Don and Michelle faced off against the embodiment of Molag Bal, Saida. After a harrowing Duel Michelle passed out but gave Don the means to win, just as he called his attack he passed out, both Duelists are out for the count but who of them is still alive?
7. The Ritual.
Jack rushed to the main lobby when he reached the bottom floor he saw his friends Juliet and Leo, Leo was carrying an unconscious Michelle.
'Jack, you've gone too far in your leadership this time.' Leo grunted as he slowly carried Michelle towards the elevator.
'Where is Don?' Jack asked ignoring Leo's comment.
'He's still fighting, but he might be in a much worse condition than Michelle is.' Juliet replied.
'I'm not going to defend myself here Leo.' Jack then bluntly said: 'As the leader of The Blades I need to be a different person, you might not like it, neither do I.'
Leo stopped slowly he turned around: 'Then don't give those orders.' He said.
'I had no choice.' Jack replied: 'Most of us were already out, Ravin's hurt, Violet and Rini earned their private time, Rini is improving by the day but dying then being revived as a Dark Signer only to nearly die again she needs her rest. She wants to be with Violet and Violet feels the same way I won't deny them that, I have a lot of work since Jurgen died, needing to prepare for the ritual and I need to investigate the assaults of Sector Security, if I didn't have all that work I would have taken Saida on myself.' Jack spoke.
'So what about us?' Leo replied.
'Honestly? After what happened with Tamamo you two have become much more important to The Blades, in case of emergency you two are my last line of defense can't risk you to get hurt fighting a delusional embodiment.'
Juliet shook her head: 'I don't like the way you think as the leader of The Blades, but I guess it's the most sensible thing to do, honestly I think Jurgen would have made the same call.' Leo calmed down a bit because of Juliet's words. 'I'm going to Don now, if he needs help I will step in, Leo bring Michelle to Ravin's room, the doctor and nurse are there they can help, tell them to prepare an extra bed for Don if needs be.'
Jack stepped into the lobby Saida's broken body laid on the floor close the wall, her cards were strewn around her, Don was lying closer to the door on his back a broad grin on his face, he was making soft snoring sounds.
'Look's like Don is okay.' Jack reported to his friends: 'He's asleep on the floor, get the man a stretcher and take him to the doctor for a standard check, see if anything's damaged.'
Jack waited a few seconds for Juliet to acknowledge his request.
'What about Saida?' She then asked.
'Dead.' Jack coldly replied: 'Her body is a broken mess, can't check her pulse since vampires don't have one, but there is no way even a vampire could survive this level of violence.'
Less than an hour later Jack stood outside the headquarters with a black, closed coffin with a black cloth draped over it, he had called Kailyn and Drake back from the bar they were at.
Jack had just explained to them what had happened, although Drake wanted to check on his team he knew that whatever this was was more important. 'So why are we here Jack?' Kailyn spoke, she sounded slower than normal. 'I thought Mer couldn't get drunk.' He noticed.
'Not drunk Jack, more tipsy turns out we can feel the effects of alcohol, our barman Carl does wonders.'
Drake shook his head. 'It was Nisha who came up with the ideas to craft beverages that could affect non humans as well, though Kailyn here feels like she's tipsy according to Nisha it works differently, she can still use her magic as normal, the drink which isn't really alcohol gives them the same feeling we human feel when consuming alcohol, but the Mer are proficient with magic so a part of them needs to be able to control it or else things could go wrong fast.' Drake explained.
'I've heard of this theory, never thought we could figure out how to actually make it.' Jack replied then he looked at Kailyn: 'So you can cast spells?' He asked, the Bosmer nodded.
'Good, in this coffin lays Saida, I've concealed it with the same magic that conceals our weapons, we only need to bring the coffin over to the morgue at Sector Security's headquarters. That morgue is used for cases like Saida.'
Jack looked at the coffin Drake cleared his throat: 'She's dead, why not burn the body?'
Jack shook his head: 'She's Molag Bal's embodiment, the Daedric Prince can resurrect her from ashes, we bring her over to Sector Security so that the body can be locked away by powerful magic, Molag Bal or his minions wouldn't be able to get to it there.'
He then looked at Kailyn: 'That's where the two of you come in, I've laid the groundwork for the spell but it is weak, Kailyn I want you to strengthen it, Drake your job will be to produce a shield with your magic and psychic powers that would hide the scent of Saida for Molag Bal.
Just as Kailyn placed her hands on the coffin a thunderous sound echoed throughout the city, the sky cracked open revealing a mirror image of New-York the buildings in the mirror image were torn apart, a green, poisonous sludge covered the streets, the sky was lit on fire.
Two red eyes then opened in the mirror image, a monstrous head appeared from out of the blackness, the head was goat-like covered in green scales two horns protruded out of the top of the head they curved downward.
'That's!' Kailyn stammered.
'Mortals!' The head roared: 'You have some nerves killing my embodiment!'
Jack stepped in front of the coffin he spread his arms, the head of Molag Bal chuckled. 'Amusing that you think you can stand before me.' The Daedric Prince spoke.
'When we defeated you after Volkihar completed his ritual we dealt quite a blow to you, I know that killing a Daedric Prince confines them to their realm until they have recovered, we might not have killed you but we did severe damage, you can't fight us here without an embodiment, which you currently don't have.'
Molag Bal laughed: 'If I so desired I could end your life here, but now I simply want what is mine, Saida was a fool going after the bounty that fool Hermaeus Mora placed on you. She wanted to please her master, she failed and paid the price.' Molag Bal looked down at the chest.
'Her soul is mine, I will resurrect her, in a while she'll be allowed back into your realm, but first I shall teach her not to act without my consent.'
A giant hand with five fingers each ending in sharp nails came out of the crack in the sky, Jack leaped out of the way before he was crushed, he hadn't expected that Molag had that much power back already, the scaly claw grabbed the coffin and as fast as the Daedric Prince had appeared he was gone.
'Well that just happened.' Drake broke the silence as he was looking at the place where moments ago stood the coffin.
Jack shrugged: 'Sorry for calling you over for nothing, you can go back to whatever it was you were doing.'
Kailyn tapped Drake's shoulder. 'You want to go see Michelle and Don before we head back?' She asked.
'If you don't mind, I can drop you off at the bar if you want then I'll come back here alone.'
Kailyn shook her head: 'No it's fine, I know we have a capable doctor here, but I can see if I can use my magic to make them better faster.'
As Kailyn wanted to take a step she nearly fell, Drake grabbed her arm and placed it over his shoulder. 'Let me help you, seems like those drinks are more effective than you realized.' He said with a laugh then he turned to Jack. 'You coming with us?' He asked.
'Sorry not now.' Jack replied: 'When Don and Michelle were Dueling Saida I found a lead on the Sector Security attacks, it's not much to go on but I have a hunch and if that hunch is correct I could solve this case in a few days.'
Some time later that evening.
Jack stopped his D-Wheel near the alleyway, this neighborhood was set for renovation so all the people who lived here currently lived in a big hotel for a short time. 'Perfect place for an ambush.' Jack muttered as he walked right up the alley he had his magic flow around the place so anyone who would move through it he would sense, this was a little trick he had picked up from Kailyn.
Jack got the call to Sector Security from Gizelle, it was a patrol car with four officers they were send to one of the popular nightlife areas at one point the officers got a seemingly official call for a disturbance in this neighborhood, they had confirmed to Sector Security Headquarters they were headed there of course that call never reached the actual headquarters.
Shortly after that Sector Security lost contact with the car they used the individual trackers that each officer carried around and each of the four officers were found dead: One man was tied up to a bridge, upside-down with his head underwater, the second one a female officer was found with a slit throat, the third officer another woman was found near the first woman she had lost a lot of blood which was the cause of her death, the last male officer was found severely beaten when he was found he was still alive, his face was all swollen, he couldn't open his eyes and he was unable to speak, he died on his way to the hospital.
When all four were found Jack got the message this had happened, he had told Sector Security to stand down, Gizelle had agreed to that and she gave Jack the location of the patrol car.
Carefully Jack made his way to the end of the ally, there was a lot of sand, dust and debris around from the houses that were demolished around the alley, after a few seconds Jack reached the end it was immediately clear where the blood from the female officer had gone too, the car was painted red with it, same style of text and drawings that was found on other patrol cars, a quick look in and around the car told Jack that the attacker only defaced the car nothing was missing or damaged.
Next to the tracks from the car another track was visible since it was one straight line Jack knew the assailant got there with a motorcycle, following the tracks the assailant had left through the open gate at the other end of the alley. 'Question is how did the assailant get those officers out of here?' Jack muttered, the Blade followed the motorcycle tracks to the other end, the motorcycle tracks stopped there were some footprints, a then two tracks next to each other that lead to the main road.
Jack walked back to investigate the alley further, as he looked closer he also saw a lot of footprints and signs of a struggle.
'So the assailant arrived here on a motorcycle or a similar vehicle, stopped next to the patrol car, the assailant attacked the officers and won then the assailant dragged the bodies to the end of the alley, using the motorcycle to carry at least one of them who was probably to heavy, then the attacker loaded the officers in a a car or a van.' Jack muttered: 'They must have ditched the motorcycle, lots of places here to hide one, no use looking for it now.' He added then he crouched down to further investigate the alley, when he couldn't find anything he went back to the end of the alley, that is where Jack found something interesting, a piece of dried up dirt.
'Must have been stuck between the wheels of the van.' Jack turned it around and stuck in the dirt he saw small multi-colored dots, when he pulled one of the dots out he quickly realized it was confetti.
As Jack walked back to his D-Wheel he was on the phone with Gizelle.
'Found the car it was covered in blood, same texts and drawings as usual, assailant arrived on a motorcycle, ditched it somewhere afterward and left with your colleagues in a car or van.'
Jack remained silent for a second as he listened to what Gizelle had to say.
'If I found anything?' He repeated her question: 'It seemed like some dried up dirt came from the tire of the motorcycle, weird thing was there was confetti stuck in it, I don't know any places with dirt and confetti except for a festival terrain but there haven't been any festivals lately.' Again Jack waited a few seconds. 'The derelict amusement park? Hadn't thought of that, you stay there I'm going to check it out.'
About fifteen minutes later.
Jack stopped his D-Wheel, the amusement park was closed off with gates with many warning signs stuck to them, the entrance was sealed off with a heavy gate closed with several locks and chains, no way anything could get through, Jack saw that there was an opening in one of the gates, an opening big enough to fit a motorcycle through, as he stepped through he found himself on a large, open area covered in dirt, there were still poles standing in the ground with pieces of a red and white striped tent cloth as the only reminder that here stood a circus tent once, as Jack looked over the area he saw a lot of confetti in the dirt.
'Looks like Gizelle was on the right track.' He muttered he scanned the area carefully before he moved on, since it was getting dark he couldn't see a lot, there were no lights, the only things he saw were the black silhouette of several rides, he could distinguish a merry-go-round, a roller coaster, a ferris wheel and a big slide, he could only imagine how this area looked in its prime, all the lights working the music from the rides, the laughter from the children and adults alike.
Jack shook his head he couldn't get distracted.
Jack took his communicator. 'Gizelle and Blades, I'm in the derelict amusement park, I have a huge lead on the Sector Security assailant, I'm heading in, don't come to me, I'm going radio silent.'
After minutes of carefully moving through the park Jack reached an old building, by the vivid colors and clown images on several signs and painted on the walls Jack could make up this used to be a fun house.
As he moved by he something move through one of the windows, without hesitation he barged in through the door, he immediately found himself in a mirror maze, he heard the footsteps of the person he saw through the window on the other side. 'Fus Ro Dah!' Jack shouted then he quickly covered his face with his arms as the mirrors exploded under the force of his Shout, glass flew everywhere.
When Jack lowered his arms he saw the person nailed to the ground, clearly a man wearing a black trench coat, black cargo pants and black clothes, the hood of the man's coat was down, but the man's face was hidden in the darkness of the fun house.
Jack saw the man held a folder in his hand. 'Stop right there and drop that folder!' Jack shouted, for a moment the clouds outside moved away from the moon, the moonlight shone through the windows and without the mirror mace for a second the face of the man was slightly less dark, Jack's eyes met those of the man.
Jack gasped, in that moment the man turned around and made a run for it, before Jack recovered and followed the man outside he was already gone.'
Jack stopped running. 'So my hunch was correct if he is here.'
The next day.
The sun was slowly setting Jack just had dinner in his own room, something he normally wouldn't do. 'At least this should give Sector Security some hints as to what they're dealing with.' He muttered with a sigh as he shut off his computer.
Slowly his door opened silently. 'Juliet thanks for coming.' Jack said without looking who it was.
'I don't like that new trick of yours Jack.' Juliet said with a sigh: 'You being able to sense with your magic now, makes it really hard to surprise you.' She said as a fake complaint.
'Well that is the point of it.' Jack casually replied while he hugged his girlfriend.
'So everything ready?' He then asked seriously.
'Yes Gizelle send a junior and a senior officer to escort us, they are here with a patrol van, Ushiwaka and Rao just arrived her.' Juliet said.
'Good.' Jack replied as he grabbed his jacket from his couch then he took his phone. 'Leo, I'm heading to the ritual site now, Blades Headquarters is yours until I'm back, I've send all the data I had on the assailant to Sector Security if they call or send any information send it to my work computer.'
Jack waited for Leo's confirmation before he hung up.
'So that assailant, you said you had some breakthrough?' Juliet asked.
'Maybe, I won't discuss it openly, there might be magic involved, they might be listening in, magic like that works with key words so that they don't actively need to listen in, only a couple of keywords can be used so I assume those will be names.' Jack explained to Juliet as they waited for the elevator. 'I've given all the information to Sector Security, after all that is their job. I just investigated because it could have been a case for us, until now I only have my suspicions no hard evidence, I've given it to Sector Security told them to give me any information they can find and if their information confirms my suspicions I'll make it our case again.'
Shrine of Akatosh.
The Sector Security van pulled up near an abandoned warehouse, as the group stepped inside they found that the inside was taken well care of, there was a red carpet leading up to a pedestal at the far end of the room, there were burning torches lined against the wall, this whole interior was made to look like any other abandoned warehouse by magic.
On the pedestal stood a large statue depicting a snake-like dragon with two large wings coiled around a tower with its tail the dragon held up a claymore, a heavy two-handed sword, it looked like as if the dragon was pulling the sword out of its maw.
'You stand in the house of Akatosh.' A heavy voice echoed through the warehouse. 'Jack I recognize you as my potential new embodiment.'
Then out of the shadows stepped a figure, a tall man an Elf he had long, white hair tied into a ponytail, he wore a gray suit with a navy tie, matching gray pants and sleek, black shoes.
'Seril.' Jack spoke as he saw who it was, the air behind him rippled and the nasty ball of tentacles that was Hermaeus Mora appeared.
'So all pieces are in play.' The Daedric Prince said: 'You need a soul for your ritual Jack, I want your soul, the way I see it the winner of this Duel gets what they want.'
Jack activated his Duel Disk, he knew D-Gazers wouldn't work.
'Straight to business.' Jack replied: 'Good I'm getting sick of this game Hermaeus.' He coldly added.
'There are some rules here since you're Dueling in my house.' The voice of Akatosh spoke: 'No foul magic, simply a Duel to the death, I forbid Hermaeus Mora from using their magic to affect the Duel and on the other hand I shall forbid Jack to use any form of Stardust Dragon, this will give neither player an advantage over the other.'
Both Duelists nodded in agreement then took their positions. 'Duel!' Both shouted.
(Seril: 8000) - (Jack: 8000)
'No D-Gazers, no Signer Dragons, no interference by my master.' Seril muttered to himself then he looked up from his hand. 'I'm shaking with excitement Jack, ever since you came for that Black Book I wanted to Duel you with my own power, a Duel to the death, no tricks, no magic.' The Altmer took a card from his hand. 'I summon the mighty Black Stego.' A dinosaur appeared standing on all fours, it was nearly as tall as a human, the beast was based on the Stegosaurus with a blackish, scaly hide, two rows of sharp, kite-shaped plates standing upright on its head, neck, back and tail, the dinosaur dug its feet in the ground ready to strike, its maw was half open revealing a row of sharp teeth. (1200 ATK)
'I end my turn Mr. Jack.' Seril stated as he folded his arms.
Jack drew his card, he was unnerved by how calm Seril was with a Duel to the death, of course he had faced calm opponents who dueled to the death before but Seril was different, like he didn't mind it if he lost he seemed to have accepted death.
Jack shook his head then he took a deep breath before he took a card. 'Since I have no monsters I special summon Junk Forward.' A man in sleek, beige armor came running onto the field he had an exhaust pipe sticking out of his back. (900 ATK)
'Next I normal summon Junk Synchron!' Jack continued, next to his first monster the famous orange, Tuner robot appeared. (1300 ATK)
'I tune level three Junk Synchron to level three Junk Forward!' The Blade shouted the orange robot ripped the cord on its back, it changed into three golden rings, for a few seconds a green light illuminated the area.
'Gathering stars light the way to my destiny, the steadfast warrior becomes the shield that defends the realm! Synchro summon, Junk Gardna!' Jack chanted, a new monster appeared on the field, a man clad in mighty, green armor with yellow accents, he wore a pointy helmet, the warrior had cannons attached to his back they were aimed into the air, his leg armor was thick and blocky, on his arms he had large plates of armor that when put together would form a mighty shield. (1400 ATK)
'I attack Black Stego!' Jack shouted Junk Gardna crouched down so that his cannons now were aimed at the dinosaur.
'When Black Stego is targeted for an attack it goes to defense mode, the Stegosaurus is a peaceful, gentle creature who rather defends itself with its mighty, natural armor than to bite back at its attackers.' Seril spoke, the dinosaur laid down on the ground, half curled up into a ball. (2000 DEF)
Junk Gardna fired a laser beam from one of his cannons.
'Once per turn I can change the battle position of a monster my opponent controls.' Jack explained, the laser hit the dinosaur slowly it stood back up. (1200 ATK)
'Seril I knew the effect of your Black Stego, D-Gazers are handy, but I remembered the effects of a lot of cards, the moment you summoned Black Stego I knew you would use its effect.' Jack said then Junk Gardna fired another shot this one blasted Black Stego, cracks appeared in its armor, with a howl the beast fell down motionless.
(Seril: 8000- 7800) - (Jack: 8000)
'I shall end my turn.' Jack stated after he had played another card which materialized as a face-down card behind Junk Gardna.
Seril loosened his tie before he drew his card.
'I should have known you would pull something like that.' Carefully the High Elf looked over his hand. 'Since my master manipulated our last Duel I couldn't get a grasp on your skill, but it seems I can't let up for a second.'
Carefully he took one of his cards. 'I special summon the fast and dangerous Gilasaurus.' A small dinosaur with a brownish skin came running on the field, the Velociraptor snarled at Junk Gardna. (1400 ATK)
'When Gilasaurus is special summoned from the hand by its own effect I can special summon one monster from my Graveyard.' Jack stated in a flash of light his Junk Synchron appeared it sat crouched down on the field using its arms as a shield. (500 DEF)
'Giving you a free monster is an acceptable trade-off for two monsters on my field.' Seril spoke quickly he played a card. 'I normal summon the ferocious Sabersaurus!' The ground started to shake as a huge, ferocious dinosaur came running, it resembled a Triceratops, its skin was red on the tip of its tail it had a sharp blade which he carelessly waved around. (1900 ATK)
'Next I add the field spell: Jurassic World so that my dinosaurs gain three-hundred attack points.' The Altmer continued, their surroundings changed into a lush field filled with dark-green grass and shrubs, several different trees grew around them, in the middle of the valley was a small lake surrounded by some rocks, far off in the distance rose a giant volcano which for now seemed quiet, Seril's dinosaurs were clearly at home here. (Sabersaurus: 1900- 2200 ATK, Gilasaurus: 1400- 1700 ATK)
'Sabersaurus! Trample Junk Gardna!' Seril commanded.
'I use the effect of Junk Gardna!' Jack replied the dinosaur stopped dead in its tracks, it fell on its side and fell asleep. (500- 800 DEF)
Out of some shrubs behind Junk Gardna leaped the Gilasaurus, with its small and sharp teeth and claws it tore the warrior to shreds.
(Seril: 7800) - (Jack: 8000- 7700)
'When Junk Gardna is send from the field to the Graveyard I can change the battle position of one monster.' Jack explained Gilasaurus suddenly started to sway on its legs before falling on its side fast asleep. (400- 700 DEF)
'So you even prepared for a move like this it seems.' Seril said with a chuckle, he sounded amused. 'I shall end my turn here.'
Jack just noticed he didn't felt any pain when he lost some of his life points, normally in a death duel like this even the slightest loss of life points would make you feel something.
Jack drew his card while he carefully observed his opponent, Seril was calm, Jack saw his breathing was steady, no sweat anywhere, he had a serene smile, Jack couldn't feel any strange magic coming from him.
'You're a strange one, can't get a reading on you.' Jack growled Seril replied with a smile. 'Need to push through, I summon Junk Defender!'
Out of the sky dropped Jack's mechanical creature, it had large, red and spiked shoulder plates, a triangular head, thick armor covering the wrists, the creature had no legs hovering in mid-air, a small scorpion tail was visible over the shoulders. (500 ATK)
'Now I tune level three Nitro Synchron to Junk Defender!' Jack shouted, seconds later the field was once again lit up by a green light.
'Gathering stars light the way to my destiny, become the power that pierces the veil of darkness! Synchro summon, arrive Stardust Assault Warrior!' Jack chanted stardust fell down on the field shimmering in the light of the sun, then a pillar of light erupted from out of the ground, out of it stepped a warrior clad in heavy light-greenish armor, he had two engines on his back and a futuristic looking harpoon-like weapon mounted to his wrists, the warrior crossed his arms before striking a heroic pose. (2100 ATK)
'When Stardust Assault Warrior is Synchro summoned and I have no other monsters I can special summon a Junk monster from my Graveyard.' Jack explained another pillar of light erupted from out of the ground Junk Gardna stepped out of it, the warrior's armor was damaged one of his shields was broken in half. (1400 ATK)
'Now I activate Shooting Star!' Jack shouted his face-down card turned open. 'I control a Stardust monster so I destroy Sabersaurus!' Jack stated the sky turned bright orange before Seril could say something his dinosaur was annihilated by a meteorite.
'Quite fitting.' Jack said with a smirk: 'Now Stardust Assault Warrior destroy Gilasaurus!' The warrior dashed forward without hesitation one harpoon pierced through the dinosaur. 'Stardust Assault Warrior does piercing damage.' Jack said his warrior aimed the second harpoon and fired it at Seril.
(Seril: 7800- 6400) - (Jack: 7700)
'Junk Gardna direct attack!' Jack shouted Seril closed his eyes as the damaged warrior leaped at him shield first.
(Seril: 6400- 5000) - (Jack: 7700)
Seril said nothing as he drew his card.
'You've played right into my hand Mr. Jack.' The High Elf stated he retrieved two cards from his Graveyard. 'I banish Sabersaurus and Gilasaurus.' He said as he placed both cards in his pocket, dark clouds quickly formed, in the distance the rumbling of thunder was heard.
'I special summon the monster that will annihilate you! More monster than dinosaur! I call upon the mighty Ultimate Conductor Tyranno!'
A mighty beast covered in thick, black scales appeared, in it's wake lightning struck around it on the field, it had red skin underneath its black armor which was visible mostly on its legs, it had a monstrous head no cheeks or lips, it's maw was gigantic and filled with rows of sharp teeth, it had nasty spikes on its nose, shoulders and covering its long, thin tail electricity was crackling around the spikes except for the one on its nose, multiple orbs were etched into its body electricity sparked out from those orbs, the beast let out a mighty roar several times lightning struck around it. (3500- 3800 ATK)
'I activate the effect of Junk Gardna!' Jack shouted the orbs that covered the mighty beast died out, it crouched down on one knee and it wrapped its tail around its body. (3200- 3500 DEF)
'So you're trying to buy some time.' Seril spoke while he took a card from his hand. 'Since I cannot attack now I shall end my turn.' He stated while he placed the card in his Duel Disk, the High Elf sounded slightly annoyed, his card appeared face-down behind his monster.
'I never would have guessed you'd pull that monster out, I figured you liked the classic dinosaurs.' Jack said with a hint of fear in his voice, quickly he drew his card.
'Sometimes you need to do something you don't like in order to get better, I imagine you of all people understand.' Seril replied Jack knew he meant Jack accepting to become the embodiment of Akatosh even if deep down he doesn't want it. 'So you and I are more alike than I first thought.' Jack said back then he took a card from his hand. 'I summon Junk Anchor.' Jack stated a small robot came rolling onto the field when it leaped in the air it unfolded it was shaped like a small kid its body was white armor with red decals, it had a large, round head with a green visor, it's arms and legs were steel pipes with large hands and feet. (0 ATK)
'Next I tune Junk Anchor who I can count as Nitro Synchron to Stardust Assault Warrior!' Once again the green light illuminated the area.
'Gathering stars light the way to my destiny, let velocity become raw power! Synchro summon! Let your engines roar, Nitro Warrior!' Jack chanted a loud explosion followed as a demonic warrior leaped on the field flames spouting out of the rocket engine it had as a tail, more flames came out of the exhaust pipes on its back, the demon was muscular with a green body and upper legs, parts of its arms, its lower legs, hands and head were green, the beast had small horns growing out of its shoulders and two large horns protruded from its head. (2800 ATK)
'So one of the cards in your hand is a spell then.' Seril noticed.
'Too bad I won't give you the chance, I activate the effect of Ultimate Conductor Tyranno!' The High Elf took a card from his hand.
'Tyranno's effect allows me to destroy a monster from my field or hand, I destroy the Babycerasaurus from my hand.' Seril showed Jack the card before he discarded it. 'This changes all your monsters on the field face-down.' Junk Gardna and Nitro Warrior disappeared from the field.
'Now that Babycerasaurus got destroyed by a card effect its effect activates, this allows me to special summon Souleating Oviaraptor.'
A new dinosaur got barging through the trees, its body was based on that of the Oviaraptor, a slender body with long, thin arms ending in three claws, its legs were bent a bit so it could reached a higher speed, it had a long tail and an enlarged dome-shaped skull mounted on a long neck. The top of its head and jaw were red as was the tip of its tail the rest of the body was a dark purple, it had black lines all over its body, a blue fire ran over its back originating from its head the same blue flames were swirling around its claws as well. (1800- 2100 ATK)
'When Souleating Oviaraptor is special summoned I can add one monster from my Deck to my hand or send it to the Graveyard, I choose to add this one to my hand.' Seril stated quickly he searched his Deck when he found the card he showed it to Jack.
Jack started to slightly panic as a saw Tyranno Infinity.
This was the card that took him out last time. 'You got lucky with that monster last time Seril only because Hermaeus Mora manipulated the Duel he gave you the perfect set-up, this time I'm prepared.' Jack stated there was no hint of him being nervous in his voice.
'I go to main phase two.' Jack stated he turned a card around on his Duel Disk Junk Gardna reappeared face-up. (1400 ATK)
'I shall end my turn with this.' Jack stated as a face-down card materialized behind his Junk Gardna.
'My turn then.' Seril said cheerfully as he drew his card.
'I destroy the Souleating Oviaraptor on my field to activate the effect of Ultimate Conductor Tyranno.' Lightning struck the raptor-like dinosaur seconds later Junk Gardna was replaced by a face-down card.
'In that case I activate Mystical Space Typhoon!' Jack shouted as his spell turned around, the lush field and volcano disappeared, Ultimate Conductor Tyranno became a bit weaker. (3500- 3200 DEF)
'Next I change my Tyranno to attack position.' Seril continued his mighty beast stood up with a loud roar. (3500 ATK)
'Now I normal summon Tyranno Infinity!' A large Tyrannosaurus Rex appeared, its body was covered in brown scales it had two large horns on its head, sparks of red electricity sparked around it. (?- 2000 ATK)
'Tyranno Infinity gains thousand attack points for each dinosaur I have banished which are currently two.' Seril explained despite he knew that Jack knew this.
'Mr. Jack, I activate my trap: Survival Instinct.' The face-down card of the High Elf turned around. 'I banish Babycerasaurus, Black Stego and Oviaraptor.' He explained as one-by-one the cards slipped out of the Graveyard quickly he pocketed them. 'Not only does my Tyranno Infinity gain three-thousand attack points, I gain four-hundred life points for each card banished.'
Seril closed his eyes a warm light surrounded him, while his life points rose Tyranno Infinity got more red lightning around him, with a loud roar the dinosaur got stronger. (2000- 5000 ATK)
(Seril: 5000- 6200) - (Jack: 7700)
'Ultimate Conductor Tyranno can attack all monsters once.' The monstrosity let out a bloodcurdling roar lightning gathered around it.
'When Ultimate Conductor Tyranno attacks a defending monster it can deal thousand damage then send the defending monster to the Graveyard.' The Altmer said, before Jack knew what happened both his face-down monsters got struck by lightning as they disappeared lightning struck Jack twice.
(Seril: 6200) - (Jack: 7700- 6700- 5700)
'Tyranno Infinity direct attack!' Seril commanded Jack braced himself, even though damage wasn't real a big attack like this could knock you over in mere seconds red lightning struck all over his body.
(Seril: 6200) - (Jack: 5700- 700)
As Jack took some time to recover from the attack Seril placed another card in his Duel Disk, it appeared face-down behind Tyranno Infinity.
'I end my turn now Mr. Jack.' He stated.
Jack looked at Rao, Ushiwaka and Juliet then he drew his card.
'I activate Monster Reborn!' Jack shouted his spell appeared on the field, above it appeared the holy Ankh and in a flash of light Nitro Warrior reappeared on the field. (2800 ATK)
'Now I normal summon Junk Changer!' A cylinder crashed onto the field, it had a screw sticking out on the top and a sharp needle at the bottom, when the smoke of its landing cleared arms and legs came out of compartments on the device changing it into a small, headless robot. (1500 ATK)
'Now I tune level three Junk Changer to level seven Nitro Warrior!'
This time the field illuminated green then after a few seconds the green light shot up into the sky. 'Gathering stars light the way to my destiny, the hopes of the people bound in the form of a mighty warrior! Synchro summon and rise to the call! Satellite Warrior!'
Out of the green light slowly descended a warrior clad in golden and white armor, he had massive, capsule-like devices attached to his shoulders, the capsule was cut in half and each shoulder had one of the halves, the warrior had two more of such devices attached to his legs, on his back he had four satellite wings like the blades of a helicopter. (2500 ATK)
'Satellite Warriors effect activates!' Jack shouted: 'I can destroy a card my opponent controls for each Synchro monster in my Graveyard, then for each card destroyed Satellite Warrior gains thousand attack points!' The souls of Nitro Warrior, Stardust Assault Warrior and Junk Gardna appeared behind the Satellite Warrior.
'This is it Seril!' Jack shouted the soul of Junk Gardna took out the face-down card, the soul of Nitro Warrior took out Tyranno Infinity and Stardust Assault Warrior took out Super Conductor Tyranno.
When the smoke of the three explosions cleared Satellite Warrior was glowing with power. (2500- 5500 ATK)
'It's over Seril.' Jack growled.
'Look closer Mr. Jack.' The Altmer replied as he made Jack aware of the trap card on his field. 'You removed my Waking the Dragons from my field with a card effect, this means its effect activates, it allows me to special summon a monster from my Deck or Extra Deck.'
Quickly Seril took a card from his Deck. 'I special summon Jurrac Gallim.'
Before Seril appeared a rather small dinosaur, it was based on the Gallimimus a bird-like dinosaur with bird-like legs, a chicken-like body, a small, scaly tail and a small head, it had the beak of a bird and small arms.
The colors of this one were all over the place a mixture of blue, yellow and orange. (1200 ATK)
'Your final defense.' Jack stated: 'I attack it with Satellite Warrior!' Jack shouted, the halves of the capsule that were attached to the shoulders glowed two laser beams shot out from it, a massive explosion followed on the field completely vaporizing the small dinosaur.
(Seril: 6200- 1900) - (Jack: 700)
'Jurrac Gallim's effect.' Seril stated: 'It destroys the monster that destroyed it, unless my opponent can discard a card to negate this effect.' The Altmer spoke, he looked at Jack's empty hand before Jack could react a giant meteorite struck his mighty warrior out of the sky only a heap of smoldering ashes remained.
'You came so close Jack!' Hermaeus Mora laughed from out of his portal.
'Of course I knew the effect of Jurrac Gallim.' Jack then stated.
'A nice play Seril luring me out by playing your monster in attack mode, made it alluring to attack and deal massive damage, of course you'd survive with enough life left and now my field is empty, no cards in my hand.' Jack crossed his arms a beam of light shot up out of the ground behind him. 'When Satellite Warrior is destroyed I can special summon up to three Stardust, Warrior or Synchron monsters from my Graveyard!' The light came down on the middle of the field out of it stepped Stardust Assault Warrior. (2100 ATK)
'No!' Hermaeus Mora howled Seril closed his eyes he had a serene smile.
'Direct attack!' Jack commanded Stardust Assault Warrior fired one of his weapons through the chest of Seril, the Altmer lowered his arms as his life points quickly decreased.
(Seril: 1900- 0) - (Jack: 700)
'I knew you had it in you Mr. Jack.' The High Elf spoke his voice was soft.
'You were the only one who could free me.' Before Jack could say anything the eyes of the Mer turned away he dropped on the ground.
'Rao!' Jack shouted Ushiwaka's sister started to make a series of complicated hand signs, she started to chant in Japanese, a stream of white light slowly poured out of every hole in Seril's body.
'Akatosh! I Jack offer you a soul and my blood!' This was Juliet's sign to come into action she took the ritualistic knife from its sheath, carefully she cut open Jack's arm above the bowl, Rao guided the white light towards the bowl as well, the moment the two were in it a sound deafened everyone, Jack was flung halfway across the room.
After a few seconds the ringing stopped, it was eerily silent.
Slowly Jack stood up. 'The offer has been accepted.' Jack put his hands against his ears from the booming sound of the voice he heard, nobody else seemed to have heard it.
Jack looked up at his friends then he saw Hermaeus Mora now half out of his portal. 'I gave you a choice Jack.' The Daedric Prince spoke even though he appeared calm Jack could see he was really angry.
'I always get what I want!' The Prince roared his tentacles lashed out at Jack through the portal, slowly Jack lifted his right hand. 'Begone!' He roared as he closed his hand into a fist, an explosion of pure magic shot out from his fist, Hermaeus Mora violently got pushed back through his portal then the portal itself was ripped to shreds by the magic blast, when the Prince was gone Jack lowered his arm, his friends simply stared at him not daring to say a word.
'That felt good.' Jack broke the silence.
'Is he?' Juliet asked.
'No Hermaeus ain't dead but he is severely weakened, won't see him for a while.' Jack coldly replied then Juliet hugged him. 'How do you feel?' She asked.
'Honestly? Never felt better, like I can take on the world, this is a power rush I know, let's head back before I accidentally go to far.'
As the group left the shrine Juliet spoke: 'What about Seril?'
Jack stopped. 'His soul is with Akatosh, Seril's soul is now in the afterlife he believed in, his soul is at peace.' Jack replied then he softly touched Juliet's shoulder he pulled her closer. 'I know you were against this, so was I but Seril was sick, terminal, Hermaeus Mora was the only thing keeping him together, Seril was married to a human, she gave birth to a son as with these things the child becomes the non-human race, as you can imagine Seril's wife died long before their son even reached adulthood.'
Jack started to walk again after he gave one more look to the shrine.
'His son couldn't live with the death of his mother, he started to gamble and drink became addicted to both, he got his life back on track but money was still an issue. Seril wanted to help his son get his life back on track but with his sickness he couldn't.' Jack stopped talking for a second.
'Hermaeus Mora promised Seril to cure him in trade for his soul, Seril could live out his life without sickness, that would give Seril enough time to find the bones of a dinosaur he wanted to prove the existence of, this would in turn give him enough money to support his son, of course Hermaeus Mora tricked him, he never removed the disease instead the Daedric Prince made it so that Seril wouldn't die from it and that if he refused to do Hermaeus' bidding he could easily let the sickness loose again.'
Juliet looked to the ground. 'It's still wrong, but I agree that Seril is better off now, Jack do you know if he's happy?'
Jack nodded: 'Yes he has found what he was looking for, he left his son instructions on where to find it, he only needs his father's crew to dig up the bones and he's golden and Seril, he's with his wife in heaven they're happy together.'
On their way back to the headquarters the Sector Security van suddenly stopped. 'Jack you need to see this.' The senior officer said his voice was shaking he handed over his phone to Jack.
Jack's heart skipped a beat from the scene he saw, he saw Gizelle tied up to the track of the roller coaster that stood in the derelict amusement park, next to her stood a person dressed in black robes, their face hidden behind a white mask a gun aimed at the head of Gizelle, next to Gizelle on his knees sat a young officer, his hands tied behind his back, both he and Gizelle had a piece of cloth tied around their mouth and were blindfolded, Jack knew that was an officer in training who Gizelle was training. 'It's all over the news, emergency broadcast.' The officer said.
Quickly Jack turned up the sound of the phone.
'We shall now show the clip again, in the hopes that the Jack mentioned is watching, be warned the images are considered shocking.' The newscaster said.
'I was promised the world.' The person with the gun said she was clearly female. 'Now I have nothing left. I have given you my warning Sector Security to not pursue me and yet you wouldn't listen.' She walked up to the officer in training and pushed the gun against his head, the man pleaded for help from under his gag. 'When I started killing your officers instead of beating them up.' The masked woman spoke her gaze turned over to Gizelle: 'I hoped that you would stop, but no you stuck The Blades on me! Jack I know you're watching, this one's on you.' Without warning the woman pulled the trigger the young officer dropped to the ground motionless a puddle of blood forming under his head.
'Jack you wanted to play, you can have me.' The woman spoke: 'You know where to find me.' Suddenly the screen turned to a map of New-York multiple red dots appeared on the map. 'Every dot is a bomb, if Jack you fail to show up before midnight I'll detonate every bomb all at once.'
Then the screen changed again showing multiple smaller screens that showed different parts of the city.
'These are my drones, they watch over the city those drones are in contact with the bombs, those drones see anyone who tries to evacuate and the bombs go off.' Then the screen went black.
'Evelyn.' Jack growled.
Next time:
Just after Jack became the new embodiment of Akatosh Evelyn revealed herself. The next in line to become the host of Tamamo now cast aside, without guidance from Tamamo Evelyn is out for revenge on those who killed her idol Sara. ''Evelyn's Game - Part 1.'' Coming next.