Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's – Devil's Mirror
Hey, all. I've been having severe block from writing YGO fics for a while, I don't know why I've suddenly regained the ability to do so, but I think it's the introduction of the Tenjo brothers in ZeXal LOL.
This fic does not strictly take place in the 5D's universe as presented by the anime. This is something of a crossover universe with ZeXal, therefore the Xyz monsters (god I hate that term) exist in this fic's world. Also, this fic takes place in manga canon, cards specifically restricted by the anime are not restricted here unless stated as such by any of the manga, and all cards restricted by the manga remain so. There is also no explicit ban-list, I am using my own discretion as to which cards I choose to have appear.
However, this fic has one alternate point, the events of ZeXal do not count. Cards restricted by ZeXal are not restricted here. Why, you may ask. Well... you'll see. A second point, while initially I was on the fence about the appearance of Signer Dragons, I am now considering the anime versions of the Signer Dragons unrestricted, but rare cards for the purposes of this fic. The manga variations such as Rua's Machine Dragon Power Tool and Ruka's Fairy Dragon Ancient will remain restricted, however.
I am using TCG terms, with a few exceptions. One, I am using Release and Advance Summon, mainly because the 5D's dub did so and I like the terms better. Secondly, I am taking one very large liberty, and using 'Exceed' instead of Xyz. I do not like that term, and I preferred Exceed, even if it was incorrect, so any use of Xyz in a card's name or text will be replaced with Exceed here. Same goes for Xyz Summon becoming Exceed Summon here.
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh as a whole, it belongs to Kazuki Takahashi/Konami. With that out of the way... it's time to shatter the mirror and see what waits behind...
Chapter 1: Generation Shift
Fingers trailed through her hair, across her cheeks. The nails dug in suddenly, tearing a gasp from her throat, red spilling up around the white edges. As the pain flared in her cheeks, red lips devoured her thin, pale ones, hungrily, passionately pressed to her mouth tongue pressing in past the pathetic barrier of the lips. The fingernails came free, and slid further down, across her neck, passing the collarbone...
"More!"
"More of what?" someone snarked. A second scream came, this time not of desire, but anger. The girl sat up, her black hair lashing wildly about her face, deep brown eyes burning with rage.
"What are you doing in here?" she snapped at the younger girl who barely resembled her, with tanned features, shoulder-length brown hair and warm green eyes. "Yuria!"
"Mom told me to wake you up before you were late to that important entrance exam, onee-chan," Yuria smiled pleasantly. Himawari glanced at the clock beside her bed, eyes widening slightly, it was ten minutes past the time she had set the alarm for. That dream... had it made her oversleep?
"What did you want more of, onee-chan?"
"None of your business," Himawari muttered through clenched teeth. "Out. I need to get dressed." It occurred to her as she spoke how chill she sounded, but she didn't care, it got her sister to leave very quickly. She pulled back the duvet, baring her form, clad in fairly tight-fitting white pajamas which hugged her rather undeveloped form, small, unimpressive breasts, slight, hard-to-notice curves, legs which probably should've been attractive but somehow weren't...
That dream... with that young woman, that gorgeous young... she shook her head violently, trying to snap out of it. Ripping off her pajama top, then shedding the bottoms, she staggered into the en-suite shower, letting the water come on with a strike to the controls. Hot water trailed across her average form, rubbing her skin sensually. Himawari leaned back against the wall, letting the heat play across her body, the feeling of the water running across her body lightly like the touch of the young woman in her dream...
She gritted her teeth, clenching a hand into a fist so that her nails dug slightly into her palm, sending stabs of pain through the nerves. Why couldn't she just get the dream out of her head? She had to focus!
Slowly unclenching her fist, Himawari reached out and plucked the shower gel from where it hung on a hook from a shelf, opening the bottle and squeezing a small puddle of gel into her hand. Replacing the bottle, she began to rub the gel over her slender, average form, coating her skin in a layer of frothy gel which the shower washed away to the floor, taking a night of sweat and dust with it. The young woman leaned back into the gushing waterfall as it cascaded down her body, relaxing into the warm embrace of the flowing water...
M-I-R-R-O-R
Staggering from the shower wrapped in a plain white towel, Himawari crossed her room to the chest of drawers on the opposite side next to her bed and began pulling clothes from the drawers. Once she had gathered a complete outfit, she tossed the towel away and began pulling on clothes, first a pale gray bra and panties, then a pair of black leggings under a gray-blue skirt, and finally a white shirt covered in swirling, contorting red and blue patterns, beautiful to look at but rather strange and eerie to behold. Finally, she picked up a small, compact device from her bedside table and placed it onto her left wrist, bands of metal expanding from the device to connect and lock it in place.
The girl stared down at the Deck contained in a slot on the device for a short while, before nodding and walking swiftly from the room, closing the door behind her. She rushed down the stairs, and moved to the front door.
"Himawari! Aren't you having any breakfast?" Her mother's piercing voice sounded after her.
"I'll get something on my way there, okaa-san!" With that, Himawari was out of the door and gone into the open world and towards her Academia entrance exam...
M-I-R-R-O-R
Taking bites out of a paper-wrapped pastry she held in one hand, Himawari strolled along the sidewalk as cars rushed past, along with the odd D-Wheel here and there. The girl's hair lashed slightly in the breeze, the sunlight catching strands of her brown hair and setting them alight with radiance. Smiling, Himawari continued to walk, dodging around other pedestrians while continuing to glance up at the shining dome-like structure atop the hill she was walking towards.
There were of course many different branches of Duel Academia, from the four compass-point Academies, to the renowned American Duel Academia, the three Academies of Neo Domino, Queens and Kings, and the mysterious Duel Academia Sanctuary. However, the most famous was Central Duel Academia, attended by numerous legendary pro duelists over the years, the crowning jewel of the Duel Academia chain. This was the Academia Himawari was aiming to enter, to follow in the footsteps of those pros to fame and success. It was what she wanted. It was what her dreams usually sang to her... usually...
She frowned slightly and took a large bite out of the pastry, forcing that dream from her head again. Why was it determined to annoy her? Glancing down at her Deck, then at the Extra Deck slot of her Disk, Himawari smiled, with these cards, she could defeat her opponents and find the way to victory, she knew it...
"Higure-san!" She glanced back, seeing a brown-haired young man running up, dressed in a somewhat-ridiculous looking ensemble of a blue and pink Hawaiian shirt, blue-white striped shorts, sandals and a pair of plain sunglasses, a plain compact Disk similar to Himawari's own on his arm.
"Hello there, Shimo-san," she greeted with an amused tone. "How are you today?"
"Fine, thank you," he replied. "So... ready for the exam?" Himawari laughed softly.
"Naturally," she smiled. "Deck's prepped and triple-checked, right down to the last card." Shimo seemed surprised.
"Damn, Higure-san," he commented. "There is such a thing as overpreparation, y'know."
"I've never heard of the word."
"That's because it's probably not in the dictionary..." Shimo muttered. "But my point's there, y'know, you don't have to prep so much for everything. Relax!" He lightly tapped her on the shoulder, laughing. "You'll be fine." But Himawari had flinched slightly. "Sorry..." He suddenly bore a sheepish expression, having forgotten that his friend did not like physical contact with other people.
Even Himawari herself didn't understand why, but ever since she was young, being touched had always made her flinch at best. At worst she would freeze up for several seconds, and no-one could see why. Even the girl didn't seem to know what made her shun physical contact.
"It's fine," she muttered with a somewhat frosty edge to her voice. "It's fine..." And an uncomfortable silence fell as the two continued onwards towards the dome on the hill...
M-I-R-R-O-R
The dome was packed. Aspiring teenagers filled much of the seating, but higher up current students relaxed in their seats, overlooking the potential new entries to the Central Duel Academia. And in a small designated box sat a small cluster of proctors, ready to test those aspiring applicants.
Himawari and Shimo gazed across the expanse in wonder, though Himawari retained a somewhat stoic expression, Shimo seeming much more awestruck.
"Let's sit down and watch some Duels while we wait," Himawari finally said, glancing down at the piece of card in her hand marked with the number 60, Shimo holding an identical sheet of card marked with 61. The two moved to nearby seats and sat down, gazing down at the Duels below...
M-I-R-R-O-R
"Applicant 57, you are my opponent! I trust you to be a good one!"
The man was arrogant, he could already see it. Good. That would make victory all the sweeter. White coat flapping slightly, he took a card from his Deck, bringing his hand to six cards. Applicants went first, he knew that.
"Very well, Oheina-sensei," he said. "Allow me to be a 'good one'. I activate the Spell Card, Photon Veil." The card slid into his Disk and appeared before him, shining with light and depicting three shining stars amidst the clouds, bathed in a beam of light from above. "Photon Veil returns three Light monsters from my hand to my Deck," he placed Happy Lover, Mokey Mokey and Angel 01 onto his Deck, which shuffled, "then I can add up to three Level Four or lower Light monsters to my hand, but if I add two or more cards, they have to have the same name."
"What'll you go with then, Applicant 57?"
"I choose to search three copies of Mokey Mokey," he said plainly, taking the three cards ejected from his Deck, which shuffled as Photon Veil faded away.
"Mokey... Mokey?" The proctor seemed amused.
"Yes, indeed," he replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a brush of his hand before plucking a second Spell Card from his hand. "Spell Card, Polymerization. I send the three Mokey Mokeys I searched to the Graveyard," he slotted each into the appropriate space on his Disk in turn, "to Fusion Summon Mokey Mokey King." Three square-shaped pale blue creatures with golden wings and crimson question marks hovering over their heads appeared, before turning to light and soaring upwards, creating a blinding flash. When it faded, a colossal version of the creatures loomed overhead, voice shaking the arena, 'MOKEY MOKEY...' (300/100).
"Turn end," he concluded.
Applicant 57 4000LP/Proctor Oheina 4000LP
"I call that a pathetic move, Applicant!" Oheina declared. "Let me show you what Central Duel Academia expects of its students!" He drew.
"I summon Big Jaws!" With a roar, a colossal Great White shark formed, its mouth almost comically oversized and stuffed with long razor-sharp teeth and a large bladed horn-like fin mounted atop its head (1800/300). "Because I Summoned a Fish-Type, I can Special Summon Shark Sucker from my hand!" He played a second card and a lithe blue shark with some kind of suction cup mounted on its back appeared beside Big Jaws (200/1000).
"And now, since they are both Level Three, you'll Exceed Summon," the applicant murmured.
"Correct!" the proctor declared, before catching himself. "What? For all you know I could be Fusion or Synchro Summoning!"
"Synchro is unlikely because neither of those monsters is a Tuner, and Shark Sucker's effect means it cannot be used as Synchro Material. And there is no Fusion I know of which needs those two as materials. It could be a Ritual Summon, but if it were, then why bother summoning when not doing so would give you potential for another monster? Is my reasoning sound, Oheina-sensei?"
"Yeah... it is," Oheina replied coldly. "I construct the Overlay Network with these two monsters! Exceed Summon!" The two monsters began to circle, a crimson spiral gate appearing beneath them as a silhouette of pure energy manifested from within. A blinding flash erupted, consuming the gate in its folds, before shattering as the monsters became orbs of light and began to circle the being that emerged, a large pair of sharks connected by an orange hydrofoil device with torpedoes attached to each side (1900/1000). "Aero Shark!"
And there it was, the Exceed Monster he had been expecting. "You seem to assume I'm surprised by this, Oheina-sensei, despite the fact I deducted so before you declared the summon. Two Level Three WATER monsters can usually result in, depending on Deck theme, either Aero Shark or Black Ray Lancer. I'd have expected Black Ray Lancer though..."
"Be quiet!" Oheina barked. "Aero Shark, attack! Destroy Mokey Mokey King!" Twin torpedoes launched from Aero Shark's hydrofoil and struck Mokey Mokey King, shattering the monster in a fiery explosion.
"Mokey Mokey King's effect triggers," the applicant responded. "When it's removed from the field, I can Special Summon as many Mokey Mokey as possible from my Graveyard." In three bursts of radiance, smaller copies of the Mokey Mokey King appeared before him (300/100x3).
"Damn it!" Oheina muttered. "Turn end!"
Applicant 57 4000LP/Proctor Oheina 4000LP
The applicant drew, and smiled slightly. "Spell Card," he revealed one of the cards in his hand and sent a look of shock flashing across the proctor's face that made him almost chuckle, "Mokey Mokey Smackdown." He played the card, which appeared, depicting one of the Mokey Mokey glowing fiery red and puffed up to immense size, its question mark transformed to an exclamation mark.
"Mokey Mokey, attack Aero Shark." One of his monsters charged, but was annihilated by a stray torpedo before it had floated even halfway across the field.
(Applicant 57 2400LP)
"No..." Oheina whispered.
"The effect of my Mokey Mokey Smackdown activates," he continued as the two Mokey Mokey before him both puffed up, shaking with rage and blazing red (3000/100x2), "because a Fairy-Type was destroyed, the attack scores of all Mokey Mokey I control become three-thousand until the End Phase." He closed his eyes and turned slightly away. "Mokey Mokey, end this." The two Fairies all screamed incoherent battle cries and rushed forward. Aero Shark was trampled in a second, and Oheina quickly followed as his Life Points were ripped apart.
Applicant 57 2400LP/Proctor Oheina 0LP
The remaining cards faded away, leaving no trace of the battle behind but Oheina's groans of pain as he stood.
"Good job, Applicant 57," the proctor commented. "Looks like you're an Academia student from now on."
"My name is not Applicant 57, then," he replied. "My name, Oheina-sensei, is Tadashi Migi." With that, he turned and began to walk away.
"Yes, Tadashi-san..." Oheina murmured...
M-I-R-R-O-R
"Man, that guy's good," Shimo commented. "Huh, Higure-san?" He glanced sideways to see Himawari gazing down, eyes fixated on the applicant.
"There's something about him..." she commented.
"What, aside from how he stomped a proctor into the dirt and one-turn-killed the guy," her friend scoffed. "He's one lucky son of a bitch either way." She shot him a look. "C'mon, on the one side he stomped down a proctor, and on the other he got you interested."
"I am not interested," she replied. "I just think something's off about him." She paused, gazing at Applicant 57 until he vanished into a throng of suddenly-earned admirers. "Like he was holding something else up his sleeve and just didn't use it."
"Everyone has something else up their sleeve, it's how Decks work, Higure-san," Shimo pointed out.
"Not in that way..." Her voice was deep with thought until the loudspeaker blared, both cutting her off and bringing a look of irritation to her face for an instant.
"Applicant 60, Higure Himawari, report to Duel Field Three for your practical examination." Duel Field Three was the one just vacated by Applicant 57, and Himawari rose from her seat with a slight smirk, striding down the stands directly towards the crowd mobbing the victorious applicant.
M-I-R-R-O-R
The crowd parted, and he emerged onto the stairway. As Tadashi climbed, he suddenly became aware of the young woman descending an instant before he knocked into her, quickly moving aside but too slow to prevent his hand brushing on hers. The girl flinched as if stung, but quickly recovered, glancing at him.
"Sorry... I don't like to be touched," she said softly. "I'm Higure Himawari."
"Higure-san... I'm Tadashi Migi," he said, recalling the loudspeaker announcement. "Good luck with your Duel."
"Thank you, Tadashi-san." With that, the girl walked further down and into the dispersing crowd. And as she walked away, Migi let himself shudder slightly at what that touch had felt like, heat and cold intertwined, impossibly, blinding light and dark crossing his vision. He collapsed into a seat and pulled a card from his Deck, feeling the warmth radiating from it flow through him as he gazed down at the image of the electric-blue beast it depicted.
"What... is she?"
M-I-R-R-O-R
His image left itself in her head for a while as she walked down those steps, black hair, warm light brown eyes, slightly tanned skin. His white coat billowed around his ankles as he walked, concealing and revealing his gray shirt and light blue pants with each motion.
"Who are you?" she muttered, still advancing down the stairs until she reached the arena floor, crossing it to the Duel field. As she took her position opposite the proctor, she put Migi out of her mind. She had a game to play.
"Higure-san?" the proctor asked. It wasn't Oheina this time, but rather a different man, younger and with a kinder expression, clad in the golden yellow coat of a Ra Yellow staff member. Himawari nodded in answer. "I'm Odayakana Senshi, and I'll be conducting your practical exam." He raised his left arm, activating his Duel Disk, which instantly expanded out into duel form.
Himawari repeated the motion. "I hope I do well, Odayakana-sensei."
"I'm sure you will, Higure-san," the proctor replied with a smile. "As per tradition, you'll have the first move." He drew his opening hand and Himawari did the same.
"Let's Duel!"
Himawari 4000LP/Senshi 4000LP
"Draw," Himawari said calmly, taking up her sixth card. "I set a monster," a reversed card appeared before her as she played it, followed by a second card. "I set one card face-down, and end my turn." The reverse card appeared behind her monster.
Himawari 4000LP/Senshi 4000LP
"That's a pretty standard opening move, Higure-san," Senshi observed as he drew, bringing his hand to six cards.
"It's an effective one, Odayakana-sensei," she replied quietly.
"True," the proctor nodded. "I set a monster of my own." A reverse monster appeared before him. "Then, I play two face-downs and end my turn." A second and third face-down cards flashed into being behind his monster.
Himawari 4000LP/Senshi 4000LP
"I draw," Himawari spoke, drawing the card. "He didn't attack my Maharaghi... that makes things slightly harder..."
"I Release my face-down Maharaghi," she declared, as the card faded into particles of light, "to Advance Summon Izanagi!" In a flare of light, the mighty lord of the Shinto pantheon took form, clad in a regal white kimono adorned with strings of beads, his hair a stark white. The elder kami gripped a spear in hand, a blue cloth flapping from where it was tied around the weapon, and drew a katana from its sheath at his belt (2200/1000).
"Next, I banish Maharaghi from my Graveyard," she took the card and pocketed it, "to Special Summon Yamato-no-Kami!" Shadows pooled beside Izanagi and coalesced into a towering, muscular man wearing only white hakama, thick purple veins pulsing across his bare chest and arms. His mane of black hair rippling, the kami roared and glared with baleful red eyes, the six tentacles sprouting grotesquely from his back shuddering and writhing (2200/1200).
"I open my reverse card," Senshi said softly. "Demise of the Land activates when you Special Summon, and allows me to activate a Field Spell Card from my Deck." He took a card as it slipped from the Deck. "I activate the Field Spell, Bladesmith's Soul – Field of Swords!" A blast of light erupted, blinding the two for an instant before fading to reveal a new battlefield, a barren waste with countless swords impaled into the ground like grave markers. Far away, partly obscured by the dark clouds veiling the sky, gears turned endlessly...
M-I-R-R-O-R
Up in the audience, Migi saw the Field Spell and smirked slightly. "One of I2's designers must be a fan, huh?"
M-I-R-R-O-R
"I activate the Equip Spell Card, Sword of Kusanagi!" Himawari cried, playing the card. A bolt of light streaked from the sun overhead, piercing the clouds to be caught by Yamato-no-Kami, and revealing it as a long, elegant and regally-designed katana, red lightning crackling across the blade. "This card can only be equipped to a Spirit monster, and allows that monster to deal Piercing Damage!"
Senshi smiled slightly. "Good set-up, Higure-san... too bad I'm prepared."
"In case you think your second face-down card can stop Izanagi," the girl spoke. "When Yamato-no-Kami destroys a monster in battle, I can destroy a Spell or Trap Card you control." A look of surprise crossed Senshi's face.
"Then... I'd have to use Defense Draw to block the Piercing Damage from Yamato-no-Kami and take the greater damage of Izanagi's attack..."
"Yamato-no-Kami, attack his reverse monster!" Himawari ordered. Her monster struck like a flash of lightning, tearing across the field as Senshi's card lifted to reveal a tall, lean man wielding a blacksmith's hammer (500/500). The Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu was cleaved in twain with a single sweep of the Sword of Kusanagi, shattering into pixels.
"Trap Card, open," Senshi said quietly. "Defense Draw negates your attack's battle damage and lets me draw one card." He drew once and the Trap faded away. "And Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu has a Flip Effect allowing me to add an Equip Spell Card from my Deck to my hand, like Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade." He took the chosen card from his Deck and placed it into his hand.
"Izanagi, direct attack on the player!" Izanagi surged past Yamato-no-Kami and struck with a thrust of his spear, causing Senshi to cry out in pain.
(Senshi 1800LP)
"Turn end," Himawari said as Izanagi returned to her side ad she placed a face-down card. "And because Izanagi is on the field, my Yamato-no-Kami doesn't have to return to the hand per his effect." The reverse card appeared beside her monsters.
Himawari 4000LP/Senshi 1800LP
"I forfeit my draw to activate the effect of my Field Spell," Senshi said. "Instead of drawing, Bladesmith's Soul – Field of Swords lets me add an Equip Spell Card with 'Blade' or 'Sword' in its name from my Deck to my hand. I choose Fusion Sword Murasame Blade." He took the card from his Deck, which instantly shuffled.
"I activate the Spell Card, Reinforcement of the Army, adding a Level Four or lower Warrior-Type monster from my Deck to my hand." A copy of Rose, Warrior of Revenge slid out of his Deck and he took it with a slight smile. "I summon Marauding Captain!" Playing a card, Senshi watched as light shone before him and coalesced into a grim-looking man in battered, dented plate armor, a tattered and torn cape flapping behind him. The captain drew twin swords, looking wearily across the field (1200/400).
"Next, I activate my Captain's effect, letting me Special Summon a Level Four or lower monster from my hand." He played a second card and a burst of flame erupted this time, shattering to reveal a red-haired woman clad in a tight-fitting black bodysuit, a white scarf flapping around her neck. Rose, Warrior of Revenge drew her sword, smirking slightly as she glared across to Himawari's monsters (1600/600).
"A Level Four Tuner... he's going to Synchro Summon," Himawari mused.
"I Tune the Level Four Rose, Warrior of Revenge to my Level Three Marauding Captain! Synchro Summon!" Senshi declared passionately, raising one hand to the air as Rose leapt up, bursting into flames from which flew four shimmering rings. Marauding Captain sheathed his blades and flew skywards, entering the rings and bursting into three bright stars, a flash of golden aura consuming the display in light...
"Swords are his bones, steel is his body, fire is his blood, for he has forged many blades. Unknown to death or life, he holds those swords against the evil of this earth! Synchro Summon! So as I pray... descend, Seven Swords Warrior!"
Seven blades descended like bolts of light, impaling into the ground as a golden meteor crashed down and arose. Shining faintly, the golden-armored warrior wrenched his swords free, a katana sheathed across his back, a pair of immense blades sheathed as his shoulder-plates, a second pair at his hips and the final two were wielded in the warrior's hands. Seven Swords Warrior rose to his full height and glared across the battlefield, blades ready to kill... (2300/1800)
"I activate the Equip Spell Cards, Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade and Fusion Sword Murasame Blade!" He played the cards, causing his monster's hand-held swords to glow with light and transform. One turned into a regal longsword with a golden hilt forged into the shape of a phoenix, while the other turned into a dark katana which burned with a chaotic aura. Suddenly, Seven Swords Warrior slashed with the Divine Sword, sending a wave of blazing light across the field which struck Himawari, making her cry out in pain.
(Himawari 3200LP)
"Once per turn, when Seven Swords Warrior is equipped with an Equip Card, you take eight-hundred damage," Senshi explained. "And my Equip Spells each boost his attack points, the Divine Sword by three-hundred, the Fusion Sword by eight-hundred." Seven Swords Warrior glowed with energy (3400/1800). "Next, I activate the second effect of my Seven Swords Warrior, sending one of his Equip Cards to the Graveyard," the Divine Sword shattered and was replaced by his original blade, "and when an Equip Card equipped to Seven Swords Warrior goes to the Graveyard, I can destroy one of your face-up monsters." Seven Swords Warrior made a slash with his blade and a wave of force shot through the air, striking Izanagi and shattering him apart, while the aura around the Synchro dimmed (3100/1800).
Senshi paused, glancing at his hand. "If I attack, either one of those two cards could be an attack counter card... losing Seven Swords Warrior to that would be exceptionally stupid..."
"I activate the effect of my Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade, removing two Warriors in my Graveyard from play," he pocketed Rose and Marauding Captain, "to return it to my hand." He took the card and immediately played it, causing the blade to appear in Seven Swords Warrior's hand again (3400/1800). "I activate the Spell Card, Release Restraint Wave! By sending an Equip Card to the Graveyard, I can destroy all face-down Spell and Trap Cards you control!" The Phoenix Blade faded into light and Seven Swords Warrior slashed with it, unleashing a wave of powerful energy...
"I chain Joint Future, discarding a card to negate your Spell and return it to your Deck!" Himawari countered, placing Amaterasu into the Graveyard. Release Restraint Wave shattered as Senshi placed the card into his Deck.
"Since my Phoenix Blade was still sent to the Graveyard, Seven Swords Warrior can destroy your Yamato-no-Kami!" Senshi countered as his monster slashed with his sword, shattering Yamato-no-Kami even as the aura around him dimmed again (3100/1800). "Seven Swords Warrior, attack directly! Seven Sword Slash!" The warrior tore across the field as a flash of gold and struck too fast to see, until Himawari cried out, feeling the blows all at once.
(Himawari 100LP)
Seven Swords Warrior landed back before its master, shining with radiance. "I end my turn with a face-down," Senshi concluded, the card appearing beside him.
"I play Shock Draw, letting me draw a card for every thousand points of Battle Damage I took this turn!" Himawari cried, drawing three times.
Himawari 100LP/Senshi 1800LP
"Draw," Himawari murmured, fully aware she was a step from losing. "I set a monster," she played the card face-down, "and two face-downs." Three reversed cards appeared before her at once. "Turn end."
Himawari 100LP/Senshi 1800LP
"I skip my draw to use the effect of Bladesmith's Soul – Field of Swords," Senshi declared. "I add Sword of the Gorgon from my Deck to my hand." He took the card from his Deck, which then shuffled. "I equip Sword of the Gorgon to Seven Swords Warrior!" The warrior's sword faded and was replaced by a large curved scimitar with a hilt adorned by an intricate carving of a serpent. "Sorry, Higure-san... you've been a good opponent. Seven Swords Warrior's effect activates." Seven Swords Warrior slashed with his blade, sending a wave of energy across the field...
"Chain!" Himawari cried. "I activate Reflect Nature, reflecting all effect damage I'd take this turn onto you." The wave struck a mirrored barrier and bounced back, slamming into the surprised Senshi.
(Senshi 1000LP)
"Good counter, Higure-san," Senshi commented, standing. "Seven Swords Warrior, attack her reversed monster! Seven Sword Slash!" The warrior tore across the field and slashed through Himawari's monster, a noble black-haired woman resembling Izanagi clad in elegant white robes (1100/1800), shattering Izanami into pixels.
"I activate Izanami's effect, discarding a card from my hand to add a Spirit monster from the Graveyard to my hand," his opponent replied, placing Skill Successor into the Graveyard and taking Amaterasu from it.
"I end my turn," the proctor concluded, on which Himawari's second face-down lifted.
"I activate Groundbreaking, letting me add a Spirit monster from my Graveyard to my hand." She took Yamato-no-Kami this time.
Himawari 100LP/Senshi 1000LP
"My turn, draw," she said softly, drawing her card. "I summon the Tuner Monster, Amaterasu." She played the card and an orb of radiant light flashed up before her, dimming to reveal a woman in shining golden-orange robes which glowed like the sun. The woman's long, black hair tumbled down her back, and she held a regal, gold-rimmed mirror in hand (900/600). "I activate Amaterasu's effect, letting me add a Sword of Kusanagi, Mirror of Yata or Orb of Yasaka from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand." Sword of Kusanagi slipped from her Graveyard and she took it in hand.
"Next, I banish Izanami from my Graveyard," she pocketed the card, "to Special Summon Yamato-no-Kami." With a baleful roar, Yamato-no-Kami formed once again (2200/1200). "And finally, I Tune Amaterasu to Yamato-no-Kami to Synchro Summon...!" The form of the sun goddess burst into radiant light and split into two shining rings of sunlight which soared heavenwards, followed by Yamato-no-Kami. The dark form of the mountain god met the shining rings, and there was a mighty boom of thunder as a bolt of lightning split the air...
"The raging storms writhe and rampage throughout the lands of darkness. With rain, wind and thunder, the storm god brings judgment to the world! Synchro Summon! Descend... Susanoo-no-Mikoto!"
The lightning flashed and was gone, leaving a noble man with long black hair similar to Amaterasu's, clad in a regal sea-green kimono and wielding a plain katana with lightning dancing across the blade. Sparks flashed in his deep blue eyes, and his hair was bound back with a comb (2500/1700).
"I activate Susanoo-no-Mikoto's effect," Himawari declared. "He has three effects, and I can activate one per turn. In this case, I choose his effect which switches the battle position of one of your monsters." Susanoo-no-Mikoto raised his hand and the wind began to howl fiercely, blowing viciously through the Bladesmith's Soul – Field of Swords to batter against Seven Swords Warrior and forcing the sword-master to crouch defensively (3100/1800). "Next, I equip Susanoo-no-Mikoto with Sword of Kusanagi." Susanoo-no-Mikoto raised his hand again and his katana faded into light, replaced by the regal form of the legendary Sword of Kusanagi.
"What's she planning?" Senshi wondered.
"Finally... I banish the Skill Successor from my Graveyard, giving Susanoo-no-Mikoto eight-hundred more attack points for this turn!" Himawari cried, pocketing the card as an aura of burning energy surrounded her Synchro Monster (3300/1700). "Susanoo-no-Mikoto, attack Seven Swords Warrior! Ama-no-Habakiri!" The Synchro Monster ripped across the field, slashing with the Sword of Kusanagi towards Seven Swords Warrior...
Senshi smiled. "You've won, Higure-san... but I won't let my ace die so easily. Trap Card, open – Rho Aias! I send one card equipped to my Seven Swords Warrior to the Graveyard, and it can't be destroyed this turn!" Sword of the Gorgon faded into motes of light which created a large shield in the Synchro's hand, which he hefted to intercept the blow...
Himawari 100LP/Senshi 0LP
The cards left in play all faded away, leaving the proctor and the applicant upon the stage once more. Clapping erupted around them, everyone having seen the game's conclusion, including Shimo, who was laughing and smiling. "Great show, Higure-san!"
She was just silent, staring up into the audience, where Migi met her gaze. "What do you think, then?"
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And he gazed back down from his lofty position, regarding her. "Just one ordinary Synchro? No. That can't be everything... you're different. There's more." He glanced down at the card in his hand. "I guess we'll be watching this girl, huh?"
A roar echoed through his head in answer...
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"So, how did you do?" Himawari asked Shimo as the two began to walk back to their seats.
"Won, naturally," he said. "Not as thrilling as your game to be honest... but still, a win's good enough. But that was one hell of a match with you and that proctor, seriously."
"He was a good duelist," she observed. "Quite skilled, and that Field Spell of his combined with his Seven Swords Warrior is quite an effective tactic. Given the toolbox aspect of Warrior Decks, it's quite easy to gather the right material monsters and Synchro Summon, so it's not too hard to summon Seven Swords Warrior, especially since it has no specific material requirements. Then all you'd need is a way to search out Bladesmith's Soul – Field of Blades, like Terraforming or Demise of the Land."
"Heh, yeah," Shimo commented. "My proctor wasn't so good, it was that jerk the Mokey Mokey guy was dueling. WATER Exceed Deck. Damn. I stomped all over him by the end of it."
Himawari remained silent, mostly because Migi had stepped into their path.
"That was a good game, Higure-san," he said.
"Thank you," she replied curtly.
"So, Spirit monsters? That's an intriguing Deck choice."
"Some would say Mokey Mokey is just as intriguing."
"That's true," he smiled, nodding slightly. "Still, it's effective and I enjoy using it, so that's what matters." Shimo glanced down and noticed a card in his hand.
"What's that?" he asked, trying to get a better look, but Migi just pocketed it.
"Oh, nothing," he replied. "Just something I'm considering placing in my Deck." He paused. "Well, I wish you luck, Higure-san, and... uh?" He looked questioningly at Shimo.
"Shimo Hikaru," Shimo replied.
"Good luck, Shimo-san," Migi nodded, reaching out a hand, which Shimo took and shook for a moment. Then the Mokey Mokey user turned and walked away, vanishing into the crowds all around.
"What was that card?" Himawari asked, curious.
"Didn't get a good enough look, sorry," Shimo answered. "All I saw was it was some sort of electric-blue dragon... thing." Himawari's lips pursued in thought. "And it was an Effect Monster." Her thoughtful expression practically evaporated.
"It doesn't matter." She paused. "We'll see him again, I know it. Anyway... I'm going to head home. See you later, Shimo-san."
"See you around, Higure-san," Shimo replied with a slight nod as the young woman walked away. The young man stood for a moment, just considering what to do, before nodding and walking away in a different direction. Up above, Migi looked down at the pair, gazing between them with a thoughtful smile...
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Card Stats:
Monsters:
Big Jaws
WATER/ Fish/Effect /Level 3/ATK: 1800/DEF: 300
If this card attacks, at the end of the Battle Phase: Banish this card.
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Shark Sucker
WATER/ Fish/Effect /Level 3/ATK: 200/DEF: 1000
When a Fish/Aqua/Sea Serpent-Type monster is Normal or Special Summoned to your side of the field: You can Special Summon this card from your hand. This card cannot be used as Synchro Material.
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Aero Shark
WATER/ Fish/Exceed/Effect /Rank 3/ATK: 1900/DEF: 1000
2 Level 3 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Exceed Material from this card; inflict 100 damage to your opponent for each of your banished monsters.
(The above three cards are currently only released in the OCG.)
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Amaterasu
FIRE/ Fairy/Spirit/Tuner /Level 2/ATK: 900/DEF: 600
This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card returns to the owner's hand during the End Phase of the turn that this card is Normal Summoned or flipped face-up. When this card is Normal Summoned or flipped face-up, select 1 'Sword of Kusanagi', 'Mirror of Yata' or 'Orb of Yasaka' from your Deck or Graveyard and add it to your hand.
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Susanoo-no-Mikoto
WIND/ Thunder/Synchro/Spirit /Level 8/ATK: 2500/DEF: 1700
1 Spirit Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Synchro Summon. This card returns to the owner's Extra Deck during the End Phase of the turn that this card is Synchro Summoned or flipped face-up, unless it is equipped with an Equip Spell Card. Once per turn, you can select and activate one of the following effects: • Select 1 face-up monster on the field and change its battle position. • ?. • ?.
(The above two cards are my own inventions and creative credit for them goes to me. Credit for helping to design Susanoo-no-Mikoto goes to Janime forum user DarkYami.)
Spells:
Photon Veil
Normal Spell Card
Image: Three shining stars hanging amidst the clouds, with a ray of light illuminating them from above.
Return 3 LIGHT monsters from your hand to the Deck. Then, add up to 3 Level 4 or lower LIGHT monsters from your Deck to your hand. If you add 2 or more cards to your hand, they must have the same card name.
(Photon Veil was released in the OCG set Photon Shockwave.)
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Bladesmith's Soul – Field of Swords
Field Spell Card
Image: A barren wasteland filled with swords impaled into the ground, with gears turning visibly behind the clouds on the horizon.
You can skip your normal draw during your Draw Phase to select 1 'Sword' or 'Blade' Equip Spell Card from your Deck and add it to your hand. ?
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Sword of the Gorgon
Equip Spell Card
Image: Dark Grepher holding up a large wicked scimitar with an ornate emerald snake carving adorning the hilt.
Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. When the equipped monster attacks, your opponent cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step.
(The above two cards are my own inventions, though credit for inspiring Bladesmith's Soul – Field of Swords must go to the makers of Fate/stay night and the creators of that inspirer of GAR, Archer.)
Traps:
Joint Future
Normal Trap Card
Image: Two strands of photographic film connecting together with a bright flash of light.
Discard 1 card. Negate the activation of an opponent's Spell/Trap Card, and return that card to the Deck.
(Joint Future was first used by Yusei in the 5D's episode 'Towards Our Future'. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of 5D's.)
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Shock Draw
Normal Trap Card
Image: A duelist wearing an Academy Duel Disk holding up two cards as he is struck by a bolt of lightning.
Draw 1 card for each multiple of 1000 Battle Damage you took this turn.
(Shock Draw was first used by Yusei in the 5D's manga chapter 'The Master of the Underworld'. Creative credit for it goes to the writers of the manga.)
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Groundbreaking
Normal Trap Card
Image: A table laden with artifacts surrounded by violet flames before the shattered background of all Spirit monsters.
Add 1 Spirit monster from your Graveyard to your hand.
(Groundbreaking was first used by Noah in the second series anime episode 'LP 10000 vs. 100!' Creative credit for it goes to the writers of that episode.)
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Rho Aias
Normal Trap Card
Image: Seven barriers of shining light appearing before a red-robed man as a spear shoots towards him.
Select 1 monster you control which has at least 1 Equip Card equipped to it. Send 1 of the selected monster's Equip Cards to the Graveyard. During this turn, the selected monster cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects.
(Rho Aias is my own invention and creative credit for it goes to me, though credit for inspiration goes once again to the makers of Fate/stay night.)
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Next time, as the time for the results of their exams comes closer, Himawari and Shimo face off due to a misunderstanding in their friendship which the latter wishes to understand, though the former wants things to stay secret. But with Migi overlooking, just how will things turn out? It's Chapter 2 – Rookie Fight!