And the Abyss stared back

"Let me go!" a voice echoed through the dim alleys of New Domino City. "I said, let me go, you jerks!"

In the shadows, a young man was cornered by two men and a woman, their presence suffocating as they loomed over him in the narrow, grimy passage.

"You didn't check in with the boss," one of the men growled, grabbing the young man by the hair and yanking his head up. The size difference was staggering, making the boy look even smaller and more vulnerable.

"Skipping out on the boss? That's not how we do things," the woman added, her voice dripping with mockery. Her chuckle bounced off the walls, and the other man joined in with a cruel grin.

"B-but you told me I had until next week!" the young man stammered, his voice shaking with desperation.

"Plans changed, kid," the leader said, his tone cold and sharp. "The boss wants his payment now."

"I don't have it yet! Please, just a few more days. By the end of the week, I swear, I'll have the money!" he begged, his voice cracking.

The leader leaned closer, his grin spreading wider. "Yeah, see, that's not my problem. Your cards will do just fine as payment."

"No!" the young man shouted, struggling as the thug started rifling through his pockets. "You can't take those—they're my mom's gift!" His voice was almost a sob.

"Aww, look at the little mama's boy," the second man sneered, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "You gonna cry now?"

The leader yanked a deck of cards from the boy's pocket, holding them up to the faint light. "Let's see what we've got here," he said, thumbing through them. "Oh, would you look at that—a Synchro Monster. Nice card, kid. Real nice."

"Give them back!" the boy shouted, lunging forward. But the thug countered with a brutal knee to his chest, knocking the air out of him. The boy's eyes widened in pain as he crumpled to the ground, gasping. "Please…" he managed to whisper between shallow breaths.

"Pathetic," the second man snickered. "Is this all you got, huh?"

The boy staggered to his feet, swaying as he fought to stay upright. Tears streaked his face as he reached for the cards. "Those are mine… please, don't—"

"Stay down!" the leader snapped, swinging a heavy punch that sent the boy sprawling back to the ground. "Damn brat."

The young man groaned, clutching his side as the three figures laughed above him. His trembling fingers stretched out toward the cards, but they were already out of reach.

"How about you hand those cards back?" A deep, chilling voice echoed through the alley, cutting through the tension like a blade. The trio froze, their heads whipping toward the source of the sound.

Emerging from the shadows was a man cloaked in a long, dark coat with blood-red lining. His face was hidden beneath a mask resembling a goat's skeletal skull, its hollow eye sockets glowing faintly with an eerie blue light. The air around him felt heavier, colder, as if the shadows themselves bowed to his presence.

The trio exchanged uneasy glances, the tension mounting, before the leader stepped forward, puffing up his chest. "Hey, this ain't got anything to do with you. Back off before I make you regret it."

The figure tilted his head slightly, a low, mocking chuckle resonating from beneath the mask. "Is that supposed to scare me? How… amusing."

The leader's fists clenched tightly, but the confidence in his posture wavered under the weight of the man's piercing gaze. "I mean it! Leave now, or—"

"Or what?" the figure interrupted, his voice calm and measured but dripping with quiet menace. He took a single step forward, his boots clicking against the pavement, the sound echoing ominously in the still alley. "You'll fight me? You might want to reconsider."

The leader froze as those glowing eyes locked onto his, an icy chill running down his spine. The figure's voice dropped an octave, cold and unrelenting. "All I see are three cowards, preying on someone weaker than them. Hardly something to boast about. Now, I'll say this once more. Return the cards."

The trio faltered, stealing nervous glances between the masked figure and the young man sprawled on the ground, still gasping for air. The leader opened his mouth to speak, but his voice failed him.

Then, the second man suddenly bolted, dashing past the cloaked figure without a second thought. He didn't stop to look back.

"Takabe!" the leader shouted after him, fury and disbelief written across his face. But Takabe didn't even slow down.

The woman hesitated, her eyes darting between the cloaked figure and the leader. She could feel the oppressive weight of the masked man's gaze, and it was too much. "Sorry, Luis," she mumbled before bolting in the opposite direction, abandoning him as well.

The figure let out a soft chuckle. "Luis, is it? A name with an interesting origin," he said, his tone almost playful.

Luis sneered, trying to hide the fear creeping into his expression. "Yeah, so what if I'm a foreigner? You got a problem with that?"

"Not at all," the figure replied smoothly. "After all, I'm quite foreign myself." His voice darkened again, the amusement fading. "Now, Luis, will you hand back the cards? Or must I take them by force?"

Luis's grip on the deck tightened, but his hands trembled. He was cornered, and he knew it.

"Wait, I need that deck! It's payment for my boss!" Luis shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "This kid owes us a lot. His mom's shop—it's under our protection!"

The figure stood still, unyielding, his glowing eyes narrowing slightly behind the skeletal mask. "I don't care. Give the cards back," he repeated, his voice colder than before.

Luis hesitated, his breath hitching as he tried to steady himself. "Hey, listen. That's not how this works!" he barked, but the edge in his voice betrayed his growing fear.

The figure tilted his head ever so slightly. "You're starting to bore us." The last word came out distorted, inhuman, as if it was spoken by something far darker and more monstrous than the man in front of him.

Luis's heart sank. He stumbled a step back as he saw it—an enormous, grotesque mouth filled with jagged teeth, yawning open in the shadows behind the cloaked man. And those eyes… dark, hollow pits that seemed to swallow light itself. He shook his head, blinking rapidly, trying to convince himself he was imagining it. But he wasn't.

"F-Fine! You can have them!" Luis stammered, his voice trembling with fear. In his panic, he grabbed the deck and threw it haphazardly at the boy's face. The cards scattered as they hit the ground.

Without another word, Luis turned and bolted, running straight past the figure. He didn't stop, didn't even glance back, as if doing so might seal his fate. The figure stood motionless, letting him flee without a single move to stop him.

The figure stepped closer to the boy, towering over him. His presence, once intimidating, now seemed calmer, less menacing. "Are you okay?" he asked, his deep voice still carrying its eerie tone, but with a surprising warmth beneath it.

The boy sniffled, wiping at his tears. "I-I'm fine," he stammered, though his voice cracked as emotion overwhelmed him. He dropped to his knees, hurriedly gathering the scattered cards. "Thank you… thank you so much," he said, his voice trembling. "My mom… she bought me this deck for my birthday… before she got sick." His hands shook as he carefully rebuilt his deck from the ground.

The figure stood silently, watching the boy's struggle. Finally, he let out a long sigh. "Listen," he said gently, "the only way you're going to climb out of this hole you're in… is by becoming stronger."

The boy looked up at him, his tear-streaked face filled with both curiosity and determination. "Stronger? Like you?"

A soft chuckle escaped from behind the mask. "Like me?" the figure repeated. "Kid, I'm probably the worst example of what strong should look like. But if that's what you see…" He let his words trail off, shaking his head slightly as though amused by the thought.

For the first time, the boy smiled faintly, clutching his cards tightly to his chest. The figure turned away, his dark coat swaying as he began to walk back into the shadows.

"See you around, kid," the figure said, his voice carrying a faint trace of warmth. With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the alley.

I watched from above as the kid stumbled toward what looked like his mother's shop. It had a faded sign and worn paint—a struggling business, no doubt. The same shop those thugs claimed they were "protecting." Protecting from what, exactly? We weren't in Satellite. Who could possibly be a threat here?

'We wasted our time,' a dark voice growled in the back of my mind.

'We've been over this, Grapha,' I muttered under my breath.

'Over your weakness, perhaps,' Grapha sneered. 'Those three would've made a fine offering to the Lord.'

'A fine offering? What, is Shroud starving now? Those three were literal gutter trash. You can't be serious,' I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

'Shut your mouth, sack of meat! Don't get snarky with me!' Grapha's voice thundered in my head, the roar of the Dragon of the Underworld shaking me to my core.

A smirk crept onto my lips. 'You're awfully loud for someone who lives rent-free in my head,' I shot back. 'Now, let me think. Maybe I'll pay their boss a little visit.'

Without waiting for a response, I leapt from the rooftop, letting the familiar darkness wrap around me like a cloak. It wasn't just shadows; it was something alive, something that felt like a part of me.

The world changed in an instant. The physical vanished, replaced by a void of endless black. I could sense the world above, a web of flickering lights representing the souls around me. My connection to my monsters—the unholy, vicious beings that had bonded to me—amplified my senses. Their energies coursed through me, wild and untamed.

I scanned the area, searching for the three lowlifes I had scared off earlier. It didn't take long to find them. The pathetic souls had regrouped in a cramped room filled with a dozen others. A hive of filth.

I surged through the darkness toward their location, the shadows carrying me until I reached the ceiling above me, their ground. Slowly, deliberately, I materialized. My form took shape in front of the group, emerging from the void like a ghost dragged from the abyss.

The room fell silent, every pair of eyes snapping to me. I could feel their fear spike as they took in my figure, cloaked in darkness, my skeletal mask still glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

"Good evening," I said, my voice calm and cold. "I believe we have some unfinished business."

"Boss, that's him!" Luis shrieked, pointing at me as he scrambled backward toward the wall. He looked like he thought I'd just smash through it to get him. Pathetic.

My eyes shifted to the so-called boss of this operation—a bald, middle-aged man of Asian descent with two scars running over his mouth. The scars might've been intimidating if he weren't shorter than me and radiating insecurity. He had a duel disk strapped to his arm, and I couldn't help but think this might actually get entertaining.

"I've got a question for you, 'boss,'" I said, my voice low but with a sharp edge to it. I took a step forward, the shadows seeming to ripple around me. "Why are you extorting this shop?"

The room went silent, the tension thick enough to cut. Around me, I could hear the clinking of crowbars and the shuffle of bats being picked up. His lackeys were gearing up, as if their weapons would make any difference. How futile.

The boss smirked as he leaned back in his chair, sizing me up. "Why?" he repeated, his voice smooth but laced with mockery. "Because I can." His grin widened, revealing crooked teeth. "That old hag's gullible as hell. Easy pickings."

I didn't react, letting him continue. He leaned forward, his tone turning nastier. "And her son? I'm gonna break him. Right in front of her. Make her watch as her useless brat turns out just as pathetic as she is." He let out a harsh laugh, his men chuckling nervously around him.

I couldn't hold it in. A laugh burst out of me, growing louder and more uncontrollable. "Oh god," I managed between fits of laughter. "That's so edgy! 'Break him in front of her eyes'? Really? And how, exactly, are you planning to do that?" My laughter stopped as quickly as it started, my voice turning cold. "When you won't even be walking out of this room?"

The goons rushed me, their makeshift weapons raised. I smirked and snapped my fingers. Instantly, they froze in place, their bodies stiff with fear as dark tendrils coiled around their feet and hands, holding them in place like shadowy chains. The room fell silent, save for the sound of their panicked breathing.

I turned my gaze to the boss, his smug expression fading as he took in the scene. "Let's duel, 'Boss,'" I said, a laugh slipping into my voice. "Here's the deal: if you win, I'll die right here, and you'll be free to do whatever you want. But if you lose…" My grin widened, the shadows around me seeming to ripple with anticipation. "I take everything—your gang, your so-called reputation, all of it."

The boss's eyes narrowed, and I could see the hesitation flicker across his face. He clenched his fists, glancing at his immobilized lackeys before meeting my gaze. "Fine," he growled. "You think you can scare me with some parlor tricks? Let's do this."

I chuckled, reaching for my duel disk as the room seemed to darken even further. "Oh, this isn't about scaring you. It's about ending you."

"Oh, and you can call me Darkness," I said, a sly smile spreading across my face. The boss hesitated for the briefest moment, his eyes narrowing as he tried to size me up. Then, without a word, he pulled his deck from his pocket and slapped it onto his duel disk.

"My name is Takashi," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. His duel disk activated with a sharp mechanical sound, its blades lighting up as he raised his arm.

"DUEL!" we shouted in unison,

[Darkness | LP: 4000]

[Takashi | LP: 4000]

"I'll go first!" the boss declared, his voice sharp with fake confidence. I glanced at my hand and couldn't help but smirk. It was perfect—this would be over before he even realized what hit him.

"I summon Vorse Raider in Attack Position!" he said, slamming the card onto his duel disk.

[Vorse Raider | ATK/DEF: 1900 / 1200]

A towering, axe-wielding Beast-Warrior materialized on his field, glaring at me with its menacing red eyes.

The boss wasn't done. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn!" he said smugly, flashing me a confident grin as his back row lit up.

I stared at his field, completely unfazed. "That's all you've got?" I muttered to myself, a faint grin forming on my lips. The duel had barely started, but for him, it was already over.

"Not very impressive," I said aloud as I drew my card. My movements were deliberatly slow. "Let's get this started. I activate Dark World Dealings!" I slapped the card onto my duel disk, and the effect rippled across the field. "We both draw one card and then discard one. Sound good?"

He didn't answer, but I saw the hesitation in his eyes as we both drew. I slid one of my cards into the graveyard while he reluctantly did the same.

"And the card I discarded," I continued, tapping my graveyard, "activates its effect. Say hello to Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World! When discarded, he summons himself to the field."

Dark energy swirled beside me, forming into a skeletal monstrosity with glowing eyes and a long, sinuous tail. It fixed its hollow gaze on my opponent, its hunger practically palpable.

[Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World | ATK/DEF: 2400 / 0]

Another meal for the Lord… Lucent's voice echoed in my mind, cold and menacing.

The boss's smug expression faltered. I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile. "Now things are getting interesting," I said. "I'll activate my Field Spell: The Gates of Dark World!"

The entire building trembled as the scenery around us began to change. Cracks spiderwebbed across the walls, and debris rained down. Behind me, a massive skeletal door erupted from the ground, towering over the battlefield. Its glowing eyes cast a shadow across the room as the boss's goons scrambled in panic or trying to as they were still bound by the shadows.

The shadows at my command stirred, weaving around the falling rubble to shield the goons. Not for their sake—I didn't want anything disrupting this duel.

"What the hell is this?!" the boss shouted, his bravado starting to waver.

I waved a hand dismissively. "Relax," I said with a smirk. "It just boosts my Lucent's power… for now."

[Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World | ATK/DEF: 2700 / 300]

"But I'm not done. I activate Dark Corridor. It lets me discard a card from my hand to add a 'Dark World' monster from my deck to my hand." I discarded another card, its glow fading as it slid into the graveyard, and plucked the card I needed from my deck. "I'll add Snoww, Unlight of Dark World to my hand."

I paused, letting the tension build. "Oh, and that card I discarded? Its effect activates now. Meet Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World. When Grapha's discarded, I can destroy one card on your field. I'll target your left face-down card."

Dark flames erupted from my graveyard, streaking toward his trap card. It shattered into shards of light. "Ah, Sakuretsu Armor," I said with mock pity. "Too bad—it's gone now."

The boss flinched, visibly shaken. But I wasn't finished.

"I'll Normal Summon Snoww, Unlight of Dark World."

[Snoww, Unlight of Dark World | ATK/DEF: 2000 / 300]

"And now," I continued, savoring the moment, "I activate Grapha's second effect from my graveyard. By returning Snoww to my hand, I can Special Summon Grapha to the field."

The boss's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! You can't—"

"Oh, I can," I cut him off with a smirk. Snoww vanished in a burst of purple light, replaced by a towering dragon wreathed in shadow. Its crimson eyes locked onto my opponent, radiating an aura of sheer dominance.

[Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World | ATK/DEF: 3000 / 2100]

The boss stumbled back, his confidence shattered. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he stared at Grapha in terror.

"Time to disappear," I said, my grin widening. My eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Battle Phase. Grapha, destroy Vorse Raider!"

With a deafening roar, Grapha unleashed a torrent of flames, incinerating Vorse Raider in an instant. The flames didn't stop there, surging forward to strike Takashi directly. His screams filled the room as the energy tore through him.

[Takashi | LP: 4000 → 2900]

"Lucent," I commanded. The skeletal giant raised its clawed hand, and from the shadows, a sword of pure darkness crackling with purple lightning materialized in its grasp. In a blur, Lucent moved, striking Takashi with a devastating slash.

The blade didn't cut flesh in the usual way—it tore through him like a storm ripping apart the sky. A surge of dark energy exploded on impact, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, writhing in pain as purple sparks danced across his body, searing his nerves and leaving his screams echoing through the room.

[Takashi | LP: 2900 → 200]

I stared at him, watching fear consume him completely. It was intoxicating. He was exactly the type of man who preyed on the weak, and now he was powerless and trembling.

"How does it feel?" I asked coldly. "To face someone you can't manipulate? Someone stronger than you?"

"P-please!" he stammered. "I didn't do it willingly—it was—"

"Shut up and play," I snapped.

"No… I don't want to play anymore," he whispered, his hands trembling as he stood up, his wounds bleeding.

"Then it'll be—"

"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO!" he screamed, rushing at me with a knife, he was slow due to his wound, I don't even know if he could reach me in his state.

He must've hidden it in his pocket, I thought, a faint smirk forming. How reckless… as if something like that could hurt me.

Before he could reach me, Grapha's massive claw slammed down, crushing him in a single motion. The sound was sickening. Blood pooled beneath the remains, but Grapha wasn't finished. In his other claw, the ghostly soul of Takashi thrashed and screamed.

He entered the monster zone, I realized. Grapha growled before tearing the soul apart and devouring it in a burst of dark flames.

[Takashi: Forfeit]

The duel disk deactivated, and my monsters faded into the ether. I stood amidst the carnage, glancing at the remains of Takashi and the wide-eyed terror on the faces of his goons.

A slow smile crept onto my face. "I won," I said calmly. "So enjoy your prize… all of you. Welcome to the World of Darkness."

The shadows surged forward, consuming the goons one by one as their screams echoed in the air. And then… silence.

The room was empty, save for the bloodstains where Takashi once stood. I exhaled slowly, letting the tension fade. It was over.

Now to the loot 

With the room finally quiet and the shadows fading, I figured it was time to see if this little detour had any actual rewards. I pushed open a door near the back, stepping into what looked like an office. The place reeked of stale air and neglect. Papers and random junk were scattered everywhere—a clear sign that Takashi cared more about shaking people down than keeping things in order.

I started rummaging through the drawers, tossing aside useless scraps and broken trinkets. Most of it was junk—half-empty notebooks, old receipts, random knick-knacks. But I kept digging. There had to be something worthwhile here, and sure enough, a few minutes later, I found it.

Tucked into a hidden compartment in the desk was a neat stack of cash, bound with rubber bands.

"Not bad," I muttered, sliding the bills into my pocket.

As I was about to call it quits, I noticed something else. In the back of another drawer was a small, beat-up notebook. Curious, I pulled it out and flipped through the pages. My eyes narrowed as I realized what it was—a ledger. Names, dates, amounts owed. A complete record of everyone Takashi and his crew had extorted.

"Well, well," I muttered with a quiet chuckle. "Looks like I just hit the jackpot."

For a moment, I considered keeping it—using the names to track down the victims or maybe leverage the information for something useful. But then, I thought about the people on this list. They didn't need this reminder of their pain hanging over them. This ledger wasn't a tool—it was a chain, and it needed to be broken.

I held the book up and snapped my fingers. A small flicker of flame appeared in my hand, dancing across my fingertips like a living thing. Without hesitation, I set the edge of the notebook ablaze, watching as the fire hungrily consumed the pages.

The fire spread quickly, and I casually tossed the burning book onto the desk. Flames began licking at the edges of the wooden furniture, climbing to the scattered papers. Within moments, the room was alive with crackling heat and growing light.

"Time to go," I said to myself, stepping back into the main room as the fire took hold of the office. The shadows around me twisted, almost in satisfaction, as I glanced once more at the mess I'd left behind.

The building groaned as the fire grew stronger, its flames devouring everything in their path. It felt fitting—Takashi and his gang's cruelty deserved nothing less than complete obliteration. With a deep breath, I turned and stepped away, leaving the flames to finish their work.

As I shifted into the Shadow Realm, the familiar chill wrapped around me. The world darkened, twisting into an endless expanse of void. A voice, smooth and dark, echoed in my mind, dripping with amusement.

"How sweet you are," it said.

I stopped, narrowing my eyes. "Nightshroud," I muttered, turning toward the figure that emerged from the shadows. He stood before me, cloaked in the same darkness that surrounded us, his presence suffocating. He was no stranger to me—I'd seen him before, on TV, back in my old life. He was the one who'd given me my deck, this new power… this new existence. But I knew better than to trust gifts that came without strings. All contracts had a price.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice even, though I could feel the tension rising in my chest.

Nightshroud tilted his head slightly, the glow of his eyes piercing through the void. "I want to have a discussion with you, child of another world."

I mentally sighed. "We already have an agreement," I said sharply. "You gave me these cards, this power. I bring you souls. You said that's all there'd be between us."

"True," he said, his tone laced with something unsettling. "But circumstances have changed. Now, I want the souls of the Netherworld puppets."

I frowned. "Netherworld?" I echoed. "I've never heard of cards or archetypes like that."

He chuckled, a deep, resonating sound. "They're better known to you as the Earthbound. I want their souls." His voice darkened, his words dripping with malice. "Those worms have eluded me for the past five thousand years—not long in my eyes, but long enough. Their power could restore me to my prime."

I processed his words carefully, my mind racing. The Earthbound Immortals… This was beginning to get dangerous.

"I see," I said slowly. "But if you want me to take on the Earthbound, I'll need stronger cards. I've got nothing against the Dark World, but they're not enough for this kind of fight. I need heavy hitters."

Nightshroud's gaze seemed to burn brighter, his lips curling into a grin. "Of course," he said smoothly. "I wouldn't send you to war unarmed, my little reaper. I'll provide what you need… but remember: this pact is not without cost."

It never was.

The light from the room pulled me back, and just like that, I was in my bedroom—a small, plain student room with nothing remarkable about it. The walls were bare, the shelves were mostly empty, and my duel disk sat on the desk like it was the centerpiece of the whole space. Honestly, it kind of was.

I let out a long breath and fell onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. My robes melted away into the shadows, vanishing like they'd never existed. The weight of the night clung to me, heavy and exhausting, but the quiet stillness of the room brought me back to something resembling normal.

After a while, I pushed myself up and made my way into the bathroom. I flicked on the light and looked in the mirror. Staring back at me was the same face I'd seen every day of my life—brown hair, brown eyes, a face that was painfully average, easy to forget. But my eyes… they looked tired, far more tired than they should have for someone my age.

I didn't linger on the reflection for long. Turning away, I stepped into the shower and let the water run. I didn't think about anything. No plans, no past, no future. Just the steady rhythm of the water hitting my skin.

When I finally stepped out, I grabbed a towel and dried off, feeling just the slightest bit lighter. The exhaustion hadn't gone away, but at least the weight of the day seemed to have eased, if only a little.

"New life, new me," he said. The words echoed in my head, bitter and hollow. What a joke.

I'm still the same as I was before—just with a little bit of magic and some cards thrown into the mix. That's all it is.

And those people? They weren't deserving of death to me. Not really. People who trample on others don't deserve death. I know that. But here's the thing—if I don't feed Nightshroud, I'll be the one dangling by a thread.

Did they deserve to die? No, probably not. But did I have a choice?

The answer was no.

And I hated it. I wanted to be free.

If someone ever defeats me, will I be sent to the World of Darkness? I don't know. And honestly, I don't want to find out.

The Fortune Cup was coming up, but I didn't know how much time I had left to prepare. All I knew was that I needed to be ready. There wouldn't be any second chances if I wasn't.

So much to think about but in reality so little to do.

–

[DeckList]

Well that'll conclude the first chapter of this new story.

I know that you would have liked to have my Fairy Tail one but I'll be rewriting the Fairy Tail one finally, I did a lot of things wrong and I need some time to plan all of it.

And I am still ill so I can't write that much.

And let me know if I did some errors during the duel, I'll correct them immediatly.