Yugioh/ML Chapter 18

Creation Versus Destruction

Black Knight looked down at the chaos below, as his knights clashed with Sol Technologies' security and Reflekta. In the distance, Ladybug flew above them, and was obviously heading straight for him. He turned around to face Plagg, who was kept in a small glass sphere as he powered the machine that was breaking through the barrier.

"Just you watch, filth. I'll defeat Ladybug, then I'll destroy the rest of the Kwami, and then, finally, I'll rid myself of you!" Black Knight then boarded his duel board to fight Ladybug. As he sailed away, Plagg couldn't resist a smile.

…

"Ladybug, I have good news and bad news." Tikki said. "The good news is that, in order to power the cannon, Black Knight will need to keep Plagg in that device, so he won't be able to use Cataclysm."

"Sounds good!" Ladybug replied. "And the bad news?"

"In order to repair the barrier, I'll need to save up my strength. That means that you won't be able to use Lucky Charm in this duel."

"So neither of us will have our skills, at least not the ones you give us. Well, at least it'll be fair."

Any further discussion was cut short as Black Knight drew closer. "Ladybug! This is your last chance! Join me in destroying these monsters, so that Humanity need fear them no longer!"

Ladybug looked up to Black Knight, with a pity that replaced her hate. "I know why you hate the Kwami, Adrien Agreste." Black Knight's reaction told Ladybug that her theory was right on the money. "Your father was Gabriel Agreste, who worked on the project to study and learn from the Kwami. You blame them all for the actions of one!"

"Shut up!" Black Knight roared. "You think you can understand me? I will fulfill my mission and avenge my father! Nothing can stop me!" He readied his duel disk. "And no-one will get in my way."

Ladybug readied her own duel disk, and the two raced around the tower.

"I'll go first." Ladybug declared. "I summon Databug Fire Ant!" (Level 4/Attack 1000) "When it is summoned, it deals 500 damage to you." Fire Ant spit out a ball of fire that hit Black Knight square in the chest. (Black Knight 4000-3500) "I set two cards and end my turn."

"I draw! I summon Clysm-Cat Prowler!" A muscular lion-man carrying a halberd appeared. (Level 4/Attack 2000) "When it is summoned, I can target 1 monster you control with less attack than itself and destroy it." Prowler conjured a black ball of energy, then threw it at Fire Ant, destroying its target.

"I activate my face-down continuous trap, Databug Adaptation!" Ladybug replied. "Once per turn, when my Databug is destroyed, I can special summon another from my deck with a different name. Appear, Databug Scavenger!" The remains of Fire Ant reassembled themselves into the form of Scavenger. (Level 4/Defense 1000) "And when Scavenger is summoned, I can revive another Databug from my graveyard. Come back, Databug Fire Ant!"

Scavenger dug at the air, creating a hole from which Fire Ant sprang forth. (Level 4/Defense 500) "And since Fire Ant was summoned again, I deal another 500 damage to you!" Another fireball was tossed Black Knight's way. (Black Knight 3500-3000)

"Is that your strategy? Keep bringing back Fire Ant to poke me to death? Need I remind you that I can just destroy your trap too!"

"Not quite. You see, for as long as I control two or more Databugs, Databug Adaptation can't be destroyed by card effects!"

"Then I'll just have to have fun with your monsters! Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are one Clysm-Cat monster. I set Clysm-Cat Prowler in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Clysm-Cat Cruelty!" A cat adorned with various forms of jewelry appeared. (Attack 1000/Link Arrows Bottom) "Then, since a card you control was destroyed this turn, I can special summon Clysm-Cat Catastrophe from my hand!" (Level 8/Attack 3000) "Since I summoned Catastrophe to the zone Cruelty points to, the effect of Clysm-Cat Cruelty lets me destroy a card you control. I'll choose your Scavenger this time."

Cruelty spit out a glowing dark hairball that obliterated Scavenger.

"The other effect of Cruelty activates. Whenever a card you control is destroyed by the effect of a Clysm-Cat monster, I can deal 500 damage to you!" Cruelty lazily swept its paws, hitting Ladybug. (Ladybug 4000-3500) "Clysm-Cat Cruelty, attack her Databug Fire Ant!" Cruelty opened its mouth, and Fire Ant was sucked in. "Then, Catastrophe, attack her directly!" Catastrophe charged forth, ready to tear at Ladybug.

"I activate my other face-down, Data Rejuvenation. This trap special summons all cyberse monsters that were destroyed this turn." Light flared from Ladybug's duel disk, and Fire Ant and Scavenger reappeared, both in defense position. "And of course, you take more damage from Fire Ant!" Fire Ant shot out another fireball. (Black Knight 3000-2500)

"Again? I'm starting to get annoyed. Catastrophe, destroy her Fire Ant!" Catastrophe crushed the red ant with its paws. "I thought you were above petty tricks, but I guess I expected too much of you. I end my turn."

"I draw! I summon Databug Mocking Mite!" (Level 2/Attack 300) "When Mocking Mite is summoned, I can special summon another with its effects negated." A second Mocking Mite joined the other in an irritating dance. "Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are 2 or more cyberse monsters. I set my Databug Scavenger and my two Mocking Mites in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Codespring Light Connector!" (Attack 2300/Link Arrows Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)

"Once per turn, I can activate Light Connector's effect to special summon a cyberse monster from my hand or graveyard. I choose Databug Scavenger." Light Connector created a portal with its staff, and Scavenger returned. (Level 4/Defense 1000) (Light Connector Attack 2300-2800) "Then, since Scavenger was summoned, I can bring back another Databug. I choose Fire Ant!" Scavenger again dug Fire Ant out of the air. (Level 4/Attack 1000) "And you know what means!" Another fireball was shot. (Black Knight 2500-2000)

"Light Connector, attack his Clysm-Cat Cruelty! Radiant Reprove!" Light Connector fired a laser beam at Clysm-Cat Cruelty.

"I activate my face-down Black Curse! Once per turn, if you attack my Clysm-Cat monster, I can destroy both monsters!" Clysm-Cat Cruelty evaded the light beams and grappled onto Light Connector's face, then started to pulse and glow purple. It then detonated, taking both monsters out.

"I end my turn."

As the duel raged on, Tikki watched the barrier with increasing anxiety. Black Knight was close to breaking through.

"I draw! I summon Clysm-Cat Plague Swarm!" (Level 2/Attack 200) "Since Plague Swarm was summoned, and a card you control hasn't been destroyed yet this turn, I can target and destroy one monster you control!" One of Plague Swarm's mouths spewed out a black hairball that flew like a bullet, destroying Fire Ant.

"I activate the effect of Databug Adaptation, special summoning a second Databug Scavenger!" (Level 4/Defense 1000) "The second Scavenger will bring back Databug Fire Ant!" As before, the new copy of Scavenger dug up Fire Ant. "And thus, Fire Ant will deal even more damage to you!" Fire Ant shot out another fireball. (Black Knight 2000-1500)

"That is quite enough out of you! Since a card you control was destroyed this turn, I banish Black Curse to bring back Clysm-Cat Cruelty!" A black skull appeared, and Cruelty flew out of its mouth. "I then activate my skill, which destroys cards you control equal to the number of Clysm-Cat monsters I control, but they can't attack this turn. Clysm-Cat Night Stroll!" The three cats roared, and a black tidal wave appeared, engulfing Ladybug's monsters.

"Appear, my dark circuit! The summoning conditions are 3 Dark monsters. I set Clysm-Cat Catastrophe, Clysm-Cat Cruelty, and Clysm-Cat Plague Swarm in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Entropic Knight Champion!" A knight in black armor appeared, having a long, flowing black cape and carrying a black flag in his left hand. (Attack ?/Link Arrows Top, Left, Right) "When Champion is summoned, its attack becomes equal to the number of times a card you control was destroyed this turn times 1000!" Champion drew out his ebony sword, and it shone in the air. (Entropic Knight Champion Attack ?-4000)

"Entropic Knight Champion, attack her directly and finish this once and for all! Ebony Execution!" The knight ran to Ladybug, its sword held high. But Ladybug retained her smile.

"I activate the effect of Databug Evolution, sending it to the graveyard to gain 200 life points for every Databug in my graveyard." All the Databugs reappeared to help block the sword swing, but each one fell before it, with Ladybug being hurt as well. (Ladybug 3500-4300-300)

"How amusing. You have survived until the very end. But it is the end!"

A great cracking sound resonated through the air, and Ladybug looked up with great dread. The barrier was broken. As if by some miracle, the cannon had stopped firing once it had accomplished its first task.

"The barrier has been broken! I can access the world of the Kwami now. Once my cannon has finished recharging, every last Kwami will be wiped off the face of the Earth! I end my turn."

"Black Knight-no, Adrien. I know what it's like to lose the ones closest to you, and want to make those responsible pay. But I've had to learn that if you let that hate rule you, it'll rot away your heart! I'm choosing to grow past my pain, and I invite you to do the same!"

"Never! Do you hear me, Ladybug? Never!"

"Then so be it. I draw! I activate the spell Double Data Entry, special summoning two cyberse monsters from my graveyard with the same name. Return, my Databug Mocking Mites!" The two mites reconstituted before Ladybug. (Level 2/Attack 300) "I'll then activate the effect of Mocking Mite, special summoning a third!" The last mite joined the two on the field.

"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are 3 effect monsters. I set my three Databug Mocking Mites on the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Codespring Crystal Guardian!" (Attack 2300/Link Arrows Top, Right, Bottom) "I activate the effect of Crystal Guardian, bringing back Light Connector!" Crystal Guardian created a crack in the air with its hammer, and Light Connector burst out of the crack. (Attack 2300-2800) "I then activate the equip spell Data Degradation Scythe!" Light Connector's staff changed into a scythe with a blade made of energy. "Now, after Light Connector battles your monster, I can reduce your monster's attack by 1000. Also, on the turn Data Degradation Scythe was activated, it can attack a number of times equal to its link rating!"

"What good is that?" Black Knight protested. "Crystal Guardian may be able to protect Light Connector, but Entropic Knight Champion's attack is so high, you'll lose after the first swing!"

"Not quite. I activate my skill. Since my life points are 1000 or below, I'll take no damage this turn. Re-Life!" Ladybug's body glowed bright white, causing Black Knight to have to shield his eyes. As he did, a butterfly seemed to fly out of the opening in the sky.

"Codespring Light Connector, attack his Entropic Knight Champion with Radiant Reprove!" Light Connector battled Entropic Knight Champion, crossing blades until the former monster was able to chop off the latter's left arm. (Entropic Knight Champion Attack 4000-3000) "Attack again!" The two monsters struggled once more, and this time, Light Connector chopped off Champion's scythe arm. (Entropic Knight Champion Attack 3000-2000) "Destroy Entropic Knight Champion! Radiant Reprove!" Light Connector jumped up and sliced Black Knight's link monster in twain. (Black Knight 1500-700)

At this point, the butterfly, which had escaped both duelist's notice, landed on Ladybug's body, absorbing into her ankle.

"Crystal Guardian, attack Adrien directly! Crystal Cacophony!" Crystal Guardian swung its hammer into Black Knight at full force, sending him flying into the atmosphere before he was forcibly logged out.

(Black Knight 700-0)

"You did it!" Tikki cheered. "Now, let's rescue Plagg and repair the barrier!"

Ladybug nodded and flew to the top of the tower, where the cannon was still charging up. She summoned Crystal Guardian, who broke Plagg out of his glass prison with his hammer. As a drained Plagg fell to the ground, Tikki floated down to embrace him.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Plagg shook his head. "You know I'm too tough for any human to take down, Sugarcube."

"I hate to interrupt this touching reunion," Ladybug barged in. "but if you don't repair that barrier, Tikki, it's gonna fall apart, and your world will be vulnerable again."

"Right!" Tikki flew up into the sky and gathered all her power. At her command, many data storms began to gather, the closest ones feeding into the barrier, which was slowly reforming.

Like a shot of adrenaline, Ladybug felt an odd sensation in her ankle as a butterfly mark blazed where the butterfly from before had entered her body.

"What's going on?" As if to answer, the mark evaporated as Ladybug was forcibly logged out, taking Plagg and Tikki with her. The data storms which had gathered around the opening stopped in the air, and started to gather together.

The barrier itself completely dissolved.