Chapter 9: Destiny Draw

Perspective: Artur

Day 3 of the Tournament

Wristband Count: 3

I had easily managed to gather my wristbands for entry into the second stage on the first day. The duelists here didn't seem to be that much better than duelists I face day to day. I spent most of the second day doing recon, trying to figure out which duelists would be the toughest to face, which ones I would be able to relax against.

I knew that when the gates finally opened, people with three wristbands will be ambushed by those who didn't manage to get their wristbands in times, or those who just want to thin the herd a bit. So I decided to hang back a bit, wait a few hours for people to get themselves eliminated, before I attempt to make my entry.

To pass the time, I walked through the woods, hacking through any thick brush with my sword. I eventually stumbled upon an unconscious duelist who seemed to be laying on top of a guy who seemed to have lost his soul in a spirit duel.

When I searched the body, all I could find was some identification identifying him as "Darell". He seemed to have already gathered his three wristbands before he fell unconscious. Sighing to myself, I realized that the moral thing to do would be to carry him to the entrance and look for medical attention. But doing so would put me at risk of getting picked off in the tournament.

With a mighty heave I lifted Darell up onto my shoulders in a fireman's lift, and lugged him back through the forest.

As I suspected a ton of last minute duels were going on between those without three wristbands, and those with three wristbands. Blasts of energy scattered the field, making a dead sprint, I ran towards the entrance. There the man with the masquerade mask stood, ready to open the door to those who qualified. I showed Darell to him, but he seemed unamused, and simply said to carry Darell with me into the tournament room. But before I could enter through the gate, a girl in a black tube top, crashed into me.

"Pardon me… I… I… challenge… you… to… a.. duel…" she said in a stuttering voice. "I.. am… Ca..Carol… by the way…"

Force to accept by the rules of the tournament, I engaged my duel disk. Taking the initative I slammed down my first knight onto the field "I summon Noble Knight Artorgius onto the field!" the noble knight appeared drawing a sword out of the ground.(1800/1800) "Now that I control a normal Light attribute monster, I can special summon Noble Knight Gawayn in defesne mode"(1900/500). "Next I create the overlay network, to xyz summon the master strategist of warfare, Zubaba General!" A large cartoonish general appeared on the field, carrying a large sword (2000/1000), "Next I detach an overlay material to equip my general with one of my warrior type monsters in my hand, and my general gains attack points equal to the attack points of the monster I equip. I chose to equip Gilford the Legend!" (2000-4600)

Carol shuddered as she drew a card. "I sum…summon Rescue Cat!" A cute kitty wearing a hard hat purred as it rolled onto the field. "I can now tribute my cat to special summon two level three beast-types from my deck. I chose to summon Madolche Bapple and Madolche Hootcakes!" A sheep covered in honey (0/1800) and an owl in pancakes (1500/1100), "Now I activate Madolche Hootcakes' effect" Carol said now a lot less nervous. "I banish Rescue Cat to special summon Maldoche Messengelato!" A messenger appeared carrying a bag full of mail (1600/1000) "Next I'll activate Bapple's effect, by turning it to defense mode I can make your General move to defense mode!" Bapple crawled up to Zubaba General and rubbed up against it, the General stood fast for a moment then went down on its knees and started playing with the sheep. "Next, I overlay Bapple with Hootcakes to create the overlay network, with a beautiful melody come forth Melomelody the Brass Djinn!"(1400/1600) "Next I detach an overlay material to allow it to attack twice. "Now my beautiful monsters attack." With a quick blow of the horn, my General shattered, with another blow, my eardrums ached (LP 4000-2600). Next Messengelato walked up to me and smacked me in the face with his messenger bag (LP 2600-1000)

I was knocked back in shock, she was no ordinary duelist, it had only been one turn and already, one of my ace warriors had been defeated, and I was pushed up against the wall, with only 1/4th of my original life points remaining. I quickly drew another card. "I summon Noble Knight Borz, and equip it with Caliburn!" The Noble Knight took to the stage and drew out a new sword(1700/900) (1700-2200) "Next I activate Caliiburn's effect allowing me to gain 500 life points!" (LP 1000 - 1500). "Next I activate Borz effect, allowing me to take three noble arms from my deck, allow you to randomly chose one and add that choice to my hand sending the rest to the graveyard. I pick Noble Arms Gallatin, Gwenhwyfar, Queen of the Noble Arms, and Noble Arms of Destiny"

Carol ended up picking Noble Arms- Gallatin, and using Gwenhwyfar's effect I equipped her to my monster (2200-2500). Next I activated Gallatin boosting up Borz even more (2500-3500) however each turn my monster loses 200 attack points. "Now Borz attack Melomelody the Brass Djinn" my knight walked up and slashed the Djinn apart (LP 4000-1900)

Carol withdrew herself and resumed her shy persona "I.. I… summon Madolche Majoleine!" A girl in a purple dress took the stage (1400/1200) "When she… she… is nor…normal summoned , I can add one Madolche monster to my hand, and I add Madolche Bapple!"

"Ne…Next I play Pot of Greed, to draw two cards…" she took two cards from her deck. "Next I create the overlay network using Majoleine and Messengelato to xyz summon Fairy King Alverd!" (2300/1400)

"Next I detach one material so that all non-earth monsters, or in this case Borz loses 500 attack points!" (3500-3000)

"Next I play the spell card Shrink, halving the original attack of Borz, sadly this doesn't take into account the equip spells" Borz seemed to shrink in stature(3000-2150). "Now Attack Fairy King Alverd" The king of the fairies walked up to Borz and slashed him apart (LP 1500-1350)

I drew another card, worrying about the unconscious companion I unwillingly picked up. "I play Pot of Avarice, by shuffling together 5 monsters from my graveyard to my deck, I can draw two cards, I send Borz, Gawayn, Artorgius, Zubaba General and Gwenhwyfar to my deck. Now I summon my second copy of Artorgius, and special summon my second copy of Gawayn!" (1800/1800) (1900/500) "Next I create the overlay network to xyz summon Artorgius the King of the Noble Knights!" Artorgius gained his radiant crown and gained a slight boost (2000/2000). "Now that Artorgius is special summoned, I can now equip it with three Noble Arms equip spells from my graveyard, such as Caliburn, Gallatin, and Noble Arms of Destiny!" (2000-3500).

"Next, since I no longer have any monsters in my graveyard, I can special summon Guardian Eatos!" (2500/2000). "Now Attack my monsters" my warriors stormed the field hacking apart the Fairy King. (LP 1900-0)

As Carol fell dejected, I picked up Darell and walked through the front gates. The real challenge will start here…