A disaster beyond description, that was all she could possibly have ever described. Golden tower's lay in pieces, flames danced with a fervour along what once was most likely a bustling city.
In the sky, a massive black dragon flew, with a swing of its claw. Buildings ceased to exist, no fire, no screams. Just,void. Naught but emptiness was left in its wake.
The sky was directly above was not blue. Instead a gaping hole lay above the ruins, inside the hole was over pitch darkness, darkness that with every moment expanded, consuming more of the sky.
The girl could only watch in terror as the dragon laughed as it flew around reducing the buildings to nothingness, a harsh,cruel laugh that echoed for miles,as if this was all some great game to it. The dragon stopped, as its head slowly turned. Its eyes met her. Its pitch black eyes stared at hers.
It was as molten steel had been stabbed in every vein of her body! It burned! No pain she had ever experienced had come close to this! The agonising pain. It would kill her! She would die! She would…..
_
A girl's eyes opened with gasp. "Wha-!?" Looking around she calmed herself, she was alive. She was not burning, she was fine.
"Just what was that dream?" the girl could not help but wonder to herself.
"You alright back there, girly?" a man driving the car she was in asked, he had rough facial hair, with unkempt clothing. "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts. I'll charge you double to head back, y'know"
The girl rolled her eyes, seeing herself in the mirror, her long silver hair unkempt from her impromptu nap, as her purple eyes rolled at the man's comments.
"No, why would I have second thoughts? I'd do what? Go back? To where? Anywhere else that'd take me is basically a wasteland" the girl replied scoffed, gesturing to the wasteland outside.
The car continued to drive along a dirt road. Not a single tree or even a single blade of grass, just dirt and rocks. Complete desolation.
Just dirt and rocks, that was my life. When was the last time I saw something that wasn't just a wasteland or dump? Not since five years ago, I guess.
"We're here, I'll take my fee, if you'd be so kind"
The man's voice called, breaking the girl out of her thoughts. The movement of the car had stopped, in front of them lay, not a wasteland for a break, but a massive golden wall.
"Valhalla's Gate, in all its glory. Pompous name for a pompous city." The man spat "Arcadia, Valhalla's Gate, they just like fancy sounding names if you ask me"
The girl tosses the man a bag of coins as she exits the car. She looked up. In front of her was a single path. Towards a large Gate. 4 guards in form fitting armour, mask included, stood there.
The girl heard the sound of the car drive off, a small amused smile adorned her lips
"Not even going to make sure it goes well I guess. Well he was scum, but at least he was scum who did the promised job"
The girl slowly approached the gate.
"Hold it, right there!" One one the guard called out. "Identify yourself"
"Sera Vallen" The girl responded by taking out a letter from her black jacket pocket "I have an invite? To enter?"
The guard looked at it, also tearing it out of her hands. He held it in front of his visor as he began to speak.
"Unlikely, Arcadia does not do invites. Especially not for scum like you. Begone befor-" suddenly he stopped speaking.
"Wait, this signature. That can't be right. Hey you! Double check this!" His voice suddenly had an element of panic within it, as he walked over to another guard.
They took out a small device and began speaking into it; Sera could not make out the works. But the tone of their voice made it seem something unexpected had happened.
"Well, I guess my invitation is a rare occurrence. That was close though. If he had forced me to leave I would be back to square one." she thought to herself.
Sera waited for them to finish, she knew, while her letter was likely from someone high up, based on their reactions. They likely had no patience for an "outsider".
Eventually, the guard walked forward again, and Sera waited for him to begin speaking.
"I don't know what your deal is. But listen to me, girl" His tone was dismissive. "Arcadia is a holy land. For true duelists. True duelists don't come from a wasteland like you. However, I've been ordered to take you to meet with the Chief. Be honoured! A wasteland rat like you, does not deserve a second of his time!"
Sera stood impassively. Not reacting to the guard, as he made a noise of frustration as he began to walk towards a side door into the gate, he opened it by scanning a card. A beep sounded, as the system accepted the card.
"Well, that's the first hurdle cleared, now, the hard bit" She thought to herself, as she was led down a hallway, the walls an eye-catchingly bright purple, Sera, honestly didn't know you could make purple that painful to look at.
"Gideon Solis" She muttered to herself, seeing a picture or a man with spiky purple hair, in a repulsive, at least to her, looking suit.
Finally, after what feels like an age, there is a break in the purple hall, as they arrive at a silver door.
"Be honoured that Chief Kaine, is taking his time for a rat like you" The security guard stated, walking back the way he came after that final one insult.
Sera said nothing to the guard, she knew better than to pick a fight here. Everything so far has gone well. But this was the true hurdle.
Slowly she entered the room, its design was to nr blunt. Boring. A tidy bookshelf on both sides, other than that was simply a large desk, behind the desk was a man with greying hair, wearing a blue suit. His hands steepled together.
"Ah, Miss Sera Valen. So you're the girl with the invite, yes?" His tone neutral, with an undercurrent of something? Sera wasn't sure if it was hostility, or just annoyance. "In all of my 10 years working here. I have never heard of an outsider being given an "invite". Arcadia thrives, because we do not let the outside infect our home"
Sera could see Kaine's eyes through his glasses, what she saw was not anger, nor hate. No, he looked at her, like she was some trash washed onto a beach by the tidal waves.
"Are you saying it was fake?" Sera replied guardedly, she knew that if this man wants to, her hopes of entering Arcadia are done for.
"No, no" Kaine replied with a sigh as he hit a few keys on his computer. "Somehow, it's real. I verified it myself" He slowly stood up and began pacing as he talked.
"That being said, however" a small grin on his face "I'll have you confirm, you have the right to come in. First, anyone who wants to enter must know our city's history, yes?"
"Of course I do, Arcadia was formerly a failing town before Gideon Solis took over 100 years ago and expanded it to what it is today, right?" Sera replied, her tone carefully neutral.
"Hmph, if one wants to stick to the most simple barebones answer. That is correct. I suppose, expecting more from an outsider rat, honestly, why did he invite you" The last part muttered under his breath, annoyed.
"Do you know why Arcadia thrives? Because, since Gideon Solis founded it 100 years ago, we have not allowed the outside to infect us, we reject outsiders because we know your true nature."
Sera simply waited, knowing interrupting Kaine could only be a bad idea.
"In Arcadia, our dueling is our lifeblood. Through duels we gain knowledge, through duels, we create the energy for our city to operate. Through duels, we show true power!" his voice raising with each word, a glint in his glasses as he made his declaration.
"We have duels outside too, is that not why I was invited? The letter said something about–"
"Don't you dare even imply it! That rats outside dueling could even come close to ours! Rats fighting each other! I know! You don't even use proper duel disks half the time! You don't even have Synchro monsters!"
Sera frowned at his proclamation. Sure they don't have those, Sera was not really sure what the deal was with them to be honest. She had heard of them being a summoning method in Arcadia, brought to them by Gideon Solis. However, past that, she didn't know anything about them.
Kaine, it appeared, had finished his rant. After taking a moment to calm himself. He continued speaking, as if the rant had never happened.
"For an outsider like you, invite or no invite, to be allowed in our glorious Arcadia. I will at least see if you are worthy. Follow me" with this declaration he pressed a button on his computer.
With a mechanical click, the door to the east of the room slowly opened, a metallic unpainted corridor visible.
Sera took a deep breath to calm her nerves as she followed him. The corridor was long,too long if you had asked her. While it had lighting, it was dim. The corridor had no colour. Nothing but metal, each footstep audible. Eventually, thankfully, they made it to a new room. A massive square room, a dueling arena Sera Realised right away.
"Take this" Kaine remarked, his eyes still looking at her like she was nothing but an irritant. As he handed her a run down duel disk.
Walking over to the other side of the room he took out his phone and hit a few buttons, a hidden closet opened and he retrieved his own duel disk. Unlike the one Sera was given to use which had only the most basic rough design. Kaine's was sleek with a purple outside, while the main part was a dark blue.
"As I hope you have realised, the requirement for you to enter is…" a cruel smirk adorned his face, his lip curling. "To show you have the ability to duel. A test vermin like yourself can't hope to pass"
Sera smiled, for the first time, dueling, she had hoped that would be it. After all, if she had pride in any one thing? It was her dueling.
"I just have to defeat you then? Then I get approval to enter? No extra conditions?" Sera asked as she inserted her deck into the duel disk. The LP counter turning on automatically.
"Indeed. All you have to do is something I know is impossible" Kaine remarked as he inserted his own deck. "Now then without further ado"
"Duel!" Both duelists called out as they drew a hand of five cards each.
LP
Kaine:4000
Sera:4000
"I think I'll start us off, no one has ever heard of a rat taking the lead afterall" his lips curled upwards at his own joke "I draw! I summon Gene-Warped Warwolf in Attack Position"
A four armed white humanoid wolf appears in front of Kaine, growling at Sera. (2000/0)
"And then I think I'll place a card face down. Lets see what you can do, if you really think you're worthy of entering Arcadia"
Sera ignored Kaine's provocations as she drew her card. "My turn, I activate Starveil Calling to special summon Starveil Crusader from my hand in attack position!"
A knight clad in blue and white armour wielding a massive sword in a single hand, appeared in front of her(2000/1500)
"Hmph. I suppose that's something, but our monsters are equal. He will do you no good" Kaine pointed out, his voice tinged with amusement
"Who said I was done?" Sera retorted "I summon my Starveil Paladin in attack position"
This time a young woman appeared, her armour a similar colour to Crusaders, but while his face was covered, her was not. Her long white hair was visible. Unlike Crusader who held a massive blade in one hand. Paladin held her blade in two.(1800/1300)
"Next I activate my Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your face down card!" Sera announced as a massive blue tornado destroyed Kaine's card.
"My Defense Draw!? Sneaky move Wasteland Rat…." Kaine's face twitched as he watched his face down card shatter.
"Now I activate the effect of Starveil Paladin. Once per turn, I can increase the attack of another Starveil monster. Starveil Enhance!"
Starveil Crusader gained a slightly blue aura around itself as its attack was increased(20002500)
"Tch, an effect like that?" Kaine clicked his tongue in annoyance
"Battle! Starveil Crusader, attack Warwolf!" Sera ordered her monster who quickly obeyed, swinging its massive sword through Warwolf causing it to shatter.
"Next! Starveil Paladin! Attack his life points directly!" following Sera's command. Starveil Paladin leapt forward as she swung her blade at Kaine who staggered back a step before moving back into place, glaring at Sera.
LP
Kaine:1700(4000-500-1800)
"I….hope." Kaine took a second to regain himself, "I hope you enjoyed that Rat, because the rest of this duel? It's where you learn just how inferior a Rat like you is compared to someone like me!"
Drawing a card with a flourish, Kaine's face split into a grin as he began to chuckle Darkly. "Perfect, outside, where you come from. You only have fusions. But us? In Arcadia. We are blessed. This power is something you do not have!" A mad glint in his eyes. "Watch closely Rat! I normal summon the Tuner monster, Jutte Fighter!"
A small man wielding a tuning fork appeared(700/900)
"Tuner?" Sera asked, confused, nobody she'd dueled had used a monster like that on her. "Some kind of Arcadia speciality?" She asked Kaine who laughed in response.
"Indeed! When President Solis founded Arcadia, he granted his citizens a new form of summoning. These tuner monsters are part of that, I activate Premature Burial to bring back my Warwolf!"
Kaine continued his move as his spell caused Gene-warped Warwolf to burst out of the ground. Howling as it stood upright once more.
LP
Kaine:900
"Now you might think, why would I do something like lower my life points to just bring back my Wolf?" Kaine stated mockingly.
Sera rolled her eyes, she wasn't about to ask that, but this did not seem to matter to Kaine, as he continued on.
"Because I am better than you. Now behold rat! I tune my level 2 Jutte Fighter with my Level 4 Warwolf!
The two monsters flashed, as one created a gateway for the other to fly through as it glowed blindly white.
"Oh stars of Arcadia, Give form to the one who will crush the unworthy underfoot! Synchro summon! Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth!"
Where two monsters had existed before, now only one existed. A Knight on a dark blue horse wielding two red lances.(2600/800)
"So, that's the special summoning method exclusive to Arcadia, huh?" Sera remarked. While it was strong, Sera wouldn't take much damage overall from it, she noted to herself.
"Yes! Be honoured to see it before we reject you Rat. You got to see something most trash from outside will never see in person!" Kaine exclaimed. A mad glint shining on his glasses.
"Now I activate a spell. Synchro Blast Wave! With this, if I have a face up Synchro monster, I can destroy one of your cards! Say goodbye to your Crusader! Perhaps he should've chosen a better time to launch his crusade!" Kaine mocked as the monster was destroyed in a massive explosion.
Sera put her arm up to block the impact of the wind that came from the explosion, as Kaine continued his move.
"Next, I use "Mind Control" With this, I can take control of that Paladin monster of yours until the end phase!" Kaine explained as Starveil's Paladin's eyes became dull and lifeless and she wandered over to Kaine's field.
"Wait, that means!" Sera felt a chill run down her spine as she realised what was next.
"Exactly! You have no defense. Go Gaia. Spiral spear crush!" The knight galloped forward as he slammed them into Sera who groaned, falling to one knee.
"Luckily for you Rat, the monster affected by Mind control cannot attack, I end my turn. At which point you can have your monster back" Kaine explained with a tone of annoyance in his voice. He would likely have enjoyed attacking Sera with her own monster.
LP
Sera:1400
"M-my turn, draw!" Sera drew her next card with a grimace
"No good, I'm still missing a vital piece still. But I can prepare for it" Sera thought to herself as she placed a monster on her duel disk. "I summon Starveil Seeker in defense mode!"
A small rodent looking creature in a starry robe appeared on Sera's field crouching(600/800)
"Ha! The wasteland Rat summons a rat of her own. At least it's better dressed than that ugly black coat of yours!" Kaine taunted.
Sera glared but did not respond.. Knowing, nothing she said would have any effect in this situation.
"When Starveil Seeker is summoned, I can add one Starveil Fusion from my deck to my hand" Sera explained as the duel disk ejected the aforementioned card.
"Of course you do, without Synchro's like us, you in the wasteland only know how to use fusion. You were not taught how to use the better summoning method. Instead you rely on a method that requires two specific monsters most of the time! Meanwhile us in Arcadia know how to use the superior Synchro summoning! We simply need a tuner and a monster. Far more reliable! Far stronger!" Kaine ranted once again, his face growing more crazed with each word..
Sera chose to once again, not pay him any heed. "I set one card, and end my turn"
"My turn then" Kaine drew his card quickly. "Well it looks like our playtime is over, I activate Fairy Meteor Crush" Kaine declared, placing the card onto his duel disk.
"Fairy Meteor Crush, that card…" Sera couldn't help but remark out loud as she recalled exactly what it did.
"That's right! Now my Gaia can inflict damage even if your monsters hide in defense! What did you think you could hide from me? I am security Chief Kaine! Noone can hide from me! Go Gaia! Attack Starveil Seeker and end this and the rats hopes of entering Arcadia!"
Gaia galloped forward. As it charged towards Starveil Seeker, it shattered it with a thrust of one of its single spears.
"Oh! Too bad!I guess a rat is a rat in the end. Don't feel bad for being so pathetic. The wasteland simply breeds trash like you!" Kaine began to laugh "I'll have the guard throw you out back into the wast-" Kaine stopped speaking as he noticed something very important. The holograms were still showing, meaning the duel was not over yet.
LP
Sera:700
"What is going on!? That attack should have taken you out!" Kaine demanded, unable to process what had happened.
"I activated my face down, Half-Shut" Sera explained pointing to the flipped card on her field.
"But how could preventing your monster being destroyed by battle possibly hel-" Kaine's eyes looked to his Gaia which now had 1300 Attack. Then he noticed Seeker had been destroyed. "Oh, you sneaky little rat."
Kaine's mouth curled into a snarl. "What does it matter? On my next move Gaia will take out your life points. You only bought yourself an extra turn. For what purpose? None! Nothing has changed. Vermin like you should know their place. Which is far away from our glorious Arcadia!"
"Are you done?" Sera simply responded. "If your quite finished, I would like to begin my move"
"Bah! I end my turn. Hurry up and take your move so I can end this. I'm going to need to go have a checkup being in the same room as vermin for so long."
"Perhaps you shouldn't presume victory, before obtaining it" Sera retorted as she placed her fingers on her deck to draw. "I say that, but if I don't draw the correct card now, this duel IS over" closing her eyes she focused. Her deck had never let her down in the past. She knew it wouldn't start now, now on such an important duel.
"What's wrong? Are you giving up afterall. A wise choice I must say!"
"I'm not giving up! I draw!" Sera declared, drawing her card. As she looked at her newly drawn card, a grin overtook Sera's face.
"I activate, Starveil fusion! I fuse my Starveil Paladin on the field, with the Starveil Luminary in my hand! Combine my monster's powers! Knight blessed with radiant light appear now! Fusion Summon! Starveil Luminary Knight!"
The two monsters meld together releasing a huge flash of light, when the light lessens stars surround the new monster, Starveil Paladin, now clad in golden armour, held her sword in a single hand and pointed it in Kaine's direction(2400/1800)
"Bah, so what. You summoned your monster in some better armour. But my Gaia is still stronger. Nothing has changed!"
"I activate the effect of Starveil Luminary Knight, when this card is Fusion Summoned. I can destroy one card on the field. I target your Gaia" Sera explained as he pointed at Gaia "Destroy it now! Starveil Luminance!"
"What!? No that can't be! If that happens then!" However, despite Kaine's wishes for the country, his Synchro monster exploded into particles "N-no my Gaia"
"Now then. Battle! Starveil Luminary Knight! Attack his Life Points directly and finish this! Starveil Illuminated Blade!"
"N-no wait! This has to be a mistake. I can't lose to vermin! To trash. This can't beeeeeeeee" With a cry he was knocked over, landing on his backside as his Life Counter hit 0
LP
Kaine:0
WINNER:SERA
"I won it seems" Sera commented as Kaine lifelessly stared forward. Not even bothering to get up. "So as promised, my entry to Arcadia is accepted I assume? As you promised."
"N-no"
"What?" Sera felt a chill run down her spine. Was he going back on the deal?
"Nonono. NO. NO NO! I am Kaine! Chief of security! I can't lose to gutter wasteland trash! Uncivilised barbarians! No! No! No! I don't accept it." Kaine hit a button on his phone "Guards! Get here and escort this-"
Whatever he was about to call Sera however, would remain a mystery, as suddenly a mild mannered male voice spoke, coming from speakers on the roof Sera noted.
"That is quite enough, Security Chief Kaine"
"S-Sir! This rat- she cheated! She couldn't even pass the basic test! When I quizzed her she knew nothing but the basics! We need to eject her- no execute her!" Kaine rambled on. A mad glint in his eye.
"No, we will not be doing that." One of the rooms doors opened, a large double door that Sera had not noticed during the duel, a young pink haired woman walked through, her outfit oddly revealing. An intentional design clearly as her walk was very much that of someone who is looking for people's attention.
"M-Miss Selene, you have to listen this rat-"
"Shhhhh, that's enough now. Nap time ok?" The woman said softly as she pushed some cloth against Kaine's mouth, almost right away his eyes rolled as he lost conscience.
"Now then, Follow me Miss Valen" Selene said, her voice having a hint of….something, Sera could not put her finger down on what exactly.
"We'll get you settled in, all nice and good. You're a special invitee after all" A smirk on Selene's face as Sera just nodded and followed her.
In a dark room, illuminated by only a soft light, several people sat in chairs, their faces hidden.
"Can't believe Kaine went off on his own like that! I told you that man was unstable!" One complained loudly. Their childish and young sounding.
"Now,now. That man dealt with it didn't he? So there's no need to worry. Now the target has entered Arcadia, we have finally the chance to obtain that" a intellectual voice responded.
"Do we even know if she has it? She didn't use it in that duel at all!" A third voice complained. This one a gruff male.
"Kaine wasn't supposed to even duel her, so it's not like we were relying on seeing it there. No, our reports are correct, she wields it. Like the others we can't just take it. So-"
"Why the hell not?" The gruff voice responded, resulting in the Intellectual one to sigh.
"There are rules to how these things work. However, She is now in Arcadia, we can take out time dealing with the issue. I believe they are already aware of her and will deal with her sooner than later" he chuckled. "I wonder how long you will last in our glorious land of Arcadia, Seraphina Valen"
_
Custom cards that appeared.
Staveil Calling
Normal Spell
If you control no monsters: Special Summon 1 Level 6 or lower "Starveil" monster from your hand or GY. You can only activate 1 "Starveil Calling" per turn
Starveil Crusader
Level 5
Warrior/Effect
If you control a 'Starveil' monster, you can Normal Summon this card without Tributing. If this card is Normal Summoned: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; destroy it
2000/1500
Starveil Paladin
Level 4
Warrior/Effect
When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Starveil" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand.
Once per turn: You can target 1 other "Starveil" monster you control; it gains 500 ATK, and if it battles a Defense Position monster this turn, inflict piercing battle damage.
1800/1300
Starveil Seeker
Level 2
Spellcaster/Effect
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Starveil Fusion" from your Deck or GY to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Starveil Seeker" once per turn. If a "Starveil" monster(s) you control would be destroyed by card effect, you can banish this card from your GY instead.
800/600
Starveil Fusion
Normal Spell
Fusion Summon 1 'Starveil' Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Material. The Fusion Summoned monster cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects this turn
Starveil Luminary Knight
Level 6
Warrior/Effect
"Starveil Paladin" + 1 "Starveil Luminary"
If this card is Fusion Summoned: You can target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy it.
(Quick Effect): You can banish 1 LIGHT monster from your Graveyard; this card gains 500 ATK until the end of the turn."
2400/1800