Episode 146: I'll Seek the True Me

Dante: I...used to be a founding member of the Crossed Brotherhood.

Everyone gasps as Alicia holds her hand over her mouth. Dante looks around and rubs the back of his head.

Dante: Well…that didn't quite as peachy as I expected. I understand it must be shocking but…

Axel punches him in the face as he falls back.

Axel: You liar! All this time you've been on their side haven't you?! Were you ever loyal to us?!

Tamika: Axel, give it a rest! Axel!

Axel: Stuff it! You feel the same way right?! He betrayed us all.

Yusuke: Axel, let's at least give him a chance to defend himself…

Dante: No, he's right. I'm not loyal to you guys. Really, I just hoped to ask for your help in taking them down.

Seth: If you knew about them all this time, why did you do nothing about them?

Dante: It's not that I didn't do anything. ..No, I suppose that isn't true. I was doing what I could...but I knew I was too weak to beat them myself. That's why I sought you guys. I knew if I recruited you, we might have a chance of winning. You guys have no idea how powerful they are. Even you couldn't beat them alone Yusuke.

Alicia: I get the feeling there is more to this story.

Tamika: Yeah. Spill.

Dante sighs and runs his fingers through the back of his head.

Dante: Very well. But please don't look down on me afterwards. Here goes…

Opening

In the dark room, the rest of the Zodiac is seated. A new member stays silent.

Ox: Yo, new Rooster? What's with the sad face? Turn that frown upside-down.

Brutus: Why did you pull that one soul out Vergil? If you don't mind me saying, I find it insulting to those who gave their lives at Olympus Castle.

Vergil: There is no need to feel that way. You see, the final plan is already in motion. I only require a new Rooster to delay us time. I called you all here to tell you the final battle will be starting.

Charlotte: Does this mean our grand objective is almost completed?

Vergil: 90%. All we need are the final souls and the Inferno will be complete.

Rasputin: Then there is no need for us to fear.

Faust: You forgot something. The ones who hold the Fate Crystals will be coming after us.

Vergil: That is exactly what we want. That is why we called this meeting. Fight for your life and with all your strength. Only at the end of the battle will our objective be complete. Dismissed.

They all get up and walk off. Rasputin slowly stands while leaning on his staff and sees Dex is still seated.

Rasputin: Why are you still here Rat? The father said we were done here. Return to your quarters and await further instructions.

Dex: …I won't.

Rasputin: I don't believe I heard you correctly Rat. Did you deny an order from the father?

Dex: Tell me Rasputin…what did you go to me?!

He stands up and his chair falls over. Rasputin looks down with disgust as Dex looks at his hands.

Dex: I've been…feeling so many emotions. I look at myself and think is this really me? I'm not like this! Dad…my friends...they would never want me to be like this! Tell me, what did you go to make me like this?! What have you done to my heart?!

Rasputin: You still are a stupid boy. For one thing, it was Faust that did something to you. Second, he did not DO anything to you. The way you act now has always been in your heart. All Faust did was bring it out. This is you Dex, whether you like or not. Besides, you chose to go down this path. There is no going back.

Dex: Maybe not…but anything's better than this life! Return me to the way I was right now!

Rasputin: Hmph. I knew Faust did a bad job with you. If I were him, I would have dipped your entire soul in darkness. Looks like I'll need to do the job properly.

He holds his staff to his chest and if fuses to a plate, folding out into a Duel Disk as he draws with his other hand.

Dex: Looks like I don't really have a choice in the matter. I'll take you down so the others do not have too!

He activates his.

Both: Duel! [Dex LP = 4000] [Rasputin LP = 4000]

In a polluted city, a young child sits with garbage and looks with sad eyes at the people driving by.

Dante: I grew up in a world of dirt and smog. I did not even know my parents and I don't know them now. Back then though, I had important things to duel with. Getting food every day, trying to stay clean, hell, even just finding a place to sleep was tough. But I was smart. I taught myself how to read and write and I started school.

A still young Dante is punched to the ground. He tries to stand as some thugs pick him up.

Kid: What's this, that all you got? Listen up street dirt, you don't belong in society. People like you are born trash, live like trash, and die trash. You don't belong in the world of humans.

He kicks Dante again and walks off laughing with his friends. The young Dante coughs and stands up, shaking and glaring.

Dante: I hated the entire world. I cursed my nameless parents for abandoning me to live in poverty and mud. I cursed my classmates for looking at me for what I was, not who. I cursed the world for being a place where people like me couldn't live. And I even cursed the Sun for shining regardless of the pain and misery. One day, I contracted a rare illness and had to be hospitalized for a brief time. There I cursed the world even more for my bad faith. But that changed…when I met Vergil.

Rasputin: Here I go, draw! I set two cards face down. Next I set a monster and end my turn.

Dex: Here I go, draw! He's a high ranking member of the Brotherhood. If I can take him down, I'll have dealt a huge blow to them. I summon Machina Sniper [ATK 1800/DEF 800 LV 4]. Shoot his face down monster!

Rasputin: Trap card, Barrier Hold. When a set monster is attacked, I can negate its destruction.

The bullets hit the monster and fly back. The set monster flips up in shadows as Sniper's eyes glow.

Dex: What?!

Rasputin: My set monster is Aussa the Earth Charmer. [ATK 500/DEF 1500 LV 3]. When flipped up, she lets me gain control of an EARTH monster. Dex, your monster is EARTH.

Dex: Damn. You knew I used EARTH monsters, so you set a Trap for me. I'm going to run away though! I also set two cards and end my turn. Sakuretsu Armor and Battle Mania. Just try and attack. I'll be ready.

Rasputin: My turn, draw! Continuous Trap, Xing Zhen Hu. As long as this is on the field, two of your set cards are sealed. I choose those two.

Dex: No!

Rasputin: Now I release Aussa and Machina Sniper for Dark Magician [ATK 2500/DEF 2100 LB 7]. You have no monsters on the field or any Spells and Traps. So this is most likely going to hurt boy. Dark Magician, direct attack! Dark Magic!

It spins the staff, firing a ball of magic at Dex. It hits him and he screams in pain, being sent flying back [Dex LP = 1500]. He struggles to stand.

Rasputin: That is the power of true darkness boy. The power you claim you do not desire. Yet you came all this way to obtain it.

Dex: That was before I realized how insane this was! Do you have any idea what Vergil is even after?!

Rasputin: Mind you tongue boy. The father is the only one we can trust in this world. I would follow him to the edge and behind. As long as I can support him, I do not care what he plans to do. I set a card and end my turn.

Dex: You can just mindlessly support him like that? I'll show you that blind faith isn't enough! I draw! I summon my Machina Buster [ATK 2500/DEF 100 LV 4]. Battle! Attack Dark Magician!

Rasputin: Ho? Their attack points are the same. The most you can hope for is a draw.

Dex: Rocket Rain.

It fires rockets at Dark Magician. It blasts magic trying to destroy the rockets and takes most of them out, but one speeds by and hits Magician as it blows up, a stray magic blast blowing up Buster as well. Rasputin glances at his set card, but doesn't react.

Dex: Alright, at least we're even now. I set a card and end my turn.

Rasputin: You truly are a fool boy. Believing that simply because neither of us have monsters it is a draw. Here I go, draw!

Dex: I just noticed…he doesn't use his right arm when he duels. Come to think of it, I've never seen him use his right arm.

Rasputin: I summon Neo the Magic Swordsman [ATK 1700/DEF 1000 LV 4]. I don't need to go all out to end this boy. If I had to, it would be an insult to the Brotherhood. Neo, finish him off and send him into darkness! Magical Cut!

Dex: Don't think so! Trap, Call of the Haunted! Now one monster is revived from my graveyard. I bring back Machina Sniper, which is stronger than Neo the Magic Swordsman [ATK 1800/DEF 800 LV 4].

Rasputin: You really believe I would not have a card set up just for this possibility? I use the Quick- Play Rush Recklessly. This powers up my monster by 700 [ATK 2400/DEF 1000 LV 4].

Neo draws its sword and cuts through Machina Sniper, blowing it up. Dex gasps and is shot back by the pure force of the attack [Dex LP = 800].

Dex: No way…how did he get me? Did he really think I would do that?

Rasputin: I'm a genius you see. I examine all possibilities before I make a move. Your moves are so obvious a seven year old would see through them. If you plan on beating us with this pitiful resistance, then you have no hope.

Dex: No…I won't give in! I believe my cards will beat you!

Dante keeps telling his story as he looks down in sorrow.

Dante: We were drawn to each other instantly. We were both brilliant, far more brilliant than the world warranted. I remember like it was yesterday. We used to sneak out of our rooms every night and talk for hours on end. In him, I finally found what I sought, a comrade.

Dante interrupts his story and begins to hack, gasping for air. Everyone quickly gets up as Dante holds a hand up, stuffing a donut into his mouth and swallows it, hyperventilating.

Yusuke: Are you you're okay?

Dante: No. I haven't been okay in years. It's the illness I was telling you about.

Alicia: Didn't you get a treatment at the hospital?

Dante: Yes…and no. You see, my illness is unique. As of late, there is currently no cure for what I have. I've been forced to live with this ailment by entire life. Donuts have always helped to keep it down, but the doctors said I only have a limited amount of time. 30 years, 30 days, hell, I might die in the next 30 seconds. My body will just quit on me one day.

Axel: Cry us a river. Finish your damn story.

Tamika: I hate to agree with him, but that is more important.

Dante: Right, right. Basically…we talked about a lot of things, but one kept coming up.

Vergil: Dante…this world is rotten to the core. The people are rotten. The weather is rotten. Luck is rotten. The world is even lighted by a rotting sun. Dante…let's change things. We can do it. We can make a better world where everyone can live together in harmony.

Dante: …I don't know. I mean, can we really change the whole world?

Vergil: Of course we can! As long as we work together, we can do anything!

The younger Dante smiles and shakes hands with Vergil.

Dante: And that was that. Together, we began to gather followers to help us with our goal. We mainly looked for outcasts like us, people who had been rejected by the world. After a while, we gathered a fair number of people. We were brothers allied together, crossed like a pair of swords in our grand quest. And so we became…the Crossed Brotherhood.

Rasputin: Last chance boy. I do not wish to hurt a fellow comrade. Just give up and I will overlook this incidence and not report it to the father.

Dex: I can't…give up. Not when my precious friends are counting on me! Here I go, draw! I use Pot of Greed. This lets me draw two. I was hoping to save him until I had more cards, but I have no choice! I discard three Machina monsters in order to Special Summon Machina Cannon, who gains 800 attack points for each discarded Machina monster. I count 3 for 2400 attack points [ATK 2400/DEF 2200 LV 8]. Attack Neo the Magic Swordsman! Machina Laser!

It fires, blowing up the monster. Rasputin barely responds [Rasputin LP = 3300].

Rasputin: I guess that qualifies as a cut. But if you wish to wound me, you'll have to dig the knife in deeper. Trap card, Black Renewing. When a monster is destroyed, I can revive it as a DARK monster. Return to me in one piece, Neo the Magic Swordsman [ATK 1700/DEF 1000 LV 4].

Dex: I don't care what monsters you bring back! I won't run or hide anymore. I'll fight with my power and win. Even if this darkness is mine I won't let it win! I'll free my dad and everyone else you've stolen!

Rasputin: Your father…? Of course, the man on the boat.

Dex: The boat…wait! Are you…?

Rasputin: Very well, you've made it clear you are my enemy now. I'd better finish up neatly then. Here I go, draw! Trap card, Birthright. This lets me revive one Normal monster. I bring back Dark Magician [ATK 2500/DEF 2100 LV 7]. Next I summon Familiar- Possessed Dharc [ATK 1850/DEF 1500 LV 4]

Dex: Three DARK monsters…no…don't tell me!

Rasputin: You are about to witness a legend. Rejoice. I release three DARK monsters. From my hand I Special Summon this! Show yourself, the final Yomishin!

Darkness spreads all around as something appears, hissing. Dex looks on in horror and steps back.

Dex: No way…there's a third one?!

Rasputin: This is the last time we'll speak boy. Farewell. Finish him! Slash of the End!

The monster sends a claw forward, grabbing Cannon and smashes it, sending a wave of darkness blasting Dex back. He cries out as the darkness engulfs him [Dex LP = 0]

Dex: I'm sorry…everyone…this is as far as I go…

Dante: One of the many things we looked into was the Cards of Darkness. You see, Cards of Darkness are cards that have been infected with the darkness of human emotions, twisting and corrupting them. As such, they were banished to the Underworld, the realm of the dead, to keep their power hidden away. Vergil experimented in many ways to revive them and was…mostly unsuccessful.

Seth: Mostly?

Dante: He did discover one way. Vergil learned that all human hearts have darkness, just as they have light. And he felt that if you could gather the souls of countless humans, the darkness in those souls will create a road to the Underworld. He called it…the Inferno.

Chimera: You're telling us he did all this to build a bridge?

Dante: In a manner of speaking. He's using darkness, pure darkness that can only be found in a person's heart, to build a portal to the Underworld from which the Yomishin can escape from. And when that happens, the world will be shrouded in eternal darkness.

Neo: But what's the point? How is that going to make the world better?

Dante: Even I don't know that. Vergil's always been a little ambitious, but this goes beyond that. He always used to tell me how much he hated the Sun, because he felt it was a lie. He hated light because it never made things better…so why even exist? He seeks to block out the sky as well. Once he opens the doors to the Underworld.

Yusuke: Well…what are we doing standing around here then? Come on! Let's go!

Arnold: Go? Go where?

Yusuke: Isn't it obvious? We're going to stop Vergil!

Dante: Hey…that's the spirit. I knew I could count on you. You see, the reason why I sought you guys was because I heard the ancient prophecy. Only three heroes chosen by the Fates themselves can defeat the Yomishin.

Yusuke: The three heroes? Hold on, there's me, and then there's Axel…but who's the third?

Dante: That I don't know.

He glances at Seth, who looks surprised.

Dante: All I know is we better move quickly or else….no!

Koga: What?!

Darkness spreads from Dante. He cries out as everyone stands up, only to almost fall when the ground shakes. In a dark room, Vergil begins to laugh and stands up.

Vergil: Yes! The gates of the Underworld are beginning to open! Open and be free Yomishin! Consume this world and the Sun in an endless abyss!

The remaining members of the Regal Olympians run out as Yusuke and the others rush out to see dark storm clouds covering the sky. A large set of doors appear that people all over the world gasp at when they see it.

Dante: No…we're too late. The gates have begun to open. The Yomishin…will soon be revived.

To be continued

Baron: Today we'll be going over Birthright. This Trap lets you revive a Normal monster no matter how strong it is. And now a special message. We're about to enter our final arc everyone. Be sure to stick around for the next few!