Chapter 1

»Third Omniscient POV«

The day came to a slow end, finally he got to go home. Xenon drives home parking into their driveway putting the car into park. He takes his keys from the ignition, opening the door and locking it. Xenon stretches and exhales after stepping out of the car since he'd had a long day at work.

He grabbed his phone walking through the beautiful front yard heading up the stairs and approached the front door. He grabs his keys from his coat pocket fiddling with them until he gets the key, once he grabs it he opens the door. "I'm home everyone." He says noticing the lights were off. "Hmh..? strange I wonder why it's so dark."

Rushing from the darkness towards Xenon came two small shadows, he felt his weight shift some as they tackle and wrap their limbs around his legs. "SURPRISE!" The voices shouted in unison, which earned a chuckle from the darkness. Xenon could tell from the voices that It's Kira and Zeon! "Happy Birthday Dad!" The two look up at him with big, innocent eyes.

"WhAa!" He acted as if he were startled to make the two feel accomplished in their surprise attack "Dammit, you two got me!" He chuckles before picking both of them up, one in each arm as he walks toward the light switch turning it on. "Thank ya, you little rascals." He ruffles their hair with a huge smile. "That made daddy really happy, Y'know? Now where are your mama little ones?"

"Over here." A rough female voice said from ahead of him, looking up he saw his wife smirking at him. She leaned on the back of the couch and had an amused look, as if she had arranged the whole ordeal. "They were really excited to jump you." She steps over to Xenon, pecking his cheek briefly before turning on her heel and heading into the kitchen. "Get dressed, I made dinner already."

"Oh, so you're telling me you put these little ones up to give me a heart attack? So nice." He chuckles following her, both Zeon and Kira in his arms. "Man it feels almost unreal sometimes. You know..? To be lucky enough to have a family like this… A wife who cooks for me? Children so eager to wish their father a happy birthday? Honestly you guys really are everything to me."

Kaya is seen rolling her eyes with a blush coming onto her face from his words while Zeon and Kira grinned proudly at their father's compliments. "Tch, you guys are everything to me too. Having a man so eager to spoil me, and kids ready to bring a smile on my face every day? Name a mother more lucky." She looks at Xenon. "Now, get dressed." She gives him a small nudge before beginning to make the plates of food.

"Whaaaa?" Kira frowns. "But Mom! I wanna play with dad!"

"Yeah, it's not fair! Dad was at work all day! Can't we play games?" Zeon crosses his arms while giving his mom a look.

"After he changes." Kaya says, giving Xenon a side stare.

"It's fine you two, give daddy a second he'll be right back, alright?" He puts the two down besides their mother walking upstairs. Xenon walks into his closet changing his clothes, he wears a black vest, an all black suit and a red tie. Shortly after he's heard walking back down the stairs, he had his hair styled and a freshly worn suit on. "I'm finished changing Love." Kaya looks up at Xenon, placing his dinner plate down on the counter.

"Good. Also," Kaya pauses, glancing over at the kids before she crosses her arms. "I-...have a gift for you after the kids go to bed." She says, glancing at him before turning her head away with a soft blush. "You'll just have to trust me, got it?"

"Oh?" Xenon smirks, looking in Kaya's direction. "I see well, I'm flattered, thank you. So? What does my lovely wife have planned today? Perhaps a super secret surprise!?" He emphasizes in detail to get the kids excited. Zeon and Kira were in the living room, searching through the various games they own, hearing their father mention a surprise made their heads raise and they looked at them.

"A surprise??" Kira exclaims.

"What is it??" Zeon asks, his mind racing with possibilities. Kaya face-palms at what Xenon just did.

"Maybe it's a trip to like…an amusement park!" Kira suggests.

"Or a super big party in a VR world!" Zeon grins while looking at Kira.

"You both are close." Kaya says sarcastically. "But, no. The surprise is mostly for your father but we can enjoy it as a family." Kaya opens the fridge, pulling out a cake and walking out to the living room. The kids looked overjoyed.

"Yay! A cake!" Kira stands up.

"What flavor is it?" Zeon stands up, watching his mother.

"You'll see." Kaya teases her kids before putting the cake down. In an instant, Xenon's birthday turns upside down when a loud sound fills everyone's ears and he blacks out, waking up shortly after in his home. The roof was blown off and his ears had a constant ringing in them. His kids were unconscious in the living room, they sustained no serious injuries other than minor bruises.

His eyes opened and he looked around at all the debris, he placed his palms on his eyes, gritting his teeth from the pain of the ringing. He quickly widens his eyes, looking around and noticing his kids are safe, he rushes over holding them in his arms and looking around for his wife. "Kaya!" He screams in desperation… "Where are you!?"

"LET ME GO!" Xenon could hear his wife shouting in the distance, she sounded pissed and as if she was struggling. Strangely enough, Her voice sounded like it came from outside. Did the blast not knock her out?

"Kaya!!!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. Xenon stands putting down Kira and Zeon beside him. He leaps atop of the broken house structure looking around for his wife's voice. Xenon saw a man lacking facial features, glowing blue eyes, wearing black robes and armor whilst levitating. He had a card extended to Kaya, and some strange black yet glowing substance was pulling her into it despite her resistance.

The man hears Xenon's broken and enraged screams.. Xenon roars. "GIVE ME BACK MY WIFE!" Xenon's fists were balled up together, they were clenched so heavily to the point that they began to drip blood. His enraged pupils dilate and his sharpened gaze in the mysterious man's direction. "I.. Will, KILL.. you.." Xenon growls. Kaya looked up at Xenon.

"Xenon what the fuck are you doing!? Take the kids and run! Now!! He's not fucking human!" She shouts, the entity turned its head to Xenon, its eyes piercing the darkness before it raised a finger at him. Kaya's eyes widened.

"Begone Peasant!" He ordered while a blue dot formed at the tip of his finger before turning into a large blue blast; it moved so fast that Xenon couldn't react before it hit the debris he stood upon.

"XENON!!" Kaya shouts, trying to run at him but being pulled back into the card. Kaya watches as Xenon's body is sent flying from off of the debris, his body ragdolling as it hits the ground. He tumbles. smashing into the ground and his body flying through the solid wall. He lands outside of the house.. His vision blurred and he's coughing blood. But despite all of that, his fists never unclenched.

"K-kaya.." Her husband weakly coughed. Kaya's vision turned red and she felt her body shake with fury and anger. Her pupil focuses on the entity attempting to capture her and she roared. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD, I SWEAR TO GOD ILL KILL YOU!!!"

"Enough of your futile resistance! I will have you as my pawn whether you like it or not!" Irritated, the entity charged a blast and hit Kaya with it, rendering her in the same weakened and heavily injured state that Xenon is in. Helpless, The dark goop surrounds her body and she's pulled into the card. With its mission complete, The entity flew away after.

Xenon, despite having broken ribs, shattered bones.. And many wounds, he uses everything he has to stand up… "Kaya… Kaya… Kaya- Don't take everything from me! Why… Why… Why…" His eyes going blank, his fists balled as he fell holding his side. Despite this he still stands back up making it to his knees, then to his feet. He stares up, reaching toward the sky, uttering "K-kaya.." He stands unconscious whilst reaching for his beloved. Never once did his other hand unclutch despite being unconscious.

His vision was blurry as he felt a weird texture against his tongue, he heard a voice but he was too out of it to hear what they were saying. He unknowingly gulps down something before the overwhelming pain starts to fade, and consciousness begins to return to him. Whatever he swallowed, it had rapidly healed his wounds fully, externally and internally. Opening his eyes, he's greeted by a tall, muscular man sitting upon an oversized snake. Behind him was Xenon's own kids, unconscious and laying across the snake. The guy didn't seem to have malicious intentions based on the bored look on his face and the fact he healed Xenon fully. "Better?" he asked, as if the entire area around them wasn't on fire, destroyed, and in disarray.

"Better..?" Xenon stated in a broken enraged voice. Blood dripped down his hand that bled from his rage. "Better…!? My wife has been taken. You ask if it's… better?" He stands tall staring up in the sky and reaching for it. His eyes were that of a fearsome beast as he lowered his hand. "I don't care what I have to do. I'll kill him, I will kill that bastard… I'll devote my life to bringing my children back to their mother… We have no time to waste." The man stared at Xenon for a moment, since this was all extremely ironic to him.

"That makes my job easier." He leans down, placing his hand on the ground, A ritual forms around his hand. "I thought I'd have to explain everything and convince you- well…I guess I still need to explain some things." Upon the ritual finishing, he raises his hand and the ritual turns into a portal leading to another place. "Come on," The man beckoned before the snake slid inside the portal, and on the other side seemed to be an underground bunker of sorts, one large and ready to house at least 10 people, and food to last a while. Did he plan this or did he steal this..?

Xenon eagerly leaps through the portal, he looks around wondering how this could help him bring back his wife. "Why the fuck are we here when my wife went upwards?" He stares at the Snake man with enraged eyes, eyes of a man willing to risk anything for the sake of his beloved.

"I need to get a few other people." He states, turning around and looking down at the kids asleep on his snake. "I healed them both too, the beds are over there." He turns his head, nodding in a direction. Other people for what?

"Where-ever it is we are going… Keep my kids here and out of it. I won't be able to protect them and kill that bastard. I won't thank you for healing my children, you have a motive of your own, I'm no fool. So, what do you want? I'll give anything if I can get my wife back.

"I want the same thing you do, to stop Axel." The man shrugged. "And I didn't plan on bringing your kids." He looked at them, stepping off of his snake who slithered off to where the beds were, presumably to lay the two down in a comfortable area. "The world would lose all human food with my brother as the dictator."

"I could care less about your reasons for wanting to kill him. As long as he dies and my wife is returned safely I don't care what we have to do, so let's skip formalities. I'm not in a good mood. My name is Xenon, once again I can already tell you're not normal just like that bastard. So? That means more than likely you can do weird shit just like him. I need to know where he is, and how to kill him so tell me. Now."

"My name is Akuma, the snake is Shadow." he scratched his head, lowering it some as he thought about how exactly to break the news. "Killing Axel is harder than it sounds, because of this game Dark Magic made. If I just attack him, I'll die." He sits down, landing on his snake who returned without the kids. "To kill Axel, we have to beat him in the game: Limelight Illusion."

"Whatever this game is… take me to it, I'll beat him I don't care what it takes he must die. I will have my wife back in my arms and safely under my protection and care."

"I can't take you to the game, since you are the game."

Xenon raises a brow. "What the hell do you mean..?"

"Limelight Illusion is a game where species like me, make humans fight each other to the death. He most likely captured your wife to make her fight on his behalf, so the only way to beat him is… well, killing your wife."

Xenon's eyes widen, he grits his teeth, shaking his head. "No, no.. I won't, I don't CARE! Make me your pawn, it doesn't matter but I'll find a way around it! I won't let my kids grow up without her."

"She can be revived." Akuma says nearly the second Xenon stopped speaking. "And if it's too scary for you to bear, I can just wipe the memory of any of this happening when it's all over. You won't remember Axel kidnapping her, meeting me, or being forced to kill her. To you guys… none of this would ever happen, and you'll go back to doing…whatever you all did."

"I... and you're certain she can be revived..? I don't know if I could live with myself knowing I took the only thing that matters to me in this world... If she can be revived then for her, and my children's sake I will take her life." His eyes showed nothing but determination, an unbroken will to save her fueling his body.

"I'm certain." He says with a confirming nod. "Now, just wait here. I need to get four others." He leans down, placing his hand on the ground and another ritual forming. Once the portal opens, Akuma descends into it with his snake. Akuma first returned with a 6ft woman who wore all black with black and white hair. She looked as if this scenario didn't bother or affect her. Didn't she lose a loved one too? Why does she seem so calm?

He then left and returned again with a man and woman, they seemed to be very smart scientists since they wore lab coats and had robotic crates. They seemed distressed yet composed. It's as if they were planning for a day like this. They talked amongst themselves, being quiet as if being secretive. Akuma left again and returned with a man. He stood about 6'1 feet tall, his hair black, alongside a yellow glow to his eyes. He was a cyborg who seemed to be the least bit confused or afraid of this situation.

Then Akuma leaves one final time to return with the last two people. One was a 5'6 busty woman with long purple hair. She seemed very afraid, as if she witnessed someone die in front of her.

Her companion seemed to be an older gentleman, about the same height as her. He looked as if he was also afraid but also serious. Looking closer, they both had similar facial features and stick body types. They're most likely related by blood to some extent. "That should be enough people." Akuma says. The different humans looked at each other, all feeling different emotions about the situation they're currently in. "Alright, I'm going to explain how the game works...gather round, I'm too lazy to repeat myself." He lays 20 cards across the table. The different pawns gather around behind him.

"How the game works is that I can use my pawns whenever I want. All five will be lined up here." He spreads five cards to the side and places the other 15 in a deck on the side. "The rest of my cards are for gearing you guys. So weapons, armor, power buffs, you name it..." He points at the bell connected to a scale at the side. "When the masters feel like it, they'll tell you to battle and you will. The bell will ring when the pawns have to stop fighting. If you keep going you'll suffer a punishment worse than death." It sounded like a promise and not a threat. He briefly rings the bell before pointing at a number counter by the bell. "That's the blood count. Every time you cause blood to spill, it adds to this counter, then I can play more cards to help you guys." Akuma turns toward everyone. "So, for me to help you. I need to know what kind of weapons you want to wield, and stuff you want to use, and I'll get cards for it. Also, all this stuff Is more powerful than human resources, so you might as well say what you want." He shrugs.

"Gauntlets." The woman with the black pigtail immediately says. "That or some armor weapon shit for my legs." Akuma gives a small nod, and he grabs two cards.

"Kay, 2 Cards go to Nyx. What else?"

"Give me a large lance connected with a chain. Alongside armor to cover my left arm only. The rest of my body is to be plated in armor" Xenon confidently says. Akuma nods and pulls 2 Cards out of the deck.

"2 cards went to Xenon." He announces, looking over at Sol. "And what about you?"

"Huh? Oh. Kay. I want two daggers and some armor for my lower half, that's all. My upper body is already armored."

"Alright, 2 cards for Sol," Akuma says after giving a small nod. "Who else?" The pink haired gentleman stepped forward.

"I just need a rifle, I'm not picky about the kind." He said confidently. The busty woman looked at him a bit surprised.

"Are you sure Dad..? What if you end up like mom-" She began, her dad cutting her off.

"No! I-..I don't care Lucy! Your mom was taken because I was too weak and I'm not going to lose you! I'll bring your mother back. I promise." Despite being afraid of being in the center of bloodshed again, the father is more than determined to keep his family safe. It surprised the woman to see her dad nearly turn a new leaf. She gives a small anxious nod towards him.

"Alright Trevor, and lastly, which one of you two is stepping up?" Akuma looks at the scientist couple.

"I will be." The man stepped forward confidently.

"Alright Daisuke, do you need any equipment?" Akuma tilted his head. Daisuke's wife seemed alerted by his sudden decision, but she also quickly accepted it given the limited spots on the team.

"I don't need a thing." Daisuke shakes his head.

"He just needs to bring our inventions and Katerina will be as good as offline, or in her case, unconscious." Daisuke's wife spoke up

"Alright Kaori. I'm trusting you two with that." Akuma looks at the remaining cards. "I guess the rest will be supportive cards...healing and whatnot." He collects the 15 cards and puts them on the side. "Oh, and." He turns back to his pawns. "Until we're battling you guys can run around free. Most duelers usually take away the memories of their pawns so they're more subordinate."

"Do you think they'll do that to Katerina?" Daisuke asks.

"Definitely." Akuma says with a yawn. "All of your loved ones under Axel's control will lose their memory and will probably have to endure gruesome training and harsh punishments..." While he spoke casually, everyone but Nyx tensed up. Lucy and Trevor's eyes grew watery, and Xenon could feel his blood boiling. The thought of their loved ones being tortured and threatened...they couldn't handle it. "I'll get the cards together and tomorrow we'll start fighting. Knowing Axel, he's already prepared and will climb through the ranks quickly..."

"Hmh. We don't have time, my wife and countless others of each of you here have had your family taken from you. We can't sit around playing with our thumbs while our families are fighting for their lives. Let's get a fucking move on. I don't give a damn if I have to go by myself. I'll be the only card needed if I have to be. My wife is everything to me, if you think I even have a second to waste then you're just as foolish as that bastard who thought it'd be smart to take my wife from me."

Akuma shakes his head at Xenon's rush. "You physically can't go by yourself so you might as well wait until everyone's ready." Akuma points out. Nyx looks at everyone around them.

"The princesses aren't ready." She says, looking towards the stressed pink haired duo. Lucy and Trevor jolt and look over.

"What did you just call us..?" Lucy says in shock.

"Princesses-..?? My wife was taken from me!" Trevor raised his voice from stress since his body was shifting into soldier mode.

"So?" Nyx raises a brow. "Doesn't make you guys any less of a princess."

"Why don't you lose someone you care about in front of you and be completely useless in saving them-?? Then maybe you'll get my pain!" Trevor pointed at Nyx, and she looked at his finger, pushing it down calmly.

"I'm not useless, that's why I'm here. Ain't that why you're here too?" Nyx asked him with a bored tone, and she got no response from Trevor, so Lucy pulled her father back.

"Try to calm down, she's not our enemy Dad.." She tried to relax him; she knew he didn't mean to be rude; he's just overwhelmed. A lot of them were.

Akuma scratches his neck as he watches, he felt like he had something important to say. "Oh, I almost forgot.." He raises his finger. "I don't care who you're fighting. You must aim to kill your opponent." It made some people flinch and recoil at the idea, either they didn't know or was repulsed by the idea of killing someone they care about.

"My wife and I brought our daughter back from the dead! You really expect me to reverse our hard work??" Kaori pulled away from Daisuke, passionately shouting at Akuma as if he's to blame.

"If you don't kill them, you can't save them." Akuma replies. This caused confusion and emotional conflict to rise in everyone but Nyx.

"W-what do you mean..?" Lucy asks slowly.

"When you win a duel against someone, you get to keep one of their cards and you get to choose which one you want. And the only way to win in battle," Akuma explains.

"Is to kill the other pawns." Kaori says in realization, her eyes widening. "Because then...you'll have more pawns than your opponent." The humans were slowly connecting the dots. They all hated the game, they hated the fact they had to kill their loved ones, they hated the fact their lives were on the line for some sort of sick and twisted game, a sick and twisted want for power and control. Why must the only method of saving them be the most cruel...? Silence fell on everyone as they realized they all had to do what they never wanted to. Seeing as no one would speak, Akuma continued.

"Now get rested, eat, train, whatever. Tomorrow, we start." With that said, Akuma leans back in his seat and closes his eyes, dozing off instantly. With the remainder of the night to themselves, they all get busy. Nyx immediately drops down and rapidly starts doing pushups. Daisuke and Kaori head off with their tools to the nearest table to start creating something useful in combat. Lucy and Trevor head to the beds to sleep their anxiety away and relax. Xenon grips his lance. He doesn't want to do it. He knows Kaya would rather die than be controlled but he doesn't want to kill her, She's, his wife? His soul purpose for living and yet, if that's the only way for her to be saved, and for the family to be reunited, Xenon will do what he must.