Disclaimer: I do not own YGO 5ds.
A/N: This used to be part of the last chapter, but the duel ran a little long. Kalin Kessler uses an Infernity deck, and a good hand could last 5 minutes. I separated this into turns, please let me know if it's still confusing or if you see any bugs. This chapter's mostly just the duel, and a murder attempt.
Inside the factory was just large enough for a duel arena, I stood at one end of the room while Cyril stood shakily at the other, holding Kalin's deck. The poor kid was pale as a ghost, and shaking so much I was afraid he'd pass out half way through the duel. Kalin stood a few steps behind, just close enough to see Cyril's hand.
"Let's duel," Kalin and I said together, Cyril gritted his teeth together to keep them from clattering.
A ring of green flames, like those signaling the appearance of Disney villains, surrounded us.
Oh fudge.
The simple summary of a Shadow Duel is whoever loses, dies. And I'm about to duel a main character and his Infernity deck using a Chaos deck. To put things into perspective, Chaos decks were possible back in the original series, Infernity decks didn't appear till 5Ds and was still competitive in the XYZ era. Had I prepared for a Shadow Duel, I would have at least borrowed Galen's Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, or Vincent's Soul Release (banished up to 5 monsters from opponent grave) and made a Dragon-Chaos or Monarch-Chaos deck. But no, I thought this was a duel for a small factory in an abandoned corner of the Satellite, so I'm using a deck that no lives should depend on.
I did have Black Luster Soldier- Envoy of the Beginning (3000/2500) which I won from Chaos last night, but that's essentially my only trump card.
"Sorry," I mouthed to Cyril. Had I known it was going to be like this, I wouldn't have involved him.
"Why don't you go first," Kalin said casually, "it might let you survive a little longer."
Kalin did admit to me later that he honestly thought dueling using somebody else would prevent the initiation of a Shadow Duel.
"Thanks," I didn't turn down the offer. My deck didn't have as much draw power as I would have liked, so the extra card from drawing first really would help. Plus, this was a Shadow duel where the loser dies! I was surprised I could even talk! Sure, when the Dark Signer arc ends, all souls return to their bodies, but that's 6 months from now! By then, half my flesh would have rotted off. I'm pretty sure as soon as the soul returns to my body, it would leave again.*
So it's me or him. So if Kalin was going to give me an advantage, I'll take it. It's too bad I probably won't get a chance to return the favor.
Turn 1, Yuki's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:4000
"I place one monster face-down, and two cards in the spell/trap card zone, that ends my turn." I looked with some relief at my hand. I didn't have great cards, I didn't own many great cards, but I added many cards into my deck to specifically target Kalin's deck, looks like it's going to pay off.
"There's no need for you anymore," Kalin took back his own deck, then roughly shoved Cyril aside. The whitehead almost hit the flames, thankfully he was smart enough to drop to the ground so he didn't cross the edge of the circle.
"I, I want to join the duel," The Cyril said shakily. He had his own duel disk of course, and always keeps his deck on his person as was typical of the Satellite."
"If I lose," I assured him, "you can continue the duel for me." Notice how I said 'continue the duel', rather than 'start another duel'. It was unfair to Kalin of course, but that really wasn't a concern for me at the moment. If somebody doesn't defeat the ex-leader of the Enforcers and current Dark Signer, I was going to die.
"Why not?" Kalin laughed, obviously understanding my implications, "two on one or one after the other, I'll send both of you to the Netherworld either way." I noticed the darkness in his eyes beginning to invade his pupils, black specks against the golden background gave his eyes an animalistic allure.
Sadly, that also meant he was going crazier.
Turn 2, Kalin's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:4000
"I summon," Kalin smiled maliciously, "Infernity Archfiend (lv4, 1800/600), the ultimate soldier of darkness, in attack mode. Go my fiend, destroy his monster!"
My Nova Summoner (1400/800) was destroyed.
"My monster's special ability allows me to special summon another light attribute monster with 1500 attack or less onto the field when it's destroyed, so I'll bring forth a second Nova Summoner, in defense position." I said loudly to boost my own confidence.
"That wouldn't be enough to save you, I'm afraid." Kalin cackled. "I place three cards face down and end my turn."
Turn 3, Yuki's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:4000
That's odd. Most card effects in Infernity decks only work in the duelist had nothing in their hands, he ended his turn with two. Maybe I got lucky and he had a bad draw? Somehow I doubted that.
I'll do my best, and see what he has up his sleeve. I drew.
"I activate," Kalin announced happily in the shrill high note to which I had grown accustomed, "my trap card, Infernity Inferno, this card lets me discard up to two monsters from my deck to the graveyard, as long as I also discard the same number of monsters from my hand to the graveyard. So, I discard Infernity Necromancer (lv3, 0/2000) and Infernity General (lv7, 2700/1500) from my deck into the graveyard, and discard Infernity Avenger (lv1, tuner, 0/0) and Infernity Beetle (lv2, tuner, 1200/0) from my hand."
Infernities are known for using card effects to special summon numerous monsters from the graveyard, depending on what his facedown cards are, there're half a dozen ways he could deal 4000+ damage next turn.
"I summon, Tour Guide of the Underworld (lv3, 1000/400), and use her special effect to special summon another level 3 fiend to the field, Dark Resonator (lv3, tuner,1300/800). Now, I tune my two level 3 monsters to special summon, Celestrial Wolf Lord, Blue Sirius (lv6, 2400/2500), in attack mode."
"Activate trap," Kalin flipped over one of his two remaining facedown cards, Black Horn of Heaven, which negates the special summon and destroys your summoned monster."
I gnawed on my lips. I should have seen that one coming. Being forced to lay my life on the line for a card game is really getting to me. I'm too young to die (I used to say that I was too pretty to die, but now with radioactive hair that looked like I cut it myself with a sharp rock and unwashed clothes I also slept in, I thought I'd change that motto a little).
"I play, Mystical Space Typhoon, this spell allows me to destroy one spell or trap card on your side of the field." I announced. That's why I was so upset over the loss of my synchro monster, I could've saved him it I played my hand properly.
His remaining facedown card was Infernity Barrier.
Worth it, I hid a smirk. I thought that would be one of his facedown traps, it's arguably the most important trap in an Infernity Deck, able to negate any card effect as long as there was an attack position Infernity monster on his side of the field.
Turn 4, Kalin's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:4000
"Enjoyed your turn? It's going to be your last" Kalin cackled, "I think I'll start with this," he placed the card he just drew onto the field, "Infernity Launcher. I send this card to my graveyard, in exchange, I can bring two Infernity monsters back onto the field. Come back to me, Infernity Necromancer (lv3, 0/2000) and Infernity Beetle (lv2, tuner, 1200/0)!"
Crap.
Infernity Necromancer can special summon another monster to the field, Infernity Beetle can tribute itself and special summon two more copies of itself from the deck, making five monsters and a ridiculous number of possible synchro summons.
"In that case," I forced a broad smile, "I activate my facedown trap, Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror. This continuous trap negates the effect of all dark-attribute monsters, on the field or in the graveyard." It might have been better if I activated this only when he activated a monster effect, but I was too nervous to wait. I needed to shut down Kalin's deck now.
The Chaos deck I use contains a combination of light and dark monsters, which means half of my monsters would have their effects negated as well, seriously slowing it down. But all Infernity monsters are dark attribute, and an Infernity deck relies much more strongly on monster effects. So while my deck is hampered, his deck is crippled.
Remember, you don't have to be good, you just have to suck less than your opponent.
Cyril had taken up a position behind Kalin, in what I can only assume to be an attempt to look at Kalin's cards. Of course, that doesn't work so well when Kalin maintains an empty hand. He noticed Kalin's preparations for Synchro summoning also, and snuck up quietly behind Kalin, raising his own duel disk, with its sharp edges aimed at Kalin's head.
"No!" I blurted out, Cyril paused, looking at me curiously, his duel disk still hovering over Kalin's head.
Kalin paused also, for a moment looking less insane, "It's too late to stop now! Your trap is clever, Yuki, but it's not nearly enough. Prepare for your doom."
The scene was almost comical. I would have laughed if I wasn't part of it.
"… No… " I tried to cover up my outburst while frantically signaling for Cyril to stop his murder attempt without making Kalin too suspicious. It might also have looked like nervous eye twitches. "No! I won't let you win that easily. I will defeat you. We're bringing hope to the Satellite and I'm not going to let you ruin that." Nice save, right? Despite the urgency of the situation, it took some effort to keep the grin off my face.
Cyril took the hint and backed off, and I can breathe again. Sure, Kalin has his problems, but he doesn't deserve to die! And a fractured skull isn't the 'can be magically restored' kind of death.
"I tune my level 2 Infernity Beetle, with my level 4 Infernity Archfiend. Beyond good and evil lies the eternal force, the power of life, the spirit of the warrior. Come forth, Goyo Guardian (lv6, 2800/2000). Destroy her Nova Summoner."
"Using my Nova Summoner's effect, I special summon my third Nova Summoner to my side of the field."
"When Goyo Guardian destroys a monster, he takes control of that monster and bring it onto my side of the field in defense position." Kalin informed me haughtily. Goyo Guardian being forbidden in my reality, I had forgotten about that.
Sure enough, Kalin's Synchro warrior released chains from its hand, and grabbed my Nova Summoner out of my grave onto his field, towering over my pathetic-looking fairy, who was really just a floating wreath of flower with wings. The contrast was so drastic Cyril began to sneak up on Kalin again, only stopped by frantic shaking of my head.
"Just needed to clear my head," I explained sheepishly.
Turn 5, Yuki's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:4000
"I switch my Nova Summoner to attack mode, and equip to him United We Stand, which adds 800 to my monster's attack points for every monster on my field." Now that Kalin had no more traps on his field, I can execute this strategy. "Next, I'll activate my final facedown card, Scapegoat, which lets me special summon 4 scapegoat tokens, each giving my fairy another 800 attack points, bringing my monster's attack to 5400! Now, Nova Summoner, destroy Goya Guardian."
While 2800 attack is not bad for an lv6 synchro monster, Goyo Guardian was completely obliterated and Kalin's LP dropped to 1400.
"I'll place two cards facedown and end my turn." I said proudly, feeling confident for the first time that I can survive through this.
Turn 6, Kalin's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:1400
I thought I saw something flash through Kalin's deck, when I looked again, it was gone. I attributed it to nerves and exhaustion.
"I play this," Kalin smirked, I noticed the darkness occupying more and more of his eyes, "Mystical Space Typhoon, to destroy your Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror.
Oops.
"Next, I use Infernity Necromancer's effect to special summon Infernity Beetle from my graveyard. Infernity Beetle's special ability allows me to tribute it and summon two more Infernity Beetles from my deck. Using one of my two level 2 tuner Infernity Beetle, my level 3 Infernity Necromancer, and your level 4 Nova Summoner, I special summon Mist Wurm (lv9, 2500/2500) in attack mode. When Mist Wurm is synchro summoned, I get to return three cards from your side of the field to your hand, I think I'll remove both of your facedown traps, and your Nova Summoner."
I paused and did not activate Bottomless Trap Hole on my field. With 4 Scapegoats on the field, I should be able to last till next turn. It would be a waste to waste the trap on Mist Wurm, which doesn't have any effects except when summoned. Two trap cards and my Nova Summoner is added back to my hand, the equip spell United We Stand is sent to the graveyard.
"I banish Archfiend General from my graveyard," Kalin said, "to special summon Infernity Necromancer and Infernity Beetle again, with their effects negated. I tune my level 3 Infernity Necromancer with my level 2 tuner monster Infernity Beetle. Life is fleeting, light is temporary, in the end, only darkness shall remain. Come forth, Ally of Justice Castor (lv5, 2200/1200)."
The tiny colorful fuzz balls on my field trembled in fear, being stared down by three monsters and their insane master.
"Attack!" Kalin commanded. I had no traps on my side of the field, so three scapegoat tokens were destroyed.
Turn 7, Yuki's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:1400
Faced with two seemingly unbeatable monsters on my opponent's side (plus an Infernity Beetle), I didn't feel nearly as distraught as I had expected. This was bound to happen, Infernity decks are known for summoning up mass numbers of monsters in a single turn. I was prepared, more or less.
I drew again, now with 4 cards in my hand and nothing on my field. I had wished fervently for Black Luster Soldier, Envoy of the Beginning, the trump card in a Chaos deck, D.D. Warrior Lady (lv4, light, 1500/1600) was the card added to my hand, that'll help I guess.
"I summon Nova Summoner, in attack mode." I decided, "And use him to attack your Infernity Beetle,"
Kalin's insect was vanquished, leaving him two hundred life points lower.
"Next, I place two cards face-down and end my turn," I announced.
In my reality, I wouldn't do that for fear of another Myst Wurm, which can return all three cards on my field to my hand. But in this world, duelists rarely kept more than one copy of a powerful card in their deck (mostly because they can't find another copy).
Turn 8, Kalin's turn. Yuki: 4000, Kalin:1100
Kalin drew again and revealed the card to me.
"When I draw Infernity Archfiend when I have no other card in my hand, I can special summon it and add one Infernity card from my deck to my hand, I'll add a second copy of Infernity Launcher. By activating Infernity Launcher, I special summon Infernity Necromancer (lv3) and Infernity Mirage (lv1, tuner, 0/0) to the field."
That makes three Infernity monsters and two Synchro monsters, filling up all five monster slots on his side of the field
"Now, I tune lv3 Infernity Necromancer, Lv4 Infernity Archfiend and Lv1 Infernity Avenger. Through a path of fire and destruction, comes the ultimate darkness, the beast of magic and might. I synchro summon, Ogre Void Dragon (lv8, 3000/3000)."
"I activate Bottomless Trap Hole," I flipped over one of my two trap cards I laid down on the first turn.
"With my dragon's special ability, I negate your trap." Kalin replied proudly as my trap barely materialized before it was shattered by dragon fire.
I knew that of course, but his monster's effect can only be used once per turn.
"This is the end!" Kalin sneered, Together, my monsters have over 8000 attack, and all you have is that measly fairy. Its special ability wouldn't save you this time, you see, my Ally of Justice Castor has a special ability too. If a monster that battles this minion of darkness isn't dark attribute , that monster is automatically destroyed by card effect. And I believe the effect of your fairy is only activated if it's destroyed by battle."
"Now, Ally of Justice Castor, destroy his fairy!" Kalin ordered.
If he were to succeed, his remaining two Synchro monsters would be able to wipe me out this turn. Thankfully, or rather thanks to him, I was prepared.
"I activate my trap," I smirked a little guiltily, "Dimensional Prison." I didn't explain how it would banish the attacking monster, after all, he gave it to me just a day ago.
For the first time since I saw him, Kalin's face froze. It wasn't quite anger or resentment or regret, not quite lifeless yet, more of a 'resigned to being screwed by life' look. Yes, that's the card that was key in his destruction, even though he didn't know it yet.
"Ogre Void Dragon, destroy his fairy," Kalin ordered.
My fairy was obliterated in a blaze of dragon fire, dealing me 1600 damage in the process.
"I activate my monster's special ability. When he's destroyed, I can special summon another light fairy from my deck, so I'll summon Shining Angel (lv4, 1400/800), in defense position!"
I had had a vague plan ever since after my first attack, now it's really beginning to solidify.
"No matter how many pathetically weak monsters you send onto the field, I'll destroy them one by one. Myst Wurm, destroy her fairy! There is no hope for you, only destruction and loss." Kalin announced.
"As you know," I began, "Shining Angel's effect allows me to bring a light monster with 1500 attack or less from my deck onto the field, and this time, I'll choose Honest (lv4, 1200/1900)."
Kalin breathed out heavily, his bloodless complexion growing a little paler, he's obviously aware of the effect of Honest. This fairy can be discarded when your light-attribute monster battles an opponent monster, your monster would gain attack equal to the opponent monster's attack. In other words, he'd be dealt damage equal to the attack of the attacking monster.
But that's the disadvantage of having an empty hand, there was nothing more he could do.
Turn 9, Yuki's turn. Yuki: 2400, Kalin:1100
I drew again, it doesn't matter what I drew anymore, I could finish the duel right now.
"I activate Honest's special ability," I said slowly, "during my main phase, I can return this card from the field to my hand."
I scratched the back of my head, I could finish the duel right now. I had D.D. Warrior Lady already in my hand, using it to attack either of Kalin's two monsters would deal him 1500 damage and finish the duel.
Half an hour ago, when I found myself in a Shadow duel, I was prepared to do the worst. But it didn't feel right that the card he gave me out of sheer goodwill was instrumental to defeating him in a duel to the death. Or maybe I'm just wimping out now that I'm faced with the immediate decision of whether or not to kill somebody.
The same dilemma I faced now faces him. If his soul were to be absorbed by, whatever it is, his body would rot in the next six months, or at die of dehydration/starvation/bladder explosion. The point is, he's not going to make it to the end of the Dark Signer arc.
I don't want to kill him because he's vital to the plot, I told myself. Yeah, that's why. He's one of the important villains in the beginning of this series. Killing him would change the plot, thus destroying one of the few advantages I have. Plus, it would antagonize Yusei and attract Roman Goodwin's attention. Balancing the pros and cons, it's just not a rewarding decision.
If only there was another way... My eyes travelled to Cyril, still standing behind Kalin, watching the duel intently.
"You don't have another light monster in your hand!" Kalin laughed that now-characteristic shrill laugh of his, seeing my obvious consternation.
"I'm going to win this duel," I replied passionately, cleverly (or so I thought) evading his question, buying time while I try to catch Cyril's eyes. The whitehead immediately noticed it, and looked at me questioningly. I raised my left arm with my duel disk above my head, waving my fist above my head, "I will win this duel, Kalin. I trust in the Heart of the Cards, and I'm sure they will reward me with victory."
In my defense, it was the first line that came to mind.
Cyril nodded knowingly, aiming first the sharp edge at Kalin's head, then when I rotated my arm around frantically, he switched to the duller edge reluctantly.
And struck.
And completely missed.
Kalin, the 3-D rendition I thought was Kalin, disappeared. The real blue-haired duelist appeared less than a foot away, close enough to grab Cyril's arm and punch him hard in the stomach.
"You don't honestly think you could sneak something like that past me, did you?" Kalin taunted, holding a Cyril up by the front of his shirt with his left hand. I looked worriedly at the whitehaired teen, who had stopped struggling. "I told you I was a Dark Signer, I control the power of Darkness. I can see all! And I decide what you see, and what you don't see."
Right, Kalin's Dark Signer power was illusion. Forgot about that. His powers, as Kalin later shared after one too many drinks, allowed him to see everything around him, and control what everybody else sees around him, in a 10 meter radius, as long as there're no obstacles in the way.
"Now, let's see what we can do with your pathetic hand this turn, so I can finish this duel." Kalin waved his free left hand and a mirror appeared behind me, showing him the two cards in my hand. Kalin stared blankly, "the effect of Honest, do you know it?"
"Um… " I hesitated, not sure whether to tell the truth, "No?"
Not knowing what's going on but seeing Kalin's distraction as an opportunity, Cyril punched Kalin across the jaw, which caused the Dark Signer to bend over in pain, allowing Cyril to free his left hand and bash Kalin on the head with his duel disk. Kalin promptly collapsed on the floor unconscious. Whatever else his magic granted him, the ability to take a hit was not one of them.
"We did it!" Cyril said with a smile.
"Thanks," I smiled back as the green ring of flames surrounding the duel began to dissipate. I knew there was more than one way to win a duel.
* That's not what really happens when losing a Shadow duel, but I forgot when writing this chapter so Yuki forgot too. XD
A/N: A large number of problems in this series could be solved by bashing the right person on the head.
A/N 2: In case you don't remember, Dimensional Prison was the card Kalin gave Yuki in the second chapter. Btws, Kalin's not dead. I worry it might get comical how many times I might have to repeat that statement.
Regarding the duel:
I know Goyo Guardian is banned, but it made repeated appearances in the show, so I unbanned it.
Infernity decks is one of the few decks that was made more powerful when printed in reality (except for the associated synchro monsters of course), so I made Infernity Launcher semi-limited.
Infernity Archfiend's effect in the anime only allows it to add a Infernity card to the hand when it's special summoned by its own effect (rather than any special summon), that's why Infernity Necromancer revived Infernity Beetle instead.
There's actually a bug in the duel, but nobody's pointed it out yet, so I'm going to pretend it doesn't exist for now.