Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster GX Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkness of Destiny ❯ Fall Back ( Chapter 11 )

The Darkness of Destiny

 

Aye yai yai, a month sure flies when you're taking exams, scanning your PC for viruses and staying up till 3am in anticipation of summer…ahem. Sorry for the wait!

 

Chapter 11

 

Fall Back

 

-Zane LP; 1500, Fiona LP: 3900-

 

“How could I have let this happen?” Zane thought, staring at his Duel Disk. “I just lost one of my best cards! How am I supposed to win without my key monster?”

 

“This is unprecedented! I haven't seen Zane this off his game in years!” the announcer cried.

 

“Looks like Zane's getting schooled by a kid,” someone in the stands laughed. A few seats in front of him, Alexis narrowed her eyes.

 

“It's more than that…” she whispered to herself. “Zane was also so confident, so sure…I've never seen him like this.”

 

“I can't destroy that Flintlock while it's equipped with Flint, and I have nothing in my hand to destroy either of them with an effect,” Zane muttered, looking at his cards. “And even if I summon something that can overpower her card and do damage, she'll just use Flintlock's effect to transfer the Flint to my card…” A bead of sweat ran down Zane's forehead. “There has to be a way out of this.”

 

“Mr. Truesdale, it's your turn,” Fiona called. Zane narrowed his eyes and looked at his hand.

 

“I only have one card in my deck that can get me out of this mess,” he thought, closing his eyes and placing a hand on his deck. “This is it!” he roared, flinging his draw into the air. He opened his eyes and smirked. Fiona watched as Zane slapped the card onto his Duel Disk. The ground shook and burst as a long, silver machine rose out of the crater.

 

“I summon `Cyber Dragon' (2100, 1600)!” Zane crowed. The crowd gasped, and Fiona took a step back.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“I haven't seen that card in a long time. It seems Zane is going old school!” the announcer said. Sartorius looked up and gasped, staring at the TV.

 

“Could it be…” he whispered, leaning forward.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Now, Cyber Dragon, attack Flintlock! Strident Blast!” Zane shouted. The giant silver dragon roared and fired a burst of yellow energy. Fiona raised a hand to shield her eyes as the attack impacted Flintlock.

 

-Zane LP: 1500, Fiona LP: 3300-

 

“It's…my turn,” Fiona coughed, drawing. “First, I'll use Flintlock's effect. Launch Flint!” the explosive chains whirled through the air and wrapped around Cyber Dragon's head. “Then I'll sacrifice Flintlock to summon `Super-Electromagnetic Voltech Dragon (2400, 1000)!” A large, metal dragon coated in an electrical field appeared with a clank. “Voltech Dragon, attack!” Fiona called. The supercharged machine roared and stopped across the field.

 

“Reveal Trap!” Zane called. A shining silver coat and a pink ring of metal appeared around Cyber Dragon's neck and body. “My `Attack Reflector Unit' turns my Cyber Dragon in `Cyber Barrier Dragon' (800, 2800)!” Zane shouted. The new dragon lashed out a tail and slammed into the electro-dragon, knocking it back to Fiona's side.

 

“Remarkable, could this be the start of a comeback for Zane?” The announcer asked. Zane drew with a smirk.

 

“I play `Pot of Greed'. Now I can draw two more cards. Then I play `Unit Reverse'!” Cyber Barrier Dragon shimmered and vanished in a sparkle of light. “This card changes my Cyber Barrier Dragon back into a normal Cyber Dragon. Next I summon `Proto-Cyber Dragon' (1100, 600)!” a grey snake-like beast with loose circuits appeared. Zane looked behind the two monsters behind him and frowned. “Are they…glowing?” he thought.

 

“Neither Dragon can stop my Electro Dragon!” Fiona protested.

 

“I think `Photon Generator Unit' will prove otherwise!” Zane replied. “I'll use it to merge my two Cyber Dragons. Now I can summon `Cyber Laser Dragon' (2400, 1800)!” Fiona grimaced as a sleek, blue-tinted version of Cyber Dragon appeared in a flash of light. “My laser dragon has an effect too. If there's a monster on the field with attack or defense points equal or higher than my dragon's attack points, it can destroy it! Show her, Laser Dragon!” Cyber Laser Dragon's tail snapped open into a long laser, and fired a ray of thing blue light. Voltech Dragon roared as the beam sliced it in two, sparks flying as the two halves collapsed. Fiona gasped.

 

“Cyber Laser Dragon, attack! Blue Lightning Blast!” Zane roared. Laser Dragon's tail swivelled and fired a second beam. Fiona cringed and fell to her knees as the blue energy ray shot through her chest.

 

-Zane LP: 1500, Fiona LP: 900-

 

“Remarkable, Zane has turned this duel around! Fiona has a challenge on her hands!” the announcer said. Fiona narrowed her eyes and drew.

 

“I didn't expect him to change his strategy so quickly. With his Cyberdark Dragons gone, he reverted to his original style…”

 

“I place one card face down, and set a monster in defence mode,” she said, playing the cards. Zane nodded.

 

“Fine, set them up, and I'll knock them down! Cyber Laser Dragon, attack!” The blue laser fired again.

 

“Reveal `Cyber Jar'!” Fiona cried. A small, silver pod with a giant blue eye appeared in a sparkle of light. The eye flashed and exploded in a burst of flame. “All monsters on the field are destroyed, and we draw five cards. Then we summon any level four or lowers monsters we drew,” Fiona explained. Zane looked at his cards.

 

“I summon `Cyberdark Lion' (1000, 300) in defence mode and `Infernal Dragon' (2000, 0000), in attack mode,” he said. A black machine with a mane of yellow spikes appeared, lighting shooting between the sparks. Beside it appeared a large, black dragon with wide wings.

 

“I play `Cybernetic Archfiend' (1000, 2000) in defence mode, and `Kozaky' (300, 200) and `Giant Kozaky' (2500, 2450) in attack mode,” Fiona countered. A metal monster with grey and blue limps and skeletal wings appeared, wings closed over its torso. Beside it came a purple made in a white lab coat and floating white mass of claws and pincers, a giant purple face at the helm.

 

“Bad move! Infernal Dragon, attack Kozaky and end this!” Zane said. Infernal Dragon roared and launched a fireball.

 

“Reveal Trap `Shift'!” Fiona cried. A glowing silver aura appeared over Giant Kozaky. “This trap redirects your attack to my Giant Kozaky!” Zane gasped as the fireball changed course and hit the giant robot. Giant Kozaky beeped as a hatch opened on its chest to reveal a large machine gun. The gun sprayed the arena with bullets, holes appearing in Infernal Dragon's wings. The dragon groaned and fell forward.

 

-Zane LP: 1000, Fiona LP: 900-

 

“Amazing! After several fierce rounds, both of them are nearly neck and neck! I've haven't seen Zane trade blows like this in months!” the announcer cried. Zane looked at his hand

 

“Two more Cyber Dragons…if I summon one of them, I can defeat her next turn. But first I have to survive her monsters.” Zane looked at the other cards in his hand and nodded. “I place a card face-down and end my turn,” he said.

 

“Very well. My move,” Fiona countered, drawing. “I play `Draw Tribute'. By sending a monster on the field to the Graveyard, I can draw two cards. So I'll sacrifice my Cyber Archfiend!” the metal skeleton caught fire and vanished as Fiona drew. “Perfect. Now Kozaky, attack Cyberdark Lion!” the scientist leapt up and screeched, sending a blue wave of sound across the field. With a creak, the dark machine collapsed. “Now Giant Kozaky! Attack Zane directly!” the hatch of the machine opened and fired the bullets barrage.

 

“I reveal my Trap card! `Fusion Guard'!” Zane cried, fling his hand to the side as the card flipped up. “By sending a Fusion card from my deck to the Graveyard, my damage is cancelled!” Zane looked at his cards and thought. “I discard `Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon'!” the two-headed beast appeared and took the attack with a roar, vanishing in a silver sparkle.

 

“It matters not. This duel is won, Mr. Truesdale. I activate the Spell card `Goblin Tax Collector!” A fat goblin with a large sack appeared with a grin on its face. “This card activates when we have the same number of cards in our hands. Now they all get sent to the Graveyard!” Fiona explained. Zane gasped. “Now you and I both lose everything. The difference is I have a monster or two left. Seeing as how there's nothing left to do with no cards in hand, I'll end my turn now,” she finished.

 

“This is it! With no cards left, Zane as truly at the end of his rope! Pay attention folks, we may be seeing his first loss in years!” the announcer cried. Zane looked down at his deck.

 

“I have to draw something to protect myself,” he whispered. He narrowed his eyes and put a hand on his deck.

 

“It comes to this, Mr. Truesdale. Draw your final card and let us see who claims this victory!” Fiona called. Zane nodded and slipped the card into his hand. He flipped it over and smiled.

 

“It seems the victory is me,” he chuckled. “Fiona, you can analyze and calculate all you want. I have all I need right here, right now! Witness the power of rage! I activate the Spell card `Overload Fusion'!” Zane held the glowing card overhead as Fiona's eyes went wide.

 

“Now I can call on any Dark-attribute Machine card from my Fusion deck, as long as I remove the fusion material monsters for it from play in my Graveyard and field! So, Fiona, how many of my Machines have you destroyed in this duel? Let's count!” Zane crossed his arms as the holograms of the cards in his Graveyard appeared in the air behind him.

 

“I remove from play the following! Cyberdark Phoenix, Cyber Phoenix, Cyberdark Keel, Cyberdark Lion, Cyber Barrier Dragon, Cyber Laser Dragon, Proto-Cyber Dragon, and three copies of my Cyber Dragon!” He roared. A pillar of light burst from the ground behind him, casting a glow over the arena. A dark shadow rose from the pillar, a deep growl coming from the form. Fiona's eyes went wide as the light dispersed. Floating behind Zane was a long, black dragon with six long, sleek heads splitting off from its body.

 

“Behold, `Chimeratech Overdragon' (8000, 8000)!” Zane laughed, his eyes flashing. Fiona's jaw dropped.

 

“That…that's impossible!” she protested. “I calculated my victory! There was less than a three percent chance of you drawing that card!” Zane sneered.

 

“Calculate this! Chimeratech Overdragon, attack! Strident Cannon Burst!” he ordered. The six heads of the beast rose and opened their metal jaws. With a quick flash, six beams of yellow light shot across the field, blending into one and slamming into Fiona's field. Fiona's hair was blown back as the beam sliced through her monsters and exploded at her feet, sending her flying back into the wall of the arena.

 

-Zane LP: 1000, Fiona LP: 0000-

 

“What a remarkable finish! Against all odds, Zane Truesdale claims victory once again!” the announcer cried. Zane narrowed his eyes and turned to leave.

 

“These duelists are getting smarter,” he thought to himself, entering the hall to the locker rooms. “If I had made even one mistake, Fiona may have beaten me. I can't let that happen again. I don't care who I duel next, I'll crush them.” Zane smirked to himself and looked down at the Duel Disk on his arm. “And once I beat Aster, I'll find a way to get this damn disk off of me,” he added with an audible growl.

 

“Zane!” Zane stopped and turned to stare at the young woman jogging down the hall.

 

“What are you doing here?” he snapped. Alexis stopped and glared.

 

“Hey, no need to get the attitude with me!” she shot back. Zane inwardly flinched. Being conned into becoming Shroud's pet duelist wasn't her fault. Or was it? Zane would have to think about it later.

 

“Sorry,” he muttered. “What do you want?”

 

“I just wanted to congratulate you on your victory,” Alexis explained. “I know we haven't seen each other in a while, but I'm glad your career is still going strong.” Zane snorted.

 

“Yeah, so why are you happy for me? One more victory and I face your pal Aster. If anything I'd think you'd be all for my losing. After all, you know what he did to me. Do you really think I'm going to go easy on him when I get a second chance to crush him?” he asked. Alexis blinked.

 

“I…hadn't thought about that,” she admitted. It was true, she was glad Zane was doing well for himself. On the other hand, he probably was going to win the tournament and face Aster. Zane was her old friend, but Aster had helped her kick-start her career and his manager was giving her a home. Was it really right to be silently cheering for his biggest rival?

 

“Whatever. I don't need you to cheer for me anyway. Like you said, I'm doing just fine. I don't need a peanut gallery cheering for me to win,” Zane said, bringing her from her thoughts. Alexis watched him turn and continue down the hall.

 

“I know you don't need help from anyone, Zane, I've always known that,” she called. Zane stopped by kept facing forward as she continued. “But the fact is, even when you can take care of yourself….it's nice to not have to once in a while,” she whispered. Zane's scowl dissolved, and he turned, taking a breath.

 

“Alexis…” he murmured, staring at her. Alexis looked up.

 

“Mr. Truesdale!” Zane's scowl returned in full force as Shroud put a hand on his shoulder. “We've got business to attend to,” he snapped, walking away. Zane watch him go with a glare.

 

“Bye,” he tossed back, following. Alexis' shoulders slumped.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Aster pulled his jacket on and stepped down the steps of the manor, opening the door of his limo and climbing in. He slammed the door and pushed the button for the driver's speaker.

 

“Kaiba Dome,” he said. The speaker crackled.

 

“Right away, Mr. Phoenix,” the driver chuckled. Aster frowned. That didn't sound like his driver…

 

The pro's head hit the bat of his seat as the vehicle roared to life, tearing down the driveway and bashing through the gates. Aster was slammed into the window as the limo made a sharp right, away from Domino, and skidded off.

 

“What are you doing, what's going on?” Aster demanded, fumbling with the button for the speaker. There was no answer. Aster growled and turned, pulling up and the seat on the left to reveal a hidden compartment. He pulled on his Duel Disk and slammed it into the tinted window separating the driver's seat from the passenger section. Nothing. He tried again. The glass cracked. Aster gritted his teeth and slammed the machine into the glass once more. It shattered.

 

“Alright buddy, game over!” he cried, leaning his head through. Aster's eyes went wide. Sitting in the driver's seat as a small, black box with a small antennae coming from the side, and two black bars emerging from the top. Either bar was duct taped to the steering wheel, driving the car, with a third bar angled from the bottom and squeezing down the gas pedal. A video camera was taped to the dashboard looking out on the road.

 

Aster squeezed through the broken window and brought the Duel Disk on the black box, smashing it, before ripping the video camera off the dashboard and tossing out the window. He sat down in the driver's seat and looked out the window. Familiar rows of stone were racing past the car. A graveyard. Aster slammed on the brakes.

 

“Of course,” he growled, noting the car didn't even slow down the slightest bit. He looked down at the sideview mirror to see if there was anything behind him. Nothing. Aster looked back up and gasped. A large mausoleum loomed from the dark of the night. Aster pushed open the driver's door and dove to the ground as the limo crashed. The front of it crumbled, flames sprouting from the bent hood. Aster stood and stumbled away, the car exploding a few minutes later behind him. He stopped and turned to look at the wreck.

 

“Right on time, Mr. Phoenix.” Aster spun around. A tall, pale man stepped from the shadows. He wore a long, black coat with a high collar, and a black hat. Long, bony fingers clutched a dark brown cane with a brass knob at the top. A white fog spewed from the graveyard behind him.

 

“You bastard! Who are you?” Aster roared. The man smiled.

 

“The name is Morte, Terminus Morte. And you're right on schedule, Mr. Phoenix. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight to mourn the passing of the Professional League Champion,” he chuckled. “Look to your left, Mr. Phoenix,” Morte called. Aster turned. A freshly dug grave lay there, a pile of dirt with a shovel behind it. A series of candles below the tombstone illuminated the name. Aster Phoenix.

 

“Oh please, give me a break,” Aster snorted. “This isn't some kid's cartoon show, you think a tombstone with my name on it is gonna scare me?” Morte just smiled. “Alright, you kidnapped me, what do you want?”

 

“What kind of question is that? A duel, Mr. Phoenix. I'll defeat you and lay your battered, tortured soul to rest.”

 

“You want a piece of me, fine. Bring it on!” Aster snapped, turning on his Disk. Morte's dark smile grew wider. “Hey, where's your disk?” Aster asked. Morte chuckled.

 

“When you control the powers of the underworld like I do, you don't need a Duel Disk anymore,” he laughed. “It's time to duel, Mr. Phoenix, and unlike your namesake, when death comes for you, you won't be coming back!”

 

Unit Reverse

Spell

Offer 1 “Cyber Barrier Dragon” or “Cyber Laser Dragon” as Tribute. Special Summon 1 “Cyber Dragon” from your Graveyard.

 

Cyberdark Lion

3 Star DARK Machine

ATK: 1000

DEF: 300

Offer this card as Tribute to inflict this card's ATK as damage to both players Life Points

 

Goblin Tax Collector

Quick-Play Spell

Activate only when all players have the same number of cards in their hand (not counting this card). Both players look at each other's hands. You may then send all cards in both players' hands to the Graveyard.