"Open your eyes, Shishima. What do you see?"
There was nothing. Emptiness was all around. An endless void. This utter darkness that he had known since infancy and grew so accustomed to. Deep inside there would be nothing to feel whatsoever, so much so that someone who was blind, deaf or lacked any other physical sense was in a way partly one with the dreaded Abyss. But Shishima was not alone this time around, he could sense Fukurokuju's words telepathically.
"This is what you have gotten accustomed to. As your mother wanted, you have been shaped by the very Abyss wherein ultimately we will all end up. Unlike your six siblings, you have been the only one to conquer death. How does this make you feel?"
Verbally answering was futile while inside the void. But the omniscient Fukurokuju could still read the answers from his thoughts. He had no reason to hide them either; Shishima was proud to have evaded death's clutches time and time again despite the fatality of his wounds. Technically he had achieved the impossible even for a spiritual being - true immortality.
"And how does your grand achievement make you feel? Do you now consider yourself God among us, perhaps higher than even the Creator in Heaven? Or have you come to a new realization now that you are once more gazing into the Abyss?"
The truth was that Shishima had always viewed himself with superiority towards the vast majority of beings, and he felt utterly justified due to his power, status and accomplishment. He had become terror incarnate and had little to no fear. But the few fears he still had lingered in his mind as he suddenly felt the pain of his mother's physical torture as if he were still a prisoner in her cell. To make matters worse, he also had a vision of those whom he would call his loved ones screaming as they were sucked into the same pit he was in. The utter look of terror on Nekohana's, Borof's, Fukurokuju's and Hyouma's faces was enough to break his focus.
"Does power satisfy you if you cannot use it to protect those you love? Are you prepared to face the Abyss's true terror?"
The darkness around him began to twist and turn. A gray light filled the area as he saw what resembled a horned dragon's head with sharp hangs and many eyes. Despite having seen the creature for the very first time, Shishima felt as if he had known it for a long time. The aloof, cold and uncaring expression it bore was not unlike his own. Perhaps their similarities were greater than imagined.
"Witness the magnificence of the Abyss's incarnation - Zeron! This creature has existed since the dawn of time and will probably continue long after as well. Shishima, I cannot offer you power over the entirety of existence as All Over The World once did, but instead I offer you power over the very Abyss with which you've grown accustomed since infancy. Can you take it?"
That was not the question Shishima asked himself. Was he worthy of wielding such a power? He reached out a clawed hand and the dragon opened its mouth wide, seemingly resisting him, but in actuality it pulled the hand closer until the two collided. In that moment he felt it - the primordial void's coldness before any kind of plane of existence was created. Where All Over The World showed him countless galaxies filled with an unspeakable variety of worlds and lives that evolved and vanished across the span of millions of years, Zeron showed him the nothingness from which everything was born and in which everything ultimately returned. In that moment, he knew that he had been right all along in his philosophy - there was no meaning, it was merely a construct made up by sentient beings. Existence happened because of the chaos of random chance, existence and chaos were synonymous, and no matter what, it all culminated in nonexistence. And he, as someone who brought an end to countless existences, had been doing the Abyss's will. No, that was false, his will was the same as that of the very darkness which shaped him. A single pulse filled his body, the dragon was in agreement, it had accepted him.
"Wake up!" Fukurokuju's voice was demanding. Shishima opened his eyes a second time and found himself facing his mentor back in his meditation chambers, surrounded by images of the endless cosmos. "That went as well as I expected. Zeron's power is now yours. Look at your hands." In Shishima's clawed hands new cards had transpired. In the right one were five cards depicting an eerie cosmic ritual, while in the other were twelve odd cards with a white back. "You now hold the five cards which compose Zeron and twelve gacharange creatures. The latter belong to a new zone called the gacharange zone. Unlike the hyperspatial zone, this one requires exactly twelve cards, no more, no less. You may have at most two copies of each gacharange creature, and unlike psychic creatures or draghearts, you cannot choose which you bring in the battle zone. The gacharange zone is shuffled face down and you play the top card each time. As for Zeron's cards... I recommend you study them at your leisure, my prince."
"You say this is the power of the Abyss?" Shishima asked and received a nod. "Should I then work to become a god of the Abyss rather than a god of everything?"
"Renounce your obsession with All Over The World and then you will discover the true power that Zeron has to offer. That is all I can say for now."
No response came from Shishima, who simply hid the cards behind his wings walked out of the room into a perfectly normal bedchamber. Much to his surprise, Borof seemed to have been waiting for him while hanging from the edge of a mirror. Upon seeing his master, the small plushie flew to his eye level and cried out:
"Milord, you're finally back! It's been over a day since you went inside that room to do who knows what. We've all been worried!"
"There was no reason to be worried, you should know very well by now that this Shishima can handle himself," he nonchalantly replied while allowing his minion to land on his shoulder, after which he walked out into the hallway, intent on getting some fresh air. "What developments have I missed while I was away?"
"You won't believe it, sire, but in the span of a single day the Oni King has managed to gather a large army for you to command!" Shishima looked down at Borof with a surprised expression. "It is true, small groups of youkai kept appearing by the lake and we've now got a camp gathering for all these fantastical monsters! Hyouma and I have been working diligently to feed them, and trust me, it's not at all an easy task. Needless to say, they've all been waiting for you to come out and guide them!"
"So they see me as the harbinger of a better future?"
"Indeed they do, master! Isn't this exciting? We've got an entire army at our command! Imagine the kinds of terror we can wreak back on Earth once your mother is defeated and you've settled your scores in the Twilight Kingdom!"
"That will not be the case."
Shishima's aloof response disappointed Borof, whose sharp ears drooped limply. "But why not, milord? With such a great force by our side, surely we can have our payback against those mortals who-"
"These are weak, poor and downtrodden youkai who are viewing me as their last hope. If I were as lowly as my mother, I would direct their frustrations in the wrong place and have them be my aid in conquering Earth. But the likes of me do not need any special help in dealing with humans!" Shishima coldly interrupted his servant, offended at his remarks. Then he continued with a more reassuring tone, "Worry not, Borof, your service will suffice when it comes to those pathetic mortals. But today I will do what I should've done many centuries ago and act as a true king."
"A true king, you say? This will be interesting to see."
Upon opening the mansion's entrance doors, they were greeted with the sight of a diverse gathering of youkai commoners from all regions, their groups huddled around campfires and tents as the busied Hyouma wandered around with trays of food. Their numbers must have been in the thousands and there was no doubt that more may have gathered outside of the cave as well. The Oni King immediately walked up to the fiendish duo and formally spoke:
"Prince Shishima, I, Akaga, the great Oni King, have made the great effort of gathering this army from each corner of the Twilight Kingdom specifically for you. Be aware that despite your reputation, we all still wish to follow you in your quest for the throne which by all means should have become rightfully yours after your father's passing. Know that each youkai here has grown disillusioned from your mother's poor reign for the past millennia and wishes for you to fight not only to right the great injustice which you've suffered, but also to break this corrupt system which the current monarch has nurtured at the expense of everyone. We are all ready to pledge allegiance to you, we plead that you now give us a reason to!"
"Nice speech there, old friend. Don't worry, I've got this," Shishima whispered to the Oni King and then descended the mansion's stairs, looking down at the gathering imposingly. He cleared his throat, and with a booming voice he declared, "Youkai of the Twilight Kingdom, by all means I am not a perfect leader." Borof was about to interject at this notion, but was immediately silenced by a mental order from his master. "I am flawed, just like every youkai you encounter in your daily lives. I have made plenty of mistakes to which I owe up - my temper is short, I openly enjoy torturing sentient beings regardless of race, and yes, like most daiyoukai I also view myself as superior to everyone around me. I cannot promise you that our realm will become a utopia upon my victory, but what I can promise is that, despite my own narcissistic views, I will put an end to the discriminating classism that my fellow daiyoukai have imposed upon our society! No longer will one's genes or inherited wealth be a criteria for having a good life when our lifespans are eternal! The Twilight Kingdom I advocate for is one where we all work for our position in society, where even the lowest of us will have a chance for a decent existence. So join me, and together let us break the shackles that Koushishi has placed on us all so that the Twilight Kingdom we dream of will become a reality!"
When Shishima finished his speech, the entire crowd erupted into cheers and applause, chants praising his name and toasts being had in his honor. Hyouma had never seen commoners be so passionate before, it seemed that the rousing discourse which her soon-to-be husband had given was enough to stir a flame in their hearts. Perhaps there was more to royalty than being privileged, backstabbing one's way to the top and working tirelessly to maintain power. Perhaps sometimes even royals had to step down from their pedestals and fraternize with the commoners whose labors maintained the kingdom. Perhaps she should have been humbled by such an approach, but instead she realized that words had more power over the masses when used correctly. If she wanted to reign by Shishima's side, she had to learn what would best sway the majority's opinion in her favor.
"Spoken like a true king indeed. I hope you will live up to your father's legacy, my prince," the Oni King said while walking with Shishima back into the mansion. Once behind closed doors, he pulled out a piece of paper and offered it with a worried expression on his face. "I am deeply sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I think you should read this..."
Curious, Shishima unwrapped the paper and inspected its contents.
To the Oni King,
It is no secret that the Twilight Kingdom has been suffering greatly. The main cause for said suffering is the filth that uncivilized youkai bring with their mere existence. Queen Koushishi in her immeasurable generosity has kept a closed eye to the vandalism that your race has caused over the past centuries. Our government keeps telling you that rights and privileges are not for savages such as the oni who dare raid villages and steal treasures from those who would be considered their kin.
I will confess right now, I feel no sense of kinship with you or anyone else from your tribe. In fact, I openly despise lowlifes who do nothing but leech off our government and dare protest our utmost fair taxes and tributes! Which brings me to the main reason I am putting the effort of penning this letter to you... Akamaru, your beloved son, is in my hands. If you wish for him to return safe and unharmed to your village, then I have the following demands, none of them negotiable:
1) The cessation of all oni protests and acceptance of the taxes and tributes our government has imposed on your community.
2) The surrendering of all stolen treasures to the capital palace's main bank. This has to be done by you in person, so that the queen can properly trust your reign once again.
3) The revelation of all traitorous oni who dared support Prince Shishima in his treacherous revolution which we've thwarted months ago. They will all be punished accordingly after we properly assess the value of the damages they've caused.
4) A public statement held by yourself in which you renew your pledge of allegiance to the crown.
Unless these demands are met, you will never see Akamaru again. I suggest you come to your senses and do the right thing for our community as any good leader should. Your son's well-being is in line, after all.
Yours truly,
Senator Sazansho, minister of cultural arts and head of the sealing corps.
Shishima clenched his fist, tearing the letter with his claws. He looked the distraught father in the eye and decidedly said, "We'll save him, no matter what!"
"Despite the acrimony that he has caused you?" asked Fukurokuju as he walked in with Nekohana.
"That is something already settled. If there is anyone who will make Akamaru suffer, that will be me and nobody else!"
"I guess that's one way for you to show kindness," Nekohana remarked as she joined the nobles. "I can already read your face, Shishima. Today is the day, isn't it?" His only response was a silent nod. "Then, like before, I wish to be by your side until the very end."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Shishima smiled warmly at her and then turned to his mentor. "What about you, my mentor?"
"This is a battle I cannot join yet. I must remain behind and meditate on the upcoming future. But rest assured, when I will be needed the most, I will also be by your side!" Fukurokuju declared.
Decisions were made, dice were thrown, and with a single order, the newly-formed army was soon marching out of the cave and through the southeastern woods to claim their destiny. Leading the march was Shishima, who had both Nekohana and Hyouma by his left and right. Resting on his shoulder, Borof watched everything unfold with nothing but excitement. Crossing the woods and desert would take them half a day, having to brave the inhospitable nature around them and the violent sandstorm. Eventually their patience paid off and by dusk they found themselves inside the palace gardens. Due to their large numbers, their presence was easily made known by the local authorities.
A terrified devil servant barged in to the queen's bedroom, the small red fiend's cries waking the despot from her beauty sleep, "Your Highness, the capital palace is being attacked!"
"Shut your mouth, you despicable mongrel! How dare you disturb my rest?" the queen was quick to admonish him.
"I am deeply sorry for the intrusion, my liege!" the servant fell to his knees, his forehead touching the floor. "But the matter is gravely serious, I beg you to look outside!"
"This better be, else you will be banished into Hell's lowest depths," Koushishi threatened as she got up from her bed and lazily walked to the window. Great was her shock and surprise when she saw the gardens utterly flooded with youkai who were encroaching the capital palace. "What is the meaning of this?! These are not just rebellious oni, I see tanuki, yuki onna, succubi, even bee youkai among them!"
"The soldiers on patrol said they've all emerged from the desert and grouped in the gardens. What should be done?"
"Get out of my sight in this instant!" the angered Koushishi demanded and the devil ran out of the room. Immediately she opened two portals, one to General Rufu's tent and the other to Senator Sazansho's bedroom, catching both daiyoukai in the act with members of their harems. "What are you two doing? The palace is under attack and you're both wasting time indulging in pleasure?!" she growled at them through her fangs, both wolf and salamander pushing their partners away and rushing to dress up. "I don't have time for your excuses, you're immediately summoned to the palace! Rufu, I need you to call our entire army from the Dawn Kingdom's frontlines and regroup them with the rest of your soldiers here in an hour at most. Sazansho, you are to gather your sealing corps and prepare your strongest arcane magic. We're at war and I'll be damned if I'll allow my kingdom to fall due to your incompetence!" Koushishi closed both portals and tapped her claws against the brick wall, contemplating the sudden turn of events. "Shishima, this is your doing, isn't it? When I get my claws on you, you'll regret the day you chose to follow your father's teachings over mine!"
Down in the very gardens the queen was staring at, her son and the Oni King were both looking at a map of the capital palace and formulating an assault strategy. While they busied themselves, Hyouma walked up to Nekohana, who was caressing a tree's trunk and seemed to be focused on something else.
"Are you okay?" she asked, genuine concern in her voice.
"Yes, don't worry about me. I'm just trying to get the plants to help us in the fight. It's hard convincing them when Jubokko ordered them all to stand their ground and be concerned with their own safety," Nekohana confessed.
"I won't pretend to be an expert in plants, that is your field. But I wonder, if we showed signs of trying to protect them while in battle, would they be inclined to lend their aid?"
"Perhaps it could work. I keep communicating with them that we only want what's best for the entire kingdom, including its vegetation, but they're ignoring my pleas."
A hand covered in black fur landed on Nekohana's shoulder and she turned to Hyouma who gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'm sure your powers would be enough regardless."
That attitude coming from a daiyoukai she viewed as aloof and cold took her by surprise. She nodded and smiled back. "Thank you, Hyouma."
Eventually Shishima's shouted order came, which prepared the entire army, "The day of reckoning has come! Let us reclaim that which was taken from us! Charge!"
With wild battle cries, the demonic warriors all charged ahead, surrounding the enormity of the capital palace at a point wherein the guards standing at each entrance were vehemently outnumbered. Weapons clashed, magic attacks ensued, bodies began to disintegrate on the field. The gates opened, allowing dozens of soldiers to rush in and support their comrades. The authorities tried forming a defensive line that would push the assaulting forces back into the gardens, but that easily broke when the commoners combined their various spells together or downright overpowered them physically. Whatever resistance was formed had been a few feet away from each entrance and fortune was not in their favor.
The tides began to turn by the time night had properly settled in, for that was when General Rufu descended from the skies with the remainder of his army numbering a few thousand soldiers. The majorly inu youkai rejoined their comrades and provided enough muscle to finally begin pushing back against the invaders. By the time they had established their defenses by the first treeline, Sazansho and his sealing corps appeared at the balcony of a higher level and used their powers to create a barrier made of blue light which surrounded the palace and its nearby area. A few oni and incubi tried breaking it with their kanabos and claws, but to no avail.
"Aha-ahahaha, I do hope you don't mind us being the welcoming committee!" Sazansho sarcastically saluted the rebels. "You see, my men and I can control what attack goes through our barrier, so I am certain you won't mind our attacks not being affected by it, right?"
"You heard him, soldiers! Sheathe your weapons and focus on magic attacks solely!" General Rufu ordered while taking off his leather glove and firing magic claw attacks which, as promised, went through the barrier and burned the interlopers.
With new battle lines drawn, the casualties began to shift more and more towards Shishima's side. To make matters worse, Sazansho began spitting torrents upon torrents of blue fire upon them, canceling their magic and sapping away as much body energy as he could. However, the same flames harmed the surrounding plants, as their nourishing energy was sapped away and their leaves, flowers and even branches began to dry away. Nekohana was quick to notice this as she once more laid her hands on a tree's trunk and pleaded with her kin to join the battle.
"This situation is not good!" the Oni King reported as he rushed by Shishima's side. "If we continue like this, our own soldiers will die in vain."
"I know, that's what they're hoping for," Shishima replied while regarding Sazansho on the balcony who was clearly enjoying himself. "But even an arrogant fool like Sazansho is smart enough to know that his barrier cannot hold me away forever. They're just hoping to dwindle our numbers so that Rufu's forces will have an easier time fighting us."
"Then what do you suggest? We have to take immediate action before the number of our casualties increases."
"There will come a point when they will grow just slightly tired and pause to catch their breath. Once most of them stop their attacks, that's when you and I will strike that barrier with absolutely everything we've got. That should be enough to break the concentration of Sazansho and those sealing corps."
While they debated their next move, Nekohana finally received an answer from Jubokko. It was nothing short of begrudging, but at the same time it was the answer she sought, "Don't think I am lending you my aid because I care about your cause. Those fools are harming our plants, that is the only reason I am doing this!" What followed was a small earthquake which shook the entire palace. Roots came out of the ground and tied themselves around General Rufu's feet. Others stabbed his soldiers, dragging them deep below or sucking their blood in front of everyone. Upstairs, Sazansho and his sealing corps struggled to remain on their feet. This distraction was exactly what the rebellious forces needed.
"Now!" Shishima shouted and both he and the Oni King jumped high in the air, heading straight into the barrier.
The former focused all of his physical might into his right fist. The latter focused his own physical might in both of his arms as he raised his kanabo. The combined force of the punch and strike shook the entire barrier, causing a terrible gonging noise to echo in the ears of everyone inside of it. Before Sazansho realized what had happened, the barrier had shattered right before his eyes and then the enemy army poured towards the palace even more rabidly than before. As he was about to spit more blue fire on the attackers, he had the shock of seeing countless arrows and stones being thrown in the direction of his balcony.
"Well, that's about all the courage I can muster. Farewell!" Sazansho then ran back into the safety of the palace, his sealing corps following suit.
As they advanced, Hyouma used her metal claws to fight against the swordsmen while Nekohana directed all nearby plants to stab anyone who dared stand in the way of her allies. Angered by the turn of events, General Rufu snarled like a rabid canine and pulled out his katana which he used to cut away the roots that tied his feet. While most of his soldiers either ran for safety or died bravely on the battlefield, he ran ahead and cut down whoever dared stand in his way, friend or foe no longer existing in his mind while in that frenzied state. Soon the battle evolved to a point where all of the rebellious forces had the capital palace firmly surrounded, yet none dared to approach any of its entrances, lest the mighty general slaughter them ferociously.
"I would be careful with him if I were you," the Oni King advised Shishima as they all regarded the unhinged general who proudly stood by the main entrance ensuring that nobody would dare set foot under his watch. "His reputation as the strongest physical fighter in the Twilight Kingdom is not without merit. Back in the war against Purgatory I was witness to him murdering over a thousand angels in hand-to-hand combat all on his own. When he is in this blood-hungry mood, it's best to approach him with caution."
"Keh, I am unimpressed by an angry puppy. I've waited centuries to give this pompous mutt a piece of my mind." Shishima cracked his knuckles and prepared to engage the wolf in combat, when he had the surprise of his lover stepping in front of him, eyeing the enemy fiercely.
"Shishima, you need to preserve your strength for facing your mother. I will be the one who deals with Rufu," Nekohana decidedly spoke.
Before he could attempt to argue with her, he read her emotions and realized what her true intentions were. General Rufu was the one who lusted after her and had sought every opportunity to make her his bride. If she were to fully make peace with the Twilight Kingdom and move past it, she had to face the source of her previous fears.
"I will be watching," Shishima gave his silent agreement.
Nekohana bravely walked towards the imposing Rufu, her hands ready to give an attack order to her plant comrades, should the situation arise. He regarded her and seemingly began to calm down upon recognizing her soft face, mane of perfumed flowers and curvy body. A smirk revealed his yellowed crooked fangs as lustful thoughts filled his mind upon seeing the young maiden of his dreams.
"My dearest Nekohana, at last we meet again!" he cordially saluted after wiping the foam from his lips. "I've been looking all over for you since the night of Purgatory's fall. I began losing hope that you may have survived the prince's rampage back then, but when I heard of what happened in the senate a few months ago, you don't know how overjoyed I was to hear that you were still alive after all this time."
"I am not 'your dearest', you perverted wolf!" she snapped back at him. "Ever since you first set foot into my life, you've done nothing but make me miserable!"
"I made you miserable?! Last I recall, you were a nobody, struggling in poverty until your father arranged for us to be married. If you were smart, you would have accepted that as your lot in life and then you would have enjoyed the life of a princess among us daiyoukai! But what did you do instead? You sucked up to Shishima of all people and had him protect you, but even the former prince could only do so much."
"Rufu, what makes you think that I would love someone who can't even respect my personal space?!"
"Oh but my dear, it's not your love that I need." He reached into the pocket of his military pants. "I just want you to crave me to the point where I am the only thing you live for! Then the entire kingdom will see that I hold the hand of the fairest of its females!" He took out his deck which glowed with a bright green aura. "I challenge you to a duel, perhaps that way you will see my truth."
"I accept your challenge." Nekohana was quick to take out her own deck from her flower mane. "If I win, you will grant us access into the capital palace!"
"But if I win, you will unconditionally surrender yourself to me and marry into my harem!" the general retorted and then two dueling tables arose from the ground between them. Five blue rectangular shields then appeared above each of them, thus marking the beginning of their duel.
"I summon Hakiri, Leafcry Faerie." A Snow Faerie with black hair donning a blue kimono and red dress and holding a teapot appeared by Rufu's side.
"I charge mana and end the turn," Nekohana passed.
"I summon Shinobu, Boost Chain." A purple-haired Snow Faerie dressed in a pink ninja suit appeared next to the other one. "Hakiri, attack and with Shinobu's Abarechain I ramp Punchfox, Knuckle Chain. Then with Hakiri's effect I put Gorio Bugori, Gorira King from my hand into the battle zone!" An orange gorilla donning silvery armor with two golden chains wrapped around his fists that were double the size of his body appeared in the middle of the battle zone and gave a loud battle cry. "Hakiri, break her shield!"
"He already brought out his King Master Card..." Nekohana whispered to herself, then she snapped out of it as her turn began. "I cast Beginning of the End." Belladonna, Demon Faerie, Jukushite Inai Zombiebanana and Gigandydanos, Big Tree King went from the top of her deck into her graveyard. "I'll recover nothing, turn end."
"I cast Imen's Sign and bring out Hayabusatwin, Earth Chain." A pair of falcon twins appeared, one blue and the other red, both wielding a golden gauntlet that was tied to the other by a golden chain. "Gorio Bugori, attack and Abarechain! Shinobu ramps another card, Hayabusatwin brings Punchfox, Knuckle Chain from my mana zone into the battle zone and Gorio Bugori doubles his power! Double break her shields!" The gorilla rushed ahead and shattered two shields with his mighty fists.
"Shield trigger, I summon Tsuruhashi Doji." A small blue oni wielding a pickaxe appeared and caused three more cards from the top of Nekohana's deck to fall into her graveyard - Rymer Druid, Trap Giant and Brachiodrange. "Again, I'll recover nothing."
"That little bugger is a slayer who also becomes a blocker once Onitime is activated. Well, I won't let you interfere with my perfect beatdown - Hayabusatwin has mach fighter and I attack Tsuruhashi Doji! Gorio Bugori allows me to activate Abarechain once again, so Shinobu ramps Ougon! Bouken MAX and Hayabusatwin brings out Namakeira, Alive Chain from my mana zone!" A sloth in a white gi appeared and lazily collapsed on the ground, holding two golden chains in his hands as the falcon twins both jumped at the small blue oni, the creatures vanishing in an explosion. "Hakiri, break her shield! Shinobu, break her final shield!" The two Snow Faeries paired up and did a small dance as they approached the opponent, after which they jumped in the air and both kicked the remaining shields, shattering them into pieces. "There, your defenses are all for naught now! There is no way you can win this match, my dearest Nekohana!"
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you - shield trigger, I summon Spiner, Shock Doctor! With his effect, I give -9000 to Namakeira!" A caped mad doctor Mafi Gang appeared and shoved his electric rods into the sloth, zapping the creature until it disintegrated. "Then Super Shield Trigger, I can revive any number of creatures which cost 4 or less, so I shall revive Belladonna, Demon Faerie and Rymer Druid!" Two more creatures appeared - a small pink-haired plush faerie and a green-skinned humanoid who was wearing an orange loincloth, a necklace with painted eyes, golden bracelets and earrings and a witch hat, and wielding a wooden staff with a skull on its top. "I destroy Belladonna and put the top card of my deck into my mana zone. Then with Rymer Druid's effect, I check the top four cards of my deck, add one to my mana zone and the other three into my graveyard." Assault, Onifuda Kingdom and Dakliedrange went into her mana zone, while Domanmodrange, Ganveedrange and Rymer Lancer went into her graveyard.
"Just a minor setback," Rufu dismissively replied. "I end my turn and draw a card from Punchfox's effect."
"Since I have six creatures or more in my graveyard, Gravity Zero, I summon Crossfire, Millionaire for free! Then since I have nine creatures in my graveyard, I summon 5000GT, Riot by paying 3 mana! When 5000GT is put into the battle zone, all creatures with power 5000 or less are destroyed!" A humanoid with dragon features wearing an elegant mechanical suit with two red blades attached to his wrists appeared in the battle zone, his long white hair flowing behind, followed by a winged red-skinned humanoid with dragon features, donning a formal black suit with a blue tie and its left arm replaced with a giant buzz saw and a sharp blade. The latter of the two Fire Outrages rushed ahead and after crushing Spiner into pieces, he used his blades to hack away all of the opposing creatures, general Rufu staring in shock at his empty battlefield. "And while 5000GT is in the battle zone, we cannot summon any creatures which have 5000 power or less!"
"How dare you, wench..." he murmured through grit fangs.
"Fushigiverse, I send Crossfire to my mana zone and revive Domanmodrange with 3 mana." The weaker humanoid was enveloped in a green aura and vanished, then a bipedal elephant made of purple stone and with two large cherry trees growing on its shoulders arose in the battle zone. "I'll end here."
"Do you think you're now in control because you've managed to lock most of my deck? Well, I've got some bad news for you, darling, because I have ways around it - I cast Ougon! Bouken MAX and send 5000GT to your shields face up!" A floating wrestler's belt appeared and a golden beam was fired from it upon the humanoid, making him vanish as his owner gained a new shield. "Next turn I will be able to summon my creatures once again and that shield will not be broken until my victory is fully assured!"
Nekohana did not seem the least bit intimidated by her current predicament. As she began her turn, she said, "Domanmodrange allows me to summon a creature from my mana zone per turn. I summon Obuza 08, Demon Dragon Armored with one mana." A tall mechanical creature covered in spikes and chains appeared, a cannon sticking out of its mouth and a dragon's skull on its head. "Since I played another creature, Domanmodrange will make you discard that last card from your hand." Her opponent bitterly spat as he lost Gorio Bugori, Gorira King. "Fushigiverse, I send Obuza back to my mana zone and revive Gigandydanos, Big Tree King for 5 mana!" A giant tree creature arose from the ground out on its four legs, casting its shadow upon all present. Its head was shaped like that of a moose, a small purple halo floating between its horns, a multitude of small birds flying around its branches, its wooden face shaped like a skull out of which it exhaled an eerie purple smoke. "All your creatures weaker than Gigandydanos's 50000 power can't attack me. This is the power of the Fushigi Kingdom!"
The general drew his next card and frowned. "I cast How about a cup of tea? and gain a new shield." At that point he had to rely on his shield triggers and hope that he would receive another removal card to get rid of his opponent's finisher.
"Gravity Zero - I summon Crossfire, Millionaire again. Fushigiverse, I send Rymer Druid to my mana zone and revive Brachiodrange for 9 mana." The humanoid with dragon features and an elegant mechanical suit reappeared, followed by a slender bipedal dragon whose limbs and tail were leafed tree branches, its body decorated with precious sapphires. "Gigandydanos, world break!" The tree creature spat a purple toxic smoke upon all opposing shields, shattering them in an instant.
"Shield trigger, I cast Imen's Sign and bring out Hayabusatwin, Earth Chain to force battle your Crossfire!" The falcon twins reappeared and dashed right at the elegant dragon humanoid, hacking him with their talons.
"It's over, Rufu - Domanmodrange, todomeda!"
"Never! Ninja Strike 4, I summon Hayabusamaru, Lightfang Ninja to block the attack!"
"That will not happen!" Nekohana interjected. "Brachiodrange cancels your enter the battle zone effects, so Hayabusamaru cannot grant blocker to anything!"
The small plane-shaped creature descended and attempted to stand in the way of the purple stone elephant who merely swatted it as if it were a fly and heavily punched General Rufu, knocking him into the castle's brick wall, causing a deep dent into it.
The crowd erupted into cheers once the duel concluded. The rebels all praised Nekohana's name and much to their shock, dozens of inu youkai tossed their weapons away and ran to join their cause, some spitting on their former leader. It did not take long for infighting to begin among the Twilight Kingdom's military once an example was set that even the strongest of daiyoukai could be toppled. Nekohana turned to look at Shishima, who while keeping an aloof and serious appearance, he still cracked a little smile to express pride in her great achievement. At last, the past was behind her and soon she would have a future with her one true love.
"You're not going anywhere, Nekohana!" a familiar growl echoed from behind and great was their shock when they saw General Rufu jump from the wall, taking off his leather glove and preparing a magic claw attack to knock his prey unconscious.
Just as they were about to collide, Nekohana turned around and used her own sharp claws to lop off his left hand and stop his attack. She then stepped aside and allowed him to crash headfirst into the muddy ground. Struggling to ignore the pain, he got on his fours and turned to attack her again. Suddenly he was apprehended by none other than Shishima. The last thing he saw were the prince's claws which gouged out his remaining eye, rendering him fully blind. The shock of both attacks was enough to make the general faint at last.
Nekohana and Shishima looked at each other in that solemn moment. From a single gaze she thanked him for helping her settle her last grudge and he instead vowed to always be by her side whenever needed. Had the circumstances been different, they perhaps would have embraced and spoken those words they could only communicate through facial expressions while in public. But deep inside they both knew that the true battle had only begun and there was still a lot of work to be done. Turning their attention to the opened gates, they led the march into the palace.