.

M-006 peered out from behind the man, joining him in scrutinising the dirty prisoner "Vitals are okay. Heart rate doesn't indicate he's lying, Sir." Beep. His screen-face displayed a health monitor.

"...that doesn't mean he won't change his mind once he sees an opportunity. You acted violently, Sinan. We can't have that. All we want is for you to help us save everyone."

He wanted to retaliate but bit it back. Still, Engyo could read his gaze.

"...you don't believe the danger is real, because of your faith. Correct? Well you can't trust Urobach's word when he says he won't harm Solvus City."

Again Sinan merely looked between the two and waited hopefully. His defiant will was finally giving way to desperation, it was only a matter of time after all.

M-006's screen became a neutral emoji as he looked up at Engyo "Perhaps we can let Sinan out on a trial basis?"

"Yes, a test is in order. We'll let him out to clean himself. As a courtesy to him and us, because he seriously stinks."

"And then, I should duel him and we'll see how he handles it?" That screen lit up with a wide smile.

"A test to see if he can control his hot-headedness. Alright." Engyo conceded.

M-006 once more played a short clip in context. A meme, as the younger ones called it. Their robot had been observing more of internet culture while they'd been holding up there. At first the others found it entertaining, but like most of M-006's behaviours it was becoming annoying.

"I'll go get some of the men down here and we'll see what comes of it." Engyo decided and they left to climb the stairs.

As Sinan finally washed the grime from his body, his clothes were cleaned and pegged up on a line also. He was given a new change of itchier, though clean garments. The others had gathered in one of the larger chambers, recently discovered by Summer's crew after they chiseled through an old cave-in that'd taken place a century before. The mysterious tomb was at least double the size they'd previously expected.

"I'm expected to duel this human imitation contraption?" Now that Sinan was looking decent again his mouthiness was returning.

"Let's have a nice, fun game!" M-006 chirped. He was completely unaffected by Sinan's trash talk and it made his bottom lip curl back.

Then everyone's eyes widened when they saw the chamber in M-006's chest light up. It whirred as energy circulated, then suddenly ignited like a blue flaming heart. They could all sense kaijudo energy. Heidi, having faced the robot in a duel before, smiled.

"A robot can kaijudo duel?" Someone asked.

"That's correct." Engyo nodded on the sidelines. "A marvellous scientific feat. It seems the scientists of the Duel Masters research branch had some success after all."

"That's something I've never seen before." Henka admitted, crossing her arms. From beside her Summer was eating from a small sack of nuts.

White light blazed from Sinan's hand and tables arose. Both duelists shuffled their cards, crystalline shields rose up to signify the game's beginning.

Sinan started by sternly charging light-water. The robot charged water and it tapped.

Beep. "I cast Bangoku Brain to draw one. You're up!"

The chipper tone made Sinan pause again, his anger bubbling. He drew and charged multi-colored once more.

"I cast a second Bangoku Brain and draw one more! Turn end." A happy smiley-face flicked on its screen.

"Abomination… I draw! Charge, and end."

The smiley switched to a neutral one before switching again to sticking its tongue out, infuriating Sinan all the more.

"...maybe he's not ready." Heidi murmured.

"We'll see if he can control himself." Engyo murmured back.

The purple glow of darkness shimmered from the AI's table "I cast Shunodu, Daspel!" A whirlpool formed between them, magically at its center was a golden goggles and snorkel set. Then it did nothing and went to the graveyard. Everyone was surprised again, aside from Engyo who smiled and his protégé Tsukumo who stayed neutral.

"I can't tell. Was that a spell?" Kanoa wondered.

Beep "Why Shunodu, Daspel is a magic tool. It has no target to use its effect on so goes straight to the graveyard. Turn end."

"Your trickery will not distract me!" Sinan yelled as he pulled from his deck. "I cast Rainbow Spark and draw two!" The fissure of light let him add to his hand.

"I summon Duglass, Darma and end my turn." Yet another tool appeared, a strange glass with a face cracked into it.

"I wonder what their purpose is…" Heidi said.

"It won't matter! I cast Dragon's Sign to bring out Kirazeus Savark!" Sinan declared. "I send that piece of junk onto your shields!" As expected the huge gold dragon fit within the chamber. Still those watching stayed wary as it roared, blasting a wall of air.

"Then I cast Kajigri, Daspel and it bounces Kirazeus!" M-006's tone remained excited. A spinning wheel with an eye at its center appeared. As the magic tool slowed Heidi recognized it as the steering wheel of a boat.

"Hey! Those cards are pirate themed!" She realized.

Beep. "Correct."

"Kirazeus isn't going anywhere! I burn off Duglass from your shields!" As Sinan swept his arm gold dust rose off a panel.

"Thanks. Once more I cast Shunodu, Daspel and now I have a target. Your Kirazeus can't attack or block next turn!" This time the whirlpool splashed water on the dragon, dripping down its front. "And now I have four magic tools in the graveyard…" Beep. "I can assemble them into Gi Lugirin!"

Sinan's sneer became momentary confusion before returning. The destroyed tool joined the others and formed a circle, from the center emerged a watery creature in dark and gold armor, reminiscent of a dragon or phoenix. 9000 power.

"Void Gate of Moonless Night!" The robot chirped. "A blocker, double breaker, and now none of my creatures can be blocked. Your turn."

Sinan paused before drawing. He shot a worried look at his frozen dragon, he couldn't get more cards for removal resistance, or revolution change, if he couldn't attack. He looked at his new card and smirked.

"Heh. I cast another Dragon's Sign and bring out Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge! I bring out Reddull!" The spiked temple fell behind him from a gap to hyperspace. "Now it's a speed attacker! I attack and revolution change! Miradante Super Future, Future Pope!" The human soldier shone brightly before being replaced by his gold Pegasus with 12,500 power. Sinan drew but had no spell to use for final revolution. He pointed "Triple break!" It reared before charging, firing that gold energy from its horn and shattering three shields.

"Shield trigger! I summon another Duglass, Darma."

"That's fine with me." Sinan replied, snarky and resting his hands on his sides.

"My move." The flaming 'heart' on his chest blazed brighter. "No charge. I cast Safivo, Daspel." A cursed-looking surfboard leapt out of purple waters. "I draw two. Then I can cast Baredu, Daspel for no cost." It was a wooden barrel spinning with rope around it, a skull and crossed bones continuing with the pirate aesthetic. "I draw two then discard Ukido, Daspel. Finally I summon Zanbari, Darma and discard another Ukido, Daspel." This time a wicked glass syringe took shape.

Those watching felt something ominous, and Sinan a deep chill.

M-006 raised two cards "I use Gate of Moonless Night twice! With the two magic tools on the field and from two in my graveyard I bring out two Meravolgal, Misfortune Demon Bangou." It was a giant of blue smoke equipped with scientific armor. "When it enters I break two of your shields, then two of mine. So I break four of your shields automatically."

It raised a gun-arm and seemed to fire its own mass at Sinan's shields. Unfortunately for the robot, they were both triggers.

"Rosia, Final Dragon Edge and Dragon's Sign!" Sinan turned the shining yellow cards over with satisfaction. "I equip Rosia with Perfect, Immortal Lance! Then with Dragon's Sign I bring out Holyend, Destiny Dragon Armored to tap your creatures and draw!" The blue humanoid dragon pointed its gold sword and the enemy line obediently knelt down. Then M-006's final shields shattered but he received no triggers.

Beep. "Fuck. Well anyhow, I break another two shields and that ends my turn."

They weren't triggers, but Sinan was happy enough with the state of the game. He went ahead and drew.

"I summon Miracle Star, Time Caster!" An angelic hero of white, gold and blue spread his wings. "I return Dragon's Sign and Rainbow Spark from the graveyard to my hand! Heh…" Those dark eyes looked around as he made a judgement.

The duel was over, and even if the chamber was spacious he didn't want to risk a cave-in. As the surrounding kaijudo energy flexed the air, dust sprinkled from a few places overhead. Sinan chose his weakest creature, but still shocked everyone.

"Join those junk tools of yours in the trash! Rosia, todomeda!"

"Wait!" Heidi yelled after reclaiming her voice. Everyone else couldn't move.

"Oh dear." The robot's screen went neutral.

The spear-wielding soldier flew, and with 3500 power lashed an attack that sent the robot crashing back against the wall. Pieces of metal and glass bounced away. Kanoa and Tsukumo both leapt to action, running over and angrily seizing Sinan who thrashed and swore at them.

Heidi joined a few others racing to where the robot sat sparking and glitching.

"M-006…" Engyo knelt before him sadly.

"M-M-Mr. Engyo-o… I'm afr-ai-aid my systems are c-compromised." Then his cracked screen turned blue.

"Ahh!" Heidi yelled. "The blue screen of death!"

"He's just rebooting. Or trying to. I need to get him to an operating table stat." Engyo stood. "Jayden, I want you to help me carry him. Carefully, now. Heidi, in the saucer is a red toolbox. Can you bring it here?"

"Right." She quickly nodded.

"And after Tsukumo's done throwing Sinan back…" They could hear the three boys struggling toward the exit. "I'll need him to do a parts check on the ship, see if there's anything we can take that we can do without…" His eyes inspected the severe damage sadly.

Heidi ran out just as Sinan was being forced the other way. She shot a glare after him before making her way up and outside.


A couple hours later Heidi found Engyo in a small room. Their broken robot companion was laid out on a brick alcove. With a sigh the older man set down his screw-driver and removed the magnifying goggles from his head.

Heidi leaned against the doorway "...is he going to make it?"

"Oh, Heidi." He turned to her then looked back at the robot innards presented before him. "I'm not sure. This isn't going to be easy." Then he gave another disappointed sigh "...I feel this is my fault. I was short-sighted."

"It's Sinan's fault."

"M-006 suggested he duel Sinan to test whether we could trust him. He would've elected himself because of the danger. Because he thought our lives were more valuable than his."

"Because he's a robot?"

"Yes. Because he's still not sure if he's really alive, like the rest of us. I think therefore I am." He quoted as he began gathering his tools together. "That doesn't really apply anymore when you consider how advanced computers are these days. Still, I've never seen a machine use kaijudo energy before. Perhaps he truly is just as alive as we are."

He closed his toolbox and clasped it shut "I'm getting tired… I'll have to continue repairs in the morning." He turned and saw Heidi looking down thoughtfully.

"Do you think if Sinan had been duelling one of us he would've still attacked?"

"Maybe. We don't know." Then Engyo got a better look at her. "You're looking better, Heidi. Peaceful."

"I feel much better. After Hillary opened my and Kanoa's third eyes, I've been able to see and feel all kinds of things… it's amazing."

"Well. That's good. I take it this means you'll be able to reclaim the power of Dokindam X?"

She immediately looked uncertain "...I don't know if…" She didn't know if she could trust herself.

"You are a chosen. With or without your phoenix. To fight our enemies you'll need that power."

"I'll… think about it." Was all Heidi could promise.

He patted her on the shoulder and walked off.

Heidi gazed at M-006's ruined body before turning away.

That week both her and Kanoa had been converted. After agreeing to teach them, Hillary used her psychic powers and pressed fingers to both of their foreheads. They'd felt a buzzing, and often times throughout the day felt a distinct pressure between their eyes, like a thumb pressing down. Accompanied with this came flashes, strange blue smudges in their vision, impressions of things or 'ghosts' around them. It was all very strange, but at the same time felt reassuring. Heidi noticed her thoughts were becoming kinder. Where before she couldn't help the cruel or shallow observations that popped up in her head, now she didn't have to ignore them because they simply didn't come.

Hillary told them that normally these powers didn't awaken fast, but because of all the energy work they'd done on Kanoa's island - with the releasing of internal emotions and clearing energy centres - that and their meditation training allowed things to progress quickly.

"Blue pearls?" Heidi questioned, sitting beside Kanoa.

They were in a private room, Hillary lighting some candles and organising crystals. It wasn't a requirement for their lesson, she just liked the space to smell and look nice.

"That's right," she swept her blonde hair behind her shoulder when she faced them. That smoothed-down innocence of her face made her look heavenly. Like she was aglow. Strange that when Heidi first looked at her, for a split second she thought she saw something different. Hillary sat down facing them "It's a universal phenomenon that everyone experiences when they open up their clairvoyance. You see bright blue dots in your vision, randomly. Then these become smudges, and then eventually you can see spirits for real."

Kanoa held his breath for a moment. He wanted nothing more than to see Meilani and confirm that her spirit was alright, out there.

Hillary took a calming breath "I want you all to breathe deeply, down to your stomachs. The universe is full of love, we only need to find it. Our planet will be safe. Give your worries to the angels and let them guide us through our intuition."

Heidi and Kanoa both fidgeted a little but soon were able to relax and surrender themselves. A sense of brightness filled them, bringing relief with it.

"Hillary…" A thought suddenly occurred to Heidi.

"Remember what I told you. Errant thoughts pop up to distract us in meditation, just allow them in, then let them go."

"I know, but this one is important." At Heidi's insistence Hillary opened her eyes. "Sinan told me that he feels and hears his god's presence. I thought it had to be suggestion. But the way he described it sounds similar to what I feel with you."

Hillary thought for a moment "He's probably communicating with Solvus's thoughtform. Remember the concentration training we did? Staring at a candle flame and keeping your attention on it, thinking of nothing else. Well that was focus training. If you think about anything enough, it starts to come alive in your head. If enough people think about the same thing, and combine that with stuff like ritual and prayers, well they're subconsciously using the power of their intention to bring it to life. The term is egregore, or thoughtform."

"So the people really did create their own god?" Kanoa asked.

"Probably. Partially," Hillary said. "There's also much older thoughtforms that could've been created by people in ancient times, that still exist out there on the mental plane. Archetypes like 'divine father' and 'divine mother'. They seem intelligent and people can psychically tap into these energies. That's called invocation. But I wouldn't say they're beings. Anyway, since many religions believe god is a benevolent father figure, they're often connecting to the same 'divine father' energy out there and thinking it's their god. Basically, each Solvusite could be connecting to any number of different spiritual things to varying degrees."

"Huh..." Heidi said as both students processed.

"Like all things in life, the truth tends to be more complicated than we know."

They went back into their meditation then and when Hillary softly guided them to, they opened their eyes, relaxed.

"Okay… today I want to talk more about the energy centers of the body. The seven main ones are known as the chakras, and they govern various aspects of a person. Safety, guilt, shame, grief, self-deception, delusion and then at the top of our heads is universal connectedness. The top two chakras, the crown and third eye, have to do with psychic abilities. But all of them need to be clear of residual gunk for us to stay functioning in a state of bliss and being in sync with the world."

"I actually wanted to ask about that." Kanoa raised a hand and Hillary nodded at him to speak. "These chakras when open give us something good. But isn't there a better configuration than keeping them all open? The heart chakra gets blocked by grief and when open allows us to love. But that's not going to help me or Heidi. Shouldn't that chakra be kept closed, or at least limited?"

"All chakras need to be healthy and open for balance." Hillary insisted.

"But how will having love for our enemies help us defeat them?" Kanoa pushed. "And if anything love prevents us from being rational, and usually leads to pain." Both disciples watched their teacher close her eyes to gather her words.

"When we act in love, the universe makes a way."

"Does it?" Heidi had to ask. "Giving so much trust still makes me nervous."

"Fear needs to be surrendered. It gets in the way of flow."

"Unless it happens to be saving our lives." Kanoa couldn't help speaking up either.

"Yes, and stress in the body wears it down after a while. Complete trust is the healthiest state for our bodies to be in." She leaned back then, uncrossing her legs casually so her bare feet were out. "I had my moments of resistance too. I remember it clearly. Something happened inside me where I just rebelled against the universe, the process and everything… I was acting like a child who wanted her own way. After I got it out of my system, I was ready to keep going."

Kanoa shared a look with Heidi before turning back "You mentioned once before that you have a soul flame of your own. Could you please tell me about him?"

Her eyes lowered darkly "That situation… caused me a lot of pain. We were supposed to be mirrors, showing each other the parts of ourselves that needed healing. It was the darkest point of my life. Completely humiliating and it destroyed me… but it happened so I could be built back up. My powers strengthened after that too." She looked away, the pain of the memory in her gaze "I know he felt our connection. But since he wasn't evolved, he just ended up running from it…"

The two before her were quiet as they processed.

Hillary straightened back up "In the end, we're the ones subconsciously bringing these events to ourselves. They're lessons. We're the ones who need to learn and evolve. So, shall we continue?"

Heidi nodded, but she recalled thoughts she'd had about Solvus's religion. Pinning the blame on humans as to why things happen or things have to be done. She remembered how Hillary's face had looked when they first walked in. For a split second her features looked abused, broken and strange. But on closer inspection Hillary looked as pure and radiantly beautiful as she normally did.

Release your fears. The thought that entered Heidi's mind clearly wasn't her own, and it brought encouragement with it. Her doubts evaporated before she could dwell on them properly.

The reassuring presence of angels was around her at all times now. And foreign thoughts popping up in her head was something that occurred a few times a day. Kanoa admitted to experiencing the same thing. Even getting messages from his lost love and sometimes feeling her fingers trailing up and down his arm like she used to do.

The three continued with the session.


It had been a couple of days since Sinan returned to imprisonment. Henka traipsed down the tunnel and stopped in front of Heidi. Despite the girl being a former lieutenant the mistrust had fallen away with Heidi's training. They'd had some friendly exchanges and were starting to veer somewhere warmer than acquaintances. Heidi appreciated someone maintaining a sense of humor through everything, at least.

"Sinan is what?" Heidi remarked at the news then stormed off toward the cells.

Henka bounced on her feet before following her down a passage.

"You're doing a hunger strike now, Sinan?" Heidi asked.

"Two days. He's going strong." Henka observed, unbothered by the situation.

Sinan raised his head from bowing to glare at them.

"This isn't a protest to you lot. It's penance. I'm fasting for having doubts."

"And you blame me and Kanoa for believing in Hillary." Heidi remarked.

"That witch is just-!"

"Taking advantage of us because we're vulnerable. That's what you think, right?" Heidi interrupted.

"No. You poor fool." He shook his head. "It's much worse than that. Deceiving spirits don't just take advantage of vulnerable people, they make them vulnerable in the first place. That's why true believers must guard against the Jinn!" He lowered his head again, humbly groveling to his invisible ruler.

"Sinan… give it up!" Heidi yelled but the boy wouldn't move, ignoring her now. "Solvus doesn't care about you! And why, because he's too holy to intervene? Do you know how insane that sounds? Your religion will literally twist everything. Not doing what they say apparently leads to damnation, and yet your God cares about you. Well if He cares why would He want His people to be servants? Because he's so holy that it just has to be that way? Then He's not all-powerful and His goodness is a bad thing! Don't forget this story is all according to Him. It sounds exactly the same as every gaslighting tactic used by manipulative people in relationships since the dawn of time!"

Henka put a hand on Heidi's shoulder and she stopped to catch her breath.

"I just… wish he could know there's a better way now." Heidi said.

"Hey, can't change the beliefs of others. But I agree with what you said, that's why I'm an atheist."

"Atheist?" Heidi turned, confused. "But you saw Hillary's powers first-hand?"

"I know psychic stuff is real." She shrugged. "And I know powers are real, I've seen what Urobach can do. Calling it magic might be a stretch. But do I believe in a creator or destiny?" She shook her head once with certainty. "No."

Sinan continued to ignore them while Heidi thought.

"Then I also wish you could feel what Hillary has showed me and Kanoa. Finally I have answers. I know what life's about and have a way to escape suffering."

Henka tilted her head "I hope it works out for you."

They left soon after that. Sinan remained where he was but clenched his fists against the ground, suppressing a sob.


AN: Serious moment. Yes, I'm very mature. I'm not gonna... I won't... pfffffffft AHAHAHAHA chapter sixty-nine like the sex position. Gettit? Gettit? Ahem. Now that I've got my inner child out of the way, thank you to my reviewers! Acuma is enjoying this arc the most so far, that's great! Shuriken has reviewed my first three nature arc chapters quickly! I too hope you find the quality good. So credit goes to the Psychonaut Field Manual which is about chaos magick, and you can find a pdf for that online. But like I said, one should tread carefully with all approaches pertaining to spirituality. It is really really hard for anyone to remain objective amidst their individual experiences.