"Only through the ashes of the old can a new world be born..."I walked aimlessly through the crowded mounds of debris that encompassed the area I was in. All around me, the refuse of the old world proliferated in the endless ruins that constituted the wastelands that were now scattered across the surface of what remained of the former U.S. Looking around, I noticed crumbling skyscrapers that once symbolized the epitome of man’s endless potential in his quest to conquer the heavens themselves.
“How foolish,” I muttered as I traversed through the landscape littered with the shattered dreams of a forgotten age, “When you get too close to the sun, you get burned.”
“
But that’s not really what you believe in, is it brother?” I could recognize the ethereal voice anywhere. Even though he’s dead, my brother would never truly leave me.
I turned to my side to see the figure of my brother, exactly as I remember him. “You know, Daniel, it’s been three years, but you haven’t changed a bit.”
“
I can’t get any better than this,” stated my brother as he stretched out and flexed his arms in pompous display of his muscular physique, “
You can’t improve on perfection.”
“Yeah, but the world’s far from perfect, isn’t it? You should’ve never died.”
“
Nathan,” he consoled, “
It might not be a perfect world, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t try to make it a better place.”
“You always were idealistic, but that never got you anywhere.”
“It’s not always about me. I might be gone now, but at least I was able to save you…”I turned to protest against him, but his spectral figure that had stood by my side just a moment ago faded into the eternal abyss. Tears started streaming down my face, but I held them back and walked on. I have to be strong and overcome any weakness.
After a few hours of scurrying across the vast ruins of a once glorious city, I sighted orange smoke in the distance. It was the sign I was looking for, the border marking out my tribe’s territory, the settlement of the Fire Scavenger tribe.
- Settlement -
I was browsing through the various merchandises on display at the settlement’s central quarters. It was inhabited by scavengers eager to turn their salvaged collection into a few quick bucks. Of course, since only worthless refuse would be left discarded in the wastes, anything of value was rare to come by.
“See anything ya like?” asked a man with rugged, worn features and a balding head from across the stand. I recognized the man as Saul, one of the more invaluable members of the settlement on account of his technical expertise and skill in attending to any maintenance that might be needed.
“I was hoping I could ask you that,” I responded as I dumped the contents of my bag, full of junk I deemed worthless but hoped that someone would take an interest in, “I got this loot while I was out yesterday.”
“Mostly useless junk,” responded Saul as he swept most of the contents aside, “As I’m sure you know.” Then, he paused for a moment as he noticed an unusual trinket that had been part of a strange device the thug I beat earlier possessed. “You – where did you get this?”
An edge of panic formed in his voice as he began breathing more unevenly. I decided to lie. “In a large dump near the former industrial factories. It was by the outskirts so no one ever goes there to look.”
“Don’t try to fool me,” retorted Saul as if he was affronted by my response, “I might be getting old, but I’m not senile yet.” Saul picked up the trinket and examined it more closely. “This is a power modulator’s discharge cell…”
“What?”
“I… I used to oversee the production of short-term energy substitutes during the Great Crisis when energy sources were being depleted everywhere. These were used as a short term substitute for appliances while the government tried to look for alternative sources. Soon after, everything collapsed and the effort was abandoned.”
“What happened then?”
“Everyone went back to their homes, hoping to fend off for themselves and their families. The production site was deserted and eventually taken over by gangs hoping to claim the modulators as a valuable resource.”
Hearing about the collapse of the old world was unsettling. I stood silent as I waited for the Saul to say something more.
Sensing my intention, Saul continued, “Of course, that’s all in the past now. The energy modulators themselves can’t sustain anything for too long so having them isn’t practical to withstand the conditions of the surrounding climate.”
“But they’re still good for short bursts right?”
“Yes, but I don’t see too much good in that unless you were to convert them to…” Saul became apprehensive as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “What were you really doing?”
I gulped as I became unnerved by the sudden tension in the mood. I tried to maintain my composure as I replied calmly, “Like I said, I was just looking through a dump.”
Saul exhaled deeply and then stared at me with a serious demeanor. “Nathan, you must try to understand that even though you have exceptional psychic abilities, your presence here places everyone’s lives at risk. If there’s something you’ve done that you weren’t supposed to have done, you need to tell me –”
“I know, I know,” I quickly reassured Saul as I scooped up my collection of junk and placed them in my bag, “Listen, I’ve got to go do something, I’ll get back to you some other time. Later.”
I walked off with an uneasy sense of remorse growing inside me. I know I’m placing everyone’s lives at risk for what I’ve done, but it was ultimately necessary for achieving my goal, and I promised I would no matter what.
- My Shack -
I thrashed around uncomfortably on my bed as the words the old man had said to me echoed through the recesses of my mind. I was awake, unable to find solace in sleep.
‘You could be placing everyone’s lives at risk here…’“I know,” I thought out loud as I repeated, “I could be placing everyone’s lives at risk here.”
“Then why didn’t you say something?” demanded a familiar voice.
I turned around to see my brother standing at the side of my bed with a look of concern etched across his features.
“Why are you here again?”
“The same reason I’m always here – to protect you.”“From what?”
“Remember what you noticed earlier today? An edge of panic formed in his voice as he began breathing more unevenly? That’s a strange observation of even stranger behavior, and I’m curious as to why he reacted that way.” I realized that he was referring to the strange reaction Saul had to the trinket I brought back earlier.
“How should I know why he acts the way he does?”
My brother just shook his head in a patronizing manner.
“Notice how I said reacted instead of acted. He was only acting the way he did after you showed him the trinket.”“I – what are you implying?”
“That there’s a reason it made him so distressful. He seemed very concerned about where you found it.”“In a dump?”
“But you didn’t find it in a dump did you?”“No, it was on the edge of another tribe’s territory.” Then it dawned on me, the epiphany my brother was trying to guide me to. “You think that these energy modulators or whatever are being used for something by the other tribe –”
“Think about it, he become concerned the moment you asked him about the possible functions it could have. He suspected that you saw something you shouldn’t have.”“But I didn’t actually think it could be so…” I was at a loss of words at the sudden predicament I found myself in. Scavenger activity from the neighboring tribes had steadily escalated these past few weeks. “Daniel, do you think the other local tribes could be preparing for another conflict?”
“You must’ve noticed that the settlement’s been growing scarce on resources lately. Other tribes will be needing a way to ensure their own share, and the most effective way to do that is with weapons. Ultimately, everyone acts in their self-interest.”“It’s despicable,” I muttered as I clenched my fists, “But it’s human nature…”
“Maybe so, but human nature only reflects the nature of the world. If the world could change…”“If the world could change…” I chuckled at the delusional thought.
“It won’t be changing any time soon.” The voice didn’t belong to my brother. I turned to face the source.
“You!” I watched in shock as Saul walked through the entrance. “Were you there the whole time?”
“No, but long enough to overhear what you said. I could’ve sworn you were talking to someone else…”
“No,” I replied, “I’m just here by myself.”
“Good,” responded Saul as he reached down for a stun baton hanging by his belt, “That’ll make this much easier.”
I quickly activated my duel disk and placed a card on it causing an imposing mechanical construct to materialize before me. “Don’t even try it.”
“Now Nathan,” started Saul, “Don’t make this difficult. You have to try to understand, I only want what’s best for the community.”
“Then let me leave,” I demanded, “And I’ll make sure I never say anything to anyone.”
“I… I can’t take the chance. The people I’m dealing with are very strict about keeping things secret. I can’t just let you walk out of here like this. You have to come with me.”
“Because you’re too afraid to face them head-on? You’re nothing but a coward!”
His eyebrows furrowed in consternation as he shouted back, “You’re just an arrogant brat, what do you know about the real world? Where do you think the food you eat or the clothes you wear come from? Everything has a price, and it’s my duty to keep this community alive, no matter the cost.”
I was disgusted by his adamant self-righteousness. “Saul, you bastard – these modulators, they’re probably being used to make weapons!”
Saul was silent for a moment, but then he solemnly declared, “What they do with their wares is none of my concern, and the same goes for you.”
“I can’t accept that –”
“Then we’ll have to do this the hard way…” proclaimed Saul as he took out of a duel disk from behind him and strapped it onto his left arm.
“Fine by me, but you could get hurt.”
“Hmph, cocky punk.” We both activated our duel disks and simultaneously declared, “Duel!”
Duel Start
Nathan (5/0/0) - 8000 || Saul (5/0/0) – 8000
“I’ll start out,” I stated as I drew my sixth card, “By summoning ‘Gravity Sentinel’ in defense!” An orange orb of light appeared and started swirling as the surrounding debris collected around it to form a mechanical construct with clear containers filled with an orange substance protruding from its sides (3/0/2000).
‘Gravity Sentinel’
Monster | Earth | *** | ATK: 0 | DEF: 2000
Machine | Effect: When this card is Summoned, it is switched to Defense Position. Your opponent’s monsters must attack this monster if possible. If this monster battles with a monster with a Level that is less than or equal to this card’s level, send the monster to the Graveyard without applying damage calculation. Each time this monster battles, increase its Level by 1 at the end of the Battle Phase. If this card is destroyed, remove it from play.
“To finish,” I added, “I’ll set two support cards.”
Turn 2
Nathan (3/1/2) - 8000 || Saul (6/0/0) – 8000
“I summon ‘Legendary Weaponsmith’.” A muscular man clad in leather attire appeared wielding an anvil and a hammer (4/1000/1500). “And with its effect, I equip it with ‘Fusion Sword Murasame Blade’ from my deck!”
‘Legendary Weaponsmith’
Monster | Earth | **** | ATK: 1000 | DEF: 1500
Warrior | Effect: When this card is Summoned, select 1 Equip Spell from your Deck and equip it to this card. This card gains 500 ATK for each Equip card you control. If this card would be destroyed, you can destroy an Equip card equipped to this card instead.
A long glimmering blade with a radiant orange energy swirling around it appeared in the hands of the warrior. ‘Legendary Weaponsmith’ (4/1000 -> 2200/1500).
“Not bad” I admitted as I prepared to activate my set cards in response to his attack.
“It gets worse for you,” continued Saul, “Because I activate ‘Release Restraint Wave’ by destroying my equip spell to destroy all your spells and traps!”
“What?” I was shocked by the sudden shift of field control as my two set cards were completely obliterated by a flurry of light unleashed by the warrior.
“And since my equip spell can’t be destroyed,” explained Saul, “My monster retains its attack boost. Now, ‘Legendary Weaponsmith, destroy his ‘Gravity Sentinel’!” The warrior obeyed the command and slashed the machine into heaps of scrap.
Stunned by my utter helplessness as I watched my entire field cleared before my eyes, I stood still in disbelief. “No, this can’t be happening…”
“I’m sorry Nathan, but I can’t let anything get in my way. I set one card and end.”
The words echoed through the recesses of my mind as I felt an inner force inside me stirring. I realized that the words were reminiscent of the own words I had uttered and sworn upon for the sake of my brother and the legacy of all his hopes and aspirations. The familiarity forced me awake from my despair.
“Too late” I proclaimed as I drew a card to start my turn.
Turn 3
Nathan (4/0/0) – 8000 || Saul (3/1/2) – 8000
Seeing my new card, I sighed in relief as I regained hope. “I summon ‘Gravity Construct’.” A swirling orange orb appeared, gathering the surrounding debris into a loose mechanical construct with a thin exterior layer covering the internal structure through which an orange liquid flowed through like blood through veins (4 -> 5/1500/1800).
‘Gravity Construct’
Monster | Earth | **** | ATK: 1500 | DEF: 1800
Machine | Effect: When this card is Normal Summoned, send 1 Spell or Trap card on the Field to the Graveyard and increase the Level of all monsters you control by 1. When this card is destroyed, Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Gravity monster from your Deck and remove this card from play.
“With its effect,” I stated, “I choose your right side facedown!” The set card on Saul’s right side sunk into the ground. “I then activate ‘Gravity Accelerator’ by reducing my monster’s level by four stars to add ‘Gravitron Golem’ to my hand.”
‘Gravity Accelerator’
Spell | Normal
Reduce the Level of 1 monster you control by 4. Add 1 Gravity or Gravitron card from your Deck to your hand.
“Then,” I continued, “By removing from play my ‘Gravity Construct’, I special summon ‘Gravitron Golem’!” The mechanical construct imploded into a brilliant orb of orange ethereal material which expanded into a larger version of the former construct with reinforced orange coverings (6/2400/1800).
‘Gravitron Golem’
Monster | Earth | ****** | ATK: 2400 | DEF: 1800
Machine | Effect: You can remove from play 1 face-up Gravity monster you control to Special Summon this card from your hand. During each Standby Phase, increase this card’s Level by 2 for each monster you control. If your opponent Summons a monster, you can reduce this card’s level by the level of the Summoned monster to send the monster to the Graveyard. When this card is destroyed, remove it from play and add 1 of your removed from play Gravity monsters to your hand.
Saul growled in irritation at the sudden reversal in field presence. I took it as a sign of his lack of appropriate or effective responses in his hand. Grinning, I declared, “Now ‘Gravitron Golem’, attack his monster with motion implosion!” The gigantic mechanical construct unleashed a wave of orange energy causing the warrior to contort into a strange shape as he was crushed against himself.
Saul held out his arms to shield himself from the impact of the assault. “I choose not to use my monster’s effect.” The warrior imploded into thousands of pixilated pieces.
Nathan (2/1/0) – 8000 || Saul (3/0/0) – 8000 -> 7800
I immediately became apprehensive at his lack of response. “With that, I’ll end.”
Turn 4
Nathan (2/1/0) – 8000 || Saul (4/0/0) – 7800
“I remove ‘Legendary Weaponsmith’ from my grave to bring out ‘Warrior of Fallen Swords’!”
‘Warrior of Fallen Swords’
Monster | Dark | **** | ATK: 2000 | DEF: 1600
Warrior | Effect: You can Special Summon this card by removing from play 1 Warrior-type monster in your Graveyard. When this card is Summoned, equip 1 Equip Card in your Graveyard to this card.
“I chain my monster’s effect to your monster’s effect!” I declared as my monster shrunk in size. ‘Gravitron Golem’ (6 -> 2/2400/1800).
“Hmph. That’s not all. I then activate ‘Foolish Burial’ to send ‘Warrior of Immortal Blades’ from my deck to the grave.”
‘Warrior of Immortal Blades’
Monster | Dark | **** | ATK: 1900 | DEF: 1400
Warrior | Effect: When this card is sent to the Graveyard, send 2 Equip Cards from your Deck to your Graveyard and add 1 Equip Spell from your Graveyard to your hand.
“With my warrior’s effect,” explained Saul, “I’ll send ‘Mage Power’ and ‘Sword of Protection’ to my grave and add ‘Mage Power’ to my hand.”
“I’ve never realized how skilled you were at this.”
“Just because you have exceptional psychic powers doesn’t mean that rest of us are useless. I normal summon ‘Armed Samurai – Ben Kei’.” A warrior clad in a leather armor covering his white attire appeared with a large bag full of weapons on his back and arrows pierced across his body (4/500/800).
“Ben Kei? Then that means you’re going for a –”
“That’s right. I don’t have time to waste here dueling you. They could be here any minute now. I activate ‘Legacy of the Warriors’ by removing from play both warriors in my grave to add two other ‘Mage Power’ spells from my deck to my hand.”
‘Legacy of the Warriors’
Spell | Normal
Remove from play 2 Warrior-type monsters in your Graveyard. Add two Equip Cards from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand.
Saul emptied his hand as he inserted three cards into his duel disk. “I then equip Ben Kei with all three copies of ‘Mage Power’ in my hand’!” ‘Armed Samurai – Ben Kei’ (4/500 -> 5000/800)
The warrior’s attack stats increased exponentially. It could now potentially deal out four attacks. “Response!” I declared as I discarded a card from my hand. “I discard ‘Effect Veiler’ to negate your monster’s effect!”
“Chain,” responded Saul as he removed a card from his graveyard, “By removing from play ‘Sword of Protection’ from my graveyard, I can prevent my monster from being affected by card effects!”
‘Sword of Protection’
Spell | Equip
The equipped monster gains 800 ATK. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, destroy this card instead. You can remove this card in your Graveyard from play to negate an opponent’s card effect that would affect 1 Warrior-type monster you control.
“No!” If I lose, the repercussions would be grave, I couldn’t possibly afford to –
“Destroy his ‘Gravitron Golem’!” ordered Saul. The warrior lunged at my golem and skillfully slashed it into a pile of junk metal.
Nathan (1/0/0) – 8000 -> 5400 || Saul (0/1/3) - 7800
Ripples of psychic energy flowed from the monster and cut through my body. I coughed up blood from the brunt force of the monster’s attack.
“Attack him again!” declared Saul. The monster repeated the process only this time strictly focusing on me.
Nathan (1/0/0) – 5400 -> 400 || Saul (0/1/3) – 7800
“GAH!” I fell to the ground and convulsed in pain. Deep cuts spread across my chest as blood poured out profusely. I could sense the end coming. I could see fate catching up to me just like it had caught to my brother. Saul raised his hand as he prepared to proclaim the third attack. Then –
“Fire!” echoed a frantic voice outside. Saul’s eyes widened as his facial expression turned from victorious gloating to sheer panic. I tried to stand up and follow him out.
Upon stepping into the settlement grounds, the chaos of the surroundings overwhelmed me. Flurries of gigantic fires raged across the former buildings of the settlement as each establishment was being reduced to smoldered ruins of a forsaken world. The scene was all too vivid, all too familiar…
“Snap out of it!” ordered Saul. I couldn’t understand why he was barking orders at me when he just tried to take my life. “Don’t you see the entire settlement is burning down?”
“What? But what am I supposed to do?”
“You’re a damn psychic aren’t you? Well, do something! Use your cards to materialize something to set out the fires!”
I stood still, oblivious to his command. Then, a nudge on my shirt brought me back to reality. A small girl was standing by my side, shaking in desperation. The expression of her eyes was instilled with absolute fear, similar to my own all those years ago…
“Alright, I’ll help.” I inserted ‘Torrential Tribute’ into my duel disk. Suddenly, a giant wave of water erupted from the ground and consumed the surroundings in its wrath. The water soon dissipated, leaving only the charred remains of the former buildings intact.
I hurried to a nearby conflagration of cackling flames and attempted to do the same thing. Then a device attached to a long cable suddenly sprang out and attached to my duel disk, causing it to explode. I was knocked backwards by the impact.
“Ah, so there you are…” The blurry outline of a man man in a black suit wearing tinted shades appeared right before me. I strained to focus my vision, but I was already exhausted from straining my body so vigorously.
“Wh – Who are you?” I managed to blurt out.
More men dressed in similar attire to the one standing before me appeared, creating a perimeter surrounding me, or maybe more accurately, separating me from the rest of the settlement.
The man standing before me kneeled to get closer to my level. “Listen closely,” started the man, “I’m going to give you two options. Option number one – Come with me and spare this settlement from suffering through this living hell or option number two – stay here and die as I burn the rest of this dump and everyone in it to a pile of ashes.”
The embers from the surrounding flames twirled in the chaotic wind as the fires twisted and consumed more and more of the settlement. I could hear the helpless screams of the inhabitants as they were devoured by the raging inferno.
“What the – Dalton, what’s the meaning of this?! Unhand that boy immediately!” I recognized the voice. It belonged to Saul. Had he come to rescue me even though just moments ago, he had tried to kill me?
The man turned to face the source of the protesting voice. “Oh, Saul, I hadn’t noticed you. You know, with this boy, your uses have become obsolete. Men, dispose of him.”
I heard the all too familiar noise of a bullet rippling through the air and piercing human flesh followed by the unmistakable thump of a dead body falling to the ground. Despite myself, tears flowed freely down my cheeks, unrestrained by logic or reason. I cried once more as the only other person I had ever cared for in the world died in front of my eyes.
The man turned back to me. “So kid, what’s it going to be?”
I stiffened in fear of what he would do to me if I refused his offer and nodded shakily. The man seem satisfied with my response and stood up. “Men, bag him. We’re heading back to headquarters. Report to the grandmaster that the mission is a success.”
With those parting words, my world was once again shattered to a million pieces that reflected the broken dreams and aspirations of my life, scattered and beyond repair.
.