Card of the Day: Vesuvius Dragon

Episode 226: A Burning Hot Heart

Effigy is snoring on a couch. Someone pokes him as he rolls over and grunts. The person pokes him again as he rolls and snorts again. The person plugs up his nose using his fingers. Effigy wakes up with a start and begins to cough

Nihility: Good, you're awake

Effigy: What the hell is wrong with you?! I could have choked to death!

Nihility: You have a guest.

He walks off as Effigy stretches

Effigy: I almost died and that's all you can say. You're cold dude.

He yawns opens the door. Enzan stands there

Effigy: Whoa. What are you doing here?

Enzan: I want you to give Shaman a message. I'm going to train with him

Opening

In Meztallia, Shaman sits in front of a fire meditating. He imagines something in the flames. He opens his eyes and turns to see Effigy and Enzan

Shaman: Enzan. I knew you would come to this place

Enzan: Shut it you old guy. I'm here to learn this burning hot heart thing. After that, I'm leaving.

Shaman: I see. Enzan, the Hot Heart is not mastered so easily. It takes a lot of training. Commitment is required as well. Tell me, are you committed to do whatever it takes to unlock your Hot Heart? To stay here and train until you can control it?

Enzan: Of course! Why else would I be here if I wasn't going to take this seriously?! I'm coming to master this thing in a few days time!

Effigy: That's a pretty bold statement. It took me three weeks to master it.

Shaman: I see. Then we can begin. First, I need you to put on this.

He tosses Enzan some clothes

Enzan: What…is this? There's no way I'm wearing a dress!

Shaman: It is not a dress. It is a tunic. Just like what the ancient Pyromefians used to wear.

Enzan: Dude, you can call it whatever you want, but it still is a dress!

Shaman: Just pit it on already!

He hits Enzan on the head with his cane. Enzan rubs his head in pain as Shaman tends to the fire.

Enzan: Is he always like that?

Effigy: Pretty much. Better put on the dress.

Shaman: Tunic!

Effigy: Yeah sure. Put it on. Trust me, get him steamed up and he'll really make you regret it.

Enzan gulps and walks off. He comes back later wearing the tunic, blushing in embarrassment

Shaman: There. Can you not feel like the ancient spirits of the Pyromefians flow through you?

Enzan: I feel like a complete tool

He hits Enzan again.

Shaman: Show some respect! Those clothes are three million years old!

Enzan: Yeah sure, whatever. I'll treat the rags with proper respect.. Anyway, come on, right to the training!

He activates his Duel Disk. Shaman simply stares

Shaman: You won't need that

Enzan: Wha? But…don't I need to duel before unlocking the Hot Heart?!

Shaman: There is more to the Hot Heart than the card within your heart. You also must be at complete spiritual, mental, and physical perfection. Only then will the Hot Heart be open to you

Enzan: You didn't mention that earlier! Ugh, fine whatever. I'll do whatever it takes to unlock the Hot Heart. So bring it on old man! I'll take whatever you throw at me and do it all with style!

Shaman: I see….your resolve is set. Very well then. Follow me and we can begin

Enzan does a fist pump and follows Shaman. The two walk into a track field

Enzan: Whoa…

Shaman: This is where gladiators used to battle. Many people have trained here to unlock the Hot Heart. And now you must train

Enzan: Sweet! Alright, bring it on! I'll take any challenge thrown at me!

Shaman: Good. Those stones. Pick them up. And then I want you to carry them around the track

Enzan: And….what will that accomplish?

Shaman hits him on the head

Shaman: Get moving!

Enzan picks up the stones and begins to run. After a few laps je begins to wheeze and slows down

Enzan: What…does this…have to do….with a Hot Heart.

Effigy: Ha ha! Be careful! You're dropping the stones all over the place!

Enzan: You're enjoying this aren't you?!

Effigy: Heck yeah. I had to do it too. It's hilarious to see someone else be forced to do it. Oh, by the way, if you don't move fast enough, he starts to use the pike

Enzan: Pike?

Shaman: Keep running!

He stabs Enzan in the back with a pike at the end of his staff. Enzan screams and keeps running as Shaman chases him

Effigy: I should have brought popcorn for this.

Enzan eventually collapses on the ground. Shaman stands over and pokes him several times before stopping

Shaman: Well, I suppose that's enough. We can move on to the next phase of your training.

Enzan: Alright! So, duel now?

Shaman: Meditation

Enzan: ….You can't be serious.

Shaman whacks him on the head again. He scrapes his staff against the ground and lights a fire

Shaman: Meditation calms both the body and mind. When your mind and body are in perfect equilibrium, than the path to the Hot Heart opens

Enzan: Ugh, fine!

They both sit down before the fire.

Shaman: Enzan, what do you see when you look into a fire? What memories do you see burning in the ashes? What secrets do you see crumpling in the cinders? What ghosts do you see flying away in the smoke?

He turns and Enzan is snoring. Shaman whacks him on the head again

Enzan: Ow! Would you stop doing that!?

Shaman: Pay attention! Look Enzan. We Pyromefians are related to the flame. The flame speaks to us. Enzan, look into the fire. When you see the dancing embers, does something within you stir?

Enzan stares into the fire. The fire dances in his eyes as he watches

Enzan: I….feel it. A fire spreading from my toes up. I feel it! I feel it!

Shaman: Enzan….your pant leg is in the campfire.

Enzan: Huh? Ah! Fire! Hot hot hot hot hot!

He begins to roll on the ground to out it out. Shaman begins to rub his forehead in exhaustion.

Effigy: So….guess I don't need to ask how it's going?

Shaman: I don't understand. I've had troublesome students before, but this is just too much

Enzan gets the fire out. He wipes away tears and stands up

Enzan: I'm leaving

Effigy: Hey hold on! What about that talk about becoming strong?

Enzan: Shut up! I've been training my hardest and nothing's working. Your training just sucks! Fire watching? Lifting stones? What does this have to do with what I'm seeking!? I came to get strength! And if you're just going to lead me on a wild goose chase and make me look like a fool!

He snarls. Energy seems to pulsate from him as Shaman's eyes widen

Shaman: His power….I could not sense it until now? Could it be….his power is so great that it is under a thicker lock and key? This youth….very well. I will grant your wish. Duel me. If my hypothesis is correct, your powers should awaken

Effigy: Whoa hang on. With that level of power? Are you serious?

Shaman: I need to determine if his power is true and to what depths it goes to. So Enzan, do you want to take one more chance to use your power?

Enzan: Of course! …As long as I can get out of this thing.

Shaman: Fine

Back in town, Yuji is at a café sipping tea when Luna pulls up

Luna: Hey Yuji.

Yuji: Good morning

Luna: say, have you seen Enzan around? I haven't seen him all day

Yuji: Enzan? No, I haven't

Luna: I'm worried about him. He's acting really weird.

Yuji: I wouldn't worry. After all, Enzan is Enzan. I know when we really need him, he'll pull through

Enzan and Shaman stand apart from each other. Effigy is watching

Shaman: Let's go

Enzan: Bring it old man!

Shaman and Enzan activate their Duel Disks. Shaman throws his staff away