Overview:
Preston D'Arcy, LA's flamboyant regional champion makes his way home after another successful defense of his title. Even as he laughs at the declining competition, Preston is unaware that the Fates, in their sadistic sense of humor, conspired to bring him face to face with a shadowy figure that walks the night. He does not know it yet, but tonight Preston will get his wish with interest; an opponent not only worthy, but one dangerous and completely insane that will duel him for the ultimate prize"¦ his soul.
"The Moon is a cruel mistress, who walks the night with demons of dread"
- Vampire the Masquerade "“ Bloodlines.
I.
The sun had retired for the night over downtown LA. The moon and her stellar court had already started their watch, illuminating the dark city with rays of silver and casting terrifying shadows that hid even more terrifying sights. The six-thousand strong crowd had long since made its way home, as one by one the headlights of LA's KaibaCorp. Millennium Stadium switched off. The stadium resembled more an awe inspiring Roman Coliseum than a Duel Monsters championship, but perhaps that was on purpose. Once gladiators had fought to the death to entertain thousands with their lives, and today the Duelists fight just as bitterly for glory, money and more importantly"¦ fame. Some things never change.
Something else that had not changed this night was that when the dust from the 4-month tournament had ended, out of the 300 duelists who had come, once again Preston D'Arcy was the only man left standing. This of course was no surprise to the crowd that had come from far and wide to chant his name, for this was Preston's 8th win in a row. More importantly, it was no surprise to Preston himself. After all, he lived for Duel Monsters. Or more accurately, he lived for dominating Duel Monsters. For it was not the game itself that Preston loved, but the sheer pleasure of humiliating and completely obliterating his opponents. And where else to indulge his sadistic nature, and stage his greatness than at the most publicized and popular game in recent history?
"Do you need a ride champ?" shouted Randy, Preston's long time partner in leading Team Onslaught. Preston looked up and saw Randy leaning out of his bright red BMW-5 series, the only car left in the arena. This was not unusual, for Preston and his team loved to take time to sign autographs for fans, speak to the press"¦ and also the sheer pleasure of gloating that Team Onslaught's leader had once again won the regionals.
"No thanks, I could the some silence after tonight. Let my ear drums recover from the tournament. Even laughing at those pathetic amateurs that call themselves duelists nowadays needs rest now and again" Preston shouted back. He turned around and started to head off into the night.
"Ha, you said it champ. See you tomorrow" echoed Randy's voice as his card speed off.
But something had changed this night. Even as he walked through the deserted streets, Preston could feel a change in the air. Looking up he noticed that the stars themselves kept unusually distant this night, as if they saw something he did not, and decided to back away. He brushed his long black hair out of his shining green eyes, and stuffed his hands in his trademark red leather jacket as he walked. He comforted himself by allowing him mind to once again wonder back to the Tournament Final he had just won a few hours ago"¦
"This is amazing lades and gentlemen!" screamed the announcer over the deafening crowd in the sold out arena, "One of the greatest matches I have ever witnessed! And with both players at 2000 life points, it's anyone's game!"
The Millenium Stadium's central arena was alive with emotion. On one side, stood a slender youth with long, shoulder length, silky black hair that fell as if it were liquid over his blood red leather jacket and cast a shadow of the duelist's face.. Bright, cat like eyes shone from this shadow that sparkled like jade.
"Anyone's game?" s******ed Preston to himself, as he turned his back on his opponent, a tall, well build man with a shaved head and dark olive skin.
Preston turned to face the crowd and performed his trade-mark hair flick with his hand. The crowd ate it up, "Preston! Preston!" they chanted and how he loved it. With a quick bow to his adoring fans, Preston turned back to his opponent, Jaime Cobain, the former European champion. He looked at the field before him; his opponent had just summoned the almighty Jinzo, with Preston's field completely empty.
"Are you ready?" asked Preston sarcastically.
"For what this time D'Arcy?" came the cold reply from his rival.
"End game" chuckled Preston.
Preston summoned a card on his duel disk. At once, the holographic projects whirred and within seconds his monster, Blade Knight, had appeared on the field.
"A baffling move ladies and gentlemen! Preston's Blade Knight isn't strong enough to take on Jinzo! What is he thinking!? Has the pressure finally got to Preston?" screetched the announcer.
"Blade Knight" commanded Preston, "Attack his Jinzo now!"
"Ha! Looks like you should have spent less time conditioning your hair and more time watching the field D'Arcy! Jinzo, destroy his Blade Knight with your Electro-Shock attack!" shouted the opponent.
At once Jinzo sprung to life and with an almost fluid motion grabbed the Blade Knights sword mid-swing. Jinzo's eyes started glowing a strange orange, and suddenly two laser blasts from the eyes obliterated Preston's Blade Knight. The blast knocked Preston back a few steps, but he recovered before losing his balance completely. The roaring crowd went silent immediately.
"Oh dear, looks like I underestimated you" mocked Preston, as the dust settled and the computer lowered his life-points to 1200.
"Oh well, best I suck it up and finished my turn eh?" he smiled.
"Go ahead D'Arcy, you'll be finished on my next turn" came the booming voice of his opponent.
"Now watch closely you idiot and try to keep up. I remove my Blade Knight and my End of Anubis from my graveyard to summon"¦ my CHAOS EMPEROR DRAGON!" screamed Preston.
A gasp went through crowd. They had seen this before, they knew what was to come.
The arena was suddenly filled with a terrifying roar, as a thick, black mist settled on the field.
"My Lord ladies and gentlemen! Preston has managed to unleash his trade-mark monster! The end must truly be near now!" whispered the announcer.
"The crowd looked on in awe as a purple vortex opened in the middle of the black mist and huge, ferocious dragon, of incredible jade and metal strepped from within and out onto the field. With an ear splitting roar that shook the arena, it dwarfed the opposing Jinzo.
"Now my dragon use your Raining Apocalypse ability!" commanded Preston, his sarcastic smile suddenly replaced with a malicious frenzy and a red glint in his eyes.
Preston's life points shot down to 200, as all eyes were now on the dragon.
"Not so fast D'Arcy" came the response. "I activate my face down card, Offerings to the Doomed! Your dragon is history and so is your winning streak!"
The holographic face down spell card flipped itself face up, and created an altar on the field. A supernaturally large hand reached from the altar and grabbed Preston's dragon around it's neck and started to pull it towards the altar. However"¦ the dragon was resisting.
"WHAT!?" shrieked the opponent.
"You FOOL." Answerd Preston "Once my dragon activates it's special ability it becomes immune to all card effects!"
And true to his claim, the dragon shook free from the giant and ripped it apart with it's metallic jaws. A golden glow now covered the dragon, growing brighter and brighter until without warning the draong exploded into an unnatural concerto of white lightning. The lightning struck Jinzo and send it flying into the graveyard, before going on to strike the other 14 cards on the field and in the hands of both players, electrifying them all in crackling electricity. The cards flew towards the graveyard, but hovered above the graveyard. They spun round, faster and faster and lit up in a brilliant flame. The flaming cards flew towards the opponent at high velocity, as the opponent stared helplessly as his life points dropping. 2000. 1700. 14000. 1100. 800. 500. 200. 0.
The crowd erupted in a frenzy, matching that of their icon.
"Unbelievable ladies and gentlemen! Preston D'Arcy wins again!" screamed the announcer.
Suddenly, a sharp fear gripped Preston "“ dragging him back from his lucid dreaming. A feeling"¦ like was being watched. Preston looked behind him, but there was nothing but the shut shops and empty streets of LA to greet him. He pulled his coat even tighter around him and increased his walking speed. He didn't know what was out there, he just knew he didn't want to be.
Chapter II coming soon"¦
Preston D'Arcy, LA's flamboyant regional champion makes his way home after another successful defense of his title. Even as he laughs at the declining competition, Preston is unaware that the Fates, in their sadistic sense of humor, conspired to bring him face to face with a shadowy figure that walks the night. He does not know it yet, but tonight Preston will get his wish with interest; an opponent not only worthy, but one dangerous and completely insane that will duel him for the ultimate prize"¦ his soul.
"The Moon is a cruel mistress, who walks the night with demons of dread"
- Vampire the Masquerade "“ Bloodlines.
I.
The sun had retired for the night over downtown LA. The moon and her stellar court had already started their watch, illuminating the dark city with rays of silver and casting terrifying shadows that hid even more terrifying sights. The six-thousand strong crowd had long since made its way home, as one by one the headlights of LA's KaibaCorp. Millennium Stadium switched off. The stadium resembled more an awe inspiring Roman Coliseum than a Duel Monsters championship, but perhaps that was on purpose. Once gladiators had fought to the death to entertain thousands with their lives, and today the Duelists fight just as bitterly for glory, money and more importantly"¦ fame. Some things never change.
Something else that had not changed this night was that when the dust from the 4-month tournament had ended, out of the 300 duelists who had come, once again Preston D'Arcy was the only man left standing. This of course was no surprise to the crowd that had come from far and wide to chant his name, for this was Preston's 8th win in a row. More importantly, it was no surprise to Preston himself. After all, he lived for Duel Monsters. Or more accurately, he lived for dominating Duel Monsters. For it was not the game itself that Preston loved, but the sheer pleasure of humiliating and completely obliterating his opponents. And where else to indulge his sadistic nature, and stage his greatness than at the most publicized and popular game in recent history?
"Do you need a ride champ?" shouted Randy, Preston's long time partner in leading Team Onslaught. Preston looked up and saw Randy leaning out of his bright red BMW-5 series, the only car left in the arena. This was not unusual, for Preston and his team loved to take time to sign autographs for fans, speak to the press"¦ and also the sheer pleasure of gloating that Team Onslaught's leader had once again won the regionals.
"No thanks, I could the some silence after tonight. Let my ear drums recover from the tournament. Even laughing at those pathetic amateurs that call themselves duelists nowadays needs rest now and again" Preston shouted back. He turned around and started to head off into the night.
"Ha, you said it champ. See you tomorrow" echoed Randy's voice as his card speed off.
But something had changed this night. Even as he walked through the deserted streets, Preston could feel a change in the air. Looking up he noticed that the stars themselves kept unusually distant this night, as if they saw something he did not, and decided to back away. He brushed his long black hair out of his shining green eyes, and stuffed his hands in his trademark red leather jacket as he walked. He comforted himself by allowing him mind to once again wonder back to the Tournament Final he had just won a few hours ago"¦
"This is amazing lades and gentlemen!" screamed the announcer over the deafening crowd in the sold out arena, "One of the greatest matches I have ever witnessed! And with both players at 2000 life points, it's anyone's game!"
The Millenium Stadium's central arena was alive with emotion. On one side, stood a slender youth with long, shoulder length, silky black hair that fell as if it were liquid over his blood red leather jacket and cast a shadow of the duelist's face.. Bright, cat like eyes shone from this shadow that sparkled like jade.
"Anyone's game?" s******ed Preston to himself, as he turned his back on his opponent, a tall, well build man with a shaved head and dark olive skin.
Preston turned to face the crowd and performed his trade-mark hair flick with his hand. The crowd ate it up, "Preston! Preston!" they chanted and how he loved it. With a quick bow to his adoring fans, Preston turned back to his opponent, Jaime Cobain, the former European champion. He looked at the field before him; his opponent had just summoned the almighty Jinzo, with Preston's field completely empty.
"Are you ready?" asked Preston sarcastically.
"For what this time D'Arcy?" came the cold reply from his rival.
"End game" chuckled Preston.
Preston summoned a card on his duel disk. At once, the holographic projects whirred and within seconds his monster, Blade Knight, had appeared on the field.
"A baffling move ladies and gentlemen! Preston's Blade Knight isn't strong enough to take on Jinzo! What is he thinking!? Has the pressure finally got to Preston?" screetched the announcer.
"Blade Knight" commanded Preston, "Attack his Jinzo now!"
"Ha! Looks like you should have spent less time conditioning your hair and more time watching the field D'Arcy! Jinzo, destroy his Blade Knight with your Electro-Shock attack!" shouted the opponent.
At once Jinzo sprung to life and with an almost fluid motion grabbed the Blade Knights sword mid-swing. Jinzo's eyes started glowing a strange orange, and suddenly two laser blasts from the eyes obliterated Preston's Blade Knight. The blast knocked Preston back a few steps, but he recovered before losing his balance completely. The roaring crowd went silent immediately.
"Oh dear, looks like I underestimated you" mocked Preston, as the dust settled and the computer lowered his life-points to 1200.
"Oh well, best I suck it up and finished my turn eh?" he smiled.
"Go ahead D'Arcy, you'll be finished on my next turn" came the booming voice of his opponent.
"Now watch closely you idiot and try to keep up. I remove my Blade Knight and my End of Anubis from my graveyard to summon"¦ my CHAOS EMPEROR DRAGON!" screamed Preston.
A gasp went through crowd. They had seen this before, they knew what was to come.
The arena was suddenly filled with a terrifying roar, as a thick, black mist settled on the field.
"My Lord ladies and gentlemen! Preston has managed to unleash his trade-mark monster! The end must truly be near now!" whispered the announcer.
"The crowd looked on in awe as a purple vortex opened in the middle of the black mist and huge, ferocious dragon, of incredible jade and metal strepped from within and out onto the field. With an ear splitting roar that shook the arena, it dwarfed the opposing Jinzo.
"Now my dragon use your Raining Apocalypse ability!" commanded Preston, his sarcastic smile suddenly replaced with a malicious frenzy and a red glint in his eyes.
Preston's life points shot down to 200, as all eyes were now on the dragon.
"Not so fast D'Arcy" came the response. "I activate my face down card, Offerings to the Doomed! Your dragon is history and so is your winning streak!"
The holographic face down spell card flipped itself face up, and created an altar on the field. A supernaturally large hand reached from the altar and grabbed Preston's dragon around it's neck and started to pull it towards the altar. However"¦ the dragon was resisting.
"WHAT!?" shrieked the opponent.
"You FOOL." Answerd Preston "Once my dragon activates it's special ability it becomes immune to all card effects!"
And true to his claim, the dragon shook free from the giant and ripped it apart with it's metallic jaws. A golden glow now covered the dragon, growing brighter and brighter until without warning the draong exploded into an unnatural concerto of white lightning. The lightning struck Jinzo and send it flying into the graveyard, before going on to strike the other 14 cards on the field and in the hands of both players, electrifying them all in crackling electricity. The cards flew towards the graveyard, but hovered above the graveyard. They spun round, faster and faster and lit up in a brilliant flame. The flaming cards flew towards the opponent at high velocity, as the opponent stared helplessly as his life points dropping. 2000. 1700. 14000. 1100. 800. 500. 200. 0.
The crowd erupted in a frenzy, matching that of their icon.
"Unbelievable ladies and gentlemen! Preston D'Arcy wins again!" screamed the announcer.
Suddenly, a sharp fear gripped Preston "“ dragging him back from his lucid dreaming. A feeling"¦ like was being watched. Preston looked behind him, but there was nothing but the shut shops and empty streets of LA to greet him. He pulled his coat even tighter around him and increased his walking speed. He didn't know what was out there, he just knew he didn't want to be.
Chapter II coming soon"¦