"The Strongest Liliana"

"The Strongest Liliana"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. 

The room was full of shadows.  A lone flickering candle stood in the middle where the light it created shifting shadows along the walls. The Shadows coalesced into 3 separate dark portals. They all entered at the same time and in that moment even the shadows took on a richness that was too difficult to describe. If there was anyone who could see they would have described faces forming and they could see monsters trying to stretch out the thin veil of darkness that seemed to keep them at bay.

The 3 new comers instantly felt each others presence. They looked at each other and their minds touched each other. All of them were amazed because instead of fighting back each stranger welcomed the probing magic and then they realized who they were facing. They didn't even need to ask the question about who they were looking at because in its place was a chorus of inquiries.

Liliana Vess?

Liliana of the Veil?

Liliana of the Dark Realms?

They all asked in unison of each other. The answers were all the same and they knew that this trap has been laid out by someone so clever that they could only think of one name.

Jace Beleren.

"Should have kept away from him when I could" 2 of the Liliana's said in unison.

The one from the Dark Realms was puzzled. "Who is this Jace Beleren?"

The 2 others looked at her and in unison replied, "Its better that you don't know."  

The one from the Dark Realms wrinkled her pretty brows. She thought that these two would share memories with her but it seems like her time was more divergent than theirs. She really had no recollection of Jace Beleren.

The 3 Lilianas looked at each other and gauged the power that each one had at their disposal. The dark portals were closing in on each other and they knew that the only way they could escape this room is to battle to the death. To become the most powerful one must overcome ones self and they all had spells in mind to take care fo each other. The one with all the tattoos looked at the younger ones and considered them weak. Beauty and Youth. Such a waste she said to herself as she thought of decay spell to dry their pretty faces.

In Magic's history Liliana has embodied the color of black. And she is a fine embodiment indeed. People had no problem with her original version where she had all those tattoos covering her entire body as a seal of her contract with her demonic masters.

The 2nd version was already on her way to parts unknown after successfully eliminating one of her Masters , Griselbrand on the plane of Innistrad. This one had her tattoos removed and was able to walk around in her full beauty and proved to be deadly in a lot of ways.

The younger  Liliana is the slimmer , more fit version from the Dark Realms , wherever the dark realms lie. Most people assume its a place where Black Mana is readily accessible and provide this version with a lot of power as well.

So who would survive a fight with the other versions? Its actually a toss up. Liliana of the Dark realms actually requires creatures on the field to be effective where her access to all the black mana would allow her to pump the said creature to epic proportions. This version actually is all about the mana and has found her way in many mono black decks since she came out in M13 because she can put more lands than any other Liliana in Existence

The 2nd Liliana which is the one who was able to retrieve the Chain Veil and is hellbent in freeing herself from her Demonic masters. She is all about annihilation and she starts by making planeswalkers discard from their hands. Each player actually does it. She can kill creatures and figures heavily in graveyard shenanigans and creature control decks. Her Ultimate ability allows players to potentially half of their opponents permanents and as I said this Liliana is about destruction.

The original Liliana seems to be more refined than the 2nd Liliana as her first ability is able to target a player. The difference that has the most significant impact on the board is her ability to fetch or tutor a specific card. I imagine her fetching a Karn and that would be the end of the other Planeswalkers as they have no way to deal with another Planeswalker of Karns power level. Even her Ultimate ability benefits her and berefts her opponents of creatures to reanimate. No self respecting Necromancer will exclude Liliana Vess in his or her plans. 

The winner of this battle was never in doubt because the original Liliana though not as powerful in the latter versions was someone who could have access to things that the latter 2 would not have been able to respond to.

The shadows seemed to be watching. With eyes that were made of darkness that could perceive far more than anything else. Amazingly despite the monsters that have been summoned the lone candle in the dark has not been extinguished. It served as a witness to the dark battle that was unfolding.True to her name , Liliana of the Dark realms has summoned creatures that she has been able to stabilize and grow.

Liliana of the veil  , hated the fact that a version of herself seemed to be using tactics that only a green mage would. Growth spells seemed like an unfair advantage  and it was a good thing that she was not playing fair as well. The Shadow Monster was walking towards her but with a simple wave of her hand severed the ties of summoning from its summoner. The monster returned with a pop back into the ether and She laughed at how helpless the youngest version of her felt. She began a laugh coming on as she summoned a couple of Gravecrawlers to her side.

"Oh Ladies" Liliana Vess said in a somewhat musical tone. The 2 younger looking Lilianas swung their heads to look at the tattooed one. "I'd like you to say hello to my not so little friend."

Behind her a grey metallic being was forming into reality. Liliana of the veil know who he was and began to summon something else that could defend her. The one from the Dark Realms stood frozen because he has never met anyone as powerful as the creator of Mirrodin , Karn. She was the first to perish as Karn came into existence , took aim with his massive arms and hit her with a gigantic beam that erased her in this reality.

A moment later  Karn aimed his arms to the Liliana desperately clutching at her chain veil to draw massive power to deal with the Silver Golem. None came to her aid as the beam hit her and dispersed her essence to the blind eternities.

Karn turned to the only existing Liliana with his ever present scowl. He did not wish to be used like this but he was compelled to obey on a cellular level. Liliana Vess looked at the Chain Veil that fell to the ground. Such a thing at the hands of her other version and all she could do was kill her masters? She had other things planned and she was going to have lots of fun with this power. With a wave of her hand she vanished Karn until he would need him again and the Dark Portals opened all around her. There were so many choices now. She chose a portal and was on her way.