Disclaimer:I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX or the rest of the franchise, no names of any band or any music in this story, I own Claudio Osbourne and the Jukebox Hero Archetype, aside from a select few made by all the authors/readers who submitted them. And all other OCs and cards submitted original creators
Chapter 10: Cross Roads
Everyone was still in shock from the declaration of Viper stating he wanted a duel.
"Now he wants in on the action, too," Hassleberry stated. "Ever since this Bio-Band thing started at the beginning, he's been MIA."
"He does monitor the duels, so that's where he was the whole time," Jim stated.
"Still, it doesn't make sense that every other teacher has took to time to help us while he rams it down everyone's throats," Yuri added.
"Good, I want to see how he duels," Claudio said. "Because I have a feeling I'll have to go through him to get my guitar back."
"It might be you who duels him next, and then you'll get that chance," Melody stated.
"Knowing him, he'll just play on your hopes in order to rile you up," Kurogasa noted. "He looks the type..."
"What makes you sure?" Mikoto asked.
"He's been on nearly the entire students' hate list if you know what I mean," the Haos duelist said. "The concert being canceled, this Bio-Band thing to demote someone, and then expelling them the next time he or she botches up."
"I will inform my opponent of his duel at 0800 hours, tomorrow morning," Viper said, stunning everyone again. "Do not be late... the rest of the class is dismissed for Survival Dueling, so I'd advise you to get on that right now." He then abruptly left right out of the classroom, and left everyone in the same stunned state.
'Once again, he interrupts and throws our thought out plans for the students' success,' Valencia thought, miffed at what happened.
'I guess I was right about him,' Kai thought. 'Harsh and tough without any regard to what others think of him...'
Valencia sighed once more, "Well... I guess class is dismissed..."
After the class was let out, Kenji and Alexis had decided to walk around campus before settling on a duel against anyone.
"Man, I was on the edge of my seat back there," Kenji grumbled. "What is he waiting for?"
"Probably suspense," Alexis replied, "Nothing for us to be concerned about. Besides, we need to worry about getting these Survival duels over and done with."
"Yeah, maybe I should find someone I haven't dueled within the past two years before taking on the new guys," the ninja duelist stated.
"Sounds like a plan for me, too," the Cyber Girl duelist smiled. "I might end up seeing how everyone else got stronger with the Synchro Monsters and how they use them."
"Right," Kenji said. "Oh and by the way, I apologize for this..."
Alexis looked at her boyfriend confusedly as they stopped near some trees, "For what?"
"This!"
Kenji then jumped near a tree branch and broke it down with a kick, causing Alexis to jump away before the branch landed on her... but also, the branch sent someone down with it. And that person was...
"Atticus," Alexis gasped. "What were you doing up there?"
The elder Rhodes sibling grinned while still smarting from the fall. "What, I couldn't see what my favorite couple is doing on their date?"
That caused Kenji to forcibly pull him up by the blazer, making Atticus grunt in pain again. "You're still spying on us?"
"'Still? Alexis asked.
"Ever since the second day of this year, he's been watching over us," the ninja explained as he glared at Atticus. "He thought I wouldn't notice him hiding behind bushes and look down on us from trees. I guess he thought by watching me hone my skills, he could do the same."
Atticus gasped, "You knew I was hiding the whole time? How?"
Kenji looked him dead in his eyes and replied with, "Ninja..."
Alexis stood up to her big brother, "I don't need chaperoning, you know? Kenji's been good to me."
"Yeah, but you guys haven't been acting like a couple," Atticus pointed out. "Where's the romance? Where's the affection?"
'It goes away when you're around,' Alexis and Kenji thought.
"Atticus, I know you, Mom, and Dad are happy for me," the Cyber Girl duelist said, "But you have to let me choose who I want to be with."
"At least you've chosen," Atticus pointed out. "I was afraid you wouldn't start dating."
"You really need to lighten up, bro."
The Obelisks turned around to see Alex walking up to them.
"What's up, Alex?" Kenji greeted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Atticus asked the young Ra.
"I never thought you'd be snooping around to see if Alexis and Kenji are going to hug and kiss, all of a sudden," Alex stated, which caused the two in question to blush lightly. "Let them go about their romance their way."
The three Obelisks looked at him strangely.
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" Alexis asked, with a light giggle.
"Hmm?" Alex wondered.
"From when we met you, you were the one that caused trouble, especially with Crowler, before our class showed up," Kenji pointed out. "But when you get into the concerts, and just now, you're a whole different person."
"Hey, I'm a man of wonders," Alex grinned. "You guys took the time to know me, but people like Mrs. Crowler just see me as the bane to their dueling existence."
"Like Jaden was when he first came," Alexis added. "But at least Crowler's calming down and working with the students. But enough on that, what brings you over?"
"Atticus talking about you two and butting into romance," the Ra said, turning to the Obelisk in question, "This coming from a guy who's so damn popular with women, but doesn't want to date himself."
Atticus' eyes bugged out when he heard that.
"You know he's right," Kenji said to Alexis. "Nearly all the girls fawn over him, but he's never made a real move on them besides giving them autographs with his picture in it."
"Yeah," Alexis replied, looking at her brother with a sly smile. "So all this time you've got the nerve to get me to date someone, and you haven't been doing the same?"
"That's kind of pathetic," Kenji chuckled.
"Hey!" Atticus shouted, "I've noticed girls, but you haven't been noticing the guys, Alexis!"
"But it kinda makes it silly that you won't do what you are getting your sister to do," Alex stated. "But enough about that," He then turned to Alexis. "Alexis, I've come to duel against you."
"Did the Bio-Band say you were my next opponent?" Alexis asked.
"No, but the Survival Duel rules are in effect and I want to duel somebody strong... and I never played against you," the Gemini duelist replied, "So, how about it?"
After pondering on his words, the Cyber Girl duelist nodded, "Sure, I bet you'll really be a challenge with that Gemini deck of yours."
"Sweet..." Alex grinned as he and Alexis got some room for dueling while Atticus and Kenji stood to the side.
"Guess nothing to say but good luck to the both of you," Kenji said before kissing Alexis on the cheek, making her blush lightly as he stood aside.
"Finally," Atticus grinned. But that earned him a chop to his back.
Both players turned on their duel disk, after inserting their pre-shuffled decks inside. Once they drew their opening hands...
"GAME ON!"
Alexis: 8000
Alex: 8000
"I'll start," Alexis announced, drawing her sixth card. "I summon Sacred Knight Joan in attack mode." Once she played her monster card, a blue portal opened up to release a young, blonde woman in silver plate armor with the top of her armor and shoulders shaped like wings. (4/1900/1300) "I end my turn."
"Just a monster," Atticus wondered.
"Could have a special ability or could be scoping out Alex's moves," Kenji shrugged.
"My turn then," Alex announced, drawing his sixth card. "I summon Infinity Dark!" He announced, as the card he placed on his disk. The hologram unleashed man clad in all dark knights' armor with a black cape blowing behind him. (4/1500/1200"I then outfit him with the Equip Spell Supervise, giving him his effect!" The next card he inserted into his disk depicted Phoenix Gearfried charging into a whirlwind of flaming feathers. A dark aura then surrounded Infinity Dark. "And then he'll attack Joan with Shadow Kick!"
The dark knight charged in, leaving afterimages of himself behind as he prepared to charge.
"But what's the effect?" Kenji asked as Alexis' monster prepared to strike back with her sword.
"Right, when he attacks he can switch the battle mode of a face-up monster you got," the Gemini duelist stated. "So Joan, take a knee!"
One of Infinity Dark's afterimages transformed into a shadow and went into Joan's, causing her to fall to her knees. It left the original one to deal a kick to Joan's chest, shattering her into pixels.
"I activate Joan's power," Alexis countered, sending one card from her hand to the graveyard, "l discard once in order to retrieve a Level 4 or below Warrior monster to my hand from the graveyard!" She then retrieved Sacred Knight Joan from the graveyard.
"I'll then activate Foolish Burial to send a monster from my deck into the graveyard and end my turn with a couple of facedowns," Alex concluded, taking out his deck to retrieve a monster from it and place it into his graveyard. He then inserted a Set card into his disk.
"He's going to use Supervise's effect to bring out another monster," Kenji figured. "And probably, has some other plan in mind for those facedowns."
"It's my turn now," Alexis announced, drawing her next card. "I play Cyber Petit Angel!" She stated as she brought out a small, pink, machine angel. (2/300/200) "Once she's Summoned, I can take Machine Angel Ritual from my deck. But then, I chain it with the Quick-Play Spell, Allegro Toile!" She then played a Spell that showed a bird-like knife flying. "After Normal Summoning, I can destroy Spell or Trap card on your field!"
Soon, the knife flew out of the card and stabbed one of Alex's facedown cards, revealing to be Nature's Reflection.
"Now I know I'm safe from my own damage, so I'll go ahead and add my Ritual Spell now." Alexis continued, as she searched through her deck and then took out the Ritual Spell and added it to her hand. Finally, she shuffled her deck and put it back in her disk. "And then, I'll play it and sacrifice Petit Angel and Joan in order to Ritual Summon my Cyber Angel Benten!"
She wore a tight suit, red and white colors mixed in while a golden tiara adorned her head. Her glowing green eyes staring straight at her opposition as she spun her chained nunchaku around before coming to a halt, the ends of the weapons spreading out into a fan. (6/1800/1500)
"Alright, her Cyber Angels," Atticus cheered.
"And then, I'll attack Infinity Dark with Angel Blight Flurry!" She commanded as Benten flew across the field and proceeded to strike down the armored warrior with her fans, shattering him into pixels.
Alexis: 8000
Alex: 7700
"And then her effect kicks in," She continued, "Since she destroyed your monster, you now take damage from your monsters' DEF!"
Alex gasped and braced himself as a white light erupted from underneath him and unleashed energy to damage his points.
Alexis: 8000
Alex: 6500
"1500 down," Kenji smiled.
Alex grinned, "And up with my other trap, Armored Back!" He continued, revealing his other facedown card depicting Hyena in dark aura equipped with lasers on its back. "Since you destroyed Infinity Dark while it was equipped with an Equip Spell, I can call him plus equip him with the card he had!"
Alexis then gasped as Infinity Dark made his return, now with both dark and flaming auras thanks to its Gemini ability and Supervise. (4/1500/1200)
"And he can still use Supervise's effect!" Alexis realized.
"Right, so I get to Special Summon a Gemini Monster from my graveyard." The Ra continued and then reached into his graveyard to take a monster from it. "And I choose my Chthonian Emperor Dragon which I sent with Foolish Burial!" Flames erupted in front of him into a pillar and shattered, unleashing a towering, hellish black drake with a serpentine, armored body, massive wings and an arrowhead-shaped head coated in bony plates, its crimson eyes glaring balefully as the dragon roared. (6/2400/1500) "I may have lost out on reflecting damage, but I got the power now!"
"So you say," Alexis stated as she inserted a card into her disk. "I'll end my turn with a facedown card."
"My move," Alex announced, drawing his next card. "I Gemini Summon Chthonian Emperor Dragon!" A fiery, dark aura surrounded the dragon, making it roar again.
"When you make a Normal Summon, I can activate a monster's effect in my hand... Cyber Yogini!" A bright light erupted from the graveyard and flashed onto the field. Soon, a blonde-haired, light-blue skinned woman with a red, skintight bodysuit appeared in a mediating position, seemingly unaware of her surroundings. (5/800/800"Now my life points will be safe from your direct attack that would have came from the dragon's special ability."
"A new Cyber Girl," Atticus said. "Nice, they were due for an expansion."
"Not really, I have three attacks against your two monsters because of my Dragon and Dark," the Gemini duelist smirked at Alexis' declaration, "First, I'll have Infinity Dark strike your Benten plus use his ability to switch Yogini to attack mode!"
"But that would be bad for you, costing you 1500 more points!" Alexis pointed out as Infinity Dark used one of his afterimages to force Yogini to wake up and stand upright.
"Not before I use the good ol' Gemini Spark from my hand," Alex countered, inserting his Quick-Play card. "This lets me Tribute a Level Four Gemini Monster like Infinity Dark," the dark entity began to crackle with power, "to destroy a card on the field and draw a card! Say goodbye to the facedown!" The dark entity burst forwards as a thunderbolt, striking Alexis' facedown and shattering it as Alex drew once.
"Uh oh..."
"That's right, Supervise brings back my Infinity Dark since he's the only Normal Monster there!" Infinity Dark returned, losing its auras. (4/1500/1200) "And he'll attack Yogini!" The dark warrior charged in and struck the spiritual Cyber, shattering her to pixels.
Alexis: 7300
Alex: 6500
"And then, my double attack towards Benten and then you with Underworld Flames!" A flare of hellfire howled from the dragon's jaws, consuming the Cyber Angel in fire before washing over the Cyber Girl Duelist, who screamed in shock.
Alexis: 4300
Alex: 6500
"Alexis!" Atticus and Kenji shouted.
"Almost down to half your life points, and the best has yet to come!" Alex cheered and then pointed to his opponent, "Now I know I haven't knocked you down, Alexis... so let's go."
After shaking off the damage, Alexis said, "Fine, but during the End Phase of when Cyber Yogini's destroyed in battle, I can special summon her in defense mode!" Another flash of light from Alexis' graveyard brought back the spiritual woman, mediating. (5/800/800) She then drew her next card to start her turn. "I activate Cyber Draw! This let's me draw three new cards since I have a Level 5 or higher monster with Cyber in its name!" The card image flashed letting her draw three times. "I now sacrifice her in order to summon Cyber Fencer!" Another bright erupted on the field, bringing out another woman clad in all white fencing gear, but having a facemask instead of a helmet to show off her fierce, green eyes and wavy, red hair. (5/2100/1100)
"Yeah, get Yogini out of there..." Kenji stated.
"Next, I activate the Field Spell Card Gaia Power!" Once Alexis inserted the card into her field spell slot, the whole open field changed into a forest area with a giant tree growing from the side. "In here, my EARTH monsters gain 500 ATK but lose 400 DEF!"
A light brown aura surrounded the fencer, arming herself for battle. (5/2100-2600/1100-700)
"Attack his Chthonian Emperor Dragon!" Fencer raised her rapier and then thrust dead ahead, striking the dragon through the neck and made him shatter into pixels.
Alexis: 4300
Alex: 6300
"But what about Infinity Dark," Atticus wondered.
"I end my turn with the Warrior Returning Alive, placing Cyber Yogini back into my hand." Alexis concluded, inserting her spell and then taking back her Yoga monster.
"My turn," Alex announced, drawing his next card. "I Gemini Summon Infinity Dark!" the dark warrior regained his dark aura. "Should've taken him down; attack Cyber Fencer and switch her to defense mode!" Infinity Dark used one of his afterimages to force Fencer to sheath her sword and kneel in pain. "Say goodbye!"
Once Infinity Dark went in for the killing blow, Cyber Fencer rolled to the right and dodged.
"She dodged!" Alex gasped in shock.
"That's her special ability," Alexis smirked, "She can negate one attack made on her in a duel and turn it into a direct attack on me; then attack with!"
"It's Doble Passé card," The boys gasped as Infinity Dark's kick landed on Alexis' shoulder, while Cyber Fencer stood up from her roll and struck Alex's side.
Alexis: 2800
Alex: 3700
"Got him," Kenji cheered. "She drew him in after learning his special ability. Nice work, Alexis." The Obelisk girl smiled back.
"Damn, I set one card facedown and end my turn." Alex grumbled.
"It's my move then," Alexis announced, drawing her next card, "I summon the Tuner monster, Naguese Cyber!" She then brought out another, ocean blue-skinned woman wearing a white swimming cap, and a silver, one-piece swimsuit. She actually floated in mid-air and moved into a graceful pose, as if she was in water. (2/1000/500)
Alex was awestruck seeing the tuner monster float like she was, "Okay, how is she doing that?"
"You shouldn't worry about that," Alexis smirked. "I'll tune Level 5 Cyber Fencer with Level 2 Naguese Cyber!"
The swimming Cyber Girl floated upside down doing forms with her legs before transforming into two tuning gates that surrounded Cyber Fencer, transforming her into five glowing stars.
"Grace, Beauty, and Power combined into the disciplined fighter! Synchro Summon! Battle, Cyber of the Martial Arts!"
The tower of light pulled out another woman with short, black hair, light-blue skin, and a silver visor over her eyes. She wore a black halter top and pants with silver streaks running over it. (7/2400-2900/1900-1500)
"Cool," Alex muttered.
"And since Naguese Cyber was used as Synchro Material, I can draw one card!" Alexis continued, drawing her card. "And then, Cyber of the Martial Arts will attack your Infinity Dark!"
The Synchro Cyber Girl quickly struck with a double karate chop and then kicked the Gemini Monster into the skies.
Alexis: 2800
Alex: 2300
"Ouch," Atticus muttered.
"It's your turn now," Alexis stated, inserting two facedown cards.
"My move then," Alex announced, drawing his card. "I place another card facedown and then activate Card of Demise to draw my five cards!" He then drew out his new hand. "Sweet, I summon Ascender Lion-Heart in attack mode!" In a flash of flame, a crimson-armored knight with a helm, fashioned like a lion's head appeared, white cloak flapping out in the flames as he hefted a large claymore in hand. (4/1700/1000) "Next, I play the facedown I set Double Summon and Summon the Tuned Magician!"
Kenji was confused as Alex brought out a man, clad in an elaborate green mage outfit, with a golden hat and white scepter. (4/1800/1600"Tuned Magician?"
"It must be his Tuner Monster," Atticus said. "Meaning, he'll Synchro Summon soon."
"Cyber Yogini, return!" She announced as she put the female Yoga monster on the field. (5/800/800)
"But in order to do that, I need their effects..." Alex announced as he played another card from his hand, "I activate another Supervise to give my Tuned Magician his powers!" Tuned Magician gained a green seal that looked like a Tuning Ring, around his waist. "Now he's a Tuner Monster!"
"And with Supervise, he'll gain another monster!" Alexis realized.
"Now meet my Synchro Monster! I tune Level 4 Ascender Lion-Heart with Level 4 Tuned Magician!" The Ra shouted as Tuned Magician waved his wand and became 4 Tuning Rings to surround Lion-Heart, making him into four stars.
"A hidden power unleashed within the inner soul, time to show off your real strength! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Black Brutdrago!"
In a flash of light and flame, a large, hulking, gray dragon descended onto the battlefield. Everything from its horned and heavy-jawed head to its massive arms, even its spiky skin looked like it was made for destruction. (8/3000/2600)
"No way!" The Obelisks shouted.
"Yeah, you like that?" Alex laughed. "He's totally badass, huh? And remember, Supervise was sent to the graveyard so I can Special Summon a Gemini Monster on the spot! And I choose my Chthonian Emperor Dragon!"
A torrent of flames erupted next to Alex's Synchro Monster and released the hellish dragon back from the dead. (6/2400/1500)
"And if that didn't get you something, I'll activate his Special Ability! By discarding a Gemini Monster, like Phoenix Gearfried, I can destroy a facedown trap or spell card!" Alex announced, discarding his mentioned monster. Then the dragon spat forth a fireball that streaked towards and decimated the facedown, revealed to be Doble Passe before the flames took it.
"Oh man, if she gets hit it's over!" Atticus cringed.
"Black Brutdrago, attack with Brutal Flame Demolition!" Alex announced as the dragon charged, spewing fire slowly from its mouth that enveloped its body and burned down Cyber of the Martial Arts.
"I activate Cyber of the Martial Arts' Special Ability!" Alexis announced. "I can remove a monster from my graveyard with Cyber in its name and then increase her ATK by that removed monster's ATK! And I pick my Cyber Fencer!" The Synchro Cyber Girl let out a battle cry as she was surrounded by a white aura to increase her strength. (7/2400-4500/1900)
"That's what I was hoping for!" Alex grinned, shocking the Obelisks as he revealed his facedown card. "It's time for Bye Bye Damage! This turn, my Black Brutdrago cannot be destroyed in battle! But also, whatever battle damage I took from him will you damage you by double!"
Cyber of the Martial Arts struck the Synchro Dragon's body with a precise punch to the skull pushing it back.
Alexis: 2800
Alex: 800
"Now to return the damage by double; 3000 points," Alex shouted as his trap flashed and fired a magenta beam at Alexis.
"Not quite, I reveal my other facedown card," Alexis announced, revealing her facedown card. "I play Damage Diet! Now the damage I take this turn is cut in half!" Her trap fired a silver beam which diluted Alex's trap a bit before it hit her back.
Alexis: 1300
Alex: 800
"Chthonian Emperor Dragon, attack Cyber Yogini!" Alex commanded as his hellish dragon unleashed its dark flames, incinerating Yogini. "I end my turn with a facedown card." Cyber of the Martial Arts' power returned to 2400.
"It's my turn!" Alexis shouted, drawing her lone card. "Sink or swim; I activate Graceful Charity! This lets me draw three new cards, and then discard two!"
"You'll still only end up with one card," Alex stated. "What's so great about that?"
"You'll notice when, I make my draw," She announced. 'And hopefully, it's the cards I need to win...' She then drew out her three cards and looked them over. 'Yes!' She then discarded two of them. "I activate the Spell Card, Necro Synchro! By paying off half my life points, I'm able to perform a Synchro Summoningwith the cards in my graveyard as long as I banish them!"
"So what else you can use then?" Kenji wondered.
"The cards I just discarded," the Obelisk girl stated as a red aura surrounded, translating the payment.
Alexis: 650
Alex: 800
She then reached into her graveyard, and pulled out two monsters, "I tune Level 6 Cyber Prima and with Level 2 Fleur Synchron!"
From a void, a tall female wearing a skintight gray catsuit appeared, with a strange mask over her eyes and her platinum locks flowing behind her along with a small, red flower with a devious smirk on its face. The flower transformed into two Tuning Gates to surround Prima and transformed her into six glowing stars lining up between them.
"The righteous power combined with the graceful spirit! Grant me the courage to fight! Synchro Summon! Time is now, Chevalier de Fleur!"
A beam of light shot out of the rings and a light purple armored knight with a large, pink flower on top of her helmet and a red cape on her back appeared. She unsheathed her thin, rapier sword and held it right in front of her (8/2700/2300).
"And then, I'll add the effect of Skill Successor that I discarded with Sacred Knight Joan's effect," She continued, removing her trap card from the graveyard. "This gives my new Synchro Monster 800 ATK for the turn!" A magenta colored aura surrounded the knight, giving her more power. (8/2700-3500/2300)
"Against Chthonian Emperor Dragon, she can win now!" Kenji cheered.
'Not if my trap says something about that...' Alex thought.
"Chevalier, attack Chthonian Emperor Dragon!" Alexis announced as her Synchro knight charged in, rapier drawn and poised at the smaller dragon.
"You can take my dragon, Alexis," the Gemini duelist declared, "But you're taking all the pain! Reveal, Dimensional Wall!" He announced, activating his trap card. "Sorry to steal the victory!"
"Don't be, because I'm still gonna win," the Cyber Girl duelist stated.
"Huh?"
"I activate Chevalier de Fleur's effect!" Alexis announced. "Once during my turns, when you activate a Spell or Trap card, I can negate the effects and destroy it!"
"Damn..." Alex grumbled as Fleur de Chevalier sliced apart the trap into pieces and then advanced towards Chthonian Emperor Dragon and slashed it down as well, raining the pixels around the Ra.
Alexis: 650, Winner
Alex: 0
As the holograms disappeared, the Ra sat himself down in Indian style and shook his head. "Well, that was a cool duel." He said with a laugh. "At least I know you also got some help with those Cyber Girls of yours."
"What do you mean?" Alexis asked.
"No offense, but they did have too limited in their cards," the Gemini duelist explained. "Plus, it did show some predictability."
"Which is why I expanded this deck multiple times," She replied. "I can see why Chazz arranges his up sometimes."
"Very nice," Alex nodded.
"Thanks." Alexis said. "And I can see you adapted well with your deck; that Armored Back card gave you a big advantage with using Supervise's effect multiple times."
"Yeah, that could put anyone on the ropes," Kenji noted. "With the right monsters and add other cards, you could perform an OTK."
"Working on that," the Gemini duelist said. "I do love the fact I can walk away happy losing."
"Oh right," Atticus interjected, "Because of how it used to be between you and the Obelisks."
"And you can feel good losing to one that you respect," Kenji added.
"Right," Alex nodded. "And I can see she was in the right place when she made the GX finals last year. Kenji dude, hang on to that girl."
"No problems here," the ninja duelist grinned, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend.
"Come on guys, you're making me blush," Alexis said.
"There's the affection between you two!" Atticus cheered.
"And you killed the moment," Alex sighed.
Elsewhere, Viper watched the duel through his spy cameras again in the abandoned factory. He was impressed with what he saw between Alexis and Alex, and even more impressed with the Bio-Band readings.
"Acting as a professor, I like to see the students do as instructed." He stated as the duel reached its end. He then turned to the containers with the bright orange and bright black energy bubbles. "But truthfully, I like progress in my plans. With every duel, every move, every bit of power, I'll be able to have what I want." He turned back to the screen seeing Alexis, Alex, Atticus, and Kenji talking after the duel. His eyes fell on one of them. "But now, I should stick true to my word and duel a student. I don't need to reveal what I really can do, but I can show off a fraction of it."
The next morning came around, and every student was at the arena as instructed. Most of them were still trying to wake up, like a certain Silfer or two...
*YAWN!*
The loud yawning of Jaden Yuki was heard from his side of the arena, surprisingly keeping them awake but not doing anything good for the E-Hero duelist himself.
"Man, I can't believe it's this early and I have to sit in another class," Jaden said, tiredly. "I might as well catch a few Z's..."
"You forgot that Viper's dueling someone, didn't you," Reyna sighed.
"Just wake me when it..." Suddenly, Jaden sprung up, "Oh yeah! We get to see how tough this guy is!"
"That sure was quick," Jesse laughed. "Then again, I'm the same way in being fired up for a duel."
"Though it worries me," Allyson interjected. "Even the teachers were surprised that Viper was going to duel; like he wasn't supposed to."
"But he's a duelist, too." The elder Yuki stated. "And he all duelists should duel, otherwise it's like lying to yourself."
Reyna gasped, "I understood that!"
"Hey, he should have his days," Allyson giggled, hugging her boyfriend.
"So, you're hoping you don't face him?" Melody asked Claudio. "Don't you want your guitar back?"
"Yeah, but it helps if I know the duelist first and plan ahead," the J-Hero duelist replied. "I go in there rushing, and I'll get beat... badly..."
"Well, at least you're thinking," Melody smiled. "I figured you would go after him first."
"Nope, I'll wait..."
"Anything you know on this guy?" Masaki asked Aster.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Aster replied. "I've never been to West Academy."
"Me neither, but we've seen who he's got under him," the S-Hero duelist said. "Militant minds, had to force Axel into a draw otherwise he would have killed me."
"And then he called you a coward for not taking defeat?" Aster asked.
"Figured, he would praise me... the 'If I'm going down, you're coming with me' speech," Masaki shrugged. "If he's like that, Viper's going to be the same."
"Attention!"
Everyone stopped talking as Viper entered the arena, wearing a standard duel disk and a pre-shuffled deck already inside.
"Good, I see that all of you are here and ready to duel," Viper stated. "From what I've seen so far, you're making slow progress. But that's not enough..."
'Of course,' Claudio thought.
"It's time I make sure it speeds up and with the duelist I've handpicked, I will instill the fighting instinct you WILL possess, otherwise you're not fit to be here!"
Hearing that got everyone in a mixture of gasps, protests, and anger.
"Slience!" He shouted, getting everyone quiet once more. "Now, the duelist I've chosen is... Atticus Rhodes!"
Everyone turned to the duelist in question as he stood up.
"Guess I gotta go," Atticus said, looking to Alexis and Kenji. "Wish me luck!"
"From the sounds of this guy, you'll need it," Alexis stated. "But still, I hope you win."
"Yeah, we can't have the teachers beating us," Kenji smirked.
"Got that right, pal," Atticus grinned as he ran down the stairs. Once he reaches the arena, he already starts to get ready, "I'm ready to go if you are."
"If you're not using your deck with the Red-Eyes Black Dragon, then you're not ready and at your best." Viper stated, causing Atticus to gasp.
"He can't use that deck," Jeremy gasped. "He doesn't realize what will happen if he does."
"Yeah, Nightshroud makes his big appearance and all Hell breaks loose!" Alex stated.
"Viper's trying to get the best out of everyone will end up killing him in the end," Lily said worriedly.
"Now Mr. Rhodes, pull out that deck and then we'll get started." Viper announced. "I know all about your other deck that you'd planned to use, and it's pathetic! All of that flash and flair with no real purpose in dueling than to satisfy your idiotic dream to obtain stardom. It's pathetic! Just like having those silly concerts to entertain the students and pulling them away from what really matters," Hearing that got Atticus and even Claudio angry...
"Hey, that's not right," Atticus stated. "It's not for pulling away the students, it's to unite them! You act as if we can't have work and play at the same time. And it's Duel Monsters; sure we came here to be better duelists..."
"Then prove it..." Viper interrupted. "Use that Red-Eyes deck and prove my teachings are a flop, otherwise you'll be the coward."
"Fine," Atticus challenged, causing a select few to gasp as he switched out his deck with the Red-Eyes Deck. 'Lucky for me, I don't have the Darkness Dragons in there so he won't control me...'
"Aw man, he suckered you in," Alex groaned. "I just hope it doesn't end up like last time."
"Probably will," Lily said. "And that's what worries me."
"Crap, Nightshroud could come back..." Kenji growled.
'Please don't let that happen,' Alexis thought.
"Now you are ready," Viper shouted as both players activated their duel disks and drew their opening hands.
"DUEL!"
Viper: 8000
Atticus: 8000
"I'll begin," Viper announced, drawing his sixth card. He then placed one monster on his disk, facedown. "I'll Set one monster and then add three cards facedown to end my turn." He concluded as a Set Monster appeared horizontally on the field while three Set cards appeared behind it vertically.
"That's an obvious trap," Kenji noted, eyeing the four facedown cards.
"And, I'll bet Atticus already realizes it," Alexis said, but in a low voice.
"You're worried about the cards taking over, aren't you?" the ninja duelist asked, in which Alexis nodded.
"Don't worry, we're all going to jump at the moment Nightshroud tries to take over," Lily said.
"Sucks that this one can't go away, though," Alex groaned. "But that's because darkness is eternal..."
"Let's go," Atticus announced, drawing his sixth card. He then placed one of them on the disk, "First, I'll summon Mirage Dragon in attack mode!" Seconds later, a large, curved serpentine with yellow scales and tufts of blue-green fur sticking out, rose onto the field seemingly fading in and out of existence. (4/1600/600) "During the Battle Phase, I'll be able to attack without you activating your Trap cards. So, I'll just get on with destroying your monster!"
"True, but I'll activate my facedown card, A Feint Plan!" the West Academy Professor countered, revealing a trap depicting Freed the Matchless General using a map to plan. "And this is so you cannot attack facedown monsters."
"True," Atticus mimicked his opponent, while he held up one depicting a ritual circle emitting light on the ground with two purple-flamed torches on either side of it. Inside the circle was the shadow of a small dragon with blue eyes. "But I activate a Ritual Spell, Dark Dragon Ritual! With this, I can sacrifice the Level 4 Rare Metal Dragon from my hand in order to summon the Knight of Dark Dragons!" The Ritual grounds appeared in the middle of the field and then a giant, rhinoceros-like dragon with a metal plate hide was placed in the middle of it. The torches' dark flames created smoke that surrounded the dragon and then dissipated to show off a man in black armor and a dark blue cape carrying a rapier. (4/1900/1200)
"Now I see where he's going," Jeremy noted.
"During the Main Phase, I can sacrifice my Knight of Dark Dragons to Special Summon the one and only Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my deck!" the Obelisk continued as his knight then vanished into a bright light and then a mighty roar was sounded as everyone looked up to see a large, thin, black-scaled dragon with silver claws and menacing red eyes. (7/2400/2000)
"And there's one of the legendary monsters," Valencia noted, "Once wielded by Rex Raptor and now in the hands of Joey Wheeler and this student."
"I just hope that this Obelisk can prove Viper wrong," Kai added.
"I'll then end my turn with my facedown cards." Atticus concluded, inserting his last two cards. 'Hopefully, I'll resort to Red-Eyes' initial form and that alone...'
"Let's see if it was wise to use up all of those cards," Viper announced, drawing his next card. He reached for his facedown card, "First, I reveal my facedown monster... Cobra Jar!" The holographic Set Monster card turned vertical and then flipped over to reveal a large, blue jar with Hindu scriptures written all over it. (2/600/300)
"A Reptile-User," Yuri wondered.
"Let's see what he'll do next to confirm it," Jim replied.
"When Cobra Jar is flipped over, I can Special Summon a Poisonous Snake Token to my field in attack mode." The West Academy professor informed, as the jar shook slightly and then a long, green-scaled cobra from slithered out from it. (3/1200/1200)
"Another one," Blair noted.
"Next, I reveal one of my facedown Trap Cards, Offerings to the Snake Deity!" Viper continued, revealing the trap card. "With this, I select my Reptile-Type Cobra Jar along with your Red-Eyes Black Dragon and the facedown card on my right and the trap destroys them all!"
Atticus gasped as the trap card glowed a poisonous purple and shot three piercing arrows, hitting the jar to make it crack, piercing Red-Eyes through the chest and heart, and then through one of Atticus' facedown cards, revealing to be Red-Eyes Burn. All of them leaked purple markings before they shattered. "I can still activate my Card of Last Will trap card!" He countered, revealing a trap that depicted a hand sticking out of the grave while holding five cards. "Since my monster was destroyed, I can draw five cards!" He did just that, making a new hand.
"Aw man, that other trap was Red-Eyes Burn," Kenji cringed. "If a Red-Eyes monster was destroyed, he could have dealt damage equal to that monster's ATK."
"I think he disrupted what he really wanted to do," Alexis added. "And that was having both his monsters destroyed and then dealing damage while gaining a new hand."
"I could see through that miniscule plan of yours, Mr. Rhodes," Viper stated. "It won't work against duelists out in the real world." That caused Atticus and several others to frown, "And with the destruction of Cobra Jar, I can activate my other two cards... Viper's Grudge and Snake Whistle!"
The other two facedown cards revealed to be Traps. The first depicted a large, pitch-black snake preparing to strike at a warrior who supposed took out a whole swamp full of them. The second showed Sinister Serpent being destroyed in an explosion and red eyes looking through some bushes.
"Now I can Special Summon two Level 4 or below Reptile monsters from my deck and I choose Skreech and Iron Chain Snake!" Viper announced as his vest pushed out two cards from his deck, letting him take them and place them from his field. The first came with a shriek, a strange bloated reptilian monster with veins running across its skin appeared, its head little more than a gaping, toothy mouth. (4/1500/400) The second was a snake with a body made of chain links. (3/800/1200) "Next, I activate my Snake's effect! Once per turn I can equip it to a monster my opponent controls to lower its ATK and DEF by 800!"
The chained, serpentine monster slithered across the field and coiled itself around Mirage Dragon. (4/1600-800/600-0)
"Oh crap," Atticus cringed.
"Skreech, attack!" Viper commanded as his strange lizard charged the chained dragon, smashing it into pixels.
Viper: 8000
Atticus: 7300
"Finally, when the monster Iron Chain Snake is equipped to is destroyed in battle, you lose cards from your Deck equal to that monster's Level." Viper continued. "That's four."
Atticus sighed as he took four of his cards from the top of his deck and sent into his graveyard.
"Next, Poisonous Snake Token will destroy 1200 of your life points," the snake duelist commanded as his monster token snapped up to Atticus' right arm and bit hard, surprising him how fast it reached him.
Viper: 8000
Atticus: 6100
"I'll then end my turn by placing another card facedown." He concluded. "Step up your game, Mr. Rhodes."
"Ask and you shall receive," Atticus shouted, drawing his next card. He then held up one card in question, "Thanks to my new hand, I activate the Spell Polymerization! Using this, I can fuse Lord of Dragons and Divine Dragon Ragnorok!"
Everyone watched as the Lord of Dragons, a dark-skinned man wearing white, dragon-bone armor and helmet and with a blue cape and Divine Dragon Ragnorok, a white, serpentine dragon that fused together. The end result was the Lord of Dragon's body was now connected to a long, rainbow colored body. (7/2400/1100)
"Alright, King Dragun," Lily exclaimed, "With that, he can protect all of his Dragons from being targeted by effects Viper controls."
"And it's not over yet," Alexis added, "He's also able to Special Summon Dragons once per turn."
"I Special Summon my Prime Material Dragon," Atticus announced, playing his card to release a large dragon, made up of golden matter and having six, long wings and pincer-like claws. (6/2400/2000)
"And then using that monster, he can stop his monsters from being destroyed by cards that don't target," Kenji smiled. "All he has to do is give up a card from his hand."
"Prime Material Dragon, show your stuff with Matter Destruction on that token!" the Red-Eyes duelist shouted as the golden dragon expended golden tendrils that wrapped around the Poisonous Snake, breaking down its body into pixels.
Viper: 6800
Atticus: 6100
"Nice shot!" Jaden cheered, "Paid back that snake!"
"My Poisonous Snake Token had an effect as well." Viper stated, "And that will cost you 500 life points." A red aura then surrounded Atticus, translating the damage.
"Too bad that Prime Material Dragon turns that into life point gain," Atticus grinned as his dragon shined gold, turning the red aura into blue.
Viper: 6800
Atticus: 6600
"Fake out," Reyna said, "Now they are nearly even in points."
"It's too bad you can't use that Viper's Grudge effect," Atticus smiled. "King Dragun, destroy Skreech with Fire Scourge!"
The half-man, half-Dragon fired a stream of fire from his staff which engulfed the strange lizard. It was screaming at the pain, and then shattered from the blast.
Viper: 5900
Atticus: 6600
"Because Skreech was destroyed in battle, I can send two Water-Attribute monsters from my Deck to my Graveyard, like two of my Serpentine Princesses!" Viper announced as the two cards shot from his Deck and he placed them into the Graveyard. "And by destroying the third in battle, I can Special Summon a Reptile monster with my Viper's Grudge trap," Viper countered. "Come forth, my second Skreech!" He announced as another card shot from his deck, letting him place it in defense mode. It revealed to be another strange-lizard. (3/1500/400)
"I end my turn with a facedown card," Atticus concluded. "And one of the cards you sent with Iron Chain Snake's effect was Red-Eyes Wvyern! Since I didn't Normal Summon or Set this turn, I can banish it and then Special Summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" He then removed the card in question, another Red-Eyes but without the arms that was replaced with the wings before transforming, inside a white light, to the original Red-Eyes. (7/2400/2000)
"Confident in our game play, are we," Viper asked, drawing his next card. He looked at it and then back at Atticus, saying, "I'll end my turn here."
"Nothing?" Kairi wondered.
"Well, he does have everything setup to make sure he doesn't lose a monster." Bradshaw noted. "I mean, Viper's Grudge will keep pushing out monsters since all they have to do is be sent to the graveyard. Not only that, it looks like that's what his game plan is. Atticus better win and quick..."
Kurogasa looked at Atticus' duel disk, and noticed something... dark leaking out near the top of his deck, 'What the-?" He thought and then he looked at Atticus. The Obelisk didn't show it, but one look and the Haos Duelist knew that Atticus was struggling. 'What's wrong with him?'
"It's my turn," Atticus announced, drawing his next card. "First, I play Pot of Greed to draw two cards," He began, drawing out his two cards, "And then, I play Graceful Charity, letting me draw another three cards but then discard two afterwards." He then drew out his three cards and placed it with the other one in his hand. He then sent two cards into his graveyard. "So many cards to use in order to take you down... but we have to get rid of the card that'll keep you going." He then took out another Spell, "I activate Stamping Destruction, which allows me to destroy a Spell or Trap card as long as I have a Dragon on the field and deal 500 points of damage to the owner of the destroyed card. And there's only one card that's the choice!"
"But Prime Material Dragon will turn it into life point gain!" Alexis stated.
Soon, Viper's Grudge exploded into pixels but Viper was reveling in the life points.
Viper: 6400
Atticus: 6600
"Now he can't Special Summon any more of his Reptiles," Lily exclaimed. "It doesn't matter about life points!"
"And then, I activate the spell card Inferno Fire Blast," He stated, "Red-Eyes won't attack after I use it, but using his attack card to deal the damage from his ATK will more than make up for it!"
"But the effect of Prime Material Dragon will turn it into life point gain for me," Viper stated. "A bad move..."
"Not unless I negate its effect for the turn with Forbidden Chalice," Atticus countered, inserting his Quick-Play Spell to douse the dragon with holy water. (6/2400-2800/2000)
The Red-Eyes roared and sent a huge ball of flaming red energy flying from its mouth. Viper didn't even flinch as the flames hit his entire body and waited for them to fizzle out.
Viper: 4000
Atticus: 5600
"Good, but now Red-Eyes can't attack." Jaden stated.
"Which is why he's using that," Melody pointed out as Atticus revealed his trap card.
"I activate the trap, Metalmorph and equip it to Red-Eyes Black Dragon, giving him 300 ATK and DEF!" the Red-Eyes duelist announced as his monster was coated with a metallic liquid plasma, covering it head to toe, (7/2400-2700/2000-2300( "But he'll be going into the graveyard, in order for me to Special Summon the Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon!"
Soon, the liquid around the dragon solidified and became completely mechanical. Its electronic red eyes flashed at Viper's monster and letting of a mechanical roar. (8/2800/2400)
"There's a rare sight," Kurogasa smiled. "Some outdated cards do have their uses... and it was brilliant to use him after the use of Inferno Fire Blast."
"King Dragun, attack with Fire Scourge!" Once again, the human-dragon hybrid launched a torrent of flames at the strange lizard Skreech, shattering into flaming pixels.
"I activate the effect of Skreech," Viper announced, retrieving two monster cards from his deck and sent them into the graveyard. "I send my other Skreech and my other Serpentine Princess to the graveyard!"
"And then, I'll have my Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon attack you with Flash Flare Blast," Atticus continued as his machine dragon opened its mouth and charged up electrical and fire power inside before launching it at the West Academy professor, surrounding him in an inferno once more.
Viper: 1200
Atticus: 5600
"Now just one more will do it!" Alexis cheered.
"Yeah, he did a good job not giving into his darkness," Kenji stated.
"Before you attack me with your next monster, I activate my facedown Damage Condenser!" Viper interrupted. "With this card, I can discard a card from my hand, like my Sinister Serpent, in order to Special Summon a monster with ATK equal to or lower than the amount of damage I just took... 2800."
"Aw man, that means Atticus is done attacking," Syrus noted. "Plus, Sinister Serpent will come back to his hand during his standby phase."
"No worries, Private," Hassleberry stated, "Atticus still has a ways to prepare for that move and whatever it is, Prime Material Dragon is strong enough for a 2800 monster."
Viper then took out another monster card from his deck and placed it on the field. "Now, I summon Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes!"
Out of the Damage Condenser trap, a large figure had slithered towards the field. It was wearing a golden mask that looked like a cobra along with golden armor that had snakehead statues on the shoulders. It also had snakes for hands and robes, while a snake's body could be seen underneath. It raised its head, showing off his grinning visage. (8/0/0)
"Wait a sec, 0 ATK?" Jesse wondered. "It must have one heck of a special ability."
"It was safe to say, that you stood no chance against me, Mr. Rhodes," Viper stated, drawing his next card, "Especially since you didn't tap into the full power of your deck." Atticus growled, "I don't care what your reasons were for not using them, but it shows me that you are far from being one of the top duelists at this school."
"Now let's end this flop of a duel," the West Academy professor stated. "Vennominon receives 500 points for every Reptile monster in my graveyard, and as you've seen during the duel, I've placed quite a number in there... 9 to be exact!" Atticus gasped as a blue aura surrounded the King, increasing his power. (8/0-4500/0) "But it's not over yet, as I activate Snake Rain!" He then inserted a card showing off two travelers in a jungle, about to be bombarded by numerous snakes from above, "I discard one card, my Bitelon, in order to send four Reptiles to my graveyard from the deck: two Iron Chain Snakes and two Cobra Jars! That's 2500 more ATK!"
"Uh oh," Kurogasa said, "He's taking out Atticus in one move!" Viper then discarded one monster and then his vest pushed out four cards from his deck, all of them monsters, so that the professor could send them all to the graveyard to boost up Vennominon once more. (8/4500-7000/0) "Finally, I add the effect of Venom Python in my hand, by discarding this and forfeiting my Normal Summoning and Setting rights, I can increase Vennominon's ATK by 500 for the Battle Phase and then another 500 because a Reptile in my graveyard." The King of Poisonous Snakes raised his snake hands, letting them hiss out. (8/7000-8000/0)
"It's over now..." Lily sulked.
"Attack with Fanged Venom!" Viper commanded as Vennominon's snake hands spat out poisonous venom that struck King Dragun and made him explode into pixels.
Viper: 1200, Winner
Atticus: 0
As the holograms disappeared, everyone gasped as Atticus felt to his knees in disbelief. Claudio was the only one showing anger throughout the ordeal.
"I can't believe he lost like that," Alexis said sadly. "After all that..." Kenji could say nothing but placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Pathetic," Viper stated. "If this is what Obelisk Blue has to offer, then it is no longer the top ranking dorm in my eyes if duelists like Atticus Rhodes are in there! As of now, he's demoted to Silfer Red!"
The Obelisks were now the ones in shock.
"Silfer! Atticus!" Alex shouted.
"No way!" Jeremy shouted.
"Atticus..." Lily muttered sadly.
"If he doesn't want to show off the full potential he's capable of, he should be expelled. But I will give him time to improve..." The West Academy professor noted. "Now, all classes will be expelled as all of you will be taking the mandatory Survival Duels until further notice. That will be all..." He stated as he walked out of the arena, leaving Atticus kneeling in despair.
"That was too harsh," Bradshaw stated.
"I know, demoting him down to Silfer just like that," Kairi stated. "It's like he expected an OTK to beat him before pulling out that mad monster of his own."
"Poor Atticus," Mikoto sighed.
"He didn't deserve it, I know," Kurogasa said. But then he got a glimpse of darkness coming from Atticus' Bio-Band, "Hmm?"
"What's wrong?" the Flamvell duelist asked.
The Haos duelist shrugged. "Thought I saw something..." 'The Bio-Band's acting up?'
Claudio was on the edge of letting loose every amount of anger he had, plus more for hearing Viper berate Atticus' passion as it was like hitting him at the same time. But he knew this shouldn't have happened. 'Just you wait Viper; once I get better, I'll duel you and beat you down for berating us!'
Chapter End