Chapter Ten
"I always liked a clear evening," Hatsuko said while strolling through the streets of the city, "so much fresh air, not too hot in the summer, you get what I mean, do you?"
"Yeah, I like them a lot as well. Especially if it doesn't rain," Yuito replied, walking next to her.
"You know, that's one of the things you don't call out," she replied, "if you say that in a movie, it immediately starts raining."
"We're not in a movie."
"Yeah, I know. If this was a movie, I'd be a blonde hottie with a massive rack, and you'd be a decent company."
"I don't know what to reply."
It has been roughly half an hour since Hatsuko picked Yuito up at his place with her picnic bag. She told him that it'd be a walk of about an hour until they arrived at where Hatsuko narrowed down the first Crosspoint.
"So, where exactly are we going?"
"There's this school building on the outer parts of town, where two of the energy lines apparently meet so there's probably going to be a Crosspoint there."
"Apparently and probably sounds very convincing."
"It's an ancient legend, we'll probably find lots of fancy dust."
"I could use some fancy dust."
"You'd be surprised how few people say that."
"I'm not, actually."
"Where the fuck do you two think you're going?"
The pair of them turned their head when a voice came from the alleyway they just passed by.
"Don't you know this block is tolled?" The voice belonged to a giant of a man, dressed in ragged and dirty clothes, a small layer of dust all over his skin and bald head.
"So you're either gonna pay or you'll have to turn around and leave."
While Hatsuko seemed pretty unsettled by the brick wall standing in their way, Yuito was actually smiling: "Still extorting money from those who don't know better, do you?"
"Yuito?" the giant asked, as a wave of realization washed over his face, "oh for fucks sake would you look at you! Clean clothes, washed hair and..." he came a little closer and sniffed on the boy, "do you wear deodorant?"
"That might actually be me," Hatsuko threw in, "Yuito, would you mind introducing me to this friendly giant?"
"I like her, is she your girlfriend?" the man laughed, "I'm Daichi by the way."
"We got along pretty well when I was still living on the streets," Yuito explained to Hatsuko, "if you're ever homeless, make sure you are friends with the guy who rips a metal door out of the hinge with his bare hands."
"Noted," Hatsuko said, still a little dumbfounded.
"So, you actually made it out of this shit show into an ever larger shit show?" Daichi continued.
"Seems so," Yuito continued, "finished my first tournament a few days ago, god knows how long I'll be in this business."
"You don't happen to have a couch one could crash on?"
"Hate to tell you, but Keiji already crashes on my couch," Yuito replied, feeling kind of uncomfortable telling Daichi that the two boys actually shared a bed.
"Oh damn," the large guy said, "forgot you're kinda married. Anyway, if you feel like cheating once, you know where to find me."
"I'll consider the offer," Yuito said, but as Daichi turned to go, he stopped him: "Wait, you still get your toll from us, right?"
He reached for his back pocket where he carried his wallet: "The job doesn't pay that well yet, but I think you need this more than I do. Wow, that felt weird saying it out loud for once."
He handed Daichi a large portion of the money he carried, while the other smiled from ear to ear: "Let me rephrase my offer: If you ever feel like cheating on Keiji or need anything else from me, like, virtually anything, me and some friends took over this house at the Fountain Plaza, come whenever. It's surely nothing compared to your flat but its a roof."
"Thank you, Daichi."
"Honor among thieves buddy," Daichi said as he made off, back into the alleyway, "I'll tell the other guys to not bother you again."
Hatsuko and Yuito returned to their stroll and, after making sure the giant was out of hearing distance, Hatsuko said: "What a shame, I would've loved to try my taser on him."
"You'd do him a favor," Yuito replied, "he's into some wild shit."
"I kind of what to ask how you know that, but I'm scared of the answer."
"We lived in the same abandoned house for some time, you don't really have privacy there. And after a while, you don't care either."
About half an hour after they encountered Daichi, the pair arrived at the school building which Hatsuko had pinpointed as the location of a crosspoint. It looked like it was abandoned long ago and moved into the inner parts of the city – evidenced by the broken windows, smashed-in doors and the rooms utterly devoid of furniture.
"So this is it?" Yuito asked, "what are we actually looking for?"
"I don't know," Hatsuko replied, "something out of he ordinary? And we're not quite there, the coordinates narrow down to the gym as far as I know."
"Then let's go there, shall we?"
Politely, Yuito ripped away the planks that blocked the door, before opening it for Hatsuko.
As they processed through the school building, they discovered all the lockers to be removed, doors to be missing, generally a sign that the school was abandoned long ago. There were tons of buildings like this in the city as as soon as the people started to move away and the homeless took over the area, the school council would assume it to be unsafe and closed it up, leaving it to the homeless to loot whatever they found.
This one seemed different in the account that some of the buildings near still appeared to be habituated, as there was light from some of the windows, meaning the people had money to pay for their electricity.
It was very unlikely someone would be living in the school itself however, the area was far too open and the location far too distinct, it was much too unsafe. Not all of the homeless were as sociable as Daichi.
"This is it now," Hatsuko said, as they entered the gym, "Look for… anything special, really."
"You know this would be much easier if we actually knew something was in here," Yuito replied still skeptical about the entire crosspoint thing.
"It is here, its just still dormant."
"And what does that mean now?" Yuito asked back, but Hatsuko just turned her head in confusion.
"I didn't say that," she said, looking over to the stands, from where the female voice came from.
"That means its not yet active," the woman said, "that it can still be claimed."
She got up and walked downstairs towards the pair. She looked like ripped out straight of a black and white painting, with her pale face and flowing black dress. She had messy black hair, but it was obscured by a black veil covered half of her face.
"We… we did not mean to budge into your… residence, so, we'll just leave okay?" Hatsuko said, "Just, just forgot we've been here, creepy lady."
"But you wanna know about the crosspoints, don't you? Why don't you stick around a little." Her voice was hoarse and rough, and she was talking very slowly.
"What do you know about it?" Yuito asked, "and who are you by the way?"
"The crosspoint," the woman explained, completely ignoring Yuitos second question, "is, as I said, dormant. It can, however, be claimed through a Contest of Champions."
"If this is supposed to explain anything, it only confuses me more," Hatsuko said.
"A Contest of Champions is a face-off between two people that follows the rules of the crosspoint."
"Not any better," Hatsuko said, but Yuito threw in: "What are the rules of the crosspoint?"
"Both equals and not," the woman explained, "the points are neither good nor evil, neither can they be used for any of those. They will only be claimed through the fight between two individuals who are conflicted at heart. If they are not it does not work. Also, both of them must be equal on equipment and chance. If one has an initial upper hand it does not work."
"So… to summarize that, there is a crosspoint here, but in order to see it, there has to be someone here who disagrees with us in some account?"
"Yes," she said, "you young boy look like you would make a formidable champion. You have it in your eyes. Now you just need an opponent."
"What about you?" Hatsuko suggested, "you didn't sound too happy when we entered your place."
"I may not touch the crosspoints until the convergence comes," the woman replied, but soon turned her head to the door, "but here comes another champion now."
Hatsuko and Yuito both turned their heads to the door, which soon snapped open as a young men in a police uniform entered: "Attention please, my name is Officer Rokurou Cole. There have been reports of two young adults trespassing in closed up, communal property. I hereby ask you to leave."
"People called the police on us?" Yuito asked, "the doors have been ripped from the hinges in this school, and we get the police called on us?"
"There's an alarm tied to the front door," Officer Cole replied, "this building is in danger of collapse, no one may enter."
As the man walked closer, Yuito could see that he was dressed in a dark blue police uniform, had a stern face and gelled-back black hair.
"There we have the second champion," the woman exclaimed and as the officer took another step towards them a purple light emerged from the middle of the gym, creating a hue that wrapped around the four of them like a forcefield.
"What is this?" the officer asked before drawing his gun at the woman, "what is going on here?"
"Nobody is gonna believe me this happened," Hatsuko said, "but ditto, what the fuck is going on?"
"This is a contest of champions," the woman explained to Officer Cole, "the crosspoint has chosen that you shall face off against the boy over who may claim it."
"Wow, this must be so confusing for someone who doesn't know what a crosspoint is," Yuito said, with Hatsuko nodding in approval.
"Can you repeat that? What is all this?"
"A crosspoint is compressed energy, an abundance thereof. You may have it, when you defeat the boy in a fight."
"So you say I cannot leave until I defeat the boy?" the officer said, not taking his gun away from the woman, while suspiciously eyeing the forcefield.
"No, the point does not want you to," she continued, "once it awakens, it may not rest until it is claimed."
The officer took a moment of thought, before he pointed his gun at Yuito: "What if I just shoot him? In self-defense of course. I would win."
Just as he spoke, the purple light flashed once more, eventually causing the gun to turn into dust and falling from his hand.
"Obviously not. A Contest of Champions is a contest of equals. If you bring a gun, he has to have a gun as well."
Cole just stared blankly at the remains of his weapon, before eventually speaking up again: "Is this magic?"
"Magic is just science we don't understand yet," the woman said, "back onto the Contest of Champions. Back in my time, we used sword fighting as the means to decide the winner. But those times are done. I have taken a liking to the card game that seems to be popular in your time. It's fair. So why not do that?"
"So you're telling me to play a card game with a boy I came here to arrest, to fight over some magical light because I cannot leave this school if I do not, after you turned my gun into dust?"
"That about covers it," Yuito said, "its hard to believe and I'm standing here."
The officer reached for the radio that was pinned to his chest: "This is Officer Cole, I have an H-34 in C4815 I require backup. I repeat H-34 in C4815, require immediate backup."
He waited a few seconds but the only answer he received was static.
"Equal," the woman just said, "no reinforcements if he cannot get those as well."
"What if we would just start a fistfight?" Yuito said, "I'm not too happy waging my personal freedom on a card game either."
"It's certainly possible but I assure you nothing bad is going to happen to the loser. The winner gets the point the loser gets nothing, but he doesn't lose his life or something. With a fistfight however, the loser, as well as the winner if the loser is adequately adept at fighting, will probably get a few injuries to boot. So I'd prefer if you just played that card game. It's much less messy and more pleasurable to look at."
"Suppose there is no other way," Hatsuko said.
"There is one," Cole replied, "this woman can undo this barrier and we can leave."
"I'm not in control of this," she replied, "the Crosspoint is. Neither did I turn your gun into dust, the point did. Once it is active it must be claimed. One of you three must claim it."
Officer Cole was about to retaliate, when he was interrupted by Yuito starting up his Duel Disk.
"What are you doing? Are you going to go along with this madness?" the officer said.
"No choice, I guess," Yuito replied, "so we might as well get started."
"Might as well," Cole said resigning, also putting on a Duel Disk and starting it up.
Cole: 4000 LP
Yuito: 4000 LP
"Since I'm being forced to participate, I might as well begin," Cole said, "First of, I Normal Summon my Bell Maiden." The monster that materialized on Coles field was a short haired fairy with tiny wings and a lime green, flowing dress. It clung to a large silver bell.
Chime Maiden: WIND / Fairy-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1000 DEF
"Not quite the kind of monster I was expecting from you," Yuito mused, but his opponent payed him no mind.
"Next I activate the Spell Card 'Extensive Surplus'," he continued as he slotted the card into his Duel Disk, "it discards one random card from your hand but in exchange, you can add any number of cards with the same card type from your deck to your hand, as long as they have the same name."
The card the randomizer sniped out of Yuitos hand was his Stone Crypt Shield Wizard – so he was able to add a monster to his hand. "I pick three copies of Manju of the Ten-Thousand Hands."
"Three monsters that search on Normal Summon? How long do you think this duel is gonna take?"
"I'll have a search each turn, even if I'll only need one."
"Mind if I continue? Since you added a card to your hand outside of the Draw Phase, my Harmonic Tune in my hand can Special Summon itself to my field." A new monster took onto Coles field, resembling a fairy boy holding a tuning fork in his hand.
Harmonic Tune: LIGHT / Fairy-Type / Effect / Tuner / Level 3 / 800 ATK / 800 DEF
"A Tuner? So, you're going for a Synchro Summon?" Yuito asked.
"Precisely. I tune my Chime Maiden with my Harmonic Tune." The male fairy hit its tuning fork before turning into stars, that formed three green rings. The fairy with the bell also flew upwards into the rings, turning into four stars before a flash of light shot through them.
"Synchro Summon! Let your sound cast fear into the hearts of the wrongdoers!" Cole yelled, "Arise, Lady Prayer Bell!" The monster that appeared after the light subsided somehow resembled a bride, with a large white dress and a veil shrouding its face. Upon closer look however, Yuito realized that what he made out to be a wedding dress was actually a large bell with the female torso just sitting on top of it. When the monster made a move, the bell chimed with its sound being both beautiful and unsettling.
Lady Prayer Bell: WIND / Fairy-Type / Synchro / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2000 DEF
"If my Chime Maiden is sent to the graveyard, I can refill my hand with another copy of it," Coles deck ejected one card which he added to his hand, "Then I set two cards face-down and end my turn."
"My turn, I draw!" Yuito yelled, only to be immediately interrupted by his opponent.
"During your Standby Phase, I activate my Trap Card Mind Crush," he said, earning a mumbled 'Oh shit' from Yuito.
"Do you happen to hold any copies of 'Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands'?"
"Of course I do," Yuito said, attempting to send the cards to his Graveyard.
"Wait I'm not sure. Let me see your hand, still. It's my fair right after all."
"Fine," Yuito sighed, revealing all the cards he held – including the three Manju – to Cole.
"Interesting line-up. Let's keep that in mind."
If that wasn't enough of a hint, Yuito had already figured out that his opponents deck focused on discarding the cards from his hand through knowledge. Why else would he run a card like Extensive Surplus?
"I'm not quite finished interrupting your turn yet, but I promise you can go on after this. As a card was sent from your hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, my Harmonic Tune can Summon itself from my Graveyard, but will be banished upon leaving the field again." The small fairy boy once again took to the officers field.
Harmonic Tune: LIGHT / Fairy-Type / Effect / Tuner / Level 3 / 800 ATK / 800 DEF
"Might I?" Yuito asked, with Cole laughing, but nodding in approval.
"I activate my Spell Card Blue for Two. I can discard my Runecross Guru in order to draw two new cards, which you don't know yet," Yuito started his turn.
"I might interrupt you once more there," Cole said, "when you add a card to your hand, except during your Draw Phase, my Lady Prayer Bell allows me to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my hand. I Summon my trusty Chime Maiden." The fairy in the white dress reappeared on the field.
Chime Maiden: WIND / Fairy-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1000 DEF
"I Normal Summon my Stone Crypt Scholar!" Yuito said, starting to be annoyed with the constant interruptions. The monster that appeared on his side of the field was a female wizard in a dirty dress. Her black hair was tied into two braids and she wore a blindfold over her eyes.
Stone Crypt Scholar: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1400 ATK / 1200 DEF
"When Stone Crypt Scholar is Summoned, I can Summon any Ritual Monster from my Graveyard, but its effects will be negated and it will return to my hand during the End Phase. I choose my Runecross Guru." The wizard raised her hands and the graveyard portal opened up in front of her, from which a hooded monster, with its legs crossed, floated out. Ten orbs floated around it, each one engraved with a different glyph.
Runecross Guru: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Effect / Level 6 / 2100 ATK / 2500 DEF
"I next up activate the Ritual Spell Card Memphys Scribestone. Memphys is a really special Ritual Spell Card, as for the Ritual Summon I can tribute a monster with a level equal to half or more than the Level I want to Ritual Summon, however, during my End Phase my monster will suffer from some serious backlash."
He picked one card from his hand and revealed his Runecross Wizard to his opponent. "I tribute my Level 4 Stone Crypt Scholar! Ritual Summon!"
A large stele appeared behind Yuito, absorbing the female warrior into it. "To unravel humanities last mysteries, use your magic and cast a light upon the darkness! Level 7, Runecross Wizard!" The monster that stepped out of the stele was a magician dressed in dark blue garb, letters and ornaments running all over it. It wore a hood that obscured its face, except its eyes which flashed a multitude of runes and letters.
Runecross Wizard: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Effect / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
"Two Ritual Monsters. Not entirely bad," Cole remarked.
"I move to Battle Phase! Runecross Wizard, attack Lady Prayer Bell!" Yuito commanded his monster, "and due to its effect, it will gain 700 ATK and negate your monsters effect!" The wizard fired a wave of runic energy onto the opponents Synchro Monster, which shattered into pieces.
Runecross Wizard: 2500 ATK → 3200 ATK
Cole: 4000 LP → 3100 LP
"Now, Runecross Guru, attack his Harmonic Tune!" The orbs around the Ritual Monster started to spin faster, but Cole interrupted its attack.
"I activate my Trap Card Urgent Tuning! During your Battle Phase, it allows me to Synchro Summon a monster during your Battle Phase!" The same two monsters that were previouly used as Synchro materials again turned into stars, aligning to form a new monster. "Synchro Summon! Don't let the haunting melody die down! Level 7, Lady Prayer Bell!" A second one of the female bell monster took to Coles field.
Lady Prayer Bell: WIND / Fairy-Type / Synchro / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2000 DEF
"So you Summoned a second one? Why not use something different for once?" Yuito asked, feigning confidence as his Guru wasn't strong enough to beat over it.
"No need for something different if the good old ways work. When my Chime Maiden is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can add my third Chime Maiden to my hand."
"I finish my turn by setting two cards face-down," he said, passing the baton back to Cole, "but before, during my End Phase, first my Wizard will go to Defense Position and lose all ATK and DEF and then, my Guru will return to my hand."
Runecross Wizard: 2500 ATK → 0 ATK / 2000 DEF → 0 DEF
"Let me interrupt you there, I use the second effect of my Lady Prayer Bell. I may call a card name and if you happen to hold that card in your hand, you will return it to the deck and then draw a brand new card. I think you happen to have Runecross Guru in your hand."
"Jeez, its not like I just returned that to my hand."
"Go figure. Now please draw."
Yuito did as he was told, before Cole went on, "as you just added a card to your hand outside of your Draw Phase, I may Special Summon my third Chime Maiden from my hand right away, thanks to Lady Prayer Bell." The fairy monster took onto Coles field for the third time in this duel now.
Chime Maiden: WIND / Fairy-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1000 DEF
"I draw now," Cole started his turn, "And I Normal Summon my Delta Flyer." A serpentine dragon with wings appeared on Coles side of the field.
Delta Flyer: WIND / Dragon-Type / Effect / Tuner / Level 3 / 1500 ATK / 900 DEF
"I then tune my Chime Maiden with my Delta Flyer! Synchro Summon! Add to the magnificent sound bouquet on the field! Level 7, Lady Prayer Bell!" And here in his second turn, Cole managed to Summon a third copy of what appeared to be his signature Synchro Monster.
Lady Prayer Bell: WIND / Fairy-Type / Synchro / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2000 DEF
"And now get down to business. I activate the Spell Card Ingenious Melody. It allows me to revive a monster with the same name as a monster I already control and then, if those monsters are Synchro Monsters, they'll gain 1000 ATK for each monster with the same name I control." As he spoke, his third Lady Prayer Bell returned to the field, after which a serene melody started sounding across the field.
Lady Prayer Bell: WIND / Fairy-Type / Synchro / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2000 DEF
Lady Prayer Bell: 2300 ATK → 5300 ATK (3x)
"This only provides me with one disadvantage, that being that I am unable to use the effects of my monsters while Ingenious Melody is active. But its not like that is going to matter." Cole just shrugged as his three – now power-wise massive – monsters got ready to attack: "Lady Prayer Bell! Attack Runecross Wizard, Music of Demise!" The bell sounded and send shockwaves all across the field, shaking up Runecross Wizard and blasting it into pieces.
"My second Lady Prayer Bell, would you mind ending this duel for me?" The second female bell got ready to defeat Yuito, but he flipped his face-down card up.
"I activate my Trap Card Ritual Overpass. It activates when a Ritual Monster of mine is in my Graveyard. It returns my Wizard to my hand and immediately ends the Battle Phase, even though I take damage equal to that Ritual Monsters ATK." He slipped the card out of his Grave, before a blue shield started to envelope him.
Yuito: 4000 LP → 1500 LP
"Delaying the inevitable. During my End Phase, the effect of Ingenious Melody wears off until your next Battle Phase comes, so my monsters effects are free to mess with you during your next turn."
"Do as you may," Yuito said, drawing his card, and when Cole didn't do anything during his Standby Phase, he smashed the card into his Duel Disk: "I activate my Stele of Necromancy! It allows me to revive an EARTH Spellcaster from my Graveyard, like my Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer." A blindfolded wizard with a shield made from runes appeared on Yuitos side of the field.
Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF
"Now, you're definitely up to Summoning that Wizard Ritual Monster again. Too bad I'm not gonna let this happen. I use the effect of my first Lady Prayer Bell and say you have Runecross Wizard in your hand."
Yuito shrugged it off and returned the monster to the deck. It wouldn't do him any good really, even if it multi-attacked using Shield Sorcerer as a tribute. Coles monsters ATK would shoot up as far as 5300 each per monster, a value his sorcerer wouldn't be able to overcome.
So he just closed his eyes focusing on his draw. He needed some luck. However, right before his draw, he stopped.
There was something around him, something in the air. The power of the crosspoint? He air just felt heavy on him and seemed to vibrate with power. Power he could need right now. Power he could use to defeat Cole. He took a deep breath, breathing in the heavy air and letting his body vibrate in the same frequency as the surrounding waves.
And then he just drew and, looked at his Runecross Enchantress. A step into the right direction. Now, if he planned this out right…
"I know you might also have Stone Crypt Strike Sorcerer in your hand. So I call that for my second Lady Prayer Bells effect."
Yuito once again returned the card to his deck and drew again. His plan had no use for Strike Sorcerer anyway so he could forgo that. However, the officer probably saw Enchantress in his hand during this move, so he just drew his card waiting for Cole to use his third Lady Bell.
And just as Yuito had thought, Cole immediately used his last Synchro Monster: "I call it that you have Runecross Enchantress in your hand."
Yuito took another deep breath. He needed something very good now. He had a Ritual Spell Card he could set up and he had the tribute for it. All he needed was the Ritual Monster. The force surrounding him, the vibration helped drawing Enchantress. He tried to focus on the vibration as much as he could, trying to get as much of it into his hand as he drew.
And the result was stunning. He was holding his Runecross Wizard.
Except that he didn't.
"What is he doing," Hatsuko asked, seeing her friend just standing there trying to draw a card.
"That's not possible," she heard the voice of the old lady from behind her, "he is channeling the crosspoint."
"Channeling?" Hatsuko asked.
"A crosspoint is pure and volatile energy. It cannot simply be carried, it must be channeled into an object to safely handle. But you'd need to claim it first to do that."
"So you say… Yuito is doing it right now?!"
"What's his last name?"
"What?"
"His last name, your friends family name. What is it?"
"I… I don't know," Hatsuko truthfully answered, "he never told me about it."
"Does he have any living relatives?" the woman continued drilling into Hatsuko.
"His mother died at his birth as far as I know and his father, kinda, just disappeared," she answered, "don't know about brothers and sisters."
"This is bad, very bad," the women mused to herself, "I thought I eradicated the elder blood long ago."
"What are you talking about? Did you kill someone?"
"I did what I had to do. From the way it is, everyone has the potential to channel and wield a crosspoint, a single one. But people who are off the elder blood have the power to wield multiples and as such are able to take part in the final battle of the convergence. They also have a special connection to the crosspoint, allowing them to pull stunts like your friends just does, using the points' power before claiming it."
"Now why is that bad?"
The women sighed heavily, as if she was explaining the fact that two plus two equals four to a preschooler: "The convergence is a cosmic event during which the natural energy is incredibly strong. The crosspoints awaken every thousand years in anticipation to that event. The final battle takes place when two people, who own the entirety of all six crosspoints amongst them, engage in a final contest of champions. The winner may wish for anything."
"And, because you need to hold multiple crosspoints for that..." Hatsuko mused.
"...you need at least one person of the elder blood. Which your friend might be."
"So, he can wish for anything then?"
"Don't wish to the crosspoints. All it will bring you is despair. Trust me, I know."
"Okay, okay," Hatsuko tried to calm the woman, but she just went on.
"How did your friend find out about the crosspoints? Who told him about it?"
"I, well, I did. I read about them and thought this was a fun trip, I had no idea it would get this serious!"
"Listen to me girl and listen well," she went on, "whether you like it or not, you brought yourself into something important. If there is anything good in you, you listen to me. Find another crosspoints location and claim it, and keep it safe. Keep it away from anybody and everyone until the convergence is over."
"Okay, I think I can do that."
"And please, find out more about your friends history. His surname. His family. Everything."
"Okay."
"I know you don't know me. And I know this is much to ask. I'm not forcing you to do any of this, to get you involved in this," she reached into his pocket and handed Hatsuko a black crystal, "think about it and do however you please. And if you wish to speak to me again, but break this crystal. I will soon find you."
"I'm Hatsuko by the way," she replied, unsure of what else to say.
"I'm Ava," she said before taking off, calmly passing through the force field that kept everyone else in, leaving Hatsuko to stare after her before turning her attention back to the duel.
"So well? Ran out of ideas?" Cole asked, after Yuito has just been staring at the card he drew for some time.
"No..." he replied, "just got a brand new idea. I use the effect of Stone Crypt Scholar in my Graveyard and banish it, to Set Memphys Scribestone back onto my field." The graveyard portal once again opened, with the arm of the sorceress handing out the Ritual Spell Card, before disappearing.
"So now, you can Ritual Summon at least as far up as Level 8," Cole said, "what do you got?"
"I got this," Yuito said as he flipped the Spell Card up, "I tribute my Level 4 Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer! Ritual Summon!"
A stele rose up behind him, with Shield Sorcerer walking into it. "Ritual Summon! Draw from the strength of what mysteries you unraveled and bring about destruction! Level 8, Runecross End Wizard!" The Ritual Monster didn't step out of the stele. The stele cracked before it combusted with purple energy, leaving the new monster standing in the rubble. Wearing a purple robe with a hood, it had glowing runes tattooed all over its bare arms and chest. Its face was fully revealed, his eyes burning with purple flames. The staff it carried now held a large jewel on top of it, shaking and pulsating with purple energy, seeming to be ready to burst any second now.
Runecross End Wizard: EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
Yuito stared in awe at the monster he just summoned. He has never seen it before. It wasn't in his deck. Or, it hasn't been until just now. It just appeared.
"Once per turn," he said, "my End Wizard can half the ATK of all Special Summoned monsters you control and add it to its own."
As he spoke, the vibrant crystal on the sorcerers staff started to unleash a wave of purple energy, which drained the energy of the opponents monsters.
Lady Prayer Bell: 2300 ATK → 1150 ATK (3x)
Runecross End Wizard: 3000 ATK → 6350 ATK
"That is quite an attack score you have there," Cole said, "however, my Ingenious Melody is still in play, meaning all my monsters will gain 3000 ATK during the Battle Phase. Given, it might not make my monsters survive, but rather me."
"Let's see about that," Yuito said, as the melody started playing again, "I will move to Battle Phase."
Lady Prayer Bell: 1150 ATK → 4150 ATK (3x)
The Wizards staff was starting to vibrate more and more intense, as if anticipating the battle.
"You're right saying I cannot beat you by destroying one of your monsters. But when my Shield Sorcerer was used as a tribute for a Ritual Monster, said Ritual Monster may attack all Special Summoned monsters you control once each," Yuito declared, "Runecross End Wizard, attack his Prayer Bells! Purple End Blast!"
The Wizard smashed its staff on the ground where it scattered in an enormous purple combustion. The shockwave tore all three Synchro Monsters apart, being even powerful enough to know Cole of his field and send him crashing into the solid forcefield.
Cole: 3100 LP → 0 LP
With Cole downed, the forcefield started to wrap back, forming a purple light that centered above Yuitos Runecross End Wizard card, which it then entered, dispersing for once.
With Yuito just mindlessy staring at this new card, it took a hurried Hatsuko pulling him to his feet to snap him out of it.
"I don't know what you're staring but we should be running," she said hectically, "when the officer gets back to his feet he's gonna have some serious questions for us."
Still dumbfounded, Yuito just nodded, him and Hatsuko leaving the school as fast as they could, not looking back as they heard Officer Cole yelling at them from a distance.
"He only knows your first name, doesn't know me, doesn't know who we are or where we're from, also he'll probably go after the strange lady first anyway," Hatsuko, for the fifth time, repeated what she thought would calm her down after today's events.
"Yes, its going to be alright. Why should he be after us after all, we were just as innocently involved as he was."
"That's what you think, not what he may think," Hatsuko said, "maybe he's gonna think we're allied with that woman."
"He won't."
Hatsuko abruptly stopped in the street, with Yuito walking a few more steps before noticing: "Listen, there has been a lot happening today. I need some thinking time, maybe call in sick tomorrow and drunk and try not to get arrested, and maybe have one or two panic attacks. But, after that, wanna meet up tomorrow and talk it out? Maybe with Keiji and Saburo, so they can tell us we're just crazy?"
"Sure thing," Yuito replied, "how about tomorrow evening, in that diner we went to once? I'm not paying this time though."
"Wouldn't expect you to, but that sounds fine," she replied, "from here on I can get home myself. See you tomorrow then. Bye bye."
"Bye Hatsuko," Yuito said, as she took a left into a different street than he would needed to take.
By the time Yuito got home, all he wanted was to go to sleep and get his head clear, however, when he opened his door, the scene that greeted him was an open fridge and three empty wine bottles on the couch table. He sighed interally. Keiji must've had a fun evening.
As he went to close the fridge door, he heard Keijis familiar vomiting sound from the bathroom, seconds before the door shot open, a bewildered girl standing in it.
"Hi, you must be Yuito," she said under her breath. She looked pretty posh for this part of town, or more specifically – what Yuito expected her to be – an escort. In her early twenties, clean jeans, pearl necklace over a white blouse, brown trench coat and blonde hair tied into a ponytail, overall not the kind of girl that would hang out with Keiji.
"Who are you, and how much did he pay you to watch him vomit?"
She laughed mildly before she answered: "I'm Jeanie, I'm Keenan's…. Sorry, I'm Keiji's sister. He's been throwing up for about 10 minutes now, is there a special time frame after which I have to call an ambulance?"
Author-made cards:
Stone Crypt Shield Sorcerer / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Level 4 / 1700 ATK / 1200 DEF
Once per turn, if this card is targeted for an attack: You can negate that attack. If this card is the only monster you control, this effect can be used up to thrice per turn instead. A Ritual Monster that was Ritual Summoned using this card as tribute gains the following effect: ● This card can attack all Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls once each.
Stone Crypt Scholar / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Level 4 / 1400 ATK / 1200 DEF
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target 1 "Runecross" Ritual Monster in your GY; Special Summon it, ignoring its Summoning conditions. Its effects are negated, also, return it to your hand during the End Phase. If this card is in your GY: You can banish it and target 1 Ritual Spell Card in your GY; Set it to your side of the field. You can only use each effect of "Runecross Scholar" once per turn.
Chime Maiden / WIND / Fairy-Type / Effect / Level 4 / 1200 ATK / 1000 DEF
Cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card is sent from the field to the GY: You can add 1 "Chime Maiden" from your deck to your hand.
Harmonic Tune / LIGHT / Fairy-Type / Effect / Tuner / Level 3 / 800 ATK / 800 DEF
If your opponent adds a card from their deck to their hand, except during their Draw Phase: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand). If this card is in your GY and a card is sent from your opponents hand to the GY by a card effect: You can Special Summon this card, but banish it when it leaves the field. You can only use 1 "Harmonic Tune" effect per turn and only once that turn.
Runecross Wizard / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Level 7 / 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. If this card battles a face-up monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck: Negate that monsters effects, if any, also, this card gains 700 ATK until the end of the Battle Phase.
Runecross Guru / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Level 6 / 2100 ATK / 2500 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. If a monster your opponent controls is destroyed: Inflict 500 Damage to your opponent. Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 face-up monster; Apply one of the following effects depending on its controller. ● You: Halve all Battle Damage you take from battles involving it. ● Your opponent: Double all Battle Damage your opponent takes from battles involving it.
Runecross End Wizard / EARTH / Spellcaster-Type / Ritual / Effect / Level 8 / 3000 ATK / 2500 DEF
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Scribestone" Ritual Spell Card. Once per turn: You can half the ATK of all face-up Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls and if you do, this card gains ATK equal to the total ATK lost by this effect. These changes last until the End Phase. If your opponent activates a Special Summoned monsters effect: You can negate the activation and if you do, destroy it, then, this card gains ATK equal to half the destroyed monsters ATK. You can only use this effect of "Runecross End Wizard" once per turn.
Lady Prayer Bell / WIND / Fairy-Type / Synchro / Effect / Level 7 / 2300 ATK / 2000 DEF
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner WIND monsters
Once per turn, if your opponent adds a card to their hand, except during their Draw Phase: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your hand. Once per turn, during your opponents Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can declare a card name; If that card is in your opponents hand, shuffle all copies of it into the deck, then they draw 1 card.
Extensive Surplus / Normal Spell Card
Discard 1 random card from your opponents hand, then, your opponent adds any number of cards from their deck to their hand with the same card type (Monster, Spell, Trap) as the discarded card, but if they add more than 1 they must have the same name. You can only use 1 "Extensive Surplus" per turn.
Ingenious Melody / Continuous Spell Card
Target 1 monster in your GY with the same name as a monster you control; Special Summon it. If it is a Fusion, Synchro or Xyz Monster: During the Battle Phase, all monsters you control with the same name as that monster gain 1000 ATK for each monster with that name you control.
Blue for Two / Normal Spell Card
Discard 1 Ritual Spell Card or 1 Ritual Monster; Draw 2 cards.
Stele of Necromancy / Normal Spell Card
Target 1 EARTH Spellcaster-Type Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it. You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of the turn.
Memphys Scribestone / Ritual Spell Card
You can use this card to Ritual Summon any "Runecross" Ritual Monsters. You must also tribute monsters from your hand or side of the field whose combined Level(s) equal or exceed half the Level of the monster you are attempting to Ritual Summon. During your End Phase: The ATK and DEF of the monster Summoned by this effect becomes 0, also, change it to Defense Position.
Blue Overpass / Normal Trap Card
If a Ritual Monster is destroyed by battle: You can add it to your hand instead of sending it to the GY and if you do, end the Battle Phase.