Card of the Day: Brron, Mad King of Dark World
Episode 122: Triangle Shadow Game!
In a dark, dusty bar, jukebox music is playing as "Neo" sits at the bar, drinking from a bottle. He puts it down and sighs.
Sigma: Hey kid, not to sound pushy or something, but shouldn't you….I dunno, talk to those guys or something?
Neo: I don't want to talk to them. All they'll do is accuse me of being this Neo person again. I just don't want to do that again.
Sigma: Eh….whatever. I'm just a voice in your head. But you know…
Neo: Leave me alone!
Man: That kid over there is talking to himself.
Woman: Just ignore him.
Elsewhere, at a nearby table, a man is flipping over cards and grins as he flips over a card that oozes darkness.
Opening
At the usual booth, Axel looks as Alicia has an order of fries in front of her. Tamika hits him in the face.
Tamika: Would you quit drooling over her food?
Axel: Stuff it! I can't afford to eat out like this! Besides, she's just letting it sit there getting cold!
Alicia: I don't get it….why does he keep pretending that he doesn't know us? It just doesn't make any sense.
Axel: Hey, can I…
Alicia slides the fries over. He snickers and grabs a giant handful, chewing them all up. Tamika scowls at him and elbows him.
Axel: Hey!
Tamika: Knock it off. Alicia doesn't want to see you stuff your face.
Axel: Hey, I didn't have lunch yet. Besides, if she minded, she would have said something.
Alicia: I still can't wrap my head around it. Why would he say something like that and run off? There must be a reason.
Tamika: Look Alicia, we get how much you want this guy to be Neo, but you have to consider the possibility that he isn't.
Axel: Yeah, and if we keep bothering him, he's going to call the police on us. If he is the same guy, he'll come at his own leisure.
Alicia: No, there's something else going on. And I'm going to get to the bottom of it!
Tamika: Alicia….sorry, but we won't help you anymore.
Alicia: What do you mean?! Neo's our friend! Aren't you going to do anything?
Axel: Look, we've done all we could. Either we're mistaken or he isn't interested. Either way, he isn't going to just be our friend like that. Life just doesn't work like that.
Alicia: Fine. But I'm not giving up. Things will work out for the best. I know it. And if you won't help, sit here and get fat on those fries!
She storms off as Axel watches.
Axel: Says her. She was the one who ordered them.
Tamika: That's not the point. She's going to do something she'll regret. Jeez, she and Yusuke are more alike than they state to be.
Axel: Hey, come to think of it, where is Yusuke?
In a jail cell, Yusuke speaks to someone through a glass window.
Yusuke: I'm only going to ask you one more time.
Armen: And I'm only going to answer one more time. Why should I tell you anything?
Yusuke: You're going to answer my question! Is it possible for Neo to come back? Like, in some sort of second body?
Armen: How should I know? It's been a long time since I made Project Sigma.
Yusuke: Answer me! Is it possible?!
Armen: You are so obnoxious. I told you, I don't know. I only built one body for Neo. Of course, I never built them myself. It could be a prototype, or a model I intended to use later. Either way, he's not the Neo you knew before.
Yusuke: I refuse to believe that. The Neo I know will make sure to keep his heart.
Armen: …You really don't get it, do you? He's NOT like a human. He was a program. If this new Neo is a prototype, his memories of you would not be inside him. If he was a second model, he never even would have met you. The friend you know is gone forever, maybe not physical….but mentally.
Yusuke: Damn it! Talking to you is a waste of time! I'm leaving.
Armen: You are quite a puzzle. Out of all the people I've encountered, you are by far the strangest. It's so…imperfect.
Yusuke: Yeah? Well go look in the mirror. That's imperfection if I ever saw it.
He walks off. Armen looks away and turns to the bars as his red eye glows vaguely. In the square, Neo walks around.
Sigma: Hmph? Hey, what's with the leaderboard?
Neo: What do you mean?
He walks over to the leaderboard. People are crowded around as a message has been pasted to the leaderboard.
Kid: Hey, what's with this?
Man: Someone didn't have to leave a message here on the board. It ruins it. Not to mention the message makes no sense. Tonight, the warf? How s anyone supposed to know who it's for or who it's from?
Sigma: You getting the same sinking inkling that I am?
Neo: Jeez. I told those guys I was done with them.
Sigma: So let's just ignore it. That'll really show those morons, huh!?
Neo: No…I'll go.
Sigma: Can I ask why?
Neo: If it'll get them to leave me alone….I'll do anything at this point.
Sigma: …Jeez, whatever. Do as you please kid. I'm just trying to spare you pain.
Neo looks down and walks off. The man in the cloak grins and follows him. In a dark room, 10 of the seats are taken.
Tiger: You're kidding. AGAIN?
Faust: The Father is sick. He needs time to rest.
Pig: Rasputin must be taking care of him. How sweet.
In a dark room with stain glass window, Vergil is coughing, vomiting into a bucket filling with blood. Rasputin stands by the side with a concerned look as Vergil shivers.
Vergil: Another…injection…
Faust: In the meantime, we must resume business.
Horse: Not that I am complaining, but why are you leading the discussion? I thought you hated doing stuff like this.
Faust: Believe me, I do. But a direct order from the Father is one I will not refuse. The only matter I really feel like discussing is the disappearance of Grendel.
Snake: Grendel eh? If you ask me, he went out to prove himself. After all, he went on and on about joining the Inner Circle and we turned him down.
Dog: This could be a problem. The Crossed Brotherhood never officially gave him an assignment. If the Father catches wind of it…
Rabbit: I think it'll be fun. Let's see the fireworks.
Ox: Oh yeah. Grendel's had it coming for a long time. I want to see him get punished.
Horse: Now, let's not get too hasty here. After all, he is a comrade. No one wants to speak ill of a comrade.
Faust: …I agree. Unless he proves to be an issue, we'll stand and watch. If so…we'll stop him where he stands.
At the docks, Alicia sits watching the water. A few seconds later, Neo sits down next to her.
Neo: This is an odd place for a meeting.
Alicia: I thought it would be fitting. We went here once, as a party before the ROFGP..
Neo: Sorry, you must have me mistaken for someone else.
Alicia: You're still playing that angle are you?
Neo: I'll keep playing that angle. There's nothing I have to hide. All I speak is the truth. Why is that so hard for you to accept?
Alicia: What can I say? There are just some things I can't let go. I knew there's something more to this story. I will get to the bottom of it. No matter what it takes?
Neo: ….Fine. I'll fight you one last time. But this time, you will leave me alone.
Alicia: I was hoping for that. Let's d…
Suddenly, dark fog appears. Neo and Alicia look confused as Neo tenses.
Sigma: Whoa….getting some funky signals here.
???: Meh heh. Finally found you.
The man steps forward, grinning. Neo and Alicia look horrified as he approaches. A dark circle surrounds all there and releases a cloud of darkness.
???: This is just what I was hoping to see. Two souls, ready for Harvesting.
Alicia: You…you're one of the Crossed Brotherhood!
Neo: Hold on! What's going on?!
Alicia: This guy is an enemy. Neo, we need to fight him!
Neo: what?! I didn't sign up for this! No way!
???: Too late. Grendel does not want his enemy escaping so easily. I will not allow such a thing. Once the Shadow Game has begun, there's no escape.
Sigma: He's right kid. Something is going on here. We might not have a choice.
Neo: Damn it….are you kidding? Alright, no choice.
Alicia: Here we go Neo. We have to win.
Grendel: That's the spirit. We'll follow Triangle Duel rules.
All 3: Duel! [Neo LP = 4000][Grendel LP = 4000][Alicia LP= 4000].
All over the city, Fate Crystals start to rattle. Everyone looks shocked.
Axel: Don't even tell me…
Grendel: I'll start the duel off if you don't mind. Draw! I set one card. Now I summon Zure, Knight of Dark World [ATK 1800/DEF 1500 LV 4]. You go.
Neo: A Dark World deck? This shouldn't be any trouble. I draw. I summon Vylon Hapt [ATK 1800/DEF 800 LV 4]. I set two cards and end my turn.
Alicia: Here we go, draw. This is bad. I was only planning to fight Neo, but I have to deal with this Grendel guy now as well. I need to get Neo alone. So Grendel is going to be my first target. Alright, no problem! I draw a card. I summon Armored Guardian of the Treasure in defense mode [ATK 0/DEF 2000 LV 4]. I set a card and end my turn.
Grendel: Hmph. Pitiful. I'll show you how a real duelist battles! Draw! Eh. I use Dark World Dealings. Now we all draw a card and then discard one.
Neo: Our hands are the same number. Why…?
Grendel: Since Broww, Huntsman of Dark World was discarded, I draw a card. And now I use Dark World Lightning. I discard one card to destroy a set card. I choose your Trap, Alicia.
Alicia: Damn…at least my monster is okay.
Grendel: Since Scarr, Scout of Dark World was discarded, I add a level 4 or below Dark World monster to my hand. Now I summon Brron, Mad King of Dark World [ATK 1800/DEF 400 LV 4]. Set card, Dark Core. This lets me discard a card and remove from play one monster. I discard this and remove Guardian from play. And since this monster was discarded, he revives. Come on, Sillva, Warlord of Dark World [ATK 2300/DEF 1400 LV 5]
Alicia: Three monsters!
Grendel: Battle! Brron, Sillva, and Zure attack directly.
Sigma: Whoa! If that hits, it'll be a One- Turn Kill!
Alicia: I use the Trap card, Veil of Heaven. Before it was destroyed, I activated this card. Now all Battle Damage I take this turn is halved [5900/2 = 2950]
All three monsters ram Alicia as a barrier appears. They all spit darkness and she flies back, hitting the shadow wall [Alicia LP = 1050]
Neo: Alicia!
Alicia: !? What's with this pain?
Grendel: Fun, huh? This is the consequence of entering a Shadow Game with me. Girl, prepare to face pain 10 times as intense. I use the power of Brron. Since he dealt damage, you must discard a card.
Alicia: At this rate, I won't have any cards left.
Neo: Not as if I care, but if you want someone to damage, focus on me. I can give you much more of a challenge! Here we go, draw. I summon Vylon Ohm [ATK 1500/DEF 200 LV 4]. I Overlay level 4 Vylon Ohm and level 4 Vylon Hapt.
Ohm and Hapt become lights that fly into a spiral.
Neo: With these monsters, I construct the Overlay Network! Show yourself, Exceed Summon! Recycle Rerhinobot [ATK 2700/DEF 2000 RANK 4]. Battle! Attack Zure!
It roars and charges forward, barreling down the monster. Grendel hisses as the monster's rebound hits him. [Grendel LP = 3100].
Grendel: Exceed monsters….not bad.
Alicia: Thanks, Neo!
Neo: I didn't do it or you. A duelist naturally aims to deal damage. It has nothing to do with another.
Alicia: But Neo…
Neo: Enough. You're as much of my enemy as he is. Once I've beaten him, you're next.
Grendel: What's wrong? Trouble in paradise?
Neo: Mind your business! Before I end my turn, I equip my monster with Vylon Component. Turn end.
Alicia: Alright, here goes. Time to stop playing around. Right now I need a good draw. Here we go! I summon Silent Ninja of the Pond [ATK 800/DEF 600 LV 3]. This monster can wage a direct attack on my opponent. Go, Silent Kunai!
It leaps into the air and tosses the kunai. It speeds by Grendel and he steps back [Grendel LP = 2300].
Grendel: Pfft.
Alicia: Don't "pfft" me! You know that hurt! I set a card and end my turn.
Grendel: This is what you're giving me? I feel bad for getting so pumped. I might as well not even waste time on you losers anymore. Here we go, draw! Heh. Get ready for this! Field Spell, The Gates of Dark World!
A large gate appears. Neo and Alicia look in shock as it begins to creak open.
Neo: I don't know what that thing is, but I won't let you use it! Trap…
Grendel: Trap card, Trap Stun. This negates the effects of all Traps until the end of the turn.
Neo: No…
Grendel: That means the effect of my Gate is still active. As long as this is out, all Fiend type monsters gain 300 attack and defense points. Both my monsters gain a power boost [ATK 2100/DEF 700 LV 4][ATK 2600/DEF 1700 LV 5].
Neo: His monsters keep growing in power…
Grendel: Now I use the power of The Gates of Dark World. I can remove a Fiend type monster from play, and then discard another Fiend type monster to draw a card. Since this monster was discarded, it revives. Come on, Goldd, Wu- Lord of Dark World [ATK 2300-2600/DEF 1400-1700 LV 5]. Battle. Brron attacks your Ninja. This is the end!
Alicia: I use the power of this monster, Last Survivor of the Ruined Paradise. By discarding this, cards cannot affect me. And not only that, the Battle Phase comes to an end right there.
Grendel: But it's still enough to finish you!
Neo: Alicia!
It laughs and cuts through the monster, making it blow up. Alicia screams in pain as she moves towards her Duel Disk.
Alicia: I remove this monster from play. Little Bulb of the Peaceful Forest. When I remove this card, my life points go up by 400 [Alicia LP = 1450].
The claws hit her and send her flying back against the wall, slamming into it as she slides down [Alicia LP = 150].
Grendel: Your loss. That's fine. My Battle Phase comes to an end. But this is only the beginning. I'll feed both your souls to the Underworld.
Neo looks at the wounded Alicia. He shivers as he remembers Yusuke being injured in the battle against Angelo and Diablo. Grendel snickers and begins to laugh as Neo turns to him with a scared look.
To be continued
Baron: Today, we'll be going over The Gates of Dark World. It raises the attack and defense points of all Fiends by 300. Also, by removing and discarding a Fiend, you can draw a card. Soon, you'll be swarmed by Dark World monsters.
He looks around with fear and sees Dark World monsters are surrounding him and laughing. He screams as they jump on him.