Gensokyou, the land of the youkai and the forgotten.
Separated from the rest of the world due to a barrier, gensokyou is a whole different world, with less developed technology and a vaguely resembling culture to that of feudal Japan.
Even if the world is separated due to the Hakurei Border, it is not unusual for outsiders, the term used to refer to those who came from the outside world, to appear in this land of illusions,
Such is my case.
My name is Hyakuya Akechi, I am a japanese.
I can't remember how did I arrive to this world, my memories fade off from the last time I slept on my home to the moment where I woke up in the middle of the Human Village.
In this land, apparitions known as youkai 'devour'' human beings, especially outsiders like me who appear in the wild.
As a rule of this world, youkais can't eat humans on the village unless they leave it, be it because they were lured out or if they went outside due to their own wish.
Most humans are powerless against youkais, with some exceptions, that being the Hakurei Shrine Maiden.
I've been living in this Human Village for about a month, and have gathered information.
First, all conflicts in this world are not resolved by mindless war, but by a strategic showdown, that being the card game ''Duel Monsters''. Second, this rule was imposed by the Shrine Maiden herself, so that everyone had a fair chance of winning any confrontation.
The Shrine Maiden is supposedly one of the most powerful beings of Gensokyo, so strong that most of the Youkais don't stand a chance against her in raw power.
Third, the Youkais need to cause mischief in order to survive, or else they'll lose their purpose and disappear. And obviously, these mischief put human lives in danger, so human being also needed a way to defend themselves.
Because of this, the dueling system was introduced to keep the balance.
Duel Monsters is a hobby card game in the outside world, but in Gensokyo, its the way affairs are resolved.
But seriously, a way for youkais to have a fair chance against the Shrine Maiden? Just how strong is she? Willing to confirm these facts by myself, I leave the Human Village and move onwards the Hakurei Shrine despite the warnings of the Human Villagers.
Following the instructions that I received from the villagers, I reach the Hakurei Shrine.
It's a Japanese-themed shrine, but looks very decrepit although clean, making it look like an old building.
I approached the shrine and knocked the walls.
After confirming there was no response, I moved around the shrine looking for a door or something to enter.
In the back of the shrine, there was a japenese sliding door, those that have paper between wood frames.
My mind instantly accepted that behind this door was the legendary shrine maiden.
Expectantly I slide the door.
Inside the shrine, there's a young girl with brown hair and clad in red clothes sipping from a cup of tea, along with another blonde girl whose clothes remind me of witches.
I'd assume the girl with red clothes is the shrine maiden.
For someone so revered in such a world, I thought she'd be doing something more amazing than just drinking tea... I suppose we're just human after all.
The blonde witch stands up and closes in to me, taking me by surprise.
''Hey Reimu, do you know this man?''
The Shrine Maiden looked my way for a moment and turned back to her tea.
''No, doesn't ring any bells.''
Well, that was to be expected.
I bowed my head to the Shrine Maiden.
''My name is Akechi, and I'm an outsider who has been living on the village for some months now. I'd like to request a duel against the Shrine Maiden.''
After upping my head, the witch closed her face against mine once again.
''Hey, I'm amazed an outsider made it from the village to this hunted shrine by himself, did you come alone?''
I took a step back to get away from the witch.
''Yes... Yes I did, but I avoided any youkais I met on the way, so I didn't engage any at all''
''I'll refuse the match, not in the mood.''
I had expected the Shrine Maiden to give such a response, but making the trip in vain was still disappointing and I couldn't help but sigh.
No, I'm not backing down, I came all the way here and I'm not going back empty-handed.
''I'm sorry, but I'll insist in that you fight me, and I won't leave until I get my duel.''
''Alright, make yourself comfortable- should I offer you some tea?''
Offering me a cup of tea, the shrine maiden almost mockingly still refused my duel.
The witch came closer to my ear and whispered. ''Hey, I know you didn't come here to duel me, but let's try it.''
I turned to look at her.
''You might not believe it, but I'm equally matched with her, a lot of people come here to challenge Reimu... well, not really a lot, but those who do come in looking for a challenge, I assume you're the same, right?''
This person looks like the kind that can't sit still, but I'm not annoyed by it in the slightest.
Also, if I said I wasn't looking for a challenge, I would be lying.
''Alright, if you say you're equally matched, then it's worth giving it a shot.''
We had moved outside the shrine by Reimu's orders, who was now watching the 2 of us as we where about to start our duel.
I swear, I'll drag that girl out, but if I can't beat the witch in front of me, I should have no hopes of beating the Shrine Maiden whatsoever.
The blonde smirked.
''My name is Marisa, Marisa Kirisame, and as you can assume, I'm an ordinary witch.''
Well... ordinary?
''From where I come from, witches are anything but ordinary, and even among them you're even less ordinary.''
''Huh?''
''My name is Hyakuya Akechi, a challenger.''
This was my first duel since I came over to this world.
Not a lot has happened, I needed this kind of thrill.
The duel started and Marisa took the first turn.
''All right- here comes my explosive first move! My turn, draw.
From my hand, I summon the Rapid-Fire Magician!''
A spellcaster-type monster as an opening act, fitting for a witch.
The blonde continued with aggressive and fast motions her first turn, giving me the feel that this is just an opening act.
''Afterwards I play the magic card, Magical Blast! Allowing me to deal 200 damage to my opponent's life points for every spellcaster-type monster on my field.''
A magical burn enveloped my body, and my instant reaction to the pain was a scream drown in my very inside.
Even though the feel of the spell was nowhere close to that of a real burn, the damage felt quite real and the surprise factor that came with it played a big part in the shock.
Marisa loudly waved her arm.
''After I activate a Normal Spell Card, Rapid-Fire Magician deals 400 additional damage to my opponent!''
Now that I expected the damage, the pain wasn't as hostile as I thought.
Still, 600 of my life points were burned in the first turn even though no attacks were declared. I still had 3400 points left, but she's being quite aggressive.
Marisa tried to grap momentum from the get-go.
''How's my Rapid-Fire combo for you? If you don't do anything, it'll just come back at you stronger the next time. My turn is over.''
Loud but fast and strong, this girl tried to suck me into her pace from the very first turn, in that case it's now my time to go for a counteroffensive.
''That was a good play, but you'll need more than that to bring me d-down.''
Such a clichéd line- I couldn't help but chuckle.
''You recognized that was a cheesy line and couldn't surpress the chuckling, Akechi.''
''Oh shut up.''
Now it's my move.
''My turn, I draw!''
The usage of a Spellcaster-type exclusive spell confirmed the fact that she centers her play around spellcaster-type monsters, therefore this will be a confrontation I'd rather not lose.
''From my hand, I summon the Familiar-Possessed, Dharc!''
My own Spellcaster is now on the field.
''You gave me quite the greeting Marisa, it's time I return the favor. I equip Dharc with the Book of Secret Arts, increasing his attack power by 300!''
Marisa made a sign with her hand, the 'come' sign to be specific.
''Alright, this will be a confrontation between our spellcasters, and have in mind that every single time you return the attack, I'll return it twice as strong.''
''Quit babbling- Battle! Dharc, attack the Rapid-Fire Magician!''
2150 ATK from Dharc against 1600 from Rapid-Fire Magician, the latter one didn't stand a chance and was destroyed, allowing me to deal 550 damage to Marisa's Life Points. Mowing them down to 3450.
''I then set a face-down card and end my turn.''
I could hear Reimu commenting. ''That was a weak way to return the favor.''
This girl...
''Oi, don't worry about what she says- however, I'd like you to focus your gaze on me! My turn, I draw!''
I blinked for a moment.
What kind of horny line did you just say?...
''A bit late, but the engine will finally get rolling. I play the Field Spell, the Magical City of Endymion.''
After she declared the activation of the Field Spell, the surroundings changed to those of a futuristic fantasy city, everywhere you look there'd be over the top buildings along with very clean colors like white and various tones of gray.
Very contrasting from Genealogy's atmosphere.
''I'm summoning from my hand the Crusader of Endymion!''
A 1900 ATK monster.
''Not enough to face my friend.''
Marisa played another card from her hand.
''I know, but I'll equip Endymion with the Equip Magic, Bound Wand, increasing his attack power by 400!''
Great, now her strength is greater than Dharc's.
''After a Spell Card is activated, my magical city can generate 1 Spell Counter on itself. I then declare battle, Crusader, attack his Familiar-Possessed!
As expected, an attack came.
''I activate my trap card, Gagagashield! It'll equip itself to my Familiar-Possessed, and protect him from battle or effect destruction up to twice per turn.''
''Good for you, but you'll still take the battle damage!''
it was just 150 Life Points, barely scratched me.
''No big deal.''
Now I'm the one smirking, the witch seemed to be enjoying this as well.
''Oi, Marisa, I thought you'd come at me in a more aggressive way, why have you been playing so passively?''
The witch seemed to dislike my words.
''It's just the calm before the storm, and it's gonna be savage... so you better prepare yourself! I set a card face-down and end my turn.''
''It's my turn, draw! When I control a Spellcaster-type monster, I can special summon Archfiend Eater from my hand!''
I slowly but steadily filled up my ranks.
''I offer Dharc and Archfiend Eater as a tribute- Appear now, Black Magician!.''
Sending my 2 monster cards to the graveyard, I fulfilled the conditions to summon my strongest wizard, the Black Magician.
''That's good and all, but it's power is still too low to face my Crusader.''
I smirked to myself.
''Is that so? From my hand I play the Spell Card, Thousand Knives. When I control a Black Magician, I can destroy a monster on the field!''
The storm of knives blew through Endimyion.
''However, since you used a Spell Card, my magical city obtains another Spell Counter.''
''No matter, battle! Black Magician, attack the player directly!''
The impact of the black magic lowered Marisa's life points to 950.
Strange, as I thought her face-down card would be a counter to my offensive.
''I set a card face-down and end my turn.''
The witch reincorporated herself after the blow,
''Heh, it seems I underestimated you- your flow isn't so bad after all, and that was a nice attack.''
Expecting anything, I braced myself before speaking. ''It looks that way, but you won't take this beating without challenging me, right? This can't be all you've got.''
Marisa smirked. ''True. Well, Akechi-san, prepare yourself to face my counteroffensive- It's my turn, I draw!''
Analyzing the situation, 3250 LP against 950 LP. I should have the control of the match, but the spell counters in that magical citadel of hers do worry me.
''I play the Spell Card, Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw 2 cards.''
''Pot of greed came, that means the comeback is close.''
''Afterwards, from my hand I activated Spell Power Grasp- adding a Spell Counter to my Citadel and adding another copy of Spell Power Grasp from my deck to my hand.
I used 2 magic cards, so my Citadel's Spell Counters are now 5.''
So she is building Spell Counters.
''I then reveal my trap, Pitch-Black Power Stone. When this trap opens, 3 Spell Counters are placed on it. I use my Power Stone's effect to move one of those Counters to my Citadel, making it 6.''
I finally recognized that patter... is it coming?
''Removing the 6 Spell Counters, I summon the Master Magician of Endymion!''
Here's it, this big tank monster.
''When it's summoned via its own effect, I can take the pot of greed in my graveyard and put it into my hand, but I'm activating it again, allowing me to further draw 2 cards and adding another Spell Counter to my Magical City.''
''So savage.''
Now she was building her hand, and if she kept resurrecting that Endymion, this would continue for a while unless I finish this duel already.
''Endymion's second ability! I discard the Spell Card, Arcane Barrier, to destroy your Black Magician!''
Endymion fired continuous fire blasts against my Black Magician, finally destroying it, and leaving me wide open to any attack.
''I then Normal Summon from my hand- Breaker the Magical Warrior! Upon being summoned, I add a Spell Counter to himself and 300 ATK points. Then, by removing said Spell Counter, I destroy your face-down card!''
This was getting dangerous.
''I don't think so- reveal the Trap Monster! Phantom Knights of Shade Brigadine. This card can summon itself as a monster in defense position, and is not treated as a trap card!''
The stats of my Shade Brigadine were 300 for both ATK and DEF, but it would suffice to enduring this turn.
''That ain't stoppin' me- Battle! Breaker, destroy Shade Brigadine!''
Obviously, my Trap Monster didn't stand a chance in combat, but now I could live this turn.
''Master Magician, attack the player directly!''
Endymion leaned towards me, and casted a purple spell against me, charging so much pain through every fiber of my body that I thought I would fall unconscious right there.
Struggling to stay on my feet, I look at my remaining 550 life points.
Between pants I murmur the words ''Its not over yet.''
Marisa was looking at me condenscenly, she thinks she has won already.
''I set 2 cards face-down and end my turn!''
I suppose its time for the final counteroffensive.
''Ara, the young man I brought here is finally moving.''
Covered by an umbrella, a mysterious young lady observed the duel between the Young Man and the Blonde witch.
''Master Ran, let's prepare lunch, the duel is almost over.''
A small girl with cat characteristics tugged the sleeve of an older blonde girl with 9 fox tails.
''Sorry Chen, Lady Yukari wishes for us to watch over this duel until it ends... also, it's not finished yet, that young man still has a chance of turning things around.''
The 2 girls could hear ''Obviously'' coming from the lady with the umbrella.
''He's the man I chose, I was not mistaken by picking him, I'm sure of that.''
''Lady Yukari...''
Yukari just smirked upon the duel.
''He'll work just fine for what I need him to do- I dragged him out of his boring world for that reason, Ran.''
''Alright Marisa, it's my turn, draw!''
It seems I'll have to risk it in drawing that card.
''I play my own pot of greed! Drawing 2 cards from my deck... Here it is.''
''Did you draw something good?''
''Oh, yeah, I did. From my hand I summon the Familiar-Possessed, Lyna!''
As well as Dharc, Lyna had 1850 ATK points.
''Not enough to win...''
But i was betting everything on this round.
''I activate the Spell Card- Magical Dimension! I tribute Lyna on my field to Special Summon a Spellcaster from my hand!''
Marisa questioned- ''What could it be?''
It's now the moment to turn the tables.
''Appear, wizard of chaos- break through the boundaries- Black Magician of Chaos!''
''Impossible! A 'chaos' monster...''
Magical Dimension, via tributing a monster while I control a Spellcaster, allows me to Special Summon any Spellcaster-type from my hand, and afterwards...
''Magical Dimension's second effect! When the summoning of the Spellcaster is successful, I can destroy a Monster on the field! Say goodbye- Endymion!''
Endymion was trapped in Magical Dimension's coffin and brought below the earth, meeting its demise.
''Because I used a Spell, your Magical city obtains another magic counter, however...''
''If Black Magician of Chaos attacks breaker, the battle damage it would deal will be enough to defeat Marisa's remaining 950 LP.'' Reimu mumbled my thought from where she was sitting, it seems I finally got her attention.
''Battle! Black Magician of Chaos, bring demise to the Magical Warrior, Breaker!''
Marisa shook her head and waved its arm.
''Not dead yet, you're not the only one who uses Trap Monsters either!''
Could it be...?
''Trap Monster- Metamor Clay Fortress! Protect Breaker.''
By equipping a monster on your side of the field to this trap, Metamor Clay Fortress can be summoned with a base of 1000 ATK and DEF, and obtains as much strength as the equipped monster, meaning Metamor Clay Fortress now had 2600 ATK and DEF, not enough to face my Black Magician of Chaos' 2800 ATK.
The fortress was broken down, and Marisa's LP went down to 750 due to taking 200 damage, but there was nothing else for me to do.
''It's not easy after all. I set the last 2 cards from my hand and move towards my End Phase, where my Black Magician of Chaos' effect will allow me to retrieve the Spell Card, Book of the Secret Arts to my hand. Turn end.''
I missed my chance to win it this turn.
I'll have to snatch another chance during the following turn, but I also fear that Endymion will resurrect.
''Oi, Akechi.''
I look towards Marisa who's calling me.
''I'm impressed, I wouldn't have expected an outsider like you to push me this far- Honestly, I couldn't wish for more.''
What was this girl saying?
''But now, It's the moment to finish it with a bang- My turn! I'll skip my normal draw to activate Magical Blast's effect in my graveyard, retrieving it to my hand.''
Magical Blast deals 200 damage to the opposing player for each Spellcaster-type monster the player controls.
If she manages to gather 3 Spellcasters, my life of 550 won't be capable of enduring it.
''First of all, I activate my second card, Jar of Greed, allowing me to draw one card. Then I summon the Dark Valkyria! I'm then using Magical Blast, dealing 200 damage to you!''
I was slightly burned by her onslaught, now only 350 of my life remains... will I make it?
''With that, my Magical City now holds 3 Spell Counters. I'll use Power Stone's effect to grant another one upon the magical city, and then use Spell Power Grasp, to finally add the 5th and 6th Spell Counter to my city as well as adding the last Spell Power Grasp from my deck to my hand.''
Damn, things aren't looking good.
''Removing the 6 Spell Counters, Endymion can be summoned once again from my graveyard!''
I know how this will go now.
''Upon being summoned by its own effect, I can retrieve Magical Blast from my graveyard!''
Reimu finally seemed expectant about the duel. ''If Marisa uses that spell now, she will wipe out Akechi-san's remaining life and win without attacking.''
I, however, wasn't going to let Marisa finish me off that way.
''Now that you've summoned a monster, my trap activates! Dark Renewal!''
Reimu gasped- ''Is this?...''
''I'll tribute both the summoned Endymion and my Black Magician of Chaos to summon from my graveyard... the Dark Spellcaster-type monster, Black Magician!''
This way, I prevented her from finishing me off with Magical Blast.
''I'm still going though- I activate Magical Blast, dealing another 200 damage to you!''
Now my life has been swooped to a mere 150.
That must've looked like a useless or desperate move, but...
''Now that Akechi's life is 150, if Marisa can add Magical Blast to her hand during her next turn, she'll win the game- that move just now secured her win unless something happens.''
That's right, Marisa drew enough cards last turn to at least be holding another Spellcaster, therefore the next turn is the real finale.
''I set a last card face-down and my turn.''
Alright, its do or die.
''Draw!''
Depending on what she set face-down, I might be able to win or nor this turn.
I check the card I just drew- Emergency Provisions.
Not a bad card, but won't help me finish the deal now, though it might help if things don't go my way this turn.
However, I secured a scenario where I could win here last turn.
''I activate the Book of Secret Arts! Increasing Black Magician's power by 300.''
Now if I attack Dark Valkyria, I can deal 1000 damage and win.
Marisa clenched her fists expecting my attack.
''Come, Akechi!''
I nodded.
''Yeah, I'm coming! Battle- Black Magician, attack the Dark Valkyria!''
This is the moment of truth.
''I reveal my trap, Magic Cylinder! The attack of your Black Magician will be dealt as damage to your life points.''
I see, so she was saving this up to her sleeve, huh.
''I'm not done, reveal the trap card, Black Illusion! My Spellcaster monsters won't be affected by your effects, therefore Magic Cylinder's effect is rendered useless.''
After nullifying her trap card, my attack finally went through.
''That was a blast, Akechi.''
''You were right, Lady Yukari. That man managed to win against the witch.''
''It was pretty close though, is he really that great?'' Someone opined.
''He will be, soon enough.''
''Yo, Akechi- that was not a bad duel at all.''
Marisa headed towards me who was picking my cards up, and I nodded in response to her. ''True, it was very quiet in the beginning but it got very aggressive in a short time. Overall I enjoyed the confrontation between our Spellcasters.''
I raised my hand in a hi-five manner and Marisa corresponded.
''So, what now? Will you face our Shrine Maiden?''
When I turned to Reimu, she was already taking out her deck.
''If he so much wants to battle me, then that will be it.''
Finally, I'll get to see the Hakurei Shrine Maiden's strength by myself.
