These strangers… Are after my Black Luster Soldier card? Just who do they think they are? Like I'm just going to hand over my most powerful monsters, not to mention my guardian chosen to guide me in this life. The strangers came closer to me and I stepped back ready to run away but then, who seemed to be the leader of this group, spoke up.
"I challenge you to a duel. We'll duel by battle city's new rules. That includes claiming your rarest card when you lose!" He chuckled.
Crap, I have not taken the time to go through the new manual. I'm at a disadvantage right now. When I looked to my side I notice a familiar silhouette in the ally way. It was Ryou! His eyes were on the goons in front of me. Not sure how he found me but boy am I glad to see him. The leader revealed his duel disk then smirked at me. I guess I do not have much of a choice. Where would my honor be, as a duelist, if I do not accept this challenge. Then I got an idea, I threw my manual at Ryou.
"What do you want me to do with this?" He questioned.
"I haven't the chance to read that thing yet. There are new rules regarding how to use this system that I'm not familiar with at the moment. I'm going to need your help," I explained as I activated my disk.
"I see," he nodded.
The duel commenced and it started off with me. I know the basics of dueling so this should not be so hard. I had a good hand of monsters and spell plus one trap card. So, I decided to play my Hunter Dragon in attack mode. I then noticed that with this duel disk system, we both get 4000LP rather than 2000. I turned to Ryou, who was really putting his all in reading those rules. I just hope we figure things out in time. I finished my turn by putting a trap card face down.
This goon calls himself a rare hunter, they search the globe for rare cards and sell them on the black market. They want my Black Luster Soldier to add to their collection, considering that I'm the only one so far with that version of the card. I just hope I'm strong enough to protect him from these evil people. I noticed that he was in my hand but there's no way I can summon him to the field yet. I just have to wait until I can summon him to field, safely.
I have every faith that you will prevail, he said to me.
With that said this rare hunter was making his move. His first move was playing a field magic card called: Necrovalley. According to this man neither player can remove cards from their graveyard. This is bad, that's the only way for me to summon Black Luster Soldier… But this is only the beginning of the match, I'm sure it won't be that difficult to bring this guy down. Maybe use my time to figure out a strategy. Though, I'm getting more nervous as we go. Next, he placed a monster face down in defence mode. I wonder if that is some kind of trap.
The duel progressed. I was starting to get the hang of this duel disk now. Ryou told me about having to sacrifice monsters in order to summon higher level monsters. The greater the level the greater the sacrifice. When I drew my Red-Eyes Black Dragon, I smiled at it. I sacrificed my two monsters in order to summon it. The rare hunter was impressed that I have another rare card in my deck, in fact they plan on taking this one as well when they win. Like I'm going to give up my monsters that easily. But then, the rare hunter was able to stop my attack with a trap card known as Scrap Iron Scarecrow. Stopping my attack for this round. The stranger then summoned up a monster by sacrificing his Gravekeeper's Commandant. Though this monster only has 2000 ATK points it has a special ability. It's ability was able to drain my dragon of 2000 ATK, leaving my dragon with only 400 attack. When it was destroyed I was only left for 400LP. This is bad…. I need to do something before I lose. I can't afford to lose my monsters.
I realized what monsters I have in my graveyard and decided to to bring out my Black Luster Soldier but first activated Double Cyclone to destroy his Necrovalley. With that card gone I am now able to summon my soldier. However, the rare hunter had a trap ready for him; known as Shadow Spell. Chains came out from the card and binded him up by the arms. Oh no! I need to do something to get him out of there but I have no monsters or spells in my hand to defend myself. I'll have to put my faith in the trap cards I have on the field. Luckily, I was able to save my soldier with my Negate Attack trap card. But I'm seriously going to need something to turn the duel around in my favour.
"Believe in yourself and in the heart of the cards!" My soldier tells me.
"That's right, Abigal! We're here with you!" Ryou cheered.
Ryou… I almost forgot his was here. I was so caught up in the duel that his presence was curtained for a while. His voice sounded so nice as I am reminded by the fact I have people around to support me. With my most faithful monster and my best friend beside me, I'm sure there's nothing in this world I cannot face. I laid my fingers on my deck to draw then it revealed a magic card. This is it! With this I can free Black Luster Soldier.
"I activate the magic card: Remove Trap," I said.
"Oh no! Now you'll be able to attack me with your Black Luster Soldier," he bluffed.
But as I tried to attack, the trap card Scrap Iron Scarecrow was reactivated, I forgot about that trap card and I did not realize that it was a card that can be reused. The rare hunter laughed at me for being so forgetful of his trap card. I'm just glad to have Black Luster Soldier with me again, able to fight. Since I could not attack I decided to activate his second ability. I banished his monster from the game. This angered the rare hunter, knowing that I was still able to rid him of the only monster on his side of the field. Then he drew a card that made him laugh like a maniac. He drew something that could change the fate of this duel.
"I summon the almighty Beast Machine King Barbaros Ur!" He called forth.
This monster… I've never seen something so powerful before. Looking into its eyes made me realize how small I really am. Its eyes looked down at me and a grin formed across the monster's face, like it was able to tell I was in a petrified state of fear. There's no way I can beat this creature. I have nothing to defeat it. I have no power-ups in my hand plus I have no other monsters strong enough. I fell to my knees… This is bad. I've failed, I have failed Black Luster Soldier, Yugi, Ryou and the pharaoh.
"Don't give up Abigal! You still have a fighting chance. Don't let the looks of this monster intimidate you!" Ryou called out to me. Then he came running to me but a rare hunter blocked him from getting any closer.
I noticed Black Luster Soldier turned around and looked at me. I think this would be the first time our eyes met since he's been materialized. His strong hand was placed on my shoulder as our eyes continued to connect. The rare hunters were amazed to see such interactions. Never in all their life have they witnessed a duel monster react to their owners distress.
"Always remember, I will do everything in my power to protect you," my soldier reminded me.
"But… I can't protect you," I said looking down at the cards in my hands. "They're all not strong enough. I so scared of losing you…"
I held my head trying to shake the doubts from my thoughts. But then Black Luster Soldier stood up and turned his back to me, to face our opponent. He's still going to give his all… This soldier is so brave that even in the face of danger, he will still stand there to defend me, even when I'm too weak to defend him. Why… Why do I feel a sense of helplessness? I want to believe that he'll stay with me forever, but a part of me just want to grab him and run away. He's been there for me since...
We've both been there for you, since the day your father tried to kill you, said a voice from my deck.
That voice… That's The Creator Incarnate. He speaking to me through my deck. Now that I think about, it was not just Black Luster Soldier that showed up on my birthday, it was also The Creator Incarnate. They protected me from danger… I must… I must do my best. They are giving me their all, I cannot be weak anymore. In the face of doubt, I must pull through.
"I play the magic card Pot of Greed!" I said as I drew it from my deck. The cards I drew from my deck were Polymerization and my second guardian. "Then I summon the warrior known as The Creator Incarnate."
"What's that monster going to do? His attack power is far too weak!" The rare hunter laughed at me.
"Abigal! You must fuse us together!" Black Luster Soldier said.
"With your heart bonded with our combined strength. There's nothing we cannot do!" The Incarnate added.
Well… Here goes nothing. I activated the magic Polymerization to fuse my two guardian warriors together. The rare hunters were in awe as I was able to achieve the impossible. A bright light shone through the darkness of the night. A warrior in silver armor, with glistening white wings, descended from the sky as the light continued to shine faintly. His sword looked at if it was made from diamonds and his shield made from the same material. I was in just as much awe as the rest of the people around us. Ryou was smiling in his amazement and goosebumps formed up my body as I stared at this majestic warrior.
"Behold, the combined strength of two great monsters!" I announced. "Astral, the Deity's Knight!"
"But how could you get such a monster? I have never seen a monster such as this one and besides, our monsters are evenly matched. There's no way you can win!" The rare hunter's voice shook as the fear of losing was surfacing.
"That's where you're wrong, Rare Hunter," I said. "With Astral has a special ability, he gains 300 attack points for every dark attribute monster in both our graveyards."
The more power Astral gained the more greater the light from his blade became. His attack points was now at 5600 points, which was more than enough to take down Beast Machine King Barbaros Ur and take out the rest of the life points of my opponent. The shock of the attack knocked him down to the ground. That was amazing! The combined might of Black Luster Soldier and The Creator Incarnate was able to bring forth this angelic warrior. Ryou then ran over to me wrapping his arms around my shoulders and gave me a kiss on the cheek, proud that I fought this duel all the way. My warriors were proud that I did not give up also.
"You are quite the powerful one," said the rare hunter as he began to stand up. However, I could tell that it was not actually him. Ryou stood in front of me, ready to defend me against anything. "To face my rare hunters and come out on top fascinates me. However, the cards in your deck must be mine!"
Ryou punched the rare hunters, in the face, that was getting to close. Whoever this guy is, they want me gone and want my cards. Great, yet another evil enemy but I'm not about to let myself be a victim in this situation. I pulled out the first card from my deck. It was Alexandrite Dragon! I tried using what powers I know about to summon him to the real world, however, his body was transparent but still able to come my aid.
"Like a silly hologram is going to-" he stopped his sentence when the tail swipe of my dragon knocked the goons back on their rears. "But how? No one can summon real monsters unless they're in the shadow realm. What kind of magic are you using?"
I did not bother to answer but then took hold of Ryou's hand to make run for it. Our legs took as far as Grandpa's card shop. We entered through the house door and I locked it. Did not bother turning on any of the lights and just hid in the shop behind the counter. We talked to pass away time, taking our minds off the situation. Ryou stood up to check to see if the cost was clear. I really hope that those hunters will give up on us. It was almost mid-night and I think everyone else is gone to bed. Before I knew, Ryou's lips were locked tight on mine and any fears that may have been present have magically vanished.