Himika smiled. "Hello students of Duel Academia," she greeted them in a falsely cheery voice that sent shivers down Haruki's spine. "As your wonderful and beautiful principal Luna told you I am Himika Akaba of L.D.S. I wish I could say I had a happy reason for coming to your school, but alas I don't." She paused here and took a deep breath before gaining a more brisk business like attitude and continuing on. "I am here because you have both humiliated and stolen one of the best students in the first year from L.D.S., and I want compensation. However, since I have learned that there is a chance that Ryusei Altager has elected to stay here I cannot request nor force his return as it would violate my own code of ethics." She, said the last phrase with a snide grin thrown at Luna. "So instead I am calling out the top four first year students at Duel Academia for a challenge. Ryusei Haruki, Tsubaki Haruna, Nightwalker Ruxki, and Flashblade Roxas!" She called out suddenly as the pictures of the four she named lit up the air behind her. "And Altager-kun you as well." Altager's picture appeared along with the others to everyone's shock. "You five will represent Duel Academia. And your opponent's representing L.D.S. are:"
She gives a flourish as four students walk into the arena. One is a girl with dark skin and black hair and red eyes who wore a blue tee-shirt over a creme colored long sleeved shirt that also flowed into shorts and black skin tight shorts. She had a holster styled like a cowboy's from western movies on her waist that apparently held her deck. Another was a wild looking young man carrying a bamboo kendo sword with long spiky brown hair and fierce looking yellow eyes wearing a white vest over a blue shirt and blue pants. The one following behind him was a very sinister looking young man with purple hair and black eyes who wore something almost like a purple and white suit and a black deck holster. The last one had blonde and brown streaked hair and gray eyes, an arrogant look on his face and wore a simple white and red school uniform. and as he passed where Haruki and his group were seated he gave a sinister looking grin to Roxas and joined the others on the stage.
Haruki looked over at Roxas and noted he was unusually tense after this last person walked by but before he was able to ask about it, Himika had resumed speaking. "I give you Kotsu Masumi, Shijima Hokuto, Todo Yaiba, and Sawatari Shingo as the representatives of my school. They are best first year students, so let's get this show on the road now." As she spoke these words, Sawatari Shingo once again looked at Roxas and flashed his sinister grin and caused him to flinch.
ARC 11 - Haruki VS Masumi! Fusion Master Showdown!
Himika pulled out a remote and pressed a button and a screen made out of Solid Vision appeared next to her showing the picture of each student involved in this "Competition". She clicked another button and the images shuffled themselves and they unfolded into a roster for the the first "Round". She smirked as she began her explanation. "There will be 3 Rounds, and each round will have a different focus. The school whose representatives wins the most rounds wins the competition and determines Altager's fate." She clicks her remote again and the screen changes into an image of ten cards face-down. "The first round is simple enough, each of you shall come forward and tap a card, which will flip over and reveal which of the ten pre-constructed decks you use. I will call each competing pair up one at a time, after that pair has chosen their decks, they shall immediately Duel." She points at the girl Masumi and Haruki. "You two, come select your decks."
Haruki stands and starts to move forward before he feels his sleeve being pulled on. He turns and sees Haruna looking at him as she mouths something to him, to which he responds a nod and moves forward to the stage where Masumi has already selected a deck and is putting it into her Duel Pad. Without looking at or speaking to Himika he taps a card which flips over and reveals an image of "Posidirea the Atlantean Dragon". Himika reaches into her pocket and hands him a deck, which accepts with a curt nod and moves into the arena standing across from Masumi donning his Duel Pad and adding his borrowed deck to it.
Masumi looks at Haruki as if appraising him and then grins at him. "Nice to meet Ryusei Haruki, my name is Kotsu Masumi, and I will be your opponent."
Haruki grins back at her, finally finding his voice. "Nice to meet you Masumi-san. Let's have a good fun Duel."
"Indeed. I can see a wondrous gleam in your eyes that is full of the luster of fine gems, so I don't expect to be disappointed by one who I judged to have potential." With these words Masumi and Haruki activate their Duel Disks.
"DUEL!"
"Ladies first, Masumi-san." Haruki said politely.
"Such a gentleman," Masumi replied with a smile. "Very well."
Turn 1 - Masumi
LP: 4000 Hand: 5
"Let's do this," Masumi says looking at her hand. "Not much her at moment, so I have to wait my time." She thinks to herself before holding her hand out towards Haruki. "I end my turn here."
"Is this chick crazy?" Haruna asked herself aloud causing Altager to shake his head. Noticing the movement from the corner of her eye she turns and to look at him. "You think otherwise?"
"Indeed I do," Altager said. "And so would you if you weren't convinced that girl was flirting with Haruki." Haruna just glared at him. "Think, in a Duel where neither opponent knows anything about the other person or the deck they themselves are using until they draw their first cards, the worst thing you can do against a strong opponent is give up the element of surprise. Haruki will tip his hand in this move, BUT Masumi will still have that element of surprise to her advantage."
"You do have a point." Haruna says looking back to Haruki.
Ruxki sits watching the Duel in silence and listening to what Altager said, then looks over to Roxas for his five cents but Roxas is sitting there staring at Shingo a look of fear and anger in his eyes, mouth set firmly shut.
Turn 2 - Haruki
LP: 4000 - Hand: 5
Masumi - LP: 4000
Hand: 5
"My move, DRAW!" Haruki draws one card from his deck.
Haruki - Hand: 5 - 6
He grins. "Let's do this. I Normal Summon my Spined Gillman to the field." With the crash of a great wave Spined Gillman leaps to the jumps in front of him holding it's trident at the ready.
Spined Gillman - WATER - Level 3
[Sea Serpent/Effect] ATK/1300 DEF/ 0
"All Fish, Sea Serpent, and Aqua-Type monsters you control gain 400 ATK."
"By the effect of Spined Gillman all of my Sea Serpents gain four hundred attack points."
Spined Gillman - ATK 1300 - 1700
"Next I activate the Field Spell 'Lumeira, the Forgotten City'. When this card is active all WATER monsters gain two hundred attack and defense points." A large white city with buildings and temples made of marble appeared around Haruki and Masumi and the floor beneath them transformed into a pool of water.
Lumeria, the Forgotten CIty
[Field Spell]
"This card's name is treated as "Umi". All WATER monsters gain 200 ATK and DEF. Once per turn, during your Main Phase: You can have all WATER monsters you currently control gain Levels equal to the number of WATER monsters you currently control, until the End Phase."
Spined Gillman - ATK: 1700 - 1900
"Now go Spined Gillman attack Masumi directly, Trident Strike of Atlantis!" Haruki points at Masumi and Spined Gillman jumps into the water beneath their feet and ascends from it before Masumi, slashing at her causing her step back with a startled shout.
Masumi - LP: 4000 - 2100
"I Set one card and my turn." Haruki sets one card which appears in front of him briefly before fading away.
Turn 3 - Masumi:
LP: 2100 Hand: 5
Haruki - LP: 4000
Hand: 4
Masumi grins at Haruki. "Indeed, you are interesting just like I figured. However you have the bad luck of going up against a master of Fusion Summoning like me," Masumi's eyes narrow and her grin becomes a smile. "who had the fortune of getting a deck with a heavy dependence of Fusion Summoning."
"Really then?" Haruki said grinning. "Let's see it."
"My turn DRAW!"
Masumi - Hand: 5 - 6
"So you wished it, so it shall be." Masumi moves one her cards to her right hand and reveals it. "I activate the Spell Card 'Polymerization'!" Haruki grins as he sees two familiar shapes take form behind Masumi and begin to swirl together. "I Fuse Elemental HERO Bubbleman with Elemental HERO Clayman to Fusion Summon Elemental HERO, Absolute Zero!" With a great battle cry Absolute Zero bursts out of the water next to Masumi and stands crossing his arms.
Elemental HERO Absolute Zero - WATER - Level 8
[Warrior/Fusion/Effect] ATK/2500 DEF/2000
"Since Absolute Zero is a WATER monster, your field spell boosts his attack by two hundred."
Absolute Zero - ATK: 2500-2700
"Next since there is a WATER monster other Absolute Zero on the field he gains five hundred attack points."
Absolute Zero - ATK: 2700 - 3200
Haruki just looks at Masumi a look of bemused interest on his face. Meanwhile the spectators who had seen Haruki's entrance exam and a few Duel Exams just grinned, positive that Duel was as good as decided.
"Next I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Prisma." With a battle cry a man who looked like he was made out of crystal lept onto the field.
Elemental HERO Prisma - LIGHT - Level 4
[Warrior/Effect] ATK/ 1700 DEF/1100
"Once per turn: You can reveal 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, then send 1 of the Fusion Material Monsters listed on that card from your Main Deck to the Graveyard; this card's name becomes the sent monster's name until the End Phase."
"Next I use the effect of Prisma! I reveal one Fusion Monster from my Extra deck, then I can send one monster from my deck to the grave that is listed as a Fusion Material in order to have this card gain that monster's name." Masumi reveals a monster from her Extra Deck. "I send Elemental HERO Avian to my graveyard. Now I activate Miracle Fusion! I Banish Elemental HEROs Bubbleman and Avian from my grave to Fusion Summon Elemental HERO Great Tornado!" With a great whirlwind a hero wearing a cape and and a green costume descended onto Masumi's field.
Elemental HERO Great Tornado - WIND - Level 8
[Warrior/Fusion/Effect] ATK/2800 DEF/2200
"1 "Elemental HERO" monster + 1 WIND monster
Must be Fusion Summoned and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. When this card is Fusion Summoned: Halve the ATK and DEF of all face-up monsters your opponent controls."
"Next when this card is Fusion Summoned I can half the attack and defense of all your monsters, go Tornado Drain!" A large tornado spun around Spined Gillman and faded away.
Spinned Gillman - ATK: 1900 - 950
Masumi pointed Spined Gillman, "Go Absolute Zero attack Spined Gillman!" Absolute Zero lept at Spined Gillman but got trapped by a large green net that appeared out of the water.
"Trap activate!" Haruki cried. "Gravity Bind! This nifty little card prevents any monsters level four or higher from attacking as long as it is on the field." He grins at Masumi. "Any other moves left?"
Masumi frowns briefly then smiles. "I end my turn."
Turn 4 - Haruki
LP: 4000 Hand: 4
Masumi - LP: 2100
Hand: 1
Haruki grins. "I'm afraid you are outmatched. This is Duel is almost guaranteed to end in my victory, but it's not over till the last card is played after all." Haruki draws from his deck. "DRAW!" He looks at the card he drew and grins, ignoring Masumi's shocked expression. "I Normal Summon my Atlantean Attack Squad." With a roar a large fishman burst out of the water onto Haruki's field.
Atlantean Attack Squad - WATER - Level 3
[Sea Serpent/Effect] ATK/1400 DEF/ 0
"This card gains 800 ATK while you control a face-up Fish, Sea Serpent, or Aqua-Type monster other than this card."
"Next since I control Spined Gillman, my Squad gains eight hundred attack points, plus two hundred more from my City."
Atlantean Attack Squad - ATK: 1400 - 2400
"Next I activate the effect of Lumiera, the Forgotten City; once per turn, I can increase the level of all WATER monsters I control one each for each of the WATER monsters on my field." He points at Gillman and Squad. "I control two, so both of my monsters become level five."
Spined Gillman - Level: 3 - 5
Atlantean Attack Squad - Level 3 - 5
"Next I Overlay my level five Spined Gillman and my level five Atlantean Attack Squad to build the Overlay Network!" A large galaxy shaped Overlay network appeared before Haruki and the Number "73" flashed before him in red. Haruki began to chant. "Arawarero, Nanbāzu Nanajūsan! Kaosu ni ochitaru seinaru shizuku. Sono chikara o shimeshi, konton o jōka seyo. Gekirōshin Abisu Supurasshu" With a great cry and and an outburst of water from the field a large warrior with a trident, wearing blue and gold armor appeared on Haruki's field the number "73" emblazened on his left shin guard in red.
Number 73: Abyss Splash, the Roaring Waterfall Deity - WATER - Rank: 5 - Overlay Units: 2
[Warrior/Xzy/Effect] ATK/2400 DEF/1400
"2 Level 5 WATER monsters
Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; this card's ATK is doubled until your opponent's End Phase, also halve any battle damage your opponent takes from battles involving this card for the rest of this turn."
Haruki grinned at Masumi. "I activate the effect of Abyss Splash, by using one Overlay Unit -" at these words Abyss Splash struck one of the Overlay Units circling around it absorbing it and began glowing in blue light. "he can double his attack until your End Phase."
Abyss Splash - ATK: 2600 - 5200
"Let's go, BATTLE!" Haruki declares pointing at Great Tornado. "Go Abyss Splash attack Great Tornado, Waterfall strike!" Abyss Splash launches himself at Great Tornado and impales him with his trident, causing Great Tornado to explode. "However, since I used Abyss Splash's effect this turn, any battle damage you take is halved."
Masumi - LP: 2100 - 900
Haruki grins at Masumi. "I end my turn.
Turn - 5: Masumi
LP: 900 Hand: 1
Haruki - LP: 4000
Hand: 3
Masumi looks at Haruki impressed. "You're right it's not over till the last card is played. But please tell me, why do say I am outmatched?"
"Simple," Haruki responds immediately. "For anyone who uses an Elemental HERO deck, I am the worst possible opponent. Since I mastered that deck as a kid when I learned Fusion Summoning," an audiable gasp of surprise was heard from Masumi at this statement; " before moving on to using Cyber Style." Haruki looks at Masumi apologetically. "I'm sorry, but you are at a disadvantage in this Duel, but surprise me, please turn this around."
Masumi grins. "Fine then, I will. My move I draw." Masumi draws one card from her deck.
Masumi - Hand: 1 - 2
Masumi looks at the card in her hand and grins. "I got an answer, I summon Neo-Spacian Grand Mole to my field." With a cry Neo-Spacian Grand Mole jumps onto Masumi's field.
Neo-Spacian Grand Mole - EARTH - Level 3
[Rock/Effect] ATK/ 900 DEF/ 300
"At the start of the Damage Step, if this card battles an opponent's monster: You can return both monsters to the hand (without damage calculation)."
"This guy just might be the start to my comeback." Masumi said happily pointing at Abyss Splash. "Go Grand Mole, attack Number 73: Abyss Splash!" Neo Spacian Grand Mole tucks itself into it's armor and flies at Abyss Splash spinning like a drill and hits him in the chest. "Now I activate the effect of Grand Mole, returning our monsters back to to our hands, or it the case of you Number, the Extra Deck." Both Abyss Splash and Grand Mole turn into beams of light and fly back to their respective duelists; Grand Mole's light returning to Masumi's hand as a card, Abyss Splash's returning to Haruki's Duel Pad. "Now you can't hope to swing over my Absolute Zero. I end my turn."
Turn 6 - Haruki
LP: 4000 Hand: 3
Masumi - LP:900
Hand: 2
Haruki grinned at Masumi. "Indeed you might just have the start of a counter attack, but this Duel will end before you do it." He looks apologetic again. "I'm sorry, but I already promised someone I wouldn't lose." As he says this his eyes flash back to Haruna in the stands, remembering what she had mouthed to him.
Haruna grasped at his sleeve before he could fully leave turning to face her, Haruna mouthed to him: "Promise me, you won't lose." Haruki grinned and nodded his voice lost with his nerves, as he turned and moved towards the center of the arena.
"So Masumi-san this is the end. I DRAW!" Haruki draws a card from his deck.
Haruki - Hand: 3 - 4
"Let's do this, I activate the Spell card Dark Hole!" A large black hole opens in the middle of the field pulling Absolute Zero and Prisma into it crushing them both. "Now that you have no monsters, this is the end. I summon my Friller Rabca." A large yellow eel leapt out of the water on Haruki's field.
Friller Rabca - WATER - Level 3
[Fish/Effect] ATK/ 700 DEF/1500
"When a Fish, Sea Serpent, or Aqua-Type monster you control is targeted for an attack: You can banish this card from your Graveyard, then target the attacking monster; negate the attack, and if you do, that target loses 500 ATK until the end of the next turn. You can only use this effect of "Friller Rabca" once per turn."
"Go Friller Rabca, attack Masumi directly!" Haruki points at Masumi and Friller Rabca swims towards her and shocks her, eliciting a small cry of shock from her and throwing her off balance.
"So," Masumi thinks to herself as she falls back. "this is the ability of the man who I determined had great value. He's fantastic."
Masumi - LP: 900 - 0
Haruki had gotten to her and grabbed her hand and pulled her back to her feet before she fell and flashed her a grin. "Gotcha! That was a fun duel." And with that he turns on his heel and walks back to the stands, leaving a stunned Masumi in his wake.
Roxas stood up suddenly. "Looks like I'm up now," he said simply moving towards the arena at the same time as Shingo. Ruxki watched, wondering what the history was between these two.
To Be Continued….
Funfact:
The Summoning Chant Haruki uses for the Summon of Abyss Splash in English is:
"Appear, Numbers 73! The holy drop falls into the Chaos. It shows its power, purifying the Chaos. Abyss Splash, the Roaring Waterfall Deity!"