“The early days of dueling were littered with unbalanced rules and cheaters. Granted duelists still cheat, but the skills taken to do so is more refined. It’s not so simple as drawing extra cards or using sleight of hand. I suppose we will never truly get rid of the cheating. I believe that is because most high-level duelists are assholes, willing to win at any cost. My advice to parents out there is to never let your kids meet duelists on the pro ladder, especially this season. They will surely be disappointed.”
-Chafulumisa Mohamed CEO of the anti-cheating initiative
Inside the walls of Bowies Game Shop displayed tension between the two former rivals. Even regional tournaments the shop ran were not met with nearly the same intensity. The two men stared at each other not breaking eye contact. The two young boys remained motionless, both in confusion and wonder. How did my own dad know the creator of the VR technology the world uses, Cyrus thought? Truth be told, Cyrus and Harlow idolized Seth.
“Well, well, well, Bowie. That isn’t the proper way to greet an old friend after all these years,” Seth said.
“Friend!” Harlow yelled, running up to Seth and extending a hand to greet his hero.
“Harlow No,” Bowie yelled.
“What’s the matter Bowie, relax the kid just wants an autograph,” Seth said shaking the hand of Harlow. Seth proceeded to reach into his trench coat and pull out a card.
“Here kid,” Seth said. Handing the card to him.
“This is the coolest day ever!” Harlow said jumping in excitement. Cyrus was confused. He didn’t know why his father acted so out of character.
“Bowie,” Seth said holding his hands out in a shrugging manner. “I feel bad for how we left things last. So, I am here to make amends with you, by giving your son a full-ride scholarship at the Dueling Academy.”
“What, are you serious? Cyrus said, his dreams flashing before his eyes.
“No,” Bowie said pulling out a shotgun from under the counter. “That’s not going to happen. You will back up slowly and walk your pompous ass out of my store.” Cocking the shotgun with intention.
“Dad, how could you?” Cyrus cried.
“Cyrus let me handle this, we will talk later.” His shotgun was still focused on Seth.
“Oh interesting, looks like your father hasn’t been truthful with you kid. I bet he didn’t tell you what happened to your mother.” Seth said with a grimace. His hands were in the air where Bowie could see them.
“Shut the fuck up, Seth,” Bowie said in frustration and hate.
“You really don’t have it in you to shoot me. Remember you’re the man that gave up dueling. Now a peddler of insignificant cards, you’re weaker than I imagined. A loser even, but I see the drive in the sons’ eye.” Seth said.
“No! you’ll never take him there! Bowie cried.
BANG!
The loud noise reverberated bouncing off the walls leaving Cyrus with an unbearable pain in his ears and a high-pitched ringing sensation. He looked around the room dazed and confused. He saw Harlow laying on the ground, hands over his ears. There was no sign of his father or Seth. What the fuck, thought Cyrus.
Cyrus tried talking to Harlow. But couldn’t hear the words coming out of his mouth. The ringing noise finally started to become more bearable. Cyrus looked behind the counter where his dad once stood but only saw the shotgun laying on the ground. He then staggered his way to Harlow making sure he wasn’t harmed.
“What the fuck just happened,” Harlow yelled over and over. “My ears.” he looked around and sat up after gathering himself.
“Where are they?” he said.
“I don’t know,” Cyrus said. Looking around his father’s store. He had so many questions for his father. How did he know Seth and why did he think something else happened to his mother Cyrus thought.
His father told him that she died in a car accident when he was a baby. Was my father hiding something? he thought. Cyrus knew his father didn’t talk much about his earlier years.
“Did your dad shoot, like, one of the coolest people on the planet?” Harlow asked.
“Well, there isn’t any blood. I’m not so sure Seth got shot. We need to find them and ask them both questions.” Cyrus said.
“Preferably before your dad kills Seth. If he didn’t already.”
“I don’t know, my dad is not a killer, it felt like Seth was taunting him.”
“Dude, I have so many questions, your dad has got some explaining to do."
“Where do we even start? They disappeared right before our eyes.” Cyrus said.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“Dude that’s impossible, there has to be some explanation for what happened,” Harlow said.
Cyrus went over to where his deck lay and grabbed his cards.
“Wait I thought I threw my guardian card out when I was teaching Terra how to play." He fanned the cards out going through them meticulously.
“Dude, why are you going through your deck? Your father is missing” Harlow questioned.
“We don’t know that! My time mage is the only epic card that I own.” That’s how I planned to pay for classes at the academy when I get accepted. And now it’s missing.” Cyrus exclaimed.
“Well according to Seth you’re going for free,” Harlow said.
“None of it makes sense, why would Seth do that and why did my dad pull out a gun? I’ve never seen him act like that. Cyrus said.
“Beats me, but when someone offers free school, you never say no. Well, unless you’re Bowie.” Harlow mocked.
“Let’s try and find them,” Cyrus said Ignoring his friend.
----------------------------------------
Bowie looked around at the familiar landscape with a sigh. The red sky was illuminated by the two moons which shone down at the desert landscape around him. A baron land had an aura of magical energy, one that Bowie hadn’t felt in years.
“The land of Kings.” He said aloud. While others named it the monster realm, the inhabitants called it Almiran. Bowie knew this land was the home where duels were not just a game but a battle for your life. True magical energy emitted from the land making the realm dangerous. A land where monsters, true duelists, and Gods existed, battling with card magic. This was everything Bowie didn’t want for his son. He thought it was only a matter of time before Seth brought this world to their very own.
Bowie thought about Seth. Looking around expecting to see him. He knew that Seth somehow dragged him here. And was ashamed because he should have seen it coming. How could I be so complacent, he thought to himself.
“I need to get back to Cyrus,” he said in frustration. Bowie felt a pain of sadness because he never told his son the truth. He knew it was his job to protect his son, and he thought keeping him far away from The Grid and The Land of Kings was the best way to protect him. He justified it but knew at some point when he turned eighteen it would be inevitable.
Bowie looked behind him and saw a big temple. It was golden and shaped like a pyramid. He took a breath and started walking in the direction of the vast temple. He focused and, in his mind’s eye pulled up the familiar sheet.
[Bowie Gamal]
[Level 99 Duelist]
[Guardian Class: Necromancer]
[Hit Points: 10,000]
[Title: Card Emperor Ruler of the Realm]
[Deck: God of the Dead]
[Card Shards: 10,000,000]
[Souls: 50]
Bowie cringed looking at the soul’s portion of his character sheet.
“They deserved it, I had no choice.” He said but didn’t truly believe himself.
Bowie walked into the large entrance of the temple. The barren temple looked like it didn’t have visitors in a long time. Dust was collected among the walls. A temple long forgotten to time. He saw Seth looking at a wall with writing on it.
“You remember how to read the language of the Gods, or has it been too long for you old friend? Seth said.
“Take us back. Bowie pleaded.
“Ha, back to our world.” Seth spat in disgust. “You mean your world.”
“Just take us back and we can talk this out.”
“Yeah, now that you don’t have an uncivilized weapon pointed at me. You’re so much weaker than I remembered. It’s quite pathetic. It’s truly sad that you never told your son of his given birthright.”
“He’s not a part of this and is never coming here!” Bowie yelled out.”
“We’ll see about that Bowie.”
Seth held out the arm with his black glove. As he did his glove transformed extending out from his forearm in an oval shape. A shield materialized and rested on his wrist as Seth smiled. It pulsated red and the top compartment of the device held his cards. As the shield transformed armor materialized covering Seth. He donned the armor of a golden knight. The gold armor shone with radiant energy.
“Oh, don’t worry, I brought your duel shield here," he pointed at a stone table.
“I’m not Dueling you, Seth," I refuse.”
“You hardly have a choice,” Seth yelled out, drawing a card from the top compartment of his dueling shield. He threw the card on the top side of the shield and a red color radiated from the device. A flash of red emitted morphing into a circle radiating. It covered the whole temple.
[Duel Destiny]
[Class: Ritual Spell]
[Legendary God Card]
[Power Rating: Infinite]
[Defense Rating: Infinite]
[Intellect: N/A]
[Traps all Duelists within a magical circle for the duration of the duel. The loser must forfeit their souls to the duel’s winner. If either Duelist walks out of the ritual circle, they will automatically forfeit their soul to the winner. Spell stays active until a winner is declared.]
Bowie knew the card all too well. He looked at the middle of the circle. His duel shield lay on the stone table. Inactive, it looked like a mere black glove. Bowie felt foolish. And for the first time in his life, he knew he had made a grave mistake.
“I see,” Bowie said accepting his reality. He vowed never to duel again because of the damage he inflicted on others. The title he held came at a great price, none of which he wished for, or wanted for anyone else. Not his son, not even his mortal enemy. He abandoned his kingship and the realm.
“You don’t know what you’re wishing for,” the old king said.
“Oh, but I do,” Seth said with a dark smile, extending his arm out with his dueling shield. “A man as weak as you doesn’t deserve to hold the title of Emperor. That belongs to men like Me or your son, the true rulers of this realm.” Seth yelled.
“You’re sorely mistaken Seth, the power which you talk about isn’t what you think it is. But very well, I’ll do what I must.”
Bowie confidently walked up to the stone table. He grabbed the glove and slipped it on his left arm. A circular compartment materialized on the top of the glove and Bowie pulled a deck from the inside of his jacket. He placed the deck into the compartment and a blue glow materialized a kite shield out from his device. Black Necrotic armor materialized from thin air and a helmet with two long horns protected Bowie’s head. He stood in a defensive stance and drew seven cards.
Two massive creatures emerged on the left side of both duelists. Bowies’ creature had the head of a Jackal with the body of a man. It roared in anger looking at Seth. The creature on Seth’s side also had a massive human body but the monster’s head was elongated, appearing like a bird. It too let out a massive roar in defiance towards Bowie.
“Today is the day I get justice for Kathrine’s death,” Seth screamed in anger and both creatures charged at each other with full force, in an effort to damage the duelists for the last time.