Turned-based games have so much more tension than real-time strategy games. Yes, you do not have to operate as quickly, but WOW are the mind games so much more effective. Why do you think Emblem Duel players have psychotic breaks? It’s truly an epidemic.

  -Vlad McCkay causal duelist

  Bowie

  Bowie looked around at the familiar landscape with a sigh. The red sky was illuminated by the two moons which shone down at the desert landscape around him. A baron land had an aura of magical energy, one that Bowie hadn’t felt in years.

  “The Land of Kings, yet again,” Bowie breathed in the magical energy gaining all of the mana he could conjure.

  While others called it the monster realm, Bowie knew this world was where duels were not just a game but a battle for your life. The magical energy that emitted from the land made the realm a dangerous place. A realm where monsters, duelists, and Gods existed—battling with real card magic. This was everything Bowie didn’t want for Cyrus. He thought it was only a matter of time before Seth brought The Land of Kings to Earth. That was always Seth’s dream. Bowie thought Seth was living in a delusion; however, if Seth could pull him into The Land of Kings. Bowie feared he was close to his dream. The prospect of that happening scared Bowie.

  Bowie figured Seth was here waiting for him—to duel one last time. He knew that Seth was responsible for dragging him here, Bowie couldn’t put his figure on how the hell Seth managed to do so. Bowie was ashamed because he should have seen it coming. How could I be so complacent, Bowie thought. Perhaps Seth was right about him being weak.

  “I need to get back to Cyrus,” Bowie felt a pain of sadness because he never told his son the truth. He knew it was his job to protect him, and he thought keeping Cyrus far away from The Grid and The Land of Kings was the best way to protect him. Bowie justified it but knew at some point when he turned eighteen, it would be inevitable.

  Bowie turned around and saw a big temple. It was a golden pyramid of remarkable quality. He took a breath and started walking in the direction of the vast structure. He focused in his mind’s eye pulling up the familiar interface. Bowie looked at the stats as if they were an old friend he never forgot.

  [Bowie El-Gamal]

  [Level 99 Duelist]

  [Guardian Class: Necromancer]

  [Hit Points: 10,000]

  [Title: Emperor of Games]

  [Duelist Rank: 1]

  [Deck: God of the Dead]

  [Deck Portfolio: 100% Complete]

  [Card Shards: 10,000,000]

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  [Souls: 100,000]

  Bowie cringed at the number of souls collected. Each one was a person with a life, at least they were a long time ago. Power had come at a cost. One that few would understand.

  “They deserved it, I had no choice,” Bowie walked into the large entrance of the temple. The barren temple appeared that it didn’t have visitors in a long time. Dust collected among the walls. A temple long forgotten, frozen in time. He saw Seth focused on the wall that had writing on it.

  “You remember how to read the language of the Gods, or has it been too long for you, old friend?” Seth speculated.

  “Take us back, please,” Bowie pleaded.

  “Ha, back to OUR world,” Seth spat in disgust, “You mean your world.”

  “Take us back and we can talk this out,” Bowie cupped his hands together as if he were praying.

  “Now that you don’t have an uncivilized weapon pointed at me. You’re so much weaker than I remembered. It’s quite pathetic. It’s truly sad that you never told the boy of his given birthright,” Seth spewed venom from his tongue, like a viper.

  “HE IS MY SON!” Bowie Protested.

  “Sure Bowie, you keep telling yourself that fallacy,” Seth glared at his opponent.

  Seth held out his arm and it started to glow. As he did a glove appeared and transformed extending out from his forearm in an oval shape. A shield materialized and rested on his wrist as Seth smiled. It pulsated red and the top compartment of the device that held his cards. As the shield transformed Armor materialized covering Seth like he was a golden knight. The gold armor shone with radiant energy.

  “Don’t worry Bowie, looks like you get the first attack,” Seth continued.

  “I’m not Dueling you, Seth. I refuse,” Bowie crossed his arms in defiance. Like it would solve the problem at hand.

  “You hardly have a choice,” Seth yelled out, drawing a card from the top compartment of his dueling shield. He threw the card on the top side of the shield and a red color radiated from the device. A flash of red emitted morphing into a circle radiating. It covered the whole temple.

  [Duel Tower of Destiny]

  [Class: Ritual Spell]

  [Legendary God Card]

  [Power Rating: Infinite]

  [Defense Rating: Infinite]

  [Intellect: N/A]

  [Conditional Summon: Must summon on phase 1 of the players opening turn. Additionally, the player must go first to summon.]

  [Traps all Duelists within a magical circle for the duration of the duel. The loser must forfeit their souls to the duel’s winner. If either Duelist walks out of the Rite circle, they will automatically forfeit their souls to the winner. Spell stays active until a winner is declared.]

  Bowie knew the card all too well. He glanced at the Ritual spell in complete frustration. Bowie felt foolish. And for the first time in his life, he knew he had made a grave mistake. One that he could never take back. He had failed his son.

  “I see,” Bowie accepted his reality. He vowed never to duel again because of the damage he inflicted on others. The title he held came at a great price, none of which he wished for, or wanted anyone else to carry. Not his son, not even his mortal enemy—but Seth was power-hungry and didn’t understand the cost. Perhaps he didn’t care.

  “You don’t know what you’re wishing for,” Bowie protested with confidence.

  “Oh, but I do. That’s where you’re mistaken,” Seth had a dark smile, extending his arm out with his dueling shield. “A man as weak as you doesn’t deserve to hold the title of Emperor. That belongs to men like Me or Cyrus, the true rulers of this realm,” Seth yelled.

  “You’re sorely mistaken Seth, the power of which you talk about isn’t what you think it is. But very well, I’ll do what I must,” Bowie whispered in a solum voice.

  Bowie confidently walked up closer to Seth. He held out his arm and drew from the mana that was around him. Bowie knew that the first attack was a welcome advantage for the deck he had equipped. Black Necrotic armor materialized making Bowie appear like a fearsome black knight. His helmet had two long horns which protected Bowie’s head. He stood in a defensive stance and drew seven cards. A long sword materialized in his other hand, indicating that he had the first attack.

  Two massive creatures appeared on the left side of each duelist. Bowies’ creature had the head of a Jackal with the body of a man. It roared in anger. The creature on Seth’s side also had a massive human body but the monster’s head was elongated, appearing like a bird. It too let out a massive roar in defiance towards Bowie.

  “Today is the day I get justice for Kathrine’s death,” Seth screamed in anger and the creatures were ready to engage as the two men dueled for their lives.