The Underground

Lacerbus hadn't expected such a grand atmosphere to hold underground dueling; in fact, if he neglected the dismal center where the audience was cheering on a duel, this was a quite lavish place. In any case, Lacerbus started walking around, trying to pick up anything that could help him during his turn in the underground duel. Surprisingly he didn't attract much attention even though he was wearing a mask. He quickly realized however, that there where many other "colorful" duelists that stood out much more than him.

In a way Lacerbusk knew each duelist had something they were willing their health for, whether it be money, fame, or a jump start to the pro leagues, Lacerbus could see their determination. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a boy that seemed a bit nervous. That interested Lacerbus as he couldn't understand how such a person could gather their willpower to come to this place only to lose their nerve once inside. He subtly made his way towards the person.

Lacerbus didn't know what to do; he didn't exactly know how to talk to someone who was around his age. Instead of saying anything, he merely sat on a chair nearby the boy and watch the duel in front of him. Something about this boy piqued his interest but all he would allow himself to do was sit nearby; his curiosity could be quenched at any time and he had to analyze the duel in front of him.

It turned out to be exactly as expected, a form of dueling that had tainted many a duelist's past. Everytime a duelist lost Life Points an electric shock was administered with the degree varying depending on the amount of Life Points lost. Motionless, he continued spectating while out of the corner of his eye observed the boy's reactions to the ensuing duel.

It was apparent to Lacerbus that the boy did not want to be here, yet because he was here he must need something badly. At that moment the duel was over and the losing duelist was carried out of the ring, who had passed out from the pain. As soon as he started to wonder whether he had time to scout for information, an announcement rang throughout the arena, "There you have it folks! Quite the shocking ending indeed! Now lets proceed to our next duel, which is going to be randomly chosen among our duelist we have today!"

A chill went through his spine as he hoped he would not be called. He had only planned on spectating this night, and even though he brought his duel disk, he had done so only to prove that he was a duelist. His magician deck was not even upon his person, as he had hidden it among his room in fear of being robbed in the underground arena. Shortly afterwards the announcer said, "Who will it be, who will it be? Lets show you the results!" The arena went dark as two spotlights turned on, illuminating both the boy and Lacerbus. "Well... I guess my luck hasn't changed much," thought Lacerbus as he stood up and walked towards the center of the arena.

Lacerbus just stared at the monster and was taken back... that boy was setting up something for sure. One thing that was getting on his nerves however was the audience, has he had never heard a disappointed one before. "Forget about the audience, and let them follow our flow of the duel, one that is unique in every duel! Draw!"

"First off, I'll summon Critter in attack mode! I'll have him get rid of the only monster you have on the field!" As Critter attacked the helpless fairy from the smoke of the battle, he said, "I'm not done yet! I'll Set 2 cards on the field and end my turn!"

8000 LP
Coh: 3
Monsters: Critter (1000 ATK, once it leaves field get a 1500- ATK monster from deck.)
Spells/Traps: 2 F/D

Lacerbus was impressed as that boy used his own card against him and Special Summoned a fairy by using his discarded monsters. He quickly lost his train of thought, however, once an electrical shock went through his body, a sharp pain that made him flinch. Thankfully it was only 300 LP he had lost. Once the boy equipped his Requiem monster with Headnotes, he launched his counter-attack.

"Nice try, but I'll counter with this! Go, Thunder Break! With this card I'm allowed to destroy 1 card on the field as long as I discard 1 card from my hand. I choose my Demon Roar God Ganashia!" As Lacerbus discarded Ganashia from his hand lightning came forth from Lacerbus' trap and destroyed Requiem, taking along with it the equip spell that it had. "Since my monster Ganashia was discarded from my hand its effect now activates! I can Special Summon him in the field with 1800 ATK points! However, once he leaves the field he'll be removed from play. A good magician knows to always keep a trick or two up in their sleeves!"

7700 LP
CoH:4
Monsters: Critter (1000 ATK), Ganashia (1800 ATK)
Spells/Traps: none

"Time to push on forward," said Lacerbus. "Draw! First I'll summon Demon Roar God Kushano in Attack mode! I'll tune my Kushano with Critter and Ganashia to summon Mist Wurm!" A thin mist began to spread and out of it appeared a giant worm. "Mist Wurm's effect activates, I'll send your cards on the field to your hand leaving you defenseless!"

It was at this point where Lacerbus hesitated for a second as he set a card on the field. Should he attack the boy directly and deal 2500 LP? Lacerbus sighed as he realized to not do so would put him and the boy in greater danger, as the audience expected a fight. Raising his hand as if to signal a cavalry to charge, Lacerbus shouted, "Go Mist Wurm! Direct attack! I end my turn"

7700 LP
CoH:3
Monsters: Mist Wurm (2500 ATK)
Spells/Traps: 1 F/D

Lacerbus began to panic once that synchro hit the field, as he was completely defenseless. "I won't let you go as you please! Reveal face-down card! Go Torrential Tribute!" He was spared from the synchro monster's wrath as a giant wave crushed all the monster that had been on the field. Lacerbus sighed as he had narrowly damaged a great deal of damage. He had seen what the direct attack had done to the boy.

His relief was short-lived however, as the audience began booing at him for stopping such a great play. They even began throwing trash of varying kinds, pelting his precious suit. Lacerbus, however, for once didn't pay heed of of it as he had realized just how bloodthirsty his audience was. "I have to admit, you surprised me, which doesn't happen very often!" The crowd's favor was certainly with the boy, has he had surprised them all with such a great display.


7700 LP
CoH:3
Monsters: none
Spells/Traps: none

Pain... like he had never felt before. After taking 5500 Life Point damage Lacerbus couldn't stop twitching as the electric in his body was forcing his muscles to contract involuntarily. He had not expected this at all... "Draw!" Lacerbus muttered as he painfully looked at his options. The face-down card worried him but if he held back now he would be finished before his next turn.

"First I'll play the Spell, Reincarnation of the Dead, I discard 1 card from my hand to add a monster card to my hand. I'll discard my Demon Roar God Cruz and add Demon Roar God Grimro to my hand. Cruz's effect activates! I'm allowed to special summon 1 Demon Roar God that is level 4 or lower. Come forth! Demon Roar God Kushano!"
Lacerbus had to take a breath to continue his play, though he had stopped shaking his breathing was still erratic. "I'll Normal Summon my Grimro and tune both for Black Rose Dragon!" An omen among duelists, a dragon with rose petals as with came into the field. "Go Rose Gale! Destroy the field!" Thankfully the boy had no counter and Lacerbus still had some possible moves.

"If Demon Roar God Kushano is in my graveyard I'm allowed to discard 1 Demon Roar God monster from my hand to add Kushano to my hand. Next, my discarded monster's effect activates, as it was another Ganashia! Be reborned Ganashia and attack directly!" Lacerbus took another breath before saying, "I end." The audience was in a frenzy, the duel was bouncing back and forth with no clear winner in the horizon...


2200 LP
CoH:2
Monsters: Demon Roar God Ganashia (1800 ATK)
Spells/Traps: none

Lacerbus was pleased the boy didn't gain control of the field during his turn. He knew however he had to keep on the attack, or else he would lose the advantage. "Draw! First I'll summon my Kushano and tune it with Ganashia! Come forth Chain Dragon and attack Dancer!"

"If Chain Dragon can last this turn, I'll be able to use its effect," thought Lacerbus. Getting the feeling back in his body, Lacerbus was slowly recovering, though he had failed to notice the importance of the face down card his opponent had set due to the bliss of gaining the feeling back into his body...


2200 LP
CoH:2
Monsters: Chain Dragon (2500 ATK)
Spells/Traps: none

Lacerbus felt yet another wave of pain shoot throughout his body, though it wasn't as intense as before as the numbness came back. "This isn't good," though Lacerbus. Not having enough energy to speak, he simply played without talking. He used Kushano's effect and discarded Casith to return it to his hand. "Kushano... goes to my hand... Casith destroys Muse...I end," Lacerbus muttered. If only if he had attack with Kushano first... Lacerbus felt into despair as he had nothing to defend himself in the field, his carelessness had cost him the duel.


400 LP
CoH:2
Monsters: none
Spells/Traps: none

Lacerbus fell to his knees... and started laughing. So this is what an underground duel was! He had won only because of the difference in age, which had made him able to withstand the electric shocks a bit more. Two people were helping him stand up and a third was about to give him the cash prize for winning until Lacerbus snapped. He pushed the other 2 guys away from him and at an instant was holding a card a few inches away from the neck of the third person. Lacerbus said, "Don't you dare give me that money, I am no more a winner than this was a duel."

Accepting money from strangers was one thing but accepting money from a duel he should have lost... he couldn't stand it. Swaggering where he stood, the numbness was the only thing keeping him going into shock from the pain. "Give that boy the money, he won this farce of a duel." The person with the money calmly did as he was told, not out of fear but out of pity. Lacerbus was standing out of sheer will and would have been incapable of hurting anyone in his condition and he knew it himself.

Walking slowly out of the arena, most people of the audience were talking nonchalantly as if this was a common occurrence. Lacerbus went as far as sidewalk outside the arena before he collapsed into the floor.