Chapter Text
It was a cold, rainy night in the city. The desaturated buildings standing far above the streets. Morrigan hobbled to her destination, the puddles she walked in soaking into her runners as she slipped down an alleyway. When she found a rusty metal door she smacked it in annoyance when a voice rang out from the other side.
‘Password? ’
Morrigan groaned, ‘The place souls are banished the monsters come to play.’
As she announced the password a lock slid open and she was allowed inside the Shadow Realm. Inside was much different from the bland streets, a grungy dive bar with neon lights around as patrons yelled and whooped. In one corner roulette wheels spun and other performers in revealing outfits worked their hips on whichever guy or girl showed interest and cash. The girl pulled down her rain soaked hood as her yellow eyes began scanning the room, though the one she was searching for found her first.
From behind her a voice cooed, ‘Well, well, well Morrigan, back for another hard day paying off your debts~’
Morrigan jolted as she turned to see the black haired man that spoke to her. His sharp, perfectly tailored suit contrasting the near rags she was wearing herself. Dagda Uaithne , a man she hated. Successful crime boss, owner of this establishment and apparently someone her parents were in A LOT of debt to before they died. And with them just guess who that responsibility was shoveled to.
Morrigan sighed and put on her best mask of respect, ‘Welp, rent’s almost due so I ain’t got much choice than to throw in a few more duels this week.’
Dagda nodded with a smirk that pissed her off, ‘Well if that’s the case I’ll make sure to line up plenty of opponents for you! See you in the cage.’
With that the man ruffled the girl’s deep purple hair to be even more messed up than her hood made it before leaving.
With Dagda out of her way Morrigan went to the locker room where she’d get changed into her dueling outfit. She threw her crimson blazer over a black tee, straightened out her khaki pants and slipped on a skeletal looking mask. Now prepared, she walked out onto the duelling field with an air of untouchable confidence, sticking out an arm for one of the arena’s duel discs was slipped onto her arm. Here she was, in the cage, lovingly given that nickname due to its resemblance to the arenas used in cage matches with its weaved steel walls allowing no escape but for everyone’s gaze to enter.
Dagda’s voice then rang through a mic, ‘WELCOME EVERYONE TO TONIGHT’S SHADOW GAMES! FOR ANYONE NEW TO THESE EVENTS I’LL GIVE YA THE RUN DOWN! MUCH LIKE THE SHADOW GAMES OF OLD THESE DUELS CAUSE REAL PAIN! ACTUALLY PUSH DUELISTS IN WAYS THOSE PANSIES RUNNING SANCTIONED EVENTS NEVER WILL! NOW WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN TONIGHT! I’M SURE YOU ALL KNOW IT! SAY IT LOUD!’
Dagda’s charisma got the crowd chanting in unison, ‘TWO DUELISTS ENTER! ONE DUELIST LEAVES!’
Dagda grinned, ‘THAT’S RIGHT FOLKS! NOW INTRODUCING TONIGHT’S SHOWDOWN! IN THE BLACK CORNER! WITH ALL THAT GOES BUMP IN THE NIGHT SHE’LL VANQUISH YOUR SOUL AND SEND YOU TO HER DOMAIN! IT’S THE PHANTOM QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!’
Morrigan came out to the center of the cage and spread her arms to the audience which yelled in excitement before taking her position in the cage.
Then Dagda continued, ‘AND IN THE WHITE CORNER! THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE! WILL HE SET THE LAND ASUNDER OR IS HE ALL HOT AIR? IT’S OUR NEWEST DUELIST THE IVORY DRAGONBORN!’
Then out from the other corner walked a man that was clearly just a Kaiba wannabe, wearing an identical trenchcoat and a mask like Kaibaman. It made Morrigan roll her eyes that this was the chump that she had to duel. Wasn’t the first unoriginal duelist she’d seen in the cage, it was just annoying that she’d have to be the one wasting her time showing him how duelists like that were treated in this place.
‘PLACE YOUR BETS FOLKS! WHO WILL WIN! WHO WILL LOSE! WHO KNOWS? NOW LET THE DUEL BEGIN!’
Duel!
Ivory Dragonborn: LP 8000
Phantom Queen: LP 8000
Turn 1: Ivory Dragonborn [5 CIH]
The Ivory Dragonborn pulled a card from his hand and revealed it, ‘I’ll get us started by activating the effect of Maiden of White, sending her to the grave to place a True Light from my deck face up on the field!’
A white haired woman would then appear from the card and began glowing as she was sent to the grave and in her place appeared a massive stone tablet with an engraving of a dragon any duel monster’s player knew all too well, ‘Now I’ll activate True Light’s effect to summon a Blue Eyes White Dragon from my deck!’
The ancient tablet glowed with magical power as the Ivory Dragonborn retrieved a card from his deck and summoning it to the field.
[Blue Eyes White Dragon/Light/Dragon/Lvl 8/ATK:3000/DEF:2500]
The dragon roared in dominance as its owner smirked, ‘But I’m not done yet! Maiden of White can summon itself from the grave whenever a Blue Eyes White Dragon is summoned!’
And with that the white haired woman returned to the field, rising from the grave as she opened her piercing blue eyes.
[Maiden of White/Light/Spellcaster/Tuner/Lvl 1/ATK:0/DEF:0]
Morrigan chuckled, ‘Wow Kaiba must have paid big bucks to Industrial Illusions to overtune his favourite archetype like this.’
The Ivory Dragonborn was not so amused, ‘Well you’re right, this archetype is about to get tuned as I tune my level 8 Blue Eyes with my level 1 Maiden! I Synchro summon the level 9 Blue Eyes Spirit Dragon!’
The Maiden would once again glow with magic it bestowed to the dragon, turning its scales a pure white as it flew upwards.
[Blue Eyes Spirit Dragon/Light/Dragon/Synchro/Lvl 9/ATK:2500/DEF:3000]
The Ivory Dragonborn would then set a card from his hand, ‘I end my turn.’
Turn 2: Phantom Queen [6 CIH]
Morrigan would smirk as she read her opponent’s field, nothing to currently worry about, ‘I’ll start off by summoning Vanquish Soul Razen!’
The monster then appeared on the field, a man with a blue mohawk and jacket alongside jet boosters attached to his arms.
[Vanquish Soul Razen/Fire/Warrior/Lvl 4/ATK:1800/DEF:1500]
Morrigan then reached for her deck, ‘Now with Razen’s effect I can add a non-warrior Vanquish Soul monster from my deck to hand!’
The Ivory Dragonborn then held up a finger, ‘Well I’ll chain my Spirit Dragon, tributing itself to special summon out a light dragon synchro monster from my deck in defense! But it will be destroyed in the end phase. My choice will be the ultimate beast! A force of untold destruction! Blue Eyes Ultimate Spirit Dragon!’
As the Spirit Dragon tributed itself an even more giant and ancient looking white dragon took its place. Its roar bellowed and shook the steel mesh of the cage, some in the crowd even covering their ears from how loud it was. It had horns that winded back behind its head.
[Blue Eyes Ultimate Spirit Dragon/Light/Dragon/Synchro/Lvl 12/ATK:3500/DEF:4000]
Morrigan would check her duel disk, reading the opponent’s card before her eyes went wide, ‘Shit! a negate that will make it gain attack. Well first I’ll resolve Razen to add Heavy Borger and then I will use Razen as a link material to summon Rock of the Vanquisher!’
As the circuit was opened and Razen was used as material soon a massive rock covered in blood, cuts and cracks would take the stage.
[Rock of the Vanquisher/Dark/Rock/Link 1/ATK:0]
The Ivory Dragonborn scoffed, ‘A fucking rock? You think a rock will defeat me?’
Morrigan chuckled, ‘This rock can do a whole lot, but you’ll see that later. For now I’ll set one card and pass.’
The Ivory Dragonborn nodded, ‘In the end phase Ultimate Spirit will be destroyed but I’ll activate its grave effect to revive Spirit Dragon.’
The massive dragon would shatter and in its place once again stood the smaller white Spirit Dragon.
Turn 3: Ivory Dragonborn [4 CIH]
Before her opponent could even speak Morrigan butted in, ‘I’ll use my Rock of the Vanquisher’s effect to summon a Vanquish Soul from my hand. Come on out, Heavy Borger!’
Rings of light appeared on the rock as a robot with massive fists and black metal appeared on it. It raised its fists ready to throw down with the dragon in front of it.
[Vanquish Soul Heavy Borger/Dark/Machine/Lvl 7/ATK:2500/DEF:1500]
The Ivory Dragonborn smirked, ‘Fine, have your pile of bolts! I’ll just wreck it anyway! I’ll once again use Spirit Dragon’s effect to summon out another Ultimate Spirit!’
Morrigan pulled a card from her hand, ‘Well I’ll chain Heavy Borger’s effect revealing a dark monster to draw a card. Revealing the hand of D.D. Crow!’ she said showing off the monster to her opponent before drawing.
When she finished the massive dragon touched down once again, ‘Now I’ll activate True Light to get me another Blue Eyes!’
The tablet glowed again as another Blue Eyes hit the field, ‘And now once again Maiden wi-’
Morrigan raised a finger, ‘I’ll have to stop you right there buddy! I’ll discard Ghost Belle and the Haunted Mansion to negate that effect to summon from the grave!’
Her opponent grit his teeth, ‘I’ll use Ultimate Spirit’s effect to negate your ghost girl and get me even more attack to crush you with!’
Morrigan chuckled as she raised her hand, ‘Well that would be the case if I didn’t have Infinite Impermanence face down to negate your monster!’
The Ivory Dragonborn nearly grinded his teeth in rage. The Maiden that was trying to free itself from the grave became locked in the ghost girl’s mansion. The Ultimate Spirit tried to move to destroy the building and free the monster but Morrigan’s trap had it paralysed.
The Ivory Dragonborn hissed at this turn of events, ‘Well then I’ll activate Ultimate Fusion I had face down to fusion out Twin Burst Dragon!’
Morrigan cackled, ‘Well sorry to say but have a change of plans buddy! I activate D.D. Crow to banish your Blue Eyes by discarding it’
The crow would fly from her hand and fire a beam at the Blue Eyes White Dragon in the grave, making it disappear to another world.
The Ivory Dragonborn yelled, ‘Would you stop with your stupid interactions! Fine I’ll shuffle back Blue Eyes and Spirit Dragon to summon Blue Eyes Tyrant Dragon!’
The two dragons shuffled back would mould and shift as they combined, creating a Blue scaled dragon almost as large as Ultimate Spirit with golden wings of light.
[Blue Eyes Tyrant Dragon/Light/Dragon/Lvl 8/ATK:3400/DEF:2900]
Morrigan smirked, ‘Well if you’re summoning out two big bosses I might as well throw in one of mine! By returning Heavy Borger I can summon out my ace! The Vanquish Soul legend! You know him, you love him! It’s!!!’
The robot bounced off the battlefield and back into Morrigan’s hand as in its place landed a tall figure with ebony scales across its body, a long tail winding behind it, unfurling wings and two great horns on its head. The crowd cheered its name, ‘CAESAR VALIUS!!!!’
[Vanquish Soul Caesar Valius/Earth/Dragon/Lvl 8/ATK:3000/DEF:1500]
The bipedal dragon took its place in front of Morrigan as she chuckled, ‘oh you’re going to hate his effect too. I can reveal an earth, fire and dark monster in my hand to destroy one card on the field. Revealing the hand: Pantera, Jiaolong and Heavy Borger so Caesar, destroy his True Light and make his field crumble! Dragonfire Fist!’
Caesar Valius made no pause in rushing towards the tablet, dodging as the two much larger dragons blasted at him with lightning breath. He slid beneath them both before swinging at the tablet. His fist connected with a loud crash as the tablet shattered to pieces. The tablet released a blinding flash as it broke.
Morrigan cackled, ‘anyone who’s ever played against Blue Eyes knows destroying True Light destroys their whole field!’
But she was caught off guard as the light cleared and one dragon still remained, ‘That would be the case if Tyrant Dragon wasn’t immune to trap effects! Now let’s go to battle and run over that pathetic excuse for a dragon. TYRANT TYPHOON!’
Tyrant Dragon flapped its wings creating a mighty gale that threw Caesar Valius off his feet and right into Morrigan, slamming them both against the wall of the cage as the monster’s spikes dug into her flesh, not too deep, but deep enough to hurt.
[Phantom Queen: LP 8000 - 400 = 7600]
Morrigan’s opponent cackled as she fell to the ground, ‘You better get up~ Remember 10 seconds on the ground and you’ll lose~ oh and just to mention, when Tyrant Dragon battles I can set a trap from my grave, so return True Light and end my turn.’
Morrigan quickly pulled herself off the floor as she watched the dragon’s whirlwind blowing up the pieces of the smashed tablet and putting it back together. She cursed under her breath.
Turn 4: Phantom Queen [4 CIH]
Morrigan sighed in relief as she saw her draw, ‘Exactly what I needed! I activate Vanquish Soul Continue which at the cost of 500 life points will let me revive a Vanquish Soul monster in defence! My choice is Razen.’
[Phantom Queen: LP 7600 - 500 = 7100]
The blue mohawked boy returned to the field with a grin and an arm raised, facing down Tyrant Dragon and the Tablet though in return Morrigan received an electric shock as her life points went down. ‘Now for Razen’s on summon effect I’ll add Dr.Mad Love to my hand and for his second on field effect, by revealing a fire and dark monster I can destroy all other monsters in his column so say goodbye to your Tyrant Dragon. Revealing the hand Jiaolong and Heavy Borger.’
Razen would use the boosters on his arms to jet up into the air and clock the dragon in the jaw, making it topple over and fall to the ground, ‘And now I’ll activate Jiaolong’s effect, letting it summon itself whenever I reveal a card to activate a Vanquish Soul monster’s effect!’
Out from her hand leaped another monster, this one a man in a black trenchcoat with red sunglasses and long white hair. In his hands he held a weapon that was half bow staff, half pointed nunchucks.
[Vanquish Soul Jiaolong/Fire/Wyrm/Lvl 5/ATK:2400/DEF:2100]
Morrigan smiled, she knew she had game, ‘And to follow that up I’ll use Rock of the Vanquisher to add Caesar Valius back to hand and to follow that up I’ll normal summon Pantera!’
The monster Morrigan summoned was an anthropomorphic leopard woman in a fighting stance.
[Vanquish Soul Pantera/Earth/Beast-Warrior/Lvl 4/ATK:1700/DEF:1900]
Morrigan yelled out, ‘But she won’t be staying long as I’ll use Heavy Borger and Caesar Valius’ effects to summon themselves by returning Razen and Pantera to my hand! Character Swap!’
The two smaller fighters would jump back to Morrigan’s hand as their larger counterparts came back into the fray, ready to throw down, ‘Now I’ll use Heavy Borger’s effect to burn you for 1500 by revealing an earth and fire monster. Revealing the hand Pantera and Razen.’
Heavy Borger would open its palm and fire a beam of energy at the Ivory Dragonborn, scorching his flesh and making him scream to the crowd’s amusement. Though he stood strong through the pain.
[Ivory Dragonborn: LP 8000 - 1500 = 6500]
Morrigan glared at the Ivory Dragonborn, ‘Now it’s time for the Phantom Queen to collect your soul! Battle phase! And if you dare try to use True Light Caesar Valius can pop it and stop you in your tracks! Now Jiaolong Burning Wyrm Strike!’
Jialong took the command and rushed forward and began bashing the Ivory Dragonborn around with his weapon, each strike making a crack as the metal weapon hit bone after bone.
[Ivory Dragonborn: LP 6500 - 2400 = 4100]
‘Next Heavy Borger! Beat him down with a Lunchtime Rush!’
The robot would dash to the opponent next before punching him in the gut, making him buckle in pain as he was gut checked again and again before it finished with and uppercut that sent blood covered teeth fly out of his jaw as he came off the ground.
[Ivory Dragonborn: LP 4100 - 2500 = 1600]
‘Caesar! Finish this wannabe off with a draco overhand!’
Caesar Valius blew over in an instance and brought his fist down on the Ivory Dragonborn’s face, burying the man into the ground as the punch came with the horrid crunch. When Caesar’s fist retracted the man’s mask was shattered to pieces, his nose was broken and his jaw was likely dislocated.
[Ivory Dragonborn: LP 1600 - 3000 = 0]
WINNER: Phantom Queen
Once again Dagda’s voice rang throughout the cage, ‘AND OUR WINNER IS THE PHANTOM QUEEN! CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT BEAUTIFUL VICTORY!’
Morrigan sighed as she waltzed back to the changing room to get back into her casual wear. While she didn’t enjoy participating in the Shadow Games she was at least happy enough that every duelist got to be anonymous, going under stage names. She felt a bit bad for her opponent but well it was either him or her and she’d rather it be him.
Coming out of the changing room she was once again met by Dagda, though this time with an envelope in his hands, ‘for your win tonight, already extracted for your debt so what’s left is all yours and of course drinks are free for our winner tonight.’
Morrigan took it and continued on, she’d rather have no debt at all but she knew there was no way Dagda would do that. She would crawl her way to the bar, sitting down when a hand was placed on her shoulder and a brown haired lad sat next to her, ‘Welp if it ain’t the great and mighty depressed Phantom Queen.’
Morrigan chuckled as she elbowed him in the gut, ‘Oh shut it Arby, can’t put a cork in it for more than five minutes to the point your name in the cage is Two-bit!’
Arby wheezed as the air was knocked out of him before grinning back like a smug piece of shit, ‘So it’s my fault for having a bit of personality as compared to a silent bitch who only speaks to be snarky.’
Morrigan huffed overdramatically, ‘God get me a drink before I have to talk to you at least, at least being drunk will make it bearable.’
Arby slipped her over a bottle of rum, ‘Two steps ahead of ya bucko.’
Morrigan burst out laughing and took the bottle, clinking with Arby who had his own bottle. Both would start drinking and mixing with whatever sodas they could get behind one of the Shadow Realm‘s many bar tops. They downed bottles together deep into the evening.
Morrigan stood up, almost falling onto her face as she did, ‘Well see ya buddy, think I gotta tap out before I throw up.’
Arby helped her steady herself, ‘Yeahhh that ain’t happening on your own, here let me walk you there, that way when we both inevitably start to fall on our faces the other can stop em.’
Morrigan tilted her head, ‘And if we fall at the same time?’
Arby shrugged, ‘then we’re fucked I dunno.’
So the pair threw their arms around each other as they stumbled together through the streets to Morrigan’s apartment. She struggled to get the door open but was able to get in and flop onto the couch.
Arby nodded as she entered, ‘Well Morrigan, see ya at the Shadow Realm when you come back for another match?’
She shot him a thumbs up, ‘Yeah of course, might even come see your next match.’
Arby smiled hearing that and saluted as he hobbled off, nearly tripping on his way out.
Morrigan let herself rest on the couch, about to drift off to sleep when she remembered.