FIVE MONTHS AGO – ACADEMIA – ARC-V
Kachidoki and Battle Beast decided to take a visit at Academia. Ever since Kachidoki left Ryozanpaku Duel School, he and Battle Beast went on a journey to polish their dueling skill and broad Battle Beast's horizon after years being locked up in Academia. Now, they were close to the end of their journey. All of a sudden, Battle Beast requested that they visit Academia since it was close. When being asked why the sudden visit, Battle Beast didn't answer, so Kachidoki assumed it's for an important business.
The two Fusion users were welcomed warmly by Samejima and Edo. However, Battle Beast and Kachidoki didn't speak with them for long because Battle Beast gently insisted that they were in a hurry, so Samejima and Edo just let them do as they please. Along the way, they met several students acquainted with them and gave a brief wave to each of them, but Kachidoki noticed that Battle Beast's mind was focused on their destination.
They finally stopped in front of a door. When it slides open using the keycard given by Samejima, it revealed a dark brick room with little light and two chains on the floor near the edge of the room. Kachidoki realized what this room was. What this prison was. It was the prison that Sanders mentioned where he held Battle Beast captive and disciplined him. For Battle Beast to visit the place that no doubt would only bring bad memories could only mean one thing.
"Are you sure you want to go in?" Kachidoki asked with concern all over his face.
"Yeah. This is something I must do." Battle Beast replied.
Kachidoki was reluctant, but he couldn't say no after seeing how determined Battle Beast is. Kachidoki stepped aside, letting Battle Beast to go inside alone, closing the door.
Just seeing this room already gave Battle Beast a shiver.
Back then, he felt so hopeless and powerless in this room.
The walls closed in. He could not escape the endless, darkened wait to freedom. Sat in the corner of the chilled room, he could see the sharp corners at each edge of the room. The walls, painted red many years ago, connecting each corner forming a perfectly shaped square room. The dull paint on each of the four walls carries a burden memory where he drawing closer and closer to the living hell had been scratching at the walls. Looking up from the corner of the cell, his light flickers as many moths flutter around it finding the only hope and light that is left in the prison.
He was so afraid, so scared, wishing to be freed. After Kachidoki saved him and they went on a journey, he thought he had completely let it go. Letting go of his past. But then he realized that he hasn't. That's why, he decided to face his lingering fear. Entering this room made him want to vomit. The horrid feelings he had buried deep inside came back the longer he stayed in the room. It took everything he has not to dash out from the room. No. He mustn't run away.
In the midst of his bad memories, he repeatedly reminding himself of the times he has spent with Kachidoki and everyone he encountered on his journey after the end of the war. He mixed them together, recalling the feeling of going against his former mentor for the first time. The first time he felt he has been liberated. Before, he was alone, and that's why he felt so helpless. But this time, he won't be alone. Even if he's all by himself in this room, he's not alone. He knew that now he has friends who are supporting him and waiting for him.
He won't let this place shackling him anymore.
"Goodbye forever..." Battle Beast said, taking one last glance at the prison before leaving it for good. Samejima had said before that the room will soon be demolished. Good. This room won't be needed anymore. He didn't want anyone to go through the same pain like he did.
Battle Beast smiled at Kachidoki who has been waiting for him. Kachidoki, in return, smiled proudly at him. Kachidoki said nothing and instead they made their way back to the harbor.
"I've been meaning to ask you this, but Battle Beast is not your real name, right? It's just something that Sanders called you to differentiate you from the others." Kachidoki suddenly asked. While he didn't know where Battle Beast came from before he was taken to Academia, he doubted that any parent would name their child Battle Beast like they're giving birth to a savage.
"What's your real name then?" Kachidoki asked again. At this question, Battle Beast's face fell.
"I...I've long forgotten my own name. I spent most of my life under his teaching, imprisoned in that room, and absorbing everything he told me until the only thing I could think was fighting for my survival. I don't remember my own origin. Even now, I still don't." Battle Beast couldn't remember anything about himself. Where he came from, who his parents are, what was his real name, everything about his origin were erased from his mind. He tried to remember himself, and even went on a therapy hoping to jog his memories to no avail.
"Are you going to look for the roots of your origin?" Kachidoki asked, and Battle Beast shook his head.
"Not anymore. I'm already happy with the life I have now. I'm not really that curious anymore about my origin. Is that a bad thing?" Battle Beast admitted. After many tries, he decided to give up. He realized how happy he is living his current life, and it should be enough for him. He thought that he should live his current life to the fullest.
"If you're happy, then I don't see anything wrong with it. But I think you'll need a new name." Kachidoki said, lightly patting Battle Beast's shoulder. "You're forging your own path now. You don't need the name given by that rotten tyrant. You are free from him now."
Kachidoki grinned as they reached the harbor.
"Let's try to think up for a new name for you, okay?"
PRESENT TIME – FOREST FIELD – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V
The forest is littered with duel disks, cards, wounded duelists and gore. Red, gray and brown are the new colors of what was once a beautiful, green forest, which has now become the stage of a large-scale assault. The air which would normally be rich with scents from nearby berries is now thick with the stench of blood, gore and death, the mere sense of it will make normal people want to run.
Battle Beast gritted his teeth in frustration at seeing many of his fallen comrades at the hands of their own who were brainwashed. Even though he tried his best to protect them, there were still casualties. The wounded of one side lay in heaps across the forest and the faces of the fighters are hopeful with eyes searching their surroundings and victory in mind, they take on their enemies. Battle Beast luckily found a safe cabin where he took the wounded and made sure to make a barricade to prevent enemies and their brainwashed allies to touch them.
He just defeated the last of his brainwashed allies running around in the forest. He took a deep breath and let it out softly. It took quite a lot of his energies dealing with them, and it's hard to hold back. Hopefully, they'll understand and forgive him once they regained their senses.
"I thought what kind of pest defeating my group, so it's you."
Battle Beast gasped when heard the familiar voice. He took another battle stance, and as he expected, his former tormentor, Sanders, emerged from the trees. As he walked closer, Sanders even took the time to kick away his fallen comrade whom Battle Beast just defeated, which angered the Gladial Beast user.
"So, you keep your word and appear in front of me again as my enemy." Battle Beast stated, recalling their last encounter.
"Don't think of me as the same person as I am before. His Excellency has given me a new Deck to fight against you. This time, I will put you in your place, BB!" Sanders raised his Duel Disk, activating it.
Battle Beast narrowed his eyes at his former tormentor. This would be the first time he was facing Sanders alone. Honestly, he still felt uncomfortable about Sanders. The man caused all the torments he had endured to return to his head. For a second, he almost lost his composure. Battle Beast clenched his fists until his trembling stopped. This is his chance to make things right. This is the only way for him to completely let go of his past.
"To even the field, we'll do this without an Action Card. We'll do this the old way." Battle Beast responded, activating his Duel Disk.
"Whichever it is, the result would be your death!" Sanders retorted.
[MASTER DUEL!]
"I'm taking the first Turn! I summon Quantity (ATK: 500 / DEF: 400 / LV: 1) from my hand!" Sanders summoned Quantity in Defense Position in the Main Zone.
"I set a card and end my Turn!" Sanders concluded.
"Quantity? Never heard or saw that kind of archetype. He is my former mentor, so he knows well about my Gladial Beast Deck since he originally used it. I can't use the same tactic like I used to. But for now, I'll need to figure out what kind of Deck he has now, so my first move would be..." Battle Beast contemplated various possibilities he has. After a minute thinking, he finally decided what his first move should be.
"My Turn! I summon Gladial Beast Atrix (ATK: 800 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 4)!" Battle Beast summoned Atrix in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"I activate Magic Card: Gladial Beast's Horn Call! When I normal summoned or special summoned a Level 4 or lower Gladial Beast Monster, I can special summon a Gladial Beast monster from my hand!" Battle Beast summoned Gladial Beast Dimacari (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 4) from his hand in Attack Position in the Main Zone next to Atrix.
"Battle! I attack Quantity with Gladial Beast Atrix!" Battle Beast declared Battle Phase. Atrix swung its sword towards the robot-shaped machine monster.
"Trap Card: Scrap Storage! When my opponent declares Battle, I can send two more copies of Quantity from my Deck to my Graveyard!" Sanders sent two copies of Quantity just as Atrix sliced Quantity into two, destroying it. But since it was in Defense Position, Sanders didn't receive any damage.
"I set 2 cards and end my Turn." Battle Beast concluded, eyeing Sanders carefully. "He just let his monster got destroyed and then sent two more copies of it to the Graveyard. What's he planning?"
"My Turn! I summon Quality (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1500 / LV: 4)!" Sanders summoned Quality in Defense Position from his hand.
"I set a card and end my Turn!" Sanders concluded, confusing Battle Beast.
"He ended it just like that? Could it be he's baiting me to attack and then activate a Trap?" Battle Beast stared at Sanders' set cards. It's likely to be a trap. Seeing how calm Sanders is only furthered this belief. However, there's also a chance it's a bluff.
Deciding not to let the possibility of a trap stopping him, Battle Beast continued his Turn.
"Battle! I attack Quality with Gladial Beast Dimacari!" Battle Beast declared Battle Phase. However, to Battle Beast's surprise, Sanders didn't make any move to stop the destruction, only making it after Quality was destroyed.
"I activate Quality's effect! When it was destroyed, I can Special Summon the Quantity monsters I have in my Graveyard!" Sanders revived all three copies of Quantity in Defense Position that he sent to the Graveyard in the previous Turn.
"And then I activate Continuous Magic Card: Indestructible Armor Plating! My Quantities cannot be destroyed by Battle." Sanders created a transparent barrier for his two Quantities, protecting it from any attack.
"I activate Gladial Beast Vespasiaus' effect from my hand! When my Gladial Beast Monster battles a Monster, I can Special Summon it from my hand! When this card is special summoned through Gladial Beast Monster's effect, all monsters I control gains 500 ATK!" Battle Beast summoned Vespasiaus (ATK: 2300 / DEF: 0 / LV: 7) in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"I end my Turn." Battle Beast concluded, seeing no point in attacking since Sanders won't get any damage and his monsters couldn't be destroyed.
"My Turn!" Sanders looked at the card he drew and smirked. He then turned to Battle Beast. "BB, this will be the beginning of your path towards destruction! I activate Magic Card: Long-Range Strike! All my Level 3 or lower Machine-Type Monsters can attack directly this Turn!"
"What?!" Battle Beast was taken aback. Sanders changed all of his Quantities into Attack Position and all the three of them launched their attack punching and kicking Battle Beast that sent his back to the wet muddy ground.
BATTLE BEAST LP: 4000 = 2500
"I set a card and end my Turn." Sanders concluded. He grinned condescendingly at Battle Beast who stood up again from the attack. "This is just the beginning. The next attack would be far more painful for you."
"Then I'll say this too: I'm not the same person as I was before! My Turn! Battle! I attack your three Quantities with Gladial Beast Vespasiaus, Atrix, and Dimacari!" Battle Beast declared Battle Phase. His three Gladial Beast monsters dashed forward at the same time, striking their respective targets.
"Trap Card: Battalion Defender! When Machine-Type Monsters I control are targeted for attack, I can halve the ATK of the opposing Monsters until the end of the Battle Phase!" Sanders halved all of the Gladial Beasts' ATKs, lowering the damage he took. And due to his Continuous Magic Card, Quantities were not destroyed.
SANDERS LP: 4000 = 2400
"I'm not done yet! I activate all their effects! After the Battle Phase, I can shuffle them into my Deck and Special Summon a Gladial Beast Monster!" Battle Beast shuffled all of his Gladial Beasts back into his Deck. At the same time, a fusion vortex formed above him.
"When I shuffle Vespasiaus and two other Gladial Beast Monsters through their effects, I can perform Fusion Summon! Contact Fusion! Appear! Level 10! Gladial Beast Domitianus (ATK: 3500 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 10)!" Battle Beast summoned his new Fusion Monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone
"I attack again with Domitianus!" Battle Beast declared. However, before Domitianus could raise a hand, Sanders clicked the scree on his Duel Disk.
"I activate Long-Range Strike's effect! By banishing this card, I can negate the Battle!" Sanders declared, stopping Domitianus from attacking.
"I end my Turn." Battle Beast concluded.
"You've got a new Fusion Monster. I commend you for that. But it's still pales in comparison to my new Deck granted by the Dragon of Calamity!" Sanders stated smugly.
"You're willing to sell your soul to Apophis for the sake of your revenge?" Battle Beast questioned his former mentor.
"You don't know how much humiliation I had to endure after your betrayal! For a respected and saluted Duelist such as I to be degraded so lowly is unacceptable!" Sanders spat out bitterly. Ever since he was young, he was special. His skill, intelligence, everything about him was special. That's what everyone around him told him. In a dog-eat-dog world, the strong ones are the ones who survives while the weak underserved to live. He became strong, stomping on the weak and anyone who dares to defy him. It was his right. He is worthy for glory. He took the place of his insipid parents, used his own students, enacted laws, and raised his ranks.
"Anyone who gets in my way will be eliminated! My Turn! I release my Quantities to Advance Summon The Big Saturn (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2200 / LV: 8)!" Sanders summoned The Big Saturn from his hand in Attack Position in the Main Zone. The monster was oozing dark sinister energy that shook Battle Beast to the core.
"W-what kind of Monster is this?!" Battle Beast felt sick by the presence of the monster. Was this also due to Apophis' influence?
"I pay 1000 LP and discard a card to activate The Big Saturn's effect to increase its ATK by 1000!" Sanders increased The Big Saturn's ATK to 3800 at the cost of part of his LP.
SANDERS LP: 2400 = 1400
"I activate Domitianus' effect! When this card is summoned through Gladial Beast effect, I can negate the opposing monster's effect and destroy that monster!" Battle Beast declared, pointing at The Big Saturn as its target. Domitianus unleashed blue lightning that striking towards The Big Saturn to prevent it from using its effect. However, Sanders then opened his last face-down card.
"Continuous Trap: Parasitic Cyborg! When my opponent activates a Monster Effect, that monster's effect is negated as long as this card is on the Field and my Machine-Type Monster's ATK is increased by 800 until the end of Turn!" Sanders increased The Big Saturn's ATK to 4600 and deflected Domitianus' effect, protecting The Big Saturn from destruction.
"Battle! I attack Gladial Beast Domitianus with The Big Saturn!" Sanders countered. The ring around The Big Saturn's body glowed as the monster's power significantly increased. The Big Saturn punched its fists together before striking at Domitianus.
"Continuous Trap: Gladial Beast's Spiritual Light! As long as I control a Gladial Beast Fusion Monster, my Gladial Beast Monsters cannot be destroyed by Battle!" Battle Beast opened his Trap Card, forming a pillar of light that block The Big Saturn's fist.
"But you'll still take damage!" Sanders reminded as Battle Beast almost got pushed back from the force of the attack.
BATTLE BEAST: 2500 = 1400
"I'm not done yet! I discard a card to inflict additional 1000 damage after my Machine-Type Monster inflict damage!" Sanders discarded another card from his hand, activating Parasitic Cyborg's second effect to inflict 1000 damage after The Big Saturn's attack.
This time, Battle Beast couldn't avoid the impact and got thrown several steps back, forming some bruises on his bodies and broken rib that made him groaned in pain.
BATTLE BEAST LP: 1400 = 400
"And lastly, I activate Continuous Magic: Tamer Factory! As long as this card is on the Field, once per Turn we can only Special Summon one Level 5 or higher Monster unless the effect of a card specified otherwise." Sanders concluded. Battle Beast's Gladial Beast heavily relies on the monsters' effects to Special Summon stronger Monsters. While he didn't have the card to completely shut off Battle Beast's strategy, at least now Battle Beast would only have one chance to special summon a monster, and Sanders doubt it would be strong enough to defeat his Big Saturn.
Battle Beast crouched down, holding his broken rib. That attack sure did a number on him. It would be difficult, but he could still stand. He could do it. He knew it. And yet, he saw his hands, and they were trembling again. The memories came back haunting him again. Those days when Sanders abused him, tortured him, both physically and mentally, they all came into him again. He tried to push it away, but it still came. He couldn't move from his spot. His vision started swirling.
"What should I do?"
Battle Beast was at loss. He only has one last chance to Special Summon a Monster that could overpower The Big Saturn. He has a Monster that could overpower The Big Saturn's effects as well as Sanders' Spell and Trap effects. But to summon it requires two more Gladial Beasts and their effects must be activated. Even if he's able to summon two more Gladial Beasts, Sanders would just activate Parasitic Cyborg to negate their effects and increased The Big Saturn's effect. But if he didn't do anything, then it'll be truly over for him.
"If Isao is here, what would he do?"
Battle Beast didn't know what to do. If only Kachidoki is here, he'll be at ease. He'll know what to do.
"I'm sorry, Isao. It's over for me..."
THUD
Battle Beast when he felt something fell from his pocket. The Link Monster that Reiji developed for him under Kachidoki's request. Kachidoki gave it to him before they depart to Cantidel.
"With this card, I'm sure you can find the right strategy to hold on your own."
That's right. Didn't he decide to become stronger so that he won't be a burden to anyone? So that he can protect people that he cares for? He was still shackled after all. He thought he had freed himself, but he hasn't. He has been depending on Kachidoki for assurance all this time. He took Kachidoki's feeling for granted, believing that Kachidoki will find the way for him. Before, Sanders decided things for him, and now he expected for Kachidoki to find the way for him to be freed.
"I'm really a fool..." Battle Beast muttered quietly before forcing himself to stand up. "I do have a way to defeat you, Sanders."
"What?"
"There's a way for me to win this using Domitianus. I almost break that I almost forgot about that Monster. I'm sorry, Isao." Battle Beast's eyes shined with renewed resolve. He's not giving up now. He will stand tall and fight until the end.
"My Turn! Draw!" Battle Beast looked at the card he just drew and revealed it.
"I activate Magic Card: The Howl of the Beast! When I control a Level 6 or higher Gladial Beast Monster, I can Special Summon two Level 5 or lower Gladial Beast Monsters from my Graveyard with their effects negated!" Battle Beast revived Atrix and Dimacari from the Graveyard in Attack Position with their effects negated.
"Oh? So you have a card to summon two Gladial Beasts at once. But their effects are negated, so you can't shuffle them back to your Deck to perform Fusion Summon. And not only that, they are nothing compared to my Big Saturn!" Sanders pointed out the difference of powers between their monsters.
"And then from my hand, I summon Gladial Beast Laquari!" Battle Beast ignored Sanders' taunt, instead summoning Laquari from his hand in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"Have you realized how futile your struggle is that you've gone mad and just randomly summoning monsters?" Sanders said mockingly, sneering at the Gladial Beast user.
"No. Your card effect only limited to the summoning of one Monster with Level 5 or higher. That means, it wouldn't be a problem if I summon a Monster without Level." Battle Beast finally replied, confusing Sanders.
"Appear! The circuit of the beast warriors!" Battle Beast opened the Link Summoning Circuit.
"Arrowhead confirmed! The summoning condition is at least one Gladial Beast monster! I set Gladial Beast Atrix, Gladial Beast Dimacari, and Gladial Beast Laquari! Circuit combined!" Battle Beast set Atrix in the Bottom-Right Arrow, Dimacari in the Upper-Right Arrow, and Laquari in Upper-Right Arrow.
"Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Gladial Beast Corionalus (ATK: 2300 / LINK: 3 / LM: Bottom-Right, Upper-Right, Left)!" Battle Beast summoned a brownish gold colored dinosaur monster wearing red-colored armor with a black-colored broad sword as its weapon. Link Monster, like Xyz Monster, doesn't have a Level, so Sanders' Level restriction Trap won't work on it.
"Battle! I attack The Big Saturn with Gladial Beast Domitianus!" Battle Beast declared Battle Phase. Domitianus raised its spear, charging towards the robot-like monster.
"Fool! Domitianus' ATK is lower than my Big Saturn!" Sanders reminded.
"Gladial Beast Coriolanus' effect! When this card points to a Gladial Beast Monster, that monster cannot be destroyed by that Battle, and my opponent cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Battle Phase!" Battle Beast revealed as Corionalus raised up its broadsword, striking all of Sanders' cards, sealing them.
"What?!" Sanders could only helplessly stare at Domitianus who has pierced through Big Saturn, destroying it for good, leaving Sanders with nothing on his Field.
SANDERS LP: 1400 = 700
"This is the end! I attack directly with Gladial Beast Corionalus!" Battle Beast declared his second attack. Corionalus used the back of its sword to deliver a strong strike that threw back Sanders a few feet back without killing him, depleting all of his remaining LP.
SANDERS LP: 700 = 0
Sanders fell down with a painful cry. The impact crushed most of his bones, rendering him immobile. The pain throughout his body was too much for him to bear and he passed out.
"I...did it..." Battle Beast groaned in pain again.
He has reached his limit now. He fell down, still clutching his broken bone. He wanted to move, but his body has given up on him. His eyes couldn't last longer either. He now could only pray that his friends could handle the rest. He prayed for their safety and victory. He thought he heard Kachidoki calling his name, but maybe it's just his imagination. If it's really Kachidoki, he must tell him something when he wakes up.
"...I think I know a new name that would suits me now..."
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:
Yubel of the Dark – While interrogating her opponents to find where Heidel is being imprisoned, Yubel encounters Yuto. Setting her sight on him to test Dark Rebellion's resolve, Yubel challenges Yuto to a Duel.
Hello. We're going to reach the end of the Parasite arc. And I'll warn you, that things may become rather bleak starting the next chapter. But don't worry, I won't make it too bleak, there'll still be some light-hearted moments in some chapters.
Please don't forget to review this chapter!
