One minute, I'm being sacrificed by a former friend in a sick desire for power. The next time I awaken in a cold, dark world with a giant black castle in front of me. Looking up above the castle, I see giant tree roots with a giant dragon chewing on them; just seeing that gives me the chills. I decided to make my way into the castle, where two guards guard the doors, both wearing a mix of chainmail and thick leather covering them from head to toe with a Dane axe in hand.
''You there, stop where you are. State your name and why you have come to see her majesty", said the guard on the left. Stating in a loud, firm tone, "My name is Jason Markov, and I don't know where I am. All I know is that I was killed by my former friend", I said. "It has been a long time since a new soul has appeared here in Helheim''. Helheim, that's the world of the dead in the Norse religion, wasn't it?' "Come with me, boy. I will take you to see her majesty and get you sorted out'', the guard said in a more natural tone
The guard turned and opened the giant castle doors. As they opened it, the hinges of the door sounded like a thousand screaming souls crying out in pain, making me freeze in place, only snapping out of it when the guard called for me to follow him. Walking into the castle, I see burning torches on the wall, giving a little bit of light as we walk in and make our way into the foyer. I could see different tapestries on the walls that were depicting the events of Ragnarök.
Looking around, the end of the foyer leads to the grand staircases going up to the second floor, but the guard continues to lead me to the solid black stone doors in between the stars. Through those doors is a small waiting room. "Wait here. I will get you when her majesty is ready for you" said the guard. Sitting here now, waiting for five minutes, I can't help but think about how because of me dying, I missed my one time to go to the world championship for Yu-Gi-Oh. After all the time being stuck in the top 3 at regionals.
After waiting for what feels like forever, the guard finally comes back. ''Follow me'', he says. "Is there anything I need to know before I see her?" "She does not expect much from those who don't worship her, just show her the utmost respect'' he said in a kind but serious tone. Walking into the throne room, there is a long green and black rug leading from the door to the throne. The throne looks to be made of ebony wood with silver inlays running throughout. Sitting in the chair is the goddess herself. One side of her body was vibrant, full of life with emerald green eyes and golden blonde hair. The other side of her body was that of a skeleton, black miasma moving throughout the bones with a green flame for an eye and black, straw like hair.
Then she spoke. ''Ahaa, a new soul has entered my realm. It's been a millennium since the last one.'' Her voice was a mix of two. One sounded like a calm chime, and the other was dry, raspy, like someone who hasn't had water in a long time. ''Unfortunately, this was not supposed to be your time to shed the mortal coil but I am willing to offer you a wonderful deal at a new life. I'm sure you must be interested in the benefits that come with it", she said with a calm tone. This is not what I expected to happen meeting a literal goddess. I am interested but I don't know what I could offer her.
I ponder further…..It's at least worth learning about the deal before rejecting it. "So mortal, are you interested in this deal?'' "Yes your majesty, I'm interested.... But what is the price for this second life?" I asked in a somewhat nervous voice. "Good," she says. She continues, "The price you will pay is being my champion in a world I don't have access to but your soul does". She takes a short pause before continuing, looking at me, trying to read me. "There are two very simple tasks you must do in this world for me. Being my champion comes with immortality, unable to die and enter any afterlife ever again'' she said in a very serious tone. This doesn't sound too bad, but I need to know more before accepting.
"Your majesty, what are the tasks you would have me do and what are these benefits? What world would I be going to? I said. She chuckles, I'm sure in regard to my endless questioning. "The world you will be going to is the world you mortals call Duel Monsters. The tasks you will complete are quite simple."
I keep listening…." The first is to locate what happened to the pieces of my father's and uncle's souls in that world. Your second task is to generate energy for me by dueling, something you would be doing anyway". With inquiring eyes, I continue to hear her out. "The benefits you shall receive if you accept are as follows. You will be able to travel to the different spirit worlds with an anchor to that world, you will receive eternal youth where you will stop aging at the age of 25, and you will receive the ability to use magic". There is a long silent pause as she analyzes me standing in front of her. "Do you accept my offer, mortal?'' she said with a small smile, assuming I would accept her proposal.
This does sound like a good deal. The tasks shouldn't be too hard…..I have a decent idea of where their souls should be, and generating a dueling spirit will happen naturally. The benefits are beyond what I was expecting as well. The silence is brutal, but I confidently make my choice. "Yes, your majesty, I'll take the deal''.
''Good moral, I'm glad you accepted my deal. I will be sending you on your way." She continues…. "There will be some slight pain as you are sent between worlds. I hope you enjoy your second chance at life.''
Suddenly, a ring of ruins appears on the floor surrounding me. There's an extremely bright emerald green glow. As the glow brightens, I hear the guard who escorted me say, "Good luck, kid".
Suddenly, there's a green flash, and I feel like I'm being thrown by a giant. Flying past the giant dragon chewing on tree roots, I'm thrown into space. I can see the rest of the tree in the distance as I am traveling far far away from it. I start to feel the pain the goddess warned me of. At first, it felt like a low heat, like sitting around a campfire. Then, as I traveled, it started to get warmer; I feel like I'm being stretched like taffy on a candy hook…. It's getting hotter and hotter. I feel like I'm no longer next to the fire but in it! I continue to feel like I'm being stretched further and further. Then I start to slowly lose the ability to hold on much longer.... Lights out!
The next thing I see, I'm waking up in a bedroom. The bed has a black and dark blue checkered blanket with a small shelf above the bed. I sit up. Looking around the room, there is a tall bookshelf on one wall next to a mirror, and a dark brown dresser on the other wall. Next to the door is an old computer with a monitor looking like a small CR tv. I keep scanning around. I see a large window on the other wall… the floor appears to be made of a fake wood laminate with a duel disk that looks to be from the time of the original Duel Monsters.
I'm not on my earth anymore.
Guess it's time to figure out my next move. As I'm thinking this, I get a slight headache and memories from a life lived in this world come flooding back to me. It's been 15 years in this life before I awakened my full memories.
Based on the memories, this body has been on autopilot for the past 15 years. Looking through the memories, I see that my name in this life is Jason Todd, just like Red Hood from my old world. It's interesting looking in the mirror. I even look like him from the New 52 run, and my voice sounds like the version of him from the Under the Red Hood animated movie. Diving further into my memories, I learn my father's name. Gabriel Todd, a US soldier, is stationed here in Japan near Domino City. My mom's name is Aoi Todd, an archaeologist working for Pegasus. Due to their occupations, neither seem to be home all that often. I will have to check the computer for any more information on what's going on in the world.
Logging in to the computer, it looks like I got an email from Duel Academy. It says that the written test is in two weeks. I realize I've got half a year before the start of GX. Plenty of time to test out the magic and learn how to travel to the different spirit worlds. I keep scouring the internet. It's not too advanced, but there is a rudimentary form of YouTube on there. The most popular videos are the Duel City finals and the Kaiba Land tournament.
Continuing my search, I found a news article talking about a competition to send a drawing into space on a rocket. That must be the contest Jaden won before the start of GX, I think to myself. I found a second story talking about a new dual disk being released a year ago. I will have to see if I can get a hold of one. Taking a second to pause and grasp what just happened, I get lost in my thoughts. I quickly snap out of it, though and remember, I have a lot of work to do.
I pick up the dual disk from the floor and look it over. It's not as heavy as you would expect. There are a couple of buttons on the top, each labeled with what they do. Pulling out the deck in the deck slot and shuffling it, it appears to be a machine starter deck that is nothing but big beat sticks and bad spells. I will have to see if I can get a better one soon.
Going over to the bookshelf, I find a small dark blue device called the KC communicator, which looks like a mix of a credit card and a pager, capable of storing all your DP and sending text messages. DP is the currency used by duelists that's able to be traded on a one-for-one conversion to USD. It's pretty useful. I turn on the device and see I have a message from Dad saying he sent me 5,000 DP for the week. That plus what I already have gives me 10,000 to spend on a new deck after I figure out how my powers work.
Everything else on the bookshelf are books on different civilizations and card design written by Pegasus himself. I decide after I finish my search for the room that it is time to get dressed and explore the rest of the house. Opening the dresser drawer, I see that most of the clothes are the same. Black or red solid shirts and black jeans. I see some cargo pants and a jacket with a couple of extra pockets, too. I get changed and put on the dual disk to head out.
It's only a one-story home with light gray walls. I walk into the kitchen and see that there is a plate left on the counter with a note from Dad. A simple meal of bacon, sausage, pineapple chunks, and a bagel. The note read ~Have a good day~.
It's now time to head out and hit the town. I think I'll find a card shop and get a feel for the prices of cards and packs so I can come up with a better plan of action before the Duel Academy exams.