Yu-Gi-Oh: Rise of Arcadia
Chapter 10: Crash...
HeroSpirit: "Last time on Rise of Arcadia..."
Haru: "You don't have to do it exactly like the anime. Just catch them up to speed in the first paragraph."
HeroSpirit: "Why must you ruin my moment?"
A full week had passed since the incident with the stranger occurred. I had gotten out of the hospital with the aid of Ryo and Riley's parents. It was a little hard explaining what had happened, and I eventually had to lie to them and say that we got to close to a building that was set ablaze and I was trying to be the hero to put it out, and eventually I had gotten caught in the fire myself. They were pretty mad, and they cut my allowance. Even though I didn't get an allowance, I didn't have the heart to tell them that. Regardless though, my injured arm was placed in a brace to prevent me from moving it for a few weeks, as some of the muscle tissue was injured due to my burn. Why either of the twins didn't tell me about this I will never know. All I knew was that I had a white brace that took up my entire upper arm and part of my shoulder. This was to prevent me from flexing my arm too far upward to a point in which the damaged tissue would become agitated.
After about three days out of the hospital I was able to return to school slightly broken. I had a lot of homework to catch up on apparently and I had little time to complete it. Not only did I have two quizzes to take, but also a report on beast-type monsters and their basic strategy. I also had a worksheet to work on that matched up the cards that would make the best combos. My head was spinning.
The bell rang and the first class ended. I sighed as I sat up in my seat and followed the twins out the door and down the hallway.
"How's the arm doing?" Ryo concerning asked as he leaned in on it poking my brace a little. I groaned in a little pain and grabbed his hand.
"It only hurts when you touch it... you know... like you did just now." I growled, throwing his hand away with my good arm.
"You're going to duel practice, right?" Riley asked me, stopping in the middle of the hall and turning towards me.
"I think I need to skip it and go to study hall. I still haven't finished that report and my deadline is today." I depressingly sighed. Adjusting the position of my backpack.
"Oh come on man! Didn't you hear what's going to be happening?" Ryo excitingly exclaimed, grabbing my brace of all places and sending another shot of pain to me. I immediately grabbed his hand and threw it back, gently taking my brace and adjusting it a little.
"What's that?" I asked, finally getting my brace to a comfortable position.
"Oh that's right, you were absent when the announcement was given. As of this week, turbo dueling classes are open to all students 15 years old and upward. I guess the school is encouraging the students who can take a duel runner license test to learn more about the sport." Riley explained. I went wide eyed at this, not expecting duel academy to go so far as teaching turbo dueling. I always thought that was something you had to learn from some other source like driving a car or riding a bike.
"We already signed you up to take the branch course. Aren't you coming?" Ryo added, giving a thumbs up of approval and enthusiasm. My jaw dropped.
"You signed me up without even asking me? Are you nuts?" I growled. "Do I look like a guy who's interested in turbo dueling?"
"Haru, do you even know what turbo dueling is?" Riley curiously asked, leaning a little towards me.
"Of course I do. There's not a self-respecting duelist on the planet who doesn't know about them." I sighed. "I'm just saying it's not something that I would want to do."
For those who aren't aware, a turbo duel is a special type of duel that a lot of professional duelists get into. Let me ask you this, when you were little, did you ever use to race other kids on your bike? Turbo dueling is like that on steroids mixed with duel monsters. Basically, a turbo duel takes place on a duel track in which both duelists ride at high speeds on these specially designed vehicles known as duel runners. These duel runners, which strangely resemble motorcycles, send the duelist going at high velocity and you eventually end up racing the other duelist while trying to win by taking out their life points using the basic rules of duel monsters. Slightly modified, of course.
"Turbo dueling is exciting! It gets your adrenaline pumping in a way that no regular duel can accomplish!" Ryo cheered as we continued our walk down the hallway to our next class.
"Turbo dueling is also tediously complicated and a poor concept. It's just an excuse to race on a motorcycle with duel monsters added." I added as we turned the corner. By this time I was suppose to walk up a staircase to study hall, but I ended up following the twins unaware of what I was doing.
"I don't know how you can knock it until you've tried it. I say you try turbo dueling before making any assumptions about it." Ryo scolded. He certainly had the nerve to chew me out for knocking on something that he hasn't tried himself either.
"You have to admit Haru, a lot of pro duelists at least have a duel runner license. Some of them don't use them, most of them do." Riley reminded as we entered the gymnasium. By this time I just realized where I had been going, but it was a little late to turn back. Why you ask? The bell rang.
Once in what used to be the gymnasium, I gasped. The entire place looked like it was turned upside down. Construction was still being done as I saw a few men work on the walls wearing construction helmets. A few more were laying down an extra coat of pavement. It appeared our gym had turned into a race track. A large hole was in the side of the gyms wall. After looking through the hole I realized it lead to even more track that was placed outside. I swear it looked like something you'd see NASCAR building. The track twisted and turned every which way to make full usage of it's space.
"When the hell did the school add a duel track?" I gasped, still staring at the new surroundings.
"While you were gone. A lot can happen in a week." Riley seemed to chuckle.
"Apparently a lot can be BUILT in a week too."
"Come on man, at least stay for the first class. I'm sure it won't be that bad." Ryo pleaded. I could see the more impulsive twin was hell-bent on keeping me in this room and having me attend this class. I shrugged, figuring since I was here, I might as well attend the introduction. After all, if I didn't like it I could excuse myself and head to study hall afterwards.
It wasn't long before we all had to line up against the wall due to our lack of desks. Our teacher arrived moments later in a way that you wouldn't expect.
"What the heck is that?" I heard a classmate say as we all turned to the huge hole in the gym wall still in construction. I could hear a motor in the distance, and before I knew where it was coming from I saw some sort of vehicle speeding across the track that was located indoors. I didn't see much danger though, since the track had siding on it that was like a foot high. Boy was I wrong.
I saw the vehicle suddenly jump the sidings of the track and head towards us. We were all against the wall and didn't have anywhere to run. Some went off to the side to avoid getting too damaged from the collision, but right as the vehicle came within a matters distance, it turned to the side allowing it to stop. I realized now that it was some type of motorcycle as it screeched noisily to a halt literally inches from our feet. The rider was in a black jumpsuit with several bright red flame designs on it to show off a little style. His motorcycle was a bright red with several black designs similar to circuitry. The man inside the motorcycle removed his full-faced helmet to reveal a buzz-cut, black haired man with a small strap of hair on the edge of his chin for a beard. He smiled to us looking real amused at our still frightened faces.
"Hello there gentlemen. I am Mr. Ratemen. Nice to meet you all." he said in an innocent manner.
"What the hell man! You tried to turn us into pancakes!" Ryo snapped back at our instructor. I slammed my good elbow into Ryo's stomach and shushed him. Being so disrespectful to a teacher was a bad idea...no matter how crazy he may be.
"Ah, I didn't try to. I think the important thing here is that I didn't. Therefore, there is no fault." Mr. Ratemen excused.
"I can't even begin to point out the flaws in that logic."
"Anyway, I'll be your turbo dueling instructor. In this class we will be spending the remainder of the trimester learning how to operate and drive a duel runner. Afterwards, we will be having a private tournament in this class to see who's been paying attention the most." Mr. Ratemen continued, parking his motorcycle which I assumed was some sort of duel runner. "You all will be using the most basic duel runners, in which I have made sure all were in working order."
I saw Mr. Ratemen run over to what used to be the gym's equipment shed. He opened up the now huge door that was now a garage door and revealed it's contents.
"Dear god."
Inside the shed were four perfectly pristine duel runners. Each runner seemed to be designed less as a motorcycle, and more as a chair on wheels. These duel runners had a single seat with two arms in which one arm had several monster card slots along it. The duel runner was designed in a way that allowed you to operate it comfortably like you were sitting in a chair, putting the throttle trigger underneath one of the arms of the chair-like structure and putting a small clip in which you could put your cards in on the same arm. Underneath it's chair-like structure were four separate wheels in a diamond-like formation underneath it. The single wheel in front being extended far longer than the others for better control and turning. A screen was mounting on what seemed like a half-door wide open so the duelist could sit in the duel runner. This design made it look like a high-chair that babies normally use at a dinner table. Why I just gave myself that image I'll never know.
Anyway, each duel runner had a separate, bright, and simple paint job. The first three donning the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow. The third one being a dark and coal black.
"Those... are... awesome." Ryo quietly admired. He said this soft enough so I could hear him and yet nobody else couldn't. At least that's what I guessed.
"Now guys, here's how it's going to work. We're going to learn how to function these duel runners, and then take them for a test drive under the guidance of me. Under no circumstances should these duel runners be activated without my supervision. Clear?" Mr. Ratemen sternly said. It seemed everyone in the class understood, and Mr. Ratemen was pleased. "Wonderful. Now I'll be right back, I need to get the schematics to these things in my office so I can show you. Then we'll be getting a feel for 'em." our instructor said as he ran for the door and momentarily left the room. Everyone in the gym seemed to be staring at the duel runners, admiring them and realizing they'd be driving them soon. I heard so much commotion around the class.
"What kind of engines do you think they have?"
"I bet my deck will fit nicely into those babies."
"When I get my license, screw a car, I'm driving a duel runner."
"Really? I'll duel you the second you get it once I get my license."
I couldn't believe these guys. It wasn't until then did I realize that there really were only guys in this class. I desperately searched around the room to find but one female student who was taking the introduction to turbo dueling, but no luck.
"Figures. Turbo dueling is a guy-dominated sport after all. It's just like these guys to jump at the opportunity to associated duel monsters with greasy car stuff."
That was definitely one thing that I didn't like about turbo dueling. It was more about the runner and not about the cards. To combine duel monsters with it would be an injustice. Once I had this thought, I saw one of the students jump out of line and run towards the parked runners.
"Uh oh, trouble."
"Hey, what's that guy doing?" I heard Riley question as he spotted the rogue student. This guy apparently really liked the runners, because once he got up to them he started looking all around them. Testing the wheel's air pressure, moving around the parts a little to see how flexible they were. I gasped at this, and started running to stop this guy. He was going to get the class in trouble. Why you ask? When one guy gets to see the duel runners up close... they all want to get to see them up close.
I sprinted up to this guy holding my brace so it wouldn't bump around and hurt as I ran. Walking up to this guy as he examined the underneath of the runner's shelf that held the screen.
"Hey man, we're not suppose to touch the runners, you're going to encourage the others to..." I started, but before I could finish I was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Shut it, loser." Takuya's voice said. The student removed his head from underneath the runner to the reveal his face. It was indeed Takuya, spoiled, pompous, combed-back haircut and all. "I'm just looking, don't get your cards in a shredder."
"Takuya? You're taking this class?" I gasped, taking a step back.
"Sure I am. I have every right to, and I might as well since my family bought the school these duel runners."
"You must be joking."
"Are you serious?" I double questioned, still in a bit of a daze to find out this guy was in the same class as I was. It was bad enough he was in my duel practice class and strategy studies, but turbo dueling class too?
"Yeah, which means I have every right to examine them since I'm part-owner. I just wanted to be sure they were in working order." Takuya smugly smiled as he tapped the arm of the duel runner.
"Ten bucks says that in reality Takuya knows nothing about duel runners."
"Ten bucks says that you really don't know anything about duel runners, rich boy." I heard Ryo echo my thoughts from behind my back, approaching the scene with his twin brother.
"Wow... that was scary."
"Want me to prove it? I'll bet I could beat any of you in a turbo duel without using the auto pilot." Takuya bragged, taking his deck from out of his pocket and gesturing towards the yellow duel runner with his other arm. "How bout you, loser?" he asked, taking the hand he was gesturing towards the duel runner with and pointing to me.
"Huh?" I grunted, slightly surprised that he'd pick me.
"Yeah! You owe me a rematch from our last duel, and I bet I could beat you in a turbo duel easily." Takuya taunted, putting his pointing arm down and taking his deck to shuffle it. I growled at this. Arrogant people really irk me. The fact that it was Takuya made it even worse. I suddenly felt a hand on my good shoulder and one of the twins pulled me back. It was Riley, a serious expression on his face.
"Haru, you can't. You're injury." he reminded, flicking my brace once just to send a small amount of pain to me to discourage my action.
"Riley's right. I really don't think I'm ready to duel after what happened. I'm still a little duel-o-phobic from that... if that's even a real word."
I started to have a flashback to when the duel happened. Devril the Dark Flame evilly grinning at me and taking out it's advanced-looking rifle. Only to shoot a raging fireball at me to have my dodge and still mess up my arm. As I relived that pain, I gently grabbed my brace and groaned.
"I'm not falling for it Takuya. Mr. Ratemen said we'd be in big trouble if we used those runners without his permission." I reminded, starting to turn away from this snotty rich kid trying to get me into trouble.
"So what? They're my duel runners too. I can do what I please with them. Don't tell me you're scared because you've never turbo dueled." Takuya mocked, giving a subtle chuckle at my cowardly actions.
"Lay off of him rich boy! Haru's still recovering from a burn he got a week ago!" Ryo frustratingly defended. Stepping in front of me so Takuya would pick on him rather than me.
"A burn? What's the matter? Did his life point counter go down so fast his duel disk caught on fire?" Takuya joked, suddenly bursting out laughing. A few classmates watching this happen could be heard chuckling from on the sidelines.
"That's it!"
"You want a duel rich boy? I'll beat you so fast you're speedometer won't be able to measure it!" I snapped back aggressively as I took out my deck with my good hand and held it up. Takuya seemed pleased with my reaction. I wasn't proud of what I was doing, but Takuya needed another lesson in humility.
"Nice. Suit up then." Takuya instructed as he reached for the blue duel runner and opened a hidden compartment in the back of it. In this compartment was a box that when opened revealed a blue helmet with a black visor that when worn, would cover the top of the head, eyes, and ears. He threw this helmet towards me, and Riley stepped forward and caught it for me. I'm guessing he knew I couldn't catch with my right arm. Riley turned to me placing the helmet underneath his arm.
"Haru, I won't let you do this. You can't duel in the condition you're in." Riley solemnly said as he glared at me with disapproval.
"Relax Riles, the duel runner is formatted in a way that will let my injured arm rest in it easily. All I have to do is flex my fingers to use the throttle. It'll be fine." I assured.
"You know that's not what I mean." he sighed. I arched my eyebrow at this, not even sure I knew what Riley meant by that last statement. Even though I didn't, he was about to tell me. "You got that injury when you dueled that one guy. Are you sure you're psychologically up for another duel just a week after the accident?"
I smiled at this, touched that Riley would be that worried about me even though I was recovering swiftly and smoothly.
"Does this mean you're finally admitting that I got the injuries because of the duel?" I jokingly grinned. Riley seemed to blush.
"Don't change the subject! Are you or are you not ready for this, because if you aren't, I'll gladly take your place on the track." Riley hastily said.
"Wow..."
"You'd do that... for me?" I gasped. Riley looked away for a few moments and scratched the back of his head.
"I realize you want to teach Takuya a lesson, but I don't want to see you get hurt because of your self-righteous sense of justice." Riley admitted. I couldn't help but smile at this, and grabbed the helmet he was holding.
"Relax Riles, I'll be fine. Just keep watching as I throw Takuya's duel runner around the track." I winked as I walked over to the blue duel runner. Takuya was already all set to go in the yellow duel runner and was starting up the engine.
I placed my helmet on my head with a little difficulty due to having only one hand to do it with, and rested my left arm into the arm of the duel runner than mounted the duel disk. I saw Takuya start his runner up, so I knew practically what to do. I located an ignition peddle beside my right leg, and stomped on it only to hear the revving sound of the engine. Once it stopped, I slammed my foot down on the peddle a few more times until the engine was continuously purring like a kitten. The screen in front of me came on, and a display of the duel runner's status appeared. A speedometer slid itself on screen to the side, and signaled 0 mph. I slotted my deck into the left arm of the duel runner and rested my right arm onto the handle of the right arm of the duel runner.
"You ready for this?" Takuya asked, seeming to make sure if I was going through with this.
"As I'll ever be." I replied in a slightly shaking voice. Needless to say I wasn't completely sure what I was doing was ok.
"Alright then, if that's so, I'll set the field spell... Speed World 2!" Takuya shouted as he pressed a button on the left arm of his duel runner. The button was located underneath the duel disk mounted on the duel runner. I looked where Takuya's hand reached to see two triggers underneath the duel disk. One was a grey trigger which was obviously the throttle, and the other was a bright red button that could easily be touched with the thumb without releasing the throttle.
"Right then! Speed World 2, activate!" I shouted in response as I slammed the button.
"Duel mode engaged. Auto-pilot standing by." I heard a female computerized voice say in a rather emotionless tone as the screen in front of me change. It changed to display what seemed like a duel board that showed the 20 card zones of two duelists along with their life point counters and... something called a speed counter?"
"Right then, here it comes!" Takuya confidently said as his engine started to rev quite loudly.
"Duel runner connection established. Auto-pilot activated." I heard the same voice from the duel runner say as I saw both Takuya's and my own life point counters suddenly go from zero to 4000 in a few moments.
"No turning back now."
"Duelists... on your mark..." the computerized female voice started. "Get set... duel."
The second that voice said the word "duel" both Takuya's and my own duel runners were off like rockets. I got whiplash as my head was forced back to crash into the back of the seat. I rubbed my head in pain with my right arm as I looked at the road passing by in front of me. The duel runner drove itself onto the track and turned a corner like it had a mind of it's own. My guess was it was the auto-pilot at work. That was about time I was thinking...
"Too fast too fast too fast too fast TOO FAST!"
I went wide eyed at the velocity I was going at. I peeked at the speedometer at the side of my duel runner's screen to see that Takuya and myself were literally going at 85 mph... and rising. I regained my composure and watched the track go by as I realized the duel had started and I had to draw my cards. I drew from my deck only to realize the intensity of the wind. This of course almost made me lose five of my cards as I struggled to hold them and placed them into the clip in which held your cards for you so they wouldn't blow away.
"Lets duel!" Takuya and I said in unison as we finished drawing.
Haru: 4000 LP : 0 SC
Takuya: 4000 LP : 0 SC
"I'll go first!" Takuya insisted as he drew from his deck. By this time Takuya's and my own duel runner were speeding down the track side by side, and I watched him in the driver's seat making his move. "I'll start by setting two cards face down and ending my turn."
"Huh? No monsters? No nothing? Just two face downs?"
"Fine then, my move!"
Haru: 1 SC
Takuya: 1 SC
"I'll start by summoning, Kuribon! (300ATK/200DEF)" I called as my small monster appeared via blue portal opening up vertically next to me. I shut my eyes slightly as the portal appeared beside me and revealed my monster seeming to fly beside my duel runner as it sped across the track. I examined my hand to see what I could do with Kuribon next, and I realized something crucial.
"Crap! I forgot!"
I realized that this was a turbo duel I was doing, and in a turbo duel you aren't allowed to use regular spell cards. I examined my hand and saw that I had three regular spell cards ready to go... and yet all of them were useless in these circumstances.
I barred my teeth at this, ashamed that I didn't remember earlier. As the wind blew into my face, I realized that my deck had absolutely no speed spells within it's contents. This meant that now one full third of my deck was now rendered useless thanks to my hurry to start this duel. I couldn't help but think that this duel was going to be way harder. Mostly because I literally wasn't playing with a full deck.
"I set one card face down and end my turn." I growled, annoyed by this. Our duel runners turned a sharp corner which forced me to lean to the left and bump my brace. I groaned as the pain starting rushing back and I grabbed my arm.
"I really wish Riles would have taken my place."
HeroSpirit: "Haru's first turbo duel and no speed spells? What will he do?"
Ryo: "Aren't you suppose to decide that?"
HeroSpirit: "Uh... OH! Right! You're right, I am. Don't worry, I'll figure this out."
Haru: "Please tell me you had this planned out."
HeroSpirit: "I had this planned out."
Haru: "Really?"
HeroSpirit: "No, but you told me to say it."