Tsunozuka looked impressed, finally seeing Taiyou do something impressive. He crossed his arms, seeing his monster taken out. Shooting from his deck and graveyard were one card from each, one from Reverse's effect and one from Pandemonium's effect. Luckily for him, he could benefit from one of his opponent's cards, adding Edge Imp Tomahawk back to his hand and Shadow Tamer (which counted as an archfiend) to his hand from his deck. However, as the dragon struck him, Tsunozuka's lifepoints were brought down to a mere 500. Looking back at the state of the game, Tsunozuka actually appeared to be losing, if only because of his opponent's Swords of Revealing Light.
"Draw!" Tsunozuka shouted angrily. Due to his life point total, he was unable to gather further advantage using Archfiend's Oath. Luckily for him, Tsunozuka still had a five cards in hand. "First, I'll activate the field spell, Archfiend Palabyrinth. Next, I'll use Edge Imp Sabre's effect from the grave to special summon himself! Next, I activate the effect of Archfiend Palabyrinth. It allows me to banish one fiend-type monster, then special summon one archfiend monster with the same level from my hand, deck, or graveyard! I choose Archfiend Vizier! Archfiend Vizier's effect activates, allowing him to special summon a level 4 or lower Archfiend. I choose Shadow Tamer! Level 3 tuner Archfiend Vizier and Level 3 Shadow Tamer! Synchro Summon! Return to me, Archfiend Reverse!"
Archfiend Reverse reappeared on the field making its signature distorted screaming. "I normal summon Archfiend Marmot of Nefariousness. Next, Archfiend Reverse's special ability activates. You already know what it lets me destroy a card I control and forces you to also tribute a monster! I choose Archfiend Marmot! Now you choose!" Tsunozuka had already added a card from his hand from the effect of Pandemonium.
Archfiend Vizier Level 3 DARK fiend-type tuner effect monster 100/100 If this card is Special Summoned by the effect of an "Archfiend" card, you can reveal 1 level 4 or lower "Archfiend" monster in your hand and Special Summon it.
(Also, I'm retconning Archfiend Reverse's second effect so it only adds fiend-types and from his own graveyard. I don't know what I was thinking letting it add any card to the hand)
With Dokurorider's attack, Panik had jumped away from the castle, a silhouette. "Action Card, Miracle!" he declared. A puff of smoke appeared between Dokurorider Heisei and Palace of Dark Illusion, with the both of them still standing. Though there were no life points in this match, the force of losing lifepoints still hit the Player Killer of Darkness who shielded himself from the pain.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, before drawing a card. "Remember the effect of Palace of Dark Illusions? There was a card that was set from its special ability. Flip Summon, Night Assailant! Night Assailant's Special Ability activates, allowing me destroy one of your monsters!"
Player Killer of Darkness Side ST (empty) - ST (empty) - ST (empty) - ST (empty) - ST (empty) MM (empty) - MM (empty) - MM (???, LZ) - MM (empty) - MM (empty, LZ) (Ghoulish Rider)EM[DOKURORIDER HEISEI?] [LINK PALACE]EM (Panik's) MM (empty) - MM (empty) - MM[EM/SW] (empty) - MM (empty) - MM[EM/SE] (empty) ST (empty) - ST (empty) - ST (empty) - ST (empty) - ST (empty) Ghoulish Rider - Traveler of Highway of Hell Side
After having left the orphanage, Thames had quickly realized that he was, again, alone. At least, as much as one could be on the island. After all, he could still hear the other children talking to one another, becoming a whole group, discussing who would take charge. The amount of cohesion they had was bizarre. He always felt the other children being too obnoxious to be capable of team work. At least, not at the level of gears. Though, there was nothing to Thames that could match the intricacies of gears grinding against one another, the simply motion driving all sorts of different machinery, all the cogs working together to perform a single task, or perhaps multiple depending on their design with endless possibilities, unhindered by personal goals or ambitions, hopes, dreams, fear, politics, religion.
Thames thought to leave before anybody had caught him outside, though a part of him felt that the others didn't really care much for him. He didn't care- he didn't need them anyways. Then, just as luck would have it, he heard the fluttering of wings. Such a sound, wasn't uncommon. He was used to those who could fly, having lived with winged individuals at the orphanage. Thames looked upward to see a familiar face, and scowled.
"What do you want bird brain? Leave me alone. I don't have any bread today." He shooed Dodo away.
"A weak open is indicative of a weak opponent. Maybe I was wrong about you. Draw." he took a look at the card he drew, smiled menacingly, then put the card in his hand. "I'll normal summon the monster card, Castle of Dark Illusions!" he stated. Flying over head, materialized a flying castle, looming ominously in the night sky. "Next, I'll play the spell card, Double Summon! It allows me to summon an extra card this turn. I choose the card Slate Warrior! Arise." A humanoid creature materialized from underneath the flying castle.
"They aren't staying for long. Now! Witness for the first time, a new summoning method! I offer up my Castle of Dark Illusions and my Slate Warrior! Link Summon! Link 2, Palace of of Dark Illusions!" Panik rose his hand as Slate Warrior was drawn into the symbol on Castle of Dark Illusions, coalescing as mist surrounded them. The Player Killer of Darkness too had vanished, and in his place, the silhouette of a large, palatial building floating in the air, though the other duelist no where to be seen.
The castle disappeared for a moment, reappearing on top of the Ghoulish Rider's monsters. A single bomb was dropped on top of Mezuki.
Palace of Dark Illusions (SW SE) DARK Fiend-type Link monster 1930 / LINK - 2 2 Flip Monsters If this Link Summoned card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the graveyard, special summon 1 fiend-type flip effect monster from your hand, deck, or graveyard in face-up defense position. Monsters in this cards linked zones gain the following effect. •Once per turn: You can change this card to face-down defense position.
The duelist nodded as he took the 2300 damage from his zero attack monster, shrugging off the damage as if it were nothing. All that was left defending him were two set cards: One monster, and one spell or trap. In spite of his massive disadvantage in life points, he didn't seem entirely defeated, even seeing that Horus had the capability to level up, and he indeed knew level monsters.
Carnel allowed himself a small grin of triumph. The Pot of Greed proved to be a lifesaving draw. However, the Duel was not over yet. Carnel still needed to make preparations for a possible return comeback.
"I won't take any chances against you, Manjoume," Carnel said. "Before I end my turn, I activate my face-down card: Royal Decree! This negates all other Trap cards on the field-"
"-san da" the big-haired duelist added. His own face-down activated. "I chain in response, Ojamable. It allows me to Special Summon any Ojama monster that was destroyed by battle this turn. Because it activates first on the chain, it is not negated by Royal Decree. Not that you didn't know. Come back, Ojama King in attack mode." Once again, Carnel found three of his monster zones blocked off.
"-Also, during the End Phase, if Horus has managed to destroy a monster by battle, it rises in Level and enters its final form!" Carnel explained. He then began to chant, "Dragon of magic-repelling hide, lay waste to your foes! Level Up! Arise, Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8!" Horus began to glow a brilliant white light, morphing into the shape of a true dragon, and as the glow subsided, the metallic dragon let out a half-screech, half-roar as it completed its transformation.
"And with that, I end my turn," Carnel said.
The trenchcoat wearing man drew his next card.
"Flip summon." he answered, smiling. Suddenly, the environment felt slightly colder, as a snowman appeared on the field. Once again, this monster had zero attack points. As it was summoned, Horus had become covered in a block of ice before shattering.
"I too have the card Pot of Greed," he answered, "but I don't have it in my hand. Instead, I'll activate the card Terraforming! With it, I can add one field spell from my deck to my hand. I'll choose Ojama Country! Battle."
"Draw" the duelist declared, his hair shaking in the process. One of his face down cards revealed itself- Polymerization. "From my hand, I'll send Ojama Yellow, Ojama Green, and Ojama Black to the graveyard, in order to fusion summon Ojama King!" His three monsters joined hands, apparently speaking to one another as they swirled together to form a single white mass. It was stuck in attack mode with its whopping zero attack, though three of Carnel's monster zones were blocked off.
"Next, from my hand, I'll activate the field spell Ojama Country!" he stated. It started to feel a lot like the last duel. Obviously, he didn't have time to change out his cards. Then suddenly, zero attack became three thousand. "Ojama King, attack his face down monster."
The face-down monster was revealed to be Spirit Reaper, who blocked Ojama King's punch through an invisible barrier, despite a measly 300 DEF. "Because of Spirit Reaper's effect, it cannot be destroyed by battle," Carnel explained.
Jun nodded, immediately understanding Carnel's strategy, though at the moment had no responses to it, or at least none that he was leading on.
"Just like I thought. No skill. No strength. You don't deserve to have those archfiend cards. In fact, you don't even deserve that field spell!" Tsunozuka hassled after drawing his card for turn. He mumbled, seeing that though there were no monsters protecting him, Taiyo's life points were still safe, hiding behind those pesky swords.
Rather than respond to Fyodor verbally, Panik simply backed away. "ACTION FIELD" a voice droned. "THE NIGHT", a seemingly different voice stated in a different, more solemn tone. Suddenly, the auditorium disappeared, giving way to a dark forest and a moonless, starless night, several light points rendered by the solid vision projectors of the auditorium following the two duelists being the only illumination, being just enough to see their cards as well as each other's faces.
Panik gestured toward Fyodor. "Go ahead. You can go first."
As Fyodor stepped into the auditorium, he was greeted by the ominous sound of organ playing. Down in the pit, a man in a thick jacket and large hair covered in a purple cap which appeared like the attribute circle for dark monsters. Upon arrival of the Ghoulish Rider, the organ playing had stopped and the man revealed himself.
His appearance was ominous, as he resembled the Player Killer of Darkness- shortened simply as Panik- who had allegedly gone missing twenty years ago during Pegasus's Duelist Kingdom Tournament, never to be seen again. Beforehand, however, he was known for his brutality in duels.
"Welcome, he who calls himself a servant of the dark lord. I have been waiting for you." he started. "I trust you've heard the news this morning. That is, the news about the rules changes. Your duel disk has, after all, already been modified for them." Panik stepped out of his piano bench and kicked it out of the pit before strapping a duel disk around his pelvis.
The doors suddenly closed, a clicking noise suggesting that they had become locked. "I was tasked to give out Link Monsters to all who I believed worthy, and I don't see anyone who would be more worthy than one who appreciates the powers of the Lightbringer. But! They also didn't say how I could deem one's worth and indeed, what should happen to those who aren't worthy. And as you'll soon find out, there is no getting out of this. You can either duel me, win, and get out, or you can stay in here and rot. Your choice." he laughed nefariously.
"I'll set the conditions. I chose the auditorium because it was modified to accommodate action duels, which I trust you know about. It will be solid vision with mass- meaning the pain from all my monsters will be all the more real. There will be no life points for this match. Instead, it will be an "I quit" match. Meaning the duel will only end when one of us says the words "I quit", and he who does not, will be the winner."
"You know what? I'll activate what I wanna activate! And you know what else? Archfiend Reverse's effect works on your turn too! I'll target itself for its ability, and thanks to that, you also tribute a monster!" Tsunozuka boasted angrily. A smoke cloud appeared over the two demons and when it finally subsided, the both of them had their necks in between scissor blades, before being cleanly chopped off in a manner that only computer graphics could produce, pixels and all.
"I'll choose Edge Imp Tomahawk, and it'll be added to my hand while Archfiend Reverse goes back to my Extra Deck. To my hand from my deck, thanks to Pandemonium, I'll also add Archfiend Atheling, and that means I can special summon it!" Tsunozuka appeared very smug at that point.
"Draw" he savored the moment, slowly taking his time to pull the card from his deck. "Heh. I don't need it anyway. Normal summon, Edge Imp Tomahawk! Level 2 tuner Red Resonator and Level 4 Edge Imp Tomahawk... SYNCHRO SUMMON! Everything it turned back. Return to me! Come, the barbarian barber of beelzebub! Level 6 Archfiend Reverse! I'll set a card and end my turn." he spat.
"Aren't you from the Stardust House? You should be a master of synchro summoning. Why aren't you using a Synchro monster?"
Before Carnel could end his turn, the man in the trench coat wagged his finger. One of his facedown cards was flipped face-up, Twin Twisters. "I'll discard one of my cards, and in return, I can destroy two of your spell or trap cards (whichever two)." he explained. "The card I discarded was Ojamagic, and when it goes from my hand or field from the graveyard, I can add one Ojama Yellow, one Ojama Green, and one Ojama Black from my deck to my hand." In that single move, he had taken out two of Carnel's cards and drawn three, all before even drawing a card.
Thames tapped rhythmically at the side of his trousers with his right index finger. Every six taps the minute hand of his pocket watch ticked up by one minute. He stared, watching mostly quietly at Mr. Fritz who began what were very much his last words, as spoken of by himself. Concepts of things such as "future" were a trivial matter to Thames. After all, his dominion was over time itself! Little did he care for what this man had said. Indeed, when he finally passed, in spite of emotions running high in the room, Thames looked toward the decrepit corpse of the old man and the girl crying over him, feeling no more worsened by such turn of events. Thames had never taken the man for granted. After all, Mr. Fritz was the first human being he had spoken to ever as far as he could remember. Sentimentality, however, was not something Thames cared too much about.
Thames's eyes wandered around the room, not wanting to focus so much on the dead body. The first person he noticed was Senna, who Thames had always regarded as a crazy person. Judging by her pent up body language and her facial expression, the particular positioning of her muscles as seen by Thames, she was evidently angry.
The next person was Ansgar. Thames always hated him, though he could never really fathom any particular reason as to why. He hadn't expressed it openly, though had many a time "accidentally" left an ice cube or two out of his drink, or left a particular spot uncleaned if he knew Ansgar was the next person to clean after him. This was not out of spite though, at least not as far as Thames was concerned.
"Oh. And they're talking to one another." Thames grimaced, wanting to spit if there weren't so many people around, instead swallowing his saliva as he watched scornfully as the two interacted with one another. When a third person; Sai, who Thames also disliked; joined in the conversation, he looked away, not wanting them to drag him in as well.
After them, his focus was turned to the distinct cawing noise which he had associated with Dodo, who like Senna, Thames believed to be a crazy person, though for different reasons. Even if he had the mind to approach her, she had already left the building. Thames rolled his eyes. It wasn't as if she'd have anything substantial to say anyways.
Then, starting a commotion, Zahn. For whatever reason, he felt the need to rally everybody together as if his words had any weight to them. Thames certainly didn't care. Thames didn't quite like this person either. He thought him stuck up. Plus, Thames didn't like cats. He always thought them unnerving and disliked the way they glared, and Zahn was certainly cat-like, up to his pompous attitude.
Nim was not someone Thames ever bothered with, in fact he had hardly even bothered to remember her name. After all, time was a precious thing for Thames and he didn't want to waste it on such a person.
The boy, not wanting to be in the room any more, fled quietly through the window, the same place that Dodo had made her exit though in a different manner. Thames, after all, didn't have all the handy bird features at his disposal. Using his powers, he slowed his fall enough to grab onto a pole, turning around it burn off the extra energy before dropping to the ground.
"Hmph" he thought, hands in his pockets as he wandered off in search of nothing in particular.
Background: At the start of his life, Thames could not remember the reassuring touch of his mother or father not could he remember any warm words spoken by them. From the beginning, all that Thames could remember hearing was an incessant ticking at the back of his head. Indeed, Thames was born among machinery and raised by clockwork constructs which fed, bathed, and clothed him until he was old enough to do these things himself and the constructs had eventually broke down when Thames was aged eight. At that year, he didn't have the ability to fix these machines, almost starving to death until being taken in by an orphanage where he lived the rest of his life. There, Thames worked on building machines, tinkering with watches in order to practice until he could work on larger machinery. At the age of ten, Thames manifested his abilities, though were unsure exactly of how to use them, simply because they appeared weak and their effects were subtle at best. When he finally realized what he was doing, he was fourteen.
Equipment: Apart from his clothing, Thames also carries around a pocket watch, a set of keys to a house which may or may not be torn down, and a watch repair kit.
Level: 1. Attribute: Fluid Skills: Machine Repair, History, Perceptiveness Affinity: Wind Gift: Thames possesses the power of limited time dilation. At will, everything in an immediate area of Thames experiences time differently from everything else around him. For the most part, he speed up time around himself so that he personally can appear to be moving faster, actually experiencing time at a slower rate than everything around him. He can also slow himself down, making himself experience things faster, giving him more leeway to react to incoming objects. Of course, all of this could be construed simply as super speed and everything in regards to time may be completely made up.
Punished GN