Chapter 7: Opening Duel

Tristoff stood to one side of the Duel Arena as the other students began to file in. He new that Sameshima would be the one to announce the duelists.

"Good, the sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get back to work." Tristoff Mortimer said, going through his deck one more time.

As the crowd filled the arena, Sameshima faced the newcomers. Young, eager faces filled the halls, duelists in every dorm waiting to see what was awaiting them. They'd have a treat their first day, he was sure of that.

"Welcome to Duel Academia," he declared, "I have quite a speech planned out for you new students, but before that comes our traditional welcoming duel!"

There erupted a cheer from the audience, and Sameshima waited for it to calm down before continuing.

"From Obelisk Blue, we have the alchemic duelist, Tristoff Mortimer!" He declared,

"And from Ra Yellow, the swordsman duelist and captain of the Academia Kendo club, Katanokuto Kenichi!"

Everyone cheered, as the duelists entered the arena, duel disks and decks at ready.

"Good luck," Katanokuto said, bowing to Tristoff.

"Cut and shuffle the decks," announced Sameshima, "And begin!"

"I will give you the honor of the first move," Tristoff smirked, crossing his arms as he waited for Katanokuto to go.

"All right, then," Katanokuto said, drawing his cards. He looked over his hand, recalling the strategies he saw Tristoff use before.

"I figured he would have me go first," he thought to himself, "That way, he can play as many alchemic cards as possible and attack quickly. I found a few cards in my deck to counter that, but I don't have one in my hand."

He drew his card, barely hiding a grin.

"Two cards face-down," He declared, "And Kojikocy (1500/1200) in attack mode. Your move."

Tristoff drew a Black Process Nigredo. He added it to his hand, containing many more alchemic cards.

Tristoff smiled, "First I'll play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy one of your face down cards."

He pointed at the set card on the left. A whirlwind surrounded it, destroying Thunder of Ruler.

"Now I'll play a card that you'll be familiar with, Alchemic Kettle- Chaos Distill!" the large Round Machine lifted from the ground.

"And with it on the field, all my cards are removed from play instead of going to the graveyard. Now I'll play Copper Scales and Lead Compass. To Summon Alchemist Beast Copper Ouroboros (500/0) and Lead Lion (500/0)."

The metallic snake and lion appeared on the field, hissing at Katanokuto. They were completely ignoring Kojikocy; he wasn't worth the time.

"Now my beasts, attack his life points directly!" Tristoff commanded. The two monsters passed the Warrior and struck Katanokuto.

Or so he thought. Katanokuto's life points remained at 4000, and it was Tristoff's monsters that fell.

"Counter with Staunch Defender," Katanokuto declared, activating his set card. Kojikocy got in between Tristoff's monsters and Katanokuto, countering both the attacks and cutting his two monsters in half.

Tristoff gritted his teeth, his life points falling to 2500, but he wasn't done. "And for finish, I'll play Black Process Nigredo. I'll remove my Ouroboros and Lion in order to draw four cards."

Tristoff smiled. "I'll play Iron Lamp to bring Alchemic Beast Iron Salamander (500/0) to the field, and set a card face-down." The iron dragon appeared on the field, and a set card appeared at Tristoff's feet.

"I end my turn."

"Alright, off to a good start," thought Katanokuto, as he drew his card, "Unfortunately, there go two of the cards I hoped would help me. Better than nothing, though. His set card's gotta be some sort of defense. If it's Draining Shield, I'd best try to draw it out with a weaker monster, first."

He looked at his new card, and declared his move.

"Summon Different Dimension Survivor (1700/1600), in attack mode!" He declared, as a dark portal appeared in the middle of the arena. From the hole emerged a warrior covered by a tattered robe. Under the robe was hidden bright armor, and from there it unsheathed a sword.

"Kojikocy, attack the Iron Salamander!" He declared, as the hunter drew his sword and lunged at the alchemic monster.

"Activate Trap Card! Negate Attack!" Tristoff countered. A shield came up surrounding the Salamander, deflecting the warrior's attack. "Now your Battle Phase shall end."

"Seven cards removed from the game…That would equal 2100 attack. Not just yet…" Tristoff thought.

"I thought it would be something like that," Katanokuto said, "Alright then, your move."

The two swordsmen stood by Katanokuto, each with their blades drawn. His LP was at full, while Tristoff's was at 2500, but it had just begun. Tristoff drew, obtaining the Silver Key.

"Perfect." Tristoff said, "I'll play Silver Key to summon Alchemist Beast Silver Moonface (500/0)!" The Silver beast appeared next to the Iron Dragon.

"Now my Beasts! Go and attack!" the two monsters charged and struck at Katanokuto. Katanokuto's LP dropped down to 3000, not having any counter to the two alchemic monsters. He gritted his teeth and withstood the attack, knowing he still had counters left. Katanokuto drew, hoping his warriors could overpower the alchemic monsters at the rate he was at.

"Go, Kojikocy, DD Survivor," he called out, "Attack his monsters!"

The two swordsmen lunged at the alchemic beasts, their swords cutting down at the two alchemic creations.

"Kojikocy has 1500 attack points," Katanokuto thought, "Survivor has 1800. If the attack goes through, his LP should be down to 200. I can do this! I can win!"

Tristoff covered his eyes as his monsters were destroyed. His life points went to a mere 200, but strangely enough, Tristoff was still smiling. He looked over at Sameshima, as if to transmit a message to him.

"Now you'll learn, you impudent fool." Tristoff's mind snarled. "Your move," Katanokuto said, hoping Tristoff wouldn't draw a pinch-hitter.

From the sidelines, Shinji watched the duel intently, drowning out his feelings with the progress of the game.

"He's winning," Shinji thought, "But now's not the time to get overconfident. I've seen Tristoff's strongest card, and it's not something I want to mess with."

"You were doing a lot better when I thought this duel was nothing," Tristoff smirked,

"But now you've gotten my attention. I now play the magic card, White Process Alberied!"

Tristoff slammed the card onto the disk, and from behind Tristoff, a Gold Statue began to rise. A statue that was moving on it's own.

"Behold my Gold Homunculus (?/?)!" Tristoff shouted. Katanokuto gaped, staring at the huge golden behemoth that appeared. It towered over his two swordsmen, making them look insignificant in comparison.

"Incredible," he muttered, "Is that his strongest card?"

"No," Shinji thought to himself, "It's strong, but not the strongest. Katanokuto should consider himself lucky to not be in the cosmos quite yet. He's got to finish this now, before it's too late."

Sameshima stared at the powerful monster, his eyes widened in joy. He always got like that when it came to seeing a strong card, he couldn't help it.

"Now, my Golden Monster's Attack and Defense depend on how many cards are removed from play. For each card that I've removed from play, it gains 300 attack and defense points. Now let's review how many cards that I've removed." Tristoff said. He pulled out eleven cards from his pocket, fanning them out.

"Now, If my math is correct, it gives my Gold Homunculus 3300 attack and defense points!" Tristoff smiled, "Now my behemoth, destroy his Kojikocy!" Tristoff pointed at the weaker monster. The Large Behemoth raised its fist and smashed into Kojikocy. Katanokuto's LP dropped down by 1800, leaving him at 1200 LP.

"And let that be a lesson to all who try and challenge me." Tristoff thought bitterly.

"Amazing," Katanokuto commented, "But I still have life left. My turn. Draw!"

Katanokuto looked at his hand. He just drew Pot of Greed, but nothing else he had would be of use.

"Magic card- Pot of Greed," he said, drawing two cards, then playing one of them, "One monster in defense-mode, and I'll switch my Survivor into defense mode. Your turn!"
Tristoff drew a card. Monster Reincarnation? No, it wouldn't help.

"Golden Homunculus! Destroy his D.D. Survivor!" Tristoff commanded.

The large Alchemic Monster smashed its fist into D.D. Survivor, shattering it. The tattered robes flew into the air, vanishing as the monster was defeated.

"You are lucky he was in defense mode," Tristoff said. "And with this victory, some of the staff will think I'd be a good enough duelist to teach at the academy."

"Graceful Charity," Katanokuto declared, "With this, I can draw three cards, at the cost of discarding two."

"Please be lucky, please be lucky," he thought to himself, picking up the cards. He looked at what he drew, and sighed in relief.

"Alright, let's see if my strongest card is worth anything," he said, activating a magic card, "Ritual magic- Black Luster Ritual!"

A huge gateway appeared on the field, with two burning pyres on each side. In the fires appeared the spirits of two swordsman monsters.

"I'll offer Sword Hunter and Masaki the Legendary Swordsman from my hand as tribute," he said, as the two cards vanished into the flame, "To call forth Black Luster Soldier (3000/2500)!"

The gate opened, and from it emerged a beautifully armored warrior, holding a curved blade and a large shield. It appeared on the field with its shield at ready, in defense position.

"Two cards face-down," he continued, "And it's your move."

"Powerful indeed," Shinji thought, "But its strength still isn't enough to beat that Homunculus. The best he can do with those set cards is defend, unless it's a bluff."

"An admirable attempt, but feeble," Tristoff laughed, "This is for anyone who thinks to challenge me. Gold Homunculus! Destroy his Black luster Soldier!"

The Gold Statue charged at the Soldier, being just strong enough to destroy it. Too bad he couldn't attack the monster.

"Activate trap cards!" Declared Katanokuto, "Ready For Intercepting and A Feint Plan!"

The Black Luster Soldier was flipped face-down, and the Gold Homunculus's fist was repelled from the set cards.

"You saw me use this on the boat yesterday," Katanokuto said, "So don't act surprised. Of course, defending won't help me win, but if I have a strong card, I can make it stronger. I'm gambling everything I have on this card, and on the next one I draw. You done?"

"Yes." Tristoff said. For a second, his clear gray-blue eyes became an angry yellow-scarlet. "No matter what you draw, you've lost. My beast is to strong." Tristoff laughed, although his laugh was bitter.
"

Well, only one way to find out," Katanokuto said, "Draw!"

He looked at the card he got, and grinned. No need to bluff, it was all over.

"Magic card- The A. Forces," he declared, "This will increase the attack of all my warriors by 200 for each warrior and spellcaster on my side of the field."

"Which means his Soldier's attack will be at 3200," Thought Shinji, "Powerful, but not enough."

"Now, I'll switch my set Black Luster Soldier to attack mode," Said Katanokuto, as from the set card emerged the swordsman, its blade gleaming in the light, "Along with my other set monster, Swordsman of Landstar!"

The second monster emerged, trembling at the sight of the huge Homunculus. The Black Luster Soldier, however, stood between the two, its power increased even more.

"With one warrior, my cards gain 200 attack points," Katanokuto said, "But with two, they each gain 400. Black Luster Soldier, attack!"

With that order, the ritual warrior (3400 ATK) lunged, leaping into the air at the golden behemoth. It struck down with all its might, plunging the blade into Tristoff's monster. A huge explosion echoed, and the Homunculus was destroyed, dropping Tristoff's LP to 100.

"Now, Swordsman of Landstar," Katanokuto declared, "Finish him!"

Landstar (ATK: 900) lunged, pulling back its comically large sword for a finishing blow. Tristoff let out a roar of anger as his Monster was destroyed in an explosion. He shielded his eyes, as the tiny monster sunk its blade into him.

Tristoff's life points hit zero.

Most of the Obelisk Blues were in shock. The rest, including all of Ra Yellow, plus Shinji, were applauding.

"Amazing!" Declared Sameshima, standing to his feet, "You're both amazing! That was a most excellent duel!"

As everyone applauded, Shinji leapt on stage and high-fived his best friend.

"That's some devil's luck you got there," he declared, "Have you been holding back against me or something?"

"Just got lucky this time," Katanokuto laughed, as the holograms vanished, "Luckiest I've ever been in front of so many people."

Katanokuto walked over to where Tristoff stood, and extended his hand.

"That was a great duel," he said, "If I had drawn any other card, I would have lost for sure. You're strong- a lot stronger than I am. It was just that one-in-a-million chance that made things go differently. Good duel."

For a brief second, Tristoff's facial features looked inhuman. Pale faced, mouth deep in rage, eyes a Scarlet tint. But that second finished, replaced by those handsome features. He took Katanokuto's hand and shook it.

"Luck is a part of skill, it's true," thought Sameshima, as he walked away from the arena,

"But the will to enjoy the game is just as important as the will to win. Tristoff-kun was dueling to show off to us, to prove he's worthy of the position as an alchemy teacher. Katanokuto-kun was dueling for fun, in order to test his strength and enjoy the game. It was that difference that made the difference in luck. That is why Tristoff-kun lost."

"By the way," Katanokuto said to Shinji, as they got off the duel stage, "What happened last night?"

"Oh yeah," Shinji sighed, "Let's go for a walk. I'll tell you about it."

Author's Note: Sorry for not updating in awhile. I've just been busy. But I'm back on track.