【72 - A Minute Between Life and Death! Furious Pursuit!】
The weather was deceptively calm.
Thick, grey and poisonous clouds lined one side of the horizon. They marched, and so did the line of shadow beneath - covering hills and paddocks a distance from Darbyshire's centre, but creeping closer. Steady and inevitable. Deeper still into the dark were all kinds of animals succumbing to death, many with visible growths along their bodies. Invisible buzzing waves of radiation from the fallout permeated everything.
Darbyshire Proper was silent. Its main supermarket was cut through by the bronze flying saucer. It had been ruined in a desperate attempt to save Sinan Jaakuma's life and prevent Venus from being destroyed. It lay side-on, reflecting the sun, inoperable.
The streets moving East of the city weaved through diminishing greenery before revealing a flat, firm desert. The ground was orangey-brown with prickly shrubs and cacti spaced far apart. In the distance, moving toward the far-off canyons was a trail of dust.
Black fire burst to life, sizzling until Urobach was standing there. He squinted, lifting a gloved hand to block out the sun and peered toward his enemies. Without their spaceship or the ability to teleport they had no way of outrunning the fallout that was heading this way. And yet, they were trying to.
Urobach turned around and waved his hand. More black fire and then Ijiwa was kneeling with his head bowed. Urobach moved his hand and a series of gokarts appeared. The men riding them wore goggles and dreads, they started revving their engines. They were a gang in brown leather straps, with splashes of fluoro pink, green and yellow.
"Ijiwa, have your men track down and kill the rebels," Urobach ordered. "No survivors. And make sure Supernova Jupiter King Empire and Supernova Venus Ia Saint Mother are destroyed."
"Yes, Sir." He looked up and couldn't fight his smile of anticipation.
"You have twelve hours to do this, after that I'll take you back before the radiation storm reaches here."
"I won't fail you!" Ijiwa promised.
Urobach stared down at him before catching black fire and burning away.
Ijiwa stood and climbed onto one of the carts, getting a firm grip with one arm. The other he raised up before bringing it down toward their escaping prey "Let's go, men!"
Yipping and jeers started as they fired off across the desert.
Natsu had brought a van, filled it and a few jerrycans at an abandoned station. Now they were driving toward the canyons for Jayden's bomb shelter.
"Our chances of making it to safety are 53 percent, depending on the weather conditions." Beep.
M-006 was sitting at the back with Sinan.
"What's the margin of error?" Engyo asked from the passenger seat.
"Two hours. Either we'll be two hours in the clear, or two hours too late," M-006 answered. "The further we go I'll get better estimates."
"We can't stop," Tsukumo said. "Time is too valuable. We have to keep driving until the driver gets tired then we switch."
Natsu was behind the wheel, speeding away.
Jayden crinkled the bags he was resting on, "If all weight is slowing us down, do we need this many supplies?"
"Would less passengers help the probability of getting there in time?" Natsu asked.
"Yes," M-006 answered, chirpy and oblivious.
"Would one less passenger help?" Natsu pressed and Heidi felt herself stiffen.
"It's too soon to say."
"M-006, should we lose some supplies?" Engyo asked.
Beep, "Throw out half of our supplies."
Outside the van, bags of cans and packets were thrown, disturbing a pack of vultures feeding on a dead animal.
Inside they sat in grim silence. Arms resting on their knees and bottoms jostling against the metal floor.
"I bet you're regretting changing sides now?" Jayden asked Henka.
The ex-lieutenant turned her head and didn't answer right away. Jayden assumed the answer was a given before she spoke.
"No. I'm still happy with my choice."
"Even though at any moment now, the weather could change and doom us?" Jayden pressed.
"Yes. I got to feel what it's like to be free for the first time in my life."
"Really…?"
"Even if it's just at the end. I'm with you guys because I chose to be."
Sinan rested the side of his face against the van, "I'm regretting ever being chosen by Venus."
Heidi and Kanoa understood perfectly what he meant and said nothing.
As the sun went down the passengers managed to slip into brief episodes of sleep. Natsu had been asked twice if she needed a break but refused.
"Drink some of this," Engyo offered her a brown bottle. "I mixed in coffee."
She took one hand off the wheel and squirted some into her mouth to stay awake.
Outside and some ways away but gaining, the gokarts ripped on by. A lizard was licking the contents of a jar that had busted open after being thrown out the van window. The roaring engines tore over the scattered cans, the reptile scurried under a rock. Ijiwa was standing on the leading gokart and hanging on with one arm, with the other he raised the night vision binoculars to his face. Cold wind blew through his hair and clothes. He could see the racing van closer than before and knew it was only a matter of time...
"It's been six hours. That's enough," It was the fourth time Engyo had said so, and he was now using his strict teacher's voice.
"I can keep going," Natsu blinked her eyes to fight off the tiredness.
"You'll crash."
"Into what? We're in the middle of nowhere."
"I didn't mean the van," Engyo said and sighed, "in some ways you're just like Heidi: always pushing yourself too far."
Heidi was sitting close but wasn't about to argue.
"Come on, Natsu." Jayden worked his stiff body upright, "I'll slip in and you can rest, even for just a couple hours, then you can get back on the horse again. What do you say?"
She took several seconds before finally conceding, "...fine."
"Can we stop so I can take a piss?" Sinan asked from the back.
"Go out the window," Kanoa told him and Sinan made a sound of outrage and disgust.
"We've not even stopped while refilling the tank, let alone for your bladder," Natsu said firmly. "M-006, update."
Beep, "It is now 10:51 PM. We have another six hours before we reach the bunker. The weather has remained fairly consistent and we have gained a slight advantage. We will either be one hour in the clear, or forty-five minutes too late."
"That advantage is probably because of the supplies we dropped, right?" Natsu asked.
"Correct," was the chirpy reply.
Tsukumo looked up from opposite Heidi, and touched Jayden's arm: "I don't mind driving."
"Don't worry about it. Maybe in a few hours if this one stays asleep," Jayden said and slung his leg over the chair.
Natsu leaned away and they swapped their feet on the pedal. She slid underneath Jayden and out, he took over and the van swerved then was reaffixed to its course.
Natsu then climbed over, "I'm just going to rest my eyes for like an hour." She sat down next to Heidi and rested her head against her. Heidi started patting Natsu's hair comfortingly.
Another two hours after that, Natsu was still asleep. Jayden was still driving. Every once and a while they'd swerve slightly, avoiding the sparse shrubs. Blowing a tire now could spell disaster. Engyo offered Jayden coffee but he said he didn't drink the stuff. Heidi had rested somewhat, with her head against Natsu's. Now she looked around. Tsukumo wasn't resting, he was lost in thought instead. After glancing to the back she could tell Hillary wasn't sleeping either. Kanoa was resting. Henka too, though fitfully. Sinan, she couldn't tell but it seemed he was asleep. The vibrating metal and grinding of the engine was comforting after they adjusted to it.
"What the hell is that?" Jayden broke the silence.
They all began to rouse, peering out the windows to see a series of gokarts riding dust clouds toward them. Savage yipping and jeers carried along the wind, it brought out a panic and everyone in the van leaned up.
"What are they doing here? Who are they?" Heidi asked.
"Ijiwa…" Hillary murmured in growing horror. Like her own personal demon, he'd come once again to bring undoing.
"A lieutenant…" Henka let everyone else know and a string of curses filled the cramped space.
"What do we do?" Jayden asked, afraid.
"You keep driving. Don't ever stop," Engyo told him.
"Can we deal with him?" Kanoa asked.
M-006 shook his face on his screen, "We cannot stop."
"I'll deal with him and finish this," Hillary stood emotionally but Heidi grabbed her arm.
"Your Splash Queens are strong but you can't play your best game against him. He's not your responsibility," Heidi assured her and she sagged, falling back into a sitting position.
"Unfortunately, Ijiwa is psycho enough to actually be loyal to Urobach." Henka explained, "Seeing that I got free won't convince him to join us." She thought for a second before offering, "What if I jump ship? Seeing me could surprise him enough that maybe you guys can get some good distance from them?"
"No," Natsu said calmly, "I get a feeling you might be our secret weapon. I'll go."
"What the fuck?" Heidi whipped around.
"I'm the oldest so no arguing, okay?" Natsu said back.
"Actually, the oldest would be me," Engyo replied.
"And these kids need you to guide them," Natsu looked at him before sweeping her gaze over the others, "Everybody here is more valuable than me. We have three chosens, the leader of the DMA and its star pupil, Jayden's resources, Hillary's powers, and an ex-lieutenant."
"Don't forget me!" M-006 chirped.
"Your value goes without saying." Natsu stood, "There's no way these guys are just gonna tail us for the next four hours. You guys have to save what's left of Aurellia."
"I can't let you do this," Heidi stood.
Natsu ordered Jayden: "Slow down, but not too much." She looked at Heidi, "I'm sorry. I love you. You are the hero."
The van slowed. The right side passengers moved away from the sliding door. Natsu stepped to the edge and the wind blew her hair. Kanoa anticipated Heidi's action before she could spring, grabbing her from behind. Heidi screeched and squirmed.
Do I even want to be a hero? Mentally she could see the fork once more: the peaceful road of sense and sacrifice, and the chaotic road of selfish madness.
Natsu rolled into the sand and Heidi screamed. The sliding door was closed and Jayden picked up speed. Heidi screamed again.
"I'll relay everything," M-006 said from the back window.
The gokarts began racing circles around Natsu, just as she hobbled to her feet. Then she was swallowed by dust and that was the last their human eyes could see.
Natsu had broken her leg. The van had been going faster than she'd thought, but she could still lean and she spat blood from her busted lip. One cart came to a stop and the leader stepped off. He looked different to the others: smooth instead of rough. He swatted at the dust, a young man with a serene face.
Ijiwa smiled, "Our first prisoner. Were you voted off the island? Please forgive my fascination with your human reality TV, I admit I've become addicted."
The monochrome green eyes were a clear giveaway. This was Ijiwa.
"Yeah…" Natsu shook her head, uncaring. "That's what happened."
"Or you figured you could delay us? There's no reason to rush. Closest civilization is a day in that direction, but in just a few hours nuclear fallout is going to be carried here by the coming storm. Oops."
Natsu did her best to look surprised, but she was in too much pain. Ijiwa didn't look convinced.
Natsu reached for her deck, a red kaijudo flame covering her hand, "Kettou da."
"Yoshi," Ijiwa's hand shone green. "I'll take you out, Natsu. That's right: we lieutenants know every chosen's family and friends. And after you die, your sister will suffer the same fate!"
He stepped back to make room. The gokart riders kept driving around them in wide circles, sending a wall of dust higher and higher. Their tables appeared and then the shields hummed to life.
"They're just charging mana for now," M-006 relayed to everyone. Kanoa kept holding onto Heidi though she was still for now. "Oh…"
"Oh? What oh?" Heidi demanded.
"It seems Natsu is playing with a TCG deck."
"So that means…" Tsukumo murmured.
M-006 finished for him: "She only has cards up to the first twelve sets."
Heidi's head swam and she felt like she was going to be sick.
"She won't stand a chance against his Grasper Loop!" Hillary balked.
Fury possessed Heidi and she thrashed.
Kanoa held on tighter, "I'm begging you, Heidi, don't lose control…"
She wouldn't stop and Sinan watched the two with a haunted look before lowering his eyes.
Natsu's final shields broke and she fell to her knees. Cuts on her face and arms trickling blood.
Before her, Ijiwa stood with three giant nature creatures. His soft face was now twisted by insanity and sadism.
"I don't even need to loop. I love dueling people who can't fight back," he cackled for several seconds then studied her.
Natsu was panting, wincing from the pain in her leg. There was fear in her eyes, but mostly she looked tired.
Ijiwa went cold, "Beg for your life."
"I won't. Just attack, already."
"I appreciate those eyes, but I'd rather see tears and squirming. You're about to be mauled to death by my Chainrex, Super Chainkind. Then your life will be over. Won't you beg? …So I can watch you get torn to pieces anyway!" He was shouting by the end of it, looking far gone from humanity.
"If you're going to kill someone then shut up and do it, you pussy!" Her anger spiked and Natsu used it to keep her fear at bay. Even now, she knew that if she could just die here she couldn't be used as bait for Heidi. With relief she saw her opponent snap with anger.
Ijiwa pointed and she closed her eyes, "Chainrex-!"
Something unexpected happened.
"...what?"
The van was still speeding away.
"What is it now?" Heidi demanded furiously.
"Natsu was teleported away somehow," M-006 reported, even managing to sound surprised. "Unless my camera's deceiving me! I've never seen anything like it. She was standing there, and then suddenly she was covered by this blue light and vanished."
"How…?" Tsukumo said before pinching his chin and thinking - a quirk he'd inherited from his mentor. "Urobach and Amira teleport things with black fire, not blue light. It must have been an ally?"
"Somebody you guys don't know?" Henka wondered.
Heidi was still as she stared at the floor, "Amira and Urobach's powers come from the Gatekeepers. We don't know any other power that could do that…"
"Incoming message!" M-006 straightened, "Signal is weak!"
Immediately the screen fizzled into black and white static. Kanoa loosened his grip and Heidi pulled free, they all crowded around. The static cleared in quick bursts, revealing a woman with circular glasses.
"That's Tailee!" Heidi couldn't believe it. The other sister, the one that should've died when the capital city was bombed. So she hadn't been at the observatory when it happened?
M-006 said, "I'm doing my best to aid the broadcast…"
They started to catch Tailee for longer bursts of time. They heard odd words, then half of Heidi's name. Then…
"-Summer-"
The screen went black.
M-006's emoji face returned, "I'm afraid they stopped broadcasting."
"...what was Tailee saying about Summer?" Heidi wondered.
"Well," Hillary put a hand on her shoulder, "she seemed calm, didn't she?"
"Indeed," Engyo agreed.
"It's another mystery," Tsukumo said, falling back into his sitting spot, "It looks like whoever teleported Natsu away did it at the last moment, to give us as much extra time as possible. We still have over three hours to go. We're lucky they didn't just split up to stay on our tail."
"It seems they don't yet know about the bunker," Engyo said, "But that could change."
"Let's not focus on scenarios we can do nothing about!" Jayden yelled from behind the wheel. He eyed the dial for the engine temperature and his hands clenched, "Let's just keep going!"
The others wordlessly agreed.
They had under an hour on the clock before the menacing gokart racers caught up once more. Jeering, shouts and the roaring of engines started up quietly then got progressively louder. Jayden had been convinced to swap with Tsukumo. The overcast clouds swallowed the stars, and a line of shadow moved across the wide landscape. It felt like that line of darkness had always been chasing them, marking the coming storm and had been what they were trying to outrun the entire time. New, strange winds began to blow against the spindly flora.
"Is this it? Are we too late?" Kanoa asked while looking out both windows at the new darkness.
"All factors remaining constant, we will reach the bunker three minutes before the radioactive fallout starts blowing by," M-006 turned his head, "We would be falling behind if we weren't now carrying one less person."
"Then let's hope nothing changes," Engyo said and everyone around him was silently praying. He faced the back window and their pursuers, "We can't afford to slow for anything."
Twenty minutes later the first gokart was close enough to barge the back of the van. They all jumped and Hillary shrieked.
"Uhh… they have those spike thingies coming off the side of their wheels, to cut tires," Sinan said.
"They also got… Molotov Cocktails!" Jayden shouted.
The van lurched forward and the passengers swayed, falling into each other.
"Tsukumo, you're driving in the red!" Engyo warned.
"She's just going to have to take it! We're almost there..."
When someone threw a flaming bottle Engyo reached over to jerk the wheel and they swerved out the way.
Heidi pulled open a window. She had a sense to make sure the petrol cap was closed after all their mid-drive refills. Then she tossed their last, almost-empty jerrycan at a gokart readying another cocktail. It hit the driver and the men caught fire, the gocart skidding around into a stop.
Heidi pulled herself back in as a bottle smashed against the side of the van.
"The entrance to the bunker is just up ahead. We're less than two minutes ahead of the fallout!" M-006 announced.
"That rock formation, it's inside the mouth, correct?" Engyo asked.
"Yes, it's a landing strip that leads to blast doors. We just have to get inside," Jayden confirmed.
It felt like a miracle when the gokarts eased up. Of course, the reason would be Urobach wanting them still so he could triangulate their location for teleporting. Having only three lieutenants left seemed to have made their boss more forgiving.
"Everyone grab the supplies, let's go!" Jayden yelled.
The van hit rocks and jostled like crazy, finally swerving around on its side. The hood was smoking. As the door was yanked open, they could see the group of carts in the distance. One by one they were disappearing.
Like mad shoppers they raced up the rocky incline. M-006 was clinging to Kanoa's back. Their feet left rock for cement, a tunnel revealing a moderate strip with old propeller planes, a few covered in tarp. Once they reached the terminal by the blast door they could hear harsh wind blowing from down the tunnel.
"It's here," Tsukumo said.
"Yes, it is," M-006 was still on Kanoa's back.
Jayden was flicking through a code book, finding the right responses for each clue the keyboard gave him. And then the door came to life, grinding open. They each slid by metal that was three feet thick, then Jayden punched a big red button and the door stalled before closing up once more.
The group stood there, panting.
"Not the most efficient means of travel, but we made it work," Engyo's voice echoed in the metallic tunnel.
Heidi walked away from them and faced the wall, "Except. We lost. My fucking sister!"
Sinan looked down again before frowning at her, "But she's probably okay. M-006 said something teleported her."
"Shut up!" Heidi spun around, "We also lost the Carmen's Comet just to save your stupid life!"
"And I can't believe you all say I lack control!" Sinan swept his arm to the others before pointing at Heidi, "It's your fault we're in this mess!"
Heidi's fists cracked at her sides, "Even if that were true, I'd change nothing if it meant Natsu was saved. But it's not true! We'd never have gone to the desert if you'd not been suckered into some collective delusion!"
The others stood together like sheep, growing incredulous as they watched.
"...we just found out we survived a twelve hour race against time and they can't take a moment to be grateful?" Engyo murmured.
"I give up with her," Tsukumo crossed his arms, "With him, I never started."
"Then let's duel!" Heidi challenged. "You have to answer for the last month of crap we endured because of you!"
"Fine with me!"
They were just a few feet from the barrier separating them from air that was filling up with poison. The tunnel was wide enough for their match and everyone stepped back to give them space.
Heidi charged first. Sinan charged light-water.
On her next draw Heidi lucked out, pulling the only mono nature card in her deck. She swiftly charged it, "I cast Mendelssohn!" Two cards floated up, another copy of her spell which snapped into the graveyard, and then Bolshack Dogiragon which turned upside-down and placed itself among her mana.
"I summon Mixel, Strange Stone!" Sinan yelled as the metallica swerved by overhead. "Any creature you put with cost higher than the cards in your mana goes to the bottom of your deck!"
Heidi narrowed her eyes and drew. She charged a useless Ninpo Phoenix Jutsu, seeing as she still wasn't playing with Dokindam but hadn't swapped the spells out. "I cast Duelist Charger!" Three cards lifted from her deck and revealed themselves: MaltNEXT and two Batocross Battle, all slid into the bottom of her deck. Once more though, Heidi had gained mana.
Sinan hesitated before charging Kirazeus Savark, "I cast Justice Shaper!" Mixel, Holyend and another Kirazeus turned over and all three floated to his hand. He grinned, glad his creature returned. He pointed, "Mixel, ike!" It flew out, right through Heidi's far shield.
He wants to move fast too, huh? Heidi looked at Mixel before charging Scramble Change. "I summon Shishio Kaiser!" The mechanical dragon tank rolled out, a molten arrow arming to its crossbow. "I boost my top card… Batocross Battle! Now since I have three fire dragons in my mana, I destroy Mixel!" The arrow was released and the flier drooped and melted.
"I summon another Mixel!"
"Rrr…" Heidi growled at its return.
Sinan continued, "And La Jeanne, White Knight Spirit Knight!" A gold idol sat meditating in the lotus position, confusing Heidi.
At this point, even if she was unfamiliar with the card her ability to sense kaijudo energy was so fine-tuned she didn't need him to tell her it had 1000 power. She knew by instinct. Still, it wasn't from one of the future sets she knew of, and since she'd never seen anyone play it before that meant it probably wasn't meta. So what does it do? Heidi refused to ask. If she tried using those instincts to tell her… cost reduction for something. She drew.
"I summon Glenmalt "Head", Dimension Dragon Edge." The flaming red hero appeared. "Shishio Kaiser, shield break!" Another arrow flew, a card appeared in Sinan's hand. "Now then, Glenmalt attacks and mana arms 7! I have exactly 7 fire mana so I equip him with Gaiheart, Galaxy Sword! Double break!" The starry sword fell into his grip and he slashed two shields.
They appeared in Sinan's hand, he looked worried.
"No triggers, alright! Dragsolution! Gaiginga, Passionate Star Dragon!" The bipedal dragon emerged as the tallest creature in play. "He destroys Mixel, and then he breaks your last two shields!" In one motion the starry sword carved through the metallica and shattered the last panels.
"Shield trigger!" Sinan's last shield reformed to save him, "Dragon's Sign! I bring out Kirazeus Savark and send Glenmalt "Head" onto your shield!" The humanoid fighter blew back, flattening into a gold hieroglyph.
Heidi grinned and crossed her arms, showing she was done with her turn.
Sinan drew, "I cast Now or Never and summon Heaven's Rosia! I bring out Heaven's Heaven, Heavenly Justice!" The familiar gold-adorned hero emerged and hyperspace opened, the metallic church falling beside Sinan. Heidi noticed the mix of pretentious holiness and military might. She realized the whole light civilization was just as fake as New Age spirituality, and in retrospect Sinan was the perfect representative of light. Sinan raised his arm, drawing her attention back to the fight, "I burn Glenmalt "Head" from your shields to keep Heaven's Rosia. Now Kirazeus double breaks and I gain two shields!"
Heidi crossed her arms as glass flew by. She felt two cards appear in her grip.
"As I end my turn I can put La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian into play." The weenie ship appeared.
Heidi had saved MaltNEXT for this and it was time to use him. She drew and then frowned at her hand. Bolshack Dogiragon was her only Rev Zero trigger, but if she didn't charge him she wouldn't have enough fire dragons for MaltNEXT's mana arms. She decided to bet on this turn.
"I summon… MaltNEXT, Super Battle Dragon Edge! I bring out Heart Burn, Battle General Galaxy Fortress! My dragons are now speed attackers! MaltNEXT, final break!"
It flew, carrying orange and blue fire with it and sweeping the two shields.
"Shield triggers!" Sinan fought to stand strong against the impact and fires swirling past him, "Arcadia Spark! MaltNEXT is shuffled into your deck and you draw! He doesn't untap and Heart Burn doesn't dragsolution either! Also, Now or Never! I bring out Emeralda and rebuild a shield." Once a panel rebuilt itself the musical dragon shone blue and was bounced back to Sinan's hand.
"Alright… Shishio Kaiser, final break!" Heidi yelled and the flaming arrow tore it apart.
Sinan smiled at the card as it appeared in his hand. Not a trigger? Heidi wouldn't be able to win this turn and her opponent had a blocker.
"Gaiginga attack Kirazeus!" She waved her hand lazily, expecting Sinan to block but was shocked when he let the powerful creature get destroyed.
"What? Why didn't you…?"
"Here's why!" Sinan charged his sixth mana. "I summon another La Jeanne, White Spirit Knight! I evolve it with my other and La Ura Giga into Supernova Venus Ia Saint Mother!" Sinan became shrouded entirely in yellow. A high-pitched ringing made Heidi and the others cover their ears. Space trembled and when the light died down, everything was coated in yellow and stars drifted about. Venus was above Sinan, gold and with ten spectral wings. Her call was harmonious and non-threatening.
"This feeling… so peaceful…" Heidi's guard returned however when she remembered how convincing Hillary's New Age stuff had been prior to betraying them.
"Venus recognizes Heidi as the fire chosen, even without Mars," Kanoa murmured from the sidelines.
"What about you, Sinan?" Heidi lowered her gaze. "Are you truly with us now?"
Sinan raised his arm. Venus seemed calm, but as for her summoner it wasn't clear if he was about to call an attack or not. Then Heidi saw the stars gathering above Sinan and he glowed a soft yellow. He brought his arm down while guiding the clustered stars to himself, and they scattered over him.
"While under the effect of this power I cannot lie. I, Sinan Jaakuma, accept my position as the chosen light duelist. And you all, despite being outsiders, showed goodness in your own ways. I no longer consider myself a Solvusite either."
Heidi couldn't help but smile. Same for those watching. Sinan stared up for a moment. He was scared to accept that his fear-based religion wasn't true, but with Venus's comforting aura he knew he still had a presence within that he could depend on.
"…I never understood why life had to be the way it was. It was blatantly wrong, and we were taught that we just couldn't understand divine wisdom. So much didn't make sense. I denied parts of myself, believing it was true freedom," Sinan mused.
"Cognitive dissonance," Hillary said, empathizing.
Sinan lowered his head then returned to their battle, "Venus, break her shields!" Venus swished her wings and a blizzard of gold broke Heidi's final shields.
"No triggers, and I got nothing that can help me," Heidi confessed.
"Then that's the end of this duel," Sinan swept his cards together, Venus sang to everyone in farewell.
『AN: Lol imagine my horror at discovering I'd missed the first week back at University. I somehow deadass thought I had like another month of free time. Also, this semester the mid two-week break is happening after week ten for some reason? I bet I was thrown because we got our results back so late for the semester before. Whatever, so long as they pass me I won't complain too much. Anyway, I'd still really like to get to that 75 mark and I definitely aim to finish Light Arc this year. Thanks to Acuma and Shuriken for reviewing!』
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