The Red Sparrow Duelist

"Bah, them bloody bells!" spat a man clad in leather armor and cloaked in a smelly brown cape. "They'll be ringin' for hours. Ringing' for that little pipsqueak."

"Ah, let 'em cheer for the little bloke," said his companion, a skinny fellow next to him also armored in leather. "Let 'em have a good time. You know as well as I wot's gonna happen to them tonight." He laughed.

"O' aye, too right, mate. Ah, it's gonna be a massacre." He smacked his large, hairy, hand on the counter to get the barmaid's attention. She jumped in fright, almost dropping her mug.

"What?" she asked. She was young but was so tall, even taller than they were. Her knees could be seen even over the counter.

"Oy, lovely, more of that Blue Mountain ale here on the double," said the bigger thug.

"You've had enough already," the barmaid said. "It's too early in the morning to be drunk, gentlemen. Please, we must show restraint. The Grand Maester is here in the city. Do you know what that means?"

"Aww, a religious girl," said the skinny thug. "I love religious girls. They're so sweet. So pure."

"Because of his presence, the Goddesses are watching over us right now," the barmaid continued. "We must show restraint. It's a special day. A holy day. They have blessed us with a great hero and a new High King. We must show respect."

"How's about I teach you a little respect!" said the bigger thug. "I want some ale. Now b'fore I put you over me knee!"

"Mother!" the barmaid called, clutching on one of her long braids in fright.

"Aww, callin' on your mommy now are we?" said the skinny thug.

The chatter of the other patrons died down. The inn shook with loud footsteps. The two men clad in leather sat where they were, heads down in fear as the girl's 'mother' no doubt lumbered her way towards them. They heard what sounded like the growl of a beast and smelled the scent of licorice perfuming the air.

"There be a problem gentlemen?" the girl's mother asked.

The two men turned and saw a wall of blue with white lace trim all over it, accented with white polka dots. It didn't take them long to realize they were looking at the woman's apron. They looked up and saw her face, round and red with fury.

Her hair was tied into a messy bun with the tooth of a sea serpent she killed being used as a hairpin. Both men gulped. Now they began to realize why the back doors to the establishment were so tall and wide. Now they understood why the ceiling was so high up.

And now, they definitely knew why the girl tending to them was so tall.

She and her mother were giants. And the fact that they came from the Highlands of the Termnnian Isles made them even more dangerous. Lords all across the lands often used them as bodyguards keeping watch over their treasures and daughters.

"Well, wot be goin' on here?" the giant woman asked again.

"That awful man threatened to put me over his knee, Mama!" the young giant girl whined.

Her mother flashed her teeth, which were as big as meat cleavers.

"Is that so?" she said.

She grabbed both men by the hoods of their cloaks and then tossed them out into the streets.

"And stay out!" Bloody blasphemers! Oh, and If I catch ya anywhere near me daughter, I'll toss ya over the wall!"

She slammed the door.

"Ooga-booga!" the larger man taunted her mimicking an ape.

They heard someone laughing at them. They both turned their heads at once toward the entrance to an alley near the butcher shop where the cows and pigs were led to be slaughtered. There was a hooded man standing there in beautiful black armor detailed in fine craftsmanship.

There were two red birds emblazoned on the chestplate. He cut an apple in half and bit into it.

"I've been in this business for years and I've never seen the likes of you two. Threatening the life of the High King in the very city of Rassay. And then harassing the daughter of a Giant. You two are a whole new breed of stupid aren't you?"

"Well 'oo do we 'ave here!" said the big thug.

"No, stop!" said his skinny friend. "Those red birds on his chest. That can only mean one thing."

The big thug gulped. "Wot? No. A Red Sparrow! The king's special forces from the Royal House of Intelligence, right?"

"Yeah, we better run while we still can."

"There is no running from us. As we speak, we have you surrounded."

"Where?" the big thug said looking around. "I don't see anything or anyone! You're bluffin',"

"You sure about that? You want to take that chance?" The two men stayed quiet making the Red Sparrow chuckle. "No, I didn't think so. What was all that talk about a massacre? Are you planning some sort of attack?"

"How'd you know about that?"

"It's unwise to plot against the High King in this city. He has ears and eyes in all places."

"Ha!" laughed the skinny one. "Yeah, you caught us. The baby bastard ain't gonna live long. How fortuitous that he was born on Eotarma, the Month of the Dead. We're just lending him a helping hand into the great beyond. Think about it. We're performing a good deed. We're reuniting the little insect with his parents."

He and his big comrade laughed. "O' aye. There is something going on 'round here but you're talkin' to the wrong guys. We're not part of the attack."

"Those Wdjats on your foreheads tell me otherwise. You two are from the Cult of Anubis."

"Yeah, but we're not taking part in the attack," said the skinny thug. "A special group is tasked in that matter, but don't think we'll tell you who they are."

The Red Sparrow held up his hand and bent his fingers forward two times. The skinny man let out a cry of agony, for he felt intense pain on his foot. An arrow with red fletching impaled it to the ground.

"I would rather things not get violent on this blessed day. So, why don't we have a Duel?"

"A Duel?" said the big thug.

"Yes. Under the terms of the Dueling Pact. I win, you tell me about this massacre you claim is taking place. You win, I'll sentence myself to death for treason by letting you go."

"Really?" laughed the skinny thug, though he did so wincing in pain. "Ha! You Emboldorians and your 'honor'. It's a miracle you lot are in power with such a mindset. I swear by Odiva the Perfect that this bloody game is gonna be your downfall."

"Swearing allegiance to the Perfect Goddess is going to be yours," said the Red Sparrow. The left vambrace on his arm flashed red and morphed into a Duel Disk. The thug had one made of pewter and dull wood.

"I'll take you on. My Battleguard deck will be more than a match for your deck!"

LP 8000

T1

"I'll go first!" the big thug said. "We 'ave your word? You're gonna let us go if I win."

"Yes."

The big thug let out a laugh followed by a loud burp. "You're gonna regret that, Embolodorian. First, I play the field spell, Sogen! This card will increase the attack and defense points of warriors and beast-warriors by two 'undred. Next, I set a card face-down and summon Granite Battleguard in attack mode!"

A light flashed in front of him and it took the form of a two-story ogre colored blue. He carried a spiked stone club and had long, messy, red hair that looked like overgrown moss.

ATK/1000 (→1200) DEF/1200 (→1400)

"Granite Battleguard's effect lets me summon Boulder Battleguard from my hand!" the big thug said, slapping the card on the wooden surface of his Duel Disk. The monster he summoned was a tall and very stout ogre wearing animal skins. He had long green hair and yellow horns protruding from his head.

ATK/1200 (→1400) DEF/1500 (→1700)

"That does it for me."

"Go get 'em, mate! You got this!"

T2

"My turn," said the Red Sparrow. "I activate the spell, Vampire Kingdom!" A tear in the dimension formed behind him, revealing a dark, Gothic castle, looming against a wine-colored sky and an bright red moon peeking behind black clouds.

"Hold on!" said the big thug. "I 'ave a field spell in play. How can you play your own?"

"The new rules state both players can each have a field spell out."

"When did this happen?" squealed the skinny thug.

"The game evolves day by day. Such a pity most of its players don't. Now, I summon Vampire Sorceror in attack mode." A cloud of bats flew around their playing field. Both the thugs waved their arms around in fright trying to shoo them away. The bats, done tormenting the two men, then soared to the Red Sparrow's side of the field and formed into a vampire in black and red robes and a wide-brimmed pointed hat. His staff was adorned with a bat-shaped decoration and there was a clever ornament around his waist that looked like a blue claw was grasping him.

ATK/1500 DEF/1500

"And then I will attack. This is where Vampire Kingdom comes into play. When my Zombie monsters attack, their attack increases by 500 during the battle phase."

"You're not atttackin' anything! Boulder Battleguard's effect activates! Once during the battle phase, I can stop your monster from attacking."

"Very well," said the Red Sparrow. "But because a monster declared an attack, I can special summon, Vampire Fraulien in defense mode." Another cloud of bats flew out of the darkness of the alley and swarmed the field in front of the Red Sparrow. They flew off, revealing a pale, but beautiful, young woman in red Gothic clothing. She had a black umbrella with black lace, which she used to shield herself from the sun.

ATK/600 DEF/2000

"Ooo, she's a pretty young thing," said this big thug.

His friend was not at all pleased by that remark. "You bloody tosser! Even now you'd think about drollin' over women! Can you get anymore thick?"

T3

"I draw," the big man said, ignoring his friend. "I sacrifice Granite Battleguard to summon Swamp Battleguard in attack mode!"

Granite Battleguard digitized into nothing then Swamp Battleguard took his place. He snarled and stomped his foot on the ground feeling the power of Sogen increasing his attack from 1800 to 2000.

"Now, I activate me face-down card. Battleguard Rage! This will increase Swamp Battleguard's attack by 1000! Now at 3000 attack points, he's the strongest monster on the field! Attack his Vampire Sorceror, Swamp Battleguard!"

The ogre howled and charged across the cobbled street towards the vampire. Suddenly, a trail of blood swirled from out of the Red Sparrow's arm and into the mouth of the Vampire Sorceror. Vampire Fruelien muttered something in a fell language to conjure up a spell of blood magic.

"Wot's all this?" asked the big man.

"When your monster declares an attack, Vampire Fraulien allows me to sacrifice my Life Points in multiples of 100 to increase Vampire Sorceror's attack by the amount I sacrificed. I choose 1000 and with the 500 attack point bonus from Vampire Kingdom, our monsters were evenly matched. Also, due to the effect of your Battleguard Rage card, our monsters get sent back to the hand instead."

"Blast!" said the big thug. "I'll get you next time."

T5

"If there is a next time for you. I set a card face-down and summon Vampire Sorceror again. I choose not to attack since your Boulder Battleguard will prevent me from doing so."

T6

"Ya still got the upper hand, mate!" said the skinny thug, still wrenching in pain. "Come on! You have no idea what the Red Sparrows do to people in their interrogation rooms."

"I've got this!" said his friend. "I'll beat this red chicken and we'll be 'ome scott-free. Far and away from the massacre. I draw and tribute Boulder Battleguard for the mighty Lava Battleguard! I'll attack your Vampire Sorceror!"

"Wait, you dunce!" shouted his friend. "Don't ya remember what happened last time?"

"Uh, you're right! Laval Battleguard wait!"

It was too late. Lava Battleguard smashed his wooden club on the sorcerer, annihilating him. Or so he thought. The club landed on an iron coffin.

"Wot's all this?"

"I activated my trap card, Vampire Awakening. When you declare an attack, my trap lets me special summon a Vampire from my deck. Arise, Vampire Lord!"

The coffin opened and revealed a handsome vampire dressed in dapper attire and a cape that looked like a bat's wing. He opened his eyes and slowly emerged from the coffin, staring hungrily at the Red Sparrow's opponent.

Thankfully, the man now had a choice to continue the battle phase. Knowing full well what Vampire Frauline could do, he chose not to finish the attack. The big man ended his turn and then Vampire Lord turned into a pile of dust and bone.

"Wot 'appened to him?" asked the thug.

"Oh, when a Vampire monster is summoned with Vampire's awakening, it's destroyed at the end of the turn."

That bit of news caused the man to laugh. "Well, well, so much for that, eh? For a moment there, I thought I had something to worry about."

The Red Sparrow smiled. "If you think this is going to end well for you, you haven't been paying attention, friend. My turn."

T7

The Red Sparrow drew and grinned from the darkness of his hood.

"Justice prevails. I activate the spell, Graceful Charity. I draw three cards and discard two cards. Now, I will release Vampire Sorceror to Advance Summon Vampire Scarlet Scourge!"

Vampire Sorceror disappeared into a cloud of bats, which took off moments later to reveal another dapper vampire in black clothes and a long black cape with red silk on the underside. His long, wavy, white hair blew gracefully against the breeze and his ruby-red eyes sparkled with thirst.

ATK/2200 DEF/2200

The Red Sparrow held up his arm and blood streamed out of it, eddying through the air and into the mouth of Vampire Scarlet Scourge.

"By paying 1000 of my Life Points, I'm allowed to special summon a Vampire monster from my Graveyard. Return, Vampire Lord."

Vampire Scarlet Scourge conjured another cloud of bats, which flew in circles over one of the monster zones. Vampire Lord remerged from the Graveyard and laughed.

"But he will not stay for long. No, no, no. I will banish him to summon the all-powerful, Vampire Genesis!"

Vampire Lord chuckled one last time and grew two large membranous purple wings which he used to conceal himself with as he underwent his transformation. Moments later, the handsome vampire was gone.

The wings spread to reveal a purple, hulk-of-a-beast with burning red eyes and a large mouth lined with boulder-sized teeth. He let out a monstrous roar and held up his arms as thunder and lightning erupted all around him.

ATK/3000 DEF/2100

"I activate the effect of Vampire Genesis. I discard Vampire Vamp from my hand and special summon a Zombie monster with a level lower than her's. Return, Vampire's Curse!"

Vampire Genesis flexed his muscles and let out a haunting roar that shook the ground and drowned out the bells ringing across the city.

From the ground emerged another young vampire with short bluish-green hair and wearing purple armor. His eyes burned bright like the red moon glowing over the castle in the Vampire Kingdom behind him.

The younger vampires seemed to hover close together in front of Vampire Genesis, forming a menacing pose that would haunt the thug's dreams forever.

"Now, I attack your Lava Battleguard with Vampire Genesis! Doing so activates my Vampire Fruelien effect. I will sacrifice 3000 of my Life Points to increase Vampire Genesis's attack by 3000 increasing him to 6000! And don't forget, with Vampire Kingdom's effect, I can increase my monster's attack by 500 during the damage step. Vampire Genesis! Crimson Storm!"

"Sixty-five 'undred attack points!" shouted the man. "No! No! Nooooo!"

Vampire Genesis summoned a storm of red winds that shredded Laval Battleguard to pieces. The excess blast knocked the man on his back, and his companion too, causing the arrow to push against his flesh and crack his bones.

He let out a howl, rolling around and begging for the pain to stop. The big thug's Life Points fell to 3250.

Then, Vampire Scarlet Scourge was next. He struck the man's Life Points by stabbing him in the heart with a rapier he materialized from darkness.

Finally, Vampire's Curse spread his armored wings and soared towards the man, punching him in the gut and bringing his Life Points to 0.

The monsters vanished and the Red Sparrow approached the two men. Suddenly the big thug got up and sprinted down the street, hoping to get away from the Red Sparrow, and leaving his friend behind.

He didn't make it far, for an arrow shot out of nowhere and pierced his leg. The man grunted and fell. He rolled around, tending to his leg, and listening to the Red Sparrow's footsteps as they got closer and closer.

"Disavowing your oath to the Dueling Pact?" said the agent. "You know what we do to those who dishonor their oaths."

The big thug spat a glob of mucus at the Red Sparrow's black and red boots. "To the Shadows with you! Do wot you want with us. We're not gonna talk!"

The Red Sparrow shook his head. "I beg to disagree."